creation hee was to eate of the fruit of the creation for his nutrimentall sustentation so now of the fruits of this Garden also for the Lord God commanded the man saying Of every tree of the Garden thou mayest eate freely Gen. 1.29 Gen. 2.16 The negative rule was it by which hee was to improve his strength of body and mind to God by obedience namely the forbearing to eate of the tree of knowledge of good and evill but of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evill thou shalt not eate c. Gen. 2.17 And this rule led him to be both passively and actively obedient passively in two things First although in the perfection of the creation all things good for food was due to him by Gods allowance without restraint yet in this Garden or Plantation by this rule hee was to suffer this restraint namely to deny himselfe to eate of the fruit of this Tree of knowledge of good and evill upon paine of most dreadfull consequences for saith the Text In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt certainly die the â—â—â—ath Verse 17. Although in the perfection of the creation God rendred his sweete imbreathings very good and no evill yet in this Garden the obedience of these rules bound them to suffer the imbreathings of the assaults of Satan that evill one in point of triall (a) As did the second Adam Luk. 4.3 2.3.4 And here lay the life of their obedience for without this assault their triall had beene no triall to the improvement of their naturall perfections of righteousnesse and holinesse to Gods Covenant in point of good and evill And againe this negative rule led them to active obedience in two particulars first the fruits of this tree of good and evill being naturally good food it required of them a diligent observation of their naturall appetite lest it might dispose them to transgresse the rule of the Covenant This rule led them in stead of feeding their bodies with the fruit of this tree to feed their soules by beliefe of the signified knowledge of good equivalent to Angels in glory or with the signified knowledge of evill equivalently contrary in eternall misery So much for this point what Adams obedience in the Covenant was Lastly the intended end of Gods Covenant with Adam was of great consequence for it respected God all mankinde the World and the Divell for what if Satans lye to the woman pretended that there was no truth in Gods word for their death if they did transgresse saying yee shall not die at all and what if Satan did make God to them to be but a meere imposture as only pretending that Angelicall good but never intended it for to the woman in the Serpent he said God doth know that in the dâ—y that yee eate thereof your eyes shall be opened and yee shall be as Gods knowing good and evill He not denying a higher good intended in the Covenant but implying Gods command was the only thing that kept him from attayning it I say what of all this for if hee had in beliefe of Gods word abstayned from eating the fruit according to the rule of the Covenant then they had not only freed themselves from being murthered the world had not been destroyed Gods word had not been nullified Satan had not in the beliefe of his lyes bin magnified bâ—t on the contrary from their beliefe of truth working to God by love God over all by his word of truth had bin glorified in two respects 1 Because (b) So that Gods justâ—ce would have bin glorified to all eternity in the â—irst demonstrating his righteousnesse and goodnesse in the eternall felicity of all mankinde with Angells 2. righteously demonstâ—ating his wrath in the Apostate Angells oâ— Divells by Adams repeling their lies yet not but that justice precedeÌ„tly did in the right of Gods glory passe to immediate execution on those Apostat Angels and by their murthering of Adam Gods justice from thence did supâ—rabound upon them by Gods giving way to them to bruise the heele of Christ in the aggravation of their malice so thaâ—â—hey weâ—e not oâ—ly â—â—cluded Angels glory at the 〈◊〉 but shâ—ll dâ—â—w upon themselves the latâ—tude of Gods Attributes glorious in wisdom power and his iâ—efull justice to all eternity wheÌ„ God shall loose their chaines of darknesse by which they are reserved unto that day at the remembrance whereof they tremble by his Justice according to the Covenant the naturall perfections of the Creatures together with man in his pure Naturalls for wages to Adams worke should have received a quickning Spirit and man in the perfection of faith So travailing together towards their celestiall perfections 2. And Satans lyes by beliefe of Gods truth nullified and consequently Satan most justly condemned for a lyer and murtherer of mankinde the destroyer of all the works of God and adjudged for a most impudent blasphemer of God and all this would immediatly have followed upon Adams perfect repelling of Satans temptations For the Justice of the Covenant was expresse for immediate execution even the same day and minute for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die the death Gen. 2.17 Againe a second reason is drawn from the nature of the Covenant which was for good and evill therefore no middle Estate but good or evill immediatly even as upon Adams offence judgement passed upon all to condemnation So on the contrary if Adam had obeyed the Rule of the Covenant there would have bin produced a posterity through all Generations ascending successefully to the Elect Angells in Angelicall glory in perfect union in soule and body for the Couenant was for all mankinde alike in good But it may be objected mans body in its pure naturalls being but flesh and blood Object in an Elementary compound could neither ascend nor be able to inherit the spirituall Glory sutable to the nature of Angells so powerfully glorious therefore that Angelicall glory was not intended in the Covenant Although mans naturall body could not inhabit that Kingdome as St. Paul affirmes 1 Cor. 15.50 Answere yet that body naturall made a spirituall body is a powerfull body as St. Paul affirmes 1 Cor. 15.43 And therefore it could both ascend and inherit with Angells for if Adam had â—â—ept the negative Rule of the Covenant as is declared then as in the perfection of nature he was made a living Soule so in the justice of the Covenant God would have made him to his posteritie a quickening Spirit not only in the perfection of Faith living a spirituall life in his pure Naturalls but would also have quickened his naturall Elementary body with a spirituall Nature powerfull to ascend and inherit the glory of Angells successively to the last man that should live on the Farth but now in the second Adam onely is this twofold quickening Spirit found who only is the Resurrection and the life of man as St. Paul affirmes 1 Cor. 15.45 Object But it may be
enters not this rest and then with reference to this point saith God spake in a place of the seaventh day on this wise that God rested the seventh day from all his works The reason why Moses in the 2. of Gen. doth bring in all Gods works as made on the seventh day ver 2. is because all which was made perfect on the sixt day and lost by Adam was as it were made anew by Ch ists satisfactory righteousnesse imputed and so declared the seventh day morning to Adam by the Creations putting forward its first step towards perfection to which it travailes untill now and then saith hee there remaines a rest for the people of God meaning by Faith here and in glory hereafter Gen. 2.2 Heb. 4.3.9.19 And from this ground the number of seaven in holy Scriptures is a figure of perfection as in the seaventh of yeares namely the Jubiles and the seaventh yeares of the Lands rest and in the seventh months rest and this seventh daies rest c. and in Enoch the seventh from Adam by ascending into eternall perfection in Soule and Body joyntly together figuring out the Angelike glory intended to man in the * In the 12 Ch. and â—3 Object you may see this Covenant defended Observation Covenant by the worke of the first Adam but now given to the world in the righteousnesse of the second Adam imputed So much for the Proofe of the fift generall point namely that the second Adams first entrance into the worke of the first Adam put on the whole Creation travailing together with man believing truth to that perfection it lost in Adams fall Hence observe because the imputative damnation of Gods Covenant through Adams transgressions was fully removed and taken off by the second Adams satisfactory righteousnesse imputed as ours by Gods free guift upon all men to justification of life so as none of mankinde ever perished for that transgression as precedently is proved Then consequently all mankinde which in Infancy or childhood depart this world they ascend to eternall life in Heaven to Angells glory notwithstanding originall sinne which is in them for that running sore of originall sin in which they are conceiv'd and brought forth doth but fit them successively to receive the salve of salvation in Christ to their eternall felicity for if they had not bin conceived and borne in that seed of sinne and but a seed then they had bin in their production Divells in dispositions totally according to the justice of the Covenant and so capable of no good but evill only or else they must have bin by production conceiv'd and borne in their pure naturalls of holinesse and righteousnesse in an Estate of perfection according to the tendencie of the Covenant and then they had not bin capable of eternall life in Christ by salvation for the whole need not the Physitian but the sicke But because the Serpentine seed is derived to Infants in their conceptions and births and in them reduc'd but to a sâ—ed by grace in Christ because God put the foresaid principle of enmity betweene the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent therefore this running sore of originall sinne in them implicitly pleads for the salve of salvation in Gods free guift of Christs righteousnesse imputed to ascend by it to eternall felicity Therefore all mankinde departing this world in Infancy or Childhood ascend by death through him to eternall life Againe the passage of all Infants from the misery of this world by the sharpe separation of Soule and body is to them * Likewise so is the sharpe separation of Infants from their Mothers bowels in their birth so notwithstanding that sharpe travell the mother shall be saved if she continue in beliefe of the object of justification and in the inseparable companion of that beliefe namely inteâ—nall holinesse issuing it selfe into externall sanctification as is proved by the Apostle 1 Tim. 2.15 Therefore Circumcision precedently was as the dipping or washing in Baptisme now is viz. a witnesse that Gods Covenant in Christ reacheth Infants that cannot by Faith reach him wherefore they were and are received into the visible Church by cutting and washing theâ—eby witnessing that the grace of the Covenant gave to the whole nature of man in the promised seed immediatly upon the fall a meetly disposed nature in all to receive eternall life as saved creatures but man remisse passeth by this witnesse and the like mercies but so did not the Queene of Sheba although excluded from the residence of the like mercies from her Kingdome but an implicite tast by a figure of Adams imputed sower herbs of punishment for sinne to relish Gods sweet imputed mercies in Christ the Paschall Lamb to Gods praise in him by the salvation of them to all eternity therefore all mankinde dying in Infancy or childhood ascend through death to glory for ever Againe these sower hearbs by this Separation of Soule and body of all Infants which departed this world before Christ came by it they then were but a figure of him then to come as saith the Apostle Rom. 5. the 14 to tast not only of this Separation which is but a shaddow of death but a figure of him as he was an imputed sinner to tast of death for all men in the substance according to the justice of that Covenant and more therefore it being but a figure of him it was only a passage to them to eternall life by him Againe when God the second time renewed his promise of the Seed of the woman with Abraham to the universall mercy of the Apostate world as will afterwards appeare hee then instituted Circumcision namely to cut off the foremost skin from the member of generation of Infants implying his only mercy in the promised seed was it that cut from the Nature of mankinde the nature of Divells though not totally So fitting them to receive their Eternall felicity by Christ therefore they do enjoy it to all eternity Againe * But they which attribute so much to baptisme as that no baptisme no salvation it is bâ—t to assume the more seeminâ— suâ—e stitions sanctity to draw fâ—om the people the more respect to their aspired Antichâ—stian Priesthood also the Male Infant was precisely to be cut the eighth day after his birth this implicitly told their (a) So baptising of Infants now is an outward seale to the Church that although mans nature at once was totally d abolicall yet the reduction of it to a seed by Christ is the Principle of mans new birth Baptisme further implyes the spirit of Gods helpe to bring it to perfection in his owne way that is to the peâ—fection of parts in this woâ—ld and to perfection of degrees in the next parents that Gods mercifull infusion by putting the foresaid principle of enmity into the nature of all men was the originall principle of mans new birth as risen with Christ whose first step to glory was to
judged sinne to be vile and naught but also removed the darke veâ—le of Moses and those mâ—ltiplicity of Ordinances and operations through which our fraile nature câ—uld not with that clearenesse and neerenesse communicate with Christ to walke after the Spirit as now we may as 2 Cor 13.18 Rom 8.4.10 11. Thirdly the Rod that budded with Almonds of ripe perfection as inclosed in the Arke together with the Tables of the Law this implicitly Schoold this Spouse that the Spirit and life of the perfection of the Morall Law was conferred upon her by Gods gift of Christs righteousnesse imputed and that is onely freed her from the Law of sinne and of death Rom. 8 1 2 3 4. Fourthly the Morall Law as interminglingly closed in the Arke not only with the Rod but also with the pot of Manna as overshaddowed with the wings of the golden Cherubims wing touching wing This Schoold that Spouse by that figure that Christ was as resident with her on Earth to feed her by beliefe of truth with the bread of life as with Angels food Fiftly because in this glorious oracle of the Morall Law one precept commanded the seventh (b) The seventh day Sabboth or the keeping of a seventh day as from the Morall Law was extinguished when this mistery as included in this Arke was abolished and now only remaines the Lords eighth day to be kept yet not by any direct precept but from the Apostles by tradition in all ages and by consequence from the Apostles Doctrine therefore Princes who by Law confirme it to be kept holy to the Lord their fame shall remain through all Generations dayes rest This Schoold this Spouse elect of Christ in two particulars First that she had bin precedently forgetfull of this seventh daies glorious mistery and therefore in this precept was inserted a clause of remembrance Secondly because this Arke was named Gods mercy-seat or resting place this figuratively told them God rested onely on the perfection of Christs works for the perfection of all his workes which hee had created and made so to depend for perfection as Chap. 4. hereby leading his Spouse not to rest in the wroth of her owne righteousnesse as did Caine but to rest onely and alone for all perfection upon Christs as imputed from whence onely was conferred all her mercies Sixthly God made this Arke his Seat of mercy in which being wrapt up both the Tables and so entermingled and from thence by Moses hee spake to them this figuratively school'd this Spouse to two things first that on these two Tables as in the perfection of Christs workes did hang all the Law and Prophets that is all the Lawes prefigurations and the Propheticall significations secondly because from this glorious Oracle by Moses the Mediator in the Type God spake to this Spouse of Christ this implicitly told her that by her applying her selfe to this sacred Oracle that thence in Christs righteousnesse imputed God will so speake peace to her through all generations as to the Israel of God Exod. 25.20 21 22. Gal. 6.16 So much for the morall Law Fourthly the penall Law as cursing this elect Spouse in her negligent contempt of the sacred Oracle thus resident with her this implicitly told her that she must then speedily return to this righteousnesse imputed for justification for remission of Sinnes as to the brazen Serpent Hebr. 12.26 because this Law of Gods curse was as the flaming sword turning every way telling her that if shee did not here submit she must perish in the flames of Gods consuming * Legall terrors calls to man to turne to God either after faith or before I say to turne to Gods gift of Christ and his righteousnesse imputed for safety and sâ—lace from the horrouâ—s of Gods wrath and this o dinance of God is of use to his Church millitant to the worlds end for Gods wrathfull curse under the Gospel and the Law is one and the same but mo e severe under the Gospell then it was under the Law Heb. 10.29 yet not now so frequently demonstrated to sense as then it was the groâ—nd of it is this because then all the good of terrestriall Canaan was a type of the superâ—â—â—â—â—all grace and glory as it was morefully to be communicated under the Gospell unâ—aâ—â—ed wrath for ever for hee delivered his Covenant to Abraham in the promised seed saying I will blesse them that blesse thee and curse them that curse thee and renewes the same with Moses to be a penall Law whence saith the Apostle as many as are under the Law are under the curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things wâ—ich are written in the Booke of the Law to doe them Gal. 3.10 Deut. 28.45 All implying this that Gods procedings to her in Christ was without all respect of persons So also in the manner of the delivery of the Law to this elect Spouse for the morall Law being delivered in the negative so largely implicitly reveales her precedent sinne against the promise to which now the Law was added because of her transgression and so the Law revealed sinne or caused sinne to appeare Rom. 7.11.12 and Rom 5.13 The Apostles stiled the Law of Moses the ministration of death because the manner of the delivery of it was some signe of Gods displeasure and also as opposing it to the manner of the delivery of the Gospel which was in mildenesse and love so that it is but comparatively with some respects but not properly the administration of death but an ordinance of life by Christ it being the substance of the Gospel under a vaile as Hebr. 8. Againe the Law given to Moses the Mediatour in the Type in smoke darknesse thundrings lightnings the shrill sound of a Trumpet sounding louder and louder to the great amazement of them all and they not to touch the Mountaine upon paine of death all implicitly declaring this Spouses deserved punishment for her precedent transgressing of the Oracle of life and glory descending from Adam and renewed with Abraham and that she was therefore worthy to be cut off from Christ by the execution of the curse as she was now threatned in this dreadfull demonstration of it Yet as the Law revealed sinne and wrath or caused wrath here to appeare then Moses the Mediator in the type that is Christ in the truth obtained that this Law should be for life that is as leading unto him and not the administration of death as she had deserved Rom. 7.9.10 Gal. 3.19 So likewise although God esteemed this Nation Israel his elect Esay 45. and 4. yet if the Mediator in the type had not interceded for her God would have destroyed all excepting him and from him raised a great Nation unto Abraham according to his Covenant in the promised seed for saith God to Moses concerning them when he would have destroyed them I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and compassion on