sake and that blessednes cometh on vs which is written Blessed ar they whose iniquities ar forgiven and whose syns ar covered blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not syn Yea God â—as he imputeth not but pardoneth syn so doth he impute justice or righteousnes to vs without works of ours because Christ fulfilled al righteousnes for vs that beleev and we shal be found in him not having our owne justice which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ even the justice which is of God through Faith To teach vs this the first man whom Moses mentioneth to have beleeved the Lord he presently adorneth with this grace that God imputed that to him for iustice And he being made the Father of al beleevers that is written for vs also vnto whom Beleef shal be imputed for Iustice in like weise Thus are we justified by Faith without the works of the Law yea Faith is come in place of al good works as Christ hath sayd This is the work of God that ye beleev in him whom he hath sent this also is his commandement that we beleev in the name of his Son Iesus Christ whom he that hath hath Life he that hath not the son of God hath not Life but who so trusteth to his own righteousnes and committeth iniquity shal surely die as sayth the prophet Thus live we by faith in Christ and that heavenly oracle is fulfilled The iust shallive by his faith 12. This Life and grace is one condition of that everlasting covenant which our God hath made with vs and sayd I wil be merciful to their vnrighteousnes and wil remember their syns and their iniquities no more And being thus justified by faith we have peace towards God through our Lord Iesus Christ whom he hath given to be our covenant and our light he hideth his face from our syns and wipeth away al our iniquities and sayth deliver them that they goe not down into the pit for I have found a ransom Yea now he seeth no iniquitie in Iaakob nor transgressioÌ„ in Israel the Lord his God is with him and the joyful showt of a king is among them though the syns of Iudah be sought for they shal be no more found for the Lord is merciful to them whom he reserveth he hath washed the filthines of the daughters of Sion their transgressions are put away as aclowd and like a mist their syns ar al cast into the bottom of the sea For this the Saincts doe triumph and say who shal lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen it is God that justifieth who shal condemn we wil goe forward in the streÌ„gth of the Lord God we wil make mention of thy Iustice even of thyne onely And thus is fulfilled the saying of the prophet The whole seed of Israel shal be Iustified and glory in the Lord. 13. Yet is their also further grace perteyning to life and godlines given vs of God even our Sanctification whervnto he hath caled vs and which we attayn vnto by fayth in Christ. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation vnto al men and hath appeared doth teach vs that we should deny vngodlynes worldly lusts and that we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world and not continew still in syn that grace may abound VVe are the people of Gods holynes and he wil be halowed among vs he the Lord doth sanctify vs he powreth clean water vpon vs that we may be clean sprinkled in our harts from an evil conscience and washed in our bodies with pure water he taketh away the stony hart out of our body and giveth vs an hart of flesh he putteth his spirit within vs and causeth vs to walk in his statutes to keep his judgements and doe them that we be polluted no more with our abominations nor any of our transgressions and saith vnto vs ye shal be holy for I the Lord your God am holy And this is an other condition of his gracious covenant with vs as it is written I wil put my lawes in their minde and in their hart I wil write them I wil be their God and they shal be my peaple 14. Of this Sanctification ther be two parts which they that long after Life and to see good dayes must seek 1 to eschew evil 2 to doe good The way to attayn these is by the death burial of the old man the corruption of nature and the resurrection of the new that so being dead vnto syn we may be alive vnto God in Iesus Christ our Lord. The old man or body of syn is the whole man sowl and body as he is born by nature even al flesh al the grace and glory therof which the Spirit of the Lord must blow vpon and cause to fade as the flower of grasse that the man may be born again and made a new creature even born of God To work this wondrous change in vs the Lord giveth two special graces the 1 Fear 2 Love of his name by the one to restreyn vs from evil and by the other to allure vs vnto good 15. The Fear of the Lord as it is the beginning of wisdom so did Davids for fear of the Lord and we being afrayd of his judgements His mercies also are shewed vs to this end as it is written Mercy is with thee that thou mayst be feared This grace God giveth to his Saincts to humble them that they be not high-minded but may walk in reverence before him and their harts be in his fear continually that it may go wel with them and with their children for ever for he that feareth the commandement shal be rewarded By this grace hav his people commuinon with him and feel his goodnes for the eye of the Lord is vpon them that fear him trust in his mercy he delighteth in them he wil fulfil the desire of them and nothing shal be wanting vnto them as he hath promised by his prophet their sowles shal dwel in good their seed shal inherit the land and the secret of the Lord and his covenant shal be revealed vnto them Wherfore vnto man he sayth Behold the Fear of the Lord is wisdome and to depart from evil is vnderstanding the reward of humility and the fear of God is riches and glory Life Vnto this therfore let vs take heed for in it is an assured strength by it we shal come out of al extremities that are either too much or too litle and to fear God and keep his commandements is the whole man this leadeth him vnto Life and being filled therwith he shal continew and not be visited with
vnderstanding in the sight and mouthes of al peoples Wherfore David provokes them againe to prayse the Lord who had shewed his word vnto Iaakob his statutes and his judgments vnto Israel and had not dealt so with any nation Paul likewise magnifieth this people greatly because to them were committed the oracles of God to them were the covenants and the giving of the law the service and the promises And this grace was so peculiar to Gods people that the Law is called by the Holie Ghost the inheritance of the congregation of Iaakob as being their proper right given them of God as any other possessiō which they injoyed the Saincts againe taking his testimonies as an heritage for ever for they were the joy of their harts 11. The drift and scope of all Gods oracles was to cal and lead men vnto Christ and by him to the kingdome of heavē where we might glorifie God in our salvation and life eternal Our Fathers from Adam to Moses were quickened comforted with this promise And though Moses gave vs a law which was the ministery of death and condemnation by reason of syn that dwelleth in vs yet even he wrote also of Christ and foreshewed his crucifying and suffrings for our syns in the serpent sacrifices and manyfold services yea the law it self was our schoolmaister to bring vs to Christ that we might be made righteous by fayth in him in respect of whō the covenant was many yeares afore confirmed of God could not by the Law that came after be disanulled 12. The hope of salvation for all mankind was in the promised seed and as God by his word taught men more particularly from whose loynes he should spring so were they to exspect him if they would have life and keep cōmunion with such as should be his Fathers after the flesh When the woman Evahs sons were multiplied and many of them proved wicked the hope of the saving Seed was restrayned vnto Seth set in place of Abel whom the Serpents seed had murdred Then were all to look for the Saviour from him and if they sought him in Cains posteritie they perished for ever Among Noahs children Sem had the prerogative and into his tents must Iapheth though his elder brother come for to dwel and partake of his blessing Chams howse was condemned to bondage After that vnto Abraham was the Gospel preached that in him all nations should be blessed and to his Seed Christ were the promises made then who so beleeved after knowledg of this promise in a Saviour to come of any other man set vp an idol in his hart in sted of Christ. Among Abrahams ofspring Iudah was chosen governour and of him should Shiloh come therfore his fathers sons wer to bow down vnto him because of him should be the Prince Of the tribe of Iuda David was named to be the father of Christ according to the flesh then wer al to beleev in Davids son for redemption from syn and life eternall In fulnes of time the Messiah Iesus came and was born of Marie the virgin according to the promises vnto him now wer al people to repayr and so they did both Iewes Gentils so many as wer ordeyned vnto life And if Adam Noah Abraham the other fathers had now been on earth they must hav embraced this man for their Saviour and not hav sought nor wayted for any other Therfore the Iewes that rejected him died in their syns because they beleeved not that he was Hee and the word of God they had not abiding in them because whom he had sent him they beleeved not but many of the gentils trusted in him after that they heard the word of truth even the gospel of their salvation and by faith became the sons of Abraham and heyres by promise 13. And alwayes before if any of them hethens hearing of Gods great name would repayr vnto his people they there might freely injoy this heavenly blessing to hear the law and promises red taught being vnited with them in faith had one law for sacrifice alother services Yea many such strangers wer in Israel in the dayes of Moses that went with them out of Aegipt and afterwards dayly their number increased that in Salomons tyme they were counted and found a hundred fiftie three thowsand and six hundred persons Sometimes also the Lord sent his word in some mesure home to their own countries as by Ionah to the Ninevites though this was more rare til the Apostles dayes and then the partition wal being broken down God imparted again the glad tidings of his salvatiō to al peoples though the Iewes could not endure it 14. For Christ though he restreyned this grace a while saying to his disciples Goe not into the way of the Gentils into the cities of the Samaritans enterye not yet when he was risen from the dead he sayd they should be his witnesses both in Iudea Samaria to the vtmost of the earth And as he had willed them wher his word should be refused to shake off the dust of their feet against them and depart thence so the Apostles did and travayled from place to place til the people to whom God had not been spoken of did see they that had not heard did vnderstand 15. When thus ther was one sheepfold made both of Iewes and Gentils and their eyes wer opened to see the wonders of Gods law the glorious mysterie of mans redemption reveled and published amongal nations by the scriptures of the prophets they whose harts God opened received the word with al readines and serched the scriptures dayly taking heed to that most sure word of the prophets as to a light shining in a dark place til the day dawned and the day star arose in their harts And though for that word they found tribulation as others before them for whō Christ complayned to his father saying I hav given them thy word the world hath hated them yet received they that word †in much affliction with joy of the holy Ghost accepting it not as the word of men but of God and holding it forth as the word of life which being graffed in them was able to save their sowles 16. For such is the grace and vertue of Gods word that it turneth the sowl reioyceth the hart giveth light to the eyes wisdō to the simple worketh faith in God quickeneth them that hear it comforteth the Saincts in their troubles strengthneth them in their tentations being the sword of the Spirit by help wherof they vanquish their enemies and Satan himself and their own corruptions are freed therby from the servitude of syn It is a soveraign preservative from al evils that might befal vs
evil that he may know that the fear of the Lord is his tresure as sayth the Prophet 16. But because the end of the Commandement is Love out of a pure hart and of a good cōscience of faith vnfeighned Love is the fulfilling of the Law therfore hath God comprised his whol wil touching our Sanctification and obedience in two precepts 1 Thow shalt Love thy Lord thy God with al thy hart with al thy sowl and with al thy mind 2 Thou shalt Love thy neighbour as thy self on these two commandements hangeth the whol Law and the Prophets As evil therfore is to be hated and eschewed so that which is good ought to be loved and cleaved vnto the head and fountain of al which good is onely God himself who first is to be loved and above all but hath given vs this commandement that he which loveth God should love his brother also 17. And as we have of him this Law of love so have we from him the grace to love both him his law and shal from him receive the fruit therof which is Life This Moses shewed Israel of old saying The Lord thy God wil circumcise thyne hart and the hart of thy seed that thou mayst Love the Lord thy God with al thy hart and with al thy sowl that thou mayst Live Thus we love him because he loved vs first and hath inclined our harts drawn vs after him Again because as Christ sayth he that hath his cōmandements and keepeth them is he that Loveth him therefore have we this rule direction given vs by Moses further joyning these two togeither Thou shalt love the Lord thy God and shalt keep that which he commandeth to be kept that is his ordinances and his lawes and his commandements alway 18. From this ariseth much cōfort to the Saints which finding themselves affected with the Lov of God feeling his love shed abroad in their harts by the holy Ghost which is given vnto thē do grow in this grace keep themselves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ vnto eternal life They lov his commandements above the finest gold therfore have much peace and shal have no hurt or scandal their delight is in his cōmandements which they have loved their hands also doe they lift vp vnto them and herevpon doe expect to be quickened and conserved in life according to the loving kindnes of the Lord who preserveth al them that love him keepeth covenant and mercy towards them and causeth al things to work togither for the best vnto them For God is Love as sayth the disciple whom Iesus loved and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him and grace shal be vnto al them that love him vnto immortalitie Moses in spirit foreseing this sayd vnto Israel I cal heaven and earth to record this day agaynst you that I have set before you Life death the blessing the curse therfore chuse Life that thou and thy seed may live by loving the Lord thy God by obeying his voice and by cleaving vnto him for he is thy Life and the length of thy dayes 19. But because our Life is hid with Christ in God though now we be the sonnes of God yet it doth not appear what we shal be but when Christ which is our Life shal appear then shal we also appear with him in glory be like vnto him and see him as he is therfore hath he given vs another grace perteyning to Life and godlines called a living Hope vnto which God of his aboundāt mercy hath begotten vs by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead This vertue respecteth our good that is to come our inheritance reserved for vs in heaven yea thither hath it power to come entring as the Apostle saith into that which is within the vail whither the forerunner Iesus is for vs entred in this Hope we have as an anker of the soul both sure stedfast holding it fast in al tempests of tribulations or tentations knowing as Salomon sayth that ther is an end and our hope shal not be cut-off 20. Ther be two companions and as it were sisters of this grace 1 Faith 2 patience Faith goeth before as the guide and susteyner being the subsistance or ground of things hoped for as Abraham by faith even above hope beleeved vnder hope Patience accompanieth it and teacheth to wayt as it is written if we hope for that we see not we doe with patience abide for it And thus is fulfilled that which Isaias sayth he that beleeveth shal not make hast and consequently shal not be ashamed but being assured that he which shal come wil come and wil not delay though he tary yet we wayt as the prophet biddeth vs because the Father which hath loved vs hath given vs everlasting consolation and good hope through grace and hope maketh not ashamed yea we rejoyce in hope as being the thing wherby we ar saved he which is the God of hope filleth vs with al joy and peace in beleeving and causeth vs to abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost 21. One of the special promises which the anker of Hope layeth hold vpon and that by reason of the Covenant of God with vs is the Resurrection of the Dead For as God caling himself the God of Abraham Isaak Iaakob when they wer dead vnto the world but Living vnto him did teach his people therby that he would rayse them vp again from death as our Saviour expoundeth his Fathers oracle even so we all that are in the same covenant of grace and have him for our God do beleev that after our flesh hath ben sown in dishonour and seen corruption it shal be raysed in glory by the power of God for in our graves we shal heare the voyce of Christ at his appearing shal come forth vnto the resurrection of Life And then shall we injoy all the good promises in that Citie which hath foundations whose buylder and maker is God who is not ashamed of vs to be called our God because he hath prepared for vs a citie 22. Thus have we through the grace of our God those three heavenly vertues mentioned by the Apostle 1 an effectual Faith 2 adiligent Love 3 and the patience of Hope in our Lord Iesus Christ by Faith to beleev the mysteries of life and al his word by Love to cleav vnto him and keep his commandemēts by hope to exspect the fulfilling of al good promises which God that cannot lie hath made vnto vs and these three things doe abide with vs during this present life that walking in them we may
THE COMMVNION of Saincts A treatise of the fellowship that the faithful have with God and his Angels and one with an other in this present life Gathered out of the holy Scriptures by H. A. Let thy hand help me Lord for I have chosen thy precepts Psal. 119. 173. Imprinted at Amsterdam by Giles Thorp 1607. To the Christian Reader Grace mercy and peace from God be multiplied THe communion of Christians with the Lord and among themselves is a doctrine good reader both needful and comfortable to be knowen for it is the stay and strength of the soule in many tentations and the meanes to conseâ—v the Church stedfast in faith and love And if in this point mens minds be setled aright vpon the ground of Gods word they wil be as the boards of the Tabernacle standing vpright with their tenons sastened in sockets of silver For what is sweeter to a troubled conscience then the assurance of salvation and what is better to stablish our weak fainting faith then when both flesh and hart do fayl to know feel that God is the rock of our hart and our portion for ever Againe how good is it how pleasant for brethren to dwel togither in vnity like the pretious ointment on Aarons head the dew on the mountains of Sion God hath appointed his holy son Iesus to be the head and governour of his people the author of eternal salvation to al the that obey him He hath set vp also the kingdome of Christ on earth which is his Church the pillar and ground of truth He is the light of the world whom al must folow that would have the light of life Ierusalem his spowse is made bright by his glory the people which ar saved shal walk in the light of it He is the Father this the mother of vs al. Of the Son it is said happy ar al that shrowd in him for he is our hiding place from the wind our refuge from the tempest of Gods wrath of Sion also it is said yâ— the poor of his people shal shrowd in it for there hath the Lord created a clowd by day and flaming fyre by night as when he brought his Israel out of Aegypt vpon al the glorie is a defence there is a shadow in the day for the heat a refuge shelter for the storm and for the rayn It is requisit therfore that al men come to Christ if they would have life and by him vnto the Father abide in communion with them both that they may be found in him and haue the justice which is of God through faith that they may know him and the vertue of his resurrection and the fellowship of his afflictions be made coÌ„formable vnto his death this is as the first and great commandement of the law the second is like vnto it that they seek the place which he hath chosen to put his name there love the place wher his honour dwelleth wher he feedeth causeth his flock to ly-down at noon that thither they bring their riches their glory honour that of every such one the Lord may count when he writeth the people He was born there that so being Christs and children of the free woman heyres by promise they may receiv forgivnes of syns and inheritance among theÌ„ which ar sanctified by faith in him for he hath sayd that his elect shal inherit his mountayn his servants shal dwel there But two things ther are which wil hinder our feet froÌ„ running this way if we beware not of them the one is too much liberty which many men take in the faith of the gospel and obedience of the same whiles they turn Gods grace into wantonnes and abuse his mercy to the fulfilling of their own lusts and licenciousnes wheras they should make an end of their salvation in fear and trembling knowing that even the righteous ar scarcely saved Whiles also they take boldnes to communicate in spiritual actions with any supposing that the syns of some or of the publick congregation cannot hurt them especially if in hart they disallow the evil and condemn the same Such men seem not to discern the nature of communion how far it reacheth or the contagioÌ„ of syn how far it infecteth They seem neyther to hav learned the Law which taught that a man by bearing or touching holy things was not himself made holy therby but a polluted person touching any of them made them vnclear nor the doctrine of the gospel which confirmeth that they which eat of the sacrifices ar par takers of the altar al they one bread one body which partake of one bread wher if ther be but a litle leaven it maketh sowr the whol lump And then look how farr they partake with other mens syns so farr ar they in daÌ„ger to receiv of their plagues The other impediment is over much straytnes which some men hav in their own bowels whiles their feeble consciences ar too much affected both with their own others infirmities Such had need to have their knowledg and faith increased their harts inlarged least by expecting a greater perfection in themselves and others then is to be found vpon earth they faint fall Let such look on the image of Christ as he is portrahed in the scriptures whiles the chastisemeÌ„â— of our peace was layd vpoÌ„ him so shal they find balme for their wounded consciences and healing for their sowles by his stripes and their shivered bones wil reioyce â—or of his cup must we al drinck our parts be baptised with his baptisme into his death before we can tast the sweetnes of his life be vnder the rigor of that schole-maister the Law like servants ere we can perceiv the adoption of sons libertie of his faith and Gospel And if he which knew no syn and had but our syns imputed vnto him felt such feares and sorowes in his pretious sowl and was so smittâ—n of God and humbled so despised and reiected of the world what shal we exspect in whose â—leâ—h ther dwelleth no good thing Let them also look vpon the estate of Christs church in all ages from the beginning how it hath been vexed with troubles terrors within without they shal find Sions case to be continually as a woman in travel whose payns infirmities are sometimes so great that the children come to the birth and ther is no strength to bring forth And when they hav viewed the many tribulations through which the Lord hath led his people how he hath suffred them to be buffeted of Satan persecuted by enemies without and molested w th hypocrites within for their trial humiliation they wil confesse that we must walk here by
faith and not by sight for our life is hid with Christ in God his spowse is black for the Sun hath looked vpon her her own mothers sons hav been angry against her and al the glory of the kings daughter is inward And furthest astray are such vayn men as imagine to themselves a state of perfection as if they had already attayned the resurrection of the dead do disclaime al Churches and societies where synnes are to be seen Moses face is hid froÌ„ theÌ„ as with a veil they discern not the vse of his law nor end of his ministerie for a veil covereth their harts neyther see they the possession that syn hath in them yea in al Saincts so long as they dwel in these howses of clay for which cause they sigh desiring to be clothed with their howse which is from heaven to be loosed and to be with Christ. And when the voyl shal be taken from those mens harts who so farr mistake themselves to be that they are not they wil crie with the Leper I am vnclean I am vnclean wil remeÌ„ber their wares and be ashamed never open their mouth any more because of their shame but will judge themselves worthy to be cut of for al their evils that that they have coÌ„mitted Such also as eyther of ignorance or worse humour doe vnorderly depart and rend themselves vpon every occasion from the church and body of Christ wil walk better when they have learned to bear one an others burden and tread in the steps of Christ his prophets and Apostles who vsed al good means with patience to reclaim the offenders before they forsook them Yet because the faith must not be held in respect of persons neyther may we folow a multitude to do evil and it often falleth out that the faithful city becometh a harlot and they which wer yesterday Gods people are risen vp on the other syde as against an enemie therfore the Saincts should be wise in hart and not hold communion with any but in the Light in the faith in the true worship of God for he is gealous even over his own people and wil not spare their misdeeds but wil take his kingdome from them and remove the caÌ„dlestick out of the place if they repent not as he saith by his prophet You onely hav I knowen of al the families of the earth therfore wil I visit you for al your inquities Thus may ChristiaÌ„s walk as they ar counselled by the wisdom of God not being just overmuch neyther wicked overmuch laying hold and not withdrawing their hand from this that he which feareth God shal come forth of them al. For this cause hav I endevored though the vnfittest among many to help forward in the way of truth such as love the same with me and hav penned this treatise folowing for their sakes that hav not meanes and leysure to serch the scriptures as they should and would or by reason of their weaknes cannot gather and compare the scriptures togither for their coÌ„fort assurance in these points as they desire I have laboured both for playnnes brevity as I could in so large ample argument by references rather sent the reader to look himself into Gods book then to insist vpon collections or expositions of mine own Wherin if any places be alleged amisse or impertinent or things gathered otherwise then the text wil afford as through my ignoraÌ„ce or vnheedines no doubt many may â—e I humbly ask pardon for the same both of God and his people and do 〈◊〉 â—â—â— reader not to rely vpon my judgment in any thing but as himself by the wisdome of Gods spirit shal see agreable vnto truth For if any shal buyld vpon my words with out sure ground from the Law of the Lord he shal first offend God who hath given his scriptures by divine inspiration to teach and perswade al truth to improve and correct al error to instruct in righteousnes make men perfect vnto every good work he shal injury me also who have written these things to be tryed and examined by Christs law not to be accepted for a law and he shal injury his own sowl by relying vpon the word of frayl man whose breath is in his nosthrils which cannot stablish the hart nor assure the conscience in any thing Let therfore the grasse wither the flower fade for it is the word of our God that shal stand for ever Finally this one thing I would advertise thee of good reader that somtimes I alledge the scriptures otherwise then our coÌ„mon translations hav them when the force of the Original words doth afford an other or more ample sence Herin I fear not to be blamed of any that love the truth in incorruption and for the places so changed I leave them to their trial that are men of judgement The Lord who is author of every good gift vnto al men who passeth by the syns of his servants and covereth al their trespasses passe by in mercy whatsoever in this work is done amisse turn these my labours to the glory of his name the benefit of his people Amen Henry Ainsworth The contents of the Chapters Oâ— the communion and peace that was at the first and how soon it was broken Chapt. 1 of the horrible miseries that Divils and men fel into after they had forsaken God Chapt. 2 Of mans redemtion the renewing of his peace by the grace of God in Iesus Christ. Chapt. 3. Who be the Saints of this communion Chapt. 4. Holynes or sanctitie what it is Chapt. 5. How holynes is given vnto God and Christ and how vnto creatures Chapt. 6. How the word was communicated with Adam his children and of the Saints interest in the same Chapt. 7. How God by his word hath alwayes called and separated a people from communion with Divils and wickedmen to the fellowship of his grace by faith in Christ. Chapt. 8. How farr we must avoid communion with Divils and how far with wickedmen Chapt. 9. How the Saincts are caled out of themselves taught to forsake their own wayes and works that they may have communion with God in Christ Chapt. 10. Of the coÌ„munion that we have with God in general Chapt. 11 Of the coÌ„munion that we hav with Iesus Christ our mediatour Chapt. 12 Of our coÌ„munion with the holy Ghost Chapt. 13 How the foresaid coÌ„munion peace between God his Saints is somtimes interrupted by their syns what vnrest and trouble they then feel in themselves how their ancient peace is renewed Ch. 14. Of the communion that the Saincts have in this life with Angels Chapt. 15 How the Saincts on earth are called to a holy coÌ„munion among themselues Chapt. 16. How the Saincts gather into coÌ„munion grow up vnto a body or church Chap. 17.
him his labour his revenues ar vnto syn he himself lieth dead in syns the sowl of God doth hate him Therfore his eyes shal fayl his refuge shal perish and his hope be exspiration of sowl for he offreth the sacrifice of fools and knoweth not that he doth evil he is reprobate concerning faith abominable and vnto every good work reprobate 9. The reward of syn vnto man from the iust hand of God is fearful vengeance curse and death begun in this world to be fulfilled in the next His vengeance and curse God inflicteth sometime by his own powrful hand vpon the bodies and sowles of sinners sometime he vseth his creatures to torment them yea often he vexeth one man by an other and even by himself For man in himself hath confusion and is ashamed of his own body and members his reason wil and affections ar often at warr one with another his concupiscences fight within him rankerous envie fretteth and consumeth him carking covetousnes pierceth him through with many sorrowes his own inordinate lusts doe vex and make him sick and lean generally his whol life he leadeth in vanitie and vexation of spirit al his dayes ar sorrowes his travail grief his hart taketh not rest in the night for he is like the raging sea that cannot rest whose waters cast vp mire and dirt ther is no peace vnto him Again he is often troubled in minde for his misdeeds guiltie fears do torment his conscience and he is condemned of his own hart dispayring of al help mercy at Gods hand wher vpon men dread oft-tymes wher no dread is and the sound of a leaf shaken doth chase them away they flee as from a sword and fall no man pursuing them a sound of fear is in their ears that in their prosperitie the destroyer shal come vpon them neyther beleev they to return out of darknes So that in this miserie lothing longer life some lay violent hands on their own bodies and murder themselves And man to man doth all manner mischief and outrage that they are as beasts vnto themselves by reproching blaspheming robbing defyling captiving and murdering one an other both secretly and openly not sparing their own brethren wives children or dearest freinds in their savage wrath hatred and crueltie The Lord moreover afflicteth their bodies with many greevous and noysom sicknesses their bowels ar inwardly tormented with payns their ioynts and lims with aches silthy leprosies sores and botches do vex and deform them burning pestilent fevers do afflict consume them neyther is ther any part or member from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot which is not smitten wounded even the mind and vnderstanding with phrensie and madnes and the bodies somtime devoured with lice and vermin whiles they ar yet alive 10. The creatures all ar executioners of Gods iust iudgments vpon wicked men The heavens somtyme with-hold their dewes and rayn and become like brasse somtime they send down stormie tempests with haylstones and fyre and other evil influences to destroy the earth the inhabitants fruits therof The Sun smiteth them by day the moon by night the stars from their bulwarks fight against them The earth eyther yieldeth not her fruit but is like yron or bringeth forth thorns and thistles and venemous weeds yea somtimes openeth her mouth and swalloweth men vp alive Honger and famine do afflictt them that for want of food they ar enforced to eat the flesh of their own children The wild beasts prey vpon devour them even the smallest and vilest creatures as frogs flies lice and the like ar ministers of wrath and vengeance vpon the disobedient The syre breaketh out burneth them with their substance the water overfloweth drowneth them The Angels of the Lord do pursue scatter and destroy them And the Divils vnto whom wretched men yield homage obedience do tyrannize over their goods their bodies and their â—owls tearing and tormenting them casting them into fyre and into water depriving them of reason sence and speech having them also in horrible bondage vnder syn working effectually in them and holding them as in a snare vnto their own wil. So that the benefits of God towards them wicked men do abuse to further licâ—nciousnes and presumption by his punishments also they are not bettered but increase impiety as it is written Men blasthemed the name of God which hath power over these plagues and they repented not to give him glory they blasphemed the God of heaven for their payns and for their sores and repented not of their works 11. Therfore after a few evil dayes on earth which also for his sins aâ— shortned the man being broken decayed and worn out with miseries is caused at last to goe to the King of fears death feazeth vpon him and separateth the sowl from the body neyther can any man redeem his brother or giv his ransom to God that he may liv stil for ever and not see the grave but terrours take him away as waters a tempest stealeth him away by night God casteth vpon him his plagues spareth not though he would fayn slee out of his haÌ„d as a whirlwind that passeth so is the wicked no more For his spirit departeth he returneth to his earth then his thoughts perish his form bewty consumeth as he himself so his Name also shal â—ot His sowl being fetcht away from the body wherin it lived and joyed but a litle while in the momentany plesures of sin is brought to the prisoÌ„ of hel wher al daÌ„ned ghosts fearfully exspect their final doom at the great day of God when the sowles being again ioyned with their carkesses which the Lord wil rayse out of the dust the seas and death and hell having delivered vp the dead which were in them they shal be iudged every maÌ„ according to their works done in the body the books shal be opened and all things brought to light that were hid in darknes the counsels of the harts made manifest the heavens shal declare mans wickednes and the earth shal rise vp against him account shal be given of every evil work and idle word and God wil render to these sinners indignation and wrath they shal be cast into the fyrie lake prepared for the Divil and his Angels with theÌ„ be tormented in those eternal flames being for ever separated from the presence of the Lord from the glorie of his power from his comfort life and light Death shal feed vpon them the fyre that is not blowen shall devour them Then shal be weeping wayling and gnashing of teeth with too late repentance and
youth for now ther shal be no more curse but the throne of God of the Lamb that was slayn shal be in the city he wil be merciful vnto his land vnto his people The Angels saw this were glad for our salvation they sung at our Saviours birth Glory to God in the highest heavens and vpon earth peace towards men goodwill And when he was glorified the thowsand thowsands of them praysed him saying worthy is the Lamb that was killed to receiv power and riches and wisdome and strength and honour and glory and prayse The heavens rejoyced for that the Lord had done the lower parts of the earth showted the mountaynes forrests and every tree burst forth into prayses for that the Lord had redeemed Iaakob would be glorified in Israel and al creatures in heaven in earth vnder the earth and in the sea al that are in them gave Praise honour and glorie power vnto him that sitteth vpon the throne and vnto the Lamb for ever more Amen 14. This grace was the Wisedom of God in a mysterie the hidden wisedom which God had fore-determined before the world vnto our glorie but it was hid from the eyes of al the living hid from the fowls of the heaveÌ„ none of the Princes of this world knew it no ye had seen it nor ear heard it neyther came it into mans hart onely God vnderstood the Way thereof and from the beginning of the world it was kept secret and hid in him and stil he hideth it from the wise men of vnderstanding neyther can the natural perceiv it vntil he revele it vnto them by his spirit which spirit sercheth al things even the deep things of God and by it we know the things that are given to vs of God 15. And now he hath opened vnto vs the mysterie of his will according to his good pleasure which he had purposed in Christ he hath proclaymed vnto the ends of the world that the Saviour of the daughter Sion is come his wages with him and his work before him that we might cleerly see the fellowship of the mystery might be able to coÌ„prehend with al Saincts what is the bredth and length and depth and height to know the lov of Christ which passeth knowledge and might be filled with al fulnes of God who hath given vs bewty for ashes the oyl of ioy for mourning the garment of gladnes for the spirit of heavines because our ‡ warfare is accomplished and our iniquitie is pardoned For while we were yet sinners Christ died for vs and when wee were enemies we were reconciled to God by his death and now shal be saved by his life for the chastisement of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes we are healed he hath washed vs from our syns in his blood and purged our conscience from dead works to serve the living God and is gone vp into very heaven to appear now in the sight of God for vs and there to prepare vs a place that where he is we may be also From whence he wil shortly shew himself with his mightie Angels to be glorified in his Saincts and made marveilous in them that beleev who after that they have drunk of his cup been baptised into his death and buriall and walked with him in newnes of life in this vale of tears and fulfilled the rest of his afflictions in their flesh shal have their vile bodies changed fashioned like to his glorious bodie the dead being raysed vp incorruptible and such as live remayn being chaÌ„ged and caught vp with them also in the clowds to meet the Lord in the ayre and so shall they ever be with the Lord their faces shyning as the Sun in the kingdome of their Father 16. Although this mysterie of Christ was not opened vnto the sons of men in other ages as it was at last reveled vnto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the spirit yet was the effect and summe therof made known to all the Patriarchs from the beginning For Iesus Christ was yesterday is to day the same for ever Abraham saw his day and was glad Abel also by faith in him obteyned testimonie that he was righteous which faith he learned of his father Adam who heard of God the riches of this grace freely preached in paradise before the sentence of exile and death was pronounced vpon him namely that the womans seed should crush the Serpents head who also was shewed the way to be by death and sacrifice a shadow wherof he saw in the Lambs then slayn and sacrificed in the service of the Lord. The great afflictions of Christ and of his people wer foretold in the Serpents crushing of his â—eel and the enmitie between the womans seed that Serpents foreshewed also in the murder of Abel the iust by Cain his wicked brother To Christ gave all the Prophets witnes that through his name all that beleeved in him should receive remission of syns and the twelve tribes instantly serving God night day hoped to come vnto this promise So in this hope and exspectation of redemption by the Son of God the Fathers rested and comforted their fainting sowles by faith the evidence of things not seene by which faith they saw the promises a farr off were perswaded saluted them confessed that they were strangers and pilgroms vpon earth and so died having through their faith obteyned testimony but received not the promise God providing a better thing for vs that they without vs should not be made perfect but in patient hope passe out their dayes on earth after death wayt al the dayes of their appoynted time til their changing shall come and then stand vp in their lot with vs and al Saincts at the end of the dayes 17. But al this grace and riches of the glorious mysterie now manifested to the Saincts which is Christ in vs the hope of glory God did not communicate with al men neyther yet doeth save with some few chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world Which little flock have their election not by works but by him that caleth according to the good pleasure of his own wil who without any vnrighteousnes hath mercy on whom he wil and whom he will he hardneth having made as the clay-potter of one lump some men vessels of mercie prepared vnto glorie some vessels of wrath prepared to destruction which yet notwithstanding have many favours and benefits from God to draw them to repentance out of the snare of Satan but all in vayn for they despise the grace proffered vnto them and run headlong into the condemnation whereto they were of old ordeyned
we shal be the sons and daughters of the Lord Almightie 2. This grace God signified to our fathers when he had freed them from the bondage of Aegipt saying ye have seen what I did to the Aegiptians and how I caried yow vpon eagles wings and hav brought yow vnto me now therfore if ye wil hear my voice in deed and keep my covenant then shal ye be my chief tresure above al peoples though al the earth be mine ye shal be vnto me also a kingdom of priests and a holy nation 3. The manifestation and assurance of this grace is to be seen in that eternal Covenant and Oth which he maketh with vs and wherby he stablisheth vs for a people vnto himself and wil be vnto vs a God as he also sware vnto our fathers Abraham Isaak and Iaakob Who were themselves joyned in league with the Lord that had stablished this everlasting covenant with Abraham and his posterity to be God vnto him and to his seed after him but hath now fully and finally ratified in Christ and by that new Testamental bond confirmed in his blood wherby he hath covenanted that he wil be our God and we shal be his people whervpon it followeth that he being ours and we his assured hereof by faith in his gospel we have communion with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ to the prayse of the glory of his grace our eternal happines Whiles he being our God applieth his wisdoÌ„ strength grace and al other goodnes vnto vs for good causeth vs agayn to apply our bodies our minds with all the faculties of them to the honour and service of his majestie and this with such mutuall love and neer conjunction as God is sayd to dwelin vs and we in him and with such peace as passeth al vnderstanding that not without cause doth the Psalmist sing Blessed is the people whese God Iehovah is 4. The persons whom God admitteth into this gracious coÌ„munion are al sorts of people without respect of persons Iewes Gentiles bond men and free male female kings of the earth and al peoples Princes and al judges of the world yong men maydens old men and children wise men and fooles even as many as the Lord our God shal cal The riches of which grace Moses also manifested vnto Israel when he sayd Ye stand this day every one of yow before the Lord your God your heads of your tribes your elders and your officers al the men of Israel your children your wives and thy stranger that is in thy camp from the hewer of thy wood vnto the drawer of thy water that thou shouldest passe into the covenant of the Lord thy God into his oth which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day c. This ample mercy God shewed even then but hath much inlarged since by the sending of his SoÌ„ that it might be seen how he is good to al and his mercies over al his works and that * al flesh might blesse his holy name for ever and ever 5 The original of this grace to the Saincts cometh froÌ„ the electioÌ„ of God who having set his delight in them to love theÌ„ choseth them their seed to be a precious people to himself above al peoples vpon the earth and as he sayth by the Prophet I hav loved thee with an everlasting love therfore with mercy I hav drawn thee From which furder grace proceedeth for they being thus drawen doe run after him and chose him again to be their God and to serv him they chose the way of faith they chose his precepts So is ther a willing joyful covenant made between God and them by mutual agreement vpon most holy and happy conditions which Moses briefly describeth thus Thow hast made the Lord to say this day that is thou hast taken promise of conditioned with and consequently hast chosen him to be to thee for a God and to walk in his wayes and to keep his statutes his commaundements and his iudgements and to hearken vnto his voice And the Lord hath made thee to say this day hath conditioned with chosen thee to be vnto him for a peculiar people even as he spake vnto thee and to keep al his commandments and to set thee high above al nations which he hath made in prayse and in name in glory and that â—hou shouldest be an holy people to the Lord thy God even as he hath spoken 6. The good things communicated with vs of God by that covenant of his grace the Apostle summeth vp when he sayth that his divine power hath given vs al things that perteyn to Life godlines For as he is himself the Living God giver of life vnto al things so is he not the God of the Dead but of the Living To the end therfore that we which wer dead in trespasses and syns and strangers from the Life of God through the ignorance that was in vs and in that estate were not his people might be the sons of the Living God and heyres of the grace of Life it was needful that we should receive from him this grace which els we could not have from any other because with him is the well of life and in his light shall we see light he is our Life and the length of our dayes his precepts and his promises do quickeÌ„ vs and by al that proceedeth out of his mouth doth a man live as that good king Hezekiah confessed vpon his recoverie from death O Lord by them men live and by all of them is the life of my spirit and thou hast caused me to sleep and hast given life vnto me 7. And when we are made partakers of the life of God then feel we the fellowship and coÌ„munion spoken of and as our life encreaseth so doth our joy by the perceiving of our happines we give our selves vnto God as they that are alive from the dead walking before him in the light of the living God also himself walketh with vs leading vs by the rivers of waters in a straight way wherein we shall not stumble and our sowl shal be as a watered garden we shal have no more sorow but shal be satisfied with the goodnes of the Lord our hart shal live for ever To the end therefore that we may in some sort discern this incomprehensible grace let vs consider some principal of the many good things that God doth give vs perteyning vnto Life and godlines 8. And first for that VnderstaÌ„ding is a welspring of Life vnto them that have it the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glory giveth vnto vs the Spirit of wisdome and revelation through the knowledge of him
wherby the eyes of our vnderstaÌ„ding are lightned and we know what is the hope of his caling and what the riches of his glorious inheritance is in the Saincts so he having opened our eyes we see the wonders of his law he causeth vs to vnderstaÌ„d the way of his precepts This is a special point of the happines of Gods people above al peoples of the earth that they hav both his Law for a light and himself for their instructer and so are all the taught of God and have an Oyntment from him that is holy wherby they know al things and need not that any man teach them but as the same anoynting teacheth theÌ„ all things Herevpon the Prophet sayd vnto God I have not declined from thy judgments because thou didst teach me and himself sayth vnto his people I am the Lord thy God which teach thee to profit and lead thee by the way that thou shouldest goe thine eares shal hear a word behinde thee saying This is the way walk ye in it wheÌ„ thou turnest to the right hand when thou turnest to the left Thus the secret of the Lord is reveled to them that fear him his covenant for to giv them knowledge he openeth their mind that they may vnderstand the scriptures he openeth vnto theÌ„ the mysterie of his will and ‡ filleth them with knowledge of the same in al wisdom and spiritual vnderstanding that so they may be partakers of his life as David sayth Give me vnderstanding and I shal live And that this grace proceedeth from his covenant and confirmeth the same himself sheweth when he sayth I will give them an hart to know me that I am the Lord and they shal be my people and I will be their God 9. An other of the gifts perâ—eyning vnto Life and godlines is Faith wherby our Fathers walked with God pleased him wrought many good works obteyned good report and in the end the salvation of their sowles This grace we have not of our selves it is the gift of God who openeth the dore thereof vnto his chosen people which therefore is caled the faith of Gods elect and wondrous is the force thereof in our sowles for by it all things are made possible to vs it is our brestplate it is our shield wherby we quench all the fyrie darts of the Divil it is the victorie whereby we overcome the world by it we walk whiles we are pilgroms here on earth and absent from the Lord by it we staÌ„d in the grace favour of God by it we Live by it our God doth purifie our harts and through it doth keep vs by his power vnto salvation 10. This Faith doth alwayes respect the word of God from whence it ariseth and by which it is wrought in vs through his Spirit which therfore is caled the word of faith and is no vayn word concerning vs but is our Life It looketh also vnto al Gods oracles teaching vs to beleev al things that are written in the law and prophets and in the gospel It causeth vs to apprehend Gods ancient mercies shewed to our fathers as belonging also to vs for so we learn of the Apostles to apply the promise of Gods presence and continued favour with Iosua his imputation of justice vnto Abraham the boldnes and courage of David vpon Gods assistance generally whatsoever things are writteÌ„ aforetyme as being written for our learning comfort and encrease of faith So also wee learne of the Prophets which spake of things done long before as if they had been seene and felt by themselves Hoseas sayth of Iakob God found him in Bethel and there he spake with vs the Psalmist singeth of Gods bringing Israel through the Sea Iarden He turned sea into drie land they passed through the river on foot there did we reioyce in him According to whose examples we that now live and beleev because we have received the same spirit of faith with the Patriarches and have obteyned a like-precious faith with the Apostles may also say with them my welbeloved is mine Iam his I know that my redemer liveth and I live by faith in him who hath loved me and given himself for me 11. The most excellent fruit that we reap of Faith is our IustificatioÌ„ in the sight of God by his grace in Christ Iesus For whereas two wayes of Life Iustice are set before vs in the scriptures the one by keeping the Law of the Lord even al his precepts of which it is sayd The man that doth them shall live by them and again This shal be our Iustice before the Lord our God if we take heed to keep all his commandements as he hath coÌ„manded vs the other by faith in Christ as it is written God so loved the world that he hath given his onely begotten Son that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life the first of these wayes is such as no flesh can be justified by For though the Law coÌ„sisteth of Living oracles and every coÌ„mandement is holy and just and good yet by reason of syn that dwelleth in vs the same coÌ„mandement which was ordeyned vnto life is found to be vnto vs to death For syn taketh occasion by the commaÌ„demeÌ„t deceiveth vs therby killeth vs as when the Law sayth Thow shalt not lust syn worketh in vs al maner of lust so the Law is the life and strength ofsyn in vs that aâ— carnal and sold vnder syn and syn is made out of mesure synful by the commandement the Law entred that the offence might abound Therfore can it not giv vs Life neyther was it given to that end but was added vnto the promise of grace by Christ because of the transgressions and by it cometh the knowledge of syn it also condemneth and curseth al syn and synners and through it are we dead vnto it that we might live vnto God For the terrours therof tormenting our synful sowles we ar forced to seek refuge from Gods wrath in some other which we can not find in any but in Christ whom God hath proposed to be the reconciliation for al our syns whom we apprehend by faith vntil faith come ar kept fast and as it were locked vp vnder the Law wherof we have this excellent vse and benifit that it is a child-leader or scholemayster to bring vs vnto Christ. In whom the justice of God is satisfied for al our trespasses by his death on the tree wheron he was made a curse for vs and redemed vs from the curse of the Law And so our syns which were imputed vnto him shal no more be imputed vnto vs but forgiven for his
places wher they become yet is it most lively seen in their Assemblie and there he is very terrible For this cause did his people love the habitation of his house desired to dwel there al their dayes that they might be hold his bewtie and being absent from it their sowles thirsted for God saving when shal we come and appear before the presence of God for they knew his promise which had sayd In every place where I shal put the remembrance of my name I wil come vnto thee blesse thee they knew God was in the mids of his sanctuary it should not be moved he would help it very early But of this holy societie more is to be spoken particularly in another place CHAP. XII Of the Communion that we have with Iesus Christ our Mediatour IEsus Christ being God manifested in the flesh is given of the Father to be the onely mediatour between him and vs and he hath given him power to execute judgmēt in that he is the son of Man He is the head of the body of the Church in him all the buylding coupled togither groweth vnto an holy Temple in the Lord and we all are built togither in him to be the habitation of God by the Spirit he is the way the truth the life no man cometh to the Father but by him And of him and his mediation this Oracle was spoken of old to the Saincts that their Noble-ruler should be of thēselves their Governour Christ should proceed from the mids of them God would cause him to drawe neer and approach vnto himself when he should ascend and sit at his right hand to make intercession for vs for who is he els that warranteth his hart to come vnto me sayth the Lord And ye shal be my people and I wil be your God 2. As we are made the people and portion of God by Christ brought by him vnto the fellowship and glorie of his Father so is there a special fellowship and cōmunion that we have with Christ being caled therevnto of the Father as it is written God is faithful by whom ye are called vnto the communion of his Son Iesus Christ our Lord. And that this hath alwayes been the chief end and scope of God in al his Oracles since the world began to draw men vnto Christ so vnto himself is before shewed 3. The summe of the grace given vs through communion with our Lord Iesus is cōprised in those words of the Apostle saying that Christ is of God made vnto vs Wisdom and Iustice and Sanctification and Redemption These things he is vnto vs by vertue of his Mediatorship which consisteth in the three functions or offices of Prophecie Priesthood Kingdome committed vnto him by the Father For frō the in most holy place and from the bosom of the Father is he come to declare God vnto vs he is a Prophet raysed vp of the Lord to speak vnto vs al that he cōmanded him and him are we willed for to hear the yles are to wayt for his Law And as he being worthy obteyned to open the book that is in the right hand of him that sitteth on the throne to loose the seven seales thereof because all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge ar hid in him so having made knowen to vs al things that he heard of his Father having declared and stil declaring his Name by his word and spirit he is the Power of God and the wisdom of God vnto vs. And the things which he hath declared are two 1 the Law to shew vs our syn and the evils due for the same 2 the Gospel to shew vs our righteousnes by grace from God with the blessings that flow therfrō He also being our great high priest or sacrificer hath taken away our syns and al the evils accompanying them hath redeemed vs from the Curse of the Law finished wickednes sealed vp sins made reconciliatiō for iniquitie brought the gift of righteousnes or Iustice so by his obedience we ar made just grace shal reigne by justice vnto eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord whose blood doth also purge our consciences from dead works to serv the Living God and by the same hath he sanctified his people and contineweth a Priest for ever and is both our Iustice Sanctification Finally this our redemtion from evil and restauration vnto happines he conserveth maynteyneth by his mighty power frō al enemies whō hee hath subdued vnder his owne feet wil also subdue vnder ours and is therfore named our King whom al kings shal worship al nations shal serv who wil redeem our sowles from deceit violence wil giv vs also the redemption of our bodie and cause our last enimy Death to be swallowed vp in victorie so wil be our ful Redemptiō for ever ever at his appearing with glorie in the day of Redemptiō 4. More particularly touching his Prophesie and our communion with him therin as God gave him for a witnes to the people for a Prince and a Commander vnto them so shewed he himself to be a faithful and true witnesse in that he spake to the world the things which he had heard of the Father This he did in his own person whiles he walked with mē teaching the true meaning and end of al his Fathers Law and vrging the syncere keeping of it in Love freeing it also from the false glosses and leaven of the Pharisees and cutting down their traditions for the Lord to this end had made his mouth like a sharp sword that by the breath of his lips he might slay the wicked He also taught the glad tidings of the Gospel vnto the poor therby healing the broken harted preaching deliverance to the captives recovering of sight to the blind and the acceptable yere of the Lord that whosoever should hear his word and beleev in him that sent him should hav everlasting life and not come into condemnation but was passed from death vnto life So he hid not his Fathers righteousnes within his hart but declared his truth and his salvation he conceled not his mercy and his truth from the great congregation but preached peace and comfort to his people For God had given him a tongue of the Learned that he might know to minister a word in time to him that is weary grace was powred in his lips and they they were like lillies dropping down pure myrrh and his mouth was sweet things 5. As in his own person so did he by others publish the will of his Father vsing hereto the ministerie both of men and Angels He gave and stil giveth the gifts of ministery vnto many men above al other he furnished his
glory of God al precious ornaments of his Spirit And so greatly doth the King delight in her bewty that the words which were spoken to the first woman Evah how her desire should be vnto her husband are now on the other hand as touching the affection of love applied by the Spowse vnto him whom her sowl loveth I am my welbeloveds and his desire is towards me 28. From all that which is before spoken of the Cōmunion that God hath caled vs vnto with his Son it followeth that whatsoever justice and holines was in Christ manifested in the flesh eyther by nature or by actiō the same is made ours by grace and imputation as on the contrary whatsoever syn vnrighteousnes is in vs by nature or action the same is made his by imputation and by him is healed and taken away that it can not be we now should perish if we hold fast our faith and confidence of rejoycing vnto the end Whatsoever troubles sorrowes or tentations syn onely excepted do befall vs in this life the like have befalle◠vnto him were by him overcome and shal from vs as already they are from him be done away Finally whatsoever freedom liberty Christ as mā in ordinarie estate had on earth cōversing amōg men◠the like hath he given dayly giveth confirmeth vnto Christiās whither we respect the spiritual law of God or the politick lawes of men and civil states For he it is that liveth in vs himself is ours and we are his graffed into his death and resurrection to eternal life he hath given his glory vnto Israel even the glory that the Father gav him hath he given vs that we may be one as the Father and he ar one he in vs and God in him wher he is ther shal we also be to behold his glory though for the present we walk by faith and not by sight and it doth not yet appear what we shal be The cōsideration of which riches of his grace may cause vs to say with the prophet how great is his goodnes how great is his bewtie And we may conclude with the last word of Moses the man of God Blessed art thou o Israel who is like vnto thee o people saved by the Lord the shield of thine help and which is the sword of thy glorie therfore thine enimies shal be in subjectiō to thee thow shalt tread vpon their high places CHAP. XIII Of our Communion with the holy Ghost ALthough the fellowship that we have with the holy Ghost who is one with the Father and the Son may much be discerned by that which is before spoken of God of Christ yet because the scripture speaketh many things of the work of Gods Spirit in vs and particularly of the Cōmunion of the Holy Ghost with vs it wil be for the good and comfort of the Saincts to consider the graces and benefits that do come vnto them by this cōmunion also in particular 2. And this the rather for that the Spirit is the Comforter that other Comforter or Advocate which the Father at Christs request doth give vnto vs for to abide with vs for ever and chear vs in the absence of our Lord Iesus from vs who is gone vnto his Father and ours that we should not be left as orphans on earth destitute of help and comfort amids our many trials and tribulations 3. Very great is the grace admirable the strength and consolation which this Comforter giveth to the Saincts as the example of the Apostles themselves doth confirm who al the while that Christ was with them in this world though he ceased not to teach inform thē to comfort and embolden them to reprove and blame them as there was occasion yet were they weak and faint in faith fearfull of their enimies forgetful of Christs promises without vnderstanding of his mysteries and overcaried many wayes with their own infirmities But when he had sent down vpon them the promise of his Father endued them with power from on high baptising them with the holy Ghost then began they to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them vtterance the wonderful works of God shewed great boldnes in preaching the word with great power witnessed the resurrection of the Lord Iesus and many signes and wonders were shewed by their hands and they ceased not to teach and preach Iesus Christ amongst many troubles rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his name 4. Neyther vnto them alone was the holy Ghost given though the abundance of his graces was powred most plentifully vpon them but al that in those dayes or before or synce do beleeve in the Lord Iesus Christ ar sealed also with the same spirit of promise furnished in some mesure with the gifts of the same Which grace the Lord himself proclaymed in that last and great day of the Feast of Tabernacles saying He that beleeveth in me as sayth the scripture out of his bel'y shal flow rivers of water of life speaking this of the Spirit which they that beleeved in him should receiv for if any man have not the Spirit of Christ the same is not his 5. As ther is but one God and Father of al and one Lord Jesus Christ so is ther but one and the same Spirit although for the diversities of gifts which that Spirit distributeth among the Saincts the scripture sometime speaketh as of seven Spirits which ar before the throne of God seven being a ful and perfect number and signifying Many and these seven Spirits be the seven hornes seven eyes that is the manifold and absolute power providence of the Lamb Christ Iesus of whom it was prophesied that the Spirit of the Lord should rest vpon him the Spirit of wisdom and Vnderstanding the Spirit of counsel of strength the Spirit of knowledge of the fear of the Lord of whō also it was witnessed God giveth him not the Spirit by mesure 6. The Spirit as he was at first creator of the world with the Father the Son garnished the heavēs so is he stil the finger of God that worketh effectually al his actions creating the creatures renewing the face of the earth And generally as God speaketh vnto men outwardly by the ministery of his word so sendeth he also inwardly motions of his Spirit against which many struggle to their just judgement In the old world Gods spirit strove in man as his word was preached by Noah but they sayd vnto God Depart from vs wherfore they were wrinckled before the time and the flood was powred out vpō their foundation Whē Israel came out of Aegypt the Lord sent before them Moses Aaron Miriam to guyd
them outwardly by kingdome priesthood and prophesie he gave them also his good Spirit to instruct them and Iesus Christ his Son the Angel of his face or presence saved them yet they both envied Moses and Aaron the holy one of the Lord and often provoked grieved tempted God himself and limited the Holy one of Israel they rebelled vexed his holy Spirit the Spirit of the Lord which had given theÌ„ rest therefore was he turned to be their enimy and fought against them In these last dayes of the Gospell we are also taught how some that have tasted of the heavenly gift were made partakers of the Holy Ghost yet fall so away that they caÌ„not be renewed vnto repeÌ„tance So that even wicked men and reprobates do often receive the gifts of the Spirit whereby they do many great works yet are not benifited hereby vnto salvation for they have not the grace of God to sanctifie those gifts seal theÌ„ vp vnto the day of redemption therfore God taketh his holy Spirit from them and sometyme sendeth his evil spirit in sted thereof to vex them as he did vnto Saul this worthily seing there are of these wretches that do even despite the Spirit of grace 7. But the Saincts elect of God have an other manner coÌ„munion with the Holy Ghost for their help comfort and sanctification in this life and assurance of life eternall For because they are sons God sendeth the Spirit of his son into their harts which crieth Abba Father so they are no more servants but sons and heyrs also of God through Christ who hath obteyned of his Father this Comforter to abide with them for ever even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receiv because it seeth him not neyther knoweth him but they know him for hee dwelleth with them shal be in them their bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost 8. The communion which the Saincts have with the Spirit is in many particulars and that from the beginning of their dayes vnto the end For Ieremiah was sanctified and Iohn Baptist filled with the Holy Ghost even from their mothers wombs And we all that are born of God have our regeneration and new birth of the Spirit according to his mercy are saved by the washing of the new birth the renewing of the Holy Ghost 9. The word of God which it the immortal seed whereby we are begotten hath alwayes been vttered explayned and vnderstood by means of this Spirit David testifieth of himself that the Spirit of the Lord spake in him his word was in his tongue our saviour Christ and his Apostles doe witnesse also the same concerning him so the things that he spake we must receiv as the sayings of the Holy Ghost The like is to be minded for Isaias Michaias and al other Prophets by whose hands the Lord protested among his people by his spirit for Prophesie as the Apostle saith came not in old time by the wil of man but holy men of God spake as they wer moved by the Holy Ghost the Lord Iehovah his Spirit sent them Yea Christ himself had the Spirit of God put on him that hee might shew judgment to the Gentils and was anoynted with the Spirit that he might preach the Gospel to the poor and vnto the Apostles whom hee had chosen gave he coÌ„mandements through the Holy Ghost who also having received the Spirit which is of God spake the things that were given them of him not in the words which mans wisdome taught but which the holy Ghost did teach them so preached they the Gospel vnto the Saincts by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven 10. Vnto this Gospel of salvation first preached by the Lord and after coÌ„firmed by them that heard him God bare witnes both with signes and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost For to one as the Apostle sayth was given by the Spirit the word of wisdom to an other the word of knowledge by the same spirit to an other Faith by the same Spirit to an other the gifts of healing by the same Spirit to an other the operations of great works to an other Prophesie to an other discerning of spirits to an other diversities of tongues to an other the interpretatioÌ„s of toÌ„gues and al these things wrought even the self same Spirit distributing to every man severally as he would 11. But these spiritual gifts though they were powred out vpon many yet are they not neyther ever were given vnto al as it is written Are al doers of miracles have al the gifts of healing doe al speak with tongues doe al interpret Agayn to al that have them they ar not seals of the adoption of Sons for if men have prophesie and know al secrets and al knowledge if they have al fayth so that they can remove mountayns and have not Love they ar nothing Yet is this manifestation of the Spirit given to every man to profit withall as the Apostles were Gods witnesses concerning the things which they sayd so was the holy Ghost whom God gave to them that obeyed him the Spirit was one of the three witnesses on earth as the Apostle Iohn sayth 12. As the mysterie of Christ was reveled to his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit they preached the Gospel vnto others by the Holy Ghost sent down froÌ„ heaven as the ordinary permanent officers of the Churches are made Overseers by the Holie Ghost to feed the Church of God so by the hearing of Faith preached do men receive the Spirit which God openly shewed when while Peter yet was speaking the Holy Ghost fel on all them which heard thâ—â— word And as by the work of the Spirit the word is received and beleeved so is the same also obeyed kept and reteyned through the Holy Ghost that dwelleth in us The Sacraments also have by him their effects in vs as it is written by one Spirit are we al baptised into one body whither Iewes or Greeks whither bond or free and have bene aâ—â— made to drink into one Spirit 13. And having thus our new birth caling vnto and stablishing in the faith by the work of the holy Ghost we ar further by him confirmed comforted emboldned assisted in al our spiritual battels against Satan this world and our own corruptioÌ„s For wear streÌ„gthned by Gods Spirit in the inner maÌ„ being armed with the word of God which is the sword of the Spirit we stand fast and though the enimy come like a flood yet the Spirit of the Lord shal chase him away as sayth the Prophet And in rebuking the world he vseth great boldnes convincing them of syn of righteousnes and of judgement so
attend vpon vs in our life so do they also at our death being sent to fetch our flitting soules cary thē into Abrahams bosome in the Paradise of God 10. These things as those blessed spirits the sons of God do at the commandement of their heavenly father redily and cheerfully for his elect so also ar they beholders of our wayes conversation affected after their spiritual māner with the things they see in vs. For they ar evē the thousād thowsāds of thē as about Gods throne so about the four living creatures the 24. Elders togither with them magnifiing Christ the killed Lamb prostrate on their faces do worship God and giv glory vnto him for evermore Into the celestial mysteries reveled by the Gospel they hav a desire to look because God hath by his church made known his manifold wisdome vnto them Loving also they ar glad and desirous of our good as appeareth by their glorifying of the Lamb that was killed for vs not for them and by the joy which they have when any one of vs converteth from our syns as Christ hath shewed Witnesses they ar with the Lord of the charges contestations layd vpon vs for the observing of our duties as by the Apostles words to Timothee we be taught Wherfore we ought holily righteously soberly to cary our selves in al our actions seing we ar a spectacle to those heavenly Flames and are come to the great assemblie of innumerable of them yea the Apostle seemeth to require of women modest and submissiveattire in respect of them 11. Al this notwithstanding we must take heed both of superstitiō and curiosity about them for we are forbidden of God the religion or worship of Angels which when Iohn for the revelations shewed him would hav done the Angel refused and sayd See thou do it not If therfore we hav need of succour let vs pray vnto our Father and he can send vs legions of them and if we would giv thanks for their help offer a sacrifice themselves hav taught vs to offer it to the Lord whose servants they are even fellow servants with vs though much more excellent able and obedient He it is that sendeth them forth for our sakes which ar heyrs of salvation he also wil change this our corruptible estate cloth vs with immortalitie and make vs equal to those holie Angels and giv vs ◠place among them whose cōmuniō at that day we shal fully enjoy togither with them serving our God and lauding his Majestie in his own blessed presence for ever The Angel of the Lord pitcheth round about them that fear him delivereth them Psal. 34. 7. CHAPT XVI How the Saincts on earth ar caled to a holy communion among themselves God who hath chosen and caled vs in Christ from this world and fellowship of al wicked ones therin to be his and to serv him hath further required at our hands that we which ar caled should not live alone or a sunder by our selves but joyn togither and so entertayn and nourish a loving holy communion one with an other in the vnitie of the faith and spirit by the bond of peace For man is made a sociable creature and when he was in his perfection God saw sayd it was not good for him to be alone and therfore made him a help meet for him but after when we were corrupted there was much more need of fellowship one with an other for our mutal help and comfort And many are the benefits which we reap hereby evē as on the contrarie the evils dangers and discomforts which arise for want hereof are moe then can be told 2. When God had brought his people out of Aegypt to lead them into Canaan whiles thither they were traveyling even in the wildernes caused he a Tent to be made for himself to dwel among them and in midds of their tents which when it was perfected he took possession of filled and sanctified it with his glorie commaunded also the people thither for to bring their services and their sacrifices promised there to meet with thē to speak there vnto them whervpon that place was caled the Tent or Tabernacle of Meeting or Congregation And whereas this Sanctuary was flitting moveable not onely in the wildernes but also in the land of Canaan therfore God gav Israel a charge by Moses that they should seek the place which he should choose out of al their tribes to put his Name there and there to dwel that thither they should come to sacrifice and rejoyce before the Lord themselves their children and their servants there to keep their solemn feasts and take heed they offred not in any other place For he had told thē whosoever Israelite or strāger sojourning among them that resorted not to this Tabernacle with his oblations but sacrificed other where eyther within or without the host that man should be reputed as if he had shed blood or offred vnto Divils and was to be cut off from among his people This tent togither with the Ternple which for like holy vse succeded the same was a figure of the church or congregation of Christians amongst whom God hath placed his tabernacle to dwell as their God with them and they to be his people even his howse and habitation should therefore gather themselves togither in his name to keep their spiritual feasts not withdrawing from nor leaving the mutuall assembling or fellowship that they have among themselves for who so repayreth not to the Church the true Ierusalem of all the families of the earth there to keep the feast of Tabernacles worship the king the Lord of hosts no rayn of Gods grace or blessing shal come vpon them 3. This gathering togither of the Saincts is not a bare assembly or concourse onely of people but a neer vniting and knitting of thēselves in one holy cōmunion and fellowship For as the foresayd Tent was made of many courtaines but al of thē so coupled one to another with loops taches that they were but one Tabernacle and as the many costly hewed stones wherwith Solomon built the Temple whē they were layd togither made one Howse wherein God had his habitatiō so the servants of Christ though they be many yet are so built coupled togither by faith that they grow vnto an holy temple in the Lord to be the habitation of God by the spirit and are builded as a citie that is compact togither in it self Which neer cōiunction is further set sorth by similitude of a bodie wherein there be many members of several shape vse yet by the wisdome of God so vnited set togither that there appeareth a goodly frame and proportion of the man and every lim so fastned to other and
not to offer their offrings of blood nor make mention of their names with our lips not to frequent their assemblies nor eat of their sacrifices though they cal and invite vs thereto for even the word of God and all other holy things are polluted among them their prayers turned to syn and their sacrifices abomination to the Lord. 8. And not in hart and mynd alone are we to mislike eschew their idolatries other evil actions but to keep our bodies as wel as our spirits pure because Christ hath redeemed both with both we must glorify God We may not therfore swear by their idols nor make any other religious mention of them with our lips We may not kisse them nor bow the knee nor do any other signe of reverence vnto them We may not present our bodies at their holy feasts in their hallowed places nor suffer our mouthes to eat of their delicates much lesse repayr to any such places for the repast or feeding of our sowles We may not eyther at allurement of parents brethren or most dear friends or by the example or entisement of the multitude or by the commandment of the Magistrate do these or any of these evils but following the word of God to separate our selves touch no vnclean thing clense vs from all filthines of the flesh and spirit so grow vp vnto ful holines in the fear of God Finally we may not joyn our selves in mariage with any that are noâ— of the same faith and fellowship with vs in the Gospel of Christ. 9. The causes of this restraynt separation from the wicked are First the will glorie of God who to the end we might be his hath severed vs from other people and vpon this condition hath promised to accept vs marie vs vnto himsef in faith that we should giv our selves alone to him and to his service and not run a whoring after strangers And hath made this our refreyning from communion with the wicked one expresse special part of his covenaÌ„t with vs. Secondly it is for our own good least by familarity with the wicked we should learne their wayes receiv destruction to our sowls as others before vs by and for like cariage hav done Therfore aâ—â— we warned not to wander in their pathes nor let our hart decline to their wayes for they go down to the chambers of death and if we be partakers in their syns we shal receive also of their plagues Thirdly it is for the good of those wicked men themselves if such be the grace of God towards them or for their more certayn just condemnation that seeing vs to separate from them and thinking it strange that we run not with them vnto the same evils hearing our reproofs and witnes against them are eyther drawen to consider their wayes and turn their feet vnto Gods testimonies or els blaspheming persist and are hardned in their evill course vnto judgment Fourthly it is for the overthrow of Satans throne and kingdome which the words and works of the Saincts do beat down dayly discovering his errors and abominatioÌ„s keeping themselves and drawing others from his deceipts and snares whereas by coÌ„municating in those evils they should both honour and advance that enemy and strengthen the wickeds hands that they should not turne from their impietie 10. But though we may have no communion with the wicked in their religion nor any other evil action against either table of Gods Law yet in civill affayres we are taught of God to converse with them in peace As to eat and drink with them buy sell make covenants of peace shew kindnes to them pity their estate love them relieve their wants and receive from them for our relief pray for them labour by all gentle demeanure to convert them from their evil way and do any good we can to their sowles or bodies or any thing that is theirs And if we live in their policies and dominions we ought to be subject to al civil Magistrates high or low and that of conscience pay theÌ„ their tributes customes other like duties for their common wealth to bear their exactions oppressions persecutions patiently without rebellion or resistance and even pray for them that shal so misuse vs that thus as much as in vs lieth we may do good vnto have peace with al men in all things except syn be perfect as our father which is in heaven is perfect CHAP. X. How the Saincts are called out of themselves taught to forsake their owne wayes and works that they may have communion with God in Christ. FOrasmuch as al meÌ„ bear in their bosomes naturall corruptions bred with them in the womb brought vp with them from the cradle wherby they ar al alike children of wrath our separation from other wicked wil litle availe vs vnlesse we be also separated from our selves and learn to renounce the lusts and affections yea even the fayr-seeming works and wisdom of the flesh For what ar we the better for avoiding outward pollution by others if a fretting leprosy cleav to our flesh bones and our own clothes do make vs filthy 2 To draw vs therfore quite out of the miry pit of corruption the Lord hath caled vs from the love and liking of our selves also as being naturally both his enemies and our own teaching vs that our wits are vncapable of his heavenly mysteries our reason enmitie against him his Law our thoughts purposes evil our affectioÌ„s brutish our wisdom foolishnes al our glorious grace as the flour of grasse and that therfore we must be turned and become as litle children even born againe or els we cannot see the kingdom of God 3. In matters of religion we must not do what seemeth good in our own eyes nor choose our own wayes nor forge things out of our own harts nor make to our selves any similitude of things in heaven or earth nor walk in our own counsels for what is man that he should invent services of God or do any thing which the Lord requireth not at his hands The things of God knoweth no man but the spirit of God of him therfore we must learn his fear what he commandeth that onely must we doe we may not put to it nor take ought from it For when Israel set their own thresholds and posts by the Lords they defiled his holy name with their abominations 4. The mysteries of his faith we may not measure by carnall reason or our own shallow vnderstanding but learn with reverence to beleeve all his words knowing that the things which eye hath not seen neyther
ear heard neyther came into mans hart are which God hath prepared for them that love him and neyther flesh nor blood but himself doth manifest them vnto vs and as his words are spirit and life so is it his spirit that sercheth al even the deep things of God reveleth them vnto vs and quickneth vs. 5. The promises which ar made vs we must embrace not by sight but by faith which is the evidence of thinges not seen And seem they never so vnlikely or vnpossible yet ought we not to doubt of them or reason against them through vnbeleef but even above hope to believ vnder hope being fully assured that he which hath promised is able to do it For as Sara received strength to bring forth achild when she was past age because she judged him faithful which had promised so contrarywise the children of Israel when God had brought them through the wildernes even to the borders of the land of promise yet could they not enter in because of their vnbeleef 6. The commandments of God how hard or vnreasonable soever they seem we must readily and cheerfully obey laying aside al excuses delayes feares or other things that may hinder vs knowing that all his precepts are perfect righteous pure and just Therefore when God calleth vs we must follow him though we know not whither we shal come wheÌ„ he sendeth vs to any place of danger we must goe though we know not what may befal vs there when he commandeth vs a thing that is both against nature of maÌ„ and promise of God we must obey without murmuring or reasoning yea even to the death must we be obedient that we may receive the crown of life 7. In all our trials and tribulatious we must in faith patience possesse our sowles We may not murmur though we want both bread and water nor speak against God though our way be never so grievous VVhen we be in danger of our foes pursuing vs we must not complain nor be affraid when they beset vs round about If God cause men to ride over our heads if he lead vs into fyre and into water if he give vs as sheep to be eaten scatter vs among the nations if he smite vs down into the place of dragons and cover vs with the shadow of death yet may we not forget him nor deal falsly concerning his covenant but in al these triumph as more then conquerours through him that loved vs. When in our troubles we exspect his salvation we must not make hast though it tary we must wayt if he hide his face from vs and be angry against our prayer so that we cry by day but he heareth not and by night but hav no audience if he put vs back as doggs vnworthy of his grace if he turn hiÌ„self to be cruel against vs to be enemie to vs with the streÌ„gth of his hand yet must we remeÌ„ber that he is the rock of our salvation and say I wil wayt for the Lord that hath hid his face from Iaakob and I wil look for him Lo though he slay me yet wil I trust in him 8 Notwithstanding al these what soever els we can do or suffer for his names sake yet must we empty cast down our selves before him confessing that we ar but vnprofitable servants we hav done that which was our dutie to doe it is nothing to the Almightie that we are righteous our weldoing extendeth not to him Neyther for our works done or of him foreseen to be done hath he saved caled vs with a holy caling but according to his own purpose and grace which was given to vs through Christ Iesus before the world was And because we ar al too wel perswaded of our selves our good deserts the Lord vseth two means for to humble vs the one is his Law which sheweth vs our syns and infirmities the other Corrections wherby he openeth our ears to cause vs to turne away our work that he might cover our pride of both these Solomon sayth the commandment is a lantern and the law alight correcttions for instructioÌ„ are the way of life 9. The Law reveleth our syns which lay hid within vs sheweth our weaknes to be greater then we could imagine For first we are alive in our own conceyt without the law and wil not stick to say Al that the Lord commandeth we wil doe But when he speaketh we can not endure to hear the law at his mouth but run away Or if we do receiv it it is with a vail over Moses face not discerning the true nature of the Law which is spiritual or end of the same which is to bring vs to Christ but in hypocrisie with hollow and covered harts imagining the outward observation therof howsoever it be to be sufficient But when it cometh in deed to our coÌ„science we die for syn which we thought was dead reviveth and taking occasion by the coÌ„mandemeÌ„t deceiveth vs and therby slayeth vs and when the law sayth Thou shalt not lust syn worketh in vs al manner of lust And as the Israelites having heard the thundring voyce of the Lord from heaven forbidding them to have any other Gods before his face did before forty dayes were expired forget both their promise and their fear God himself their saviour and made them Gods of metall so is it with vs al when the coÌ„mandement cometh syn aboundeth and appeareth to be syn yea out of measure synfull And because the wages of syn is death the law also causeth wrath which is reveled from heaven against all vngodlines and vnrighteousnes of men Then are we cast down with sight and horror of our wretched case and the more we strive to rid our selves out of these snares of hel the faster we are intangled for we find our selves carnal sold vnder syn so as if we have wil to do good yet finde we no meanes to performe it and without Gods grace we can neyther wil nor doe VVherefore we crie out vpon our misery and should die in despâ—yr wer it not that God did cause his favor in the face of Christ to shine vpon vs in whom being graffed by faith we ar dead to the law but alive vnto God by beleef in his son who hath loved vs given himself for vs and liveth in vs. Thus is the law a light to discover a fyre to burne a hammer to break whatsoever in vs is exalted against God is a scholemayster to lead vs to Christ that we might be made righteous by him after that we ar stript naked of our own misconceived righteousnes having our filthy garments taken froÌ„ vs may be arayed with chanâ—â—