suiter for Heaven the same affection will be see Acts 2.41 c. Q. But by what did she evidence her conversion and demonstrate her Faith A. If we look upon the Record Josh 2.9.10.11 we will find her Faith plainly and fully asserted for that declareth She beleeved the true God the Lord of Heaven and Earth that this God was in Covenant with the Beseigers that we would dispossesse their Enemies and seat them in Canaan and of this her Faith she gave an undeniable demonstration of her charitable affection and kind welcome of the Spies entertaining them with all fidelity respect and safety So David made his delight in the Saints on Earth an expression and remonstrace of his Faith in God Psal 16.1.2.3 Q. But how did it consist with true Faith to take in the assistance of a lye for the management of her designe A. It may be resolved That though the sin were damnable as every transgression of the Law in rigor yet she found releif and favour both because as Paul obtained mercy because what he did he did ignorantly through unbeleif so she did it through weaknesse being but a minor in the Faith and new entred and matriculated Professor of the true God an incipient or beginner in the saving Knowledge of Religion whereas if she had been graduated and fully enstructed therein and of long standing in the Society of Beleevers her pardon would not have been sued out and procured upon such easie termes nor grace and favour obtained but by many acts of humiliation and also because God considers our infirmities and delights to doe us good therefore he oft rewards the action in what is good and imputes not the bad which is inherent to and intermixt with the good he will not be so extream as to mark all that is amisse especially if the offender be weak and the intentions sincere whereas no pretence of a good intention will serve to a carelesse secure or presumptuous transgressor And so though God may somtimes justifie an harmlesse Delinquent who sins not malo animo in the simplicity of his heart yet God never allows designedly to doe evill that good may come thereof Q. But how can this her hospitality be excused from treason Was not this to comply with the professed enemies of her country and people And is not such a complyance by all Laws judged falsnesse and perfidiousnesse And can falsnesse be an act of Faith A. It is true that all these interrogatories are to be resolved in the affirmative unlesse God otherwise declare and if he interpose his command to the contrary then all obligations to a subordinate power is superseded For as I said before in that ordered slaughter of Isaac God who is above all Law having passed his sentence nulled the authority of any Law decreeing the contrary so here God who is above all Government and Governours having expresly declared a change of the then Government and the substitution of other Governors did thereby license and authorize all practises tending thereunto and by his over-ruling supremacy absolved those people from their Allegiance to their then Governours Now that God had done so appears Iosh 1.2.3 c. and yet this can be no president or Gospel case now because Christ hath given rules for peaceable demeanor none for disturbance of States God then would have the Common-wealth in the Church now the Church is in the Common-wealth that is Christ will have no man for his cause disseazed of his right deprived of his Estate deposed from his Dignities he settles his Gospel in Kingdoms and States without disputing their forme or mode of Government he came to give an Heavenly Kingdom he leaves earthly Monarchies and Republiques in a quiet enjoyment of their powers and priviledges The Second Part. 1. This Rahab this child of wrath for so she was by her Education and after conversation till she received this Intelligence and Revelation concerning the true God is now a child of God by her after faith and conversion There is infinite mercy with God and plenteous Redemption for all humble converts and penitents It 's Gods glory to forgive sins and his greatest glory to forgive the greatest sinners repenting Isay 1.16.17.18 Ezek. 18.14 c. he is alwayes ready to welcome and entertain an humbled sinner as the Father his prodigall Son returning with all tendernesses and endearments he looks upon a convert not as a sinner his iniquities and his sins he will remember no more but receives him as a Son reconciled to him by the Son of his love Iesus Christ he delights in and chearfully accepts such opportunities of mercy This is the remonstrance of the new Covenant Christ came to save what was lost the relenting and confessing Prodigall that poor Samaritan sinner who had five Husbands and she who had none that notorious branded Harlot who washed his feet with her tears and then wiped them with her baire Matthew and Zacheus two Publicans both followers and then favourites of Christ and for an assurance that thus he would dispose of his mercy for the future when he went to Paradise he took with him that theife the late convert on the Crosse Where sin abounds if suteable repentance follow there Grace superabounds the greater the distemper the more excellent the cure the more skilfull the Physitian the more potent the Enemy nullum memorabile nomen Faeminea in paena nec habet Victoria laudem the more glorious the Conquest the stronger the hold of the Devill the more powerfull is the Spirit of Christ storming him out and dispossessing him the higher our debts and trespasses are the more noble is the bounty and charity of the releasor and acquittor the higher the obligation of the releaser to serve and love him Luke 7.47 where the causall Conjunction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we reade for is equivalent to therefore noting not Causam rei but Argumenti from whence or what Topick soever the Argument and Answers be drawn 2. By Faith she beleeved as is said the true God c. The minimum quod sic of Faith is to beleeve that God is and that he is a plentifull rewarder of those who diligently seek him and even this beleif God will reward by his acceptance This Primum fundamentale served her turn to denominate her a faithfull one and put her upon the Record Faith in the least measure and first degree obtains grace and favour and encreaseth by little and little into knowledge and sanctity of life God will not quench the smoaking Flax nor break the bruised Reed he will not stifle and crush the beginnings of Piety but will carefully nourish and cherish Faith in Semine will insensibly as good Seed if sound spring and grow up first in the Blade then the Ear then into full Corn goe from one degree to another towards perfection As in the extraordinary Faith of Miracles that little as a grain of Mustard-seed Mark 4.27.28 29.30.31 can remove Mountains
that a Christian Church too a Church of Christ and the sufferings of the people of God the rebukes of Christ though then the people of God had not the Title yet they had the Religion of Christ and albeit in outward expression and denomination they were not called Christians till long after at Antioch Acts 11.26 yet such they were really and in truth For Beleevers before Christs comming and since are admitted into the same Covenant of Grace because consigned by the same Sacraments not indeed in the same Signes but in the Spirituall thing signified 1 Cor. 10.3.4.5 And did all eat the same spirituall meat And did all drink the same spirituaell drink for they dranke of that spirituall Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ But with many of them God was not well pleased for they were overthrown in the Wildernesse which did Scale the same promises though not so immediately as ours but under a covert of temporall things even ever since that Grant the Seed of the Woman c. Gen 3.15 and is the expresse affirmation of the Apostle Gal. 3.17 And this I say that the Covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ the Law which was foure hundred and thirty years after cannot disanull that it should make the promise of none effect which relateth to the same object Jesus Christ Heb. 13.8 Acts 3.25 4.12 for the same excellent purposes of mercy remission of sins reconciliation with God and life eternall So the Covenant was the same for substance though not for circumstance and fashion and so their Faith and Religion the same For Christ was the Lambe slain from the foundation of the World Rev. 13.8 So Aug. Epist 157. ad opt Eadem fides nostra illorum quoniam hoc illi crediderant futurum quod nos credimus factum And therefore here we may say with Saint Paul Rom. 11.33 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the depth of the riches both of the Wisedom and Knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out And with David Psal 40.5 Many O Lord my God are thy wouderfull works which thou hast done and thy thoughts which are to us-ward they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee if I would declare and speak of them they are more then can be numbred But to this I have said somwhat before in the first Part and 8. Page and 1. Observ 8. To suffer with the people of God The people of God are eo nomine so far from being exempted from the common calamities of man-kind that they are the greatest sufferers of and sharers in them And if judgement begin at the House of God where shall the ungodly appear Gods People are a persecuted People But of this largely also before and more is to be said after 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Esteeming That which put Moses on this choice was a well-grounded conviction of Conscience that it was a duty and a right enformed judgement for resolution and action without warranty and sufficient grounds of conviction is but perversnesse and obstinacy sin and impiety the mistaking of evill for good will necessarily inferr evill doing Hence sins are called the Works of darknesse Eph. 5.11 and Heathens darknesse ver 8. Walking in the vaenity of their minds Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindnesse of their heart Eph. 4.17.18 And the Apostle notes this when he tells us of the unbeleeving impenitent Jews They err in their hearts and so they have not known my wayes Heb. 3.10 and therefore he admonisheth them ver 12. Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evill heart of unbeliefe in departing from the living God And hence Minutius Faelix concludes Non minoris est seeleris Deum ignorare quam laedere Ignorance of God is as bad as Sacriledge Hos 5.4 They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God for the spirit of whordoms is in the midst of them and they have not known the Lord. On the contrary the right discerning and separating evill from good conduceth much to the eschewing of evill and doing good to deny the world and self and chuse Christ and Heaven And therefore the Apostles supplication for the Philippians Phil. 1.9.10.11 is that they may abound in all judgement To what end that they may approve or try things that are excellent and differ be able Christians to distinguish betwixt evill and good And to what are such abilities required that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ Being filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and prayse of God And his Petition for the Colossians is to the same purpose Col. 1.9.10 For this cause we also since the day we heard it doe not cease to pray for you and to desire that ye might be filled with the Knowledge of his will in all wisedom and spirituall understanding That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitfull in every good work and increasing in the Knowledge of God As the bodily Eyes guides our feet so the understanding is the leader of the will and affections Hence those Prayers of David Psal 119.18.34.73 125. Open then mine Eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law Give me understanding and I shall keep thy lay yea I shall observe it with my whole heart Thy hands have made me and fashioned me give me understanding that I may learn thy Commandements I am thy Servant give me understanding that I may know thy testimonies And hence that Exhortation of the Apostle 1 Cor. 14.20 In understanding be ye men otherwise ye will prove Children tossed too and fro still Children and never come to be perfect men Eph. 4.13.14 10. He had respect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He first looked on the Duty now the Reward that to set him forward this to encourage and back him that as principall this as second to his choice that to leade and command this to fortifie and strengthen that as finis agentis his designe this as finis rei his happinesse and felicity See here and admire admire and acknowledge the great love of God to man who not onely gave us understanding to know our Duty but furnisheth with ayds and helps to further and assist us in our Duty he not onely teacheth us what to doe but supplies strength for to doe and affords means to preserve that strength he deals with us in those wayes which are most proper for us by threatnings and perswasions punishments and rewards Deut. 11.26 Behold I set before you this day a blessing and a curse The Lord knoweth our frame Psal 103.14 and so frameth all his dispensation accordingly he considers we are but men weak and impotent creatures and therefore he gives Grace Yet withall he considers that we are men
and their dwelling places to all Generations Psal 49.11 but even here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Families and Houses falls some sodainly as by a marked open judgement signally others insensibly piece after piece but at length totally they having either their ground-work in blood or their structure by fraud sacriledge and perjury Zach. 5.3.4 Habb 2.9.10.11.12 Ier. 22.13 c. If then we will have our Families to stand and Houses to continue endeavour to demolish and pull down the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Fortresses and strong holds of sin cast down every imagination which exalts it self against the Knowledge of God break and weaken the power of lust otherwise still 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the unmortified sin will down with all follow that counsell Break off your sins by Repentance while we have the Priests of the Lord lifting up their Voyces like Trumpers and alaruming us thereunto Deale with our sins as Joshuah with Iericho destroy all leave none alive no reserved beloved bosom sin no accursed thing lest the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fall on us as on the Israelites Iosh 7.13 and as there was a curse upon the re-builders of Iericho to which the Apostle alludes Gal. 2.18 If I build again the things which I destroyed I make my self a transgressour So for fear of this curse let not us destroy sin to day and build it up to morrow repent to day and call it in to morrow falling away afterward from Repentance Heb. 6.5 turning from the holy Commandement 2 Pet. 2.21 but finish and perfect this work till we come to the Hevenly Canaan 5. As Iericho fell and was destroyed by the sound of the Trumpets and was after burnt to nothing so at the last day the whole World at the sound of the Trumpet and the Voyce of the Arch-Angel shall be destroyed and burnt with Fire 2 Pet. 3.10 and it is our part to remember the Apostles inference there ver 11.12 Seeing that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godlinesse Looking for and hasting unto the comming of the day of God wherein the Heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat Let us strive to escape though it be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as by fire 1 Cor. 3.13 that we be not condemned with the world let us now hearken to the Voyce of God and the sound of the Gospel denouncing woe to them who know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 1.8 calling us to repentance proclaiming to us pardon if we repent inviting us to obedience and promising us a great reward in Heaven For which let us Pray The Third Part. O Most holy Lord who hast made all things by an infinite wisedom in a most wonderfull and decent order and by the same wisedom and in the same order hath made thy self a Church among the sons of men and therein instituted holy Orders Rites and Offices Sanctifie those whom thou hast called to those Orders and separated by thy truth thy Word it is truth and preserve them for the carrying of the Ark the government and guidance of the Sanctuary Keep thy holy Offices and Rites from contempt and prophanesse and when we addresse our selves to thee in the dutifull observation of them grant we may lift up holy hands and pure hearts we be diligent to entertain and welcome all opportunities of holy living and while the Gospel calls us to Repentance to pull down the strong holds of sin and Satan and to run with patience that Christian race which is set before us even to run so and untill we obtain even till we be admitted and received into the Heavenly Canaan Make us frequently and seriously meditate upon the day of death and of judgement that we may apply our hearts to wisedom that so we be not condemned with the World but may escape and be saved for thy mercies O Lord God and for thy merits O Lord Jesus Christ to whom be Prayse for ever and ever Amen RAHAB Saved Heb. 11.31 By Faith the Harlot Rahab perished not with them that beleeved not when she had received the Spies with peace RAhab seeing the great Miracles of mercy which God had declared in behalf of the Israelites and hearing of those large Concessions and Grants which God had demized to them proved a Convert and turned a true Israelite indeed And God was pleased to reward this her Faith with a Deliverance from that common destruction which befell her fellow Citizens and with a communion of those blessings which attended her now approved and selected Party For By Faith the Harlot Rahab perished not with them that beleeved not c. The First Part. And in this there are these following severalls to be considered and cleared 1. The Jews and Rabbines quarrell with the Attribute the Apostle gives here to Rahab of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Harlot conceiving the appellative and expression to be odious and dishonourable and affirming That the Word signifies not an Harlot but an Hostesse and this they confirme from the Version of the Chaldee Paraphrase Reading it Rahab an Hostesse But supposing the Hebrew word Zonah to signifie an Hostesse yet it is most certain that in Scripture it is used most frequently in the worst sense as Ezek. 16.41 1 Kings 3.16 and it is the Toar Foeminine Adjective from the root Zanah which in the first sense signifies to commit Whoredom and is indifferently taken for Fornicari tam animo quam corpore Spirituall and fleshly Fornication Deut. 31.16 Ezek. 16. Numb 25.1 Lev. 19.28 and because of both these acceptations of the word though the latter be more proper Juneus interprets it Meretricis cauponae a certain Hostesse an Harlot or Harlot Hostesse and so the Jews quarrell will in this be but malitious and groundlesse And for that other pretence That this Attribute of disgrace should be a disparagement to those holy Persons and that chaft Matron Sarah pre-mentioned in this Catalogue this will appear to be vain also and nothing If we remember 1. That the Apostles did not conceive it any dishonour for Matthew the Publican to be received into their Order nor did they think much that Paul the Persecuter and blasphemer was joyned in Commission with them 2. It is so far from being matter of envy or grief to any sanctified soule That an humbled penitent finner should communicate of that grace and mercy which it hath received that it is plentifull matter of joy and gladnesse for every true convert rejoyceth when there are supernumeraries when there is dayly some added to the Church and the number increased both because every such is an Advocate at the Throne of Grace for such and it must be great satisfaction and delight to have their Petitions granted and also because If there be joy in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth Luke 15.7 then in every