THE GROVNDS Of Diuinitie Plainely discouering the Mysteries of Christian Religion propounded familiarly in diuers Questions and Answeres Substantially proued by Scriptures Expounded faithfully according to the Writings of the best Divines and euidently applyed by profitable Vses for the helpe and benefite of the Vnlearned which desire Knowledge To the which is prefixed a very profitable Treatise containing an Exhortation to the Study of the Word with singular directions for the Hearing and Reading of the same By ELNATHAN PARR Minister of the Word at Palgraue in Suffolke PROV 3.13.14 Blessed is the man that findeth wisedome and the man that getteth vnderstanding For the Marchandise thereof is better then the Marchandise of Siluer and the gaine thereof is better then gold LONDON Printed by N. O. for SAMVEL MAN and are to be sold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Ball. 1614. TO THE VERTVOVS RELIGIOVS AND MOST WORTHY LADY the Lady IANE CORNEVVALLEYS Widdow Grace and Peace from God the Father through our Lord Iesus Christ. MADAME I Present vnto you these my weake and homely labours being the first fruits of my paines in this kinde humbly desiring that your Ladiship wold vouchsafe to patronize them That which hath emboldened me to dedicate them to your worthy Name is Partly A minde willing in the best measure I can to testifie my thankefulnesse for your many vndeserued fauours whereby I confesse you may iustly challenge more then my Mediocrity can euer performe Partly your loue vnfeigned and sincere profession of the Gospell whereby you are an honour to your Degree and Sexe cleerely euidenced many wayes during your abode in Suffolke which as it is a sweete testimony to your owne breast that you are beloued of God and hath made you farre and neere honoured by all such which loue God so also it hath made mee very confident that your Ladiship will fauourably accept these my thankefull endeuours Goe on I humbly beseech you good Madame goe on in that good way which you haue chosen and constantly continue as a bright Starre to shine without waning or being ecclipsed to the directing confirming and comforting of many as hitherto you haue done And for my part I shall neuer cease among many other to stand vp as an humble Suppliant to God that you may bee more and more strengthened in his Grace and directed by the Eternall Spirit that as you haue already by your zeale in Religion prouoked many so you may perseuere vnto the end in this holy course and bring on and encourage others by your singular example Then shall your Name bee still more honourable while you liue here and your account furthered in the day of our Lord IESVS And thus humbly tendering my best seruice to your Ladiship and to the hopefull Gentleman Mr FREDERICKE your ioy vpon whom I beseech God to double the glory of all his Ancestors and wishing vnto you both and to your whole family all temporall and eternall blessings by Iesus Christ I humbly take my leaue and alway rest bound to your Ladiship to my vttermost in all Christian duty Elnathan Parr ¶ To the courteous Reader COurteous Reader Thou hast here the fruit of my sicknesse whereby in the beginning of this Winter I was made vnseruiceable for my publique duety In this while considering that Time is pretious and the dayes euill as the Apostle saith the Lord put into my heart to redeeme the time Whereupon as God enabled me to hold vp my head I looked ouer my ragged Notes and scattered papers Part of which after my rude maner pollished are here offered vnto thee I am not without hope but that by the good hand of God as I had experience of the profit of these things being deliuered by liuely voyce so also the charitable reading of them may much auayle thee I know that euery day there are many new Bookes set forth and of this kind not a few yet in this method with sound briefe Propositions of the principall points of Diuinity euident and infallible proofes succinct and perspicuous Explications and plaine and liuely Applications I haue not obserued any So that this and also the great ignorāce of the multitude considred I doubt not but the Indifferent will free these my Endeuors from the censure of superfluous of writing Iliads as they say after Homer I confesse ingenuously that much of my Explications is drawn frō the fountains of other men both forren Writers and many our owne worthy Countreymen So that as the little Bee greatly industrious flieth ouer many a garden and flower to gather a little hony so haue I out of many mens gardens selected and gathered many such choice things which I iudged might most make for thy benefit And this can be no Imputation to mee in asmuch as the Learned know that not to speake of some of the Pen-men of the holy Ghost both auncient later Writers haue to the great benefit of the Church taken this course also because I haue made such things which I haue receiued from others so to serue my purpose either by contraction addition exposition or marshalling into my order that I may in some sort iustly challenge them as mine owne The summe of this my small Labour to the which is prefixed an exhortation to the study of the Word is an Exposition of the Description of God named the Grounds of Diuinitie expounded applied because it propoundeth preueth and as a key openeth easily vnlocketh the hidden mystery and counsell of God concerning our saluatiō by Iesus Christ The Questions and Answers are familiar and friendly depending The Explications plaine for the most part concise pointing at some things in a word at some in a parenthesis which to the industrious Reader wil be the more aduantageable and for the Vses which being practised are the praise life of knowledge I haue not obserued euery thing nor so pressed any thing but that I leaue much more to be gathered and obserued by such which are accustomed to Meditation In a word that which I iudged most profitable I haue performed for thee If thou beest learned as thou needest it not so I humbly intreate thee to know that I writ it not for thee yet I barre thee not the reading but most willingly submit it to thy censure If thou blamest the Phrase and Stile that it is not fluent and round but ragged and harsh Truly neither can I commend it Happily I haue striuen to be plaine or at least hauing no skill in finer cookery haue drest it as I was able after our homely and country fashion for the stomackes of the vnlearned who rellish and like better of that which is plaine and easie then either learned and deep treatises which they vnderstand not or such cooked conceits where the cost is greater then the nourishment Some delight in toyes like children I should then thinke very ill of my selfe when I should goe about to please their
of his kingdome read ouer the Bible foureteene times in order with certaine Commentaries vpon the same As his diligence is here very commendable and for our imitation so also this He read in order If therefore I were worthy to giue directions this way I would thus aduise First what booke soeuer we take to read to begin at the beginning and so to continue reading till we come to the end of it And thus shall wee carry the summe and the drift of the History and argument before vs of which in a great part they which read now a Chapter in one booke now a lease in another must needs be ignorant Such simple readers I may liken to those simple women which are alwayes reading but are neuer able to come to any sound knowledge of the truth 2. Tim 3.7 For as he that goeth but an easie pace in the right way speedeth his iourney faster then he that maketh more haste in a wrong way Euen so a little read in good order aduantageth the knowledge more then greater paines if it bee confused Secondly I would aduise that in our reading we beginne first with the easiest and playnest Bookes as the history of Christ set down by the Euangelists and the Booke of Genesis Then to reade the Epistles first the shortest as the Epistles to the Philippians Colossians the first and second to the Thessalonians then the Epistles to the Galathians and to the Romans which last Epistle is called of some the Key of the Bible And when wee haue tryed our selues in these then to beginne the Bible and to reade it through For euen as in Trades there are some things more easie to the which the apprentice is applied and afterwards as hee groweth in capacitie hee is taught the harder and more secret things of his mystery so in the scriptures there are some things easie and familiar for learners and beginners as milk for babes and there are other things hard and obscure which it is not safe to meddle withall till wee haue our senses well exercised in the word The third thing required in wise reading is Iudgement and Discretion by the which first wee make choice of a fit time to reade secondly discerne the right sense and meaning of that wee reade and thirdly apply and make the right vse of our reading Iudgement is requisite Psal 112.5 for a wise man ministreth all his affaires with iudgement and euery thing is beautifull in his time Eccle. 3.10 Therefore the time is specially to be regarded All time is not to bee spent this way For our callings must carefully be followed neither is all the time to be taken vp in our callings but some time is to be spared for reading prayer and meditation One of these may not hinder an other which must needs come to passe without Iudgement Dauid and Daniel obserued prayer thrice a day and they that feare God will so diuide their times that at the least once a day they will reade a chapter or two in the Bible and because of the stuggishnesse of our nature soone weary of good things it were good to taske our selues and when it so fals out that we are constrayned vpon extraordinary occasion to leaue our taske vnperformed one day then to double our paines and diligence the next time rising the earlier and working the harder in our callings that we may redeeme that time without any losse Theodosius the second Emperour of that name is reported to haue written out the Bookes of the New Testament with his owne hand accounting it a speciall Iewell and out of it hee read euery day praying with his wife and sisters and singing of Psalmes And it was that famous Eunuches practise as we may gather out of the eight chapter of the Acts. I reade of another Emperor of Rome who was wont to account that day lost in the which he had not bestowed a benefit vpon some of his subiects So we may well reckon that day among our losses in the which wee reade not or meditate not of something in the word But foolish men thus obiect I haue no leisure by reason of vrgency and multitude of busines To such a one I answer Is any businesse more vrgent then this Martha is troubled indeede about many things but this one thing is necessary namely the knowledge of God by his word Againe Thou wilt spare a time to eate and sleepe why not then to read Iob esteemed the words of God more then his appointed food If our loue were such to the word Iob. 23.12 wee would rather spare the times of our eating then of our reading as Iacob spared the meate out of his belly to buy the blessing Hath the body neede of nourishment and hath not the soule much more Gen. 25.30 c. Now the bread of the soule is the word of God O Lord giue vs euermore of this bread Amen Iudgement also is requisite in reading that wee may vnderstand the meaning of the Holy Ghost For the word of God is not in the letters and leaues but in the meaning and sence as some of the Antients haue spoken yea one of them saith that the word of God foolishly vnderstood is not the word of God Our Sauiour Christ hauing oftentimes to deale with the learned Scribes and Pharisies Mat. 12.3 19.14 21.16.42 22.31 Mark 12 24. and with the Sadduces asketh thus Haue you not read and Did you neuer read and You erre not knowing the Scriptures And yet these Scribes did so diligently reade the Scriptures that they numbred the letters and words but they read without iudgement not discerning nor searching into the heart of the sence but staying in the barke of the letter Thus to read is vnprofitable And here as we must be carefull to finde the meaning that we may not read as children so also we must take heed that we feigne not a meaning of our owne and thrust it vpon the word lest we proue Heretickes Therfore the right true and fit sence is to bee sought out which of one place can be but one And that must be not according as we thinke for no Scripture is of priuate interpretation 2. Pet. 1.20 but according to the Scriptures which are the onely best expounders of themselues The meanes and ready way to finde out the genuine and true meaning of any Scripture are especially these First a due and learned considering of the originall Tongue in the which the Scripture is written Secondly a diligent marking of that which goeth before and that which followeth Thirdly a wise comparing together the place in hand with other places both like and vnlike Fourthly a heedfull examining of the sence arising with the Analogy of faith that is with the doctrine contained in the Apostles Creed so called the Lords Prayer and the ten Commandements which are a short summe of the whole Bible Fifthly conference with the learned Interpreters Sixthly feruent
vs to labour to be entertained into his seruice whose seruants after a little obedience here performed are made Kings and Quéenes in Heauen for euermore Who would not be willing through fire and water and all the miseries of this life to goe to that Heauenly Ierusalem the Citty of Saints to haue eternall fellowship with the Angels Patriarkes Prophets Apostles Martyrs and all our deare friends which haue beléeued yea with Iesus Christ our Princely Redéemer in the glory of the Father If thou hast prophanely said or thought what profite shall I haue if I serue God See here and be ashamed for such as serue God shall partake of the swéetnesse of Abrahams bosome of the delights of Paradise of the melody of their Fathers house of their Maisters Ioy that fulnesse of Ioy of the Riuers of pleasure for euer of an Inheritance that neuer fadeth but is immortal in the Heauens where whatsoeuer we can loue we shall haue and wee shall desire nothing which wee haue not where there is so much happinesse as neither the eye hath séene nor heart can thinke What mayest thou thinke of thy selfe which liuest so as if heauen and the ioyes thereof were not worth the while Doest not thou loue labour for this transitory miserable life Why not then much more for that which is permanent in happinesse vnconceiueable Oh! if thou knewest the good that followeth piety and the terror of that death that followeth sin it would make thée willing to redéeme that life though it were with a thousand yeares torment euen in Hell which now is offered to thée by a short cōtinuance in holy obedience Thou séest the way of life and death There is great difference betwéene Heauen Hell betwéene endlesse ioyes and endlesse torments betwéene the fellowship of Christ his holy Angels and the society of the damned and the Diuels Bée wise and chuse the way of life c. Quest But doe you thinke indeede that there shall be such a day of generall Ludgement which you seeme to speake of Ans Yes I verely beleeue that God hath appoynted a day wherein hee will iudge the world in righteousnesse by the man whom hee hath appoynted that is by Iesus Christ who shall seperate the Elect from the Reprobate Act. 17.31 2. Cor. 5.10 Ro. 14.10 12. Hebr. 9.27 Iud. 14.15 adiudging them to eternall life these to eternall death Explic. As the Scriptures doe infallibly teach that there shall be such a day of Iudgement wherein the Church shall be crowned with eternall and full glorie and the Diuels and wicked men sentenced vnto eternall condemnation so also by an inuincible Argument drawne from the Iustice of God the same may be concluded It is iust the the promise of God should be made good to the righteous and his threatning to the vngodly which because it is not here must néedes euen for the iustice and trueth of God be executed in another world Doubtlesse there is a reward laid vp for the righteous Psal 58.11 Doubtlesse there is a GOD which iudgeth the earth The Iudge shall be the whole Trinity in regard of the decrée and authority but Iesus Christ the Mediatour in regard of the visible act promulgation and execution of the Sentence who shall come from heauen in maiesty and great glory attended vpon with innumerable Saints and Angels and in his Humane Nature wherein he suffered performe the same pronouncing the definitiue sentence according to Saint Mathews Gospel Iohn 5.22 27. Mat. 25.34 41. The effect of which two Sentences are euen now to be discerned in the Court of Conscience for the godly doe receiue here absolution and certainety and the wicked haue their mortall sentence euen in their owne breasts but this is secret and the equity of it appeares not Tit. 3.11 and the profane thinke themselues wrongd but then the mouth of all wickednesse shall be stopped and it shal be openly manifested that the Elect are iustly saued and the wicked iustly damned their workes being scanned by the Bookes and their faith and infidelity thereby appearing The persons to be iudged are all mankinde small and great who by the dreadfull sound of a Trumpet Iude 15. 〈◊〉 12 14 Rom 2.16 2 Cor. 5.10 shal be summoned to appeare neyther is it possible not to appeare yea the very Diuels are reserued in cheines vnto the Iudgement of this great Day The matters to be tried are Déedes Words yea Thoughts whatsoouer wée haue done in our bodies good or ill And for a preparation the heauen and earth shall be consumed with fire the heauens passing away as a scrole 2. Pet. 3.7 10. the elements melting with feruent heat th earth burning with the works that are therein whereby is not meant that the substance of the heauen and earth shall be annihilated but only the figure changed and the vanity purged out The comming of the Iudge shall be sodaine The signes of his comming many The particular day and time not knowne nor to be inquired Rom. 8.21 1. Cor. 7.31 1. Thess 5.2 3. Mat. 24.20 Mat 24.36 Acts 1.7 Iohn 6.39 40. But the day wherein this shall be shall be the last day Vse 1. This is a singular comfort to the Elect that there shall be a day wherein they shall haue righteous Iudgement though here they be despised and condemned before men Then also shal appeare to the confusion of the wicked their labour hath not béene in vaine And certainely what can be more comfortable then to be iudged by him who is our Aduocate and hath redéemed vs by his blood Let vs therefore lift vp our heads with trust in him because our redemption draweth neare Let vs loue looke for and haste to his appearing saying and praying with the Church Reu. 22.20 Come Lord Iesus come quickely Vse 2. This is a terrible and blacke day to the wicked who haue not repented for they must appeare before the tribunall seate of Iesus Christ there to answer for all their sinnes euen such which the eie of man could neuer discerne all shall be laied open then and they shall smart for all Knowing the terrour of this day we should be perswaded Surely whome the remembrance of that day of that fire and of that wrath which shall be throwne vpon the wicked will not moue nothing will moue The day of Sodom was a grieuous day but nothing to this day which shall be grieuous to drunkards vsurers whoremongers c. but specially to contemners and enemies of the Gospel 2. Thes 1.8 If thou hast béene such a one how wilt thou indure the countenance of the Iudge which is euen hee whose bloud word sacraments ordinances thou hast despised deriding the professors of his Gospel O let not this day take thée vnawares Preuent the wrath which shall be then reuealed Then it wil be too late to cry for mercy for that is a time of Iudgement Now is the day of Saluation If