their proceedings three things should haue beene considered of them First that they had the holy Scripture for warrant Secondly that their affections were in tune and well composed Thirdly that their ends and aymes were directlie to the honor and glorie of GOD but of these respects the blinde reprobates haue no regard Vse The vse hereof serueth to check and controule many insolent surly and swelling Gentiles that not rightly weighing and ballancing the true causes and reasons did falslie imagine and so fondly erre that the Iewes were cut and cast off for their vnworthinesse and that their vnbeliefe was the proper cause of their admittance and substitution into their empty places and roomes and heereby they highly conceited themselues as though they were more worthy before God then the Iewes 2. Vse Heereby is mette with-all the pride and ill affection of some who reioyce at other mens ruines and downe-falls whether in religion or in outward estate or both whereas it is iust with God thus to giue them ouer and they that seeme to stand may fall into the like Apostacie and iudgments for they by nature are made of no better mettall then others and they stand no longer then God doth support them Through vnbeliefe they are broken Heere wee see and vnderstand what a vile and dangerous sinne misbeliefe and infidelity is it is the roote and fountaine of all disobedience it draweth Gods anger vpon vs it hasteneth his iudgements it depriueth vs of Gods promises and nullifieth and maketh frustrate his couenant Hence it was that the Iewes were growne out of request with God lost their prerogatiues ceased to bee Gods people and lastly most of them were excluded from the kingdome of Heauen Vnbeliefe was the first sinne of Adam and Eue and was the cause of their fall and so of all the sinne and miseries that befell vnto all their posteritie Infidelitie debarred the Israelites from entering into the blessed land of Canaan a Type of the kingdome of heauen it is the cause of all Apostasie and reuolting from GOD and his Euangelicall trueth It maketh Gods heauenly and sacred word vnprofitable vnto the hearers it maketh all things impure and vnlawfull vnto men Titus 1. verse 14.15 and in a word it is the fore-runner and meritorious cause of damnation and destruction The reason hereof is because it wilfully refuseth the grace of God offered it doth distrust and discredit Gods word contemne his promises rebell against his will and to conclude it reiecteth and shutteth out Christ the cause author and finisher of redemption happinesse and holynesse 1. Vse Wee must therefore beware of infidelitie and vnbeliefe wee must be prouident that it doe not wound vs with his dartes and then the Gun-shotte of all other temptations shall neuer blinde nor batter vs let vs therefore put on the complet harnesse of God and the armour of proofe i. a liuely faith which will quench and blunt all Sathans Dartes well may wee bee seduced for a time but not alwayes nor vnto death for faith preserueth the Castle of our heart and it ouercommeth the world Secondly wee must alwayes thinke and speake honourably of Gods word and labour to bee riche in the knowledge of his wil and with full purpose of heart cleaue vnseperably vnto GOD and by assent of minde applie and claspe fast Christ Iesus and all his sauing graces and promises vnto our owne selues and then nothing shall bee able to dampe or daunt vs much lesse to seclude and seperate vs from Christ and the certaine enioyment of the heauenly Ierusalem Thou standest by faith that is Thou profitest in thy profession and practise of Christianitie by faith i. by a firme assent of thy minde relying vpon Gods grace and acknowledging and receiuing Christ as he is reueiled in holy Scripture from whence this necessary collection ariseth The grafting in of the Gentiles into the Oliue doth not depend vpon their owne worthinesse vertues and merits but onely vpon faith assenting vnto and firmly apprehending Gods gratious promises Now this faith is a free yet a most rare gift of God not common to all professors but peculiar onely to the elect from it proceedeth both the beginning and the continuance of their engrafting into Christ and hereby wee are made partakers of Christ and of saluation and without this faith wee are in worse estate then any vassall vnder the Turke or any Spanish Galley slaue for their seruice is onely bodily and temporall but this is spirituall horrible and if they repent not eternall Heb. 2. ver 15. 1. Vse This doctrine serueth to argue and reprooue those that condemne the doctrine of faith whereas without it there is neither iustification nor saluation By it wee are made the children of God Iohn 1.12 and stand and sticke to Christ the true Vine and hereby wee are interessed in Christ and all his sauing merits and gâ—aces 2. Vse Wee must loue the Lord and feare him for his great mercies shed vpon vs and for his pretious promises made to vs for they are not procured by our deferts or endeuours but frankely and freely bestowed vpon vs of God 3. Vse We must nourish and preserue faith and see that it be not of story or a temporarie faith but a true iustifying faith For a true iustifying faith is such a roote such a foundation and assurance so built and founded vpon the Rock Christ and the sacred Scriptures that the gates and power of Hell cannot preuaile against it and as for temporary and historicall faith like a flower like painting and like guilt and it will soone fade away and bee defaced Be not high minded When wee see proud hipocrits to contemne and condemne other poore men for their present misbeleife and miseries and to admire and magnifie their owne selues they must be terrified with Gods iudgements Isa. 28. ver 9.10 Luk. 16.15 Apoc. 3.16 and 17. Act. 13.40.41 Math. 21. v. 33 The reason hereof is first that otherwise no good can bee done of them if they bee not pulled out of the fire of Gods iudgements they wil be burned and if they bee not violently awaked they will droppe away and die in their slumber as they do that are bitten by an Aspe Secondly for that if they will not repent they may be left without excuse in Gods sight Vse 1. Let vs therefore beware and bee aduised that we do not braue out and insult vpon others least God call and conuert them in his mercy and plague and punish vs in his iudgement for our pride and contempt Vse 2. Let no man presume of his owne ability and strength as though hee could stand by it in temptation neither let him please himselfe in a conceite and imagination of his owne constancy as though hee might liue securely and dissolutely and yet escape all danger least God correct and plague him for his conceitednes in suffering him to fall into grosse sinnes and greeuous
knowledge and vnderstanding of them is for therevnto are we referred in all our doubts controuersies and difficulties for resolution Isai. 8.20 Luke 16.28 31. Ioh. 5.38 Secondly they conteine the meanes deedes euidences charter and the broad seale of our saluation Ioh. 5.34 Ioh. 20.31 Rom. 1.16 1. Tim. 3.15.16 Psal. 19â—7 Thirdly the ignorance and neglect of them is the cause of all Athiesme errour heresie sinne rebellion persecution misery yea and damnation it selfe 2. King 17.26 Psal. 95.10 Isay. 5.13 Math. 22.29 Iohn 12.35 Rom. 10.2 1. Cor. 2.8 1. Thes. 4.13 Lastly God hath both in the old Testament as also in the new laide a speciall charge and command vpon all sorts of people soueraigne and subiect publike and priuate persons mighty and meane to exercise themselues and continually to trauaile in the reading and meditation of holy scripture Deut. 6.6.7.8.9 Iosua 1.8 Psal. 1.2 Coloss. 3.19 Iohn 5.39 1. Tim. 4.13 Vse It condemneth the idlenesse and vanitie of this present age wherein many most bestow none or little time in reading and consulting the sacred Scriptures wherein they might bee made circumspect redresse their waies haue comfort and supportance in all afflictions and be made wise vnto saluation But in the practise of the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse in the excesse of sinne and vanitie and in the reading and reuising toyes and trifles that can minister nothing vnto them but matter of mourning and cause of after repentance they can willingly and wilfully spare spend whole houres daies nights weeks The Lord amend this and renue and reuiue the dying pining zeale of his people and seruants in so many places How he maketh request vnto God speaking against Israell And in the 1. of Kings 19.10 he saith that he hath beene iealous for the Lord of Hosts all tending to one purpose from which place I obserue and gather That the Pastors Preachers of Gods word especially must be enfired and inflamed with an holy zeale of Gods glory with a holy indignation against sin and idolatry then principally when with Elias others they see most grieuous transgressions of the people when they see Baals Priests viz. Iesuites and Seminaries Popish Emisaries to be had in request and high reputation and themselues and the true Prophets and ministers of the Lord reuiled and reiected yea wringed and wronged yea killed and slaughtered when they see Christ to bee vilified and Antichrist to be deified and when they see the Gospell troden vnderfoot impiety superstition aduanced Examples hereof wee haue in Moses who seeing the Golden Calfe that the Israelites had made and the dauncing about it waxed wroth cast the tables out of his hands brake them in peeces before the Mountaine burned the calfe in fire ground it to powlder strawed it vpon the water and made the Children of Israell drinke of it In Phaenehas the sonne of Eleazar who arose vp from the midst of the Congregation tooke a speare in his hand and with it thrust thorow Zimri the sonne of Salâ— and Cozbi the daughter of Zur the Midianitish woman and so the plague ceased from the children of Israell In Zacharias the sonne of Ichoiada the Priest who obseruing the people after Ichoiodah his death to fall away to idolatrie in zeale reproued them for transgressing Gods commandements hee told them that they should not prosper but that as they had forsaken the Lord so he had forsaken them and herevpon they at King Ioash his tyrrannicall command stoned him to death In Iohn the Baptists for his bold reprehension of the Pharasies and Saduces and for reprouing of Herod for his incest and many other sinnes In Peter against Ananias and Saphira his wife Act. 5.3 In Steuen in telling the Iewes they were stif-necked and that they like their fathers alwaies resisted the holy Ghost that they had not kept the law but that they were the betraiers and murderers of the iust In Paul whose spirit was stirred vp in him wheÌ„ he saw the citty of Athens subiect to idolatrie And in himselfe and Barnabas who when the people with their Priest would haue done sacrifice to them in zeale rent their owne clothes and rebuked the people In Dauid as the tipe and most eminently in Christ the truth and perfection all of whom were consumed with the zeale of Gods house Psal. 69.19 Math. 21.12 Ioh. 2 15. Reason The reason hereof is because they are Gods watchmen and forewarne the people they are Gods trumpetters to tell the people of their sinnes and the spirituall leaders guides and directers of the multitude 1 Vse This doctrine serueth for reproofe of some Ministers of our time who either are remisse and negligent and seeking their owne ease neuer oppose themselues by doctrine and example against the errors and sinnes of their flockes but rather applaude them or at least in conniuence take notice of nothing and if the shew any zeale it is rather for their own Diana and advantage then for Gods true religion and glory 2 Vse It is a great comfort for all true and sound hearted Ministers who in an aduized and discreete zeale within the compasse of their callings both by preaching example and authority shew their dislike and opposition against superstitions and enormous sinnes and abuses beeing assured that what contumelies and indignities they vndergoe for Gods honour God will accordingly consider of them and censure their aduersaries he will honour them that honor him and despise them that despise him They haue killed thy Prophets and digged downe thine Alters From these two members ioyntly considered ariseth this instruction That it is the plot and practise of Apostataes and Idolaters in their hatred rage against God to labour to blot all remembrance of God and not to suffer the Ambassadors and Messengers of God to remaine aliue Psal. 79.1 2. Psal. 8.13 Apoc. 12.2 13.16 17. Apoc. 18.24 Reas. The reason in regard of the holy monuments of Gods seruice is because they are profaine and wicked and regard them not and as for the good ministers of God they like the King of Aram against Ahab though indeed a most wicked King fight against none in comparison but against them for they seeme stumbling blockes and hubbes in their way who by their ministerie and zealous example vexe them Apoc. 11. ver 10. 1. Vse Let vs be thankefull vnto God for the long continued vse and ministery of his blessed Gospell and that neither Prelates nor Pastors nor Preachers are not giuen into the hands of our blood-thristy woluish aduersaries 2. Vse Secondly let the ministers prepare and resolue them-selues not onely to suffer rebuke and losse for Gods cause but also to die for it if they be therevnto called for God will highly reward them and they shall not bee loosers but gainers by it and not damnified but euerlastingly glorified 3. Vse Seeing the good pastors and ministers of Gods word are so much maligned
gold and siluer c. 2. Tim. 2. v. 20 Therefore in the worke of our predestination and redemption Gods mercy and goodnesse is all in all and hath not any respect to any thing that is without and not partaker of his owne nature and essence It serueth to beate downe all pride and humane glory and all confidence in any of our owne workes because all the workes and glory of our saluation is from Gods grace and mercy onely and not from our selues or any thing in vs Rom. 9.18 2. Vse And if it did hang vpon our owne workes wee should bee vncertaine because wee cannot satisfie GODS iustice Secondly in that GOD hath beene so good vnto vs wee must pay vnto him the continuall impost of praise and thanksgiuing and for a document and proose hereof labour to frame and conforme our liues wayes and workes to the rule of his written word 3. Vse Lastly wee must not doubt aâ—d remaine in suspence of his loue and fauour but take notice of it secure and perswade our selues of it more and more For God is full of mercie and goodnesse who is a louing Father a kinde and sweete Sauiour in Christ and doth by the perfume and magneticall attraction of his mercies prouoke and allure all men to worship feare loue inuocate and trust in him And therefore wee cannot offer greater indignitie nor doe more notable iniurie to so good a Maiestie then to call his grace goodnesse or mercy into question What then Israell hath not obtained that he sought 2. Section i. What shall wee say and confesse namely this as the trueth is that Israell i. those carnall Israelites who boasted themselues to be Israelites and gloried in the flesh hath not obtained that he sought i. that whereas they went about and endeauoured to attaine vnto iustification and eternall life by their owne workes and merits they haue not obtained it v. 22. But the election hath obtained it i. the elect as farre forth as they are elect haue obtained it in and by the force of election and because they sought it onely of grace through faith But the rest i. they are not elected but reiected haue beene hardened i. their heart hath in Gods iust iudgement through their owne malice and contempt of Christ beene so brawned and drawne with such an hard skin that no doctrine of saluation and faith can bee wrought or rooted in them According as it is written i. by the Prophet Isayas God hath giuen them i. powred out vpon them in his iudgements and indignation the spirit of pricking according to the translation of the septuagint which Paul followed i. all ill affection and bitternesse of spirit against the light of truth and sharpe and greeuous biting of minde or the torments of enuie and of a galling conscience by reason of the preaching and successe of the Gospell or according to the Hebâ—â—w the spirit of slumber i. a dull and drowsie minde and a deepe and dead sleepe in so much that they are depriued of all iudgement and feeling eyes that they should not see i. such a minde whereby they cannot vnderstand the true doctrine of saluation and eares that they should not heare i. such an heart whereby they cannot obey the Gospell and thereby bee conuerted vnto this day i. from Elias his time vnto the time of Pauls preaching for so long continued their hardening and euer since vnto our present time Quest. Why should not Israel obtaine that he sought for seeing that Christ is the doore and Heauen gates stand open day and night Ans. First because they would not acknowledge nor receiue Christ the true Messias and mediator Secondly they did not nor would not goe the right way to saluation but by their owne workes The rest were hardned Quest. Who is the author and cause of the Iewes hardning Sathan or themselues or God Ans. If wee consider it as it is a sinne and an offence against God then it proceedeth onely from man and from Sathan for mans heart is stony and as hard as Flint by nature whereby it is fitte for Sathan to worke vpon Secondly mans heart beeing so hard Sathan doth counsaile â—gge and solicite it to sinne and man beeing destitute of grace willingly forsaketh God and yeeldeth his assent and consent vnto euill and detesteth good and so becometh more hard and indurate Thirdly the more meanes either of instruction and mercy or of threatnings and iudgements GOD offereth to soften and ouer-come their hardnesse the more they by with-standing and resisting them are hardened and confirme the habite of their nature and so growe worse and worse And thus with Pharao they more harden their owne hearts so that the sinne and fault resideth in themselues and is not to bee imputed to God Quest. In what respects doth God harden Ans. As it is an action and iudgment and a worke of iustice and in respect of the end and euent so God doth it and is the author of it As it is an action or motion it is good for wee all haue our beeing and moouing from God but the corruption and defect of the action proceedeth from mans corrupt minde and will as it is a iudgment God is the author of it thus hee hardened Pharoes heart and doth by the ministerie of his word instrumentally harden the wicked Lastly in respect of the end and euent which is his owne glory and thus God in the hardening blinding and obstinacie of the Iewes tooke occasion to call and shew mercy to vs Gentiles and thus hee turneth their hearts whether soeuer pleaseth him and doth mooue them to execute his owne iudgements and thus God directed Sathans malice the Scribes and Pharisies enuie Iudas his couetousnesse and Pilate his iniustice in killing the Lord of glorie to the redemption of mankind the instruments intending no such matter Isay. 1â— v. 7. Qu. How doth God harden and in what forme Ans. Not by infusing malice or instilling sinne into the delinquent for he is iust holy and purity it selfe and therefore he cannot but hate and punish it but he doth it first either by not imparting grace or by with-drawing his spirit from them for God is not bound either to conferre grace vpon them which they want or to continue that they haue receiued Hee is an absolute Lord and a most free agent hee hardeneth whom hee will and sheweth mercie vpon whom hee will shew mercy Secondly God hardneth them by an outward action that is indirectly and accidentally by casting and obiecting certaine outward things to their eyes eares and outward senses whereby they might bee enlightned mollified and saued Of this kinde are preaching sacraments miracles benefites warnings threatnings punishments all these through their owne fault and want of faith become hurtfull and dangerous vnto them euen as good and strong wine is most vnholesome and perilous to a sicke man Thus the gospell is the sauour of death to them yea and a killing letter
Thirdly God reiecteth and putteth into their minds and heartes good thoughts principles and motions which they peruert and turne to their owne destruction thus God put into Caiphas his minde That it was necessary that one should dye for the people and to gather all the sonnes of God into one and not that all the nation should perish The principle was good but Caiphas his construction conclusion and apply of it was euill That saying of Pilate I finde no harme in the man was good and of God but I will chastice him c. This consequence but a bad conclusion of himselfe and altogether euill Now the cause why God offereth these outward obiects vnto and doth put these inward motions into men whom hee knoweth will abuse them is that his iustice might bee seene and acknowledged by their iniustice Fourthly by giuing successe to their endeuours and by letting them prosper in sinne Thus hee bad the Diuell goe and seduce Ahabs 400. false Prophets and prosper and thus Iudas and Pharao prospered in their wicked designes but herein Gods end and scope and their end and scope much differed Isay. 10. v. 7. Quest. How can God bee said to blind the reprobate seeing that many times and in many places hee offereth the light and brightnesse of his glorious gospell vnto them which is a meane and instrument to informe and enlighten them An. First they are blind by nature and vncapable of the sauing trueth and God is not indebted nor bound vnto them who albeit hee putteth blindnesse into no man yet hee leaueth them therein and doth not infuse light into them so that the more meanes are vsed for their instruction and illumination the more they are hardened and blinded for euen as the Owle by the brightnesse of the Sunne is blinded albeit all other birds are enlightned by it and as the Claye is hardened by the same Sunne by which the waxe is softned and melted so by the same holy Scripture and glorious Gospell whereby the Elect are enlightened and conuerted the reprobate are blinded and hardened and that onely through their owne default and impotency and not through the Gospell Secondly God in his iustice now euery action of iustice hath in it the nature and respect of God because it is the punishment of sinne doth by further blindnesse and hardenesse of heart punish their corruption and stubborne rebellion which they haue and doe most greedily drinke in and draw vpon themselues inso much that they winke with their eyes purposely and will not see and acknowledge the trueth shining forth vnto them Quest. In Isay the Lord fore-telleth but a particuler iudgement and why is it here generally applyed Ans. First the rule of iustice and equitie is one and the same with God in euery age and therefore hee may according to the proportion and number of their offenses as well punish many of the Iewes in Pauls time and sithence as some particulers in Isaiahs time Secondly their sinne and contumacie since Christ his comming hath beene more generall and grieuous then the sinnes of all their ancestors therefore it is accordinglie to bee punished Thirdly the punishments of particuler men in Scripture serue for generall lessonings and warnings vnto vs that except wee repent and beleeue wee are to expect the like iudgements and so looke to drinke of the same cup. Israell hath not obtained that he sought It is not enough and sufficient for men to desire to be blessed and to seeke for righteousnesse and saluation yea to take great paines for it for so much Heretickes Idolaters Hypocrites Iewes Turkes Papists yea and Pagans haue performed vnlesse it bee by the right lawfull meanes and those wayes that God hath oâ—dained and sanctified in holy Scripture It must not bee by the lawe for that can iustifie and saue no man for no man can keepe it nor by mens owne workes and deserts for if they proceed onely from ciuill and meere naturall men they are altogether sinne in Gods sight and as for the good workes of the regenerate they are but vnperfect yea and stained with many defects and therefore they cannot abide the rigour of Gods iustice Secondly they are counteruailed yea infinitely exceeded with sinnes both of commission and omission but true righteousnesse and happinesse is onely to be sought and found in Christ Iesus as hee is reuealed and set forth vnto vs in holy writ Act. 4.12 Act. 13. vers 38. 39. Luke 24. v. 47. Reas. Otherwise if wee seeke righteousnesse and saluation preposterously and not by right meanes wee labour in vaine wee denie the grace of God and do digge Wells that will hold no water To this purpose the Prophet Isay sheweth that the people doth foolishly who neglecting the sweete and sauing meate and drinke of Gods Gospell did bestowe great paine and cost in procuring other meate namely humane traditions and supeâ—stitions which had no vertue of nourishing in it and which held no true contentment to the ouer-seers of them Why doe yee saith hee lay out siluer and not for bread and your labour without beeing satisfied Hearken diligently vnto mee and eate that which is good and let your soule delight in fatnesse The vses of this doctrine are manifold 1. Vse First hereby are condemned all endeuours and good meanings and intentions that are not of faith and so are nothing but sinne Roman 14. verse 14. 2. Vse Hereby is refuted the grosse errour of those that hold that euery man is and shall bee saued by his owne religion and profession where-as there is but one trueth and one way of saluation and that fully and perfectly described in holy Scripture Iohn 14. vers 6. Math. 7. vers 13. 3. Vse We must if we would be blessed and so saued seeke for righteousnesse and iustification in Christ onely for there alone it is to be found Acts 4.12 1. Ioh. 5.11 But the Election hath obtained it Here hence in a word for the point hath beene handled before wee may note that the cause of obtaining iustification and saluation is without vs in Gods predestination and free mercy and not in the merites of our workes Rom. 9.18 Titus 3. v. 5. for here is an vtter opposition betweene Election and workes Vse Wherefore wee must bee thankefull vnto the diuine Maiestie for so great and free saluation and ascribe all the glorye and praise of it vnto his mercie onely And the rest haue beene hardened The beginning of the ruine and damnation of the reprobate ariseth from the desertion and reprobation of God Reprobation is the very tree roote and fountaine of blindnesse for the wicked forsaken of God can doe nothing in all their deeds words and counsailes but pull hale and heape vpon them Gods curse 1. Vse Let not the Elect and the true seruants of God be offended in the madnesse and senselesnesse of Reprobates seeing that it hath his originall and foundation from Gods decree of reprobation 2.
light of the gospell that they be without counsaile in their affaires and not perceiue the euills which doe hang ouer their heads and bow downe their backes alwaies i. Let them not speede and prosper in their designes and actions but let them shrinke and halt be cast downe and tremble in their mindes and consciences and let them bee brought downe and diminished by slauerie troubles and captiuity and so weaken their strength that they may bee vnprofitable vnto euery worke Q. Did not Dauid Elias Paul and others sinne and offend God in praying and vsing imprecation against Gods enemies A. No for first they did it by especiall and extraordinary instinct of Gods spirit and as Prophets or figures of Christ vnto them the state and reprobation of diuers persons was reuealed of God Secondly when they did wish eternall destruction to the enemies of God they did not to speake properly pray against their persons but against the kingdome of sinne and satan in them which cannot bee altogither destroied but by the confusion of the members and instruments of Satan Thirdly their praiers and imprecations proceeded only from pure zeale of Gods glory and iustice and not from any priuate distemper or mixture of humane passion for they considered them not as their owne enemies but as the enemies and blasphemours of God Q. May we after the example of holy men in scripture pray against any particuler person A. No except we could by a Propheticall or Apostolicall instinct discerne of their spirits and of their reprobation which guift is denied vs or except wee knew that they had committed the sinne against the holy Ghost which is a malicious and finall blasphemy and persecution of the knowne truth and principles of Gods word which is very hard to iudge of for any one particuler person especially in our times wherein such a guift of discerning spirits is not graunted Q. May we not at al pray against the enemies of Christs gospell An. Yes for first wee haue the practise and warrant of holy men in scripture for it Psal. 69.22 2. King 1.10 Act. 4. ver 29. and 30. 2. Tim. 4. Secondly when we pray that the kingdome of God may come we by consequence pray that sinne Satan and all his members may be destroied Thirdly wee are to pray that Gods iustice may bee acknowledged and magnified in the plagues punishments and ruine of the wicked Fourthly we must loue God aboue al men whatsoeuer and if we sincerely loue God we cannot choose but hate his enemies Q. With what cautions and conditions or in what maner may we lawfully pray against Gods enemies A. First we must pray against Gods enemies in generall for there are and will alwaies be many such whom God will neuer saue Secondly against their wicked counsailes plots and purposes and thus Dauid praied that God would turne the counsaile of Ahitophell into foolishnesse and thus the Apostles praied against the counsailes of the Scribes and Pharasies that charged them with threatnings that they should not preach in the name of Iesus but we must not pray against these persons Thirdly we must pray conditionally against them that if they be reprobates and so incurable they may be iudged and iustly condemned but if they be elect and by consequent curable they may bee fatherly corrected and so conuerted and saued Let their table be made a snare a net a stumbling blocke In that here the word table is specially and principally taken for the holy scripture we note and obserue that the sacred scripture is like a table fraught and replenished with most heauenly and exquisite dishes and dainties here is food abundantly sufficient both to satisfie and also to solace euery hungry and thirsting soule Some of them and the principallest are remission of sinnes peace and ioy of conscience and eternall life Pro. 9 22. Math. 22. v. 4. Cant. 5. ver 5. 1. Vse It must teach the ministers of the Gospell alwaies to set forth this table of the word of God which is truely the hole-some and sauing food of the soule and as for all speculations fancies decrees traditions and haie and stuble of worldly vanities let them wholy leaue them off and renounce them 2 Vse Let all sorts of men that wil be saued come vnto this heauenly banquet continually bringing with them an appetite to the word and by praier and meditation of their owne wants and the soueraigne vses of Gods word put an edge to and sharpen their appetites then shall they bee replenished with good things and drinke of the well of the water of life freely otherwise for want of appetite the soule will soone languish and pine away Their table be a snare a net It is proper and peculiar to reprobates and profane persons to stumble at Gods blessings and to abuse and peruert them to their owne destruction Titu 1. ver 15. et 16. Rom. 2 ver 4. et 5. 2 Pet. 3.16 Amos 6. ve 4.5.6 Thus many abuse the doctrine of the law making it a cause of iustification before God thus they peruert the gospell to giue leaue and allowance to licentiousnesse and liberty thus they abuse Gods goodnesse and patience to patronize them in their sinnes and impenitency thus they vse their riches to the oppressing of others their meate and drinke to gluttony drunkenesse and excesse their apparell to ostentation and pride the Scriptures to maintaine their errours and heresies the holy Sabbothes to iornyings idlenesse sportes vanities gaming their wisdome and counsaile to intrappe and deceiue their might fauour and authority to discountenance and tread downe all Godlinesse and goodnesse and to aduance and countenance all impietie atheisme profanes and euill practisesse The reason hereof is they want faith and purity of heart and affections and therefore can vse and apply nothing well their ill hearts and defiled consciences is like to an euill stomacke that turneth sweete meates into sower and holesome vnto noisome Secondly God is their enemy and therefore all things that be otherwise naturally and of themselues good are by Gods curse so many causes of their ruine Vse If wee would not drawe and pull Gods curse vpon vs through the mis-apply or abuse of his guiftes and blessings temporall and spirituall let vs see and search whether we bee true members of Christ iustified by faith and haue our hearts sanctified by GODS spirit for vntill we be called and regenerate all things are impure and vnholy vnto vs and wee can in no action please GOD. Rom. 14.23 2 Vse If we could with comfort good conscience vse and partake of any of Gods creatures wee must by the direction of his word be perswaded of the lawfull vse of them and that they bee ours by Gods meanes wee must also by praier sanctifie them vnto vs crauing a blessing of God and desiring him to direct vs in the right vse of them Let their eyes be darkned that they see not Out of
Quest. Can the Church fall away from the couenant grace and fauour of God Ans. The body in generall may I meane those that are onely outwardly called and the ministery of the Gospell may be as it is often taken from them and so they fall away to Atheisme heresie or prophanesse for God alwayes hath his elect which come to Christ and shall neuer bee cast out God putteth his feare in their hearts and they shall neuer depart from him Thirdly Christ prayeth for them and is alwayes heard Lastly the golden chaines of saluation viz. predestination calling iustification and glorification is nor can bee neuer dissolued or broken 2. Question Through their fall saluation is hapned to the Gentiles Qu. Are they excused that by their vnbeleefe and vnthankfulnesse giue an occasion vnto other mens conuersion Ans. No no more then Iudas who by his treason and hanging of himselfe ministred an occasion viz. accidentally to the calling and surrogating of Matthias in his roome For first they insteed of giuing good example which they are bound to doe offend and scandalize others Secondly the good commeth not from them as any causes or proper instruments of it but is to be ascribed to Gods goodnesse and wisedome onely who can and often doth out of darkenesse bring light and out of sinne draw good Lastly theeues robbers murtherers and oppressors giue occasion of enacting and executing of good lawes yet no thankes to them for they had no such intention secondly in regarde of themselues their sinnes are farre more vile and horrible then the good that commeth accidentally by it Haue they stumbled that they should fall God forbid Here we may note and obserue Gods goodnesse and the constancie of his eternall loue in Christ to his children whom hee loueth once hee loueth euer hee doth not for the vnthankfulnesse of many or most breake off all occasion to doe good to his though neuer so few in number and neuer so odious and contemptible in the world If there bee but one Noah and his family in the world that truly serueth him hee will remember and saue them when all the world besides perisheth If there be but one Lot in Sodome hee shall bee preserued when all the rest are consumed though Christs flocke bee a little flock yet they shall inherite a kingdome and they whom the Lord shall finde waking and well dooing at his comming albeit they bee neuer so rare they shall be blessed The reason is Gods couenant is vnchangeable and reacheth vnto a thousand generations and the infidelity of men cannot make his faith and truth in performance of his promises of none effect Secondly God is iust and doth not as wee see amongst men punish and condemne the iust for the vniust Vse This must encourage and confirme vs in the course of godlinesse and in sauing our selues from the common corruption of faith or manners wee shall not loose our reward Bee the times neuer so corrupt religion neuer so abolished sinne neuer so rife Atheisme and superstition neuer so much swarme and abound yet God thinketh neuer the worse of his or thereby taketh an occasion to handle them roughly but hee maketh a distinction and difference betweene the righteous and the wicked betweene him that serueth God and him that serueth him not 2. Vse Here is condemned the bad and vniust practise of some that for one man of a calling or profession that falleth and offendeth taketh occasion rashlye to censure and condemne all as though all the Apostles should be condemned of couetousnesse and treason because Iudas was such or all holy Deacons of Apostacie Idolatry and fornication because Nicholaus proued to be such or all professors of lying and indirect dealing because Ananias and Saphyra his wife were detected to be such and therefore extraordinarily punished whereas in this bad and worst world wee may meruaile that any remaines good rather then all or most are such Secondly the number of the good is euer farre lesse then the number of the wicked By their fall saluation is come to the Gentiles God in his wisdome doth so order and dispose of the things of men that hee doth turne those things which in and of themselues are euill and hurtfull vnto occasion of good Hee intendeth worketh and effecteth alwayes good albeit the instruments intend and worke ill The Alchymists of our time notwithstanding all their paines prating and practising can neuer turne and conuert base mettalls into gold but God can and often doth turne euill into good Thus â—hee turned the malice enuie and ill affection of them that put Christ to death to mans saluation Ioseph his selling into Aegipt and his long imprisonment to his great and high aduancement â—â—d the releeuing and preferment of his old Father and of all his enuious brethren and thus hee directed the infirmitie of Abraham and the Mid-wiues in lying into their safetie and Dauid before Achis faining himselfe madde into Dauids preseruation Vse Let none then that feare God bee terrified and daunted with the blustring threatnings or furiousnesse of the wicked against them but in faith patience and silence commend themselues and their cause to God for hee will direct all to good and out of euill premises draw good conclusions Psal. 38. Psal. 112. To prouoke them to follow them See heere and obserue the great wisedome and louing kindnesse of God towards his children who by his fauour shewed vnto others and by substituting others into their places maketh them ashamed of their vnthankfulnesse and laboureth to stirre vp in them a desire and purpose of reconcilement Because saith the Lord they haue mooued mee to iealousie with that which is not God they haue prouoked mee to anger with their vanities I will mooâ—e them to iealousie with those that are no people I will prouoke them to anger with a foolish nation And herein God dealeth with them as a tender Father with his vnkinde or disobedient childe that will not come to him hee taketh another sonne in his armes or setteth him betweene his legges embraceth praiseth and maketh much of him hereby correcting the stubbernesse of his other sonne and prouoking him to seeke for the like fauour and acceptance 1. Vse Hereby are condemned those that by their Idolatrie as the Papists doe or else with others by their arrogancie pride and contempt alienate and deteine the Iewes from Christianity 2. Vse Secondly let vs endeuour by our pure and sincere seruing of God by our holy zeale by our godly life and iust dealing toâ— giue light vnto the Iewes and at length to prouoke them to emulation and so to winne them that there may be vnder Christ the head â—one fould and one shepheard Iohn 10. v. 27. 3. Vse Let vs as we be waile their hardnesse of heart vile contempt of Christ and his Gospell so dayly and heartily with that Elizaeus of our age now in glory pray for
the sacraments both in the old and new testament 1. Cor. 11.24 et 21. Vse 1. It teacheth vs first not to despise the poore Iewes vnto whom this couenant was first made and in some of whom it is alwaies verified and accomplished Vse 2. We must by faith apply vnto our selues Christ al his sauing benefits that the couenant testament may be firme and good in vs vnto vs for without application there is no benefit and comfort felt and enioyed of meate drinke apparell phisick weapon so much losse of Gods promises When I shall take away their sinnes It is proper to God alone to forgiue and take away sin as here in this place God taketh from the Iewes security and vnbeleife Math. 6. Mark 2.7 2. Sam. 12.10 The reasons hereof are first for that sinne is committed only against the maiesty law of God and as for the offence or sin committed against any man or creature it is no more in it selfe but an iniury wrong or trespasse Let herevnto be added that the breach of mans commandment is no sin vnlesse it do withal imply include the transgression of Gods commandment that commandeth obedience therevnto in all things where it doth not contradict his law Secondly God taketh away not onely the punishment as men in outward punishments partly can do but also remoueth the gilt corruption of nature which none els can do Ps. 51. ver 2. and 7. Thirdly Gods power and authority is most absolute and altogether independent therfore he cannot be hindered or preuented by any other from granting and giuing pardon vnto his children as the lame creple in Iohns Gospell was for 38. yeares Vse 1. Seeing that the Lord hath made a promise of forgiuenesse of sins to the Iewes and to reconcile them by the couenant of grace we must not despaire of their conuersion much lesse vex and reuile them least God when he receiueth them againe into fauor hee deseruedly exclude and cast out vs for our contempt vnthankfulnes Vse 2. Hereby also are checked and confuted al superstitious persons Idolaters Hypocrites proud persons Pharisies and Papists who seeke for righteousnes of a sinner before God and for pardon and remission of sinnes not from Gods mercy alone in Christ but from humaine satisfactions indulgences purgatory and praiers for the dead and humaine merits Vse 3. Seeing that God alone doth take away sinne that from them that seeke sue for it we must vse al the means to obtaine it and namely humbly confesse our sins vnto God and cry vnto Heauen for pardon For here in the saying is chiefly verified spare to speake spare to speede Their sinnes The glory of our redemption by Christ and of the testament of God and the peculiar prerogatiue of the Catholike Church chiefely consisteth in the forgiuenesse of all our sinnes and when they are not imputed vnto vs and the punishments of them is remoued Math. 1.21 Luk. 1.77 Act 3.19 Psa. 103. ver 3. and 12. 1. Re. For it belongeth onely vnto the beleeuers and repentant Iohn 3.16 Act. 3.19 but all vnbeleeuers and vnpeniteâ—t persons are excepted for they albeit hee beares long with them herein delaying their punishment yet God pardoneth not them but they receiue the end of it damnation The reason hereof is because without forgiuenes of sins we are more miserable then all creatures for when wee end this miserable life then we beginne that intolerable torment that shall neuer haue end nor ease Secondly of all burthens it is most heauy and most presseth downe the conscience as Dauid by experience felt for he pronounceth him blessed that is eased of the burthen of his sin Thirdly it is a principal article of faith and a speciaâ—l prerogatiue of the Chruch who beleeueth the forgiuenesse of her sinnes and is eased thereof Fourthly it is the cause onely of our righteousnesse before God and the gate of euerlasting happinesse and therefore they are onely blessed that rely vpon Gods free mercy for the pardon of their sinnes Vse 1. Ministers must learne hence in their sermons not to propound and offer remission of sinnes to all men indifferently without condition as the Papists do who absolue whore-mongers murderers drunkards traytors blasphemers whom God doth not absolue but only to those that beleeue and truly repent Vse 2. They hence are knowne to erre to be deceiued who thinke that remission of sins is but the beginning of righteousnes and happines wheras seeing that in the faithfull deere seruants of God there are so many faults defects and errors it sufficeth not once to haue entered the way of blessednes vnlesse the same grace do follow vs vnto the tearme and end of our life Vse 3. Here are condemned the heathen Philosophers who being ignorant of true blessednes the means to attaine vnto it sought it in honors pleasures speculation authority morall actions and not in Christ by faith of whom they were altogither ignorant Secondly Iewes who albeit in some sort they apprehended and vnderstood truâ— blessednes yet they fought to be partakers of it by their owne works by the ceremonies of the law and not by forgiuenesse of sins through Christ only and hence they stumbled at the stumbling stone Lastly Papists who wil be saued by their own works and satisfactions and be hereby iustified before God Vse Seeing that the remission of sinnes is so excellent and singular a priuiledge of the Church wee must if neede bee purchase this treasure and this pearle with the losse of all that wee haue and hauing once obtained it we must alwaies and from our hearts giue God thanks for it Vse Lastly desiring to be assured of the pardon of our sins we must not willingly and wittingly sin against the light of our conscience and offend the diuine Maiesty but hate leaue forsake them otherwise sin vnrepented off is neuer forgiuen Iohn 8.21.24 Luke 13. V. 3.5 As concerning the Gospell they are enemies for your sake but as touching the election they are beloued for the Fathers sakes For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance Sense As concerning the Gospell .i. so farre forth as they resist and persecute it they are enemies 1. Hatefull to God they are enemies vnto God and he vnto them for your sake .i. you by occasion hereof may be receiued into their roome and because they hate distast and persecute you for the profession of the Gospell But as touching the election .i. in regard that very many in this nation are chosen for eternall life they are beloued .i. deare vnto God for the fathers sake .i. for by reason of the promise made to the holy Fathers Abraham Isaack and Iacob For the gifts of God .i. his free promises which of his grace he doth promise offer and bestow vpon men and calling of God .i. that whereby he already hath and yet doth call â—ome of the Iewes to
our selues to be Christs subiects and seruants to suffer no euil lusts and concupiscences to rule and raigne in vs but to permit Christ by his word and his spirit to guide gouerne vs otherwise we shal be bruised with an Iron rod slaine before Christ his face and shall neuer enter into his rest the heauenly Canaan and the heauenly Ierusalem Ps. 2. v. 9. Lu. 19.27 Heb. 3. v. 18. 19. But they are beloued for the Fathers sake God in his elect doth not consider what they deserue nor alwaies respect thē according to their present vnbeliefe but regardeth what he hath promised to Abraham and his seed and therefore he wil not change his purpose but in time vouchsafeth them his sauor albeit for the present by reason of their vnbeleife and impenitency hee frowne vpon them and seeme to disfauor and renounce them The reason hereof is first because God is good ful of goodnes mercy and truth vpon the communication of which he vpon mens conuersion expecteth and requireth all the praise honor glory to be yeelded and ascribed vnto him only Secondly God by shewing mercy to the degenerate Iewes wil at length get him far greater glory and renown of his mercy power then before Vse 1. Let vs not our selues dispaire of Gods mercy by reason of our former present errors and enormities be they neuer so many mighty for our saluation dependeth not vpon our owne workes and deserts but onely vpon Gods vnchaungeable decree but let vs truely and vnfainedly repent of them forsake them and then vndoubtedly we shall liue and die in the loue and fauour of God Let vs not dispise the Iewes nor doubt of their conuersiō and saluation but in respect of Gods couenant wish well vnto them pray for them and further their saluation 3. Vse If God loue the Iewes for their Fathers sake and for his couenant made with them and not for any thinge wherein they could pleasure or profit him we must herein follow and imitate the Lords example and not loue true Christians in by respects namely because they be our kindred onely or because we reape some commodity by them or that they serue our turne but in the spirit and for the truth sake onely for this is right loue and that which God requireth commendeth and rewardeth The calling and gifts of God are without repentance From the perpetuity and constancy of Gods calling and his sauing giftes and promises in his elect I gather that none of Gods elect can wholy or finally fall or possibly be damned Rom. 8.1.2 Tim. 2.19 For first God is without change and alteration in his nature decree couenant promises and neuer wholy reuoketh and abolisheth his worke in them Secondly his mercies towards them faile not but alwaies streame forth to their continuall comfort for God is truth and will alwaies performe his promises Lastly God is almighty and cannot be hindred much lesse ouer ruled by any creature neither can any disanull that which God hath ratified or condemne those whom he will saue Rom. 8.33.34 This doctrine checketh the corrupt and presumptuous opinion of the Papists that teach constancy and saluation to reside in our owne power and potency wheras it consisteth wholy in the couenant and promises of God 2. Vse The second vse is for comfort and that is if we once perceiue and find in our selues some pawnes and Printes of Gods loue and fauour we may and must assure our selues of the perpetuity of it without doubting for God is constant in his giftes and neuer retracteth them though men doe often and hauing begun a good worke he wil finish and perfect it he is not like him that in vs beginneth to build a goodly house and cannot finish it but he will make euery one of his Saints an holy and perfect temple in the Lord Ephe. 2.21 3. Vse Seeing that God is no changeling vnto vs but his bounty alwaies continueth and his promises are in their time duly accomplished let vs first learne hence to cleaue fast vnto him and sincerely and incessantly to serue and feare him all the daies of our life Secondly let vs in our words deeds couenants and promises not deale hollowly and deceiptfully with men but truly iustly and simply for he that halteth with men is no better then an Hipocrite before God and his religion is onely formall and fruitlesse Psa. 15.2 30. Vers. For euen as ye in times haue not beleued God yet haue now obtained mercy through their vnbeleefe 31. Vers. Euen so now haue they not beleeued that by your mercy they may also obtaine mercy 32. Vers. For GOD hath shut vp all in vnbeleefe that hee might haue mercy on all Sense For euen as yee in times past .i. before Christ his incarnation haue not beleeued in .i. obeied the word of God and his commandements nor acknowledged Christ Iesus for the sonne of GOD and your redeemer yet haue now obtained mercy i. God hath called you effectually and endewed you with the true and sauing knowledge of God and his Gospell through their vnbeleefe .i. by the occasion that the Iewes would not receaue the Gospell nor the Messias offered vnto them but refuse both the one and the other Euen so now they .i. the Iewes haue not beleeued viz. the Gospel that by your mercy .i. by the mercy of God offered vnto you in your effectuall calling and in your sincere profession and intertainment of the Gospell may be prouoked and inflamed by an holy emulation to follow and affect you They may also obtaine mercie That is through Gods mercie may be partakers of faith remission of sins and saluation that so it may bee apparant both to the Iewes and Gentiles that both are saued by his mercy and grace onely For God hath shut vp .i. tyed bound and imprisoned together all .i. all his elect both of Iewes and Gentiles vnder vnbeliefe .i. sinne and hath kept them vnder his power and custody like a number and sort of malefactors shutte vp into one prison and so conuinced them that they can by no meanes escape finde ease and inlargement that he might haue mercie .i. haue an occasion to inlighten and saue all .i. all his chosen whether Iewes or Gentiles and so might actually and perfectly saue them by his mercie and fauor and not for any merite or worth of theirs Ver. 30. Haue obtained mercie through their vnbeliefe Ques Can euill be cause of good and one mans vnbeliefe be cause of an other mans beleeuing conuersion Ans. No to speake properly for like cause like effect but it may be indirectly and by accident as we see how that of euil manners are made good lawes Now euill manners and enormities are no causes of enacting wholsome lawes but onely occasions and accidentall motiues Secondly no sinne doth more kindle Gods indignation and enrage his maiesty against vs then infidellitie therefore it can be the working cause of