Death Secondly the Grave Thirdly Coals and Flames of Fire Which shew forth the vehement Power and Force of Divine Love to Jesus Christ Which cannot be quenched First Love is compared to Death and the Grave Metaphor Parallel DEath and the Grave overcome the strongest Men it prevails over the most powerful wise and learned in the World neither can the most mighty Monarch encounter Death or stand before it there is no discharge in that War SO Love that is in the Heart of a sincere Christian prevails against all Difficulties and Oppositions Temptations Afflictions and most cruel Sufferings and Torments that can be exercised upon them as appeared by the blessed Martyrs Nothing is too hard for Love it cannot be subdued it overcomes all Sin and Suffering whatsoever II. Death and the Grave seize upon every part of the corporal or mortal Body II. So Love when shed abroad in the Heart seizeth upon all the Faculties of the Soul Hence it is that true Christians are said to love Christ with all their Hearts and with all their Souls Metaphor Disparity DEath and the Grave put an end to natural Life and so cause all Motions or Actions from thence to cease BUt Love hath that Virtue as it is a Grace of the Spirit that it sets all the Faculties of the Soul upon Acts of a spiritual Life None are so lively as those that truly love Jesus Christ II. Death overcomes and destroys that which we would if possible keep viz. our Lives that are most dear to us II. Love only overcomes that which is offensive and contrary to us or that stands in opposition to the Soul's Union with Christ making that which would be injurious to Flesh and Blood to become profitable and advantagious yea tho it be to the Loss of Life yet Love takes away the Fear of Death and makes the Soul willing to part with Life for Christ's sake Love is also compared to Coals and Flames of Fire Metaphor Parallel COals and Flames of Fire are of a burning and consuming Quality THe Grace of Love kindled in the Soul of a Believer burns up and consumes that inordinate Desire which is naturally in the Heart after the Things and Vanities of this World it eats up and consumes all carnal and sensual Lusts whatsoever all fleshly and combustible Stuff or Things that stand in the way are burnt up and destroyed by it II. Coals and Flames of Fire are of a purging and purifying quality II. So the Grace of Love purgeth cleanseth and purifieth the Soul the Dross and Filth of the Heart and Life being wasted away a Christian is made holy sanctified and heavenly thereby III. Coals and Flames of Fire are of a melting and softning Nature they make things tender and pliable meet to receive the Impression of a Seal c. III. So the Grace of Love softens the Heart and melts it making it pliable and very fit and capable to receive the Impression and Divine Image of God IV. Some Fire is so vehement that Water thrown upon it will not quench it but rather cause it to burn more fierce and vehemently IV. The Grace of Love is of such a strong and vehement Nature thâ—t it is impossible utterly to quench or extinguish it in the Soul tho the Devil daily useth all his Strength and Skill to do it Many ways he continually assaults Believers when Temptations of one sort fail he trieth others he offers worldly Pleasures Honours Riches yea all the Goods as I may say of his House but all is in vain nothing will quench this Divine Flame the true Christian utterly contemns him with all he hath The grand Design of Satan's courting a Man with all his Offers All this will I give thee c. is to gain his Love or draw off his Affections from Jesus Christ If this Way will not do he tries another and brings Afflictions and Crosses upon the Soul but over these likewise is a Saint a Conqueror Which makes the Apostle break forth into this holy Triumph Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ Shall Tribulation or Distress Rom. 8.35 36 37 38. or Persecution or Famine or Nakedness or Peril or Sword No none of these things can For I am persuaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor Things present nor Things to come nor Height nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. V. Fire hath Light with it V. So the Grace of Love is attended with the Knowledg of Christ who is the Object of Love Ignoti enim nulla cupido VI. Coals and Flames of Fire afford Heat they are of a warming and reviving Nature VI. So the Grace of Love heats our cold and frozen Hearts it warms and revives them with sweet and blessed Love and Zeal for God and his Glory VII Flames of Fire ascend or tend continually upwards See more of the Nature and Quality of Fire where the Word of God is compared to it VII So the Grace of Love darts the Desires of the Soul Heavenwards Such have their Affections set on Things above Col. 3.1 2. Metaphor Disparity FIre is from beneath it is earthy and one of the four Elements THe Grace of Love is from above it is a supernatural Grace it grows not in Natures Garden But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love c. II. A violent Fire may be quenched and all natural and elementary Fire shall be put out Mount Aetna shall not burn always II. But the Grace of Love this Divine Fire can never be quenched it shall burn to Eternity Charity never faileth c. Inference BY these Things Works and Operations we may try whether we have true Love to Jesus Christ or no. And for a further Help therein see the following Metaphor Christ's Love compared to Wine Cant. 1.2 For his Love is better than Wine WHereas Christ's Love is preferred to Wine it is to be understood Synecdochically so Ainsworth Wine here is put for the most pleasant joyful refreshing and cordial Things as Bread by the same Figure is frequently put for such things as strengthen c. The Love of Jesus Christ is better than Wine or whatsoever Men esteem to be good or to excell in Nature and Virtue Metaphor Parallel VVIne is the Fruit of a good Tree a choice and precious Plant and 't is the best of natural Liquors THe Love of Christ is the Fruit of the choicest Plant that ever was planted Men and Angels are not to be compared to him See Vine And his Love is the best and choicest of Love Wine is natural but his Love is Divine and supernatural None ever loved as Christ loved II. Wine is pleasant delectable and sweet to the Taste II. There is nothing so pleasant and delectable to a believing Soul as the Manifestation of Christ's Love it excells all things for sweetness III. Wine is to be
see Corruption XIII The Fire which consumed the Burnt-Offering came down from Heaven signifying that that Wrath which seized on Jesus Christ in the Garden and on the Cross came from Heaven or that it was God's Wrath due to us for our Sins that consumed him Or as others it may be on better reason give it that that which moved Christ to suffer for Mankind was wholly his heavenly sacred and divine Love XIV This Fire was to be continually upon the Altar signifying the Unchangeableness of Christ's Love to his Elect and recâ—nt Virtue of his Death and Merits The Burnt-Offering of Fowls Levit. 1.14 a Type of Christ THe Fowls that were appointed for Burnt-Offerings were to be Turtles or Pigeons signifying the Meekness and Innocency of Christ II. The Neck of the Fowl was to be pinched with the Nail that the Blood might go out but not that the Head should be pluck'd off from the Body signifying how Christ should die and shed his Blood yet thereby his Deity as the Head or principal Part should not be divided from his Humanity nor yet by his Death should he who is our Head Joh. 14. be taken from his Church but should rise again and be with them by his Spirit forever III. The Blood thereof was strained or pressed out at the side of the Altar before it was pluck'd and laid upon the Altar to be burned signifying thereby the straining or pressing out of Christ's Blood in his grievous Agony in the Garden before he was taken Luke 24.44 and stripp'd to be crucified c. The Daily Sacrifice a Type of Christ THe Daily Sacrifice was a Lamb So our Saviour not daily but once for all was offered unto the Father himself as a Lamb without spot II. It was slain in the Morning and in the Evening to shew that Christ was a Lamb slain from the Morning of the Creation or in the Decree of God from the Foundation of the World tho not actually till the Evening of the World or latter Days III. It was to be offered up with fine Flower beaten Oil and Wine to shew that Christ by his Death and Oblation becomes not only a Redemption for us but also spiritual Food Gladness and cheering Comfort IV. Where this Sacrifice was offered Exod. 24.42 the Lord promised and appointed to speak unto Israel and shew himself signifying that in Christ and through his Death and Bloodshed the new Appointment or Covenant of his Grace and Manifestation of his Love and Favour is established to his Church and faithful People The Sin-Offering a Type of Christ THe Blood of the Sin-Offering was to be poured out shewing how the Blood of Jesus Christ our true Sin-Offering should be poured forth II. The Priest saith the Lord shall dip his Finger in the Blood of the Beast and sprinkle thereof seven times before the Lord shadowing the Perfection of that Expiation and Satisfaction for Sin which Christ should make in the virtue quality and perpetuity thereof the Number of Seven being the Number of Perfection Heb 9.29 III. The Priest shall bring in the Blood of the Bullock into the Tabernacle of the Congregation shewing thereby how Christ should enter into Heaven by his own Blood Heb. 9 1â— having obtained eternal Redemption for us IV. The Priest was to take some of the Blood Mark 16.15 Mat. 28. and put it upon the four Horns of the Altar signifying thereby that the preaching Remission of Sins by the Atonement of Christ's Blood should be proclaimed to the four Corners of the Earth V. The Bodies of those Beasts whose Blood was brought into the Sanctuary by the High-Priest was burnt without the Host or Camp signifying that Christ should suffer without the Gate teaching us also to go forth into a publick Profession Heb. 13.11 12. and bear his Reproach VI. The Priest was to eat the Sin-Offering in the holy Place whose Blood was not brought into the Tabernacle of the Congregation signifying that Jesus Christ doth not only reconcile us to God but also feed and nourish the Souls of all his Royal Priesthood unto eternal Life VII The Priest shall make Atonement still this is repeated always signifying that 't is Christ our High-Priest and his Sacrifice only that makes a real Atonement and Reconciliation for our Sins The Meat-Offering Lev. 2. what it was a Type of THe Meat-Offerings as Ainsworth observes were nine and all of them came to the Altar 1. The poor Man's Meat-Offâ—ring Lev. 5.11 2. The Jealousy-Offering Numb 5.15 3. The Meat Offering of Initiation which every Priest offered when he first entred into his Service Levit. 8.26 28. 4. The Meat-Offering which the High-Priest offered every day Lev. 6.20 5. The Meat-Offering of fine Flower 6. The Meat-Offering baked on a Plate 7. In a Frying-Pan 8. In an Oven 9. Wafers 1. The Minchah or Meat-Offering saith he was primarily a Figure of Christ's Oblation Eph. 5.2 who gave himself for us an Oblation and Sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling Savâ—ur Sacrifice and Oblation Minchah thou wouldest not but a Body hast thou prepared me c. Above Heb. 10.5 8 9 10. when he said Sacrifice and Oblation and Burnt-Offerings for Sin thou wouldest not c. Then said he Lo I come to do thy Will O God c. by which Will we are sanctified through the Offering of Christ once for all So that in the Oblation of Christ's Body this Legal Service was accomplished and ended 2. It figured saith he the Persons of Christians who through him are cleansed and sanctified to be pure Oblations unto God 3. It figured saith he the Fruits of Grace and good Works that Christians are to perform both towards God and Men. 1. Towards God Let the lifting up of my Hands saith David Psal 141.2 be as the Evening Minchah or Oblation So when God told the Jews I will not accept a Minchah or Meat-Offering at your Hands he addeth For from the rising of the Sun Mal. 1.10 11. even to the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every Place Incense shall be offâ—red unto my Name and a pure Meat-Offering Which is fulfilled when Men pray every where lifting up holy Hands c. 2. Towards Men see Heb. 13.16 Phil. 4.18 4. All the Meat Offerings were of Wheaten Flower except the Jealousy-Offering and the waved Sheaf yea and ought to be of fine Flower signifying the Purity and Perfection of Christ as also that we should offer our best Things to the Lord. Eph. 5 2. Rom. 12.1 5. Oil and Incense was put thereon The Oil saith he signified the Graces and Comforts of the Holy-Ghost and the Incense or Frankincense shewed how acceptable Saints and their Services are unto the Lord. 6. It must be brought to the Priest and he shall bring it to the Altar shadowing that 't is by Christ and his Oblation that we and our Works and Duties are
live in newness of Life amongst the Saints in the Kingdom of God II. When one is buried he ought to be covered all over with Earth else 't is no Burial II. When one is baptized he ought to be covered all over with Water or else 't is no Baptism Which fully appears 1. From the Nature of Burial 2. From the proper and Metaphorical Significations of the Word as is largely opened 3. From Scripture-Practice which always was by Dipping as all the Learned that are impartial acknowledg 4. From the constant Practice of Antiquity who retained the right Form until Clinical Baptism viz. such who deferred their Baptism till their sick Bed came to be used about Cyprian's time in the third Century These Clinici so called because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 baptized in their Bed were such as delayed their Baptism until their Death-Beds because they believed it would take away all Sin and that there was no Pardon if they sinned after receiving it yet not daring to go out of the World without this great Badge of Christianity deferr'd it till they thought they were in danger of Death And since they could not without peril of Life be dipp'd Sprinkling was invented to serve the turn For a like Reason as was said before they changed the Mode of Administration with respect to Infants when their Baptism was introduced out of regard to their tender Constitutions especially in cold Countries Seasons This was the Original of Sprinkling and sprung purely from the abuse of Baptism and the Want of the right Subject as by Divine Aid shall be demonstrated in a particular Sheet impartially and from undoubted Authority One may with as much reason be said to be buried when Clay or Earth is thrown upon his Head only as to be baptized when Water is poured upon his Head or Face And if the one be no Burying 't is as certain the other is no Baptism And he that affirms that Sprinkling may represent or symbolically express the Death Burial and Resurrection of Christ does at the same time speak without colour of Truth Word of Sence and against all the Reason in the World As breaking of the Sacramental Bread visibly betokens that Christ's Body was broke and as the pouring forth of the Sacramental Wine represents the gushing forth of his Blood so the Sacramental Dipping in Water viz. Baptism represents his Death and Burial and the coming from under the Water his Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.2 3 4 c. III. Burial precedes the Resurrection or raising of the dead Body to a State of Immortality III. The Immersion of the Party baptized precedes his Emersion or coming out of the Water which symbolizes or answers to two things 1. The Resurâ—ection of Christ 2. Our rising again to Newness of Life Buried with him in Baptism wherein ye are also risen with him c. as in the Text. Inferences FRom the whole we may rationally conclude That the Administration of this great Ordinance by Sprinkling which comports not with the Literal nor Metaphorical Signification of the Word nor those great Mysteries represented by it viz. the Death Burial and Resurrection of Christ is disorderly and should be rectified 2. It is a Motive to excite us to admire and reverence the great Grace and Goodness of Christ who hath given us such a visible Symbol of his Death Burial and Resurrection not only to confirm our Faith but also to prevent our being deceived by any seducing Spirits 3. It is not to be wondred at that such as deny the Man Christ Jesus but preach up the Light within to be a Saviour should reject these two great Ordinances stated in the Scripture viz. Baptism and the Lord's Supper because such as deny the Substance are necessitated to deny the Sign Persons of this Judgment may be easily confuted For when ever the Term Baptism is mentioned and God or Christ represented as the Agent it must be understood of the Baptism of the Spirit in the Sence before spoken of When ever Baptism is mentioned as the Act of any Apostle or Minister of the Gospel it denotes Water-Baptism because these have neither Power nor Commission to baptize with the Spirit and with Fire And when ever the Baptism of Blood and Suffering is mentioned it must be understood of Persecutors or ungodly Men who murther destroy or afflict the Godly for neither God without Blasphemy nor good Men without a wrong application of the Term may be said to baptize that way So that when we meet with the Act of Baptism as the Act of a good Man we must of necessity understand it of Water-Baptism in the same Method and Mode of Administration as was practised by the Apostles and Primitive Christians and that being a positive Institution with respect to the Subject and Manner of Administration is not to be deviated from upon any pretence whatsoever unless we will suppose the Laws of the Almighty to be in the Power of Man so as that he may dispense at pleasure with them which is not to be done without sufficient Authority from God himself which is no where to be found 4. If the Laws of the great unerring Sovereign of all things are to be observed without variation unless it be by his express Direction then we are to conform exactly to his Order in this part of the Evangelical Law and to practise it no otherwise than he has prescribed because it was once so delivered to the Saints 5. We would caution all that would approach to this sacred Evangelical Ordinance unless they be dead to Sin that is such as truly and really hate Wickedness and the empty Vanities of the World and unless they have a prospect of and long to have an Interest in that never-fading Inheritance promised by our dear Lord Jesus to his Children not to prophane this blessed Institution Because if they want the due Qualifications of serious and converted Souls viz. Faith Repentance and good Lives they are hereby entitled not real Members of Christ but Hypocrites and incur as great a Hazard as such do who eat and drink unworthily of the Lord's Supper The Lord's Supper 1 Cor. 11.23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you That the Lord Jesus the same Night in which he was betrayed took Bread Verse 24. And when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you This do in remembrance of me THe Papists affirm That after the Words which they call the Words of Consecration spoken by the Mass-Priest the Bread is changed into the real Body of Jesus Christ and many of the blessed Martyrs in Queen Mary's Days were burned to Ashes for denying this Transubstantiation Which absurd and monstrous Conceit of theirs hath been learnedly confuted by many ancient and modern Writers so that it may be thought needless to add any thing here upon that account yet that we may make our way
that God had brought upon them was the Cure But why saith God should I afflict or chastise you any more or use Means for your Help and Healing when under the Use or Exercise of that Sovereign Means I have used you grow worse and worse 'T is said of the Man that went from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among Thieves Luk. 10.30 that he was not only stript of his Raiment but wounded also My Wounds stink and are corrupt saith David and in another place he cries out Lord Psal 88.51 have mercy upon me and heal my Soul for I have sinned against thee From whence it appears Psal 41.4 that a godly Man may be wounded by his Sin and that sorely too Every Sin makes a Wound in the Soul what a fearful Case are unconverted Souls then in O that Sinners would but consider this See Sin a Wound and Sickness X. Some Persons that have been taken captive and brought into Prison and Bondage besides other sad Circumstances they have been under they have been brought under the Sentence of Death nay and for their horrid Rebellions Treasons c. under a fearful and painful Death as to be torn in pieces or burned alive X. The Ungodly who remain Captives to Satan being under the power of their Lusts or abiding in the State of Unregeneracy are not only under all the sad Circumstances you have heard but to render them every way miserable as in truth their present State is they are under the Sentence of Death Perhaps some would conclude that Death to such Persons I have given the Character of is better than Life and with Job they had better chuse it Alas it would be so indeed were it to die the common Death of all Men. Death puts an end to all the external Miseries of Mortals but the Death of Sin 's Captives is quite another thing They are condemned to be burned to be burned alive too but this is not all to lie burning in the Fire of God's eternal Wrath for ever where they shall be always dying but cannot die Where the Worm dieth not and the Fire is not quenched Captive Disparity CAptives that are so only to Men are but externally enslaved BUt wicked Men that are Slaves to Sin and Satan are captivated in their Souls notwithstanding as to the Body they may be at Liberty as to outward Thraldom II. Some Persons may be free and at Liberty in their Souls at the same time when they may be Captives as to their Bodies and so their Captivity may seem less grievous to them II. But it cannot be so said of a wicked Man for whatever Misery befalls his Body 't is abundantly aggravated by and from the Captivity and Slavery of his Soul nay in the enjoyment of his greatest outward Liberty he is in dreadful Thraldom by Sin and Satan III. Captives that are so only to Men may and have been redeemed with Money III. But spiritual Captives such as are in Bondage to Sin and Satan cannot be redeemed with Money It is not Silver or Gold that can purchase the Redemption of one of Satan's Slaves for the Redemption of the Soul is so precious that nothing can make a Compensation for it but the precious Blood of Christ 1 Pet. 1. IV. If no other Means can procure the Liberty of Captives that are so only as to their Bodies yet Death sets them free and those to whom they are in Bondage have no more to do with them IV. But wicked Men living and dying in Bondage to Satan and their own Lusts cannot be free by Death but are thereby put into an irrecoverable State of eternal Misery from which there can be no Redemption being delivered up to Satan V. Some that are Captives only in their Bodies are so sensible of their Misery and Thraldom that they seek and desire to improve all Means imaginable for their Deliverance V. But some wicked Men are not only insensible of their Bondage to the Devil and their own Lusts but are lifeless as to any ways or means of Deliverance Tho Means be used daily to convince them of the dreadful Danger of their Bondage-State and of the Way and Means of their Redemption yet through the Blindness and Hardness of their Hearts they rest at quiet in the Devil's Prison where they are shut up as Captives And that which declares their greatest Thraldom and Misery is they refuse all the Tenders of Grace in order to their Redemption nay set light by Jesus Christ who came to proclaim Liberty c. VI. Captives to Men only may may be redeemed and set at Liberty and yet so captivated by them again as that they may die in Slavery VI. But wicked Men tho the saddest Captives imaginable in respect of Misery and Thraldom yet if set free by Jesus Christ they shall be no more the Slaves of Satan Joh. 8.36 For those whom the Son makes free are free indeed free from the Dominion and Power of Sin and Satan here and free from the Wages of Sin which is eternal Death hereafter Inferences Quest SOme may say If this be the State of unconverted Men and Women they are miserable Objects indeed But is there no Relief nor Help for these poor Captives must they perish inevitably and be damned for ever Answ God forbid There is good News for these Slaves and Captives of Sin and the Devil a Gospel to be preached to them God is full of Bowels were there no Deliverance to relieve it would be sad beyond what any are able to conceive But to prove that there is Salvation and Relief for the vilest Sinners consider these three things following 1. The Lord Jesus hath purchased Deliverance for them he hath laid down a satisfactory Price or Ransom for those Captives who through Faith in him shall obtain Deliverance 2. Christ is ordained and anointed to preach glad Tidings to them Luk. 4.18 Isa 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the Poor He hath sent me to heal the Broken-hearted to preach Deliverance to the Captives and recovering Sight to the Blind and to set at Liberty them that were bound 3. Many who have been in the like State of Captivity and Bondage have been set at Liberty Thousands that have been Slaves of Sin and Satan through the infinite Mercy of God are now in a perfect State of Freedom Such were some of you 1 Cor. 6.11 saith the Apostle but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Sirs what blessed News is this for poor Sinners Suppose a Man who is a Slave or Captive and suffereth justly for his Sin were stript naked and put into a Dungeon bound with cruel and heavy Chains wounded in a most fearful manner from Head to Foot and only fed with Ashes and Gravel-stones and in this Condition were condemned
due Preparation which doth consist in these four or five Particulars 1. A sincere Confession of those Sins which we find out upon diligent Search and Examination 2. Godly Sorrow for the same manifested by putting away the Filth of the Flesh We must come with clean hands and a pure Heart 3. We oughtt to forgive those who have offended us Christ commands us to be reconciled to our Brother The Apostle exhorteth us to lay aside all Malice We must not eat with the â—â—leavened Bread of Malice and Wickedness 1 Cor. 5.8 4. Faith in the Death and Blood-shedding of Jesus Christ 5. We ought to do it in remembrance of his Death 1. With an affectionate Remembrance The Sight of our Eyes ought to affect our Hearts 2 A sorrowful Remembrance in contemplaton of what our Sins brought upon our dear Saviour They were the Thorns as I may say that crowned him and the Nails that fastened him to the Cross 3. With a Sin-loathing and self-abhorring Remembrance 4. With a thankful Remembrance Tho we have cause of Sorrow considering the Nature of our Sin and horrid Evil thereof yet there is great cause of Joy and Thanksgiving to behold a Saviour who in Bowels of Love died to redeem and save us from them Quest How may a Christian with much comfort upon examination receive the Lord's Supper Answ 1. If there is no Sin in thy Heart or Life which thou regardest or doest allow thy self in bearest with or connivest at 2. If thou dost loath Sin as well as leave it when 't is not only out of thy Conversation but out of thy Affection also To hate and loath Sin is more than to leave it Persons never willingly leave or forsake that they love 3. If thou canst say in truth that thou wouldest be made holy and doest labour after it as well as to be made happy to be throughly sanctified as well as to be saved live to God here as well as live with God hereafter to have Sin mortified as well as pardoned 4. If Christ is most precious to thee and hath the chiefest Room in thy Heart If upon Trial thou findest these things are in very deed wrought in thee thon mayest with much comfort come to the Sacrament Quest Of what Vse is the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to us Answ 1. It shews the horrid Nature and Evil of Sin in that nothing could expiate it nor satisfy the Justice of God or make a Compensation for it but the Blood of Jesus Christ 2. It shews the wonderful Love of God to poor Sinners in giving up his own dear Son to die the cursed Death of the Cross for us 3. It shews the wonderful Love of Jesus Christ who freely laid down his Life for our sakes Greater Love hath no Man than this Joh. 15.13 Rom. 5.8 10. that a Man lay down his Life for his Friend but Christ hath laid down his Life for us when we were Enemies to him by wicked Works 4. It tends to encrease our Love to Christ and our Faith in him 5. It shews us that Christ is our Life and how and by what means we come to be saved 6. It seals the Covenant of Grace to us giveth us in the right use of it much assurance that Christ is ours 7. There is a mystical Conveyance or Communication of all Christ's blessed Merits to our Souls through Faith held forth hereby and in a glorious manner received in the right participation of it 8. It may animate and encourage us to suffer Martyrdom when called to it for his sake Christ our Passeover 1 Cor. 5.7 For Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us THe Passeover or Paschal Lamb being a most eminent Type of the Messiah of which see our Sacred Philology in the Chapter of Sacred Rites where you have the Reason of its Typical and Metaphorical Representation we shall here run an apt Parallel betwixt that illustrious Type and the most holy Anti-type Type Parallel THe Paschal Lamb must be without blemish entire whole sound not blind nor broken not sick nor bruised SHadowing forth the Perfection and Innocency of Christ in whose Lips were found no Guile As a Lamb without blemish and without spot II. He was to be a Year old II. Signifying the Experience Christ should have of our Miseries whereof even a Day 's continuance yields sufficient proof as also that Perfection of Christ in like sort And that in fulness of time he should come and suffer a Year being a perfect Revolution of the Sun's Course Guild III. It was to be taken out of the Flock III. Christ was taken from amongst Mankind Heb. 2.14 Forasmuch then as the Children are Partakers of Flesh and Blood He also himself likewise took part of the same c. IV. It was to be separated from the Flock IV. Christ was separate from Sinners V. It was to be slain and that in the Evening V. So Christ died saith Mr. Ainsworth in that season viz. in the Evening of the Day also in the Evening of Time in the latter Age of the World VI. The Blood was to be sprinkled on the Lintel Exod. 12.7 and Door-Posts that the Angel seeing the same might pass by VI. Signifying that Christ's Blood must be applied by us and where Christ is received 1 Cor. 1.30 and the Soul sprinkled by Faith Sanctification outwardly will appear in the Practice of the Life VII The Lamb was to be roasted with Fire Vers 8. VII Moses unvailed p. 62. Signifying saith Mr. Guild the Agony of Christ in the Garden and the Wrath of his Father which he did endure both in Soul and Body It was a Sign either of the Spirit of God which is compared to Fire through which Christ offered himself or of the Fire of God's Wrath Heb. 9.14 which he suffered when he was made a Curse for us VIII It was to be roasted with Head and Legs and the Appurtenances thereof that is it must be roasted all and whole not cut in pieces VIII This signifies our full Communion with Christ whole and undivided Ainsworth 1 Cor. 13. Gal. 2.20 IX No Bone of the Lamb was to be broken IX Os nullum illius Agni frangi voluit Deus c It signifies that not a Bone of Christ should be broken as it was prophesied of him X. The Lamb was to be eaten X. Christ is spiritually to be received and fed upon Joh. 6.55 My Flesh is Meat indeed c. Verse 9. XI It was not to be eaten raw XI Noting that we should be well prepared when we come to the Sacrament Guild XII It was to be eaten all and with unleavened Bread XII Signifying that in Christ nothing is unprofitable or to be rejected and that we ought to eat with the unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth XIII It was to be eaten with bitter Herbs XIII Which typified forth the bitter Sorrows and Sufferings of Christ and that we should eat
of Death I will fear no Evil for thou art with me c. VI. The Myrtle-Tree never sheds its Leaves VI. The Righteous are said to be like a Tree whose Leaves wither not Psal 1.3 they hold fast the Profession of their Faith VII The Myrtle-Tree is said to yield a sweet and fragrant Scent VII The Saints yield a sweet Savour to God and Man Now thanks be to God 2 Cor. 2.14 15. which always causeth us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifest the Savour of his Knowledg by us in every Place For we are of God a sweet Savour of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish Saints compared to Willow-Trees Isa 44.4 And they shall spring up as among the Grass as Willows by the Water-Courses THey shall spring up c. That is the Off-spring of Jacob the true Seed or Covenant-People of God As among the Grass as Willows by the Water-Courses As Willows grow and spring up by the Water-Courses so the Saints of God are said to flourish or spring up Simile Parallel VVIllows are so called because they mostly grow near to Brooks and always prosper best near Rivers and Water-Courses contrary to some other Trees as the Cypress and Chesnut-Trees which love not watery Places THe Trees of Righteousness viz. the Saints grow best near the River of God i. e. where the Springs of living Water flow forth It is the Influence of the holy Spirit which is compared to a River Joh. 7.37 38. that causes Believers to spring up and grow so sweetly II. Remove a Willow that grows by the Water side and plant it upon a Heath and you will soon see it decay and wither II. So if a Christian be removed from Christ or hindred of the sweet Influences of the Spirit and divine Ordinances of the Gospel which the Faithful enjoy in God's Church he will soon decay and wither in Grace and Holiness like a Willow upon a dry Heath Jer. 17.6 III. The Willow by the Water-Courses is green and flourishes in a Time of Drought when many other Trees and Plants fade and wither away III. So the Saints and People of God are in this respect like Willows or Trees planted by the Water side for so the Prophet plainly affirms Blessed is the Man that trusteth in the Lord Jer. 17.8 whose Hope the Lord is For he shall be as a Tree planted by the Waters and that spreadeth forth her Roots by the River and shall not see when Drought cometh but her Leaf shall be green and shall not he careful in the Year of Drought neither cease from yielding Fruit. Compared with Psal 1.3 Inferences HEnce we may learn that the Holy Spirit in his blessed Springs of Graces Promises and Ordinances is every way as needful to the Growth of God's People as Springs of Water are to the Willow-Tree 2. Let us bless the Almighty who hath planted us by the side of the River of God and let us pray that he would never transplant us nor remove us into a barren and heathy Wilderness Saints compared to Vessels 2 Cor. 4.7 But we have this Treasure in earthly Vessels c. But in a great House are not only Vessels of Gold and Silver but of Earth and Wood c. Some understand by this great House the World others the Church Metaphor Parallel A Vessel is made by a skilful Artizan or Workman he forms and fashions it as he sees good GOD hath formed or made all the Children of Men they are all the Work of his Hands formed and fashioned by him alone And as he hath made and formed us in the first Creation so also he hath made or fashioned his Saints in the second Creation This People have I formed for my self c. We are his Workmanship Isa 43.21 Eph. 2.10 created in Christ Jesus to good Works II. There is a great difference between some Vessels There are some Vessels of Gold Silver c. and also some of Earth Wood c. II. So there is a great difference between some Men. The Saints are Golden Vessels tho of little esteem in the Eyes of the World The precious Sons of Zion Lam. 4 3. comparable to fine Gold how are they esteemed as earthen Pitchers c. But the Wicked are likened to Vessels of Earth and Wood. III. Vessels are made for some proper and peculiar Use III. God made all Men whosoever they are for special Use and Service viz. to honour worship and bring Glory to his sacred Majesty IV. Vessels are subject to contract Filth and Pollution and therefore need often to be washed c. IV. So Christ's spiritual Vessels viz. his Saints as well as others are subject to contract the inward Filth of Sin such Uncleanness as nothing but Christ's Blood through Faith can wash away V. Vessels of divers sorts some very rich are usually in a great House in the House of a Prince or the like some of Honour and some of Dishonour V. So in the House of God there are divers Vessels 2 Tim. 2.20 some of Gold and Silver as it were viz. choice and precious Saints who are Vessels of Honour and some who are like Vessels of Earth and Wood viz. hypocritical and unprofitable Ones who without Repentance are like to be Vessels of Dishonour VI. Some Vessels are made use of to hold precious Treasure We read of Golden Pipes that empty the Golden Oil out of themselves VI. Some of the Saints of God are made use of for Ministers to bear the precious Treasure of the Gospel Zech. 4.12 also to empty it out of themselves for the Use and Profit of others VII Sometimes precious Treasure is put into earthen Vessels but whether it be Gold Silver or precious Stones that are put therein yet they are never the worse because of the Vessel into which they are put nor will wise Men refuse or slight such Treasure for the Vessel 's sake VII Ministers of the Gospel tho inwardly very rich and precious yet they are but Men as others are poor earthen Vessels and some of them very mean and contemptible in the Eye of the World You see your Calling Brethren c. 1 Cor. 1.26 But the Treasure of Wisdom is not the worse tho it be in such earthen Vessels nor will wise Men refuse good Doctrine and wholesom Counsel because communicated by such Servants of Christ But we have this Treasure in earthen Vessels 2 Cor. 4.7 that the Excellency of the Power might be of God and not of us See the Gospel compared to Treasure in the third Book of the First Volume VIII An earthen Vessel sometimes proves defective and le ts out choice Liquor that is put therein nay and sometimes the Liquor tastes of the Vessel or loses much of its precious Relish by reason an evil Person puts some unsavoury Matter into the Vessel and by reason of this Mixture the pure Savour is somewhat gone VIII So some
to abide for many Years and then to be put to the greatest Tortures that Mortals can devise where he should suffer a long Time together always dying and yet cannot die and that on a sudden one should come to him with the joyful News of a full and perfect Deliverance would not this be the welcomest News that ever he heard Sinners may not the Tidings you hear cause your Hearts to leap in you for Joy Tho you have undone your selves by your wicked Works yet God hath devised a way to deliver and save you for ever Quest How by what means and by whom may some poor ignorant Soul say is Deliverance brought about Answ Deliverance out of this Bondage-State is by Jesus Christ only by him neither is there Salvation by any other If the Son therefore make you free Acts 4.12 Joh 8.36 ye shall be free indeed But further to answer the Question I say the Liberty is 1. By a great Ransom 2. By a Conquest 1. There was no other Way found out to bring Sinners out of this their miserable Condition but a great Sum must be laid down Ye are bought with a Price 1 Cor. 6.20 1 Pet. 1.18 But know this We are not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold c. All the Gold and Silver in the World and all the Riches thereof were there Ten Thousand Worlds more could not redeem one Soul out of this State of Bondage and Slavery to Sin and Satan The Redemption of the Soul is precious Psal 49.8 Mic. 6.7 and ceaseth for ever Nay if a Man should offer up his Son or Daughter the Fruit of his Body for the Sin of his Soul it would be utterly rejected Nothing could redeem us but the Price of Blood and that too the precious Blood of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.19 as a Lamb without spot See Surety Vol. 1. 2. Deliverance out of this Bondage is by Conquest Unless the Saviour of Mankind conquer those cruel Enemies of the Soul not one Sinner can be set at Liberty For 't is not the baâ—e Ransom or Price of Christ's most precious Blood I mean the laying down of his Life that could work a perfect Freedom for us for tho that made a full Compensation to the Justice of God yet Sinners being under the Power of Sin Satan and Death these Enemies take no notice at all of that Price for our Saviour did not capitulate with them neither will they give up their Prisoner till they are overcome and as I may say are forced to do it For as Christ saith When a strong Man armed keepeth his Palace Luk 1â— â—1 his Goods are in Peace But when a stronger than he shall come and overcome him he taketh from him all his Armor c. Satan is this strong Man armed and Jesus Christ the Person that is stronger than he and 't is our Mercy God sent us such a strong and mighty Saviour one able to subdue Sin conquer Satan overcome Death that so he might deliver us who were taken captive by them at their Will 1 J h. 3 8. To this end was the Son of God manifest that he might destroy the Works of the Devil He through Death and rising again from the Dead hath destroyed Death and him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil and delivered them who through Fear of Death were all their Life time subject to Bondage Heb. 2.14 15. Joh. 16 33 He bids us also Be of good cheer for he hath overcome the World This Conquest by the Lord Jesus is twofold 1. For us without us When he ascended on high he led Captivity captive He took him captive Eph. 4.8 Col. 2.15 that had taken Mankind captive Having spoiled Principalities and Powers he made a Shew of them openly the Work is already done triumphing over them in it 2. This Conquest is wrought by Christ also in the Soul for palpable it is that every unconverted Person is under the Power of these cruel Enemies as hath been already shewn and have they a sufficient Power of their own to encounter with them Is sinful weak and depraved Man a Match for Satan Is he able to subdue and overcome him Or can he by any inherent Power of his own destroy the Power of Sin and change his own Heart Can the Aethiopian change his Skin or the Leopard his Spots Isa 13.23 Is Man able to raise himself from the Power of the Grave Any of these things are too hard for Sinners to do and therefore it follows Christ must conquer these Enemies in us he must break our Bonds and burst our Chains in pieces c. Pray remember Christ is a perfect and compleat Saviour he alone doth the Work Isa 63.5 he doth it for us and also in us His own Arm brought Salvation He hath no Partner nor Competitor Secondly As this may serve to humble Mankind so also it may lift up their Hearts who are redeemed Job 7.17 in Praises to the Almighty O what is Man that God should be mindful of him What! regard such a deplorable Rebel Slave and Captive of Sin and the Devil And the rather considering the Nature of that glorious Freedom procured by Jesus Christ which is 1. A Freedom from the Guilt of Sin 2. A Freedom from the Filth of Sin 3. A Freedom from the Power of Sin Sin shall not have Dominion over you Rom. 6.14 4. A Freedom from the eternal Punishment of Sin a Freedom from Sin from Satan from the Law from Death and from Wrath and by this means made the Sons and Daughters of God making them nigh to him enjoying Union and Communion both with the Father and the Son having Peace and good Assurance of eternal Life Thirdly It may cause the redeemed Ones of God to pity Sinners pity their unconverted Relations what a deplorable Condition are they in How exceedingly are Persons concerned for their Relations who are in Slavery tho it extend but to the Body and what Ways and Means do they with all diligence make use of to procure their Liberty and Freedom And by how much the Bondage of Sin and Satan exceeds all the Slavery that Man can possibly be exposed unto by so much the more ought that Means to be improved that may effectually accomplish their Redemption Wicked Men Sluggards Prov. 6.9 How long wilt thou sleep O Sluggard when wilt thou arise out of thy Sleep HOw long wilt thou sleep Sleep is taken variously in the holy Scripture 1. For the binding or closing up the Senses to give the Body Rest The same Night Peter was sleeping between two Souldiers Acts 12.26 This is a natural Sleep 2. 'T is taken Metaphorically 1. For Death Hence 't is said David after he had served his Generation according to the Will of God he fell asleep For now shall I sleep in the Dust and thou shalt seek me in the Morning c. Job 7.21 This is
Christ and the Things of Religion of which Justice and Charity Holiness and Compassion are not the least Part and yet under this Vizard and in the very time of these Pretensions perpetrate the greatest and most unparallel'd Villanies in the World 1. In being the Top of Pride 2. In committing palpable Idolatry 3. Fill themselves with Excess and Drunkenness 4. To curse swear and blaspheme the very Name they profess to be sacred 5. To cast down the Truth burn the Bible deface the holy Books and Laws of God 6. To assume not only a Power to dispense with Violations of the highest Nature but to pardon and forgive them at pleasure 7. To commit Adultery and account it a venial Crime 8. To break Covenants drive a Trade in Perjury forswear every thing they are justly charged with and is fully proved against them 9. To foment Wars and Broils in every Kingdom and Country where they have Power contrive the Ruine of Towns and Places Cities Countries and Kingdoms by Fire Sword and most cruel Devastations 10. To slaughter kill and barbarously murther both Men Women and Children even all that dare make a shew of Conscience and Religion so far as to abhor and dissent from these Villanies This is such a Scheme of Religion and Systeme of Divinity to come from an Apostle a Shepherd a Vicar and Successor of Christ from a Church Sheep Saints and the pretended Followers of the meek peaceable and innocent Jesus who taught altogether otherwise by his Doctrine and Example that it might well be wondred at and is the strangest Mystery that ever appeared of which we challenge the whole World to shew the like in the Turks and Saracens For Men to swear lie and forswear themselves and yet be true Men to contrive Rebellion Murther and Treason and yet be as innocent as the Child unborn to be elevated to the highest Pinacle of Pride even above Emperors and Kings above Jesus Christ and God his Father and yet be humble and lowly To commit gross Idolatry and yet be the Servants of the Living God To be filled with and make a Trade of Excess and Drunkenness and yet be the Paterns and Standards of Sobriety and Temperance To cast down the Truth to the Ground deface the Laws of God and burn the Scriptures and yet be the true Witnesses to it To forgive Sins and yet be the greatest of Sinners themselves To commit Fornication and Adultery and yet be spotless and pure in Heart To foment Wars and Broils in every Kingdom and Country where they have Power to contrive the Ruine of Towns and Places Cities Countries and Kingdoms by Fire Sword and cruel Devastations and yet be as harmless as Doves to all Mankind the only Sons of Peace and Quietness To slaughter kill and barbarously murther Men Women and Children that dare not be so wicked as themselves and yet to be full of Mercy tender Pity and Compassion an Apostle Shepherd Vicar and Successor of the meek and Lamb-like Saviour And for the dear Consort of this impious Head or Man of Sin to be not only confederate with him but a Principal in all these unparallel'd Villanies and most butcherly and rapacious Murthers and yet be the Holy Catholick Church of God the pure and spotless Spouse of Jesus Christ the true Sheep the harmless Lambs the best of Saints and close Followers of the Lord Jesus who always taught the contrary by his holy Doctrine and meek Example We say these Things not being found by secret Search but are written in Capital Letters upon her Forehead appear in open view to be read by every one that is not wilfully blind Let any one shew us a greater Mystery in the World than this and we will subscribe to it 4. It cannot be the Turks because they are not the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth which this Babylon is said to be Rev. 17.5 And upon her Forehead was a Name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH And here we demand in excuse to the Turks this one Thing From whence did proceed the Murthers Massacres and Martyrdoms of all the Religious Professors of Christianity that have died by violence in the Christian World for the space of twelve hundred Years last past And from what People did proceed those horrid Oaths Blasphemies and Execrations that the World hath wofully been acquainted with most horrid and strangely astonishing to repeat Came these unparallel'd Degrees of Impiety from the Turks from the Waldensians Lutherans Calvinists or any Non-conforming Protestants No no. Why whose Language then is it Whose Why 't is the Language of the Beast of the bottomless Pit and bloody Whore who bare these blasphemous Sons of her own Body daily nourishes them at her Breast and strengthens them in their sinful Courses by accounting them the Sons the precious Sons of Sion the true Sons of the Catholick Church the Darlings of Heaven the beloved Ones of the Virgin Mary and giving them Pardons for these bold and Heaven-daring Sins as often as they do commit them and come to ask Pardon for them so that Sin and Pardon is as constant and common with them as Breathing and Eating And these Things are done to seal and confirm Lies which is the more heavy heinous and prodigious For if Men may lie by allowance may kill and shed innocent Blood without Controul of Conscience and Church-Censures may swear and blaspheme and challenge God himself to damn them may burn Men for Religion consume Cities to Ashes conspire the Death of Kings the Ruine and Overthrow of Kingdoms whore and murther Infants and yet be accounted a Church the Members and Parts of it called Saints holy Children and Sons of the Most High God Then may we claim a Patent and take a License to change the Name of all Things and alter all the Idea's of the Minds of Men call and account Beelzebub a good God and all his black Tribe the pure Saints of the Most High call the lower Regions of Blackness and Darkness to which he is confin'd the Heaven of Glory and eternal Light Of which Things we ought in Justice to clear the Turks until Witnesses of undoubted Credit shall come forth and evidence that the Turkish State is the Mother of as great Abominations as these are 5. And lastly The Turks cannot be Mystery Babylon because they never were made drunk with the Blood of the Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus which this Woman Mystery Babylon is expresly said to be Rev. 17.6 And I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and I wondred with great admiration Now let any Man shew such Bloodshed Saints Bloodshed by Massacres and Martyrdom for the professing of Christianity which must be if the Text be answered in that Clause Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus by the Turks either within their Dominions or
Destruction oâ— Jerusalem For as the Guilt of all the Blood shed from righteous Abel to the Death of Zacharias is by our Saviour fix'd upon Jerusalem and cannot be removed to another People so the Blood of all the Martyrs and Followers of Jesus is by this Revelation â—â—x'd upon the last Babylon Râ—v 17.6 And I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus Chap. 18. v. 24. And in her was found the Blood of the Prophets and of Saints and of ALL that were slain upon the Earth But Rome Heathen was not guilty of all the Christian Blood that was shed upon Earth by Murthers Massacres and Martyrdom since the Destruction of Jerusalem For to look back but for six hundred Years last past in which Time we shall find Hundreds of Thousands of profest Christians most butcherly and barbarously put to Death for their Zeal and Love to the Christian Religion in the respective Nations of Europe before which the Heathenish State of Rome was gone off about the space of six hundred Years So that if we will regard the full satisfying of this Prediction about Myâ—â—ery Babylon we must of necessity bring her down lower than the Heathenish State of Rome 6. Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylon under Consideration because the Discoveries of other Prophecies relating to the same State no way agrees to the Power of Rome Heathen 1. This State of Babylon is called the Mystery of Iniquity This no way agrees to Rome Heathen but fully agrees to Rome Papal Compare 2 Thess 2.7 with Rev. 17.7 viz. For the Mystery of Iniquity doth already work The Angel said unto me Wherefore didst thou marvel I will tell thee the Mystery of the Woman and of the Beast that carrieth her 2. The Head of this State of Mystery Babylon is called the Man of Sin by way of Eminency 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only beyond the common Rank of Men but beyond the highest Sons of Wickedness that went before him And there is a great Truth in this for if we consider the Pope in respect of Pride Hypocrisy Idolatry and Blood he is the most unparallel'd Man of Sin 3. This State or Mystery of Iniquity began to work in the Apostle's Days which is no ways applicable to the Power of Rome Heathen for that did not then begin it being at that time in the very Meridian of its Greatness and universal Sovereignty Luke 2.1 And it came to pass in those Days that there came out a Decree from Caesar Augustus that all the World should be taxed 4. This Man of Sin Mystery of Iniquity or Head of this Babylonish State is saie to be let or hindred in his Designs He that now letteth will let until he be taken out of the Way 2 Thess 2.7 But now Rome Heathen had no Lett or Hindrance either from the Word of God for that declared it as it was a Civil Magistracy to be God's Ordinance nor from any opposite Power either Civil or Military they giving Laws to the greatest Part of the World and enjoying the Supreme Government of the best Kingdoms in the Universe none being able to cope with them at that Time 5. This Head of the Babylonish State is said to sit in the Temple of God which the Power of Rome Heathen did not do neither in the Temple of Jerusalem nor in the Church whâ—ch is more properly the Temple of God For the Jews kept the Possession of the Literal Temple till it was destroyed and for the Church of God the Heathen Emperors never loved it so well at to make their Residence in it But the Bishop of Rome before he shewed himself to be that wicked One viz. the Man of Sin dâ—d evidently sit in the Church or Temple of God and so fulfilled this Prophecy in the very Letter of it 6. He that is the Man of Sin or Head of this Babylonish State was to rise by Apostacy or falling away from the Christian Religion 2 Thess 2.3 There shall come a falling away first exactly agreeing with another Prophecy to the same purpose 1 Tim. 4.1 Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter Times some shall depart from the Faith c. But Rome Heathen did not rise by Apostacy from the Christian Religion or a departing from the Faith which they never profess'd as is evident to the whole World Ergo Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylonish State 7. This Man of Sin or Head of Mystery Babylon lay hid in the Apostle's Time and was not revealed 2 Thess 2.3 Rev. 17.9 but the Power of Rome Heathen did not then lie hid or wanted to be revealed for it stood visible and high upon a Hill even upon seven Hills according to the Roman Poet Ovid who lived about the very Time of Christ's being on Earth in Lib. de Tristibus Sed quae de septem totum circumspicit Orbem Montibus Imperii Roma Deûmque Locus That is But Rome which from her seven Hills the whole Earth views around the Place of Gods and Rule c. Ergo Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylonish State 8. This Mystery of Iniquity is said to oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped 2 Thess 2.4 But this the Power of Rome in its Heathen State did not do for they worshipped offered Sacrifices and bore a Reverence to their Gods which by Nature indeed were no Gods and 't is only the Head of Rome Pâ—pal that runs down all Gods but those of his own making Ergo Rome Papal and not Rome Heathen must of necessity be this Mystery of Iniquity 9. The Rise or Coming of this Mystery of Iniquity is after the working of Satan 2 Thess 2.9 But the Rise of the Romish Greatness and Power when Heathen was not after the working of Satan Dan 7.2 3 but was said by Daniel to be produced by the Providence of God or the four Winds of Heaven and by the Apostle to be Powers ordained of God Rom. 13.1 Therefore Rome Heathen cannot be the Mystery of Iniquity c. here meant 10. This Mystery of Iniquity is not only said to come after the working of Satan 2 Thess 2.9 but also with All Power c. But the Rise of Rome Heathen was not after that manner Ergo c. To illustrate the first Proposition note That the Term All Power marks out the Romish Pope so notoriously that whosoever runs may read it for if we do but impartially consider his impudent Usurpations upon Crowned Heads and his Pretences of Supremacy over the whole Christian World his proud imperious Decrees Bulls c. his Disposal of the Kingdoms of Princes and the Inheritances yea the very Lives of private Persons of any Rank that dare disobey him his Pretences to shut and open Heaven Hell and his feigned Purgatory his carrying a Symbol of that vast and God-like Power viz. a Brace of Keys hanging at his Girdle All these will appear
meet together we are both pardoned and justified God is saith one as merciful as we can desire and yet as righteous as himself can desire there is the freest Grace and the fullest Justice As God pardons Sin he displays his Mercy as he justifies us from Sin he manifests his Righteousness Pardon is free to us but it cost Christ dear there is a Mystery in the Remission of Sin it is not forgiven without Atonement Satisfaction and Reconciliation made for it by Jâ—sus Christ Which appears 1. In that those who are pardoned are said to be justified through him Acts 13.39 2. Because Christ is said to bear our Sins or the Punishment of them 1 Pet. 2.24 Isa 53.4 5 6. He died in our stead for that is the meaning of his bearing our Sin as might be largely shewed from the Old Testament where we read of Persons that God said should bear their own Sins 3. Because the Scrâ—pture saith Without shedding of Blood there is no Remission Heb. 9.22 And that it is through that one Offering of Jesus Christ that we are both pardoned and accepted Redemption and Forgiveness of Sin is through his Blood Rom. 3.25 4. Because Christ is said to reconcile us and pacify the Wrath of God for our Sins 2 Cor. 5.19 20. Rom. 5. 5. Because we are said to be bought with a Price Christ gave himself a Ransom for many 1 Cor. 6.20 1 Pet. 1.18 Mat. 20.28 6. Because he is said to be made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness c. called The Lord our Righteousness Our Justification consisteth in the Non-imputation of Sin and the Imputation of his Righteousness that so Salvation might be wholly of Grace and all Boasting excluded Sin a heavy Burden Psal 38.4 For my Iniquities are gone over my Head as a heavy Burden they are too heavy for me Heb. 12.1 Let us lay aside every Weight and the Sin that doth so easily beset us c. WEight 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies several Things 1. The Greatness of Heavenly Glory 2. Cor. 4.17 2. Trouble or the Wrath of Wicked Men Prov. 27.3 which often presseth down the Godly 3. That which is ponderous Things Words or Matters of Moment in opposition to such Things or Words that are Light Airy c. 4. Sin because it presseth down and is grievous to be born c. ☞ Note Sin is a great Weight or heavy Burden Simile Parallel A Weight or Burden that bears hard or lies heavy upon the Breast of a Person ready to crush him to pieces is very grievous worse to be born than a Weight upon the Legs or Arms c. SIn is a Weight or Burden that lies heavy upon the Soul of an inlightned Christian and this is the cause it is so grievous it presseth down the Powers of the Noble and Superiour Part of the Creature Lay a Weight upon a Stone and that will bear it and not break or yield under it but if a great and mighty Weight be laid upon such things that are tender or of a soft substance how sorely will it mar and crush that So a stony-hearted Sinner tho he hath great Mountains of Sin and Guilt lying upon him he complains not he is alas unsensible and to use the Apostle's Words past feeling his Heart being like a Rock Eph. 5.19 Ezek. 36.26 Psal 38.4 or the nether Milstone but a poor Saint whose Heart is tender God having taken away the Heart of Stone and given him a Heart of Flesh he is sensible of this Burden his Soul and Conscience cannot bear it he cryes out in great Anguish and Horrour of Spirit II. Some Weights and Burdens laid upon some Men are so heavy that they cannot be born the strongest Man cannot stand under them c. II. Sin is such a Burden or Weight that no Man is able to bear it will make the stoutest Heart to ake and the strongest Back to stoop it made David that mighty Man of God to cry out Psal 38 6. I am troubled I am bowed down greatly c. All my Bones are broken Nay when this Weight was laid upon the Lord Jesus whom God made strong for himself how did it crush him and cause him if I may so say to stagger and sweat under it as if it had been great Drops of Blood falling down to the Ground 'T is said his Soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto Death Luke 22.44 Mark 14. â—2 33. Psal 89.19 and that he went forward and fell on the Ground He bore our Sins upon his own Body on the Tree O what a Mercy was it that God laid help upon one who was Mighty tho he was able to bear this Weight yet how did it make him to cry out under the Burden of it Father if it be possible let this Cup pass from me c. There is a twofold Weight in Sin 1. As it hinders our Justification 2. As it hinders our Sanctification The first respects the Punishment that is due to it and that Weight Jesus Christ bore for us which none was able to do besides himself III. A heavy Weight or Burden laid upon a Man that is to run a Race is very troublesome and a great Impediment to him and therefore ought to be cast off c. He is a very foolish Man that having a long Race to run will carry a great Weight or Burden about him can such expect to win the Prize III. So Sin greatly hinders the Saints of God in their spiritual Race 't is unto them like a heavy Burden and therefore ought to be cast off by them Let us lay aside every Weight Heb. 12.1 and the Sin that doth so easily beset us and let us run with Patience the Race that is set before us Sin will soon cause a Christian to faint if he throw it not off by true Repentance See Runner Simile Disparity SOme heavy Weights or Burdens tho they cannot be born when they are bound up or tyed together yet if severed some part of them may be born and easily carried BUT Sin is such a kind of Burden that it cannot be born either whole or apart that is to say one Sin severed from a Multitude that a Person may be guilty of and charged upon the Soul tho it should be judged the least no Man is able to stand under the Guilt or Burden of it 1. For the least Sin being against an Infinite God deserves an Infinite Punishment 2. The least Sin being a breach of the Law brings a Soul under Wrath and the Curse thereof 3. The least is not done away without Christ's Blood nothing but that only can wash it away or cleanse from it Now that which makes Sin to be so great a Burden to a Child of God is 1. Because it sets God against the Soul it makes him to become a Man's Enemy and to fight against him c. 2. Because 't is a Burden unto God himself hence he crys out I am pressed under you
only gives Direction how we should pray and that we should in Prayer only design the Glory of God 10. After the clearing of the Lamps of the Candlestick Evening and Morning then the Incense was burnt shewing that all our Prayers and Duties must be according to the Directions of God's Word and Spirit 11. The Incense was made of divers Spices Psal 51. So must the Prayers of the Godly be seasoned with divers Graces viz. true Repentance lively Faith and unfeigned Love 12. The Incense was offered up in the Holy Place without the Veil of the Holiest near to the Testimony before the Mercy-Seat So we must always have an Eye to Christ in our Prayers who is the true Mercy-Seat we must come to God by him c. 13. Once a Year the Altar was sprinkled with the Blood of the Expiatory Sacrifice signifying how Christ is by shedding of his Blood consecrated our blessed Mediator and that no Prayer is acceptable to God but through Faith in the Blood of Christ The Altar of Burnt-Offering Exod. 27.1 to 9. a Type of Christ Parallels ALtar in Hebrew Mizbeach in Greek Thusiasterion Ainsworth so named of Sacrifices offered thereon it was anointed dedicated sanctfied to be most holy that it might sanctify the Gifts offered thereon This Altar and Sacrifice signified Jesus Christ sanctifying himself for his Church and People that so he might sanctify them II. This Altar was but one and in one place and the Sacrifice only to be offered upon it signifying thereby that we have but one Altar of Redemption and Salvation viz. Jesus Christ alone who only once and in one place offered up a sufficient and unreiterable Sacrifice for the Sins of Mankind III. This Altar had four Horns also See Altar of Incense IV. It had a brazen Grate in the midst of it which let the Ashes and like things fall through c. whereon the Fire was put which might signify two things 1. The Humanity of our Saviour who bore the Fire of God's Wrath for our Sins thus Guild 2. Isa 53.12 It signifieth saith Ainsworth the place wherein the Holy Fire always burneth that is the Heart which sustaineth also the Sacrifice 2 Tim. 1.3 Rom. 1.1 2. Heb. 7.14 and where all Ashes and Excrements of Corruption are inwardly conveyed away as they are discovered by the Word and Spirit of God as also our Sanctification by Affliction V. In that the Altar was to be made of Shittim Wood and overlaid with Brass that it might endure the Fire it might figure out the Human Nature of Christ supported or sustained by the Diety to endure God's Wrath for our Sins VI. They that served at the Altar lived of the Altar So they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel Disparity THE Altar was one thing and the Sacrifice another But Christ is both the Altar Sacrifice and Sacrificer too he offered up his Body by the Eternal Spirit as a Sacrifice acceptable to God the Father The Brazen Laver Exod. 30.18 to 25. what it was a Type of THE Brazen Laver served for the Priest-hood to wash their Hands and Feet in before they ministred before the Lord typifying that inward washing by Christ's Blood wherewith all the Holy Priesthood of Christ must be sanctified in Heart and Life before their Services can be accepted in the sight of God and that none ought to minister the Word of Life but Godly Persons who are washed in the Laver of Regeneration Psal 50. Vnto the wicked God saith what hast thou to do to take my Words into thy Mouth c. II. After the Priests had washed themselves clean and arrayed themselves they entred into the holy Place So after the Godly are inwardly washed by the Blood of Christ and have received by Faith his Righteousness to adorn them they become fit Members of the true Gospel-Church III. They shall wash themselves saith the Lord lest they die to shew that all Persons must be purged by Faith in Christ's Blood Mark 16.16 or die eternally IV. He that toucheth or washeth in the Laver it being anointed with the holy Oil as all other Things in the holy and most holy Place were shall be holy saith the Lord signifying that all they who by Faith touch the Lord Jesus who is anointed with the Oil of Gladness above his Fellows shall be spiritually sanctified accepted and accounted holy before the Lord likewise The Sacrifice of Beasts a Type of Christ THe Beasts that were appointed for Sacrifice were to have Horns signifying the Kingly and Priestly Office of Christ Horns as we have elsewhere shewn being a Symbol of Power c. II. They were to be of a tame sort not wild and savage Beasts who by force are brought to the Slaughter signifying the Meekness and Mildness of Jesus Christ who was patient like a Lamb led to the Slaughter Isa 53. III. They must be of the Male Sort which generally are the strongest signifying the Excellency and Strength of Jesus Christ IV. They ought to be without blemish and the best of the Flock or Herd and presented of voluntary Will noting two Things 1. That Christ should be perfectly holy and that he should willingly lay down his Life 2 That we should dedicate to God the best of our Days Time and Strength and not offer unto the Lord a corrupt Thing and also perform all our Services to him with a free and willing Mind V. They were to be presented at the Door of the Tabernacle to be slain signifying that Christ s Blood makes our entry into the Church of God here and into Heaven it self hereafter VI. They must lay their hands upon the Head of the Beast who brought him noting thereby our Sins being laid upon Jesus Christ and that we must lay the hand of Faith upon him if we would have Benefit by his Death VII Then the Burnt-Offering was slain signifying that so it behoved Christ the great Anti-type to be slain or crucified for our Sins Mark 16.15 Mâ—t. 28.18 19. VIII The Blood thereof then was sprinkled about the Altar noting the All-sufficiency of Christ's Death and Plenty of his Bloodshed with the large spreading or preaching thereof universally throughout the whole World IX The Skin thereof was plucked off and the Flesh cut in pieces thereby shewing the Grievousness of Christ's Sufferings X. The Body the Head and the Fat and all was laid on the Fire signifying how Christ should suffer for us both in Body and Soul Isa 53.12 My Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto Death XI This Burnt-Offering was called a sweet Savour unto the Lord which in Christ's Death is solely and only accomplished for 't is thereby God's Wrath is appeased and his Justice satisfied XII The Ashes were to be carried without the Host and put into a clean Place shadowing thereby how Christ should be buried without the Gates of Jerusalem in a Tomb wherein never Man lay and that his Body should not
without as hath been shed by a Generation nearer home and we shall become like the Man without a Wedding-Garment wholly speechless and say not a Word more about Babylon III. Now that Babylon in the Apocalypse is Great Rome that in former Times reigned and in future Times shall be destroyed is owned by some of the Papists themselves and is asserted by all Protestants the Difference betwixt them is brought to this narrow Point The one wholly confines Babylon to Rome Heathen and there totally to terminate the other brings Babylon down lower to Rome Antichristian or Papal Rome Now that this Work may be to Edification and more full Satisfaction in this great Case we shall advance to the last and chief Secret that is to be opened and considered namely Whether all Things in John's Vision or Prophecy that are applied to Mystery Babylon did compleatly terminate in Rome Heathen and come no further In Answer to this great Enquiry we do with the Body of Protestants in opposition to the Papists conclude the Negative viz. That all Things in the Apocalypse applied to Mystery Babylon did not terminate in Rome Heathen The Reasons of which Negative are as followeth 1. Because the Beast that Mystery Babylon rides on is the eighth Head or last Ruling-Power of that City that is seated upon seven Hills which must be Rome Papal because the whole Race of Rome Heathen was gone off before the eighth Head came up The sixth Head was in John's Time the seventh was to come and continue but a short Space The Beast that carrier the Woman viz. Babylon is of the seventh but is the eighth and shall be the last for he goeth into Perdition This being so evident from the Letter of the Text needs nothing more to confirm it Now that Rome Heathen was not the last Part of the Romish Power is not only the full and joint Consent of all Writers upon this Subject but is so evident to all the Christian World that it would be Vanity it self to make a Show of Proof The Conclusion then is this If the very last Part of the Roman Power carries the Woman Babylon and that the Heathen State of Rome went off before and was not the last then Babylon could not terminate in Rome Heathen but must come down to Rome Papal See Rev. 17.3 7 9 11. 2. If Babylon be totally terminated in Rome Heathen then the Book of the Apocalypse is of little use to the latter Ages of the Christian World For if the whole Transactions relating to the Persecution of the Church and the Slaughter and Destruction of God's Enemies did end in Rome Heathen then it served only to give a characteristical Account of a Beast and Whore that was grown old and ready to go off the Stage but hath wholly left us in the dark and given us no notice at all of that horrible Confusion and bloody Persecutions which have reigned in the Christian World for more than a thousand Years last past which for Length of Time Numbers of Murthers and Manner of Cruelties hath out-done all the Wickedness of Rome in its Heathen State Which is not at all likely that a Vision should be given and a Revelation made and call'd so about a State that was almost expired and the most great and principal Part wholly left out and said nothing to Who can imagine that a careful Saviour should be so full in his Discoveries to the Jewish Church concerning their Sufferings and the Time under Egypt and Babylon Literal and be so short and lean to his Gospel-Church to leave them altogether without any written Profpect or extraordinary Prophet to inform them what should come to pass in the World from the going off of the Power of Rome Heathen to the end of all the Churches Troubles which have already lasted above a thousand Years The Conceit of which is fit but for two Ranks of Men to receive viz. the Roman-Catholicks and such Protestants as look for Antichrist to come at the end of the World after the Restauration of the Jews to their own Land and building a material Temple at Jerusalem where Antichrist shall sit three Days and an half or Years to kill two Men called the two Witnesses 3. If this last Babylon was wholly to terminate in Rome Heathen then there was no Cause of Wonderment and great Admiration for a wise Man to see in a Vision an Heathenish State under a Diabolical Influence to perform Actions sutable to their State and not contrary to their Professions For what matter of Wonderment can it be to feel the Wind blow to see the Sea foam and hear the Waves rage and roar when the Winds oppose its Effluxion And what Cause of great Wonderment and Admiration for a wise Man to see wicked Heathens oppose and persecute Christianity when it is so sutable to their Spirit and agreeable to their Profession so to do we cannot yet understand and we will diligently listen to them who will undertake to inform us For the thing is true that a wise Man did wonder at the Sight he saw with great Admiration Rev. 17.6 I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and I wondred with great admiration Wonder'd O strange At what To see that which was common to all Ages the Seed of the Serpent that profest Heathenism the Wicked even the worst of the Wicked by Principle and Profession to plot against the Righteous and to gnash upon him with their Teeth Idolaters profest Idolaters to persecute the Servants and Worshippers of the true God those that were born after the Flesh and lived after the Flesh to persecute them that were born of the Spirit and lived after the Spirit Surely if our Adversaries Opinion was true in this Case that Babylon is only Rome Heathen St. John had forgot that Cain killed Abel and Ishmael persecuted Isaac and took not so much notice of the Course of the World common to every Age as Paul did who said But as he that was born after the Flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit as it was then so it is now And what strange Wonder is in all this 4. Rome Heathen never was espoused married or united to the Lord Jesus in a spiritual way visibly owning his Laws and submitting to his Government as a Wife submits to and obeys her Husband and afterwards casts him off and chuses another Head and Husband and therefore cannot be Mystical Babylon or the great Whore For tho these Heathens were great Idolaters yet were they never charged with spiritual Adultery nor could they unless they had once by visible Profession made a Covenant with or espoused themselves to the Lord Jesus which Rome Papal before its Apostacy did Therefore Rome Heathen could not be the great Whore or Mystical Babylon 5. Rome Heathen cannot be the Babylon set forth by St. John unless she be guilty of all the Christian Blood shed upon the Earth since the