second death after the first 5. When and where did the Lord of glory suffer the second death if you prophesy to the going down of the Sun there will be no answer many Ministers will have the Lord to suffer the second death before the first or in and with the first They must exercise their wit but there is no Divine Revelation what to affirme least their imaginary Doctrine be lost 6. We must know and that by Divine Revelation that as there is a first death so there is a second death and that the second death must be after the first or else if we by our wit and learning will affirme the contrary we shall destroy Gods order but no accutenesse of wit or learning shall ever be able to doe that what shall mans subtill wit nullifie the order of nature of first and second and the order of Divine Revelation which sheweth that the first death is in this world and the second death in the world to come The Spirit of Christ said by Iohn He that overcometh namely that overcometh the will of Tyrants by suffering the first death for the truth shall nor be hurt of the second death Apoc. 2.11 Lo the second death is after the first and in another world and this doth more fully appear by Apoc. 20.14 and by Apoc. 6.7.8 which placles doe shew first the place of punishment secondly the punishment it feâ—se thirdly the time when fourthly the company that shall he there heaped together first the place expressed is the lake secondly the punishment everlasting paine in fire and brimstone thirdly the time is at the last and great day of account when the Books shall be opened fourthly the company is the Devill the Beast the false Prophet the fearfull the un-beleiving the abominable and murtherers and whore-mungers and sorcerers and idolaters and all lyars c. of which second death the Lord Jesus the holy one of God under-went to part Therefore that Doctrine that saith so must be reprobated with the Reprobates 7. The primitive Churches were admonished to take heed of running after Fables and reformed Churches have as much need to look about themâ—men yea Schollers yea Ecclesiasticks are as subject now to fables and heresies as ever it hath been observed that Ecclesiasticks have ever been the Founders of fables errors and heresies The Apostle gave warning of this to the Bishops of the Churches and tells them that of themselves men should arise speaking perverse things to draw Disciples after them Act. 20. 8. Some have not traversed these pathes as they should because they have been so long instituted and catechised in the Doctrine of Hell-Torments and that Christ the holy one of God was a sinner yea the vilest of sinners and when they are by modest arguing put out of their beaten track they run wild and utter sesquipedalia verba on their breathren that have and do desire that they and their Children should walke with God in soundnesse of judgement and in a godly and sober conversation 9. Let it be further considered that the first death hath foure parts first the death of the soul in sin secondly the death of the body by sicknesse thirdly the seperation of the soul from the body fourthly the putrifaction of the body First the death of the soul is thus expressed dead in Trespasses and Sins Eph. 2.1.5 and so the Gospell is said to be preached to the dead in Sin 1. Pet. 4.6 Secondly the death of the body is effected by fire water sicknesse c. Thirdly the body being dead then the soul departs to the world of souls untill the day of the Resurrection Fourthly the putrification of the body is evident by constant experience The first part of this death namely the death of the soul in Sin could not betide the Lord Jesus because of his ineffable conception in the sanctified womb The second part the Lord Jesus under-went when he gave himselfe a Ransome for the many when he was put to death as a Malefactor on the Tree Thirdly his seperated soul went from his dead body to the world of souls to the happy part of Hades to Paradise to Heaven The fourth part of this first death the Lord did not undergoe his body saw no corruption Act 2. 10. Now as no man may say that Christ was spiritually dead in Trespasses and Sins so neither must they say that he under went the second death none ever under-went the latter that had not first undergone the former 11. I will cite two or three godly Authors that expound the second death First Mr. Ainsworth speaketh thus on the signification of the word death in Gen. â— 17 Finally death is the everlasting perdition of soul and body in Gehenna from the presence of the Lord and called the second death in Apoc. 2. 20. 21. Mat. 10.28 Mat. 9. he saith Hel but Gehenna is in the Text he citeth therefore I dare be bold to put Gehenna for it see his Notes on Ps 16. and see his communion of Saints last page Secondly Trelcatius saith that by second death is meant Eternall death Thirdly Master Perkins in Gal. 3. speaking of the parts of the second death saith the second degree is an absolute seperation from God but saith he into this second degree of this death Christ entred not because the Lord saith in the midst of his passion my God my God and saith he this absolute seperation could not be without the dissolution of his personall union Master Perkins was cautelous of going too far in the point of Carists sufferings and yet it seems he would have the Lord to suffer a part of the second death and he makes that part to be in this World and the other part in the World to come and that he suffered the first and second death together or rather some part of the second death be fore the first is this good Divinity is this Doctrine Orthodox 12. Master Perkins also saith in Gal. 3. That whole Christ Man-God God-man was accursed is not this another fearfull speach though with limitation and some retractation as it were in the same breath and yet all that he saith doth not nor cannot expiate the horror of the position 13. Master Perkins also saith further on Gal. 3. The second death is a seperation from Gods favor and speciall love whereby God ceaseth to be their God This is the second death indeed But now let any godly man whether learned or un-learned bethink himselfe whether ever this did befall the humanity of the holy one of God This speach conferred with some other mens doth infer that Christ was not Christ for a time 14. It is affirmed by some that Christ bore our deserved curse for our Redemption But bring this generall position to particulars and then they make a stand as first of the spirituall death in sin secondly touching the corruption of the body after death and some are affraid to say that he suffered any part
saw no Angell CHAP. XLVI That the point of Chronology was a cheife part of the Angells Message to Daniell for Daniell knew all before the Chronology 1. HE knbw that Salem Daniel saith Seavens Seavens ore exactly â—â—â—â—uâ—ted for thy people and for thy holy City Sems Tents and people should not alwayes have peculiar glory and that one day the postericy of Japheth should be perswaded to embrace the faith of Sems Tents he knew that all Families that apostated Gen. 11. should be blessed in CHRIST Gen. 12 and that he would also confirme firme the Covenant of his grace for them The blessednesse promised and the confirming the Covenant are all one 2. He knew as well as Esaias that the Temple and holy place should not alwayes be regarded as Stephea cites Esaias and Daniet Act. 6. 7. Esai â—6 1. Dan. 9 26.27 that the holy place Christ would destroy 3. He knew that Esaias had said from Moneth to Moneth and from Sabbathto Sabbath all flesh shall come to worship before me saith the Eternal Esai 66.23 This sheweth an utter abrogation of Moses seeing all Nations cannot come every week to Jerusalâ—m Mr. Br. in the latter end of Ecclesiastes 4. He knew the Preist hood of Levi should be changed from Psal 110. And he knew if the Preist hood be changed of necessity there must be a change of the Law and therefore the Law of all manner of Sacrifices of Beasts and Birds c. should be abolished this he knew from Psal 40. And all faithfull as Habel thus expected and beleived and by that their faith they were made heires of the justification that is by faith And Daniel sheweth the same that Messias should by his once offering of himselfe make reconciliation for iniquity and bring an everlasting justification and so seal and confirme all the visions and premises and prophesres that himselfe was the end an scope that all aimed at 5. He knew from Esaias that Cyrus should send the Jewes home from Captivity and build City and Temple read Esai 44 45 46. Jer. 30.18 But in what time after the returne from Captivity Esaias told not But the holy Angel did shew the time that within the Seaven Seavens from Daniels prayers and the returne of the forty nine thousand Jerusalem should be builded Street and Wall 6. He knew that HE the holy seed of the Woman of Abraham of David c. should destroy Satans works that by the Seed of the Serpent his foot sole should be bruised that he should be slaine not for himselfe but for us 7. He knew that Esaias had prophecied of the acceptable yearâ— of the Lord in the Jubilee in which should be preached good tidings unto the meek to bind up the broken hearted to proclaime liberty to the Captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound c. Now Daniel told of the last Jubilee when all should be performed Levit. 25. seeing all the promises of God in Christ are yea and amen we are bound to marke the Jubilees beginning and ending and to joyne the last to our LORDS death for indeed they doe so most exactly fall out When the Angel had told the Prophet Daniel of the Seavensy Seavens Then the godly Teachers before the holy Incarnation could say the Majesty of God dwelling in our Tabernacle will be Redemption freedome i. e. justification and Finisher of Sabbaths to Israel in a Iubilee this speach is worthy of golden Letters This they might easily account For they knew how many Jubilees had been past and how many would be the last yeare of the Seavensy Seavens The last Jubilee falls out with the last yeare of the Seavensy Seavens Simeon the just knew this and he waâ—ted for the Mâ—ssâ—as the consolation of Israel and it was reveiled unto him that he should not see death till he had seen the MESSIAS of the Lord. Luk. 2. All this glorious meditation of the Jubilees and this last Jubilee Master P. defaceth utinam bec illi ne imputetur Num. 33 56. Deut. 28.66 Esai 66. Pâ—â—l 95. Ezâ—k 16. 8. He knew from Moses and the Prophets that Christ the King would destroy his own people as with a Floud of Noe that they should be shaken out of their own Land and that that Land should not be their Rest nor an holy Land nor holy Mountaine no more then any place under heaven after the ending of the Seavensy Seavens the Jewes shall be converted they will beleive that City and Temple shal never be restored and then they will not much regard the Land Now the holy Lord God sent his Angell from heaven to tell the time of the accomplishment of all these they are un-utterable wonderfull things and glorious mercies that from the beginning of Daniels prayer this exactly accounted time should begin Mr. Bro◠〈◊〉 Daniel and end at the shewing of CHRIST to be the most holy Redeemer in declaring the power of God in his passion and resurrection as is foretold in Dan. 9. Because the passion marveilously shewed Christ to be the most Holy when he sanctifyed himselfe Ioh. 17.17 and the Centurion said doubtlesse he was the Son of God and his resurrection shewed that he was indeed the Son of Gon. I will add a little to the eighth Section above If the Jews had known the words of the Prophets they would not have stoned Stephen for saying Jesus of Nazaret should destroy the City and the holy Place Great error hath herein been committed by not marking the force of Noes words pursued by Moses by Gabriell by the Lord and by their full Event and by the glorious erecting of the Church tearmed the Jerusalem from Heaven insted of it Iulian the Apostate to satisfy our Lords words indeavoured to repaire Jerusalem but he felt the wrath of Christ for it So in after ages * Anno 1100. 1200. the Pontificality stirred the Princes of the West to war for Low Jerusalem but Christ plagued Christendome to this day for that vanity Yea at this day people study not nor beleive the words of the Prophets but as the Jewes are susperstitious so are many the superstition of the Jewes is in part expressed by a godly Teacher And it seems their vanity pleaseth us to write so of them as we doe Christians now a-dayes are so foolish and erroneous as thinking of going to Jerusalem I could name some But it is better for them to alter their opinions and if I might give them counsell to doe as it is reported Jewes doe about their dead bones let them give order to some Feoffee to have care of their dead bones and when they have a sufficient Cargosie to fraight some Vessell to Joppa and to consigne them to some Reverend Mussel-man that he by Waggons may transport them to Jerusalem to be interred Ah let Teachers consider whether they have not been an occasion to people to stumble at the Law in teaching and writing about
fulfill the measures of their forefathers impieties in persecutions massacres treacheries gunpowder-plot cruell mockings c. ungodly men cannot trample on God but they reach as high as they can against his image both in his Ordinances and his saints and his graces in them this is the highest step they can go as Achab Jerom Joash Jehoiakim fretted against God and they would be revenged by imprisoning and killing his Prophets Christ his Doctrine have been called esteemed â—nathema even from the beginning of all that wil not receive his Doctrine in the love of it so it was accounted of Kain when Christ would not accept his bodily exercise so he saith Visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me Exâ—d chapt 20. So they despised his Statutes and did abhor his judgements Levit. 26 15. In 10. Quest and Answ A great Apostasie All flesh had corrupted his way both in religion and conversation Gen. 6. Job 21. and 22. Mat. 24. Iudas Thad 14.15 So Iudah were corrupters Esai 1. Ier. 6. They were but flesh they cared not for regeneration nor the Doctrine of it to serve the Law of God in their minds for the imagination of their heart was only evill continually They mocked the religion of the Second Adam Ion 21. and 22. they desired not to know the waies of Christ In Q. 10. Ungodly marriages The Sons of God the visible Church regarded not Gods distinction of the holy seed so after times found them to be snares and traps treachery profanesse and abomination to the Gospel Common-Weale and Family In Q. 10. Glorious house Glorious for Cities Wealth Musick Pleasures Feasting Strength Arts and vaine deceitfull beauty the flourishing estate of the wicked doth commonly prevaile for apostacy with the open Church or multitude In Q. 10. A confluence When people have not a sincere care to know but set light by the faith of the Son of God the mystery of godlinesse then all ungodlinesse and unrighteousnesse will be seene in mens conversations This is evident through all ages of the holy story and in all Common-Weales Families and persons at this day which either retaine not or cast off the mystery of Faith in a pure conscience no religion teacheth nor worketh in the heart and carriage such strictness of a peaceable and holy life as the paterne of wholesome words faith and love which is in Christ Jesus Deut. 4.5 6 7 8. And verily there can be neither holinesse nor righteousnesse in truth but in them that are renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created them that is of the man Christ Jesus the second Adam the Lord from heaven 1 Cor. 15.47 Esa 11.1 to 9. In Quest 10. Remember After our first Parents were turned to dust the rest of the holy Fathers dyed not long one after the other except Henoch yet they had three witnesses of Christ to the floud that contested against their apostasie Methuselah Lamâ—ch and Noah But Henoch had before spoken of terror to the wicked and godly Lamech of comfort to the faithfull In 11. Quest and Answ Through faith Now faith is the expectation of that which is hoped and a tryer out of things which are not seene for by it the Elders are well reported of by Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with feare prepared the Arke to the saving of his house by which he condemned the world and was made heir of the justification that is by faith Ebâ— 11. A beleever will be carefull of the salvation of his houshold In Q. 11. Good report Faith in the Son of God is most glorious faith evidencing things not seen made all the Elders honourable in a good report in life and death and after death whose faith we are exhorted to follow a godly man should so walke as all hee doth should evidence to the soule things not seen All Ecclesiastes tendeth to confirm this in us as godly Lamech testified In Q 11. Sons The floud in the faithfull doth shew the benefit of adoption and covenant the faith of God is not without its effect though many did â—all away and the Ordinances were unsavoury to them 2 Cor. 2.16 Our Natures so universally depraved that whilst we are in the flesh unconverted we cannot please God without saith it is impossible we should please God or that God should please us Jus divinum 31. In Q 11. City and country They beleeving on the Son of God had everlasting life and came not into condemnation but passed from death to life Minde it a present possession and immediate passage no judgment intervenning nor torment All the faithfull till the fulness of time had perfect joy in an immortall state of life and glory with God in the Kingdome of Heaven Matt. 8.11 and therefore are termed Them in Heaven Eph. 1.10 and the family of Heaven Chap. 3.15 Away then with the dotages of Lymbo and purgatorie and all other cursed opinions of the heathens and heathnish Kingdome Abyssigena Apoc. 9. Psal 17. and 22. 4 5. Psal 36.8.9 Dan. 7.18 Psal 49.15 and 73.24 Esa 3.10 Pro. 14.32 Job 5.24 In Q. 11. Wherefore they had preservation The fleed was a sacrament to the faithfull of Salvation to which answereth Baptisme 1 Pet. 3. Though these three men Noah Daniel and Job were in it they should deliver but their own soules by their righteousnesse faith the Lord God Ezek. 14.14 confer this to Gen. 6. many observations may be collected see the effectuall saith of Noah which he shewed by his workes beleeving he seared made the Arke and was carefull to save his houshold he prayed for the wicked mocking world he stood in the gap to turne away wrath so Jâ—b prayed for his freinds and God heard him so Daniel Chap. 2.18.23 and was heard so Christ had heard Noah but would no more after the decree came forth for one hundred and twenty yeares so Jeremiah prayed but at last would not be heard hee was forbidden to pray Things come to an extremity when Gods forbids his remembrancers if the whole state will not humble themselves yet let Noah Daniel and Job do it they shall have comfort they shall be sealed to be kept safe When Unbeleevers despisers mockers feasters drinkers and all abominable shall be shut out of the Arke and the heavenly Ierusalem to be in the floud and lake of fire Ezekiel and our Lord citing Noahs story gives to consider of the like generall Apostasie of the Jewes And that the Apostasie of the old world was as generall as the Jewes both in Ezekiels dayes and our Lords In 12. Quest and Answ Corrupters of the faith This phrase is elegantly expressed in Apoc. 11.8 The Papacy was an apostate policy and did depart from and corrupt the saith and so the whole earth was corrupt Therefore God hath and will corrupt that policy as God did corrupt the corrupters Gâ—â— 6. The former be
and profane Joh. 1.41 4.23 And the Jewes at that time commonly speaking Syriack spake the terme Messias and speaking Greek they uttered the Greek terme Christ so that as oft as we read the Greek terme we must remember the other Terme of the Hebrew or Syriack And all the Orthodox Churches in Christendome hold Messias here to be the Son of God our Redeemer vi Mr. Bro. on Daniell and in Advertisment pag. 33. Upon the verse 27. and halfe that seaven of this last seaven the first part is passed over in silence for a preparation the latter halfe doth Christ bestow in confirming the covenant for the Many beginning at his Baptisme ending at his death 3. Quest and Answ N. 1. As the motions of the Heavens The creation was made to serve the Son of Enosh Psal 8. so the revolution of the year all are his Servants Psal 119. lamed-part No Army is ordered more comely then the times in Gods word Dan. 10.1 And Gods people must learne to know that the times as well as the ceremonies and tipes teach of so they lead unto Christ for the Golden Chaine of times are fastned to famous Pillars as is prefixed to this Book N. 11. This prophecie was given Read Esai 44. 45. with Ezr. 1.1 2. concerning Cyrus his Letters Patents of building the Temple and City and returning the people But Cyâ—us going to war in Scythia was plagued for not leaving better order at home that his Letters Patents were not throughly executed for the good of Gods people and Cambyses Daâ—ius Hystaspis and Xerxes for questioning and damning the Patent felt Gods wrath and their Kingdomes Ezra 4. and 6.11 12 Est 1. trouble in Dan. Hyst court Ibid Sent the Jews home The blood of Gods Covenant in Christ sent them home as from Egypt so from Babel Zach. 9.11 Col. 1 20. the blood of the Covenant is our comfort in any disconsolate condition Ibid. That year with a most remarkable Proclamation over an hundred and twenty Provinces Then the Nations did hear of their demanding and enquiring of the way to Sion upon the hope of the Son of man his coming to shew the Kingdome of heaven to all Nations and to shake even the heaven of Moses policy Jer. 10.4 5. they presented Sion in the dust before glorious Babel and they then ought so to do but not now Psal 102.13 14. So Moses and all the Nobles of all ages Heb. 11.24 25 26 ye that have escaped the sword go away stand not still remember Jehovah a far off and let Jerusalem come into your mind Jer. 51.50 Psl 137.5 6. So all ye that have escaped mysticall Babylon go away stand not still remember Jehovah and let the glory of the heavenly Jerusalem come into your mind be ye separate be at a distance in all holy zeal still come out from among them touch nothing of theirs neither Laws nor their phrase nor apparrell make a covenant as Neh. 10. 2 Cor. 6.18 what if your name be put out as evil remember Isa 66. â— John 9.34 and 16.2 2 Cor. 6.17 No. 3. And seal that is confirm all the viâ—ons and Prophesies that he was the end all aimed at Among many Prophesies that might be related I will name now that of Jer. 31.22 The Lord hath created a new thing in the earth A woman shall compasse a man that is a woman Virgin The holy Spirit of Christ prosecuteth the foundation of Doctrine which he laid down in Moses of the blessed seed of the woman Gen. 3.15 and of Shiloh Gen. 49. that a tribe should not fail to Judah till Shiloh came Now Judah being in Babel and held captive the Prophet doth from the Lord comfort them that although they were in heavy calamities and much disconsolate Jer. 30 31.32 33. chapters yet Judah should return and have a policy to buy and sell and that Jerusalem and Temple should be built and the Cities of Iudah inhabited and that that New thing should be accomplished a woman Virgin shall compasse a man All promises were made in Christ and should be yea and amen in him to the glory of God And this is promised to be as sure as the heavens order that God would not fail of his promise he made to David and Israel although Salomons house and Kingdome were ended yea to all the elect from the beginning in sending Christ Iesus to be born of a Virgin and that in him the Church should have unspeakable consolation This made the people of God to be so refreshed as a man is by sweet sleep Ier. 31 26 But Ieremiah told them not nor any Prophet as yet How long Psal 64.9 that should be for the performance that was reserved for a more fit season when they were to come from Babel then they had the time told them by an angel from heaven which did much heighten their consolation wherein all comfort was promised by that glorious message of the angel concerning the Messias compassed by the woman-Virgin to perform all the promises visions and Prophesies by finishing and ending all sin-offerings and trespasse offerings and make by himself a reconciliation for iniquity and bring in everlasting righteousnesse by his perfect sacrifice once performed so by this Doctrine the godly were preserved and strengthened greatly in their faith and hope of Christs coming in this determined time And seing it is said Christ shall seal Vision and Prophet is taught that he shall restrain apostasie through preaching his glorious Gospel that they fall not away as the Jews did in that most grievous and almost universall revolt in and from the dayes of Antiochus Epiphanes Dan 8 13. and 11 30 31 32. Our Lord Jesus Christ in his coming was the morning star and the SUN of Righteousnesse and his brightnesse did visit us as holy Zâ—chariah saith Luc. 1 7.8 For those times were most deplorable in corrupting all holy Doctrine as it was greatly darkened by these three Shepherds Zac. 11. concerning the holy Trinity the sons incoâ—nation his death and resurrection and concerning justification and all Moses polity as all the Epistle to the Hebrews sheweth But the Lord Jesus and his Apostles from him made all clear again Also this Prophesie of the angel from heaven was wonderfull to the comfort of the people of God under their pressures by Persia Javan whole and Javan parted This Prophesie is marvellous if we consider the times Oh who is sufficient to expresse the things of Gods blessed word Ibid. N. 3. Everlasting righteousnesse The mentioning of everlasting righteousness justification redemption doth shew the Law made nothing perfect but was sponsorious and an introduction to a better hope in Christ for Christ by his own blood entered once through the vail that is his flesh into the holy place into the very heavens to appear now in the fight of God for us and obtained eternall Redemption Heb. 9. For it is not possible that the bloud of Bulls or Goats should take away sinne
were many worthy fathers who by teaching and writing with great constancy resisted Satan in his undermining of the faith Onely one thing they did not so discern Satans project and enterprise the mystery of iniquity the spirituall Supremacy one of the greatest heresies most of them being so corrupted with desire of priority and superiority QVest 7. What other things might be a means of the furtherance of the mysterie of iniquity Answ The open or visible Church by certain steps insensibly not all at once corrupted and schismed from the syncerity and plainnesse of Doctrine of the written word and the gifts of the offices of Christs ministerie and the ministration of the Seals of the new Testament and censures and followed and mannaged their own decrees orders additions inventions and heathenish superstitious ceremonies and traditions with wordly wisdome pomp ambition hypocrisie self-willed humility faction covetousnesse envy and cruelty extream corruption in manners 2 Tim. 3 1. c. And even thus it was in all apostasies of the Church since Moses wrote Adde also to these that the Teachers and Pastours rejected the fountains of Hebrew and Greek from which all things proceeded a great decay of all right proficiency in all Divine and humane studies (:) Read and consider these things as sin and the punishment of sinne the desolation of holy things never come but as effects of great sins and a fore-runner of mighty plagues Esa 5. So Mat. 21. QUest 8. How was Christs severity manifested on the Churches for their idolatry and apostasie from the Commandements and words of the apostles Doctrine not hearing what the Spirit spake to the Churches Ans 1. Christ the Lamb slain cast fire on the earthly apostate world despising his Person and Mediation plaguing it by the ambition heresie spirituall whoredome c. of the falling and wandring starres and the badnesse and negligence of Emperours but especially of Apolluon King of the Pit that did exalt himself and his Catholick Locusts against them all to be Pests and Tempests of hail * Vid. Mr. Cade Lib. 2.73 74. fire and blood a Mountain full of fierie bloody bitter poysoning and unutterable miseries to all States and Churches These things were in the four Trumpets yet as Preparations to the fifth Trumpet and first wo in which all these evils were coincident and compleat Of the which fifth Trumpet and first woe the Pontificality and its Corporation is an explication 2. Idolatry and other sinnes increasing in all hardened impenitency the King of Mount Sion plagued the Christian world by four messengers of his wrath let loose from Euphrates that is the people of the Eastern Countries which troubled lesser Asia and also much of Europe with horrible vastations and at last possessed great part But least that the Popish and Turkish Factions should wholly drown the world with raging impetuous innundations of outward and Spirituall calamities the angel of the Covenant descended cloathed with a cloud and a Rainbow about his head his face as the Sunne his feet as pillars of fire and in his hand the little Book of Scripture opened and standing on the earth and sea roareth like a lion thundereth and sweareth secret bitter and inevitable destructions to the Enemies Also God tormented the King of Locusts Sodomitical-Egyptian Corporation by the two Prophets in their teaching praying and martyrdome and by their resurrection which caused a great Earth quake in the Papacy that a tenth part of the King of Locusts politie fell This is under the sixt Trumpet and second Woe 3. Christ the Rock and Lion of the Tribe of Judah doth grinde to powder and also tear in pieces mystical Babylons politie by Kings and Princes that in the later times should fall from the Papacy and they and their People following the Lamb. And also maketh a further earthquake in Star-Wormwoods Kingdome by greater voices of godly Teachers and Witnesses that with the eternal Gospel fly through the heaven of the Church preaching terrour to the Corrupters of the faith and the eternal blessed reward to the Saints This is under the seventh Trumpet and third Wo. 4. Thus God hath once revealed all unto the end in Seales and Trumpets by sevens to teach the profane world of the resurrection The rest of the Apocalyps repeateth again and again in sundry varieties as briefly is touched these matters of Empire and Papacy and affliction of the Church by them and the overthrow of the King of Locusts and all his corporation of mystical Babylon Deprivation of all their spiritual and corporall merchandise and temporall destruction with all shame horrour and lamentation and their eternall sorrow in the world to come and lastly the glorious joy and comfort of the saints being revived from their dead State under mystical Sodoms polity to be of the corporation of the Holy and Beloved City Each blessing is here begun and shall be perfected when the Lord Jesus shall shew himself from heaven in that day of his bright appearing Annotations upon the Questions and Answers of the fourteenth Chapter QUest 1. and Answ The High Sacrificers the Pharisees Isâ—ael which is after the flesh despised Christ and his Rest and fell after the same example of disobedience and unbelief or misbelieving disobedience as their Fathers both in the Wildernesse and in the revolt of the ten Tribes and of Judah also and would not receive the word of exhortation Heb. 3. 4.10 12 13. chapters Ibid. That the Seed of the Serpent All that persecute the faith are the seed of the Serpent from Kain to Caesars and Popes But the gates of Hades could not prevail because Christ had the keys of death and Hâ—des Here observe that the Apocalyps in two sorts draweth all the Law unto it It sheweth Christ from all the Law and Prophets and the curse of mystical Babylon from all the old cursed since the Serpent deceived Eva. Jehovah from Gen. 2. 3. Exod. 3. 6. is expoundâ—d in Apocalyps i. e. Who was Who is Who Will be and this draweth to the last acts looking to the first Counsels that all may be seen to depend upon One God The Apocalyps setteth forth the last acts Therefore they that expect new Revelations besides that which was leâ—t us by the Lord Jesus the Son of God in the writings of his Prophets and Apostles shall never be settled in a sound judgement in the Gospel and those that pretend they have new Revelations in such thoughts they are of them that add to the word of God but let such tâ—emble at the curse Apoc 2â— 18 19. Such shall bear this blame that they are an adulterous generation they would adulterate the faith Mat. 12.39 Quest 2. and Answ by saitâ—â— they ebtained good report with God Heb. 11.1 2. conferred with chap. 12.1 2. and Rom. 1.5 16.26 Gal. 3.8 9. Apoc. 14.12 21.3 2 Cor. 6.16 17 18. As many as received him to them he gave prerogative to be the Sons
arose that spake and wrote perverse things wherefore the reformed are too blame in two respects 1. In yielding too much to the Papalines to prove points from the Ancients for that doth not saâ—issâ—â— them and there is no end with them 2. To urge against their Brethren that desire sincerity the opinions and practise of the Fathers in doctrine church-politie or ceremony The Apostles being Prophets and foreseeing evils gave this precept To remember their words 2 Pet. 3.2 And it is safest so to do This must be often pressed thought upon by all that love our Lord Iesus Christ with incorruption of spirit It was said plainly Beware lest any man carry you for a spoil through the traditions of men according to the rudiments of the world Augustine was of mind that Councils and Bishops ought not to be objected for trial of controversies but the holy Scriptures August Cont. Max. Wherefore give the controversie about altars no quiet no not for an hour for the truth of the Gospel else will not continne with crifice to officiate upon his altar Mordecai was sure to overthrow Haman God had sworn and said that be would have war with Amalek til he was rooted out O yee servants of the Lord contend by meek writings by fervent prayer and bold confession for the maintenance of the faith once given to the saints for Christ hath sworn and said Romes apostate politic should be perishing to the end Exod. 17. Num. 24.2 Thess 2. Apoc. 10. 17. â—lâ—ars are a main prop for Abaddons Kingdome and it is a complying with it and therefore some learned men have done amiss in pleading for that innovation Ibid. and fiâ—st wo Whereas Christ pronounceth Wo Wo Wo to the apostate churches it sheweth the ignorance and vanity of a childish belly-god spirit of many that say it was a good world in the daies of Popery of such good neighbourhood plenty and prosperity and cheapnesse of things Thus of old apostates pleaded against Christ and his Prophet Ieremiah ch 44. But his answer will stop all mouthes but the obstinate in superstition profanesse and mans inventions lyea such are ignorant of our own chronicles that so speak Quest 8. and answ N. 2. which troubled lesser Asia The seven churches of Asia and others falling from the faith Christ removed their Candlesticks by the Turk which shall be further touched in the comparison of the seven Trumpets and seven Vials Ibid. and by their resurrection The two Prophets that were killed by the beast stand upon their feet that is other godly of their spirit Christ raised for the good of the Church as the Spirit of Alias rested on Elisha N 4. Thus God hath once revealed The eleven former chapters of the Apocalyps revealeth the State of the church to the end of the world and the rest of the Apocalyps goeth over the same things with sweet variety Ibid. Eath blessing is here begâ—n and shall be perfected all the saints that are in this vale of tears do sit in the heavenly places and have chambers in the Jerusalem that is from heaven And here God wipeth all tears from our eyes And when they change this life they fully possesse that of which they had an earnest as the godly of gold were in the heavenly Tabernacle Psalm 15.1 The heavenly Father hath but one family yet two Tabernacles or two dwelling places the one in heaven the other on the earth When any of his Servants hath done so much service or factorage Polytâ—uman Phil. 3.20 as he thinks fit then he calls for him home from that part of the family on earth to the other in the heavens to possesse the joy of his Lord. Here an entrance is given us into the everlasting kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. here we pass from death to life John 5. It is said we are in the second Adam renewed after the image of God that created us and as here we bear his image so shall we bear it in the heavens and there be fully satisfyed with it Psalm 17.1 Cor. 15.49 and further the Scripture saith he that hath prepared us for immortall glory after our earthly house of tabernacle is taken down is God who hath also given unto us the earnest of the Spirit Another Scripture saith He hath made us meet to be partakers of the inhertiance of the Saints in light 2 Cor. 5.1 2. Col. 1. We are made meet in this life for that blessed possession Christians trained up in the word of Christ must hold anathema the Ovidian and Vâ—rgilian doctrine of the Popish purgatory c. Beware left there be any man catry you for a spoil through Phylosophy and vain deceit Col. 2. CHAP. XV. Questions Answers and Annotations Proving that Rome in Gods just Judgement is the place that he hath given unto the power of Satan for the setting up the mystery of iniquity QUest 1. and Answ What place by Gods unsearchable judgement was permitted to Satan for the setting up of the Mystery of Iniquity Answ Rome in Italy for after those ruins it was brought unto it began in process of time to be in credit again Then Satan used all signes and lying wonders to advance there the Throne of the Beast the man of sin or the Pontificalitie (a) As most churches so Rome in special was broken off by mis belief and for not continuing in Gods goodness as they were forewarned Rom. 11. And when the Pontificalitie was set up by the decree of God then nations from East to West obeyed and Worship the Pope and the image of the Imperial State as of old time they did the profane Emperours Whereas if it had not been for the Pontificality Rome and its Empire should never have been revived but left a most filthy lodging of Oxen and Hogs (b) Stâ—uchus against Vallo Lib. 1. in the beginning Even this do the Roman Catholicks themselves confesse And so there the wounded Head was revived by the Pontificality QUest 2. But Rome totidem literis is not named in the holy Scriptures to be the Mother of Whoredomes and abominations How do you know that all these evils were thence to arise Answ By divers notes and marks 1. It is evident that the fixt Head of the Roman State and Power the Politie of Roman Caesars crucified our Lord. 2. By the Locusts and their King the Angel of the bottomless-pit which can agree to no politick corporation in the world but to the Pope and his spiritualty QUest 3. and Answ How is the King of Locusts described Answ 1. It is shewed that the King of Locusts was a star in the heaven of the Church but did opostate and became not a Messenger of the Church of Christ but the Angel of the Pit 2. The keyes which formerly he had being an Angel and a Star were for the honour of CHRISTS Kingdome but apostating his keyes are the keys of the bottomless pit 3. When he used the
Tribes of Israel The Providences of Christ in a constant progresse of the holy story made this promise good to the ending of the Seventy Sevens Then was the Period of Israels peculiar glory CHAP. XXII Expounding Zac. 12.10 11 12 13 14. Verses 1. ZAchâ—riah sheweth how the faithfull should mourne for the sins of the times every godly Family cheifly them of Davids progenie of the Family of Nathan Solomons Brother by Bathâ—hebah of whom our Lord lineally ascended As also of the godly of the Tribe of Levi and all the godly Families that did remaine for then to them was the blessed Fountaine for sin and uncleanesse opened And our godly translators doe confer Act. 2. in the 3000. converted by Peters Sermon to be an History to this Prophesie And Act. 1.14 is fitly to be conferred for their godly private exercises 2. Also we must diligently observe how John Elias the fore-runner to Christ by his powerfull Ministry did turne the heart of the Fathers to the children and the children to hearken to the wisdome of their godly Teachers that the evill Spirits of the three Shepheards and their Doctrine was much quailed and were made ashamed of their evil wayes And our Lord Jesus Christ the great Apostle from Heaven coming after Iohn Baptist he brought his Fanne of holy Doctrine in his hand and by his holy Spirit separating the chaffe of persons and Doctrine in wonderfull manner as in Mat. 5 6 7. chapters and at other times which Sermons of Christ made them rage against him and were never quiet laying snares still for him till they had his life And when they had smitten this blessed Shepheard and destroyed the Temple of his precious Man-hood he raised it againe and gloriously ascended Then afterward the Lord Christ gave a mouth and wisdome to his holy Disciples and Apostles that all false Doctrine and all Worldly wisdome of Satans Kingdome fell like Dagon before them All their idols of the Doctrines of justification ex opere operato bodily exercise and their Traditions of their Abotheru and the Sadducisme of the Sadducies and other errors among them All these idols of theirs and the Heathens were famished and so perished Zeph. 2.11 3. That Doctrine of Justification of bodily exercise was the great controversie of those dayes and it was their idoll and vanity as Deut. 32. compared with Rom. 10. that idoll cleaving to the letter made them despise MESSIAS their King whose most precious obedience through his manifold sufferings made his death a most acceptable Sacrifice and so it was the end of the Law for justification to every one that beleiveth and by him all that beleive are justified from their sins guilt and punishment Moses Doctrine given by Christ taught the sure mercies Act. 13. Deut. 30. Such an idol it was and is that it hath cast off the Jewes to this day For by it they despised the Son of God and his justification which the bodily exercise of all the Law of Moses could not doe And that they might not think of justification by bodily exercise from the Temples worships Christ destroyed City and holy Place to this day who brought to us by his once offering up of himselfe to an everlasting Righteousnesse or Iustification 4. After the Jewes had rejected the corner-Stone their King for Caesar many heavy and unexpressable sorrows came upon the Jewes and Jerusalem continually untill by the Roman power Titus Vespasian who came against Jerusalem took the City rifled the Houses and the uncleane infidell Souldiers ravished the women slaughtered multitudes and carryed may thousands of Iewes Captives and sold many numbers of them for Slaves All this came to passe about forty years after our Lords ascention Our Lord sitting on Mount Olivet and beholding the City told these things of Zachariah Ch. 14.1 3 4 to his Disciples Mat. 14. Luc. 19. 21. 5. And the Apostle as a Prophet Act. 13.40 41 1. Thes 2.16 Ebr 6 8. 10.26 27 28 29 30. Act. 13. threatned by allusion Hâ—bb thicks prophesy against them noted before that as the Chaldean had done the Romans should execute further and greater wrath upon them even wrath to the utmost And so the Apostle had told the revolting Hebrewes that they and their Nation would be Bryars and Thornes and must look for violent fire to consume them Moses and David fore-saw all these evils Deut. 32.22 2 Sam. 23. Then the corner Stone which the Builders refused fell on them and bruised them to powder 6. The Prophet Zachariah having spoken of the dâ—struction of the Low Jerusalem makes this transition to speak by way of b Jer. 31.38 39. Is literally propheticall and performed in Nehem 3. but this of Zac. 14.6 is allegoricall see Tremel on Zach. 14.10 c. allegory of the building and setting up of the High Jerusalem As by the returned from Babel Jerusalem was builded from Benjamins Gate c. so sure shall the Heavenly Jerusalem be builded notwithstanding all oppositions of Enemies And whereas it is said Zac. 14. Jerusalem shall be inhabited in her own place it is to be understood that the Heavenly Jerusalem should begin to be builded in the Earthly as it was fittest Thence the Law went forth of Sion and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem then the Mountaine of the Lords House was lifted above all Mountaines and all Nations ftowed unto it to build on that Mountaine and this promised blessing was performed before Salem was abolished and the word of the Lord did not faile that Iapheth must have religion from Some Tents 7. There were skilfull Master-Builders at Salem the Fishers of Galilet and the other Apostles with others to the number of six score and five thousand after which with the Physitian of Antiâ—ch and the Tent-Maker of Tâ—rsus that might carry the healing and wholsome b Our Lord in his Apoc. 21. expounds Zach. 14. Ezek. 47. For these waters that run thorough the streets of the Heavenly Jerusalem and no better waters shall â—ver come among us then what the holy Prophets and Apostles have let us in their most sweet and blessed writings Let us beware of deceitfull opinions of new Apostles and new Revelations waters of holy Doctrine to the uttermost parts of the Earth Oh how wonderfull and un-utterable was the glory of Christ in and by them that he was King over all the Earth that as the Apostle saith God was not the God of the Iewes only but of the Gentiles also Rom. 3. 8. Zac. 14.12 sheweth that all montanous opposions could not hinder the building of this Heavenly Ierusalem this City was lifted in glory and did and doth abide notwitstanding all the wrestlings of the misbeleiving and unbeleiving Iewes and the Roman Empire against it And all that fought against his Holy City both the Caesars the old Pontificality the sixth head of the Roman Beast afflicting the Church and the new Pontificality the Papacy the seventh Head and Turke
is good for us to hearken to the counsells of the Scriptures of God the surest way is to consult with them It saith aske for the old way Ieâ— 6. Againe it saith he that knoweth God heareth the Apostles 1 Ioh. 4. Againe we are built upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ himselfe being the cheife corner Stone Eph. 2. And againe for perfect resolution we are referred to the words of the holy Prophets and commandments of the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3. And Iudas Thaddaus speaks the same And they all were the Sons of Sem. The Scriptures of the Prophets is the faith of the Nations and it is said often in the Apocalips that Christs Witnesses suffered for the word of God and the Testimony of Jesus with which orthodox Churches must have no vote granted to them to stand in competition for authority 17. The Pontificians so dealt and deal that they will in shew at last yeeld honour to the Scriptures so that we rest in their Churches exposition and determination we suppose godly Christians should not be like them in such tergiversations Beloved Reader do not conceive that we dis-esteem and reject Orthodox Churches or the writings of their godly Divines no such matter But we highly prize them as most gracious mercies of Christ Jesus our Lord and as they by whom the Temple of God in the Heaven of the Church hath been opened and the Ark of his Testimony manifested And as such by whose voices teaching and praying writings and martyrdome they have made such a thunder in the Pontifician Ayre that the smoake of the Pit is much vanished and a tenth part of Abaddons polity is fallen And the great Angell of the Covenant the Lord Jesus Christ will still send forth godly Teachers that the whole Barth shall be lightned with his glory Apot. 18. We may and ought to have them in godly and respectfull remembrance for their works sake both of them that are departed and of those that are yet living though we make them not Lords of our faith 18. I will yet-speake a little more of that speach which some affirme of Christ that he did combate with his Angry Father shall the Son of God faith that treatise suffer the second death for you Shall he unchrist himself for a time for you Shal he suffer Hel Torments for you †Treatise of sacâ—ed divinity published by Mr. John Downame in the yeare 1619. p. 1. 317. Shall the Son of God enter the lists to fight the great combate hand to hand with his angry Father for you God the Father to fight with God the Son Is this good Orthodox Theoligie to be sould or taught in Pulpits or in Books to the people of God doubtlesse there is a deep silence of such expressions in the Book of God And from this time forwards I hope our godly Teachers will have the same deep silence and make no stir and utter plaine Doctrines and then our inventions will vanish 1. I pray consider it well did the humanity of our blessed Saviour and Mediatour cope or combate with the Divine nature of the God the Father Alas the humanity though holy yet it was but a finite creature created in time and what is a finite creature to the infinite creator The humane nature in a such a case could not abide the least touch of contradiction But I suppose we must seriously consider that the humanity did evermore from its conception subsist in the Divine nature of the second person by way of support else it could not have borne such sufferings as the holy Scriptures declare from the power of Satan death the grave and wicked men yeâ— else his oblation of himself had not been meritoriously satisfactory and therefore it is a strange saying that the second person did combate with the first for then the whole person of the Mediatour must combate if any combating my heart yea whose heart would not tremble at such speaches as this 2. Gen. 3.25 doth hold forth a declaration of a combate of enmity between the seed of the woeman namely her speciall seed Christ and the seed of the Serpent but no mention is made of any such combate with God the Father nor that the second person should combate with himselfe the humane with the divine nature Thesâ— Tenentes do jar much from the Divinity that was taught to our first Parents in Gen 3.15 3 Is it not strange Doctrine to affirme that the Lord Jesus with the helpe of a holy Angell did combate with God for in his Agony in Luk. 22.43 there was an Angel sent from Heaven to strengthen him 4 Was it ever heard that a Mediator between two at variance should fight with the stronger opposite to bring him to agreement some Teachers in teaching such Doctrines must use some such like strange language 5. The Lord Jesus did commit his cause to him that judgeth righteously 1. Pet. 2.23 This argueth although the Divils instruments did in wrath and rage condemne him for a sinfull malefactor as all presecutors did the Martyrs yet that God the Father did not judge him for a sinner but justify him as one that was every way Innocent therefore the Heavenly Father did not combate with his Son for he committed himselfe and his case to him as to a righteous judge 6. The Martyrs in like sort being Baptised with the Baptisme of Christ in sufferings committed their case to their Heavenly Father in Apoc. 6.10 And therefore as Gods essentiall curse Hell Torments and the second death was not on the Martyrs in their sufferings so neither was it on the true and faithfull Martyr the Lord Jesus in his sufferings CHAP. XXXV Observations upon that distinction which some make between the locall and penall Hell which penall Hell some say Christ suffered 1. SOme say that God can make a mans Hell here in this world by which speach they must meane if they meane any thing to he point in dispute that God can so plague a man in this world that the will not bring him to eternall destruction in Gehenna in the world to come I grant that the eternall Lord can do what he pleaseth both in Heaven Earth Sea and in all deep places Ps 135.6 2. The same eternall Lord can also make a Heaven for his children here in this world and never bring them to everlasting glory in Heaven in the World to come But Teachers must not bring their own speculations let them be true seers to shew us the visions of God from his word rightly expounded even his Revelled will for nothing else belongs to us and to our children 3. The holy Scriptures tells us that there is an everlawing blessed estate for all Gods chosen not heare but in the Heavenly paradise though each blessing is here begun by justification is freedome from sin death Satan whence ariseth peace and joy in the holy Ghost the first fruites of the spirit
most say is imputed to us But it is very questionable whether we ought so to teach or believe for then he is as really a sinner as we are righteous by him the reciprocation calleth for that sense but we may not so say for his righteousnesse maketh a change in our state and condition but the reciprocation calls for thoughts of derestation the ear cannot endure it 4. Hence it is that some Ministers in their Rhetoricall amplifications speaking of our sinnes imputed to Christ say that Christ was the vilest sinner that ever was that the essentiall curse and plague of God pursued Christ with Huy and Cry as a sinner and therefore they may say and it may be some have said go Huy and Cry as to attach Châ—istum illum Atheon Christum illum Dei cultus corruptorem illum hominem blasphemum illum Sabbati vinatoâ—em illum bominem parentibus â—jus non obsâ—quentem pursue with Huy Cry Christum illum homicidum illum moâ—chum soedum â—oâ—nicatorem soâ—dâ—dum mollem concabitantem masculinis illum surem raptorem latronem illum soenoratorem conterentem pervellâ—ntem illum conviâ—iatorem detractâ—rem misere perjucatum illum hominem temper aliorum proprietatum â—varum â—upientem Whose ear doth not tingle Thus some may please themselves to rowl in blasphemous Rhetorick And it should be most abominable to have such words as some have in book and Pulpit 5. To such Doctrine men have brought themselves about imputations so to impute as some teach our sinnes to Christ is to impart Mr. Anthony worton de reconcil sheweth such Doctrine is not orthodox communicate or make common to him with us our unconformity to God and his Law so that he thereby shall be unholy and unjâ—st both in habit and quality inwardly and ourwardly in action and thus it comes to passe that we making him a sinner as them of the Priesthood of Lâ—vi who offered for their own sinnes as for the peoples but the Holy of Holies Christ Jesus our high Priest at that time of offering up himself was holy harmlesse undâ—fiâ—ed separate sâ—om sinners and made higher than the heavens So his holy Priesthood was infinitely transcende it above the persons and Priesthood of Levi but some mens Doctrines woulâ— make him like them 6. This Doctrine of Huy and Cry for ought we ever yet did see must be pursued with Huy and Cry out of Schools studies books and Pulpits But let us a little further examine what this Huy and Cry tends to with its great noise When the hour of our blessed Redeemer was near at hand no Huy and Cry needed for he set his face to go to Jerusalem and said to his Disciples that he went to be delivered to the sons of men wicked sinners and that they would crucifie him Mat. 20. Luke 18. He was sent of the Father and came of purpose to give his life for his sheep and when they came to apprehend him he did not shift nor deny his name as malefactors do that are pursued with Huy and Cry but he asked with a constant mind whom seek ye They said Jesus of Nazareth then he said I am he with which speech there went such an energie that they fell in a swound to the ground and there might have lain unlesse he had given them leave to rise out of their swound Then again he asked them whom seek ye and offered himself willingly Pilate with his Romans and Jews could not have had power over him but by dispensation from above that is of Christ himself with the Father and the Holy Ghost for the Lord Jesus had said to Peter Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of Angels Mat. 26. Thus far of the idle expression of Huy and Cry of which there can be no defense The Phrases illustrations and expressions of the holy Scriptures are most seriously transcendent and so full that that we need not be so enamoured with our black pin feathered young birds SECT 2. Of the severall Curses spoken of in Deut. 21.23 and in Deut. 27.26 and in Gal. 3.13 1. THE Apostle in Gal. 3.13 doth not prosecute the eternall curse cited in verse 10. from Deut. 27.26 But he goeth to another Text for another curse namely to Deut. 21.23 which is not the eternall curse For who is able to say the seven sons and Nephews of Saul died out of the Covenant of God in Christ therefore none can say they had the essentiall and eternall Curse yet they underwent the Curse of the Law in Deut. 21.23 for the evil deeds that Sauls house had done to the Gibeonites which brought the Curse of famine on the whole Nation And so the repenting thief had the curse of God inflicted on him by the gods the Judges of the Nation according to Deuteronomy 21.23 2. If the Apostle had not expressed himself further for any other curse than Deut. 27. there had not been so much doubt but seeing he â—lledgeth Deut. 21.23 and doth not dilate on Deut. 27. As Gods essence is love so Gods essence is hatred and curse doubtlesse he would not have us to think that the Son of God our holy Mediatour underwent that eternall curse that he spake of in verse 10. He knew it was impossible the most Holy One could suffer the eternall and essentiall Curse for he was not the Holy One of God as touthing humanity onely but in respect of the personall Union of the Divine and humand nature therefore that speech of Mr. Perkins upon Gal. 3.13 must slot be entertained of the people of God Whole Christ Man God God-Man was cursed this is an evil saying although we speak it with retractation as he doth presently but his retractation and limitation will not expiate the sin of his former Doctrine 3. Was it nothing that the Son of God the Lord of glory should so humble himself as to suffer such shame from the Seed of the Serpent before the Angels of heaven and men on earth as Psal 69. speaketh Thou hast known my reproach my shame and my dishonour mine adversaries are all before thee Reproach hath broken mine heart and I am full of heavinesse and I looked for some to take pity but there was none and for comforters but I sound none Is this nothing when the Holy of all holinesse gave his body and blood a Sacrifice for sin through such great shame and Sufferings 4. What would you have us to say That our blessed Mediatour underwent the second death we dare not say so absit absit it is to be detested Will you have us to say that we may say that the Son of God was not Christ for a time when he suffered such sorrows as you intimate This also hath no analogie of faith with Divine revelation but contradicteth for it is most blasphemous Belike our Teachers have this theologie from the Philosophers Due Pless Truenesse of Christian
Pelâ—g Regu Serug Nahor Gen. 9.10 and 11 chapters Terah he died 427 years after the flood the world then 2083 years old For he in no sort took on him the angels nature but he took on him the seed of Abraham Heb. 7. Abraham Isaac Jacob Judah Phares Hezron Aram Amminadab The rest of Gen. Exod. to the 12 ch of Job Naasson a Prince of Judah in the wilderness 430 years from the promise Gen. 12.2 3. to the coming from Egypt the world then 2513 years old It is evident our Lord sprang out of Judak Heb. 7.14 Naasson begat Salmon Boaz Obeb Jessai David Salomon Exod. Levit Numbers Deut. Ioshua Iudges Ruth 1. and 2 Samel and Psalms and 1 Kings to the 〈◊〉 chap and 1 Chron. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my Gospel 2 Tim. 2. The incarnation and the Resurrection are the Basis of all and should be better remembred and more taught The Cronology of the Judges and their oppressors The Judges and oppressors mentioned in the book of Judges all which were contemporary with Salomon Boaz Obed Iâ—ssâ—i Iudges Othoniel 40. Ehud 80. Shamgar 40. Deborah 40. Barak 40. Jael 40. Gideon 40. Abimelech 3. Tholah 23. Iaâ—r 22. Iephthâ—h 6. Ibsan 7. Elon 10. Abdon 8. Sampson 20. Eli 40  399 Oppressors Chusan 8. Eglon 18. Iabin 20. Midian 7. Ammon 18. Philâ—st 40.  111.  339  450 And after that he gaâ—â—â— unto them â—udges after a sort 450 years uâ—til Samuel the Prophet Act 13.20 Kings of Israel King of Iudah Ieroboam Nadab Baasa Elab Zâ—mâ—i Tibni Omâ—i Achab Achaziah brethren Ioram brethren Iâ—hu Ioâ—châ—z loash Ieâ—obâ—am Zachaâ—iah Shalâ—um Menachem Pâ—chaiah Peâ—ab Hosea David Salomon Râ—boâ—m Abiam Asa Iosaphat Ioram Aâ—haziah Athalâ—ah loash Amaziah Vzziah Joâ—ham Aâ—hâ—z Hezekiah Manasses Amon Jâ—sâ—â—s Jâ—hâ—jakim Iechâ—nias Zedekiah in his 11 yea the city Ierusalem was taken by Nâ—buchadnezzar it and the Temple burnt and that was 427 years from the foundation of it Babâ—l tyrannized full 50 years moe then the world as 3470 years old Saint Matthew follows Salâ—mons line to shew Christs Right to the Kingdome of Israel for Salâ—mons line failing in Jâ—chonias who made Sâ—lathiel his â—â—ir as next of riâ—hâ— 1 Kings And some of 2 Chr. ' ro Ecâ—l Canticles Kin. and the rest of Chr for the kings ' Judah and Israel Ionah Hosea Ioel â—mâ—s Esaias Micah Nahum Habbakuk â—zâ—phanâ—ah Jerem. Lam. Daniel Ezekiel Ohadiah Nathan Mattatha Mainan Mâ—lea Eliaâ—im Ionan Ioieph Iudah Symeon Levi Matthat Iâ—rim Eliezer Iose Eâ— Elmodam Cosam Adâ—i Melchi Neâ—i Salathiel Pedâ—jah Of these Fathers concerning the flesh Christ came who is God over all blessâ—d for ever Amen Zâ—robabel he was made Prince of Iâ—dah by Cyâ—uâ— Cyâ—us in the first yeare of his Reign over Judah made a Proclamation for the Jewes return from Captivity with Zorobabel from which Proclamation to the doath of our Lord and blessed Savior Jesus Christ are 70 Sevens or 409 years then the world was 3960. years old The Kingdome of Israel continued 327 years under 19. or 20 Kings most of them were stained with the sin of Ieroboam that caused Israel to sin their Royall descenâ—â— changed nine times The Kingdome of Ashur ended their apostâ—ticall Kingdome and carried the ten Tribes beyond Babel and so made them Lo-ammi noâ— people that is not Gods people but they were made Gods people by the preaching of the apostles of the Circumcision Rom. 9.1 Pet. 2.10 Then they looked on him whom they piâ—rced the last King of Israel was in the dayes of Hezekiah King of Iudah Pro. 28.2 Tibni stood in competition with Omri for the Kingdome of Israel but he was not sole King so he is not reckoned but if he be then there is 20. Kings ZOROBABEL Abihud Eliakâ—m Azor Sadoc Acbim Eliud Eleazaâ— Matthan Iacob Ioseph the husband of the blessed Virgin Mary St. Matthew followes these of Zorobabel to shew Christs right to the Kingdome of Israel Ezra Nehemiah Esther Haggai Zachar. Malachi Daniels Prophesies and the stories of the Bear Leopard and the fourth Beast their rising fall and afflictions of the Saints of them the high Trinity c. all are in the time of the Seventy-sevens at the ending of which the World was three thousand nine hundred and sixty yeares old Rhesa Joanna Juâ—ah Joseph Semâ—i Mattathias Maach Nagge Esly Nahum Amos Mattathias Joseph Janna Melchi Levi Matthat Eli Mary Jesus Christ the second Adam Oâ— these from Zâ—râ—baâ—el did the Lord Jesus Christ take humanity Luke 3. A little paines in observing the Geneology of Genesis and this of our Lord will be of great use you shall find them the Pillars of story both to Geography Chronology and to all Narrations through the whole Bible Labour to wade into the depth of our Lords Geneology there is not more use of the Stars of Heaven then there is of our Lords Ancestors who all shine like Stars in the holy Story Let no man think that his Geneology is condemned as Endlesse which the Spirit of endlesse Wisdome hath indited in his holy Volume But let all that hope for life know the Family of whom the Lord of life descended No Family in the World nor altogether match it therefore give glory to it The first fourteen Fathers of our Lord in Mat. 1. do abridge all the holy History from Gin 1â— to 1 King 1. The next fourteen do abridge all the Kings and Chronicles and all the Prophets except Aggi Zâ—chary Malachi Ezra Nehemah Esther and most of Daniel whose Chronology doth stop the mouth of the lying Heathen Chronologie The third fourteen doth abridge the last named Prophets with much of Daniel they make a Commentary for the honour of Zorobabels house for whom our Lord face on a fiery Throne to cast the Chaldeans Medo persians Macedonians and Sâ—leâ—co Lagidâ— into eternall flames that so Matthews last fourteen might have an heavenly glory to begin the new Testament for though their persons were base in the fight of the base World yet in the holy Angels account they were Kings of Heaven Dan 7.18 Japhets seven Sons and seven Nephews Gomer Magog Madai Javan Tubal Mesec Thiras Ashcanaz Riphath Togarmah Elishah Thaâ—shish Kittim Dodanim Chams Sons and Nephews Chush Sheba Havilah Sabbatha Regma Sabtecha Sheba Dedan Nimrod Milzraivn still translated Egypt Ludim Anamim Lehabiim Naphtuchim Pathrusim Castuchim Captorim Philistin Put. Chanaan Sidon Heth Iebusi Aemori Gargasi Hivi Arki Sini A vadi Zemari Hamatbi Sems Sons and Nephewes Elam Ashur Arphaxad Sela Heber Lud Vz Gether Aram Chul Mash Heber Peleg Regu Serug Nahor Terah Ioktan thirteen Sons Ioktans thirteen Sons Elmodad Shalaph Hazahmaneth Ierah Hadoram Vzal Diklah Obal Ahimael Sheba Ophir Hanilah Iohab It is thought the East and West Indians come of these of Ioktan because both of them as Learned say speak some Hebrew And the high God is doubtlesse laying a foundation of comfort
would have lightned all the Scripture Of Olympick vanity more below The 26. Levit. running still in Phrase upon Sevens in the punishments cometh at last to the captivity for ten Sevens of years and foretelleth such a confession of sins as Daniel maketh and how God will remember his Covenant which Gabriel there mentioneth Moses and the Prophets shall be vilely disjointed through quite if here we hold not the plain propriety of time 5. These former parts of time be no lesse clear in Scripture than the stars in the Skie that in the Seventh year the Land was parted that * That is 42 years six sevens Israel held it in quietnesse that Chusan held it the whole Seventh Seven That in the Iubilee Othoniel turneth them into their possession The golden Candlesticks with seven branches bowls 22. as the Hebrew letters knops half so many flowers thrice three all 42 commended not Bezaleets wisdome more and obedience to the prescript then we are bound to mark how the holy volumes record the Hebrew stories to fall out in times according to their ceremonies Thence the seventh Iubilee reacheth to †A kindler 〈◊〉 the golden candle-sticks land an erector and Rector of the Schools of the Prophets Samuels happy times Thence to the captivity of Babels seventy Sevens Moses did closely allude unto that space Now the Seventy years of captivity Moses and Ezra compareth with the Sabbath Levit. 26. 2 Chron. 36. 6. The Prophecy of Dan. 9.24 surmounteth all easie for memorie and celestiall for Meditation It had not been so harmonious to have chains of the time hitherto most certainly fixed if hence we should un clasp the links of it But we have the chains of times fastening hitherto-more closely than the Finnes of the Leviathan stick one to another Iob 41. All the works of God have perfection and so is the time from the Creation to the Redemption Mr. Bro. ex manus CHAP. XLIV A fourth expression of the holy Chronologie from the Creation to the Redemption THE golden chain of times are evident which draw from the apostasy of our first Parents unto our Lords Resurrection which when they are all known do bring unto Christ and we shall find much comfort and edification if we often think upon them for they are a greater ornament to the Scriptures than any chains of the finest gold or of the most rare or polished Jewels to the neck The first is from the beginning of time since Satans fierie tongue did set the wheel of the whole Creation on flame that nothing but the flood of waters nor that could quench it The second is from the Flood to the death of Terah Arahams father the authour of idolatry in Christ his Line and thereby causing to cease the royall accompting of the Churches annals by the ages of the Fathers Gen. 11. Jos 23. The next beginneth upon his death with a new promise of CHRIST making Abraham heir of the world not through the Justification of the Law of Circumcision but through the justification of faith in the promise of blessednesse in Christ to the Families Gen. 12. This Chain draweth along to the Lamb that is the Law of the Passeover Exod 12. The fourth chain is from the Lamb to the Temple the allurement of the Nations unto the worship of him that made the Temples of the heavens From the lamb to the Temple 480. Salomons 37. and year of division all 518. who in fullnesse of time would come to make humane nature his Temple to dwell with the children of men And further this chain teacheth to Salomons death his idolatry as Terah was worthy to have this chain ended for which his Kingdome was parted and Ieroboam did set up calves for God which doing is called the sinne of Israel These summes with the year of the Division of the ten Tribes from Iudah are years 518. The fifth chain is from that apostasie of Israel to the burning of the Temple that space is 390 years Iudah now is onely Gods Kingdome In that time is contained the books of the Kings Ezek. 4. and 2 Chron and most of the Prophets as the table before will shew Here must be considered Ierusalems ruine by Babel the flames of the Temple and the ending of Salomons race and Kingdome the breaking of the golden candlestick yea the Ark the speciall signe of Christs presence which had the two Tables of the Covenant was no more as Ierem. 3. They lost it at Shiloh but found it again in the woody field of Kiâ—iath Iaharim Psal 132. All Moses curtains Babel carried away for a spoil and all that Hyram the King and Proselyte procured and Hyram the artificer made c. all these goodly things left the Temple and shewed Christ his severity * Christ by Babel shook his own ceremonies by Moses and ended them by Rome that is the meaning of that speech in Aggei Yet once more I will shake never to have any setting yet some in their writings will re-edifie the low Jerusalem c. But as Israel had a first and second Temple so Jerusalem was twice builded by David Salomon and Nehemiah and twice razed now no other Jerusalem ever shall be but that which is from heaven and no materiall Temple ever shall be for the Lord God of Hosts even the Lamb is the Temple in the heavenly Jerusalem Thus in part he did shake these similitudes of heavenly things that they might look to the sure mercies and holy things promised in CHRIST unto David Acts 13.34 The sixth sheweth the earthly glory of this worlds Monarks with their abasement and sudden destruction all this is seen in the golden head Babels Kingdome which Christ made as chaffe before the wind Now the Jews had seen the end of Salomons progeny the fall of his Kingdome their hope the burning of the Temple their glory and the fall of Babel the glory of Nations by Cyrus and Darius Salomon foresaw all this and said all is vanity Eccl. 1 The seventh is from Cyrus Proclamation of bringing back the people of God from Babels yoke to the eternall freedome the Lord Jesus Christ purchased This time is the glorious and shining Prophecy of the Seventy Sevens Dan 9. This chain began with Cyrus of Sem and Darius of Japhet both which Princes proclaimed the God of heaven the God of Israel over an hundred and twenty Nations who gave Israel a liberall subsidie to comfort them in returning to Sion who by that faith in that joyfull Prophecy left great Babel for Jerusalem yet in her dust Psal 102. And this year the faith of Gods elect stopped the mouth of Lions c. And this chain endeth most comfortably by the death of Messias the Holy of Holy which endeth all Sacrrifice and offering in the low Jerusalem and it endeth the peculiar Prerogative of Israel and it bringeth the Gentiles into equall covenant and breaketh down the Partition wall and blotteth out the hand writing of Ordinances
allusion to the seventy years of the Babylonian captivity c. To say there is not truth nor certainty in the holy Chronologie of the Scriptures 1. Let us take such heed that they deny not the truth and certainty of other doctrines of faith 2. It may be truly said because men have not loved the truth by a diligent search of the holy Bibles Chronologie they have been given up to believe the lies of heathen Chronologies 2 Thes 2.11 3. The holy Chronologie of the Book of God is a doctrine of faith as clear and certain as any other doctrine of faith and therefore that speech of the holy Apostle beareth supremacie in our hearts That the holy Book of God doth not onely teach and instruct us of the truth of its Chronologie but it doth also correct and convince the heathens Chronologie to be most false and abominable doctrines as some produce them 2 Tim. 3. 4. It is said that the holy Scripture is given by inspiration from God and is able to make children yea the man of God wise to salvation through the faith which is in Christ Iesus and this must be understood of Scripture Chronologie as well as of any other doctrine of the holy Bible and he that will rightly consider the holy Chronologie as it is above expressed by sundry calculations will say that the holy Scripture Chronologie teacheth doctrine of faith which is in Christ IESUS and in him by it wisdome to salvation 5. It is said we have a more sure word 2 Pet. 1. and that was the old Testament but now heathen Chronologie of the devilish worships of Apollo the heathens Olympiads are by some made more sure and certain criptures than the oracles from heaven We have more cause to yield to the Locusts that defend their Apolluon that alledge Fathers and Councils than to yield to men that authorise the vain Olympiads of Apollo of Delphos Therefore let us that are Christians hearken to the words and commandements of the Apostle of our Lord and saviour Beware lest any man carry you for a spoil through Phlosophy and vain deceit after the rudiments of the world and not after CHRIST Col. 2. it is the holy scriptures that have ditted up the mouths of Apolluon and his Locusts by the RR. Jewel Fulk Cartwright Perkins Calvin Beza c c. we doubt not but the holy scripture shall do the same to them that plead for the gamestry of Stanicall Olympian reckonings Verily all the scriptures should as well take a check as the wisdome touching the time of the seventy sevens be controlled by heathen We may as well believe the heathen spake true when the Sun went back that for Hercules birth the Sun made a longer night but the word of Christ shews that he that ruleth the heavens made it and did shew to all the world but specially to Israel that the heavens order was not so stable as Gods covenant in Christ for then that miracle was to confirm the faith of the church in Christ promised so the sunne performed service to the SON of righteousnesse surely the motions of the heavens declare the works of God in the harmonious measure of times Although many men be great Scholars and godly yet some of them do not consider that the sunne did run his race for the glory of Christ and his word For it is said All things were created by him and for him the second Adam For Him for his honour and glory not for Satans sports and pastimes of the Olympiads 6. What a grossenesse and crosse is this because we cannot make the heathens accounts to agree with the holy Scripture-Chronologie therefore we fly upon the word of the living GOD the Lord of hosts our God reproaching it and exclaiming against it that there is not truth nor certainty in many parts of it but we should say and do the contrary and should say let God and his word be true and the heathens and their Chronicles lies and liars For there is more to be said ¶ If that the Angel taught not Daniel certainty of knowledge and understanding for the Chronologie he taught him nothing that he knew not Daniel knew all the rest of the Message but the time of performance And so we make the holy Angel a deceiver an evil spirit a Satan And therefore D.R. and Mr. P. and all that follow their course have sorrily dealt with the Church of Christ Jesus our Lord. 7. Mr. P. saith that Mr. Bro. and his followers c. Let Mr. P. know that Mr. Bro. and those that use his godly and learned labours do adhere to and follow the lively oracles of the living God sent from him by an Angel from heaven to teach Daniel knowledge and understanding and to teach all faithfull Christians by him And therefore we are confident in the Lord and dare not otherwise say but that the holy Angel from God stake a true plain and proper speech and a most certain chronologie for the beginning and ending of the seventy sevens and that their beginning was from Daniels prayer and their ending at the abolishing of sacrifice and offering and confirmation of the Testament for the Many by the blood and death of the MESSIAS It is true many have objected against the holy Scriptures Chronologie before Mr. P. and Mr. Sarson which is to be lamented but we know there are many gracelesse speeches and objections against the very fundamental truths of Christian Religion But this I think 1. That it is good that the Scriptures chronologie should be clear and certain Isa 5. and can we think that God hath omitted this good for his church 2. Men should deem or ought so to do that the Scripture hath truth and certainty for chronologie though they see it not and they that oppose it should think and say they erre not knowing the Scriptures and they should think that the works of God the rock are perfect and that he that began the chronologie for the glory of Christ by the genealogie of his holy ancestours Gen. 5. and 11. would perfect it 3. To affirm truth and certainty in Heathen chronologie and to deny it in the holy Scriptures is an opinion scelerate and flagitious we cannot think how great the evil is and therefore Mr. P. hath done ill in justifying D.R. saying the holy Angel in his heavenly Oration to Daniel meant no certain time whereas the Angel taught him perfect wisdome for the chronologie of it and so professeth that he came to give skill of understanding that very thing 4. Whereas Mr. P. saith that Mr. Bro. denying the truth of heathen chronologie constituted the year of the seventy Sevens without grounds Mr. P. in this saying puts a stumbling block before the blind and causeth him to go out of the way and falls into a great offence of untruth not onely against Mr. Bro. for that 's little but against the Angel from heaven who said to Daniel at the beginning of
their properties Joh 1.14 Joh. 15.26 the Father from all eternity begetteth the Person of the Son the Son from all eternity is begotten of the Father the holy Spirit from all eternity proceedeth from them both These are incommunicable properties in the Persons the Fathers relative property is to beget and not to be begotten and therefore he is the first person in order so for our better conceiving we may say a Person in the God-head is a subsistence or a being considered in his relative property A 3. By their works to the Father is ascribed creation election predestination and adoption to the Son redemption to the holy Ghost sanctification Again the beginning of every action is given to the Father the dispensation to the Son the perfection and consummation to the holy Ghost these in some respects may be said to be communicable properties in the persons The reverend Mr. Richardson Mr. Yates and Mr. Antony Wotton c. Also it must be considered that every title attribute or property that in generall is spoken of the Deity is spoken of and attributed to each person as the Father is Jehovah so is the Son so is the holy Ghost Joh. 12.41 Act. 28.25 conferred with Esai 6.3 to 10. The Father the Son the holy Spirit be one co-essentiall and co-eternall infinite and unchangable c. And so in the attributes just holy good mercifull c. each person is so infinitely and unchangably c. Also in respect of the Creatures the attributes are communicable to each Person as the Son is called Father Esai 9. So it may be said of the holy Spirit who begetteth and reneweth us by the word of truth the Father is our teacher and so the Son and so the holy Spirit the Father sanctifieth the son sanctifieth the holy spirit sanctifieth Therefore it is very usefull to observe two things in the persons their co-operation and distinct manner of working the one is necessary in regard of this that they have the same essence and therefore cannot but co-worke in every thing the other is likewise as necessary because each person hath his distinct manner of subsisting All operation flowes from their essence co-operation from their unity in it and distinct manner from the distinct manner of their subsisting One essence one operation and Three being One must needes work inseparably and one being Three must needs worke in a distinct manner 6 Through faith we understand that the worlds were builded by the word of God that the things which are seen are not made of things which had appearance Ebr. 11. 6 It is the thrice holy Jehovah the Father the Son and their spirit all Three one infinite nature that hath created the heavens and the Earth and Seas and all things in them whether visible or invisible in a sweet dependency of order And He the Eternall Being gave them all their being with perfection of qualities that B was fit for each creature in its order and kinde 7 It is the same everlasting God that in his providence from the beginning to the ending doth in a most holy just wise and mercifull order preserve and govern all things with all their circumstances in the heavens earth seas C Therefore called an everlasting King But this King and D Kingdome is more specially to be understood of the son of God as Mediatour to whom the Father hath committed all authority and power Vt infra 8. The true God being thus glorious and a spirit infinite is therefore impossible to be perceived by our senses or comprehended in the short span of our understanding for hee is like to nothing in heaven earth or seas neither can all the wisest men of the world make any thing like to him but if any think so to do they dote and are follish and vain as Isui 40. and many more Chapters do speake and their images are no Gods E nor resemblances of him but works of errours and lyes They can do neither good nor evill those that make them are like unto them and so are all that put their trust in them And all that worship God by them are F haters of the eternall God and are hated and accursed of him 9 Here it is shewed that Gods worship is cheifly spiritual G and all outward worship otherwise then hee hath appointed is hatefull and abominable and uncomfortable as here and in other scriptures ceremonious and superstitious vanities and makers of images are reproved as bruitish senselesse and hopelesse 10 God being One and none other beside him the supream Governour whose is the Kingdome and power over all things he is only to be feared loved trusted in prayed unto and obeyed therefore he hath given us ten commandements with this entrance That he is Iehovah our H Elohim the Eternall the Mighty God our creator and Redeemer and he hath taught us to pray to him who is the everlasting father from whom all helpe comfort and defence cometh and is to be praysed and glorified in all his workes of goodnesse mercy wisdome justice c. 11 God being a most simple spiritual eternall and infinite Nature It followeth that he seeth at one instant and togegether past present and to come all things in heaven earth and seas There is nothing so invisible to our eyes in any place or so spirituall to our understanding but he seeth every particular Nothing is so secret as the imaginations of our thoughts yet God seeth them Many uses hence an understanding and beleeving heart will make for spirituall obedience and carefull watchfullnesse over his whole man Psal 139. all of it and 119 168. Job 31.4 1 Chron. 28.9 Men not understanding or not beleeving say in heart there is no God or like the wicked in Job chap. 22 and Psal 94. Who say Jehovah shall not see the God of Jacob will not regard But God doth both as the Psalme is notable Secondly Hence a world of outward Christians do shew themselves but Atheists Yea thirdly The godly not seriously and constantly considering this fail much in their sincerity for holy and just obedience 12. Another singular use is for afflictions When wee have any cause of fear wee may be preserved that this passion do not too much assaile us by meditating often wee may be throughly acquainted with I our God his titles properties and attributes both incommunicable and communicable Also of his works of creation redemption and Government in any evill felt or feared we may quickly turn and seek to god and so may not fear above measure as David saith K They that know thy name will trust in thee Psal 9.10 Againe When I was afraid I trusted in thee Psal 56.3 Remarkable also is this in Jehosaphat 2 Chron. 20.12 Also transcendent in those three noble confessors and Martyrs Dan 3.16.17.18 So in all temptations yea in death it selfe These things when they are well graffed and as nailes fastned in our soules will prepare us to contentednesse in all
God hath forbidden it and plagued the transgression in the old and new Testament 2 Cor. 6 and 7.1 Apoc 3.14 See Ezraes sadnesse chap. 9.14 the affinity of Loegria with Gallia hath brought heavy wrath In Q 6. N. 7. Praises and thanksgivings He is thy Praise and he is thy God that hath done for thee thâ—se great and terrible things which thine eyes have seen Deut. 10 For the duty of praise Psal 95. and 96. and 100. and 103 and 108 and for all kinds of blessings spirituall and corporeall and the assured hope of eternall let us delight in this duty of praise and thanksgiving In Q. 6. N. 7. Of each dayes creation All the Hosts of the Heavens and Earth worship him if he give but a watch-word to any of his creatures to any of his hosts they rebell not against his word his word runs very swiftly in them Ps 136. and 91. c see this in all the stories of the word and especially when the saints offer up strong cryes to Jehovah of Hosts a terrour to the seed of the serpent who engage all the armies of Heaven and Earth and seas against them 1 Sam. 7. See much of Ps 18.6 7 8 c. In Q. 6. N. 7. For deliverance Psal 136.23.24 Apoc. 15. and 19. All the plagues of Pharoah shew this His plagues were from Iehovah Eâ—â—him from each dayes creation in Geâ— 1. The thankfull remembrance of Gods mercy to our blessed England is worthy of happy memory Eph. 3.20.21 In 7. Quest and Answ Christ who is Alpha and Omega the first and the last is the first and the last teacher of his own religion and worship Man not precisely cleaving to divine revelation is an idolatrous superstitious and selfe-willed foole although hee will make great shew of wisdome and humility In Q 7. I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified This holy Doctrine is breathed constantly in all the holy scriptures from the beginning Sacrifice was a seal of justification or freedome from guilt of sin and punishment that is by faith Sacrifice was still taught with the Doctrine God made a covenant with man fallen by sacrifice and when they sacrificed they prayed Gen. 12.8 1 Sam. 7.9 Yea Habel Gen. 4. Eb 11. consider Ps 20. all of it and Gen. 15. God promised Abraham beleeved and to strenghen his faith sacrifice was added and it is say God made a covenant with Abraham the same day From the time of mans fall beasts were killed for sacrifice and it kindled first with fire from Heaven The tame quiet and mild kinde as Ox Sheep and Goat and birds not devouring as Turtle and Pigeon and other little birds no beasts of prey nor birds of prey but such as feed upon seed are fit for sacrifice These shewed that the second Adam by his combating with Satan through his constant patience and holy obedience unto death should procure our justification or freedome from Satans power Also such manner of sacrifices taught us mortification following Christ and profession of a quiet and harmlesse life For no Tyrants can sacrifice to God but just quiet and patient folke 1 Tim. 2.8 And the keeping of the fire once kindled taught them not to quench the spirit That speech of Apoc. 13. must here be minded Christ was the Lambe slaine from the foundacion of the world slaine in the decree of the blessed Trinity and in the Church by types of the Lords owne appointment In Q 7. The presence of God Holy convocations together with Gods Ordinances was so called in after times called also the Courts of God there is Gods residence there he keeps Court and glorious is it to consider Exod. 20 24. and chap. 29.43.44.2 Cor. 6. For it is sayd There will I meet with thee There we sit at his fâ—et as his disciples to heare his words at the posts of wisdome wee must attend Prov. 9. There is the beauty of holinesse his own commanded worships There is the provision of the heavenly housholder there the blessed shepheard feeds the flock of his fold Oh see the comforts that an holy soule doth there finde Psal 23. and 36. and 40. and 42. and 65. and 84. and 95. and 100. and 132. c. The Saints as Habell have blessed communion with God their exceeding joy there the Saints the Israel of God rejoyce in his Makers the children of Sion rejoyce in their King Jehovah their God is with them the joyful shout of a King is among them There the holy voluntaries the army of Heaven assemble and compass their commander and blessed and holy is the communion that the Saints have there one with another and especially it shineth when there is none unclean and profane of their company Infinite are the uses of application how that we in all things must remember That holinesse becomes his house and presence for ever What preparations longings and attention to meet such a King such a Father such a Bridegroome c. insuch holy Ordinances and before men to shew forth the virtues of him that hath called them that as their King is holy so they to be holy in all manner of conversation Solemn assemblies without mixture of mens in ventions is a deare blessing it is an Eden the very Garden of God Ezek 28. Cant. 4 3. In 8. Quest and Answ Habel Now faith is the expectation of that which is hoped and the tryer our of things which are not seen for by it the Elders were well reported of By faith Habel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice then Kaine by which he obtained witnesse that he was righteous i. e. jâ—stified that is freed from sins guilt and desert God testifying of his offerings and by it he being dead yet speaketh Ebâ— 11.4 So Habels faith did speak to the revolting Hebrewes how and from whom they must expect justification and salvation In 9. Quest and Answ Began the war Where as it is sayd the seed of the serpent shall bruise it sheweth they should be of great power outward glory and temporall felicity as from Kaine through all the holy stories Psal 44. and 73. and 79. Job 12 and 22. Apoc. 13. c. c. In Q 9. The holy seed Habel for love to Christ was the first that was accounted as a sheep for the slaughter that was killed for the word of God and faith testimony of Jesus Christ Hence the Proverb begins to take place The just is an abomination to the wicked Observe hence that the wicked are one corporation from Kain to the end of the world and all the godly from Habel to the end of the of the world are another corporation in Christ And therfore what persecution Kain did to Habel wicked men are now guilty of Psal 66.6 Hos 12.4 Mat. 23.35 for they would have done the same to our Lord to the Prophets as Kain did to Habel if they had then lived And ungodly men have do and will
Deut. 31.11 27 28 29. such waited but for an opporeunity of Moses death and Ioshuahs and the godly Elders then they did shew themselves so blessed Paul spake of Wolves and apostasie Acts 20. It is hard for us to deny all of the first Adam and wholly submit to be taught and guided in the doctrine of the second Adam the Lord from heaven Quest 8. Answ N. IV. Of Melebisedecks and Levies sacrifice hood See the Apostles disputation concerning Melchesedeck Heb. 5. 6 7. who was still alive after a sort in discription As the holy Prophet David taught the people of his dayes and what use they should make of the Land of Promise Psalm 95. and of the use and end of the sacrifices and washings c. Psalm 40. 51. So he taught them that Levies Priesthood should have an end for that our glorious Lord Iesus Christ is made a sacrificer for ever ofter the order of Malchesedek and not after Aarons order of the Levitical Priesthood where neither the persons or things that Levi did could justifie the doers or commers thereunto Now the Lord Jesus Christ he was promised and prophecied of in all the old holy volume of the book of God that he was made a Mediator and a Surety a Sponsor of such an Administration that should perfectly save and justifie them that came unto God by him He was of God the Father none else could made a Sponsor a surety All the sacrifices that he commanded our Fathers they did them till the fullness of times did come and then he did send his beloved Son and Servant in whom his soul delights he took unto him true humanity and was a Sponsor a Surety of a better Testament i.e. The Mediatour of the New Testament for their full conâ—olation to comfort them concerning their works and concerning the sorrows of their hands and concerning the earth which God hath cursed He shall do that which all Levites tribe could not ex opere operato Levies Priesthood could not cleanse the conscience from the guilt of our sinful works not procure a blessing on our Labours nor make a new world his Priesthood could not cleanse the conscience from dead works to serve the living God c. And for this cause Christ was a Sponsor of a better covenant And Christ himself faith he will become this Sponsor and Mediatour to answer the will of the Father Lo I come to do thy will O God thy Law and appointment for the redemption of thy people that thou hast given me is in my heart to give my self a Sacrifice of a sweet smelling favour of rest God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not counting their trespasses unto them For be made him to be a Sin-offering for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. Much more might be said but let the people of God study the Scriptures their inheritance God hath a time and a day wherein he will burn up the hay stubble and rotten wood of impertinent applications and interpretations Ibid. N. I V. Is not an bidd doctrine It is not an hidden thing nor a wonder for thee O Israel for this doctrine that the Son of God should come down from heaven to be man hath been taught to thy Fathers from the beginning and that he should be the great High Priest and Sacrifice and that he should raise himself from death to give hope to all faithful of their resurrection Israel should not make doubt of this doctrine Yet it is a Wonder as Ethan sings of it Psalm 89. great is the mystery of Godliness But this hath been ever taught in the Church this doctrine is the faith of Gods elect and the Churches possession Ioh. 1. Levi the Tribe appointed to reach divinity should never have been graven in the bright and pleasant Smaragd if the stories of this Art had been dark â—et had been a fitter stone for darkness The minde of man may have abundant satisfaction and strong confidence concerning the doctrine of the way of life by holy and humble diligent study of the Scriptures And they that will not believe Moses and the Prophets will not believe though one should rise from the dead Quest 9. and Answ Taught by tradition Note the doctrine of faith one and the same whether by Tradition or Writing For those 2513. years the faith of the Gospel was propagated by tradition by great prophets of long life and great authority and sacrifices as seals of the Covenant added for confirmation of doctrine Quest 10 and Answ Midian Although Abraham taught his houshold the faith of Christ as is seen in the book of Ioh yet many of his posterity apostated to that idolatry religion and opinion with which he was corrupted at YR others fell to the false faith religion and opinion of Peor Jos 23. 24. and did seek to curse the true faith of Gods elect and the holy people of that profession Num 23. 24. Midian was of Abraham by Ketâ—rah The world was then full of false opinions and heretical Doctrines as now they could plead for Nachors Teraphim for Peor for Chemosh and Milâ—ham c. but Israel must hearken to the Law and Testimony that Christ gave them so Moses and Iosuah most pathetically a little before their deaths exhorted them to regard the holy Law and not to follow the traditions of their fathers or of the Nations Ios 24. Deut. Quest 11. and Answ And wou'd have gone into Egypt again Like them are our Popish fools that would go into Rome Egypt again for their Fish Flesh pots Leeks Garlick Onions Cucumbers Melons their doctrines of bodily exercise of Images Pilgrimages the dotage of Purgatory c. goodly Cates sure to be compared to the heavenly Manna of Gods word and Gods dwelling in his tabernacle among us We do not consider the glorious presence in Christ in his Ordinances and protection c since he brought us from among them By the Gospel the way of Christ the face of God shineth upon us The Gospel is the object of promise joy and gladness to every honest hearted Christian Let our apostate hearts remember Lots wife in looking back to Rome-Sodome Christ complained Israel would none of me Oh that we could think of these things What one nation on the earth hath been like us for mercies and how ill have we requited the Lord as Israel did so do we Psal 81. Deut. 32. Ibid. Of their forefathers The idolatry of Terah and Abraham continued above 500 years to the death of Iosuah yea long after Iosuah 24. 2.14 Observe how fast idolatry and superstition and will worship sticks in the heart of posterity Although they had the fiery Law expounded by Moses and miracles to confirm them of the truth of that Religion that holy faith of the Son of God Moses taught and possessed Canaan in the obedience of that holy faith and many chastisements for
Apostasie to Baal Peor c yet many of their hearts were false So it is with us at this day in our nation although God hath spoken to us by his Son have the blessed Scriptures which have in them a blessed comforting flaming light and brightnes and 70. years and more under Gods gracious husbandry yet how rebellious Oh mourn for the Corruption of our natures and see how the tradition of a false religion from fore-fathers prevailed and prevaileth with many afore the written word Our Teachers must earnestly press the reading of all the holy Scriptures but surely they do but coldly and seldome do it The Serpent and his seed are great enemies to the holy Scriptures and a surer note of a wicked man need not be sought after then the slighting and the scorning of the Scriptures Ibid As of the Canaanites And an Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim and said I have made you to go up out of Egypt and have brought you unto the Land which I sware unto your fathers and I said I will never break my covenant with you And you shall make no league with the inhabitants of the Land you shall throw down their altars but you have not obeyed my voice Why have you done thus Wherefore I also said I will not drive them out from before you but they shall be as thornes in your sides and their Gods their religion shall be a snare unto you And it came to passe when the Angel of the Lord spake all these words unto the Children of Israel that the people lift up their voice and wept And they called the name of that place Bochim and they sacrificed there unto Jehovah Judges 2. observe all that chapter Quest 12. and Answ Joyful presence dwelling among them It is a joyful thing indeed and a glorious priviledge to have the Tabernacle reared that Christ may dwell among us and for us to tread in his Courts Look what any Father Husband or King is to a Kingdome and familie such is Christ to his After Christ had promised many blessings Levit. 26. as the basis of all he saith And I will set my Tabernacle among you and my soul shall not abhorre you and I will walk among you and will be your God and ye shall be my people And look these texts for meditation to see the glory of Christ in his Tabernacle as our Prophet Priest and King Exodus 20.24 25.22 29.42 43 30.6.36 Psalm 2. 1 Sam. 12.12 Psalm 45. 47. 48. 84. 95. 100. 145. 146 c. So when they were to come from Babel this is mentioned as the foundation of all comfort Ezek. 37.26 27. also we must mind what is to be done of us ye shall reverence my sanctuary and keep my sabbaths and never appear before Christ empty Exod. 23.15 Levit. 26.2 Now observe the same glorious mercies are related and applyed to us under the New Testament 2 Cor. 6.16 Apoc. 21.3 and their holy practise in their worships 2 Cor. 7.1.1 Cor. 11. 14. And their Alms-deeds every Lords day in their holy meetings 1 Cor. 16.1 2. as Deut. 16.16 17. Now of the uses of application how many how great how full of comfort and terrour First to instruct God would not have a Church or family in the world but because he would have holy worship Religion is the essence of a Church family or person 2. The world is not continued but for this 3. Great are the priviledges of the Church that Christ is among us by his ministery and ordinances for our Prophet Priest and King 4. What an heinous wickedness it is to interrupt or pull down holy things 5. They are cursed of God that do so Secondly to exhort 1. to study 2. to procure 3. to maintain 4. to be zealous for 5. to esteem above all and to be thankful for 6. to take up with content 7. to relish this glory Psalm 42. 63. 122. 132.8 To lay to heart to mourn for the absence and desolation of holy things Dan. 9. 10.2 3 Lament 1. 2. 3. Thirdly To reprove the wretchedness and deadness concerning these things Acts 18.17 c. Also we must ever observe that Moses Tabernacle was according to the Pattern of that which was in heaven They that enjoyed the peace of God in the earthy tabernacle had the same still in the heavenly as Psalm 15.1 2. And it is said our Lord with his own bloud went through the veil of his flesh into the most holy place the very heavens as the high Sacrificer went with bloud into the holy place made with hands This touched often and needful to be observed in all the Ceremonies of Moses else we shall have a veil over our hearts as Jewes and Papists who see not Christ the end of all these things that were to be abolished Ibid. 12. Quest and Answ Victories By faith they waxed valiant in Battel and turned to flight the Armies of the Alians Their faith saw the dâ—ies of Christ that he would overcome him that had the power of death the Devil the Prince of darkness the old Serpent Therefore by faith they overcame the Serpents seed All true souldiers should be doctors in divinity such will conquer with small loss as Israel under Josuah and the Elders surviving Josuah who delighted in the study of Moses Jos 1. 23.6 And Davids Captains by knowledge of Moses were mighty in Battail Heb. 11.34 Quest 13. and Answ N. I. Analek discomfited Amalek of Esau despised the faith as Esau his Father and became a fierce persecutor of the faith of Christ and his people which was the break-neek of that State Gods curse and the Churches War were never reversed nor appeased to the daies of Haman A warning to persecuting States especially to mystical Edom. The form of the pattent and promise that God gave to Abraham is for comfort to all the Israel of God for ever I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee as see in Numb 24. and Balaam foretels the like destruction to Kittim as to Amalek The same enmity the same war and the same curse shall follow the Serpents seed in perdition to the end N. II. a partition wall This was the vail and covering on all nations which Christ would abolish Esay 25. Dan. 9.24 c. Ephes 2.15 God hated the apostate families like Devils that he gave by Moses an hedge of Lawes to keep Israel from amity and communion with them And this was one special Law that certain Beasts fowls and fish prohibited to distinguish them in diet from heathen are called unclean So be all without the Gospel in their high learning Ro. 1.21 22. as Socrates Plato Tully Varro Plutarch and the civilest These things were continuall occasions of enmity between an Israelite and an Heathen Ephes 2.15 Hest 3.8 Ibid. N. II. Separated and made Aliens But being blessed in
should we for his second coming and with more joy but alas and the godly families of the house of Levi chiefly them of Shimei and old father Rabbi Simeon greatly waited for the Messiah the consolation of Israel and so did that old Matron the Prophetesse Anna of the Tribe of Aser who spake of MESSIAH in that Synod to all that looked for Redemption in Israel and Jerusalem So she and Simeon Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth and the blessed Virgin with many others blessed and praised God for the performance of his promises all the godly now know that the Kingdome of heaven was come and that was John Baptists theam Mat. 3. 2. As Anna was godly so her father Phanuel and it seems his father was godly tnd believed the Doctrine of the Seventy-Sevens for he spake to his children of seeing God in the flesh Phanuel importeth seeing of God or we shall see God Jacobs story hath Peniel Panuel Zac. 4â— Luke 2. Gen. 32. And gracious Anna cried grace grace to the righteous branch to the Lamb the true Temple The birth of Anna was about the 54th Seven her fathers might be in the 47th seven his fathers might be in Antiochus Epiphanes time about the 40th seven To these we must consider of the house of Zarobabel he had two son Abihud and Rhesa Mat. 1. Luke 3. of Abihud these Sadoc These lived in the time of Ianan whole and Ianan parted Achim Eliud Eleazar Matthan Jacob Joseph the husband of Mary Of Rhesa these Mattathias Maath Nagge Esli Naum Amos Mattathias Joseph Janna Melchi Levi Matthat Ely Mary These might be contemporary in sucession with the former godly under the Kings of the North and South 3. I do desire somewhat to inlarge The godly returned from Babel were a foundation of glorious mercies to the Church they were a godly seed and left a godly seed which held on successively how godly were they in Ezra Nehemiah Esther Haggai Zachariah and Malachi It were too long to gather all that might be said First by the gracious Proclamation of Cyrus the returned as they had Jerusalem ever in their mind so now their faces looked thitherward Jer. 51.50 Psal 102. though it was desolated in the dust yet they preferred it before glorious Babel and other stately Cities and Palaces in Chaldea or Persia 2. Being come the incumbent neighbours of Samaria c. did envy them therefore they builded the altar and offered sacrifice calling on the name of Jehovah the everlasting God as Abraham Isaac and Jacob their godly forefathers had done 3. Set on Temple work and being hindered upon better opportunities set on the work again with great courage as Ezra 4. and 5. 4. In the second return by Ezra ch 7. and 8. what a godly company came with him Many mo returned afterward Zac. 8 what fasting prayer and thanksgiving used they 5. When Ezra being come saw their unequall yoking in marriages with infidels how did they repent of it with godly humilation and amend it by putting away their strange wives and the children by them Doubtlesse a sharp corasive to flesh and blood An holy seed in the Church of God is most precious that is Gods end and should be our intendment 6. In Nehemiah is seen how full of courage labour and diligence they were in building the wall of Jerusalem and how God did comfort them in reproaches of the enemies 7. Upon the complaint of the oppression of one another these evils were repented of and amended 8. Their reverent demeanour in the exercises of publick Ordinances in teaching prayer hearing of the word all done with much love rejoycing and thanksgiving very imitable 9. Kept solemn fasts 10. Made solemn renewings of their Covenant and for the maintenance of the worship of God 11. Consâ—der their loving association to come out of the Cities of Judah one of ten to dwell in Jâ—rusalem 12. Holy care taken for the Sabbath 13. In the book of Esther how many godly were in 127 Provinces What fasting prayer and thanksgiving was among the Jewes who by faith Escaped the Edge of the sword Hebr. 11 34. of that cruel bloudy massacre intended by wicked Haman 14. It is shewed in the Prophet Haggai they obeyed in teaching of the Lords message and were careful to promote the building of the Temple 15. Zachary declareth they humbled themselves in hearing of the word and turned from their sinful courses against Gods holy Worship and love to one another and did love peace and truth 16. The inhabitants of one Citie did exhort the inhabitants of another City to the Worship of God 17. Yea the Jews having Synagogues in all Countreys should make many Proselytes and take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew and be of Israels Common weal to learn the faith of Sems Tents 18. They had great zeal against false Prophets Zachary 13. 19. Malachi sheweth what an holy seed the returned were that although there were many Hypocrites and Atheists Wantons Sacrilegious among them yet there were many godly that feared the Lord and spake often one to another to incourage in godly waies Mal. 4.1 and the Lord God took notice of their Godly communion and they were a blessing to themselves and the State of Israel and the Lord God promised many comforts to them but a day of wrath was comming which should burn the wicked up as an Oven Iosuah was 〈◊〉 a self Seekeâ— to grapplâ— what he lisâ— for his greaâ— service by the Elders granted 〈◊〉 he request Iosuah 19.50 of their godliness meekness courage zeal wisdome c. Looking into the manners of the people to amend what was amiss they were not self-lovers nor self-seekers and would not suffer their servants and attendants to oppresse or grinde the people not like them in Amos 4.1 that is a great matter to be observed in a Common-weal 20. Zorobabel lived long but Nehemiah longer near to the end of the Persians to be a Noble Corrival against Sanballat who also lived long to see Alexander the Great These things I write to shew what a godly seed the returned were and so continued to the end of the Persian Monarchy 21. And the fruit of these comforts went on the dayes of Antiochus Epiphanes in many godly called Dan. 7.18 Saints of the most High Antiochus times reach to about two hundred and eighty years of the Seventy Sevens Dan. 12.3 Daniel prophecied that in the dayes of Antiochus there should be wise and faithfull Teachers that did instruct many and turn many to righteousness 22. That although those daies of Antiochus were the saddest times that ever Israel before had yet Christ had noble Worthies that stood to the Truth and did not shrinke for Sword Dan. 11.33 Heb 11.35 Flame and Captivity that they might enjoy the better resurrection to shine like the Stars for ever and ever And this godly seed still successively sprang up to our Lords
of the seventy seavens and Ptolomy Epiphanes all that time of Javan in those Kings of North and South they were a Beast horned to gore the people of God and had Iron legs to trample under foot the pleasant Land that is the Land of Israel Immanuels Land But after Antiochus Epiphanes the Fourth Beast Daniel 7. failed much of the strength of his hornes Before and after Antiochus Epiphanes death Christ strengthened Iudah and Ephraim against Iavan Zac. 9.13 and the legs of the image Dan. 2. were day now as Iron partly strong and partly brittle and so continued till at last Kittim the Romans possessed all as hath been noted The Kings of the North the Seleucidae reigned two hundred seventy years the Kings of the South i. e. Egypt reigned two hundred ninety four years But we must understand the years of these Kings of North and South were contemporary So these stories of the Medes and Persians Javan whole and Javan parted will reach 430 of the Seventy Sevens and the other 60 years to our Lords death for the most part the Romanes ruled If the godly Reader will make use of Mr. Bro. Commentaries on Daniel the preface thereof will shew him the Kings of Persia and the Kings of Javan their number and succession and the number of their years and all these Kings are to be confined within the compasse of the Seventy Sevens all the stories both of the four beasts Dan. 7. and of the four mettalls of the image Dan. 2. Mr. Bro. is so large in his Expositions of Daniel that there is not need of inlargement at this time Also let the Reader mark his Consent of Scripture for the orderly disposing of the times Furthermore they should not have nor needed any moe Prophets for that they should be greatly scattered shortly after Malachies dayes and their State continuallly shaken for hundreds of years before the holy incarnation by the interchangeable warres and victories of the Kings of the North and South Mal. 4. therefore the Law of Moses was so strictly enjoined to them to remember it which would have preserved them from all those errors and apostasie they fell into Again the Hebrew tongue after the return from Babel ceased from common use even the returned spake a mixt language as Nehemiah sheweth so they should have no more Prophets for the Hebrew tongue And we are to mark the lively Providence touching the families of Scripture Babel the eldest wicked monument Mr. Bro. in his notes on Dan. 5. which was built to the great ruine of all the godly families by Nymrod the Nephew of oursed Cham to the great grief of SEM and Japheth whereupon Adams tongue was made 70. of one Which Babel ended the Jews language the first tongue that it was common in no Kingdome after that And the greek tongue shortly after Malachies dayes became to be the most common tongue in the world that the the apostles did use it and write the New Testament in it Furthermore for Jews that look for such Prophets they should consider that Jerusalem and the Temple should have utter The Rulers and people of the Jews did not know the meaning of their own Prophets Act. 13.27 All the Prophets and the Law propheprophesied untill Iohn Mat. 11.13 so our Lord and his apostles shall prophesie in his speeches and their writings untill our Lords second coming and finall desolations in the neaâ— generation after the Seventy Sevens and such Prophets were to be no longer than Israels Prerogative lasted which was at the ending of the Seventy Sevenâ— for it is said God hath in these last dayes spoken to us by his Son who hath told us all thing and sealed vision and Prophet for the old Testament and hath given by himself and by his apostles visions and prophesies for the new Jerusalem to the end of the world in his new Testament Therefore those that now look for new apostles Prophets and miracles do and will run into all vanity and errour as the Jews did that regarded not the cloâ—ing up of the Prophesie of Malachy and for us of Japhets families of the new Testament we are charged to remember the commandements and words of the holy apostles our Lord Jesus Christ which charge not being observed the Church fell into errours fables and Doctrines of Devils Thus I suppose we may see they needed no moe Prophets to foretell the exact time of Christs death John Baptist was a great Prophet but he pointed with the finger that Christ was come and the chief point of his Ministry was to prepare the peoples heart for Christ that in him they might be blessed and saved from the curse that was coming on the disobedient so old Simeon with Zachurias and Anna a Prophetesse did declare Christ was come of whom Daniel and all the Prophets spake and John-Elias the Baptist preached to all Israel saying the Kingdome of heaven is come as Daniel had foretold chap. 2. and 7 and 9. Briefly sum up the premises seeing the holy angel from heaven had told Daniel in the Seventy Sevens of the exact time of the death of the MESSIAH to end Sacrifices and offerings and of the four mettals in the image and of the four beasts and of the wicked Kingdomes that were taught by them and of all them to be destroyed by the birth of the Son of Man the MESSIAS that is Babel Medes and Persians Javan Whole and Javan parted and the afflictions by them on the stars of heaven the Jews and of the full date of Israels peculiar glory by the utter desolation of the City Jerusalem and the Temple and that Ezra Nehemiah Esther did comment on Daniel and that Haggai Zachariah and Malachy had reproved the sinnes of their present age and also had much enlarged and opened Daniel in many things to the dayes of the coming of the Son of Man Now no more Prophets needed Mal. 4. but onely to remember the Law of Moses the servant of the Lord which he commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel with the Statutes and judgements They should study it till the coming of CHRIST and the coming of his fore-runner Mat. 11.13 14. for it should be to them a most sure word Therefore they needed not the URIM and THUMMIM and School-master This conclusion of Malachy with his Speech of John-Elias doth intimate a cessation of such holy prophets for all was spoken that need to be spoken People should diligently be exhorted privately and publickly by them whose place it is in chief so to do to read the holy and blessed Scriptures diligently and for this above handled to read together * These 6 books were in the time of the Seventy Sevens Ezra * Nehemiah * Esther Haggai Zachary * and Malachy with Daniel these six last books do much comment on Daniel And the godly Reader would be exhorted to mark the chronologie of the holy Scriptures and the chief persons in the times Thus
I have endevoured to relieve the studious and godly about that doubt and question concerning why no more Prophets after Malachy to the dayes of MESSIAS the King the holy of holies CHAP. XII Being an Answer to the five things lost in the Second Temple They might have named more then five as you will perceive BEloved Reader It may be worthy of good consideration to say somewhat of those five things that Solomons Temple had which some Modern Rabbins of the Jews complain they wanted in the Temple built by Zorobabel and thus they number them 1. The fire from heaven to consume the Sacrifices on the Altar 2. The sacred Monuments of the Vrim and Thummim that were put into the Breast-plate of the High Priest 3. The Ark of the Covenant wherein were put the two Tables of stone written with the finger of God 4. The Mercy-seat and Cherubim from between which the holy Oracles were given 5. The manifest breathing of the holy Ghost upon the Prophets These were great outward glories of the first Temple But let us consider of them 1. For the fire from Heaven to burn upon the altar It should seem to be so for it is said God testified of his gifts Heb. 11.4 I will transcribe what Mr. Broughton saith of it When Adam first sacrificed fire from heaven kindled it and Habels Sacrifice respected of God is in Octaplo was fired by God that fire was kept until the Flood Then again Noahs sacrifice was kindled from heaven and that fire was kept by Great Sem or Melchizedeck Abraham sacrificing had fire first in record from Heaven And in Moses and Salomon that is expresly told and thence gathered to the former so when the Jews came from Babylon If they had had fire Antiochus would have put it our again taking away the daily sacrifice for 3. year and a half Dan. 8.11 they sacrificed but no direct mention is made of fire yet their private story Salseleth Hakabalah saith they had fire from heaven See Mr. Bro. in Apoc. 190 Now one would think this to be true because so many promises of comfort by Jeremiah and such a godly company returned they might have that glory although there is no mention of it Gods counsels are unsearchable But the Angels message from heaven of the Messias was a great satisfaction to them Malachi saith the second Temple should have this honor that Christ in his doctrine should be refiners fire no purge the corruptions of their Rabbins touching all sacrificing 2. For the Vrim and the Thummin Daniels Prophecy of the Seavensy Seavens hath as glorious Light and Perfection of Doctrine as ever the Vrim shewed which also was brought by an angel of light and glory This prophecy sheweth when Messias that had all light and perfection in him should come and would bring light to us all The Messias when he cometh will tell us all things Job 4. Heb. 1.1 so the Saints of the Most High were exceedingly comforted in him that would reveal and tell us all things better than the oracle of Vrim for he came from the Bosom of the Father to reveal the whole mystery of the Kingdome of Heaven For He should seal vision and Prophesie And so Christ was Vrim and â—hummim in the hearts of the faithful and hath made us Kings and Priests to carry on our Breasts and Hearts 1 Thes 5.8 the Breast-plate of Faith and Love 3. The Ark of the covenant Jer. 3.15 16. mark that text of Jeremiah they should want it yet Christ saith they shal have godly Teachers the Prophet Jeremiah foretold the Ark should be no more they shall say no more the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord neither shall it come to mind neither shall they remember it neither shall they visit it neither shall that be done any more Babel shook these patterns of heavenly things in part and Rome should end all The Seavensy Seavens was a relief to the Saints concerning this Once shaking by Babel it shewed of Messias the King the Most Holy who had the Law of God in him most perfectly that from his fulness we all should receive and grace for grace The Ark was golden within and golden without it was plated with gold upon Sittim Wood so our Lord although he took flesh was golden within and golden without perfect in his inner man without sin and perfect in his conversation the Messias the Holy of Holy And although they had not the golden Pot of Manna yet all faithful of the Jewes did feed upon it for the time of the Seaventy Seavens as all Christians do now feed upon it Apoca. 2.17 Christ took away such things that they might looke to him the true Manna as he shewed them most heavenly John 6. 4. For the Mercy-Seat and Cherubim the Holy Angel Gabriel from Heaven foretold Daniel 9. in the Seavensy Seavens though they lost that outward glory who should be our Mercy-Seat of Reconciliation for all iniquity the Hilasterion of all comfort bringing in everlasting righteousnesse or freedome or justification So the faithful in the Seavensy Seavens did meditate and did hope still in the full accomplishment of it at the end of the Seavensy Seavens So they needed not these outward things And to all the faithfull the Lord God sent holy Angels to be Cherubim visibly to the returned from captivity and to all faithful after invisibly And although they lost Moses and Salomons Candlesticks yet the returned were a golden Candlestick and two Olive branches of Golden oyl which signified a replenishing of the Church with all graces of the Spirit so the Lord God taught them to meditate things spiritual rather than to glory in outward things The holy faith and doctrine of the Seavensy Seavens and walking in the light of it in peace and truth made them a glorious golden Canalestick 5. For the manifest breathing of the Holy Ghost upon the Prophets they wanted not this for one hundred and thirty years after the Return from Babel all the time of the Persian Government The Jewes say Ezra was Malachi and he lived long the Holy Ghost breathed in him and likewise in Haggai and Zachariah Daniels Prophecies with Haggaies Zacharies and Malachies and the study of Moses and the Prophets breathed the holy Ghost in the Saints of the Most High in the after-times who were men of Wisdome and did instruct many and as it said did turn many to righteousnesse all the time of the Seavensy Seavens confer diligently Dan. 8.9 10 11-24 11.28 30 31 32 33 34 35. 12.1.4.10 Zacharias John Baptists Father Simeon to whom the Holy Ghost revealed himself and likewise to Anna a Prophetesse these were under the second Temple and so in the beginning and ending of the Seavensy years the holy Ghost breathed in some special persons So that they did not so much want these outward things because the spiritual were conferred more abundantly the outward Jew looked carnally
words and fair speeches Like the old schismaticall Romanists that by such means made Divisions and offences against the Doctrine of Christ See how the mystery of iniquity began to work even in Rome in the apostles dayes Rom. 10.17.2 Thes 2. In Rome they not onely schismed from the holy Doctrine but from the righteous Doctrine of lawfull powers ordained of God Rom. 13. N. 6. To creep into Kings Courts Such are fittest for Achabean Kings Courts which hate the true Michaiahs Let Jehosaphats Court look to it They can never make an holy Court if there were 400 of them and 450. If Jehosaphat notwithstanding what Michaiah said will yet go to Ramoth Gâ—lead with Achab Jeroboam-man of sinne his Religion Let the Princes of the Papacy wrangle together Let the Reformed maintain the glorious Gospel and keep at home and stand upon their defence and not weaken themselves in men and money and ammunition yet to do as Simeon and Judah did and to help the Lord against the mighty Jud. 1. and 5. Note also as it was a plague to Pharaoh and old Egypt that God brought frogs into his Land into his bed-chamber and upon his bed and into the Egyptian houses so it is a plague that the frogs of Rome-Egypt come into the Territories of Princes to have entertainment either into their Courts or their subjects houses chambers and beds The same must be noted for the other plagues of blood darknesse blains boils and sores that were on old Egypt are and shall be on old Rome-Egypt Apoc. 16. Ibid N. 6. Cruel and tyrannicall projects They said as their Predecessors we have a Law and by our Law they ought to dy and that it was not lawfull for them to put any man to death and so craved aid of the secular power which men durst not refuse The Popish company and their friends make Decrees and Cannons and Princes must be their men to punish the transgressours Thus they make Princes executioners of their best subjects Vide Mr. Cade Justis p 166 167. c. and who were worst enemies to the Prophets our Lord and his Apostles but the Ecclesiasticks of their dayes whose eyes ran a whoring after their fathers idols and vanities Icremiah durst not humour but reprove the wicked apostate Prelates therefore forsooth the King and Princes must put him to death Ier. 26. So because our Lord from Galilee to Ierusalem taught against the traditions of the Elders and reproved their errours of bodily exercise their superstitions their ignorance blindness hypocrisie and false glosses on the Law therefore he was a perverter of the Nation and a mover of sedition and so it was in the case of the apostle Paul and therefore our Lord and his apostles must be put to death Trouble wicked and apostate Prelates you are ipso facto a seditious person and a troubler of the State O ye Magistrates take heed how you give c edit to the flatteries and Diabolicall slanders of such creatures that you stain not your hands with innocent blood Luc. 3.5 Acts 24.5 6. R. B. Latimer in a Letter to King Henry 8. sheweth how it was the practise of the Scorpion locusts to conveigh their own inventions and Proclamations under the Kings name and authority Princes that have cast off mysticall Nimrod and have made their Common-weals our Lords and his Christs will not rule subjects as the Princes of mysticall Egypt and Sodom to conquer honest Subjects as such apostate Shepherds did of old which were rebels and robbers Ezek. 1. Ezek. 33. such know not the wayes of peace which is the fruit of holy and just government but godly Princes in the policy of the heavenly Jerusalem will be as it is wtitten I will make thy goverment peace and thine exactors righteousnesse Isa 60. as Ezekiel further saith chap 45.9 and 46.18 Sad events have been when Princes have removed the Land-marks The Covenant with the Gibeonites was a Land mark which was broken and severely plagued Achabs and Naboths story confer see the plottings and projects Princes that will have their wills and lusts satisfied mind nor him that ruleth in the heavens See a Land-mark concerning the liberty of the Subject Christ ordained how transgressed how plagued Jer. 34. Again Iâ—hriakâ—m thought his Kingly Prerogative would bear him our in covetousnesse oppression innocent blood and in usiug the labours of his Carpenters and masons without pay Ier. 22. what came to this son of Belial So here were Land-marks of an ancient sanction of mens possessions of Iâ—berties and of goods transgressed and mightily plagued God is Jehovah his Judgements are for ever unchangeable he is neither wearied by long processe of time nor won to give his blessing in oneâ—age to that which he hath carsed in another There are Land-marks of Christs own making in those ten words Exod. 20. and in other places expounded between all relations divine and humane which none may wil ully violate but will fall on the point of his own sword Hos 5 Deut. 27 Job 24 Prov 28.16 Quest 6. and Ans This beast bath his arms from the four be â—sts in Danie The Apocalips and some other places and parcells of the new Testament is a new Prophesie of Christ of new States and governments both of the Church the new Ierusalem and its enemies but expressed in old terms This we must well observe how the Spirit of endlesse wisdome and foresight contriveth like revolutions and the former to be the stamps of the latter If we mind not this we shall run as we do into great confusion of story so he that is A. and Ω. from the beginning to the end ruleth the world in a most wise course to shew his judgement and mercy where in this last book of the Apocalips calling old speeches to new matters goeth through the Alphabet of old ages that he may be seen to join the first and last stories in wise order Mr. Bro. in Apoc 304. and upon Daniel page 3. chap. 13.9 10. Quest 9 and Ans Five had been The seven heads of the Romane Beast afflicting the Church Apoc. 13. 1. Pompey 2. Crassus 3. Julius Caesar 4. Brurus w. Cassius 5. Antonius 6. Caesars 7. Popes The Popes their double power is a seventh and after a sort an eighth head these are the seven States over the faithfull as John and all the Jews knew * the story ofe six of these heads their story full well The Church hath great comfort that the Pontificality is the last head of the Beast Heathen stories may sit those other States of Rome of 1 Kings 2. Consulls 3. Decemviri 4. Dictators 5. Trâ—umviri 6. Caesars 7. Popes The more fall out fit as often many do to one speech the more Rome that crucified Christ is condemned when God turneth continuall revolutions to have Rome called into mind Quest 12. and Ans So the double power of the Pontificality Caesar and Ponisix It is worth the noting that the Caesars titled themselves Pontisex
Tim. 6. another Scripture saith and through covetousnesse shall false Teachers with feigned words make merchandise of you 2 Pet. 2. And the souls of men was one kind of the vendible things in Rome-Babylons politic Apoc. 18.13 and here must be remembred their Pharisaicall Coâ—ban â—obbing all Churches N. 11. Images Old Babylon was a Land of graven Images and were mad upon their idols Jer. 50.33 Dan. 3. so mysticall Babylon Papists although plogued by the Turks warres would not repent of their idolatry Apoc. 9.20 as Israel Ezek. 16.26 Ibid. And killing of Kings For â—illing of Kings of whom they are jealous see a book of the State mysteries of the Jesuites that is translated out of French and dedicated to Sr. Tho. Penistone Knight and Baronet by Peter Gosselyn printed by G. E. for Nicholas Bourn Qui cum Iesu itis non itis cum Iesuitis the indoctrinated Iscariots of the world Ibid. Any Reformation See the history of Councell of Trent page 553. and all our godly mens labours by teaching and writing that all the reformed Churches may truly say of mysticall Babylon as the Saints said of old Babylon We would have healed Babylon but she is not healed forsake her and let us every one go into his own Countrey for her judgement reacheth unto heaven Jer. 51.9 All the godly writings and endeavours of the Reformed Churches shall rise up in judgement against them N. 3. Subâ—llties and lies See Sir Edwin Sands relations of his travels he shews their sleights in reports c. all histories and experience of Reformed Churches shew their plots and devises But Jethroes Speech doth comfort the Church Exod. 18.11 Subtle Hypocrites and Inventers of false Religion Christ will defeat all their counsels Job 5.12 13. read Mr. Cade of Popish policies lib. 1. p. 6. lib. 2. page 159. Ibid. N. 3. Great Whore Because of the multitude of the whoredomes of the well-favoured Harlot the mistresse of witchcrafts that selleth the Nations through her whoredomes and the familles through her witchcrafts The two Sisters followed the idolatryes of Ninive Neh. 3 4. 2 Kings 16. Ezek. 23.5 so did the Nations the glorious well-favoured Whore through her enchantments Apoc. 17.1 2 3 4 5. c. And the same plagues that came on the former shall come on this latter 2 Pet. 2.1 2. N. 4. a perfect Mountain of fire Where King Abaddons Locustâ— and subjects be maintained it will make that Kingdome a burning Aeâ—na The King of Locusts and his Locusts the great incendiaries of the World and all is to minister advancement to Popish interests They excite Princes against Princes yea Turks against Princes of Christendom and Princes against subjects c. Ibid. N. 4. Drew all the West for two hundred years Wo and alass it is to think of those miseries when presently after Apoc. 20.7 the tenth Century Satan was let loose That age was an unhappy age even as the Locust Genthrard spake and the Locust Bellarmine saith Never age more unlearned or unhappy Cited by Dr. Vsher in answer to a Jesuit pa. 7 Mr. Cade lib. 1. pa. 40. Ibid. 4. For the Low Jerusalem Christ had told that Jerusalem should be desolate so long as the Gentiles calling continueth even to the worlds end Marth 24 Luke 21. as he caused Moses to foretell Deut. 28.63 Num. 33.56 But the Pontificality the false Prophet to weaken Princes who would be deceived and not excell in Gods word as they most of all might do He caused them to go from England France c. men women and children to recover the cursed Land Compare the apostasie of Nimrod and the man of Sin in Israel with the apostasie of mysticall Nimrod the man of sin in the Christian Church and the miseries thereupon depending Far from Justice and Peace 2 Chron 15.3 4 5 6. How do men of power that are crafty and plausible draw men away from the Gospel of Christ Ibid. As of old God and Magog By God and Magog Apoc. 20. is meant all oppressours of the faithful Christians whether Turk or Pope â—s Michael our Prince captain of the Lords host calmed old Gâ—gs waves Daniel 12. So he will mysticall God and Magog Apocalyps chap. 10. 20. Quest 2 and answ It is the spiritual Supremacy The Locusts say such as submit not to the Popes supremacy do renounce Christianity Mr. Cade Justif lib. 1. pag. 98 If Satan had not mightily possessed mens hearts Rome the only place plainly cursed should not rule Religion But the rejected of God must strive where God warneth to do otherwise Mr. Bro. in Sinai Sight The Romists seeking to have Rome a peculiar Citieâ— do revive the shadow of the old Covenant for now we are not tyed to no one Mountain much less to Ahaddons City of seven Mountains John 4.21 And the name Catholick used of old in the Church destroyeth that opinion Catholica quâ—esse potest quae Romana diciâ—u And seeing the partition Wall is broken down between Jews and us why make they another partition between us and them Rome for this and all of that Synagogue are to be hâ—ld accursed till our Lord cometh for it is accursed And some of our Divines do little better than Judaize about the Jewes possessing Canaan and Jerusalem Ibid. Some points of truth conjoined The Whores cup of Fornications was gui'ded with some truths but filled with the waters and wine of Sodome and doctrines of Devils A Mystery By thy Witchcrafts were deceived all nations cauterized consciences speak lies through hypocrisie Apoc 18.23.1 Tim. 4. Ibid. Heresies and blasphemies And I saw a Woman sit upon a scarlet colâ—urâ—d Beast full of Names of blasphemy Their translations Psalters Rosaries c. shew this The Lord hath rebuked such Satans and still will Quest 3. and Answ Kings and Peoples and Multitudes c. Here you may behold a Roman Catholick here is their universality multitude unitie outward glory c. let them boast but rather let them tremble and consider Apoc. 13.8 17.8 They whose Names are not written in the Lambs book of life from the foundation of the world followed the beast Their Diets Councels Parliaments Synods c. were to inslave themselves to serve a Beast and blasphemous Whore a Witch c. God shall send them strong delusions to believe lies 2 Thess 2. Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the earth Serve Jehovah kiss the Son the Heir of heaven Psalm 2. Mat. 21.38 Hebr. 1.2 O ye Princes study your Kingdomes Principalities and your common-Weals O ye Nobles and Judges study to advance the Gospel the glory of any Nation that embraceth it and that walketh after it Oh be perswaded it is a good light and easie yoke 2 Chron. 12.8 ye are the chief Bishops from God and Pastors oh do not ye by negligence or transaction of your power to the unworthy cause the Lords flock to be scattered CHAP. XVII With Questions Answers and Annotations Concerning the
language of Levit. 26. and Deut. 28 and 30 vain talkers must vent their Mateologisme Quest 12. and answer That know not God c. Many will not be Papists and yet are ignorant and love to be so superstitious ungodly and unrighteous in all their life they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord and such shall eat the smit of their own wayes Prov. 1. and 5.12 Answer without shall be dogs Without the Lord Jâ—sus Christ in his holy ordinances coth make a marvellous separation of the precious from the vile but at that day shall be the perfection Psam 1. Mat. 25. Also note all these sorts of sinners are not to be understood as commonly men apprehend them but they stand in opposition to the peace quietnesse holinesse zeal purity of worships truth grace and glory of the heavenly Jerusalem Shall be dogs The Concision were dogs and murderers Psalm 22 Phil. 3. and cast our Gal 4. they resisted the building of new Ierusalem maintaining bodily exercise opus operatum their idol and vanity this made their house and habitation desolate to this day And is not this written for our admonition Those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring hither and slay them before me Luc 19. 2 Thos 1.9 as it was observed at the beginning that CHRIST his Doctrine and servants were held anathema of the godlesse so it will ever be Ibid. And sorcerers Or poisening Sorcerers read Thankfull Remembrance page 193. Aâ—ias translates venefiei Apoc. 22.15 It is thought the Jesuites are such creatures the book of their State mysteries mentioned doth imply such things it must be taken also spiritually bewitching people by feined words c. to make them believe false Doctrine Gâ—l 3.1 All this the Locusts must do for we are sure that the holy Lord God doth not answer them by dreams nor by Vrim nor by Prophets so that the next course is to go to Eudor they know who will there readily attend them 1 Sam. 28.6 Ibid. And the fearfull And I say unto you my friends Be not asraid of them that kill the body and after that have no more that they can do Luk. 12. I I aâ— he that comforteth you Who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die and the Son of man who shall be made as grasse and forgettest Iâ—bovah the eternall being thy maker that hath stretched out the heavens and laid the foundation of the earth in the waters Isa 51. If Gods word bear Supremacy in our hearts and faith evidence to us things not seen we shall as men of another spirit and independent as those three noble martyrs and Confessors Dan. 3. and as Daniel himself chap. 6. as Moses Heb. 11. as Calch and Iosua c. c. Quest 13. and Answ Saying Write Observe still the blessâ— comforts of the written word and mark the command Write Apoc. 14.13 Psal 103.18 Ibid. For they rest from their labours Let him that hath an ear to hear let him hear what the spirit saith to the Churches Those that keep the commandements of God and the faith of Jesus Write it they shall have rest They shall have Rest that follow the true Lambs Religion let liars and cursed dogs bark never so much to the contrary let all that bear the name of Christian hate and accurse the fables of the heathenish Papacy of Purgatoty that men walk when they are dead and their vain Doctrine of prayer for the dead and their anniversaries and other ceremonies and superstitions numberlâ—sse as the Christian Disputations of Mr. Viret shew O ye all that are Gods Iesurum the Israel of God study the blessed Scriptures your inheritance cursed smokie Poperie and all deceitfull vain Doctrines will flee before the glorious light of the word Amen Amen A Postsrcipt BVl ye Beloved Remember the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our LORD IESUS CHRIST 2 Pet. 3.2 and Iudas Thaddaeus verse 17.1 Iohn 4.6 c. c. The holy spirit seeing and foreseeing that false Teachers were and continually would arise after the apostles times with fair speeches flattering and feigned words philosophy a shew of wisdome cogging and vain deceir spurious Epistles feigned revelations of the spiri and hâ—ocriticall lies and slanders and by bringing in fables superstitious voluntary humility will-worship mens Precepts Decrees Doctrines of Devils perverse things damnable heresies and rejection of Magistracy to cause divisions and offences to beguile men and to carry them for a spoil from the plainnesse and simplicity of the Apostles Doctrine and these evils were pursued by all deceit and violene of flesh and blood being driven on by the fury of spirtuall wickednesses principalities and powers the rulers of the darknesse of this world that did war against the Church about super-celestiall things therefore this warning and many others were given to regard the Prophets and Apostles Doctrine Thus the Holy Ghost did as is noted in the conclusion of the old Testament referre them that feared God to the Law of lively oracles given by the inspiration of the SON OF GOD the angel of the Covenant and by the ministery of Moses at Horeb Mal 4. Thus Christ was taught to day and so shall till the time of his coming 2 Cor. 11.26 Heb. 13.8 The Caesars persecuted the faithfull for The word of God and the Testimonie of JESUS Apoc. 6.9 ch 1.9 Keeping of the commandements of God and holding the testimony of JESUS Christ Apoc. 12.17 The Popes persecured the faithfull for Keeping of the Commandements of God and the faith of Iesus Apoc. 14.12 The Testimony of JESUS and for the word â—of God Apoc. chap. 20.4 THE THIRD PART CHAP. XVIII Of the seven Trumpets in Apocalyps 8 9 10 11. chapters In which the Popes Rising to his Antichristian Hierarchy is first described compared with the seaven Phials in chap. 16. under which the Antichristian Hierarchy doth fall and is consumed by degrees THE Seaven seals destroyed the Roman Empire and the seven Trumpets do forbid that Rome being overthrown as Jericho should be built again and as Hiel endeavoured to re-edify Jericho contrary to Gods will for which act God in Justice took away his eldest and youngest son So Princes that joined with the Pope to hate the Greek Empire that they might seâ— up Rome for which act the Lord in justice made it the means of their wo and great misery The comparison of the Phrases for the Trumpets in Apâ— 89 10 11. chapters with chap. 16. for the Phials is diligently to be marked for the understanding of the true scope of the Apocalyps The Phases concerning the Plagues for the ruine of the Papacy in the Phialls are wonderfully fitted to the former Phrases in the Trumpets by which the Popes rising was first described SECT 1. The first Trumpet and first Phiall .. UNder the first Trumpet Satan endeavouring to advance his project The Mystery of Iniquity then the
nation kinred tongue and people of the Papacy shall submit to the Everlasting Gospel to fear God and to give him glory and to worship him that made the heaven and the earth and the fountains of water and upon this mysticall Babylon shall fall more and more by faithfull Angels one after another Apoc. 14. But this will not be of Kingdomès together all at once casting off â—baddons Kingdome but it will be successive one Country and Kingdome after another 2. Now the seventh Phiall is much like the seventh Trumpet one will explaine the other But this we are diligently to observe that in the fifth Trumpet it is mentioned that the Ayre is darkned as well as the Sun the Ayre is such a medium that by it we see the light of the Sun the blessed and holy Law of Christ his lively Oracles is the Ayre by which as the onely Instrument we see the Son of God This Ayre was darkned by the cursed smoke of Heresies from the pit of darknesse blaspheming the purity of the Hebrew and Greeke Testaments hindring by all possible meanes Translations into our owne Languages and forbidding the Study of the Scriptures urging their unsound Translations as authentick * Especial Gen. 3.15 corrupting most Satanically the holy Rolls not fearing an eternall Pillory obtruding also idle and erroneous and hereticall expositions wicked Decretalls golden Legens Apocrypha Books their Rosaries Missals Ladies Psalter transcendently blasphemous Heathenish customes c. c. By all which the Beasts marked knew What and Who King Abaddon was these declared him to them By these they saw and beleived him to be their God their most holy Father that he had power to forgive sin and had power to send them into Purgatory and to recall them c. c. There was a kind of invisible spirituall power that wâ—nt from him to all his marked How did they reverence him and submit themselves to him in his Cardinals Nuncioes Preists Jesuites even all his Seminaries and Locusts of every kind 3. Now the wrath of Christ in the seventh Phial is powred on all this smoke this pontifician Ayre all these were dispelled by the light from Christs Throne set up in the reformed Churches by the Angels that he sent holy spirits invisibly his Christan servants visibly They by learning Hebrew and Greek and teaching in the Scholes of the Prophets And by the helpe of the blessed Spirit of Christ the great Rabboni and Doctor of his Church did by sound and learned Translations and Orthodox expositions and by many excellent and worthy endeavours both by teaching and writing the Enemy being Judges and by the practise of noble Arts and Sciences especially Printing and by couragious Parliaments in the dayes of King Hen. the eighth and King Ed. the sixth and Queen El. and King James and King Charles and by Diets in Germany c. make such Voices Thundrings and Lightnings in the Popish Ayre Yea the Lord Jesus hath so ordered in his providence that some learned in the Popish Kingdome have been a means to overthrow iâ— as Aâ—ias Mont. that it did dispell the foggs and smoke that Apolluou and his Locusts had formerly raised and as the Angel Jehovah at the giving of the Law of his Gospell did by his voice with Thunder and Earth quake dispell the Idolatry of old Egypt from his Israel so now against Rome-Egypt he did thunder and send forth lightning by zealous Luther Tuelancton and diverse Martyrs in Germany c. and by painfull Tindall c. and by Martyrs in England Germaney France Scotland c. And after this by faithfull prophesying and Orthodox writings of many worthies of the Lord in England Scotland Geneva c. but yet something is still to be reformed for the be-smoked Ayre is not fully cleared amongst the best reformed in some points 4. In Abaddons Kingdome that shall yet be by the just providence of Christ a further terrible Earth-quake of his Government that it shall be greatly divided the Cities of the Nations shal more and more fal from it which will also be a cause of more wars and commotions and such fiercenesse of wrath shall come on the Papacy as there did on the Chanaanites by haile Jos 10. and such alteration of policy shall be in the King of Locusts Kingdome as if Islands and Mountaines were not found and such alteration and breaking as of the b Gen. 6. the Earth is corrupted and I will corrupt them saith Christ Jehovah old world corrupted and Chanaanites destroyed that the Isralites might dwell in their sted and the Kingdomes of the world shall become our Lords and his Christs and he shall reign for ever and ever 5 Then the twenty four Elders which sate before God on their-seats shall fall on their faces and worship God saying We give thee thanks O Lord God Almighty which art and wast and art to come because thou hast taken to thee thy great power hast reigned and the Nations were angry and thy wrath is come the time of the dead that they should be judged and that thou should give reward unto thy Servants the Prophets and to the Saints and them that feare thy name both small and great and shouldst corrupt them that corrupt the Earth And the Temple of God was * The apostate and wicked Kings of Judah shut the Temple so did both godly 2. Cor. 6.16 opened in Heaven and there were seen in his Temple the Arke of his Testament and there were Lightnings and Voices and Thundrings and an Earth-quake and great haile Apoc. 11. the Man of sin by burning and distroying the holy Temples of Christ Teachers and godly Congregations 1. Cor. 6.15 19. Ch. 3.16.17 6. Thus great Babylon shall heare the voice of the seventh Trumpet as Jerico did and feele the seventh Phial of Gods wrath in the Lords due season when Nations opprest by them shall learne skilfully to sing Hallelujâ—th and with understanding shall praise the Lord the Lord must for vaine is the helpe of man consume that bad King Abaddon of Kittim Italy in the end at his glorious appearing as those Beasts in Daniel by the first comming of Christ into the World were wholly consumed for whom God sate on a firy Throne so the Beast compounded of those foure shall not wholly perish untill the second coming of Christ for whom a white Throne of Justice is openly revailed by sentence thence the false Prophet Pope and the Beast of his Authority shall ay feele Gods wrath untill they be both â—ast with the Dragon into eternall fire Amen SECT IX Consider these things advisedly about the Phials 1. THe seven Phials doe distinguish the manner of Christs dispensation not the time as it is apparant 1. Because these Phials are not yet powred out in all the Kingdomes that gave their power to the Beast as not on Spaine c. 2. All these Phialls have been and are now in further execution in our Native
confer History to prophesie and that is one of the surest ways of understanding the Holy Scriptures if we â—â—n rightly attaine unto it 3. For now we are not to expect new Revelations to tell the Church which man is of the House of David and what of the Family of Nathan or which man is of the House of Levi and of the Family of Shimei But if we will understand Zach. 1â— of the Iewes calling yet to come we must expect new Revelations and some that have a propheticall Spirit to tell the Church which man is of which Family and Tribe But the truth is this distinction of Families must be as evidently manifested by their geneologies at the time of the Jewes calling by the preaching of the Gospell as it was to Zachariah when he prophesyed that the House of David and Family of Nathan and the House of Levi and the Family of Shimei should mourne that so the Saints then may be comforted in that prophesâ—y that it was fulfilled by themand to them 4. For unlesse they be genealogized how shall they know that the Prophet spake true for the consolation of their named particular Families And there will be further reason of this distinction they of Judah and Lâ—vi being the noblest Familes and so should be perspicuous and exemplary to all the Jewes for they are so spoken of that they should go before the rest in holy Worships Either the Iewes have now evident demonstration in their genealogies for these Families or else a Prophet must arise to shew them these Families but the former they deny they say that none knowes his Tribe much lesse of which cheif Family Then a Prophet must arise to shew them which is of David and which is of Levi that the particular promise to those Families may be applyed to them and then they in speciall only are to regard it 5. Againe it may be the Families of Nathan and Shimei may be ignorant or carelesse to performe that worship but if a Prophet declare to them which is of which Family and call upon them it might be a comfortable invitation to performe the worship fore told that the blessing promised might be made good to them Zac. 13.1 And as I conceive this distinction of Families must be as evident for the performance as it was in the dayes of the prophesie 6. Distinction was kept carefully in some Families all the time of the Seventy Sevens Pâ— Chr. 24. And the wisedome of God saw it was very needfull it should be so our Lords genealogie was undoubtedly known though much in private records and so Zacarias Iuc 1. of the course of Abia Levi the eighth course and Paul of Benjamin by Father and Mother and Barnabas a Lâ—vite But these distinctions of Families 〈◊〉 Tribes could not be so kept after the desolation of Jerusalem by the Romans who lcatâ—ed them into the soure winds of the Heaven for 1600. yeares together the wisdome of God therefore saw it was most needfull to confound all their Tribe genealogies and themselves now say that none knoweth certainly of which Family and of which Tribe any of them be and if any of them shall affirme otherwise yet by Apostolicall canons we must not believe them 7. And some moderne Doctors of theirs that follow their Fore-Fathers steps in denying the Lord Jesus Christ write thus Mr. Broi â—col 37. in the days of Messias the King when his Kingdome shall be setled and all Israel gathered unto him all they shall be genealogiced according to their Families Thus if we will not stick to propriety we must run to Jewish Fables and endlesse genealogies and look with them for new Revelations and so not cleave fully to the words and commandments of the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour 8. There is also a like necessity of genealogies if we refer Ezeâ— 37. to the Iewes calling yet to come that they might know which is of Judah and which is of Ephraim But what hath been above written must serve for this also SECT II. Also it is objected and much pleaded for from Zac. 14.10.11 c. that Ierusalem in Chanaan shall he restored that the Iewes shall have a Kingdome there and all Nations must flock to them c. 1. ANsw We dare not understand Zac. 14.10 c. literally for if an Angell from Heaven should preach that our posterity must keep a worship anniversary at Ierusalem namely there to keep the Feast of Tabernacles he must be held anathema for it is plain ludaisme and not a genuine interpretation of the Prophets meaning and contradicteth the most sure word that bath been given by any holy Angel to Daniel Chap. 9. That Seventy Sevens are exactly accounted for Ierusalem to be an holy City and that in the next generation following the ending of them the City and holy Place should have finall and utter desolations which hath been verified for these fifteen hundred yeares and more 2. This of Zac. 14. hath the same analogie of faith with Esai 6â— from month to month and from Sabbath to Sabbath shall all flesh come to worship before Iehovah at a Jerusalem and Mal. 1. expounds Daâ— 9. Esai 66. Zach. 14. From the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name and a pure offering for my name shall be great among the Heathen saith Jehâ—wah of Hosts And the Lords conference with the woman of Samaria is pertinent Job 4. And the Apostle Paul sheweth that after our Lord and blessed Mediaâ—our had given himselfe a Ransome for all and that Testimony in due time as Dan. 9. had fore-told then saith the Apostle it is the will of the Lord that men pray every where lifting up pure hands 1. Tim. 2. 3. Must the Teachers of England teach their Auditors that they must keep an anniversary worship namely the Feast of Tabernacles in Low-Iorusalem in Chanaan or else that such greivous judgements both privative and positive as are there threatned will come upon the Nation Zac. 14.17.18 Or must I teach these things to my Children and must my Children teach their Children so and theirs the after Generation as all are bound to doe if it be understood in a literall sence Ps 48. as some have intimated for Jerusalem in Chanaan but I dare not receive this Doctrine and therefore I say to mine take heed what you heare and I am assured that time will shew that such as expound otherwise about the Jewes calling have run into many absurdities CHAP. XXIV Gog and Magog in Ezek. 38. 39. must be taken properly but Gog and Magog in Apoc. 20. must be taken in a mystical sence SECT I. 1. THE consent of Moses and the Prophets and of the New Testament is wonderfull in places times and Families but few minde such studies and that makes many write and speake at randome drawing prophesies
these providences of Christ and by his word that they began to have among them know what iniquity was and for what principal iniquity Israel was dispersed by Assur and Babel did know that all these captivities came on Israel for their iniquities and apostasies from the faith of the Gospel of the Son of God 3 These things might be a means to procure much knowledge of the Lord God of Israel among the heathens and it did so for Zac. 8. shews that the heathens should take hold of the skirt of him that is a Iew and so consort much with the people of God and this reason should the heathens themselves give we have heard that God is with you yea further they should say Surely our fathers have inherited lies vanity and things wherein there is no profiâ— Ier. 16. 4. The wayes of Christ are unsearchable for this knowledge might well come among the heathens by the Iews daily conference and by preaching the word among them in their Synagogues and by the Septuagints translation The Septuagints translation was much used among them Saint Luke and the Apostles chiefly used that translation and cite many times the Text of their translation as learned men observe and the godly Proselites did much read it doubtlesse and the prophane heathen might also read it because Horace and Ovid mock at their Sabbatismes as the Chaldeans had done It is also as true they might have knowledge by the Iews being so dispersed and having Synagogues in all great Cities by which means Iews matters would â—e much celebrated Beloved Reader if we were better versed in the holy Scriptures of the Son of God we should know more of him and the mannaging of his Mediatorian Kingdome in mercy and severity from Gen 3 15. cocerning the holy Seed and the Seed of the Seâ—pent SECT 3. OBject Some say there shall be a great Battell which hath never as yet come to passe as Ezek. 39. and Apoc. 20. 1. But for answer we ought to understand the warriourâ— there and here are of divers times and peoples and places as is above noted That of Exckiel is of Israel and the low Jerusalem this of Gog and Magog in the Apocalyps is meant of the troublers of the Church the holy City from heaven wheresoever and that at divers times 2. Neither place either of Ezekiel or of Apocalyps most be understood of any one Battel there never was nor ever shall be any such one Battel as some would understand in Ezek. 39 although it be said that all the arms and weapons of war of bows and arrows bucklers shields c. should serve the Cities of Israel to burn seven years and they shall not need to go to the woods and forrests to fetch home fuell to their fires What shall not the Cities of Israel fetch home fuell for their necessary uses for their families to burn for seven years We must labour to understand better when the literall sense must admit of allegories Tremellius understands seven years to be very long and very often numeâ—u finâ—tus pro infinito 3. Gog and Magog and all the North quarters mentioned are the Kingdome of the Seleucidae one of the iron legs Dan. 2. and explained chap. 11. and their war with the other leg the Lagidae of Egypt and their camping in Israel brought great troubles to them for 250 years and moe so that all their arms utensils and weapons of war should last seven year for fire-wood and because they were a continuall vexation to Israel for above 250 years it is spoken as one battell such are Corporation-speeches and so the Apocalyps must be understood not of one battel but after the tenth Century then the holy City of Christians was besieged in all quarters and is still even to this day and yet still it shall be vexed by the Beast and false Prophet that also is a Corporation speech for the Beast-like Empire of the Papacy and the false Prophet-Pope and all his Clergy have been in being these 600 years and moe and is still as yet in being and so for a while shall be till they be with Satan cast into the Lake of fire and Brimstone 4. Corporation Speeches must be observed diligently as Man of sin not to be attributed to one man 2 Thes 2. but it is the Pontificality the whole Corporation of Popes they are that Man of sin that Adversary that exalts himself c. and so the two Witnesses are not properly two but they are all the godly that have do and shall witnesse against the Beast and false Prophet the holy Scripture is full of of such manner of speaking Moses often speaks to all Israel as to one man so it is said the Prince of Tyrus was in Eden the garden of God Ezek. 28. but it is not meant of that Prince of Tyrus in Ezekiels dayes but of him in Davids and Salomons days lie in Ezekiels dayes was an apostate and an enemy to Israel and did not care for that honour as to be of the houshold of God and common weal of Israel in which Hyram Prince of Tyrus rejoiced 1 Kings 5. 5. It is not said Israel shall have such a battell against Gog but that Gog and his companies shall fall on the mountains of Israel and this came to passe by the Ptolomies of Egypt overcoming Gog the King of the North in divers battells The Sel uco-lagidae made marriages to strengthen one another but it did not take that effect for they dealt deceitfully one with another therefore it is said they shall be destroyed one of another Ezek 38.21 But all this came 〈◊〉 them for afflicting the Saints of them the holy Trinity and Christ was a burdensome Stone to them for their oppressing Ierusalem the holy City 6. It is true also the Jews had as in the Macchabees and Iosephus a great hand divers times against Gog as against Antiochus the vile and afterwards also CHAP. XXV Some Observations on Jeremiah 30 31 32 33 Chapters IT is evident that the Prophet must in these Chapters be taken in proprier for the return from Babels captivity and from all other Lands of the North. where they were chiefly scattered For Jer. 30.18 Ezra and Nehemiah do shew the fulsilling of that 18. verse Also chap. 31.23 these words aâ—yet they have been often touched and for chap 31.38 39 Nehemiah in chap. 3. is an expresse history for chap. 32. the godly being much disconsolate yea Jeremiah himself for that incurabl breach in mans apprehension and grievous wound in the Common weal of Israel yet Jehovah the performer of promises doth assure them they shall return from Babel and have a policy to buy and sell to set and let c. and this promise was as sure as the order of the heavens and chap. 33. hath speeches of like comfort The godly it may be were troubled Heb. 6.8 and 10.27 28 29. as the Thessalonians 2 Thes 2.1.2 For when the Jews saw that
Babel had so ruinated them they could not chuse but have many sad thoughts of discomfort that they should never return So when the Churches saw wrath so full of fierie indignation on the Jews they thought the day of Christ was at hand The Apostle satisfied them and the Prophet Jeremiah comforts them with this speech as yet and the Prophets often reiterate these words which must be marked And in all those prophesies of their return there are many promises of Christ mixed for he is the radix of all comforts to the Church because God will send Christ to destroy Satans work and his seed and to blesse us All promises are made in him to be yea and Amen as that promise to Achaz although he despised it Esai 7. and would not put the safety of his Kingdome on such promises but would seek as his stubborn and unbelieving heart taught him help from Assur but because God had made promise yet to protect Ierusalem the City he had chosen to put his name there therefore he would protect it and because our heavenly Father would send his Son to be immanuel God with us therefore he would yet save Iudah Sion and Ierusalem Ieremiahs Prophecies are of this nature to be understood Esaias before Ieremiah had said by prophecie that although Babel had sorely afflicted the Church Isa 14 1.2 3. notwithstanding the Lord would have mercy on Iacob and would yet choose Israel and set them in their own Land the Land of Iehovah called elsewhere the Holy Land and pleasant Land and so it was to the ending of the Seventy Sevens but then any Land City and Assembly where the Gospel of Christ was and is taught believed and professed was and is as holy as that Land CHAP. XXVI That the Covenant of God in Christ made with Israel in Deuteronom is the very same that God made with Israel in Exodus and Leviticus and so to the end of the 19. chap. of Numbers in answer to them that hold the former to be only a covenant of works and the latter in Deut. to a covenant of grace because it is said in Deut. 21.9 beside the Covenant which he made with them in Horeb. Mr. Ainsworth saith it is the same Covenant but onely renewed to the children And Tremellius speaketh to the same effect we must remember that Malachi in shutting up the old Testament chargeth Israel from Christ to cleave to the Law given by Moses at Horeb Mal 4. as the onely good means to secute them from the Apostasie that would come upon them in the dayes of Antiochus Epiphanes yea it began even in the dayes of Malachi then stout words were spoken that it was in vain to serve God c. Like the apostacy of the old world Dan. 11.14.30 31 32. Job 21. 14 15. and 22.17 Mal. 3.13 14. And the angel foretold of the lawlesse crew of Daniels people that would deal corruptly concerning the holy covenant 2. It was greatly consequent to renew the covenant to the children for now all their fathers were dead of the first numbring and so it was very fit that the children should be taught the fathers holy Religion by way of covenant the better to watch over their hearts before they went over Jordan to possesse Canaan 3. Moses repeats divers passages of Christ in three former chapters of Deuteronomie as a preparation and then most pathetically exhorteth to the obedience of Christ Deut. 4. and prosecutoth the same exhortation in chap. 5. where he repeat Exod. 20. and mark the second and third verse of chap. 5. in these words The word onely must be understood as in Cor. 1.17 Deut. 6.13 10 20. and so the Rabbins of the Jews understood it vid. Mr. Ainsworth Not with our fathers onely made Jehevah this Covenant but with us This doth not onely look to them of the first numbring that died in the wildernesse but to Jacob Isaac and Abraham and so Tremellius it was verily the same covenant for substance that was made with Abraham renewed in the wildernesse and exhibited fully and plainly in Christ but in respect of times and persons it is called a divers form of covenant vid. Heb. 8. So he yea I doubt not but we may go higher even to that promise of God to our first Parents Gen. 3.15 and to Noah Gen. 6. Promise and covenant are often taken promiscuously and it is for our comfort so to understand It is much for our edification and comfort in the holy faith so rounderstand the same promise made to our first Parents concerning Christ for they had sacrifices to seal the covenant of their salvation to him the same was made with Noah Gen 6. and the same with Sâ—m whose God was God blessed for ever Abraham Isaac and Iacob and in that covenant all the visible Church were ingaged before Moses to observe it and it is called the way of Christ and his charge in his commandements statutes and Laws Gen 26.5 These were enjoyned by Christ and by most godly tradition propagated in godly families from father to child untill Christ commanded Moses to put all these Laws and histories of Genesis into writing with sundry other Laws because the Church was now grown into a large common-weal and were to dwell in a Land by themselves as Christs peculiar people I will adde one Text in Leviticus to stablish our hearts in sound Doctrine chap. 25.23 The Land shall not be sold for ever for the Land is mine for ye are strangers and sojournens with me This text shews what all the Polity of Christ by Moses aimed at even faith and love in the Son of God Christ Iesus this text hath irradiant beams over all the holy Doctrine What a worthy exercise might a godly Oratour of a congregation a Scribe taught unto the Kingdome of heaven that hath his wits exercised in the word of righteousnesse make hence to an Auditory 1. You are strangers and sojourners with me How might he amplisie this from other Scriptures 1 Chron. 29. Psal 39. and 119. Heb. 11. by the godly example of the Nobles of all ages 1 Pet. 1. and 2.11 2. From the coherence of matter in the verses preceding and following that those that confesse in heart this Doctrine of Christ that they are but strangers and sojourners in this cursed world they must not oppresse and vex one another in setting and leting in buying and selling but deal justy and mercifully one with another 3. It will afford an heavenly meditation to consider how and why the Lord should say he is a stranger and sojourner in this world surely this Text sheweth how Light Life and immortality was brought to light by the Gospel in Moses and in Leviticus 4 All Deuteronomie is the abridgement of Moses Sermons for one moneth The Apostle Heb. 9. doth dilate much on Exodus and sheweth it was a Covenant of grace in Christ Deuteronomie must be understood to be the same covenant with Exodus
souls go to the dark places of torment in Hades in the unseen world of souls and in this sense also Hades is also used in heathen authors and in some Greek Fathers being rightly alledged as it hath been well observed by Dr. Lighâ—foot in Acts 2. and by M. Bro who hath also observed that in no Greek author nor in aâ—l the new Testament Hades doth onely and properly signifie the place of torment So in Philemons Jambâ—iâ—ks two paths are in Hades one of the righteous the other of the wicked 4. The Reader may please to take notice that in these interpritations explications I have not run without good company but learned men and Churches that have suffered much for the truth of the Gospel have thus thought taught and written P. Martin and M. Buceâ— that held the stern of Religion in the dayes of King E. ward the sixth The first at Oxford and the other at Cambridge These two godly men were as good Divines as the world saw for a 1000 years as it is testified by Mr. Bro in a Treatise of the Article printed 1599 they brought into our native Countrey the Zurick Confession which was allowed by King Edward the sixth and by Queen Elizabeth The Confession is in these words Per inferos intelligimuâ— non locum supplicis designatum impiis sed defunctâ—s sideles quemadmodum per superas â—dbuc supâ—r stâ—es in vita proiâ—de anima Christi descondiâ— ad inferos id est delatâ— est in sinum Abrakâ— in qua collects fuâ—runt omnes d functi fideles ergo cum latâ—oni secum crucifixo dixit Hodie erâ—s mecum in Paradiso promisit ei consortium vita beatorum spiritum Licet enim Dominus descendâ—sâ—e dicâ—tur fit tamen ex more â—â—quendi Confitemur in hus articulâ— animas esse immortales â—asque pâ—otinus a morte â—oâ—porealy ansiâ—e ad vitam And the right Reverend Mr. Hen. Bullenger the godly Tiguâ—ine Professor doth record this very Confession on the Article of Christs descent as it is to be seen in his seventh Sermon in his first Decade towards the latter end of that Sermon I acknowledge that I never saw the Zurick Confession but as I find it recorded in other mens writings but that of Reverend Bullengeâ— is translated into English and printed many years ago His words translated run thus By Hades Hell we understand not the place of punishment appointted for the wicked but the place of the faithfull that are departed even as also by the higher parts we understand them that are yet remaining alive wherefore the soul of Christ descended inro hell that is to say it was carried into Abrahams bosome wherein all the faithfull already departed were gathered together therefore when he said to the thief that was crucified with him this day shalt thou be with me in Paradise he promised him the fellowship of life and of the blessed souls c. And prefently after Bullenger calls this article The article of the souls immortality in this article saith he we confesse that the souls are immortall and that immediately after death they do passe to life and this he speaks of all the Saints that have died in the faith of Christ from the beginning of the world 5. I find that many learned men of our native Countrey have and do wave as evil the translation He descended into hell and do hold the two former interpretations to be impertinent to the true scope of it and I believe that more and more will do so daily unlesse such as be too carelesse in taking the pains of the mind to search into the true knowledge of the things of God for indeed many Students care for no more but what they have received by Tradition 6. There is a Dictionary that is called Portus Dictionary and another little book a kind of Dictionary called â—lementa Graeca which shew that Hades among other acceptations doth signifie heaven as well as hell and some learned do record that in the Macedonian Greek dialect children are taught to pray Our Father which art in Hades Also there is another little book of 22 pages put forth lately in English by a godly learned man eâ—tituled Of the Article of our Creed Christ descended to Hades or ad inferos This little Treatise will much help to guide common Readers on this Subject 7. It is very usefull for the godly Reader to be well acquainted with the severall phrases of the holy Scripture and in speciall of the term soul the Reader may see the various acceptations of it in Ainsworths Tables after his translation of the five books of Mâ—ses He sheweth that the term soul is taken 1. For our naturall estate Gen. 2.7 2. For person Gen. 12 5. 3. For life Gen. 19.17 4. For mind of will Oen. 23.8 5. For Ege t is ille I thou he Gen. 17.4 6. For ones self Deut. 4.9 7. For a dead body Levit. 19.28 8. The word translated descended in the Creed is of great use to be rightly understood for in that place it doth not mean a going down but it means onely a passage from one place to another as they may easily observe that have but a little skill in the Greek Concordance to the new Testament Also it is to be noted that the Pronoun ille he spoken of the person must yet be understood of the Soul in this Article He i. e. his soul passed from his body to Hades to Paradise to heaven to God Again it is spoken of the person he rose from the dead the third day this must be understood of the body Some Objections answered Objection 1. He was crucified dead and buried and went to Hades to the unseen world The third day he arose from the dead and he ascended into heaven Whence some object that then Christ ascended twice which is not likely say they that there should be such a Tautâ—lâ—gie in so short an Abridgement of the faith Answer Is it not great pity that we should be educated in the Articles of our faith as to make such an ignorant Objection as this I grant that Christ ascended twice but yet it was in two differing sorts as it is expressed in two severall Articles of our faith 1. In his holy rationall soul onely when he died on the Crosse and that passed from his body immediately to Hades or to the unseen world of souls and in those dayes it was heedfull to professe this Article of the souls immortality as an Article of the faith because of the Sadducean Tenent 2. Forty dayes after his Resurrection he ascended into heaven both in soul and body together as the first fruits of them that sleep 1 Cor. 15. 30. And thus you see a necessity that the Articles of our faith should professe his ascending twice in these two differing sorts Objection 2. Some do scoffingly object because we make Christ to blesse God in Psal 16.10 and in Acts 2.27 because he would not leave his soul
in Sheol or in Hades Answer 1. I have foâ—merly shewed that Nephesh which we translate soul in Psal 16. must be understood of his vitall soul and not of his rationall soul But suppose it were meant of his rationall soul yet it is not to be scoffed at that he should blesse God for not leaving his soul in Hades heaven till his body saw corruption Câ—ristopher Carlile in his Descent shews in page 47 48. That souls in joy have an earnest affection to be united to their dead bodies that so they may both together partake of the same glory and Weams in his Portraiture Pag. 33.34 speaks just to the same effect Objection 3. Some object that many Creeds have left out this Article and thence they conclude that it is but a suppositious Article Answ 1. * Is it not strange that any should be so far blinded as to think that the pen man of the Creed should speak of the crucifying death and buriall of the Lords body and yet should omit to record the immortall state of his holy and precious soul when he sent out his Spirit into the hands of his heavenly Father sâ—eing there were so many Sadduces living in those ancient dayes that denied the immortality of the rationall sou 2. Some reasons may also be rendered why some Creeds might after a while leave it our 1. when the immortall state of the soul was generally believed and not doubted of it might be left out 2. When other tongues could not find a fit word that could attain to the large sense and elegancy of the Greek word Hades then the learned seeing it might be mis understood might in wisdome rather choose to leave it out 3. When the mysterie of iniquity did so increase that Christendome was darkned by the smoke of the Pit as hath been touched from Apoc. 9. and that learning was grown so weak that most did not know whether the soul of man did ascend or descend or whither the godly soul went after death I say when the holy doctrine was so exceedingly darkned aâ— it was in the 10 11 12 13 14 and 15 Centuries and that the Article of descending to hell was so corruptly expounded then also some learned of latter times might leave it our as they did in former times for the former Reason These things I thought necessary to advise the Reader of because not many though some have written of this Subject I thought it my duty therefore to adde these Considerations for the benefit of the godly and studious Reader and I hope that my endeavour will not be in vain in the Lord. CHAP. XXXIII Of the Phrase of Abrahams Bosome THis Phrase The Bosome of Abraham did arise and was made familiar as I suppose by the faithfull Hebrew Rabbins before our Lords dayes upon this Consideration 1. The Covenant of God in Christ was made with Abraham and his Seed that in his Seed all nations should be blessed and thereupon such as desired to be partakers of that blessednesse must be of Abrahams faith and must testifie their desire by receiving Circumcision the Seal of that Covenant and then they were also received into his house or into his Church and so they were as it were nourished in Abrahams Bosome where they were nourished by Gods Ordinances and so Abraham was very hospital to all but especially to them that were of the houshold of his faith he received and nourished such not onely with temporall but with spiritual food he taught them the way of God in Christ and instructed them in the true meaning of his Commandements Statutes and Laws all which Abraham observed and kept and he is commended of God therefore in Gen. 26.5 and long before this God said of Abraham I know him that he will command his sons and his house after him that they shall keep the way of the Lord that is the true Religion faith and obedience prescribed for men to walk in as in Gen. 18 19. compared with Acts 18.25 26. Deut. 8.6 and 10 12. and therefore all the faithfull of his house might at their death expect to be made partakers with him of the heavenly City which God had prepared for them and therefore when they died they might still be said to be in Abrahams Bosome for all the faithfull whether they continue alive in this world or depart this life in the faith of Abraham are called Abrahams children and therefore when they die their spirits go to Paradise to Abrahams Bosome In like sort the faithfull being yet abiding here in this valley of tears are said to sit in heavenly places and to eat and drink with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdome of God Mat. 8. and in this respect all the godly whether living or dying are called Abrahams children cherished as it were in his Bosome family and Church both militant and triumphant 2. The holy Patriarch Abraham was so highly honoured of God that he is called the father of the faithfull and the heir of the world Rom. 4 12.13 16. so then his house was the Bosome of the Church into which he received all that professed the true faith for almost 2000 years and in this respect the eternall and blessed estate of the faithfull might well be called the Bosome of Abraham 3. That Parable of the rich man in Hades in torments and of Lazarus Soul that was carried by the Angels into Abrahams Bosome in Luke 16.19 c. Was spoken to the unbelieving Jews and Pharisees and Saâ—duces especially to such as were contemners of Abrahams faith and cared not for the dayes of the Son of Man and therefore they were not glad to see his day as their Father Abraham did and was glad but instead thereof they despised and disdained such as were godly Eleazars whose hope and help Christ is and that he will send his Angels at their death to carrie their souls into the happie part of Hades to Abrahams Bosome where note that Lazarus and Eleazar Faithfull factors in far countries for their Masters need not fear to be called home so the great Lord and housholder when the servonts are called to give account of their trading by the Talents they received we know what the Lrd will say to them that can give a good account Maâ— 25. are but one name though differing in Dialect 3. That Parable of the rich man in Hades in torments and of Lazarus Soul that was carried by the Angels into Abrahams Bosome in Luke 16.19 c. Was spoken to the unbelieving Jews and Pharisees and Saâ—duces especially to such as were contemners of Abrahams faith and cared not for the dayes of the Son of Man and therefore they were not glad to see his day as their Father Abraham did and was glad but instead thereof they despised and disdained such as were godly Eleazars whose hope and help Christ is and that he will send his Angels at their death to carrie their souls into the happie part of Hades
that the Article of our Lords going to the joyes of God taught in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should be taught people of suffering hell-torments that when we should be taught to understand Hades of heaven we have been instructed to understand it of hell but we hope it will be so no more to put darknesse for light and evil for good 3. But now of latter times some learned seeing the native meaning of the greek in the Article will neither justifie the translation nor the exposition that is made upon it and yet still they do labour to make the matter good about hell-torments and therefore they have endevoured by the Scriptures to fortifie that opinion which how orthodoxly they have done it is hoped men may have leave to examine which if it be denied then we shall transfer the infallibility of the Pontifician chair justly decried to them whom we know will not arrogate any such thing 4. Are Orthodox Churches so infallible in all things may not godly learned men utter unsound Doctrines and much miscarry in matters of sound judgement and application It is possible they may There were in times past three godly Divines none like them now on the earth yet they did not speak of God right things although they thought they spake in the behalf of God I will transcribe what is spoken of them 5. Hear now my reasoning and hearken to the pleading of my lips will you speak wickedly for God and talk deceitfully for him will ye accept his person will ye contend for God Is it good he should search you out Job will tell us that it is not good to defend Gods cause with an error pretending Religion or as one mocketh another do you so mock with him He will surely reprove you if you do secretly respect persons Shall not his excellency make you afraid and his dâ—ead fall upon you Your remembrances are like to ashes and your bodies to bodies of clay Hold your peace c. Job 1â— 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. They were holy men and spoke most excellently and we see by this that though they exalted Gods holy justice in their applications yet they spake not righteously as Christ testifieth for the comfort of his servants Job in chap. 42. Thus Job spake to his three friends and we hope we speak to friends and we doubt not but they will remember that we ought not to have the faith our glorious Lord Jesus Christ in respect of persons 6. And we hope our learned will say as Elihu What shall we say to him for we cannot order our speech by reason of darknesse Job 37. and they will acknowledge they know in part and prophesie in part and we hope they wil not be angry if we judge of what they say the Apostle would not be angry but said Judge ye what I say 1 Cor. 10. and we hope they will not deny but that they may know we will not say be instructed in the way of Christ more perfectly 7. May not godly Ministers now speak things not fitting about the sufferings of our Lord and Saviour as if any shall say that he sufferred the second death els we should have suffered it if any shall say he suffered Hell torments for the same reason If any shall say that the Son of God was not Christ for a time when he underwent the wrath of God Also if any shall say that in his agonie in the garden or upon the Crosse he did enter the lists to fight the great combate hand to hand with his angry Father c. c Are these speeches if any shall so say the Dialect of the holy Spirit in his holy Scriptures which he hath conveyed unto us by his infinite good and gracious providence Again if some good men shall have these passages that it was not the violence of his crucifying that cut off his life but the wrath and curse of God swallowed up his spirit and made his heart fail him and that his soul left the body in that agonie Thus if any shall say then one may inter that he felt not the love of God his Father before he yielded the Spirit but died in a cloud but we are taught of God Gen. 3.15 Psal 22 the cicle of ii that when the Seed of the Serpent was so busie in breaking the foot soal piercing the hands and feet of the * morning Star that he with an holy peaceable and quiet spirit as a sheep dumb before the shearer committed the cause to him that judgeth righteously and prayed Father forgive them for thy know not what they do And it is said in Psal 16. that he did alwayes behold the Lord his heavenly Father before him and that he was still at his right hand that he could not be so moved or disturbed in soul as some talk The world was made to shew principalities and powers and thrones and dominions the contrary that he would rule all his souls affections in an holy and glorious manner and by that Justice make a new world and that he the second Adam had power over his affections more than ever the first Adam he had power to trouble himself with grief and sorrow and to be affected with grief and sufferings from others and to rejoyce as he saw occasion he could rule his affections as he did the waves of the sea so far to go and no further such an holy Majesty appeared in all his Sufferings at all times but especially in his agonie in the garden and sufferings on the Crosse In all which he carried himself beyond the comprehension of men and angels And this doth more appear if we consider the sweet heavenly and calm conference he had with the repenting thief on the Crosse He that bade us possesse our souls in patience that so in all afflictions we might enjoy our selves he much more did enjoy himself by his patience and obedience and as David in type saith I waited patiently for the Lord and he enclined his ear unto me and saved him from the pit of tumultuous as flictions So the Lord Jesus was from the fear of death Heb. 6 5.7 Again he loved his enemies and did good to them that hated him and prayed for them and bade us so to do and to overcome evil with goodnesse thus the LORD ruled his affections and gives us grace for grace so to do as Stephen c. And in that agonie in the garden there was an angel from heaven strengthening and comforting the humanity so that he was neither forsaken as some understand forsaken of the Father nor of the holy Angels and if God had forsaken him what Angel durst come to comfort him That we may better understand the term forsaken The rich man we know was forsaken of God for he was in torments under the second death and therefore he might not have so much as a drop of water to cool his luxurious palate much lesse might he have an holy Angel
for they were bound to observe the whole Law that is all that the Priesthood of Levi taught them and so Christ is of no effect for if they thought by the Law ceremoniall or morall ex opere operato to be justified Christ would be of no comfort to them by this Tenent they denied the grace of free justification by Christ mind also Gal. 4 9 10. 5. Let it be considered from this time forward concerning this point of justification whether it be not better to use the terms and phrases setteth free freeth and freedome for seeing our godly learned do so translate in some places we may have Christian liberty so to render and interpret the Noun and the Verb of the Greek in other places if it may be done with rationall understanding according to the analogie of faith 6. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself not imputing their trespasses unto them The Apostle saith to Philemon If Onesimus oweth thee ought compute count or reckon it to mine account The word I suppose is the same a meraphor from debts in books therefore may it not better be said for clearing doctrine not counting not computing not reckoning their trespasses unto them in the words impute compute count or reckon is not much difference so the point be cleared to our understanding 7. Our sins are called debts which we cannot justifie or free our selves from nor pay or satisfie for by all the means that we can use as from our selves and we are naturally so vile that we care not to be reconciled and therefore naturally we care not for the word of reconciliation but are enemies to God and have a very ill opinion of God because of love to our sinfull appetites and because of the soulnesse of offenses which the conscience doth accuse us of 8. But our mercifull God heavenly Father determined a way from all eternity to reconcile us to himself by sending his dear son a second Adam to take humanity and in humanity to give himself to death for us a sacrifice offering of a sweet smelling savour and for this sacrifice of his beloved son he doth not count he doth not reckon our debts and trespasses to us but doth pardon them doth forgive them doth justifie us that is doth free us from the guilt and * In all these speeches it is not to be understood temporally although by the blood of the Covenant we are comforted in all conditions Zach 9.11 but chiefly stil to be under stood of eternal freedome redemption and salvation Dan. 9.24 Adoption is the fruit of redemption Gal. 4. punishment of them and this he doth to all that by the word of reconciliation are by the mighty work of the Spirit perlwaded to embrace by faith Christ Jesus the Mediatour sent down from heaven from the Father to be our Prophet Priest and King and they that so receive Christ and believe in him shall have this dignity to be called Gods adopted children in Christ and by this most glorious Grace of adoption in the Sonne of God beleevers are stated into a most joyfull capacity of being heirs to the inheritance of the Saints in light for that the spirit of God doth by the same word of reconciliation regenerate them or cause them to be borne again not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God to serve God in their spirits in the Gospel of his Son and so to be meet persons for that inheritance This was the sum of the Apostles message in his ambassage to the Gentiles 9. God the Father doth justifie for Christs sake as the first person for he is the first cause in order of the persons the father is the first efficient 2. The Lord Jesus Christ doth justifie us as the meritorious cause and so he is the second efficient this maketh the Apostle often to say Grace be with you and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ the son of the Father 2 John 3. and the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the son doth regenerate us and qualifie us with the grace of faith as the condition of applying the said justification and doth seal to our hearts God the Fathers justification from the sons redemption 10. Dicaiosune is the effect of dicaiontai Acts 13.39 justification or setteth free and freedome differ as the form and applying of the form to the subject Dicaioumenoi c. is the act of God the Father upon or to a believing soul freeing him from the guilt and punishment of sin for the merit of Christs sacrifice also dicaiosune is that freedome that God the Father bestowed upon the repenting and believing Apostle Paul Phil. 3. So dicaiosune is the effect of dicaioumenoi and diacontai the freedome that a godly soul finds in himself from God that justifieth or setteth free and the holy Ghost by the word of * The holy spirit dothregenerate by the word John 3. Ephes 5. Tit. 3. and by this new birth saith and all other graces are manifested reconciliation doth work faith which doth ovidence that soul to be the subject of that freedome as Gal. 2. and although every godly man hath not as himself apprehends that Plerosoria yet he knows his heart is reconciled to God to love the Lord and his wayes and doth rest on the Promises of God in Christ for salvation and onely by him 11. This I suppose may be thus illustrated a Kings son that is obedient to all his fathers commands hath a promise that for such and such performances he shall obtain his favour for any Traytor that he shall please to intercede for thereupon he doth by the vertue of his Fathers promise and his performance intercede the Kings dicaiosis justification of the said Traitor and the King doth justifie that is doth pardon setteth him free from the guilt of his sin and punishment provided he will repent and accept the said pardon and therefore that he may be the subject of the said pardon he doth repent believe it and accept it and so comes out of prison and when he hath this pardon and freedome under seal granted him he may truly say here is my dicaiosune Justification freedome and pardon from my guiltinesses and punishment due for them he will not say nor cannot say the personall righteousnesse honesty and obedience of the Kings sonne is reckoned to him for his righteousnesse but this is all his righteousnesse and it is enough even pardon and freedome from his offence and the desert of it and received into favour this it a compleat attonement and reconciliation through the Kings sons intercession the offender is not onely pardoned but also is restored to his former yea to a greater honour and favour with the King and what can he desire more for the comfort of a subject From all which the Delinquent if he have any ingenuity will shew much love both to the King and his son
thy prayer came forth the word which I am come to tell thee because thou art greatly beloved therefore conceive the word and perceive the clear vision Which is seventy Sevens of years are accounted for thy people and for thy holy City to finish trespasse offerings and to end sin ofierings and to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring righteousnesse everlasting and to seal vision and Prophet and to shew Christ the holy of holy c. Thus we see the ground-work of Mr. Bro. is a Rock as firm and stable as Mount Sion that we might build on Christ the Rock spoken by an Angel So the Angel speaking from heaven makes the begininng of the seventy Sevens to be from Daniels prayer and their ending to be at the glorious manifestation of MESIAS i.e. Christ to be the Holy ef Holy which was seen in his healthy passion and glorious Resurrection 5. Let us further consider the speech of the Angel which I noted before and think it worth the noting again who saith to Dantel Conceive the word and peâ—ceive the clear vision By this commandement doubled for more vehement charge he condemneth the world that regard not to be instructed in this Doctrine sent from heaven by an Augel unto Daniel and penned for all Nations use Wherefore We must give better heed unto that speech lest we wilfulyswerve for if the word spoken by Angels fall our sure and every trespasse received just recompence How shall we escape neglecting so great a charge of our King unto out own salvation where the vision is so clear that no doubt can be moved by any plain heart that will rest in the clearnesse of the most bright message by the Angel of glory who coming to teach all the world was to shine in words as Stephen by him did in the face when he spake the Angels words Acts 6. That Jesus of Nazaret would deftrroy the place city and Temple and change the Lawes which Moses gave To this day the blind Jews stand in this that the Laws of Moses shall continue for ever Maymon Tom. 1. de lege Perek 9. Therefore God seeing their dullnesse would have an Angel of light to teach them by this Prophecy 490 years when from the year of that Message unto Daniel the Laws of Moses should have their end And none of the Scribes when Herod was affrighted objected disagreement for the time which thing had been done if any colour of disagreement could be brought so none in all the new Testament touched disagreement in the time Mr. Bro. upon Daniel 6. Who would think to say the sveenty Sevens are a time not certain when as the holy Angel divides them into three parts seven sevens and sixty two sevens and one seven for the seven sevens he sheweth the troubles the â—â—â—dly returned from captivity should undergo before the Temple should be built and City walled and Christs should be born towards the latter part of the 62 Sevens and the last seven the last half of it our Lord would by his preaching and teaching three years and an half and by his death confirm the Covenant 7. Another weighty reason though noted other where That there was great need that Gods Israel and all the world should have know a definitive sentence from God how long Canaan and Jerusalem and Temple should have their Prerogative and how long sacrificing should be there lawfull and acceptable and when the partition-wall should be broken down and when the Gentiles should be brought into equal Covenant and this definitive and determinate time is most graciously demonstrated to us in the seventy Sevens It is not mans * Vâ— Mr. P. his Epistle prefixed Eulogia nor his Chrestologia nay rather nor his Mateologia that shall dis-anull the holy Chronologia of the holy Bible And therefore most cordially we do protest against the unworthy dealing of Mr. Sarson and Mr. P. in the premises not doubting but one of them will seriously think of his doings and be humbled though he saith he is unmoveable pa. 65 and that hence forward he will adhere and subscribe to the propriety of the word for tropes may not be sought where propriety standeth well enough and cleave to the lively Oracles of Iehovah the God of Israel And what Chronologie can be plainer then those of the holy Scriptures on which we rest and rely First on the accounts of the Fathers to the Floud Secondly the Fathers ages to the death of Terab upon whose death the promise to Abrabam was given Thirdly From that promise to the Law of the Passeover Exod. 12. Fourthly Thence to the building of the Temple 1 King 6. Fisâ—hly Thence to the burning of it which was in the nineteenth of Nebuchadâ—ezay Sixthly Thence to the ending of the Captivity in Babel Seavenshly Thence that sweet Heavenly scripture the I amp of all the Old Testament and the Abridgment of the New the Seavensy Seaveus which began from Daniâ—lls prayer and ended at the death of Christ All these Journeys of the Sun before largely shewed now breifly expressed were created to serve the Son of righteousnesse and are sure clear and certain and in their holy use have the power and strength of the Almighty But as for the Olimpiad accounts in this respect D.R. and Mr. P. c. would have us fall into the plame of 2 Tim. 4.4 we do not reston them but detest to take up their names into our lips it was the offering to a strange God to Divels to new Gods which came newly up which the holy Patriaâ—ks and Prophets and Saints of old feared not nor served What is this must we and our children regard the * fabulous toyes stories and accounts from this man that wan the Stadion this Olympiad or from that man that wan it in another or from that man that acted his part bravely as a gladiator this Olympiad or from him that acted the next Olimpiad or from this foot race and this horcerace that this man atcheived at this Olympiad or the foot race and horse-race that another man archieved at another or from the accounts of the Archontes of Athens or from the accounts of the building of Rome or from the accounts of the lying Caldeans as Daniel ever found them so to be Must I and our children hearken to these abominations and neglect the word spoken by an Angell from Heaven no surely but let all this cobweb-stuff of Doctrines of Divels be left to them to whom it belongs we are sure not to Christians this further warning I give to the people of God our Brethren For it is a shame that our godly learned Mr. Bro. in Advertis pa. 25. or any should contend to teach or to be taught by these Olym piads how to understand an * Angel of light sent by the grace of God to teach all the simple world into whose lips if grace were not poured to be unnerstood as soone as he spake Heaven would say Daniel
the Iewes repairing of Jerusalem in Chanaan and of the great businesses that will follow thereupon Some Teachers have silled the Churches full of mateologie and fond expectations CHAP. XLVII That Daniell is alleadged in the New Testament to prove the Messiah to be already come MR. P. saith in pa. 52. That in no place in the New Testament this prophecy of Dan. 9.24 25 26 27. is used against the Jewes to prove the Messiah already come Of this assertion I suppose I may and ought to say if I say no more that it is un beseening a man of God and a Minister of Messiahs Gospell so to say For 1. Stephens speaches to those that disputed with him and to the Councâ—ll sheweth that he spake the words and Doctrine of the holy Angel Act. 6. 7. and as he had the Angels words so he had his countenance This I have noted and it seems there is necessity to note it often and to say as the thing is Stephens contestation is the sum of the Angels message if Mâ—ssias shall destroy the holy Place and change the Mosaicall customs then no longer an holy Mountain then no holy City then no peculiar people then no holy Land all these depend each upon other but the Lord God doth give us further illustration For 2. Where â—ver we read the attribute Christ in the new Testament we must remember it to be the attribute of Messias from Dan. 9. there given as a proper name of the Son of God so used of his Nation in expectation of him and no place in the old Testament but Daniel useth it as a proper name the Hebrew word is in Greek letters and that in the mouth of the simplest as Andrew the fisher man and the Samaritan womans shewing that the Samaâ—itâ—ns as well as Jews knew when Christ should come into the world Job 1.4 3. Our Lord teaching to forgive as God in Christ forgave us alludeth to this Oration of the holy angel teaching Peter to forgive seventy times sevâ—n times Mat. 18. 4. The Angel Gabriel saith that Christ shal make reconciliation for un-righteousnesse The Epistle to the Hebrews goeth upon this point that the Son of God the Mâ—ssiaâ— the holy of holy by himself should purge our sinâ— should procure remission of sins and should be the reconciliation for our sins Rom. 3.1 John 1. and 2. 5. The angel saith Christ shall bring everlasting justification the Apostle saith to the Hebrews Christ by his own blood entered once into the holy place the very heavens and found eternal redemption for us 6. The angel saith Messias shall seal vision and prophecy The visions and propheciess and ceremonies all tended to our redemption by the Son of God When that was manifested young men and maids might be said to see the visions and dreams because they saw the performance of the best part of them They saw Acts 2 what the first Adam looked for Gen. 3.15 How Christ the second Adam by death overcame him that had the power of death to work freedome for them which all their life time with fear were guilty of or subject to bondage Heb. 2. â—5 They saw how the great God of Sem after the flesh perswaded the sons of Iapheth in their own language as Noes allusion Iaph and Iapheth told they saw in whom from Abraham all the families apostared Gen. 10. 11. were to look for the blessing Gen. 12. They saw the last Iubilee gave us an open recovery of our possession of the heavenly Paradise Luke 23.43 Rom. 15 8. They saw how the Lamb of God had taken away the sins of the world having a better Tabernacle than Moses made a sacrifice-hood better than Aharons a sacrifice better than oxen goats sheep and birds a covenant of greaterforce larger extent not onely to the Jew but also to the Gentile They knew what Nathan told David of the eternall Throne and what Daniel dreamed of it chap. 7. and what Gabriel told Mary Luke 1.32 This they knew clearly how all the promises of God in Christ were sealed with yea and Amen Yea the Lord Iesus Christ hath sealed and confirmed the holy doctrine of the old Testament in the holy Evangelists and his holy Apostles in their Epistles and in a wonderfull manner in his Apocalyps shewing how new enemies under old terms did strive against the doctrine of his heavenly Ierusalem and the phrases of holy speech are so couched in the Apocalyps from Moses and the prophets that no one article of new doctrine of faith is taught to the churches 7. The angel saith Messias shall suffer but not for himself so it is said he once suffered for sins the just for the unjust 1 Pet. 3â—18 8. The angel foretold that Messias should confirm the Testament for many the latter half of the last seven and the Lord Christ beareth witnesse to his message by the angel that he was now ready to do that which was foretold and he took the cup and gave thanksâ— and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it for this is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Mat. 26.28 9. When Christ the King had suffered confirmed the covenant the angel foretelleth that afterward in the next generation so Mat. 24 34. by loth-some Infidels he would destroy the city and holy place and his own people with most bitter wars to a final judgement of utter desolations and Messias foretelling the same again as he had done by his angel that when they see Ierusalem besieged by an host and the abominable infidels standing in the holy place Let him that readeth Daniel consider the whole doctrine of the seventy Sevens Mat. 24 Mark 13. Luke 19. and 21. CHAP. XLVIII Shewing how the holy Evangelists expresse the Attributes MESSIAS or CHRIST 1. JAcob begat Joseph the husband of Mary of whom was born JESVS which is called CHRIST Mat. 1. â—6 Chap. 2. When JESVS was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the dayes of Herod the King Behold there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem saying 2. Where is HE that is born King of the Jews for we have seen His Star in the East and are come to worship him 3. When Herod the usurping King had heard these things he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him 4. And when he had gathered all the chief Priests and Scribes of the people together he demanded of them where Messias Christ should he born The Magi from Persiâ— we may suppose They asked Where is the King of the Jews But Herod the usurper he demanded of the learned of the Nation where Messias i.e. Christ should be born so this plainly looketh to Dan. 9. where the Lord Iesus is called Nagid Basâ—â—â—us Messias the King Mat. 2.1 2 3 4. 3. In the godly and ravishing society of Messias Andrew Simon Philip and Nathanael What joyful heavenly conference have they about Dan 7. and 9. and Gen.
28 saith Andrew to his brother Simon We have found that Messias which is by intepretation the Christ and Philiâ—i finds Nathanael and said unto him we have found him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write All the Prophets did write of Christ but none named him Messias the attribute of a proper name but Daniel from the Angels message and the same Angel was sent to Mary to name him Jesus so both those names were given to the SON of GOD not by man but from heaven so in their blessed and heavenly society these speeches were uttered and confessed Christ to be the Son of God to be the Son of man to be the King of Israel and the Messias the Holy of Holinesse and the Ladder of all comfort 4. And Martha's conference with our Lord is most comfortable and full of faith shewing what they all expected and believed I believe thou art the Christ the Son of God that should come into the world to be our life and Resurrection John 5. 5. Pilates speech to the Jews is of great force What shall I do then with JESVS which is called MESSIAS Christ They all said Let him be câ—ucified This looks to Dan. 9. Psal 22. where it is said Messias shalâ— suffer Mat. 27. 6. The questions that were in agitation among the Jews at this time will brighten this matter the signes of the times as our Lord speaketh gave them occasion of moving many questions when John Elies came teaching and baptizing the Jews sent Priests and Levites to ask him Who art thou and he confâ—ssed and denied not and plainly confessed I am not the Messias the Christ Yea the Jews did so expect the Messias that all men mused that John was the Messias they were hardly driven off from the conceit they were to taken with him Luke 3.15 Iohn 1. Therefore this is a strong argument that Dan. 9.24 c. must of absolute necessity be believed to be a proper speech and definitive for the time MESSIAS coming to satisfie the consciences of the faithfull And for that also our Lord foretold of false Christs that would arise as immediately they did and deceived many as our Lord said unto them I am come in my Fathers name and ye receive me not if another shall come in his own name him ye will receive John 5. Therefore he said Search the Scriptures c. and very likely Mr. P. if he had then lived would have been a deceiver and deceived and a false Prophet or a false Christ if he had not believed Daniels Prophesie to be a most clear exact and definitive time from Daniels prayer to the death of MESSIAS So Iohn-Elias sent his disciples to Christ to stablish them in that which he their Master had acknowledged When Iohn being in prison heard of the works of Messias i. e. Christ he sent two of his disciples and said unto him Art thou he that should come or shall we look for another The times did call for all these questions being but a little before the ending of the seventy sevens 7. The adjuration of the Priest to the Lord is very considerable Mr. P. If he had been of the Councel he xitld have objected to him that the seventy sevens were ended long before he was bâ—â—n The high Priest and the whole Synedrion could not nor did challenge the Lord for the time of 70. sevens so where no doubt or question was â—â—va answer needed but the high Priest and most of the Jews thought him too base for such a Messias as they expected and so adjured him to answer to this I adjure thee by the living God to tell us if thou be the Messias the son of the blessed God and Christ answered affirmatively 8. Many weighty arguments depend on these things of Dan. 9.24 as 1 Iohn 4. Every spirit which confesseth Iesus to be the Messias the Holy of Holy is come in the flesh to be a son of man Dan. 7. is of God and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus to be the Messias the Christ is come in the flesh to be a son of man is not of God 1 Iohn 5.1 whosoever believeth that Iesus is the Messias is born of God not simply or barely a confession of the attribute Messias i. e. Christ but a right apprehension of his person and offices Rom 10. his person that he is the son of man Dan. 7. and the holy of holy as touching the spirit of holinesse that raised him from the dead God dwelt in the Messias who is God blessed for ever nor onely to confesse this of his person a Locust from the bottomlesse pit as Satan will chirp out this but to confesse Iesus to be Messias experimentally in our minds and hearts in his offices as he is Prophet Priest and King All the three Offices of Christ as he is Prophet Priest and King are in Dan. 9.24 c. to be Messias Nagid Christ the King that all power is his by donation from the Father to command and rule the Church to restrain apostasie and all adverse power and that he suffered not for himself but for us who by his precious death hath abolished our sinnes and wrought reconciliation for iniquity and hath brought everlasting justification by his once offering up of himself and that he hath sealed vision and Prophesie that we need not expect new revelations that he made himself manifest to be the holy One of God by his Resurrection Ascension and sitting at the right hand of the Power in the higstest heavens and from thence sent gifts to furnish his Church with Offices and officers to teach and gather the elect out of the world to open their eyes to turn them from darknesse to light from the power of Satan to God that they might receive forgivenesse of sinnes and inheritancce among them which are sanctified by the faith which is in him Christ hath confirmed in his Testament all this holy doctrine for the many Jew and Gentile and the Jews for despising the blood of the Covenant have felt to this day the heavy burthen of their own imprecation Matth. 27 25. as their Fathers Num. 14.2 c. All this the holy Apostle Iohn meant and much more unutterable that the Lord Jesus Messias became such a person to be such a mediatour and that testimonie in due time according to the prophesie 1 Tim. 2.6 And the spirit is peremptory and saith whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in this doctrine of Messias which is called Christ hath not God he that continueth in this doctrine of Christ he hath the Father and the Son 2 Iohn 9. 9 It will not be uselesse altogether to observe what Taciâ—us Suctonius Iosephus speak that in all the Romane Empire it was divulged in Augustus caesars dayes that a King should arise in Iudea that should rule all the world This is evident by the Persique Magi. They having discerned an unusall Comet in the air which did
c. The times following were also times of violence and fraud in Pope and Turk Popish superstition still increasing exceedingly till by the two Witnesses it was resisted by Waldenses Wickliff Hus Jerom of Prague and Luther c. and Mahometisme greatly prevailed to the removing of the Candlesticks of the Churches of Asia as it was threatned against them Apoc. 2. 3. and evills in the Churches of the East prevailed by the strength deceit and falschood of the Papacy till that the Turk possessed Constantines Empire and City The Kingdome of Christ our Lord and Saviour under the new Testament was first impugned in the time of the Caesars and in the growing on of the mystery of iniquity Then this Propheticall Office and at last his Priestly Office was striven against which was almost desperately corrupted in the height of the mystery of iniquity in the tenth Century This last was first contested against by Waldenses Wickliffe and Luther c. Then his Propheticall Office was upheld by the faithfull in cleaving to the Divine Oracles of the holy Scriptures and at this day this is the greatest contestation And his Kingly Office hath been but in few places executed for Christian States do not consider as they should the benefits thereof that will redound unto them by true Ecclesiasticall Discipline and much opposition there hath been and is about it But as Christian Governours and Teachers have embraced the two former they will also the other rejoycing to defend onâ—ly Christs Ordinances and hate to maintain any thing of the Beasts marks that they may make good that Scripture of the Apostle of us Gentiles 1 Tim 6.13 I give thee charge in the sight of God who quickneth all things and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good profession 14. That thou keep this Commandement without spot unrebukable untill the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 15. which in his times he shall shew who is the blessed and only POTENTATE the King of Kings and Lord of Lords 16. Who onely hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen nor can see to whom be honor and power everlasting Amen CHAP. LII Of the Attributes or Titles of God Essentially considered AELohim Almighties or Almighty Powers but in Greek the Apostles do alwaies render it singularly Theos God Aelohah Omnipotent or Almighty Job 12.4 Ael Puissant or mighty Gen. 14 18. Jehovah Being of himself and giving being to all things Elion The most High Elionin A Plurall Shaddai Almighty or All-sufficient Gen. 17.1 Adonai My Staies my Pillars Gen. 15.2 Job 28.28 Ehieth I am or I will be Ex. 3.14 Jah In notation much like Jehovah Yzur The Rock the seventy translate it Theos and sometimes Ctistes Goel Redeemer Ghosai Plurall sig my Makers Job 35.10 Abba Father The Power Matth. 26.64 The Feare Gen. 31.57 Psal 76.12 Name Theos God Curios Lord. Creator Master Mal. 1.6 Eph. 6. Eternall God Gen. 21.33 Sabbaoth When he warreth against the wicked he is called Jehovah Sabbaoth the Lord of Hosts or when he performeth great intendments for his Church From these Attributes sundry Vses may be gathered 1. From the Attribute or Title Aeloim 1. Aelohim is a form plurall to teach the mystery of the Trinity which is most necessary to be well marked or else that form were dangerous I say it were dangerous if necessity did not require us to be thereby taught the knowledge of the Divine persons 2. But sometimes it is joyned with a word singular as in Gen. 1.1 Aelohim He created because there is but one Godhead but the plurall form of speaking when it is joyned with a word singular doth necessarily call upon us to know the mystery of the Trinity in the unity of the Godhead 3. This plurall Attribute Aelohim though it be commonly joyned with a word singular for the reason aforesaid yet it is sometimes also joyned with a word plurall as Aelohim He went 1 Chron. 17.21 and so Aelohim They went 2 Sam. 7.23 and so in Jos 24.23 He is holy Gods and in Jer. 10 10. He is living Gods but in Gen. 20.13 it is also joyned with a word plurall They Gods caused me to wonder and in Gen. 35.7 They Gods were revealed to him The Wisdome of God thought these Expressions to be necessary for our instruction in the mystery of the Trinity and in the Unity of the Godhead or else it had been dangerous for Idolatry so to declare himselfe to us 2. Hence we may learn that though sometimes words of the plurall Number be joyned with the plurall Attribute Aelohim yet God did no way intend thereby to teach to worship a plurality of Gods as the ignorant and negligent in the Scriptures are ready to understand it because he hath taken good order to cleer it from that errtour by other Scriptures especially to such as are diligent in the study of the blessed Scriptures he hath cleered his Attribute Aelohim from being taken for many Gods because he hath often put this Attribute into the form singular as by Eloah in Job 12.4 and sometimes by a shorter form El The Mighty in Gen. 14.18 And secondly by joyning it often to a word singular and thirdly by limiting this plurall Attribute Aelohim onely to three persons or Existences in the unity of the Godhead as in Psal 33. 6. By the word of Jehovah the Heavens were made and all the Hosts of them by the spirit of his mouth And saith Ains in Gen. 1.1 The ancient Hebrew Doctors have left Records of this mystery Though at this day that Nation doth not understand it Come and see saith Rab. Ben Iochai The mystery of the word Aelohim There are three degrees and every degree by it selfe alone that is distinct And yet notwithstanding saith he They are all One and are not divided one from another And saith Ains in Numb 15.25 Rabbi Menâ—â—hem on these two Phrases Vnto the Lord and Before the Lord saith from their former ancient Rabbins This it meant of him and his Judgment Hale and no Judgment Hale had lesse then three by which it appeareth that the mystery of the Trinity in the Godhead was formerly believed by the Jewes though now they do oppose the same And the Lord Duplessie in his Truenesse of Religion page 74.75.76.78 doth prove that the ancient Hebrew Doctors held the Trinity But blessed be God our New Testament doth tell us most cleerly 1. That the Father is the Creator Eph. 3.9 2. That the Son is the Creator Eph. 1.8.10 Col. 1 16. 3. That the holy Spirit is the Creator Gen. 1.2 Psal 33.6 Psal 104. 30. And hence it is that Salomon would have young men to make it their care to Remember their Creator in the daies of their health Eccles 12.1 4. Hence we may learn that God is Almighty for the protection of those that feare him and that trust in his gracious promises and he is Almighty to ruinate his Churches