things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you Phil. 4. 9. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and c. Col. 3. 16. Ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh also in you who believe 1 Thes. 2. 13. As ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God so ye would abound c. Wherefore comfort or exhort one another with these words 1 Thes. 4. 1 18. Hold the traditions ye have been taught whether by word or our Epistle 2 Thes. 2. 15. These things write I unto thee c. That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the house of God c. 1 Tim. 3. 14 15. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus c. 1 Tim. 4. 6. I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect Angels that thou observe these things without preferring one before another c. 1 Tim. 5. 21. ch 6. 13 14. If any men teach otherwise and consent not to wholsom words the words of our Lord Jesus and to the doctrine which is according to godliness he is proud or a fool knowing nothing but doteing about questions and strifes of words c. 1 Tim. 6. 3 4. 2 Tim. 2. 14 15 16 17. Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me c. 2 Tim. 1. 13. Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise to salvation c. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine c. That the man of God may be perfect thorowly furnished unto all good works 2 Tim. 3. 14 15 16 17. Preach the word c. For the time will come they will not endure sound doctrine c. 2 Tim. 4. 2 3 4. Therefore ought we to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip for if the word spoken by Angels was stedfast c. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord was confirmed unto us by them who heard God also bearing witness both with signs c. Heb. 2. 1 2 3 4. Wherefore as the holy Ghost saith To day if ye will hear his voice Heb. 3. 7. The word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit c. Heb. 4. 12 13. Every one who useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness Heb. 5. 13. Begat he us with the word of truth c. Be swift to hear c. The engrafted word able to save c. James 1. 18 19 21. If you fulfil the royal law according to the scripture Thou shalt love c. James 2. 8. Being born again not of corruptible seed but c. by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever c. And this is the word which by the Gospel is preached unto you 1 Pet. 1. 23 25. As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2. 2. I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things though ye know them and be established in the present truth c. Moreover I will endeavour that you may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance for we have c. We have also a more sure word of prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light which shineth in a dark place c. Knowing this first that no prophesie of the Scripture is of any private or proper interpretation for the Prophesie came not in old or any time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 12 13 15 16 19 20 21. This second Epistle I write unto you in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken of before by the holy Prophets and of the commandment of us the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour c. Paul also according unto the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you as also in all his epistles c. In which are some things hard to be understood which they who are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also other scriptures unto their own destruction 2 Pet. 3. 1 2 15 16. And these things write we unto you that your joy may be full 1 John 1. 4. He who doth not abide in the doctrine of Christ hath not God c. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him God-speed for he who bids him God-speed c. 2 John 9 10 11. It was needful for me to write to you and exhort you That you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints c. I will put you in remembrance though ye once knew c. Remember ye the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ That they told you there should c. Jude vers 3 5 17 18. Christ sent and signified by his Angel unto his servant John the things which must shortly come to pass c. Blessed is he who readeth and they who hear the words of this Prophesie and keep those things which are written therein c. Write the things which thou hast seen c. Rev. 1. 1 2 3 19. You shall not add unto the word which I command you neither diminish from it Deut. 4. 2. Every word of God is pure c. Add thou not unto his words lest he reprove thee and thou be found a lyar Prov. 30. 5 6. I testify c. if any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the Plagues which are written in this book And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this Prophesie God shall take away his part out of the book of life c. Rev. 22. 18 19. Secret things belong to God revealed things to us and our children that we may do all the words of this law Deut. 29. 29. CHAP. II. Of GOD. First his Names and Titles IN the beginning God created the Heavens c. Gen. 1. 1. And the Lord God formed man c. Gen. 2. 7. chap. 15. 7. ch 28. 13. Then began men to call upon the Name of the Lord
a god and worshippeth it and prayeth to it and saith deliver me for thou art my god They have not known nor understood c. And none considereth in his heart neither is there knowledg or understanding to say I have burned part c. Shall I make the residue thereof an abomination shall I fall down to the stock of a tree Isa. 44. 14 15 16 17 18 19. They have not known me they are sottish children they have no understanding Jer. 4. 22. The word of the Lord is unto them a reproach they have no delight in it Jer. 6. 10. Though Nebuchadnezzar had acknowledged the God of Daniel to be the God of Gods and a Lord of Kings c. Yet he presently makes a molten image and commands his people to worship it c. And said who is that God who shall deliver you out of my hands Dan. 2. 47. ch 3. 1 4 5 6 15. Belshazzer and his princes c. Praised the gods of gold and of silver c. Dan. 5. 3 4. The Gergesons so ignorant that because of the loss of their swine The whole city came out to meet Jesus c. And besought him to depart out c. Matt. 8. 32 33 34. O Jerusalem c. How often would I have gathered c. And ye would not Luk. 13. 34. Christ was in the world c. And the world knew him not c. He came to his own and his own received him not John 1. 10 11. Light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light Joh. 3. 19. Jesus said to the woman ye worship ye know not what John 4. 22. Ye will not come to me that ye may have life John 5. 40. Jesus said the world c. Me it hateth because I testify of it that c. John 7. 7. The spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him John 14. 17. The world c. It hated me before it hated you Because I have chosen you c. Therefore the world hates you c. These things will they do c. Because they know not him who sent me they hated both me and my father John 15. 18 19 21 24. Simon Magus so sottish that he offered money for power to confer the holy Ghost by imposition of hands Acts 8. 18 19 20. When Paul was at Athens c. He saw the city wholly given to idolatry or full of Idols c. Certain Philosophers c. incountred him and some said what will this habler or base fellow say Other some he seemeth to be a setter sorth of strange gods because he preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection c. I perceive saith Paul ye are too superstitious c. I found an Altar with an Inscription To the unknown God Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship him declare I Act. 17. 16 18 22 23. When Paul preached many believed not but spake evil of that way before the multitude c. Demetrius and his company cry up great is Diana the goddess c. And cryed out against Paul for saying that they were no gods which were made with hands and endeavouring to turn men to the true God c. The Town-clark said the whole city is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana and of the Image which fell down from Jupiter Act. 19. 9 24 25 26 to the end Certain questions c. Of one Jesus which was dead whom Paul affirmed to be alive Act. 25. 19. The way of peace they have not known Rom. 3. 17. The carnal mind is enmity against God for it cannot be subject c. Rom. 8. 7. The preaching of the cross is to them who perish foolishness c. After that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God 1 Cor. 1. 18 21. The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know for they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2. 14. In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them who believe not lest the light of the glorious Gospel c. Should shine unto them 2 Cor. 4. 4. Act. 26. 17 18. Howbeit then when ye knew not God ye did service unto them who by nature are no Gods Gal. 4. 8. Walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their minds having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance which is in them because of the blindness c. Ephes. 4. 17 18. Ye were sometimes darkness but now c. Ephes. 5. 8. Not in the lust of concupiscence even as the Gentiles who knew not God 1 Thes. 4. 5. See ignorance in Divine things Chap. 37. 3dly In servitude and subjection to Satan and Sin In the parable of the sower Christ saith the tares are the Children of the wicked one c. The enemy who soweth them is the Devil Matt. 13. 38 39. When the strong man armed keepeth his palace his goods are in peace but when a stronger than he shall come upon him c. Luk. 11. 21 22. Ye are of your father the Devil and the lusts of your father ye will do John 8. 44. To whom ye yield your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death c. Ye were servants of sin Rom. 6. 16 20. Them who are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the mind c. 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. The Prince of the power of the air the spirit who now worketh in the children of disobedience Ephes. 2. 2. Thanks be to God c. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness c. Col. 1. 12 13. That they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil who are taken captive by him at his will 2 Tim. 2. 26. In this c. Are manifest and the children of the Devil whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God neither he who loveth not his brother and Cain who was of that wicked one c. 1 John 3. 8 9 10 12. The fad fruit and end of such a state When Adam and Eve had sinned they hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God c. And was afraid because naked Gen. 3. 8 10. Aaron made Israel naked by sin Exod. 32. 25. If there be any among you c. That he bless himself in his heart saying I will have peace though I walk in the imagination or stubbornness of my heart to add drunkenness to thirst The Lord will not spare him but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoke against that man and all the curses which are written in this book shall lye upon him and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven Deut. 29. 19 20. If a man sin against the Lord who shall intreat for him They who despise me saith the Lord shall be lightly esteemed 1
a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding great men are not wise neither do the aged understand judgment Job 32. 8 9. Good and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach sinners in the way the meek will he guide in judgment and the meek will he teach his way c. what man is he who feareth the Lord him shall he teach in the way that he shall chuse c. the secret of the Lord is with them who fear him and he will shew them his covenant Psal. 25. 8 9 12 14. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go I will guide thee with mine eye Psal. 32. 8. O send out thy light and thy truth let them lead me let them bring me unto c. Psal. 43. 3 4. Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I shall keep it to the end give me understanding and I shall keep thy law Psal. 119. 33 34. He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Israel Psal. 147. 19. Wisdom cryeth c. how long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity c and fools hate knowledg turn you at my reproof behold I will pour out my spirit upon you I will make known my words unto you Prov. 1. 20 22 23. If thou cryest after knowledg c. then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledg of God For the Lord giveth wisdom out of his mouth cometh knowledg and understanding Prov. 2. 3 4 5 6. In all thy ways acknowledg him and he shall direct thy paths Prov. 3. 6. I have taught them the way of wisdom I have led thee in the right paths Prov. 4. 11. The earth shall be full of the knowledg of the Lord as the waters cover the sea Isa. 11. 9. Heb. 2. 14. And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness c. They also who erred in the spirit shall come to understanding c. They shall learn doctrine Isa. 29. 18 24. And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying This is the way walk ye in it when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left Isa. 30. 21. And the eyes of them who see shall not be dim c. the heart also of the rash shall understand knowledg and the tongue of the stammerers be ready to speak plainly Or elegantly Isa. 32. 3 4. Your God will come c. then the eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped Isa. 35. 4 5. I the Lord have called thee c. for a light to the gentiles to open the blind eyes c. And I will bring the blind by a way they knew not I will lead them in paths they have not known I will make darkness light before them and crooked things straight Isa. 42. 6 7 16. I will give them an heart to know me that I am the Lord c. Jer. 24. 7. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them Jer. 31. 34. Heb. 8 11. Jesus said I thank thee O father c. because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes Neither knoweth any man the father but the son and he to whomsoever the son will reveal him Matth. 11. 25 27. It is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven but to them it is not given Matth. 13. 11 13. Mark 4. 11 12. Peter said Thou art that Christ c. And Jesus answered and said unto him Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my father who is in heaven Matth. 16. 15 16 17. The day-spring from on high hath visited us to give light to them who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace Luke 1. 78 79. I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gain-say nor resist Luke 21. 15. These are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you c. Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures Luke 24. 44 45. That was the true light which lighteth every man who cometh into the world John 1. 9. As it is written in the prophets And they shall be all taught of God Every man therefore who hath heard and hath learned of the father cometh unto me John 6. 45. Isa. 54. 13. If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self John 7. 17. Then spake Jesus again unto them saying I am the light of the world he who followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life c. If ye continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed and ye shall know the truth John 8. 12 32. Jesus said For Judgment I am come into the world that they who see not might see and that they who see might be made blind John 9. 39. I am come a light c. that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness John 12. 46. I have called you friends for all things which I have heard of my father I have made known unto you John 15. 15. This is life eternal that they may know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent c. I have manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world John 17. 2 3 6. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4. 6 7. But when it pleased God c. to reveal his son in me c. Gal. 1. 15 16. Having made known the mystery of his will unto us according unto his good pleasure c. making mention of you in my prayers That the God of our Lord Jesus c. may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledg of him the eyes of your understanding being enlightened that ye may know what is the hope of his calling c. Eph. 1. 9 16 17 18 19. ch 3. 18 19. If in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you Phil. 3. 15. The mystery which hath been hid c. but now is made manifest to his Saints to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the
be trodden down by it Isa. 28. 14 15 16 18. He who sitteth upon the circle of the earth c. who bringeth the Princes of the earth to nothing he maketh the Judges of the earth as vanity Isa. 40. 22 3. Say to the Prince of Tyrus Thus saith the Lord God because thine heart is lifted up and thou hast said I am a god I sit in the seat of God c. yet thou art a man and not God though thou set thine heart as the heart of God c. therefore thus saith the Lord God c. I will bring strangers upon thee c. and they shall bring thee down to the pit and thou shalt die the death of them c. but thou shalt be a man and no God in the hand of him who slayeth thee Ezek. 28. 2 6 7 8 9. Nebuchadnezzar the king in the height of his pride driven out among the beasts Dan. 4. 30 31 32 33. There is no respect of persons with God Rom. 2. 11. 3dly What are the Duties of Magistrates and what they should be negatively and affirmatively Thou shalt provide out of all the people able men such as fear God men of truth hating covetousness and place over them to be rulers Exod. 18. 16 20 21. Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of the poor in his cause c. and thou shalt take no gift for gifts blindeth the wise c. Exod. 23. 6 8. Deut. 16. 19. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honour the person of the mighty in righteousness thou shalt judg thy neghbour Levit. 19. 15. Moses when the people had sinned prayed earnestly for them c. Numb 14. 13 c. Deut. 9. 25 26 c. Joshua 7. 7 8 c. Take ye wise men and understanding and known among your tribes and I will make them rulers over you c. And I charged your Judges at that time saying Hear between your brethren and judg righteously between every man and his brother and the stranger with him ye shall not respect persons in judgment you shall hear the small as well as the great you shall not be afraid of the face of a man for the judgment is Gods and the cause which is too hard for you bring it unto me c. Deut. 1. 13 15 16 17. The Lord your God is a God of gods c. who regardeth not persons nor taketh reward he doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow Deut. 10. 17 18. Judges and officers c. and they shall judg the people with just judgment thou shalt not wrest judgment thou shalt not respect persons neither take a gift for a gift doth blind c. that which is altogether just shalt thou follow Deut. 16. 18 19 20. Thou shalt in any wise set a king over thee whom the Lord thy God shall chuse one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee thou maist not set a stranger over thee who is not thy brother but he shall not multiply horses to himself c. And it shall be that when he shall sit upon the throne of the kingdom that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book c. and it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God to keep all the words of this law c. that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren and that he turn not aside from the Commandment Deut. 17. 15 16 17 18 19 20. If there be a controversie between men and they shall come unto judgment that the Judges may judg them then they shall justifie the righteous and condemn the wicked Deut. 25. 1. Samuel his sons walked not in his ways but turned aside after lucre and took bribes and perverted judgment 1 Sam. 8. 1 3. And David executed judgment and justice unto all his people 2 Sam. 8. 15. He who ruleth over men must be or be thou ruler over men just ruling in the fear of God 2 Sam. 23. 3. When the plague was upon Israel for Davids sins he said Lo I have sinned and done wickedly but these sheep what have they done Let thine hand be against me and against my fathers house c. 2 Sam. 24. 17. Solomon said Give therefore thy servant an understanding-heart to judg thy people that I may discern between good and bad c. And the speech pleased the Lord 1 Kings 3. 7 8 9 10. Rehoboam took the counsel of the young men and rejected the old mens advice and answered the people roughly and said He would add to their burdens and not ease them whereupon many of the tribes revolt and chuse them a King 2 Chron. 10. He was going to fight against Israel but God forbid him 2 Chron. 11. 1 4. Jehoshaphat c. sent to his Princes to Benhail and to Obadiah c. to teach in the Cities of Judah and with them Levites even Shemajah c. and they taught in Judah and had the book of the law of the Lord with them and went about throughout all the Cities of Judah and taught the people 2 Chron. 17. 7 8 9. Jehoshaphat said to the Judges Take heed what you do for ye judg not for man but for the Lord who is with you in the judgment wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you take heed and do it for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God nor respect of persons nor taking of gifts 2 Chron. 19. 6 7. Jehoshaphat in a time of danger stood in the congregation in the house of the Lord and prayed himself with them and for them there 2 Chron. 20. 2 3 to the 13. Nehemiah saith From the time that I was appointed to be their governour c. I and my brethren have eaten the bread of the governour but the former governours c. were chargeable unto the people c. yea even their servants bear rule over the people but so did not I because of the fear of God c. Nehem. 5. 14 15 16 18. I gave my brother Hanani and Hanania c. charge over Jerusalem for he was a faithful man and feared God above many Nehem. 7. 2. I was a father to the poor and the cause which I knew not I searched out and I brake the jaws of the wicked and pluckt the spoil out of his teeth Job 29. 16 17. Be wise now therefore O ye kings be instructed ye Judges of the earth serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Psal. 2. 10 11. The wicked walk on every side when the vilest men or the vilest of the sons of men are exalted Psal. 12. 10. Man in honour and understandeth not is like the beast who perisheth Psal. 49. 20. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty he judgeth among the gods How long will ye judg unjustly and accept the
And they appointed two c. and they prayed and said Lord who knowest the hearts of all men shew whether of these two thou hast chosen c. And they gave forth their lots and the lot fell upon Matthias and he was numbred with the eleven Acts 1. 15 21 22 23 24 25 26. Then the Twelve called the multitude c. and said c. Brethren look ye out among you seven men of honest report c. whom we may appoint over this business c. and the saying pleased the multitude and they chose Stephen c. Acts 6. 2 3 5 6. And when they had ordained them Elders by suffrage in every Church and had prayed with fasting they commended them to the Lord Acts 14. 22 23. For this cause left I thee in Crete c. and ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed Titus 1. 5. Of laying on of hands upon the several occasions and to the several ends in Scripture mentioned Bring forth him who hath cursed c. let all who heard him lay their hands on his head Levit. 24. 14. Thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord and the children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites Numb 8. 9 10. Moses set Joshua before the congregation and he laid his hands upon him and c. Numb 17. 18 19 22 23. Joshua c. was full of the spirit of wisdom for Moses had laid his hands upon him Deut. 34. 9. They chose Stephen c. whom they set before the Apostles and when they had prayed they laid their hands upon them Acts 6. 5 6. Peter and John prayed and laid their hands on disciples and they received the holy Ghost Acts 8. 17. The Prophets and teachers at Antioch by the command of the holy Ghost to separate Paul and Barnabas c. did pray and fast and lay their hands upon them Acts 13. 1 2 3. Paul finding disciples c. and when Paul had laid his hands on them the holy Ghost c. Acts 19. 1 6. Paul prayed and laid hands on Publius his father and healed him being sick Acts 28. 8. Neglect not the gift c. given thee c. with laying on of the hands of the Presbytery 1 Tim. 4. 14. Lay hands suddenly on no man neither be partaker of other mens sins 1 Tim. 5. 22. Stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands 2 Tim. 1. 6. Not laying again the foundation of repentance c. of laying on of hands Heb. 6. 1 2. Of the several Ordinances of Christ to be observed in and by the Churches of Christ and elswhere The earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof because they have transgressed the laws changed the ordinances c. Isa. 24. 5. And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers c. and they continuing daily with one accord in the temple Acts 2. 41 42 46. And now I praise you brethren that you c. keep the Ordinances as they were delivered unto you 1 Cor. 11. 2. First Prayers These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women c. Acts 1. 14. And they continued c. and in prayers Acts 2. 42. See Praising at large Chap. 16. Secondly Reading teaching and preaching of the word of God Prophesying Thou shalt set a King over thee c. he shall write him a copy of this law in a book c. he shall read therein all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord Deut. 17. 15 18 19 20. 2 Kings 22. 11. When all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall chuse thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing gather the people together men and women and children and thy stranger that is within thy gates that they may hear and that they may learn and fear the Lord your God and observe to do all the words of this law and their children who have not known may hear and learn to fear the Lord c. Deut. 31. 11 12 13. Joshua read all the words of the law the blessings and curses according unto all which is written in the book of the law there was not a word of all which Moses commanded which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were conversant among them Joshua 8. 34 35. Jehoshaphat sent to his Princes to Benhail c. to teach in the cities of Judah and with them Elishama c. Priests and they taught in Judah and had the book of the law of the Lord with them and went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people 2 Chron. 17. 7 8 9. And Ezra the Priest brought the law before the Congregation c. and he read therein c. from the morning until the mid-day c. Allo Joshua and Bani c. and the Levites caused the people to understand the law and the people stood in their place so they read in the book of the law of God distinctly and gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading Nehem. 8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. ch 13. 1. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel which he commanded our fathers that they should make them known to their children c. that they might set their hope in God c. Psal. 78. 5 6 7. Blessed is the man who heareth me watching daily at my gates waiting at the posts of my doors for whoso findeth me findeth life Prov. 8. 34 35. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who bringeth good tydings who publisheth peace c. and publisheth salvation c Isa. 52. 7. Nahum 1. 15. The Prophet who hath a dream let him tell a dream and he who hath my word let him speak my word faithfully what is the chaff to the wheat saith the Lord Jer. 23. 28 29. They shall wander from sea to sea c. to seek the word of the Lord and shall not find it Amos 8. 12. Go ye therefore and teach all nations c. teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you Matth. 28. 19 20. Whosoever shall not receive you nor hear you when ye depart thence shake off the dust from under your feet for a testimony against them Mark 6. 11. Luke 10. 16. Jesus c. as his custom was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath-day and stood up to read and there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaias and when he had opened the book he found the place where it was written The spirit of the Lord is upon me c. and he closed the book and gave it again to the minister and sate down c. and he began to say unto them This day is this
Scripture fulfilled in your ears c. and all c. wondred at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth c. Luke 4. 16 17 18 19 20 31 32. Jesus said c. Ought not Christ to have suffered c And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself c. then opened he their understandings c. Luke 24. 26 27 45. I pray c. for them also who shall believe in me through their word John 17. 20. When the Apostles were commanded not to preach Christ they said whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God judg ye Acts 4. 18 19. ch 5. 28. And daily in the temple and in every house they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus Christ Acts 5. 42. The Eunuch reading the Prophet Isaias Philip came to him c. and opened his mouth and began at the same Scripture and preached unto him Jesus he believed c. Acts 8. 27 28 to the 38. We are here all present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God while Peter was preaching Christ the holy Ghost fell on all them who heard Acts 10. 33 44. Call for Simon c. who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved Acts 11. 13 14. When Paul and his company came to Antioch he went into the Synagogue c. and after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the Synagogue sent unto them saying Ye men and brethren if ye have any word of exhortation for the people say on Then Paul stood up and preached c. Acts 13. 13 14 15 16 c. Then spake the Lord to Paul c. speak and hold not thy peace for I have much people in this City and he continued there c. teaching the word of God among them Acts 18. 9 10 11. Paul went into the Synagogue and spake boldly for the space of three months disputing and perswading the things concerning the kingdom of God but when divers were hardned and believed not c. he separated the disciples disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus and this continued by the space of two years so that all they who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Acts 19. 8 9 10. Now brethren I commend you to God and the word of his grace which is able c. Acts 20. 32. I have appeared unto thee c. to make thee a minister c. the Gentiles to whom I now send thee to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God Acts 26. 16 17 18. And Paul dwelt two years in his own hired house and received all who came in unto him preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ Acts 28. 30 31. I am ready to preach the Gospel c. for I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation c. Rom. 1. 15 16. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent c so then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God Rom. 10. 14 15 17. Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the Gospel c. for the preaching of the cross is to them who perish foolishness but unto us who are saved it is the power of God c. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them who believe c. 1 Cor. 1. 17 18 21 23 24. My preaching was not with the inticing words of mans wisdom c. but that which the holy Ghost c. 1 Cor. 2. 4 5 13. In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel 1 Cor. 4. 15. Every man praying or prophecying having his head covered dishonoureth his head 1 Cor. 11. 4. He who prophecyeth speaketh unto men to edification exhortation and comfort c. he edifieth the Church c. 1 Cor. 14. 3 4. Who hath made us able ministers of the new Testament c. if the ministration of death written and engraven in stones was glorious so c. how shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious c 2 Cor. 3. 6 7 8 9 10. The ministry of reconciliation to wit that God was in Christ c. we are Embassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 5. 18 19 20. And he gave some Apostles c. for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body until c. Ephes. 4. 11 12 13 14. The Apostle rejoyced that Christ was preached although some did it not uprightly Phil. 1. 15 16 18. Ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God c. 1 Thess. 2. 13 16. Despise not prophecyings 1 Thess. 5. 20. Give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine 1 Tim. 4. 13. I charge thee c. preach the word be instant in season and out of season reprove c. 2 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. If the word spoken by Angels was stedfast c. how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them who heard c Heb. 2. 2 3. For unto us was the Gospel preached as well as unto them but the word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them who heard or because they were not united by faith to it Heb. 4. 2. I beseech you brethren suffer the word of exhortation for I have written c. Heb. 13. 22. Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth c. wherefore my beloved brethren let every man be swift to hear c. receive with meekness the ingraffed word which is able to save your souls but be ye doers of the word and not hearers only c. James 1. 18 19 21 22 23. Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God c. and this is the word which by the Gospel is preached unto you 1 Pet. 1. 23 25. As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2. 2. If any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God 1 Pet. 4. 11. I will not be negligent to put you in remembrance always of these things though ye know them and be established in the present truth yea I think it meet as long as I am in this