Ezech Glos ordin interlâ—n and hath the Eagle for his ensigne assigned him by the Ancients But of him more in his place Mathew of a publican by a gracious call from Christ became an Apostle and Evangelist Publicans were officers for the Romanes to take toll and tribute of the Jewes and were therefore extreamly hated among them and not altogether undeservedly For they were most of them notoriously unconstionable griping fellowes as we see in Zâ—châ—us A faithfull Publican was so rare at Rome it selfe how much more in the remoter Provinces that one Sabinus for his honest managing of that office in an honourable remembrance thereof had certaine images erected with this superscription The honest Publican 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Suet. in Vâ—spasiano But that the hatred born them by the Jewes ever impatient of foraine exactions and bragging of their freedome Iohn 8. when most in bondage was greater than there was cause is apparent in the Gospel Iudaei quibus olim publicani tantopere exosi fucrunt hodie sunt Turcarum publicani admrabili quodam Dei judicio Beza in Math. 5.46 Now see the just judgement of God upon them They that so much hated Publicans of old are now turn'd Publicans to the Turkes whose revenues of the sea they rent at this day as those of old did of the Romanes But this by the way onely Luke 5.29 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ad verbum acceptionem magnaÌ„ quod passim in co omnes accipiantur Annot. Erâ—â—nus ex Athenaeo splendidum epulum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vocari It is more to our present purpose that as much was forgiven this blessed Apostle so he loved much and sealed up his love by a liberall feast for joy of his conversion which while the other Evangelists relate they concealâ— the name of Mathew whereby he was best knowne and call him Levi â— but hee by a gracious simplicity freely and plainly reports his owne more common name Omnipotenti medico nullus insanabilis occurrit morbus Isidor and the nature of his offence that the greater the cure was the more honour might accrue to Christ that cured him and as a confirmation of the cure called him to so high an office in his Church After him comes Saint Marke and abridgeth him yet ever with usury and some singular addition for the most part Whether hee wrote his Gospel at Peters mouth which is the common opinion or otherwise I have not to say But if he did who can beleeve that either Peter himselfe or Marke his Notary would ever have past over in silence that famous Tues Petrus thou art Peter Math. 16. c. that the Papists so bragge of and build on if hee had held it as they doe to have beene the foundation of the Catholike Church Peters deniall this Evangelist sets downe more expresly and amply than any other Lastly for Saint John there is an Ecclesiasticall tradition and Eusebius records it Hist Eccles lib. 3 cap. 21. that the three former Evangelists being presented to him by the Saints at Ephesus that he might peruse them and by his testimony recommend them to the Churches reading he well approved and ratified what they had written Onely he thought meet that something more should be added concerning such of our Saviours words and workes as did clearly evince and evidence his Deity which even in those purer times began to be oppugned by Ebion Cerinthus and other odious heretikes and apostates Wherefore at the instant request of the Church but chiefly by the instinct and motion of the holy Ghost who set him a worke he undertooke in his old age the writing of this fourth Gospel that now beares his name That lofty and lively beginning thereof I doubt not saith Mercer Mercer in Prov. Amelius Platonicus apud Cyrill Alex. lib. 8. contra Iulian. Apostat but he tooke out of Prov. 8.22 A certaine Philosopher lighting upon it by accident cryed out Hic barbarus c. This barbarian hath heaped up more matter in three words than all wee have done in so many volumes The learned and judicious Junius confesseth In vita sua that he was converted from Atheisme by the serious reading of this first Chapter Never could any man say better than this beloved Disciple both of his Gospel and of his Revelation 1 Iohn 1.1 3. That which we have heard and seene with our eyes c. of the word of life declare we unto you The Alogians recited all Saint Johns writings the Valerians all the Gospels but Saint Johns Some other peeces of the New Testament have beene questioned by some but causlesly as likewise in the Old Testament the Anabaptists reject the booke of Job as a tragicomicall fiction Canticles as a love-song Ecclesiastes as a doctrine of liberty and doore to Atheisme But this nothing elevateth or diminisheth their worth and authority with the sound and sober-minded Ob. If here it bee objected that counterfeit writings might bee published and put upon the Word under the name of the Apostles I answer with M. Perkins Sol. In ep ad Galdt If they were in the dayes of the Apostles they by their authority cut them off And therefore Paul saith If any teach otherwise Evangelium quod tum praeconiaverunt poslea in Scripturis nobis tradi lerunt Iren. Cum credimus hoc primum credimus nihil esse quod ultrà credere debeamus Tertul. Rev. 22.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gâ—d 3. let him bee accurst And as they faithfully committed to writing what they had preached for a pillar and foundation of our faith so they provided that no couÌ„terfeits should be foisted under their names after their departure And hereupon John the last of the Apostles concludes the New Testament with this clause If any man shall adde unto these things God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this booke The Scripture foresaw as Saint Paul hath it there would bee forgers and faâ—furies and that Antichrist would usurpe authority to chop and change to foist in and force upon the Church for doctrines the devices of men to coine and obtrude new articles of faith as they have lately done in their Trent-conventicle God therefore hath spoken it with his mouth and made it good with his hand upon them 2 Chron. 6. 15 as Salomon phraseth it in his prayer by adding to them the plagues written in this booke that one above the rest the noysome and grievous ulcer falling upon the men that have the marke of the beast after the first and fift Angel had poured out his viall Revel 16.1 2 10. These Angels are according to most Interpreters the Preachers of the Gospel and those renowned Reformers that sore and grievous ulcer is as some will have it the French disease Bullingerus Are us alti but as others better the devils disease of envy and evill will to the Gospel Pareus 2 â—hess 3.1 which
Quod tamen Chananaeus suerit c. plures habet assertores textum multò faventiorem D. Prid. Lect. p. 95. who perhaps was Melchisedech Noah Enoch and the rest of the Anti-diluvian Patriarchs up to Adam Scarce was there any age that afforded not some or other holy man of God extraordinarily inspired enabled to deliver the doctrine of divine truth from the immediate mouth of God Although there were intermissions other-whiles as the history sheweth and the Church complaineth Psal 74.9 In diverse manners Three severall wayes as is well observed God revealed his will to mankinde 1. By the light of nature imprinting in man certaine principles common notions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or small sparkes and spinthers of divine light 2. By the bookes of the Creatures whereby he blew up those sparkes and kindled them into a flame Hence Tertullian Praemisit Deus Naturam magistram submâ—ssurus prophetiam quò faciliùs credas prophetiae d scipulus Naturae God first set us to schoole to dame nature that being entred there we might more readily understand better beleeve the Scriptures For when by mans fall the two former failed and proved insufficient God revealed himself lastly by his Word but after a diverse maner as the text here hath it Sometimes mouth to mouth as to Adam and those Ancients sometimes by the ministery of others whether Angels or men and to these either in dreames or visions representing to their senses or otherwise imprinting upon their mindes and so imparting to the world whatsoever he would have understood and uttered Num. 12.6 Job 33.15 16. sometimes lastly by his son Jesus Christ in humane shape of old but in these last dayes in a true humane nature revealing unto us all and all at once and no more by peeces and parcels Hence these times 1 Cor. 10.11 wherein Christ and the Apostles lived are called here the last dayes and elsewhere the ends of the world though so many ages afore the worlds end because there shall be no more alteration in Religion nor any more additions made to that which Christ hath taught by himselfe and his Apostles Rev. 21.14 who are therefore also said to be the foundations of the new Jerusalem Eph. 2.20 and of the whole Scriptures as now whereupon the houshold of God is built Jesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe corner-stone God spake unto the Fathers God spake to us c. Note hence that It is God that speaketh in the holy Scriptures of both old and now Testament Doct. It is the very minde of God that is there set forth unto us Prov. 1.23 the expresse patterne and platforme of that truth that is originally in God the fountaine of all truth It is the very voice of the Almighty comming as it were out of his secret seat out of his unapproachable light and disclosing to his creatures his ineffable essence his unsearchable counsell All Scripture is divinely inspired 2 Tim. 3.16 saith Saint Paul And holy men spake it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1.21 as they were acted and carried thereunto by the holy Ghost saith Saint Peter Luc. 1.70 God spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which have been since the world beganne saith Zachary in his Canticle And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wee speake saith that great Apostle for himselfe and his fellowes not in the words which mans wisdome teacheth 1 Cor. 2.13 but which the holy Ghost teacheth whose not onely matter as vers 12. but words they are also that wee utter These are the very sentences yea notions that were written as I may so say of old in the minde of God and are now clothed with his owne very termes and expressions though by some of his servants he hath uttered himselfe more loftily by some in a lower language according to the severall abilities of the speakers and capacitie of the hearers But it was God that did dictate unto them both matter and words 2 Cor. 13.3 it was Christ that spake in them How prove you that may some say Saint Augustine answers Confess l. 6. c. 5. Piscatoribus credimus non Dialecticis Ambros Fidei Christianae mysteria meliùs credendo intelliguntur quam intelligendo creduntur Ruperius Abbas Tic ciensis Credo non probo I beleeve it I need not prove it That the Scripture is Gods owne word is a principle of faith and therefore cannot be demonstrated à priori as they call it We beleeve and know saith Peter Principles of faith are apprehended by faith and this faith howsoever it bringeth with it certainty yet doth it not clearnesse whether you looke upon the matter which are things not seene Heb. 11. or the manner it being through a glasse darkly 1 Cor. 13. And here the Schools lay down two remarkable propositions the one Tho. Aquin. 1. pâ—t q. 1. art 8. that Divinity is not argumentative to prove her principles but onely to prove her conclusions The other that against one which absolutely denyes her principles and namely the Scriptures one cannot proceed probando but solvendo that is not by proving the truth thereof but by dissolving the reasons brought to the contrary But for arguments à posteriori as they call it there is and may be enough and enough said to settle weake consciences and to silence all such wicked Atheists and adversaries as whose mouths the devill hath borrowed at any time to call the matter into question The venerable Antiquity matchlesse majestie lively efficacy beautifull harmony incorrigible purity invincible perennity and continuance of the Scriptures notwithstanding the injury and iniquity of times and tyrants who have sought to suppresse them doe all plainly evince them to be the undoubted word of God Besides the confirmation by miracles confession of Martyrs destruction of oppugners fulfilling of prophecies consent of Churches yea assent of enemies As 1. of heretikes who in oppugning of Scripture doe yet alledge Scripture so fighting against God with his owne forces Irenaeus l. 3. adv haer c. 11. Tertull. lib. de praescrip adv haer cap. 15. as Jehu did against Jehoram his master with his owne sword as David did against Goliah the Gittite but with unlike successe to their owne utter destruction 2 Pet. 3.16 2. Of Jewes Aug in Psal 56 p. 384. Gods Library-keepers as Austin calleth them for to them were committed the lively Oracles the bookes of the Old Testament which they studiously read and curiously kept by a singular providence of God for our behoofe and benefit As for the New Testament those Jewes of Italy complain they can never see it That Italian translation which they had is now called in and taken from them by those of the Inquisition alledging that they will have no dispute in matter of Religion either way Sands his Relation of west Religion Much like to an Edict set up at Dole by the Jesuites forbidding any talke of God
the Authour and matter of the Scriptures This makes much to the setting forth of their worth and excellency for he is the chiefe of ten thousand Cant. 5.10 and we if ever we will profit by hearing teaching reading must have our eye turned toward Christ as the faces of the Cherubims were toward the Mercy-seat For this hee is called the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Propter articulum ad filium Dei refero not onely by Saint John often but by Saint Luke also Chap. 1.2 because hee is the matter and marke of the Word scarce a leafe or line in the Bible but some way leads to Christ as the Starre did the Wise-men and even point him out as John Baptist did with an Ecce Agnus Dei Behold the Lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world In the Old Testament we have bookes Priestly Princely and Propheticall As in the New the Gospels are regall shewing that Christ was King of the Jewes the Epistles more Sacerdoticall beginning and ending with praises and prayer those sacrifices of the Gospel and the Revelation is meerly propheticall Hence that of our Saviour Search the Scriptures Iohn 5. for they are those that testifie of mee Now Christ is the most excellent and praise-worthy person in the world the fairest among men 2 Sam. 18.3 worth tenne thousand of us as the people said of David Looke upon him as he stands described in the Text. For his nobility he is Gods owne Sonne for his riches he is heyre of all things for his wisdome he made the worlds for his eminency hee is the brightnesse of his Fathers glory and the expresse image of his person for his might he upholdeth all things by the word of his power for his merits he hath by himselfe purged our sinnes for his preferment he sate downe at the right hand of the Majesty on high Loe this is He whom the Scripture treats of yea this is he who treats with us in the Scriptures and hath therein made us a pithy and perfect draught and description of himselfe Saint Chrysostome falling occasionally into the commendation of S. Paul Ne tanti viri laudes oratione sua elevaret magis quam exornaret feared much lest with the slendernesse of his stile he should rather lessen than to the life set forth the worthy praises of so praise-worthy a person And Gregory Nazianzen speaking of Basil the Great There wants but his owne tongue saith hee to commend him with An exact face saith the Oratour Picto es pulchra absolutamque faciem rarò nisi in pejus effingunt is seldome drawne but with disadvantage and therefore great Alexander forbade his portraiture to bee painted by any other than Apelles or carved by any but Lysippus men famous in those faculties But here there is no such thing to bee feared because Christ the Matter is also Authour of the holy Scripture whence it is cal d the word of Christ Coloss 3.16 Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you in all wisedome Any the least relation to the Lord Christ is that which innobleth and raiseth the worth of any thing Bethlehem where he was borne is therefore though the least yet not the least among all the cities of Judah Mat. 2.6 with Micah 5.2 And Rev. 7. of those that were sealed as among the sons of Leah Judah hath the preheminence for alliance to Christ according to the flesh so among those of Rachels side Nephthali is first reckoned for his dwelling in that tribe at Capernaum which is therefore also said to bee lifted up to heaven Math. 11. because there he dwelt and there hee preached this word of the kingdome Math. 9. yea of Christ the King which should therefore familiarly dwell in us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coloss 3.16 as a houshold guest yea it should in-dwell in us as the word there signifies and as Paul bids Timothy 1 Tim. 4 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be thou in these things give thy selfe wholly to them that thy profiting may appeare to all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Yea it should in-dwell in us richly in the best roome as a welcome and well-knowne guest Entertaine it not in the eare only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Thess 2.12 as in the porch or out-roomes but let it lodge yea dwell worthy of Christ whose Word it is in your mindes memories affections conversations Get a Bible stampt in your heads and the counterpane thereof engraven in your hearts Heb. 8.10 that yee may be manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ which is the crowne of all commendation and that which actuates with acceptation and life all other good parts and practices written not with inke 2 Cor. 3.3 but with the Spirit of the living God not in tables of stone but in fleshly tables of the heart Rom. 6.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is to be delivered up to the forme of doctrine delivered unto us in the holy Scriptures this is to bee cast into the mould of the Word as the beleeving Romanes were and were therefore famous for their faith throughout all the world Rom. 1.8 This is to let the Word of Christ dwell richly in us in our very hearts as the two tables were laid up in the Arke of the Covenant and that in all knowledge which the Scripture counts and calls the onely riches wherewith the heart should bee stored as a rich mans house is fraught with stuffe in every corner I counsell thee saith Christ Rev 3.18 Prov. 23.23 to buy of me gold tried in the fire that thou maist be rich buy this truth but sell it not saith Salomon and the Queene of Sheba took his counsell She prized his wisedome above gold and therefore presented him with abundance of gold sweeter it was to her than the sweetest odours 2 Chron. 9 1. and therefore shee came to him with Camels laden with the best spices Dearer it was to her than the dearest gems and jewels therefore she found in her heart to part with the most precious stones and ingots in exchange for it She had learned belike out of Salomons workes ere she saw him that wisedome is more precious than rubies But say there may be something named that is better than rubies Tanti vitreum quanti verum margaritum Tertull. why all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her Prov. 3.15 But where is it to be had and how to be atchieved by digging in the Mine of the mystery of Christ crucified the doctrine whereof is by an excellency called wisedome 1 Cor. 1.24 even the wisedome of God in a mystery 1 Cor. 2.7 And like as men by studying the Statute-booke become worldly-wise and politikes so by searching the Scriptures truly wise to salvation and he is the wise-man indeed that makes sure of that As on the other side the wise men are ashamed
therefore they have their reward such as it is their own reward not Gods saith Hierom they have what they look for Egregiam vero laudem a poore reward God knows but 't is that they have chosen How much better David In keeping thy Law saith hee there is great reward Psal 19.11 After he had once well waighed this insufficiency of that bigger book of the Creature whereof there are three large leaves onely Heaven Earth Sea as Clemens Alex. speaketh and three dark lessons only as Hugo hath it Hugo de Sancto Vict. lib. 2 de arca cap. 3. Accipe Redde Fuge Receive Mercy Returne Duty Hy Punishment but how to do any of these it shews not the Prophet wisely turnes him to that lesser but better book of the Scripture which after he had highly commended for perfect and right and pure and sure and cleane and true c. hee subjoynes for his own and others encouragement that for elder people that are all for profit Gods Word is more to be desired than gold and for the younger sort that are all for pleasure t is sweeter than live-hony dropping from the comb If any find it otherwise it s because their mouths are either out of taste or fore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alex. Aphrodys Problem Mel vulnera purgal ulcera mordel Honey causeth paine to exulcerate parts though of it selfe it bee sweet and medicinall Hence children will not suffer it to come neare their cankered lips which when they are well they are well apaid of So is it here Oh how sweet are thy words unto my taste yea sweeter than honey to my mouth David found fatnesse and sweetnesse in Gods house a feast of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined and purified Antichrist Esay 26. I confesse hath turned what in him lyes these wines into water and this water into wormwood Hee hath fed Gods people with worm-wood and given them water of gall to drink Ier. 9.15 Rev. 8.11 so that not a few have dyed of the waters because they were made bitter ever since the falling star that notable Apostate hath fallen upon the fountaines of Israel the holy Scriptures which they have disparaged and corrupted yea ever since that third Angel powred forth his vial on the Sea that is say some Ibid. Psal 68.26 upon the Councell of Trent it is become as the blood of a dead man so that every living soule dyed in that Sea Looke how the fish dyed in Nilus Exod. 7.21 and the river stank when it was turned into blood so that the people could not drink of it So hath it fared with that Sea of Rome since they have attempted to deprave and debase the Scriptures by that heathnish decree of Trent wherein they have every way equalled if not preferred the Apocryphall books to the Canonicals their Vulgar Translation to the Originals their unwritten Verities to the written Word and their traditions to the Scriptures Not content with one Transubstantiation which yet is monstruous they have endeavoured to bring in another worse which is to change Articles of Faith into Fables and again Fables into Articles of Faith For the Scriptures saith Eckius Hosius So said the Lieutenant of Lions concerning S. Pauls Epistles Fox fol. 826. and Hermannus Coloniensis as touching the sense of them are no more to be regarded than the fables of Esop without the authority of the Church The holy Ghost himselfe saith one is not to be heard according to their Tenet albeit hee produce a testimony out of the Scripture D. Prideaux lect de Testibus unlesse he can withal produce a testimoniall from the purple whore The word written say they Coster Enchiri pag. 44. is a deafe and dumb Judge a black gospel Colloq Wormac Anno 57. inkhorne divinity a dead letter Lesbian rule nose of wax matter of strife Hosius Tom. 1 op adv Brentii Proleg pag. 530 Pigg l. 1. Hier. Eccles c. 2. pag. 8 seed-plot of controversies and book of hereticks Anno Domini 1523. It was objected by Doctor Bennet Chancellor of London against one Richard Butler that diverse times you erroneously and damnably read in a great book of heresy certaine chapters of the Evangelists in English Fox Martyrolog fol. 735. containing in them diverse erroneous and damnable opinions and conclusions of heresie Thus have the Heathens changed the truth of God into a lye Rom. 1. Articles of Faith into fables or worse and so they have also fables into Articles of Faith Witnesse those twelve new-coyned articles gathered by the authority of Pope Pius the fourth Ex Sulla jurameuti de professione fidei in Onuphrio Anno 1564. out of the Councell of Trent and added to the Nicene Creed to bee received with oath See these 12 Art in the Ep. dedic to B. Ievvels works as the true Catholike faith to be beleeved by as many as shall be saved Tindal reasoning with a great Doctor of those times drave him to that issue that he burst forth into these words wee were better be without Gods Laws than the Popes Fox Martyrol fol. 982. The Popes interpretation saith Hosius what ever it bee yea though it seeme never so much to oppugne the Scriptures yet is it the very word of God And again That which the Church teacheth is the expresse word of God Hosius de expresso Dei verbo pag. 99. saith he as that which is taught against the sense and consent of the Church of Rome is the expresse word of the Devill Thus for their Church with its pretended Head but what for every hedge priest Cardinall Tolet saith Tolet. cas consc lib. 4. cap. 3. The people may merit at Gods hands in beleeving an heresie if their teachers propound it for their obedience is meritorious And Stapleton They must not regard Quid but Quis saith he not what is the matter but who is the man that delivers it If a Priest therefore teach any thing Cade of the Church p. 68. bee it true bee it false take it as Gods Oracle Thus he A little afore Luther stirred their Sermons were ordinarily stuft out with Legendary lyes and old-wives fables as how Vespasian was freed from Waspes by Veronica's napkin Trajan fetch out of hell by P. Gregory's prayers Sybylles conference with Augustus Anno Domini 1517. c. Tecelius perswaded the common people in Germany that as soon as ever their ten shillings that was the price of an Indulgence ting'd in the bason any friend they would name should be immediately delivered out of Purgatory etiamsi per impossibile Matrem Deivitiasset In a word all places were so full fraught with superstition that the Abbot of Neuhuse in Germany doubted not to say that if that unlucky Luther had not started up Scultet Annal. Tom. 1. pag. 13 ex Chytraei Chron. we might easily have perswaded the people to have eaten hay
therefore during his life the Offendour was confined to the City of refuge as to a Prison And David when he was hunted from the Prophet sled to the Priest as one that knew that Justice and Compassion should dwell in those breasts if any where Venerable Beda tels us that the Ancient British Bishops rejected Austin the Popes Legate because hee shewed not himselfe gentle and humble amongst them as became a Minister at the first meeting And holy Hooper though his life was so pure and good that no kind of slaunder could fasten any fault upon him Yet there is mention made of a certaine Citizen who having in himselfe a conflict of conscience came to Master Hoopers doore for counsell But being abashed Acts and Mon. fol. 1366. saith mine Authour of his austere behaviour durst not come in but departed which he afterward by the helpe of Almighty God did find and obtaine This might bee no fault in him but in the other that should have sought to him But hereby wee see how much it behooves Ministers to be curiously observant of their whole deportement that they may lay forth themselves and the talents concredited unto them for the best advantage of their Lord and Master becomming all things to all men that they may winne some And this the rather because the World expects from such though unjustly Angelicall perfection and looks round about us to see if they may find ever a hole in our coate thorough which they may evade and slip the cords of our doctrine CHAP. VII A Second Exhortation is now to be addressed to all of all sorts and that is to stirre men up to a thrâ—efold duty 1. To be thankfull to God that gave us his Word and to his ancient people the Jewes by whose hands hee conveyed it to us Gentiles 2. To reade it diligently 3. To rely upon it confidently both for counsell and comfort Sect. 1. BE thankfull first and chiefly to God for entrusting us with this true treasure for concrediting unto us these lively Oracles for drawing so neare us and dealing so familiarly with us as he hardly ever did with any before us For what nation is there so great that hath God so nigh unto them Deut. 4 7 8. Mich. 6.7 8. Esay 5. and that hath statutes and iudgements so righteous c. He hath shewed thee O England What is good and may justly demand as of old what cold I have done more for thee that I have not yet done Deu. 33.29 32. Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O people saved by the Lord c. Before the Covenant with Abraham all nations were alike respected but after it was said J will be thy God Gen. 17 7. and the God of thy Seed the Church was divided from the rest of the world as light was from darkenesse in the first Creation as the Sabbath from other dayes by divine consecration Act. 14.16 as Goshen was from the rest of Aegypt in that wonderfull separation All other Nations he suffered to walke in their own waies to sit in the dale of darknesse and shadow of death but in Judah was God knowne his name was great in Israel Psal 76.1 2. In Salem was his Tabernacle and his dwelling place in Sion Hence that beautifull Land though part of the Continent is called an Ile Esay 20.6 Deut. 7.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as separate from other peoples 〈◊〉 and the inhabitants therof are called Gods peculiar his inclosures the people of his purchase that comprehended as it were all his gettings the sheepe of his pasture yea his son his first-borne to whom he gave for a childs-part right iudgements and true Lawes Hos 11 34. Exod. 4 2â— good Statutes and iust Commandemâ—nts Nehem. 9.13 He shewed his word unto Jacob his acts unto the children of Israel He hath not dealt so with my Nation c. Psal 147.19 20. By the dim light of nature they might get some glimpse of God as a Creatour not as a Redeemer of his eternall power and Deity rendring men without excuse not of the riches of his patience leading men to Repentance Hence David Psal 93.5 Having declared the testimonies of the power of God Rom. 1.20 Rom. 2.4 that are to be seen in the very waves of the Sea concludes the Psalme with Thy testimonies O Lord are very sure intimating that there is no certain or comfortable knowledge of God to be got but only thence Neverthelesse those poore Ethniks for their unthankfullnesse for that little they had and because that when they knew God after a sort they glorified him not as God Rom. 1.20 neither were thankfull God gave them up to a reprobate sense as likewise he did the idle servant to the tormentour for not improving his one talent O then what will he do or rather what will he not do to us that have made so little of so many advantages Psal 8â— 15 Cant. 2.12 Psal 84. that have heard the joyfull sound the voyce of the Turtle so long in our Land that have seen the face of God so frequently and familiarly in his Ordinances had the everlasting Gospell so puerly and powerfully preacht amongst us even the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret since the world began but is now made manifest and by the Scriptures of the Prophets according to the Commandement of the everlasting God made known to all Nations for the obedience of Faith To God only wise be therfore glory through Christ Jesus for ever Rom. 16.25 26 27. The greatnesse of this inexplicable benefit will the better appeare to us if we consider it as cloathed with these ensuing circumstances First that this good Word of God is come to our hands after so many ages so perfect and entire wanting nothing that no part of the holy Canon is perished not a haire of this sacred head missing Next that we have it so exactly and exquisitely rendred and translated into the vulgar tongues A priviledge that our fore-Fathers wishâ— well to but obtained not It were a great grace saith Lambert the Martyr if we might have the word of God diligently and often read and sung unto us in such wise that the people might understand it Then should it come to passe that Crafts-men should sing spirituall Psalmes Acts and Monuments fol. 1015. sitting at their work and the Husband-man at his Plow as wisheth S. Hierome Bugenhagius a famous Divine of Germany was so joyfull of the Dutch Bible in translating wherof out of the Hebrew and Greek Originals he and some other learned men had laboured together with Luther Melch. Adam in vita Bugenhagij that every yeare he invited his friends on that day of the Moneth whereon the worke was finished and called it the Feast of the translation of the Bible Thirdly that we have the whole will of God in so little a room in so portable a Volume Jn reading many
of spoile as Ahimaaz that alwaies brought good tidings When ever therefore you take up the Bible and open it cry Psal 119. Lord open mine eyes that J may see the wondrous things of thy Law When you are reading thinke you see written over every line Zach. 14.20 Sancte liber venerande liber liber optime salve Holinesse to the Lord and lift up some good requests As when you shut the booke againe say Lord who am I that thou shouldst shut up thy mysteries in such an earthen vessell O animae nostrae Biblia dimidium put such a precious pearle in a leatherne purse commit such a rich talent to me who am of saints the least of sinners the greatest Thus as Moses prayed devoutly both when the Arke removed and likewise when it rested againe And as Paul begins continues and concludes his Epistles with holy prayers Hoc primum repetas opuâ— hoc postremus omittas so must we our reading of the Scriptures if we meane to make any thing of it No sacrifice was without incense so must no service be without prayer Mar. 9.24 Yea let us pray with teares as he in the Gospell did and sped They are effectuall Oratours with Christ who found time to looke upon the weeping women when he was in the midst of his agony and in his way to the tree Jacob wrestled with him and prevailed by prayers and teares The Prophets usually received their Revelations besides rivers Esay 62.4 Cant 1.15 Cant. 4.1 The Spouse Christs Cheptsibah is said to have doves eyes glazed with teares John the beloved Disciple wept and so obtained that the booke should be opened Revel 5.4 Like as when Gods bottle was filled with Hagars teares he opened her eyes and sent his Angell to shew her where she might fill her bottle with living water Luther that great instrument of Gods glory for the bringing of life and immortality to light by the Gospell was a man of prayer 2 Tim 1.10 and so ardent therein that as Melancton writeth they which stood under his window where he was praying might see his teares falling and dropping downe Scultet Annal. George Prince of Anhalt though he saw something by Luthers light yet being not throughly convinced of divers points then in controversie besought God with many teares to bend his mind to the truth using often those words of David Psal 119.124 Deale with thy servant according to thy mercy and teach me thy statutes This was the first and the onely Prince of Germany that himselfe taught his subjects the way to Heaven Ibid. both by lively voice by printed bookes and by his daily prayers for his people that he might save himselfe and those that heard him Luk. 6.12 Our Saviour when he was to send forth his Apostles spent a whole night in prayer with strong crying and teares for a blessing on their Ministery and was heard in that he requested The harp yeelds no sound till toucht by the hand of the Musitian nor can Paul prevaile with Lydia till God open her heart Rebeccah may cook the venison but it is Isaac that must give the blessing Paul may plant c. but God gives increase The cause why the Word workes no more upon many mens hearts when they reade of heare it is because they rest too much upon it as that Idolatrous Micah who said Iudg 17. J know God Will be mercifull unto me because J have got a Levite and cry not earnestly to God to come himselfe unto them in the fullnesse of the blessing of the Gospell of Christ Rom. 15.29 to strike a holy stroke by his powerfull Spirit to give us right judgement and understanding that we may approove things that are excellent Pray therefore with S. Paul Phil. 1. that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory would give unto us the Spirit of Wisdome and revelation the eyes of our understanding being enlightned c. Ephes 1.17 18 Rev 3. Rev. 5. Pray him that hath the key of David and was found only worthy to open the seven seales to open our eyes that we may behold wondrous things out of his Law to irradiate both Organ and Object to give us sight and light not that outward light onely that is in the Scriptures themselves but that inward also of his Spirit the light of faith in our hearts Aug de Civ Dei The Platonists could say that the light of our mindes whereby we learne all things is no other but God himselfe the same that made all things say therefore with David Psal 119.12 Blessed be thou O Lord teach me thy statutes And with Zuninglius I beseech Almighty God to direct our waies Deum O. M. precor ut vias nostras dirigat ac sicubi simus Beleami in morem veritati pertinaciter obluctaturi c. Epist lib. 3â— fol. 118. and if Balaam-like we shall wilfully withstand the truth to send his holy Angell who with the dint of his drawne sword may so dash this Asse our blindnesse and boldnesse I meane to the wall that we may feele our feet that is our carnall affections to be crusht and our selves kept from speaking ought amisse of the God of Heaven Omnipotent sempiterne ac miâ—ericors Deus cujus verbum c. Scultet Annal p. 328. His publike Lectures on the Bible he alwaies began with this prayer Almighty everlasting and mercifull God whose Word is a lanterne to our feet and a light to our pathes be pleased to open and enlighten our minds that we may both understand these thine Oracles piously and holily and also be transformed into that we rightly understand so that we may not in any thing displease thy Majesty through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Sect. 5. FOurthly conferre with those that are better able propound to them your doubts and seeke satisfaction as the Disciples did Joh. 16.16 and the Eunuch Acts 8.34 and the Corinthians 1 Cor. 7. But ever doe this with a desire to be resolved and to yeeld to the truth revealed Not like that None-such Ahab 2 Chron. 18.14 or those perverse Pharisees Ioh 18.38 Mar. 8.12 or Pilate that asked what is truth but cared not to heare an answer or Herod who was desirous of a long season to see our Saviour Luk. 23 8. as hoping to have seene some miracle done by him as by some base juggler but would never stirre out of doores to fee him Ier 42.19 Not like Jeremies hearers that had made their conclusion before they came to enquire of him and were resolved upon their course nor like those tatling women in Timothy 2 Tim 3.7 that are ever learning but never knowing the truth Luk. 24. But with an humble and honest heart as those two going to Emaus for such shall know all Christs mind as they Such shall be of his Court and Counsell Gen. 18.17 as