Those are not such who for a while receiue the Word with ioy as the stonie ground doth the seede Mat. 13. but when persecution ariseth because of the Word by by they are offended Some with the verrie manifestation of the Word that the poore haue the Gospell preached vnto them the Truth manifested to them chap. 11.5.6 he therefore who is the Word who is the Truth saith Blessed is he whosoeuer shall not be offended in me And in another place If ye continue in my Word Ioh. 31. then are ye my Disciples indeede that is Christians of me Character of a Christian pag. 199. c. that am Christ the Truth for so he addeth And ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free * Act. 11.26 In Antioch the Disciples were first called Christians As a Disciple of Plato is called a Platonist of Arrius an Arrian and as the Disciples of Nicolas all that held his doctrine were by the holy Ghost called Nicolaitans Reu. 2.6.15 so the Disciples of Christ that in all things consent to his Word and continue therein are of him the Truth so called Christians One is youre Maister euen Christ. Wee must not be of Paul nor of Apollos nor of Cephas which is Peter much lesse of his supposed Successour or any other Heretick as those that will be called Latine or Romane Catholicks that is vniuersalls in theire relation to theire holding of him and his See after whome all the world wondreth and who is called the vniuersall Latine or Romane Bishop and so haue the name of the Beast and are more truly called Papists then Christians because they heare obey him more then Christ and against Christ Wee must not in matters of faith and saluation heare any mans voice Ephes 2.20 further then he commeth with the Truth of God to which Christ bare witnesse with his blood the Truth which is the foundation laide in the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and Prophets and in building or seeming to build therevpon the same must not be wrested 1. Cor. 3.10.11 but euery man must take heede how he buildeth therevpon for other foundation can noe man lay then that is layde which is Iesus Christ Noe other word Saint Paul will haue vs to be of none but of God chap. 1.30 Of him are ye in Christ who of God is made vnto vs wisdom It is wisdom in a man to be of this wisdom of the Word of the Truth and so of God for it is Gods Truth Ye are Christs chap. 3.23 and Christ is Gods Therefore he saith here Euerie one that is of the Truth heareth my voice He therefore that will not in all matters of faith and saluation be truly a Disciple of Truth but teaches new or contrarie doctrine he becomes a Maister of errour and they that receiue it and abide in it are his not Christs His Seruants ye are to whome ye obey Rom. 6.16 whether Christ or Antichrist the true Shepbeard or a Seducer though it be but in one or two points as the followers of Nicolas though they held all the rest sound they presently loose the name of Christians and are called Nicolaitans for one stronge hold held against such a Kinge is enough to make the Captaine that holds it and all his followers to loose the name of Subiects and to be rightly called Traitours men can not serue two Maisters not God and Mammon much lesse Christ and Antichrist the Truth and errour if he cleaue to errour he despiseth and hateth the Truth which is not the fault of one sort of Hereticks and euill doers Ioh. 3.20 but of all Euery one that euill doth hateth the light neither commeth to the light Theese things me thinks should fill the Papists and our new Maisters the Arminians with horrour For though Christ say As Moses lift vp the Serpent in the wildernesse vers 14. see Charac of a Christian pag. 205. Ioh. 5.24 so must the Sonne of man be lifted vp That WHOSOEVER beleeueth on him should not perish but haue eternall life and of a beleeuer in the present tense He that beareth my word and beleeueth on him that sent me HATH euerlasting life and shall NOT come into condemnation but IS passed from death to life And by his Apostles Rom. 8.30 Whome he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also iustified and whom he iustified them he also glorified For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance Whosoeuer is borne of God chap. 11.29 1. Ioh. 3.9 sinneth not viz. the sinne vnto death for his seede remaineth in him and he can not sinne because he is borne of God To shew that a true beleeuer called and iustified may be certaine of his saluation and can not fall away totally and finally Yet our Arminian Pelagians and the Papists feare not to maintaine that persons truly iustified can not be certaine of theire saluation and that they may neuertheles fall away totally and finally wherein many follow them and therein follow new Maisters and like rebels maintaine stronge holds of errour against the knowledge of God and obedience of Christ the Truth But they say that to preach theese doctrines of certainty of saluation perseuerance as also of election conuersion of grace and not of workes not of free will if they were true doctrines which they will not graunt yet they who teach thē to the people teach desperate doctrines and open a gap to all licentiousnes carelesnes prophanenes neglect of holy life and shew a greate wāt of wisdom and discretion or to the like effect Here I might tell them that theire owne broaching and maintaining of errours in theese points haue caused more preaching writing to defende the Truth and to keepe people from theire errours and apostacie then otherwise had beene requisite But I answer they see not or will not see that this is in effect to charge Christ with want of wisdom and discretion who in the infancie of the Church did himselfe and by his Apostles teach all theese things by preaching and writing vnto the people that whatsoeuer his Word be it still ministreth grace to those hearers that are his Sheepe * Tit. 2.11.12 teaching them to denie vngodlines and worldly lusts it softeneth molefieth theire hearts as the Sunne softeneth waxe that * 2. pet 2.20 they escape the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of Christ that those that are not Christs are as well hardened by other points as by theese euen as the sunne hardeneth clay and so it doth theese new Maisters and theire followers for the more the Truth is manifested the more they hate that light and Truth and would hinder the setting of it forth in Sermons and Bookes the more they despise Christ who is the Truth and rebell against him Is this theire wisdom and discretion I confesse they haue
death of a high Preâ—st who shall be the verâ— Word of Gâ—d voide of all â—nne as well willing as vnwiâ—â—ing whose Father sâ—ould be God and this Word shall be the Fathers wâ—sâ—em by which all things â—n this world were created Now that Christ Iesus was this Word incarnate That Iesus was the word the true Messiah whâ—ch as Iohn saith reuealeth the Father our Saâ—â—our himselfe further proueth while when he had shewed himselâ—e to be the Word and therein the Sonne of God as aboue saide to those Iewes that counted this blasphemie he added Ioh. 10.36.37.38 If I dâ—e not the workes of my Father beleeue me not But if I doe though ye beleeue not me beleeue the workes that ye may know and beleeue that the Father is in me and I in him As if he saide the works proue it Theâ—efore in another place he saith I haue a greater wiâ—nesse then that of Iohn Ioh. 5 3â— for the works which the Father hath giuen me to finâ—sh the same works that I doe beare witnesse of me that the Father hath sent me and c. Now therefore let vs take a short view of some few of those works or witnesses to see how they proue it and so proceede to the rest of the confession before Pilate Luk. 11.13 When he had cast out a Deuil out of one that was dumbe some of them saide he casteth out Deuils through Beelzebub the cheife of the Deuils to which he answered But if I with the finger of God cast out Deuils noe doub but the Kingdom of God is come vpon you that is noâ— doubt but the Word is now incarnate which should come and rule for God for the Word is the finger Arms or power by which he made and gâ—â—erned all things Psa 66. Luk. 4.33 He ruleâ—h by his power for euer Theâ—efore the Messiah who was to beâ—hâ—s Power â—s come and worketh by â—t becauseâ— by that power cast out Deuils Therefore â—n the Sâ—nagouge the Deuil in one posessed criâ—d out what haue wee to doe wiâ—h thee thou Iesâ—s of Nazareth â—rt thou câ—me to destroy vs I know thee who thouâ—rt the holy one of God And Iesâ—s rebâ—ked him sâ—ying Hoâ—d thy peace and come out of him And when the Deuil hâ—d hrowen him in the midst he came out of him And they were all amazed and spake amonge themselues saying * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What a Word is thâ—â— Our Euangelâ—st will answer All things were mâ—de by him In him was life and the life was the light of men The life of the Word was here manifested in the sight of many while so greate a miracle was donne thereby and the liâ—e was the light of men to theiâ—e convertion whâ—le in amazement they say What a Word is this for with authority and power he commaundeth â—he vncleane spirits and thâ—y come out The Euang list will answer againe The wâ—rd was made flesh and wee behold his glorie the glorie as of the only bego tâ—n of the Father full of grâ—ce and truth vers 32. And so when he â—auâ—ht Thâ—y were astonâ—â—d at his dâ—ctrine for his word was with power There was life therein accoâ—ding aâ— Châ—â—st saiâ—e The words thâ—â— I speake they are Spiriâ— and they are life yea eternall life Ioh 12 5â— as Peter saiâ—h Thou hast the words of etâ—rn â—ll life and wee beleeue viz. and therefore wee bâ—leâ—ue and are sure thâ— uâ—râ— the Christ the Sonne of the liueing God Sâ—â—nt Mathew saith Mat. 8.17 Thâ—y brought to him many that were posessed with Deuils and he cast out the Spirits wiâ—h his Word and healed all that were sieck wiâ—h his Word that is with the power by which God the Father worketh Io◠〈◊〉 .5 At the poole of Bethesda there was a Man that had â—â—en lame eight and thirâ—ie yeares Iesus saiâ—h vnto him Rise take vp thy Bed and walke And immediately the man was made whole and walked This could be donne by noe other then the Word of God whereof the Psalmist saith when theire Fathers were in like distresse psa 107 20. He sent his Word and healed them Vpon this myracle there was greate dispute betweene our Sauiour and the Iewes Aug. in Ioan. Tract 19.20.21 c. whereâ—n he proued himselfe to be the Word of the Father as Saint Avgustin shâ—weth on that Gospel See also the Character of a Christian. pag 63. c. Iesâ—s with clay made of spiâ—te healed a man that was bâ—rne blinde Ioh. 9.6 Veâ—â— 3â— 3â— Which man beeing brought befoâ—e the Phariâ—es reasoned thuâ— Wee know that God heareth not sinners but if a man be a worshipper of God and doe his will him he heareth Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of the blinde If this man were not of God he could doe nothing This vnlearned man could not giue such diuine proofes but by Gods Spirit that thus makes the Pharises his aduersaries more inexcusable Lazarus had lien fower dayes in the graue And when Iesus was come with Martha Marie and diuers Iewes to the place where they had layed him at last Ioh. 11.30 He cried with a loude voice Lazarus come forth And he that was dead came forth Vers 43. What Word could dâ—â—e this or any worke so greate but the mightie Woâ—d of God which made the World If then Ieâ—us did it by his Word it is plaine that in him the Word was made flesh and they saw the glâ—rie thereof in this myracle the glorie as of the only begotten of God But that he did it is manifest for some of the Iewes that saw it went theire wayes to the Pharises and told them Vâ—rs 46.47 therevpon the Cheife Preists gathered a counsell and saide What doe wee for this man doth many miracles If wee let him thus alone Vers 53. all men â—ill beleeue on him And the Romans shall come and take away both our place and Nations From that day they tooke counsâ—ll to put him to death and did it But this polecie brought on them the iudgement it went abâ—ute to preuent and so must all such polecies needes doe which for worldlâ—e respects any way hinder Gods Kingdom Now then seeing Iesus did so greate workes by his Word it is plaine that he was the Word and that Word the Sonne that should come in the flesh and be the Mâ—ssiah Which thinge the Father himselfe openly witnessed by voices from Heaven first at his Baptisme when he came out of the water Mat. â—3 16 and loe a voice from Heauen saying Ioh. 1.33 This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased Iohn Baptist heard this and thâ—n saw the Spirit of God descending on him like a doue and therefore bare record that this is the Sonne of God Now noe man could except against Iohns testimonie he was so generally beleeued to be holy iust and a Propheâ— Agaâ—ne when Iesus praied Father gloriâ—ie
thy Name Ioh. 12.28 Then came here a voice from heauen saying I haâ—e glorifie bit and will glorifie it again He had glorified the word which is also the Fathers Name because it is his word when so greate myracles were denne by it and so many conueâ—ted thereby and so it was glorified againe after his death by the miâ—istrie of his Apostles and others to the healing of many and the conuersion of millions of people Lastly at his transfiguration on the mount Mat. 17.5 beholdâ— a voice out of the cloude which saide This is my beloued Sonne in whome I â—m well pleased heare ye him As if he saide for he is the promised woâ—d To his Apostles which heard him were witnesses of his resurrection he gaue commissioÌ„ to preach to all nations and so his myracles Heb. 2.3.4 life doctrine and resurrection were confirmed to â—s by them that heard him who also sealed the Truth of all with theire bloods God also bearing them witnes both with signes and wonders and with diuers myracles and gifts of the holy Ghost As the heaâ—ing of a man lame from his mothers wombe and many others manifested to his and theiâ—e aduersaries All which proued that Iesus was as he taught the word and that word the Sonne the Messiah which was to come and that he did not blaspheme when he câ—â—fest as much to the high Priest Mat. 26.69 For this yet doe they pâ—esently spit in his fâ—ce buffet hâ—m smite reuile him and leade him a â—ay to Pilate to be for this only thinge put to death this beeing all they could proue or he finde and that not that he made himselfe a temporall Kinge but spiritual for when he vâ—ged him with theese words Art thou the King of the Iewes what hast thou donne Iesus answered my Kingdom is not of this world if my Kingdom were of this world c. and when Pilate gathering by theese words that he confest himselfe to be a King therefore saide vnto him Art thou a Kinge then Iesus answered thou sâ—iest that I am a Kinge As if he saide and I must not denie it for to this ende was I borne and for this cause came I into the world that I should beare witnesse vnto the truth euery one that is of the truth heareth my voice This then beeing his plaine answer concerning his Kingdom and the true subjects thereof wee may consider in this confession theese things 1. A KingdoÌ„ acknowledged in theese words my Kingdom which are thrice repeated in the former of theese verses 2. That this Kingdom is not of this world as he saith my Kingdâ—â— is not of this world â— A proofe or reason thereof in theese words for if my Kingdom were of this world then would my subiects fight that I should not be deliâ—ered to the Iewes 4 A conclusion following from the premises in theese words but now is my Kingdom not from hence In the first there is the Kingdom of the Messiah and that claimed by out Sauiour who here calleth it his as he saith my Kingdom First then wee will endeauour to finde out of the old Testament what the Kingdom of the Messiah was to be whether spirituall or temporall and where the seate thereof should be And secondly whether this Kingdom properly belonge to Iesus the Sonne of Marie who claimes it while he confesseth himselfe to be the Christ and saith my Kingdom Where first ye know it is already manifested The Kingdom of the Messiah that the Mâ—ssiah was to be the Word and that therefore his Kingdom and gouernment must needes be spirituall ruling mens soules for God his Fatheâ— as was proued from tho second Psalme where indeed the Father also calleth him his Kinge that is one ruling for him saying I haue set my Kinge vpon my holy hill of Sion psa 2. Isa 40.10 where also while he saith my holy hill of Sion he sheweth it to be his Kingdom So of the Father it is saide His Arme that is his word shall rale for him It is his Kingdom for the Kingdom is the Lords and he is the Gouerno or of his people Therefore it is added vers 11. He shall feede hâ—s flocke like a Shepheard he shall gather the Lambes with his Arme to shew that Christ succeedes Dauid as a Shepheard of the people feeding theÌ„ with the spirituall foode of the word Fzech 34.23 chap. 37.21.24 and so ruleth in his throne spiritually He shoul be theire Shepheard â—zek 34.23 and Chap. 2â— 22.24 So Dauid saith The Lord saide vnto my Lord sit thou on my right hand that is rule thou for me vntil I make hâ—â—â— enemies thy footestoole psa 110.1 Thereby intimating that all enemâ—es of the word shall be either subiected to the word or confounded thereby Therefore it is added vers 2. The Lord shall seâ—de the Râ—d of thy strength viz. the Word out of Zionâ— to this word therefore he there speaketh saying Rule thou in the middest of thine eâ—emâ—es Isa 2. Mic. 4. aâ—cording to that of the Prophets Isaiah and Micah Thâ— Lâ—â—â— shall gâ—efoorâ—h of Sion anâ— the word of the Lord out of Hierâ—sâ—em Aâ—d he shall iudge â—monge the Nations He the word shall as the Father saith Miâ—e Arme thaâ— is my Word shal iudge the people From which places wee may see that this Kingdom was to begin to be preached in Sion and Ierusalem vnto it was the Kingdom and dominion first to comâ— Mica 4.8 and thence to goe Foorth into all the World haâ—eâ—ng noe other certaine seate then there wheresoeuer the Word should enlighten and rule the Soules of men Isa 42.6 therefore the Lord saith to him I will giue thee for a couenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles to vpâ—n the blinde eyes c. Isa 55.3.4 And in another place I will make an euerlasting couenant with you euen the suâ—e Mercies of Dauid Behold I haue giuen hiâ— viz. the Word or couenant For a witnesse to the people a leader and a commaunder to the people Viz. a spirituall leader therefore he saith to him in the following words vers 5. Behoâ—d thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not and nations that knew not thee shall runne vnto thee because of the Lord thy God and for the holy one of Israel for he hath glorified thee this then is the gloâ—ie that he giâ—es the Messiah who is the Word that he should call nations to the knowledge and obedience of the Woâ—d therefore in this sense God saith to the Word in the second Psalme Psa 2.8.9 Ask of me and I will giue thee the heathen For thâ—ne inheritance and the vâ—termâ—st parts of the earth for thy posession the most remote nations shall come to the knowledge and obedience of thee or else as it is added Thou shalt bâ—eake them with a Rod of yron that is with thy owne power as he saith elsewhere with the Rod of thy
strength Psa 110. thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters veâ—â—â—ll that is if they goe aboute to hâ—nder thy Kingdom will not suffer the Word to rule in theire dominions but either hinder the preaching thereof and soe the raigne of the Word or doe not further it but sâ—t vp or suffer another Word new and contrarie doctrines a thinge endangering the bruising and ruin of any Kingdom or nation as it was of the cheife Preists and Iewes and may be of others as it followeth vers 10.11 Be wise now therefore ô ye Kings be wise in this point be instructed ye Iudges of the earth be contenâ—ed to be instructed in the Word Serue the Lord wiâ—h feare viz in obeying and farthering his Word and veâ—â—yce with tremblâ—ng Be glad his Kingdom may come into youres embrace it for it will honour and strengten youres and noe way endanger it vnles when ye neglect it vers 12. therefore he addeth Kâ—sse the Sonne lest he be angri and ye perish from the way c. Where to Kisse the Sonne is nothing else them to receiue and embrace the Word of God as ye saw proued aboue All this is confirmed vnto vs in the vision which Daniel saw that is to say that the Messiah was to be such and such his Kingdom for when Daniel had beheld the fower beasts See willer on Dan. 7. which were fower Kingdoms the last of them beeing indeede that of the Selucians and Pâ—olomies signified also by the two legs Dan 2.33.40.44 the Dominion whereof should * vers 12. vers 13.14 be taken away aboute the time that Christs Kingdom should come â—he addeth I saw in the night visions and behold one like the Sonne of man came with the clouds of heauen and came to the Ancient of dayâ—s and they brought him before him And there was giuen him Dominion and glorie and a Kingdom that all people and naâ—ion and languages should serue him hâ—â— dominion is an euerlasting dominion which shall not passe awâ—y and his Kingdom that which shall not be dâ—stroied Loe this Kingdom of the Mâ—ssiah must endure for euer but then it must needâ—s bespirituall and last after his death for it is after shewed him that the Messiah should soone be cut off euen a litle before the destruction of the citie and sanctuary chap 9.26 and the Prophet Isaiah saith plainely Isa 53. that he should die for our sinnes Isa 53.8.9 that he was cut off out of the land of the liueâ—ng for the transgression of my people was he stricken And he made his graue with the wicked c. But though he should suffer and die according to the flesh yet he should rule still as he is the Word and more after his death then before as it followeth He shall see his seede vers 11. men begotten againe by the Word He shall see the trauaile of his Soule vers 12. the fruite of his death and sufferings for when he had saide He shall beare theiâ—e iniquities the Lord addeth therefore will I diuide him a pertion with the greate and he shall diuide the Spoile with the stronge because he powred out his Soule vnto death he should haue the heathen to his inheritance the vtmost part of the earth to his posessioÌ„ His Apostles and ministers should conquer Kingdoms and bringe whole nations to be subiect to the Word Dâ—n 7.18 vers 27. Which thinge is soe expounded there vnto Daniel But the Saints of the most high shal take the Kingdom and posesse it for euer and againe And the Kingdom and dominion and the greatnes of the Kingdom vnder the whole heauen shall be giuen to the people of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdom is an buerlasting Kingdom and all dominions shall serue and obey him Loe the greatenes of the Kingdom vnder the whole heaâ—en is giuen to the Saints for Christ theire Maister is out of this World yet they shall subiect people to him whose Kingdâ—m is euerlastiâ—g therefore it is added all dominion shall serue and obey him the Kingdom is giuen to them yet the subiects thereof serue hiâ— which could not be after his death vnles he were the Word and his Kingdom truly spâ—rituall Gods Kingdom Which is answerable to that Prophesie or promise â—â—z k. â—4 Ezech. 34.23.24 I will seâ— vp one Shepheard ouer them and he shall feede them euen my seruant Dauid he shall feede them Dauid the type of Christ was now dead therefore this was meant of the Messiah who was to be Dauids Sonne soe it is added And he shall be theire Shepheâ—rd And I the Lord will be theire God and my Seruant Dauid a Prince amonge them One * Chap. 37.22.24.25 c. King shall be Kinge to them all they shaâ—l haue one Shepheard who should clense them and make them walke in his iudgments and obserue hâ—s Sâ—atutes soe his Tabernacle should be with them aâ—d he would betheire God There is but one cheife Shepheard the rest are his ministeâ—s and they â—ubâ—ect people to hâ—m they are all gouerned and fed by the Word as well after his asâ—ention as before Thus the Angel saide to Marie He shall be greate and shal be called the Sonne of the highest Luk. 1.32 and the Lord God shall giue vnto hâ—m the throne of his Father Dauid And he shall raigne ouer the howse of Iacob for â—uer For that is he the Word should raigne for euer as the one and only Spirituall Kinge and Shepheard And indeed at last when the Iewish nation that had refused him and was therefore scattered should be called and brought back into theire owne Land Mic. 4.6 then as it is added The Lord shall raigne ouer them in mount Zion from hence forth euen for euer Where he that is called the Word that should rule and iudge amonge the nations vers 2.3 is now affirmed to be the Lord to shew that he is God and Lord and indeed that his Kingdom is the Kingdom of God his Father and that it is so meant in those places of Ezechiel aboue mentioned and in others that speake of the Messiah and his Kingdom Now wee haue already shewed that Iesus was the promised Messiah Iesus Christ preached the same Kingdom and consequently that he had and hath this Kingdom but to proue that accordingly he preached the same ye may finde that when he the Word was come in the flesh and now ready to be baptised and so to enter vpon his ministration and gouernment by reuealing himselfe and thereby the Father his pâ—ecursor Iohn Baptist came preaching in the Wildernes of Iudea Mat. 3.1 Mark 1.2 Mal. 3.1 And saying Repent ye for the Kingdom of God is at hand As it is writen in the Prophets Behold I sende my Messenger and he shall prepare the way before me And the Lord whome ye seeke viz the Messiah shall suddenly come to his Temple viz * Ioh. 18.20 there to teach
in such danger seeing that if Princes be Hereticall and persecute the godly theire Ministers must follow them and afflict and punish them or loose theire places for when those that cleaue to Gods Word and contend for it are examined they must confesse the truth though it cost them theire liues as our Sauiour here did for when Pilate saide Art thou then a Kinge Iesus answered thou saiest that I am a Kinge af if he saide and I can not I must not dâ—nie it For To this ende was I borne and for this cause came I into the world that I should beare witnesse vnto the truth That is indeede to confirme the Truth and euery clause of it whereof this of his Kingdom and office is one with his blood to witnes and seale the truth of it with his blood for though he knew that to confesse this would cost him his life yet he considers that to this ende he was borne and for this cause he came in the world that he should beare witnesse to it with his blood 1. Tim. 6.13 and therefore Saint Paul saith that he witnessed a good confession before Pontius Pilate Sealed as ye see with his blood Tolet. in Ioan. VXIII Vt veritatem Dei oftenderet regnum Dei manifestarer ac tyrannidem Diaboli dolos ejus detegeret to make his witnesse the more effectuall Seeing indeede he came into the world as Tolet saith that he might shew the truth of God and manifest the Kingdom of God and discouer the tiranie of the deuil and his deceits whereby he deceiueth men whether by his owne suggestions or by his Ministers the teachers and maintainers of idollatrie errours For to this purpose the Sonne viz. the Word the Truth of God was manifested that he might destroy the workes of the deuill He came to confound all theese in this that he came to beare witnesse vnto Gods Kingdom vnto Gods Truth whereby all theese are confounded and those also that liue as if they were borne to noe other ende and for noe other cause came into the world then to flatter daube and temporise with sinnes and errours or which is as bad frowardly to contest against the truth with sophisticated arguments praeuaricating shifts for that they might all be sure of it and repenting receiue and confesse the Truth in all things he heere inforceth the certaintie of it with a kinde of ingemination or reinforcing of his asseueration to the Soules of men as if they could neuer enough marke remember this point saying to this ende was I borne and for this cause came I into the world that I should beare witnesse vnto the Truth O thou eternall and almightie Sonne of God Heb. 1.2 by whome he made the worlds thou heyre of all things the brightnes of thy Fathers glorie and the expresse Image of his person thou that thoughtest it noe roberie to be held equall with God surely it was for some greate ende that thou wast borne of a Woman for some greate cause that thou camest in the World Lord let vs know it let vs heare it ô thou Kinge of Saints that wee neither despise nor slight and neglect it thou tellest vs with a witnesse and a deere witnesse it was to thee for thou sealest it with thy most pretious blood shed in the greatest paines the greatest sufferings that euer any felt in this world to see if yet wee will receiue the truth and the loue thereof 2. Thess 2.10.11 that wee may be saued and not be giuen ouer to beleeue a lye for this cause was I borne and for this cause came I into the World that I should beare witnesse vnto the Truth Some man will say If it were to this ende that he came and thus sealed the truth what Christian is there that will not receiue the loue of the Truth that will not in all matters of faith and saluation heare his voice obey it and so receiue his testimonie I answer thou hearest him affirme it and reinforce it what then needes further witnes Luk. 19.10 for if thou say The Sonne of man came to seeke to saue that which was lost That is by shewing them Gods Truth and bearing witnesse to it and so loosing the prisnors bound and lost in the prison of sinne errour * Sedebas o homo in tenebrosis vmbra mortis per ignorantiam veritatis sedebas vinctus catenis delictorum Bernar. de ordine vitae Nos de Adam caeci nati sumus illo illuminate opus habemus Aug. in Ioan. trac 34. Act. 26.18 Mar. 10.46 Gal. 4.4 and ignorance Ioh. 12.48 He came a light into the world that whosoeuer beleeueth on him should not abide in darkenesse but should haue the light of life to make them children of the light God sent him for a light of the Gentiles Isa 42. but that was to open theire eyes and to turne them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan vnto God that they may receiue forgiuenesse of sinnes and inheritance amonge them which are sanctified through faith that is in him Not otherwise The Sonne of man came to minister and giue his life a ransom for many but that was to minister the Word and to witnesse that his death was a ransom for many to seale that truth in his blood God sent his Sonne made of a Woman to redeeme them that were vnder the Law and thereby Seruants obnoxious to sinne death that they might receiue the adoption of sonnes but that is by receiuing the Word the Truth who to as many as receiue him Ioh. 1.12 giueth power to become the Sonnes of God euen to them that beleene on his Name viz. on the Word by letting them * Chap. 8.32.34.36 Character of a Christian pag. 325. c. know the Truth that the truth might make them free and free indeede from sinne Satan errours snaring scruples c. There is noe true freedom but what the Truth giueth and it must needes be true if the Truth giue it As he there saith If the Sonne therefore shall make you free Ye shall be free indeede Thereby shewing himselfe to be the Truth as Augustine proueth on Ioh. 17.17 Sanctifie them in thy Truth thy Word is Truth August in 10. trac 108. To this Truth he bare witnesse and this Truth freeth beeing beleeued knowne and receiued with loue So was it with the Corinthians who beeing inriched in all knowledge Paul saith the testimonie of Christ was confirmed in them 1. Cor. 1.6 which that wee might so receiue and obey in all that it teacheth and euery part of it he bare witnesse to it with his blood Which therefore indeede is called the blood of the Testament sealed confirmed and dedicated in blood Heb. 9.18.19 Wherevpon neither was the first Testament dedicated without blood For when Moses had spoken euery precept he tooke the blood of Calues and sprinckled both the booke and the