course ten thousand a moneth hée had twentie thousand that bare burdens and fourescore thousand Masons in the mountaines hée had thrée thousand and thrée hundred men that ruled the workmen The holy Ghost maketh mention that it was built in the 480. 1 Kin. 6.1 yeare after the people of Israell came out of Egypt 2 Cro. 4. and in the fourth yeare of King Salomons reigne It contained thrée roomes that were specially dedicated The first roome was called Salomons porch or hall of the Iewes wherein was an Altar of brasse for burnt offering Therein was the fire of God continually maintained There the common people offered burnt offerings morning and euening of such things as were brought There Christ taught there Peter wrought miracles The second part or roome of the Temple was called Holy because none might enter into it but the Priests who were many and they were distinguished into 24. Orders In it was an Altar of Gold whereon was burnt Incense for a swéet sacrifice morning and euening There were the golden Candlestickes and the Lampes burning day and night there were two golden cups with Frankinsence and that fine and costly vaile which at the death of Christ was rent from the top to the bottome The third part or roome was called the Holy of Holiest In it was the inner house or Oracle made with Sethim wood and Cedar couered with gold within and without Into this place none entered but the high priest and that but once a yeare to offer for the sinnes of the people Whereby was figured the propitiation of Christ once for all In the middest thereof was the Arke the two tables of the Law the pot of Manna Aarons rod flourishing the Booke of Deuteronomie Gods oracles and his answeres Neare thereto was an Ile that did pertaine to the Gentiles and to all people cleane vncleane therfore it was called the court of the Gentiles There was the treasurie for the poore there the widow offered her mite There the woman was discharged by Christ which was taken in adultery Par. What difference or oddes I pray you was there betweene the Temple and the Tabernacle Past Indéede if you compare the Tabernacle the Parts Roomes Furniture and Ordinances thereof with the Temple you shall finde little oddes or difference The first part or roome of the Temple and Tabernacle had relation analogie and reference to the people of the old world before the floud and thence to the giuing of the Law The second part of the Temple and Tabernacle had reference analogie and coherence to the Church and Synagogue of the Iewes with all their lawes and Ceremonies prefiguring Christ The which people properly did appertaine vnto God And the shadowing of the Mercie-seate signified their defence The third part or roome of the Temple and Tabernacle had relation and analogie both to the Iewes and Gentiles which were to be saued and to be brought by Election and Grace vnto the marriage of the Lambe Christ Iesus which thing was signified by the throwing downe of the partition wall and by the renting of the vaile Thus the Temple and the Tabernacle being one in substance and thrée in vse may well be compared to the holy and blessed Trinitie Par. Where was the Temple built Past It is plainly recorded 2 Chro. 3.1 that this famous building was on mount Moriah where Adam was created Gen. 2. neare the Garden of Eden where Adam fell where Isaac was offered where Sem or Melchisedech dwelt and ruled with peace and iustice like the sonne of God The which place was first called Salem vpon Isaacs offering Ierisalec and now Ierusalem Par. Declare vnto mee briefly concerning the dedication of the Temple Past King Salomon and all the men of Israell assembled according to their degrées and they brought vp the Arke of the Lord from the house of Abinadab into the Citie of Dauid 1 King 8. which is Zion and they brought the Tabernacle of the congregation and all the holy vessels that were in the Tabernacle those did the Priests and Leuites bring vp Then hée and the people offered vnto the Lord innumerably And a cloud filled the Lords house for the glory of the Lord was there Toward the which King Salomon turning himselfe and lifting vp his hands and eyes vnto heauen desired the Lord to dedicate that place to the honour of his name and that it might be to be comfort of his people that called vpon him in that place And when hée had ended his prayer he stood vp and blessed the people The first Particular concerning the Kings of Israell and Iudah Parishioner I Would gladly know the stories of these Kings and their Prophets in their order Past First 1 Kin. 12. you must vnderstand that immediately after the death of King Salomon the same great and renowmed kingdome of the Hebrewes 1 King 11.11.12.13 was diuided into two parts according as the Lord had fore-spoken But after 490. yeares were expired it was ioyned together againe Ezec. 37.16.17.18.19 20. according as the holy prophet Ezechiel had fore-told Par. Declare vnto me the manner of this diuision or ruine Past Ieroboam 1 King 11.26 to 40. the sonne of Nebat an Ephradite of Zereda Salomons seruant according to the word of the Lord by the mouth of his Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite had ten Tribes of Israell that held and tooke part with him that he should be king who placed his seat and pallace in Samaria and his kingdome was thenceforth called the kingdome of Israell The other part of that famous kingdome Rehoboam the sonne of Salomon possessed which was the lesser part for onely two Tribes held with him His seat was at Ierusalem and his kingdome was called the kingdome of Iudah Thus you may sée two Kings in one kingdome which indéede is prodigious Par. Now declare vnto mee why the whole kingdome was thus deuided and so miserably distressed Past I will answer you with Gods owne words Because they haue forsaken me saith the Lord 1 King 11.33 and worshipped Astaroth the god of the Zidonians and Chemosh the god of the Moabites and Milcom the god of the Ammonites and haue not walked in my wayes to doe right in mine eyes and for the sinnes of Salomon Par. How did the one and the other of these kings behaue themselues towards God Past Ieroboam 1 King 12.26 to 31. the king of Israel thought in his heart and said If this my people goe vp and doe sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Ierusalem then shall the people turne againe vnto the Lord and so cleaue vnto Rehoboam the King of Iudah Whereupon the King tooke counsell and made two calues of gold the one hée set vp at Bethel the other at Dan. Whose priests hée made of the lower sort and basest amongst the people and he commanded all his subiects to goe thither and worship them as their gods The other part of the kingdome that
the repairing of the Temple And in short time there was found ouer and aboue the repairing such store of money as was sufficient to make bowles of gold and instruments of siluer in great abundance for the Temple At which time came Hazaell the king of Aram with a mighty army against Gath and intending also to come against Ierusalem Iehoash the King of Iudah tooke the hallowed things that his forefathers had prepared for the Temple and so he departed into his owne Land where he was slaine by two of his owne seruants And he was buried with his fathers in the city of Dauid after he had raigned forty yeares in Ierusalem Par. Who was the eight King Past Amaziah 2 King 14.1 to 21. the sonne of Ioash succéeded in the kingdome This King did behaue himselfe vprightly in the sight of God according to all which his father had done yet the people did sacrifice in the high places He slew them which had killed his father but not their children according to that which was written The fathers shall not be put to death for the children nor the children for the father but euery man shall die for his owne sinne Afterwards hée warred with the Edomites and slew many thousands And not being therewith content he also challenged the King of Israell who answered him disdainefully But Amaziah was wilfull and would not be quiet Whereupon the King of Israell in open field tooke Amaziah brake downe the wals of Ierusalem spoyled the Temple and the people of their treasure and then returned to Samaria Amaziah liued after that warre fiftéene yeares There was a conspiracy against him in Ierusalem whereupon he fled to Lachis and the conspiratours followed after him and slew him there and brought him to be buried at Ierusalem after he had raigned nine and twenty yeares Par. Who was the ninth King Past 2 Kin. 14.21.15.1 to 8. Azariah his sonne was made King when he was sixtéene yeares old He did vprightly in the Lords sight yet because the high places were not taken away where the people offered sacrifice the Lord smote him with Leprosie vntill his dying day and Ioathan his sonne gouerned the kingdome vnder him two and fifty yeares and so dyed Par. Who was the tenth King Past 2 King 15.7.32 to the end Ioathan the sonne of Azariah immediately after his father tooke the kingdome as lawfull heire He did vprightly in the Lords sight but yet he had not taken away the high places whereon they burnt Intense And then the Lord sent against him and Iudah Rozin the King of Aram and Pekah the sonne of Remeliah king of Israell And when hée had raigned sixtéene yeares he dyed and was buried with his fathers in Ierusalem Par. Who was the eleauenth King Past Ahaz 2 King 16.1 to the end the sonne of Ioathan raigned in his stead Hée walked in the wayes of the kings of Israell and made his sonne to goe through fire after the abhominations of the heathen and hée offered burnt incense Wherefore the Lord raysed the King of Aram and the King of Israell against him At which time he called not for Gods assistance but sent presents vnto the King of Ashur crauing his ayde whereunto the King of Ashur condescended He was twenty yeares old when he began his raign he continued 16. yeares most irreligiously and prophanely and so died Par. Who was the twelfth King Past 2 King 16.20.18.1.2.3.4 to 9.13 to the end 19.20 Hezekiah his sonne raigned and ruled so religiously so zealously and so faithfully as that the holy Ghost witnesseth none was like him amongst all the Kings of Iudah that went before him neither were any such after him And therefore the Lord God of heauen was with him which made him to prosper in all things that hée tooke in hand In his time euen in the fouretéenth yeare of his raigne Senacherib the King of Ashur came against all the strong cities of Iudah and tooke them Then Hezekiah sent vnto him desiring him to take those treasures which he had sent and to be at peace with him and his people He receiued the treasures and yet neuerthelesse most tyrannously and trecherously he sent Rabsaketh with an huge army against him who most blasphemously railed at reuiled the King and the Lord God of heauen Then the King of Iudah and his Nobility went into the house of the Lord with their cloathes rent and with teares to pray vnto the Lord for helpe Then Esay the Prophet as being sent from God comforted them saying Be not afraid for thus the Lord hath said The King of Ashur shall returne into his owne land and there shall be discomfited So Rabsaketh presently returned and found it so indéede For the King of Aethiopia was come vp to fight against him Neuerthelesse Rabsaketh sent men with railing Letters vnto Hezekiah the King Which Letters hée spreads open in the Lords sight with many prayers and teares The Lord heard him at large and sent an Angell which destroyed the Assirian army and as he was in the Temple worshipping his idoll god two of his owne sonnes slew him About that time Hezekiah fell sicke vnto death and through his great intercession to God he recouered within thrée dayes and liued fiftéene yeares after as the Prophet Esay had said vnto him The Lord promised also to defend him from the King of Ashur And because he might be assured thereof he gaue him a signe in Ahaz diall of ten degrées backward At the same time came the King of Babels sonne with letters and a present to visite him whom he entertained very royally and shewed him all his treasures At which déede the Lord was angry and sent Esay to tell him that in time to come all his treasures and his people should be carried away captiue into Babilon He was fiue and twenty yeares old when he began to raigne and raigned nine and twenty yeares Par. What doe you specially obserue in these foure last recited Kings to wit Azariah Ioathan Ahaz and Hezekiah Past It appeares that almighty God did specially fauour them in that hée gaue them fiue Prophets of whom they might inquire for the Lords will Esay Ioel. Hosea Amos. Micha Par. Who was the thirteenth king Past Manastes his sonne 2 Kin. 20.21.21.1 to 19. He wrought wickednes in the Lords sight and liued in open view of his subiects after the abhominations of the Heathen whom the Lord had cast out before him For whatsoeuer his holy Fathers had done to the honour and seruice of God he wrought cleane contrary and gaue himselfe to witchcraft sorcery familiar spirits and such like He did leade the people from the Lord and he enforced Iudah to sinne and he shed much innocent blood Wherefore the Lord God of Israell said I will bring an euill vpon Israell that who so heareth it both his eares shall tingle I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance and I will deliuer them into the hands
himselfe also be contented to sit downe and submit himself to the preaching of Gods word as the meanest of the congregation for his faith And againe the same Apostle faith The Gospell is the power of God to saluation Rom. 1.16 that is to say although God be most innarrably powerfull in the execution of vengeance against the wicked in the manifestation of his mercies towards the godly and can effect the one and the other which way it pleaseth him yet he hath tyed and bound himselfe to the ministery of his word preached and the same hée hath made powerfull and effectuall to life or to death as a sauour of life or as a sauour of death As for example Cornelius being a iust man Acts 10. and one that was endued with many singular vertues yet he wanted faith which by the commandement of the Angell he was to labour for by the preaching of Peter God might haue giuen him faith by the ministery of the same Angell he might haue giuen him faith by his owne mouth by the motion of the holy Ghost or by some other way but hée would not because he had sanctified and dedicated his holy word for that purpose and hée would shew throughout all posterities that the preaching of his word was the onely outward meanes of faith The like example of the Eunuch Acts 8.26 who was reading the Bible with great desire God might haue giuen him faith by reading or by the message of an Angell or by one of his owne company or by what meanes else hée had listed but his Maiestie would not because he would dignifie his word and because hee had fixed his force and power in his word hée would that way onely effect faith in him And therefore hée sent Philip from farre to preach vnto him at whose preaching hée indéede had Faith and was baptized Iohn Baptist by his preaching wonne many to Faith Christ himselfe and his Apostles wonne many to Faith by the preaching of the Gospell We haue a notable example in Ezra Nch. 3.8 who hauing read the Law vnto the people did goe vp into the Pulpit to preach And what shall I say more The Diuell doth know that the preaching of the Gospell is the meanes of Faith and Faith the instrument of saluation therefore he laboureth all that hée can that it may not be preached When Paul Barnabas preached vnto Sergius Paulus the Deputie Acts 13. Elimas the Sorcerer withstood him and thought as the holy Ghost saith to turne the Deputie from the Faith Many pregnant places are for this purpose of which I shall not néede to speake Hezekiah the King of Iudah shewed the Embassadours of Babilon all his treasures and hid nothing from them euen so good Christian Parishioner the King of heauen will shew vnto you by the preaching of the Gospell all his holy and spirituall treasures and will hide nothing from you And as no man vpon the paine of death might come to Ahasuerus the great King without rich attyre and then not before hée was called so no man may come vnto God the King of kings without faith and vnlesse hée be called thereunto by the preaching of his word Our eares were specially giuen vnto vs to be as messengers and true embassadours to the heart Sounds make not such perfect and plausible distinctions vnto our eares as vnderstanding words of men the best words that possibly may be vttered by men for our good are nothing so incomprehensibly and innarrably profitable vnto our eares so consequently to our soules as the word of God preached if the hearing be carefully enrowled in the heart because it brings and bréedes Faith which the words of men or of Angels will not That preaching is the ordinance of Almighty God to the obtaining and strengthening of Faith Read Leuit. 10.11 Deut. 18.18 2 Chron. 36.15 Malach. 28.19 Rom. 10.14 1 Cor. 21 1. Ephes 4.11 Whether the reading of gods word onely auaile Parishioner A Husbandman had neede to know what seed will best be fit his soyle lest in haruest time hee recken to his losse and a Gardiner had neede to haue both his eyes left in gathering Roses hee be stung with Nettles or pricked with Thornes Euen so good Sir a man that deales with your Doctrine had need to haue both his eyes both his eares both his hands and all the faculties of his soule applyed to that purpose lest hee gather Darnell in stead of pure Corne and Nettles in stead of Roses I meane hard harsh or false matter with the Truth or for the Truth Larkes you know if they be dressed are meate for Ladies but not to be eaten raw of any and the purest Emeraud may bee spoiled with oyle so a man may spoile a a good matter with the handling as you haue almost and thereby also spoyle his auditor For in prouing that faith comes by hearing the word preached you goe also about to proue that the word being read priuately at home or publikely in Churches auailes nothing and therein I hold you a Puritane my selfe lesse bound to heare you in the more danger of further extremitie if I beleeue you As one Female treades another and begetteth an egge but naught comes of it euen so one Puritane Preacher holds with another but naught comes of it When the Sunne lightneth one Hemisphere another Hemisphere is full of darkenesse so it seemes you would conclude that one congregation which heares Preaching shall be saued and another congregation which heares Reading shall be damned The light of the one belike is the darkenesse of the other and the saluation of the one is the destruction of the other If that were true which God forbid many hundred Congregations were damned whereof some I know that haue not heard a Sermon this twelue moneth some others not this seauen yeares and some people not at all Of which sorts I will name you sixe The 1 sort of them that heare not Preaching are they which are holden with Imprisonmēt 2 Sicknesse 3 Deafenesse 4 Restraint of law 5 Want of a Pastor resident and would gladly heare Preaching 6 Opinions or errours in iudgement and therfore wil not heare Preaching Can you of your charitie condemne all these Is it possible that so little conscience can harbour in the hart of a man professing so purely as you doe If you make me no better an answere I will leaue you where I found you as not hauing bought nor sould with you An answere how far reading reacheth for auailement Pastor AS Dauid when hee heard that one sonne of his was dead reioyced greatly 2. Sam 12 18. 2. Sam. 18 9. Iudg. 6. 2 King 6. and when hee heard that another of his sonnes was dead hée wept bitterly Euen so I heartily reioyce that you beleeue me in one thing and am heartily grieued that you so vnchristianly behaue your selfe towards me in another thing When the earth was wet Gidions fleece was drie
ten Fathers before the Flood by the ten Fathers after the Flood and by the twelue Patriarches succéeding them Par. What particular obseruation shall I make for the better vnderstanding of this Ceremoniall Law Past There are diuers necessary obseruations but specially these sixe which by way of interrogation you must finde out 1 The Tabernacle 2 Feast dayes 3 Sacrifices 4 Sacraments 5 Sacrificers 6 Sabaoth Par. Tell me first of all what the Tabernacle was Past The Tabernacle was a place principally dedicated for religion whiles they were in the wildernesse trauelling towards Canaan It was made by the Lords commandement of brasse of siluer and of gold as an whole entire worke or one thing to containe diuers things but parted with vaâ—es into thrée roomes Par. What was the first roome of the Tabernacle Past The first roome was Southward containing an Altar of earth whereon burnt offerings were made by the people themselues and also by the priests on the Sabaoth day and on feast dayes Par. What was the second roome of the Tabernacle Past It stood Northward it was called holy and it was made and framed with Sethim wood and couered with gold that it might not rot and that the priests might burne incense thereon both morning and euening There was the table of gold whereon was set the shew bread which was not lawfull for any man to eate but for the priests when it was stale and they were to supply it with new against euery Sabaoth In this roome were set diuers instruments which were for the seruice and dedication of the Temple Par. What was the third roome or part of the Tabernacle Past The third part of the Tabernacle was Westward called the holiest of all made of Sethim wood but couered within and without with fine gold In this roome was the Arke of the couenant which represented God himselfe Therein were the two Tables of the law the golden pot Aarons rod and the Mercy seat couered with Cherubins and shadowing the Arke This most excellent workmanship of the Almighty with the Arke and all the appurtenances continued amongst the people of Israell vntill the death of Eli the high priest at which time the Arke was taken by the Philistines in a great battell and it continued as a pilgrime tossed too and fro in priuate mens houses vntill the death of Saul the king then king Dauid being moued with the zeale of God and being grieued that the Arke of his Maiesty was so exiled and banished ioyned with the Leuites the priests and Nobles of the land to fetch it to Ierulalem Par. Now I would heare what is conuenient concerning feast dayes which you spake of Past There were diuers feasts vsed in the ministrations of the law especially these fiue The feast of Easter Pentecost Trumpets Tabernacles New Moone Par. Tell me briefely concerning the feast of Easter Past Easter was one of the great solemne feast dayes in the which all the people of Israell were commanded to come vnto Ierusalem wheresoeuer they inhabited ouer the world that then and there they might eate the Passeouer in the commemoration of their deliuerance out of Egypt and also in expectation of the holy Messiah which was for to come who in Ierusalem according to that time should be the true Passeouer or Pascall lambe offered vpon the crosse Par. What was the feast of pentecost Past The feast of Pentecost or Whitsontide was another such like feast or holy assembly full 〈◊〉 dayes after Easter thereby to continue the remembrance of that time in which God gaue them the two Tables of stone written with his owne hand and also to haue relation by a spirituall expectation to the abundant graces of God in Christ which shortly after his Ascention was to be sent downe vpon his Apostles in signe of clouen tongues Par. Set me downe I pray you the feast of Tabernacles Past It was a feast of seauen dayes continuance which was solemnized for to put the people in remembrance of their estate when they were in bondage vnder Pharao and when afterwards they were in the wildernesse without house or habitation full fortie yeares that thereby they might be taught to endure with the greater patience in the consideration of their better and more continuing habitaon which in time to come they should haue in Canaan and afterwards in the holy kingdome of heauen Par. There remaineth yet one more of the feasts which you named to wit the feast of new Moones Past The feast of new Moons was the beginning of euery month in which the people were bound to offer burnt offerings vnto the Lord. Par. You spake vnto me of Sacrifices I pray you tell me somewhat thereof and how many kindes or sorts there be Past Sacrifices were of sundry sorts or kindes especially foure The first kinde was a burnt Sacrifice or oblation which was offered by the common people vpon the Altar as they would and as they were able The second kinde of Sacrifice was that which the priests onely offered for the sinnes of the people according as euery man was able after this manner for the gouernors they offered a Goat The third for the poore they offered a payre of Turtle doues or two yong Pigeons The fourth for other of lesse ability the tenth part of an Epha Par. What was the third kinde of Sacrifice Past The third kinde for sanctification or consecration of the priests was of thrée sorts 1 a Calfe 2 Ramme 3 red Cow Par. What was the fourth kinde of Sacrifice Past The fourth kinde was a Sacrifice or oblation of reconciliation or of attonement which the high priest offered for himselfe when he appeared before God in the holy place vnder these speciall kindes to wit A yong Cow A Bullocke Two hée Goates Aaron was to cast lots which of these two hée Goats were to be offered and which should escape Par. You spake of Sacraments tell mee I pray you how many Sacraments there be the difference betwixt the old and the new and how I may know the difference betwixt a Sacrament and a Sacrifice Past Sacraments in the time of the Law as in the time of the Gospell were in number two Circumcision and Paschal Lambe before Christ Baptisme the Lords Supper after Christ Par. Now declare the difference betwixt the old Sacrament and the New Past The old did promise Christ for to come the new doth performe him already come Againe the old were but figures shadowes and relations of things to come The new are the very same indeede the most perfect and most substantiall matter Par. What difference is there betwixt a Sacrament and a Sacrifice Past In Sacrifices men offer and giue vnto GOD in Sacraments GOD offers and giues vnto men Par. Declare vnto me the sixt particular to wit of Sacrificers who they were and what else is fit to be learned therein Past Sacrificers were the priests as was Aaron and his sonnes They were men seperated and segregated from ill and
continued the same as one Monarchie 1240. yeares And at the death of Sardanapalus the last and worst of those kings Arbaces the President of the Medes and Bellechus the President of Babilon so concluded together that the whole Monarchie was diuided betwéene them Arbaces was crowned king of the Medes and Persians and Bellechus was crowned king of Siria and Babilon whose Palace was translated from Niniuie to Babilon being the stronger citie Nabuchadnezar was the son of Nabuchadonosor which was the sonne of Benmerodach which was the sonne of Merodachbaladan which was the sonne of Asser Addon which was the sonne of Senacherib which was the sonne of Salmanasar which was the sonne of Phull-Asser which was the sonne of Phull-Belochus This Nabuchadnezer of whom you inquire is the same that subdued the Citie of Ierusalem burnt it with the Temple and captiuated the Nobilitie Par. What was signified by the great Image which Nabuchadnezer saw Past This Image consisted of fiue seuerall parts The first part was a head of gold which signified the great magnificence power and glory of thrée Monarches or Kings of Babilon to wit Nabuchadnezer Euilmerodach Baltasar whose Empire endured by the space onely of seuenty years then was this head of gold cut off and the glory of those kings quite extinguished then the people of Israell were fréed The second part was armes and breasts of siluer which signified the kings of the Medes and Persians who tyrannized 130. yeares after the end of the captiuitie Of which one hundred and thirty yeares these kings following raigned nine and twentie yeares Cyrus Darius Ahasuerus Darius Cambises Xerxes Ochus In the twentieth yeare of the first Darius the temple was finished being full nine and forty years in building as Daniel had foretolde in his seauenty wéeks Chap. 9. The other kings that made vp the 130. yeares are these Artaxerxes Ochus Arses Darius the Persian And at the end of these yeares are the armes and brest of Siluer cut off the glory also of those kings wholly extinguished The third was belly and thighes of brasse which signified Alexander the great Par. What signified the legges of iron Past The fourth was legges of iron which signified these ten Kings 1 Seleucus Nicanor 2 Antiochus Soter 3 Antiochus Theos 4 Seleucus Callicus 5 Seleucus Siranus 6 Antiochus Negas 7 Seleucus Philopater 8 Antiochus Epimanes 9 Ptolomeus Lagi 10 Ptolomeus Philadelphus These ruled cruelly and were strong as Iron 294. yeares vnto Cleopaters death who confirmed Herod the Idumean king in Israell The fift part was féete and toes being part of Iron and part of Clay which signified the same Kingdome to be partly strong and partly broken Par. What meant the King by that great Image of Gold which he did set vp in the plaine of Dura Past Chap. 3. Hée meant therein as he expressed in plaine tearmes and in his déedes to make himselfe reputed and taken as a great God which was most horrible blasphemy and plaine sacriledge Par. Might not Daniel haue yeelded vnto the time and present necessitie which was offered as others did and so haue worshipped the Image with his body keeping his Soule and conscience cleare for the seruice of the true knowne Almighty Past No. He might not haue so dallied with the seruice of God who sées and knowes all things and whose seruice is to be performed in body and in soule For that had béene in him blasphemy and sacriledge as in Nabuchadnezer He chose rather to dye a tyrannous death by confessing of gods true worship then to liue by the denyall thereof which he should haue done most plainely if he had yéelded But contrariwise when the king perswaded him to yéelde as others did he vttered thrée worthy spéeches méete for euery Christian The first was in these words Behold O King God is able to deliuer vs. In which he declared his beliefe in the power of God The second was 17.18 God will deliuer vs. In which he shewed his faith in things to come The third was If not O King be it knowne vnto thee we will not worship the golden Image which thou hast set vp In which he declared his Christian magnanimity and holy courage Par. There is mention made in the fourth chapter Chap. 4. of another vision or dreame which the King did see to wit a Tree whose boughes reached to the heauens whose branches ouerspread Sea and Land and whose rootes were fastned in the earth What was signified by that Past By this Trée was signified Nabuchadnezars territories and dominions and the excéeding great subiection that was yeelded vnto him of all nations Kings and Potentates of the whole world as was also signified by the head of gold before recited Par. What was signified by the cutting downe of the Tree and the fastning of the rootes thereof in the earth as with a chaine Past The holy Prophet Daniel saith that the cutting downe of the Trée signified Nabuchadnezar his seauen yeares of exilement and eiection among beasts And the fastning of the Trée by the rootes signified that he should returne to his Palace and Kingdome after that God had so corrected him for his pride Par. Why did almighty God so discomfort Baltashar with such a fearefull sight vpon the wall before all such as were assembled to his ioyall feast Past It was no maruell that God did so terrifie him For he and the most of his nobility riotously wasted the good creatures of God and therewith became drunken adulterous and sacrilegious For he was not content with the great abundance of plate that he had of his owne in great variety but he would néeds drinke in his drunkennesse out of the vessels that were brought from the Temple at Ierusalem and which were dedicated to the seruice of God Par. What was the writing and the signification Past The writing consisted of thrée words first Mene secondly Tekell thirdly Vpharsin The signification of the first word is that God had numbred the yeares of his kingdome and finished it The signification of the second was that God had considered of his conuersation and found it not answerable to his will And the signification of the third word was that his kingdome should be forthwith taken from him by Cirus and Darius Kings of the Medes and Persians According to which writing it came to passe the selfe same night Par. What was the decree or law that King Darius made by the perswasion of his Nobility Past It was that whosoeuer did call vpon or worship any other God saue Nabuchadnezar the King for thirty dayes space should be throwne into a den of Lyons Par. How came it to passe that the Lyons being a sauage sort of creatures did spare Daniel and so suddenly destroyed the conspiratours with their wiues and children Past Thereby almighty GOD did declare that all creatures of what sort or kinde soeuer they be are but as ministers or instruments of GOD in Mercy or in Iustice and
commeth by hearing the word preached and saluation commeth by Faith It is true as you say that all men that haue Faith shall be saued but all that heare the word shall not haue Faith because they are not prepared by a precedent grace and therefore all shall not be saued that heare the word preached Rom 1. Saint Paul speaking to the Romanes concerning the excellent vse of Gods word saith that it is a sauour of life vnto life and a sauour of death vnto death meaning that as in a red hot sword there are actions of two natures the one to cut the other to burne euen so in the preaching of Gods word there are actions of two natures the one a meanes of life eternall to them that beleeue the other a meanes of death eternall to them that beléeue not And it is said that many are called Mat. 22. but few chosen that is to say many are inuited to saluation as to the mariage of the kings sonne but few regard it few beleeue it and fewer liue according vnto it therefore many are damned and few are saued because they want Faith The preaching of the word is as the sowing of séede Mat. 13. wherof some fals in good ground the residue which is the greater part fals into pestiferous places so then by these words of Christ not all that heare the word preached shall be saued As Manna was a wholesome meate to some so was it filthy and poysonfull to others And as wine is good for the sound and whole man but dangerous for the sicke man euen so the word of God is good and profitable for some and very hurtfull for others and yet God is not the author of euill because of them that want Faith neither yet is the ministerie of his word vnperfect or vnbefitting his royall glory which is declared as well in those that are lost as in those that are found The Parishioner demandeth what else is to be done besides the hearing of Preaching Parishioner NOw in all humilitie and plainenes as one seasoned with a desire of farther knowledge and as one seized with a good opinion of your abilitie and conscience to teach I aske you with all reuerence what else shall I learne out of your last doctrine The young man said vnto Christ Mat. 19.24 what shall I doe to inherite eternall life intending that he had soundly performed all the commandements so say I all that you haue spoken concerning the preaching of Gods word I hau in heart subscribed vnto what other duty doe I owe at home after the preaching thereof Mat. 13.12 I remember what Christ said to his Disciples he that hath to him it shall be giuen and from him that hath not shall be taken that which he hath In his holy feare therefore and in the reuerent accompt of that knowledge which his Maiestie hath vnfolded and afforded vnto me by you lest by omission the same should be taken from me I aske you againe the third time what other dutie do I owe in priuate to the holy word preached after the hearing thereof in publicke Math. 25.1 to 14. Math 7.24 There are two sorts of Virgins spokē of in Scripture and two sorts of Builders both sorts had in a sort the commendation of Christ but when his Maiestie had reuiewed them both he found the one negligent the other ignorant and therefore he pronounceth one fearefull iudgement against them both Whose example moueth me to feare and to care least by too much labouring the wrong way and by too little labouring the right way I be found guilty of punishment and accessary to my eternall destruction Well then here I offer to discharge you vpon your answer and here I take the charge vpon my selfe if I follow not your direction The Pastor answereth the word must be meditated and priuately exercised Pastor THere are two necessary causes or impulsiue reasons for the reading meditating and conferring of Gods word in euery householder and his household at home after the hearing of Gods holy word preached there is one reason which doth necessarily concerne euery housholder for his owne part as if he had no houshold to wit that he by reading meditating and conference may be encreased in knowledge confirmed in memory and strengthned in Faith Two or thrée places for proofe will be sufficient because one place will be sufficient to condemnation for him that doth neglect it The Iewes séeking to kill Christ because he had healed a sicke man on the Saboth day and because he made himselfe equall with God his holy Maiestie moderately and mildely preacheth vnto them and refers them to the reading and conferring of the same which publikely they had often heard of him and of others Againe the blessing which the holy Ghost pronounceth in the first Psalme is appertaining to euery man that meditateth and exerciseth himselfe in the word of God in which generall allowance we must conclude also euery householder that doth meditate and exercise himselfe vpon Gods word and it must follow in a necessary consequence that he who doth not meditate and exercise himselfe in Gods word is cursed Saint Luke recordeth the example of the Noble men at Berea Act. 17.1 to 13. who hauing heard Paul preach searched the Scripture daily whether those things were so which Paul preached Sithence God setteth them forth to their great commendation in his Church vniuersall why may it not suffice to make men of modestie contented to yeelde the like obedience to his holy ordinance The other cause or impulsiue reason of meditating exercising and conferring vpon the Scriptures is the bettering and encrease of knowledge for the quickning of memory and for the strengthning of Faith in the chiidren and seruants of euery such householder or maister of familie as hée shall answer for the bloud of euery one that doe offend the Maiestie of God ignorantly not knowing the Scriptures For as the bloud of euery Parishioner that dieth ignorantly in his sinne shall be required of the Pastor euen so will the Lord require the bloud of Son Daughter and Seruant bond or frée that dieth ignorantly in his sinne at the hands of euery such maister of a familie Deu. 6.4 to 10. Moses hauing receiued to this purpose a charge from God to discharge himselfe he chargeth householders after this manner First to heare Gods word in these words O Israel heare Secondly that their conuersation be answerable to that which they heard consisting in these words take heede to doe it Thirdly he points out one thing thrée times in one verse to wit a reward consisting in these words Iehouah our God Iehouah our God Iehouah is one meaning Christ Iesus the second person in Trinitie who is become theirs or one with them that heare his word and doe it and lastly hee particulateth vnto them what specially he would haue done vpon paine of frustrating of all that was done before and of that which should
Secondly we are to obserue their extreame cruelty in selling their brothers life as a beast or at least as a bondslaue Thirdly their wonderfull disobedience and vndutifull affection towards their old father Par. What speciall profit are we to draw out of these their villanies Past Hereby is made cléere vnto vs the maruailous wisedome the secret prouidence and excéeding mercies of God euen in these most vile and bloudy actions of theirs For by this means Ioseph was made a prouider for them and their father in the time of famine Thus God draweth good things out of the wicked actions of vngodly men thereby to discomfort the vngodly and to comfort the godly Par. Was Ioseph raised by the King of Egypt in respect of his learning in respect of his Chiualrie or in respect of any naturall matter that was extraordinary in him Past Iosaph was the yongest of all his brethren and a man of small or no report but the Lord was with Ioseph and shewed him mercy and got him fauour in the sight of his Maister Insomuch that Pharao the King said of him can we finde such a man as this in whom the spirit of God is There is no man of vnderstanding or wisedome like him Gen. 41.38 The 7. Particular in the third Obseruation Par. Where died Ioseph Past After he had ruled most renowmedly 80. Gen. 41.46 â—â—0 22 yeares in Egypt when hée was an hundred and tenne yeares old he dyed in Egypt where he was honourably buried Par. Why did hee so specially charge his brethren to carry his bones from Egypt Exod. 13.19 Is there in the Iudgement of the faithfull any place better then other for buriall or for the resurrection Past There is no place better then other for the resurrection but it was to declare his great faith in the promise that GOD made concerning the Land of Canaan which his people should inherit according to the time prefixed as in plaine words hée vttereth vnto his brethren at his death saying Surely God will visit you and will bring you out of this Land which hee sware vnto Abraham Isaac and Iacob Par. How came it to passe that there was another King in Egypt called Pharaoh Past It cannot be but there were many Kings in Egypt after the decease of the King that fauoured Ioseph whiles Israell continued in Egypt The Emperors of Rome were alwayes called Caesars the Kings of Persia were called Artaxerxes and so the Kings of Egypt were alwayes called Pharaohs Par. Why did Pharaoh so enuiously and so hatefully deale with Gods people Past Because he saw that they were like to grow great and to be mightier then hée Exod. 1.10 Therefore he said vnto his Nobility Come let vs deale wisely lest when they be multiplyed they ioyne with our enemies Par. How did the King preuaile with his policie and deuise against Gods people Past So he preuailed that by how much he vexed them and sought by all meanes to diminish them by so much the more they multiplyed and grew to be a great nation The eight Particular concerning Moses Par Who were parents to Moses Past Amram the Leuite was his father Iochebed the daughter of Leui was his mother Par. How came hee to be called Moses Past Pharaohs daughter found him throwne out neare a riuer in a basket Exod. 2.3.4 for the auoyding of her fathers bloudy lawes then shée tooke him for her owne and called him in her Egyptian language Moses signifying according to the Etimologie thereof deliuered out of the waters Wherin was the prouidence of God Par. How befell it that the Kings daughter should haue the nourishing of him in the hands of his owne mother Past It cannot be that it was any way imagined or deuised by the Kings Daughter or by his Parents but it was the diuine prouidence of God that the Mother should throw him there and that the Lady should come there to bathe her selfe euen at that time and at no time else And it was the prouidence of God that his owne sister should be there to deliuer the childe to be nourished by his owne Mother at the Kings Daughters commandement Par. How long continued Moses vnder this Ladies gouernment and in the Kings house Past Vntill he was full forty years old Par. Why did he depart from the Kings daughter and from the Kings house being farre more royally maintained then any of his Nation was it not a tempting of God Past He being a godly man was often vexed with their prophanenesse and heathennish impietie therefore he departed from them and refused to be called Pharaohs daughters sonne Heb. 11.25.26 choosing rather to suffer aduersitie with the children of God then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season Par. How did Moses preuaile in so great a message with so great a King and himselfe being a meane man Past He must néedes preuaile excéeding well Exod. 7.8.9.10 because the hand of almighty God was with him as appeared by the signes and wonders that he wrought vpon Pharaoh and vpon his people by the plagues also that were poured out vpon the beasts of the land Par. Why is it said that God hardened the heart of Pharaoh If God hardened his heart it was no maruel though he would not let the people goe vnder the conduct of Moses to wander the world hee knew not whither Past God is said to harden the heart of Pharaoh not because hée did withdraw his graces from him but because indéed God did not giue grace vnto him by the which he might be qualified in heart and obedient in spirit vnto the will of so great a Commander And after this manner the hearts of all the reprobates are set and inueigled against God and against his people therein they are authors of their owne deaths The first Particular Parishioner WHat was the Passeouer Past Exod. 12. It was a Lambe that indéed was killed and eaten ceremonially by the people of Israell onely at the commandement of the Lord the night before they went out of Egypt and which was to be continued vntill Christ who was the true substance thereof This hath reference analogie and coherence in many particulars with the Sacrament which our Sauiour Christ did institute the night before his death and thereby you shall sée how the one expounds the other and how the latter doth expound the former The second Particular concerning the miraculous departure of Israell out of Egipt Par. Declare vnto me the manner of it briefly Past Iacob the Father of the twelue Patriarches Gen. 47.4.11.46.6.27 came into Egypt by reason of famine when as his owne sonne Ioseph ruled the land vnder Pharaoh and brought with him onely 70. persons but 215. yeares after when they went out of Egypt Exod. 12.35 to 39. they were in number sixe hundred thousand men on foot beside women and children they did as Moses commanded them in asking of the Egyptians iewels of
leauing his people vtterly destitute prophefled in Babilon during the seauenty yeares Captiuitie Par. Declare your reason why you place Haggi Zachary and Malachie with Ezra Nehemiah and Hester Reason for the fift Past These doe lye in order according to the times The last Degrée that I handled doth concerne the time in which the people were in captiuitie and this Degrée concernes the time from the end of their Captiuitie vntill the finishing of the Temple at Ierusalem And the three Prophets annexed vnto them were such as God gaue to comfort and to set them forward in their building and in Religion Par. What reason haue you to sort some Bookes of the olde Testament with the Epistles Reason for the sixt Past These Bookes olde and new for matter chiefly contained in them are in another sort and kinde farre differing from the former They are more properly called Doctrinall and Sapientall because therein the holy Ghost most compendiously by similitudes comparisons allegories and examples doth perswade all men to embrace Christ Iesus in holinesse of life and conuersation Reason for the seauenth These Bookes fall out according to the Degrées so to be placed For Daniel intreats of matter and things done during the captiuitie and somewhat largely of things to be performed vntill Christs Incarnation So Saint Iohn likewise in the Reuelation poynts out by manifest particulars to those great things that were and are to be performed vntill the last day in which Christ Iesus shall come with triumph and great glory to pronounce the fulnesse of ioy for his Elect. Thus I end as I began yéelding all praise empire and dominion to his blessed Maiestie A Prayer for the Morning O Lord thou which couerest the night with darknesse and causest man therein to take his rest and by euery day and night doest shew thy great glory in the heauens and also thy wisedome and power by gouerning and preseruing all thy creatures vpon the earth O Lord I thy poore seruant and creature doe most humbly thanke thée from the bottome of my heart for my swéet and comfortable rest this night past and for watching ouer me by thine eye of prouidence and kéeping both my body and soule by thy grace from sinne and death Beséeching thée O Lord God my Father Sauiour and Comforter to blesse to sanctifie direct and preserue mée in this thy new day and that I may become a new creature vnto thée O God in holinesse and righteousnesse labouring faithfully and painefully in my calling that so my labours this day may be sanctified and blessed vnto mée and mine and that I may shew forth thy praise in all my wayes and declare my loue and charitie vnto men in all my workes that after the dayes of this my life and pilgrimage finished and ended here in this world I may liue with thée for euer in the world to come through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour who liueth and raigneth with thée and the holy Ghost euer one God world without end Amen A Prayer for the Euening O Gracious and merciful God I am most bound vnto thy heauenly Maiestie for my preseruation this day because I and all men are continually subiect vnto all dangers and perils griefes and sorrowes sicknesse and death yea we lye open vnlesse thy grace and might doe defend vs vnto the temptations and tyranny of the World the Flesh and the Diuell which daily séeke and desire our hurt and confusion both of body and soule for euer Wherefore O gracious and euerliuing God as thy right hand and sauing health hath béene with mée this day and thou hast directed blessed and comforted mée thy poore seruant in all my wayes and labours for the which I most humbly thanke thée so I most earnestly intreate thy Maiestie in thy loue and mercy for Christ Iesus sake to kéepe mée and all mine in safety this night and to couer vs vnder the shadow of thy wings from all perils and dangers whatsoeuer and that our soules as well as our bodies may take their swéet and comfortable rest and ioy in thée and likewise that thou wouldest grant that whensoeuer thou shalt knocke at the doore of our harts to call vs vnto thée O God wée may with the wise Virgins be watchfull and haue oyle in our lampes that we may be receiued into eternall rest through Iesus Christ thy deare Sonne and our only Sauiour Amen FINIS