shall we passe through it Christ himselfe will be our leader in it As hee is both the sacrifice and the Priest so he is the way and the guide the way Hee doth not say an High-Priest but simply a Priest because there is no other sacrificing Priest save CHRIST in the New Testament Not a small one but a great one great in person being God and man great in power for heaven and earth are his great in goodnesse and mercy that will have compassion on our weaknesse and if we happen to faint he will support us by the way For his superiority and preheminence over the house of God that is the Church 1 Tim. 3.15 Heb. 3.6 Moses was over the house of God yet as a servant Hebr. 3.5 Christ as the Lord and King the commander in the house he over a part of Gods house in Iudea Christ over the whole house dispersed over all the earth All Ministers in some sort are over the house of God Who is a faithfull servant that his Lord may make rule over his house that bee over you in the Lord 1 Thes. 5.12 So Moses was over the house Yet a great difference betweene them and Christ. A noble man is over his house and his steward is over his house Christ as the Lord and owner of the house wee as his stewards to give you your meat in due season A singular comfort to all that be of this house that such a one as Christ is over it Some houses have tyrannicall governours which scrape all to themselves and have no care of them in the house Christ is not such a one he hath a loving and fatherly care of all in the house Some householders would provide for their house and cannot they want ability Christ Iesus that is over this house is both able and willing to provide all things necessary for us Therfore let us be of good comfort we shall not want the thing that is good The Church is God's house All England is the Kings dominion White-Hall is his Chappell so all the world is Gods empire but the Church is his house therefore let us behave our selves wisely and religiously in the house of God Will any make the Kings house and Ale-house to quaffe and swill in A brothel-house to commit adultery in and shall we that be in the Church the house of God be drunkards adulterers wicked and lascivious livers As wee bee in Gods house so let us demeane our selves accordingly VERSE 22. HAving such a wise loving and mighty Priest let us come unto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 namely to God by him by the invocation of his name asking boldly all things necessary for this life and the life to come as also let us draw neere to him by an holy life and blamelesse conversation They that make an outward profession and deny him in their lives are farre from him the others are neere and walke with God as Enoch Some interpret it Let us draw neere to that heavenly Sanctuary which is opened to us whereunto we draw neere with a true heart But especially this is to be understood of prayer This drawing neere is not so much with the feete of our bodies as with the feete of our soules The way whereunto is chalked out to us and wherein our High-Priest directeth us for it must have relation to all that went before Now we draw neere to heaven by prayer and an holy life A true heart voyd of hypocrisie and dissimulation for God heareth not hypocrites though they make never so goodly a shew and have never so glorious words 2. An assured faith which purifieth our hearts Act. 15.9 there must be no doubting in faith Iac 1.6 Though thou beest as tall a man as Saul yet thou art not the neerer to heaven but if thou sendest many prayers to heaven and hast thy conversation in heaven then thou drawest neere to heaven Being sprinckled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to our hearts from an evill conscience There was a sprinckling water in the time of the Law made of the ashes of the red Cow wherewith the people were sprinckled Num. 19.9 their bodies were sprinckled with that but our soules must be sprinckled with the bloud of Christ. From an accusing conscience that our sins are washed away in the bloud of Christ. We should have no more conscience of sin Heb. 10.2 our consciences should no longer pricke us for sin because being justified by faith we have peace with God and there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus This afterwards breedeth sanctification 1 Pet. 1.2 There be many false-hearted wretches in the world such as Iudas was that kissed Christ and betrayed him at the same time there bee many that pretend love to religion and yet have none in them such were those Ezek. 14.1 Such were the Pharisees whited tombes and painted Sepulchers such were the Sadduces that came with a notable glosse to our Saviour Christ and there is a number of Hypocrites at this day that maske under the Vizard of Religion He that made the heart knowes the heart and will one day discover them to their shame Therefore if we draw neere to God let it be with a true heart least hee say to us as to them this people draweth neere to mee with their lippes but their hearts are farre from me If wee be falsehearted men though we carry never so glorious a shew God cannot abide us but if we be true-hearted men though there be many weakenesses and infirmities in us he will accept us in Christ Iesus Behold a true Israelite said Christ of Nathaneel There bee true Israelites and false false cloathes glasses clockes c. Faith is like the Moone sometimes at the full sometimes in the wane But seeing Christ hath merited our salvation God hath promised for Christ's sake to bestow a kingdome on us therefore let us not doubt of it That is to doubt of the sufficiency of Christ's merit and of the Word of God How shall wee come to this full assurance If our hearts bee sprinkled from an evill conscience by the bloud of Christ. By nature have we all bad consciences accusing us for sinne In many things we sinne all All those sinnes lye as an heavy loade on our consciences and make us to cry out ô my sinnes they will not suffer mee to bee quiet day nor night but being sprinckled in our hearts with the bloud of CHRIST we shall no more be vexed with the sting of an evill conscience because Christ hath dyed for all our sins Happy are they that be thus sprinckled Our hearts being sprinckled from an evill conscience our bodies must be washed with pure water It is not enough to have a good soule to God-wards though that is the chiefe but our bodies also must be washed with the pure water of the HOLY GHOST Our eyes must be washed from unchast lookes our eares from rash receiving of reports one against another our
Priest in the time of the Gospell 1. For number they were many for their office they stood ministring every day 3. For the sacrifices they offered alwayes the same and that often 4. For the inability or insufficiency of them they could not take away sinne The manner of our Priest 1. He is but one whereas they were many analysis 12 2. His sacrifice was but one and that once offered Verse 10. 3. His was propitiatory for sinnes whereas theirs were not 4. Hee sitteth as Lord he stands not as a servant as they did and hee sits not on an altar on earth but at the right hand of God in heaven The which glorious sitting of his is first amplified by an effect an expectation of his friends to come to him for whom he dyed analysis 15 and the overthrow of his enemies Then it is ratified by a reason taken from the power and vertue analysis 14 of his sacrifice If by that one offering which hee made on earth before his Ascension into heaven he hath perfected his for ever then he may well continue in heaven still at the right hand of GOD but c. Ergo. analysis 15 This opposition is confirmed by a divine testimony out of the Prophet Ieremie Where 1. An allegation of it 2. A ratiocination or reasoning thereupon In the allegation 1. The Author analysis 16 17. Then the matter analysis 18 From whence he deduces this reason concluding the efficacy of Christ's Priest-hood and sacrifice If remission of sins be fully procured and obtained by the one sacrifice of Christ in the New Testament once offered then there is no more oblation for sin but c. as appeareth by the testimony afore cited ergo the latter An exhortation to holinesse of life is deduced upon the former doctrine The former part of the Epistle hath beene doctrinall delivering many excellent poynts of doctrine concerning the person and offices of our Saviour Christ. In his Priest-hood he hath beene more ample because greatest controversies were moved about it The latter part of the Epistle is morall shewing what use we are to make of the former doctrine to Verse 20. cap. 13. In this exhortation 1. A generall proposition comprehending summarily in it all things belonging to a Christian à 19. to 32. 2. A particular unfolding of it In the generall proposition 1. The substance of the exhortation to 26. 2. The necessity of it à 26. to 32. In the substance 1. The foundation whereupon it is built 19.20 21. 2. The matter whereunto wee are exhorted The foundation whereupon it is built is the consideration of many singular benefits which wee reape by CHRIST they are in number three analysis 19 1. The opening of the Sanctuary of heaven to us which is illustrated 1. By the key whereby it is opened the bloud of Iesus 2. By the manner of entring into it not with feare and trembling quaking and shaking but with boldnesse 2. By the way that leadeth to that Sanctuary the sacred body analysis 20 of our Saviour Christ wherein he made satisfaction to the wrath of God for our sins Which is described 1. By a similitude 2. By the author and consecrator of that way 3. By the qualities of the way 3. It is illustrated by the guide and leader to conduct us in that way which is set forth by his office by his greatnesse by his superiority and authority The matter of the exhortation which is a generall drawing neere to God amplified by the manner of it not so much with the analysis 22 outward man as with the hid man of the heart not with a false but with a true heart 2. The particular duties or vertues wherewith we must draw neere to him which are foure 1. Faith 2. Hope 3. Love 4. Christian exercises for the preservation of love Of these he entreateth afterwards Of Faith Chap. 11. Of Hope Chap. 12. Of Love with the exercises thereof Chap. 13. Faith is illustrated 1. By the propriety thereof which is a full assurance 2. By an effect which it engendreth which is the comfort of a good conscience as they in the time of the Law were sprinckled with the bloud of beasts Exod. 24.8 So being justified by faith our hearts are sprinckled with the bloud of Christ whereby being purged from all our sins we are delivered from an evill accusing conscience and have peace with God The second vertue is hope the profession whereof is stoutly to analysis 23 be kept and maintained by us The which keeping is 1. Amplified by the efficient cause thereof which is the washing of us with the pure water of the Spirit whereby we are made fit to make and hold this profession 2. By the manner how it is to be kept without wavering 3. By a reason to excite us to the keeping of it taken from the nature of God the pillar on whom our hope leaneth If God bee faithfull that hath promised eternall life to us which wee hope for then let us keepe the profession of it but God is faithfull that hath promised eternall life to us which we hope for ergo let us keepe the profession of it The third is love whereunto we are to provoke one another 1. Love is commended to us 2. A breake-necke of love is removed analysis 24 V. 25. The vertue of love is amplified 1. By an antecedent that must goe before it the considering one of another and by a consequent that necessarily followeth love which is good workes The exercises for the preservation of love are two 1. A reverend estimation of Christian assemblies a notable analysis 25 nurse of love which is set forth by the contrary And from that he dissuadeth us by the example of some in his time which is to be avoided by us 2. A mutuall exhorting one of another whereunto he spurreth us by a consideration of the neerenesse of the day of judgment confirmed by their owne testimony If the day of Iudgement bee at hand wherein wee must give account how wee have behaved our selves in this present life what soules we have wonne by our diligent exhorting one of anothor and what we have lost by the neglect of that duty then let us carefully exhort one another But the first is true as you all see therefore let the latter be practised by us analysis 26 The necessity of the exhortation depending upon the wofull destruction of them that contemne it If they that despise this exhortation forsaking the fellowship of the faithfull and setting light by the blessed sacrifice of our High-Priest shall drinke deepely of the Cup of Gods vengeance then it behooveth us all to regard it but they c. Ergo. In this we have two things 1. A demonstration of their lamentable end Ver. 26.27 2. A confirmation of it In the demonstration of their lamentable end 1. Their sinne then their punishment Their sin is set forth 1. By the nature of it it is a willing sinning 2. By the time when
ashes of that ashes a certaine water was to be made which being sprinckled on them that were uncleane by the touching of a dead body c. it did sanctifie them and made them capable of the Tabernacle being purified by that water they might goe with the rest of the people into the place of Gods worship This Cow was a type of Christ. 1. As shee was Red So was hee dyed red in his owne bloud 2. As she was without spot or scab or any disease So Christ was without the spot of sin 3. As shee was never used to the yoke no more was Christ to the yoke and servitude of sin 4. As she dyed so Christ. Therefore if the water made of her ashes was precious much more the bloud of Christ sprinckled on our consciences In the proofe of this hee doth not insist because it was confessed by the Iewes So I thinke holy water may sanctifie touching the purity of the flesh If a man have dirt on his face when he is about to enter into the Church their holy water may take it away but it cannot helpe for any spirituall thing to scare away Devills or to put away veniall sins VERSE 14. THerefore he proceeds to the Apodosis Where 1. The sacrifice of Christ. 2. The end of it Not equally but much more Then the bloud of a beast The which he illustrateth by diverse circumstances 1. By the Person that offered this bloud he was Sacerdos victima 2. By the Party or power by the which he offered it Some by the eternall Spirit understand the Holy Ghost as by him he was conceived in the Virgins wombe by him lead into the wildernesse to bee tempted Mat. 4.1 So through his assistance he offered up himselfe but by the eternall Spirit is rather meant the eternall deity of our Saviour Christ 1 Pet. 3.18 19. As hee was man consisting of flesh and bloud So he was also God an eternall and incomprehensible spirit From this his infinite and unspeakeable deity the bloud of CHRIST received a power to make satisfaction for our sinnes Whereupon it is called the bloud of God Acts 20.28 The bloud of none that was a meere man could doe it if CHRIST 's bloud had not beene offered up by his eternall spirit it could not have purchased our redemption The bloud of Martyrs was offered up by the assistance of the HOLY GHOST yet it was not meritorious it was not that but the power of the deity that made Christ's bloud meritorious 3. By the thing offered not any brute Creature not a man an Angell but Himselfe 4. By the quality of the thing offered even in respect of his humanity and for that cause his bloud was more forcible 5. To whom to God As a full satisfaction for the sins of the world Then he comes to the efficacy of the bloud of Christ deduced out of the former the bloud of Goats and Bulls did purge the flesh and outward man this the conscience and inward man In some Greeke copies it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our consciences All stand in need of purging We have a double benefit by the bloud of Christ justification and sanctification from dead workes that is sins Now from these dead workes that lay as an heavy loade on our consciences the bloud of Christ purgeth us Sinnes are called dead workes 1. Because they come from dead men 1 Tim. 5. Verse 6. Eph. 2. Verse 1. 2. Because they engender death Rom. 6. ult The bloud of CHRIST purgeth our consciences from all sinnes so as our consciences cannot accuse and condemne us for sinne because it is washed away in the bloud of CHRIST Hebr. 10.2 Rom. 8.1 The second fruit issuing from the former is our sanctification that being thus justified wee may be sanctified in soule and body to serve the living God Luk. 1.74 He is stiled the living God 1. Because he lives of himselfe and that for ever 2. Because hee makes us by his spirit to live a spirituall life in this world 3. Because hee will raise us up from a corporall death at the latter day and cause us to live with him for ever in the world to come 1. Grievous is the sting of Conscience This chest worme gnaweth sore this made Iudas to cry out I have sinned in betraying innocent bloud This made Iosephs brethren to condemne themselves when no man laid any thing to their charge verily wee have sinned in that wee saw the anguish of his soule when hee besought us and wee would not heare This made those Iohn 8. that seemed holy men to the eye of the world to depart out of the Temple one by one being convicted of their owne consciences This was truly said to be mille testes Now how shall wee stoppe the mouth of these thousand witnesses We are all miserable sinners our consciences accuse us of innumerable sinnes but here is our comfort the bloud of Christ sprinkled on our consciences purgeth us from all sinne being justified by faith wee have peace with God Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God 's Elect it is CHRIST that hath dyed yea rather that is risen againe that with his owne bloud hath entred into the holy place and hath made an eternall expiation of our sinnes Let us all entreat the Lord to apply the force of this bloud to our consciences dayly more and more 2. There bee living workes a reverent using of the name of GOD a cheerefull and reverent hearing of his word temperance chastitie sobriety liberality c. these come from us when wee live by faith in the Sonne of GOD there bee also dead workes blasphemie swearing lying covetousnesse pride oppression envie hatred malice and these are to bee abhorred of us all 1. Dead things stincke If wee meete with a dead carkasse by the way wee hold our noses even so sinnes blasphemie prophanations pride envie hatred malice covetousnesse these stincke in the nostrills of God Almighty therefore let them be detested by us 2. Dead men are forgotten I am as a dead man out of minde So let not our mindes run on these dead workes on the profits of the world the pleasures of the flesh let these dead things bee no more remembred 3. That which is dead must be buryed give me a place to bury my dead out of my sight as Abraham said to the sons of Heth Gen. 23.4 Idolatry blasphemy all sins are dead things therefore let them be buryed 4. Dead things are abhorred of us We shun dead things by the way we will not come neere them so let these dead workes be abhorred of us Wee decline those things that bee deadly wee will drinke no poyson because it will kill us we will not goe where the plague is least wee dye All sins are deadly they will bring us to everlasting death therefore beware of them If wee meet with a dead body by the way wee decline it yet the savour that comes from it can but
writing by his Apostles The Testatour is Christ the thing bequeathed is an inheritance the legataries are the faithfull the witnesses to it are his Apostles Act. 1.8 The seales are the Sacraments the exequutor is the HOLY GHOST Ioh. 14.16 which is CHRIST 's Vicar on the earth a faithfull exequutor that will give us our legacies to the full and deprive us of nothing Our SAVIOUR is dead therefore his Testament is of force Object If CHRIST 's Testament was of no force till his death then how could they in the time of the Law have remission of sinnes and eternall life Sol. In seeing the day of Christ by the eye of faith as Abraham did it was not in force complemento till Christ dyed acceptatione it was This eternall inheritance could not have come to us without the death of our Saviour Christ. If hee had not dyed wee could never have had possession of this inheritance therefore how are wee to love the Lord Iesus that hath ratified this inheritance to us by his bloud Let the consideration of the death of Christ worke a death to sinne in us all that as he hath dyed for us to procure this inheritance so we may dye to sin daily more and more Seeing the Testatour is dead we may assure our selves of this inheritance bequeathed to us by his will It is a rule in Law debts must be payd before legacies and oft-times under the colour of paying debts the legataries goe long without their legacies It cannot be so here our Saviour Christ left no debts to pay he ought nothing he departed cleere with all men therefore we may be sure of our legacie All the devils in the world cannot keepe us from it VERSE 18. DEdicated to God by certaine Solemne rites and ceremonies Hinc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the feast of dedication Ioh. 10.22 Much lesse should the latter bee ordained without bloud VERSE 19. TO the Law as God required Exod. 24.8 Every precept being spoken by Moses Some thinke that all the people are said to be sprinkled because the twelve pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel were sprinckled Others thinke that some few of the elders were sprinckled instead of all the rest Or all may be put for a great part In a manner all of them were sprinckled VERSE 20. YEt it was the bloud of heifers or of Goates but it is called the bloud of the testament because by it was signified Christ his bloud which is the maker of the Testament to this did our Saviour allude Matth. 26.28 this is the bloud of the New Testament which was shed for you Beza translates it that God hath commanded to you as if it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but rather expound it which God hath commanded subaudi to be carryed to you The bloud of Calves and goates sprinckled on the people in the time of the Law was a figure of Christ's bloud sprinckled on our consciences Object Here wee may learne say the Rhemists that the Scripture containes not all necessary truths when neither the place to the which the Apostle alludeth nor any other doth mention halfe these ceremonies but he had them by tradition Sol. I but all these are contained in the Scripture The booke was sprinckled on the Altar or at least with the respersion that was cast on the people For the purple wooll and hysop Levit. 14.51 there is the water too Ribera sayes all these are necessarily collected for there could be no sprinckling without them Vnder the peace offerings Exod. 24.5 are comprehended Goates appointed to peace offerings as wee may see Levit. 3.12 The meaning of these words is nothing else but this is a significant token of the bloud of the New Testament that is to bee shed for your sins This bloud sprinckled on the people was a significant type and figure of the bloud of our Saviour Christ whereby the New Testament is confirmed to us That was the bloud of Goates and Heifers this of Christ the immaculate Lamb of God 2. Moses was the sprinckler of that bloud the Holy Ghost is the sprinckler of this 3. That was sprinckled on the face or garments of the people this on our hearts and consciences 4. The aspertorium the sprinckling sticke there was made of purple wooll and hysop the aspertorium here is faith With that doth the Spirit or God sprinckle on us the bloud of Christ. 5. That sprinckling did but sanctifie the outward man this the hid man of the heart 6. The force and power of that sprinckling lasted but a while the efficacy of this sprinckling continueth for ever Therefore let us all be desirous of this sprinckling As the Woman of Samaria said Lord give me of that water So let us say LORD sprinckle us with the bloud of CHRIST continually It is a comfortable thing for a man to bee sprinckled with sweet water it is a sweet smell and refreshes him but nothing so sweete as the bloud of CHRIST sprinckled on our soules and consciences by faith Let us desire the Lord to sprinckle this bloud on us dayly more and more that being washed with it wee may bee made fitt for the Holy Hierusalem and remaine with Christ for ever and ever Hebrewes 9.21 NOw followes an application of the rites and ceremonies belonging to the Tabernacle 1. A narration of them Verse 21.22 2. An accommodation of them The rites are two 1. The rite of consecration or sanctification Lev. 16.14 16. 8 15 18. 2. The rite of purification some by fire some by water Num. 31.23 In all things are comprehended also all persons An accommodation is made of these rites by the way of an antithesis or opposition whereof there be foure members 1. An application of the things Verse 23. 2. Of the place Verse 24. 3. Of the actions Verse 25.26 4. Of the use Verse 27.28 The things are applyed by way of opposition It was necessary that the types of heavenly things should be purified with such externall things for the purification of the flesh or outward man But c. The sacrifice of Christ is termed sacrifices in the plurall number and yet is but one because the fruit and efficacy of it is derived unto many So the wisedome of Christ is set forth by seven eyes his power by seven hornes Apoc. 5.6 The Holy Ghost being but one spirit it is called seven spirits Apoc. 1.4 The place is applyed by way of opposition 1. In respect of the nature that was made with hands this without 2. Of the use or end there the High-Priest did appeare before the Arke and Mercy-seate which were figures of Gods presence here our High-Priest appeares before GOD immediately without figures for us The third is an application of the action or service the dissimilitude whereof consisteth in three things 1. There the High-Priest went often into the holy place here our High-Priest went into heaven but once 2. He went with other bloud ours
faith submitted themselves to his ordinance so must we with the hand of faith imbrace the Sacraments of the New Testament Some Atheist might object against them to what end is a little water laid on the forehead of the childe as Naaman said Are not Abana and Pharpar Rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel So say they is not the water in the pompe as good as the water in the Font Wherefore doe we receive a little Bread and Wine so solemnely in the Church at the celebration of the Lords Supper May we not have as good in every Taverne I but if we have faith wee receive them as pledges of the body and bloud of Christ with hearty thanksgiving to GOD yea as exhibiting the same The bloud of the Lambe on the doores of their houses did assure them of their deliverance from the plague and judgement of God that though never so many were slaine among the Egyptians yet none of their first-borne should lose their lives so the water in Baptisme must assure us of the washing away of our sins in the bloud of Christ. The Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper must assure us of the Body and Bloud of Christ that as we eate and drinke the one with our mouth so we eate and drinke the other with our hearts in so much as CHRIST is one with us and we with him Our reverent use of the Sacraments in the feare of God is a token of faith they that contemne the Sacraments that regard them not that care not though they come not at the Communion once in a yeere nay in five or ten yeeres they feele no want of it these declare to the world that they have no faith Moses keeping of the Passeover was a Touchstone of his faith and our usage of the Sacraments will bewray our faith The Paschall Lambe was a type of Christ whereupon he is called our Passeover 1 Cor. 5.7 He was the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world Not a bone of the Paschall Lambe might be broken Exod. 12.46 So Not a bone of Christ could bee broken Iohn 19.36 This Passeover was an adumbration of Christ. And the Effusion of the bloud of the Lambe was a figure of the effusion of the bloud of Christ Heb. 12.24 As the bloud of the Lambe sprinkled on the doores of the Israelites kept away the Destroyer from them So the bloud of Christ sprinkled on our consciences 1 Pet. 1.2 keepes away the Devill from us Where this bloud is sprinkled by the sponge of faith there the Devill can have no entrance nor possession This no doubt they likewise saw by the eye of faith and let us desire to be sprinkled with this bloud more and more Whether it were a good or evill Angell is a question more curious than commodious for the most part Executioners among us are bad men the scum and off-scouring of the Countrey such as have no piety nor religion in them yet sometimes a good man may be a Kings executioner as Benaiah was to Salomon 1 Reg. 2. Punire malum non est malum sed facere malum malum est So it may please the High and Eternall GOD to use good Angels in the execution of his wrath They are as ready to be instruments of his justice as of his mercy It might be a good Angell that slew 70000. with the Pestilence in three dayes space that slew an hundred fourescore and five thousand in Senacheribs Campe in one night and it was a good Angel for ought we know that destroy'd the first-borne in Egypt it was an evill Angell that deceived Achab it was the Devill that afflicted Iob but it may be a good Angell that destroyed the first-borne of the Egyptians Whether it were or no it makes no great matter it doth not much concerne us If we feare God and serve him we need feare no Angels they be Traitors not loyall Subjects that feare the Kings Guard Feare not the rod but him that striketh with the rod. The rod cannot smart nay it cannot move without the striker Let us feare Almighty GOD that useth creatures as his rods at his will and pleasure and then we shall not need to feare any creature whatsoever Whom did the Angell destroy The first-borne which of all the children are deerest to the parents Men glory most of the first Apple the tree beareth loe this is the first Apple that my tree bore So the first fruit of our body is most joyfull and welcome to us Now the Lord being displeased with the Egyptians a stubborne and rebellious people he takes away their first-borne and this was the last arrow which he shot against them as the deadliest and heaviest of all If we love our children let us love GOD if we desire to keepe them let us keepe in with GOD he gave and hee can take away at his pleasure if we provoke him by our sins whom we ought to love most hee will bereave us of that which wee love most If wee have one childe deerer to us than another by one meanes or other he will deprive us of it the best way to keepe our children is to serve him who gave us our children The Lord will preserve his though the wicked bee destroyed 2 Pet. 2.9 Touch not mine anointed and doe my Prophets no harme A thousand shall fall on thy right hand c. but it shall not come neere thee No doubt thousands fell in Egypt being a populous Countrey yet the Israelites are not touched It cannot be denied but that sometimes the godly are involved in the same temporall plague with the ungodly Good Iosiah was slaine in the battell behold hee whom thou lovest is sick A good man may be sick yea sick of the plague yea dye of the plague too Iob was a singular good man yet his seven sonnes and three daughters were all touched the house fell on them altogether they were all slaine at one stroke Neverthelesse sometimes it pleaseth GOD to make a difference there was howling and crying among the Aegyptians my son is dead but not one dyed among the Israelites God sets a marke on his children that the Destroyer seeing it may not touch them If God for the sinnes of England should send a destroyer into England though there should be an intended massacre of Protestants by the Devillish and bloud-sucking Papists yet if God see it good he shall not touch any of his servants If he doe for in these outward things we must referre our selves to God yet the bloudy instruments of death shall prove golden keyes to open to us the doores of the kingdome of heaven VERSE 29. HEre 1. The miraculous preservation of Gods people 2. The fearefull destruction of their enemies Their preservation is illustrated by the instrumentall cause the place where and the manner how they were preserved They men women and children both Moses and all the Israelites It is