number of 518. which is thus cleared It was from the coming out of Egypt to the foundation of the Temple 48â— years which was laid in the fourth year of Salomon to which adde 37 years for the rest of Salomons Reign and the year wherein the Ten Tribes made their Division from Judah and so you have 518 years and this way doth also still maintain the generall summe of 3960 years CHAP. XL. Another expression of the holy Chronicle which the former Dialogue hath followed FRom the first Promise of Christ to destroy Satans works unto the Flood the first generall manifestation of wrath and judgement upon the seed of the Serpent for despising the Promise are years 1656. From the Plood to the promise made to Abraham of restoring blessednesse in Christ to the Apostate families in Gen. 10.11 are years 427. From the Promise to Abraham to the glorious and mighty Redemption of Israel from Egypt and the giving of the Law of the Passeover Gal. 3 are yeas 430. From the coming from Egypt to the Foundation of the Temple a figure that the Son of God would make not the nature of angels but the Seed of Abraham his Temple are years 480. Thence to the burning of the Temple That Israel should not glory too much in outward Ceremonies and therefore God did shake them by Babel are year 427 Thence to the overthrow of Babels Monarcy by Cyrus and Darius and sending the Jews home from Captivity are years full 50. Thence to he death of the MASSIAS and ending of all Moses ceremonies which is that once more that Christ said he would shake them to settle that which should remain untill his second most glorious appearance is 490. The whole summe is 3960. These seven Pillars may well be resembled to those seven that wisdome hewed out Prov. 9.1 which hath the golden chain of times fastened to them upon which hang the glorious Curtains of needle-work the embroidered prophesies and stories of the eternall wisdome In which there is a Table spread and furnished with all varieties of grace to feed the soul in Christ who is the cluster of Redemption and ought to find a lodging betwixt all faithfull breasts CHAP. XLI A third expression of the holy Chronicle IT is glorious to meditate how the Sun in all his journies did constant service to the SON Eternal in a marvellous distinction of times and most harmonious manner in which is seen how his Mediatorian Kingdome was exercised mall ages in mercy to the godly and in severity to the wicked opposers From the miraculous creation to the miraculous over flowing the world by waters are years 1656. From that inundation to the death of Terah who was first of the Fathers of the holy Line that corrupted the true sacrifice to flames of idolatry are years 427. From the death of Terah and the promise to Abraham made presently upon his death to the ending of Israels peregrination in the Land of â—am 430. Thence MOSES was to Israel a Shepherd in the wildernesse years 40. From Mâ—â—es death to the conquest and Partittion of the Land of â—anaan by Jesus a type of JESUS Christ the Son of God that hath procured for the people of God the true Rest Jos 14.20 are years 7. Thence by seven Jubilees the time of the Arks abode in the Tribe of Ephraim at Shiâ—oh at the ending of which Jubilees the Ark was captived but Christ gave them it again then was the Transmigratirn of the Ark to the Tribe of Judah those seven Jubilees are years 350 Thence by Seventy Sevens to the first captivity by Babel Then Christ did to Jerusalem in part as he did to Shi Ioh Jer. 2. 490 By Iudahs captivity and subjection to Babel then the Land of Israel kept Sabbath seventy years as Moses foretold Levit. 26. 70. Lastly by the most comfortable Prophecy and Promise of Reconciliation by the death of CHRIST at the end of Seventy Sevens of years Dan. 9 24. 490. The whole Summe 3960. 7 Iubilees are 350. 70 Sevens are 490. 10 Sevens are 70. 70 Sevens are 490 Â Â 1400. 28 Iubilees or 1400 years from the conquest of the Seed of the Serpent by Ioshua to the victory of our Lord Iesus CHRIST over sinne death and the grave and over him that had the power of death the Devil CHAP. XLII Of the Geometricall Frame of the processe of Times THE Stones in Salomons Temple were not more curiously fitted for the building then the times of the holy Scriptures are from Moses death neither is any army more orderly composed then the times revolution by the infinite providence of CHIST Seaven yeares of conquest and partition of Chanaan Seaven Jubilees the Tabernacle of Moses and the Ark of the Covevenant at Shile for Ephraim glory Seaven Seavensies began with the Transmigration of the Arke of the Covenant for Judahs glory Psal 78. Seaven Tenns for Captivity to feel Ieremies Lamentations And then againe the former measure of Seaven Seavensies to find comfort in servitude which none but the poor in spirit and mourning will ever find Vid Mr. Br. in Advert 72. CHAP. XLIII Further Considerations of these 28 Jubilees that the godly student may delight in the holy Book of God THE plainnesse of Gods dealing still calleth us to mind of a first Sabbath by a like account of Sevens which also is usuall through the Scriptures and especially from Moses times And that cannot be denied Now that the whole record of the Sunnes service for twenty eight Jubilees unto the Sunnes service prophesied Dan. 9.24 c. which was spoken by an Angel to make us shine in Justice and that it may shine in plainnesse diligently ponder and observe 1. Moses in Levitions chap. 25. telleth that the Jubilee shall be an holy year and the old Hebrew Doctors thereupon in the Zohaâ— as learned say write thus In the Iubile year Shecinetha that is the Majesty of God having his Tabernacle with us will be Freedome Redemption and Sabbatisme to Israel by the Angel Gabriels years the last Iubilee that ever the Jews had in their Land shall fall out at our Lords death in which year the Majesty shewed it self upon the Mountain to Peter Iames and Iohn with Moses and Elias and became to us freedome i. e. justification and redemption and finisher of Mosaicall Sebbaths consider the proceeding of times herein 2. Seven years were spent before Israel had conquered and parted the Land Before the Partition the Iubilees could not begin and by Moses words the next year after was to be the first of fifty for the Iubilee Thence unto our Lords death are 28. Iubilees exactly year 1400. 3. In that we have a long time broken the whole frame of both Testaments by suffering heathen Olympick toyes to call us from the wisdome which Gabriels healthy and heavenly message had and offereth to us we must confesse that God hath been angry with us justly in giving over the world unto blindnesse whereas that Prophecy
to Abrahams Bosome where note that Lazarus and Eleazar Faithfull factors in far countries for their Masters need not fear to be called home so the great Lord and housholder when the servonts are called to give account of their trading by the Talents they received we know what the Lrd will say to them that can give a good account Maâ— 25. are but one name though differing in Dialect 3. That Parable of the rich man in Hades in torments and of Lazarus Soul that was carried by the Angels into Abrahams Bosome in Luke 16.19 c. Was spoken to the unbelieving Jews and Pharisees and Saâ—duces especially to such as were contemners of Abrahams faith and cared not for the dayes of the Son of Man and therefore they were not glad to see his day as their Father Abraham did and was glad but instead thereof they despised and disdained such as were godly Eleazars whose hope and help Christ is and that he will send his Angels at their death to carrie their souls into the happie part of Hades to Abrahams Bosome where note that Lazarus and Eleazar Faithfull factors in far countries for their Masters need not fear to be called home so the great Lord and housholder when the servonts are called to give account of their trading by the Talents they received we know what the Lrd will say to them that can give a good account Maâ— 25. are but one name though differing in Dialect 4. Let me yet give the godly Reader one lift more to the placing of their souls in Abrahams Bosome when they come to die Remember that the Lord God our heavenly Father The Lord God our heavenly Father hath but one Familie part of it is in the heavens and part of it in the earth and when any one of his servants have finished their factorage Phil. 3.20 their Politeuma among that part of the Familie on earth then he sends for them home to the other part of the Familie that is in heaven all the faithfull for the dayes of the old Testament are so called And so the Apostle Paul finishing his course he went to receive his Crown in the Kingdome of the Father So Peter the Apostle 1 Pet. 1 2.3 4. 2 Pet. 1. therefore let us strive for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus that when we think or speak of death or are near to the approaching to it we may be without much disturbance in mind or heart as Abraham Isaac Jacob David c. Delight in the stories of the faithfull that ye may be more transformed This made the Saints to say Why should I fear in the evil day when our iniquities shall compasse us about and trip up our heels unto death for God will redeem us from the power of the grave for he shall receive us to himself to Abrahams Bosome Psal 49. Christ the second Adam the Lord from heaven hath destroyed death and him that had the power of death he hath opened the gates of death and himself hath passed through them to deliver the children of God from the guilt and bondage of sinne and from the fear of death unto which we are subject Christ our life is our justification for he hath freed us from the sting of sinne by his precious death and Sacrifice The Law the strength of sin Gen. 2.17 and 3.19 and although the curse of the Law is the strength of sinne yet he hath fulfilled the Law for us and so became a most perfect Mediatour for us For such an high Sacrificer and Mediatour it became us to have who was holy harmlesse undefiled separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens Again death is but an harbenger to bring us to Christ it is said that death is ours it s our servant for our good Again it is said that Christ is our life and therefore death must needs be our advantage 2 Cor. 3.12 Phil. 1.21 and therefore we should not be troubled at that which is so advantagious to us we cannot live holily righteously and comfortably unlesse we live above the fear of death 1 Cor. 15 34.58 2 Cor. 5 15. to be well instructed in this point is a point of great wisdome Moses prized it at a high rate when he prayed Teach us to number our dayes that we may apply our heartes to wisdome namely to be prepared for death and Salomon doth exhort us saying Remember thy Creatour in the dayes of thy youth before the evil dayes come upon thee Ezech. 12. This wisdome is to be valued above gold and silver and the most precious Jewels of the earth but it is wonderfull how averse our hearts are by nature from the practise of this heavenly wisdome we commonly put off the thought of our death untill the Lord bring upon us bruising miseries and then we begin to think of God and Christ and of death as it is said Destruction and Death say we have heard of the fame of this wisdome with our ears and when men come to the doores of death then is this wisdome of some fame with men then they send for a godly Minister or for a godly neighbour whose person it may be they hated in the time of their health and abhorred his teaching with their godly counsels Death was a terror indeed to Aristotâ—e though a wise and great Philosopher and to all such Job doth call it the King of terrours that speech of Bildad in Job 18. doth import that God is a just God to whom all souls must ascend to have their judgement and so in 2 Cor. 5. knowing the terror of the Lord c This made that most miserable Cardinal to say that he had rather lose his part in Paradise then his part in Paris But let all the godly be still mindful that though they depart from their Families hereon earth yet they shall still continue to be of Gods family they go from brethren and sisters here to brethren and sisters there and above all remember the dying or rather the living words of the Lord Jesus the night before his death Job 13.14 15 16 and 17 chapters Oh the ineffable love and care of our blessed Mediatour for his apostles and for all his faithfull servants to the end of the world CHAP. XXXIV Some Propositions and Expostulations concerning the true nature of Christs Sufferings 1. BEloved Reader we are yet further pressed and orthodox Churches are called up as Troopers against us about the true nature of Christs sufferings we acknowledge that the very remembrance of them is reverend and doth joy us not annoy us I know we shall not fight but treat for they may perceive that we have otthodox Churches with us and as learned Leaders though perhaps not so many That is not much materiall for the book of God must lie between them and us and they and we must search the holy pages that so by them we both may be composed 2. It is to be lamented
second death after the first 5. When and where did the Lord of glory suffer the second death if you prophesy to the going down of the Sun there will be no answer many Ministers will have the Lord to suffer the second death before the first or in and with the first They must exercise their wit but there is no Divine Revelation what to affirme least their imaginary Doctrine be lost 6. We must know and that by Divine Revelation that as there is a first death so there is a second death and that the second death must be after the first or else if we by our wit and learning will affirme the contrary we shall destroy Gods order but no accutenesse of wit or learning shall ever be able to doe that what shall mans subtill wit nullifie the order of nature of first and second and the order of Divine Revelation which sheweth that the first death is in this world and the second death in the world to come The Spirit of Christ said by Iohn He that overcometh namely that overcometh the will of Tyrants by suffering the first death for the truth shall nor be hurt of the second death Apoc. 2.11 Lo the second death is after the first and in another world and this doth more fully appear by Apoc. 20.14 and by Apoc. 6.7.8 which placles doe shew first the place of punishment secondly the punishment it feâ—se thirdly the time when fourthly the company that shall he there heaped together first the place expressed is the lake secondly the punishment everlasting paine in fire and brimstone thirdly the time is at the last and great day of account when the Books shall be opened fourthly the company is the Devill the Beast the false Prophet the fearfull the un-beleiving the abominable and murtherers and whore-mungers and sorcerers and idolaters and all lyars c. of which second death the Lord Jesus the holy one of God under-went to part Therefore that Doctrine that saith so must be reprobated with the Reprobates 7. The primitive Churches were admonished to take heed of running after Fables and reformed Churches have as much need to look about themâ—men yea Schollers yea Ecclesiasticks are as subject now to fables and heresies as ever it hath been observed that Ecclesiasticks have ever been the Founders of fables errors and heresies The Apostle gave warning of this to the Bishops of the Churches and tells them that of themselves men should arise speaking perverse things to draw Disciples after them Act. 20. 8. Some have not traversed these pathes as they should because they have been so long instituted and catechised in the Doctrine of Hell-Torments and that Christ the holy one of God was a sinner yea the vilest of sinners and when they are by modest arguing put out of their beaten track they run wild and utter sesquipedalia verba on their breathren that have and do desire that they and their Children should walke with God in soundnesse of judgement and in a godly and sober conversation 9. Let it be further considered that the first death hath foure parts first the death of the soul in sin secondly the death of the body by sicknesse thirdly the seperation of the soul from the body fourthly the putrifaction of the body First the death of the soul is thus expressed dead in Trespasses and Sins Eph. 2.1.5 and so the Gospell is said to be preached to the dead in Sin 1. Pet. 4.6 Secondly the death of the body is effected by fire water sicknesse c. Thirdly the body being dead then the soul departs to the world of souls untill the day of the Resurrection Fourthly the putrification of the body is evident by constant experience The first part of this death namely the death of the soul in Sin could not betide the Lord Jesus because of his ineffable conception in the sanctified womb The second part the Lord Jesus under-went when he gave himselfe a Ransome for the many when he was put to death as a Malefactor on the Tree Thirdly his seperated soul went from his dead body to the world of souls to the happy part of Hades to Paradise to Heaven The fourth part of this first death the Lord did not undergoe his body saw no corruption Act 2. 10. Now as no man may say that Christ was spiritually dead in Trespasses and Sins so neither must they say that he under went the second death none ever under-went the latter that had not first undergone the former 11. I will cite two or three godly Authors that expound the second death First Mr. Ainsworth speaketh thus on the signification of the word death in Gen. â— 17 Finally death is the everlasting perdition of soul and body in Gehenna from the presence of the Lord and called the second death in Apoc. 2. 20. 21. Mat. 10.28 Mat. 9. he saith Hel but Gehenna is in the Text he citeth therefore I dare be bold to put Gehenna for it see his Notes on Ps 16. and see his communion of Saints last page Secondly Trelcatius saith that by second death is meant Eternall death Thirdly Master Perkins in Gal. 3. speaking of the parts of the second death saith the second degree is an absolute seperation from God but saith he into this second degree of this death Christ entred not because the Lord saith in the midst of his passion my God my God and saith he this absolute seperation could not be without the dissolution of his personall union Master Perkins was cautelous of going too far in the point of Carists sufferings and yet it seems he would have the Lord to suffer a part of the second death and he makes that part to be in this World and the other part in the World to come and that he suffered the first and second death together or rather some part of the second death be fore the first is this good Divinity is this Doctrine Orthodox 12. Master Perkins also saith in Gal. 3. That whole Christ Man-God God-man was accursed is not this another fearfull speach though with limitation and some retractation as it were in the same breath and yet all that he saith doth not nor cannot expiate the horror of the position 13. Master Perkins also saith further on Gal. 3. The second death is a seperation from Gods favor and speciall love whereby God ceaseth to be their God This is the second death indeed But now let any godly man whether learned or un-learned bethink himselfe whether ever this did befall the humanity of the holy one of God This speach conferred with some other mens doth infer that Christ was not Christ for a time 14. It is affirmed by some that Christ bore our deserved curse for our Redemption But bring this generall position to particulars and then they make a stand as first of the spirituall death in sin secondly touching the corruption of the body after death and some are affraid to say that he suffered any part
death a most acceptable Sacrifice of Reconciliation 4. Christ is called the Prince of life in relation to his Office of Mediatorship 1. Peter tells the multitude of the Jewes in Act. 3.14 15. Yee killed the Prince of life why else is he called the Prince of life but because he brake Satans head-plot by his combate of suffering and by his sacrifice of obedience even through all the said sufferings and by that means he redeemed the Elect from the death of sin which Satan by his cunning head-plot had brought upon them all and so in this respect he is called the Prince of life alluding to that Combate and Victory over Satan in Gen. 3.15 and to that in Psal 2.2 The Kings of the Earth set themselves and the Princes do plot together against Jehovah and against his Christ and the fulfilling of this combate is thus expressed in Act. 4.27 28. Of a truth Lord against thy holy child Jesus whom thou annointedst gathered were both Herod and Pontius Pilate to do whatsoever thy hand and thy Council had determined before to be done according as he had declared it in Gen. 3.15 namely That the seed of the Woman should combate with his proclaimed Enemy Satan and his seed and that by his obedience to the Lawes of the combate he should break the Devils head plot for the redemption of the Elect from the death of sin to the life of grace and so at last to the life of glory and in this respect lie hath merited the Title Prince of life and to this effect did Peter speak to the Council of the high Sanâ—dâ—im in Act 5.31 Him God made high with his right hand a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel and forgivenesse of sins and in this respect Christ is also stiled the King of Justice and the King of Peace Esay 7 2. And the Prince of Peace in Esay 9.6 and in Ezek 34 23 24. God calls him One Shepheard And his Servant David And a Prince among them and so in Ezek. 37.25 5. Christ is called the King of Israel 1. Nathaniel makes this confession of his Faith to Christ in John 1. 49. Rabbi thou art the Son of God thou art the King of Israel In this speech Nathaniel had respect to Dan. 9.25 where he is called Messiah the Prince or King as Broughton in his last Edition reads it 6. He is called the Messias In Dan. 9.25 26. He is twice called the Messias which in Greek is Christ that is Annointed and so in John 1.41 Andrew found his Brother Simon and said unto him We have sound the Messias and in verse 45. Philip found Nathaniel and said unto him We have sound him of whom Moses did write in the Law Deut. 18.18 and in the Prophets Esa 4.2 and in John 4.25 The woman of Samaria said unto him I know that Messias cometh wâ—ich is called christ or the Annointed and this Title was given him in relation to his Victory in breaking Satans head-plot for our redemption as it was first implied in Gods Declaration of the Combate and Victory in Genes 3.15 7. He is also called the Apostle and high Sacrasicer of our profession in Heb. 31. And the Shepheard and Bishop of our Soules in 1 Pet. 2.25 and our Advocate in 1 Iohn 2. If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the just who is the reconciliation for our sins 8. Christ hath many Titles given him in relation to his Office of Mediatorship from Metaphors and Similitudes 1. My Husband Hos 2.7 2. The morning Star in the Title of Psal 22. and in Rev. 2.28 and Rev. 22.16 3. A Nazaren Math. 2 23. He was not a Nazarite according to Num. 6. as some through heedlesnesse do take it for he both drank Wine and was polluted by the dead Luke 7.33.34 Luke 8.49.54 Mat 9.25 Luke 7.14 which a Nazarite might not be but he was a Nazaren of the Town of Nazareth which Towns name is derived from Nazar the Branch out of the root of Jesse in Esa 11.1 And saith Bro. Nazar in the Thalmud is the Messias from Esa 11.1 and saith he in his Consent 2830. Nazar is a Spring or Branch Esa 11.1 and saith he the Town Nazareth alludeth unto that in Mat. 2.23 4. He is called the brightnesse from on high hath visited us Luke 1.78 5. He is called the Bud of the Lord in Esa 4.2 Zach. 3.8 Zach. 6.12 6. The Son of Righteousnesse Mat. 4.2 7. A Son and Shield Psal â—4 12. 8. The way the truth and the life John 14.6 9. The Door Job 10.7 10. The bread of life that came down from Heaven John 6.35.48.51 11. The true Vine John 15.1.5 12. The Lamb of God John 1.29 13. The chief corner stone Eph. 2.10 1 Pet. 2.6 14. The head of the body of the Church Eph. 1.22 Col. 1.18 15. The head of all principality and power Col. 2.10 16. The first fruits of them that sleep 1 Cor. 15.20.23 17. The Lion of the Tribe of Iudah Rev. 5.5 18. The horn of salvation Luke 1.69 These and such like Attributes do shew the effects and the operations of Christs Mediatorship sundry waies both for the comfort of the godly and also for the terrour of the wicked enemies of his Church and people CHAP. LVI Of the Attributes of the holy Spirit HE is called the Holy Ghost Act. 28.25 Paul said to his offended Hearers at their departure Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esay as the Prophet unto our Fathers c. But in Esay he is called Iehovah Esay 6.8 9 10. so also the Title holy Ghost in Heb. 10.15 is taken from Ier 31.33 and there he is called Iehovah which is an incommunicable Attribute to any Creature and hence it is evident that Iehovah the Father Iehovah the Son and Iehovah the holy Ghost in the unity of the Godhead and in the Trinity of persons did make the new Covenant for all the Elect and therefore they will certainly give the gift of faith to all the Elect that so they may be partakers of all the blessings that are therein contained 2. The said Holy Ghost is called the Spirit Iohn 1.32 33. Mar. 1.10 3. The Spirit of Aelohim Gen 1.1 2. 4. The spirit of God Mat 3.16 Act 5.3 4. 5. The holy Spirit Psal 51.11 Esa 63.10 Luke 11.13 6. The holy Spirit of God Eph 4.30 7. The holy Spirit of promise Eph 1.13 8. The Spirit of the Father in Iohn 14.16 17. I will pray the Father saith Christ and he will give you another Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name and so consequently the Spirit proceeds from the Father as in Iohn 15.25 9. The Spirit of the Son Gal 4.6 and therefore he proceeds from the Son as well as from the Father If I depart said Christ to his Disciples that were so full of sorrow for his departure I will send the Comforter to you Iohn 16.7 and in
thing indifferent with us because the excellency of this knowledge tendeth to the enjoyment of life everlasting 2 Tim. 3.15 16. CHAP. II. Hath divers Questions and Answers with Annotations from Gen. 3.15 to the Flood of Noah In which space of time the Doctrine of Redemption by the promised seed of the woman is Explained QVest 1. What is the first promise concerning the sending of JESVS CHRIST for our Redemption Answ Gen 3.15 I will put Enmity between AA thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed HEE shall breake thy head and thou shalt break his heel QVest 2. What do you observe out of this Text Ans That the Son of God who was before the begining and with the Father in the beginning is here first promised to be manifested a second Adam to dissolve the works of the Devill for mans Redemption QVest 3. Open the Text more largely Ans In this Text the Person office of Christ is taught his person that he is as all other men sin only excepted the seed of the a woman That is the Son of God is made man and as it is here prophesied so it is also historyed from what persons concerning the Flesh he came and how the Son of God took mans nature in Luke 3.23 he was as men supposed the son of Joseph but properly the son of the blessed and beloved * Mary the blessed Virgin the Mother of our Lord is in namelest out of Luc. 3. but in matter certained for the term son through all these hath relation to our Lord Jesus The spirits intent is to shew not Josephs but Christs naturall line Virgin Mary of †Eli is not Josephs Father for Matthew saith Iacob begat Joseph but thus it is a married man hath two Fathers his own proper Father and the Father of his wife as David had Jesse and Saul Eli of Matthae of Levi of Melchi of Janna of Joseph of Mattathas of Amos of Naum of Esli of Nagge of Maath of Mattathias of Simei of Joseph of Judah of Joanna of Rhesa of Zorobabel Of Salathiel of Neri of Melchi of Addi of Cosom of Elmodam of Er of Jose of Eliezer of Jorim of Matthat of Levi of Symeon of Judah of Joseph of Jonan of Eliakim of Melea of Mainan of Mattatha of Nathan of DAVID Of Jessai of Obed of Boaz of Salomon of Naasson of Amminadab of Aram of Esrâ—m of Pharez of Judah of Jacob of Isaac of Abraham Of Thara of Nahor of Saruch of Regu of Phaleg of Eber of Salah of Cainan of Arphaxad of SHEM Of Noah of Lamech of Methuselah of Enoch of Jared of Malaleel of Cainan of Enos of Seth of Adam d of GOD. QVest What understand you by his Office Ans The first Adam not keeping for one day the government committed to him the Son eternall would take mans nature that he might e governe he was made f Heir of all far above all principality and power might and Dominion and every name that is named not in this world only but also in that to come And all things in Heaven and Earth and Seas were subjected to him the second Adam as indeed all things were created by HIM and FOR HIM And he is before all things and by him all things consist And in him all the elect both them which are in Heaven and them which are in Earth are reconciled and gathered as under one head He was consecrated by God the Father from the day of g mans fall to be Mediator and head over all things to the Church which office he did execute as he is a Prophet Preist and King in the time of the Old Testament in his Types both * Kings Preists Prophets fiâ—st borne c. persons and things And when the fullnesse of time was come for the making of the New Testament be himselfe tooke unto him our Nature to do the Will of the Father Quest 5. What are the benefits that come to us from the person and â—ffie of Christ Answ They are unsearchable but I will name some principall 1. Satan h brought man to offence and so out of the favour of God and to shame of face and to the fear of Bondage i Christ the second Adam procured Reconciliation Justification and k Adoption 2. Satan brought mans soule to darknesse sinfullnesse or to death in sin l Christ the second Adam gives it knowledge righteousnesse and m the life of holinesse 3. Satan brought mans body to miseries death and corruption n Christ the second Adam sustaineth it in this its pilgrimage and perfectly restoreth it to life and incorruption in the Resurrection 4. Satan caused the first Adam to be expelled from the Tree of life and the Paradise terrestiall and brought all this world o under curse and so subject to vanity and p corruption Christ the second Adam restoreth to the faithfull a comfortable and sanctified use and service of the r creatures and will make a new world for his and their glory to dwell still with God and to feed upon the Tree of life in the Paradise celestiall and command Satan with his seed into eternall flames Add also unto this that Christ the second Adam the head of all principality and power restoreth to them that are in him adopted the attendance of the †Read Psal 34. and 91 Ebr 1. Col. 1.16.2 Rom. 6.17 Esa 37.36 Abrams Lots and Jacobs stories and Daniells booke Ebr. 13.2 holy Angells Quest What other observations out of this Textâ— Answ 1. God hath decreed what shall be the estate of the corrupted masse * Hath not the Potter power over the clay to make of the same lump one Vâ—ssell to honor and another to dishonor who art thou O man that disputest Rom. 9. For the manifsstation of Justice and mercy there are elect and reject in all ages of man-kinde that some shall be the seed of Satan t and the children of perdition and that some shall be elected predestinated and adopted Sons of God by Faith in Christ u and heirs of salvation II. God out of his free love and mercy made this promise to our first Parents of giving his only begotten Son when they neither desired it much lesse deserved it nay this mistery of his will and this way of salvation could not y enter into their heart till God in whole eternall councill and decree it was hid did reveale it And this is the State of all mankind from the first Adam till the Spirit of Christ by cherishing the waters of the LAW beget in us to a new light and life even a new creation 2 Cor. 4.6 III. The Son of God being promised that he should destroy in mans nature as a second Adam the a works of the Divill the holy Spirit taught the Saints in all ages that they should not allow or practise the dead works of darknesse or of the corrupt b nature of the old Adam but labour for a new life by faith and regeneration
and cast their spirits into eternall prison for their unbeleeving disobedient striving against the b Spirit of Christ in his Prophets preaching the Gospel So dangerous it is when people will not be wise * Consider Psal 2. through the whole volume how Christ breaketh the plots counsells c. of the serpents seed and kisse the Sonne The next generall judgment of the world and of wicked and ungodly men shall be by fire God hates c the wicked unbeleevers and hyppocrites in all ages like Devills according to that most constant doctrinall position 2 Joh. 9. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God he that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son QUest 13. How long was it from the first pronouncing of the curse upon the Earth to the open manifection of it by the Floud of waters Answ It was sixteen hundred fifty and six years Some Annotations upon this second Chapter with References to the number of the Questions and Letters of A B C c. In Answer to the first question in expounding Gen. 3.15 This scripture is the Basis of all the Doctrine of Gods Counsell concerning Redemption by Christ this scripture declares the decree of Gods eternall counsell and covenant as it was concluded and agreed on by the holy Trinity for mans Redemption from Satans head-plot Satans plot and purpose was to spoyl man and so consequently to have spoyled and undone the whole work of God in the Creation But this that sets forth an heavy threatning against Satan and the serpent his instrument that one from the seed of the woman should break his headplot and heal that misery which he brought on man and because that should be done a new heaven and a new earth should be made to the praise of Gods counsells which over raught the plot and project of Satan So this scripture containes in it a threatning to the serpent and his seed and a promise to Eve to all her beleeving seed of Christ Beloved Reader concerning this Text and the threatning in it to the terror of the serpent and his seed be pleased to read Mr. Pynchons booke of the meritorious price of mans redemption printed 1655. there you will have plentifull satisfaction but for this little worke I purpose cheifly to enlarge my selfe not as it is a threatning but as it is a promise concerning Christ The refore I will further observe from Gen. 3.15 I. That in this Text The eternall Gospell hid in God before the foundation of the world was now in Paradise manifested even the hid wisdome II. To this first and precious promise the Apostle hath respect when he saith He was made an Apostle of the faith and truth that is for the hope of eternall life which God that cannot lye promised before the times of the world but made his word of promise manifest in due time by the sending of Iesus Christ Tit. 1.1 2 3.2 Tim. 1.9.2 Pet. 1.4 The times of the world are counted by the birth of the first ten Fathers to the flood Thence by ten holy Fathers to the promise to Abraham Thence to the coming from AEgypt Thence to the building of the Temple Thence to the burning of it by Babels King Thence to the end of the captivity in Babel Thence by seventy sevens of yeares to the death of Christ or to the glorious redemption of man by the death of our Lord Jesus Christ III. This comprehendeth the Faith of Gods elect which was once delivered that is first and once for all delivered to the Saints and never after to be changed All other promises of Christ are but commorations and expositions of this The Doctrine of Faith can be but one because there is but one God and one Mediator Eph. 4. Note this phrase againe once delivered but still expounded This is Genus generalissimum And for this faith the Saints of all ages have contended to keep and uphold it against the serpent and his seed as all the Epistle of Iudas Thaddaeus is upon this argument All sins and punishments come on the world for despising this faith and comforts for imbracing 2 Thes 1.8 IV. From this first preaching of Christ till the mystery of God which he hath spoken by his holy Prophets and Apostles be finished wee must mind this constantly that Gods purpose was not to bring man fallen to life by the remains of any naturall abilities there was a Bar that wee should not think of any hope in that Gen. 3. ult But by a new and living way in the second Adam This is a Covenant of Grace not to him that worketh but to him that beleeveth and receiveth the Son of God as Mediator him hath God exalted in holy doctrine from the begining with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give change of mind and forgivenesse of sins to all the Israel of God Acts 3.21 5. 31. Now this new way is very foolishnesse to us naturally therefore wee dream of great excellencies in our corrupt dead stinking graves But we must hear the voice of the Son of God in his owne ordinances Iohn 5. and he must say to us live afore we can have the first Resurrection as we cannot have the second without his powerfull voice Ioh. 5. Isa 2.1 2 3 4 5 6. V. If the first Adam or any of him could helpe themselves what need the Son of God to be promised from the beginning to be a second Adam and to appear to destroy the works of the Devill 1 Joh. 1. and 3. he only knew how and was only able to mannage the whole officâ— of mediation and to performe all righteousnesse according to covenant in his own person without pressing and by his glorious Ordinances effectually to call and unquestionably to justifie and to prepare for glory all them of his mysticall body which the Father gave him Neither Adam nor any of his posterity had such abilities and for any thing they could do they should have born their own iniquities which was such a yoke that neither Patriarch nor Apostle were able to bear change of mind and forgivenesse of sins was ever preached to be by the second Adam Luke 24.47 Be it knowne therefore to all men saith this first promise that through this blessed seed the son of God made man is preached to us the forgivenesse of sins and by him all that beleeve are justified that is made free from the guilt of sin and punishment from which we could not be justified or made free by the Law of Moses Acts 13. The world was 3960 yeares from the Apostasie of the first Adam to the Redemption by the second Adam and who in all that time saved himselfe from death Death reigned over all old and young it is the second Adam that conquered death the reward of originall sin and hee rose againe for the justification or freedome of all Gods Children from sin
and feare of death Oh that selfe conceited and proud iniquity would once stop its mouth for every mouth shall be stopped and all the world shall be subject to the judgement of God Acts 13. and 15. Rom. 4 ult What the Law of works could not do the election hath obtained Rom. 11. VI. Mark that from this first and maine free promise God hath conveyed all comforts of wisdome justification or Freedome Sanctification and Redemption on fallen man and no way else can or ought to be sought after It could never have entred into the heart of man to thinke of this way if God of his rich Grace had not first declared this rich mystery of his will in a free promise how could our first fallen Parents have thought of a Redeemer much lesse of the meanes of obtaining such a Redeemer at the hands of God This mystery was ordained in Gods eternal Council and providence before the foundacion of the world was laid to be revealed upon Adams fall his ways are unsearchable his wisdome mercy power and love is past finding out and doubtlesse our first parents and all their faithfull posterity could but with admiration say the Epitaph not seen nor ear heard neither hath entred into the heart of man the things that God â—ath prepared for them that love him 1 Coâ— 2. Of him and through him and to him are all things To him be glory for ever Amen Esa 43.25 Esa 48.9 10 11. Rom. 11. Jer. 31.33 Jer. 32.39 Ezek. 36.25.26 VII Christ was promised a Redeemer not only from the guilt and punishment of sin but to make us in himselfe Sons of God even new creatures VIII All outward comforts come by promise in Christ severall godly persons of late years have done well in composing Treatises of the promises IX It is to admiration That Jehovah the eternall God should seeke to enter into a covenant of Grace with fallen man with the slaves of the Devill with enemies and with children of wrath that he should enter into a free promise and Covenant with us to be our God and to make us to be his people See his kindnesse to the polluted infant in Ezek. 16. X. All things are made subject to Christ as the heir of all from the first day of Adams fail but Satan doth labour with all sedulity to withdraw mans Blind heart from the understanding of this doctrine and doth labour to suggest fond imaginations of idolatry superstition bodily exercises and Fables c. to corrupt it and by persecution to hinder it yea to abolish it This is a Doctrine of Faith which no naturall man can attain untill his mind and divine illumination be regenerate and made capable to comprehnd this hid mystery of God in Christ All precepts promises and threatnings are ordained to bring fallen man to obey the Son of God as mediator All the victory administrations of Christs Kingdome by the word seals censures c. are for this purpose till the mediatorian Kingdome be redelivered 1 Cor. 15. But all things are cheifly intended for the Elect 1 Cor. 14.32 11. The second not on Gen. 12.13 may be of use here 12. Thus from the first preaching of the Gospell we must observe why Christ is called Alpha and Omega the first and the last not only in causes and effects but also of all divine Revelation in the blessed scriptures all runs on him All the Promises Threatnings Commandements Examples Chastisements c. all drive us to Christ he also is Alpha and Omega in all the praises of the Church he is also the maine matter and marke of the holy Bible All things were created by him and for him and he is before all things and by him all things consist and hee is the head of the body the Church Col 1.18 In 3. Q. The seed of the woman Hence Children should be first taught to read Gen 3. with Luke 3. and Luke 4 together for two principall ends first To know how Jesus our Lord is of the blessed Virgin Mary of Eli and of Adam and Eve naturally and in this respect the Genealogie of men in Luke 3. are the glory of mankind being all Fathers to the Son of God after the flesh 2. The better to compare the sorrowfull combate of Adam being killed on his first day from the life of the soule to death in sin with the glorious combate and victory of our Lord the second Adam driving Satan to flight and the reason why the Son of God should take hold of mans nature is purposely handled by the Apostle in Ebr. 2. Ebr. 3. Ebr. 4. Ebr. 5. Great is the mystery of Godlinesse God manifested in the flesh It is most glorious to consider it and how it hath been diligently taught in every age from Gen. 3.15 and for the better knowing of this mystery the Law of Moses was made the Tabernacle and the frame of the world and well might David and Solomon say with admiration That God would dwell with man on earth also in his apparitions to the Saints before the Flood and to the Patriarchs and Prophets he spake with us marke this corporation speech in Hos 12.4 At Bethel and dwelt among us in his Tabernacle and Ordinances then in the Temple till the captivity then in the second Temple and then at last he became very man making our flesh his Tabernacle and dwelt among us Joh. 1.14 Cor. 6. but his speciall residence in us is in our hearts by Faith These things made singing affections in the Saints of old Ps 40. Ps 100. Ps 135. Ps 147. Ps 149. Ps 149.1 Chr. 16.1 King 8.2 Sam. 7. Joh. 17. Ex. 15. and any that duely consider this cannot but sing praises to the God of our Salvation In Q. 3. Of Adam in the Genealogie When the holy spirit bringeth Genealogies from the first man unto Jesus our Lord it may teach all men that the world was made and had a beginning so Moses Law taught Misgraim that is the Egyptians and others in his time and Ezra the Persians too before Aristotle and such Athean praters 1 Chron. 1.1 see Bro. in Manuscript In Q 4. and Answ He might govern Genesis sheweth how that by the word of Jehovah the Heavens were made all the setled Army of them by the spirit of his mouth and when man fell the word telleth That for the destroying of the workes of the Serpent hee would be made flesh and have a Tabernacle in our nature and so to be a second Adam to govern all things In which point the Patriarks faith is evidenced by the charge of Joseph to carry his bones with theirs unto the Land of Canaan where our Lords Resurrection should be a testimony of a new world see Bro. in Appo 1.108 The government of the world to come for so the Jewish Doctors did stile the dayes of Messiah is that meditorean Kingdome which the holy Prophet so magnifieth to endure through all ages and generations Ps 8. Ps 45. Ps 93. Ps
Floud Gen. 26.5 Answ Sem Arphaxad Selah Heber Peleg and the rest of the godly Fathers and their faithfull posterity to the dayes of Terah and Abraham QUest 5. Was there any that contemned and apostated from the God of Shem and his true religion Answ Yea Cham and Chanaan and Nimrod the grandchild of Cham drew away many of the sons of the open or visible Church to despise Christ in Shem sirnamed Melchisedeck who was ordained over them King and Preist who governed in Justice and peace so that there was a great apostacie of Sems own families Japheths and Chams QUest 6. Shew further how this apostacy went on Answ The outward glory of the false church was so great that some of the Fathers of the holy line as Terah and Abraham fell to the idolatry of Nimrods Kingdome Jos 24. But they being called repented Gen. 11. QUest 7. How did Christ break and bruise the seed of the serpent for their enmity and wickednesse that would not bave him to reigne over them Answ I. With his unspeakable severe judgements for even those families for despising the faith were excommunicated and cut off both Father and child from being of the houshold of God by the confusion * So Judah for despising the faith were plagued by a Nation of a strange tongue Deut. 28 49. so the world by the man of sin 1 Cor. 14. mind seriously Jer 44 26. of tongues and so were No-people and foolish Nations by being estranged from the life justice and peace of God in Christ that they did not hear nor see the light of his truth for two thousand years but followed Divells the Prince of the darkness of this world in endlesse and lawlesse Idolatries and of all the miseries that befell them they in speciall lost the Sabbath which would have kept them in the faith of the creation and redemption And let this sinke into the hearts of all men that all men ever were and will be Atheists or Idolaters that Christ speaks not to in their owne language by his holy law and to this answer ever seriously minde 2 Joh v 9. II. From these dayes the wrath of God was revealed from Heaven against them for their ungodlinesse and unrighteousnesse by wars and commotions and suffered them to walke in their own wayes by giving them up to a regardlesse mind and to the power of grosse darknesse and wilfull ignorance and to their hearts lusts and vile affections c. c. QUest 8. What benefit had the godly in Sems Tents and house by cleaving to the faith of Gods Elect Answ Through faith they obtained good report with God and confessed that they were pilgrims and strangers in this cursed world wherefore God was not ashamed of them to be called their God and accounted that the world was not worthy of them And as he promised builded and prepared so they hoped for an heavenly City and Country And Sems Tents had this glory that all the while that those families were cut off the hidden mystery of godlinesse was carefully kept in his Tents and house and the Hebrew Tongue also as all the old Testament doth witnesse QUest 9. Then the Prerogative of Sems Tents did not alwaies continue Answ No When the God of Shem tooke mans nature of the seed of the woman and gave his life a Ransome not for the Hebrewes or Jewes only but for the Heathens also Then that he might raigne and judge the world in righteousnesse he turned the curse of tongues to preach to and perswade all those families to obey the same faith from which their forefathers had apostated even to the Religion of Shems Tents QUest 10. How and to whom was the Revelation of the mystery of Christ continued to be revealed after the blessing to Sem Answ In the promise to Abraham that Christ should come of him according to the flesh QUest 11. How many yeares are from the floud to the promise made to Abraham Answ Foure hundred twenty seven yeares and so from the promise to our first Parents whom the Serpent murdered unto the promise to Abram given presently upon the death of Terah whose faith the Serpent corrupted to flames of Idolatry are years two thousand eighty three QUest 12. How many Chapters of Genesis are contained in those 2083. yeares Answ The eleven first chapters and also part of the first chapter of 1 Chronicles and also Luke part of chap. 3. Note that all the rest of the holy scriptures doth not containe so many yeares for the writing of them A breife summe of the former Questions and Answers JEhovah our God Jehovah is one the Father the Son and the holy spirit be one coeternall and co-essentiall The Son is called the word by the word the Father made the world and by the spirit beautified the heavens And because the word would become flesh the world was made to serve once Adam the first The Angells that grudged at that fell for ever and deceived Adam and made him dead in sin and brought him to be dayly turning to dust untill hee dyed And for him the whole frame of the creation was pronounced corrupt but after divine Revelation he beleeved that Christ made of a woman made under the Law God being in him to reconcile the world unto himself should give him free forgiveness for justification by faith and renew the inner man in knowledge holinesse and righteousnesse and raise up his body and make a new world by his power Whereby he can subdue all things to himselfe All faithfull travailed in soule to have Christ brought forth to the knowledge of their posterity that all might know that all this world was made obedient to a man at the first which man fell from God his first day and then God opened his counsell that the Son eternall would be made man of a woman to destroy the works of the Angells that fell who all are collectively Satan Satan brought Adam to loose the life of his soule and his body to death and dust and all this world to corruption Christ kindled light in Adams soule and after 930 years heavinesse for sin took it to his joy and will raise up his body and make a new world that all men who will receive the abundance of Grace of free forgivenesse for justification may reigne by Christ and all who will not regard this mercy so clear as the sun they all by Adams fall dead in sin shall be damned for ever with the Devills This is the travell of the christian minde speech of this full of joy is in all the books of the old and new Testament Or thus The summ of the Bible is short how of Gods eternall counsell the world was made for man because the son of God by whom he made the world would be a man to give life to them that rested in this wisdome *** All this dialogue will evidence this or doth desire so to do * The faith of Gods elect in
snare to them and Christ was a stumbling Stone to them as he was to Kain That which was ordained for their welfare they made their ruin And so if we do no more but outward exercises in a shew of godliness and deny the power thereof and live wickedly as they did Psalm 50. Esay 1. Ieremy 7. The Angel of Gods presence our glorious Lord Iesus Christ will not spare our misdeeds 1 Thess 4 6. c. These false teachers abuse the holy Scriptures as in that of Heb. 8. It is said better promises c. but they must be asked what better promises than Genesis 3 15. Genesis 12.3 Let such know there are not better promisâ—s in old or new Testament and indeed those two promises contain all the doctrine of the Gospel as in part before is shewed They must excogitate the true interpretation by seeking how our Lord and his Apostles convinced the false glosses the Concâ—sion made of Moses Politie for we all must know theirs and ours is the same Covenant as often said onely new for Administration in fulfilling all promises and prophecies Let us confer Exod. 19. 29.45 Lev. 26.15 with Apoc. 21.3.2 Cor. 6.16 Gen. 3.15 with 1 John 1.2 3. and chap. 3. Jos 1. with Heb. 13.5 Rom. 4. with Gen. 15. 17 c. This must be often spoken and meditated for we are dull of hearing Again better promises hath respect to Deut. 30. Psalm 40 and 95. in Deut. 30. Christ promiseth that he will circumcise their heart and the heart of their seed to love him Jehovah their God and to keep his commandments c. This Christ spake to them that they might not be deceived to think that their salvation stood in outward observances as in circumcision c. but in serving God in their spirits in the Gospel of his Son And so this to be understood in all Moses ceremonies The bloud of Oxen and Goats and Rams did not could not purge their conscience from dead works but their conscience would still be to them for all their bodily exercise an ill accusing and condemning conscience Their salvation was established upon better promises and a better hope That Christ by his own most perfect sacrifice and bloud-shedding should be a sweet smelling savour to God for us and procure eternal redemption And while we as strangers converse in this world he would be mortification and sanctification by his word and spirit Mic. 7. John 3. Yet let the godly take heed they neglect not ordinances and outward observances of Christs institution though they be as the bark and shell yet they are such a bark and shell that a Christian cannot have life kept within him without them as a tree will not live without his bark nor the kernel prosper without his shell Publique administrations and family ordinances and secret duties are of that consequence that he that carelessly neglecteth them is in danger of gangrenating errours both in doctrine and manners N. VI. Not of the Jews only but of many Nations Gen. 17.5 It is promised by the Lord Iehovah the performer of his promises For a Father of many nations have I made thee This speech was spoken at that time when God renewed his promise and covenant in Christ with Abraham and added the seal to that covenant teaching thereby that he would not be the God of Israel only but in due time the God of the Gentiles also therefore the Covenant is to the infants of the Gentiles as of the Iewes and all faithful are Abrahams seed and the Israel of God Gal. 3 6.16 and if the covenant be to the infants then the seal none dare deny it but those that care not for the education of their children in godliness and honesty for the hope of the resurrection unto eternal life Abraham durst not deny the seal but with all joy went about it Again consider Mat. 19.13 Mark 10.13 little children are comprehended in the Covenant For of such is the Kingdome of heaven Yea observe further Of such is the Kingdome of God that is of the Church of God as Matth. 21.43 The Kingdome of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation that shall bring forth the fruits thereof So then Israels infants were of the kingdome of God and so are the Gentiles infants Did the Kingdom of God consist of the parents and infants of Israel in the old Testament surely then godly parents and their infants of the Gentiles are in equal honor He that shall hill an infant shall be put to death as justly as if he had killed a parent So the murderous accursed doctrine of Anabaptists that would murder children is as wicked as to kill a godly parent For the Lord God doth justifie and wash infants from their sins in his Covenant and bring them to glory as well as their godly parents And again seriously minde The covenant of God in Christ by circumcision was in full force to the death of our Lord and Saviour Luke 1.59 and Circumcision was a seal of the covenant of grace to the infants of the faithful and infants were in covenant as is evident and now after our Lords death were they not in covenant Did our Lords death disannul the Covenant of his grace in respect of them absit absit It was about six or seven weeks from our Lords death to Peters sermon Acts 2. And the holy Apostle in the conclusion of his Sermon doth exhort his auditors to receive the ordinance of Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the Remission of sins and to shew he spake by the same Spirit of God that gave the promises doth affirm that the promise and covenant is as firm to infants as ever it was and therefore saith The promise is made unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shal call Acts 2.39 In chap. 3.25 2â— It is said the Jewes were the children of the Prophets and of the Covenant which God made with our Fathers saying to Abraham Even in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed First unto you hath God raised up his son Jesus c. so the Jewes had the first prerogative of the blessing in their kinreds and of the resurrection of Christ and then secondly the Gentiles have the like portion in the blessing and in our Lords resurrection Rom. 2.10 consider for these things Rom. 4.16 17 18 c. to the end of the chapter Quest 5. Answ on Gen. 49.10 And to Him shall the gathering of the people be O give thanks unto Jehovah for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever And say ye Save us O God of our salvation and gather us together and delivâ—r us from the heathen that we may give thanks to thy holy Name and glory in thy praise Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel for ever and ever and all the people said Amen 1 Chron. 16. Psal
justification and from the Testimony that Abraham and David felt in themselves Rom. 4. Again Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen it is God that justifieth that setteth free that forgiveth Romans 8.1 all our comfort dependeth on forgivenesse of sin When an Israelite offered sacrifice it is said his sin shall be forgiven him so he stood just by the grace of forgiveness by faith in Christs sacrifice So the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ hath witnesse of the Law and the Prophets No new doctrine Levit. 4. 5. 6. Romans 3.21 21 c. Habel offering in faith inherited the righteousness or justification that is by faith Heb. 11. so in the Seal of the Lords Supper Matth. 26.26 forgiveness of sins is only spoken of as the foundation of all blessings the most admired priviledge of the Saints drawing all other after it as adoption peace joy c. as non-forgiveness drawes wrath and all other miseries after it If sin be such an evil how unvaluable is the sacrifice of the body and bloud of the Lord Jesus Christ N. 7. From an inward feeling every one should be affected with grief and godly sorrow for his birth sin as David Psalm 51. This saying should alwaies sound in our ears that the Eternal God said It repenteth me that I have made man also this the frame of mans heart is only wicked all the day Gen 6. which is handled Rom. 7. I do not that which I would but that which I would not that do I O spoiled man that I ant who shall redeem me from this aye sinning body The wicked heart selleth himself to do all iniquity as A chab 1 King 21.20 But the godly heart is sold against his will as holy Paul Rom. 7.14 we cry out and so we ought upon particular sins but are noâ— humbled as we ought for the corruption of nature The cause is greater than the effect as in good so in ill The word of exhortion belongs onely to the weary and laden Matth. 11. The whole will not seek the Physitian To this man will I look to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my words Esay 66 He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds Psalm 14â— 1 Chrâ—n 34.27 Esay 61.1 Mat. 5 3 4 c. From all that hath been written hitherto in this book and shall be written let men consider whether the People of Israel of the old Testament were not under a covenant of Grace and whether they had not the law of God written in their hearts as well as the Israel of God under the new Testament Ibid N. 7. Or alloweth or is indulgem A man whose sin is forgiven covered not imputed his spirit will be without guile so the 1 Pet. 2.1 is urged upon the doctrine of the former chapter Psalm 26. c 32. 66. 18 51. Prov. 28.13.14 The holy soul prayeth as sincerely and affectionately for upholding in the path that is called holy as for pardon N. 10. Afore we can have any comfort Observe the coherence of matter in these Psalms so Jacob Gen. 46 1 2 c. Ezra 3.3 8.21 22 23 31. Excellent in Samuel who by faith and prayer in the bloud of the Covenant put to flight the Armies of the alians 1 Sam. 7.9 10. Heb. 11.32 There must be a dayly use and improvement of faith and prayâ—r in all occasions and conditions especially as touching sin and dayâ—y transgressions against holiness and righteousness in matter manner or end in omission or commission We need to cry for cleansing of our secret faults to be pardoned and justified by him that justifyeth the ungodly As Abraham that was a believer and a worshipper of God in Gen. 12. 13. 14. yet needed daily the use of his faith to be comforted in him that justifyeth the ungodly Gen. 15. Rom. 4. do shew and therefore he builded Altars in every place he came unto CHAP. VII With Questions Answers and Annotations on them How Redemption was taught from the foundation of the Temple to the burning of it QUest 1. How doth the Temple teach concerning Christ Answ 1. That in due time the Son of God would make our flesh his Tabernacle or Temple and dwell among us Iohn 1.1.4 This was it that Salomon admired saying Is it true indeed that God will dwell with man on earth 2 Chr. 6.18 So did Agur Ben Jakeh Prov. 30.19 2. All that looked towards the Temple in faithful prayer should be heard Christ is the true Temple in the heavenly Jerusalem to whom they that look in prayer shall be heard QUest 2. Now after the Temple was built who were obedient to the faith looking after the portion and inheritance in Christ the off spring and sen of David and Root of Jâ—ssaiâ— Answ Salomon Asa Jehosophat all the godly Kings of the house of Judah with many of the Sacrificers Prophets and people very many were of the faith of Abraham afore the Temple and after as many as the siars of heaven in multitude and as the sand of the sea-shore which is innumerable All these through faith obtained good report and all these dyed in the faith that was first taught in Paradise c. embraced by Abel Henoch Noab and all the faithful to the end of Daniels Seventy Sevens which faith we are exhorted to follow Our Lords fathers from David Nathan c. to Zorobabel must here specially be remembred this line from Nathan is in Luke 3. QUest 3. Was there any apostasie from the faith of the kingdome of David in Christ and the worship of Jehovah in his holy Footstool upon the then holy mountain Answ Yea and that lamentable after Salomons death Jeroboam the man of sin that made Israel to sin of the Tribe of Ephraim drew away as Nimrod ten Tribes to rebellion and to worship his Devils at Dan and Bethel And besides the Worship of his Calves they were defiled with divers kinds of idolatry of the heathens they filthily corrupted themselves and dealt like a foolish people and unwise as a nation void of counsel forsaking Christ the God of their Fathers and followed the blindness of the God of this world Jesurun kicked with the heel c. Deut. 32. QUest 4. Did all the Kings of Israel follow the Abomination of Ieroboams Calves Answ All but Shallum and Hosea Jeroboams house did and so Baasaes and Omries and Jehues and the rest QUest 5. Did the house of Judah wholly cleave to God Answ No they also moved him to jealousie with their vanities and (a) Stephen chargeth them with this Acts 7.42 43 They mocked the messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets c. 2 Chron. 36. Acts 7.52 detestable things many of their Kings and Princes the great high counsel the Sacrificers Prophets and people most grievously revolted and followed the precepts of men and the statutes ordinances (a) Salomon foretold
Altars weeds of the curse Gen. 3. And then they cried to the mountains to fall on them and to the hills to conver them Let England look to their backsliding to Altars Hosea 10. To thrust away the Gospel by mans inventions is to make our houses as well as Gods house desolate and so our Lord tells the Jewes Mat. 23.38 Judah and Israel dashed themselves against the Corner stone and were broken 9. Quest and Answ For her revoltings Idolatry is a State-ruining sin Psalm 106.36 the prayers of the Saints could not prevail for their reigning idolatry and false worship Jer. 15. 16. Ezek. 14. King Moses by his most fervent intercession and abolishing idolatry procured pardon but note in that false worship there was no innocent bloudshed Idolatry divides the heart from Christ and subjects it willingly to follow the commandements of men and of the man of sin Jeâ—oboam should see such events of apostasie that they should fret and and curse their King and their Gods that is the false religion they so pressed and see neither help from heaven nor earth but all full of anguish and darkness Esa 8.21 22. Hos 9.6 10.8 Deut. 28.34 65 66 67. Their State-politicians could not prevent nor their State Surgeons heal the wounds that God made in their State The wisdome and turning of devices of the wise and prudent Counsellors of State was booteless all was but the weaving of the Spiders Webb Esay 29.15 59 5. Jer. 30.12 Hoses 5. all of it They sinned against Jehovah the hope of their Fathers Ier. 50.7 Iob 12.17 18 19 20. To backsliding and adulterous Israel Christ her Lord gave a Bill of divorce and put her away yet Iudah her sister being also treacherous feared not but went and plaid the harlot also Ier. 3.7 8. The mindes of these two sisters were alienated from Christ and so his minde at last was alienated from them read Ezek. 23. Ibid. And affinity with the Harlot Aholah Mark State affairs in Iudah They saw Omâ—i was a mighty Prince overcoming Zimri and Tibni who stood in competition with him for the Kingdome of Israel and that Achab possessed all in peace that his Father Omri had settled Iehosophat thought it good state-policie to make affinitie with him although he followed Ieroboam-man of sin his Religion but it was the ruin and almost the rooting out of his house c. for mark first Iehosaphat being in his visits with Achab was solicited for association in a league for War to which with reluctation he yielded For he might not in Court courtesie shew himself so weak and discrepant to think that four hundred prophets were so to be slighted as to follow the humour of one singular self-willed refractorious fellow Michaiah So he went with his Brothet Achab to battel to Ramoth Gilead but there he was in danger of his life Jehosophat although a goodman yet in that no good Statesman to weaken Iudah to help these with men and all ammunition although circumcised Israelites that hated the Gospel He was reproved and wrath was upon him a Chron. 19 2. He joyned with Achaziah of Achab in a Navy to go to sea for gold but Christ was displeased with it and plagued Jehoshaphat in that the ships were broken so that project took not 2 Chron. 20. Psal 8. ult 3. Joram Jehosaphats son who married Achabs daughter after his fathers death forsook the Gospel and followed Jeroboams Religion the two Devils of Dan and Bethâ—l and caused Jerusalem and compelled Iudah to commit fornication to worship Devils 2 Chron. 21. 2 Kings 8.18 All worship what Christ hath not commanded is the worship of Devils Levit. 10. and 17.7 Psal 106.39 1 Cor. 10. All their projects of State must justifie that affinity els all the provisions in Law against Ieroboams revolt had been a reprof to Achabs daughter so her faction prevailed for the corrupting the calling on the name of Jehovah as of old Satans project was Gen 4.26 conferred with chap. 6. and this seed of false worship sowed in Iudah did gâ—ow to an evil harvest Hos 6.11 And did stick so fast that it could not be weeded out for 180 years till the dayes of Hezekiah King of Iudah for the businesses of their State were agitated according to the modells and plots of Omri that maintained the faction of Ieroboam man of sin his Religion as Micah challenged the State in Achaz his days that the Statutes of Omri were kept and their way and their counsells Behold the working of that affinity But Hezekiah that good King made reformation according to the primitive institution 2 Chron. 28.2 2 Kin. 16.3 and 17.19 yet Manasse fell again to Achabs idolatry so fast false worship cleaves to our nature 4. This Joram after his fathers death as Turks now do killed his six brethren and many Princes very like his brethren and the Princes did dislike and protest against his courses about idolatry and tyranny and had no heart to the faction of Ieroboam man of sin his Religion therefore the Queen and her Counsellors might say to the King An 't like your Majesty you can never be in safety and rule as King while your brethren have fenced Cities and while the Princes do not approve your proceedings frame mischief by a Law and off with their heads 2 Chron. 21. Psal 94.20 Now Davids house are Belial and thorns 2 Sam 23. Mark here false worship inttroduced then the liberties and priviledges of the subjects are invaded That Subjects might not so much mind Apostacy in their Princes means were excogitated to busie them by rumours of this and that project and also for their particular estates till false Religion had gotten footing this is the very heart and counsell of apostate and idolatrous Princes 5. Ioram lost the regency and principality of Edom 2 Chron. 21. 6. Libnah one of the prime Cities of Judah rebelled because he forsook the Religion of Jehovah that is in very deed the Gospel of the Son of God the God of his fathers 2 Chron. 21. when the Magistrate thrusts out the Gospel then Christ divides the hearts of the people Apostacie in the Prince breeds Apostacie in the subjects Christ pours contempt upon Princes Ps 107.40 7. The Lord Jehovah stirred up the spirit of the Philistims Arabians and Cuâ—him who invaded Judah and took much spoil even out of the Kings house and captived his wives and all his sons save one 2 Chr. 21. Deut. 28.30 31 41. oppressions filled their Exchequers but the enemies emptied them he poureth contempt upon Princes Job 12 21. 8. He died of a rotting disease in his bowels that they fell out because he slew his own bowels worse befell not that persecutor Antiochus 2 Mic. 9. Riches avail not in the day of wrath but righteousnesse delivereth from death the like plague came on that bloody tyrant Herod Acts 12.23 9. He was not esteemed worthy of honourable buriall as his noble predecessors the land being
of the seventy seavens and Ptolomy Epiphanes all that time of Javan in those Kings of North and South they were a Beast horned to gore the people of God and had Iron legs to trample under foot the pleasant Land that is the Land of Israel Immanuels Land But after Antiochus Epiphanes the Fourth Beast Daniel 7. failed much of the strength of his hornes Before and after Antiochus Epiphanes death Christ strengthened Iudah and Ephraim against Iavan Zac. 9.13 and the legs of the image Dan. 2. were day now as Iron partly strong and partly brittle and so continued till at last Kittim the Romans possessed all as hath been noted The Kings of the North the Seleucidae reigned two hundred seventy years the Kings of the South i. e. Egypt reigned two hundred ninety four years But we must understand the years of these Kings of North and South were contemporary So these stories of the Medes and Persians Javan whole and Javan parted will reach 430 of the Seventy Sevens and the other 60 years to our Lords death for the most part the Romanes ruled If the godly Reader will make use of Mr. Bro. Commentaries on Daniel the preface thereof will shew him the Kings of Persia and the Kings of Javan their number and succession and the number of their years and all these Kings are to be confined within the compasse of the Seventy Sevens all the stories both of the four beasts Dan. 7. and of the four mettalls of the image Dan. 2. Mr. Bro. is so large in his Expositions of Daniel that there is not need of inlargement at this time Also let the Reader mark his Consent of Scripture for the orderly disposing of the times Furthermore they should not have nor needed any moe Prophets for that they should be greatly scattered shortly after Malachies dayes and their State continuallly shaken for hundreds of years before the holy incarnation by the interchangeable warres and victories of the Kings of the North and South Mal. 4. therefore the Law of Moses was so strictly enjoined to them to remember it which would have preserved them from all those errors and apostasie they fell into Again the Hebrew tongue after the return from Babel ceased from common use even the returned spake a mixt language as Nehemiah sheweth so they should have no more Prophets for the Hebrew tongue And we are to mark the lively Providence touching the families of Scripture Babel the eldest wicked monument Mr. Bro. in his notes on Dan. 5. which was built to the great ruine of all the godly families by Nymrod the Nephew of oursed Cham to the great grief of SEM and Japheth whereupon Adams tongue was made 70. of one Which Babel ended the Jews language the first tongue that it was common in no Kingdome after that And the greek tongue shortly after Malachies dayes became to be the most common tongue in the world that the the apostles did use it and write the New Testament in it Furthermore for Jews that look for such Prophets they should consider that Jerusalem and the Temple should have utter The Rulers and people of the Jews did not know the meaning of their own Prophets Act. 13.27 All the Prophets and the Law propheprophesied untill Iohn Mat. 11.13 so our Lord and his apostles shall prophesie in his speeches and their writings untill our Lords second coming and finall desolations in the neaâ— generation after the Seventy Sevens and such Prophets were to be no longer than Israels Prerogative lasted which was at the ending of the Seventy Sevenâ— for it is said God hath in these last dayes spoken to us by his Son who hath told us all thing and sealed vision and Prophet for the old Testament and hath given by himself and by his apostles visions and prophesies for the new Jerusalem to the end of the world in his new Testament Therefore those that now look for new apostles Prophets and miracles do and will run into all vanity and errour as the Jews did that regarded not the cloâ—ing up of the Prophesie of Malachy and for us of Japhets families of the new Testament we are charged to remember the commandements and words of the holy apostles our Lord Jesus Christ which charge not being observed the Church fell into errours fables and Doctrines of Devils Thus I suppose we may see they needed no moe Prophets to foretell the exact time of Christs death John Baptist was a great Prophet but he pointed with the finger that Christ was come and the chief point of his Ministry was to prepare the peoples heart for Christ that in him they might be blessed and saved from the curse that was coming on the disobedient so old Simeon with Zachurias and Anna a Prophetesse did declare Christ was come of whom Daniel and all the Prophets spake and John-Elias the Baptist preached to all Israel saying the Kingdome of heaven is come as Daniel had foretold chap. 2. and 7 and 9. Briefly sum up the premises seeing the holy angel from heaven had told Daniel in the Seventy Sevens of the exact time of the death of the MESSIAH to end Sacrifices and offerings and of the four mettals in the image and of the four beasts and of the wicked Kingdomes that were taught by them and of all them to be destroyed by the birth of the Son of Man the MESSIAS that is Babel Medes and Persians Javan Whole and Javan parted and the afflictions by them on the stars of heaven the Jews and of the full date of Israels peculiar glory by the utter desolation of the City Jerusalem and the Temple and that Ezra Nehemiah Esther did comment on Daniel and that Haggai Zachariah and Malachy had reproved the sinnes of their present age and also had much enlarged and opened Daniel in many things to the dayes of the coming of the Son of Man Now no more Prophets needed Mal. 4. but onely to remember the Law of Moses the servant of the Lord which he commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel with the Statutes and judgements They should study it till the coming of CHRIST and the coming of his fore-runner Mat. 11.13 14. for it should be to them a most sure word Therefore they needed not the URIM and THUMMIM and School-master This conclusion of Malachy with his Speech of John-Elias doth intimate a cessation of such holy prophets for all was spoken that need to be spoken People should diligently be exhorted privately and publickly by them whose place it is in chief so to do to read the holy and blessed Scriptures diligently and for this above handled to read together * These 6 books were in the time of the Seventy Sevens Ezra * Nehemiah * Esther Haggai Zachary * and Malachy with Daniel these six last books do much comment on Daniel And the godly Reader would be exhorted to mark the chronologie of the holy Scriptures and the chief persons in the times Thus
but surely the Second Temple had more glory then the first Hag. 2.9 None of all the Prophets told the definitive time of fulfilling the promises to perfect the event of the Predictions of the Prophets and the joyful singing Hosanna to the King of Israel who made the day to break and the shadows to flee away c. c. The Second Temple had this glory and the performance of that which Moses Tabernacle and Salomons Temple with all their appendancies figured Therefore these things being well considered we may well give Sentence that the prophecies of Daniel cha 2.7 8 9 10 11 12. chapters with the Prophecies of Haggai Zachariah and Malachi were a thousand fold more comfort to the Faithful then the loss of those exteriours could be sorrow That worthy noble man Lord Plessi Truenesse of Christian Religion hath written somewhat of these five things chap. 29. pag. 455. Thus Christ was taught yesterday Heb. 13. The SECOND PART OF THE DIALOGUE Drawn from the NEW TESTAMENT CHAP. XIII How the New Covenant or the way of Redemption was taught or opposed under the first preaching of the New Testament QUest 1. Hitherto we have in part seen how God at sundry times and in divers manner spake of Redemption to the Fathers and faithful of the times of the old Testament Now give me some text in the New Testament which may call to minde the Prophecies of the old Testament that our hearts may be comforted being enriched in the full assurance of understand-standing to know the mystery of God even the Father and of Christ Answ Matthew 17.5 This Scripture is very pertinent This is my Beloved Son (a) Psal 2. Es 9.6 Prov. 30.4 2 Sam. 7.14 in whom I am well (b) Esa 42.1 Psal 132.10 pleased (c) Exod. 23.20 21 22 as Moses received the lively oracles from the Angel of the covenant to teach Israel so the Apostles received from him words that have spirit and life to teach the Israel of God John 6. Hear Him This text doth graciously look back to all the Prophesies that have been spoken of that now he was come this is He He that was promised in Paradice to Eva and afterwards to Sem to Abraham Isaac Jacob Judah David c. and figured by the Passeover Tabernacle and Temple Cloudy-fiery-pillar Manna Rock Brazen Serpent The Sacrifices c. By Melchizedecks and Aarons office and promised in Daniel to be the complement of all All the New Testament commenteth on this Oracle that came from the excellent glory QUest 2. and Answ What are the points that you observe out of this Scripture of Mat. 17.5 Answ 1. The Gospel consisteth in the true knowledge and belief of the person and office of Christ John 17.3 1 Cor. 2.2 Col. 2.3 4 5. 2. The doctrine of his person is clear in that the Father calleth this man Christ his son so that he is the son of God and man where this word Son is not to be understood in regard of Creation as were the Angells or of adoption as are the elect but by nature and generation eternal and in-effable John 1.18 Col. 1.15 3. Observe the distinct person of the Father acknowledgeth the distinct person of the Son to which add out of Matthew 3.17 the distinct Person of the Holy Ghost 4. This Son is called Beloved to shew that in that love the Father hath to the Son Pro. 8.31 Ephestans 1.6 John 1.14 15 16. there flow the joyful streams of love to his Elect so that he is the fountain of grace unto us 5. Unto those two points of his Person are joined two of his office answering unto them first In the beloved he is well pleased This sheweth the Mediation of his sacrifice-hood to God for us Secondly Him being Son he would have heard this sheweth the Mediation of his Soveraign Kingdome from the Father over us 6. This Mediation of his Sacrificehood is to be understood in two parts First John 17. What he did for us on earth And secondly What he did and doth for us in heaven On earth he made intercession for us and was delivered to death a sacrifice for our sins and was raised again for our justification from sinne and death to a resurrection Rom. 4.25 1 Pet. 3.18 Rom. 5.1 By his death and Sacrifice he purchased reconciliation justification and adoption also the word of reconciliation and the ministery thereof In heaven he entred with his own bloud into the holy Heavens and purchased eternal Redemption and the possession of the heavenly Mansions John 14.2 17. and in his ascention is our Fore-runner thither to prepare them he sitteth at the right hand of the Father making request for us he presenteth all our supplications 1 John 2.1 There is one God and one Mediatour 1 Tim 2. Ayoc 8.3 Eph. 3.12 2.18 intercessions and giving of thanks for our selves and others The effect of these things are joy peace hope of glory the giving and the in dwelling of the holy Spirit who mortifieth sin sanctifyeth our natures blesseth all holy means quickneth in duties perswadeth and assureth of free accesse to the throne of grace c. more then we can ask or think 7. These words In whom 1 Cor. 3.11 do exclude from this mediation all other Saviours and Mediatours whatsoever and condemneth such doctrine as stubble for the fire 8. In that he decreed to please himself with Christ it sheweth our free election justification adoption and salvation Galat. 1.4 Mat 11.28 Iames 1.18 to exclude all mans merits free will and works fore seen and to establish an unspeakable comfort to the man that findes in himself that God hath given him faith that he may know God hath predestinated him unto Salvation in his Beloved Son 9. The second part of his office is his Soveraignty in this Hear Him which sheweth his Soveraign authority over all Nations which standeth in this that He is the chief Prophet over all Kings Powers and Principalities and in all things Head to his Church 10. Under the word Hear is commanded our obedience that we should hear Him with our ears hearts and deeds that is by learning his word by believing it and practising it by works 11. This word Him is spoken exclusively there is no other Head of the Church but Christ none other to rule and make Lawes and Offices and Officers for the well ordering thereof but Christ none other Priest or Sacrificer to offer sacrifice for reconciliation of iniquity and lastly none other in (*) That doctrine of the Papalines that Christ is not in heaven sole mediator of intercession anathema sit Rome 8.34 Heb. 1. 8. Acts 2.36 5.31 heaven to offer with his own odours the prayers of the Church militant QUest 3. and answ What Seals hath Jehovah our King Judge and Statute-maker the Lord of the House hung and fastened to the writings of his new Covenant Answ Baptism and
Tribes of Israel The Providences of Christ in a constant progresse of the holy story made this promise good to the ending of the Seventy Sevens Then was the Period of Israels peculiar glory CHAP. XXII Expounding Zac. 12.10 11 12 13 14. Verses 1. ZAchâ—riah sheweth how the faithfull should mourne for the sins of the times every godly Family cheifly them of Davids progenie of the Family of Nathan Solomons Brother by Bathâ—hebah of whom our Lord lineally ascended As also of the godly of the Tribe of Levi and all the godly Families that did remaine for then to them was the blessed Fountaine for sin and uncleanesse opened And our godly translators doe confer Act. 2. in the 3000. converted by Peters Sermon to be an History to this Prophesie And Act. 1.14 is fitly to be conferred for their godly private exercises 2. Also we must diligently observe how John Elias the fore-runner to Christ by his powerfull Ministry did turne the heart of the Fathers to the children and the children to hearken to the wisdome of their godly Teachers that the evill Spirits of the three Shepheards and their Doctrine was much quailed and were made ashamed of their evil wayes And our Lord Jesus Christ the great Apostle from Heaven coming after Iohn Baptist he brought his Fanne of holy Doctrine in his hand and by his holy Spirit separating the chaffe of persons and Doctrine in wonderfull manner as in Mat. 5 6 7. chapters and at other times which Sermons of Christ made them rage against him and were never quiet laying snares still for him till they had his life And when they had smitten this blessed Shepheard and destroyed the Temple of his precious Man-hood he raised it againe and gloriously ascended Then afterward the Lord Christ gave a mouth and wisdome to his holy Disciples and Apostles that all false Doctrine and all Worldly wisdome of Satans Kingdome fell like Dagon before them All their idols of the Doctrines of justification ex opere operato bodily exercise and their Traditions of their Abotheru and the Sadducisme of the Sadducies and other errors among them All these idols of theirs and the Heathens were famished and so perished Zeph. 2.11 3. That Doctrine of Justification of bodily exercise was the great controversie of those dayes and it was their idoll and vanity as Deut. 32. compared with Rom. 10. that idoll cleaving to the letter made them despise MESSIAS their King whose most precious obedience through his manifold sufferings made his death a most acceptable Sacrifice and so it was the end of the Law for justification to every one that beleiveth and by him all that beleive are justified from their sins guilt and punishment Moses Doctrine given by Christ taught the sure mercies Act. 13. Deut. 30. Such an idol it was and is that it hath cast off the Jewes to this day For by it they despised the Son of God and his justification which the bodily exercise of all the Law of Moses could not doe And that they might not think of justification by bodily exercise from the Temples worships Christ destroyed City and holy Place to this day who brought to us by his once offering up of himselfe to an everlasting Righteousnesse or Iustification 4. After the Jewes had rejected the corner-Stone their King for Caesar many heavy and unexpressable sorrows came upon the Jewes and Jerusalem continually untill by the Roman power Titus Vespasian who came against Jerusalem took the City rifled the Houses and the uncleane infidell Souldiers ravished the women slaughtered multitudes and carryed may thousands of Iewes Captives and sold many numbers of them for Slaves All this came to passe about forty years after our Lords ascention Our Lord sitting on Mount Olivet and beholding the City told these things of Zachariah Ch. 14.1 3 4 to his Disciples Mat. 14. Luc. 19. 21. 5. And the Apostle as a Prophet Act. 13.40 41 1. Thes 2.16 Ebr 6 8. 10.26 27 28 29 30. Act. 13. threatned by allusion Hâ—bb thicks prophesy against them noted before that as the Chaldean had done the Romans should execute further and greater wrath upon them even wrath to the utmost And so the Apostle had told the revolting Hebrewes that they and their Nation would be Bryars and Thornes and must look for violent fire to consume them Moses and David fore-saw all these evils Deut. 32.22 2 Sam. 23. Then the corner Stone which the Builders refused fell on them and bruised them to powder 6. The Prophet Zachariah having spoken of the dâ—struction of the Low Jerusalem makes this transition to speak by way of b Jer. 31.38 39. Is literally propheticall and performed in Nehem 3. but this of Zac. 14.6 is allegoricall see Tremel on Zach. 14.10 c. allegory of the building and setting up of the High Jerusalem As by the returned from Babel Jerusalem was builded from Benjamins Gate c. so sure shall the Heavenly Jerusalem be builded notwithstanding all oppositions of Enemies And whereas it is said Zac. 14. Jerusalem shall be inhabited in her own place it is to be understood that the Heavenly Jerusalem should begin to be builded in the Earthly as it was fittest Thence the Law went forth of Sion and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem then the Mountaine of the Lords House was lifted above all Mountaines and all Nations ftowed unto it to build on that Mountaine and this promised blessing was performed before Salem was abolished and the word of the Lord did not faile that Iapheth must have religion from Some Tents 7. There were skilfull Master-Builders at Salem the Fishers of Galilet and the other Apostles with others to the number of six score and five thousand after which with the Physitian of Antiâ—ch and the Tent-Maker of Tâ—rsus that might carry the healing and wholsome b Our Lord in his Apoc. 21. expounds Zach. 14. Ezek. 47. For these waters that run thorough the streets of the Heavenly Jerusalem and no better waters shall â—ver come among us then what the holy Prophets and Apostles have let us in their most sweet and blessed writings Let us beware of deceitfull opinions of new Apostles and new Revelations waters of holy Doctrine to the uttermost parts of the Earth Oh how wonderfull and un-utterable was the glory of Christ in and by them that he was King over all the Earth that as the Apostle saith God was not the God of the Iewes only but of the Gentiles also Rom. 3. 8. Zac. 14.12 sheweth that all montanous opposions could not hinder the building of this Heavenly Ierusalem this City was lifted in glory and did and doth abide notwitstanding all the wrestlings of the misbeleiving and unbeleiving Iewes and the Roman Empire against it And all that fought against his Holy City both the Caesars the old Pontificality the sixth head of the Roman Beast afflicting the Church and the new Pontificality the Papacy the seventh Head and Turke
Who is able to utter the comfort of these Scriptures 4. God in Christ was the Shepherd of Israel and they are called the sheep of his pasture and in all places where he put his name there he fed his flock first at Shiloh 350 years seven Jubilees and after in 〈◊〉 to the end of the Seventy Sevens in both places three times a year most solemnly they did enter the Courts of Iehovah there they ascended his presence with great joy praise and thanksgiving c. The godly did so (a) 2 Chr. 29. and 30 35. and when they did not serve the Lord with gladnesse of heart see what was threatned and performed Deut. 28 47. c. all were exhorted so to do also they had other smaller Sabbatical Convocations in their Synagogues the Tents of the Shepherds where also Christ fed them and where God manifested himself it was called the presence of God and the gate of heaven where alwayes the ladder stood as the godly Shunamite found and many thousand even among the ten Tribes 2 Kings 4. Thus the Common-weal of Israel was the Kingdome of God above 1400 years 5. I will shew some Scriptures where the Saints felt the comfort of the promises when they did meet with Christ in the greater and lesser Assemblies Psalm 65.4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to come to thee that he may dwell in thy Courts we shall be satisfied with the goodnesse of thy house of thy holy Temple So Psal 36. Let the godly heart meditate on Psal 42 an 63. and 81. and 84. and 100 c. and in Psal 122. In all their holy assemblies they testified â—heir faith in he incarnation and redemption by the Son of God The twelve Tribes came to bear witnesse by their faith to that holy Testimony of the Son of God in expectation of him the Testimony to be manifested in due time 1 Tim. 2.6 and the twelve Tribes instantly serving God day and night did hope of immortality in the Resurrection of the Son of God the second Adam the Lord from heaven Acts 26.6 7. 1 Pet. 1.2 3 4 5. 6. A little more for the smaller Sabbaticall Assemblies Psalm 111. It is is said I will praise the Lord with my whole heart in the Assembly of the upright and in the congregation The Hebrew word as the learned say signifieth lesser Assembles and in Psalm 74. it is spoken in a mournfull manner that heathens making inrodes into the Land of Israel burnt up all the Synagogues of God in the Land which sheweth the great benefit Gods people found in the exercises there performed Now the new Testament is plentifull for these Sabbaticall Convocations how the dispersed of Israel practised in all nations This hath been plentifully shewed of late in a book entituled A Discourse touching the Jews Synagogues that there is no necessity to insist more upon this Argument SECT II. Now I will speak promiscuously upon what hath been observed with reference to the errours of the concision 1. ALthough the Law of the passe over came foure hundred and thirty yeares after the Promise yet that was not another Covenant but a further exposition and confirmation of the former promises The Concision mistooke the meaning of the Law and regarded not the promises teaching of Christ but thought after the Law was given by Moses to be saved by bodily exercise whereas the Law truly understood was but an expansion or dilatation of the promises 2. And they might have learned the same from their fore-Fathers even the pattern of the holy faith and love that is in Christ Jesus For Abraham when he called upon God he called upon him by an Altar and Sacrifice as it is said Abraham built an Altar and called on the name of Jehovah the †The same holy saith was taught to the Gentiles at the commandment of the everlasting God and not Gentiles worship the same everlasting God as Abraham did Rom. 1. 16.20 everlasting God so Jacob although Joseph had sent for him with all necessary accommidations for the journey to Egypt yet he durst not or rather would not proceed till he had sought God by the intercession of Christ Gen. 46.1 2 3. To teach us what we should doe in all our journies and undertakings so it is said when they sacrificed call upon me in the time of trouble and I will hear thee and thou shalt glorifie me Psal 50 See Psal 20.3 And so Samuel by faith in Christs sacrifice had good report and put to flight the armies of the Aliens And thus also did David and Salomon and all the Prophets and all the faithfull 3. And Malachi by Christs command concludes all the old Testament to Israel to regard the holy Law that he gave in Horeb and to look for no more Prophets till John Elias the Baptist but study the statutes and judgements of the Law and cleave to it that Fathers and Children might be blessed Mal. 4. 4. And thus the Concision should have understood all for Moses wrote not a new Covenant for Abraham received circumcision as a seal of the justification that is by faith and so all Israel should have professed the same in faith as our Lord tells them that circumcision was of the Fathers not so much of Moses Joh. 7.22 5. It is true circumcision did further oblige Abraham to keep the way of the Lord and his charge which was comprehended in commandments statutes and laws and those Lawes c. with many others that Christ ordained Moses wrote as hath been at large before noted 6. And what did this way and charge of the Lord tend unto even surely this repentance towards God and faith in the Son of God our Mediatour and love to the holy Seed Which way and charge was taught ever since the promise Gen. 3.15 even the Breast-plate of wholesome words Faith and Love And all Moses and the Prophets and Apostles doe still bring their Doctrine to these two heads Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus 7. This is in Habell how he made the like holy uses of the Sacrifices as 1. Pet. 4.1 2. Tit. 2.14 he did bear on his Breast Faith and Love as he was a beleiver so he ceased from sin being purified to be of Christs peculiar people and was zealous of good works as it is said his works were good Habel by all this we see was gathered into Christ the Head Eph 1.10 8. The promise saith to Abraham that in the holy Seed Christ we are blessed what is this blessing but cheifly in spiriturall things in Christ Jesus Eph. 1. Him to be our Peace-Offering Sin-Offering Trespasse-Offering Whole burnt-Offering to be our Washing cleansing hissop c. And in the yeares of Râ—st and Jubilee to be our freedome or justification from the bondage and servitude of sin as deaths death and Satan and to be our fore-goer into the mansions of the Heavenly Paradise Luk. 23 c. c. Now the concision mistook all and turned all to be their own idoll and vanity in their bodily exercise to be so justified from sins guildnesse
In like sort there is a place appointed for the Reprobates for their everlasting torment not hear but in Hell in the world to come hut yet man times some of these Reprobates have as it were the first fruites of Hell torments here in this world by an accusing and tormenting conscience as Kain Caligula c. but not the essentiall Torments of Hell till they come into the very place of Hell it selfe 4. And yet some have said that locall Hell is but a circumstance and that our Lord suffered penall Hell though not in local Hell In like sort they may as well affirme that the glorious place of Heaven in the world to come is but a circumstance and so in this sence all created things in respect of God are but circumstances 5. Is it well done to make this distinction and division of a penal Hell from a local Hell our old English Saxon word Hell will not manage this cause neither for Plaintiff nor Defendant It is not Hades unto which our English Saxon word doth not answer but Gehenna that Ecclesiasticks must cleare about our Lords sufferings for all the Saints do in one kind or other undergoe Hades in this world and so our Lord did undergoe Hades in two of its significations namely first in the death of his humanity and then after that death he was put in Hades the grave and thirdly the wicked Ecclesia of he Council was a Gate of Hades to him and so in like sort all wicked Courts are Gates of Hades to the Godly Martyrs therefore such Courts are in Mat. 16. called the Gates of Hades godly Martyrs must remember when they are going to such Courts that they are going to the Gates of Hades and yet they must incourage themselves and one another with that speach which Christ spake by his Spirit to the Churches in Apoc. 1. Fear not I have the Keyes of Hades and death and that he shewed in his own Resurrection and will one day in ours so then persecuting Tyrants have not power simply over the bodies of the godly they could not retain Peters body in Prison Act. 12. nor the bodies of Paul and Sylas Act. 16 Christ did not as yet grant leave to their persecutors to turn the Keye to let them into Hades though afterwards he did Steven and James were the first Martyrs of the New Testament that were sent to Hades and Christ Jesus was the last great Martyr of the Old Testament whom they sent to Hades for the old Testament was not disannulled but by his death 6. It is a great comfort that persecuting Tyrants can send the godly no further but to Hades they cannot send them to Gehenna and if our Ecclesiasticks will Rest hear we will with good will joyne with them both our hands and heart that Christ Jesus under-went a penall Hades in this world But I suppose they mean further matter or else they mean nothing as indeed their meaning in this distinction wil come to nothing 7. This then I conceive is the state of the question Whether there is a penall Gehenna in this world out of locall Gehenna in the world to come I say that Gods blessed Book doth not shew this and if any shall yet affirme it we must be bold to say it is but a dreame not the Revelation of God which evidently sheweth that penal Gehenna is in locall Gehenna 8. Let these Scriptures be dilligently marked for the place and punishment of Gehenna Mat 5.22.29.30 Mat. 23. Mar. 9.43.45.47 Luk. 12.5 And now compare these Scriptures with the case of our Lords sufferings whether any sparke of the penall fire of Gehenna fell upon his soul or body or whether that cursed worme did ever gnaw one minute of an houre on his spotlesse soul as some dread not to affirme 9. Hence the Reader may see the necessity of a right translation and exposition of the words Hades Gehenna c. the learned keep the tearm Amen in all Translations and many Greek words are commonly understood and how full is the English of Latine words see H. Bro. in L. Fam. 60. 10. Observe that in all the Evangelists the holy Spirit doth not change phrases as in other passages he doth to put Hades for Gehenna or Gehenna for Hades neither is Hades taken properly and only in all the New Testament for the cale of Reprobates But still the person and his cause must judge of the matter where Paradise in Hades is the lot of the godly and Gehenna in Hades is the lot of the wicked 11. Shall we say we deale worse then Papists about the holy Article of the Creed they say the Lord went to Hâ—ll to Triumph over the Devills and not to suffer Let all the godly put away this mis-interpretation of that holy Article first that Christ went to Hell only to Triumph over the Devils and secondly that pore jejune distinction which doth not honor but dishonor the pen of a godly Scholler of our Lords suffering Hell Torments in a penall Hell out of the locall Hell CHAP. XXXVI Observations on the second Death which some say Christ suffered 1. THE Lord Jesus did not undergoe wrath as some understand it of the Essentiall wrath of God which also they tearme the second death must not we understand that whatsoever is in God is God touching the holy deity and therefore as God is love that is essentiall love so his wrath is essentiall wrath and can we say that Gods essentiall love was ever on Christ and therefore he is called his beloved Son or the Son of his love Joh. 15.10 Act 2 25. yea and that God loved him to the end as he loved the Breathren Joh. 4. 2. When he was in that most lad agony in the Garden there was an Angel sent from Heaven to strengthen him which doth evidence that he was not then under the second death nor under essentiall wrath for then it had been impossible for any Angell or for all the Angels in Heaven to strengthen him or support him 3. If he had suffered the second death which is indeed the effect of the essentiall wrath of God he could not have said My God my God why dost thou leave me and O my Father if it be possible let this cup passe and Father forgive them and Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit neither could it be said that he did alwayes behold the Lord at his right hand as a loving Father Act. 2. and that he did abide in the love of his Father Joh. 10. 4. When did the Lord Jesus suffer the second death was it before he dyed the first death or after or did he suffer both deaths together if you say yea then give me leave to ask who told you so did the Apostles at the commandment of the everlasting God Preach that Doctrine out of the Scriptures of the Prophets for the obedience of faith shew that Scripture evidence by Scripture rightly expounded or did he suffâ—â— the
of the second death 15. It is not mans inventions of Tantundem Equivalency as it is urged by some touching the sufferings of Jesus Christ that will reach and fathom these things The holy Scriptures are plaine for our instruction and consolation there we may see who hath Redeemed us and how and for what and from what and unto what A godly man and diligent searcher into the Scriptures affirmeth that he hath written thus or to this sence to a Reverend Divine though I have formerly saith he used their expressions that oppose the idem and affirme that Christ only suffered the Tantidem because I clearly saw that their way of arguing was sufficient to confute them that affirme that Christ for our Redemption did suffer the essentiall Torments of Hell yet notwithstanding saith he I do not fully approve of their way of arguing from the Tantundem as if it were the right way of opening Christs satisfaction because they also run in the vindictive Court way of Justice which is not the Scripture way for most of them that are for the Tantundem not all do affirme that Christ suffered the vindictive wrath of God in some degree according to the Court way of vindicative Justice though yet they doe also deny that Christ suffered Hell Torments But the way of Christs sufferings for our Redemption that I approve and follow is this namely that he suffered as a combater from his malignant combater Satan according to Gods declaration of the combate of enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent for God proclaimed a liberty to the Serpents seed to peirce him in the foot-stooles as a sinfull Malefactor on the Crosse And therefore hence it followes that all Christs outward sufferings must be inflicted on him from the enmity of his proclaimed enemy Satan And secondly hence it follows that his internal sufferings were from the sence of his outward or Christ as he was true man must be tenderly touched and deeply affected with his evill usage and therefore it was Gods will and Christs owne covenant that all hâ—â— internall humane passions of Feare Sorrow and sadnesse in his vitall and animall soul should arise from the evill usage of his malignant combater Satan namely from the evill usage of Satans malicious and envious instruments And thirdly this way of Christs sufferings was in Gods wisdome ordained to be for his preistly perfection or for his consecration before he could make his death to be a most perfect Sacrifice and this way I beleive hath more sound footing from Gods declaration in Gen. 3.15 then the contrary Court way of vindictive Justice and I beleive that all other after Scriptures that speake of Christs sufferings are but a commentary on Gods declaration in Gen. 3.25 And therefore Gen. 3.15 must be the Standard that must rule and order all our interpretations Thus he 16. Let men therefore take heed how they force beleife they know not what about Hell Torments and let them not think that what they write and speake Ex Cathedra must be beleived of Hearers without double controll or examination truly it is naturall to Ecclesiasticks to affect supremacy it is as proper a sin to them by nature as Tyrany is to magistracy 17. But the Lord Jesus is come downe to see the buildings of our instructors and in some things he doth confound their Language but I hope and pray that he wil also be pleased to send fiery cloven tongues to sit on them and to touch their lips with a live coale from the Alter to take away all iniquity that we in our own Language may heare them speake the wonderfull works of God And I doubt not but in due time our only Doctor Christ will so informe them that they will say with holy Job once have I spoken but I will not answer yea twice but I will proceed no further I have uttered that which I understood not things too wonderfull for me which I knew not CHAP. XXXVII Some Observation on 2. Cor. 5.19 20 21. with Gal. 3.13 SECT 1. He made him to be sin for us which knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousnesse of God in him 1. THe Translation must be considered It had been well if our godly and learned Translators had rendâ—ed it he made him to be a Sin-offering for us for so the Geneva * I suppose two millions of Geneva Bihles â—ave been Printed that have conferred 2. Cor. 5.21 to Exod. 29.14 Translation teacheth to render it and understand it I think neer a yeare a goe citing 2. Cor. 5.21 to Exod. 29.14 That phrase He made him to be sin for us is an Ebraisme for in the old Testament the Sin-offering is ordinarily called sin and no more but the word Offring is added by our Translators and by the like Reason it should have been aâ—ded in 2. Cor. 5.21 and Master Ainsworth in Ps 40. sheweth that it is so to be understood where the same Hebraisme is used but fully expressed in Heb. 10 Sacrifices for sin so we have the Translation of the holy Ghost And if our godly Translators had so Translated 2. Cor. 5. 21. they had not done amisse seeing we have such warrant yea themselves so translate it in Exod. 29.14 c. The like Ebraisme in Esai 53.10 when thou shalt make his soul a Trespasse namely a Trespasse-offering but the Seventy translate it sin and then the words must run thus When thou shalt make his soul sin that is to say a Sin-offering just as it should be in 2. Cor. 5.21 The like Ebraisme is in Dan. 9.24 there the Messias is said by his death to finish Trespasse and to end sin that is to say to finish Trespasse-offering and to end Sin-offering these things considered our Translators had done worthily if they had rendred 2. Cor. 5.21 He made him to be a Sin-offering for us 2. So Rom. 8.3 Should have been rendred and by a sacrifie for sinne condemned in the flesh It is well it is in the margine for what sense according to our language is it to say by sinne condemned sinne All tongues have their proper idiomes and we have been taught in our youths in the Grammar Schools diligently to make it and so it must be in translation of the more learned tongues This had been plain for us common readers and so it might have been read of us and our children from their infancy If this had been so translated and had been famillar to all our Ministers in their tender years there would not have been such collections as this That God made him sin that is say many God made him a sinner yea a most vile sinner by imputation in Gods account and many such orthodox expressions are used 3. The common tenet which many Divines not all from this Text of 2 Cor. 5.21 is that as our sinnes are imputed to Christ so his righteousnesse meaning his obedience to the Morall Law as
Religion page 82. Will you have us to say that the Godhead of the person of Christ hated and cursed his humanity as you understand curse this is as full of trembling to be spoken as the vilest speech that ever was spoken 5. What shall we say Tell us from sound Judgement in few words from Divine revelation These Tenets and others though from some godly Ministers must not be received but contradicted and contended against as not of the faith once given to the Saints but indeed we may as well span the heavens and dig the Tehom of the first dayes Creation and gather the wind into a sack and measure the earth with inchâ—s yards and perches as to search into these things and yet we dare affirm the imaginations and declare the wadings of our own never-seen visions 6. The doctrine of imputation as some teach it to make the Holy and Just One a sinner hath bred all this stir and trouble 7. Reverend Teachers of salvation do not think we beseech you that out of any sinister end and purpose we thus write but out of conscience We know we ought not to maintain errour much lesse foul here sie neither ought we to be silent at other mens errors but to contest for the truth The Lord Jesus will witnesse for his poor servants that we have not written of perverse pravity As for 2 Cor. 5.21 time I know will wear out some mens interpretations and sound disquisition will qualifie mens minds for the other and if this fort of mis-interpetation of 2 Cor. 5. be demolished other things will more easily yield upon quiet parlie 8. In doth not rellish well to make Christ a sinner by Gods imputation for the holy Scriptures snew that at the instant time of his sufferings he was not in Gods account a sinner nor in the Apostles account though in wicked mens account he was and therefore Peter chargeth them with a just and heavy crimination Ye denied the Holy One and the Just and again he saith 1 Pet. 3. He suffered for us the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God He could not have given us manuduction to God the Father unlesse he himself had been just And again at the very time when he offered a propitiatory Sacrifice for sin he was JESUS CHRIST the righteous therefore it cannot be thought he was accounted of God a sinner Christ Jesus our Lord the holy of holy stood not in the state and place of a sinner as some understand sinner but as of a Mediatour of atonement between God and man for sia Christ Jesus the Holy One must not be stated of us a sinner but a Mediateur according to that Law of Mâ—diation transacted between the Father and him Heb. 10.7 8 9. Psal 40. and 110. Heb. 7.8 and 9. and this Text of 2 Cor. 5.21 doth evince the same as is most evident SECT 3. THerefore to go on with this most blessed Scripture He was made a a sin offering for us who knew no sin that we may be made the righteousnesse or freedome of God in him 1. Q. How are we made the righteousnesse or freedome of God Answ God the Father doth justifie doth set free doth forgive doth pardon the guilt and punishment of our sins for his dear sons sake the sins of all that by faith receive Christ Jesus and rest on him as the Mediatour of our Redemption This is God the Fathers justification and plentifull Scriptures are answerable Christ his perfect sin-offering hath procured this justification righteousnesse or freedome mercy forgivenessâ— and atonement from God the Father therefore it is said the righteousnesse or freedome of God which is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe and this righteousnesse or freedome is freely bestowed by God the Father through Christs-Redemption and through faith in his blood 2. This is as is said to declare God the Fathers Righteousnesse or freedome through the Remission of sins Rom. 3.25 26. and David and Abraham are brought in for this justification righteousnesse or freedome in Rom. 4. and all Rom. 5. duth not adde any new matter to make our justification more compleat but onely makes most heavenly deductions from the Doctrine of justification compleatly laid down in chap. 3.21 to the end of that chapter 3. The Apostle to the Philippians utters this point most heavenly and might be found in him not having mine own righteousnesse or freedome dicaiosune which is of the Law ex opere operato but that which is through the faith of Christ even the freedome or righteousnesse dicaiosune of God the Father through faith Phil. 3. 4. Beloved Reader the unbelieving Rabbins of the Jews did think to justifie or free themselves from sinnes Observe the Pharasaicall righteousnesse Luke 18. 〈◊〉 Mark 7. guilt and everlasting purishment by their ex opere operato bodily exercises of Sacrifices and washings and contribution * Exod. 30.12 c. compare with Pet. 18. John 6. of silver c. in these exteriours they would be exact and unrebukeable and they thought and taught the worship of God was so terminated But our Apostle Paul after that Christ had revealed himself unto him and had revealed the idol and vanity of his Pharasaisme he would have no other freedome or righteousnesse but that wrought by Christ when he sacrificed himself and gave his flesh and blood to be our bread and drink life atonement washing and redemption For the Apostle had before this written to the Hebrews that it was impossible the blood of bulls and goats or any Mosaicall sprincklings could cleanse the conscience from the guilt of sin and this he had testified long before this to the Jews in their Synagogues as we may see Acts 13.38 39. * They did wonder and stumble and perish when the Apostle taught this Doctrine shewing all their bodily exercise was lost labouâ— therefore this Doctrine they thought ought ought to be persecuted to the death as destroying and making void the Law Mat. 5.17 and Rom. 3.31 Acts 22.4 26.9 be it known to you therefore men and Brethren that through this Man is preached unto you the forgivenesse of sins and by him all that believe are justified freed or set free from all things from which ye could not be set free or freed by the Law of Moses This Text doth shew what is our justification or freedome even forgivenesse of sins Reader study the Scriptures and be acquainted with the term justfiâ—ed that is freed And so it is translated in Rom. 6 7. Again Gal. 5. 1 2 3 4. must be well considered the false Teachers did perswade the Galathians to be circumcised not knowing their deceit for if they thought circumcision was of absolute necessity they were to sacrifice and do all the rites of Moses that circumcision did initiate them unto and so they must deny Christ and his Priesthood for ending all Moses and so christ could profit nothing
would have lightned all the Scripture Of Olympick vanity more below The 26. Levit. running still in Phrase upon Sevens in the punishments cometh at last to the captivity for ten Sevens of years and foretelleth such a confession of sins as Daniel maketh and how God will remember his Covenant which Gabriel there mentioneth Moses and the Prophets shall be vilely disjointed through quite if here we hold not the plain propriety of time 5. These former parts of time be no lesse clear in Scripture than the stars in the Skie that in the Seventh year the Land was parted that * That is 42 years six sevens Israel held it in quietnesse that Chusan held it the whole Seventh Seven That in the Iubilee Othoniel turneth them into their possession The golden Candlesticks with seven branches bowls 22. as the Hebrew letters knops half so many flowers thrice three all 42 commended not Bezaleets wisdome more and obedience to the prescript then we are bound to mark how the holy volumes record the Hebrew stories to fall out in times according to their ceremonies Thence the seventh Iubilee reacheth to †A kindler 〈◊〉 the golden candle-sticks land an erector and Rector of the Schools of the Prophets Samuels happy times Thence to the captivity of Babels seventy Sevens Moses did closely allude unto that space Now the Seventy years of captivity Moses and Ezra compareth with the Sabbath Levit. 26. 2 Chron. 36. 6. The Prophecy of Dan. 9.24 surmounteth all easie for memorie and celestiall for Meditation It had not been so harmonious to have chains of the time hitherto most certainly fixed if hence we should un clasp the links of it But we have the chains of times fastening hitherto-more closely than the Finnes of the Leviathan stick one to another Iob 41. All the works of God have perfection and so is the time from the Creation to the Redemption Mr. Bro. ex manus CHAP. XLIV A fourth expression of the holy Chronologie from the Creation to the Redemption THE golden chain of times are evident which draw from the apostasy of our first Parents unto our Lords Resurrection which when they are all known do bring unto Christ and we shall find much comfort and edification if we often think upon them for they are a greater ornament to the Scriptures than any chains of the finest gold or of the most rare or polished Jewels to the neck The first is from the beginning of time since Satans fierie tongue did set the wheel of the whole Creation on flame that nothing but the flood of waters nor that could quench it The second is from the Flood to the death of Terah Arahams father the authour of idolatry in Christ his Line and thereby causing to cease the royall accompting of the Churches annals by the ages of the Fathers Gen. 11. Jos 23. The next beginneth upon his death with a new promise of CHRIST making Abraham heir of the world not through the Justification of the Law of Circumcision but through the justification of faith in the promise of blessednesse in Christ to the Families Gen. 12. This Chain draweth along to the Lamb that is the Law of the Passeover Exod 12. The fourth chain is from the Lamb to the Temple the allurement of the Nations unto the worship of him that made the Temples of the heavens From the lamb to the Temple 480. Salomons 37. and year of division all 518. who in fullnesse of time would come to make humane nature his Temple to dwell with the children of men And further this chain teacheth to Salomons death his idolatry as Terah was worthy to have this chain ended for which his Kingdome was parted and Ieroboam did set up calves for God which doing is called the sinne of Israel These summes with the year of the Division of the ten Tribes from Iudah are years 518. The fifth chain is from that apostasie of Israel to the burning of the Temple that space is 390 years Iudah now is onely Gods Kingdome In that time is contained the books of the Kings Ezek. 4. and 2 Chron and most of the Prophets as the table before will shew Here must be considered Ierusalems ruine by Babel the flames of the Temple and the ending of Salomons race and Kingdome the breaking of the golden candlestick yea the Ark the speciall signe of Christs presence which had the two Tables of the Covenant was no more as Ierem. 3. They lost it at Shiloh but found it again in the woody field of Kiâ—iath Iaharim Psal 132. All Moses curtains Babel carried away for a spoil and all that Hyram the King and Proselyte procured and Hyram the artificer made c. all these goodly things left the Temple and shewed Christ his severity * Christ by Babel shook his own ceremonies by Moses and ended them by Rome that is the meaning of that speech in Aggei Yet once more I will shake never to have any setting yet some in their writings will re-edifie the low Jerusalem c. But as Israel had a first and second Temple so Jerusalem was twice builded by David Salomon and Nehemiah and twice razed now no other Jerusalem ever shall be but that which is from heaven and no materiall Temple ever shall be for the Lord God of Hosts even the Lamb is the Temple in the heavenly Jerusalem Thus in part he did shake these similitudes of heavenly things that they might look to the sure mercies and holy things promised in CHRIST unto David Acts 13.34 The sixth sheweth the earthly glory of this worlds Monarks with their abasement and sudden destruction all this is seen in the golden head Babels Kingdome which Christ made as chaffe before the wind Now the Jews had seen the end of Salomons progeny the fall of his Kingdome their hope the burning of the Temple their glory and the fall of Babel the glory of Nations by Cyrus and Darius Salomon foresaw all this and said all is vanity Eccl. 1 The seventh is from Cyrus Proclamation of bringing back the people of God from Babels yoke to the eternall freedome the Lord Jesus Christ purchased This time is the glorious and shining Prophecy of the Seventy Sevens Dan 9. This chain began with Cyrus of Sem and Darius of Japhet both which Princes proclaimed the God of heaven the God of Israel over an hundred and twenty Nations who gave Israel a liberall subsidie to comfort them in returning to Sion who by that faith in that joyfull Prophecy left great Babel for Jerusalem yet in her dust Psal 102. And this year the faith of Gods elect stopped the mouth of Lions c. And this chain endeth most comfortably by the death of Messias the Holy of Holy which endeth all Sacrrifice and offering in the low Jerusalem and it endeth the peculiar Prerogative of Israel and it bringeth the Gentiles into equall covenant and breaketh down the Partition wall and blotteth out the hand writing of Ordinances
28 saith Andrew to his brother Simon We have found that Messias which is by intepretation the Christ and Philiâ—i finds Nathanael and said unto him we have found him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write All the Prophets did write of Christ but none named him Messias the attribute of a proper name but Daniel from the Angels message and the same Angel was sent to Mary to name him Jesus so both those names were given to the SON of GOD not by man but from heaven so in their blessed and heavenly society these speeches were uttered and confessed Christ to be the Son of God to be the Son of man to be the King of Israel and the Messias the Holy of Holinesse and the Ladder of all comfort 4. And Martha's conference with our Lord is most comfortable and full of faith shewing what they all expected and believed I believe thou art the Christ the Son of God that should come into the world to be our life and Resurrection John 5. 5. Pilates speech to the Jews is of great force What shall I do then with JESVS which is called MESSIAS Christ They all said Let him be câ—ucified This looks to Dan. 9. Psal 22. where it is said Messias shalâ— suffer Mat. 27. 6. The questions that were in agitation among the Jews at this time will brighten this matter the signes of the times as our Lord speaketh gave them occasion of moving many questions when John Elies came teaching and baptizing the Jews sent Priests and Levites to ask him Who art thou and he confâ—ssed and denied not and plainly confessed I am not the Messias the Christ Yea the Jews did so expect the Messias that all men mused that John was the Messias they were hardly driven off from the conceit they were to taken with him Luke 3.15 Iohn 1. Therefore this is a strong argument that Dan. 9.24 c. must of absolute necessity be believed to be a proper speech and definitive for the time MESSIAS coming to satisfie the consciences of the faithfull And for that also our Lord foretold of false Christs that would arise as immediately they did and deceived many as our Lord said unto them I am come in my Fathers name and ye receive me not if another shall come in his own name him ye will receive John 5. Therefore he said Search the Scriptures c. and very likely Mr. P. if he had then lived would have been a deceiver and deceived and a false Prophet or a false Christ if he had not believed Daniels Prophesie to be a most clear exact and definitive time from Daniels prayer to the death of MESSIAS So Iohn-Elias sent his disciples to Christ to stablish them in that which he their Master had acknowledged When Iohn being in prison heard of the works of Messias i. e. Christ he sent two of his disciples and said unto him Art thou he that should come or shall we look for another The times did call for all these questions being but a little before the ending of the seventy sevens 7. The adjuration of the Priest to the Lord is very considerable Mr. P. If he had been of the Councel he xitld have objected to him that the seventy sevens were ended long before he was bâ—â—n The high Priest and the whole Synedrion could not nor did challenge the Lord for the time of 70. sevens so where no doubt or question was â—â—va answer needed but the high Priest and most of the Jews thought him too base for such a Messias as they expected and so adjured him to answer to this I adjure thee by the living God to tell us if thou be the Messias the son of the blessed God and Christ answered affirmatively 8. Many weighty arguments depend on these things of Dan. 9.24 as 1 Iohn 4. Every spirit which confesseth Iesus to be the Messias the Holy of Holy is come in the flesh to be a son of man Dan. 7. is of God and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus to be the Messias the Christ is come in the flesh to be a son of man is not of God 1 Iohn 5.1 whosoever believeth that Iesus is the Messias is born of God not simply or barely a confession of the attribute Messias i. e. Christ but a right apprehension of his person and offices Rom 10. his person that he is the son of man Dan. 7. and the holy of holy as touching the spirit of holinesse that raised him from the dead God dwelt in the Messias who is God blessed for ever nor onely to confesse this of his person a Locust from the bottomlesse pit as Satan will chirp out this but to confesse Iesus to be Messias experimentally in our minds and hearts in his offices as he is Prophet Priest and King All the three Offices of Christ as he is Prophet Priest and King are in Dan. 9.24 c. to be Messias Nagid Christ the King that all power is his by donation from the Father to command and rule the Church to restrain apostasie and all adverse power and that he suffered not for himself but for us who by his precious death hath abolished our sinnes and wrought reconciliation for iniquity and hath brought everlasting justification by his once offering up of himself and that he hath sealed vision and Prophesie that we need not expect new revelations that he made himself manifest to be the holy One of God by his Resurrection Ascension and sitting at the right hand of the Power in the higstest heavens and from thence sent gifts to furnish his Church with Offices and officers to teach and gather the elect out of the world to open their eyes to turn them from darknesse to light from the power of Satan to God that they might receive forgivenesse of sinnes and inheritancce among them which are sanctified by the faith which is in him Christ hath confirmed in his Testament all this holy doctrine for the many Jew and Gentile and the Jews for despising the blood of the Covenant have felt to this day the heavy burthen of their own imprecation Matth. 27 25. as their Fathers Num. 14.2 c. All this the holy Apostle Iohn meant and much more unutterable that the Lord Jesus Messias became such a person to be such a mediatour and that testimonie in due time according to the prophesie 1 Tim. 2.6 And the spirit is peremptory and saith whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in this doctrine of Messias which is called Christ hath not God he that continueth in this doctrine of Christ he hath the Father and the Son 2 Iohn 9. 9 It will not be uselesse altogether to observe what Taciâ—us Suctonius Iosephus speak that in all the Romane Empire it was divulged in Augustus caesars dayes that a King should arise in Iudea that should rule all the world This is evident by the Persique Magi. They having discerned an unusall Comet in the air which did
state of time that the holy spirit did testifie in the Prophets for the coming of Mesas and his sufferings and glory that should follow in his Resurrection ascension and sending gifts to convert the Nations 1 Pet. 1.11 by his death to confirm the promises made to the faithfull and to be the truth of all the types which were all sponsorious of a better hope but of the time of his second coming there was not that need to know For it is said But of the times and seasons brethren ye have no need that I write unto you for your selves know perfectly that the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night 1 Thes 5. 3. Of the Chronologie of the New Testament the spirit of Christ hath not disposed an orderly processe of times neither historically nor prophetically from his death There is no time cast in the Apocalyps For God would not begin to accompt the times after the death of Christ but he must have gone through with it else it had been a fault in art but that he would not because of the end of the world he would conceal that no man nor angel knoweth it the Son in respect of his humanity is said not to know the time who yet giveth the Apocalyps to Iohn but nothing is unknown to his Godhead who is the first and the last The thousand years are spoken of for the loosing of Satan Apoc. 20. but the history is not cast by course of time the thousand years begin we may best suppose from the writing of the Apocalyps 4. But behold the wisdome of God To teach us in whom we have rest that most graciously ordered times most exactly till the death of Christ in a most pleasant Sabbatick * accompt tres-remarkable from JESUS the son of Nun to our IESUS that saveth us from our sins Thus he did that the whole Nation of the Jews should not misse but by willfull and despitefull swarving to receive him the true Messias Heb. 2. 1. 6. and 10. to leave all the ceremonies and to look to him the end and scope of all and this time was it often noted and needfull often to be noted wherein the Gentiles should begin to be brought to Sâ—ms Tents and thence to learn salvation 5. When all this was done there needed no times to teach us ceremonially of Christ to come for his government and offices are perpetuall and shall never be abolished as Levies Priesthood till he re deliver up the Mediatorian Kingdome to the Father and till that time we all should joyfully look in watching when the Bridecrome will come 6. The Gencalogie and Chronologie served to the promised Lands glory The non-continuance of genealogies after the apostles times shall be to-ched else to the people of Israels glory to the Tabernacles glory to Ierusalems glory to the Temples glory and to Salomons Kingdomes glory for the glory of all these ended when the Chronologie and Genealogie ended for all the time of the old Testament they had that heavenly and glorious use 2. Blessed be the name of the Lord God for ever and ever for wisdome and strength are his and he it is that hath altered times places and persons to the glory of the unchangeable Priesthood and never ending Kingdome of his dear Son our Lord Iesus Christ to whom be glory and praise everlasting Amen CHAP. L. Being a Caveat to beware of such Satanicall spirits that prattle about the expectation of new Apostles and new Revelations 1. AS is said for the Chronologie and Genealogie of the the old Testament that the infallible use of them did cease after the new Testament was written so we may say for the other holy Doctrine of Christ that we need not to regard the vanity of wretched men in expectation of new Apostles and new Revelations but studiously to cleave to what is left and ordained to us in the holy writings of the Prophets Evangelists and Apostles 2. As our Lord and Saviour said He that will not hear and believe Moses and the Prophets will neither hear nor believe if one should rise from the dead so truly we may say he that will not hear and believe the holy Evangelists and the holy Apostles writings who wrote of the doctrine life death and resurrection of Christ is as far from holy faith as ever any Sadducie was for Christ is risen from the dead and after his Resurrection gave commandement what his Apostles should preach unto the Nations and we see what it was they taught by the four Evangelists by the book of the Acts by their Epistles and by the Son of God in his Apocalyps 3. And that we might not be deceived by the ungodly 1 Cor. 4s to look for new Apostles mark what the apostle Paul saith plainly that himself and Earnabas and other Apostles then living were the last apostles 4. Wherefore the apostles seeing the Churches began to be troubled with false apostles and with grievous and gangrenating errours and herefies and foretold of worse and more perillous times that men would not endure sound and wholesome doctrine but having sore ears should after their own lusts get them an heap of Teachers and should turn their ears from the truth and should be given unto fables therefore they gave warning as is seen in all their writings and have thus charged us from Christ That we be mindfull of the words which were spoken before by the holy Prophets and of the commandement of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour 2 Pet. 3.2 and Iudas Thaddeus saith thus in his Epistle But beloved remember the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ And the Apostle John saith He that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God beareth nos us hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of errour 1 John 4. 5. The faithfull obeyed this charge and commandement for many years after the apostles for the apostles had said what they had taught to the faithfull then living should be communicated to other faithfull for the instruction of others for above an 100 years after their dayes we have not writings of the Ancients they kept themselves to the holy Scriptures of the Prophets and apostles 6. And when the Ancients of the Primitive Churches began to write much about the second Century and after it is manifest they adhered to the holy Scriptures and commended them much to the people and some of the Ancients did so admire and advance the holy Scriptures that they adored the sufficiency of them for Doctrine of faith and manners 7. This is most clear for it is said the faithfull martyrs for 300 years suffered for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Apoc. 6.9 and so the two witnesses suffered under the Beast of the Pit King Abaddon For the keeping of the commandemâ—nts of God and the saith of JESVS Apoc. 14.12 sofar off they were