Principle in the Habit and Source in the seed and beginning is first given to the Elect in their Regeneration and Conversion to be the original of all actual Graces in them this is called the new creature the new man created after Gods Image the divine Nature the forming of Christ within c. Of this children are capable if they be not of actual Grace which yet seems probable This is inherent Grace in the first principles and Habits thereof both gratis data and gratum faciens in an Orthodox not in a popish sense Secondly Inherent Grace in the Branches and streams in the Acts and Effects in the fruits and progress is variously denominated from the Objects Subjects manner of acting c. it s called faith to express the motion of the renewed soul towards God in Christ upon conjugal terms believing his Truth closing with his Person trusting his Promises depending on his Mercy deriving from his fulness observing him in all things which is called the life of faith It s called Repentance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it turns the whole soul from all sin to God Both in purpose and endeavour through his Spirit this and all other Graces are still concomitants and subsequents of faith in their gradual proportion It s called love to denote the affectionate embracing of God in Christ and in his people for Christs sake as the most amiable object It s called obedience as it acts the whole man to a free and full compliance with Gods Will revealed in his Word It s called Thankfulness as it affects the heart with the sense of Mercy received It s called self-denial as it moves the soul to prefer Christ before all things else and part with any thing for his sake It s termed Patience in regard of sorrowfull evils which it learns to bear submissively It s named humility with respect to its low thoughts of self submitted still to Christ It s nominated Temperance in regard of its care to avoid all excessive use of Creatures It s termed Zeal as it moves with fervour for good against evil It s termed Justice or Righteousness in respect of its readiness to give every one their due It s called Prudence as it regards all due means tending to right ends It s termed Wisdom as it s acquainted with the best things in their nature cause and end Thus Grace inherent hath its various appellations and distinctions both habitually and actually being the Grace properly meant in the Text as being that Grace which is capable of Growth The Knowledge of Christ is taken also in a sense more large or more strict 1. LArgely and commonly for a notional Knowledge void of saving Faith and Love such as puffs up an empty Brain 2. Strictly and specially for that saving applicative knowledge which includes all Grace by an elegant Hebraism verbs of sense and knowledge signifying both affectum effectum Natural knowledge of things is acquired by sense Reason or Authority Thus in spirituals this knowledge of Christs is spiritually sensible and rationally fiducial Its a conjugal knowledge which implies 1. Apprehension of the Truth of Christs proper Object 2. Credit and Assent thereto upon his divine Authority 3. Personal consent and particular Applications in mutual Acception and Reciprocation Grace and Knowlede in the Text may be understood 1. Distinctly Conjunctly 1. DIstinctly shewing the excellent Worth and needfull use of every Grace and of the knowledge of Christ 2. Conjunctly by a figure called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grace and Knowledge signifies gracious Knowledge as in that like phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grace and Apostleship for gracious Apostleship So the sense will be very emphatical suiting our purpose in characterizing this excellent Jewel so singularly transcendent beyond all other This precious Jewel is curiously set out in the golden ring of divine Records where you find it held forth in its radient Lustre whose glorious beams may be contracted for our clearer apprehension into plain description you may then observe it to be a conjugal acquaintance with Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour wrought in Gods Elect by the special operation of his renewing Spirit and effectually improved to Gods honor and mans good in every Relation toward God and Man This is the choice Jewel whose eminent worth hath been in all ages so incomparably prized by the Word and friends of God Every Page of Scripture sets forth the peculiar Eminency thereof every precept and Promise every prefiguration and Prophesie every President and performance points unto this This was under the Old Testament more ceremonially vailed and under the New is more Evangelically Revealed This is the centre wherein all the Lines of Scripture do meet All the Patriarchs aimed still at this Abraham saw his day and rejoiced Davi◠is full of it Job was divinely advised to such an Acquaintance as to the source and sum of all good Paul accounted all loss and dung in comparison of this excellent Knowledge and rationally determined to know nothing else Peter sums all up in this Good Reason for it if we consider the Object and subject the cause and Nature the property and effect thereof which are all hinted in the former Description Reason 1. The proper Object adequate of this gracious Knowledge is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ a singular Jewel indeed in every consideration The Paramount and Non-such the chiefest of ten thousand both in his Person and Office in his progress and Purchase in his Relation and Influence 1. The Person of Christ is a noble Paragon considered as God as Man as God-man 1. CHrist is God blessed for ever the eternal Son of his eternall Father co-essential and co-equal with him the the Brightness of his Glory and the express Image or Character of his Person in whom dwells the fulness of the Godhead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 substantially and bodily the only begotton of the Father full of Grace and Truth essentially one with the Father though personally distinct by an eternal Generation unutterable to man firmly to be believed on Gods Testimony and piously adored not curiously pried into The wonderful Wisdom of the Father who was his Delight before Time by whom in time he made the world and upholds all by the word of his power Essentially he is God of himself Personally God the Son of God the Father His proper Name is the Word of God the Wonderful Councellor the Father of Eternity He that doth what ever the Father doth and to be worshipped as the Father is worshipped He that sends the Spirit from the Father who being in the form and substance of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God To him be glory for ever Amen 2. Christ as Man is the Rare Object of this Knowledge For the word was made flesh and dwelt among
thus 1. Prize it undervalue it not consider its worth and singular use It s Christ himself with his saving Grace that is to be duly known and improved Let no creature then come into competition Christ will endure no Corrival nor Superiour Let not any darling sin be cherished now to undervalue Christ If he be not infinitely better mind him not at all if he be mind him above all 2. Desire it disdain it not So lovely so needful an Object should set all your Affections on flames You have disdained him too long already is it not high time to long for him to breath and pant till you obtain him What would a dying man give for a sure cure a condemned man for a pardon a drowning man for help Let your heart give that and all to this Christ 3. Embrace it reject it not accept of him if you love your self upon his own Terms If you capitulate or reserve any thing Christ will none of you This offer may be your last Let your whole soul now close freely with him in a Conjugal way by mutual consent Receive and Take that you may be One and may know him thus and your self aright 4. Insure it neglect it not you have his Insuring Office to make all clear and firm His Spirit within by his privy Seal his Sacraments and Ordinances without by a broad Seal ratifie his gracious Covenant Observe and grieve not that Spirit of Adoption that must witness within by evidencing Grace and operate without in all the means of Grace for the Obsigation and security of your Interest 5. Keep it los it not so Rare a Jewel so choice an Antidote should be laid up with all possible care Precious stones are found to be specifick Cordials against various diseases and poisons This choisest Jewel should be chiefly set in the Golden Ring of a gracous soul to be worn and kept against all danger Beware of sullying breaking and hurting so curious a Piece 6. Improve it abuse it not This precious knowledge was never intended to feed vain Notions or vile Affections but to fence you against every evil and help you effectually to all true good Improve it therefore unto such Ends wherein you may be sure of Gods Blessing There was never more need of such an Antidote to preserve Christians from Epidemical sins This gracious Knowledge of Christ well improved hath vertue enough to fortifie you against all the Wiles of the wicked and all the deceits of your sinful hearts make use of it then against every Temptation and corruption especially against Errour the woful disease of this sinful Age There was never more need of Christs help against so many unclean spirits ensnaring many simple hearts Prudence and Zeal are here most needful to discern aright of persons and things Some good men are drawn in on mistakes as the four hundred that followed Absalom in their simplicity Some Errors are more superficial wherein Christians must bear with each other walking together as far as they agree waiting for the Lords further discovery Many Errors are so fundamental that they are inconsistent with the hope of Salvation and must be earnestly contended against by due improvement of this Antidote all of them militate against Christ either directly or reflectively in opposition to all that is near and dear unto him variously assaulting 1. His Deity which the Arrians and Sabellians blasphemously denied making him but a Deus factus and the Socinians after them following therein both the Socinus's Uncle and Nephew whose Italian Venom carried so much infection into Poland lately revived by too many among us as by Paul Best Biddle c. as it hath been scattered in Transilvania and Neighbouring parts by divers such Instruments Turks and Jewes agree with them therein For the prevention and cure of this deadly plague spiritual growth in the Grace and Knowledge of Christ will be a special Antidote faithfully improved fortifying your soul with his Truth making you to feel the Power of his Godhead through the beam of that Sun of Righteousness Reason and Experience thus spiritualized will demonstrate to you and to others by you the Record which God bears of his Son in whom dwels the fulness of the Godhead bodily or essentially as the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports The same Titles and Attributes the same Worship and works ascribed to God the Father are also ascribed to God the Son The wretched Arrians called Christ in scorn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a diminutive God and would grant him to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a like substance but denied him to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the same substance Were he not God co-essential and co-eternal with the Father how could he be one with him as himself affirms How could he have made infinite satisfaction and procured infinite Salvation How could he have born Gods infinite wrath for his peoples sins What shall we think of those quaking Impostors that own no Christ above but what 's in them that renew the Ranters blasphemy of Gods being all things their being Christed c Do they not affront the God of Glory The God-head of Christ takes up man to God conveying from God all good through his Manhood There must be our strength against every sin that Christ our surety is the blessed God 2. His Humanity variously assaulted by Notionists of an old and new stamp by many Behmenists and the swarms of Quakers who have con'd too much of their mysterious absurdities This poison once got into mens Brains casts them into strange dreams about Christs manhood which they fancy to have been but a fiction and figure a Phantasm and Apparition that vanished after a while to represent that within them which they call Christ To repress those pestiferous fumes from intoxicating your head and heart your Antidote will inform your Judgement with the Truth and warm your heart with the substantial goodness of his human Nature It will shew you out of Scripture that he is truly the Son of man who took on him the seed of Abraham was made flesh in all things like to us except sin Without controversie Great is the Mysterie of Godliness God manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels believed on in the world preached to the Gentiles received up into Glory Had he not been a real man how could he have suffered on his peoples behalf How could he have made his soul an offering for sin His sufferings were most real sure that forced from him such a bloody sweat in the open air of a cold season and that in the night that made him cry out so lamentably My God my God why hast thou forsaken me that spent him wholly to his last breath with a most
not admit of conviction or cure 16. As ignorant sots fitter for the Asses scourge Balaam-like then for rational course and company 17. As empty vain Boasters speaking great swelling words of vanity 18. As subtile Deceivers alluring through the Lusts of the flesh and much wantoness of spirit in fair promises of Liberty such as had clean escaped from them that live in Error 19. As relapsing Apostates like the dog turning to his vomit and the sow washed to her wallowing in the mire Thirdly He sets forth Prophetically a ranting Crue of scornful mockers that should pester the latter dayes whom he doth accurately paint out in this third Chapter that we might be effectually provided against such a storm Scoffers saith he shall arise walking after their own lusts deriding the promise of Christs coming wilfully ignorant of the Angels fall the worlds drowning Sodoms firing and all such Preludes of divine vengancee upon all impenitent Infidels Thence he hastens towards his close by sure demonstrations of that grand Truth which they mainly opposed Christs last coming he lively represents and assures of which would be sudden seasonable and successfuls That Christ of Gods so much slighted by men shall come upon them saith he as a thief in the Night to fulfill that divine Word which hath reserved heavens and earth to be burnt up with fire then shall the heavens pass away with a great Noise the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth and works therein shall be burnt up Thereby moving all Christians to have a singular care of holiness and Godliness in Heart and Life But least the friends of Christ should be troubled at the terribleness of his Approach he promiseth to them a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness Thereby he Revives their hearts and presses them to improve savingly what others abuse desperately The patience of God bearing so wonderfully with all gives his Elect time of returning home and renders the rest inexcusable This he uses as a strong Incentive to Re-inforce on them his former Exhortation whereto also his fellow-Labourer Paul had in his Epistle cogently pressed them His writings so divine as all other Scriptures could not escape the abuse of wicked minds and Reprobate Consciences They were then as still they are shamefully wrested by unlearned and unstable souls to their own and others destruction He therefore with the more vigour charges Gods people to study and observe them with more diligence and sobriety with more prudence and circumspection with more sincerity and self-denial Therefore ye Beloved saith he seeing ye know these things beware lest ye be led away by the Errour of the wicked and so fall from your own stedfastness but grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Thus you see the ushering in of our Text to give us an excellent Counter-poison against all sin and Errour suted to the Complexion of these latter dayes in a peculiar manner and that by way of Epilogue and Conclusion III. This Epilogue or close sums up all in an Emphatical Exhortation by a pressing Disuasive from evil v. 17. and a pregnant persuasive to good ver 18. 1. THe Dissuasive expresses three main particulars 1. The proper subject of damnable Errors viz. wicked Lawless persons 2. The contagious danger thereof good men themselves being too ready to be led away thereby and so to fall from their own stedfastness 3. The singular method of self-preservation from it by improving of all divine Warnings to the faithful keeping of our selves in our stedfastness 2. The Persuasive in ver 18. Exposes also three choyce things to our consideration 1. The chief Ingredients of our spiritual Antidote Viz. the Grace and Knowledge of Christ 2. The gradual compleating and fitting therereof by growing therein 3. The due Application of the same in Opposition to that infectious Venom by a proportionable Improvement or this Antidote implyed in the particle But but grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ These several Points are to be more distinctly viewed to our present purpose 1. From that special Attribution of Errour to wicked men which our Apostle pathetically expresses by the double demonstrative particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereby he Emphatically denotes their property and Interest in such a way of Error We may observe to good purpose that Doctrine 1. Lawless wicked Persons are exceeding subject to be carried away with destructive Errours The Godly may accidentally fall into them but the ungodly are peculiarly totally and finally carried away therewith 1. WIcked Ones are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Lawless or boundless ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Privative adversative 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lex Law They are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 opposite to Gods Law as well as destitute of it They love not they know not they own not Gods law they observe it not whereas the regenerate delight in Gods Law as Paul though they look not to be justified by the works of it Gods Law is the Revelation of his Will concerning mans duty fully Registred now in the Scriptures of Truth the perfect Rule of Faith and obedience summed up in Gods Statute-books of the old and New Testament Errour is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wandring from the Truth either Natural Moral or Spiritual either in foundation or superstructure According to the Import of the Truth opposed so is every error more or less dangerous Those Errours are damnable in the Apostles phrase which deny or destroy Fundamental Truths as about the Natures Person and Office of Christ Mediator the misery of man his Recovery by Grace the need of Regeneration resting on Christ alone c. To be led away 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to be carried by the force of a torrent and stream or in a croud and hurry Thus Lawless men are hurried away by the fraud and force of Error into evil thence ver 12 13. they are compared to natural bruit Beasts fiercely running to their destruction It hath been too sadly confirmed in all Ages specially in our dayes Those grand Seducers and their prime followers which did so much pester the Apostolical Churches are thus described and we are told at large what monsters of wickedness should follow their steps Paul and Peter John and Jude set them forth in lively portraictures as Christ himself had done before Scripture and Ecclesiastical History do fully demonstrate it In this very Chapter and the foregoing the direful characters given by our Apostle of those Impostors that would successively disturb Christianity demonstrate it ex abundanti Such were Simon and Menander Ebion and Cerinthus Basilides and Priscillian of old Paracelsus and David George Muncer and John of Leydon with many more of later date Reason 1 The Reigning corruption of such Lawless ones must needs incline them
any of his By his own example and Command he hath directed us to seek the things that make for Peace wherein we may edifie one another Convulsions in his Members are most direful and dangerous Symptoms proceeding from ill humors vapors and Spirits Whilst the Limbs fall a jarring the body must needs decay That Wisdom from beneath which cherishes contentions and envy is sensual and devilsh The Devil hath no better sport then in such troubled waters These Confusions of Tongue become Babylon better then Zion Must not the stones of Gods Temple be proportionably squared and fitted to each other that his Sanctuary may be erected Should not they that believe in one God are saved by one Christ justified by one faith acted by one Spirit sealed by one baptism supported by one hope and ruled by one Lord walk in one Love also and be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace There is too much of hell fire in unchristian Combustions Such ignes fatui and cheating Meteors lead many to destruction Do not such wandring stars and blazing Comets manifest divine wrath and portend woful Judgements If our Light and fire burn better then anothers have we not cause to be more thankful and communicative What have we that we have not received to impart to others Are not the strong bid to bear with the weak and not please themselves Our Neighbours good is co-ordinate still with our own Interest for we should love our Neighbour as our selves Is not this Jewel a very precious one which is of such Import to the benefit of all Reason 4. The Nature of this gracious Knowledge doth further demonstrate its Excellency There are three special parts that do make it up being the choice Ingredients thereof Apprehension Assent and Application 1. APprehension of the matter understood is found in every kind of knowledge specially in this A view of Christs Beauty and Excellency is taken by the mind thus spiritualized The lively picture of Christs al-sufficiency is drawn in his Gospel by the pencil of his own Spirit The Lord himself opens his very Bowels to the Prospect of his peoples eyes therein Is not this a precious sight indeed to behold such a Saviour in all his proportions Doth not the sensible sight of our vileness and sinfulness recommend such a merciful Redeemer to our apprehension Can we behold our own wretchedness Insufficiency and unworthiness and thence cast a glance on his sutable and sure Redemption without admiration Doth not the survey of divine fulness thus exposed to view exalt the Lord Christ above all other Lovers Are not all his royal perfections a magnificent sight to a gracious Soul Can there be any thing more swett and stately 2. Assent and Credit to the Truth apprehended attends this knowledge in a singular way The God of Truth bespeaks this Assent by the word of Truth Salvation by Christ alone for true Believers upon conjugal terms is the sum thereof He that believes his Testimony hath set to his seal that God is true divine Authority gaining thus credit to his Assertion sways the Judgement to reason the case and cast its resolve upon Christs side Divine reason then perswades mans Reason that such a Christ is worth the accepting upon his own Terms The soul thereby judges all capitulations and Reservations to be sinfull dreadfull irrational Mans reason is then brought over to such a subjection as Christs reason demands without delaies or exceptions It sees that in Christ which is better then All and suits its wants in every part thereof It sees no help from any creature to be looked for and judges all to be but vanity and Lyes that hinders from Christ The soul then learns feelingly to cry None but Christ none but Christ as the Martyr did with due conviction of sin and righteousness in order to Judgement through the Spirits help The soul thus weary both of self and sin readily assents to that truth of God which presents Christ for a faithful and loving Husband for Saviour and Lord And is not this of singular worth Thirdly Application and hearty consent is the main ingredient of all conjugal Knowledge especially of this The soul is hereby effectually yielded into Christs own hand upon his own terms The Will in this Act accepts of Christ and renders up it self to his disposal Conjugal Acception is thus reciprocated that the whole man may yield unto him all loyal obedience of Faith and Love This great wheel thus moved all the Affections turn accordingly Christ ward heaven-ward that before still moved self-ward and earth-ward The soul being thus surrendred to Christ depends on him and derives from him still Grace for Grace All other things then become serviceable to the honor and service of Christ This Marriage-union brings with it a free and full a singular and sure Communion Then saith the soul My Beloved is mine and I am his I have all from him and all for him all in him and all through him And is not this a very rare Jewel that makes a match between Heaven and Earth Is not this Knowledge of singular worth that marries sinfull man to God Almighty Is not this thing of a rare value whose nature appears so supereminent Reason 5. The Properties of this Knowledge do much commend its excellency also They are expressed by a pregnant word full of sense and vertue being called a gracious knowledge 1. IN regard of Gods favouring Grace whence it flows which it manifests and whither it leads The glory of divine Grace doth so admirably and so wonderfully shine forth therein that its preciousness is as remarkable as the Noon-Sun in a Summer-day 2. In respect to his renewing Grace this knowledge is truly and incomparably gracious being attended with all the gracious Train and fruits of Christs Spirit So far as the Lord is duly known by his people so far is this knowledge attended with a proportionable measure of saving Grace 1. It s a fiducial knowledge that knows Christ with conjugal faith discerning of him looking up to him closing with him following after him trusting in him feeding upon him drawing all from him and returning all to him 2. It s a loving knowledge that embraces Christs love and retaliats Love for Love loving his person first and then his goodness That soul that knows Christ loves him sincerely and self-denyingly fervently and constantly That soul hears and speaks prays and acts in love to him loving his Word and ways his name and honor his service and servants out of Love to him That soul for his sake loves his Saints with a Love of delight and sinners with a Love of pitty The more she knows of him the more is her heart melted into his heart to be cast into the mold of his Love What 's recorded of famous Ignatius
is verified of such the name of Christ is engraven on their heart by the finger of his own Spirit 3. It s a penitential knowledge that melts the soul with godly sorrow as looking on Christ pierced by him and for him The sight of such a Saviour so unkindly requited cannot but make sin out of measure sinfull to such a tender heart The sweetness of Christ must needs embitter every sin to such who have tasted how good the Lord is Such do hate sin with perfect hatred knowing the baseness and unreasonableness thereof Christ clears their eyes to descry and detest the least appearance of evil The more beauty is discovered in him the more ugliness do such observe in sin his grand Opposite They take most pains to mortifie those Lusts which are most opposite to Christ 4. It s an obediential knowledge carefull to observe the Lords Will made known If any say that he knows him and keeps not his Commands he is a liar and the truth is not in him If we know that he is righteous we know that he that doth righteousness is born of him This knowledge is not notional but practical It rests not in the brain but conveys Influence into the whole Life It s not idle but very active It studies his Will to fulfill it and fulfills it in studying thereof It s obedience is neither blind nor lame but a spiritual Sacrifice a rational Service The whole man in heart and life compleats this oblation of loyal observance It minds the precepts as much as the Promises and desires holiness as much as happiness It would act like Christ in acting for him 5. It s an humbling knowledge that puffs not up but laies the soul low The more any know of Christ aright the more still do they know of their sins The best of Christ being duly known makes them to know the worst of themselves Christs eye-salve doth so clear their eyes that they see easily those sinfull motes of lesser faults which by their moon-light of notional knowledge they could not discern Their beholding of Christ in their Gospel-glass with open face thus shews more of this shame and of his Glory Thus Job was more humbled by seeing of God in a clearer light Abraham acknowledges himself dust and ashes upon familiar Conference with Christ Their Affronts put on him in their time of darkness humble them soundly in this season of Light They learn daily as Socrates said to know their ignorance As Simonides the more they study the knowledge of God the more amazed are they with his glorious unsearchableness 6. It s a grateful knowledge that cannot endure sinful ingratitude They know thereby the worth of Mercy and the high price paid by Christs blood for every favour afforded to his The bounty of Christ so magnificently multiplied on them still renders them thankful Debtors mindful of their Bonds Their Insolvency they more throughly know which makes them the more beholding to him What others enjoy by common Providence they receive still by a Gracious Promise Ingratitude the sum of all evil they abominate as the Devil himself Their homage and rent do they bring to him whom they well know to be their chief Lord. Returns of Duty they labour to make in some proportion to their Receipts of Mercy 7. All other Graces do beautifie this attending on Christ in following his Train Patience and Prudence are found in their Rank Zeal and diligence will not be backward Meekness and sweetness will not be strangers Courage and Fortitude are ready at hand Sincerity and self-denial are inseparable companions thereof The Knowledge of Christ then is a choyce Jewel that is so well set and accompanied Nothing is wanting for knowledge or comfort so far as Christ is known or enjoyed Reason 6. The Effects of this gracious Knowledge do add very much to the price thereof It works effectually upon the whole man in every Relation towards God and man There is no condition nor occasion here wherein its Influence is not manifested It s a precious Root that bears much fruit solid substantial and still seasonable It renders a man fit for every good and is a Preserver from all kind of evil It makes a man still to look to Christ and to seek for him in every Ordinance The matter and means of Divine worship with the manner and solemn time thereof it spiritually minds In every Providence Christ is also acknowledged by such in every Duty towards their Neighbor As the first Table of Christs Divine Law is unto them the Standard of Worship so is the second Table of his Decalogue their constant Rule of officious Duty towards every man That order and safety setled by Gods Word for Beauty strength and use in this worldly Fabrick the knowledge of Christ teaches how to preserve with all possible care The chastity and propriety of body and goods as well as of souls it looks after The credit and content that concerns all men in their respective places is much furthered and duly preserved by this gracious Knowledge It s good physick to purge out ill humours for the curing of all distempers It affords choice food for old and for young for strong and for weak in all necessities What the Rabbies soy of the material manna is truly verified of this spiritual Meat that its relish suits every Palat and may satisfie every desire It s a Cordial against all faintings to revive the feeble in their Agonies Armour of Proof it furbishes for war against all enemies inward and outward It is the Key of Christs Magazin and of all his stores opening the Treasures of our All sufficient God our El Shaddai If you can conceive any thing of worth either in Heaven or earth This Knowledge of Christ will both match it and get it for you so far as may tend to your real good It s in a word the true Elixar and Philosophers Stone that turns all to Gold and puts a choice vertue into every thing towards felicity Vse This knowledge appears a singular Jewel upon good Reason good use thereof should be made also The best things are made for the best use and appear best therein As Christ himself is of infinite usefulness every kind of way so is his Grace participatively and communicatively This may be improved then 1. In a word of Information 1. See hence by way of Corollary the singular Method that should regulate every mans study Men are naturally desirous of Knowledge by an Instinct suited to their rational Being Mans soul was at first made after Gods Image in perfect Knowledge What sin lost and defaced in Adams Treason Grace only Restores The Knowledge of Christ affords a Tree of Life but most follow the Serpents advice stil in longing after another knowledge both of good and evil The sinful Issue of sinful Adam do stil love to
tread in his steps hearkening to Satan rather then to God They are still Learning to know good and evil by sad experience This Tree of Life is little observed and less improved mens palats are so far degenerated Most are still scrambling about that Tree for fruit which can yield nothing but sin and sorrow The best of its fruit like to Sodoms Apples look very fair but by the least touch turned into Ashes Most men break their necks in clammering about and climing of that Tree whose fruit brings death If that fruit seem hard it s but a shell if it appear soft it s through rottenness In every condition men study something but most mind least this choice Tree of Life Christ is Divine Wisdom Essentially and Personally In him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge He keeps open school and sends his Spirit to be his Usher He teaches within by motions of Conscience and without us in his Word and Providence The Volumes of his Truth and of all his works he gives us to read that the former may explain the latter He is the best Master for skil and sweetness Yet few do learn to any purpose because they slight the knowledge of him Men study pleasures profit honor in the world below which are to be had only from him Arts and Sciences others would attain but they miss their aim imâ—missing of him Some gaze at the stars and stumble in the dark like the blind Philosopher for want of Christs Light Many study words to tickle mens ears neglecting Christs Word that would teach the heart Some mind the Law of men so disorderly that they attend not to the Law of Christ The bodies of men are studied by many whilst their own poor souls are wholly neglected The care of souls is professed by some who yet little mind this saving knowledge Divers Parrot-like do speak of Christs knowledge not by experience but only by Roat Too many are found studying how to sin without trouble and sence without stop and Remorse Not a few tempt Satan to tempt them and study how to act a Satanical part of tempting of others Til Christ be the Rule of all our studies they will be fruitless being without Rule Till he be our End they will be sure still to prove endless Til he be the ground and the strength thereof they will prove groundless and supportless still If we learn him well he will teach us all that we need to know If we know him not we shall learn nothing that 's worth the knowing Knowledge is excellent when it s orderly learned and improved but it proves mischievous when it s once corrupted and abused Such men like Toads carry a stone of worth in their heads being full of poyson in their heart and Life Like monstrous Syrens they have a fair face but a shameful Tail The tinkling Cymbal and the sounding Brass is the fit Emblem of too many now The Lord teach us to study Christ stil in all above all that we may know all in him and for him Second Vse is for reprehension both to the Graceless and to Gracious souls 1. IT justly reproves the Graceless and unregenerate that still many wayes stand against this Truth as 1. All ignorant ones that do not know and will not learn Christ Such live in the dark as Moles under ground and Owls or Bats in the open ayr They are born blind and will continue so not looking for cure It was so of old and it s so stil my people parish for lack of knowledge was the Lords complaint A people of no understanding shall find no mercy from him that made them Consider it well Gross wilful ignorance will aggravate not lessen your sins Under Gospel-Light such Ignorance is very dreadful This is a sad condemnation indeed that seals up the full measure of all other sins Men think they see and therefore remain blind None are such fools as the conceited wise My people is foolish saith the Lord again they have not known me They are wise to do evil but to do good they have no knowledge Men pretend business they have not leisure like the Duke of Alva who had so much to look after on earth that he had no time to look after Heaven But is not this egregious folly to slight the Jewel and mind only the cask If you have not so much time as others why do not you Redeem what you have should not you rather spare it from your sleep work or Recreation then from this Jewel so much concerning both Gods honour and mans good Is Christ so little worth knowing and owning Will not you rue it to eternity Is not sinful darkness the beginning of Hell and utter darkness Is it not the womb and Nurse of all sin If Papists be content with picture-Teachers and blind obedience slighting and slandering the Word of God should their folly be followed among us Is the Light of Christ so to be disowned If the servant that knows not his Masters will shall be beaten though with fewer stripes what will become of him that would not learn to understand his will 2. All negligent ones that will not take pains to attain unto this gracious knowledge Such may possibly enjoy special helps they may have pregnant parts profess fair and seem to desire good but they are sluggish they improve not all means and prove lazy in their enquiries after Christs wisdom This is a sad and common evil Many such shall seek to enter in and shall not be able He that asks lazily teaches denyal The lazy servant that hoarded up his Talent smarted sore for it None can be excused for such a neglect Is not Christ well worth the taking pains for Who looks for a conquest without trouble Who expects a crop without care cost Who can drive a Trade without pain and venture Is not this the best Trade and Husbandry the best warfare and surest Venture Who gets acquaintance with the Lords wisdom without crying waiting and searching Why art thou content with a Velleity and a woulding will without endeavour like the sluggards wish Why art thou pleased with barren desires and fruitless Resolves If thy seeming longing make thee not active and inquisitive impatient of delay and unsatisfied it s a false longing If thou be not better then the stony ground lasting but a while and soon blasted what will thy end be Dost thou not hereby reproach Christ sadly by preferring creatures before him Thou wilt Repent when it s too late if Ephesus warning do not rouz thee up Be convinced then of thy laziness be ashamed and weary of it It concerns thee to see thy folly and thy misery 3. This Truth looks wishly upon Formalists that have indeed a form of Godliness but deny the Power thereof
will still cherish it self-conceit and folly will still be its Nurses Meddle not with pitch to avoid its filth Trie all things aright that you may suck no evil Advice from sure hands will preserve you much from the common Wo of this erring Age. Improve your own and others Experience confirmed to you by Scripture-Records 5. Forget not Temperance the Nurse of Vertue and the Ruin of vice Let your moderation appear to all men the Lord is an hand Sobriety in all things lawfull must attend abstinence from things unlawfull The supream Physician directs often to this both by his own mouth and his Servants Pen. Intemperance is the womb and breast of all sinfull evil that would weaken you You may soon surfeit with worldly Creatures if you be not singularly carefull that you may grow apace in the things of Christ be very moderate in all other things Nature is content with little and Grace with less where Inordinancy hath not burst the bounds Know well what becomes your Complexion and Condition that you may still cut your garment to your cloth and to your wearing He is rich indeed that hath learn't Contentment the choice Jewel which Christ alone gives Paul studied long and hard for the same being instructed in the School of Heaven Follow his steps to attain his End so shall you know how to want and abound Godliness with Content will be your great gain the Blessing of the Lord will make you so rich as to add no sorrow thereto Sixthly Be very watchfull this is Christs own Rule often inculcated to spur on our dulness We naturally are very drowzy much inclining to sloth and slumber In this sleepy age the wisest Virgins contract infection among the foolish They all slumber and sleep through their own default the Bridgroom tarrying for some longer space then some expected Watch and pray watch and be sober lest ye be surprized ere you be ware You are surrounded with mortal enemies very numerous cruel and cunning Look well to your Guards inward and outward your danger within is often greatest Redeem the time well walking circumspectly not as fools but as wise in these evil days Watch unto all good against every sin so shall you be ready for your Masters comming The lazy Servant shall see him with horror whom the diligent shall welcome with Joy The night of Ignorance Error and all sin is the season that requires this most Troubles of all sorts will attend the same if all due care be not rightly used Christ comes as a Thief unexpectedly both on the former and this latter world whilst robbing Spirits are catching abroad Blessed is he that watcheth and keeps his Garments If any of us be stripped by their Wiles we shall be found naked to our open shame Seducing Spirits do haunt every place with their cheating drugs and Mountebanck Tricks Look well to your selves and to all under you that ye be not poisoned by their Artifice They can cog the dice and shuffle their Cards with all nimbleness and secret methods The Prince of this world is still teaching them to abuse Scripture and corrupt its sense by wresting its words Watch therefore to improve the knowledge of Christ with more vigor zeal and diligence Be moved thereto by further viewing the following point as the Remedy against such Maladies Doctrine VI. Spiritual Growth is a Soveraign Antidote against Error and Apostacy This clearly appears from the respective Aspect of this Text upon the Context as is implyed in the particle But. ERror is a subtile and a strong Poison as doth appear from the former hints It blinds the Judgement and misleads the soul into Satans road of falshood and deceit Spiritual Errors are most dangerous in the great matters of our Salvation Scruples and doubts are more unsettled Error grows fixed and radicates it self In Circumstantials of Religion there is less danger among sober and humble Christians If this disease grow to greater height near the foundation and the noble parts t' will be worse still If once it strike at Fundamentals its intolerable not to be born with The venom thereof is set out in Scripture by the most poisonous Creatures that can be Minerals and Plants Vermin and Serpents do all come short in setting it forth The vilest Excrements and the worst disease cannot sufficiently express its deadliness It s the sad abstract of all kind of evil wherein sin and Sorrow do fully center All sorts even the best being subject thereto in different ways should be made carefull to provide against it As Countryes vary so do their poisons as bodies vary so do their diseases This poisonous disease doth likewise vary on divers accouts to be distinctly known towards a cure Apostacy and Revolt from God is a pernicious evil and the common Attendant of Error which still endangers a Christians stedfastness The word signifies a turning aside and setting mans back against the living God Every sin is Gods enemy and turning to sin is running from God In the first Adam we revolted all and corrupt nature is still bent to sin through the sinfull venom received from him Christ the second Adam came into the world to save his people from their sinfull death by a gracious Covenant published in the Gospel Some do embrace it but externally others cordially Satan is still attempting to turn every man from it by various Errors and Methods of his He prevails with-most to their undoing and gains too much credit with the best This Apostacy and turning from God is total or partial Total Apostacy raigns still in all the unregenerate that do shake off the good ways of Christ Partial Apostacy often distempers the Regenerate to a high degree though it never proves total nor final They turn as far from God as they turn aside into crooked ways being disturbed with the fumes of corruption and temptation They turn from one Truth and then from another by following Satan and his counterfeit Lights from one disease they contract another by the putrifying of their ill humors to more malignity These dreadfull evils need a Soveraign Antidote and a sutable Counterpoison that they may not turn all into confusion All Societies civil and spiritual are very much endangered thereby as well as mens souls Spiritual Growth is a choise Remedy fitted by the Lord for such a disease In every Country Providence affords some Preservative against all diseases and poisons that infest the same Wise Physitians know this very well though they make use of forraign drugs also ex abundanti God hath shewed no less care of the souls of men then of their bodies having sent his own Son to be the Saviour and Lord of his people He is held forth indefinitely to all that will hear and is peculiarly given to such whose heart is by special Grace renewed efficacioussy to the embracing of him
our Israel The Method thereof appears clearly from what hath been said This gracious knowledge will afford us the sure Medicines for a distracted Church and a discomposed State Any diseased soul and disordered Family may hence take Receipts with the best Probatum Politicians would prove far more prosperous would they study Christ more and Machiavel less Did Ministers know him more graciously they would meet surely with better success Did all Superiors attend his Prescripts every business would find under them much facility Did private Christians observe this better they would sure enjoy much of Truth and Peace both for the internal and external man The Lord thy Physitian is his Title of honour which Christ sets up by his great Herauld and proclaims to his people for speedy help in every trouble Vse 2. It should admonish all carnal and notional Christians under the total Reign or partial Remainder of Spiritual Errors and Revolts What pity is it that such a choice Help so freely tendered should be so basely slighted and abused Doth not this Point then justly Reprove 1. Such as are under the total Reign of sin and Error all sinners in grain Is not your case very woful indeed that wilfully abide in a Christless state by still abiding in a sinful state Sin is your plague and you know it not Error Rules in you and you feel it not why are you sensless in such a danger Because sin is there in its Element Your disease is a sleepy feaver or a phrantick madness else you would never slight Christs Physick no more then his Person You feed upon ashes a deceitful heart hath carried you aside that you cannot see the lye in your right hand It may be you think you Reject not Christ why then do you reject his Terms and prefer your own Why do you stil love what he loaths and loath what he loves Why do you then continue stil in the love and trade of your darling sins secret or gross Why do you stil provide for your Lusts and plead for them covering of them mincing the matter and returning still thereto as the dog and swine Why do you stil then loath his Ordinances his Word and Sabbath his service and servants Do you pretend Allegiance to him and yet continue stil in Rebellion Do you profess to own his marriage terms and yet remain stil wedded to the world to your gain and will to sensual pleasure and windy honour Do you profess to believe in Christ and yet will not do what he bids you nor forbear what he forbids This is to mock not to honour Christ he knows you not that wilfully and constantly work iniquity in opinion affection or life 2. Under the partial Remainders thereof will Regnerate Saints be found though not all alike The best therefore may justly be Reproved for their sinful estrangedness from Christ Is not this the cause of so many Errors and Revolts our not growing in that gracious Knowledge that would prove our Soveraign Antidote Why do we study the Lord Christ so little and the world so much Is not our ignorance and self-conceitedness our sloth and neglect about this main thing the great cause of our sad distempers Factions and Fractions we justly bewail in every Relation Most carry fire and fuel to the common Incendy to encrease it stil few mind the water of the Sanctuary for to quench the same Do not the best find upon due search much of selfishness in all disputes and controversies Do they not also find in their private affairs how much self is preferred before Christ Should not this great evil humble our souls deeply that we thus forsake the Fountain of living Waters and dig unto our selves broken empty Cisterns that will hold no water Is this our kindness to our dearest friend Is this our Loyalty to our dread Soveraign Is this our love to our selves and Neighbor to despise thus the only way of cure Be we ashamed of this vile neglect that Christs Truth and Waies have suffered so much through our great folly Are our experiences of so little worth and our acquaintance with Christ so inconsiderable that we slight all and yield to every assault of temptation and corruption drawing us aside Vse 3. Enquiry and search into our spiritual state our Complexion may be hence observed that the Tokens of our Personal and publike Constitution may be duly brought to Divine Test 1. Hence may every one personally view his case and state towards Eternity We are all by Nature deadly sick of sin still subject to Error and Apostacy of the basest kind Our hearts are full of mortal poison carrying still within the seed and Root of the worst disease naturally and spiritually What Antidote have we got against all such dreadful evils Have we learned Christ in the truth of him that our gracious knowledge might stil be growing Are we thereby fenced against the sinful causes of Error and Revolt Are we daily mortifying sin dying to the world resisting Tempters denying our selves through the knowledge of Christ Are we still fortifying our souls with his precious Grace that all our Faculties may be preserved in spiritual health against sin and Error Do we rightly apply the vertue of this Christ in each of his specifick properties whilst we attend his will and Blessing in the diligent use of all the means appointed by him Do we still mind his Word and Blood his Grace and Favour in every Ordinance and Providence through his Spirits help 2. May we not hence also take a Publick Estimate of the state of Affairs in this place in this Land in this Republique yea of any place whatsoever The true Prognosticks of present and future Weal or Wo will be hence made perspicuous Away with Star-gazers and carnal wisdom that we may consult with Gods own Personal Wisdom How far are we then in a publike posture acquainted with Christ How far is that Acquaintance improved Resolve these queries and the case will be as clear as Noon-day God may save us with A Notwithstanding miraculously at his own pleasure But we must judge of persons and things by the known Rule of his Word compared with Providence So far as we slight Christ publickly in any concernment of his so far may we rationally expect that he should slight us in our concernments Let every one make due application as he shall see cause in all publike Affairs whilst God is shaking and overturning all things in the Nations and will do so still til Christ come to his Right to fill his house with Glory Vse 4. May be for counsel to all Christian Professors prize and desire embrace and insure Keep and improve this precious Antidote It s an infectious season it concerns all to look to themselves and therefore look well after this Antidote to prevent and remove all sinful diseases That it may be yours effectually
Scripture speaks of Christs Dying for all for the World for sinners c. the context still clears the restriction of those phrases to all the Elect both Jews and Gentiles that are of all sorts and in all places and ages It s a common phrase in every language thus to speak of all for many of all sorts indefinitely to be explained by the matter in hand Thus all Judea came to be baptised The Apostles preached to every creature under heaven yet still with limitation The word World in divers places cannot signifie whole man-kind but must be limited to the vessels of mercy alone Thus Christ takes away the sin of the world now blessed is he whose sin is taken away every man is not so Many are in Hell beyond possibility thereof he gives Life to the world not to them in Hell God was in Christ reconciling the world not imputing their sin unto them Is this every mans priviledge to have reconciliation and pardon In other places the World can signifie none but Reprobates that shall never be saved that lie in wickedness that Christ prayed not for that die in their sins that cannot receive the Spirit of Grace c. Usually its signification is indefinite to be explained by the context But what must men blieve if Christ died not for every man They must believe that Christ alone is the full Saviour and Redeemer of his people that he that believes not shall be damned that Believers are saved through his Grace c. as the Scripture teaches Object Bnt why is Christ offered to all then Answ Because that he speaks to men by men after the manner of men His Elect are to be gathered from among all sorts The Gardiner waters the weeds secundarily but the good plants primarily The Sun shines on the blind that cannot make use thereof Object But is not Vnbelief the great damning sin Answ It is so though not the only damning sin Positive unbelief is worse then negative and admits of Degrees too All sin is Damnable a deadly disease But Unbelief is the refusing the rejecting of the only Remedy that shuts the soul under its deserved death Object But is not this Doctrine uncomfortable Answ It s indeed to all unbelieving Impâ—nitent sinners wilfully rejecting Christ but it s most comfortable to all humble self-denying souls those poor in spirit that hunger and thirst after Christs righteousness There is no comfort to the wicked from the Lord. But much encouragement to every soul that is made willing to turn from al sin to God through Christ Such shall duly know that Christ died for them when they find him killing sin in them that they may live to him A general Notion that Christ died for all and every One can give no more comfort to Peter then to Judas till his heart do feel the power of Christs death Is it not more comfort that Christ died to save his Elect certainly then that he died so indefinitely that its uncertain for all his death whether any shall be saved If you grant he died absolutely but for some then it s certain that only they shall be saved and his dying for the rest conditionally will not make them salvable nor afford any comfort to them If any Inconvenience attend our Doctrine it must needs attend that also Yea if Christ should have died for all alike yet seeing all are not in the event saved he must needs fore-know it or not be Omniscient and fore-ordain it or not be Omnipotent and that certainly or not be Soveraign The same difficulties will follow that way with many more Either God or the Creature must be Independent It disparages not Christs death that its limited to the Fathers purpose by his Intention and Execution All Divine Attributes are wonderfully magnified this way his Wisdom and Power Mercy and Truth Justice and Holiness c. The Parallel drawn by the Apostle between the first and second Adam proves a parity and proportion of Christs Redemption extended to all his spiritual seed as the corruption and condemnation of Adam extends to all his natural seed But all men individually considered are not Christs spiritual seed The Elect are such intentionally before Conversion and actually Become such in their Conversion All Adams children died by him and all Christs children were redeemed by him It s more to redeem one soul then to destroy all Christ excels incomparably 21. Christs renewing Grace is no less a Sufferer by First The former Oppositions Secondly By Pelagians old and new asserting mans nature to be so restored in every man that they are all born in Gods favour continuing so till they grosly abuse the Light given them either natural or Evangelical making Grace as common as Nature because its a gift though diversifyed Denying Original sin and Habitual corruption before years of discretion Thirdly The Socinians who following them deny that special Renewing Grace and pretend the New Birth mentioned so often to be but a moral change upon men which their nature by a common help from God doth attain unto in imitation of Christ whom they suppose to be a meer Patterne of Holiness not the Internal efficient thereof Fourthly By the Papists and Arminians who have learned of them to advance mans self-sufficiency free Will and Power by a common assistance of Gods Light indifferently afforded to all sorts according to their Improvements of the common Gifts received to accept or reject Christ at their pleasure and to cast away the best of his Gifts Received when they list In effect placing a mans strength and standing yea his chief All in his own mutable will making Faith but a common Assent given to Truth Fifthly By the Quakers Familists and Notionists who carry too much compliance with their Ghostly Fathers in these as in other things AGainst these Lethal Maladies the knowledge of Christ improved graciously will afford effectual Remedies Thereby we learn to see by Scripture Light the total corruption of mans sinful Nature the universality thereof reaching all places and persons its closeness and adherence its contagion and fruitfulness its temptations and Rebellions its policies and power its fierce and inconsiderate madness its indefatigable unsatisfiableness and its multiplicious propagation not admitting of remission or intermission This fully manifests the insufficiency and emptiness of man his unskilfulness and aptness to any spiritual good Thence the necessity of a special Renewing Grace from above to work an effectual change in all Gods Elect by an Almighty irresistible power such as quickned Lazarus and raised up Christ Jesus from the Grave This sanctifying Grace is considered in Scripture in the gradual Renovation of man from his first conversion from Nature to Grace unto his change from Grace into Glory The product of this Renewing Grace is called a new Creature and a Translation from death to
prophecy in Sackcloth the woman is fed in the wilderness Yet did not Christ forget his Interest but in the worst time maintained his Ministry Brittain Ireland Germany and France shew large Catalogues of undoubted Truth to verifie it Waldus and Wicklef John Hus and Jerom with many thousands testified the same The Reformation by Luther and Calvin was but a more solemn carrying on of the Work We have antiquities of approved credit shewing Successions of faithful Ministers from the Apostles time all along to this day as in other parts so in these Nations The Scriptures are not the worse nor the Ministry for passing through the hand of Romish Antichrist Gold loses not its worth for touching a leprous hand nor Gods Temple by the sitting of the man of sin when their pollutions are but once removed If any defilment be proved to attend our Ministry we are ready to yield and remove the same When the Wen is cut off and the body cured health being restored is to be improved If any will stil lord it over Brethren we shall disclame such usurpations Christs Ministry is to feed and teach to rule and to cure Ministerially Our weapons and work are spiritual not Political nor Monarchical As Nurses appointed for the Childrens good it s our desire to attend Christs house An orderly Call unto this office as he doth appoint so will he still bless How shall men believe if not preached to How shall men preach right if they be not sent Internal gifts are very needfull yet not sufficient to make out this Call No man self-called is owned by God no more then Corah and Jeroboams Priests A Souldier though able without Commission shall never be owned for an Officer A person of Parts without Authority cannot act the part of Justice or Judge Every Christian is to improve Gifts but within his place and fit relation Gods word doth appoint an orderly way of Calling persons into the Ministry They must be well proved and approved of then chosen and ordained to a proper charge He that hears and receives persons so called in the name of Christ hears and receives Jesus Christ himself by his own witness He that abuses and rejects such abuses and rejects the Lord Christ thereby If any be bad let them be questioned and reap their deserts We pretend to no Infallibility but would be tried still in Doctrine and Life by the word of Truth Christs work its we are sent about the devil would marr it by slandering tongues False Christs false Prophets are now very rife Sick brains are heaping Teachers to themselves to please itching ears They that thus run before they are sent shall not profit but deceive the people The chief rage of Foxes and Wolves disguised will stil be bent against the Shepherds Jeroboams Priests with his Golden Calves brought in division deceit and ruin If the Lords Mercy do not prevent it our sin and sorrow will be too like theirs The Cavils pleaded against this clear Truth have been fully dissolved again and again It was Julians attempt to starve the Ministry and Schools as the sure way to ruin Christianity The like design is revived of late to the same end The Laws of Nature and of Nations as well as Gods positive Laws are brought in by Paul to prove the just Rights of Ministers maintenance The Corinthiane are blamed for putting him to shift and work with his hands He commends them highly that had been free towards his relief 25. Christ suffers also in his Providence as by the former Errors So first By Atheists Stoicks Epicures that ascribe events to fortune fate or chance Secondly By Divers Jesuits and Arminians charging his purpose and execution with Contingency and Dependency Thirdly By Star-gazers and Astrologers who pretend to divine of humane Events by their judicial Prognostications AGainst this Malady the gracious Knowledge of Christ improved will give us still a Soveraing Remedy It shews by Scripture Light that the hand of Christ who first made the world doth uphold it still with Rule and Order by the word of his power His eternal purpose he still executes in doing of good and over-ruling evil What evil of sorrow that the Lord sends not What evil of sin that he limits not What good temporal or spiritual that comes not still from his Providence His Rule is so sweet and so soveraign that all fulfill his Will in fulfilling theirs what ever opposes his revealed Will is still over-ruled by his secret Will The Will of his purpose men do then fulfill when they disobey the Will of his precept The Instance of Joseph and Jesus suffice to demonstrate Christs Soveraign Rule Things most contingent as to men and means do yet come to pass by a necessary and sure providence The very Sparrows fall not to the earth nor the hairs of man without Gods special hand Astrologers sin is so much condemned by Scripture Reason and Experience that they should not proceed any further seeing their folly is made so manifest Some use we grant of Astronomy if modestly handled natural Astrology may hint at some things though very uncertainly But that judicial Astrology which pretends to foretel the success of affairs acted among men is an Errand cheat and dreadfull Imposture such an Art descends from old Magicians that learned of Satan among the Nations Caldeans and Diviners with all South-sayers are noted in Scripture with Aegypts Magicians Indian Gymnosophists Brachmans and Pawawes the Druids of Gaul the Bards of Brittain the Dervis's of Turkie are of the like school The rules of this Art are certainly known to be most absurd vain and uncertain Mirandula and Perkins who searched into their depths discovered fully their juggling Impostures as their Writings testifie Some profound Scholars who had curiously pryed into their secrets came off with remorse and abhorrings thereof This Profession hath been in all ages justly detested by the wise and good Such Affinity it hath had still with Satanical Oracles that its unsufferable in a Christian State There is vertue indeed in heavenly bodies But who can find out the same distinctly An Apollonius Faustus or Hildebrand may pretend somewhat from Satans teaching in this black study But shall Christians go to the devils school to learn Christs mind Starry Constellations have their Influence on sublunary bodies but they cannot reach the souls and Acts of men How far they may affect this earth none can know but that our Reason and humane Events are beyond their reach is easily known The Constellations of Christs Providence compared with his word are the proper Rules of our Prognosticks personal and publique Thence should Christians cast a divine figure to find out a true scheme of their State and Acts. Learn we to calculate our spiritual birth and observe the positure of souls under Chris thence all conjunctions and