who are so far transported with rage that in way of private revenge they commit the horrid sin of murther as Joab slew Amasa and Abner men more righteous then himselfe All these I say are farre from Jacobs spirit and consequently are none of his spirituall seed Sect. 9 Instance 12 12. Israel is a worthy pattern to all in oeconomical and family duties 1. He was a dutifull child to his parents he obeyed his father and mother his father when he was decrepiâ— by reason of old age and his motheâ— though the weaker sex Genes 28.7 and for this among other his vertues his father blessed him and his mother loved him intirely Yea God also blessed him who hath made many great promises to all obedient children Eph. 6.1 2 3. Children saith the Apostle obey your parents in the Lord for this is right Honour thy father and mother which is the first commandement with promise that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the Earth whereas God hath denounced grievous threats against stubborn and unruly children Pro 30.17 The eye that mocketh at his father and despiseth to obey his mother the ravens of the valley shall pick it out and the young eagles shall eat it the meaning is In cruce Corvos pascere Horat. he shall come to a shamefull end as the common proverb importeth 2. When Jacob was grown up to be marriageable he was not Esau-like his owne carver to choose where he lusted but submitted himself to be disposed oâ— in wedlock as his father and mother â—hought good Genes 28.1.2 Thou â—halt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan said his father Isaac to him Arise go to Padan Aram and â—ake thee a wife of the daughters of Laban thy mothers brother and he did so Add to this the testimony of St Paul 1. Cor. 7.38 where he saith the father is to give his virgin in marriage 3. Iacob was a diligent and faithfull servant twenty yeares together to Laban a fraudulent and churlish master as he pleadeth with him for himselfe at their parting Genes 31.38 I have beene with thee 20. yeares they ewes and thy shee goats have not cast their young and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten that which was torne of beasts I brought not unto thee I bare the losse of all that was stolen whether by day or night In the day the drought consumed me and the frost by night and my sleep departed from mine eyes v. 40. And he appealeth to the knowledge of Rachel and Leah Laban's daughters to whom he thus spake Genes 31.6 ye know that with all my power I have served your father With this precedent agreeth the Apostolicall precept Servants be subject to your masters with all feare not onely to the good and gentle but also to the froward 1. Pet. 2.18 not with eye-service as men pleasers but in singleness of heart fearing God and whatsoever ye do do it heartily as unto the Lord and not unto men knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ Coloss 3.22.23 This may let all idle false purloyning servant who like Onesimus before his conversions do their masters harme instead of good or who Ziba-like slander deceive those who retained and do maintaine them for better ends to know that they feare not God nor be the servants of Iesus Christ yet will he pay them their wages even the wages of sin eternal death unless with Onesimus they repent 4. He reformed and cleansed his household and all that were with him and brought them to the publike place of Gods worship Gen. 35.2 Bethel As David went with his traine to the house of God Psal 42.4 and Joshuah professed as for me and mine house we will serve the Lord Josh 24.15 But how many may be found in our times who absent themselves from the assemblies of God Saints Hebr. 10.25 even upon the Lords dayes though no necessary impediment either of sickness or other justifiable cause detaine them or if they come yet their children or servants are left to themselves to goe whither they will and to do what they please contrary to the expresse commandement of God which requires all masters with their children and servants and all within their gates to sanctifie the sabbath 5. He taught them before they came how to prepare themselves charging them to cleanse themselves and to change their garments Genes 35.2 that they might come with reverence into so great a presence for holiness becometh thine house O Lord for ever Psal 93.5 So the preacher instructeth us to keep our feet when we go to the house of God and be more ready to heare than to give the sacrifice of fooles Eccl. 5.1 whereas many consider not that they do evil when they lend God their bodily presence in his courts though they lay not aside malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and evill speakings as God commands 1 Pet. 2.1 and that is the reason why many joyne with others in praying and hearing and it profits them not neither are they accepted with God as Cain offered up sacrifice as well as Abel but God had respect to Abel and his sacrifice but to Cain and his sacrifice he had no respect Genes 4.4 5. 6. Among other sins Iacobs care was that they should put away their idols Genes 35.2 put away saith he the strange Gods that are among you and they gave unto him all the strange Gods which were in their hands and all their ear-rings which were in their eares and he hid them under an oake that they might never be found againe v. 4. In like sort the Lord enjoyneth his people to abolish all the reliques of idolatry Deut. 7.25 26. The graven images of their Gods shall ye burn with fire thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them nor take it unto thee lest thou be snared therein for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thy house lest thou be a cursed thing like it but thou shalt utterly detest it and thou shalt utterly abhor it for it is a cursed thing O that this most strict charge were well regarded by all even such as are called protestants then would they quickly remove out of their houses and closets all popish pictures of Christ the Virgin Mary and other Saints and angels and sacrifice them to the flames before they be cast themselves into the lake of fire and brimstone Here let not any of them think that the sorry distinction of the Rhemists between the images and pictures of heathenish Gods and the true God and Christ Rhemish on 1 Iohn wil availe any thing Sect. 5 For the commandement runs Thou shalt not make to thy self the likeness of any thing in heaven above or the earth beneath And they are Christians to whom Saint John writeth 1 Joh. 5.21
will wipe off all dirt cast upon your faces also I deny not but praise is desirable among all Application And whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise these things are to be thought on Phil. 4 8. for a good name is rather to be chosen then great riches Prov. 22.1 But they that love the praise of men more then the praise of God or will not be content with the honour that commeth from God alone But receive honour one of another neither doe nor can believe John 5.44 Obj. How then doth the same evangelist avouch that many of the chiefe rulers believed on Christ but because of the Pharisees they did not confesse him lest they should be put out of the Synagogue for they loved the praise of men more then the praise of God John 12.42 43. are they not here said for all this to believe How then can you affirme that such persons neither do nor can believe A. What I affirm Christ hath taught and therefore we must distinguish of faith they believed the truth but not truly as * Illa non est vera legitima fides doctrinam credere simpliciter esse veram non autem penitùs se illi subjicere Calvin Non fuit vera viva fiides haec enim à confessione non separatur Brentius in Ioh. 12 Non habuerunt veram fidem sed fictitiam quae cum non constiterit adversus insultum Pharisaeorum multò minus constare poterit adversus insultum Sathanae Bucer and others conclude out of the comparing of these places together True faith they had not because they did not wholly submit themselves to Christ and his truth True and lively faith saith Calvin is not seperated from confession for with the heart man believeth to righteousnesse and with mouth confession is made unto salvation Rom. 10.10 For albeit it is likely saith he that they were not altogether dumb yet because their confession was not ingenuous or free enough the Evangelist-absolutely denieth that they professed their faith Wherefore let no man flatter himselfe who in any part concealeth and dissembleth his faith lest he should incurre the Odium or hatred of men For albeit the name of Christ be odious that fear is not excusable which compelleth us to decline in the least manner from his confession If any therefore preserve their reputations with whatsoever dependeth thereupon as worldly profit and safety before Iesus Christ and his truth they are not worthy of Him but they and their credit shall perish together as 1. all such whosoever they be as comply with evil times embrace heterodox tenets and side with factions swerving from the right rule of Gods word either for feare of losse or hope of preferment and 2. all such as dare not own the cause of Christ nor joyne with the true professors thereof in time of persecution and danger or basely forbeare holy duties and religious performances for the same causes for all these are but mongrel Christians as appeareth by the parable of the sower where they are compared to stony ground for though they heare the word and anone with joy receive it yet have they not root in themselves but when persecution ariseth because of the word by and by they are offended Mat. 13.20.21 where we meet twice with by and by suddenly they receive the word and as suddenly they start aside and recede from it How many such are there in our dayes as there have bin in former ages as they that were then eye-witnesses informe us * Lessius in Joan 12. Hodie multi affirmant in persecutione licere abnegare doctrinam Evangeli et occultare sententiam suam si modò corde servetur fides Many faith one of them at this day affirme that one may deny the doctrine of the Gospel in time of persecution and conceale their opinions if so be faith be retained in the heart This well considered would bring back into the right way all such Demasses as have fallen away and preserve others from backsliding Chara ∣ cter 8 A true Israelite loveth them who appertaine to the same city and are of the same family as all true believers are Eph. 2.19 And hereby we know saith the beloved Disciple that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren he that loveth not his brother abideth in death 1 Joh. 3.14 For every one that loveth him that begot loveth him that is begotten of him 1 Joh. 5.1 and how can we love the head Christ if we love not His members also But this love must not be in word nor in tongue onely but in deed and in truth and then thereby we shall know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before God 1 Joh. 3.19 True Christian love is like to the planet called Stella Veneris which attendeth the Sunne of righteousness and appeareth first and last in the soul among all the planets of graces in an Israelite indeed and shineth brightest in the night of temptation when faith and other graces like the rest of the stars are many times so clouded and obscured that we cannot discerne them in our selves Quest But how may we know that our Love of the brethren is sincere A 1. If it proceed from faith for faith worketh by love Gal. 5.6 and assureth us of Gods love to our owne souls and this maketh us to love one another as Christ hath loved us Eph. 5.2 2 If it extend to all the Saints the poor as well as rich Philem 5. to such as never yet shewed us outward kindness as wel as to them who have been beneficial to us 3. If it be real and operative in affoarding them seasonable and necessary relief according to our ability then God will not be unrighteous to forget our work and labour of love which hath been shewed towards his name in administring to the Saints Heb. 6.10 4. If it be constant yea increasing every day more and more 1 Thess 4.10 5 If it be chiefly set upon the good of the souls of men and women that they may prosper 6 If we can forbeare and for give them pray for them and sympathize with them in their several conditions and delight in their society above others These will be cleare evidences of the soundness of our affection to them which will evidence to us againe that we are of the fold of the great shepheard and little flock for whom he hath prepared the kingdom On the contrary they who hate the righteous as Esau did blessed Iacob Application Genes 27.41 who * Gregor moral l 25 c. 9. Si ergo tantâ poenâ mulctatur qui non dedisse convinci tur quâ poenâ feriendus est qui redarguitur abstulisse aliena rob and spoile them instead of feeding and clothing them who traduce revile curse and despise them separating them out of their society discover themselves to be
world Answ Appreciative they receive that which is an hundred times of more worth then all that they lose And for a fuller Answer I refer you to the learned and ancient father Jerom in loc tom 9. who first layeth downe the exposition of some millenaries on these words and refuteth the same and then gives us his owne judgment on them Ex occasione hujus sententiae quidam introducunt mille annos post resurrectionem dicentes tunc nobis centuplum omnium rerum quas dimisimus et vitam aeternam esse reddendam Quòd si in caeteris digna sit promissio in uxoribus appareat turpitudo ut qui unam pro Domino dimiserit centum recipiat in futuro Sensus igitur iste est Qui carnalia pro Sa vatore dimiserit spiritualia recipiet quae comparatione et merito suî quasi parvo numero centenarius numerus comparetur Or to raise up bitter persecutions against them for feare whereof many durst not joyne themseves to the Apostles Act. 5.13 and others who receive the seed of the word as it were into stony places hearing and anon receiving it with joy yet not having root in themselves endure for a while but afterwards when tribulation and persecution ariseth because of the word by and by they are offended Mat 13.20.21 For prevention hereof consider that ere long the case shall be altered that God shall recompense tribulation to them that trouble you and if you be of the seed of the Iews as Zeresh said to Haman of Mordecai they shall not prevaile against you but surely fall before you Esth 6.13 and the same righteous God who hath already pronounced them blessed who are persecuted for righteousnesse sake withall affirming that theirs is the kingdom of heaven Mat. 12.10 will both enable you to endure stedfast to the end and in the end give you rest with Christ 2 Thess 1.7 for if we suffer with him we shall be also glorified together Therefore reckon with the Apostle that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.17.18 Sect. 13 4. Satan will ever be sure to stand up against Israel as he did in Davids time 4 Impediment Satan when he provoked him to number the people 1 Chron. 21.1 His grand and constant designe ever hath been estill is and will be to keep soules from entring into this fold of Iesus Christ 1. By raising up odious reports of the holy way as well as of the professors of it that none may seek after it as when Paul spake with the chief of the Iewes at Rome and told them that for the hope of Israel he was bound with that chain which was then upon him they answered him As concerning this sect we know that every where it is spoken against Act. 28.20 21. 2ly By keeping to the utmost of his power the true preachers of the Gospel from declaring and making known to the churches the excellency of this way even the beauty of holinesse as he hindred Paul from coming to the Thessalonians though he endeavoured it with great desire 1 Thess 2.17.18 3ly By raising up false teachers and fitting and furnishing them with all possible dexterity to raise up disaffection in the hearts of all sorts against the truth and such as publish the same 2 Thess 2.9.10 4. By blinding the mindes of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them 2 Cor. 4.4 5. If by all his wiles he cannot hinder the preaching hearing and believing of the Gospell then his next plot will be to turne them who began to run well from the right path into error and sinfull courses so when Paul had espoused the Corinthians to one husband that he might present them as a chast virgin to Christ he feared lest by any meanes as the serpent beguiled Eve thorow his subtilty so their mindes should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ 2 Cor. 11.2 3. 6ly If he can effect none of these projects then he will strive to hinder them from their speedy and comfortable proceeding in the Christian race by raising up his instruments to do them all possible mischief and dammage as he imployed 1. the Sabeans to take away Jobs oxen as they were plowing and his asses feeding beside them and to kill his servants with the edge of the sword suffering onely one to be a messenger to acquaint him with the sad tydings thereof Job 1.14 15. 2ly By causing a great fire to fall from heaven to burne up and consume his servants and his sheep in another place v. 16. 3ly By sending three bands of the Caldeans who fell upon the camels and carried them away and slew others of his servants with the edge of the sword v. 17. 4ly By raising up a great wind from the wilderness which smote the four corners of the house wherein his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine so that it fell upon them and killed them all at once v. 19. 5ly By smiting Jobs body with sore boyls and diseases from the sole of his foote unto his crown Job 2.7 6ly by instigating his wife who should have been his chiefest comfort to become his bitterest crosse to perswade him to forgoe his integrity to curse God and die v. 9. 7ly when he thought his bed should comfort him and his couch should ease his complaint by scaring him with dreames and terrifying him through visions so that he chose death rather then life Job 7.13.14 8 by his three friends who became miserable comforters to him and endeavoured to bereave him of his sincerity the onely support of his spirit yet left him yet in all these fierce encounters the Lord strengthened him to hold out and ye have seen the end of the Lord that he is pityfull and of tender mercy Jam. 5.11 In like manner doth the Spirit encourage the angel of the church in Smyrna to whom he writeth thus Feare none of the things which thou shalt suffâ—r Behold the devill shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried and ye shall have tribulation tenne dayes be thou faithfull unto death and I will give thee the Crown of life Rev. 2.10 See here the devil himselfe was to be the jayler for he should cast not all but some of them into Prison yet could he not have this power till it was given from above Gods end was not to destroy but to try them the time how long the persecution was to last is limitted to tenne dayes not so long as the devil pleased and therefore he assureth them they had no cause to feare but adviseth them to be faâ—thfull unto death and then promiseth to give them a crown of life 7. Satan is termed the accuser of the brethren because he accuseth them before our God day and night Rev. 12 10. seeking by this meanes to
sinking I might give Jonah for an instance Ch. 1.4 but his sleep was corporal theirs is altogether spirituall the marriners awakened him they continue sleeping and will not be so easily awakened he repented God give them also repentance to life A 7th Let is inconstancy 7. Inconstancy proceeding from hypocrisie and ending in apostacy Orpah attended her mother in law as well as Ruth when she came from the countrey of Moab to returne to the land of Judah but she was perswaded by her mothers words to go back to hâ—r owne countrey * Pellicanus Ruth adhaesit socrui futura una ex ma tribus è quibus mundi salus proditura erat whereas Ruth continued stedfastly minded to cleave to Naomi till death should part them saying to her Thy people shall be my people and thy God my God Ruth 1 16. and great was her reward in the end 8. Many are kept from becoming true Israelites by selfe delusion thinking but falsely that they are converted have repented doe believe and shall be â—aved and what need they to do any more Thus the five foolish virgins â—he proud Pharisee and many hypocrits â—ondly imagine their case is good their â—aith is sound and their hearts are cleane when as indeed they deceive their own soules Jam. 1.21 Diverse other inward impediments there are but these chiefly must be removed the mind must be rightly informed the judgment must be rectified prejudice must be laid aside and true faith attained and often examined and for these ends let the word of God be hidden in the heart the greatnes of Gods majesty his presence justice and truth the incertainty of our lives and the strictness of the impartial Judg before whom we must all appeare be considered of and let profanes spiritual sloth together with levity and inconstancy of Spirit and all delusion be avoided lest any of us faile of the grace of God Heb. 12.15 or come short of the promise of entring into his rest Heb. 4.1 and I cannot pretermit how seriously and frequently the same Apostle doth caution us to take heed of deceiving our selves or being deceived by others charging us all once that no man deceive himselfe 2 Cor. 3.18 Twice that no man deceive us Eph. 5.6 againe that no man deceive us by any meanes 2 Thess 2.3 Thrice that we be not deceived either by ourselves or others 1 Cor. 6.9.15.33 Gal. 6 7. hereby warning all 1. that we are apt to be deceived in spirituall matters 2. that this is the most dangerous deceit of all others 3. That therefore we should continually looke well to ourselves that we be not over-reached in matters pertaining to eternity Sect. 15 2. Branch of the exhortation followeth 2. Branch of the extation having thus dispatched the former part of mine advice to all in general I now descend to certaine sorts of men and 1. To begin with Magistrates called heires of restraint Judg. 18.7 I earnestly entreat them to become Israelites indeed to rule with God and to be faithfull with the Saints Hos 11.12 to execute judgment and justice without partiality or delay to judg the cause of the poore and needy for then it shall go well with them and the common wealth under them Jerem. 22 15.16 yea not onely subjects at home but forreiners abroad shall have great cause to blesse God for them as the Queen of Sheba blessed God for king Solomon and pronounced â—is people happy Her words to Solomon run thus Happy are thy men and blessed be the Lord thy God which delighted in thee to set thee on the throne because the Lord loved Israel for ever therefore made he thee king to do judgment and justice 1 King 10 9. 2ly Might this counsel from God be accepted of counsellors and attournies with Nathanael to wash their hearts and hands dayly from guile they should not need any regulation by others for they would be a law to themselves neither should they have any cause to feare either levelling or antinomian aspersions or designes for a good conscience would be a brasen wall to them and God the righteous Judge would plead their cause better than they can their clients or their own Then would none of them take with both hands nor receive bribes which is a sin inseparable from hypocrysie Job 15.34 and blindeth the eyes of the wise Exo. 23.8 and maketh the tongue mercenary either to keepe silence when they ought to speak or to speak when they should be silent They would never desert any righteous cause Isa 1. 17. but keep themselves far from every false matter as the great Law giver requireth Exo. 23.7 3ly Though I take not upon me to teach them who are called to be teachers of Gods people yet give me leave to exhort you as brethren first to become true Christians yourselves and then to improve all your skill and strength to draw all those who belong to your charge into this blessed society Let your exhortations be without guile and as you are allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel even so speak not as pleasing men but God who tryeth your hearts 1 Thess 2.3.4 Then shall you teach transgressours Gods wayes and sinners shall be converted unto him Thus shall a numerous and blessed off spring be raised up to God as of old the Lord restifieth of Levi The law of truth was in his mouth and iniquity was not found in his lips he walked with me in peace and equity and did turne many away from iniquity Mal. 1.6 Then also will the Lord soone wipe away all disgrace and obloquie from your persons and function which hath been too long cast upon you and it for neglect hereof as the Lord admonisheth the priests Mal. 2.9 Saying to them therefore have I made you contemptible and base before the people according as you have not kept my wayes but have beene partial in the law 4ly From ministers I passe to students in the universities the hope of their succession to perswade them with blessed Paul * 2 Cor. 1.12 Theophyl enarrat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to prefer both in their studies and practice simplicity and godly sincerity before fleshly wisdom and sophistry which will afford unto themselves cause of solid and permanent joy and ascertain both our Church and state of future felicity 5ly I desire also merchants tradesmen to find time freed from the hurry of their affaires to learne to write after this copy of Jacobs plaine dealing not to abuse the buyers simplicity nor to make too much use of his necessity And suppose their gaines be not so great as formerly they were yet they may be sure a greater blessing shall accompany what they honestly get and make that * Dimidium plus toto little to do them and their 's more good then a farr greater store of treasure unjustly gathered together can do others Herein if they dare not credit me I commend to them Gods