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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	antiquity_n	commend_v	great_a	39	3	2.1295	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A75616	Armilla catechetica. A chain of principles; or, An orderly concatenation of theological aphorismes and exercitations; wherein, the chief heads of Christian religion are asserted and improved: by John Arrowsmith, D.D. late master both of St Johns and Trinity-Colledge successively, and Regius professor of Divinity in the University of Cambridge. Published since his death according to his own manuscript allowed by himself in his life time under his own hand.	Arrowsmith, John, 1602-1659.	1659 (1659)	Wing A3772; Thomason E1007_1; ESTC R207935	193,137	525

good thing is commended by its antiquity One said well that Old wood is best to burn old friends best to trust and old Sir Fr. Bacon books best to read What price do Scholars put upon an ancient Manuscript Doubtless the oldest of all Manuscripts is the book of life and the writing of our names therein the first-born of all Gods favours If God so value the first-fruits of our services as he doth how carefull should we be to magnifie the first-fruits of his goodness If old charters be of so great esteem as they are in the world how great an estimate should we set upon the most ancient Magna Charta of our Election having this seal The Lord knows who are his 2 Tim. 2. 19. Fourthly A leading favour Those are the most valuable blessings that have influence upon sundry others which they draw infallibly after them Such is Election Paul makes it the first linck of his golden chain and shews how introductive it is of all the rest whom God did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also Rom. 8. 30. justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Here is a chain which God Quatuor annuli sunt unius catenae quâ è coelo demissa Pater in coelum trahit electos Primus est Pr●destinatio ad vitam in Christo Secundus Vocatio efficax ad Christum Tertius Justificatio per Christum Quartus Glorificatio cum Christo Zanch. Tom. 7. col 177. lets down from heaven that by it he may draw up his Elect thither The first linck of it is Predestination taken in a restrained sense for the Election of grace The next Effectual Vocation into this the former hath a causal influence according to what the Lord once said by his Prophet Jeremy chap. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindenes have I drawn thee Election having once pitch't upon a man it will finde him out and call him home where ever he be Zacheus out of cursed Jericho Abraham out of idolotrous Ur of the Chaldeans Nicodemus and Paul out of the Colledge of the Pharisees Christs sworn enemies Dionysius and Damaris out of superstitious Athens In what dunghil soever Gods jewels be hid Election will both finde them out there and fetch them out from thence The third linck is Justification the dependance thereof upon Election may be gathered from that passage in the same chapter to the Romans Who shall lay Rom. 8. 33. any thing to the charge of Gods elect It is God that justifies As also from the vision in Zechary where Joshuah the high priest representing the people appeared clothed with filthy garments in signe of guilt by them contracted Zechar. 3. 34. till God had commanded saying Take away the filthy garments from him Ib. v. 5. Behold I have caused thine iniquitie to pass from thee Whereupon there was a fair Miter put upon his head and he clothed with change of garments in reference to their change of condition from guilt to free justification the spring whereof is hinted to in that speech The Lord said unto Satan The Lord rebuke Ib. v. 2. thee O Satan even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee The Fourth and last is Glorification That takes in both the beginnings of glory in sanctification of which Paul in his second to the Corinthians the third chapter and last verse We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord and of which he telleth us elsewhere that all the graces of which it consists proceed from this prime grace of Election saying God hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ according Ephes 1. 3. 4. as he hath chosen us in him and the consummation of glory in heaven the foundation whereof is by our Saviour clearly laid in the Fathers giving us to him by Election at first This saith he is the Fathers will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise John 6. 39. it up again at the last day So true is that of a Modern writer Election depends Caetera pendent ab Electione Electio à Deo Heins Hom. in Job 17. 9. p. 46. upon God alone all other blessings upon Election Fifthly A standing favour The favours of men may be suddenly changed into frowns as those of King Ahashuerus towards Hamon were who but he over night in the Kings esteem next day he will not endure the sight of him But God's are immutable All the blessings of the Covenant of grace are sure mercies according to that by the Prophet Isaiah I will make an everlasting covenant with Jsai 55. 3. you even the sure mercies of David Election in a special manner Our Apostle accordingly intimates in one place that the purpose of God according Rom. 9. 11. to election must stand and affirms in another that this foundation of God stands 2 Tim. 2. 19. sure having this seal The Lord knows who are his In which few words we have no fewer then three grounds of its stability a Foundation a Seal and a Science Election is the Foundation of God a firm Foundation that stands sure With us things founded upon a rock have great stability the rock of ages as he is called even God himself his good pleasure and counsel Isal 26. 4. is that upon which our Election is founded With us writings once sealed receive a confirmation thereby and become unrepealable God hath set his seal to this Decree With us knowledge or science is of things certain and unalterable not as opinion which being of things onely probable may be changed The seal here is The Lord knows who are his No wonder then if the Lord be for ever found to make good that which he said by his Apostle God hath not cast away his people whom he foreknew If having named Election in the foregoing verse he presently subjoyns The gifts and calling of God are without repentance Rom. 11. 2. Rom. 11. 29. EXERCITATION 3. Exerc. 3. An Introduction to Romans 9. Most part of that chapter expounded together with sundry passages in chapter 10 and 11. for proof of these two conclusions 1. That Paul in Rom. 9. doth upon occasion propound and prosecute the doctrine of Predestination 2. That he derives the Decree of preterition from the Sovereign greatness of God A Consectary shewing how usefull the said doctrine is to sober mindes § 1. FOr a full proof of our second Assertion That the greatness of God is abundantly manifested by his decree of Preterition we must of necessity have recourse to the ninth chapter of Pauls Epistle to the Romans as unto the proper seat of that argument although divers from abroad and some at home by forreign interpretations forced

servants He would have such a person a despiser 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and contemner of others which is plainly Pharisaical thinks all that savoureth of humility unworthy of his magnanimous man whereas Solomon telleth us It is better to be of an humble Prov. 16. 19. spirit with the lowly then to divide the spoil with the proud Yea he alloweth him in case of contumely to speak evil of his adversaries whereas our Saviours rule is Bless them that curse you pray for them Matth. 5. 44. that despitefully use you EXERCITATION 3. Oracles of God vocal or written Books of Scripture so called in five respects viz In regard of their declaring and foretelling their being consulted prized and preserved § 1. IN the epistle to the Hebrews these two phrases The first principles Hebr. 5. 12. and 6. 1. of the oracles of God And the principles of the doctrine of Christ import one and the same thing implying also that Scripture Records are the onely Store-house and Conservatory of Christian Religion I shall therefore from hence take occasion to shew That books of Scripture are oracles of God why they are so called and wherein they excell other oracles For the first There were two sorts of Oracles belonging to God vocal and written The vocal were those answers he gave from between the Cherubims on the top of 1 Kings 6. often and Chapt. 8. 6. the Mercy-seat which covered the Ark by reason whereof the Holy of Holies where that Ark stood was styled the Oracle The written are the two tables Exerc. 3. of the Law called by Stephen the lively Acts 7. 37. oracles and the Canonical books of Scripture as well those of the old Testament of which Paul speaketh when he declareth it as the great priviledge of the Jews that to them were committed the Rom. 3. 2. oracles of God as those of the New to which Peter is like to have had a peculiar respect in that saying of his If 1 Pet. 4. 11. any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Especially if his meaning be to admonish such as speak in congregations publick teachers or as another Apostle styleth them Ministers 2 Cor. 3. 6. of the new Testament that they be carefull to deliver Scripture-truths in Scripture-words New-Testamentmatter in New-Testament-language taking the particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in that text for a note not of similitude but of identity as when it is said We beheld his John 1. 14. glory the glory as of the onely begotten of the Father it is not meant of a glory like his but the very same So let him speak as the Oracles of God that is the self-same things which Vid. Gerhard Coment in 1 Pet. 4. pag. 631 634. God hath spoken in his word § 2. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereby heathen writers had been wont to express their oracles chiefly such are were uttered in prose while such as were delivered in verse went under the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was enfranchised by the holy Ghost and applied to the books of Scripture to intimate as I conceive that these books were to be of like use to Christians as those oracles had been to Infidels whereof take a five-fold account I. Those declared to heathen men the will of their Idols whence also they had their names of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and oracula from orare quod inerat illis Deorum oratio as Tully giveth the etymologie because they contained what the Gods spake and delivered to be their minde The Scriptures in like manner contain the minde of Jehovah Somewhat of his nature we may learn from the creatures but should have known little or nothing of his will had not canonical Scripture revealed it We use to call a mans Testament his last will because in it he makes a final declaration of what he would have his executours do He that would exactly know the will of God must look into his two Testaments there he shall finde it fully expressed and no where else § 3. II. Those foretold future events which made them to be so much frequented by such as thirsted after knowledge of things to come These reade every one his destiny and acquaint him aforehand with what he may or may not infallibly expect according to his present and future qualifications Not to mention prophesies in the New testament whereof the principal magazine is the Apocalypse the old contains very many predictions beyond the activity of humane foresight For although such effects as depend upon natural causes which are uniform in their workings may be foretold by a skilfull naturalist and a wise Statesman observing the present constitution of a government may prognosticate what events are like to ensue upon those counsels and courses which he sees taken yet the quickest eye upon earth cannot foresee such future contingents as have their dependance upon the mere free-will of persons yet unborn and whereunto when they are born not common principles but heroick impulses must incline them Whereas in the Scriptures we meet with the names of Josiah and Cyrus and with their performances long before they had a being We finde old Jacob foretelling the respective fates of all his children and of their posterity Isaiah speaking of Jesus Christ as if he had written an history rather then a prophesie And Daniel who lived under the fitst describing the severall revolutions under all the other Monarchies as if he had seen them with his eyes § 4. III. Those gave advice in doubtfull cases and were in all undertakings of moment consulted with by devout Heathens who as Strabo testifies Lib. 16. in descript Judaeae in their chief affairs of state relied more upon the answers of their oracles then upon humane pollicies These were Davids delight and his counsellours Psal 119. 24. as we use to advise with those friends whom we take most pleasure in He had many wise men about him but in all their meetings for advice the word of God was still of the Quorum and nothing to be concluded of in the result without its consent Scripture must not onely be heard in all our debates but when any thing comes to be voted always have a negative voice Concerning Achitophels advice it was said what he counselled in those days was as if a man had enquired at the Oracle of God 2 Sam. 16. last which words being as it is well said by Peter Martyr Comparatio non aequiparatio a comparison onely not a parallel sufficiently intimate that all the Oracles of God are to be consulted and also that their counsel is to be rested in I shall therefore be bold to say to him that reads whoever he be as Jehoshaphat once did to Ahab Enquire I pray thee 2 Chron. 18. 4. of the word of the Lord to day As Paul to his Colossians Let the

thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant to be a God unto thee and unto thy seed after thee Why may not this God be trusted with thy children too Sure I am he should Tell me Who provided for them before they were born Who put care and tender affections into their mothers heart milk into their nurses breasts Did not God Is not he that made provision for them all before they came into this world and hath comfortably maintained them ever since fit to be trusted with them still though thou beest gathered to thy fathers and seest Corruption Doubtless he is § 7. The better to help us in the performance of so important a duty as this take along with us the following directions I. Get and keep assurance of a peculiar interest in the love and favour of God in Christ We neither trust known enemies nor doubtfull friends with what we account pretious They that know God to be their enemy they that doubt whether he be their friend or no cannot with confidence cast their whole care upon him But he that can groundedly say with David I am thine may go on as he doth Lord save me He that Psal 119. 94. can say with assurance of faith The Lord is my shephard may confidently Psal 23. 1. add I shall not want The spouse may go leaning upon her beloved with all her Cant. 6. 3. 7. 10. 8. 5. weight when she hath first been enabled to say My beloved is mine and I am his I am my beloveds and his desire is towards me II. Continue in well-doing Let them that suffer according to the will of God saith S. Peter commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithfull Creatour Look how much care a man hath to please God so much confidence may he have to cast all his care upon him Whilest the people of Israel went up to the place of Gods publick worship all the males that were of age thrice in a year leaving none but women and children at home so giving the enemy fair oportunity for invasion God undertakes they shall not so much as desire or think of such a thing Neither shall any man desire thy land when thou shalt go up to appear before Exod. 34. 23 24. the Lord thy God thrice in the year III. Treasure up the promises chiefly such as are made on purpose to assure us of Gods caring for us that in particular Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with Heb. 13. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Where there is in the Original an accumulation of many negatives to make the assertion as strong as may be it is as much as if he had said I will never in no wise in no case forsake thee We are wont to call the bils and bonds of able men good security The promises of God all-sufficient are certainly so IV. Reflect upon former experiments and let them be encouragements for time to come The Psalmist did so when he said I have considered Psal 77. 5 10. the days of old the years of ancient times I will remember the years of the right hand of the most high I will remember the works of the Lord surely I will remember thy wonders of old Some enquire why David when he asked for a sword and Abimelech told him there was none at hand but that of Goliah called for it and said There is none like to that it is 1 Sam. 21. 9. probable he might have found some of better mettal or as good and some perhaps fitter for his strength but yet prefers this above all because of his experiment God had formerly blest him in the use of that § 8. Against the fourth and last proposition of Providence her activity even in sin it may be objected and usually is that this tenet cannot be maintained without making God the Authour of sin which opinion is an abhorrencie to the mindes of all sound Divines I answer so it is and ought to be neither doth that assertion want the attestation of this State Witness a modern but pregnant occurrence yet not generally known and therefore inserted here in perpetuam rei memoriam In the year of our Lord 1645. there was published in London an English book wherein God was expresly made the Author of his peoples sins though not without some limitations The Assembly of Divines then sitting at Westminster took offence at this though some of them being acquainted with the man whose name it bore were ready to say of him as Bucholcerus Habuit cor bonum sed non caput regulatum Sculter Annal. D●c did of Swenckfeldius He had a good heart yet without a well regulated head made complaint of it to both houses of Parliament They both censured the said book to be burnt by the hand of the common hangman and the Assembly of Divines agreed upon a short Declaration Nemine contradicente by way of detestation of that abominable and blasphemous opinion which was also published under that Title July 17. 1645. and in which we meet with these among other expressions That the most vile and blasphemous Assertion whereby God is avowed to be the Authour of sin hath hitherto by the general consent of Christian Teachers and Writers both ancient and modern and those as well Papists as Protestants been not disclaimed onely but even detested and abhorred Our Common adversaries the Papists have hitherto onely calumniously charged the Doctrine of the Reformed Churches with so odious a crime in the mean time confessing that we do in words deny it as well as they themselves now should this book be tolerated might insult over us and publish to the world that in the Church of England it was openly and impudently maintained That God is the Authour of sin then which there is not any one point whereby they labour in their Sermons and popular Orations to cast a greater Odium though most injuriously upon the Reformed Churches We are not for the Reverence or estimation of any mans person to entertain any such opinions as do in the very words of them asperse the honour and holiness of God and are by all the Churches of Christ rejected This premised I now assert positively and considerately yet without obliging my self to make good every phrase that hath fallen unadvisedly from the pen of every w●ter that what Protestant Churches say in their publick Confessions and allowed Protestant writers in their books concerning Gods having a natural influence into the sinfull acts of creatures but without a moral influence into the sinfulness of their acts his inflicting hardness of heart as a punishment to former sins his directing and ordering great sins to great good as Joseph's vendition to the Churches preservation yea the crucifixion of Christ to the salvation of the Elect do neither really nor in due construction amount to the making of God the Author of sin To what hath been elsewhere further said of this copious argument I refer the capable reader to my Tactica Sacra Lib. 1. Cap. 1. § 5. ibidem cap. 6. § 4. FINIS