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A29533 Two treatises both lately delivered to the Church of God at Great Yarmouth, and now published as useful and seasonable by John Brinsley ... Brinsley, John, 1600-1665. 1656 (1656) Wing B4736; ESTC R36519 171,517 320

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savorie doctrine and holy example they season others changing and altering them for the better And on the other hand being bad themselves they infect others So as what the Lord speaks of the Prophets and people of Israel in another sense Hos. 4. 9. We may use it in this Like Preist Like people Surely it was not without cause that the Lord sending his destroying Angell to Ierusalem he orders him to begin at the Sanctuarie Ezek. 9. 6. From thence came the rise of all those Abominations that were done in the midest of that Citie of which he speakes verse 4. they began at the Preists who if they had not been first corrupted themselves the people had not been what then they were Thus are the Ministers of God like Stars for those Influences which they have upon the people To which I might add did I not feare the straining of this string as an enlargment or further improvement of this Resemblance Stars having such an Influence upon the earth they have also a power of Binding and Loosing Such are the properties of those two a foresayd Constellations Pleiades and Orion The one bindeth the earth with the hard frost the other looseth it by the warme ayre and showres And such a power hath Jesus Christ given to these Stars the Ministers of his Gospel a Binding and a Loosing power This power he gave to Peter Mat. 16. 19. I will give unto thee the keyes of the Kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth shall be bound in heaven whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth shall be loosed in heaven But not to Peter alone but to the ●est of the Apostles and Disciples as well as to him So you shall finde it Ioh. 20. 23. Where explaining what he meant by binding and loosing with their solemn Mission he giveth them this Commission Whosoever sinnes ye remit they are remitted unto them and whosoever sins ye retayne they are retayned This power did Jesus Christ give unto them and their successors putting the Keyes of the Kingdom of heaven into their handes the Keye of Doctrine and the Keye of Discipline whereby they open and shut binde and loose binde the Obstinate loose the Penitent both which they doe in a Ministeriall and declarative way Even as it may be conceived of those two foresayd Constellations Orion and Pleiades the one bindeth the earth the other looseth it But how Not meerely by their owne influence as being the sole or yet principall Cause of that Change for that is to be attributed to the Sun which by his Recess and returne maketh that alteration but they by their rising notifie those changes Even so is it with these Stars the Ministers of Christ what herein they doe they doe it not by their owne power or vertue as Peter said of his healing the Cripple Act. 3. 12. but by Anthoritie from Jesus Christ in his name declaring what his will and pleasure is Here is a sixth Resemblance To which I might yet add some other which are reached unto me by other handes But I would not seeme to straine the Allegorie by drawing that from it which it will not naturally and voluntarily yield And I shall have occasion to touch upon some and diverse other in the Application Which let it be directed both to Ministers and People 1. For the former were the Audience sutable I might from hence take a just occasion to speake largly to the men of my owne Tribe minding them of their Duty and exciting them to the discharge of it But however give me leave here to present to you what more immediately and properly concerneth them Hirein I shall preach to my self and you must give us leave sometimes so to doe Whereof you may have the benefit afterwards Besides you hearing what the duties of Ministers are may be the better able to doe what you are 〈◊〉 onely allowed but in some cases required to doe viz. to say to Archippus as Paul biddeth them Col. 4. 17. take ●●●de unto the Ministery which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfill it I meane in a Christian and becoming way to excite and admonish those whome God hath or shall set over you in case they shall be found remiss or negligent in their Ministerial duty and service Upon this account I shall give an account to you of what more properly concerneth my selfe and others of my Brethren To whome the sum of what I have to say is onely thus much that seeing they are set by God as Stars in the firmament of his Church they would performe the like offices to those committed to their charge as the Stars doe to this Inferiour world But before I come to prosecute this Exhortation let me first premise one or two Premonitions Let them first see that they be Stars such as are so placed by God in the firmament of his Church Therein do true Stars differ from Comets The one is fixed by God the other ascends of it self Let not the Ministers of the Gospell doe so Let not them ascend into Mose's Chayre as that new starre is sayd to have done into Cass●● p●●●s in the yeare 1572 of themselves thrusting themselves whether upon the Ministeriall function or yet particular Charge without a regular and warrantable mission So did those false Prophets in Ieremies time of whome the Lord complayns Ier. 23. 21. I have not sent these Prophets yet they ran I have not spoken unto them yet they prophesied Thus did they all on their owne heades having neither Mission nor Message from God Let it not be so with Gospell Ministers They who take that office upon them let them looke to their calling Noe man taketh this honour to himselfe but he that is called of God as Aaron was saith the Apostle of the Priesthood Heb. 5. 4. speaking not de facto but de jure not what men doe but what they ought to doe Uzziah though a King must not take upon him the office of a Preist 2 Chron. 26. 16. No more ought any to usurpe upon a Gospell ministerie taking upon them to dispence Ordinances in a ministerial way without a warrantable calling from God Let them see that they be Stars not Comets that they be set by God in the firmament of his Church 2. And being thus set let them now seeke after Illumination that they themselves may be inlightened So are the stars being set in the firmament they are inlightned without which they would be of no use And this let these mysticall stars seeke after even a supernaturall illumination God hath shined into our hearts saith the Apostle that we should give the light c. Ministers that they may inlighten others they must first be enlightned themselves And this let them seeke after And where shall they have it Why where have the stars their light but from the Sun And where should Gospel Ministers have their light but from Iesus Christ. He
onely to him as Romanists would have it but to other his Apostles and Disciples and in them to their Successours even to all the Ministers of the Gospel as I touched before Into whose hands he hath put a double Key The Key of Doctrine and discipline of Doctrine giving them not onely leave or allowance but power to preach the Gospel Go teach all Nations Matth. 28. 19. Go preach the Gospel to every creature Mark 16. 15. And that in measure as himself is said to have done Matthew 7. last with Authoritie These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all Authoritie saith Paul to Titus Tit. 2. last And as the Key of Doctrine which is elsewhere called the Key of Knowledge Luke 11. 52. because it openeth the door and letteth men into the saving knowledge of God in Christ so of Discipline and Government Jesus Christ having given a Ministerial power to them partly by the Application of that Doctrine to the consciences of men and partly by the censures of the Church as it were to open and shut the Kingdome of Heaven the Kingdome of Grace and Glorie to open it to penitent believers to shut it against obstinate sinners Whatsover ye bind on earth c. Whose sins ye remit c. Thus have Gospel Ministers their Office from Christ their persons also being sent by him with Authoritie from him And upon this account are these stars here placed in the hand of this Son of Man to intimate the interest and propertie that Iesus Christ hath in the Ministers of the Churches who are his Ministers Here is a first thing hereby signified Pass we to a second Secondly As they are Ministers his Officers so they are ordered and governed by him And upon this account again they may be said to be in his hand in as much as they are disposed of and directed by him As are Ambassadours by their Masters that send them together with their Commission they receive particular directions and instructions both whither they are to go and what they are to say and do Even so it is with the Ministers of Christ being sent by him they are also directed by him As whither to go so were the Apostles whose Commission was first restrained to one particular Nation viz. to the Jewes Go not into the way of the Gentiles Matth. 10. 15. afterwards inlarged Goe teach all Nations Matth. 28. 19. And so was S. Paul sent to the Gentiles by Christ who appeared to him Acts 26. 18. And so are ordinarie Ministers though not in so immediate a way yet still they are directed by Christ viz. by his special Providence whither to goe where they are to be imployed It is this hand that fixeth these Stars in their several Orbes that placeth Ministers in their particular charges where also he continues them during his good pleasure disposing of them both for life and libertie as he seeth fitting So also what it is that they are to speak in his Name To which end he as it were putteth his word into their mouths So the Lord is said to have done into that fals Prophet Balams Numb 23. 16. The Lord met Balaam and put a word in his mouth And so he did in the mouths of his true Prophets Behold I have put my word into thy mouth saith the Lord to the Prophet Ieremy Jer. 1. 9. And the like doth the Lord Jesus into the mouthes of his Ministers he putteth his word into their mouthes sending them to preach he ordereth them what they are to preach Goe preach the Gospel Thus he giveth them directions and instructions from his Word the Scriptures whereby the Man of God cometh to be perfect as the Apostle telleth Timothie 2 Tim. 3. last And with his word he giveth them his Spirit This is that which our Saviour maketh promise to his Apostles and Disciples John 14. 16. 17. I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter even the Spirit of Truth which Spirit he afterwards tells them should guide them into all Truth chap. 16. 13. And this Spirit Christ giveth in measure to all their Successours the true and faithfull Ministers of the Gospel whereby their Heads and Hearts come to be enlightned with those saving and usefull truths which they are to hold forth uuto others God hath shined into our hearts saith the Apostle in that place forenamed Thus are they in their ministerial work and service disposed of ordered governed by Christ. And upon this account again may be said to be in his hand Thirdly They are in his hand his right hand being powerfully supported and upheld defended and maintained by him In this sense all the Saints of God are said to be in his hand All his Saints are in thy hand saith Moses Deut. 23. 3. Gods Saints in the hand of Jesus Christ under his custody and protection But so are his Ministers after a special manner They are in his right hand under his powerful and gracious protection and support So the Psalmist often useth this phrase Thy right hand upholdeth me Psal. 18. 35. v. 63. 8. O thou that savest by thy right hand them that put their trust i● thee Psal. 17 7. The right hand is a member strong and active whereby a man sheweth and putteth forth the whole strength of his body And thence is it that Gods power manifested in the protection or deliverance of his people is called the strength of his right hand The Lord saveth his anointed with the saving strength of his right hand saith the Church speaking of David her king Psal. 20. 6. And such is the salvation which the Lord Christ sheweth unto his servants his faithful Ministers First maintaining their office which he will do in despite of all opposition to the end of the world I am with you alwaies to the end of the world And then so far as he seeth it expedient defending their persons continuing their lives and liberties Thus was this Son of man with those stars the Ministers of the Asian Churches He held them in his right hand protectiug them keeping them either from or in the hour of Temptation That is the promise which he maketh to the Philadelphian Angel Revel 3. 10. I will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world Such was the state of the Church then under the reign of that cruel Tyrant the Emperour Domitian it lay under a general persecution yet the Lord Iesus promiseth to the Church and in particular to the Ministers thereof an exemption and immunitie And thus doth Iesus Christ hide his Ministers sometimes as it were in the hollow or shadow of his hand Thus was he himself hid by his Father as the Prophet Esay saith of him Isai. 49. 21. In or with the shadow of his hand hath he hid me So protecting him against all the might and malice of his capital enemies that they could not lay hold upon him or do ought
otherwise he might justly and truely have done 2. Cor. 12. 6. Now I forbeare saith he lest any should thinke of me aboue that which he seeth me to be So would he have those his Corinthians and others to looke upon him as men doe upon the Stars which though great in themselves yet make but a little shew And such should the humility of Gods Ministers be the more eminent they are in place and gifts the more humble should they be Even as the stars the higher they are the lesser they seeme So serving their God in all humility of minde as Paul saith of himself that he did Act. 20. 19. A grace which is no small Ornament to private Christians Whome therefore the Apostle presseth to seeke after it Eph. 4. 2. Phil. 2. 3. But specially to Ministers who of all other sho●ld be most humble Not thinking highly of themselves not seeking after popular applause nor yet affecting any worldly grandur Let them leave this to the men of this world whereof the Moone is an Emblem which though less then any of the Stars yet being nearer the earth seemeth far greater Let them such as minde earthly things let them seeke after an earthly greatness But let it not be so with the Ministers of Christ. That is the interdict which our Saviour giveth to his Disciples Mat. 23. Where he forbids them to doe as the Scribs and Pharisees did Be not ye called Rabbi verse 8. Neither be ye called masters verse 10. He would not have them ambitiously to affect high and swelling titles of honour and preeminence And afterwards when his Apostles were contesting about a supremacy reasoning among themselves which of them should be greatest as Saint Luke hath it Luke 9. 46. greatest in the kingdom of heaven as Saint Matthew explains it Mat. 18. 1. that is in that temporal Kingdom of Christ which they then dreamed of our Saviour instead of answering that Question which they propounded to him which they did in a covert and reserved way as Saint Matthew there sets it down At the same time came the Disciples unto Iesus saying who is the greatest in the kingdome of heaven Thus they propose the Question in a general way afar off as being ashamed to speak out to speak what they meant and to let their Master know what it was that they had been parling about he perceiving the thought of their heart as Saint Luke there hath it vers 47. taking notice of their Ambition he taketh a Childe and set him by him saith Saint Luke set him in the midst of them saith Saint Matthew so presenting him to them as an Emblem and Pattern of that which he would have them to learn viz. true Humility and kowliness Not to think highly of themselves nor to seek great matters for themselves not to affect earthly greatness temporal honours and dignities and promotions So he there explaineth his own meaning in the verses following Matth. 18. Except ye become as little children verse 3. whosoever shall humble himself as this little childe the same is greatest in the Kingdome of God vers 4. Thus doth he point them out the way to true greatness to be great in the eyes of God and his Saints viz. to be little in their own And so it is As pride maketh way for a downfal so humility is the way to preeminence And in this grace let all the Ministers of Jesus Christ be exemplary to others Patternes of Humility I will be brief in the rest Fourthly As of Humility so of Sobriety Modestie Gravity Hereof also the Stars may be looked upon as Emblems This being a difference betwixt true Stars and Comets Comets Blazing-stars they do diffluere flie out in a loose way having their long trains and streamers their tresses and hairy bushes from whence they are called Stellae Crinitae or Comatae hairy Stars with their loose locks and long mains No fit patterns for the Ministers of the Gospel who of all others may not so flie out in any loose way so as to be in any kind exorbitant whether in meat or drink or apparel or hair But in all patterns of Sobriety Modesty Gravity therein resembling the true fixed stars which are of a plain and simple aspect Ffthly Of Regularity and Constancy In this the fixed stars differ both from Comets and Planets The one are regular and constant in their motion the other varying and wandering Now such should Gospel Ministers be Not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Saint Iude saith of some in his time Iude 13. Planets or Comets wandring stars but fixed Fixed as in their places and charges which they ought not to desert so as to remove from place to place without just weighty and warrantable cause Being stars let them keep their Orbs so in their Iudgments and Practices not changing or turning with the times not entertaining every new Doctrine under the name and notion of New-Light No the Stars keep their old light And so let the Ministers of Christ do their old Doctrine the old truths of God What though the world have heard of them never so often So it hath seen the light of the Stars and yet they still hold forth the same Sixthly and lastly of Patience with a couragious and undaunted resolution Hereof again the Stars are Emblems which shine in the dark of the night and sparkle most in the coldest seasons And such should be as the Patience so the Courage of Gods Ministers It is that which the Spirit taketh notice of in some of those Angels the Ministers of these seven Churches I know thy works and thy labour and thy patience saith he to the Ephesian Angel Rev. 2 3. I know thy faith and patience to the Thyatirian v. 19. And as their Patience so their Courage in appearing for Christ in those sad times I know thy workes and where thou dwellest even where Satans seat is and thou holdest fast my name and hast not denyed my faith even in those dayes where in Antipas was my faithfull Martyr that is the testimony given to the Angel of the Church in Pergamus verse 13. And the like to the Philadelphian Angel cap. 3. 8. Thou hast kept my word and hast not denyed my name Thus did they shine as stars in that darke night in that ●ad persecution under Domitian the Emperour yet still they stood by it holding forth the word of truth Like Patience and Courage there should be in all the Ministers of Christ In evill times they should stand by their flocks So doe the Stars when neither Sun nor Moone appeare yet they stand by it and shew themselves So should the Ministers of Christ even in times of persecution stand by their Charges It is the Character which our Saviour giveth of the hireling shepheard Ioh. 10. 12. When he seeth the wolfe coming in times of danger he leaveth the sheepe and flieth Whereas the true shepheard is readie to lay down his life for his sheepe verse
Christ Zeale for Christ. The aforesaid Mary having had experience of the great love of Christ in forgiving her so many and great sins she returns an answerable affection she loved much Luk. 7 47. And Paul after he had seene that great light shining round about him from heaven and heard the Lord Iesus speake unto him how Zealous was he ever after for Christ Not more Zealous against him before then now for him Now he calleth out Lord what wilt thou have me to doe Act. 9 3 6. And not only do but suffer I am readie not only to be bound but to dye at Ierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus Act. 21 13. Thus doth this Sun shining upon the heart in its strength it draweth up ardent Affections towards it self I might go on and yet instance in some other particulars wherein the Lord Iesus is like the Sun in his strength As viz. In drying up of sinful Corruption and inordinate lusts in the soule even as the Sun in the Summer season dryeth up those waters wherewith the face of the earth was before surcharged to the prejudice of it And so in diverse other But I shall harken to the Counsell which Aretius writing upon the Text giving to those that handle it which is that whilst they prosecute this Allegorie betwixt Christ and the Sun wherin he acknowledgeth there are many very apt resemblances to be found yet ne modum excedant they take heed of following it too far so as to extort that from it which it will not naturally yield Taking this advice I shall pass to Application That consisteth of many Branches but I shall graft them upon one stock reducing all to one head which shall be onely to exhort and excite every of us to seeke the face of this Son of man Seeke the face of Iesus Christ. This is that which the Lord calleth upon his people to doe in that foresaid Text Psal. 27 8. Seeke ye my face And wherefore was it that this Son of man here shewed his face in this glorious manner in the midest of the Churches but that they should be invited to seek his face And this doe wee Having heard how glorious this face of Iesus Christ is let all of us seeke it This is the Psalmists resolve there in the Text last named Hearing what God sayed unto him and other beleevers Seeke ye my face his heart ecchoeth backe againe Thy face O Lord I will seeke And let there be the like mind in every of us Hearing how Christ shewed his face here unto his servant Iohn in the midest of the Churches seeke we this face of his Q. How seeke it A. Take the Answere in two words Seeke it that we may See it and seeke it that we may feele it 1. That we may See it A sight worth the seeing His face was as the Sun saith the Text Now what more desirable sight then this Truely the light is sweet saith the Preacher and a pleasant thing it is to behold the Sun Eccles. 11. 7 How pleasant to beholde this Sun the Sun of righteousness It is so to the Saints in heaven who behold this Sun shining in his strength see Iesus Christ as he is in the fulness of his glory they are never wearie of beholding him That we may also in due season be made partakers of that beatificall vision to see Christ in his Kingdom of glory seeke we his face now in his Kingdom of grace that we may see it This was that which some were so desirous to see when he was upon earth to see the face of Christ though then to the bodily eye it was scarce worth the seing there being no beautie in him that he should be desired as the Prophet hath it Yet Zacheus gets up into a tree to see him as he passed by Luk. 19. 3. And this is the request which those Greekes which came to worship in the Temple made unto Philip Sir we would see Iesus Ioh. 12. 21. What they desired to see with the bodily eye every of us labour to see with the eye of our soules This is the vision which maketh the eye of the beholder happie and blessed Blessed are your eyes for they see saith our Saviour to his Disciples Math. 13. 16. And what did they see that should make them so blessed why they sawe Christ in the flesh But did not others so also Yes but not as they did They saw him not onely with their bodily eyes as the multitude did many of which sawe him but beleeved not in him as our Saviour tells some of them Ioh. 6. 36. Yee also have seene me and beleeve not nay multi viderunt oderunt many saw him and hated him but they sawe him also with the eye of their minde they saw his inside who he was and what he was they so saw him as that they beleeved on him which is the true seeing of Christ. This is the will of him that sent mee that every one which seeth the Son and beleeveth on him may have everlasting life saith our Saviour vers 40. of the same Chapter They sawe not only that meane out side of his as others did who were thereby prejudiced against him Is not this the Carpenter Mark 6. 3. but they saw the glorie which was hid under that veile The word was made flesh a●d dwelt amongst us and we saw his glory the glory as of the onely begotten sonne of the father saith Saint Iohn Ioh. 1. 14. O that all our eyes may be blessed with this vision with the beholding of the glory of Christ that wee may see this face of his shining as the Sun That so we may give unto him the glory of those Personall Properties wherein hee resembles the Sun the glory of his Sole Lordship and Mediatorship by submitting to him and resting wholly upon him the glory of his transcendent Dignitie by adoring and Worshipping him the glory of his Omnisciens by indeavouring to approve our selves unto him and that not onely our actions but our secretest Counsels and intentions ●he glory of his absolute Puritie by striving to be like him holy as he is holy Q. But where or how shall wee thus see him A. Take the Answer first Negatively Do not looke to see him as Saint Iohn here did by way of vision immediate Revelation Thus indeede Christ here shewed himselfe to this his servant but this was an extraordinary favour and so not to bee expected by us Nay thus wee cannot see him see his face When Moses desired to see the glory of God Exod. 33. 18. The Lord returnes him answere verse 20. Thou canst not see my face for there shall no man see mee and liue And our Apostle here upon the sight of the face of this Son of man fell down as dead Such is the glory of this face that no mortall eye is capable of beholding it in an immediate way Q. How then A.
upon Gospell tearmes 3. And 3ly as to themselves so long as they live they stand obliged to accept of these offers which still refusing to do their sin is therby aggravated and heightned through that continued contempt 4. But yet in the 4th place If we speak of Gods secret decree and purpose questionlesse the day of grace may determine unto a man before the day of his life So it did there to Ierusalem She still liveth and flourisheth for a time Her day of prosperity was yet continued but her day of grace was now at an end Now are these things hid from thine eyes And questionlesse so may it be with some particular persons whom God in his just judgment hath given up to final impenitence so delivering them up unto Satan and themselves as that from thenceforth they never shall know the things belonging to their peace Obj. But what then may some say may not this be our case And if so then it is in vain for us to strive to seek for what is not to be found to knock at that door which is shut uppon us as it shall not be opened A. In answer to this I shall deal as tenderly as I may so as I may not discourage or dishearten any soul that intertaines but a thought of returning and coming in unto God that begins so much as to cast a glance heaven-ward Wherein I shall do no other then what the Lord Jesus himself doth of whom it was prophecied that he should not quench the smoaking flax Matth. 12. 20. Such was and is the gracious lenity and clemency of the Lord Jesus in his dealing with poor sinners in whom there are as yet onely some weak desires after grace some slender beginnings of conversion and faith And so shall I deal with all such 1. Willing them in the first place to take notice what is their Rule to walk by Not the secret but the revealed will of God Secret things belong unto the Lord but those things which are revealed to us and to our children for ever Deut. 29. 29. This is that which we are to look at and take notice of And therefore let not any upon this account disquiet and trouble their own soules with such anxious disquisitions as neither they nor any other for them whether man or Angel is able to resolve But apply themselves to the use of means This will men do as concerning their temporall estates They ne-over stand prying into Gods decree to enquire what portion in his secret purpose he hath layed out for them but they set about the work of their calling applying themselves to the use of means And so do you touching your spirituall and eternall estates Stand not to enquire how God hath disposed of you in his secret purpose but go about the work of your general calling apply your selves to the use of such means as God hath appointed to bring you home to himself by so waiting upon his good will and pleasure This is that which the Lord requires you to do And therefore in obedience to his command do it with that Poor impotent person Iohn 5. lying at the pool untill the Angell shall come down and stir the waters attending upon Ordinances untill God by his spirit concurring with them shall please to work effectually by them inclining your hearts to look towards himself giving you a sight and sense of your own sinfulnesse and miserie making you to see and feel the need you have of Jesus Christ and heginning to draw your hearts towards him Which when you find let this be a comfortable evidence unto you that your day is not yet past Onely be not you now wanting to this grace of God in giving intertainment to these motions of the spirit in opening of the doore of your hearts that so the Lord Jesus who is now knocking at them may enter in Which in the feare of God be ye now perswaded to do Not knowing but that this may be the last knock this the last sermon that ever we shall heare or the last mention of the spirit that ever you shall feele Now therefore even now before you goe from this place strike up the Covenant betwixt Iesus Christ and your soules accepting and receiving him in all those Gospell Relations not onely as a Saviour casting your soules upon him so as to rest upon the al sufficiencie of his merit for the pardon of sin and eternall salvation but also as a Lord a Husband a Head giving your selves up unto him to be guided and governed by him by his word and Spirit so receiving him into your hearts as that he may dwell in you and rule over you and that for ever This being done now know you for your comfort that you are through grace and mercie exempted out of this black list out of the number of those from whose eies the things belonging to their peace are hid God having thus revealed his Sonne Christ not onely to you but in you as the Apostle saith of himself Gal. 1. 16. not onely revealed him to your eares but to your hearts as by his word so by his spirit inclining your hearts to close with him to receive him upon these Gospel tearms now he hath made you to know the things which belong unto your peace Which whilest he hath hid from others he hath revealed to you For which differencing mercie to close up all in a word blesse you God giving unto him the glorie of this his free grace which hath put such a difference betwixt you and others This doth our Saviour in the behalfe of his Disciples in the Text forecited Math. 11. 25. I thanke thei O father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes The great misteries of this Kingdome God had revealed them unto the poore and simpler sort of people the poore received the Gospell whilest in the meane time they were hid from the Scribes and Pharises men worldly wise and learned And this our Saviour there acknowledgeth to be his work an art of his meere good will and pleasure Even so father for so it seemed good in thy sight v. 26. And the like doe you for your selves Seeing God hath now revealed unto you those things which he hath hid from others many others who upon a Naturall or Civill account are far your betters being preferred before you as in place and estate so in understanding and worldly wisedome Give ye unto him the glorie of this mercie acknowledging it to be an art of his free grace a singular favour vouchsafed unto you For which let your soules for ever bless him prasing and magnifying him who hath thus now made you Children or light whereas others the greatest part of the world still sit in darknesse in the shaddow of death some of them having their eies already closed up so as they neither do nor ever