Testimony of our Reverend Brethren of the Province of London to the truth of Jesus Christ and to our solemn League and Covenant as also against the Errours Heresies and Blasphemies of these Times and the Toleration of them subscribed by 59 of the Ministers of Cheshire Some Observations and Annotations upon the Apologetical Narration humbly submitted to the Honourable Houses of Parliament by the most Reverend and Learned Divines of the Assembly and all the Protestant Churches here in this Iland and abroad by Adam Stuart D. D. Wholesome Severity reconciled with Christian Liberty or a true resolution of a present Controversie concerning Liberty of Conscience by George Gillespy Consolations for troubled Consciences of Repentant sinners by M. William Perkins The English Presbyterian and Independant reconciled setting forth the small ground of difference betwixt them both therein clearing the misunderstanding between the English and the Scots as which Nation hath broken the Covenant each with other setting forth withal on which side the offensive War betwixt us and them on which side the defensive is and how it came to be waged by John Stafford Esq The Deafe man cured wherein three things are handled First Christian Charity 2. Humane misery 3. The Divine Power and Mercy of Christ upon Mar. 7.32 33 34 35. by Tobias Higgins The strife of Brethren and a Treaty for Peace in two Sermons on Gen. 13.8 and Ier. 9 2. by M. Iohn Fathers Divine Meditations and Contemplations upon several heads of Divinity by G. Raleigh The Signs or an Essay concerning the assurance of Gods love and mans salvation gathered out of the holy Scriptures by Nicholas Byfield The spiritual Touchstone or the signs of a godly man drawn in so plain and profitable a manner as all sorts of Christians may try themselves thereby together with directions how the weak Christian by the use of these signs may establish his assurance The Sum of the Principles or a Collection of those Priciples of Religion which are set down in the little Treatise called the Principles or Pattern of wholesome words where they are at large explained proved and applyed Luthers fore-runners or a Cloud of Witnesses deposing for the Protestant faith gathered together in the History of Waldensis who for divers hundred years before Luther successively opposed Popery professed the truth of the Gospel and sealed it with their blood being most grievously persecuted and many thousands of them Martyred by the man of sin and his superstitious adherents and cruel instruments translated out of French by Sampson Lennard Canaans Calamity Jerusalems Misery and Englands Mirror The Doctrine of the Sabbath wherein these five things are contained First that the fourth Commandment is given to the Servant and not to the Master onely Secondly that the fourth Commandment is Moral Thirdly that our own light works as well as gainful and toylsome are forbidden on the Sabbath Fourthly that the Lords day is of Divine Institution Fiftly that the Sabbath was instituted from the beginning by Richard Byfield The light of Faith and way of holinesse shewing what to believe and for what to strive together earnestly contend and suffer for in this contending Age and how to live in all estates conditions and degrees of relation according to this faith Altare Christianum or the dead Vicars Plea wherein the Vicar of Gr. being dead yet speaketh and pleadeth out of Antiquity against him that hath broken down his Altar by John Pocklington Dr. D. Ashes General Tables to the Common Lawes of England being a compleat and large Dictionary thereof c. The Doctrine and Conversation of John Baptist delivered in a Sermon at a Visitation on John 5.35 by Henry Denne A Sermon in Commemoration of the Lady Danvers late wife of Sir John Danvers by Iohn Donne Dean of Pauls together with her son G. Herberts Commemorations of her A Meditation meet for a Christian every day or an Epitome of Promises for the Saints support in times of trouble The Hunting of the Fox an excellent discourse against flattery by Henry Hartflete Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Arch-Bishops Bishops and the rest of the Clergy of Ireland in the Convocation holden at Dublin 1615. Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical treated upon by the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury and York c. Hidden works of darkneknesse brought to Publick light or a necessary Introduction to the History of the Arch-Bishop of Canterburies tryal by William Prinne Esq The Book of Martyrs by Mr. Iohn Fox lately Printed in three Volumes in large Folio where unto is annexed certain additions of the like Persecutions which have happened in these latter times Psalterium Davidis Latino-Saxonicum vetus A Iohanne Spelmanno D. Hen. fil editum H. vetustissimo exemplari Ms. Bibliotheca ipsius Henrici cum tribus aliis non multo minus Vetustis Collatum 40. A Register or a General Almanack for every year containing an introduction to the knowledge of yearly Almanacks by J. Pont. M. Abbots holinesse of Christian Churches or a Sermon prepaced to be Preached at the Consecration of the Chappel of Sir Iohn Baker of Sussingherst at Cranbrook in Kent Baronet upon 1 Cor. 11.2 2. A taste of the truth as it is in Jesus consisting of ten Questions and Answers and a brief exposition upon the same together with ten General Directions how private Christians and Governers of Families are to serve God in all the parts of Gods worship The Reformed Spaniards or motives against Popery in French 12 o. Sir Ben. Rudyards speech for augmentations of Ministers Livings The Cure of hurtful Cares and Fears by Thomas Pierson on Phil. 4.6 with Mr. Christopher Harveys Conditions of Christianity or the terms on which Christ will be followed on Luk. 9.23 Samuel Hartlibs Legacy or an enlargement of the discourse of Husbandry used in Brabant and Flanders wherein are bequeathed to the Common-wealth of England more Outlandish and Domestick Experiences and Secrets in reference to universal Husbandry Antidotum Lincolniense or an answer to a book entituled the holy Table Name and Thing c. said to be written long ago by a Minister in Lincolnshire by Peter Heylin Mr. Harveys Synagogue in imitation of M. Herberts Temple An Explanation of those Principles of Christian Religion expressed and implyed in the Catechism of our Church of England set down in the book of Common Prayer useful for House-holders that desire heaven in earnest and are willing to discharge their duty in examination of their charge by William Crompton A Brief Treatise of Testaments and Wills very profitable to be understoood of all the subjects of this Realm of England desirious to know whether whereof and how they may make their testaments and by what means the same may be effected or hindred and no lesse acceptable as well for the rarenesse of the work as for the easiness of the stile and method Collected by Henry Swinburne sometimes Judge of the Prerogative Court at York The Bible of the last Translation in the Largest Volume that ever was Printed appointed to be used in all Churches The Bible in Folio of the Largest and fairest Roman Letter now Printed with the Concordance added to it Vindiciae Gratiae Potestatis ac providentiae Dei hoc est Libelli Perkinsiarii de predestinationis modo ordine institutum à Iacobo Arminio Responsio Scholastica III. Libris absoluta Authore Guilielmo Twisso D. D. The sum and substance of the Conference which it pleased his Majesty to have with the Lords Bishops and others of his Clergy concerning Religion contracted by William Barlow D. D. Cononel Robert Monro his Epeditions and Observations being an Abridgement of Exercise for the younger Souldier his better instruction ending with the Soudiers Meditations going in service Cyprianus de bono patientiae De Vnitate Ecclaesiae Collatus cum M. S. Oxoniensibus A Treatise of Love written by M. Iohn Rogers late of Dedham in Essex Run from Rome or a Treatise shewing the necessity of separating from the Church of Rome disputed in these terms every man is bound upon pain of Damnation to refuse the faith of the Church of Rome by Anthony Wotton B. D. Reformatio Legum Ecclesiasticarum ex Authoritate primum Regis Henrici 8. inchoata deinde per Regem Edvardum 6. provecta adductaque in hunc modum atque nunc ad pleniorem ipsarum Reformationem in Lucem edita Danica Literatura antiquissima Vulgò Gotica Dicta Luci Reddita operà Olai Wormii D. Medicinae in Academia Hasniensi profess P. cui accessit de priscâ Danorum Poesi dissertatio FINIS
as the haughty eye and lying tongue he doth not onely hate the pride and the lye but the haughty eye and the lying tongue and the heart of wickednesse and the feet running to mischief so odious and hateful is errour and sin to God therefore we must herein endeavor to be like our heavenly Father and not onely disclaim errour and sin but hate it with a loathing detestation like unto God our Father yea hate the members of sin Vse Upon this ground of truth it followeth by way of Use and Application thnt it must be far from every one of us we professing through Gods mercy the holy truth of God and the holy religion of God which now standeth in force and authority amongst us we must take heed that we be not indifferent persons persons of indifferent minds in respect of the errours of Popery Anabaptisme or any other errours whatsoever not caring what end goeth forwards or what Religion is in force whether Papistry or the truth or no but disclaim them and hate them with detestation And it is but a phantasie and a dream of some of the Polititians and Politick heads in this age that turn Religion to a matter of policy that forsooth there may be a pacification between us and the Papists in matter of Religion and there may be a mixture of our Religion with Popish Religion if there were but a moderation and a yeelding of both sides this is abominable and odious to make this composition of Religion for why Against Tolleration the Religion we hold and professe it is grounded upon the holy truth of God revealed unto us out of the holy Scriptures and the Popish Religion is contrary unto it and doth overturn and throw down the truth of God yea it doth overturn all the Articles of our Christian Religion in their tenents and therefore in the 2 Corinth 6.14 saith the Apostle What fellowship is between light and darknesse What agreement between us and the Papists in matter of Religion therefore we must hate their religion And to stirre us up unto this duty there being never more need then now wherein many men of unstable and unsanctified hearts begin to link and encline to Popery let us therefore know that we do not truly disclaim and hate Popish religion unlesse we hate them and account their Positions as dangerous and such as will destroy our soules if we cleave unto them howsoever some say they cannot endure Popery yet assuredly unlesse they hate it with unfeigned hatred they do not aright detest them for when men begin to speak favourably of Papistry and of Anabaptisme and of other errours and say they have some truth in them and they begin to like of them these men do not as they ought to do they do not hate and dislike errours and false doctrines but assuredly a thousand to one in short time they will be insnared and intangled with the position of Popery or Anabaptisme as the holy Prophet said to the people 1 King 18.21 how long will ye halt between two opinions this is not to go out in the right profession of the truth with unfeigned hearts assuredly he that loveth God and good things will hate evil as he that loveth chastity will abhor uncleannesse and filthinesse he that loveth just dealing will hate cosening he that maketh conscience of the Sabbath cannot endure the prophanation of the Sabbath so he that loveth the truth will disclaim all errours as Popery and Anabaptisme and such like foolish opinions as if a man see a Toad a Serpent or Snake he will flye from it it being poysonful and hurtful and not receive that for his nutriment which he knoweth will procure his detriment And therefore let us never rest untill we find a detestation in us of Popery and all other errours and then we shall be sure to stand fast in the true Religion in the middest of Popery if Popery should come as God forbid it should we might by our hatred of it be kept from embracing it therefore labour to hate and detest it VERSE 15. For he said unto Moses I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy And I will shew compassion to whom I will shew compassion THe blessed Apostle having in the Verses precedent given us a general denyal of that grosse conclusion which some might infer upon his speech that because God loved Jacob and hated Esau freely without any respect had to any good in Jacob or evil in Esau therefore God is partial and unequal in his dealing he having I say denyed this most emphatically with an Absit God forbid Now our Apostle subjoyneth a more special denyal and confutation and refutation of that absurd and grosse conclusion in the 15 16 17 and 18. verses of this Chapter In the 15. and 16. verses the Apostle sheweth that God is not unjust in his free choyce of some particular persons amongst men to life and salvation and in the 17. and 18. verses he sheweth God is not unjust in his free and absolute rejection of others In the 15. verse he cleareth God from injustice by a testimony of Scripture and in the 16. verse he doth conclude and determine that point Now touching the testimony of Scripture in the 15. verse first the Apostle makes known by whom and to whom it was uttered and spoken Then secondly he putteth down the words of the testimony I will shew mercy to whom I will shew mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion This testimony of Scripture is here brought by the Apostle as a proof of this that though God did freely from everlasting out of his own mere good pleasure nothing else moving him thereunto choose some men to life and salvation and reject others yet was he most just and righteous and herein lyeth the weight and force of his Argument That God hath free and absolute power to shew mercy unto whom he will and to deny his mercy unto whom he will therefore he is not unjust and unrighteous in choosing some to salvation and rejecting others to damnation And thus you see the scope of the words and general matter of this Verse Now the words of this 15. verse are somewhat to be examined For he saith to Moses that is God said unto Moses I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and shew compassion to whom I will shew compassion These words they are the words of God to Moses in Exodus 33.19 there we find these very words And the occasion of the uttering of these words to Moses was upon Moses request unto God that he might see Gods glory in the 18. verse of that Chapter And God promised unto him that he would shew him his back-parts and so in part yeelded unto his request and then he subjoyneth these very words as a reason why he would shew that favour to Moses and to no other man Not for any merit or any worthinesse in Moses himself but out
thy life and conversation throughly reformed thy corruptions mortified thy graces increased thy love and zeal inflamed and thy soul at last eternally saved let me beg thy prayers for my self in requital of my pains and thy best wishes at the throne of grace in behalf of the Stationer for his labour and his honest care and cost bestowed herein and herein forget not to go to God for his blessing upon thy reading this work and all our endeavors herein that all may tend to his glory In hope whereof I commend thee to God and to the word of his grace and the book once more to thy serious reading and practise heartily taking leave I hasten to write my self Albourn this present March 12 h. 1652. Thine in Christ Jesus William Harrison There is lately Printed Gods holy mind touching matters Moral which himself uttered in ten Words or ten Commandments also Christs Holy Minde touching Prayer which himself taught unto his Disciples discovered by the light of his own holy Writ and delivered by Questions and Answers by the late learned and faithful Preacher of Gods word Mr Edward Elton B. D. and Pastor of St. Mary Magdalen Bar monsey near London A true Relation of the murders committed in the Parish of Clunne in the County of Salop by Enoch ap Evan upon the bodies of his Mother and Brother with the causes moving him thereunto by Richard More Esquire Printed by order of a Committee of Parliament The great Mystery of Godlinesse opened Or an Exposition upon the ninth Chapter of the Epistle to the ROMANS Romans 9. Verse 1. I say the truth in Christ I lie not my conscience also bearing me witnesse in the the holy Ghost Verse 2. That I have great heavinesse and continuall sorrow in my heart THis excellent Epistle to the Romans written by that famous Apostle Paul the great Doctor of the Gentiles consisteth of these 3 parts in generall 1. A Proemium or Introduction 2. An Institution of Christian Doctrine 3. A Percration or conclusion Again in the Institution of Christian doctrine the Apostle proceedeth in this manner 1. He handleth the doctrine of Justification in the 5 first Chapters of this Epistle 2. He insisteth in the doctrine of Sanctification in the 6. and 7 th Chapters 3. Matter of sweet consolation flowing from the two former in Chapter the 8 th 4. He propoundeth and prosecuteth the doctrine of Predestination in the 9 th 10 th and 11 th Chapters 5. He proceedeth to matter of Christian exhortation to sundry duties generall and speciall Chapters 12.13 c. Now in this ninth Chapter he beginneth the doctrine of Predestination and openeth that great mystery of godlinesse concerning the rejection of the Jewes and calling of the Gentiles and herein we have 3 parts 1. In the first place we have not onely an insinuation of the Apostles dear and deep affection and a solemne and serious protestation of the truth of it but also a singular manifestation of his most admirable love to the nation of the Jewes notwithstanding the doctrine he was now about to deliver and this is amplified by sundry circumstances as 1. By the particular passion or affection wherein he manifested his dear love to them and that is his grief and sorrow for their casting off 2. The grief he here speaketh of is further amplified by two further circumstances or adjuncts viz. 1. The constancy of it 2. The sinceritie of it 3. This love of the Apostle to them is further illustrated by the great measure or extent of it viz. that he could wish himself accursed and separated from Christ in order to procure their salvation 4. Lastly by the affectionate and honourable mention that he maketh of the Jewish nation describing both fully and affectionately all their priviledges and prerogatives shewing what great cause he had to be so deeply affected with their rejection and thus he doth in the 5 first verses of this Chapter The second part of the Chapter is touching a vindication of the stabilility and constancy of the Lords promises though the Jewes were rejected and the defending of that promise of God for the stability of it against all cavils and all erring spirits and all humane reasonings that may be brought to the contrary and that from the 6. verse to the 24. The third part is a declaration of that wonderfull and deep mystery held from the beginning of the world concerning the calling of the Gentiles and rejection of the Jews which was a thing foretold though men did not understand it before Paul revealed it unto them which was foretold by the Prophets so laid down from the 24. verse to the end of the Chapter so you have the chief materials generall in the Chapter of these in order and first of the first The Apostle being about to propound that which he knew would be taken very harsh and hard and marvellous displeasing and offensive to the Jews to hear of he useth a very patheticall insinuation of his love unto the Jews that he speaks of love expressing that love by his inward and hearty sorrow for their present estate and the care that he had for their good thereby to gain their good will and not exasperate them against him And the Apostle being to lay down their rejection useth a Preface unto it that the thing he spake was the truth and for the more force and efficacy of it he putteth down the contrary and I lie not and he confirmeth it further by an oath he calleth Christ to witnesse I speak the truth in Christ I lie not And secondly he proveth it by the witnesses and testimony of his own conscience his own conscience bearing witnesse with him and this conscience renewed by the holy Ghost mine own conscience bearing witnesse with me in the holy Ghost And then in the second verse he delivereth and putteth down his sorrow and his grief and his heavinesse of heart and thus he setteth out by the continuance and greatnesse of it it was a great sorrow and a continuall sorrow and that in his heart and soul and not a dissembled fained or outside sorrow but in his very heart and soul there he putteth down the desire of their good in the third verse And he doth expresse that by a wonderfull strange speech even by a wish to be separated from Christ for their good their calling and conversion Thereby implying their rejection and not propounding it for otherwise there was no cause of such a wish to be wished to be separated from Christ for their sake if they were not rejected and therefore he desireth to be anathemated and accursed from Christ for their good and then he setteth down reasons why he so wished himself to be separated from Christ First of all because they were his brethren and kinsmen according to the flesh Secondly a more waightier reason then this because they were the Israelites of God and Gods people and that he maketh further manifest and plain unto
vanity and garishnesse in apparel their drunkennesse their whoredome their covetousnesse their usury or with any other darling sin no though it be so that together with leaving of their sin they might both glorifie God and also enjoy comfort to themselves here and happinesse and glory hereafter in heaven yet they will not for the glory of God and for the glory of Christ and for obtaining of heaven too forsake their pleasing sins We see then if we duly examine our selves how far short many of us are from that affection to the glory of God and the glory of Christ that ought to be in us I might lay forth our coming short in this in many other particulars but take we notice of our failing by that which hath been spoken and now take we notice of our duty how dear the glory of God and the glory of Christ ought to be to us and though as I said we cannot come to such a measure of love and zeal to the glory of God and the glory of Christ that was in Moses and Paul yet we must aym at it and we must endeavour to come to it and let neither profit nor ease nor pleasure nor honour nor credit in the world nor the dearest thing we enjoy or hope hereafter to enjoy be dearer to us then the glory of God and the glory of Christ if God call us to do or to suffer any thing for his name and glory and for the glory of Christ Let us be ready to prefer the doing or the suffering of it before the best good thing we enjoy in this world yea before our dearest blood and before our own lives And to that purpose consider we that Gods glory is most dear to his own most blessed Majestie Esay 48.11 〈◊〉 I will not give my glory unto another And hence it is that the Lord â—â—even jealous of his glory and he cannot abide it should be any way touched or impaired Wicked Nebuchadnezzar was suffered to go on in sin a long time but when he thought by the Majestie of his person and Palace as it were to outface God he became a miserable and silly beast Dan. 4.27 And wicked Herod had a long time vexed the Church and escaped unpunished but when he took to himself the glory of God he was suddenly smitten by the Angel of the Lord and eaten up of worms Act. 12.23 Vse 2 And again consider we if Gods glory be dear to us and we prefer that before the dearest thing we enjoy it is an undoubted evidence that we truly love God as if a good child tender the credit of his father and cannot endure any contempt or disgrace to be cast on him we hold it a sure argument of his love to his father Look we then to it that as Gods glory is most dear to his own children so it must be most dear to us and if it be so and we prefer it before the dearest good thing we enjoy or hope to enjoy we shall thereby evidence to our comfort that we truly love God and are truly beloved of God and as his glory is dear to us so we are dear to him and as we honour him so will he honour us according to his own promise 1 Sam. 2.30 yea he will not onely honour us with the glory of heaven but he will give us honour here in this world so far as he sees meet for us yea he will give us honour in the hearts of those that hate us and deal harshly with us the Lord will force them to honour us in their hearts And these things duly considered ought to stirre us up to be so affected to the glory of God and the glory of Christ as that we prefer that before the best good thing we do enjoy or hope to enjoy and to hold that dearer to us then our own soules Now the Apostle in this verse subjoyns one cause moving him to wish himself separated or accursed from Christ for the conversion of the Jewes namely this because they were his brethren his kinsmen according to the flesh hence note we thus much That we are to love our kindred in the flesh and to respect them Doctr. and to wish them good yea spiritual good saving grace here and salvation hereafter in heaven because they are our kindred and because they are knit to us and we to them by the bond of flesh and blood Deut. 23.7 saith God thou shalt not abhor an Edomite for he is thy brother Luke 4.16 we find that Christ beginning to preach he preached first at Nazareth where he had been brought up because it had been the place of his education in recompence of that he preached there first 1. Tim. 5.4 the Apostle saith that children or nephews must learn first to shew godlinesse toward their own house and to recompence their kindred for that is an honest thing and acceptable before God and verse 8. he saith he that provideth not for his own and namely for them of his houshold he denyeth the faith and is worse then an Infidel So doubtlesse he that loves not his kindred and those he is tyed to by the bond of nature and doth not wish them good even spiritual good saving grace here and salvation hereafter in heaven because they are his kindred he failes in his duty and there is good reason for it namely this Nature it self by the very light of it teacheth this duty and binds to the performance of it to love our kindred and to respect them Reason and to wish well to them because they are our kindred and much more Religion teacheth the same and binds to the performance of it for Religion takes not away natural affection but perfects it and piety doth onely order and qualifie natural affection and not extinguish it But haply some may object Object that of the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.16 Henceforth know we no man after the flesh yea though we had known Christ after the flesh yet now henceforth know we him no more Therefore it seems we are not to respect our kindred in the flesh because they are our kindred I answer Answ The Apostle in that place sets himself against false Teachers who stood on outward and corporal prerogatives and legal and carnal ceremonies and the generation of Christ after the flesh these things would the Apostle no longer know that is trust unto before his conversion he stood on such outward things that he was circumcised an Hebrew of the Hebrews by the Law a Pharisee Philip. 3.5 but now he counted all these things losse Philip. 3.8 and will not now know Christ onely according to the flesh that is his meaning And so it makes not against this That we are to love our kindred and to respect them and to wish them good because they are our kindred And to apply this Vse It 's a common thing with wicked and gracelesse persons to love them least to whom they are tyed by the bond of
his mercy and Justice In massa pura non corrupta we are then to be thankful unto God even when we are plunged into the deepest Afflictions we can think of we are though it seem harsh and hard to blesse God and to consider in the time of our afflictions O Lord if thou shouldest deal with us as we have deserved we had been long since in hell now if the Lord do mitigate our Judgments and hath appointed us to salvation we are to magnifie his mercy considering his lawful authority over us to do what he will with us Again we considering that the lump of clay is here to be considered untainted free from tincture and pollution so we are to conceive of mankind in the making of him free from corruption That Gods will in appointing men to their several and final ends is absolute Gods will is dependent on nothing out of God Doct. 3 and independent it dependeth upon nothing in man good or evil God had not respect to man at all either to sin original or actual neither to his fall nor to his works good or evil but as the Potter maketh of the same lump being not tainted with any tincture so the Lord in appointing men to their final ends and everlasting estate did it out of his free will depending upon nothing in man it was absolute And hence it is that the Apostle determineth Gods predestination his choosing of some to life and reprobating of others in the good will and pleasure of God in Ephes 1.5 and in the 11. verse he saith God worketh all things after the counsel of his own will not unadvisedly but with counsel Because the Will of the Lord is the highest cause of all things and when we are come to that we are not to search any further nor to reason Reason about it but to rest in the will of God Gods will being the Supream cause of all things This being a truth Vse it beareth strongly against the opinion of some erring spirits as namely those that say that God in appointing men to their final ends had respect to something in man as either to their faith and good works or to their unbelief and obstinacy in sin Now this doth not onely make the will of the Lord dependent upon mans will that if men will be saved they shall if not damned but this opinion of theirs if we mark and observe it it maketh a dissimilitude between God and the Potter which are here put together in affinity and agreement But this doth overturn and contradict it And if this be true then this text is not true for if God had respect to something in man surely then God need not appoint any person definitively nor certainly to be a vessel of honour but conditionally if they did believe And so they make God to frame divers persons diversly qualified to divers ends and that with respect had to their qualification all men if they believe shall be saved if not none And so this disannulleth and overthroweth this similitude of the Apostle of the Potter who maketh of the same lump vessels to honour and vessels to dishonour so God out of the general lump of mankind not corrupted maketh some men to honour and some to dishonour I but may some say the Apostle saith Object in 2 Tim. 2.21 if any man purge himself from evil he shall be made a vessel of honour so that it dependeth not upon Gods will but upon our purging of our selves and our purifying of our hearts and lives To this I answer The Apostle in that place alledged Answ he speaketh not either of the decree of election and fore-appointing of some men to life and salvation nor yet of his effectual vocation and effectual calling But in this place the Apostle speaketh of the office and duty of Christians and he sheweth how a Christian must carry himself different from a Reprobate and answerable that he may be a vessel of honour sanctified and purged from the drosse of Corruption and from the sin and sinful courses of the world And this is the duty of every believing and elect Child of God thus they ought to demean and purge themselves and to carry themselves even as sanctified vessels fitted and prepared for glory so that this still remaineth a truth that Gods will in appointing men to their final ends it is absolute And we are to hold this as a certain truth for if we be in the number of Gods chosen we are built upon a sure foundation namely the absolute will of the Lord and that standeth more firm and stable and immoveable then the frame of heaven and earth the very frame of heaven and earth shall be turned upside down before this shall be shaken Oh what an excellent ground of comfort is this to as many as know themselves to be in the number of Gods chosen that they shall never lose it it being built upon so sure a foundation as Gods most absolute will which can never be moved VERSE 22. What if God willing to shew his wrath and to make his power known endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction IN these two Verses our Apostle he maketh a real Answer to the Caviller and Carnal Reasoner the Caviller reasoneth thus from the words of the Apostle that some men are hardened it is the will of God so saith the Apostle he hardeneth whom he will what reason is there then that God should complain of such men that are hatdened the will of God is irresistible it cannot be withstood and you teach us God hardeneth whom he will what then saith the Caviller hath God to complain of Now herein first our Apostle doth check the Cavillers saucinesse and malapertnesse in the 20. verse Who art thou O man shewing the absurdity of the reasoning against God and it is as if the formed thing should say to the former why hast thou made me thus amplifying that by a similitude of the Potter whereby the Apostle implyeth that as the Potter may lawfully do with his clay what he will and frame out of it several vessels to several uses so may the Lord ordain some men to life and glory and some to shame and confusion Now the Apostle having thus made way to the Real Answer now he cometh to it and sheweth that God may lawfully punish Reprobates for their hardnesse And that God is just in threatening and punishing men for their hardnesse of heart this he proveth by the Lords manner of dealing with Reprobates because saith he the Lord suffereth them with long patience as if he had said though the Lord had decreed their rejection and casting off for ever yet before the Lord hath executed any degree of his punishment he suffereth them with long patience to continue that he may the better declare his just wrath and Judgment upon them and his power in them and may make known the riches of his mercy toward his chosen
precise fellow yet know that it were better for thee to go to heaven with a few in the narrow gate then with many to the broad way to destruction Matth. 7.13 FINIS A Table for the Ninth Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans A ABrahams true seed who they are page 69 Acts of God have special and particular ends page 143 Adoption external what it signifieth page 26 Anabaptists confuted page 37 86 Anabaptists and Familists confuted page 137 Anathema what it is page 18 Arminians confuted concerning Election and Vniversal Redemption page 84 86 Astrology judicial censured page 78 79 80. Assurance of Salvation how attained page 206 c. B BLame of sin apt to be laid from our selves page 160 Blindnesse of minde the misery of it page 141 Blindnesse of ' the world in misjugding of the state and condition of Gods children page 225 Bring born under the same position of the stars preventeth not difference of disposition page 78 C CAlled some at one hour some at another page 101 Calling effectual an evidence and token of one in Covenant with God page 61 Calling effectual a ground of good assurance of Salvation page 205 A special evidence of Election page 206 without respect of persons or qualification page 209 Calling wrought by the word and Spirit of God page 216 Called ones have a special work of the word upon their Souls page 222 Cavil against the Godhead of Christ answered page 40 Censuring of any rashly especially to be Reprobates taxed and reproved page 60 Children of God their honourable estate page 35 use 2. Children of Godly Parents are not therefore Gods children page 56 Children of such how said to be holy page 56 57 admonition to such page 57 Children of the flesh and of promise page 62 63 Christ incarnate and and became true man and why page 36 37 Christ brought not his body from Heaven page 37 Christs incarnation comfortable to his page 38 Christ true God proved 39 use of it page 41 Christ both God and man in one person page 43 Christ to be thought and spoken of with reverence due to his name page 44 Christians described page 53 54. Christians their spiritual duty page 60 Comparing our selves with God is useful and beneficial page 167 168 Chosen ones of God differ not from others till God distinguish them page 59 Conscience why placed in the soul of man viz. to be witnesse and register page 8 9 Conscience not right till sanctified page 10 erroneous and unsanctified taxed page 11 Contentment one special ground of it page 99 a necessary Christian duty page 175 Continuance in sin dangerous page 189 Covenants what they are page 27 Churches enemies can do nothing but what God hath appointed page 143 Curiosity the danger of it page 170 D DAvids respect to Saul though wicked page 30 Daies their superstitious observation reproved page 123 Decrees of God concerning Election and reprobation most just page 116 Drawn to Christ how men are page 91 Different estates of men in the world ordered by Gods decree and appointment page 98. Dignity of Gods children discovered page 224 c. E ELection is the chusing of a certain number to salvation and not of all page 84 Election reprobation depend meerly upon the good pleasure of God and not of man page 85 Election daependeth not upon good works or upon faith foreseen page 93 Comfort to such as are assured of their Election page 87 91 Election of God is sure and unchangeable page 89 The doctrine of Election must be rightly applyed but not abused page 91 Election a sure and true note of it page 92 Election the Decree of it most effectual page 100 Election assurance of it possible to be atttained page 101 assurance of Election how attained page 101 102 Elected ones special Characters of them page 111 their condition whilst remaining in their natural estate page 220 Enemies of the Church can do nothing against it but by Gods permission and appointment page 144 and yet are justly blamed and punished and why ibid. Erroneous opinions justly to be abhorred page 118 proceed chiefly from carnal Reason page 158 Excellencies in others are duly to be acknowledged and reverenced page 29 Final estate of any not rashly to be judged page 101 Freewill the doctrine of it confuted page 131 132 G GLory and happinesse of the Saints in heaven is wholly of Gods free mercy page 202 assurance of interest in it how attained page 203 Glory of God ought to be dearer to us then our own salvation and why page 22 23 God the title of it never given to any one man in Scripture Magistrates how called gods page 40 God in every act of his hath a particular end page 143 God hath lawful power over man to dispose of him at his pleasure as the potter over the clay page 179 God no tyrant nor unrighteous ibid page 180 Gods Infinite power against sin and sinners will be one day manifested page 192 Reasons and uses of it shewed page 191 Gods power saving and destroying ibid. Gods revenging power irresistible page 192 Grief Christians ought to grieve for the misery of others especially of their souls page 11 12 Grief whether lawful for such as suffer justly by the Magistrates for evil doing page 34 H HAtred how God hated Esau shewed page 106 Hardnesse of heart a most grievous judgement page 141 God must not be provoked to inflict it ibid. Gods children shall not be given up to it page 142 Hardening of some a free act of God page 153 Hardening of some according to Gods will page 154 How God hardeneth the heart ibid. Whether Gods Hardening do justly excuse hardened sinners yea or no page 163 Hearers of the word their special duty page 129 130 Directions for profitable hearing of the Word of God page 115 Heart hard a grievous judgement see hardnesse Heart soft and melting a special mercy page 155 Heart so qualified how attained page 155 156 Hierusalem how and in what respect an holy City page 224 folly of Popish Pilgrimages thither ibid. Hope of salvation where to be placed page 132 Humility one special ground of it page 177 I IMpudency of some discovered page 170 Indifferency in matters of Religion not good page 118 Inferiors ought to be obedient to supeirours page 30 31 Israelites all are not that are so called page 52 Israelites indeed righly described page 26 47 Jewish people most honourable and why page 36 our duty towrds them ibid. Justice of God in case of Election c. vindicated page 179 Justice of God in destroying the wicked is to be magnified page 195 K KIndred in the flesh our duty towards them page 25 especially to seek and endeavour their salvation ibid. neglecters of their kindred reproved page 26 Kindred and race of Gods servants honourable page 34 L LOve if true begetteth grief for the party beloved page 15 Love to the people of God the tryal of it page
Act. 13.3 6. Advantage of Afflictions Hos 5.15 Mr. Hookers Faithful Covenanter on Deut. 25 24 25. Hudsons Essence and unity of the Church-Catholick Vindication of it in answer to Mr. Hooker M. Cotton and others History of the Anabaptists of Germany Mr. Jenkins Self-seeking discovered on Philip. 20 21. Reformations Remora on Hag. 1.1 2. Sleeping-sicknesse on Isa 29.10 Busie Bishop both in answer to John Goodwin The blinde Guide both in answer to John Goodwin M. Ley's Fury of Warre on Jer. 4.21 22. Monitor of Mortality first part on Jam. 4.14 Second part on Gen. 44.3 Answer to M. Saltmarsh's Query about the Presbyterial Government Light for Smoak a Reply to M. Saltmarsh An After-reckoning with M. Saltmarsh M. Mockets Churches Troubles Several Sermons on Gen. 22.14 Covenanters Looking-glasse on Deuter. 29.9 Gospel-Duty and Dignity on Matth. 13.46 and his Catechisme M. Mewes spoiling of Jacob and Israel on Isa 42.24 25. Moulins Buckler of Faith against Popery 4 o. M. Newcomens craft and cruelty of the Churches adversaries Neh. 4.11 Jerusalems Watchmen Isa 62.6 7. Use of disasters Josh 7.10 11. Against Toleration Phil. 1.27 All-seeing eye of God on Heb. 4.13 Popes deadly wound tending to resolve all men in the chief and principal Points now in controversie between the Papists and us by J. Burges of Sutton-coldfield in Warwick shire Dr. Potter of the Number 666. Parkers Altar Dispute Bewailing of the Peace of Germany and Prague M. Profits Englands Impenitency on Isaiah 9.14 M. Reyners Babylons Earthquake on Haggai 2.6 7. Randal on the 8th of the Romans with other Sermons Rutherford of Church-Goverment and excomunication M. Salwaies halting stigmatized 1 Kings 18.21 Dr. Stantons Rupes Israelis Deut 32 31. Phinehas Zeal Psal 106.30 Dr. Smith Psal 107.6 Stalham against the Anabaptists against General Redemption his Catechism Dr. Sclater on Malachy on the 4th to the Romans Mr. Thorowgood Moderation justified Phil. 4.5 M. Vdall's Good of Peace and Ill of Warre Psal 29.11 Udal on the Lamentations of Jeremiah Vindication of the Presbyterial Government and Ministery by the London Ministers Mr. Wards God judging among the gods Psalm 82.1 Good will of him that dwelt in the bush Mr. Woodcocks Christs warning Rev. 16.15 Lex Talionis 1 Sam. 2.30 Joseph paralleled Gen. 49.23 24. Mr. Whittaker Christ the Settlement on Haggai 2.7 D. Wilkinsons Babylons ruine on Zech. 1.18 19 20 21. Gainful Cost 1 Chron. 21.24 Miranda stupenda Num. 23.23 Whatelys New Birth Woodward on the Covenant 8º Large M. Abbot against Brownists wherein is justified against them that the Church of England 1. Is a true Church 2. Hath a true Ministery 3. Hath a true worship Bruens holy Life and happy Death Cholmlys Vindication of Bishop Hall against Burton Herodians History Gr. Lat. with Paraeus Notes Mastersons Arithmetick Wingates Arithmetick Logarithmes Mr. Hierons Manuel of Meditations on most of the Heads of Divinity 8º and 12 o. M. Robert Abbots 5. Sermons Angiers Help to better Hearts for better Times removing hinderances in the instant worshipping of God Belks Scripture Enquiry or Helps for memory in Duties of Piety Bakers Arithmetick Bifields Principles Bayns Christian Letters Directions for a Godly life Browns Catechisme Catelyns Catechisme Cottons None but Christ Dents Pastime for Parents Gregorius Magnus de cura Pastorali Dr. James Index Generalis viz. Sanctorum patrum Lawson for the Sabbath Jemmats settled Heart in unsetled Times Moulins Christian Combat Moors Relation of Enoch ap Evan. Rogers Catechisme Saltmarshes Practise of Christian Pollicy Major Gen. Skippons Treatise of the Promises of Vowes of Obedience to God Observations Advises and Resolutions Sweet Posie for Gods Saints Spira's Life and death Teppings Eternity and the fathers Counsel to his son Elegies on the Lord Veere by sundry Scholars Votiers Catechisme Ward de Magnete Welwood of the Sea-Laws Willis Meditations serving for a dayly practice of the life of Faith Yarrows Comforts for a troubled Conscience School Books Pueriles Confabulatiunculae translated by Brinsley Dux Grammaticus Farnabies Phrases on Martials Epigrams on Senecacs Tragedies on Juvenal and Persius on Ovids Metamorphosis Select Epigrams Gr. Lat. Index Poeticus Latine Syntaxis Greek Table Geers Rhetorick Scickards Hebrew Grammer Stockwoods Disputations Vicars Manuductio ad artem Rhetoricam Four necessary Cases of Conscience of daily use resolved by Mr. Thomas Shepheard of New England viz. First how a man may be rid of an Earthly Carnal heart sold to the contentment of the Creature Secondly of a proud heart which is unwilling to seek after to wait upon or to stoop unto the commands of God Thirdy of a self-seeking heart that eyes it self especially in the best of Duties Fourthly of a slighty heart under Gods hand in mercies and judgements The state of the Saints departed Gods Cordial to comfort the Saints remaining alive in a Sermon Preached at the Funeral of Mrs. Smithee Harlakenden late wife of William Harlakenden Esq by R. Josselin The Angel of the Church of Ephesus no Bishop of Ephesus distinguished in order from and superior in power to a Presbyter as it was lately delivered in a Collation before the Reverend Assembly of Divines by Constant Jessop Minister of the word Twenty nine Lectures of the Church very necessary for the Consolation and support of Gods Church especially in these times wherein is handled First in general concerning First the Name Secondly the Titles Thirdly the Nature Fourthly the Division of the Church Secondly of the visible Church First the Definition Secondly the Causes Thirdly the Members Fourthly the Marks and Notes Fiftly the Government Sixthly the Priviledges Seventhly the adversaries Eightly the Authority And Lastly the Application of it to all Churches in the world so far as they are known to us by John Randal B. D. late Pastor of Andrews Hubbart in little East cheap London Paralipomena Orthographiae Etymologiae Prosodiae una cum Scholiis ad Canones de genere substantivorum de Anomalis praeterito supinis verborum Syntaxi Carminum ratione figuris ex optimis authoribus Grammaticorum Coryphaeis Collecta asserta in 4. Libros distributa studiis industrià Joannis Danesii Gods holy mind touching matters Moral which himself uttered in ten Words or ten Commandments also Christs Holy Minde touching Prayer delivered in that most holy prayer which himself taught unto his Disciples discovered by the light of his own holy Writ and delivered by Questions and Answers by the late learned and faithful Preacher of Gods word Mr. Edward Elton B. D. and Pastor of St. Mary Magdalen Barmonsey near London Also An explanation of the whole seventh eight and ninth Chapters of the Epistle of Paul to the Romans The Christian conflict a Treatise shewing the Difficulties and Duties of this Conflict with the Armor and special graces to be exercised by Christian Souldiers particularly applyed to Magistrates Ministers Husbands Wives Parents Children Masters Servants by Joseph Bentham A Remonstrance of the state of the Kingdom An Attestation to the