their own Nature look up to Him it might convince us that all inferior Creatures do depend upon Him as well as those noble Ones But when they come in with the Faces of other Creatures looking up it is a clear Evidence that all depend upon Christ By him were all things created Col. 1.16 17. that are in Heaven and in Earth visible and invisible whether Thrones or Dominions Principalities or Powers All things were created by him and for him and by him all things consist Sixthly We are to learn from hence to be heavenly-minded with the holy Angels to look up The Holy Angels compared to the Wind and to Flaming-Fire Psal 104.4 Maketh his Angels Spirits and his Ministers a flaming Fire Heb. 1.7 And of the Angels he saith Who maketh his Angels Spirits and his Ministers a Flame of Fire SOme of the modern Jews deny there is any mention made of Angels in Psal 104.4 affirming that the Subject the Psalmist treats of are the Winds with Thunder and Lightning which God employs as his Messengers and Ministers to do his Will and Pleasure But that the Psalmist means the Angels is evident from the Design and Scope of the Words The Consent of the ancient Jews lies against the Sentiments of the modern both the old Translations either made or embraced by them expresly refer the Words unto Angels On Heb. 1. so Dr. Owen observes do the Seventy and so doth the Targum thus rendring the Place Who maketh his Messengers or Angels swift as Spirits and his Ministers strong or powerful as a flaming Fire The Supply of the Note of Similitude makes it evident that they understand the Text of Angels and not of Winds and of making Angels as Spirits and not of making Winds to be Angels or Messengers which is inconsistent with their Words The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth usually denote the Angels themselves and no reason can be given why it should not do so in this place The Apostle puts it out of doubt positively saying And of the Angels he saith c. That the Apostle speaketh not here of the Nature and Essence of Angels but their Dignity Honour and Employment is evident upon which account saith our Reverend Author he preferreth the Lord Jesus Christ before them Observ God sendeth his Angels like the Winds or like a Flame of Fire Metaphor Parallel THe Wind is invisible who can see it ANgels are invisible Spirits we are daily attended upon by them but see them not II. The Wind blows at God's Command he is said to hold the Wind in his Fist II. Angels go at God's Command He hath them at his Beck Psal 103.20 III. The Wind is quick piercing and powerful in its Operation the Cause of many gracious Effects tho sometimes sent as a Judgment III. Angels are quick agil and powerful in their Working and many great and glorious Blessings Saints receive from their Ministration tho sometimes sent as a Scourge to Nations and particular Persons to execute God's Displeasure as on Sodom c. Flaming-Fire I. A flaming Fire is of a burning quality I. Seraphims signify Burning noting that mighty Zeal they are attended with in doing God's Will II. A flaming Fire is of a consuming destroying and devouring Nature II. So have the Angels of God been to many of God's implacable Enemies as hath been hinted III. A Flaming Fire is a good Defence in a howling Wilderness especially if it be round about such as dwell therein III. The Angels of God are a glorious Defence to the Church whilst in the Wilderness of this World where they are daily surrounded by wicked Men who are compared unto Beasts of Prey Psal 34.7 The Angels of God encamp round about them that fear him c. Inferences THis may comfort the Godly who dwell among blood-thirsty Enemies they are surrounded with a Flame of Fire viz. the holy Angels of God 2. Let ungodly Ones tremble can they stand before a flaming Fire and not be consumed God can soon send his Angels to destroy them 3. It should also stir up Believers to act with much Zeal and Fervency in the Work and Service of God The Angels for Zeal and Agility are like a Flame of Fire We should do the Will of God on Earth as the Angels of God do it in Heaven The Holy Angels compared to Horses 2 Kings 6.17 And Elisha prayed and said Lord I pray thee open his Eyes And the Lord opened the Eyes of the young Man and he saw and behold the Mountains were full of Horses and Chariots of Fire round about Elisha Zech. 1.8 I saw by night and behold a Man riding upon a red Horse and he stood among the Myrtle-Trees that were in the bottom and behind him were three red Horses speckled and white BY these Horses all Expositors understand the holy Angels of God are intended They are compared to Horses and Chariots of Fire also to Horses of divers Colours These things seem very dark and mysterious 1. We shall briefly however hint a few things why they may be compared to Horses II. Why to Horses and Chariots of Fire III. Why to red speckled and white Horses Metaphor Parallel A Horse is a strong and a very couragious and fearless Creature which God himself elegantly setteth forth Job 39. v. 19 to 24. Hast thou given the Horse his Strength hast thou cloathed his Neck with Thunder Canst thou make him afraid The Glory of his Nostrils is terrible He rejoyceth in his Strength He goeth on to meet the armed Man He mocketh at Fear and is not affrighted neither turneth he back from the Sword c. ANgels are mighty in Strength One of them saith an eminent Writer is stronger than all the World They are called mighty Angels or God's mighty Ones Angels of his Strength They are couragious and void of Fear their Necks may be said to be cloathed with Thunder they turn their Backs for none They fear not the glittering Spear nor the Shield Who is able to engage or encounter with one of the glorious Seraphims or Cherubims Are any of the Sons of the Mighty a Match for him What was Alexander or Julius Caesar or all the mighty Champions that ever were to the Angels of Heaven II. The Horse is a very useful Creature useful to carry Burthens and draw the Chariots of Princes useful to ride on useful for War c. II. Angels are exceeding useful See Oxen. They bear up the Saints they help support and carry them along in their Journey to their everlasting Home they carry their Souls into Abraham's Bosom The Beggar died and was carried by the Angels c. The Chariots and Horses of Fire that parted the two Worthies 2 Kings 2.11 12. those Princes of the Prophets and carried one of them to Heaven were the Blessed Angels of God II. They are compared to Horses and Chariots of Fire to shew how fierce agil and swift they are in their Motion and how
and Silver such Love O Lord hast thou laid up in my Breast that I hunger for thee Take heed you consult not with carnal Reason rely wholly upon Christ and never consult thy present Strength with thy future Sufferings Take heed you do not overvalue your Lives Alas you cannot live long what if you die a little sooner than you might do according to the Course of Nature Also consider is it not better if God calls you to it to glorify him by dying than to die otherwise Remember You are not your own let God therefore make what Improvement of you he pleases Lastly Pray continually pray always for this is the way to overcome Prayer hath done wonderfully And this is one great Thing that is enjoined on the Christian Souldier Ephes 6.18 Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all Perseverance and Supplication for all Saints and for me c. HEre are two Things to be noted 1. A Duty enjoyned Prayer 2. Blessed Directions about it Viz. 1. The Time Always 2. The Kinds All Prayer and Supplication 3. How viz. 1. In the Spirit 2. With Diligence 3. Constantly 4. For whom 1. For all Saints 2. More particularly for the Preachers of the Gospel Note Souldiers of Christ ought to pray to be much in Prayer to pray always to pray in the Spirit to pray for themselves and to pray for others also First Tho we are to pray always Yet there are some special Times for this Duty Prayer is twofold 1. Ordinary 2. Extraordinary We must in some Seasons more especially be at this Duty to pray hard to pray mightily c. Quest What is meant by praying always Answ 1. It is as much as to say Pray in every thing according to that Word Phil. 4.6 In every thing by Prayer and Supplication let your Requests be made known to the Lord. Some pray in nothing they do In all thy Ways acknowledge him 2. In all Conditions in a full State in a naked State in Poverty in Plenty in Sickness in Health in Prosperity and in Adversity 3. For every Thing we need for Spirituals for Temporals so far as God seeth them good for us 4. Daily frequently Morning and Evening David said to Mephihosheth Thou shalt eat Bread at my Table continually 2 â—am 7 7 He cannot mean thou shalt do dothing but eat he would not have him to be such a Cormorant but commonly every day c. 5. To have a Heart always for this Duty to be always fit and ready for this sacred Ordinance Quest What are those special Times and Seasons for Prayer Or when is extraordinary Prayer to be made Ans 1. When a Saint hath any great Work to do for God or eminent Business and Service for his Church See Nehem. 1.5 Acts 4.2 9. When Abraham's Servant had special Work to do for his Master he was much in Prayer 2. When a Saint is in the dark concerning any one Truth of God and cannot get Satisfaction Dan. 9.1 2 3 c. then 't is a Time for extraordinary Prayer When Daniel was at a loss about the Time of Deliverance out of Captivity how much did he give himself to Prayer 3. When a gracious Soul is under any sore and grievous Affliction David in his Distress and Affliction cried mightily to God Is any afflicted let him pray that is let him be more abundantly in that Duty James 5.13 4. When Sin abounds or in a Day of great Rebuke and Blasphemy When Hell seems to be let loose or the Flood-gates of Wickedness opened wide in a Nation then it is a Time for the Godly to be much in Prayer Jer. 13.19 Isa 37.23 5. In Times of great Distress upon the Church when the Danger is imminent as at this Day this is a Time for extraordinary Prayer See Isa 22. When many Nations came up against Judah then Jehoshaphat cried mightily to Heaven 2 Chron. 20.12 When Haman plotted to destroy all the Jews and cut off Israel at once and the Writings were sealed and sent forth then Esther and the godly Ones pray mightily Thus did Jacob when his Brother was coming to meet him fearing he would cut off the Mother with the Child Gen. 33. how did he then wrestle with God! 6. In Times of Temptation When Christ was assaulted and his Hour was come he prayed hard he spent a whole Night in Prayer Mat. 26.44 And what saith he to his Disciples Mat. 26.40 41. 2 Cor. 12. Watch and pray that ye enter not into Temptation When Paul had that Thorn in the Flesh the Messenger of Satan to buffet him he besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from him That three times as some conclude might be threescore times 7. Lastly In a Time of great Expectation when great Things are near and much look'd for When Daniel expected great Things understanding by Books Deliverance to the Church was at hand he set himself to seek God Dan. 9.2 Secondly Consider Prayer is a great Ordinance And that doth appear 1. In respect of God it gives him the Glory of three great Attributes 1. Of his Omnisciency We hereby acknowledg that he knows our Wants and Necessities Psal 39 9. All my Desires are before thee and my Groanings are not hid from thee 2. His Omnipotency We acknowledg in our crying to God and relying upon him in this Duty that he is able to help us and supply all our Wants 3. It gives him the Glory of his Goodness O thou that hearest Prayer A Saint knows and confesseth hereby if he pray aright that God is willing and ready to help and save him 2. Prayer is a great Ordinance if we consider the Power and Prevalency of it Luther ascribed to Prayer a kind of Omnipotency It hath prevailed over Fire Water and Earth it hath stopp'd the Sun in its Course It hath prevailed over evil Angels it hath cast the Devil out and broke his Kingdom down It hath had Power over the good Angels as appears in the Case of Elisha it fetched them from Heaven to be his Guard and Protection 2 King 9.6 17. Nay it hath prevailed with Christ himself the Angel of the Covenant as appears in Jacob's Case As a Prince thou hast wrestled with God and hast prevailed It hath healed the Sick raised the Dead stopp'd the Lion's Mouth and hath subdued and put to flight the Armies of Aliens Heb. 11. hath opened Prison-Doors and broke in pieces Chains Gates and Bars of Iron and Brass There is none of the battering Rams or Artillery of Hell can stand against it 'T is like an Engine as one observes that makes the Persecutors tremble and wo to them that are the Buts and Marks that it is levell'd at when it is fired with the Fire of the Spirit and discharged in the Strength of Faith 'T is said Mary Queen of Scots dreaded more the Prayers of Mr. Knox than an Army of Twenty Thousand
Thoughts And do not all these things commend unto us the Justice Wisdom Holiness Omnipotence Omniscience Perfection and absolute Soveraignty of the Law-Maker 'T is a Book that comprehends an Universal History of the World past present and to come Its Contents reach as far as the first Foundations of the Earth and Heavens give us an Account of God's Revelations to Man ever since his first make and the particulars of an Entercourse between God and the World for near upon two thousand and five hundred Years before they were any where extant upon Record What other Book since the World began so much as pretended to do this A Book which as it was sixteen hundred Years a writing for so long it was from the Time of Moses till John closed it with the Revelations so the Matters it treats of are of the most excellent Nature and highest Concernment To give the World a satisfactory Account not only of its Original but of its End too To bring Man acquainted with his true Soveraign Happiness and a most wonderful and astonishing method of Reconciliation with his Maker Its Promises are everlasting Glory and never-fading Crowns Its Precepts perfect †Gal. 3.10 Righteousness and altogether such as tend most to the Honour of God the Happiness of a Man's Self and the Quiet of the World Its Threatnings are of Miseries that are endless It s whole Tendency is to a Prospect beyond the Grave what Heathen ever so much as dream'd of the Resurrection Who but the Lord could be Author of such Laws that only can give eternal Life and inflict eternal Death These things can move the Conscience of none but such who acknowledg the Precepts thereof to be divine In a Word its General Subjects are Mysteries no where else to be heard of and without such a Manifestation unconceivable Now considering the Premises what less than Infinite VVisdom can be the supposed Author of such a Book 2. The Antiquity of the Holy Scriptures II. By its Antiquity The Books of Moses wherein in Promises Prophecies Types and Shadows the Sum and Substance of all the rest of the Bible is comprised were the first Writings in the World next to those by the Finger of God on Mount Sinai This is fully proved by Justin Martyr an ancient Writer that lived within one hundred and thirty Years after Christ in his Paroenetick to the Greeks who comparing the Times of all Human Writers Poets Philosophers Historians and Law-givers esteemed most ancient demonstrates them all to be but Punies to Moses Eusebius also who followed Justin Martyr at about two hundred Years distance in the 2d and 3d Books of his Evangelical Preparation prosecutes the same Argument at large and from abundance of Testimonies and Confessions out of the best and most authentick Heathen Authors themselves undeniably evinces That Moses was the most ancient of all the Writers that were known or named amongst them And Tertullian so confidently upbraids the Gentiles in this matter that we think it not amiss to recite his Words in the 19th Chapter of his Apology Our Religion saith he speaking to the Heathens far out-does all that you can boast of in that kind For the Books of one of our Prophets only viz. Moses wherein it seems God hath enclosed as in a Treasury all the Christian Religion preceding so many Ages together reach beyond the ancientest you have even all your Publick Monuments the Antiquity of your Originals the Establishment of your Estates the Foundations of your Cities all that are most advanced by you in all Ages of History and Memory of Times the Invention even of the Characters which are Interpreters of Sciences and the Guardians of all Things excellent I think I may say more they are elder than your very Gods your Temples Oracles and Sacrifices Have you not heard mention made of that great Prophet Moses He was contemporary with Inachus and preceded Danaus the ancientest of all that have a Name in your Histories 393 Years He lived some Hundreds of Years before the Ruine of Troy And Homer the eldest Writer amongst the Grecians lived as Pliny saith 250 Years after the Subversion of that City Every of the other Prophets succeeded Moses and yet the last of them was of the same Age as your prime Wise-Men Law-givers and Historians were So that 't is a Thing out of dispute that for Antiquity neither the Writings of Orpheus or Homer or Trismegistus or Pythagoras or Berosus nor any other can compare with the Pentateuch These Gray-Hairs shew them to be the Off-spring of the Ancient of Days for Truth is always the First-born And if we consider how low mean and imperfect all humane Inventions were in those Times and what foolish irrational and absurd Conceptions both the Egyptians and Grecians Nations most celebrated for Wisdom had of Things Divine and the Duty and Happiness of Man we cannot but conclude That so clear an Account of the World's Beginning Depravation Destruction by the Flood and Re-peopling such a most excellent Law and Doctrine in reference both to God and Man c. could not be of Humane Extract but must needs be in truth what it pretends it self to be a Divine Revelation Besides who can believe the first Religion should be the worst or the most timely Notions of God the falsest Were this so and the Bible not a Divine Book but composed by Impostors then it follows That the most primitive Account we have of Religion is counterfeit that the Devil set up his Chappel before God built his Church that in the earliest Notices we have of God of the World 's Original Man's Fall and the Way of his Recovery the World is deceived and abused and that God suffered the Devil in the first place and without any Thing publickly extant from him either before or since to contradict it in his Name and under pretence of his Authority to delude and mislead Mankind with a false Account of all those Things which they are most concerned to know and upon the right Knowledg of which their present and future Happiness depends All which as it is unworthy of God so it is no less repugnant to the Dictates of Reason But on the contrary 't is most rational to believe that God's Revelations were as early as Man's Necessities and that the Bible being the most ancient as well as the wisest Book in the World is also the truest and proceeded from the God of Truth III. This Royal Descent or Divinity of the Scriptures further appears 3. The Majesty and Strangeness of the Stile by that Majesty and Authoritativeness of the Spirit of God speaking in them and that extraordinary and inimitable Stile wherein they are written As 't is said of our blessed Lord Mat. 7.28 That he taught as one having Authority and not as the Scribes So the Scriptures teach with an awful Authority †See the Epist to the First Volume The Stile of the Sacred Scripture is
and by when he is come from the Field Go and sit down and will not rather say Gird thy self and serve me c. From hence we may see Girding is preparatory to Serving or Waiting It also denotes Preparation for our Labour or Work VIII Truth and Sincerity prepares and fits the Mind for Christ's Work and Service Let your Loins be girt about Luk. 12.35 and your Lights burning and ye your selves like unto Men that wait for their Lord. He is always well girt with Truth and Uprightness that is ready to wait upon or do Work for the Lord Jesus Careless slothful and unsound Persons are ungirt and so unbless'd A Saint in doing of his Work whether it be Heart-Work or Hand-Work ought to be well-girt viz. perform all in Truth and Uprightness Ministers must preach nothing but Truth and as they must preach nothing but Truth so they must preach in Truth or in Sincerity of Heart Some preach Christ saith the Apostle but not sincerely Phil. 1.16 Their Minds were not girt with Truth All our Prayers ought to be put up in Truth God is near to all that call upon him in Truth Psal 145.18 All Works of Charity ought to flow from a pure Heart viz. to be done in Uprightness and Simplicity according to the Direction given by the Lord in his Word both for matter and manner IX A Girdle is a great Ornament used to be put on uppermost to cover the Joints of the Armor which if seen would cause some uncomeliness for tho the Armor was closely knit and clasped together yet some gaping was subject to be betwixt piece and piece and therefore they used to put over these parts a broad Belt or Girdle which did serve not only to fasten the other Armor together but it made the Souldier appear more comely in his Harness and Accoutrements IX Sincerity is a glorious Ornament A Christian hereby appears very comely in the sight of God and it greatly tends to hide and cover all the Infirmities of his Life for the Saints Graces are not so close nor their Lives so exact but in the best are found Defects and Weaknesses which are as so many Gaps or Clifts in his Armor but Sincerity covers all so that he is not put to shame by them 1. Sincerity covers all outward Blemishes or want of outward Beauty that great Idol of the World Sincere Persons if they be not so fair and comely as some others yet being holy and upright sincere and vertuous Ones how amiable are they rendred hereby in the sight of all good Men It covers all things that seems to render a Saint dishonourable or uncomely 2. Mean Parentage or a low Descent is much despised in the World but how base soever the Stock and ignoble the Birth be when true Grace and Sincerity comes it makes the House and Person illustrious and very glorious Since thou wert precious in mine eyes thou hast been honourable Isa 43.4 Sincerity sets a Mark of Honour upon a Person or a People If you see this flourishing tho in a mean Cottage it tells you a great Prince nay an Heir of Heaven dwells there Sincerity brings the Creature into Alliance with the most high and glorious King of Heaven and Earth Who dares say a Child of God the Spouse of Christ and Heir of Heaven is of an ignoble Birth and Pedigree 3. It covers Poverty which exposeth to great Contempt There 's none so rich as a godly sincere Person he is daily let into God's Treasury Christ's Storehouse is always open unto him All is yours 1 Cor. 3.22 4. To want Parts and to be a Person of no Name and of small Endowments exposeth to disdain none are more contemptible in the eye of the wise and vain-glorious World than such But alas an honest Heart one that is sincere excells beyond all comparison the proudest most renowned and applauded for human Wisdom Parts and Elegancy in the World 5. It covers all sinful Uncomeliness and all the Godly Man's Failings whether they be Sins of Omission or Commission for Sincerity is that excellent quality to which pardoning Mercy is annexed 'T is Christ in a proper sence that covers all Sin but he will cover the Sins and Failings of none but such as are sincere Psal 32.2 Blessed is the Man whose Sins are covered c. The upright Man's Righteousness is accepted through Christ tho he be never so infirm or attended with Miscarriages Tho God doth not like his Sin for his Sincerity yet God will not un-saint him because of his Sin Ainsworth X. The Priest under the Law wore a Girdle which was made of fine Linnen and of Blew Purple and Scarlet the Hebrew Doctors say it was about three fingers broad it was curiously woven as Josephus observes Josephus Antiquit. Book 8. cap. 2. with Pictures of Flowers This Girdle saith Ainsworth signified the girding up the Loins of our Minds with Strength Justice and Vertue Eph. 6.15 Also we read of Christ's being girt with a Golden Girdle Rev. 1.13 X. Truth and Sincerity is not only an Ornament but a most glorious Ornament being that which was figured out by the Priest's Girdle rarely made with curious Flowers This is as a choice Golden Girdle curiously wrought by the Spirit of God 1 Pet. 2.5 which all the Priesthood of Christ have on It is made of a Complication of every Grace Sincerity is not alone many choice Divine Flowers are interwoven together in making of the Girdle of Truth Metaphor Disparity BEsides other great Disparities betweeen other Girdles and the Girdle of Truth this is one viz. Other Girdles may be lost or be corrupted they may rot and pass away like that which Jeremiah had Jer. 13.1 2 c. which was marred and profitable for nothing BUt the Girdle of Truth can never be lost Sincerity in the Heart of a Believer is so fast tied to him or twisted about him that he can never lose it I never yet read of a Man that was perfect and upright in Heart and Life in the sight of God that ever lost his Sincerity so as to die an Hypocrite tho he may in some things be guilty of Hypocrisy yet he cannot absolutely become an Hypocrite This Girdle cannot rot or be corrupted II. Other Girdles are only made for the Body II. But Truth and Sincerity is a Girdle for the Soul by which the Mind is stayed and strengthned Inferences THis should teach every Professor to labour after if they have not yet got the Girdle of Truth 1. Because the Design of Satan is to corrupt Men in their Judgments and make them zealous for false Ways Paul's Jealousy of the Corinthians was 2 Cor. 11.1 2 3. lest the Old Serpent should beguile them through his Subtilty and corrupt their Minds from the Simplicity of the Truth 2. Because of the damning Nature of Heresy and Hypocrisy which our Saviour 2 Joh. 9 10 2 Thess 2.10 2
of their safe and first standing in Christ and of their Assurance of Heaven nothing is Therefore the Saints Hope is both sure and stedfast Tenthly That Relation which Believers stand in unto God is a sure Ground of Hope He is their Father and they are his dear Children he is their Husband they his Spouse Will a dear Father suffer his dear Children to perish and be torn in pieces if he hath Power to help them or the dear Husband his dear Wife The Love of God to his Saints exceeds the Love and Pity of either Father or Husband therefore Hope the Anchor of the Soul is both sure and stedfast Joh. â—0 27 28 29. Eleventhly The Power of God is a sure Ground of Hope My Sheep hear my Voice and follow me and I give to them eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand My Father that gave them me is greater than all and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand who are kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation If the Power of God be sufficient to keep Believers from falling and to preserve them to his heavenly Kingdom then their Hope is both sure and stedfast Object But it is through Faith they stand and their Faith may fail Answ Christ as I shewed before hath prayed that their Faith fail not and besides Phil. 1.6 he is the Author Increaser and Finisher of it He that hath begun a good Work in you will perform it unto the Day of Christ John 3.6 1 Pet. 1 23. Twelfthly Regeneration is a sure Ground of Hope That which is born of the Flesh is Flesh that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit Being born again not of corruptible Seed but of incorruptible c. Such as is the Seed such is the Product of it The Seed being immortal by which the Saints are regenerated sure this may be sure Ground of Hope that they shall not perish There is in them an holy and Divine Principle so that they cannot sin unto Death or lose eternal Life Let us now put all these together and then doubtless we shall conclude that the Saints Hope of Heaven is no Fancy but like an Anchor that is both sure and stedfast Inferences FIrst Examine your selves what Hope you have there is a false Hope as well as a true What is the Ground of thy Hope 1. Some Men ground their Hope of Heaven upon outward Prosperity This is the Worldlings Hope They conclude God loves them and will give Heaven to them because he hath given them so much of the Earth not remembring that God gives some Men their Portion in this Life Psal 17. Luke 16. Remember Son thou in thy Life time receivedst thy good Things c. 2. Some ground their Hopes of Heaven upon Civility and external Righteousness They live sober and honest Lives and are not guilty of any gross Sins This is the moral Man's Hope the Pharisee's the young Man 's in the Gospel the foolish Virgins had this Hope and yet lost Heaven 3. Some ground their Hopes of Heaven upon the Merits of their own Works This is the Papists Hope for tho they place some Hope in Christ yet they put Confidence in their own Works Now this is to cast Anchor on the Sands First That which merits must be our own but none of our good Works are our own They are our own subjective because wrought in us and they are ours in regard of the Benefit of them but in respect of the Original they are none of ours they are the Fruits of the Spirit 't is God hath wrought all our Works in us Secondly They must be compleat and perfect or not meritorious but the best Works performed by us are both impure and imperfect more Dross than Gold Thirdly That which merits must not be due upon any other account paying Debts is not meritorious Now there is nothing that we do or can do but it is due 't is a Debt we owe to God we owe him all we have are or can perform Therefore saith Christ When you have done all say you are unprofitable Servants Secondly It shews that the Hope of Believers is a glorious Hope the Apostle saith a blessed Hope that is the Stay or Anchor of the Soul c. Tit. 2.13 Thirdly All those that have not this precious Grace are at present in a hopeless Condition Quest How may a Man know whether he hath a true and well-grounded Hope 1. If thou hast a lively Hope thou art born again the new Birth entitles to a new Hope What Hope can a Man have of Heaven if he be not converted 1 Pet. 1.3 John 3.3 Vnless a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God 2. A true and well-grounded Hope is attended with a Train of other Graces Tribulation worketh Patience and Patience Experience and Experience Hope Rom. 5.3 4 5. and Hope maketh not ashamed why because the Love of God is shed abroad in our Hearts by the Holy-Ghost Those that have the Grace of Hope have the Graces of Faith and Love and all other Fruits of the Spirit more or less in them 3. Hope purifies the Heart He that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself 1 John 3.3 even as he is pure If thou hast an unsanctified Heart never boast of thy Hope it makes not only the Heart holy but the Life also 4. Hope of Salvation is grounded upon the Promises of God The Promises give Interest and upon Interest ariseth Hope therefore he that hath not took hold of God's Promise by Faith is destitute of Hope the Anchor of the Soul Psal 11â— 49 Remember thy Word unto thy Servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope 5. Hope keeps the Soul in a steady and sure expectation of the Good of Promises under Affliction and Sufferings a Saint is hereby stayed and quieted whilst he is exposed to the Loss of all other things for Christ's sake Heb. 10.34 They took patiently the spoiling of their Goods knowing in themselves they had in Heaven a better and more enduring Substance 6. True Hope makes a Christian very lively and valiant for Christ and his Truth It fills the Soul full of spiritual Activity it is called a lively Hope it makes him bold and not ashamed of the Cross c. Love compared to Death and the Grave and to Coals and Flames of Fire Cant. 8.6 Love is strong as Death Jealousy is as cruel as the Grave The Coals thereof are Coals of Fire which have a most vehement Flame Verse 7. Many Waters cannot quench Love neither can the Floods drown it c. THe Grace of Love which Christ hath infused into the Heart of his Spouse and all gracious Ones is compared by the Holy-Ghost in these Scriptures to three things which are of a mighty powerful and prevailing Nature against whom there is no standing First
this saith Mr. Pool If a Man being sought after should hide himself in some Corner or Hole of the House and Pursuers should ask for him could any with a good Conscience say he is not here because he is invisible none sure but a Papist who is so well skilled in Equivocation would give such an Answer Our Saviour every where makes these two Opposites his being in the World and going to Heaven John 13.1 the Hour was come that he should depart out of this World unto the Father It seems they could have taught him the Art of going thither and remaining here at the same instant They have an excellent Faculty as he had who said Since he could not give content in going nor staying he would not go nor stay For they know how a Man may both go from a place and stay in it at the same time I know not what can be more plain if they did not wilfully shut their Eyes Christ saith expresly Me you have not always with you That is his bodily Presence for as touching his Divine Presence so he is always with his People unto the end of the World Mat. 28. ult Besides their Doctrine destroys the Truth of Christ's human Nature We read of Christ He was in all points like unto us Sin only excepted His Body was like ours and therefore impossible it should be in a thousand places at once which according to their Doctrine it is This turns Christ's Body into a Spirit nay indeed they make his Body more spiritual than a Spirit for a Spirit cannot be in several Places divided from it self The Soul of Man if it be entire both in the whole and in every part of the Body yet it is not divided from it self nor from its Body nor can it be in two Bodies at the same time as all confess muâ—h less can it be in Ten Thousand Bodies at once When ever any Angel comes to Earth he leaves Heaven So that this quite destroys the Truth of Christ's human Body Object Much of what we say here the Papists say was true of Christ's Body in the days of his Infirmity but when he was risen from the Dead then he received a spiritual Body as it is said ours shall be at the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. Answ This is but a Fig-leaf for they ascribe these monstrous Properties to Christ's Body before its Resurrection for they say the Flesh and Blood of Christ were really in the Sacrament which the Disciples received whilst Christ lived Secondly Christ's Resurrection tho it heightned the Perfection yet it did not alter the Nature and Properties of his Body nor gave it the being of a Spirit for after he was risen he proves that he was no Spirit by this Argument Handle me and see for a Spirit hath not Flesh and Blood as you see me have Luke 24.39 By this it appears that their Doctrine destroyeth the Truth of Christ's human Body at least it destroys the main Evidence of it against those who affirmed that Christ had only a phantastical Body namely that he was seen and felt and heard for the Papists say that Sense is not to be believed Again this Doctrine of theirs destroyeth the Truth of Christ's Ascension into Heaven for he is not ascended if he hath not left this World but is here in the Sacrament Nothing can be more clear than that Christ did visibly and locally leave this World when he went up into Heaven Acts 1.9 10. That being once there the Heavens must receive or contain him until the Time of the Restitution of all things Acts 3.21 And that at the last Day he shall come visibly and locally from Heaven 2 Thess 1.7 But that he should come down a thousand times in a day at the command of every Mass-Priest or that he should have such power to make the Body of his Saviour is such a Dream as the Scripture speaketh not one syllable of nor can any rational Man believe it Besides their Doctrine destroyeth the very Essence of a Sacrament which consists of two parts an outward Element or Sign and the inward Grace signified by it These things being well considered it is evident these Words This is my Body are to be taken figuratively i. e. This is a Sign of my Body or this is the Sacrament of my Body so that from the manner of the Words spoken by Christ there is no necessity to take them as the Papists do seeing it is so frequent with the Holy-Ghost to use Metaphors in this kind I need not name them considering it is the Subject of our present Work The seven Kine are seven Years the seven Ears of Corn are seven Years the Stars are the Angels of the seven Churches the seven Heads are seven Mountains c. Christ is called a Rock a Lamb a Lion a Door together with many other things which we have spoken unto See the Second Head of Metaphors Similies c. The Saints are called Sheep Branches c. ' The meaning of all this is saith Dr. Preston They are like such and such things But yet it is the manner of the Scripture-Speech Dr. Preston of the Saints Qualifications p. 487 and therefore saith he it is not necessary that those Words should be taken in a proper Sence as they are by the Papists Object But saith the worthy Doctor you will object Yea but in matter of this moment as a Sacrament the Lord speaks distinctly and expresly there he useth no Metaphor tho in other Cases he doth Answ 'To this saith he I answer briefly It is so far from being true that he useth them not in the Sacrament that there are none of all the Sacraments but it is used viz. in the Sacrament of Circumcision This is the Covenant c. In the Sacrament of the Passeover which were the Sacraments of the Old Law the Lamb is called the Passeover In this very Sacrament to go no further for instance take but the second part of it This is the Cup of the New Testament in my Blood Here are not one but divers Figures The Cup is taken for the Liquor in it the Wine in the Cup is taken for Christ's Blood This is the new Testament c. that is the Seal of the New Testament Here is Figure upon Figure saith Mr. Pool and yet the Papists have the Impudence to reproach us for putting in but one Figure which they confess the Holy-Ghost frequently maketh use of Wonder O Heavens and judg O Earth whether these Men do not strain at Gnats and swallow Camels c. This openeth a Way for us to our next Work which is to run the Parallel concerning those figurative and metaphorical Expressions of the Lord Jesus Christ used at the Institution of the holy Eucharist Mat. 26.26 Jesus took Bread and blessed it and brake it and gave to his Disciples and said Take eat this is my Body Metaphor Parallel CHrist took Bread after he had supped c. THis in
our Passeover with a sense of and bitter sorrow for our Sins wherein we were captivated XIV It was to be eaten in every Family and each Family to this purpose had a Lamb. XIV Shewing the Unity that ought to be among God's People they being all Fellow-Commoners in and Partakers of the Privileges and Blessings of Christ Every Church and Family of the Faithful yea each particular Soul hath a whole Christ XV. The House was to be prepared XV. To signify how we should prepare our Hearts 1 Cor. 11.28 XVI If the House was too little the Neighbour's House was to be assumed yea the Strangers were to partake if they were circumcised XVI To signify first the superabundant Virtue of Christ's Death for the House may be too little for the Lamb but not the Lamb for the House as also the sweet Communion of the Saints in Love the joyful Vocation also of the Neighbour-Gentiles and their Admission into the Fellowship of the Faith being inwardly circumcised c. XVII They were to eat it with their Loins girded XVII This signifies the girding the Loins of our Minds with Justice Strength and Verity XVIII They were to have their Shooes on XVIII This was to figure out the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace wherewith our Feet should be always shod XIX They were to eat it in haste The original word signifies to haste away as with fear and amazement XIX They that come to Christ must be ready to walk in the way of Salvation with the Staff of true Faith in their hands as Strangers and Pilgrims to make a daily progress towards the Land of everlasting Happiness XX. Lastly In that the Blood of the Lamb was first sprinkled on them XX. It shews that first Christ was made a Sacrifice to God and then a Sacrament to us Guild Type Disparity THe Passeover signified Christ was to come OUr Passeover shews he is come and hath been crucified for us II. The Passeover only fed the Body II. Christ spiritually feeds the Soul III. The Lamb being slain and eaten perished and nothing of it remains III. But Christ tho he was slain and became thereby spiritual Food for our Souls yet he is no whit impaired thereby but liveth and abideth for ever in perfect Bliss and Happiness and remaineth as perpetual Nourishment to his Chosen IV. That was a Type or Shadow IV. Christ is the Antitype and Substance of it Inferences GOd gave special Charge to the Israelites concerning their eating the Passeover He was greatly provoked by the Neglect of it Numb 9.13 But that Man that is clean and is not in a Journey and forbeareth to keep the Passeover even that Man shall be cut off from his People c. What then will become of them who refuse to come to Christ and eat of this spiritual Passeover Also it may stir up such sincere and godly Souls to look about them and cause them to tremble who live in the great Neglect of coming to the holy Supper of our Lord. Surely there is as good Ground and Reason for you to obey the Lord Jesus in this Ordinance as there was for Israel to obey Moses in keeping the Passeover nay I may shew much greater 1. From the consideration of what the one was a Sign of and what the other shews forth and is a Sign of 2. From the consideration of the Excellency of Christ whose Law this is above Moses who received that Law and delivered it to Israel 3. From the Threats that are denounced against those who refuse to hear Christ in whatsoever he shall say to them If the Word spoken by Angels was stedfast c. If they escaped not that refused him that spake on Earth how shall we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven And for further Motives consider 1. The strict and positive Injunction of Christ Do this in remembrance of me He that said Do not steal do not commit Adultery Repent believe pray always be holy c. said Do this c. 2. It is a perpetual Ordinance till Christ comes the second time Paul received it from Christ after his coming in Spirit according to his Promise c. And the Primitive Saints continued in it after that time likewise therefore the Coming he spake of must intend his second Coming at the last Day 3. Consider the great Need there is to remember Christ's Death and of those profitable Instructions and Blessings comprehended in this Ordinance 4. Is not the Neglect of a known Duty a great Sin 5. Is not this in effect to set light by Christ and to cast contempt upon his Commands and in effect to say there is no need of them What signifies say some the eating a little Bread and drinking a little Wine Wilt thou take upon thee to teach Christ and exalt thy own Wisdom above his who is the most wise God 6. Consider how faithful and ready the Saints in former Ages were to walk in the Commandments of God and is it not left upon Record to their everlasting Commendation Moses did all things according to the Pattern shewed him in the Mount c. Zachary and Elizabeth walked in all the Commandments of the Lord blameless 7. Dost thou know what spiritual Blessings thou losest by thy Neglect hereof Is not Loss of Communion with Christ a great Loss Psal 119.6 Joh. 14.15 8. Is not universal Obedience a Demonstration of Grace Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect to all thy Commandments If ye love me keep my Commandments 9. Will not the Thoughts of a wilful Neglect of known and indispensible Duties be bad Death-bed Companions 10. This preacheth the Gospel to the very Sight of your Eyes is it not necessary to make use of all Means God hath ordained for your Establishment in the Truth of the Gospel 11. Will not Omission of known Duties exclude Men and Women the Kingdom of Heaven Read Mat. 25. Is it not for Sins of Omission that Christ will condemn and sentence many Souls to eternal Burnings in the great Day THE Sixth HEAD OF METAPHORS SIMILES And other Borrowed TERMS Mentioned in the SACRED SCRIPTURES Relating to the Holy Angels of GOD AND THE Soul Spirit of Man Wherein the Nature Order Office and Ministration of Angels is opened THe Creatures of God are divided into Invisible and Visible The Invisible are Spirits 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 asomatoi without Bodies and by them we understand Angels because being in their Nature incorporeal they cannot be seen by humane Eyes The Visible are whatsoever things have existence in the visible World whether simple or mix'd Bodies In what Notions Metaphors are taken from Good and Evil Angels see our Sacred Philology Book 1. p. 101. 1. Angels then in their Natures are Spirits created of God 2. Called Ministers or Angels to shew their Office Take Mr. Ainsworth's Description of Angels Gen. 16.17 Angels so named of the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Angelos in
never fell from their first Estate Christ is not to them a Redeemer for their Restoration but only a Head for their Confirmation But why Angels are called Sons of God will appear in the following Parallel Metaphor Parallel A Son is the Off-spring of the Father ANgels are the Off-spring of God Adam was called the Son of God by Creation so may the Angels because created by God II. A Son is greatly beloved by the Father II. Angels are greatly beloved of the Almighty III. Sons attend honour and wait upon their Father they are about his Table and at his Command III. Angels wait upon God they stand about his Throne and are always ready to obey his Command and seek his Glory IV. Sons are greatly dignified they are near to their Father and have great Power and Authority in the Family IV. Angels are greatly dignified they are very near to God Mat. 18.10 always beholding his Face and are mighty in power Mr. Caryl saith They are called Sons of God because of Power being called Principalities and Powers c. V. Sons serve their Father cheerfully willingly and readily they obey not as Slaves or Servants V. Angels serve God with abundance of Cheerfulness and Willingness they go about their Work with a Filial or Son-like Cheerfulness and Delight VI. Sons are like their Father they have some Resemblance of him in Nature and Qualifications VI. Angels have some essential Likeness to God God is a Spirit and incorporeal the Angels are Spirits in their Nature and incorporeal Tho the difference between God and them is as great as can be conceived in this respect God is the creating Spirit and they are created Spirits God is an infinite Spirit they finite Spirits Yet the Angels bear as the Learned observe some resemblance to God in their Essence as well as in their Qualification and may in this respect be called the Sons of God likewise VII And lastly Sons imitate their Father Do good to them that hate you saith Christ that you may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven That is Imitate God as some Children do their Fathers carry it towards evil Men as God doth and this will be an Evidence that you are the Sons of God and he will honour you with the Title of his Sons VII Angels imitate God in Mercy in Love and Compassion as also in their good Works their Ways being all holy just and good pure and righteous and shewing much Kindness and Tenderness to the Children of Men. They doubtless are patient towards the froward and undeserving Mortals they are of most excellent Natures and Dispositions No Creatures do imitate God so plainly or fully as they do and from hence they may be called the Sons of God Inferences THis may teach us how to carry our selves towards God our Father We should labour to be like the Angels Our Saviour hath taught us to pray That the Will of God may be done on Earth as it is done in Heaven Mat. 6.10 We who are God's Sons on Earth should imitate the Sons of God in Heaven We should serve God as cheerfully and with the like Alacrity of Heart as the holy Angels and labour not only to imitate the Angels and be like them but also to imitate God himself for He hath set himself before us for our direct and immediate Example Mat. 5.44 And hereby God will not be ashamed to be called our God He will not grudg us the Honour and Title of Sons which as it appears by this is a most glorious Dignity and Privilege even such a one that is conferred upon the holy Angels of Heaven c. The Holy Angels compared to an Host or Army Gen. 32.1 Jacob went on his way and the Angels of God met him Verse 2. And when Jacob saw them he said This is God's Host And he called the Name of that Place Mahanaim that is two Hosts or Camps Luke 2.13 And suddenly there was with the Angel a Multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God c. ANgels so named of the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Angelos in Hebrew Maleac Messenger or Legate one sent or employed in any Work are in these Scriptures called God's Host or Army not that he needeth them to protect himself or suppress his Enemies being infinitely stronger than all the Armies he himself hath and then what is the Strength and Force of all the Armies of his Enemies Therefore when God is said to have Armies it is either to signify First That he hath all things at his Command and is full of Power Or secondly That altho he can do all things by himself yet he will use the Agency of his Creatures to effect his Purpose Metaphor Parallel AN Host or Army have a Prince or General who is the Head of them THe Lord's Host or Army of Angels have a Prince or General who is their Head and Leader viz. the Lord Jesus Christ who is câ—lled the Head of Principalities and Powers II. An Host or Army consists of many Companies amongst which there are divers Ranks and Orders and yet all in Subjection to their Prince and chief Leader II. Angels the Lord's Host consist of many Companies or Legions Mat. 26.53 Thinkest thou that I cannot pray to my Father and he shall send me more than twelve Legions of Angels Christ spake in the Roman Phrase who reckoned their Armies by Legions as we by Regiments Six thousand six hundred sixty six was the Number of a Legion then the Number of twelve Legions was Seventy nine thousand nine hundred ninety two a great Army But how many more no Man can say Christ pitched upon a great certain Number to shew saith Mr. Caryl he could have what Number he pleased if he did but call for them We are come saith the Apostle to an innumerable Company of Angels The Lord's Camp is very great The Chariots of the Lord are twenty thousand even many thousands of Angels Psal 68.17 We read of many Degrees or Orders of Angels which some account to be nine 1. Cherubims that is Angels of Knowledg as St. Hierom interprets the Word but others from Cherub a Figure or Image Others from Chi a Note of Similitude and a Chaldee Word which signifies Puerum Juvenem a Youth And so as a learned Writer observes they were usually represented in the shape of a young Man to shew them to be intellectual Creatures of a young Man to express their Vigor and Strength with Wings to declare their Agility and Swiftness These we read were placed at the East End of the Garden of Eden with a flaming Sword Gen. 3.24 Exod. 25. 1 Kings 1.6 Ezek 10. Psal 104.4 and their Figures were appointed to be placed over the Mercy-Seat in the Tabernacle and Temple 2. Seraphims the Angels or Zeal Their Name is from an Hebrew Word which signifies to burn or burning according to that of the Psalms He maketh his Ministers a Flame of
tender and dear Wife is greatly troubled when her Husband seems to be offended and angry with her and strives to pacify him again and is never at Rest or Peace until she finds his Love towards her as formerly and all things right between them IX So a gracious Soul if Christ be offended and withdrawn from him is greatly cast down and grieved Cant. 5.6 Thou hiddest thy Face and I was troubled I opened to my Beloved but my Beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone My Soul failed when he spake I sought him but I could not find him I called him but he gave me no Answer Isa 63.15 64.9 Where is the sounding of thy Bowels and thy Mercy towards me are they restrained Be not wroth very sore O Lord neither remember our Iniquity for ever behold we beseech thee we are thy People X. The Wife by her Marriage with her Husband is delivered from Arrests for Debts no sooner is she married but her Husband is liable to that Danger it falls upon him he must see to satisfy and pay what she owed X. So in like manner no sooner is a Soul espoused or married to Christ but all his Debts to Law and Justice fall upon Christ and he pays all He stands between Wrath and us Justice and us He keeps off all Danger of Arrests and Fear of Imprisonment He hath Riches enough All is cleared the day the Soul closes in with him tho whole Mountains of Guilt were upon us before XI The Wife that is married to a Prince or mighty Potentate is thereby greatly exalted or raised to Honour becomes a Queen the same day the Marriage is consummated and hath the Attendance of his Servants XI So the Church being married to Christ the Lord Jesus the Prince of Heaven and Earth is raised to the greatest Honour imaginable she is made hereby a Princess and hence called a Queen On thy right-hand did stand the Queen Psal 45 9. in Gold of Ophir The Saints also have the Attendance of Christ's Servants the holy Angels They are sent forth to minister to them that are Heirs of eternal Life Heb. 1.14 XII The Wife that is married to a rich and godly Husband is thereby freed from much Care and Trouble for he provideth for her and manageth all her Concerns It is true altho every Husband is bound by the Law of that Relation to provide for his Wife and free her from Care as much as he can yet some are poor and unable to do it and hence the Wife is involved in as much Care and Trouble as he XII Christ frees his People from all inordinate and unnecessary Care 1 Pet. 5.7 Cast all your Care upon him for he careth for you He manageth all our Concerns in Heaven always appearing before God for us 1 Joh. 2.1 We have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous And he manageth all our Affairs on Earth in a way of Grace and Divine Providence Isa 27 12. works all our Works in us and for us He gives and loves saves and feeds us and will never leave us till he hath brought us to Heaven He became poor 2 Cor. 8.9 but we were no Losers thereby for by his Poverty we are made rich XIII A Wife brings forth Children and is many times very fruitful to her Husband and when she hath brought them forth takes care of them feeds and nurseth them XIII So the Church is fruitful to Christ bringing forth many Sons and Daughters to him whom she takes care of feeds and nurseth as the Mother does her Children For thus saith the Lord Behold Isa 66.12 13. I will extend Peace to her like a River and the Glory of the Gentiles like a flowing Stream Then shall ye suck ye shall be born upon her sides and dandled upon her Knees as one whom his Mother comforteth c. See Mother XIV A Wife hath the Privilege to know her Husbands Mind for many things which are kept secret from others are made known to the Wife XIV Psal 25.14 So the Secrets of the Lord are with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant Eye hath not seen 1 Cor. 2.9 10. nor Ear heard nor hath it entred into the Heart of Man to conceive the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him But God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit Metaphor Disparity A Wife may soon lose her Husband Death we see many times takes him away and she is thereby made a Widow and her Children fatherless BUt the Church cannot lose her Husband Christ dieth no more Rev. 1.18 he is immortal and therefore she can never be a Widow nor her Children fatherless I will not leave you comfortless Joh. 14.18 the word is Orphans He is an everlasting Husband Inferences STand and wonder Doth Christ espouse and take to Wife such a poor and contemptible Creature as Mankind What disproportion is there between a King and a Beggar between an Ant and an Angel a far greater disproportion there is between Jesus Christ and Sinners He is high and great but we are base and vile He is blessed and glorious we are wretched and miserable He is a mighty King King of Kings and we poor Slaves and Vassals yea the worst of Slaves Vassals and Slaves to Sin and Satan 2. From hence you may perceive the unspeakable Nearness there is between Christ and his People can there be a sweeter and more glorious Union than this If we consider the Properties of it it is a spiritual a real an operative an enriching an intimate an indissoluble Union to be Bone of his Bone and Flesh of his Flesh What can any Soul desire more What greater Happiness what more glorious saith one of the Ancients than this Union 3. What Doctrine can yield greater Comfort to Believers who are thus happily espoused and married to Jesus Christ We say such and such are well disposed of happily married O Soul how well art thou disposed of What! married to Christ to the Son of God to the King of Heaven and Earth 4. This may shew the Saints their Duty and put them in mind of their Covenant Soul thou hast vowed and canst not go back 5. And may he of use especially to all that stand related as Husband and Wife in the Church for Husbands to make Christ their Pattern in their Carriage and Deportment towards their Wives and likewise Wives to make the Church their Example in their Behaviour towards their Husbands as the Apostle giveth direction Eph. 5.21 ult 6. Lastly What Terror doth this speak to the Enemies of the Church If the Church be the Wife of Christ what will they do that so much abuse her and continually seek her Life Let them know He will appear in Wrath and Vengeance to save and deliver her and will tear them in pieces in a short time The Church compared to a Bush on
Places might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God Hence God is said to love the Gates of Zion Psal 87.2 viz. the Place of his visible Worship more than all the Dwellings of Jacob. Can there be a greater Reproach to a Church or any thing more provoking to God than to have Prayer and other Branches of Publick Worship and Devotion wholly neglected among them X. All the Family yea every particular Person thereof ought to be called together and they diligently to obey that Call and come together at the Time of Devotion or when Prayer is solemnly performed therein X. So the whole Church I mean each Community of Christians yea every particular Member thereof ought to be called together and they diligently to obey that Call at all Times when Prayer or any other part of Church-Service Devotion and Worship is to be performed Heb 10.25 Not forsaking the assembling of your selves together as the manner of some is c. Acts 2.1 They were all with one accord in one Place XI Some Families are exceeding great consisting of many Persons especially if it be the Family of a Prince or noble Person XI The whole Family of Christ the great Prince of Heaven and Earth I mean the whole universal Church both Militant and Triumphant is exceeding great the one part of which is in Heaven and the other on Earth Eph. 3.15 16. For this Cause I bow my Knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named c. Ephes 3.15 16. XII It is exceeding commendable and honourable for all that belong unto a Family to be truly and cordially affectionate one to another to be ready and willing to do all Offices of Love and Kindness so far as the Law of such a Relation doth require of each in their respective Places and Callings XII So the Lord Jesus the Head and Governor of his Church hath strictly commanded and doth exceedingly commend the Grace of Love in and among all his Family The Church is never more desirable or comely in this World than when the Love of each Member doth abound one towards another when Ministers love the People and the People heartily love them and when every one in the Station wherein God hath set him is ready and willing to do any Office of Love How amiable upon this account is the Church of God! Inferences THis shews that the Church of God are a choice and peculiar People such who have given up themselves in the Order and Fellowship of the Gospel walking together in Love as a holy religious and united Family according to the Order and Discipline Christ hath left in his Word having sweet Acquaintance and Intimacy one with another And now to conclude with this Head from the Whole we may infer I. That God's Church is most dear and precious in his Sight or a People that he hath most choice Love and Affections to and takes great Care of II. That the Church of God under the Gospel-Dispensation is not National Parochial c. III. That the Church of God are a People separated from the World in respect of the Worship Traditions and sinful Customs thereof c. Non-conformity to the World in these respects is an indispensible Duty Be not conformed to this World Rom. 12.2 Come out from amongst them and be ye separated saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing c. 2 Cor. 6.17 IV. That the true Church of God is a Number of sincere and godly Christians who have solemnly covenanted and given up themselves to walk in the true Order and Fellowship of the Gospel according to the exact Rule of God's Word amongst whom the Word of God is truly preached and the Sacraments are duely and in a right manner administred V. That God's Church hath many Enemies and yet in despite of them all shall abide and the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against her And tho for a time she may be low and under great Sufferings yet she shall arise to a great Degree of Glory in the latter Day THE Eighth HEAD OF Metaphors Allegories and Similes WITH Other Borrowed TERMS That respect MEN. I. Of Men in general II. Of the Godly or good Men. III. Of Sinners or wicked Men. Men compared to Earth Jer. 22.9 Hear O Earth Earth Earth Psal 33.5 Let all the Earth fear the Lord. Let all the Earth keep Silence Rev. 12. But the Earth helped the Woman BY Earth in these Scriptures we are to understand Men dwelling upon the Earth Earth Parallel THe Earth is far from Heaven there is a vast Difference between them ALl Men whilst they remain unconverted or abide in a State of Nature are said to be far from God tho not in respect of Place yet in respect of Condition Men being by reason of Sin in a State of Enmity Eph. 2.13 Ye that sometimes were afar off are now made nigh by the Blood of Christ II. The Earth is a heavy lumpish and gross Body II. So Man naturally is Earth-like a heavy and lumpish Piece being taken out of the Earth and the Off-spring of red Earth As is the earthy 1 Cor. 15.48 such are they that are earthy III. The Earth hath its great Dependency upon the Heavens did not the Rain from above water it and the Sun shine upon it how hard and barren would it soon be II. So Man hath all his Dependency upon God neither the spiritual Man nor the natural Man can subsist unless the Heavens send down Blessings upon them All humane as well as divine Growth and Fruitfulness comes from above IV. Earth turns and cleaves to Earth as its proper Center Tho a Piece of it may by force be lifted up or thrown upward yet by an innate Propensity to descend it naturally falls down again IV. So Man naturally cleaves to and takes delight in earthly Things He that is after the Flesh Rom. 8.5 minds the Things of the Flesh He that is not born anew born of the Spirit but is wholly an earthly Man the Earth is his proper Center tho sometimes his Heart may in an artificial way as it were be lifted upwards yet down he falls again to his own Center V. What a dark Dungeon would the Earthly Globe be did not the Heavens shine upon it V. So what a dark Dungeon is Man's Heart and in what Egyptian Darkness would all Men and Women be involved were it not for the Light of the God of Heaven his Word and blessed Spirit VI. Those Things that are fed and nourished by the Earth are Earth and we see go or return to Earth again VI. So the Body of Man which is fed from the Earth which was taken out of the Earth we daily see goeth to the Earth again and therefore Man may be called Earth Earth Earth Jer. 22.29 that was his Original Earth he was and Earth he is and to Earth he
Eagles Note In some Things the Saints are likened to Eagles Simile Parallel AN Eagle is the chief amongst the Fowls of the Air as a Lion is the King or chief among all the Beasts of the Earth SO the Saints are the chief of Men the Excellent as David calls them Thou art my Lord Psal 16.2 3. my Goodness extendeth not to thee but to the Saints that are in the Earth and to the Excellent in whom is all my Delight The Righteous are said to be more excellent than their Neighbour Prov. 12.26 1 Chron. 4.9 The World is not worthy of them Hence Jabez that holy and gracious Man is said to be more honourable than his Brethren A godly Man is of a more noble Extraction than the Men of the Earth Saints have an honourable Pedigree and Descent they are born of God are as it were of the Blood-Royal of Heaven and nearly related to the Prince of the Kings of the Earth They daily converse have Communion and Fellowship with the Father and the Son the glorious Sovereign of all the World They are delicately and most splendidly fed every day Others live and feed upon the empty Things of this World nay on the Dust of the Earth on Ashes Husks and Gravel as the Holy-Ghost declares They feed upon the Wind Hos 12.1 and snuff in the East Wind Whilst Believers feed on hidden Manna He eats that which is good and his Soul delights it self in Fatness He is often had into the King's Wine-Cellar he is richly cloathed hath more noble and honourable Titles than any Men on Earth He hath a most glorious Retinue viz. the heavenly Angels to attend him every day Never was King if ungodly so attended as the poorest Saint in the World is Saints are the chief of all the Children of Men as Eagles are chief of all the Fowls of the Air. II. Eagles are quick-sighted they behold afar off They have not only a quick and clear Sight but a very strong Sight able to look fully upon the Sun shining in his Strength Hence the Proverb is A Man that hath a clear and strong Sight is Eagle-ey'd II. The Saints are very clear and quick-sighted they can see afar off even from Earth to Heaven They through Christ can behold the Glory of God with open Face 2 Cor. 3.18 They can see and do pry into the secret and hidden Mysteries of the Gospel and Covenant of Grace Psal 25.14 The Secrets of the Lord are with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant They see the Evil that is in the least Sin and can discern what the End of the Wicked will be III. Eagles are very swift Creatures they have long Wings by which means they flie with great Swiftness Therefore Solomon calling upon us not to set our Hearts upon Riches saith They make themselves Wings Prov. 27.5 and flie away as an Eagle The Scriptures often express the more than ordinary Swiftness of Men by the Swiftness of an Eagle David lamenting the Death of Saul and Jonathan gives them this Character 2 Sam. 1.23 They were stronger than Lions and swifter than Eagles III. The Saints are very swift and speedy in their Motions when under the powerful Operation of the Spirit or upon the Wings of Faith and Love Psal 119.59 60. I made haste c. saith David They are said to run nay flie like Eagles or as Doves to the Windows they are many times carried swiftly along in the way of their Duties as upon Eagles Wings The Ministers of the Gospel are set forth by an Angel flying in the midst of Heaven Rev. 14.6 having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell upon the Earth When God's People are assaulted and persecuted they flie to God for Shelter so David Psal 143.9 I flie unto thee to hide me IV. The Eagles mount up on high The Word in the Hebrew signifies to get high and therefore as it is noted by Mr. Caryl it is used in the Noun 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sublimis elatus fuit eminuit per Metaphoram supervivit to set forth the Highness of God Job 11.8 Psal 113.6 Isa 5.16 52.13 Scripture as well as Naturalists tell us that the Eagle's Motion and mounting up is wonderful she flies quite out of Sight One of the Ancients says The Eagle soars above the * Doubtless he means the lower Region Air as if she would visit the Starry Heavens The common Epithetes of an Eagle are high flying swift c. IV. The Saints of God mount up on high Phil 3.20 Our Conversation saith Paul is in Heaven Men of the World are like Moles and Worms always digging and tumbling in the Earth and Muck of this World but Believers those who are truly risen with Christ Col. 3.1 2 3. seek those things that are above they soar aloft nothing will satisfy them but Communion with God They mount up by Prayer as also by fresh Acts of Faith they mount up by divine Meditation They are said to dwell on high Earth and earthly Things will not satisfy them they are of a more heroick and sublime Spirit V. Eagles are unweary in their Flight they faint not tho they flie high and are long before they rest V. So the Saints should never grow weary nay and the Promise is Gal. 6. Isa 40.31 They shall mount up as with Eagles Wings they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint Tho it be long before they come to Heaven their everlasting Resting-place they are held up and therefore they hold out in all their Service and Sufferings Faith and Love are two such strong and excellent Graces that they like Eagle's Wings keep them from tiring and fainting in their Minds tho their Work be hard and their Flight towards Heaven long Psal 27.13 I had fainted unless I had believed c. VI. An Eagle saith one hath a high Spirit she flies high and aims at high things she will not catch Flies she scorns to stoop to such low Game VI. So a Saint hath a noble high and excellent Spirit Low things are not for high and heavenly-born Souls they catch not at the Flies Toyes and Trifles of the Profits Honour and Pleasures of the World as others do VII Eagles make their Nests on high She dwelleth and abideth on the Rocks Job 39.28 upon the Crag of the Rock and strong Place VII So the Saints dwell on high Their Place of Defence shall be the Munition of Rocks Isa 33.16 They make their Nests in the Rock of Ages they dwell in God He is their strong Dwelling-Place VIII Eagles renew their Strength by changing their Feathers tho old they seem young and lively again and are very long-lived VIII The Saints renew their Strength When any Oldness as Mr. Caryl words it is coming upon the new Creature they renew their Strength by looking to Jesus
that Star of the first Magnitude drive away That blessed Light which he afforded the World hath shone so gloriously that the Devil the Pope and all their Adherents notwithstanding all their Skill have not been able to put out to this Day IV. When the Light of the Candle is put out which is to give Light to the whole House how do Men stumble and grope in Darkness IV. So when the Saints shine not in Grace and Holiness or fall into Sin and wickedly comply with the Evils of the Times in which they live how do the ungodly World stumble and fall the which made our Saviour to say Mat. 18.7 Wo to the World because of Offences c. 'T is a great Judgment to the Wicked to have those who should be as Lights in the World darkened or give occasion of Stumbling Inferences THis shews what a great Blessing the World receives by means of the Godly They are set up as Lights in a dark Night to direct Men in the right Way that they may not stumble and fall upon the dark Mountains II. Let this teach Believers their Duties let them remember to have their Conversations honest among the Gentiles Let your Light shine forth to others not that you may be praised but that the Praise may be given to God c. In all your holy Walking propose this as your ultimate End not that you may be magnified and lifted up but that God by you and through your good Works may be magnified and his glorious Name advanced on high III. It may be an Use of Caution to them to take heed of Sin If they comply with Satan and yield to Temptations and thereby let their Light go out no wonder if the World stumble Sometimes Professors instead of being Lights prove dark Stumbling-Blocks As to instance in two or three things 1. When Professors fail in their Morals i. e. are not just in their Dealings between Man and Man they give just cause of Offence 2. When they are like the World and none can discern any great difference between them and others in respect of their Conversation how can they then be said to be the Light of the World 3. When they are overcome with scandalous Sins viz. are proud covetous Backbiters Tattlers Drunkards c. 4. When they want Love and Bowels of Compassion to their Brethren they cease to be the Lights of the World They are no more a Blessing to the World who thus degenerate from what they should be but rather the contrary Therefore if you want Motives to stir you up to take heed how you walk and live among Men that you may not give occasion of Offence or Stumbling to them but contrary-wise be as Lights to them take these following 1. Your good Works and holy Conversation will greatly tend to glorify God but the contrary will greatly dishonour him 2. Your good Works and godly Life will greatly tend to the Profit of the World but the contrary will prove to their great Hurt 3. Your holy Life will make your Profession shine and also further the Promulgation of the Gospel but the contrary will bring a Stink or ill Savour upon your Profession and hinder the Promulgation of the Gospel 4. An evil Life hinders poor Souls from enquiring after the Truth and stumbles them in the way of their Obedience to it 5. It stumbles weak Christians that are in the Ways of God 6. It weakens the Hands and grieves the Hearts of strong and sincere Ones Phil 3.18 7. A holy Life will free thee from Blood-guiltiness I mean thou wilt not have the Blood of other Mens Souls to answer for but the contrary may make thee culpable Saints compared to Cedars Psal 92.12 He shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon the Trees of the Lord are full of Sap. Psal 104.16 The Cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted c. Hos 14.5 And cast forth his Root as Lebanon GOd's People their Growth and Rooting are in these Scriptures compared to the Cedar-Tree the Cedar in Lebanon in Greek Libanos which was a Mountain in the North Part of the Land of Canaan possessed of old Time by the Hivites Judg. 3.3 afterwards by the Israelites on it grew many stately Cedars c. In what respect the Saints may be compared to the Cedars will appear by the following Parallels Simile Parallel THe Cedar is a very noble and stately Tree it grows very high 2 King 19.23 Ezek. 17.22 hence they are called tall Cedars also its Branches are called Branches of the high Cedar It mounts high towards Heaven Pliny tells of one Cedar that grew in Cyprus Plin. lib. 16. p. 490. which was one hundred and thirty Foot high and three Fathom thick THe Godly are a renowned People Tho they seem in the Eyes of the World but meer Shrubs yet they are as it was said of Saul higher by the Head and Shoulders than all others who dwell upon the Earth They grow high in Grace and spiritual Experiences They are said to dwell on high Isa 33.10 they dwell in God in Communion with Him they soar aloft and mount towards Heaven Isa 40. ult Col. 3.1 2. Their Affections are set upon Things above They may in this Sence be said to grow like the Cedar they overtop the Wicked in Renown and Dignity Prov. 12.26 The Righteous are more excellent than their Neighbours II. The Cedar is a Tree that takes deep Root its Roots spread this way and that way and go far into the Ground Naturalists say that as Trees grow high so proportionably they take Root downward because otherwise they would be top-heavy and overturn a Blast of Wind taking advantage of their Talness being weak at Root would soon blow them down therefore proportionable to their spreading above there must be a rooting in the Ground II. The Godly are said to take Root downward they are well-rooted they cast forth their Roots as the Cedars in Lebanon Saints are well rooted in Christ rooted in the Covenant 2 Sam. 23.5 which is firm ordered in all things and sure well rooted in Grace in Faith Love and Humility And indeed those Saints that grow high in Knowledg who in Gifts and Parts overtop their Brethren had need to grow downwards in Humility proportionable to their Growth upwards or else a strong Blast of Temptation may soon puff them up with Pride and Self-conceitedness and so thereby quite blow them down In Adam we had no sure Rooting but in Christ by partaking of his Fulness our standing is firm III. The Cedar is a very strong Tree Naturalists also tell us that it is not subject to Putrefaction as many other Trees are III. Eph. 6.10 11. The Saints are strong in the Lord. 'T is Sin that causeth Men to be spiritually weak unstable as Water as Jacob spake of his Son Reuben but the Godly are delivered from the Guilt and Dominion of it and thereby become strong in
their Hearts lest instead of good Wheat they should at last prove evil Tares 2. It also reproves those Magistrates who in a blind Zeal persecute Men for Religion and Conscience sake pretending they do it to destroy the Tares viz. Hereticks c. whereas they know not but that those they persecute may be good and faithful Christians Besides 't is a Work that belongs not to them God would have both tho one Sort may be very vile and impudent Hereticks Schismaticks c. to live together to the end of the World Wicked Men compared to Chaff Psal 1.4 The Vngodly are not so but are like the Chaff which the Wind driveth away Mat. 3.12 But he will burn up the Chaff with unquenchable Fire Wicked Men are compared to Chaff Simile Parallel CHaff before it is separated from the Wheat cleaves close to it and the Wheat must be trod or threshed before the one can be separated from the other SO some wicked Men I mean Hypocrites seem to cleave close to the Saints and to be in perfect Union or Oneness with them And the Godly must be trod upon or threshed with the Flail of Persecution before they as sacred Wheat can be separated from the Chaff viz. counterfeit Christians II. Chaff is of little worth or value to the Wheat Jer. 23.28 What is the Chaff to the Wheat 'T is a low mean and contemptible thing one Bushel of Wheat is worth many Bushels of Chaff II. So wicked Men and Hypocrites are of little worth and value in the sight of God he esteems one true Christian worth thousands and ten thousands of Hypocrites I give Egypt for thy Ransom Isa 43.3 Ethiopia and Seba for thee Since thou wert precious in my sight thou hast been honourable c. III. Chaff is light and airy 't is no ponderous Thing and therefore the Wind carries it away with a Blast III. So the Wicked whatever shew they make of Religion and Piety they are light as Chaff they are not weighty nor ponderous their Lightness and Levity is discovered by their Words and Behavior and when the Blast and Tempest of Persecution comes it drives them away from the seeming Zeal and Religion they pretend to and at last the Wind of God's Wrath will drive them into the lowest Hell there to be burned with unquenchable Fire Inferences THis shews what a great difference there is between the Godly and the Ungodly also what the woful Condition of Hypocrites is and what will be in the End Wicked Men compared to Thorns Numb 33.55 They shall be Pricks in your Eyes and Thorns in your Sides c. Josh 23.13 But they shall be as Snares and Traps unto you and Scourges in your Sides and Thorns in your Eyes c. Cant. 2.2 As a Lilly among Thorns Nah. 1.10 For whilst they are folden together as Thorns c. THorns as Glassius and others observe in these Places of holy Sripture signify wicked mischievous Men. Numb 33.55 Simile Parallel THorns came in with the Curse Cursed is the Ground for thy sake Gen. 3.18 Thorns also and Thistles shall it bring forth unto thee c. Had not Adam sinned we should not have been troubled with Thorns SO wicked Men came in with the Fall and as the Fruit of the Curse Had not Adam sinned the World had never been troubled with these Briars and Thorns but ever since the Curse for Adam's Sin the World hath been full of these Thorns II. A Thorn is no tender Tree but contrary-wise sturdy hard knotty and full of Knobs and Pricks dangerous to meddle or have to do with II. Clopham So the Wicked these Sons of Belial Belegnol without Yoke that is such as will not come under the Yoke of Obedience or Beli Gnalah not ascending because their Males prospered not These Thorns wicked Men 2 Sam. 23.6 are hard-hearted knotty-conditioned full of pricking and stinging Words and Works What can he expect that meddles with a Thorn or Briar but to be scratch'd prick'd and wounded in his so doing So that Man that has to do with some wicked Men shall be scratch'd or prick'd in his good Name and Estate one way or other III. Thorns are Trees of little worth low and base Things hurtful to Fields Gardens and Vineyards c. III. So wicked Men are of little worth and value in God's sight they are of a base Spirit and Principle Lovers of Pleasure more than Lovers of God preferring Earth above Heaven Prov. 10.20 The Heart of the Wicked is little worth And as they are unprofitable and little worth in themselves so they are offensive and prejudicial to God's Garden they hinder the Growth of the Saints as much as in them lies wounding the Lilly that groweth among them See Lilly among Thorns IV. Thorns nevertheless do serve sometimes to make a Hedg to keep out wild Beasts from breaking into a Field or Vineyard IV. So some of these wicked Ones God now and then makes use of to be a Hedg to his People to keep out a more bloody and cruel Adversary Rev. 12 The Earth helped the Woman that is Wicked Men Men of the Earth stood up for and sided in with the Church and People of God and so proved as a Wall of Defence or Hedg to them Besides God makes use of them sometimes as a Hedg to stop his People in their evil Courses by suffering these Sons of Belial to afflict them I will hedg up her Way with Thorns Hos 2.6 V. Thorns and Briars when they are grown to any height are oft-times by the Owner cut down and cast into the Fire V. So the Wicked and Ungodly when they are grown to a great height of Wickedness provoking God against themselves are cut down and cast into Hell That which beareth Briars and Thorns is near unto Cursing whose end is to be burnt He 8.6.8 VI. Thorns and Briars are not able to stand before a devouring and consuming Fire VI. So the Wicked are not able to stand before the dreadful and angry God For while they be folden together as Thorns Nah. 1.10 and whilst they are drunken as Drunkards they shall be destroyed as Stubble fully dry Isa 27.4 Who would saith God set the Briars and Thorns against me in Battel I would go through them I would burn them together Inferences IS it not a strange and marvellous thing that God's People are no more scratch'd and prick'd with these troublesom Thorns considering what a Multitude of them are amongst us 2. It may caution all true Christians how they meddle with these pricking Thorns 3. It shews the Folly of the Wicked who strive with the Almighty and set themselves in Battel against Him who is a consuming Fire and they but Thorns and Briars or like Stubble fully dry Wicked Men compared to Mountains Isa 41.15 Thou shalt thresh the Mountains and beat thm small c. Isa 2.14 Vpon all high Mountains that are lifted up
another Angel saying Babylon is fallen is fallen that Great City because she made all Nations drink of the Wine of the Wrath of her Fornication REV. 16.19 And great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the Cup of the Wine of the Fierceness of his Wrath. REV. 17.5 And upon her Forehead was a Name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS or Fornications AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH REV. 18.1 2. And after these things I saw another Angel come down from Heaven And he cry'd mightily with a strong Voice saying Babylon the Great is fallen is fallen and is become the Habitation of Devils and the Hold of every unclean Spirit and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird c. IN the handling of this great Subject it seems needful to give an Account of the various Opinions that have more or less prâ—sented themselves to the World about it which may be reduced to these four following Heads I. That it is Jerusalem and that for two Reasons 1. Because the Man of Sin or last Beast that is to head this Babylon is set forth by St. Paul to sit in the Temple of God shewing himself to be a God 2 Thess 2.4 Rev. 11.8 2. Because this City where the Beast reigns and shall slay the Witnesses is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt where our Lord was crucified II. That it is the Turkish Empire or Power of the Saracens which Mr. Mede somewhat touches and in a brief way most learnedly argues against in his third Book pag. 644 645. III. That it is indeed Rome the Seat of the fourth or last Empire but Rome in its Heathen State under the idolatrous and persecuting Emperors So the Rhemists would have it if there be a Necessity to fix upon Rome to be this Apocalyptical or Mystery Babylon For this Opinion the present Romanists have no better Advocate than Dr. Hammond who hath done very worthily at other Turns See his Annotations upon the 17th Chapter of the Apocalypse IV. That it is the present Power and Church of Rome who under pretence of the most high and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction doth influence and govern the Secular Power and State of Kingdoms Of this last Opinion were the ancient Waldenses who felt the bloody Power of Rome venting it self in most horrid and barbarous Cruelties against them and that for a long Series of Time as appears by our most Authentick Ancient and Modern Writers who give a very ample Account of the great Persecution of Christians for many hundred Years last past in all Parts of the Christian World where they have had Power To which Opinion of the Waldenses most of our modern Protestant Divines agree of which we shall mention only Cartwright Fulk the worthily admired and Learned Mede not forgetting famous Du Moulin of France as may be seen in their Works at large But because we will not take Things upon Trust nor refer the Reader to many Quotations which he may want Books and Time to satisfy himself about it appears needful that we remove the Objections with as much Brevity as possible before we state the Metaphor and run the Parallel Now that Babylon in all these New-Testament Texts cannot be fairly applied to Jerusalem the Turks and Saracens nor terminate in the Heathenish State of Rome we offer these following Considerations or Arguments I. It cannot be meant the City Jerusalem 1. Because Jerusalem did not reign over the Kings of the Earth in St. John's time when he saw this Vision and wrote the Revelation which this City Babylon is expresly said to do Rev. 17.18 And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth Jerusalem having been not only under Captivity divers times before but were then entirely under the Power of the Roman Yoke as the whole History of the Gospel doth confirm and themselves did most plainly confess We have no King but Caesar John 19.15 2. Jerusalem was never in so high esteem with the Beast as to be capable to ride as Queen-Regent upon him as this Woman Whore or City is said to do And the Angel said unto me Wherefore didst thou marvel I will tell thee the Mystery of the Woman and the Beast that carrieth her which hath the seven Heads and ten Horns Rev. 17.7 Rev. 17.7 compared with Vers 3. So he carried me away in the Spirit into the Wilderness and I saw a Woman sit upon a Scarlet-coloured Beast full of Names of Blasphemy having seven Heads and ten Horns For by the Woman sitting and Beast carrying is undoubtedly signified Influence Power and Dominion which Jerusalem was far remote from not only under the Roman Monarchy but also under the three Kingdoms that went before it viz. the Babylonian Grecian and Persian as might be largely illustrated both out of Sacred and Humane History 3. Jerusalem did not sit upon many Waters which is interpreted to be People Nations and Tongues that is had not Command or Dominion over them as this Woman Rev. 17.15 Whore or City is said to have And he saith The Waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth are Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues The whole Land of Judea being under Tribute to the Roman Government at that time And it came to pass in those Days Luke 2.1 that there went out a Decree from Caesar Augustus that all the World should be taxed Verse 4. and particularly Galilee Nazareth Judea and the City of David called Bethlehem 4. Jerusalem was not capable to enchant and bewitch all the Nations round about her either by her Religion and Doctrine or by great Gifts and Rewards 1. Because the Roman Power kept her under and much in awe on the one hand not owning nor subscribing to her Religion 2. The Christian Doctrine and Religion block'd up her Way on the other hand that she could not extend her Influence to either neighbouring or remote Nations as this Woman Whore or City is said to do For thy Merchants were the great Men of the Earth for by thy Sorceries were all Nations deceived Rev. 18.23 5. Jerusalem tho she were guilty of much Blood from the beginning of her Excellency and Glory in Solomon's Time killing Prophets even all that were sent unto her murthered John Baptist and our Lord and Saviour as also the blessed Martyr St. Stephen yet in her could not be found that great Mass of Blood that was shed and Myriads of Christian Saints that have been barbarously murthered by Massacre and publick Martyrdom since they were ruined and destroyed by Titus Vespasian which we find positively charged upon this City Babylon Rev. 17.6 And I saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus and I wondered with great Admiration as indeed well he might as shall be shewn Rev. 19 24. And in her was found the Blood of Prophets and of
than Rome Heathen or Babylon ever was And then what a fine Church do the People make themselves 10. If the Place Seat and City of Rome was not utterly ruined so as to be no more for ever as a Place of Commerce Trade and Human Society when the Heathen Power ceased then Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylon because at the Ending and Downfall of this Babylon the Place Seat and City is utterly ruined so as to be no more a Place of Trade Rev. 17.16 Commerce or human Society And the ten Horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and shall eat her Flesh and burn her with Fire Verse 18. And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth for her Sins which God hath remembred Rev. 18.8 which have reached unto Heaven therefore shall her Plagues come in one Day Death and Mourning and Famine and she shall be utterly burnt with Fire For strong is the Lord God who judgeth her Ver. 11 12 13. All Sorts of Merchandize Traffick Trade and Commerce with humane Society shall cease so as to be no more in her at all and the good Things which she in Fulness enjoyed before even all Things that were dainty and goodly are now departed from her and she shall find them no more at all vers 14. for in one Hour is she made desolate And a mighty Angel took up a Stone like a great Mill-stone and cast it into the Sea saying Thus with Violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all Verse 21. And the Voice of Harpers and Musicians and of Pipers and Trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee and no Craftsman of whatsoever Craft he be shall be found any more in thee and the Sound of a Mill-stone shall be heard no more at all in thee Verse 22. And the Light of the Candle shall shine no more at all in thee and the Voice of the Bridegroom and of the Bride shall be heard no more at all in thee Verse 23. But the Place Seat and City of Rome was not so utterly ruined as to be no more for ever a Place of Trade Traffick Merchandize and humane Society when the Heathen Power of Rome ended Ergo Rome Heathen cannot be the Whore of Babylon under present Consideration whose Seat or City hath since had a powerful Government reigning in Pride and Pomp for some hundreds of Years 11. If Rome Papal be Mystery Babylon the City of Pride and Confusion that is set forth by St. Jobn in the Apocalypse then neither the City of Jerusalem the Seat of the Turks and Saracens nor Rome Heathen is or can be the same But Rome Papal is the Mystery Babylon set forth by St. John in the Apocalypse Ergo neither the City of Jerusalem the Seat of the Turks and Saracens nor Rome Heathen can be the same The last Proposition is thus proved If all the Marks and Characters left us upon Divine Record to prove Mystery Babylon by do more aptly and fitly agree to Rome Papal than to the City of Jerusalem the Seat of the Turks or Rome Heathen Then Rome Papal and not any one of them is Mystery Babylon But the Marks and Characters left upon Divine Record to distinguish and know Mystery Babylon by do more aptly and fitly agree to Rome Papal Ergo Rome Papal and not the other is Mystery Babylon For the clearing up of this Argument we shall distinctly state the Character of Mystery Babylon and run the Parallel betwixt her and Rome Papal in this Method following 1. Babylon is a Woman which imports either a single Person rank'd in the Feminine Gender or a Body of People related to some Head Husband or publick Person to whom she is joined in Wedlock by Covenant or Matrimonial Contract as Eve was related to Adam and therefore called Woman or as Judah and Israel who were joined in Covenant with God and therefore called a Woman or as the true Church now is married or joined to Christ and therefore called a Woman A single Person as Eve was she cannot be because the Character given of her in respect of her State and Actions doth no way comport with it She must therefore be a Body of People related to some Head Husband or publick Person as Judah and Israel of old was who are often called by the Title of Woman and in like manner Babylon before her Degeneracy were a People joined in Matrimonial Contract by a Gospel-Covenant and Profession to the Son of God Metaphor Parallel BAbylon imports a Body of People that was once united to the Son of God and hence Metaphorically called a Woman And I saw a Woman sit c. And the Woman was arrayed c. And I saw the Woman Drunk c. Rev. 17.3 4 6. ROme Papal or the Church of Rome is a Body a great Body a famous Body of People and which were before their Apostacy a true Church by Gospel-Covenant and Profession united to the Son of God as her publiâ—k Head and Husband Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ To all that be in Rome Rom. 1.6 7. beloved of God called to be Saints Grace be to you and Peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ II. Babylon is a City a very great City so called in a threefold respect Rev. 17.18 18.10 16 18 19 21. 1. In respect of Power 2. In respect of People 3 In respect of Place and Residence where this Power and People is seated Psal 121. Isa 14.31 Acts 19.28 City being indefinitely taken for either of these or comprehending all as in these Instances II. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is a City a very great City so called in a threefold respect 1. In respect of Power which is twofold 1. Civil 2. Ecclesiastical Reâ— 13.1 signified by two Horns like a Lamb. 2. In respect of People which are great in Number 3. In respect of Place and Residence where this Power and great People is seated and indeed it is as worthily called by way of Eminency a City as any Power People or Place in the Christian World because there is nothing so much spoken of or gives sadder occasion to be so much spoken of as Rome in respect of Power People and Place which shall be further cleared by Argument c. The Fame of this People as a Church was great before the Power and chief Dominion of the Place was joined with it as appears Rom. 1.8 First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all that your Faith is spoken of throughout the whole World III. Babylon is not only a Woman and a City but a bad Woman and a City of Confusion for so the Word Babel Gen. 11.1 to 10. or Babylon signifies viz. Evil or Confusion III. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is not
having a Dispensation from Heaven which the Pope keeps the Keys of and fearing no Power on Earth for she hath the Beast the Secular Power under her she sits upon him and rides him and is not only distinct from the Secular Power but above it so as what of the Secular Power is still left at Rome is under the Conduct and Management of the Church there being no Civil Administration of Justice or Exercise of Laws but what is authorized and allowed by his Unholiness the Head and the Cardinals the Shoulders Breasts and Arms of the Church or State Ecclesiastical To make this fully evident the Pope doth not only exercise a Power of appointing Seculars in Rome and near to it but he claims the like Supremacy abroad in the Islands far off If the Secular Princes fall off from him or if they will not be reconciled to him as Head of Holy Church he will excommunicate and depose them and dispose of their Crowns Thrones and Scepters from them That the Pope is a Temporal Prince as well as an Ecclesiastical Bishop i. e. makes Laws exacts Tribute raises Souldiers and acts as a Monarch which fairly affords him the Title of Beast that his Royal Robes Chair he sits in to his very Hose and Shooes with the Vestments of Cardinals is Scarlet no Man can reasonably doubt That what the Civil Power claims and the Ecclesiastical Power exercises are not incorporated or entirely mix'd that the Princely Pope is in the Masculine and his Spouse the Church in the Feminine is owned by all Parties That the Church-State doth sit upon ride and govern the Secular at Rome Italy and all its Territories that the Church of Rome owns that she is no Widow but hath a Head called his Holiness or Supreme Ruler of the Church is so evident that we cannot find them upon any File or Record of Controversy There remains therefore no more to be done at this time but to frame our Argument upon the Premises and leave the Reader to prove the Weight thereof in the Ballance Argument If there be no visible State in the Christian World that doth so apparently sit upon command and govern the Beast or a great Secular Power cloathed with Scarlet Vestments as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Then is Rome Papal or Church of Rome the Whore of Babylon here treated of But there is no visible State in the Christian World that doth so apparently sit upon command and govern the Beast or Secular Power cloathed with Scarlet Vestments as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is the Whore of Babylon here treated of To reinforce this Argument we challenge any profest Papists Atheist or any else to shew where any other People or Parties are to whom these Characters agree and then we shall be content to let fall our Argument X. This Beast that Babylon sits upon commands and governs is not only cloathed with Scarlet but is full of the Names of Blasphemy c. Which may be taken in a threefold Sense 1. For reproaching the Name of God 2. For telling Lies in Divine Things 3. For ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to God And tho we will not excuse the Beast from the two former yet for brevity's sake we shall take the latter viz. the ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to Him that saith I am God and my Glory will I not give to another X. Rome Papal or Church of Rome sits upon commands and governs that Beast or Scarlet Power that is not only cloathed with Scarlet Vestments but is full of the Names of Blasphemy which appears by his receiving allowing and encouraging the ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to God and to his Son of which we give you but these Instances 1. When this human sinful and wicked Head is called our Lord God the Pope whether this is not Blasphemy against God 2. When he is called Universal Head of the Catholick Church which none is but Christ 3. When he is called the Lamb of God the Light of the World the Root of David the Lion of the Tribe of Judah whether this is not Blasphemy against the Son of God 4. Whether when the Orders of the Church Oral Tradition the Decrees of Councils are said to be of greater Authority than the Scriptures which they call a Nose of Wax the Hereticks Ink-Rule are perniciously mischievous to the People whether this be not Blasphemy against God that spake and the Word of God spoken 5. When Angels the Virgin Mary and other unknown Saints shall be invocated with Addresses only becoming the Divine Majesty as if these Creatures were infinite and could hear us at so great a distance as is Earth from Heaven which they could not do if perpendicularly over us much less from all parts of the World over which they cannot be whether this ascribing Infiniteness and Adoration to the Creature that is only due to the Creator who is over all God blessed for ever be not Blasphemy 6. To conclude Whether making a God of a piece of Bread and calling the prophane Priest the Maker of the Creature be not ascribing that to the Creature which only belongs to God Is not this the vilest Blasphemy in the World worse if possible than Atheism it self For as Philosophers observe 't is better having no Opinion of God than such an one as is unworthy of Him which we shall close with this Argument Arg. If no People in the Christian World are born up and supported by a Beast full of Names full of such Names or Inscriptions of Blasphemy as Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome must be this Babylon treated of But there is no People in the Christian World born up and supported by such a blasphemous Beast as Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Ergo c. To reinforce this Argument let it be considered that none can pretend to fix this Character or Mark upon any Protestant Dissenters from the Church of Rome called Hereticks who have no such Beast to support them nor ascribe such blasphemous Titles or Adoration to any Creature in Heaven or Earth For they acknowledg the one God the Object of Divine Worship one Mediator between God and Man the Lord Jesus and God's sacred Truth to be the only Rule disowning all Principles and Practices contradictory thereunto Ergo 'T is not the Protestant Dissenters from the Church of Rome that are here meant XI Babylon that sits upon a Scarlet-coloured and blasphemous Beast is adorned with great Pomp and outward Glory very well fitting that Spirit that delights in Grandure Rev. 17.4 And the Woman was arrayed in Purple and Scarlet and deck'd with Gold and precious Stones and Pearl having a Golden Cup in her hand full of Abomination and Filthiness of her Fornication Which must be such as none of her Neighbours can match her in else no Note of Distinction XI
was denied him save the eating of the Tree of Knowledg of Good and Evil but by Sin and the Devil he was robbed and deceived of all and brought to utter Beggary and since God hath been pleased in a gracious manner through the Lord Jesus Christ to invest Believers with much Spiritual Riches and Righteousness again these Enemies strive to rob and deceive them of all the second time but to speak more particularly the things which they endeavour to deprive the Sons and Daughters off are these First Of their precious Time by telling them that 't is too soon too early to mind the Concernments of their Souls like as those in Haggai strove to deceive the People The time is not come c. 1. Sin and Satan perswade Men that time is not so swift nor uncertain but that they shall have Time and Days enough hereafter whereas on a sudden Times Hour-Glass is out and they are cut down in a moment 2. By stifling the Senses of poor Sinners insomuch that they cannot judg of their Time they are so taken with other Things Sensual Things that they know not what time of the Day it is they think 't is a long while to Night when alas their Sun is almost set 3. By hiding from Men the great Perils and Dangers of the Times they live in they are so blinded by these Thieves that they see not into what a Pit they are a falling 4. By persuading them that a great deal of work may be done in a very short time that the work of Repentance may be done upon a Sick-Bed or when old Age comes 5. And then at another while when they have spent much of their Days in Pleasure and Vanity this Enemy persuades them 't is now too late and the time of their Visitation is past c. Secondly These Thieves strive to rob Men of the Opportunity of time I mean those precious Sermons Seasons of Grace and Holy Sabbaths God is pleased to afford them by secret Craft these Enemies blind the Eyes of Men after such a manner that they prefer their Worldly Advantages and Profit in their Shops and Callings above the Riches and glorious Blessings of the Word and Ordinances of God they prefer Earth before Heaven Gold above Grace the good of the Body above the good of the Soul if the Enemy cannot keep Men from attending upon the Word then he endeavours to fill their Minds with other Things causing them to be so negligent in hearing of the Word preached that it profits them nothing or if they should hear with Attention yet this Adversary causes them to rest satisfyed with a bear hearing and thereby deceive their Souls Thirdly Sin and Satan rob or deprive Men of Union and Communion with God and of the true Grace of God by which this Union and Communion with God and Christ is attained persuading them common Grace is saving Grace and legal Conversion is Evangelical Conversion and outward Reformation true Regeneration c. Fourthly Sin and Satan rob Men of Peace not only of Peace with God but also of the true Peace of Conscience Fifthly They strive to rob Men of their precious and Immortal Souls Sixthly They rob and endeavour to rob and deceive Men of the Crown of Life Lastly In a Word these Enemies strive to rob and cheat Men and Women of all the saving benefit of Christ crucified endeavouring to make his blessed Death wholly ineffectual to their Souls II. Thieves many times take and lead poor Travellers out of the King's High-Way into some by-Place and then bind them Hand and Foot as well as take away their Treasure II. So Sin and Satan lead Sinners out of the true way of God into by and untroden Paths of Sin and Idolatry Isa 61.1 and in a barbarous manner bind them with cruel Bonds hence Christ is said to deliver them that were bound Acts 8.23 The Apostle Paul speaking to Simon the Sorcerer said I perceive thou art in the Gall of Bitterness and in the Bond of Iniquity There are three Bonds that these Spiritual Thieves bind Sinners with 1. The Bond of Ignorance 2. The Bond of Unbelief 3. The Bond of a hard Heart III. Thieves do not only bind such that they rob but many times murther them they do not only steal but kill also and that in a barbarous manner There are and have been some great and notorious Thieves Would you not look upon him to be a grand Thief that robs and craftily deceives a whole City a whole County nay a whole Kingdom III. So Sin and Satan do not only rob Men of all their Heavenly Treasure but also kill and murther their Souls Sin kills Spiritually and Sin kills Eternally Sin Rom. 7.11 taking occasion by the Commandment deceived me and by it slew me Sin has deceived and robbed the whole World at once What a Deceiver Sin is When our first Parents were beguiled all Mankind were beguiled and what Man that ever lived hath not actually been robbed by this Thief The best of Men have more or less been deceived by him 1. Sin is a great Thief if we consider the eminency of those it hath robbed 1. Sin deceived the Angels that fell who were most glorious Creatures in their first Estate 2. Sin robbed and deceived Adam who was so higly honoured and dignified by the Almighty c. 2. Sin is a bold Thief which appears in that it will adventure to steal and deceive at that very time when it is arraigned and its abominable Cheats laid open by the Ministers of the Gospel 3. Sin is an old Thief no sooner was the World created but presently we read of this Robber and how he cheated our first Parents O how many Ages how long a Time hath this Thief reigned in his Wickedness 4. Sin is a subtile Thief he robs and steals in the Day-time as well as in the Night and yet 't is hard to find him out he has many secret Corners to hide and lurk in nay he hath got the Art to change his Name when he is taken and charged with this or that Abomination 1. If you search for him by the Name of Pride he calls himself by the Name of Comliness and Decency 2. If you search for him under the Name of Covetousness he calls his Name Industry Thriftiness and Good-husbandry nay he is grown so crafty that some think 't is impossible to find him out under the last Appellation he doth not only change his Name but also prevails cunningly upon Men according as he finds their natural Inclination and Disposition some he deceives by the Pleasures of the World some by the Profits and Riches of the World and some he puffs up with Vain-Glory and the Honours of the World 3. Sin deceives by pretending Kindness and Friendship to the Children of Men Sin and Satan promise a future time and Days to repent they promise Heaven to the vilest Sinner promise Life whilst they thrust
wounded in every Faculty of his Soul or rational part so likewise he is in his sensitive part his Eyes are full of Adultery his Lips are unclean Râ—m 3. â—3 his Throat is like an open Sepulchre the Poyson of Asps is under his Tongue his Ears are deaf and dull of hearing that which is good IV. As some Wounds a Man receives are very deep and reach to the Heart so Sin makes a deep Wound Man is not only wounded in every part but very deeply wounded Jeâ— 4.18 Gen. 6 5. This is thy Wickedness because it is bitter because it reacheth to thine Heart Their Heart deviseth Wickedness c. Every Imagination of the Thoughts of his Heart is only evil continually Jer. 4.14 Hence saith God Wash thine Heart from Wickedness c. V. Some Wounds are corrupt filthy and very loathsome the Wounds Sin makes in the Soul Isa 1.6 are very filthy and abominable From the sole of the Foot even to the Head there is no soundness in it but Wounds and Bruises and putrifying Sores they have not been bound up neither molified with Ointment My Wounds stink and are corrupt VI. Some Wounds smart and are very painful causing the Patient to cry out in great anguish Sin makes such a Wound in the Soul that it causeth such who have their Spiritual Feeling to cry out the pain is so great that a Christian cannot without Divine Help Psal 38.8 9. bear up under the smart and torture of it I have roared saith the Psalmist by reason of the disquietness of my Heart Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee Lev. 13.2 3 4 5 6. VII Some Sores or Wounds are infectious like Plague-Sores or the Leprosy they infect the Cloaths and Garments of the wounded and diseased Person and not only so but the very House where he dwells and the People also that come near him or converse with him Sin is of an infectious Nature no Plague more catching and infectious than the Sore or Plague of Sin it defiles all a Man's best Actions and makes all our Righteousness like filthy Rags If ye daily converse with or are frequently in the Company of some wicked Men 't is a thousand to one if you are not the worse for it Who can touch Pitch and not be defiled therewith We are commanded to keep our selves unspotted from the World 't is a hard matter to keep clear of these Spots and Pollutions wicked Men are defiled with Sin is of such an infectious Nature that it hath corrupâ—â—d the Earth Isa 24.5 The Earth is defiled under the Inhabitants thereof c. Nay some conceive the Sin of Man hath darkned in some respect the glorious Heavens Job 25.5 with the Sun Moon and Stars that they shine not so splendidly as they did at the first VIII Some Wounds are of a festering and spreading Nature whilst the Patient is under Cure they grow worse and worse The Wounds or Sins of some Men tho they are under Cure i. e. sit under a powerful and Soul-searching Ministry fester as it were 2 Tim 3.13 they instead of growing better grow worse and worse like as the Apostle speaks of Deceivers IX Some Sores Wounds and Scabs bring Shame upon such who have them Sin is such a Sore and so hateful a Scab that it causes Shame and Confusion of Face Sin is the shame of any People Phil. 3 19. and yet how do some glory in it They glory in their Shame Sin is the soul Disease the Hurt nay all the Hurt Sorrow and Shame Sinners meet with came in originally by Sin by yielding to the Devil and by adulterating from God no running Sore no Scab no breaking out in the Flesh like Sin in the Heart and Life of a Sinner Ezek 18. Joh. 8.22 Rom. 8.13 X. Some Wounds are Mortal Sin makes a mortal Wound The Soul that Sins shall die and unless ye believe that I am he ye shall die in your Sins If ye live after the Flesh ye shall die c. I do not say there is no Help nor Cure for these Spiritual Sores and Wounds yet I must say they are incurable as to Man no Man can find by all his Skill and Art any healing Medicine And upon this account the Lord said of Judah and Israel their Wound was incurable they had brought themselves into such a Condition that none could help them nor bring them out O Israel thy destruction is of thy self but in me is thy help Indeed some Men are so desperately and dangerously wounded that there is little hope of them they have all the signs of Ruine and Eternal Death upon them imaginable Quest It may be you will say When may the state of a Person be said to be desperate and almost if not altogether past hope or wounded even unto Death Answ 1. If a Man sins and is sorely wounded and yet continues in his Sinful Course the Sting is not pulled as it were out of his Flesh I mean out of his Heart nor is he willing it should there is little hopes at present of this Man Can a Wound be healed and yet the venemous Sting stick fast in him A continual course or custom in Sin tho they be small Sins comparatively may prove deadly 2. When â—in is in the Affection 't is dangerous You know when the Heart is wounded and corrupt there is no hopes of Life if in times of Infection you can keep it from the Heart you are well enough Physicians tho they have Medicines to keep Infection from the Heart yet they have no Medicine to cure the Heart if once the Distemper gets into it When a Man closes in with his Sin likes it loves it and makes Provision to fulfil the Lusts of it 't is a dangerous sign 3. When the Wound spreads and increaseth or a Person grows more vain carnal and filthy 't is a sad sign Some Men have been for a time cautions and somewhat tender their Consciences have restrained them from yielding unto Sin but afterwards they came to grow more hard and bold and have adventured on this and the other Evil and so by degrees from little Sins make no Conscience of greater till they are notorious in Wickedness and this after common Illuminations this is a sign they are near Hell 4. When a Person is sorely and grievously wounded and yet is unsensible does not cry out nor feel any pain 't is a sad sign Come to some wounded Persons and ask them how they do they will answer you Very well I ail nothing then Relations begin to weep so some Sinners through a custom of Sin grow insensible they are past feeling they are not only without pain themselves but laugh at such who complain of their Sores upon the Head and mourn for their Sin of this Man you may write in Red Letters Lord have Mercy upon him 5. When a Man is dangerously wounded
to Honour and Exaltation is to be abased and suffer our selves to be trod upon this is opened also in the Person and Life of Christ To enjoy God's Favour is first to bear his seeming Frowns And many such like Mysteries there are in Godliness Fifthly There is a Mystery in Ordinances which those who follow this Trade should understand a Mystery in Baptism a Mystery in the Lord's Supper But these things I cannot enlarge upon for want of Room Vse 1. Let all take heed they do not slight or reproach these Mysteries 2. Let them not think to understand them in their own fleshly Wisdom 3. Let them labour to get the Power and Operation of them upon their Hearts and then they will esteem them and say there is a Truth in what we affirm and teach VI. He that would drive a Trade to gain by it or thrive upon it must follow it closely he must make it his chief Business nothing will be done in it to purpose without diligence So every Christian who would gain by the Trade of Godliness must keep close to it he must follow it day and night and manage it wisely throughout all his other Affairs Godliness must be followed without intermission it must be every day's Work the Head Heart Hands Feet Time Strength Discourse Contrivance must be taken up about it No Man can thrive in Godliness if his Heart be not in it When thy Hand is in the World thy Heart should be in Heaven VII He that drives a Trade with discretion must take heed he runs not too far in debt and that â—e keeps his Books carefully or else he may soon run out of all So must a Christian take heed he run not far in debt Debts will be contracted In many things we offend all But be sure to see these Debts paid left the Creditor come on a sudden upon thee If any Man sin we have an Advocate c. Renew Repentance every day 1 John 2.3 and labour after fresh Acts of Faith keep thy Accounts even with God observe the Mercies thou receivest from him and be sensible of thy Faults and Miscarriages VIII There is no Man that follows a great Trade but ought to see he hath a Stock sufficient to trust he that cannot trust in some Callings shall have but a poor Trade So every Christian must be careful to get a good Stock of Faith and Experience for if a Saint cannot trust God he will never make any Earnings of Godliness It is true it behoves a Trader to take heed whom he trusteth so it behoveth a Christian he must not trust his own Heart nor in his own Righteousness nor put too much confidence in Princes We can never trust Men too little nor God too much IX A Man that would follow a Trade to Advantage must be much at home and keep his Shop and as the Proverb is his Shop will keep him but he that is more abroad than at home will soon come to Beggery So a Saint must be much at home and keep his own Heart well Some Professors are more abroad spying Faults in other Men than they are in taking notice of their own X. A Man that drives a Trade ought to take heed he go not behind-hand and instead of getting lose by his Trading So ought a Saint to take heed he go not backwards instead of going forwards and lose instead of gaining Thou hast lost thy first Love Remember from whence thou art fallen Rev. 2. and repent XI Some Men trade upon other Mens Stocks as Factors Stewards c. And such Traders are Christians they trade upon Christ's Stock they regulate their Affairs by Christ's Advice they drive on Christ's Interest All that Saints have is their Master's Money and it behoveth them so to lay it out that it may bring in the most Increase Remember all your Graces Gifts and Temporal Goods too are the Lord 's XII Some Trades require great Layings out and if a Man is sparing in his Layings out he must expect his Comings in will be accordingly Sâ— the Trade of Godliness requires great Layings out A Christian who will not lay out his Strength Time and Parts and what he hath for God will never grow rich in Faith and Godliness XIII Quick Returns are the Life of a Trade and animate a Man in his Calling and Business exceedingly So quick Returns do enliven and greatly encourage a Christian when he finds God answers his Prayers Isa 65.24 as the Promise runs Whilst they speak I will answer â— XIV Some Men grow very rich by a Trade So some Christians grow very rich in Faith and Experience by Godliness See City of God pag. 82 83. Inferences THis may inform the Saints what they undertake when they enter upon the Work and Business of Godliness they must look upon it as their chief and principal Calling II. How are many Men deceived They pursue the World as their chief Business and mind Religion and Godliness when they have nothing else to do III. Be exhorted O Christian to follow thy Calling dost thou want Motives 1. Consider 't is an honourable and ancient Trade Christ Jesus himself was of this Profession Godliness was his chiefest Business all the Saints and Worthies of old followed this Calling Prov. 3.14 2. 'T is the best Trade and Calling in the World For the Merchandise thereof is better than the Merchandise of Silver and the Gain thereof than fine Gold Heavenly Things are rare Things Things of great worth 1. They cost deaâ— viz. the Price of Christ's most precious Blood 2. They are durable Riches 3. O what precious Things are Pardon of Sin Peace with God Union and Communion with God! What a rare Thing is Heaven Is not a Crown worth Trading for 3. Consider who you trade with and that is the great God through Jesus Christ 4. You have a faithful Correspondent one that ever lives to make Intercession for you 5. You have your Goods upon easy Terms Ask and you shall receive Come buy Wine and Milk without Money Isa 55.1 and without Price 1 Tim. 6.6 4.8 6. 'T is the most profitable Trade Godliness with Contentment is great Gain 'T is profitable to all things having the Promise of the Life that now is and of that which is to come Metaphors Similes c. CONERNING Providence and Affliction Afflictions compared to Clouds Psal 97.2 Clouds and Darkness are round about him c. Joel 2.2 A Day of Clouds c. Lam. 2.1 How hath the Lord covered the Daughter of Sion with a Cloud in his Anger CLouds are a moist Vapour exhaled from the Earth and Sea by the Sun and condensated by the Cold in the middle Region and carried by the Winds up and down called the Bottles of Heaven which God saith one doth fill with Wine and Vineger with Mercy or Wrath. By Clouds and Darkness are meant Afflictions and dark Providences under which God often times
in the Body but he could not tell whether the Soul acted with his bodily Organs or without them He had mighty Operations in his Soul his Spirit wrought strangely and then took in such Revelations of God and from God as his bodily Organs could never fashion into Words or represent by Speech He heard quae fando explicari à quoquam homine non possunt unspeakable Words Beza which it is not lawful or possible for a Man to utter The Soul hath an Ear to hear such Words that the Body cannot find a Tongue to express So John in his divine Ravishment saith I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day as for his Body that was as to that Business laid aside and suspended as useless in that Day and his Spirit called up to that angelical Work viz. the receiving of Visions and Revelations from on high c. Now as the Souls of good Men whilest they are in this World in Sleep and in Trances or Ecstasies are capable of such glorious Ravishments c. So when their Bodies dy or fall asleep their Souls are with Christ in Heaven and the Souls of the Wicked they go into Chains of Darkness Torment Luk. 16.22 2◠and Misery The rich Man died and was buried and in Hell he lift up his Eyes being in Torment III. Sleep is not perpetual we sleep and wake again So tho the Body lie in the Grave yet Death is but a Sleep as it were the Man will awake and rise again IV. The going to sleep and sleeping of some Men greatly differs from others So the Death of the Saints greatly differs from the Death of the Wicked 1. In the Preparation the one makes to go to rest over what the other doth Some go to sleep before their Work is done So some die before their Work is done As no Saint dies before his Work is done So there is no wicked Person that dies but he dies or goes to sleep before his Work is done This is our Working-day when the Sun of our Life is set no more Work can be done The Time comes saith Christ when no Man can work All a Godly Man's Care is to be ready when Night comes to go to rest But the Wicked take little Thought about it 2. Some Men fall asleep in an hurry of Business and in great Distraction when others in a sweet Manner lay their Heads down upon their Pillows So some wicked Men die in great Distraction and under sad Horrour of Conscience when many a Godly Man dies in a sweet and heavenly Manner declaring to all he hath nothing to do but to die 3. Some Men dread the Thoughts of going to sleep for that it is dangerous in some Cases for some Persons to sleep So some wicked Men dread the Thoughts of Death like him who cryed out I am so sick I cannot live and so sinful that I am afraid to die But most Godly Men are delivered from the Fear of Death they go willingly to Bed Luk. 2.29 Now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace c. Saints are many times willing to go to rest because they are quite wearied out 1. Sin wearies them and even wares them out and makes them groan 2. The World wearies them and makes them willing to go to Bed Eccl. 5.12 3. The Devil the God of this World wearies them with his Temptations 4. Their bodily Weaknesses and disquieting Pains wearie them 5. The Absence of Christ also makes them willing to go home 4. Some Men fall asleep in a dangerous Place nay and sometimes in the midst of their Enemies So wicked Men die in a dangerous Place being far from God and out of the Covenant of Grace and besides are surrounded about with evil Angels who stand ready to devour their Souls But a godly Man falls asleep in Jesus O that 's a sweet Place to sleep in 1. He sleeps in the view of Jesus Christ knows his Grave and will preserve his Dust 2. He falls asleep in the Love of Jesus 3. He falls asleep in the Covenant of Jesus I am the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. 5. Some Mens Sleep is much more sweet and comfortable than others as we shewed before some Mens Sleep is very troublesom their Spirits are troubled So the Death of the Godly is sweet they have Peace and heavenly Joy being with Christ but the Death of the Wicked is troublesom their Spirits being in Torment whilst the Body lies in the Grave I might also shew you the great Difference there shall be in the awaking of the one and the other but that I will leave to its proper place V. A Man that is asleep taking his natural Rest may be easily awakened and called up by the Power of Man So the Body when it is dead can with infinitely more ease be raised up by the Power of God 't is but a Call from Heaven and we are awakened out of the Dust The Day is coming when all that are in the Grave shall hear his Voice and come forth c. John 5.28 Inferences WHat a blessed Condition are Believers in They are not only happy whilst they live but shall be blessed when they die their Bodies have not only quiet Rest but their Souls also rest in Peace and Quiet 2. It may stir up all Christless Souls to labour after an Interest in the Lord Jesus for if they are not in Christ whilst they live they are not like to fall asleep in Christ when they die 3. We may learn also from hence what little ground there is for a godly Man to be unwilling to die when his Work is done Are any unwilling to go to sleep at Night that have laboured hard all Day 4. Let us labour hard whilst the Day lasts whilst we have Health and Life that we may have done our Work and be ready to go to sleep Death a Departure Phil. 1.23 Having a desire to depart c. WE at Death leave one Place to go to another If godly we depart from our Place here on Earth and go to Heaven we depart from our Friends on Earth and go to our Friends in Heaven we depart from the Valley of Tears and go to the Mount of Joy we depart from an howling Wilderness to go to an heavenly Paradise Who would be unwilling to exchange a Sodom for a Sion an Egypt for a Canaan Misery for Glory Death a Rest Rev. 14.13 And I heard a Voice from Heaven saying unto me Write Blessed are the Dead which die in the Lord from henceforth Yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their Labours and their Works do follow them Parallels REst is a desirable Thing to a labouring Man Paul desired to die Death or to depart was greatly desirable in his Sight II. Rest is sweet and therefore desirable to a weary Man So will Death be to a poor weary Saint one that is weary of Sin weary of the World weary of the Temptations
so full communication of one Creature to another saith Mr. Burroughs as there is in that Condition of Marriage So in the Day of the Resurrection when the Church shall be married to the Lord Jesus the Godly shall have a full and perfect Enjoyment of him whom they so dearly love The Lord Christ in that Day will communicate of himself to his People in such a manner that it is inconceivable whatsoever may delight them rejoice their Hearts or add to their perfâ—ct Happiness he will not withhold from them They have now only the Joy and Comforts of his Spirit but then they shall have the Joy and Comforts of his Person Where I am there also shall my Servants be Joh. 14.3 I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also Rev. 19.6 7. V. A Marriage-Day is a joyful Day So will the Marriage-Day of the Lamb be Let us be glad and rejoice and give Honour to him for the Marriage of the Lamb is come The Bridegroom rejoiceth in the Bride Isa 62.5 and the Bride in the Bridegroom As the Bridegroom rejoicâ—th over the Bride so shall thy God rejoice over thee VI. In a Marriage-Day the Bridegroom and the Bride have very great Attendance and are greatly honoured So Christ and the Church shall have great and glorious Attendance in the Day of the Resurrection viz. all the Angels of Heaven He shall come in the Glory of the Father with all the holy Angels The same Retinue the one shall have the other shall have likewise VII The Bride commonly makes great Preparation for the Marriage-Day to have all Things ready So the Godly make all due Preparation for the Appearance of Jesus Christ that they may be accepted of him in that Day The Marriage of the Lamb is come and his Bride hath made her self ready The Resurrection-Day the Saints Coronation-Day 2 Tim. 4.8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which God the righteous Judg shall give unto me in that day c. THat Day that is the Day of the Resurrection or Day of Christ's coming Note The Day of the Resurrection will be the Saints Coronation-Day Parallels CRowns properly belong to Kings Princes and Potentates of the Earth c. Saints are Kings Spiritual Kings He hath made us unto our God Kings c. Rev. 5. II. Kings are wonderfully honoured on their Coronation-Day So shall the Saints in the Day of the Resurrection the Angels of Heaven shall honour them Christ himself will honour them nay they shall be honoured by the Father If any Man serve me Joh. 12. him will my Father honour III. On a Coronation-Day some look upon it as their proper work to set the Crown upon the Head of the Prince who is to be crowned therewith So in the Day of the Resurrection the Lord Jesus will set as it were the Crown upon the Head of his Chosen Be thou faithful unto Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Inferences LAbour to be fully established in the Truth of the Resurrection see that no Man deceive you 't is a perilous Age. And to confirm doubting Christians in this great Principle of the Christian Religion take a few Arguments 1. If the Dead rise not Then Christ is not risen from the Dead 1 Cor. 15.16 20. But Christ is risen from the Dead Therefore the Dead shall rise 2. That Doctrine that makes Preaching vain is a false and pernicious Doctrine But such who deny the Resurrection make Preaching vain 1 Cor. 15.14 15.2 Therefore a false and pernicious Doctrine 3. If the Dead rise not Then those who are fallen asleep in Jesus are perished 1 Cor. 15.18 But those who are fallen asleep in Christ are not perished Therefore the dead shall rise 4. If the Dead rise not Then the Godly are of all Men most miserable 1 Cor. 15.15 19. But the Godly are not of all Men most miserable Therefore the dead shall rise Obj. The Soul of a Child of God at Death is happy and with Christ and shall be for ever whether the Body rise or not and therefore they are not of all Men most miserable unless the Soul be mortal and die with the Body as some affirm Answ The Life of the Soul as well as of the Body depends wholly upon Christ's Resurrection and if Christ be not risen we are yet in our Sins and therefore this makes nothing either to prove Saints happy without a Resurrection or for the mortality of the Soul 5. If the Saints of God in the primitive time did believe and were well grounded in the Truth of the Resurrection Then the Dead shall rise But the Saints of the Primitive time did so believe and were so established Ergo. See these Scriptures Joh. 11.24 1 Cor. 15.22 23. Ver. 52. I know he shall rise again in the Resurrection at the last day For as in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive but every Man in his own order Christ the first Fruits and afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming for the Trumpet shall be sounded and the Dead shall be raised c. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so those which are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Thess 4.14 And the Sea gave up the Dead which were in it and Death and Hell delivered up the dead that were in them and they were judged every Man according to their Deeds Rev. 20.13 6. If all the Saints of God and Holy Apostles waited for the Redemption of their Bodies Rom. 8.23 Then the Dead shall rise But all the Saints and Holy Apostles waited for the Redemption of their Bodies Ergo. 7. If the chief Reward of the Godly is reserved to the last day 2 Tim. 4.8 viz. to the day of the Resurrection Then the Dead shall be raised But the chief Reward of the Godly is reserved to the last day or day of the Resurrection Ergo The Dead shall be raised 8. If the expectation of the Godly Martyrs shall not be frustrated Heb. 11.35 36. Psal 9 18. Then the Dead shall be raised But the expectation of the Godly Martyrs shall not be frustrated Ergo The Dead shall be raised 9. If the Bodies of the Saints shall be made like Christ's glorious Body the Dead shall rise But the Bodies of the Saints shall be made like to Christ's glorious Body Phil. 3.21 1 Joh. 3.2 Ergo the Dead shall be raised 10. If the Dead at the last Day shall be judged then they shall rise again from the Dead But the Dead shall at the last Day be judged 2 Cor. 5.10 Rev 20.12 13. Ergo the Dead shall be raised 11. That Doctrine that gives the Scripture Christ and his Apostles the Lie is a cursed and damnable Doctrine But those that deny the Resurrection of the Dead give the
Frâ—edom for a Life attended with manifold Temptations Disparity OTher Crowns I mean earthly Crowns are corruptible This Crown is incorruptible II. Other Crowns are attended with many Sorrows Troubles and Perplexities c. But this Crown is attended with no such thing for the condiâ—ion of the Heirs of this never-fading Crown will be so joyful that look outwardly there is Joy in the Society Heb. 12.22 if inwardly there is Joy in their own Felicity 1 Cor 2.9 Look forward there is Joy in the Eternity of it 1 Pet. 5.10 So that on every side they shall be even swallowed up of Joy Isa 35.10 Oh! the transcendency of that Paradise of Pleasure where is Joy without Heaviness or Interruption Peace without Perturbation Blessedness without Misery Light without Darkness Health without Sickness Beauty without Blemish Abundance without Want Ease without Labour Satiety without Loathing Liberty without Restraint Security without Fear Glory without Ignominy Knowledg withâ—ut Ignorance Eyes without Tears Hearts without Sorrow Souls without Sin Where shall be no Evil heard of to affright them nor Good wanting to chear and comfort them they shall have what Good they desire and desire nothing but what is good their Promises shall end in Performances Faith in Sight and clear Vision Hope in Fruition and Possession Yea Time it self shall be swallowed up in Eternity To sum up all in a few Words there is no Joy here comparable to that in Heaven all our Mirth here to that is but Pensiveness all our Pleasures here to that is but Heaviness all our Sweetness here to that is but Bitterness Even Solomon in all his Glory and Royalty to that was but as a Spark in the Chimny to the Sun in the Firmament yea how little how nothing are the poor and temporary enjoyments of this Life to those that the Heirs of Promise shall enjoy in the Life that is to come III. Other Crowns fade away the Prince is in a moment gone from that or that is gone from him But this Crown abideth It is incorruptible and undefiled and fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for you c. 1 Pet. 1.4 IV. Other Crowns are gotten many times by Usurpation But the Saints shall have the Crown in a just and righteous way 't is a Crown of Righteousness of which Saints are true and lawful Heirs this Crown is purchased for them by Christ and given to them by the free Donation of the Father besides they are born Heirs to it by the Spirit If Children then Heirs Heirs of God and Joint-Heirs with Christ c. Rom. 8.17 Inferences WE may infer from hence that God's Children are not such Fools as they are accounted by the Ungodly World they have made a good Choice in preferring Heaven above Earth What 's the Glory of this World to the World to come Yea Paradise or the Garden of Eden was but a Wilderness compared with this Paradise And indeed if the Gates of the City be of Pearl and the Streets of Gold what then are the Inner Rooms and Lodging Chambers of the Great Monarch of Heaven and Earth at whose right Hand are Pleasures for evermore II. Let not the Saints grow weary nor faint in their Minds when Heirs of a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away methinks they may be contented to undergo some Troubles in this Life since by suffering these things for Christ's sake they shall be crowned with Glory Honour and Everlasting Life They shall receive the Crown of Life c. Jam. 1.12 Of Hell Hell a Furnace of Fire the Place of the Damned Mat. 13.42 And shall cast them into a Furnace of Fire there shall be wailing and gnashing of Teeth WE are now drawing towards a Conclusion it remains only that we speak something concerning Hell which is the Place prepared for the Damned the Torment of whom is set forth by Fire by a Furnace of Fire and by utter Darkness It hath been a long and ancient Controversy whether Fire here is to be taken Properly or Figuratively I shall not undertake to determine whether it be real Fire or not Doubtless the Torment of the Wicked will be worse than 't is to be cast into any Furnace of Elementary Fire The Schoolmen affirm that the least Torture in Hell exceeds the greatest that can be devised by all the Men on Earth even as the least Joy of Heaven surpasseth the greatest Comforts of this World c. There is scarce any Pain here on Earth but there is some hope of Ease Mitigation or Intermission but in Hell their Torments are easeless endless remediless and they themselves left hopeless helpless and pittyless However we will run a Parallel between a Furnace of Fire and the Place of the Damned for in some things there is a fit Resemblance Parallels A Furnace of Fire hath been prepared as a place of Torment the King of Babylon caused a Furnace to be heat exceeding hot and that whosoever would not bow down to his Golden Image should be cast unto it Hell is a place of Torment prepared for all Wicked and Ungodly Men Rev 21.8 who live and dye in their Sins II. A Furnace of Fire that is heated exceeding hot is very terrible and amazing to him who for his wicked Deeds is told he must be cast therein So Hell is a very terrible and an amazing thing to think upon how lamentable is the Thoughts of it to a guilty Sinner that is awakened that sees no Remedy but thither he must go III. What Torment can be greater than to be cast into a burning fiery Furnace So what Torments can be greater than the Torments of Hell Disparity A Fiery Furnace tho terrible and painful yet it puts an end to the Lives of those that that are thrown into it and the hotter it is the sooner it dispatcheth them out of their pain But the Torments of Hell put no end to the tortured neither can the Damned die but have an ever-dying Life and an everlasting Death it is a Death which hath no Death The Worm dyeth not II. The Torment of a Fiery Furnace can reach but the outward Man it cannot destroy the Soul But the Torments of Hell reach to the very Soul called the Perdition or Destruction of Ungodly Men both of Soul and Body III. The hottest Furnace in the World may abate its heat for want of Fuel and at length be wholly extinguished however its Terrors and Pains are but short and momentary But the tormenting Fire of Hell never abates its heat nor ever goeth out therefore called everlasting Fire now to add Eternity to Extremity and then you will perceive Hell to be Hell indeed IV. Other Fire may be quenched But the Fire of God's Wrath or Hell Fire shall nevâ—r be quenched Vt supra Inference THat as there is no greater cause of magnifying Christ than for Redemption-Mercy and so of Joy unspeakable and full of Glory So there is no greater cause of Sorrow and intolerable Misery than
spring hence his Sin is charged upon his whole Posterity By Adam 's Sin were many made Sinners c. Christ the secâ—nd Adam Rom. 5.12 14. is a common or publick Person representing all his true Seed or spiritual Off-spring So that as Adam's in was imputed to all his Children Verse 19. so is Christ's Righteousness imputed to all his Children through Faith The first Adam merited Death for his Seed the second Adam merited Life for his Seed Noah a Type of Christ Parallels NOah was a Saviour nay in a good sence the Saviour of the World for it was through him and by his Means and Righteousness there was a Seed preserved from the Floâ—d c. Christ is a Saviour the great Saviour the only Saviour of the World hence called Jesus II. Noah was a Preacher of Righteousness and invited Sinners to Repentance Christ was a Preacher of Righteousness and came on purpose to call Sinners to Repentance Noah's Ministry was despised by the Ungodly so was the Preaching and Ministry of Jesus Christ by the unbelieving Jews and others Those that refused and rebelled against Noah and his Ministry were destroyed by Water and those that refuse and rebell against Christ shall be destroyed by Fire III. Noah built an Ark So Christ builds his Church 2. Noah built the Ark according to the Commandment of God So Christ in building his Church did every thing according to the Commandment received from his Father 3. Noah took many Trees to build the Ark So Christ takes many Believers called Trees of Righteousness to build his Church IV. Some clean and some unclean Beasts were received into Noah's Ark So some holy and sanctified Persons and some unsanctified Ones are received into Christ's Church tho not by Christ's Appointment V. All that were not received into the Ark perished So all who get not spiritually by Faith into Jesus Christ or are not true Members of the visible or invisible Church shall be damned and perish eternally VI. Noah's Ark was toss'd upen the rough Waves and yet was preserved So the Church of Christ is toss'd upon the rough Waves of a tempestuous World and yet preserved VII Noah was the great Repairer of the World from him descended all the Inhabitants of the Earth Christ is the great and glorious Repairer of the World and from him proceed all the Inhabitants of Heaven VIII Noah sent a Dove out of the Ark to see whether or no the Waters were abated who returned with an Olive-Branch in her Mouth So Christ sends forth the Spirit called a Dove or in the likeness of a Dove who brings Tidings to believing Souls that the Wrath of God is appeased c. Melchisedeck a Type of Christ Heb. 7.3 Made like unto the Son of God c. Parallels THe Notation of his Name Melchisedeck signifieth King of Righteousness Christ Jesus is the only King of Righteousness II. In his Office he was a Type of Christ 1. He was King of Salem King of Peace Isa 9.6 So Christ was called the Prince of Peace not only a peaceable Prince but Prince of Peace one that commands Peace at his Pleasure in the World in the Church and in the Souls of Men. 2. Christ is not only Prince of the World but peculiarly Prince of Salem Prince of Jerusalem viz. the true Church of God 3. Melchisedeck was not only a King but also a Priest yea a Priest of the Most High God So Christ is both King and Priest III. Melchisedeck was a Type of Christ in his Original Without Father without Mother without Descent Heb 7.3 having neither Beginning of Days nor End of Life That is there is no mention of these things concerning him in the holy Scripture we have not his Genealogy or Story of his Life tho none doubt but he had both Father and Mother and Descent c. But God on purpose would have all these concealed that he might be a more express Type of Christ who was truly without Father in respect of his Manhood or human Nature and without Mother Isa 53. in respect of his Godhead And who can declare his Generation c. IV. Melchisedeck blessed Abraham and doubtless the lesser is blessed of the greater he was a most eminent and renowned Person Some do conclude he was the Patriarch Shem who was without beginning of days in respâ—ct of the World after the Flood and without end of days in respect of the World before the Flood but since God hath concealed who he was let us be satisfied But in this doubtless he was a Type of Christ who is greater than all that went before him great in Power Office and Sovereignty and is sent to bless his People 't is he alone that blesseth all the true Seed and Heirs of Promise V. Melchisedeck was a Priest not after the Order of Aaron he was not anointed with material Oil nor received his Priesthood from any other but only so declared by the Mouth of God His Priesthood passed not to other Men for as he received it from none so he passed it not to any other nor did any as we read of succeed him So Christ received his Priesthood from none but God himself and was not anointed with material Oil but with the Oil of Gladness only And as he received his Priesthood from none so he passeth it not to any other He hath none that can succeed him but abideth a Priest for ever in his own Person in Heaven Abraham a Type of Christ Parallels ABram and Abraham signify an high Father and a Father of a Multitude So is Christ an high and heavenly Father called the everlasting Father Father of all the Faithful c. II. To Abraham and to his Seed was the Promise made So to Christ and to his true Seed is the Promise made Guild Heb. 9.13 III. Abraham was King Priest and Prophet in his own Family So is Jesus Christ in his Church IV. Abraham put Hagar and Ishmael out of his House Gal. 4. So Jesus Christ cast out the Legal Covenant and fleshly Seed out of his Church Hagar being a Figure of the one and Ishmael of the other V. Abraham is called the Heir of the World Jesus Christ is so most properly and truly Rom. 4.13 Isaac a Type of Christ Parallels ISaac was the Son of Abraham the Father of the Faithful a promised Seed long before he was born and so strange was his Birth that tho he was born by the Stâ—ength of Nature yâ—t of Sarah's dead Womb Gen. 18.12 when it ceased to be with her as with other Child-bearing Women insomuch that when the Angel foretold it to her she thought it impossible So Jesus Christ is often called the Son of Abraham yet the only begotten Son of God by Nature who is the Father of all that are taught and can say in truth Our Father c. the only true promised Seed who was long prophesied of and expected by all Believers
born and incarnate by the strange and wonderful Power of the Holy-Ghost in the Womb of the Blessed Virgin yea in such a miraculous manner Luke 1.34 that when it was foretold her by the Angel she thought it impossible II. Isaac was mocked and basely abused by Ishmael the fleshly Seed So was Jesus Christ by the Jews who were the Children of the Bond-woman III. Isaac was led as a Lamb to the Slaughter So was Jesus Christ Tho in this there was a great Disparity the one was spared namely Isaac but Jesus Christ was sacrificed IV. Isaac was offered as it were and three days dead in his Father's Mind and Purpose yet died not but his Father received him as from the Dead So Jesus Christ offered but in respect of his Divinity died not and tho his Humanity lay dead hree days in the Heart of the Earth yet it revived again So both were saith Dr. Tayâ—or delivered from Death the third Day wherein the Apostle plainly makes him a Type Heb. 11.16 From whence he received him as in a Figure Type or Resemblance c. V. Isaac â—as the Learned observe was a Type of Christ in his Marriage 1. He married one of his own Kindred So the Spouse of Christ is of the same Flesh which he himself assumed 2. She was wooed by his Father's Servant So is the Spouse of Christ by his faithful Ministers 3. Rebekah resolved to forsake all her Friends and her Father's House to become Isaac's Wife So Believers forsake all in Affection and actually when called thereunto for the sake of Jesus Christ 4. She was deck'd with Jewels trimmed and rarely adorned when she came to meet Isaac So the Spouse the Lamb's Wife shall be richly deck'd and gloriously adorned to meet Jesus Christ when he comes in the Glory of the Father to receive her to himself Rev. 19.7 1 Thess 4. 5. She came to meet Isaac So shall the Saints meet Jesus Christ in the Air at the last Day Jacob a Type of Christ Parallels JAcob was a Supplanter as his Name signifies he supplanted Esau So Jesus Christ supplanted as Guild observes Sin and Satan c. II. Jacob was hated and persecuted by Esau So was Christ by Satan and his Emissaries In his great Afflictions he saw an Angel of God ascending and descending upon him So Christ after his Temptations in the Wilderness and also when he was in his bloody Agony was comforted by the Angels of God they administred unto him III. Jacob endured great Hardship for Rachel whom he dearly loved So Jesus Christ endured many Years Sorrow and Trouble for his Church whom he loved so dearly that he laid down his Life for her sake IV. Jacob was called a Prince with God he wrestled long and at last was comforted So Christ is a mighty Prince Heb. 5.7 and prevailed also being heard in that he feared Jacob's Ladder Gen. 28. a Type of Christ Parallels JAcob's Ladder which he saw in a Vision stood upon the Earth but the Top reached to Heaven So Christ albeit he was humbled in shape of sinful Flesh to the Earth as it were yet he was the Most High God reaching so to Heaven II. The Angels went up and down by it So we ascend up to God by Jesus Christ and God desâ—ends as it were by him also down to us III. The Lord stood above it and made Promises of Canaan to Jacob So God in Christ and through him hath made all Promises of Heaven and ratified them to us Gen. 28.19 IV. In the Place which was called the House of God and Gate of Heaven was the Ladder seen So in Christ's Church the true House of God we get a clear and full Sight of Christ Joseph a Type of Christ Parallels JOseph signifies Increasing he was the First-born of Rachel and Jacob's beloved Son So Christ in his human Nature in the Days of his Flâ—sh grew and increased in Strength and in Favour with God and Man and so also there shall be of his Kingdom and Glory in the World who is the Beloved of his Father Gen. 37 3â— II. Joseph was very beautiful and also excelled all his Brethren in true Vertue So Jesus Christ is more beautiful than the Children of Men he was full of Grace and Truth III. Joseph was a Man of great Wisdom able to expound deep Secrets c. In Jesus Christ are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg who is therefore called the Great Counsellor and is that blessed Lamb who hath prevailed to open the Books and loose the Seals thereof He hath the Spirit without measure and thereby opens all the deep Mysteries of God that lay hid from Ages and Generations c. Gen. 49.22 IV. He is called a fruitful Bough whose Branches run upon the Wall because out of him branched two Tribes Ephraim and Manasseh Therein saith Dr. Taylor he was a Type of Christ who is not only a fruitful Bough and called the Branch c. but also a Root from whom all the Tribes of God branch out and flourish And whereas those Trees are withered Christ shall see his Seed and prolong his Days and they shall abide to Eternity V. Joseph was a Type of Christ in his Actions 1. He was sent by his Father to visit his Brethren in the Wilderness who evilly treated him there So Jesus Christ came to visit his poor People who were wandering in the Wilderness of this World and when he came hither was evilly treated by his own Brethren the Jews who conspired to take away his Life like as Joseph's Brethren sought to deal by him 2. Joseph sed his Brethren and all his Father's House So Jesus Christ feeds the Church of God 3. Joseph being innocent yet suffered many hard Things So did Christ 4. He did all the Good he could for his Brethren who had ill deserved it from his hands So did Jesus Christ deal by poor Sinners who had abused him and still daily do 5. He taught his Brethren the great Duty of Brotherly Love See that ye fall not out by the way So Jesus Christ above all Lessons commends to us the new Commandment of Love c. VI. Joseph was a Type of Christ not only in the Actions of his Life and in respect of those Things he suffered and cruel Temptations he met with c. but also in his Advancement and great Preferment he by being abased was raised to Honour So was Jesus Christ Joseph was made a mighty Lord and was next to Pharaoh So is Christ advanced in Power and Glory next to God himself Every Man was to bow to Joseph Gen. 41.43 Phil. 2.10 Gen. 41.55 Acts 3.22 23. So every one is required to bow the Knee to Jesus Christ All were to go to Joseph they were to depend upon his Word Go to Joseph saith Pharaoh and what he saith to you do ye So God the Father hath given Christ a Name above every Name and whatsoever any Sinner
not afraid ye Beasts of the Field for the Pastures of the Wilderness do spring c. See Psal 148.10 4. To things mute and altogether void of sense where by a Prosopopoeia a Person is attributed to them 2 Sam. 1.21 Ye Mountains of Gilboa let there be no Dew 2 Sam. 1.21 Ye Mouroains c. neither let there Rain be upon you nor Fields of Offerings because the Shield of Saul was cast away there upon which place Brentius says excellently This is Prosopopoeia very familiar with such as are full of Indignation For as such as are in a mad fit of Anger snatch up the next thing that comes to hand for a Weapon to annoy or assault their Adversary so to such as are oppressed with a weight of Grief whatsoever is obvious to them or in view seems to be the cause of their Misfortune yea such things as are insensible and contribute nothing to it So Job in his Affliction cursed the day of his Nativity and the night in which it was said a Man is born Wherein was the Day or Night guilty in nothing surely So the Mountains of Gilboa are cursed by David when yet they did no hurt For Saul might have tarried at home and acted righteously which would have hindered that Mischance But by this Prosopopoeia the Affection and Passion of him that grieves is denoted who would have all destroyed provided the thing he loves be safe Other Examples are 1 Kings 13.2 Psal 114.5 6. Psal 148.3 4 5 6 c. Jer. 47.6 Ezek. 13.11 in the Hebrew 21.16 36.1 4 8 c. Joel 2.21 Micah 6.2 Zech. 11.1 2. Hos 10.8 Luke 23.30 1 Cor. 15.55 c. Apostrophe to the Heavens and the Earth In Specie an Apostrophe is directed sometimes to the Heavens and the Earth Deut. 32.1 Esa 1.2 Jer. 2.12 13. 22.29 upon which Arias Montanus in libro Joseph Cap. 6. says Coeli aliquando testes adeo appellari solent c. The Heavens are wont sometimes to be appealed to as Witnesses by God because of their Integrity and Certainty For nothing transacted on Earth can be hid from the view of Heaven which by its daily Motion perlustrates all things Heaven lives feels hears and sees to God to whom all things live c. By the very Text and Parallel Phrases Deut. 30.19 Psalm 50.1 4. Rom. 8.20 22. it is evident that these Apostrophes were used for Conviction and Detestation of the Malice Stubbornness and Ingratitude of Men whose Duty it was to receive the gracious Invitations of a Merciful God and sincerely to obey him Jerome in his Commentary on Isa 1.2 says Quia per Moisen Testes vocaverat Dominus Coelum Terram c. Because the Lord by Moses called Heaven and Earth as Witnesses when he prescribed Israel his Law after their Prevarication * Deut. 32.1 he calls them again as Evidences that all the Elements may know that the Lord had just Cause to be angry and distribute Vengeance to the Infringers of his holy Commands the meaning is If Heaven and Earth were endued with Understanding and Reason they would certainly accuse this People for their Wickedness For they and all things contained in them carefully observe their appointed Station and do answer the end they were intended for But Man alone for whom all things were made becomes refractory and disobedient Prosop poeia from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Person and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to make o◠feign V. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prosopopoeia signifying the feigning of a Person is when an inanimate thing is introduced as speaking like a rational Person This Prosopopooeia we have treated of in the first Volumn Book 1. p. 92. among Metaphors but that differs from this Figure 1. With respect to Subject for that relates only to certain things inanimate which are not Persons whereas these concern Men also 2. With respect to the Predicate and Attributes For in that such Attributes of all kinds from animate things chiefly Men as are translated to inanimate things are treated of but in this what relates only to Speech and when mention is made in that of Speech attributed to inanimate Creatures there is regard had only to its Action or Act but in this there is respect to the formality of Speech or Words actually pronounced c. Some distinguish this Figure into Imperfect and Perfect the Imperfect they call that whereby the Speech of another is lightly and obliquely represented or when one gives a short Narrative or Exposition of what another person spoke The Perfect is when the proper Person is wholly laid aside and another Person or Thing is introduced as speaking or when the very formal words of the Person introduced are recited which from * De Repub. 3. Plato and Aristotle de Poetis is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Imitation In the Sacred Scripture either the true Person is introduced as speaking or an inanimate thing the first is done openly or covertly Openly as when the Verb of saying is premised and a clear Intimation given that another Person speaks Covertly when the Verb of saying is omitted in an Apert Prosopopoeia the Speech is uttered of the thing it self or else feigned and framed to signify another thing the former is either good and true or false and evil Examples of these in order 1. A good and true Speech is proposed by the sacred Writers whenever the Words of God himself and our Saviour Christ or of Angels and good Men are expressed Psalm 2.7 Psal 2.7 8 9. The Lord said unto me Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for thy Possession Thou shalt break them with a Rod of Iron thou shalt break them in pieces like a Potters Vessel Psal 50.16 But unto the wicked God saith What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldst take my Covenant in thy Mouth Verse 17. Seeing thou hatest Instruction c. Isa 66.1 Thus saith the Lord the Heaven is my Throne and the Earth is my Footstool And so very frequently the Prophets introduce God himself speaking not only that their Speech may have the greater Authority by it but chiefly because as 2 Pet. 1.21 The Prophecy came not in old time by the Will of Man but holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 'T is therefore doubtful whether speaking accurately this kind of Speech belongs to this kind of Rhetorical Prosopopoeia because God is the real Author of the Scripture and immediately both spoke and writ it by the Prophets who were his Ministers and Amanuenses Men do not introduce God as speaking but God moves them by Inspiration to represent him see Heb. 1.1 As for the Speech of Angels and good Men we need not produce Examples Note the Scriptures are full of them in
is said That Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ In which place Grace is opposed to the Curse of the Law and Truth to the Ceremonies Shadows and prefigured Types thereof The Definition of the thing as thus A typical sense is when things hidden or unknown whether present or to come especially when the Transactions recorded in the Old Testament prefigure the Transactions in the New are exprest by External Actions or Prophetical Visions The Division of Types follows Article II. Of the Division of Types HEre we shall wave the wranglings of Criticks who spent many words to confute each other and give the best account we can of the real Division of Types which may be reduced to two sorts 1. Prophetical Types 2. Historical Types of which in Order Article III. Of Prophetical Types and Typical and Symbolical Actions PRophetical Types are such whereby the Prophets who were divinely inspired by External Symbols figured or signified things present or to come in their Speeches or Writings either by way of Warning Admonition or Prophecy This must be considered 1. with respect to Actions 2. Visions 1. Prophetical Actions are typical when some thing mystical and hidden is adumbrated or shadowed by those things which the Prophets by Divine Command acted as for Instance Esa 20.2 Esa 20.2 The Prophet goes out naked that is without his Prophetical Garments to prefigure the fatal Destruction of the Egyptians and Ethiopians Jer. 13.1 Jer. 13.1 c. and the following Verses the Prophet by Divine Command gets himself a linen Girdle puts it upon his Loins hides it in a Rock by Euphrates afterwards takes it from thence but 't is putrified or marr'd or rotten By which Type the Blessings God gave the People their Ingratitude and Wickedness and the Destruction that was to come upon them are prefigured as by the Context appears Chap. 16.2 5. There is a Command to abstain from Matrimony Procreation of Children mourning Feasts for the Dead By which Type God denounces most woful Calamities which were to come upon his People for their Sins See Chap. 18.2 3 c. ver 6 11. And 19.12 13. 27.2 51.63 Ezek. 2.8 c. The Prophet eats the Volumn Book or Roll reached to him to witness the Gift of Prophecy divinely inspir'd into him which afterwards he was strenuously to exercise against the Rebellious People See Chap. 4.2 13.3 24.3 16 to 22. where you have Instances relating to this Head Hos 1.2 Hosea 1.2 and the following Verses gives the Names of Wife of Whoredoms and Children of Whoredoms to a lawful Wife and lawfully begotten Children by which Type he denotes and taxes the spiritual Idolatry of the People of Israel See Tarnovius Exercit. Bib. largely upon the place The like Symbolical Action we read Chap. 3. to this we may also reduce the typical Action of the Prophet which is described 1 Kings 20.35 We may add likewise to these that Action of Christ when he cursed the barren Fig-tree which presently withered For that Curse was not produced from any rash or unseasonable Malice or a desire of Revenge but by it our Saviour would typically shew 1. The Destruction that was to come upon the People of Israel considered as such obstinate Persons who by no Admonitions or Threats would suffer themselves to be amended or reformed See the Parable Luke 13.6 7. 2. The power of Faith whose Analogy or deep Mystery Christ himself expounds To this Head we may also refer the Action of the Prophet Agabus in Acts 21.10 c. who took Paul's Girdle and bound his own Hands and his Feet to intimate Paul's Captivity at Jerusalem c. Article IV. Of Prophetical and Typical Visions THese may be thus distinguished viz. such as were shewn to Men sleeping or waking To Men asleep their Dreams have been sent from Heaven In these there is a twofold difference some are mere or naked Sights or Views 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which without Figures and the mystery of Types represent deep things and future Events such was the Dream of Joseph Mat. 1.20 2.13 of the Wise Men Mat. 2.12 But these concern not this Head some are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or such Dreams which are hidden or involved in Figures and Types these Dreams came sometimes to Believers sometimes to Vnbelievers To the former Class belongs First The Dream of the Patriarch Jacob Gen. 28.12 And he dreamed and behold Gen. 28.12 of Jacob 's Ladder a Ladder set upon the Earth and the top of it reached to Heaven and behold the Angels of God ascending and descending upon it Verse 13. And behold the Lord stood above it and said I am the Lord c. Certain Interpreters by reason of the Antitype refer this Viâ—ion to the Patriarch Jacob himself making the Ladder to signify the Journy of Jacob the ascending Angels his Keepers when he travell'd and the descending Angels when he return'd they say that God stood on the top of the Ladder since he is the Moderator or Governour of the whole Affair because by his Providence Jacob is taken from his Parents led in his Journy entertained by his Father-in-Law Laban and led back again This Interpretation they say is made by God himself ver 15. But Christ is a more sure Interpreter who Joh. 1.51 makes himself the Antitype of that Vision Verily verily I say unto you hereafter ye shall see Heaven opened and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man That is from day to day ye shall more and more understand that I am he who is prefigured in that Vision of Jacob's Ladder That Vision holds forth 1. The Personal Union of two Natures in the Messiah which is prefigured by the Ladder standing upon the Earth whose top reached Heaven denoting the Union of the Divine and Humane Nature by the Symbol of the Ladder touching Heaven and Earth 2. The Fruits Benefits or Blessings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the incarnate Word or the Word made Flesh expressed by the Ladder's touching Heaven because through Christ the Ascension or Entrance into Heaven is open to all Believers Joh. 3.14 15 16. and by him only Acts 4.12 As the Patriarch saw but one Ladder so the going up and coming down of the Angels denotes that they were no longer to be hurtful to Mankind but most friendly See Luke 2.9 13. For they come down as Ministring Spirits for the help of the Saints Heb. 1.14 and go up again carrying their Souls into Abraham's Bosom Luk. 16.22 Here is also a Blessing annext by the Lord ver 14. And all the Families of the Earth shall be blessed in thee that is in thy Seed This is that Blessing which comes upon us through Christ Eph. 1.3 Gal. 3.8 9. 3. Here is the principal End for which the Land of Canaan was delivered into the Possession of the Posterity of Abraham and Jacob viz. That there may be a certain Seat or Habitation for that