Thoughts And do not all these things commend unto us the Justice Wisdom Holiness Omnipotence Omniscience Perfection and absolute Soveraignty of the Law-Maker 'T is a Book that comprehends an Universal History of the World past present and to come Its Contents reach as far as the first Foundations of the Earth and Heavens give us an Account of God's Revelations to Man ever since his first make and the particulars of an Entercourse between God and the World for near upon two thousand and five hundred Years before they were any where extant upon Record What other Book since the World began so much as pretended to do this A Book which as it was sixteen hundred Years a writing for so long it was from the Time of Moses till John closed it with the Revelations so the Matters it treats of are of the most excellent Nature and highest Concernment To give the World a satisfactory Account not only of its Original but of its End too To bring Man acquainted with his true Soveraign Happiness and a most wonderful and astonishing method of Reconciliation with his Maker Its Promises are everlasting Glory and never-fading Crowns Its Precepts perfect †Gal. 3.10 Righteousness and altogether such as tend most to the Honour of God the Happiness of a Man's Self and the Quiet of the World Its Threatnings are of Miseries that are endless It s whole Tendency is to a Prospect beyond the Grave what Heathen ever so much as dream'd of the Resurrection Who but the Lord could be Author of such Laws that only can give eternal Life and inflict eternal Death These things can move the Conscience of none but such who acknowledg the Precepts thereof to be divine In a Word its General Subjects are Mysteries no where else to be heard of and without such a Manifestation unconceivable Now considering the Premises what less than Infinite VVisdom can be the supposed Author of such a Book 2. The Antiquity of the Holy Scriptures II. By its Antiquity The Books of Moses wherein in Promises Prophecies Types and Shadows the Sum and Substance of all the rest of the Bible is comprised were the first Writings in the World next to those by the Finger of God on Mount Sinai This is fully proved by Justin Martyr an ancient Writer that lived within one hundred and thirty Years after Christ in his Paroenetick to the Greeks who comparing the Times of all Human Writers Poets Philosophers Historians and Law-givers esteemed most ancient demonstrates them all to be but Punies to Moses Eusebius also who followed Justin Martyr at about two hundred Years distance in the 2d and 3d Books of his Evangelical Preparation prosecutes the same Argument at large and from abundance of Testimonies and Confessions out of the best and most authentick Heathen Authors themselves undeniably evinces That Moses was the most ancient of all the Writers that were known or named amongst them And Tertullian so confidently upbraids the Gentiles in this matter that we think it not amiss to recite his Words in the 19th Chapter of his Apology Our Religion saith he speaking to the Heathens far out-does all that you can boast of in that kind For the Books of one of our Prophets only viz. Moses wherein it seems God hath enclosed as in a Treasury all the Christian Religion preceding so many Ages together reach beyond the ancientest you have even all your Publick Monuments the Antiquity of your Originals the Establishment of your Estates the Foundations of your Cities all that are most advanced by you in all Ages of History and Memory of Times the Invention even of the Characters which are Interpreters of Sciences and the Guardians of all Things excellent I think I may say more they are elder than your very Gods your Temples Oracles and Sacrifices Have you not heard mention made of that great Prophet Moses He was contemporary with Inachus and preceded Danaus the ancientest of all that have a Name in your Histories 393 Years He lived some Hundreds of Years before the Ruine of Troy And Homer the eldest Writer amongst the Grecians lived as Pliny saith 250 Years after the Subversion of that City Every of the other Prophets succeeded Moses and yet the last of them was of the same Age as your prime Wise-Men Law-givers and Historians were So that 't is a Thing out of dispute that for Antiquity neither the Writings of Orpheus or Homer or Trismegistus or Pythagoras or Berosus nor any other can compare with the Pentateuch These Gray-Hairs shew them to be the Off-spring of the Ancient of Days for Truth is always the First-born And if we consider how low mean and imperfect all humane Inventions were in those Times and what foolish irrational and absurd Conceptions both the Egyptians and Grecians Nations most celebrated for Wisdom had of Things Divine and the Duty and Happiness of Man we cannot but conclude That so clear an Account of the World's Beginning Depravation Destruction by the Flood and Re-peopling such a most excellent Law and Doctrine in reference both to God and Man c. could not be of Humane Extract but must needs be in truth what it pretends it self to be a Divine Revelation Besides who can believe the first Religion should be the worst or the most timely Notions of God the falsest Were this so and the Bible not a Divine Book but composed by Impostors then it follows That the most primitive Account we have of Religion is counterfeit that the Devil set up his Chappel before God built his Church that in the earliest Notices we have of God of the World 's Original Man's Fall and the Way of his Recovery the World is deceived and abused and that God suffered the Devil in the first place and without any Thing publickly extant from him either before or since to contradict it in his Name and under pretence of his Authority to delude and mislead Mankind with a false Account of all those Things which they are most concerned to know and upon the right Knowledg of which their present and future Happiness depends All which as it is unworthy of God so it is no less repugnant to the Dictates of Reason But on the contrary 't is most rational to believe that God's Revelations were as early as Man's Necessities and that the Bible being the most ancient as well as the wisest Book in the World is also the truest and proceeded from the God of Truth III. This Royal Descent or Divinity of the Scriptures further appears 3. The Majesty and Strangeness of the Stile by that Majesty and Authoritativeness of the Spirit of God speaking in them and that extraordinary and inimitable Stile wherein they are written As 't is said of our blessed Lord Mat. 7.28 That he taught as one having Authority and not as the Scribes So the Scriptures teach with an awful Authority †See the Epist to the First Volume The Stile of the Sacred Scripture is
How suitable to the holy Nature of God! What superlative Piety and Vertue without any spot of Vice What punctual and perpetual Truth and Honesty is here required yet without the least Taint of base Means or unworthy sordid Ends No Vain-Glory no Esteem of Men no corrupt Advantages But on the contrary what Charity is here required What repeated Commands not to offend weak Ones What mutual Forgivenesses What Provocations to Love With what Patience and Meekness Justice and Modesty are we taught to behave our selves In a word 'T is such a Doctrine as makes a Man perfect throughly furnished to every good Work which brings Men to the best Way of Living the noblest Way of Suffering and the comfortablest Way of Dying Now must not such pure Streams needs flow from the Fountain of all Perfection Does such a serious and effectual Advancement of Holiness in the World look like an Intrigue of polluted Man or any unclean Spirit How can we better judg of a Law that declares it proceeds from God and is of Divine Obligation than by its Nature Tendency and Influence on humane Life Whether it be suitable to those Pretensions and such an adorable and unspotted Original And when we find so holy and excellent a Design as appears throughout this whole Book for the Honour of God and compleating the Happiness of Men by Methods so agreeable and yet above the reach of Humane Invention what can we judg unless we will be obstinately perverse but that such a Book 's Testimony of it self is true and that it is indeed of God and not of Men V. The sweet and admirable Agreement Consent Dependence and Harmony 5. The Harmony of the Scriptures that we find in all and every part of Scripture tho there are so many Books thereof written by so many different Persons of various Conditions many Ages remov'd in several Places and in different Languages yet all agreeing with each other and every part with the whole which could not be foreseen or contriv'd by any humane Wisdom or Cunning in the writing of any one Part For all the Histories Prophecies Promises Types and Doctrines in an orderly Connection tend to promote the same Thing and every Age proves a fresh Interpreter and reveals to us more and more of this admirable Concord which could not be the Effect of humane Artifice nor of any other Cause but an infinite Comprehension and Fore-sight and that the several Writers of this Book were in all Times guided in what they wrote by the Supreme Wisdom of that one God who is always constant to himself and the same yesterday to day and for ever VI. This further appears from the Credit and Sincerity of those that were the Pen-men 6. The Credit of the Pen-men If the Scriptures were not what they pretend to be viz. the Word of God and dictated to the Writers thereof by his holy Spirit it would be the greatest Affront to the Divine Majesty and the grossest Cheat towards Mankind that ever was put upon the World But if we consider the Pen-men thereof we shall find them all of undoubted Credit generally esteemed holy and good Men in the Ages they liv'd in so no way to be suspected of Imposture Some of them were Kings and of the deepest Learning not likely to be guilty of such a mean-spirited Baseness as Lying and Forgery Many of the Prophets and most of the Apostles were Men illiterate of Parts and Education so mean that of themselves they seem no way capable to write so profoundly or lay so deep a Contrivance for deluding the World And as 't is incredible that so many Men of such distant Times Qualities and Abilities should all agree in the same Imposture and so harmonize in promoting it so neither could any Interest or Ambition prompt them thereunto For as the main Tendency of this Book is to mortify Mens Ambitions and Lusts so most of them exposed themselves by publishing these Writings to great Hazards and Persecutions Nor have several of them been shie to record the great Failings and Imperfections of themselves or their Brethren Thus Moses (a) Exod. 3 4 chapters relates his own Infidelity and Averseness to submit to the extraordinary Call of God In another place (b) Numb 11.21 he records the Shame of his Distrustfulness or at least the Carnality of his Conceit or Apprehension of the Power of God Again (c) Numb 20.12 he inserts God's heavy Sentence and the Ground thereof against him The same Moses did not set up any of his own Posterity to succeed him in the Guidance of Israel but left Joshua to succeed him c. and placed the Kingly Superiority over that People in another Tribe from his own viz. the Tribe of Judah Indeed throughout the whole Book there is a visible Antipathy to all self-seeking Flattery or Compliance God alone is exalted and all Mens Persons Actions and Reputations are laid in the Dust in respect of his Honour and the Truths therein delivered Besides these very Writers appear themselves to be under a subjection to the Doctrine they taught and no way Masters of it as their own All which plainly shews that they were inspired from above and wrote not their own Words or for their own Honour but as inspired and for the Honour of God 8. Scripture-prophecies and their Accomplishments prove 't is divine VII Another Demonstration or Proof that the Scriptures are from God is the exact and punctual fulfilling of the Prophecies therein contained To foretell Events is the Prerogative of God (d) Isa 41.22 Let them bring forth saith God the Lord expostulating with his People about the Vanity of Idols and shew us What shall happen Shew us the Things that are to come hereafter that we may know that ye are Gods Now the Body of the Scriptures is enlivened with the Spirit of Prophecy almost throughout That of Jacob recorded by Moses (e) Gen. 49.10 That the Scepter should not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his Feet untill Shiloh come and to him shall the gathering of the People be was not compleatly fulfilled till well near two thousand Years after tho made good during a great part of that Time viz. from the Entrance of the Tribe of Judah upon the Government in King David until the going of it out again in the Person of Hircanus whom Herod slew as Josephus testifies But when the Time appointed was expired the Prophecy it self was compleatly fulfilled For when Herod a Stranger and of another Nation had cut off the House and Line of Judah from the Government of Jewry then and at that Time Shiloh the long-expected Messiah our Lord Christ punctually came into the World for that by Shiloh is meant the Messiah the Jewish Rabbies do not deny Now at the Time of Jacob's uttering these Words there was little probability that any of his Posterity should have a Scepter or any Kingly Power being poor
so eminent so visible and lasted so long for they continued in the Church two or three hundred Years and the Account of them has descended down to us by such a constant uninterrupted written and unwritten Tradition that scarce any Man has assumed Impudence enough to gainsay them Irenaeus who lived about the Year of our Lord 200 affirmeth that in his Time the working of Miracles the raising of the Dead the casting out of Devils healing the Sick by meer laying on of Hands and Prophesying were still in force and that some that were so raised from the Dead remained alive amongst them long after And Cyprian and Tertullian mention the ordinary casting out of Devils and challenge the Heathen to come and see it Remarkable are those Words of the latter (h) Tertullian Apol. Ca. 23. Let any one be brought before your Tribunals who is apparently possessed with a Devil that Spirit being commanded by any Christian shall confess of truth himself to be a Devil as at other Times he boasts himself a God And in his Book to Scapula the Procurator of Africk Cap. 4. he repeats several miraculous Cures done by Christians Quanti honesti viri c. How many Persons of good Quality and Esteem says he for we speak not of the Vulgar Sort have been remedied either from Devils or Diseases Severus himself the Father of Antoninus was recovered by Christians c. So that here we have the best Doctrine under the highest Attestation God himself setting thereunto his supernatural Seals to convince us of the Truth thereof And this was the great Argument whereby Christ all along convinced the World for upon his beginning of Miracles at Cana in Galilee he manifested his Glory and his Disciples believed in him (i) Joh. 1.48 The Jews therefore enquired for Signs as that which must confirm any new Revelation to be of God (k) Joh. 2.18 And tho Christ blames them for their unreasonable unsatisfied Expectations herein and would not humor them in each Particular yet he continued to give them Miracles as great as they desired They that saw the Miracles of the Loaves said This is of a truth the Prophet that should come into the World (l) Joh. 6 14. Many believed when they saw the Miracles which he did (m) Joh. 10 4â— Acts 4.16 Heb. 2.4 If I had not done the Works that no Man else could do ye had not had Sin in not believing (n) Joh. 15.24 And the Way of bringing Men to believe in these Days is expressed Heb. 2.3 4. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those that heard him There is the Evidence of Sense to the first Reâ—eivers and their Tradition to the next God also bearing them witness both with Signs and Wonders and divers Miracles Let us conclude this Argument with that smart Interrogation of that blind Man (o) Joh. 19.16 Can a Man that is a Sinner do such Miracles Natural Reason shewing us that God being the true and merciful Governor of the World the Course of Nature cannot be altered but by his special Appointment and that he will never set the Seal of his Omnipotency to a Lie nor suffer the last and greatest Inducement to Belief to be used to draw Men to embrace Falshood and Forgeries 9. The wonderful Preservation of the Scriptures IX To these astonishing Miracles we may fitly add the Preservation of these holy Writings for so many Ages being it self little less than miraculous and such as is a great Argument that they belong to God as the Author and Parent of them It being reasonable to derive that from God as a Book of his own Dictates about which he has exercised a peculiar Care Were not the Bible what it pretends to be there had been nothing more suitable to the Nature of God and more becoming Divine Providence than long since to have blotted it out of the World For why should he suffer a Book to continue from the beginning of Times falsly pretending his Name and Authority How do learned Men accuse Time of Injuries for swallowing up the Works of many excellent Authors and bewail the Loss of divers of Livy's Decades and other choice Books which are now no where to be found Nay tho the Romans were so careful for the preservation of the Books of the Sybils that they lock'd them up in Places of greatest Safety and appointed special Officers to look after them yet many Ages since they are gone and perished and only some few Fragments do now remain Whereas on the contrary the Bible notwithstanding part of it was the first Book in the World as we proved in the second Argument and tho the Craft of Satan and the Rage of Mankind have from time to time combin'd utterly to suppress it yet it has born up its Head and remains not only extant but whole and entire without the least Mutilation or Corruption Antiochus Epiphanes when he set up the Abomination of Desolation in the Jewish Temple in the Days of the Machabees with utmost diligence made search after their Law and wheresoever he found it immediatly burnt or destroy'd it and threatned Death with exquisite Tortures to any that should conceal or retain it In like manner since Christ the Tyrant Dioclesian about the Year 300 with a full purpose to root out Christianity for ever out of the World publishes an Edict That the Scriptures should every where be burnt and destroyed and whosoever should presume to keep them should be most severely tormented Yet God permitted them not to quench the Light of these Divine Laws But the Old Testament above two hundred Years before the Incarnation of Christ was translated into Greek the most flourishing and spreading Language at that time in the World and about thirty Years before Christ it was paraphras'd into Caldee and at this Day both Old and New Testaments are extant not only in their Original Languages but in most other Tongues and Languages that are spoken upon the Face of the Earth which no other Book can pretend to So that all Endeavours that have from the very first been bent against it have been vanquished and remarkable Judgments and Vengeance shew'd on all such as have been the most violent Opposers of it And further whereas even those to whom it was outwardly committed as the Jews first and the Antichristian Church of Apostatiz'd Rome afterwards not only fell into Opinions and Practices absolutely inconsiltent with it but also built all their present and future Interests on those Opinions and Practices yet none of them could ever obliterate one Line in it not even of those Places which make most against their obstinate Errors and Defections But for their own Plea they both are forced to pretend additional Traditions for the Mishua Talmud and Cabala of the Jews and the Oral Traditions of the Papists all
the Languages and Matters have tryed and searched into them and all pious Christians who by Experience have felt their Divine Operation on their own Souls have asserted the same So that whoever rejects the Bible obliges himself to believe no other Books in the World whatsoever for since none of them have any such great and universal Attestations if he shall credit them and not this it will shew apparent disingenuity and peevish Obstinacy And secondly He that does credit the Author of this Book with the same Credit wherewith he credits other Authors whom he supposes Men of common Honesty that would not knowingly write an Untruth cannot then refuse to receive this as a Book Divine and Infallible upon as good Terms of Credibility as he believes any the best Human Author in its kind to be True because they themselves tell us that it is so which were it otherwise without most apparent Falshood they would not do They affirming that God himself inspired them to write it and that it was no Product of their own but every part of it the Genuine Dictate of the Holy Ghost And this Argument is abundantly reinforc'd and strengthned from the Consideration of that Glorious Company of Martyrs those Innumerable Multitudes who in the Flames and Rage of Persecution have with the loss of their Lives maintained the Scriptures to be the Sacred Word of God and had the same in such Veneration that in the Primitive Ages the Traditors Deliverers up of their Bibles to the Heathen to be destroyed were always esteemed as bad as profess'd Apostates Since therefore they did so constantly and with such Hazards affirm this Truth what shadow of Reason is there to suspect such a Cloud of Witnesses of Folly Weakness Credulity Wickedness or Conspiracy amongst themselves which such a diffused Multitude was absolutely uncapable of Nor can we suppose that Popular Esteem on Earth and Vain-Glory could be the Ground upon which they suffered since they gave up their Lives for a Religion which both utterly condemned such Vanity and was every where in the World at that time odious and detestable and whose Profession brought nothing but outward Shame and Contempt XIII But the Doctrines and Matters of Fact in the Scripture which if true 13 The Acknowledgment of the Heathen its Divine Original will be undeniable are not only avouched by its own Votaries but many most considerable parts of it acknowledged by its Enemies As appears by this brief induction of Particulars The Creation of the World is intimated by Ovid in his Metamorphosis lib. 1. The extraordinary long Lives of the Patriarchs in the first Ages oâ— the VVorld by Manetho the Egygtian Berosus the Caldean and others who add That they were ordained to live so long that they might study Sciences and invent Arts especially that they might observe the Celestial Motions and enrich the World with the knowledg of Astronomy wherein say they they would have done little good if they had lived less than six hundred Years because the great Year as they call it is so long in going about and coming to a Period The Flood is mentioned by the same Berosus whose VVords are recited by Josephus lib. 1. Antiq. cap. 4. Of Noah under the Notion of Bifronted Janus because he lived in both VVorlds we read in Berosus and Herodotus And of the Ark Sayling over America and the letting forth of Birds that found no dry Ground in Polyhistor and others Of the Destruction of Sodom or the Asphaltick Lake we have some Account in Pliny lib. 5. cap. 16. and Justin lib. 36. That there was such a Man as Moses such a People as the Israelites that this Moses was their Captain and led them out of Egypt wrote their Story and gave them Laws is testified by the most ancient Records or the Egyptians Phoenicians Caldeans and Grecians And Manetho speaks very particularly both of their Coming into Egypt and Departure thence Of Circumcision Herodotus Strabo Diodorus Siculus and Tacitus lib. 2. Of the coming of the Israelites into Canaan Procopius lib. 4. Of Solomon we read in Dionysius Cassius of the Slaughter of Sennachcrib in Herodotus lib. 2. The great Roman Historian Tacitus in his Annals speaking of the Christians being persecuted by Nero on pretence of burning of Rome which he set on fire himself says expreâ—ly (b) Author nominis ejus Christus qui Tiberio imperante per Procuratorem Pontium Pilatum supplicio affectus erat Tacit. Annal. l. 15. The Author of that Name or Sect was CHRIST who when Tiberius was Emperor was put to death by Pontius Pilate the then Procurator of Judea The Star that appeared at our Saviour's Birth is taken notice of by Pliny lib. 2. cap. 5. But more particularly by Calcidius an Heathen Philosopher in his Comment on Plato's Timaeus whose Words as I find them cited by Cardinal Baronius that learned Annalist are these (c) Est quoque alia venerabilior sanctior Historia qua perhibet de ortu Stellae cujusdam insolita non morbos mortesque denunciante sed descensum Dei venerabilis ad humanae conversationis rerumque mortalium gratiam Quam Stellam cùm nocturno itinere suspexissent Caldâ—eorum profectò sapiences viri consideratione rerum coelestium satis exercitati quaesisse dicuntur recentem Dei ortum repertâque illa Majestate puerili venerati esse vota Deo tanto convenientia nuncupasse Bar. Tom. 1. p. 52. There is another more venerable and holy History which tells us of the Rise of a certain unwonted Star not threatning Diseases and Death but the Descent of the venerable God to converse with Men and mortal Affairs Which Star when certain wise Men of Caldea saw in their fourney by Night being sufficiently acquainted with Astronomy and consideration of Celestial things They are reported to have sought out this new Birth of God and the Majesty of this Child being found to have worshipped him and offered Gifts suitable to so great a God Herod's slaughtering of the Children is notorious by that Joque passed upon him on that occasion by the Emperor Augustus recorded by Macrobius (d) Cum audisset inter eos quos in Syria Herodes Rex Judaeorum inter Binatum jussit interfici filium quoque ejus occisum ait Melius est Herodis porcum esse quam filium Macrob. Saturnal lib. 4. When he heard that amongst those Children under two Years old whom Herod the King of the Jews had commanded to be slain in Syria his the said Herod's own Son was slain also he said 'T is better to be Herod 's Hog than his Son Alluding to the Jews Abhorrence of Swines Flesh which it seems Herod tho not of that Nation yet pretending himself a kind of Proselyte did likewise observe Touching the preternatural Defect of the Sun at our Lord's Crucifixion it was with amazement seen and recorded by Dionysius the Areopagite And Tertullian in his Apology cap. 21. appeals to the Roman
Records for the certainty of it And Origen affirms that one Phlegon Secretary to the Emperor Adrian did write thereof in his Chronicles What an illustrious Testimony is that extorted by Truth from the Mouth of an Enemy I mean Josephus a Jew in Religion as well as by Nation tho he wrote in Greek born not above five or six Years after Christ's Passion In his 18th Book and 4th Chapter speaking of the Reign of Tiberias he hath these Words In those Days there was one Jesus a wise Man if it be lawful to call him a Man for he was a Worker of great Miracles and a Teacher of such as readily receive the Truth and had many Followers as well Jews as Gentiles This is that CHRIST who tho he was accused by the chief of our Nation and by Pilate condemned to be crucified yet did not they who had first loved him forsake him for he appeared unto them the third Day alive again The holy Prophets foretelling these and many other wonderful Things of him And even to this Day the Christian Sect so named from him continues Nor is that less clear of Lentulus in his Epistle to the Emperor Tiberius recited by Eutropius in his Annals of the Roman Senators and now commonly extant in the Bibliotheca Patrum (e) Apparuit temporibus nostris adhuc est homo magnae virtutis nominatus Jesus Christus qui dicitur à Gentibus Propheta veritatis quem ejus discipuli vocant Filium Dei sâ—scitans mortros sanans omnes languores He thus begins There hath appeared in our Days and yet is living a Man of great Virtue or Power named Jesus Christ who is called of the Nations the Prophet of Truth whom his Disciples call the Son of God a Raiser of the Dead and an Healer of all manner of Diseases To all which we might add the Prophecies of the Sybils amongst the Heathens who most plainly foretold the Coming of Christ the Son of God into the World and express'd his very Name and Quality in certain Acrostick Verses recited by the great Augustin in the 23d Chapter of the Ninth Book of the City of God XIV He that disowns the Bible to be of Divine Authority must either think there is some Revelation from God to the World how he will be worshipped and how they ought to conduct themselves or he thinks there is none If he thinks there is none he not only gives the Lie to the Christian and Jewish but generally to all Religion that has been or is in the World For they all have pretended and do alledg the same as their Foundation And besides he must confess that God who has made Man the noblest of Creatures and Lord of the whole World has left him in a worse Condition in the present Posture we find him than the meanest Creatures to whom he has given sufficient Means to attain the highest End of their Beings But that infinite Wisdom should deal thus is absurd and unreasonable to conceive If he grant there is any-where a Revelation from God to the World let it be produced and judg if it be any way able to vie with the Scriptures for all those glorious Characters and Marks of Divine Authority Power and Excellency which we have enumerated XV. If the Scriptures be neither the Invention of Devils nor Men then it can be from none but God But they are not from Devils for neither could they work Miracles nor deliver true Prophecies to confirm them nor would it consist with God's Sovereignty over them or with his Goodness Wisdom or Faithfulness of governing the World nor would Satan speak so much for God nor lay such a Design for Man's Salvation and against his own Kingdom nor be so industrious to draw the World to unbelief of it Nor were the Scriptures the Invention of Men for they must be either good Men or bad Men Good Men they could not be for nothing could be more opposite to Goodness nay even common Honesty than to assume the Name of God falsly feign Miracles and cheat People with Promises of another World And then on the other side 't is as impossible ill Men could be the Devisers of so holy a Book For can any rational Man think that wicked Deceivers would so highly advance the Glory of God Would they so vilify themselves and brand and stigmatize their own Practices Could such an admirable undeniable Spirit of Holiness Righteousness and Self-denial as runs through every Vein of Scripture proceed from the Invention of the Wicked Would they ever have extolled their Enemies the Godly and framed such perfect spiritual Laws or laid such a Design against the Flesh and all their worldly Happiness as every-where the Scope of the Scripture doth carry on If we cannot gather Grapes of Thorns and Figs of Thistles then may we be assured that no ill Men had an hand in writing and promoting this good and holy Book 16. Satan's Suggestions Temptations against the Bible argue it divine XVI The Divine Composition of this blessed Book is not a little manifested by the continual Rage of the Devil against it which appears not only in stirring up his Instruments utterly to suppress it for what Book in the VVorld ever met with such Opposition as aforesaid but also in those Temptations with which he assaults the Hearts of Men when they apply themselves to the serious Study of it VVe can read any other History and readily entertain and credit it but when we once come to the Bible strange Objections Doubts and Curiosities arise and presently we are apt to question the Truth and Possibility of every Passage These are the Suggestions of Satan to render that holy Book ineffectual to us the Scope and Purport of which he knows tends directly to the Overthrow of his Kingdom of Darkness Some of the most frequent Objections against the Bible are these that follow Object 1. How Men in the respective Ages wherein the several parts of the Bible were written could know that they were written by an infallible Spirit and so distinguish them from other Writings Answ Two ways First by the Quality of the Persons and secondly from the Nature and Quality of the Matter As for Moses there could not be the least Cause of doubting his being inspired by God since he wrought such Miracles and had a visible and audible Entercourse with the Lord as we read Exod. 19.9 that the Lord said unto him Lo I come unto thee in a thick Cloud that the People may hear when I speak with thee and believe thee for ever The other Parts of the Old Testament were written by Prophets and holy Men. And tho several of them were not received and hearkned to as such by the corrupt ruling Part of the Jews whilst they lived yet they were acknowledged afterwards as well for the Sanctity of their Lives and the fulfilling of those things mentioned the Judgments which they foretold coming to pass
our Passeover with a sense of and bitter sorrow for our Sins wherein we were captivated XIV It was to be eaten in every Family and each Family to this purpose had a Lamb. XIV Shewing the Unity that ought to be among God's People they being all Fellow-Commoners in and Partakers of the Privileges and Blessings of Christ Every Church and Family of the Faithful yea each particular Soul hath a whole Christ XV. The House was to be prepared XV. To signify how we should prepare our Hearts 1 Cor. 11.28 XVI If the House was too little the Neighbour's House was to be assumed yea the Strangers were to partake if they were circumcised XVI To signify first the superabundant Virtue of Christ's Death for the House may be too little for the Lamb but not the Lamb for the House as also the sweet Communion of the Saints in Love the joyful Vocation also of the Neighbour-Gentiles and their Admission into the Fellowship of the Faith being inwardly circumcised c. XVII They were to eat it with their Loins girded XVII This signifies the girding the Loins of our Minds with Justice Strength and Verity XVIII They were to have their Shooes on XVIII This was to figure out the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace wherewith our Feet should be always shod XIX They were to eat it in haste The original word signifies to haste away as with fear and amazement XIX They that come to Christ must be ready to walk in the way of Salvation with the Staff of true Faith in their hands as Strangers and Pilgrims to make a daily progress towards the Land of everlasting Happiness XX. Lastly In that the Blood of the Lamb was first sprinkled on them XX. It shews that first Christ was made a Sacrifice to God and then a Sacrament to us Guild Type Disparity THe Passeover signified Christ was to come OUr Passeover shews he is come and hath been crucified for us II. The Passeover only fed the Body II. Christ spiritually feeds the Soul III. The Lamb being slain and eaten perished and nothing of it remains III. But Christ tho he was slain and became thereby spiritual Food for our Souls yet he is no whit impaired thereby but liveth and abideth for ever in perfect Bliss and Happiness and remaineth as perpetual Nourishment to his Chosen IV. That was a Type or Shadow IV. Christ is the Antitype and Substance of it Inferences GOd gave special Charge to the Israelites concerning their eating the Passeover He was greatly provoked by the Neglect of it Numb 9.13 But that Man that is clean and is not in a Journey and forbeareth to keep the Passeover even that Man shall be cut off from his People c. What then will become of them who refuse to come to Christ and eat of this spiritual Passeover Also it may stir up such sincere and godly Souls to look about them and cause them to tremble who live in the great Neglect of coming to the holy Supper of our Lord. Surely there is as good Ground and Reason for you to obey the Lord Jesus in this Ordinance as there was for Israel to obey Moses in keeping the Passeover nay I may shew much greater 1. From the consideration of what the one was a Sign of and what the other shews forth and is a Sign of 2. From the consideration of the Excellency of Christ whose Law this is above Moses who received that Law and delivered it to Israel 3. From the Threats that are denounced against those who refuse to hear Christ in whatsoever he shall say to them If the Word spoken by Angels was stedfast c. If they escaped not that refused him that spake on Earth how shall we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven And for further Motives consider 1. The strict and positive Injunction of Christ Do this in remembrance of me He that said Do not steal do not commit Adultery Repent believe pray always be holy c. said Do this c. 2. It is a perpetual Ordinance till Christ comes the second time Paul received it from Christ after his coming in Spirit according to his Promise c. And the Primitive Saints continued in it after that time likewise therefore the Coming he spake of must intend his second Coming at the last Day 3. Consider the great Need there is to remember Christ's Death and of those profitable Instructions and Blessings comprehended in this Ordinance 4. Is not the Neglect of a known Duty a great Sin 5. Is not this in effect to set light by Christ and to cast contempt upon his Commands and in effect to say there is no need of them What signifies say some the eating a little Bread and drinking a little Wine Wilt thou take upon thee to teach Christ and exalt thy own Wisdom above his who is the most wise God 6. Consider how faithful and ready the Saints in former Ages were to walk in the Commandments of God and is it not left upon Record to their everlasting Commendation Moses did all things according to the Pattern shewed him in the Mount c. Zachary and Elizabeth walked in all the Commandments of the Lord blameless 7. Dost thou know what spiritual Blessings thou losest by thy Neglect hereof Is not Loss of Communion with Christ a great Loss Psal 119.6 Joh. 14.15 8. Is not universal Obedience a Demonstration of Grace Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect to all thy Commandments If ye love me keep my Commandments 9. Will not the Thoughts of a wilful Neglect of known and indispensible Duties be bad Death-bed Companions 10. This preacheth the Gospel to the very Sight of your Eyes is it not necessary to make use of all Means God hath ordained for your Establishment in the Truth of the Gospel 11. Will not Omission of known Duties exclude Men and Women the Kingdom of Heaven Read Mat. 25. Is it not for Sins of Omission that Christ will condemn and sentence many Souls to eternal Burnings in the great Day THE Sixth HEAD OF METAPHORS SIMILES And other Borrowed TERMS Mentioned in the SACRED SCRIPTURES Relating to the Holy Angels of GOD AND THE Soul Spirit of Man Wherein the Nature Order Office and Ministration of Angels is opened THe Creatures of God are divided into Invisible and Visible The Invisible are Spirits 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 asomatoi without Bodies and by them we understand Angels because being in their Nature incorporeal they cannot be seen by humane Eyes The Visible are whatsoever things have existence in the visible World whether simple or mix'd Bodies In what Notions Metaphors are taken from Good and Evil Angels see our Sacred Philology Book 1. p. 101. 1. Angels then in their Natures are Spirits created of God 2. Called Ministers or Angels to shew their Office Take Mr. Ainsworth's Description of Angels Gen. 16.17 Angels so named of the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Angelos in
had with good Wishes and formal Prayer by crying Lord have mercy upon us and Christ have mercy upon us c. And if he have but Time a little before he breaths out his last on a Death-Bed but to cry unto God after this manner it will be sufficient Tho God's Word saith The Soul that sinneth it shall die And Except a Man be born again Ezek 18. Joh. 3.3 Heb. 12. he cannot see the Kingdom of God And Without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord. It is only a holy Life that is attended with a happy Death 4. The fourth is one worldly-wise a Person much in request in these Days whose Counsel many are ready to follow What! saith he art thou such a Fool to expose thy self to such great Sorrow and Suffering for Heaven when thou mayest have it without half the Ado. Pity thy Wife and Children save thy self out of a Prison and hazard not thy Estate For my part I came into the World raw and I will not go out roasted I will be of that Religion that is in fashion and set up by the Supreme Law of the Nation Are you wiser than every Body You meddle with Things too high for you c. Christ saith Whosoever comes after me Mat. 16.24 25. and doth not deny himself and take up his Cross cannot be my Disciple and that his Saints in the World shall have Tribulation But this Man would fain make the Cross of Christ to cease Come Popery and what will by this Argument he must and will conform to it he will be of that Religion that is uppermost And thus he renders the Apostles and Primitive Christians and all the holy Martyrs Fools and Fanaticks nay worse Rebels because they did not conform to the Religion of their Superiors 5. The fifth Enemy is one Moralist a very honest Man but that Ignorance and Blindness of Mind hath got such Rule in him He saith It is sufficient and no more is required of us but to do as we would be done unto and pay every Man his own and that if a Man can but get out of the deep Ditch of Sensuality and fleshly Debauchery and lead a spotless Life towards Man he need not doubt of Heaven nor trouble himself about Faith in Christ and Regeneration Tho our Saviour expresly saith Except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees Mat. 5.20 ye shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of God And Paul saith That he accounted his own Righteousness and all other external Privileges and Attainments that he once thought Gain to him but Dung for the Excellency of the Knowledg of Jesus Christ Phil. 3.8 9 10. 1 Cor. 2.1 2. and that he desired nothing more than to know Chtist and him crucified If a Man could be saved by his own Righteousness Christ came into the World and died in vain and the Law which was a perfect Rule of Righteousness had then been sufficient to bring Men to Heaven Besides how do we come to be delivered from the Curse Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the Book of the Law to do them 6. The sixth Adversary is Presumption a bold confident Fellow that cries Cast your self upon the Mercy of God in Christ the Lord Jesus died for Sinners trouble your Head no more you shall be saved Tho I am a Sinner and am now and then drunk and let flie an Oath sometimes before I am aware yet I doubt not but it will go well with me my Heart is good and Christ died for such as I am This Man sins because Grace hath abounded and forgets that Christ came to save Men from their Sins and not in their Sins and that that Faith that justifies Acts 15.9 1 Joh. 3.3 is attended with good Fruits and purifieth the Heart and Life of him that obtains it 7. The seventh Enemy is Vain-Glory If Satan cannot ensnare the Soul by any of the other Ways he strives to puff it up with Pride and Self-conceit Now Vain-Glory is a deadly Enemy therefore take heed of him It becomes Christians to be lowly-minded Learn of me saith Christ for I am meek and lowly in Heart Mat. 11.28 29. and ye shall find Rest to your Souls XI A Pilgrim is glad when he comes at last to his desired Place and forgets all his former Trouble and Afflictions which attended him in his Way XI So a Saint when he comes to Heaven or hath obtained the End of his Hope 1 Pet. 1.9 viz. the Salvation of his Soul greatly rejoyceth and forgets all the Sorrow and Trouble he met with in this World They shall return and come to Zion with Songs Isa 35.10 Isa 51.11 everlasting Joy shall be upon their Heads They shall obtain Joy and Gladness and Sorrow and Sighing shall flee away Inferences THis may serve to inform God's People what their State and Condition is and will be whilst they remain in this World This is not your Rest c. Mic. 2.10 Heb. 13.14 Here we have no continuing City but we seek one to come 2. Therefore it sharply reprehends those Christians that settle themselves as Inhabitants and Dwellers here below like other People Alas Sirs ye forget that ye are Strangers and Pilgrims and but Sojourners as it were for a Night Why do ye seek great Things for your selves and seem to be so much taken with the Pleasures and Profits of this Life Ye are not of this World Let such as regard no higher things Joh. 15.19 take their Fill here and delight themselves in their Portion for 't is all the Good they are ever like to have but let them remember those dismal Sayings of our blessed Saviour Wo unto you that are rich for ye have received your Consolation Luk. 6.24 25 26. wo unto you that are full for ye shall hunger wo unto you that laugh now for ye shall mourn and weep wo unto you that all Men speak well of c. Saints compared to Palm-Trees Psal 92.12 The Righteous shall flourish like a Palm-Tree c. Cant. 7.7 This thy Stature is like a Palm-Tree c. Verse 8. I said I will go up to the Palm-Tree c. THe Palm-Tree and Date-Tree is one and the same Tree called in Hebrew Thamar in Greek Phenix Why the Saints and People of God are compared to the Palm-Tree will appear in the following Parallel Metaphor Parallel THe Palm-Tree is an excellent Tree amiable to look upon it is very tall and all its Branches shoot upwards there are none grow out of the Side as in other Trees THe Righteous who are compared to a Palm-Tree are a choice and excellent People their Affections like Branches ascend they are set upon Things above they grow Heavenward Col. 3 1.2 They do not shoot out their Branches as I may say this way and that way to the World they grow high in Grace and in
Christ and the Things of Religion of which Justice and Charity Holiness and Compassion are not the least Part and yet under this Vizard and in the very time of these Pretensions perpetrate the greatest and most unparallel'd Villanies in the World 1. In being the Top of Pride 2. In committing palpable Idolatry 3. Fill themselves with Excess and Drunkenness 4. To curse swear and blaspheme the very Name they profess to be sacred 5. To cast down the Truth burn the Bible deface the holy Books and Laws of God 6. To assume not only a Power to dispense with Violations of the highest Nature but to pardon and forgive them at pleasure 7. To commit Adultery and account it a venial Crime 8. To break Covenants drive a Trade in Perjury forswear every thing they are justly charged with and is fully proved against them 9. To foment Wars and Broils in every Kingdom and Country where they have Power contrive the Ruine of Towns and Places Cities Countries and Kingdoms by Fire Sword and most cruel Devastations 10. To slaughter kill and barbarously murther both Men Women and Children even all that dare make a shew of Conscience and Religion so far as to abhor and dissent from these Villanies This is such a Scheme of Religion and Systeme of Divinity to come from an Apostle a Shepherd a Vicar and Successor of Christ from a Church Sheep Saints and the pretended Followers of the meek peaceable and innocent Jesus who taught altogether otherwise by his Doctrine and Example that it might well be wondred at and is the strangest Mystery that ever appeared of which we challenge the whole World to shew the like in the Turks and Saracens For Men to swear lie and forswear themselves and yet be true Men to contrive Rebellion Murther and Treason and yet be as innocent as the Child unborn to be elevated to the highest Pinacle of Pride even above Emperors and Kings above Jesus Christ and God his Father and yet be humble and lowly To commit gross Idolatry and yet be the Servants of the Living God To be filled with and make a Trade of Excess and Drunkenness and yet be the Paterns and Standards of Sobriety and Temperance To cast down the Truth to the Ground deface the Laws of God and burn the Scriptures and yet be the true Witnesses to it To forgive Sins and yet be the greatest of Sinners themselves To commit Fornication and Adultery and yet be spotless and pure in Heart To foment Wars and Broils in every Kingdom and Country where they have Power to contrive the Ruine of Towns and Places Cities Countries and Kingdoms by Fire Sword and cruel Devastations and yet be as harmless as Doves to all Mankind the only Sons of Peace and Quietness To slaughter kill and barbarously murther Men Women and Children that dare not be so wicked as themselves and yet to be full of Mercy tender Pity and Compassion an Apostle Shepherd Vicar and Successor of the meek and Lamb-like Saviour And for the dear Consort of this impious Head or Man of Sin to be not only confederate with him but a Principal in all these unparallel'd Villanies and most butcherly and rapacious Murthers and yet be the Holy Catholick Church of God the pure and spotless Spouse of Jesus Christ the true Sheep the harmless Lambs the best of Saints and close Followers of the Lord Jesus who always taught the contrary by his holy Doctrine and meek Example We say these Things not being found by secret Search but are written in Capital Letters upon her Forehead appear in open view to be read by every one that is not wilfully blind Let any one shew us a greater Mystery in the World than this and we will subscribe to it 4. It cannot be the Turks because they are not the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth which this Babylon is said to be Rev. 17.5 And upon her Forehead was a Name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH And here we demand in excuse to the Turks this one Thing From whence did proceed the Murthers Massacres and Martyrdoms of all the Religious Professors of Christianity that have died by violence in the Christian World for the space of twelve hundred Years last past And from what People did proceed those horrid Oaths Blasphemies and Execrations that the World hath wofully been acquainted with most horrid and strangely astonishing to repeat Came these unparallel'd Degrees of Impiety from the Turks from the Waldensians Lutherans Calvinists or any Non-conforming Protestants No no. Why whose Language then is it Whose Why 't is the Language of the Beast of the bottomless Pit and bloody Whore who bare these blasphemous Sons of her own Body daily nourishes them at her Breast and strengthens them in their sinful Courses by accounting them the Sons the precious Sons of Sion the true Sons of the Catholick Church the Darlings of Heaven the beloved Ones of the Virgin Mary and giving them Pardons for these bold and Heaven-daring Sins as often as they do commit them and come to ask Pardon for them so that Sin and Pardon is as constant and common with them as Breathing and Eating And these Things are done to seal and confirm Lies which is the more heavy heinous and prodigious For if Men may lie by allowance may kill and shed innocent Blood without Controul of Conscience and Church-Censures may swear and blaspheme and challenge God himself to damn them may burn Men for Religion consume Cities to Ashes conspire the Death of Kings the Ruine and Overthrow of Kingdoms whore and murther Infants and yet be accounted a Church the Members and Parts of it called Saints holy Children and Sons of the Most High God Then may we claim a Patent and take a License to change the Name of all Things and alter all the Idea's of the Minds of Men call and account Beelzebub a good God and all his black Tribe the pure Saints of the Most High call the lower Regions of Blackness and Darkness to which he is confin'd the Heaven of Glory and eternal Light Of which Things we ought in Justice to clear the Turks until Witnesses of undoubted Credit shall come forth and evidence that the Turkish State is the Mother of as great Abominations as these are 5. And lastly The Turks cannot be Mystery Babylon because they never were made drunk with the Blood of the Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus which this Woman Mystery Babylon is expresly said to be Rev. 17.6 And I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and I wondred with great admiration Now let any Man shew such Bloodshed Saints Bloodshed by Massacres and Martyrdom for the professing of Christianity which must be if the Text be answered in that Clause Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus by the Turks either within their Dominions or
Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth not only sit upon a Scarlet-coloured and blasphemous Beast but she is beautified and adorned with great Pomp and outward Glory by which she commends her self to that part of the World that delights in her Gaudery being a Woman whose Worship is filled with detestable Doctrine which she holds forth to them with Pictures and Gallantry of all sorts 1. Look into the holy Patrimony of consecrated Saints there you find Riches and Honour tho not durable Riches and Righteousness 2. Look unto their Garbs and Vestments there you shall find Cardinals like splendid Princes Heads of Parties and Provinces in such Habiliments that for Riches might have become the highest Order of the Jewish Priesthood 3. Look into the Instruments and Mode of their Worship and there you shall find the Altar and Candlesticks the Vessels for Oil and Pots of Purification as if their Predecessors had been at Solomon's Temple and had brought a Pattern from thence and yet in this Gâ—lden Cup or framed Piece of Gallantry there is nothing to be found but foul and adulterated Wine most fitly to be called by the Angel Abomination and Filthiness and the Wine of Fornication Which we conclude with this Argument Arg. If no People in the Christian World hath such Riches and Splendor such Pomp and Gallantry in the Maintenance and Management of their Worship as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath Then Rome Papal must be this gawdy Harlot or Whore of Babylon But there is no People in the Christian World that hath such Riches and Splendor such Pomp and Gallantry in the Maintenance and Management of Religious Worship as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome must be this Whore or well-favoured Harlot treated of The Argument is full and clear and so well fortified that we think it needs no Rere-guard to enforce it and therefore tho it be short and low of Stature we shall leave it amongst our Infantry and draw up our right and left Wings yet further to assault Babylon XII This Woman or City that is thus adorned with outward Pomp and Glory hath upon her Forehead a Name written MYSTERY Rev. 17.5 BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH Which may be true both in a Literal and Mystical Sense the Breeder of Misses Concubines and Whores to gratify the Sensual Appetites of her Letcherous Sons but chiefly in a Mystical Sense she Breeds and brings forth Spiritual Harlots viz. Unclean Communities XII Rome Papal or Church of Rome if she be not concerned here we will acquit her of being Mystery Babylon 1. Here is a Name written in Capital Letters and written so as to be read publickly too 'T is not written upon any part of the Woman that may be hid or covered with a Garment but on that part which is kept bare and is easiest to be seen her Forehead her publick visible and known Parts 2. Here is Babylon or Confusion a mixt Body that is far from that good and pure Order which in Words she pretends 3. Here is Mystery in the case and a great Mystery to a Wonderment even to the surprizing of every wise and thinking Man ver 6. 4. Here is a Mother a Mother of a very spurious Illegitimate and unclean Off-spring Harlots and Abominations many Abominations and great and reigning too Abominations of the Earth i. e. that large Part of the Earth where she is situate and doth reside A little unto each or these as the Time and Space we are limited to will allow A Name upon the Forehead if this were noâ— to be read and seen by most Christians and Professors it would not much concern the Christian World for whom it must be calculated for others that own not the Christian Religion are not in a Capacity to make a Judgment upon the Case for if this Book of the Revelations were not written for the Christian World it leaves us not any Certainty where the case is to be considered and the Matter to be judged Now if it be calculated for the Christian World then it must be upon such a People that is most publick and visible and apparent which agrees to none so fitly as to the Church of Rome which by their own Confession is the most potent and visible in the Christian World for where have the inconsiderable Hereticks so called whose Beings are in Corners such a Name as may be read or known by all or the principal part of the Christian World Now to clear these poor innocent so called Hereticks from being concerned in this Character we imagine at least it cannot refer to them 1. Because they have no Forehead so broad to bear the Inscription which we will engage to make good against any Romanist in the World 2. Because they are so plain and honest a People and their Principles so easily and well known that it is wild and ridiculous to call them Mystery Babylon there neither being any hellish depth nor confusion in what they profess as might be fully evinced by unquestionable Instances for what confusion or hidden thing can be in this that there is one God the Object of Worship one Holy Book called the Bible the Rule of Worship one blessed Kingdom Heaven or World to come the Reward of Worship and all that act Faith Hope and Charity upon these three great Fundamental Principles shall inherit that blessed Kingdom or World to come 3. Because they are so retired and private that had they a Forehead broad enough for the Inscription aforesaid yet they sit so low that Nations cannot easily read it and if we acquit the poor innocent Protestants who must we fix these Characters upon If all Dissenters from the Church of Rome be clear then it must unavoidably be fixed upon Rome her self if any demand for what Reason the Answer is First Because when the Protestants are exempted then there is none left to bear the Inscription but the Church of Rome 2. She hath a Forehead broad enough to bear Mystery and Confusion for there is not a greater hellish depth and Confusion to be found upon any People than upon the Church of Rome as will appear in its place 3. Because the Dissenters with respect to Appearance and the exercise of Power are very small and inconsiderable in comparison of that overgrown monstrous Body of the Church of Rome for to call the Dissenters great and the Church of Rome small is as congruous as to call the Ocean a little Spring and the smallest Brook the Ocean Secondly Babylon Confusion or a mixt Body is far from that pure Order which in Words Rome pretends unto and can by no means agree to the Protestants for they are so strict in their Discipline that they admit of no such mixture that deserves the Name of Confusion they will receive none into their Communion without much Caution and Satisfaction and when received keep them no
corrupted the whole Lump of Mankind Adam had no sooner sinned against God but the spiritual Poyson and Venom thereof struck to his Heart corrupting every Faculty of his Soul and not only so but also the Souls of all his Posterity See Wounds IV. 'T is noted by Plutarch that when an Asp stings a Man it doth first tickle him and makes him laugh till the Poyson by little and little gets to the Heart and then it pains and torments him more than ever it delighted him before So doth Sin it may please a little at first Though Wickedness be sweet in his Mouth Job 20 12 tho he hide it under his Tongue though he spare it and forsake it not but keepeth it still within his Mouth Yet his Meat in his Bowels is turned it is the Gall of Asps within him Forbidden Profits and Pleasures are very delightful to carnal Men and many love to be medling with these poysoning Morsels of Sin Many eat that on Earth which they digest in Hell Men must not think to dine and dance with the Devil and then to sup with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in God's Kingdom V. Poyson in a Toad or Serpent suits and agrees well with their Nature but Poyson in a Man's Stomach makes fearful Work it being of a contrary Nature So Sin in a wicked Man one that hath no spark of true Grace in him seems to be suitable and agree well with him his whole Nature being so grievously corrupted and changed into the evil Nature thereof he having used himself so long in sinful Ways that Sin viz. open Prophaneness Superstition and Error is habitual and become natural to him as Poyson to a Toad Naturalists say That if a Man take a little quantity of Poyson at a time and so accustom himself to it ☜ it will at length become so natural to him that he may take it as Food Even so wicked Men by a continual Course and evil Custom in Sin drink it down as pleasant Liquor like as the Fish drinks Water But now Sin to a true Christian is like much Poyson in a Man's Stomach 't is contrary to that new Nature and divine Principle which is wrought in him by the Spirit of God he cannot bear nor endure it he hates every false Way Rom. 7. That which I hate that do I. VI. Poyson is deadly in its own Nature and of a killing and destroying Quality if not timely vomited up by taking some fit and proper Antidote c. So Sin whether fleshly or spiritual viz. sensual Debauchery or Heresy will kill and destroy all where-ever it is both Body and Soul eternally except by true Repentance it be vomited up Tho Men take it down as sweet Wine Prov. 23.31 and are not presently sensible of any harm yet at last it will bite like a Serpent and sting like an Adder VII Oil will expel Poyson and it is often given to Persons who have taken it to cause them to vomit it up So the Oil of Gladness viz. the Spirit of God is the best Antidote in the World to expel and work out the Poyson of Sin in the Soul See Oil of Gladness in the First Volume Book 2. Inferences WHat do Sinners mean will they poyson themselves are they void of Understanding to take down the Poyson of Dragons Will they wilfully murther themselves What Blindness and Folly is in their Hearts II. O how should this stir up the Godly to pity wicked Men and to strive as much as lieth in their Power to prevent their sinning and endeavour to turn away their Wrath III. It may also caution Believers to take heed of Sin and of the Venom of an evil Tongue as also of the Poyson of Heresy and Error IV. Let Sinners also learn from hence timely to look out for Help O get a fit Antidote to save you from this Poyson Ah! what is Sin 't is Poyson in a Cup That 's gilt without and Men do drink it up Most earnestly with joy and much delight Being pleasant to the carnal Appetite Sin 's sweet to him whose Soul is out of taste But long alas its Sweetness will not last Sin 's sweet to th' Flesh that does it dearly love But to the Soul it doth rank Poyson prove Hast thou suck'd this most deadly Venome in And dost not see thy vital Parts begin To swell Art poyson'd Soul Look look about To get an Antidote to work it out Before it be too late the Poyson 's strong Don't stay a Week twelve Hours is too long One drachm of Grace mix'd with repenting Tears The Grace of perfect Love that casts out Fears Mix'd with that Faith which kills all Unbelief Took down with speed will ease thee of thy Grief 'T will purge the Soul and work by Vomit well And all vile Dregs of Venome 't will expell Unless thou vomit up each Dreg be sure No hope of Life one Sin will Death procure Eternal Death Repentance is not right 'Till Sin nay every Sin 's forsaken quite Not only left but as a poysonous Cup Thou must it loath 't is hateful spue it up Sin a Sickness Isa 1.5 The whole Head is sick and the whole Heart faint c. Mat. 9.12 The whole need not a Physician but they that are sick SPiritual Sickness is twofold 1. To be sick with Sin 2. To be sick of Sin as Sin wounds the Soul so it makes sick and this is Man's Misery but to be sick of Sin viz. to be sensible of the Evil and cursed Nature thereof this is a Mercy Parallels THE Causes of Natural Sickness are divers sometimes it arises from some inward and sometimes from some outward Cause to know from whence the Distemper grew or did arise is very necessary whether it be Chronical or Acute i. e. that which hath seized on the Patient on a sudden by Heats Cold or from the Corruption of the Blood by an infectious Air c. which an able Physician is diligent to pry and search into Now as touching the Sickness of the Soul 't is evident the Original Cause thereof was by eating of the forbidden Fruit which surfeited the whole Lump of Mankind or if you please it was occasioned by Poyson by the Poyson of the old Serpent Deadly Poyson makes a Man very sick and corrupts the whole Mass of Blood And as 't is needful to find out if possible the Cause of Sickness so 't is as necessary to find out the Cause of Spiritual Sickness the Cause being discovered the Cure is easy If a Man doth not see what his state is as considered in the first Adam nor the evil and damning Nature of Sin in general nor the particular Plague of his own Heart he is in no hopeful way of help and healing II. Some Sicknesses or Diseases are Epidemical Sin is a Sickness or Disease so universal and a Contagion so catching that none have escaped nor are totally free from it III. Some are so sick that they have
to Honour and Exaltation is to be abased and suffer our selves to be trod upon this is opened also in the Person and Life of Christ To enjoy God's Favour is first to bear his seeming Frowns And many such like Mysteries there are in Godliness Fifthly There is a Mystery in Ordinances which those who follow this Trade should understand a Mystery in Baptism a Mystery in the Lord's Supper But these things I cannot enlarge upon for want of Room Vse 1. Let all take heed they do not slight or reproach these Mysteries 2. Let them not think to understand them in their own fleshly Wisdom 3. Let them labour to get the Power and Operation of them upon their Hearts and then they will esteem them and say there is a Truth in what we affirm and teach VI. He that would drive a Trade to gain by it or thrive upon it must follow it closely he must make it his chief Business nothing will be done in it to purpose without diligence So every Christian who would gain by the Trade of Godliness must keep close to it he must follow it day and night and manage it wisely throughout all his other Affairs Godliness must be followed without intermission it must be every day's Work the Head Heart Hands Feet Time Strength Discourse Contrivance must be taken up about it No Man can thrive in Godliness if his Heart be not in it When thy Hand is in the World thy Heart should be in Heaven VII He that drives a Trade with discretion must take heed he runs not too far in debt and that â—e keeps his Books carefully or else he may soon run out of all So must a Christian take heed he run not far in debt Debts will be contracted In many things we offend all But be sure to see these Debts paid left the Creditor come on a sudden upon thee If any Man sin we have an Advocate c. Renew Repentance every day 1 John 2.3 and labour after fresh Acts of Faith keep thy Accounts even with God observe the Mercies thou receivest from him and be sensible of thy Faults and Miscarriages VIII There is no Man that follows a great Trade but ought to see he hath a Stock sufficient to trust he that cannot trust in some Callings shall have but a poor Trade So every Christian must be careful to get a good Stock of Faith and Experience for if a Saint cannot trust God he will never make any Earnings of Godliness It is true it behoves a Trader to take heed whom he trusteth so it behoveth a Christian he must not trust his own Heart nor in his own Righteousness nor put too much confidence in Princes We can never trust Men too little nor God too much IX A Man that would follow a Trade to Advantage must be much at home and keep his Shop and as the Proverb is his Shop will keep him but he that is more abroad than at home will soon come to Beggery So a Saint must be much at home and keep his own Heart well Some Professors are more abroad spying Faults in other Men than they are in taking notice of their own X. A Man that drives a Trade ought to take heed he go not behind-hand and instead of getting lose by his Trading So ought a Saint to take heed he go not backwards instead of going forwards and lose instead of gaining Thou hast lost thy first Love Remember from whence thou art fallen Rev. 2. and repent XI Some Men trade upon other Mens Stocks as Factors Stewards c. And such Traders are Christians they trade upon Christ's Stock they regulate their Affairs by Christ's Advice they drive on Christ's Interest All that Saints have is their Master's Money and it behoveth them so to lay it out that it may bring in the most Increase Remember all your Graces Gifts and Temporal Goods too are the Lord 's XII Some Trades require great Layings out and if a Man is sparing in his Layings out he must expect his Comings in will be accordingly Sâ— the Trade of Godliness requires great Layings out A Christian who will not lay out his Strength Time and Parts and what he hath for God will never grow rich in Faith and Godliness XIII Quick Returns are the Life of a Trade and animate a Man in his Calling and Business exceedingly So quick Returns do enliven and greatly encourage a Christian when he finds God answers his Prayers Isa 65.24 as the Promise runs Whilst they speak I will answer â— XIV Some Men grow very rich by a Trade So some Christians grow very rich in Faith and Experience by Godliness See City of God pag. 82 83. Inferences THis may inform the Saints what they undertake when they enter upon the Work and Business of Godliness they must look upon it as their chief and principal Calling II. How are many Men deceived They pursue the World as their chief Business and mind Religion and Godliness when they have nothing else to do III. Be exhorted O Christian to follow thy Calling dost thou want Motives 1. Consider 't is an honourable and ancient Trade Christ Jesus himself was of this Profession Godliness was his chiefest Business all the Saints and Worthies of old followed this Calling Prov. 3.14 2. 'T is the best Trade and Calling in the World For the Merchandise thereof is better than the Merchandise of Silver and the Gain thereof than fine Gold Heavenly Things are rare Things Things of great worth 1. They cost deaâ— viz. the Price of Christ's most precious Blood 2. They are durable Riches 3. O what precious Things are Pardon of Sin Peace with God Union and Communion with God! What a rare Thing is Heaven Is not a Crown worth Trading for 3. Consider who you trade with and that is the great God through Jesus Christ 4. You have a faithful Correspondent one that ever lives to make Intercession for you 5. You have your Goods upon easy Terms Ask and you shall receive Come buy Wine and Milk without Money Isa 55.1 and without Price 1 Tim. 6.6 4.8 6. 'T is the most profitable Trade Godliness with Contentment is great Gain 'T is profitable to all things having the Promise of the Life that now is and of that which is to come Metaphors Similes c. CONERNING Providence and Affliction Afflictions compared to Clouds Psal 97.2 Clouds and Darkness are round about him c. Joel 2.2 A Day of Clouds c. Lam. 2.1 How hath the Lord covered the Daughter of Sion with a Cloud in his Anger CLouds are a moist Vapour exhaled from the Earth and Sea by the Sun and condensated by the Cold in the middle Region and carried by the Winds up and down called the Bottles of Heaven which God saith one doth fill with Wine and Vineger with Mercy or Wrath. By Clouds and Darkness are meant Afflictions and dark Providences under which God often times