man which is evill cannot produce justice in God which is holy and good and an attribute of God before sinne ever was as its effect But Gods holy and just will is the square of his actions Yet sin in man truely his owne worke is cause of damnation in himselfe a bad effect of a bad cause So treason is the cause of the traitors condemnation and death but the law of the land being the rule of justice is the cause that the Iudge wils the condemnation and puts to death the Traitor III. The worke of any of Gods free Graces and favours not merited by any man proceedeth not de facto so farre with some men as with others by default of the men themselves The benefit of his raine sun extends to all so also many other outward gifts Christ wrought one miracle among the Gadarens but at that time preached not the word in their Cities for they would not Christ did many great works in Corazin Bethsaida and Capernaum preached there when as they repent not he pronounces a woe against them God caused the word to be preached to Demas gave him societie with the Apostles but left him to the corruption of his heart imbracing this present world God caused the word to bee preached to Iulian according to which he walked for a time and incouraged Christians but at length God left him to the cruelty of his owne heart to persecute Christianity God made Iudas an Apostle he according to his office walked a while and preached the Gospell but at length God left him to the covetousnesse of his heart to betray the Lord of life and to desperation IV. They which be adjudged to condeÌ„nation discerne and make themselves differ from the rest by being disobedient and rebellious to the order and course appointed by God for mans salvation God made Paul differ from Demas and other wicked men by the gracious worke of his holy Spirit on him Dâ—mas made himselfe to differ from Paul and other godly men by yeelding to his owne corruption in following this present world V. That they which knew their masters or Gods will and prepared not themselves for their Masters comming neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes whereas he that knew his Masters will and did it not is beaten with few for unto whomsoever much is given of him much shall bee required so it is with Corazin Bethsaida Capernaum God for Christ Iesus sake guide us by his grace and good Spirit that we may doe his will and prepare for his comming and of his infinite mercie pardon what here hath beene weakly delivered about these great mysteries and more and more illuminate our understandings in the knowledge of the same and so powerfully work upon us that as on his part there is not so on our part there may be no default that we may persevere his servants here hereafter raigne with him in the Kingdome of glory for the merits of Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen * ⎠* FINIS Ezek. 18.29 Deut. 29.29 1 Tiâ— 6.4 1 Tim. 6.25 Act. 26.25 Plat. in Sym. Eurip. in Phoeâ— Plat. Symp. Plat. de Rep. lib. 3. 1 Cor. 13.9 Ezek. 18.29 Heb. 4.13 Ier. 17.10 Psal 139.2 CHAP. 1. 2. Pet. 1.21 Heb. 1.1.2 2.3 Mat. 28.20 1. Cor. 3.9 CHAP. 2. Rom. 1.20 Hos 5.15 Rom. 15.19 Gen. 6.3 Acts 7.51 Esay 63.10 Nehe. 9.30 Gen. 6. Luk. 19.42.44 Exod. 12.38 48. Reve. 21.25 Ezek. 33.11 Iob. 8.8 Gen. 4. â— Gen. 27.29 Gen. 18.19 Gen. 4.26 Iob 1.5 Deut. 17.29 Ios 1.8 CHAP. 3. 1. Tim. 2.2 Exod. 18.21 Numb 11.16 Deut. 1.13 Deut. 33.5 Deu. 33.18.19 1. Chron. 22.2 Ier. 10.11 Est 8.17 Heb. 7.21 10.12.13 Mat. last Iohn 7.46 1. Tim. 5.17 Tit. 1.5 6. Apoc. 21.24 Prov. 14.28 Esay 49 23. 60.3 Apoc. 17. Heb. 7.21 10.12.13 Eccles 12.13 Rom. 13.1 1. Pet. 2.13 Acts 27.31 Esay 60.10 11. 1. Cor. 3.9 Ephes 1.4 2. Tim. 2.19 CHAP. 4. Acts 27.31 c. 1. Iohn 4.10 Iohn 15.16 Ezek. 36.26 Rom. 9.16 Iohn 6.44 2. Tim. 1.9 Ephes 2.8 2. Tim. 1.9 Phil. 2.13 2. Tim. 1.9 Ephes 2.7 Rom 9.16 Rom. 8.29 1. Iohn 4.10 Ephes 1.4 Rom. 8.30 Acts 20.32 Iohn 16.13 Rev. 3.20 Acts. 16.14 Iohn 6.44 Hos 11.4 Ier. 31.3 Iohn 12.32 Ezek. 36.26 2. Thes 1.11 Heb. 12.2 Rom. 8.29 Psal 37.24 Hos 5.15 Rom. 8.30 Ephes 2.8 2. Tim. 2.25 Iohn 17.20 Rom. 8.30 Acts 10.33 Acts 16.14 Acts 2.37 Psal 119.10.143.5 2. Cor. 11.7 Acts 2.38 41. Acts 9.11 Acts 26.19 Psal 119.71 1. Iohn 5.18 Iohn 14.21 1. Cor. 13. Mat. 10.12 Phil. 2.13 Deut. 9.4 5. See page 6. conclusion 4. Acts 13.48 CHAP. 5. Ion. 4.11 1. Ezek. 34.10 Ezek. 33.8 The Explication of this position Gen. 4.7 Gen. 6.2 c. 1. Pet. 3.19 Gen. 11. Gen. 14. Gen. 19. Gen. 39. Gen. 41.57 Psal 105.21 Exod. 7. 8 9. Exod. 14. Exod. 7.5 9 16. Rom. 9.10 1. Kings 10.1 1. Kings 10.24 Dan. â— 25 Dan. 6.25 Ezr. 1. Esth 8. 9. Ezr. 4 20. Ezr. 5.8 Deut. 4.6 1. Kin. 10.5 Psal 147.20 Act. 17.30 Matth. 15.26 Ier. 2.11 Ephes 2. Act. 14. Gen. 6. Rom. 1. Ier. 44.17 Es 47.10 Rom. 1.20 Act. 14.17 Rom. 1.21 Exod. 12.38 Gen. 12.5 13.12.15.2 Exod. 12.38 1 Chron. 22.2 Exod. 12.44.48 Est 8.17 1 King 11.31 1 King 13.4 Es 5. 2 King 18.11 Es 5. 2. Chron. 36.16 1 King 19.18 2 Chron. 15.9 Mat. 28.19 Act. 17.30 Iohn 7.48 Act. 2. Rom. 10.18 Eph. â— Rom. 11.25 Rom. 11.33 Rom. 11.31 Luke 2. Apoc. 17. Mat. 7.15 Act. 20.29 Apoc. 13.11 Rev. 1â— â— Rom. 1.8 Rev. 18.2 Rev. 17.15 2 Chron. 9.10 2 Chron. 2.6 1 King 10.22 1 K. 10.24 15. Rom. 10.18 Act. 1.8 Mat. 24.14 Exod. 9.27 Ezr. 5.8 Deut. 4.6 Dan. 2.47 3.29 6.26 Acts 17. Luke 12.48 Mat. 11.22.24 CHAP. 6. 2. Ier. 6.17 Esay 28.10 Ier. 7.25 Ier. 2.25 Psal 81.11 Mat. 23.37 Iob 21.14 Ier. 11.21 Iob. 22.17 Iob 34.9 Psal 73.11 Psal 73.9 Ier. 2.13 1. Cor. 1.18 Ier. 16.11 12. Ier. 18.12 Luke 14.20 Luke 17.26 27 Mat. 13.22 Luke 14.19 Mat. 13.20 Acts 13.45 Luke 1528. Acts 7.51 Neâ— 9.30 Esay 6 10. 1. Pet. 3.18 19 20. Gen. 6.3 Luke 13.7 Luke 12.58 Luke 19.42.44 Ier. 11. Mat. 11.25 1. Kings 22.23 Num. 22.12 19. 22. 2. Pet. 2.15 Acts 28.27 Rom. 9. 2 Thes 2.11 Rom. 9. Iohn 3.18 Mat. 22.5 Heb. 2.3 Rev. 3.20 2 Cor. 6.1 2 Cor. 6.2 Mar. 13.37 Luke 13.46 Luke 12.47 48 Mat. 11.22 24.
promised to be with his ordinance and on his part will not faile IIII. It is of Gods infinite mercy that the fathers and Iewes of old that any nation now have Gods word for their guide and instruction in any kind whatsoever for their salvation not any thing in themselves is a cause thereof V. All good in man whatsoever whether naturall morall or divine c. in understanding will and affections is Gods free gift either the remainder of what was given man in the creation or Gods gracious work since CHAP. III. What course and order God hath prescribed on mans part Conclusions thereupon GOD as on his owne part takes a course so on mans part hath appointed what course they should take for the making the decrees above effectuall Namely they ought before the Law was written to enquire of the former age and prepare themselves to learne of their fathers The Patriarkes or fathers of families being both kings and preists were to be honoured and obeyed of their families and did rule over their brethren and likewise ought to teach their children and houshold their duties as God said hee knew Abraham would doe his to keepe the way of the Lord and to doe righteous judgment Also to teach them Gods worship which must be after Gods owne institution else Abels offering had beene will-worship Also to performe religious offices for them as calling upon God and sacrificing So Noah sacrificed for himselfe and them that came out of the Ark with him Abraham often built altars sacrificed Melchisedek was both king and priest Iob sacrificed for his sonnes every day And after the Law was written the chiefe Rulers Kings and others of what title soever ought to study the Law themselves and so to governe the people that they may live according as God bids us pray a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie Also these chiefe rulers when in regard of the increase of their people they were not able to beare the burden of them should chuse Elders out of the people men of courage fearing God men dealing truly hating covetousnesse who set over thousands hundreds fifties tens should judge the lesse and bring the greater matters to the chiefe Ruler Also afterthat GOD had taken to him the Preists and Levits in stead of the first borne The Kings or chief Rulers Gods vice-gerents should have these Preists and Levits their Spokesmen to the people for their instruction as GOD made Aaron the Preist to Moses the King as also to enquire of God and to offer the offerings and sacrifices of all both rulers and people Also the Embassadors and Merchants in their navigation to forraine people should call them to Gods holy mountaine and worship as Moses said of Zebulon and Ishachar and warriours fearing GOD should if they conquered nations strive to bring them to GOD as the Israelites did divers Chananites and David some people of divers nations Or if they were conquered should advise their conquerours for their eternall good and teach them as the Iewes the Chaldeans that the gods who made not heaven and earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens and as afterward in the times of the Persians draw many to their religion And after that Christ being incarnate and offering himselfe for man having ended the Leviticall preisthood became both King and preist for ever after the order of Melchisedek hee the Church now being under the Romane Infidell and tyrannous Emperours hee I say set up a Kingdome not of this world though hee was de jure King of the Jewes but a spirituall kingdome and taught the people as never man did And further appointed the Apostles to goe and teach all nations and baptise them and performe other religious offices who also did ordaine Bishops and Elders to rule and teach in their severall Cities which were to be qualified as the Overseers and Elders chosen by Moses above Besides Christ the great Prophet which should come into the world foretold that Kings at length should bring their glory that is the multitudes of their people for the multitude of people is the glory of a King to the building of the new Jerusalem the Christian Church and so become nursing Fathers to the same which now hath begunne to have the event when Kings whose ancestors had giuen their power to the Whore of Babylon hate her and make her desolate and endevour a reformation according to Gods word Furthermore our Embassadors Merchants and Warriers by our navigation abroad upon all occasions offered therein following their example above ought as they pray first for Christs kingdome and then for bread and the necessaries of this life so to strive in the first place and principally for the advancement of Christs kingdome and in the next place for matters usefull for their countrie This God appoints on the rulers and their substitutes parts to be done God further appoints on the peoples part what order and course they should take The summe of all in briefe is To feare God and keep his commandements To read heare meditate on Gods word to repent to believe to use Gods holy ordinances and sacraments reverently c. To honour the King and be subject and submit themselves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake if both to Heathen Kings as supreme as also to under-governours as sent by them then much more to Christian Princes subordinate rulers under them who rule according to Gods word And to shut up all in one word to love their neighbours as themselves This course and order God hath prescribed to be used on mans part From whence it may bee inferred I. That God not only in taking a course on his owne part but also in shewing man a course and order to be taken on his part for the salvation of all men shewes that God thus farre wils the salvation of all II. That Rulers both supreme and subordinate in their several places must follow the course and order prescribed appointed by God as meanes by which God hath ordered to conferre salvation on themselves others being such a meanes for the salvation of their soules as the mariners abiding in the ship and doing their office there was for the saving of theirs and their passengers bodies whom God had promised Paul to preserve III. Chief Rulers and others studying Gods word being thereby directed in the ordering Gods people managing their most weightie affaires and substituting under them officers of all sorts men fearing God and of courage c. Mainly striving to bring their owne people to God and by all good meanes to plant the feare of God in nations yet living in darknesse are the true nursing fathers of the Church and bring their glory to the New-Ierusalem and are saved IIII. That people must perswade themselves
the dead For with that very spirit Christ preached to them And for resisting the same they are now Spirits inprison God from all eternitie seeing the rebellion and obstinate wickednesse of prophane men under the father before the law was written and after in the Iewish Church now in the Christiā Church since in all of many of the degrees above as he willed that together with other meanes of salvatiō his Spirit also should strive with them so he willed that his spirit should not alwaies strive with them But when their wickednesse was come to the full Gods long suffering had many years waited for their amendment that they might agree with their adversarie in the way when the limit of the time in which God gave them space to repent Their day in which they ought to know the things which belong to their peace which day or fixed limit is known only to God except sometimes it hath pleased him to reveale it is past and expired Then God will not heare their cry who before would not heare his call then God gives it not to them to know the mysteries of the Kingdome of heaven God hides those things from the wise and intelligent in their owne proud conceit because it so pleaseth him God sends a lying Spirit into the mouth of Ahabs prophets and gives him power to deceive them When Balaam was forbidden by God to goe or curse the blessed and yet would not rest but still shewed his love and desire of the wages of unrighteousnesse God had him goe but was angrie that he went When the hearts of people are waxed grosse their eares dul of hearing their eyes by themselves closed lest they should see heare understand and bee converted Then God blinds makes deaf and takes away their understanding God hardens them according to the most holy and just rule of his will who being come to Pharaoh's case harden themselves and so he hardens whom he will And then is there no disputing with God God sends strong delusions that they should beleeve lies who would not receive the knowledge of the truth Thus Gods al-seeing eyes beholding from al eternitie what courses he on his part would take and how among his people the Rulers and Teachers should faithfully doe what he ordered and appointed for the salvation of their people seeing even them also who are not in Christ not by his or the Rulers or teachers default but by their owne consulting with flesh and blood and disobedience to Gods will revealed to them Simul semel hee decreed the condemnation of them most justly as Esau's before actually they had done good or evil and thereto tends Christs speech He that beleeves not is condemned alreadie These things being thus it may be hence concluded 1. That in wicked mens neglecting or contemning Gods dealing with them and the order and course appointed by God for their salvation some sooner some later fall off from or reject the meanes of their salvation The Gaderens after one miracle done among them upon the losse of their swine beseech Christ to depart out of their coasts The Iewes at Antioch heare the Gospell preached to them one Sabbath but the next Sabbath drive the Apostles out of their citie They of Capernaum and Bethsaida had many great works of Christ done among them but repented not Demas heard the Gospell walked with the Apostles for a time but at length fell off to the present world Iulian the Apostata heard the Gospell professed the same for a time at length violently and maliciously persecuted it Iudas heard the Gospell preached it continued a long time with Christ and the Apostles was unsuspected of the Apostles till at length he betrayed his Master and died desperately 2. That carelesnesse and want of due consideration opens a very great gappe on mans part to his owne ruin As not to regard the trumpet of Gods warning them his miracles promises threats c. to preferre mans folly before Gods wisedome in the mouth of his messengers to prefer this worlds wealth before the true treasure momentany pleasures before pleasures at Gods right hand for evermore To feare men that can but kill the body and not feare God who can destroy both body and soule to envie other mens graces and conversion at which GOD good Angels and men rejoice not principally and mainly to seeke Gods Kingdome and to use matters of this world as if we used them not In this manner they that were invited to the banquet of salvation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made light of it and went their wayes to pleasure profit c. How shall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men neglecting so great salvation escape 3. That though Gods goodnesse and mercy is such that he knocks at mans heart and stands and abides knocking there and notwithstanding many and great sinnes of infirmity and ignorance c. still continues suing to be admitted into the heart of man drawing him to it by the preaching of the Ministers who work together with him as by other meanes also yet if sinners proceed from one degree of sinne to another and harden their hearts that they cannot repent following sinne with greedinesse till the acceptable time the day of salvation be past and Christ who commanded all to watch and told them of his sudden comming finde them not well doing but sleeping in sinne they are cut off and have their portion with unbeleevers 4. That the wicked which lived in the Church before Christs time lost their title to happinesse joyntly by Adams fall and sinne comming in thereby by actuall sinnes of their owne by wilfull forsaking or otherwise losing the benefit of Christ promised by persisting in all or some of the sinnes above named 5. That the wicked who lived in the true Church since Christs time lost their title to happinesse joyntly by Adams fall and by falling off from the hope in Christ promised in their Ancestors at Babels building and by each mans owne actuall sinne in some or al the degrees aboue named falling from the hope of salvation through Christ already come and preached to them 6. That God from all eternity decreed the hardening of them that obstinately harden themselves the blinding of them that obstinately blinde themselves the forsaking of them that obstinately forsake him that will follow their owne courses their wicked Ancestors steps and impiously bid God depart from them Furthermore from these two sections considered together arise these conclusions I. That the condemnation of the wicked is meerly of from mans default where the trumpet is not blowne both by default of Rulers and teachers and also in regard of their owne sinnes in which they dye And where Rulers and teachers doe their duties by the sinnes of each particular person II. That the wickednesse of the damned is not the cause of Gods will to damne them for sinne in