thy Kingdome that consisteth in Righteousnes and Holines oh let it Come and as a stronger man let thy Spirite cast out the Tyrannie of Sinne that howsoever it dwell yet it may never raigne in our mortall members Sweete Father thou hast begunne a good work in vs and shall Satan overturne it shall Sinne supplant it Alas alas except thou vpholde vs wee shall deceiue our owne soules Satan the World and our Flesh are at league therefore as thou hast hitherto caused vs to put our trust in thee so continue thou our Governour and cause vs to stoup vnto the sugered motions of thine own spirit And for the better building vp of our inwarde man and the repairing of thine owne Image in vs mercifully giue vnto vs faithfull Ministers of thy word that so we may receiue the blessing of Illumination and Sanctification that accompanieth thine owne ordinance And for making roome to thine owne Ordināce vouchsafe to remoue from all thy People such as haue run out without thy bidding Remoue hyrelings dumb dogs and all such cursed plants as thy right hand never planted that so an open way being made for thine owne Servants the Scepter of Iesus may be lifted vp in the midst of thy People that they seeing the Banner of thy Sonne displaied they may bring their sons daughters from farre and so giue vp their names to liue Subjects in the kingdome of thy son Christ. And inasmuch as thou hast commanded Kings Queenes Magistrates to bee Nource-fathers and Nource-mothers vnto thy Church Lord we humblie intreate thee not onely to giue such vnto vs and others thy poore people but also do thou put the remembrance of that dutie in their heades that they may not dare like lewde Nources to mingle with thy Wine and Milke their owne liquor and leaven but that they may compt it their Glory as Elders to cast their Crownes downe before thy Throne spirituall wherevpon thou sittes in the middest of thy Church Let them knowe that thou hast appointed thē to lick vp the dust before the feete of thy Church yea to remoue the smallest lets to godlines so farre let them knowe they ought to bee from casting their owne inventions as stumbling blocks before the feete of thy people These of them that will bee brought to honour thee do thou honour them but if with horne side they wil dedicate themselues to push thy Sonnes Spowsesse then mercifull Father do cut their hornes shorter and breake off their power that so they may learne how the kingdome that serues not thee shall perish And because mercifull Father this spirituall kingdome of thine in vs will here never be perfected we therefore intreat thee to hasten the comming of thy Son our blessed Saviour vnto that finall doome that so having gathered his kingdome of Iewe and Gentile into one hee may deliver vp the same into thine hand and so thou maist be al in all In the meane time oh Lord let thy spirit so guide and leade vs in thy truth as by vs The third Petition Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven THy vvill may be done in Earth as it is in Heuen by the blessed Angels Oh Lord They could keepe their place but Satan and wee would needes forsake our place They therefore haue continued happie doers of thy will where Satan and Man-kind haue sought their own will Satan therefore for ever alotted vnto the burning pit whither likewise whol Man-kind had packed had not thy Sonne stept in and made attonement for me and al such as apprehēd him by a liuely Faith which is the Guift even the flower that buddeth out of our adoption Considering all the benefits we haue received from thee oh Lord why should not wee in the Earth do thy will aswell as doe the blessed Angels in Heaven They were created once so were we yea wee haue bene created twise so were not they by so much the more are wee bounde to do thy will even thy will by forsaking our own will yet this will of ours wee are most prest to preferre before thy will Oh false heart crooked heart wilt thou never be duly subject vnto that pure and only holy will of thy Creator of thy Redemer As the Angels do in the heauenlie places continuallie beholde thy face ô Father so hast thou called vs in the Earth to liue before thee as in Heaven and therefore hast thou called vs out of the worlde out of the kingdome of darknes and that to be Citizens with thy Saintes in the Earth who howsoever they are in the worlde yet are not of the worlde howsoever they walke their pilgrimage in the Earth yet their conversation is in Heaven their conversation is heavenly As thou addes vnto thy Sonnes Church such souls as are appointed to be saued so ô mercifull Father it is not sufficient for vs to be in thy Church except thou lead vs doing thy will in the Church It is not sufficient that wee be Cittizens of thy spiritual Ierusalem except we liue according to the Citties Lawes and ordinances Thou having Lord given vs to knowe this giue vs power likewise to do it even to do thy Wil as diligently faithfully earnestly as doe the heavenly spirites whome thou hast appointed to minister vnto the heires of Saluation whome thou hast appointed for to watch over the Church over every the faithfull Giue vnto thy Ministers grace to do thy Wil in preaching thy blessed Wil in season and out of season not measuring what man wold heare but what thou hast commanded them to speake Giue vnto thy people such Pastors as may powerfully Exhort such Teachers as may trulie deliver the Doctrine of faith such Elders as may diligentlie Governe such Deacons as may faithfully Distribute the contribution of the Saintes such Widowes as may with Mercifull Affections attend the sicke and impotent that so the Ministers of thy Church performing dutifully thy will the Communion of thy People as it is called the Kingdome of heauen so it may be beautifull as Heaven Vnto Princes Magistrates People giue grace of subjection to thy wil that all of them seeking thy glory not their owne wil it so may come to passe that thy will may be preferred by Al in every their several callings that Parents and Children Maisters Servants so studying the doing of thy will there may be an heavenly concent and harmony of obedience towardes thee in the Earth as is vnto thee by all the blessed spirits in Heaven And inasmuch as oh mercifull Father after we haue prayed for the glorifying of thy gret Name in the establishing of thy Kingdome and doing thy Will in asmuch as after that we are enjoyned to praye for the things which necessarily and immediatlie concerne our selues wee humblie intreat thee to The fourth Petition Giue vnto vs this day our Daily Bread GIue vnto vs our daily Bread Breade oh Lord is more than we deserue why should wee then be discontented with
brazen Serpent set vp on which who so looked they were cured That figured our Iesus on whome no person by the eye of faith can look but loe they are cured of Satan and sinnes sting let the repentant Theefe witnes that who entred Paradise heavenly the sixt day as Olde Adam the same daye and like ynough the same houre was driven out of the Earthly In Matthewe 10. we are willed to be as Serpents that is to bee like them in something not in every thing Though we be wise as Serpents yet let vs be without sting as was Iesus and the Serpent his figure Nay let vs labour to heal others that are stinged and not sting and bite others lest we be bitten and consumed of others g After many mocks revilings the adversaries giving him bitternes to drink he gaue vp the ghost saying It is finished And here was the perimplishment of Daniels halfe week of yeares for now the Vaile of the Temple rent in two so that the common people might steppe out of the Temples Courâ— into the Holy-place and be their owne Priests in offering vppe a rent heart for nowe Iesus our high Priest entred into the Most holy of the Heavens there to make continuall intercession for vs. At the renting of the Temples Vaile the Iewes might haue learned that then there was an end of Levies ministerie the Priest according to Melchisedeks order having made a newe and liuing way vnto the Father throgh the vaile of his flesh a way for every man that commeth vnto the Father by him for not in the Name or power of any other than Iesus is Salvation to bee accomplished for through Iesus even as wee are members knit vnto him we are made not onely Kings over Satan sin death but also Priestes for lifting vp pure handes without wrath and doubting in all places wheresoever Much of the Epistle vnto the Hebrewes is spent in perswading this neither yet knowe they Christ rightly that knowe not this 9. Staffe He dead a they seale the stone vpon his Tombe But b Third day he ariseth powerfullie Good c Magdalen early to graue doth come Anone Iesus speaks to her cheerefullie d Ten times he did appeare in 40. daies Then calles the Twelue and thus to them he saies a Ioseph of Aramathea having of Pilate obtained Iesus his body and Nicodemus hauing brought one hundreth pound waight of Myrrhe and Aloes they take the body wrap it in lynnen with the odours and burie him in a new Sepulcher within a Garden neete to his suffering place He so buried the high Priests and Pharisies come to Pilate who by common agreement appointed certaine Souldiers to watch the Tombe vntill the third day lest his Disciples should steale him away and so it should be bruted that Iesus rose the Third day as he had promised Therewithall they sealed the Cover-stone as Darius sealed Daniel in the Lyons denne b The third day which was the first day of the weeke he rose from the deade The 6. day of the weeke Heathen-like called Fryday hee departed this mortal life and so entred into Paradise aboue forefigured by Paradise belowe even as Adam on the 6. day through sinne begunne this mortall life and therewithall was expulsed the Lowe Paradise the first figure of Heavens blisse The 7. daye Pagan-wise caled Satur-day the first Adam rested out of Paradise but our second Adam rested in Paradise for as his spirit rested in his Fathers handes so his body in the Earth did feele no corruption Act. 2. 31. This thwarts our disputers about Descension into Hell Having so finished Moses week Iesus ariseth on the next day after the 7. which day as hereto fore in some respect I called the 8. daye so in simple proprietie it is the First day of the week prophanely called Sun-day As our Lord rose this daye so Revel 1. it is called therefore the Lords day As Iesus rose from the power of death Moses his Law having done what it could so like a Samson of Samsons hee caries that Cities gates away on his shoulders and vp he mounteth for our Iustification No marvell then if his Rising-day be our Rest-day and that day we celebrate in meditating of our second Creation and Resurrection even as the first Sabaoth was appointed to bee spent had Adam stoode in meditating the first Creation and Adam falling then appointed to further meditation as first of Creation secondly of the Fall thirdly of Restauration in the promised Seede Moses from the beginning of Creation to the end of Deuteronomte and then from Ioshuah to the end of the Old Testament hee and all the Canonicall writers vse to entitle the daies onely thus the First Second Third Fourth Fift Sixt Seauenth Daye Throughout the Newe Testament the daies haue no other names but wee will not be so precise as to speak like Moses to speak like Christ to speak as the wordes of God Nay if a man so tearme the daies he shall be called Puritane Heretike Howe will our Im-puritanes be pleased if so we cal them Sun-day Moone-day c. Hearken to Venerable Bede His nomina a Planetis Gentilitas indidit c. To these 7. daies Gentilisme did attribute the Planets names beleeving that they had their Spirit of the Sunne the body of the Moone the blood of Mars wit and tongue of Mercuri of Ioue tempetance of Venus lust of Saturne slownes Let men nowe either tip their tongue with the holy Ghosts tearmes or at least not bee offended with such as disdaine to fashion themselues to the Gentiles c As Marie had much forgiven so shee-loved much Her loue partly appeared in this her earlie repaire to the Sepulcher Before her comming an Angel from Heaven had rowled the sealed stone aside Iesus was risen and the hyred watchmen were gone to the Rulers who bribed the Soldiers to the end they should say that Iesus his Disciples had in the night stole away the body Shee comming to the Sepulcher as did Salome and another Marie the Angel informes them of his Resurrection commanding them to returne and tell the same to Peter and the other disciples They departed Iesus first appeares to Marie Magdalene Marke 16. 9. Ioh. 20. 14. c. with whome he familiarly talketh A shame to men that women should loue Iesus more earnestly Secondly he appeared also to the other Marie and to Salome called also Ioanna Luke 10. as they were going to tel the disciples of the Angels words Mat. 28. 9. 10. Thirdly hee appeared to Peter or Cephas 1. Cor. 15. 5. That this must be on the same day may appeare by the Angels command before And that it is not like to fall out betwixt the two next appearances the length of time here and the shortnes of time there makes it most probable Fourthly he appeared to Cleopas and the other Disciple as they were going to Emmaus 60. Furlongs from Ierusalem Luke 24. 13. c. Fiftly hee appeared to the Eleven the greater number bearing name
A BRIEFE OF THE BIBLE DRAWNE FIRST into English Poësy and then illustrated by apte Annotations togither vvith some other necessary Appendices By HENOCH CLAPHAM ¶ PRINTED BY Robert Walde-graue Printer to the Kings Maiestie 1596. Cum Priuilegio Regio TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL MASTER THOMAS MY-LOT Esquier encrease of all true happines in Iesus Annointed FInding right Woorshipful so great vtterance of your Christian affecttoÌ„ immediatly after the spirituall exercises I kept at CHESTER in the STREET I could not but now in dedicatioÌ„ of Loue-memorials signifie my duetifull thankfulnes towards you not onely amidst but that more is in the forefront of my Friendes Accept therefore I pray you not a handfull of the Persians vvater offered to an vncircumcised Kesar but a handfull of the vvater of Life offred by the Lord his poor servant vnto an open professed Christian. A vvise Lapidarie chooseth not stones so much for outward quantitie as inherent qualitie nor I hope vvill you so much measure my guift with the bodily eye as by the Line of the Mind or spirituall eye whereupon setting downe my wrest I here rest Beseeching the Lord in all goodnes to be vvith you and yours for ever Amen EDINBVRGH 1596. Your poore vnworthie Kinsman HENOCH CLAPHAM TO ALL YOVNG ones in Christs Schoole increase of knowledge and sanctification be multiplied daily from aboue Amen I Haue heere for thy vse drawn a Summe of the Sacred-writ vsually caled BIBLE from the greek word that in English is BOOKE because it is the Book of al books with which Book other books compared they are but blots of mans braine whereas this is the Sacred-writ and wisedome of ELOHIM or of that ONE ESSENCE IN TRINITIE That Holy-booke before the Incarnation of the PROMISED SEED was divided into Lavve and Prophets but since the CHRIST assumed our nature in the same ascended to the right hand of Majestie from whence HE sent downe the HOLY-GHOST to fill all thinges especially the hearts of his APOSTLES for speaking penning the minde of IESVS after that time I say The Book of God was divided into PROPHETS and APOSTLES Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe Corner-stone Ephes. 2. 20. The whole then consisteth in these Books These are called the fiue Bookes of Moses or of the Lawe 1 Genesis 2 Exodus 3 Leviticus 4 Nombers 5 Deuteronomie 6 Iob which for order of time might be placed next Genesis but here for order of Books 7 Ioshua 8 Iudges 9 Ruth 10 Sam. 1. 11 Sam. 2. 12 Kings 1. 13 Kings 2. 14 Châ—on 1. 15 Chron. 2. 16 Ezra 17 Nehemiah 18 Hester 19 Psalmes 20 Proverbs 21 Ecclesiastes 22 Song of Songs These be called the 4. great Prophets 23 Isaiah 24 Icremiah 25 Ezechiel 26 Daniel These 12. bee called the small Prophets 27 Hoshea 28 Ioel. 29 Amos. 30 Obadiah 31 Ionah 32 Micah 33 Nahum 34 Habakkuk 35 Zephaniah 36 Haggai 37 Zechariah 38 Malachi The last Prophet of the olde Testament and the last book of the OLD COVENANT Betweene this Malachi and the NEVVE TESTAMENT haue too inconsideratlie bene inserted certaine PRIVATE writings called Apocrypha an Humaine Breath betwixt the Lips of the two Testamentes Malachi in English Messenger or Angel prophecieth plainly Chap. 3. 1. and 4. 5. that IEHOVAH will sende vnto the Iewes a Messenger even Elijah to prepare the way before the MESSENGER OF COVENANT viz. CHRIST These speaches of Malachi or last ANGEL of the old Covenant are the very Face of the Newe Testament or Covenant made for Many Matthew he reporteth the ANGEL from Heauen Chapter 1. 20. bringing newes of IESVS and Chap. 2. 1. The Messenger of Covenant is borne and Chap. 3. IOHN BAPTIST the PREPARER of Christ his way is introduced in that worke Mark beginneth with the same and Luke Chap. 1. bringeth in the ANGEL publishing the birth of the Messenger appointed to prepare the waye as also proclaiming the birth of the ANGEL of the NEVVE COVENANT for whome he was to prepare the waye calling this IOHN ELIAS because hee goeth before Christ in the SPIRIT and POVVER of ELIAS or Eliiah The Evangelist Iohn in his 1. Chapter bringeth in the saving LIGHT Iesus and the MAN SENT from GOD viz. Iohn Thus the last BREATH of the olde Testament in Malachi the first BREATH of the Newe Testament in the mouthes of the EVANGELISTS is all ONE BREATH CANONICALL from Heaven They looke not with Ianus into two contrary Coastes but Hand in hand they joyne kissing each other and both of them looking into the EAST from whence the Glorious DAY-STAR did visit the Earth Who nowe dare hinder their lips from meeting by inserting Vn-canonicall writs a Darke-Cloude and Private if not a stinking Breath The Iews that kept the Canon received them not As also they were not written in Hebers sacred tongue a sufficient Brand that they were no Orackles from IEHOVAH to Hebers People Leaping theÌ„ over them Logs we come vnto the Newe Testament whose Books be these 1 Matthewe 2 Mark 3 Luke 4 Iohn 5 Acts of the Apostles 6 Paul his Epistle to the Romanes 7 Corinthians 1. 8 Corinthians 2. 9 Galatians 10 Ephesians 11 Philippians 12 Colossiaus 13 Thessalonians 1. 14 Thessalonians 2. 15 Timothie 1. 16 Timothie 2. 17 Titus 18 Philemon 19 The Authour to the Hebrewes 20 The Epistle of Iames. 21 Of Peter 1. 22 Of Peter 2. 23 Of Iohn 1. 24 Of Iohn 2. 25 Of Iohn 3. 26 Iude. 27 Revel Exercise thy selfe in pervsing the Bible the whole of al these several writs and thereby thou shalt easilie God his Spirite assisting thee discerne the true Christ from False the True Church from the False True writ from False and so consequently all holy Trueth from Falshood And for helping thy weake Memorie as also for giuing a taste of that large Truth in short speach I haue throgh God his helpe manifested my poore power but riche good-will in this little booke First I haue in English Poësie drawn according to an ancient staffe delivered summarily the hystorie of the olde and newe Testament Secondly vpon the most difficult points of the Poësie I haue dilated by way of Illustration not only for the fulfilling of the hystorie but also for discussing sometimes some necessarie question as also annexed hereto such certaine computation of time for speciall joynts of the Story as whereby the spirituall minded may something bee furthered to deeper points contemplatiue As thou shalt receiue any good hereby so I pray thee be thankful vnto God therfore quickly thou shalt finde his hand vpon thee to every good work The Lord be with thy spirit Amen Dedicate to shewe all duetie chiefly to England H. C. A BRIEFE OF THE BIBLE WITH NECESSARY Annotations vpon the most materiall pointes in the Poësie 1. Staffe VVHen Elohim a El b Shaddaj c Iehovah d Iah d Ehjesh that is GOD e in Persons Three But e Essence One On whome all things do stay Cause of all Causes and Sufficiencie when f HE
Beasts as a signe howe much he abhorred the shedding of Mans blood 10. Staffe As Adam gun the former World so this By Noah was begun Of a Cham ther came the Cananites accusst for works amisse Of Iaphet sprong the Gentiles hight by name Of blessed Shem came Heber Abram eke From whome the Israelites their bloud-rowle seek a Noah planting of Viâ—es drinking the iuice of the grapes hee became drunken so lay in the midst of his Tent Naked C ham seeing it telleth his two Brethren They comming backwards towards their Father doe from their shoulders let fall a covering vpon him Noah awaking vnderstanding what was done he curseth Cham in his sonne Chanaan of whom came the cursed Canaanites but hee blesseth the God of Shem and praieth that Iaphet at last may come and dwell in Shems Tent. Of Iaphet came the Gentiles From Shem supposed to be Melâ—hiâ— sedek Gen 14 both of Hebrewes Greeks Latins olde and newâ— and he was living till about 77. yeares after Abram his calling out of VR in Chaldea from Shem I say the 12. Worthy of the Old World and borne before the Newe world from Him came Arphaxad from Arphaxad Selah from Selah Heber of whom the tongue was called Hebrewe rom Hâ—ber Peleg from Peleg Regu from Regu Serug from Serug Nahor from Nahor Terah from Terah Abram the Grand-father of Israel of whome came the Israelites 11. Staffe In a Abrams time Idolatrie did raigne God therefore b called him from Chaldea Land Who taking c Tent on back away he came And d followed God as Child doth Nurses hand To him God promised great seed After the same To e Abram God gaue Abraham to name a Excepting Melchisedek the Priest of the high God and King of SALEM Called also IEâ—VS of Iebust Gen. 10. 16. but afterwards called IERV-SALEM of IERV-SALEM mysticallie by Titles change teaching That the Towne was changed to Sacred vse even to be the figure of God his vniversall Church excepting I say that Melchi-sedek there is not mention of any that walked vprightly before IEHOVAH b The Lord Abram then being 75. years old picked him out of Chaldea the Land of Shinar and Nimrods Babel or Confusion for there the Schismatiks from Shem builded but their owne tongue was slit by IEHOVAH as is coniectured into 70. and so were scattered into divers partes of the Earth c The Father of the Faithfull liued in a Tent and we should not think but our state is stil moueable for here is no abiding Citie d He followed the Sound of God as we shuld followe his Worde in all things the companie of which intelligible Sounde for it is not a Romish Noise but a distinct Voice should drawe vs after it as a Loadstone pulleth to it Iron Togither with Abram and Sarai his wife there goeth foorth Lot the Son of HARAH Abrams brother This LOT and his Familie were with Abram what time IEHOVAH Genes 12. made first promise to Abram that in his SEEDE all the Earth should receiue a blessing for the Seede of the Woman promised Gen. 3. was to spring from Abrams seede But soone after Gen. 13. there being a controversie betwixt Abrams Heardmen and the Heardmen of LOT about pasture for their Cattel Abram though more Excellent for peace sake giveth LOT leaue to choose what Soyle he first would LOT chooseth the plaine of Sodome and so departeth pitching his Tent at Sodome gates But his fleshly choise was scourged for in steed of good Abram he found a beastly carnal People who dailie vexed his heart 2. Pet 27. Soone after there being warres betwixt the 5. Kinges of the 5. Cities of the Plaine on the one side and the King of Babel and his 3. Neighbour Kings on the other side This last Partie prevailing Lot with all he had was carried away captiue Abram vnderstanding hereof hee mustered 318. of his owne house pursueth and recovereth LOT againe In Abrams returne Mâ—lchi-sedek King of Shalem and Iehouahs high Priest did meet him and offered to him Bread and wine a notable figure of the Breade and wine which IESVS our Priest after Melchi-sedeks order hath offered to vs believers not to Sodoms People to which Kingly Priest Abram tythed or paied tenths of all he had wherewithall the Royall Priest blesseth him and the lesser is blessed of the greater Genes 14. Heb. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. And what Man should bee greater than Abram if not Shem in whose Tent God was to dwel til Iaphets or the Gentiles returne to dwel in that Tent LOT by all these Crosses not profiting much after this deliverance even by Abram whose fellowship he neglected hee purchaseth place in Sodoms Towne But Abram returning to his place in the vale of Mamre the Lord there by vision confirmeth the former promise and promiseth him a large seede as also the Land of Canaan for their possession Abram believing the Lord it is imputed to him for Righteousnes Sarai being barren shee giveth her Aegyptian-maide to him who knowing her she bringeth forth Ismael e Abram being 99. yeares olde IEHOVAH appeareth and smiteth a Covenant with him Abram was to Walke vpright before God The Lord he was to be to Abram GOD Al-sufficient at euery turne and straight For printing this Covenant more deepe in the brests of Abram and Sarah the Lord calleth Abram in English High-father ABRAHAM in English The Father of a great Multitude and Sarai in English Mistres he calleth SARAH that is interpreted Princesse The lifting vp of their Names-meaning by that letter H teacheth howe Covenant-smiting with God for vpright worship doth exalt not embase Man and woman Togither with his Covenant the Lord adioyneth a SEALE or exhibitiue Signe for Abraham and his Male-seede henceforth was to be circumcised The cutting of that fore-skin of the Male his generatiue part did preach a being conceived in sinne and therefore a need of Regeneration or Newe-birth This Cut in the flesh is properly called the Signe of the Covenant Genes 17. 11. but improperly or Sacramentallie it is called the Covenant it self ver 13 After this the Sinnes of Sodom Gomorrha Zeboim Admah Bela crying to Heaven God sendeth his Angels first to foresignifie their destruction vnto Abraham what time Isaac was againe promised Sarah laughing it to scorne as a thing impossible for her to bring forth afterwards to LOT The Angels send LOT and his wife out of the Citie to Belah thenceforth called Zoar for LOT was vnwilling to go to the Mountaine His wife looking back is turned into a Salt piller Fire and brimstone from Heaven devoures all LOT after that remooving vnto the Mount his daughters to haue seed by their Father made him drunke and so lay with him Vnawares he begetteth of them Moab of whome the Moabites and Ben-ammi of whome came the Ammonites 12. Staffe His Wife a Sarai was thenceforth cal'd Sarah And b Circumcision for holy Signe c To Abrahams Male-seed God gaue that day Which was observ'd
to the whole world they shall finde as I observed in the former Staffe that all sortes of Levits though spotles were not capable of Priest-hoode and so of standing before the Alter As Gershom Aaron their Familie was chosen to the Priestes worke so this sort of Levites could onely be saide to be debarred the Alter as for the other though they never fell yet they might not medle with that peece of Service If the Levites of the Families of Kohath and Merari so fel they notwithstanding are not debarred their former place Onely One sorte of Levites Beare that shame of being debarred their former height of Calling and they bee such as in the former Height did beare a liuely resemblance of Christ. For such as had made so fearfull a Fall to haue beene restored or lifted vp into that place that specially typed out Our spotles Priest IESVS having bene so notablie spotted with open palpable Idolatrie would haue beene derogatorie vnto Christ figured If a blemish in one of their bodies made him vncapable of Priesthood then no maruell if so greiâ—â—ie a fall put him from that sacred â—iguring Seate Thus where divers whose names I willinglie conceale haue thought that that Deposition was nothing Ceremonial and therefore with too open sounde did smite vp their drum and display their Banner they see the very ground of all their hope cashierde quasht with a wet Finger Obiec Paul would haue him Varebukeable Answ. So would I haue every Minister vnrebukeable but if we shall haue no man that at any time of his life hath committed grosse Sinne for so you haue taught for to medâ—le at all with any Church office Surely I can not tell how Rome Corinthe Asia Minor shal ever come to haue Church-Officers Paul would and so would I that every common Professor of Christ should liue vnrebukeable much more I wish it in the Teacher of the People but to say that a matter of Rebuke doth debarre a man simplie from al such office is as though one should say Christians ought to liue vnrebukeable If therefore any commit matter of Rebuke he is no more notwithstanding Repentance to bee admitted to the place of a Christian for to vse your owne reason Hee must beare his shame that is He must be in a lower place than before but he was in the estate of a Christian before therefore nowe notwithstanding Repentance he may not be restored to the state of a Christian Such an Argument wold beseeme Nouaâ—us or rather Novatianus who is saide to denye such for ever a place in their Church as once had falne into sinne Nay this is worse than that of Novatianus for he denied the dignitie of Christian to him that before had fallen in a Christian place but this Newe-learning denieth office to him that never fell in office Wiselie fore-sawe the holy Ghost this soare and therfore hath left a plaster accordingly in the Gospell where hee propoundeth vnto vs Persons Rebukeable both before and after their Calling yet neither it debarred the first from entrie nor the second from the continuance in their holy Church Function Matthew and Paul notablie rebukeable Before Peter and Barnabas notablie Rebukeable After their Calling Mathew a Publicane Paul an abhominable Bloodsucker Peter first an Apostate secondy togither with Barnabas taken tardye with fowle dissembling And if in any there shuld of absolute necessity haue bene conversation vnrebukeable it had bene highly necessary in the Maister Buildâ—rs If any of absolute necessitie should haue beene vnrebukeable as was Christ then necessarily such should haue bene his Hands for such were they in their work Every one will cast their eye back vnto the Master workman and think themselues happy if they can but attaine to bee so perfect why then would Christ call into office such as might after fal and scandalize the holy truth had it not bin more credit to his cause that such should first haue preached as might every way be vnrebukeable would not people the sooner haue beleved when they had seene the Faith of Christ so powerful in the Apostle as hee never once fell after the preaching thereof Surely surely Brethren as it woulde haue gone hard with a man that should come to his Deaths-bed vnrepentant if Christ had not left one President of graunting Remission of Sinne at the last houre so had we not sufficient Presidents of Iesus his Calling men To and continuing men IN the Church-office ey a more excellent office than any of vs can beare it would go hard with the poor Church Except Angels came from Heauen Itrow she would never be furnished with men As the Priests were called to figure Christ spotles even as the spotles Lamb figured his Sacrifice so there was required in them Persons all outward shewe of Puritie Dauid was a speciall figure of Christ the Warriour Salomon of Christ the Churches Spouse but they and their seede might enioy that Regall roome notwithstanding they had blemishes in their Bodies and though they weare vnwashen Garments c. But for the Levites of Aarons Family one blemish would put them by and herein they fully represented our Sacrifice and Sacrificer spotles without which there had bene no Redemption for sinne If Church-Officers nowe shadowe Christ his Priesthood as did the former â—hen there were some likelyhood of this namely That Persous reprooueable for passed fact were ever afterwards notwithstanding Repentance vtterlie vncapable of entring into and still retaining any Ecclesiasticall function But I trowe none are so grosse as to affirme that the Newe Church or Newe Testaments Church her Ministery doth so fore-type fore-figure or shadowe the Priest everlasting even Iesus ordained by oath a Priest foreuer after the Order of Melchi-sedech which if I see not why any shuld any longer retaine such an Argument of Angellike ministery 23. Staffe The a Tabernacle built and al things done They forewards set towards old Canaan b But by the way they into mischiefs run For which the Lord destroyed every man Even all saving Caleb and Ioshua Who out of Aegypt vndertook the way a For beginning and perfecting the glorious work of the Tabernacle the Lord gaue singular guiftes vnto Bezaleel of Iudahs Tribe and to Aâ—oliah of the Tribe of Dan. No common guiftes are required in the builders and rearers vp of Churches for of the Church vniversall or Catholick was the Tabernacle a type or figure yet but of a Church in the Wildernes as also in Canaan vnder the warfare of the Church for onely peaceable Salomon must builde the glorious house of IEHOVAH Secondly the Tabernacle being ioyned togither and reared vp great enoylings and consecrations were required and performed that so IEHOVAH might dwell in it continuallie Exod 40. Here endeth EXODVS or the Book of Going out that is out of Aegypt The next Book LEVITI VS is spent in rehearsall of the Service of the Levites The Book of Nombers spendeth it self in Numbring the Remoovals and pitchings of Israel
chiefest Mathewe hee regardeth the Genealogie of Ioseph Iesus his Father by Ordinance not by Nature and Luke he draweth the Petygre of Marie the Reall mother of Iesus according to the flesh both of David and so consequently of Iudah Blessed IESVS was every way Heyre vnto the Crowne The Sophies of Persia knew that Mat. 2. 2. Nathaniel confessed that Iohn 1. 49. Pilate gaue him absolute Title of Iudahs King superscribed in Hebrue Greeke and Latine neither had he power to qualifie That though the Iewes wished him Iohn 19. 19. 20. 21. 22. The People knew That that would haue made him King Iohn 14. 16. neither could the bloody wretches alledge any one betwixt him and the Crowne but Romes Cesar. Iohn 19. 12. 15. Hee that knowes not that Christ must needes be of David is more blinde than was Bartimens Mark 10. 47. Neither can any bee ignorant of his being Dauids Son except they will repugne his owne testimonie Mat. 17. 25. 26. 27. where he prooues himselfe free from tribute paying as also many moe Scriptures that openly proclaime him Davids Sonne and so consequently Heire Legall and Naturall to Iudahs Crowne But as the blessed Word Iohn 1. assumed our flesh for the newe creating our flesh even to the end that wee might become Spirituall for the discerning of spirituall things so neither was his Kingdome and Scepter to be of this world carnall and outward as was the figure in David but spirituall inward and heavenlie and thereof it commeth that the Newe Testaments Church-state is â—o ofâ—en called The Kingdome of heauen Matth. 11. 1â— 13. and Ierusalem from aboue Galat. 4. Revel 21. This doctrine if it would be learned the learners would not keepe Christ vnder Moses nor his newe body vnder olde Israel as though the second should in nothing excell the former I must never leaue vrging this point till the skales fall from Sauls eyes 2. Staffe An a Angel doth preach this to b shepherds who Do leaue their flocks and wend to c Bethlehem Looke howe the Angel said they finde it so Babe in a d Cratch did there appeare to them With it e Marie Ioseph Shepherds then Giue praise to God and back returne agen a As an Angell from Heaven did preach the conception of Iesus to Ioseph and Marie so an Angell from Heaven doeth preach his byrth heere to the Sheepherds Accordingly the holy Ghost giveth the title of Angel to the Newe Testaments Ministery where he calleth them Angels that is in English Sent-ones or Embassadours or Messengers sent by God to preach Iesus annoynted to his People The woorthines of the Title must feare men from running before the Lord bid and the Lord never in mercie saith Goe but first he furnisheth them with holy giftes fit for the Embassage If any come vnto vs without their spirituall furniture wee may boldly conclude that God hath not sent them in Mercie but in Iudgement as though he should haue said vnto them Go in a vengeance and so indeede he bid Balaam goe to Balak b Christ was not published to lazie idle Nobles and Churles of the World nor yet to the presumpteous Priest or glavering Prophet but to well exercised shepherds feeding their flocks As his kingdome was not world-like so neither weâ—e world-like men to be acquainted with that first c Bethleem was the natiue Towne of David the figure and of our David figured d Ioseph and Marie being vnable as it semeth to hyre a seemely place in the Inne they were glad to vse a back-house for their lodging and there was the King of Kings borne As the place of his Nativitie was simple so the bed-stead wherein he couched his sacred corpes was but a Beasts cratch Our Earthly vanishing Kinges would take this in dudgeon and the meanest of vs are vsually more renowmed in our byrth yet like rude Horses and Mules voide of vnderstanding we are impatient e With the blessed Babe Iâ—SVS they finde no greater concourse of People than Ioseph his suppoâ—ed Father and Marie his Reall mother according to the flesh homely solemnizing of Rex Regum but worldlie Bethlehem was not further from Christ then when Christ was borne in their litle Towne The neerer the Church commonlie the further from God And indeede the Sunnes light nothing availeth a blind man in his blindnes If God first giue eye-sight to the soul that is Light vnto the Mind man may disceme spirituall things Otherwise King Herod Master Priest Sir Scribe shall discerne Christ or the habitation of Christ no more than a Mole 3. Staffe a Twise twentie daies Ore past the Babe is brought Into the Temple There good b Simeon Did meet with him who chief was in his thought So c Anna did behold good Maries Son That done they home and liue there quietly But d Marie ponders all right seriouslie a The Wife delivered was to be vncleane for a Sabaoth of dayes but the 8. daye which was a figure of our Lord his day the day after the seaventh and yet the first of our newe creations weeke the Male-childe was to be circumcised Thirtie three daies besides the first 7. she was to rest in vncleane estate and thirtie three yeares after Christ his byrth it was before we were purified from sinne and then she was to be cleansed by the Law bringing vnto the Temple a Lamb or a payre of young Pigeons or Turtles b Simeon having a Revelation that hee should not see Death ere he had seeene the Messiah Luke 2. hee therefore confidently awaiteth the corporeall sight of Iesus Iesus at last he meeteth in the Armes of his Mother within the Temple Hee taketh him into his Armes and therewithall before God hee protesteth his willingnes to leaue corporeall life prophecying therewithal that Iesus shuld be the Gentiles Light and the Iewes Glorie c Anna of Asers Tribe Luke 2. 36. who had lived 7 yeares with an Husband and had bene 84. yeares Widowesse shee haunting continually the Temple found Iesus there at the same time as did Simeon whome she boldly confessed and professed to all such as looked for Redemption in Ierusalem d Marie she layeth all these extraordinarie accidents to her heart and thereby gathereth more and more that the miraculous fruite of her womb was appointed to some great inaudible work 4. Staffe After from a East do a Sophies make repaire They by b a starre came to the house aright Who finde the Babe and Marie c onely there To d Gentiles sure an heavenly blessed sight e Myrrhe Frankensence and Gold they offer than And so depart each one an happie man aa The Romanistes haue preched vnto the simple People that these wisemen were 3. Kings of Colin That they should be 3. the Scriptures teach not much lesse 12. as some haue written for the number is indefinite That they should be Kings is not very likelie seeing they passing seldome gaue themselues vnto Star-gazing That they should be of Colin is apparantly false for the holy
confirmation of the christian faith so for this time I will propound some speciall heades of Doctrine wherein one Epistle is more copious than another or at least first in order according to the vsuall places of the Epistles In the Epistle to the Romanes I obserue First the Apostles concluding all Iewe and Gentile vnder sinne taking away all merit by workes therewithall delineating or plainly picturing foorth the difference betwixt the Carnall and Spirituall person Secondly I obserue his plaine proving of Israels generall calling and obedience to the Christian Faith what time the Fulnes of the Gentiles be come in Hereof see 1. part at Iudaâ—s Ozias Thirdly the doctrine of obedience to Princes and Magistrates not so much for feare of the sworde as for conscience sake Fourthly I note the doctrine he delivers for supporting the weake brethren In the first Epistle to the Corinths I obserue speciallie First the Methode of truly preaching Christ. Secondly the danger by having any communion with an open leavened or vnrepentant brother togither with the carriage due towards such Thirdly I note the power is given to the Saintes for iudging their owne causes civill Fourthly the Apostle putteth an end to questions touching single life touching such married Couples as whereof one was an vnbeleever touching the dutie of such as were called to the Christian faith in such or such Vocation Fiftly I note his doctrine concerning the vse of meates sacrificed first to Idoles Sixty the true vse of spirituall guiftes Seaventhly the absolute necessitie of Loue or Charity in a Christian. Eightly the description of the Schoole of Prophecie Chap. 14. Vnto this holy exercise of Prophecie hee stirreth vp every particular man for women Tâ—ere may not speake as to labour after every spirituall guift so specially after Prophecie Every man that hath a publick profiting guift in this exercise it is to bee vsed but every thing in order The brother that is able onely or specially to teach in a strange tongue hee in this holy Congregation is to speak providing that there be another to interpret his speach to the Auditorie This notablie overthwaâ—teth such as will not heare a brother Prophet thogh he speak no strange language They that Prophecie that is which divide the word and apply it to the soule Verse 24. 25. are at the most to be but three for one season of Assemblie every one orderly teaching after another the Iudgement of whose doctrine and discreet Application appertaineth in the first place to the other Prophets The principall of this holy Schoole I beleeue to be the Doctor even as is the Pastor over other peculiar exercises Fiue peculiar Graces or Guifts are in this School to be vsed for aedification 1. The guift of a Psalme 2. of Doctrine 3. of Tongues 4. of Revelation 5. of Interpretation All saving that of Revelation is granted generally yet simply neither can all Revelation be debarred for at sometime may bee revealed and that vnto the meanest member that the whole Congregation hath in former time bene carried away into some error If any one such thing or any speciall point not revealed to the former speaking Prophet be vnto another revealed Vers. 30. he is orderly to be heard But because that of a Psalme is easilie graunted of all I would gladly demand What is it for a man there to haue a Psalme Heere a number lay their hand on their mouth or else they foolishlie answer It is the singing of somâ— Psalme in the Bible or else It is to pen a Psalme and afterwards to sing it Alas alas no neither the one nor the other The Apostle commendeth to the Church Spirituall guifts peculiar guifts of the Spirit of Iesus not fearing in the first place to prefix the guift of a Psalme as no common guift but at least as vneasie to be attained as that of Doctrine of Tongues Interpretation c. Howsoever other Churches yet Corinth the Apostle testifieth was destitute of no guift Chap. 1. 7. No marvel then if this guift be rather commended to vse amongst them As onely to pen a Sermon and then to reade it cannot properly be called the Guift of Preaching or Prophecying so neither can the singing of a penned Psalme be truly called The guift of a Psalme I therefore conclude even as Doctrine and Exhortation is by the immediate instinct of the Spirite so is this Psalme vttered or soong Quest. Who ever heard of any man that could so sing the praises of God and his wonderful works that could deliver his holy meaning in Number Measure Answ. I praise God for it I haue heard of the guift and heard the brother that hath bene so exercised in the midst of a Christian Congregation And lest he should sing but something he had coâ—d by heart the brethren thus tryed him First 〈◊〉 two brethren had taught from two severall Scriptures onely foreâ— knowne to the speakers themselues he was appointed to ground his Psalme vpon that doctrine they first had delivered He did so presently enlarging the doctrine and vse thereof and that without vnseemly pawse Secondly which was the next time of Prophecie he was placed in the face of the holy Assemblie and vnto him was read a certaine Text agreed vpon by the Church but at that instant and therevpon without more adoe he vttered a Psalme After that he was again Proued and so of the Brethren Approued I my self was an eate and eye-witnes of all this So much of the 8. Observation Nynthly Paul confuteth the deniers of the bodies resurrection as for the supporting of the weak I observed it to the Romanes And lastly hee commandeth laying aside somewhat for the helping of the poor appointing thereto the Lords day or first day of the weeke In his second to the Corinths I mark specially 1. His care of having the Humbled sinner comforted 2. His care to haue one Church to contribute to anothers necessities 3. His care of suppressing the insolent contemners of his letters reprehensions In his Epistle to the Galatians specially I note 1. The curse of all false Doctrine and Gospels althogh published by an Angel from heaven 2. That Moses yoke of bondage is not to bee ioyned with Iesus his Gospell the former longing to the sons of Hagar the bond-woman for whipping them vnto Christ the latter longing to the sons of Sarah the Free-woman whose Children are of a newe Citie even of Ierusalem from aboue In his Epistle to the Ephesians First I beholde Election to be before not only our bâ—rth but also before the foundation of the World and that Election to be in Christ Iesus onely which Election before time maketh it selfe knowne to vs in time by the sanctification of the holy Spirit 2. I cast mine eye to the immediate end of Christ his Ascension which as touching his Church was this vz. To fill all things by giuing gifts vnto men the end of them guifts being twofold First for converting People and bringing them into