and condemne the couetous idle worldly vitious vnteaching dumbe absent and negligent ministers who because either they do not Gods worke at all especially in preaching or els execute their functions very negligently are subiect and lie open to Gods curse and are to answere for the damnation of so many soules as perish through their default Hier. 48.10 Ezek. 33. vers 6. and 8. Acts 20 26.27 2 Vse Secondly ministers neglecting all other by-matters that nothing concerne them and the hunting and hauking after worldly goods and glory must striue with all diligence to performe their duties and to make this their onely scope and marke to spread Christ his gospell farre and neere and so to conuert and saue soules 2. Tim. 4. ver 2. and 3. Act. 26. ver 18. V. Which are my flesh and chap. 9. ver 3. my brethren my kinsmen Out of these words the instruction naturally ariseth viz. the spirit of Christ doth not make men stockes and blockes or bereaue them of naturall affection for these are of God they are in themselues good and without the helpe and ministery whereof we can neither truly serue God nor performe the duties of righteousnesse and loue to men but it rather causeth and confirmeth them This sympathy and indulgent affection appeared most notably in Christ Iesus in weeping ouer the Cittie Ierusalem and bewayling the aproching ruine of it it manifestly also discouered it selfe towards Mary his Mother whom hee so much respected and had such a prouident care of and here it as in other places appeared most eminently in Paul who with the often hazard of his owne life labored the Iewes conuersion Vse Let vs haue a due regard to procure good spiritual and corporall to our country and kinsfolkes for this both nature and religion requireth and commendeth If nature bind vs to prouide for and doe good to our parents children and kinsfolke much more must grace and religion bind and vrge vs to care for their spiritual good and comfort And might saue some of them Obs. 2. We learne here that the preaching and ministerie of the gospell is not a matter onely of ciuility credit or a bare letter but the power of God the worlds saluation the immortall seed and to the Elect the sweet sauor of life vnto life Act. 13.46.47 2. Cor. 2.16 1. Pe. 1.23 and this it was that specially exalted Capernaum to Heauen and filleth citties and townes full of spirituall ioy Acts 8.8 The reason hereof is because God hath annexed a promise therevnto and is effectuall and powerfull hereby to draw and saue all that belong vnto him Mat. 28.19.20 â— 1 Vse It condemneth the Swink-feldains and the Atheists of the world that thinke the word preached is not of force and power to conuert any for they looke vnto the outward sound and letter onely and not to the poweâ— and promise of God who worketh effectually in it and by it in all them that belong vnto him Romanes 1.16 1. Cor. 1. ver 24. 2 Vse Let not men despise contemne and reiect the holy ministery but thinke and speake alwaies honorably of it let men herein acknowledge Gods goodnesse towards them and accept of the riches and treasures of his grace hereby offered vnto them For albeit it cannot profit and auaile any thing to saluation without the assistance of the holy spirit Yet by the helpe of it which alwaies accompanieth it in the elect al that are to be saued are ordinarily won Hence no Eunuch conuerted without a Philip no Cornelius without a Peter and no Lydia without a Paul V. 15. For if the casting away of them bee the reconciling of the world what shall their receiuing bee but life from death V. 16. For if the first fruites bee holy so is the whole lumpe and if the roote bee holy so are the branches If the casting away of them viz. i. the greatest part of the Iewes bee the reconciling of the world i. serue and tend to the calling of the Gentles whereby they are reconciled vnto God what shall the receiuing be i. the calling of the fulnesse of the Iewes by which they that before were cast off shall againe be admitted and receiued into the Church but life from death i. a recouery and bringing of spirituall life againe to the Iewes that were so many hundred yeares dead in their sinnes and also their restitution fulnesse shal giue an occasion of quickning to the Gentiles and of enriching many with the knowledege of Christ and saluation so of enlarging Gods kingdome both amongst Iewes and Gentiles and hence by reason of the common felicity shal be the true and perfect â—oy of the world For if the first fruites be holy so is the whole Lump i. For as then when the Israelites had offred the first fruites of their bread and loaues vnto God all the whole Lumpe and rest of the fruites were hereby blessed and sanctified vnto them that they might with good conscience bake knead and feed vpon them Euen so if Abraham Isack and Iacob their stock fathers and founders of their Nation were especially by reason of Gods couenant holie and accepted with GOD so shall the elect of their posterity bee in some sort fauoured for their Fathers sake And if the roote bee holy i. full of the iuice and sappe of grace so shall the branches i. The holie remainers by force of GODS couenant shall receiue and drawe iuice grace and goodnesse from it Q. If the conuersion of the Iewes shal be not onely vnto them but also vnto the Gentiles a spirituall resurrection and life from the dead and this must needes bee a little before Christ his second comming how can this place then agree to and accord with that in Luke where it is sayd But when the Sonne of man commeth shal hee finde faith on the earth Luk. 18.8 and with that towards the end of the world Sathan must bee loosed Apoc. 20.17 and seduce the people of the world Ans. They may very well and aptly bee thus reconciled by distinction That the last times of the world shal be happie in respect of the benefits of Christ and the light of the Gospell and likewise in regard of the gathering togither of the Church of Iewes and Gentiles throughout the world But they shal be vnhappie and miserable by reason of the worlds vnthankefulnesse and the seducement of Antichrist who shall not be wholy abolished before Christ his commming Secondly the number of Atheists Hipocrites Apostataes and prophane persons shall incomparably farre exceed the number of those that truely feare God and sincerely serue him yet that Church shall neuer wholy cease but vnder the tirany of Antichrist there shall remaine not a few that shall rightly call vpon Gods name and all the elect shal be saued whom the Lord out of all the families nations and kindreds of the earth hath marked with a certaine marke of Election and adoption Or thus in that generation or
we shall more easily cleare the difference Isaiah pointeth at the very moment of the time that was then to come but Paul passing from Christ his comming vnto other things that follow it saith he shall come from Sion .i. out of his Church for the good and comfort of it So that Paul doth not take vpon him the office of an interpreter but applieth it to his time and who can dislike or gainsay it Ques Shall this comming be corporall or spirituall Ans. It cannot now be corporall for the heauens must containe him vntill the daies of iudgment ergo it must needs be spirituall by the Preaching of the Gospell Obi. But saluation came not to the Iewes at the first comming of Christ therefore he must needs come to conueâ—t them at his second comming visibly Ans. Saluation came by his first comming but not altogether at one time and in one age but in diuers successions of times and ages for he must saue his people to the worlds end I would not haue you ignorant of this mistery Mistery here importeth a thing vnknowne vnto men or not sufficiently vnderstood of them The Doctrine then is this that flesh and bloud cannot vnderstand Gods counsailes as appeareth in the Iewes that thought that because they were borne of Abrahams seede therefore the blessing and benefits of the Messias did belong to them alone neither can Carnall wisdome or mens naturall conceipt know and vnderstand God and heauenly things 1. Cor. 2.14 The reason hereof is because the knowledge and apprehension hereof is supernaturall and proceedeth onely from the illumination of the holy spirit which is often called by Saint Paulâ— the Reuelation of the misterie Rom 16.25 Ephes. 3 V. 3.9 Vse 1. The vse hereof is first to teach vs if we would finde out and know diuine misteries to deny our selues and our owne naturall wisdome and submit and subiect our selues and senses to bee taught and instructed by the word and spirit of God for God hideth the knowledge of his secrets from the wise and prudent of the world and reuealeth them to Babes and so it is his good pleasure Math 11.25 Vse 2. Wee must vse all holy meanes as dilligent search attention comparing place with place consulting the Originall conference with our Pastors and godly brethren hearing and reading earnest and continuall prayer For then if the matter directly concerne our saluation God will reueale it vnto vs or if it be not so necessary if God reueale it not â— wee must bee content and reuerence that wee know not and rest vntill GOD giue farther knowledge and vnderstanding That you should not be wise in your owne conceipt The cause of stubbornesse and obstinacie which breedeth and begetteth absurd and rebellious opinions in vs is that men will bee wise of them-selues and will not seeke to vnderstand and know heauenly misteries by dilligent search and examination of the Scriptures and by reuelation of Gods spirit which is the only meane to vnderstand them but they either wholy neglect them or else measure them by their sense and imagination which is shallow and will deceiue them Isai. â— 21 1 Cor. 2.14 The reason hereof is because they want GODS spirit and humilitie to guide and direct them without which all other meanes are vaine and without force Vse 1. The first vse hereof serueth to condemne the badnes and madnes of many not only Papists but others in many countries who because they wil not be thought to erre will stiffly maintaine grosse false and absurd opinions as wee haue many Lutherans Schismatikes Sectaries temporising flatterers for instances 1. Vse Let vs not measure this misterie of the Iewes conuersion by sence and reason but by faith and seeing it is a misterie yet that it is in respect of the forme and manner of their conuersion not common or ordinary let vs not bee curious to diue and discend farther into particulars then Gods word or at least very probable arguments not contrarying the same wil warrant but rest in expectation vntill the time come and in the interim helpe them by our praiers and further them by our zealous and holy example Obstinacie is partly come to Israell that is it is not vniuersall nor perpetuall and so all Israell shal be saued SEeing that the Iewes are not altogether reiected but that there is alwaies a remnant remayning as appeareth by the first member and thè experience of all ages iustifieth especially seeing that al Israel .i. the greatest part and number of that nation are to be called and conuerted we must not rashly either contemne much lesse condemne the Iewes nor expell them out of our Coastes and countries but hope well of them pray for them and labour to win them by our holy zeale and Christian example The first reason hereof is there are some of them called and conuerted in all ages which are a preludium and fore-runner of the conuersion of the rest Secondly they are the faithfull keepers and preseruers of the old Testament Rom 9.4 Rom 3. V. 2. Thirdly they in respect of the time past Viz since Christ his ascention vntill this day doe in a sort confirme the Christian faith seeing that the iudgement of God is come vpon many of them to the full that they suffer those things which the Prophets threatned to the enemies of the Messias Fourthly amongest vs Christians scarce one of a hundred answereth his holy profession and therefore we haue little reason to insult ouer the Iewes that are so faulty our selues Lastly the great plenty and exceeding number of them for in Asia and Affrica to omit diuers places of Europe there are infinite numbers of them who when they shal be conuerted shall both in respect of themselues and vs Gentiles be the reuiuing and the resurrection of the world must keepe vs from rash censuring of them Vse Christian Princes and Potentates must take order that the Iewes amongest them may by degrees bee taught true religion yea they should force them to heare the Gospell and not leaue the miserable soules in perpetuall darknesse that they euery day grow worse and more wilfull in their errour Secondly they must by seuerity of lawes and punishment curbe and moderate their vnmeasurable vsuries whereby they much damnifie and impouerish Christian men Vse 2. Let the people amongst whom these Iewes liue and dwell beware least by their pride and cruelty they doe not hinder their conuersion for were it not for this doubtlesly in many places many more Iewes then now are would be moued and drawne to embrace the Gospell As it is written All the great and memorable workes of God such as is the incarnation of Christ his life Doctrine miracles death the reiection of the Iewes the calling of the Gentiles the rising reuealing and fall of Antichrist the generall persecution and state of the last times the resurrection of the body the last iudgment are fore-told of
God in holy scripture Ezek. 11.37 Rom. 9. Rom. 15.4 Ioh. 20.31 Apoc. 9. and 17.18 The reason hereof is because they are very necessary for the confirmation of our faith direction of our liues and therfore God would not haue vs in any wise ignorant of them much lesse to doubt of the truth of them Secondly God would hereby shew and declare the sufficiency of the scriptures and so consequently warne and lesson vs that we giue no credit to bee ruled by any fained reuelation or humaine traditions in matter of saluation but only consult and search the scriptures which containe a plaine perfect and all sufficient doctrine both for faith manners and for sauing of our soules Vse 1. The first vse is to condemne partly the supine and merueilous negligence and extreame slouthfulnesse of them that know not such necessary and fundamentall points and principall conclusions so euidently and so oftentimes spoken of and vrged in the sacred scriptures or the vnexcusable vnbeleife and Atheisme of those that will not beleeue such plaine places and proofes of Gods word but say or at least thinke that the scriptures are vntrue the fables or the politicke inuentions of men to keepe and râ—taine men in some feare and awe These are the Marchiuillians matchlesse in euil of our times Vse 2. We must neuer stagger 〈◊〉 or doubt of them neither at any time cal the certainty and accomplishment thereof in question but rest in them and repaire strengthen and quicken our faith by them for to this end were they giuen As it is written Ministers and preachers must leâ—rne hence not to broach and vtter their owne conceits or the inuentions of men but to speake and preach the holy and wholsome word of God only Luk 4.11.20 Isa. 8.20 Act. 26.22 Reasons hereof are first God so requireth and commandeth Ioh. 4. Isa. 8.20 Ier. 2. Secondly the word of God is for all and in all points that concernes faith and good life of and in it selfe perfectly sufficient 2. Tim. 3.16 and 17. so that it neither admitteth addition nor detraction Thirdly we haue for our light and direction the continuall practise of all the Prophets and men of God in the olde Testament and of Christ the Apostles and Euangelists in the new Fourthly the often and vnsauorie and vnfruitfull blending and addition of humaine vanities doth but darken and diminish the power puritie and efficacie of Gods word Vse 1. Hereby are condemned first the Papists that will not admitte and allow the Scripture to bee the sole and all sufficient rule and touch-stone of Doctrine and faith but adde and equall to it their decretalls traditions c. Secondly the hearers must take heed how and what they heare they must try the spirits and doctrines by the touch-stone of Gods word spirit and then retaine the good and if ought be dissonant from the sacred scripture they must refuse and reiect it The Deliuerer shall come out of Sion Christ the Redeemer Seeing that the Iewes and so all we Gentiles haue need off and haue giuen vnto vs of God not onely for our temporall but especially for our eternall deliuerance and saluation a Deliuerer and a Redeemer we see what wretched and miserable sinners we are by nature children of wrath lost sheepe Math. 15.24 Vassals captiues and slaues vnder sinne and Sathan Luke 4. V. 18. Lying and liuing in the shadow and point of death Ephes. 2.2 and for feare of the second or eternall death al our life subiect to bondage Hebr. 2.15 The reason hereof is for that all men without this Deliuerer and Redeemer to omit their temporall miseries and malladies are in farre worser estate then any brute beast or vgly toad or any other vilde creature for when it dieth his life and woe endeth together with it but the death of man without a Redeemer and without faith in him is but the beginning of vncessant and euerlasting terror and torment Vse Let vs labour to feele and finde our selues to bee thus wretched and miserable and acknowledge that without Christ his suffering and obedience we euerlastingly perish we must from a touched heart acknowledge that shame and confusion belongeth vnto vs that of sinners we are the greatest and therefore wee must intreate the Lord to be merciful vnto vs to receiue vs into his grace and fauour And therefore it standeth vs in hand carefully to labour and endeauour that Sathan doe not fore-stall bewitch and possesse our hearts with his deceites and illusions and so take all sense of our miseries from vs wherein they must needes pine and perish that seeke any other by-waies or shifting euasions Vse 2. Wee must in time seeke vnto Christ onely for helpe for pardon of sinnes and for saluation he hath eternall life in himselfe and is author of eternall saluation to all that obey him and for our better direction herein we must craue and desire the instructions aduise and assistance not only of our pastors and ministers but also of our Christian and beloued friends and acquaintance And shall turne away desections and vngodlinesse from Iacob It is the proper office of Christ Iesus to reconcile the reuolting Iewes and by consequence all the elect in the world to God his Father 1 Ioh. 2.1 and 2. Râ—m 5.8.9.10 Ioh. 1.29 Act. 4.12 The forme and manner is by his death and passion to make payment and satisfaction to Gods iustice for their sinnes 1 Ioh. 1.7 1. Pet. 1.18 Secondly by not imputing sinne vnto his elect and by imputing his owne righteousnesse vnto them 2. Cor. 5. ver 21. Thirdly by abating and weakning the multitude and might of sin in them by the power of his word and efficacy of his spirit Rom. 6. ver 3 4.5.6 Lastly by quite abolishing and remouing them at the houre of death and at the day of iudgment Apoc. 14.13 Hebr. 9. ver 28. Act. 3.19 The reason hereof as he is the blessed seed in whom all nations are blessed he is the roote and foundation on which all Gods promises depend and in whom they are yea and Amen Finally God hath sanctified sent and sealed him alone to be Sauiour Mediator of the world Vse 1. Therefore we must seeke for saluation in none els but in Christ in his only merits righteousnes sufferings for he alone trod downe the wine-presse of Gods wrath and by his death and obedience made satisfaction to his diuine iustice And this is my couenant to them Gods couenant with his people is certaine sure perpetual and alwaies kept on Gods part Act. 3.15 It is the foundation of saluation The reason hereof is because it is ratified and confirmed by Christ his death as no humaine couenant can be for they only last whiles the parties liue Secondly it is in time sealed in the hearts of Gods children by faith Ephe. 1.13 as also renewed and confirmed by