of our redemption the comforter of our souls the teacher of all our sound wisdome and knowledge the guider and orderer and preserver of our whole spirits soules and bodies in the way of truth peace and glory unto the appearing of Christ and from thence their preserver in and unto eternal life 1 Thes 3. 13. So that since grace is of such neer consanguinity yea of such Identitie and oneness of the same essence and nature with glory hereafter and glory being not only the perfecting and consummation of grace but the result recompence and reward of it too it is no wonder it is here dignified with the most excellent title of Glory in the text and that as proceeding from the most excellent author and fountain of it the Lord the glory of the Lord the greatest glory he hath manifested in this world or greater then to all other Creatures in the world save his true Church therein at least in that inward spiritual efficacious manner to their transformation into the same Image and even greater then to his true Church under the old Testament though transformed likewise yet in these gospel times it is more clear more excellent as we formerly declared and therefore such as now with those primative Saints spoken of in the Text behold it after the like manner must needs happily behold the glory of the Lord though but as in a glass yet with open face And thus much briefly of this particular likewise The Fifth Demonstration is from the consideration that it will be the everlasting fountain and never failing spring continually affording matter of the perpetual Halelujahs blessings and prayses of the glorified Saints and Angels unto the Lord God Almighty unto the Lambe and unto the Lord the Spirit for ever and ever In that perfect Estate of their happiness all the greatness of this glory in the particulars we formerly set before you besides what ever else may most display it I say the greatness of it above all others will then be most clearly unfolded most largely discerned most perfectly manifest unto them to the infinite praise and glory of the Author worker and dispenser of all grace and glory and their own happiness and glory will be so much the more inlarged as they know and feel and canperform this most glorious work of praise and as there are such multitudes of such exexcellent companions and consorts in this soule-satisfying celestial divine and perfectly happy harmony the profound depth the misterious secrecy the otherwise then by an infinite God insuperable difficulties the most certain sureness and most settled security of the laying of that foundation how will it be known and admired to the honour of him that from eternity had so laid it How will the glorious nature matter and forme thereof be in like manner displayed improved by them How will all that they shall observe or discern of the time durance and manner of raysing such a glorious structure be celebrated by them with their due praise How will then the infinite wisdome mercy grace compassion and riches of goodness with the power truth holyness justice and all the excellencies of God so gloriously shining out in the face of Jesus Christ chap. 4. 6. and by the holy spirit discovered before unto the Saints be continually in an happy measure obvious to the vision How will the knowledge of such poor yet suitable instrumental means that had such treasure in earthen vessels to convey such glorious grace unto such mean and unsutable objects as men in their lost Estate so wonderfully powerfully and graciously throughout all generations in the world spring out unto them with matter of continued renewed melodie in that most blessed and glorious heavenly harmony How will the uses then observed and improved by them to the uttermost be compleated How will the blessed operations and effects of this glory then be fully known noted declared celebrated by them with all due honor to the worker of them to all eternity Here Gods Saints according to their discoveries in such contemplations may adore and admire in some poor measure and by the eye of faith discerne such things as God hath both so wrought revealed and conferred in and by the Gospel of his Son But the most happy inlargements beatifical vision and perfect fruition of these things both for their own most secure and satisfying happiness and the infinite and eternal praise of the Almighty One will be then the everlasting imployment of all such glorified Saints and Angels to all eternity then will the unspeakable excellencies of this glorious grace fully appear unto such O that men would therefore labour above all things to get their part in it here that they may have their portion in that happy society hereafter everlastingly by these means to praise God with them and in so doing to be perfectly blessed with them And thus we have done with the proofe and illustration of this glorious truth Proceed we now to add some further improvements then what we have formerly touched upon and so to draw on to a conclusion of the point Vse First Let men above all turne their eyes I meane the eyes of their souls and minds to the beholding of Gospel glory glorious things are delightful things to every discerning faculty provided there be suitableness in a due proportion thereunto First For the senses it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to behold the Sun saith Solomon Ec. 11. 7. Secondly For Reason The contemplation of Moral Natural and Metaphysical objects and subjects was so pleasing unto the ancient Phylosophers and Sages amongst the Heathen that they were so inwardly ravished with the excellency thereof that they conceived happiness consisted therein but that soul that by the eye of faith and by the efficacious grace of the Spirit of God comes once to behold in any good measure this Gospel glory finds by this a dim shade cast upon all seeming glories in the world besides as the sun shining in his glory at noon day upon the light of many small candles burning in the bright beams thereof Qu. But thou wilt say how shall I do this Blind men cannot see pleasing objects and deaf men cannot here delightful musick the Scripture tells me I am such by nature Ans And doest thou beleeve that is true If many others did so too they would be much neerer the cure and so art thou like to be for thou couldest not rightly have acknowledged that but by the holy Ghost But to help the good work forward and to point out unto others what course they should take give me leave to set down a few directions First Go to Christ the true Physitian of souls for his Collyrium his spiritual eye salve which he makes proclamation of Rev. 3. 18. and buy it of him by prayer by faith by the use of all his means Secondly To cure thy deafness let him put his fingers into thine eares and say Mar. 7. 33 34.
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OR A GLIMPSE OF Gospel Glory Together with a short but pithie Treatise of Mr. E. D. shewing thaâ— Peter was never at Rome to which 〈◊〉 subjoyned as an Appendix some pregnâ—â—â— Collections by that Grave and Reverend â—â—vine Mr. H. Nelson B. D. to a like purpoâ—â— The First Part. Hanc scilicet fallaciam scripturarum negleâ—â— in Christianismum bodie de Antichristo intruâ—â— Viricus Velenus Minhoniensis LONDON Printed by M. S. for Tho. Parkhurst at the Thâ—â—â— Crownes against the great Conduit at the lower end of Cheap-side 1661. Vere Honorabili ac ter Reverendo Domino Roberto Saundersono S. S. Theologiae Doctori pridem in Celeberrima Accademia Oxoniensi Regio Professori ornatissimo jam vero Dioecesis Lincolniensis Episcopo Eximio minutae hae ab indigno authore Evangelicae Gloriae dantor humiliterque exhibentor scintillulae To the Right Honourable and very Reverend Robert Lord Bishop of Lincolne the Author of the ensuing Treatise wisheth all Peace and Glory through and according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Lord of all My Lord I Doubt not but your known worth for learning soundness of judgement piety and conscience-satisfying skill and experience hath singled you out as a fit object of eminent honour from the publick Authority of this Nation who yet do appear more honorable in the esteem of conscientious Christians in regard of that truly Christian frame of Spirit remarkeably in you by your ready propensity in promoting of unitie manifest by your willingness to the taking away the hinderances thereof in these divided times the like disposition of mind would also be justly honorable in all of your ranke that substantial good in Religion might more be advanced but shaddows and seeming appearances less and the glory of Gospel grace above all other glories for which the Apostles rule is both general and peremptory 1 Cor. 14. 26. Let all things be done to edifying How might truth and peace by that means soon be settled in the Church which ought of all men to be esteemed of far greater value then all their worldly interests yea then a mans own dearest present life And truly so much as I know my own heart in my most retired thoughts I have often offered in these distractions amongst good men even my life as an expiation unto God if he would take it in any way of his faithful service upon that account so that I dying truth and peace might live and florish in this our Israel yet I may happily amongst some be deemed an obstructer of both but as according to my measure I have been studious of the one so according to your Honours ancient testimony of me I have followed the things that make for the other to the utmost of my power neither am I changed from my former principles though now in sundry respects I may not perhaps have the same freedome I confidently beleeve the soveraign hand of divine providence in special favour not only to my self but to many much better deserving persons hath in this juncture of time given you the inspection over us the consideration whereof with other special favours which you readily chearfully aunciently vouchsafed unto me with the observatioon of such your Christian frame of spirit still abiding in you whom new and eminent honour known learning sound judgment worldly interest or engagements appear not to have made either less humble meek peaceable or charitable and that man that is well moulded up from such materialls and in his better part as it were fitly compounded of four such elements must needs be of a good constitution such living Christians adde a glory to Gospel glory I would my small Mite here offered could adde unto your store yet if it doe but occasion you better to weigh and value what you already have to the praise of him that gives us all it may prove some advantage to you then I should be well appaid and shall thankfully returne the praise to him by whose remarkeable grace I have been carried on therein who as the Apostle speaketh Colos 1. 29. striving according to his working who worketh in me mightily Yet one thing more doth move me to this address I have long since known you a strong Champyon of sound truth against Popish errours witness your ancient conditions of dispute against Mr. Ford well worthy of the worlds view and profitable for such use which happily deterred him from proceeding In the same general cause many times appeared your reverend father and my worthy friend Mr. H. Nelson to whom about thirty years now past I communicated a short but pithie discourse of Mr. E. D. a reverend person related to him from whom I received it and since also to my self which hereunto I have annexed which your good father so well approved of notwithstanding all Antichristian flourishes to the contrary that he was pleased to write some notes of his own upon it some of which I transcribed into the margin I cannot say all and whose collections to like purpose as an Appendix I have also subjoyned thereunto which after many years lying aside unthought of upon my late removal were offered to my view upon the perusal whereof I considering the known gravity and piety of both the Authors with the worth of their workes fit to antidote such weakelings as are lyable to that danger against the strong contagion of that popish pestilence by beating down the main pillar of that foundationless fabrick no wonder then the prophetical spirit Rev. 8. 18. 1. reitterates her ruine Babylon the great is fallen is fallen Vt ingens pondus mole sua ruens as an huge and mighty pile weltring downward by its own weight since her supposed foundation failes her yea is discovered to be but a lye which I here likewise tender unto your Lordship but not with further expectation from your self in respect of this or the other to be approved then as they will endure the tryall by the Touchstone of all saving truth the written word of God and consonant to sound judgment and reason and answerably thereunto a blessing from his divine Majesty thereupon to whom in that case all the praise will be due and to whom in the mean time his prayer shall be presented before the throne of grace in the behalf of your self your deare yoakefellow and all yours that he would largely display the spiritual glory of Gospel grace in and unto all your soules to a greatertransformation of them into the same Image by the Lord the Spirit as followeth to the inlargement of all your eternal glory who is My Lord Your Honours long obliged though unworthy servant in Christ W. Sherwin From my study July 1661 TO THE CHRISTIAN READER and more especially to my Honored Friends and Kinsmen Thomas Bowles of Wallington Esquire and Mr Tho Bowles his eldest Sonne with the rest of that Family a choice and chiefe part of my late Charge
that grace even in that ministration but if we compare it with the clearnesse the excellency the largenesse the affecting efficacy of Gospel grace now we may say with our Apostle ver 10. That which was made glorious had no glory in this respect by reason of the glory that excelleth And this is further manifest in many parts of the Epistle to the Hebrewes where he treateth much of that subject but more especially in the 9th Chapter of that Epistle calling that though it had Ordinances of Divine service yet a worldly Sanctuary and passeth through many particulars whereby was mystically held out divine and spiritual grace from the first to the 9th verse where he tells them That all this was but a figure for the time then present untill the time of reformation ver 10. And thereupon takes advantage to advance the glory of more perfect greater Tabernacle of which Christ was become an high Priest by how much the blood of Christ was above the blood of Bulls and Goats and the purging of the conscience from dead works to serve the living God above those carnall Ordinances that only sanctified to the purifying of the flesh ver 13 14. And so Christ is become the Mediator of a better Testament that by means of death for the redemption of transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternall inheritance ver 15. And so goes on largely to illustrate many particulars of the glorious grace of the new Testament above the old as is obvious to the duly observant reader to discerne both in this and the following Chapter Now for some further illustration of the point let us a little take notice of some few particulars wherein the excellency and clearnesse of New Testament Gospel grace may further appeare as if we consider that the first was the infancy or non-age of the Church the second the more growne Age thereof I do not say the perfect Age as some mistaken persons fancy of themselves unlesse they meane that perfection of inward sinceritie with such perfect persons God will indeed shew himselfe perfect Psal Now childish things agree best to an infant age as comparatively the first were till as more suitable to a more growne estate God was pleased to put away such childish things and constitute others more agreeable thereunto for his Church in this world is not of a dwarfish nature but alwayes growing towards its more perfect stature But Secondly The Ordinances and service of the first was much in shaddows and types and consequently lesse discernable lesse satisfying but the second more in realitie and substance and therefore more knowne and more comfortable for as things delightfull to the eye or outward senses doe not feed the body further then some secret nourishment may by them be conveyed unto it so neither doe carnall and bodily resemblances profit the soul without Gods institution and blessing upon them who hath abundantly shewed that he hath reserved the choycest of his glorious grace for more spirituall and better things besides the end of typicall worship is in a good degree perfected in the spirituall but I must but touch on these things Thirdly That which depends upon the former is in respect the former was of old things that were to vanish away as the Apostle speaketh the other of things that will remaine a rose or violet may be more delightfull to the senses than a precious stone whereas the excellency of the one is soone gone but the vertue of the other will long continue and accordingly they are prized by men and so it is in things that concerne the soul Fourthly By the first were in a great measure denoted good things that were to come but by the second are held out good things that are present a little good in possession is better then much many times in reversion Your fathers said our Saviour desired to see those things that ye see and have not seen them and to heare those things that ye heare and have not heard them Fifthly The first consisted much in bodily exercises which little profit the soul in regard of any aptitude of their owne the other more of spirituall intendments of the soul more suitable to the divine nature and revealed will of God Sixthly The first were ordinarily lesse efficacious and the spirituall grace seemed more restrained under them but the second have been many times more efficacious with the powerings out of the Spirit in a more plentifull manner as was prophesied by Joel Chap 3. and promised by God and according to both fulfilled Acts 2. and so along in after times Lastly The ordinary tenders of grace under the Old Testament were more restrained and circumscribed within the bounds of the Jewish Church unlesse now and then some few Proselytes came in even our Saviour sometime restrained his Disciples saying Goe not into the way of the Gentiles but goe rather unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel for they were naturally the inheritours of the promises of Grace untill as the Apostle speaketh they put away the word of Eternall life from them But when the old Synagogue was to cease the renders of Gospel grace were abundantly inlarged Goe Disciple ye all Nations Math Preach the Gospel to every creature Mark Then shortly by a great sheete as it were let down from heaven the Apostle Peter is taught to call no man common or uncleane Acts 11. And whatsoever our Apostle in those noted comparisons in the middle of this Chapter further observeth to these or such like purposes may hither be reduced But I hasten to Application having stayed longer than I intended in the entrance into my Text. Vse 1. To teach all good Christians hence to learne to praise God for all this Gospel mercy we injoy in this kinde above what the Church of God did under the ministration of the Old Testament theirs was much in the letter ours more in the Spirit their 's a killing letter ours a life-giving grace their 's in Tables of stone ours in the fleshie Tables of the hearts their 's old ours new theirs to be done away ours to remaine their 's of condemnation ours of righteousnesse their 's lesse glorious ours excelling in spirituall glory theirs dark and obscure ours open and evident theirs burthensome and grievous ours easie and delightfull and though in this respect the providence of God to them was very remarkable for according to the multitude of sacrifices offerings and costlinesse of his service then he gave them a plentifull Land to supply them according to the appearance of hazzard in attendance upon his worship three times in the yeare at Jerusalem he gave them securitie by a speciall promise Exod 34. 33 34. and not only from the hands but even from the hearts of such enemies as were round about them a strong engagement to all Gods people to waite upon him in the ways of his own service against all
now imployed about the printing had no notice thereof hence it comes to pass that many errors both in the words sentences and manner of Printing have thus unwarily passed some of the most remarkeable upon a brief and short review are here corrected to thy hand in the rest thy candour and prudence is requested either for the passing by or making up what thus falls out to be deficient ERRATA PAg. 6. r. of main concernment p. 26. r. walking p. 36. r. efficacie p. 31. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 afterwards 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 32. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 37. r. likewise p. 4. Jer Cyp. should have been in the margent with diverse quotations in other places p. 68. r. corruptions p. 79. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 118. r. when p. 122. adde truly graceful p. 129. r. differre p. 135. r. their A GLIMPS of Gospel Glory 2 COR 3. 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. ALthough the holy Apostle Paul in modesty and humility seemes to conceale his rapture up into the third heaven Chap 12. 2 3. yet the excellency of his divine and heavenly doctrine set forth in this text and in all this Chapter doth plainly shew no lesse for had he not seene such Glory he could not have been so affected with it had he not been so eminently affected with it he could not in such an excellent manner have discovered unto others the illustrious nature and efficacy of it as in the Text. Our Apostle from the 14th verse of the former Chapter celebrates the songs of his triumph in Christ for the Great efficacy of his Gospel Ministry in every place towards all sorts of persons since he was the sweet savour of God in Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish ver 15 16. Which occasions him to touch upon the bad practice of many Teachers in his dayes that corrupted or dealt deceitfully with the word of God as is the usuall practice of such as fight for the Dragon and his Angells against Michael and his Angells in opposition whereof he expresseth the sinceritie of his own preaching as of God in the sight of God in Christ ver the last Now in the beginning of the Chapter he prevents an objection as if he might seeme to be vain-glorious or sought his own praise or needed testimony from any man ver 1. He declares against both from what was wrought by his Ministry upon the Corinthians own souls and what all men read and knew thereby ver 2. And shews that to be an Epistle of Christ in his behalfe written with the Spirit of the living God in the fleshly Tables of their hearts and that this was his great encouragement ver 3 4. And then beating downe all self-confidence and acknowledging all his sufficiency from God ver 5. From thence to my text he falls upon a large comparison of the New Testament Ministry with the Old in many particulars which we shall only mention briefly and so passe to the Text As that the first was of the letter the second of the Spirit ver 6. The first was that that killeth the second that that giveth life ver 6. The first was written in Tables of stone the second in the fleshie Tables of the heart ver 3. The first of the Old Testament ver 14. the second of the New Testament ver 6. The first of that which was to be done away the second of that which remaineth ver 11. The first of condemnation the second of righteousnesse ver 9. The first lesse glorious and to be done away the second excelling in glory and to remaine ver 9 10 11. The first dark and obscure ver 13 14 15. the second open and evident as in the Text. So that these words are an assertion of the clearness of the Gospel ministration grace in opposition to the obscure vaile that was in the ministration of Moses in the old Testament as appears by the Adversative particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But we all with open face c. Where we have the Introduction to this Gospel discovery and the discovery it selfe in the latter we have the description of that discovery and to whom it is made in these words We all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord. Secondly the efficaciousnesle of that discovery upon them are changed into the same image c. the efficient cause both of the discovery and the said change by the Spirit of the Lord or by the Lord the Spirit In the first branch observe first the persons secondly their exercise thirdly the object about which they are exercised concerning the persons note who they are and how many they are we and we all generally In the exercise note the excellent way of discovery not seeking or conjecturing but Beholding where againe note a twofold modification first of illustration with open face the other of diminution or restriction as in a glasse as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies thirdly in the object againe observe first the excellency of the nature of it glory secondly of the Author owner and dispencer of it the Lord the glory of the Lord. In the efficaciousnesse of the discovery observe first the nature thereof it is a change where note the restriction not into the substance into the same thing but into the transfiguration of it into the same image as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 denotes Secondly the manner of the proceeding in this change not at once but by degrees 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from glory to glory Concerning the efficient consider his dignitie power and dominion the Lord Secondly his distinction from all other by any participation or substitution of his made to be Lords by him or for him as all others are but temporall partiall and substituted Lords under him who is not only spituall but in the abstract and by an emphasis here stiled the Spirit who is originally essentially incomprehensibly so and the father of spirits and here by an excellency and incommunicably here called the Lord the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I shall now briefly by Gods assistance adde something for the explication of the words and so endeavour to proceed to the most pregnant observations from thence and some pertinent improvement thereof But we all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some Divines as Beza and Tremelius and others understand it restrictively unto the Ministers that as Moses's face shined in the sight of the Israelites after he had been with God in the Mount for the faithfull Ministers of the Gospel that are acquainted with God and are the light of the world should shine out in the glorious light of the Gospel into the souls of their people but on the other part Calvin and some others understand we all largely
discouragements againe theirs was more suitable to an Infant state ours more agreeing to a more growne estate their 's much in type ours more in substance theirs denoted good things to come ours good things that are present their 's much in bodily exercises ours mainly in spirituall theirs ordinarily lesse efficacious ours usually more efficacious their 's for the most part restrained within the narrow bounds of that Jewish Church ours largely extended to the utmost bounds of the true Christian Catholique Church Oh! did but Christians duly weigh these things and in some good measure were but suitably affected with them according to the greatnesse and excellency of the glorious Gospel grace in all such respects vouchsafed by the free and aboundant goodnesse of so glorious a God unto themselves above what he was pleased to grant unto his ancient people the Jewes how should it raise up their souls to large apprehensions of his goodnesse and fill their hearts with strong affections and earnest desires and endeavours both of thankfulnesse and obedience to his divine Majesty and how should it set all the parts and powers of the inward and outward man on work to act both diligently and faithfully therein how would this as a strong cord binde our souls unto the right observance of the new Law of love given by him that hath purchased this libertie and therefore shed it abroad into the hearts of his people Rom 5. 5. that none of his Commandements might be grievous unto them Joh 3. 5. But secondly let this be as an impulsive motive to us to be answerable in our dutifull and faithfull obedience unto our gracious God and heavenly father in reference to all that rich mercy that in this kinde particularly we receive at his hand above many of those that lived in those darke dayes before us now that his service is more spirituall let ours be more so too as his is more cleare shaddowed and typicall service being ceased let ours be suitable to Gospel light and therein let us walk as children of that light whereas the other was more agreeing to a childish state let us seek after that which is more suitable to a manly state in Christ Let us as the Apostle exhorteth Heb 10. 22. draw nigh with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our bodyes washed with pure water It must be with the heart else all seeming devotion is grosse dotage it must be from an heart fraught with all kinde of truth a true heart it must be in full assurance of faith we must be sufficiently warranted and satisfied in all that concerns it in all our performance of it having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience the guilt and power of sin being taken from us by the improvement of our faith specially when we performe religious worship unto God and our bodies washed with pure water let not there be a purifying of the soul only but let our outward conversation also be agreeing to the Gospel in the sight of God and men Thirdly Hence likewise may appeare what great matter of deep humiliation and bitter mourning there is in our dayes that when such bright beames of Gospel glory shines before men there is so little enters into many of all sorts and conditions which may appeare by the raritie of such as shew they behold it by their right knowledge of it high prizing of it walk in the light and comfort of it improving the grace and excellency of it and by the multitude of such as understand it not regard it not owne it not improve it not yea would it might not be truly said despise it resist it oppose it and would substitute any thing in the roome of it rather then what the Spirit of God in the manifold evidences of Gospel grace clearly directs unto but I must hasten therefore Fourthly To warne all sorts of men that live under such glorious discoveries of Gospel grace to beware that because the burthen of Christ therein is light that therefore they should thinke lightly and slightly both of it and him That they should either preferre transitory things before it or conceive they can be happie enough in them without any true interest in it or are not affected with this choice mercy afforded to us above what the Church in the Old Testament attained unto and consequently make not suitable improvement of it it is such a talent as no man may think to wrap in a Napkin and not to be called to an account for it goodnesse will not beare neglect with equals friends familiars much lesse with superiours and by how much the goodnesse is greater or the superiory the more eminent so much the more is the neglect thereof offensive and provoking then how much more will the infinite free rich incompatable yea incomprehensible goodnesse of the eternall Almightie and most glorious God being despiâ—ed and neglected turne into fury against all such vaine and sinfull wretches that ungratefully shut their eyes against such excellence and clearness of Gospel grace much more if they seek to Eclipse and cloud it or any wayes to obstruct and hinder the efficaciousnesse thereof unto the weak brethren by casting stumbling blockes in the way Let them but lay to heart that terrour of the Lord the Saviour of such contemned despised little ones by the men of this present world in that most dreadfull denunciation of his and woe annexed upon that account Math 18. 6 7. Who so shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea And v 7. Woe unto the world because of offences for it must needs be that offences come But woe to that man by whom the offence cometh Lastly Hence take notice of the wilinesse of Satan that shews himselfe Gods Ape in this by seeking to promote an outward or seeming inward glory in any false way of Religion as God doth in the true Thus if God would worke wonders by Moses the Egyptian sorcerers shall do so too if God reveals secrets to Saul by his Prophet Samuel the Witch of Endor must doe so too if Judah have a costly Tabernacle and Temple Israel shall have Golden Calves to worship yea sometimes outward and inward too as in the Antichristian Church of Rome since that golden Priests and wooden Chalices were changed into wooden Priests and golden Chalices with all other outward splendor in the whorish Idolatry and superstitions accompanied with an inward seeming humble devotion and reverence with multitudes of prayers offerings frequent and macerating penances and pilgrimages metorious works of charitie and pietie And is not Satan his crafts-master like wise when in Gospel times too he will lay aside an outward appearance of glory to seek to delude by an appearing glory in inward strong delusions of spirituall Enthusiasmes Raptures
clean thing out of an unclean saith Job not one God put at first a living soul into a body made of clay but the body did not thereby become of the same excellency with the living soul but this work of Gospel grace hath such a matter as is of a divine wonderfull and incomprehensible excellency which we must not understand Materiam ex qua as in worldly things but circa quam not corporeall but notional and intellectual not matter subjectivè but objectivè as the Schools distinguish that is to say the matter of this work is so conceived rather in respect of our understanding than the realitie of the thing which is beyond measure glorious Thirdly But to come to the third respect wherein it is more glorious than all the other fore-named works and that is in the many wayes considerably more excellent foundation of this work the more wisely advantageously and surely any great undertaking hath its foundation layd the more excellency it addeth to it and if this be not provided duly for the greater the undertaking the more hazzard the more cost and labour the greater disappointment and losse Hence because warre is a great undertaking by men therefore saith One With good advice make warre Now the gloriousnesse of Gods laying the foundation of this work will appeare greater than of all the other in these particulars following First The foundation of this is more profound and more deeply layd than of all the other Secondly That it is more secretly and hiddenly layd than of all the other Thirdly That it was a more difficult foundation to be layd in severall respects than of all the other Fourthly In that it is a foundation more surely layd than of all the other First The commendation of the profoundnesse of a foundation is as it is layd in the due proportion to the greatnesse of the work undertaken whereof it is the foundation now the greatnesse of Gods work in decreeing revealing carrying on and accomplishing his glorious work of grace is infinitely excellent in all dimensions intensive extensive yea beyond all dimensions mentall or reall eternally infinite which cannot be said of any or all his other works as may thus be evidenced First In that this most glorious work was not undertaken for them but contrarily they were all undertaken and are carryed on for this they were and are but the Substrata for this and it is their greatest excellency that their beeing is in reference unto this Secondly In that this most glorious work is not subservient unto them but they all along unto it ever since their first beginning and must be so untill they cease to be God makes use of all his inferiour actings in the world amongst all sorts of creatures in all times as subservient one way or other to this glorious Grace Thirdly In that they or any or all of them are not the end of this most glorious work but contrarily this is the very end every way chiefly considerable wherefore they were or may be done hereafter it is their finis operis operantis it is their finis intentionis durationis that is this is the end they were done for the end why God did them he purposed them for this and no longer to continue but for this viz. till this great mystery of God should be finished as in Rev Secondly The next particular considerable which we named in the excellency of Gods laying the foundation of this most glorious work is the secrecy of it it is an hidden foundation this follows in some sort from the other yet all foundations that are deep are not secret they may be searched out they may be discovered they may be revealed they may be inlightened but this was a secret hidden in Gods own counsell alone when all the other foundations were open to men and Angells yea this was not nor could be known till himselfe made it knowne nor any further then as he was pleased from time to time to cause it to be further known by men or Angells and only rightly known to those good men to whom he himselfe and his holy Spirit are pleased to reveal it and make it known unto and it is not only in generall in that respect of the great mystery of God but in respect of particular persons all men know not in this sense the great mystery of Godlinesse nor the mystery of the kingdome of Heaven though they often heare it and heare of it but they only to whom it is given Mar 4. 11. Yea to all others the mystery of God and the mystery of Godlinesse are mysteries indeed hidden from their eyes And hence things peculiar to the faithfull are said thus to be hidden they have an hidden life with Christ in God the hidden Manna the name in the white stone that none can reade but he that hath it Rev 2. 17. Hidden waters of life drawn by the secret hand of faith out of the Rock Christ they have the hidden man of the heart which is acceptable unto God 1. Pet 3. 4. And yet all these though they be hidden from the world are well known to them and herein God wonderfully glorifies himselfe in his most wise counsells that the secret issues of them cannot be discovered by any enemies though he sees all their secret and foolish counsells to the contrary and laughs them to scorne in all things for he hath determined to disappoint them all in all they mainly drive at and what ever devices are in their hearts his and only his counsell shall stand Pro Thirdly The next particular we shall consider in the laying of this most glorious foundation is that it was a more difficult work to lay it in several respects then any of the other not more hard in respect of God for to his power and wisdome all things are alike easie the greatest as well as the least but in regard first of the nature of the work secondly of the opposition that was and is and will be made against it while the world standeth all which time Michael and his Angels fight with the Dragon and his Angels First The laying the foundation of this work was hard in regard of the wonderful excellencie which was therein to be shewed and infinite wisdome power mercy justice holyness goodness faithfulness and truth and so transcendently that nothing in the whole world in any of these respects is to be found like it nothing to be compared with it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a received position that excellent things are hard here then being the greatest excelency must needs be the greatest difficulty Secondly Hard by reason of the great and strong opposition that would ever be made against any appearance of any thing of this work in the world when God laid the foundation of it he perfectly knew what would be the hatred violence subtilty of the devill to oppose it at every turne in the world he perfectly knew the interest the
and then put together the words to know the sence of what they from time to time may reade in any or all the books of God in this world set forth for their learning wherin God sets before all sorts of men new lessons of all kinds if they would not be such dullards and trewants that they will not take them out look then upon the letters of Gods great folioes in the world the Creation the upholding the disposeing and ordering of it and all things in it Look first to the motions illuminations and influences of the heavens look upon the successions of times dayes and nights winter and summer seed time and harvest but thou wilt say how shall I put these together and make sillables and sentences of them look unto the 19 Psalme and there the word of God shall be thy schoole-master herein it tells thee the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmaments sheweth his handy-work and day unto day uttereth speech and night unto night sheweth language that is they hold out matter for thy understanding knowledge or experience to work upon such works of God to his praise and glory so again Gen. 8. 22. Gods word instructs us that seed time and harvest cold and heat summer and winter day and night shall not cease which is another syllable to spell the truth of God by in such things how that he hath ever since the destruction of the old world fulfilled that his promise in times of plenty the Psalmist shewes how he crowns the earth with his goodness Ps 65. 11 when all sorts of Creatures are full of rejoycing and comfort the Scriptures informs us to spell out thereby Ps 145. 16. That God openeth his hand and satisfieth the desire of every living thing and so to come to thy own particular case and condition in outward things thou mayest spell out words and sentences by the help of many instructers which God allows thee as thy Reason if rightly regulated thy own and others experience observations examples of others Gods judgements providences mercies and all sorts of outward Dispensations of God whereby thy capacity may be raised up toward the attainment of higher learning by degrees upon thy well using thy first rudiments of Divine knowledge for they should all discover God unto thee and so thou mayest by degrees come to attain a good measure of skill in the truly liberal sciences in the schoole of spiritual and heavenly grace or glory if the use of the former bring thee not neerer to God they will make thee go further from him as it was with the Gentiles Ro. 1. 21. Because when they knew God by his outward works they glorified him not as God neither were thankful therefore he gave them up if such works of God discover him not more unto thee they will cause him the more to hide his face from thee as is observed of some skilful experienced Physitians they know and see so much of the secret operations of Nature that by that means they become more Atheistical forgetting and neglecting the God of Nature they pore so much upon the excellencies of the Creatures which they think they know and make use of by their own skill industry for their temporall advantage that they therefore forget and neglect the Creator and the glory therefore due unto him and doth not this Atheisme grow upon men for the want of spelling the words and sentences of Gods ordinary Books in the world by the teaching of his Word whilest men would chuse rather to be thought great Naturalists and Politicians in the world by others when without that teaching they become meere naturalls fooles and Ideots rather than soundly judicious persons in that which mainly ought to be knowne observed and acknowledged by them to the glory of the all-working God Secondly Let this direct such men as have learned to spell out Gods names in his outward works by the help of his Word then to set themselves better to reade him in his word of grace let them know the principles of his Religion and know the maine foundations of his divine truth especially let them take notice of these two maine principles of such excellent knowledge First That all glory is to be rendred unto God as the only true Originall of all good And Secondly That all emptinesse is ever to be ascribed to the creature in it selfe further than God makes it any way capable of goodnesse and puts such goodnesse into it or makes it communicative of that goodnesse unto others or of further enlargement or longer injoyment of goodnesse from himselfe even as he pleaseth unto whom the praise thereof is ever therefore to be ascribed and if thou wilt but then take up that teaching word and use those meanes which God thereby directs thee to improve them and continue therein he will then more and more discover himselfe unto thee yea when once thou art set in such a serious seeking of him this way it is evident thou wert sought of him before and he hath begun already to make himselfe knowne unto thee and so thou dost and wilt seek him still and shalt finde him more and more in that way wherein thou shalt behold his glorious grace which is the sure way for thee to become acceptable unto him and shalt be truly blessed by him Thirdly But for others who have these glorious discoveries in any good measure already made unto them Let them hence learne with the most inlarged apprehensions that may be to behold them and with the most earnest bent of their affections to entertaine them and with the highest and fullest expressions of joy in their inward and with their outward man to mainfest and declare them to the everlasting praise of the Author of them let them improve them to his glory and the good of others let them more be transformed into the image of them that they may have the greater measure of true comfort and glory by them Againe Let men wisely hence observe the divine excellency of a truly gracious spirit when once a transfiguration is made in it what an excellent yea heavenly frame is put uponit what glorious discoveries are made unto it what celestiall Joyes are put into it what everlasting happinesle is prepared for it O that these things were setled upon mens souls and that they could with such divine meditations and spirituall Soliloquies by the assistance of the Lord the Spirit so rivet them into their own hearts and keep them there that they might still soar higher and higher in such heavenly contemplations till they attaine to the top of most glorious eternitie to receive in fullnesse what here in their measure only they can but taste of Againe Let them hence learne to be thankfull above all things in this world for such gracious discoveries in any measure or degree by their good God vouchsafed unto them Let them be humbled in the sence of their unworthinesse thereof as great as manifold
with that much more excellent discovery of Gospel glory though a truly regenerate and sanctified soul sees such beauty such loveliness such joy and sollace yea true happiness in those Gospel gracious discoveries that they not only like it and commend it but as some Ancients concerning some amorous persons were wont to phrase it perdite amant alias they love others to the looseing of themselves so it may be said of their loving of Gospel grace but in a good and necessary sence as our Saviour speaks Mat. 10. 5. If any love Father or Mother Wife or Children more then me he is not worthy of me perdite amant gloriam Evangelicam they destructively love Gospel glory that they will rather loose friends and credit ease and possessions liberty life and all then to suffer a divorce between that and their own soules But for all other men or any other man to desire it to pursue it upon a true Gospel account as beleeving or seeing it to be so excellent and glorious or upon such termes to pursue or retain it by purchasing or suffering for it the heathen Sages might much more easily have prevailed with any such beasts in the shapes of men then any sanctified soul or Embassador of Christ can prevaile with any to take right notice of or much less to be so enamoured of that most excellent object of soul sollacing grace untill they come to be transformed into the same image by the spirit of God Fourthly But this will yet further appear in the next demonstration namely In that such Gospel grace in the souls of the Saints differs not in nature from their heavenly glory but only in degrees A man that is in any good measure in heaven in his spiritual part here upon earth shall certainly inherite the kingdome of Heaven hereafter and such within whom as our Saviour speaks Luk. â—7 â—1 the kingdome of heaven is really here seated by Gospel grace they shall infallibly obtain a Crown of glory which will never fade to all eternity and indeed heaven would not be heaven unto them then when they should come to possess it if that kingdom of heaven had not taken possession of their souls before to fit them for it a blind man may as soon be affected with the meer placeing of pleasant sights before him or a deaf man delighted with the sound of any musick which he cannot heare as men or women truly rejoyce in the glorified Saints and Angels happiness hereafter if they have not here their Celestial frame of spirit wrought upon their souls yea the very society of glorified Saints would be a kind of hell to wicked men remaining such if they had no other hell to suffer for as it cannot be expected the wolfe should lye down with the Lambe untill Gospel grace have wrought the change of nature here as the spirit of God hath foretold Is 11. 6 7. 8. so until that nature be changed yea a contrary put into the soule of a man the Saints perpetual songs of prayse to God and the Lambe and the Lord the Spirit would not only be unsutable and unpleasant but a senceless subject to such a soule that never had followed Christ in the regeneration nor seen nor felt nor rightly known before-hand the Divine power of Gospel grace the mistery of the gospel then the matter of the Saints everlasting rejoycing would be such an hidden sealed mistery that such unbeleeving and disobedient souls would not understand it saving only so far as to have convinced and self-condemned consciences thereby little understanding what they may sometime seem to pray or hope for here concerning the kingdom of heaven who in their dispositions and depraved nature doe toto caelo deferre stand at the greatest distance from it but when that nature is once changed that Lions are at peace with the Lambes and the hurtful creatures lye down with the harmeless Is 11. 7. then grace shall appear glorious unto such and as their measure thereof shall be greater the more it will appear so and the more they grow in such grace the more they will delight in it and the greater measure they shall obtain of it the more heavenly glory hereafter will be allotted to them It is true indeed our heaven upon earth will have a mixture of vanity and corruption and weakness together with it till that which is perfect be come then that which is imperfect shall be done away 1 Cor. 13. 10. I shall not stand here to inlarge upon the many considerations which might to this purpose be produced in regard of the souls incapacity of glory till it be changed and of its unsutableness unto such glory besides the sence of the want of any right title or interest in such glorified Saints happiness with their own self condemnation upon it and the apprehension of that intollerable eternal infinite divine displeasure against them as also the utter detestation that perfected Saints with Angels will have of the hateful qualities of all devils and unsanctified souls of men or women and even the very heavens natural repugnancy and antipathy against them to the utter expulsion of all such as poyson out of them since into them no unclean thing shall enter Rev. 21 27. As Christal glasses rather then hold poyson will break asunder even so the most pure Chrystaline heavens would rather break then any devil or unsanotified persons should abide or inhabite in them Here indeed the Hony Bee and the toad or spider have both their places and imployments and their injoyments too together the one to gather up its hony the other to suck up their poyson the one to lurke in the nastie corrupted or noysome corners of the earth the other in their sweet and pleasant hives and hony the one inrich themselves or feed upon their own destructive poyson the other inrich themselves with and feed upon their own pleasant wholsome healing and strengthning hony which they have by diligent labour acquir'd But when that woofull poysonous destructive nature of such men is in any good measure subdued by the prevalent power of Gospel grace O how sweet will the spiritual kingdome of heaven be unto such souls how will the true Citizens of the spiritual Zion be owned and imbraced by them How will their portion their delicates be desired above all others How will grace and glory be then longed for sought for by them above other things yet these passibus aequis as we may say in their due proportions when they are in their right frame not glory more then grace but grace as the right promoter of glory and indeed that which is only truly glorious in its own nature and which will meet with glory as the consequent the result the reward of it by grace we have the first fruits Ro. 8. 33. the earnest penny Eph. 1. 14. of glory and happiness in the injoyment of that we injoy the sanctifying spirits residence the witness of our peace the sealer
Ephphatha be ye opened but it may be thou art dumb too and canst not speak unto him get him to touch the tyed strings of thy tongue likewise that they may be loosed but being blind deaf and dumb too thou wilt say how shall I find him how shall I come at him how shall I make any application to him for his help Ans Call for his embassadours or come to his stewards his messengers make thy case known to them take their direction or advice and use their help and walk on in all the wayes of Christ with them accordingly they will bring thee to the place where Christ keeps his Mart for the cure of all thy spiritual diseases and infirmities they are thy brethren they have love towards thy soul they are compassionate they have a fellow-feeling of thy condition they are men that have like passions as other mens and therefore know how to shew compassion towards their brethren they have had experience many times both of the sence of thy condition and of their own cure they have sometimes frequented Christs Marts long and perhaps have much helped off with his commodities unto others however they are willing and ready many times to conduct thee and it is their office to instruct thee in the way and to intreate for thee yea and to plead for thee too if need be that Christ should either take thee in hand or goe on and perfect his cure begun upon thy soule and to beseech the Lord the Spirit to make a right home and effectuall application of all Christs Physick to compleat the cure And remember that by the way which even the better part of men in the world have much forgotten of late yeares That they are an Ordinance of Christ appointed by himselfe to be used by all his people to the end of the world and they are many times good friends in the Court of heaven and may much prevaile for thee if thou wilt duly use them they have authoritie from Christ and therefore they may be bold and couragious in this worke besides the experience they get and feele more and more of his goodnesse Yea let me tell thee thou hast no other meanes whereby thou mayst expect to be helped in the businesse of thy soules sound cure if thou wilt neglect them and reject them For how canst thou heare without a preacher Rom 10. 14. Object But times and places may not happily afford such for many may not be qualified with gifts and graces as such if some have gifts they may be depraved in their lives yea ordinances may be disgraced with mixtures of heaven and earth together of Gods and mans constitutions in the world Answ The case will then indeed be hard for as the Eunuch in the case of his own conversion said unto Philip Acts 8. 31. How can I understand except some man guide me yet God can in such a case as he did to him send such a Messenger one of a thousand and indeed his grace never brings to the birth but he will give strength to bring forth by what ever way or meanes the seed thereof hath been sowne it will surely spring up But for Messengers altogether unqualified either with gifts or graces or both where any such offer themselves they are not Gods Men will not imploy a Physician or Lawyer so called when they know they have no skill in their profession and surely men ought to be more choice for the health of their soules than of their bodily health or the right of their outward estate But if they be outwardly qualified authorized and have suitable gifts They sit as our Saviour said of the Scribes and Pharisees in Moses chaire all therefore they say from Gods authoritie heare but if they be depraved in life then againe doe not after their workes as he goes on if they will binde burthens upon men not to be borne Mat 23. 2. as the teachers of the Law Luk 11. 46. There is a woe denounced against them by Christ himself for so doing If there be mixtures of Ordinances whilst they be but of circumstantiall things when all the essentialls of Gods institutions stand intire neglect not duties upon small discouragements but if persons practises Ordinances be so depraved that Gods rules are so infringed his faithfull servants so justly scandalized that they have cause with those in the time of the Ministration of Elies wicked sonnes to loath the offerings and services of the Lord the peoples condition is then very grievous but such Teachers condition is if not altogether so desperate as Elies said sonnes yet at least very dangerous if reformation be not hastened but in this kinde there will be great need many times to seek for particular speciall advise and counsell both from God and his faithfull Embassadours when he affords advantage for it wherein who so humbly and faithfully seek unto him are not like to be disappointed For he that will doe the will of God shall know the doctrine whether it be of him or whether men speak of themselves Jo 7. 17. But when in Israel the contemptible of the people were made Priests and the golden Calves upon politique considerations were set up in Dan Bethel so to busie Israel with home-spunne worship that they might not goe into Judea or unto Jerusalem unto the true worship and that they approved and practised it did foreshew and justly caused Israel to be led into captivitie by the King of Assyria But what ever discouragements thou meetest with from men never give over thy humble and faithfull addresses to Christ to discover his Gospel glory unto thee and if men hinder or faile thou wilt finde he will the more help he can send an extraordinary Messenger as Philip to the Eunuch he can make a little meanes help much in mixtures he can make the good profitable and the mixture of men to vanish as nothing he can speak himselfe unto thy soul as to Saul in an evill course and send thee to an Ananias to help thee whom thou never knewest before in seeking to behold this Glory God will not reject thee as he did Moses in seeking to see his essentiall glory Exod 33. 20 23. but seeking it earnestly and faithfully as there is all reason thou shouldest thou shalt be sure to finde it effectually Secondly This is to discover the great condemnation of the world that then when such light such glorious Gospel light is come into the world men yet love darknesse more than light yea they are such Moules burrowed in the bowells of the earth that they cannot either see or desire neither are they willing to see the bright beames of this light shine they never so clearely yea the brighter they shine the lesse they desire them the lesse they discerne them their owle-eyes cannot indure to behold the Sunne their delight is in darknesse in the wayes of darknesse in the workes of darknesse and for the most part chuse rather to
fall by death into utter darknesse than to come to this light of life so that such as put this light from themselves or such as hinder and cloud it or hide it from others they must needs fall into a sad condemnation was there not only invincible ignorance but obstinacy prevalent upon the souls of men did they not willingly upon their own hearts and consciences Callum inducere draw such a brawnish hardnesse even to stand against the batteries which God many wayes makes against the strong holds of Satan therein so that they are not only Gospel-proofe but Law-proofe too so that neither the Boanerges or Barnabae the sons of thunder or the sons of consolation that are sent unto them can either pierce them or melt them bow them or break them but they will doe as they have done if they have made cakes for the Queene of heaven they will doe so still if they have served God out of custome more than conscience they will doe so still if they have added drunkennesse to thirst they will doe so still if they sacrificed upon the mountaines they will doe so still if they have hated such as beare the image of God upon them they will doe so still yea though the greatest and forciblest of Gods Ordinances play upon the Forts of their Hell-hardened Consciences they remaine impenetrable What cleare light hath shined long in this Nation above all her neighbours how hath God poured his Spirit remarkably upon many persons eminent amongst us for Divine endowments being greatly inlarged with the gifts and graces of Gods Spirit and as willing as able to improve their talents to their Masters advantage and the salvation of the soules of all sorts of people But if they come neere the soares of their soules how doe men kick and spurne against them then they are their enemies because they tell them the truth if they would take away the vaile of ignorance from before their eyes they will answer with the Pharisees those blind leaders of the blind that they see already and therefore as our Saviour told them so such likewise might be told therefore your sin remaineth if they would make them sencible of their lost estate they have good hearts and meanings and make many prayers and it may be if they were tryed through the whole Law of God as Christ tryed the young man in the Gospel they would be ready to plead for themselves not guiltie all these have we kept from our youth when their plea is as false as mistaken by them If Gospel grace be never so much discovered to them if the termes thereof be never so often and urgently pressed upon them they heare them not they receive them not they observe them not if Satan or men will offer any thing else vaine or foolish sencelesse or frivolous a little countenance from men a little ingagement in the world will prevaile for their seducement when Divine truth hath been little regarded for a long time in reference to their conversion as our Saviour told the Jewes when they would not regard his heavenly counsel If any shall come to them in his owne name him they would heare Joh 5. 43. And hath not Satan varieties of designes and agents to Eclypse or cloud or hide or even to guish if possible Gospel-glory now for many yeares brightly shining amongst us holding out varieties of strong and strange delusions sometimes really grosse and despicable to ordinary capacities sometimes more refined and seemingly more spirituall and appearing more neere to perfection and yet still wandering from the way of truth yea sometime to set up iniquirie by Law and to obstruct the most efficacious wayes and meanes to promote the advancement of Gospel glory Have there not been sad experiments of these things in our former and later Popish persecutions And let all reall and sound Christians earnestly pray there may not be any the like againe amongst us for shall we Question it That whilst with Capernaum we are lifted up unto heaven in Christs speciall approaches and intercourses amongst us so much neglected and opposed too by the generalities almost of men and women that we shall not be equally with her cast downe into Hell Let not any persons deceive themselves God is not mocked but as each man sowes so let him look to reape at his hands Mat 6. 7. If men weave the Spiders webs and hatch the Cockatrice eggs may they not justly expect that their webs should faile to become garments and that their eggs break forth into Vipers to sting or destroy themselves or others Isa 59. 5 6. Thirdly To admonish all good Christians as they desire to have much glory in heaven to labour much to behold the Gospel glory of the Lord in his Church upon earth and so to behold it as to be still more and more transformed into the same image yea in being so exercised heaven will more come down unto them and enter into their soules there will be such a glory as will make their souls truly delightfull comfortable happie such as they would not exchange or part with for the whole world let them be much taken up with the contemplation and admiration of such Gospel grace and glory and let their hearts and mouthes be filled with the high praises of God for it in all respects of the shining glory of it oh to what an height of divine excellency will it raise their spirits what large possession will it give the Lord the Spirit of their soules what earnest longings will it cause after more of the same grace what rejoycings and triumphings will it cause in the Lord of glory what resistance will it afford against worldly discouragements intanglements ingagements and all obstructions and oppositions whatsoever against it how will it sweeten troubles season every condition and administer unto them the oyle of joy even with the garments of heavinesse oh who would not drinke well of the wine of such sweet consolation to make them in â— good measure to forget their sorrow when by faith in the depth of sorrow they shall so see Christ a Saviour for them sitting gloriously and triumphantly at the right hand of God as Stephen did wonderfully while he was in stoning to death Acts 7. Fourthly Let this incite and stirre up all such as have any true spirituall discoveries of Gospel glory made unto their soules hence to learne spiritually to exult and triumph in the name of the Lord and in the power of his might and in the evidence of his divine grace for as our Saviour said unto his Disciples in another case the like may be said unto such Flesh and blood bath not revealed this unto their soules but the Lord the Spirit who is from heaven Doe not the Starres standing in the cleare aspect of the Sunne send forth their cleare and bright shining rayes in the view of the world Doth not the earth when it receives its seasonable and sweet showers and influences
heaven and to God the judge of all and to the Spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling which speaks better things then that of Abel Heb. 12. 22. Hence all things were esteemed in comparrison but dross and dung 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but very loathsome garbidge Fourthly Consider what an unparralleld match thy soul utterly looseth the opportunity of obtaining if it be not thus in this life united unto Christ in this Gospel discovery of the glory of the Lord unto her for she must either be married to Christ in that way here or else the Devill will carry her as his captive slave to his most wicked lust and loathsome vassallage without any hope of future respite ransome or rescue but if once it be so married unto Christ how will she be dignified not only received into a Royal Estate but be partaker of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. happy in her own good quality happy in her manifold interests in the Covenant in all the promises of this life and a better and thereby in Christ in God in Angels in the Saints in the good of both worlds present and to come happy in the present society union and communion with any or many of these at the present as we shewed even now from Heb. 12. 22. but unspeakeably more for the future and happy above all persons that are void of this in the present satisfaction rest and support they will find in and from this above all earthly vanities which only by this become sweetned comforts as the love care and goodness of this spiritual bridegroome is delightfully tendred to his spouse thereby O what true Saints security in evill times in all times is there in this condition what health what wealth what honor what pleasure what joy what solace what true contentment if such poore creatures would not unfaithfully or foolishly be deficient to themselves O that Christians would suffer their poor souls yea that they would by all good means afford them assistance to make large comments upon every particular branch here offered to them to the manifold advancement of their own good I being now restrained by many circumstances from inlargeing in these and divers other things as it were hinted only in this subject yet what is said may point out many pleasant paths for thy soule to expatiate and walk at large in to her present greate refreshment in this her earthly Pilgrimage and I dare say if she be but once well acquainted with them she will never be willing to forsake them and if upon error at any time she loose her way she will never be at rest for quiet till she find it again I can here only now like the Statues used in cross pathes but point out to thee the right way if thou be once in it let it be thy care to keep it it will be thy safety it will be thy security it will by thy satisfaction thou wilt never repent thee of thy walking long or far therein yea the further thou goest the more thou gainest and advancest thy best designes thereby O that men would consider these things and improve their time their talents their opportunities their abilities to this excellent advantage while time and seasons of Grace continue that God may have the glory of his Gospel grace at their hands their own souls and consciences may thereby receive their sound peace and true consolation here and eternally by the same means obtain their perfect happiness which he grants of his infinite compassion to poor wandring souls through him who hath fully paid the price of their iniquities and purchased for them such a glorious grace and sent his holy spirit to make it effectual to them of his own good pleasure unto which undivided and most holy Trinity of persons in the Unity of the divine essence be all the praise of all such grace by all his people rendred and paid as is most due both now henceforth and for evermore Amen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 AN Exemplification of a short yet learned and pithy Treatise written by Mr E D a faithfull and zealous Servant of Christ touching St Peter's Bishoprick at Rome FOrasmuch as to the issue all our Controversie is come that what right or authoritie soever the Pope challengeth he maketh his whole * Et â—ihi et Petro Carion in vita Alex. claime from Peter and the Papists themselves will defend him no further but so far as he succeedeth Peter I will speak a little of Peter's Bishoprick of Rome so farre as the Scripture shall be my warrant Consider thou of it good Christian Reader and if thou see that all the glorying of Peters being at Rome Roffensis Cocleus Tho Waldensis and others have wasted their wits in this cause is but a facing of an impudent lye then judge what is their other Religion First Here I must forewarne thee that as a lye cannot long agree with it selfe so in all this matter thou shalt hardly finde in all points two Popish Chronicles agree together so that whatsoever Some write that he came to Rome the first some the second some the fourth some the thirteenth of Claudius in this varietie it may be no opinion is true but it cannot be that all are true In Christs time Peter was neither young nor old but of a perfect age Theophylact in Joh 21. 18. I write as touching the exact Computation of yeares there must needs be many against me therefore in that I will not strive I will only write that which is certain and shall have as I said either some warrant of Scripture or shall be agreed on by the consent of all Ages Our Saviour Christ was crucified for our sinnes the 18th yeare of Tiberius as by all Histories it is manifest Peter is said to be put to death in Rome the last yeare of Nero so Peter lived after Christ under Tiberius 5 yeares Caligula 4 yeares Claudius 13 yeares Nero 13 yeares in all 36 years odd moneths according to the Reigne of the said Emperours In these 36 yeares and odde moneths they write of Peter thus He was Bishop 4 yeares in the East parts 7 yeares at Antioch and 25 at Rome where at last he dyed Here this fable doth almost bewray it selfe such hastie installings and so many translatings out of one Bishoprick into another doth not well agree with our Saviours words That they Joh. 16. 2. 33. should have affliction in the world But let us search the Scriptures and try how these Bishoprickes will stand After that our Saviour Acts 1. 12. is ascended they goe into Acts 2. 4. Jerusalem all the Apostles together they chuse Matthias the Apostle after fifty dayes they receive the holy Ghost Peter converteth many After certaine dayes Peter Acts 4. 18. and John goe up into the Temple Acts 5. 12. they heale the lame they are put