his shewing unto Israel 80. And John with his increase of age and strength shewed great strength of the Spirit of God in him and he dwelt in the wilderness or say some in the hill Countrey of Judaea bred up in a life of holiness and mortification till the time that he sett upon his publick ministry of preaching the Kingdom of the Messiah and repentance and baptizing CHAP. II. 1. ANd it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed 2. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria 3. And all went to be taxed every one into his own city 1 2 3. Augustus decreed that all the Empire called the Roman world should be enrolled in their several Families and Cities That he might know the state of his Empire and how to tax them 4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David 5. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child 4 5. She was now marryed though called espoused 6. And so it was that while they were there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered 7. And she brought forth her first-born Son and wrapped him in swadling cloths and laid them in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn 6 7. Note It should be rather in the stables than in the manger Had Joseph been a rich man its like he would have found better room 8. And there were in the same countrey shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night 8. Some one part of the night and some another by turns as is most likely 9. And lo the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid 10. And the angel said unto them Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people 11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. 12. And this shall be a sign unto you ye shall find the babe wrapped in swadling cloths lying a manger 9 10. Glory is Light Christs birth is cause of universal joy 12. stable 13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying 14. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will towards men 13 14. Note Angels are the heavenly host Note Gods praise and Glory is the end of all his works Note Angels rejoiced at Christs birth and for mans redemption 14. In Christ the Redeemer God will be glorified in Heaven Peace will be made on Earth by this great Reconciler and Gods Love or Benevolence will be towards men Or Glory be to God in the Heavens through the Redeemer and Reconciliation or Peace on Earth to men that are the objects of Gods good will Q. Is it necessary or lawful to keep a day as holy in remembrance of Christs birth Ans 1. If any should appoint a weekly day for it it would be an usurping of the same power that hath already separated a weekly day for it it would be an usurping of the same power that hath already separateh a weekly day for commemorating the work of Redemption though specially for Christs Resurrection And it would seem an accusing Christs Law of insufficiency 2. And if any should make a yearly days observation necessary to the universal Church 1. They would usurp a power not given to any to make Laws for all the Church 2. And they would accuse Christs Law as imperfect But if particular Christians Churches or Countries voluntarily agree to celebrate yearly the memorial of Christs birth it is but what almost all the Churches on earth do and have done at least 1300 years And iâ—â—â—lawful to keep a yearly day of remembrance for aâ—y 〈◊〉 deliverance or mercy to the Church even in an Apâ—â—â—le But if any Christian think that it is an unlawful addition to the institution of the Lords day which Goâ— set a part for our commemorating the whole work of Redemption such shâ—uld not be forced to keep it against their Consciences but must avoid affronting them that do 15. And it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven the shepherds said one to another Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass which the Lord hath made known unto us 16. And they came with hast and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger 17. And when they had seen it they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child 18. And all they that heard it wondred at those things which were told them by the shephards 19. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart 20 And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them 15 16 17 18. In a Stable 19. Regarded themâ— as tending to what was promised her 20. Angel are not first sent to Princes but to poor Shephards who must preach Christ 21. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child his name was called Jesus who was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb 21. Jesus is a Saviour He was circumcised as bound to keep the Law of Moses not as a seal of pardon of sin to him 22. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 22. To the Priest as in Numb 3.12.46 23. As it is written in the law of the Lord Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord 24. And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord A pair of turtle doves or two young pidgeons 23 24. See Levit. 12.6.8 25 And behold there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and the same man was just and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel and the holy Ghost was upon him 26. And it was revealed unto him by the holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord Christ 25. Note The Messiah was much expected at that time Note It is Just and Devout men that God specially favoureth by exâ—raordinary gifts of his Spirit 27. And he came by the spirit into the temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law 28. Then took he him up in his arms and blessed God and said 29. Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word 30. For mine eyes have seen thy
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel Note 1. Peter had a priority though no Government over the rest 2. Lebbeus is Judas that wrote the Epistle extant 3. Simon is not called a Canaanite as to Nation but his name signifieth the Zealot Luk. 6.15 Act. 1 13. 4. Christ chose twelve in respect to the twelve Tribes of Israel to whose service they were first confined But when the Jews rejected him and the Gentiles were to be called he added Paul to shew that he confined not the Gospel to the Jews but the Church now must be Catholick 5. By the Samaritans is meant those that were not of Abrahams Seed but were sent thither at the translation in King Hosea's time And by the Israelites is meant all Abraham's seed that were chiefly in Judea but scattered also where the twelve Tribes had lived 7. And as ye go preach saying The Kingdom of heaven is at hand 7. As ye go Proclaim to them that the Kingdom of the Messiah whom God promised to send from Heaven is now at hand You may see the Christ so long expected 8. Heal the sick cleanse the lepers raise the dead cast out devils freely ye have received freely give 8. I give you power to heal c. Doing good is your work Do it freely as freely I give it you 9. Provide neither gold nor silver nor brass in your purses 10. nor scrip for your journey nor two coats neither shoes nor yet staves for the workman is worthy of his meat 9. You go not on your own work but mine Provide neither Money nor victuals for your Journey nor cloathing as for long time to come nor a defensive weapon or staff But look for your maintenance for your work 11. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter enquire who in it is worthy and there abide till ye go thence 12. And when ye come into any house salute it 13. And if the house be worthy let your peace come upon it But if it be not worthy let your peace return to you 11 c. Enquire who is a godly person willingest to entertain the Gospel And when you come to any house say Peace be to this house that is Gods blessing be here And if the persons be godly and truly qualified for his blessing it shall come upon them else not but you shall be clear Note 1. There is a worthiness consistent with free grace 2. And a worthiness before their receiving of the Gospel This had two degrees 1. The highest degree was true saith and godliness suited to that knowledge that the faithfull had before Christs incarnation who were in a state of Salvation but yet had not the knowledge of the Gospel fully so called and that Jesus was the Christ Such was Zachary and Elizabeth and Nathanael and the Centurion Act. 10 c. 2. And those that had but preparatory grace or a teachable tractable willing disposition were more worthy or less unworthy than the refractory 2. Ministers being not heart-searchers must pronounce Gods blessing on men on uncertainties and meer probability of the event 3. This benediction hath ever a condition implyed if the person be worthy or capable of it 4. If that person be unworthy and unblest the Minister is blameless if he went according to probable profession The fault was his own 5. No Ministerial blessing Baptizing the Lords Supper Absolution c. will save an unworthy person that is one not qualified for Salvation according to Gods promise 14. And whosoever shall not receive you nor hear your words when ye depart out of that house or city shake off the dust of your feet 14. And seeing you come not for any gain of your own but to bring them the joyfull tidings of Salvation so heinous is the sin of unthankful churlish refusal that you shall shake off the dust of your feet as signifying the labour you used in vain for their Salvation as a witness against them in time to come 15. Verily I say to you that it shall be more tollerable for the land of Sodom and of Gomorrha in the day of judgment than for that city 15. Note 1. There are different degrees of punishment hereafter some are more tollerable than others 2. Sodomes punishment shall be less than the refusers of the Gospel because they sinned against less means light and mercies False Christians then will have a heavy doom 16. Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves Be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves 16. It is not a life or ease and worldly preferment or man-pleasing that I send you on but as sheep in the midst of many Wolves such enmity against the Gospel and godliness is in the corrupt nature and interest of man and specially of the obdurate that instead of thankful entertaining you and your message they will tear and devour you if God do not restrain them Therefore be wise to carry your selves inoffensively and cautelously preserving your selves by lawful means but be ye harmless and innocent that they may have no just accusation against you and use no unlawfull means Sheep and Doves are no good fighters against Wolves and Hawks 17. But beware of men for they will deliver you up to the councils and they will scourge you in their Synagogues 18. And ye shall be brought before governours and kings for my sake for a testimony against them and the Gentiles 17 18. But keep out of their hands as I do by just means For the Jews will deliver you up to their Councils of Priest and Elders and they will scourge you as malefactors in their Synagogues and if they can make your crimes seem capital they will deliver you up to the Roman power that both Jews and Gentiles while you are accused may hear from you what the Gospelis and be unexcutable in their sin 19. But when they deliver you up take no thought how or what ye shall speak for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak 20. For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you 19 20. And let not your own slowness of Speech put you on anxiety as it did Moses and Isaiah For Gods Spirit in you will help you and teach you what and how to speak in season 21. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death and the father the child and the children shall rise up against the parents and cause them to be put to death 22. And ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake 21 22. So great is the enmity of the Flesh against the Spirit and against Faith and Holiness that it will overcome even natural affection of brethren and parents and children so that they shall bring their nearest relations to Martyrdom and other sufferings And the world will hate you for my sake But he that endureth to the end shall be saved 22.
father and thy mother and Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self 18 19. Note Christ knew the Order of the commandments but named the Fifth and the Tenth by themselves as being of special note the Fifth for Government it self and the Ninth the summary of the Second Table For Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self If is that which is meant by Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours c. that is not by self-love want love to him and draw from him to thy self or oppose his good 20. The young man saith All these have I kept from my youth up what lack I yet 20. Note No doubt but he had broken these commands especially the last but he judged by his freedom from the gross acts of sin 21. Jesus said to him If thou wilt be perfect go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come and follow me 21. Jesus said the state of Christianity or Qualification for Salvation is this Resolvedly and Practically to prefer Heaven before all the Prosperity of this World so as to part with All for Heaven when thou art Called to it Therefore I will now try thee whether thou canst do this Go sell all and give to the poor and follow me and take the hopes of a Treasure in Heaven instead of all 22. But when the young man heard that saying he went away sorrowful for he had great Possessions 22. But this seemed so hard a Motion to him that he would not consent but went away sorrowful for he was very rich 23. Then said Jesus to his Disciples Verily I say to you That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven 24 And again I â—ay to you It is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God 23.24 The difficulty of a Rich Man's being a sound Christian and Saved is great that I may express it by the common Proverb of a Camels going through a Needles Eye 25. When his Disciples heard it they were exceedingly amazed saying Who then can be saved 26. But Jesus beheld them and said to them With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible 25.26 This amazing the Disciples he said So naturally and strongly do men love this World and its Prosperity and so hardly do they believe and love the unseen Heavenly Felicity that it is impossible for meer fleshly Man to make so great a change upon the heart But the Grace of Almighty God can and will do it 27. Then answered Peter and said to him Behold we have forsaken all and followed thee What shall we have therefore 27. Peter said We have consented to thy termes and forsaken All and followed thee What shall be our reward 28. And Jesus said to them Verily I say to you that ye which have followed me in the Regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the Throne of his glory ye also shall sit on twelve thrones judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel 28. Fear not being loosers by forsaking all You that have sincerely forsaken All for me shall in my Kingdom and future State have ruling Power Dignity and Honour Note It is doubted by Expositors Whether this speak onely of their chief Power on Earth in the Catholick Church and answerable Glory in Heaven Or of any peculiar reign over the Tribes of Israel in Heaven or on Earth after the resurrection The General sence is sure tho what more there is be doubtful 29. And every one that hath forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my name-sake shall receive an hundred fold and shall inherit everlasting life 29. And it is not you onely but all others that lose and forsake any thing here for my Name-sake in the hope of the Kingdom of Heaven shall be so great gainers by it that they shall have in this Life a hundred-fold better in value than they lost and in the World to come Everlasting Life The worse condition of the Faithful is an hundred times better than others 30. But many that are first shall be last and the last shall be first 30. But as to the degree of Glory I must tell you it will not be given according to priority of Age or Conversion but according to the preparations of Grace And many that are now called and have less Holiness will have less Glory than many that will be more Eminent Saints many Ages hence CHAP. XX. 1. FOR the Kingdom of heaven is like to a man that is an housholder which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his Vineyard 2. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day he sent them into his vineyard 1.2 Note The Parable is to shew That God will not give men more Glory than others because they were the first Christians but because his Grace hath made them the best tho in time after others 3. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market-place 4. And said unto them Go ye also into the vineyard and what ever is right I will give you And they went their way 5. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour and did likewise 6. And about the Eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle and saith to them Why stand ye here all the day idle 7. They say to him Because no man hath hired us He saith to them Go ye also into the Vineyard and what ever is right that shall ye receive 3. c. The hours were about Nine a Clock and at Twelve and at Three and at Five God is not for idleness but hath work for all times and Ages 8. So when even was come the lord of the vineyard saith to his Steward Call the labourers and give them their hire beginning from the last unto the first 8. Note Gods Reward is in the evening of our days and the evening of the World when Work is done 9. And when they came that were hired at the Eleventh hour they received every man a penny 10. And when the first came they supposed that they should have received more and they likewise received every man a penny 11. And when they had received it they murmured against the good man of the house 12. Saying These last have wrought but one hour and thou hast made them equal with us who have born the burder and heat of the day 9.10.11.12 He made no difference in their Wages for the Time of their Work But he will make difference for the Work it self They that are called near the end of the World shall have as much as those that heard Christ Preach And those that are Converted in their Age if they be more Holy than those that began in Youth will be more Happy 2. This Parable meaneth not that
Suffering in which we must be prepared to follow him 48. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign saying Whomsoever I shall kiss that same is he hold him fast 49. And forth with he came to Jesus and said Hail master and kissed him 50. And Jesus said to him Friend wherefore art thou come Then came they and laid hands on Jesus and took him 48 c. Note 1. Hypocrites cruelty is exercised under the name of Friendship How many Thousand Persecute Christ in his cause and Servants on pretences of Faith Religion Order and Enmity to Sin 2. It s a pitiful sight to see poor ignorant People in obedience to Rulers Persecuting Christ to their own Destruction as if it were he and his servants that were their dangerous Enemies 51. And behold one of them which were with Jeâ—us stretched out his hand and drew his sword and stroke a servant of the high priests and smote off his ear 51. Natural inclination to defence and Love to Christ overcame Peters consideration and patience 52. Then said Jesus to him Put up again thy sword into his place for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword 52. Put up thy Sword and let us patiently submit to Violence For as none must use the Sword without just Warrant and Authority so usually they that fight for themselves are destroyed and suffer more than they that patiently endure Violence and Injustice Note Christ doth not in these words make all self-defence or War unlawful but he doth more than forbid unwarrantable Fighting meaning that not onely unlawful resistance of Power and Revenge but even wars and fighting against injuries and Enemies usuaâ—â—â— hasten Death and increase Mens Sufferings And therefore they should forethink whether War or Patience be like to do more hurt 53. Thinkest thou that I cannot nâ—â— pray to my father and he shall presenâ—â—y give me more than twelve legions of angels 53. Note 1. Angels are ready to serve Christ at his desire 2. It should stop our impatient thoughts of rash and unlawful self-defence to think that God can otherwise deliver us 54. But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be 54. N. We must not strive against Events which we foreknow will come to pass 55. In the same hour said Jesus to the multitude Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves to take me I sate daily with you teaching in the temple and ye laid no hold on me 55. Why did you not take me in the Temple but thus in the Night like a Thief 56. But all this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled Then all the disciples forsook him and fled 56. All this was foretold in Scripture They let his Disciples go and they fled away in fear 57. And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest where the scribes and the elders were assembled 58. But Peter followed him afar oft unto the high priests palace and went in and sate with the servants to see the end 57. They brought him to their Arch-priest as glorying in their success And Peter went in where the Servants sate 59. Now the chief priests and elders and all the councel sought false witness against Jesus to put him to death 60. But found none yea though many false witnesses came yet found they none At the last came two false witnesses 61. And said This fellow said I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days 59. c. N. 1. As Hypocrites in Religion are worse than Pagans in that they father their wickedness on God and Religion so Hypocrite-Judges and Lawyers are herein worse than lawless Murderers that they abuse and disgrace Law and Government by using them to inâ—ustice and bloodshed 2. No man is so good or innocent that false Witness may not Condemn 62. And the high priest arose and said â—â—â—o him Answerest thou nothing What 〈◊〉 which these witness against thee â—3 〈…〉 hâ—ld his peace 6â— 6â— N. Christ was silent to shew 1. That he was not over solicitous for his Life 2. When Malignant false Judges are resolved what to do against Innocence and Right it is oft in vain to talk it out with them And they watcht for words of his own to Accuse him of 63. And the high priest answered and said unto him I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ the Son of God 63. N. 1. Once for all take notice that answering was then among the Jews a common Phrase for speaking in course though no question was askt 2. It was the Malignant Policie of that Arch-priest to make Christ his own Accuser and Witness when they could get no other For they knew that he that bound his Disciples to confess him would not refuse to confess himself when adjured by God though he was silent as to his Defence against Personal Accusations And so it is with Christs Enemies to this day who put Christians that dare neither lie nor conceale necessary truth upon self-Accusation As they could find nothing against Daniel except about the Law of his God which he durst not break to save his Life so do the Devils Officers take advantage of good Mens Consciences to destroy them 64. Jesus saith to him Thou hast said nevertheless I say unto you Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven 64. I am he and though I stand here to be judged by you your Eyes shall see me coming in Glory and in Power to Judge you and all the World or as some say To Destroy you by the Romans 65.66 Then the high priest rent his cloathes saying He hath spoken blasphemy what further need have we of witnesses behold now ye have heard his blasphemy What think ye They answered and said He is guilty of death 65.66 Then the High Priest had that which he desired and by rending his Cloathes shewed his Abhorrence of the supposed Sin of Christ and demanded the Sentence of the Court against him as a Blasphemer And they Voted him for it guilty of Death Note 1. How foolish a thing is it to think that any Law or any mans Innocency or Goodness will preserve Justice or Piety while bad men are Judges Can any Law be better than Gods Or any Person better than Christ The Devils Judges possessing the place that God instituted to defend Truth and Equity will condemn God himself manifest in Flesh by his own Law and as sinning against himself And they are since the same 2. The very Murderers of Christ would seem greater enemies to Blasphemy and more zealous for Gods Honour than God himself So little are False Men to be believed 67. Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him and others smote him with the palmes of their hands 68. Saying prophecy to
cast in unto the offerings of God but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had 1 2 3 4. See on Mark 12.41 42. God judgeth not of our Service by the bulk 5. And as some spake of the temple how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts he said 6. As for these things which ye behold the daies will come in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down 5 6. See Matth. 24. 7. And they asked him saying Master but when shall these things be and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass 7. Note Corrupt Nature is more desirous to know things to come than to prepare fâ—r them by present duty 8. And he said Take heed that ye be not deceived for many shall come in my Name saying I am Christ and the time draweth near go ye not therefore after them 8. Take you more care of your selves than to know the time and be not deceived by false Christs and false Prophets 9. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions be not terrified for these things must first come to pass but the end is not by and by 10. Then said he unto them nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom 11. And great earthquakes shall be in divers places and famines and pestilences and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven 12. But before all these they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons being brought before kings and rulers for my Names sake 13. And it shall turn to you for a testimony 9 10 11 12 13. See Matth. 24. Note Christ did not draw in Disciples with the hopes of prosperity It shall be your Witness or Martyrdom to divulge the Gospel and condemn unbelievers 14. Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate before what ye shall answer 15. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gain-say nor resist 14 15. Note It is Christ in Heaven that giveth Grace and Gifts to his Servants on Earth by his Spirit 16. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents and brethren and kinsfolks and friends and some of you shall they cause to be put to death 17. And ye shall be hated of all men for my Names sake 18. But there shall not an hair of your head perish 16 17 18. Ye shall be no losers by all your sufferings You shall be preserved till you are ripe for your full reward 19. In your patience possess ye your souls 19. While you keep your Innocence and Patience you keep your Souls from danger and loss 20. And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies then know that the desolation thereof his nigh 21. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains and let them which are in the midst of it depart out and let not them that are in the countreys enter thereunto 22. For these be the daies of vengeance that all things which are written may be fulfilled 20 21 22. Jerusalem's Calamity shall be so great that all that will be safe must the from it 23. But wo unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those daies for there shall be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people 24. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captive into into all nations and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled 23 24. Till the Heathens be turned Christians themselveâ— in Constantine's days and then Jerusalem shall be restored and be the dwelling of Christians 25. And there shall be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars and upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity the sea and the waves roaring 26. Mens hearts failing them for fear and and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth for the powers of heaven shall be shaken 27. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory 28. And when these things begin to come to pass then look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh 25 26 27 28. See Matth. 24. Judgment though slow is sure and terrible 29. And he spake to them a parable Behold the fig-tree and all the trees 30. When they now shoot forth ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand 31. So likewise ye when ye see these things come to pass know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand 29 30 31. The Kingdom of God is the Reign of the Messiah destroying Satan's Kingdom beginning indeed at his Resurrection but notable as Catholick upon the great conversion of the Gentiles specially when Emperours owned Christ the Jews being partly destroyed and partly converted and at last perfected in glory 32. Verily I say unto you This generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled 33. Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away 32 33. Till the Jews be destroyed and the Gentiles begin to receive the Gospel through the World 34. And take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares 35. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth 34 35. Either the ruine of the Jews shall suddenly come on all that Land or the day of Judgment on all the World And our duty is to be always ready and therefore to avoid sensuality and worldliness which is unreadiness 36. Watch ye therefore and pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man 36. A life of obedient watching against sin waiting for Judgment and constant Prayer is our Gospel-worthiness to escape God's Judgments and our preparation for a comfortable meeting our Judge 37. And in the day-time he was teaching in the temple and at night he went out and abode in the mount that is called the mount of olives 38. And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple for to hear him 37 38. Note They could not silence him 1. Because it was the Jews Law that Prophets and great Teachers should speak freely 2. And the Romans limited their Power 3. And they feared the multitude of his hearers CHAP. XXII 1. NOw the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh which is called the passeover 2. And the chief priests and Scribes sought how they might kill him for they feared the people 1 2. The feast of unleavened Bread was the day of the Passover and seven days after 3. Then entred
positive penalty on Christs soul called here The Pains of Death But most think otherwise 25. For David speaketh concerning him I foresaw the Lord always before my face for he is on my right hand that I should not be moved 26. Therefore did my heart rejoyce and my tongues was glad moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope 27. Because thou wilt not leave my Soul in hell neither wilt thou suffer thine holy One to see corruption Note Though David spake this partly of himself the Holy Ghost spake it by him of Christ that God would not leave him in the state of Death nor suffer his body to be corrupted 28. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance 29. Men and brethren let me freely speak unto you of the Patriarch David that he is both dead and buried and his Sepulchre is with us unto this day 30. Therefore being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loyns according to the flesh he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne 31. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that his Soul was not left in hell neither his flesh did see corruption 30. Quest How is Christ said to sit on Davids Throne which was of a visible Earthly Kingdom Answ It is that which was principally meant in the promise to David And the eminent and highest Reign containeth the lower under its power 2. The Article of Christs descent into Hell is so largely handled by many that I will not here interpose any more of it than to say that I take it to be best expounded by A. Bishop Vsher in his Answer to the Jesuits challenge And this Text speaking first of David and ultimately of Christ seemeth to mâ—an no other Hell for Christ but what David meant of â—â—â—self which is Hades the State of separated Souls as such 32. This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we all are witnesses 33. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear 32. We being all Witnesses of his Resurrection and Ascension he being in Glory in the fulness of his Power and having promised thus to send down the Holy Ghost hath performed his promise as ye see and hear 1. To prove by this Miracle the truth of his Power to convince Unbelievers 2. And to enable us to Teach the Gospel to the People of divers Languages in the World Note The Apostles were credible Witnesses of fact 2. The Holy Ghost is the infalible evidence that Christians mission and power is of God 34. For David is not ascended into the Heavens but he saith himself The LORD said unto my Lord Sit thou on my right hand 35. Until I make thy foes thy footstool 34. David went not up to Heaven bodily as Jesus did but only his Soul but he Prophesied of Christs Ascension and Glory 36. Therefore let all the House of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have Crucified both Lord and Christ 36. All of you therefore believe these Divine attestations and know asuredly that this Jesus whom you Crucified is in Glory exalted by God to be the Lord King and Saviour 37. Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles Men and brethren what shall we do 37. These words accompanied with so great Evidence and the work of the Spirit now poured out they could not resist but their hearts convinced were prickt or wounded with grief and fear to find that they had Crucified the Messiah whom they expected And they cryed out is there yet no hope or remedy If there be what shall we do 38. Then Peter said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost 38. There is yet hope and remedy Repent of this and all your sins and give up your selves by Faith to Christ in the Baptismal Covenant and your sins shall be remitted and this Holy Ghost which you now admire shall also be given unto you 39. For the promise is unto you and to your Children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call 39. For the Messiah with his Grace of Remission and the Spirit is promised and is offered to you that are Jews and your whole Nation and Children in the first place and shall be yours yet if you accept the offer And not to you only but to as many as God shall call of the Gentiles in the remotest parts of the World For Christ is now to be the Universal King and Saviour of all Nations and Persons that accept him 40. And with many other words did he testifie and exhort saying Save your selves from this untoward generation 40. And with many more Exhortations he perswaded them to believe and repent and not to imitate the unbelieving persecuting hardned part of the Jews lest they perish with them 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls 41. Then they that believed and gladly consented to be Christians were baptized And that day about three thousand were converted to Christianity 1. These Jews were before instructed in much of the Law and Prophets and therefore their Baptism was not delayed so long as the following Churches delayed the baptizing of the Gentile Catechumens 2. Yet though all were converted that day it is not certain that all were Baptized that day 3. None were Baptized that did not profess to believe the Essentials of the Baptismal Covenant that Jesus is the Christ sent of God to reconcile us to him and give us remission of sin and his Spirit and everlasting Salvation and profest not willing consent to the Covenant 42. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers 42. And being thus Convinced Converted and Sacramentally bound and devoted to Christ they continued united in Communion with the Apostles in learning their Doctrine and in brotherly Communication and Love and in Celebration of the Lords Supper and in conjunct Prayer The Apostles conducting the Society in all this 43. And fear came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles 43. The wonder amazed all men and the Miracles wrought by the Apostles increased mens conviction 44. And all that believed were together and had all things common 45. And sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every man had need 44. The greatness of the thing raised them above the World and the Holy Ghost filled them with such Love as made
he did to thee by the way and hath sent me that thou mightest be restored to thy sight and filled with the Holy Ghost for gifts necessary to the Ministry 18. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales and he received sight forthwith and arose and was baptized 18. He was Miraculously struck blind and Miraculously cured and then Baptized 19. And when he had received meat he was strengthened Then was Saul certain days with the Disciples which were at Damascus 20. And straightway he Preached Christ in the Synagogue that he is the Son of God 19 20 Being strengthned with food he conversed certain days with the Christians at Damascus whom he purposed to have presecuted and forthwith Preached Christ in the Syoagogue to the Jews that he is the Son of God and consequently all his Gospel true And then going into Arabia retured to Damascus again before he went to Jerusalem 21. But all that heard him were amazed and said Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem and came hither for that intent that he might bring them bound unto the chief Priests 21. The suddain change from being a destroying Persecutor to be a Preacher made the People wonder 22. But Saul increased the more in strength and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus proving that this is very Christ 22. Proving Jesus to be the true Christ inferreth all the rest to be believed 23. And after that many days were fulfilled the Jews took Counsel to kill him 23. If one of the Leaders of the Persecutors or Malignant wicked Men should be Converted and persuade his Companions to turn they would but seek to kill him also till God Convert them 24. But their laying await was known of Saul and they watched the Gates day and night to kill him a5 Then the Disciples took him by night and let him down by the wall in a basket 24. Note It is lawful to avoid the violence of bloody Persecutors by secret flight 26. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem he assayed to joyn himself to the Disciples but they were all afraid of him and believed not that he was a Disciple 26. Note 1. Conversion will shew it self by joyning with the Converted 2. Known Persecutors and wicked men are not too hastily to be trusted when they profess Conversion 27. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the Apostles and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way and that he had spoken to him and how he had Preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus 28. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem 27 28. This evidence was satisfactory and they received him to their constant Society of the Church 29. And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Grecians but they went about to slay him 30. Which when the brethren knew they brought him down to Cesarea and sent him forth to Tarsus 29 30. He Preeached Christ boldly and confuted the unbelieving Jews that used the Greek Tongue But they sought to kill him c. 31. Then had the Churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria and were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the holy Ghost were multiplied 31. Saul being Converted who was a chief Persecutor and he being removed whom they afterward most maligned the Christian Churches were quiet a while from Persecution and were edified in knowledge and Holiness of Heart and life living in obedience to God and in the Comfort of the inward Grace and outward Gifts and Miracles of the Holy Ghost by which they were multiplyed 32. And it came to pass as Peter passed throughout all quarters he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda 32. Note He was no Christian who was not a Saint by Dedication to God and by profession 33. And there he found a certain man named Eneas which had kept his bed eight years and was sick of the palsie 34. And Peter said unto him Eneas Jesus Christ maketh thee whole arise and make thy bed And he arose immediately 33. Note The length and nature of the Disease made the Miracle the more notable and convincing 35. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him and turned to the Lord. 35. The undenyable Miracle caused a general Conviction and Conversion of them 36. Now there was at Joppa a certain Disciple named Tabitha which by interpretation is called Dorcas this woman was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did 37. And it came to pass in those days that she was sick and died whom when they had washed they laid her in an upper Chamber 38. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa and the Disciples had heard that Peter was there they sent unto him two men desiring him that he would not delay to come to them 36. A laborious Charitable woman being dead the Christians had Faith to believe that by Peters Ministry she might be raised to life c. 39. Then Peter arose and went with them When he was come they brought him into the upper Chamber and all the widows stood by him weeping and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them 39. Note It s like they were poor-Widows that shewed the fruit of her Labour and Charity to them and others 40. But Peter put them all forth and kneeled down and prayed and turning him to the body said Tabitha arise And she opened her eyes and when she saw Peter she sat up 41. And he gave her his hand and lift her up and when he had called the saints and widows presented her alive 40. Note This was not a Miracle to be done without fervent Prayer And it is like Peter had assurance of raising her as an answer to his Prayer before he said Arise 42. And it was known throughout all Joppa and many believed in the Lord. 42. Thus Miracles made Christians and fully sealed the Testimony of the Apostles 43. And it came to pass that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a Tanner CHAP. X. THere was a certain man in Cesarea called Cornelius a centurion of the band called the Italian band 1. In Cesarea the chief City of the Country about seventy miles from Jerusalem where was a Roman Garrison was one Cornelius Captain of an hundred in the Italian Regiment or Legion A devout man and one that feared God with all his house which gave much alms to to the people and prayed to God always 2. A Proselyte that was a Godly man and fearing God with all his househould liberal in giving Alms and constant in Prayer 2. N. We must not think this man under mere common Grace but in a state of saving Grace such as the faithful Jews had before Christs incarnation such being prepared above others to believe in Christ personally when he was come
and Persecution against the Servants of Christ who must Preach the Gospel contrary to this interest 25. Sirs ye know that by this craft we have our wealth 26. Moreover ye see and hear that not alone at Ephesus but almost throughout all Asia this Paul hath perswaded and turned away much People saying that they be no Gods which are made with hands 27. So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought but that also the Temple of the great goddess Diana should be dispised and her magnificence should be destroyed whom all Asia and the world worshippeth 28. And when they heard these sayings they were full of wrath and cried out saying Great is Diana of the Ephesians 25 26 27. Note Arguments from Wealth and Interest are unanswerable with blinded Worldlings and raise the rage of the Rabble against Reformation Here we may see what resisteth Reformation in the Church of Rome Can it be hoped that any Truth or Reason should perswade the Pope and Cardinals and all their worldly Prelates to give up their Wealth Grandure Power and Dominion and all their Lay Chancellors to surrender with repentance their gainful Usurpation of the Power of the Keys And all their Courts called Ecclesiastick Officials Commissarieâ— Surrogates Archdeacons and all the multitude of their sub-Officers to become poor by giving over their Trade of Money-catching and all their Inquisitors to vomit up ther blood and gain And all the Crowds of Jesuits and Fryers to lose their Revenues and Life of Ease and their worldly Clergy who live in lazy Ignorance and fleshly ease and pleasure and railing at truth and serious Godliness to become poor and base by renouncing their Usurpation and their maintenances and domination which they get by pretending to watch and rule for the saving of the Peoples Souls What power but Gods can overcome all this 29. And the whole city was filled with confusion and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus men of Macedonia Pauls companions in travel they rushed with one accord into the Theatre 30. And when Paul would have entred in unto the People the Disciples suffered him not 29. Interest caused rage and confusâ—on 31. And certain of the cheif of Asia which were his friends sent unto him desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the Theatre 31. The Theatre was the place where they met to judge Offenders and cast them to Wild Beasts And some of the Priests or Heathen Masters of those Executions favoured Paul and disswaded him from coming 32. Some therefore cried onething and some another for the assembly was confufed and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together 32. Note What Reason or Justice is to be Executed where the ignorant Rabble are up and rage 33. And they drew Alexander out of the muâ—titude the Jews putting him forward And Alexander beckoned with the hand and would have made his defence unto the people 34. But when they knew that he was a Jew all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out Great is Diana of the Ephesians 33. Note It s like but not certain that this Alexander was he that Paul tells Timothy did him much evil Whether he were a Jew or a Christian by Religion is uncertain 35. And when the town-clerk had appeased the people he said Ye men of Ephesus what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana and of the Image which fell down from Jupiter 36. Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against ye ought to be quiet and to do nothing rashly 37. For ye have brought hither these men which are neither Robbers of Churches nor yet Blasphemers of your goddess 35. Note It is the Office of Rulers to appease the Rabbles rage by reason and Authority 2. It seems the Christians in wisdom had asserted Christianity without saying much against Diana which would have enâ—aged the People against them 38. Wherefore if Demetrius and the craftsmen which are with him have a matter against any man the law is open and there are deputies let them implead one another 38. If they have any Action let it be tryed fairly at the Judicatures by Law and not thus by Tumult 39. But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters it shall be determined in a lawful assembly 39. If beside matters of wrong you have any Accusation of more publick concern it must be tryed in a greater Assembly and higher Judicature Note The higher Judicatures consisted of fuller Assemblys than the lower 40. For we are in danger to be called in question for this days uprore there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse 41. And when he had thus spoken he dismised the Assembly 40. Our Superiours are justly jealous of Tumults and we are in danger to be questioned for this and can give no just reason to excuse it CHAP. XX. ANd after the uprore vvas ceased Paul called unto him the Disciples and embraced them and departed for to go into Macedonia 2. And vvhen he had gone over those parts and had given them much exhortation he came into Greece 3. And there abode three months 1. Note He spared no labour to save Souls and gather Churches And vvhen the Jevvs laid vvait for him as he was about to sail into Syria he purposed to return through Macedonia 4. And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea and of the Thessalonians Aristarchus and Secundus and Gaius of Derbe and Timotheus and of Asia Tychicus and Trophimus 5. These going before tarried for us at Troas 3. Note The Jews though neerer in Religion than the Heathens yet persecuted the Christians when the Heathens gave them liberty of Religion till Nero's time even as the Papists do the Reformed whom Turks tolerate 2. Timothy was not now fixed Bishop of Ephesus who travelled with Paul 6. And vve sailed avvay from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread and came unto them to Troas in five days vvhere vve abode seven days 7. And upon the first day of the vveek vvhen the Disciples came together to break bread Paul Preached unto them ready to depart on the morrovv and continued his speech until midnight 7. On the Lords day when the Christians met as they used to do to Eat a Supper together and the Lords Supper after it Paul being to depart on the morrow was the longer in Preaching to them even till Midnight 8. And there vvere many lights in the upper Chamber vvhere they vvere gathered together 9. And there sat in a vvindovv a certain young man named Eutychus being fallen into a deep sleep and as Paul vvas long Preaching he sunk dovvn vvith sleep and fell dovvn from the third loft and vvas taken up dead 10. And Paul vvent dovvn and fell on him and embracing him said Trouble not your selves for his life is in him 8. Note This accident was to
prepare for his delivery 11. When he therefore was come up again and had broken bread and eaten and talked a long vvhile even till break of day so he departed 11. Note Grace with Persecution made Christians willing of long Exercises of Religion 12. And they brought the young man alive and were not a little comforted 12. Note Had he dyed some would have said This is the effect of Christianity Others this is the fruit of Conventicles and night Meetings Others this is the fruit of long and and unseasonable Preaching and they would have been hardened by the scandal 13. And vve vvent before to ship and sailed unto Assos there intending to take in Paul for so had he appointed minding himself to go a foot 13. Note It was these poor labouring foot Preachers that Planted the Catholick Church and not Mitred Pompous Princes and Lords or the worldly crew 14. And vvhen he met vvith us at Assos vve took him in and came to Mitylene 15. And vve sailed thence and came the next day over against Chios and the next day vve arrived at Samos and taried at Trogyllium and the next day vve came to Miletus 16. For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus because he would not spend the time in Asia for he hasted if it were possible for him to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost 17. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the Elders of the Church 17. Note They that tell us that by the Elders of the Church is meant all the Diocesane Bishops of Asia should tell us 1. Why Luke would not tell us so 2. Why all Asia is called a Church in the singular number when we never find the Churches of Judea Gallatia or any other Country so called one Church 3. Why the Churches of all Asia are summoned as the Church of Ephesus 4. What proof there is of Metropolitane Churches singlularly named in those days 5. How it would stand with Pauls great hast to Congregate all the Bishops of Asia And whether it was done in a day or two 6. Whether Paul that stayed two or three years at Ephesus did Preach through all Asia from house to house warning every one night and day with tears 7. VVhether this be not good evidence of many Elders then at Ephesus alone 8. Why there is no word of making some one the Ruler of all the rest as their Bishop 18. And when they were come to him he said unto them ye know from the first day that I came into Asia after what manner I have been with you at all seasons 19. Serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears and temptations which befel me by the lying in wait of the Jews 18. Ye know at what rates of danger and suffering I have served God for your salvation humbly bearing all c. 20. And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you but have shewed you and have taught you publickly and from house to house 20. Not fraudulently concealing any thing profitable to you nor teaching unprofitable things but instructing you both in the publick Assemblys and from house to house as I had opportunity 21. Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ 21. The sum of my Preaching hath been to draw all men to Repent and turn from sin and vanity to God as their God by a lively Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ as the way to the Father 22. And now behold I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall befal me there 23. Save that the holy Ghost witnesseth in every city saying that bonds and afflictions abide me 22. And now I am going to Jerusalem by the mission of Gods spirit who directeth my way in expectation of bonds not knowing just what and how I shall suffer but that where ever I come the Holy Ghost in others that are Prophets tells me that bonds and afflictions must befall me 24. But none of these things move me neither count I my life deare unto my self so that I might finish my course with joy and the ministery which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God 24. But the expectation of suffering shaketh not my Faith or Resolution For it can but amount to their taking away my life And I account not my life dear if I may lay it down in so good a cause and for so great a benefit as is the finishing of the race or course of Life which God hath assigned me to with joy as one that is past danger and ready to receive the Crown and the full performance of the Commission which I have received of the Lord to proclaim and testifie the Gospel of Grace for the gathering of the Church and saving of souls Note 1. Suffering must not shake the trust or resolution of a Christian especially a Minister of Christ 2. We should not only endeavour to finish our course of Christianity and Ministry with Fidelity but also with joy 3. Good beginnings are not enough without well finishing our Course 4. Life must not be thought too dear to lay down for so desirable an end 5. Martyrs may end their course with joy Quest How should we finish our course with joy Answ 1. Take God and Heavenly Glory for your all or only happiness and believe it firmly 2. Give up your selves wholly to his Love and Service without reserves 3. Live on the Mediation of Christ by Faith 25. And now behold I know that ye all among whom I have gone Preaching the Kingdom of God shall see my face no more 25. Note O hear your Teachers as those that shortly shall see their Faces on Earth no more 26. Wherefore I take you to record this day that I am pure from the bloud of all men 27. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God 26. You are my Witnesses that if any perish it is not long of me for want of Teaching for I have not concealed from you any Truth necessary to your Salvation committed to my trust 28. Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own bloud 28. Use your greatest care and watchfulness and labour first about your selves that your judgments may be sound your hearts holy and your lives exemplary and then for all the Flock that one Flock at Ephesus over which the Holy Ghost by his inward qualifying and exciting you and by his outward call by the Flock and the Ordainers hath made you so many Bishops or Overseers spare for no diligence to feed and guide this Church of God which Christ the Son of God hath so much loved as to purchase it with his own Blood Note 1. The work of the Ministry is not
the Judgment of others 1. It is certain that God never meant to restore the Jewish Politie under Moses's Law for that Law is abrogated by Christ and so that Politie It 's Jewish Contradiction of Christianity to expect such a Restoration 2. Much less will God ever confine the Church and Covenant of Peculiarity to the Jewish Nation and take it from the Gentiles and cease Catholicism 3. Nor will God restore and confine the Jews to their ancient Country in Palestine which being such a Country of Wales now barren and about half as big as England would be far from making them a People of eminent Glory in the World but rather contemptible in that respect 4. Nor hath God promised to make the Jews Lords and Rulers over the rest of the Nations of the Earth as the Carnal sort of them did expect 5. Therefore no other calling of the Jews can be expected but that they become Parts of the Catholick-Church 6. It seems to me by History that this is performed long ago the main Body of their Nation being turned to Christianity To which purpose consider these things 1. Myriads were converted in Judea by the Apostles 2. In all other Countries of the Roman Empire the scattered Jews had Synagogues to which the Apostles first Preached and where they first gathered the Rudiments of the Christian Churches 3. A vast Number of the unbelieving Jews were destroyed by Vespasian and Titus when Jerusalem was besieged and destroyed 4. Many more Jews were then converted when they saw God's Judgements executed on them and the Christians spared 5. Vast Numbers of the remainder of the Unbelievers were destroyed by Adrian and the Christians spared and many turned Christians then 6. Since then many have been converted by Solemn Disputes and many Jews become eminent Doctors in the Church 7. They were ever fond of their own Country and therefore we may suppose that as many as could lived there And it 's known that all Conquerours use to transplant only the Rich and Ruling Men and leave the Multitude of the poor Labourers to manure the Ground that it may yield them Tribute So did Nebuchadnezzar And so in England did the Romans Saxons Danes and Normans They left the Vulgar to possess the Land under them or else the Land would have been unprofitable to them It was the Rich and the Soldiers that they drove into Wales so that we are mostly of a British Off-spring Now it is known that in the Days of Constantine and the following Christian Emperours though no Country wholly turned Christian of a long time Judea turned as other Provinces did and had their Bishops and their Patriarch in Councils and proportionably rather more than in other Countries were Christians there So that Judea was Christian as other Provinces were CHAP. XII 1. I Beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service 1. Now to make Application of all this Doctrine fore-written I beseech you as you have a due sense of Christ's offering himself a Sacrifice for our Sins and of the great Mercy of the Gentiles Salvation by Grace and of our deliverance from the Burdens of the Jewish Law those costly Sacrifices of Beasts being abrogated by Christ that you will resign and dedicate your selves to God and as a living holy Sacrifice give up your own Bodies wholly to him even to the Obedience of his Commands and to suffer what he calls you to even to death which will be better than a Sacrifice of Beasts even a reasonable holy acceptable Service of God 2. And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God 2. And now you are called out of the World and made a Peculiar People to God conform not your selves to the sinful Practices of the World but be transform'd from your former Errours and Sins by the renewing of your Minds by Truth and Holiness that you may know by experience the Goodness of God's Ways to which you are called and the Greatness of his Love 3. For I say through the grace given unto me to every Man that is among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith 3. And specially because that the proud over-valuing of Mens own Understandings and thinking that they know more than they do is the common Cause of Errours and Sins of Censures Divisions and Heresies in the Churches I do as an Apostle sent and taught of God admonish and charge you all every one to think humbly of himself and not to think your selves wiser or better than you are but with wise self-suspicion and consciousness of your Ignorance and great Imperfection to think soberly of your selves according to truth and to the degree of Faith and Wisdom given you of God 4 5. For as we have many members in one body and all members have not the same Office so we being many are one body in Christ and every one members one of another 4 5. For as the Members of the same Body have great diversity in Number and Office so we though many individual Persons make up one Body or Church in Christ the Head in whom we are united and are related to each other as Members of the same Body 6. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether prophecie let us prophecie according to the proportion of faith 7. Or ministry let us wait on our ministring or he that teacheth on teaching 6 7. Seeing it pleaseth God to give various degrees of Gifts according to the dispensation of his Free Grace and not to make all equal in Gifts or Office let all confine themselves to their Measure and Office and that let them faithfully execute Let those that are inspired to speak as from God by Prediction or Instruction speak what God hath revealed to them according to the proportion of their Revelation and Knowledge and no more and not pretend Special Revelation against the sealed Word of Faith Let those that are called to any Special Service for the Church perform their own Office faithfully therein And let those that are called to teach be faithful Teachers Neglect not your own part and invade not others 8. Or he that exhorteth on exhortation He that giveth let him do it with simplicity He that ruleth with diligence He that sheweth mercy with chearfulness 8. He that is to exhort Men to practise what is taught let him do it diligently for Mens corrupt Wills and Affections have need of excitation and Persuasion as well as their Understandings of Information He that giveth his own or the Churches let him do it sincerely and impartially He that is intrusted to govern Chruch or Family let him
epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in tables of stone but in fleshly tables of the heart 3. For your Conversion openly proveth that you are as it were Christs own Epistle by our Ministry written by the quickning Spirit of the Living God and not with Ink not as Moses's Law on Tables of Stone but on your very Hearts And therefore as you are the Epistle or Testimony of the Work of Christ so of me as his Minister 4 5. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God 4 5. It is of God that I have this Confidence and Glorying Far be it from me to think that I have any such Sufficiency of my self to convert Souls but my Sufficiency and the Success is all of God 6. Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament not of the letter but of the spirit for the letter killeth but the spirit giveth life 6. It is he that hath made me an able Minister of the New Covenant not a Preacher of the Law of Moses written in Stone but of the Gospel of Christ who sendeth us forth by his Spirit and giveth his Spirit by our Ministry For the Law of Moses curseth Sinners and sheweth them Sin and condemneth them But the Spirit of Christ doth quicken them and kill their Sin and lead them in the way of Life 7. But if the ministration of death written and ingraven in stones was glorious so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance which glory was to be done away 7. For if that Ministry of Moses which by consequence was of Death or of a Law that condemned but gave not the Spirit of Life written and engraven by God in Stones was accompanied with so great Glory that the Israelites could not endure to look Moses in the Face for the Glory of his Countenance which yet is now done away 8. How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious 8. Must not the more excellent Ministry of a durable Gospel by which God giveth Men his Spirit be more glorious though we the Ministers seem contemptible 9. For if the ministration of condemnation be glory much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory 9. The different Covenants shew the different Glory of the Ministry For if Moses's Ministration of a condemning Law was Glory our Ministration of a justifying saving Gospel-Covenant must needs exceed his Ministry in true Glory 10. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect by reason of the glory that excelleth 10. For as a greater Light maketh a lesser seem as none so the Mosaick Ministry of the Law had as it were no Glory being clouded by the Glory of the Gospel 11. For if that which is done away was glorious much more that which remaineth is glorious 11. For if the Law of Moses considered formally as such and given to the Jews to rule their Common-wealth and lead them to Christ which was to cease when the Gospel came to which it was a Schoolmaster was yet given in Glory much more is the Gospel which is to continue and its Ministration glorious 12. Seeing then that we have such hope we use great plainness of speech 12. Wonder not then that we speak boldly to you when we can shew such Authority 13. And not as Moses which put a vail over his face that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished 13. We do not as Moses veil our Faces signifying that the Israelites could not well look to the true End and Meaning of their own Law which is Christ to whom by Types it pointed them nor see that it was to be abolished by his better Covenant as it now is We speak freely to you with open Face 14. But their minds were blinded for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament which vail is done away in Christ 14. But the Minds of the unbelieving Jews were blinded and to this day the Veil remaineth by this their Blindness so that they understand not the End and Design of the Old Testament when they read it Bâ—t it 's taken away by Christ to true Believers 15. But even unto this day when Moses is read the vail is upon their heart 15. Their Unbelief sheweth us that the Veil and Blindness is on them to this day 16. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord the vail shall be taken away 16. But when they shall be converted to Christianity the Veil shall be taken away and they shall understand the Meaning and Tendency of the Law 17. Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 17. And as the Letter doth but point unto the Spirit without which it doth but kill so it is Christ who is that Spirit which is the Sum and End of the Letter and Types And where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom and Power of Speech as well as Deliverance And therefore we use that Freedom with you 18. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 18. And so all true Christians not veiled as the Jews but with open Face in the open Light though yet but as in a Glass behold the Glory of the Lord and by our Spiritual Renovation are changed into the Image of Christ from one Degree of Glory to another by the Spirit of the Lord who will perfect his Work ANNOTATIONS THe fear of favouring Antinomianism hath tempted some to pervert this Chapter about the abolishing of Moses's Law I know of no Man that hath written so much against the Antinomians as I have done nor with so much success in casting down their Libertine Errours in this Land And yet I abhor running into the contrary Extreme And therefore I say that it is evident to any unprejudiced considering Reason that Paul here affirmeth That the very Law written in Stone is abolished and done away To say It is only the Glory of the Burning Mount or of Moses Face that is done away is plainly contrary to Ver. 7 9 10 11 13. I will not tire the Reader with Arguments from so plain Words The Truth is this 1. The Law of Nature is not done away by Christ but made part of his own Law into whose Hands that and all things are given 2. The Ten Commandments except the Preface and a Word or two in the Second Commandment and the Determination of the Seventh Day in the Fourth Commandment are the Common Law of Nature 3. Christ also hath expresly made them his Law
by reciting them preceptively And so they bind all Christians now as the Law of Nature and the Law of Christ 4. God by giving the Jews their Laws gave us Directions to know in the like Cases what is equal or wrong to us 5. But formally as it was Gods Law delivered by Moses to the Jews it binds not us and it 's done away For 1. It never as such bound any but the Jews and the few Proselytes among them For it was never promulgated to the World And even the Decalogue was Political and all made for that Common-wealth And all the World was never bound to turn Jews nor to dwell or come into a remote Country no bigger than half England 2. The Jews own Commonwealth is dissolved and so are their peculiar Laws 3. The Apostle expresly saith That the Law written in Stone that was glorious is done away ver 7. 11.13 compared 4. Moses was no Ruler or Mediator to the whole World 5. If one part of Moses Law as such bind then all of it bindeth a quatenus ad omne and so we must turn Jews 6. Paul expresly nameth Sabbaths as abolished that is A Day of Ceremonial Rest which the Fourth Commandment ordaineth as a Type of Spiritual Rest by Christ The Sum is That we are bound to the Law commonly called Moral as it is the Law of Nature and of Christ but not formally as the Law given the Jews by Moses or as written in Stone CHAP. IV. 1. THerefore seeing we have this ministery as we have received mercy we faint not 1. Therefore having received a more honourable Ministry than that of Moses Gods Mercy encourageth us and keepeth us from faâ—nting in our Labours and Sufferings 2. But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the truth commending our selves to every mans conscience in the sight of God 2. But have renounced those things which cannot endure the Light lest they should be shamed but are craftily carried on in the dark nor do we use deceiving Arts in handling the Word of God but in the open Light by Evidence of Truth we expose our selves to trial and expect Success 3. But if our gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost 3. So that if our Preaching be not yet understood and believed it is not for want of our clear Delivery but from the miserable Case of lost uncapable Hearers 4. In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them 4. Because the Devil by the love of worldly things ruling the Hearts of worldly Men hath blinded them that they may not believe the Gospel and see that Glory which shineth in Christ who is the Image of God 5. For we preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord and our selves your servants for Jesus sake 5. It is not our selves that we commend by preaching to you or set up for you to believe in but it is Christ Jesus the Lord else indeed our Ministry were inglorious and we only manifest our selves to be faithful Servants for your Salvation by Christ who hath called us hereto and whose Glory we proclaim 6. For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 6. For God who by his Word created Light hath shined by Spiritual Light into our Hearts giving us that Knowledge of God which gloriously appeareth in the Person Doctrine and Works of Christ which he commandeth us to communicate to others 7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us 7. But we that are thus trusted and honoured of God are our selves poor frail afflicted Mortals that it mâ—y appear that it is by the Power of God and not of Men that the Gospel prospereth 8. We are troubled on every side yet not distressed we are perplexed but not in despair 9. Persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed 8 9. We are many ways troubled but not brought to any extreme distress in straits but not in despair persecuted by Men but not forsaken of God cast down low and yet upheld and not destroyed 10. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body 10. We still bear in our Bodies a memorative Conformity to our suffering dying Lord that our delivered Bodies also might have some conformity to his Life by whom we live and whom we preach 11. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh 11. For we that yet live are in continual danger of death by Persecutors for Jesus sake that we might be Emblems of Christs Resurrection and Life and a Proof that he liveth who preserveth us while we preach that blessed Life which he possesseth and hath purchased and promised 12. So then death worketh in us but life in you 12. So that in our Sufferings Christs Death is resembled but his Life in your Conversion and Preservation 13. We having the same spirit of faith according as it is written I belived and therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore speak 13. But we have the sâ—me Spirit of Faith as you have and therefore say with David That we speak because we believe 14. Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus and shall present us with you 14. For he that raised up Christ shall raise us up both from our Sufâ—erings and Death and present us with you who are the Bâ—essings of our Labours 15. For all things are for your sakes that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God 15. For it is for you that we suffer and labour and are preserved that as many have the Benefit so God may be glorified by the Thanksgiving of many 16. For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day 16. Therefore we are not tired in our Labour or Suffering but while our Bodies suffer and perish our Souls receive daily new Supplies of Strength and Comfort 17. For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 17. For all our Sufferings for Christ and Bodily Afflictions are very tollerable and light and so short as to be but as for one moment and so gainful that they are the Means appointed to procure us a Crown of Glory which is weighty and of exceeding Worth and Everlasting 18. While we look
is the full Truth as I have proved in a set Treatise 18. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels intruding into those things which he hath not seen vainly puft up by his fleshly mind 18. Let no Man beguile you of the Reward of Christianity by pretending greater self humbling than God commandeth by worshipping Angels intruding into and pretending to know the things which he never saw nor God revealed to him vainly puffed up by the Imaginations of his fleshly Mind and building on his deluded Conjectures and Self-conceits 19. And not holding the head from which all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the increase of God 19. By which they depart from their due Dependence on Christ the Head whose Office it is to be the sole immediate Mediator between God and Man and the Lawgiver to the Church who hath given us sufficient notice what Worship God accepteth It is from him the Head of Life and Government that the Body even the Church receiveth its Nourishment and holy Increase by the Blessing of God it being by Joynts and Ligaments of Faith Love and Ministry and Communion for Concord conjoined and made a meet Receiver 20. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world why as though living in the world are ye subject to ordinances 21. Touch not taste not handle not 22. Which all are to perish with the using after the commandments and doctrines of men 20 21 22. If then you be dead to the Rudiments of all other Masters and Customs in the World of Jews or Heathens in conformity to your Crucified Lord why as though yet you were not separated from the World to Christ are you subject to such Ordinances which Christ never made you but hath abolished as Touch not taste not meddle not with such and such Meats as unclean and the like which were all temporary things and consist in transient unprofitable Actions having no Reward of God as being but the Products of the Commands and Doctrines of unauthorised Men. 23. Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will-worship and humility and neglecting of the body not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh 23. Which are the things for which as deceitful Shews tho Heretical and Heathen Seducers pretend to be wiser Men than the Apostles and Christians and to be more pious Men and so would draw you to their Errours as being stricter in Voluntary Worship and greater Humility and neglecting of the Body on pretense of being more for the Soul and not as sensual Men do setting up and pampering the Flesh Note The Description of Paul and Church Historians notifie to us that these Hereticks made up a Religion of three Parts 1. Of the Name and some Parts of Christianity to keep in with the Christians 2. Of many Jewish Rites to keep fair with the Jews 3. But the main Substance which they boasted of was Pythagorean Heathenism in which they pretended great knowledge of Spirits Demons and invisible things their Orders Powers Offices Durations c. which God never revealed but the deluded Imaginations of themselves and the said Pythagorean and Platonick Philosophers taught them In many of which Superstitions of Will-worship Angel-worship Laws of Penance on the Flesh while the vain Mind usurpeth Christs Legislative Power too many of the carnal corrupt Church do imitate them to this day CHAP. III. IF ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God 1. If then you be true Christians risen with Christ as you profess to the hope of a Celestial Glory and to a Holy Life shew it by seeking the things which are above where Christ who you trust in is as your Head over all in glory 2. Set your affection on things above not on things on the earth 2. Let the Heavenly things and not the things on Earth have your strongest affections your Love your Desire your Hope your Joy your Care your very Hearts 3. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God 4. When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory 3 4. For ye are dead to the World and sin and the root of your Spiritual Life is not in your selves but both your Objective Life which is your Happiness and the Root of all your Spiritual Life are out of sight with Christ in God It is by him that you live and it is with him and on him that you must live in Glory for ever 5. Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth fornication uncleanness inordinate affection evil concupiscence and covetousness which is idolatry 6. For which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience 5 6. Therefore tho your Lusts are as it were the very Members of your corrupt fleshly Nature kill them all even Fornication Uncleanness Inordinate Affections of Love or delight all evil lustings or desires and Covetousness which loveth the Creature above God and which is Idolaters sin For it is for these things that the Unbeliving Rebellious World is under the wrath of God 7. In the which ye also walked sometime when ye lived in them 7. These sins were formerly your own practices when you were Heathens among them 8. But now you also put off all these anger wrath malice blasphemy filthy communication out of your mouth 9. Lie not one to another seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds 8 9. But now you must not only cast off all these filthy sins but also all that is contrary to Love and Peace all sinful wrath and malice and evil speaking and rybaldry and lying For all these are the Members and Deeds of the Old Man or state which you have renounced 10. And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him 10. And you have by Conversion become New Men renewed in Saving Knowledge unto the Image of that God and Saviour who is the maker of this New Creature 11. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew circumcision nor uncircumcision barbarian Scythian bond nor free but Christ is all and in all 11. Where the Interest and Union that we have all in One Christ who is all in all doth swallow up all the little differences of Greeks and Jew c. And so must lo in our Communion 12. Put on therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of mind meekness long-suffering 12. Let these therefore be your very Habit and Nature and Practice as becometh Gods chosen holy and beloved ones Bowels of Mercy Kindness c. 13. Forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye 13. Note 1. That
the God you serve and the Kingdom and Glory to which he hath called you 13. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe 13. And it is the matter of our uncessant thanks to God that you received not the Gospel as Mens Word with a meer Humane Faith and Obedience but as Gods Word with a Divine which it appeareth to be by the powerful efficacy of it on your selves who are true Believers 14. For ye brethren became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen even as they have of the Jews 14. Ye follow the Churches in Judea in suffering by your own Neighbours as well as in the same Faith Note The same Faith Hope and Holiness will meet with the same Enmity in all Countries 15. Who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and have persecuted us and they please not God and are contrary to all men 16. Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved to fill up their sins alway for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost 15 16. Note 1. That the Carnal Church hath been more persecuting and bloody than the Heathens 2. That Christ himself seemed not to them good enough to live or to be endured among them but was murdered as a Traytor and Blasphemer by pretended Law and Justice And Prophets and Apostles had the like usage 3. That bloody Persecution oft goeth with the Carnal Church for a great Duty 4. That God is not pleased with the Persecutors of his Servants though they do it as to please him 5. That malignant Persecutors are oft so mad as to be contrary to all Men or engage themselves against the common Interest of Mankind that they may persecute the Faithful 6. It is the silencing of the best Preachers of the Gospel which hath the heat of their malignant Zeal 7. It is that Preaching which would save Souls which they forbid And because this Preaching is the Means to save Souls it is that Satan aimeth his Militia against it 8. Persecuting and silencing Faithful Preachers is the way to fill up the Sins of the malignant Enemies 9. God useth not to bring the utmost Wrath on Men till they have filled up their Sins 10. How long soever they prosper Wrath will come at last to the uttermost on malignant Sinners and Persecutors of the faithful Preachers of the Gospel 17. But we brethren being taken from you for a short time in presence not in heart endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire 17. But our constrained absence from you in Person not in Heart made us the more earnestly desire to see you 18. Wherefore we would have come unto you even I Paul once and again but Satan hindred us 18. I would oft have come to you and attempted iâ—â— but by Gods permission Satan hindred me by stirring up Persecution and Restraints and making me Work elsewhere by Opposition 19. For what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoycing are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming 20. For ye are our glory and joy 19 20. For what is that Hope and Joy and Crown for which I labour so hard and suffer so much Is it not your Conversion and Salvation which before Christ at his coming will be my Joy Yes ye are our Glory and Joy that God hath so blest our Labours to your Salvation Note 1. True Ministers of Christ thirst and labour far more for Mens Conversion and Salvation than for Reputation Honour Riches Preferment or Domination 2. Though God will reward Faithful Preachers though they have small Success yet to have great Success to the saving of many is far more comfortable not onely now but at the Coming of Christ CHAP. III. 1. WHerefore when we could no longer forbear we thought it good to be left at Athens alone 2. And sent Timotheus our brother and minister of God and our fellow-labourer in the gospel of Christ to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith 1 2. Note That in the time of trying Persecutions Christians have special need of confirming and comforting Helps 3. That no man should be moved by these afflictions for your selves know that we are appointed thereunto 3. Note Sufferings for Christ should be so expected that they should seem no strange surprising thing 4. For verily when we were with you we told you before that we should suffer tribulation even as it came to pass and ye know 4. Gods foretelling us of Suffering should fore-arm us for it 5. For this cause when I could no longer forbear I sent to know your faith lest by some means the tempter have tempted you and our labour be in vain 5. Note That though censorious Suspicions of Men be forbidden yet Man is so mutable and weak a thing that loving Suspicions for preventing Hart are necessary to them that have the Care of Men. 6. But now when Timotheus came from you unto us and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity and that ye have good remembrance of us always desiring greatly to see us as we also to see you 7. Therefore brethren we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith 6 7. Note That they that by Affliction are not drawn to Sin are matter of Joy to themselves and their Friends notwithstanding their Sufferings 8. For now we live if ye stand fast in the Lord. 8. Your Stedfastness and Victory is the Joy or Life of our Lives 9. For what thanks can we render to God again for you for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God 9. We can never be thankful enough to God for the Comfort which we have in you 10. Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith 10. Note That the Faith of good Christians is wanting in Act and Object and needeth Increase and Help thereto 11. Now God himself and our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way unto you 12. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another and towards all men even as we do towards you 11 12. Note That to abound in Love to Saints as Saints and to all Men as Men is the state of true Increase in Grace 13. To the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God even our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints 13. Note That it is confirmed Faith working by abounding Love which is the Qualification in which we may stand uncondemned as truly holy before
who despised him and killed him and persecuted his Cause and Servants did also destroy the Jews 10. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints and to be admired in all them that believe because our testimony among you was believed in that day 10. Note The End of Christs glorious coming will be to be glorified and admired in holy Believers as having by his Merit Intercession and Spirit made them by Holiness fit for Glory and in Justice set them above their Persecutors 2. So far were the poore Christians from being then such a Glory and Admiration that they continued above two hundred years after this to be persecuted and made the scorn of the World 11. Wherefore also we pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power 11. We pray that God will fit you by his Grace for this and make you suitable to your holy Calling and fully perform to you all the Purposes of his Love and powerfully finish your Work of Faith Note Worthiness in the Gospel-sense is that Moral Qualification by Grace to which as a Moral Condition God hath promised the Blessing 12. That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and ye in him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ 12. Note That Sanctifying Grace maketh Christians a Glory to the Name of Christ declaratively as the Cause is honoured in the Effect and they are glorified in Christ possessively as the Means in the End obtained and the Runner in the Prize and relatively as an adopted Son in a Prince that adopteth him CHAP. II. 1. NOw we beseech you brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him 2. That ye be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us as that the day of Christ is at hand 1 2. I vehemently beseech you that no Pretence either of Spirit Word or Apostolical Letter persuade you that Christs Coming is near at hand and so trouble you and your Faith be shaken when that 's disappointed Note further That it 's more than the Destruction of Jerusalem that is here meant For it will be the Churches gathering together to Christ at his coming 2. And it neither agreeth with the following long Persecutions of the Church by the Heathens nor with Paul's usual Pity to the Jews thus to insult in their Destruction as if it brought a Felicity to the Church like Heaven it self 3. Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition 4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God shewing himself that he is God 3. It is dangerous deceit for any to persuade you that the Day of Christ is at hand for there are many things that must first come to pass There must first be a falling away of many from the Faith and that notable Man of Sin must appear who is to be destroyed 4. Who arrogantly opposeth true Christianity and exalteth himself above all c. 5 6 7. Remember ye not that when I was yet with you I told you these things And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time For the mystery of iniquity doth already work onely he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way 8. And then shall that wicked be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming 9. Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders 10. And with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved 11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie 12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness Note 1. That Forewarning should be Forearming 2. Both the rise and fall of Sin and Sinners must have their proper Seasons Gods delays are but staying till the due time 3. Removing Impediments is the Prepartory work for future events 4. This great Enemy of Christ is a Man Lawless and made up of Wickedness 5. He must be first revealed and then consumed even by his Word Spirit and Coming 5. Satan will promote this Enemy of Christ with Power Signs and lying Wonders and Deceivableness of Unrighteousness 6. Not receiving the Love of the Truth of Gospel nor heartily believing it but taking pleasure in Unrighteousness prepare Men for damning Delusions 7. God is said to send them such Delusions by penal Desertions and Permissions Readers I dare not take on me to teach you that as true which I know not my self nor yet to pretend that I know more than I do I confess that I am uncertain who it is that Paul here describeth And meerly to know what other Men say of it is no satisfaction to me especially when they so greatly differ as they do 1. Most of the Fathers and Papists think that Antichrist here described is some odious False-Christ who is yet to come before the End of the World I have much to say against that Opinion 2. Grotius thought that this Chapter speaks of the Emperour Caius Caligula chiefly and partly of Simon Magus So much may be said against that as that his Follower Dr. Hammond rejecteth it 3. Dr. Hammond thinks it speaketh onely of Simon Magus I cannot believe that 1. Because really this Simon was no such considerable formidable Person as he describeth him The few Scraps of History of Simon recited by him are very dubious No great or publick History of those Times mention him He was affrighted into Submission and Supplication to Peter Acts 8. He was not thought worthy the naming after in all the sharp Charges against Hereticks in the Epistles The Judaizers are reproved the Concision called Dogs the Troublers Paul wisheth cut off the Nicolaitans named and the Woman Jezebel and many Antichrists mentioned by John the grosser sort of Hereticks smartly described and condemned by Peter and Jude John forbids us to bid them Good-speed Paul bids Men avoid them as self-condemned The Revelation speaketh yet more fully And none of them all mention Simon as the God and Ringleader of them If the Nicolaitans and all those that the Doctor calleth Gâ—osticks were known to be the Disciples of Simon why is that concealed in such large Reproofs and why not called Simonians as well as Nicolaitans If they were not then known to be his Off-spring it seems these Heresies had other Fathers before him more noted
cruel Persecutors under all tryals and sufferings hold fast both our Hope and Faith and the open profession of it For he is faithful who hath promised us the endless felicity which will pay for all and exceed all our expectations 24. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works 24. Let none of us live meerly to our selves but set our selves with studious diligence to promote the Sanctity and Salvation of each other which is not done by vain janglings and faction but by provoking one another to love and to good works and each to be a common blessing in his place by profiting others 25. Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day approaching 25. Not forsaking either the more full Church-Assemblies or any Christian Converse and Communion by which ye may excite and edifie one another as some do out of cowardly fear of suffering and some through selfishness and want of brotherly love and through coldness in Religion And the more resolved should you be in this because the time of suffering is short and the day of your deliverance draws on and cannot be far off Note Qu. 1. What if the Rulers forbid Church-Assemblies or at least inferiour edifying Converse Ans So they did for three hundred years when yet Christians used it by command from Christ And Christian Princes as is said heretofore must do more good but are not authorized to do more mischief and forbid good than Heathens But yet though we may not statedly forbear the duties of Piety and Charity no more than Daniel did praying or the old Christians preaching and meeting when we can perform them 1. We may forbear this or that particular meeting or action when it would do more hurt than good 2. And when imprisonment or banishment make it impossible it can be no duty Qu. 2. Who be they that must exhort one another Ans Not every one that hath a proud self-conceit or masterly talkative disease may needlesly gather Assemblies to ease his stomach on pretence of duty But the truly qualified and called Pastors must exhort in Church-Assemblies by Office and occasionally such other well qualified men as he shall there call forth or allow And in inferiour occasional Converse or Meetings such qualified persons as have best ability and opportunities to do good Even as Overseers by Office relieve the poor but every man that can must do it in charity And as the Physician by calling must heal the sick and wounded but any in charity may offer such help as others need and he is able not usurping the Function of the Physician 26. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins 27. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries 26 27. And the dreadful case of Apostates must deter you For if you wilfully forsake Christ and Christianity after you have received the knowledge of the truth of it by the Spirit all those miraculous Evidences by which it hath prevailed hitherto you must never look for another Saviour nor that Christ should come again to be sacrificed for you Reject him now and nothing remaineth but a dreadful expectation of his Vindictive Judgment when his Enemies that refused his Reign shall be brought forth to destruction Luke 19.27 Note Of this see before on chap. 6. what this sin is 28. He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses 29. Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace 28 29. Capital presumptuous sins and contempt were punished by death by Moses Law And as Christ bringeth greater mercy the contempt of him deserveth far greater punishment when men by renouncing Christianity tread under foot the Son of God by calling him a crucified Deceiver and count the Blood of the Covenant which was shed to sanctifie them and reconcile them to God which they professing to believe were joyned with the Saints to be the blood of a justly crucified Malefactor and a prophane thing and thus do despight also to the Spirit of Grace which is Christ's Witness on Earth and by the Testimony of whose miraculous and sanctifying Gifts they once professed to believe in Christ and receive his Doctrine and now they will reproach these Gifts and Testimonies of the Spirit as delusions and not of the Spirit of God Note The falseness of their Doctrine who say that the Gospel is a bare absolute Promise and no Law and hath no proper threatning of penalty 30. For we know him that hath said Vengeance belongeth unto me I will recompense saith the Lord and again The Lord shall judge his people 31. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God 30 31. Note Grace puts us not out of fear of danger 2. None so dreadful as a Vindictive God And 3. Apostates who reject Christ and his Salvation fall into the hands of God's terrible Justice 32. But call to remembrance the former days in which after ye were illuminated ye endured a great fight of afflictions 33. Partly whilst ye were made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions and partly whilst ye became companions of them that were so used 32 33. But remember what you have formerly suffered for Christ Will you lose all that Or cannot God strengthen you now when you should be grown stronger Remember how you endured to be made the common spectacle and scorn of men by your own sufferings for sufferers are usually disdained by the baser multitude and also by being the companions of those that suffered and openly owning them and bore part of their afflictions 34. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing in your selves that ye have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance 34. For I for one must bear you witness that in my bonds you did partake in my sufferings by compassion and also you took not only patiently but joyfully the loss and spoiling of your goods and bodily maintenance by the plunder and distreining of Persecutors And what made you do this but that you firmly believed yea knew by the witness in your selves attesting the Promises of Christ that you have as to right in Heaven a Treasure incomparably better than that which you lose and such as is endless and none can rob you of 35. Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward 35. Do not then for nothing at last cast away the open bold owning of your Faith and Hope and with it all your Hope Labour and
ye have For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee 5. Let your hearts be kept free from the love of Money and the sinful desires cares and fears and troubles which thence arise and be content with God's Allowance be it less or more for his Promise to Joshua is applicable to all the Faithful I will never fail thee nor forsake thee 6. So that we may boldly say The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me 6. And as to our Dangers or Sufferings from men on the same account we may say as David did having the same Relation to God and the same Promises The Lord is my helper I will not fear man c. further my sin giveth me cause to fear that God may use them as the chastising Instruments of his Displeasure 7. Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the word of God whose faith follow considering the end of their conversation 8. Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever 7 8. Remember your Bishops or Guides both the Dead and Living who have spoken to you the Word of God Remember what Doctrine they taught you and how faithfully they preached and owned it in suffering and consider what was the main end of all their Doctrine and Life even Jesus Christ who is and will be still the same and no new Gospel or Doctrine which Corrupters do cry up 9. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace not with meats which have not profited them that have been occupied therein 9. Be not carried about as Children in a strong Wind Ephes 4.14 with various Doctrines or such as are new and strange to the Church of God for Christ and his Gospel being but one and the same still your duty and interest lyeth in establishing your hearts in the Doctrine and Covenant of Grace through Christ which is your Strength and the Bread of Life and not to Judaize and turn back to the shadowy abolished Ceremonies in Sacrifices and difference of Meats which did not truly purifie save and profit those that used them 10. We have an altar whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle 10. We are not without a more holy and profitable Sacrifice and sacred Food than theirs even Christ who is The Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the World whose saving Sacrifice we feed on by Faith and commemorate in our Communion whose broken Body and his shed Blood they did not partake of who offered Beasts in Sacrifice in the Service of the Tabernacle as we now do but were employed about the shadows of it And those that stick still in these abrogated Rites have no Right to our Altar 11. For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burnt without the camp 12. Wherefore Jesus also that he might sanctifie the people with his own blood suffered without the Gate 11 12. For as the Beasts slain for Atonement whose Blood was brought into the Sanctuary was not to be eaten by the Priest but burnt without the Bounds of the Camp of Israel So Christ when he was to be offered to sanctifie the People with his Blood went without the Gates of Jerusalem to suffer signifying that as they rejected him as unworthy to live with them so he departed from them and their Political and Legal State 13. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach 14. For here have we no continuing city but we seek one to come 13 14. So let us go out to him from the Jewish State and Ceremonial Law and also from the Heathen World and submit to the Reproach of the Cross which must be expected We must forsake both the Jewish Policy and the World or else we cannot follow Christ for the Christian Church is not fixed as the Jewish was to Jerusalem to one City nor have we any fixed state on Earth in which we may glory as our Home or abiding place but by faith in God's Promises through Christ we hope and seek for one to come even the new and heavenly Jerusalem 15. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his Name 15. Therefore instead of Jewish Sacrifices let us by Christ our great interceding High Priest offer daily to God the Sacrifice of Praise from a believing thankful heart and give thanks to him for Christ and all his Gifts and this hearty sincere Fruit of our Lips will be more acceptable than the Fruits of the Earth or any bloody Sacrifice of Beasts 16. But to do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased 16. But there is another sort of Sacrifice very pleasing to God also which you must not forget even Beneficence and Bounty doing all the good you can and communicating to the relief of those that need Note The name of Sacrifice and Altar as well as Priests used as here by allusion or similitude to those of old may lawfully be used as here they are and were by the primitive Christians even as the Lord's Day was called the Christian Sabbath It is no dishonour to Christ to say that we may offer Sacrifices acceptable unto God so it be but in subordination to his Sacrifice as our Gospel-worthiness is but subordinate to his Meritorious Righteousness 17. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you 17. God that hath made the Bishops or Pastors to be your guiding Rulers in Church-Affairs obligeth you to obey them and to submit your selves to their Government and not to live as unruly or in confusion for the charge of watching for your Souls is committed to them so far as belongeth to their Office by teaching publickly and privately and personally watching over the State and Conversation of every single Person to their power and instructing exhorting reproving comforting entrusted with the Administration of the Seals of God's Covenant and with your publick Church-Communion by judging of men's capacity and receiving or excluding binding or loosing by the power of the Keys And of all this they must give account to God which as it will be terrible to them if they be unfaithful so it will be to you if their faithfulness be without success which else will be to the joy of them and you And they have not any constraining power of the Sword and can govern and profit you only as voluntary by your own consent and therefore as you love your comfort and regard them and their Labours and Comfort obey them by obeying God's Word which they
for ever 17. These are like Wells that have no Water having a barren Profession that will not save them Clouâ—s that seem to be for fruitful Rains but are only for tempestuous Whirlwinds or Hurricanes dark in themselves both now and for ever as well as troublesom and hurtful to others 18. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity they allure through the lust of the flesh through much wantonness those that were clean escaped from them who live in errour 18. For when they boast of their extraordinary knowledge of Angels and other unknown things as the Hereticks described by Ireneus Epiphanius c. then did and withal make fleshly licentiosness to be Christian Liberty their vain boasting words are but to serve their fleshly lust alluring by base lasciviousness some who were quite come off from Heathenish and Jewish Errours 19. While they promise them liberty they themselves are the servants of corruption for of whom a man is overcome of the same is he brought in bondage 19. They tell the simple that flesh-pleasing and lust is part of their Christian Liberty and that we are ignorant that know not such things when under all these promises of Liberty they are the slaves of lust themselves being conquered by them and in bondage to them 20. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are again intangled therein and overcome the latter end is worse with them than the beginning 20. For if after they have been convinced of the Heathen abominations and filthy practices and have renounced them in Baptism and forsaken them and joyned in the Communion of Saints by the acknowledgment of Christ and the Christian Verity they shall again return to the practising of the same sins on pretence of Knowledge and Christian Liberty and so be overcome their end will be more sinful and miserable than was their Heathen state of ignorant pollution 21. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness then after they have known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them 21. For their sin and misery had been less if they had never known the way of Righteousness revealed by the Gospel of Christ than after they have known it to forsake the owning or practice of the Commands of holy and righteous living which they received Note Sins against present or former knowledge in great instances have dangerous aggravations as coming from contempt of God or odious depravation of Judgment after 22. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb The dog is turned to his own vomit again and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire 22. But it is with them according to the Proverb The Dog c. Their Natures were not renewed by the Holy Ghost and made Holy or Divine they were Dogs though they had disgorg'd their vomit and Swine though they were washt No wonder then if temptation draw them to return to their vomit and to the mire of filthy sin again Note What sort of men these here described were is not agreed on by all Expositors But thus much seemeth clear 1. That they were professed Christians 2. That they lived in sensuality and fornication 3. That they taught that these were lawful and the use of them was Christian Liberty 4. That to make this good they joyned with some Sect-Masters that boasted of more knowledge than the Apostles and their followers had as most Hereticks do 5. That yet they did not wholly separate from the Christian Churches nor the Churches cast out them as they ought For they are said to feast with them to be spots and blemishes to them And Rev. 2. 3. shews that too many Churches had such among them and did tolerate them and that whole Societies were in danger of being corrupted by them and the Churches threatned to be punished for having such Members 6. Whatever name some put on them its plain they were those that are called Nicolaitans in Rev. 2. 3. Qu. What if Bishops Priests and People should become such debauched covetous Sensualists and also set against serious godliness and seek the reproach of it as Hypocrisie and Fanaticism and the silencing and excommunicating of the most godly Ministers and People and so become a Gnostick or Nicolaitan Church Ans Forsake their local Communion if you can have better and if you cannot do not approve or commit any of their sin nor own any uncapable of the Ministry by Heresie or open enmity to Godliness but either worship God only in private or protest against their sin when you joyn with them only in good CHAP. III. 1. THis second epistle beloved I now write unto you in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance 2. That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour 1 2. This second Epistle with the former I write to you as to those that are pure from the evils which I describe but have need to be remembred of what you have learned from the Prophets and been commanded by us the Apostles of Christ 3. Knowing this first that there shall come in the last dayes scoffers walking after their own lusts 4. And saying Where is the promise of his coming for since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation 3 4. And I here first remember you that as you have been foretold in the last days before Christ's coming there shall arise unbelievers that shall make a mock at the promise of his coming and thereby harden themselves in a fleshly wicked life saying How long shall we stay ere we see Christ come What 's become of the promise of it which you so long awed men with It 's long since the Fathers who you say Believed in him were dead and none of them are risen again nor yet see Christ come the World continueth as it did from the Creation 5. For this they willingly are ignorant of that by the word of God the heavens were of old and the earth standing out of the water and in the water 6. Whereby the world that then was being overflowed with water perished 7. But the heavens and the earth which are now by the same word are kept in store reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men 5 6 7. For it must be long of themselves if men professing Christian Knowledge do not know what a change was once made since the Creation that God's Word made the Heavens and the Earth and that this Earth being partly in the Water and partly out of it separated from Seas and Clouds by this Water the world of men that lived in the days of Noah were drowned But by the same Will and Word of
God the Heavens and the Earth that are now are kept from being drowned being reserved to another sort of ruine even by Fire when the time is come in which God will publickly judge and destroy ungodly men Note It is strange how any Expositor can think that this Text speaketh only of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Gnosticks when 1. It is resembled to the drowning of all the World 2. And it speaketh of the Heavens and the Earth that are now which are more than Jerusalem 3. And it referreth to the promise to Noah to drown the World no more 4. And saith it is reserved to Fire 5. And that at the day of Judgment and Perdition of the ungodly and not of the Jews only 8. But beloved be not ignorant of this one thing that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day 8. But you must not ignorantly measure God's time by the measures of us men For one day is with the Eternal God as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day Time is soon gone with us but to Eternity it is as nothing 9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness but is long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 9. The delay is not because God is slack as to the performing of his Promises as slackness signifieth some culpable omission among men But it is because he is long-suffering to us men not delighting in or willing any mens destruction as such but that all should come to Repentance Note 1. God's will as totally distinct from all effects is only his Essence and is immutable and is not denominated his Willing This or That 2. But his Will which is but the Effects of his Essential Will is manifold and doth begin and end and change And 3. His Will as it is but the Relation of his Essential Will to these Effects and an extrinsick denomination from them is also manifold and mutable And it is in these two last senses that Peter saith that God is not willing that any should perish but all come to Repentance that is God hath provided a sufficient Sacrifice for their sin in Christ he reprieveth them from deserved damnation and patiently endureth them he offereth Pardon and Salvation to all that will accept it who hear his offer he giveth all the World undeserved mercy and obligeth them to repent in hope of more and bindeth all the World to certain duties as means of their Recovery and Salvation and useth none according to the meer terms of the Law of Innocency obey perfectly or die His daily mercies lead to Repentance and Hope He commandeth his Ministers to beseech them to be reconciled and saved He bringeth Life to their own wills and giveth them abundant reasons and motives to accept it c. 1. That he doth this de facto no Christian can deny 2. Therefore he is said to will their Repentance and Salvation 1. As these Effects of his Will are called his Will 2. Or as his Will is named only as related to these Effects Thus much well considered may end this Controversie 10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up 10. But as men sleep not knowing when a Thief will come in the night so shall Christ's coming surprize men unexpected in which the Heavens so far as they belong to man and partake of any of the Curse for our sins shall pass away with a great and dreadful noise like a storm and the Elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat and all this Earth and all mens works thereon shall be consumed by this fire Note It is marvellous prepossession that could make any Learned man think that all these words signifie nothing but the destruction of Jerusaâ—em 11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness 11. Note The true belief of the day of Christ's coming to Judgment and the dissolution of all this lower World by fire should convince all Christians that a holy conversation and godliness should be endeavoured with all possible care and diligence And those men that think they can be truly godly and holy over much do not believe seriously such a change and day 12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat 12. Looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of this day of God when the lower Heavens and Earth shall thus be dissolved and the Elements melt with the fervent fiery heat The joyful day of our perfect Deliverance and Salvation 13. Nevertheless we according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness 13. But we according to his Promise look that God should by these dissolving flames refine Heaven and Earth and having consumed with them all sin and the wicked hence should make as he formed this out of the Chaos a new Heaven and a new Earth an Habitation for righteous persons where sin shall prevail no more Note 1. He that maketh this new Heaven and Earth to succeed the destruction of Jerusalem surely forgot 1. That the Heathens for near three hundred years after persecuted the Christians far more bloodily than the few poor Jews did or could and that Church History saith very little of the Jews Persecution in comparison of the Heathens or of any Martyrs that died by them And sure if it was the time of the Ten Heathen Persecutions that was the new Heaven and Earth it 's strange 2. And if it were at three hundred years after Christ that the new Heavens and Earth come it seems far short of this here promised What was in the days of Constantine Martian and Theodosius they in Peter's days must never see But the day of Christ they were all to see 14. Wherefore beloved seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless 14. Note 1. It is not before death that Peter would have them look for this change whatever it was He lived not himself to see Jerusalem destroyed and he and Paul died by the Heathen Power though the Jews accused them and the Jews were more hated than they 2. Whether the new Heaven and Earth be as many of the old Fathers thought a restituâ—ion of all things to the state they were in before the fall for which the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain to be delivered and that either for a thousand years or for perpetuity and who shall dwell in the new Earth and whether Heaven
and it shall be made so like as that the same men shall inhabit both c. These are doubts which I think it must be the day of performance that must resolve As also whether accordingly there were other Heavens and Earth destroyed for sin before the Creation of this But Christians care should be to be diligent to be found in a state of safety and peace and without spot and blameless and leave unknown things to God and then whatever this blessed change be we shall have our part in it 15. And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you 15. And think not that God neglecteth you by delays but that he suffereth the wicked World so long that he may gather all his Chosen to Salvation that are yet to be born and called as Paul hath shewed Rom. 9. 16. As also in all his epistles speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other scriptures unto their own destruction 16. Note 1. They that refer in which to these things and not to his Epistles pervert the Text for it puts in which as contradistinct to other Scriptures and not to other things And it 's many other things much more than these that were wrested to destruction And Peter himself even here speaketh as hard things of this as ever Paul did 2. It pleaseth God to put hard things in the Scripture for our exercise 3. Yet it is mens ignorant instability that wresteth such to their destruction For there is as much very plain as may bring men to Salvation And if as to the difficult parts they will 1. But search as humble Learners 2. And not take on them to know before they do but confess their ignorance it may stand both with Salvation and the Churches Peace 3. And if they must by men be inclined to either side let them say plainly I hold not this by Divine Faith as part of my Religion but as an Opinion on the trust of Man 17. Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness 17. The scope of what I have said is to warn you that having timely notice of all these things ye most diligently take heed lest any of these sensual Professors or Heretical Backsliders or Scoffers deceive you in wavering or unbelief or heresie or sensuality to fall from your spiritual stedfastness in Faith and Hope and Holy living 18. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to him be glory both now and for ever Amen 18. But contrariwise labour diligently to grow in all grace in Faith Love Holiness Patience Hope c. and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ his Person Office Undertaking Performance Humiliation Resurrection Doctrine Example Spirit Intercession Glory Kingdom and Judgment That as Glory belongeth to him you may glorifie him now and in the sight of his Glory for ever Amen The First Epistle of JOHN the Apostle CHAP. I. 1. THat which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the word of life 1. Whereas there are of late many Heresies sprung up about the Person Doctrine and Works of Christ I shall declare to you that which was from the beginning his Godhead or say others that of him which was decreed from Eternity or as others that which is true of him from his beginning or Incarnation and that same Christ whom we have heard and seen with our Eyes and looked on and our Hands have handled even the Humane Body of Christ the Word of Life Or as others that Gospel which we have heard that Person and those Works which we have seen and him whom we have handled as these concern the Gospel of life 2. For the life was manifested and we have seen it and bear witness and shew unto you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested unto us 2. For Christ who is Life in himself and the Fountain of Life to us was manifested in flesh and we have seen him and bear witness and preach to you the Eternal Divine Life and Nature of Christ which was eternally one with the Father and was manifest to us 3. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ 3. I say we declare to you that of Christ which we our selves have seen and heard that so what we had by seeing and hearing you may have from our Testimony who have seen and heard Christ himself and so you may by our communication partake of the same Faith and Grace as we our selves do and may continue in our Communion and that is no other then to have the same Father and Saviour from and with whom it is that we have communication and communion and not to turn from them 4. And these things write we unto you that your joy may be full 4. And the end of my writing this to you is the compleating of your own Joy and Salvation 5. This then is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you that God is light and in him is no darkness at all 5. The first and great part of Christ's Doctrine and our Message is to teach us to know God himself and first that he is Light and in him is no darkness at all Note 1. The Apostle telling us what God is speaketh in the Abstract to let us know that it is his Essence and not a meer Accident that he meaneth And as God's Image in Man's Soul hath three essentiating faculties Vitality Vnderstanding and Will which are eminently self-motions Light and Heat or resembled by these so God is here called LIFE v. 1. LIGHT v. 5. and LOVE c. 4 v. 8. 2. When God is called LIGHT it is spoken but metaphorically and signifieth his KNOWLEDGE or WISDOM as it is his Essence and as Communicative giving the Light of Knowledge to all that have it and wisely Ruling them by his Laws And also the GLORY of this and all his perfections as refulgent to the Creature For Glory and Light are oft the same in sense 3. When it is said There is no darkness in him it meaneth No Ignorance nor Privation nor Vncomfortableness as Darkness is 6. If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lie and do not the truth 7. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all
and not the Holy Ghost's seven Graces that is here meant is after manifested 2. Why they are called Seven some say is because seven goeth for a number of perfection whence the Seven Planets the seven days of the week c. But this is but mens conceit and no part of God's Word Nor can we prove hence that God hath set seven Angels above all the rest But all that we can know of it is that John being commanded to write to seven Churches numbereth the Guardian Angels accordingly from their Charges 3. This is no Prayer to these Angels but a notice that God's Mercies are communicated to those Churches by their Ministry and this message sent by them from Christ The naming of the seven Spirits before Christ is no preferring them as above him But Christ is after named becausse much more is to be said there of him together 5. Why seven Churches only are named men variously conjecture some say because they are spoken of prophetically as in their names seven states of the Universal Church or its notable parts to the end are signified But this being impossible to be proved is rather to pretend another Revelation than to expound this Others say that it being only the Pro-Consular Asia that John wrote to these seven being the Metropolitan City-Churches did comprehend all the rest as parts under them But 1. Tâ—is also is but a Humane Imagination without any proof 2. If they mean that these were then made Ecclesiastical Metropolis's it 's a fiction without and against Historical evidence which tells us of a far later date of Metropolitical Churches 3. If they mean that they were Metropolis's only in a Civil sense and that the Apostles in planting Churches there purposed or ordained that afterwards Church-Power should follow the Order of the Seats of Civil Power I answer 1. That this is a crude unproved Assertion and therefore of no authority or credit 2. And it 's known that it was four hundred years after that this was decreed by a Council as a new thing 3. And this was so far from being Apostolical that it confounded the Church setting in superiority the worst men that could but get into a Metropolis and putting all Bishops and Churches at present under the Power of the People and Prâ—sbyters oâ— one City which was a Metropolis and chose their own Bishop Yea Dr. Hammond thought that then no Bâ—sâ—op had any Presbyters under him and so there wâ—re nâ—ne but his People to chuse him for the Neighâ—â—ur â—ishops did not though they ordained him Yea it turneth Churches upside down at the will of every Emperour Heathen Infidel or Christian who can enfranchise or disfranchise Cities at his pleasure 4. And there is no proof that these seven were all and only the Civil Metropolitical Cities of Asia 3. Both these then being mens unproved Imaginations yea and unlikely it remaineth that these seven Churches were most eminent in Asia both for greatness and those tryals vertues and faults which Christ was pleased to note as the occasion of this message And if he see cause to send a message to seven it belongs not to us to ask him why he sendeth to no more 5. And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the Kings of the earth 5. Note 1. By faithful witness is meant the faithful and certain Messenger and revealer of Gods will to man 2. By first begotten is meant both the Greatest and most Excellent and the first in order and causality who Rising from the dead is the cause that we shall Rise 3. He is Prince of the Kings of the Earth not only as Greater than all Kings but as over them all in power by whom they reign and who dâ—th dispose of all Eph. 2.23 Matth. 28.19 Joh. 17.2 Joh. 13 3. Joh. 5.22 Eph. 1.21 Col. 1.15 16 17. Phil. 2.9 10 11. 5. Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood 6. And hath made us Kings and priests unto God and his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen 5.6 To this Glorious Lord and Saviour who shewed his wonderful Love to us by his giving up himself a sacrifice for our sins that the Merit of his Blood might cleanse us from guilt and sin and justify us from it before God and who hath chosen and sanctified us and made us by his Grace a peculiar holy People to God dignified in our Relation to Christ as Kings in honour and brought us near to God like consâ—crated Priests to offer him our daily service acceptable through Christ To him I say shall be Glory and Dominion for ever in the acknowledgement whereof let all his Saints rejoice 7. Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him even so Amen 7. I have oft before enquired whether this Coming of Christ be 1. his Coming by the Roman Armies to destroy Jerusalem 2. Or his setting up Christianity in the World and destroying Heathenism 3. Or his Coming at last in Glory The matter is true as to all the three But the text seemeth most strained by the first exposition and least by the last Every way he is dreadful to his enemies But every eye seeth him not the first way nor did the destroyed Jews acknowledge it to be by him 8. I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty 8. I am everlasting before all Worlds and without end and he who hath Power over all Note These words seem to be the words of Christ and not of God the Father And with the sixth verse which ascribeth to him everlasting Glory and dominion do seem plainly to speak the Godhead of Christ 9. I John who also am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ was in the isle that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ 9. I John who was your brother and companion undergo the like sufferings as you do in the same belief and subjection to Christ in his Kingdom and in Patient enduring for his sake was in the Isle of Patmos whiâ—her I was banished for my Testimony and preaching the faith of Christ 10. I was in the spirit on the Lords day and heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet 10. I was there in a transporting rapture by the Spirit of God on the first day of the week called by the Church The Lords day observed in commemoration of his Resurrection And I heard a voice call to me as lowd as a trumpet Note 1. The vain cavâ—l of those that deny the Lords day here to mean the Christians day of holy worship even the first of the week I have fully confuted in
all the Idolater's Forces the Ruin of Dioclesian Maxim Herculius Galer Maxim Maxentius Licinius that so the Christians by and with Constantine might triumph And some think it is a weakning the Roman Power toward Euphrates to let in the Persians and others to afflict them 13. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet 14. For they are the spirits of the devils working miracles which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battel of that great day of God Almighty 13 14. As when Ahab was to be destroyed the Devil was a lying Spirit in the mouth of all his Prophets and bid him Go and prosper and Zidkiah made Horns to signifie his Victory so I saw as it were three Devils like the Frogs of Egypt or three lying Spirits sent by Satan and encouraged by the Idolatrous persecuting Emperors and by his flattering Oracles Augurs Orators c. to persuade all the foresaid Princes to fight against Constantine especially Maxentius and Licinius that they might fall as Abab and Pharaoh did Or say others They were Popish Missionaries and Priests and Friers sent out by Antichristian Civil Powers and Antichristian Ecclesiastical Powers to draw men to Popery and Idolatry that they may be destroyed when God shall judge them The day of God some take as before for Constantine's Victories against Idolaters others for the day of the Pope's Fall and others for the last day of Judgment 15. Behold I come as a thief Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame 15. My coming will be when men expect me not Blessed is he that prepareth not for Shame and Confusion when his Sin and Hypocrisie shall by my Judgment be brought to light by complying with the higher Powers in sin as thinking that I will be long in coming to take down Sinners and see up Saints 16. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon 16. The Devil's Prophets provoked them to gather and fight to their destruction Note Here the Dragon is expounded to be Devils And this word Devils in this Book usually signifieth those Idols Jupiter Mars Apollo c. which the Romans worshipped instead of God For Paul tells us It was Devils that they worshipped And it being the spirits of these Devils or Heathen Idols that are sent out it seemeth most probable that it is the War with the Heathen Idolaters that is here meant Dr. H. after Grotius noteth that in the Fight at Rome Maxentius had a hundred and seventy thousand Foot and eighteen thousand Horse of Romans Italians c. and Constantine had ninety thousand Foot and eight thousand Horse of Germans Gauls and Britains and that the Victory was of such consequence that from that day the Account of Years by Indictions began to commemorate the deliverance of City and Church which since is turned into accounting from the Birth of Christ But others say It is the day of the Fall of Antichrist And some say Of the destruction of the Turks And some say He that gathered them together is Christ or God by his permitting Providence for their destruction 17. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven from the throne saying It is done 17. The Angel that poured his Vial into the Air signifieth the coming down of God's Plagues from Heaven on the Generality of the Enemies And the Voice out of the Temple signifieth that it is done by God's Decree for the Vindication of his holy Worship and his Châ—â—â—h It is done That is The last Plague on the Roman Pharaoh is now pouring out and he is to be drowned in the Red Sea God's Judgments are accomplished for the Extirption of the Heathen Roman Empire and the revenging the Blood of the Saints shed by them As Pharaoh's Cruelâ—ies increased before the Israâ—lites were delivered so Dioclesian made the cruâ—â—â—st Slaughters before the Heathen Beast was to be destroyed and then they were ripe and the time was come Or aâ— others say The time of the Fall of Popâ—ry Anâ—â—christ Or as others The end of the World 18. And there were voices and thunders and lightnings and there was a great earthquake such as was not since men were upon the earth so mighty an earthquake and so great 18. The great commotions which went to these great changes and subversion of the Heathen Powers was represented to me as by Thundrings Lightnings and the greatest Earthquake Say some it is the changes by the Ostrogâ—ths and such others Say others there were literally such dreadful Earthquakes before Totilas took Rome Say others it is yet to come before Antichrists fall And say others before the day of Judgment 19. And the great city was divided into three parts and the cities of the nations fell and great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath 19. And Rome was then divided between Heathens Christians and worldly men that were indifferent for Religion Or say others Heathens Orthodox and Hereticks It 's taken from Ezek. 5. Others say that literally the third part was destroyed by Totilas and say others by Alaricus others say it is three in relation to the three Princes the Dragon the Beasts and the false Prophet others that Antichrist's Kingdom was falling by being divided in it self 20. And every island fled away and the mountains were not found 20. As Earthquakes shake Mountains and Islands so all the Dependents of Rome fell with it 21. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven every stone about the weight of a talent and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail for the plague thereof was exceeding great 21. God's Executions bruised and broke them as great Hail would do the tender Plants and yet they did but blaspheme God the more A Talent is threscore pound God's Judgments pursued the scattered Roman Citizens say some the Papists say others and all wicked Christians say others CHAP. XVII 1. ANd there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials and talked with me saying unto me Come hither I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters 2. With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication and the inhabiters of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication 1. Say some 1. I will shew thee what is coming from God on Imperial Heathen Idolatrous Rome who by Power and by Learning by the first and second Beast hath drawn Kings and Nations with her to Idolatry Others say it is Papal Rome and they prove it because if they had not been married to God
came in power 2. The Popes were most Martyrs and Sufferers till Constantines time and long after professed subjection to Emperours yea even to Arrians and to Usurpers And Alexandria and Constantinople used as much force as they It was 606 years before Phocas called Boniface the 3. the Universal Bishop by which he never meant the Universal Emperour or Civil Governour No nor Universal Ecclesiastical any further than the Empire It was long after this that the claim of deposing Kings as Excommunicate was set on foot by Gregory the seventh and long after that before it was determined in the Lateran Council Most Christian Kingdoms opposed it all along William the Conquerour and William Rufus and others in England Philip and others in France where it is denyed to this day and much in Spain The German Emperours Henry the fourth and fifth and Frederick and Otho long fought against it and some of them took Rome made and unmade Popes and used them as their Subjects The Princes of Italy themselves were from age to age almost always in War against the Popes The Eastern Emperours before mastered them till Pipin and the two Charles ' used the Papacy to usurp the Empire and after were Masters of the Pope themselves The very Citizens and Laity of Rome from age to age strove with them for the chief Power in Rome it self and oft overtopt them till they got Foreign Princes to help them To this day they claim not Imperial Power over other Princes save indirectly as nullifying the Title of the Excommunicate falsely pretending that they may excommunicate them and that Christians may then reject them as no Kings Is all this an Universal Empire and was Rome the Whore for 700 years or not It is supposed that Idolatry and Persecution make her the Whore and her Civil Power the Beast Transubstantiation is the grossest part of the first and that is a Novelty A few odd men wrote for it a little sooner but their Church owned it not by Law till the fourth Lateran Council under Inno. the 3. almost twelve hundred years after Christ And excess of Veneration to Saints and Angels most Churches on Earth owned and still own the Greek Armenian Abassine c. Our Divines have proved Purgatory and almost all their abuses of that tendency to be Novelties see Moulin de novit Papism Blondel de Eccles Rivets defence of du Pleslis c. Now here we are divided 1. Some say Rome was the Whore ever since 300 And so all or near all the Church of Christ in the Empire was the Beast or Whore or both except the few poor men in Piedmont and Languedock for I am of the opinion that they kept their Simplicity and Integrity ever since Dioclesians Persecution and then all the Glory of the bâ—st Ages of the Church is darkned into shame and the triumph for its deliverance from Pagan Captiâ—â—â—y turned to our confusion I have fully in my History of Councils described the mischiefs of Clergy-Ambition but never thought that such mens faults so overthrew all Christs Church in the Empire as to make it Antichristian A Holy Humble Ministry upheld it while some ambitious carnal Prelates troubled it As even a Heathen Am. Marcellinus witnesseth speaking of Damasus's case If Christ had no Church visible so many hundred years then he was no Christ or King of a visible Church which is a sad conclusion for opposers of Antichrist Doth he say worse against Christ himself 2. Others say that Rome began to be Babylon the 606 under Boniface the 3. and Phocas on the grounds before confuted 3. Others begin it under Boniface the Eighth 4. Others begin it with Hildebrands Usurpation over Princes between 1000. and 1100 years after Christ 5. Others begin it with Innocent the third who in the Lateran Council generally first owned that Usurpation and Transubstantiation and Bloody Persecution for it which before were owned but by little factious Parties 6. Others labour to prove that that Council made no Decrees and so that it was not setled then Now if Rome for 606 years or for 1000 or for 1100 years was not Babylon then Pagan Rome was not then nor Christian Rome and no man knoweth when it began to be so And then almost all our most confident late Expositions are quite overthrown But doubtless John was told of a Babylon a Whore a Beast which was much ealier than this The six or seven species of Pagan Government were not the Heads of a Christian Papal Beast that was to rise 1000 or 600 years after Christ See Bishop Barlows Pref. to his Brutum fulmen of their Novelty With these Reasons this sort of Expositors add the answer to the contrary objections And to the first they say that the Rising of the Beast out of the Sea doth but tell the order of the Vision to John and not that the Beast was not yet in being and it may mean Domitian or Dioclesian not yet come To the second they say the Objecters beg the Question 3. And so of the third 4. To the fourth they say that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth not continuance but operation to which some Copies joyn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he maketh War And they say that neither here nor cap. 11. of the Witnesses Preaching is meant a thousand two hundred and sixty years but Days as expressed even three years and a half 5. To the fifth they say it had the ten Crowned Heads which is the same States which were Crowned Horns when they became militant and cruel 6. They say that the Pagan Empire as the Beast commanding Idolatry was not to be obeyed 7. They say Pagan Rome is called Mystical not Literal Babylon and their Mysteries of Worship also were Idolatry 8 They say that it is not Antichrist sitting in the Temple but the Beast blaspheming it that this Text mentioneth 9. They say that Pagan Rome as such is totally desolate and for ever but the Papal is not 10. The faithful came away from Babylon's Idolatry and Sin before her Fall and were called on to avoid her most carefully just when she was falling lest just then the falling Babylon fall on them But Papal Rome being not yet fallen were no Christians these 1300 years under the reasons of that Call 11. They say Pagan Rome sold Slaveâ— and bought them and sold Souls to Idolatry worse than Popery 12. They say that the unmarried Heathens may be guilty of Fornication yea and of Adultery by reason of God's right to them And the Fornication here is but Idolatry and it 's sad to conclude that Heathen Rome was so Idolatrous 13. Lastly They say that their Senate and all the Learned Patrons of Paganism and Reproachers of Christianity better answer the Character of the second Beast and false Prophet than either the Popâ— as pleading for himself or his Agents pleading for his Civil Power I should next have told you the difficulties that pose me about the other Questions but
I fear perplexing the Readers and must not be so large I mention what I have done to tell you why I understand not the Revelations and cannot help it that I am no wiser than excellent Calvin nor than aâ— the Ancient Fathers though I disown their conceit of a future Antichrist at the end of the World I doubt not but many in blind zeal will call this my confessed Ignorance a warping towards Popery though I have long in my Writings against Popery confest the very same This I must bear from them that bear more from themselves and from whom the Church beareth more It 's a small thing for one man to be censured by those persons that censure hardlier almost all the Church of Christ on Earth But when I try whether they know any more than I I find little more than a believing that to be the sense of the Revelation which those good men say it is whom they most value Some will desire yet to know more of my own Opinion And I will freely tell it them I. I am much perswaded by impartial consideration of the Text that the Roman Imperial Power as the upholder of Heathen Worship of Devils Idols and themselves and a Captivaters of the Church of Jews and Gentiles was the first Beast and that Rome in that respect was Babylon and the Whore that made all Nations drunk with her pompous Idolatry And the whole current of the Book seemeth plainly to drive at this But many of the subordinate particulars I understand not II. Whether the Papacy be another Beast or Whore there meant and the Text mean two first Beastâ— and two Whores or the similitude notwithstanding so many dissâ—militudes and six hundred or seven hundred or a thousand years interruption make these two one or whether it be Antichrist that is the Beast I will neither affirm nor deny but see no evidence to prove the Affirmative III. What my Judgment is of Popery the Reader may fully see 1. In one Sheet enumerating its Errours 2. In a Book called The Safe Religion 3 In another called A Key for Catholicks 4. In two of the true Catholick Church against Johnson altas Terrel 5. In one called The Christian Religion certain without Popery 6. In one called Full and easie Satisfaction whiâ—h is the True Religion 7. One called Naked Popery Iâ— these satisfie not the Censurers Zeal him that is ignorant be ignorant and he that is wrathful be so still IV. I do judge of Popery by the knowledge of its particular Errours and Sins and not by the Revelations or any thing which I understand not If the Pope be the great Antichrist which I neither deny nor affirm because I know not as I have long ago confessed I think that it is formally as he is by claim the Vice-Christ Vicarius Christi and claimeth an Universal Soveraignty Ecclesiastical over the whole Church on Earth and not over a Nation only and that he began with that claim to which his many corruptions are joyned to make up a body of iniquity Were there no more to be said against that Church than 1. This claim of Universal Government 2. And the cherishing of Ignorance by forbidding the reading of the Scripture in a known Tongue without Licence and Latine Prayers and Service and an Ignorant Clergy 3. And the Inhumane Doctrine of Transubstantiation 4. And the vile corruptions of much of God's Worship 5. And their horrid Blood-guiltiness by which they do uphold their Kingdom called a Church I take those Popes and Papists who own all this to be liable before God to greater punishment than the Beast and false Prophet mentioned in the Revelations it being far worse to sin thus under the name of Christians and Christ's Vicar and holy Bishops than as Infidels and Heathens to whom as to Sodom it shall be easier in the day of Judgment than for these V. Therefore I judge that a Confederacy or Coalition with the Church of Rome in any of these sins or in the very form of a Church headed by a pretended Universal Head or Soveraign is to be abhorred by all sound Christians And I am glad that this Kingdom is sworn against all Foreign Jurisdiction Civil or Ecclesiastical though Union and Concord with all Foreign Churches must be as far kept as we are able not partaking of their sins But I have long agâ— in my Key for Catholicks proposed the desirable terms not for a Coalition but for neighbourly Peace that we may live in love and quietness and not as those that still take themselves bound to destroy each other VI. On these grounds I judge of Persons according to their Personal Guilt and not by the general name of Papists I abhor those that are wicked and that own the foresaid wickedness but not all that are called Roman Catholicks that live in the fear of God and in Charity I will try uncertainties by certainties and not deny Fundamentals in opposition to mens By-Opinions I am certain that I must love a Christian as such and that as much as in me lieth I must live peaceably with all men and avoid all unnecessary Division Wrath and Hatred and I am sure that Blessed are the Peace-makers for whatever Errour calleth them they shall be called the Children of God I am sure that I must unnecessarily speak evil of no man and that slandering and false-accusing are diabolical works and that â—he Wisdom is from beneath which causeth Envy and Strife and in a word that LOVE is Christ's Work and Character and Hatred the Devils But I am not sure that the Church of Rome hath these 1000 or 1300 years been the Whore and Babylon meant in these Texts nor that yet all Papists shall be tormented as worshiping the Beast or his Image c. I am sure that the Visible Church will have scandals and ambitious men and yet that its deliverance in Constantine's time and the following Ages was a wondrous mercy which Heaven and Earth did rejoyce in and praise God â—or And it was a great part of Christ's coming to Reign by Christian Princes and that the Kingdoms of the World were made the Kingdoms of Christ Therefore I dread the denying Christ these Kingdoms and reproaching even the best Ages of his Church on Earth as Antichristian lest I deny him to have any Church Visible at all or tempt men to Infidelity by saying that Christ is so little a King and came to so little a work in the World as to have no Church save the persecuted part till An. 300 and the Reformers since 1560 save a few latent persons Men will judge of the Workman by his work and of Physicians by their Cures And though it be honourable to save one Soul they will tempt men to dishonour Christ that call almost all his Church Antichristian I would not slander one man but should I mistake and slander millions for thirteen hundred years together how great were my guilt VII I dread the turning
that the foresaid Castle was by Maximianus Herculius overthrown to the very ground and utterly destroyed because Amandus Elianus Christianae Cultores Fidei who were of the Christian Religion would not be subject to the Sacrilegious Roman Princes For the same Maximianus having gathered an Army of Romans and joyning to him the Legion of the Theban Soldiours drew towards them that he might utterly destroy the Castle of the Bagauds And passing over the Alpes with his Army and resting weary about Octodurum commanded to invite all to the Fanatick Sacrifices and to take an oath upon the Sacreds of the Gods that they would with one mind fight against the troops or companies of the Bagauds And the rest of the Christians whereover found he decreed should be kill'd by all men But when this came to the ears of Maurice Captain of the Theban Legion viz that Cesar commanded them to fight against Christians he said to him the Emperour we know how to fight against Impious men but to destroy godly men and Fellow Citizens we are utterly ignorant We hold our Arms you see but we resist not for we are readier to die than to kill And so they joy fully yielded their necks to the Executioners and by the Torment of their Bodies past to the heavenly glory Then Cesar proceeding and coming to the Castle of the Bagauds so long besieged it by Land and Water till after a long time he took it with the possessors whom he kill'd with Sword and Fire And so brought to nought the Castle that besides the ruins of the ditches no signs appeared of any Fortifications As among other Castles it was tumid with Munition more excellent than the Imperial so by the Roman Emperour it was brought lower by destruction And the Inhabitants of the said Castle who as I before noted were Chirstians despising the care of their Body for the Love of God are to be believed to have passed to the heavenly Kingdom by Martyrdom so far this Author See also the Life of St. Maurice in Histor Lombard It is called saith Ferrarius Bagadarum Castrum and S. Maur des Folsez teste Vignerio to this day and is pag. Gal. ad Matronam fluv apud Parisios And turned to a Monastery You may see more yet in Martinij Onomast in the word Baquetes for that he maketh after Scaliger to be their Countrey name and their Enemies after used it for the Title of Rebells and Rogues and Seditious People I conclude with Martinius his words hereon Et talis est mos c. Such is the manner of some who being titled or called Clement delight to be Inclement The end of whose Reputation and Government is as was their predecessor Rehobaam Ambition and Luxury do this so great weight is in that one Rule MODERATE THINGS ARE DURABLE and the Prudence in Publick and Family Government to proportion our Expences to our Estates c. But it will not be better with human affairs as long as the Wisdom from above is excluded and the Wisdom that is earthly sensual and devilish taketh place in the World But yet let not the suffering of any evil draw us to do any evil For it is the greatest evil not to be able to bear evil Out of all this it is evident 1. That the horrid oppression and cruelty against Christians in Dioclesians time did drive these Christians in France to a rustick self-defence under the conduct of Amandus and Elianus 2. That it was for refusing to fight against them that the Theban Legion was decimated and 70 killed say some and with all for not swearing and sacrificing to the Gods 3. That it was the great numbers of Christians whose multiplication Eusebius describeth in Dioclesians daies that caused him to destroy them lest they should grow too strong for him as Pharaoh did by the Israelites 4. That yet these self-defending Christians sped worse and suffered more than they had done if they had fled 5. That those that the Pagan Emperour called Rebells and Seditious Rogues such writers as the Author of the Life of that Babolen doubt not to number with glorified Martyrs How well let them answer II. But what is all this to the Popes of Rome Ans It seemeth clearly to be the Successours of these that the Popes after murthered For 1. There is no doubt but though many that took Arms were kill'd and their Castle demolished the far greatest part were not in Armâ— and therefore saved themselves by flight and hiding specially Old Men and Women and Children 2. No doubt but they fled to the most Mountanous and deserted parts as safest 3. No History tells us of their flying so far as the Aged and Women and Weak could not go but to Languedock Piedmont Rhetia and about the Alpes 4. The People murthered by the Popes were found most in those same Countreys and are of the very like description That there were some Manichees among them who disgraced the rest and made Bernard Peter Cluniacensis and Walafr Strab. and others accuse them hardly it is no wonder The Apostles Churches had Heresies Luthers Reformation was accompanied with many disgraceful Sects nor is it marvel that we read of no great noise against or about them for some hundred years after Dioclesian and that they were not called Albigenses Waldenses c. till of late For it was many hundred years after before the Bishops turned to persecute their Fellow-Christians openly And when they did these were poor people and harmless fled as the Britains into Wales where they were niether a desireable prey nor any great annoyance to any And when some Teachers after more openly cryed down the Popes Tyranny and Corruptions then they began to be more defamed and persecuted 5. Reynerius that well knew them testifyeth that they were more dangerous than new risen Sects because they boasted of their Antiquity that they were called Apostolicks and had continued what they then were from the days of Silvester And Silvester lived in Constantines time and was Bishop of Rome about An. 314 and so lived in Dioclesians time so that either these Albigenses were the Successours of the murdered Bagauds or another sort just like them in the same Country which no reason can imagine Of their Antiquity see more in Paul Perin and Morlands History of them but especially at large in Bishop Usher de Successione Ecclesiarum I think then it is manifest by this History that the bloody Popes and Papists did murder the same sort of Men yea three or four times more in number by Sword and Inquisition not only there but in Germany Bohemia Poland c. whither they were disperst which Dioclesian and Max. Herculius murthered and yet honour St. Maurice and the Theban Legion that would not fight against them as they do St. Martin that separated from the Bishops that were but for killing a Gnostick Priscilianist And it is not the Name of a Heretick that will Cloak such hypocritical Cruelty or