not destroy Adam for his sinne and deserued death now doth God pardone and pittie him how can this stand in the course of Gods iustice when as at the deliuerie of his Commandement he threatned death vnto Adam saying In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death To aunswere this Obiection The aunswere to the obiection The Iustice of God is perfectly satisfied according to his word for as Man sinned so Man for his sinne had the sentence and iudgement of death but the execution of death for sinne was spared in Adam and layde vpon Christ Esa 53.10 Ephe. 5.2 who was made an Offering for sinne and appoynted by God him selfe before the foundation of the world euen for all thē that put their trust in him so that the iustice of God taketh effect in man but Chrst perfect God perfect man hath ouercome death although his humanity for a time was seased vpon and kept in the graue by death to satisfie the sentence of his Fathers iustice pronounced against Adam yet by his Deitie he raised vp his Humanity from death 1. Cor. 15.20 Joh. 17.4.5 and glorified it with Immortalitie in heauen and he wil also glorifie all the faythfull that trust in him Rom. 6.5 Gal. 4.6 being ingrafted into his body Sanctified by his spirit whereby they cry Abba Father Gods prouident care ouer Adam euen in this world And notwithstanding that Adam was cast out of Paradise wherby he had a dayly continual feeling of his miserie purchased by his sinne yet God left him not forlorne but by his gracious prouidence louing eye which he had ouer him he kept him safe not onely from the rage and furie of cruell beastes which became rebellious vnto Adam but also from the crueltie of that roaring Lion Satan 1. Pet. 5.8 which gaped and euer looked for the eternall fall and destruction of Adam And God also blessed his labour that the Earth thereby should bring foorth fruite meate vnto him for the preseruation of this life and likewise he continued the loue betweene Adam and his wife that neither of thē should take exception one against the other for their eiection and casting out of Paradise but rather make much of and comfort one another in the time of their pilgrimage and miserie of this world The mutuall loue which should he betweene man and wife Which teacheth vs that man and wife should neuer fall out or be offended with each other for the losses of the riches and possessions of this world when as our Parentes twitted not each other in the teeth whē they lost the possession of that ioyfull Paradise O happie man The happy translation of man to a heauenly paradise who hath so mercifull a God that sinning yet thou art pardoned being lost art found reiected yet receiued dead yet lyueth and liuing shalt be glorified with him not in the earthly but in the heauenly Paradise for euermore The glory of heauen The glory whereof is infinite for the riches therein are without measure there is plentie without want comfort without griefe light without darkenesse life without death The ioy of Gods presence with his saincte Gods presence is as a bright shining Temple in the middest thereof before whose throne doe stand the holy Angels and Sainctes whose eyes are neuer satisfied with beholding him their eares neuer glutted with hearing him their tongues neuer silent from praysing him their handes neuer wearie with lifting vp vnto him their hearts neuer filled with the sweetnes of his loue and their feete neuer tyred with walking in his wayes Reu. 22.1.2 There is the Water of Life euer running the Tree of life euer growing and the fruite of Loue and peace neuer fading To which place and Paradise God of his infinite mercy bring vs for Christ Iesus sake our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen FINIS
Gomorrah Gen. 18.20 They are the Herauldes of Satan which proclayme warre against God and therefore he must come downe in the fiercenesse of his wrath to destroy his enimies when they would march vp to heauē against him to plucke him from his throane and sit in his seate to be as Gods knowing good euill forgetting their created estate that they were but Dust and Clay Gen. 2.7 and therefore how vnable to resist their Creator who being offended is able to Breake them in peeces like a Potters vessell Psal 2.9 The fruite of sinne is feare and shame For now the Lord calleth but Adam flyeth the Lord examineth but Adam trembleth Satans wordes were not so sweete but the Lords voyce is as bitter The possession of the Fruite dispossessed Adam of the Garden The hope of vaine-glorie hath brought a heape of shame and the Diuels dissembled roabe of Maiestie is turned into a Figge leafe of Miserie Thus sinne is no soner wrought but God is wroth he commeth in iudgement to punish and the sinner can not flie nor hide him selfe from his presence Exod. 20.5 He is a iealous God he will haue his word to be obeyed and the contemners and breakers thereof shall die the death for as sinne is begotten by Pride in rebellion so it is punished by Gods iustice in confusion And touching the Cause of the Inquisition Sinne causeth God as a iudge to inquire after man It was Adams breaking of the Commaundement of God the which God gaue vnto him in two respects The one to make him to know him selfe that he was a Creature because he was bound to a Law by his Creator The other to acknowledge the wisedome and glory of his Creator in looking for loue and obedience from his Creature by performance of the Law the which obeying God made to man the promise of life and in disobeying he threatned punishment by death God rewardeth the good and punisheth the wicked The which course of loue iustice in rewarding and punishing the Lord hath euer kept both with Men and Angels and will so do vnto the end of the world And They that haue done good Mat. 25.46 shall enter into eternall life and they that haue done euill into eternall death Gen. 7.19.20 Dan. 2.37 vnto 45. The Old world had not been drowned the Monarchies and great Kingdomes of the earth confounded Rom. 11.19 vnto 23. Amos. 8.11.12 the Chosen people of God the Iewes reiected the Gospel remooued from the East vnto the West and Fire reserued vntill the last day to consume this Earth 2. Pet. 3.7 and these Heauens but for the sinne of Man Sinne Sinne is deceitfull and monstrous it hath a Iesabels face but a Scorpions tayle It is a Monster in the sight of God begotten by an euill Spirit and nourished in rebellious Flesh And therefore God the onely good and glorious Creator of all thinges Gen. 1.31 who Saw all thinges that he had made and loe they were exceeding good hee in the puritie of his glory must purge Paradise of this odious monster and in the sinceritie of his iustice detest Man which hath coupled him selfe with this monster Sinne and thereby disfigured and defaced the gracious image of God in him This was the cause of Gods Inquisition after Adam for he could not behold his rebellion and sinne and suffer them to goe vnpunished An Inquisition vpon what cause it is grounded And as touching the Inquisition it selfe it declareth by the action of the inquirie an offence offered to the Inquisitor for the which God maketh fresh pursute against Man And in this Inquisition God him selfe alone inquireth after sinne God vseth no helpe or attendance of any of his Angels but by him selfe he findeth it out because hee onely knoweth the thoughtes of men Psal 50.6 and is iudge him selfe But for the execution of his will pleasure whether it be for the protection of the good or destuction of the wicked there he vseth for the honour and glory of his Maiestie Reue. 8.2.3 His Angels as his Seruantes Ministers to performe the same and that also by his especiall leaue and commission and not otherwise Without Gods especiall commission the Angels neither heare the words nor see the workes of men For without this especiall Commission they neither see nor heare the wordes nor actions of men vppon the earth but onely attende about the Lordes Throne in Heauen continually worshipping him and praysing him and reioycing onely in him for euer whose loue and glory taketh away from them all thought of other inferiour things or of any persons vpon the earth And therefore seeing God him selfe is the Inquisitor and finder out of sinne what manner of persons ought we to be in holines and innocencie of life for his Eyes and Eares Jer. 23.24 25. doe beholde and heare a farre off His knowledge is infinite his power vnresistable his presence fearefull his voyce terrible his sentence death against all impenitent sinners euen eternall death to suffer and continue In that Lake Reue. 20.10 which burneth with fire brimstone for euermore SECT 8. AS touching the Apprehension of Adam and Eue to answere for their fault Two thinges therein are to be considered The Power of God to apprehend the Weaknesse of Man to resist If so God should enquire and know all things that Man doth and yet not able to apprehende Man for his fault what care of obedience or what feare would Man haue of God Nay what blasphemies what rowtes and rebellion as I may so speake would he not commit against God For then Man would heape sinne vpon sinne The scornfull and blasphemous thought of the wicked against God and say in his heart Tush although God doth know my actions and wicked course and the thoughtes of my heart yet hee is not able to attach and apprehende mee for it and therefore I am still at libertie and false I weigh not and respect him no more then Shemei did Dauid 2. Sam. 16.5.6 for his force is weake and his hand vnable to take hold vpon mee Thus the wicked would say within them selues nay more they would conclude and affirme saying God indeed threatneth much but hee can performe little And it is true if so God were not able to apprehend the offendour for sinne aswell as to inquire and finde out sinne the wicked might ruffinelike thus triumph against God But Almightie GOD the Lord of Lordes and King of Kinges Psal 2.4 Which sitteth in Heauen shall laugh them to scorne and haue them in derision their destruction shall come sodainely and none shall be able to deliuer them out of his hand Gods power to apprehend sinners Gen. 4.9 10. Adam hid him selfe but he was found Cain would haue concealed his brothers blood but it was knowen Ioshu 7.21 Achan priuily conueyed the Garment the Siluer and the Gold into
God his members by so much the more their cursse is encreased and God the more glorified by his Children in their preseruation For hee can slay Goliah with his owne Sword and destroy Death by death 1. Sam 17.51 Hose 13.14 Iudg. 14.14 Gen. 3.15 sending Meate out of the Eater and Sweetnes out of the Strong for Satan brused Christ Iesus heele but behold hee hath broken the Serpents head And in the question which the Serpent made vnto Eue two thinges are to be considered First whether from the beginning any earthly Creature excepting Man had the reason of speaking which is the powerfull messenger of the Minde diuersly to deliuer distinguish deuide apply to the outward sense and inward vnderstanding of an other reasonable creature by the instrument of the toung whatsoeuer the minde purposeth to doe or obtaine Secondly whether the Serpent was the Diuell or whether the Diuell was in the Serpent For the first it is most true that no earthly Creature excepting Man had euer knowledge or reason of speaking Gen. 1 25. For God who made Man in his owne image Exo. 4.11.12 Rom. 10.10 1. Thes 5.11 Jam. 4.13 gaue vnto Man onely a toung to speake that in three respects The one to confesse him to saluation The other to bring men to the knowledge of God by edification one of another And the last to keepe mutuall intercourse commerce and ciuill societie amongest men which God hath ordained for our helpe comfort euen in temporall and earthly thinges As for the Creatures Gen. 1.24.2.19.20 God gaue them life motion and sense in their seuerall kindes for the seruice of Man but neuer gaue them Diuine knowledge or reason to iudge betweene good and euill because he made them for Man and to be at his commaund and pleasure But Man GOD made for him selfe in whom he tooke most delight and therefore gaue him a reasonable Soule to thinke Gen. 2.7 8. studie and speake of his glory which no other creature vpon the earth can doe And as Man confesseth and prayseth God heere vpon the Earth Mat. 10.32 so will God confesse him in Heauen where he shall dwell with him and his holy Angels for euer But it may bee obiected by some Num. 22.28 that Baalams Asse did speake which is true But it is to be vnderstood that that was miraculously to shew the power of God vnto Baalam to stay him in his iourney going to Balack to cursse the people of God For nothing is vnpossible vnto God Mat. 19.26.15.31 either to make the dumme to speake the halt to goe the blinde to see the dead to rise yea he is able of Stones Dust Mat. 3.9 to raise vp Children vnto Abraham But from the beginning in the nature and creation of Beastes Psal 32.9 God gaue them a voyce onely no speach and sense but no vnderstanding or wisedome for that onely is proper vnto Man So then it was not the Serpent that spake but the Diuell in the Serpent and so was he in the man that was possessed Mat. 5.2 Mar. 16.9 Math. 5.12.13 and in Marie Magdalen and in the heard of Swine And further in the question of the Serpent two other things are to bee considered Satans boldnesse to tempt and his subtiltie in tempting Certaine and sure it is that there is no time place nor person when where and whom the Diuell will not most boldly seeke to tempt and to ouerthrow for as he is without trueth Ioh. 8.44 so he is without shame Mat. 13.25 He will be sowing of Tares amongst the good Seed whilest the Husbandman sleepeth He will offer himselfe to be a lying Spirit in the mouth of Ahabs Prophets 1. Kin. 22.20.21 Iob. 1.11 Mat. 4.1 He will stand vp to accuse Iob and most boldly assay to tempt Christ For the Battayle is ended in Heauen betweene Michaell and the Dragon Reuel 12.7 vnto 13. Michaell and his Angels haue preuayled and there is ioy and saluation in Heauen but the Diuell and his Angels are cast out and come downe vnto men vpon the Earth with great furie and wrath knowing that he hath but a short time His Armie is great his Stratagems subtile his Malice fierce his Weapon death We must therfore awake out of sleepe Ephes 5.14 and stand vp from the dead and not to spend time and listen vnto or parley with Satan as Eue did but speedily to take the whole Armour of God vnto vs 6.11 and enter into fight with Satan shouting and lifting vp our voyces loude and couragiously against him Ioshu 6.5 as Ioshua did his Trumpets before the walles of Ierico that so by our Fayth in Christ the Diuell and his forces might fall lie flat and be troden vnder our feete for euer And touching his subtiltie in tempting 2. Sam. 20.9.10 he is like vnto Ioab in his treacherous killing of Amasa like vnto Iaell Iudg. 4.18 who in one hand caryed Milke and in the other a Mallet and like vnto Iudas Mat. 26.47 who gaue a Kisse vnto Christ saying All Haile and made a hisse vnto the Iewes beckning vnto thē Come take him this is hee For the Diuell neuer reuealeth himselfe at the first as he is for feare of discouerie but creepeth and windeth in by litle and litle into the heartes of men Math. 15.19 Ephe. 5.4 Iam. 1.15 as first by idle and vaine thoughtes then by foolish idle and vaine wordes and lastly he draweth them to vile and wicked workes beeing rocked asleepe in the cradle of Securitie and then Satan hauing gotten full possession of their heartes and mindes he discouereth himselfe vnto them as he is 1. Pet. 5 8. Reu. 12.9 To the fearefull vnbeleeuing a Lion readie to deuoure to the simple a Serpent to deceiue 9. to the cruell a Dragon to set them on fire to the malitious 9.3 a Scorpion to teach them to bite to the proud a Lucifer Esay 14.12 13. to teach them to disdaine to the couetous Psal 104.26 a Leuiathan to teach them to oppresse to the licentious Jere. 5.8 a Pampered Horse to make them neigh after wanton flesh and to those that be blasphemous and reprobate a Basan Bull Psal 22.12 to teach them to bellow and roare out blasphemies and fearefull oathes against the Maiestie of God Thus doth the Diuell both secretly tempt and openly animate man to sinne and rebell against God But to auoyde his snares and escape his tyrannie wee must continually pray vnto the Lord for strength and grace Rom. 12.12 Mat. 14.30 31.10.16 that wee may not be fearefull but faythfull not ignorant but wise Reue. 3.16 not cold and without spirituall affection but zealous to learne his law and obey his will that wee may bee able through his power to withstande Ephe. 6 16. and quench the fierie dartes of our enemie the Diuel SECT 2. AS