Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	great_a	let_v	sinner_n	1,997	5	7.5506	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89274	Mercies for man. Prepared in, and by Christ, even for such as neither know them, nor him. Discovered, that they might know, and enjoy them. Or a discourse of the interest there is for all men in, and by Christ in the end, and usefulmesse of the beleevers peculiar priviledges and service. In which is also some information about that service to which the grace of God, that bringeth salvation to all men, instructeth, and obligeth the beleever for the good of them all, according to capacity, and opportunity given him. Likewise some directions for, and concerning Christian magistrates. In the opening some instructions arising from the Apostles exhortation to Timothy, 1 Tim. 2.1, 2. Delivered in November 1653. at the Munday meetings at Black-Friers: and because what then was spoken, met with some publick opposition, this is now published for further satisfaction. Written by Thomas Moor, Junior.	Moore, Thomas, Junior.	1654 (1654)	Wing M2605; Thomason E744_1; ESTC R207022	135,708	156

yet there may be a prevention and the Decree is not gone forth against them or any of them you cannot but in the constraining operation of this love of Christ earnestly beseech and perswade them and lay down your selves to win them Let that therefore be considered by you 3 Minde also for your provocation hereto and direction herein the many examples of Christs servants before you See David evermore on the commemorating any enlargement in distresse love testified or mercy received from God he was led out and enlarged with more earnestness on such occasions to desire invite and endeavour that all others with him would acknowledge and blesse the name of God for his goodnesse that they would come to him trust in him poure out their hearts before him make proof of his graciousnesse and readinesse to do them good signifying That ●he bottome-matter of his glorying or rejoycing the ground and foundation whence such mercy issued to him and upon the account of which God was such a refuge for him was such and so really prepared with God and full of vertue for all others that any other might certainly expect the same or the like according to their needs and capacity from it that he had met with in looking to him according as his grace witnessed in that he hath already done for them leadeth them Ps 4. and 34. and 62. 5-8 66. 5-8 95. 96. 98 100 107. 1-8-15 16 c. So Paul mentions it as one great end of Gods shewing chief mercy to him a chiefe sinner for a pattern to others that should after believe yea for an encouragement to such as being obliged invited to believe the truth of Gods goodness and propitiousnes towards them by the grace manifested in what he hath done for them as all are might discourage themselves from the consideration of the greatness of their sins and so delay or defer to believe as some say and we have good reason to believe from the end and scope of the place the words may be read and in consideration hereof is enlarged in heart to commend that saying which he had proved so full of faithfulnesse as worthy of all acceptation by every one of them at all times and in all cases and needs while yet the day of grace is extended towards them God holding open the door and by any means calling them to beleeve That Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners c. 1 Tim. 1. 12-15 16. See also how he sets his example before us in this matter 1 Cor. 10. 31 32 33. Whether therefore you eat or drink or whatever else you doe even in things of that nature as buying selling wearing apparrel in words and gestures 1 Cor. 7. 30 31. and 6 7. 1 Tim. 2. 9 10. 1 Pet. 3. 1 2 3. and 1. 13-18 with 2. 11 12 c. and 4. 3-11 Eph. 4. 24 25. to the end and 5. Tit. 2. 1-10 11. Rom. 12 13. Do all to the glory of God And how that in all these things giving none offence no just occasion of scandal or stumble to the Jew nor to the Gentile nor to the Church of God even as I saith the Apostle please all men in all things that is not in having fellowship with their evill wayes and unfruitful works of darknesse Eph. 4. 11. 8-11 1 Pet. 4. 3 4. But so as may be for their good to edification and to the adorning the name and doctrine of God our Saviour before and among them in all goodnesse gentlenesse honesty moderation or sobriety quiet bearing reproach and evils from them c. as Rom. 15. 2. 3. not seeking mine own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved be ye herein followers of me saith he even as I also am of Christ Chap. 11. 1. with Rom. 15. 2. 3. 4 Forget not the recompense of the Reward both present and eternal you shall have in this life a hundred-fold more in things infinitly better then those you deny your selves in and forsake for Christs sake and the Gospels and in prosecuting this great design the good of all men better name better kindred better treasures c. though with persecution and in that world that is to come eternal life a full enjoyment and possession of it without persecution or molestation Mar. 10. 29 30. You shall herein now render your selves as children of your Father who causeth his Sun to shine and Rain to fall on the just and unjust and is kind to the unkind and evil Mat. 5. 44 45. Lu. 6. 35. 36. whose grace even in these things bringeth salvation to all men Tit. 2. 11. Rom. 2. 4. he having so loved them as to give his onely begotten Son for them the Saviour of the world Joh. 3. 16. with 1 Joh. 4. 14. which is both the fountain of and witnessed in all these mercies Psal 85. 10 11 12. Act. 14. 17. you shall herein render your selves one with your Lord Husband and Head in his main Design for the good of all yea hereby grow into more likenesse and onenesse with him even as he and his Father are one J●● 17. 21 22 23. yea herein is his Father and yours glorified in your bringing forth much fruit Joh. 15. 8. who also will honour you with his presence fellowship and approbation however men reproach you and cast out your name as evill under heaven and afford you room and entertainment where your Lord and Master is nor will suffer you to have worse use then your Lord and Master had and in his Gospel and spirituall presence in this world still hath which may administer to you joy and boldness in any day of trial here because as he is so are we in this world for it is enough for the Disciple to be as his Master c. Joh. 12. 26. and 14. 21 23. 1 Joh. 4. 17. with Matth. 10. 24 25 40. Yea in following his steps in the prosecution of this great Design you shall heap coals of fire on the heads of your enemies that shall either tend to the melting them now or if now they will not suffer the melting operation of them to their everlasting burning hereafter yee shall be a savor of life unto life or of death unto death unto them Rom. 12. 18. 20 31. with 2 Cor. 2. 15 16. And for the time to come he hath spoken of things yet infinitly greater Though now being sent into the field of the world you bear forth your precious seed in tears which are occasioned by the hardnesse of the work the little profit it seems to have with men in respect of the many whose good is aimed at in it the storms of opposition and tribulations of divers sorts you meet with yet doubtlesse you shall return again with rejoycing bringing your sheaves Psal 126. And for your shame you shall have double in your own land you shall possess it everlasting joy shall be upon you Isa 61. 4.

yet thus to rejoyce before him with godly fear and trembling and that for loves sake left they sin against so good a God knowing that so many are the occasions within and without them to entice and provoke them thereto and so deprive themselves of such infinite mercies and of such abundant entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour the enjoyment of which is set before them in and with Christ and do therein also deprive others of the mercies they might and should have by them and therefore with this rejoycing in hope and patience in tribulation it instructs also to continue instant in Prayer yea withall to make no provision for the flesh to avoid the occasions and appearances of evil to flee from them as from death lest of them they should reap corruption and so be led into and overcome of the evil of the temptation Psal 2. 11. Heb. 12. 28. Rom. 12. 12. Gal. 6. 7 8. Rom. 13. 14. 1 Thess 5. 22. 1 Tim. 6. 9 10. 11. 2 Tim. 2 10 20 22. Jam. 1. 13 14 16. All which Ornaments are put on in putting on Christ being nothing else but the motions and operations of the new man the enlightned judgement and disposition or inclination of the heart begotten and framed according to it which after God is created in holiness and righteousness through the truth as learned in Christ Jesus Eph. 4. 17 20. 21 25 c. And do render the persons so adorned abundantly more meet to make their Prayers and Thansgivings for all men and to have their mouths filled with the Declarations of his goodness before them they appearing while they are leading a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty thus moulded in all these things to a right praying frame and temper of Spirit and earnestly and rightly set for the good of all and profitably to prosecute it and this adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour by the believer being clothed with such ornaments and so shining as lights in the world will prove a powerful and effectual means to the drawing and alluring others to listen to the Gospel of Christ and enquire after him with us That which the Apostle Peter applies to the believing Wives with reference to their unbelieving Husbands we may also apply or say the like concerning Believers in general with reference to their unbelieving Neighbours That even such as obey not the word might without the word be wonne by the conversation of the Believers among and towards them while they behold their chaste upright or honest conversation coupled with fear with godliness awfulness reverence and humility whose adorning is not that outward nor do they therein conform to the World according to the former lusts in their ignorance in plaiting of Hair changing any Ornament God hath given them or priding themselves with it wearing of Gold signifying any costly Aray or putting on of Aparel be it never so mean when they can get no better they may make that their Ornament the neat or spruce putting on or trimming themselves with what they have compare with this 1 Pet. 3. 1 4. 1 Tim. 2. 9 10 11. 1 Pet. 1. 13 14 15 18. 2 Pet. 3. 11 14. But their adorning is the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible the fruits or operations of that which others see not appeares in their being adorned by it and putting on the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit a thing in the sight of God of great price and so being clothed with humility and filled with those fruits of righteousness that are by Jesus Christ Oh then let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity by the mercies of God let them go on purging themselves from all filthiness of flesh and Spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord that they may be vessels prepared for their Masters use 2 Tim. 2. 1 7 8 19 20 22 25. Tit. 2. 10 12 14. Thus we have done with this first branch of the last general instruction propounded namely we have shewed That it tends very much to the good of all men That believers lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty among them we shall endeavour brevity in what follows 2. That therefore God likes it well in and requires it of those whom he sets in Authority or eminent place places of Government that they should all of them have a special eye at this That his people that worship him and would live quietly in the Land that they may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty under their protection and Government All Thrones Dominions Principalities and Powers are of God created ordained and set by Jesus Christ and for him the Earth he hath given to the children of men and set over it whom he please sometimes the basest of men that they should as his Ministers administer the Government for him and according to his appointment and counsel given them Col. 1. 16. Rom. 13. 14. with 1 Pet. 2. 14. Psal 115. 16. Dan. 4. 17. Psal 75. and 82. Yea It 's he that giveth salvation to Kings Psal 144. 10. Therefore it 's his great and general counsel to them the Rulers of both Jews and Gentiles that they should serve the Lord with fear c. and that in kissing acknowledging serving and honouring the Son Psal 2. 11 12. with John 5. 22 23. And what that is in which mainly they are required to acknowledge do homage to and serve the Son and that it is according to that general rule What is done to the least of his that desire to worship him in sincerity and truth though never so despicable here he accounts as done to himself Mat. 25. 40 45 and 10 40 41 42. may also appear in that Psal 2. by considering what that is that is reproved in them and charged as their consulting together and rebelling against him the Lords anointed They said Let us break their bands asunder let us cast away their cords from as namely those bands and cords of love those reproofs and Arguments of the Gospel to perswade them to accept of Gods counsel to be wise and instructed now to serve the Lord c. which were administred to them mediately by the Church of Christ his despised people whom he hath set in the World that by them might be made known even to Principalities and Powers the manifold wisdom of God Eph. 3. 10. As the Rulers of the Jews Jer. 18. 18. consulted together and said Let us devise devices against Jeremiah let us smite him with or for the tongue let us not give heed to any of his words And as those Rulers Acts 4. 15 16 17 18. They conferred together saying What shall we do to these men for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest c. But that it spread no further let us straightly threaten and charge them that they

36. Act. 14. 17. Rom. 2. 4. These considerations of what the prayers are and in what manner all prayers are to be made for all men may afford us some direction in our prayers to pray as we ought which the holy Spirit teacheth as he doth all other things by opening the Testimony of Jesus and shewing the things of him Rom. 8. 26. with Joh. 16. 13 14. As therein he presents us with good ground and foundation of Prayer as we shall after shew so thereby he instructeth us what to pray for and in what manner for all men and how to pray as we ought for every man in teaching us to pray according to his will as declared in that declaration of his name in his Son for such things as the Father hath appointed him to give unto men by vertue of his Sacrifice and Mediation to each according to his need and capacity and so as according to the wisdome of God may be for his good and so we are here directed not to pray for those peculiar blessings which men become capable and meet subjects to partake of onely in beleeving and comming to Christ as Col. 1. 9-13 1 Pet. 2. 3 4. such as sanctifying and furniture to and blessing in the ministration of the Gospel and the like for any that is yet in the state fellowship and way of the world and so of it yet to pray for these things for all Saints that the world may be the better for them as to the best good Job 17. 9-21 23. neither may we pray for Gods prospering any man in his evill way or for special National protections ownings and salvations to be afforded to any people or Nation openly set in opposition to him or to any people that are called by his name and especially if for his names sake called upon them But we are to suffer the grace of God to teach and lead us as it certainly will to pray against their evill works and inventions and so against them as abiding in the said wayes and for special protections ownings and salvations to be afforded to that people or Nation upon whom his name is called or that do more rightly worship and acknowledge him and that for his names sake and both these intentionally for the good not only of those people for whom the prayers are directly made but of their enemies also and so of all men Our Saviours Admonition and Instruction to his Disciples when upon some peoples unthankfulnesse and not receiving him they would have prayed for fire to come down from heaven and consume them as Elias did may here seasonably be considered by us Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of for the Son of man came not to destroy mens lives but to save them Luke 9. 55 56. And therefore also Though we are not nor is it according to his will to pray for forgivenesse peace and joy in a full and proper sense to be given to any man abiding in his evill way or in his natural state and condition yet we may and are taught by his grace to pray for such pardon forbearance and renewing of goodnesse to be conferred on them and in due time as may give them opportunity and have tendency and efficacy in it to lead them to repentance That so they may receive forgivenesse of sins and inheritance with those that are sanctified by saith that is in Christ And so the end of all prayers for all men is that they might be saved We come next to consider Fourthly What are those thanksgivings joyned with prayers to be made for all men This the Scripture plentifully sets before us That al manner of right prayer is joyned with Thanksgiving Phil. 4. 6. In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God So Psal 50. 14 15. and 95. 2. Come into his presence with Thanksgiving offer sacrifice of Thanksgiving and call upon him Yea all men are invited so to do Now what this Thanksgiving is that is so inseparably joyned with all right praying we shall also finde in those Scriptures that speak to this matter that it is such a commemoration and thankful acknowledgement of and blessing God for his great love and mercy testified in what he hath already done for us as in which Gods goodnesse is only commended and glorified and not ours with it as in that of the Pharisee God I thank thee that I am not c. Luk. 18. 11. and that so as in the minding and consideration thereof we have incouragement presented to expect and pray in faith for those further streamings forth of mercy and good things according to our needs and capacity which through the knowledge of his name we are lead to desire and ask accordingly to his wil. So our Savior teacheth us in that doctrine of Prayer Mat. 6. 9. to acknowledge and commemorate the honor and praise due to his name for what he hath done in and by his Son in the forefront of all the Petitions we ask of him that therein we may glorifie him and yeeld him the praise of his grace who also for his names sake meeteth with him that rejoyceth in acknowledging it Though to us belong nothing but shame that therein also we may be minded of that which may inlarge and draw out our hearts with encouragement in God though abasement in our selves further to pray according to his will And so the holy Spirit for the helping of our infirmities teaching us how to pray as we ought as he takes of the things of Jesus and sheweth as is shewed before so therein he glorifies him in and according to the Gospel minding us what cause of Thanksgiving we have to God continually by and in the name of Jesus Christ and how that serves for our instruction and encouragement further to pray see examples and instructions to this And first in those Thanksgivings that are joyned with Prayers made for all Saints and for such peculiar blessings to be conferred on them as of which they only are capable subjects though in respect of their end and tendencie these are also for all men as afore is shewed In all these Thanksgivings there is not only an acknowledgement of that true in Christ for men as the bottom cause of all thanksgivings and of the great love goodnesse of God to manward as manifested therein but with this there is alwayes an acknowledgement and commemoration of Gods great goodnesse in those special streamings forth of the issues and ver●ues of that Redemption and grace of God in Christ to manward which they have met with and through his grace have had efficacie in them to the saving them and making them meet to partake of the inheritance of the Saints in those peculiar blessings desired and prayed for for them See our Saviours Prayer Joh. 17. 7 8. Now they have known saith he that all things what soever thou hast given me are of

me shall come to me even such as now will not come to him that they might have life though graciously drawn by the Father as vers 35 36. Them will he bring to be slain for ever before his face because they would not that he should reign over them who is their lawfull Lord and unto whom they were all given that through him they might have been saved But then it follows as another part of the Fathers will concerning him That whosoever seeth the Son and believeth in him or as v. 37. he that cometh to him speaking in the present tense for as the same verse saith All shall come either here or hereafter but he that now in this day of Gods grace and patience cometh in the Fathers drawings which answers the Fathers giving to Christ Joh. 17. 2. or at least is that in which they are made capable subjects of such giving It is the will of the Father concerning Christ that he should give unto such eternal life For God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son the Saviour of it 1 Joh. 4. 14. That whosoever of the world so loved by him and to whom love is so testified in and through the Son doth through this grace beleeve in him implying that all so loved by him do not so answer his love again that they should not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3. 16. And this is the reason that such prayers for the peculiar blessings of eternal life to be conferred on persons are only to be prayed for for those on the behalf of whom there is also such peculiar matter of Thanksgivings to be made And such and of like nature are those Thanksgivings to be joyned with prayers of the first sort as already mentioned and is to be seen in the Scriptures quoted and although in them there be many things acknowledged and commemorated to Gods glory and for our encouragement to pray those prayers unto him which are peculiar priviledges of the Saints for whom such further things are directly desired as they only are capable of yet for as much as those peculiar mercies acknowledged as well as those desired are in respect of their end and tendency for the good of all men as we see in that example of our Saviour Joh. 17. 18 21 23. and those of like nature Psal 4. 1 2. c. 56. 9-13 116. 16-18 even these Thanksgivings also in a like sense as the prayers of this sort forementioned may be truly said to be made for all men According to that of our Saviour Joh. 11. 41 42. Father I thanke thee that thou hast heard me And I know that thou hearest me alwayes but because of the people that stand by I said it That they may believe that thou hast sent me Therefore his praise is of him in the great Congregation because of Gods furnishing and upholding and hearing him for their good Psal 22. 22 25. And for this cause he will confesse to him among the Gentiles and sing unto his name Again he saith Rejoyce yee Gentiles with his people and laud him all ye Nations Rom. 15. 8 9 10. there also is further to be considered That the bottome matter of all Thanksgivings the foundation and root of all those things for which thanks is to be given to the Father by Jesus Christ That from which all the other springs is nothing else but that which is true in Christ for all men namely Gods so loving the world as not to spare his only begotten Son But to deliver him to death for us all That he by the grace of God should taste of death for every man and give himselfe a ransome for All A Testimony in due time This being true and cordially done and the ends and vertues of this with the Father is the only cause and reason That with him in and through him he gives all things pertaining to life and godlinesse Rom. 8. 32. with 2 Pet. 1. 1 3. So as whosoever believeth in him and so receiveth and closeth with him in the knowledge and faith of what he hath done and is become for all men and the love of God in him to Man-ward doth therein receive and is made capable of further receiving that eternall life in him by faith of it in him for them and with him to be given them and so in a first fruits of spirituall enjoyment Joh. 3. 16. and 1. 12. 1 Joh. 5. 11 12. Rom. 5. 6-11 Therefore this is made the bottome matter of all the Thanksgiving and acknowledgement as being the foundation root and cause of all the rest Col. 1. 14. In whom we have redemption through his bloud even the forgivenesse of sins So Eph. 1. 7. Psal 130. yea this the bottome of the rejoycing song to Eternity Thou wast slain and out of the bowels and vertues of this and of the love of God to Man-ward and that was so to us even when we were dead in sins and trespasses through Christ Jesus it issued And in the discoveries and presentation of this was effected That they were redeemed from among men c. Rev. 5. 9. with 1 Pet. 1. 18. Eph. 2. 4 5 8. Joh. 3. 16. Tit. 3. 4 5. And for this namely That done and perfect in Christ and that cordially to this end That the other might be done in them as 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. 21. And the furniture and faithfulnesse of Christ in the name of the Father for being a testimony to men in due time affording means and therein inlightning reproving teaching according to mens needs and capacity for the bringing them back to God All men have cause to praise the Lord for his goodnesse and for his wonderfull works to the children of men And if they will not yet let the Redeemed of the Lord whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy do it for themselves and them Psal 107. 1 2 8 15 16. c. For he hath broken the Gates of brasse in peeces and cut the Bars of Iron asunder slaine the enmity in himselfe that was between God and mankind that he might reconcile man to God Eph. 2. 16. So that There is great Thanksgiving to be made directly for all men to the glory and praise of God and the incouragement of his people to pray in faith for those good things in their behalf and for the good of them and for good things to be directly bestowed on them according to their needs and capacities that may tend to the furtherance of the great Designe of God for the good of all men And that not onely for the great love of God in the gift of his Son and the redemption wrought in him for them But also for all those mercies and accommodations of the naturall life means leading to repentance and forbearance hitherto extended and his good Spirit accompanying the same inlightning reproving c. And all to bring men to God That they might seek him and live as

properly to be read as a Declaration of Gods good will love and desire towards men and concerning them as considered in their faln lost and sinfull estate which was such as in which he would have them saved out of it and brought back again to him Such his great compassions slownesse to anger and riches in mercie That he had no pleasure in their destruction but that they should turn and live And therefore desired they should come to the knowledge of the truth of his love and goodnesse towards them that so they might be drawn into love of him and conformity to him that were so full of hatred and antipathy against him And then as a real demonstration of this his love desire for them and declaration of the way and means prepared that this might be for though God loved them and desired their good yet they could have enjoyed no streamings forth or manifestations of it or benefit by it If he had not devised means that his banished might not be expelled as 2 Sam. 14. 14. He further tells us That God is one and unchangeable in all his holy Attributes and therefore in love to man as his creature and the end of his other creation and while he was not yet become wholly one with and of Satan that had tempted and prevailed over him could not yet give him up And so in holinesse and truth and therefore could by no means in clearing clear the guilty or forgive sin without a fulfilling of his truth and satisfying of his Justice And so likewise in infinit wisdome and goodnesse in all and therefore knew how to finde out a way of recovery that mercy and truth might meet together for mans recovery and helpfulnesse in this lost condition as well as to make him of nothing a creature to such excellent glory and hath done it God is light and in him is no darknesse And that appears in this that follows There is one Mediator of God and man and so between God and man Christ Jesus A Mediator is not a Mediator of one But God is one Gal. 3. 20. A Mediator is of and between two parties at a distance and so is ours But whereas the usuall work of Mediators between man and man is to lay his hand on both and prevail with one to abate something and the other to pay or satisfie something so is not ours for God is one He was not turned enemy but loved us when we were enemies so as he sent the Mediator He is one and so infinit and perfect in holinesse and can abate nothing of what his Truth and Justice requires and therefore must have full and perfect satisfaction though we are so weak we can make none The work therefore of our Mediator is to make full satisfaction pay the full price come up to Gods terms and then to bring us up to and inable us to accept of those termes in him made and accepted for us And so in the whole and in each part of his work That with God and that with men It is to reconcile man to God The first in and by himselfe without them The second in their particular persons through him 2 Cor. 5. 19 20 21. And for the accomplishing this He that is the one Mediator of God and man and that he might be a standing Mediator between them Gave himselfe a ransome for all men A Testimony or to be testified in due time That so through him they might come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved For understanding the large ground of praying for All men here set before us consider some of the particular instructions herein presented 1 That Jesus Christ by the will and appointment of the Father hath given himselfe and is accepted A Ransome for All. 2 That he is by vertue hereof become a standing and powerfull Mediator between God and men 3 That by vertue and by means of his Ransome accepted and his Mediation continually made for them he is of the Father to them A Testimony in due time That they might come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved And in all this God is light and in him is no darknesse at all For the first That Jesus Christ by the appointment of the Father hath given himself and is accepted a Ransome for All a price of Redemption so as he hath redeemed and bought them All as hath been shewed already as to the persons for whom now we shall apply our selves to the consideration of the worke herein done for them And so first he hath in and by himselfe redeemed them from the curse of the Law being made a curse for them Gal. 3. 13. Secondly He hath by that his one offering for all perfected through suffering and now presented to the Father obtained and received into himself eternal redemption a full and perfect Recovery and Restoration of all that losse contracted by sinne as charged on them by the first Testament Heb. 9. 12. 15. First Jesus Christ hath in and by himself redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us Gal. 3. 13. where that he speaks not of that redeeming the heart and conscience from under the bondage and accusation of sin by the Law which is only wrought in the spirit of the beleever through the discovery of that done in Christ for all men but of that done namely of the redemption wrought in Christ for them before they knew it This is evident in that he saith the Redemption here spoke of was done and finished by his being made a curse for us whereas the other though done by vertue thereof yet is not effected but through the discoveries thereof and in the receit by faith as before yea it is still more evident in that he mentions this as perfectly done that means might be used for the doing the other namely the redeeming men in their particular persons and that that might be wrought or received through faith He hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us that the blessing of Abraham the preaching of peace by Jesus Christ Eph. 2. 14. 17. 3. 6. might come on the Gentiles that we namely whoever beleeveth might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith according to that Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son namely the Saviour of the world 1 Joh. 4. 14. that whoever of the world so loved by him through this grace beleeveth in him whom he hath sent should not perish but have everlasting life and so that Gal 3. 13. is opened Gal 4. 4 5 where the query is fully answered who they are encluded under the word us Gal. 3. 13. that he hath redeemed from the curse of the Law God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeeme them that were under the Law that we there the person is changed namely whoever beleeveth might receive the

his Enemies as one earnestly desirous to obtain it if it might be without war or blood and that for their good whence he complains of it as a great grief and trouble to him My Soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace I am for peace or a man of peace but they are for war even when I speak of and offer terms of peace Psal 120. 6 7. Yea the Psalmist makes this general Prayer which indeed is also a certain prophesie and shall have its accomplishment on the subjects of it sooner or latter Scatter thou the people that delight in war Psal 68. 30. It is a great national blessing and to be desired yea as the conclusion of the blessing wherewith the house of Israel was to be blessed adding to the comfort and sweetness of all the rest To enjoy peace in the Land or Nation where they lived Levit. 26. 6. Numb 6. 26. Yea therefore they were to pray also for the peace of the Nation and City whither they were carried away Captives that in the peace thereof they might have peace Jer. 29. 7. Christian Rulers then should take heed their feet be not swift to shed blood lest their hands be defiled with blood and their fingers with iniquity Not to be forward to make war unless necessitated thereto for defending and preserving the peace of the Nation And therefore with good advise make war Prov. 20. 18. and 24. 6. Yea fi●st sitting down and counting whether they be able by the peoples hands and purse for they should consider no King goes to war at his own charges to manage and bear the charge of such a war else while the Enemy is yet a great way off our Saviour saith Wise Governours will send an embassage and desire conditions of peace To have peace in our borders as Psal 147. 14. is to be prized as one of the greatest outward mercies if God see it good to give us opportunity to enjoy it though with some disadvantages By means of it them that are in Authority shall have opportunity put in their hands to take off the heavy yokes that make the oppressed to groan and to see to the protection of such as do well and to have their eyes about them with which they may scatter the wicked at home and from about the Throne Whether they will wisely improve these opportunities to these purposes or no that may be a question which if they do not God will in his time take them from them again For to him that hath shall more be given but from him that hath not or that retaineth or improveth not shall be taken even that which he had seeing he did not rightly use or improve it Likewise By means of such outward peace especially the forementioned directions being heeded by them in Authority the believer shall have more freedom and liberty to worship God without disturbance and endeavour the good of men according as God hath given him a heart and capacity by being Messengers of the peace of God to them praying for them and shewing forth the vertues of Christ among them which is more suitable to their Spirit then to be fighting with them Against all this some may happily say We speak as not understanding the Visions or Prophesies proper to these times or which are now to have their fulfilling which say they speak of the Saints destroying conquering and bringing under all their Enemies by the material Sword and so taking and possessing the kingdoms of this World and so Christ taking to him his great power and raigning in his people and that by such means and in the time of this mortality which considered might encourage and put forward all Christians the Rulers and Ruled together to go on furiously and confidently without deliberate advisement yea without president or rule conquering and to conquer all that is before them by their power and Sword now while it is in their hand and not to seek peace but rather count it their honour as Christians or Saints to be further imployed in war In answer to this we say We cannot indeed boast as others do of our understanding the Visions of the times but freely acknowledge our great weakness and ignorance in them as a fruit of our more fundamental ignorance in or want of skill to make use of the Vision of all Visions which is the Key of knowledge for the opening them and whatever else is hard to be understood nor desire we at this time much to lengthen our discourse having been large in it already yet briefly this we say first We read somthing of the Visions of these latter dayes opened by our Saviour in his answer to the Disciples question Mat. 24. 3. which question had two things distinct in it viz. When shall these things be namely the things he had foretold about the destruction of Jerusalem and their Temple and what the signe of his coming and of the end of the world It may seem the Disciples thought that the destruction of Jerusalem and his second appearing and the end of the world should have happened together and happily were not yet able to understand or bear the hearing of another and longer time for his coming and the end of the world then for the destruction of Jerusalem however our Saviour answers to both the parts of the question together and though some of his particular applicatory sayings by way of direction to them as vers 16 20. are with more peculiar reference to the first which was to fall out in their day yet all the predictions or things foretold to fall out as fore-runners of both are generally to be applyed to each signifying That the same things and much in a like manner that did fore-run the destruction of Jerusalem shall also fore-run the second appearing of Christ and the end of the world but still more fully according to the predictions as the last fulfillings of prophesies are alwayes the clearest and fullest Now there we read that the Believers the Saints of God the Disciples of Christ shall hear of wars and rumours of wars in that he mentions wars as distinct from rumours of wars in Matthew and Mark it 's clear that by wars he means such as are neer them in those Nations and places where they live but then in that of them as well as of the rumours of wars in other places he saith They shall hear of them he clearly signifies That the Saints or Disciples of Christ as such shall not be actors or exercised in them It 's none of their proper quarrel or fight for their kingdom though there may be in them much of Gods quarrel against and executing wrath or vengeance on many of their oppressors by stirring them up one against another or stirring up some against them that may after prove such themselves under another form but the Saints or Disciples of Christ whose work is not to avenge themselves in this day see Rom. 12. 18 19 20.