burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death The second work of preparing is To make low every mountain and hill And what such mountaines and hils are it is manifest out of the Apostles words where he saith Though we walk in the flesh c 2. Cor. 10.3 4 5 6. we do not warre after the flesh For the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ and having in a readinesse to revenge all disobedience c. There is d 1. Pet. 5.5 Job 41.34 Prov. 13.10 Isa 2.11 12 17. 2 Tim. 3.2 5. a necessity imposed on us for to strive against all manner of pride which the spirit of Satan or our own flesh and blood may raise up within us It is Christs saying e Mat. 18.3 Except ye be converted and become as little children yee shall not enter into the Kingdome of heaven And then afterwards signifieth That we are to f verse 4. humble our selves as they do The Lord saith by Habakkuk g Hab. 2.4 Behold his soule which is lifted up is not upright in him Jeremiah saith h Ier. 48.29.11 Wee have heard the pride of Moab he is exceeding proud his loftinesse and his arrogancie and his pride and the haughtinesse of his heart Moab hath bin at ease from his youth and he hath settled on his lees and hath not bin emptied from vessell to vessell neither hath he gone into captivity therefore his taste remained in him and his scent is not changed And therefore * See the whole Chapter sundry judgements are denounced against Moab The spirituall mountains and hils within us will with Divine help become laid lower and lower if we duly consider the doctrine of these Scriptures following and of such like As i 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my Sonne know thou the God of thy father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing minde for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts if thou seeke him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever Also that of S. Paul to the Corinthians k 2. Cor. 5.10 11. We must all appear before the Judgement seate of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord we perswade men Moreover that saying of S. Peter l 1. Pet. 1.17 If yee call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans worke passe the time of your sojourning here in feare Also Davids words Lord m Ps 131.1 2. mine heart is not haughty nor mine eies lofty neither do I exercise my selfe in great matters or in things too high for me Surely I have behaved and quieted my selfe as a child The third worke of the preparing that is weaned of his Mother my soule is even as a weaned child The third worke of preparing is to make straight that which is crooked David saith n Psal 125.4 5. Phil. 2.15 Prov. 2.15 Do good O Lord unto those that be good and to them that are upright in their hearts As for such as turn aside unto their crooked wayes the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of * See concerning equity and iniquitie what is said in 2. Tim. 2.19 Mat. 7.7 Jsa 16.5.12 1 Joh. 2.29 and 3 10. iniquitie but peace shall be upon Israel So that crookednesses appeare to be a kind of works of iniquitie Now the ten Commandements are said to be the Rule of a Christian life and therefore whatsoever actions are contrary to the Morall Law contained in them are judged to be crooked 1 Cor 6.9 Mat 7.22 23. Luk 13.25 26 27. Jsa 28.17 Lev. 6.2 3 4 5 Psal 119.1 3 6. Deut 22.1 2 3. Micha 6.6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. Luke 19.8 Job 20.18 Mat. 5.23 24 25 26. as also whatsoever are contrary to the said Royall Law contained in any part or portion of Gods universall word Moreover as all unjustnesse is crookednesse so is all unholinesse And therefore two Scriptures are necessarie to be continually remembred unto the making straight of whatsoever is crooked namely that of David Blessed are they that keep judgement and he that doth righteousnesse at o Psal 106.3 all times Also that of Peter But as he that hath called you is holy so be ye holy in p 1 Pet. 1.15 16. all manner of conversation because it is written Be ye holy for I am holy And God is holy perpetually The fourth work of preparing is The fourth worke of the preparing to make plaine or smooth the roughnesses And hereby is signified whatsoever is not q See Col. 1.10 1 Joh. 3.22 pleasing to the spirit of Almighty God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 3.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in planitiem vide Lex Buxt It is the Gospels commandement r Eph. 4.30 That we grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby we are sealed unto the day of Redemption And therefore where the Apostle delivereth this precept hee intimateth sundry roughnesses to be put away saying ſ Verse 31. Let all bitternesse and wrath and anger and clamour and evill speaking bee put away from you with all malice And t Verse 29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers There is as it were a little Looking-glasse made by the Apostle wherein every one may see much concerning spirituall * Prov. 18.23 roughnesse for to discern it and to put it away namely in the Epistle to the Philippians it being said u Phil. 4.9 Finally brethren Whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are * or venerable as it is rendred in the margent honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise think on these things Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen of me doe and the God of peace shall be with you It is the saying of the Lord by his holy Prophet David To him that * Ps 50.23 and 84.11 ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God And whereas the heavenly crying voice is That every valley should be exalted or filled up and every mountain and hill made low c. It appeareth therefore profitable to mention here together sundry valleys mountaines and hils crookednesses and roughnesses which are in divers places of the Gospel expressed to the end that whosoever endeavoureth preparation
so farre forth as it is in Scripture expressed what the eternall God is according to His infinite Essence or being place and I knew it not But that this first point may yet become more cleare unto devout soules namely for whom preparation is now to be made according to the doctrine of this heavenly crying voice there is also to be signified in some wise what the Scripture saith That the eternall God is And so the minde of man seeking the Lord may be introducted to see though as through a glasse the e Isa 33.17 King in his beauty and to behold the Land that is very farre off as Jsaiah speaketh The Lord Jesus Christ having said to the woman of Samaria f Joh. 4.23 24 See 2. Cor. 3.17 18. and the marginall reading there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God is Spirit The houre commeth and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him declareth That God is a Spirit and that they which worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth Where he teacheth us that God is Spirit S. John saith This then is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you that God is g 1. Joh. 1.5 God is Light Light and in him is no darknesse at all He also saith Beloved let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is borne of God and knoweth God He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is h 1. John 4.7 8 16. God is Love love God is love and hee that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him So that here is plainely expressed what God is namely that he is Light and Love Now that this most blessed Spirit of light and love may have his gracious presence in us to his i Prov. 8.31 delight and our unexpressable k Deut. 10.13 good His said crying voice is unto us that we in our wildernesse and desart do prepare a way and make straight a path for Him Now the second point is to be considered to wit The second point In what place to prepare the way of the Lord. in what place the preparation is to be made The Text saith In the wildernesse in the desart And what a spirituall wildernesse or desart is it may appear out of the Apostles words unto the Ephesians describing what they were before they became l See Rom. 1.5 and 16.26 Acts. 6.7 obedient unto the Faith He saith unto them m Eph. 2.12 that at that time yee were without Christ being aliens from the common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world But he describeth a worse wildernesse in that his exhortation where he saith n Eph. 4.17 18 19. This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord that yee henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanitie of their mind having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindnesse of their heart who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousnesse to worke all uncleannesse with greedinesse Now it is to be considered how man and woman are become such wildernesses and desarts whereas in the beginning they were created glorious o See Cantic 8.13 and 5.1 and 6.2 and 4.12 gardens for the Lord. Solomon saith p Eccles 7.29 Loe this only have I found that God made man upright but they have sought out many inventions It is said in Genesis When the woman saw q Gen. 3.6 that the tree of knowledge of good and evill was good for food and that it was pleasant unto the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise she took thereof and did eate and gave also to her husband with her and he did eate Then became they to be r Gen. 3.7 Rom. 3.23 naked in soul and came short of the glorie of God They from being afore Gods gardens and paradises now became to be wildernesses and desarts And that every one of mankind growing up in this world and fast abiding in the fall not truly endeavouring to enter into the change of minde and life prescribed and required by the Gospel for to proceed duly in the same is a ſ Jsa 32.15 16. Jer. 4.26 Gen. 6.5 Rom. 3.12 13 14 15 16 17 18. wildernesse and a desart it needeth no confirmation with many Texts being acknowledged and confessed even by all The Hebrew word for wildernesse is observed to signifie a place remote from speech or talk And in a setled spirituall Wildernesse there is scarfe any gracious speech heard Yea Christ saith t Mat. 12.34.35 How can ye being evill speak good things For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh The Wildernesse within man which ought to be prepared is the heart My sonne saith God u Prov. 23.26 give me thine heart It is said concerning Rehoboam That he did evill because hee prepared not his * 2. Chron. 12.14 heart to seek the Lord. But whereas the Holy Ghost doth here use two words wildernesse and desart and the Hebrew word for desart hath in it the signification of x. In Ps 68.4 in the plurall number heaven may it not intimate the superiour facultie in man the understanding or the minde And then by wildernesse may also be meant the inferiour facultie in man the will or the affections Jeremiah speaking concerning many in his time saith My people is foolish they have not known me they are sottish children and they have no understanding they are wise to do evill but to do good they have no knowledge I beheld the earth and loe it was without forme and void and the y Ier. 4.22 23. heavens and they had no light In which place also the word heaven appeareth to signifie mans mind or understanding The z Heb. 4.12 Luke 1.46 47. Isa 26.9 Scripture hath in sundry places the expression of soule and spirit to be in man But saith the Apostle to the Thessalonians a 1. Thess 5.23 The very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and soule body bee preserved blameles unto the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ Preparation is to be made thereunto in the whole man and as inwardly so outwardly also And to the Corinthians he saith b 1. Cor. 6.19.20 The Vulgar Latine Text there hath Glorificate portate Deum in corpore vestro what know ye not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you which ye have of God and ye are not your own For ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which are Gods Now the next point is to be considered The third point The manner of preparing
preach Him among the Heathen c. And afterward he saith They glorified God t verse 24. in me To the Romanes hee writeth For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed * Rom. 8.18 in us Peter also intimateth it where he saith v 2. Pet. 1.19 untill the Day-starre arise in our hearts Which Starre truly is the glory of the Lord Christ according to His Divine nature as Himself saith I Jesus am the bright and Morning * Rev. 22.16 starre Peter also signifieth where the Revelation of Christ is in that counsell given unto women concerning whom he saith x 1. Pet. 3.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whose adorning let it be the hidden man of the heart It is in the Syrian Text Adorne your selves with the Sonne of man the hidden one of the heart And that Christ becomes to be within his people according to his Spirit is often declared in the writings of the Apostles S. Paul said to the Corinthians y 2. Cor. 13.5 Col. 1.27 Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates The Gospel teacheth that God the z Eph. 4 6. Father is in his people likewise God the a Col. 3.11 Sonne and also God the b 1. Cor. 6.19 and 3.16 and 2. Cor. 6.16 Rom. 8.9 11. Holy Ghost Hence it is said c Ps 45.13 The Kings daughter is all glorious within d Luke 17.21 The Kingdome of God is within us e 2. Cor. 4.6 God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ There is thirdly to be considered The third thing to be considered Who shall behold this glory of the Lord. The words of the Text are All flesh And this is not meant concerning universall humane flesh but only of that which beareth in it the true circumcision the fear of the Lord. It is said in Ezechiel f Ezechiel 36.26 I will give you an heart of flesh And the Chaldee interpretation there is to this effect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Et dabo vobis câ—rtimens coram me ad faciendum voluntatem meam That it is such an heart as is in awe of God and is inclined to do his will Also in a most ancient booke of the Jewes there is a saying concerning what presently followeth circumcision which being understood of the circumcision of the heart is a very memorable sentence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 g Zohar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is Wee have learned that at what time soever wherein a sonne of man shall be marked with the holy signature of this signe from thence he after some manner seeth God and the holy soul becommeth united with him But Christs words do make the matter plain where he saith He that hath my commandements and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and h Joh. 14 21. manifest my self unto him So that saying unto the true Jerusalem Arise be enlightned for thy light is come and the i Isa 60.1 2. glory of the Lord is risen upon thee For behold the darknesse shall cover the earth and grosse darknesse the people but the Lord shall arise upon thee and his glory shall be seen on thee S. Paul expresseth the matter shewing how God is perceived by his people saying k 2. Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. A soule l Ezech. 18.21 repenting for all the sinnes which it hath committed and m Luke 13.24 striving to observe obediently n Ps 119.6 Luke 1.6 all Gods everlasting commandements o Gal. 3.23 Heb 10.36 37. at length attaineth to have a p Phil. 1.9 See the Marginall reading Heb. 6.4 5. feeling of the holy Spirit working q Eph. 3.20 Col. 1.29 within it and the r Eph. 1.18 The fourth thing to bee considered eye of the understanding being enlightned it perceiveth what is the hope of His calling and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the Saints The fourth matter to be considered is the manner or if it may be so expressed posture wherein all shall see the revealed Glory of the Lord which labour in the worke of due preparing the way of the Lord into them And it is said Together But the Hebrew word thereof seemeth to import asmuch as to say Å¿ See Schindlers Lexicon and Buxtorfs Sintaxis Every one together Also the same word in a certain Psalme is interpreted for to signifie Unity as where it is said t Ps 133.1 Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity Whereas therefore the promise is that all truly holy ones shall see together or in unity it declareth that Gods revealing of his heavenly light extendeth unto Unity unto the bringing of all and every one of them into Christian unity of minde and understanding and also into uniformity of life and conversation namely to be more and more of the mind and life of Jesus Christ For it is written u Phil. 2.5 1 Cor. 2.16 Let this mind be in you which was in Jesus Christ And it is also written * 1 Joh. 2.6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk even as he walked And to endeavour for to be in such Unity was the profession of the ancient ones in the house of God as it may appear from what is said namely Walked wee not in the x 2 Cor. 12.18 same Spirit Walked we not in the same steps Yea also S. Luke recordeth y Acts. 4.32 That the multitude of them which believed were of one heart and of one soule It is the promise of God to blesse his obedient people with the spirit of Unity He saith And I will give them z Jer. 32.39 one heart and one way that they may feare me for ever for the good of them and of their children after them He saith also a Jer. 31.33 34 I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my people And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord. Also saith Christ b Joh. 17.22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one Furthermore as there is c Zeph. 3 9. Zech.
c Ier. 23.16 and not out of the mouth of the Lord but it being presented unto him by God he received it and having received it wrote it in his prophecie Also hence as was afore noted the truth and certainty of the Divine promise is shewed That God who hath promised to reveale his heavenly and spirituall light unto every person truly repenting according to the crying voices doctrine will performe it so as it may be seen of every one in the d Eph. 4.3 Acts. 2.1 2 3 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unanimis ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 similis idem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 animus quibus est idem animus Pasor Mat. 18.19 20. Ps 89.5 unity of the holy Spirit of the Lord. And an example of all may be that in the Acts of the Apostles That when some which had been spirituall wildernesses and desarts had heard Peters Sermon they were e Acts. 2.37 38 41 42 44 46. pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shall we do Then Peter said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sinnes and yee shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost Then they that gladly received his word were baptized And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers And all that believed were together and had all things common And they continuing daily with one accord in the Temple and breaking bread from house to house did eate their meate with gladnesse and singlenesse of heart praising God and having favour with all the people Now also having by Divine assistance thus explained the afore-mentioned Fundamentall portion of holy Scripture there are to be declared Seven Uses Seven Uses whereunto the heavenly crying voice is profitable The first use is unto Doctrine whereunto it is profitable And the first is unto Doctrine For this heavenly crying voice teacheth that every one of mankind is under one of the three spirituall states signified in this Oracle namely under Desolation Preparation or Revelation Whiles one is a wildernesse and desart he is in the state of desolation when one beginneth and proceedeth in f 1. Joh. 3.3 Ier. 4.14 Isa 1.16 purifying of himself he is then in the state of preparation and he that hath the Glory of the Lord revealed unto him in some measure and manner is in the state of Revelation Concerning the two first states there is no doubt made Onely question is about the third mentioned state Question or doubt onely is about the third mentioned state And that there is such a distinct condition spirituall it may appeare out of these Scriptures following S. Paul testifieth concerning some of the Colossians and Ephesians that which is to the same effect where he writeth saying g Col 1.12 13. Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light who hath delivered us from the power of darknesse and hath translated us into the Kingdome of his deare Sonne He hath h Eph. 1.3 blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ i and 2.6 He hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus David at last entred hereinto when as hee said Returne into thy k Psal 116.7 8 9. rest O my soule for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee For thou hast delivered my soule from death mine eyes from teares and my feet from falling I will walke before the Lord in the land of the living It is said in the Apostle unto the Hebrewes We which have believed l Heb. 4.3 do enter into rest S. Paul attained at length to say m 2 Tim. 4.7 I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith For they which fight manfully against sinne the world and the Devill do through the Divine Spirit n Phil 4.13 Rom. 8.13 strengthning them o 2 Cor. 10.4 5 beate down and overcome vice so as that sinne p Rom. 6.12 raigneth not in their mortall body that they should obey it in the lusts thereof but through Jesus Christ they being q Luke 1.71 74 75. delivered out of the hand of all enemies they serve God without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the daies of their life The said third state is the r 1. Cor. 13.11 and 14.20 manly age in Christ It is that which they enjoy whom S. John calleth ſ 1 John 2.13 14 20 27. 1 John 1.3 1◠Fathers It is that state wherein God is in some measure found and injoyed A place in the Canticles maketh it plain where it is said It was but a little that I passed from them Some at length in this world doe attaine to find God and to enjoy him in some measure and manner but I t Can. 3.1 2 3.4 Isa 55 6. Ier. 29.13 14. found Him whom my soule loveth I held him but I would not let him goe untill I had brought him into my mothers house and into the chamber of her that conceived me A time was when Job said concerning God u Job 9.11 Loe He goeth by me and I see him not he passeth on also but I perceive him not But at length he attained to say * Job 42.5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the eare but now mine eye seeth thee It is said in the book of Chronicles That x 1 Chron. 26.5 See the marginall reading there Zechariah had understanding in the visions of God It is also written that S. Steven being full of the Holy Ghost looked up stedfastly into heaven and y Acts. 7.55 56. saw the Glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God and said behold I see the heavens opened and the Sonne of man standing on the right hand of God And such a spirituall sight hee had whiles hee was living in His body some certaine time afore his death It is testified concerning Zacharias and Elizabeth his wife z Luke 1.6 That they were both righteous before God walking in all the commandements and ordinances of the Lord blamelesse The second use for Refutation A second Use is for Refutation of opinion in many who think that their minds can be well enough now without endeavouring as this heavenly crying voice prescribeth And therefore they will not a Ps 10.4 6. Ps 14.1 c. Job 21.14 15. and 22.17 Mal. 3.14 Wisd 2.21 See all Wisd 2. For it describeth what the minde and life of Atheists is meddle with any such meditation Can the soule of any one be in a comfortable state which continueth a wildernesse or desart having the b 1 Cor. 2.12 2 Cor. 4.4
say unto you I know ye not whence ye are Then shall ye begin to say Wee have eaten and drunken in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets But hee shall say I tell you I know you not whence you are depart from me all ye workers of iniquitie Hosea saith i Hos 5.6 They shall go with their flocks and with their heards to seeke the Lord but they shall not finde him hee hath withdrawne himselfe from them Wherefore the counsell written by Ieremiah is still to be considered to wit k Ier. 6.8 Bee thou instructed O Jerusalem lest my soule depart from thee lest I make thee desolate a land not inhabited The fift use is unto patience A fift Use is unto patience which as S. James saith l Jam. 1.4 ought to have her perfect work that we may be perfect and entire wanting nothing The Apostle saith unto the Hebrewes m Heb. 10.36 37. Ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry S. James also saith n Jam. 5. 7,8 Be patient therefore brethren unto the comming of the Lord behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it untill he receive the early and the latter raine Be ye also patient stablish your hearts for the comming of the Lord draweth nigh S. Paul saith unto Timothy o 2 Tim. 2.3 11 12 Thou therefore endure hardnesse as a good souldier of Jesus Christ It is a faithfull saying If we be dead with him we shall also live with him If we suffer we shall also reign with him There must be a time of p Ier. 4.3 4. Hos 10.12 Micah 4.3 2. Tim. 2.6 See the marginall reading there plowing sowing and weeding afore there can be a time of reaping and mowing He saith unto the Hebrewes Let vs q Heb. 12.1 2. lay aside every weight and the sinne which doth so easily beset us and let us runne with patience the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God Who also saith To him that r Rev. 3.21 overcommeth will I grant to sit with me in my throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne A sixt use is unto Comfort The sixt use is unto consolation If we lay to heart that whole crying voice and faithfully endeavour to performe the foure prescribed works of preparation though presently from wildernesses and desarts we become not such gardens and paradises as we ought to be yet let us remember the counsell of the Apostle Å¿ 2 Joh. 8 Heb. 10.35 Looke to your selves that we loose not those things which we have wrought but that we receive a full reward God Almighty will stretch forth his t Ps 118.14 15 16. and 17.7 1 Pet. 5.10 right hand over us hee will stay us up and strengthen us I will saith the Lord u Ps 32.8 instruct and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go I will guide thee with mine eye For saith Isaiah the Lord shall comfort Sion He will comfort all her waste places and he will make her * Isa 51.3 and 31.15 16 17 18. The Seventh use of the heavenly crying voice is to shew the way unto true Christian unitie among all rightly fearing God Concordia sustinemur discordia pessum imus Anonymus wildernesse like Eden and her desart like the garden of the Lord joy and gladnesse shall be found therein thankesgiving and the voice of melody The prophet hath written even a whole chapter namely the five and thirtieth for the consolation of such as do prepare the way of the Lord into them The seventh use of the said Oracle is to shew the way unto Christian Unity among all that truly feare God But among some of mankind Unity cannot be for saith the Apostle x 2 Cor. 6.14 15. What fellowship hath righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse and what communion hath light with darknesse And what concord hath Christ with Belial Or what part hath he that believeth with an unbeliever Solomon saith An unjust man is an abomination to the just and he that is y Prov. 29.27 See Sirach 13.15 16 17 18 19 20. Prov. 13.10 upright in his way is abomination to the wicked He also saith * Prov. 28.4 Who bee the true fearers of God They that forsake the Law praise the wicked but such as keep the Law contend with them Moreover all are not true fearers of God which say that they are right fearers of Him And therefore it is to be mentioned whom only the Scripture signifieth to feare God rightly and truly David saith z Psa 119.1 See the ancient Translation of the Church as also the Hebrew Text. See Sirach 2 15 16 17. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord he delighteth greatly in his commandements That is the sure and certain marke whereby every true fearer of God may be discerned from all other persons Also Solomon declareth what is the feare which God accepteth where he saith a Prov. 8.13 The feare of the Lord is to hate evill pride and arrogancie and the evill way and the froward mouth do I hate Now among all such endued with such feare of God there is possibilitie of b 1 Joh. 5.1 2 3. 2 Joh. 1.2 Ps 119.63 74. Luke 15.7 10. Christian Unitie and that they will c Isa 11.12 13. and 25.7 embrace whatsoever may further them unto agreeing in the truth of the Lords holy word and unto the living in all godly love And although among many which in a d 1 Cor. 3.1 3. What is promised by God shall bee ought not to bee accounted unpossible Zech. 14.9 good measure make conscience of their wayes there is so great difference in understanding and affection as that it is by some conceived impossible that they may by any meanes come into an holy concord yet a saying of Christ may be thought on which is e Luke 18.27 The things which are unpossible with men are possible with God It is f Ezech. 37.1 c. written that Ezechiel was set in the midst of a valley full of dry bones and it was said unto him can these bones live And hee answered O Lord God thou knowest But he prophecying as he was commanded there was a noise and behold a shaking and the bones came g verse 7. In the aforementioned ancient Translation of the church in Ps 68.6 There is read Hee is the God that maketh men to bee of one minde in an house together bone to his bone There was then a great beginning of Unitie Let us
that dwellest in the Gardens the companions hearken to thy voice cause me to heare it The third cause and that a great one why there is such difference in affection among many is because that which our Creatour blessed for ever hath ordained to be the bond and tie of his people together z Rom. 8.9 is by many neglected or not duly indeavoured and that is Charity namely the Charity which the Gospel hath expresly delivered The Apostle saith unto the Colossians having exhorted them unto sundry great vertues b Col. 3.14 2 Thess 1.3 1 Thess 3.12 Above all these things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectnes And if it is the bond and tie of the highest matters in Christianity is it not likewise the bond and tie of all inferiour matters therein c Eph. 4.15 16. Col. 2.19 Heb. 10.24 25. 1 Thess 2.7 8. Joh. 13.34 35. 2 Joh. 6. That from the very Infancie in Christ there may bee a comfortable growing up unto the eldest age which is in Him and through Him If the sheaves of a field bee not tied up together how can they bee well brought home into the barne So among whomsoever the said bond or tie ordained by the eternall Wisdome is not put on how can there bee a good growing up together into the Christian unitie S. Paul declared it to bee his great d Or conflict See the marginall reading of Col. 2.1 care even for all professing Christianity That their hearts might bee comforted being e Col. 2.2 And in verse 5. hee sheweth the power or effect of the said knot saying Though I bee absent in the flesh yet am I with you in the spirit joying and beholding your order and the stedfastnesse of your faith in Christ knit together in love c. Hee giveth it also for a rule for every particular action in this world where he saith Let all your things be done with f 1 Cor. 16.14 charity And hereon saith D. Lucas Osiander that famous Writer Sixteen properties of Charity expressed in 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6.7 8. Omnium actionum nostrarum moderatrix debet esse charitas Charity ought to be the moderatresse or ruler of all our actions The Holy Ghost thus describeth charitie saying Charity suffereth long and is kind charity envieth not charity vaunteth not it self or is not g So is the marginall reading of 1 Cor. 13.4 rash is not puffed up doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evill rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in or h So is it in the marginall reading See 1 Pet. 4.8 Prov. 10.12 Song 8.6 7. with the Truth Beareth or i covereth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things Charitie never faileth There is delivered lately concerning charity that which is very considerable viz. k In page 67. of the booke intituled The nature of Truth its union and unitie with the soule Printed anno 1641. Doth not the Apostle doth hee not most truly most pathetically cry out Though I had the gift of prophecie and knew all secrets all knowledge yea if I had all faith so that I could remove mountains I were nothing I were as sounding brasse and a tinkling Cymball if I have not charitie When all these excellencies meet in a Christian as haply they may yet it is charity that maketh him l See 1 Joh. 4.7 8.12 16. and 1 Cor. 13.1 2 3. what he is and the other beeings are but as phalerae as trappings which give an handsome set off but not a being to a Christian m In page 68. of the aforesaid booke Love is lovely in Gods eye He is stiled the God of Love the God Love And in another place the Scripture affirmeth that in this we have fulfilled the will of God if wee love one another for by n Here is declared whereby union with God is according to 1 Joh. 4.16 The fourth mentioned cause of difference this we are made one with God and so dwell in true light The fourth and last cause which shall be mentioned at this present why there is so much difference among many is for that so few have any care at all to understand their own way and that the most addict themselves to judge one anothers way The Holy Ghost saith The wisdome of the prudent is to o Prov. 14.8 understand his way p Verse 12. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the waies of death q Prov. 12.15 The way of a foole is right in his own eyes but hee that hearkeneth unto counsell is wise David said r Ps 119.24 See The margent there Thy Testimonies are my delight and men of my counsell Now the counsell of the eternall Wisdome is That whoso would be a Disciple of Christ or a true Christian he do first of all betake himselfe to Å¿ Mat. 7.5 cast out the beame out of his own eye because then he shall see cleerly to cast out the mote out of his brothers eye Also to t Mat. 16.24 deny himself To become a u 1 Cor. 3.18 foole that he may be wise To * Luke 14.26 33. hate his own life and to forsake all that he hath all his Laodicean x Rev. 3.17 18. riches To follow Christ in the y Mat. 19.28 Regeneration To z 1 Cor. 4.5 judge nothing before the time untill the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darknesse and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts and in his particular a Joh. 14.23 spirituall comming will guide into b Joh. 16.13 all truth To doe nothing through strife or vain-glory but in lowlinesse of minde each to c Phil. 2.3 esteem other better than themselves and not to think every one to be in the wrong which differeth from him concerning some ceremoniall matter or the like To shun all d 2 Tim. 3.2 self-love e Ezech 36.31 and 20.43 See 2. Cor. 7.11 To remember ones owne evill wayes and his own doings that were not good and to loth himselfe in his own sight for his iniquities and for his abominations To consider that the f Ier. 17.9 heart is deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked and therefore to g Prov. 4.23 keep it with all diligence Not to h Prov. 3.5 6 7. leane unto ones own understanding but in all ones wayes to acknowledge the Lord and he will direct ones paths Not to be wise in ones own eyes but to feare the Lord and to depart from evill To i Jam. 1.26 Isa 58.9 Mat. 12.34 36 37. Eph. 5.4 5 6. bridle ones tongue because his Religion is vain and not the true Christian which doth not unfeinedly endeavour that dutie as the Holy Ghost hath pronounced Now when as one hath duly judged his k 1. Cor. 11.31
own self by Gods l Psa 119.9 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Rom. 15.4 universall word and understood his m Isa 53.6 own way to be not right Then will he pray with David n Ps 139.23 24. Lead mee in the way everlasting For in walking in that o Ier. 6.16 old path that good way wherein all the servants and people of God since the Creation have walked there commeth rest unto ones soule Hee will also confesse with Paul that of sinners hee is p 1 Tim. 1.15 cheife Hee will q Mat. 18.33 have compassion on his fellow-servant even as the Lord hath had pity on him Hee will not pray for r Luke 9.54 55 56. fire to come downe from heaven for to consume every one that doth not presently receive Christ But will remember the Gospels commandement The servant of the Lord must not strive but be Å¿ 2. Tim. 2.24 25 26. gentle unto all men apt to teach patient In meeknesse instructing those which oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devill who are taken captive by him at his will Also to t Tit. 3.2 3. 1 Pet. 2.17 speak evill of no man to be no brawler but gentle shewing all meeknesse unto all men For wee our selves also were sometimes foolish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts and pleasures living in malice and envie hatefull and hating one another Also to u 1 Thess 3.12 pray for to increase and abound in love one towards another * Due notice is to bee taken of this Duty enjoyned by the holy Gospel and towards all men even as did the Apostles towards the Thessalonians He will then continually think upon that great commandement of the Law and Gospel that * James 2.8 Gal. 5.14 Rom. 13.8 9 10. Royall Law Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self * What here followeth is aright to bee understood so as it may make against no everlasting Law of God It is meant concerning ones brother or neighbour endeavouring at lest to live in all common civility But if any one doe contrary thereunto the magistrates sword is to bee considered See Rom. 13.1 2 3 4. To have a care to work none ill unto ones neighbour but unfeinedly to wish and to endeavour what may be that all good and all comfort and all content may come unto him which one would unto his own self in every particular case of this present world He will then see that every one void of the charity which the Gospel prescribeth and requireth or doth not truly endeavour unto the x Col. 3.14 putting on of the same is not in the Right For the Holy Ghost pronounceth He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother y 1 Joh. 2.9 11. is in darknesse even untill now He that hateth his brother is in darknesse and walketh in darknesse and knoweth not whither he goeth because that darknesse hath blinded his eyes He that loveth not z 1 Joh. 4.8 knoweth not God for God is love a verse 20. If any man say I love God and hateth his brother he is a liar For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen The holy Prophet Malachy saith b Mal. 2.10 Have we not all one Father Hath not one God created us Why doe we deale treacherously every man against his brother by prophaning the covenant of our Fathers He will then lay to heart that great saying of the Lord Jesus Christ viz. The c Joh. 12.48 word that I have spoken the same shall judge him in the last day And therefore he will seriously consider of these and the like sayings of the Apostles which Christ d 2 Cor. 13.3 spake in them as Who art thou that e Rom. 14.4 judgest another mans servant to his own master he standeth or falleth Yea he shall be holden up for God is able to make him stand f Verse 10. Why doest thou judge thy brother Or why doest thou set at nought thy brother We shall all stand before the Judgement seate of Christ g Verse 12. Every one of us shall give account of himself to God h Verse 13. Let us not therefore judge one another any more but judge this rather that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brothers way i James 4.11 12. Gal. 5.15 Speak not evill one of another brethren He that speaketh evill of his brother and judgeth his brother speaketh evill of the Law and judgeth the Law but if thou judge the Law thou art not a doer of the Law but a Judge There is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy Who art thou that judgest another Also what David delivereth viz. Unto the wicked God saith k Ps 50.16 17 18 19 20 21 22. What hast thou to do to declare my statutes or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth Seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee When thou sawest a theife then thou consentedst with him and hast bin partaker with adulterers Thou givest thy mouth to evill and thy tongue frameth deceit Thou sittest and speakest * The Gospel requireth that wee duely speake against our owne selves 1 Cor. 11.31 Mat. 7.5 Luke 6.41 42. Lam. 3.40 2 Cor. 13.5 and 2. Cor. 7.10 11. 1 Tim. 1.15 Luke 15.18 19 21. Exod. 23.1 Eph. 4.31 Ps 15.3 See Sirach 19.6 7 8 9 10. Deut. 27.24 James 1.26 against thy brother thou slanderest thine owne mothers sonne These things hast thou done and I kept silence thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thy selfe but I will reprove thee and set them in order before thine eyes Now consider this ye that forget God lest I tear you in pieces and there bee none to deliver Let us therfore no more l Mat. 23.24 straine at a gnat and swallow a Camell Let us ever remember that saying of the Holy Ghost m 1 Joh. 3.15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murtherer Also what the Lord Jesus Christ the righteous Judge hath pronounced viz. n Mat. 5.22 Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment and whosoever shall say to his brother Racha shall be in danger of the Councill but whosoever shall say thou foole shall be in danger of hell-fire I will forewarn you saith Christ whom ye shall feare o Luk. 12.5 Feare him which after he hath killed hath power to cast into Hell yea I say unto you Feare Him Wherefore in reverence and godly p Heb. 12.28 29. feare of our God which is a consuming fire q Eph. 4.1 2 3. let us according to the Apostles exhortation walke worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called with all lowlinesse and meeknesse with long suffering forbearing one another in love endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Let us be r Eph 2.20 21 22. 1 Pet. 2.5 See the margent there built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ Himselfe being the chief corner stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord. Let us Å¿ 1 Thess 4.18 Isa 65.18 19. Isa 66.10 11.12 13 14. comfort one another with the words of the Lord concerning the great Unitie peace and concord foretold to come to passe in this last Time God saith by Zephaniah t Zeph. 3.9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent He saith by Jeremiah I will give them u Ier. 32.39 Ezech. 11.19 one heart and one way that they may feare me for ever for the good of them and of their children after them Zechariah saith * Zech. 14.9 The Lord shall be a King over all the earth in that day shall there be one Lord and his name one Isaiah saith x Jsa 16.5 And in mercie shall the Throne be established and be shall sit upon it in truth in the Tabernacle of David judging and seeking judgment and hasting righteousnesse He saith else where The y Jsa 11.6 7 8 9. Jsa 65.25 also Jsa 25.6 7 8.30.26.24.23.11.11.12.11.13 wolfe also shall dwell with the lambe and the leopard shall lie down with the Kid and the calfe and the young lion and the fatling together and a little child shall leade them And the cow and the beare shall feed their young ones shall lie down together and the lion shall eate straw like the oxe And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the Aspe and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea Unto the which God Father Sonne and Holy Ghost z Rev. 5.13 be blessing honour and glory and power for ever and ever Amen O house of Jacob come ye and let us walke in the light of the Lord. Isaiah 2.5 FINIS
14. â— Jer. 32.39 2 Cor. 12.18 Unity in observing the duties of the Morall Law contained in the Ten Commandements so is there also Unity in the most holy d Jude 10. Tit. 1.1 faith of Gods elect The Apostle saith There is e Eph. 4.5 one faith And he hath these words f Eph. 4.13 Till we all come into the Unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ And as all which truly endeavour to make preparation of the way of the Lord within them according as it is prescribed by the aforesaid heavenly crying voice shall see more and more the g 1 Tim. 3.9 mysterie of the Christian faith and what the true Christian h Joh. 8.12 Mal. 4.2 See wisd 5.6 life and conversation is unto the increase of godly Unity so such as are i Eph. 4.3 studious of all holy Unity shall partake of the greatest measure of heavenly light which God now communicateth unto his servants It is said in the Booke of Chronicles k 2 Chron. 5.13 14. It came to passe as the trumpetters and singers were as one to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord and when they lift up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick and praised the Lord saying For he is good for his mercy endureth for ever that then the house was filled with a cloud even the house of the Lord. So that the Priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God So it is said in the Acts of the Apostles l Acts 2.1 3 4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord or with one mind in one place And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire and it sate upon each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost Then did God m Acts 2.16 17 18. powre out of his Spirit upon all flesh namely on all ages and states as on old persons and young persons on sonnes and daughters on servants and hand-maids and in great abundance on his Apostles who had n Acts. 1.4 waited for the promise and had kept in Jerusalem Which saith David is builded as a City that is o Psal 22.3 compact together or as some translate which is at unity in it self For where brethren dwell together in unity p Psal 133.3 Where there is such concord us saith the Geneva note The Ratification of this oracle there saith he the Lord commandeth the blessing even life for evermore There remaineth also that something be said concerning the Ratification of this Oracle which is contained in these words For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it The which words are added for to assure us That our labour in the work of the Lord shall not now be in q 1 Cor. 15.51 vain our true endeavouring for to performe the aforesaid preparation shall not be unconsidered For God saith the Apostle is not unrighteous to r Heb. 6.10 11 12 13 14 15. Mat. 10.41 42. Ps 19.11 Heb. 11.26 forget your work and labour of love which ye have shewed toward His name c. And we desire that every one of you doe shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end That ye be not sloathfull but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises For when God made promise to Abraham because he could sweare by no greater He sware by Himself saying Surely blessing I will blesse thee and multiplying I will multiply thee And after he had patiently endured he obtained the promise Whereas it is said For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it it giveth us to consider that a mouth hath uttered it which Å¿ Tit. 1.2 cannot lye and that the Almighty holy righteous eternall Spirit hath promised it which is t Eph. 3.20 able to performe it Who hath promised many spirituall blessings to be inherited in the life that u 1. Tim. 4.8 now is according as His Divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godlinesse through the knowledge of him as S. Peter * 2. Pet. 1.3 4. saith that hath called us to glory and vertue whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine Nature having escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust That as the Apostle writeth unto the x Eph. 1.12 13 14. Ephesians We should be unto the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ in whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your Salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory And as the Lord Jesus Christ saith y Mar. 10.29 30. There is no man that hath left house or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake and the Gospels but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions and in the world to come eternall life Moreover it is to be observed that these words for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it being so often used in holy Scripture What the mouth of the Lord signifieth do in speciall manner note forth unto us the power and truth of God upon which we may build and ground our selves and be secure or z See of Heb. 11.1 the marginall reading confident that what duties we for our parts are to endeavour are a Ps 19.7 8. Deut. 4.6 7 8. perfect wisdome to be done and that the benefit signified to be received in the doing of them is most sure and certain It is said in Ezechiel * Ezech. 37.13 14. And ye shall know that I am the Lord when I have opened your graves O my people and brought you up out of your graves And shall have put my Spirit in you and ye shall live and I shall place you in your own land then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it and performed it saith the Lord. And to conclude this point there is observed to be understood by these words The mouth of the Lord hath spoken Such a more inward manifesting and communicating of the Divine will as whereby matters were made knowne unto Moses as it is written With him will I speak b Num. 12.8 mouth to mouth apparently For so Isaiah framed not out of his own mind this crying voice as Jeremiah saith That the false Prophets doe speak a vision of their own heart