may be tamed by verses short prayers or other charms Or to think that the repetition of the Creed or Lords prayer can infuse into Herbs or other things a faculty of healing diseases Palmestry is a Superstitious thing of this kinde Such abominations as these are all detested of God and ought also to be detestable in the eyes of Gods people as appeareth Deut. 18. 10. 11. 11. Here is also forbidden Astrology whither in the calculating of Nativities or used in Prognostications For in these regards Astrology is nothing else but the abuse of the Heavens and off the Stars For the Imaginary twelve Houses are made oâ— the fained signs of a supposed Zodiak in the highest sphear which is commonly called the first moveable and truly because it is thus high therefore can no man certainly know their influence and vertues This Art can not arise from experience because the same position of all Stars never happen twice and if they did yet there could be no observation made of them because the influencies of the Stars are all confusedly mixt both in the Air and in the Earth even as if all herbs were mingled together in one Vessel By this Art Mens mindes are drawen from the contemplation of Gods Providence when as they shall hear that all things fall out by the motion and position of the Stars Stars were not ordained to foretell things to come but to distinguish dayes moneths and years Genes 1. 14. Isai 47. 13. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsellours Let now the Astrologers the Star-gazers and Prognosticatours stand up and save thee from the things which shall come upon thee Dan. 2. 2. Books of this kinde they were that for zeal of Gods glory and love to the truth were burned by the faithfull in the days of the Apostles such as these were the curious Arts those books treated off Act. 19. 19. All Astrological predictions are conversant or busied about such things as do either simplely depend on the will or dispensation of God or about such things as do depend upon Mans free-will and so are altogether contingent and therefore can neither be foreseen nor foretold and not upon the Heavens It is impossible by the bare knowledge of such a cause as is both common to many and far distant from such things as it worketh in precisely and infalliblely to set down particular effects The Stars have indeed a great force but such as doth manifest it self onely in the operation which it hath in the four principal qualities of natural things as in heat cold moisture driness The Stars can not at all force the will or give the least inclination to it It is beyond the reach of man to define how great the force of the Stars is The effects of the Sun and of the Moon are apparent in the constitution of the four parts of the year But the effects of the Planets and of the fixt Stars though they be of great force and innumerable are not so manifest unto us And now because a man can know but some Stars onely and their operations and not all the Stars and all their operations and forces he can not certainly foretell future things or things to come yea though they did depend on the Stars For though the position of certain Stars do demonstrate such an effect to ensue yet the Aspects of such Stars as we know not may hinder those effects and produce the contrary for ought we know That part of Astrology which concerneth the alteration of the Air is for the most part of it false and frivolous and therefore all manner of predictions grounded upon the Doctrine of it are nothing else but toys and delusions And that part of Astrology which concerneth Nativities Revolutions Progressions Directions of Nativities Elections of times and the finding again of things lost is very wicked yea it is very probable that this Art is of the same brood with implicite Magick and that for these reasons 1. Because the word of God reckoneth Astrologers amongst Magicians and adjudgeth them both to the same punishment 2. Because the precepts of that part of this Art which concerneth predictions are rediculous And therefore such things can not be told by them but by a secret suggestion from the Devil or instinct of the Devil Augustine lib. 5. cap. 7. de Civitate Dei saith the same For saith he if we weigh well all those things we will not without cause believe that Astrologers when they do wonderfully declare many truths work by some secret instinct of evil Spirits which desire to fill mens brains with dangerous and erroneous opinions concerning starry destinies And not by any Art derived from any inspection and consideration of the Horoscope which indeed is none 12. Here is also forbidden Popish Consecration of Water and Salt to restore the minde to health and to chase away Devils 13. Here is also forbidden making jests of the Scripture Isa. 66. 2. 14. Also all setting-light of Gods Judgements which are seen in the World Matth. 26. 34. 35. Luke 13. 1. 2. 3. 15. Here is also forbidden all dissolute conversation Matth. 5. 16. 2 Sam. 12. 14. The fourth Commandment Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter thy man servant nor thy maid servant nor thy Cattel nor thy stranger that is within thy gates For in six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day and hallowed it The Affirmative part of this Commandment is this We do keep it holy if we do cease from sin and from the works of ordinary callings and if this being done we do also perform spiritual duties which God doth require of us As a preparation to the sanctification of the Sabbath day we must rise in the morning and pray privately Thus did Christ the day before the Sabbath Mark 1. 31. 39. Thus they were want to do under the Law Exod. 32. 5. 6. Aaron proclaimed saying to morrow shall be the holy day of the Lord and the people rose up early the next morning The Sabbath must again be sanctified by frequenting the assemblies where we may hear the pure word of God Act. 13. 14. 15. And by Meditation upon Gods word and his Creatures Psal. 92. Act. 17. 11. By exercising of works of charity by visiting the sick by giving Alms to the needy by admonishing those that fall by reconciling those that are at difference Nehem. 11. 12. The Sabbath is either Ceremonial or Moral It is Ceremonial 1. In respect of its strict observation 2. As it is a Type of the inward rest of the people of God that is of their continual
10. 10. Psal. 22. 22. Christian Apology or profession of Christ in word is when with fear and meekness we are always ready to confess the truth of Christian Religion as often as need requireth and that in the presence of unbelievers that the name of God may be glorified 1 Pet. 3. 15 16. Act. 7. 1. to the end We are not bound to make this confession of our faith before unbelievers that are past all hope of repentance For holy things must not be given unto Dogs Matt. 7. 6. Profession of Christ in time of danger indeed is called Martyrdom Martyrdom is an undergoing of the punishment of death for the profession of Christ in the Doctrine of Faith and for Justice and for the salvation of the brethren For Justice John Baptist was beheaded of Herod Mark 6. 18. 27. 28. Christ laid down his life for us so ought we if need require for the brethren 1 John 3. 16. For maintaining the Doctrine of Faith Stephen was stoned Act. 7. 59. And yet this doth nothing let Christians the using of all holy security for the safety of their own lives For as Christ hath shewed in the Gospel It is lawfull for Christians in times of persecution if they finde themselves not sufficiently resolved and strengthened by the holy Spirit to stand to fly from place to place for the security of their lives Matt. 10. 23. Joh. 10. 39. This Christ did and advised his Disciples to do the like Upon such occasions as these Paul fled to Tarsus Act. 9. 30. And upon like occasions Eliah fled for his life from Jezabel 1 Kings 19. 3 4. Thus much for the profession of Christ which concerneth Christ himself The profession of Christ which concerneth his Members is either 1. Edification or 2. Alms. Edification is every particular duty of us towards our brethren which may further them in their growing up in Christ and Unite them more surely to him Rom. 14. 19. To edification belong these things 1. To give good example Matt. 5. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 12. 2. To exhort Heb. 3. 13. Rom. 1. 12. 3. To comfort 1 Thes. 5. 14. and 4. 18. Jam. 5. 16 20. 4. To admonish Rom. 15. 14. 1 Thes. 5. 14. They do observe a holy manner of admonishing who do ever admonish in the spirit of meekness and so as if they themselves were guilty of the like infirmities and of such faults as they do certainly know by them whom they admonish out of Gods word Gal 6. 1. Matt. 7. 5. 2 Tim. 4. 2. Matt. 18. 15. Rom. 15. 14. Levit. 19. 17. Alms or relief is that whereby the rich out of their abundance ought freely largely and with open hands to supply the wants of the poor and that to the utmost of their ability and sometimes beyond it 2 Cor 8. 3. Acts 2. 44 45. In the days of the Apostles all those that were converted to the Faith by the powerfull operation of the holy Spirit esteemed no worldly thing they had their own but held all their worldly store Treasures and inheritances in common yea they sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every one had need So much for Edification Alms. The fourth degree of the Declaration of Gods love is Glorification Rom. 8. 30. Glorification is the perfect transforming of the Saints into the image of the Son of God Phil. 3. 21. 1 Cor. 15. 14 49. Psal. 17. 15. Glorification is begun in this life and exceedingly enlarged at the day of death and will be fully and throughly perfected at the general resurrection in the last day death of the faithfull is a sleep in Christ In this sleep the Soul is for a time severed from the body 1 Cor. 15 17. Act. 7. 60. The body lieth in the earth and seeth corruption and at length is raised to greater glory than at first it had 1 Cor. 15. 36. The Soul is severed from it that being fully sanctified it may immediatly upon its departure from the body be transported to Heaven Luke 13. 42. â—3 Rev. 14. 13. Remedies against death or the fear of it are these 1. If we consider that it is nothing else but a freeing of the faithfull from the Tyranny of the world flesh and Devil and a placing of them safe under the shadow of the wings of Christ 2. If we consider that death and the grave are sanctified to us through the death of Christ 3. If we do consider that Christ is gain unto us as well in death as in life Phil. 1. 21. 4. If we consider that the pains of death are nothing to the comforts after death 5. That we shall see God in the brightness of his glory and Majesty and be received into the company of glorified Spirits in Heaven 6. That our Souls shall be clad with glorie instead of our bodies 2 Cor. 11. 5. 7. That we are by it free from all the power of the Serpent and of the sting of death 1 Cor. 15. 55. Heb. 2. 15. 8. If we do not so much think of our death as exactly and diligently consider our life For he that liveth well cannot die ill and he that liveth ill doth seldom die well 9. That the Angels of God are ready to carry our Souls into Heaven so soon as they do depart from our bodies And our Souls being by them brought into Heaven shall there magnify the name of God And shall there wait for and pray for the consummation of the Kingdom of glorie and for the full and perfect felicity of body Soul Rev. 5. 8 9. and 14. 2 3. and 6. 10. The estate of the Elect at the last judgement The manner of the last day is this 1. Immediatly before the coming of Christ the powers of heaven shall be shaken the Sun and Moon shall be darkened the Stars shall fall from Heaven Matth. 24. 29 30. Then the elect and faithfull seing this shall lift up their heads and rejoyce But at this sight the Reprobate shall fear and tremble Luke 21. 26 28. 2 Tim. 4. 8. 2. The Heavens being on fire shall suddenly pass away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat and the earth and the works therein shall be burned up 2 Pet. 3. 12 13. At the same time when all these things shall come to pass the sound of the last Trumpet shall be heard sounded by the Arch-Angel Matt. 44 31. 1 Thes. 4. 16. Then shall Christ the Lord come suddenly in the Clouds with power and glory and great train of Angels Matt. 24. 30. 1 Thes. 4. 17. 3. At the sound of this Trumpet all the dead shall rise And those that are found alive shall be changed in the twinckling of an eye which change shall be in stead of death 1 Cor. 15. 51 52 53. Then shall all the bodies of the elect and faithfull be glorified and made glorious like the body of Christ Then their bodies shall
Revealed 3. Experimental The Ministry of the Angels is three fold either to adore or to praise or to glorifie God continually To this purpose do they stand in the presence of God ever more ready to do his Commandments as Isai 6. 2. Luke 2. 14. Rev. 5. 11. 12. Ps. 103. 20. Dan. 7. 9. 10. Part of the Ministry of Angels respecteth the Church for they are Ministring Spirits sent forth of God to Minister for the good of those that shall be heirs of salvation Heb. 1. 14. For the good of all these they Minister first in this life 2. In the end of this life and 3. In the last judgement In this life they watch for the good of their bodies and for the good of their Souls and that from the beginning of their days to the end of them Psal. 34. 7. In the end of this life they carry the Souls to Heaven as they did the Soul of Lazarus Luke 16. 22. In the last judgement they do gather all the Elect together that they may come before Christ and so enter into Eternal fruition of glorie both in body and Soul Matth. 24. 31. Another part of their Ministery concerneth Gods Enemies and it is to execute judgements upon his Enemies at his command Of Man and his State Man was made after Gods image and resembling God in holiness In the excellent State of Mans innocency these things are to be considered 1. The place in which he was set in his innocency and that was the garden of Eden that pleasant place Gen. 2. 15. 2. The integrity of Mans Nature he was Created in righteousness and true holiness Eph. 4. 24. There are two parts of Mans first integrity 1. Wisdom for he had a true and perfect knowledge of God and his will as far as it was to be performed of him and of the counsel of God concerning all Creatures Genes 2. 19. 2. Secondly Justice which was a conformity in his will affections and powers of his body to the will of God 3. Man's dignity which consisted in these things 1. In Man's Communion with God God rejoyced in Man made in his own image and Man did fervently love God and this appeareth by God's familiar conference with Adam Genes 1. 29. Secondly in his Dominion over all the creatures of the Earth Gen. 2. 19. Psal. 8. 6. Thirdly in his Decency Comeliness and Dignity of body for though he was naked yet was he cloathed with the best and excellentest roabs even with innocency There was imprinted upon him by God a Princely Majesty so that there could not then be any thing in him unseemly Gen. 2. 25. Psal. 8. Fourthly in his labour of body which was without pain or grief Gen. 3. 17. 19. 4. Man's subjection to God for he was bound to perform obedience to these commandments of God He was not to eat of the two forbidden Trees The commandment concerning the Trees was as a proof and a trial of Man's obedience The Tree of life was a sign to Man to confirm to him his perpetual abode in the garden of Eden if he did continue in his obedience Rev. 2. 7. The Tree of the knowledge of good and evil was a sign of death to him if he did transgress Gods Commandment Gen. 2. 17. 5. Man's calling which was to obey God's Commandments and to dress the garden of Eden Gen. 2. 17. and 2. 15. 6. His diet which was the herbs of the earth and the fruit of all the Trees save of the Tree of life and of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil and all the other Creatures Gen. 1. 29. 30. and 9. 3. His free choice to perform or not perform these Commandments Thus were our first Parents Created in perfect innocency But mutable And thus it pleased God to prepare a way to the execution of his Decree Of the Fall The fall was of Man and Angels Angels fell by leaving that good state wherein God had placed them Jude 6. In their fall may be observed 1. Their corruption arising from their fall by reason of which they are full of malice and hatred and hatred and by reason of this they do set themselves against God and insatiablely desire to destroy all mankinde and that they may do this as much as in them layeth they do neglect neither force nor fraude to act it withall 1 Pet. 5. 8. Eph. 6. 12. Joh. 8. 44. Their degrees and diversity for one of them which is called Baalzebub is chief and Prince of the rest of the Devils and he is far above the rest in malice Matth. 25. 41. Rev. 12. 7. He is also called the Prince of this World and the God of this World 2 Cor. 4. 4. Eph. 22. 3. Their punishment God after their fall gave them over to perpetual torments without any hope of pardon Jude 6. 2 Pet. 2. 4. By this we may see what great punishment they deserved and that grievous sins will be grievously punished Their punishment was first their dejection from Heaven 2 Pet. 2. 4. And the shortning and limiting of their power Job 1. 12. Secondly a grievous pain and torment in the deep which is endless and infinite in time and measure Luke 8. 31. Matth. 25. 41. Rev. 20. 10. Of Mans fall The fall of Man was his revolting from his obedience to sin Sin was his transgression of Gods Commandment or Mans fall was his disobeying of Gods Commandment in eating the forbidden fruit wherein these things are to be considered 1. The manner of Mans fall The Devil having immediatly before fallen himself perswaded our first Parents that both the punishment for eating the forbidden fruit was uncertain and that also God was not true in his word unto them Having done this he blinds the eyes of their understanding and they being thus blinded straight began to distrust God and to doubt of Gods favour And when he had brought them to a doubting he moved them to behold the forbidden fruit which so soon as they saw in its beauty upon his motion of them to this purpose he then stirred them up to desire it and from the desire of it he moved them to satisfie their desires And so the Woman pluckt the fruit and did eat and gave it to her husband and he did eat Gen. 3. 1. to the 8. Thus did they willingly fall from their integrity God for just causes suffering it 2. The greatness of their transgression which appeareth by these trespasses that they committed in that action of disobedience 1. They doubted of Gods word 2. They being bewitched with the Devils promises cease to fear Gods punishment and thus become puffed up with presumption and enflamed with the desire of greater Dignity and will no longer believe Gods threatnings 3. They forsake Gods word and seek after other wisdom 4. They are proud and seek to magnify themselves and to become like God 5. They contemne God and against their
be spiritual immortal glorious and free from all infirmity 1 Cor. 15. 43 44. 4. They being all thus gathered together before the Tribunal seat of Christ he will forthwith place the elect at his right hand and the reprobate at his left hand Then will he say come ye blessed to the elect and they shall be taken into Heaven and he will say go ye cursed to the reprobate and they shall be cast into Hell Matth. 25. 33. 1 Thes. 4. 17. Rev. 20. 15. The state of the Elect after the last judgement The last judgement being finish'd the elect shall immediatly enjoy an everlasting blessedness in the Kingdom of Heaven Blessedness is that whereby God himself is all in all his elect 1 Cor. 15. 28. This is the reward of the good works of the faithfull their works being accepted of God for the merit of Christs righteousness imputed to them Rom. 6. 23. 2 Tim. 4. 8. Rev. 22. 12. Blessedness doth consist in eternal life and perfect glory Eternal life is that fellowship with God by which himself is life unto the elect through the Lamb Christ Jesus John 14. 23. 1 John 4. 15. Rev. 2â— 3 23. and 22. 2 5. For in the Kingdom of Heaven they shall neither need meat drink sleep air heat cold physick apparel or the light of the Sun Moon or Stars But in the stead of all these they shall have in them Gods holy spirit by which they shall immediatly most gloriously be quickned for ever Revel. 21. 3 23. and 22. 2 5. 1 Cor. 15. 45. Rom. 8. 11. Perfect glory Is that wonderfull excellency of the elect by which they shall be in a far better state than any tongue can utter or any heart can here wish or think This glory consisteth in these things 1. We shall see God face to face we shall ever behold his face which is his glory and his Majesty Rev. 22. 4. Psal. 17. 15. 2. We shall be most like to Christ that is we shall be just holy incorruptible glorious honourable beautifull strong mighty nimble 1 Joh. 3. 2. Phil. 3. 21. 3. We shall ever inherit the Kingdom of Heaven for the new Heavens and the new Earth shall be our inheritance 1 Pet. 1. 4. Matth. 25. 34. Revel. 5. 10. and 2â— 7. The fruits of this blessedness are 1. Eternall joy 2. The perfect service of God Ps. 16. 11 36 8 9. The parts of this service are 1. Praise 2. Thanksgiving Rev. 5. 12 and 19. 5 and 11. 17. The manner of performing this service is this We shall immediately worship God by God himself For in Heaven there is neither Temple Ceremony nor Sacrament For God and the Lamb is the Temple thereof and God himself together with the Lamb shall supply all Rev. 21. 22. And this service shall be dayly for ever and without intermission Rev. 7. 15. A Corolary or the advantage over-plus or last conclusion GOd in thus saving the elect doth clearly set forth his Justice and his mercy His Justice appeareth in that he punisheth the sins of the elect in his Sons own person His mercie appeareth in that he pardoneth their sins for the merits of his Son Ephes. 1. 18 19 20. and 3. 18. 19. These things the Lord hath thus decreed and in his good time he will accomplish them to the glorious praise of his name Pro. 16. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himself yea even the wicked for the day of evil Of the Decree of Reprobation The decree of Reprobation is that part of predestination by which God according to the most free and just purpose of his will hath determined to reject some to eternal destruction and misery and that for the praise of his Justice Rom. 9. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 8. Jude 4. 1 Thes. 5. 9. In the Scriptures Cain and Abel Ishmael and Isaac Esau and Jacob are propounded to us as Types of mankinde partly elected partly rejected The decree of damnation is not here absolutely set down as that we should think that any man is condemned by the meer and alone will of God without any causes inherent in themselves The decree of God is secret it doth arise onely from the good pleasure of God It is unsearchable and adored by the Angels It is not known but by that which followeth it namely by the effects therof Of the execution of the Decree of Reprobation The beginning and the foundation of the execution of this decree of reprobation is the fall of Adam He by his fall made himself and his posterity subject both to sin and damnation Rom. 5. 12 13. Rom. 6. 23. and 11. 32. God so hath decreed to condemn some as that notwithstanding all the fault and desert of condemnation remaineth in themselves for they fall into sin and God hateth them for their sins This hatred which God hath to man cometh by Adams fall And it is neither an antecedent nor a cause of Gods decree but it follows the decree as a consequent Reprobates are some of them called by an uneffectual calling and some of them are not called at all In those that are called by an uneffectual calling Gods decree of reprobation hath three degrees in its execution 1. An acknowledgement of Gods calling 2. A falling away again 3. Condemnation 1. The acknowledgment of Gods calling is when Reprobates do for a time subject themselves to the calling of God which calling is workt by the preaching of the word Matth. 22. 14. There are of the acknowledgement of Gods calling five degrees 1. An enlightning of their mindes whereby they are instructed of the holy Ghost that they may understand and know the word Heb 6. 4. 2 Pet 2. 20. 2. The second degree of the acknowledgement of Gods calling is a certain kinde of penitency by this penitency the reprobate do acknowledge their sins as did the Children of Israel Deut. 1. 41. And are pricked with a feeling of Gods wrath for sin as was Cain Gen. 4. 13. And they are grieved for the punishment of sin as was Ahab 1 Kings 21. 27. And do confess their sin as did Judas Matth. 27. 3. And do acknowledge God to be just in punishing of sin Num. 23 10 And do desire to be saved as Baalam Numb. 23. 10. And do in their misery and afflictions promise repentance saying we will sin no more Psal. 78. 32 33 34 35. 3. Degree of the acknowledgement of Gods calling is 1. A Temporary Faith for a reprobate is content with a general Faith he doth confusedly believe the promises made in Christ but he doth never apply the promises of God to himself Nay he hath no purpose to desire or endeavour to apply the same he hath no wrestling or striving against security carelesness or distrust he believeth that some shall be saved but not particularly that he himself shall be saved Jam. 2. 29. Matt. 13. 20 21. Joh. 2. 23 24. 4. The fourth Degree of