rule of opposition And good as we distinguish by possession After his fall he likewise understood The Guilt of Evill by the losse of Good Others did call it so by the Event Because it did procure his punishment But this not fully doth explaine the place August de Civ Dei l 14. c. 12. The Tree was wholesome and had pleasant grace How was it evill then By Accident Not of it selfe By the Commandement Gen 2 17 For this cause it was said Thou shalt not eate The precept made it so the pow'r was great To warren Man from Sinne in Innocence Who after was to fall by Negligence Thou shalt not eate This precept tells him why But what commands the God of Majesty Rom 12.3 He bids him for to rectifie his Will And not to covet that would make him ill He bids him to be wise in all discretion And not to rise in thought 'bove his condition He tells him how his glory might consist In true obedience if he will persist He tells him though he were a Prince on earth Yet it was He that gave him first his birth And being but a Subject and a Creature Luk 20.25 Deu 10.12 He must pay homage to his Lord and Maker Thus as a Rule the Tree of knowledge stood To tye him to Obedience which was good It was not set by Gods appointment there For to intrap his life as with a Snare As the malicious multitude surmise Who murmure ' gainst the Lord that 's only wise But God therein would his Obedience try To prove his Love his Faith and Loyalty Deut 10.12 Nor did he stand in need of Mans obedience Who was to doe it upon his allegiance Nor could the Lord be better'd ought thereby Psal 16 2. For nought can adde unto his Soveraignty No Power can make him greater than he is Psa 145.3 No Ioy can helpe to perfect up his blisse No Iustice make him just by betterment Psal 50.11 No Knowledge adde to his experiment With one sole act he viewes all things that be Through his essentiall Conspicuitie Psal 94.11 And knowes the very secret thoughts of All By uncreated Power Personall Gods power is himselfe Prov. 8.15 He is the sole perfection of all things He maketh Lords inaugurateth Kings He pluckes them downe he reares them up againe For by his pow'r all Kings doe live and reigne Zanchy upon the Attribute Lord. Psal 50 12 Psal 145 3 Isay 40 12 Psal 147 9 He is the true and compleate Lord alone That helpeth All yet stands in need of None If he be hungry who shall give him meat For the whole world is his he is so great He measures Heav'n and Earth as with a Span He feedes the Beast and giveth food to Man He heares the little Ravens when they cry Iob 39 3 Psa 147.9 And gives them meat to to their voracity He with a word did Earth and Heavens make Psal 33 6 And he becomes a Begger for our sake He begs a loyall and a faithfull Heart Pro. 23 2â— Deut 10.12 He sued to Man and Man would not impart His bound obedience to his Maker great His soveraigne Lord of prime and Supreme-seate VVhat could the Lord in favour more have done Than have required duty of a Sonne VVhat could a Sonne in due have chosen rather Than true obedience to so good a Father Luk. 20.25 Who did exact obedience as his due To have confirm'd his Faith and blest him too Gen. 2.17 Who did in mercy warne him of his fall That he might shunne the punishment withall But see the nature of Ingratefulnes Adam forgot the God of Righteousnes He would be elevated through Ambition Rom 12 13. He would be like the Highest in Condition He would be wise above Capacity He would be equall to the Deity Presum'd to gaine this knowledge by that Fruite But through his folly was made destitute It was no petty Sinne he did commit The greatnesse of his sinne No trifling Apple which he sought to get Although Pope Iulius third of that same name Did prize his Peacocks losse above the same His Sinne was most exceeding insolent Against the mighty Lord omnipotent Psal 145.3 He that is great without all Quantity He that is good without all Quality 1 Tim 1 17. Psal 90 2. Isay 66.1 Ier 23 24. He that is everlasting without Age He that in Heaven hath his heritage Who with his Essence Pow'r and Saving-grace Fills Heaven and Earth and is in Every-place This same is he which Adam disobey'd Rejecting Iacobs God to be his ayde All through the fond perswasion of his Wife And so I come unto the Tree of life THe Tree of life had properly the name From the true Vertue which was in the same The Fruite thereof retein'd this property To keep the body from mortality August de Civ Dei l 14. c. 26. In such a state and perpetuity As should have banisht all infirmity As Hunger Thirst olde Age and Feeblenesse Sorrow and Sicknesse Death and Wretchednesse And when that Adam had continued there In all the blisse and jollities that were In a full space of time contented then He should have gone not dyed as other men Like Enoch Gent 5.24 It was as a Sacrament of life to man But in his beauteous Strength and Happinesse Have beene translated to Gods blessednesse It likewise was a Signe of Life to Man That he might duly contemplate thereon And so obeying the commandement Might endlesse live without all punishment It was a Type of Christ the Sonne of God Rev 22 2. Pro 3 13 Ioh 6 33. Who should be borne to feele his Fathers rod And so give life to Mans posterity Who lost the same by Adams misery Thus stood these Trees in midst of Paradice Gen 2 9. When Adam listen'd unto Gods advice Thus Adam was in his Magnificence Gen 1 26 Long of his Makers great Benevolence Thus was he in Dominion over all Psal 8.5 6 In State and Power most Majesticall Thus was he seated thus did he command All things that were either in Sea or Land The Ayre was pure unblemisht to his eye The Sunne surpassed in his radiancy The Ground was fruitfull without helpe or labour And all the Hearbs had a most pleasant savour His Body was so comely and so faire As if it had beene made of purest aire His Lookes were heavenly and his Thoughts divine And all his Parts to goodnesse did incline His Second-selfe had all things that he had Gen 2.23 And in this Sympathy was Adam glad He cal'd her Woman and in that fit name He shew'd her Being and from whence she came â—bid v. 25 They both were naked and were not ashamed Their perfect comelines in Both unblamed Gen 3.7 They had no clothes to cover nakednesse Aug Civit. Dei l. 14. â—26 Till Sinne brought Shame to hide
had or once lost by thy hate This same is he that had restor'd our losse Whose Heele was bruised once upon the Crosse When as his Body there was crucifi'd â—nd by that death unjustly vilifi'd Whose Heele is bruised in his Members still When by oppression thou dost worke them ill â—ut he it is that will defend the just Psal 7.9 â—nd choke thee with the Wicked as with Dust. And thou O Satan Gen 3.5 who didst thus beguile â—ur Father Adam onely with a Wile â—rt in like manner by our Saviour tooke â—nd like a Fish ensnared with a Hooke Simile â—hrists-Person was the Sea his Crosse the Angle â—hereon so greedy thou thy selfe didst tangle â—nd thoughts in making of our Saviour dye â—o have prevail'd and got the Victory But thine owne Stratagem hath wrought thy woe And Christ hath giv'n thee thy just overthrow Thou on the baite of his Humanity Wast finely caught by his Divinity Col 2.15 Which like a Hooke doth hold thee now in awe Delivering all his Saints from out thy lawe Making his Presence fearfull in the Grave Psa 68.18 Leading Captivity a Captive Slave And having pacifi'd his Fathers wrath As he to Adam plighted in his troth He now performes it making His to tread Without all feare upon thy broken Head And having thus the Bridle in his hands He cuts thy pow'r quite off as Hee commands He makes Thee subject unto his controule Iob 2.6 And bids thee hurt the Body not the Soule A holy Iob thou overcome canst not No nor in Sodome hurt a righteous Lot Dan. 6.22 A faithful Daniel thou couldst not devoure Though to the den thou brought'st him by thy poweâ— 1 King 22 35. Seduced Achabs heart thou mightst not move Till thou hadst got some warrant from above Exod 7.11 And Egypts Rodde inverted to a Snake By thee was done for wicked Pharohs sake Mat 8 30. Thou could'st not enter in the Heard of Swine Vntill that Christ by leave had made them thine Thou canst not take from faulty Man a haire If God be willing that thou should'st forbeare Iob 1.12 Thou maist not hurt a Beast much lesse a Man Without permission from the Lord that can Psal 11 5. He by his Goodnesse in his Wisedome tryes The Faith of Men by their Calamities Thou by thy malice do'st some things apply To make them desp'rate in their misery God by Affliction seekes to better them Iob 36.4.1.11 â—hou by their Troubles to infetter them â—od by Adversities doth make them fit â—or heavenly Paradise where th' Angels sit â—hou by thy Sinne their heavenly Ioy would quell â—nd make them as Thy selfe a Brand of Hell â—or this thou art accurst despis'd and hated Gen 3 14. â—f all the Creatures whom the Lord created For this the Angels are thy enemies The holy Saints of God doe thee despise â—he Martyrs are the Duells for to fight â—he Lords owne battells in their Saviours right Acts 7 â—9 〈◊〉 holy Stephen stoned is to death 〈◊〉 blessed Iames expireth next his breath 〈◊〉 pious Peter crucifi'd and dead â—nd under Nero Paul must lose his head 〈◊〉 heavenly Marke is tug'd into the fire â—nd stones must good Matthias life expire 〈◊〉 blessed Andrew must partake the Crosse â—nd Philips death like His makes up the losse Converting Matthew preaching without feare â—as for King Hercan murder'd with a speare â—â—me had their bowells from their bodies stript â—â—me were with Piersers pier'st with wyres whipt â—ome had their tender skinnes with Rasors flead â—nd some tormented were with boyling Lead â—ne on a Gridiron broyles without lament â—nother by a roaring Lyon rent 〈◊〉 third is cast unto a raving Beare â—ut what men would destroy wilde Beasts will spare 〈◊〉 young stout Martyr they refuse to hurt â—hough he were weaponlesse and in his shirt â—nd good Blandina they forbeare to wrong â—hough on a Gibit she did hang so long Dan 3 25 The Fire will lose his operation quite And doe no harme even in the Tyrants sight And boyling Oyle doe what Domitian can Will not so much as hurt or blemish Iohn Such power hath God in his ability Theodorus the Martyr did confesse it To shield his Martyrs from thy tyranny Making those torments which they did sustaine To be a Pleasure to them not a Paine This he can doe who all things doth uphold Making his Martyrs willing strong and bolde Gen. 3.15 Thus are his Saints incourag'd to the warre To glut thy malice and maintaine the Iarre VVhich must by Gods decree continue sure Rev. 13.7 Till our Corruption can no more indure Meane while unto thy tortures Saints submit Thou dost them hurt yet but their heeles dost hit That is their Outward part Soules maist not touch For God doth keepe them and affects them much But They by Prayers and a Life well led Shall still dissolve thy Pow'r breake bruise thy Heaâ— Câ—rys hom in Gen. 17. GOD having thus in Iustice plagu'd the Serpenâ— Doth now proceed unto the other Agent And finding that the Woman did concur In Sinne with him and Adam too with her God will not let them goe unpunished Though by a Divell they were vanquished And now for all their fine Callidity Their fond excuses in Absurdity Gen 3.12 13 To hide their Fault and lay it on another Thinking their Guilt the better thus to smother Numb 32 23. God findes it out and layes it to their eyes As Physicke to a sicke-mans Maladies And mingling Mercy with Severity Note this And likewise with his Iustice Clemency â—e doth but give them temporall Punishment â—hat they might feele a Fathers Chastisement â—â—d being almost loth to punish them â—e makes a stand first to admonish them â—nd after by degrees takes fit occasion â—o punish and to give them Consolation â—he while he leades them to the Den of Sadnes â—non he brings them to the House of Gladnes One while he curses and againe he blesses Gen. 3.14 And in a manner thus his love expresses It pittieth me to see you thus distressed Ezek. 16.6 Isay 43 25 Hosea 13.14 Dan. 9 26 Ier. 23.5 6 Isay 7.14 Idib 9.6 1 Cor. 15.49 Ezek 36 25. Isay 1.18 Eph. 4.22 Chrys l. 1. de ProvideÌ„â— Gen. 3 16. Luther on Gen 3. Bernar hom on Gen. 3. Gen. 1.28 â—t grieves my heart and you shall be redressed 〈◊〉 will redeeme you you shall live againe My onely Sonne shall for your sakes be slaine â—â—hovah shall Himselfe your Nature take And so restore you for my Promise sake â—nely believe feare not in any case â—hough you by Sinne have weakened much my grace â—et I againe your Nature will renue Although my Image be decaid in you Meane-while thou Woman shalt for thy offence Receive this Burthen for thy recompence â—hou shalt in Sorrow by Conceptions beare â—hildren on Children to increase thy Care â—hou shouldst not so in thy first
State have bin â—ut see what thou hast gained by thy Sin â—ortures in Body in but bearing One â—f barren hated because thou hast None â—n the beginning fruitfull now againe â—ull of Conceptions but with pinching Paine â—hy VVill shall to thy Husbands subject be Gen. 1.28 Col 3 18 Before 't was better bitter now to thee For since thou couldst not rule learne to obey Chrys hâ—m in Gen 17. And governe now his Children lest they stray Prov. 5.18 19. GOD having thus compos'd his Malediction Sets forth to married men next this prescription Vse Not in their wraths to be so much addicted Psa 69 26 Rom 12.16 17 As to adde sorrow where he hath afflicted Bidding them beare with their Infirmities Wisely avoiding all Enormities 1 Pet 3 7. Honouring them as the weaker Vessells still And not to tyrannize where Love should will Eph. 5.28 33 Governe them as the Soule the Body would If it were not corrupted from the mould Comforting them in their extremities As feeling Members of their miseries Not to despise them though they doe offend But mildly with their humours to contend Eph. 4 32 29. Not to revile them with their words obscene Which being most ungodly is uncleane 1 Pet. 3 7 Not to forsake them in their greatest neede But to uphold them as they ought indeed Not for to waste their goods in ill expense VVhich being got with care is lost with sense Note this And so to bring them unto beggery VVho never thought to feele such penury Adding more sortowes to their vitall parts Than they had comforts to revive their hearts Gen. 3 28 Sorrowes they have enough and too too many In being subject to the lust of any Sorrow and torture in their bringing forth Deut. 28.56 57 Embryons Abortives Dead-ones of no worth Sorrowes with paines Conceptions full of mourninâ— In bringing forth a Childe that 's dead ere morning Conceptions full of sorrow sorrowes paine In bringing forth a Childe to worke their baine Sorrowing in cares and carefull sorrowing To bring their children up by tutering Yet though thus grievous their Conceptions be The Amazons because they would not be troubled with Childe-bearing did sequester themselves froÌ„ men Chrys hom in Gen. 17. They will not all be Amazon'd to thee Nor will they cast away to Man Subjection But mildely beare it as the Lords correction Though it be painfull yet they doe enure it Though they be weakly yet they doe indure it Desire of children stimulates their Nature And they would beare it were the paine much greater No sooner bring they forth one Son begotten But former paine and pining is forgotten Sorrowing in sorrow sorrowfull she lyes And pines with griefe when as her children dyes Griefe she to Man a legacie bequeath's To use for her when she no longer breath 's Why then should we unto their sorrowes adde When being sorrowfull they make us sadde A sympathy of sorrow Or why should we unkindly use them thus When they such Torments feele for helping us â—oy is a Signe of life unto their eye Griefe is the picture of Mortality â—oy makes them frolicke both in day and night Griefe is the Thiefe that robs them of delight â—oy makes Vs happy in their company And griefe doth part our sweet Society â—oy makes them smile feeling our firme affection Griefe makes them sigh and addes to their affliction â—oy makes them weepe and weeping feeles no smart But griefe for want of joy doth kill their heart Our Father Adam was not of our minde Gen 2.24 He was not as his Children so unkinde He would not adde one jot unto her griefe Thou in suggesting him she were the chiefe He gave her cordiall comfort ' gainst her grieving And call'd her Hevah Mother of the living Believing God That from her Seede should come 1 Ioh 2.2 1 Cor 15 55 56 57. The good Messiah to be their Ransome Who should give Life unto the world anew And conquer Sinne and Death that them did rue And shall not Adams sonnes him imitate Gen 9 22 But like ungodly Ham degenerate Shall we adde sorrowes to their miseries That give us Life even in our Progenies Did Adam so or did the Lord appoint it No inconsiderate Man God never meant it Col 3 19 Eccâ—es 9 9 He rather of the same doth give thee warning And sends thee to the Scriptures for thy learning And as for Adam he did love his Wife He would not grieve her cause she brought him Life Let us with Adam then maintaine this Love Eph 5 25 Gen. 23 2 â—eâ— 24.67 Having this order from the Lord above Let us with Abraham our Sara's cherish With Isack our Rebecka's kindly nourish Let us stil helpe them in what e're we can And let the Woman be a Helpe to Man Let her I say now strive for her offence To make Amends by her Obedience And having overthrowne our happinesse 1 Tim 3 â—1 Prov. 5 19 Let her support us by her Faithfulnesse Let her no love no care no goodwill want 'Twixt them the Seedes of Grace and Peace to plant And he that joyeth in beholding them Will crowne their peace in his Ierusalem Gen. 3. GOD having laid on Eve this punishment And giuen to Man a heavenly document Proceedes to Adam next in punishing Who was the last of them in transgressing And that he might behold apparantly How much he had incenst his Majesty And wrong'd the innocent and harmlesse creatures â—y the depraving of their gentle natures God will in them first punish Adams fall â—hat he in them might feele his curse withall And though no curse upon his parson past Gen 3 1â— As for the Fact was on the Serpent cast With Such like words as these Be thou accurst â—s to the Serpent he did speake at first Yet on his Goods the curse had its extent As by the sequell is most evident He makes the Earth copartner in correction â—ambr de Parad. c. 15 Which was no Actour in the Mans defection â—o made the burden on his shoulders lie â—ho did subdue it unto vanity Rom 8.20 O then my tongue extoll thy Makers praise A meditation Ps 145 17 â—or he is just and holy in his wayes â—o just and holy that his Soule doth hate â—he shew of Evill which doth vitiate 1 Thes 3.22 Iude 7.23 Gen 6 13 2 Pet. 3 7 Rom 8 2â— â—e hates the Garment spotted with the flesh â—e hates the Earth for Adams sinne afresh â—nd hath decreed with unrevoked doome â—hat fire shall purge but not the same consume 〈◊〉 it this crime of Adam was committed 〈◊〉 shall not then be spared or remitted â—or Adams sinne for his transgressions sake â—he Lord will this great alteration make Dissolve the Earth these goodly Heavens faire 2 Pet 3 â—3 â—issolve say I Nay rather will repaire â—heir former State Rom â— â— That never there may
for to asswage A long-felt-paine by tedious Pilgrimage Not that by Death thou canst yet satisfie My yrefull Wrath or just Indignitie But thou by Death shalt finde a passage cleere To that Beatitude ungained here When this same Trunke of thine shall turne to Clay The Martyrs passion day was called of old Natalitium salutis Gen 3.15 Bid joyfull welcome to thy New-birth-day For Death shall be the Bridge for to transport Thy spotlesse Soule to my celestiall Court Then Courage Adam be not thou dismaid Wrestle with Sinne and Death be not afraid 'T is I will helpe thee in thy greatest Neede And raise a Saviour to thee from thy Seede Now thou art naked loe take here these Skinnes Cloath thee with them live to lament thy sinnes Phil. 3.9 Rom 13 14 1 Cor. 1.30 Lay holde on Christ to come by Faithfulnesse Who is thy Garment and thy Righteousnesse He shall defend thee from the parching Heat Of sinnes Contagion be it ne're so great And being cloathed with his Innocence Thou maist behold my Face with confidence Now looke into Thy selfe and see thy Fault Take heed thou do'st not after this revolt Ending his speech The Lord derides him thus â—ehold the man 's become as one of us Gen 3 2â— Which is as much as if the Lord had said â—ee what an alteration Man hath made Beholde what unto him doth now betide Chrys hom 18. in Gen. All through his Disobedience and his Pride And let his whole Posterity take heede How they reject my word by Adams deede GOD having cloath'd his Carkasse with a Skin Irena l. 3. c. 37. Armed his minde with hatred of his Sin Humbled his Soule with sorrow for his Vice Doth next exclude him out of Paradice And that he might not backe againe returne To eate the Fruite that he would have him shunne And live for ever as the word implies God sets the Cherubims before his eyes Gen 3.24 With them a Blade or Sword appearing rife To barre his passage to the Tree of Life That now beholding with perspicuous eye Tertul. in Marci l. 2. His former State past all recovery And he unable to redeeme the Losse Might now submit himself to beare the crosse And by his Faith upon that Life relie Iesus Christ eâ—tternall with the Father Which was with God from all Eternity Nay which was God and did assume our State That he might Man againe new renovate Whom God before all Ages did decree To be prefigur'd typed in this Tree Whom he in Wisdome did before provide To helpe him when this Tree was laid aside Now takes the Tree of Life from Adams sight Because he knew not how to use it right God did it both in Iustice and in Favour Chrys hoâ— on Gen. 1 That Man might thirst hunger for his Saviour Foreseeing in his divine providence His confidence in Christ. Epiphan â—ares 64 That it would further Adams confidence When he should be removed from that Tree Whereon his mind might run by Fantasie Yet had no power to give any Life Either to Him his Children or his Wife God did not feare that Man should live for ever When from the Tree of Life he did him sever But therefore he debarr'd him of the Tree Because he did abuse his Liberty Gen 2.17 One onely tree the Lord would have him spare And that same one the Man would not forbeare Therefore the Lord in his displeasure great Chrys Ib. Debarres him of that One which he might eat He had procured Death by tasting One Ieremy â—anch Beda â—amascen â—piph haeâ—â—s 64. â—hat is â—hen hee â—â—gan to â—â—te the â—â—â—bidden â—â—ite as â—â—th that â—â—ther â—â—â—l 90.4 Pet. 3 8 And might have liv'd in letting it alone Now having sinn'd the other will not serve Which was ordain'd before Life to preserve And had he eaten tree and fruit withall He should have still continu'd caducall For in That Instant he began to die Though for a while he liv'd in Misery Yet was his Life but a prolonged death Which soone did vanish from him with his breath That Adam did not die immediatly Behold the Lords unequall'd Clemency To whom a thousand yeares is but a day Respecting his Eternity for aye Yet he confounds not Times rotundity But counts each day in perfect mensity â—â—â—l 147 4 Who can the Number of the Starres declare But he that made them in particular Or who can tell the drops of raine that fall 〈◊〉 37 11 But he whose Influence giveth Sap to all The Fowles of Heaven Haires upon our head Mat. 10 30. To us unnumber'd he hath numbered Numbers which unto us are infinite Compar'd to God are found but definite Isay 40 17 Gen. 5 5 Say Adam liv'd nine hundred thirty yeares Yet breath'd he not a Day as it appeares A thousand yeares did his olde age surmount And this is but a Day in Gods account Psal 90.4 No Creature ever liv'd this Day compleat Hee lived 969. Gen. 5 27 The neerest was Methusalah the great Yet since his time our age doth so decay That scant we live One-hower of this day THe life of Man is as a Spiders Webbe Note Or like a Sea decaying in his Ebbe Or like unto a little Sparke of Fire Which in a minute doth it selfe expire Man is a temporary Loane of life A debt of Death a Creature full of Strife An Inne a Receptacle soyled Cell Chrys in his tract upon the 7 verse of the 39 Psalme Wherein his Passions for a time doe dwell An abject object of dire misery A very Habit of Infirmity A Subject whereon Griefe predominates An empty Caske which Sinne contaminates A tottering Reede which easily is broke A scatter'd Cloud a transitory Smoke To day in health amongst his Bags of gold To morrow dead most ghastly to behold To day in 's study casting up his Summes To morrow he is cast unto the wormes To day with his Associates making cheere To morrow borne by them upon a Beere To day in glory tended on in state To morrow left without associate To day attired in a purple Robe To morrow by mischance as poore as Iob To day in honour full of Majesty To morrow thrust from all his dignity Adam as yesterday in Eden plac't Gen. 3.24 Was by the Cherubims expulst in hast Herom tradit Hebr. in Gen. MAny there are that by the Cherubims And firy Sword shooke by the Seraphins Doe understand nought else but Phebus heat In that same space wherein his power is great They understand it for the torrid Zone Pointing upon the Indian-Horizone Others doe take it for materiall-Fire Which should environ Paradise entire And as a Wall incircling it about With such like horrour for to keep him out Aquinas Kupertus Lyra. Some take it for the fire of Purgatory And stand on their opinion peremptory But these and all the rest the text confutes And
calls them Cherubims to end disputes Others with the text in this agree And call them Angels as indeed they be But going forward without wit or sense They drown'd their judgement by this inference Saying these Cherubs did not watch and ward â—orer tom 1. l. 6. cap. Onely from Man the Tree of Life to guard But likewise for to keepe the Divell backe Lest he should take it when as Man did lacke And having life which that Tree did afford Should proffer it to Man to be ador'd A foolish and ridiculous conceit Of which the superstitious Scholemen treat Quest on Gen. 40. Theodoret a Father did surmise Them onely Apparitions in the skies But from him all the Fathers disagreed Maintaining them for Cherubims indeed Which there continued as God thought good Till Adams death or after till the Flood Epiph. hares 64. Then ceasing left some little glimpse behind That we the place of Paradice might find And by the Fiery-blade they understand A two-edg'd Sword put in the Cherubs hand Such a flame iâ— to be seen in Babyloâ— Plin l. 2. 〈◊〉 106. supposed to bee the place of Paradise Numb â—â— 1 Chro 2â— 16. Which blazing as a Comet to the eye Made Adam to desist from comming nigh And usually the Cherubs did appeare With a two-edged Sword producing feare 'T was Such a one met Balaam in the way And made his Asse to speake and him to stay 'T was Such a one King David did beholde After the Plague when he the people tolde And Such a one as ordered slew outright All the first-borne in Egypt in one night Such did appeare to holy-men with wings Exod. 12 29. Esay 6.6 Exo. 25 1â— Bearing the mandates of the King of Kings Such God by his appointment out did marke To have their Figures placed in the Arke Such onely doe delight in Gods aspect And doe rejoyce to further his elect One of them flies with more than winged speed To helpe good Hezekiah in his need 2 Kings 1â— 39. And of Senach'ribs Host destroyed then One hundred foure score and five thousand men Another comforts Hagar in her flight Gen. 21 17 Tob 11 7 Gen. 19 16 And one restores Tobias to his sight Two Both at once assisted righteous Lot When out of Sodome he in safety got A multitude of Angels fills the Clouds And makes the Aire shrill with beatitudes While all the Creatures are restor'd to favour Angels to Man Man to his God and Saviour What glorious exultations doe they vent Luke 15 7 If One ungodly Sinner but repent How doe they guard our Persons and our State From the devouring mouth of Chance and Fate If we be sicke they comfort us in love With the celestiall Paradise above If we be troubled with adversity Psa 91.11 12. They cheere us up to beare it patiently Waking through Gods permission they doe save When danger brings us almost to the grave Sleeping they doe protect us from that foe Which would both soule and body overthrow If dead unseene full solemnly they come Luk 16 22 Bearing our soules to Abrahams bosome The wicked'st person breathing on the earth Hath One attending on him from his birth Guarding his body from that accident To which through Sinning it is incident Mat. 18 10 1 Cor. 15 52. Mat 24 31 Mar 13 27 1 Thes 4 16. The righteous person he hath two or three According as his danger seemes to be Millions of Angels shall attend the Iust At the last day to bring them from the dust When that all-sounding Trumpet shall be blowne To summon all the World to Heav'ns high throne Then they that sleepe in Earth in costly tombes Inclosed safe as in their mothers wombes Opprest with weight of many Marble Stones And overcloy'd with skulls and dead mens Bones Shall cast them off I off as things too light And all appeare before their Makers sight Rev 20 13 The Sea shall likewise regive up her dead Which her vast Ocean once devoured And all againe shall the same shape assume Note Which God and Nature gave them in the Wombe Onely this shall accrue the Property They must be changed in the Quality That which was sowne a carnall must arise A spirituall body without fallacies 1 Cor. 15.44 Ibid v. 43 Acts â— 1â— Luk 21 27 1 Thes 4.15 16 17 That which was sowne in Weaknesse in that hower Must with a Word be raised up in Power Then shall our best beloved Saviour come To judge the world in this great day of Doome Met by the last surviving Saints that are With shoutes and sounding clamours in the ayre Whil'st all the world lyes frying in a Flame And hath no water for to quench the same Whil'st wicked Soules shall gnash their teeth and grin Luk 13 18 With howling noyse affrighted with their Sinne. Cursing the day that brought them to this lucke Cursing the Pappes that first did give them sucke Cursing the first occasion of their Fall Cursing Themselves and cursing God and All Rev 16 11 Rev. 6 16 Wishing with all their hearts that mountaines might Defend them from this great Avengers sight Who then as Scripture perfectly denotes â—hall separate these barren Carrion Goates Matth. 25 32 From fruitfuil Sheepe whose vertue did afford â—lenty to Man and Goodnesse to the Lord. Who gave him Drink to drink when he was thirsty Chrys on this same text Mar 25 32. Zenchy Who gave him Meat to eat when he was hungry Who gave him Clothes in his necessity â—ho shew'd their Faith by perfect Charity â—n distributing Almes unto the poore â—n taking Orphanes straying by the doore Esay 58 â— Ezek 18 â— â—n helping Widdowes in their great distresse 〈◊〉 pleading gratis for the Fatherlesse Mat. 25 For this they shall possesse their Masters joy Which passeth all the slights of mans annoy Mal. 4 3 For this their Foes shall all be trampled downe And they receive an everlasting Crowne Rev 14 11 For want of this the Wicked are in Hell And with the Divells lastingly must dwell Where they receive infinite penalties For their unsatiate sinne and cruelties Bernard Note Not till a Wren may drinke the Ocean dry For then they might expect recovery But this word ever cuts off all reliefe And makes it prove an everlasting griefe A griefe though certaine yet inutterable A griefe to Mortalls most insufferable Luk 16 26 A griefe of griefes surpassing all their paine To be debarr'd of comming forth againe Parsons in his resolution A griefe to thinke how happy they had bin If they had not committed Such a Sin A griefe to see those persons Angeliz'd O're whom so often they once tyranniz'd A griefe unable of them to be borne Psa 7 13 Isay 26 10 When God and Angels laugh at them with scorne A greater griefe excluded from His Face To be included in so vile a Place Mat 8 12 Rev
to make him way But She good Soule could not obtaine this favour For none she had and yet she would not stay Such Faith as this will suffer no delay She came her selfe and He did Others send Mat 15 22 Christ her deni'd she forc't him in the end He for a Servant whom he dearely lov'd â—uk 7.4 7 Mat. 15 22 Made sute to Christ and did but once request She for a Daughter was extremely mov'd Because a Spirit had her Childe possest This Saint was weary of so foule a Guest O then if many Divells us invade Let 's flee to Christ as she did here for aide And let not us misdoubt the premisses Gods helping Grace is not to be restrain'd If we lay holde upon the Promises What is it but by Christ shall be obtain'd The Woman askt the good-Centurion gain'd His sute was granted and had no denyall But hers was not obtain'd without her tryall He e're our Saviour came into his sight â—uk 7 6 7 Sent backe to stay him by his Faiths Confession Her Faith makes to him in as swift a flight â—at 15.22 And plyes him with her outcryes for Compassion He suff'red in her yet did shew no passion â—â—id v. 23 Seeming as deafe no hearing to afford Seeming as dumb and would not speake a word Good harmelesse Soule how was her Heart deceiv'd Expecting comfort onely from his sight Now vieweth God the Word of speech bereav'd A gracious God a Convert for to slight A faithfull Woman and a Canaanite 〈◊〉 I One of the chosen Vessells of his Choyce Who felt him inward speake yet heard no Voice But when he spake for to deny her helpe Mat. 15 2â— To be her Saviour yet not sent for Her Reputing her no better than a Whelpe Verse 26. And so no Grace upon her to confer The God of Grace to be no Comforter Oh this might well have driv'n her to despaire And yet all this not makes her to forbeare But as an Eagle molts away her Feathers Simile Psal 103 5 And breakes her olde Bill to renew her strength So by Denyalls she more force regathers Vntill her Faith had conquered him at length And out of cinders burst to such a flame That now the World is blazed with the same MEDITATION 1. IS Faith of force to bring me to my Saviour To make him mine to keepe me in his favour To obtaine mercy and to cleanse my Heart Vniting me to Him never to part Lord give me Faith let me have no deniall Then when thou wilt Lord put me to my Tryall MEDITATION 2. LOrd when thou wilt then let thy Spirit come Speake then unto my Soule when thou seem'st dombe Let me then heare the Presence of thy Voice When thou seem'st Deafe to make my heart rejoyce Then like This Woman shall my faith have strength And through thy Mercy overcome at length MEDITATION 3. ARe Rich and Poore great Emperours and Kings Devoid of Christ counted but brutish things As whelps dogs foxes vipers swine let mee Sweet Iesus have my Part and Name in thee So when thy glorious Comming shall appeare Thy Saints shall sing when Dogs shall howle for feare FINIS Dedicated To all the Captaines Lieutenants Ensignes and Serjeants of the Trayned Bands of London Middlesex Bristo Exeter Norwich and Kent OF whom should Homer or the Muses sing If not of Souldiers or the Souldier King Whose actions are Heroike and whose Armes Protects as King the meanest man from harmes Oh did his Majesty behold you all Each in your Armes acting the Generall He would surmise Epaminondas by Or you transform'd to his Imagery Wish all his subjects were but â—uch as you Having his wish tell you what he would doe â—he Emâ—erour Aâ—rian made â—n this Iâ—â—nd a wal â—â—o miles â—ong Gods Arâ—y divided â—nto three â—arts â—antguard â—iddleâ—ard Rearâ—ard The Kings strength in his subjects doth consist And such an Army who can well resist He needs no Adr'an wall to guard his Land Your hearts defend his heart for you doth stand You are part of his Army of his host You are of Gods owne Army therefore boast Gods mighty Army hath three severall parts Subsisting of these Noble valiant hearts As Adam Noah Abraham and Iob To make the Front in that Celestiall Globe With all the Prophets Peter Iames and Iohn The Saints and holy Martyrs dead and gone The Middleward subsists of them that die And of our selves waiting mortality The Reareward are those Saints which must survive To meet our Saviour in the clouds alive Now being Militant reflect your eye On Sampsons strength and on his Chivalrie See what our Israels Champion can afford And as he was be Champions for the Lord. Yours to imitate Edâ—â—â—d Câ—â—â—â— Strong Sampsons Birth his mighty strength His many conquests death at length Hid Manna of the History Revealed in th' Analogy HISTORY SAMPSON VVHat God doth promise he will sure perform In the full time When Israel as a worme Is trod upon Iudg. 13. then Manoahs Comforter Though barren beares them a Deliverer Now is their Bondage with the Philistins No whit so during as their lordly Sinnes Verse 1. Nor can their Sinnes oblitterate his Favour That gave his Sonne sent Sampson for a Saviour An Angel brings the tidings of his Birth Iudg. 13 â— Or else the God of Angels treads on Earth Shap'd as a Man in our Humanity Angel in Place God in Authority Sampson doth grow in Stature Strength and than The Spirit moves him in the Campe of Dan Tweene Zorah and Eshtaol Verse 25. Iudg 14. â— bids him arise And goe to Timnath for new Enterprise The Nazarite obeyeth Seekes a Wife Verse 1. A Lyon comes against him for his Life 5. He rents him as a Kid immediatly 6. There Sweetnesse findes in Her Disloyalty 9â— He slayeth thirty Philistins for spoyle 10. Destroyes their growing Corne upon the Soyle Iud g 15 Their standing Stocks the Vineyards by the same For which the Timnite with his House doth flame 6. But Sampson well repayes their cruelty And smites them Hip and Thigh abundantly Goes to Rocke Etam They invade the Land Versâ— 8.9 1â— Sampson is bound betrayed to their hand 14. He breaks the bands discomforts all their host 15. He slayes a thousand with a Bone doth bost 18. He thirsteth fainteth prayeth doth obtaine 19 And from the Bone Water doth flow amaine He drinketh of the Rocke for Christ was by The Substance will not let the Shadow dye Chap 16 2 Verse 2. He speeds to Gaza seeth Dalila Hazards his Life beareth the Gates away 17. He doteth she betrayes his Lockes are cut 20. His strength doth faile he to the Mill is put 21. His Eyes thrust out conducted to the Court 25. To be their laughin stocke the Vulgers sport 28 He prayeth to his God strength comes againe 30 He plucketh downe the