the Passeover and unleavened bread scil seven weeks the same that is called Pentecost it is called the feast of Harvest their Harvest being much earlier then ours in that hot Country This may teach Christians to stir up their hearts to sincere thankfulness unto the Lord for all his blessings particularly for the increase of the fruits of the earth that they may serve the Lord with joyfulness and gladness of heart for the abundance of all things At this Feast of Harvest of weeks or Pentecost the Lord Christ having ascended into Heaven about ten dayes before did in a more glorious manner send down the holy Ghost upon his Apostles that so he might furnish them abundantly with gifts graces abilities to gather in his Harvest to bring in the Nations of the earth into his barn into his Church which before were in the open field of ahe world being strangers to Christ and subject to Satan the God of the world and Prince of darkness He had said unto them Lift up your eyes and look on the fields for they are white already to Harvest And herein is that saying true One soweth and another reapeth I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour other men laboured and ye are entred into their labours The ancient Propâ—ets that foretold of Christ his coming death resurrection and ascension into Heaven and that great and glorious Harvest wherein the Nations of the world should be gathered into Christ were â—eedsmen that did not live to see this rich crop brought into the barn they died long before the Son of God was manifested in the flesh and the Gentiles converted but the Apostles were called to Harvest-work to reap what the Prophets had â—own to gather in the Nations of the earth unto Christ and here the Lord Christ told them it was Harvest-time the fields looked whiteâ— the fulness of time was come and they were the reapers that must bring in his Harvest which he had so dearly paid for even with the price of his most precious blood but it was needful that that they should be furnisht in an extraordinary measure and manner for such a work and therefore the Lord Christ said unto them Behold I send the promise of my Father upon you but tarry ye in the City of Hierusalem until ye be endued with power from on high do not fall rashly upon the work until I have fitted you for it and so he told them Ye shall receive power after the holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Hierusalem and in all Iudea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth after ye are thus fitted and enabled for so great a work ye shall go over the large field of the world to bring in mine Harvest and accordingly at this feast of Harvest the day of Pentecost the Lord Christ sent down his spirit upon them wonderfully enabling them for this service Thirdly There was a third feast scil the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year when they had gathered in their labours out of the field I conceive when the last of their fruits their vintage or Grapes c. were gathered in This I take to be the same which is called the feast of Tabernacles This was to begin on the fifteenth of the seventh month which seemeth to answer to our September and continued seven days and again it is said to be at the time when they had gathered in the fruit of the Land and they were commanded to take boughs of goodly trees branches of Palm-trees and the boughs of thick trees and willows of the Brook and to rejoyce before the Lord their God seven days they were also commanded to dwell in Boothes seven days that their Generations might know that the Lord made the Children of Israel to dwell in Booths when he brought them out of the land of Egypt This feast was solemnly kept after the peoples return from Captivity 1. This again may stir up Christians to thankfulness unto the Lord for all his blessings and particularly for the fruits of the earth as before 2. This dwelling in Booths and slight Tents or Tabernacles made of green boughs in memory of their condition when they came out of the Land of Egypt the house of bondage may teach Christians often to call to mind their afflictions and low condition out of which the Lord hath at any time delivered them especially they that are in Christ should often and seriously remember that woful bondage and misery under sin and satan and the danger of condemnation out of which the Lord Christ hath delivered them and labour to be exceedingly thankful for it 3. They were to go out of their dwelling houses to dwell in booths when they had gathered in their fruits least when their barns and store-houses were plentifully filled they might forget God who gave them all these things and set their hearts upon the Creatures resting in their outward enjoyments giving themselves up to voluptuousness like him spoken of Luk. 12. Soul thou hast goods laid up for many years eat drink and be merry but God said unto him thou fool this night shall thy soul be required of thee then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided Learn then in the midst of the greatest abundance to raise up your hearts above all earthly things to make God your portion to walk with him in the light of his Countenance 4. This dwelling in Booths or Tabernacles may teach Christians to be affected as strangers here on earth having no continuing City in this world their bodies being slight and weak frames easily dissolved like summer-houses made of green boughs that will suddenly wither labour then to make sure of a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens purchased by the blood of Christ for all those that are sound in him in as much as ye have no continuing City here seek one to come and labour for sound evidence to clear your title to it Fourthly Besides these three great feasts there was to be a memorial of blowing the Trumpets upon the first of the same seventh month and then upon the tenth day of that month a day of Atonement solemne humiliation repentance and afflicting the soul so the silver Trumpet being sounded in the preaching of the word summons the hearers to repentance to afflict their souls to abase and humble themselves to turn to the Lord with all their hearts Cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice like a Trumpet and shew my people their transgressions and the house of Iacob their sins This silver Trumpet was sounded by Iohn Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Iudea and saying Repent ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand for this is he that was spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah saying The voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare ye
but there is a common light and knowledge which Christ giveth to them that are strangers to him yea to such as are his enemies 3. This Light and Law of Nature is given unto men in their natural estate since the fall since their nature was corrupted by sin Before the fall while man was in the state of primitive integrity as God had created him in his own likeness after his Image that is in wisdom righteousness and true holiness the light and Law which God implanted in man was clear and perfect man had an exact Rule imprinted upon his soul to walk by But this Rule being defaced by the sin of man the Lord gave men some degree of light and knowledge in this state of corrupt Nature which in many things might restrain their corruptions from breaking out into such extremities as Satan and their own lusts might stir them up to and whereby they might be reduced into a more orderly course of life and manifest effects of this have been found not only in natural persons living under the Gospel which were strangers to the life of grace but also in many Heathens who never heard the doctrine of salvation yea in some heathen Persecutors of the Church as Trajan Antoninus Philosophus and Iulian the Apostate 4. It was said in the description that by this light of Nature God hath in some degree made known himself unto them So the Apostle saith that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them I conceive by this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which may be known of God the Apostle meaneth that which may be known of God without special Revelation such as is declared in Scripture this was manifest in them by that common general light of Nature which God had given them For 1. They had inward principles of Natural light And 2. They had the works of God 1. His works of Creation For the invisible things of him from the beginning of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and Godhead The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy-work their line is gone out into all the earth and their words unto the end of the world The creatures do as it were speak out the excellency and glory of their Creator to all the Nations of the world 2. His works of Providence God hath made of one blood all Nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation that they should seek the Lord if happily they might feel after him and find him though he be not far from every one of us for in him we live move and have our being So the same Apostle told the Heathens that God in times past suffered all Nations to walk in their own waies not giving them the light of his word to guide them in the way of salvation nevertheless saith he He left not himself without witness in that he did good and gave us rain from Heaven and fruitful seasons filling our hearts with food and gladness by his works of Providence he made some discovery of himself unto them I conceive by this light of Nature within them and the light which was held forth unto them by the works of God from without they might know that there was a God and that this God was of infinite perfection eternal almighty most wise good righteous that he was to be served and worshipped iu such a way as was pleasing to him that as the world was made by him so both it and all the creatures in it were under his government that as a righteous judge he would punish evil doers and reward the righteous They might by the light of reason conclude that none of the creatures could make themselves for nothing can act before it hath a being and therefore all the creatures must receive their beings from a cause that was before them hereupon they might assuredly gather that there is a first universal cause of all things who is eternal without beginning of infinite perfection The orderly and perpetual motion of the Heavens Sun Moon and Stars the continual succession of day and night the Spring Summer Harvest Winter the correspondency and Harmony that is between the Creatures being fitted and suited to each other the sun drawing of vapours from the earth and waters into the air there to be botled up in the Clouds the Clouds sending down showers upon the earth the earth bringing forth grass herbs corn and other fruits for the use of men beasts and fowls and the beasts and fowls themselves fitted for the use of men the senses of the body and their objects fitted and suited to each other there are sounds and voices and an ear to receive them there are colours and there is the eye fitted to behold them so of the rest yea how exactly are the several parts of the same body fitted and suited to each other These and many other things discernable by the light of Nature might clearly convince men that there is a God of infinite power and wisdom who is the cause and Author of all Fifthly It was said that by this light and Law of Nature God hath given unto men in some degree to discern the good which they ought to do and the evil which they ought to shun So ye heard before the Apostle saith The Gentiles having not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law they do some things contained in the written Law of God though they have not this Law How by Nature by the Light and Law of Nature and in so doing they shew the work of the Law written in their hearts The Heathen Philosophers have written much in commendation of moral virtues and set forth the odiousness of many vices and dishonest practices Abimelech King of Gerar blamed Abraham when out of weakness calling his Wife his Sister he seemed to lay a snare before him and give him occasion to commit adultery unawares What hast thou done unto us and what have I offended thee that thou hast brought on me and on my Kingdom a great sin Thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done So he said to Sarah concerning her Husband Abraham Behold he is to thee a covering of the eyes unto all that are with thee and with all other thus she was reproved Thus much of the description Secondly We may consider the imperfection of this Law and Light of Nature 1. In general It is not sufficient to bring men to blessedness and salvation The Lord Christ saith I am the way the truth and the Life no man cometh unto the Father but by me neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be
of God and the spiritual sacrifices which he offereth the duties which he performeth must have a tincture and favour of Christs spirit in them 4. Salt preserveth things from perishing and so may note unto us perpetuity therefore it is called the salt of the Covenant of God and a sure and everlasting Covenant is called a Covenant of salt so Abijah pleading the right of Davids posterity to the Kingdom of Israel said Ought ye not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the Kingdom over Israel to David for ever even to him and to his Sons by a Covenant of salt This was imperfectly fulfilled in David and the Kings that sprang from his loyns before Christ his coming but it was compleatly verified in Christ the Son of David after the flesh to whom God gave the throne of his Father David that he should raign over the house of Iacob or Israel for ever The Covenant of grace established by Christ his sacrifice is a covenant of salt that shall never fail How earnestly should we labour to break off all leagues with sin and Satan and turn to the Lord by unseigned repentance and lay hold of Christ by faith that in him we may be reconciled to God and made parties to this unchangeable Covenant enjoying the everlasting blessings and priviledges of it 2â— To the meat-offering was added a drink-offering a quantity of wine The meat-offering consisting of fine flower and the drink-offering of Wine how fitly do they resemble the pretious body and blood of Christ which is meat and drink indeed upon which Christians are to feed by faith And how exactly doth the bread and wine in the Sacramental supper of the new Testament answer to this meat and drink offering consisting of the same materials Fourthly Now followeth the peace-offeringâ— conceive this was offered especially in a way of thankfulness for mercies and deliverances â—ometimes upon a conditional vow made beâ—ore sometimes without a vow and therefore may also be called thank-offering and â—hese may signifie the duties of Christians in general their spiritual sacrifices and services which they are to offer unto God continually in thankfulness for his saving mercies towards them in Christ. And therefore the Apostle having largely shewed that the sacrifices of the old Testament were not to be observed in the times of the Gospel since they are fully accomplished in Christ toward the end of that Epistle he calleth upon believers to offer spiritual sacrifices by him scil by Christ therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his Name but to do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifices God is well-pleased All these and the like spiritual sacrifices believers are to offer up by Christ their high-priest in his name presenting them to the Father by his hand that they may find acceptance through him and whatsoever we do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Iesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him all these sacrifices are to be offered in his name and to be presented to God by and through him 2. For a peace offering and thank-offering liberty was given to sacrifice either male or female so saith the Apostle There is neither Iew nor Greek there is neither bond nor free there is neither male nor female for yâ— are all one in Christ Iesus The Lord maketh no difference of persons now either in respect of Nation condition or sex if they be in Christ whatsoever they are in other regards the Lord accepteth them in his beloved Son and they may present themselves as living holy sacrifices unto him assuring themselves that he will graciously receive them and by the same reason they may offer up their services and duties to him by Christ as spiritual sacrifices 3. The fat and the kidneys of the peacâ—-offerings were to be burnt upon the Altar but what was to be done with the rest of the flesh that you may find in Lev. 7. the breast and the right shoulder were to be given to the Priests the Sons of Aaron whereof the former was to be waved before the Lord the latter to be heaved or lifted upwards and then they were to be given to the Priests It seemeth the rest of 〈◊〉 flesh of the peace-offerings was to be eaten by him that brought the sacrifice of the peace-offering before the Lord who together with his family was to celebrate a holy feast with spiritual rejoycings before the Lord. 1. The breast was to be given to God for what was given to the Priests was given to God because it was given to the Priest for the attending on the service of God This may teach us to give up our breasts hearts affections to God in holiness and obâ—dience My Son give me thine heart Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind 2. The breast was to be waved before the Lord or shaken to and fro The original word is taken for sifting with a five so this waving of the breast may teach us what stirâ—ings of heart what lively workings of spirit and affections there should be in Christians in performing services to the Lord. It is not a dead soul without spiritual life and motion which the Lord regardeth but it is a wave-breast that he calleth for an active heart and soul a stirring spirit like that of David Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name 3. The right shoulder was to be heaved up before the Lord or to be lifted up This may â—each Christians to lift up their souls to the Lord as David Vnto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul to seek the things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God â—o set their affections on things above not on things on the earth to have their conversation in Heaven These parts being to 〈◊〉 given to the Priests by the Lord his command here we have another ground estaâ—lishing the maintenance of Gospel Ministers â—ecording to that of the Apostle mentioned beâ— The rest of the flesh of the peace-offerings â—â—ting to be eaten by him that brought the â—â—â—rtices with his houshold rejoycing in the Lord may teach Christians that as Christ offered up himself in sacrifice to God to satisfie his justice for the sins of his people so he inviteth them to feed and feast upon him by faith with rejoycing with joy of the holy Ghost this they should do in reading and hearing the Gospel in meditating upon the word upon Christ and the things of Christ. And in the use of the Lords supper I conceive this feasting upon the remainder of the facrifice was a special act of Communion which the
strive to purge out this Leaven of sin and errour and keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth Sixthly This feast of unleavened bread which was joyned with the Passover was to be kept seven days and seven in Scripture is noted for a number of perfection and therefore let Christians labour to purge out more and more the old Leaven of sin and corruption and to walk in sincerity and truth all the days of their life even till the seventh day that is until they come to keep an eternal feast and Sabbath of Rest with Christ in his glorious Kingdom Seventhly As they kept the feast with their loins girded So let your loins be girded about and your lights burning and ye your selves like unto men that wait for the Lord when he will return from the Wedding that when he cometh and knocketh they may open unto him immediately Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching They that wear long garments need to gird them up when they are either to walk or to work They that would have communion with him need to call in and gather up their straggling thoughts their wandring minds their loose affections to unite the powers of their souls to fix them upon Christ and the things of Christ that they may be always ready for any way or work of Christ. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Iesus Christ. As they were to eat the Passeover with their shoes on their feet and their staffe in their hand as being ready for their departure out of Egypt so let those that will rightly keep the spiritual Passeover and feed upon Christ be affected as strangers and sojourners expecting daily their departure out of this world labouring to be ready to enter into the heavenly Canaan How should they condemn that earthly mindedness when they are of such a temper as if they had a continuing City here not seriously seeking one to come Eighthly They were to eat the Passeover with bitter herbs let those then that would indeed feed upon Christ unto eternal life feed upon this Lamb of God with bitter herbs of Godly sorrow for sin holy anger and indignation against themselves afflicting their souls looking upon him whom they have pierced by their sins and mourning for him as one mourneth for his only Son and being in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his first-born Let them feed upon Christ by faith with self-denial which is as it were a bitter herb to the flesh denying themselves in their dearest lusts and carnal affections not sparing the right hand or the right eye Let them joyn repentance with faith otherwise they can never keep the feast according to the mind of Christ. Lastly Ye may read of the Law of the Passeover and unleavened bread and presently after that the ordinance of the first-fruits Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them when ye be come into Land which I give unto you and shall reap the harvest thereof then ye shall bring a sheafe of the first fruits of your harvest unto the Priest and he shall wave this sheafe before the Lord to be accepted for you on the morrow after the Sabbath the Priest shall wave it It is conceived that this Sabbath or day of rest was the first day of unleavened bread scil the fifteenth day of the first month on whatsoever day of the week it fell but in the year wherein Christ suffered it fell upon the last day of the week so that it was a double Sabbath the paschal Sabbath and the weekly Sabbath meeting together upon the same day Now the sheaf of first-fruits was to be waved or offered before the Lord on the morrow after the Sabbath which was the day on which Christ rose from the dead See how the Apostle applyeth this Christ is risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that sleep It seemeth there was such an exact agreement and correspondence between the Type and the Antetype the shadow and the substance that the Lord Christ arose from the dead the very same day that the sheafe of first fruits was to be offered and he arose as the first fruits of them that slept or of the dead I conceive the meaning is that as the first fruits being offered to God did sanctifie the whole increase of the fruits of the earth that year so Christ as the first fruits of the dead arose from death to eternal life and glory and in himself and his resurrection did as it were offer up to God the dead bodies of all his members not always to lye under the power of death and corruption but to be raised to immortality and everlasting glory Let us labour then to have part in the first resurrection rising with Christ by virtue of his quickning spirit to newness of life that this may be an earnest and sure evidence unto us of a second resurrection to everlasting life So much for the Sacraments of the Ceremonial Law CHAP. IV. SEcondly in the next place follow the Sacrifices It seemeth there were but few sorts of creatures used for Sacrifices Of sensible creatures such as have life and sense but five sorts whereof three were of four-footed beasts scil Bullocks Sheep and Goats old or young and so comprehending under them Calves Lambs and Kids and two sorts of fowls as turtle doves and young pigeons Thefe were creatures that were meek and gentle above many others and such as were in a special manner subject and serviceable to men so the Lord Christ who was appointed to be a Sacrifice to the justice of God was meek and lowly in heart He was lead as a sheep to the slaughter and like a Lamb dumb before the shearer so opened he not his mouth who being in the form of God thought it robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a seâ—vant and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross. Lions Bears Tigres Leopards wild-beasts beasts of prey fierce and cruel creatures Eagles Hawks Vultures or other ravenous fouls were not appointed for Sacrifice These were not fit to represent the Lord Christ in his state of humiliation in his suffering condition as he was appointed to be a Sacrifice for sin It is true Christ is called the Lion of the Tribe of Iudah I conceive to represent him in regard of his mighty powers in protecting his Church and subduing his enemies but not to resemble him as a Sacrifice for so he was in a state of suffering and of service and therefore Christians according
to another looking towards the mercy-seat so the holy Angels attend upon God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ for the service of his Church ministring for them who shall be heirs of salvation They are ready with their wings stretched out to execute the will of Christ and do his pleasure for the protection and good of his people 2. The holy Angels look into the mysteries of Christ in his Gospel as the Cherubims toward the Ark and mercy-seat which thing the Angels defire to look into And the Apostle having spoken of the glorious Mysteries of Christ in the Gospel made known to him by revelation and made known by him in his Ministery who preached among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ addeth this to the intent that now unto the Principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God How inexcusable is the negligence of those that will not take pains to be acquainted with the mysteries of Christ which the glorious Angels did search into Ninthly The fire that was used in the sacrifices of the Law may be considered 1. As the fire burned the Sacrifices which were offered to the Lord so the fire of Gods wrath fell upon Christ for the sins of the world when he offered himself in sacrifice to his Father to satisfie his justice and therefore he was in a grievous agony and his sweat was it as were great drops of blood falling down to the ground and he complained my soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death And when he was upon the Cross he cried out with a loud voice saying My God My God why hast thou forsaken me 1. See here the Love of Christ toward sinners interposing himself between the burning wrath of God and them that which was of such a scorching heat to him would have been a consuming fire to them 2. How should the hearts of believers be inflamed with love to Christ who endured the flames of divine wrath to save them from everlasting burnings 3. How restless should all be until they are sound in Christ that his righteousness may shelter them from the fire of Gods wrath How unsufferable will that be to them which was so grievous to him Secondly This fire came from Heaven there came a fire out from before the Lord and consumed upon the Altar the burnt-offering c. And so in the Temple built by Solomon fire came down from Heaven and consumed the burnt-offering and sacrifices so the Lord sends down that heavenly fire of his spirit upon his people to consume their dross warm their hearts with holy flames of love and zeal refine their spirits So Christ is said to Baptize his people with the holy Ghost and fire Thirdly This fire was to be kept burning upon the Altar continually and never to go out Christians having once the heavenly fire of grace and holy affections kindled in their hearts by the spirit of Christ should labour to keep it continually burning take heed of quenching the Spirit Tenthly The Vail may be taken notice of The Apostle intimateth a twofold vaâ—l for he speaketh of a second Vail I conceive then this second and inward Vail was that which was hanged before the most holy place and the first was that hanging mentioned there being three Courts in the Tabernacle the first and outermost where the people were the second where the Priests were between the which two was the first Vail the third which was the most holy place into which went none but the High-priest and this was divided from the middle Court by the second Vail So the Mysteries of the Gospel were hidden in a great measure before Christ his coming in the flesh by a Vail of Ceremonies which are now revealed in Christ at whose death the Vail of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to thâ—â— bottom CHAP. VI. Something may be spoken also of Sacred Observances which were required of Israel under the Ceremonial Law these being 〈◊〉 many and of great variety I intend to touch some of them and pass by the 〈◊〉 And 1. Consider that restraint that was laid upon them in the use of the Creatures many of these they were forbidden to eat as being unclean not in their own Nature but by the ordinance of God in this Law of Ceremonies 1. This sheweth whereas Israel and other Nations were all alike by Creation being all â—ade of one blood in the first man and woâ—â—n from whom they all descended as so many branches of one common root or stock â—nd were all alike corrupted by sin unclean in the sight of God and children of wrath yet the Lord according to the Counsel of his own will was pleased to make a diffeâ—â—nce or distinction separating the Nation 〈◊〉 Israel from the rest of mankind conseâ—rating the people of Israel as a peculiar people to himself and rejecting the rest as â—nclean So it is said to Israel Thou art an â—oly people to the Lord thy God and the Lord â—ath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself above all the Nations that are upon the Earth Then followeth this prohibition restraining them from eating divers Creatures The Lord hath chosen Iacob for himself and Israel for his peculiar Treasure He sheweth his word unto Iacob his statutes and his Judgements to Israel He hath not dealt so with any Nation and for his Judgements they have not known them Balaam extolling the priviledges of Israel among other passages saith For from the top of the Rocks I see him and from the Hills I behold him Loe the people that dwell alone and shall not be reckoned among the Nations although Balaam spake it yet the Lord put the word in his mouth The people of Israel dwelt alone being separated by the Lord from the rest of the world as a peculiar people and Church of God and was not reckoned among the Nations they were not put into the common account and therefore the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated Gentiles and Heathen signifying properly Nations and being used in Scripture for all people except the people of Israel agree exactly with this passage and sheweâ—â—â— that Israel was not reckoned among the Nations 1. This sheweth that the Lord as a Soveraign a supreme and absolute Lord dealeth with his creatures according to his pleasure What man is able to give a reason why this people should be preferred above all others That for so many hundred years the rest of the world should be excluded as aliens from the common-wealth of Israel c. and Israel alone taken into Covenant with God It was not for any Righteousness the Lord sound in them as Moses told them understand that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it
and Light of Nature which Heathens did and beside against a far clearer Light and more perfect Law delivered to them in the holy Scriptures of the old and new Testament for the Light and Law of Nature though it was given to the Heathen yet it was not peculiar to them it was not limited to them alone but was common to them with others it is given also to Iews who have the old Testament also it is given to Christians who have both old and new Testament and therefore their sins are highly aggravated So the the Lord by the Prophet Amos having threatned heavy Judgements against those Heathen Nations mentioned before then turneth his speech to the people of Iudah Thus saith the Lord for three transgressions of Iudah and for four I will not turn away the punishment thereof because they have defiled the Law of the Lord and have not kept his Commandment and their lies caused them to err after the which their Fathers have walked but I will send a fire upon Iudah and it shall devour the Palaces of Ierusalem they had the written Law and Commandments of God which the other had not and therefore they despised and kept not they had the Truth of God revealed from Heaven and delivered to them by Moses and the Prophets immediately inspired by the holy spirit of God but they rather chose to walk in lyes after the example of their Fathers and therefore their sins were much more sinful than those of the Heathens Then he threatneth Israel scil the rest of Israel the Kingdom of the ten Tribes who followed the sin of Ieroboam charging them first with barbarous cruelty and oppression contrary to common humanity because they sold the righteous for silver and the poor for a pair of shoes I conceive he speaketh especially against that great sin of Judges and Magistrates in perverting justice for Bribes and withal against them which hired such corrupt officers to act unjustly by giving them rewards They sold the righteous for Silver they exposed the innocent to the lust and will of their Adversaries for mony and the poor for a pair of shooes either because being once corrupted with some considerable gains they afterward were so hardened in their sins that they would pervert justice for a pair of shooes for a triflle or else because they could not get much for giving sentence against a poor man in his Cause because their Adversaries would not offer much to have their will of them who had little to loose these corrupt judges would transgress for a petty-bribe where no more was to be had That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor or as one readeth it that pant or breath after the head of the poor that they may cast it down to the dust of the earth If we take it the former way the sense may seem to be this when they have overthrown the poor and laid him in the dust such is there inhumane cruelty that they are not satisfied with his misery but desire his utter ruine and destruction 2. An other sin was abominable uncleannness that Father and Son would lye with the same woman which is set forth and heightned with this aggravation they prophaned the holy Name of God pretending to be the people of God and yet committing such lewdness this highly redounded to the Lords dishonour above the sins of meer Heathens 3. Their wicked glorying and triumphing in their oppression and prophaning that worship which themselves had embraced as religious laying themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every Altar keeping the garments of the poor which they had taken to pledge and being so far from restoring them according to the Law that they durst lye upon them by the very Altars and drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their God feasting themselves in the Temple of their God with the very spoils taken from those whom they had unjustly condemned these sins of Israel are aggravated divers ways in the words following There Israel and Iudah are both joyned together Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you O Children of Israel against the whole family which I brought up from the Land of Egypt saying You only have I known of all the families of the earth therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities The Lord had owned them above others and made himself known to them above all other people and therefore their sin was greater than others and they might expect more gievous punishments How much more are sins of professed Christians more heinous than those of the Heathens who have greater light then the people of Israel had having the new Testament added to the old who have the Lord Jesus Christ set forth before them in the Gospel not under Types and shadowes but clearly not as to come but as already come actually crucified for sin buried risen again ascended into Heaven The Lord Christ sheweth that the sins of Corazin and Bethsaida were more heinous than those of Tyre and Sidon and their condemnation would be more intolerable in the day of Judgement because they sinned against greater light The like comparison he maketh between Capernaum and Sodom And the very Name of Christian is an aggravation of the sins of those who profess themselves Christians This Name was first given to them that professed the faith of Christ at Antioch because of the great success of the Gospel there Barnabas and Saul or Paul a whole year assembled themselves with the Church and taught much people and the Disciples were called Christians first at Antioch The denomination of a Christian is derived from the blessed and glorious Name of Christ himself as he is annointed of God the Father with the spirit above measure What signifieth a Christian then but 1. A member of Christ united to him as the head of the whole mystical body of the Church How great is the sin of those that can themselves Christians and suffer themselves to be led by Satan the enemy of 〈◊〉 readily entertaining his suggestions and temptations serving this Prince of darkness in the work of darkness Saith the Apostle Shall I take the members of Christ and make them the members of an Harlot God forbid or let it not be What know ye not that he which is joyned to an Harlot is one body for two saith he shall be one flesh It is a fearful thing for a man professing himself a Christian that is a member of Christ to make himself a member of an Harlot or for a woman making the same profession to make her self the member of a fornicatour or Adulterer 2. The name of a Christian signifieth one that partaketh of the annointing of Christ of the same spirit and the same graces in some measure wherewith Christ was annointed above his fellows yea above measure He which stablisheth us with you and anointeth us is God The
a pattern of holiness to men and women So the Lord in his Law saith Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self So that the least want of love unto our neighbour the least defect in love is condemned the least inclination contrary to love is forbidden Then again whatsoever is contrary to the right order of the affections in relation to God and our neighbour is against the Law for the Law commandeth to love God with all the mind c. And this is the first and greatest Commandment that of love to our Neighbour is the second and therefore love to God is to hold the chiefest place and so the weighty and principal duties of the first Table scil those toward God are to be looked at as the principal and love to our Neighbour is to be subordinate unto this love to God God is to be loved for himself Men are to be loved in the Lord and for the Lord. Now every inordinate affection every disorder of the affections this way is against â—he Law When the first and greatest Commandment is as it were turned into the second when any man hath an higher place or greater share in thine affections then God The Law forbiddeth and condemneth whatsoever in the heart or soul is contrary to any Commandment of the Law not only â—ctual thoughts but the inherent corruption every inclination to evil whatsoever distemper there is in the heart and soul contrary to any branch of any Command either of the first or second Table All sin is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whatsoever is contrary to the Law Now the very inclination to sin is contrary to the Law and therefore sinful Every inclination to distrust to Idolatry superstition to the dishonour of God c. is condemned by the Law This is the sin that naturally dwelleth in every one the corruption of Nature propagated from Adam the body of sin cross and contrary to the body of the Law in every point in every iota or title 3. All omissions of duties towards God and men are condemned by the Law 4. All commissions of sin in thought word and deed are condemned by the Law every evil thought every vain thought every profane â—ngodly obscene unchast malicious speech every idle word every action contrary to the Law grosser actions looks gestures And as we are to consider the perfection of the Law so on the the other side take notice of the severity of the Law The Law spareth not the least sin but denounceth a curse against every one Cursed is every one that confirmeth not all the words of the Law to do them and as the Apostle hath it Cursed iâ— every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the Law to do them Nothing contrary to the Law can escape the curse oâ— the Law The word spoken by Angels was steadfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward This word was the Law in the delivering whereof the Lord was pleased to use the ministry of Angels Such is the severity of the Law that it spareth no transgression or disobedience but layeth a penalty upon every one 3. Consider the perfect the infinite justice holiness purity majesty of God who is both the Law giver and the Judge who gave his pure and perfect Law and who will judge impartially by the Law Shall mortal man be more just than God Shall a man be more pure than his Maker Behold he put no trust in his servants and his Angels he charged with folly How much less on them which dwell in houses of clay whose foundation is in the dust Saith the Psalmist O Lord my God thou art very great thou art cloathed with honour and majesty who coverest thy self with light as with a garment behold the Nations are as a drop of a bucket and are counted as the small dust of the ballance behold he taketh up the Isles as a very little thing All Nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him less than nothing and vanity The Prophet Isaiah in a glorious vision beheld a representation of the divine Majesty saith he I saw the Lord sitting upon a Throne high and lifted up and his train filled the Temple about it stood the Seraphims each one had six wings with twain he covered his face and with twain he covered his feet and with twain he did fly and one cried unto another and said holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts the whole earth is full of his glory With what terrour glory and majesty did the Lord appear on Mount Sinai when he published the Law to the people of Israel There were Thunders and Lightnings and a thick cloud upon the Mount and the voice of a Trumâ—et exceeding loud so that all the people that was in the Camp trembled and Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoak because the Lord decended upon it in fire c. And Moses told the people The Lord thy God is a consuming â—re even a jealous God Now lay these things together the woful corruption of mans Nature every way contrary to the holy Law of God as darkness is to light having nothing in it conformable to the Law the â—umberless sins of omission and commission â—f each person against the Law the just â—igour and severity of the Law denouncing â—curse against every transgression and disâ—bedience the unspeakable unconceivable â—â—finite purity justice majesty of God who 〈◊〉 both Law-giver and judge And then â—ow clear is it that none can be justified in the sight of God by any works of theirs performed in obedience to the Law Secondly But there was a second thing proposed scil to shew how it appeareth by the doctrine of the Gospel that none can be justified by any works performed by themselves in obedience to the Law The Angel said to Ioseph concerning Christ Thou shalt call his name Iesus for he shall save his people from their sins He shall save them and therefore their own works shall not save them He shall save them from their sins and therefore he found them in their sins poor guilty condemned creatures and such as could not be saved or justified by their own works or righteousness The Lord Christ the night before he died said This is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins The Lord Christ did shed his most pretious blood for the remission or forgiveness of sins He by his death and obedience satisfied the justice of God for the sins of those who could not satisfie for themselves by any works of righteousness of their own compare this with that of the Apostle I do not frustrate the grace of God for if righteousness come by the Law then Christ is dead in vain This sheweth clearly that justification by the righteousness of Christ and justification by a mans