to take content in outward observations and say O! the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord and the ordinances of the Lord are these and yet we know not the good will of him that dwelt in the bush Jere. 7.4 Exod. 3.2 6 7 8. And thus we outwardly appear before men but inwardly we are ignorant of God and of Jesus Christ as it will appear in most Parish Churches for one saith he hath believed ever since he could remember and another she saith she hath as good a heart as the best and another he hopes to be saved for his good meaning and for his good thoughts and another saith he believes as the Church believes and another saith he believes what the Preacher saith and whether it be true or false he cannot tell but God forbid but he should believe his Minister Now such people are soon drawn to a form of Religion of any fashion for as the State changes so they wil change Now there are some others that can talk learnedly they think they know much but indeed and in truth they understand but little of Jesus Christ yet they may have a curious form of Religion and a glossie form of religious words which they may get by a customary way of Religion and by the abilities of nature and by reading in good Books as in a Catechism and the like and so they may speak the words that other men hath labored for and learn them and so much a Parrot may do and doth do Mistake me not I speak not against the using of good Books for I know those that are lame must have a crurch But one word with understanding and grace is better then a thousand words in a Catechism without understanding And so likewise Sect. 2 we may be like to the Jews in seeming to take delight in approaching to God upon our Fasting days as the Prophet Isaiah speaketh Isaiah 58.2 If we do that which is like unto the Jews then we are like unto the Jews and if we do not fast unto the Lord then we do fast unto our selves but if we do fast unto the Lord then what meaneth this bleating of the sheep saith Samuel to Saul what meaneth saith the Prophet Isaiah this putting forth of the finger and speaking against our neighbors and brethren what meaneth this strife and debate and this biting and devouring one another and this smitting with the fist in private Is not this wickedness to bow down our heads as a bull-rush and yet these things remain and we seemingly call upon the Lord. But this is not to fast unto the Lord. Read Zech. 7.5 6 7 8 9 10. Now if it would please God to help us but to keep one right Fasting day then we should loose the bands of wickedness and undo the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free and break every yoke and deal our bread to the hungry and cover the naked and shew mercy and compassion every man to his brother Then this would be a fast unto the Lord and a feast unto men Read Isai 58.6 7. Now the Elders that are not able to feed the flock of God they outwardly appear to be religious before men as Christ speaketh so you may read Matth. 23.27 28. And so saith the Prophet Micah concerning the Prophets and so saith the Lord They make my people erre they seem to be that which they are not that bite with their teeth and cry Peace and he that putteth not into their mouths they even prepare war against him Have not we had many such Prophets and Elders in our days read Micah 3.5 6. And so likewise the Lord takes notice of the people as well as of the Prophets and the Priests The Prophets prophecy falsly saith the Lord and the Priests bear rule by their means and this is a horrible thing committed in the land and my people saith the Lord love to have it so Mark this O ye people of England for the Lord takes notice of you that call truth error and error truth Jere. 5.30 31. Now the Elders that are not able to feed the flock of God and the priests that teach for hire and the heads of the house of Jacob that abhor judgment or neglect to do justice to the poor and so pervert all equity yet saith the Prophet they will lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord among us none evil can come upon us My desire is that these things were not to be found amongst us at this day read Micah 3.9 10 11 12. Zeph. 3.3 4. Mark what the Prophet Micah saith They lean upon the Lord that is they lean upon the ordinances of the Lord in a carnal way they lean upon being outwardly baptized and the hearing of the Word preached and the outward receiving of the Sacrament and they lean upon Church-fellowship and upon an outward Confession of Faith onely in words But mark now what our Saviour Christ speaks John 6.63 The flesh profiteeh nothing mistake me not I say to lean upon the outside of the ordinances of God profiteth nothing which the most part of the world doth to this day The leaning upon being baptized with water either young or old profiteth nothing but the being baptized with the holy Ghost and with fire that will teach you and help you to profit and that will refine you and thorowly purge your hearts and gather you as good wheat into Christ garner Luke 3.16 17. And so to lean upon the outward preaching of the Word that will not profit us until Christ open our ears and speak in our hearts and say this is the way and I will inable you to walk in this my way and you shall spiritually hear this voice and I will wait saith the Lord to be gracious unto you and I will turn a pure language unto you and you shall serve the Lord with one consent read Isai 35.5 6. 30.18 19 21. Zeph. 3.9 And when this is we shall profit and with Samuel we shall say Speak Lord for thy servant heareth 1 Sam. 3.9 10. And so likewise to lean upon the outward receiving of the Sacrament it will profit nothing A blinde man that 's bid to a feast though he cannot see the excellence of the feast yet he may tast of the goodness and sweetness of the banquet but in this case of coming to the Sacrament it is otherwise for a man may see carnally but he cannot tast spiritually but he that cannot tast spiritually of the Lords banquet he cannot see spiritually and so he sits naked not having faith to see the want of Christs righteousness and so he sits naked before the King and the Saints Now Christ is the King of this banquet and a man not having faith is speechless when Christ speaks unto him read Mat. 22.11 12. Now a Saint and a true Beleever are in a better condition for they both see and tast of the sweetness of Christ and of the infinite love
not thy brine teares nor thy legal fears nor thy sad countenance when thou makest confession of thy sin not it is not thy saying that thou art sorry for thy sin but it is the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1.7 CHAP. VI. The Spiritual Opening and Application of these Scriptures VIZ. John 5.10 16. John 9.16 Isa 581 2. Jere. 7.4 5 6 14. Luke 17.20 Neh. 8.8 Matth. 23.2.3 4. Matth. 15.12 13 14. Phil. 1.16 Phil. 1.15 16 17. Rev. 2.2 Rom. 14.23 Rom. 14.15 2 Thes 2.4 7 8 9 10. Jere. 32.40 41. Ephes 5.27 Rom. 13.5 Dan. 3.18 19 20. 1 Tim. 2.1 2. Rom. 15.23 2 Pet. 2.1 Matth. 17.15 Matth. 7.16 1 Cor. 1.19 20 28 29. Matth. 23.28 Ephes 4.21 22 23 24. Ephes 2.10 Joh. 15.4 5. 1 Cor. 2.9 10 14 15 16. Act. 4.2 3 13 21 23. 1 John 5.20 Nehe. 8.2 3 5 8. Acts 4.13 20. Luke 24.27 Matth. 13.3 34. John 3.3 4. Luke 8.10 Psal 25.14 John 3.1 3 4. Rom. 1.16 Psal 110.2 3. Psalm 116.7 Heb. 10. 2 John 9 Heb. 10.23 Heb. 2.14 Acts 22.22 23. John 4.20 21 22 23 24. Acts 5.45 Isai 29.11 12. Matth. 13.11 Eph. 4.20 21. Matth. 13.34 35. Jere. 1.5 1 Cor. 14.23 24. Rom. 14.19 Jude 1.20 Revel 19.10 1 Cor. 2.10 15 16. Numb 11.29 Luke 10.5 6. Luke 6.22 23 26 1 Thes 2.7 8 9. Acts 20.33 34. 1 Pet. 4.10 11. John 4.10 Revel 5.5 Isai 29.18 23 24. 1 Cor. 13.1 2. Isai 29.11 12. Acts 22.3 4 5. Phil. 3.4 5 6. John 3.1 3 4. Acts 26.9 10 11 12. Luke 7.37 38 47. 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6 7. Cant. 1.2 3. Mark 14.3 4. Matth. 15.1 2. John 7.47 48 49. John 12.42 43. 1 Cor. 13.6 1 Pet. 3.4 2 Pet. 1.7 Matth. 13.27 28 29. Mal. 3.1 2 3 4. Matth. 13.30 James 3.8 9 10. James 3.17 18. John 8.42 John 17.8 Ioh. 16.27 Ioh 15.4 5. Ioh. 14.9 10 11. Phil. 4.13 Gal. 2.20 Gal. 4.19 1 Cor. 6.17 1 Cor. 12.13 1 Ioh. 1.3 Rev. 5.8 9 10 11. Mat. 7.15 Mat. 7.16 2 Pet. 2.3 Eph. 4.14 2 Tim. 3.6 Acts 5.42 Micah 3.5 Mat. 7.15 Col. 2.8 18 22 23. 1 Cor. 2.14 Rom. 8.7 8. Ioh. 16.2 3. Ier. 23.21 30 31. Ioh. 18.2 3. Acts 20.29 Ier. 5.31 Sect. 1 NOw the Pastors and Elders that are not able to feed the flock in a spiritual way are such sent of God or only called of men or by men and no more And if so then what do such men imploy themselves in for the good of the flock In spiritual things they cannot but in external things they do what they can They are strict in visible forms of Religion which have a seeming shew of piety as for instance The Scribes and Pharisees came to Christ to complain of his Disciples that they transgressed the Traditions of the Elders Mat. 15.1 2. Now these Elders did assume unto themselves to be much for the glory and worship of God and to have much zeal for the Sabbath day and yet they knew not Christ the Lord of that day and the Rest of the day but sought to persecute him and to slay him Ioh. 5.10 16. 9.16 And is it not so now in our Kingdom and Cities at this day Do we not seemingly seek and delight to know the ways of God as a Nation that did righteousness and forsook not the ordinance of God and take delight in outward approaching to God Isa 58.1 2. And do not we rest upon the outward observations of these things as the Jews did and cry The Temple of the Lord and the ordinances of the Lord are these And thus the Jews did Jer. 7.4 5 6 14. And thus the Pharisees did but Christ told them That the Kingdom of God cometh not with observation or with outward shews Luk. 17.20 And do not the Pastors and Elders of our Kingdom for the most part insist and go on in observations and outward shews which are as wels without water As for instance How many blind and ignorant Ministers have we in the severel parts of this Kingdom and may not one say in this City also that please themselves in outward shews and observations and times and it may be read the book of Homilies and the book of Common prayer But now the time is altered for that yet they have a good mind for to do it stil because they cannot indeed do any thing else as they should do in the work of of the Ministry They cannot pray without a form they can but only read the letter they cannot give the sense of the words they read as Ezra the Priest did Neh. 8.8 And thus the most people are kept in ignorance by those that are only Ministers of letters and no more and may not a boy of eight years old do as much as such men Now the second sort of Ministers are such that have strength of natural parts and no more as a strong memory and a large utterance and the gift of humane learning and the help of a great Library and so sit at that all the week and so by this means a man may get one or two hours discourse for one day in a week Now such men are Ministers only of words And have not we experience abundantly in these our sad times of their frothy and empty words May not one say now of such men as Christ said of the Pharisees They only say Mat. 23.2 3 4. And may not one say Let them alone as Christ said of the Pharisees they be blind leaders of the blind and if the blind lead the blind what danger are they both in And are not the most parishes in this Kingdom in such danger and in such a ditch Mat. 15.12 13 14. Witness Cornwal and Wales and Oxfordshire And may not one come neerer even into London and find the most people in most parishes so sotish that they wil be led any way and be pleased with any thing as formerly with the reading of the Common prayer Book which is a form of words that a boy may read And so likewise they wil say such a man is a brave Teacher or an excellent Preacher a great Scholar or a mighty learned man not knowing that Christ may be preached by help of the Natural Arts that are among us though grace may be wanting And thus it comes to pass that Christ is preached out of contention amongst us and not sincerely but in strife as you may see plainly Phil. 1.16 And thus the most people are pleased with outward shews but little acquainted with the true preaching of Jesus Christ which is the inward Substance Now the third sort of Ministers they profess themselves to be of the Kings party and they have their followers and they say they preach the truth and they stand for the truth I ask Is Christ divided whose Ministers you say you are You say those that preach against that which you preach are rebellious for you preach the Truth and you
the unlearned Mat. 13.3 34. Ioh. 3.3 4. But to the scholars of Christ it is given to them in all times for to know the mysteries of the Scriptures Luk. 8.10 The secret of the Lord is with them that love and fear him and because he loves them he wil shew them Christ his Covenant Psa 25.14 Object Now you wil say you speak much of learned men Object What mean you or whom do you mean Ans Sol. I mean such learned men as can but only read the book of Common prayer or a Homily or can but only read the Scripture and no more and have not as yet learned of Christ to spel out the mind of God in the Scriptures and I mean such as can but only preach by natural art and not out of experience as from Christ and I mean such as can do no more but what they have a form for and yet they cal themselves Ministers of the Gospel And how many such learned have we had in this Kingdom and have at this day and most people dote after such men Object Now you wil object and say you speak much of the unlearned Object and of an outside shew in matters of Religion what mean you or whom do you so speak of Ans Sol. It is a very sad thing to be unlearned and untaught of Christ and to rest and to take delight in an outside shew in matters of Religion as it doth appear most men do and it is to be feared that many amongst those that cry for Reformation in Religion in the City of London are ignorant of the pure Religion and are like unto Nicodemus that ignorant learned man that came to Christ by night and asked Christ How a man can be born when he is old Can he enter the second time into his mothers womb and be born John 3.1 2 4. Now there are abundance of such professors in our days both learned and unlearned that can complement with Religion and with Jesus Christ as a good man But there are but few that know Christ spiritually as the power of God or the day of Gods power or as the day of Gods rest or as the day of a beleeving souls rest Rom. 1.16 Psa 110.2 3. Psa 116.7 Heb. 4.10 Q. Sect. 4 But what mean you by that word Pure Religion Object A. Sol. I mean a possession of Christ and a profession of Christ in faith and verity which wil expel sin and vanquish the devil 2 John 9. Heb. 10.23 Heb. 2.14 I confess though I have made two objections Presby ∣ terian q. yet I cannot but grant that the most of our learned and unlearned do differ about Discipline and make a great deal of ado about an outward shew in matters of Religion which are but circumstances and through ignorance they neglect the substance A. Sir my answer to you is this Answ You are very much mistaken though you confess and grant that the most of the learned of the Church and the unlearned do differ I wil tel you plainly and consider wel of it The most of the learned in Christendom do agree as one man in three things and that is Pleasure Ease and Profit as for instance Do not the Clergy of Rome take pleasure in usurping authority over Kings and over whole States and those that differ with them about their ease and their profit are like to go to the Inquisition house And so you may instance in the Lord Bishops of England Those that did differ with them about their Lordly authority or about their fifteen hundred or two thousand a year were had up into the High Commission Court And so now those that differ with them about ease or about the profit of three four or five hundred a year shal be had up for a Sectary or an Antinomian Mistake me not I grudg not against the wel being of a deserving Minister that preacheth Christ purely and without mixture for such ought to be had in singular respect because of Christ and such ought to be provided for that they and their wives and children may live comfortably Now the Discipline that you say the most of the learned differ about is circumstances but I say it is wel if they do not make them substances Sir I think you are mistaken for not one of five hundred of the learned do differ about Discipline for they are all of them as one man and yet they are questionable and he that differs from them gets himself a blot Sir are not we taught for to have the truth of God in respect of places and persons and cry one place up and another place down and cry up such a man with respect to his habit for he must have a black gown or a black suit and cloak and look like a Minister or else most people wil take up a prejudice against the truth of God and so likewise a man must not worship God as the Spirit of God doth dictate unto him or teach him but a man must worship God after the rules of men and according to a form which they wil draw out for him I speak not concerning the State but I speak concerning the Clergy I hope you wil not be offended with me because M Edwards siteth at the receit of Custom raketh up all the filthy rags from all the parts of the Kingdom for to make paper of them but it proves but bloting paper and so is but little worth but yet he makes a shift for to make a book of it ful of accusations and filthy reproaches and lays them upon the heads of his brethren and brings them upon the stage of the world and uncovers their nakedness nay it may be their weakness and saith Lo these be the Sectaries that trouble us and then he cals them Independents and Antinomians or Anabaptists and then the people answer him and say as they said of Paul Away with such fellows from the earth for it is not fit that such fellows should live read that place Act. 22.22 23. Is this the fruit of a Gospel Minister Mr Edwards for you say you are one But if this be the fruit you bear I shal pray to God for to deliver me from such a Ministry Sir I pray you one word more which I had almost forgot many of those that seem to be zealous for the Presbyterian Government do not care for coming to the Elders I conceive it is because they are so ignorant for the most part of them in the principles of Religion that they cannot tel what to say and I do wonder at many that are forward for that Government they know not neither can they soon understand it Q. Quest Is there some respect now to be given to some places of worship more then to other some A. Answ I know none neither Church nor Chappel nor Cathedral as you cal them Beleeve me saith Christ to the woman neither in this place nor in that place Joh. 4.20 21 22 23
be neither they nor their Minister understands what he reads nor they what they hear No more then the Eunuch did that was reading the Prophet Isaiah but confessed he understood not that which he read Acts 8.30 31 34 35. Be not angry with me I pray you for I have not spoken to upbraid you for at my heart I am sorry for you for it is a miserable thing to be learned in the Letter onely or to be a Minister of the Letter onely and no more or to be a hearer onely of the Letter and not to be acquainted with Jesus Christ in the Spirit The Eunuch he read the Letter as the most in our times do and neither he nor they understand the minde of God in the Letter The Eunuch he read of Jesus Christ before he was come into the flesh As a sheep led unto slaughter and like a lamb dumb before the shearer so opened he not his mouth Now in our times we read that Jesus Christ hath come in the flesh and is gone again and now he is to be looked for in the Spirit and of this the most in our times are as ignorant as the Eunuch was nay some in our days will jeer at the Spirit which the Eunuch did not We indeed can read so many letters as to make up two or three words as Jesus Christ our Lord and this is as common as the Light and doth distinguish us from the Turks And though we may read the Word of God and the words of Christ yet I and our reading Ministers of the Common-Prayer Book nay our Preaching Ministers may remain as ignorant as the Eunuch did for he read but he understood not what he read until the Spirit said unto Philip go and guide him that he may understand what he reads Nay it is the Spirit of Jesus Christ alone that opens the understandings of men to understand the Scriptures as you may read Luke 24.45 CHAP. XII The Spiritual Opening and Application of these Scriptures VIZ. Phil. chap. 1. Acts 8.35 Mark 14.3 Acts 17.22 23. Jere. 50.6 2 Cor. 3.6 2 Cor. 12.14 15. 1 King 18.23 24 25 26 27 29 33 38. Phil. 1.15 16. 3.2 Jere. 4.22 5.31 Ezek. 34.2 3 4. Phil. 3.18 19. Luke 4.16 17 18 19 20 21 22. Nehe. 8.2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Matth. 7.21 22 23. Isai 29.11 12. Mark 14.3 Luke 6.45 46. 1 Cor. 14.14 15. Rom. 8.26 27. Rom. 7.4 6. Act. 2.13 15 16 17. 26.24 25. 1 King 22.26 27. Matth. 27.63 John 17.21 23 24. Ephes 4.23 24. 2 Cor. 6.16 Psal 25.14 Ephes 3.3 4 to the end Colos 2.9 10. John 1.16 17. Ezek. 2.1 2. Psal 82.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Jere. 31.23 24 25 26. Psal 85.1 2 3 4 8 9 10 11 12 13. Prov. 8.14 15 16. James 3.17 1 Pet. 4.14 15 16 19. Luke 3.14 Isai 9.6 Luke 10.6 John 11.27 Luke 10 38 39 40 41 42. Luke 10.40 41. John 4.24 James 1.17 John 14.10 11. Heb. 11.27 Col. 2.9 10. 1 Tim. 3.16 1 Joh. 3.9 Act. 2.24 Acts 2.36 Revel 1.11 1 Tim. 1.17 Joh. 1.13 14. Matth. 5.48 Colos 1.17 18. Revel 19.12 13. 1 Corinth 1.24 Colos 2.3 Matth. 1.21 Heb. 7.25 26. Heb. 9.14 Acts 20.28 Ephes 2.15 Psal 113.6 7 8. John 10.29 30. John 16.32 Iohn 11.42 Acts 2.22 23. 4.26 27 28. Iohn 19.10 11. Psal 35.19 20. 2 Thes 2.3 4. 1 Iohn 4.2 3. Acts 4.27 30. Luke 1.31 32 35. Mark 12.4 5 6 7 8. Acts 4.25 26 27. Acts 2.36 Iohn 11.47 48. NOw I shall crave leave for to whisper a word or two in the ear of those that are Ministers of the Common-Prayer Book or some others that can Preach yet are like unto them My two words are these There are three sorts of Ministers The first is The Ministers of Christ and those that he doth send are lively spiritual and soul-comforting Ministers And the second sort is the Magistrate Now these two sorts are true Ministers of God But there is a third sort of Ministers which lyes between the true Ministers and the Magistrate And these men are imitating Ministers like unto those that Paul speaks of in the first of the Philippians Some saith he read Christ even out of envy and some saith he preach Christ out of envy and strife and out of ostentation and for the applause of men or else they would not take that humming of the simple people as they do for when they have spoken a word that doth tickle their brain then the most of the people cry a hum and say O he is a brave Schollar And thus they read and preach in a plausible way and in an historical way full of legality Object but little or no spirituality Now I know that some will object and say That knowledg comes by reading but it seems that I would deny the use of such means as the reading of the Service Book I answer Answ Use reading by all means for Christ bids us search the Scriptures but a Minister onely of the Common-Prayer Book cannot search the Scriptures for he can but onely read them and so can I at home as well as he doth at Church But you will object and say Object Though I can read them at home yet there are thousands of men and women in this Kingdom that cannot read at all is it not fit then that they should come to Church and hear the Minister read over the Service Book and say some Prayers I answer Answ It is fit that they should come and it is fit that such as cannot read should not be so slightly put off as with bare reading of the Word but with reading and expounding and instructing out of the Word of God as Philip did to the Eunuch Act. 8.35 It is well if the Book be not sealed so that they cannot expound nor preach Jesus to the people If it should be so then I shall give my second answer That such men or Ministers as these Answ 2 are like unto a man that comes to a Market and brings a box full of very precious commodities and when the people come to hear of the commodities they desire for to see these commodities but he that should shew these commodities hath no key to open this box Now by this Box I mean the Scriptures the Word of God which is full of the precious graces of Jesus Christ But such men as I have spoken of have no key to open this Box they cannot break the bread of life to the hungry people they cannot do so much as Mary Magdalen did for she brake the Box of precious oyntment and poured it on Christs head Mark 14.3 Now the bare Letter of the Scriptures is as a Box and we have many men in this Kingdom that have got this Box and no more I mean the Letter of the Word which being drawn out into a form of the Common-Prayer Book These men are excellent outside men they can read the Letter of the
Word with a humane courage but they cannot give the sense of the Pearl in this Box or Cabinet or Field They cannot expound the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ as Paul did and for want of this in many places of this Kingdom the people are like the Athenians ignorantly worshiping God or more grosly and superstitiously setting up Altars to the unknown God Acts 17.22 23. Yet these people have had the Service Book all their days and they will have it still and remain ignorant with it and so the proverb holds true Like Priest like people But mark you dark-sighted Ministers Sect. 2 over such a people My people have been lost sheep saith the Lord their shepherds have caused them to go astray Iere. 50.6 A Minister to be unskilful in the Gospel of Grace begets ignorance in a people ignorance in a people makes them unstedfast Now such a people will sooner fight against the Truth and speak against the Truth then they will entertain the Truth or speak a good word for the Truth Happy is such a people that have an able Minister of the New Testament A Minister sent from the Spirit of Christ is the most excellent Minister not of the Letter but of the Spirit for such a ministry or such a Minister is the most excellent Minister for he cares for the souls of men and would be spent for them and the more he loves them the less he is loved of them 2 Cor. 3.6 12.14 15. Now the reading Minister onely of the Common-Prayer Book and the imitating preaching Minister that preaches litterally legally historically and artificially These two are both alike and they both seek themselves But it may be some will take exception at this word imitating But I shall give you two instances for it One in the Old Testament Two instances and another in the New The false Prophets of Baal did imitate to do as the true Prophet Elijah did they could chuse one Bullock for a sacrifice and cut it in peices and lay the wood together and lay the Bullock upon the Altar but they wanted fire from Heaven they had no light in them as the true Prophet had read 1 Kings 18.23 24 25 26 27 28 29 33 38. The second instance is out of the New Testament Some indeed imitate to do as the true Apostles did but they cannot so then they preach Christ out of envy and some out of strife Phil. 1.15 16. 3.2 Now these two sorts of Ministers are self-seeking men as I shall give you instances both from City and Country and from Scriptures Now these self-seeking men seek great Benefices of six or seven hundred pounds a yeer and then they will take the Charge and the Cure of twenty or thirty thousand souls as you may take an instance in Cripplegate Parish London And so likewise in divers places of the Country where there are great Benefices and their Minister takes this but the poor people have little or nothing but the Book of Common-Prayer or the reading of a Homily or the like And thus they cure themselves and take the charge of the people but the poor people are still uncured This the Lord takes notice of and complains and saith His people perish for want of knowledg they are sottish children they have no knowledg of God in Christ Is not this the condition of a great part of this Kingdom They are wise to do evil but to do good they have no knowledg read Iere. 4.22 5.31 A ministry taken up onely from men or a Minister sent out onely from men such kind of men seek themselves and not the flock they feed themselves and not the flock they heal themselves they wound the flock they bind up themselves they break the flock they bring in to themselves they scatter the flock they seek themselves and they lose the flock they are not able to strengthen the weak but with force and with cruelty have they ruled them or do rule them and is not this the seeking of vanity and the speaking of vanity read Ezek. 34.2 3 4. Phil. 3.18 19. Sect. 3 Shal I now crave leave to speak a word in particular unto you that are Ministers only of the Common Prayer Book I tel you that you are not like Ministers of Christ nor like Christ in his Ministry For he stood up to read a place of Scripture unto the people And when he had read the verse he closed the Book and sat down to teach the people And the eyes of all them that were in the Synagogue were fastned on him and all bare him witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth read Luk. 4.16 17 18 19 20 21 22. Now it is to be feared that you which are Ministers only of the Common Prayer Book if the book should be closed up to you all the people might bear you witness that they could not hear one word of grace from you and so you would not be like unto the Ministry of Christ nor like unto the Ministers of Christ For Ezra the Priest and those that were with him caused the people to understand the Law so they read in the book of the Law of God distinctly and gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading read Nehem. 8.2 3 4 5 6 7 8. Now if the people should expect as much from you that are Ministers of the Common Prayer Book as Ezra the Priest did who was a Minister of Jesus Christ how unlike the Ministers of Christ would the people find you Now I shal desire to speak a word joyntly unto you that are Ministers of the Common Prayer Book and unto you that are imitating preaching Ministers A note agreeable for our times Historical men Litteral men such a Christ wil not own for the present read Mat. 7.21 22 23. I desire likewise to joyn your hearers unto you and so to speak a word unto you all three Now the word is by way of question as the Prophet Isaiah speaks of Now the question is unto you that are Ministers only of the Common Prayer Book and no more and you that are imitating preaching Ministers and no more and you that are hearers and discern no better Are not the Scriptures that you so much read over and talk of The lively part of the Scriptures is as a book sealed to natural men though never so learned become as the words of a Book that is sealed which men deliver to one that is learned saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I cannot for it is sealed And this book is delivered to him that is not learned saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I am not learned read Isa 29.11 12. I would it were not so now in our days with the Ministers of the Common Prayer Book and with the imitating preaching Ministers which are historical men artificial men fine Theoricians to whom the Scriptures seem to
thou receivest such food that thou art able to go fourty days in the strength of it to incounter with new troubles again One word more unto thee that seemest to be discontented in thy troubles when they are more then ordinary Thou oughtest to be contented and to rejoyce in them and if they seem too hard for thee so that thou begin to wrastle with them then there will appear thy God An angel from Heaven to strengthen thee and to uphold thee in the hour of thy distress Luke 22.43 Now in the second place I shall confirm what I have said by Scripture Every son of love must have his dross taken away As many as I love I rebuke and chasten Revel 3.19 Now by rebuke and chasten it is not to be understood that every trouble and affliction is so a rebuke from God God is as good as his word not to remember sin because he is satisfied that it is a punishment for sin no for this would be to remember sin again but God hath said He will remember their sins no more Heb. 8.12 Iere. 31.34 Because Christ hath paid a full price for all our sins and he hath crossed the Book and God is fully satisfied Isai 53.11 Now I tell thee O distressed man or woman God having brought a whole train of graces into thy soul he will exercise them for his own honor and for thy good and if there be any rust at any time upon thy graces Christ sits as a refiner of silver and he will purifie thy graces as gold Mal. 3.2 3. Now the end of exercising thy graces is that thou thy self mayest know that thou hast grace and that the world may know that thou hast grace Chastisements are for the exercise of Faith and Graces Now thou having grace art to exercise thy grace in glorying in tribulations knowing that tribulation worketh patience and experience of the sufferings of Christ of which thou must be partaker that thou mayest come to a lively hope through Christ and this hope maketh not ashamed Rom. 5.3 4 5. Now the miseries Sect. 3 and the calamities and the afflictions that do fall upon a true beleeving man or woman it is not as punishment for sin for that were to lay iniquities afresh upon Christ our surety again Isai 53.6 Mistake me not I do not in the least give any liberty to sin for if patience have its perfect work it makes you perfect and intire wanting nothing but that which doth befal thee in this life it is for the tryal of thy faith and for the exercise of thy graces and if any thing doth befal thee which the world calls sin then comes in the tryal of thy faith and lets thee see the wiles of Satan and the sin that is in thy flesh and then thy faith calls for all thy graces and then thou goest to Jesus Christ the Captain of thy salvation who hath subdued all thy sins who doth subdue all thy sorrows who will subdue all thy griefs Heb. 2.10 11. And thus thy graces are exercised and for this God will be honored before the world because the world shall know that he doth uphold thee with his grace and is with thee in a promise And when thou passest through the waters he will be with thee and when thou goest through the rivers they shall not overflow thee because he is with thee and when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt because he is with thee neither shall the flame kindle upon thee because he is with thee Isai 43.2 Now this man Christ Christ is as a privy Chamber for the soul to retire into to refresh it self God and man he is an hiding place for a poor distressed soul to go into from the wrath and fury of the men of the world and so he is a covering for a poor distempered spirit that is troubled with sin and Satan fears and doubts and as rivers of water in a dry place are sweet and comfortable and pleasant even so is Christ unto a thirsty soul And as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land even so is Jesus Christ unto a poor panting drouping fainting weary spirit Isai 32.2 Now thou poor soul that hast such a very present help in time of need therefore thou needest not fear read Psal 46.1 2. but count it all joy when thou fallest into divers sorts of troubles and temptations knowing this that the trying of thy faith worketh patience And this is a needful grace in this troublesom world read Jam. 1.2 3 4. Now in the third place I shall give thee O poor soul an instance and an example of what I have said I says an experienced Christian am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ and this Iohn said Revel 1.9 And so saith an exercised Christian I brought nothing into this world but sin The Lord gives tryals and takes away troubles as be pleases and that I shall leave in the grave The Lord gives tryals and the Lord takes away troubles Blessed be the name of the Lord saith Job Iob 1.21 Now a Christian that hath been in the mount with God Sect. 4 can tell how to speak good of his name when he comes into a wilderness of troubles as Moses and John did and as Christ doth so doth a true Christian Christ comes and saith The commodities of Christ are his graces and they run forth freely to sinners Buy my white raiment my righteousness to clothe thee that thy nakedness do not appear and anoint thine eyes with my grace that thou mayest see And thus Christ sets forth his commodities in the market places and in the fairs amongst men and saith I beseech you come and buy my riches my honor my riches will endure for ever I intreat you to take my commodities you shall have them without money and without price and if you take my commodities your soul shall live Revel 3.18 Isai 55.1 2 3 4. Prov. 8.18 19 31. Now Most men complement and dissemble with Jesus Christ the most men and women in the world they come and complement with Christ and his commodities it may be his ordinances and they will come and hear him as Felix did Paul But they have no minde at this time to buy his commodities for they have married a wife and bought a yoke of oxen and they cannot stay now but they will come some convenient season and call for him And thus the most men and women do in a formal customary way go to Church and so come home again and make a little verbal discourse but leave Christ and his members it may be in prison and in misery out of some dislike against them and to shew some a favor as Felix was willing to shew the Iews a pleasure and left Paul bound Acts 24.24 25 27. And thus for all the fair pretences of some men for Christ yet they
brim-full of this grace of Christ that he may love the brotherhood that is the union between Christ and his Church and that we may have all the fear of God and then we shall honor the King Jesus Christ and honor all men The King as supreme and Governors under him 1 Pet. 2.13 14 17. Now this grace of Christ will move the Kings heart to be like a nursing father and to say as David said But these sheep what have they done But these thousands of poor harmless subjects that have been stain in England and Ireland what have they done I shall easily be intreated now to part with any thing or to do any thing to preserve those my poor subjects that are alive that they may have a firm and a lasting peace and live quietly all their days And thus Davia reasoned with the Lord as you may read 2 Sam. 24.17 24. Now this grace will help us to do more then a Covenant of our own making Therefore let us pray to God that he would be pleased to pour into the hearts of the King and Parliament abundance of his grace that they may be like unto Solomon in dividing of their great affairs for the peace of the kingdom and that with speed even as Solomon did with the two harlots in seeming to divide the childe the right mother came to enjoy her own childe Now amongst all your divisions the Lord teach you to maintain the priviledg of free Subjects and that every man may enjoy his own in peace Now if the wisdom and grace of Christ be in you it will teach you as it did Solomon To give the living childe to the right mother and this will make you famous 1 King 3.16 26 27 28. Now what hath been said Sect. 9 must be done with speed delays are dangerous the Kingdom is weary it begins for the kick and there are many evil tongues abroad the Lord keep us that we may not be devoured like unto Germany For the prevention of which the Lord teach you and inable you for to keep one right Fasting day to the Lord which is to loose the bands of wickedness and to undo the heavy burdens and to let the oppressed go free and that ye break every yoke and deal your bread to the hungry and bring the poor into their possessions again and to relieve the naked and hide not your selves from your own flesh for matter of opinion and if you take away from the midst of you the yoke the putting forth of the finger and the speaking of vanity by some of the ignorant and sottish Clergy and those that stand to do justice and do none read Isai 58.2 6 7 9. Zech. 7.5 6 9 10. Now when the grace and Spirit of Jesus Christ doth come all these things will vanish away as the mist doth before the Sun and then your light shall break forth as the morning and the health of the Kingdom shall spring forth speedily and your righteous judgments shall go before you and the glory of the Lord shall be your rereward and when you cry the Lord will say here I am to help you Now God in Christ he is the good Physitian that brings health and cure to Kingdoms and Cities and bids the inhabitants dwell in peace and go forth with their flocks for he will satisfie the weary souls and replenish every sorrowful soul And when a Kingdom or a particular person do arise and behold this then their sleep will be sweet unto them as it was to Jeremiah Isai 58.8 9. Jere. 31.24 25 26. Now some will object and say Object That I seem to upbraid the Clergy with speaking vanity and with being full of ignorance and sotishness I answer Answ nay rather the Prophets and the Apostles they answer for the speaking of vanity and using deceit by the most of the Prophets in their time which stole their words from their neighbor and say God saith read Ezek. 13.7 8 9 10. Jere. 23.30 31 32. 14.18 50.6 A Ministry not built upon Christ in the Spirit doth not profit the people for they seek themselves and not the peoples souls read Ezek. 34.2 3 4. And so likewise these Prophets and Priests and people for the most part are possessed with ignorance and sottishness as you may read and consider well of it Jere. 4.22 5.30 31. If I go forth into the field saith the true Prophet then behold the slain with the sword And if I enter into the City then behold them that are sick with famine yea both the Prophet and the Priest go about into a Land that they know not Or make merchandise As the Margent of the Bible reads it as the Margent reads it against a Land and the sottish people acknowledg it not Iere. 14.18 Now you will say it is true Sect. 10 there were such Prophets Priests formerly but you hope there are none such now I shall answer you nay rather the Apostle Peter shall answer you There were false prophets formerly saith he and there will be and are false teachers among you even at this day which come to you in sheeps clothing saith Christ and use fair and enticing words and yet are ignorant and sottish concerning me saith Christ himself Beware of such teachers for they are blinde guides saith Christ 2 Pet. 2.1 2 3. Matth. 7.15 21 22 23. 15.13 14. A Ministry built onely upon Letters I mean the Letter of the World and so speak or preach external words which may be got by natural industry and art But this learning onely and no more with it will neither profit themselves nor the people Now such kinde of learning as this the most part of the Episcopal or the Prelatical Clergy hath and some of the Presbyterians together with some of the Independents but especially the Minister of the Common-Prayer Book Mistake me not The Auditory of the Common Prayer Book for the most part are like little children that learn to say their lesson after their Master and so they are weak in knowledg like young children I speak not against any thing that is good in that Book but I speak of the unsufficiency of such a Minister or Ministers and then of the peoples weakness and ignorance in a customary way like unto little children they go to School to learn their letters and after a short time it may be they can say over an Epistle and a Gospel by rote and understand but little or nothing at all and it may be they can say over some Prayers without book when their Minister it may be cannot do so much And this hath been the custom and the rejoycing of the most people in this Kingdom and it is so now at this day in this City In some Parishes they rejoyce in that easie Common-Prayer Book I call it easie because a childe of six yeers old may read it over And this they rejoyce in as the publike Service of God when it may
be as a book sealed or as a box that hath far more precious ointment in it then that of Mary Magdalen as you may read Mark 14.3 But such men want a key to open this box A literal reading of preaching Minister doth but speak empty words in the ears of people or they want heavenly art to break this box that the sweet smels of Jesus Christ may come forth into the world amongst men Such men can speak of the letter of the Word which is as a Cabinet but they can speak little or nothing of Christ in the Spirit which is the Pearl in this Cabinet and this is one reason why your hearers are so ignorant and there is so little love to God in the world and love unto our neighbors Now I shal give your hearers one Caution Sect. 4 which is this It is not enough to cal Lord Lord but to have the grace of Christ to inable them to do his wil read Luk. 6.45 46. It is not the hearing of the Common Prayer Book read nor the verbal reading of it your self A form of Prayer only taught by men doth but beat the ayr that wil profit you It may be you may hear it read and be zealous in that and pray and yet remain ignorant in what you hear and in what you pray and your understandings ful of darkness But the Apostle saith He wil pray with the light of the Spirit and that light wil enlighten his understanding that he may edifie others 1 Cor. 14.14 15. And so likewise you may learn to say over the prayers in that book The definition of prayer viz. nay it maybe say over many prayers without the book but this is not prayer herein you are mistaken for prayer consists not in length of words nor in strength of words A true and a comfortable prayer comes from the spirit of grace returns to the spirit again but in the breathings of the Spirit of God into the soul and the souls breathings back again unto God And this is that which the Apostle saith The Spirit it self maketh intercession for us or in us with groanings which cannot be uttered And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit Rom. 8.26 27. because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the wil of God Now this grace of Christ in prayer comforts every soul that hath it and makes them able in the publick for the Kingdom and it makes them able for their families in private This grace of Christ makes those that are the Ministers of his Gospel sufficient and able in the newness of the Spirit to bring forth fruit unto God Rom. 7.4 6. Now I know that you that are readers and hearers of the Common Prayer Book and of those imitating preaching Ministers which can preach but little or nothing at all of the mystery of Christ and of the unsearchable riches of the sweet grace of Jesus Christ but they can speak pleasingly of the history of Christ and of the letter only I know now that you wil plead liberty of conscience to hear and to have this manner of reading and preaching And for my part you should have the liberty of your conscience A people delighting in a litter alministry are sotishly ignorant for the most part of them and ful of segality but I am sorry that your understandings are so dark that you are not able to discern the natural artificialness that is in some mens reading and preaching and I am grieved to see that you are not able to discern between the naturalness and the spiritualness of Ministers Some by the principles of nature can preach elegantly and use plausible words and this pleases you wel and this you cry up and magnifie But the spiritualness which some Ministers have from the Spirit of God this you cry down and say it is new light or new wine and with mockings say these men are ful of new light or with a jeer as Festus did to Paul saying Too much of this learning makes men mad And thus natural parts are advanced and true Ministers of the Gospel discountenanced as you may read Acts 2.13 15 16 17. Acts 26.24 25. 1 King 22.26 27. Mat. 27.63 Sect. 5 Now I shal speak a word in the behalf of those Ministers which are made able by the grace of the Gospel of God as Paul was such Ministers have the mystery of God manifest in the flesh revealed unto them by the spirit of God They are ful likewise of knowledg of the mystery of Christ in God and God in Christ and Christ who is God and the new man dwelling in the Saints now this is a glorious mystery read John 17.21 23 24. Eph. 4.23 24. 2 Cor. 6.16 Now such Ministers are made able by the gift of grace and the effectual working of the power of God that they may preach the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ unto a poor soul A ministry built on Christ doth administer grace to the hearts of the people now such Ministers have the secrets of the Lord revealed unto them Psa 25.14 And they do declare unto all the world the mystery which hath been hid in God from the begining of the world but now in these last times it shal be made known by the Church of Christ the manifold wisdom and love of God in his eternal purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord in whom we have boldness and access with confidence that we shal be filled with all the fulness of God And thus the true Ministers of Christ are furnished from God to speak the things of God Evangelically and to speak spiritually what they hear and see of Jesus Christ and this you may read at large Eph. 3.3 the whole Chapter And so likewise every poor member of Christ is compleat in Christ For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the God-head bodily and of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace Col. 2.9 10. Joh. 1.16 17. Now if the Lord would be pleased to let this grace come down from above as an overflowing stream of love into our Land it would heal our breaches it would move the Kings heart to be easie to be intreated by the Parliament for the good and peace of his subjects that they might enjoy their own with quietness and the freedom of free subjects though he as a King lost something which is his own to purchase peace for his people and then he would be as a nursing Father unto his people which I desire to see all this a tender-hearted father doth for the good of his child he wil part with much of his own because he loves his child And this grace must move the Parliament if they be like unto a tender-hearted father Now those that are like unto a tender father If they see any one lie under a burden though it be but light they go speedily they make no delays in taking off
the life of the Word Page 44. How the Jesuites Popes and Friers are Ministers of Christ P. 44. ◠7. The shepherds of these times would rule Christs sheep with an iron mace P. 45. Some named that were reproached in Mr Edwards book P. 46. Mr Edwards ten heads in his book like the ten horns Rev. Zech. P. 47 What it is that frays these horns viz. the Spirit of our Lord Jesus P. 48 49 S. 8. That Saul was a Minister upon the same account that many are at this day P. 50 51. A Minister sent out from men is a Minister of terror not of tenderness P. 51. How the false Prophets are mingled among true as heretofore so even now P. 51 52 53. The Confidence of most Preachers in these times is their library and books P. 53. Vpon what account there is much preaching to little purpose in these times P. 54. CHAP. IV. THe Scriptures insisted on set down P. 55 S. 1. None but beleevers able to prove approve of and reprove Ministers P. 57 58. S. 2. There is no cure for the world but free grace P. 59. Jesus Christ is a Saints spiritual magazine P. 60. S. 3. That in these days God begins to pour out of his Spirit upon all flesh P. 61. That upon this account beleevers speak more profitably then their teachers P. 62. That beleevers have a divine right and authority to try the doctrines of men P. 63 A Caution given beleevers not to be despoiled of their liberties in Christ P. 63 64. Many pretend falsly to a divine right in these times P. 64. S. 5. How the people have been and yet are abused by Clergy men 65 66 What divine right is and to whom it doth belong P. 66 67. The honorable Commissioners why not approved of by the Ministers P. 67 The ignorance of the people taxed in not being able to try their Ministers P. 68. Who they be that creep into houses and lead captive silly women P. 68. That discord among brethren ariseth from the Ministers of this age 69. § 6. Who they be that bind heavy burthens and lay them on mens shoulders P. 69 70. Dr Gouge his complying formerly with the Archbishop reprehended Page 70. To rule with force and violence doth ill become Ministers P. 71 72. § 7. A word to Ministers and people to unite them into one band of love by the Spirit p. 72 73. The story of Abraham and Lot of Jacob Joseph and his Brethren excellently opened and applied to these times p. 73 74 75 76 77. What men pretend that mind persecution p. 77. § 8. A sweet prayer to God for Vnity p. 80. § 9. Arguments to perswade to Vnity p. 82 83. § 10. Where and what is the power of the Church p. 84 85. Who are Evangelical Preachers and that none profit the people but they p. 87 88. § 11. That most Ministers seem to read Christs advice Mat. 6.31 backwards p. 89 90. Who are Elders according to God page 90. Three sorts of corrupt men in a parish page 91 94. That Jesus Christ is the mind of God page 94. That most of our Protestants are fit matter to make Papists p. 95. CHAP. V. THe Scriptures insisted on set down p. 100 101. § 1. A most excellent and spiritual instruction given to the Eldership in the Church of God p. 101 108. The Church is a school and Christ the alone teacher in it p. 104. The Church in the Apostles time had many young men in it that were full of the Holy Spirit p. 105. Many hungry people in the Church whom nothing can satisfie but Jesus Christ p. 106. Great use of Elders if right in the Church of God P. 106. Religion without love is Pharisaism Page 107. How the Religion of the most is Popish P. 108. That there hath been much hypocritical fasting in these times P. 109 § 2. A true fast to the Lord is a feast to men P. 110. The most content themselves with the shel but neglect the kernel of Religion P. 112 113. The holy Spirit is the love-token of Christ in the hearts of the faithful P. 115. § 3. What food the Saints live upon Page 116. § 4. Too much confidence placed now adays in Church-fellowship Page 117. A just reproof of such P. ibid. What is the Churches foundation 118 Vpon what the Christians lean 118 The commonly called Anabaptists reprehended and that justly 119 120. They justifie the parishes they seem to condemn Why the Anabaptist and Presbyterians disagree P. 121. That Anabaptists are mistaken in the foundation of Church-fellowship 122 An excellent reason against rebaptizing P. 123 124. § 5. A modest debate with a moderate Anabaptist P. 124. That the soul enjoys all things in Christ P. 125. Vpon what account the beleever is conversant in external observations P. 125. § 6. Of the baptism of infants and that they have faith and may be admitted as well as others thereto P. 126 127. A whisper in the ear of an Anabaptist and Presbyterian P. 128 The same Lord is now a Cloud to the Egyptian world but a pillar of light and fire to the spiritual Israel 129. § 7. The plea of an unbeleever 131. Of the confession of sin and how few confess sin aright P. 132 133. The beleever hath joy from the Cross of Christ in the confession of sin 134 The death of Christ most divinely opened P. 134. Several Objections answered made against confession of sin with joy p. 135 136 137. CHAP. VI. THe Scriptures insisted on set down page 138 139. § 1. What the most of our Elders and Pastors are and what they are able to do p. 140. Who seek the good of King and Kingdom p. 144. § 2. That there is no steers-man in the Church on the heart of a true Christian but Jesus Christ. p. 145. Christ the guide of a Christian in his active and passive obedience to Magistrates p. 146 147. A wise caution given to Magistrates and why page ibid. § 3. Several objections answered touching the discerning of true teachers and false by their fruits p. 147 148. That the unlearned beleever doth and knows more then the learned that beleeves not p. 149. Those that have been with Jesus and in whom Jesus is alone understand the Scriptures p. 149 Christ the Covenant of God p. 150. What learned men they be that are unfit for the ministry p. 151. Christ is the day of Gods rest p. 152. That many talk of Reformation that are ignorant of the pure Religion page ibid. § 3. What the pure Religion is 152. The most of the learned in Christendom do agree in pleasure ease and profit p. 153. Many zealous for Presbyterian Government care not for coming to the Elders and why p. 156. That one place for worship is not to be preferred before another ibid. Whether it be decent for Ministers to go all in black p. 157. Of humane learning of what use and profit it is p. 158. A word of
actions 352. The City Remonstrance the cause of much evil 353. A sweet saving word to these troubles of the Land 354. That a man may be very zealous yet have neither faith nor love 355. How men are mistaken touching Church-fellowship 355. A word to the plunderers of Christians in these times P. 355. § 8. A word to the sottish and ignorant people of these times 356. Nothing but the grace of Jesus Christ can heal the Land 356. That our Phisitians King Parliament and Army have let the Kingdom blood but none but Christ can heal it 357. What will do the King good and in him the Land ibid. That the grace of God will do more then a Covenant of our own making 358. A word to the Parliament that they as Solomon give the living child to the right mother ibid. § 9. 'T is necessary that something be done with speed for the settling of the people 359. One right Fasting day would set all right ibid. Who are the obstructers of peace and truth in the Land ib. Vpon what account the Author upbrayds the ignorant and sottish Clergie for speaking lyes 360. Who hath made merchandize of the people Page 361. § 10. As there were in times past so there are now false teachers among our chief rabbies many ibid. VVhat is the learning the most of the Prelatical many of the Presbyterian and some of the Independent men lean on 362. Of the people devoted to the Common Prayer ibid. A miserable thing to be learned in the Letter only 363 That Jesus Christ is now come in the Spirit 364. That there is no other interpreter of the Scriptures but the holy Spirit 364. CHAP. XII THe Scriptures opened set down 365. § 1. There be three sorts of Ministers VVho preach for applause 367. Of Ministers that cannot expound the Scriptures Page 368. The Scriptures are a box of precious ointment but the most want a key to open it 369. § 2. Who be the true Ministers of Jesus Christ 370. Imitating Ministers who they be 371. How the people are deceived by their pretended Ministers 372. That the most Ministers feed themselves and not the flock 373. § 3. A word to the Common prayer-Prayer-book Ministers ibid. A Note agreeable to these times 374 Who they are to whom the Book of God is sealed 375. Whence ignorance and enmity doth arise 376. § 4. Of the common sort of hearers ibid. Of the nature and mystery of prayer 377. A spiritual Ministry the people are much offended with 378. § 5. Of the Ministers that have the mystery of God manifest in them 379. What alone will be able to make the heart of the King willing to yeeld to the Parliament 380. What will do the Parliament good 381. What is the glory of the King and Parliament 382 What alone is able to settle the three Kingdoms England Ireland and Scotland 382. § 6. A word to and of the Army 383 The Christian trusts God with his liberty 384. § 7. The strife betwixt Martha and Mary well opened and applied 385 386. The carnal Christian as Martha and Mary knows Christ as after off but the spiritual sees him nigh at hand 388 389. A note of great concernment 388. § 9. How the Almighty God vails himself that he may manifest himself to and in men 390. Christ is the living Word of God ibid. How God humbleth himself to do good to men 391. Whether Christ suffered in his divine nature an excellent similitude to open it 391. How God went in Christ before the chief Priest and Pontius Pilate yea into the grave with him 392. Sect. 10. The fellowship of Christs sufferings sweetly opened 393. How Christ is crucified in man and who have a hand in it 394. CHAP. XIII THe Scriptures spoken to set down 395. Sect. 1. How many men are zealous for God and yet have Christ in contempt 397. That many think they do God service in killing those in whom Christ appears 398. Sect. 2. That Christ hath as many enemies now as he had when he dyed at Golgotha 399. When Christ is born in the heart of men there is a Councel called there against him P. 400 Who be those that sit in councel in the heart of a man against Christ 402. That every man hath a Judas in his heart to betray Christ 403. Who it is that gives sentence against Christ in the heart of man ibid. § 4. How the Cross of Christ is in the heart of man and what is crucified thereon 404 405. The spiritual and first Resurrection opened 405. The vertue and power of Christs Cross in the heart of man 406. How Christ takes the soul into the grave with him ibid. § 5. What a blessed thing it is to be conformable to Christs death 407. A word to him that is arrived at the haven of life which is God himself 408. Here the Author takes his leave of the Reader 408. § 6. That the whole Church together are a Temple for God and the Lamb to dwell in ib. The true Christian enjoys God every where 409. Of the Gospelized man ibid. Of the various appearances of God to man P. 410. Of carnal Ordinances which profit not without Christ 411. That neither the learned nor unlearned will have cause to jeer at these expressions because after this manner Antichrist is disthroned 412. How God is Father Son and holy Spirit first and last 410 412. § 7. That the Christians see Christ as the Angels do 413. How the unity of the Spirit is kept in the Church through the knowledg of God 414 S. 8. How all good is from God 415 God wil renew the heart and make it as a chast virgin to bear Christ in the Spirit as well as the virgin Mary did bear Christ in the flesh 415 God comes down into every low condition to comfort a poor soul 416 S. 9. A note of great comfort to a poor soul 417 Ecclesiastes the first and the seventh sweetly applyed 418 The Authors Testimony concerning himself P. 418. S. 10. What the names of Errour and Heresie is a vail unto 419 Whence it is that many feed on hay and stubble in stead of Manna 420 Whence Errors and false christs arise 421. That Christ and his Ministry are still found together ib. That a Minister not rooted in Christ shall be rooted up 422. CHAP. XIV THe Scriptures opened set down 423. Christ is the best thing in the worst times ib. What 't is neither King or Parliament Army Synod or City can neither give nor take away 424. The vanity of mens strivings in these times about matters external and circumstantial in Religion 425. Presbyterians and Independents like unto the four beasts Revel 4.6 7 8. ib. Two sorts of Presbyterians The first like a Lion The second like a Calf 426. Two sorts of Independents the one like a man the other like an Eagle 426. The Lion-like the Calf-like and he that had the face like a man are offended at the Eagle-like Christian ib. The strife betwixt Presbyters Independents and Prelatical men 428. How they have not all the same food 429 Who they are that feed on Angels food ib. What gives fulness of comfort when a man lies on his death-bed 431. How all relations fail but that of a man to God in Christ ib. That a flood of the grace of our Lord Jesus running into the hearts of King and Parliament wil only heal the Land 432. § 4. The blessing of a right Magistracy 433 Sect. 5. What moved the Author to undertake this work 434. Boaz field in the which the Author as Ruth gleaned 435. Sect. 6. Of what sort of readers 't is the Author looks for acceptance 436. Of the sweet refreshing the Author had in writing this book ibid. That the writing of this book cost the Author no labor or study 437. The Author gives the glory of all to God 438. How God dealt with the Author as Boaz dealt with Ruth 438. That God opens the mouth of the soul and fills it as the mother deals with her child The Conclusion of all is Christ the fulness of all ERRATA PAg. 66. read sold their pot to pay their tythes P. 138. l. 5. r. thy P. 156. l. 10. supply not P. 182. l. 12. r. margent of the Bible P. 303. l. 5. supply have P. 328. l. 20. supply put P. 329. l. 1. r. unto P. 374. l. 27. r. as Possibly some other faults and false pointings have escaped which the Reader is desired to correct as he shall find them FINIS