cannot lie he will superadde such is his goodnesse and mercy certitudinem subjecti we shall be ascertained that they are his Revelations if with humbled hearts devout Prayers and sincere holy obedience we endeavour to know his will God will discover his will Psal 25.9.10 and 14. Ioh. 8.31.32 Ioh. 7.17 give unto us the Spirit of obsignation and knowledge a certainty of adherence as well as of evidence making us not onely to beleeve but even to know and be as fully assured that it is the Word of Christ as those which have heard it with their eares and which saw it with their eyes For as Noah was secure that this warning was no Satanicall suggestion or illusion no private fancy or delusion of his owne braine but a divine revelation so God hath given unto the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles such splendor and sufficiency of light and appointed us such mediums cleare wayes and means for the discovery and comprehension of that light as may make them appear to all not wilfully or maliciously blinde that they are his word and containe in them a full declaration of his will he confirmes and seales in the hearts of all Beleevers the truth of their Writings 1 Ioh. 5.10 He engraves them in the Prophet Jeremies expression Ier. 31.33 In those dayes I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts he sets such impressions and leaves such characters of divine truth in the spirits of his people that they cannot but acknowledge the Scriptures for the Oracles and Dictates of the holy Spirit We have a more sure word of Prophesie God in their Writings hath declared what is sinne and transgression and the severity of his wrath against sinne he hath expressed what godlinesse is and the great rewards and happinesses he hath awarded to them that leade a godly life O then let the heavinesse of his threatnings deterre us from sinne let his gracious Promises invite and incite us to Repentance let his judgements keep us in his feare â—et his invitations and offers of mercy keep us in obedience let us seriously consider that he hath revealed wrath against every soule that doth evill that holds the truth in unrighteousnesse except ye repent ye shall all perish and let us alwayes remember that he hath proposed mercy to all humbled penitents sincere converts he that confessieth and forsaketh his sins shall finde mercy mercy in his life and the whole course thereof at the houre of his death and in the day of judgement God hath done his part to preserve us from wrath and reserve us for mercy and mercy for us if we sleight his judgements undervalue his mercies we have no colour no pretence of plea we are altogether inexcusable our destruction is of our selves because like Jerusalem we would not be warned Observe but Gods method how he cleares himselfe from the ruine of his people how he chargeth it wholly upon themselves First he proposeth to every private mans Conscience his dealing with them and refers it to their judgement Deut. 30.15 See I haâ— set before thee this day life and good and death and evill He calâ— upon them to observe and to acquit him when they are judged he tells them plainely that they cannot pretend ignorance 〈◊〉 thou deest well shalt thou not be accepted thou shalt be accepted If thou doest evill sinne lyeth at the doore and Deaâ—â— the wages of sinne but if thou wilt not see nor observe thâ—â— he recites his proposals againe offering Life to thee if thou wâ—â— hearken verse 16. denouncing Death if thou refusest to heaâ—â— verse 17.18 and if none of these will serve the turne then 〈◊〉 acquits and justifies himselfe by open Proclamation before 〈◊〉 the World verse 19. I call Heaven and Earth to Record the day against you that I have set c. And the more clearely 〈◊〉 sets it before thee if thou observe not thy contempt is tâ—â— greater thy punishment shall be greater Thou O Christian hast or may have a most plentifull Revelation the way of liâ—â— and death is more distinctly set before thee then before tâ—â— former Age of the World if thou decline the way of life aâ—â— tread in the paths of death thy sinne is so much the moâ—â— heightned thy judgements shall be more intended and multiplied It is the Apostles affirmation upon the same reason Heb. 10 26. If we sinne c. the consequent is sad and diâ—mall verse 27. and the reason is a fortiori verse 28.29 anâ— it is the same Apostles Exhortation grounded on the same reason Heb. 2.1 Therefore we ought to give c. that is his Exhortation and the Reason is verse 2.3.4 For if the Worâ— spoken by Angels as perhaps this to Noah was was stedfast are every transgression and disobedience received c. 2. This warning of so long date is a pregnant proofe and remarkeable example of Gods patience and long suffering towards malitious incorrigible sinners For first he doth not aâ— the first punish but premonisheth them of their sinnes and thâ— demerits thereof sollicites and invites their repentance Anâ— secondly he allowes them a long time for repentance punisheth them not when in justice he might take vengeance and execute his wrath not as if God were not naturally and immutably just but because he is a most free disposer of hiâ— judgements and payes them when and in what manner seemeth good to him in his infinite wisedome and forbeares â—he punishment of impieties alwayes upon weighty and important reasons The first is to shew his propensity to the acts of grace and mercy his unwillingnesse and indisposition to our in force the acts of his tevenging justice so he solemnly protests As I live saith the Lord I delight not in the death â—f a sinner c. Ezech. 33.11 which the Apostle seconds 2 Pet. â— 9 The Lord is long-suffering to us-ward not willing that c. in his mercy he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gen. 18.32 meek not irritable not easily provoked 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gentle easily entreated 2 Cor. 10.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 overseeing looking beyond our sinnes passeth by them dissimulat peccata propter poenitentiam in his mercy there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 2.4 when he cannot but see he forbeares 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neh. 9.30.31 suffers long many times many years 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hos 11.8 9. when he is about to punish he is at a stand asking How shall I c. and then resolves into conditions of mercy I will not execute c. he stayes expectat ut misereatur Es 30.18 And when he executes wrath he doth alienum opus that which his nature declines he doth it with regret and reluctancy For he doth not afflict willingly not from the heart Lam. 3.33 He forgives destroyes not Psal 78.38 and when he punishes he is weary Isay 40.2 The second reason is That God moderating his judgements with such meeknesse and
To his threats of destruction he immediately subjoyneâ— a promise for salvation Gen. 7.8 and 13.14 thus it happened to our first Parents that sentence of Death Morti morieris was pronounced against them but with the same breath a Promise of mercy and salvation was Proclaimed The Seed of the Woman shall c. In the same times Jerusalems Captivity and its restauration is Prophesied It shall be carried into Babylon but it shall be freed too Davids Children If they offend they shall be chastised with Rods of men but his loving lindnesse shall not totally depart from them 2. In the largest extent and generallity of Gods Iudgements there is still a reservation some exception In this Universall Deluge Noah and his Sons and their respective Wives are Priviledged and exempted Persons In the devastation of Sodome and Gomorrah Let is within the qualification of mercy and Zohar escaped Rahab was not destroyed with Ievicho Ieremy and some others with him were not led into Captivity with the Jews and though ever since the Jews rejected Christ God hath rejected them yet there is a residue a reserve according to the Election of Grace Rom. 11.5 still a remnant is preserved for the manifestation of his mercy and goodnesse 3. Many times the godly are not mixed and confounded with the wicked t is true sometimes they are but it is as cervine that many times they are not The lofty admired Edifices â—â—tely Palaces strong Castles of the Earth could not withstand 〈◊〉 fury of the Deluge nor protect their proud Possessors But â—â—ah shall be saved in an Arke a contemned and jeered bunâ—â— of Wood no Stormes or Tempests shall Drowne it God â—â—ll feed Jacobs Family when the Inhabitants of the Earth â—â—re dryed up with Famine When the destroying Angell kilâ—â— the first Borne of Egypt the Houses signed with the Blood 〈◊〉 the Lambe were preserved Ezech. 9.4 Psal 11.6.7 At 〈◊〉 generall conflagration of the World 2 Pet. 3.7.10 the â—â—eevers shall escape and be saved though by Fire O happy â—â—y when Gods Iudgements appear shall be found of him in â—ee without spot and blamelesse they shall not be confounded in the perillous times and in the dayes of Dearth they all have enough the Waters shall not Drowne them nor 〈◊〉 Fire consume them the Waters shall beare them up and 〈◊〉 Fire save them these wilde impetuous Elements of which usually say they are the best servants and worst masters shall serve the orders and decrees of Heaven and when God is â—â—ased to make a distinction he will give them a spirit of â—â—cerning to difference betwixt them that feare him and them â—â—t feare him not it s his promise to his Church and he will â—â—ke it good Is 43.1.2.3 7. Noah prepared an Arke God promised to save him but was on this score that he would make an Arke it s not Faith 〈◊〉 over-daring presumption which neglects or contemnes â—â—nest and just wayes and means to depend on God for our â—â—dily sustentation or for our everlasting salvation and not to 〈◊〉 our labour and industry in those practises his Word preâ—â—bes unto us is not to beleeve in God but tempt him he â—t in good earnest entends to come to Heaven must use all â—e and diligence to performe the conditions of the promises must worke out his salvation with feare and trembling strive â—â—h all diligence to make his calling and election sure O then us not deceive our selves presume without warranty that we 〈◊〉 in the Faith let me tell you true Faith beleeves the conâ—ons as well as the promise it beleeves the Article of Remission of sinnes but upon this condition that we repent a bring forth the fruit of a holy life our duty must answer grace and then his grace will assist us in our duty God will no longer our God then we are his People and we are so lâ—â— his People as we submit to his Laws and doe whatsoever commandeth And as it is in the concernments of the soule in the relations of the body we are not onely to beloeve a trust that is look for a fortune or event without the use of meanes to attain it but we must beleeve and provide thâ—â— henest in the sight of all men use the means and trust and pend on God for a blessing as Paul said Acts 27.30.31 〈◊〉 cept these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved So it is in 〈◊〉 those above specified considerations Except ye repent ye all likewise perish If any would not worke neither should â—eate He hath promised Heaven yet it is If thou repent hath promised to feed thee yet it is If thou bestirre thy self thy Calling labour with thy hands in vain thou expeâ—â— either if thou sleight the conditions Further yet when Church of God is distressed and persecuted God hath promiâ—â— deliverance but it is upon these termes That the members the of seek to God by Prayer and reformation of lise and endeavâ—â— by all lawfull and warrantable meanes to promote and advaâ—â— her interest put to thy helping hand and then semper libs pâ—â— doat hamus But if thou sit still value thine own ease more tâ—â— the Churches prosperity and peace and be content to referre businesse to God if he will save it let him doe it know thâ—â— that Mordecays reply to Ester when she scrupled to intercâ—â— for the People the Jews to the King in their extremity is mâ—â— properly applycable to thee Ester 4.14 If thou altogether hold thy peace c. Certainly no greater argument of a spâ—â— espoused to the World bespotted with sensuality devoide of feare of God then when Religion is at stake the dayly Saâ—â— fice invaded and all Piety at a losse to project and plot for 〈◊〉 World and make provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts of A very Heathen will tell us Non nobis solum nati sumus 〈◊〉 those generous spirits among them who have expended thâ—â— lives and fortunes with much prodigality for their native Coâ—â—trey will in the day of Iudgement condemne the base covetousnesse and wasting luxuries of such carnall Professors whose â—â—res and lusts are alike insatiable heape and hord up without â—â—e or conscience and spend without feare or wit and never â—â—nk of the afflictions of Joseph to relieve the distressed to reâ—â—h the bowels of the hungry nor contribute any thing but by â—â—sse to the worship or service of God But yet alas how litâ—â— are all humane contributions either to preserve the body to â—â—e the soule or to secure or settle the Church How deficiâ—â— and imperfect is all our labors and industry to these purâ—es Noah was at vast Charges took great pains to build an â—â—ke but what was all this to his preservation What had he defend it against the stormes of winds and violence of the â—â—ather which hurried down the highest and most senced Cities 〈◊〉 Turrets How could the Arke endure those assaults and temâ—â—ts which the great places of strength could
our God and whensoever we make â—ur addresses to thee let us fall low on our knees before thy footâ—oole with such humbled spirits and devout postures as may best expresse our conceits of thy greatnesse our reverence to thy presence and our own unworthynesse to appeare before thee Move â—s to serve thee in feare and plant the reverence of thy Name and Laws in our hearts that we may walke in all thy wayes with much diligence great observation and gedly jealousie over all our actions Let the dread and reverence of thee thy justice and thy power thy thrcats and iudgements deelared from Heaven and many times on Earth executed upon disobedient condemners of thy words make us to tremble at the recognition of our sinnes and in consideration of our guilt and demerits and then O Lord let the contemplation and meditation â—f thy sure mercies and gratious promises keep us in a uniforme constant course of obedience let us thus passe from Faith to Feare from Feare to Love from the apprehensions of of thy wrath to the sense and comforts of thy mercies Let thy â—eare take such full possession of our Spirits that we Feare nothing but thee we feare not poverty shame the power and malice men nor any outward disadvantages and discomforts that 〈◊〉 shall not feare though the Earth be moved and the Hills be carried into the midst of the Sea though the waters thereof raâ— and swell and the mountains shake at the tempest of the same for his salvation is nigh them that feare he hath an Arke bâ— holy Church to preserâ—e and keep them alive O holy Jesâ— preserve and keep this Church which thou hast founded on tâ— selfe save and deliver this Arke of thy strength from the strâ— vings of the people and the insurrections of evill doers defenâ— her in peace adorne her with holinesse build her up in unity maintain her in safety in all stormes-and against all temptation and enemies that she be not pestered with Heresie Schisme 〈◊〉 Scandall O deliver her from private interpretations innovations of holy things doting about questions and making endless strifes strange Doctrines and the Doctrine of the unlearneâ— and unstable O thinke upon the Congregation which thou haâ— purchased and redeemed of old unite all her members in the bands of Faith Hope and Charity and when thou thinkest first of externall communion Let the dayly Sacrifice of Prayer and Sacramentall Thanksgiving never cease let the Order of thy Ministers which serve at thy Altar stand in Power and senâ— thou forth Labourers into thy Harvest such as have Calling aâ— Aaron and Noah make them farthfully to declare thy Will to the People rightly to dispense thy Sacraments and acceptably to entercede with thee for thy People Preserve thou those whom thou hast placed in the Highest Order of thy Church that they lay Hands suddenly on no Man but on such whose Lips may preserve knowledge and whose Lives adorne the Gospel of Jesus and grave blessed Lord that though the Floods of Persecution and worldly interest have lift their Waves to overwhelme thy Arke yet doe thou Coast her in security over these Seas and Pilot her in safety into the place of thy rest O preserve thou 〈◊〉 in the union and communion of this Church let us have Noahs Preachers of Righteousresse orderly called and fitly qualified for the Function let us still injoy the freedom of thy Gospel the Food of thy Word the sweetnesse and refreshings of thy Sacraments holy discipline publique Communion in thy Church and the benefits of the society of the Saints O let not our sins cause 〈◊〉 to remove the Candlepick from us to give away thy Arke to â—at thy Vineyard to other Hâ—shandmen lest we be condemned and â—sh with the unbeleeving World but doe thou preserve us in times â—â—blike-calamities that we may passe over the Waves of this trouâ—â—some World and be harboured in rest O support us with thy â—d that when the foundations of the Earth be out of course â—n the Nations of the Earth are divided and moved so that the â—rts of men shake at the tempests thereof our hearts may be setled thee and thy sure mercies and never-failing compassions thy Spirit move upon these Waters that the Streames goe not â—r our soules the overflowing of ungodlinesse make us not afraid 〈◊〉 the great Waters of persecution or any other affliction drowne not O thou whom even the Windes and the Sea obey now when Ship of thy Church is tossed with tempests covered with Waves â—se and rebuke these Winds and these Seas and let there be a at calme a blessed and universall Peace throughout the Christian â—rld that we may delight and rejoyce in the promised blessings of Gospel our Swords may be converted into Plowshares and our â—ares into Pruninghooks And that we may be prepared for these â—rcies frame our hearts to an holy obedience to thy whole will make Heare 's of righteousnesse which is by Faith and as beâ—ommeth use who look for that inheritance Teach us by thy grace to dense the World and worldly things to lay up our treasure in Heaven â—charity and actions of Religion that when thou shalt call on us deposit these honses of clay our earthly tabernacles which we now try about us we being Heires of Righteousnesse may dye in the aâ—tuâ—â— Communion of thy one holy Catholique Church and after death â—ter into our Masters joy and at the Resurrection of the just be â—ly possessed of that Kingdome which thou hast prepared for all at love and feere thee and wait for thy comming Grant this 〈◊〉 Heavenly Father for thy mercies sake and for his sake whom â—ou hast appointed Heire of all things Jesus Christ the Righteous who hath given unto us his Spirit the earnest of our Inheâ—â—ance who make h intercession for us and by whom we cry 〈◊〉 Father To this Blessed Holy and undivided Trinity be Prayse Glory Worship and Thanksgiving now and ever Amen ABRAHAMS Exile Heb. 11.8.9 By Faith Abraham when he was called to goe into a plâ—â— which he should after receive for an inheritance obey and he went out not knowing whether he went c. ABraham succeeds Noah in the Catalogue of Beleeve but in the instances and expresses of his Faith he was fore him and all his Progenitors upwards to Adam aâ—â— all that succeeded him till our Lords Incarnation him it is remarkable That through those many darkenesses aâ—â— at such a distance he saw his Lords Day and he rejoyced him for the transcendency of his Faith did that Title of Honâ— belong The Father of the Faithfull he only of all of the first timâ— merited that stile and to him it is attributed indefinitely Father he was to all his believing fore-fathers and all his aâ— their following Posterity and consequently upon the same â—â— count to him the highest blessing which mortality was capaâ—â—â—â— of was assigned and assured and that by a thrice repeaâ—â— grant and confirmation In thee
were adopted into the place of Reuben 1 Chron. 5.1.2 or Levi. who was not to have any share into the Land of Canaan and then there is another blessing annexed That they may grow as Fish into a multitude into the middest of the Earth and indeed accordingly they multiplyed in Egypt into vast numbers For at the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt there were of Manasseh forty two thousand seven hundred Of Ephraim thirty two thousand five hundred but all these men of War perished in the Wildernesse yet at their entring into Canaan there was found after a perfect Muster of Ephraim forty thousand and five hundred and of Manasseh thirty two thousand and two hundred Numb 1.33.34.35 so that in the space of two hundred and fifteen years there Issued from Ioseph seventy five thousand or very neer that account and so Ephraim was after so powerfull and considerable a Tribe that oft-times the Scripture speaking of the defection of the ten Tribes from the house of David to Ieroboam the whole tâ—â— are indefinitely called Ephraim this Tribe being the principal contriver and abettor of that Rebellion as Isay 7.2 Hos 5.3 But we have another Passage in these words which deserve Vindication they are taken out of Gen. 47.31 He worshippeâ— towards the Beds head or as the last Translation he boweâ— himselfe upon the Beds head and so Junius reades it Incurvaâ—â—â— se ad cervical lecti sui and so others incurvavit se ad capâ—â— lectuli but our Apostle follows the Septuagint He worshippâ—â— upon the top of his staffe because that Translation was then 〈◊〉 great authority in the Church and the difference is not mâ—teriall nor of consequence for whether way soever it be reâ—dred the sense is not much altered and the Septuagint themselves Translated the Word here used in the Hebrew a Bed Gen. 48.2 so that they made not so great account of it The dirâ— genuine sense of the words then will amount to this That Iacâ—â— reared himselfe upon his pillow at his beds head leaning also 〈◊〉 his staffe and so prayed unto and praysed God Indeed the vuâ—gar Latine contrary to this sense and the words themselves reades it Adoravit fastigium virgae ejus which yet by some 〈◊〉 approved though upon a designe to maintain religious adoraâ—â—on to be due to the creatures but that this is a corruption appeares from the words themselves for it leaves out the Proposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in the Accusative Case signifies super upon all observed by Grammarians And this is sufficient to invalidaâ—â— the authenticalnesse of that Translation and to discover the weakenesse of their Argument and in part the falsenesse oâ— their Tenet who would from this place conclude The adoration of creatures reliques or images and which is yet more iâ— destroyes the pretended infallibility of the Church of Româ— which in the Councell of Trent hath declared the vulgar Latine to be the authentique Text and Rule of Faith for if defacto shee hath erred in this determiniation then de jure possibly she may and it is apparant shee hath erred in approving this Translation which we have proved erroneous and might further manifest from the Hebrew and Septuagint but that the Bibles of the Doctors of Lovaine themselves Romanists hath saved us the labour who reade it otherwise then 〈◊〉 vulgar Latine which as I said the Tridentine Councell Sess 2. Can. 2. hath allowed for the authentique Interpretation The second Part. 1 Jacob dying Iacob tooke care before his death to blesse his Children and took paines to worship God in as reverent and descent a posture as his infirmity would allow Gods Children all their life time finde him a Father of mercy and God of all consolations they receive many blessings and assistances from him but at their death he hath a most tender care and particular respect over them that their Faith faile not that the last enemy prevaile not against them that dying they may be Conquerors he perfects his strength in their weakenesse and he acts most powerfully and vigorously in them when their infirmities are strong upon them their Faith conquers death and the feare thereof and him that hath the power of death the Devill the outward man that is the living and animall saculties of Man his vegetation and 〈◊〉 are weakned and impayred by the usuall harbingers of death bodily infirmities and maladies yet the inward man breathing and moving by spirituall principles renewed with spirituall faculties of faith and sanctified reason is perfected and compleated by them ordinarily blinde Men have the most apprehensive tenacious and faithfull memories because they have not so many diversions to severall objects as seeing Men have and so dying Beleevers have their soules fixed on God sequestred from the world and are altogether taken up with the contemplation of heavenly joy and with holy exercises of Devotion and Piety and with earnest fervent Zeale and vehement desires to glorifie God and to be glorified with him to blesse God and to be blessed by and with him eternally but this comfort redounds not to all it is onely peculiar to Christian Beleevers whose conversation hath been heavenly not to presumptuous daring sinners who walke after the flesh and never seek to God till they have not strength to serve sin and Satan who never begin to live well till they be a dying and puts all off to a death bed Repentance which is the most sad and miserable condition of all others for it will be a worke of extreame difficulty if not impossibility for an habituated sinner in that scantling and straite heartily and sincerely to performe the duties and offices of Faith and Repentance or seriously the settle himselfe unto them for Omnis peccator peceat in suâ—aterno Every such sinner if he should live for ever would sinner for ever but the comfort and happinesse is for them who in the preceding years of their life in the dayes of their health and strength of their discourse and understanding have followed the wayes of godlinesse the foot-steps of Abraham and when sidâ— or a dying hath nothing to doe but to exercise those grace which they formerly acquired and perfect that Repentance which they early begun 2. Both the Sonnes of Joseph not nominating them unto us but onely making them known to us by their relation to Josoph Certainely the Apostles designe of the concealement oâ— their names and expression of them by their Parentage was for to put those Hebrews in mind both of the designe Iosephs Brethren had to sell him for a slave in Egypt which was purposely to cut him off from Iacobs house and deprive him of a blessing and his portion and also of Gods Decree to the contrary â—hâ—â— though they devised mischiefe craftily against him and drive their plot far and did bring it in their sancies to their desired issne and period yet he that sits in Heaven shall laugh them to scorne and his determination shall