AN EXPOSITION VPON THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE second Epistle of Peter WITH THE PRINCIPALL DOCTRINES naturally arising from euery verse of the same Chapter By STEPHEN DENISON Minister of Kree-Church London IER 14.19 Hast thou vtterly reiected Iuda hath thy soule loathed Sion why hast thou smitten vs and there is no healing for vs We looked for peace and there is no good and for time of healing and behold trouble LONDON Printed by Richard Field for Robert Mylbourne and are to be sold at the great South doore of Pauls 1622. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE AND ELECT LADIE THE LADIE THEODOSIA DVDLEY Grace and peace be multiplyed RIGHT HONOVRABLE As the Lord hath honoured you in respect of place so he hath doubly honoured you with grace and vertue Amongst the rest of the rare endowments wherewith God hath inriched your honourable person I obserue these in particular First humility a grace hard to be found in great personages Secondly loue to Gods house your Honours diligence in this kind will rise vp in iudgement against many proud despisers of holy things and will condemne them Thirdly Christian gouernment in your family I could name many more but it is needlesse because they are better knowne then I can expresse them Your singular vertues together with the experience which I haue of your loue in the best things do encourage me to dedicate this small worke vnto your Honor. The most part of this Chapter was preached in your hearing and considering you vouchsafed to heare it preached with ioy and great diligence I make no doubt but your honour will accept it and as diligently reade it now as before you heard it Good Madam I know God hath laid vpon you a great triall of affliction in that he hath taken away your noble sonne Sir Ferdinando Dudley But I beseech you consider whither he is remoued to wit from earth to heauen his great zeale in Religion especially in his later yeares with the fruit thereof do giue sufficient testimonie of his present happinesse Who would not be content that their dearest friend should be aduanced Behold he is aduanced to a Crowne yea to a Crowne of glorie which shall neuer be taken from him nor he from it If the dead in Christ were to speake vnto vs they would surely say to vs that mourne for them Weepe not for vs for we are in blisse and happinesse And so if this worthie sonne were to speake vnto you he would say vnto you seeing your teares My honourable Mother weepe not for me behold my happinesse The Church of God hath the greatest losse in the death of this worthy Saint She hath too few such fauourers as he was but all must submit to the will of God the will of the Lord is good the Lord hath giuen and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord. He is taken away from beholding the euill to come and we are left still for our further triall the Lord sanctifie our crosses vnto vs. Sorrow for such a sonne shall be no hinderance as I hope but rather a furtherance to your Honours zeale This shall make you more mindfull of mortalitie more carefull to worke out your owne saluation more industrious in the study of heauenly things And indeed it nearely concerneth euery Christian to haue especiall respect vnto Gods word in the time of affliction for whence can any expect sound comfort in time of trouble but from the word or whence strength to beare afflictions but from the same word The word of God is as the balme of Gilead We must flie vnto it to be healed of our sorrowes The word of God is as a strong Tower we must runne vnto it if we would be safe from spirituall dangers Now Gods word is not onely that which is expresly written in the Bible but also the labours of Gods seruants in expounding and preaching so far as they deliuer nothing but that which hath warrant from the Scripture this is also Gods word And in this word we must be conuersant as well as in the former though in the former principally because it was by immediate reuelation But I shall not neede to prouoke your Honour to the study of Gods word for I am perswaded you are taught of God I onely beseech your acceptation and patronage for this little Booke and so rest Your Honours to be commanded in all Christian seruice STEPHEN DENISON To the Christian Reader BEloued Christian I present this Booke vnto thy view I desire thee to reade it with an holie affection interpret things in the best sence and according to my true meaning and thou shalt finde nothing contrary to the analogy of faith Some few things are escaped in the Printing and in the pointing but thou wilt easily conceiue them by diligent obseruation Amongst the rest these are escaped Page 27. line 5. sinnes and godlinesse can neuer stand together it should be reigning sinnes and godlinesse can neuer stand together it is onely mis-pointed Page 105. line 19. their is set in stead of euer by mis-printing Page 121 line 29. a depriued Minister is put in stead of a restrained Minister If you reape anie fruit by these my weake labours giue all the glorie to God and I beseech your prayers to God for me Thine in the Lord St. D. A Table of the chiefe things contained in this book or a briefe view of the Doctrines gathered out of euery verse of the Chapter VERSE 1. 1 IT is an honest and commendable practise for such as write Bookes to set their names to their writings page 1 2 The chiefe of the creatures are but seruants in respect of Christ 2 3 Vnless a Minister speake as from Christ we are not to receiue him 4 4 Grace is a portion obtained by lot 4 5 The people may haue the like sauing graces as are in their Ministers 5 6 Gods owne fidelitie is an especiall motiue vnto God to giue grace 6 VERSE 2. 1 Gods fauour his Spirit are to be wished aboue all c. 6 2 Peace with God is to be desired aboue all other peaces 9 3 Ministers should desire increase of grace in their bearers 10 4 Thâ— differences betweene literall and sauing knowledge 13 5 The way to grow in grace in sense and feeling of Gods fauour in peace of conscience yea the way to attaine victory against enemies and other temporall blessings for all these are comprehended in grace and peace it is to get sauing knowledge 14 6 Iesus Christ is the onely meritorious Sauiour 16 7 Vnto whom Christ is a Sauiour to them he will be a Lord. 18 VERSE 3. 1 Christ hath in him not an humane power onely but also a diuine 20 2 Whatsoeuer tendeth to saluation or sanctification we receiue it all from Christ 21 3 Whatsoeuer pertaineth to life and godlinesse it is not of merit but of free grace 23 4 There is a life prepared for the elect after this life ended 23 5 The motiues
this is a meanes to preuent falling away But some man may say How is full assurance of election and calling a meanes to preuent falling away I answer Because it is ioyned with many preseruatiue graces as with faith and the like Secondly because such is the sweetnesse of full assurance that whosoeuer hath it he would not part with it againe for anie pleasure or profit whereby he is tempted to fall away Thus assurance is a strong preseruatiue against backesliding But wherein standeth the force of this Argument which the holie Ghost vseth to perswade euerie man to make his calling and election sure For is it such a great matter to fall away that we should the rather giue diligence to make our calling and election sure to preuent it Surely yes it is a sore matter and grieuous for anie to backeslide or to play the apostate If anie man draw backe saith God my soule shall haue no pleasure in him Hebrews 10.38 Yea it had bene better for them not to haue knowne the way of righteousnesse then after they haue knowne it to turne from the holie commandement giuen vnto them 2. Pet. 2.21 And the reason that backesliding is so fearefull is manifest first because it frustrateth or maketh vaine all former good beginnings for the righteousnesse of backsliders shall not once be mentioned Ezech. 18.24 Secondly because it giueth a stronger possession vnto the diuell then euer he had before he re-enters with seuen diuels worse then himselfe Mat. 12.45 Thirdly because it maketh a man or woman more like vnto dogges and swine then Christians The dog is returned to his vomit c. 2. Pet. 2. Vse This serueth to shew the reason or cause why so many fall off at these daies it is because they neuer were diligent to make their calling and election sure If they had laboured for assurance their assurance would haue preuented their fall They should haue stood by faith whereas now they beare the price of their follie For if ye do these things Or as it is in the originall Doing these things ye shall neuer fall Now in that the Apostle doth seeme to intimate that our standing is conditionall and that it dependeth in some sort vpon our owne endeuours Quest therefore the question may be this viz. Whether the childe of God elected before all worlds redeemed with the bloud of Christ and truly and effectually called may euer totally and finally fall out of his election redemption and vocation and so become reprobate and be damned and whether his standing depend mainly vpon his owne endeuours Answ We do not deny but that hypocrites which seeme to be the children of God and are not and seeme to haue sauing grace but haue not may finally and totally fall from that which seemeth to haue bene in them in former times as we see in the examples of Saul and Iudas and Demas and many others And the reason of their fall is first because they beganne in hypocrisie and that profession which is begunne in hypocrisie will commonly end in apostacie Secondly because they neuer receiued the truth or embraced profession for it selfe or in the loue of it but meerly for carnall ends as for profit or a great name or to please others and the like And that profession which is vndertaken for such causes must needes ceasse when the causes of it ceasse Thirdly because they were neuer any practisers of the word of God They alwayes built vpon the sandie foundation of an outward profession making no conscience of sound practise and therefore when the raine descended and the flouds came and the windes blew and beat vpon them they fell c. Matth. 7.26.27 Againe we do not denie but that the verie children of God may fall in some measure from some degree of that grace which they haue had in former times They may fall into great errors of iudgement as we see in the holie Galatians which were ready to embrace another gospel yea which were remoued to another gospel Galat 1.6 Secondly they may fall from their first loue in some degree Reuelat. 2.4.5 Thirdly they may fall into grosse sinne as we see in Dauid and Peter and many other Fourthly they may fall from the sence and feeling of Gods grace and they may come to thinke themselues to be reprobates and cast-awaies to be vtterly depriued of grace and the like The reasons of which downe-falls in Gods children are diuers first want or neglect of powerfull meanes What was the reason of the fall of the Galatians but Paules absence Secondly idlenesse for how came Dauid to fall so grossely but in that he was found idle 2. Sam. 11. Thirdly bad companie For how came Peter to denie his Maister but by being amongst the high priests seruants Math. 26. Fourthly naturall infirmitie we being too prone to feare men and so to be discouraged by their threats and persecutions or to please them and so to yeeld vnto them in all things or to follow their guise or example These and such like are causes of the fall of Gods children from some degrees of grace But that Gods children once elected redeemed and effectually called should vtterly and finally fall we constantly denie it and that for these reasons first because God hath expresly promised that he will make with his seruants an euerlasting Couenant and that he will not turne from them to do them good but that he will put his feare in their hearts that they may not depart from him Ieremy 32.40 Now Gods promises are infallible Secondly because our marriage with Christ is an euerlasting marriage I will betroth thee vnto me for euer Hosea 2.19 Now that which is for euer shall neuer haue end Thirdly because the Father is stronger then all and none can plucke vs out of his hand Iohn 10.28 Fourthly because God will neuer cast away anie whom he knew before Rom. 11.12 If any shall obiect that in Exodus 32 33 If anie shall sinne against me or whosoeuer sinneth against me him will I blot out of my booke I answer The Lord speaketh there figuratiuely and to our capacities and his meaning is that he wil manifest rebels not to be written in his booke that whereas they seemed to be the elect people of God by outward prerogatiues and externall profession now the Lord will demonstrate them to be of the Synagogue of Satan This must needes be the meaning of the holie Ghost in that place For where he speaketh particularly concerning Gods decrees he shewes that they are immutable that they are like the mighty mountains which stand fast for euer Psal 33.11 Pro. 19.21 The counsell of the Lord shall stand For the second part of the question to wit Whether a childe of God stand mainly by his owne endeuours or not because it is said If yee do these things yee shall neuer fall I answer He that made vs without vs will not saue vs without vs. We must worke out our saluation
will honour them that honour him 153 3 What honour and glory Christ receiued in his transfiguration 155 4 That God hath his time to put honour vpon his children 156 5 Rather then Gods children shall want honour God will giue them honour by extraordinarie meanes 157 6 God dwelleth in the midst of such glory as becometh his greatnesse 158 7 How Christ is the Sonne of God by what kinde of sonneship 159 8 Christ is beloued of God after an especiall maner 160 9 That God the Father was euer wel pleased with Christ 162 10 God is wel-pleased with his Church in Christ 163 11 That one place of Scripture expounds another 165 VERSE 18. 1 That Gods voice is an audible voice 166 2 That it is an especiall priuilege to be conuersant with Christ 168 3 Euery place is holy during the time of Gods holy ordinances 171 4 The Gospel of Christ is an infallible truth 172 VERSE 19. 1 We ought to prize the sentences of Scripture aboue all other speeches or Sentences 173 2 It is the duty of all Christians to giue diligent heede to the word of God 175 3 It is a commendable thing to take heed to the word of God 176 3 That it is the duty of Ministers to encourage people in their practise of hearing Gods word by commending them 177 4 That the word is a light 179 5 The heart of the vnregenerate is a darke place 182 6 Why illumination or the gift of Christ is compared to the dawning 184 7 Why it is compared to the morning Starre 185 8 Differences betweene light in the elect and light in the reprobate 186 9 How long we ought to giue heed to Gods word 186 VERSE 20. 1 That none can interpret Scriptures without the helpe of Gods Spirit 188 2 None should be ignorant that the Scripture is not of priuate interpretation 191 VERSE 21. 1 The Scriptures are not the inuention of man 193 2 The Prophets and Apostles were men not Gods 194 3 That they were men of God 195 4 That they were holy men 196 5 That the canonicall Scriptures were giuen by inspiration 197 6 That the holy Ghost did strongly reigne in the Prophets and Apostles 199 AN EXPOSITION AND CERTAINE COLLATIONS VPON THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PETER 2. PET. 1.1 THis Epistle as the former is intended to the scattered Christians and it consists of two parts to wit the Preface and the body of the Epistle The Preface consists of three parts first of a subscription in these words Symon Peter a seruant and an Apostle of Iesus Christ the second an inscription in these words To them which haue obtained like precious faith with vs the third is a salutation in these words Grace and peace be multiplied c. Symon Peter Obserue here the first thing which the Apostle doth in this worke he sets or subscribes his name And Doctrine It is an honest commendable practise in such as write Bookes for the vse of Gods Church to do the same and that for these reasons first to shew that they are readie to iustifie their writings secondly that they are ready to their power to satisfie any which make any scruple of any thing writ by them thirdly that they are not ashamed of the truth deliuered Indeed in some cases Writers names are better kept close then published as first if the persons writing be scandalous it is pitie that their scandalous names should hinder the passage of the truth Secondly if the Pen-men be in no request in the Church of God it is pitie that their disregard should hinder a profitable booke Vse The vse of this point may iustly be to tax a great many namelesse railing books sent out by Anabaptists Separatists the like which are so vile so bitter as that the writers thereof haue seemed to be ashamed to subscribe their names as being vnable indeed to iustifie thē Vse This may also serue to iustifie the practise of reuerent Ministers which vse to subscribe their names vnto their writings Their practise in publishing their names is not hypocriticall and vaine-glorious but Apostolicall and sincere 1. Thess 3 17 what they do in publishing their names the Apostles did before them as we see A seruant of Iesus Christ Peter was a great Apostle and one that had obtained a great degree among men and yet hee professeth himselfe but a seruant of Iesus Christ and indeed Doctrine the chiefe of the creatures are but seruants in this respect Dauid though a King yet professeth himselfe but a seruant in respect of God Psal 116.16 Yea the very Angels acknowledge themselues to be but fellow seruants with vs in the same regard Reuel 19.10 Vse This makes much for the glorie of Christ We may say of Christ as it is said of Melchisedech Heb. 7.4 How great was this man vnto whom the Patriarch Abraham payed tithes So how great was this God and man vnto whom Kings Apostles and Angels professe themselues to be but seruants And this should serue to remoue the scandall of the Crosse They that take offence at Christ because he dyed such a base death should remember withall what the Scripture noteth concerning the glory of Christ Vse This also should teach euery Christian not to be ashamed to professe themselues to be the seruants of Christ We need not be ashamed of our Maister for he is a God nor of our worke for it is honest nor of our though vndeserued wages for that is no lesse then a kingdome therefore let vs professe without shame or abashment And an Apostle There were fiue orders of Ministers appointed by Christ Ephes 4.11 viz. Apostles Prophets Euangelists Pastours and Doctours amongst these fiue orders the Apostles were the chiefe and therefore are named in that fore-named Text before the Prophets because indeed they liued to see all things accomplished which the Prophets and Iohn the Baptist did not Now the office of an Apostle was first to plant Churches 1. Cor. 3.6 Paul may plant and secondly to haue especiall sway in Ecclesiasticall gouernment Acts 15.3 they were to decide controuersies Thirdly to work miracles Matth. 10.8 heale the sicke cast out diuels c. Fourthly to preach to the whole world Math. 28.19 and that by extraordinary reuelation Matth 10.20 It is not yee that speake but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you Now Peter was such a Minister and not an ordinarie teacher An Apostle of Iesus Christ Here Peter doth intimate vnto the Church that their duty was to receiue his doctrine for he came vnto them as an Apostle or messenger from Christ and did speake from him And indeed Doctrine vnlesse a Minister speake as the words of Christ we are not to receiue him nor his doctrine If any come vnto you bring you not this doctrine receiue him not to house saith the Apostle in the second Epistle of Iohn the tenth verse And it is
likely to come vpon thee sodaine destruction 1. Thess 5.3 Secondly this may serue to teproue such as immoderately do seeke after wealth being as vnsatiable in seeking riches as if they esteemed themselues and their children to be immortall or as though they were to prouide for an earthly eternity O vaine man thou art busying thy selfe to lay vp for many yeares whereas it may be this night following thy soule may be required of thee and then whose shall these riches be which thou hast gathered together with the losse of thy saluation If thou shalt say I shall leaue my riches to my children I answer But God may possibly cut off thy children also as sodainely as thy selfe Or say that thy children shall liue long to enioy thy riches yet what ioy will it be vnto thee to thinke when thou art in hell I haue left rich children vpon the earth and for prouiding for them superfluities I haue brought vpon my selfe this eternall torment Vse 2. Secondly as this doctrine serueth for reproofe so it serueth for instruction For first it should teach vs not to deferre our repentance but whilest it is called to day we ought to turne from the power of Satan to God and that with sound humiliation But thou wilt say I can do this soone enough when I am old But consider with thy selfe Art thou sure to liue vntill thou beest old hast thou a lease of thy life Or suppose thou couldst be assured that thou shouldst liue vntill thou be old yet how knowest thou that God at that time will giue thee repentance Vse 3. Thirdly this doctrine may be matter of consolation First vnto such as endure banishment imprisonment pouerty sickenesse or any other affliction They must thinke that their afflictions cannot be long because their liues are but short They shall not need desperately to make away themselues before the time God will take them away soone enough by one occasion or by another Secondly it may be matter of comfort vnto all such as beleeue for now is their saluation nearer then when they beleeued Thou art here this yeare thou mayest be aduaunced into heauen before the next Thou art here this weeke thou mayest be with Christ before the next Yea thou art here to day thou mayest be in blisse before to morrow Knowing that shortly c. As though he should say Seeing I know that I shall not remaine long therefore I write vnto you this Epistle endeuouring while I am with you to doe the best good that I can and the rather because I shall not long continue The doctrine hence is this namely that Doctrine The consideration of shortnesse of life ought to be an especiall spurre or motiue to prouoke all Christians as well people as Ministers to double diligence in well doing Thus Salomon writ the booke of Ecclesiastes in his old age Thus Paul writ diuers of his epistles when he was aged Thus Christ himselfe exercised his ministerie wrought miracles and did all his great wonders in the three last yeares of his life Why were these so diligent at the last but because they considered they were not long to continue As Christ also himselfe doth acknowledg Iohn 9.4 I must worke the workes of him that hath sent me while it is day the night cometh wherein no man can worke Reason And there is great reason that men should bestirre themselues especially towards their latter end for they must either then worke or neuer they must either then doe good or else hereafter it will be too late according to that in Iohn 12.35 Walke while ye haue light lest the darkenesse come vpon you Vse This serues to reproue them which purpose to liue idly when they are growne old not considering that approaching of death should be a motiue to greater diligence in doing good Secondly let this serue to stirre vs vp both Ministers and people to be more diligent in our places to glorify God Let vs thinke we haue none of vs all to abide here long and when we shall be gone we shall not haue liberty to returne to dispatch any thing which we haue left vnperfected Therefore since with Peter we must shortly lay downe this Tabernacle let vs stirre vp our selues to more diligence in well doing Thou which art a Minister dost thou thinke that thou shalt not liue long Be the more diligent in preaching and writing Thou which art an Officer dost thou thinke or know that thou shalt not long continue in thy office Be the more carefull to doe good in it that little time thou shalt continue Thou which art a priuate Christian art thou perswaded that death approcheth Therefore worke out thy saluation with feare and trembling glorifie God what possibly thou canst and whilest thou hast yet oportunity doe as much good as thou canst especially to the houshold of Faith I know How did Peter know that he was not long to continue Not by the course of nature feeling himselfe to decay but by expresse speech from Christs owne mouth in Iohn 21.18 But when thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy hands and another shall gyrd thee and in verse 1. This spake he signifying by what death he should glorifie God Now obserue here Christ told Peter before hand that in his old age he should suffer a violent death and Peter gaue such vndoubted credit to the words of Christ that he saith I know that I shall shortly lay downe this Tabernacle as our Lord Iesus Christ hath shewed to me I know The doctrine is this viz. That Doctrine euery man both Ministers and people ought to be infallibly perswaded of the truth and veritie of Gods word If Christ saith it we may and ought to say by Faith We know it to be true Thus it was with Martha Iohn 11.24 I know he shall rise againe at the last day Now how did Martha know that her brother should rise againe but by the word and Spirit of God The like we see in the whole Church 2. Cor. 5.1 We know that if this Tabernacle be dissolued c. Now how did the Church know this future glory but by the word The like we see in Peter elsewhere as in the third chapter of this second epistle the third verse Knowing this first that there shall come in the last daies scoffers Now how did Peter know this but by the word and Spirit Many other examples might be alledged but these may suffice sor the proofe of the point Reason And indeede we haue great reason to be infallibly perswaded of the truth and veritie of Gods word First because God is not as man that he should lie he is truth it selfe he cannot lie Therefore what he speaketh it is infallibly true Secondly because the word hath beene proued to be an vndoubted truth from generation to generation it was neuer found contrary and therefore we haue no reason to call the truth of it into
spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began By all which places and many more the point is and might be proued Reason And the Prophets and Apostles are fitly termed holy men first because they were sanctified of God and set apart to this holy calling of prophecie and Apostleship Rom. 1.1 where it is said that Paul was separated to the Gospel of God Secondly because they were holy and deuout men they were not profane Esaus but true sanctified persons as Dauid acknowledgeth concerning himself Preserue thou my soule for I am holy Psal 86.2 Vse This should teach vs the more to delight in the word it is the writing of holy men Secondly it should teach those that are in authority in the Church of God what kinde of men they should especially admit for ministers namely holy men Thirdly it teacheth people what kind of men they ought to make choise of for their ministers if they haue the choice committed vnto them They ought to make choice especially of holy men alwayes prouided that those holy men whom they make choice of be also men of knowledge and duly gifted Fourthly it teacheth vs Ministers aswell to endeuour to be holy in our conuersation as to be sound in our doctrine We ought aswell to be holy men as to be good teachers Be cleane ye that beare the vessels of the Lord Esay 52.11 As they were moued by the holy Ghost Whence note that Doctrine The bookes of canonicall Scripture were giuen by inspiration They came not by the will of man but by the motion of the Spirit For the proofe of this I referre the Reader to that in 2. Tim. 3.16 All scripture is giuen by the inspiration of God and to that in Mat. 10.28 It is not you that speake but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you If any shall here demand what is meant by the inspiration of God the answer is By the inspiration of God we are to vnderstand the worke of Gods Spirit whereby he did suggest and dictate whatsoeuer the Prophets Apostles deliuered for doctrine in their preaching and writing Quest But how proue you that the holy Ghost did prompt the Prophets and Apostles in preaching Answer Surely this may be proued out of Acts 2.4 They beganne to speake with other tongues as the Spirit gaue them vtterance Quest And how may it appeare that the Spirit did indite or dictate that which the Prophets and Apostles did write Answ This appeareth by that in Acts 15.28 It seemed good to the holy Ghost and to vs c. Obiection If anie shall obiect that in 1 Cor. 7.12 But to the rest speake I not the Lord Answ The answer is Paul indeed had no expresse place of the olde Testament to prooue that which he did deliuer in that particular and therefore he saith To the rest speake I not the Lord But yet in giuing his aduice he had the assistance of Gods Spirit as is manifest in 1. Corint 7.40 But she is happier in my iudgement I think also that I haue the Spirit of God Vse This serues to put difference betweene hereticall writings and Scripture Hereticall writings are by the suggestion of the diuell but Canonicall scriptures are by the inspiration of God Secondly betweene other diuine writings and Scripture for other diuine writings are not without the assistance of Gods holy Spirit but the Scripture was giuen by extraordinarie immediate reuelation Vse It must teach vs to beware of reproaching the holy Scriptures in casting reproaches vpon the word we cast reproches vpon the holy Ghost himselfe who is the Author thereof Secondly it must teach vs to reuerence the Scripture aboue all other bookes in the world This is the onelie booke giuen by immediate inspiration Herein we must especially delight to reade and meditate all the dayes of our liues Vse This may serue also for comfort for if the Scripture came by the inspiration of God then certainly there is some extraordinarie vertue and power in it nothing can thus immediatly flow from God but it must be of some extraordinarie vigour As they were moued Or as it is in the Greeke As they were carried Whence we are to note that Doctrine The holy Ghost did strongly reigne in the Prophets and Apostles It did not onely moue them but as it were carry them with an holy violence This is manifest out of Acts 4.20 We can not but speake the things which we haue seene and heard and out of Acts 21.14 where Paul was so violently moued to go vp to Hierusalem that all the perswasion of his friends nor the hazard of his life could not turne him from his purpose And out of 2. Corinth 13.8 We can do nothing against the truth but for the truth for so the Text is to be rendred according to the Originall And out of Acts 16.7 After they were come to Mysta they assayed to go into Bythinia but the Spirit suffered them not Whence it is manifest that the holy Ghost did strongly order the very iournies of the men of God causing them to alter their owne intentions oftentimes and to go another way at his appointment It was with the Prophets and Apostles in this respect as it was with Christ himselfe For as Christ himselfe was not moued but driuen of the Spirit into the wildernesse to be tempted of the diuell for so are the words in the original Lu. 4.1 Euen so it was with the Prophets Apostles they were acted or driuen by an holy violence of the Spirit The holy Ghost is compared to a winde Iohn 3.8 yea to a great rushing winde Acts 2.3 because as it bloweth where it lists so he bloweth or worketh mightily where he listeth No ship is more violently caried by the winds then the Prophets and Apostles were by the Spirit Obiection But then it might seeme that the Prophets and Apostles did nothing willingly but as it were compulsiuely Answ Not so for there is difference betweene compulsion and holy Violence These holy men were carried with an holy violence but they were not compelled the holy Spirit finding vnwillingnesse in these men of God he subdued that vnwillingnes and of vnwilling made them willing This must needes be granted for if they had done that which they did absolutely against their will and by meere compulsion they had lost their reward as appeareth in 1. Cor. 9.17 If I do this thing willingly I haue a reward c. Vse This may serue to cause vs to bewaile our coldnesse of zeale at these daies where is this holy violence of the spirit which should vrge vs to Christian duties How often do we resist good motions withstand them which shewes what a poore measure of the spirit we haue as yet attained O my beloued shal the Prophets and Apostles be carried by the Spirit and shall not we be led by him shall they be vrged by holy motions and shall not we so much as be perswaded by them The Lord that is able to bow the heauens bow our mindes to good and perswade vs to that which is well-pleasing in his sight FINIS