all according to the Oracle A father of many nations have I madethee He is the father of all the faithfull not effectually to beget them and to worke their faith and conversion so God onely is their Father begetting them by his Spirit But analogically and by proportion that as fathers doe transmit to their naturall Children inheritance and other rights of theirs so hee for the grace of the covenant given to him should as a father transmit to the beleevers the righteousnesse and blessednesse promised and given to him That which is proper to Christ is spoken of him In him shall all the Nations of the earth bee blessed Gen. 18 18. In thy seed that is Christ as Paul interprets shall all the Nations of the earth bee blessed Gen. 22 18. So he is called the heire of the world Rom. 4 13. Act. 7 Of Canaan a type of heaven and as the best part of the earth as a type of the whole world to bee possessed of Abraham and his seed specially the head of that seede Christ. This inheritance of heaven and earth he receiveth from God through the righteousnesse of faith and transmitts it to all his Children in all the Nations of the earth that is such as beleeve unto righteousnesse and so are adopted Children and heires of heaven and earth Psal. 37 20. 1 Cor. 3 21. So in death the faithfull were gathered into the bosome of Abraham their father and sitte with him in the kingdome of heaven the Church gathered out of the universall as his Children for number like the starres of heaven In this is set forth the dignitie and felicitie of Abraham in his paternitie that all the Nations of the world beleeving should bee his Children whereby appeares that all have not equall honour and felicitie that have saith equally precious Abraham and all the faithfull are equally just by imputation of the righteousnesse of Christ unto them But they are not in this honour with him to have the place of paternitie to all the faithfull The Pope usurpes in calling himselfe the head of all the faithfull it was never given him of God it is his miserie that so many flatter him in his unjust usurpation It implyeth that there is but one faith and way of salvation under the Law and Gospell Heb. 13 8. Acts 15 11. Heb. 6 12 and 11. By faith they obteined testimonie y t they were righteous and stand as so many witnesses that onely by beleving in Christ resting the soule wholy on his obedience for our whole felicitie is the way to life from that promise The seede of the woman shall breake the Serpents head By what faith Abraham was saved his seed are saved There is one saith both for that which is beleeved common faith once given to Saints Titus 1 4. Iude. v. 3. And in respect of that kind of faith by which wee doe beleeve though for number there bee so many faiths as there bee beleevers yet for kind Abrahams faith and all that have savingly beleived is one and the same for ever not in degree his measure was strength in faith most beleevers now are weake in faith Papists are to prove their right in claiming to be children of Abraham seing they have not nor teach twice damnable teaching contrary to the faith of Abraham applying Christ the blessed seed to himselfe laughing in joy of his felicitie of which his Sonne was called Isaack and Christ in whom hee beleeved testifyeth that hee saw his day with rejoycing though a farre off yet with gladnesse in respect of his owne salvation in him To that purpose Christ urgeth his example to the Iewes that would not beleeve their owne salvation in him you will not come to mee that you might have life Iohn 5. They make two other claimes to heaven merit of person in Children or such as newly converted are taken away by death that working is prevented and merit of workes both concurring augments they say glory and the latter confirmes the former that it is not lost a straunge voyce not heard of Gods people that will not go after a straunger because they know not his voyce They blaspheame imputed righteousnesse It followes that to have comfortable assurance of salvation we must prove our sâ—lves Children of Abraham that proved the other is sure that is 1. By being of faith to rest on Christs merit inherent in his owne person without any worke done out of grace or in grace of ours trusted in as any part of cause to salvation As God preached the Gospell to Abraham and hee beleeved Gal. 3 7 8 9. Rom. 4 1 2 5. To be borne by vertue of the promise as Isaack Gal. 4. Rom. 9. 2 By being in Christ by faith Gal. 3 29. If yee be Christs then are ye Abrahams seed and heires by promise Which is to bee knowne by having the Spirit of Christ in us to doe the workes of Abraham Iohn 8. 39. Michah 2 7. Iames 2 22. By the illumination of the Spirit annointing and healing our minds to discerne difference of things true or false good or evill 1 Iohn 2 20 27. To preserve us from evill wayes and evill men Prov. 2. 2 By regeneration in giving and increasing the godly nature 3. By governing or leading Rom. 8 14. 4 By consolation Iohn 14. The comforter 5 By confirmation giving a constancie in the worke of righteousnesse to worke righteousnesse at all times Ps. 106. Verse 10. The Sonne of man is come to seeke and save that which was lost This is a defence of the action of Christ in his going in to Zacheus hee came for lost sinners Zaccheus and his household are such Ergo he offends not he doth nothing against his office in going in to him Though wee may not for a passive scandall which is 1. By ignorance of some 2. By malice in others forbeare the duties enjoyned us by the Lord as appeareth Math. 15 Yet as occasion is wee are to give a reason of our doing in generall for holding and professing truth contrary to the worlds opinion as why wee are not as the Pagans as the Iewes as the Papists as prophane men in the number of them that are in profession of true religion 1 Pet. 3 15 Bee readie to give a reason of the hope that is in you Our Saviour submitts himselfe to this order Mat. 9 11 12. Why eates your Master with Publicans and Sâ—ners his defence is it is the calling of Phisitians to be with the sicke that have neede of him 2. Mercie is preferred to Sacrifice 3. I am come to call sinners to repentance verse 13. So Luke 15 By three parables hee justifieth his mercie to sinners by their diligence that seeke things lost which they would recover and that graduallie 1. The woman her groat lost out of ten the sheepeheard his sheepe out of an hundred the father and the fathers joyfull receiving of a dead and lost sonne His answere and defence of the womans
the Gentiles to whom hee was an Apostle they also were the called of Iesus Christ though by nature Gentiles sinners vile yet by calling highly advanced to the dignitie of Gods Children Worke out your salvation follow till ye apprehend it bee diligent in adding graces follow hard towards the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus Phil. 3 12. 1 Tim. 6 12. Nothing can give us more courage to strive to eternall life to fight for it than this that we know God hath called us to obtaine it for wee gather from thence that our labour shall not bee in vaine but God will bee with us and prosper us reach us his hand To this house Gods mercie is such that calling the Master of the family the household have salvation come neere to them Luke 10 5 6. Into what house soever ye come say peace to this house if the Sonne of peace bee there your peace shall rest on him The sonne of peace one that favours the Gospell of peace or is worthy of the prosperitie wished to the house as Math. 10 11. Inquire who is worthy in it and there abide not y t there is inherent dignitie in any man living but the elect in Christ are counted worthy Thus gets hee the blessing into his house not onely for himselfe but to his thus many times God joynes the household in faith with the householder Iohn 4 53. Act. 10 2 and 16 15 33 34. Acts 18 8. The Apostle Paul speakes of Baptising not onely some particulers as Crispus and Gaius but the household of Stephanas 1 Cor. 1. 14. 16. He saluteth Philemon and the Church in his house Philem. verse 1 2. So Aquila and Priscilla with the Church in their house Rom. 16 3 5. And sends salutations from them to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 16 19. Aquila and Priscilla with the Church that is in their house salute you greatly in the Lord the Church understand their household whether godly children servants kinsfolks which living together in one house do together worship the Lord and privately exercise all offices of pietie that it may well bee called a private Church God blesseth the indevours of the Master of the family that they submit at last to outward duties as Abraham found all his males subject to Gods commandement that day in which God commaunded it It may bee they are not alwayes internally and from their hearts obedient Câ—in was for outward sacrifice subject and conformed as Abel was so Cham for forme of religion as Shem and Iapâ—et It seemes neither Lot in Sodom nor Noc had their servants in obedience to God because Noc had none in the Arke nor Lot brought any out of Sodom yet it is like they had servants at least Genes 19. The husband may beleeve and the wife remaine an infidell the wife may beleeve and the husband continue in insidelitie yet there is hope which must move indevour to winne the contrary minded 1 Cor. 7 16. 1 Pet. 3 2. Let us exhort men to strive to place themselves in families where the Master is the Sonne of peace it may be better for body and soule the household partaking in the blessing of peace with him As they that live in a visible Church though yet they bee not sound at heart yet for the time partake of diverse blessings for the faithfuls sake among whom they live Yet it is not safe to trust in being in such places for fellowship of persons unlesse they bee in fellowship of faith two in a house shall be devided yea two in a bed one taken and another left Every man must live by his owne faith It is daungerous to bee willingly under a wicked governer or one of his house for as the creature is subject to vanitie for the sinne of man Rom. 8. And the creatures except the fishes perished in the flood with man that by his sinne abused them Gen. 6. So it is not safe being a wicked mans beast Exod. Yet there may be Christians in a family where the familie is not Christs Paul salutes them of Aristobulus but not him as it seemes as remainiug still in infidelitie and they which are called in the household under an infidell husband or Master are not easily to forsake their place but to honour their Master in the superioritie in which Gods providence hath placed him over them 1 Tim. 6. There were Saints in Neroes house 2. Let beleeving governers of families set themselves with hope about the reducing of them that bee under theÌ„ to the Lord God does much for their sakes specially toward such as belong to Gods Election in his house 1 Iohn 5 16. The covenant of God includes his with him 1 Cor. 7. In so much as he also is become the Child of Abraham To be the Child of Abraham is to bee freely elected Rom. 9 8. To walke in the steps of the faith of Abraham Rom. 4 12. To do the workes of Abraham Iohn 8 39. Whereof is rightly collected the expectation of salvation Rom. 8 29. That Salvation and being the Child of Abraham put one the other none but the Child of Abraham saved none the Child of Abraham but is saved The blessing that commeth upon men in Christ is called the blessing of Abraham Gal. 3 14. The promise is made to Abraham and his seed Gal. 3 16. He saith not seeds as speaking of many but seed as speaking of one which is Christ. The blessing of Abraham is righteousnesse everlasting life which proceeds of the redemption by Christ from the curse of the Law he being made a curse for us So as now malediction sinne hell have no authoritie over us Christ redeemed us and for us bare the curse due to all our sinnes Christ is the storehouse of the blessing of Abraham the promise of which blessing was made to Abraham and his seed that is Christâ— Heavenly blessednesse in the blessed seed And all both Iewes and Gentiles by faith implanted into him and becomming one with him are the seed Gal. 3 29 and heires of all the promised blessings Abraham is called the father of all that beleeve either Iewes or Gentiles Rom. 4 11 12. Faith was imputed to him when hee was uncircumcised for righteousnesse and after hee was justified hee received the signe of circumcision as the seale of the righteousnesse of the faith which hee had when hee was uncircumcised that hee should bee the father of all them that beleeve not being circumcised that righteousnesse might bee imputed to them also and the father of the circumcision not unto them onely which are of the circumcision but unto them also that walke in the stepps of the faith of our father Abraham which hee had when hee was uncircumcised verse 16 17. All the seed have the promise assured according to grace not onely the Iewes that are of the Law but the Gentiles that are of the faith of Abraham the father of us
who mind earthly things As our Saviour concludes from the disposition and end of that rich man who put his happinesse in his abundance Luke 12 21. So is hee that layeth up treasure for himselfe and is not rich towards God He treasureth for himselfe who without any respect to God gets riches as hee that said to his soule Thou hast eenough layed up for many yeares respecting himselfe onely and staying upon his sufficiency in himselfe without God hee is rich in God who depending on the providence of God is given to such good workes as God prescribes laying up a good foundation for time to come that hee may obtaine eternall life Some abuse their wealth to pride and rebellion against God Ier. 2 31. Wee are Lords wee will come no more unto thee And to try their strength in doing hurt to men the more in purse the greater in tryaÌ„nie boasting themselves that they can doe mischiefe trusting in the multitude of their riches Psal. 52 1 7. hyring men with feilds and vineyards to ungodly practises or hindering them from godly courses and so draw to the earth such as seemed starrs in heaven and many to winne the world loose their soules so as there can be no redemption for them Thus may they be called thornes because men are so hamperd in them that they cannot bee gotten out and wicked riches are occasioÌ„ of much wickednesse they that have them speake roughly and are wise in their owne eyes conceited of their owne courses too highly but their woo is they have re-received their consolation But riches of themselves of their nature damne not as povertie of it selfe saves not First for they are the Lords 1 Chron. 29 11. All in the Heavens and in the earth is his hee hath right unto and right in them both property and possession is his These are many times severed in men some have right to a thing but not possession and power over it because kept out by a strong hand of such as covet fiolds and take them by violence who get power over and possession of that which they have no right to But in God both right title and just possession meet and extend unto all things because hee made all Psal. 24 1 2. And it appeares when men are so gracelesse as to derive his title to others bee they Idols or men hee often strips them of them Ezech. 16 17 c. Hos. 2 8 9. And when men unjustly either by fraud or force take them from such as have them of him he will pursue his right against the wrong doer take vengeance upon the unjust person who hath wronged not onely man but God Prov. Secondly It is Gods blessing that makes rich and he addes no sorrow with it Prov. 10 22. So farre as hee gives it it is as if it were powred upon them while they sleepe while they with rest of soule commit themselves to him He giveth power to gather riches Deut. 8. Hee orders and disposeth of the travell of the sinner who gathereth and heapeth up to give to them that are good before God Iob 27 17. Prou. 28 8. Thirdly God hath given grace and riches riches as reward of the use of grace to his glory Godlynesse hath the promise of this present life Abraham very rich by Gods blessing in flockes and heards and silver and gold c. Gen. 24 35 is also the Father of the faithfull they that dyed in faith are said to bee carried into his bosome and to sit at table with him in the kingdome of heaven Mat. 8 11. Iob matchlesse for wealth and greatnesse in all the East and for pietie in all the earth in his time Iob 1 3 8. David after Gods owne heart and full of riches at his death 1 Chro. 29 28. Solomon a penman of the holy Ghost therefore a holy man of God 2 Peter 1 21. a Prophet therefore to bee seene in the Kingdome of God with all the Prophets excelled all the Kings of the earth as in wisedome so in riches 2 Chro. 9 22. Iehosaphat had riches in aboundance his heart also was lift up in the wayes of the Lord to do more boldly for the puritie of Gods worship than Asa his father though a man of a perfect heart had done before him so a man excellently rich may also be excellently good Fourthly riches though they bee no causes of heaven it is neither the lawfull use of them nor the end propounded to them yet by a gracious use of them may further a mans account in good fruits and labours of love which God will not forget being done in his name Philip. 4 17. Therefore is our Saviours exhortation that with the riches of unrighteousnesse so called because they passe easily from the right owners to unjust possessors as from the Maister to the Steward and after to the Maisters debters both which were usurpers wee make our selves friends for the heavenly life when this failes We neede onely the friendship of God in Christ but the good workes done in God will give friendly Testimony to our consciences that wee have not beleeved in vaine our faith working by love and shall of the free grace of God whose gift eternall life is by Iesus Christ bee reckoned unto our reward as done to himselfe especially when wee preferre the household of faith and deale more plentifully with them as belonging to Christ. So the rich in this world rich in good workes gladly distributing doe lay up a good foundation against the time to come no cause of eternall life to them which in opposition to uncertaine riches is called a good foundation but a helpe to their assurance and some proppe to their hope of life as an evidence of a true faith in Christ Iesus the end of which is salvation Riches in a good man further the exercise and manifestation of grace The crowne of the wise is their riches they prove an ornament to the right users get them honour in their wise disposing of them doing many good workes by the meanes of them Abrahams and Lots hospitalitie had not beene so famous nor Davids and his Princes offering to the building of the Temple so liberally 1 Cron. 29 4 7 8. It may be many other could say with David I have set my affection to the house of my God but coulde not by such gifts expresse their affection as hee did both in that which hee dedicated of the spoyle of the nations which hee subdued and of his owne proper goods over above 1 Chron. 29 3. The Centurions one in building a Synagogue th' other in giving much almes declared their pietie and Charitie and others that have their praise in the Scriptures for feeding persecuted Prophets as Obadiaâ— for ministring to the maintenance of Preachers that otherwise preached freely to the gentiles and refreshed the Saints bowells as Gaius this others could not shew forth so not having such â—vealth though the