that are bruised c. The vses may be First for consolation vnto all the godly and this comfort in their Mediatour and the new couenant in him may be the more distinctly formed in vs if we consider 1. The priuiledges and benefits wee reape by this new couenant 2. The properties of the couenant 3. The persons to whom it may belong For the first by meanes of the Mediatour in this new couenant we receiue many admirable prerogatiues and blessings as 1. The abrogation of the old couenant Heb. 8.13 In that hee saith a new Testament he hath abrogated the old now that which is disanulled and waxed old is ready to vanish away So as now we are not vnder the Law but vnder Grace Rom. 6.14 For sinne shall not haue dominion ouer you for ye are not vnder the Law but vnder grace c. 2. Communion of Saints from all parts of the world men of all Nations comming in vpon this new agreement Isaiah 49.6.11 And he said it is a small thing that thou shouldest be my seruant to raise vp the Tribes of Iacob and to restore the desolations of Israel I will also giue thee for a light of the Gentiles that thou maist bee my saluation vnto the ends of the world Matth. 8.11 But I say vnto you that many shall come from the East and West and shall sit downe with Abraham Isaack and Iacob in the Kingdome of heauen c. 3. Reconciliation with God and the pardon of all sins 2. Cor. 5.19 For God was in Christ and reconciled the world to himselfe not imputing their sinnes vnto them Ier. 31.33.34 But this shall bee the couenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those daies saith the Lord I will be their God and they shall be my people And I will forgiue their iniquitie and will remember their sins no more Heb. 9.15 And for this cause is he the Mediator of the new Testament that through death which was for the redemption of the transgressions that were in the former Testament c. The mediatour paying all our debts 4. A righteousnesse answerable to that of the Law wrought for vs and imputed to vs Rom. 8.4 That the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled in vs which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit 5. The inhabitation of the Spirit of God taking possession of vs vnto Gods vse for euer Isai. 59.21 And I will make this my couenant with them saith the Lord my Spirit that is vpon thee and my words which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seede saith the Lord euen from henceforth for euer 6. The Law of God put into our hearts from the least to the greatest Ier. 31.33 But this shall be the couenant that I wil make with the house of Israel After those daies saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts write it in their hearts c. 7. A couenant with all creatures who must be at peace with vs and seruiceable to vs Hosea 2.18.21.22 And in that day will I make a couenant for them with the wilde beasts and with the foules of the heauen and with that that creepeth vpon the earth and I will breake the bow and the sword and the battell out of the earth and I will make them to sleepe safely And in that day I will heare saith the Lord I will euen heare the heauens and they shall heare the earth And the earth shall heare the corne and the wine and the oile and they shall heare Israel 8. Gods sanctuary in the midst of vs and his presence with vs for euer Ezech. 37.26.27.28 Moreouer I will make a couenant with them of peace it shall be an euerlasting couenant with them and will set my sanctuarie amongst them for euermore My tabernacle also shall bee with them yea I will be their God and they shall be my people 9. The promise of an eternall inheritance Heb. 9.15 And for this cause is he the Mediatour of the new Testament that through death which was for the redemption of the transgressions that were in the former Testament they which were called might receiue the promise of eternall inheritance c. The second part of the consolation may be raised from the consideration of the properties of the couenant which are That it is free and God stands not vpon desert in vs Isai. 55.1.2.4 He euery one that thirsteth come yee to the waters and yee that haue no siluer come buy and eate come I say buy wine and milk without siluer and without mony Wherefore doe you lay out siluer and not for bread and your labour without being satisfied hearken diligently vnto me and eate that which is good and let your soule delight in fatnesse Behold I gaue him for a witnesse to the people for a Prince and a Master vnto the people c. That it is vnchangeable and eternall Isaiah 54.10 For the mountaines shall remoue and the hilles shall fall downe but my mercy shall not depart from thee neither shall the couenant of my peace fall away saith the Lord that hath compassion on thee And we may the rather be assured of this if we consider 1. The nature of God Mercy pleaseth him and he is so desirous of reconciliation that hee beseecheth men to be reconciled 2. Cor. 5.19.20 Hosea 2.19 2. The propitiation in Christ God hath proclaimed it from heauen that in him hee is well pleased and fully pacified Mat. 3.17 c. And Christ is giuen for a couenant of the people Isai. 49.8 3. That there is an act for it in the counsell of God from euerlasting 1. Cor. 2.7 4. That God hath sworne to keepe this couenant Heb. 6.18 and 7.19.20.21.22 Isai. 42.6.7 5. That it is confirmed by the death of the restator Heb. 9.16 Matth. 26.27 6. Because he euer liueth to make request for vs at the right hand of God and is able perfectly to saue those that come vnto him Heb. 7.25 13.8 7. Because the Law cannot disanull it Gal. 3.17 8. That we haue sacraments to confirme it and seale to it and if wee can bee perswaded that the Flood shall come no more when we see the Rainbow how much more should the glorious sacraments of the new Couenant settle vs in the assurance of the vnchangeablenesse of Gods good will towards vs 9. That the couenant is kept not only in the word which cannot be blotted but also wee haue the keeping of it in our owne hearts Rom. 10.4.5 10. That God is now long since knowne to the Church by the name of Iehouah which notes both his constancy and al sufficiencie Exod. 6.3 This is comfortable if we consider the persons that may be capable of the priuiledges of this new Couenant God stands not vpon desert Esay 55.1 the stranger and the Eunuches may be as well accepted here as the sonnes and daughters if their
For thou art great and dost wondrous things thou art God alone c. Loue him alone or aboue all He knoweth them that loue him and shew it by seruing him only Deut. 6.4.5 The Lord our God is Lord onely And thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with al thy soule and with al thy might c. Mark 12.29.30 as before It should repent vs that euer wee relied vpon any other but him learning hereafter for euer to relie vpon him in our desperatest extremities as these places shew Deut. 32.37.38.39 Isay 37.16 1. Sam 2.2.3 We should therefore keepe the vnity of the spirit in the bond of peace as is vrged Ephes. 4.3.6 c. We should therefore vse but one Mediator to him 1. Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediatour betweene God and Man Which is the Man Christ Iesus c. Lastly how happy are his people they are most sure to prosper and grow as from the consideration of this principle is shewed Isai. 44.6.7.8 with coherence Hetherto of the nature of God the workes of God follow His workes are either of Creation or Prouidence CHAP. V. Of the Creation Reuel 4.11 Thou art worthy O Lord to receiue glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy wils sake they are and haue been created THere are fiue principles concerning the Creation That the World had a beginning was not eternall Gen. 1.1 In the beginning God created the heauen and the earth c. Prou. 8.24 c. When there were no depths was I begotten when there were no fountaines abounding with water c. Ephes. 1.4 As hee hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world c. That this world and al things therein was made by God Acts 17.24 God that made the world and all things that are therein c. Iohn 1.3 All things were made by it and without it was made nothing that was made Gens 1.1 Psalm 33.6 By the word of the Lord were the heauens made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth Isaiah 40.28 Knowest thou not or hast thou not heard that the euerlasting God the Lord hath created the ends of the earth c. Colos. 1.16 For by him were all things created which are in heauen and which are in earth things visible and inuisible c. That all was made of nothing Rom. 4.17 Before God whom he beleeued who quickneth the dead and calleth those things which bee not as though they were Heb. 11.3 Through faith wee vnderstand that the world was ordained by the word of God so that the things which we see are not made of things which did appeare That God made all things by his word onely He spake and it was created He said let it bee and it was so Genes 1. Heb. 11.3 Psal. 33.6.9 all recited before That all things in their Creation were made good Gen. 1.31 and 2.1 And God saw all that hee had made and loe it was very good c. The vse may be For Information The glorie of the Lord shall endure for euer He shall reioyce in his workes Psalm 104.31 For Instruction and so the Scripture teacheth vs by the creation 1. To feare him and stand in awe of him euen all the inhabitants of the earth who are the work of his hands Psal. 33.6.7.8 2. To study the knowledge of these workes of his to remember them contemplate of them and praise his workmanship and admire his glory that doth great things and vnsearchable yea maruelous things without number c Iob 9.10.11 shall we not sing vnto the Lord all our life and praise our God while we liue c Psal. 104 33. seeing The heauens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth the worke of his hands Psal. 19.1 and the inuisible things of him that is his eternall power and God-head are seene by the creation of the World being considered in his workes c Rom. 1.20 Let vs remember that God gaue a Sabbath of purpose to remember the glory of God in the creation 3. To obserue the distinct glory of euery person admire that Sonne by whom God made the worlds Heb. 1.3 Col. 1.16 and that Spirit that sitting vpon that Chaos first hatched it Genes 1.2 4. To acknowledge Gods soueraigntie let him take whom he will away who can say what doest thou Iob 9.13 God will not withdraw his anger and the most mighty helpes stoope vnder him 5. Vpon all occasions and in all distresses to seeke vnto him for helpe assistance and succour Psalm 124.8 Psalm 134.3 yea beleeuing in him though we see no hope in respect of outward meanes Rom 4.17 Heb. 11.3 Isaiah 37.16 And as this is true of affliction and outward distresses so is it true of all spirituall distresses about the meanes or matter of holinesse for God himselfe vseth the word create in both to shew vs that it is lawfull for that reason to rest vpon him Isaiah 57.19 I create the fruit of the lips to be peace c. Psalm 51.10 Create in me a cleane heart c. so it is applied to good works Ephes. 1.10 and to our protection in generall Esay 4.4 and 5. To shew that if it were as difficult as to make heauen and earth at the first yet God will doe it 6. To teach vs compassion to the creatures we should loue the worke of his hands and not bee cruell to them or voide of pitie These principles also may serue for reproofe of wicked men For not fearing God and not trembling before him as Ierem. 5.22.23 Feare ye not me saith the Lord will ye not be afraid at my presence which haue placed the sand for the bounds of the sea by the spirituall decree a perpetuall that it cannot passe it c. For not regarding his works Isaiah 1.12 And the harpe and viol and timbrel and pipe and wine are in their feasts but they regard not the worke of the Lord neither consider the worke of his hands For hardning themselues in their sinnes notwithstanding Gods threatnings Iob 4.13 with vers 15.16.21 And lastly for consolation to all that put their trust in him Psal. 116.5.6 He can dispose of all since the earth is the Lords and all that is therein Oh what is man that God should bee mindefull of him and giue him such pre-eminence ouer the workes of his hands Psalme 8.4.5.6.7.8 Prouerbs 8.31 Thus of the Creation CHAP. VI. Of Gods Prouidence Rom. 11.36 For of him and through him and for him are all things To him be glory for euer Amen THe principles concerning Gods prouidence are That God still knowes and takes continual notice of all things Prou. 15.3 The eies of the Lord in euery place behold the euill and the good Zach. 4.10 These seuen are the eies of the Lord which goe through the whole world Heb. 4.13 Neither is there any creature
righteousnesse by that man whom he hath appointed c. Obiect But some one may say what tell ye vs of these terrible things we haue no reason to thinke of our selues that we are vnsanctified how can we or you tell who are not sanctified Sol. It is easie to tell in the negatiue who are not sanctified you may know it of wicked men 1. Because they are a sleepe and dead in sinne and haue not not any true feeling of the hatefulnesse of their many sinnes Ephes 2.1 And you hath he quickned that were dead in trespasses and sinnes 2. Because sinne raignes in them it hath an vnlimited power in them Rom. 6.12 Let not sinne reigne therefore in your mortall body that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof 3. Because they sinne by couenant they hire themselues their purpose is with their whole harts to commit and continue in sin they obey as seruants Rom. 6.16 Know ye not that to whomsoeuer yee giue your selues as seruants to obey his seruants ye are to whom ye obey whether it be of sinne vnto death or of obedience vnto righteousnesse 4. Because they are silent from prayer and confession of sinne Psalm 32.23.5 5. Because they haue no sauor of the things of the spirit but altogether sauour fleshly things Rom. 8.5 For they that are after the flesh sauour the things of the flesh but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit 6. Because they neuer had any marriage affections to Iesus Christ Rom. 7.5 7. Lastly a wicked man finds in himselfe not onely an impotency but an impossibilitie to be subiect to the Law of God Hee resolues that he cannot possibly yeeld to the directions of the word nor will not whereas a godly mind loues the Law desires to obey endeuours it subiects himselfe to it though hee faile many waies Fourthly and lastly the godly may bee comforted in the obseruation of this worke of the spirit of grace that is in Iesus Christ which killes sinne in them and hath made them aliue from the dead Obiect But some weake Christian might say There is much comfort in this doctrine of the healing of their natures saue that the imperfection of their sanctification is a continuall discomfort Solut. Christians may and ought to comfort themselues against the imperfection of their sanctification many waies and so if they looke 1. Vpon the Spirit of God in their hearts and so two things may relieue them first the assistance of the Spirit which will helpe their infirmities Rom. 8. 26. And then if they consider the very fountaine of all good actions and euery good gift to be the same spirit of God they must needes conclude it is some diuine thing which is wrought in them in as much as it flowes from the holy Ghost howsoeuer it be imperfect through the corruption of their hearts 2. Vpon Iesus Christ and so if they behold 1. His intercession and that likewise hath a double comfort in it for first Christ made intercession for vs when hee praied for our sanctification it should much comfort vs to remember that our sanctification was one of the things Christ praied for Iohn 17.19 Secondly Christ in his intercession in heauen couers all the imperfections of the godly and is their aduocate before the Father 1. Iohn 2.2 Rom. 8.34 2. His death and resurrection from whence flowes a vertue continually which is of singular power to make our sinnes still die in vs and quicken vs to newnes of life Rom. 6.4 For this cause did Christ sanctifie himselfe that hee might sanctifie his members by the influence come from him as from their head Iohn 17.17 3. Vpon the hope of perfect holinesse for the time will come when they shall be without spot or wrincle Ephes 5.27 The merit of their perfect holinesse is found in the price paied by Iesus Christ Heb. 10.14 It should much solace them that one day there shall be a perpetuall end of all sinne and infirmities 4. If in the meane time they looke vpon the good nature of God assuring them by his promises 1. That they are vnder Grace and not vnder the Law Rom. 6.14 2. That hee will not deale with vs after our sins Psalm 103. 3. That he will spare vs as a man spareth his sonne that serueth him Mal. 3.17 4. That hee will accept of the wil and desire for the deed 2. Cor. 8.12 5. That he is slow to anger and ready to forgiue Psalm 103.8 And mercie pleaseth him Micha 7.18 6. That hee will passe by our infirmities meere frailties and not take notice of them Micha 7.18 CHAP. XXVI Of the Resurrection Ioh. 5.28.29 Maruell not at this for the houre shall come in the which all that are in the graues shall heare his voice And they shall come forth that haue done good vnto the resurrection of life but they that haue done euill vnto the resurrection of condemnation HItherto of the principles that concerne the third estate of man The fourth estate of man is the estate of glory and in this we are to consider the three degrees of it 1. The Resurrection of the the body 2. The last Iudgement 3. The glory of Heauen The principles concerning the resurrection are these First that the bodies of dead men shall rise out of the dust of the earth and their owne soules shall enter into them againe Iob 19.23.26 For I am sure that my Redeemer liueth and hee shall stand the last on the earth And though after my skin wormes destroy this body yet shall I see God in my flesh Esa. 26.19 Thy dead men shall liue euen with my body shall they rise Awake and sing ye that dwell in dust for thy dew is as the dew of hearbes and the earth shall cast out the dead c. Ioh. 5.28 Maruell not at this for the houre shall come in the which all that are in the graues shall heare his voice 1. Cor. 15.16 For if the dead be not raised then is Christ not raised c. in the whole chapter Secondly that the bodies of all men shall be raised Ioh. 5.28 as before Small and great the earth sea fier beasts fowles aire c. shall deliuer vp their dead Reuel 20.12.13 And I saw the dead both great and small stand before God and the bookes were opened and another book was opened which is the booke of life and the dead were iudged of those things which were written in the bookes according to their workes And the sea gaue vp her dead which were in her and death and hell deliuered vp the dead which were in them and they were iudged euery man according to their works Iust and vniust shall rise Act. 24.15 And haue hope toward God that the resurrection of the dead which they themselues looke for also shall bee both of iust and vniust Though the vniust shall not rise in the same manner nor by the same power that is by the vertue of Christs
resurrection Dan. 12.2 And many of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake some to euerlasting life and some to shame and perpetuall contempt Quest. It may bee obiected that Daniel saith many shall rise not all Answ. Hee may speake so because wee shall not all die but those that are aliue at Christs comming shall bee changed in stead of death and resurrection 1. Thes. 4.15 For this say we vnto you by the word of the Lord that we which liue and are remaining in the comming of the Lord shall not preuent them which sleepe c. 1. Cor. 15.53 Thirdly that the same bodies which men carry about with them in this world shall rise againe Iob 19.26.27 And though after my skin wormes destroy this body yet shall I see God in my flesh Whom I my selfe shall see and mine eyes shall behold and none other for me though my raines are consumed within me Psalm 34.20 He keepeth all his bones not one of them is broken This very corruptible must put on incorruption 1. Cor. 15. 53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortall must put on immortality c. The reasons are 1. because euery man shall receiue in his body what hee hath done either good or euill 2. Cor. 5.10 For wee must all appeare before the iudgement seat of Christ that euery man may receiue the things which are done in his body according to that he hath done whether good or euill 2. Because else it were absurd that any other body should bee crowned but that which suffered or punished but that which sinned Fourthly that this resurrection shall bee at the ende of the world euen the last day of the world Ioh. 6.44 No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him and I will raise him vp at the last day And therefore we must distinguish betweene particular resurrections and the generall or vniuersall Particular resurrections haue been past in some cases miraculously as at the time of Christs death but the principle speakes of the vniuersall resurrection The vses may be for Information Instruction Consolation Terrour First for information and so we should striue to informe our selues in three things 1. The certainty of it that it shall surely be 2. The manner of it since it must needs be 3. The glory of the life in Christ that can effect this For the first we may find many waies to affect our harts with a full assurance that our dead bodies shall rise againe many things tend hereunto some probable some infallible some shew it that it may bee others that it shall be That it is not impossible other workes in nature shew as first the Phoenix a bird in Arabia of which it is written that waxing old with the stickes of Frankincense and Cassia with which shee filled her nest shee makes a fier and being put in the fier and burned to ashes by and by after the dew of heauen lights vpon her she comes forth aliue Secondly we know that many little birds which for the winter-time lie out of the way in deepe marshes or such like places yet in spring time come out aliue againe Thirdly we see that trees and plants in winter loose all their ornaments and being dead to see to yet reuiue againe Fourthly thus doth the seed also which the husband-man throwes into the ground 1. Cor. 15.36 O foole that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die Fifthly and lastly night and day sleepe and waking shewes vs thus much the day dies into the night and yet reuiues to the world with all his glory Yea in man himselfe there is grounds of singular probability For First his deliuerances from dangers and distresses are as it were lesser resurrections and the terme is giuen to it The houses in which the Iewes were captiues were as so many graues and their returne as a rising from the dead Ezech. 37.12 2. Cor. 1.10 Secondly he hath had an experience of the first resurrection in his soule already and how can he doubt the rising of his body Rom. 6. Ioh. 5.25.28 Reu. 20.6 Thirdly diuers particular men haue appeared raised from the dead as Lazarus Ioh. 13.43 the Saints that appeared out of the graues after Christs death Mat. 27.52.53 Fourthly God shewed this in a vision to Ezechiel when he saw a field full of dry bones receiuing at Gods commandement flesh and nerues and life Ezech. 37. But wee haue more then probabilities we haue certaine arguments for it as First the word of God assuring it 1. Thes. 4.15 as was proued before to whom all things are possible Luk. 1.37 For with God shall nothing bee vnpossible Luk. 18.27 The things which are vnpossible with men are possible with God Rom. 4.21 Secondly the Sonne of God vndertaking to effect it Iohn 6. 39. And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me that of all which he hath giuen me I should loose nothing but should raise it vp againe at the last day c. Thirdly the resurrection of Christ to assure it who rose as our surety 1. Thes. 4.14 Fourthly the Sacrament of Baptizme sealeth both the resurrection of soule and body Fifthly and lastly the Apostle proues at large the necessity of the resurrection by many arguments shewing in effect that all religion is ouerturned if the resurrection bee not beleeued 1. Cor. 15.12 Thus that it shall be How it shall be followes The manner of the resurrection will be thus First when the last day of the world is come Christ on a sudden in the same visible forme he went to heauen will come in the clouds with his Angels and thousands of the soules of his Saints Iude 14. 1. Thes. 4.15 Secondly the trumpet of God shall then sound the voice of the Arch-angell shall then bee heard Christ shall command exhort and call vpon the dead to rise and come away to iudgement 1. Thes. 4.16.17 so as the very dead shall heare this shout and voice of Christ Ioh. 5.29 Matth. 24.31 Thirdly immediately the spirit of Christ will bring the soules of all the godly and they shall enter into their bodies and then they that haue slept in the dust of the earth shall bee raised to life Fourthly the bodies of the wicked shall then bee raised also by the power of God by a way vnknowne Fifthly men that shal then be aliue shal haue a chāge on a sudden in stead of death and resurrection 1. Cor. 15. 1. Thes. 4.15 16. Sixthly the Angels shall then gather the Elect and chase in the reprobates from the foure winds of heauen and present them before Christ Matth. 24.31 Thus of the manner Thirdly this may informe vs concerning the glorious life of the Sonne of God who doth not onely liue himselfe but giues life to millions of men by his spirit Ioh. 5.21 and raised dead bodies so miraculously Thus of the vses for information From the doctrine of the resurrection wee should