7. Christ is a living foundation 200 8. The prevention of an Objection 201 9. Christ disallowed of whom and why ibid. 10. Such things are often disallowed of men which are allowed of God 202 11. There 's an union between Christ and believers ibid. 12. How to come to be stones of this building 204 13. The whole Church makes but one Spiritual House 205 14. Every particular believer is a Spiritual House ibid. 15. Such as are united to Christ ore made holy 206 16. Believers are Priests to God ibid. 17. The prevention of an Objection 207 18. Christians are not now without Sacrifices and what they are ibid. 19. Why called Spiritual Sacrifices 208 20. Our service of God must be dòne in a Spiritual maner 209 21. The prevention of an Objection ibid. 22. Spiritual Sacrifices are not regarded of carnal men ibid. 23. Through Christ our Sacrifices are acceptable to God 210 24. Our works though imperfect accepted through Christ ibid. Verse 6. 1. THe Testimony of Gods Word is that which settles us in any point of Doctrine 211 2. The Old Testament of the same authority with the New ibid. 3. Of old people were more ready in the Scripture then they are now 212 4. What the Lord saith he doth ibid. 5. God lays the foundation of his Churches Salvation ibid. 6. The Papists take from Christ his Kingly Prophetical and Priestly Office 213 7. Believers do always finde enough in Christ ibid. 8. The miserable condition of them that believe not in Christ and who they are 214 9. Believers can never fall away wholly nor finally ibid. Verse 7 8. 1. GOds promises are to be particularly applyed 215 2. Christ is precious unto all those that believe 216 3. Such are unbelievers which are disobedient 217 4. Why the Jews did reject Christ 218 5. Succession is of Doctrine or Person 219 6. Such as do least good challenge the goodliest titles 220 7. Such as would be reputed builders are usually enemies to true builders ibid. 8. Ministers must be builders ibid. 9. Every man must be a builder 221 10. The impiety of these times ib. 11. The carelesness of these times 222 12. The enemies of the Church unable to hinder the building thereof 223 13. Ministers must divide the Word aright and give every man his portion 224 14. How Christ and his Word become stumbling blocks to unbelievers 225 15. Nothing so good whereat corrupt nature will not take occasion to stumble ibid. 16. The world hath ever stumbled at Christ ibid. 17. The Papists stumble at him also the ignorant civil prophane and such as will not part with some beloved sin 226 18. Such as stumble at the Word stumble at Christ 227 19. Offences taken against the Word removed 228 20. Scandals of the Papists against it 230 21. Why and wherein they charge our Doctrine 230 22. About auricular confession fasting days marriage ibid. 23. Offences at preaching the Word 231 24. Which the true Church 237 25. Offences against the Preachers of the Word 239 26. Offences against Professors of the Word 241 27. Offences arising from mens selves hindring their zealous profession of Religion 244 28. No end of the Devils devices 248 29. Why so few be saved ibid. 30. Why people have no minde to Religion ibid. 31. Gods word is therefore bestowed on as that we may be guided thereby 249 32. How we are to obey the same ibid. 33. Four sorts of disobedient persons the prophane 251 The meerly civil the ignorant and hypocrites 252 34. Why Christ proves a Rock of offence unto most 253 35. Whether it be lawful and meet to handle the Doctrine of Gods Decree 254 36. God hath ordained some to destruction 255 37. This was of his own will and for no cause out of himself 257 38. The Lord hath done this most justly 258 39. The Lord hath done this unchangeably 259 40. Marks of such as are reprobates 260 Verse 9. 1. MInisters must speak comfortably to the good contrarily to the bad 262 2. And warily deliver the Word that each may take his due portion 262 3. What election is ibid. 4. God before the world hath ordained some men to salvation ibid. 5. The cause hereof was because he would 263 6. The number of the elect small ibid. 7. They that be elect cannot but be saved 264 8. A man may know and be assured of his election 265 9. Notes of election 266 10. Whether we may be certain of anothers election 267 11. Christians through Christ are made Kings Priests Prophets 268 12. Christ and his Gospel preached in time of the Law ibid. 13. The promises and priviledges laid down in the Scriptures belong onely to Gods elect ibid. 14. Election is the foundation of all the good comes to us ibid. 15. Christ how our King Priest and Prophet 269 16. Believers are others then the world thinks for ibid. 17. The Jews why termed an holy Nation 270 18. All that be the Lords company are holy persons ibid. 19. Comfort and counsel for sanctified persons 271 20. The misery of those that are unsanctified with advice to them to come out of this condition ibid. 21. The Church Gods peculiar people ibid. 22. No marvel though he set much by it 272. 23. Gods glory the end of all the priviledges bestowed on us 273 24. We were elected of God that we might shew forth his praises and not to be idle c. 273 25. Gods glory the furthest end of our election ibid. 26. Effectual calling a certain argument of election ibid. 27. Two sorts of calling outward and inward ibid. 28. The Word the outward instrument hereof 274 29. The parts of effectual calling ibid. 30. Gods free mercy the cause hereof ibid. 31. Every one must endeavor to prove his calling ibid. 32. What to understand by darkness and light 275 33. Every unregenerate person is in darkness 276 34. Every true believer is brought to the saving knowledge of Christ ibid. Verse 10. 1. FOr a people or particular persons to look to their beginnings is of good use 278 2. No priviledges can exempt the contemners of the Word from Gods wrath 279 3. Gods mercy power and truth in making the Jews a people again 280 4. Impenitent persons not worthy the name of people ibid. 5. No outward affliction doth nullifie Gods Church 281 6. To be the people of God a choice blessing ibid. 7. Sin unrepented of lets Gods mercy 282 8. What God did for the Jews was of mercy and so all we have ibid. Verse 11. 1. HOliness in heart and conversation must go together 283 2. Ministers must love and affect their people ibid. 3. The Saints are to be the objects of our love 284 4. Wisdom requisit in the Preachers of the Word 285 5. What meant by fleshly lusts ibid. 6. There are remnants of sin in the very best ibid. 7. Two sorts of sinners 287 8. Evil thoughts cast in by Satan or from our selves 288 9. The causes of evil
with that which followeth contain the Subjects duty towards their Magistrates wherein we have 1. An Exhortation in these words Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man That is whatsoever kinde of Government you shall live under for all Kingdoms Countreys Provinces Cities be not govern'd after the same sort termed the Ordinance of man not because it s ordained by man for its Gods Ordinance but because its proper to man and is so much for his benefit This submission consists as well in our willing bearing their Superiority over us and patiently bearing our inferiority under them as in doing all the duties of our places to them and that whether they be worthy of it or not Those are distributed into the Principal and Supreme the King or those that are Subordinate by him Governors 2. Reasons to enforce the same 1. The Lord is the Author of Magistracy and requireth our subjection therefore we ought to yield thereunto 2. They are appointed for the great good of Church and Common-wealth the punishment of evil doers and praise of them that do well without which no Society or Kingdom can stand 3. It s Gods minde that hereby we should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men Before I come to the words in particular consider we two things in general The first from the Coherence As before he would have them in their whole conversation to behave themselves as Christians and exhorted them to a godly life so he doth now require them to shew the same in their particular callings and in those special places wherein they were put Whence note That Every mans duty is to shew his godliness in his particular calling As the General of a Field appoints every one their places and standings Horsemen Footmen Gunners Pikemen c. accordingly requiring and expecting of each the performance of his duty in his several place So hath the Lord appointed some Superiors others Inferiors and accordingly every man must shew his goodness as in all things so in his particular calling especially and be faithful in the trust reposed in him therein as one friend should be to another especially in great and weighty businesses Every place whereunto a man is called as to be a Husband Magistrate Minister Housholder c. hath a special trust going along therewith so that whoso will shew himself godly if he be a Magistrate he must be a godly Magistrate if he be a Minister he must be a godly Minister c. Thus Abraham was a godly man which he shewed in being a godly Housholder So Joshua in being a godly zealous couragious Captain So David Jehoshaphat Hezekiah Josiah in being godly Kings suppressing Idolatry and setting up the true worship of God 1. This sheweth and unvizardeth many to be bad which would be counted honest men They being Magistrates do alas either take against goodness and defend evil or at least like Gallio care for nothing So being Ministers have no will nor skill gifts or ability to teach the people nor give example of true godliness So Housholders if they be not ill examples of swearing idle-talking prophaning the Lords-day and the like yet make no account to govern their Families aright in reading the Word instructing them therein Praying with them and the like Therefore let none so think of themselves as of honest men and godly which be not godly in their special Calling neither let others commend such for such though haply endued with some good qualities O he is a very honest man It s a foolish and lying commendation whosoever is a godly man will be good in his particular Calling Before they enter thereinto they will finde themselves fit for the same or if they must needs take the same upon them they will labor to fit themselves and therein for all are not fitted alike do their utmost endeavor So if a man be godly he will be a good Housholder and where Gaming and the Devils Books were wont to be rife there have Gods Books read and Prayer exercised Therefore whereas the godliest Preachers and Christians are wont to be blamed as men that cannot abide Government and would pull the Scepter out of the Magistrates hands as Korah with his companions this must needs be a foul slander for be they godly men yea in the conscience of their adversaries then can they not but be good Subjects and are indeed the best Subjects who pay to the King according to their ability most willingly that pray for the King most often and heartily that break fewest of his Laws and they lead a godly life to keep Gods wrath away from the King and Realm whereas others live badly and thereby provoke God against both 2. It s necessary that men labor first to be godly ere they enter into their particular Callings O then would they be godly Magistrates Ministers Housholders and the contrary is the cause of so much wrack in Church and Common-wealth Why be there so many wicked Husbands and lewd and disobedient Wives so many careless Housholders that care not for the souls of their Servants and Children and why so many bad Ministers even because they be bad men and have not first endeavored to be holy The second The reason why the Apostle is so earnest with them for duty in the place of Inferiors Its twofold partly upon a conceit that was in the minde of the Gentiles that Christs Apostles and their followers were Enemies to Government and could not abide Caesar which came to pass as well through wicked men raised up by the Devil which feigning themselves to be holy men did rebelliously set themselves against Caesars Government and drew the people away as Judas of Galilee who feigned himself to be Christ and was an Enemy to Caesar and perswaded the people that seeing he was an Heathen Emperor they needed not pay him tribute Hereupon when Christ came he was asked Whether it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not and notwithstanding of his wise and Subject-like answer yet at his arraignment he was accused as an Enemy to Caesar and because he said he was a King as indeed he was though no worldly King and his Kingdom and Caesars might well enough stand together they thought he could not but be Caesars Enemy as for that the wicked and Heathen Emperors would try their obedience in unlawful things as by commanding themselves or their Images to be worshipped so were Daniel and the three Children tried which they not daring to obey though they yielded patiently in the punishment inflicted on them were therefore counted Rebels though to try men in bad things be no true tryal of believers and partly because of a disease of the Jews whereof they were somewhat sick and in part faulty which notwithstanding was not occasioned either through Christ his Apostles or the Gospel even that they thought they should not obey these Heathen Magistrates and the Romane Empire
and prophane persons excuse themselves from embracing Religion but this shall not serve their turn There is odds indeed and no marvel For we know in part and believe in part But wherein is the difference not in the grounds of our Religion but in matters of Ceremony and Circumstance So far as the Ministers of the Church of England agree let them embrace believe and obey and it shall be sufficient to bring them to Heaven as for the things about which they differ they little concern them we are to desire God that these controversies were at an end and that we may be all of one minde about these things till which time we are to desire that there might not be such Separation of affections for these things but as both may be saved and be good Christians that be of either of both mindes so there might be a consent and agreement and not one rent asunder in affection from another for as it were extream uncharitableness for any to judge any for these things whom they see to live godly and Preach diligently so to censure those over sharply that are not altogether of the same judgement This doth much hurt for as it was said The war of Hereticks is the peace of the Church so it is now too true That the contention of the Church is the peace and increase of Papists among us Hereby also many fall to Brownism and sundry no doubt hereupon shake off all care of Religion and are little better then Atheists Some there are even also amongst private Christians that having somewhat better gifts of wit and memory and some more knowledge then others fall to curious questions and maintain strange and singular opinions as That they can discern Spirits and in an hours talk with a man know certainly whether he be a childe of God or not c. whereby they draw parties to themselves fall into wrangling and strife with such as oppose their fancies becomes strange unto them discharge them behinde their backs whence the godly are grieved and prophane ones take occasion to exclaim against the profession of Religion yea their Ministers become ill thought of as teachers of such Novelties Such are of a proud Spirit as who take up Opinions not grounded in the Word and maintain them also to the breach of unity and love If any scruple arise in our mindes we are in humility to resort to those whose lips are appointed to preserve knowledge For unity in civil affairs or outward conversation We ought to be of one minde in every good thing in our families and places where we live husbands and wives neighbors with neighbors must be like-minded one towards another according to Christ Jesus any other is a conspiracy no true agreement In Towns men ought to joyn together to suppress evil persons and places and set up goodness so much as in them lies where two or three thus consent there is God in the midst of them But in most places men set themselves to cross one another and Baal hath them which plead for him and against God and goodness as if one Horse were set at the one end of the Cart and another at the other end and each put to draw they would trample the ground tire themselves and do no good to the owner so is it in many Towns where dissention beareth sway nothing is done to the glory of God or good thereof And for particular persons and neighbors they must be of one heart and live lovingly together not offering occasion of offence nor readily embracing any but forgetting forgiving and passing by injuries not giving place unto wrath nor suffering the Sun to go down thereon We are brethren members also of one body we must live like Lambs one with another O how good and comely a thing is it thus to live but alas how do men wrangle and contend for every trifle Welfare Abraham he would rather yield to Lot then contend we are his children if we follow his steps What a shame is it that they which are baptized with the same Baptism profess the same Faith and say that they are guided by the same Spirit should yet be at strife and variance O fie upon it How do these stain their Prayers hinder themselves from the Sacrament How canst thou look God in the face who thus break his Commandments Hereof pride and covetousness are the main causes Take we heed to these duties that living in peace the God of love and peace may be with us Having compassion one of another Another vertue required is to be of like affection each to other in their prosperity rejoycing with them and desiring the continuance thereof as in their heaviness to be grieved yea we are to rejoyce in their prosperity though we our selves were in affliction to rejoyce I say whether in respect of the Church in general or of the particular Members thereof Such shal not prosper that have ill will to Sion that envy the prosperity of the Church nor such as are envious at the good estate of particular Christians or Ministers their welfare credit peace liberty nor such as have an ill eye at their Neighbors thriving in wealth credit gifts or any other blessing Through the Devil justly stiled the envious man as being the author of envy they become thus envious What shall we have an ill eye because God is good what is this but to finde fault with God How was envy punished in Cain in Esau in the Edomites c. It s a work of the flesh which God cannot away withal nay we are not to envy at the prosperity of the wicked for they shall pay full dearly for it Naturally we are addicted hereunto but we ought to hate it and strive against it And for them whom God blesseth above others they must walk very warily in all humbleness and care to do good and kindely use their Inferiors else they put them upon a temptation of envy whereas on the other part people will say His wealth and place is well bestowed on him he is loving affable doth good c. And as we are to rejoyce with them that do rejoyce so must we mourn with them that mourn we must help to bear their burthen we must pity them in our hearts pray for them visit them and otherwise relieve them if need be we must not be altogether for our selves as those who were not born for our selves alone In the natural body if one member suffer the rest suffer with it much more should it be so in the spiritual If the foot get a thorn in it the back bows down to it the eye looks upon it the hand searcheth it the heart grieveth the tongue complaineth should not we be thus affected at the hurt of our fellow-members Our head is a living feeling head and accordingly we should be feeling
A GODLY FRUITFUL EXPOSITION Upon all the FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER BY That Pious and Eminent Preacher of the WORD of GOD JOHN ROGERS of Dedham in ESSEX JOHN 5. 39. Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they which testifie of me 2 PETER 1. 20 21. Knowing this first that no prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation For the prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost LONDON Printed by JOHN FIELD and are to be sold by Peter Cole at the Sign of the Printing-Press in Cornhill near the Royal Exchange 1650. To the Reader THe Name alone of the Author of this Exposition and Commentary doth put a great price and value on it yea command thy reading and study of it It is the work of John Rogers Minister of Dedham in Essex written by his own hand Being dead he yet speaketh that is his Name is as a sweet savour poured forth and his praise amongst the Saints in all the Churches of Christ wheresoever he is spoken of this may be said of him That he was a burning and a shining light having a heart inflamed with love to Christ Truth and the Souls of men his words were as sparks of fire As his light directed his zeal so his zeal wrought with his light and made it powerful Animum non faciunt qui animum non habent Some Books are like a frosty day clear but dry and cold and leave the Reader in the same temper As in preaching so in writing also the stirring of the heart and affections should be endeavored as well as Information and such words be used and so set as may rather make a Sermon then a Tract and beget rather a love to the Matter as this Author endeavoreth then an opinion or an esteem of the VVriters abilities He was a Scribe indeed taught of God instructed and prepared for the Kingdom that is the Church of God having yea being a Treasure of things both new and old that is of all sorts of Doctrine and all ways of Application of them He was a Boanerges a Son of Thunder for the power and efficacy God gave unto his Ministry and a Barnabas a Son of Consolation too As the Thunder shaketh the Pillars of the Earth overthroweth the Rocky Mountains causeth the wilde and savage Beasts to fear and as the Lightning powerfully insinuates it self breaking the bones but not the flesh So was it the pleasure of the Lord to bring down by his Ministry the high and stout hearts of many rebellious ones and to lead them in subjection to his wil through Christ To throw down and to build up by him even as high as Heaven As the Scriptures give us the Genealogies of the Saints so many came out of Adam Abraham c. How numerous are the Children whom this Author hath had given him by God Many Families persons of all sorts and ranks in many Counties and Nations even so far as his sound went forth will and do acknowledge him to have begotten them to God and call him Blessed Reader read his VVorks and thou shalt know him work what thou readest on thy own heart that thou mayst be like unto him one of his children also which is the hearty desire of him who cannot but make this honorable mention of the Author and is May 1650. Desirous of thy good in Christ SIDRACH SIMPSON THE CONTENTS OF THIS EXPOSITION Page THe scope of this Epistle both general and particular with the several parts thereof and matter contained therein 1 CHAP. I. Verse 1 2. 1. THe sum and parts of the Preface 2 2. The several names of this Apostle and why so named ibid. 3. What names Parents are to give to their Children ibid. 4. Such as set forth Books ought to set their names thereto ibid. 5 Why some worthy men have not done thus 3 6. Wherein the Apostles differed from all other Ministers ibid. 7. A Minister must have an inward calling and an outward ibid. 8. Why our Apostle nameth his Apostleship 4 9. Repentance wipeth away our sins 5 10. Why the Jews were called strangers ibid. 11. Among them there were sundry believers ibid. 12. Gods Church here on earth is under persecution 6 13. Lawful to fly in the time of persecution 7 14. The large extent of the Church under the New Testament ibid. 15. The Apostles diligence and care in his charge ibid. 16. God hath chosen some to salvation 8 17. How we may know the election of others ibid. 18. Christians must so live as that even others may be perswaded they belong to God 9 19. Why God decreed to save some ibid. 20. The ends why we were elected 10 21. Sanctification the end of our Redemption ibid. 22. Christs obedience and sufferings the meritorious cause of our Salvation 11 23. Christs death is to be particularly apprehended by faith 12 24. A proof of the holy Trinity 13 25. Election the work thereof ibid. 26. Why Gods favor is to be sought ibid. 27. Ministers must labor that their people may be brought into Gods favor ibid. And may grow in grace 14 Verse 3. 1. THe sum and substance of the whole Epistle 14 2. Gods blessing man mans blessing man and mans blessing God 15 3. Gods mercies to be thought on and spoken of with admiration ibid. 4. We must not think or speak of God but with reverence 16 5. Why God is termed the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ibid. 6. Gods Son why termed Jesus Christ our Lord ibid. 7. What meant here by Hope 17 8. Assurance of Salvation comes not by nature 18 9. The means whereby God works Faith ibid. 10. Why termed a lively hope 19 11. Gods free favor the cause of all our good 20 12. Man could not be saved without abundant mercy ibid. 13. The means whereby we are begotten to this hope 22 14. Benefits arising from Christs Resurrection ibid. Verse 4. 1. THe Kingdom of Heaven why termed an inheritance 23 2. The happiness of Gods people in heaven abideth for ever 24 3. Why termed undefiled ibid. 4. The Kingdom of Heaven always one and the same ibid. 5. God hath appointed to glorifie his Saints in Heaven 27 6. The prevention of a conceit of the Jews and of an Objection 28 7. Gods Children shall not miss of Heaven 29 8. To be particularly assured of Heaven a special comfort ibid. Verse 5. 1. THe prevention of another doubt 30 2. Gods Children have many Enemies to hinder their salvation 31 3. Christians cannot stand of themselves 31 4. Gods almighty power is sufficient to uphold us against all our enemies 32 5. Gods people are kept through Faith 33 6. How Faith bringeth us to Salvation ibid. 7. Christians must not look here for outward prosperity 34 8. The fulness of our happiness not to be had here 35 9. The
confutation of an Error 36 Verse 6. 1. VVE must rejoyce in the assurance of our Salvation 37 2. Religion reforms mirth ibid. And moderates lawful mirth ibid. 3. Being assured of Heaven we must rejoyce even in our troubles 38 4. Gods children must here undergo many troubles 39 5. Afflictions are tryals 41 6. Here on earth heaviness and rejoycing may stand together 42 7. The godlies afflictions are short ibid. 8. Afflictions come by the wise disposing of Almighty God 43 Verse 7. 1. A Qualification of their troubles 43 2. Affliction tryeth whether we have Faith 44 3. How we may try our Faith ibid. 4. Affliction tryeth whether our Faith be more or less then we take it 45 5. Affliction serveth to purifie and encrease Faith ibid. 6. Faith more precious then gold 46 7. Faith will be crowned at the last day 47 8 Christ will come on the last day to judge the world 48 9. The godly shall be publiquely rewarded 49 Verse 8. 1. VVHereat Ministers should aim in commending their people 49 2. Through Faith we believe even things above the reach of our reason 50 3. True love the fruit of Faith 51 4. How to try both our Faith and Love 52 5. Faith must directly fasten it self on Christ Jesus 52 6. A proof of the Divinity of Christ 53 7. Joy a fruit of Faith ibid. 8. Why no true joy can proceed from our selves 54 9. The joy of believers is unspeakable and glorious ibid. Verse 9. 1. EVery man is in danger of utter destruction 55 2. The godly by Faith do even here enjoy Salvation ibid. 3. No pains too much to get Faith 56 4. Salvation not the end or reward of our works ibid. 5. We cannot merit Heaven 57 6. Believers shall have also the salvation of their bodies ibid. 7. What those are to look for that follow Christ 58 Verse 10. 1. NO point touching Salvation is to be taught or received but what 's grounded on the Word 59 2. The Prophets took great pains to know the mystery of our Salvation by Christ ibid. 3. The Prophets and old Fathers were saved by Christ as well as we 60 4. The Doctrine of the Gospel not new 61 5. The Prophets foretold of Christ 62 6. The Harmony between the Old and New Testament 62 7. Salvation why called Grace 63 8. The Prophets did partake of Salvation though they saw not Christ in the flesh ibid. Verse 11. 1. VVE must endeavor to know what 's profitable to be known ibid. 2. The Prophets searched into this great mystery through the direction of the Spirit ibid. 3. Gods Spirit the Author of the Old Testament 64 4. A proof of the Divinity of the Holy Ghost ibid. 5. The sufferings of Christ foretold in the Old Testament ibid. 6. Why it was needful that Christ should suffer for us 65 7. Three degrees of our Saviors Victory ibid. 8. Through afflictions we must come into glory 66 Verse 12. 1. THe Anabaptists confuted ibid. 2. The Covenant of Grace one and the same throughout all ages 67 3. The Author Matter Form and End thereof ibid. 4. The difference about the measure given and persons to whom ibid. 5. Why God sent his Son no sooner ibid. 6. Why theirs was called the time of the Law and ours of the Gospel 68 7. God not to be charged with inconstancy 68 8. The same Gospel which was preached by the Prophets was also preached by the Apostles 69 9. The Apostles have left a perfect direction for all things needful for our Salvation 70 10. Why the Angels desire to see the perfection of the Salvation of Gods Church ibid. Verse 13. 1. DOctrine and Exhortation must be joyned together ibid. 2. The corrupt conceits of the Jews about Salvation 72 3. The corrupt conceits of Christians about it 73 4. The best prize it not as they should ibid. 5. What sobriety is and of sobriety about meat and drink ibid. 6. Sobriety about Apparel Recreation and Profits 74 7. What Faith is with the parts thereof 76 8. What it is to trust perfectly ibid. 9. Salvation a most special grace 78 10. What we are to expect by Christ 79 11. Salvation is not of our own procuring or seeking ibid. 12. The Gospel lays open Christ Jesus unto us 80 Verse 14. 1. THe two parts of Sanctification 81 2. Obedience and Sanctification follow faith ibid. 3. God calls for obedience 82 4. We must obey in all things that are commanded be the Commandment never so strange or unpleasing 83 5. The strict obedience of the Jesuits to their Superiors ibid. 6. We must obey without consulting with flesh and blood whosoever or whatsoever be against it voluntarily and constantly 84 7. What may stir us up unto obedience 86 8. Two parts of obedience ibid. 9. We must forsake evil before we can do good 87 10. Ignorance is the cause and root of a bad life ibid. 11. Why being so well instructed they were termed ignorant 88 12. All knowledge without the knowledge of Christ is nothing ibid. 13. Knowledge without Reformation is but ignorance ibid. 14. Such as have attained knowledge must not live as they did before 89 Verse 15 16. 1. HOliness must be added to abstinence from sin 90 2. This duty needful to be urged ibid. 3. Christians must be holy 91 Holy in all maner of conversation 92 4. God is holy 93 5. A twofold calling 94 6. The parts of the inward calling ibid. 7. The fruits thereof with the marks negative and affirmative 95 8. Why the Apostle doth so earnestly exhort unto Holiness 96 9. Ministers must prove their Doctrine by Gods Word 97 10. Obedience is to be yielded to those Doctrines which are proved by the Word 98 11. Gods word the rule of all truth 99 12. The use of the Apocrypha Books with the respect which is to be given thereto 100 13. Christians must be ready in the Scriptures ibid. 14. The more the Lord bestows on any the more he expects from them 102 15. The Popish Doctrine of Free-will hath no ground from this place 103 16. Nor is it against the married estate ibid. Verse 17. 1. VVHy we ought here to pass our time in fear 104 2. Three kindes of fear Natural Slavish Filial of which the last is often enjoyned 105 3. Whence it proceedeth with the benefits and marks thereof and opposites thereunto 106 4. Means to attain unto the fear of God 107 5. God requires our whole time for his service 108 6. Christians here in this world are but sojourners 111 7. The first reason of the fore-going Exhortation 113 8. Such as call God Father must walk in fear and obedience as Sons 114 9. What the name Father implyeth ibid. 10. The second reason of the foregoing Exhortation 115 11. How God doth and will judge of mens actions in this life at death and on the day of Judgement 116 12. The person of man how taken ibid. 13. Four things required to the being of a
comfortably commend themselves to God which labor for the good of their persecutors ibid. CHAP. V. THe Contents of this Chapter 613 Verse 1. 1. THe duties of Ministers with reasons to enforce the same ibid. 2. The Scriptures inform every one of their duty 614 3. The calling of the Ministry a painful calling 615 4. Ministers are fittest to teach one another and judge of one anothers actions 617 5. To practice the duties we teach procures obedience thereunto ibid. 6. Peter was no Pope neither challenged any Supremacy ibid. 7. How Peter was a witness of Christs sufferings 618 8. All that we have must be improved for the Churches good ibid. 9. Spiritual wisdom to be used to procure Obedience ibid. 10. The troubles of Gods Ministers procure them more respect ibid. 11. Such as are heirs of glory should be much respected ibid. 12. They that suffer with Christ shall reign with him ibid. 13. Glory is laid up for the Saints in Heaven ibid. 14. How we may know whether we shall be heirs of glory ibid. 15. Through faith we are even here possessed of heaven ibid. Verse 2. 1. MInisters must preach the Word 619 2. Differences between reading and preaching 620 3. Ministers must preach the Word soundly 621 4. Ministers must preach diligently ibid. 5. Christians are Gods flock 622 6. Ministers are to regard all their people 623 7. Every Congregation is to have a several Pastor ibid. 8. Every Pastor is to look to his own charge ibid. 9. Ministers must oversee and look into their flocks 624 10. Ministers are not by constraint but willingly to perform their duties towards their people 626 11. Ministers must not perform their duties for filthy lucre but of a ready minde 627 12. Duties are to be done with a willing heart 628 13. No man is to follow any calling meerly for gain ibid. 14. Most of the gain of the world is filthy gain 628 15. What 's to be accounted filthy lucre 629 16. Usually the Scriptures mention not riches but with some check ibid. 17. Means to help against covetousness 630 Verse 3. 1. MInisters must not exercise any temporal power over their people ibid. 2. Ministers must not carry themselves proudly and disdainfully 632 3. Ministers must not use rigor toward their people ibid. 4. Christians are Gods heritage 633 5. Ministers must not onely preach well but live well 634 Verse 4. 1. CHrist the chief Shepherd 637 2. The great reward of faithful Ministers 638 3. At what time they shall receive their reward 639 Verse 5. 1. VVHat we are to understand by the yonger and the elder 640 2. Wherein the duty of Ministers towards their people consists ibid. 3. People must submit themselves to the Ministery of the Word ibid. 4. Gods Ministers must particularly inform every one of their duty 642 5. Wherein the duties of the yonger towards their elders consists ibid. 6. How Superiors must be subject to their Inferiors 647 7. How equals must be subject one to another 648 8. Humility the fountain of submission ibid. 9. Whatsoever submission proceeds not from humility is hypocrisie ibid. 10. What humility is with the fruits in respect of God 649 11. The fruits of humility in respect of men 650 12. Examples of Humility 651 13. Humility an excellent vertue 652 14. The fruits of pride in respect of God ibid. 15. The fruits of pride in respect of men 654 16. Examples of pride ibid. 17. How abominable it is and whence it comes 655 18. The very best not free therefrom ibid. 19. God sets himself against the proud 656 20. How God resists them ibid. 21. How God giveth grace to the humble 657 Verse 6. 1. HOw Ministers ought to preach and people to hear 658 2. Two other reasons perswading to humility ibid. 3. The consideration of Gods power a good means to perswade to humility ibid. 4. Humility is the way to glory 659 5. God doth all things in due time ibid. Verse 7. 1. THe prevention of an Objection 660 2. Christians must not be careless ibid. 3. They must not be too careful about their souls 661 4. They must not be too careful about their bodies 662 5. They must not be too careful about worldly things 663 6. God cares for his own children 664 Verse 8. 1. VVHat Sobriety is 665 2. What Spiritual watchfulness is ibid. 3. A man must be awakened before he can watch ibid. 4. By nature we are asleep in sin ibid. 5. Reasons for Watchfulnesse 666 6. Satans malice exceeding great 667 7. Satans strength and subtilty 668 8. Satans diligence 669 Verse 9. 1. SAtan is to be resisted and why 673 2. Faith gives Satan the foil 675 3. True faith rare 675 4. What faith it is that prevails over Satan ibid. 5. All Gods children are liable to Satans Temptations 676 6. God enables his children to overcome Satans Temptations ibid. 7. Ministers must endeavor as to inform the understanding so to work on the affections of their people 677 8. People must joyn practice to their knowledge ibid. 9. There 's a near conjunction between believers ibid. 10. Gods Church is dispersed through the world 678 11. The Saints in Heaven are free from temptations ibid. Verse 10. 1. GOds Ministers must further their peoples Salvation by all means 679 2. God is the author and giver of all grace 681 3. Whom God will save those he does effectually call 683 4. Such as are effectually called shall partake of glory ibid. 5. God will not forsake them whom he hath called ibid. 6. All good comes to us by Christ 684 7. Gods children must here suffer before they can partake of heaven ibid. 8. The afflictions of Gods children are small 685 9. Gods people must labor for perfection ibid. 10. Children must hold out to the end 686 Verse 11. OUr Election and Vocation should move us to praise God 687 Verse 12. 1. HOly things should be handled by holy persons 688 2. A good name is to be labored for ibid. 3. Such as are faithful in the Ministry draw their peoples hearts to them 689 4. We ought to speak and think so well of others as we have ground for ibid. 5. We ought to be wary in our commendations ibid. 6. The profitableness of writing Epistles ibid. 7. Gods wisdom in providing for us his Word and goodness in ordaining Ministers to reveal unto us his will therein 690 8. People must particularly know that the Religion they profess is the Truth of God ibid. 9. Christians must persevere in the truth ibid. 10. Constancy in well-doing difficult 691 11. Doctrine and Application must go together ibid. Verse 13. 1. CHristians must be mindeful one of another how far distant soever 691 2. God hath some even in the worst places 692 3. Hereticks wrest Scripture ibid. 4. Election diversly taken 692 5. It s not enough to live in an elect Church but we must finde that we are Elect 693 6. Why the Apostle calls them an Elect
hath these two things in it 1. That we have brotherly and tender affections one towards another 2. That we shew it forth by brotherly actions and fruits answerable both which must necessarily go together 1. Then In vain do any challenge tender and loving affections except they shew the fruit thereof to their Brethrens Bodies and Souls especially 2. It s not enough to do brotherly offices unless they proceed from brotherly affections Many a man will give frankly and do other duties required of him but defiles his liberality with insulting over the parties relieved upbraiding them therewith and thinking thereby to make them subject unto them whereas a gift should be given chearfully and seeing one that stands in need of our help we ought compassionately to tender his estate as our own remembring Gods commandment for relieving such a one and thanking God we may and though the party ought to be thankful yet should not we stain our liberality with any sinister maner of giving It must be frank that 's the nature of a gift and it must also come from compassion and feeling So for reproving admonishing c. an excellent duty I would it were more usual it must proceed from a brotherly affection not proudly imperiously or harshly So we must invite from a brotherly affection else our brotherly action loseth his grace with God yea with men also if they perceive it And though we are chiefly to love Gods servants Christians professors with us of the same Religion and our fellow Brethren yet we are not to neglect any we must love all all that either be or may be the people of God though they be yet Pagans Heathens c. for they are our own flesh and have in them as ye heard some part of the Image of God as in their Soul which is a Spirit and Immortal and the Majesty of their face above all Creatures A King though an Heathen hath a part of the Image of God in his Soveraignty Then we must love the Devil as having some part of Gods Image We are not because he is pronounced of God as his final and desperate Enemy appointed to destruction So if we knew any such men as the Prophets did we ought not to love them but hate them not pray for them but against them as David did For others though Infidels we must love them and if God cast them into our lot we must do good to them to their Souls and Bodies They be strangers to me So was the Jew that fell among Thieves to the Samaritan and in that Christ taught who is our Neighbor Gods Image ought not to seem strange to us but loved wheresoever we see it They never did ought for me But God hath who bids thee love They have wronged me and are mine enemies This is no sufficient ground for thee not to love them for the rule is not to love for that thou art loved but because the Lord commands it God is not our enemy he deserves well of us and to him we owe all that may be and he hath turned us over to pay some of the debt we owe him to our enemy and he will take it as paid to him O that we could learn this Lesson And if we must love that small part of the Image of God where we see it then where its more we must love more Therefore where we see the very face of his Image renewed in Wisdom Holiness Righteousness and the Sanctifying Grace of Gods Spirit vouchsafing to make a man a new Creature and Holy as he is Holy Oh this we ought to embrace love reverence in a high degree we cannot shew a better tokenof our love to God then to love his Image and the more we see it to love it the more such are dear to God as the Apple of his eye 1. Those that make all alike make one as welcome as another make no difference of good and bad in their countenance help assistance they be not endued with the Spirit of God for where it is it will take knowledge of his own work and make a man love it yea though a carnal man should have some natural parts of civility skill c. more then a Christian man yet we must affect grace most These men be neither fish nor flesh 2. But much worse are those that of all persons like the Children of God worst and that for their zeal and forwardness If 't were not for them they could like them and therefore chuse swearers jesters and prophane persons for their companions and cannot away with the society of Christians who in their liberality will rather give to bad persons fitting in the others light and making them fare the worse for their zeal and godliness Of all men they cannot away with these Puritans and had rather their Friends should be any thing then of that number their Sons Daughters and Tenants c. They would love them if they were not so precise A bad sign such are not translated from death to life are not of God are in darkness to this hour they are not led by Davids Spirit who could not abide the workers of iniquity The more of Gods Image a man seeth in another to like him the worse is a fearful sign of no love to God If you will needs hate hate not them which God loves but whom he hates hate them not because he loves them and because of their goodness for God saith to them as to Jacob I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee even Balaam himself refused to curse Israel If they shall stand at the last day and be damned that gave them no meat then what shall become of their haters imprisoners and that for their goodness Then would they be glad to be with the least of them but it shall be far from them how little soever they regard them in this world and then shall their time of glory be as is their enemies in this world We must therefore labor to be religious else we can never love them that be so because of their goodness Here also observe a difference between the love we ought to bear to the Wicked Pagans Infidels c. we must love them as our flesh not as our brethren for they have not God for their Father the Church for their Mother have not suckt the same breasts with us the Word and Sacraments Therefore look how natural Brethren be affected each to other so ought Christians Fellow-heirs of the same Inheritance as having a better Brotherhood as much as the Spirit is better then the Flesh and Grace above Nature Our Savior prefer'd the hearers and doers of the Word before his natural Kindred This is a more lasting Brotherhood which abides longer then this life even for ever when it shall be with
c. on the contrary consider the woful estate of the wicked For what be they be they Kings Priests or Prophets no such matter Believers be so They be Kings Priests and Prophets but the wicked are the slaves of sin and Satan slaves to the flesh to their own lusts to the world What though they be rich yea though they be Emperors and not Believers they are the vassels of Satan and have nothing but their drudgery in sin and Hell for their own place as their desert Neither are they Priests but prophane ones let them stand off for the holy God cannot abide unholy persons they and their Sacrifice are abomination to the Lord They offer no Sacrifices at all of Prayer Praise or Alms or if they do its abominable because they offer not themselves soul and body to God first but they offer themselves to the Devil and him they serve with body and soul might and main Neither are they Prophets but dumb beasts not savoring of the mysteries of Gods Kingdom or if uttering any thing thereof yet their ill lives disgrace it again O that such considering their own base and the others happy estate would have an holy emulation to be as they and indeed nothing in this world is worthy to be envied but a Christian Humble therefore thy self for thy sin past turn to God for thy pardon in Christ and labor to have thy part in him and by him and by Faith in him thou shalt attain to be a Christian and so consequently a King Priest and Prophet and be enabled to the duties of the same An holy nation Here 's a third priviledge not meant of all the Jews but of the elect among them and of all believing Gentiles as Acts 2. 38 39. so called 1. Because they had the Oracles of God the Word and Sacraments which no other had This belonged to all the Jews True but it might be said that they onely had them which had the power of them to the conversion of their souls and Salvation and others had them not which had no fruit and benefit by them 2. Because they were sanctified and set aside by special grace to be holy ones to the Lords use Note then That All that be the Lords are holy persons that is Not onely having Christs holiness imputed to them but in whom God worketh inherent Righteousness and Holiness by his Spirit conveying vertue from Christs death to kill sin and from his Resurrection to raise them to newness of life to alter and change them throughout in soul spirit and body This though not perfect in any yet is sound and upright in them all therefore he gives them his holy Word and holy Spirit to work this and holy Sacraments to encrease it and its requisite that as God is holy so also all his should so be and these be they shall see his face with comfort no other and for these onely is Heaven prepared O let every man examine himself whether he be a sanctified person or not if yea Then 1. To thy comfort know hereby thou art one of the Lords number a greater priviledge then to be written among the Potentates of the earth There 's Consolation to thee thou wert elected and shalt be glorified 2. Seeing thou art set aside for the Lords use and sanctified in body and soul never defile thy self again or put any part of thy body and soul to any common or unholy use of sin or Satan In the Law it was ever most fearful to take any Consecrated thing as the Holy Oyl Shew-bread or Vessels and put them to any common use so is it that we should put Hand Foot or Tongue to any use of sin or corruption for any part of our souls or lives Oh many contrarily can let loose their tongue to impatient proud and most unseemly speeches yea and their bodies and mindes some to excessive following the world as they were wont and as worldlings do and some after their pleasures and vanities O that we would grow and abound in Sanctification that here having our fruit in holiness we may have the end everlasting life If not but contrarily you either live in prophaneness the open breach of some of the Commandments or be only superstitiously holy in some odde devotions and loose in other things as Papists and a number of old Folks or such as have a counterfeit holiness in the first Table and make no conscience of the duties of the second or contrarily civil persons that seem very just in the second Table but savor nothing of the duties of the first Table Know you are yet unsanctified persons and therefore out of Gods number you may be members of the visible Church where good and bad chaff and corn are but not of the invisible who onely are sanctified ones Let such be what they will be having Wit Learning Wealth Wisdom Civility all skill of Languages yea if they could measure the Heavens number the Stars c. and be not sanctified they are of the Devils rabble and shall perish everlastingly O that you would awake out of your courses What fruit have ye had or look ye to have therein The end of these things is death Come to the Word crave the Holy Spirit desire Pardon and Sanctification till this be you are not out of the state of Damnation and all things are impure to you Word Sacraments yea your Meat Drink Apparel c. A peculiar people That is a people proper to the Lord which he himself hath purchased and which he now takes as his own and sets great store by called therefore his secret ones whom he keeps under his protection to whom also he reveals his secrets his Beloved ones his Spouse his Love his undefiled as the Apple of his eye the Signet on his right hand whom he cannot forget In the flood he saved his Church when all others were drowned he saved Lot when Sodom was destroyed he makes more account of one Christian then of thousands of others If one of them pray it s so forcible that he says Let me alone and if thousands of wicked it s but as the howling of Dogs an abomination They are his glory all the world are dross to them vile persons and base The wicked though never so many are but servants to the Church as the seven Nations were to make the Land of Canaan fit for the people of God yea even then when they seem to dominier most over them they are but their drudges They as a wisp scour the Church to make it bright in the eyes of God but the wisp is to be cast into the fire they are Gods rod to bring it to obedience when that 's effected the rod is to be flung into the fire And No marvel though the Lord set such store by his Church seeing he hath been at such cost therewith as
members If we shall do thus for others shall not they do the like for us Herein Nehemiah may be our patern though he were in great prosperity yet hearing of the miseries of Gods people he so mourned that it was seen in his face he used his best credit with the King and by his permission undertook a painful journey with much hazard to remedy the same 1. This rebuketh those which rejoyce at the destruction of the Church and members thereof as the Papists would have done had their Powder-treason been effected and as carnal people do when the godly fall either into any trouble or sin Thus did the Edomites in the day of Jerusalem but he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished Job rejoyced not at the destruction even of him that hated him who so thus doth the Lord will not turn away his wrath from him 2. It condemneth those which instead of grieving at the afflictions of their Brethren are the onely authors thereof by Oppression Bribery Extortion and such cruel dealing so was Pharaoh unto the Israelites as Paul a cruel persecuter till he was converted Now if they that grieve not with them and help them not in their miseries will be found guilty and condemned at the last day what shall become of those men of blood that have been the cause of their overthrow The cryes of Gods poor servants ascend against them and will bring destruction upon them as the Israelites upon Pharaoh 3. It condemneth those that whatsoever be the case of the Church or Christians or Neighbors have no regard thereof but give themselves over to Ease Pleasure Belly chear Thus did Ahasuerus and Haman thus the rich Glutton in the Gospel but there 's a curse prepared for such others are like stocks and stones neither grieve in heart pity in tongue nor afford any comfort to those that are in distress they may sink or swine for all them They think it well if they hurt no man but this will not serve their turn O what comfort can such look for either from God or men in their extremity yea it s also a great fault amongst Christians that they minde so much their own matters that they are little affected this way seldom pray for such as are in distress slowly visit them and slenderly relieve them Who knows what temptations they may meet with It s no easie thing to go alone through trouble without help it s an Argument such have shrewd obstruction by Self-love and Covetousness wherewith they are much benumb'd half dead through want of Spiritual moisture We must labor to put away those to be purged and rid of them and labor to finde our souls to be in a good state and plight by our sensisible sympathizing at our brothers miseries Are we guilty herein It concerns us to be much humbled for the same and to labor for Reformation then shall we with comfort look up to God in our afflictions and may be assured that if God shall lay his hand upon us not a few will help shore us up and that 's no small comfort in affliction Love as brethren Love as children of the same Father love each other as it becometh Christians love one another with a brotherly love Hereof I have spoken on Chap. 1. ver 22. Here onely consider whaâ— Christians are to do and what to avoid that they may love one another 1. We are 1. To provoke one another unto the duties of love 2. In all we do to or for the Saints we must strive to do the same in a loving maner 3. We must hide our brothers infirmities not blazing them abroad to their disgrace not estranging our selves from them for wrongs they do us but gently rebuking them for the same 4. If our brother trespass against us we must shew our selves easie to be entreated upon his acknowledgement thereof 2. We must avoid 1. Familiar society with the wicked of the world 2. Take heed of such as sow discord 3. Not desire worldly greatness whether in Church or Commonwealth 4. Not be wise in our own conceits but esteem of others judgement as well as our own 5. Not be altogether addicted to our own worldy affairs thereupon affecting retiredness from the society of others 1. This reproves those that love like and use all alike the loose and prophane give them as good content as the good and vertuous 2. It reproves them that like the godly worst or could like them well were they not so precise 3. It reproves the contentions between Christians we should love one another with brotherly affection and shew the same by brotherly actions but how do many fall out for trifles What a fearful thing is this How monstrous and prodigious for one member to offer violence unto another To see brethren contend before God their Father in the face of the Church their Mother and before their fellow-brothers and Christians in Christ that grieve at it yea before the wretches of the world that laugh at it how strange is it When two Christians fall out and be at variance do they not unchristian and unbrother each other O the strength and violence of our corruption breaking asunder this band What shall tye men together if the Spirit of Love be not strong enough O that we could remember with Abraham that there are Canaanites and Perizzites in the land O that the unregenerate would labor for Sanctification whereby they may begin to love God and their brethren and the regenerate labor to pull out all these weeds of Pride Covetousness Envy Frowardness c. that this tender plant of Love taking root in their hearts may so thrive that it may fructifie in their lives and conversation and they may abound more and more therein Be pitiful Pity is an holy compassion of the heart whereby we are ready to relieve them that are in misery whether our selves or others Herein there must be both the affection of the heart and help of the hand For our selves we are by nature in a most woful and fearful condition we are sinners and so under the curse of God and subject to eternal condemnation hereafter and therewithal the vassals and slaves of Sin and the Devil Now we are bound to love our selves first therefore to pity our selves in any misery If we be in any bodily misery as pains poverty or the like we moan our selves complain and grieving seek to relieve our selves so ought we to take knowledge of the miseries of our souls and labor to get our selves out of the same We must not be quiet till we have got the assurance of the pardon of our sins and that there is no condemnation unto us we must give no sleep to our eyes nor slumber to our eye-lids till we finde our selves thus delivered And considering that of our selves we have no strength to any thing that is
diligence hereunto seek after this cry for this we must not content our selves with any shadows of grace but seek after true grace which is to salvation we must not content our selves to be of the family of the righteous but must labor and finde that we our selves are righteous 5. In that he termeth those eight which were saved Souls by which word also elsewhere men and women be meant which is not at any time given unto any other Creature Note that Men and women be more excellent then all other Creatures they have reasonable souls and so capable of the mysteries of God of the image of God of the graces of his spirit and immortal souls and so capable of living in glory for ever 1. If God hath bestowed infinite more cost on man then on all other Creatures how should we by serving God with our reason and having our souls adorned and filled with the gifts of the Spirit of God labor to excel them O the miserable and base madness of most men who though being endued with reason they are apt to serve God best and may observe all Creatures serving them in their kinde yet rebel against him and so become indeed void of reason And how do most let their souls lie unfurnished of saving knowledge and other graces like bruit beasts Happy they had been beasts God made them men but they live like beasts that perish 2. Our care must be more for our souls then our bodies Those be immortal shall live even when parted from the body O the folly of most people that toil and care for transitory things as profits and pleasures food and raiment but have no care for any thing that is eternal God gave them souls capable of immortal glory and they have so neglected the seeking hereof as that they must dye eternally and be in wo for ever Noah and the old world were a right picture of the good and bad in our age while he was carefully workiug they took their pleasure but in the end he was saved and they drowned So now the servants of the Lord they knowing their sin and danger they spend their time in mourning and humbling their souls and in making of an ark of Faith and true Repentance wherein to save themselves from the flood of Gods wrath which they know they have deserved They take pains to hear read pray mortifie their affections and lusts abridge themselves of many profits and pleasures having many reproaches from men and hard measures yea it may be crosses and afflictions from God to further them in a good course while in the mean time the common sort they follow the swinge of their own hearts and do what they list they follow their profits and pleasures like Esau and often escape afflictions and have great prosperity so that one would think their case happy in comparison of the state of the people of God But mark the end time will come that the people of God shall be saved and escape drowning when the jolly world shall fall into the pit of eternal perdition So the children of God begin in tears but they end in joy whereas the wicked begin here in jollity but must end in eternal howling which of these is the best chuse the first or the last that which perisheth or that which endureth to life eternal Verse 21. The like figure whereunto even 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 Christ. HEre the Apostle sheweth That those of old had Types of their Salvation as well as we for the preservation of Noah in the Ark from the flood when the world was drowned was a Type and Figure of their eternal Salvation from the flood of Gods wrath by the Messiah to come To which Type of theirs we have another correspondent answering Type or Antitype a Type fitly answering and like theirs even Baptism which is a sign and seal of our eternal salvation and so is said to save us It saveth us that is sealeth up our salvation not that the outward Baptism that is the washing of the body with water doth save for that Hypocrites may have but the inward that is the pardon of our sins in Christs blood and purging our nature by Sanctification whereof being assured by Faith we have a good conscience and hereby have boldness to make demand and challenge of God eternal Salvation which God cannot deny having so covenanted in Baptism to the believer and hereunto we attain not by the work wrought or our being Baptized but by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ his death purchasing it and his resurrection witnessing the same whereof this last which is the complement and finishing of the other is onely expressed in this place The like figure whereunto c. Here note That Throughout all ages the godly have been saved by the same means that we be we by faith in Christ who is come as they in him to come They are the same spiritual meat and drank the same spiritual drink onely we have a more fuller and clear revelation of him Even baptism doth also now save us c. This is the first Sacrament of the New Testament and is ordained in the room of Circumcision as the Lords-Supper in the room of the Passover as Circumcision did precede the Passover so doth Baptism the Lords-Supper that being a sign of our ingrafting this of our growing in the Church and as amongst the Jews even Infants were to be circumcised so amongst us Christians are Children to be Baptized Hereof the outward sign is water whereby the blood of Christ is fitly resembled which is that effectual water which doth wash and cleanse our souls It must be pure not mixt water in respect of great personages neither must any thing be added thereto as salt oyl c. And the person Baptized must neither be marked with an hot iron as amongst the Ethiopians nor Circumcised as its the practice of others In ours though some things be retained which some good men have stumbled at yet they that be so shie of them as to forsake the Church as the Separatists do or neglect and omit Baptism or break the peace of the Church by seeking to have their Children Baptized elsewhere they are too bird-eyed and I think its ignorance and weakness in them if they were retained as the Papists used them putting holiness in them superstitiously yet if there were no other cause but this we should not forsake the Church nor refuse Baptism much less seeing our Church doth altogether protest against superstition in them and retains them for order only The thing signified is the inward cleansing of the soul which being impure through sin is filthy before God till it be washed by the blood of Christ and Spirit of Sanctification yet as there are some which will