and gave him to bee the Head over all things to the Church Argum. 11. All our enemies the Devil the wicked in the world Persecutors Hereticks and Impostors the power of sin in us prisons banishments all kinds of death are put under Christs feet that hee may order them and dispose of them to our good and put them under our feet Therefore c. The Head Argum. 12. Christ is appointed Head over all things in the Church that is the Father hath committed the full power and administration of all things unto him that hee onely should bee the most near Head of the Catholick Church for the illumination of the Church and all its members for the vivification exciting to all spiritual duties and preservation of spiritual life in them by the immediate presence and operation of his Spirit in the whole Church and its several members Therefore unless you will doubt of your Heads Wisdome Power and Faithfulness in his office you should bee strengthened in Faith Vers. 23. Which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all Argum. 13. The Church is the mystical body of Christ and all beleevers are his members Therefore you should not doubt but hee will look to and have a care of your salvation unless you will deny that Beleevers are his members The fulness Argum. 14. The Church is the fulness of Christ so far as hee is its mystical Head so that hee doth not judge himself to bee perfected and completed till all and every of the Elect bee gathered into one united to him have attained that full encrease suitable to and appointed for every member and till at last they enjoy with him a plenary happiness Therefore you should bee as sure of the perfecting of your salvation as you are that Christ will not suffer himself to bee incompleat imperfect and maimed Filleth Argum. 15. Christ filleth all in all that is according to every Creatures capacity as hee is the God of Nature hee works all things as hee is the Head of the Church hee perfects all things which belong to the Spiritual Life Sanctification and Salvation of Beleevers filling all his members by degrees Therefore it is not to bee questioned but hee will accomplish the begun work of Faith Sanctification and Salvation in you This that hee filleth all in all is adjoyned by way of correction or exposition to the former phrase of the fulness of Christ by the Church lest wee should conceive that Christs or our perfection depends upon any besides himself who of his own free love hath brought this necessity upon himself of communicating himself to us unworthy wretches who stirred up this desire of us in himself who himself hath the power to satisfie this his own desire and who by degrees fulfills his desire of sanctifying us and induing us with Faith and will proceed to fulfil it till hee hath performed all things necessary to the perfecting of salvation and that in all the faithful the greatest and least To him bee the glory of his Grace his power and his constancy for ever and ever Amen CHAP. II. THe Apostle proceeds to prosecute the same Argument proving sometimes in the Supposition that the beleeving Ephesians sometimes possitively that all Beleevers are saved by Grace The Proposition to bee made good is this you O Ephesians are saved by Grace or Beleevers are saved by Grace His Arguments are fifteen upon the last whereof hee insists to the latter end of the Chapter Vers. 1. And you hath hee quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins Argu. 1. If you O Ephesians are considered in the common State of Nature you will bee found to have been in that condition that you could not have recovered thence but by Grace There are seven parts of this Argument every one whereof heightens our first misery and proves Grace to bee the onely cause of salvation Dead 1 In the State of Nature you were not onely defiled with but dead in sin and not onely judicially dead because guilty of or liable to death but also really in effect spiritually dead so that the dead could as easily raise themselves to life or perform actions of being as you could free your selves from this death or do any good deed Therefore you are saved by Grace Vers. 2. Wherein in time past yee walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience 2 In reference to this natural life you did wholly pass that in sin being wholly busied and walking in them or else waxing worse and worse Therefore c. Of this world 3 You walked in the waies of worldly and carnal men who favour this natural life onely and followed their manners and customes as the rule of life Therefore c. The Prince 4 You followed the Captain of this way the Devil the Prince of unclean spirits who with his Executioners or other evil Angels flying in the Air rules and governs effectually Which worketh 5 The Devil did reign and execute his will in you as now hee doth in the disobedient Therefore c. Vers. 3. Among whom also wee all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of our flesh and of the mind and were by nature the children of wrath ever as others 6 You did fulfil the lusts of your flesh and wallowing in them did commit whatever your vain mind dictated whatever your corrupt appetite and affections of the flesh prescribed To these the Apostle adds himself before his conversion that they might see this Argument propounded in an Hypothesis would serve to confirm the general Thesis Children 7. By nature yee were children of wrath that is guilty of death and liable to divine wrath which God might justly pour upon us even to our utter destruction Hereunto hee joyns all other men as they are considered in the state of nature Therefore wee are beholding to Grace for our salvation Vers. 4. But God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith hee loved us Argum. 2. God out of his rich mercy and love hath delivered us who beleeve from this most miserable condition Therefore our salvation is of Grace The several parts of this Argument manifest the same God 1. Hee shews God to bee the sole Author of our deliverance who alone is meet for so great a work Rich 2. That Grace might appear the cause of our salvation is mentioned to bee the abundant or rich mercy of God whereby as it were touched with a sense of our miserie hee is moved to deliver us For his 3. The love of God wherewith he loved us from eternity is annexed as the cause both of mercy and salvation Us 4. It was of mercy that God was pleased to take us rather than others and choose us for his sons Therefore c. Ver. 5. Even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us
Christs preceding humiliation that is his incarnation and his abasement of himself unto the common infirmities of the flesh unto the suffering of both soul and body and unto burial Whence is hinted Argum. 9. For the preservation of the Churches unity Christ descended into the lower parts of the earth by this very phrase David describes his conception in the womb Psal. 139.18 and also ascended again for the gathering of the Church into one and uniting it to God Therefore c. Vers. 10. Hee that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that hee might fill all things From the same prophecie hee gathers that Christ God who descended to bee incarnate or that hee might take flesh was not made another or any other person when hee ascended as God incarnate or having taken flesh upon him that the humane nature assumed did not add any thing to the constituting or perfecting the person of the Son of God but onely was taken into the unity of the person and therefore Christs descending and ascending was the same even as hee that puts on a garment is the same as hee was when naked Furthermore coming to shew the end of his Ascension hee adds Argum. 10. Christ ascended into Heaven that hee might accomplish all things which were to bee accomplished viz. that hee might gather and preserve the Church and communicate unto it what was necessary for it Therefore c. Vers. 11. And hee gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers Hee in part shews how Christ hath accomplished all things as much as is sufficient to his purpose by ennumerating the several orders of Ecclesiastical Ministery some temporary and extraordinary as Apostles Prophets Evangelists ordained for the laying the foundations of all Churches some ordinary and perpetual as Pastors and Teachers instituted for the continuing of the Church Vers. 12. For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ Argum. 11. From the end and use for which Christ did bestow these offices and gifts 1 That the Saints might bee restored even as members loosened and out of joynt set and brought to their proper place 2 That the Ministers avoiding idleness and tyrannizing government should follow the work of their Ministery that so every of the Elect as straying sheep might bee brought home to Christ their Shepheard and abide in him 3 That the whole body of the Church might bee edified and built up and every one make proficiency in Faith and Holiness and to this purpose Christ appointed Offices in the Church that by the help and Ministery of men all the Saints might so grow up together as to constitute one mystical body of Christ Therefore c. Vers. 13. Till wee all come in the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Argum. 12. From the term of the duration of the Ministery This Ministery must continue until all wee Elect come unto the unity of the Faith and the Knowledge of Christ that is not onely until wee bee united to Christ by Faith and Knowledge which is of Faith but also until all wee that are redeemed or that are elected as many as do live or shall live I say until wee all come one after another to a present Knowledge in an immediate vision or to a perfect regeneration and incorporation in Christ when all the Elect being now united and perfected shall constitute one Mystical Christ who shall bee every way compleat and perfect and attain his full stature which shall bee in the resurrection Therefore for this end and purpose that this business may bee advanced wee should strive for unity and concord Vers. 14. That wee henceforth bee no more children tossed to and fro and carryed about with every wind of Doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lye in wait to deceive Argum. 13. From another end of the institution of the Ministery Christ appointed the Ministery that wee should not bee alwaies children ignorant of those things which wee ought to know that wee should not bee wavering and inconstant tossed with the wind of contrary Doctrines that wee should not bee separated from Christ and his Church through unsetledness in Faith that wee should not bee deceived by the subtilty deceit and treacherous seducing of corrupt men Therefore for the furtherance of this end wee should as much as in us lyes endeavour the unity of the Church Vers. 15. But speaking the Truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the Head even Christ Argum. 14. From the third end of the institution of the Ministery Christ ordained the Ministery in the Church not onely that wee might shun seducing but also that wee might follow the Truth of the heavenly Doctrine with charity and so by truth and charity wee might thrive in all virtues into one Christ mystical Therefore for this end wee should study the unity of the Church and charity that Christ our Head might appear excellent among us and wee who cannot otherwise encrease should become strong and mighty in him Vers. 16. From whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh encrease of the body unto the edifying of it self in love Argum. 15. Taken from the description of Christ mystical or of Christ and the Church wherin by a similitude of the natural head and body hee illustrates what hee said touching encrease in charity and the knowledge of the Truth to the advancing the glory of Christ and the good of the Church In this description hee shews 1 That the whole body of the Church depends upon Christ as its head and original and from him all the nourishment of its body that is all saving Truth together with the living Spirit of Christ is derived upon all its true members so that no man knows any thing unless hee bee taught by Christ. 2 That for the diversity of the gifts of the Spirit of the offices and of the condition of every member of the Catholick Church the body should bee fitly framed or composed in the most beautiful and most befitting order and should bee tyed to him and joyned in him by the most strict bond of the Spirit of Faith and of Love also by the several relations partly betwixt Christ and us such as are of the Head and Members the Bridegroom the Advocate the Surety c. Partly betwixt one another such as are the relations of Brethren and Sisters of co-heirs of Pastors and the Flock of Parents and Children c. by all which wee are daily tyed more strictly to Christ and among our selves 3 That there are several bands for the administration of nourishment through which as through chanels or
veins the knowledge of saving truth faith experience and power are conveyed by Christ in the several functions and offices in the Church in which are the Apostleship Pastorship Eldership c. 4 That the meer Administration or Ministration is in the members for the dispensation of a blessing of power and virtue depends immediately on Christ alone 5 That a distribution among the members is necessary who in regard of their finite measure and capacity have need of mutual communication that they may mutually edifie one another 6 That encrease is to bee had by the effectual operation of the same Head Christ in the Ministration and by the mutual communication of the members among themselves 7 That for the measure and capacity of every member every one doth encrease and make progress in the life of God in holiness in true Religion as it pleaseth the Lord to distribute to every one 8. That that increase onely is profitable and by the vertue of Christ advantagious which adds something to the whole body and brings something to the Church in general but not that increase which seems to profit some members with the hurt of others or some Churches with prejudice to others 9. Lastly That this communication of knowledge and of the Christian Doctrine and the edification of the body is effected by the love of the members to one another and without love it cannot bee done Hence the Argument As it is in the natural and organical body so in the Church Christ who is the head of the Church bestows not the same but divers gifts upon his members distributing to every one as the place which it bears in the body requires that by this means the whole may grow whilest the several members every one in its place uses its gifts to the common good which cannot be done unless there bee concord Therefore for this purpose every one should carefully endeavour the concord and unity of the Church The Second Part. Vers. 17. This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord that yee henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their minde 18. Having the understanding darkned being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart 19. Who being past feeling have given themselves over to lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness Now follows the second part of this Chapter in which hee gives seven Precepts for the holy leading of the life of every one of them severally taken Precept 1. That they should not any longer walk as other Gentiles but as became those who were effectually called from the state of sin unto Christ. The Reasons of this Precept or Exhortation are four I say Reas. 1. I who am an Apostle by authority given mee of God do earnestly beseech you for the Lords sake to whom you must give an account if you neglect and despise this my earnest desire In the vanity Reas. 2. From the miserable condition of the Gentiles and of all those that are unregenerate which condition is couched in these seven particulars 1. That they were led by a vain minde which doth not dictate any thing certainly in divine things nor directs humane actions to any profitable end vers 17. Darkned 2. That the reason of unregenerate Gentiles in things pertaining to God and happiness is darkned and blinded 3. That they are alienated from the spiritual life of God and from all communion with God 4. That they have no saving knowledge of God but are quite ignorant of God as to salvation or as hee is in the Church revealed in Christ. 5. That they have a heart hardened by natural voluntary and judicial obduration for when they do willingly harden themselves in sin they are also by the just judgement of God further hardened in sin and the blindness of their mindes vers 18. Past feeling 6. That being buried in unsensibleness and griefless quietness they do not any more fear sin or feel the natural bitings of conscience 7. That the Gentiles are freely and unrestrainedly carried away in the lust of sinning not onely to a meer desire but also to a full commission of all uncleanness with greediness and to follow their pleasures with an unsatisfiable desire and study to fulfill them vers 19. Hence the second Reason holds good the condition of all other Gentiles is most miserable Therefore walk not as they do Vers. 20. But yee have not so learned Christ 21. If so bee that yee have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Iesus Reas. 3. The knowledge of Christ or the Doctrine of faith in Christ in which you are instructed and which you have learned requires another manner of life from you than that which the Gentiles follow Therefore you should not imitate them vers 20. If so bee Hee limits the former Reason and restrains it to the truly regenerate who have sincerely and truly heard Christ and are effectually taught by his Spirit what that true holiness in Christ is what that right manner of living prescribed by Christ is and how great the virtue and spiritual power in him is to make his true and genuine Disciples live according to his orders I say with these at least the former Reasons will bee valid vers 21. Vers. 22. That yee put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts 23. And bee renewed in the spirit of your minde 24. And that yee put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Reas. 4. The Doctrine of Christ doth expresly require of beleevers that they perform these three things 1. That following repentance they should more and more put off and lay aside the old man or that corrupt nature which shewed it self in their former conversation which corrupt nature or old man is daily made worse and more corrupt through deceitful lusts and so it doth more and more corrupt and destroy man vers 22. 2. That they should bee more and more renewed in the spirit of their minde that is that beleevers should do their endeavour through the Word and Spirit of God to make their understanding more and more spiritual which of its own nature is repugnant to the wisdome of God and argues against it 3. That beleevers should put on the new man or should study to manifest and declare in themselves the actions and qualities of the new creature renewed after the Image of God and therefore should carefully yeeld obedience to the divine Law in those things which respect God and their neighbour Hence the Argument is thus The Christiaâ—â—octrine requires of you that putting off the manners oâ— the old man your minde being renewed you should study to approve your selves new creatures in the exercise of righteousness and holiness Therefore you should not walk as other Gentiles Vers. 25. Wherefore putting away lying speak every man truth with
serve our neighbours Vers. 22. Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as unto the Lord. Now follow the oeconomical Precepts 1 That Wives should bee in subjection to their own Husbands chastly sincerely and in lawful things The reasons whereof are four As unto the Lord Reason 1. Because Christ commanded that the Wife should bee subject to her Husband and accounts of that subjection as if shee yeelded obedience to himself and in like manner looks upon the Wives rebellion against her Husband as rebellion against himself Vers. 23. For the Husband is the Head of the Wife even as Christ is the Head of the Church and hee is the Saviour of the body Reas. 2. Because the Husband is in honour and authority over the Wife as the head is over the body Therefore it is meet that the Wife â—â—ould bee in subjection to him As Christ Reas. 3. Because 〈◊〉 will have the Husbands authority over the Wife to â—ee a similitude of Christs authority over the Church And hee is Reas. 4. The same similitude is illustrated As Christ is the Head of the Church for its good so the Husband is the Head of the Wife for her good whom hee ought in all things to defend châ—rish and comfort And as it is expedient for the Church to bee obedient to Christ so it is for the Wife to bee obedient to her Husband Vers. 24. Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ so let the Wives bee to their own Husbands in every thing From these reasons hee inferrs the conclusion that it is necessary for the Wife to bee obedient to her Husband in all things which hinder not her due subjection unto God and Christ. Vers. 25. Husbands love your Wives even as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it Prec 2. Which is given to men that they should love their Wives the reasons thereof are five As Reas. 1. From the example of Christs love towards the Church which love the Apostle commends from these four marks 1 That Christ out of his love offered himself for the Church which was then lost Vers. 26. That hee might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word 2 That hee loved his Church and offered himself for it to the end that hee might sanctifie it or of a prophane and impure Church make it a holy one Washing 3 That Christ doth effectually cleanse his Church by virtue of his blood and of his free promise which hee applies to us by the ordinary means of Baptism and of the Word as by instruments of his Spirit ordained for the confirmation of Faith and the communication of virtue Vers. 27. That hee might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinckle nor any such thing but that it should bee holy and without blemish 4 That hee hath loved his Church for this end that hee might at length present it glorious in Heaven without any mark or token either of sin or misery and hee will ever prosecute this his work till hee hath brought it to pass Vers. 28. So ought men to love their Wives as their own bodies hee that loveth his Wife loveth himself Reas. 2. Of the Precept given to men touching loving their Wives Because Wives are the bodies of their own Husbands according to that Law of God They two shall bee one flesh Hee that loveth Reas. 3. Because hee which loveth his Wife loveth himself and performs the office of love unto himself for that love of a mans own Wife doth every way redound to the Husbands good Vers. 29. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church Reas. 4. Because it is as unnatural to a Wife and good Husband not to love his Wife as it is to hate his own flesh and it is as agreeable to reason to favour and make much of his Wife as it is to regard his own flesh As Hee confirms and illustrates this reason by the example of Christ which hee wills us alwaies to have in our eye as the most perfect example of love Vers. 30. For wee are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones Hee proves that Christ loved us as his own flesh and that it was not possible for him to hate us but hee was as it were constrained out of love to maintain and cherish us because wee are members of his body flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone that is wee are as nearly joyned to him as Eve was to Adam for what Eve owed to Adam in the flesh wee owe to Christ in the regeneration of our spirit and much more In the forming of Eve Adam lost onely one rib but in the reforming of the Church Christ lost his life Onely the matter of Eve was from Adam but the Church hath from Christ its natural formation and spiritual reformation in respect of both the body and soul of every member Vers. 31. For this cause shall a man leave his Father and Mother and shall bee joyned unto his Wife and they two shall bee one flesh Reas. 5. Where hee proves both that the Church owes its beginning to Christ and that Husbands ought to love their Wives even from the institution of marriage which requires that by reason of the streight knot between Husband and Wife a man shall leave Father and Mother and bee joyned to his Wife and they two shall bee united into one flesh by the bond of wedlock by which they now have a mutual right to and power over one another the words of this institution have a typical sense for God in that saying Gen. 2.23 Thou art flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone intended to represent the union of Christ and the Church and to shew that wee are bone of Christs bone and flesh of Christs flesh that is that wee are most nearly united to Christ because in the speech of Adam to Eve it was prefigured that Christ as hee was one flesh with us and made us one flesh with himself by a spiritual wedlock did as it were leave his own Father laying aside after a manner that glory which hee had with the Father abasing himself when hee was in the form of God and taking upon him the form of a servant Also it was prefigured that Christ should leave Mary his Mother that by dying hee might buy the Church to bee his Spouse with which hee would bee one flesh Vers. 32. This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the Church The Apostle viewing this last thing not the carnal wedlock but the union of Christ with the Church calls it a great mystery and lest any one should otherwise understand his saying hee signifies in express words that hee doth not speak this of the mystery touching the carnal marriage of Husband and Wife but concerning the spiritual conjunction of Christ and the Church which is made by virtue of
lot it is not obtained by any humane merit but by free election and once given it is not taken away 5 It is called the Inheritance of Saints because by that wee shall have society with the Saints alone whose communion makes the Inheritance more delightful to us 6 This Inheritance consisteth in the most perfect light viz. of Knowledge Holiness Joy Glory immortal and eternal life Vers. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdome of his dear Son The 2. Reas. Of his thanksgiving explaineth the former because the Father hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdome of the Son of his love This benefit is commended to us by these four things 1 Because power is used to our perverse nature and the power of Satan by whom wee are kept bound from whence God by force hath delivered us 2 Because hee hath delivered us from the darkness of ignorance sin and misery 3 because hee hath not suffered us being delivered to wander and erre without a King and defender without governance and society but hath translated us into a better Kingdome i. e. the Kingdome of Light Knowledge Sanctity and spiritual life where wee may safely and securely inhabit that wee fall not back or bee brought again into darkness 4 Because the Kingdome into which wee are translated is the Kingdome of his Son a Kingdome most pleasant to God wherein the Son of God the Son of his love ruleth and reigneth whom the Father intimately loves and doth represent himself a Father in his love towards us whose Kingdome and all things are most beloved by God yea in whose Kingdome all subjects are beloved Sons Vers. 14. In whom wee have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins The 3. Reason of his thanksgiving is the benefit of his liberty from the revenging Justice of God this benefit more especially appears in these five things 1 Wee are not onely kept by force in the power of darkness that wee might bee delivered from thence a greater strength was required but also wee were captives to the Law and Righteousness from whence without a price paid wee cannot bee freed and where that price is already paid there is made already a lawful redemption 2 Wee have this our redemption made by the consent of parties upon the best right 3 Wee have the same redemption in the person of the Son who is our Advocate and hee who keepeth us and all ours 4 Wee have that by the blood of the Son who existing in the image of God i. e. true God hath taken upon him our nature and in that made obedient unto the death of the Cross hath paid the price of Redemption for us 5 This Redemption is free in respect of us who have paid nothing and yet obtain the remission of sins and consequently also free liberty from wrath and death which follow upon sin Vers. 15. Who is the Image of the invisible God the first born of every Creature The 4. Reason of his thanksgiving shewing the solidity of the foundation of Redemption in the description of the excellency of Christ the Redeemer of which description there are twelve Articles The Image Artic. 1. Christ is the most perfect Image of the invisible God not onely because hee is the substantial Character of the Fathers person substantially representing the Father that so the Father cannot bee beholden unless in the Son and brightness of him but also because the incarnate Son hath represented to the world in word and deed in sanctity power and mercy the Fathers Nature Will and Goodness The first born Artic. 2. Christ is the first born of every Creature i. e. begotten from eternity before every Creature and because of his eternal Generation of the Father hee is the Lord of all Creatures by right as the first born in the Law is Lord of his Brethren and the Family Vers. 16. For â—y him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth visible and invisible whether they bee thrones or dominions or principalities or powers all things were created by him and for him Artic. 3. Illustrating the former Christ is the efficient cause or the Creator of all Creatures For by him were all things created hee amplifies this Article by a threefold distribution of the Creatures 1 From the place wherein they are in Heaven and in Earth 2 From their nature into visible and invisible 3 From the division of Angels both from their dignity office and honourable names From which the glory of Christ appeareth who hath created all From him Artic. 4. Christ is the end of all for whom and for whose glory all things were created For all things whatsoever and of what sort soever were created all these were created for the glory of Christ God-man hee is the beginning and end of all to whose glory it is necessary all things whatsoever in their manner should be serviceable as the means to the end Vers. 17. And hee is before all things and by him all things consist Artic. 5. Christ is eternal because hee in himself was before all Creatures neither is hee any thing changed by the Creatures as to his subsistence By him Artic. 6. Christ is not onely the Creatour but is the preserver and conserver of all Vers. 18. And hee is the head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first born from the dead that in all things hee might have the preheminence Artic. 7. Christ is the Head of the Church i. e. of his body from whence the vital spirits sense and spiritual motion floweth through all the members who both governeth and defendeth all of them The beginning Artic. 8. Christ is the beginning fountain and spring of the Church viz. that new Adam the root and principle of the regeneration of the Saints by whose virtue all Saints are begotten The first born Artic. 9. Christ is the first born from the dead and the first fruits of them that slept because hee alone hath risen by his own strength and is the cause of the resurrection of the dead to life everlasting That in Artic. 10. Hee hath the preheminence in all and ought to have amongst Angels and men amongst the living and dead And this is the end of the former degrees of the excellency of Christ. Vers. 19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell Artic. 11. Confirming the preheminence of Christ and the dignity of his preheminence because from the good Will of God not onely the fulness of the gifts of the Spirit dwell in the Man Christ but also the God-head it self most fully comprehending all fulness Vers. 20. And having made Peace through the blood of his cross by him to reconcile all things unto himself by him I say whether they bee things in Earth or things in Heaven Artic. 12. Christ by the good will and purpose of
Christ paying the price of our Redemption hath obtained by Covenant of the Father that all the redeemed should bee delivered from the prison of darkness ignorance sin and death 2 Inasmuch as Christ infinite in power when hee had once satisfied justice on the Cross broke the bars and chains of sin judgement and the Law wherewith the Devil held the redeemed bound that henceforth they cannot have any power 3 Inasmuch as hee hath made his redeemed his possession and peculiar people that they might not any longer bee the flock of Satan Christ is said to have made a shew of the Devils and to have openly triumphed on the Cross 1 Inasmuch as hee hath valiantly received overcome and extinguished all their temptations and poisoned darts whether immediately cast by them against him hanging on the Cross or hurled by the poisonous tongues of furious adversaries or brandished by the provocation of the ingratitude of his Disciples flying from him 2 Inasmuch as Christ hath turned the malice of the Devils all their subtilties and machinations by which they sought his life incessantly stirring up their slaves to crucifie him till hee hanged upon the Cross to their own destruction and to the most open ruine of their dominion 3 Inasmuch as hee hath shewn himself Lord of Heaven and Earth by signs and wonders in the very time of his crucifying 4 Inasmuch as hee hath shewn openly his power by converting the thief hanging at his right hand and the Centurion standing at his feet 5 Inasmuch as the price of Redemption being already paid the Conqueror not onely in the sight of God and Angels but also in the sight of these Devils and also in the bearing of all beholders cryed out that his work was finished and that to his own eternal glory and the perpetual ignominy of â—his enemies From which it follows that wee must not depart from Christ for the obtaining of any good or that wee might bee delivered from any evil The Third Part. Vers. 16. Let no man therefore judge you in meat or drink or in respect of an holy day or of the new Moon or of the Sabbath daies The third part of the Chapter in which by way of consequence hee brings in a special admonition to beware of some special corruptions of the false Apostles The admonitions are three 1 That they do not regard the judgement and censure of any who shall dare to condemn them for not observing of Mosaical Ceremonies as for example for meat or drink or for neglecting an holy-day or an part of any holy-day or for not observing the Sabbath of the Jews Vers. 17. Which are a shadow of things to come but the body is of Christ. The reason of the admonition is Because those Legal Ceremonies were the shadows of future things which were onely to remain until the body or Christ the truth and substance of them should come which therefore ought to cease after his comming Vers. 18. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of Angels intruding into those things which hee hath not seen vainly puft up by his fleshly mind 2 Is That they beware of the worshiping and invocation of Angels For this end hee alledges seven Arguments Argum. 1. Because whosoever doth teach you this worshiping in very deed hee endeavours to defraud you of the reward of Religion or Life Eternal Voluntarily Argum. 2. Because not from the authority of God but of his own will and lust hee doth deliver this Doctrine Humility Argum. 3. Because hee that teacheth the worshiping of Angels doth hypocritically abuse you with the pretence of humility Intruding Argum. 4. Because hee that teacheth the worshiping of Angel proceeds boldly without the light of the Word of God yea without the light of right reason For hee never saw any thing concerning this Doctrine either in holy writ or with bodily eyes or by the light of sound reason Vainly Argum. 5. Because whosoever teacheth the worshiping of Angels is not humble as hee pretends but swelling in his own carnal opinion is most vainly puffed up Vers. 19. And not holding the head from which all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the increase of God Arg. 6. Because whosoever teacheth the worshipping of Angels is void of true faith hee is not joyned nor cleaves unto Christ although hee know all other things yet hee is ignorant of the vertue of Christ and the grace that is in him yea hee is divided from Christ our head and doth renounce him From which Arg. 7. Because in Christ alone is the storehouse from which all grace and whatsoever is required to life and spiritual growth is abundantly derived to all his members so that neither is it necessary to ask any thing of the Angels neither can any thing be done in that kinde without dishonour done to Christ either by invoking the Angels or by worshipping them after any other manner Therefore ye are to beware of the invocation of Angels In this Argument by the comparison of the humane natural head Christ is described by a sixfold Similitude 1 As the humane natural head hath a body subject to it so Christ hath the Church subject to him as his mystical body 2 As sense and motion is derived from the humane head to the whole body and so to all its members so sense and spiritual motions are derived from Christ to all the members of the Church 3 As from the humane head the conjunction of the nerves and ligaments which go through the whole body are extended so from the head Christ the holy Spirit flows and faith in Christ and love towards our neighbour which are diffused through the whole body mystical 4 As by those junctures life sense and motion is administred to the whole body so by these all spiritual grace is administred to the faithful 5 As by these the members are compacted with the head and amongst themselves so by these Christ and his members are united 6 As by these in the natural body so by these in Christs body mystical first of all there is made an increase of every member and also of the whole body mystical 7 As there is the increase of nature so here of grace the increase of God i. e. great and solid according to the measure given to every one Vers. 20. Wherefore if yee bee dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the world why as though living in the world are ye subject to Ordinances The third Admonition follows with a reprehension because they had subjected themselves to decrees or humane traditions and doctrines of men determining Religion in those things which God hath not determined There are five Arguments of the Admonition or Reprehension 1 Because yee are freed by the death of Christ from all carnal rudiments of Religion such as Judaical ceremonies so that you have no further to do with them yee ought not to admit the
God Another is That wee seek no further than is revealed touching the Counsels of God but even in things revealed wee bee wise to sobriety because the Counsels of God exceed our capacity and are indeed unsearchable glorifying God in all Vers. 34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord or who hath been his Counsellour Three Reasons hee adds of both those deductions Reason 1. No creature hath pierced into the mind of God none was ever of his Counsel Therefore the Counsels of God are past finding out wee ought not to search after them but admire and magnifie the riches of his Wisdome Vers. 35. Or who hath first given to him and it shall bee recompenced to him again Reason 2. God is in no mans debt or can bee no man merits at his hand no man can come forth and say that hee hath obliged God by any act of goodness in himself Therefore they cannot boast any of the Elect as if God was bound to them by any Law that hee should appoint them unto life neither can any of the Reprobates complain as though hee paid not what hee ought seeing hee is a debter to no man Vers. 36. For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom bee glory for ever Amen Reason 3. Confirming the former All things are of God as the first Author All things are upheld by him as the Preserver All things tend to him as the ultimate end Therefore when it seems good to him to promote his own glory in the rejection of the Jews or calling of the Gentiles in the Election of some and Reprobation of others all honor and glory ought to bee ascribed unto him by all men for ever Amen CHAP. XII WEE have had the first part of the Epistle of the way to Iustification the latter follows concerning the right ordering the life of those that are justified There are three parts of the Chapter In the first hee exhorts to Sanctity in general to ver 3. In the second hee instructs Ministers of the Church particularly concerning the right use of gifts to ver 9. In the third hee gives common precepts concerning Christian virtues Vers. 1. I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service By an allusion made to the typical manner of sacrificing under the Levitical Law hee most friendly exhorts them to shew forth the fruit of free Justification granted to them by Christ. There are three branches of the Exhortation First That wee would present our bodies to God that is offer and consecrate our selves wholly not onely our souls but bodies also to God as a Sacrifice of thankfulness The reasons of the exhortation are five which also contain the properties of this sacrifice The first reason is contained in a vehement entreaty because the mercies of God before rehearsed to wit Election of his Mercy Redemption of his Mercy Calling of his Mercy and Justification of his Grace and Mercy require of you this gratitude and thankfulness Living Reason 2. Because this is a living Sacrifice wherein nothing is to bee slain but sin and you your selves shall live consecrated unto God and shall bee preserved unto eternal life Holy Reason 3. This Sacrifice is truly holy in the daily offering up whereof Holiness it self consists Acceptable Reason 4. Because this Sacrifice will not bee rejected of God as those many legal shadows offered up by hypocrites but accepted of God Reasonable Reason 5. Because the act whereby you offer up this Sacrifice to God is your reasonable or spiritual service pre-figured by that typical worship and so much above that as spiritual things are above carnal and the bodies of Saints to bee preferr'd before the carkasses of brute beasts Vers. 2. And bee not conformed to this world but bee yee transformed by the renewing of your mind that yee may prove what is that good that acceptable and perfect Will of God The second branch of the Exhortation That wee take heed in life and conversation that wee do not make the pleasure and manners of worldly men our Rule to which wee conform our selves This exhortation contains a Reason in it self because men of the world onely savour the honours pleasures and profits of this present world Bee yee transformed The third branch of the Exhortation That wee endeavour the transforming of our carnal mind into that which is spiritual by the daily renewing of our understanding and will Two Reasons hee gives of this Exhortation Discern yee Reason 1. Because the Law of God or his Will revealed in the Word is the Rule to which wee ought to conform 1. Good teaching and leading us to those things which are good and making us good 2. It is acceptable to God who accepts no obedience but what is prescribed in the Word 3. It is perfect comprehending all things which appertain to the worship of God and our salvation Therefore indeavour after renewing your minds Discern yee Reason 2. Because without a renewed mind and spiritual wee cannot discern the proper sense of the divine Will revealed in the Word and knowing it wee cannot approve and approving it wee can have no experimental knowledge how good acceptable to God and perfect it is in it srlf Therefore ought wee to endeavour after renovation of mind The second Part. Vers. 3. For I say through the Grace given unto mee to every man that is among you not to think of himself more highly than hee ought to think but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of Grace The second part of the Chapter follows wherein according to his Apostolical authority which hee calls Grace because granted to him out of ineffable Grace hee charges every one that was among them in any publick office or any excellency of gift that hee would not think of himself above his fellows or above the value of his talent or the measure of his knowledge but that hee would carry himself soberly and moderately in all things towards all The Reasons of this Exhortation are five Reas. 1. God hath distributed to every one not a fulness but a measure of Faith Therefore it is fitting that every one should modestly contain himself within that measure Vers. 4. For as wee have many members in one body and all members have not the same office Reas. 2. As in the natural body divers members are deputed to divers operations So in the Ecclesiastical body of Beleevers or the society of the Officers of the Church divers functions are designed to divers imployments Therefore it is fitting that each contain himself modestly in his office Vers. 5. So wee being many are one body in Christ and every one members one of another Reas. 3. Included in the same similitude as in the natural body many members constitute one body so in the Ecclesiastical body all the faithful in particular all Church-Officers
unto you that the Lord Iesus the same night in which hee was betrayed took bread 24. And when hee had given thanks hee brake it and said Take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of mee That hee may correct these errours First hee sets down the institution of the Sacrament to vers 27. and then hee exhorts them to and teaches them the lawful use of this Sacrament to the end As for the institution of the Supper hee shews that the Lord Jesus being about to suffer by way of Testament set his seal to the Covenant of Grace which by his mediation hee entred into between God and the Church Whereby the glorious memory of his death might bee celebrated in the world till his second comming and might bee delivered to the faithful and being delivered it might judicially confirm a right to his person and the benefits of his sufferings and a living virtue flowing from his death resurrection and exaltation to the sanctification and salvation of Beleevers and that by the symbols of this holy Banquet and holy Communion with God and amongst themselves To which end Christ sitting at Table with his Disciples after the eating of the Paschal Lamb First Took Bread and sanctified it by giving of thanks brake and gave it to his Disciples commanding them to take and eat further hee declared the Bread received and eaten to bee his body represented after a Sacramental manner that iâ— being given for our Redemption and after a judicial manner applied to us and lastâ—y hee commanded that his Disciples or all the faithful should imitate this his action in the Church in remembrance of him who had paid the price of Redemption by the sufferings of his body Vers. 25. After the same manner also hee took the Cup when hee had supped saying This Cup is the New Testament in my blood this do you as oft as yee drink it in remembrance of mee That which concerns the other part of the Supper follows In the same Supper viz. after the Paschal Supper when the Bread was distributed Christ took the Cup with Wine sanctified by the giving of thanks gave it to the Disciples to drink further concerning the Cup hee declared That it being taken and drunk was that new Covenant of Grace between God and the Church established Sacramentally by his blood i. e. As it is ratified on Gods part that gives so it is confirmed on the beleevers part that receives and judicially applied and sealed Lastly Hee commanded that his Disciples should frequently imitate him in this action in remembrance of him who had paid the price of Redemption for the Church by the shedding of his blood Vers. 26. For as often as yee eat this Bread and drink this Cap yee do shew the Lords death till hee come And that wee might acknowledge that of two Elements Bread and Wine one Supper frequently to bee celebrated in the Church ought to bee made the Apostle would have perpetuated in the Church a publick commemoration of our Lords death by the often reiteration of this Sacrament and that because Christ would not bee present in his body with the Church before the last judgement by this Sacrament hee would that the memorial of the Churches redemption by his death might bee preserved and celebrated until hee come out of Heaven in the last day Vers. 27. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this Bread and drink this Cup of the Lord unworthily shall bee guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. After the Apostle had repeated the institution of this Sacrament hee exhorts and instructs the Corinthians in the right use of it and that in six waies First Shewing the danger of guilt which they are liable to who prophane this Sacrament For whosoever without preparation and reverence otherwise than becomes such an Ordinance approaches so great mysteries abuses the Sacrament despiseth Christ and comes near to the wickedness of those that crucified Christ. Vers. 28. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. Secondly Shewing the easiness of preparation that every one may worthily receive this Sacrament Onely saith hee set every man examine himself that being sensible of the greatness of his sin and misery hee may see how much need hee hath of a remedy by Christ and let him consider with what Faith and purposes of holiness hee is bound to approach communion with Christ who is a thousand times lost without him and when hee hath examined himself so let him eat and drink in that holy Banquet i. e. so let him apply the thing signified with his participation of the sign that hee consider what need hee hath of it Vers. 29. For hee that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body Thirdly Having shewed the punishment of eating unworthily That hee brings judgement or temporal and eternal punishment unless hee repent upon himself by unworthy eating and drinking who participates of the outward Sacrament without examination of himself because hee discerns not this Feast or the thing signified from his own common Supper but comes to the Lords Table no otherwise than to some common one Vers. 30. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep Fourthly Shewing before their eyes the examples of Gods temporal anger in diseases and death it self inflicted already upon many of the Corinthians for their prophanation of the Sacrament Vers. 31. For if wee would judge our selves wee should not bee judged Hee clears from severity this infliction of temporal judgement First From the equity of it That God justly punishes those that judge not themselves or repent not but lye securely in their sin which hee would not do if they repenting would judge themselves Vers. 32. For when wee are judged wee are chastened of the Lord that wee should not bee condemned with the world Further That the inflicting of these punishments is a fatherly chastisement whereby the faithful may bee brought to repentance and not perish with the world Vers. 33. Wherefore my Brethren when yee come together to eat tarry one for another Fifthly The Apostle directs the Corinthians to a right use of the Supper giving a Precept to avoid Schism that they would tarry one for another and would partake of the holy Supper together and every man take not his supper asunder because the Supper of the Lord is a common action of the Church in the publick Assembly to bee celebrated after the manner of a Feast Vers. 34. And if any man hunger let him eat at home that yee come not together unto condemnation And the rest will I set in order when I come Sixthly By forbidding their manner of feasting in publick by their feasts of charity before the holy Communion and commanding that if need were they would eat at home to satisfie their hunger repeating the danger of prophaning the Supper and of the
as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ. Argum. 8. Christ Mystical or Christ is one Body with the Church consisting of many members and they instructed with variety of gifts Therefore as in the humane so in the Mystical Body there ought to bee concord in the use of gifts Vers. 13. For by one Spirit are wee all baptized into one body whether wee bee Jews or Gentiles whether wee bee bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit Argum. 9. All the faithful are joyned together in the Sacrament of Baptism and the Lords Supper or the union of all the Faithful into one Church and partaking of one life in one body and one Spirit is signified in the Sacraments Therefore you ought not to disagree amongst your selves about the diversity of gifts Vers. 14. For the body is not one member but many 15. If the foot shall say Because I am not the hand I am not of the body Is it therefore not of the body 16. And if the ear shall say Because I am not the eye I am not of the body Is it therefore not of the body Argum. 10. Seeing the condition of the body requires necessarily plurality of members and by consequence diversity it will follow that the meanest offices in the least gifts are as well of the body as the most excellent offices and gifts And if they should exclude themselves they would not do less foolishly than if the foot should deny that it was the hand or the ear deny that it was the eye and for this cause should conclude that it is not of the body Therefore there ought to bee no dissention amongst you because of the diversity of gifts Vers. 17. If the whole body were an eye where were the hearing If the whole were hearing where were the smelling 18. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him 19. And if they were all one member where were the body 20. But now are they many members yet but one body Argum. 11. Even as if the body was one member three inconveniences would follow 1. The rest of the members should bee excluded and the more noble senses ver 17. 2. The change should bee made contrary to the wise dispensation of God who hath otherwise appointed diversity of members ver 18. 3. The change should bee contrary to the nature of an organical body for the very organical body should bee destroyed ver 19. Because God hath made one organical body of many members ver 20. So in Ecclesiastical Functions if there was but one Function three inconveniences would ensue 1. The other offices would bee extinct 2. The dispensation of God would bee destroyed 3. The Organical Church it self would bee overthrown which now consists of many offices united together into one body Therefore concord and agreement is to bee regarded Vers. 21. And the eye cannot say to the hand I have no need of thee nor again the head to the feet I have no need of you 22. Nay much more those members of the body which seem to bee more feeble are necessary Argum. 12. As in a natural body the superiour and more excellent members cannot bee without the inferiour which are most necessary therefore they are friendly each to other so it is in Ecclesiastical functions therefore ought they to bee assisting one to another Vers. 23. And those members of the body which wee think to bee less honourable upon those wee bestow more abundant honour and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness 24. For our comly parts have no need but God hath tempered the body together having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked Argum. 13. As in the body natural that there may bee an agreement those members which are more infirm are most honoured and necessary by the appointment of God so ought it to bee in Ecclesiastical functions Therefore in the chusing of Deacons rather than Pastors care must bee had that other things being alike men of the fairest fortunes may bee elected for the adorning of this inferiour office Vers. 25. That there should bee no Schism in the body but that the members should have the same care one of another Argum. 14. As the Natural body would come to ruine by Schism if the members should strive among themselves and should not regard each other So in Ecclesiastical functions Therefore concord is to bee highly regarded Vers. 26. And whether one member suffer all the members suffer with it or one member bee honoured all the members rejoyce with it 27. Now yee are the body of Christ and members in particular Argum. 15. As amongst the superiour and inferiour members of the body there is a sympathy in joy and grief so it ought to bee amongst the Governours and Ministers of the Church Therefore the greatest accord Hee gives the Reason of it Because yee saith hee are the body of Christ and members in particular i. e. such as ought as members to agree with the whole body the Church and amongst your selves And here is the common Apodosis of the whole similitude taken from the body from vers 12. to this 27. verse Vers. 28. And God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers after that miracles then gifts of healings helps governments diversities of tongues Now in order hee reckons up the Ministers of the Church as much as might bee sufficient to restrain the ambition and envy that was among the Corinthians The Authority of Paul by name and of the other Apostles was prejudiced by the subtil and Eloquent Doctors amongst the Corinthians as is manifest in the second Epistle Therefore hee asserts the dignity of the Apostles in the first place as those that were appointed of God to lay the foundation of all the Churches Concerning the Evangelists and Prophets extraordinary either there was no question amongst them or the dignity of the Ministers of the Gospel extraordinary being asserted in the vindication of the Apostolical office concerning the authority and dignity of the Evangelists and Prophets extraordinary whose Ministery was common to all the Churches and subservient to the Apostles it was manifest and apparent enough Secondly Hee determines concerning Prophets by which name as shall appear chap. 14. hee understands Pastors who applied in their Sermons the doctrine to usefulness whose gift was the word of wisdome as verse 8. In the third place hee names Teachers who although they were not eloquent and prudent for the application of the doctrine to all the uses of the Church yet they had a word of knowledge that they were able to apply the general Doctrine to the capacity of the Church These are the functions which were imployed in the Word and Doctrine and therefore the more eminent In the fourth place hee sets down those who in the
and the body also and endeavours the perfecting of holiness going forward and proceeding in the fear of God using one Argument for all The Promises fore-spoken of made to you by God do justly require that from you Therefore apply your selves diligently to these duties Vers. 2. Receive us wee have wronged no man wee have corrupted no man wee have defrauded no man In the rest of the Chapter hee endeavours to oblige the hearts of the Corinthians to him the signs of his love towards them being produced in the unfolding of which hee insists to the end The Proposition is clearly propounded which is to bee confirmed O Corinthians yee ought to receive us i. e. to bee perswaded of my love towards you yee ought to love mee again and to lay up my exhortations in your enlarged hearts Three Arguments are taken from the three Signs of the Apostles good will towards them No man Argum. 1. That they should receive the Apostle and the first Sign of his little ill towards them Because I do not ill deserve of any one either by bringing reproach or corrupting by perverse Doctrine or defrauding any one by any means Vers. 3. I speak not this to condemn you for I have said before that you are in our hearts to dye and live with you Argum. 2. Sign 2. Because when I speak of the things fore-going it was onely for the clearing of my self I am so far from condemning the Church of the beleeving Corinthians that out of love I have determined the contrary to cleave to you in prosperity and adversity in life and death that no change at any time may draw my affection from you Vers. 4. Great is my boldness of speech toward you great is my glorying of you I am filled with comfort I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation Argum. 3. Sign 3. Because news being received concerning your repentance my heart so rejoyceth in the midst of afflictions that I dare safely speak the confidence of my mind towards you concerning your perseverance and glory of you amongst others Vers. 5. For when wee were come into Macedonia our flesh had no rest but wee were troubled on every side without were fightings within were fears 6. Nevertheless God that comforteth those that are cast down comforted us by the comming of Titus Hee being about to explain the experiment of his good will towards them propounds his afflictions wherewith hee was pressed in Macedonia whilst hee expected news from them hee was oppressed partly by persecution of the enemies partly by the intestine evils of the Church partly by the anxiety of his mind and also with the troubles of his body that there was no rest to his outward man Against all which troubles by mercy of God consolation was sufficiently administred to him by the comming of Titus who had now returned from the Corinthians and brought joyful news concerning their state Vers. 7. And not by his comming onely but by the consolation wherewith hee was comforted in you when hee told us your earnest desire your moarning your fervent mind toward mee so that I rejoyced the more The Apostle reckoneth eight causes of his joyfulness whereof many were signs of his good will towards them 1 Because Titus was returned safe 2 Because Titus had received consolation from you Corinthians 3 Because I had heard by Titus concerning your pious affection towards mee and desire of seeing mee concerning your weeping for the wickedness committed amongst you concerning your zeal against the Incestuous person and against my back-biters from whence hath abounded joy to mee much surpassing all that grief which I have taken for that matter Vers. 8. For though I made you sorry with a Letter I do not repent though I did repent for I perceive that the same Epistle hath made you sorry though it were but for a season Before hee propounds the fourth cause of his consolation hee solves an Objection which solution did make much to the purpose They might say Thou hast made us sorrowful in the former Epistle The Answer is fourfold Answ. 1. I was compelled and not without grief have I made you sad but this grief through your repentance hath ceased For when the Apostle writ the Epistle being uncertain concerning the event hee was sad i. e. that hee saith that hee himself repented but when hee saw the event hee was freed from grief i. e. Now hee saies hee did not repent Answ. 2 That sadness which was moved by my Epistle was short Vers. 9. Now I rejoyce not that yee were made sorry but that yee sorrowed to repentance for yee were made sorry after a godly manner that yee might receive dammage by us in nothing 10. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to bee repented of but the sorrow of the world worketh death Hee answers 3. That sadness is turned into joy both to you and mee because it is found now good and profitable to repentance which hee proves because it brought forth repentance not to bee repented of otherwise than worldly sorrow is wont which onely encreaseth sin and misery and bringeth death as well to the soul as to the body Vers. 11. For behold this self-same thing that yee sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal yea what revenge in all things yee have approved your selves to bee clear in this matter Hee proveth that their sadness was after God or pious because it produced seven Effects in them even so many signs of their repentance whereof the first was the shaking off security with a carefulness to mend what was amiss 2 Is an Apology that now by no means they approve either the fact of the Incestuous person or their own negligence 3 Is an indignation against the sin both of the Incestuous person and their own in suffering him 4 Is a fear lest they should be compassed with divine justice or a new sin 5 Is a desire of taking off the scandal and satisfying all good men 6. His zeal and fervent desire in prosecuting all means for the removing of evil and repairing of the damage 7. Is his revenge in chastising the incestuous person and all their dulness in all which the Corinthians had declared their repentance and had shewed themselves no ways delighted with wickedness but that they were clear Vers. 12. Wherefore though I wrote unto you I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong nor for his cause that suffered wrong but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you The fourth answer to the objection is I have not written that Epistle either only or chiefly that in chastising of the incestuous person satisfaction might bee given to the Father with whose wife the son had committed adultery or that the incestuous person might bee corrected which truly was not to bee neglected but especially
parents if hee would glory in the Nobility of his Race hee sprung from the more Noble Israelites because from the Tribe of Benjamin Benjamin was the Son of Rachel a woman free-born but some Tribes had their original from bond-maids If they strived for the Antiquity of Religion that they remained in the Covenant as true Abrahamites here also hee was equal to any one of them Vers. 23. Are they Ministers of Christ I speak as a fool I am more in labours more abundant in stripes above measure in prisons more frequent in deaths oft Sign 3. If they had striven for the dignity of office herein modestly as one compelled hee prefers himself before them in respect of his Apostleship and office granted to him extraordinarily I am greater saies hee because I am an Apostle In labours The fourth Sign of his dignity is sincerity in the administration of his office Of this his sincerity hee produces nine Testimonies First His labours or his diligence Secondly His sufferings in general which belonged to his health and bodily liberty and the dangers of his life Vers. 24. Of the Iews five times received I forty stripes save one Thirdly Hee produces his special sufferings from the Jews that hee was whipped by them five times according to the number of stripes inflicted upon malefactors by the Law for the Jews although they are cruel yet they would seem to contain themselves within the Law Deut. 25.3 Vers. 25. Thrice was I beaten with Rods once was I stoned thrice I suffered shipwrack a night and a day I have been in the deep Fourthly His sufferings from the Gentiles bear testimony that by their Lictours or Sergeants hee was beaten thrice with clubs and whips and once stoned Fifthly That hee thrice suffered shipwrack in one whereof after hee was twenty four hours tossed by the waters in the deep Sea hee was freed by the powerful hand of God Vers. 26. In journying often in perils of waters in perils of robbers in perils by mine own Country-men in perils by the heathen in perils in the City in perils in the Wilderness in perils in the Sea in perils amongst false Brethren The Sixth Testimony of his sincerity comprehends the labours of his journying and eight kinds of dangers which hee found in sundry places and from divers kinds of men Vers. 27. In weariness and painfulness in watchings often in hunger und thirst in fastings often in cold and nakedness The seventh hath five sorts of troubles with which while hee fulfilled the work of the Ministery hee was very often exercised wherein being wearied hee was instead of rest forced to take in hand new labours Vers. 28. Besides those things which are without that which commeth upon mee daily the care of all the Churches Eighthly His unconquerable patience in daily publick businesses a solicitous mind for all the Churches of Christ. Vers. 29. Who is weak and am I not weak who is offended and I burn not The ninth Testimony of his Sincerity is his sympathy with all that are afflicted and offended by any scandal Vers. 30. If I must needs glory I will glory of the things which concern my infirmities Hee retorts the Objection of his adversaries But all these things have made thee a contemptible and miserable man Hee answers that hee purposely determined to glory in these as the things which did more commend his sincerity than the prosperous affairs of the false Apostle adorned them Vers. 31. The God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which is blessed for ever more knoweth that I lye not 32. In Damascus the Governour under Areâ—as the King kept the City with a Garison desirous to apprehâ—nd mee 33. And thorough a window in a basket was I let down by the wall and escaped his hands Lastly Because these things which hee had mentioned may seem incredible viz. that one should bee able to bear so many afflictions premising an oath touching the truth as well of those things that were said already as of those that were to bee spoken hee mentions the special danger of his life out of which there was no apparent escape unless God had kept him safe for the good of the Church and opened a way by his special providence for his escape concerning which Act. 9.23 CHAP. XII HEE proceeds in his holy glorying There are three parts of the Chapter In the first hee explains the heavenly vision presented to him together with the events of the same To vers 11. In the second hee proves that the Corinthians ought to have freed him from this necessity of glorying or defended him To vers 19. In the third hee produces the causes of his troubles Vers. 1. It is not expedient for mee doubtless to glory I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. The Preface being Premised that hee doth not glory for his own sake because that was not expedient for him For this is here somewhat emphatical for mee but for the Corinthians and the Churches sake whom it concerned to preserve the authority of the Apostle intire hee commeth to extraordinary revelations one of which hee begins historically to declare Vers. 2. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago whether in the body I cannot tell or whether out of the body I cannot tell God knoweth such an one caught up to the third heaven I knew a man Hee discovers the excellency of this revelation and his modesty by nine Arguments Argum. 1. That hee scarcely dare publish his name in this business but lest hee may seem to arrogate much to himself hee is compelled to speak of himself in a third person In Christ Argum. 2. That although this revelation may seem to extol him above the common condition of men yet hee doth not affect any other excellence than to bee in Christ or in the number of Beleevers who have renounced themselves that they may glory in Christ alone Fourteen Argum. 3. That silently with himself hee had suppressed the mention of this glorious revelation whole fourteen years never intending to recite it unless hee was compelled by the importunity of his Emulators who endeavoured to diminish his Apostolical authority to the damage of the Gospel and the Church Caught up Argum. 4. That hee was caught up to the upper heaven above all the Stars to the place of the blessed Spirits where God chiefly manifests his glory Whether in the body Argum. 5. That hee is ignorant whether hee was caught up by the local translation of his body into Heaven or whether his soul extraordinarily was separated for that time and lifted up into Heaven concerning the other notwithstanding I am certain Vers. 3. And I knew such a man whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell God knoweth 4. Hee was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter Into Paradise Argum. 6. That hee certainly knew the matter done and that hee was caught up
you a fuller knowledge that yee may bee more stedfast in faith till at length in a perfect happiness with all other beleevers yee may by experience fully know and comprehend this love of God Therefore hold on and proceed daily in the obedience of faith Vers. 19. And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that yee might bee filled with all the fulness of God Argum. 9. So great is Gods love towards you in Christ and so great is Christs love towards all his and towards you that it can never bee known enough for it surmounts the understanding of both men and Angels and of this I wish you a more full knowledge that yee may persevere stedfast in the Faith That yee might bee filled Argum. 10. All the fulness of God which sufficeth to fill you and fully to perfect salvation is opened and communicated to you in the Gospel that yee might bee more and more united to God in Christ by Faith might more and more partake of holiness or the divine Nature and might become more and more blessed by a more abundant in-dwelling of Christ till at length yee bee filled with it in the world to come in which God will bee all in all to your compleat holiness and happiness which I continually beg of God for Therefore c. Vers. 20. Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly above all that wee ask or think according to the power that worketh in us Hee concludes his prayer with a thanksgiving adding Argum. 11. God is both able to give more than wee ask yea and abundantly more than wee can ask or desire and also so good and free that hee wills what hee can do yea hee hath already exercised both his power and his good will in converting us and also in preserving us Therefore you should bee encouraged to a stedfast continuance in Faith Vers. 21. Unto him bee glory in the Church by Christ Iesus throughout all ages world without end Amen Argum. 12. The everlasting praise of the effectual good will and power of God to the perfecting of Beleevers salvation by Christ shall bee for ever celebrated in the Church And you are bound to subscribe and say AMEN with mee unto this Truth Therefore you should continue and make progress in Faith glorifying God unto the end Some of these Arguments prove that the Saints perseverance is sure and certainly established CHAP. IV. NOw follows the second part of this Epistle wherein hee gives several Precepts touching holiness of life and manners There are two parts of this Chapter in the first hee joyntly exhorts all to the study of Christian Peace and unity in the Church to vers 17. In the other hee gives Precepts to every one severally touching the ordering and leading of their lives holily to the end Vers. 1. I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that yee walk worthy of the vocation wherewith yee are called 2. With all lowliness and meekness with long-suffering forbearing one another in love 3. Endeavouring to keep the union of the Spirit in the bond of Peace As for the first having begun with a grave entreaty and a general exhortation to a holy conversation which indifferently concerns all things that follow viz. that they should bee holy as God who called them was holy vers 1. Hee descends to a particular exhortation unto the study of peace and unity laying down seven special virtues which are necessarily required to preserve the unity of the Church that so concord might abound in all its members The 1 is Humility to which pride is opposite 2 Gentleness to which cruelty is oppâ—site 3 Quietness of mind or easiness to bee pleased to which is opposed rashness or a readiness to bee angry 4 Forbearance to which revenge is opposed 5 Charity whence hee would have the rise of all other virtues especially forbearance to which is opposed hatred of ones neighbour and self-love and without these virtues it is not possible to maintain the unity of the Church vers 2. The 6 Virtue is the unity of the Spirit in the Faith and in its opinions touching things belonging to Religion 7 Peace or external concord and if these precede both the spiritual and external unity of the Church will bee easily preserved it being one and the same labour to keep it and these virtues Vers. 4. There is one body and one Spirit even as yee are called in one hope of your calling The Arguments for this exhortation are fifteen Argum. 1. The Church is one body made up of divers members Therefore you should study the Churches unity and concord One Spirit Argum. 2. The Holy Spirit is one by whom the whole body is quickened and governed Therefore c. One Hope Argum. 3. All are called to one hope of their calling that is to the same eternal happiness Therefore c. Vers. 5. One Lord one Faith one Baptisme Argum. 4. There is one Lord of us all even Christ whom wee are all bound to obey and who should not bee divided in his members Therefore c. One Faith Argum. 5. There is one Faith or one Doctrine which is to bee beleeved and such also is that saving gift of Grace viz. justifying Faith by which wee beleeve Therefore the unity of Beleevers should bee preserved Baptisme Argum. 6. There is one Baptisme both in respect of the sign and the thing signified confirming us all in the fellowship of one mystical body Vers. 6 One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Argum. 7. Wee have all one God who requires that those that worship him should bee unanimous and wee have all one Father whose will is that his Sons should bee linked together in a brotherly love who in excellency infinitely surmounts all who in his providence sustains and governs all and who in a special manner by Grace dwells in all the Elect Therefore you ought diligently to practize concord among your selves Vers. 7. But unto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Argum. 8. How different soever our gifts are yet the unity of the Church should not therefore be â— broken but rather maintained because Grace is given to every one according to the measure of the gift which Christ thought fit to bee given Therefore c. Vers. 8. Wherefore hee said when hee ascended up on high hee led captivity captive giving gifts unto men Hee confirms this Argument touching gifts and the different measure of them from the testimony of Psal. 68. where there is a Prophecy first of Christs Ascension then of his Triumphing over his enemies the Devil Death and Sin and lastly of his bestowing gifts for the use of the Church Vers. 9. Now that hee ascended what is it but that hee also descended first into the lower parts of the earth From this Prophecie of Christs Ascension the Apostle proves that wee must first necessarily presuppose
God is a Mediatour by whom God would have expiation for sin made his life being laid down upon the Cross and expiation being made by his death hee would that reconciliation and a renewing of friendship betwixt God and them should bee made that are the members of the Church no less betwixt God and those members which are in the Earth than betwixt God and those that are in Heaven yea hee would have reconciliation made in himself or by the intuition of his glory amongst the heavenly Angels and earthly men amongst whom by reason of sin there is a natural disagreeing Lastly Hee would have the Elect Angels to bee confirmed whose various and changeable nature is already demonstrated by the fall of wicked Angels and that by a gathering of them together to himself For the Angels are added to Christ as a surplusage in the Covenant of Redemption for the use of his body that is the Church that they might bee ministring spirits for the use of the redeemed ones All which as they did confirm the solidity and certainty of Redemption so the Faith of the Colossians very much in Christ and ought also to confirm ours Vers. 21. And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works yet now hath hee reconciled 22. In the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight The 5. Reason of his thanksgiving is the grace of reconciliation made with the Colossians by name Hee amplifies this benefit by nine Arguments 1 Hee saith that you were sometimes alienated from God strangers from the Common-wealth of Israel and the life of God 2 Yee were not onely born strangers but were made more and more strangers by the custome of sinning 3 Neither this onely but yee were enemies and with an hostile mind did both disdain and speak against God 4 That you were enemies not only in your sensitive appetite and your affections but also in your mind which should bee the most excellentest faculty the Mistress and Captain of all the rest 5 That yee have expressed the enmities conceived in your mind by wicked works 6 That nevertheless Christ now hath reconciled you 7 That hee hath obtained reconciliation in taking upon him in the body of his flesh the humane nature like to us in all things sin onely excepted 8 That by his death hee hath paid the price of your Redemption and Reconciliation 9 That Christ hath determined with himself that at length you should remain holy in his sight and the sight of God without any spot of sin and misery viz. to the day of his comming all which did chiefly make for the upholding of their Faith Vers. 23. If yee continue in the faith grounded and settled and bee not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which yee have heard and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven whereof I Paul am made a Minister The fourth manner of confirming the Colossians faith follows by an exhortation to perseverance in the faith of the Gospel to which hee passeth giving a caution for this end that hee might suspend the benefit commonly applied to them given as it were the Characteristical note of them to whom the benefit of reconciliation belongs viz. That they who have right to these benefits may remain in the faith of Christ upon which the other degrees of perseverance depend The Arguments of the Exhortation are chiefly three If Argum. 1. It is contained in the condition of perseverance Your constancy in the faith of Christ and hope of the Gospel is a sign not onely of your reconciliation made through Christ but also of your holiness and salvation to bee perfected by him Therefore persevere yee In the mean while three things are required to their perseverance 1 That they bee grounded in the faith that is that they lay hold upon the foundations of faith solidly laid in the truth goodness and power of God 2 That they bee settled i. e. Now they are grounded in Christ they may fixedly abide may adhere to Christ and bee joyned to this truth 3 That they resist all temptations with which they may by any manner bee moved from the hope of eternal life or the good things promised in the Gospel The force of this Argument is you shall not possess the good things fore-spoken of except you have persevered in the faith Therefore persevere yee Preached Argum. 2. Of his exhortation to perseverance The Gospel which you have heard from Epaphras your Pastor is the same with the Gospel preached by the other servants of God to every creature through the whole world or all kindes of men Jews and Gentiles without difference Therefore abide you founded and settled in the same faith Whereof Argum. 3. I Paul my self am made a Minister to preach this Gospel to the Gentiles with great approbation from God and his blessing poured upon all that are faithful amongst the Gentiles Therefore persevere yee in that faith Vers. 24. Who now rejoyce in my sufferings for you and fill up that which is behinde of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his bodies sake which is the Church Hee insists in this Argument and commendeth his Ministry to them by fourteen Arguments all which confirm his glorious Ministry Argum. 1. I Paul in the administration of this Gospel do bear afflictions with joy Therefore my Ministry is glorious Argum. 2. I bare those afflictions for the sake of you Colossians or for your confirmation in the faith Therefore my Ministry is glorious amongst you Argum. 3. Seeing that after the personal sufferings of Christ for our redemption the suffering of the Martyrs remain for a testimony of the truth of Christs doctrine I Paul in some part do so fill up the appointed measure of those afflictions that I am prepared to seal this my Ministry even with my death Therefore this my Ministry is glorious Argum. 4. I suffer these afflictions for Christs honour and his whole Churches edification viz. That his mystical body may bee knit together in faith Therefore my Ministry is glorious All these make to the taking away the offence of the Cross incumbent upon the Apostle Vers. 25. Wherefore I am made a Minister according to the dispensation of God which is given to mee for you to fulfil the word of God Argum. 5. I am appointed a Minister of the Catholick Church and am made an Apostle of the Gentiles both by special authority and divine dispensation Therefore is my Ministry glorious To fulfil Arg. 6. I am constituted an Apostle especially for this end that fully manifesting the Gospel amongst the Gentiles I might fulfil by my Ministry not onely my Office but also the Decree of God and the Prophecies concerning the calling of the Gentiles and the grace of Christ which was to come unto them Therefore this my Ministry is glorious Vers. 26. Even the Mystery that hath been bid from ages and from
decrees and precepts of men as if as yet after the manner of children under Rudiments yee were obnoxious to such sort of Elements The force of this first Argument consisteth in these five things 1 Christ hath fulfilled that which was prefigured by Moses his ceremonies and by his death hath abrogated those typical ceremonies and that shadowy manner of teaching the Church and worshipping God so that the legal Covenant cannot exact any thing more from him than that which was paid and perfected in his death 2 Christ dying all in Covenant are dead judicially with him whose person Christ hath born Therefore the legal Covenant could exact nothing more from them for whose sake Christ dyed than the Laws of men required of those that are dead For all in him are reckoned as dead 3 All ceremonial Precepts in respect of the authority commanding were divine and heavenly untill Christ But now abolished through Christ they cease to bee divine and begin to bee humane elements or rudiments worldly and carnal not so much in respect to the things commanded as to the mundane authority commanding them 4 So long as the Colossians were not converted to Christ but did live in the world as worldlings free from righteousness so they were slaves to devils and men obnoxious to all manner of servitude and to all kinde of evil 5 But now after they were one body with Christ they were made free by faith and also were set at liberty from all evill neither ought they to submit themselves to any yoak unless to that which Christ would have them subjugated and consequently they ought not to bee subject in the business of Religion to the opinions and traditions of men Vers. 21. Touch not taste not handle not Argum. 2. Because those your superstitious commanders and authors of humane decrees by their precise prohibition of things left at liberty do also discover their tyranny and intolerable hypocrisie in the rigid exaction of their commands such as hee recites with some indignation Taste not touch not and the like in which they were not only willing to continue the Levitical Law contrary to the will of God but also to superadde their rigid exactions of the Law which was abolished Therefore do not yee subject your selves to them Vers. 22. Which all are to perish with the using after the commandements and doctrines of men Argum. 3. Because these corporeal things instituted by God to use that at length in using they might bee consumed and perish c. Therefore it is unjust to prohibit their use under the pretence of Religion Therefore do not yee subject your selves to these commands Of men Argum. 4. Because decrees of this sort are not the commands of God but the commands of men according to which God hath declared that he will not bee worshipped Therefore do not yee admit them Vers. 23. Which things have indeed a shew of wisdome in will-worship and humility and neglecting of the body not in honour to the satisfying of the flesh Argum. 5. With the confutation of an Objection because although these observations have a shew of wisdome as part of a voluntary and not compelled worship as exercises of humility towards Angels as of obedience towards the Governours of the Church as somewhat conducing to the mortification of flesh yet in very deed they have onely a meer shew of wisdome and are of no value or esteem before God Lastly so much as they seem to detract from the body so much they adde to the satisfaction of the flesh or corrupt nature which alwayes most earnestly desires in its forgeries about Religion to satisfie itself CHAP. III. THe second part of the Epistle is concerning the endeavours after a Christian life There are two parts of the Chapter In the first are contained general Exhortations pertaining to true piety and holiness of life to Vers. 18. In the other are special Exhortations which belong to certain and particular conditions of men to the end Vers. 1. If yee then bee risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God The general Exhortations are Nine 1 Is to the study of heavenly things that they no longer spend their endeavours and labours in seeking earthly pleasures honours and riches but that they seek Christian vertues and those that pertain to eternal life If yee bee risen The Arguments of the Exhortation are six all which prove that wee ought to study heavenly things 1 In Baptism yee have taken upon yee a resemblance of the resurrection or of pursuing a new and spiritual life and ingrafted by Faith into Christ yee have communion with Christ rising who for the sake of his own as a surety hath risen to spiritual life and hath undertaken to raise Beleevers by the virtue of his resurrection communicated to them Therefore yee ought to indeavour after heavenly things Where Christ Argum. 2. Above i. e. in Heaven Christ as to the local presence of his body is our head and the fountain of all our felicity Therefore that yee may injoy him yee ought to seek things above The right hand Argum. 3. Christ sitteth at the right hand of God by which as man hee hath gotten the highest advancement and a name above every name that he may grant to us all things above Therefore things above are to bee sought by you Vers. 2. Set your affections above not on things on the earth Hee amplifies this Exhortation commanding that they savour heavenly things i. e. that they study to know esteem care for effect and with earnestness pursue those things which pertain to an heavenly life and not those things that pertain to this terrestrial life which although they may be lawful and necessary yet they are to bee looked after by the by onely Vers. 3. For yee are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God Argum. 4. Yee by Faith in Baptism are partakers of the death of Christ and are obliged by the virtue of his death to dye to the world and sin yea yee are dead to them or in respect of them viz. after a judicial and spiritual manner savour not any more those earthly things or serve them Therefore yee ought to savour and follow things above heavenly and not earthly things And your life Argum. 5. Although your life i. e. your Adoption your Righteousness your Inheritance your full Sanctification and Glorification is hid to the world yea to you your selves for the most part for now you receive them onely by Faith and a little possession of first fruits yet it is preserved in Heaven in its causes with Christ hid in God Therefore yee ought to savour and seek those things which pertain to life eternal Vers. 4. When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall yee also appear with him in glory Arg. 6. By answering an Objection arising from the former Argument although your life is now hid yet fully and openly it shall bee
to a right knowledge and profession of the truth For the Apostle doth not declare any thing concerning the total loss of faith in Christ but on the contrary hopes for their repentance and their possible salvation hereafter CHAP II. IN this Chapter hee delivers four Precepts wherein all the faithful are to bee instructed how they ought decently to behave themselves in their publick Assemblies both men and women Vers. 1. I exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks bee made for all men Precept 1. That prayers in the publick Assembly especially might not bee neglected but that supplications ought to bee made for the turning of evils away and prayers for the obtaining of good things intercessions for other men and thanksgiving for benefits received in publick prayers which the whole Church the Pastor going before ought to conceive and that for all sorts of men bee they of what condition they will Vers. 2. For Kings and for all that are in authority that wee may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty Hee expounds the special Precept and in particular commands them to pray for Kings and all Magistrates in great places who because they sit at the helm of the Commonwealth ought to bee most dear to us and upon that account ought they to bee mentioned by us in the prayers of the Church Peaceable The Reasons of the Precept are nine Reas. 1. From the profitable end because the Magistrates being safe and managing their offices in peace the faithful may lead a quiet and peaceable life In godliness or obedience to the first Table And honesty or obedience to the second Table Therefore must wee pray for them Vers. 3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour Reas. 2. To pray for Kings and all orders of men is good or acceptable unto God Therefore ought wee to pray for them God is said to bee our Saviour because although Christ is our Saviour by special office yet in the effecting and execution of his office hee doth not actually save us but with the Father and the Holy Spirit Vers. 4. Who will have all men to bee saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth Reas. 3. Confirming the former God will have all sorts of men therefore some amongst Kings and Magistrates and all orders of men to bee saved and come to the Faith of the Gospel Therefore hee wills that wee pray for all sorts or men and by name for Kings and those in authority concerning whom wee are obliged to hope well Vers. 5. For there is one God and one Mediatour between God and men the man Christ Iesus Reas. 4. Although men are distinguished several waies amongst themselves and there are divers orders whereof many are strangers to the Faith and many enemies yet it is enough to engage our prayers for all because God is one under whose power and dominion all are comprehended and that God is the God of the Jews as well as the Gentiles without acception of persons Therefore ought wee to pray for all sorts of men And one Mediatour Reas. 5. What ever distances there are amongst men by which they may bee distinguished from each others it is enough notwithstanding to ingage us to pray for all because to all Nations and all conditions of men there is one Mediatour appointed betwixt God and men by whom an access is open to all that come unto him Therefore ought wee to pray for all The man Reas. 6. Wee have reason to pray for all men inasmuch as that One Mediatour of all men is Man By the incarnation of the Word by the common bond of humane nature hee is united to all mâ—n viz. Jesus Christ who intercedes for all i. e. for his sheep collected out of all sorts of men Therefore wee ought to pray for all Vers. 6. Who gave himself a ransome for all to bee testified in due time Reas. 7. Christ gave himself a full and sufficient price of Redemption for men of all kinds Therefore ought wee to pray for all sorts of men A Testimony Reas. 8. The Gospel or Testimony of Christs redeeming all sorts of men which God had designed in due time to reveal is now made manifest Therefore in making prayers for all men the testimony of this truth is to bee produced in Christian Churches Vers. 7. Whereunto I am ordained a Preacher and an Apostle I speak the truth in Christ and lye noâ— a Teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity Reas. 9. The preaching of this Testimony or Gospel and the Doctrine of the price of Redemption paid for all sorts of men by Christ is in special manner committed unto mee that I might bee also a Teacher of the Gentiles to instruct them in the Faith and all Truth which leads to eternal life seeing therefore I know that many of the Gentiles are to bee saved and now I publickly teach you this prayers ought publickly to bee made in all Christian Churches for all sorts of men In the mean time because hee knew that some amongst the Jews would take ill the mentioning of his Apostleship and his embassage to the Gentiles hee confirms that expression of his being senâ— to the Gentiles with a grave asseveration lest any one should doubt Vers. 8. I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting Those things that follow belong to the circumstances of publick worship Therefore the second Precept follows touching persons fit for conceiving publick prayers in the Church Also concerning the place and dispositions both of the soul and body accommodated to that matter As for the persons Hee commands the men onely not women to speak in the Church and to precede the people in their prayers In every place As to the place hee shews according to that prediction of Christ Ioh. 4. that all difference of places which was in the Old Testament when they were thrice a year to meet at the Temple in Ierusalem and their face was to bee turned to the Sanctuary whether they were near or afar off from the Temple is taken away and that now liberty is granted that Christians in every place may honestly and decently celebrate their Assemblies Lifting up As to the body hee requires that the gesture should bee such as may testifie reverence to the divine Majesty and may enkindle our devotion which kind of gesture is the lifting up of the hands whether they bee spread abroad or closed together Purely As for the whole man and chiefly the soul hee requires first Integrity and innocency of life which hâ—e means by purity of hands 2 That wrath bee laid aside strifes and all evil affections that they all bee of one accord 3 That they make no doubt whether God will hear or grant those things which wee who come to him by Jesus Christ ask of him according to his revealed will Vers. 9. In like
presence of God whilst others fiercely strive amongst themselves only because they are ashamed to bee overcome or to bee accounted unlearned Lastly imploying himself in preaching not in mincing of words whilest the substance is neglected but in a prudent dividing and distribution of their plain meaning and applying them to the advantage of the hearers in faith and obedience to the truth Vers. 16. But shun prophane and vain bablings for they will increase unto more ungodliness Branch 3. That hee decline the lofty and sophistical manner of speech new unusual and prophane phrases Hee subjoyns three Reasons of this Branch Prophane Reas. 1. Because as those insolent speeches proceed from the prophaneness and impiety of the mind so they foster and increase ungodliness in others Vers. 17. And their word will eat as doth a canker of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus R. 2. Because the manner of teaching and the Doctrine of Sophisters will eat up the Church as a Gangrene consumes the body which as Physicians teach unless it bee very suddenly cured it invades the contiguous parts seizes upon the very bones and till the man is extinct it proceeds without ceasing Vers. 18. Who concerning the truth have erred saying That the Resurrection is past already and overthrow the Faith of some R. 3. Because experience hath demonstrated this evil in the persons of two Hereticks whom he names to their disgrace that they may be avoided as Rocks Who onely acknowledge an Allegorical Resurrection erring from the Doctrine of Truth overthrow the Faith of some and while they insinuated their perverse opinion into others gave occasion to some not well setled in the Faith to renounce the profession of the Christian Religion Vers. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal the Lord knoweth them that are his and let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity Admonition 3. Of holding fast the Doctrine of perseverance of true Beleevers although the Faith of some was overthrown which admonition is propounded by way of consolation and confirmation of Faith against the scandal of Apostates especially of the famous Doctors whose levity and perfidiousness ought indeed to stir up all to watchfulness but it ought not in any wise to weaken the assurance of Faith in the Saints The Doctrine to bee maintained by Timothy in this Although the Faith of some bee overthrown yet the building of the salvation of the Elect or true Beleevers abides firm or The perseverance of the Saints is certain This hee proves by six Arguments Sure Argum. 1. By way of comparison from a building The building of the Faith and salvation of the Elect hath a sure foundation laid by God which stands unmoveable and this it is The free Election of God the constancy and stability whereof hee compares to a foundation laid upon a Rock Therefore the perseverance of the Saints is certain Seal Argum. 2. By way of comparison from a Seal to this sense The salvation of the Elect is kept in the secret custody of God as with a signet so that though it appear not to the world who they are that are elected yet it is certain that they were not of us or the number of true Beleevers who went out from us that truly beleeved or revolted from our society Therefore the perseverance of the Saints is certain Knows Argum. 3. Those are known unto God who in a special manner are his or belong to him as his peculiar ones hee knows them and their names and number and embraceth them with his special favour that hee will not suffer them to bee pulled from him To know them as his own is to acquiesce in them by his special love as his peculiar ones Therefore the perseverance of the Saints is certain Seal Argum. 4. As another seal God hath given this Precept to bee read of all men which hee makes effectual in all his Elect Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity i. e. Let him hold fast the Faith with the profession of Iesus Christ let him also depart from the waies of sin by repentance and holiness of life Therefore the Saints those whom God hath sealed for his own as it were with this Seal and in whom hee works effectual obedience to this Precept they shall not perish in their Apostacy but persevere and end their lives in the Faith and Obedience of Christ. Vers. 20. But in a great house there are not onely Vessels of Gold and of Silver but also of Wood and of Earth and some to Honour and some to Dishonour Argum. 5. As in a well-furnished and great house there are some vessels more precious for decent uses some baser vessels for dishonourable uses so in the Church some are reprobate who onely lye in their filthiness by whom the Church is corrupted they shall depart from the Church by Apostacy Some are elected and sanctified of God who shall persevere in the Faith and Obedience of Christ to the glory of God and their own commendation Therefore the perseverance of the Saints is certain Vers. 21. If a man therefore purge himself from these hee shall bee a vessel unto honour sanctified and meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every good work Argum. 6. It is not onely certain that the Elect shall persevere but it is also to bee affirmed that they may bee assured of their election and perseverance For if any one by the Grace of God shall endeavour to purge himself from the manners of Hypocrites and the defilements of sinners with which the vessels designed to shame are filled hee shall openly manifest to himself and others that hee is of the number of those precious vessels prepared to sanctification and glory Therefore the perseverance of the Saints is certain Vers. 22. Flee also youthful lusts but follow Righteousness Faith Charity Peace with them that call on the Lord with a pure heart Admonition 4. To moderation of mind and to avoid all youthly affections and whatsoever may stir up contentions or provoke the minds of others There are three branches of the Admonition 1 That hee avoid all youthful lusts or affections not onely pleasures but also headiness contention pride desire of vain-glory and the like evil affections which young men use to bee infected with who have taken upon them the office of teaching or disputing Follow 2 That on the other side hee follow 1 Righteousness which offends none 2 Faith which without disputation receives chearfully the mysteries revealed from God 3 Charity which is not envious not puffed up is not ambitious seeks not her own but even those things which conduce to the good of others 4 Peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart i. e. with the true worshipers of God Vers. 23. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid knowing that they do gender strifes 3 That hee shun Questions by which no man comes to true wisdome and Christian edification The
earthly affections mortified 3. Their encouragement and cause of joy was the sensible feeling within themselves of the comfort of eternal Riches in Heaven keeping for them Then 1. It is the assurance of our heavenly inheritance which must make us ready to quit our earthly moveables 2. Who so getteth a heart to quit any thing on earth for Christ shall have better in heaven than he can lose here 3. GOD useth to give earnest of what he is to give in sensible feeling of spiritual Riches to such as believe in him 4. When men can esteem of things heavenly as they are that is enduring goods and of things earthly as they are that is perishing moveables then shall they readily quit the earthly in hope of the heavenly Vers. 35. Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward Now he exhorteth them to go on in this â—old avowing of Christ For this Confidence in the Original is such as hath with it a full and free profession of all their faith Then confidence and bold avowing of the truth is required A plain and full testimony must we give to Christs truth our confidence in profession is in part casten when our testimony is sparing 2. The encouragement he giveth is The hope of a reward Then 1. Constancy in avowing of Christ shall be well rewarded although not of deserving yet of Gods grace 2. He that quiteth his profession renounceth the reward promised to the constant Quest. But doth not this exhortation import the elects unsettledness and uncertainty of perseverance I answer Not but onely his weakness of himself and need of such exhortations to further his constancy 2. The danger of dishonoring God in some particular slip or fall is ground sufficient for this exhortation and this is the most of necessity it can import 3. Exhortation being given to the common Body of the visible professors teacheth them properly and not the elect formally Vers. 36. For ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise He giveth a reason Because they have need of patience therefore they must not cast away their confidence Then 1. The reward will not be given till a time intervene 2. And troubles will lie on in the mean while to make the time seem the longer 3. Patience is needful as a mean to fit us to attend 4. Confidence of the truth must support our patience 2. The time of their Patience he setteth as long as God thinketh good to employ them and after that the reward cometh Then 1. The time of patience is as long as God hath any thing to do with us in this world 2. Patience must not be joyned with idleness but with active obedience of Gods will as he requireth it 3. After that employment is ended the promised reward is given Vers. 37. For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry He encourageth them to Patience by promise of the Lords coming to relieve them shortly Then 1. The tearm of patience is until the Lord come to deliver 2. The patient attender on his coming shall not be disappointed For he will come and will not tarry beyond the due time of our necessity 3. It should strengthen us unto Patience that the time is short and the delivery certain Vers. 8. Now the just shall live by Faith but if any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him How shall they send in the mean time He answereth from Habak 2.4 The just shall live by Faith That is The man who will be found righteous must not look to present sense but sustain his soul with the word of Promise Then 1. In the midst of troubles and Gods felt absence Faith will content it self with the onely promises of GOD. 2. Looking to Gods word by faith is able to keep a soul in life and patience 2. He threatneth the misbelieving Apostate that chuseth to draw back and not live by faith The words of the Prophet are He whose soul is lifted up in him is not upright The Apostle betaketh him to the meaning which being compared with the Prophets words doth teach us 1. That he who refuseth to live by faith is lifted up with the false confidence of some other thing than God He hath some strong hold within himself wherein he doth trust 2. He that lifteth up himself in his vain confidence will draw back from beleeving in Gods word in the time of tryal 3. Hee that draweth back in the time of tryal bewrayeth the want of this sincerity 4. A back-slider from the profession of the Truth is loathsome both to God and to his Saints Vers. 39. But wee are not of them who draw back unto perdition but of them that beleeve to the saving of the soul. Hee mitigateth the threatning lest hee should seem to suspect them of inconstancy Then 1. Such Threatnings and Exhortations as have been given here do not import the uncertainty of their perseverance who are threatned but standeth with the assurance of the contrary 2. Hee who threatneth should be as wary to weaken his hearers Faith as his own 3. Hearers must understand that the right use of threatning is to rowse men out of security and not to discourage them 2. Wee are not of them saith hee who draw back unto perdition Then 1. They who draw back from constant avowing of the Faith draw near unto perdition Hee that forsaketh the Cross runneth himself on the Rock of his own destruction which is worse 2. The Elect are not of that kind or sort of men who fall into Apostasie unto perdition They may fall for a time but are not of them that draw back unto perdition 3. Wee are of them saith hee who beleeve to the salvation of the soul. Then 1. True Beleevers are of that kind of whom all do persevere 2. Persevering in the Faith is going on to Salvation The Summe of Chap. XI NOw that you may know the better how to live by Faith consider that Faith apprehendeth things to come as present and subsisting by holding them in their original Fountain which is the word of Promise and beholding in the Mirrour of the Word the clear certainty of things as yet not seen to sense vers 1. For so were the Elect Beholders and Partakers of Christ before hee came and were justified vers 2. And so have wee certainty of the Creation of the World of nothing vers 3. By it was Abels person and sacrifice accepted and preferred before his elder Brother vers 4. By it was Enoch made ready for Heaven vers 5 6. And Noah by it saved both in body and soul vers 7. Faith made Abraham leave his Country in hope of Heaven vers 8 9 10. By it Sarah being old got strength above the course of Nature to become a fruitful Mother vers 11 12. All these unto their dying day were contented with the fore-sight of
that is from the Doctrine of Grace in begun Knowledge Faith Love Renovation or any measure thereof Then 1. Albeit the Elect cannot fall away fully and finally yet some Professors in the visible Church may fall away from their Profession and what degrees of Grace they had attained unto for whose cause warning must be given to all as a mean to keep the Elect from a fall 2. Albeit the Elect cannot fall away finally from Grace yet may they fall for a time from the purity of the Doctrine of Grace and from some degrees of the work of Grace from the measure of their first love and zeal and at length fall into scandalous sins He joyneth another point of advertisement with the former That they beware lest any bitter root break forth whereby many be defiled that is left any scandalous sin break forth amongst them Then 1. As men do fall from any measure of the work of Grace so doth the bitter root of unmortified sin spring out and grow The ones decreasing is the others encreasing 2. When any scandal breaketh forth in the Church it troubleth the whole body and polluteth them by the contagion thereof till it be removed 3. Watch must be kept diligently by every man â—o curb this bitter root preventing the out-shooting thereof Vers. 16. Lest there be any fornicator or prophane person as Esau who for one morsel of meat sold his birth-right He expoundeth this bitter root in the example of fornication and prophanity like Esaus Then 1. Fornication and prophanity are the bitter roots of other evils and able to defile a Congregation 2. Such as count more of the satisfaction of their sensual lusts than of their spiritual Prerogatives do prove themselves prophane persons and are justly ranked in with Esau. Vers. 17. For ye know how that afterwards when he would have inherited the blessing he was rejected for he found no place of repentance though he sought it carefully with tears He sheweth Gods judgement on Esau to terrifie all men to hazard upon the sinful satisfaction of their own lusts at any time Then 1. Esaus judgement should be a terrour to all men to keep them from presuming deliberately to commit that sin which they know may cut them off from the Blessing because sundry times albeit not always God doth punish presumptuous sinners with giving over the man to his own ways and final impenitency 2. Esaus example sheweth how justly they may be deprived of the Blessing annexed to any Sacred Symbole or gracious Mean who do despise the mean whereby the Blessing is conveyed For the Birth-right amongst the Patriarchs was a pawn of the Blessing of being an Heir of Promise and therefore was Esau counted to reject the Blessing when he counted light of the Birth-right 3. His example sheweth how little sinners consider for the present what Merchandize they are making with Satan when they meddle with known sins and how they will be made to know it afterwards 2. He saith that afterwards he would have inherited the Blessing but was rejected Then It agreeth with the prophane mans disposition to desire the Blessing and yet despise the means whereby the Blessing is gotten â—o satisfie his fleshly lusts for the present and to desire the Blessing withall afterwards But God will neither sever the means from the Blessing nor joyn the Blessing with the satisfaction of mens lusts Therefore he who will have the Blessing must use the means to obtain the same and renounce the satisfaction of his sinful lusts or else be rejected when he thinketh to get the Blessing 3. He saith He found no place of repentance albeit he sought the blessing with tears That is he could not obtain that his father should repent the bestowing of the blessing beside him nor that God should repent his righteous judgement on him For repentance here is recalling the sentence given out And why Because he for all his tears and untimeous seeking of his sold blessing repented not himself of his sin for he continued as prophane as before and resolved to murther his brother as soon as he found opportunity Then 1. Esau did rue his deed but repented not his sin It is one thing to rue a deed done and another thing to repent the sin in doing of the deed and every known sin for that sins cause 2. Tears may follow upon ruing as well as on repenting and it is possible that the loss or harm procured by sin may draw forth the tear and not the sorrow for the offending of GOD by the sin 3. Esau here is not brought in dealing with God for pardon of sin and the heavenly inheritance but with the man who had the ministry of dispensing the earthly blessing onely We read then that a blessing was sought carefully from a man with tears and not obtained but we read not that Gods Mercy and Blessing was ever sought from himself carefully and not obtained Vers 18. For ye are not come unto the Mount that might be touched and that burned with fire not unto blackness and darkness and tempest Beside the example of Esau's judgement here is another reason to move us who are under the Gospel to beware of licentiousness and prophanity because we are delivered from the terrour of the Law ver 18 19 20 21. and brought by the Gospel to the society of so holy a company as beseemeth no prophane man to enjoy vers 22 23 24. The sum tendeth unto this You are not under the Law but under Grace Instead of saying whereof he saith You are not come unto Mount Sinai but unto Mount Sion For the LORDS manner of dealing with the people at Mount Sinai represented the state of men in nature under the Law liable to the Curse His manner of dealing with them at Mount Sion represented the state of men reconciled through Christ and under Grace Let us take a view of both as the Apostle setteth them before our eyes And first how the state of man unreconciled in Nature and under the Law and Curse thereof was represented 1. Before we come to Christ we have to do with God as a terrible Judge sitting on the Throne of his Justice shadowed forth by Mount Sinai 2. Our Judge is offended with us his wrath is kindled ready to consume us as his adversaries in our transgressions represented by the burning of the Mount 3. When God beginneth to shew himself as our Judge offended with us we are filled with confusion and perplexity and fire represented by Blackness and Darkness and Tempest Vers. 19. And the sound of a Trumpet and the voyce of Words Which Voyce they that heard entreated that the Word should not be spoken to them any more 20. For they could not endure that which was commanded And if so much as a Beast touch the Mountain it shall be stoned or thrust thorow with a dart What further 4. There is no flying from compearance before our Judge Summons and Citations go forth from
this was prefigured in the Law For Levit. 16.27 The Sin-offering was burnt and none of the Priests the servants of the Tabernacle did eat thereof To shew 1. That such as adhered to the Tabernacle and Levitical Service as needful to their salvation specially after Christ the Sin-offering that was offered should not be partakers of him Again Sin-offering was offered without the camp to shew That such as would be partakers thereof must forsake the Iewish Synagogue and come out of it towards Christ who will not have his Church mixed with the forms of the Iewish Church Thirdly the Bodies of the Sacrifices of sin were then taken from the use of the Priests of the Tabernacle when the blood was now brought into the Sanctuary To shew that Christ should be taken from them who after his blood was shed and had made Attonement within the Sanctuary of Heaven should not relinquish the Iewish Tabernacle and the shadowing Figures thereof Vers. 12. Wherefore Iesus also that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the gate Another end of the burning of the Sin-offering without the Camp he sheweth first To be the prefiguration of the ignominious usage of Christs Body cast out of the City of Ierusalem 2. Again Like as the Sin-offering howbeit the body thereof was burnt without the Camp yet the blood of it was brought within the Sanctuary to make a Figurative Attonement Even so how basely soever men did use Christs Body in casting of it without the City yet was his Blood in high estimation with God made Attonement for the people and sanctified them Vers. 13. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the Camp bearing his reproach Hence he draweth an Exhortation To be ready to renounce the world and to take up our Cross and follow Christ. Wherein he teacheth us 1. That Christs sufferings without the City represented the state of his mystical Body and Kingdom thrust forth and contemptibly rejected of the World 2. That such as will be partakers of Christ must resolve to be so handled also and must sequestrate their affections from the World and must be contented to be crucified unto the World with our Lord and Master Christ Jesus 3. That what reproach is suffered for Christs sake is not the mans but Christs reproach for whom it is suffered And so the reproach is as honourable before God as it is ignominious before the World Vers. 14. For here we have no continuing City but we seek one to come He giveth a Reason of this Exhortation Teaching 1. That the instability of this present World and our short and uncertain time of pilgrimage therein should be a motive to make us loose our affections off it in time 2. That the hope of a quiet and sure and blessed place of rest hereafter should be another motive to make us renounce this World with the better will 3. That the true Pilgrims imployment in this World is to be seeking how to come home to his own Countrey and City prepared for him Vers. 15. By him therefore let us offer the Sacrifice of praise to GOD continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name Another Exhortation to offer Spiritual Sacrifices Wherein we learn 1. That as Christ hath abolished all properly called Priests by Office so hath he made all Christians spiritual Priests by common duty 2. As Christ hath offered the propitiatory Sacrifice of his own Body once for all that are to be saved and hath left no properly called Sacrifice no Offering â—or sin no Propitiatory Offering now to offer So hath he appointed the spiritual Sacrifice of Thanks to be offered by every faithful man and woman such as is Prayer Praises and Thanksgiving to God 3. That these our Sacrifices of Prayer and Praise is the spiritual service of Saints answerable to the Thank-offering of the first-fruits and Calves and Bullocks which was the external Sacrifice of the Old Church 4. That the Offering of these spiritual Sacrifices is not tied unto set hours as the Legal but to be done continually 5. That these our Sacrifices of Prayer and Praises are not to be offered by the mediation of Saint or Angel but by Jesus Christ onely 6. That albeit they be unworthy as from us yet being offered by Christs Mediation they shall be accepted for service at our hands Vers. 16. But to do good and to communicate forget not for with such Sacrifice God is well pleased Another Exhortation to good Works and Alms-deeds Teaching us 1. That goods works and Alms-deeds are appointed to be of the number of spiritual Sacrifices and a part of the Thank-Offerings of the Saints 2. That because they are Sacrifices they must not be offered to the Idol of our own credit and estimation or our own private ends but unto God even in obedience unto him and for the glory of him And because they are a part of the Thank-offerings of the Saints they must not incroach upon the Sin-offering of the Saviour the onely Expiatory the onely Propitiatory and the onely Meritorious Sacrifice 3. That being so offered they are well-pleasing unto God The smell of Christs Sin-offering once offered making our Thank-offering to be sweet smelling unto God Vers. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you Another Exhortation to obey such as had the Rule over them their Guides and Leaders as the word importeth That is publique Office-bearers in the Church appointed of God to teach and govern them by the Word and Ecclesiastical Censures Then 1. The Churches of Christ are not dens of confusion but Houses of Order having some to be Guides and Rulers and some to be instructed and guided by the direction of Gods Word and Ordinances 2. Even the meanest and poorest Churches albeit no more powerful than were the Churches of these scattered Hebrews must be so provided 3. The right duty of the Office-bearers in the Church is first to be guides pointing out the way in Gods word which the people should keep towards Heaven Next to be Leaders going before them in the example of Faith and the fruits thereof in their conversation And thirdly Rulers by the Rod of Discipline â—o take order with the scandalous and to recal Wanderers to incourage the obedient for thus much doth the word import 4. The duty of the people is to obey the direction of such Guides and Rulers and to submit themselves unto their censures and to maintain them in their Office every way that this order may be continued and not fall by any want which the people may supply 2. The Reason which he useth to induce them is They watch for your souls as they who must give account Then 1. The charge of Church-Rulers is the heaviest of all charges because of souls 2.
will fall into the judgement and condemnation of God as he hath threatned in the Law Vers. 13. Is any among you afflicted let him pray Is any merry let him sing Psalms Admonit 4. Is concerning the manner of carrying themselves in prosperity and adversity but especially sickness whereof there are four branches 1. Touching those that are sick in minde by reason of any affliction that they may pray unto God i. e. in God they may have ease from their trouble 2. Touching them that are cheerful in mind lest they being drowned in security forget God but that they change their chearfulness of minde into praising of God and thanksgiving unto him i. e. that they by some spiritual exercise cherish their chearfulness lest their joyfulness degenerate into fleshly lasciviousness Vers. 14. Is any sick among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray over him anointing him with oyl in the name of the Lord. 3. Touching the sick in body that before they fly to Physitians they would turn themselves to God and call for the Ministers of the Church who may stir up repentance faith and comfort in them Furthermore that the Elders pray to God for the sick person Thirdly That if any one amongst the Elders of what order soever hath the gift of healing which flourished in the Church in the Apostles times let him in the name and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ who gave this gift use it and by the example of Christs Disciples who Mark 6.13 having received power from Christ anointed many sick persons with oyl and healed them let him anoint him that is sick concerning the restoring of whose health the Holy Ghost hath certified him For it is certain that the Elders which were endued with the gift of healing did not anoint any that were sick but those onely concerning restoring of whose health they were certified by the Holy Ghost Vers. 15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him He shews that there will follow a double effect upon this unction and prayer 1. If he that hath prayed for the gift of miraculous healing believing by special revelation touching the success this prayer coming from such a faith will save the sick from a bodily disease For the Lord saith he will restore health to him and will raise him up The other effect is this If any special sins have drawn the disease to the sick person God being intreated by the sick and the Elders will forgive them Vers. 16. Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much 4. Concerning the giving assistance to one another in the wounds and burthens of conscience that whether admonished by the brethren of their sins or tormented within by the burthen of sin they would confess their sins one to another and pray one for another mutually succouring one another both by counsel and prayer to God that they might be healed There are four reasons of the branch That ye may be healed Reas. 1. Because so the wounds of conscience and errours of life might be healed with which as with diseases they were sick Much Reas. 2. Because the frequent prayer of a righteous man or true believer stirred up by faith and love availeth much as a special means sanctified by God for the obtaining of things necessary for us Vers. 17. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six moneths 18. And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain and earth brought forth her fruit Reas. 3. Confirming the former because the praying of Elias was efficacious not therefore because it was free from infirmities and passions whereto other believers are obnoxious for he also was subject to like passions But because he prayed fervently in faith according to the will of God revealed to him that the Heavens might be shut and opened Therefore if ye shall earnestly pray one for another he sayes your prayers shall prevail Vers. 19. Brethren if any of you do erre from the truth and one convert him 20. Let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the errour of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins Reas. 4. Because if they admonish one another and confess their sins one to another and be instant in prayers to God one for another and become instruments of God for the converting of any wandring sinner Then they should be for the future instruments of saving the souls of their neighbours from death to which he that erres hastens and also instruments for the future of covering and hiding the multitude of sins of an erring brother who unless he had repented his sins should be produced at the Judgement of God for condemnation and death which now are after the admonition of the wandring person and the repentance of him that is admonish'd covered The first Epistle general of PETER Analytically expounded THE CONTENTS THe scope of the Epistle is to confirm in the faith of Christ the Hebrews dispersed amongst the Gentiles and converted to the Faith and to stir them up to perseverance and progress in faith and holiness of life according to the vocation of every one as it appears from the end and intention of the Epistle Chap. 5. ver 12. For which end thanks being given to God for their conversion he exhorts them in general to an holy conversation and to exercise mutual charity in the first Chapter and in the former part of the second Furthermore he descends in particular to duties of subjects towards Magistrates servants towards Masters to mutual duties of husbands and wives and brethren in Christ as well amongst themselves as towards their persecutors in the remaining part of the second Chapter and in the third and fourth Chapter He prosecutes the same doctrine in the fifth Chapter by instructing Elders in the Church and younger men and men of what rank soever in their duties CHAP. I. THere are two parts of the Chapter besides the inscription of the Epistle In the first by way of thanksgiving for their conversion to the faith he commends the truth of the Doctrine of the Gospel or the grace and the excellency of the condition whereunto by faith they were arrived that so he might confirm them in the faith to Ver. 13. In the second from the mentioning of spiritual benefits bestowed upon the believing Hebrews he draws an Exhortation to the study of piety in general and brotherly love in particular Vers. 1. Peter an Apostle of Iesus Christ to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia 2. Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit
communicated to you and wee shall bee gloriously brought forth in the sight of Angels and men when Christ shall bee manifested in his second comming The reason whereof is given because Christ is our life so called 1 Because hee hath procured life eternal for us 2 Because hee hath in himself that life to communicate 3 Because hee hath actually begun to communicate that life by his Spirit to us which at length hee will fully perfect 4 Because hee is the object of this our life For our felicity consists in communion with him to know him to bee and converse with him and at length fully to enjoy him Therefore seek yee things above under the hope of life that is to bee revealed to us Vers. 5. Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth fornication uncleanness inordinate affections evil concupiscence and covetousness which is Idolatry Exhortation the second as a corrolarie inferred from the fomer by which hee commands to mortifie the vitious motions and affections of corrupt nature through which the deformed body of sin dwelling in us as members works all actual sins and doth so put forth it self in the members of the body that it makes them as it were members of it self and the instruments of vices This mortification is done not onely by not committing the external acts of sin but also by killing in the very beginning those wicked internal motions exciting to those sins Fornication Hee reckons up five vices whereunto the Gentiles chiefly were addicted the last of which viz. Covetousness hee calls by the name of Idolatry that hee might stir them up to the hatred of Covetousness Because almost all accounted it frugality and very many trust in riches Which are upon the earth The Arguments of the Exhortation are three Argum. 1. Because these vices are earthly members or vicious parts of that nature which onely savours of earth and doth altogether alienate men from Heaven Vers. 6. For which things sake the wrath of God commeth on the children of disobedience Argum. 2. Because although these sins may seem light yet they bring the anger of God upon those who are disobedient and do not repent Vers. 7. In the which yee also walked sometime when yee lived in them Yee walk Argum. 3. Because in times past yee have served too much these vices walking and living in them no less than they who still are defiled in this mire Vers. 8. But now you also put off all these anger wrath malice blasphemy filthy communication out of your mouth 9. Lye not one to another seeing that yee have put off the old man with his deeds Exhortation 3. Drawn from the next Argument in which hee commands them to put off lay aside and cast away six vices not to bee resumed again which are 1 Unjust anger 2 Indignation or wrath which is an higher degree of anger 3 Malice or malicious envy and hatred which becomes permanent or lodging anger 4 Reproach or blasphemy against any ones fame 5 Filthy speaking or scurrility and 6 and lastly Lying Put off The Reasons of the Exhortation are two 1 Because in Baptism the Sacramental Vow and Obligation and in the beginning yee have put off the old man with all his actions i. e. yee have renounced your old corrupt nature and its bondage Therefore yee must renounce these vices Vers. 10. And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Reas. 2. Because by the Gift of God Faith Vow and Newness of Life begun in Regeneration yee have put on the New Man i. e. new spiritual qualities as it were a new Nature Therefore yee must renounce these vices But hee describes the New Man in four things 1 That there is a renovation in Christ of the Holiness of our Nature lost in Adam 2 That it consists in the acknowledgement of the Mystery of the Gospel i. e. in the same illumination which so changes the heart and also the outward conversation that the Grace of God in Christ is really acknowledged by us in mind affection and deed 3 That the Archetype or exemplar according to which this New Man is created and renewed is the Image of God the Creator who alone made man that hee might have a being and hee alone hath also created man again that hee might bee new Vers. 11. Where there is neither Greek nor Iew Circumcision nor Uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian bond nor free but Christ is all in all 4 That it is enough to the New Man to have Christ which one thing sufficeth for all things requisite to salvation or that in this business of renovation by Christ our external condition neither hindereth nor promoteth nor in this work is any respect had to an external condition with God bee there any of the Gentiles or Jews circumcised or uncircumcised born in this or that Nation learned or unlearned bond or free which is fitly spoken by reason of the false Apostles who did urge Legal Ceremonies and the traditions of men as if all other things had been nothing except they would Judaize Vers. 12. Put on therefore as the Elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of mind meekness long-suffering Exhortation 4. To five Virtues viz. 1 To a tender pitty towards the afflicted 2 Towards the poor 3 To humility and modesty in all things 4 To meekness gentleness in conversation with others 5 To long-suffering where injuries fall out Elect There are three Arguments of the Exhortation 1 Because yee are the Elect of God not onely separated by special vocation from the world but also by eternal decree from Reprobates Holy Argum. 2. Because yee are holy and consecrated unto God Beloved Argum. 3. Because yee are beloved of God Therefore adorn your selves with these virtues that yee may yeeld your selves worthy of so great commendations Vers. 13. Forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do yee Exhortation 5. That not onely in long-suffering they mutually bear one anothers infirmities and harsh behaviours but also that they mutually forgive injuries one to another As Christ The Reason of the Exhortation is because Christ hath forgiven you your more grievous offences Therefore do yee forgive injuries one to another Vers. 14. And above all these things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectness Exhortation 6. That in the first place they put on Charity and that before all other virtues Because it springs from the root of Faith as the trunck of a tree and sends forth all other virtues as branches and both cherisheth and nourisheth them Which is The Reason of the Exhortation is Because Charity is the mutual bond of perfect binding together whereby all the faithful are joyned into one body and whereby all are perfected i. e. made partakers of all gifts growing in the Church so that whatsoever either the priviledges of
the whole body are or the gifts of some member may become as to use and profitableness of good to all the members Vers. 15. And let the Peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also yee are called in one body and bee yee thankful Exhortation 7. That if any contention should arise amongst them the Peace of God should bee appointed the Moderatour of contention and all affections and having as it were a reward in its hand should determine what is to bee done Hee calls the Peace of God that which is from God that which pleases God and that which doth not command the loss of truth or any virtue but of our carnal affections To which The Reasons of the Exhortation are three 1 Because God hath called you to peace with himself and that you should follow it amongst your selves 2 Because yee are all members of one body 3 Because yee owe this thankfulness to God who hath made peace with you when hee might have dealt with you as enemies Therefore following peace amongst your selves bee yee thankful Vers. 16. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdome teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing with Grace in your hearts to the Lord. Exhortation 8. To study the Word of God and imploy your selves in it there are five branches of the Exhortation 1 That they derive the Word of Christ or the Christian Doctrine propounâ—ed in Scripture from the fountains and as a most acceptable guest entertain it in their minds and hearts that afterwards it might not depart from thence but there constantly abide 2 That they content not themselves that they have tasted the Word of Christ or that they have in some sort known it but they do their endeavour for the procuring a rich and plentiful measure of it to themselves 3 That from thence they learn to bee wise to their own salvation and the benefit of others 4 That they suffer the Word of Christ not to bee idle in them but that they prudently put it forth for the use of their neighbours that with mutual instructions they promote one anothers knowledge with mutual admonitions they may better order their conversations and every one stir up his own and others affections to the singing of holy Psalms Hymns and spiritual Songs composed of some spiritual matter by the Spirit and made for mutual edification 5 That they sing with their affections composed to holiness according to the measure of Grace given to them so that the Song may bee acceptable to God and may administer Grace to the hearers they beholding in the sincerity of their hearts the glory of God in their singing Vers. 17. And whatsoevr you do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Iesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him Exhortation 9. That they do all things in Christ i. e. in his name and authority through him or his grace and to him and his glory And because that cannot bee done but forthwith they must have new experiences of divine goodness towards themselves that they may give thanks to God alwaies in all things through Christ without whom God the Father will not bee praised by us nor will hee grant any thing to us but through his Son and in whom whatsoever things are sent in to us by God are turned to our good And these are the general Exhortations to common duties The Second Part. Verse 18. Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as it is fit in the Lord. The Other part of the Chapter follows containing special Exhortations to all degrees in a Family The Exhortations are five Exhort 1. Is to Wives with whom hee begins because their condition is harder and more difficult than mens and therefore it is no wonder if God speak first to them Hee requires of them that they bee subject to their own Husbands i. e. that they give them obedience honour and reverence but with a limitation in the Lord that their obedience bee in things lawful and for the command of the Lord to whom Wives are first subject and do owe obedience As it is fit The Argument of the Exhortation is from equity and comeliness for what is commanded is fitting from divine Ordination and from the Law of Nature Vers. 19. Husbands love your Wives and bee not bitter against them Exhort 2. To Husbands whom hee commands in the first place that they love their own Wives and that with a singular and holy affection and to rest satisfied in one Wife Further hee forbids them that they bee not bitter towards them either in word or deeds although they bee provoked by their infirmities but that they prudently rule them as it becomes Husbands Vers. 20. Children obey your Parents in all things for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord. Exhort 3. To Children with whom hee begins as before with Wives and afterwards hee will begin with Servants because their condition is harder and they have need of the instruction of God that they do that which is necessary for them to do of their own accord hee requires of these obedience from the heart toward their parents in all things viz. which their heavenly Father hath not prohibited The Argument of the Exhortation is this because the performance of this duty is most acceptable unto God Vers. 21. Fathers provoke not your children to anger lest they bee discouraged Exhort 4. Especially to Fathers who use to bee more severe than Mothers That they by reproaches injuries and cruel chastisements do not alienate the mindes of their children from them Besides the reasons which are contained in the relation betwixt Fathers and Children he expresly adds this one lest children used more severely at length should despair of thâ—â—r Fathers love and so bee discouraged Vers. 22. Servants obey in all things your Masters according to the flesh not with eye-service as men-pleasers but in singleness of heart fearing God Exhort 5. To servants wherein hee more largely insists because their condition is hardest The â—ranches of the Exhortation are six In the first hee mitigates the condition of servitude from this that it onely belongs to the carnal duties of this life and doth not infer any necessity of obeying in things unlawful In the second hee commands that they obey and serve in all things lawfull even when the commands are hardest 3. That they do that sincerely and faithfully not onely in the sight of their Masters but also when they are absent lest they bee accused of negligence 4. That they in sincerity of heart serve in the fear of the Lord. Vers. 23. And whatsoever yee do do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men 5. That in all service the outward action draws its original from the minde and more inward affections from whence the outward action may bee derived 6. That they acknowledge the authority of God in the commands of their Masters and that