Floud Gen. 26.5 Answ Sem Arphaxad Selah Heber Peleg and the rest of the godly Fathers and their faithfull posterity to the dayes of Terah and Abraham QUest 5. Was there any that contemned and apostated from the God of Shem and his true religion Answ Yea Cham and Chanaan and Nimrod the grandchild of Cham drew away many of the sons of the open or visible Church to despise Christ in Shem sirnamed Melchisedeck who was ordained over them King and Preist who governed in Justice and peace so that there was a great apostacie of Sems own families Japheths and Chams QUest 6. Shew further how this apostacy went on Answ The outward glory of the false church was so great that some of the Fathers of the holy line as Terah and Abraham fell to the idolatry of Nimrods Kingdome Jos 24. But they being called repented Gen. 11. QUest 7. How did Christ break and bruise the seed of the serpent for their enmity and wickednesse that would not bave him to reigne over them Answ I. With his unspeakable severe judgements for even those families for despising the faith were excommunicated and cut off both Father and child from being of the houshold of God by the confusion * So Judah for despising the faith were plagued by a Nation of a strange tongue Deut. 28 49. so the world by the man of sin 1 Cor. 14. mind seriously Jer 44 26. of tongues and so were No-people and foolish Nations by being estranged from the life justice and peace of God in Christ that they did not hear nor see the light of his truth for two thousand years but followed Divells the Prince of the darkness of this world in endlesse and lawlesse Idolatries and of all the miseries that befell them they in speciall lost the Sabbath which would have kept them in the faith of the creation and redemption And let this sinke into the hearts of all men that all men ever were and will be Atheists or Idolaters that Christ speaks not to in their owne language by his holy law and to this answer ever seriously minde 2 Joh v 9. II. From these dayes the wrath of God was revealed from Heaven against them for their ungodlinesse and unrighteousnesse by wars and commotions and suffered them to walke in their own wayes by giving them up to a regardlesse mind and to the power of grosse darknesse and wilfull ignorance and to their hearts lusts and vile affections c. c. QUest 8. What benefit had the godly in Sems Tents and house by cleaving to the faith of Gods Elect Answ Through faith they obtained good report with God and confessed that they were pilgrims and strangers in this cursed world wherefore God was not ashamed of them to be called their God and accounted that the world was not worthy of them And as he promised builded and prepared so they hoped for an heavenly City and Country And Sems Tents had this glory that all the while that those families were cut off the hidden mystery of godlinesse was carefully kept in his Tents and house and the Hebrew Tongue also as all the old Testament doth witnesse QUest 9. Then the Prerogative of Sems Tents did not alwaies continue Answ No When the God of Shem tooke mans nature of the seed of the woman and gave his life a Ransome not for the Hebrewes or Jewes only but for the Heathens also Then that he might raigne and judge the world in righteousnesse he turned the curse of tongues to preach to and perswade all those families to obey the same faith from which their forefathers had apostated even to the Religion of Shems Tents QUest 10. How and to whom was the Revelation of the mystery of Christ continued to be revealed after the blessing to Sem Answ In the promise to Abraham that Christ should come of him according to the flesh QUest 11. How many yeares are from the floud to the promise made to Abraham Answ Foure hundred twenty seven yeares and so from the promise to our first Parents whom the Serpent murdered unto the promise to Abram given presently upon the death of Terah whose faith the Serpent corrupted to flames of Idolatry are years two thousand eighty three QUest 12. How many Chapters of Genesis are contained in those 2083. yeares Answ The eleven first chapters and also part of the first chapter of 1 Chronicles and also Luke part of chap. 3. Note that all the rest of the holy scriptures doth not containe so many yeares for the writing of them A breife summe of the former Questions and Answers JEhovah our God Jehovah is one the Father the Son and the holy spirit be one coeternall and co-essentiall The Son is called the word by the word the Father made the world and by the spirit beautified the heavens And because the word would become flesh the world was made to serve once Adam the first The Angells that grudged at that fell for ever and deceived Adam and made him dead in sin and brought him to be dayly turning to dust untill hee dyed And for him the whole frame of the creation was pronounced corrupt but after divine Revelation he beleeved that Christ made of a woman made under the Law God being in him to reconcile the world unto himself should give him free forgiveness for justification by faith and renew the inner man in knowledge holinesse and righteousnesse and raise up his body and make a new world by his power Whereby he can subdue all things to himselfe All faithfull travailed in soule to have Christ brought forth to the knowledge of their posterity that all might know that all this world was made obedient to a man at the first which man fell from God his first day and then God opened his counsell that the Son eternall would be made man of a woman to destroy the works of the Angells that fell who all are collectively Satan Satan brought Adam to loose the life of his soule and his body to death and dust and all this world to corruption Christ kindled light in Adams soule and after 930 years heavinesse for sin took it to his joy and will raise up his body and make a new world that all men who will receive the abundance of Grace of free forgivenesse for justification may reigne by Christ and all who will not regard this mercy so clear as the sun they all by Adams fall dead in sin shall be damned for ever with the Devills This is the travell of the christian minde speech of this full of joy is in all the books of the old and new Testament Or thus The summ of the Bible is short how of Gods eternall counsell the world was made for man because the son of God by whom he made the world would be a man to give life to them that rested in this wisdome *** All this dialogue will evidence this or doth desire so to do * The faith of Gods elect in
unstable Soules are ever ready for the wolfs mouth a fit prey for the smooth subtil Serpent and his seed People must be constantly admonished weaken Popery weaken all this the Layalans know well enough Turcisme is no mysterie and all the unclean spirits of errour is no mysterie Therefore in few words O ye godly Families study the holy Scriptures they are the Inheritance of all the Israel of God And verily the most faithfull Witnesse hath said and then he spake of the old Testament Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God Misbelievers know not God Wherefore if ye cry after knowledge and lift up your voice for understanding Prov. â— if ye seek wisdome as Silver and search for understanding as for hid Treasures then certainly you shall understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God for the Lord giveth wisdome and out of his Mouth in his holy Scriptures cometh knowledge and understanding And this also will follow That no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper and every tongue that riseth in Judgement against you you shall condemn this is the * This is a rich and great heritage Heritage of the servants of Jehovah and their Rghteousnesse is of me saith JEHOVAH Isaiah 54.17 To conclude it is said he that asketh receiveth he that seeketh findeth Mat. 7. and to him that knocketh it shall be opened The secret of Jehovah that is the Misterie of Christ is with them that sear him and his Covenant to make them know it He will cause the meek to go according to right and teach the humble his way Psalm 25. Two or three Directions concerning the reading of the following Dialogue First read the Text of it often to see how things in the course of the Bible follow one another then the margins at your leasure for explication 2. Let none be discouraged at the largenesse of this Dialogue for it is not intended that children or any should learn it without book but the substance of it they will have in their minds before they be aware For 1. Hereby a faithfull mind that hath his wits exercised in the word of righteousnesse will often in a day runne over all the Bible in sundry varieties if he mark the Chronologie and the chief persons in the Genealogie for by marking the times and the persons that lived in those times he will remember their stories as it is common to do in worldly affairs 2. I have not cited every verse to the chapter I mention because I would have the Reader to mark the coherence of things the better and though the verse be not named yet some part of the chapter is expressed and you are to remember that the holy Apostles when they cite a Text they name onely the Prophet or more generally the Scripture not naming the Prophet Rom. 9.13.15 17.25 1 Pet. 2.6 c. c And observe that Speech John 15.25 The Psalms are called their Law that term hath deep Meditation for the term Law comprehends all the Scriptures and the Doctrine of salvation by Christ and that saying of James 4.5 Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain the spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy but there is no one particular Text in all the Bible that hath those words and yet the whole Book of God and I think every particular Prophet doth shew this corruption of our nature that the Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy And where the verse is cited you may misse of that edification which you may attain unlesse you mark the scope for the holy Spirit doth in divers verses drive to one chief Conclusion therefore you must consider many verses and it may be the whole chapter before you find the true sense of a verse I will not excuse my want herein in not citing every verse But beloved all my labour is to gain this of you to delight in all the Blessed Book of God And if this effect be attained I shall think my labour well bestowed and out of this desire I hope it may come to passe I may be encouraged to do you further service E.H. CHAP. I. OF the UNITY of the GOD-HEAD AND TRINITY of PERSONS Also of their Properties and Workes QVestion I. What Scriptures do shew the Vnity of the God-head and the Trinity of Persons with their properties and workes Answ very many of which I will propound only some to consideration Deut. 6.4 Heare O Israel the Eternall our God the Eternall is One. Gen. 1.1.2 In the beginning * If the knowledge of God in Trinity had not been the ground of life God would never have declared himselfe to us in the plurall number for his eternall wisdome fore-saw what warrs would come for that betwixt Jewes Turks and Arrians and his true faithfull ones and God the God of peace would never have placed a name pluâ—all in his first Scripture but for peace to life to the fallen Sons of Adam Elohim God 's he created the Heavens and the Earth And the Earth was without forme and void and darknesse was upon the face of the * The Spirit of Elohim is sometimes called the Spirit of God the Father 1. Joh. 4.13 Apoc. 11.11 and sometimes the Spirit of the Son Gal. 4.6 Rom. 8.9.1 Pet. 1.11 because it proceeds as well from the Son as from the Father Joh 14.16.26 compared with Joh. 16.26 deep and the Spirit of Elohim Gods moved upon the face of the waters In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God and the WORD was God the same was in the beginning with God All things were made †Aâ—â— things were created by him and for him Col. 1.16 consider that Gen 1. 2. shewes that and all the rest of the Bible shews this by him and without him was made nothing that was made In him was life and the life was the light of men Joh. 1.1.2 And Elohim said Let US make man according to OUR Image Gen. 1.26 And Jehovah said The man is become as one of US Gen. 3.22 And Jehovah came downe to see the City and Tower and Jehovah said let US go downe Gen. 11.7 And it came to passe when they Gods Elohim caused me to wander Gen. 20.13 He built an Altar there and called the place El-Bethel because there they Gods appeared unto him Gen. 35. 7. But none say where is the Puissant my Makers Job 35. see Braughton on Job Let Israel rejoyce in his Makers Psal 149.2 Thy Maker is thy Husbands Esa 54.5 Remember thy Creatours Eccl. 12.1 By the WORD of Jehovah were the Heavens made and all the hosts of them by the SPIRIT of his mouth Psal 33.6 I am with you saith Jehovah of Hosts with the WORD by whom I made a covenant with you when yee departed out of Egypt and my SPIRIT remaining among you that yee should not feare Hag. 2.5 Go and teach all Nations baptizing them in the
name of the Fether of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Mat. 28.19 For there are Three which beare record in Heaven the Father the WORD and the holy Ghost and these three are one 1. Joh. ◠7 Yee worship yee know not what we know what we worship for salvation is of the Jewes but the houre cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shal worship the Father in Spirit and truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth Joh. 4.22.23.24 Jer. 10.1 Heare yee the word which Jehovah speaketh unto you O house of Israel 2. Thus saith Jehovah learne not the way of the Heathen and be not dismayed at the signes of the Heavens for the Heathens are dismayed at them 3. For the customes of the people are vaine for one cutteth a Tree out of the Forrest the worke of the hands of the workman with the ax 4. They deck it with Silver and Gold they fasten it with Nayles and with Hammers that it move not 5. They are upright as the Palm Tree but speak not they must needs be borne because they cannot go be not affraid of them for they cannot do evill neither is it in them to doe good 6. For as much as there is none like unto thee O Jehovah thou art great and thy name is great in power 7. Who would not feare thee O King of Nations for to thee doth it appertaine for as much as among all the wise men of the Nations and in all their Kingdomes there is none like unto thee .. 8. But they are altogether bruitish and foolish the stock is a Doctrine of vanities 9. Silver spread into Plates is brought from Tharshish and Gold from Vphaz the work of the Workman and the hands of the Founder blew and purple is their cloathing they are all the works of cunning men 10. But Jehovah is the true God he is the the living God and an everlasting King at his wrath the earth shall tremble and the Nations shall not be able to abide his indignation 11. Thus shall yee say unto them the Gods that have not made the Heavens and the Earth even they shall perish from the Earth and from under these Heavens God gives raine and he witholds raine Deut. 11.14 Amos. 4.7 Psal 147. Sing unto Jehovah who covereth the Heavens with clouds read Job 36. 37. 12. HE hath made the Earth by his power he hath established the world by his wisdome and hath stretched out the Heavens by his discretion 13. When he uttereth his voice there is a multitude of waters in the Heavens and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth he maketh lightnings with raine and bringeth the wind out of his Treasures 14. Every man is bruitish in his owne †Vaine man would be wise though man be borne a wild asse colt Job 11.12 knowledge every founder is confounded by the graven Image for his molten Image is but false-hood and there is no breath in them 15. They are Unity and the work of errours in the time of their visitation they shall perish 16. * The Lords portion is his people Jacob is the lot of his inheritance Deut. 32. how gracious is this reciprocation See the uses that the Saints should and have made of it Psal 73.16 119.57 Lam. 3. Christ is the portion of the faithfull and they are his portion The portion of Jacob is not like them he is the former of all things and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance Jehovah of Hosts is his name Jer. 23.23 Am I a God at hand saith Jehovah and not a God afarr off can any hide himselfe in secret places that I shal not see him saith Jehovah do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith Jehovah Psal 135.6 Whatsoever pleaseth Jehovah he doth in the Heavens and in the Earth in the Seas and in all deep places vid Dan. 4.34.35 Ephe. 1 11. QVestion 2. What may be learned from these Texts Answ These Scriptures teach us to know the most glorious God in his nature and properties in his works of Creation and providence Also the Unity of his essence and that there is a distinction in the unity of essence by which description wemay plainely see that he cannot be likened to any thing nor any thing made like to him Therefore all Idolls and Images of him are vanity and wicked and are to be abhorred and that he only is to be feared beleeved in worshipped c. And all this will more cleerely appeare by certain positions which may be gathered out of these Texts QVest 3. Which be they Answ 1. These Scriptures teach us that God is a Spirit most perfect and infinite and therefore impossible to be conceived of us as he is in himselfe and therefore we must content our selves with such a knowledge as he hath in his word revealed to us according to our capacity in his names and properties 1. His names are * It is good to observe how the attributes and titles are taken one for the other as Deut. 18.13 Mat. 5 48. So that Elohim Jehovah and Father are all one and so we shall finde in other Scriptures These names titles and properties do expound the proeme of the decalogue and the first commandement and the Proeme of the Lords prayer and the first petition Elohim Jehovah Adonaj Shaddaj Jah Tzur c. which signifie the Mighties the eternall being of himselfe and the giver of being to all things else the Stay of the World the All-sufficient the giver of life and breath the Rock c. these and others are abridgments of the Bible and the Bible a commentary on them 2. His properties some of them are incommunicable and some communicable the incommunicable are simplenesse or unmixednesse infinitenesse eternitie omnipotency unchangeablenesse immeasurablenesse c. no creature hath these 3. The properties communicable are being life goodnesse power wisdome justice holinesse truth mercy c. These he communicateth to his creatures yet they are but in a measure in them as qualities but in God essential in the creatures weak and imperfect but in him each of them is infinite in all perfection and by these things in the creatures which we see and perceive the invisible things of God are understood Some call these names and properties titles and attributes 4. These Scriptures affirme that there is one God and but one for there can be but one infinite and eternall being Creatour and Governour 5. The distinct persons in the God-head are from these Scriptures to be learned the Father the WORD and the holy Spirit Other Scriptures do further direct us how they are distinguished by their order properties an works 1. By their order the Father is the first person of himselfe the Son is the second person only of the Father he holy Ghost is the third person from them both 2. By
Deut. 31.11 27 28 29. such waited but for an opporeunity of Moses death and Ioshuahs and the godly Elders then they did shew themselves so blessed Paul spake of Wolves and apostasie Acts 20. It is hard for us to deny all of the first Adam and wholly submit to be taught and guided in the doctrine of the second Adam the Lord from heaven Quest 8. Answ N. IV. Of Melebisedecks and Levies sacrifice hood See the Apostles disputation concerning Melchesedeck Heb. 5. 6 7. who was still alive after a sort in discription As the holy Prophet David taught the people of his dayes and what use they should make of the Land of Promise Psalm 95. and of the use and end of the sacrifices and washings c. Psalm 40. 51. So he taught them that Levies Priesthood should have an end for that our glorious Lord Iesus Christ is made a sacrificer for ever ofter the order of Malchesedek and not after Aarons order of the Levitical Priesthood where neither the persons or things that Levi did could justifie the doers or commers thereunto Now the Lord Jesus Christ he was promised and prophecied of in all the old holy volume of the book of God that he was made a Mediator and a Surety a Sponsor of such an Administration that should perfectly save and justifie them that came unto God by him He was of God the Father none else could made a Sponsor a surety All the sacrifices that he commanded our Fathers they did them till the fullness of times did come and then he did send his beloved Son and Servant in whom his soul delights he took unto him true humanity and was a Sponsor a Surety of a better Testament i.e. The Mediatour of the New Testament for their full conâ—olation to comfort them concerning their works and concerning the sorrows of their hands and concerning the earth which God hath cursed He shall do that which all Levites tribe could not ex opere operato Levies Priesthood could not cleanse the conscience from the guilt of our sinful works not procure a blessing on our Labours nor make a new world his Priesthood could not cleanse the conscience from dead works to serve the living God c. And for this cause Christ was a Sponsor of a better covenant And Christ himself faith he will become this Sponsor and Mediatour to answer the will of the Father Lo I come to do thy will O God thy Law and appointment for the redemption of thy people that thou hast given me is in my heart to give my self a Sacrifice of a sweet smelling favour of rest God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not counting their trespasses unto them For be made him to be a Sin-offering for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. Much more might be said but let the people of God study the Scriptures their inheritance God hath a time and a day wherein he will burn up the hay stubble and rotten wood of impertinent applications and interpretations Ibid. N. I V. Is not an bidd doctrine It is not an hidden thing nor a wonder for thee O Israel for this doctrine that the Son of God should come down from heaven to be man hath been taught to thy Fathers from the beginning and that he should be the great High Priest and Sacrifice and that he should raise himself from death to give hope to all faithful of their resurrection Israel should not make doubt of this doctrine Yet it is a Wonder as Ethan sings of it Psalm 89. great is the mystery of Godliness But this hath been ever taught in the Church this doctrine is the faith of Gods elect and the Churches possession Ioh. 1. Levi the Tribe appointed to reach divinity should never have been graven in the bright and pleasant Smaragd if the stories of this Art had been dark â—et had been a fitter stone for darkness The minde of man may have abundant satisfaction and strong confidence concerning the doctrine of the way of life by holy and humble diligent study of the Scriptures And they that will not believe Moses and the Prophets will not believe though one should rise from the dead Quest 9. and Answ Taught by tradition Note the doctrine of faith one and the same whether by Tradition or Writing For those 2513. years the faith of the Gospel was propagated by tradition by great prophets of long life and great authority and sacrifices as seals of the Covenant added for confirmation of doctrine Quest 10 and Answ Midian Although Abraham taught his houshold the faith of Christ as is seen in the book of Ioh yet many of his posterity apostated to that idolatry religion and opinion with which he was corrupted at YR others fell to the false faith religion and opinion of Peor Jos 23. 24. and did seek to curse the true faith of Gods elect and the holy people of that profession Num 23. 24. Midian was of Abraham by Ketâ—rah The world was then full of false opinions and heretical Doctrines as now they could plead for Nachors Teraphim for Peor for Chemosh and Milâ—ham c. but Israel must hearken to the Law and Testimony that Christ gave them so Moses and Iosuah most pathetically a little before their deaths exhorted them to regard the holy Law and not to follow the traditions of their fathers or of the Nations Ios 24. Deut. Quest 11. and Answ And wou'd have gone into Egypt again Like them are our Popish fools that would go into Rome Egypt again for their Fish Flesh pots Leeks Garlick Onions Cucumbers Melons their doctrines of bodily exercise of Images Pilgrimages the dotage of Purgatory c. goodly Cates sure to be compared to the heavenly Manna of Gods word and Gods dwelling in his tabernacle among us We do not consider the glorious presence in Christ in his Ordinances and protection c since he brought us from among them By the Gospel the way of Christ the face of God shineth upon us The Gospel is the object of promise joy and gladness to every honest hearted Christian Let our apostate hearts remember Lots wife in looking back to Rome-Sodome Christ complained Israel would none of me Oh that we could think of these things What one nation on the earth hath been like us for mercies and how ill have we requited the Lord as Israel did so do we Psal 81. Deut. 32. Ibid. Of their forefathers The idolatry of Terah and Abraham continued above 500 years to the death of Iosuah yea long after Iosuah 24. 2.14 Observe how fast idolatry and superstition and will worship sticks in the heart of posterity Although they had the fiery Law expounded by Moses and miracles to confirm them of the truth of that Religion that holy faith of the Son of God Moses taught and possessed Canaan in the obedience of that holy faith and many chastisements for
Apostasie to Baal Peor c yet many of their hearts were false So it is with us at this day in our nation although God hath spoken to us by his Son have the blessed Scriptures which have in them a blessed comforting flaming light and brightnes and 70. years and more under Gods gracious husbandry yet how rebellious Oh mourn for the Corruption of our natures and see how the tradition of a false religion from fore-fathers prevailed and prevaileth with many afore the written word Our Teachers must earnestly press the reading of all the holy Scriptures but surely they do but coldly and seldome do it The Serpent and his seed are great enemies to the holy Scriptures and a surer note of a wicked man need not be sought after then the slighting and the scorning of the Scriptures Ibid As of the Canaanites And an Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim and said I have made you to go up out of Egypt and have brought you unto the Land which I sware unto your fathers and I said I will never break my covenant with you And you shall make no league with the inhabitants of the Land you shall throw down their altars but you have not obeyed my voice Why have you done thus Wherefore I also said I will not drive them out from before you but they shall be as thornes in your sides and their Gods their religion shall be a snare unto you And it came to passe when the Angel of the Lord spake all these words unto the Children of Israel that the people lift up their voice and wept And they called the name of that place Bochim and they sacrificed there unto Jehovah Judges 2. observe all that chapter Quest 12. and Answ Joyful presence dwelling among them It is a joyful thing indeed and a glorious priviledge to have the Tabernacle reared that Christ may dwell among us and for us to tread in his Courts Look what any Father Husband or King is to a Kingdome and familie such is Christ to his After Christ had promised many blessings Levit. 26. as the basis of all he saith And I will set my Tabernacle among you and my soul shall not abhorre you and I will walk among you and will be your God and ye shall be my people And look these texts for meditation to see the glory of Christ in his Tabernacle as our Prophet Priest and King Exodus 20.24 25.22 29.42 43 30.6.36 Psalm 2. 1 Sam. 12.12 Psalm 45. 47. 48. 84. 95. 100. 145. 146 c. So when they were to come from Babel this is mentioned as the foundation of all comfort Ezek. 37.26 27. also we must mind what is to be done of us ye shall reverence my sanctuary and keep my sabbaths and never appear before Christ empty Exod. 23.15 Levit. 26.2 Now observe the same glorious mercies are related and applyed to us under the New Testament 2 Cor. 6.16 Apoc. 21.3 and their holy practise in their worships 2 Cor. 7.1.1 Cor. 11. 14. And their Alms-deeds every Lords day in their holy meetings 1 Cor. 16.1 2. as Deut. 16.16 17. Now of the uses of application how many how great how full of comfort and terrour First to instruct God would not have a Church or family in the world but because he would have holy worship Religion is the essence of a Church family or person 2. The world is not continued but for this 3. Great are the priviledges of the Church that Christ is among us by his ministery and ordinances for our Prophet Priest and King 4. What an heinous wickedness it is to interrupt or pull down holy things 5. They are cursed of God that do so Secondly to exhort 1. to study 2. to procure 3. to maintain 4. to be zealous for 5. to esteem above all and to be thankful for 6. to take up with content 7. to relish this glory Psalm 42. 63. 122. 132.8 To lay to heart to mourn for the absence and desolation of holy things Dan. 9. 10.2 3 Lament 1. 2. 3. Thirdly To reprove the wretchedness and deadness concerning these things Acts 18.17 c. Also we must ever observe that Moses Tabernacle was according to the Pattern of that which was in heaven They that enjoyed the peace of God in the earthy tabernacle had the same still in the heavenly as Psalm 15.1 2. And it is said our Lord with his own bloud went through the veil of his flesh into the most holy place the very heavens as the high Sacrificer went with bloud into the holy place made with hands This touched often and needful to be observed in all the Ceremonies of Moses else we shall have a veil over our hearts as Jewes and Papists who see not Christ the end of all these things that were to be abolished Ibid. 12. Quest and Answ Victories By faith they waxed valiant in Battel and turned to flight the Armies of the Alians Their faith saw the dâ—ies of Christ that he would overcome him that had the power of death the Devil the Prince of darkness the old Serpent Therefore by faith they overcame the Serpents seed All true souldiers should be doctors in divinity such will conquer with small loss as Israel under Josuah and the Elders surviving Josuah who delighted in the study of Moses Jos 1. 23.6 And Davids Captains by knowledge of Moses were mighty in Battail Heb. 11.34 Quest 13. and Answ N. I. Analek discomfited Amalek of Esau despised the faith as Esau his Father and became a fierce persecutor of the faith of Christ and his people which was the break-neek of that State Gods curse and the Churches War were never reversed nor appeased to the daies of Haman A warning to persecuting States especially to mystical Edom. The form of the pattent and promise that God gave to Abraham is for comfort to all the Israel of God for ever I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee as see in Numb 24. and Balaam foretels the like destruction to Kittim as to Amalek The same enmity the same war and the same curse shall follow the Serpents seed in perdition to the end N. II. a partition wall This was the vail and covering on all nations which Christ would abolish Esay 25. Dan. 9.24 c. Ephes 2.15 God hated the apostate families like Devils that he gave by Moses an hedge of Lawes to keep Israel from amity and communion with them And this was one special Law that certain Beasts fowls and fish prohibited to distinguish them in diet from heathen are called unclean So be all without the Gospel in their high learning Ro. 1.21 22. as Socrates Plato Tully Varro Plutarch and the civilest These things were continuall occasions of enmity between an Israelite and an Heathen Ephes 2.15 Hest 3.8 Ibid. N. II. Separated and made Aliens But being blessed in
Mountain of fire of most grievous calamities to all Christendome What an incendiary was he 1. Against Constantines Kingdome in exciting the Turk to invade it 2. In the Wars for the Low Jerusalem after the Tenth Century 3. By intestine Garboyls among themselves still to uphold Popish interests 4. By cruel dealing against any that contested their enormities as will be said more in the sixt Trumpet The name of the King and Beast of the Pit is Abaddon and Apolluon a destroying and beast-like Prince As his Name is so is he And his Locusts are filled with his spirit of all deceit hypocrisie and cruelty See more of this in them and their King in their Dialogue The Pontificality or Corporation of Popes whose Kingdome was so glorious and whose Throne so radiant that all the world wondered Apoc. 13.3 4. at the beams thereof and thence he like the Sun did rule the day of that State so that his Creatures and Parasites say he is as the Sun And from this throne he sent his Decretals and the power of his counsels and the fulminations of his excommunications c. into all his Kingdome to the terrour and amazement of all opposers our native Countrey is a sufficient commentary of this A very Leviathan Iob 41. A Dragon as Pharoah of old in his Waters Ezek. 29. and acted by the old Red Dracon This is the first Wo. In like sort in the Phials that glorious earthly Throne Kingdome and Supremacy is made vile and much darkned for more godly Teachers in pouring out the fifth Phial have polluted the Pride of all the glory of that mystical Tyrian god and brought into Contempt in some places all the honourable of that earthly State Ezek. 28.2 6 7 8 9. Christ the mighty Angel roared like a Lion in his faithful witnesses Apoc. 10.3 19.14 They discovered Abaddons and his Locusts hidden abominations and blasphemous impieties that some well-minded and couragious Princes have taken from him his usuâ—ped authoritie and yet in spirituals they have and do still tamper with him in temporals as Venice and others and now his Throne is much ecclypsed that it shines not in many places his mandates are slighted his excommunications are of no terrour c. And now the King of Locusts in some kingdomes is experimentally known to be Apolluon an apostate Star the grand impostor of Christendome the man of sin that made all the World to sin He and his Locusts got land by begging for monasteries and got other unclean cages for unclean birds of every wing Locusts of all professions by these he had a great Kingdome and his Throne of Government was set up in every nation all which together made his great Polis or large Common-weal So that now under the fifth Phial the Throne and kingdome of the Beast is darkned by contempt and pillane of land in some of the kingdomes that had given their power to the Beast and all the other kingdomes will do the same as England hath done of late in the extirpation of the Tail of that episcopal Hierarchy But yet in all this mercy of glorious light and reformation the Beasts marked are transported with implacable â—ury and envy for so it is said They gnawed their tongues for sorrow and blasphemed the God of heaven for their pains and sores of State and repented not of their works of their idolatry murthers sorceries fornications and thefts c. deifying the Pontificality and teaching his Decrees to be infallible This is often laid to the charge of the Papalines they repented not like old Babel of whom it is said We would have cured Babel but she is not cured Jer. 51. This argues great obduration of heart like Pharoah like Iericho like the Chantanites c. their state is compared with and alluded to these old Enemies of the Gospel Therefore they shall not repent till they be all destroyed as the other were It is hard yea impossible for men to repent which will not learn from the word of God how their case standeth and they have so blasphemed the holy and blessed Scriptures and corrupted them as far as in them lieth putting she for he to bring the virgin Mary into Christ his honour to destroy the Bible and the world Gâ—â— 3.15 making Peter the Rock of the Church c. thus they have most reproachfully corrupted the blessed Seriptures and cannot minde them in sincerity because the Lord Jesus hath in his just judgement blinded their eyes stopped their ears hardened their heart for their utter confusion SECT VI 1. I think it will be pertinent to touch a little the tenth chapter of the Apocalyps before I go to the sixth and seventh Trumpet for it is most comfortable for the Church to observe it against the evils that came and are yet upon the Church by the Beast of the Pit and by the Turkish desolating forces under the fiâ—th sixth and seventh Trumpet and under the first second and third Wo and under the fifth and sixth and seventh Phials yea all the Phials do expound this tenth chapter 2. This chapter sets forth a glorious description of the mighty Angel of the Covenant the Lamb the King of Mount Sion that although king Abâ—ddon came out of Pit-darknesse with his Locusts to darken all knowledge of Christ and his Word yet here it is for the joy and comfort of all the godly that our mighty Redeemer is come from heaven and is described full of glory And this description of Christ is from Moses Esaias Daniel Ezekiel Mat â—7 and Apoc. 1. 1. He is clothed with a cloud and his feet as Pillars of fire this remembers the conduct of Israel from Egypt to assure us of the same mercy of Redemption from Rome Egypt what old Egypt found and felt Rome Eggpt shall feel the like 2. The Rain bow rememâ—reth Gen. 9. and Esay 54. Ezek. 1 that in all stormes flouds and inundations of Pope Dracons Tyranny Apoc. 12. 13. the Rainbow doth assure us that God will remember his covenant for his church and that the Waters of trouble the rod of the wicked shall not ever be upon the Lot of the righteous Psalm 124. and 125. 3. His face is as the sun-shining in his strength Dan 10. Mat. 17. Apoc. 1. his eyes in every place behold the evil and the good Christ is greater than Moses Moses face did shine but not as the sun For Christs glory darkned his yet not his but Christ which he put on him for when he came to Christ he put off his vail If we pursue the tenour of the Law that Christ gave to Moses our faces shallâ— shine as Mâ—ses through Christs brightnesse upon us if we delight to study the holy Bible And his face so shining doth assure us that he will utterly dispell the Popish frogs and that in the Lords due season the whole earth shall be filled with his glory Apoc. 18. 4. One foor on the Sea and another on the
Babel had so ruinated them they could not chuse but have many sad thoughts of discomfort that they should never return So when the Churches saw wrath so full of fierie indignation on the Jews they thought the day of Christ was at hand The Apostle satisfied them and the Prophet Jeremiah comforts them with this speech as yet and the Prophets often reiterate these words which must be marked And in all those prophesies of their return there are many promises of Christ mixed for he is the radix of all comforts to the Church because God will send Christ to destroy Satans work and his seed and to blesse us All promises are made in him to be yea and Amen as that promise to Achaz although he despised it Esai 7. and would not put the safety of his Kingdome on such promises but would seek as his stubborn and unbelieving heart taught him help from Assur but because God had made promise yet to protect Ierusalem the City he had chosen to put his name there therefore he would protect it and because our heavenly Father would send his Son to be immanuel God with us therefore he would yet save Iudah Sion and Ierusalem Ieremiahs Prophecies are of this nature to be understood Esaias before Ieremiah had said by prophecie that although Babel had sorely afflicted the Church Isa 14 1.2 3. notwithstanding the Lord would have mercy on Iacob and would yet choose Israel and set them in their own Land the Land of Iehovah called elsewhere the Holy Land and pleasant Land and so it was to the ending of the Seventy Sevens but then any Land City and Assembly where the Gospel of Christ was and is taught believed and professed was and is as holy as that Land CHAP. XXVI That the Covenant of God in Christ made with Israel in Deuteronom is the very same that God made with Israel in Exodus and Leviticus and so to the end of the 19. chap. of Numbers in answer to them that hold the former to be only a covenant of works and the latter in Deut. to a covenant of grace because it is said in Deut. 21.9 beside the Covenant which he made with them in Horeb. Mr. Ainsworth saith it is the same Covenant but onely renewed to the children And Tremellius speaketh to the same effect we must remember that Malachi in shutting up the old Testament chargeth Israel from Christ to cleave to the Law given by Moses at Horeb Mal 4. as the onely good means to secute them from the Apostasie that would come upon them in the dayes of Antiochus Epiphanes yea it began even in the dayes of Malachi then stout words were spoken that it was in vain to serve God c. Like the apostacy of the old world Dan. 11.14.30 31 32. Job 21. 14 15. and 22.17 Mal. 3.13 14. And the angel foretold of the lawlesse crew of Daniels people that would deal corruptly concerning the holy covenant 2. It was greatly consequent to renew the covenant to the children for now all their fathers were dead of the first numbring and so it was very fit that the children should be taught the fathers holy Religion by way of covenant the better to watch over their hearts before they went over Jordan to possesse Canaan 3. Moses repeats divers passages of Christ in three former chapters of Deuteronomie as a preparation and then most pathetically exhorteth to the obedience of Christ Deut. 4. and prosecutoth the same exhortation in chap. 5. where he repeat Exod. 20. and mark the second and third verse of chap. 5. in these words The word onely must be understood as in Cor. 1.17 Deut. 6.13 10 20. and so the Rabbins of the Jews understood it vid. Mr. Ainsworth Not with our fathers onely made Jehevah this Covenant but with us This doth not onely look to them of the first numbring that died in the wildernesse but to Jacob Isaac and Abraham and so Tremellius it was verily the same covenant for substance that was made with Abraham renewed in the wildernesse and exhibited fully and plainly in Christ but in respect of times and persons it is called a divers form of covenant vid. Heb. 8. So he yea I doubt not but we may go higher even to that promise of God to our first Parents Gen. 3.15 and to Noah Gen. 6. Promise and covenant are often taken promiscuously and it is for our comfort so to understand It is much for our edification and comfort in the holy faith so rounderstand the same promise made to our first Parents concerning Christ for they had sacrifices to seal the covenant of their salvation to him the same was made with Noah Gen 6. and the same with Sâ—m whose God was God blessed for ever Abraham Isaac and Iacob and in that covenant all the visible Church were ingaged before Moses to observe it and it is called the way of Christ and his charge in his commandements statutes and Laws Gen 26.5 These were enjoyned by Christ and by most godly tradition propagated in godly families from father to child untill Christ commanded Moses to put all these Laws and histories of Genesis into writing with sundry other Laws because the Church was now grown into a large common-weal and were to dwell in a Land by themselves as Christs peculiar people I will adde one Text in Leviticus to stablish our hearts in sound Doctrine chap. 25.23 The Land shall not be sold for ever for the Land is mine for ye are strangers and sojournens with me This text shews what all the Polity of Christ by Moses aimed at even faith and love in the Son of God Christ Iesus this text hath irradiant beams over all the holy Doctrine What a worthy exercise might a godly Oratour of a congregation a Scribe taught unto the Kingdome of heaven that hath his wits exercised in the word of righteousnesse make hence to an Auditory 1. You are strangers and sojourners with me How might he amplisie this from other Scriptures 1 Chron. 29. Psal 39. and 119. Heb. 11. by the godly example of the Nobles of all ages 1 Pet. 1. and 2.11 2. From the coherence of matter in the verses preceding and following that those that confesse in heart this Doctrine of Christ that they are but strangers and sojourners in this cursed world they must not oppresse and vex one another in setting and leting in buying and selling but deal justy and mercifully one with another 3. It will afford an heavenly meditation to consider how and why the Lord should say he is a stranger and sojourner in this world surely this Text sheweth how Light Life and immortality was brought to light by the Gospel in Moses and in Leviticus 4 All Deuteronomie is the abridgement of Moses Sermons for one moneth The Apostle Heb. 9. doth dilate much on Exodus and sheweth it was a Covenant of grace in Christ Deuteronomie must be understood to be the same covenant with Exodus
Tradition in reference to the last mentioned short Oâ—seâ—vations 1. Although the Church was taught by Tradition for 2513 years From the creation to Israels coming from Egypt is 2513 years yet the written word was no other Doctrine thâ—n was formerly taught by Tradition for all Genesis and much of Exodus was first delivered by Tradition till Moses wrote Genesis 2. The Eplstles to the Romans and Galatians open Gen. 12. 15. So John 1. and 1 John 3.8 open Gen. 3.15 So the Apostles Doctrine and writings are answerable to Gods Doctrine by Tradition for those 2513 years Ezek. 28. 3. That which Moses received by Tradition since Adam or by inspiration or both till he was 80 years old was no other than Christ gave him on Mount Sinâ—i which he wrote when he was shepherd to Israel 40 years So it is said by faith Abel offered by faith Araham when he was tried offered Isaac and by faith Moses kept the Paâ—leover and this holy faith hath commendation for all the godly of the old Testament Heb. 11. And the same faith we of Japhets house are exhorted to follow that Christ may be to our consolation to day as he was to them yesterday 4. And for that 2513 years wherein Religion was taught by Tradition Gods providence so ordered the affairs of his Church that while the families that hoped in Christ were few there were as is noted rate prophets long-lived and of great authority who although the Gospel was not written for ought we know till Moses times were most able to strengthen the faithfull of their times 5. The men that continued the Gospel by infallible Tradition from the creation to the giving of the Law are the first ten Fathers afore the flood Nine of them living together were a noble consistory to uphold the faith so shaken by the Apostasie of their own children and the wicked families of Cain 6. Then after the flood there were nine Fathers also of the holy line that lived together worthy Pillars against Niâ—rods revoâ—t these nine were Noah Sem Arphaxad Selah Eber Peleg Regu Serug Naho and so Sem Arphaxad Selaâ— Eber might and did instruct Abraham Sem Selah Eber and Abraham might and did teach Isaac Abraham Isaac and Eber taught Jacob Isaac and Jacob the twelve Patriarchs who left many godly that lived to Moses Moses Parents were godly Heb. 11. There was but 64 years between Josephs death and Moses birth 7. More briefly thus Adam taught the Gospel to Mathuselah and godly Lamech they two to Noah and Sem Sem taught Isaac Abraham and Isaac taught Jacob and Isaac and Jacob the twelve Patriarchs and they in Egypt held Religion sound while they lived and Joseph lived after Jacobs death 50 years and Levi 70 years after and there was 42 years between Levies death and Moses birth 8. The wisdome of God is admirable in the long life of the few families of the old holy men to preserve the faith by Tradition that Sem who lived with godly Lamech and Machuselah who saw Adam taught the Gospel to Isaac These four men Adam Lamech Sem Isaac could reckon years above 2000 but when mens ages were divers times shortened and at lâ—st brought to 70 years Psal 90. and when the Church of God consisted of many families and that the purity of Religion was forgotten and neglected after the death of the said Patriarchs of the most in Egypt for Israel in Egypt fell to the idols and Religion of Egypt then God commanded Moses in the wildernesse to write the word of faith and ever after it was the Standard and Cannon of faith and manners as all the Prophets after and our Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostles kept themselves to the written word and to this all the Israel of God is enjoined To the Law and to the Testimony saith Esaias Starch the Sâ—â—iptuâ—es saith the Lord Jesus Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you in all wisdome saith the Apostle of the Gentiles c. c This word of Christ is the holy Scripture and it teacheth us wisdome to salvation 2 Tim. 3. we are exhorted to give heed to the old Prophesie 2. Pet. 1. and thrice blessed are they that with an honest and good heart so do 9. All the Patriarchs were Bishops for their families 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 using all care to teach theirs from their Fathers speech what Sem i. e. Melchizedeck learned of Mathuselah taught of Adam of the holy Trinity and how our Lord should come of Judah the King of glory the eternall the framer of the world of that poor shepherd to be man to have his Tabernacle in us to look through the windows within our wall and also how Christ by death should vanquish him that had the power of death they did know that he should come down from heaven and did feed upon his flesh and blood comforted in sorrow by this hope they would not misse to catechise their sons in this point as Joseph gave 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to feed his brethren Gen. 47 12. so all godly gave 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to feed their families souls In one word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 never used afore but in Josephs story with the Septuagint Our Lord his gracious tongue calleth us to the Patriarchs story Luke 12.42 compared with Gen. 47.12 to look to the Kingdome of heaven not to the earth which God hath cursed so Mr. Br. in Lords Fam. Luke 12 42. 10. Observe a little more concerning Tradition in those 26. Collections above that we should consider that the Spirit of Christ in the holy Prophets by Tradition and in the Law written by Moses is like it self one and the same Doctrine and all for the glorifying of Christ as it is said The spirit of Prophesie is the Testimonie of Jesus He is the mark of all Apoc. 19. Let us consider briefly for the new Testament therein also God took the same course though not for so long a time by Tradition I conceive it is a good instruction for us to strengthen us against the false Positions of Romane Catholicks concerning their unwritten verities for we shall easily perceive God to be without shadow of change whether by Tradition or writing 1. The Birth Life and Death the Doctrine and Miracles of our Lord Jesus Christ were by Tradition till the four Evangelists had written them but when written then it was the rule of our faith John 20.30 31. 2. The teaching of the Corinâ—hians the Institution of the Supper of the Lord was a Tradition 1 Cor. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. The Doctrine of the Resurrection of the dead to them was by Tradition 1 Cor. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 1 Cor. 15. was the same Doctrine he taught them 4. The Apostles teaching of the Man of sin that Son of Perdition was a Tradition to the Thessalonians 2 Thes 2.5 15. 5. Painfullnesse and diligence in a mans calling was a Tradition 2
in his reformed Catholike declareth the impossibility of reconciliation and which was written of purpose against such intendments and many others have testified against such State-abominations Yea Christian reformed States and Common-Weals that have departed from Abaddons Kingdome should be well advised what treaties they make with the King of Locusts Subjects But by no means to yeild them while such aid of men or ammunition not to receive from them any help It is best that the reformed look to their own Common-Weals States and polities Let the holy stories of Asa and Jebosaphats Kingdome with Achabs House be our instruction as also the holy Scriptures that shew us the mis-carriage of a maziah King of Judoh 2 Châ—on 25. 18. 19. and 1 King 22. confer also Esai 30. c. c. Let all Princes and Common Weals take heed of idolatrous and wicked weomen there are wealthy politike and of high countenance Such have caused much greif and trouble to the Church of God and the Republick a common mische if in most places from Gen. 6. even to this day But godly gracious woemen that have in them the power of godlinesse to love the word of God in the holy Scriptures of the Prophers and Apostles and to love the holy publick assemblies of Christ Jesus and be sober discreet temperate mercifull meek humble chast and be keepers at home to train up their dear children in godly wayes and to have a speciall care that servants doe not corrupt their children they have been an occasion of much evill in children also to be carefull in overseeing and guiding the affairs of the house especially in the husbands absence c. Such are a Crown of glory to their husbands the Common-Weal Town and Family I will transcribe a speach out of Iosephus pertinent to this conference of Tirzana the Lady of Moab which will also manifest the wickednesse of these apostating and perilous times Iosephus Lib. 4. chap. 6. When Moses the faithfull servant of the Angel of the Covenant the Son of God was zealous against the Apostasie of Israel especially of the Tribe of Simeon for joyning themselves to Baal-Pebor and seperating themselves to that Shame then Zimri to make a mutiny most audaciously uttered this speach to Moses Moses saith Zimri use thine owne Laws whereunto by long use thou hast added strength and confirmation which hadst not thou done oft times ere this hadst thou suffred punishment and learnt to thine own misery that the Hebrews were not to be deluded for my selfe thou shalt never tie me to thy tyrannicall decrees for hitherto hast thou endeavoured nought else but under pretext of Law and Religion to bring us into servitude and subjection and thy selfe by thy subtle and sinister means to honor and soveraignty taking from us the pleasures and liberties of our lives things that belong to free men and such as appertaine or live not under any mans government For this should be worse then an Egyptian thraldome to punish every man by thy Laws according to thine own pleasure whereas thou thy selfe art more worthy to be punished in that thou disannullest that thing that is approved by all mens consent and desirest that thy decrees should be of more force then all the resolutions of all other mortal men whatsoever But I as touching that which I doe in that I suppose it to be wel done am not affraid to confesse in this Assembly namely That I have taken a stranger to wife thou hearest mine actions from mine own mouth as from a free and resolute man neither doe I desire that they should be hidden I likewise sacrifice to the Gods contrary to our custome because I suppose it to be both just and necessary that from many I seek the truth and not depending as it were upon a tyrany or living there under to build my faith upon one onely for no man shall please me that will have more interest in my actions then my selfe Dear and beloved Reader this expresseth the uncleane and vile spirit of Satan in these evill dayes CHAP. XXXII Breif considerations about Sheol Gehenna and especially about Hades as it relates to the Article of the Creed he descended into Hell BEloved Reader there hath been in some places not a little stir about the sufferings of our Lord which doubtlesse were marvellous great even greater then can well be expressed But yet unlesse a man will say as some say that he suffred the very Essentiall Torments of Hell they will account such little better then Heretiques The very first occasion of his assertion was as I conceive from the mis-understanding of the holy Article of the Creed commonly called the Apostles Creed which speaks thus in the originall Greek K 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine descendi ad infeâ—os in English he descendâ—d into Hell But this Latine and English Translation doe come much short of the large sence and meaning oâ— the originall Greek I meane the said Translations do not fully expresse the large elegant meaning of the Greek word Hades as it ought to be understood and therefore from this barren and bad Translation sundry erroneous Expositions have been broached by sundry Authors which hath filled most Churches with much trouble 1. The controversy between Doctor Bilson and Master Broughton was this Whither the holy soul of our Lord Christ went at his death hence to Hell or hence to Heaven Doctor Bilson after much sweat and labor for his journey to Hell at last concludes thus in his Sermons p. 219. we have no warrant in the word of God so to fasten Christs soul unto Hell for the time of his death but that it might be in paradise before it descended to Hell 2. On the other hand there are some learned men not all and some Churches not all that expound this Article of Christs suffering the essentiall Torments of Hell in his soul in the Garden and on the Crosse Now that we may attaine to a true understanding of the Article we may do well to consider the Termes Sheol Gehenna and Hades 1. The word Sheol is onely Hebrew and it hath severall exceptions of which see Ains in Gen. 37.35 in Ps 16.10 and in sundry other Authors also 2. As for the terme Gehenna t is a dialect from the Hebrew and 〈◊〉 signifies properly and only the place of Torment for in all the New Testament it is ever taken in that sence in Mat. 5. Maâ— 9. Luk. 12.5 c. 3. As for Hades It is very needfull that light may shine in our pathes to consider well in what sence it is used in the New Testament and in what sence it must be taken in the Creed It is noted by Mr. Bro and Mr. Robert Wilmos and by some others also that Hades hath these three principall significations 1. It signifies death to the person or destruction to things 2. It signifies the grave to the dead body 3. It signifies the world un-seen namely the world of
from heaven to comfort him and it is most evident that Christ was not forsaken for the holy Angel did not come from heaven to the Lord Jesus without a commission from the heavenly Father to whom the humanity prayed and therefore in the closure of his meritorious sufferings his heart rejoyced and his tongue was glad and being full of faith and comfort he said Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and then he sent out his Spirit from his Body 10. Again if some shall say the wrath of God as some understand wrath killed Christ We should be well advised what passeth the doore of our lips for Christ our holy Mediatour said I have power to lay down my life Jâ—â— 10.17.18 and have power to take it again This commission or commandement have I received from my Father also he said As the Father knoweth me so know I the Father and lay down my life for the sheep therefore doth my Father love me because I lay down my life that I may take it again Joh 15. As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you continue ye in my love If ye keep my commandements ye shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers commandements and abide in his love John 16. Ye shall be scattered every man to his own and shall leave me alone and yet I am not alone because the Father is with me These Scriptures and others are prevalent to make one think and believe that he was not under the wrath and curse of God in any respect or consideration as some understand wrath not for one minute of an hour for surely the Son of God our Lord Jesus Christ was a most willing Mediatour and Redeemer for us to God our Father he gave himself a voluntary and free will offering to our heavenly Father for us and therefore no force did separate his soul from his body but he did that act by his own power as the formality of his Sacrifice 11. Many Ministers have some expressions about our Lords Sufferings which many godly and learned Divines have testified are not warrantable for what are we dust and ashes to speak of God and our Redeemer and Mediatour words not comely but we all should consider that aâ— Moses spake nothing of his own mind nor Christ in the flesh nor his Apostles from him but what he taught to Moses and the Prophets So we should all speak from his holy Scriptures sound Doctrines wholesome Doctrines plain and pregnant speech sound and uncondemnable 12. The assertion that our Lord suffered hell-torments in this life in his soul or body appeareth not true by any Scripture True modesty would look to Scripture phrases in handling our Redemption The ill translation of the Article and the bad interpretation of it but especially the mistaking of the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath filled the Church of Christ with much trouble and the smoke of the Pit which hath troubled many mens eyes hath also been a great occasion thereof but now the smoke is much vanished blessed be God 13. Beloved Reader we desire to reverence his word by whom the world was made his word is of sufficient authority with us and to that we through the strength of Christ will cleave as to our life therein is these words And the Bread that I will give is my flâ—sh namely that I will give in sacrifice for the life of the world Joh 6. And this is at large expounded Heb. 9 But Christ being come an high Priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands I mean not of this building neither by the blood of goats nor calves but by his own blood he entered once into the holy place having obtained eternall redemption for us And it is also sald that without shedding blood is no remission and this is further amplified How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God And for this cause he is the Mediatour of the new Testament that by the means of death this is not the second death for the Redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which were called might receive the promise of the eternall inheritance Chap. 10. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering the body of IESUS Christ once for al He. 10. And so he doth most sweetly and confortably speak in verse 19. 20 21. and in deed all that Epistle doth open Ioh. 6. most heavenly 14 Againe if Orthodox Churches yea the most Orthodox are so infallible that our faith must be resolved in part into their commentaries expositions c. how cometh it to passe that some do differ in Church discipline from so many reformed Churches both from Geneva Zurick Scotland Low Countries c. that they neither scotize it with the Scot nor Genevate it with the zealous Towne of Geneva they fall it may be under reproof in not agreeing with but discording the judgement and practise of the best and reformed and Othodox Churches in discipline And they had need to shew very good reasons of their so dissenting or they are to blame or else some may say came the word of God out from them or came it unto them only yea and may not others say so too of the best Orthodox Churches came the word of God out from or came it unto them only that men must be judged by them But the Holy Ghost hath charged us in his cause be not the Servants of men 1. Cor. 7. 15. The Pontificians said that our fore Fathers had the word of God from them and therefore they did by Egyptian Bondage tye our Ancestors to their Doctrines and Councils and at last to the Pontifician chaire and caused all Christs Witnesses to mourne in Sack-cloah that would not obey their constitutions But the Lord our God hath delivered us from that house of cruell bondage of mysticall Egypt And Christ saith his Magistrates must not bring his people back againe to Egypt Deut. 17. 16. We are of Japhets posterity And it is said God perswade Japheth to dwell in the Tents of Sem. So that we must know Japheth our Father and his faithfull posterity had their faith from Sems Tents and not from the Tent of the seaven Mountaine City of King Abaddons Kingdome And this holy faith was taught to Japheths posterity by the Sons of Sem the Prophets and Apostles The Apostles and Disciples taught this faith from the Scriptures of the Prophets at the commandment of the everlasting God to the Romans Corinthians and Galatheans Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians and the other Churches of Asia round about from Ierusalem to Illiricum and also to Dalmatia Croatia and doubtlesse to Spaine Rom. 15. And also to great Brittany as ancient Histories and as Master Speeds chronicle declareth Therefore it
is good for us to hearken to the counsells of the Scriptures of God the surest way is to consult with them It saith aske for the old way Ieâ— 6. Againe it saith he that knoweth God heareth the Apostles 1 Ioh. 4. Againe we are built upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ himselfe being the cheife corner Stone Eph. 2. And againe for perfect resolution we are referred to the words of the holy Prophets and commandments of the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3. And Iudas Thaddaus speaks the same And they all were the Sons of Sem. The Scriptures of the Prophets is the faith of the Nations and it is said often in the Apocalips that Christs Witnesses suffered for the word of God and the Testimony of Jesus with which orthodox Churches must have no vote granted to them to stand in competition for authority 17. The Pontificians so dealt and deal that they will in shew at last yeeld honour to the Scriptures so that we rest in their Churches exposition and determination we suppose godly Christians should not be like them in such tergiversations Beloved Reader do not conceive that we dis-esteem and reject Orthodox Churches or the writings of their godly Divines no such matter But we highly prize them as most gracious mercies of Christ Jesus our Lord and as they by whom the Temple of God in the Heaven of the Church hath been opened and the Ark of his Testimony manifested And as such by whose voices teaching and praying writings and martyrdome they have made such a thunder in the Pontifician Ayre that the smoake of the Pit is much vanished and a tenth part of Abaddons polity is fallen And the great Angell of the Covenant the Lord Jesus Christ will still send forth godly Teachers that the whole Barth shall be lightned with his glory Apot. 18. We may and ought to have them in godly and respectfull remembrance for their works sake both of them that are departed and of those that are yet living though we make them not Lords of our faith 18. I will yet-speake a little more of that speach which some affirme of Christ that he did combate with his Angry Father shall the Son of God faith that treatise suffer the second death for you Shall he unchrist himself for a time for you Shal he suffer Hel Torments for you †Treatise of sacâ—ed divinity published by Mr. John Downame in the yeare 1619. p. 1. 317. Shall the Son of God enter the lists to fight the great combate hand to hand with his angry Father for you God the Father to fight with God the Son Is this good Orthodox Theoligie to be sould or taught in Pulpits or in Books to the people of God doubtlesse there is a deep silence of such expressions in the Book of God And from this time forwards I hope our godly Teachers will have the same deep silence and make no stir and utter plaine Doctrines and then our inventions will vanish 1. I pray consider it well did the humanity of our blessed Saviour and Mediatour cope or combate with the Divine nature of the God the Father Alas the humanity though holy yet it was but a finite creature created in time and what is a finite creature to the infinite creator The humane nature in a such a case could not abide the least touch of contradiction But I suppose we must seriously consider that the humanity did evermore from its conception subsist in the Divine nature of the second person by way of support else it could not have borne such sufferings as the holy Scriptures declare from the power of Satan death the grave and wicked men yeâ— else his oblation of himself had not been meritoriously satisfactory and therefore it is a strange saying that the second person did combate with the first for then the whole person of the Mediatour must combate if any combating my heart yea whose heart would not tremble at such speaches as this 2. Gen. 3.25 doth hold forth a declaration of a combate of enmity between the seed of the woeman namely her speciall seed Christ and the seed of the Serpent but no mention is made of any such combate with God the Father nor that the second person should combate with himselfe the humane with the divine nature Thesâ— Tenentes do jar much from the Divinity that was taught to our first Parents in Gen 3.15 3 Is it not strange Doctrine to affirme that the Lord Jesus with the helpe of a holy Angell did combate with God for in his Agony in Luk. 22.43 there was an Angel sent from Heaven to strengthen him 4 Was it ever heard that a Mediator between two at variance should fight with the stronger opposite to bring him to agreement some Teachers in teaching such Doctrines must use some such like strange language 5. The Lord Jesus did commit his cause to him that judgeth righteously 1. Pet. 2.23 This argueth although the Divils instruments did in wrath and rage condemne him for a sinfull malefactor as all presecutors did the Martyrs yet that God the Father did not judge him for a sinner but justify him as one that was every way Innocent therefore the Heavenly Father did not combate with his Son for he committed himselfe and his case to him as to a righteous judge 6. The Martyrs in like sort being Baptised with the Baptisme of Christ in sufferings committed their case to their Heavenly Father in Apoc. 6.10 And therefore as Gods essentiall curse Hell Torments and the second death was not on the Martyrs in their sufferings so neither was it on the true and faithfull Martyr the Lord Jesus in his sufferings CHAP. XXXV Observations upon that distinction which some make between the locall and penall Hell which penall Hell some say Christ suffered 1. SOme say that God can make a mans Hell here in this world by which speach they must meane if they meane any thing to he point in dispute that God can so plague a man in this world that the will not bring him to eternall destruction in Gehenna in the world to come I grant that the eternall Lord can do what he pleaseth both in Heaven Earth Sea and in all deep places Ps 135.6 2. The same eternall Lord can also make a Heaven for his children here in this world and never bring them to everlasting glory in Heaven in the World to come But Teachers must not bring their own speculations let them be true seers to shew us the visions of God from his word rightly expounded even his Revelled will for nothing else belongs to us and to our children 3. The holy Scriptures tells us that there is an everlawing blessed estate for all Gods chosen not heare but in the Heavenly paradise though each blessing is here begun by justification is freedome from sin death Satan whence ariseth peace and joy in the holy Ghost the first fruites of the spirit
allusion to the seventy years of the Babylonian captivity c. To say there is not truth nor certainty in the holy Chronologie of the Scriptures 1. Let us take such heed that they deny not the truth and certainty of other doctrines of faith 2. It may be truly said because men have not loved the truth by a diligent search of the holy Bibles Chronologie they have been given up to believe the lies of heathen Chronologies 2 Thes 2.11 3. The holy Chronologie of the Book of God is a doctrine of faith as clear and certain as any other doctrine of faith and therefore that speech of the holy Apostle beareth supremacie in our hearts That the holy Book of God doth not onely teach and instruct us of the truth of its Chronologie but it doth also correct and convince the heathens Chronologie to be most false and abominable doctrines as some produce them 2 Tim. 3. 4. It is said that the holy Scripture is given by inspiration from God and is able to make children yea the man of God wise to salvation through the faith which is in Christ Iesus and this must be understood of Scripture Chronologie as well as of any other doctrine of the holy Bible and he that will rightly consider the holy Chronologie as it is above expressed by sundry calculations will say that the holy Scripture Chronologie teacheth doctrine of faith which is in Christ IESUS and in him by it wisdome to salvation 5. It is said we have a more sure word 2 Pet. 1. and that was the old Testament but now heathen Chronologie of the devilish worships of Apollo the heathens Olympiads are by some made more sure and certain criptures than the oracles from heaven We have more cause to yield to the Locusts that defend their Apolluon that alledge Fathers and Councils than to yield to men that authorise the vain Olympiads of Apollo of Delphos Therefore let us that are Christians hearken to the words and commandements of the Apostle of our Lord and saviour Beware lest any man carry you for a spoil through Phlosophy and vain deceit after the rudiments of the world and not after CHRIST Col. 2. it is the holy scriptures that have ditted up the mouths of Apolluon and his Locusts by the RR. Jewel Fulk Cartwright Perkins Calvin Beza c c. we doubt not but the holy scripture shall do the same to them that plead for the gamestry of Stanicall Olympian reckonings Verily all the scriptures should as well take a check as the wisdome touching the time of the seventy sevens be controlled by heathen We may as well believe the heathen spake true when the Sun went back that for Hercules birth the Sun made a longer night but the word of Christ shews that he that ruleth the heavens made it and did shew to all the world but specially to Israel that the heavens order was not so stable as Gods covenant in Christ for then that miracle was to confirm the faith of the church in Christ promised so the sunne performed service to the SON of righteousnesse surely the motions of the heavens declare the works of God in the harmonious measure of times Although many men be great Scholars and godly yet some of them do not consider that the sunne did run his race for the glory of Christ and his word For it is said All things were created by him and for him the second Adam For Him for his honour and glory not for Satans sports and pastimes of the Olympiads 6. What a grossenesse and crosse is this because we cannot make the heathens accounts to agree with the holy Scripture-Chronologie therefore we fly upon the word of the living GOD the Lord of hosts our God reproaching it and exclaiming against it that there is not truth nor certainty in many parts of it but we should say and do the contrary and should say let God and his word be true and the heathens and their Chronicles lies and liars For there is more to be said ¶ If that the Angel taught not Daniel certainty of knowledge and understanding for the Chronologie he taught him nothing that he knew not Daniel knew all the rest of the Message but the time of performance And so we make the holy Angel a deceiver an evil spirit a Satan And therefore D.R. and Mr. P. and all that follow their course have sorrily dealt with the Church of Christ Jesus our Lord. 7. Mr. P. saith that Mr. Bro. and his followers c. Let Mr. P. know that Mr. Bro. and those that use his godly and learned labours do adhere to and follow the lively oracles of the living God sent from him by an Angel from heaven to teach Daniel knowledge and understanding and to teach all faithfull Christians by him And therefore we are confident in the Lord and dare not otherwise say but that the holy Angel from God stake a true plain and proper speech and a most certain chronologie for the beginning and ending of the seventy sevens and that their beginning was from Daniels prayer and their ending at the abolishing of sacrifice and offering and confirmation of the Testament for the Many by the blood and death of the MESSIAS It is true many have objected against the holy Scriptures Chronologie before Mr. P. and Mr. Sarson which is to be lamented but we know there are many gracelesse speeches and objections against the very fundamental truths of Christian Religion But this I think 1. That it is good that the Scriptures chronologie should be clear and certain Isa 5. and can we think that God hath omitted this good for his church 2. Men should deem or ought so to do that the Scripture hath truth and certainty for chronologie though they see it not and they that oppose it should think and say they erre not knowing the Scriptures and they should think that the works of God the rock are perfect and that he that began the chronologie for the glory of Christ by the genealogie of his holy ancestours Gen. 5. and 11. would perfect it 3. To affirm truth and certainty in Heathen chronologie and to deny it in the holy Scriptures is an opinion scelerate and flagitious we cannot think how great the evil is and therefore Mr. P. hath done ill in justifying D.R. saying the holy Angel in his heavenly Oration to Daniel meant no certain time whereas the Angel taught him perfect wisdome for the chronologie of it and so professeth that he came to give skill of understanding that very thing 4. Whereas Mr. P. saith that Mr. Bro. denying the truth of heathen chronologie constituted the year of the seventy Sevens without grounds Mr. P. in this saying puts a stumbling block before the blind and causeth him to go out of the way and falls into a great offence of untruth not onely against Mr. Bro. for that 's little but against the Angel from heaven who said to Daniel at the beginning of
thy prayer came forth the word which I am come to tell thee because thou art greatly beloved therefore conceive the word and perceive the clear vision Which is seventy Sevens of years are accounted for thy people and for thy holy City to finish trespasse offerings and to end sin ofierings and to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring righteousnesse everlasting and to seal vision and Prophet and to shew Christ the holy of holy c. Thus we see the ground-work of Mr. Bro. is a Rock as firm and stable as Mount Sion that we might build on Christ the Rock spoken by an Angel So the Angel speaking from heaven makes the begininng of the seventy Sevens to be from Daniels prayer and their ending to be at the glorious manifestation of MESIAS i.e. Christ to be the Holy ef Holy which was seen in his healthy passion and glorious Resurrection 5. Let us further consider the speech of the Angel which I noted before and think it worth the noting again who saith to Dantel Conceive the word and peâ—ceive the clear vision By this commandement doubled for more vehement charge he condemneth the world that regard not to be instructed in this Doctrine sent from heaven by an Augel unto Daniel and penned for all Nations use Wherefore We must give better heed unto that speech lest we wilfulyswerve for if the word spoken by Angels fall our sure and every trespasse received just recompence How shall we escape neglecting so great a charge of our King unto out own salvation where the vision is so clear that no doubt can be moved by any plain heart that will rest in the clearnesse of the most bright message by the Angel of glory who coming to teach all the world was to shine in words as Stephen by him did in the face when he spake the Angels words Acts 6. That Jesus of Nazaret would deftrroy the place city and Temple and change the Lawes which Moses gave To this day the blind Jews stand in this that the Laws of Moses shall continue for ever Maymon Tom. 1. de lege Perek 9. Therefore God seeing their dullnesse would have an Angel of light to teach them by this Prophecy 490 years when from the year of that Message unto Daniel the Laws of Moses should have their end And none of the Scribes when Herod was affrighted objected disagreement for the time which thing had been done if any colour of disagreement could be brought so none in all the new Testament touched disagreement in the time Mr. Bro. upon Daniel 6. Who would think to say the sveenty Sevens are a time not certain when as the holy Angel divides them into three parts seven sevens and sixty two sevens and one seven for the seven sevens he sheweth the troubles the â—â—â—dly returned from captivity should undergo before the Temple should be built and City walled and Christs should be born towards the latter part of the 62 Sevens and the last seven the last half of it our Lord would by his preaching and teaching three years and an half and by his death confirm the Covenant 7. Another weighty reason though noted other where That there was great need that Gods Israel and all the world should have know a definitive sentence from God how long Canaan and Jerusalem and Temple should have their Prerogative and how long sacrificing should be there lawfull and acceptable and when the partition-wall should be broken down and when the Gentiles should be brought into equal Covenant and this definitive and determinate time is most graciously demonstrated to us in the seventy Sevens It is not mans * Vâ— Mr. P. his Epistle prefixed Eulogia nor his Chrestologia nay rather nor his Mateologia that shall dis-anull the holy Chronologia of the holy Bible And therefore most cordially we do protest against the unworthy dealing of Mr. Sarson and Mr. P. in the premises not doubting but one of them will seriously think of his doings and be humbled though he saith he is unmoveable pa. 65 and that hence forward he will adhere and subscribe to the propriety of the word for tropes may not be sought where propriety standeth well enough and cleave to the lively Oracles of Iehovah the God of Israel And what Chronologie can be plainer then those of the holy Scriptures on which we rest and rely First on the accounts of the Fathers to the Floud Secondly the Fathers ages to the death of Terab upon whose death the promise to Abrabam was given Thirdly From that promise to the Law of the Passeover Exod. 12. Fourthly Thence to the building of the Temple 1 King 6. Fisâ—hly Thence to the burning of it which was in the nineteenth of Nebuchadâ—ezay Sixthly Thence to the ending of the Captivity in Babel Seavenshly Thence that sweet Heavenly scripture the I amp of all the Old Testament and the Abridgment of the New the Seavensy Seaveus which began from Daniâ—lls prayer and ended at the death of Christ All these Journeys of the Sun before largely shewed now breifly expressed were created to serve the Son of righteousnesse and are sure clear and certain and in their holy use have the power and strength of the Almighty But as for the Olimpiad accounts in this respect D.R. and Mr. P. c. would have us fall into the plame of 2 Tim. 4.4 we do not reston them but detest to take up their names into our lips it was the offering to a strange God to Divels to new Gods which came newly up which the holy Patriaâ—ks and Prophets and Saints of old feared not nor served What is this must we and our children regard the * fabulous toyes stories and accounts from this man that wan the Stadion this Olympiad or from that man that wan it in another or from that man that acted his part bravely as a gladiator this Olympiad or from him that acted the next Olimpiad or from this foot race and this horcerace that this man atcheived at this Olympiad or the foot race and horse-race that another man archieved at another or from the accounts of the Archontes of Athens or from the accounts of the building of Rome or from the accounts of the lying Caldeans as Daniel ever found them so to be Must I and our children hearken to these abominations and neglect the word spoken by an Angell from Heaven no surely but let all this cobweb-stuff of Doctrines of Divels be left to them to whom it belongs we are sure not to Christians this further warning I give to the people of God our Brethren For it is a shame that our godly learned Mr. Bro. in Advertis pa. 25. or any should contend to teach or to be taught by these Olym piads how to understand an * Angel of light sent by the grace of God to teach all the simple world into whose lips if grace were not poured to be unnerstood as soone as he spake Heaven would say Daniel
The Doctrine of LIFE OR OF MANS REDEMTION BY The Seed of Eve the Seed of Abraham the Seed of David c. as it was taught in severall Periods of Time from Gen. 3.15 till Christ came in the Flesh to fulfill all Typicall Prefigurations of him by his Death WHEREIN ALSO Sundry other Fundamentall Points are discussed and cleared from some common mistakes As Daniels Chronologie of SEVENTY SEVENS which is cleared from the uncertainty which too many Expositors have unadvisedly cast upon it And about the Jewes calling that it must not be understood of any Return to Canaan or of their Restauration to a perspicuous Common wealth any more but of the calling of a Remnant of them to the Faith in the Countries where they live dispersed And with the true nature of our LORDS SUFFERINGS with sundry other such like Points as may be seen in the TABLE Propounded by way of Question and Answer with Annotations thereunto annexed Divided into three Parts By Edward Holyoke of New-England Come and see John 1.46 LONDON Printed by T. R. for Nath. Ekins and are to be sold at his Shop at the Gun in St. Pauls Church-yard 1658. To his Beloved and much Honoured Brother John Bridges of Hackney Esquire and to his dearly Beloved Sister his wife and to their Religious and well deserving Sons Colonel John Bridges Captain Robert Bridges Major William Bridges Matthew Bridges Brook Bridges and Francis Bridges Esquires peace be multipliâ—â—â— BEloved and much honoured Brother though the Lord Jesus to whom all things are made subject hath separated us by the great Deep yet I have you oft in remembrance and cannot forget our alliance and indeered love and acquaintance that hath been between us from our childhood both in the Country and in the City of London You have a great Family and like to have through the Lords blessing a numerous posterity and my desire is to shew that I have some interest in them being also my bone and my flesh as Laban said to Jacob and I suppose you will be well pleased if I endeavour in any thing to further them in the knowledge of the Son of God This I now present unto you and them was done many years ago for the most part as I think you may remember and then I made some marginal notes to attend upon the several answers to the several questions that are propounded in the two first parts some things I have since added concerning the Covenant of God in Christ made with our Fathers in Gen 3.15 and Gen. 9. and Gen 12.1 2 3. and in Gen. 17. This I did because of the errors that get quickning in these times and for the same cause I have affixed divers other weighty and profitable points in the third part of this Treatise I hope the whole will be a means to shew that the Covenant of God in Christ is one and the same in all ages though the outward administration differ and that the Covenant to Israel of old was not onely in the carnal and fleshly promise and covenant but also in the spiritual promise and Covenant even the same that is now made with us in the new Testament of the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God Dear Brother and Nephews you have known my manner of life studies and endeavours and I blesse the Lord I have had comfortable experience of that course of study which I have followed I mean chiefly of the book called the Consent of Scripture And let me speak as I think If men would use that course of study together with the blessed Scriptures it would settle in us and in our posterity the true knowledge of religion and the certainty of everlasting salvation The whole Scripture and all learning should be contrived unto Christ as Gods servant did in the Consent of Scripture and so Stephen did he drew all the holy story to Christ in Acts 7. and so the Apostle Paul he drew all the Law to Christ as Rom. 10 doth make it evident being conferred with Deut. 30. Some in New England have seen this frame of mine and have desired that it might be made more common by printing and indeed I cannot write so many Copies as to communicate it to you and to that generation except it be by Printing It may be you will marvel I dare be so bold as to Print it in this evil time but indeed I dare not but do it and I believe this labour of mine will talk with many sorts of spirits and I hope that Gods people will judge the best of this my undertaking other things I have if the Lords providence please so to order it that must be made more publick because I have a great desire thereby to provoke others to the diligent study of the blessed Scriptures Dear Brother and much honoured Nephews as Salus populi is the care of Magistracy so the edification of the Churches ought to be the painfull care of godly Teachers and we ought to know that Families are little Churches and Common-weals and the Seminaries of greater Corporations that Parents are intrusted with children and servants it is not a small honour that Christ hath conferred this trust on them and verily if Families be neglected the Churches will fail Let us with all godly industry make this promise good to our selves and posterity in Isa 59.21 As for me this is my Covenant with them saith Jehovah my spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith Jehovah from henceforth and for ever and that this promise and covenant may be conferred on you and on your posterities for ever is the affectionate prayer of Your assured and ever loving brother In the surest bonds Ed. Holyoke Some DIRECTIONS TO THE GODLY READER For the Reading of the Holy SCRIPTURES LEt me be bold as having obtained mercy of the Lord to give some advice to godly Families 1. Let children be brought up constantly to read all the five books of Moses knowing it was the Son of God the Angel of his presence the Angel of the covenant that gave Moses the lively Oracles for his Israel Omit not one chapter and that which some think not so usefull read somewhat the more carefully believing the Apostles Doctrine 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. 2. Read the 12. first Chapters of Gen. often and after every book of Moses read the Epistles to the Romanes and to the Hebrews or one of them sometimes the one sometimes the other because it is said the Scriptures of the Prophets is the faith of the Nations Rom. 1 2 3. and 16.25 26. c. c. 3. Know that Moses is the Text and that the holy history of the Prophets is an Exposition of Moses and when children or any young man though a Scholar is well versed in Moses and the Prophets they will more
clearly understand the New Testament that it hath no new Principles but then they will see that the Sonne of God came to be a Second Adam and an holy Witnesse and Teacher of the Truth sent down from the Father to be confirmed in his Office of Mediation and that as Eternall God he taught Moses and the Prophets and in this Seat they shall behold the face of Christ to shine like the Sun through all the Bible 4. Observe that the Apostles do prove their Doctrine from the Old Testament as in the Epistle to the Romanes chap. 1. and 2. and 3 4. in all the chapters he handles the corruption of our nature and that great point of the Justification of a sinner from Genesis 15. by the evidence of Abrahams faith and from Psalm 32. from Davids Testimony and in Rom. 10 5â—6 c. from Deuteronomie 30.11 12 13 14. where he opens to us all Moses as I have shewed in the Dialogue And he handleth the Doctrine of Election and rejection from Genesis Exodus Deuteronomie and Jobâ— c. 5. Observe that the Epistle to the Galâ—thians doth largely expound Genesis 12 1 2 3. and know that Abraham could Teach and gather Observations and Deductions out of the Promise in Genesis 12. as well as the Apostle and it is evident also that he did so for the instruction and comfort of all his Houshold and posterity as the book of Job with Genesis doth witnesse 6. Observe that the Epistle to the Hebrews doth lead us through all the old Testament from the first of Genesis to Malachy yea further even to the stories of the faithfull Martyrs in the Macchabees and from Dan. 7.8 10 11 and 12 chapters the events of which chapters for a great part are after the Prophesie of Malachy in the story of the Macchabees c. 7. Observe that the Apostle Peter being an Apostle of the Circumcision doth in his Epistles allude much to the phrases of the old Testament and so doth Judas Thaddaeus in his Epistle and both Peter and Thaddeus doe shew that as there were false Prophets of old that spake from the old Serpent so there should be such under the New Testament that would resist Christ and his Mediatorian Kingdome as Cain Balaam and Kore did 8. Observe that the Apocalyps doth exceed in this way of expressing things by selected words and sentences from the old Testament and from old events and from the low Jerusalem to open new matters concerning the Church of the new Jerusalem from heaven and of the destruction of the enemies thereof and thus all the Revelation must be expounded and whosoever doth not so will misse 9. I would yet give further direction to young men yea to young Scholars First reading of the blessed Book of God as it lies in order by 14 chapters a day by which means the Bible is read over in three moneths In the second reading confer the Genealogie and the Chronologie as in the Table prefixed which will shew you what principall men lived in such a state of time and most of the men are Fathers to our Lord Jesus Christ of whom he took humanity and it should delight us to know his Genealogie and all the other names of persons are considerable as attendants on his stories And I wish that young men would transcribe the Table of our Lords Genealogie twice or thrice over it would teach them more than they are aware of and imprint things in their mind It is but one page no great matter to do 10. Then to make use of the Genealogie of Noah's sonnes and Nephews for Geography which will much help the understanding so that one moneths Meditation at times upon these two Tables will furnish you with plentifull nâ—â—ions and with such a ground work that you cannot but make use of them all the dayes of your life and in this manner read it the third time and the fourth and by thus doing you will come to a sweet taste and relish of the phrase of the holy Scriptures which will be of more use to your mind and heart than you can at first conceive I know this counsel and exhortation is of God and to help your proceeding you have the holy Chronologie set down in many varieties of expressions to stir delight in the study of the Scriptures 11. in the Table of Genealogie you have the times though briefly set down in which are shewed what Prophets lived in the times of the Kings of Judah in your second and third and fourth reading the Bible endeavour to bring the Prophets to their proper times with the Psalms it will be much to edification And remember that because men mind not Genealogie Chronologie and the Geographie of the Scriptures they fail commonly in their Narrations 12. The Dialogue Will shew you what was the Doctrine of Chrift touching mans Redemption in every age to the vessels of mercy his severity to the seed of the serpent for despising and persecuting the Professors of this blessed Doctrine 13. Consider that the Kingdome of God in Christ the seed of the woman and the second Adam is the matter of all the Bible Adam had that theam to preach on for 930 years and Sem the sacrificer to Jehovah God most high taught this Doctrine 500 years after the Flood and confirmed Abraham in that Doctrine 75 years and consider that all the larger writings that were breathed by the holy spirit teach no other matter but this and giveth promises of grace for accepting this and punishments for contempt of this all Cains posterity perished in the Flood then the Babel-builders then Jeroboam and the ten Tribes and the people of Judah were afterwards burned by the wrath of Christ for despising this Doctrine of life and after this great salvation was preached by the Lord himself and confirmed by his hearers with all giftâ— of the spirit the Jews for contempt thereof were cast off and the world was given over to Arrius Turk and Pope Objection If a man read so much at a time as you have now prescribed he will not remember and so not prefâ—â— and a man had better read a chapter in a day and meditate on it Answer I know it is a most sweet and heavenly mercy to understand what we read but if a godly heart endued with courage will take this course for one year in his youth the phrase and course of the holy Scriptures will be the more familiar to him and his knowledge understanding and affections will far more increase through mercy then in reading a chapter or two in a day and at last he will remember ten times more than reading a little 2 And let none say that fourteen chapters a day will hinder time in our callings for an hour and a quarter in a day will read fourteen chapters and Psalms one with another and what is that we may purchase wisdome with the losse of a little sleep especially in a morning it is said
Buy the truth buâ— sell it not c. and redeem the time for the dayes are evil I doubt not he that will be constant will say it is as profitable an hour as ever he spent 3 I take it for granted that he that will hearken to this counsell must be godly disposed and full of courage for Christ our Lord doth give to his servants not the spirit of fear and slothfullnesse but of courage of love and of a sound judgement I confesse that Gods people had need be backed with heavenly strength in this degenerating time to meditate in the Law of God day and night But a good heart must mind what Christ said to Joshua chap. 1. and he had as much businesse in his hand as any man that now liveth Oh that I could perswade young men to trace me in all these directions I know the Lord would then blesse them 4 I have heard of a godly man in London that did read over the â—ibâ—e twelve times in one year and that made him so prompt as he was in the holy Scriptures and yet he was diligent in his calling and died wealthy he pleased not himself in much steep and shunned unnecessary pratling discourses and vain frothy company he was of a sober and stayed conversation his name was Mr. Roger Cotton a Woollen Draper in Canning street But alas there are but few at this day that do search into Gods word the wealthy and principal of state remit that work over unto others as a base work for themselves to regard but God doth greatly chastise the world for this neglect and Hosea from God doth thus complain of the people of Israel I have written to him the great things of my Law but they were counted as a strange thing Hosea 8. read chap. 4. 5. I pray the beloved Reader to consider that these dayes are dayes of triall of shaking and winnowing both of the outward and inner man and that Satan is a great Malignant both of godly parents and their children and that he labours to plunder them of an able godly and learned Ministery and of the Sabbath and of the seals of the Covenant yea of the Covenant it self as touching their infants and Satan would not have children catechised by forms which was yet the prctise of the Apostles times Heb. 6.1 2 3. that so they might be a prey to every foul spirit but the Lord our God will rebuke Satan and all his instruments 6. Consider there hath been ever and in these dayes is an aptnesse to depart from the Gospel of Christ but that neither we nor our posterity should apostate publick and private ordinances must with all godly care be attended All cannot be Angels of Churches and the Angels of Churches receive gifts and graces from Christ for the good of the Church It was an holy wish in Moses to say I would all the Lords people were Prophets and that he would put his spirit upon them and who is but would so wish but yet ever since the world began Christ in his administrations never did it nor ever will therefore they that despise ordinances it is of Satan and also for men to think they are above the holy Scriptures and need them not and that therefore they look for new Apostles this is also most certainly of Satan the old liar and deceiver 7. Let all such at neglect the Ordinances of Christ and the blessed Scriptures pretend never so much illuminations and Revelations of the Spirit and new light c. all such vanity is but Ignis faâ—â—â—s thus even thus did the old Serpent deal with our first Parents but Christ that restoreth all things saith to his disciples and children To the Law Isa 8.28 19.20 and to the testimony and if men speak not according to it there is no morning light in them it is also said Psal 138. â— The Lord hath magnified his word above all his name and also hath said in his new Testament Search the Scriptures John 5. c. c. They are not worthy the new name by which God hath called his chosen I mean the Christian name that set light by the word of Christ and a godly learned teaching Ministery 8. They that look for new Apostles and are not content with the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles Christ never prayed for such he prayed for them that believe in him through their word and preaching John 17. that makes the Spirit of Christ he foresaw this evil to admonish us to be mindfull of the words and commandements of the Apostles and he that knoweth God heareth the Apostles and they know not God that do not hear their doctrine and the apostle Paul saith That he with the other were the last Apostles 2 Pet. 3.2.1 John 4.6 1 Cor. 4.9 Judas Thaddeus 17. 9. Their faith is not worth a rush that neglect or reject the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles Ephes 2.20 the holy doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ with which he inspired and sent his apostles to preach to all nations is most pure glorious and full of all consolation and they filled the world with the fruit of their doctrine which hath remained to this day and shall to the end by a faithfull succession of an holy ministery 1 Cor 11 26. Brethren beloved you know who saith What singular thing do ye An unbeliever and a misbeliever will provide meat drink and cloathing and lay uâ— what they can for their children and will give wages to their â—â—â—â—â—â—ts and it is well so to do but what singular thing do yeâ— do that which none of theâ— will do let your children which Christ hath trusted you with and which you have born to him let Satanical spirits blaterate what they will be precious to you 2 Iohn 4. Ezek. 23.37 Deur 6.6 7. train them up in the blessed Scriptures that you and they may be blessed as those two blessed and godly Matrons the mother and grandmother of Timothy and also be carefull of your servants that they may blesse God for you when God shall visit their hearts and know this ye godly Parents and Masters * An acute aphorism of that Râ—man of God Mr. John Trap Ye are really what ye are relatively 10. You see what leaven is laid by the marked of the Beast the Papist and by the Anabaptist and the wretched Gorton c. c. If the honour of the word of God the blessed Scriptures be glorious with you if the glory of the Churches of Christ be of any value with you if the glory and comfort of the Covenant of God in Christ be of account with you teach your children unweariedly the sweet Scriptures that they may be delivered from the vanities and idols of these inchanters 11. But above all Popery is to be taken heed of and indeed the Dialogue was and is chiefly intended against it It is the greatest mysterie of iniquitie in the world and the most
bewitching for there is nothing in it but will please an unregenerate and carnall heart The Papist will have people to believe the Church of Rome is the mother of all Churches and all must be subject to her and they have great shews and outward glory to perswade and false authority to compell men so to esteem her It is true at the first the Church in Rome was a famous Church a worthy daughter of the heavenly Jerusalem which is the mother of all true Churches and she was a noble off spring of the most high Sacrificer Rom. 16.17 but when she would not keep her place but caused scandala from the Apostles and Prophets doctrine and would be above her Father and her mother and all her sisters by playing the imperious whore in her Fathers house Lev. 21.9 then she lost her true glory and burning shall be her end But yet Papists will plead for their mother but we must not yield them motherhood in that sense as they would have it we may yield them by the authority of the Scriptures that Rome is called a Woman a Mother and set forth by outward ornanaments most glorious and dazelling to the carnall eye but yet further and that marres all she is called a Whore and mother of fornications I will transcribe the Scripture Apoc 17 4. And the Woman-Whore verse 1. was arrayed in purple and scarlet-colour and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filâ—hinesse of her fornication and upon her forehead a name written Mysterie Babylon the great the mother of fornications and abominations of the earth That chapter is against the seven-Mountain city which city when Saint John wrote reigned over the Kings of the earth Revel â—ation 17. ult Thus the Spirit spake to the seven Churches of Asia of Romes motherhood and it is best that all people take motherhood in that sense as the spirit taught the churches so it is charged upon us Apoc. 2. and 3. for if we do not better we had never been born The true mother of all the faithfull is not so manifest to be known but the mother of fornications and abominations is as apertly described by the Spirit that it is a wonder but that Gods counsell must stand Ap c. 13 8. how men should misse to know the one or the other But why do I say a wonder whereas the truth of the Gospel of Christ is called a Mysterie and so the falshood of the Kingdome of Satan in the Beast like a Lamb is called a Mysterie and so much the more it is a mysterie because in the false Church there is a deepnesse of Satan in mannaging his Kingdome that he doth in many things assimulate the true Church there is a notable instance of this in Prov 8. and 9. Prov. 8. Wisdome in the true Church standeth in the top of the high places by the way in the Places of the paths Jer. 7.2 and 17.19 she crieth at the gates at the entry of the city at the coming in at the doors O ye simple understand wisdome chap. 9. Who so is simple let him turn in hither as for him that wanteth understanding she saith to him Come eat of my bread and drink of the wine which I have mingled forsake the foolish and live and go in the way of understanding c. c. Prov. 9.13 A foolish woman is clamourous she is simple and knows nothing notwithstanding she sitteth at the door of her house on a seat in the high places of the city to call Passengers who go right on their way Who so is simple let him turn in hither and as for him that wanteth understanding she saith to him Stollen waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant but he knoweth not that the dead are there and that her guests are in the depths of Hell Wisdome standeth in the high places of the city in the places of the paths So doth the foolish woman sit at the doore of her house on a Seat in the high places of the city the more is the pity that she hath such toleration the false Church will advance her self to be more eminent and too often she is so esteemed of all those that follow the Lusts of the flesh the Lusts of the eye and Pride of life Wisdome sweetly inviteth and cryeth to the sonnes of Men to hearken to sound wisdome and understanding The foolish woman will exceed for she will be clamorous consider the ten Tribes 1 Kings 15. they all protested they worshipped God that brought them out of the Land of Egypt when they worshipped the Devils of Dan and Bethel Will you behold another clamorous company of the foolish Woman Achabs and Jezabels Prophets And yet lift up your eyes that you may behold another company but they were learned Reconcilers and Moderatours of Baals and the Temples Religion therefore I may not call them fools for they were Priests Prophets Dreamers Diviners Inchanters Sorcerers Jeremiah 26. Jer. 7. They could buâ—n incense to Baal and yet come to worship in the Temple 8 9 10 11 and 27.9 And I should do them wrong if I should not remember another multitude of clamorous fools the worshippers of Diana Acts 19. read Apocalyps 13.12.13 14 15 16 17. Wisdome saith she will teach the simple understanding And so the foolish woman of the ten Tribes pretends to teach the simple understanding babbling against Judah that they had the truth Wisdome saith she hath bread and wine for those that do attend her The false company saith they want not pleasant bread and sweet waters for their guests The ten Tribes thought the Religion of Jeroboams Calves better sweeter and pleasanter than the Eternal wisdomes Religion of the Temple unto which they were so earnestly and Pathetically and comfortably invited in the nine former chapters of the Proverbs and by all the Prophets and were Proud Scornfull and stubborn Despisers of all the Prophets Admonitions But what came of all the guests that followed this clamorous foolish woman What became of Jerobams house of Baasaes of Omries of Jehues c. Thus as the Apostle speaketh in his dayes so it hath been ever and will be still That Satan transformeth himself into an Angel of light So it is not a strange thing that his Ministers can transform themselves as if they were the Ministers of Righteousnesse Thus we have a brief Compendium of the mysterie of godlinesse and of the mysterie of iniquity and nothing in the world can describe these two unto us but the Holy and Blessed Scriptures and to this day this hath been the Controversie between Christs two faithfull Witnesses in the Reformed Churches in their Teaching Writing Profession and Sufferings against the false Lamb and his worshippers Now in this case what should we do say unstable and carnall hearts we know not what course to take we are in a staggering condition truly
adverse things But let a man be carefull allwaies to keep a conscience void of offence toward God and toward man then hee shall not need to fear for any sudden fear for the Eternall Being will be for his assurance But an unfaithfull heart of unbeleif cannot tell whither to turn him in affliction and distresse this is manifest in Kain Saul Ishcariot and Achitophel 13. The mighty Elohim the eternall Being hath created and disposed all things in Christ for the good of his Elect. Therefore the Prophets shew that Gods Jesurun portion and inheritance should not be as the Idolatrous heathens and such like blind ignorant sots L They must not learn their Abominations nor to be afraid of any of the signs of the heavens the constellations eclipses or strangnesse of any of the fiery ayery watery or earthly Meteors God hath ever used them as all are his servants for the good of his church and the world and for the destruction of the wicked as in the Flood Sodom Aegypt c. so it is sayd the Heavens fought and the Stars in their course fought against M Sisera Jud. 5. The stars by their influence in their Constellations raised stormes winde raine hail inundations c. Compare with this Job 38.22.23 and Jos 10.11 also Exod. 5. and the troubles of Pharaohs pursute of Israel in the Red sea Exod. 14.24.25 Psal 77.16.17.18.19 meditate on Psal 18. and 28.3 c. and Psal 104. and 148. and 1 Sam. 7.10 and 12.17 and 14.15 and much of Jobs booke ANNOTATIONS upon Chapter 1. In Q. 3. N. 5. The same order of the persons in existence is the same in operation both in the creation and in the new creation or regeneration For the spirit of Elohim first of the Father and Secondly of the son moved hovered or as one may say sate a Metaphor from birds that fit on their eggs on the face of the waters to hatch or bring forth out of that created Chaos all the visible and sensible creatures as it followes in the sixth dayes work As for the other the Love of the Father draws on the sons redemption and their spirit works it up by sanctification c. This is an irrefragable bond of working which the creature cannot frustrate and Jehovah changeth not Eph. 1.2 to 16. 1 Cor. 8.6 2 Cor. 4.4 2 Cor. 13.13 Joh. 5.19 and 14.26 and 15.26 and 16.7 In N. 6. That was fit for each cretaure though the creatures do now groan under corruption yet it is a miracle of beauty that things are placed to be so excellently subservient to each other The baser and inferiour serve the next above them the livelesse serve the Vegetives the Vegitive the sensitive the sensitive the Rationall the Rationall are to serve the eternall Lord God In N. 7. Therefore who is he that sayth that any thing falleth out which Jehovah commanded not From the mouth of the highest proceedeth not the evill and the good Lam. 3 27.38 Broughton reads it Are not two sparrowes sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the Ground without the Father Matth. 10. Is there evill in the City and the Lord hath not done it Amos 3.6 Let us be humbled for our Atheisme that looke so much to second causes God alters times and seasons and over-rules his means as in the plague in 1636. it being most in winterly season And as for fretting and tormenting our selves about events every event is an Oracle of God then no disputing Yea be the instruments what can be it is just wise or a mercifull event and all to his glory Why doth living man murmur a man for the punishment of his sin Lam. 3. Therefore David was in a sweet temper when he sayd I opened not my mouth because thou didst it Psal 39. 2 Sam. 16.10 So then what ever be the second causes yet the most high God ruleth all in all things in Heaven earth sea and in all deep places Psal 135. His providence reacheth as far as his creation We say it raines it snowes it freezeth ir misteth it thundereth it bloweth and that the stormy windes do raise the waves c. We may so speak impersonally for the holy scripture alloweth the Phrase But yet wee must looke and our children must be taught to looke to Jehovah the Eternall Being He sayth to the snow be thou upon the Earth and likewise to the small raine and the great raine of his strength he thundereth he raiseth the stormy winde c. Job 17.38 and Psal 104. and 107. These things should be in us from our infancy that our Faith Fear Love Joy Hope Patience should abound towards him who doth all things by his wise Counsells and for the good of his chosen In N 7. Kingdome Although the Kingdome of God be much spoken of in the holy scriptures yet it hath a more retyred and speciall sence then is commonly thought upon this Kigdome is that mediatoriall Kingdome of Christ and therefore all power in Heaven and Earth was not first given to him in Matth. 28.18 For God hath governed the world by his son ever since Adam lost the government by his fall Gen. 3.15 And therefore it is sayd Jehovah from Jehovah rained fire and brimstone up Sodom and Gomorrah Gen. 19.24 In N. 8. Nor resemblances We ought to be very carefull in prayer c. That we fashion not God in our conceptions to any shape We ought not to thinke of the God-head like sottish heathens or superstitious Papists Acts 17. Esa 40 Rom. 1. Therefore let us helpe our children from the breasts with true knowledge In N. 8. Haters For God saith I will visit the iniquity of Fathers upon the third and fourth Generation of them that Hate mee as in Exod. chap. 20. In N. 9. And all outward worship Selfe-will worshippers are bruitish wights they worship they know not what for all their babling and prating Act. 17. Joh. 4.22 Jeroboam and his Preists thought and taught that they worshiped the true God in his calves but God hath told us that hee worshiped Devils A Papist thinks hee worships Christ when hee kneeles before a golden silvery woodden stony or painted Crucifix But the spirit saith It is the worship of Devills 2 Chron. 11.25 Apoc. 9 20. In N. 10. Our Elohim Meditare ever more of Gods Attributes and properties as a helpe in Prayer and as a meanes to preserve faith and obedience and to prop us against all temptations to sin and when through Weaknesse overtaken by sin meditate on the same This will be a meanes to make us that we shall not conceale or hide our sins For by concealing we disgrace Gods Attributes and properties but by confession we give Glory to Jehovah the God of Israel that he sees us knows us that he is just if he judge and condemn us that he is holy and cannot abide iniquity that he is mighty and able to plague save and deliver And this is a gracious way to
and out of whom wee neither have nor can do nothing But following the truth in Love as the truth of this healing Doctrine is to be sought and found only in JESUS we grow up in all points into him which is the head even Christ himselfe by whom all the body conveniently joyned and fastned together by every point of the furuitâ—re according to the operation of the spirit which is in measure of every severall part reneweth increase of the body unto the edifying of it selfe in Love A proud Laodicean Arminian thinkes and speaks contrary which shewes he is not only ignorant of Christ and his learning but of his own naturall Philosophy Nosce teipsum What naturall abilities did and would worke we see Jer 4.22 Job 28. Rom. 1.1 Cor. 1. But no change of heart to fear God in Christ here heathens who could say Video meliora deteriora sequor might see further with the Apostle Rom. 7.23 c. But man sold unto sin can neither hear nor see where God openeth not the eyes and here the spirit teacheth the godly to groan with sighings unspeakable See Mr. Bro. upon Lam. 1.11 When we read in the holy scriptures or elsewhere of errours in judgement and sins in practise in heathens and others then refer all hither to thinke upon the poyson of the serpent breathed into the natures of our first Parents which could never by all humane learning be healed The truth is man is most adverse to be cured till Christ by his word and spirit illuminate and quicken The Pharisees were the most excellent of all naturalists yet they could not attain to the Law of Righteousnesse or freedome from sin and guilt Rom. 7.8 9 10.11 chapters Phil. 3.3 4 5. c. The plaine reason is they despised to know this glorious hidden mystery of Christ the second Adam and missed the meaning of the Law In the 6. Quest N. 3. Doth rule all ages The second Adam and his doctrine is the light the way the truth and the life to all generations The song of all ages is Salvation is of our God and of the Lambe Apoc 5 9. and Chap. 7.10 11 12. This is the true Catholik faith faith in Christ ever one and the same although the outward Administration did differ Psal 100.5 119.89 135.13.1 Pet. 1. JESUS CHRIST yesterday and to day is the same also for ever Christ the Rock of all ages Esa 26 4. Ebr. 13.2 John 1.2 He that cometh to God must beleeve that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently by faith in Christ Jesus seek him This is a ruled case from the beginning No man cometh to the Father but by the Son The cloud of witnesses from Habell to our Lords dayes confirmeth this Ebr. 11. all of it And the clouds shall not catch up any to glory but those of the same holy faith This faith is the charge and commandement of the Lord which the Saints are to keepe inviolable from age to age without spot of heresie or vanity of mans traditions In Q. 6. N. 4. To this faith he calleth his elect The faith of Gods elect is glory and the righteous Nation that keepeth it entire and walketh in it is a most glorious people not the like in the earth if we consider the King of Saints his Lawes his government and the purity of his subjects Of this company of faithfull soules and their King their endearednesse each to other the Canticles singeth yea all the holy stories shew the same from the first to the last Prov. 8.31.2 John 9. Ibid. N. 5. Great disputations contentions c. Here is the faith and patience of the saints here are they that keep the commandements of God and the faith of JESUS Apoc. 13. and 12. and 14. When the Lord God spake that of Gen 3.15 fire was cast into the Earth and a sword was sent ever since there hath been divisions factions and contentions Three against two and two against three Hitherto pertaine all the warrs plottings devises deceits slanderings cavillations mockings â—scoâ—nes scoffings geerings thrasonicall boastings murders massacres treasons c. of them of that wicked one It is not liberties and states that the Seed of he Serpent so much shoots at but blood All that will live goldly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution and yet in all tryalls whatsoever faith is victorious Christ sometimes builds his Jerusalem Temple street and wall in troublous times Note whereas sufferings might be just punishments for sin the Lord God in his unspeakable goodnesse and in honour to the Saints maketh them to be for testimony to his truth And his Angells by Satan Many cases of conscience arise out of this if Christ bruise Satans power how is it that we suffer so many trialls hence many doubtings feares teares distractions unrulinesse of passions Psal 73.1.1 Sam. 27.1 All is answered Rom. 8.17 18. Dan. 11.35 Mat. 10.1 Pet. 1.1 John 15. and 16. and God over-ruleth all for the good of his children Apoc. 1.18 Psal 33.10 and 76.10 and 94.19 and 119.75.2 Cor 1. Phil. 4 5.6.7 Heb. 12. Be humble and live the life of faith with temperate affections and in the sober use of all good means and all wil be well 1 Cor. 7.29 30 31 32. The spirituall armour belongs hither Eph. 6 Afflictions are compared to darknesse to waves of the sea c. God can still them Psal 89. and 93. wee looke not to the decree of God concerning sufferings Gen. 3.15 that it must be so wee propound selfe ends in profession of the Gospell Verily we do not consider why we were borne and for what cause we came into the world if we did all reasonings of our hearts would be silenced then let us meditate that good confession that the Lord Jesus witnessed before Pilate Iohn 18.37 In Q. 6. N. 6. Brotherly love holding one another dear This is and was the message that was taught from the beginning 1 Iohn 3.11 Kains and Habells story is there remembred This 6 point is the summ of the second Table and handled by exposition and example continually See the later part of the Epistles to the Churches to Rome Corinth Galatia Ephesians Colessians Heb 10.24.25 Act. 4.32 Psal 133. Ioh 15. compare 1 Iohn 3.23 and 4. ult 2 Iohn 5.6.2 Tim. 1.13 In Q. 6. N. 6. And to have no fellowship This enmity and warr of Michael and his Angells against the Dragon and his Angells cannot and therefore must not be reconciled it is a cursed worke to endeavour it And indeed either side holds one another Anathema God hath put the enmity betweene the seeds and who shall joyne that which God by principles of unreconcilable distance hath perpetually divorced and separated it was never yet reconciled though Satan and his prophets and the false brethren in their owne ungracious projects have laboured Gen. 6.2.3.4 c. Numb 31.16 Apoc. 2. Iud 2. and 3.1 King 11.1 and in Nehemiahs and Ezras dayes
God hath forbidden it and plagued the transgression in the old and new Testament 2 Cor. 6 and 7.1 Apoc 3.14 See Ezraes sadnesse chap. 9.14 the affinity of Loegria with Gallia hath brought heavy wrath In Q 6. N. 7. Praises and thanksgivings He is thy Praise and he is thy God that hath done for thee thâ—se great and terrible things which thine eyes have seen Deut. 10 For the duty of praise Psal 95. and 96. and 100. and 103 and 108 and for all kinds of blessings spirituall and corporeall and the assured hope of eternall let us delight in this duty of praise and thanksgiving In Q. 6. N. 7. Of each dayes creation All the Hosts of the Heavens and Earth worship him if he give but a watch-word to any of his creatures to any of his hosts they rebell not against his word his word runs very swiftly in them Ps 136. and 91. c see this in all the stories of the word and especially when the saints offer up strong cryes to Jehovah of Hosts a terrour to the seed of the serpent who engage all the armies of Heaven and Earth and seas against them 1 Sam. 7. See much of Ps 18.6 7 8 c. In Q. 6. N. 7. For deliverance Psal 136.23.24 Apoc. 15. and 19. All the plagues of Pharoah shew this His plagues were from Iehovah Eâ—â—him from each dayes creation in Geâ— 1. The thankfull remembrance of Gods mercy to our blessed England is worthy of happy memory Eph. 3.20.21 In 7. Quest and Answ Christ who is Alpha and Omega the first and the last is the first and the last teacher of his own religion and worship Man not precisely cleaving to divine revelation is an idolatrous superstitious and selfe-willed foole although hee will make great shew of wisdome and humility In Q 7. I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified This holy Doctrine is breathed constantly in all the holy scriptures from the beginning Sacrifice was a seal of justification or freedome from guilt of sin and punishment that is by faith Sacrifice was still taught with the Doctrine God made a covenant with man fallen by sacrifice and when they sacrificed they prayed Gen. 12.8 1 Sam. 7.9 Yea Habel Gen. 4. Eb 11. consider Ps 20. all of it and Gen. 15. God promised Abraham beleeved and to strenghen his faith sacrifice was added and it is say God made a covenant with Abraham the same day From the time of mans fall beasts were killed for sacrifice and it kindled first with fire from Heaven The tame quiet and mild kinde as Ox Sheep and Goat and birds not devouring as Turtle and Pigeon and other little birds no beasts of prey nor birds of prey but such as feed upon seed are fit for sacrifice These shewed that the second Adam by his combating with Satan through his constant patience and holy obedience unto death should procure our justification or freedome from Satans power Also such manner of sacrifices taught us mortification following Christ and profession of a quiet and harmlesse life For no Tyrants can sacrifice to God but just quiet and patient folke 1 Tim. 2.8 And the keeping of the fire once kindled taught them not to quench the spirit That speech of Apoc. 13. must here be minded Christ was the Lambe slaine from the foundacion of the world slaine in the decree of the blessed Trinity and in the Church by types of the Lords owne appointment In Q 7. The presence of God Holy convocations together with Gods Ordinances was so called in after times called also the Courts of God there is Gods residence there he keeps Court and glorious is it to consider Exod. 20 24. and chap. 29.43.44.2 Cor. 6. For it is sayd There will I meet with thee There we sit at his fâ—et as his disciples to heare his words at the posts of wisdome wee must attend Prov. 9. There is the beauty of holinesse his own commanded worships There is the provision of the heavenly housholder there the blessed shepheard feeds the flock of his fold Oh see the comforts that an holy soule doth there finde Psal 23. and 36. and 40. and 42. and 65. and 84. and 95. and 100. and 132. c. The Saints as Habell have blessed communion with God their exceeding joy there the Saints the Israel of God rejoyce in his Makers the children of Sion rejoyce in their King Jehovah their God is with them the joyful shout of a King is among them There the holy voluntaries the army of Heaven assemble and compass their commander and blessed and holy is the communion that the Saints have there one with another and especially it shineth when there is none unclean and profane of their company Infinite are the uses of application how that we in all things must remember That holinesse becomes his house and presence for ever What preparations longings and attention to meet such a King such a Father such a Bridegroome c. insuch holy Ordinances and before men to shew forth the virtues of him that hath called them that as their King is holy so they to be holy in all manner of conversation Solemn assemblies without mixture of mens in ventions is a deare blessing it is an Eden the very Garden of God Ezek 28. Cant. 4 3. In 8. Quest and Answ Habel Now faith is the expectation of that which is hoped and the tryer our of things which are not seen for by it the Elders were well reported of By faith Habel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice then Kaine by which he obtained witnesse that he was righteous i. e. jâ—stified that is freed from sins guilt and desert God testifying of his offerings and by it he being dead yet speaketh Ebâ— 11.4 So Habels faith did speak to the revolting Hebrewes how and from whom they must expect justification and salvation In 9. Quest and Answ Began the war Where as it is sayd the seed of the serpent shall bruise it sheweth they should be of great power outward glory and temporall felicity as from Kaine through all the holy stories Psal 44. and 73. and 79. Job 12 and 22. Apoc. 13. c. c. In Q 9. The holy seed Habel for love to Christ was the first that was accounted as a sheep for the slaughter that was killed for the word of God and faith testimony of Jesus Christ Hence the Proverb begins to take place The just is an abomination to the wicked Observe hence that the wicked are one corporation from Kain to the end of the world and all the godly from Habel to the end of the of the world are another corporation in Christ And therfore what persecution Kain did to Habel wicked men are now guilty of Psal 66.6 Hos 12.4 Mat. 23.35 for they would have done the same to our Lord to the Prophets as Kain did to Habel if they had then lived And ungodly men have do and will
stamps of the later Hench prophesied of the destruction of the Apostates of the old world saying Behold the Lord cometh with thousands of his holy ones to give Iudgement upon all men and to rebuke all the ungodly among them of all their wicked deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their cruell speakings which wicked sinners have spoken against him Iudas Thaddaeus v. 14.15 St. Peter shews they were mockers 2 Pet. 3. and Job 21. and 22. sheweth how they despised the Gospell Thaddaeus and Peter by allusion shew the end of all false Teachers and their deceived that follow their pernicious wayes So when the state of Iudah became mockers judgement was at hand 2 Chron. 36. read Matth. 24. Luke 17. for the sins of the old world the fooles make a mock of sin Prov. 14.9 Be not mockers least your bonds encrease Scoffers shall eat the fruit of their owne wayes Esa 3. Prov. 3. Scoffers made a wonder of the Prophets and perished 2 Pet. 3.4 and so in after times Habbak 1.5 Act. 13.41 1 Pet 4.4.4 Esa 8.18 In Q. 11. Excommunicate He that hath the Censures of the church deservedly executed on him is in dreadfull condition little better then a fugitive or a vagabond but it was the great Anathema maranatha that was given Kain and his posterity as Henoch told them He commeth Kain did not love the Lord Jesus Christ and his holy doctrine Kain hated Habel because his own works were evill and his brothers good Such Kains were in after-times Es 38.20 and the Pharisees were such and so now all those are such that follow their doctrines of mens traditions and bodily exerecise c. Woe be to them that follow the wayes of Kain Thad 11. Woe be to the wicked it shall be ill with him c. Esa 3.11 Job 11.20 Pro. 14.32 In Q. 12. The Spirit of Christ Whereas Moses saith The spirit of Iehovah Gen. 6. Peter citing that story saith The spirit of Christ Gen 6. 1 Pet. 3.18.19 so for Jehovah in Exod. Levit. Numb Deut. Saint Paul saith Christ 1 Cor. 10. VVe must marke diligently such expositions of the scripture even from Christ himself Luke 24.45 This made the Apostle to say The holy scriptures will make us wise to salvation through the faith which is in Christ Iesus 2 Tim. 3. CHAP. III. Hath diverse Questions and Answers with Annotations How Redemption was taught from the Flood till the Promise to ABRAHAM And the Seed of SHEM is explained QUest 1. How and to whom was the Councill of God in Christ revealed after the Flood Answ The old Testament writes Shem the new Testament writes Sem Luke 3.36 To Shem the Son of Noah QUest 2 What is the Scripture Answ Gen. 9.26 Blessed be Jehovah the †God was not ashamed to be called the God of Shem for he had prepared him a Son after the flesh who after the spirit of holinesse is the son of God and God blessed for ever Rom. 1. 9. God of Sem and Chanaan shall be his Servant God perswade Japheth to dwell in the Tents of Sem and Chanaan shall be his servant QUest 3 What observe you out of this Text Answ I. He that was called the seed of the woman is now called the God of Sem. Christ Jesus our Lord came of Sem according to the flesh Luc. 3. II. That Jehovah Sems God was the only blessed and true God none like him nor any beside him Therefore the Religion of the God of Sem was A the true religion and for this cause in Israel Sems faithfull posterity it was graciously exclaimed that blessed are the people whose God is Jehovah Psal 33. and Psal 144. III. That unto this blessing in Sems tents Sems own families Japhets and Chams were to have regard IV. It is prophesied that when the Prerogative of Sems tents was out the other families of the sons of Noah should be perswaded to imbrace the faith and so be brought into equall covenant as it is sayd B That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body and joynt partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel Eph. 3.6 V It is the mighty work of the spirit to make a man know c to perswade the heart by beleeving to obey the mystery of Christ All the wisdome of the wise and prudent of this world is not sufficient till God draw teach and perswade us to the Kingdome of his son VI. Parents should in all fervency pray unto God for their posterity that they may be wrought upon and perswaded to obey the gospel and such faithfull prayers shall not be lost VII In Noahs story we may see the example of godly children that honour their Parents though they are old Prov. 10.12.23 14.9 11.12 13. 12.16 17.6 18.3 22.10 23.22 with all tendernesse caring for covering and pittying their infirmities and weaknesses Love covers a multitude of sins therefore Sem and Japheth had a most joyfull blessing pronounced on them the fruit of which themselves and their posterity did finde VIII That scorners of Gods truth and his servants though they have infirmities are cursed being the seed of the Serpent and hence also note wicked men procure much evill to their posterity both in their example and for Gods judgements IX As long as Sems godly house * Consider what God did for Salem and Sion while they knew him and advanced his name and religion in his Tabernacle Psal 76.1 2 3 4. held the faith of Christ sincere then Chams and Chanaans posterities were servants but when they walked contrary to Christ he in fury walked contrary to them So if wee hold Sems God to be our God and be constant in the faith of Sems Tents to which we were allured and perswaded by the Apostles and disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ the God and Son of Sem God will assuredly make that servant of servants and all that cursed policy of that mysticall Nimrod to be a †This is a point as evident as the clearest sun at noone that the subduing of ours and gods enemies is a benefit tyed to our constancy in true religion see the thankfull remembrance of D. Carlton p. 236. servant of servants * Marke this question the corruption of mans nature was so great after the apostacy of our first parents that they were under the power of satans darknesse unrecoverable in respect of man But presently the Lord God taught them the way of life to bring them back again to him their soveraigne good Gen. 3.15 and by holy prophets continued the same doctrine both before and after the Floud Gen. 26.5 18.19 the revelation of the second Adam is mans only comfort and all that receive him and beleeve in his name shall live John 1.12 Act. 26.18 QUest 4. Who kept the way and charge of Christ-Jehovah in his Commandements Statutes and Lawes the religion of Sems Tents after the
For as it was in the dayes of Noah so shall it be at the day of the coming of the Son of man Mat. 24. c. Quest 6. And Abraham Abraham once ungodly yea after his calling he much failed rejoyced in him that justifieth the ungodly Jos 24.2 Rom. 4. so after mysticall Nimrod how many good men have been overtaken with their outward glory yea many strong men of great parts have beene wounded by that whorish Church Prov. 7. Apoc. 17. Quest 7. N 1. Those familes The families of Noahs sons despising Sem a King of Justice and Peace were cut off â—or two thousand yeares so the Jewes for despising Sem the great and reverend the true King of Justice and peace were cut off to this day Rom. 11. from Noahs days all heathens were Lo-ammi and Loruchamah no people and unpitied a foolish nation barren and a desolate widow to our Lords dayes Deut. 32. Psal 113. Esa 54.1 2 3. Ephes 2.1 2 3. Psal 119.118 Q. 7. From the life Justice But when light was revealed to the Gentiles and the glory of Jehovah was risen upon us It is said I will make thy government peace and thine exactions righteousness Marke the allusion This was under the King of Salem and Tzedek Justice and Peace kisse each other as it did of old in Sems Tents Psal 85. Then peace on earth and good will towards men Q. 7. Nor see the light Now darknesse covered the earth and gross darknesse the Nations Esa 60. So Pope Nimrod by his mysticall Babylon caused such darknesse by confusion of Language and all holy speech All languages of Europe and much of Asia if not all Asia have been confounded by the means of mysticall Nimrod and his rebellion Apor 9. Q. 7. For two thousand years All the time of this ignorance God hated them like devills till the time hee would judge the world in righteousnesse that is favour the world in mercy Act. 17. Psal 97. from this time to the Apostles the whole world did lye in wickednesse 1 Job 5.19 Q 7. N. 11. In their own wayes God left them to walke in their own waies of endlesse and lawlesse idolatries and superstitions and ill manners judgement and practise wholy corrupted as the holy scriptures and humane stories shew The Philosophers of the heathens spake much of the earth c. and to the height of heaven but unto Paradise above the Heavens no thought of theirs could ever come They had no Lampe of Grace not the best learned of them their sage as Pythagoras in tongue confessed God to be one but they knew not the holy Trinity and that the eternall son would be manifested in the flesh to come a man looking through our walls and to come a Judge of all nor that he framed the world for man because he would dwell in our Tabernacle Mr. Bro. Apoc. pag. 20. That regeneration is by faith from him the second Adam by hearing the doctrine of divine revelation that he should destroy death and him that had the power of death by his own death and resurrection and give us a Resurrection and that be should be a mediator between God and man as Prophet Preist and King Lord of Angells the head of all principality and power that a company of people were in him elected and should be called out of this present world to whom he should be wisdome justification sanctification and redemption c. in these things the outward Jew was dull of hearing Rom. 2. and 3. Phil. 2. Heb. 5.11 much lesse could the wisdome and Philosophy of the heathens once thinke of these things Col. 1.26 yea alas for pity how weakly and poorly are these things either taught or known and experimentally in mind and conscience felt and answerably in life practised in most of our congregations of our blessed England This must be proper to true christians no marvell the holy spirit doth taunt the wisdome of the worlds wise Masters and chargeth the saints to take heed of their Philosophy and vain deceit verily it is not fit for Christians to be trained up in their pedagogie 1 Cor. 1. they were haters of God Rom. 1. Col. 1.21 and haters of his people Psal 83. Hest 9.1 Then all that time they were not in the state of universall grace but in very deed of universall wrath such a wofull famine of hearing the word of the Lord holy justice gave them over unto So when the would did depart from the faith of the true Melchisedeck it was given over to Turk and Pope and all force of error and were far from Justice Peace and Truth the Reverend Doctor Ames in his Medâ—lla pag. 244 editio quarta citeth a fit testimony for this Non pium igitur minus quam prudens suit illud maximi artium magistri P.R. judicium votum Hujus Philosophiae doctrinam si mihi fuerit optandum quod assequi velim malim â—ueâ—as ex Evangelio per cruditum aliquem probatisque moribus Theologum quam ex Aristotele per Philosophum tradi Puer impietates mullas ex Aristotele discet quas verendum ne nimis sero dediscat Beatitudinis finem in homine terminari virtutes omâ—cs hominis facultate penitus contineri Eas ex hominis natura arie industria comparari Deum ad haec opera quamvis magna divina tamen vel adjutorem vel artificem nusquam adhiberi divinam providentiam ex hoc numanae vitae theatro removeri de justitia divina verbum nullum fieri Beatitudinem huminis in hac caduca vita constitui c. Quest 8. To be called their God This is a word of Covenant as God spake to Abraham Gen. 17. and as it was noted above God is called the God of Shem. Andoh most glorious priviledge of the Saints through the mediator in all ages Marke these Texts from the first to the last Gen 6.18 and 17.7.8 Exod 19.5 and 20.2 and 29.45.46 Jer. 31.33 2 Cor. 6.18 Gal. 3.29 Tit. 2.14 2. Pet. 2.9 Apoc. 21.3 Hence it is that the Saints say from Gods interest in them and theirs in him Our God my God my portion my Rock my Shepherd c. and Jesurun is Gods portion Jer. 10. In this they boast praise and sing My welbeloved is mine and I am his Cant. 2.16 Psal 44. and 48.2 Coron 25 6.7 Psal 42. and 43. Deut. 10.21 The observations of the properties and workes of God should here be minded which are in chapter first spoken of Q. 8 Heavenly City The Saints of old knew as well as them of the New Testament That if the earthly house of our Tabernacle were dissolved they should have a building of God an house not made with hands eternall in the heavens They had all the same spirit of faith compare the â— Cor. 4. with chap. 5.1 to 12. and Eccles 12.14 c. upon the dissolution of the one the holy soule possesseth the other here is no interposition of time nor of
snare to them and Christ was a stumbling Stone to them as he was to Kain That which was ordained for their welfare they made their ruin And so if we do no more but outward exercises in a shew of godliness and deny the power thereof and live wickedly as they did Psalm 50. Esay 1. Ieremy 7. The Angel of Gods presence our glorious Lord Iesus Christ will not spare our misdeeds 1 Thess 4 6. c. These false teachers abuse the holy Scriptures as in that of Heb. 8. It is said better promises c. but they must be asked what better promises than Genesis 3 15. Genesis 12.3 Let such know there are not better promisâ—s in old or new Testament and indeed those two promises contain all the doctrine of the Gospel as in part before is shewed They must excogitate the true interpretation by seeking how our Lord and his Apostles convinced the false glosses the Concâ—sion made of Moses Politie for we all must know theirs and ours is the same Covenant as often said onely new for Administration in fulfilling all promises and prophecies Let us confer Exod. 19. 29.45 Lev. 26.15 with Apoc. 21.3.2 Cor. 6.16 Gen. 3.15 with 1 John 1.2 3. and chap. 3. Jos 1. with Heb. 13.5 Rom. 4. with Gen. 15. 17 c. This must be often spoken and meditated for we are dull of hearing Again better promises hath respect to Deut. 30. Psalm 40 and 95. in Deut. 30. Christ promiseth that he will circumcise their heart and the heart of their seed to love him Jehovah their God and to keep his commandments c. This Christ spake to them that they might not be deceived to think that their salvation stood in outward observances as in circumcision c. but in serving God in their spirits in the Gospel of his Son And so this to be understood in all Moses ceremonies The bloud of Oxen and Goats and Rams did not could not purge their conscience from dead works but their conscience would still be to them for all their bodily exercise an ill accusing and condemning conscience Their salvation was established upon better promises and a better hope That Christ by his own most perfect sacrifice and bloud-shedding should be a sweet smelling savour to God for us and procure eternal redemption And while we as strangers converse in this world he would be mortification and sanctification by his word and spirit Mic. 7. John 3. Yet let the godly take heed they neglect not ordinances and outward observances of Christs institution though they be as the bark and shell yet they are such a bark and shell that a Christian cannot have life kept within him without them as a tree will not live without his bark nor the kernel prosper without his shell Publique administrations and family ordinances and secret duties are of that consequence that he that carelessly neglecteth them is in danger of gangrenating errours both in doctrine and manners N. VI. Not of the Jews only but of many Nations Gen. 17.5 It is promised by the Lord Iehovah the performer of his promises For a Father of many nations have I made thee This speech was spoken at that time when God renewed his promise and covenant in Christ with Abraham and added the seal to that covenant teaching thereby that he would not be the God of Israel only but in due time the God of the Gentiles also therefore the Covenant is to the infants of the Gentiles as of the Iewes and all faithful are Abrahams seed and the Israel of God Gal. 3 6.16 and if the covenant be to the infants then the seal none dare deny it but those that care not for the education of their children in godliness and honesty for the hope of the resurrection unto eternal life Abraham durst not deny the seal but with all joy went about it Again consider Mat. 19.13 Mark 10.13 little children are comprehended in the Covenant For of such is the Kingdome of heaven Yea observe further Of such is the Kingdome of God that is of the Church of God as Matth. 21.43 The Kingdome of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation that shall bring forth the fruits thereof So then Israels infants were of the kingdome of God and so are the Gentiles infants Did the Kingdom of God consist of the parents and infants of Israel in the old Testament surely then godly parents and their infants of the Gentiles are in equal honor He that shall hill an infant shall be put to death as justly as if he had killed a parent So the murderous accursed doctrine of Anabaptists that would murder children is as wicked as to kill a godly parent For the Lord God doth justifie and wash infants from their sins in his Covenant and bring them to glory as well as their godly parents And again seriously minde The covenant of God in Christ by circumcision was in full force to the death of our Lord and Saviour Luke 1.59 and Circumcision was a seal of the covenant of grace to the infants of the faithful and infants were in covenant as is evident and now after our Lords death were they not in covenant Did our Lords death disannul the Covenant of his grace in respect of them absit absit It was about six or seven weeks from our Lords death to Peters sermon Acts 2. And the holy Apostle in the conclusion of his Sermon doth exhort his auditors to receive the ordinance of Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the Remission of sins and to shew he spake by the same Spirit of God that gave the promises doth affirm that the promise and covenant is as firm to infants as ever it was and therefore saith The promise is made unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shal call Acts 2.39 In chap. 3.25 2â— It is said the Jewes were the children of the Prophets and of the Covenant which God made with our Fathers saying to Abraham Even in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed First unto you hath God raised up his son Jesus c. so the Jewes had the first prerogative of the blessing in their kinreds and of the resurrection of Christ and then secondly the Gentiles have the like portion in the blessing and in our Lords resurrection Rom. 2.10 consider for these things Rom. 4.16 17 18 c. to the end of the chapter Quest 5. Answ on Gen. 49.10 And to Him shall the gathering of the people be O give thanks unto Jehovah for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever And say ye Save us O God of our salvation and gather us together and delivâ—r us from the heathen that we may give thanks to thy holy Name and glory in thy praise Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel for ever and ever and all the people said Amen 1 Chron. 16. Psal
147.2 The Apostle saith the same Grace be to you and peace from God the father and from our Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world according to the Will of God which is our father to whom be glory for ever Amen Gal. 1.3 4.5 Eph. 1. 10. Abraham was gathered from the world and Christ hath and doth still gather and deliver us out of the world to be of his Israel John 11.52 so observe Iohn 17. Quest 7. Answ Abraham Isaac Iacob they to testifie their faith in the Promises of Christ built Altars in divers places and called on the name of the everlasing God And therefore observe the Apostle saith he served God with pure conscience from his forefathers in the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 1.1 2 3. and therefore the promises to the Fathers with the seal of circumcision were not carnal and fleshly as Mateologists wickedly prattle if they were carnal to them so they are to us for the promises and covenant belong to us as hath been laid from Acts 2.39 and chap. 3 25.26 Surely the faith of a good Christian is builded on Christ the Comer stone and on his religion practised of the godly Patriarks and on the blesse holy scriptures and hope in the resurrection all which by the work of the spirit doth make a man watchful to keep a good conscience in Church in Common-Weal by Land or Sea at home abroad in sâ—ops in labours c. see how all is taught in promise and seal He that is such an one shall look death in the face and needs not to be afraid before whom he comes nor needs be ashamed of the groundless criminations of schism heresie and blasphemy c. diligently ponder Acts 24 14 15 16. Quest 9. Ans A great apostasie for Israel in Egypt Read Ezek. 23.8 Israel with his family came as a pure virgin into Egypt and so continued all the dayes of Iacob and Ioseph while he lived held the whole house in life and faith but the Egyptians afterwards infected their poweritie with idolatry even in her youth lay they with this virgin Israel and bruised the breasts of her virginity and powred their whoredomes upon her False worship being a work of the flesh pleaseth and quickly insinuateth into our corrupt nature especially being conversant with idolaters Let all people beware of mystical Egyptians And let Common-weales Churches and families note that false worship and heresie increaseth and somenteth all projects of ungodlynesse and unrighteousness Ezek. 16.6 and 20. must also here be considered to the captivity both of Israel and Judah They were by apostasie rather of the Amoâ—ite and Heâ—hite then of Abraham and Sarah They were in the bloud of their false religion being foully corrupted with the idols of Egypt and so they were dead till Christ by his own law said unto them live So were we being under the bondage of Rome-Egypt until Christ by his everlasting Gospel made us to live Apoc. 14.6 20.4 5. And note as Terah his corrupt worship continued long in Israel so did that of Muzrajim i. e. Egypt Jos 24.14 Ezek. 23 8. Quest 10. Ans God was not ashamed But God will be ashamed of adulterers and adulteresses that follow superstitions lusts of the flesh lusts of the eyes and pride of life for such do and will deny Christ and be ashamed of him and his word and such cannot be pilgrimes and strangers and seek things celestial Iames 4. 1 Ichn 2. Mark 8. Col. 3.1 Ibid. To be called their God Christ saith I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob this is my memorial to all generations that is to all of their faith and heavenly conversation whether Jew or Gentile Exedus 3.6 15 16. Hebrews 11. Ibid. Heavenly City and Countrey The faithful to the fulness of time were in heaven and part of the blessed familie of the heavenly Father Ephe. 1.10 3.15 All the faithful in Israel were the adopted sons of the Eternal their God and if sons then heirs Rom. 8. so they were living and so they were dead Therefore the living might not sorrow as the heathens that had not certain knowledge of the joyful and glorious state of the immortal souls of the faithful nor any hope of the resurrection Luke 13.28 29. They might not cut themselves for the dead nor make any print or mark in the flesh Levit. 19.28 Dent. 14. 1 2 1 Thess 4 The loving kindeness of Iehovah is better than life because though life departs yet we be and live for ever in him Therefore it is said God is the God as of Abraham Isaac and Iacob and so of every true believer even when his body is dead and turned to dust and therefore Abraham must be held in spirit to be and live with God and shall have the resurrection of the body Luke 20.37.38 Matt. 22.24 Mark 12. The faithful enjoy the same inheritance and happiness with Abraham and this is one part of the blessedness in Christ promised to Abraham And Christ saith of Moses being dead Moses my servant is dead he was still the Servant of Christ though he went up to Mount Nebo and dyed and we know he doth live for he appeared when Christ was transfigure and death is one of the works of the divel which Christ was to dissolve Christ was promised from the beginning to destroy the works of Satan now called the old Serpent Acts 26. 6. Josh 1.2 1 John 3.8 Heb. 2.14 15. 2 Tim. 1.10 CHAP. V. With Questions Answers and Annotations on them How Redemption was taught From the Law of the Passeover to the building of the Temple QUest 1. Proceed to declare what Noble Pillar did Wisedome hew out to which the holy and golden Chaine of times is fastned by which life and salvation was taught to the Saints Answ This is the (a) Although they apostated to the idols of Egypt yet by the bloud of the Passeover God chose them again but again rejected them for their idols and vanity when Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us Passeover Exod. 12. QUest 2. How many yeares were from the Promise to Abraham to the Passeover or to the comming from Egypt or to the giving of the Law Answ Four hundred and thirty years QUest 3. How much of the Scripture is contained in those 430. years Answ From the beginning of the 12. of Genesis to the 12. of Exodus the book of Job and also part of the 1. 2. ch of 1 Chron. QUest 4. How doth the Passeover c. teach of Christ Answ Christ is called the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the World also our Passeover Mark what the Holy Ghost saith Heb. 11.28 (a) The Levites in Hezekiahs dayes taught the good knowledge of Jehovah that is Christ The Levites taught the meaning of the Passeover as Moses by
satanical and Julian fancies that would not have Schools of Prophets Christ will curse such and their posterities Quest 7 and Answ blessed protection Upon their glorious faith was a defence and the last speech of Moses was made good through all their State while they hold their glory Deut. 33 26 c. That Scripture is full of heavenly joy to all Christian States that hold the faith of Christ sincere Esay 4. Where this glory is seated there shall be a defense Blessed hast thou been O England who is like unto thee O people saved by Jehovah from the â—eed of the Serpent sundry times but especially in eighty eight and in the Gan-powder plot and in 164â— c. Ibid. Written word The sweet blessed Scriptures are to make Kings and Common Weals wise and learned that the wrath of Christ burn not up their States and in special the books of Kings and Chronicles with the prophets of their times are for instruction to Christian Kings and polities in many things of State but chiefly to take heed how the true Church doth tamper with the false and apostate in treaties and affinitie Psalm 2. 2 King 22. 2 Chron. 34. 35. c. The holy Scriptures will yield more fundamental conclusions and sure rules for government then all the Machiavels in the world Quest 8. and Answ Aholah for their apostasie Our blessed gracious and merciful Lord God doth never cast off his people till they have first cast off and contemned his word for then idolatry will begin and all ungodliness and unrighteousness like a torrent will follow Then will God hisse for a flie and a Bee What Prince is able to keep a flie or a Bee from comming near his Court yea or into his Chambers and Excheqâ—ers God is as able to bring an enemie even of their lovers to enjoy and possesse them See the stories of Râ—choboam Ioram Ioash Amaziah c. 2 Chr. 12. 21. and 24. 25 And Pharoah with all his wisdome and multitude Ezek. 29. and 30. and 31 c 32 could not prevent Nebuchadnezzar from his spreading his royal Pavilion near his Court Gate Jer. 43.9 10. and who caused that the Babylonian Princes sate in the Gate of Ierusalem but the Lord Iehovah the God of recompenses Jer. 39. Esai 42.24 Esay 5.26 7.18 Pro. 13.13 Jer. 6. 7. 2 Kings 22.13 Ibid. N. 1. and gave them over to the lying Spirits Wo to them saith God when I depart from them then followed a secret dedication of them to devils transferring his right of them to idols Ephraim is joined to idols Let him alone Hos 4.17 Acts 7.47 1 King 22.23 Psal 81. Ezek 14.9 and so 2 Thess 2. Apoc. 16.13 1 Tim. 4. Ibid. N. 1. To walk in their own Counsels Ezek. 20.25 Psal 81. 2 Kings 17.8 Hos 10.6 13.1 Observe Mich. 6. ult Salomon fitted many Proverbs and told them the words of the wise do bear grace and that the words of the fools of the ten tribes and of Judah also would be foolishness and wicked madness to swallow them up Eccles 10. Behold still how Christ the Corners stone was rejected and became a stone of offence to both the houses of Israel as Esaias and David had told them Psalm 69.22 Esay 8.14 and 28.16 and so is ever to all that will not receive him in the way of his own ordinances and mark how these texts are pressed by our Lord and his Apostles in the Acts Evangelists and in the Epistle to Rome and 1 Pet. 2. and this is written for us Rom. 15. confer Esai 6.9 10. with John 12.40 Acts 28.26.27 c c. Ibid. N. 1. Could not live the life of a State c. Observe how the Holy Spirit compares the dead State of the ten tribes being in Apostasie with the apostasie of the families 2 Chron. 15.3 with Ephes 2.1 to 12. Dead from a Church life Hos 13.1 false worship breeds atheism and corruption in manners heresie frets like a gangreane and such Authours and fautours wax worse and worse The ten tribes were without the true God by their apostasie and so the heathens were atheoi atheists without God in the world and note that speech of Asa King of Judah was spoken of Israel before the idol Baâ—l was brought into Israel 2 Chron. 15.3 Ibid. 8. Quest and Answ N. 2. He did pour out his fury God was angry for the provocation of his sons and of his Daughters Deut. 32. Gods four sore judgements followed Aholah and Aholibah for their backslidings Ezek. 14. and the Earthquake in Amos 1. had in Israel its events Jeroboam the second his son was two and twenty years in getting his Fathers Throne such trouble in State all plagues and curses Levit. 26. Deut. 28. came on them not for breaking a Covenant of Works but for accounting Christ and his Kingdome Anathema They did as all apostates do loath his word they abhorred his Statutes they obeyed not the Son of God the Angel of Gods presence as Mediatour and so had not life John 3.35 36. they served not God in their spirits in the Gospel of his Son He that hath not the Son of God hath not the Father 1 John 5.12 2 John 9. and so come all plagues and curses on men Let the wilde Olive branches fear Ibid. Vpon them famine pestilence Famine and Pestilence are chiefly the Plagues of the meaner sort and the sword is the plague of the rich Ezek. 21.14 when the heavens dealt with the subjects Levit. 26. the Governours felt the other The spirit of Christ hath long and wonderful patience afore the sword cometh Lev. 16 23 24 25. then the sword doth avenge the quarrel of Gods covenant not a covenant of works but for despising the covenant in his Son against the godliness of high place who were and are the hinderers of all good and the promoters of all evil as it is said A great man grieveth all and he hireth the fool he hireth also the transgressors Prov. 26.10 Ibid. By secret corroding mischiefs Christ was as a Lion to tear in pieces by their domestick dissentions as in the overthrow of the houses of Jeroboam Baasa Omri Iehu c. and by forrein enemies and also he was as a Moth insensibly eating and consuming their riches honour and people by one ill project or other And for this read Hosea 5.12 Ibid. House of Assur They made Israel Iezâ—eel Loruchamah and Lo-ammi till the latter daies as Hebr. 1.1 But then they were gathered in Christ and pittied and again made Gods people The Apostles of the circumcision preached to them that were dispersed in Asia Galatia Pontus Bythinia Cappadocia and Chaldea c. 1 Per. 1.1 and chap. 2. all tribes then are called Iews Ephraim mixed himself with the heathens Religion therefore God mixed them among the heathen Ibid. Out of their own Land There nettles and thornes grew in their pleasant palaces then the thorne and thistle grew on their
all evil and Ierusalem admonishâ—â—â— all States to be warned by her example Lam. chap. 1. and 2.14 and chap. 4. Ibid. Then Solomons house ended David shewed his house would not be upright with God but would be Belial and thorns and should be burnt A terrour to Princes that will not rule justly and in the fear of God 2 Sam. 23. Observe Lam. 2.5 6. The Lord is become a very enemy he hath swallowed up Israel he hath swallowed up her palaces he hath destroyed his strong holds and he hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation And he hath violently taken away his Tabernacle as it were of a garden he hath destroyed the places of the Assembly Jehovah hath caused the solemn Feasts and Sabbaths to be forgotten in Sion and he hath despised in the indignation of his anger King and Sacrificer Let not the wild olive branches be high-minded Rom. 11. CHAP. VII With Questions Answers and Annotations Shewing how the Covenant of grace was taught and opposed in this space of time from the burning of the Temple to the end of the Captivity of Babel QUest 1. Shew some Scriptures concerning the Captivity of Judah under the Babylonian Kingdom with other things thereupon depending Answ Levit. 26.14 (a) observe how the holy history and the prophets comment upon this Scripture of Moses very useful to confer history to prophecy to the end of the chapter 14. But if ye will not hearken to me and will not do all these commandments 15. And if ye shall (b) consider here how the holy Gospel Law of Châ—ist delivered to Moses was unsavory to the outward Israelite it was a savour of life to some and to others a savour of death to death so it ever was and ever shall be as it was to Kain and Habel and Esay 6.9 10. 11. chapters 2 Chron. 2.16 despise my Statutes or if your soul abhor c my judgements so that ye will not do all my commandments but that ye break my covenant 16. I also will do this unto you I will appoint even over you terrour consumption and the burning ague and that shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart and ye shall sow your seed in vain for your enemies shall eat it 17. And I will set my face against you and ye shall be slain before your enemies they that hate you shall reign over you and ye shall flee when none pursueth you 18. And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me then I will punish you seaven times more for your sins 19. And 〈◊〉 will break the pride of your power and I will make your heaven as iron and your earth as brass 20. And your strength shall be spent in vain for your Land shall not yield her increase neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits 21. And if ye walk contrary unto me and will not hearken unto me I will bring seaven times more plagues upon you according to your sins 22. I will also send wild beasts which shall rob you of your children and destroy your cattel and make you few in number and your high waies shall be desolate 23. And if ye will not be reformed by these things but will walk contrary unto me 24. Then will I also walk contrary unto you and will punish you yet seven times for your sins 25. And I will bring a sword upon you that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant and when ye are gathered together within your Cities I will send the Pestilence among you and ye shall be delivered into the hands of the enemy 26. And when I have broken the staff of your bread Ten Women shall bake your bread in one Oven and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight and ye shall eat and not be satisffed 27. And if for all this ye will not hearken unto me but walk contrary unto me 28. Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury and I even I will chastise you seaven times for your sins 29. Moses foresaw captivity and Dan 9. doth comment on all this chapter And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat 30. And I will destroy your high places and cut down your Sun-Images and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your filthy idols and my soul shall abhor you 31. And I wil make your Cities wast and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation and I will not smell the savor of your seed odours 32. And I will bring the Land unto desolation and your enemies which shall dwell therein shall be astonished at it 33. And I will scatter you among the heathen and I will draw out a sword after you and your land shall be desolate and your Cities wast 34. Then shall your land enjoy her (a) Mark how the holy Story commenteth on all Moses Sabbaths as long as it lieth desolate and ye be in your enemies land even then shall the Land rest and enjoy her Sabbaths 35. As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest because it did not rest in your Sabbaths when ye dwelt upon it 36. And upon them that are left of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the Land of their enemies and the sound of a leafe driven shall chase them and they shall flee as fleeing from a sword and they shall fall when none pursueth 37. And they shall fall one upon another as it were before a sword when none pursueth and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies 38. And ye shall perish among the heathens and the land of your enemies shâ—ll eat you up 39 And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies lands and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away 40. If they shall (b) So Daniel did and God remembâ—ed his Covenant in Christ Dan. 9.24 25 26 27. read Ezek 36. confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers with their trespass which they have trespassed against me and that also they have walked contrary unto me 41. And that I also have walked contrary unto them and have brought them into their enemies lands if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled and they then (c) A justified person wiâ—l justifie God in all his providences so Neh. 9. all of it Dan. 9.5 If we judge our selves God will not judge us but remember his covenant 1 Cor. 11.1 Ioh. 1. The better a manis the more unworthy he thinks himself to be Iob 42.6 accept of the punishment of their iniquity 42. Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob and also my covenant with Isaac and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember and I will remember the Land 43. The land also shall be left of them and shall enjoy her (d) Obseâ—ve 2 châ—on 36.21 though the prophets departed this life yet the ward
6. Who were enemies that did hate and cruelly mock and persecute the doctrine of God and his people Answ The wicked Kingdome signfied by the Bear Leopard and beast with ten horns Hamans wickednesse and Sanballats and others under the Government of the Breast and Arms of silver must be remembred QUest 7. Who did neglect and apostate from this prophesie of so great salvation Answ Many in Israel that associated with Sanballat and Malachi sheweth that some began to be Atheists and to speak stout and wearisome words against God and his doctrine The Angel foretold of * Antiochus caused stars to fall Dâ—n 8. 11. so did the tail of the Dragon the new Antiâ—chus Apâ—c 12.2 Thes 2. The fourth beast cast down truth to the ground Dan â— forsakers and wicked dealears against the holy Covenant of Daniels own people under the iron legs and fourth Beast Also Zacharias spake of wicked Shepherds that loathed Christ and his Kingdome And that came to passe in those Hereticks and false Teachers the Sadduces Scribes and Pharisees They were great oppugners of all Gabriels heavenly message as in all the Evangelists the Acts and in the Epistles to Rome and to Galatia to the Hebrews is seen QUest 8. How did Daniels holy people find Gods goodnesse in cleaving to this Doctrine Answer By faith they obtained good report with God and God was not ashamed of them to be called their God By faith the Jews in Esther escaped the edge of the sword Also we are to consider that Zachariah Haggai and Malachi enlarge Gabriels Oration for many things that a fountain for sin and for uncleannesse should be opened by the King and Sacrificer even Iehovah of hosts that should glorifie the second Temple with his presence And that although the low Jerusalem and Temple should be destroyed a larger should be builded and a better raised up And the Covenant shall be confirmed with the many Gentiles from East to West among whom in every place incense of prayer and pure offering of lips praising of God shall be offered unto his holy name That Him the Angel of the Covenant the Sun of righteousnesse shall arise with healing in his beams and that God enrolls in the book of life all that fear him and thought upon his name to glorifie them in that day of the better resurrection to shine as the brightnesse of the firmament and as the stars for ever and ever Quest 9. How was Gods service executed on the Seed of the Serpent the open enemies of his name and people Answ Streams of fire came from the fierie Throne through the Mediation of the high Sacrificer in the heavens which overthrew the thrones of Kingdomes Dan. 7.9 10. Zac. 1.12 13. and destroyed the strength of the Kingdomes of the heathens contained in the image and Beasts Dan. 2. and 7. That same vengeance hanged that Courtier and favourite Haman and his sons and brought to confusion their assassines and others were told that they had no right nor portion nor memorial in Jerusalem Nehem. 2.10 QU. 10. With what reward did Christ recompence the disobedience of scandalized revolters from the Doctrine of salvation Heb. 2.1 An. 1. Malachi denounced that Gods wrath should burn them up as an oven and tormenting sorrows befell them afore and after the bright morning Star of Jacob appeared as Zachariah also had foretold them for as they abhorred and loathed Christ and his Doctrine so Christ abhorred and loathed them leaving the lost sheep to perish that would needs be perishing whom yet he pitied before that wrath came on them to the utmost 2. And Christ the Rock of Israel having confirmed the covenant for the Jews and the many of all Nations the last year of the last Seven did forty years after grind to powder the Jews his own people by the Romane infidels and destroyed City and holy Place with utter and small (a) Then the corner stone fell on the Iews and the vineyard was let out to other husbandmen Mat. 21.41 c. desolations and such miseries and sorrows (b) Read Heb. 25.31 and Iosephus on the wars of the Iews befell the Nâ—tion that they could rather have wished the mountains to fall upon them and the hills to cover them read Luke 23 39 30. QUest 11. But shall not the Land of Canaan City and Temple and Kingdome be restored to the Jews Answer They shall never be restored yet the Jews shall have a generall glorious calling in all places where they are scattered when the fullnesse of the Gentiles is come in and when they are called and the veil (c) Then they shall see the 12 Tribes over our gates and the apostles doctrine to be fastened in Aharons jewels Apo. 21 taken off their heart and know Christ and his spirituall government they will esteem Canaan and Ierusalem no more than any City or countrey in the world they will then look to the heavenly Rest yet here begun and to the holy City from heaven in which the Lord God of hosts even the Lamb is the Temple Apocal. 21.22 QUest 12. What Scriptures are contained in those Seventy Sevens Answ The two last verses of the last of Chronicles Daniel the 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. chapters Ezra Nehemiah Hester Haggai Zachariah Malachy and the 4 Evangelists which finish their storie with the death resurrection and ascension of Iesus Christ our Lord whose death was the very last day of the Seventy Sevens or 490 years at the time of the Evening Sacrifice Note all the rest of this New Testament was written within 70 years after our blessed Saviours ascension QUest 13. What do you observe in the Scriptures of the old Testament as speciall occasions of the Churches apostacies and revoltings Answ 1. Wicked marriages as is manifest from the times of the old world to Malachies dayes 2. The open or visible Church never careth for nor cleaveth to the written word unlesse there be faithfull Governors but ever men are declining to their own vain inventions 3. Wicked sacrificers and false Prophets who came without Gods sending both came with outward shews of truth but were base sycophants and parasites alwaies falsely accusing and persecuting the godly and flattering Princes and people in their exorbitant courses 4. The abuse of sweet peace health and plenty turning these blessings of the Gospel to pride wantonnesse idleness gluttony drunknnesse oppression worldly confidence and carnal and carelesse security for Church and Common-weal c. c QUest 14. How many years hath Palmoni the wonderfull Numberer numbred from the Creation to the Redemption Answer The Sun in his Tabernacle of the heavens had joyfully run his race as a servant to the SON of righteousnesse Three thousand nine hundred and sixty years from the first promise of Christ to Evah till the SUN lost his light the SON brake the Serpents head dying rising and ascending QUest 15. How many Iubilees were there Answ From the Conquest and partition
of the Land of Canaan by Iesus the son of Nun unto the conquest of JESVS the son of God over Sin death and Satan and all our enemies are twenty eight Iubilees our Lord and Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ who is the second Adam and Sem the Great and Reverend The Jubilee year a wonderful◠〈◊〉 the joyfull sound of the Trumpet in the acceptable year of the Lord sounded all these things The victorious combate with the Serpent and his seed and his triumph over them the fullnesse of times the Sacrifice of eternall Redemption the just for the unjust the open recovery of Paradise the resurrection of the most holy the true Temple destroyed and raised the day of salvation the Jews Prerogative ended the Gentiles called the enmity of Jew and Gentile abolished the shadows flee away Christ shook and ended the things made with hands the Sun is darkned the Vail of the Temple rent because the way into the holy heavens was opend by a better Priest and Sacrifice c. c. c. died in a * Iubilee year The ancient holy Hebrews had an excellent and wonderfull saying among them that The Divine Majesty dwelling in our Tabernacle will be to Israel in a Iubilee remission redemption and finisher of Sabbaths Annotations upon the Questions and Answers of the ninth Chapter QVest 2. and Ans upon the 2. verse of Dan. 9. The reading study and meditation of the holy Scriptures a great furtherance to prayer A man cannot pray with sound spirituall comfort that is ignorant in them as is manifest in this verse and the rest of the Chapter Blessed is the man that delighteth in them and in them doth meditate day and night Psal 1. And anathema maranatha be that man of sin and his locusts and Kingdome that with-holdeth and forbiddeth the reading and study of the holy Scriptures to the people Observe well 2 Sam 7.27 Gods revelation the ground of prayer yea boldnesse in it Upon Daniel 9 23. Conceive the word and perceive it c. By this commandement doubled for vehementer charge he condemneth the world that regardeth not to be instructed in this doctrine sent from heaven by an Angel unto Daniel and penned for all Nations use Wherefore we must give better heed unto the speech lest we perversly swarve for if the word spoken by angels fall out sure and every trespasse received just recompence of reward how shall we ever escape neglecting so great a charge of our King to our own salvation where the vision is so clear that no doubt can be moved by any plain heart that will rest in the clearnesse of the most bright message by an angel of glory who coming to teach all the world was to shine in words as Stephâ—n by him did in the face Acts 6 when he spake the angell Gabriels words that Jesus of Nazareth would destroy the place City and Temple and change the Laws which Moses gave To this day the blind Jews stand in this that the Laws of Moses shall stand for ever Maymon Tom. 1. delege perek 9. Therefore God fore-seeing their dullnesse of hearing would have an angel of light to teach them by this Prophesie 490 years when from the year of that message unto Daniel the Laws of Moses should have their end and none of the Scribes when Herod was affrighted nor any of the Iews as is seen by their answers in all the Gospel objected disagreement for the time which thing had been done if there had been any colour of disagreement in time but they could not conceive of Christs person and office how that he should be the most holy and King and yet dy for our redemption how he should be Davids Lord and yet his son of these things the main objections arose Now let us look unto the Text sâ—il Mr. Bro. on the text on both his english Daniels Upon Dan. 9.24 c. In this Scripture we come to behold in its flaming brightnesse of the King that is Sacrificer also by whom and for whom death is vanquished sun is cleansed Iustice is brought redemption is wrought a vision is sealed our soul is healed sacrifice abolished and the Temple destroyed for defacing of this doctrine the Iews be reiected for embracing this doctrine the Gentiles be elected to open calling Mr. Bro. in S. sight surely the angel his message concerneth the sum of all the Bible The Jews went weeping to Babel seeing Salomons house and Kingdome ended and the Temple burnt and all Moses ceremonies shaken but they returned rejoycing bringing sheaves of all comfort by Gabriels heavenly message of the seventy sevens concerning MESSIAH the King the Holy of Holy Upon Dan. 9.25 Out going of the word to restore c. mark the word of Proclamation of Cyrus Ezra 1. how it answereth this Prophesie Meditate also how pleasing it is to our God to have a tender affection to his cause Daniel mourned and prayed for the holy City and the holy Mountain and had a gracious answer by the holy angel compare Dan. 9 21.22 Also observe a speech in Zephaniah I will gather them that are sorrowfull for the solemn Assembly who are of thee such are the children of Sion the genuine members of Christs mysticall body to whom the reproach of it was a burden Zeph. 3.18 Psal 137.5 6. So Daniel again was affected when he mourned so bitterly when the building of the temple was hindred by Cambyses in Cyrus his absence Ezra 4 Dan. 10.2 3 4. No losse to the losse of holy things when they are gone God is gone and the enjoying of them no gain so great and no time so acceptable Lam. 2.6 7. Hâ—s 9 12. Ezek. 9 3. 10 4.18 19. and 11.22.23 Micâ—hs idolatrous contestation in a contrary must be the thought of every Holy soul for the esteeming procuring and upholding of Holy Assemblies Jud 18 24. Upon Dan. 9.26 The City and holy place shall be distroy The holy Martyr Stephen was called into question and lost his life for this glorious Doctrine of the holy Angell and yet his countenance before the Councill was like the Angels that brought the message Act 6.13 14 15. and all Chap. 7. How did Despisers wonder and perish when Stephen and Paul taught this Act. 6 7 Act. 13.41 45. 21.28 they wondered and in the end perished As of old they wondered at the Prophets Esai 8 18. Jer. 26 6 7 8. Hab. 1.5 so they did at our Lord and his Apostles Doctrine And verily so it is at this day where ever the Commandements of God and the faith of Jesus is truly and zealously taught Upon the same verse verse twenty five about the attribute Messiah which in this message of the Angell is twice expressed as a proper name of the Son of God who became a Son of man the Son of Adam Dan. 7.13 to fulfill all the Angels message And from this time of Dan 9. this attribute Messiah was very usuall among the faithfull
and Priests must serve at an altar and an altar must have a sacrifice then his Priests must have holy garments of ministration and so copes came in and holy Temples c. many as well as Papists ignorant of the Scriptures think it not amiss to retain many ceremonies of Moses which the Son of God commanded for a time not knowing he came in the flesh to do Gods will and to abolish those his own ordinances Innocent the third maintained that the Ceremonies of the Law were not abolished And all popery is exceedingly leavened with this heresie Due Plessis in his Treatise of four Books of institution pa. â—1 Lib. 1. chap. 7. It is a denying of Christ in part to use any of Moses ceremonies must it then be religion to use any humane significant ceremonies in Gods worship Quest 13. and Answ N. 1. wicked marriages Judah hath dealt treacherously and an abominotion is committed in Israel and Jerusalem For Judah hath profaned the Holiness of Jehovah which he loved and hath married the daughter of a strange God Jehovah will cut off the the Master and the Scholar out of the Tabernacle of Iacob although he offereth an offering to lebovah of Hosts Treachery abomination and profaneness Mal. 2.11 12. Ezra 9. 10. Nâ—h 13. consider Iosuah chap. 23.6 7 to 12. For the word of God and Marriages wicked women of high place and wealthy a grievous evil to the Church of God N. 2. The open or visible Church Most men care not for Gods holy and plain religion 2 Kings 17. Ezek. 20. The greater part in open policy careth but for his life As in Salomons time all were of great shew but soon after his death Ephraim turned all but Iudah to Worship calves not God So great Constantine helped the Christians but few of his men cared for God Our own age and Countrey shewes the same All our nation generally had a liking of the Gospel both the Magistrates and the Ministery all the daies of Queen Elizabeth and the beginning of King Iames his Reign England remembred the flames in Smithfield c and 88. and 1605. But towards the later end of K. Iames and in K. Charles his reign how degenerare N. 3. Wicked sacrifices and false Prophets All apostasic commonly began at the Sanctuary the greater part of the Prophets and Priests did most wickedly and were become hypocrites From them wickednesse went into all the land They were blinde Leaders sleeping Dogs dumb dogs pressing their own dreams The preaching of the true Prophets was in horrible contempt with them Such were Hananiah that taught revolt and Shemajah the Neclemite the Dreamer that reputed Ieremiah for a mad man and would have had him tortured Achah and Zedekiah those two lecherous villains that prophesyed lies that man pleaser Vrijah 2 Kings 16. Amaziah that would not have the tell-troths the true Prophets to come to the Kings Court nor to preach in the Kings Chappel Amos 7. Pahshur that put Ieremiah in the Gate-house and in the stocks Eliashib that profance and treacherous Prelate Neh. 13. compared with Mal. â— 11 12. and those Priests that nothing but the bloud of the Prophets would quench their thirst And those Prelates that convented the Son of God and his Apostles before them imprisoning whipping and murdering them c. c. But as the eye of Christ is in Princes Courts so it is be they assured in the Courts of his sanctuary although such think Christ hath forsaken the earth And when his jealousie began to be poured out it began at the Sanctuary Ezek. 9.6 Read Ier. 28.29 what came to Shemajah Hananiah Achah and Zedekiah were rosted in the fire fellowes full of burning Lusts burning was their end as Sodomites Amaziahs wife plaied the whore and in Gods holy severity of judgement given over to filthiness which made him to have many an heavy sigh when he went up to his Altar at Bethel to officiate a plague of all terrour when God punisheth sin with sin as Hoseâ— 4.14 Amaziah his sons and his daughters should be slain and himself must go into captivity Pahshur was made Magormissaâ—ib and the bloud of Christ and his Servants was heavy upon those Kains c. Ibid. N. 3. Alwaies falsely accusing and persecuting the Godly Elias Ieremiah and Amos were accused as troublers of the Church and enemies of the State and the cause of famine c. whereas those and such were the props of the State and mourned and prayed for the people Jeremy 7 18. And note it again who did accuse but the R R F F and the apostate Nobility of their times Ieremy 26. 38. 1 Kin. 17.1 18 17 18. Amos 7.10 Ier. 29.26 and so it was in our Lord and his Apostles and so it was and hath been in our times The wicked Priests and Prophets were ever the cruellest enemies of the Saints they made many Widowes imprisoning and killing their godly husbands for not hearkning to their dreams and lies and mens precepts and for not putting into their mouths Ezek. 21. Mich. 5. Hosea 9. Lament 4.13 Ibid. N. 3. flattering Princes and People They made their Kings glad with their wickednesse and Princes with their lies for they were so deluded that although the Prophets and Priests made merchandize against the Land they would never acknowledge nor mark it Jeremy 14.18 Hosea 7. Jeremy 6.14 Lament 2.14 They healed the hurt of the daughter of my people saith Christ sleightly saying peace peace when there was no peace They walked in lies and strengthned also the hands of the wicked that none returned from his wickedness They smooth their tongues and cause my people to erre by their lies and lightness They were the occasion of all profaneness cruelty and hypocrisie in Princes and People And at last all might see that those dirt-daubers of their untempered mortar they were they that brought misery and shame to the State Ezek. 22. N. 4. The abuse of sweet peace and health c. These are promised as blessings of Obedience to the faith of the Son of God blessings of the covenant of grace in him as godliness hath the promise of the things of this life and of that which is to come Levit. 26 Deut. 28. Psalm 81. Esay 1. Those were not blessings and curses to the Church for doing or not doing a covenant of works but for believing or despising the Son of God as Mediatour Exod. 23. and would not have him to reign over them N. 4. Pride idleness wantonness c. Esay 2. 3. 5. 2 S. Eccless 10.16 17 18 19. Amos 6.1 men in times of peace and plenty quickly fall away Think of Salomons and Constantines times so it is said Jesurun waxed fat and kicked Thou art waxed fat thou art grown thick thou art covered with fatness then he forsook God that made him and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation Deut. 32. Ease slaies the foolish and the prosperity of fools destroyeth them
Prov. 1. Quest 14 and answ How many years hath Palmoni Palmoni an attribute of Christ Dan. 8.31 much to be meditated He numbreth our tears and wanderings He numbreth the hairs of our head He numbreth the Stars He numbreth the times in the holy Scriptures in a most pleasant frame by the ages of holy Fathers by promises and types by Sabbaths and Seavens and he will teach us so to number our daies that we may apply our hearts to wisdome Ibid The Sun in his Tabernacle The Suns chronicle draweth all along to the Sons righteousness It is not a small matter in consideration that the whole frame of the Celestial Orbs should be so wheeled by him that made day and night Summer and Winter that the Suns journeys should be so guided that all Israels stories do fall out in time according to their ceremonies to be the harmony of all the Bible and the joy of Christianity of this very thing David the sweet singer of Israel and the other Prophets did joyfully sing and speak and made many heavenly ditties and comparisons Psalm 8. 19. 103 21 22. 119 89 90. Psalm 136. 7 8 9. 148.3 Jeremy 31.35 36. 33 20. c. A godly Mathematician should consider this Profance abominable hath been and is the endeavour of some men to teach us of Christs coming by the building of Rome by the Archontes or Mayors of Athens by the foot-races and horse-races c. of the Satanical games of the Olympiads of the Heathens as gamestry is much prejudicial to godliness so this heathenish gamestry-doctrine to the holy Chronologie of the blessed book of God Ibid. Quest and answ 14 Ruâ— his race as a servant The Suns name in Hebrew is Shemesh a servant to perform service 1. Especially to the second Adam as all are his Servants Psalm 8. 119.91 And 2. in him to the Church holding sincerity Jos 10. And it shall not smite thee by day nor the Moon by night Psalm 121 And 3. to all the world through his general good providence Deut. 4 Mat. 5. And 4. that mankinde should not worship that which the creator hath made their daily servant Quest 15. and answ Dyed in a Jubilee year The Jews never kept in their own land any more a Iubilee for 40 years after our Lords death Titus Vespasian raced to the ground Citie and Temple and sold the Jewes as flaves This came to pass as our Lord foretold Deut. 28.68 Zac. 14.1 2 3. Matth. â—4 Luke 21. 23.28 29 30. Read Iosephus on the wars of the Jewes Ibid. will be to Israel in a jubilee They might well cast this to be so by the Seavensy Seavens which did 490. years foretel the death of the Lord of Glory Ibid. Remission Or freedome or Justification our holy Apostle seeing the fulness of time more fully and gloriously addeth Wisdome and Sonctification 1 Cor. 1.30 if the Son shall make you free then are ye free indeed John 8. He that was before the beginning and promised from the beginning did appear to destroy unloose dissove the works of the Devil 1 John 1. 3. This expounds Genesis 3.15 He gives liberty to the Captives Esay 61. Rom. 7. then was the just captivity delivered to go to his heavenly possession and to the heavenly familie of our Father which is in heaven Lev. 25.23 Remember ye the Law of Moses my servant which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel with the statutes and judgements Mal. 4. Observe well this conclussion of the old Testament the Written Word the glory and inheritance of the Saints and let them most highly account thereof The spirit of Christ foreseeing the false doctrine of those three Shepheards Zachary 11. and the afflictions of the Army of heaven in the daies of the fourth Beast and the iron Legs thus forewarned the Elect Daniel 7. 8. 11.28 to 33 12.3 4.10 This text of Malachi well minded would stop the prattle now a daies that Moses Politie was a covenant of works and not a covenant of Grace in Christ CHAP. X. Shewing how God ordered the Several Captivities of his people for the planting of Religion among the Heathens as a preparation to the Covenant of Grace under the Gospel QUest 1. How was Gods providence seen in bringing about famous matters concerning the People of Israel and that the Heathens of Noes families might have a general preparation for the daies of Christ Answ 1. The Jewes being carryed to Babel the Land of Nimrod of the house of Cham were a great means of good to those heathens for the knowledge of the true God and of the faith of the Messias for they were bidden to say when they came to Babel Thus shall you say unto them the Gods that have not made the heavens and the earth The learned say this verse of Jer. 10. is in the Chaldean Language they shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens Jer. 10. We are also to consider that many Jewes believing the prophets that their countrey should become under Babel fled into other Countreys where they would have Synagogues 2. Daniel being advanced and famous in Nebuchadnezzars Court did inform the King very much of the true God in his opening of the dream of the image of four mettals upon which the King acknowledged the God of Israel and preferred Daniel over the province of Babel and above the wisemen of Babel Dan. 2. 3. Daniels three noble cousins Hananiah Azariah and Mishael denying worship of Babels gods in the presence of King Nebuchadrezar that mighty Monarch and at the Assembly of such an huge concourse of peoples nations and languages at the dedication of the golden Image and upon their denyal to be cast into the burning furnace Who by faith escaped the violence of fire Heb. 11.34 And the Kings proclamation over every nation and language setting forth the praise of the God of Israel and that none should speak amiss of the God of Shadrach Meshac and Abednego These things must of necessity cause great consideration among the heathens seeing also the King made their cause more famous by their advancement 4. Daniels opening the dream of the Tree The Kings proclamation over the world unto all Nations Peoples and Languages that dwell in all the earth in which telling of his own abasement for seven years and of Daniels opening of the dream would cause the nations to think better of the Jewes although captives And Daniel being at the opening of the dream a famous Courtier of thirty five or thirty six years standing and a great favourite had and would still tender the cause of his own nation 5. Another proclamation concerning Daniel chap. 5. being now an old Courtier and an attendant on three Kings upon the reading and expounding the hand-writing on the Wall and upon that investing him again with great authoritie 6. The glorious prophecy of the Seavensy Seavens of the precise year and day and
c. And the seed of the Serpent shall bruise the heel of the holy seed Ge. 3.15 Faith stayeth on the rock of Israel God in Christ was the rock of their heart and portion for ever Psal 73. another Scripture faith Trust ye in Jehovah for in Jah Jehovah is the rock of all ages Isa 26. And again My God is the Rock in whom I will trust 2 Sam. 22.3 32 33 47. And the terms of the New Testament are agreeable it is said Ye believe in God believe also in me for he is the Rock Mat. 16.1 Cor. 10. And they are pronounced happy that trust in the Son Psal 2. and curled that make flesh their arm Jer. 17. And gracious Hannah saith there is no Rock but our God 1 Sam. 2. Ibid. The violence of fire By faith they looked to things not seen they by faith knew that JESUS the Son of God by the blood of the Covenant would save them from the wrath to come the vengeance of eternal fire the second death 1 Thes 1.10 N. 4. Would still tender the cause of his own Nation Daniel a Subject maketh a golden state for the Church under tyranny so did honoured Mordecai Hest 10 Good States-men seck the wealth of the Saints so did Eliakim when he was substituted in Shâ—baaes place Isa 22. Obadiah was of great and good use in Achabs Court 1 Kings 18.13 Nebemiah a noble pattern of courage fidelity and zeal to God and the King forget not holy Joseph none of these were temporizers Psal 122 and 132.1 2 3 c. Remember Ahikam and those Princes that had somelise of Religion left in them that saved the holy Prophet from the blood thirstie Priests and false Prophets Jer. â—6 N 6. As those noble Sages who came from Persia Daniel so tendered of Princes and so Religious would cause the mysterie of Christ to be known in the Court and Palace at Susan as Saint Paul in Câ—sars Court Phil. 1. Daniel a pattern for young and old Courtiers and such shall find more favour at last both of God and their Prince then they that flatter with their lips Dan. 8.2 Susan was in the Province of Persia or Elam N. 8. Of a generall Subsidie Daniel a wealthy subject doubtlesse would further help in this matter his care for the returned would answer the effects of his prayer Dan. 9. as Mordecai did afterward further the cause of Christ as Esther 10. N. 9. And by faith stopping the mouths of lions Daniel knew by faith that the Son of man would stop and deliver us from the mouth of Satan that roaring lion the accuser of the brethren who goeth about seeking whom he may devour whom resist stedfast in the faith knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren which are in the world 1 Pet 5.9 N. 10. Offspring of Amalek Amalek was of Esau who with his posterity despised the blessing of the Gospel and hated the Israel of God even to Herod To this story of Haman the Agagite of Amalek we must remember Exod. 17.15 16. and Num. 24.20 of terrour to all apostaticall fierce persecutors of the holy seed Ibid. They escaped the edge of the Sword They knew by faith that the MESSIAS the King would by his death frustrate the counsell of Satan and all the power of darknesse and deliver all the children of God from the bondage and fear of death and spoil and triumph over the principalities and powers of darknesse the spirituall wickednesses even all the Legions of Devils that war against us concerning super-celestiall things Eph 6. Ibid. Letters of commission this story fell out about seventeen years before Zachariah prophesied that he might well say from God He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye Zac. 2. Ibid. Atheist Haman to plot against them and to accuse See how Satans seed folâ—owed Hamans project Acts 16.20 21 22. and 17.5 6 7. And all times have not neither will want such shamelesse liars and cursed dogs that accuse the Saints to Princes Hos 7.3 The Locusts and their King and their friends were ever most vigilant and sedulous in this thing and no marvell for Sathan the accuser of the brethren dealt so against the holy One of Israel Luc. 23.2 Their throats are open sepulchres the poison of asps is under their lips But our Lord and his apostles though few and mean were better subjects to Cesar than their lying numerous malitious adversaries Acts 17.7 and 24.5 6 7. c. Oh that Princes and Nobles would search into matters that they would read Gods Chronicles with diligent study as it is their duty Deut. 17. They would find all to be false that Haman speaks against Mordecai and the Jews mind a story 2 Sam. 16. flattering Ziba tells a most shamefull lie too many such about Princes that accuse honest subjects and make Princes trespasse against their Subjects as good David did that gave Mephibosheths lands away upon a false accusation But David said he would do otherwise in ruling the Common-weal He said he would sing of mercy and judgement and that a slanderer and a liar should not be in his Court or roiall City Psal 101. But alas alas what with sycophants and backbiters and gifts as lying Ziba presented to David 2 Sam. 19. Kings and Nobles trespasse against the faithfull of the Land and remove Land-marks It is pertinent to confer Dan. 6. that wicked men can find nothing for the most part against the Saints but concerning the Law of their God as it was then so it is now Acts 16.20.21 1 Pet 4. Let none of you suffer for evil-doing but as a Christian c. Ibid. And their Laws are divers from all people What Laws none but the holy Scriptures of the blessed God thou adversary and enemy thou wicked Haman See the contrary in good Princes and Nobles that good and truly noble and Royall Darius Artaxeâ—xes and his privy counsellours who honoured the Laws of the God of heaven he knew that Gods Laws were not hurtfull but profitable to him and his Government and that his subjects ought to walk in them View his letters patents well which he never questioned nor revoked that King and his counsellours let them be patterns to their Peers Ezra 7 Ibid. Neither keep they the Kings Laws There your Lorship hit 'em they will not obey the Kings Laws The idiome now of profane and superstitious hyocrites self-willed in humility Help O eternall they have said with our tongue we will prevail our lips are our own who is Lord over us Psal 12. and 120. Isa 57. Psal 131.18 Let the lying lips be put to silence which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous and make their own tongue to fall on them Psal 64. Acts 17.6 7. Ibid. And I will pay ten thousand But Lord Haman this sum of money would not have recompensed that great dammage that the King would have sustained no not in the bondage much lesse in the
daies in the godly Families as hath been noted For Daniel 12.4 sheweth that those times would cause much action among the godly Daniels book a treasury of Wisdome for the time of the 77. and ever Dan 12.4 and Daniels book for the time of the Seaventy Seavens was a wonderful treasure of wisdom to teach them knowledge for many occurrents many did search throughly and knowledge did much increase These times of Javan in the Kings of the North and South were times of much agitation on all sides and occasions Thus far of the holy Seed for these times which were â—he substance and stay of the State as others formerly for their times Esay chap. 6.13 of the falling away from the faith of many in Israel II. Daniel spake as of many particular events touching the Kings of the North and South so of the Apostasie of the visible Suns of the Church of many in Israel which came to passe in those sad calamitous times of Ptolomy Philopater K. of Egypt and in the daies of Antiochus Epiphanes King of the North. Daniel sheweth how many were drawn away by Philopaters allurements and became lawless VVhereas other of their Brethren being constant in the faith had great deliverance Dan. 11.14.3 Macca and the apostates shame and disgrace Of Antiochus it is recorded Thus by orafâ— and deceit he did prevail against many of the Jews and made them forsake the holy Covenant and with these he had intelligence how to do mischief against the faithfull and the Temple and Jerusalem Daniel sheweth the vilonesse of his wicked King chap. 8.24 25 and chap. 11.28 30 31 32 33. Let the godly Reader see the Commentaries of Mr. Broughton on Daniel Zachariah foretold of the Civill Dissentions among the Jews and how they would oppresse one another Those three wicked Shepherds with the former false Prophets were thieves and robbers but the sheep did not hear them Joh. 10. Dan. 12. and forsake the Law of faith given by Christ to Moses and follow heresies There were three wicked Shepherds that hated sound doctrine and made false expositions on the holy Text and many fables and many traditions and did not cleave to the Law that Christ the Angel of Gods presence gave to Moses at Horeb with the Statutes and Judgements Malachy 4. This fulfils châ—â— which Daniel foretold That although Godly Teachers did turn many to righteousness yet the wicked would do wickedly and none of the wicked would understand Wherefore God gave them into the hands of one another and into the hands of their Kings the Levitical Kings Vid. Tremel on Zach. 11. and the Herods and the Caesars Malachi sheweth that Saddwoisâ—â—â— was beginning in his daies c. 3.14.15 which greatly increased This was a strong faction and prevailed much against the Pharisees that they made sad and woful Tragical slaughters of one another Gen. 49. Deuter. 33. and many of their High Priests were of this faction The Priests would be Kings not remembring Jacobs and Moses Testaments Jacob shewed that of right Judah should have the Government of the State Moses shewed how the Tribe of Levi should be exercised but they neglected the Prieshood and the covenant of the Priesthood therefore the imprecation of Moses fell on them Then Christs brake both his Staves Beauty and Binders The Beauty of his Ordinances they had till about these times Zach. 11.10 Dan. 11.35 12.10 which now were grieveusly corrupted therefore God deprived them greatly of that Glorious Mercy and in his anger brake the staffe of strength They despised the godly Teachers that had suffered sore afflictions many waies for the faith of the truth Therefore God gave them over into the hands of wicked Shepheards that never sought their Good Zachary 11.15 16 17. So Achab for despising Michaiah was given over to believe four hundred lyars to his destruction So under the new Testament 2 Thess 2. As for Christs other Staff Binders We must remember that Ezekiel had prophecied that when they returned from Babel Judah and Ephraim should be as one Stick in his hand and so they were after the return But we must know many of Judah and Israel continually returned as Zac. 8. 9. 10. For of the fourty nine thousand that returned Ezra 2. Ten or twelve thousand were of the ten Tribes and this unity continued all the time of the Persians and to about one hundred and fifty of Javan consider Zachary 9.13 how they conjoined But for their apostasie Christ brake this Staff also that the Brotherhood of Ephraim and Judah was almost utterly dissolved The event of which was borrible distractions emulations and contentions very sad and grievous The poor of the Flock as is noted observed all these things Zachary 11.11 Miserable and deplorable was the State of these times and which continued until our Lords daies And when He came he sealed Vision and Prophecy by teaching and sound expositions of the Law and so much restrained this apostasie by himself and his Apostles by him and cleared all holy Doctrine and opened the truth of the Scriptures how and of whom the Prophets Luke 24.2 Thes 2.1 Tim. 4.1 2 3 2 Tim. 3.1 2 the Psalms and Moses spake and the faithful believed This apostasie was as dreadful and in many things like the apostasie of the Lawlesse man of sin for the sixt seventh eighth ninth tenth eleventh twelfth thirteenth fourteenth Centuries then the fourteenth Century the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ began to consume with the breath of his mouth that Wicked Romilus and the glory of Christ continued more and more to this day blessed be his holy name of all the Saints for ever Thirdly Of the enemies of the Saints the Jewes Concerning the Enemies of the people of God in the times of the Seavensy Seavens 1. Daniel foretold what troublesome times should befall the returned from Captivity under the Persians for Seaven Seavens that is fourty nine years both to them that returned and to them which were not yet returned In those Seaventy Seavens by the returned the Temple was builded and the City Jerusalem re-edifyed with the wall and distinction of Streets Ezra and Nehemiah shew what troubles they had by the Seed of the Serpent in performing those Noble Enterprizes And for them not returned the book of Esther shewes the cruel and malitious intendment of that wicked Haman the Agagite of the posterity of Amalek The Persians reigned eighty years after the Seaven Seavens they reigned in all one hundred and thirty years Also Daniel foretelleth how Javan in Alexander should afflict The King of the North was that Gog and Magog Ezek. 38. 39 Also how the Kings of the North and South The Ten hornes collaterally should long afflict This Daniel sheweth by an Historical Prophecy in many particular events to the daies of Ptolomy Philopater and Antiochus Epiphanes The 8.10 11. 12. chap. of Daniel are all in the time
of the seventy seavens and Ptolomy Epiphanes all that time of Javan in those Kings of North and South they were a Beast horned to gore the people of God and had Iron legs to trample under foot the pleasant Land that is the Land of Israel Immanuels Land But after Antiochus Epiphanes the Fourth Beast Daniel 7. failed much of the strength of his hornes Before and after Antiochus Epiphanes death Christ strengthened Iudah and Ephraim against Iavan Zac. 9.13 and the legs of the image Dan. 2. were day now as Iron partly strong and partly brittle and so continued till at last Kittim the Romans possessed all as hath been noted The Kings of the North the Seleucidae reigned two hundred seventy years the Kings of the South i. e. Egypt reigned two hundred ninety four years But we must understand the years of these Kings of North and South were contemporary So these stories of the Medes and Persians Javan whole and Javan parted will reach 430 of the Seventy Sevens and the other 60 years to our Lords death for the most part the Romanes ruled If the godly Reader will make use of Mr. Bro. Commentaries on Daniel the preface thereof will shew him the Kings of Persia and the Kings of Javan their number and succession and the number of their years and all these Kings are to be confined within the compasse of the Seventy Sevens all the stories both of the four beasts Dan. 7. and of the four mettalls of the image Dan. 2. Mr. Bro. is so large in his Expositions of Daniel that there is not need of inlargement at this time Also let the Reader mark his Consent of Scripture for the orderly disposing of the times Furthermore they should not have nor needed any moe Prophets for that they should be greatly scattered shortly after Malachies dayes and their State continuallly shaken for hundreds of years before the holy incarnation by the interchangeable warres and victories of the Kings of the North and South Mal. 4. therefore the Law of Moses was so strictly enjoined to them to remember it which would have preserved them from all those errors and apostasie they fell into Again the Hebrew tongue after the return from Babel ceased from common use even the returned spake a mixt language as Nehemiah sheweth so they should have no more Prophets for the Hebrew tongue And we are to mark the lively Providence touching the families of Scripture Babel the eldest wicked monument Mr. Bro. in his notes on Dan. 5. which was built to the great ruine of all the godly families by Nymrod the Nephew of oursed Cham to the great grief of SEM and Japheth whereupon Adams tongue was made 70. of one Which Babel ended the Jews language the first tongue that it was common in no Kingdome after that And the greek tongue shortly after Malachies dayes became to be the most common tongue in the world that the the apostles did use it and write the New Testament in it Furthermore for Jews that look for such Prophets they should consider that Jerusalem and the Temple should have utter The Rulers and people of the Jews did not know the meaning of their own Prophets Act. 13.27 All the Prophets and the Law propheprophesied untill Iohn Mat. 11.13 so our Lord and his apostles shall prophesie in his speeches and their writings untill our Lords second coming and finall desolations in the neaâ— generation after the Seventy Sevens and such Prophets were to be no longer than Israels Prerogative lasted which was at the ending of the Seventy Sevenâ— for it is said God hath in these last dayes spoken to us by his Son who hath told us all thing and sealed vision and Prophet for the old Testament and hath given by himself and by his apostles visions and prophesies for the new Jerusalem to the end of the world in his new Testament Therefore those that now look for new apostles Prophets and miracles do and will run into all vanity and errour as the Jews did that regarded not the cloâ—ing up of the Prophesie of Malachy and for us of Japhets families of the new Testament we are charged to remember the commandements and words of the holy apostles our Lord Jesus Christ which charge not being observed the Church fell into errours fables and Doctrines of Devils Thus I suppose we may see they needed no moe Prophets to foretell the exact time of Christs death John Baptist was a great Prophet but he pointed with the finger that Christ was come and the chief point of his Ministry was to prepare the peoples heart for Christ that in him they might be blessed and saved from the curse that was coming on the disobedient so old Simeon with Zachurias and Anna a Prophetesse did declare Christ was come of whom Daniel and all the Prophets spake and John-Elias the Baptist preached to all Israel saying the Kingdome of heaven is come as Daniel had foretold chap. 2. and 7 and 9. Briefly sum up the premises seeing the holy angel from heaven had told Daniel in the Seventy Sevens of the exact time of the death of the MESSIAH to end Sacrifices and offerings and of the four mettals in the image and of the four beasts and of the wicked Kingdomes that were taught by them and of all them to be destroyed by the birth of the Son of Man the MESSIAS that is Babel Medes and Persians Javan Whole and Javan parted and the afflictions by them on the stars of heaven the Jews and of the full date of Israels peculiar glory by the utter desolation of the City Jerusalem and the Temple and that Ezra Nehemiah Esther did comment on Daniel and that Haggai Zachariah and Malachy had reproved the sinnes of their present age and also had much enlarged and opened Daniel in many things to the dayes of the coming of the Son of Man Now no more Prophets needed Mal. 4. but onely to remember the Law of Moses the servant of the Lord which he commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel with the Statutes and judgements They should study it till the coming of CHRIST and the coming of his fore-runner Mat. 11.13 14. for it should be to them a most sure word Therefore they needed not the URIM and THUMMIM and School-master This conclusion of Malachy with his Speech of John-Elias doth intimate a cessation of such holy prophets for all was spoken that need to be spoken People should diligently be exhorted privately and publickly by them whose place it is in chief so to do to read the holy and blessed Scriptures diligently and for this above handled to read together * These 6 books were in the time of the Seventy Sevens Ezra * Nehemiah * Esther Haggai Zachary * and Malachy with Daniel these six last books do much comment on Daniel And the godly Reader would be exhorted to mark the chronologie of the holy Scriptures and the chief persons in the times Thus
the Supper of the Lord. QUest 4. Shew first what is considered jointly in these two Answ Both these are memorials signes and seals as strong as the worlds frame to repenting and believing Receivers of whatsoever Gods word hath revealed for their hope and comfort of life temporal spiritual and eternal They by the work of the Spirit represent and seal the whole doctrine of the covenant and promises made to our Fathers and also it must ever be remembred they are reciprocal and for restipulation as the covenant and being added to the covenant more firmly binding strenthning and comforting to faith obedience and thankfulness QUest 5. What do you conceive to be taught us in Baptism Answ Baptism is to teach and seal unto us 1. †1 Mat. 3. Acts 2.38 39 40 41 42.2 Acts 2.38 and 22.16.3 Gal. 3.26 27.4 Rom 6.5 Tit. 53.6 1 Cor. 15.29 Rom 6. Col. 2.12 and 3.3 To all which we must joyn the calling on the name of the Lord with good understanding Acts 22.16 1 Pet. 3.21 Concrning our entrance into the Church and politie of Christs Kingdome and the priviledges of the same to distinguish us from other polities 2. Concerning our justifiation 3. Our adoption 4. New birth or sanctification 5. Mortification 6. The resurrection QUest 6. What do you consider in the Supper of the Lord. Ans This should be written in all hearts that they onely be happy which in the Lords Supper protest the abundance of grace of free forgivenesse for justification to reign by Christ the second Adam 2. The Bread broken and without mixture the wine poured out and without mixture administred in the Primitive sincerity and plainnesse dispensed by a lawfull Pastour and taken with holy judgement and faith our souls feeding upon the eternall Son his incaâ—nation and Redemption is a Seal of mercy of faithfullnesse builded and established in the very heavens to stay us in Christ and in his holy Doctrine The authority of the Speaker promising covenanting and now sealing who made the world by his word must be looked unto 3. As our eyes judge of the frame of the world and our minds to what invisible use all was made subject to the second Adam So our eyes must judge of Bread and Wine and our minds that Christ our onely and most holy and perfect high Sacrificer offered himself a Sacrifice for us 4. When Sacrifice was to end at the Supper of the Lamb Christ Jesus our Lord the Son eternall whom we must hear to seal the end of Sacrificing gave for beasts flesh and blood which figured his Body and Blood Bread and VVine to be in Covenant-speech his body and Blood 5. As all faithfull of the old Testament kept with all Religious observance the Gospel Statutes and testimonies of circumcision the passeover and Jubilee c. to the death of our Lord Jesus Christ at his first coming so shall this precious ordinance yea and all the ordinances that it seals to continne to the judgement of the great day And the Saints must evermore celebrate and observe it with an eye to his second coming This should be a constant Meditation with the people of God (*) Read a little treatise intituled a fruitfull Sermon on Rom. 12. but man by nature of a stubborn disposition to divine revelation will not be charmed though the charmer charm never so wifely Here should be inserted concerning the offices and officers of Christ for the government of his churches and the ministration of the holy things thereof Much hath been written Pro and Con. but questionlesse that church politie that is according to the words and commandements of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ is best and will agree and stand with the polities of Christians yea of heathen common weals And nothing but Popish ambition tyranny coveteousnesse idlenesse doth resist Christs government of which if the territories of Princes were rightly possessed they would glory in it * both for safety of person and State Kings being just †Kings that set light by gody and just government shall find Christs providences to be iron and fire to their common-weals 2 Sam 23.7 and ruling in the fear of God need not fear losse by Christ for that his Kingdome is not of this world VVhat his Kingdome is and who his Subjects are he sheweth Mat. 5. John 18.37 QUest 7. Who believed the most sure word of Prophesie and the Record that God the Father witnessed of the Son Answer The apostles and disciples and many others afore our Lords death the 3000 converted at one Sermon and 2000 and many more added presently after and in succeeding times 144000 Jews and innumerable martyrs and confessours of all Nations and languages as the Acts the Epistles to the Churches and the Apocalips do shew †Now the Kingdome of Christ spokeng of in Daniel c. 2 7 is fully manifested when the image of four mettals and the four beasts became as chaffe before the wind and were consumed by rivers of fire and that the Son of Man was come and had ascended to the Ancient of dâ—â—es then to him was given Kingdome power and glory that all people Nations and tongues should serve him Thus Prophesie and history do sweetly agree QVest 8. Then by this that you have said it doth manifestly appear that all Nations which were of the families of the Sons of Noah had no other faith for salvation taught them but what was taught in Sâ—ms Tents and by the Sons of SEM Answ Most true it is for all that was taught to Eva to Sem to Abraham Isaac Jacob Judah Moses David Salomon Daniel and all the Prophets in the old Testament the same faith and none other as the new Testament sheweth Christ taught his Apostles and disciples who went from Jerusalem Sems tents to the uttermost parts of the earth by our Lords commandement with the gift of tongues to disciple all nations by preaching the word of truth the Gospel concerning the incarnation of the Son of God his sufferings death resurrection from death his ascention and shining glorious appearing at his second coming to judge the world That work they performed by the strength of God who confirmed their Doctrine with signes wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost Then tongues nations and people of all Kingdomes departed from the power of darknesse by faith and obedience to the Kingdome of Christ giving honour and glory for ever to the king eternall holy invisible God onely wise 2. As Christ our salvation came of the Jews so the scriptures of the old and new Tâ—stament which reach the salvation came from them and because the saints from the dayes of the apostles have obtained the same like precious faith as Salem Sems tents had of old the state of the Church is termeâ— a Jâ—rusalem from Heaven and the names of the twelve Tribes upon the twelve Gates of this â—iâ—â—e do shew that all must be of their faith that enter
therein And the names of the Lambs twelve Aposties upon the twelve precious Jewels the same as the High sacrificer ware on his Brest the twelve foundations of the Wall teacheth and convinceth that all must be builded on their most holy doctrine that will be within the corporation of the Holy City The Annotations upon the Questions and Answers of the thirteenth CHAPTER THe first Quest and Answ This is he that was promised Christ the hope of the promise made unto the Fathers Acts 26.6 Heb. 11. all Christ the hope of all the Israel of God Acts 28.20.1 Tim. 1.1 Observe the gloriousness of Christ in all the old revelation of him yet in manner of doctrine they had not perfection to see and feel the word of life 1 John 1. But we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us a minde to know him which is true and we are in him that is true in his Son Jesus Christ This same is very God and eternal life Babes keep your selves from Idols that is from all false doctrine 1 Joh. 5.20 21. Quest 2. N. 9. The Father doth love and honour the Son and hath committed all power into his hand as Gen. 3.15 for humbling himself and laying down his life for his sheep so do the Angels so do all the Saints John 10. Phil. 2. Apoc. 5. Christ is a great King and witnessed concerning it a good confession before Pontius Pilate John 18.37 He is Fore-leader and Commander over the House of Jacob even over all the Israel of God Iew and Gentile Luke 1.32 3â— Gal. 3.7 6.16 Esay 55 Christ will be received as King Prophet and Sacrificer in Sion the heavenly or he will fill all places with dead bodies Psa 2.8.9 110. Deuâ— 18.18 Heb. 3.1 Ephes 1.21 23. Mat. 28. Hebr. 〈◊〉 1. If Angels and Moses must be heard and disobedience was justly recompensed much more the Son eternal must be heard to whom Maseâ— was but a servant Heb. 2.1 2 3. N. 11. This word Him is spoken exclusively â—y divine dispensation he alone passeth all acts from God to man and from man to God 1 〈◊〉 3.23 5.11 12 13 he is the One Mediatour between God and man Hebr. 2.17 18. 1 Tim. 2.5 Observe evâ—lusive speeches although the terms onely and alone be not alwaies expressed for in divine revelation there is not from Gen. 3.15 to the end of the Apocalips the least hint of any other Name under heaven he is the Alpha and the Omega of all the holy and blessed Scriptures so the promise to Abraham is exclusive no blessedness but in Christ the holy seed of all holinesse and so expounded by two Apostles Paul and Peter to the Jewes and Galatians Acts 3. 25. Gal. 3. Ibid. Is no other Head of the Church Christs Supremacy he is Lord of our faith and binder of conscience by his Laws To the Church he is Prophet Sacrificer and King and the same to every particular person for his particular comfort and calling as his person is not divided so neither his offices he is not a sacrificer for any but also he is a prophet to teach and a King to govern he is a Prince and a Saviour to all the Israel of God If Christ is not thus received his Father is not honoured in Kingdomes families and persons For this eleventh observation ponder these Scriptures Ephes 1.22 Jam. 〈◊〉 1â— Ephes 4. 8 11 12 13. Mat. 23.8 Acts 2.36 5.31 Quest 3. What Seals hath Iehovah commonly to call them Seals is the best and aptest term and suiteth even to the capacity of the meanest to be soonest conceived Because in this as the Jewes proverbially say well of the holy Spirits familiarizing with us God speaks according to the language and dealings of the Sons of Adams it is used Rom. 4. as also the true sign or token Gen. 17. Ibid. the Lord of the house None may ordain a Seal but he that hath ordained the writings of the Covenant God only inspired the holy writings and he only can add seals to his covenant in them As none can make a true deed or lease and seal it but the true Landlord in whom the Propriety is Therefore all Popery is to be aâ—â—ursed that addeth writings and Seals The Apostle glorieth only in this What I received of the Lord that have I delivered unto you 1 Cor. 11. Thus he as Moses faithfull in the house of God Heb. 3. Quest 4. and Answ They are reciprocal Ever since the Gospel was taught Gen. 3.15 God made a covenant with the faithfull and their seed as with Adam and Habel understood it thus he walked in good works 1 Iohn 3.12 God renewed the covenant to Noah before and after the Floud and he was godly But the Terms of the covenant in open record is more fully declared in after ages Genesis 17. and there it is shewed there is a restipulation on our part concerning Gods promises commandments threatnings curses admonitions counsels good examples c. we ingage our selves in all when we apply the Seals Our Lord saith Go teach and baptizâ— and teach them to observe all things Mat. 28. So the Tenant binds himself when he subscribes or puts to his seal Quest 5. and answ Baptismis for to teach and seal Baptism is a Seal of ending circumcision and all Abraâ—ams and Moses ceremonies the same may be said of the Lords Supper 〈◊〉 supra much more it bindeth to abhor humane religious traditions and precepts And we should not care to be judged as culpable for the not observing of them Col. 2. A circumcised Israelite was bound to keep the whole Lawâ— and our baptism bindeth us to look only to Gods commandements what he hath commanded us Mat. 28.20 Quest 6. and Answ N. 2. without mixture The Wine not to be mixed with Drakes bloud nor water nor Bread or Wine to be mixed with poyson as the Papal Hostia was when they gave it to the Emperour Henry the seventh next Albertus A fine device of the seed of the Serpent to kill Princes and Nobles that stand in their way Any action feazible and consequent for the Throne of King Abaddon is and must be a Declamation on that Theame of theirs sides non observanda cum â—aereticis O ye Princes and Nobles beware of such Scorpions trust none of them that hate the sincerity of the Gospel lest you finde their doctrine of Transubstantiation too true when they are such cursed Sorcerers that can turn bread into poison pretending to give Christ our life they give death and sacrifice your precious lives upon their Altars They can and will give you a secret sting for they are Scorpions and Sorcerers Also the Bread and Wine neither to be adored nor conjured with crossings or any other fantastical Popish Devilish humane deviceâ— but in all plainess the holy seal of the Covenant to be administred in both kindes according to the primitive institution As King Josias said Keep the
arose that spake and wrote perverse things wherefore the reformed are too blame in two respects 1. In yielding too much to the Papalines to prove points from the Ancients for that doth not saâ—issâ—â— them and there is no end with them 2. To urge against their Brethren that desire sincerity the opinions and practise of the Fathers in doctrine church-politie or ceremony The Apostles being Prophets and foreseeing evils gave this precept To remember their words 2 Pet. 3.2 And it is safest so to do This must be often pressed thought upon by all that love our Lord Iesus Christ with incorruption of spirit It was said plainly Beware lest any man carry you for a spoil through the traditions of men according to the rudiments of the world Augustine was of mind that Councils and Bishops ought not to be objected for trial of controversies but the holy Scriptures August Cont. Max. Wherefore give the controversie about altars no quiet no not for an hour for the truth of the Gospel else will not continne with crifice to officiate upon his altar Mordecai was sure to overthrow Haman God had sworn and said that be would have war with Amalek til he was rooted out O yee servants of the Lord contend by meek writings by fervent prayer and bold confession for the maintenance of the faith once given to the saints for Christ hath sworn and said Romes apostate politic should be perishing to the end Exod. 17. Num. 24.2 Thess 2. Apoc. 10. 17. â—lâ—ars are a main prop for Abaddons Kingdome and it is a complying with it and therefore some learned men have done amiss in pleading for that innovation Ibid. and fiâ—st wo Whereas Christ pronounceth Wo Wo Wo to the apostate churches it sheweth the ignorance and vanity of a childish belly-god spirit of many that say it was a good world in the daies of Popery of such good neighbourhood plenty and prosperity and cheapnesse of things Thus of old apostates pleaded against Christ and his Prophet Ieremiah ch 44. But his answer will stop all mouthes but the obstinate in superstition profanesse and mans inventions lyea such are ignorant of our own chronicles that so speak Quest 8. and answ N. 2. which troubled lesser Asia The seven churches of Asia and others falling from the faith Christ removed their Candlesticks by the Turk which shall be further touched in the comparison of the seven Trumpets and seven Vials Ibid. and by their resurrection The two Prophets that were killed by the beast stand upon their feet that is other godly of their spirit Christ raised for the good of the Church as the Spirit of Alias rested on Elisha N 4. Thus God hath once revealed The eleven former chapters of the Apocalyps revealeth the State of the church to the end of the world and the rest of the Apocalyps goeth over the same things with sweet variety Ibid. Eath blessing is here begâ—n and shall be perfected all the saints that are in this vale of tears do sit in the heavenly places and have chambers in the Jerusalem that is from heaven And here God wipeth all tears from our eyes And when they change this life they fully possesse that of which they had an earnest as the godly of gold were in the heavenly Tabernacle Psalm 15.1 The heavenly Father hath but one family yet two Tabernacles or two dwelling places the one in heaven the other on the earth When any of his Servants hath done so much service or factorage Polytâ—uman Phil. 3.20 as he thinks fit then he calls for him home from that part of the family on earth to the other in the heavens to possesse the joy of his Lord. Here an entrance is given us into the everlasting kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. here we pass from death to life John 5. It is said we are in the second Adam renewed after the image of God that created us and as here we bear his image so shall we bear it in the heavens and there be fully satisfyed with it Psalm 17.1 Cor. 15.49 and further the Scripture saith he that hath prepared us for immortall glory after our earthly house of tabernacle is taken down is God who hath also given unto us the earnest of the Spirit Another Scripture saith He hath made us meet to be partakers of the inhertiance of the Saints in light 2 Cor. 5.1 2. Col. 1. We are made meet in this life for that blessed possession Christians trained up in the word of Christ must hold anathema the Ovidian and Vâ—rgilian doctrine of the Popish purgatory c. Beware left there be any man catry you for a spoil through Phylosophy and vain deceit Col. 2. CHAP. XV. Questions Answers and Annotations Proving that Rome in Gods just Judgement is the place that he hath given unto the power of Satan for the setting up the mystery of iniquity QUest 1. and Answ What place by Gods unsearchable judgement was permitted to Satan for the setting up of the Mystery of Iniquity Answ Rome in Italy for after those ruins it was brought unto it began in process of time to be in credit again Then Satan used all signes and lying wonders to advance there the Throne of the Beast the man of sin or the Pontificalitie (a) As most churches so Rome in special was broken off by mis belief and for not continuing in Gods goodness as they were forewarned Rom. 11. And when the Pontificalitie was set up by the decree of God then nations from East to West obeyed and Worship the Pope and the image of the Imperial State as of old time they did the profane Emperours Whereas if it had not been for the Pontificality Rome and its Empire should never have been revived but left a most filthy lodging of Oxen and Hogs (b) Stâ—uchus against Vallo Lib. 1. in the beginning Even this do the Roman Catholicks themselves confesse And so there the wounded Head was revived by the Pontificality QUest 2. But Rome totidem literis is not named in the holy Scriptures to be the Mother of Whoredomes and abominations How do you know that all these evils were thence to arise Answ By divers notes and marks 1. It is evident that the fixt Head of the Roman State and Power the Politie of Roman Caesars crucified our Lord. 2. By the Locusts and their King the Angel of the bottomless-pit which can agree to no politick corporation in the world but to the Pope and his spiritualty QUest 3. and Answ How is the King of Locusts described Answ 1. It is shewed that the King of Locusts was a star in the heaven of the Church but did opostate and became not a Messenger of the Church of Christ but the Angel of the Pit 2. The keyes which formerly he had being an Angel and a Star were for the honour of CHRISTS Kingdome but apostating his keyes are the keys of the bottomless pit 3. When he used the
keys of Christs authority well then light of truth he taught to the opening of the kingdome of heaven and to glorifie Christ but apostating with the keys of the Dragon and his own authoritie he let out of the pit a smoak of heresies to corrupt the earth and to darken Sun and air Christ the Sun of Justice and his Mediation and the Scriptures by which light cometh to our eyes So in all this he is not a Star of Heaven nor a Messenger of the Congregation of God but Apolluon a King of Pit-darknesse 4. In that the Holy Spirit gives the King of Locusts the appellation of Apolluon it was to teach the sealed of God that all his Politie his Lawes crossing common reason his mass his idolitry his (c) Especially on Gen. 3.15 translating she for he false translating of Scripture his false litigious rules of faith his false miracles lying signes and wonders (d) Mr. Calvin and others write of their Reliques forged reliques his reviving of Aarons office and ceremonies (e) As eloquent and learned Viretus in his Christian disputations hath shewed so also a book of the three conformities and heathenish customes and fables c. c. that all tendeth to eternal destruction so he is another Apollo a Devil of Delphos destroying all such as spake at his mouth QUest 4. How are his Locusts described Answ 1. Out of the smoke of the Pit the Popes Clergy ariseth They be Locusts for their Great swarms and idle bellies bred from the pit fruges consumere nati to consume the fruits of other mens labours Millions of Monks and Friars c. void of all actions for Political use are fitly compared to Locusts 2. They be as Scorpions having stings in their Tayls shewing they be false Prophets by close-poisoning and terrifying doctrine to sting and vex inthral and torment the hearts and minds of men 3. They are for the Wars which they are their king cause and make and for strengthning and defending their own authority and doctrine as horses (f) This is too manifest ever since the Bishop of Rome got the Supremacy by the Murderer Phocas ready for battel with wings of Chariots with Breast-plates of iron Also they have teeth of Lions to devour all and to hold fast that which by fraud our violence they have once gotten 4. They would seem to have no secular power yet their dealings shew they wear Crowns like Gold as hating Gods ordinance of Magistracy How have they and Abaddon their king contested against Princes how have they given the affront to the greatest Potentates c. c. 5. For private State in pretence they are said to have faces of men for cloyster keeping and womanly-life and for many of women-sex in their orders they are said to have hair like women This denoteth also their counterfeit modesty and simplicity and alluring inticements by good words and fair speeches deceiving as Balaamites the hearts of the simple to spiritual fornication 6. They are three unclean spirits like frogs spirits of Devils that come out of the mouth of the Dracon and out of the mouth of the Beast and out of the mouth of the false Prophet from whom they have commission to creep into kings Courts to teach and persâ—ade by false miracles and froggy slimy unclean doctrines of devils to ignoble and dangerous attempts cruel and tyranical projects c. But their croaking hath not that event for their purpose under the Phials as under the Trumpets These notes all agree most fitly to the Roman Catholicks QUest 5. How furthermore hath the holy Spirit described Rome in its abominations Answ By the arms that God hath set out the Empire and Pontificality first by the great red Dracon and his tail by the body of the Dracon is meant the Empire under the Caesars by the tail is meant the false Prophet that deceived the world with false doctrine QUest 6. How secondly Answ The Empire is described by one Beast coming out of the Sea who hath seven heads and ten horns yea also in this Beast is comprized the Pontificality being the Reviver of the wounded Head This beast hath his arms from che four Beasts in Daniel chap. 7. For Rome having subdued all those Countries that those Beasts ruled and being like them for idolatry and cruelty in afflicting the holy City descending from heaven is a monster compounded of all four Being a Beast of seven heads and ten horns mouthed like a Lion footed like a Bear and spotted like a Leopard QUest 7. How thirdly Answ By the Beast that arose out of the Earth having two horns like a Lamb which meaneth the false Prophet the Angel of the Pit the usurping Vicar of Christ which is the Pontificality or the Corporation of Popes QUest 8. What is meant by the seaven Heads of the spotted Beast Answ Two things First the seven Hills on which the City of Rome was builded Secondly the seven Kings or Polities or kindes of government that were and should be of that City QUest 9. How many governments had been when the Apostle wrote Answ Five had been one then was and another should come after QUest 10. What Head was it that then was Answ The Caesars ruling the Empire This description of a City that then reigned when the Apostle wrote over the Kings of the Earth by seven Hills and seven changes of Government agreeth with no City in the World but Rome QUest 11. How long did that Head live which was alive when the Apostle wrote Answ About three hundred years and then godly Constantinus made it dead as is said removing the Constantinople QUest 12. What Government did come after the Caesars the fixt Head was wounded to death Answ The Pontificality that is the Government of the Roman State by Popes This is meant by the Beast with two Hornes like a Lamb who revived the wounded Head of the Empire and made it to live So the double power of the Pontificalitie is a Seavensh and after a sort an eighth Head or Politie QUest 13. What is meant by the ten horns of the Spotted Beast Answ The Kingdomes that committed fornication with the great Whore and that gave their power to uphold the kingdom of the Beast that revived the Empire QUest 14. How further is Romes Policy under the Empire and the Corporation of the Papacy described Answ By mystical allusions to Countries and Cities to Sodome for filthiness of life pride excesse idleness and oppression to Babylon and Egypt for false Religion bondage and cruelty And observe it is said plainly That our Lord was crucified in the great City or large Common-weal which Spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt And Apolluon the King of the Pit the King of Locusts and his Locusts did cruelly murder the faithful Witnesses of Christ that they found in that their policy QUest 15. How doth the Apostle to the Thessalonians set forth unto us the Beast with two Hornes like a Lamb
Answ By what he is and by what he doth 1. He is called like Jeroboam (a) As God taught Adam to give names to expresse natures Gen. 2. so God in these names teacheth Princes and People what they shall finde in the Beast that was and is not and yet is A man of sin called the Son of Perdition like Ishcariot a new Antiochus an adversary and in the estimation of his corporation a God called also the Wicked and Lawless add hitherto the other names and titles of the Father of the Papacy an apostate Star Wormwood Angel of the Pit King of Locusts Abaddon Apolluon i. e. destroyer false Prophet Beast of the Pit Beast like a Lamb Healer of the wounded Head Tayl of the Dragon Antichrist Pope (b) The common name which we and Papists give the Pope unawares is to be marked how Christ over-ruleth our tongues for Pope and Daemon are all one as learned have observed or Daemon 2. His actions are he causeth an Apostacy or Rebellion from the faith and when that apostacy came to the height he set him and his corporation above all authority of the Magistrate And in the Church or Temple of God would do those things which are proper unto God forgiveth sins maketh new articles of faith (c) Vid. Mr. White way to the true Church Epistle to the Reader and Mr. Junius on the Apoc. 13.12 13 c. maketh his Decrees to be obeyed and followed as yea before and above the very Scriptures (d) He dispenseth with Gods Law of God and Lord of faith and conscience c. and saith of himself I am a God on Earth and that all the Kingdomes of the World are his and giveth them to whom he will Now all this iniquity is administred in a mystery by the effectual working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders in all force of deceit and violence Annotations upon the Questions and Answers of the fifteenth Chapter QUest 1. The man of sin or the Pontificality The Corporation of Popes is termed as one man Mark such Corporation speeches Moses speaketh to all Israel as to one man so all the wicked from Kain to the wicked Jews are but one corporation yea to the end of the World Mat. 23.35 So the four Beasts are tearmed four Kings that is four Kingdomes Daniel chap. 7. So the ten horns of the Roman Beast are ten Kings that is Kingdomes that gave their power to the Beast And all the godly from the beginning of the world to the ending are one corporation in Christ Ephesians 1.10 Quest 3. N. 3. with the keys of the Dragon and his own authority Keys argue deputation of office as Esay 22. Matth. 16. Apoc. 1. And we may see what deputation to office Satan gave the Beast like a Lamb Apoc. 13.11 12 13 c. So here note King Abaddon is Satans Lieutenant to destroy Hebrews and Greeks Jewes and Gentiles by advancing and urging his Keyes to the rejecting not only the holy doctrine of Christ in the old and new Testament but those two languages of Hebrew and Greek and making a Scripture of his base Latine and urging it upon the Church Therefore he ought to be esteemed of Jew and Gentile not only Abaddon but Apolluon Ibid. Smoke of herestes to corrupt the earth Apolluons apostatical kingdome did corrupt the earth and the seven thunders of Gods judgments of the Lord God omnipotent attend to corrupt it as in the seven Vials as God did corrupt the corrupters Gen. 6. Ibid. and the Scriptures by which light c. the lawless man of sin and his Locusts by their strong violent and usurped authoritie and false doctrines set up a Religron more after Homer Ovid Virgiâ— and Plutarch then after the Prophets and Apostles such a fearful darkness they brought upon all the doctrine of Christ that to this day our nation in many places is full of heathenish customes and traditions N. 4. His false litigious rules of faith even their own learned men that were at â—rent could not understand the meaning of some points and wrote one against another like the old Babylonian builders Things were so crastily set downe of purpose like the oracles of Apollo vid. the Hist Coun. Trent page 229. edition 1620. read Mr. Cade Justif pag. 281. and 282. Quest 4. N. 1. Out of the smoke of the pitthe Popes Clergy ariseth Thus view them Devouring Locusts Stiâ—ging Seâ—rpions Arâ—â—â— horses Râ—nâ—â—ng Li ns Crowned usuâ—pers Croaking frogs Spirits of Devils All noisome creatures vermine not to be suffered in any wise or godly polity they are the creatures of a Destroyer These attributes shew their conditions Warm weather of policy puts quickning in the Locusts and then they will devour and if you look not to them betime they will prove stinging Scorpions then barded horses then rending lions then crowned usurpers if they find not their party strong enough then they creep like frogs into other Kings Courts to excite to war and then Spirits of Devils to walk over Land and Sea to destroy all them that oppose them they are the stigmaticall sworn slaves of Satan and Abaddoon O ye Princes and Nobles and Gentry and Commonalty our fathers found them so vid. the reigns of King Iohn Henry 2. and Henry 3. c. N. 2. Poysoning and terrifying Doctrine Singultu cruentato the Scorpions sting mens hearts that death was desired rather than life Apoc. 9. 6. Vid. Mr. Cadâ— his worthy labours Iustif lib 1.128 lib. 2.88 89. and the Appendix li. 1 3. So we may observe how the Histories of our forefathers do comment on the Aâ—ocalips Also observe these stinging Scorpions in their Doctrin of Purgatorie especially on mens death beds pilgrimage and anathemaes and treasons c. And how no man must dare to question any thing vid. the book of the Spanish Inquisition N 4. They wear Crowns like gold Note not onely King Abaddon wears a Crown but it is said his Locusts have Crowns like Gold each Locust dethronizeth and uncrowneth godly Princes in his heart A sharp Winter of policy will and must make the Scorpion-Locusts flee to the hedges to hide themselves or else we shall all grieve it is good to remember the two noble Henries of France Let our Nobles Gentry and Commons all our blessed Nation advisedly think of businesses for t posterity The Spirits of Devils are traversing the earth and Seas as much as Becket Petrus de â—uâ—ibus and the Arch-Priest under Henâ—y the fourth Gardiner Bonner Raviliac c. c. Ibid. N 4. Hating Gods Oâ—dinance of Magistracy Obedience to Princes the Doctrine of Sems Tents and the sons of S m Rom. 13.1 Pet. The contrary is the Doctrine of Apolluons Tents and his Locusts and their deceived who make but a mock of Princes and Governours as it was foretold of such Likewise these silt by dreamers defile the slâ—sh despise dominion and speak evill of Dignities Jude 8. N. 5. By good
God will render the mysticall Tyrian god his strength his glory and his Gammadims and all that love his merchandise a thrice execrable terrour and make them die the death of the unbaptised and settle glory in the true Church the Land of the living Jehovah of hosts hath purposed and let us believe it to stain the pride of all glory read Ezâ—k 26. 27. 28. Isa 23.9 Apoc 18. Consider like revolutions and how the former be stamps of the latter Ungodly Princes and men of place have proud thoughts and think themselves some Deity This comes from the old Adam to whom Satan said Ye shall be as gods Gen. 3. CHAP. XVI With Questions Answers and Annotations Proving that the mystery of iniquity begun to get head from Constantines time QUest 1. and Answ How long was it before the mysterie of iniquity came to the full Answer 1. From Constantines time Ecclesiasticall Teachers were never quiet but still aspired after Supremacy and drew Princes to their factions till 600 years after Christ then about that time Boniface the third Pope of Rome obtained by the help of the murderer Phocas to be called universall Bishop And this universall Supremacy did so increase untill the tenth Century that then Satan was let loose every where and few Martyrs and Confessours were found to hold the Testimonie of Christ sincerely and constantly The Locusts and their King Abaddon had so obscured Sun and air the office of Christ * The holy Bible tho aire to see Christ and Law by which we see him and prevailed in the world by all deceiveablenesse of unrighteousnesse among them that perish because they received not the love of the truth in the holy and blessed Scriptures 2. Note that the Pontificiality continued in that heighth of Supremacy to about the 13th and 14th and 15th Century All which time it was and is still upheld by Rebellion treasonable and cruel practises unsatiable Covetousnesse and ambition and by speaking lies through hypocrisie and by strong delusions in false Doctrine concerning the holy Scriptures Latine-service the attained Supremacy images perjury covenant-breaking urging unlawfull oaths and killing of Kings giving Dispenlations for incestuous marriages dissolving one to contract another and all for Popish interests to shore up their tottering Babylon c. And also their Index Expurgatorius corrupting all good ancient authours and their own Modern yea sleighting with great contempt the worthy (a) M. cade Justiâ— â—ib 1 p 48. Mr. White way c. 323. all that 47. digression ancient fathers calling them Hereticks lyars orroneous instead of the great things of Gods Law they obtruded their lying Legends c. Mind also their detestation of the thoughts of any Reformation either of Doctrine and manners c. c. c. 3. Oh the abominations of that apostate Church Oh the intricate and investigable paths the flatteries (b) But her steps are not as her lips Prov. 5.3 4 5. Rom. 16.18 smoothnesse and fairnesse of speech pleasurable delights of eyes and ears c. clamourous and impudent subtilties lies and slanders formall pretences of palliated holinesse and outward strength and glory of that great whore enchanting and merchandising the Kings of the earth and the Nations all which that Church yet mannaged with a secret Scorpion-like stinging terrour in their Legates and Emissaries Bulls and Breves c. 4. What pen can delineate the miseries of the Christian-world when and after the polity of Apolluon became a perfect mountain of fire and that specially appeared in the deepnesse of Satan when he drew all the West for 200 years into those calamitous and superstitious Warres the 11. and 12. Centuries for the Low Jerusalem that all the force of the Kings and Princes of the West was weakened to be under the Pontificality In those dayes was the Jerusalem from heaven the holy and beloved City of Christians besieged as if old Gog and Magog were alive and still the Papacy will fight against it till Michael the mighty angel of the Covenant our Lord JESUS CHRIST utter the seven Thunders of his power under the * They shall feel unawares the power of Christ the seventh Trumpet as Jericho felt the seventh day the seven Trumpets seventh Trumpet and the seventh Phiall against Abaddons Kingdome to give the enemie a finall destruction QUest 2. What is that you call the mysterie of iniquity Answer It is the spirituall Supremacy of the Pontificalitie that the Sea and Church of Rome onely with the Head thereof is the oracle of the world and of infallible judgement and cannot erre and that therefore all States and Churches as children must be subject to him the Head and to her as Mother †As old Babylon said I shall be a Lady for ever so mysticall Babylon saith she sits as Queen Their wisdome and their knowledge perverted them Isa 47. Apoc. 13. Queen and Mistris And this is the faith of its Corporation which also hath through the transformation of Satan into an angel of light some points of truth conjoyned but exceedingly defiled and over clouded with worldly decrees and humane devices heresies and blasphemies which in conclusion contradict and overthrow the truths they hold and renders their polity execrable to the Saints and their King the holy one of Israel QUest 3. Who were followers of the King of the Pit-darknesse and Pit-bred Locusts that revived the Empire Answer Kings and peoples and multitudes and Nations and kindreds and tongues small and great rich and poore bond and free who wondered at the glorious rising and standing of this new kind of Govenour and government This Corporation of the Papacie the Locusts and other mysticall Babylonians fitly enough call the Romane Catholick Church But the First and the Last the faithfull and true Witnesse teacheth to call it the Kingdome of the Beast The annotations upon the Questions and Answers of the sixteenth Chapter QVest 1. and Answer N. 1. Vntill the tenth Century 1000 years there were Churches and many godly that did reign with and live the life of Christ Apoc. 10.6 But the tenth Centurie reckoning from the Apostle Iohns death Rome the cause of fall to all and then the State of the Church or a great part was a dead State being wonderfully estranged from the testimony of JESUS and the word of God the onely mean of the first Resurrection Ibid. N. 1. Among them that perish Those in the Book of life and the sealed of God the Locusts did not hurt but others turning their ears from the truth were given unto Fables 2 Tim. 4. This Spirituall judgement was on Israel Isa 29 9. A gainsaying people shall be hardened and given up to their own hearts lusts Rom. 10.11 Psal 81. N. 2. Vnsatiable Coveteousnesse Unsatiable covetousnesse and ambition introduced many corruptions in Doctrine as it was foretold the love of money the root of all evil and makes men erre from the faith and a godly life 1
two Witnesses and the mark of the Beast And the decay of the mystery of iniquity QUest 1. Who kept the Testimony of Jesus and the word of God that came from Sems Tents in the times of the rising and height of the Pontificality Answ Many in the times of the rising of it and there were here and there two Witnesses some that followed the true Lamb and that in the height of it prophecyed misliked and cryed out against the proceedings of the mystery of iniquity But this company were not so conspicuous and visibly glorious being for divers Hundreds of years driven as into a Wilderness through a red sea of fire and fagot by the Beast of the Bottomless pit the counterfeit Lamb and the prevailing faction of his six hundred sixty six apostatical number yet at the last the Brethren overcame by the bloud of the Lamb and by the word of their Testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death QUest 2. Then the papacy would not bear with such as contested against it Answ Christs faithful witnesses were caused to mourn in Sackcloath No man might buy or sell that would not Worship the Image of the Beasts imperial State re-erected in the Pontificality Like their forefathers the servants of servants the cursed Canaanice Deut. 2.28 29. and receive the Mark of the Beast in his hand or forehead or the name of the Beast or at least be of the number of his name yea else were most cruelly used as is said throughout their large Common-weal That Whorish Church was and is drunk with the bloud and martyrs of Jesus QUest 3. What do you understand to be the mark of the Beast Answ The Popes Canon-Law telleth that none may live under the Empire but by yielding to the Popes Lawes in his subscribing to his Imperial and Ecclesiasticall Supremacy and oath of fidelity as a mark on the hand and some open token of communion with him and profession of his decrees as a mark in the forehead The saying of the Ave Maria went over all to the poor beggars and reverence to the cross and comming to their most wicked Mass Forbidding and refraining from reading and teaching the holy Scriptures but for licensed and auricular Confession Briefly all differing from their Dracons Lawes were heretiques and mightnot use policy having not the marks of his Politie QUest 4. Did then the Pontificalitie and Papacy as the old Empire porsecute the faith of the Prophets and Apostles doctrine Answ Yea for it is said that the latter Beast like a Lamb with two horns did all that the former Beast did He had the voice and speach of the Dracon Caesars and did maintain the same War against the * For the wars of the dragon Caesars and dragon-Pope◠see former notes Saints and for the same cause and that was the keeping of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus And this is the very mark of those that have Gods Name in their Foreheads Note as the old Beast-like enemies fought against the faith of Jerusalem Sems Tents and the People of God so Rome-Egypt Rome-Babylon with like cruelty and intestine hatred both in the Caesars and Popes against the same glorious faith of Jerusalem the holy City that came down from heaven Kain began the War the Pontificality and Papacy follow Kains waies The former be stamps of the latter As there is a like revolution of time so there is of other matters of Christs administration QUest 5. But the mystery of Iniquity the spiritual Supremacy did not still continue in that strength and repute in the Christian world as it had in former times Answ The Apostle foretold that the Lord Jesus would consume that wicked that man of sin and his corporation with the Spirit of his mouth and abolish it with the brightnesse of his coming so the fifteenth century the Lamb the King of mount Sion appeared with one hundred and forty four thousand attending on him who caused the Gospel to break out again and the light of it in the holy city increased to our daies that Christ the Sun of Iustice shineth and reigneth in England Scotland France Germany c. Blessed be his glorious name And let the four and twenty Elders and the sour lively Wights and all that fear God both small and great give thanks and sing Hallelujahs with all hearty courage as Apocal. 15. 19. QUest and Ans 6. Shall the Papacy be still decreasing Ans Yea for the preaching of the eternal Gospel falleth Rome-babylon and buildeth Jerusalem This the Sword of Christs mouth hath consumed the Kingdome of the Beast and chiefly through this Abaddon the son of perdition the angel of the bottomless pit and his cursed earthly politie and corporation shall be perishing to the end and is every day going to utter perdition QVest 7. But the Polity of Rome Egypt is strong by power and subtill counsells through the Kings and Princes that give their power to the Beast and through the swarms of innumerable Locusts and all his Worshippers all which are confederate with him and say b So said the Atheists of old Egypt and old Babylon Dan. 3.15 Exod. 5.2 Jer. 50.34 who can warr with the Beast as Apocal. 13.4 Answ Strong is Lord God of Hosts the King of Kings and Lord of Lords that will judge the great Whore and overthrow that habitation of Divels that hold of every foul Spirit that Cage of every uncleane and hatefull Bird. For he fitteth as on a White Cloud with a sicle in his hand and as on a White Horse of truth and might and in righteousnesse doth judge and make Warr. And the godly * The called the chosen the faithful are on the Lambs part Apoc. 17 14. Warriours †All those cry mightily to him that sits on the Cloud to thrust in his sicle and their prayers are heard Apoc. 14.15 Princes †Teachers and †people as on White Horses in his truth and might will follow him †And that we might be assured of Mysticall Babylons destruction Gen 6.11 12 13. 11.8 Jos 10.11 Jud. 4. 5.19 Jer. 25.10 Nah. 3.4.17 Ezek. 17. 28. Deut. 2.27 28. with Apoc. 13.17 Esai 63.3 the holy Spirit alludeth to the stories of the old enemies the old world Sodome Egypt Chanaan Edom Tyrus Niniveh Babel and apostate Jerusalem to the four cursed Kingdomes in Daniel chap. 7. to Gog and Magog Ezek. 38 39. As Gods wrath and vengeance came on them so most surely shall the cursed bloody heathenish apostaticall polity of King Abaddon be trodden in the wine-presse of the wrath of the Lord God omnipotent and perish The seven * The seven Phialls shew how Rome shal as it dealt in the Trumpets as shall be more largely shewed hereafter Phials set forth this how the just God doth pour out plagues on the Throne and Kingdome of the Beast QUest 8. Shall the Gospel of Christ increase in glory
before Luther the answer is easie where was it not and they themselves knew and saw where it was well enough They did not murther men that were invisible And it doth not alter the Casâ— in respect of truth that Christs witnesses were mean weak and few Christ was among them 1 Cor. 14.11 12 13.2 Cor. 4.8 9 10 11. and 13.4 vid. Mr. Cade lib. 2. page 181. c. What unreasonable prating do the Locusts use the foolish woman is clamorous Prov. 9. that we must shew a visible glorious company prosessing the Gospel in all ages when the Spirit forewarned of perillous times and of apostasie from the faith and evermore they that spake or did any thing to question Popish Doctrines or their usurped power were killed c. Question 2. and Answer No man might buy or sell Apoclyps 11. and 12. and 13. and 14. chapters set forth their cruelties the just is an abomination to the wicked contra a Proverbof experience from the first and last Counsells It is more dangerous to speak against and withstand their decrees and decretalls than the commandements of God a speech of the good and noble Lord Cobbam is worthy of place loe good people loe for the breaking of Gods Law and his great commandements they never yet cursed me but for their â—â—wn Laws and traditions most cruelly do they handle me and other men Thus that good Noble man spake to the people with a loud voice of those bloudy stinging Scorpions the Bishop of Canterbury and other Locusts Babylonian Lucifers that exalted themselves against the Kingdome of Christ and the Laws of the Land Acts and Monuments 731. of the last Edition Whores that break wedlock are cruell Ezek. 16. and 23. Sicut Patres vestrietiam vâ—s Acts 7.51 How are mens inventions yet pressed in these dayes of the Gospel 1636. But for Gods Commandements how slighted Experience the Saints of God both godly ministers and people have of this continually Ibid. worship the image of the beasts imperiall State The imperiall State of the Pontificality was a glorious image that all the world wondered and worshipped but John and all gracious know that that State is a Beast and is going into the lake of fire Quest 3. and Answ In subscribing c. All had must have communion with the Beast in one manner or other Gods marked hated the Beasts mark and the Beasts marked hated Gods mark Ibid. Revecâ—â—nce to the Crosse So do the Bishops in their Canons that in the sign of the Crosse in Baptisme the child is dedicated thereby to him that died on the Grosse Can. 30. And many of our people that will not be Papists yet are very superstitious and defend themselves by the Crosse in Baptisme Mat. 18.7 Luc. 17.1 That is a sad speech which Christ saith Cursed is he that maketh the blind to go out of their way and let all the people say Amen Deut. 27. Ibid. Of the 3. Quest and Answ Forbidding and refraining from reading and teaching the holy Scriptures It is great wickednesse that any should forbid any of the simplest to read the holy Bible or any godly learned requested by a company not to expound it as in the Primitive Churches this order for every man able and faithfull to utter his gift continued to the time of Theodoret yea long after Theod. upon 1 Cor. 14. See what the Spirit faith by the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 4.10.2 Tim. 2.2 But Gregory the ninth a Pope of Rome prohibited that no Lay-man should preach of whatsoever degree he was Quest 4. and Answ He had the voice and speech Laws be the Speech of a polity so that many have fitly compared the new Religion of the Pontificality with old Romes because it is so stuffed with old heathenish Customes after the Theologie rather the Popologie of Virgil and Ovid c. Adde hereunto the Popes decretalls over-ruling States are wicked commonly and the more they be being urged by men unlawfull Ibid. Keeping of the commandements of God and the faith of Jesus Blessed is he that watcheth against cunning craftinesse and deceit that he may keep his garment close to him Apoc. 16.15 Christ hath made us Kings and Priests and then we must bear holinesse in cur hearts and forcheads And let the just hold on his way and let the clean in hands increase in courage Job 17.9 Apoc. 21.11 Truth is better than our lives or States be independent and God will be with the good for whosoever saith the Lord shall be ashamed of me and of my words among this adulterous and sinfull generation that is that doth adulterate the faith by hereticall Doctrines and mens Precepts and traditions of him shall the Son of man be ashamed also when he shall come in his own glory and the Fathers and the holy angels Mak 8. Luc. 9. Here note how the Corporation of the seed of the Serpent esteemeth Christ and his servants and the holy Doctrine anathema And contrarily the Corporation of the holy seed esteem the Serpent and his seed and their commadements and inventions anathema maranatha This hath been the deadly feud and enmity and war from the beginning ever since Kain flew Habel This is the fire sword and division that Christ hath sent on the earth Gen. 3.15 Mat. 10. Luc. 12. This must be constantly observed for Kingdomes towns and families and persons Qu. 5. and Answ The King of mount Sion appeared with 144000. Observe the allusion in the term Mount Sion which sheweth all that follow the Lamb under the new Testament harp the same song of holy faith as the faithfull of Mount Sion of old Apoc. 14. answerable to this the Apostle sweetly protesteth Acts 26.6 7. and all the Epistle to the Hebrews sheweth this most evidently Likewise any part of the old Testament cited or paraphrased or any way expressed by our Lord and his apostles proveth that cursed Popery should be accursed that objecteth novelty to our most holy faith and this well considered will strengthen the godly Student against the Anabaptist and Antinomian c. In Apocal. chap. 7. there were 144000. that the first Beast warred against and in chap. 14. the same number that held the faith of the Patriarchs and Apostles The second Beast warres against them The tenth Century Satan was let loose to deceive and then the Churches were in a dead State from a Church-life but now the Churches begin to recover life to live again is as it were a Resurrection as the Jews in the return from Babel Ezek. 37. Apoc. 20. Ibid. And all that fear God both small and great gave thinks None but one made gracious as Iohn can see the holy Ierusalem and sing praise Ezek. 43.11 Worldly look to worldly pomp and every man as he bears a person Christian will praise the Lord God for his salvations from the idolatry heresie strange language and tyranny of the man of sinne of Rome-Egypt Psal 98.1 2 3. Psal 114. Oh the searfull judgement of
Christ giving the world over to slavery and befottednesse in former times Rejoice over her thou heaven and ye holy Apostles and Prophets for God hath avenged ye on her read attentively Psal 81. and in all this book of the Apocalips compare old things with new Quest 6. And chiefty through this Abaddon States miss much the mark that think to overthrow the Kingdome of Abaddon if liberties and not the quarrell of the Gospel be not syncerely intended Let the King of Swedens doings advise them And consider Zac. 4.6 chiefly so must the Temple be built and Fathers and Councels Doctors and School men are not the sword of Christs mouth much lesse a dumb base idle and proud ministery those and these humane helps we have used long enough Ibid. Shall be perishing to the end As those four beasts Daâ—â—y perished by the time of our Lords first coming so the Romane Beast made of those four shall by his second A greater curse cannot be to terrisie us in partaking with them For what State will seek to uphold the Kingdome of the Beast King Abaddon must sink with it as a great milstone that Christ casteth into the sea and let each State whose Kingdome is the Lords and his Christs take heed how they tamper in leagues and Treaties with any of the horns that yet uphold and give their power to the Beast and mark events Christ hath and will preserve his Common-Weals that rule for him that in truth defend his faith as D. Cariton in his thankfull remembrance hath evidenced to our ingratefull and forgetfull Nation Will we not yet mind that theam of theirs nulla fides observanda baereticis yea it is more than a theam it is one of their Papall Laws a Canon in the Couneel of Constance Sess 19. Will not we believe a man to be bald till we see his brains vide Cade Justif lib. 2. 80 81. c. and the apdendix Ques salvos suscitaâ— ques destruit dementet Just with God that they that will not know his holy faith should not know reason The children of Noph and Tahpanbes have broken thine head contrary to Gen. 3.15 Jer. 2. Isa 9.13 and 30.4 The harlot Aholibah doted on the Egyptian and Babylonian worships which were her ruine they sent for the brave Gallants of Babel clothed inred attire a type of Scarlet Cardinals of mysticall Babylon Ezek. 23 14 15. Hos 9.2 and 10.6 c. c. Dear Queen Elizabeth would not suffer Jerolamus Martinengo to come over into England for any Treaty Hist Council of Trent 440. but now Treaties and Locusts are either sent for or suffered to swarm Alasse what means it that an ambasâ—adour should be sent to the seven Mountain City of mysticall Babylon What have we to do to drink the waters of Tyber Jer. 2.18 1636 Ezek. 23.16 in King Edwards dayes the State sent for P. Martyr and Martin Buâ—er and for many years countenanced men of their Spirit but now c. The syncerity of the Gospel is the sure Basis of all prosperity to a State and notwithstanding all this Elias and Elisha and Samâ—el c. will be the Chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof False Religion and oppression is the earthquake of a State as Mr. Cade most affectionately sheweth in the Appendix Quest 7. and Answ That gave their power to the beast The Kings that did traffick with the Pope continually for his confirmation they felt Christs anger for it for he would have them know that by him Kings reign that all power in heaven and earth is his that the most high ruleth over the Kingdomes of men as the proud King of old Babel who was made a beast did confesse to warn the Beast of mysticall Babylon of his blasphemous arrogancy Prev 8. Mat 28.18 Dan. 4. Rom. 1â— 1 i.e. Kingdomes that will not stick to Gods covenant shall find this Scripture made good on them 2 Chron. 12.8 Ibid. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords The Lamb shall overcome and revenge the blood of his servants Apoc. 19. Five beads were fallen for Gods peoples sake when John wrote and the sixth head was wounded to death for persecuting the faith so shall the seventh Head feel the curse of the living God Ibid. That will judge the great Whore God shall judge them and his Prophets and their enemies shall judge them and the righteous men shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses and blood is in their hands Ezek. 16.38 and 23.45 Ibid. That hold of every foul spirit Whom do these foul spirits conscience-cauterised hypocrites seduce on whom do these Vultures kites and ravens seise on surely on none but those men and women that have sore and itching ears and cannot abide sound Teaching and have no love to the truth and laden with sins and led away with divers lusts lusts of the eyes of flesh and pride of life 1 Tim 6.10 2 Tim. 3 6 7. and 4. and 3 4.1 John 2.16 Apoc. 18.2 This verse of Apoc. 18.2 may be an allusion to Isa 13.21.22 as old Babylon was troubled Zim Jim and Ohim so mysticall Babylonians in our Land in these dayes of darknesse have been troubled with spirits and hobgoblins and night-terrours c. But blessed be the father of mercies the God of all consolation for the Gospel of his Son which hath scattered these evils from us Ibid. For he sitteth as on a white cloud with a sicle in his hand and on a white hoâ—se Let the Saints remember with joy how Christ the King rode on a cloud in bringing Israel out of old Egypt so now in bringing us his Isael out of Rome Egyâ—t Gird thy sword upon thy thigh O most mighty Psal 45. in Apoc. 6.2 Christ rode as on a white horse in his instruments the angels invisibly men visibly against the Casars till he had wounded to death that head of the Romane State so now against the reviver of the wounded head he rode on a white horse Apocal. 19.11 as against old Egypt Hab 3.8 Jehovah shall reign for ever and ever Moses and all faithfull so sing Exod. 15. Apoc. 15. At the figure of the †The holy spirit alludeth to the stories of the old enemies Apocalyps 18. c. sheweth the great fall of mysticall Babylon from old stories Oh that our brethren would be conversant in the holy Scriptures the Romane polity killing men for the Prophets and Apostles Doctrine is as guilty as if it had killed them and all holy in the same faith All the righteous blood shed from Habel the righteous to this day shall be required of them and it should admonish our Nobles Gentry ministery and Commonalty to take heed how they comply with that bloody whorish Church lest they acquire the guiltinesse of its massacres treasons Gun-powder plot c. consider Job 9.4 to help the Reader to compare the Apâ—calyps with old stories somewhat I will mention for these present expressions The old world Gen. 6.11 12 13.
corrupted the earth by apostasie and God would corrupt that is destroy it so the Lord will corrupt the policy of the man of Sin Apoc. 11.18 God plagued Sodom Gen. 19. Rome is called Sodom and God will destroy it Apoc. 11.8 We know how God plagued Egypt Rome is called Egypt Apoc. 11.8 and many of the plagues of Egypt are and shall be on Rome-Egypt Apoc. 16. Sichoâ— the King of the Amorites would not suffer Israel to buy and sell bread nor drink so the Popish policy Apoc. 13.16 but God destroyed the one and will the other Edom Isa 63. with Apocal. 19.15 Tyrus Ezek. 27. 30 31 32. with Apoc. 18.15 16 17 18 19. Niniveb 3 4 17. Apoc. 17.4 and for Ninivebs Locusts Apoc. 9. Apostate Jerusalem Jeremiah 25.10 Apoc. 18 22 23. Of the four beasts in Dan. 7. spoken of afore in applying them to the Romane beast All the Apocalyps almost every Sentence is taken from the Prophets expressing old rerms for new States and places and times but that would be too long a work here to describe it is done other where Quest 8. and Answ The same Kingdomes that gave their power A man even bymans wit might marvell why Princes would suffer such a deceiver as Apolluon to stand one year his Doctrine being against all light of the blessed Scriptures each Prince being able to cast him from his Territories Gods wayes are unsearchable God hath chosen a few onely and none can come to Christ unlesse the heavenly Father draw him but the things revealed belong to us and our children Ibid. They shall embrace the Gospel The holy City shall be yet more glorious The streets of the City are pure gold as clear as glasse then shall the Saints walk chearfully when Gods commandements and the faith of Christ are purged from the filthy scum of mans inventions Our Lord Christ the Teacher appointed of the Father and his apostles in their Doctrine were like Refiners fire and fullers sope to the Rabbies of traditlons and bodily exercise Mat. 5. and 6. and 7. and 156 and 23. but they were not able to abide it but as Cain persecuted with intestine hatred so Christ in his martyrs and his angels in the Reformed Churches hath been and will be as refiners fire and fullers sope to the King of Locusts and his Locusts Doctrine he will purge his floor of the fulsome stuffe and the chaffe of the decitfull hypocrites Ibid. And verily as that whorish polity hath been As Israel in Egypt under Pharaoh so the cause of the Gospel seemed unrecoverable under the Egyptiacall Kingdome of the Man of Sin but the sayings of God are true he is Jehovah performer of promise as Israel felt for old Egypt Exod. 6.3 so we have felt for Rome-Egypt and as we have seen the loving kindnesse of God so shall others Rome-Egypt shall be more and more desolate Queâ—â— 9. and answ With his Locusts is the faise Pro phet The Pontificality is a Beast of Empire in its power and it with its Clergy is the false Prophet a Corporoation speech false Prophet that is the body of false Prophets Ibid. Cast alive as sodomites The common-weal of King Abaddon is called Sodome and his Catholick company and Church faith of her self she is a Queen Apoc. 18. yet she is but the Queen of Sodome and Babylon all the Kings and Princes that are of that polity let them fear the punishment of Sodome unlesse they repent and make their common-weals our Lords and his Christs Quest 10. and answ Without rest day and night God gave men over that loved not the truth to believe lies that they might be damned Terrour it is said without Rest and then what lies and witcherafts do they teach and believe of Masses Trentalls Requiems Dirges Libera me 's c. No rest to them that follow the Beast Ibid. To use no garments Their Cannons and prayers and apparrell are all bent to a blind drift and not fittest to have been used in our tongue the whole frame is out of order Mr. Bro. in Apoc. 94. and 156. Quest 11. and answ But sentence is not so passed c. We judge well of many of our forefathers that they are Saints in heaven for they made divers good Laws against Devilish Popery and were still complaining of Popish enormities and many in their last Wills would not bequeath any thing to maintain Popish Masses c. c. and in their judgement and affection were much against Popery and did come very far out of that polity yet through fear went under the name of Papists and the number of his name and durst not through the diligent tyranny of the Scorpion-Locusts openly confesse the truth as there are now such in Spain and Italy c. that hate Popery yet go under the name of the Beast and the God that multiplieth to pardon the God of all mercies no doubt did and doth passe by the weaknesse of his servants in those dayes and places of darknesse but that is no comfort to Papists that are in Reformed Churches for they in obstinacy still worship the Image of the Beast and have his mark both in hand and forehead Ibid. Come out of her my people They must not be of worldly glorious mysticall Babylons part that will condemn her but absolute free from her We must be as in a wildernesse as Israel from Egypt and as on an high mountain in the Spirit as John and Ezekiel afore Christ will shew us the glory of his own ordinances and the great Whore and her abominations and till we be ashamed of all the wickednesse that we have received from the man of sin we cannot so clearly see the form and fashion of heavenly things Ezek 43.10 11. Forty nine thousand were perswaded to leave old Babylon in hope of Christ his first coming so they that hope of comfort at Christ his second coming must come out of all mysticall Babylons polity R. R. B. Jewell and other Worthies of Christ in our State Def. Apol. chap. 22. Divis 1. But in departing from the Papacy Godly Teachers must not think of a new Constitution of Churches but of Reformation part off all additions from the holy Scriptures from offices in the Church and officers seals and censures and the open profane from seals and the Primitiye apostolick purity will appear if we otherwise do we shall not avoid the ungodlinesse of Anabaptistrie and other pratlers that do dischurch Churches and Members Ibid. O thrice blessed The Lord JESUS faith Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophâ—cie of the Apocalyps and keep those things which are written therein Apoc. 1. and 22.7 Again Blessed are they that do his commandements that they may have â—ight to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the City Apoc. 22. 14 Mark the phrase Blessed are they that do his commandements what is this a covenant of works is not this the same
Earth had haile and fire mixed with bloud cast into it which metaphoricaly importeth stormy fiery and bloudy contentions which Church-men were full of from Constantines times about Pâ—â—ority â—nd JESUS Christ his alone mediation waâ— neglected this made the profession of christianity to be full of Hypocrisie and ful of coldnesse in the pure worships among people thereby love to the truth waxing cold the people began to be given over unto fables c. for when B.B. Unlearned Schollars turned all to ambition and heresie to politicians to propsenenesse strove for superiority then Monachi fel to idlenesse and to extol Saints and Angels c and to hate painfull and orthodox Schollers as Athanasius Chrisoslome Basil c. In like sort from the first Phiall most greivous Ulcers and Boyles of State are powred upon the Popish Earth The plague of old Egypt is upon the mindes of Papists his Jannes'es and his Jambres'es namely on their seduced ones that resisteth the truth after the LAMBS appearing on Mount Sion with his 144000 attending on him in the fourteenth Century but more in the fifteenth SECT 2. The second Trumpet and second Phiall UNder the second Trumpet the Mystery of Iniquity still increasing towards the sixth Centry Ecclesiasticks never ceased affecting superiority and the spirituall supremacy one of the greatest Heresies that they became a Mountaine but not as yet come to his full growth of fire cast into the Sea of Nations burning and throwing out sulphurious and bloudy matter of contention by heresies errors Ceremonies c. every where so that true Religion was burned up greatly both in Magistrates and men of place and in ordinary Christians and in Teachers compared to ships This was a further degree of misery to the Church more then the first Trumpet warned to the quickning of the Beast In like sort under the scond Phiall the Sea of Nations namely the most potent Kingdome of King Abaddon hath been and is within it self full of bloody commotions through diverse factions and sharp contentions which came out of the Phiall of Gods anger to consume the bowels of that viperous Hierarchy and holy Martyrs discovered that the whole Sea of Ordinances of their Religion was of no more soul nourishment then the putrified blood of the dead so that all became his marked were like the dead Sea Asphaltes being full of hypocrisie trusting in bodily exercise idolatry sorceries idlenesse murthers pride covetousnesse filthy lusts c. This also was a great plague to the King of Locusts and to his Locusts The conscionable study of the holy Text from the Hebrew and Greek Testaments was much neglected by flothfull contempt and onely translations from translations were used with us bred uncertainty and it bred disdain and it bred blindnesse and it bred contempt of Christ and at last it bred rejection to Machomed and to the man of sin Locusts went from all professions as Franciscans Dominicans Carmelities Priests Levites c. SECT 3. The third Trumpet and third Phial 3. UNder the third Trumpet a great star fell from the heaven of the Church which denoteth an apostasie of many learned men and they became wormwood and each one to strengthen his Faction made bitter by false and bad expositions the sweet fountains and waters of holy Scripture so that a third part of their Church became dead in all abominations and through much addition of heathenish Customes They instead of being comfortable and clear lights were but stinking torch lights and full of contentions which caused much innocent blood to be shed This did further help on to the three Woes of great misery that were yet to come on the world So in like sort the third Phial pours out wrath upon the Papal fountains and and Rivers their canons decretalls cathedrall Expositions Monastick studies all their divine Services as they called them c. Also their feigned reliques Papal dispensations Papal indulgences hallowed amulets holy Shrines c. c. all which were rivers from their Sea to conveigh and transport maintenance and glory to their glorious Monarchy of the King of Locusts King Abaddon All these things by this Phial were made known to be but rotten dotages lying sables This bred effusion of much blood in all countries from their Princes Shipmen and their people which also in all occasions as rivers and fountains did shew their Subsidious relation to the great Pontifician Sea by all endeavours but especially in that their Princes were then Carnifices the executioners of the Papal Breves and determinations c. against the Saints and Prophets Now these from the just judgement of God do drink blood measure for measure by the Princes Teachers and people that fall from the Papacy God is unchangeable in his justice on the Cains of the earth from the blood of Abel the righteous to this day as he was so he is and will be still the same Our native countrey chiefly did pour out this phiall in wickliffes dayes bur more in K. H 8. and K. E. 6. and Q.E. and K.J. And Luther and others did it in Germany SECT 4. The fourth Trumpet and fourth Phial 4. UNder the fourth Trumpet the apostate churches not being warned by the three former Trumpets the fourth sounded a further degree of apostasie that sad and dark evils of most grievous blindenesse and ignorance should be in the Church yet in these times Christ that restrains apostasie had his two Witnesses that a third part of Sun Moon and Stars were smitten with the day and the night Jacob expoundeth Sun Moon and Stars to be his Church Learned men and Scholars greatly fell away that the Mountain of fire came to a further greatnesse and more burned in the world In like sort under the fourth Phial a great part of Apolluons Sunglorious universality and by Synechdoche all his inferiour glories is smitten by the godly Witnesses as Elias smote Achabâ— Kingdom that brought it into a desperate burning feaver and as men so affected speak strange things so the Pseudo-Catholicks be in a great boiling heat torment and vexation because as it is seen in all Countreys more or less cast off Popery So that whereas they should have repented and glorified God for his inestimable mercy of the everlasting Gospel they fret as Moab and Balaam and utter great blasphemies SECT 5. Of the fifth Trumpet and siâ—st Wo and fifth Phial 5. IN the fifth Trumpet is shewed that the Beast Abyssigeâ—a when he with his Locusts crept out of the Pit of deep darknesse they conjured up with them a smoke of all former errours and heresies and heathenish customes that Christ the Son of Justice his Throne and Kingdome and his blessed Law the air by which we see him were darkned And also he with his Locusts set up a pompous throne exercising universal Supremacy in temporal and spiritual things like old Babel And so as old Babel is callâ—d a destroying Mountain so now Abaddon of mystical Babylon became a
land doth shew from Daâ—â— 12. and Psalm 8. that the Lamb slain though he once were the afflicted Son of sorrowful Enosh yet that now he is â—â—â—lred above everyname and that to him all power in heaven and in earth was and is committed and that he rules all by Sea and Land and therefore little children and faithful evermore did Apoc. 6. 7. 12. 13 14. chap. and evermore shall say Hosanna to him that now is in the highest heavens The great Cry of Hosanna destroyed the Caesars Empire so it shall the Reviver of the Empire King Abaddon 5. His voice is as the voice of a Lion when he roareth he being the Lion of the Tribe of Judah hath made all the Beasts of the Pit to tremble and this teacheth what the Pope and Turk shall find Christ with his called chosen and faithful full of courage in teaching the Gospel shall take the prey and recover the spoil and the King of the Pit his Locusts and all his marked shall not be able to help themselves from his just judgements 6. The seven thunders from him uttered their voices of secret un-unspeakable wrath to the Enemies of the Church which the Phials in chap. 16. declare abundantly and the enemies shall not perceive it but go on in hardness impenitency as Pharoah did to their utter destruction 7. Christ hath in his hand the little book of the Holy Scriptures alwaies open for great consolation to the Church from which the Holy Angels of the Churches and other Witnesses do still prophesy to nations and Kings of their great Trespass in advancing the seven Mountain City All Abaddons power and his Locusts could never shut this book nor hinder prophesying This our native Countrey shewed in the days of King Henry the eight and Queen Mary and in times before See the story of the Saints Marbeck and Tindal c. c. 8. All this is mannaged with an oath to comfort and stablish the hoirs of promise that the Lord Christ the only Potentate 1 Tim 6. will put an end to all the troubles of the Church under the voice of the seventh Trumpet and last Wo and seventh Phial 9. It is of necessary consequence to observe some circumstances about the sad times of the fifth and sixth Trumpets because some say the Beast of the Pit King Abaddon did utterly root out the church of Christ and that no visible true church did appear when Anti-christ possessed all in outward shew 10. But this is impossible for the promise is that the gates of Hades death and destruction should not so prevail Matth. 16.8 and that promise also is firm as a Rock which saith that Christ must reign till he make his enemies his footstool 1 Cor. 15.25 Abaddon could not put â—he Son of God the Rock and his cause so under his feet for as iâ—â—aid Christ the great angel of the Covenant did ever shew that he â—uled as King in his Kingdome of mount Sion Apoc. 14. and had ever one foot on the Sea and the other on the Land and the fifth had sixth Trumpet to rule all things both by Land and Sea and that he had the little book of the holy Bible ever open in his hand which he still put into the hearts of his witnesses to prophesie though in sackeloth and full of troubles Apoc. 11. this book Christ still kept open in spight of all the new Antiochus devises 11. Therefore let this teach us with strong assurance that though the Papacy did so overspread yet that Christ had here and there two witnesses some godly ones that held the fundamentall truths when the Beast of the Pit had most darkned the surface of Christendome and they are also called the two Olive branches and the two Candle-sticks which Christ made still to abide before him that in every age his Saints might see the light of holy Doctrine 2. This likewise is for great consolation to the Saints that the Gospel of the Kingdome as it hath so it shall continue notwithstanding all the opposition that hath been and shall be in the world against it 3. Hence many are sharply to be reproved and rebuked that think and utter blasphemies that Christ did not reign and that he had no witnesses under the Papacy and that the Beast of the Pit had annihilated the Church of God And hence new upstarts vain men that wait for new apostles and new Râ—velations would dischurch the Reformed Churches and dischurch members thereof that have come according to the commandement out of mysticall Babylon And in great wickdednesse they cast off Magistracy and the ordinances of the publick ministery and the care of Religion in family c. and so themselves become very antichrists yea some in new England 1. Do abhor the baptising of the infants of godly parents 2. Account our Congregations antichristian 3. Make no regard â—o sanctifie the Lords day 4. Despise Magistâ—acy 5. Scorn our godly Teachers the Lord grant that such as do openly professe this abomination may never have a toleration among us but if the Lord please to be gracious to them to enlighten their minds by the word of truth then they will soon see how they are given to Satan and lying spirits 12. Remember that apostasie from the faith was foretold and that the brethren must be put in it that they might be carefull to be nourished up in the words of faith and in good Doctrine such holy brethren ever were and ever shall be because God from the beginning hath elected such to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and the belief of the truth 13. Can such a thought enter into our hearts that the Man of sinne hath destroyed Christs kingdome utterly that it should not have a being ever since the apostles dayes Let us mark what our Lord Jesus Christ hath said to his apostles I have chosen you and ordained you Iohn 15.16 that ye should go forth among the Nationâ— and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain Let us not therefore be deceived that Antichrist hath ever been able to root out the Kingdome of Christ although they killed some witnesses yet still Christ raised others to prophesie and the most holy faith is builded on Christ the rock the polity of the heavenly Jeâ—usalem is builded more sure then that the seed of the Serpent should ever be able to prevail so far as to destroy it utterly It is builded on the twelve found ations of the faith of the holy Patriarks and apostles Doctrine and this city is compassed with a wall of holy truth unvinâ—ible And what hath shaken Abaddons Kingdome but the prohesying of the two witnesses from the opened book that is in Christ his hand Thus much by way of Parenthesis to Apoc. 10. Now I will go on with the Trumpets and Phials SECT 7. The sixth Trumpet and second wo and sixth Pbiaâ— 1. THe sixth Trumpet sheweth how Christ raised up the Turk from
all these matters to this agree the words of the Prophets Acts 15. he speaks plurally Prophets yet cites but Amos and let us marke how the apostles interpret and because almost all the Prophets shut up their Prophesies like Amos therefore I suppose Amos and that Councell do expound them all and so Amos will expound Jer. 30. 31 32 and 32. and 33. chapters some part of them as also Ezek. 37. the latter part of it as it shall be touched about the two sticks which come next to be considered CHAP. XX. Of the two Sticks Ezek. 37. in confutation of them that say it is not yet fulfilled that Ephraim was joyned to Judah also some observations are annexed from Zach. 2. Zach. 8. Zach. 9. Zach. 10. and chap. 11. SECT 1. ANswer 1. It is evident by an expresse promise that the other Tribes as well as Judah should return from captivity out of the Land of the North and from other countries where they were scattered Consider these Scriptures Jer. 3. In those dayes the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel and they shall come together out of the Land of the North to the Land that I have given for an inheritance to your fathers with this verse the 16 and the 17th verse should be minded Jer 50. In those dayes and in that time saith Jehovah the children of Israel shall come they and the children of Judah together going and weeping they shall go and seek Jehovah their God and many such expressions the Prophets have 2. The 49000 that did return with Zorobabel Ezra 2. many of them might be of the ten Tribes for at this time all the Tribes were called Jews but before I go further I would note two things 1. The angel Gabriels glorious message from heaven of the Seventy sevens and the holy Doctrine therein contained 2. The mild government * although the Medes and Persians were likened to a savage Bear to Babel Dan. 7 yet they are likened to a tame Ram for the comfort of Israel Dan. 8. of the Kings of Persia under Daâ—ius Artaxast 41 year that so favoured Ezra and Nehemiah and eight years under his successor Daâ—ius and 42 years under Artaxtrxes his successor almost 100 years this long space was of much rest to Israel These two things doubltesse would cause many to remember Sion and Ierusalem and to return and flock to Canaan And in the time of that comfortable quietnesse they might get Cattel Silverâ— and gold apparrel c. as in these 80. years of David Salomon Ez. 38. how did they increase in riches and honour in multitudes and so in our native Country in the dayes of Q.E. and K.I. How did England increase in people honour and wealth by our blessed peace which the Lord in great mercy gave us for 66 years 3. Again it is said plainly 1 Chron. 9. that some of Ephraim and Manasseh were of them that returned and some of Bethel that idolatrous City of the ten Tribes returned V. Tremel in 1 Châ— 9 Neh. 11.12 3 these of Ephraim and Manasseh were an earnest that more should return and Mr. Pemble Zach. on 13. sheweth that of the 49000 that returned 12000 of them were of the ten Tribes and it is shewed that they dwelled with Ivdah in Ierusalem and many moe in the other Cities of Iudah this is an history to the prophesie of the two sticks to be as one SECT 2. SOme object that those of the other Tribes besides Judah were but a sprinkling not worthy of consideration in respect of the Prophesie Answ 1. I think we may be much to blame to say so 〈◊〉 what is 38000 38000 besides the Levites and Nethinims and their servants and hand maids in all 49000. that returned suppose they were all of Iudah to the infinite numbers of Iudah that were carried captive that still remained in the nations abroad that number would be but a thin replenishing of the land of Iudea and Ierusalem and Benjamin and we are not otherwise to think but that many moe of Juâ—â—ah returned afterwards 2. I suppose I may take up the argument of the Apostle that the promises of God were not without effect though so many of the ten Tribes did not return as did of Iudah some did return though not to the State of a Kingdome by it self yet we are not to make question but that multitudes did return after ward according to the Prophesie The term Nations Ier. 3.17 may intimate Iiphraims nations as Gen. 48.19 many myriads of them as is evident by the wars under Javan as Dan. 11 and Ezek. 38 and 39. shews that very many of the whole house of Israel did replenish the land of Judah and Benjamin Iosephus and the Maechabees shew it was so and it is said there were besides them that had returned and that did separate themselves from the filthinesse of the heathens Ezra 6.21 and Darius Artaxast gave great incouragement Ezra 7 13. 3. Iudahs Tribe was principally to be nominated in the returned because of the Prophesie to Iudah the fourth son of Iacob who should have his Tribe chiefly to exist because of his Shitob according to Iacobs Prophecy * So Tremellius Gen. 49. A Tribe shall not sail to Judah till his Son shall come 4. This is considerable that all the time of the Seventy Sevens the Tribes were kept in some distinction yea untill the destruction of Ierusalem by Titus but not so afterward * The Iews write that none knew their own Tribes Dr. Lightfoot and others shew the vanity of their modern genealogies for they could not being so scattred The deceitfull unbelieving Jews did trouble the believing Gentiles by darkning the holy Genealogies of the Scriptures by their endlesse genealogies for after the Evangelists Matthew and Luke had cleared the case of our Lord by uncontrollable private Records which the Jews could not deny that our Lord sprang out of Judah then the apostle charged the Churches to take heed of not onely that but to avoid Jews fables and their endlesse genealogies And now let us consider the 21. verse of Ezek. 37. I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen whither they be gone and will gather them on every side and bring them into their own Land Can we think but that this was spoken of to the present age and therefore in that respect it cannot be understood of the Jews calling yet to come for we all know they shall not be called till the fullnesse of the Gentiles be come in and when is that I will gather them from among the heathen when is that mark it for the Lord speaketh reproachfully the heathen but now many of the Jews are among Reformed Churches which cannot be called heathen The Apostle said long since whether we be Jews Scythians bond or free all are one in Christ Jesus shall we then be accounted dogs unclean Certainly Ezekiel so speaketh of
confer History to prophesie and that is one of the surest ways of understanding the Holy Scriptures if we â—â—n rightly attaine unto it 3. For now we are not to expect new Revelations to tell the Church which man is of the House of David and what of the Family of Nathan or which man is of the House of Levi and of the Family of Shimei But if we will understand Zach. 1â— of the Iewes calling yet to come we must expect new Revelations and some that have a propheticall Spirit to tell the Church which man is of which Family and Tribe But the truth is this distinction of Families must be as evidently manifested by their geneologies at the time of the Jewes calling by the preaching of the Gospell as it was to Zachariah when he prophesyed that the House of David and Family of Nathan and the House of Levi and the Family of Shimei should mourne that so the Saints then may be comforted in that prophesâ—y that it was fulfilled by themand to them 4. For unlesse they be genealogized how shall they know that the Prophet spake true for the consolation of their named particular Families And there will be further reason of this distinction they of Judah and Lâ—vi being the noblest Familes and so should be perspicuous and exemplary to all the Jewes for they are so spoken of that they should go before the rest in holy Worships Either the Iewes have now evident demonstration in their genealogies for these Families or else a Prophet must arise to shew them these Families but the former they deny they say that none knowes his Tribe much lesse of which cheif Family Then a Prophet must arise to shew them which is of David and which is of Levi that the particular promise to those Families may be applyed to them and then they in speciall only are to regard it 5. Againe it may be the Families of Nathan and Shimei may be ignorant or carelesse to performe that worship but if a Prophet declare to them which is of which Family and call upon them it might be a comfortable invitation to performe the worship fore told that the blessing promised might be made good to them Zac. 13.1 And as I conceive this distinction of Families must be as evident for the performance as it was in the dayes of the prophesie 6. Distinction was kept carefully in some Families all the time of the Seventy Sevens Pâ— Chr. 24. And the wisedome of God saw it was very needfull it should be so our Lords genealogie was undoubtedly known though much in private records and so Zacarias Iuc 1. of the course of Abia Levi the eighth course and Paul of Benjamin by Father and Mother and Barnabas a Lâ—vite But these distinctions of Families 〈◊〉 Tribes could not be so kept after the desolation of Jerusalem by the Romans who lcatâ—ed them into the soure winds of the Heaven for 1600. yeares together the wisdome of God therefore saw it was most needfull to confound all their Tribe genealogies and themselves now say that none knoweth certainly of which Family and of which Tribe any of them be and if any of them shall affirme otherwise yet by Apostolicall canons we must not believe them 7. And some moderne Doctors of theirs that follow their Fore-Fathers steps in denying the Lord Jesus Christ write thus Mr. Broi â—col 37. in the days of Messias the King when his Kingdome shall be setled and all Israel gathered unto him all they shall be genealogiced according to their Families Thus if we will not stick to propriety we must run to Jewish Fables and endlesse genealogies and look with them for new Revelations and so not cleave fully to the words and commandments of the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour 8. There is also a like necessity of genealogies if we refer Ezeâ— 37. to the Iewes calling yet to come that they might know which is of Judah and which is of Ephraim But what hath been above written must serve for this also SECT II. Also it is objected and much pleaded for from Zac. 14.10.11 c. that Ierusalem in Chanaan shall he restored that the Iewes shall have a Kingdome there and all Nations must flock to them c. 1. ANsw We dare not understand Zac. 14.10 c. literally for if an Angell from Heaven should preach that our posterity must keep a worship anniversary at Ierusalem namely there to keep the Feast of Tabernacles he must be held anathema for it is plain ludaisme and not a genuine interpretation of the Prophets meaning and contradicteth the most sure word that bath been given by any holy Angel to Daniel Chap. 9. That Seventy Sevens are exactly accounted for Ierusalem to be an holy City and that in the next generation following the ending of them the City and holy Place should have finall and utter desolations which hath been verified for these fifteen hundred yeares and more 2. This of Zac. 14. hath the same analogie of faith with Esai 6â— from month to month and from Sabbath to Sabbath shall all flesh come to worship before Iehovah at a Jerusalem and Mal. 1. expounds Daâ— 9. Esai 66. Zach. 14. From the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name and a pure offering for my name shall be great among the Heathen saith Jehâ—wah of Hosts And the Lords conference with the woman of Samaria is pertinent Job 4. And the Apostle Paul sheweth that after our Lord and blessed Mediaâ—our had given himselfe a Ransome for all and that Testimony in due time as Dan. 9. had fore-told then saith the Apostle it is the will of the Lord that men pray every where lifting up pure hands 1. Tim. 2. 3. Must the Teachers of England teach their Auditors that they must keep an anniversary worship namely the Feast of Tabernacles in Low-Iorusalem in Chanaan or else that such greivous judgements both privative and positive as are there threatned will come upon the Nation Zac. 14.17.18 Or must I teach these things to my Children and must my Children teach their Children so and theirs the after Generation as all are bound to doe if it be understood in a literall sence Ps 48. as some have intimated for Jerusalem in Chanaan but I dare not receive this Doctrine and therefore I say to mine take heed what you heare and I am assured that time will shew that such as expound otherwise about the Jewes calling have run into many absurdities CHAP. XXIV Gog and Magog in Ezek. 38. 39. must be taken properly but Gog and Magog in Apoc. 20. must be taken in a mystical sence SECT I. 1. THE consent of Moses and the Prophets and of the New Testament is wonderfull in places times and Families but few minde such studies and that makes many write and speake at randome drawing prophesies
and stories to the times after the great mysterie of godlinesse was manifested the holy Incarnation of God manifested in the flesh when their events are before it 2. The Apocalyps all of it is by allusion to the old enemies of the Low Jerusalem as the stories of Egypt Babel Tyrus c. are alluded unto that the heavenly Jerusalem should have many enemies in all quarters The Apocalyps expresseth new times states and governments in old terms so it openeth all the old Testament for us that all the old enemies fought against Christ and his Kingdome then as now Rome and Turk do against Christ and his holy City from heaven 3. Magog Meshech Tubal c. were Nations known in Ezekiels dayes and without mixture and their dwelling undoubted But now the Lord God hath made great confusion and scattering of all Nations by thâ— warres and commotions that have been in the world that those places are not known by such Princes and Nations 4. The very phrase of the holy Prophet concerning the Nations he describeth Magog Meshech Tubal Gomer Togarmah and the North-quarters that is the North quarters from Israel with the times do argue that it was of Israel that returned from Captivity from all the Countries of Ashurs and Babels dispersion not of the Romane And it cannot be said that the Jews now are in such a captivity as formerly unlesse it be the spirituall captivity to Sin Satan and Unbelief at all Nations are without the Gospel These Considerations would make one conceive that the Prophecie of Ezekiel chap. 38. and 39. must be before the ending of Gabriels Seventy Sevens People must be taught to distinguish between Gog and Magog spoken in propriety and of Gog and Magog taken mystically 5. If we regard the holy story well we shall find that most Prophesies of these things reach not much further than the first coming of Christ Balaam goes as far if not further as any Prophecie of the old Testament concerning Kingdomes and Countries and their affairs He prophefied of Kittim afflicting Heber the Jews or Hebrews and especially of Christ Jesus the chiefest of all Hebers sons and so all Christians as in the Caesors and Popes 6. Tremellius Mr. Forbes and many others expound Ezek. 38.39 to be of the Nations that were under the Kingdome of Seleucidae called the Kings of the North in Dan. 11. SECT 2. I Think it is to good purpose to examine some verses in Ezek 38. and 39. concerning Gog. Thus it is said chap. 38.16 1 And I will bring thee against my Land that the heathen may know me when I shall be sanctified in thee O Gog before their eyes The Lord God of Israel did not bring Gog and his armies unto the mountains of Israel to war onely but that the knowledge of God might be dispersed among the heathen by the dispersion and affliction of his people doubtlesse those wars had that effect doubtlesse it caused after a while much dispute in many points about Religion and the calling of the Gentiles now drawing on and for these dayes of affliction it is said many shall greatly search and knowledge shall increase Dan. 12. So then the persecution of the two witnesses by the Beast of the Pit caused much study in Christendome as it did warring with mysticall Gog. The warres among the Seleuâ—â—-lagida were many and great and many fearfull slaughters among them the which the Jews could foretell to the heathen by the Prophefles of Ezekiel Daniel and Zachariah Dan. 11. and 12. as by an historicall Prophecy and it is reported by divers writers that the Jews were skilfull in Prophecies and By Daniel they might have understanding to foretell many events about the Kings of the North and South yea and of many other great matters about the coming of Messias Mr. Bro. hath this in the Consent of Scripture Anno mundi 3910 that Sybil writ that which Virgil is thought to follow and Lactantius citeth may well be made by some witty men taught of a Jew or the spirits otherwise might well speak of those times what Daniel taught plainly These things of Gog would cause much knowledge of Jehovah the God of Israel for it is said the Heathen shall know the Lord God of Israel when these things should have their events above Gog and Magog Thubal Meshech and Togarmah c. There were great expectations in the world but especially of Israel by Daniels Prophecies which would cause great rumours among all sorts so we may well think that Jehovah the God of Israel brought those wars of Javan in the Land of Gog for this purpose that the heathen may know me saith Jehovah the ever-living God By these wars there was spread a report among the heathens what Laws Israel had better and more ancient than all the heathens and although the heathens captived the Jews * A wonderful providence of Chist yet their Law captived the heathens This rumour of the holy Scriptures stirred up Ptolomie Philadelphus King of Egypt to endeavour to have the old Testament translated for his Library which was done for him by seventy two learned Interpreters of the Jews And this their work to this day is called the Septuagint 1. Ezek. 38. ult Thus will I magnifie my self and sanctifie my self and I will be known among the Nations and they shall know that I am Jehovah Christ did make himself great over Gog by the bloody slaughters that he sent among his Camps but all these troubles of Gog among the people Israel were so ordered as is noted that the heathen might know Jehovah the Lord God of Israel therefore there was a further Providence of Christ to shew his power to be great over Gogs Kingdome in the lesâ—er Asia when in Antiochia the chief City of the Kingdome of the Seleucidae Kings of the North the saith of the Gospel of the Son of God so prevailed that the disciples of Christ were there first called Christians So the seven Churches of old Gogs kingdome doth further look to Ezekiel That these events may plainly shew they are an history to the Prophecy of Ezekiel and Christ in theire own language doth conquer them to his Kingdome and faith of the Gospel 3. Ezek. 39.23 And the heathen shall know ' that the house of Israel went into captivity foâ— thâ—â—r iniquity because they trespassed against me c. This Text will afford these meditations 1. It must be well observed that the knowledge of all the providences of Christ that befell Israel by Assuâ— and Babel came not to Israel as the heathens had foolish conceits of the people of God which made them have these Proverbs in scorn of Israel yea in scorn and deâ—sion of Iehovah the God of Israel that they wâ—re a Nation born to bondage and their holy Religion was a barbarous suâ—erstition c. 2. But now the heathens by the Septuagint and the Jews being so dispersed among them of Iavan in Gogs countrey and in Egypt The heathens by
these providences of Christ and by his word that they began to have among them know what iniquity was and for what principal iniquity Israel was dispersed by Assur and Babel did know that all these captivities came on Israel for their iniquities and apostasies from the faith of the Gospel of the Son of God 3 These things might be a means to procure much knowledge of the Lord God of Israel among the heathens and it did so for Zac. 8. shews that the heathens should take hold of the skirt of him that is a Iew and so consort much with the people of God and this reason should the heathens themselves give we have heard that God is with you yea further they should say Surely our fathers have inherited lies vanity and things wherein there is no profiâ— Ier. 16. 4. The wayes of Christ are unsearchable for this knowledge might well come among the heathens by the Iews daily conference and by preaching the word among them in their Synagogues and by the Septuagints translation The Septuagints translation was much used among them Saint Luke and the Apostles chiefly used that translation and cite many times the Text of their translation as learned men observe and the godly Proselites did much read it doubtlesse and the prophane heathen might also read it because Horace and Ovid mock at their Sabbatismes as the Chaldeans had done It is also as true they might have knowledge by the Iews being so dispersed and having Synagogues in all great Cities by which means Iews matters would â—e much celebrated Beloved Reader if we were better versed in the holy Scriptures of the Son of God we should know more of him and the mannaging of his Mediatorian Kingdome in mercy and severity from Gen 3 15. cocerning the holy Seed and the Seed of the Seâ—pent SECT 3. OBject Some say there shall be a great Battell which hath never as yet come to passe as Ezek. 39. and Apoc. 20. 1. But for answer we ought to understand the warriourâ— there and here are of divers times and peoples and places as is above noted That of Exckiel is of Israel and the low Jerusalem this of Gog and Magog in the Apocalyps is meant of the troublers of the Church the holy City from heaven wheresoever and that at divers times 2. Neither place either of Ezekiel or of Apocalyps most be understood of any one Battel there never was nor ever shall be any such one Battel as some would understand in Ezek. 39 although it be said that all the arms and weapons of war of bows and arrows bucklers shields c. should serve the Cities of Israel to burn seven years and they shall not need to go to the woods and forrests to fetch home fuell to their fires What shall not the Cities of Israel fetch home fuell for their necessary uses for their families to burn for seven years We must labour to understand better when the literall sense must admit of allegories Tremellius understands seven years to be very long and very often numeâ—u finâ—tus pro infinito 3. Gog and Magog and all the North quarters mentioned are the Kingdome of the Seleucidae one of the iron legs Dan. 2. and explained chap. 11. and their war with the other leg the Lagidae of Egypt and their camping in Israel brought great troubles to them for 250 years and moe so that all their arms utensils and weapons of war should last seven year for fire-wood and because they were a continuall vexation to Israel for above 250 years it is spoken as one battell such are Corporation-speeches and so the Apocalyps must be understood not of one battel but after the tenth Century then the holy City of Christians was besieged in all quarters and is still even to this day and yet still it shall be vexed by the Beast and false Prophet that also is a Corporation speech for the Beast-like Empire of the Papacy and the false Prophet-Pope and all his Clergy have been in being these 600 years and moe and is still as yet in being and so for a while shall be till they be with Satan cast into the Lake of fire and Brimstone 4. Corporation Speeches must be observed diligently as Man of sin not to be attributed to one man 2 Thes 2. but it is the Pontificality the whole Corporation of Popes they are that Man of sin that Adversary that exalts himself c. and so the two Witnesses are not properly two but they are all the godly that have do and shall witnesse against the Beast and false Prophet the holy Scripture is full of of such manner of speaking Moses often speaks to all Israel as to one man so it is said the Prince of Tyrus was in Eden the garden of God Ezek. 28. but it is not meant of that Prince of Tyrus in Ezekiels dayes but of him in Davids and Salomons days lie in Ezekiels dayes was an apostate and an enemy to Israel and did not care for that honour as to be of the houshold of God and common weal of Israel in which Hyram Prince of Tyrus rejoiced 1 Kings 5. 5. It is not said Israel shall have such a battell against Gog but that Gog and his companies shall fall on the mountains of Israel and this came to passe by the Ptolomies of Egypt overcoming Gog the King of the North in divers battells The Sel uco-lagidae made marriages to strengthen one another but it did not take that effect for they dealt deceitfully one with another therefore it is said they shall be destroyed one of another Ezek 38.21 But all this came 〈◊〉 them for afflicting the Saints of them the holy Trinity and Christ was a burdensome Stone to them for their oppressing Ierusalem the holy City 6. It is true also the Jews had as in the Macchabees and Iosephus a great hand divers times against Gog as against Antiochus the vile and afterwards also CHAP. XXV Some Observations on Jeremiah 30 31 32 33 Chapters IT is evident that the Prophet must in these Chapters be taken in proprier for the return from Babels captivity and from all other Lands of the North. where they were chiefly scattered For Jer. 30.18 Ezra and Nehemiah do shew the fulsilling of that 18. verse Also chap. 31.23 these words aâ—yet they have been often touched and for chap 31.38 39 Nehemiah in chap. 3. is an expresse history for chap. 32. the godly being much disconsolate yea Jeremiah himself for that incurabl breach in mans apprehension and grievous wound in the Common weal of Israel yet Jehovah the performer of promises doth assure them they shall return from Babel and have a policy to buy and sell to set and let c. and this promise was as sure as the order of the heavens and chap. 33. hath speeches of like comfort The godly it may be were troubled Heb. 6.8 and 10.27 28 29. as the Thessalonians 2 Thes 2.1.2 For when the Jews saw that
Thes 3. 6. The Doctrine of Devils should ever be remembred or tradited to Posterity to be warned and taken heed of all the Doctrine of the Gospel should be tradited or delivered by the faithfull to others that there might be a godly feed in the Church 1 Tim. 4 6. 2 Tim. 2.2 But all these Traditions are now written by the Apostles yea what they taught was according to the Scriptures of the old and new Testament as ever they proved their Doctrine bâ— the old Testament 7. The Doctrine to the Galathians was by Tradition at the first but we see what the Doctrine was by the Epistle unto them it could not be but by word of mouth at the first and they were accursed that taught other Doctrine than the Apostle taught by preaching and Tradition and the same was as is written else the Apostle had incurred the anothema pronounced by himself Again consider the Doctrine to the Galathâ—an was no other but what was taught to Abraham Moses and the Prophets 8. Observe again 2 Thes 2.15 and 3 6. These two places shew what Traditions he gave them when he was present none other than those he wrote unto them as confer chap. 2.5 and chap. 3 10. So we may be sure by such conference of Scripture that none of the Apostles gave any Tradition by mouth contrary to their writings contra 9. Now then Traditions are of two sorts some agreeable to the Scriptures some disagreeable that make the word of God of no authority The Pharisees are the true fathers of the Pontificality and Papacy for these latter but for the former all that fear God and love the Gospel and love their posterity will follow the example of the old faithfull Psal 78 1 2 3 4 5 6. and obey the commandement of the Spirit of Christ of holding fast and standing fast in the now-written word and the comandments of the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour 2 Pet. 3 So this Apostle exhorted the Saints of his Bishoprick to regard the Prophets and reproved them for follwing â—yain Traditions of their fathers 1 Pet. 18. and 2 Pet. 1.20.21 And therefore to conclude with the Text of Romanes The same holy Lord God as Abraham worshipped Gen. 21.33 in chapter 16.26 When the Apostles and Disciples were inabled with the gift of tongues they were sent by the commandement of the everlasting God among all Nations to preach the Gospell and mystery of Christ by the Scriptures of the Prophets for the obedience of faith Blesse Jehovah O my soul and all that is within me blesse his holy name Blesse Jehovah O my soul and forget not all his Benefits who mâ—de his wayes known to Moses the Prophets and his holy Apostles Psalm 103.7 CHAP. XXIX Being an answer to them that say that the Polity of CHRIST given to Moses was not a Covenant of grace SECT 1. TO answer this sorry assertion we are to consider that Moses on Mount â—ivai talking with the Angel of the Covenant saw the whole Doctrine of our salvation in what sort all ages had and should have it among men what Moses saw his Law offereth to our fight The Prophets and Apostles saw the very same and happy are they onely which study to see these things The Dialogue with its annotations and ch 14. doth endevour to shew this and therefore I shall not now be large I will touch a little of Circumcision and of the Passeover and of the place of holy worship with the practice of the Saints I will speak somewhat promiscuously upon all in which the errours of the Concision will be occasionally spoken of 1. Crn cerning the Seal of Circumcision we must mark diligently the Doctrine of it by the Lord himself Gen. 17. and of his Apostle Rom. 4. and of the practice of faith in the Sâ—iâ—ts how they understood it and made use of it the Dialogue sheweth these things 2. Of the Passeover it was a Doctrine of faith in Christ as it is most evident by Exodus 12. Heb. 11. Iohn 29.1 Câ—â— 5. c. and the practise of the Saints is much to be observed 2 Chron. 30.22 The Levites taught the good knowledge of the Lord concerning the Passeover and they did eat throughout the feast seven dayes offering Peace-offerings and making concession to the Lord God of their fathers Thus the Levites taught the good knowledge of Christ-Jehovah in the Passeover as well as the Apostle to us 2 Cor. 11. They made confession of their sins and of their faith in the Son of God thus the godly and faithfull did and did not doubt and say Who can go up to heaven to bring Christ down to dwell in our Tabernacle or who can go to the deep of the grave to bring Christ from the dead but they confessed the Son of God should come to be a second Adam and give himself our Passeover to be sacrificed for our atonement and that the Godhead would raise the manhood to ascend the heavens to find eternall redemption and heavenly mansion for us And the Apostle doth shew us how and what they understood of the Passeover and the feast of unleavened bread 1 Coâ— 5. So it is said of Iosias that he commanded the people to keeâ— the Passeover unto Jehovah their God 2 Chron 35. as it is written in the Book of the Covenant What is that a Covenant of works No such matter but a Covenant of grace in Christ Thus in brief of the Seals of Circumcision and the Passeover which were seals of the justification which is by faith and all parts of worship that Circumcision initiated them unto must be understood of the Doctrine of a Covenant of grace Covenant and Seal must not differ neither do they in Gods ordination Psalm 119.04.128 3. Of the places of worship these are to be understood generally and specially the place of their generall worship was of all the Tribes together the more speciall and particular places were their Synagogues Oâ— both which we must observe what Gracious Promises of the presence of CHRIST is spoken Exod 20. In every place where I record my name I will come unto thee and blesse thee Exod. 29. Where I will meet with you to speak with thee and there I wâ—lâ— meet with the children of Israel and Israel shall be sanctified by my glory and I will sanctifie the Table of the congregation and the Altar I will also sanctifie both Aaron and his sons to minister unto me in the Priests office * The same â—is said to us for all the faithfull christians are the Israel of God 1 Cor. 6. Gal 6. Apoc. 21 and I will dwell amongst the children of Israel and will be their God c. c. Vnto the place which the Lord your God shall chuse out of all your tribes to put his name there unto his habitation shall ye seek and thither thou shalt come Deut. 1â— 5. and seek his presence evermore Psal 105.4 1 Chron. 16.11
ceremonies which could not procure justification Acts 13.38 39 and 2 Cor. 3.3 must be understood to this effect The Letter killeth but the spirituall discerning Christ gave life the Letter onely was the ministration of death all were lively oracles in Christ as â—â—â—ephen witnessed and lost his life in that cause and that was the great controversie after the ending of the Seventy Sevens 19. Israel after the flesh and proselited Jews boasted in and trusted to exterior glories and so do at this day as Gods writing in the two Tables the Tabernaclâ— and Temple furnished with all dignity of matter and form and all their appendâ—nces doubtlesse the outward glory was great in these things of the Priesthood of Levi but when outward things were onely * See Exod 30. 12.1 Pet. 1.18 noted above prized esteemed and trusted in and that their hearts were so vailed that their worships terminated in the outward action then God left all in small regard and shook them all by Babel and abolished them by Rome and so all that outward glory was done away that Christ might be known to be the building in which God delighted to dwell and to take up his rest for ever Psal 132. Christ was the sacrifice in which God was well pleased Christ was far more glorious than all by Moses yea he was all in all and the glory of all But we must not think that the ministration that Christ ordained by Moses was simply the ministration of death and condemnation Is not the ministration of the Gospel under the new Testament the ministration of death and condemnation Doth it not savour death unto death to some as it savours life unto life to others So surely the Doctrine of life in Christ by Moses is the same after Moses had set down the sum of all the holy Doctrine of his Gospel Law Deut. 13.11.12 13 14. then saith he from Christ See I have set before thee this day life and good death and evill in that I command thee this day to love Iâ—â—â—vâ—h thy God to walk in his wayes c Deut. 30.15 16 c and in versâ— 19. it is said I call heaven and â—arth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death blessing and cursing therefore chuse life that both thou and thy seed may live that thou mayest love Iehovah thy God that thou mayest ober his voice and that thou maist cleave unto him so he is thy life c. What is said more in the New Testament if any man love not Jehovah the Lord Iesus CHRIST let him be anathema 1 Co 16.22 c. and consider these Scriptures as relative to Moses John 3.35 36. and the speech of the son of consolation Acts 11. 23. Acts 28. with Isa 6. c. c. c. Therefore that speech 2 Cor. 3 is to batter down the errour of the concision who mis-understood mis-interpreted and so mis-believed the whole tenour of the Doctrine of Christ by Moses turning all his Doctrine of faith to be terminated in bodily exercise Our brethren would be exhorted to study the holy Scripture the errors of these times are impetuous but they shall not prevail long although they be driven on by the principalities and spirituall wickednesses of the powers of darknesse in all hellish fury And therefore again let us know the ministration of Christ by Moses was the Ministration of Justification to the Faithfull of the old Testament and the Gospel is not the Ministration of Justification to unbelievers and hypocrites in the new Testament but we are to consider the controversies of those dayes were marvellous that the Polity Christ gave by Moses should be abulished and the Apostles teaching of this was the chief cause of all their troubles and sufferings Gal. 6. Stephen so found CHAP. XXX Shewing further that Israel under Moses law was under a Covenant of grace 1. IN generall it is said You have I chosen above all people though all the earth be mine Take this speech how you will and still it was Grace 2 They were all redeemed or bought from Egypt by the blood of the Passeover Take this how we will it was grace in respect of the Apostate families so us redeemed from Satan and Satan dragon Caesars and from Satan-Dragon Popes It is true many despised the Lord that redeemed or bought them and so did we under the new Testament and still do wretches that we are 2 Pet. 2 1. Heb. 10.29 how ready for Apostasie 1 Tim. 4. c. But yet this Covenant of grace was not without effect to eternall life to many and the argument of the Apostle holds good in all generations Rom. 9 10 11. As Christ promised I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob and it is his memoriall to all generations to all of their faith whether Jew or Gentile 3. So by this if we mark well the processe of the holy story we may understand that the sons of Adam never were nor are plagued for not doing a Covenant of works but for despising Christ his Gospel and Kingdome That unexpressible plague of the confusion of tongues 2000 years came not but for despising Christ and his Kingdome and the Jews are cast off for this and to this day Turks and Papists are destroyed for the same and the ungodly and unrighteous in the Reformed Churches 4. They were under a Covenant of grace as much as any Reformed Church under the new Testament for all we may fear are not elect among the Churches finis operis did intend them all it did not exclude any from being under the covenant of grace to outward apprehension though finis operantis was for the elect as Moses speech Dâ—ut 29. ult would argue and so it is in all Reformed Churches No Nation but Israel were the houshold of faith and had the covenant of promise and enjoyed God and Christ Rom. 3 and 9. Ephes 2. and 3. therefore they were under a covenant of grace if they had not been in that state not one of them should have been saved and if they had been under a covenant of works for salvation they needed not to have been a Kingdome of Priests mark that speech in Epb. 1. We which first trusted in Christ that is we of Israel under the old Testament this is a most evident proof that they were under a covenant of grace 5. Examine well Exod. 19.4 Christ saith to Israel I have brought you to my self as the fathers had appointed him as Exod. 23 21.22 He saith the same Doctrine to us in the new Testament All things are delivered to me of my Father Mat. 11. and so it is shewed Christ made a covenant with them to be their God and to bring them to the Father to reveal the Father to them The Apostle prayeth that we may attain to comprehend the heighth depth length and breadth of the love of Christ and of his
souls go to the dark places of torment in Hades in the unseen world of souls and in this sense also Hades is also used in heathen authors and in some Greek Fathers being rightly alledged as it hath been well observed by Dr. Lighâ—foot in Acts 2. and by M. Bro who hath also observed that in no Greek author nor in aâ—l the new Testament Hades doth onely and properly signifie the place of torment So in Philemons Jambâ—iâ—ks two paths are in Hades one of the righteous the other of the wicked 4. The Reader may please to take notice that in these interpritations explications I have not run without good company but learned men and Churches that have suffered much for the truth of the Gospel have thus thought taught and written P. Martin and M. Buceâ— that held the stern of Religion in the dayes of King E. ward the sixth The first at Oxford and the other at Cambridge These two godly men were as good Divines as the world saw for a 1000 years as it is testified by Mr. Bro in a Treatise of the Article printed 1599 they brought into our native Countrey the Zurick Confession which was allowed by King Edward the sixth and by Queen Elizabeth The Confession is in these words Per inferos intelligimuâ— non locum supplicis designatum impiis sed defunctâ—s sideles quemadmodum per superas â—dbuc supâ—r stâ—es in vita proiâ—de anima Christi descondiâ— ad inferos id est delatâ— est in sinum Abrakâ— in qua collects fuâ—runt omnes d functi fideles ergo cum latâ—oni secum crucifixo dixit Hodie erâ—s mecum in Paradiso promisit ei consortium vita beatorum spiritum Licet enim Dominus descendâ—sâ—e dicâ—tur fit tamen ex more â—â—quendi Confitemur in hus articulâ— animas esse immortales â—asque pâ—otinus a morte â—oâ—porealy ansiâ—e ad vitam And the right Reverend Mr. Hen. Bullenger the godly Tiguâ—ine Professor doth record this very Confession on the Article of Christs descent as it is to be seen in his seventh Sermon in his first Decade towards the latter end of that Sermon I acknowledge that I never saw the Zurick Confession but as I find it recorded in other mens writings but that of Reverend Bullengeâ— is translated into English and printed many years ago His words translated run thus By Hades Hell we understand not the place of punishment appointted for the wicked but the place of the faithfull that are departed even as also by the higher parts we understand them that are yet remaining alive wherefore the soul of Christ descended inro hell that is to say it was carried into Abrahams bosome wherein all the faithfull already departed were gathered together therefore when he said to the thief that was crucified with him this day shalt thou be with me in Paradise he promised him the fellowship of life and of the blessed souls c. And prefently after Bullenger calls this article The article of the souls immortality in this article saith he we confesse that the souls are immortall and that immediately after death they do passe to life and this he speaks of all the Saints that have died in the faith of Christ from the beginning of the world 5. I find that many learned men of our native Countrey have and do wave as evil the translation He descended into hell and do hold the two former interpretations to be impertinent to the true scope of it and I believe that more and more will do so daily unlesse such as be too carelesse in taking the pains of the mind to search into the true knowledge of the things of God for indeed many Students care for no more but what they have received by Tradition 6. There is a Dictionary that is called Portus Dictionary and another little book a kind of Dictionary called â—lementa Graeca which shew that Hades among other acceptations doth signifie heaven as well as hell and some learned do record that in the Macedonian Greek dialect children are taught to pray Our Father which art in Hades Also there is another little book of 22 pages put forth lately in English by a godly learned man eâ—tituled Of the Article of our Creed Christ descended to Hades or ad inferos This little Treatise will much help to guide common Readers on this Subject 7. It is very usefull for the godly Reader to be well acquainted with the severall phrases of the holy Scripture and in speciall of the term soul the Reader may see the various acceptations of it in Ainsworths Tables after his translation of the five books of Mâ—ses He sheweth that the term soul is taken 1. For our naturall estate Gen. 2.7 2. For person Gen. 12 5. 3. For life Gen. 19.17 4. For mind of will Oen. 23.8 5. For Ege t is ille I thou he Gen. 17.4 6. For ones self Deut. 4.9 7. For a dead body Levit. 19.28 8. The word translated descended in the Creed is of great use to be rightly understood for in that place it doth not mean a going down but it means onely a passage from one place to another as they may easily observe that have but a little skill in the Greek Concordance to the new Testament Also it is to be noted that the Pronoun ille he spoken of the person must yet be understood of the Soul in this Article He i. e. his soul passed from his body to Hades to Paradise to heaven to God Again it is spoken of the person he rose from the dead the third day this must be understood of the body Some Objections answered Objection 1. He was crucified dead and buried and went to Hades to the unseen world The third day he arose from the dead and he ascended into heaven Whence some object that then Christ ascended twice which is not likely say they that there should be such a Tautâ—lâ—gie in so short an Abridgement of the faith Answer Is it not great pity that we should be educated in the Articles of our faith as to make such an ignorant Objection as this I grant that Christ ascended twice but yet it was in two differing sorts as it is expressed in two severall Articles of our faith 1. In his holy rationall soul onely when he died on the Crosse and that passed from his body immediately to Hades or to the unseen world of souls and in those dayes it was heedfull to professe this Article of the souls immortality as an Article of the faith because of the Sadducean Tenent 2. Forty dayes after his Resurrection he ascended into heaven both in soul and body together as the first fruits of them that sleep 1 Cor. 15. 30. And thus you see a necessity that the Articles of our faith should professe his ascending twice in these two differing sorts Objection 2. Some do scoffingly object because we make Christ to blesse God in Psal 16.10 and in Acts 2.27 because he would not leave his soul
that the Article of our Lords going to the joyes of God taught in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should be taught people of suffering hell-torments that when we should be taught to understand Hades of heaven we have been instructed to understand it of hell but we hope it will be so no more to put darknesse for light and evil for good 3. But now of latter times some learned seeing the native meaning of the greek in the Article will neither justifie the translation nor the exposition that is made upon it and yet still they do labour to make the matter good about hell-torments and therefore they have endevoured by the Scriptures to fortifie that opinion which how orthodoxly they have done it is hoped men may have leave to examine which if it be denied then we shall transfer the infallibility of the Pontifician chair justly decried to them whom we know will not arrogate any such thing 4. Are Orthodox Churches so infallible in all things may not godly learned men utter unsound Doctrines and much miscarry in matters of sound judgement and application It is possible they may There were in times past three godly Divines none like them now on the earth yet they did not speak of God right things although they thought they spake in the behalf of God I will transcribe what is spoken of them 5. Hear now my reasoning and hearken to the pleading of my lips will you speak wickedly for God and talk deceitfully for him will ye accept his person will ye contend for God Is it good he should search you out Job will tell us that it is not good to defend Gods cause with an error pretending Religion or as one mocketh another do you so mock with him He will surely reprove you if you do secretly respect persons Shall not his excellency make you afraid and his dâ—ead fall upon you Your remembrances are like to ashes and your bodies to bodies of clay Hold your peace c. Job 1â— 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. They were holy men and spoke most excellently and we see by this that though they exalted Gods holy justice in their applications yet they spake not righteously as Christ testifieth for the comfort of his servants Job in chap. 42. Thus Job spake to his three friends and we hope we speak to friends and we doubt not but they will remember that we ought not to have the faith our glorious Lord Jesus Christ in respect of persons 6. And we hope our learned will say as Elihu What shall we say to him for we cannot order our speech by reason of darknesse Job 37. and they will acknowledge they know in part and prophesie in part and we hope they wil not be angry if we judge of what they say the Apostle would not be angry but said Judge ye what I say 1 Cor. 10. and we hope they will not deny but that they may know we will not say be instructed in the way of Christ more perfectly 7. May not godly Ministers now speak things not fitting about the sufferings of our Lord and Saviour as if any shall say that he sufferred the second death els we should have suffered it if any shall say he suffered Hell torments for the same reason If any shall say that the Son of God was not Christ for a time when he underwent the wrath of God Also if any shall say that in his agonie in the garden or upon the Crosse he did enter the lists to fight the great combate hand to hand with his angry Father c. c Are these speeches if any shall so say the Dialect of the holy Spirit in his holy Scriptures which he hath conveyed unto us by his infinite good and gracious providence Again if some good men shall have these passages that it was not the violence of his crucifying that cut off his life but the wrath and curse of God swallowed up his spirit and made his heart fail him and that his soul left the body in that agonie Thus if any shall say then one may inter that he felt not the love of God his Father before he yielded the Spirit but died in a cloud but we are taught of God Gen. 3.15 Psal 22 the cicle of ii that when the Seed of the Serpent was so busie in breaking the foot soal piercing the hands and feet of the * morning Star that he with an holy peaceable and quiet spirit as a sheep dumb before the shearer committed the cause to him that judgeth righteously and prayed Father forgive them for thy know not what they do And it is said in Psal 16. that he did alwayes behold the Lord his heavenly Father before him and that he was still at his right hand that he could not be so moved or disturbed in soul as some talk The world was made to shew principalities and powers and thrones and dominions the contrary that he would rule all his souls affections in an holy and glorious manner and by that Justice make a new world and that he the second Adam had power over his affections more than ever the first Adam he had power to trouble himself with grief and sorrow and to be affected with grief and sufferings from others and to rejoyce as he saw occasion he could rule his affections as he did the waves of the sea so far to go and no further such an holy Majesty appeared in all his Sufferings at all times but especially in his agonie in the garden and sufferings on the Crosse In all which he carried himself beyond the comprehension of men and angels And this doth more appear if we consider the sweet heavenly and calm conference he had with the repenting thief on the Crosse He that bade us possesse our souls in patience that so in all afflictions we might enjoy our selves he much more did enjoy himself by his patience and obedience and as David in type saith I waited patiently for the Lord and he enclined his ear unto me and saved him from the pit of tumultuous as flictions So the Lord Jesus was from the fear of death Heb. 6 5.7 Again he loved his enemies and did good to them that hated him and prayed for them and bade us so to do and to overcome evil with goodnesse thus the LORD ruled his affections and gives us grace for grace so to do as Stephen c. And in that agonie in the garden there was an angel from heaven strengthening and comforting the humanity so that he was neither forsaken as some understand forsaken of the Father nor of the holy Angels and if God had forsaken him what Angel durst come to comfort him That we may better understand the term forsaken The rich man we know was forsaken of God for he was in torments under the second death and therefore he might not have so much as a drop of water to cool his luxurious palate much lesse might he have an holy Angel
of the second death 15. It is not mans inventions of Tantundem Equivalency as it is urged by some touching the sufferings of Jesus Christ that will reach and fathom these things The holy Scriptures are plaine for our instruction and consolation there we may see who hath Redeemed us and how and for what and from what and unto what A godly man and diligent searcher into the Scriptures affirmeth that he hath written thus or to this sence to a Reverend Divine though I have formerly saith he used their expressions that oppose the idem and affirme that Christ only suffered the Tantidem because I clearly saw that their way of arguing was sufficient to confute them that affirme that Christ for our Redemption did suffer the essentiall Torments of Hell yet notwithstanding saith he I do not fully approve of their way of arguing from the Tantundem as if it were the right way of opening Christs satisfaction because they also run in the vindictive Court way of Justice which is not the Scripture way for most of them that are for the Tantundem not all do affirme that Christ suffered the vindictive wrath of God in some degree according to the Court way of vindicative Justice though yet they doe also deny that Christ suffered Hell Torments But the way of Christs sufferings for our Redemption that I approve and follow is this namely that he suffered as a combater from his malignant combater Satan according to Gods declaration of the combate of enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent for God proclaimed a liberty to the Serpents seed to peirce him in the foot-stooles as a sinfull Malefactor on the Crosse And therefore hence it followes that all Christs outward sufferings must be inflicted on him from the enmity of his proclaimed enemy Satan And secondly hence it follows that his internal sufferings were from the sence of his outward or Christ as he was true man must be tenderly touched and deeply affected with his evill usage and therefore it was Gods will and Christs owne covenant that all hâ—â— internall humane passions of Feare Sorrow and sadnesse in his vitall and animall soul should arise from the evill usage of his malignant combater Satan namely from the evill usage of Satans malicious and envious instruments And thirdly this way of Christs sufferings was in Gods wisdome ordained to be for his preistly perfection or for his consecration before he could make his death to be a most perfect Sacrifice and this way I beleive hath more sound footing from Gods declaration in Gen. 3.15 then the contrary Court way of vindictive Justice and I beleive that all other after Scriptures that speake of Christs sufferings are but a commentary on Gods declaration in Gen. 3.25 And therefore Gen. 3.15 must be the Standard that must rule and order all our interpretations Thus he 16. Let men therefore take heed how they force beleife they know not what about Hell Torments and let them not think that what they write and speake Ex Cathedra must be beleived of Hearers without double controll or examination truly it is naturall to Ecclesiasticks to affect supremacy it is as proper a sin to them by nature as Tyrany is to magistracy 17. But the Lord Jesus is come downe to see the buildings of our instructors and in some things he doth confound their Language but I hope and pray that he wil also be pleased to send fiery cloven tongues to sit on them and to touch their lips with a live coale from the Alter to take away all iniquity that we in our own Language may heare them speake the wonderfull works of God And I doubt not but in due time our only Doctor Christ will so informe them that they will say with holy Job once have I spoken but I will not answer yea twice but I will proceed no further I have uttered that which I understood not things too wonderfull for me which I knew not CHAP. XXXVII Some Observation on 2. Cor. 5.19 20 21. with Gal. 3.13 SECT 1. He made him to be sin for us which knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousnesse of God in him 1. THe Translation must be considered It had been well if our godly and learned Translators had rendâ—ed it he made him to be a Sin-offering for us for so the Geneva * I suppose two millions of Geneva Bihles â—ave been Printed that have conferred 2. Cor. 5.21 to Exod. 29.14 Translation teacheth to render it and understand it I think neer a yeare a goe citing 2. Cor. 5.21 to Exod. 29.14 That phrase He made him to be sin for us is an Ebraisme for in the old Testament the Sin-offering is ordinarily called sin and no more but the word Offring is added by our Translators and by the like Reason it should have been aâ—ded in 2. Cor. 5.21 and Master Ainsworth in Ps 40. sheweth that it is so to be understood where the same Hebraisme is used but fully expressed in Heb. 10 Sacrifices for sin so we have the Translation of the holy Ghost And if our godly Translators had so Translated 2. Cor. 5. 21. they had not done amisse seeing we have such warrant yea themselves so translate it in Exod. 29.14 c. The like Ebraisme in Esai 53.10 when thou shalt make his soul a Trespasse namely a Trespasse-offering but the Seventy translate it sin and then the words must run thus When thou shalt make his soul sin that is to say a Sin-offering just as it should be in 2. Cor. 5.21 The like Ebraisme is in Dan. 9.24 there the Messias is said by his death to finish Trespasse and to end sin that is to say to finish Trespasse-offering and to end Sin-offering these things considered our Translators had done worthily if they had rendred 2. Cor. 5.21 He made him to be a Sin-offering for us 2. So Rom. 8.3 Should have been rendred and by a sacrifie for sinne condemned in the flesh It is well it is in the margine for what sense according to our language is it to say by sinne condemned sinne All tongues have their proper idiomes and we have been taught in our youths in the Grammar Schools diligently to make it and so it must be in translation of the more learned tongues This had been plain for us common readers and so it might have been read of us and our children from their infancy If this had been so translated and had been famillar to all our Ministers in their tender years there would not have been such collections as this That God made him sin that is say many God made him a sinner yea a most vile sinner by imputation in Gods account and many such orthodox expressions are used 3. The common tenet which many Divines not all from this Text of 2 Cor. 5.21 is that as our sinnes are imputed to Christ so his righteousnesse meaning his obedience to the Morall Law as
most say is imputed to us But it is very questionable whether we ought so to teach or believe for then he is as really a sinner as we are righteous by him the reciprocation calleth for that sense but we may not so say for his righteousnesse maketh a change in our state and condition but the reciprocation calls for thoughts of derestation the ear cannot endure it 4. Hence it is that some Ministers in their Rhetoricall amplifications speaking of our sinnes imputed to Christ say that Christ was the vilest sinner that ever was that the essentiall curse and plague of God pursued Christ with Huy and Cry as a sinner and therefore they may say and it may be some have said go Huy and Cry as to attach Châ—istum illum Atheon Christum illum Dei cultus corruptorem illum hominem blasphemum illum Sabbati vinatoâ—em illum bominem parentibus â—jus non obsâ—quentem pursue with Huy Cry Christum illum homicidum illum moâ—chum soedum â—oâ—nicatorem soâ—dâ—dum mollem concabitantem masculinis illum surem raptorem latronem illum soenoratorem conterentem pervellâ—ntem illum conviâ—iatorem detractâ—rem misere perjucatum illum hominem temper aliorum proprietatum â—varum â—upientem Whose ear doth not tingle Thus some may please themselves to rowl in blasphemous Rhetorick And it should be most abominable to have such words as some have in book and Pulpit 5. To such Doctrine men have brought themselves about imputations so to impute as some teach our sinnes to Christ is to impart Mr. Anthony worton de reconcil sheweth such Doctrine is not orthodox communicate or make common to him with us our unconformity to God and his Law so that he thereby shall be unholy and unjâ—st both in habit and quality inwardly and ourwardly in action and thus it comes to passe that we making him a sinner as them of the Priesthood of Lâ—vi who offered for their own sinnes as for the peoples but the Holy of Holies Christ Jesus our high Priest at that time of offering up himself was holy harmlesse undâ—fiâ—ed separate sâ—om sinners and made higher than the heavens So his holy Priesthood was infinitely transcende it above the persons and Priesthood of Levi but some mens Doctrines woulâ— make him like them 6. This Doctrine of Huy and Cry for ought we ever yet did see must be pursued with Huy and Cry out of Schools studies books and Pulpits But let us a little further examine what this Huy and Cry tends to with its great noise When the hour of our blessed Redeemer was near at hand no Huy and Cry needed for he set his face to go to Jerusalem and said to his Disciples that he went to be delivered to the sons of men wicked sinners and that they would crucifie him Mat. 20. Luke 18. He was sent of the Father and came of purpose to give his life for his sheep and when they came to apprehend him he did not shift nor deny his name as malefactors do that are pursued with Huy and Cry but he asked with a constant mind whom seek ye They said Jesus of Nazareth then he said I am he with which speech there went such an energie that they fell in a swound to the ground and there might have lain unlesse he had given them leave to rise out of their swound Then again he asked them whom seek ye and offered himself willingly Pilate with his Romans and Jews could not have had power over him but by dispensation from above that is of Christ himself with the Father and the Holy Ghost for the Lord Jesus had said to Peter Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of Angels Mat. 26. Thus far of the idle expression of Huy and Cry of which there can be no defense The Phrases illustrations and expressions of the holy Scriptures are most seriously transcendent and so full that that we need not be so enamoured with our black pin feathered young birds SECT 2. Of the severall Curses spoken of in Deut. 21.23 and in Deut. 27.26 and in Gal. 3.13 1. THE Apostle in Gal. 3.13 doth not prosecute the eternall curse cited in verse 10. from Deut. 27.26 But he goeth to another Text for another curse namely to Deut. 21.23 which is not the eternall curse For who is able to say the seven sons and Nephews of Saul died out of the Covenant of God in Christ therefore none can say they had the essentiall and eternall Curse yet they underwent the Curse of the Law in Deut. 21.23 for the evil deeds that Sauls house had done to the Gibeonites which brought the Curse of famine on the whole Nation And so the repenting thief had the curse of God inflicted on him by the gods the Judges of the Nation according to Deuteronomy 21.23 2. If the Apostle had not expressed himself further for any other curse than Deut. 27. there had not been so much doubt but seeing he â—lledgeth Deut. 21.23 and doth not dilate on Deut. 27. As Gods essence is love so Gods essence is hatred and curse doubtlesse he would not have us to think that the Son of God our holy Mediatour underwent that eternall curse that he spake of in verse 10. He knew it was impossible the most Holy One could suffer the eternall and essentiall Curse for he was not the Holy One of God as touthing humanity onely but in respect of the personall Union of the Divine and humand nature therefore that speech of Mr. Perkins upon Gal. 3.13 must slot be entertained of the people of God Whole Christ Man God God-Man was cursed this is an evil saying although we speak it with retractation as he doth presently but his retractation and limitation will not expiate the sin of his former Doctrine 3. Was it nothing that the Son of God the Lord of glory should so humble himself as to suffer such shame from the Seed of the Serpent before the Angels of heaven and men on earth as Psal 69. speaketh Thou hast known my reproach my shame and my dishonour mine adversaries are all before thee Reproach hath broken mine heart and I am full of heavinesse and I looked for some to take pity but there was none and for comforters but I sound none Is this nothing when the Holy of all holinesse gave his body and blood a Sacrifice for sin through such great shame and Sufferings 4. What would you have us to say That our blessed Mediatour underwent the second death we dare not say so absit absit it is to be detested Will you have us to say that we may say that the Son of God was not Christ for a time when he suffered such sorrows as you intimate This also hath no analogie of faith with Divine revelation but contradicteth for it is most blasphemous Belike our Teachers have this theologie from the Philosophers Due Pless Truenesse of Christian
Religion page 82. Will you have us to say that the Godhead of the person of Christ hated and cursed his humanity as you understand curse this is as full of trembling to be spoken as the vilest speech that ever was spoken 5. What shall we say Tell us from sound Judgement in few words from Divine revelation These Tenets and others though from some godly Ministers must not be received but contradicted and contended against as not of the faith once given to the Saints but indeed we may as well span the heavens and dig the Tehom of the first dayes Creation and gather the wind into a sack and measure the earth with inchâ—s yards and perches as to search into these things and yet we dare affirm the imaginations and declare the wadings of our own never-seen visions 6. The doctrine of imputation as some teach it to make the Holy and Just One a sinner hath bred all this stir and trouble 7. Reverend Teachers of salvation do not think we beseech you that out of any sinister end and purpose we thus write but out of conscience We know we ought not to maintain errour much lesse foul here sie neither ought we to be silent at other mens errors but to contest for the truth The Lord Jesus will witnesse for his poor servants that we have not written of perverse pravity As for 2 Cor. 5.21 time I know will wear out some mens interpretations and sound disquisition will qualifie mens minds for the other and if this fort of mis-interpetation of 2 Cor. 5. be demolished other things will more easily yield upon quiet parlie 8. In doth not rellish well to make Christ a sinner by Gods imputation for the holy Scriptures snew that at the instant time of his sufferings he was not in Gods account a sinner nor in the Apostles account though in wicked mens account he was and therefore Peter chargeth them with a just and heavy crimination Ye denied the Holy One and the Just and again he saith 1 Pet. 3. He suffered for us the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God He could not have given us manuduction to God the Father unlesse he himself had been just And again at the very time when he offered a propitiatory Sacrifice for sin he was JESUS CHRIST the righteous therefore it cannot be thought he was accounted of God a sinner Christ Jesus our Lord the holy of holy stood not in the state and place of a sinner as some understand sinner but as of a Mediatour of atonement between God and man for sia Christ Jesus the Holy One must not be stated of us a sinner but a Mediateur according to that Law of Mâ—diation transacted between the Father and him Heb. 10.7 8 9. Psal 40. and 110. Heb. 7.8 and 9. and this Text of 2 Cor. 5.21 doth evince the same as is most evident SECT 3. THerefore to go on with this most blessed Scripture He was made a a sin offering for us who knew no sin that we may be made the righteousnesse or freedome of God in him 1. Q. How are we made the righteousnesse or freedome of God Answ God the Father doth justifie doth set free doth forgive doth pardon the guilt and punishment of our sins for his dear sons sake the sins of all that by faith receive Christ Jesus and rest on him as the Mediatour of our Redemption This is God the Fathers justification and plentifull Scriptures are answerable Christ his perfect sin-offering hath procured this justification righteousnesse or freedome mercy forgivenessâ— and atonement from God the Father therefore it is said the righteousnesse or freedome of God which is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe and this righteousnesse or freedome is freely bestowed by God the Father through Christs-Redemption and through faith in his blood 2. This is as is said to declare God the Fathers Righteousnesse or freedome through the Remission of sins Rom. 3.25 26. and David and Abraham are brought in for this justification righteousnesse or freedome in Rom. 4. and all Rom. 5. duth not adde any new matter to make our justification more compleat but onely makes most heavenly deductions from the Doctrine of justification compleatly laid down in chap. 3.21 to the end of that chapter 3. The Apostle to the Philippians utters this point most heavenly and might be found in him not having mine own righteousnesse or freedome dicaiosune which is of the Law ex opere operato but that which is through the faith of Christ even the freedome or righteousnesse dicaiosune of God the Father through faith Phil. 3. 4. Beloved Reader the unbelieving Rabbins of the Jews did think to justifie or free themselves from sinnes Observe the Pharasaicall righteousnesse Luke 18. 〈◊〉 Mark 7. guilt and everlasting purishment by their ex opere operato bodily exercises of Sacrifices and washings and contribution * Exod. 30.12 c. compare with Pet. 18. John 6. of silver c. in these exteriours they would be exact and unrebukeable and they thought and taught the worship of God was so terminated But our Apostle Paul after that Christ had revealed himself unto him and had revealed the idol and vanity of his Pharasaisme he would have no other freedome or righteousnesse but that wrought by Christ when he sacrificed himself and gave his flesh and blood to be our bread and drink life atonement washing and redemption For the Apostle had before this written to the Hebrews that it was impossible the blood of bulls and goats or any Mosaicall sprincklings could cleanse the conscience from the guilt of sin and this he had testified long before this to the Jews in their Synagogues as we may see Acts 13.38 39. * They did wonder and stumble and perish when the Apostle taught this Doctrine shewing all their bodily exercise was lost labouâ— therefore this Doctrine they thought ought ought to be persecuted to the death as destroying and making void the Law Mat. 5.17 and Rom. 3.31 Acts 22.4 26.9 be it known to you therefore men and Brethren that through this Man is preached unto you the forgivenesse of sins and by him all that believe are justified freed or set free from all things from which ye could not be set free or freed by the Law of Moses This Text doth shew what is our justification or freedome even forgivenesse of sins Reader study the Scriptures and be acquainted with the term justfiâ—ed that is freed And so it is translated in Rom. 6 7. Again Gal. 5. 1 2 3 4. must be well considered the false Teachers did perswade the Galathians to be circumcised not knowing their deceit for if they thought circumcision was of absolute necessity they were to sacrifice and do all the rites of Moses that circumcision did initiate them unto and so they must deny Christ and his Priesthood for ending all Moses and so christ could profit nothing
and will ever render himself a faithfull and trustie servitour 12. So then Gods reconciliation hath these two parts justification Acts 26.18 Rom. 8.7 Col 1. that is the freedome from the guilt and punishment of sin and receiving into favour or adoption to the heavenly inheritance 13. And thus I think I have made it evident from 2 Cor. 5. that the not counting our sins to us but freeing us from them and pardoning them is the justification or freedome of God the Father that he freely vouchsafeth to poor sinners so verese 19. conferred with v. 21. do open one the other plain and easie for Gods people to understand Surely the holy sweet blessed Scriptures rightly conferred are like a benevolent constellation 14. Let Gods people consider what in this translation and explication of 2 Cor. 5. is derogatory to the mediation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ or derogatory to the comfort of the Saints all their life or on their death beds for the hope of immortall glory Much more might be said but often we darken Gods counsel by our words When things are plain some Ministers make them harder and far more knotty than the Text. 15. We may suppose if from this time forwards Gods people be exercised to read the Text of 2 Cor. 5.19 21. it will not be amisse thus to read it God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not counting their trespasses to them for he made him to be a sinne-offering for us who knew no sinne that we might be made the righteousnesse or freedome of God in him 16. By that time godly Christians have been accustomed to read 2 Cor. 5.21 a sinne-offering and rightly understand the terms justification righteousnesse setteth free vnd freedome And not counting or not reckoning or not imputing our trespasses to us I say by the time of 80 years moe the people of God will come to a more clear and perfect judgement in the wonderfull mysterious Doctrine of a sinners justification 17. The tearmes and Phrases of Justice righteousnesse and justification are exceeding variously understood and have been largely handled by diverse learned Authors to whom I refer the Reader I will instance one Text wherein the word Righteousnesse or Justification is different from the justification of vindicative Courts and more like to the justification of voluntary Courts sometimes are ordained for the tryalls of combaters in Apoc. 19.8 To her was granted that shee should be arrayed in fine Linnen cleane and white for the fine Linnen is the Righteousnesse of the Saints this Text is often alleadged for the imputation of Christs legall Righteousnesse to sinners acording to vindictive Courts of Justice but if the coherence be well looked into it will appeare to have another sence which is this The Beast and his marked made the Church mourne in Sack cloath Apoc. 11. But when the Beasts polity shall be conquered by the constancy of godly Martyrs and Professors then the Church shall rejoyce and white Garments are here given as a sign of that so then the Garments of fine Linnen and white was given to signify the Churches joy because of her freedome from the power of those darke and black afflictions that were under the Beasts polity and for the better understanding of this read Hest 4 3. and 8.15 16. 2. In this sense also must Apoc. 7.9.13 14. be expounded for there the Church had been in great afflictions by the Casars for 300 years but by Constantines speciall grace and favour and by the victorious constancy of the godly the Church had deliverance and therefore white robes are given to shew their great joy for that deliverance and victory 3. The Robe of Tzâ—dek Righteousnesse in Isa 61.10 is translated by the 70. the robe of joyfulnesse according to the true sense and meaning of the context for in v. 1. Christ is anointed with the spirit of the Lord for this end namely to preach good tidings to the meek to bind up the broken hearted to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound and in v. 2. to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and to comfort all that mourn and in v. 3. to give them beauty for ashes the oil of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heavinesse and in verse 7. he doth promise that everlastâ—ng joy shall be upon them and then in v. 10. the said poore broken hearted Converts do with exultation say thus I will greatly rejoice in the Lord my soul shall be joyfull in my God for he hath cloathed me with the garments of salvation he hath covered me with the robe of righteousnesse but the 70 according to the context both before and after translate it he hath covered me with the robe of joyfulnesse it is called a robe of righteousnesse in respect of the perrformance of the promise which was to give the sweet comforts of God spirit to poore and humbled souls by the preaching of the gospel and in respect of the sense the said comforts to the converted soul it may be called the robe of joyfullnesse as the Seventy render it and we may see an example of this robe of righteousnesse how it was also a robe of gladnesse and joyfulnesse at the conversion of the prodigal son in Luk. 15.22 23 24 32. 18. This Translation and explication of 2 Cor. 5.21 and of the other Scriptures cited will rid us of no small trouble and I hope it will rid others also of doubtings of the truth of the Doctrine of justificatiif they wil but with patient study mind and mark the true scope and meaning of the Scriptures I do freely acknowledge that severall Institutions Common places Catechismes c. have been is and are a great mercy to the Church of God and shall be while the world standeth But yet the Lord would have us to try all things and wisely to hold that which is good I say also that there are many godly and learned men some that are departed this life and some that are yet living that have expounded 2 Cor 5.21 to the same effect as I have done and I make no question but the generality of our godly Ministers will in due time be so proselited also for there is no standing out long against divine reason where true godlinesse and true learning doth bare sway I meane such as will take the paines of the minde to dive into the true sence and scope of the text and will see it with their owne and not with other mens eyes CHAP. XXXVIII Our Lords genealogic conferred with the times of the Judges and with the King The first Adam Seth Enosh Kenan Mahalaleel Jared Henoch Methuselah Lamech Gen. 8. chapters Noah in his 600 years was the flood and the world 1656 years old Whose are the Fathers c of whom concerning the Flesh Christ came who is God over all blessed for ever Rom. 9. Sem. Arphaxad Sâ—lah Heber
for them for their calling to the Gospel All the Hebrew stories of the old Testament go upon the Families of Noahs Sons and Nephewes and on the latter off-springs of Terah It is very necessary for us to mark how the Prophets expresse these families by their wars or by their merchandize or by their calling to the Gospel Esa 11. 66. Ezâ—k 27. 38. c. All these wicked families despising the Tents of Sem a King of Iustice and Peace were cast off by the confusion of Tongues 2000. yea and were Lo-ruchama and Lo ammi not pitied and no people that is nor Gods Church nor people and did no more hear the Gospel till the true King of Iustice and Peace turned that curse of Tongues to a blessing and to gather his Elect from among them Acts 2. Then all those families were blessed in Christ as it was foretold to Abraham Gen. 12.3 Terâ—â— Gen. 11.26 27. Haren Lot Moab-Ruth Of him all the Kings of Judah from Rehoboham Ammon Of him all the Kings of Judah from Rehoboham Milcha Sarai Nahâ—r of Milcha and Reumah Uz Kemuel Hazo Iidlaph Tebah Tahash Buz of him Elibu Chesed Pildath Bethuel Laban Sons Lea Rachal Rebecca Sons Lea Rachal Gaham Maachah Abraham Of Sarah Isaac Esau vide his Geneologie Gen. 36. Jacob of him the twelve Patriarks Of Hagar Ishmael of him twelve Dukedomes in the Land of Chush They drove Chush further into the South Of Keturah Zimran Sheba Dedan Ashurim Letushim Leummim Iokshan Medan Midian Epha Epher Abidah Henoch Eldaah Ishbak Shuach of him Baldad Gen. 12.3 The Apostle opens the blessings in the Epistles to Rome Corinth Galatia Ephesus Philippi Colosse c. then us Gentiles were Ruchamah pitied and a people Ammi All these Families were scattered East West North and South by the confusion of Tongues for many Generations and followed Divels the Prince of the darknesse of this world but being blessed in Christ by the blessing of Tongues to be of Abrahams faith they came from East West North and South to sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdome of Heaven Matth. 8.11 Luke 14.29 The Posterities of these families shewed the corruption of nature received from parents manifesting it by their Idolatries and hatred against Israel one after another first by Chams house then Sems then Iaphets And unlesse the Lord Jesus Christ had sent to seek them they would never have enquired after him Acts 26.18 Ieremiah and David prayd against these families Psal 79. Ier. 10. Ioktans posterity dwelt in places further remote from Chanaan for seeing they had so many godly Ancestors whom they despised and cared not for the blessing to Sem but followed apostate Nimrod who built Babel which brought a Babylonian confusion over all the world even a scattering from Sems Tents and in this unexpressable Judgment but godly meditated Ioktans Sons were cast furthest off from the means of salvation This should make us have no society in Religion for phrase nor Apparell nor Court with mysticall Babylon the Issue will be scattering The Kings of the Images and Beassts in Dam 2 7 and see Mr. Bro. Preface I. Babel Nebuchadnezar Evil-Morâ—dach Belshazzar When the Golden Head Babel was made dust then the glorious prophesie of the 70 Seavens was brought from Heaven by an Angel Dan 9.24 c. II. Madaâ— and Paâ—as that is the Mâ—des and Persians Darius and Cyrus that sent the Iewes from Captivity Artaaxeâ—xes he hindred the Temple Ezra 4.23 Assuerus Heathen call him Darius Hyâ—taspis the Husband of Esther He hindred the Temple and sought to havâ— slain the Jewes Xerxes the Son of Darius Hystaspis spoken of onely in Dan 11. Darius-Artaxerxes a good King he built the Temple he as the Jewes think was the Son of â—â—ther by Darius Hystaspis he had two names Ezr. 6.14 it should be translated Darius which is artaxerxes so Mr. Bulling in an Epistle to one of his Decads Beroaldus and many good Authors Darius Nâ—thu These three are passed over in Nehemiah Artaxerxes These three are passed over in Nehemiah Ochus These three are passed over in Nehemiah Darius the Peâ—â—an Neb 12. whom Alexander over-came III. The Grecians whole Alexander and his posterity and the whole power of Greâ—ia IV. The Grecians parted the Kings of the North and South South North. Ptol. Lagides Dan 11.5 Seleucus Nicator Amiochus Soter Dan 11.5 Ptol. Philadelphus Dan 11.6 Antiochus Thens Seleuchus Callinicus Dan 11.6 Ptol. Eucrgetes Daâ— 11.7 Antiochus the Great Dan 11.10 Ptol. Philapator Daâ— 11.11 Selencus Philopator Dan 11.20 Ptol. Epiphanes Dan 11.18 Antiochus Epiphanes Dan 11.21 All these Kings were hard iron Legs against the Saints the other Kings after partly Iron and partly Clay the Jewes now had some strength to resist as Zach 9.13 14 15. and 10.6 7. Ptol. Philometor Ptol. Luâ—hurus Ptol. Anlaetes Cleâ—patra Antiochus Eupator Demetrius Soter son to Philip. Demeâ—â—ius Nicator his son Antiochus brother to Nicator Antiochus Gryphus Selencus his son Antiochus Cyzizenus Antiochus his son Antiochus Asiaticus I have not written Antio Sater and Selen Callinicus of the Posterity of them of the North they were not Horns of trouble to the Jewes After all these the Romans ruled CHAP. XXXIX The holy Chronicle sundry wayes expressed and every way agreeing to the same number of years being from the first promise in Gen. 3.15 till our Lords death 3960 years SEe Bro. in Texts of Scripture From the first promise of Christ to restore life upon death brought in by the Serpent to the promise of Christ made to Abraham up on the death of Terah who was the first of our Lords Fathers that the Serpent drew to idolatry are years 2083. The said time of 2083 years is secorded by the particular years of the Fathers in Gen. 5. and Gen. 11. Â From the second promise made to Abraham at the death of Terah Gen. 12. to the Lamb or to the Law of the Passcover Ex. 12 which typifyed Christ the Lamb of God are years 430. From the Lamb to the Temples Foundation 1 Kings 6. A type of the true Temple are years 480. From the foundation of the Temple to the burning of it Ez. 4. or rather to the captivity upon that are years 427. Thence to the end of the Captivity in Babel when Cyruâ— made a Decree of re-edifying the City and Temple 2 Chron. 36. are years full 50. Thence untill the Temple of our Lords body arose the third day are years 490. The whole Summe is 3960. Observe that in this page it is said from the foundation of the Temple to the burning of it is 4227 years but in chap. 44 it is said from the sin of Israel to the burning of the Temple is 390 years which is reckoned from Ezekiel 4. now to this 390. adde the 37 of Salomons Reign and then it is 427. for the foundation of the Temple was laid in the fourth year of Salomon 2. In the said 44. chapter you will find the
number of 518. which is thus cleared It was from the coming out of Egypt to the foundation of the Temple 48â— years which was laid in the fourth year of Salomon to which adde 37 years for the rest of Salomons Reign and the year wherein the Ten Tribes made their Division from Judah and so you have 518 years and this way doth also still maintain the generall summe of 3960 years CHAP. XL. Another expression of the holy Chronicle which the former Dialogue hath followed FRom the first Promise of Christ to destroy Satans works unto the Flood the first generall manifestation of wrath and judgement upon the seed of the Serpent for despising the Promise are years 1656. From the Plood to the promise made to Abraham of restoring blessednesse in Christ to the Apostate families in Gen. 10.11 are years 427. From the Promise to Abraham to the glorious and mighty Redemption of Israel from Egypt and the giving of the Law of the Passeover Gal. 3 are yeas 430. From the coming from Egypt to the Foundation of the Temple a figure that the Son of God would make not the nature of angels but the Seed of Abraham his Temple are years 480. Thence to the burning of the Temple That Israel should not glory too much in outward Ceremonies and therefore God did shake them by Babel are year 427 Thence to the overthrow of Babels Monarcy by Cyrus and Darius and sending the Jews home from Captivity are years full 50. Thence to he death of the MASSIAS and ending of all Moses ceremonies which is that once more that Christ said he would shake them to settle that which should remain untill his second most glorious appearance is 490. The whole summe is 3960. These seven Pillars may well be resembled to those seven that wisdome hewed out Prov. 9.1 which hath the golden chain of times fastened to them upon which hang the glorious Curtains of needle-work the embroidered prophesies and stories of the eternall wisdome In which there is a Table spread and furnished with all varieties of grace to feed the soul in Christ who is the cluster of Redemption and ought to find a lodging betwixt all faithfull breasts CHAP. XLI A third expression of the holy Chronicle IT is glorious to meditate how the Sun in all his journies did constant service to the SON Eternal in a marvellous distinction of times and most harmonious manner in which is seen how his Mediatorian Kingdome was exercised mall ages in mercy to the godly and in severity to the wicked opposers From the miraculous creation to the miraculous over flowing the world by waters are years 1656. From that inundation to the death of Terah who was first of the Fathers of the holy Line that corrupted the true sacrifice to flames of idolatry are years 427. From the death of Terah and the promise to Abraham made presently upon his death to the ending of Israels peregrination in the Land of â—am 430. Thence MOSES was to Israel a Shepherd in the wildernesse years 40. From Mâ—â—es death to the conquest and Partittion of the Land of â—anaan by Jesus a type of JESUS Christ the Son of God that hath procured for the people of God the true Rest Jos 14.20 are years 7. Thence by seven Jubilees the time of the Arks abode in the Tribe of Ephraim at Shiâ—oh at the ending of which Jubilees the Ark was captived but Christ gave them it again then was the Transmigratirn of the Ark to the Tribe of Judah those seven Jubilees are years 350 Thence by Seventy Sevens to the first captivity by Babel Then Christ did to Jerusalem in part as he did to Shi Ioh Jer. 2. 490 By Iudahs captivity and subjection to Babel then the Land of Israel kept Sabbath seventy years as Moses foretold Levit. 26. 70. Lastly by the most comfortable Prophecy and Promise of Reconciliation by the death of CHRIST at the end of Seventy Sevens of years Dan. 9 24. 490. The whole Summe 3960. 7 Iubilees are 350. 70 Sevens are 490. 10 Sevens are 70. 70 Sevens are 490 Â Â 1400. 28 Iubilees or 1400 years from the conquest of the Seed of the Serpent by Ioshua to the victory of our Lord Iesus CHRIST over sinne death and the grave and over him that had the power of death the Devil CHAP. XLII Of the Geometricall Frame of the processe of Times THE Stones in Salomons Temple were not more curiously fitted for the building then the times of the holy Scriptures are from Moses death neither is any army more orderly composed then the times revolution by the infinite providence of CHIST Seaven yeares of conquest and partition of Chanaan Seaven Jubilees the Tabernacle of Moses and the Ark of the Covevenant at Shile for Ephraim glory Seaven Seavensies began with the Transmigration of the Arke of the Covenant for Judahs glory Psal 78. Seaven Tenns for Captivity to feel Ieremies Lamentations And then againe the former measure of Seaven Seavensies to find comfort in servitude which none but the poor in spirit and mourning will ever find Vid Mr. Br. in Advert 72. CHAP. XLIII Further Considerations of these 28 Jubilees that the godly student may delight in the holy Book of God THE plainnesse of Gods dealing still calleth us to mind of a first Sabbath by a like account of Sevens which also is usuall through the Scriptures and especially from Moses times And that cannot be denied Now that the whole record of the Sunnes service for twenty eight Jubilees unto the Sunnes service prophesied Dan. 9.24 c. which was spoken by an Angel to make us shine in Justice and that it may shine in plainnesse diligently ponder and observe 1. Moses in Levitions chap. 25. telleth that the Jubilee shall be an holy year and the old Hebrew Doctors thereupon in the Zohaâ— as learned say write thus In the Iubile year Shecinetha that is the Majesty of God having his Tabernacle with us will be Freedome Redemption and Sabbatisme to Israel by the Angel Gabriels years the last Iubilee that ever the Jews had in their Land shall fall out at our Lords death in which year the Majesty shewed it self upon the Mountain to Peter Iames and Iohn with Moses and Elias and became to us freedome i. e. justification and redemption and finisher of Mosaicall Sebbaths consider the proceeding of times herein 2. Seven years were spent before Israel had conquered and parted the Land Before the Partition the Iubilees could not begin and by Moses words the next year after was to be the first of fifty for the Iubilee Thence unto our Lords death are 28. Iubilees exactly year 1400. 3. In that we have a long time broken the whole frame of both Testaments by suffering heathen Olympick toyes to call us from the wisdome which Gabriels healthy and heavenly message had and offereth to us we must confesse that God hath been angry with us justly in giving over the world unto blindnesse whereas that Prophecy
argue to them the birth of some noble and famous light even that Star of Iacob that should * Num. 24 â—id wonderfully expounded in 2 Cor. 10 4.5 unwall all the sons of Seth that was now come into the world and whither shotld they direct their journey and steer their course but thither the star guided them and that was to Iudea It should seem by the good hand of God that Daniel * As the Apostâ—e Paul did in Caesars Court Phil. 1.13 and 4.22 celebrating the cause of Christ by the angels seventy sevens at the City Susan where was the Royall Palace of the Kings of Persia Let these godl Authors be consulted with about those things Mr. Rollock Du Plessis Beroald Mr. Bro. Mr. wolphius and many others there were some that did expect continually the compleating of the seventy Sevens of which this celebrious Comet appearing gave them an undoubted hint For we are not to doubt but the seventy Sevens was a glorious Prophesie to lighten all the East And the Evangelist Luke ch 3.1 2 3. doth shew that he bringing in the Emperours annals into the Churches stories and John Elias Ministery to settle the stories of the times do make a sweet concent of all these things But to make things yet more plain it is said Luke 19. That the Nation of the Jews did expect * This scripture was spoken but few daies before our Lords death and resurrection the Kingdome of heaven should immediately appear according to the Prophesies of Dan. 2. and 7. and 9. no Prophesy shewed the time as Daniel and all falls our fit'ly according to the worlds expectation especially the Church of God 1. Mr. P. objecteth in page 52. If the restauration of the city Dan. 9.25 is of the materiall Jerusalem after Nebuchadnezzars captivity it must begin the first of Cyrus from which time seventy weeks of years will fully expire long before the birth of Christ Answ It is most true the seventy Sevens do begin at Cyrus first year of the reign of his monarchy In this Mr. P. saith true but to say they end long before the birth of Christ is a most manifest untruth for it is said they end at his confirmation of the Testament for the Many by his sufferings and death in the last Seven He must be born the Son of man before he could suffer death to redeem the sons of men I will stir no more in this for it is too too bad and that which hath been said will I hope make this assertion to vanish I am perswaded all the godly Churches in christendome hold MES-SIAS Yea Papists vide Cornelius a Lapide he hath many excellent passages on Dan. 9. but yet none but what the learned and godly reformed have and had yea more compleatly before him in Gabriels message to be the Son of God our Redeemer Scotland Heydelberg Geneva so doth and our dear native countrey by divers learned Expositers and in our Bible notes I think above eighty years since it is said In this last week of the seventy shall Christ come and preach and suffer death And a little after speaking of Christ confirming the covenant the note saith by preaching of the Gospel he confirmed his promise first to the Jews and after to the Gentiles And that Christ by his death and resurrection caused sacrifice and oblation to cease Are not we to mourn and lament that our ministers should thus deal to take us off from holding to the Messias the Rock of salvation as it was taught to Daniel by the holy Angel from heaven The Angel spake matter of salvation plain and fortified by Scripture and it is fortified also by learned Expositions recoived in all Orthodox churches but by Mr. P. is added much impertinent and false matter I will briefly recapitulate some things and let the people of God study the holy Scriptures and judge 1. The angel continueth the holy chronicle to the death of Christ Vide Mr. Bro. Advertis pag. Mr. P. breaketh it off altogether concerning that 2. The Angel nameth the Redeemer of the world Messias Mr. P. doth utterly deny that and will have Zisca the Bohemian to be his Messias 3. The Angell saith Messias shall confirm the convenant for many that is for the elect of all Nations both Jews and Gentiles Mr. P. telleth us of a covenant that Antichrist shall make with his antichristians and their favourites page 62. and 63. 4. The Angel prescribed for our Lord his preaching three years and an half and that is the compasse of the Evangelist Marks Gospel and of the Evangelist Iohn as it hath been noted by old and later writers by four Paschata's that is by four Passeovers which he kept after his Baptisme to his last Supper which proveth that publick administration of his office to be three years and an half or the half seven See Dr. Lightfoots harmony All this Mr. P. disgraceth 5. The Angel taught how long Ierusalem should be an holy City for use of sacrifice and how long Israel onely should be Cods holy people and peculiar treasure namely from the time of Daniels prayer seventy Sevens were exactly accounted for his people and the holy City But Mr. P. taketh from the Church which God hath gathered from the Gentiles these meditations c. c 6. Some ancient principall Rabbines confesse that by Messias Christ the Redemer is meant Mr. Bro. on Dani. Christians that dare put forth books to deny this against the honour of Christian name should think that here they do not well and Christians should loath such Treatises even as the godly converted did their books at Ephesus and account them and make them anathema as the Prophesies of Achab and Zedekias Much more might be said of Mr. P. Expositions of Dan 9. and of all his book It is said by the great Rabâ—oni the Lord Christ We be to the world because of offences and Mr. P. must yea he will lay it to heart yea it is marvell that the godly Teachers of new England did not question him for it in some of their Synods they have not convented a Synod for a greater matter than the agitation which that Book called for and I hope some godly and more learned men will consider of that book especially about Dan. 9. and by the fire of sound judgement consume it as hay stubble and rotten wood and Gods day shall declare it that that work is worthy of no better an end 1 Col. 3. CHAP. XLIX A Conclusion of the point of Chronologie 1. IT hath been observed that the holy Spirit of endlesse wisdome and foresight hath perfectly made up the holy Chronologie of the old Testament and that the seventy Sevens doth that by ending the Chain of Jubilees and all the ceremonies in the death of Messias 2. The first coming of Christ was most needfull to be known for the assured comfort of Jew and Gentile Little did Mr. P. consider the
state of time that the holy spirit did testifie in the Prophets for the coming of Mesas and his sufferings and glory that should follow in his Resurrection ascension and sending gifts to convert the Nations 1 Pet. 1.11 by his death to confirm the promises made to the faithfull and to be the truth of all the types which were all sponsorious of a better hope but of the time of his second coming there was not that need to know For it is said But of the times and seasons brethren ye have no need that I write unto you for your selves know perfectly that the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night 1 Thes 5. 3. Of the Chronologie of the New Testament the spirit of Christ hath not disposed an orderly processe of times neither historically nor prophetically from his death There is no time cast in the Apocalyps For God would not begin to accompt the times after the death of Christ but he must have gone through with it else it had been a fault in art but that he would not because of the end of the world he would conceal that no man nor angel knoweth it the Son in respect of his humanity is said not to know the time who yet giveth the Apocalyps to Iohn but nothing is unknown to his Godhead who is the first and the last The thousand years are spoken of for the loosing of Satan Apoc. 20. but the history is not cast by course of time the thousand years begin we may best suppose from the writing of the Apocalyps 4. But behold the wisdome of God To teach us in whom we have rest that most graciously ordered times most exactly till the death of Christ in a most pleasant Sabbatick * accompt tres-remarkable from JESUS the son of Nun to our IESUS that saveth us from our sins Thus he did that the whole Nation of the Jews should not misse but by willfull and despitefull swarving to receive him the true Messias Heb. 2. 1. 6. and 10. to leave all the ceremonies and to look to him the end and scope of all and this time was it often noted and needfull often to be noted wherein the Gentiles should begin to be brought to Sâ—ms Tents and thence to learn salvation 5. When all this was done there needed no times to teach us ceremonially of Christ to come for his government and offices are perpetuall and shall never be abolished as Levies Priesthood till he re deliver up the Mediatorian Kingdome to the Father and till that time we all should joyfully look in watching when the Bridecrome will come 6. The Gencalogie and Chronologie served to the promised Lands glory The non-continuance of genealogies after the apostles times shall be to-ched else to the people of Israels glory to the Tabernacles glory to Ierusalems glory to the Temples glory and to Salomons Kingdomes glory for the glory of all these ended when the Chronologie and Genealogie ended for all the time of the old Testament they had that heavenly and glorious use 2. Blessed be the name of the Lord God for ever and ever for wisdome and strength are his and he it is that hath altered times places and persons to the glory of the unchangeable Priesthood and never ending Kingdome of his dear Son our Lord Iesus Christ to whom be glory and praise everlasting Amen CHAP. L. Being a Caveat to beware of such Satanicall spirits that prattle about the expectation of new Apostles and new Revelations 1. AS is said for the Chronologie and Genealogie of the the old Testament that the infallible use of them did cease after the new Testament was written so we may say for the other holy Doctrine of Christ that we need not to regard the vanity of wretched men in expectation of new Apostles and new Revelations but studiously to cleave to what is left and ordained to us in the holy writings of the Prophets Evangelists and Apostles 2. As our Lord and Saviour said He that will not hear and believe Moses and the Prophets will neither hear nor believe if one should rise from the dead so truly we may say he that will not hear and believe the holy Evangelists and the holy Apostles writings who wrote of the doctrine life death and resurrection of Christ is as far from holy faith as ever any Sadducie was for Christ is risen from the dead and after his Resurrection gave commandement what his Apostles should preach unto the Nations and we see what it was they taught by the four Evangelists by the book of the Acts by their Epistles and by the Son of God in his Apocalyps 3. And that we might not be deceived by the ungodly 1 Cor. 4s to look for new Apostles mark what the apostle Paul saith plainly that himself and Earnabas and other Apostles then living were the last apostles 4. Wherefore the apostles seeing the Churches began to be troubled with false apostles and with grievous and gangrenating errours and herefies and foretold of worse and more perillous times that men would not endure sound and wholesome doctrine but having sore ears should after their own lusts get them an heap of Teachers and should turn their ears from the truth and should be given unto fables therefore they gave warning as is seen in all their writings and have thus charged us from Christ That we be mindfull of the words which were spoken before by the holy Prophets and of the commandement of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour 2 Pet. 3.2 and Iudas Thaddeus saith thus in his Epistle But beloved remember the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ And the Apostle John saith He that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God beareth nos us hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of errour 1 John 4. 5. The faithfull obeyed this charge and commandement for many years after the apostles for the apostles had said what they had taught to the faithfull then living should be communicated to other faithfull for the instruction of others for above an 100 years after their dayes we have not writings of the Ancients they kept themselves to the holy Scriptures of the Prophets and apostles 6. And when the Ancients of the Primitive Churches began to write much about the second Century and after it is manifest they adhered to the holy Scriptures and commended them much to the people and some of the Ancients did so admire and advance the holy Scriptures that they adored the sufficiency of them for Doctrine of faith and manners 7. This is most clear for it is said the faithfull martyrs for 300 years suffered for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Apoc. 6.9 and so the two witnesses suffered under the Beast of the Pit King Abaddon For the keeping of the commandemâ—nts of God and the saith of JESVS Apoc. 14.12 sofar off they were
from expecting new apostles and new revelations but hearkened to the apostles directions Col. 2.18 19 c. 8. Doubtlesse divine revelation in the Prophets and Apostles writings is a mercy beyond comparison no tongue is able to expresse the goodnesse of God in this his grace to the Church so the Saints ever have thought Psal 103.7 and 147.2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. 9. And let us beware of Satanicall spirits that prattle about the expectation of new apostles Apoc. 22.18 19. and new revelations for else we shall fall into the curse of the Lord Iesus who wrote his Apocalyps to the Churches where his appostles had laid the foundation of the holy faith and all Churches then and now we are admonished to hearken to that which Christ the Lord spake to the Churches All the apostles as it is thought but Iohn were departed this life when the Apocalyps was written 10. And let such take heed of illuminations new light as they speak yea to take heed of lying wonders of visible lights and sights and strange audible voices Iannes and Iambres heardened Pharaohs heart by such Satanical delusions And under the new Testament Satan and his instruments do and will do so to deceive Men and women so bewitched are hardened in pride stubbornnesse and curiosity c. that the holy Scriptures are but of mean estimation with such and prayer and praising of God and the seals of the covenant and an able and faithfull ministery yea godly magistracy these inestimable mercies are of no repute with them and Family exercises are deserted of them as things of bondage but the godly soul ever hath and shall find that the cleaving to the Prophets and apostles writings will be a most sure foundation for truth of Doctrine and for a godly righteous and temperate life and of joyfull hope when our eyes are closed in the dust 11. Without question those that expect new apostles and new revelations Satan hath new Revelations for even our first Parents because they stuck not fast to the revelation of Gods will but hearkned to new revelations from that counterfeit angel of light Satan they were deceived and still Satan doth labour to bewitch mens minds with corrupt and bad opinions and with vile courses of life 2 Tim. 3. I. 109. being not content with the Scriptures of the Prophets and apostles which are not scaled but made known to us by Messias coming who hath in them told us all things needfull to be known Therefore it is said concerning this very thing He that is unjust let him he unjust still and be that is filthy let him be filthy still and he that is righteous let him be righteous still and he that is holy let him be holy still 12. I will conclude this to the godly Reader with that of the apostle Peter Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your own stedfastnesse but grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ to him be glory both now and ever Amen CHAP. LI. The Exposition of the times mentioned in in the Apocalyps 1. THere is mention made in chap. 11. of 42. moneths and 1260. dayes those shew the rage and cruel persecution of the Beast of the Pit against the two witnesses 2. In chap. 12. There it is told 1260 dayes and of a time times and half a time which are spoken of the Dragons cruelty in the Caesars 3. In chap. 13. There is also mention made of 41 moneths which is to be understood both of the Tyranny of the Caesars the sixth head that was wounded to death and of the Tyranny of the Beast like a Lamb that healed the wounded head of the Government of the Empire 4. By these times so variously expressed in divers chapters Beroald and M. Broughton ancient and later Expositours shew that by them is meant the quality of State not length of years namely that the Church should be afflicted with the afflictions of Christ who was persecuted three years and half by the seed of the old Serpent 5. The like analogie is from Isa 49. and 61. Luk. 4. and 2 Cor. 6. As by the acceptable year of the Lord is meant the Iubilee year in which Messias Christ our Lord was given for a covenant and laid down his life for our justification redemption and ending all Moses ceremonies But now all time of the Gospel to the end of the world is the accepted time and the day of salvation and the acceptable year of the Lord. The like force is in 1 Cor. 5. That all in the Church must keep the feast of Christ our Passeover who was sacrificed for us with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth to the end of all Ordinances that is till the Son of man come to deliver up the Mediatorian Kingdome 1 Cor. 11.26 The time of Tyranny under the Caesars was three hundred years yet by Metonomia meaning the argument of persecution from our Lords time it is called three years and half the matter sheweth twice in chap. 11. and twice in chap. 12. and once in chap. 13. that proper time cannot be meant and the same is to be understood of the persecution of the Beast of the Pit They who think to get any certainty from these numbers deceive themselves and their Readers The allusion is most heavenly calling Christ still unto mind Our Lord preached 42 moneths or 3 years and an half or dayes 1260 or a time two times and an half so that these numbers in the Apocalyps mean no certain time but the manners from a like time is meant The persecuting Pharisees and Sadduces were revived and continued by the Caesars and Popes The Caesars Persecution as is noted lasted 300 years and the persecution of the false Lamb lasteth yet and will till the Lord cast him and his deceived into the Lake of fire and brimstone 7. The seven Seals the seven Trumpets and the seven phials are not distinguished in time in the Apocalyps none of these are or properly can be referred to any exact time 8. I will add a little more in briefe of the times of the New Testament which will give some light to all that may read the Histories of the Church Mr. Patrick Symson of the History of the Church will much help the Reader The ten Persecutions lasted three hundred yeares by the Infidell Roman Emperours the sixth head of the Roman Beast from Nero to Constantine that time was an age of violence Thence to Phocas who murthered his Master the Emperour Manritius who confirmed the Papacy to Boniface the Third about the year six hundred and six and then Mahomet rose about that time or somewhat after This time of three hundred yeares was an age of fraudulence by Hereticks Arius Pelagius Donatus Marcion Nestorius c. they were confronted by Fathers Athanasius Hillary Basil Nazianzen Clâ—ysostome Augustine
c. The times following were also times of violence and fraud in Pope and Turk Popish superstition still increasing exceedingly till by the two Witnesses it was resisted by Waldenses Wickliff Hus Jerom of Prague and Luther c. and Mahometisme greatly prevailed to the removing of the Candlesticks of the Churches of Asia as it was threatned against them Apoc. 2. 3. and evills in the Churches of the East prevailed by the strength deceit and falschood of the Papacy till that the Turk possessed Constantines Empire and City The Kingdome of Christ our Lord and Saviour under the new Testament was first impugned in the time of the Caesars and in the growing on of the mystery of iniquity Then this Propheticall Office and at last his Priestly Office was striven against which was almost desperately corrupted in the height of the mystery of iniquity in the tenth Century This last was first contested against by Waldenses Wickliffe and Luther c. Then his Propheticall Office was upheld by the faithfull in cleaving to the Divine Oracles of the holy Scriptures and at this day this is the greatest contestation And his Kingly Office hath been but in few places executed for Christian States do not consider as they should the benefits thereof that will redound unto them by true Ecclesiasticall Discipline and much opposition there hath been and is about it But as Christian Governours and Teachers have embraced the two former they will also the other rejoycing to defend onâ—ly Christs Ordinances and hate to maintain any thing of the Beasts marks that they may make good that Scripture of the Apostle of us Gentiles 1 Tim 6.13 I give thee charge in the sight of God who quickneth all things and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good profession 14. That thou keep this Commandement without spot unrebukable untill the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 15. which in his times he shall shew who is the blessed and only POTENTATE the King of Kings and Lord of Lords 16. Who onely hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen nor can see to whom be honor and power everlasting Amen CHAP. LII Of the Attributes or Titles of God Essentially considered AELohim Almighties or Almighty Powers but in Greek the Apostles do alwaies render it singularly Theos God Aelohah Omnipotent or Almighty Job 12.4 Ael Puissant or mighty Gen. 14 18. Jehovah Being of himself and giving being to all things Elion The most High Elionin A Plurall Shaddai Almighty or All-sufficient Gen. 17.1 Adonai My Staies my Pillars Gen. 15.2 Job 28.28 Ehieth I am or I will be Ex. 3.14 Jah In notation much like Jehovah Yzur The Rock the seventy translate it Theos and sometimes Ctistes Goel Redeemer Ghosai Plurall sig my Makers Job 35.10 Abba Father The Power Matth. 26.64 The Feare Gen. 31.57 Psal 76.12 Name Theos God Curios Lord. Creator Master Mal. 1.6 Eph. 6. Eternall God Gen. 21.33 Sabbaoth When he warreth against the wicked he is called Jehovah Sabbaoth the Lord of Hosts or when he performeth great intendments for his Church From these Attributes sundry Vses may be gathered 1. From the Attribute or Title Aeloim 1. Aelohim is a form plurall to teach the mystery of the Trinity which is most necessary to be well marked or else that form were dangerous I say it were dangerous if necessity did not require us to be thereby taught the knowledge of the Divine persons 2. But sometimes it is joyned with a word singular as in Gen. 1.1 Aelohim He created because there is but one Godhead but the plurall form of speaking when it is joyned with a word singular doth necessarily call upon us to know the mystery of the Trinity in the unity of the Godhead 3. This plurall Attribute Aelohim though it be commonly joyned with a word singular for the reason aforesaid yet it is sometimes also joyned with a word plurall as Aelohim He went 1 Chron. 17.21 and so Aelohim They went 2 Sam. 7.23 and so in Jos 24.23 He is holy Gods and in Jer. 10 10. He is living Gods but in Gen. 20.13 it is also joyned with a word plurall They Gods caused me to wonder and in Gen. 35.7 They Gods were revealed to him The Wisdome of God thought these Expressions to be necessary for our instruction in the mystery of the Trinity and in the Unity of the Godhead or else it had been dangerous for Idolatry so to declare himselfe to us 2. Hence we may learn that though sometimes words of the plurall Number be joyned with the plurall Attribute Aelohim yet God did no way intend thereby to teach to worship a plurality of Gods as the ignorant and negligent in the Scriptures are ready to understand it because he hath taken good order to cleer it from that errtour by other Scriptures especially to such as are diligent in the study of the blessed Scriptures he hath cleered his Attribute Aelohim from being taken for many Gods because he hath often put this Attribute into the form singular as by Eloah in Job 12.4 and sometimes by a shorter form El The Mighty in Gen. 14.18 And secondly by joyning it often to a word singular and thirdly by limiting this plurall Attribute Aelohim onely to three persons or Existences in the unity of the Godhead as in Psal 33. 6. By the word of Jehovah the Heavens were made and all the Hosts of them by the spirit of his mouth And saith Ains in Gen. 1.1 The ancient Hebrew Doctors have left Records of this mystery Though at this day that Nation doth not understand it Come and see saith Rab. Ben Iochai The mystery of the word Aelohim There are three degrees and every degree by it selfe alone that is distinct And yet notwithstanding saith he They are all One and are not divided one from another And saith Ains in Numb 15.25 Rabbi Menâ—â—hem on these two Phrases Vnto the Lord and Before the Lord saith from their former ancient Rabbins This it meant of him and his Judgment Hale and no Judgment Hale had lesse then three by which it appeareth that the mystery of the Trinity in the Godhead was formerly believed by the Jewes though now they do oppose the same And the Lord Duplessie in his Truenesse of Religion page 74.75.76.78 doth prove that the ancient Hebrew Doctors held the Trinity But blessed be God our New Testament doth tell us most cleerly 1. That the Father is the Creator Eph. 3.9 2. That the Son is the Creator Eph. 1.8.10 Col. 1 16. 3. That the holy Spirit is the Creator Gen. 1.2 Psal 33.6 Psal 104. 30. And hence it is that Salomon would have young men to make it their care to Remember their Creator in the daies of their health Eccles 12.1 4. Hence we may learn that God is Almighty for the protection of those that feare him and that trust in his gracious promises and he is Almighty to ruinate his Churches
of making Christ a sinner by Gods Imputation numb 8. is dangerous p 349 It is not mans inventions of Tantundem and Equinalency touching the sufferings of Christ that will reach and fathom these things p 350 Chap 37. Some observations on 2 Cor 5.19 20 21. with Gal 3.13 p 350 I suppose two millions of Geneva Bibles have been printed that have rightly conferred 2 Cor 5.31 to Exod 29 14. p 350 This assertion That as our sins are imputed to Christ so his righteousness of the morall Law is imputed to us Calls for thoughts of detestation the care cannot endure it p 353 So to impute as some teach our sins to Christ is to impart communicate or make common to him with us our unconformity to God and his Law p 353 355 Of the severall distinct courses spoken of in Deut 21.23 Deut 27. 26. with Gal 3.13 p 354 How the righteousnesse of God the Father doth justifie sinners p 356 p 357 Chap 38. Our Lords Genealogie conferred with the times of the Judges and with the Kings p 363 Chap 39. The holy Chronologie sundry waies expressed and every way agreeing to the same number of years Beginning from the first promise in Gen 3.15 till our Lords death 3960. years p 369 Chap 40. Another way of casting up of the holy Chronicle to the said number of years which the former Dialogue hath followed 370 Chap 41. A third expression of the holy Chronicle to the said number of years p 371 Chap 42. Of the Genealogie frame of the processe of Times p 373 Chap 43. A further consideration of the said twenty eight Jubilees that the godly student may delight in the holy book of God p 374 Chap 44. A fourth expression of the holy Chronologie from the Creation to the Redemption p 375 Chap 45. An Advertisement to the Reader to take head of embracing the evill Tenets of two men that have lately put forth irreligious opinions about the Chronologie of the Book of God p 380 The holy Chronologie of the Book of God is a Doctrine of Faith clear and certain as any other Doctrine of faith p 381 The Heathen Chronologie by Olympiades is by some regarded as more certain than the Scriptures Chronologie p 381 If the Angel taught not Daniel to understand the certainty of Chronologie he taught him nothing p 382. 385 Who would think to say the seventy Sevens are a time not certain whereas the holy Angel divides them into three parts 1. Into seven Sevens 2. Into sixty two Sevens 3. Into one Seven p 383 Chap 46. That the certainty of Chronologie was a chief part of the Angels Message to Daniel for Daniel knew all things else before the Angel came to him p 385 Some Teachers in teaching and writing about the Jewes repairing of Jerusalem and many great businesses that will follow thereon have filled Churches full of Matrologie and fond expectations p 387. Chap 47. That Daniel is alledged in the New Testament to prove the Messiah to be already come p 388 Chap 48. Shewing how the holy Evangelists expresse the Attributes Messias or Christ p 390 All the three Offices of Christ as he is Prophet Priest and King are in Dan 9.24 p 392 Mr. P. his false and impertinent assertions on Dan 9.24 p 393 Chap. 49. A conclusion of the Point of Chronologie p 395 The New Testament doth not keep the Chronologie of the times to the end of the world as many labour in vain to prove out of the Apocalyps Though the Old Testament did exactly keep the Chronologie of the times from the first promise to the death of Chris p 395. 399 Neither is the Geneologie of the Tribes kept after the death of Christ p 396 Chap. 50. Being a Caveat to beware of such satanicall spirits that prattle about the expectation of new Apostles and new Revelations p 396 Chap 51. An Exposition of the times mentioned in the Apocalyps p 399 Chap 52. 1. Of the Attributes or Titles of God essentially considered p 401 2. What is to be learned from the Title Jehovah p 403 3 What is to be learned from the attribute Elion the most High p 405 4. What is to be learned from Shaddai the Almighty p 406 5. What from Adonai ibid. 6. What from the attribute Ehieth I am or I will be p 407 7. What from the attribute Jah Breathing ibid. 8. What from the attribute Tzur The Rock p 408 9. What from Goshai My Makers p 408 10. What from Goel The Redeemer p 409 Chap 53. Of the Attributes of the Divine Nature of the second Person in Trinity How his is said to be begotten before all the Creation Col 1.15 p 412 Chap 54. Of the Attributes of the humane Nature of the second Person p 413 Chap 55. Of the Attributes of the Mediators Office p 416 Crist is called a Servant in relation to his Office of Mediatorship p 418 Christ is called a Prince or Captain in relation to his Office of Mediatorship p 419 Christ is called the Prince of Life in relation to his Office of Mediatorship p 420 Christ is called the King of Israel and the Messias in relation to his Office of Mediatorship p 421 Chap. 56. Of the Attributes of the holy Spirit p 422 Chap 57. Of the Attributes of the holy Ghost in relation to its operations and effects in the various manner of his working p 424 A TABLE of some few Scriptures among many others that are Expounded or Illustrated GEn 1.1 2. page 1 3. 15. p 11 14 22 26 34 42 53 60 61 66 194 302 344 413 418 419 420. 3.22.24 p 23 9.26 p 41 11.2 3. p 52 60 290 567 17.5 p 70 18 19. p 335 19.24 p 11 20 21. p 299 21 22 23. p 298 alias 205 305 309 22.18 p 60 26.5 p 302 304 alias 296 298 335 34.14 p 59 47.12 p 304 bis 49.10 p 57 Exod 3.15 p 60 61 198 19 2.â—1 p 407 17.15 16. p 168 19.4 p 314 19.5 p 56 20.24 p 36 23.15 p 89 23.20 21 22.23 p 188 311 412 417 419 28.38 p 100 30.12 p 311 Levit 14 6. p 98 18.5 p 311 Lev 25.23 p 203 315 26.2 p 89 26.15 p 154 26.23 24 25. p 111 Numb 19.18 p 98 14.2 p 392 24.20 p 168 Deut. 5.2.3 p 302 Deut 6.4 p 1 28 49. p 66 28.68 p 161 30.6 p 17 32.4.18 p 408 32.21 p 156 61 32.47 p 85 33.26 p 109 Jos 19.50 p 175 1 Sam. 7.9 10. p 107 2 Sam 7.14 p 188 2 Sam 7 2â— p 147 1 King 11.32 p 286 1 King 17.1 p 159 2 Chron 3.17 p 131 2 Chron 6.18 p 102 106 2 Chron 11.15 p 108 Neh 2.10 p 143 Neh 6.63 64 65. p 155 Neh 9.2 p 155 Job 21.14 15. p 301 Job 22.17 ib. Psal 2.2 p 420 Psal 2.7 p 414 Psal 2.8 9. p 194 9 10. p 155 16.10 p 334 20.1 2. p 305 alias 298 22.1 p 339 348 40.6 7. p 81 418 45.3 4 5. p 109 51.7 p
8.44 Mat. 3. Christ saith to the unbelievers and hypocrites Ye are of your father the devil Men that hate Christ and his word and his servants their genealogie is from Satan and Cain 1 Iohn 3.12 and the faithfull theirs is from Abraham yea from God and Christ Gal. 3. 7.29 and chapter 4.31 Iohn 1.13 Let all Phil 3. be considered with this note Quest 10. and Answ N. 1. And tormenting sorrows Note some special God gave over into the hands of one another and into the hands of their Kings the Herods and the Cesaâ—s Ioseph Liber 13. chap. 19. c. Then Christ brake both his staves by which they were strengthened he brake the staffe of beauty bereaving them of the duty of his Ordinances and brake also the brother-hood of Judah and Ephraim And much of this came to passe when the tribe of Levi cared not for the sacrifice-hood and would be Kings contrary to Jacobs and Moses will Gen. 49. Deut. 33. Then they and others became Sadduces and killed 50000 Pharisees This is the fruit of hereticall Doctrine and mens Traditions The poore of the flock that waited on Christ and valued him above all observed these things Zac. 11. Ibid. For as they abhorred Christ As their fore-fathers moved Christ to jealousie by revolting to idols so they did by mens traditions and false Doctrine which is as bad as idolatry yea it is idolatry and vanity Deut. 32.21 compare with Rom. 10.19.1 John 5.21 Observe how the Apostle Paul citeth that Text of Moses They despised the eternall Son and his righteousnesse the new and living way Bodily exercise was not the living way and so they despised God the Father 2 John 9 but that brought upon them the day of violent fire and wrath to the utmost as it is said despisers wonder and perish Acts 31.41 Heb. 10.27 1 Thes 2.19 False Teachers and their deceived never prized nor admired Christ and his word read Phil. 3. Quest ibid. N. 2. with utter and finall desolations Your house that is the Temple shall be dosolate while the world standeth Mat. 23. Luc 13. And this came to passe about 40 years after our Lords ascension Not such a desolation and transâ—â—gration as was at Shiloh or at Jerusalem by Babel or as that three years half by Antiochus with restauration but utter desolations as experience for 1500 years The affliction from Egypt had a fore-told limitation so had Babels so that of Antiochus and Israels proper glory was limited Dan. 9.24 But how carnal Israels affliction is not limited and earthly Canaan and Jerusalem shall never have proper and peculiar glory Quest 11. and Answer They shall never be restored Let Ezk. 16.43 to the end of the chapter be well considered both for the captivity to Babel and the utter desolations by Rome as Ezekiel compares Iudahs state with Sodoms unrecoverable so our Lord both to Sodom and to Noahs flood Mat. 24. mark well Num. 33. ult Again note where the Apostle saith Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not have c. by a cosequent he meant Neither would he Temple City and Kingdome which were all figures till the time of setling Christ should be and was the building in which God would delight and therefore these shadows shall never be restored unlesse we say Sacrifice and offering shall Why do we not as Mr. Finch and Mr. Brightman c. make the Jews expect things seen and temporall No no they will rejoice to be of the holy City from heaevn and will never care to make a corporation in the Lowâ— Jerusalem Ibid. Then any countrey or Citie in the World Then they will believe the doctrine of their apostle Peter the Apostle of the circumcision as their Godly forefathers dispersed in Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia Bythinis and Chaldea and mind the heavenly inheritance that is uncorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not and the spiritual Temple 1 Peter 1. 2. and 2 Pet. 1.19 20 21. How sweetly doth the Apostle draw them from their carnal sense of Ezekiels prophesie under the terms of Canaan Citie and Temple So the apostle to the Hebrews draws them to the heavenly Government of Christ in the Jerusalem Celestial And that the Low Jerusalem all that hold of the policy of it now ended by the Son eternal were briars and thornes and near rejection cursing and the destruction of violent fire and wrath to the utmost compare 2 Sam 23.1 to 7. with Hebrews ch 6. 10. As their fore-fathers did so the children as Stephen laies that heavy crimination on them Ibid. The Lamb is the Temple Seeing the Lamb is the Temple and that he destroyed the material Temple and all the politie of it for if the Priest-hood be changed there must be of necessity a change of the Law old things are all passed Then surely it is abominable to have Priests Altars Sacrifices Candles Incense Copes Linnen Ephods Musick Distinction as of Mosaical daies and times as Rests Jubilees new Moones distinction of meats annointings c. in our Ecclesiasticall administrations yea or an Ecclesiastical politie answerable to Levi of a subservient Clergy under one universal high Priest on earth Christ our Statute-Maker hath forbidden all Levitical ceremonial worship Iohn 4. There is no Typical ceremonie left unto us in his New Testament but the two Seals of the covenant of the New Testament and Gods Worshipeâ—s must worship him in Spirit and truth Spirit is opposed to bodily exercise of our carnal hearts Truth is opposed to the shadows rites types and ceremonies by which Christ saith The hour was coming that the Father would refuse to be worshipped And the Son by whom the Father spake taught none such to be repeated much less others by man to be invenced They are tyrannical ecclesiasticks that force ceremonies Col. 2. Before Christs coming the Wisdom of God as the old covenant needed instituted many types and ceremonies but the fulness of time being come two signs seals and memorials Baptism and the Lords Supper were ordained Seeing the Lord God of hosts even the Lamb is the Temple and we all with open face see the shining of the Sun of righteousness all Moses Ceremonies and others of mans invention should be left It is else as if we were still under pupillage and now it is bondage from which Christ hath justified us that is made us free The servants of Christ in these things must not be the servants of men but still contend and fight the good fight for the utter abolishing what he hath abolished and what in his last Will and Testament he never bequeathed nor commanded Gal. 4. Greek Fathers began the Name Priest and high Priest to be fitted to their doctors But in the end the gangrene crept to haâ—m unspeakable that Satan by Turk and Pope ruled the world For the god-Pope the high Priest of the Papacy he made a Mosaical subservient Clergy He made another peculiar holy Citieâ— He made Priests and annointed them