Haue in readinesse common-place heads of euery point of diuinitie 2. Distinguish the formost pages of thy paper booke into two columnes or equall parts lengthwise In euery one of those pages set in the top the title of one head or chiefe point the contrarie side remaining in the meane while emptie that fresh paper may be put to 3. All things which thou readest are not to be written in thy book but those things that are worthie to bee remembred and are seldome met with-Neither must thou put the words of the Author in thy common places but briefly note downe the principall points of stories and of things that thou mayst know from what author to fetch them when thou shalt haue vse and make a point in the author himselfe that thou mayst know that the thing is there handled which thou wrotest in thy common-place booke 4. Because some things do very often offer thēselues with a doubtful signification so as that thou canst not tell if thou write thē in thy common places from whence to fetch them therefore to thy common places thou must ioyne an alphabeticall table 5. Alwaies prouided that thou trust not too much to thy places For it is not sufficient to haue a thing written in thy booke vnlesse it be also diligentlie laid and locked vp in thy memorie Preparation hath two parts Interpretation and right diuision or cutting Interpretation is the Opening of the words and sentences of the Scripture that one entire and naturall sense may appeare The Church of Rome maketh 4. senses of the scriptures the literall allegoricall tropological anagogicall as in this her example Melchizedek offered bread and wine The literall sense is that the King of Salem with meate which he brought refreshed the souldiers of Abraham being tyred with trauell The allegoricall is that the Priest doth offer vp Christin y e Masse The tropologicall is therefore something is to be giuen to the poore The Anagogicall is that Christ in like manner being in heauen shall be the bread of life to the faithfull But this her deuice of the fourefold meaning of the scripture must be exploded and reiected There is one onelie sense and the same is the literall An allegorie is onely a certaine manner of vttering the same sense The Anagoge and Tropologie are waies whereby the sense may be applied The principall interpreter of the Scripture is the holy Ghost 2. Pet. 1. 20. So that ye first know this that no prophecie in the Scripture is of any priuate interpretation Moreouer he that makes the law is the best and the highest interpreter of the law The supreame and absolute meane of interpretation is the Scripture it selfe Nehem. 8. 8. And they read in the booke of the Law of God distinctly and gaue the sense and caused them to vnderstand by the Scripture it selfe per Scripturam ipsam The meanes subordinated to the scripture are three the Analogie of faith the circumstances of the place propounded and the comparing of places together The analogie of faith is a certaine abridgement or summe of the Scriptures collected out of most manifest and familiar places The parts thereof are two The first concerneth faith which is handled in the Apostles Creede The second concerneth charitie or loue which is explicated in the ten Commaundements 2. Tim. 1. 13. Keepe the true paterne of the wholsome words which thou hast heard of me with faith and loue which is in Christ Iesus The circumstances of the place propounded are these Who to whom vpon what occasion at what time in what place for what end what goeth before what followeth The collation or comparing of places together is that whereby places are set like parallels one beside another that the meaning of them may more euidentlie appeare Act. 9. 22. But Saul increased the more in strength and confounded the Iewes which dwelt at Damascus confirming 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is conferring or conioyning of places of Scriptures as Artificers being about to compact or ioyne a thing together are wont to fit all the parts amongst themselues that one of them may perfectly agree with each other that this was that Christ. Collation of places is two-fold The first is the comparing of the place propounded with it selfe cited and repeated else-where in holy writ Esa. 6. 10. Make the heart of this people fat make their eares heauie and shut their eyes lest they see with their eyes and heare with their eares and vnderstand with their hearts and conuert and he heale them This place is sixe times repeated in the new testament Mat. 13. 14. Marke 4. 12. Luke 8. 10. Iohn 12. 40. Act. 28. 27. Rom. 11. 8. Places repeated haue often alterations for sundrie causes These causes are first exegeticall that is for exposition sake as Psal. 78. 2. compared with Mat. 13. 35. I will opē my mouth in a parable I will declare things hidden from of old I will opē my mouth in parables and will vtter the things which haue been kept secret from the foundation of the world Psal. 78. 24. Iohn 6. 31. He gaue them of the wheat of heauen He gaue the bread from heauen to eate Isai. 28. 16. Rom. 9. 33. Behold I will lay in Sion a stone a tried stone a precious corner stone a sure foūdation He that beleeueth shall not make bast Behold I lay in Sion a stumbling block and a rocke to make men fal and euery one that beleeueth in him shall not be ashamed Psal. 110. 1. 1. Cor. 15. 25. Sit thou at my right hand vntill I make thine enemies thy foot stoole He must raigne till he haue put all his enemies vnder his feet Psal. 116. 10. 2. Cor. 4. 13. I beleeued because I did speake I beleeued and therefore haue I spoken Gen. 13. 15. Gal. 3. 16. All the land which thou seest will I giue vnto thee and to thy Now to Abraham and to his seede were the promises made seede for euer He saith not vnto the seedes as speaking of many but and to thy seed as of one which is Christ. A second cause is diacriticall or for discerning sake that places and times and persons might bee mutuallie distinguished Michah 5. 2. Mat. 6. And thou Bethlehem Ephrathah art little to be among the Princes of Iudah out of thee shall hee come forth to me that shall be the ruler in Israel And thou Bethlehem in the land of Iudah art not the least among the Princes of Iudah for out of thee shall come the gouernour that shall feed my people Israel Thirdly these causes are circumscriptiue or for limitation sake that the sense and sentence of the place might be truelie restrained according as the minde and meaning of the holy Ghost was Deut. 6. 13. Mat. 4. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and shalt serue him Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onelie shalt thou serue Isai. 29. 13. Matth. 15. 8. This people draweth
of the Prophets and the Minor in the writings of the Euangelists and Apostles The Scripture is either the New Testament or the Old The old testament is y ◠first part of the Scripture written by the Prophets in the Hebrew tongue or at least in the Chaldie vnfolding chiefely that old couenant of works Luk. 16. 29. and 24. 27. And he began at Moses and at all the Prophets and interpreted vnto them in all the Scriptures the things which were written of him It is distinguished by bookes which are either Historicall or Dogmaticall or Propheticall The Historicall bookes are stories of things done for the illustration and confirmation of that doctrine which is propounded in other bookes 1. Cor. 10. 11. Now al these things came vpo them for ensamples and were written to admonish vs. Rom. 15. 4. For whatsoeuer things were written afore-time are written for our learning These books are in number fifteene 1 Genesis which is an historie of the creation fall promise and of the state of the Church conserued and shut vp in priuate families 2 Exodus which is an historie of the deliuerance of the Israelites from the Aegyptians of their going out of Aegypt of the promulgation of the Law and of the Tabernacle 3 Leuiticus which containeth a storie of the Ceremoniall worship 4 Numbers which is an historie of their martiall marching into the land of Canaan 5 Deuteronomie which is a commentarie repeating and explicating the Lawes out of the fore-said bookes 6 The booke of Ioshua which declareth their entrance into and possession of the land of Canaan vnder Ioshua 7 The book of the Iudges which comprehendeth an historie of the corrupt and miserable condition of the Church and Common-wealth of Israel from Ioshua to Eli. 8 The booke of Ruth which is an historie concerning the mariages and posteritie of Ruth 9 The first and second booke of Samuel which is a storie of things done vnder Eli and Samuel Priests and vnder Saul and Dauid Kings 10 The first and second booke of Kings which maketh a narratiō of things atchieued in the daies of the Kings of Israel and Iudah 11 The first and second booke of Chronicles which is a methodicall historie of the beginning increase and ruine of the people of Israel seruing to explaine and shew the Line or Linage of Christ. 12 The booke of Ezra which containeth an historie of their returne from captiuitie in Babylon and of the beginning of the Restoring of the citie 13 The booke of Nehemiah which speaketh of the restoring of the city which was to be finished 14 The booke of Hester which is an historie of the preseruation of the Church of the Iewes in Persia by Hester 15 The booke of Iob which is an history intreating of the causes of tentations as also of his manifold conflicts and lastly of his happie issue The Dogmaticall bookes are those which teach and prescribe the Doctrine of Diuinitie These are foure in number 1 The booke of Psalmes which containeth sacred songes to be fitted for euerie condition both of the Church and the particular members therof and also to be sung with grace in the heart Col. 3. 16. 2 The booke of Prouerbes which is a treatise of Christian manners teaching pietie towards God and iustice towards our Neighbour 3 The booke of the Preacher which discloseth the vanity of al humane things so farre forth as they are vsed without the feare of God 4. The Song of Songs which speaketh of the mutuall communion of Christ with the Church vnder an allegorie of a Bridegroome and his Bride The Prophetical books are Predictions either of the iudgements of God for the sinnes of the people or of the deliuerance of the Church which is to bee perfited at the comming of Christ. But with these predictions they doe mingle the doctrine of repentance and doe almost alwaies vse consolations in Christ to them that doe repent It is their custome also for the helping of their hearers memorie and vnderstanding to propound their sermons brieflie which they made at large Esa. 8. 1. Moreouer the Lord said vnto me take thee a great roule and write in it with a mans penne Hab. 2. 2. Write the vision and make it plaine vpon tables that he may run that readeth it Prophecies are either greater or lesser Greater are such as do more plentifullie deliuer all those things that are foretold as the prophecie of Esay Ieremie Ezekiel Daniel Hitherto belong the Lamentations of Ieremie touching the miserie of the people of the Iewes about the time of the death of Iosiah Lesser prophecies are those which intreate more sparinglie or briefely of all those things that are foretold or at least of some of them as the prophecie of Hosea Ioel Amos Obediah Ionas Michah Nahum Habakuk Zephanie Hagge Zacharie Malachie Thus much for the Old testament The New Testament is the second part of the Scripture written in the Greeke tongue by the Apostles or at least approued of them propounding plainely the doctrine of the new couenant Eph. 2. 20. And are built vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Peter approued the Gospel of Marke at whose motion and appointment it was written by Marke as it pleaseth Nicephorus to auerre Lib. 2. cap. 45. And Iohn that wrote the Gospell approued the Gospell of Luke It is of small moment which is reported by Eusebius to wit that it is apparent by two places 2. Tim. 2. 8. and Rom. 2. 16. that Paul was the author of that Gospell which is called Lukes For Paul doth not here speake of any one booke but of his whole ministerie for hee addeth In * which I suffer trouble as an euill doer euen vnto bonds 2. Tim. 2. 9. The new Testament containeth partly Histories and partly Epistles The Histories are 1 The foure Gospels of Matthew Marke Luke and Iohn which are an history of the life deedes and doctrine of Christ exhibited vnto the world continuing from his conception euen vntill his ascension into heauen And there are foure writers two that were hearers and two that were eye-witnesses that they might giue greater assurance of the truth of the historie The difference betwixt the Euangelists is on this wise Matthew layeth open the doctrines which Christ deliuered Marke sets downe the historie briefly yet did he not make an abridgement of the Gospell which Matthew wrote as Hierome supposed For hee begins his discourse in a diuers manner and proceedes in another order partly intreating of things more largely and partlie interlacing of new matters Luke aimeth at or frameth a perfect historie and described in a certaine order Iohn is almost wholy taken vp in laying open the Godhead and benefit of Christ which is deriued from his Godhead vnto vs. Hierome distinguisheth the Euangelists by their beginnings or entrance He saith Matthew is like a man because hee begins with the Man-hood of Christ. He likens Marke to a Lion because hee begins with
be exhibited in the last times prophecied the Sibylls as Lactantius recordeth lib. 4. cap. 6. and Cicero lib. 2. de Diuinat and Virgil in the fourth Eclogue 4. Of the miracles of Christ Suetonius speaketh in Nero and Tacitus lib. 5. 20. 5. Of the Wisemens starre Plin. lib. 2. 25. 6. Of the slaughtering of the infants Macrobus in Satur. 7. Of the death of Herod Agrippa Iosephus in his 19. booke of Antiquities chap. 7. 8. Of the flood Berosus in those fragments which are extant Iosephus Antiq. booke 1. chap. 3. And the Poets 9. Of the tower of Babel Eupolemus speaketh as Eusebius testifieth De praeparat Euangel 10. Of the Doue which Noe sent out Plutarch mentioneth Lib. quod Bruta sunt rationalia 11. Of Iaphet the sonne of Noe the Poets fable many things 12. Of Abrahams sacrifice Alexander Polyhist 13. Of the miracles of Moses Plinie speaketh though he do ill in calling him a Magitian Thirdly the Antiquitie of the word for it coÌ„taineth in it a narration of things done from the beginning of the world But the most ancient humane Historie whatsoeuer was not written by any before the daies of Ezra and Nehemiah who were about the yeare of the worlds creation three thousand and fiue hundreth Fourthly the most certaine accomplishment of the prophecies as are these of the calling of the Gentiles of Antichrist of the apostasie of the Iewes c. Fiftly the matter thereof which is of one true God of the true worship of God and that God is the Sauiour Sixtly the consent of all the parts of the Scripture Seauenthly the miraculous preseruation of the Scriptures in the perils of the Church and in the time of generall reuolting Eightly the operation thereof for it conuerteth men and though it bee flatlie contrarie to the reason and affections of men yet it winneth them vnto it selfe Ninthly it is full of maiestie in the simplenes of the words Lastly the holy pen-men set downe their owne corruptions and Moses commendeth himselfe saying that he was the meekest of all men which argueth that they were led by the holie Ghost And Christ who is described in the Gospell affirmeth very plainely that he is the sonne of God and that he is one with God the father and challengeth all the glorie of God vnto himselfe Which if it had not bin right and true he should haue felt the wrath of God with Adam and with Herod who would needes bee like vnto God But on the contrarie God hath reuenged his death both vpon Herod and vpon the Iewes and vpon Pilate and vpon those Emperours that persecuted the Church And thus we haue seene the tokens of the Scripture Whereby it appeareth that the booke of Tobit the prayer of Manasses the boooke of Iudith the booke of Baruch the Epistle of Ieremy the additions to Daniel the third and fourth booke of Ezra the additions to the book of Hester the two bookes of Machabees the booke of Wisedome and Ecclesiasticus are not to be reckoned in the Canon Reas. 1. They are not written by the Prophets 2. They are not written in Hebrew 3. Christ and his Apostles alledged in the new Testament no testimonies out of those bookes 4. They containe some feigned things and contrarie to the Scriptures CHAP. IIII. Of the interpretation of the Scriptures HItherto hath been spoken of the obiect of Preaching The parts thereof are two Preparation for the sermon and the Promulgation or vttering of it Matth. 13. 52. Then said he vnto them therefore euery Scribe which is taught vnto the kingdome of heauen is like vnto an housholder which bringeth forth out of his treasure both new and old In preparation priuate studie is with diligence to be vsed 1. Tim. 4. 13. Till I come giue attendance to reading to exhortation and to doctrine 1. Pet. 1. 10. Of the which saluation the Prophets haue inquired and searched which prophecied of the grace that should come vnto you Dan. 9. 2. In the first yeere of his raigne I Daniel vnderstood by bookes the number of the yeeres Concerning the studie of Diuinitie take this aduice First diligently imprint both in thy mind and memory the substance of Diuinitie described with definitions diuisions and explications of the properties Secondly proceede to the reading of the Scriptures in this order Vsing a grammaticall rhetoricall and logicall analysis and the helpe of the rest of the arts reade first the Epistle of Paul to the Rom. after that the Gospell of Iohn as being indeed the keyes of the new Testament and then the other books of the new TestameÌ„t will be more easie when they are read When all this is done learne first the dogmaticall bookes of the old Testament especiallie the Psalmes then the Propheticall especially Esay Lastly the historicall but chieflie Genesis For it is likelie that the Apostles and Euangelists read Esay and the Psalmes very much For there are no bookes of the old Testament out of which we can reade more testimonies to be cited then out of these There are about threescore places alledged out of Esay and threescore and foure out of the Psalmes Thirdly out of orthodoxall writings we must get aid not onely from the latter but also from the more ancient Church Because Sathan hath raised vp from the dead the old Heretiques that he might hinder the restoratioÌ„ of the Church which is begun to bee made in our time For the Antitrinitaries haue newly varnished that opinion of Arius and Sabellius The Anabantists renew the doctrines or sects of the Essees Catharists Enthusiasts and Donatists The Swenkseldians reuiue the opinions of the Eutychians Enthusiasts c. Menon followeth Ebion and the Papists resemble the Pharisies Encratites Tatians Pelagians The Libertines renew the opinions of the Gnosticks and Carpocratians Seruetus hath reuiued the heresies of Samosatenus Arrius Eutyches Marcion and Apollinaris Lastly the Schismatiques that separate themselues from euangelical Churches receiue the opinions facts and fashions of Pupâ—anus in Cyprian of the Audians and Donatists Therefore in like manner wee must not so much seeke for new repealings and confutations of these heresies as wee are for our vse to fetch those ancient ones out of Councils and Fathers and to accompt them as approued and firme Fourthly those things which in studying thou meetest with that are necessarie and worthie to be obserued thou must put in thy tables or Common-place books that thou maiest alwaies haue in a readines both old and new Fiftly before all these things God must carnestly be sued vnto by prayer that hee would blesse these meanes and that he would open the meaning of the Scriptures to vs that are blind Psalm 119. 18. Open mine eies that I may see the wonderfull things of thy Law Reuel 3. 18. I aduise thee to buy gold for thee and to annoint thine eyes with eye-salue that thou maist see Hitherto pertaineth the framing of Common-place bookes Concerning which obserue this slender counsel 1.
Collection is when the doctrine not expressed is soundly gathered out of y e text This is done by the helpe of the nine arguments that is of the causes effects subiects adiuncts dissentanies names distribution and definition For example A place The collection Iohn 10. 34. Iesus answered them Is it not written in your law I said yee are Gods From the comparison of the lesser 35. If hee called thē Gods vnto whom the word of God was giuen and the Scripture cannot bee broken 36. Say yee of me whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world thou blasphemest because I said I am the Sonne of God A place The collection from the lesser 1. Cor. 9. 9. For it is written in the law of Moses thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne What hath God care of oxen Vers. 4. Haue we not power to eate and to drinke A place The collection from the contrarie Gal. 3. 10. For so many as are of the workes of the law are vnder a curse for it is written Cursed is euery one that continueth not in al things which are in the book of the law to do them Vers. 9. Therfore those which are of faith are blessed with faithfull Abraham Vers. 11. For the iust shal liue by faith Vers. 11. And that no man is iustified by the law before God it is euident A place A collection from the Adiunct Heb. 8. For in rebuking them he saith Behold the daies will come saith the Lord when I shall make with the house of Israel with the house of Iudah a new testament Heb. 8. 13. In that he saith a new testament hee hath disanulled the old now that which is disanulled and waxed old is readie to vanish away In gathering of doctrines we must specially remember that an example in his owne kind that is an Ethique Oeconomique Politique Ordinarie and Extraordinarie example hath the virtue of a general rule in Ethique Oeconomique Politique Ordinarie Extraordinarie matters The examples of the fathers are paterns for vs. 1. Cor. 10. 11. And whatsoeuer is written is written for our learning And it is a Principle in Logique that the Genus is actually in all the species and a rule in the Optiques that the generall species of things are perceiued before the particular A place The Collection from the Species Rom. 9. 7. Neither are they all children because they are the seede of Abraham but in Isaac shal thy seed be called 10. Neither he only felt this but also Rebecca when shee had conceiued by one euen by our father Isaac Vers. 8. That is they which are the children of the flesh are not the children of God but the children of the promise are counted for the seede Rom. 4. 18. Which Abraham against hope beleeued vnder hope c. 21. Being fully assured that hee which had promised was also able to doe it 22. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousnesse Rom. 4. 23. Now it is not written for him onely that it was imputed to him for righteousnes 24. But for vs also to whom it shal be imputed for righteousnesse which beleeue in him that raised vp Iesus our Lord from the dead That also I adde that collections ought to be right and sound that is to say deriued from the genuine and proper meaning of the Scripture If otherwise wee shall draw any doctrine from any place Prou. 8. 22. the Greeke translation of the Seuentie Interpreters is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord hath created me it is the speech of Wisedome that is of Christ speaking of himselfe Whence the Arrians collect very wickedly that the Sonne was created But in the Hebrew it is Iehouah kanneni The Lord hath possessed mee Now the Father possesseth the Son because hee begat him from eternitie and because the Father is in the Sonne and the Sonne in the Father And so Gen. 4. 1. When a Sonne was borne vnto Adam he saith I haue possessed a man from the Lord. The error perhaps came of this that Ectise was either through ignorance or malice put for Ectese Augustine also vpon the tenth verse of the 39. Psalme readeth on this wife I held my peace because thou hast made me fecistime From whence hee doth wittily gather that it is a marueile that he should holde his tongue that hath receiued a mouth to speake whereas me is neither in the Hebrew nor in the Greeke And vpon the 72. Psalme and 14. verse he disputeth much about vsuries and proueth that vsuries are sinnes whereas there is no such matter in that text For the words are He shall deliuer their soule from deceit and violence so precious is their blood in his eyes It shall be lawfull also to gather Allegories for they are arguments taken from things that are like and Paul in his teaching vseth them often 1. Cor. 9. 9. But they are to bee vsed with these cautions 1. Let them be vsed sparingly and soberly 2. Let them not be farre fetcht but fitting to the matter in hand 3. They must be quickly dispatcht 4. They are to bee vsed for instruction of the life and not to proue any point of faith Any point of doctrine collected by iust consequence is simply of it selfe to bee beleeued and doth demonstrate Act. 18. 24. And a certaine Iew named Apollos borne at Alexandria came to Ephesus an eloquent man and mightie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Scriptures 28. For mightily he confuted the Iewes publikely with great vehemencie demonstrating 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Scriptures that Iesus was the Christ. From hence it followeth First that humane testimonies whether of the Philosophers or of the Fathers are not to be alleaged Augustine vpon the 66. Psalme saith thus If I speake let no man heare if Christ speake woe bee to him that doth not heare So againe he saith De vnitat Ecclesiae Let vs not heare These things I say These things he saith but let vs heare These things the Lord saith Yet with this exception Vnlesse they conuince the conscience of the hearer Thus Paul alleaged the testimonie of Aratus Act. 17. 28. For by him wee liue and moue and haue our being as one of your owne Poets hath said For wee are all his progenie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 29. Forasmuch then as we are the progenie of God c. As also a saying of Menander 1. Cor. 15. 33. Be not deceiued euill conuersations corrupt good manners And of Epimenides Tit. 1. 12. As one of their Prophets hath said the Cretians are alwaies liars euill beasts and slow bellies And then also it must be done sparingly and with leauing out the name of the prophane writer Secondly that a few testimonies of Scripture are to be vsed for the proofe of the doctrine and that sometimes there is neede of none Lastly hence it followes that the Prophets deliuering their doctrine thus are not to
bee reprooued of other Prophets 1. Cor. 14. 32. And the spirits of the Prophets are subiect vnto the Prophets Yet afterwards hee addeth vers 37. If any one seeme to be a Prophet or spirituall let him acknowledge that those things which I write vnto you are the commandements of God CHAP. VII Of the waies how to vse and applie doctrines APplication is that wherby the doctrine rightlie collected is diuerslly fitted according as place time and person doe require Ezek. 34. 15. I will feede my sheepe and bring them to their rest saith the Lord. 16. I will seeke that which is lost and bring againe that which was driuen away and will bind vp that which was broken and will strengthen the sicke Iude 22. And hauing compassion of some in putting difference 23. And saue other with terror pulling them out of the flame The foundation of Application is to know whether the place propounded be a sentence of the Law or of the Gospell For when the word is preached there is one operation of the Law and another of the Gospell For the Law is thus farre forth effectuall as to declare vnto vs the disease of sinne and by accident to exasperate and stirre it vp but it affords no remedie Now the Gospel as it teacheth what is to be done so it hath also the efficacy of the holy Ghost adioyned with it by whom we being regenerated we haue strength both to beleeue the Gospell and to performe those things which it commaundeth The Law therefore is the first in the order of teaching and the Gospell second It is a sentence of the Law which speaketh of perfect inherent righteousnes of eternall life giuen through the works of the Law of the contrarie sins and of the curse that is due vnto them Gal. 3. 10. So many as are of the workes of Law are vnder the curse for it is written cursed is he whosoeuer abideth not in all things which are written in the booke of the Law to doe them Matth. 3. 7. O generation of Vipers who hath fore-warned you to flee from the anger to come 10. And now also is the axe put to the roote of the trees therfore euery tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is cut vp 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and cast into the fire A sentence of the Gospell is that which speaketh of Christ and his benefits and of faith being fruitfull in good workes as Iohn 3. 16. So God loued the world that hee gaue his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life Hence it is that many sentences which seeme to belong to the Law are by reason of Christ to bee vnderstood not legally 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but with the qualification of the Gospell Luk. 11. 28. Blessed are those which heare the word of God and keepe it Deut. 11. This commandement which I command thee this day is not hidden nor set a farre off but it is by thee in thy month and in thine heart This sentence which is legall in Moses is euangelicalll in Paul Rom. 10. 8. Psalm 119. 1. Blessed are those that are perfect in the way who walke in the law of Iehouah 2. Blessed are they that keepe his testimonies and seeke him with their whole heart Iohn 14. 21. Hee that hath my commandements and keepeth them is he that loueth me he that loueth me shall be loued of my father 23. If any man doe loue me hee will keepe my word and my father doth loue him and we will come vnto him and wee will dwell with him Gen. 6. 9. Noah was a iust and vpright man in his time Noah walked with God continually Gen. 17. 1. I am the strong God omnipotent walke alway before me and be vpright The waies of Application are chieflie seuen according to the diuers condition of men and people which is seuenfold I. Vnbeleeuers who are both ignorant and vnteachable These men in the first place are to bee prepared to receiue the doctrine of the word 2. Chro. 17. Iehosaphat sent Leuites throughout the cities of Iudah to teach the people and to bring them from Idols This preparation is to be made partly by disputing or reasoning with them that thou maist throughly discerne their manners and disposition and partly by reprouing in them some notorious sinne that being pricked in heart and terrified they may become teachable Act. 17. 17. Hee disputed in the Synagogue with the Iewes and with them that were religious and in the market place with whomsoeuer he met Act. 9. 3. Now as hee iournied it came to passe that as hee was come neere to Damascus suddenly there shined round about him a light from heauen 4. And hee fell to the earth and heard a voyce saying to him Saul Saul why persecutest thou me 5. And he said Who art thou Lord And the Lord answered I am Iesus of Nazaret whom thou doest persecute it is hard for thee to kicke against the pricks Act. 16. 27. Then the keeper of the prison awoke out of his sleepe and when he saw the prison doores open he drew out his sword and would haue killed himself supposing the prisoners had bin fled 28. Then Paul cried with a loud voice saying Doe thy selfe no harme for we are all here 29. Then he called for a light and leaped in and came trembling and fell downe before Paul and Silas 30. And brought them out and said Sirs what must I doe to be saued 31. And they said Beleeue in the Lord Iesus and thou shalt be saued and thine household Act. 17. 22. And Paul stood in the midst of Marsstreete and said Ye men of Athens I see that in all things ye are too superstitious 23. For as I passed by and beheld your deuotions I found an altar wherein was written Unto the vnknowne God whom ye then ignorantly worship him shew I vnto you 24. God that made the world and all things in it seeing that he is Lord of heauen and earth dwelleth not in temples made with hands When now there is hope that they are become teachable and prepared the doctrine of Gods word is to be declared to them generally in some common termes or ordinarie points Act. 17. 30. And the time of this ignorance God regarded not but now he commandeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all men euerie where to repent 31. Because hee hath appointed a day in which hee will iudge the world in righteousnes by that Man whom he hath appointed whereof hee hath assured all men in that hee hath raised him from the dead If they shal approue this doctrine then it is to be opened to them distinctly in euery particular but if they shall remaine vnteachable without hope of winning them they are to be left Matth. 7. 6. Giue not that which is holy vnto dogges neither cast your pearles before swine lest they tread them vnder their feete and turning againe all to rent you Prou.