Streams wherewith he lays all along this great Goliah of Hell upon the Ground In the 1st Rancounter the Tempter tempts Christ to a Desponding Diffidence and being Foiled in that this Unwearied Assaulter endeavours to transport him into a Vain-glorious Confidence making up the matter of his 2d Temptation even out of the very matter wherein he was foiled in the first If Christ will Trust God he shall have enough and too much of Trusting If he will trust God for his Provision of Bread he shall trust Angels in his Leaping down from the Pinacle for his Protection of Body and though this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Piercer points his 2d Temptation with Scripture finding Christs Strength lay there yet Christ Baffles Satan in this too by proposing a Plain and parallel Text to give Light to that the Devil Urged being Darker especially as his Antagonist had mis-quoted it and had Ruffl'd by his Curtailing it the true Proper and Genuine Sense of it now when the Dragon or Beast Satan had taken the Horns of the Lamb as Revel 13. 11. to Push with even the Holy Scripture and was become a white Devil as an Angel of Light or at least some seeming Grave Divine so that Satan as well as Saul thrusts in among the Prophets among Divines among Saints 1 Sam. 10. 11. and 19. 24. and Job 1. 6. yet was Vanquished by Scripture He hath not still done but after a Double Repulse trys his 3d. Impulse which was the Sharpest and Sorest of all the three It might be unnecessary to turn Stones into Bread and Dangerous to Cast Himself down from the Pinacle but Oh how Plausible was this Proposal the Tempter came Petendo in Requesting onely the Two times before now he comes in this 3d. Et Petendo Promittendo not onely in Requesting a little a very little Work a Work soon done and without Pain or Danger 't is but to Fall down and Worship me but also in Promising a great a very great and Rich Reward for this little and easie Work Oh how sweet and luscious as well as Delicious are Rule and Riches and to have the Glories of the World without the Cares which the Devil shewed him not and Troubles thereof This Evil Spirit who had not an Inch of Earth either in himself having no Earthly Real Body nor of his own being but an Usurping God of this World Yet Offers the whole Earth to Christ who was the First Maker and now the True Owner of it this is the Devils 3d. Assault after his 1st and 2d Repulse and Rejection The Devil is not lightly Discourag'd but Muscarum ad Instar quo Magis Abiguntur eò magis Premunt like the Flyes is this Beelzebub or Master-Fly though Beaten away once and again yet Returns to the same place yet now comming to his height of Impudency and offering this High Indignity of placeing the Devil in Gods Throne Christ Endures him no longer but Commands him out of His Presence with Utmost Indignation And if Christ command him away There is no Abiding for him Then the Devil left him Matth. 4. 10 11. Basely Bassl'd and Befoiled And no sooner was this Evil Angel Vanquish'd and Vanish'd but presently the Good Angels come to Comfort this Conquerour and to Carry Him back from this Mountain where the Devil had left him Thus the Son of God whom God the Father had Owned by a Voice from Heaven and God the Holy Spirit by the Dove Descending upon him Now the Devil Owns Him as One too Strong for him by his quitting the Field Yea and His Good Angels Owns Him as Their Lord having such Power over Evil Angels The Twenty-Third Plot in the New-Testament against the Church in Christ Defeated by God CHAP. XXIII NOw come we to the Devils 3d. Plot against Christ when he carry'd on his Office as the last was at the beginning of it Though the Devil was now both Defeated and Departed yet 't is said expresly He Departed from Christ but onely for a Season Luk. 4. 13. Here Expired the Devils Commission he can now nor at any time do no more Evil than God permits Here the Devil Quasi Do Evil endeavour'd to break Christs Head by drawing him to Sin that thereby he might Overthrow both him and his Work of Redemption which he had Undertaken However Satan being Defeated in this Design waits now for a Season wherein to Bruise his Heel well knowing That was in his Commission from Gen. 3. 15. 'T is pitty we should be so Ignorant of the Holy Scriptures when the Devil hath them so at his Fingers ends as we say as readily to rehearse them as he did in sharpening his 2d Tempting Tool against Christ He well enough understood that though he could not now Corrupt Christ with those his three temptations so Spoil him as the Church's Redeemer yet he might have leave from that Gen. 3. 15. to do him much mischief yea and to Murder him at last which yet as God over-rul'd it was but the Bruising of his Heel in his Redemption-Work as will appear after Hereupon the Prince of this World commeth again to Christ after his 2d Defeat Joh. 14. 30. Non tantùm clam Tentaturus quantùm palam pugnaturus Not so much privily to Tempt him as openly to Fight him the Tempter will have his Returning Times as he had to Christ so he will have to Vs and therefore after we have foiled him in one Conslict we must expect another he will have the t'other Bout with us in a calm prepare for a Storm Satan is Restless Impudent and Importunate and will not easily be said Nay If we live out all our Days he may put us hard to it in every Article of the Creed in Respect of our Belief and Urge us to the Breach of every Branch of the Dealogue in Respect of our Obedience so may he tempt us to all kind of Sins Thus this Restless Devil though he had let Christ alone all the time of his Private Life as before never allows him any Quiet after he had Entred upon his Publick Ministry but did Disquiet him all along until he had finished his Work his Father gave him to do Joh. 17. 4. No sooner began Christ to Declare himself the King Priest and Prophet of his Church both by his many Gracious and None-such Sermons which he Publickly Preached Luk. 4. 15 22 32. Matth. 7. 28 29. Joh. 7. 15. and 1. 14. Psa 45. 2. Cant. 4. 3. Isa 50. 4. that Palmoni Hammadabbar most Excellent Speaker or Prince of Preachers Dan. 8. 13. and also had Confirmed His Doctrine Preached with Matchless Miracles as was that first of turning Water into Wine a better Miracle of the Messias than that of Moses's turning Water into Blood Exod. 7. 20. for he was a better Mediator and of better things Hebr. 3. 3 5 6. and 8. 6. and 9. 11 12 13 14 23 24. Joh. 2. 9 11. But presently the Devil begins to stirr and
all sculking away Their Plot being laid open and timely prevented laid them open to the scorn of the people and to the anguish and horrour of their own guilty Consciences Thus doth the most wise and righteous God befool insolent men in their never so secretly projected and promoted Plots wherein they do hope to supplant the Son of David our Lord Jesus that Prince of Peace as those did Solomon here and the Church in him But what became of the Plotters Adonijah himself flies to the Horns of the Altar which probably so prophane a Prince had hitherto despised and was pardon'd by this peaceable Prince but upon his good behaviour v. 52. which when he broke in seeking the Kingdome with Abishai Ch. 2. 22. being no small Petition as Bathsheba call'd it v. 20. for Solomons sagacity saw the depths of the Devil in it which his Mother could not dive into for this he lost his life v. 24. as Joab did after him v. 30. where the very Altar could not secure him from Just Vengeance and as for Abiathar he was thrust out from the High-Priesthood v. 37. his Linnen Ephod or sacred Function did not exempt him from Civil Censures as the Romanists plead and so was fulfill'd the Word of the Lord upon Ely's House 1 Sam. 2. 31 35 and had he not been afflicted in all wherein David had been afflicted which was for above forty year he had been also a dead man with Adonijah and Joab for this Conspiracy David dies full of days riches and honour 1 Chron. 29. 28. and leaves the state of the Church honourable Solomon succeeds and brings the Churches State to its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or highest pitch of Glory while Militant which is a Figure of the Kingdome of Christ one greater than Solomon here on Earth David had advanced the splendour of the Church in his Religious provision for the portable Temple to wit the Tabernacle erected in the City of David and also in his Religious preparations for the Fix'd Temple 1. Knowing the place where it should stand to wit on Mount Moriah where Abraham offer'd Isaac Gen. 22. 2 9. and 2 Chro. 3. 1. 2. Receiving the pattern of it by Divine Inspiration 1 Chron. 28. 19. he gave it to Solomon Ch. 29. 11. who by the help of Davids prepar'd materials to wit 1. Spoils of Enemies Ch. 18. 11. 2. An hundred thousand Talents of Gold 3. A thousand thousand Talents of Silver 4. Hewn stone and Timber 5. Iron and Brass without measure Ch. 22.14 6. Precious Stones Ch. 29. 2. 7. His own offerings and those of the Princes and people Ch. 29.4 c. though Solomon added much more of his own store built the most stately and costly Structure the most sumptuous and glorious Edifice that ever was in the World therefore justly called the Worlds Wonder the House of the most High God 2 Chron. 2. 5. and a Type of the Church Triumphant in Heaven as the Tabernacle had been of the Church Militant upon Earth This Temple was twice so long and large every way as was the Tabernacle Exod. 26. as the Temple in Ezek. Ch. 40. 41 42 c. setting forth Gospel-times is described as much bigger than all the old Jerusalem and a new Jerusalem bigger than all the Land of Canaan Solomon finish'd his Temple in the year of the World 3000. Hence some gather that the Spiritual Temple shall be compleated in 3000 more and then the Sabbatical year shall take place as the Sabbath succeeds the six days of the Week In the building of this Magnifical House of the Lord all the materials were made ready before they were brought thither so that there was neither Hammer nor Axe nor any Tool of Iron heard in the House while it was in building 1 King 6. 7. to teach us three things 1. That all true Members of Churches must be sanctified and called to be Saints 1 Cor. 1. 1 2. hewn by the Word and Spirit and made living Stones before Admission 2. That in the Church Militant upon Earth all noise of jars and contentions which are as the knocking of Iron Instruments must be declined 3. That in the Church Triumphant in Heaven there shall be no sorrows nor sufferings all noise of fears and tears shall be done away the State then shall be peaceable and joyful for which the Saints are fitted by the Hammer of Gods Word and the Hand of his Spirit upon the Mountains of this lower World there to enjoy rest and glory The Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple or Oracle so called because there God used to deliver Divine Answers or Oracles Exod. 30. 5. and Levit. 16. 2. was the place prepared for the Ark of the Covenant to rest in after its many removes and wandrings 1. From the Desart to Gilgal 2. From Gilgal to Shilo 3. From Shilo to the Philistims 4. From thence to Bethshemesh 5. From thence to Kiriath Jearim 6. From thence to the House of Obed-Edom And 7. From thence to Sion the City of David Now Solomon provides a resting place to wit the best part of the Temple the Holy of Holies for this best and most precious piece which had the Law within it and the Mercy-Seat upon it far more precious than the Palladium at Troy the Pessinuntium at Rome or the Image at Athens made by Canetias the Artificer yet said by the covetous Priests to be dropt down from Jupiter Act. 19. 35. as it was the principal Evidence of Gods gracious presence and the lively Type of Christ in whom are hid as in an Ark or Coffer all the Treasures of Gods goodness Col. 2. 3. So that when Solomon dedicates his glorious Fabrick which as Josephus saith dazled the eyes of all its beholders by Sacrifice and Supplication he concludes his Prayer saying Arise now therefore O Lord God into thy resting place thou and the Ark of thy strength 2 Chron. 6. 41. whereby he invites the Lord to take possession of his Temple where his Ark should be no more transportative but setled for a long season Psal 1 â—2 8 9 10. And the Lord testifies his acceptation of all both by Fire from Heaven which was kept alive till the Captivity of Babylon and by filling the House with his Glory 2 Chro. 7. 1. Now was the Church of God by his good hand upon her brought up to such a beauty of Holiness and to such a perfection of dazling splendour like that of the Temple that Religion was had in great Veneration both by Domesticks and Forreigners 1. His own Israel went home so refreshed with the Prayer and the Blessing that they adored the Lord for his goodness to them 1 Kin. 8. 66. and both Hiram King of Yyre praised God for the Blessing that the Church had in Solomon 1 Kin. 5. 7. saying Because the Lord hath loved his people he hath set a Solomon over them 2 Chro. 2. 11. Hence some verily think this Hiram was a Proselited Prince and 2.
purity of Religion to his Posterity becomes himself Effeminate and Emasculates himself so far as to be intangled by them into great evils 1. In tolerating at least their Idolatrous practices 2. In allowing places for their Idols 3. In his complying with them and conforming to them in their worshipping of Venus Bacchus Saturn c. and all this as it were under Gods very eye so nigh the Temple the place of Gods residence for this the Lord was angry and says he will rend the Kingdome v. 9 10 11. and does it as well as says it afterwards The Devil is as much pleased as God is angry hopes to win the Game and to damn Solomon yet that wicked one could not touch him to wit with his deadly touch of final Apostacy for the Seed of God was in him 1 Joh. 3. 9. and 5. 18. the Root of Grace remain'd wrought in him and brought him to repentance his Book of Ecclesiastes is his Penitential Palinody so ought he not to be pictur'd by Papists half in Heaven and half in Hell 'T is remarkable that David and Solomon are conjoyn'd in one Commendatory Sentence 2 Chron. 11. 17. to shew that Holy David is as much in Hell as Solomon and Solomon as much in Heaven as Holy David And 't is not possible that the beginning of Rehoboams Reign could be like Davids as that Clause affirms if Solomon had left his Kingdome in so corrupt a condition as his Apostacy caused and not have reform'd it after his return to the Lord. The Devil having lost this first after-game for eclipsing the glory of the Church which gain'd that blessed Book of Ecclesiastes by Solomons fall upon Solomons self he trys conclusions upon Solomons Son as his second after-game and no better Tool could he have to work withal than Childish Rehoboam 'T is a wonder that so wise a Father as Solomon should have only such a foolish Son as Rehoboam and that of seven hundred Wives and three hundred Concubines Many a Fool hath had a wiser Son than this wisest Father assuredly Solomon did prognosticate his Sons future folly in his saying Who knows whether he that comes after me will be a wise man or a fool c. Eccles 2. 18. yea the holy Scripture calls him a Child at forty years old 2 Chron. 13. 7. All this he did prove himself in the Parliament held at Shechem 1 Kin. 12. 1. where an humble Address is made to him that he would lighten their grievous Yoaks and lessen their great Taxes which his Father had laid on them for the maintenance of his vast Retinue of strange Women especially and say they we will be thy servants for ever which promise annexed anticipates a tacit Objection for it might be said if the King had once submitted himself to the request of his Subjects they would prove Lords over him but here they shew the contrary and promise to accept of him and to be subject to him he being less wise than his Father who advised him by a soft Answer to pacifie wrath Prov. 15. 1. but more wilful rejects the advice of his Fathers old experienc'd Counsellors with whom was wisdom Job 12. 12. and whom he consulted only for fashion sake and follow'd the device of his own green-headed Companions and Courtiers who parasitically perswade him to stand upon his Pantoffles and not at all to stoop to his people for that would make him a King without a Kingdome and a Subject to his Subjects Thus they humour him into a conceit of Absoluteness Hereupon he threatens Tyranny to the people who hear of nothing from him but Scourges and Scorpions v. 13. Oh foolish and childish King whose very words have Stings was this the way to gain a discontented people No but rather to disoblige even a willing people who could not but think how cruel will this mans hands be who thus draws blood with his Tongue Thus he fondly loses ten Tribes from his Crown with his churlish words and rough answers which he would and might not have recover'd with the blood of a great Army v. 21 22 23. Then saw he when too late that strife is easier stirred than stinted and that the people is a most Heady Water when once out of their Banks which now were broken down by his indefinite profession of rigour and severity upon their purses and persons ☞ Sad consequences ever accompany those Princes that would be Absolute in Power will be Resolute in Will and dare be Dissolute in Life The wicked one had a double advantage for promoting this Plot not only Rehoboam to work on who was green-headed at forty though the Son of Solomon who was grey-headed at twenty year old 2 Chro. 13. 7. and 1 Kin. 3. 3. 7. with 2. 6. and 1 Chro. 14. 21. but also Jeroboam to work by who was as wily as wicked plotting a revolt from former affronts forming a Religion accommodated to his Rebellion and designedly marring the Israel of God for the better making them his own Subjects By both those two helps of childishness in the one and craftiness in the other Satan that Schismatical Spirit who made the first Schisme or Rent in the City of God at the first being of the World now made 1. The largest Schisme or Rent 2. The longest that ever had been made in the Church of God under any Government 1. It was the largest for here the Devil got more than nine parts even the ten Tribes leaving God only his tythe his tenth his one Tribe to wit the Tribe of Judah only so 't is expressed 1 Kin. 11. 13. with 12. 20. and it 2. was the longest also for it was a Rent that could never be stitch'd together again neither by force of arms nor by the most forward Reformers but lasted till the Captivity However 't is a work of wonder a Miracle of Mercy and a matter of great admiration that the Devil made not the ten Tribes to swallow up the one Tribe ten to one is great odds the Kingdome of Israel to devour the Kingdome of Judah so called though Benjamin was included in Judah No God had promis'd that his mercy should not depart away from Solomon as he took it from Saul 2 Sam. 7. 15. that is I will not quite cast him out of my favour or wholly deprive him of his Kingdome as I did Saul This spoil'd the Devils design of destroying the Church for Solomons Seed was not rejected of God as Sauls was to give way to Davids succession yea and that which spoil'd Satans project yet more was when God was angry with Solomon his Jedidiah his Darling for his sin and threatned to rend the Kingdome which is as a glorious Mantle upon the Kings shoulder 1 Sam. 15. 28. 1 Kin. â—1 29 30. from him yet the severity of that Sentence God was pleased to sweeten with some mitigation and mixture of mercy as 1. I will not do it in thy days c. 2. I will not rend away
'T was a marvellous Providence that God should preserve the High-Priest-hood all the Captivity to this time as Neh. 12. 11. but more to have this Pledge of Gods Grace in Jaddus time The 4th Allay was though Antiochus who sprung out of Alexanders Successors became a fierce Fiend to the Iews yet God told them by Daniel that his standing up against the Prince of Princes to wit God Almighty in Destroying the Dayly Sacrifice and in setting up Idolatry in the Temple would quickly bring Gods Vengeance upon him He shall be broken without Hand Dan. 8. 25. and though for a few Y. as above he shall do according to his wicked Will in the Holy Land Dan. 11. 36. not Regarding any God v. 37. yet shall he come to his end v. 45. a loathsome and lamentable end a Visible Hand of God laid upon him a loathsome Disease and wrapt him up in the Sheet of Shame 1 Macc. 6. 8. and 2 Macc. 9. 5. not so much because he would have spoiled the Temple of Diana but because he did Spoil the Temple at Jerusalem The 5th Allay was that Spirit of God and of Glory which Rested upon the Godly Jews both for Doing Gods Work and for Suffering Gods Will 1. In Doing Oh what a Blessed Zeal did blow up Matthias the Father and Judas Maccabeus his Son who with the Help of his Brethren and other Iews drove the Enemy out of the Countrey and cleansed the Land of all the Uncleanness which had been brought into it Yea and with a very small Handful of Men did mighty Exploits against this Vile Antiochus's great Armies so that the Church was in those Worst of Times most Graciously Holpen with a little Help Dan. 11. 34. in which Weaker Means God Manifested to them his Greater Strength In whose name and by whose Conduct the People that knew their God were strong to do Exploits and to out-doe those Exploits of Antiochus Dan. 11. 28 32. The Apostle seemeth to speak of these Maccabees who wrought Righteousness both Civil and Military Obtained Promises of Glorious Victories and Escaped the edge of the Sword of their Cursed Enemies which sometimes Conquerours do not but purchase their Conquests with the loss of their own Lives as it happened to those brave Brethren at last Hebr. 11. 32 33. and 2ly in Suffering and no less Glorious Spirit did Act the Godly Jews in their Undergoing Cruel Mockings and most exquisite Torments they were Tempted and they were Tortured too yet being got above both the Allurements and Affrightments of the World they would not Accept of Deliverance upon Sordid and sinful terms but as willing to Dye as to Dine they commit themselves to their God in their Martyrdom That they might obtain a better Resurrection Hebr. 11. 35 37. Where that time seems to be Related to God had even then an Holy Remnant whereof the World was not Worthy They were fitter to shine as Stars in Heaven than to be torn in pieces by those Dogs and Hogs on Earth as Josephus the Book of Maccabees and of Martyrs tell us The 6th Sweet Allay the Church had in this Doleful Day was that miracle of the Pool of Bethesda graciously granted by God to corroborate Her in the True Worship of God under the sad persecutions of Antiochus and other Tyrants until the days of John Baptist and of the Lord Christ Joh. 5. 2 3 4. This held up the fainting Spirits of the good people in those bad Times when Prophecy failed and Prosperity too Yea and in the general all true Piety Prophaneness comming in its stead as Malachi their last Prophet declares at large The Rabbins indeed tell us of a Bath-Kol or Eccho that was heard in the Temple which serv'd them for an Oracle c. but waving Jewish Fancies and Fables the Scripture of Truth tells us how an Angel went at certain times to give Healing Vertue to that Water wherein their Sacrifices were washed Here many Impotent Folk lay Languishing at Hopes Hospital and looking after all other means had been ineffectual for God to say to them In the House of Mercy as the Word Bethesda signifies I am thy God that Healeth thee Exod. 15. 26. Jehova Ropheka a Gyant-like Healer Omnipotenti Medico nullus Insanabilis Occurit Morbus No Disease is but God can Cure it This Beneficial Pool was supplyed with Water from the Fountain of Siloam which Represented the Kingdom of Christ Isa 8. 6. The 7th and last Allay was the Promise of the Messiah that Mercy of Mercies who was to be a more Soveraign Bath than this of Bethesda or House of Bounty Christ is the Royal Fountain or Kings Bath Zech. 13. 1. ever-flowing and over-flowing such as Wash herein Believingly shall be both Clean and Whole not Healing at the times of the Iewish Feasts onely as that Pool did but all times of the Year and not one at once as if one only had Suck'd up all the Healing Vertue from all others there but here 3000 persons were Healed together at one Sermon Act. 2. 41. when the Angel of the Covenant Descended to move the Waters that were drawn out of the Wells of Salvation Isa 12. 3. for no other moving but that of an Angel who are Ministring Spirits to heirs of Salvation Hebr. 1. 14. could Dispence to the Diseased any such powerful and immediate Cure the Waters were at all times of a cleansing Property as to their Sacrifices but onely at that time had they a Cureing Power as to themselves When this Beneficial Vertue began in this Pool is uncertain 't is supposed to begin when Eliashib Joshua's Grand-Child with the godly Priests Built the Sheep-gate and Beautify'd it then Consecrated it with their godly Prayr Neh. 3. 1. Hereupon as Tremellius saith probably followed that Miracle of an Angels Descending into the Pool there at their several Solemn Feasts and Healing all Diseases how old great or Desperate soever and that immediately and in a moment 't is as Uncertain likewise when this Miracle of Healing Ceased 't is supposed not till the Destruction of Ierusalem which did fall out about Forty Y. after Christs Healing this Cripple at Bethesda it being so many Y. 'twixt this Passeover Ioh. 5. and that Passeover when Titus Vespasian laid Siege to the City yet this is more than probable that this Miraculous Gift of Healing was given to this Pool before the Comming of Christ as a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or famous fore-Runner of him who was to be the Opened Fountain Zech. 13. 1. for Healing all Diseases and Cureing all Sins Matth. 1. 21. even Jesus the Greek Word comes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sano to Heal as the Hebr. Word of Jashang to Save and this is most certain that the time when this Famous Fountain was opened is well known though concerning the Pool aforesaid the Beginning of its Miracle be unknown to wit to be about the four Thousand Y. of the World according to the Latitude of Time and latest
which sought to make the Church Dye are themselves Dead and all their Diabolical Designs with them The Devil being thus Defeated in the 1st part of his Plot against Christ in the Infancy of his Manhood Christ still Lives grows up in Wisdom and Stature and in Favour with God and Man Luk. 2. 52. and at twelve Y. Old able to Dispute with the Doctors Yea to non-plus them v. 47. The Twenty-Second Plot in the New-Testament against the Church in Christ Defeated by God CHAP. XXII HEreupon he projects a Second Plot against Christ in the Infancy or Minority of his Ministry as the first was Manag'd with an Instrument to wit Herod mediately but this 2d without any immediately by the Devil himself Satan will not trust any Instruments to Tempt Christ as his Imp Herod had trusted his Souldiers to Kill Christ Matth. 2. 16. Now he Assaults Christ by himself Matth. 4. 1. he had Assaulted the 1st Adam in his Proxy the Serpent but he will Venture upon the â—d Adam in his own Person and that Immediately upon his very Entrance into the Ministery Behold here the Dreadfullest Duel the most Memorable Battel betwixt Two the Strongest and Stoutest Champions was sought that ever appear'd upon the Stage of the World that of David and Goliah was of a far Inferiour Alloy though a type of it to this â— Sam. 17. 41 to 51. There was onely Man against Man and that of Michael and the Devil Jude 9. is below this for 1. there it was onely an Arch-Angel against the Arch-Devil 2ly 'T was onely a Dispute about the Body of Moses but here 't is not Man against Man as in the first Instance nor an Angel against a Devil as in the second No 't is the Lord of Angels Hebr. 2. 4. Wrestling a Fall with the Prince of Devils Matth. 12. 24. Oh how do people Run to see some Remarkable Fencers sight their Prizes c. * Behold here a Prize sought betwixt God-Man and Beelzebub 'twixt the Prince of Life and the Prince of Darkness and that not about the Natural Body of Moses as above but about the Spiritual Body of the Messias to wit his Church the Mystical Body of Christ 1 Cor. 12. 12. neither is it that Israel may Overcome the Philistims onely for which David fought Goliah but that all Believing Jews and Gentiles that ever have been are now and shall be to the end of the World may Overcome Flesh World and Devil in this Captain of their Salvation Jesus Christ Hebr. 2. 10. Rom. 8. 37. Col. 1. 16. and 2. 15. Oh what will ye go out into the Wilderness to see Matth. 11. 7. turn aside with Moses Exod. 3. 3. and with Me to see this Great Sight The Strong Man and the Stronger Man Entring the Lists together not Two Reeds shaken with the Wind shakeing one another but a mighty Devil a compleat compound of Goliahs Strength of Achitophels Craft and of Doegs Malice Combating and Conflicting with Almighty God and for a fuller and more distinct View of this most Famous Contest behold it in Two Pregnant Particulars 1. A most strange Act. 2. As strange an End 1. The Strange Act like the River of Paradise Gen. 2. 10. Divides it self into Four Streams Branching it self out in Four Circumstances 1. Time 2. Place 3. the Agent 4. the Patient 1st of the Time when then Matth. 4. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Immediately Mark 1. 12. 1. Presently after he was Baptized 3. Presently after he was Proclaimed the Son of God or Presently after he was 30 Y. Old As to the 1st Christ was no sooner out of the Water of Baptism but Immediately he comes into the Fire of Temptation and both not for himself but for us Behold how he loved us Is there any Love like the Love of Christ who passed thorough both Fire and Water to Work our Redemption As to the 2d Immediately after his Highest Communion with Heaven he hath his Deepest Temptations from Hell If Heaven Open its Mouth to Proclaim him the Son of God Matth. 3. 17. then presently Hell opens its mouth Isa 5. 14. to powr out Flouds of Temptation upon him as Revel 12. 15. If God say I am Well-pleased with Christ Matth. 3. 17. The Devil comes presently and saith But I am Highly displeased with Christ And if Heaven send a Dove and the Holy Spirit to Christ Matth. 3. 16. Hell will be sure Immediately to send him a Fiend and an Vnclean Spirit the former Descends from Above the latter Ascends from Below as 1 Sam. 28. 13. As to the 3d. Relating to Christs Age we do not Read what Christ did in his Minority and Nonage how he spent his private Life was Judg'd by the most Wise God fitter for Secrefie than for Knowledge where the Word hath not a Mouth to Speak we should not have a Tongue to Ask However 't is not probable that Christ that Pattern of Holiness the Regula Regulans Rule-Ruleing as well as Regulata the Rule-Ruled should spend his thirty Y. either 1 in Idleness especially considering the Iews generally were Charg'd with their Children after they had Circumcis'd them to train them up in the Knowledge of the Law of God for the good of their Inner Man Exod. 12. 26 27. and in some Honest Calling for the good of their Outward Man and Rab. Judah saith Quicunque non Doceret suum Filium aliquod Opificium est acsi illum Latrocinium Doceret Whoever Taught not his Son some Honest Employ is as if he had taught him to be a Rogue or a Robber Yea and the Heathen Hesiod could Sing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nullum Opificium est probrosum No Handicraft-Trade is Reproachful but of good Report or 2 in dedicating his Youth to the Study 1 of Curious Arts as those had done Act. 19 19. and such a Devilish Black Artist those Black-mouth'd Blasphemers would have made of the Divine Messiah Mat. 12.24 or 2 of those better call'd Liberal Arts whereof he had no need being the Wisdom of God Prov. 8. 30. 1 Cor. 1. 24. and having the Godhead dwelling Bodily in Him Col. 2. 9. a Beam whereof he was pleas'd to put forth in the Temple among the Doctors when he was Twelve Y. Old Luk. 2.42 46 47. until which Y. the Scripture Relates nothing of him after his Deliverance from Herod nor any thing of him after this until he was Thirty Y. Old save onely that when he had drawn in this Beam of his Deity which he had put forth among the Doctors he went Home with his Parents and was subject to them v. 51. where 't is not improbable the Grand Carpenter and great Architect of the World follow'd his Fathers Calling of a Carpenter as the Evangelists Words are Is not this the Carpenter Mark 6. 3. And as Justin Martyr that lived not long after him saith That before his Ministry he made Yokes and Ploughs which some would confirm from Christs own Words My Yoke is
Hypocrites v. 5 10. and the Church Increased by that Defection of the Two Botches from the Body and â—y many mighty Miracles of Mercy as well as this of Judgement wrought even by the shaddow of Peter Act. 5. 6 11 to 16. Hereupon Satan fills the Sadducees c. again with Indignation v. 17. the Council now casts the Apopostles into the common Prison among the worst of their Malefactors v. 18. but in the Night an Angel of the Lord opens the Prison Doors and releas'd those whom their Adversaries of themselves had released before with a Command to go Preach boldly in the Temple though the Sanedrim sat there upon which Affront they were Convented again before the Council but by the Grave Counsel of Gamaliel Pauls Tutor who Diswades them by Historical Instances from Fighting against God they were Dismissed again with their Lives yet not without Blows then they went away rejoycing that they were so Highly Graced by being thus Disgraced for Christ v. 19 20 21 23 28 34 35 38 to 4â— The Wonderful release of the Apostles not by Magick Art or by Bribeing the Keeper or by breaking the Prison but by the Power of an Angel sent as an Officer from God to let them out of Prison without the Keepers consent Startl'd those proud Priests v. 23. but Converts them not Yet afterwards so much Conviction shone upon them seeing no Counsel nor might and malice of Man can prevail against God and his Truth Prov. 21. 30. Isa 46. 10. all the Rage of both Rulers and Ruled though never so Vnruly were but Vain fruitless and frustrate Psal 2. 1 4. and as Gamaliel told them Ye cannot overthrow the Counsel of God neither you nor Kings and Tyrants to help you so one Antient Greek-Coppy readeth Act. 5. 39. The Gospel gaining ground notwithstanding all the gain-saying of Governours amongst Grecians as well as Hebrews Act. 6. 1. 't is said expresly A great Company of the Priests were Obedient to the Faith v. 7. We read in Ezra 2. 36 to 40. that 4289 Priests c. Return'd from Babylon and that number might well be Increased in Judea now therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a great Company may well enough be fixed on them and on no other and 't was a mighty Testimony from Heaven that so many of those ever most Implacable Enemies and most Active Adversaries of the Gospel should be Converted to the Faith and Truth of the Gospel ☞ I would to God he may give us this Divine Testimony in our day We should not Dispair of the Worst God hath his time to call even a Persecuting Saul and to change him into a Praying and a Preaching Paul This Increase of the Word and of the Number of Disciples v. 7. Enrages the Devil to make the 3d. Assault beholding also Steven so full of Faith and Power whereby he wrought many mighty Wonders among the People v. 8. Hereupon Satan Incenses the Libertines which in the common Notion of the Word are always most Desperate Despisers and Destroyers of Truth as it Condemns Licentiousness to Oppose Steven v. 9. and when they found themselves over-powr'd by Argument they Convent him before the Sanedrim and Suborn'd Witnesses against him a Lesson they had Learnt from their Master the Devil Joh. 8. 44. who as they had Instructed them accus'd him for Vilisying Moses the Law the Holy City and Temple v. 10 11 13. ☞ Where 't is enough to Accuse even the Hâ—ly Child Jesus Escapes not as Innocent notwithstanding their matchless malice against Steven yet 1 before his Apology he is miraculously Vindicated from Heaven by that Angelical Splendour and Majesty as that of Moses Exod. 34. 30. Seated in his Countenance v. 15. which was a most Convinceing Evidence 1. of the Goodness of His Cause 2. of the Greatness of his Courage 3. of the Clearness of his Conscience 2 After his Apology which was full of Wisdom and of the Holy Ghost in every Distinct Answer and wherein he cuts them to the Heart by telling them their Killing Christ made them Worse than their fore-Fathers who onely had Killed his Prophets and that they were Substantial about Circumstantials given only by Moses but Circumstantial about those Substantials given of God himself by the Disposition of Angels Hereupon they in a furious Out-rage Stone Steven who then had his 2d Vindication to wit 1 a clear Vision of Heaven through a great Showr of Stones and 2 of his Dear Redeemer in a Standing Posture as if Rouzed up from his Sitting on the Throne at the Right Hand of His Father and just ready to Revenge the Injury done to his Servant yea and 3 Steven Dyes Dignifi'd with a Double Honour 1 in his place as Proto-Martyr standing first in the Catalogue of all those that wore the Crown of Martyrdom He was the Prince and Bel-weather of the Flock that went to Heaven by that Bloody way in Gospel-times 2 In his Prayer the prevalency whereof might Contribute much to Pauls Conversion in as much as Sauls Sin in Consenting to Stevens Death was not laid to his Charge for his Utter Confusion However this was Honourable at his Death He stood while he pray'd for himself this shew'd the Greatness of his Piety but he Kneel'd down when he Pray'd for his Enemies no less will serve for the greatness of their Impiety he is more concern'd for their Riot than for his own Ruine The Devils 4th Assault was in the great Persecution that followed Stevens Death which the people quietly suffered and as soon as Satan and his Savage Instruments saw the Silence and Tameness of the Multitude which had Hitherto Awed them from executing all Extremities The Fear of the People so oft expressed being now evidently Allay'd they fall foul not upon the Apostles onely as before but upon the whole Church Act. 8. 1. so that they were all Scatter'd abroad and Satan had Saul a fit Tool to effect this by who 1 was Consenting to Stevens Death ☞ 't is all one to hold the Sack and to fill it to do evil or to consent to it a mind to do evil is sin in the Seed which time and warm Temptation may bring forth to Fruit Jam. 1. 14 15. there is Heart-Adultery Matth. 5. 28. and Heart-Murder Matth. 5. 22. Joh. 8. 44. Thus the Cursed Jews became Guilty of all the Bloodshed from Abel to Christ by their Allowance and Consent Matth. 23. 35. So Saul Allowing of Stevens Death made himself guilty of it by his Allowance and that which is more according to the Syriack reading he was both Desirous of it before and Delighted in it after 2 This same Saul was Schollar to Gamaliel Act. 22. 3. President of the Sanhedrim and likely the more Active in Dancing after the Devils Pipe upon that account for his Master Gamaliel notwithstanding his plausible Speech by which he dismissed both the Assembly the Accusers and the Apostles the Accused Act. 5. 34 to 41. Lived and Dyed
Vit. Pont. pag. 151. This Paved the way for the Great Work of Luther in Germany begun Y. 1517. which was Wonderfully carry'd on even in a little time through all Germany and some Forreign Countries as it were upon Angels Wings though by weak means yea by casual and cross means as here by Henry the 8ths Scruple about his Marriage and afterwards further promoted 1. by Publick and powerful Preaching 2. by Printing good Books 3. by Translating the Bible into Vulgar Tongues 4. by Catechising of Youth 5. by Offering open Disputations 6. by Martyrologies and all this was done against the Powers of a most potent and politick Adversary ☞ This was such a Miracle of Mercy as the former Age Despaired of the present Age Admireth and the future Following Age shall be struck with Astonishment at The 3d. Marvelous Remark was the Strange Removal of Remora's or Impediments God was much seen in Removendo prohibentia Rouling away the great Stones that lay in the way of the passage and progress of Reformation as 1st when all Mens minds as it were stood upon their Tip-toes gazing to see the Issue of Pope Leo's Rage and of Luther's Courage This Leo the 10th Throws his Thunderbolts at Luthers Head Brave Luther Braves it out bravely protesting Quò Magis Ille furit eò Amplius procedo the more Mad the Pope is in his outragious Pelting me with his Pot-Guns the more Couragious I am both to proceed and to prosper Hereupon he casts the Popes Bull into the Fire and Burns it saying Because thou Troublest Christ the Holy One of God therefore Eternal Fire shall Trouble thee Now while the whole World was wondring and waiting what all this would end in Behold Pope Leo who would have Thunderstruck Luther with his but Imaginary Thunderbolts was himself Thunder-struck with a real one by God out of Heaven He Dyes and Luther Lives He Dyes without Comfort which Bembus offer'd him out of the Gospel Blasphemously Rejecting it saying Apage ist as Nug as de Christo Away with those Triffles of Christ Here he was Antichrist indeed who had said to this Cardinal Bembus at the Return of those Vast Summs rais'd by his Indulgencies the occasion of Luther's Revolt from Rome Quantùm nobis profuit haec de Christo Fabula This Fable of the Gospel brings us in much Gain This Wretch Dyes like a Toad with Earth in his Claw yet without Hope from his Fable the Gospel and his Plot against Luther Dyes with him in Y. 1521. the same Y. Luther Lives and goes Resolvedly to the Court at Worms as before and did much Service to the Church many even Twenty-Five Y. after 2ly After the Pope the Emperour for good Orders sake not so much because Lords Spiritual are placed before Temporal as because Accessorium sequitur Principale The Pope was the Principal in Obstructing Reformation the Emperour was but the Popes Accessory This Emperour Charles the 5th by the Popes continual Instigations carry'd an Hard Hand against the Protestants As to himself and to his own Inclinations Candid enough all Christendom had not a more prudent Prince yet through Romes Influence upon him the Church of Christ scarce had a sorer Enemy but the same power and providence which had removed the great Rub that great Stumbling-Stone Pope Leo the Great gives this Great Emperour 1. a Diversion and 2. a Cessation from being the Popes Drudge in persecuting Work 1. God Diverts him by his being called into Spain to Suppress Seditions there and afterwards was so taken up in his Wars with the French King that he had no leisure to look after Luther After this having taken the French King Prisoner he releas'd him upon Condition he would joyn with him in rooting out the Protestants but God broke this Design for the French-King returning Home from his Confinement in Spain and Considering the Conditions of his Release were unequal he Consederates with Pope Clement the 7th and the State of Venice against the Emperour who upon this provocation Abolishes the Popes power though he had call'd Knave first over all Spain and sends his Armies against him under the Duke of Burbon who Sacks Rome Claps up the Pope with his Cardinals close Prisoners in the Castle of St. Angelo This Evil Spirit the Lord sent betwixt Abimelech and the House of Shechem or the Romish-Church gave an Opportunity for the Reformed Religion to get Ground all these Providences did fall out rather for the furtherance of the Gospel Phil. 1. 12. I might Tyre both my Self and my Reader in Relating all those strange Diversions God gave this Great Prince from his Doing Romes Drudgery as the Avocation he had by the Great Turks Invading the Skirts of his Empire How the Project of the Interim which was a Hodg-podg of the Romish and Reformed Religion mingl'd together an Inter-Religion not unlike our Comprehension-Bill the Devil will Compound when he cannot Conquer was broken with all other Popish-plots by the Patience and Perseverance of the Protestants at Passaw's Pacifical Transaction Many Intervenient Crosses took off his Edge 't is very Observable This mighty Conquerour who in Wageing Fifteen Wars was for the most part Successful never prosper'd in any Undertaking after he had Imprison'd the Duke of Saxony and the Lantgrave of Hassia those Two Prime Patriots of the Protestants After all those Diversions God brings him 1st to a Voluntary Cessation for being Wearied with the Worlds Vncessant Troubles he Divests himself of his Imperial Authority and betakes him to the Repose of a Monastery where the 2d Cessation that is Unavoidable seizeth soon on him to wit Death The 4th Eminent Remark was in Raising up Patriots and Promoters of Religion God was much seen in this Applicando Adiutoria as after Charles the 5th God sends good Ferdinand to Succeed who quite Spoil'd the Project of the Trent-Councel Cum magna Moliuntur while they carry'd on their Consults against the Simplicity of Christ with such Infinite Guile and Craft as that themselves will even Smile in the Triumphs of their own Wits when they hear it but mention'd as at a Master-Stratagem Insomuch that it passed in France on which that Councel could never be Imposed in manner of a Proverb that the Synod of Trent had more Authority than that of the Apostles Act. 15. because their own Pleasure was a Sufficient Ground for their Decrees without Admitting the Holy Ghost yet this good Emperour Ferdinand the 1st Granted Liberty of Conscience to all the Professours of the Augustan Confession in Germany and it was granted to them in Bohemia also for receiving the Lords Supper in both Kinds This put a Curb upon that Trent-Conventicle who had now no power to Disturb any Imperial City upon the Account of Religion and then Maximilian the 2d Curb'd them still more by his Constancy to that Tenent That Mens Consciences ought not to be Compell'd in Matters of Religion for that is saith he to Invade Heavens-right c. And after him