expressed by the bread of tears Psal. 80.5 In which sence also Tears are said to be the bread or meat of man day and night Psal. 24.3 Leaven made of a sharp or sowre mass taken in an evil sence denotes the Corruption of Doctrine Matth. 16.16 Luk. 12.1 hypocrisie that is a dissembling of true Religion sometimes wickedness and pravity of life 1 Cor. 5.7 8. The reason of both is evident from the operation of ferment or Leaven a little of which penetrates the whole lump making it sowre and acid So False Doctrine and impiety of manners easily penetrates to the seduction of others and unless speedily prevented will quickly infect and contaminate the whole The text which we translate My heart was grieved Psal. 73.21 In the Hebrew is my heart is fermented leaven'd or grown sharp that is it is embittered and full of perturbation The Chald. it is anxious or sadden'd c. Of Metaphors from the Parts and Members of Living Creatures WE are distinctly to consider of Brutes As 1. Their Parts and Members 2. Their general Names Effects and Adjuncts 3. Their several Species or Kinds Their Parts and Members we will recite in that order that nature has disposed of them What concerns the Head of Brutes we shall expound when we treat of their respective Species The Horn of some four footed Beasts their principal ornament and the instrument whereby they exercise their Strength and defend themselves is variously used in Scripture Metaphors 1. It denotes Power Strength Glory and Courage 1 Sam. 2.1 Job 16.15 Psal. 75.10 and 89.17 24. and 112.9 and 148.14 Jer. 48.25 Lam. 2.3 17. Ezek. 29.21 Amos 6.13 An Iron Horn is a symbol of greater power and strength Micah 4 1â—â— So when the Horn of the Vnicorn is mentioned a Beast of more strength than others Deut. 33.17 Psal. 22. and 92.11 2. It denotes Rule or Government the Majesty of which consists in power fortitude and strength some say because the King is eminent in dignity above all his people as the Horn is above all the Members of the Creature 1 Sam. 2.10 He shall exalt the horn of his annointed where the holy Woman viz. Hannah has respect to the Kingdom of the Messiah The Chaldee renders it Kingdom both here and in Jer. 48.25 Psal. 132.17 There I will make the Horn of David to bud that is I will amplifie enlarge and propagate the strength of his Kingdom This also most perfectly appertains to the Messiah Davids Son Chald. There will I cause to bud a Precious King to the House of David See 1 Chron. 25.5 This signification of power and a Kingdom is proposed as it were by a lively metaphor and similitude in that symbolical action of Zedekiah the false Prophet 1 Kings 22.11 Also in the Prophetical visions Dan. 7.7 8 21. and chap. 8.3 c. Zach. 1.18 c. where the fierce and strong Enemies of the Church are understood Rev. 5.6 and 12.3 and 13.1 11. and 17.3 7 12 16. To push with the Horn metaphorically signifies an exerting or putting forth of strength or power against the Enemy in fighting Deut. 33.17 Psal. 44.5 6. 1 King 22.11 Dan. 11.40 In other things a Horn signifies 1. A more eminent place Esa. 5.1 My beloved hath a Vineyard in the Horn of the Son of Oyl so the Hebrew that is in a sublime and very fat place The Land of Canaan which flowed with Milk and Honey seems to be signified by this description for into this the People of Israel were like a Vine transplanted or translated Psal. 80.8 2. Sometimes Angels Corners or Eminencies having the form of Horns Exod. 27.2 and 29.12 Lev. 4.7 1 King 1.51 Jer. 17.1 and elsewhere so in the Syriack and Chaldee Tongues the extreme or angular point 3. Splendor or a sparkling Ray like a Horn Habak 3.4 And his brightness was as the light he had Horns or as the Chaldee has it bright beams coming out of his hand Hence the Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to diffuse beams in the likeness of Horns Exod. 34.29 30 35 where the speech is of Moses when his face shined Chald. the splendor of the glory of his face was multiplied to which Version Paul seems to have respect 2 Cor. 3.7 c. A Mouth because it is hollow concave and open and the beasts instrument of biting has therefore two metaphorical notions 1. The Orifice of any thing an entrance or gaping hole and so it is said Gen. 42.27 The Sacks mouth Gen. 29.2 3 8 10. The Wells mouth Also of a Den Josh. 10.18 22 27. Of the Robe and Habergeon Exod. 39.23 for so the Hebrew Psal. 133.2 Of the Gate of a City Prov. 8.3 Of the brook Esa 19.7 The edge of the Sword by which as it were it bites hurts and cuts Gen. 34.26 Exod. 17.13 Numb 21.25 Deut. 13.15 and elsewhere Of the file it is said 1 Sam. 13.21 A file having mouths that is full of incisures the better to sharpen Iron So when Mouths in the plural are attributed to a Sword it denotes its two edges Judg. 3.16 Psal. 149.5 6. Prov. 5.4 So to rake or harrow Esa. 41.15 See 2 King 10.21 and 21.16 Ezra 9.11 c. What are done by the Mouth Tongue and Teeth of Beasts we will here together dispatch To Bite For the most part is attributed to Serpents Numb 21.7 8. Gen. 49.17 Eccl. 10.8 11. Jer. 8.17 Amos 9.3 c. is put for hostile invasion spoil and tearing in peices Hab. 2.7 For the pains of body or mind by reason of Drunkenness or the relicts of Wine Prov. 23.32 For Vsury Exod. 22.25 Lev. 25.36 Deut. 23.19 Psal. 15.4 5. Prov. 28.8 Ezek. 18.8 13.17 and 22.12 So Lucan calls it devouring Vsury It is said of false Prophets that they Bite with their Teeth Micah 3.5 that is like Wild-Beasts they tear and destroy the flock Others think this phrase to be no Metaphor but to be understood of the eating of pleasant food To Eat and Devour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a Metaphorical signification is the same with to destroy and consume Exod. 15.7 Isa. 9.12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind and they shall Devour Israel with the whole mouth that is after the manner of Ravenous beasts they shall most inhumanely Treat them captivate spoil and consume them To Swallow Gulch down c. is of the same Metaphorical Notation 2 Sam. 17.16 Job 10.8 and 20.18 and 37.20 Psal. 35.24 25. Psal. 52.5 6. and 107. 26 27. Psal. 124.3 Isa. 3.12 and 28.7 Lam. 2.2 Hos. 8.8 Hab. 1.13 1 Cor. 15.54 2 Cor. 2.7 1 Pet. 5.8 Num. 4.20 Prov. 19.28 To Lick has the same signification Num. 22.4 of which and the Tongue we have treated before A Tooth Metaphorically denotes a Promontory or sharp Rock hanging over or formed like a Tooth 1 Sam. 14.4 Job 39.28 But when Teeth are attributed to Men it denotes virulence and a
take much Delight to behold daily pry and look into by Reading and Meditation His Delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law he doth meditate both Night and Day VII So he that would have a clear sight of God in his glorious Attributes and Perfections must look into the Gospel with open Face he must look with a full and single Eye as one that is resolved by the help of the Spirit according to the nature of his sight to see what may be beheld therein and not cast a squint Look as it were upon it seem to look towards God when his Heart is more upon other Things and Objects We with open Face c. If thy Eye be single thy whole Body it full of Light VIII So he that doth cast but a transient Look into the Word of God or is but a bare Hearer thereof may whilst the Word is a preaching see or have some sence of his Sin and deplorable Condition he is in by Nature and be somewhat troubled for it a while but not putting into practice what he hears but turning to his former Course again he soon forgets what a deformed and miserable Wretch he is which is the principal Import of that Text in James IX So a Christian that looks into the Word and Gospel to behold the Glory of God hath but the sight of the Image Resemblance and Representation of God shining therein before his Eyes Simile ONe Glass hath not all the Properties which we have here mentioned II. Some Persons use too frequently to look into a Glass as others do to an evil End viz. to paint patch and spot their Faces and to see their vain Beauty which tends to increase Pride and foolishly to lift themselves up Disparity THe Gospel or Word of God is a spiritual Perspective-Glass as well as a Looking-Glass II. A Christian cannot look too oft into God's Word provided he do not neglect his particular Calling in so doing or let one Duty interfere with another neither doth his looking into the Word of God tend to lift him up but rather to humble and abase him for the more we see of God the more with Job and Isaiah we shall abhor and be ashamed of our selves There are divers other Disparities which we pass by they are the Contrivance and Workmanship of Man and brittle things c. besides many of them are false giving not a true Representation of Persons and Things c. Inferences LEt this teach every Soul the Folly of spending so much time in looking into a carnal Glass to see their own Faces and vainly to trim and deck their Heads and Bodies whilst they greatly neglect looking into this Glass wherein the Glory of God in a glorious manner may be seen See Metaphor Light And thereby they may learn how to make themselves ready for Christ's Coming as also what their happy Condition is if truly in Christ. 2. When you see a Glass or injoy the useful Benefit thereof remember the Glass of God's Word and as you slight not nor throw away that Glass by which you obtain your End viz. a Medium to behold what you desire be perswaded never to slight or throw away the Word of God but improve it to the Ends for which God gave it till you come to have the Faculty so suited and fitted to behold the Object that you shall see as you are seen and know as you are known which will be in a State of Glory and not till then 3. To inform the poor dark and blind World that as a Glass of what nature soever it be yet it is altogether useless to a blind Man till his Eyes are opened so till God opens blind Eyes poor fallen Man cannot see any of the Glory of God nor understand this glorious Gospel or Word of God 4. Let it perswade all Christians who do stedfastly believe that the Holy Scriptures or Word of God are or may be compared to a Glass in many of the Particulars afore-going to look more into it with earnest Prayer that as it is a Glass as clear as Chrystal so the Eyes of their Understandings may be opened to the end they may as in a Glass Behold the Glory of the Lord and be changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3.18 Professing the Gospel compared to the Plough Luke 9.26 He that puts his hand to the Plow and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of Heaven HE that puts his hand to the Plough c. Our Saviour means Preaching owning or professing the Gospel The professing the Gospel may in divers respects be compared to a Plough Methapor A Plough is an Instrument made fit for the Husband-man to break up and till his Ground II. The Plough cannot break up the Ground of it self it must be held and drawn or nothing can be done by it III. It is a hard and difficult thing to plow up some Ground especially that which is rocky full of Roots or hath long lain fallow IV. The Plough pierces deep into the Earth makes as it were deep Gashes or Wounds in the Heart of it discovering what sort of Earth it is V. The Work of the Pluogh is but Opus ordinabile a preparative Work in order to sowing the Seed VI. It is best Plowing when the Earth is prepared and mollified by the Showers of Heaven then the Work goes on sweetly VII The Plough turns up by the Roots and kills those rank Weeds that grow in the Field VIII That Field is not well plowed up where the Plough jumps and skips over some part of it making Baulks it must turn up all the whole Field alike IX New Ground is much more easily plowed than that which hath lain a long time untilled X. In the last place and more directly to the main Drift and Scope of the Text the Plough must be held throughout the whole Journey a Man must not put his hand to it and presently grow weary and look back Parallel THe Gospel is an Instrument prepared and made fit by the Almighty to break or plow up the fallow Ground of our Hearts II. The Gospel must be believed and professed by us we must lay our hand to it and by the Power of the Spirit it must as it were be drawn upon our Hearts or it can do nothing III. So it is a very difficult thing to convince and humble the hard and obdurate Heart of a Sinner which is compared to a Stone and as firm as a Rock Shall Horses run upon the Rocks Will one plow there with Oxen IV. The Gospel pierces the Heart of a Sinner by powerful Convictions When they heard this they were pricked 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 punctim cedo pungendo penetro or pierced point-black to the Heart Then the Word divided as it were between the Soul and Spirit laid the Heart open made a discovery of what was hid
Sun which by a certain vicissitude and declination of it self from one Tropick to the other begets shadows of a different size and the nearer it is to us the greater are the shadows but these vicissitudes are not compatible with God But the first interpretation is more conformable to the Apostles scope From this Denomination of Light attributed to God with respect to his Essence and Majesty the Son of God is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The splendor or brightness of the Glory of God Heb. 1.3 The primary reason of this appellation is in respect of the heavenly Father from whom he by ineffable generation as it were shined from Eternity as Light does from Light For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a shining again or a resplendency as it were from the Sun beams and so by the force of the proposition his Eternal Original from the Father is indicated or shewen Brightness cannot be separated from the Sun and is of equal age with it so from the Father of Lights of whom on Jam. 1.17 we have spoke this brightness viz. the Son can never be separated because co-eternal with him John 14.10 Lyranus thus expresses himself The Son proceeds from the Father as Light or splendor from the Sun Which splendor is of the same Age with the Sun and would be Eternal if the Sun were Eternal A secundary reason may be in respect of men and that manifestation which the heavenly Father made to us by the Son The Light of the Sun is sent on the Earth to cherish vegetate and render it fruitful Christ the brightness of the Fathers Glory is sent to illuminate vivifie and save us God is said to be a Light and a Sun with respect to his energy or power and operation amongst men Psal. 27.1 The Lord is my Light that is who gives the true and saving Light of his Spirit unto me where the Psalmist exegetically or by way of exposition adds The Lord is the strength of my Life Psal. 84.12 The Lord God is a Sun and a Shield the exposition is annexed The Lord will give Grace and Glory no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Esa. 10.17 And the Light of Israel shall be for a Fire and his Holy One for a Flame that is God shall illustrate and sanctifie the Israelites From hence arise those different phrases wherein the Light of God signifies 1. His Favour and Grace as when his Face is said to shine Numb 6.25 Psal. 80.3 c. Or 2. His Saving Revelation of Light and Truth by the Word Psal. 43.3 Send out thy Light and thy Truth let them lead me c. Psal. 67.1 Let God cause his face to shine upon us which is meant of the revelation of his way and Doctrine as ver 2. See Psal. 19.8 Prov. 6.15 2 Cor. 4.4 6. c. Or 3. Or Eternal Glorifying as Esa. 60.19 20. The Lord shall be to thee an Everlasting Light which Rev. 22.5 is applyed to Eternal Life In General The Light of God is to be taken with reference to some Celestial benefits as Psal. 36.9 In thy Light shall we see Light where the preceeding and following words shew the sence to be that by the Grace of God manifested in his Word we come to true blessedness By the Light of God here Galatinus says lib. 8. cap. 11. and Drusius lib. 15. observat cap. 4. That some ancient Rabbies understood the Messiah Hence we come to our Saviour who is particularly called the Light and Sun not with respect to his Divine Essence and Person as distinct from the Father as before but with respect to his office benefits and operations Esa. 9.2 and 42.6 and 49.6 and 60 1. Matth. 4.16 Luke 2.32 John 1.4.9 and 3.19 and 8.12 and 12.35 36. Act. 13.47 The Metaphor of Light in Scripture expresses information whereby the darkness of the understanding is dispelled as also a taking away of Sin which is compared to Darkness and a giving of Comfort all which our Saviour most eminently exhibits from himself to Believers Concerning the Appellation of Sun these two places are most eminent 1. Mal. 4.2 But unto you that fear my Name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his Wings That this is spoke of our Saviour Christ plainly appears from the scope and context of the Prophet See chap. 3.1 2 3. and chap. 4.5 With Matth. 11.10 and 17.11 12 13. Luke 1.17 c. For there is a most fair and sweet comparison betwixt Christ and the natural Sun As 1. With respect to Oneness There is but one Sun which is the Eye of the World which is enough to enlighten and cherish all So there is but one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 2. That Sun only shines by its own Light and communicates brightness to the Moon and Stars So Christ is the Fountain of true Light illuminating the Church and Teachers of his word which are compared to Stars Rev. 1.20 with his own proper Light 3. As there is but one Sun which excels and illuminates the inferior luminaries of Heaven so Christ has the preheminence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 over all Col. 1.18 1. With respect to Efficacy for as the Sun chaces away darkness and clouds illustrating all things So Christ dispels the darkness of the mind by the Light of his Word the darkness of sinners by the light of his most Holy Merits and the darkness of calamity by the light of his comforting Grace 2. With respect to Equality for the Sun rises on the Evil and the Good affording its light without distinction to all things sublunary Matth 5.45 which nevertheless blind men and such as Sleep by day do not enjoy So Christ illuminates every man that cometh into the World that is he affords the means of illumination 1 John 1.9 Yet unbelievers who are blinded by the Devil and such as give themselves the liberty to sleep securely in sin and that by their proper fault and particular vice John 3.19 and 2 Cor. 4.4 Do not enjoy that saving light or illumination which is the reason why the Prophet Malachy speaking of the actual illumination of the Sun of Righteousness says To them that fear the Name of the Lord shall the Sun of Righteousness arise c. 3. No man can resist or hinder the course and efficacy of the Sun So no Devil or Tyrant can retard or hinder the course and energy of the Gospel of Christ the Sun of Righteousness 4. The Sun refreshes and quickens the World by its heat which nature demonstrates in the Spring So Christ quickens and makes alive those that are spiritually Dead Eph. 2.5 and causes a Divine heat of Love and Devotion Luke 24 32. 5. That which the Prophet mentions by the phrase with healing in his Wings is to be understood of the first beams or rays of light called the Wings of the morning or the first appearance of the Sun Psal.
especially because of his promise of Life and Salvation For as the Morning Star is as it were the Suns harbinger declaring its speedy approach so by the clearness of Christs Resurrection and his sure word or promise he discovers unto men what an extraordinary light of Glory will be afforded to Believers in the general Resurrection when they shall shine as Stars for ever Dan. 12.3 The Morning Star gives light but much less then the Sun so the light of the knowledge of Christ in this Life is not to be compared with that most illustrious and shining Glory which the Saints shall enjoy in bliss and which by Faith they expect 1 Cor. 13.12 Secondly Elementary things God is called Fire yea a consuming Fire Deut. 4.24 and 9.3 and 32.22 Esa. 10.17 and 66.15 16. Ezek. 21.31 c. Which denotes his Wrath against sin which consumes those miserable persons against whom it burns as Fire does stubble See Psal 18.8 Where by smoke also the Wrath of God is signifyed as also Psal. 74.1 and Psal. 80.4 How long wilt thou smoke against thy People so the Hebrew Deut. 29.20 God is said to be A Lamp Candle or Lanthorn when he exhibits his grace and favour to any 2 Sam. 22.29 Thou art my Lamp O Lord Psal. 18.28 For thou wilt light my Candle or Lamp the Lord my God will enlighten my Darkness that is he is the author of my light felicity and Salvation So the Candle of God is said to shine upon Jobs head Job 29.3 in the same sence as the following words shew viz. By his light I walked through darkness where he subjoyns a clear description of his former felicity Prov. 20.27 The Spirit of man is the Candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the Belly that is the Lord kindles a light in man by which he looks into the most inward things and therefore it shines in the mind of a wise King that he may search out a matter and take away the wicked Prov. 25.2 3. The Word of God is called a Lamp or Candle Psal. 119.105 Prov. 6.23 2 Pet. 1.19 Because of the light of saving institutions which it exhibits to Believers To the Element of Ayr belongs when Blowing or a Blast or Breathing is attributed to God by which his Divine Grace and Refection is noted as a cool breeze refreshes a man in Summers heat thus some aptly translate that passage Esa. 57.16 For I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth the Spirit before me shall roll it self and I will cause a Blowing that is the Holy Spirit which I will send to sorrowful and contrite Believers shall as it were open it self to them dwell in them and in the heat of Temptations shall with a comfortable gust or breeze refresh their fainting Spirits Sometimes it denotes Divine Wrath and vengeance as a strong Wind overthrows what 's before it and inflames the Fire Job 4.9 By the Blast of God they perish that is the wicked and by the breath of his Nostrils are they consumed Psal. 18.15 At thy rebuke O Lord at the Blast of the breath of thy Nostrils Esa. 30.33 The breath of the Lord like a stream of Brimstone doth kindle it that is Hell as brimstone is a great nourisher of Fire so the infinite and never ceasing Wrath of God shall be as it were an Eternal nourisher or continuer of Hell for whilst a pair of Bellows blow the Fire it burns so the breath of the Lord viz. his Wrath shall be always of efficacy to torment the souls and bodies of the damned in that infernal stream of brimstone To the Element of Water belongs where God is called a Fountain of Living Waters Jer. 2.13 and 17.13 Because he is the indeficient Author of all Life and refreshment here and hereafter Psal. 36.9 With thee is the Fountain of Life which is to be understood in the same sence which verse 8. is called the River of his Pleasures The Spirit is called a River of living VVater John 7.38 39. to which belongs the expressions of pouring out Esa. 44.3 Joel 3.1 Zach. 12.10 Act. 2.16 17 18 33. Tit. 3.5 6. Christ in general calls the blessings derived to men through him living water John 4.10 14. For he is that most abounding Fountain of Eternal Life John 1.16 Water cleanses refreshes quenches thirst softens or mollifies c. which with other good qualities may be most fitly ascribed to the blessed Saviour in a Spiritual sence See Esa. 55.1 Ezek. 36.25 Zach. 14.8 Psal. 23.1 2. c. The Heavens or Clouds are called the River of God full of water Psal. 65.9 Because he sends plenty of Rain from thence to make the Earth fruitful To the Earth we will refer whatsoever besides what was produced before in their proper places have a being in it that are metaphorically transferred to God whether they be natural productions or made by humane Art Christ is sometimes called a Stone and Rock as Psal. 118.22 The Stone which the builders refused is become the head of the corner which expressely referred to Christ Matth. 21.42 Act. 4.11 1 Pet. 2.7 By the Builders we are to understand the Priests and Great men and others among the Israelites whose office it was to build not destroy the Church of God How these refused Christ the Evangelical History plentifully informs us yet notwithstanding he is made the head of the Corner or the firm and chief corner stone of the whole Church fitly framed together and growing in him Eph. 2.20 21. To Wit both of Jews and Gentiles having broken down the partition wall verses 14 15 16 c. Other places are Esa. 8.14 and 28.16 Zach. 3.9 Luke 2.34 Rom. 9.32 33. 1 Pet. 2.4 6 7 8. Where he is called a Rock of offence and a stumbling Stone with respect to unbelievers and wicked men c. who are apt to despise his mean worldly estate and be offended at his severity against their sinful ways God is called a Rock to such as trust in him Deut. 32.31 Psal. 18.2 Psal. 31.2 3. Psal. 42.9 and 73.26 Esa. 26.4 that is a most certain and invinsible giver of help for there were Rocks in those Countries which for their height strength steepyness and difficulty of access were reputed impregnable c. Matth. 16.18 Christ alluding to the name of Peter calls himself that Rock upon which he was to build his Church that the Gates of Hell should not prevail against it Upon which Brentius very well paraphrases I have called thee Cephas before that is a Rock John 1.43 and I do not yet repent for giving thee that title for now in your own and Brethrens name you acknowledge the true Rock and Foundation in confessing that I am Christ the Son of the living God This Confession is the true Rock and upon it as upon a Rock and Foundation will I build my Church D. Calixtus says that the words the Church is
the pleasure of a lovely day-spring Such as neglect or reject this Word walk in darkness and are involved in errors and perish everlastingly The other Interpretation in substance agrees with this Noon is taken for things most evident Deut. 28.29 The Latines have a Proverb meridiana lux Noon light which is put for a most clear and evident thing There is a comparison with the Noon time when there is mention made of the light and splendor of felicity Job 11.17 And thy time shall arise above the Noon day so the Hebrew that is thy most illustrious Glory shall shine all round or about thee See Psal. 37.6 The Evening is elegantly opposed to the Morning when the speech is of the vicissitude of Calamities and Comforts which God observes in Believers Psal. 30 5. Weeping may endure for a night or as the Hebrew may lodge for an Evening but joy cometh in the Morning that is the Godly are compelled to weep in the darkness of the Cross and Sufferings but the most joyful morning and light of Divine help will come again See John 16.20 22. Psal. 126.5 6. So the word Vesperascens drawing towards an Evening is used for ceasing Esa. 24.11 The Sun-setting in the Evening leaves the darkness of night to succeed it so when joy ceases it leaves Calamity and Mourning To the day is opposed Night by the same Reason almost as darkness is which in a Moonless Night and cloudy sky invade us Job 17.12 They change the Night into day The light they said is near because of darkness he speaks of his thoughts which ver â—â—1 he called the possessions of his heart because of his hope and expectation of good as Christ commands us Luke 21.19 In patience and hope to possess our souls Therefore he said that his Thoughts or Possessions of his heart were broken of denoting that all hope of good perished and then adds that the same cogitations turned night into day and that light was near with respect to those dark dispensations that is he certainly hoped that those Calamities which he compares to an obscure night should be turned into prosperity which he shews by the word Day and that the light of long expected peace is near This explication agrees with what follows ver 13. If I wait the Grave is mine house c. ver 15. And where is now my hope As for my hope who shall see it ver 16. They shall go down to the bars of the pit when our rest together is in the dust As if he had said my expected hopes together with my body shall ere long be carried to the Grave and expire with this Life Job 35.10 But he said not where is God thy maker Who giveth Songs in the Night that is who in adversity giveth help and deliverance for which Praise and Glory becomes due to him See Micah 3.6 c. Sometimes the Night signifies the Reign or Dominion of Impiety and Hell Rom. 13.12 But what we find 1 Thes. 5 7. For they that sleep sleep in the Night and they that are drunken are drunken in the Night is understood by some of natural sleep and night but others interpret it of spiritual sleep that is carnal security in wickedness Rom. 13.11 Eph. 5.14 and the night of infernal power Erasmus in his paraphrase elegantly joyns both and thus unfolds this Apostolical text The Day of the last Judgment is to be dreaded by those who are blinded by vice and lead a life like Nights But you that are Brethren are not to fear it because it shall not find you unprovided for all you that follow Christ do not belong to the Kingdom of darkness but to the Kingdom of light and God especially if in piety and reality ye walk close to the rule of your Profession and so live as that it may appear that ye watch in the light and not snort in darkness There if we would not be oppressed let us not sleep as others do who have not known the light of Christ But let us be watchful and sober having always a circumspect mind that we admit not any thing through incogitancy which may prove offensive to the Eyes of God or men For as such as sleep a natural sleep do it by night and such as be drunk with wine are usually so in the night so they that sleep in sin are involved in darkness of mind and such as are drunk with carnal desires and delights so called are entangled in the mists of a dark mind But it becomes us to whom the light of the Gospel day hath shined to be sober and watchful c. Metaphors taken from Fire SO much for Heaven and what belongs to it We shall now treat of the Elements which are four viz. Fire Air VVater and Earth and produce what metaphors are taken from them The Metaphors taken from Fire shall be considered with respect to its quality and effects viz. 1. It s clearness purity splendor and other Attributes and in that respect it is translated to Angels Psal. 104.4 Heb. 1.7 Fire in its efficacy of acting and penetrating in agility and celerity is eminent before other Creatures of God which qualities may be fitly applyed to those holy Ministers of God The Fire always moves upwards So all the actions of Angels tend to the Glory of God By a flame of Fire Charity or Love is signified Eccl. 8.6 Angels are wholy inflamed with a Divine Love From Fire Angels are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Seraphim that is flaming or fiery from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Saraph in Latin incendit cremavit in English he burnt Arias Montanus says that Seraphim signifies purity from any spot filth or heaviness for so Fire is and therefore those Ministers of God which Esaias saw to have a purging and purifying efficacy in their divine ministrations for the profit of men Esa. 6. ver 3.6 7. In that Vision one of the Seraphims exercised his purifying vertue by applying the external symbol of a live Coal to the Prophets Lips Musculus in his Comment says That this Vision of Angels standing about the Lord sitting in his Throne was in Fire that they may be called burning Seraphims which is very suitable to the thing in agitation The Lord was angry with his wicked and rebellious people To judge whom he sate in his judicatory Throne And therefore as that great Session and Tribunal is an argument of his wrath so the fiery appearance of his ministring Angels betokens his dreadful Anger for that conflagration which was to consume the wicked was then and there a burning 2. Fire also denotes the Word of the Gospel of Christ published among the Gentiles Luke 12.49 In treating of this we must have respect to the vertue and efficacy of Fire as well to its shining and enlightning quality wherein it agrees with what we said about light which betokens conversion and the mystery of Salvation as also its kindling quality for the Word of Christ
the Measure of your Fathers viz. of the sins of your Fathers as Erasmus paraphrases it go on imitate your Ancestors and what they wanted of extreme cruelty do ye make it up they killed the Prophets and you him by whom and of whom they Prophesied The highest pitch of villany is noted by this phrase beyond which there is no further progress and makes ripe for Divine Vengeance and severest punishment which certainly follows it as payment follows things fully measured and sold. See the examples of the Amorites Gen. 15.16 Of the Sodomites Gen. 18.20 c. Of the Amalekites Exod. 17.14 1 Sam. 15.2 c. 3. Because there is a mutual equality and proportion in giving and restoring therefore it is metaphorically said in a Proverb with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again which we find three times with a different or diverse scope 1. Denoting just Retaliation either with respect to reward or punishment Matth. 7.2 Luke 6.38 Relating to our Neighbour 2. A legitimate and saving handling of the Word of God Mark 4.24 As Euthymius says as ye attend the Word so ye shall profit in knowledge Or 3. As Piscator says If ye communicate the word of God liberally God will communicate the knowledge of his Divine Mysteries more liberally to you and augment your Gifts c. For this heavenly Talent is improved and multiply'd by communicating it to others A Razor which shaves off hair is put for the King of Assyria Esa 7 2O Denoting that God would permit him to destroy Israel 'T is called hired with respect to the fact of Ahaz who hired the King of Assyria to assist him against the King of Syria 2 Kings 16.7 8. Moab is call a wash pot by David Psal. â—â—0 9 denoting the baseness of those people and that they were only fit for the vilest Offices 2 Sam. 8.2 A Burthen denotes things troublesom and difficult Exod. 6.6 Psal. 55.22 Esa. 9.4 and 10.27 14.25 Matth. 23.4 c. Weight 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies the greatness of heavenly glory 2 Cor. 4.17 frequently Trouble and Misfortune Matth. 10.12 Acts 15.28 Gal. 6.2 1 Thess. 2.6 Rev. 2.24 See Prov. 27.3 Sin is called heavy Heb. 12.1 because it is an impediment in our heavenly race or course to heaven Of a Seal we have treated before A Looking glass denotes an imperfect knowledge of the Mysteries of God in this Life 1 Cor. 13.12 because it gives but an imperfect reflection of the figure or object compared to the object it self And because some Looking-glasses reflect the rays or beams of the Sun when it shines on them to an object The Apostle elegantly says uses the Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beholding in a Glass for the light of Divine knowledge 2 Cor. 3.18 But we with open face beholding as in a Glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image that is are eminently illuminated and communicate light to others from Glory to Glory as by the Spirit of the Lord. Spoils taken from an Enemy denotes Christs Victory over Satan Esa. 53.12 Luke 11.22 Col. 2.15 a mans life is said to be to him for a prey which denotes deliverance from present Death as he that takes a booty exposes his life to Danger Jer. 21.9 and 38.2 and 39.18 and 45.5 Stipend or wages given to a Soldier is attributed to Sin Rom. 6.23 whose due wages is death Eternal A Table is attributed to the heart when it is fixed upon any thing Prov. 3.3 Jer. 17.1 A Cover or Covering denotes ignorance because if a thing be covered we cannot see it Esa. 25.7 2 Cor. 3.14 15 16. Lam. 3.65 A Sheath or Scabbard is put for the body because the Soul lodges there as a Sword in a Sheath Dan. 7.15 A Vessel is put for a mans body 1 Sam. 21.5 1 Thess. 4.4 Paul calls himself and his Collegues Earthen Vessels 2 Cor. 4.7 because of the Contempt Calamities and Hazards that they were expos'd to in the World as Earthen Vessels are more despised and more obnoxious to be broken than such as are made of Silver and Gold 1 Pet. 3.7 Peter calls a Woman the weaker Vessel because more subject to weaknesses and infirmities than men Paul is called a chosen Vessel by Christ Acts 9.15 that is a most choice and excellent instrument whom he would use to Convert the Gentiles Vessels of Grace or Honour are such as are saved by Grace and Vessels of Wrath and Dishonour such as rejected and damned for their Infidelity and Contempt of the Messiah Rom. 9.21 22 23. See 2 Tim. 2.20 21. Where there is an express comparison See Esa. 22.8 c. A Garment which covers the body defends and adorns it yeilds a double Metaphor 1. It denotes Salvation by the application and appropriation of the great benefits of Christ as well in this life as in that which is to come Psal. 45.8.13 14. Esa. 61 10. Rev. 3.18 and 7.14 and 16.15 The reason of the Comparison is excellent 1. From the hiding of indecenâ—â— nakedness of which Psal. 32 1. Rom. 4.6 7. 2. Because thereby the body is defended from Cold and other noxious things Matth. 2â—â— 12 Rom. 8.30 c. 3 Because it adorns and beautifies Psal. 110.3 c. See the Parables Ezek. 16.10 c. Math. 22.11.12 Luke 15.22 The Typical Visions Zach. 3.3 c. Rev. 7.13 14. and 19.8 and 21 2. The Typical Actions Gen. 3.21 and 24.52 The Putting on and constant keeping of this spiritual Garment is primarily by Faith in Christ Rom. 13.14 Gal. 3.26 and 27. And consequently by the Renovation of Holy Spirit and the Conversation of a Holy Life Rom. 13.12 Eph. 4.24 Col. 3.10 12. 1 Pet. 3 3 4. Contrary to this is the Garment spotted with the Flesh Jude ver 23. The defiling of Garments Rev. 3.4 which is the old man Eph. 4.22 Col. 3.8 See Esa. 59.5 6. c. 2. With respect to outward Conversation Sheeps Cloathing is attributed to the False Prophets and False Teachers in the Church Matth. 7.15 Which denotes any outward things which are specious and made use of craftily to acquire authority and popular favour as when men make use of a dissembling personated or hypocritical sanctity as a Cloak to inveagle and deceive others When they pretend to be called of God Jer. 23.25 30. 1 Kings 13.18 Matth. 7.22 When they make a flourish about the knowledge of Tongues Universal Learning great Eloquence and other acquired Ornaments Rom. 16.18 1 Cor. 13.1 2. and gifts especially the working of Miracles whether truly done or by meer Imposture Deut. 13.2 Matth. 7.22 2 Thess. 2.9 See 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. 2 Tim. 3.5.6 Col. 2.18 To this Sheeps Cloathing is fitly oppos'd A Wolfish mind denoting 1. The quality of their Doctrine viz. it was damning and a Wolf is a destroyer of Sheep 2. Their bloody principles that would cruelly Lord it and Tyrannize over mens Consciences
the form of Civil Judgments amongst the Jews and their Punishments Matth. 6.17 Christ alludes to the hypocritical Practises of the Pharisees who deform'd their Faces when they fasted ver 16. The sense is that you must not imitate them In New Testament Worship there are frequent Allusions to that which is proper to the Old Testament as was shewn Chap. XIII of a Metaphor Isa. 4.5 there is an Allegoricall description of Gods Protection of his Church by allusion to the pillar of a Cloud and Fire Exod. 13.21 See Isa. 11.14 15 16. 52.11 with 2 Cor. 6.17 Isa. 54.1 4 5. see Gal. 4.26 27. c. There are other Allegories Isa. 54.2 from inlarging of Tents from the inhabiting of desolated Cities ver 3.5 laying the magnificent foundation ver 11 12.6 where there is withal an Hyperbole See Matth. 16.18 Eph. 2.20 21. from the abolition of hostile Instruments ver 16 17. See Isa. 61.6 7 8 9. see Hos. 2.15 Amos 9.13 14 15. Zach. 14.10 11. c. 2 Cor. 3.13 where is the Description of the New Testament Church there is an Allusion to the Vail of Moses See John 9.28 c. the sense of which Allegory is that as the Jews could not behold the Face of Moses because of the Vail so the Carnal Jews those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 enemies of Christ could not see the Splendor of this spiritual Moses that is the chief End and Scope of his Writers and do not understand that Jesus Christ is our Saviour because of their willing Blindness of Mind which as a Vail keeps the shinings of that light from their hearts which cannot be taken away but by true Conversion Then by way of Antithesis sayes ver 18. that we viz. his Disciples with open Face behold his glory c. See ver 7 8 9 13 18 c. See Gal. 4.28 31. with ver 22 23 24. See also another Allegory Rev. 7.15 where there is an Allusion to the Levitical Ministry in the Old Testament Temple CHAP. XXI Of a Paraemia or Proverb THE Generical Consideration of a Trope with respect to its continuation we have Treated of in the last Chapter The special Consideration of it we will Treat of in this Which is either according to common use and called Paraemia a Proverb or an Adagy or with respect to its obscurity and is called Aenigma or a Riddle or obscure Allegory The Hebrews call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Meshal Ezek. 16.44 and 18.2 from the Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which takes its signification from Comparing or Ruling that so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be a Proverb or a Comparative Speech or Likeness or as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Ruling Sentence which has the principal place in a speech and by its weight and gravity it makes it more Illustrious VVhat other Acceptations this word hath shall be shewn with Divine Assistance in the second Volume of this Book To the Sense we hold to the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 2.22 exactly agrees which some think is derived 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a via from or out of the way that is a departing from the vulgar or Common way of speaking or as others think from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 praeter vel juxta primum verbum for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies also a Verb and from its sense is as it were another word and sense as a Proverb is call'd In Proverbs words properly taken or Tropes or their Affections are used which last only concerns us in this Place And both are either intire Sentences or Proverbial Phrases which by common use are brought into a sentence Proverbial Sentences are to be read in Gen. 10.9 and 22.14 Numb 21.27 1 Sam. 10.12 and 24.14 2 Sam. 5.8 and 20.18 Jer. 31.29 Ezek. 16.44 and 18.2 Luk 4.23 John 4.37 2 Pet. 2.22 in which places the holy Spirit expresly affirms that those sentences are become Proverbs There are other phrases 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to which the Title of Proverbs is not annexed yet because of their Emphaticalness they are so esteem'd as Deut. 25.4 1 Kings 8.46 and 20.11 2 Chron. 25 9. Job 6.5 and 14.19 and 27.19 and 28.18 Psal. 42.7 62.9 Such is that famous Sentence Psal. 111.10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom See Prov. 1.7 and 9.10 with Job 28.25.28 There are many in the Book called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Proverbs of Solomon as Prov. 1.17 32. 3.12 6.6 27. 10.5 13 19 25. 11.15 22 27. 12.11 15. 15.2 53. 17.1 10 19 28. 19.2 24. 20.4 11 14 21 25. 22.6 13. 25.11 16 27. 26.4 10 11 14 17 28. 27.6 7 8 10 14 17 22. 28.21 30.15 c. So in the Book of Ecclesiastes Chap. 1.15 18. 4.5 12. 5.2 6 8 9 10. 6.9 7.17 9.4 18. 10.1 2 8 9 15 19 20. 11.3 4 6 7. 12.12 In the Prophets Jer. 13.23 23.28 Ezek. 7.5 Micah 7.5 6. Habak 2.6 Mal. 2.10 c. In the New Testament Matth. 5.13 14 15. 6.3 21 24 34. 7.2 5 16. 9.12 16. 10.10 22 24 26. 12.34 13.12 57. 15.14 23.23 24.28 Mark 9.50 Luk. 9.62 12.48 23.31 Act. 9.5 20.35 1 Cor. 5.6 10.12 15.33 2 Cor. 9.6 7. 2 Thess. 3.10 Tit. 1.15 Here we must note that Christ and his Apostles used several Proverbs or vulgar wayes of speaking common to the Jews which were partly written in their old Books yea even in the Talmud as Matthew 7.2 Mark 4.24 Luke 6.38 With the same measure ye mete the same shall be measured to you again which is in the Talmud tract Sanhedrim in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By the same measure which ye shall measure others will measure to you again 'T is very plain in the Targum Hierosolymitanum Genesis 38. in these words By what measure a man measures by the same will others Measure to him as to good Measure or bad measure So the sentence Matthew 19.24 It is easier for a Camel c. is in the Talmud as Ang. Caninius says only it is said there that an Elephant cannot go through the Eye of a needle for which Elephant a Beast known to few Christ said a Camel a Beast well known in Syria And the phrase Luke 6.42 Buxtorfius in Glossatore Talmudico says is also in the Talmud And 2 Thessalonians 3.10 If any will not work neither shall he eat Drusius 2 Tract in Gen. magn Bereschith Rabba Tract Talmud says the same phrase is the Talmud And doubtless the Apostle thence took it See Adag sacra written by Zelmer from the whole Bible in 5. Centur. Of Proverbial phrases See examples Exodus 11.7 That a dog should not move his tongue was a Proverbial speech denoting profound silence and peace in that place Some refer this to a Meiosis See 1 Samuel 25.22 34. 1 Kings 14.10 And 16.11 2 Kings 9.8 which last was also a Proverbial phrase denoting extreme destruction even to the vilest Animal See other
that he is very pitiful and of tender Mercy 4. We must always imprint this as an undoubted Truth and sure Maxim in our Minds That tho God sometimes afflicts 〈◊〉 may afflict his Children as a bare Act of his Sovereignty Sin being not directly the Occasion thereof yet nothing God doth or can do is unjust I know O Lord that thy Judgments are right and that thou in Faithfulness hast afflicted me All his Ways are Judgment a God of Truth and without Iniquity just and righteous in all his Ways That is his Administrations or his Doings as Mr. Ainsworth noteâ—â— are Judgment that is judicious equal A God of Truth or Faithful without Iniquity or there is in him no Iniquity no injurious Evil Right or righteous is he Consider further 5. That the greatest and sorest Afflictions that godly Men may meet with are no sufficient Ground to conclude they are cast out of God's Favour For the best of Saints and dearest Servants of God have been from the beginning under the greatest Exercise of Affliction As many as he loves he rebukes and chastens 6. Another thing that we should premise is That the Afflictions which we meet with in this World come not by chance They are all measured out by God's ordering Providence in matter and manner for kind and quality And tho the Judgments and Dealings of God are sometimes very secret and hard to be understood at first we ought with Patience to bear them and humbly wait till God is pleased to shew us his Mind and Pleasure in them 7. We must consider that it is our Duty to acknowledg all our Troubles and Afflictions and whatever they be as coming from God and look beyond Instruments and secondary Causes Is there any Evil in the City and I have not done it He breaketh me with Breach upon Breach and runneth upon me like a Giant He Why some may say It was the Devil and his Agents viz. the Sabeans and Chaldeans c. Job knew that no Devil or wicked Man could hurt or touch him if God did not give them leave and open the Door for them These things being premised I now shall give you five or six Reasons why God ran thus upon Job or breaks forth after this manner upon sincere Persons when Sin is not the Cause It is necessary to note this by the way That God doth frequently single out the most eminent and choicest of his Children to undergo the sharpest and sorest Affliction because they have the greatest Strength Joseph excelled for Grace and Vertue and therefore he is singled out from all his Brethren to hard Works and Sufferings No Man like Job in all the Earth in his Day for a perfect and upright Man and what a Man of Sorrows and Afflictions was he Those that have received most Grace from God are able to bear most Afflictions from God A General of an Army chuseth out the most valiant and experienced Souldiers to put them upon hard Adventures It is not prudent to put a Fresh-water Souldier upon difficult Service As Christ saith I have many things to say unto you but you cannot bear them now and therefore deferred till they had got more Strength So God saith of a young Christian one that is newly converted Thou hast great Afflictions to undergo before thou diest but thou art not fit to bear them yet I will defer thy Trial till thou art grown more hardy and fit for that Encounter as our Saviour told Peter John 21.18 1 Reason One Reason why God ran thus upon Job like a Giant or brings sore and severe Trials upon his dearest Servants is That he may fit them for eminent Work and Service Hereby they learn Experience and Knowledg not only how to carry themselves in dark and dismal Days but to teach others also how to behave themselves under Trials 2. That God might crucify them unto all the things of this World They do not only this way come to see the Vanity and Emptiness of them but to be dead unto them In Prosperity the Hearts of the best of Men are ready to be ensnared with the World therefore God brings Adversity upon them And indeed it is every way as good and useful for a Saint as Winter and sharp Frosts are to the Fruits of the Earth which kills the Worms and Weeds that otherwise would greatly hurt and injure them God's Jobs have a Body of Sin and Death in them as well as others and nothing like Affliction tends to destroy it The Corruptions of our Hearts are compared to Chaff and Dross which the Furnace of Affliction burns up and purges away No Man is so pure and clean but he needs to be made more pure and more holy Job was very good before but God made him much better by the Rod before he had done with him He was Gold before his Trial but afterwards refined Gold When I am tried I shall come forth as Gold to wit refined Gold 3. God brings his Jobs under great Exercises and Afflictions for the Trial of their Graces Grace never shines forth in its real Splendor and Glory until it comes to be tried A Saint knows not what his Faith can do until it is brought under Exercise Abraham knew not the Strength of his Faith and Love until he was called to offer up his Son Isaac He with-held not his Son his only Son Isaac whom he loved such was his Love to God And if we respect his Faith 't is said He believed in Hope against Hope that he might become the Father of many Nations According to that which was spoken so shall thy Seed be He being not weak in Faith considered not his own Body being now dead when he was about an hundred Years old neither the deadness of Sarah's Womb He staggered not through Vnbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God By Faith he offered him up accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the Dead From whence also he received him in a Figure How did Job's Patience shine forth when it came under Exercise by all those sore and bitter Afflictions he met withal The greater the Temptation or Trial is if the Soul can resist it and bear up under it the greater Demonstration there is of the Strength and Power of that Grace the Soul possesseth The Almighty shews hereby the Strength and Unmoveableness of Faith how unconquerable it is what kind of Omnipotency there is in Grace He would have all the World know that a godly Person is in vain assaulted by Friends or Enemies by Men or Devils by Wants and Wounds tho he be even benighted in his Spirit tho God himself takes away the Light of his Countenance from him and runs upon him like a Giant yet that over all these things God's Grace can make him stand and cause him to be more than a Conqueror For in the Book of Job we may say is an
eternal Purpose which was purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. 2. It was for the Glory of his Mercy and Goodness which moved Wisdom to seek out and provide this blessed Mediator and glorious Means of Reconciliation when God might justly have left fallen Man as he did the fallen Angels Moreover this of a Mediatâ—â—r shews us that God must be dealt with in a way of free Grace Entreaty and Request Hence we read how fervently Christ prayed and interceded for us yea what strong Cries and Tears he offered up in the Days of his Fiesh Whatsoever blessed Relief Pardon Peace c. Mankind receives 't is wholly in a way of Mercy and free Grace through the Mediation of the Lord Jesus Chriist By Grace ye are saved God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son 3. It was for the Glory of his Justice which must be dealt with in a way of Satisfaction Grace will be dealt with in a way of Intreaty salvâ Justitiâ Therefore the Covenant is established in the hands of a Mediator that is able to lay down a Price or Ransom That so God might be just and the Justifier of those that believe in Jesus Nay when the Lord Jesus undertook on our behalf to come up to the Demand of Justice 't is said God spared him not but delivered him up to Death for us all He bore our Sins in his own Body on the Tree 4. The Sovereignty of God is manifested in its Glory that through a Mediator he is pleased to extend Mercy to Mankind when none is afforded to the Angels that sinned and that Jesus at his Command should lay down his Life for the Sheep 5. It magnifies the Glory of God's Power and All-sufficiency who can raise up and restore Man to greater Happiness than ever he had before his Fall when Devils and Sin had done their worst 6. The like might be said of the Holiness Patience and Faithfulness of God c. Moreover this Undertaking adds to the Glory of Christ Jesus who is the Mediator himself God had hereby a design to greaten the Name of his Son the second Person of the Trinity in our Nature 1. In that he is constituted by undertaking in this honourable Office King Priest and Prophet 2. In respect of that great Power which is given to him to make Peace between God and Man to have the Keys to open and shut and to give eternal Life to as many as he pleaseth or are given by the Father to him 3. Nay his Glory shines forth herein to such a degree that 't is the Duty of all Men to honour the Son as they honour the Father 4. Christ hath hereby the Honour of accomplishing the whole Affair being Author and Finisher of our Faith and Salvation Secondly In respect of Man there was great need of such a Mediator 1. God would not treat with Sinners upon any other Terms There is no Knowledg of God which is saving nor Union with him without a Reconciliation You that were sometimes afar off are made nigh by the Blood of Christ. Neither knoweth any Man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him 2. Without a Mediator to atone and make Peace between the Father and us there is no Communion with him Can two walk together unless they are agreed Nor Eternal Life Such as are without Christ and without God must die that is be damned in their Sins X. Christ was every way qualified and fitted for this Work He was not only wise but the Wisdom of God much for Justice but yet inclined to Mercy and Pity to the Poor And then again how was he fitted by his being God 'T is from the Worth and Excellency of his Person that the Price comes to be satisfactory Besides had he not been God as he could not have expiated Sin so he could not have overcome Death and other Enemies he was to encounter with that he might accomplish our Redemption 2. He must be Man because he is to plead for us and be sacrificed on the Cross in our stead he must bleed as well as intercede for Man For without shedding of Blood there is no Remission He must be Man that he might be one with us that his Righteousness might by Imputation be ours and that he might receive the Spirit for us and we from him who is the Son receive it with the Adoption of Sons and thereby be sure of the eternal Inheritance 3. He must be God and Man in one Person A Mediator is not a Mediator of one but God is one And by this Means he is fitly qualified for his Office He must be a Person at an equal distance from and drawing near and allied to both Parties having Interest in and participating of the Nature of each Hence it is thought that he is called our Dayes-man or Kinsman that lays his hands on both Having access unto them knowing what will stand with the Honour of the one and be for the Relief and Profit of the other XI Christ is faithful both to God and Man greatly for the Honour of the one and as much for the Comfort and Salvation of the other He is said to be faithful to him that appointed him And in respect of Man he is called a faithful High-Priest XII Jesus Christ met with much Trouble in the Days of his Flesh in managing our Business as Mediator from the Devil and wicked Men. He found the World very averse to accept of Terms of Peace and not only so but they offered violence to him and grievously abused him XIII Jesus Christ was meek and lowly in Heart he patiently bore the Hidings of his Father's Face How quietly did he bear and endure the Punishment due to us for our Sin notwithstanding we esteemed him not but hid our Faces as it were from him He was oppressed he was afflicted yet he opened not his Mouth He patiently waits upon poor Sinners XIV Jesus Christ as he was potent so he was of a very couragious and undaunted Spirit He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he hath set Judgment in the Earth XV. Jesus Christ was a pacifying Mediator for instead of a personal Satisfaction from the Sinner God accepts of his Mediation He was made Sin for us who knew no Sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him Instead of an inherent Righteousness God accepts of a Righteousness imputed and accepts of Sincerity instead of a perfect keeping the whole Law and through his Mediation obtains pardon for human Frailties XVI Jesus Christ our Mediator hath a Time set him to finish his Mediatorial Kingdom and Office which will cease at the end of the World when all the Elect are gathered in XVII Jesus Christ our Mediator uses most weighty and powerful Arguments such as in the Word of God
of which we stand in need at all times XXXIII Jesus Christ is greatly pleased with his People when they walk as becometh the Gospel Do good and communicate for with such Service the Lord is well-pleased To distribute to the Ministers of Christ is said to be a Sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing to God Children obey your Parents in all things for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord. Come my Beloved let us go forth into the Fields let us lodge in the Villages Let us see if the Vine flourish whether the tender Grape appear and the Pomegranates bud forth There will I give thee my Loves He leads me beside the still Waters Metaphor I. A Great and mighty Prince will not set his heart upon nor court a Leper a Creature blind deformed full of running Sores and old Ulcers from the Crown of the Head to the Soal of the Foot II. Much less will a King leave his Crown and Kingdom and deny himself of all his Glory become poor and contemptible not having so much as a small Cottage to dwell in nor Money in his Pocket nay be exposed to as great Miseries as ever any Mortal was and all for the Sake and Love he bore to such a wretched Creature and loathsom Leper blind and deformed a meer Vagabond and contemptible Beggar and yet a Creature that was his Enemy a notorious Rebel and Hater of him III. Other Lovers and Bridegrooms mind their own Advantage and Interest in seeking a Wife IV. The Beauty that another Bridegroom finds in his Spouse is not transmitted from him unto her he can't confer Beauty nor more comely Features if she be hard-favoured deformed and ugly so she must remain V. Some are not very constant in their Love they cool in their Affection and love not always alike nor to the end VI. A Princely Bridegroom provides not the Wedding-Garments for his Bride he is not at the charge of adorning her the Bride doth procure her own Attire her Robes Rings and costly Ornaments VII Other Bridegrooms die and leave their Wives and dear Consorts Widows and their Children Fatherless Disparity I. THe Lord Jesus set his Heart upon the Sinner when cast out to the loathing of his Person in his Blood like a new-born Infant Every Sinner is a Leper in a spiritual sence defiled all over wounded full of Ulcers and stinking Putrefaction as loathsom as a filthy Sepulchre every Faculty of the Soul unclean and the Members of the Body polluted Hence 't is said We have no soundness from the Crown of the Head to the Soal of the Foot Yet when the Sinner was in this Condition that was the Time of Christ's Love II. Jesus Christ left his Kingdom and all that Glory he had with the Father which was infinite and unconceivable shining forth in all the Excellency and Perfections of the Heavenly Majesty with the Attendance of all the Angels of Light those glorious Seraphins and Cherubins who bowed down to worship at his Royal Feet yet he left all this and became poor and a Man of Sorrows exposing himself to greater Pain and Misery than any Mortals are capable to endure and all this for the sake of poor polluted and deformed Mankind who were Enemies to him by wicked Works III. Jesus Christ did all to raise us to Honour There could be no Addition to his Glory and Happiness 't was our Interest and Advantage he sought in all he passed through and endured IV. Jesus Christ finds Sinners very ugly and deformed in Head and Heart in Face and Feature but he transmits or confers his glorious Beauty unto them Hence the Churches Beauty is said to be perfect through that Comeliness the Lord hath put upon her He makes the Soul that was polluted clean that was deformed very beautiful and amiable to look upon V. Jesus Christ is unchangeable in his Love I have loved thee with an Everlasting Love therefore with Loving-kindness have I drawn thee He will rest in his Love Having loved his own that were in the World he loved them unto the end VI. Jesus Christ is at all the Charge of cloathing and adorning the Church and every sincere Believer and Member thereof VII Jesus Christ never dies he was dead but dies no more He ever liveth to make Intercession for us He will never leave Zion a Widow nor her Children Orphans I will not leave you comfortless Inferences I. WE may infer from hence how infinitely Sinners are obliged and beholden unto God in providing such a great and good Match for them Did ever any King manifest such Kindness to vile and wicked Traytors as to send his own Son to die for them that they might be interested in all the Blessings of his Court and Kingdom God propounds Christ to us as a Spouse and Bridegroom II. Moreover how infinitely are we obliged to Jesus Christ for bearing such good-will unto us to pass by the fallen Angels and fix his Eye upon poor fallen Man to come into the World and expose himself to all those base Affronts Shame Sorrow and Death it self that he might accomplish this glorious Design of Love and Marriage-Union with us III. It shews what great Folly and horrid Ingratitude those Sinners are guilty of that slight and contemn this Offer Which may lead you to consider 1. What is your State without Christ If you have not Christ what have you No Life no Light no Pardon no Peace no God no Glory You are without all true Good if you are without God and Christ. Sine summo bono nihil bonum 1. Is it not Folly to prefer Bondage to Sin and Satan before a Marriage-State with Jesus Christ rather be the Devil's Slave and Vassal than Jesus Christ's dearest Consort 2. Is it not great Folly to refuse such an Offer that will make you happy for ever if embraced and when there is no other way of being happy If this Offer be rejected thou art undone and must be damned 3. Is it not great Folly to value the Lusts of the Flesh and Pleasures of this World above Christ to value the greatest Evil above the chiefest Good 2. 'T is great Ingratitude Hath Christ done all this and wilt thou slight him at last Shall he come to thy Door and wilt thou shut him out Is there no room for him in the Inn shall he lie in the Stable Shall Satan command the Heart and Christ only have the Lip 1. Is it not great Ingratitude to pour such contempt upon Christ Do not they that refuse him and slight the Offers of his Grace derogate from him Do not such vilify his Person Do you not say in your Hearts There is no Beauty in him Form nor Comeliness 2. Do you not pour contempt upon his Undertaking and undervalue his Blood and Suffering We read of some that tread under foot the Blood of the Son of God and judg it to be a thing of no worth nor
a Signet The Son in himself is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the likeness of God II. Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Image of God representing him unto Men he manifesteth God unto us He is said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Image of the Invisible God because partaking of the Nature of the Father the Goodness Power Holiness Grace and all other glorious Properties of God do shine forth or are represented declared and expressed to us III. Christ represents God the Father to Believers in his true Form Character or Likeness whom we see not as he is in himself nor can see he dwelling in inaccessible Light at an infinite distance of Divine Nature and manner of Being from our Apprehensions and Conceptions No Man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son which is in the Bosom of the Father he hath declared him IV. Christ respecting his Essence is the same God with the Father but the Subsistences or Persons of the Father and Son are different and so not the same V. Christ being the express Image of the Father brings into our Minds what kind or manner of God the Almighty is his Excellencies and glorious Perfections are hereby presented as it were to our view By which means we are taken up into holy Meditations and Contemplations of him whom by reason of Sin we had forgotten and lost the true knowledg of VI. Christ being the express Image of God the Father who is the blessed and only Potentate and the glorious King of Heaven and Earth who hath dear and tender Love to us his poor Creatures who is our Friend Husband Father gracious and chief Benefactor causes all true Believers greatly to prize love and esteem the Lord Jesus not only for his own sake but for the sake of him whom he doth resemble and represent VII Christ God-Man in one Person or God manifested in the Flesh the glorious Representation of the Father to Sinners is the Admiration of Saints and Angels 't is a great Mystery and comprehends the Depths of God That the Glory of God should shine forth in the Nature of Man is and will be the Wonder of both Worlds t is judg'd by all the Godly to be the Master-piece of Divine Wisdom Metaphor I. AMong Men the Substance of a Thing hath the precedency or is before the Sign or Image of it the Person and then the Picture or Emblem of it II. An Image Figure or Character among Men cannot fully and perfectly in every thing express or represent the Person 't is made for it differs in Matter Life and Motion c. III. 'T is gross Idolatry to worship Images or the Likeness of any Thing in Heaven above or the Earth beneath IV. Other Images are soon marr'd and pass away Disparity I. THat which is said of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being or existing and subsisting in the Form of God that is being so essentially for there is no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Form in the Deity but what is essential unto it This Christ was absolutely antecedently to his Incarnation the whole Nature of God being in him and consequently he being in the Son of God II. Christ is a lively perfect and compleat Image Character and Representation of all the glorious Attributes Excellencies and Perfections of the Father the Fulness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in him Were it not so he could not gloriously represent unto us the Person of the Father nor could we by contemplation of him be led to an Acquaintance with the Person of the Father 1. The Father is from Everlasting so is the Son 2. The Father is a perfect Divine Person or Subsistence so is the Son 3. The Father hath Life in himself so hath the Son Life in himself 4. The Father created the World so did the Son 5. The Father upholds all things by the Word of his Power so doth the Son 6. All things were made for the Father so all things were made for the Son 7. The Father is to be worshipped so is the Son 8. The Father knows all things and searches the Heart so doth the Son 9. The Father is in the Son so is the Son in the Father The Father is in me and I in him The Father being thus in the Son and the Son in the Father all the glorious Properties of the one shine forth in the other The Order and Oeconomy of the Blessed Trinity in Subsistence and Operation requires that the Manifestation and Communication of the Father to us be through the Son 10. All other Perfections of the Father shine forth in Christ 't is he that makes them manifest to us according to that of the Apostle For God who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledg of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ. The Wisdom of the Father is great and infinite many ways but wherein doth it shine more gloriously than in the Son 's working about our Redemption in reconciling Justice and Mercy in punishing Sin and pardoning the Sinner To the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in heavenly Places might be made known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God 11. The Father is still of Goodness and Love to Man this appears in his making of him Supreme over all Creatures on Earth But what is this Favour and Goodness to that which is manifested in and by Christ in raising him up when a Rebel and vile Traitor to the Honour and Dignity of a Son and to accomplish this to give his only begotten Son to die in his stead He made him to be Sin for us who knew no Sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us There was much Favour and Love in the Blessings and Privileges of Creation but in Redemption Mercy is magnified likewise to admiration and shines in equal Glory 12. God the Father is infinitely holy just and righteous His Holiness and Justice appeared in casting off the fallen Angels and by executing his Severity upon our first Parents and by destroying Sodom and Gomorrah and the Cities about them and in several other respects Yet how much more abundantly doth his Holiness and Justice shine forth in the Son the Image of the Father when he came forth to redeem Mankind in that he made his Soul an Offering for Sin God letting out his Wrath upon him sparing him not when he stood in the place of the Sinner For the Transgressions of my People was he stricken As Mr. Burroughs observes there is nothing sets out God's Justice Holiness and infinite Hatred of Sin like this c. Our Nature is united to the Divine Nature of God that so by that mystical Union Grace and Holiness might be communicated in a
glorious manner unto us 13. The Power and Condescension of God is wonderful many ways demonstrated but nothing like what it is in Christ in taking our Nature into Personal Union with himself That the Son of God should become Man the Ancient of Days become a Child He that made the World born of a Woman When Satan had done his worst that he might destroy Man Man is by the Power of God advanced to greater Glory and Happiness than he had before he fell 14. Moreover I might speak of the Patience Forbearance and Faithfulness of God all which and many more of the glorious Attributes of the Father shine forth most lively in Jesus Christ. Besides the Persons or Subsistences of the Blessed Trinity are more clearly discovered by Jesus Christ than ever before First In his own Person Secondly In his Doctrine Thirdly In his Baptism or when he was baptized Fourthly In his Commission Mat. 28.19 20. Fifthly In their distinct Offices Operations and Workings Lastly The Will of God and his holy Laws and Institutions are only made known by the Son III. Christ who is the Image of God ought to be adored and worshipped by Men and Angels And when he brings in the First-begotten into the World he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him IV. Christ the Image of God abides for ever Time nay Eternity will not alter or change him nor marr his Beauty Inferences 1. WE may from hence perceive the wonderful Love Goodness and Condescension of God Almighty to Mankind who seeing how unable we are to understand comprehend conceive or take in the knowledg of Himself who is so infinite and inaccessible in his Being Glory and Majesty is pleased to stoop so low as to afford us a Figure Image and lively Representation of Himself that so we might not frame false Ideas of God or entertain any vain or unworthy Apprehensions of him in our Minds 2. This also abundantly demonstrates how exceeding willing the Blessed God is to reveal or make known himself unto his Creatures 3. This discovers the Necessity of coming unto God by Christ and what Advantage the Christian World have above the Heathen Nations For tho he hath in the visible Creation implanted some Resemblances or Characters of his Excellencies and left some Footsteps of his blessed and sacred Properties that by the contemplation of them Men might come to have some Acquaintance with him as Creator which might encourage them to fear and love Him and make Him their last End yet all Expressions of God besides this of Christ Jesus are partial short and insufficient to discover all that is necessary to be known that we may live to him here and enjoy him hereafter 4. It may caution all Men to take heed they do not imagine to come to the true Knowledg of God any other way but by the Lord Jesus For no Man knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him All miss of Happiness that seek it not by Jesus Christ. We must seek the Father in the Son and by him labour to believe in or come to God by Jesus Christ. This is for Direction to us in all Religious Worship 5. The Godly may from hence also see what reason they have to love and delight themselves in Jesus Christ. Brethren study the Knowledg of Christ look often upon this glorious and blessed Image Many are taken with Pictures and Representations of Things and Persons but how vain is that Here is the Image you should delight your selves in look to Jesus much Profit as well as Joy and Comfort will redound to you hereby This is an Image that abides for ever which God allows you to worship and adore him by 6. Prize Christ value him above all things in this World can you too highly esteem him who is the express Image of the Father's Person Lastly Let all take heed how they slight Jesus Christ or contemn the Knowledg of him because this Mystery is above their Reach and shallow Apprehensions and indeed it may caution all not to seek too curiously into these great Mysteries and Depths lest they be drowned the best of Men know but in part Christ a Physician Mat. 9.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. They that are whole need not a Physician but they that are sick THe same is repeated Mark 2.17 with which you may compare Isa. 61.1 in which places the Term is attributed to Christ the Redeemer the Metaphor being taken from Physicians because he gives spiritual Healing in Soul-Diseases as Physicians do in the Diseases of the Body see also Luke 5.31 We read Job 13.4 of Physicians of no value Such indeed are all to whom Application for Remedy is made besides this Heavenly Physician who never fails to cure such as receive his Medicaments In what respects Christ is termed a Physician is to be seen in the following Parallel Metaphor I. A Physician is a Person skilful in Distempers of the Body knows the Nature of Diseases II. A Physician is one that knows the Nature of Simples and other Ingredients that are good for Cure studies the Nature of Herbs Plants Minerals c. III. A Physician is one that is authorized or licensed They are first tried and approved and commissioned before they are admitted to practise Physick because many pretend to it that have no Skill but are meer cheating Quacks and Mountebanks that kill more than they cure IV. A Physician ought to shew and produce his Authority or Licence to practise Physick to such as have Power to require it that so it may be the better known whether he be what he says or not there being many counterfeit Physicians V. A Physician ought to know the Name and Nature of that particular Disease under which his Patient laboureth he that knoweth not the Distemper can never cure it unless by chance VI. A Physician as he ought to know the Name and Nature of the Disease so he must know the Cause of the Disease The Cure is found saith one in the Cause to discover whence the Distemper grew and what the Occasion of it was directs unto the Remedy VII It behoveth a Physician to know the Constitution of his Patient thereby he finds out what Diseases the Patient is most subject and incident to VIII A Physician ought to know what Diseases are Chronical or Habitual from such as are Acute that have seized on the Patient suddenly by Heats Colds Blood or from other causes IX A Physician ought to be an experienced Man that greatly tends to his more necessary Accomplishment for if he be one that hath not seen the Effect of his Medicines in his own Body nor in others 't is hard venturing to have to do with him X. A Physician useth proper and suitable Preparatives to dispose his Patient's Body to a Cure XI A Physician prescribes proper Medicines for every Disease he does not apply Medicines that are hurtful and noxious such
Affections which like two long Wings he stretcheth out easily in the way of his gracious Providences for the help and succor of his People He shall arise with healing under his Wings VIII The Lord Jesus beareth and carrieth his faithful Children upon the Wings of his Power and Sovereign Grace thus he bare and carried Israel of old I have borne you upon Eagles Wings Hearken unto me O House of Jacob and all the Remnant of the House of Israel who are borne by me from the Belly which were carried from the Womb I will bear you I will carry you c. IX The Lord Jesus hides his Children in the Secrets of the Almighty that glorious Rock of Ages Their Place of Defence shall be a Munition of Rocks David knew what he did when he fled to God for Shelter Vnder the Shadow of thy Wings will I make my Refuge until these Calamities are overpast See Refuge X. Jesus Christ when he utters his Voice in Anger and rises up to the Prey he will cause all the Inhabitants of the Earth to tremble they will call to the Hills and Mountains to fall upon them and to hide them from the Face of him that sitteth upon the Throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb. Nay the Time will come when the old Dragon will be glad to flie into his Den. The Devils were afraid of him when he came as a Lamb Art thou come to torment us before the time Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed O ye Judges of the Earth Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the day when his Wrath is kindled but a little Blessed are all they that put their Trust in him XI The way of Christ's Love Wisdom Providence c. cannot be known or found out to perfection XII Jesus Christ hath a glorious and clear Sight can behold with open Face the Glory of the excellent Majesty and the highest Splendor and Beauty of that immortal and inaccessible Light which no natural Eye can approach unto And altho none of his People can see as he seeth who is infinite in Knowledg yet those that pretend to be his Off-spring and are not like him in Grace Heavenly-mindedness and Holiness nor endeavour after it from that Excellency they behold in it Christ will utterly disown them as being none of his Seed or Off-spring XIII The Lord Jesus teacheth all his People to be like himself so far as they are able and to mount up as with Eagles Wings and to live on high XIV So is the Lord Jesus of his People XV. The Lord Jesus suffered himself to be wounded for us his Hands and Feet yea his very Heart was pierced that we might have his Blood to drink in believing My Blood is Drink indeed XVI The Lord Jesus Christ is not only long-liv'd but he lives for ever He was from everlasting and he will be to everlasting He is the King eternal the Father of Eternity so the Hebrew Simile THe Eagle hath many evil Qualities She is neither fair nor comely hath no sweet Voice nor is she good for Food but she is quarrelsom preying devouring solitary envious to others proud and lofty the Plague and Tormentor of all other Birds or Fowls of the Air an Enemy to Peace She has horrible Claws feeds on Serpents Fish and Carrion snatching up Geese Hares Lambs c. Gesner reports that a certain Eagle's Nest was found wherein were three hundred Ducks one hundred and sixty Geese forty Hares and many Fishes An Eagle is very crafty She fills her Wings with Dust and gets upon a Stag's Horns and beating the Dust and Sand into his Eyes she blinds him and then soon conquers him She carries Shell-Fishes on high letting them fall upon the Rocks to break them c. Disparity IN all these things there can be no greater Disparity imaginable and upon this account wicked Men or Tyrants are compared to Eagles Inferences I. Flie to Christ to bear you upon his Wings II. To hide you under the Wings of his gracious Protection Vnder thy Wings saith David will I make my Refuge till these Calamities are overpast c. Christ compared unto a Bundle of Myrrh Cant. 1.13 A Bundle of Myrrh is my Beloved unto me THis Book expresses under many different Metaphors and Similitudes the Greatness of Christ's Love to his Church and the Sincerity of the Churches Love to Christ. Sometimes you have Christ commending his Spouse sometimes the Spouse speaking in the praise of Christ as she doth here A Bundle of Myrrh a Cluster of Camphire is my Beloved unto me A Soul espoused to Jesus Christ hath a great Love to him and an high Esteem of him knows not how to set out that excellent Worth and Beauty it beholds in him Myrrh is a kind of precious Fruit plentifully growing in Arabia it is somewhat bitter but most fragrant and of excellent use in Physick METAPHOR I. MYrrh has a perfuming quality 't is of a fragrant and odoriferous Nature 't is used for perfuming Garments and other things to make them cast a pleasant Smell All thy Garments smell of Myrrh Aloes and Cassia The Harlot says She had perfumed her Bed with Myrrh Aloes and Cinnamon II. Myrrh is a rare and rich Perfume a fit Present for a King hence the wise Men of the East honoured Christ with Myrrh at his Birth III. Myrrh hath a preserving Quality it keeps things from corruption putrifying and rotting Hence the Friends of Christ brought Myrrh Aloes and other Spices for the embalming of his Body after his Crucifixion IV. Myrrh hath a beautifying quality The Virgins that prepared themselves for Ahasuerus made use of Myrrh 'T is good to take away the Wrinkles from the Face and to make the Skin smooth and shining V. Myrrh that which is the right and true Arabia Myrrh is not easily known by the Vulgar as Pliny notes Many cannot make Judgment about it some take the false Indian Myrrh that grows upon a Thorny Plant for the right Sort. VI. Myrrh hath a healing quality Physicians make use of it for the removing of several Distempers Pliny says it dries up Rheums clears the Voice helps the ill Savour of the Breath c. VII Myrrh was the first and principal Ingredient of the holy anointing Oil that was appointed to be made use of for the anointing of Aaron the Tabernacle and the Pertinents thereof 'T is called a Bundle or as Ainsworth reads it a Bag of Myrrh 1. To denote the Plenty or Fulness of that odoriferous Gum. 2. A Bundle or Bag keeps things safe that are of worth The Soul of my Lord shall be bound in the Bundle of Life with Jehovah his God Parallel I. JEsus Christ hath a perfuming Virtue See how the Church describes him for his Fragrancy Who is this that cometh out of the Wilderness like Pillars of
other Stars is fixed in its Orb wherein it performs a constant Motion IX The Morning Star gives most Light just before break of Day X. It is the Opinion of some that the Morning Star doth send forth very blessed Influences upon those Bodies that are under its Dominion XI The Morning Star doth chiefly govern pleasant and delightful Plants XII The Morning Star is accounted the master Planet for Moderation said to cause gentle Storms in Winter and moderate Heat in Summer XIII The Morning Star is said to be the cause of Beauty XIV The Morning Star doth most Service in Winter because the greatest part of that Season is Night and Darkness XV. The Morning Star hath an honourable Name it is called the Son of the Morning XVI The morning Star is known to be the Evening Star as well as the Morning Star and in both respects is useful to the World XVII The Morning Star tho it may be obscured by Mists Fogs Clouds and dark Vapors yet nothing can hinder its Course but it constantly keeps its Motion and Circle in the Heavens cannot be prevailed against by any malignant Power whatsoever Thieves and evil Men like not its Appearance yet cannot obstruct its Motion in the Firmament nor stop its Light from shining on the Earth XVIII The Morning Star as it hath those Properties and Excellencies already exprest so lastly it exceeds all other Stars for Brightness and Glory Parallel I. THe Lord Jesus is a very solid Light whose Glory is not like others who have their Intermissions but he abides steady his Glory and Bright-shining is always alike his whole course of Life was as if it had been but one continued Act of Goodness He is the same in the Morning Noon and Night Yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13.8 II. Jesus Christ he is the Harbinger of the great Joy to all Nations How joyful was that time when the Day-spring from on high did first visit us The People that sat in Darkness saw great Light and to those that dwell in the Vallies of the shadow of Death great Light is risen c. His coming was the fulfilling of God's gracious Promise unto the Fathers and as the blessed manifestation of God's rich Favour and good Will to Man he is also the Fore-runner or the Harbinger of that Dominion that the Just shall have in the Resurrection the morning of the longed-for Day The path of the Just is as a shining Light that shineth more and more to the perfect day Prov. 4.18 The upright shall have Dominion over them in the Morning The Night is far spent the Day is at hand This above all others is the day that the Lord hath made for good Men therein to rejoyce and be glad Psal. 118.24 III. Jesus Christ is not only an Ornament to the Christian Church and Profession far beyond what Moses was to the Jews but even to Heaven it self and the Holy Angels who did not a little rejoyce at his ascending into Heaven God is gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a Trumpet sing Praises to our God sing Praises Psal. 47.5 IV. Jesus Christ is a very pleasant Object to Men that are spiritually inlightned therefore it is that they do ardently desire to be near him and with him where he is David tho he had not so clear a sight and prospect of this bright and morning Star as Men have under the Gospel yet that prospect he had made him use this pious Prayer O when shall I come and appear before God! Psal. 42.2 Then shall I be satisfied when I awake with thy Likeness c. Psal. 17.15 I have a desire saith Paul to depart and to be with Christ c. Phil. 1.23 Those that look for him do also cry Come Lord Jesus come quickly V. Jesus Christ is highly esteemed by all that sail Heaven-wards no steering the right Course without him He gives good Assurance to all that follow him they should not abide in Darkness but have the Light of Life The Following of Christ Jesus is the most certain way to avoid the Rocks the Sands and the Hands of all spiritual and temporal Enemies VI. Jesus Christ is really the most excellent and chiefest Light that ever God set in the Church Moses and the Prophets John Baptist and the three Beloved Apostles Peter James and John and Paul who was most eminent were shining Lights and glorious Stars who adorned the Profession of the Holy Gospel but in all things this Bright and Morning Star infinitely surpassed them in Splendor and Brightness VII Jesus Christ is a great Terror not only to wicked Men but wicked Angels to all that love Darkness more than Light they hate him and fear him they consulted against him and more times than once attempted to pluck this Star out of the Firmament that so they might walk in Darkness carry on their black Designs and Deeds without discovery Satan attempted his Destruction from the Pinacle of the Temple sets a Squadron of the black Regiment to resolve upon his Death knowing him to be the Fore-runner of the Day which Thieves and Robbers cannot endure Come let us kill the Heir c. They hate the Light come not to it lest their Deeds should be reproved They led him to the Brow of the Hill that they might cast him down headlong Luk. 4.29 The evil Angels thought he came too soon Why art thou come to torment us before the time VIII Jesus Christ is constant in his Orb or Station he is a Priest for ever a Prophet to guide for ever a King to govern for ever he leaves not his Office as inconstant Men do but makes good his Word as settled in Heaven And lo I am with you always to the end of the World Mat. 28.20 I will never leave thee nor forsake thee or leave thee to a forsaking IX Jesus gave a great Light unto the World by the Ministry of John by the Appearance of himself and by the Ministry of the Apostles and their immediate Successors But the greatest Light is reserved to the flying of the Angel through the midst of Heaven with the everlasting Gospel before the great and notable Day come wherein the whole Earth shall be lightned with his Glory both Jews and Gentiles shall acknowledg the Blessed Messiah Arise and shine for thy Light is come the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee The Gentiles shall come to thy Light and Kings to the Brightness of thy rising Isa. 60.1 3. The Earth shall be filled with the Knowledg of the Glory of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea Hab. 214. X. Jesus doth send forth very blessed and sweet Influences upon the Bodies and Souls of Men that are under his gracious Rule and Dominion it is he who sends down the Holy Ghost If I go away I will send you another Comforter the Spirit of Truth c. Joh. 16.7 8. XI Jesus Christ tho all
the World besides And thou Lord in the beginning didst lay the Foundations of the Earth and the Heavens are the Work of thy Hands II. Jesus Christ thought it no Robbery to be equal with God And he is not only the bright and Morning-Star but also the Sun of Righteousness see Sun the brightness of his Father's Glory and the express Image of his Person and he upholds all things by the Word of his Power III. Jesus Christ gives internal light which illuminates the Minds and Souls of all Believers This is the true Light who is not only the Light of the World but delivereth also all those that truly follow him out of darkness and bestoweth on them the Light of Life IV. Jesus Christ giveth light continually and can never lose his Glory because a greater Light than he cannot arise The night and the day are alike to him The Light shined in Darkness and the Darkness comprehended it not He is the Lord that is an everlasting Light V. Jesus Christ gives Light to the visible and celestial too to this World and to the World to come or heavenly Jerusalem which City hath no need of Sun or Moon to shine in it but the Lord God and the Lamb is the Light thereof Ye are come to Mount Zion to God the Judg of all and to Jesus the Mediator VI. Jesus shall never fall from Heaven nor be dissolved but abide and continue when the Heavens shall be no more And thou Lord hast laid the Foundations of the Earth and the Heavens are the Work of thine own Hands they shall wax old as doth a Garment and as a Vesture shalt thou shalt fold them up and they shall be changed but thou art the same and thy Years fail not Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever Inferences I. WHat great Love doth God bear and what Care doth he take of Believers in placing such a Star as Jesus Christ is to be a Light unto them to direct them how to steer their Course in the darkest time so as to miss all dangerous Rocks and Sands and to arrive in safety at the desired and longed-for Haven II. How safe are they that do always steer their Course by his Light and follow his Conduct they shall not be at a loss in their Journeys or Voiages nor suffer Shipwrak by Rocks Sands or Storms but shall have the Light of Life shall never perish Believe in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved III. This may shew also the certainty of their perishing in the Dark and in the Deep that continue their Course to the end of their Voiage without the Light and Guidance of this Bright and Morning Star This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness rather than Light because their Deeds are evil VI. Hence all true Christians that have experimentally enjoyed Inlightnings Refreshings and Conduct by Jesus Christ as the Bright and Morning Star may be stirred up and perswaded yet more and more to look unto Jesus who is not only the Author and Finisher of their Faith but causeth his Glorious Light to shine upon their Path by reason whereof the nearer they approach to the end of their joyful Journey or Race the more and more will the Light shine unto the perfect day Take you heed therefore to that more sure word of Prophecy as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place until the Day dawn and the Day-Star arise in your Hearts V. Lastly If Christ be the Bright and Morning Star then let us look and wait for the Day which he is the fore-runner of seeing the Morning Star hath appeared and is up be sure the Day is at hand and a glorious Day it will be to them who are ready and prepared for it The Coming of Christ compared to the Coming of a Thief in the Night 1 Thess. 5.2 But you your selves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so cometh as a Thief in the Night THere are various Opinions concerning the Day of the Lord or the Coming of Christ spoken of Mat. 24. Luke 21. 2 Pet. 3.9 10. and in this Text. But if the Scope of the Text be but carefully considered it will clearly appear that the Coming of Christ here spoken of is his Coming at the last Day to Judgment when the Dead shall be raised Read the latter part of the fourth Chapter c. Why the Day of the Lord is compared to the Coming of a Thief in the Night will appear by the following Parallel Simile I. THe coming of a Thief in the Night is with a design to circumvent an unwatchful House and to take his Prey II. A Thief comes provided for his purpose with a resolution to fight and Instruments to make way to his Design Keys to unlock Doors Bars to break them open or the like III. A Thief comes at a Time when all is still and People are least thoughtful of Danger but are careless at ease even asleep upon their Beds thinking themselves secure till they are invaded and their Goods taken away IV. The coming of a Thief into a House puts the careless Family into a great Fright when they see themselves surprized and cannot tell how to help it V. The approach of a Thief in the Night makes the poor amazed Family to forget all their former Pleasures and Enjoyments and expect no more than their Lives for a Prey and glad would they be of them too VI. At the coming of a Thief in the Night Execution is oftentimes done to the Ruin of the People where he comes Parallel I. THe Coming of Christ or Day of the Lord will be with design to circumvent the careless Professors who sleep in a sinful secure State as if there was no God to fear no Jesus Christ to look for no Heaven to be sought no Hell to be avoided to such he will come and seize them for his Prey to cut them asunder and appoint them their Portion with Vnbelievers and Reprobates II. Even so will the Lord Jesus Christ at his second coming be provided for his purpose with Fire and Sword to accomplish his Design which is to make a Desolation in the Earth For by Fire and Sword shall the Lord plead with all Flesh and the slain of the Lord shall be many He shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in Flames of Fire c. III. The Day of the Lord will come when all is still and the World least thoughtful of Danger but are careless eating and drinking and marrying and sleeping till the Heavens rend asunder the Archangel utter his Voice and the Judg himself come upon them But as the Days of Noah were so shall the coming of the Son of Man be IV. The Day of the Lord will in like manner put the sleepy Generation that shall then be into a great and dismal Fright when
not in his Love and Affection that they are chastised and so often under this and the other exercise of Affliction and this the Spirit labours either by his Word or Ministers and other ways to convince them of 4. By shewing from the Word that the like Afflictions if not greater many of God's Children have met with before them or are now under knowing that the same Afflictions are accomplished in your Brethren that are in the World what are thy Sorrows saith the Spirit to those that holy Job and many of the Blessed Martyrs met with 5. By shewing them the Design and gracious End of God in all his Dispensations and Afflictions he doth it not simply for his own Pleasure as an Act of Soveraignty But for our Profit that we might be partakers of his Holiness This is the fruit of all the taking away of your Sins 't is for the trial of your Graces saith the Spirit When he hath tried me I shall come forth as Gold 'T is to convince the Devil and wicked Men that you are sincere and upright Ones and do not follow Christ for Loaves Doth Job saith Satan fear God for nought But put forth thine hand now and touch all that he hath and he will curse thee to thy Face God saith the Spirit hath brought this and the other Trouble upon thee to clear thy Innocency and to shew that Satan is a Liar 6. By shewing them that all their Afflictions are but short lived that they will soon be over they will last but for a Moment 7. That they will add to their Advantage here and hereafter Our light Affliction which is but for a Moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 'T is saith the Spirit to shew forth the excellent nature of true Grace Faith Love and Patience never shine forth in their proper Lustre and Glory until they come under exercise The trial of your Faith is much more precious than Gold that perisheth tho it be tried with Fire And it will hereby be found unto Praise Honour and Glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. 8. 〈◊〉 â—â—irit comforteth Believers by shewing them that all their Sorrows will in a little 〈◊〉 be turned into Gladness Now ye are sorrowful but I will see you again and your Hearâ—â— shall rejoyee and your Joy no Man taketh away from you Ye shall be sorrowful but you 〈…〉 shall be turned into Joy Those that go forth weeping bearing precious Seed shall doubtless come again rejoycing bringing their Sheaves with them God will give unto them saith the Spirit that mourn in Zion Beauty for Ashes the Oil of Joy for Mourning the Garments of Praise for the Spirit of Heavinesâ—â— that they may be called Trees of Righteousness the planting of the Lord that he maâ—◠〈◊〉 glorified 9. The Spirit comforteth by shewing Believers that all their Sorrows 〈…〉 in this World the wicked have all their sweet things here and the godly have their bitter things here but as the wicked shall have nothing but bitter hereafter so the godly shall have nothing but sweet hereafter Son remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented 10. The Spirit comforteth by convincing Believers that God doth not punish them as their Sins do deserve He hath visited thee little or nothing saith Elibu so the Word will bear it The least Mercy is more than we deserve He hath not dealt with us after our Sins nor rewarded us according â—â—o our Iniquitieâ—â— VIII The holy Spirit sympathizes with every gracious Soul in their Distresses and Troubles according as God in his Word speakes to our Capacities In all their Afflictions he was afflicted his Soul was grieved for Israel And in that of the eighth Chapter to the Romans the Spirit particularly is said to sigh and groan after such a sort that cannot be uttered and hence the Apostle exhorts the Saints not to grieve the holy Spirit of God whereby they are sealed to the day of Redemption IX Likewise the holy Spirit also helps our Infirmities for we know not what to pray for as we ought But the Spirit it self maketh Intercession for us with Groans which cannot be uttered And he that searcheth the Hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh Intercession for the Saints according to the Will of God Rom. 8.26 27. Hence the word Advocate or Comforter X. The holy Spirit searches the Heart and Reins of every Soul he comes to comfort to discover the State and Condition of a Person to him David crys out Search me O God and know my Heart c. I the Lord search the Heart c. He that searches the Heart c. The Spirit searches all things c. XI So the holy Spirit is sometimes slighted and grieved through the Power of Temptation by a Believer and his sweet and heavenly Advice is not minded nor followed as it ought to be but all Comfort is rejected for a time but afterwards tho sometimes long first the Soul with Joy takes hold of it XII The Holy Spirit keeps the Heart of a Believer from utter Despondency and greatly revives and consolates him hence the Apostle saith God hath given us everlasting Consolation and good hope through Grace we are troubled on every side but not in Distress we are perplexed but not in despair I have seen his ways and will heal him also and restore Comforts to him c. XIII The holy Spirit knows there is an absolute necessity for him not only to give the Saints a Visit and immediately be gone but also to abide with them always for they cannot be without his glorious Presence one Moment It 's true sometimes they may be without his eminent comforting Presence which causes the Church to cry the Comforter that should relieve my Soul is far from me yet his supporting Presence is ever with them I will pray the Father and he shall send you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth c. and he is said to dwell in us and to make his Abode with us But if the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the Dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the Dead shall also quicken your mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you XIV The Holy Spirit is exceedingly prized and much beloved by every godly Man but more especially when they find by Experience the great Worth of him and the great Good and Profit they receive by his means XV. The Holy Spirit deals faithfully with every Man he will not speak Peace to any Person but to those to whom it doth belong nor at a time when the Soul is fallen into any Sin or under some great Temptation to sin but will at such times rather rebuke and
the Forehead c. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the Grass of the Earth neither any green thing neither any Tree but only those Men which have not the Seal of God upon their Forehead IX The Spirit is oftimes counterfeited by Satan who transforms himself into an Angel of Light as do his Ministers as if they were the Ministers of Righteousness hence they pretend to Light Spirit and Holiness and beguile the ignorant and unwary Souls to their Eternal Ruine X. The Holy Spirit hath hid or seal'd up some things from some Men Bind up my Temstiony seal the Law amongst my Disciples Many things are hid from Saints themselves in dark and mysterious Prophecies in the Holy Scripture Seal up those things which the seven Thunders uttered c. Yet in due time those things shall be revealed and not only so but the Saints of God themselves by the Spirit are such a sealed and hidden People that but a very few can read and understand them though legible to be read of all the chosen and elect Seed and Heirs of Promise and in that great Day they shall be known by all the World METAPHOR A Seal among Men after a Bond or Covenant is sealed therewith may be defaced or broken and thereby the said Bond or Covenant may lose its Virtue Efficacy and not be deemed good and Authentick in Law II. A Seal among Men can make no Impression without a Hand or one to seal therewith III. A Seal is an Instrument made by the hand of some Artificer of earthly Matter or Substance and makes only a humane or external Impression IV. A Seal may be lost or grow old and defective and so make no perfect and clear Impression Disparity THe Holy Spirit having once made a gracious and glorious Impression in the Soul of a Man neither Devil nor any other Enemy can ever by all their Strength and Skill utterly deface tear or break it so as to make the Covenant of Grace to lose its Virtue and become of none Effect to the Soul hence Believers are said To be sealed to the day of Redemption II. The Spirit is not only the Seal but the Sealer he makes the Impression needing no other and also is the Seal by which the Impression is made III. The Spirit is an uncreated Being or an immortal Substance and makes a divine and heavenly Impression in the Mind or Soul of a Man or Woman which by the operation of God's Grace is made pliable and meet to receive it IV. The Spirit can never be lost grow old be wore out or become defective so that the Impression it now makes is the same in every respect with that it made five thousand Years ago Inferences FRom hence we may perceive by whom the Change or Difference is made which is in any Person Man is born in Sin and rather resembles Satan bears his Image than the Character and Likeness of God Almighty till the Holy Spirit stamps a new and heavenly Character upon them or infuses a spiritual Habit into him Who makes thee to differ from another or what hast thou which thou hast not received c. II. It may serve to stir every one up to examine their Hearts whether they have received the Impression of this Spiritual Seal as is the Seal such is the Impression it makes They that are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit But we all with open Face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. III. For further Trial take these few brief Notes following 1. Were your Hearts ever humbled in the sence of Sin broken in pieces melted made soft and pliable to receive the Seal The Heart of Man naturally is hard and obdurate and will not take this spiritual Impression 2. Did the Spirit ever set home and seal any Promise in particular or Promises in general upon your Hearts so that you can say with the Prophet David Lord remember the word unto thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope Psal. 119.49 The Ephesians are said to be sealed with the Spirit of Promise Eph. 1.13 3. Are you formed into the Likeness and Image of the Spirit There is in that Soul that is sealed by the Spirit a certain Impression of Divine Light former Darkness flies away and the Eyes of the Understanding are enlightned the Soul sees an Excellency in God and in Jesus Christ a transcendent Beauty in divine Objects and values the Knowledg of Jesus Christ and him crucified above all the things in this World 4. Are you holy heavenly spiritual are there Principles of true Piety and Godliness wrought in you Do you love God because he is holy and love his Word because of the purity of it Do you breath and pant after a further Conformity and Likeness to him 5. Is thy Heart washed from its Filthiness If thou art not cleansed from thy former Wickedness and swinish Nature thou mayest assure thy self thou hast not the Spirit of God in thee thou art far from being sealed therewith 'T is by the virtue of those Promises that are imprinted upon the Soul by the Holy-Gost that a Man comes to cleanse himself from all Filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit and to perfect Holiness in the Fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 6. Doth not thy Heart condemn thee for allowing thy self in any known Sin or for living in the continual neglect of any one known Duty The Spirit witnesseth with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Where it is a sealing Spirit it is a witnessing Spirit It compares the Heart and Life of a Man with the Rule of the Word and if the Bent and Stream of the Soul be Heaven-ward and his sincere Design is after God and to live to him in this World as well as to live with him in the World to come to be holy here as well as to be happy hereafter then the Spirit witnesses for him But if otherwise it witnesses against him and his own Spirit condemns him IV. Moreover this may inform sincere Christians to their unspeakable Joy how firm and sure the Covenant of Grace is to them They are sealed with the holy Spirit unto the Day of Redemption they are mark'd for Heaven and cannot lose their Title to the eternal Inheritance because they cannot lose the Seal of it As they have received the Earnest of it so they have the Witness and Seal of it that it might be every way firm and sure to them V. Let all who profess the Gospel and pretend to the Spirit strive to get this Seal 'T is not enough to read of the Covenant of God and to have some external knowledg of it and dispute about it but labour to get it sealed to you by the holy Spirit VI. If the Spirit be the Earnest and Seal of this blessed Inheritance
live a godly Life to keep a good Conscience towards God and towards Men these are part of those things the Spirit guides Men in and such who thus live are led by the Spirit of God and are the Sons of God THE Word of God Compared To LIGHT The Fourth Head of Metaphors Allegories Similitudes and other borrowed Terms in Scripture that relate to the most Sacred Word of GOD. Psal. 119.105 Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a Dark place c. 2 Cor. 4.4 6. Least the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine upon them c. In handling this Metaphor we will 1. Shew what Light is 2. Give its various acceptations 3. Run the Parallel and largely open the Properties of Gospel Light Concluding with Practical Improvements upon that and some Dependant and Collateral Points LIght properly taken is thus defined Lux est claritas seu splendor in Corpore luminoso vel extra a corpore luminoso exiens that is Light is a Clarity Brightness or Splendor in a luminous body or proceeding from it It is called in Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or from whence comes the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cerno to behold which cannot be done but where there is light The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Maor is properly a lightsome or lucid body as the Sun Moon Stars Gen. 1.14 15 The Greeks call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 17.2 Act. 26.23 the Latines lux and lumen It is threefold viz. there is a Natural light a light of Grace and a light of Glory the first is common to all that have the Sense of Seeing the second to Believers only on Earth the third to the Saints and glorified Spirits in Heaven The second sort of which we treat proceeds from Christ who is called the light Joh. 1. and his Gospel which is also called Light because it has the same influence and Efficacy in illuminating the Minds of Men which without it are spiritually dark as the Sun and other lucid bodies have to help our Corporal Eyes in the discovery of Objects Light Metaphorically is put for life it self Job 3.16 20 21. 2. For any Prosperity and Joy of Mind arising from thence Esth. 8.16 3. For the open and manifest state of things Matth. 10.27 Zeph. 3.5 Joh. 3.21 1 Cor. 4.5 4. For Favour and Good Will Prov. 16.15 5. For the Mistery of Regeneration 1 With respect to the Organical Cause of it viz. the Word and Spirit of God Psal. 43. Prov. 6.23 Isa. 2.5.20 2 Cor. 4.6 1 John 2.8 2 With respect to the formal Cause which is the Saving knowledge of Christ and true Faith Act 26.18 Eph. 5.8 1 Pet. 2.9 1 John 1.7 Hence Believers are called the Sons of Light Luk. 16.8 Eph. 5.8 1 Thes. 5.5 and the Graces of the Spirit and effects thereof the Armour of Light Rom. 13.12 3 VVith respect to the final Cause the last scope and effect of Faith which is life Eternal Isa. 6O 19 20. Joh. 8.12 Act. 26.23 2 Tim. 1.10 c. More particularly by a Metaphor Light is put for Knowledge Dan. 5.11 Isa. 60.3 For Beleivers Eph. 5.8 For the Ministers of the Gospel Matth. 5.14 For God himself 1 Joh. 1.5 Natural light was the first perfect Creature that God made of this visible world Gen. 1.3 Light is put for the Morning Neh. 8.3 And he read unto them from the light so the Hebrew until Midday Noon light in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Zocharajim signifies double light or that which is extraordinary shining The Devil is called an Angel of Light 2 Cor. 11.14 that is by himself or Agents he assumes a specious and seeming Sanctity on purpose to insnare and deceive the Godly God is said to dwell in unapproachable Light 1 Tim. 6. that is in such transcendent Glory that no Mortal Eye can approach unto There is nothing so illustrious and glorious as Light hence the joyes of Heaven are set out by it In what respect the Word or Gospel is compared to Light take as followeth METAPHOR 1. Light is pleasant and very Comfortable Truly Light is sweet saith Solomon and a pleasant thing it is for the Eyes to see the Sun How grevious is it to be blind or to be kept in a deep and dark Dungion without seeing or beholding the Light 2. Light hath a penetrating quality it is of such a piercing and subtil Nature that it conveys it self into the least Crevise you can hardly make a Fence so Close as wholly to keep out light 3. Light makes manifest Great Light discovers and makes things manifest causing them to appear as they are in their proper nature which in the dark many times are taken to be that which indeed they are not When you would see what a thing is that you may make a true Judgment of it you bring it to the Light Whatsoever maketh manifest saith the Apostle is Light 4. Light hath a Directive vertue it Guides men in their way the Traveller by the Benefit of Light sees what path to keep and how to avoid the Dangers that may attend should he turn to the Right hand or to the Left 5. Light hath a Chearing Warming and Reviving Quality Light contributes much to the Vegetation Growth and Life of Plants and other Creatures Light and Motion are the cause of heat which the Heavenly Bodies send down upon the Earth Light is that Instrument whereby all Influences of Heaven are communicated and dispersed to the World 6. Light hath a purging and purifying Vertue Fogs and Mists that are gathered in Darkness are dispersed and scattered when the Light comes hence Light is called the refining-pot of Nature The World saith a worthy Divine would be an unwholsom Pesthouse if it had no Light 7. Light is of an undefileable Nature Tho' it passeth through sinks and most polluted places yet it Contracts no defilement it cleanseth all things but is defiled by nothing 'T is a quality so spiritual that nothing can fasten upon it to pollute it 8. Light is Glorious for beauty and splendor Hence the Glory of Heaven is called Light There is nothing of all created beings so Glorious as the Sun and light is a resplendency and shining forth of it Parallel 1. The Word or Gospel of Jesus Christ is very pleasant and a delightful thing How woful was the state of England in former times when men were kept in the Dungeon of Popish Darkness without the Precious Light of Gods Word Light is compared to Gladness and a good Day many Good Days have we enjoyed since God sent out his Light and Truth amongst us 2. The Word of God is of a searching and penitrating nature the Apostle saith it is quick
and powerful sharper than any two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and Intents of the heart 'T is a hard matter for a Man tho' never so wicked to shut out or Prevent the Light of Gods Word from darting into and piercing of his Evil and accusing Conscience 3. The Word and blessed Gospel of Christ is so Great a Light that it makes wonderful Discoveries to the Children of Men. 1. It makes Manifest not only that there is a God but also what a God he is Not only his Being but also his manner of Being 2. It Discovers the Creation of the World 3. The State of Man before he fell and after his Fall 4. The horrid nature of Sin 5. The secret Counsel and Eternal Love of God to lost Man together with the severity of God towards the fallen Angels 6. It makes known the Lord Jesus Christ and his Blessed Design in coming into the World his Incarnation Nativity Life Death Resurrection Ascension and Intercession c. 7. It Discovers how God is to be Worshipped all his Laws Ordinances and Institutions are revealed by it 8. It discovers the True Church which otherwise cannot be known 9. Lastly It makes manifest whatsoever is needful or necessary to be known believed or practiced in order to Salvation 4. The VVord of God Directs and Guides Men in the Right way Hence David saith Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a light unto my pathes God is Gracious to mankind in this respect viz. he leaves them not at an uncertainty without an infallible Guide in matters of Religion Take away this Unâ—â—erring Rule and what confusion would the Christian VVorld be in one Man might say this is the way and another that I walk saith one by the Guidance of the Spirit and so saith another that teacheth quite Contrary things Saith a third you are both out of the way 't is I alone that am led by Inspiration and ye are in Darkness Others plead for the Pope and General Counsels which have been miserably Contradictory one to another and none of these can Give better Demonstrations touching the truth of what they Preach or Practice then the Rest being not able to Confirm their Doctrine by Miracles and so consequently how shall a poor doubtful Soul be directed in the way to heaven by either or any of them For were not the holy Scriptures the Rule but Contrariwise the Light within or Inspiration c. then must a Man be able to Confirm and Prove what he sayeth in such a way or by such means that no Deceiver or Impostor can pretend unto or do the like But is not the Spirit of God above the Scriptures which you call the VVord did not the Spirit give forth the Scriptures if so sure then that is of the Greatest Authority and only Light that can best Direct men Into the right way That the holy Spirit or third Person of the holy Trinity is a Greater Light then the holy Scripture is not Denied by vertue of which holy men of old were Inspired that gave them forth yet the Question is VVhether any Man now hath such a measure of the Spirit in him which is a greater Light than the written word and to whom others are bound to adhere and be directed by for 't is this only which is Denied 5. The word and Gospel of Christ hath a Chearing and Quickning Vertue This is my comfort in my affliction thy word hath Quickened me And in another place I will never forget thy precepts for with them thou hast Quickend me As 't is grevious to be Spiritually blind or in the Dark Region and Dungeon of Idolatry Sin and Unbelief so on the other hand how comfortable is it to enjoy the blessed word and Gospel of Jesus Christ. 6. The VVord and Gospel of Christ hath a Cleansing Purging and purifying Vertue in it Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy word Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you The Gospel and word of God Disperseth and Scattereth all the Fogs and Mists of Darkness and Error It is the refining-pot of Truth VVhat an unwholsome Pesthouse would the VVorld be in a Spiritual Sence were it not for the Light and Excellent Vertue of Gods holy VVord 7. The VVord and Gospel of God is very pure and of an undefilable Nature what filthy sinks hath it past through and what means hath been used by the Popish Adversaries and others to Corrupt and Polute it and yet no defilement cleaveth to it it remaines unmixed and pure still shining forth Gloriously such is the Excellent nature of it it purifieth the hearts and lives of men and nothing can fasten upon it to polute it 8. The VVord and Gospel of Christ is called by the Apostle The Glorious Gospel the Gospel is exceeding full of Glory There is nothing in it but that which is very Glorious Here you have a Resplendency and Shining forth of the Sun of Righteousness Gloria quasi clara saith Aquinas because Glory is the bright shining forth of Excellency now its transcendent Excellency and Splendor shines forth as may be demonstrated many wayes 1. It s Glorious in Respect of the Author and Fountain from whence it proceeds 2. 'T is Glorious in a Comparative sence 3. 'T is Glorious in respect of it Self First As light is Glorious because it is the most Excellent Rayes Resplendency and Shinings forth of the Sun so is the Gospel because 't is the glorious shining forth and resplendency of Jesus Christ the Sun of Righteousness Secondly 'T is glorious in a comparative sence it Excells the Law hence called a better Testiment tho' that was glorious yet it had no glory in this respect by Reason of the glory that Excelleth I. The Gospel excels the Law in respect of the names of the one and the names of the other 1. The Law is called the Letter the Gospel the Ministration of the Spirit 2. The Law is called a Ministration of death the Gospel a Ministrator of life II. The gospel excels in glory above the law 1. In regard of the light and perspicuity of it the law was full of obscurity clothed with many Ceremonies and mysterious Sacrifices 2. They were at a great loss touching the main drift and end thereof 2 Cor. 3.13 God spake as it were under a Vail III. The gospel is clear and plain Christ beheld heard handled c. the Mysteries long hid open'd and explained fully we behold with open face c. IV. The law was appointed to be but a leading Ministration and in subserviency to the gospel our Schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. V. The gospel more glorious or excels the law in respect of the strength of the one and weakness of
the other what the law could not do in that it was weak through the Flesh God sent forth his Son c. The law wounds but can't heal it shews a man he is dead but it can't give him life it shews man he is naked but it cannot cloth him The gospel gives life heals clothes and comforts the one shews we are in Prison the other brings us out no Salvation by the one and none without the other VI. The gospel excels in glory above the law in regard of the discovery there is made therein of the Mercy and Grace of God the one shews God is just and severe and will not clear the guilty the other shews he is not only just but also gracious If any grace shone forth under the law it was only beams of gospel light darting forth darkly in it VII The gospel is more glorious in regard of the chief Administrators of the one and of the other The one were 1 Angels if the VVord spoken by Angels were stedfast who have received the law by the disposition of Angels and have not kept it 2. Moses a Servant one that spake on earth Heb. 12.25 The other Christ the Lord of life and glory who speaks from heaven How shall we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven VIII The gospel excels the law in respect of Preisthood Aaron and his Sons were Priests of the law Christ is the only Priest of the gospel 1. The Priests of the law were Men no more than Men Christ God-Man 2. They had infirmities sin and guilt in their hearts and lives as well as others Christ had none in his Mouth was found no guile 3. They were made Priests without an Oath but Christ with an Oath Heb. 7.21 so greater solemnity at his instalment into Office 4. They could not continue by reason of Death and they truly were many because shey were not suffered to continue by reason of death but Christ dieth not he ever liveth to make intercession for us but this man because he continueth for ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood 5. Christ was more merciful and filled with greater bowels than they he hath compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way Heb. 5.2 6. Christ as Priest was the substance the Antitype of Aaron and his Priest-hood 7. There is compleatness and perfection in Christs Priesthood but it was not so touching Aarons If therefore perfection were by the Levitical Priest c. the law that made nothing perfect IX The Priesthood of Christ under the gospel excels Aarons in respect of Work and Office c. 1. He was to enter into the holy place 2. To appear before God 3. To bear the sins of the People Exod. 28.38 4. To make an Atonement Lev. 16.32 5. To Judge of Uncleanness Lev. 13.2 6. To offer Incense Lev. 16.17.8 7. To determine Controversies Deut. 17.8 8. To Bless the People and many other things which Jesus Christ infinitely Excels in 1. Christ is entered into the true Holy Place Sanctum Sanctorum the Holy of Holies Heaven it self 2. He appears really before God for us being set down on the right hand of the Majesty on High c. 3. He hath as the great Anti-type born our sins upon his own Body on the Tree 4. He hath made a compleat and perfect Attonement 5. He Judges of our uncleanness both of the Heart as well as of the Flesh. 6. He resolves all our Doubts ends Controversies speaks peace to the disconsolate a word in season to him that is weary 7. He offers Incense And there was given to him much Incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints 8. He gives down Blessings Him hath God sent to bless you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities c. IX The gospel excels the law in respect of Sacrifices 1. Those Sacrifices under the law were not so Excellent there was not that worth in them as is in the Sacrifices of the gospel What was the blood of Bulls Bullocks and Lambs these were part of those Legal Sacrifices Christ offered up his own Body poured forth his precious Blood to take away our sins 2. They were offered often to Atone for Iniquity dayly every year But Christ hath offered up himself in Sacrifices once for all by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are Sanctified that which they were alwayes or continually a doing and yet could not accomplish he did by one single Sacrifice and that for ever X. The law required perfect righteousness and nothing less would be accepted and so consequently no soul could thereby be delivered from terror and bondage but the gospel through Christs perfect righteousness acted in his own Person for us accepts of Sincerity in the room and stead of the perfect keeping the whole Law XI In respect of the extent of the one and of the other The law was only given to Israel or unto the lineal Seed of Abraham and to the Proselyte Stranger he dealt his Laws and Statutes to Israel he did not so to any Nation c. The gospel is extended to all People and Nations under the whole Heavens Go into all the World and preach the Gospel to every Creature Mar. 16.15 VVhosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have eternal Life XII The gospel excels the law in the easiness and sweetness of it the precepts of the law were many more in number and hard to learn and remember and very difficult and painful some of them to do particularly Circumcision and also very chargeable beyond what the Gospel is My yoak is easie and my burden is light XIII The gospel is glorious above the law in regard of the Promises of it called better Promises better Covenant better Hope Heb. 7.19 XIV It is more glorious in respect of its Duration the law was but for a time the Servant abides not in the house for ever but the Son abides for ever an everlasting Covenant an everlasting Priesthood an everlasting Gospel No other Ministration is to be looked for till the end of the VVorld Thirdly The gospel is glorious in respect of it self here we shall be large If we have respect to the Historical part the gospel contains a glorious history there is that in it which may affect every person please every Curiositâ—â— what is there in any History which may Commend or illustrate its glory and excellency which the gospel comes short in 1. Some Persons delight to Read and hear Histories that treat of Love and amorous stories 2. Some are more affected with such that treat of Martial-Exploits or Atchievements of Wars of the conquering of Kingdoms and Nations and overcoming mighty Champions c. 3. Some rather Commend such Histories that treat of those great rarities which are in many Nations and Kingdoms of the world and of the Cities Lawes Customes and
and follow the holy Rules and Directions thereof VI. The gospel is Called the Power of God to Salvation i. e. a mighty and glorious Instrument or means of Gods saving Power Metalepsis VII The gospel is called the Joyful sound the law was a sound of Fears and Terror a sound or voice of words that were Exceeding Dreadful The Gospel is the Antitype of the sounding the Trumpet of the great Jubilee to proclaim full Liberty and Freedom from all bondage and Tyranny of Sin Satan Hell and Wrath. VIII The gospel is called the unsearchable Riches of Christ. 1. It shews how Rich our Mediator and Husband is In him are hid all the Treasures of wisdom and knowledge it pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwell 2. It shews the nature of his Riches both of grace and glory 3. The gospel makes all spiritualy and gloriously Rich who truly Receive it tho' never so poor before 4. All true Riches are communicated to us through the gospel such that would have this golden Ore must dig in this Mine this is the Field where the Pearl lies hid IX The gospel is called the word of Faith 1. It presents the object before the Soul 2. It opens the way to see this Object 3. It gives by means of the Spirit a hand to take hold of the Object X. The gospel is called the faithful word Because whatever its promises are they be faithfully performed XI 'T is called the Ministration of the Spirit because through it Persons come to receive the Spirit Received ye saith the Apostle the spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of Faith XII It is called the gospel of Salvation 1. It Interesteth the Soul through the Spirit into Salvation as well as shews the way of it 2. There is no other way of Salvation but that which is revealed or manifested therein XIII 'T is called the glorious gospel of God 1. The glory of God shines forth in it 2. It was the glorious contrivance of his eternal wisdom 3. It wholly Exalts God and sets him forth in all his blessed and most glorious Attributes and Perfections beyond what any other Ministration doth whatsoever XIV The gospel is called a Book 1. Yea it is a Book by the inspiration of God as all holy Scriptures were All other books save the Bible are humane but this is Sacred and Divine 2. There is a Blessing pronounced to him that reads this book 3. And a much greater Blessing to him that understands it and keeps the things therein contained 4. 'T is a Book of all truth and no error can that be said of any other book 5. 'T is a Book Ratified and Confirmed by wonders 6. 'T is a Book that all other books point to Moses points to it the Prophets point to it all holy books of godly Men point to it 7. 'T is a book that all good and godly books are taken out of 8. 'T is a book that hath filled the world with good and profitable Books These things considered may serve as a sound Gradation to set forth the glory of the gospel and word of God Thirdly To come more directly unto the thing it self to set forth and further illustrate the glory and splendour of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 1. 'T is glorious in respect of the time and contrivance of it It was found out or contrived before the world began Hence Christ is said to be a Lamb slain before the foundation of the world 2. It is brought in as the result of that great and glorious Council which was held in Eternity Hence Jesus Christ our Mediator is said to be delivered up by the determinate Counsel and fore-knowledge of God God that is Father Son and Holy Ghost all agreed that the second Person should assume Mans nature and by shedding of his blood proclaim Peace and reconciliation to sinners The Counsel of Peace saith the Prophet shall be between them both Zech. 6.13 3. It may not be unnecessary to note here the matter this great Council had before them and did then debate about and that was how a way might be found out that God might display his own Glory and magnifie himself in every one of his glorious Attributes particularly how the two great Attributes of Justice and Mercy might meet together in sweet harmony and shine in equal glory that God who is Just might appear so and yet exceeding gracious 4. It was to find out a way how in a glorious manner God might destroy the works and designs of the Devil for to this purpose we Read the Son of God was manifested 5. It was a Council held upon the account of sinful man lost man whom God then saw dead and fallen how he might be delivered from sin and eternal wrath 't was not a Council held to ruine and destroy men but to save and make them happy This is the third thing to illustrate this Great truth that the gospel or word of Christ is a glorious Gospel Fourthly The gospel is glorious upon the consideration of that Revelation there is in it of God personally considered or the Persons of the Blessed Trinity or Gods manner of being 1. Though God is often called a Father in the old Testament yet how hard is it without help of the gospel to find out where he is so called or taken in distinction from the Son and holy Spirit sith Father as many Divines observe in some places of Scripture respects all the three Persons and hence the Jewish Rabbies who allow not of the new Testament manifestly declare their Ignorance touching this Great Truth of the Trinity tho' that may in part be imputed to that Judicial blindness they are left under yet it must be granted there is in the gospel a more clear and full discovery of this glorious Mystery then in the Law or old Testament how plainly and by manifest testimony is this bore witness to 1. By the Angels Luk. 1.32 2. By that Voice from the Excellent glory Mat. 3.17 2 Pet. 1.17 3. By the testimony of Christ himself I thank thee Father Lord of Heaven and Earth even so Father the Father that sent me is with me the Father loveth the Son the Father hath not left me alone I and my Father are one and 't is observed that he calls God Father near an hundred times in the gospel of John 4. By the Testimony of the holy Apostles how clearly is this witnessed by them especially by the Blessed beloved Apostle and Paul the great Apostle of the Gentiles Fifthly The gospel appears yet to be more glorious upon the Consideration of the glory of every one of the Persons in the blessed Trinity which shine forth most excellently therein I. In respect of the Father who did not design to vail his own glory but to greaten and magnifie it by the gospel For tho' the Lord Jesus is
held forth in the gospel touching his Deity to be Equal with the Father yet this doth not must not lessen or diminish the Fathers glory all are to honour the Son as they honour the Father but not above the Father nay what can or ever did demonstrate or greaten the honour which is due to God the Father like the honour and adoration ascribed and given to him by the Lord Jesus as Mediator O how did he strain to set out and promote the Glory of God the Father My Doctrine is not mine but the fathers that sent me As the living father sent me and I live by the Father c. My father is Greater than I I Honour my father but ye dishonour me for I have not spoken of my self but the Father which sent me he giveth me commandment what I should say and what I should speak VVherein doth the gospel manifest the Fathers glory The Fathers glory shines forth therein to Admiration in respect of his infinite Grace Love and Rich Bounty to poor perishing men 1. Whatever Relief succour and saving Benefit any sinners do Receive in this world or have the promise of Receiving in the world to come the Gospel wholly ascribes it in the first place to God the Father his Compassion his Bowels and his Love and Bounty is set forth in the gospel to be such to his poor Creatures that no tongue is able to Express it He is great and glorious Alexander is said to give like himself be sure the Father hath hath out done him and Araunah too He gives not to Kings but like a King yea like the King of Kings he is wonderful in grace and rich bounty he is wonderful II. Consider what it is he hath given what he hath parted with for and to poor sinners has he not parted with his Choicest Jewel his best and Choicest treasure God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him might not perish but have everlasting life If it had been a Servant his Noah his Abraham his Moses his David his grace and bounty had been great but alas they could not Redeem us none were found worthy to open the Book nor loose the Seals thereof amongst all the Children of men or Saints of God that ever lived Or had it been an Angel one of the glorious Seraphims or Cherubims the favour had been unspeakable considering what we were but to think it was and must be his Son his only begotten Son that lay in his Bosom his dearly and welbeloved Son in whom he was well pleased a Son that never offended a glorious Son the Joy and Delight of his heart III. Consider whether he sent this his dear Son and wherefore 1. He sent him into the World 2. Into a sad World into a strange Country where he was not known 3. He sent him amongst Enemies amongst wicked men such that hated him and his Father 4. Nay amongst Devils 5. He sent him to be Abased he was Vilified Contemned and Spit upon He was despised and rejected of men 6. Nay he sent him to Die to pour forth his Soul to Death to become a Ransom for many he commanded him to lay down his Life IV. Consider for whose sake he sent him to suffer all this 1. Was it for his Friends such that he was beholden to 2. Or was it for some dear Relation 3. Or was it for some worthy or deserving Creature that had Merited such Favour and Grace from him No it was for such that were his Enemies who Deserved nothing but Hell and Eternal Wrath for ever V. And Lastly Consider what was his great and glorious design in all this 1. Which was to make peace God was in Christ Reconciling the world to himself 2. To Espouse and Marry poor Sinners to himself for ever 3. To Convey a gracious and Legal Pardon to them and to wash them from their sins in the blood of his Everlasting Covenant 4. To bestow the blessing of Adoption upon them i. e. to make such his own Children by Favour and Grace who were his Enemies and Children of Wrath by nature 5. To Purchase a Kingdom for them 6. To save them from Eternal wrath and death and to bestow upon them Eternal Life And thus the glorious Mercy of God the Father shines forth in the gospel for these things fully set forth that the Father is gracious And in the next place let me speak a little of his Justice also for his glorious Justice as well as Mercy shines forth in the Gospel First It must be considered that Justice as well as Mercy is in God as his Mercy is Infinite so is his Justice Secondly It must be granted also that Justice was injured by the Fall and Sin of Man and called for Satisfaction which was signified 1. By the Execution of the Sentence pronounced upon the account of Mans Disobedience 2. By turning him out of the Garden 3. By the flaming Sword 4. By the Law upon Mount Sinai 5. By many severe expressions and fearful Threatnings mentioned in the holy Scriptures God is angry with the wicked every day his Soul lothed them he has whet his Sword c. Thirdly In the next place consider Justice must be satisfied or we must be Damned that God will not save in a way of Mercy to the wronging of his Justice Fourthly It behoveth us therefore to know what will satisfie Gods Justice and appease his wrath And indeed nothing less will do this than perfect and compleat Obedience to the Law for the time to come and a plenary compensation for the wrong done in time past Thou must be holy pure without sin in thine own person or have such a Righteousness by Faith imputed to thee What will the sinner now do may be he will say I will cast my self upon the Mercy of God that is thy only way but if thou hast not an eye to the Attonement and Satisfaction made by Christ Jesus thou wilt Perish notwithstanding for he that said he was Gracious Merciful abundant in Goodness and Truth said also he would by no means acquit the Guilty The gospel shews Gods Wrath must be appeased and that it must be appeased by Sacrifices but if we should Sacrifice a 1000 Rams or 10000 Rivers of Oyl nay do as the Gentiles did Sacrifice our Children or cause them to pass through the fire as the Jews did to Moloch and give the fruit of our Body for the Sin of our Soul it will not be accepted And as a Child cannot by being Sacrificed make an attonement for Sin neither can any mans Brother do it for him they that trust in their wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their Riches none of them can by any means Redeem his Brother nor give to God a Ransom for him for the Redemption of their soul is precious c. What will the
but may affect our hearts the gospel is a glorious Subject but 't is Christ who is the glorious Subject of the gospel as all we have flowes from or through the gospel to us so all the gospel hath in it flowes from Christ. That he is excellent and glorious in this respect is expresly declared in the holy Scripcures Thou art more Excellent saith the Psalmist speaking of Christ than the mountains of Prey And in another place Thou art fairer than the Children of Men or sons of Adam Grace is poured into thy Lips My Beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest amongst ten thousand he is altogether Lovely He is the brightness of the Fathers Glory and the Express Image of his Person That his glory is very great might be demonstrated by two or three Arguments 1. Because he is the Object of the Fathers Delight nay the Father himself commends his beauty and glory to the Children of Men. 2. Because in that the holy Angels are taken with him the Angels stand and wonder he was seen of Angels such a Person they never beheld before and they worship him 3. Because Saints and all truly enlightened Souls do admire him and know not how to set him forth Paul accounted all things loss for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ. 4. He is called the desire of all Nations 1. There is enough in him to fill the desire of all Nations 2. None ever in any Nation that had a true sight of him but did desire him 3. The Nations will never be satisfied until they have and do enjoy him and are under the Influences of his glorious grace and government 5. Because there never were any who saw his glory but did admire it Wherein doth his personal Excellencies consist In his being Man such a Man there is one God and one mediator between God and man THE man Christ Jesus Compared with Acts 2.22 Heb. 7.24 What a Man is Christ A Man of Men the Son of Man a Man without spot fault or stain of sin the Excellency of humane Nature made like unto us in all things sin only excepted He is not only glorious in respect of his being man such a man but in respect of his being God also in this he Excels Oh here in this his glory shines forth as the light The Spirit shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the son of God 1. He is called God but unto the Son he saith thy Throne O God is for ever and ever c. 2. Not only God but the Mighty God His name shall be called wonderful counseller the mighty God the everlasting Father c. 3. Not only God the mighty God but also the true God And we are in him that is true even in his son Jesus Christ this is the true God and eternal Life 4. He is called the only wise God Lastly He is called God blessed for ever whose are the Fathers and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is God blessed for ever amen Secondly The gospel declares that he made the world this proves that Christ is God and greatly magnifies his glory he that made the world must needs be God Eternal for none could do that but the glorious Jehovah 't is ridiculous and most absurd to think that the Creature could make it self before it self was God in respect of his Infinite glory and wisdom upon this account expostulateth and reasoneth with his People glorying if I may so say in the Greatness of his Power and Majesty and thereby proving his unwordable Essence and dreadful Godhead Isa. 40. and all the Gods of these Nations to be but Idols and that the same power in respect to creating which is ascribed to the Father is attributed to Jesus Christ. See Joh. 1.1 2. for by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible c. Compared with Heb. 2.10 Thirdly The gospel shews that Jesus Christ did not only create but also doth uphold all things that are created who being the brightness of his glory and the express Image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sins sat down on the Right-hand of the Majesty on high c. he is before all things and by him all things consist Fourthly The gospel shews that Jesus Christ knows all things such Knowledge is too wonderful for Men or Angels In several places of Scripture the blessed God doth prove his glorious Being by his Omnisciency and that the like in respect of Knowledge is said of Christ is evident and he said unto him Lord thou knowest all things Joh. 21.17 Compared with Joh. 2.24 25. but Jesus did not commit himself unto them because he knew all men and needed not that any should testifie of him for he knew what was in man in another place 't is said he knew from the beginning who they were that believed not and who should betray him Fifthly The gospel declares that Jesus Christ searches the heart tho' this Argument depends upon the last yet for Illustration sake I make another of it he that searches the heart ought to be acknowledged and owned to be the Almighty and Eternal God for who can find out the depths and deceits thereof but the Infinite Majesty the Heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it I the Lord search the heart and try the Reins as if he should say there is none save my self alone knoweth or can know it but that the Lord Jesus who died for our sins searcheth the Heart and the Reins he himself positively asserts it Rev. 2.23 I will kill her Children with Death speaking of the woman Jezebel and all the Churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the Reins and the Heart and I will give unto every one according as his work shall be Sixthly The gospel shews that Jesus Christ is the First and the Last and he that is the First and the Last must of necessity be acknowledged to be the everlasting and eternal God for from this very ground and consideration the Almighty argues and reasons with his people of old to convince them of his Deity and that there is no other God besides himself I AM the first and I am the last and besides me there is no God Compared with Isa. 48.12 Hearken unto me O Jacob and Israel my called I am be I am the first and I am the last c. And that the same is spoken of the Lord Jesus Christ See Rev. 1.8 I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and ending which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty Ver. 17. And when I saw him saith John I fell
Such shall have an heavenly Life for an earthly one An Eternal Life for a Transitory one and thus by the help of the Spirit the Promises sweetly tend to answer all doubts and objections that may arise in poor sinners or in the hearts of weak Believers which is the last thing I shall mind as to the glorious excellent nature of Gospel Promises 12. The Gospel is glorious in respect of the Priviledges thereof here I might insist upon Adoption or Sonship free access to the Throne of Grace a dwelling-place in Gods house right to the Ministery and all the gifts thereof whether Paul or Apollos all is yours and right to partake of the Prayers of the Church and many other priviledges that have occasionally been mentioned which here I shall omit 13. The Gospel is glorious in respect of the Salvation wrought about by the Lord Jesus as recorded and revealed therein That Gospel Salvation is glorious Salvation doth appear from what hath been said 1. In respect of God who in his eternal Wisdom first found it out or was the contriver of it 2. In respect of Christ who is more immediately the Author thereof 3. In respect of the price of this Salvation viz. the Bloud of Jesus Christ. 4. In that all the glorious Attributes shine forth in their own glorious splendor and lustre therein They all meet together in sweet harmony righteousness and truth meet together Justice and Mercy do as it were Kiss each other as hath already been hinted the gospel shews that God in magnifying one Attribute doth not eclipse the glory of another 5. In respect of the Publishers of it 1. The Angels 2. The Lord Jesus himself 3. The Apostles 6. In respect of all other Salvations what was that glorious Salvation God wrought for Israel at the Red Sea in comparison of the Salvation of the Gospel by the Lord Jesus Many conclude that Salvation of Israel and other great Salvations spoken of in the old Testament were as Types and Shadows of this 7. In respect of the Confirmation of it by signs and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost the Dead were raised the Blind saw the Temple rent asunder the Sun darkned the Graves opened the Spirit miraculously given down and all to confirm the Salvation of the Gospel 8. Gospel Salvation is glorious Salvation in respect of the workings and operations of the holy Spirit upon the heart in order to the interesting of the Soul into the grace and blessings thereof as hath been shewed already The holy Trinity are Implyed and concerned in working about and finally accomplishing of this Salvation 9. In respect of the seasonableness of it every thing therein being gloriously fitted and suited as to time and the necessity of poor sinners in due time Christ died for the ungodly See Promises 10. Upon consideration of what we are hereby delivered from viz. Sin Satan the Law Wrath of God Death and everlasting Burning 11. In respect of all those things and blessings we are hereby invested with and hope to receive 12. Gospel Salvation is glorious because 't is a free Salvation not by works of righteousness that we have done but according to his mercy he saved us Tit. 3.5 13. Because it is a full Salvation it supplies the Soul with all things it wants whether Grace Light Power Wisdom Peace or any thing else in order to interest in it or the perfect accomplishment of it 14. Because it is a sweet Soul-satisfying Salvation Every one that sees his interest in it may say with good old Simeon Now let thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation 15. 'T is a certain and sure Salvation 16. It is an Eternal Salvation Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an Everlasting Salvation And being made perfect he became the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them who obey him Heb. 5.9 Inferences 1. This may Inform and fully Convince all considerate Persons what the reason and cause is that the Devil is such an implacable Enemy to the Gospel and uses all means immaginable to prevent it or hinder the light thereof from shining into our hearts If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not lest the light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them 2. It also shews us what a great blessing God hath bestowed upon this nation 3. It may be a means to stir up all poor sinners to believe and obey it to prize and esteem it 4. It may teach us to contend earnestly for it and to hold it fast in spight of all opposers whatsoever 5. VVhat Motives might hence be inferred to prevail with all sincere Believers to be earnest with God that they may behold in this glass more of his glory to the end it may by its reflected Rayes change them into the same Image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. That it may shine into their Hearts 1. As they would be as burning and shining Lights to others 2. As they would live in the Joy and Comfort of it themselves 3. As they would approve themselves VVisdoms Children by justifying and standing by and for this glorious Gospel held forth in the word of God in the worst times 6. If the Gospel be so glorious it may put each man upon Examination dost thou perceive and clearly behold the glory which shines forth in it Some it is to be feared never saw the gospel in the glory of it it is as a sealed Book to them they see but the outsides of the book they are not able to discern the lustre and glory which is contained in it the God of this world hath blinded the minds saith the Apostle of them that believe not lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them Some men commend the gospel only because it contains so many righteous and good Laws and holy Rules of Justice and Morality teaching men to live soberly and to do as they would be done unto but see but little more in it which shews these men have but little of the Mystery and Glory of the Gospel opened to them for tho' it be granted that it is one part of the excellency of it yet it is not the chief as appears by what hath been said Again There are others who seemingly are much affected with the Gospel that Book of Books and yet cry up and magnifie the Light within above it as if that was a more perfect Rule than the holy Gospel and VVord of God which shews how little of the Gospel glory appears to them In the last Place if the Gospel be so glorious O pray whosoever thou art that God would be pleased to open thine eyes that thou mayst see it
it takes many Souls yet 't is not fully known of what sort they be until the Time comes that Christ draws the Net up IX The Gospel and Church of God having taken many Sinners or all being brought in that are to be taken by this spiritual Net Christ will as it were at the last Day draw it to Shore and then he will sever the Good from the Bad the Sheep from the Goats the sincere Ones from Hypocrites and the one shall be saved atd the other thrown away viz. be damned Again the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Net that is cast into the Sea that taketh of all sorts which when it is full Men draw it to Land and gather the Good into Vessels and cast the Bad away So shall it be at the End of the World The Angels shall go forth and separate the Bad from the Good and shall cast them into the Furnace of Fire there shall be wailing and gnashing of Teeth Parable A Fisherman has one Net prepared to take small Fishes and another to take great Oone II. A Net many times proves defective and comes to be broken and by that means the Fisherman loses hir Draught of Fishes III. A Net takes Fishes out of their own natural Element to their great hurt the Fisher's design in taking them being to kill and destroy them Disparity THe Gospel or Word of God is but one and the same Net which takes the great and small Metaphorical Fishes II. There is no Defect in the Word the Gospel-Net is never faulty nor is it from thence so few Sinners or spiritual Fishes are taken but rather from themselves and Satan who endeavours to obstruct as much as in him lies their being taken thereby III. The Gospel-Net takes Sinners out of their natural State viz. Ways of Sin and Wickedness for their great Good and Advantage it being the Design of God and his Servants the Ministers of his Word to save their Souls alive thereby Inferences THis Parable informs us how useful the Gospel and the Ministry thereof is to take and gather in Souls to Jesus Christ. 2. Moreover That all who seem to be wrought upon by the VVord are not sincere Converts a Net takes bad Fishes as well as good 3. It also shews us what will become of the false Professors at the last Day The bad Fishes shall be cast away the rotten and unsound Professor as well as the openly profane Person that never made any Profession shall be both cast into a Furnace of Fire there shall be wailing and gnashing of Teeth The Word of God compared to Gold Psal. 19.10 More to be desired are they than Gold yea than much fine Gold Psal. 119.72 The Law of thy Mouth is better to me than Thousands of Gold and Silver THo these Scriptures do not directly compare the Word of God to Gold but rather set out the great Excellency of it above Gold and shew the great disproportion there is between Gold and it yet we shall as some Divines have done run a Parallel between Gold and the Word and then in our usual Method shew the Disparities Simile GOld is a precious sort of Metal and is esteemed the chiefest of all Minerals See Pliny II. Gold contains much in little a small quantity of Gold is worth much Brass c. III. Gold is a weighty and a firm sort of Metal IV. Gold hath much Beauty and Splendor in it the Colour shines and is glorious V. Gold is made use of to deck and adorn with The Father of the Prodigal called for a Ring to put upon his Finger Nay more than this the Crowns of Kings and Princes are usually made of Gold VI. Gold is used to make Vessels We read that God appointed under the Law many Vessels to be made of pure Gold divers such were in Solomon's Temple all which were figurative VII Gold is durable It abides the Fire it will not lose or waste by being put into the Furnace as other Metals will VIII Gold enriches him that finds much of it It is esteemed as a precious and principal Treasure and as such both in former and latter Times hath it been hid and laid up Then shalt thou heap up Gold as the Dust c. Tyrus heaped up Silver as the Dust and fine Gold as the Mire of the Street IX Men take much Pains to get Gold they dig through Hills and Mountains for it and endure much Labour and Pain before they can obtain it X. Gold is a sort of Metal that is often tried to see if it be what it is taken to be whether it be so good pure c. XI Men that get much Gold are oftentimes set upon by Thieves and are in great danger of being robbed and from hence take care to secure it and themselves as well as they can XII Gold is known to be a rich and Sovereign Cordial and excellent good to cure several Diseases of the Body particularly the Kings-Evil Parallel THe Word of God is very precious and so esteemed by all true Christians Thy Word is very pure therefore thy Servant loveth it I esteem the Words of thy Mouth above my necessary Food II. The Word contains much in little Fear God O how much is contained in that God manifest in the Flesh Christ the Image of the invisible God It pleased the Father that in him should all Fulness dwell Very much is contained in one of these short Sentences III. The Word of God is ponderous and very weighty The Words of Men oft-times are airy and empty and when weighed in the Ballance as light as Vanity and not to be regarded but what God speaks is firm And such as find it not heavy and weighty now so as to let it sink into their Hearts shall find it will one day sink them down to Hell The Words that I speak shall judg you at the last Day IV. So is the Word of God The Gospel is said to be glorious 't is indeed transcendently excellent its Glory shines forth and may be demonstrated many ways See Metaphor Light V. The Word of God most gloriously decks and adorns every true Christian that hath store of it in his Heart in whom it dwells richly The Church is said to be cloathed with wrought Gold the Word of God and the Graces thereof are doubtless intended thereby The Gospel is the Saints Crown and Royal Diadem should God suffer it to be taken away they may cry out with Israel of old The Crown is fallen from our Head wo to us that we have sinned The Law of God is said to be an Ornament unto the Head and Chains about the Neck called Cant. 1.10 Chains of Gold VI. The Word of God is made use of by Jesus Christ to make many Golden Vessels Golden Saints Golden Churches called by the Spirit Golden Candlesticks No People in the World are so glorious precious and amiable as
Christ opened in 10 Particulars 92 93 The difference of Christ's Suretyship and Suretyship amongst Men shewed in six Partic. 94 95 T. Teacher THe Spirit of God a sacred Teacher opened in eleven Partic. 324 325 The Saints chief Teacher 325 Who have the Spirits Teaching ibid. Better lose all other Teachers than lose the Spirit ibid. Terrible Christ terrible as a Judg in a three-fold manner Met. Par. 10. 283 Testator Christ a Testator opened in fifteen Particulars 119 to 121 Wherein Christ exceeds all other Testators 122 A five-fold Testimony to Christ as a Testator ibid Thief Christ's coming is compared to a Thief in the Night in 6 Partic. 279 280 Traffick All heavenly Commerce and Traffick is by the Spirit 314 Tree Christ under the similitude of an Apple Tree opened in eleven Partic. 229 230 Trinity The Persons of the Trinity made known by Christ six manner of ways 110 V. Vessels SAints earthen Vessels God very careful of his choice Vessels par 7 63 Vine Christ the true Vine opened in ten Particulars 223 to 225 Wherein Christ exceeds all other Vines in six things 225 Union The present Time to be improved to obtain it 257 Universe The happy State of the whole Universe when Christ shall take unto him his great Power Infer 6. 148 Utichian Utichian Heresy detected 165 166 W. Wall GOD a Wall of Fire about his People 76 77 Want God as a Portion frees the Soul from fear of Want par 13. 7 Want of Christ will occasion violent Motions par 15. 213 Water The Nature of Water 319 The Spirit compared to Water opened in ten Partic. 319 320 The excellent Nature of this sacred Water shewed 320 321 Water of Life free to all 321 War The Cause why God proclaims War against a People par 9. 24 God excells all other Warriors shewed in ten Partic. 25 26 God gives warning before he makes War Dispar 5. 25 Way Christ the Way opened in ten Particulars 167 168 Way made plain to the City of Refuge Met. 7. 168 In what respect Christ is called the Way to the Father answered in four Particulars 169 What kind of Way Christ is answered in 10 Partic. 169 Wedding The Wedding-Garment 270 Whore The great Whore shall be burned with Fire 68 Wicked Wicked Men compared to wild Beasts 76 Wind. The Property thereof shewed 297 The Spirit compared to the Wind in twenty Partic. 298 299 How to know which way the Wind of the Spirit blows Par. 13. 299 Witness Christ a Witness opened in ten Particulars 235 to 237 Witness in the Day of Judgment who and what par 8. 283 The Spirit a Witness opened in eight Partic. 321 322 Two Witnesses necessary for a Christian 322 World This World had a beginning par 1. 55 This World a Wilderness abounding with wild Beasts 76 77 Works Christ's undoubted Right to all the Works of God's hands shewed in 5 Partic. Infer 1. 148 Wrath. Wrath of God terrible par 1. 65 66 67 AN Alphabetical Table OF The Principal Things Contained in the THIRD BOOK A. Attributes ATtributes of God shine forth in the Gospel Page 10 13 21 22 23 B. Baptism Baptism and the Lord's Supper glorious Ordinances 33 Beauty Beauty of Christ opened in 10 Partic. 16 Book The Gospel called a Book 9 What kind of Book shewed in 8 things 9 C. Christ. CHrist's Person glorious 13 Christ very beautiful 16 Christ's Love wonderful 17 18 Christ very rich 18 Counsel The Gospel-Covenant the Contrivance of Godâ—â—s eternal Counsel 9 D. Deity THe Deity of Christ proved by 19 Arguments 14 Deity of the Holy-Ghost proved 23 Design What God's Design was in sending Christ shewed in six Partic. 11 Dew The Word of God compared to the Dew of Heaven in five Partic. 73 F. Father THe Glory of the Father shines forth in the Gospel 10 Fire The Word of God compared to Fire 53 G. Glass THe Word of God compared to Glass in 8 Partic. 62 63 64 Gold The Word of God compared to Gold in 12 Partic. 47 Gospel Glorious Gospel largely opened 4 5 6 Gospel glorious in respect of the Author in respect of the Law in respect of its self 4 Gospel excells the Law shewed in 14 Partic. Gospel glorious in respect of the Names and Epithetes given to it shewed in fourteen Partic. 8 9 Gospel glorious in respect of the Time when contrived 9 Gospel glorious in respect of the Revelation made therein of the Blessed Trinity 10 Gospel glorious in respect of the Manifestation made therein of the Father 40 Gospel glorious in respect of the Revelation made therein of Christ 13 14 15 Gospel glorious as it respects the Holyâ—â—Ghost 21 Gospel glorious in respect of Grace and powerful Operations of it upon the Heart of Men. 29 Gospel glorious in respect of the Offers and Tenders of it 30 Gospel Reconciliation glorious Reconciliation 30 31 Gospel glorious in respect of the Ordinances of it 33 Gospel glorious in respect of Pardon of Sin 33 Gospel glorious in respect of Peace 33 Gospel glorious in respect of the Promises 33 34 Why Satan endeavours to binder the Gospel 40 Grace The excellent Nature of true Grace shewed in 16 Partic. 28 29 H. Hammer THe Word of God compared to a Hammer in 4 Partic. 58 History History of the Gospel a glorious History Holy Holy-Ghost a Divine Person 22 23 I. Justice GOD's Justice must be satisfied 11 No Man or Angel can satisfy God's Justice for his Sin 11 God's Justice only satisfied by a Sacrifice 11 K. Kingdom THe Church called the Kingdom of God 8 Why the Gospel is called the Gospel of the Kingdom 8 Kiss The Word Kiss as mentioned in Scripture opened in 12 Parric 41 42 Kisses of Christ's Mouth opened in four Partic. 43 L. Leaven THe Word of God compared to Leaven 61 62 Light The Word of God compared to Light opened in 8 Partic. 2 3 4 The various Acceptations of the Word Light 1 Love Christ's glorious Love opened in 10 Partic. 17 18 M. Meat THe Word of God campared to strong Meat 51 Mercy God will not save Men in a way of Mercy to the wronging of his Justice 11 Milk The Word of God compared to Milk in five Particulars 50 Moral Moral Persuasions not sufficient to turn a Sinner to God 26 27 N. Net THe Word of God compared to a Net in nine Partic. 45 46 O. Operation OPerations of the Holy Spirit glorious 24 P. Peace PEace of Conscience a glorious Blessing 33 Pelagianism refuted 26 Plough The Word of God compared to a Plough in ten Particulars 65 66 Priesthood Christ's Priesthood excells the Priesthood of Aaron shewed in nine Partic. 5 Promise Promises of the Gospel glorious Promises 33 Gospel Promises glorious in respect of Him through whom and in whose Name they are made 34 Gospel Promises glorious in respect of the Firmness of them shewed in 5 Partic. 35 36 Gospel Promises glorious above the Promise of the Law 36 Gospel Promises glorious
Eph. 6.15 Isa. 57.19 Eph. 2 17. Psal. 107.20 Mat. 24.14 Luk. 10.11 Mark 15.41 Mat. 11.12 Phil. 2.16 Col. 3.4 Joh. 10.10 Joh. 5.25 Mat. 4.4 Rom. 1.16 Heb. 12.19 Deu. 25.8 9 10. Eph. 3.8 Col. 2.3 1.19 Eph. 1.7 18. ch 3.16 Rom. 10.8 Tit. 1.9 2 Cor. 3. Gal. 3.2 1 Tim. 1.11 Rev. 22.18 Rev. 1.3 4. The Gospel glorious in respect of the time when it was contrived Rom. 3.26 1 Joh 3.8 5 The Gospel glorious in respect of the Revelation made therein of the Trinity Joh. 6.57 Joh. 14.28 Joh. 12.49 Quest. Answ. The Glory of the Fa shines forth in the Gospel Joh. 3.16 Isa. 53.3 Joh. 10.8 2 Cor. 5.19 Act. 5.31 Rev. 1.52 1 Joh. 3.1 Eph. 1.13 Exod. 34.7 Ps. 7.11 Zech. 11.8 Exod. 34.7 8. Psal. 49.7 8. Isa. 53.4 5 6. 1 Pet. 2.24 Heb. 9 22. Eph. 2.13 14 15. 1 Cor. 6.20 1 Pet. 1.18 Acts 20.27 Eph. 1.6 Isa. 45.24 1 Cor. 1.30 Rom 4.3 2 Cor. 5.21 Act. 4.12 1 Joh. 1.2.12 Quest. Answ. Rom. 3.24 25. Object Answ. 2 Cor. 5.19 Joh. 33.24 Joh. 3.16 Rom. 10.14 1â—â— Eph. 3.4.5 Gal. 1.14 15. Isa. 42.4 Heb. 〈…〉 The Gospel glorious in respect of the Revelation made therein of the great Subject thereof J. Christ. 1. In respect of his glorious Person Personal Excellencies Psal. 76.4 Ps. 45. â—â— Cant. 〈…〉 10 1â—◠〈…〉 Heb. 1.3 1 Tim. 3.16 Phil. 3 â—â— Quest. Answ. 1 Tim. 3.5 Quest. Answ. The Godhead or Deity of Christ. Luk. 2.36 Heb. 1.8 Isa. 9.6 1 Joh. 3.20 Rom. 9.5 Col. 2.16 Heb. 1.3 Col. 1.17 Ps. 139.6 Jer. 17.9 10. Isa. 44.6 ch 48.12 Rev. 1.8 Mat. 9.1 2 4 6. Mar. 2. â—â—6 Luk. 5.21 Act 9.14 Rom. 10.9 10 11 12 1 Cor. 1.2 Joh. 2.19.21 Joh. 10.18 Phil. 2.5 6 7. Zec. 13.7 Heb. 12.2 Mat. 3.11 Mar. 1.4 Eph. 4.8 9 10 11. Joh. 1.11 12. Deut. 30.20 Col. 3.4 Mat. 28. ult Bernardus noâ—â— vidit omnia Joh 1.48 Act. 9 11. Act. 4.12 Joh. 6.44 ch 5.28 Quest. Answ. Isa. 26.9 Ps. 27.4 Prov. 31.30 Ezek. 16.14 Isa. 53.2 Christs love glorious love 1 Joh. 4.19 Hos. 14.4 Hos. 11.3 1 Joh. 4.19 1 Kin. 19.20 Luk. 14.23 Cant. 8.6 Eph. 3.17.18 19. Rev. 1.5 Rom. 8.35 Joh. 13.1 Cant. 5. ult Joh. 20. Glorious Riches of Christ shines forth in the Gospel Col. 2.3 Quest. Answ. Heb. 1.2 Mat. 28.18 Joh. 13.3 Eph. 4.8 chap. 1.14 Ps. 78.54 Act. 20.27 Quest. Answ. Mac 18. Psal. 104.24 Col. 1.16 17. Rev. 5.11 Rev. 2.10 Prov. 3.13 14 15 Rom. 11.33 Eccl. 5.10 Joh. 4.13 14. Prov. 8.18 Quest. Answ. Christs glorious power shines forth in the gospel Christ is meant hereby 1 Tim. 6.15 Rev. 19.16 Ps. 15.3 Mat. 28.18 Eph. 1.21 22. Psal. 145.13 66 5. Psal. 104.32 Isa. 43.13 Quest. Answ. The Gospel glorious in respect of the Revelation made therein of the Holy Ghost The holy Ghost is God Dr. O. upon the Trinity pag. 90 91. Joh. 33 4. 1 Cor. 12.11 Ch. 2.10 Gen. 1.3 Act. 28.25 26. 2 Pet. 1.21 1 Cor. 2.10 Gospel glorious in respect of the works operations of the holy Spirit * Maximum in tota creatura Testimonium de Divinitate spiritus sancti corpus Domini est quod ex spiritu sancto esse creditur secundum Evangelistam Mat. 1. Sicut Angelus ad Josâ—â—phum dicit quod in ea natum est de spiritu sancto est Athanasius de fid un Trin. Creatrix virtus altissimi superveniente spiritu sancto in virginem Mariam Christi Corpus fabricavit quo illo usus Templo sine viri natus est semine Didym de Sp. Sanct. lib. 2. Isa. 6.1.1 Luk. 4.16 Act. 2.22 Luk. 11.20 Luk. 4.36 Dr Owen Luk. 4.14 Heb. 9.4 See Dr. O. pag. 143. 1 Cor. 12. 2 Pet. 1.21 Joh. 16.13 14 15 Dr. O. in his book intitled Î NEÎ¥MATOΛOΓIA or a discourse of the Spirit pag. 256. * Christus non dicit duxerit ut illic aliquo modo intelligamus precedere voluntatem sed dicit traxerit quis autem trahitur si jam volebat tamen nemo venit nisi velit trahitur ergo miris modis ut velit ab illo qui novit intus in ipsis hominum cordibus operari non ut homines quod fieri non potest nolentes credant sed ut volentes ex nolentibus fiant August cont duas epist Pelag. cap. 19. Certum est nos velle cumvolumus sed ille facit ut vellemus de quo dictum est Deus est qui operatur in nobis velle Idem de Grat. lib. Arbit cap. 16. Phil. 2.13 Object Answ. Eph. 2.10 Act. 5. Deut. 30.6 Ezek. 36.26 Dr. O. pag. 279. Jam. 1.18 1 Pet. 1.23 Joh. 1.13 The Gospel Glorious in respect of Grace and the saving operations of the spirit 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6 7. 1 Cor. 6.11 Tit. 3.4 5 Act. 15.9 Luk. 10.34 Prov. 1.8 Ezek. 16.12 13. Luk. 15 22. 1 Pet. 3 4. The Gospel glorious in respect of the tenders and offers made therein Quest. Answ. Quest. Answ. Quest. Answ. Rev. 22.17 Quest. Answ. Isa. 55.1 2 3. Gospel Reconciliation glorious Reconciliation Col. 1.21 Rom. 5.10 Col. 1.21 22. Gospel Reconciliation glorious as to the nature of the branch 1 Joh. 3.21 Mat. 25.41 Gospel Reconciliation glorious in respect of the means and manner how it is accomplished 2 Cor. 5.18 Gospel reconciliation is in respect of the nature of it Rom. 9.16 2 Cor. 2.7 Mr. Borroughs Rom. 8.39 Gospel reconciliation glorious in respect of the effects of it Eph. 2.14 15 16 17 Rom. 5.1 Num. 24.5 Eph. 2.18 Gospel glorious in respect of the pardon of sin Heb. 9.22 Isa. 43 2â—â— The Gospel Glorious in respect of Peace as it is the effect of Grace and Remission Joh. 14.27 The Gospel glorious in respect of ordinances Gospel glorious in respect of the promises Rom. 1.2 Tit. 1.2 3 Tit. 3.5 Isa 43.24 25. Tit. 3.5 Hos. 2.16.19 Isa. 62.5 Ps. 73.45 Tit. 1.1 2 Tim. 2.13 2 Cor. 1. Luk. 24.29 2 Sam. 23.5 Heb. 9.15 16 17. Heb. 6.13 14 15 16 17 18. Luk. 12.19 Eph. 1.13 4.30 Deut. 28.34 Heb. 7.19 Obj. Answ. Prov. 1.22 Isa. 55.1 8. Mat. 11.28 Obj. Answ. Jer. 3.12 Obj. Answ. Ps. 25.8 Obj. Answ. Ezek. 20.43 36.26 Obj. Answ. Obj. Isa. 55.7 8 9. Answ. Obj. Answ. Obj. Answ. Obj. Answ. Obj. Answ. Obj. Answ. Ps. 27.10 Heb 13. Obj. Answ. Obj. Answ. Obj. Answ. Jer. 32.39 John 10.27 28. Obj. Answ. Obj. Answ. Obj. Answ. Obj. Answ. Gospel glorious in respect of priviledges Gospel salvation glorious salvation Heb. 5.9 Heb. 2.3 4 2 Cor 4.3.4 2 Cor. 4.3.4 Quest. Answ. Ainsworth Guild Sibbs Durham Wilâ—â—on Glassâ—â—us Illyricus in locum 〈◊〉 1â—â— 20 Cant 5.2 Isa. 26.9 Cant. 1.4 Cant. 6.1 Cant. 5.16 Ainsworth Joh. 10.15 Joh. 15.13 Luk. 7.49 50. Psal. 110.49 Joh. 1.1 Mat. 11.27 Heb 11 2. Joh. 10 10 Joh. 20.30 Psal 2 15. â—â— Luk. 5.6 Luk. 5.10 2 Cor. 12.16 Isa. 53.1 Luk. 5.5 Acts 2.37 40. Mat. 13.47 48 49. 2 Cor. â—â— 3 4. Isa. 55.3 Prov. 8.55 Prov. 22.4 Joh. 3.36 Rom. 8.1 Plin. lib. 13. p. 465. Greenhil See Pliny lib. 33. p. 455 Job 22.25 Zech. 9.3 Psal. 119. Job 23.12 1 Tim. 3.16 Col. 1. Joâ—â— 12.50 2 Cor. 4.4 Lam 5.16 Rev. 1.20 See Candle stick and Vessel Mat. 5.18 1 Pet. 1.24 25. Col. 3.16 2 Cor. 4.7 Psal. 119.11 Joh. 5.39 Prov. 2.4 Psal. 119.203 Psal. 19.10 12.6 Jam. 5.2 Eccles. 4.8 5.10 1 Pet. 1.23 Joh. 15.3 Prov. 19.23 Schola Salerâ—â— cap. 43. Mat. 4.4 1 Pet. 2.2 Isa. 40.31 Heb. 5.12 13. 1 Cor. 2.10 Jud. 14.18 Acts 2.36 37. Psal. 119.9 John 15.3 Psal. 119.140 Prov. 6.23 Eph. 1.17 18. 1 Cor. 3.11 12 13 14 15. Luk. 24.32 Eph. 2.2 Joh. 6.63 Rom. 8.2 Joh. 14.16 17. Heb. 4.12 Joh. 3.6 1 Cor. 2.15 1 Cor. 6.17 2 Pet. 1.4 Rev. 11. Job 2.12 Mat. 25.8 Prov. 26.20 Isa. 64.7 Jam. 1.18 Joh. 1.12 13. Phil. 1.6 Isa. 26.12 Gen. 6. Luk. 3.19 42. Joh. 16 7. Rom. 8.26 Eph. 4.30 See Theophilus Pâ—â—lwhele of quenching the Spirit p. 33. Isa. 50.11 2 Pet. Luk. 10. Eccles. 12.11 Garnall's Christians Armour p. 297. Rom. 13.8 Mat. 4.4 5 6 7 8. Psal. 17.4 119 92. Mat. 4. Heb. 4.12 Act. 2.37 2 Cor. 2. 1 Joh. 5. Pag. 297. 2 Pet. 2.21 2 Tim. 3.15 17. Rom. 13.14 â—â—ct 8.13 1 Pet. Heb. 12.14 Prov. 28.13 Ezek. 18.32 Mat. 12.13 1 Cor. 6.11 Psal. 119.9 Psal. 119.9 Psal. 1.2 Jer. 43. Hos. 10.12 Ezek. 36.26 Amos 6.12 Acts 2.37 Hos. 10.12 13. Gal. 6.9 1 Thess. 1.5 Psal. 138. â—â— Psal. 119. Mat. 13.37 Psal. 119.9 Col. 3.16 1 Tim. 3. Mat. 13 2â—â— 1 Cor. 3.6 Mat. 13. Heb. 12.5 Mat. 13.23 1 Cor. 15.58 Col. 1 6. Hag. 1.6 9 1 Cor. 15.36 Psal. 126.5 6. Joh. 6.63 Jer. 14 22. Amos 4.7 Isa. 30.23 Psal. 65.9 10. 1 Cor. 11.23 Act. 13.26 Isa. 28.10 Eph. 6.19 2 Thes. 3.1 Isa. 55.10 11. 2 Chron. 7 Amos 8.11 Dr. Sibha See Rain 2 Thess. 1.3 Hos. 14.5 Isa. 55.11 Rom. 13. Prov. 15â—â— Mat. 6.21 Psal. 119.11 Mat. 6.20 1 Pet. 1 23 Phil. 4.19 Jam. 25. Luk. 12 33 Rev. 14 6. Isa. 27.3 2 Cor. 4.8 9 10 11. 1 Cor. 6.14