nakedness I am the Lord the nakedness of thy father or thy mother c. Lev. 18. 6 7 8 9 10 11 to the 19. The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth to a man neither shall a man put on a womans garment for all who do so are an abomination unto the Lord thy God Deut. 22. 5. Hannah wept and did not eat Then said Elkanah her husband to her Hannah why weepest thou and why eatest thou not and why is thy heart grieved am not I better unto thee than ten sons so Hannah rose c. 1 Sam. 1. 8. Saul sent messengers to Davids house to watch him and slay him c. And Michal Davids wife told him c. And let him down through a window and he went and fled and escaped 1 Sam. 19. 11 12 13 c. Jobs wife said unto him Dost thou still retain thine integrity curse God and die But he said unto her Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh What shall we receive good c Job 2. 9 10. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband but she who maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones Prov. 12. 4. The contentions of a wife are a continual dropping c. A prudent wife is from the Lord Prov. 19. 13 14. It is better to dwell in the wilderness than with a contentious and an angry woman Prov. 21. 19. Who can find a virtuous woman for her price is far above rubies The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her so that he shall have no need of spoil She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands Prov. 31. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 c. Whosoever shall put away his wife saving for the cause of fornication causeth her to commit adultery and whosoever shall marry her who is divorced committeth adultery Mat. 5. 31 32. ch 19. 9. The Pharisees said Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause And he answered and said unto them Have ye not read that he who made them at the beginning made them male and female c. Wherefore they are no more twain but one flesh What therefore God hath joined together let no man put asunder c. Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered c. But it was not so from the beginning Mat. 19. 3 4 5 6 7 8. The woman who hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth but if the husband be dead she is free from the law of the husband So then if while her husband liveth she be married to another man she shall be called an adultress but if her husband be dead c. Rom. 7. 2 3. It is good for a man not to touch a woman nevertheless to avoid fornication let every man have his own wife and let every woman have her own husband Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence and likewise also the wife unto the husband The wife hath not power over her own body but the husband and likewise also the husband hath not power of his but the wife Defraud you not one the other except with consent for a time that you may give your selves to fasting and to prayer and come together again that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency c.. I say to the unmarried and widows it is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain let them marry for it is better to marry than to burn And unto the married I command not I but the Lord Let not the wife depart from the husband but if she depart let her remain unmarried c. Let not the husband depart from his wife c. And if any brother hath a wife who believeth not and she be pleased to dwell with him let him not put her away c. for the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife c. else were your children unclean but now they are holy c. For what knowest thou O wife whether thou shalt save thy husband c The time is short it remains that they who have wives be as though they had none c. An unmarried life commended 1 Cor. 7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 29 32 33 to the end Have we not power to lead about a sister a wife as well as other Apostles and the brethren of the Lord and Cephas 1 Cor. 9. 5. The head of the woman is the man c. The man is not of the woman but the woman of the man Neither was the man created for the woman but the woman for the man c. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman neither is the woman without the man in the Lord for as the woman is of the man even so is the man also by the woman c. 1 Cor. 11. 3 8 9 11 12. Let your women keep silence in the Churches for it is not permitted to them to speak but to be under obedience as also saith the law And if they will learn any thing let them ask their husbands at home for it is a shame for a woman to speak in the Church 1 Cor. 14. 34 35. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness 2 Cor. 6. 14. Wives submit your selves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord For the husband is the head of the wife c. therefore as the Church is subject to Christ so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing Husbands love your wives even as Christ also Ioved the Church c. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies he who loveth his wife loveth himself for no man ever yet hated his own flesh c. Let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself and the wife see that she reverence her husband Eph. 5. 22 23 24 25 28 33. Wives submit your selves unto your own husbands as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands love your wives and be not bitter against them Col. 3. 18 19. In like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel c. Let the women learn in silence with all subjection But I suffer not a woman to teach or usurp authority over the man but to be in silence For Adam was first formed then Eve and Adam was not deceived c. 1 Tim 2. 9 10 11 12 13 14. I will therefore that the younger women marry bear children guide the house give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully 1 Tim. 5. 14. The aged women likewise that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness c. that they may teach the young women to be sober to love their husbands c. discreet chast keepers at home good obedient to their own husbands that the
mighty works there because of their unbelief Mat. 13. 58. Peter began to sink through unbelief Jesus said unto them O thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt Mat. 14. 29 30 31. He appeared unto the eleven and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart because they believed not them who had seen him after he was risen c. but he who believed not shall be damned Mark 16. 14 16. Thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed because thou believest not my word which shall be c. Luke 1. 19 20. But those mine enemies who would not that I should reign over them bring hither and slay them before me Luke 19. 27. He who believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God c. He who believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him John 3. 18 36. Verily verily I say unto you Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you John 6. 53. I said therefore unto you That you shall dye in your sins for if ye believe not that I am he ye shall dye in your sins John 8. 24. Ye believe not because ye are not of my sheep as I said unto you My sheep hear my voice c. John 10. 26 27. If any man hear my words and believe not c. He who rejecteth me and receives not my words hath one who judgeth him the word which I have spoken the same shall judg him in the last day John 12. 47 48. If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned John 15. 6. He will reprove the world of sin c. of sin because they believe not on me John 16. 8 9. Beware therefore lest that come upon you c. Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish for I will work a work in your days a work which you shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you Acts 13. 40 41. How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed Rom. 10. 14. Well because of unbelief they were broken off c. and thou standest by faith c. God spared not the natural branches c. Rom. 11. 20 21. He who doubteth is damned if he eat because not of faith for whatsoever is not of faith is sin Rom. 14. 23. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven c. taking vengeance on them c. who obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction c. 2 Thes. 1. 8. Antichrist shall prevail upon such who shall perish because they received not the truth in the love thereof or the love of the truth that they might be saved and for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they shall believe a lye that they all might be damned who believe not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness 2 Thes. 2. 8 9 10 11 12. Holding faith c. which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwrack of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander whom I have delivered unto Satan that being chastised they might learn not to blaspheme 1 Tim. 1. 19 20. Unto them who are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their minds and consciences are defiled Titus 1. 15. If the word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord c. Heb. 2. 2 3. I swear in my wrath they shall not or if they shall enter 〈◊〉 rest Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God c. And to whom swear he that they should not enter into his rest but to them who believed not So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief Heb. 3. 11 12 18 19. The word Preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith or because they were not united by faith to it in them who heard c. They to whom it was first preached or the Gospel was first Preached entered not in because of unbelief Heb. 4. 2 6. The just shall live by faith but if any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him But we are not of those who draw back to perdition but of them who believe to the salvation of the soul Heb. 10. 38 39. Without faith it is impossible to please God For he c. Heb. 11. 6. See that ye refuse not him who speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him who spake on earth much more shall not we if turn away from him who speaketh from heaven Heb. 12. 25. Let him ask in faith c. For he that wavereth is like c. Let not that man think he shall receive c. James 1. 5 6 7. Unto you who believe he is precious but unto them who are disobedient the stone which the builders disallowed of the same is made the head of the corner and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence unto them who stumble at the word being disobedient whereunto also they were appointed 1 Pet. 2. 7 8. What shall the end be of them who obey not the Gospel of God 1 Pet. 4. 17 18. He who believeth not God hath made him a lyar because he believeth not the record which God gave of his Son and this is the record That God hath given unto us eternal life and this life is in his son c. He who hath not the son hath not life 1 John 5. 10 11 12. The fearful and unbelieving c. shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Rev. 21. 8. He who despised Moses law dyed without mercy c. Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who have trodden under foot the son of God c. Heb. 10. 28 29. See more of trusting in God chap. 16. CHAP. XII Characters of Saints Good men and Believers appearing in word and deed 1. That such may be known from others by their fruits THE tree is known by his fruit O generation of vipers how can ye being evil speak good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things Mat. 12. 33 34 35. John 3. 6. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon c. that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination c. Luke 16. 13 15. Some have not
23 24. Jerusalem is ruined and Judah is fallen because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord to provoke the eyes of his glory because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with stretched-forth necks c. therefore the Lord will smite with a scab c. The Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments c. Isa. 3. 8. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24. Judg I pray you betwixt me and my vineyard What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it wherefore when I looked that it should bring forth grapes brought it forth wild grapes I will take away the hedg thereof c. The Prophet pronounceth many woes against several sinners Isa. 5. 4 5 6 7 8 to the 26. God threatens Jacob and Israel for their pride and stoutness of heart because they turned not to him who smote them their leaders cause them to err that he will cut off c. and for all this his anger is not turned away Isa. 9. 8 9 10 11 12 to the 21. O Assyrian c. I will send him against an hypocritical nation and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge to take the spoil c. Isa. 10. 5 6. Gods great judgments threatned against Babylon Isa. 13. The Lord said Forasmuch as this people draw near with their mouth c. but have removed their hearts far from me and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men therefore c. the wisdom of the wise shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid Wo unto them who seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord and their works are in the dark Isa. 29. 13 14 15. God threatens Israel for leaning upon Egypt for help and not hearkning to stay on God Isa. 30. 1 2 to the 17. This people have I formed for my self c. but thou hast not called upon me O Jacob but thou hast been weary of me O Israel thou hast not brought me the small cattel c. but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities c. thy first fathers have sinned and thy teachers c. therefore I have prophaned the Princes of thy Sanctuary and have given Jacob to the curse and Israel to reproaches Isa. 43. 21 22 23 24 28. O that thou hadst hearkned to my Commandments then had thy peace been c. Isa. 48. 18. Your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear for your hands are defiled with blood c. none call for justice Isa. 59. 1 2 3 4 c. I have spread out my hands all the day long unto a rebellious people who walketh in a way which is not good c. I will not keep silence but will recompence even recompence into their bosoms c. Ye are they who forsake the Lord who forget my holy mountain c. therefore will I number you to the sword c. Isa. 65. 2 3 4 6 11 12. They have chosen their own ways and their soul delighteth in their abominations I also will chuse their delusions and will bring their fears upon them because when I called none did answer c. but they did evil before mine eyes c. Isa. 66. 3 4. What iniquity have your fathers found in me that they are gone from me c Wherefore will I yet plead with you saith the Lord and with your children c. See if there be such a thing hath a nation changed their gods c but my people have changed their glory c. Be astonished O heavens c. They have sorsaken me the fountain c. Hast thou not procured this unto thy self c Thine own wickedness shall correct thee and thy backsliding reprove thee c. Have I been a barren wilderness c Can a maid forget her ornaments Jerem. 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 17 19 31 32. And I saw when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away c. Yet her treacherous Sister Judah feared not but went and played the harlot also c. Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart but feignedly Jer. 3. 7 8 9 10. O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayst be saved how long shall vain thoughts lodg within thee c thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee this thy wickedness because it is bitter it reacheth unto thine heart Jer. 4. 13 14 17 18. How shall I pardon thee for this thy children have forsaken me and sworn by them who are no gods when I had fed them to the full they then committed adultery and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots houses they were as fed horses in the morning every one neighing after his neighbours Wife and shall I not visit for these things saith the Lord and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this Go ye up upon her walls and destroy c. A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land the Prophets prophefie falsly and the Priests bear rule by their means and my people love to have it so and what will ye do in the end thereof Jer. 5 7. 8 9 10 29 30 31. Thus hath the Lord of hosts said c. Cast a mount against Jerusalem this is the City to be visited she is wholly oppression in the midst of her c. Be then instructed O Jerusalem lest my soul depart from thee c. I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land saith the Lord for from the least of them even to the greatest of them every one is given unto covetousness and from the Prophet even unto the Priests every one dealeth falsly c. Hear O earth Behold I will bring evil upon this people c. Jer. 6. 6 7 8 12 13 14 15 16 18 19. chap. 7. 8 9 c. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel Cursed be the man who obeyeth not the words of this Covenant they are turned back unto the iniquity of their fathers who refuse to hear my words c. Therefore thus saith the Lord Behold I will bring evil upon them which they shall not be able to escape and though they shall cry unto me I will not hearken unto them c. therefore pray not thou for this people for I will not hearken c. Jer. 11. 3 10 11 12 14. chap. 35. 17. What wilt thou say when I shall punish thee c Shall not sorrow take thee as a Woman in travel c. for the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered c. Jer. 13. 21 22. chap. 14. 11 12. Though Moses and Samuel stood before me yet my mind could not be towards this people cast them out of my sight
2. 10. 5thly That God doth sometimes make enemies and the persecutors themselves to acknowledg the Saints innocency when they suffer And will surely avenge them upon their adversaries He will revenge the blood of his servants and will render vengeance to to his adversaries and will be merciful to his land c. Deut. 32. 43. When David had spared Saul being in his hands Saul said to David Is this thy voice my son David c Thou art more righteous than I for thou hast rewarded me good whereas I have rewarded thee evil and thou hast shewed this day how thou hast done well with me forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hands thou killedst me not c. 1 Sam. 24. 16 17 18 19. Again in the like case Saul said I have sinned c. Behold I have played the fool and have erred exceedingly 1 Sam. 26. 21. Haman Mordecai's great enemy forced to honour Mordecai c. Esther 6. 7 8 9 10 11. Haman is hanged upon the same gallows he erected for Mordecai Esther 7. 9 10. He ordained his arrows against the persecutors Psal. 7. 13. They have digged a pit for me into the midst of which they are fallen Psal. 57. 6. The righteous shall rejoyce when he seeth the vengeance c. so that a man shall say c. Verily he is a God who judgeth in the earth Psal. 58. 10 11. The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all who are oppressed Psal. 103. 6. Be not afraid c. for yet a very little while and the indignation shall cease and mine anger in their destruction Isa. 10. 24 25. When thine hand is lifted up they will not see but they shall see and be ashamed for envy at thy people or towards thy people c. Isaiah 26. 11. All who watch for iniquity are cut off who make a man an offender for a word Isa. 29. 20 21. I was wrath with my people c. thou didst shew them no mercy c. therefore these two things shall come upon thee in a moment c. Isa. 47. 5 6 7 8 9. Fear ye not the reproach of men c. for the moth shall eat them up like a garment and the worm shall eat them like wood c. Thus saith the Lord c. who pleadeth the cause of his people Behold I have taken out of thy hand the cup of trembling the dregs of the cup of my fury c. but I will put it into the hands of them who afflict thee who have said to thy soul Bow down c. Isa. 51. 7 8 21 22 23. Your brethren who hated you c. he shall appear to your joy and they shall be ashamed Isa. 66. 5. God threatens several nations for their insolent insulting over his people the Jews and for their cruel usages of them and declares the vengeance he would take against them Ezek. 25. chap. 26. chap. 35. chap. 36. Nebuchadnezzar who had caused Shadrach Meshech and Abednego to be cast into the fiery-furnace now said unto them Ye servants of the most high God come forth c. and the king promoted them Dan. 3. 26 30. So did Darius when Daniel by the prosecution of the Presidents and Princes was cast into the lions den came and said O Daniel servant of the living God c. And the king commanded and they brought those men who had accused Daniel and they cast them into the den of lions them their children and their wives c. Dan. 6. 20 24. I have heard the repâ—…ch of Moab and the revilings of the children of Ammon whereby they have reproached my people c. therefore as I live saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel Surely Moab shall be as Sodom Zephan 2. 8 9 10 11. Whoso shall offend one of these little ones who believe in me it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea Wo unto the world because of offences Matth. 18. 6 7 10. Luke 17. 1 2. I send unto you Prophets c. some of them you shall kill c. that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abel c. All these things shall come upon this generation Matth. 23. 34 35 36. Shall not God avenge his own elect who cry day and night unto him though he bear long with them I tell you that he will avenge them speedily Luke 18. 7 8. Pilate himself said of Christ I find no fault in him c. Luke 23. 14. King Agrippa and Festus both said of Paul This man doth nothing worthy of death or of bonds Acts 26. 30 31. In nothing terrified by your adversaries which is to them an evident token of perdition c. and that of God Phil. 1. 28. It is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them who trouble you c. 2 Thess. 1. 6. He who leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity he who killeth with the sword must be killed c. Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints Rev. 13. 10. Babylon is fallen here is the patience of the Saints Revel 14 8 9 10 11 12. Thou art righteous O Lord c. because thou hast judged thus for they have shed the blood of Saints and Prophets and thou hast given them blood to drink for they are worthy Rev. 16. 5 6. 6thly That God will comfort uphold and preserve his in all their troubles and not lay more on them than they can bear In that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them who are tempted Heb. 2. 18. chap. 4. 15. chap. 5. 2. And it came to pass when Pharaoh had let the people go that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistins although that was near for God said Lest peradventure the people repent when they fee war and they return to Egypt c. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead them the way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light to go by day and night Exod. 13. 17 21. Thou shalt not be afraid c. for the Lord thy God is among you a mighty God and terrible and the Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little Deut. 7. 19 20 21 22. The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee Deut. 33. 27. David was greatly distressed c. but David encouraged himself in the Lord 1 Sam. 30. 6. Will he plead against me with his great power no but he would put strength into me Joh 23. 6. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed a refuge in time of trouble thou wilt save the afflicted people Psal. 9. 9. Psal. 18. 27. Though I walk through the
43 44 45. Hezekiah the Lord was with him c. and he rebelled against the king of Assyria 2 Kings 18. 7. When king Nebuchadnezzar had commanded the worshiping of an Image Shadrach Meshach and Abednego refused to obey c. and said Be it known unto thee O King that we will not serve thy gods nor worship the Image c. Dan. 3. 15 16 17 18. When Darius had established a decree that none should ask any petition of any God or man for thirty days Daniel went into his house after his wonted manner and prayed three times a day Dan. 6. 7 8 9 10. When the Apostles were forbid to preach in the name of Christ they answered c. Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God judg you Act. 41. 18 19 20. Then the council charged them with preaching contrary to their commands c. Peter c. said We ought to obey God rather than men Act. 5. 27 28 29. Moses was hid by his parents c. and they feared not the kings edict c. He feared not the wrath of the king Heb. 11. 23 27. 2dly What they ought to do or wherein they should acknowledg and obey them Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses and God smote Miriam with a leprosie Numb 12. 1 9 10 11. The Lord destroyed Korah and his company for their rebellion against Moses c. Numb 16. 1 c. God threatned the Jews for revolting from the king of Babylon and breaking their oath and covenant with him Ezek. 17 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20. Though there was no tribute due from Christ yet he said to Peter Lest we should offend them go thou c. give unto them for me and thee Mat. 17. 24 25 26 27. Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesars Mat. 22. 21. Let every soul be subject to the higher power c. Whosoever therefore resisteth the powers resisteth the ordinance of God c. shall receive to themselves damnation c. wilt thou then not be afraid of the powers do that which is good c. Ye must needs be subject not only for wrath but also for conscience sake c. For this cause pay you tribute c. render therefore to all their dues tribute to whom tribute is due custom to whom custom fear to whom fear honour to whom honour Rom. 13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers to obey magistrates c. Tit. 3. 1. Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the king as supream or unto governours as unto them who are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers c. For so is the will of God that with well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 15. 3dly Give them due honour and respect not contemn their persons or speak evil of them Thou shalt not revile the Gods or Judges nor curse the ruler of thy people Exod. 22. 28. David said to Saul My Lord the King and when Saul looked behind him David stooped with his face to the earth and bowed himself c. He said I will not put forth my hand against the Lords anointed 1 Sam. 24. 8 10. Nathan the prophet when he was come in before the king he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground c. and said My Lord O king c. 1 Kings 1. 23 24. Is it fit to say to a king Thou art wicked to princes Ye are ungodly Job 34. 18. The kings wroth is as the roaring of a Lion c. Prov. 19. 12. The fear of a king is as the roaring of a Lion whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul Prov. 20. 2. Put not forth thy self in the presence of a king c. Prov. 25. 6 7. Where the word of a king is there is power and who may say unto him What doest thou Eccles. 8. 4. Curse not the king no not in thy thoughts Eccles. 10. 20. Daniel said to Darius the king O king live for ever Dan. 6. 21. When the Apostle had spoken sharply unto the High-priest and some who stood by had said Revilest thou Gods High-priest Then said Paul I wist not brethren that he was the High-priest for it is written Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of my people Act. 23. 2 3 4 5. Paul said I think my self happy king Agrippa because I shall answer for my self this day before thee c. Festus said c. Paul thou art beside thy self much learning doth make thee mad But he said I am not mad most noble Festus but speak forth the words of truth and soberness c. Act. 26. 1 2 3 24 25. ch 24. 10. Render therefore to all their dues c. fear to whom fear honour to whom honour Rom. 13. 7. Honour the king 1 Pet. 2. 17. But chiefly them who walk in the lust of uncleanness and despise government c. or dominion c. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignities whereas Angels who are greater in power and might bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord 2 Pet. 2. 10 11. Jude vers 8 9. 4thly To pray for them Exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men for kings and for all who are in authority or eminent place that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all godliness and honesty For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour 1 Tim. 2. 1 2 3. 5thly To endeavour to get good Magistrates When Adonijah exalted himself saying I will be king and preparation was made for it Then Bathsheba the Queen and Nathan the prophet made application to David to set up Solomon to be king and accordingly prevailed 1 Kings 1. 6thly To be content with such Magistrates which God hath set over us although they be not such as they should be When Samuel was old he made his sons Judges over Israel c. and his sons walked not in his ways but turned aside after lucre and took bribes and perverted judgment Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel c. and said unto him Behold thou art old and thy sons walk not in thy ways Now make us a king to judg us like all the nations c. This greatly displeased God and he said to Samuel They have not rejected thee but they have rejected me that I should not reign over them c. The people said Nay but there shall be a king over us 1 Sam. 8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 19 20. Samuel afterwards tells them their wickedness was great in the sight of the Lord in asking a king Which sin the people acknowledged when God had sent thunder and rain in harvest
he rent his cloaths c. and he commanded c. Go and enquire of the Lord for me and for the people c. for great is the wrath of the Lord c. Tell the man that sent you to me c. I will bring evil upon this place c. But to the king c. because thine heart was tender and thou hast humbled thy self c. thine eyes shall not see all the evil c. 2 Kings 22. 11 12 13 15 16 18 19 20. I will not remove mine integrity c. my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live Job 27. 5 6. Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart and said c. what shall we do Acts 2. 37. Paul said c. I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day Acts 23. 1. And herein do I exercise my self to have always a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man Acts 24. 16. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts their conscience also bearing them witness or the conscience witnessing with them and their thoughts the mean while or between themselves accusing or else excusing one another Rom. 2. 15 16. I say the truth in Christ I lye not my conscience also bearing me witness in the holy Ghost Rom. 9. 1. Wherefore ye must needs be subject not only for wrath but for conscience sake Rom. 13. 5. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles eat asking no question for conscience-sake for the earth is the Lords c. If any of them who believe not bid you c. whatsoever is before you eat asking no queston for conscience-sake but if any man say unto thee this is offered to idols eat not for his sake c. and for conscience-sake c. Conscience I say not thine own but of the others for why is my liberty judged of another mans conscience c Give none offence neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God 1 Cor. 10. 25 26 27 28 29 32. chap. 8. 7. Our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom c. 2 Cor. 1. 12. By manifestation of the truth commended our selves to every mans conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4. 2. We are made manifest unto God and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences 2 Cor. 5. 11. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart and of a good conscience c. holding faith and a good conscience which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwrack 1 Tim. 1. 5. 19. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience 1 Tim. 3. 9. The Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith c. speaking lyes in hypocrisie having their conscience feared with a hot iron forbidding to marry c. 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. I thank God whom I serve c. with pure conscience 2 Tim. 1 3. Unto them who are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their mind and conscience is defiled Titus 1. 15. In which were offered both gifts and sacrifices which could not make him who did the service perfect as pertaining to the conscience c. If the blood of bulls and goats sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh how much more shall the blood of Christ c. purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 9. 9 13 14. The law having a shadow of good things c. can never with those sacrifices they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect then would they not have ceased to be offered because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins but in those sacrifices there is a remembrance c. Let us draw-near c. having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience c. Heb. 10. 1 2 3 22. We trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly Heb. 13. 18. This is thank-worthy if a man for conscience towards God endure grief suffering wrongfully 1 Pet. 2. 19. Having a good conscience that whereas they speak evil of you c. Baptism doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus 1 Pet. 3. 16 21. Let us not love in word c. Hereby we know c. for if our heart condemn us God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things beloved if our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God 1 John 3. 13 19 20 21. CHAP. XXX Of the Devil of his subtilty wiles and ways by himself and in and by his instruments wicked men false-teachers deceivers and seducers The description of them and what concerns the Saints therein First Of Satan the Devil himself NOW the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made and he said unto the woman yea because or hath God said Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden the woman said c. We may eat c. but of the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden God hath said Ye shall not eat of it neither shall ye touch it left ye die And the serpent said unto the woman Ye shall not surely die for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof then your eyes shall be open and ye shall be as gods knowing good and evil and the woman saw that the tree was good Gen. 3. 1. 2 3 4 5 6. And Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel 1 Chron. 21. 1. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan or the adversary came also among or in the midst of them c. The Lord said to Satan From whence comest thou then said he c. from going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it c. He said Doth Job serve God for nought hast thou not made a hedg about him c put forth thine hand and touch that which he hath and he will curse thee to thy face c. then Satan having leave given him destroyed all he had Job 1. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 to the end chap. 2. 1 2 3. Hast thou considered my servant Job c still he holdeth fast his integrity although thou movedst me against him to destroy him without a cause And Satan answered the Lord and said Skin for skin yea and all that a man hath will he give for his life but put forth thine hand now and touch his bone and his flesh and he will curse thee to thy face and the Lord said He is in thine hand but or only save his life So went Satan c. and smote Job