lights to the glorie and praise of Gods name so shall we come from the light of the Sunne to continue in the everlasting light of righteousnesse Then shall the light of the Moon be as the light of the Sunne and the light of the Sunne shall be seven fold Esay 30. 26. This place hath no need of the Sunne nor the Moon to shine in it for the glory of God doth light it and the Lamb is the light of it the people which are saved shall walk in the light of it there shall be no night at all Rev. 21. 23. Then shall the just men shine as the Sunne in the Kingdome of their Father Matth. 13. 43. sic finiamus de luce of the light which light God of his mercy grant us all Amen Et creavit Deus Coetos maximos animantia omnia repentia quae abundè progenuerunt aquae in species ipsorum omnesque volucres alatas in species suas viditque Deus id esse bonum Gen. 1. 21. Preached January 16. 1590. HEREIN is the second part of the work of the fifth day Here is the return of the Precept Creation of Fishes This is Gods water-work first the creating of the great Whale then of the shoale of small fishes It is said creavit and not fecit you shall finde this word creavit in three several verses only of this chapter in the first in this and in the 27. verse Creavit Creavit is applyed in the first to being in this verse to living in the 27. verse to understanding In the holy tongue aget in the first verse is to be Cara is to have life and Sagar in the 27. is to have understanding So that creavit goeth by degrees from being to living from living to understanding which is the perfection of creation the first of the Heavens lacking sense the other of Fishes and Fowls having life the other of Man having understanding Barha in Hebrew in the first verse is not only creare ex nihilo aliquid but ex nihilo magnum quod est miraculum The Master-peece Artificers among their works have one especiall which they call their Master-peece God in his creation hath in the Heaven one especial Master-peece namely the shining Sunne having his being from the Creator he hath in the Water the great Whale who hath life from above He hath in the Earth Man his Master-peece who from God hath his understanding Whales These Whales are the great monsters of the Sea In creating them saith Ambrose Creavit vastitates stupores even at the sight of him shall one perish Job 40. 28. the Tunny is a great fish the Whale is a great tyrant The great Leviathan God hath made even to play in the Sea Psal. 104. 26. He hath made him saith a Father to be vectem maris a barre of the Sea so great is a Whale Sathan the tyrant of the world is compared to Leviathan the tyrant in the Sea Esay 27. 1. AEqualia habent montibus corpora saith Ambrose The nature of the Sea is to be abyssus these great Whales are immensae moles in hoc abysso though he be huge yet the Sea is deep though he be strong yet the Sea keepeth him in warde Job in his 7. chap. and 12. vers Am I a Sea or a Whale fish that thou keepest me in warde the greatnesse and strength of a Whale is declared in the 40. of Job the 20. verse to the 41. chapter He cannot be drawn with an hook neither can his jaws be pierced with an Angle thou canst not fill a basket with his skinne nor the fish-panner with his head And in the 4. chapter God saith None is so fierce that dares stirre him up In the fourth verse of that chapter it is said A double bridle cannot hold him Who shall open the dores of his face his teeth are fearfull round about In the 6. verse The Majestie of his scales is like the strong sheilds In the 9. verse His neesings make the light to shine and his eyes are like the eye-lids of the morning out of his mouth goe lamps and sparks of fire In the 11. Smoak commethout of his nostrils as out of a boyling pot in his neck remaineth strength In the 15. verse His heart is strong as a stone and hard as the nether mill-stone In the 18. He esteemeth iron as straw and brasse as rotten wood When the Sword doth touch him he will not rise up He laugheth at the shaking of the speare the Archer cannot make him flie the stones of the sling he accounteth as stubble In the 22. verse He maketh the depth to boyle like a pot and maketh the Sea like a pot of 〈◊〉 when he foameth the depth seemeth to have an hoare and white head He is made without fear he is a king over all the children of pride This Leviathan is left here by Job for an Epilogue of Gods great works He like the Serpent in the 12. of the Revelation the 15. casteth out of his mouth waters as a flood This his greatnesse is an especial and infallible example of Gods strength who created him and his hugenesse Creation af all other Fishes Furthermore he created all living and moving things in the Waters in great aboundance The small fishes are not the superfluity of nature saith Ambrose He shewed as much power in creating the small fishes as the great Whales totidem syllabae ad creandum pisciculos ut ad creandum coetos nec labor at Deus in maximis nec fastidit in minimis both are miraculous there are miracula magna parva sape parva sunt magnis majora saith Austin There is as much admiration in the small shrimp as in the great Leviathan Living Souls Every soul is the matter of this creation but not the body At the resurrection he will doe a strange miracle but this is a greater for plus est ut educat Deus animam viventem quam ut reducat Deus animam viventem this is the miracle in this creation that God gave sense life moving to the fishes Soul The soul is distinct from the body there is a soul and flesh Esay 10. 18. the soul is distinct from life My soul is cut off though I live Job 10. 1. the soul is distinguished from the breath Genesis 8. Moving of Fishes Further every thing moving that moved of it self not one way as heavy things doe downward and light things upward not by any circular motion as doe the Heavens but that moved all wayes every way and that moved as the shell fishes doe by expansion The moving in this place signifieth a gliding applyed to fishes in waters and worms on the Earth there are other motions as the flying of birds the pacing foot by foot of beasts and of men The sense of fishes is dull yet their motion is perfect and swift If they had sense only to feel their hurts and not
three Islands which though they be dis-junct yet they meet in one point and make but one Paradise which Garden sheweth what an one the Gardiner was that is three dis-junct in person and yet but one in unity of substance which three Islands Arselius calleth the three Islands of blessing and the Heathen doe call them Elisii campi By which we see they had a glimering knowledge of Paradise The Land of Babylon Chuse and Ashur and other places as Writers doe testifie doe carry in their names the men that first inhabited and possessed them But only the Land of Eden hath in it the name and title of no man for God gave it the name And therefore it is counted the most ancient and excellent Countrie in which man was first created and first set his foot and therefore some think Adam had his name of Eden but there is no likelyhood of that But whatsoever excellencies this Land had yet now they are lost though reliques and resemblances of them remain which must teach us how vile and dangerous a thing sinne is for as it caused the Ark of God to be taken away 1 Sam. 4. 11. and the Temple and Citie of God to be wasted and destroyed so we see that the same sinnes were the overthrow and dissolution of the Garden of God and therefore we must beware of it As we have taken a view of the four Rivers so now let us take a survey of the four Regions which are about Paradise for Paradise was the center and 〈◊〉 about it was the compasse of these four 〈◊〉 On the one side was Havilah where was Gold and that the best Gold and where such wealth and riches are from 〈◊〉 any thing may be 〈◊〉 and brought And on the other side was 〈…〉 from 〈◊〉 came health and the means of health namely the best medicines the flower and choice of all dreggs of Physick On the other quarter 〈◊〉 Africa which is the glory and pomp of the world And on the other side was Caldea from 〈◊〉 came all the learning and knowledge of the world So that 〈◊〉 must needs be the 〈◊〉 pleasant place being invironed and compassed with all those blessings namely 〈◊〉 the mid'st of health wealth honor and learning yet you may observe that when sinne began in the center of the world how all these blessings round about it began 〈◊〉 curses to mankinde 〈◊〉 and learning grew into 〈◊〉 All the wisdome of 〈◊〉 Gen. 11. 31. grew into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was the glory of the world degenerated and fell into pride and so to cruelty and 〈◊〉 and so was made the 〈◊〉 of Gods wrath which ever God 〈◊〉 to threaten sinne Ezech. 12. 13. Havilah became by sinne a means to draw 〈…〉 from Paradise for they which dwelt in this wealthy Country became the most covetous secure and carelesse people in the world forgetting God every man was there on horseback by reason of wealth and prosperity which made them ride away from Paradise with the more speed And for Arabia they enjoying bodily health yet made them so presumptuous that as one of their country-men saith they were 〈…〉 For by reason they had 〈◊〉 for all diseases and infirmities of the body to preserve health they gave themselves to all 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 and to wallow in all 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 knowing present help to recover their health again Thus we see that by sinne and corruption of our nature these things are used contrary to Gods ordinances namely as means to remove us as far as may be from the center of Paradise and from the tree of knowledge and 〈◊〉 which is 〈◊〉 the mid'st thereof If we fall into the pride of 〈◊〉 into the 〈◊〉 and security of Havilah and 〈◊〉 our selves into all 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and give our selves to the 〈◊〉 and Idolatry of 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 shall be like 〈◊〉 those which were 〈◊〉 neighbors 〈◊〉 Paradise and yet were 〈◊〉 off from 〈…〉 and therefore shall be 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 or enter into it We have 〈◊〉 this one thing briefly yet to note and it is that which I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 the Jew and St. Augustine the converted Christian to make use of by thinking on Paradise for they all are carefull to preserve and 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of this story and to prove that these are not Rivers running in 〈…〉 place imaginary but 〈◊〉 and cortain known seen and tasted of by many Gen. 13. 10. So for matter of my story for spirituall use and instruction they gathered and delivered some good and profitable things which their age was able to bear though our age hold it curiosity and cannot abide it Arelius reporteth that Zoroastes had this as one of his chief Lessons which he held and taught to all his Schollars as an Oracle That in this life their chief care should be to obtain Paradise after this life where only their Souls should finde pleasure and joy The Caldeans also did see that it was a mans duty not to seek a Paradise upon earth but to contemplate a spirituall Land and place of pleasure which the heathen in their Books called Elisii Campi In which they place the four cardinall virtues instead of the four pleasant Rivers which are here named And also Ambrose doth concerning the depth of Pishon to the profoundnesse of wisdome the shallownesse of Hiddikell to temperance and sobriety Tygris to fortitude and Euphrates to justice So doth Philo the Jew fall into the like spirituall meditation of Paradise for his use he said this is the course which a man must take here to seek the light of knowledge and hereafter the participation of the light of glory Sirah 24. labored in this comparison likening the four Rivers in Paradise to true wisdome and that which floweth from it So there is a Paradise above which is spirituall a tree of life and knowledge and such streams and rivers spirituall which our Souls may apprehend for instruction and comfort St. Augustine and Ambrose have gathered two other resemblances spirituall by this out of the old Testament Ezech. 1. 5. Rev. 4 6. They lay that Faith on earth doth apprehend Heaven and therein these four things 1. God the Sonne as in the form of a man having a fellow feeling and compassion of our infirmities and miseries on earth 2. And also as having the strength of a Lion to save and defend us 3. Thirdly as an Oxe to be made a sacrifice by his death 4. And lastly as an Eagle to mount up again by his Resurrection and Ascention They say they are as it were the four streams in which our Faith doth run and direct his course in by meditation of heavenly Joyes in Paradise above Again he taketh another out of Ezech. 15. 16. There are saith he four Wheels on Earth which have a sympathy between them and the Beasts above And as these Wheels move on earth so doe they move or stay in heaven The four Wheels are these Job 4.
brothers supplanter Genesis 25. And Peleg had his name aright namely division Adams names of inward properties But Adams names came from inward qualities which he could perceive partly by the light of nature wherein are to be considered three things as you may see by 1 Kings 4. 29. Adams knowledge In Salomons wisdome was knowledge By the light of nature Secondly intelligence or understanding Of grace And thirdly he had a large heart even as the sand on the Sea shoare that is he was able to comprehend all things by the capacitie of his memory But these were more excellently in Adam than in Salomon who had no vanity to seduce him no sicknesse to weaken him no temptation to hinder his wisdome as Salomon had He could also see these inward qualities by the light of Grace In lumine tuo videbimus lumen saith David Psal. 36. 9. In thy light O Lord shall we see light The divisions of the light of grace The Fathers doe say that lumen gratiae is either per Deum or Angelos This light of God came to men either by apparition as to Noah Moses c. or by revelation which is inspired into us By vision many saw this light Wisd. 17. 6. and Gods knowledge slideth into our hearts The other light we see is of Angells by their visitation as Gabriel visited Daniel and made him understand the vision Daniel 8. 16. Which visitation of Angels Adam had The light of glorie Beyond these there is lux gloriae the light of glorie Whereby Adam saw his reward in the Heavenly Paradise by obedience visio essentiae divinae is the reward to see and enjoy the essence of God was his reward whereunto Adam whilest he lived obedient in Paradise hoped to be translated from the earthly to the heavenly Paradise To him that overcommeth shall be given a white stone and in the stone a new name written which no man knoweth but he that receiveth it the name is reward and honour Revel 2. 17. Then shall we see God face to face that is in lumine gloriae in the light of his glorie whom now we see through a glasse darkly 1 Cor. 13. 12. Two glasses whereby we see God The Glasses whereby God is seen in this world are of two sorts the one is dark the other bright the one is dimme as the light through an horn the other is a light through a Glasse Adam we the Angells see God We see God in this world as through a dimme light Adam in Paradise in state of innocencie as through a bright Glass The Angels see him in heaven essentially Our sight was from the earth where is miserie Adams from Paradise where was grace The Angels sight is in the heavenly Paradise where glorie beholdeth glorie Our knowledge of God is inaenigmate is as in a Riddle The knowledge of God by Adam in Paradise was as through a clear Glasse But the Angels in the heavens knew God face to face The things named Now of the object and what was named by man There were Six names God giveth six individuall names given by God himself as the light God called day a time active Seconly The darkness he named night a time to recover strength called lagela leagala Thirdly The firmament he called heaven from whence is the influence of the aire and the winde Fourthly The drie land he called earth Fistly The Sea which of its own nature would swell fifteen cubits above the highest hill was altered by the name from turning magim to jagim Lastly he called Man Adam that is of the earth Adam giveth apt names Here Adam giveth names first to the beasts that are serviceable and then to the birds and fowls that flie in the Aire To the Beasts He at the first sight without a Counsellor gave apt names to every beast to all the Cattell of the field which are infinite and this we may see for all the Cartell in the names of three to the Horse he gave a name to be mans currer to the Sheep to be his Clothier to the Asse to be his Porter for so the names of these doe sound in the Hebrew tongue To the Fowl Likewise he gave apt names unto the Birds as the Eagle is a noble bird for it preyeth not upon the bird that keepeth him warm all the night neither doth he flie that way in the morning that that bird flyeth the Peacock is proud the Stork is kinde the Serpent a slider the Ant bites the end of the Corn that it should not grow the Ant called a Gnawer from the Elephant to the Ant did he give apt names The Locusts of the swarms the Bees of their government have their names Naming for distinction of kinde and propertie So the virtues of naming are two for the distinguishing of kinde and of propertie So that the argument is good from the thing to the name and from the name to the thing according to the name is the nature and according to the nature is the name Jacob had his name aright his name was Supplanter and he supplanted his brother But for Adam there was not a meet help Briefly of the return But for Adam was not found an help meet for him A Non est inventus is returned a Creature suitable to mans nature found he not and that he should not want a meet help Woman was taken out of man Not finding implyeth a seeking seeking a desiring and desiring implyeth a want A neccessarie conversion And that we doe want we desire and that we desire we seek and that we seek we shall finde Adam among the beasts found not a meet help yet he sought an help which he desired because he wanted Non invenit 〈◊〉 bestias adjutorem 〈◊〉 sibi yet did he behold the beasts and the end of this contemplation is not fruitlesse there is a curious contemplation such was that of Hevah chap. 3. 6. The end of Mans contemplation in Paradise was in humility and the end of the contemplation of the Beasts and Fowls here you see is a supply of an help For the first you doe see Preach 3. 10. that the travell of men is given them by God to humble them David in Psal. 8. 5. saith Quid est 〈…〉 memor es ejus Domine When he hath considered the natures and beheld the beasts and finding among them no meet help then he desireth a supplie And happie is the meditation when it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oratione in prayer Among Beast helps not meet helps Among so many beasts no doubt he found some helpers but they were mute without conference bruitish without reason all of them looking downward But man before his fall was in honore positus he was straight both in body and in minde Psal. 49. 20. Among them as I have shewed he found many helpers as the Horse to ride upon the Sheep to cloath him the Asse to bear
sound of voyce Psal. 14. 1. So there is a double word speaking the one is verbum vocis the other cordu But to speak truly and properly there is but one word which is in our hearts as our word is first cloathed with aire and so becommeth audible to mens eares so faith one Christ the word of his Father being cloathed with 〈◊〉 was visible and manifest to all men So to conclude the word is that he conceived first in the Closer as I may say of his 〈◊〉 and then doth make it plain here by Creation and after by redemption And here we may learn the difference between us and God In us there is one thing by which we are and another thing by which we understand and conceive things but in God both his being and understanding are of one and the same substance And this substantial Word of God is that where with St. John beginneth his Gospell God created that which was not but the word was in the begining Therefore it is verbum increatum it made all things at the beginning Coll. 1. 15. 16. Therefore it was before the beginning John 17. 5. Thus we see as Christ saith how Moses scripsit de me John 5. 46. this word of God is proceeding from God John 8. 42. as the holy Ghost doth also John 15. 26. The proceeding of the Sonne is four folde But Christs manner of proceeding is determined after four sorts First as a sonne proceeding from a Father Secondly as an Image from a Picture Thirdly as the light from the Sunne Fourthly as a word from the speaker as a Sonne from the Father Psal. 2. 7. this day I begot thee this day that is from all eternity for to God all times is as one day also he begot him in respect of the connaturality and identity of nature and substance that he hath with God the Father As an Image from a pattern that is in likeness and resemblance to the Father Coll. 1. 15. for he is like God in property and similitude of quality and therefore is called the lively and express character and graven Image form and stamp of his Father Heb. 1. 3. Thirdly in respect of Coeternity For as the light proceeded from the Sunne so soon as ever the Sunne was so did Christ the word from eternity Heb. 1. 3. and therefore he is called the brightness of his Fathers glorie So at what time God was at that time the brightness of his Sonne appeared and shone from him Last of all in regard of the immateriality 1. John 1. For as a word conceived in us is no matter or substance so this was Coemateriall but an incorporeall generation Thus we see that his proceeding is foure fold Christ distinct in person one in substance Now this word is distinct from the Father in person and one with him in substance That he is distinct from him it appeareth Gen. 19. 24. Psal. 110. 1. the Lord said to my Lord 30. Prov. 4. what is his name and what is his sonnes names Esay 36. 9. the father brought forth a sonne ergo divers from himself Touching the Godhead of Christ Job saith surely my Redeemer liveth and I shall see God with these eyes Job 19. 25 26. Psal. 45. 7. God even thy God shall annoynt thee There is God annoynting God for he is called thy God also whom wee must worship Esay 9. 6. Jer. 63. 6. his name is the righteous God In the new Testament Rom. 9. 5. even as he was verbum incarnatum 〈◊〉 Tim. 3. 16. and John 17. 2. this is eternall life to know God and him whom he sent Jesus Christ. I have made it plain before that the Heathen had notice of his second person As the Persian called him the second Understanding The Caldeans called him the Fathers Understanding or Wisdome Macrobius a Counsell or Wisdome proceeding from him so may we say likewise of this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is attributed to Christ for they seem not to be ignorant of that name Some called him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is verbum Hermes calleth him the Naturall Word of God Orpheus the Word of the Father And Plato most plainly in his Epistle to Hormias But most strange is that which 〈◊〉 writeth inlib de preparatione Evangelii scited out of AEmilius and Heraclitus and let this suffice for the distinction of the duty and notice of Christ which is Verbum Dei Now this word hath a relation to him that speaketh it and also to the things Created therefore it is called verbum expressivum in respect of God and verbum factivum in regard of his works for his Precept did in respect of himself express his Will but in respect of us it had a power to Create and make things that were not Therefore 1. John 3. he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in the 15. verse he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so that both in regard of his Father and us he is a word Little divinity and much danger is in those late Divines which say that this was but a temperarie word which God used in Creating all things for we see this is verhum increatum and the very root of which all that is said after are but as branches derived therefrom And thus much for the authority of this Word Fiat lux Now to the Creation of light Moses maketh plain mention That the first several thing which God perfectly made was Light Wherefore we will first speak of the Order then of the Nature God is Pater Luminum Jam. 1. 17. Therefore first he brought forth light as his sunne But some having little Philosophie in them doe reason against this work of God very impiously as if it were not to be said that light was made three dayes before the Sunne which is the cause thereof But if we respect God the Father of lights or the Sunne which is the light of the World or the necessity of light for Lux est vox verum because that which things cannot express by voyce and words they doe plainly shew by the comming of light which manifesteth all things Again God being about the work of distinguishing it was necessary first to make the great distiuguisher of all things which is light for in nocte est color omnibus idem tenebrae rerum discrimina tollunt but the light distinguisheth one thing from another Again of the three beginnings we shew that the first beginning was of time but we could not have a morning to make a first day without light of it was first made for the naturall common Clock of the world to distinguish times is the course of light and darkness which is the essence of day and night Furthermore we have seen that the Heavens were the first and most excellent therefore the light being the first quality and affection of the the Heavens the first body made must by right order be made first Last of all we
is a jealous God and by his good will would not admit any other to be as good or equall to him he cannot abide a partner but I will tell you how you shall attain to this honor whether he will or no only eate of this and it shall bee so Thus the Devill beginneth to set up another kingdom against the kingdom of almighty God The third and last bait is of knowledge which he addeth for the more assurance lest the former two should not take for it is q.d. Although happily you can be content with this estate in Paradise as sufficient for you yet if that move you not then look to this excellent gift of knowledg unto which you shall attain hereby Now even upon all these principles and reasons he inferreth his conclusion thus Seeing you shall reape and receive all these benefits safely and without danger of death Therefore why doubt you why forbeare you any longer to eate of this fruit Surely if the spirit of lies had not blinded her eyes the image of light and knowledg which was in her might have perswaded her this That all these things which the Serpent had spoken could not possibly bee true Because it standeth with common sense and reason That God which made all things would never make such a Tree which should be so prejudiciall to his own glorie Therefore she might have well answered the Serpent to all this That if it be a Tree of such force and virtue he should first begin to her and eate of the fruite that then she might see him to be as God knowing all things she might know that he said true and then follow his counsell and doe the like But this sheweth that the Spirit of error had blinded her eyes and bewitched her heart for it is Gods just judgement that when men are thus farre overgrown in pride that they should be blinded Psal. 〈◊〉 7. and that so blind that they shall say with the 〈◊〉 Tush God seeth us not there is no knowledg in God Quum ergo videretur mulieri bonum esse fructum arboris illius in cibum gratissimam esse illam oculis ac desiderabilem esse arboris fructum ad habendum intelligentiam accepit de fructu ejus comedit etiamque dedit comedendum viro suo secum qui comedit Gen. 3 6. Novemb. 23. 1591. AT our general handling the temptation of Eve in the entrance of this chapter we referred the sinne it self to this verse we are now to handle which verse containeth as it were a third temptation of Eve in that she saw the tree good for meat pleasant and profitable as the Devil in Christs temptation in the fourth of Matthew useth three sorts of temptations The first is Distrust the second Presumption and the third is Inticement and Allurement of honour First when Christ was hungrie he would have him turn stones into bread he would have him distrust God and his word Secondly he set him on a pinacle and would have him cast himself down by unlawfull means he would have Christ presume of God Thirdly he tempteth him setting him upon a high mountain offering him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them to worship him So here Satnan by his first question tempteth Eve to distrust Gods commandements and goodnesse Secondly by presumption he tempteth her to eate by making her to beleeve that though she did eat the forbidden fruit yet she should not dye at all And then thirdly he comes with his inticing temptation if you will be as Gods and know all things you must eate here of In this last is a spectacle of delight the fruit was sweet and wholsome pleasant to the eye whereby to get knowledge Whatsoever wealth and honor was to be desired was shewed her whatsoever delight and pleasure might be desired was shewed her by Sathan the tempter of him and her Christ was tempted with all wealth and Eve with all knowledge But as it is in James 3. 15. this wisdome descendeth not from above it is earthly sensual and devillish The Serpent by his last temptation doth labour not only to quench faith but to kindle lust he will by the kindling of lust extinguish faith In Ephes. 4. 14. we must not be carried away with every winde of Doctrine and craftinesse whereby Sathanlyeth in wait to deceive but as it is Ephes 6. 16. above all things we must take the shield of faith where with we may quench all the firie darts of the wicked which are said to be firie darts because they set on fire our concupiscence which faith is able to extinguish lust Now there is fides per charitatem operans faith that worketh by love and fides per timorem operans faith that worketh by fear and therefore Sathan to 〈◊〉 the faith and obedience of Eve dealeth with her love first and with her fear after By his non omnino he extinguisheth love for love she was not obedient fides per timorem operans only faith by fear did retein her in obedience lest peradventure you should die fear not love made her yet a little faithfull but he took order also for her fear as before he extinguished love by affirming that God was a hard and fearfull Lord so now to drive away fear he will have her to make an account of him as a God of clouts not to be feared and now he inkindleth the concupiscence of Eve By those two he extinguished faith in making obedience painfull and prejudiciall and making disobedience pleasant and beneficiall edite eate eritis sicut dei scientes bonum malum and ye shall be at Gods knowing good and evill Here by setting a fair shew to the eye he affaulteth the eye with a glorious shew Austin saith that there are two manners or means whereby lust is provoked and kindled the one is the care by hearing and the eye by seeing Bernard saith there are two wayes 〈◊〉 Sathan the one is circuitio the other circumventio the one is going about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devoure the other is his circumventing a man in all subtilty the one is in speaking swelling words of vanity and beguiling in wantonness 1 Pet. 2. 18. his circumventing is taken out of the 2 Corinthians 2. 11. Here he useth both the means by bringing Gods word in question in all subtilty extinguishing love and his opposing the falseness to the truth saying though you eat you shall not die expelling fear and shewing that obedience was burthensome and disobedience full of delight and thus besieging them on every side yet would not give them over till he had made them both to eat for so long as any spark of Gods word is remaining in them he will not leave them nor give over his temptation such is his diligence in his tempting It is the Law of Sathans mouth that leadeth man captive unto the Law of sinne Romans 7. 23. In Jobs temptation Sathan
to thy self and Paul the first to the Corinthians the second chapter and the second verse saith he esteemeth the knowledge of nothing but of Jesus Christ and him crucifyed And the Tree of life is fenced with Cherubyms which is taken for knowledge and the Sword for power Paul in the first to the Celossians and the 24 verse Rejoyceth in his afflictions to fulfill the rest of the sufferings of Christ in his flesh And Christ himself by his sufferings entred into glory the twenty fourth of Luke and the twenty sixt verse and if we with a contrite heart in repentance make a Sacrifice of our sensuall and bruitish affections and with patience beare our afflictions we shall passe with Christ to everlasting glory the Angel shall lay down his Sword the Cherubyms shall become our friends we shall be partakers of Christs Sacrifice which worketh reconciliation between God and man and the wrath of God being appeased then followeth the restoring of us to the heavenly Paradise And to him that overcommeth God will give to eate of the Tree of life in the middest of the Paradise of God the second of the Revelations and the seventh verse And so much shall suffice at this time AMEN LECTURES PREACHED UPON the fourth Chapter OF GENESIS LECTURES Preached in the Parish Church of St. GILES without Cripple-gate LONDON Deinde Adam cognovit Chavvam uxorem suam quae ubi concepit peperit Kajinum dixit acquisivi virum à Jehova Postea pergens parere peperit fratrem ipsius Hebelum Gen. 4. 1. February 7 1598. THIS continuance of the story of Moses begins to set forth the increase of the world after Adam and Eve were expelled Paradise The sum of all set downe in this Chapter to that end is of two parts First the propagation of mankinde Secondly the partition of mankinde set out in Cain and Abell The propagation is the fulfilling of that Prophesie of Adam who foretold of his wise that she should be mater viventium in the third chapter and the tewentith verse and it is indeed a resemblance of the tree of life in that by means hereof albeit life cannot continue in any singular person because of the Sentence pronounced by God that as hee is dust so shall heereturne to dust Chapter the third yet there is immortalitas speciel that is a perpetuall succession of life in the posterity of Adam As a Tree albeit in the end of the yeere it casts his leaves yet still there remaines a substance of life in it which makes it send forth leaves again Esay the sixt and the thirteenth verse so it is in mankinde for as the old life falls so there riseth up a new When the Father dieth the Child stands up in his place and so is life still preserved This is done by generation which is a kinde of creation as it is said of Adam that he begat a Child in his own likeness after his Image Genesis the fifth and the third verse For as there is in God diffusiva virtus whereby he communicateth his goodnesse to others so it is a thing to bee desired that Adam having received life should shew the same to others that when Adam dyeth Cain and Abell issued up in his stead which desire is so planted in man that albeit God when he said to Adam that in sorrow and the sweat of his browes he should eate his owne bread told him that hee should have enough to doe to get a living for himselfe yet Adam being scarce able to provide for himselfe begetteth children And albeit God said unto the woman that shee should bring forth children in sorrow and travell Genesis the third Chapter and the sixteenth verse yet shee not only brings forth Cain but having tryed the paine of child-bearing shee said not as Rebecca Genesis the twenty fift Chapter and the twenty second verse but addeth yet and brings forth Abell so high a reckoning did Adom and Eve make of continuing their kinde In the propagation we have two parts First Adams knowing And secondly Eves conception unto which two things are to be added first the manner of expressing the carnall copulation of Adam and Eve by this terme of knowledg Afterward Secondly the circumstance of time noted in the word afterward For Adams knowledg and the generation of mankinde wee see that the transgression of the Commandement of God in Paradise doth not hinder marriage so as it should be a sinne to beget children but contrary wise marriage is a remedy against sinne the first of the Corinthians the seventh Chapter and the second verse And that which God affirmeth touching the joyning of man and woman Genesis the second Chapter and the twenty fourth verse That Man shall leave father and mother and cleave to his wife and they two shall bee one flesh is not repealed by God for wee see the accord of marriage betweene Adam and Eve is continued and they company together and bring forth children And as the estate of marriage was not taken away by sinne so was not the blessing of fruitfullnesse and conception Therefore as before they fell God said Bring forth fruit and multiply and fill the Earth the first Chapter and the twenty eighth verse so here Eve receiveth from the Lord strength to conceive and bring forth Cain and Abell Now the woman bringeth forth not only a seede but the seede promised in the third chapter of Genesis and the fifteenth verse and that a holy seede Matthew the second chapter and fifteenth verse not only Men in Earth but Saints in Heaven and the end hereof is not only that wee should desire to have our own names continue but as Joshua speakes in the seventh of Joshua and the ninth verse quid fiet magno tuo nomine that is that not only wee may magnifie Gods name while wee live but that when wee fall another seede may stand up and prayse his name that the seede may serve him Psalme the twenty second and the thirtith verse A people that shall bee borne shall praise him the hundred and second Psalme and the eightteenth verse Know Touching the carnall copulation of Adam with Eve where God expresseth it by the terme of knowledge it sheweth us the holinesse of this tongue wherein the holy-Ghost writ this then which there is no tongue that useth so modest and chaste speeches and therefore is called the holy tongue and it withall sheweth us that the holy-Ghost by his owne example commendeth unto us modesty and chaste speeches for that modest speech which hee useth here to expresse the company of man and woman he useth also Matthew the first where he saith Joseph knew not Mary and this thing hee calleth by another terme Debitam benevolentiam I Corinthians the seventh and the third verse that is he exhorteth us to avoid fornication uncleaness and filthiness Ephesians the fifth and the third verse so he might provoke us by his example for as that broad speech uttered
ninth verse Another confesseth himself unfit to be a Prophet seeing he was alwaies an husbandman therefore men must followthose trades of life for which they are fit The want of which discretion is the confusion of Church and Common-wealth Inconvenience of the contrary There are saith Salomon that have the price of wisedome in their hands and have not wisdome in their hearts in the sixteenth chapter of the Proverbs Such as have preferment in places where they deserve it no contrary-wise it is a great benefit to the Common-wealth when men set their children to such trades as they are fit for Examples So Jacob seeing that Isaac had great bones made him an husbandman and perceiving that Zabulon delighted in the waters he imployed him in navigation and perceiving that Juda was strong and politick fit to bear rule made a magistrate of him in the fourty ninth chapter of Genesis and the thirteenth verse Which thing when it is not observed when Saul a mighty and strong man fit for war is among the Prophers in the first of Samuell the tenth chapter then is there a great confusion Such as will imploy themselves in the ministery of the Gospell must not be young Schollars in the first of Timothie and the third chapter Nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the second of Peter and the third chapter Nor without ground and soundnesse of judgment and knowledge for such undertake that which they are not fit for The conclusion is that which the Apostle St. Paul saith Such as have diverse gifts we should imploy them to the glory of Christ our head from whom we receive them in the twelfth chapter of the Romanes and the sixt verse And that every one as he hath received the gift so he doe dispose and minister the same one to another as God disposeth of his manifold graces in the first of Peter the fourth chapter and the tenth verse Ground of Abells calling keeping sheep The second calling wherein Abell was sent hath this ground the husbandman is occupied in tilling the ground which is a thing without life But sheep are living things and they that undertake to keep them must have an oversight to keep them in order And because they are of all cattell most subject to wander they must be kept in with bands in the eleventh chapter of Zachariah In regard of the great care that shepheards take of their flock the Governors of Common-wealths are termed by the name of shepheards So the Prophet Jeremiah speaking of temporall Magistrates I will give you Pastors which shall feed you with wisdome and understanding in the third chapter of Jeremiah and the fifteenth verse And the false Prophets are called false Shepheards in the eleventh chapter of Zachariah The necessity of temporall and spirituall shepheards and why And of the people that are without a Governor it is said Let not the Lords people be as sheep without a shepheard in the twenty seventh chapter of Numbers And for ecclesiasticall government Christ saw the people As sheep that have no shepheard and had compassion of them in the ninth chapter of Matthew and in the thirty fourth chapter of Ezekiel That which is performed to sheep by the shepheards as the leading of them forth the bringing them in pasture the gathering of them together being dispersed the defending of them from violence All this is ascribed to the Prophets that should teach Gods people and sheep of his pasture The sheep are subject to be torne in pieces by the Bears and Lions in the first of Samuell and the seventh chapter And The fat sheep will kick against the young and weak sheep in the thirty fourth chapter of Ezekiel Against which injuries the shepheard is to defend them which is a representation of that oversight that Magistrates have of the people Therefore God took Moses from keeping of sheep to be governor over his people in the third chapter of Exodus And David from following the ewes great with lamb was chosen to be King over Israel in the seventy eighth Psalme As if by keeping of sheep they had been trained up and made fit to govern men Therefore as in Abell is represented the care and oversighted that temporall magistrates have over their people and subjects So Joseph is called the shepheard of Israel in the fourty ninth chapter of Genesis And Cyrus is called Gods servant and shepheard in the fourty fift chapter of Esay And for ecclesiastiall government that is no lesse set out in the care of shepheards And therefore Christ who is the chief shepheard saith to Saint Peter Pasce agnos meos in the twenty first chapter of John Fuit autem post dies multos quum obtulit Kajin de fructu terrae munus Jehovae Et ipse quoque Hebel obtulit de primogenitis gregis sui de adipe eorum Gen 4. 3. Aprill 22. 1599. THESE two Bretheren as we have heard Abell a patern of the Saints Cain of the wicked are the great patern of the maine division of the world that is Abell is a patern of the Saints and Church of God and Cain of fleshly and wordly minded men Concerning whom from the beginning we have already considered two parts First the disposition of their natures Secondly their vocations Thirdly we are at length come to their Religion which howsoever it be last regarded of men yet ought it to be first in place First provides for religion Secondly for trades and why For howsoever Adam after the fall did provide for Religion in the last place yet as Christ saith Non sic fuit ab initio in the ninth chapter of 〈◊〉 Therefore we are first to enquire of Gods service and after to provide for trades and occupations as the Prophet exhorteth Stand in the way and behold and aske for the old wayes in the sixth chapter of Jeremiah and the fifteenth verse Division in four parts touching this Religion Touching their Religion we have to consider four points First the antiquities and generalities of it Secondly the kindes of it that is Cains oblation and Abell's sacrifice Thirdly the ground and reason why they performed this service to God Fourthly the warrant they had for it 1. The antiquity of it being first First for the Antiquitie of this kinde of worship in offering up to God we are to know that there is no act of Religion remembred in Scripture before this offering of Cain and Abell Examples And therefore the Apostle sheweth that the Sacrifice which Abell offered up to God was the first fruit of faith that ever was shewed in the eleventh chapter to the Hebrews and the fourth verse 1. In the law of nature As it was the first before the flood so in the new world when all things had been drowned with the flood the first service done to God was the offering of Noah upon an Altar which he made as it is in the eighth chapter of
〈◊〉 and we shall see that 〈◊〉 man 〈…〉 himself to this present World can have more 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Secondly For Gods hand and 〈◊〉 in 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Children this ground is to be laid that these 〈…〉 are from God for Jubals invention 〈…〉 from God 〈…〉 butter of Kine and 〈◊〉 of Sheep with 〈◊〉 of Lamb 〈…〉 in Basham He gives the grain of wheat and 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 the thirty second chapter and the four 〈◊〉 and for making of 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 It is God that 〈◊〉 songs in the night Job the thirty fist chapter and the 〈…〉 For Tubal-Cains invention of 〈◊〉 of warr It is the Lord that teachet hour hands to 〈◊〉 and our 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 and the fourth 〈◊〉 These inventions are all 〈◊〉 God whereby we see it is not with God as 〈◊〉 said to Isaas his Father Genesis the twenty seventh chapter Hast thou but one 〈◊〉 God hath for the Sonnes of men 〈◊〉 only heavenly blessings that 〈◊〉 the life to come but even such as pertain to the 〈…〉 In his lest hand he hath riches and worldly honour but in his 〈◊〉 hand 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 life Proverbs the third 〈…〉 the fix teenth 〈◊〉 he hath not only donum 〈◊〉 but 〈…〉 James the first 〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉 verse 〈◊〉 in temporall things as well as spirituall to 〈◊〉 upon 〈…〉 we fed God saith Exodus the thirty first chapter 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 into 〈◊〉 and Aholiab so as they were able 〈◊〉 work in the 〈◊〉 so all mechanicall arts are to be ascribed to 〈…〉 that was for 〈◊〉 Tabernacle So Hir 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 with the 〈◊〉 to work in 〈◊〉 for the Temple in the second book of Chronicles the 〈◊〉 chapter and the fourteenth verse These 〈◊〉 came from the 〈◊〉 of counsell and understanding The second thing to be observed is Gods 〈…〉 herein that he 〈◊〉 to the wicked good 〈◊〉 pertaining to this life as Christ 〈◊〉 He suffers 〈…〉 to shine 〈◊〉 the godly and 〈◊〉 Matthew the fist chapter so he bestowes temporall 〈◊〉 upon the posterity of Cain as well as upon the Children of 〈◊〉 and this they obtain of God gratiae gratis datae but not 〈…〉 Secondly His mercy appeares herein that he 〈◊〉 gives 〈◊〉 a supply of those blessings which their sinnes 〈◊〉 them of Thirdly His 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 order that the world 〈◊〉 be furnished with things necessary for this present 〈◊〉 By 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 world Psalm the seventeenth And that they which have 〈◊〉 themselves to the things of this world should have 〈◊〉 excellency in things 〈…〉 the same above the Godly as the 〈◊〉 est of worldly men in this 〈◊〉 so their 〈◊〉 stands in earthly things and the godly 〈…〉 in respect of 〈◊〉 For the 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 are 〈◊〉 in their 〈…〉 the Children of light Luke the tenth chapter but come to things that pertain to the other life there they that seem to be most childish in things of this life goe far beyond the Philosophers of whom the Apostle saith in the first to the Corinthians the second chapter The naturall man perceiveth not the things of the spirit of God But he hath hid them from the wise and prudent of this world and revealed them to babes Matthew the eleventh chapter and the twenty fift verse Fourthly We are to consider the equity of Gods dealing in recording these things in his own book which is the Library of the Holy Ghost These things are enrolled by an honourable name that is the name of a Father shewing plainly that they which bring forth actions that are profitable no less are to be counted Fathers than they that bring forth Children and that they ought accordingly to be honoured and reverenced as Fathers The ancient Fathers make a question Whether these men were the inventors of these things first It is certain that Cain being an husbandman had use of iron workes as the Coulter and Share and albeit he did invent iron tools fit for his purpose yet that which is ascribed to Tubal-Cain was excultio expolitio that is the perfecting of that work which Cain had begun Abel was a shepheard and could not but have use of tents but yet the perfecting of that cunning in that kinde is 〈◊〉 to Jubal Mahalallel was one that used to praise God as his name signifieth which he could not doe without some kinde of musick and therefore in as much as he was farre ancienter than Lamech it follows there was musick before Jubal invented Instruments and Organs This distinction therefore must be held in this point which the School men make that the one is quoad modum simplicis the other quoad modum singularis And therefore in as much as Jabal-Jubal and Tubal Cain are called Fathers of these arts which were in use long before them it is plaine that not only the first inventors of any art are to be honoured but even they also that add any excellencie or perfection to any thing which they professe To draw to an end Lamech being thus blessed of God in things naturall and pertaining to this life ought to be thankfull to God Jacob when God gave him a sonne called his name Judah saying I will praise the Lord Genesis the twenty ninth chapter but he is so farre from praising God that he speakes hard things against God If Cain be avenged seven times then Lamech seventy times seven fold And for men he was so cruel against them that he said no man should stirre against him He would kill a man in his rage Therefore he called his third sonne Tubal Cain that is another Cain as if he would have the name of Cain remembred which God would have buryed All these mercies moved not Lamech to any amendment but as it is in the twenty sixth chapter of Isaiah Let mercy be shewed to the wicked yet will he doe wickedly so did Lamech And albeit these things which they invented tended to the benefit of men yet they were to their own destruction Hypocrites can discern the face of the sky but cannot discern the signe or the times Matthew the sixteenth chapter The Heathen by the works of God attained to a knowledge of God but were not the better for it because they did not worship him as God Romans the first chapter so in as much as they imploy not that 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 which God gave them to his glory it will be to their destruction As we are to have a right estimation of those things where with God blessed them outwardly so we must beware that having the like blessings we be not as they They desired to be mighty men on earth and men of renoune Genesis the sixth chapter that was the end of their desire and they were so but as Christ saith accepêrunt mercedem suam Lamech as he desired proved a mighty man and so did his posterity but when all is done when the men of this world as Lamech have Children at their 〈◊〉 fire Psalm the seventeenth yet they lye in hell
〈…〉 pronounced and executed upon the 〈…〉 as Christ sheweth in the thirteenth chapter of 〈◊〉 〈…〉 eighth chapter of Lake And the 〈◊〉 both 〈…〉 the twelfth chapter of John and 〈…〉 in 〈…〉 of the Acts of the 〈◊〉 to conclude 〈…〉 this as a reason whyther 〈…〉 not 〈…〉 had blinded their eyes and hardned their hearts Lest they should see 〈◊〉 their eyes and understand with their hearts and convert and be healed The other effect of the word was said to be a pricking this is a beginning For as the Preacher ascribes a prick or point to the word when he saith The words of the wise are tanquam acuta stimuli Ecclesiastes the twelfth chapter So here we see there are certain sparks of fire in the word which will soon kindle a fire in the hearts of the hearers The pricking is referred to fear as Psalm the hundred and nineteenth Confringe cor 〈◊〉 timore tuo the warming is an effect of hope and love as Canticles the eighth chapter and the sixt verse where love is compared to fire that hath ardent coals that burn so as much water cannot quench them that is As there are some Scriptures that intreat of the wrath of God that lay mens sinnes before their eyes and tells them of the terrible and great day of the Lord when they shall be rewarded all according to their works and so breeds a fear in the hearts of the hearers as Acts the fift chapter and the eleventh verse and prick them verse the thirty seventh unlesse their hearts be stonie and their flesh a dead flesh So on the other side some Scriptures set forth the goodnesse of God and his gracious promises as when Christ 〈◊〉 the two 〈◊〉 Ought not Christ to suffer these things and to enter into glory verse the twenty sixth which shews the love of God the Father in giving his sonne to suffer for us and the love of the sonne in being given for us for no man hath greater love than this to dye for his friend John the fifteenth chapter and the great reward that God hath for his children which is the hope of glory assuring them that as Christ is entred into glory so we shall be with him And such Scripture will stirre up in the 〈◊〉 both affection of love and hope wherewith as with coals or sparks of fire their hearts are wounded And those several parts of Scripture are tempered according to the nature of the hearers or auditors for there are some that scoffe and deride and blaspheme the holy spirit of God Acts the second chapter and the thirteenth verse And ro such the threatnings and judgements of God must be laid before them as Peter doth But here we have Auditors of such nature that 〈◊〉 such as did not mock and sit in the Chair of Scorners but were 〈◊〉 in spirit and were of a faint heart which confesse we were in hope that this was he that should have delivered Israel but now our hope is faint and we quake and to such the opening of Gods love and of his great and 〈◊〉 promises is expedient In this verse we have to consider First The manner of uttering of these words for they say not Our hearts 〈◊〉 but ask the question Did not our hearts Secondly The 〈◊〉 of the verse which consists of three parts First the part wherein this effect was wrought Cor nostrum Secondly A passion or work a burning Thirdly The time when he talked with us First For the manner Did not our hearts burne Of which kinde of negative speaking there are two examples in Scripture First it is a more vehement affirmation than if a man should only affirm a truth as where Christ saith before Ought not Christ to suffer these things and to enter into glory as if he should say he ought without doubt for when the matter is questionable we use to speak affirmatively but in a plain case that is evident and out of doubt then we ask a question negatively as Doth not the Sunne shine as if one should say It is cleere We see it doth So here they knew well before Christ spake to them their hearts were cold and their hope was saint and dead but now remembring that while Christ spake to them they selt their hearts warm within them they ask Did not our hearts burn as if they should say doubtlesse we felt a heat and burning within us Another use of this negative question is asked out of Christs deed Luke the seventeenth chapter Were there not ten cleansed he marvelled what was become of the other nine This admiration serves to tax and to reprehend the unthankfulnesse of those nine which returned not to praise God And seeing the Disciples ask the Question Did not our hearts burn as if they should say seeing we felt our hearts burn within us why did we not know that it was Christ the Sonne of God that spake to us Surely it is not the work of a man to touch the heart but God only and seeing our hearts were touched thus doubtlesse it was Christ that spake to us Which shewes that at the present time that Christ spake to them they felt him not but when Christ was gone out of their sight then they remembred that their hearts felt this heat within them for by Jacob's experience we learn that God may be in a place and we not know of it for so he confesseth in the twenty eighth chapter of Genesis and the sixth verse God was here and I was not aware and in the ninth chapter of Job and the eleventh verse He will be by me and I shall not see him and in the thirteenth chapter of John Quid ego faciam tu nescis nunc scies autem posthac that is hereafter yee shall feel your hearts moved So the attention of these two Disciples was so great and they were in such an extasie that they observed no such thing for the present while he spake they perceived it not till Christ had made an end and was taken from them For as there are things that appear and are not as visards and maskes which make a shew of that which is not so there are things that appear not and yet are as the spirits and souls of men which are invisible There was one that boasted of that he had not that was the false Prophet that said to Michaiah in the first book of Kings the twenty second chapter It is impossible that the spirit of the Lord shauld goe from me to thee And in the first epistle to the Corinthians the seventh chapter there is one that with more modesty and coldnesse saith I think I have the spirit of God and he had it indeed The wisest that ever was of men saith There is not in me the understanding of a man Proverbs the thirtieth chapter and the second verse And Caiaphas that understood as little as any as if he only understood all said Vos planè nihil intelligitis
either promise that which they cannot perform as being weak as Psalm the twenty first and the tenth verse or which they will not perform as Naball in the first book of Samuel and the twenty fist chapter But if we can finde one that is both able and willing to keep his promise that is a great kindnesse not to be distrusted And such a one is God who of his own goodnesse is become indebted to us by making us most great and pretious promises he is true of his word for he is Deus mentiri nesciens Titus the first chapter he cannot lye And for his power and ability Apud eum non erit impossibile omne verbum Luke the first chapter And for his willingnesse the Angels testifie of it that there is in God good milk towards men even the same which he heares to Christ his own Sonne of whom he 〈◊〉 from heaven in the third chapter of Luke This is my 〈◊〉 Sonne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Secondly For the thing promised Though it be God that 〈◊〉 yet if the thing promised be a matter of no great value wee respect it the lesse but this is a great and most 〈◊〉 promise Now that is pretious for which a man will give any thing as for a pearle a man will sell all that he hath to composse it Matthew the thirteenth chapter and what will 〈◊〉 a man give for the ransome of his soul the whole world nay a thousand of worlds is little enough to give for it Matthew the sixteenth chapter and the sixteenth verse So then this promise is pretious in respect of the thing promised Secondly It is pretious in regard that it cost dearly For wee are bought not with corruptible things as silver and gold 〈◊〉 with the 〈◊〉 blood of Christ in the first epistle of Peter the first chapter and the eighteenth verse Thirdly It is a pretious promise in this respect because our blessednesse here promised stands not only in having our sinnes forgiven or in being made righteous that is not the thing we are 〈◊〉 with or to be with God which was the desire of our first Parents Genesis the third chapter and of Lucifer Isaiah the fourteenth chapter ero similis 〈◊〉 but it stands herein that we shall be made partakers of the Divine nature and enjoy those things 〈◊〉 eye bath not seen c. in the first epistle to the 〈◊〉 the second chapter and the third verse he doth not promise that we shall be partakers of Gods glory joy and felicity as 〈◊〉 sonnes would have been Matthew the twenty first chapter but 〈◊〉 of his nature That as we are subject to sicknesse death and all crosses by being partakers of the nature of the first Adam so we shall be partakers of glory joy and 〈◊〉 And being partakers of the second Adam as the branches receive life from the vine John the fifteenth chapter so it shall be between Christ and us he will derive his benefits to us As the 〈◊〉 is holy so wee that are branches 〈…〉 shall be 〈◊〉 Romans the eleventh chapter and the sixteenth verse As we partake of the miseries of the first Adam so of the joy and 〈◊〉 of the second Adam As we have been partakers of the 〈◊〉 so of 〈…〉 in the first epistle to the 〈◊〉 and the fifteenth chapter Fourthly If we consider from how base estate we to whom this promise is made are 〈◊〉 not only from the nature of 〈◊〉 Psalm the fourty ninth Of wormes and 〈…〉 17. and which is more base from being the Children of wrath 〈◊〉 the second chapter and Children of the Devil Acts the thirteenth chapter to be partakers of the divine nature that will 〈◊〉 to be a 〈◊〉 promise containing matter of so great comfort whereby that is by the knowledge of God that hath called us to glory and 〈◊〉 or by whom that is by Christ taking knowledge of him as in the fifty third chapter of Isaiah My 〈…〉 by his knowledge shall 〈◊〉 many and in the seventeenth chapter of John and the third verse This is eternall life to know thee and Jesus Christ. The Heathen and Turkes are not capable of this pretious promise because they take no notice of Christ It is a promise made to Christians for because they are partakers of flesh and blood He also took part with them Hebrews the second chapter As Christ took part of our nature so he makes us partakers of his It is the Christian only that beleeves this and therefore he is capable of this so pretious promise for albeit Christ were man yet it pleased God that the fulnesse of the God head should dwell in him bodily Colossians the second chapter and the ninth verse and as he is in us by his humanity so are we in him in respect of his Divinity God partakes with Christ because of his Divine nature and man partakes with Christ in as much as he hath assumed our humane nature He is partaker of our humane nature for he is flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone Ephesians the fifth chapter and we by his Spirit are partakers of his Divine nature for in the first epistle to the Corinthians the sixth chapter He that cleaveth to the Lord is one spirit Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us by the spirit which he hath given us in the first epistle of St. John the fourth chapter and the thirieenth verse Christ imputeth his nature two wayes First by regeneration in Baptisin for except ye be born again of water and the holy Ghost John the third chapter Secondly by eating and drinking in the Sacrament In which respect the Apostle saith that we must bibere spiritum the first epistle to the Corinthians the twelfth chapter and the thirteenth verse In this life we must seek for Gods grace and glory and he hath promised to give both Psalm the eighty fourth and then we shall Intrare in gaudium Domini Matthew the twenty fift chapter and so we shall be alwaies with him the first epistle to the Thessalonians the fourth chapter and see him as he is the first epistle of John the third chapter and the first verse that is be partakers of his divine nature and which goes beyond all he shall not be glory in one and joy in another and immortality in a third but he shall be omnia in omnibus the first epistle to the Corinthians the fifteenth chapter and the twenty eighth verse Now the promise is with a restraint nobis qui that is to us which eschue the corruption The like we have in John the third chapter and the sixteenth verse ut omnes qui credant and Matthew the eleventh chapter Come to me omnes qui And great reason it is that if we will have God to perform his promise to us we keep the condition on our part towards him so the Apostle disputes in the second epistle to the Corinthians the seventh chapter and the
seeth God the Father as he saith He that seeth me seeth the Father When Moses desired God to shew him his glory Exodus the thirty third chapter though he shewed but his back parts yet it was so glorious a sight that they that beheld Moses face saw the skin shine Exocus the thirty fourth chapter so that he was fain to cover it And as in the second epistle to the Corinthians the third chapter we are transformed into his image Christ in his corruptible nature being transfigured in the presence of his Disciples was so glorious that they desired they might goe no more home Matthew the seventeenth chapter Therefore if the fight of Gods presence be a matter of so great joy non videbitis must needs be occasion of great sorrow Which is exemplified in Adam who having sinned though he were in Paradise a place of all comfort yet he had no joy because he could not see God as he was wont Therefore Cain complaineth I am cast out of thy presence Genesis the fourth chapter And not only the Reprobate but David saith Psalm the thirty first and the twenry second verse I said in my haste I am cast out of thy presence or fight which shewed that as videbitis must be the persection of all felicity so non videbitis is the summe of all misery especially if it be not qualified with modicum Psalm the thirteenth How long wilt thou forget me O Lord for ever Psalm the seventy seventh Will the Lord absent himself for ever Psalm the eighty ninth And that which he faith John the fourteenth chapter and the nineteenth verse The world shall see me no more if modicum be not added there is no 〈◊〉 like this Out of this we learn to seek Gods favour as Psalm the twenty first and he saith Seek my face to answer My heart never leaveth thinking on this And if we have lost the comfort of it to complain as David Psalm the thirty first I am cast out of thy presence For albeit men in the time of their youth delight in other fights yet the dayes will come when they shall say Shew us the lights of thy countenance Psalm the fourth Turn us again O Lord shew us the light of thy countenance and we shall be whole Psalm the eightieth We shall desire to see one of Christs dayes Luke the seventeenth chapter and the twenty second verse All flesh shall see him at his appearing even they that pierced him Apoc. 6. Secondly We are to inquire what manner of sight he speaketh of for as much as men see not only with bodily eyes but with the eyes of understanding They that with their bodily eyes beheld Christ before his Passion and after his Resurrection did not understand it Luke the twenty fourth chapter and the eleventh verse As there is an outward light so an inward light of the minde into which the doctrine of the Gospel doth shine the second epistle to the Corinthians the fourth chapter as the light of the Sunne 〈◊〉 to our outward sense There are things that cannot be seen of the bodily eyes which we doe yet behold and look on with the eye of faith the second epistle to the Corinthians the fourth chapter and Moses is said to have loved God invisible Hebrews the eleventh chapter So the bad qualities of men as 〈◊〉 are invisible to the outward eye but yet we see it by the light of our understanding Such a sight is that which he promiseth John the fourteenth chapter I will make my self manifest to him He shewed himself to Judas as well as to Peter bodily But as it was a special touch wherewith 〈◊〉 now touched the hem of his garment and was healed Matthew the ninth chapter so the view that Peter had of Christ had another manner of effect then Judas beholding Luke the twenty second chapter But even this spiritual sight hath also a deceit as in the first epistle to the Corinthians the thirteenth chapter Now we see through a glasse but then face to face So there are two words to that purpose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to see in a glasse but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to see a thing as it is The Angels doe continually behold Gods face we have but an enigmaticall sight of him in this life and it is soon lost as Christ being risen from death was seen of Mary Magdalen and others in the habit of a Gardiner To them that travelled to Emaus at one time they did see him and at another time they could not see him Touching which he that shall consider the desire which the Saints of God have of this benefit shall easily perceive what matter of sorrow it was for Psalm the ninety second My soul is a thirst for the living God Psalm the eighty fourth it saith For the City of my God again How long wilt thou forget me for ever but modicum videbitis that gives comfort again Heavinesse may endure for a night that is modicum non videbitis but joy commeth in the morning that is modicum videbitis Psalme the thirtieth The delaying of hope is the fainting of the heart Proverbs the eighteenth chapter but the desire accomplished is the tree of life Modicum videbitis is as the tree of life that quickens the sool Isaiah the sixty fourth chapter For a moment in my anger I forsake them but with great compassion will I gather them As he gives the matter of grief in non videbitis and comfort in videbitis ye shall see me within a while so in the reason quia vado that is the grief but ad Patrem that is matter of comfort He goeth but woe to him by whom she Sonne of man goeth Matthew the twenty sixt chapter that is matter of sorrow but when he saith ad Patrem that is not to an enemy that keeps me long from you but to my father the same that sent me at my birth and will send me again by my Resurrection Secondly As he went to 〈◊〉 a cruel Judge on earth so to as severe a Judge in Heaven But yet when you heare me say Why hast thou for saken me yet still he is my Father as if he should say this is a hard way but yet I must goe this way Thirdly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not quia but quòd vado that is the contrary I shall be carried up in a cloud Secondly From the consideration of Christs words verse the fift I goe my way and none 〈◊〉 me whither I goe that is to be understood as of the place whither but to what purpose for of the place Peter asked in the thirteenth chapter and the thirty sixt verse Domine quò vadis So here the placing of ad Patrem is to shew that he went to reconcile God not only that he be no enemy but propitiou and favourable not as a friend to a friend but as a father to his children to make us the children