THE COMMVNION of Saincts A treatise of the fellowship that the faithful have with God and his Angels and one with an other in this present life Gathered out of the holy Scriptures by H. A. Let thy hand help me Lord for I have chosen thy precepts Psal. 119. 173. Imprinted at Amsterdam by Giles Thorp 1607. To the Christian Reader Grace mercy and peace from God be multiplied THe communion of Christians with the Lord and among themselves is a doctrine good reader both needful and comfortable to be knowen for it is the stay and strength of the soule in many tentations and the meanes to conseâ—v the Church stedfast in faith and love And if in this point mens minds be setled aright vpon the ground of Gods word they wil be as the boards of the Tabernacle standing vpright with their tenons sastened in sockets of silver For what is sweeter to a troubled conscience then the assurance of salvation and what is better to stablish our weak fainting faith then when both flesh and hart do fayl to know feel that God is the rock of our hart and our portion for ever Againe how good is it how pleasant for brethren to dwel togither in vnity like the pretious ointment on Aarons head the dew on the mountains of Sion God hath appointed his holy son Iesus to be the head and governour of his people the author of eternal salvation to al the that obey him He hath set vp also the kingdome of Christ on earth which is his Church the pillar and ground of truth He is the light of the world whom al must folow that would have the light of life Ierusalem his spowse is made bright by his glory the people which ar saved shal walk in the light of it He is the Father this the mother of vs al. Of the Son it is said happy ar al that shrowd in him for he is our hiding place from the wind our refuge from the tempest of Gods wrath of Sion also it is said yâ— the poor of his people shal shrowd in it for there hath the Lord created a clowd by day and flaming fyre by night as when he brought his Israel out of Aegypt vpon al the glorie is a defence there is a shadow in the day for the heat a refuge shelter for the storm and for the rayn It is requisit therfore that al men come to Christ if they would have life and by him vnto the Father abide in communion with them both that they may be found in him and haue the justice which is of God through faith that they may know him and the vertue of his resurrection and the fellowship of his afflictions be made coÌ„formable vnto his death this is as the first and great commandement of the law the second is like vnto it that they seek the place which he hath chosen to put his name there love the place wher his honour dwelleth wher he feedeth causeth his flock to ly-down at noon that thither they bring their riches their glory honour that of every such one the Lord may count when he writeth the people He was born there that so being Christs and children of the free woman heyres by promise they may receiv forgivnes of syns and inheritance among theÌ„ which ar sanctified by faith in him for he hath sayd that his elect shal inherit his mountayn his servants shal dwel there But two things ther are which wil hinder our feet froÌ„ running this way if we beware not of them the one is too much liberty which many men take in the faith of the gospel and obedience of the same whiles they turn Gods grace into wantonnes and abuse his mercy to the fulfilling of their own lusts and licenciousnes wheras they should make an end of their salvation in fear and trembling knowing that even the righteous ar scarcely saved Whiles also they take boldnes to communicate in spiritual actions with any supposing that the syns of some or of the publick congregation cannot hurt them especially if in hart they disallow the evil and condemn the same Such men seem not to discern the nature of communion how far it reacheth or the contagioÌ„ of syn how far it infecteth They seem neyther to hav learned the Law which taught that a man by bearing or touching holy things was not himself made holy therby but a polluted person touching any of them made them vnclear nor the doctrine of the gospel which confirmeth that they which eat of the sacrifices ar par takers of the altar al they one bread one body which partake of one bread wher if ther be but a litle leaven it maketh sowr the whol lump And then look how farr they partake with other mens syns so farr ar they in daÌ„ger to receiv of their plagues The other impediment is over much straytnes which some men hav in their own bowels whiles their feeble consciences ar too much affected both with their own others infirmities Such had need to have their knowledg and faith increased their harts inlarged least by expecting a greater perfection in themselves and others then is to be found vpon earth they faint fall Let such look on the image of Christ as he is portrahed in the scriptures whiles the chastisemeÌ„â— of our peace was layd vpoÌ„ him so shal they find balme for their wounded consciences and healing for their sowles by his stripes and their shivered bones wil reioyce â—or of his cup must we al drinck our parts be baptised with his baptisme into his death before we can tast the sweetnes of his life be vnder the rigor of that schole-maister the Law like servants ere we can perceiv the adoption of sons libertie of his faith and Gospel And if he which knew no syn and had but our syns imputed vnto him felt such feares and sorowes in his pretious sowl and was so smittâ—n of God and humbled so despised and reiected of the world what shal we exspect in whose â—leâ—h ther dwelleth no good thing Let them also look vpon the estate of Christs church in all ages from the beginning how it hath been vexed with troubles terrors within without they shal find Sions case to be continually as a woman in travel whose payns infirmities are sometimes so great that the children come to the birth and ther is no strength to bring forth And when they hav viewed the many tribulations through which the Lord hath led his people how he hath suffred them to be buffeted of Satan persecuted by enemies without and molested w th hypocrites within for their trial humiliation they wil confesse that we must walk here by
fruitlesse lamentation in that second death and vtter darknes where the †worm shal not die nor the fyre be quenched for evermore This is the portion of the wicked from God and the reward of their sins from the hand of the Most High The wicked is kept vnto the day of destruction they shal be brought forth to th◠day of wrath Iob. 21. 30. CHAP. III. Of mans redemption the renewing of his peace by the grace of God in Iesus Christ. 1. God though he spared not the Angels which sinned of their own accord and maliciously drew man into their condemnation yet shewed he favor to Adam and his children when it was neyther deserved nor asked For of them he had chosen to be his before the foundations of the world prepared for them a kingdome which it was his pleasure to giv vnto them therfore could he not be hindered no wisdome nor vnderstanding nor counsel could prevail against him but his own counsel did stand for ever the thoughts of his hart throughout al ages he also is greater then al and none is able to take his sheep out of his hand therfore he sayd vnto them when they were polluted in their own blood ye shal live even when they wer in their blood he said vnto them ye shal live I wil redeem them from the power of the grave I wil deliver them from death 2. Yet because as his mercy should be magnified his justice also was to be satisfied and death inflicted for the transgression of his law now mans miserie weaknes was such as endure death he might but overcome it he could not nor deliver his sowl frō the hand of the grave therfore had God of his rich grace and incomprehensible love ordeyned his onely begotten Son which was in his bosome one with himself and in glorie with him before the world was by whom al things were created in heaven and in earth things visible invisible and in whom al things consist even this his own dear son had the Father ordeyned before the foundatiō of the world that he should save his people from their syns and deliver them from the wrath to come 3. And forasmuch as being in the form of God and very God himself who liveth and is blessed for ever he could not in that nature glorie wherin onely is immortalitie partake with mans wretchednes or tast of his death which yet by Gods grace he was to tast for al men therfore was it also ordeyned that the Word should be made flesh even the Son of God when hee came into the world should be made of a woman and of the seed of earthly man according to the flesh that he should take on him the form of a servant and be found in shape as a man partaker with his children of flesh and blood that he might suffer for their sake be touched with the feeling of their infirmities and in all things tempted in like sort yet without syn 4. This incarnation of the Lord wherby he should become our Emmanuel that is God with vs was not to be mans work or brought to passe by carnal generation but by the holy Ghost and power of the most high overshadowing a virgin whereby she should conceiv in her womb and bear a holy thing that should be caled the Son of God Who for the fulnes of the grace of the Godhed which was to dwel in him bodily the spirit wherewith he was to be anoynted should be named the Messiah and the Christ that is the Anoynted of God for the salvation of synners should be crowned with the title of Iesus that is the Saviour or Deliverer at whose name every knee should bow both of things in heaven things in earth things vnder the earth and everie tongue confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lord vnto the glory of God the Father who gave him to be his salvation to the end of the earth 5. For by this his Son the brightnes of his glory God would reconcile the world to himself not imputing but freely forgiving their syns vnto them and by this image of his owne invisible maiestie would renew the heavenly image in man which now was defaced giving him a new hart and a new spirit even putting his own spirit within him making him a new creature For wheras the first Adam was made but a living sowl and having lost his life by syn could not recover the same againe but death reigned over al this second Adam which was a live-making spirit should quicken them that wer dead in trespasses and syns and by his voyce should rayse them vp and give them life eternal that so the dead men might liv againe and they awake and sing that dwel in dust 6. The way to work out this wōdrous grace for mens redemption was appointed to be by great afflictiōs through which the Prince of their salvation was to be consecrate that many children might be brought vnto glory For this Son of God the Lord and heyr of all things was to †empty himself and take on him the form of a servant to become lesser then the Angels yea more deformed then the sons of Adam even a worm and not a man the shame of men and contempt of the people that when we should see him he should have neyther form nor bewtie that we should desire him though yet in himself he was much fayrer then the sons of Adam al his parts and features and countenance so excellent as he was wholly delectable 7. So when the first begotten of the Father was brought into the world though al the Angels of God did worship him the winds and seas obeyed him the Fish payed his tribute the wild beasts lived at peace with him and the very Divils confessed him and were afrayd yet wretched man would not acknowledge him his own received him not he was a stranger to his brethren an aliant to his Mothers sons despised he was we esteemed him not Yea God himself would break him make him subject to infirmities lay vpō him the iniquity of vsal for we made him to serve for our syns we wearied him with our iniquities so that innumerable troubles compassed him about our syns which now were his tooke such hold vpon him that he was not able to lookvp for which a cup was givē him of the Father to drink ful of sorow fear heavines agonie that made his sowl heavy even vnto the death he prayed his Father that if it had been possible it might hav passed from him offring vp his prayers with
that we feel in this world when for his sake we are killed al the day long are counted as sheep for the slaughter doe bear about in our body the dying of the Lord Iesus and are alwayes delivered vnto death for Iesus sake that the life also of our Lord Iesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh these serve for furtherances of our sanctification by being partakers of his holines and make vs as sacrifices and a prey for the ravenous fowles whiles we liv strangers here on earth the land that is not ours as did Ahrahams seed Thus ar we named the Priests of the Lord and hav authority in every place to offer incense vnto his name and a pure offring both we and our works our spiritual sacrifices being acceptable vnto God in Christ Iesus 17. To illustrate and seal vp more assuredly our communion with Christs Priesthood We ar washed with water for a signe assurance of the forgivnes washing away of our syns and to be as the laver of our regeneration new birth wherby we ar also baptised into his death and buried with him by baptisme that like as Christ was raysed vp from the dead by the glory of the Father so we also should walk in newnes of life our old man being crucified with him that the body of syn might be destroyed and our selves be dead to syn but alive to God in Iesus Christ our Lord whom by this symbol we have put on and doe bear his name vpon vs with the name of the Father and of the holy Spirit And after this Christ often feedeth our sowles with his own body blood which was broken powred out for our sakes figured out vnto vs by bread wine hereby cōfirming the former grace of remission of syns and a further growth in Christ continually into whom we ar incorporate have so neer a communion with him vnder these visible earthly elements which we looking past by the eye of faith seeing and feeding vpon Christ have our life by him doe dwel in him he in vs and shal by him be raysed vp at the last day vnto life eternal 18. Having seen how Christ being our Prophet informeth vs in al the wisdome of God and by the Law sheweth vs our syn wretchednes by the Gospel our justice happines and being our Priest Sacrifice hath by himself purged vs frō al syn given vs the gift of justice and sanctitie to present vs pure blamelesse before God his Father it remayneth that we also consider how he conserveth and mainteyneth this our blessed state against al enimies by his mighty power and soveraignty which as Lord and King he hath over al. 19. This soveraigntie is set forth by divers titles of honour and dignitie given him in the scriptures as when he is named Messiah the Governour Captaine or Fore leader the Ruler that is having dominion right and authoritie to govern and guide his people Michael the great Prince the Captaine of the Lords host a mayster or Commander to the peoples a Potentate or Mighty one the king of kings Lord of Lords and Prince of the kings of the earth the Lord of all vnto whom is given al power in heaven in earth an everlasting dominion honour and kingdome that al peoples nations and languages shal serv him And he the true Melchisedek king of Salem shal reign as king in justice and sit as Prince of Peace vpon the throne of David vpon his kingdome to order it to stablish it with judgement with justice frō henceforth even for ever 20. This kingdome of Christ is no earthly Monarchie nor of this world but spiritual and heavenly and therfore is more mighty then the kingdoms of the earth able to beat down break in peeces grind to pouder al adverse power and domination whither of this world or the spiritual wickednesses which are in the high places 21. Therfore also is the manner of administring this kingdom no◠worldly nor pompous but a◠Christ the king himself came vnto vs poor and riding vpon an asse◠and he the Lion of the tribe o◠Iudah the root of David was fo◠to see to like a killed Lamb s◠menageth hee his kingdome stil◠neyther by an army nor a Power but by his Spirit that it cometh not with observation for men to say Loe here or loe there but is with in vs wielded by the spiritual scepter of his word the Gospel of the kingdom and by the almighty working of the Spirit and therefore conteyneth in it mysteries or secrets that can not be vnderstood but by the gift of God 22. Our Lord himself hath subdued and dayly subdueth al his foes the world he hath overcome syn he hath condemned and put-away Death he hath abolished the Divil that had the power there of he hath destroyed neyther shal these or any of these ever have dominion over him but he shall reign til he hath put all his enemies vnder his feet and death and hel be cast into the lake of fyre 23. This his power regiment he cōmunicateth with his Saincts two manner of wayes First by applying vnto them for their benefit and salvation al that himself hath done and doeth as the Lord sayth by his prophet I wil camp about mine howse against the army against him that passeth by and against him that returneth no oppressor shal come vpon them any more And as for their sakes Christ sanctified himself so for their comfort he overcame the world to take away their syns did he appear when in himself ther was no syn for the children of the people Israel standeth this Michael the great prince fighteth against the Dragon and casteth him out of heaven wher now is salvatin and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ the accuser of the Saincts being cast down Wherfore the Lord being king the earth may rejoyce and the multitude of the yles be glad because he preserveth the soules of his Sainctes he wil deliver them from the hand of the wicked hee will judge the people of God in justice and his poor with equitie that the mountaynes the hils shal bring peace to the people by justice and in his dayes the righteous shall flourish and abundance of peace shal be so long as the moon endureth For the charets being cut off from Ephraim and the horse from Ierusalem the bow of the battel shal be broken and he shal speak peace vnto the natiōs but in y◠mornings he wil destroy al the wicked of the land smiting the earth with the rod of his mouth and slaying the wicked with
wherby the eyes of our vnderstaÌ„ding are lightned and we know what is the hope of his caling and what the riches of his glorious inheritance is in the Saincts so he having opened our eyes we see the wonders of his law he causeth vs to vnderstaÌ„d the way of his precepts This is a special point of the happines of Gods people above al peoples of the earth that they hav both his Law for a light and himself for their instructer and so are all the taught of God and have an Oyntment from him that is holy wherby they know al things and need not that any man teach them but as the same anoynting teacheth theÌ„ all things Herevpon the Prophet sayd vnto God I have not declined from thy judgments because thou didst teach me and himself sayth vnto his people I am the Lord thy God which teach thee to profit and lead thee by the way that thou shouldest goe thine eares shal hear a word behinde thee saying This is the way walk ye in it wheÌ„ thou turnest to the right hand when thou turnest to the left Thus the secret of the Lord is reveled to them that fear him his covenant for to giv them knowledge he openeth their mind that they may vnderstand the scriptures he openeth vnto theÌ„ the mysterie of his will and ‡ filleth them with knowledge of the same in al wisdom and spiritual vnderstanding that so they may be partakers of his life as David sayth Give me vnderstanding and I shal live And that this grace proceedeth from his covenant and confirmeth the same himself sheweth when he sayth I will give them an hart to know me that I am the Lord and they shal be my people and I will be their God 9. An other of the gifts perâ—eyning vnto Life and godlines is Faith wherby our Fathers walked with God pleased him wrought many good works obteyned good report and in the end the salvation of their sowles This grace we have not of our selves it is the gift of God who openeth the dore thereof vnto his chosen people which therefore is caled the faith of Gods elect and wondrous is the force thereof in our sowles for by it all things are made possible to vs it is our brestplate it is our shield wherby we quench all the fyrie darts of the Divil it is the victorie whereby we overcome the world by it we walk whiles we are pilgroms here on earth and absent from the Lord by it we staÌ„d in the grace favour of God by it we Live by it our God doth purifie our harts and through it doth keep vs by his power vnto salvation 10. This Faith doth alwayes respect the word of God from whence it ariseth and by which it is wrought in vs through his Spirit which therfore is caled the word of faith and is no vayn word concerning vs but is our Life It looketh also vnto al Gods oracles teaching vs to beleev al things that are written in the law and prophets and in the gospel It causeth vs to apprehend Gods ancient mercies shewed to our fathers as belonging also to vs for so we learn of the Apostles to apply the promise of Gods presence and continued favour with Iosua his imputation of justice vnto Abraham the boldnes and courage of David vpon Gods assistance generally whatsoever things are writteÌ„ aforetyme as being written for our learning comfort and encrease of faith So also wee learne of the Prophets which spake of things done long before as if they had been seene and felt by themselves Hoseas sayth of Iakob God found him in Bethel and there he spake with vs the Psalmist singeth of Gods bringing Israel through the Sea Iarden He turned sea into drie land they passed through the river on foot there did we reioyce in him According to whose examples we that now live and beleev because we have received the same spirit of faith with the Patriarches and have obteyned a like-precious faith with the Apostles may also say with them my welbeloved is mine Iam his I know that my redemer liveth and I live by faith in him who hath loved me and given himself for me 11. The most excellent fruit that we reap of Faith is our IustificatioÌ„ in the sight of God by his grace in Christ Iesus For whereas two wayes of Life Iustice are set before vs in the scriptures the one by keeping the Law of the Lord even al his precepts of which it is sayd The man that doth them shall live by them and again This shal be our Iustice before the Lord our God if we take heed to keep all his commandements as he hath coÌ„manded vs the other by faith in Christ as it is written God so loved the world that he hath given his onely begotten Son that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life the first of these wayes is such as no flesh can be justified by For though the Law coÌ„sisteth of Living oracles and every coÌ„mandement is holy and just and good yet by reason of syn that dwelleth in vs the same coÌ„mandement which was ordeyned vnto life is found to be vnto vs to death For syn taketh occasion by the commaÌ„demeÌ„t deceiveth vs therby killeth vs as when the Law sayth Thow shalt not lust syn worketh in vs al maner of lust so the Law is the life and strength ofsyn in vs that aâ— carnal and sold vnder syn and syn is made out of mesure synful by the commandement the Law entred that the offence might abound Therfore can it not giv vs Life neyther was it given to that end but was added vnto the promise of grace by Christ because of the transgressions and by it cometh the knowledge of syn it also condemneth and curseth al syn and synners and through it are we dead vnto it that we might live vnto God For the terrours therof tormenting our synful sowles we ar forced to seek refuge from Gods wrath in some other which we can not find in any but in Christ whom God hath proposed to be the reconciliation for al our syns whom we apprehend by faith vntil faith come ar kept fast and as it were locked vp vnder the Law wherof we have this excellent vse and benifit that it is a child-leader or scholemayster to bring vs vnto Christ. In whom the justice of God is satisfied for al our trespasses by his death on the tree wheron he was made a curse for vs and redemed vs from the curse of the Law And so our syns which were imputed vnto him shal no more be imputed vnto vs but forgiven for his
into very heaven and obteyned eternal redemption So the Lord took away the iniquitie of his land in one day as he had promised for the ransom was most precious even of infinite value effect seeing by the vnion of the God head with the manhood in this our High-priests person it was the blood of God himself as the scripture speaketh wherewith we are purchased Thus Christ hath reconciled vs that were enimies vnto God by his death and hath put away syn by the sacrifice of himself for he was the ‡ Lamb of God that taketh away the syn of the world and the prophesie of Abraham was fulfilled God wil provide him a Lamb for a burnt offring my son 12. Touching Christs Intercession as he prayed for his church when he was on earth and his Father heard him alwayes so now being ascended and set at the right hand of God he stil maketh request for vs being therefore entred into very heaven to appear now in the sight of God for vs. Whose prayer as it is pure and perfect so prevaileth it with God and is of vnspeakable efficacie to make vs to be accepted For the Father loveth the Son and accepteth him better then he did his servant Iob when he prayed for the trespassers This is that Angel the Angel or messenger of the covenant that hath a golden censer much odours which he offreth with the prayers of all Saincts vpon the golden altar that is before the throne the smoke of which odours with the prayers of the Saincts goeth vp before God out of the Angels hand and vnto his requests which hee maketh for his afflicted people the Lord answereth good and comfortable words Thus our high sacrificer having the names of the whole Israel of God as it were graven vpon two precious stones and embossed in gold beareth vs vpon his two shoulders for a remembrance and presenteth vs pure holy just before the Lord. 13. The things towards vs which ar his Blessing and the fruits that folow he graciously communicateth as a merciful faithful high priest touched with the feeling of our infirmites being raysed vp vnto vs of God and sent to Blesse vs in turning every one of vs from our iniquities And as at the end of his ministery vpon earth he lifted vp his hands and blessed his disciples and then was taken from them into heaven so continewing stil a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek who met Abrahā blessed him he stil blesseth the children of Abraham giving and applying the promises of the Gospel vnto the harts and consciences of his people even the favour protection of God the light of his countenance and his peace So the blessing of Abraham cometh on vs through Christ Iesus who is that promised seed in whom al nations ar blessed and whom God hath set to be Blessings for ever Thus Christ by Sacrifice hath merited by Intercession obteyneth and by Blessing bestoweth and distributeth vnto vs the love graces of God his Father even all things perteyning to life and godlines that we being partakers of his peace may again blesse God even the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which hath blessed vs with all spirituall blessings in heavenly thinges in Christ as the Apostle sayth 14. The cōmunion of this Blessing is more particularly to be discerned in that honour of Priesthood which is given to al Christians the seales of Gods grace and love towards vs in Christ. For he hath made vs Priests vnto God even his Father and we as lively stones are made a spiritual howse a holy priesthood to offer vp spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Iesus Christ. For first applying him vnto our selves by Faith his suffrings death burial are ours his righteousnes resurrection and glorious victory over syn Satan Death and Hel ours so that we by the blood of Iesus may be bold to enter into the holy place though the Levitical Priests might not enter into the shadow thereof at al times by the new living way which hee hath prepared for vs through the veyl that is his flesh even boldly may we goe vnto the throne of grace that we may receiv mercy and finde grace to help in tyme of need Presenting vnto God his Father and ours this Lamb that was slayne for our syns who is our surety and our sacrifice by whose stripes wee are healed by whose death we are restored to life by whose body once offred we are sanctified vpon whose head wee have layd the burden of our syns and by whose curse we are made the heyres of blessing and of all the riches of Gods grace 15. We also giv vp our own bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable vnto God which is our reasonable serving of God so the heavenly Ierusalem is filled with the Flocks of men as the earthly once was with Flocks of holinesses or sacrifices external Our spirits being contrite our harts humbled and broken for our syns ar the sacrifices of God also which he wil not despise By Christ we offer the sacrifice of Praise alwayes to God that is the fruit or calves of our lips which confesse his name and magnify him with thanksgiving this also pleaseth the Lord better then oxe or heiffer that beareth hornes that parteth the hoof Our almes and offrings for relief of the poor especially the ministers of the Gospel of Christ are an odour that smelleth sweet a sacrifice acceptable pleasant to God Finally if we be powred out as a drink offring vpon the sacrifice service of the faith of Christs church do resist vnto blood striving against syn we have cause to rejoyce for precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saincts the ‡ soules of such rest vnder the altar til the Lord holy and true doe avenge their blood on thē that dwel on the earth 16. This honour of Priesthood which no man can take to himself nor any other thing except it be given him frō heavē Christ giveth vnto vs of his rich grace by his word spirit For as by the preaching of the Gospel he is dayly described in our sight and among vs crucified so we by the ministerie of the Gospel are made an acceptable offring vnto the Lord being sāctified by the Holy Ghost His word is a sharp two edged sword and divideth a sunder the sowl and the spirit the joynts and the marow by it we are taught to mortify our members which are on earth his spirit is as fyre where with we being baptised doe also mortifie the deeds of the bodie that we may live give our selves vp vnto God for a living sacrifice The afflictions
damned spirits are of the bottomlesse-deep which they desired Christ that he would not command them into and fearfully they exspect from his hand torment the effect of that curse which is come vpon them to the vtmost and shal be executed in vnspeakeable manner mesure in that day when having fulfilled the mesure of their sin they shal be cast into the lake of everlasting fyre brimstoÌ„ prepared for them so without end or relaxation of their miserie be separated from the Lord and al his Saincts from hïs life light and blessed communion for ever and yet 4. Men that had ben made in the similitude of God holy just happy immortal without any want or imperfection in sowl or body not coÌ„tinewing in this honour but making shipwrack of faith by beleeving the word of Satan of good conscience by obeying his counsel acting the same wheras they were promised to be as Gods knowing good evil fel by this means into corruption and miserie and became like divils without God in the world subject to the horrour of his wrath and eternal damnation Whose woeful estate is to be considered first in regard of sin which stayed not in one actioÌ„ but fretted as a canker and overflowed all secoÌ„dly of punishments for sin Both of these are in sowl and body and their ful mesure or accomplishment is of the one in this world of the other in the world to come 5. The first sin of man was as venim that soddeÌ„ly spred it self into al the powers of sowl body subdued theÌ„ al vnder death corruption so soon as the serpent had bitteÌ„ him And as he was the root of al mankind so did the contagion also spread into al the branches his children By his disobedience many wer made synners and became â— dead even by the one offence of that one man was the evil propagated vnto al men to condemnation who now being evil by nature could neyther speak nor doe good but dayly wexed worse So that when the Lord from heaven looked down vpon the sonâ—s of Adam to see if ther wer any that did vnderstand that did seek God behold al wer gone back al wer corrupt none that did good no not one yea even the children from theyr birth conception vnclean and sinful 6. The corruption and nakednes of man in sowl is to be seen in the Vnderstanding which perceiveth not neyther can know the things of God yea though light shine into this darknes yet doth not the darknes comprehend it the hart knowes not the ey sees not the ear hears not after much instruction mans wisdom is but foolishnes and whatsoever he savoureth in mind is enmitie against God and death to himself The hart of man which is the fountayn whence al the actions of life do flow is crooked crafty deceitful above al and wretched desperatly sick even vnto death so that every fiction of the thoughts of his hart is onely evil every day even from his childhood And as the mind is without the knowledge of God or forgetful if it hav known him so is it otherwise corrupted in the faculties therof caried with vanitie The Conscience which al meÌ„ hav within them to bear witnes of their works this also is defiled togither with the mind and through custom of syn Satans effectual working is seared as with a hot yron and bcome without remorse or feeling The Wil is also alienated from God and from his correction counsel or hearing the same Al the other affections in like manner corrupted by cruel hatred one of an other even of own brethren of that which is good yea even of God himself the love and delite being set on vanitie wickednes Finally the sowle of synfull man is fraught w th al vnrighteousnes wickednes maliciousnes wrath envie debate covetousnes inordinat lusts ambition pride vnmercifulnes and deep hypocrisie with al other vices being empty and destitute of every good grace virtue he hath neyther fear of God nor reverence of man yea that there is no God be al his cogitations 7. The body which is the earthly tabernacle sheath of the sowl and al the members of the same ar fit instruments to fulfill the evil thoughts of the mind be given over in like weise to the service of vncleaÌ„nes iniquity The evils which lust hath conceived inwardly ar by Satans help and these instruments brought forth and effected Herevpon doth man commit al iniquity with greedines his hands execute wickednes and crueltie his feet run to evil and make hast to shed blood his eyes ar full of adulterie and cannot cease to syn defiled with haughtines and mockinge with murder and maliciousnes his thorat is an open sepulchre the venim of aspes is vnder his lips his mouth full of cursing and bitternes his tongue an vnruly evil ful of deadly poisoÌ„ a world of wickednes defiling the whol body setting on fyre the wheel or course of nature being it self set on fyre of hell wherwith he curseth men blasphemeth God His carkesse he decketh clotheth with pride his belly he pampereth filleth with excesse for it is his God he is powred out into al lasciviousnes Neyther is ther any vncleannes fornication vnnatural filthines or beastlines wherwith he abuseth not his own body no trecherie theft murder Witchcraft worship of idols yea even of Divils which he committeth not And these things he doth with an high hand obstinat hart til he becom most abominable fiilthy drinking iniquitie as water making it a pastime to doe wickedly refusing not any evil but for to glutt himself with his lothsom delites addeth syn vnto syn and drunkennes vnto thirst groweth past feeling and after his hardnes hart which caÌ„not repeÌ„t heapeth vp wrath against the day of wrath and of the revelation of the just judgement of God vnto whom he hath sayd depart from me for Idesire not the knowledge of thy wayes who is the Almighty that I should serv him and what profit should I hav if I should pray vnto him 8. So men that would themselves be Gods ar fallen to such impietie that they ar not far from the lothsom nature of divils which our Saviour signified when he caled Iudas a Divil and the Iewes the Divils children And now God abhorreth al wretched mans works even his most religious actions which his troubled ignoraÌ„t hypocritical coÌ„science causeth him to perform The Lord regardeth neyther him nor his offring his sacrifice is an abomination his prayer is turned to syn al his worship is vayn his works of mercy vnprofitable and nothing is pure vnto
strong crying and tears sweat like drops of blood trickling down to the ground the shadow of death being vpon his eyes But because it could not be but he must drink for therfore came he to that howr and the Lord God had opened his ear that he was not rebellious neyther turned back he willingly gave vp his body for a sacrifice bore the wrath of God due for our trespasses he which knew no sin was made sin for vs and powred out his sowle vnto death 8. Then came Satan the Prince of this world to see if he could hav conquered him but he had nothing in him yea his own time was now come now was he to be cast out Christ being lifted vp from the earth would draw all men to himself The serpent beset him with the snares of death and with floods of Belial to make him afraid but he sayd vnto death I wil be thy death and vnto the grave I will be thy destruction so he spoyled the Principalities and powers of that kingdom of darknes made a shew of them openly triumphed over them in the same crosse destroyed through death him that had the power of death that is the Divil 9. They for whom he suffred all these things regarded not the rock of their salvation but iudged him as plagued and smitten of God humbled He trode the winepresle alone and of all the people there was none with him his own disciples had all forsaken him and fled that he by himself might purge our syns He looked for some to have pitie on him but there was none for comforters but none he found there was not any that would know him al refuge fayled him none cared for his sowl His own people betrayed him and denyed in the presence of Pilat when he had iudged him to be delivered they denyed the holy one and the iust and desired a murtherer to be given them Then was the Lord of glorie misused suffred much speaking against of sinners they opened vpon him the mouth of deceyt and compassed him about with words of hatred they rewarded him evil for good and hatred for his friendship they spate on his face buffetted him they crowned him with thornes and scourged him he became a reproch vnto them they that looked vpon him shaked their heads yea rebuke did break his hart and he was ful of heavines for doggs did compasse him about the assemblie of the wicked inclosed him they peirced his hands and his feet and gored his side they slew hanged him on a tree so was he made a curse for vs for the curse of God was on him that was hanged 10. But in his trouble he caled vpon the Lord cried vnto his God why hast thow forsaken me thow art my hope my portion in the land of the living Deliver me out of the mire that I sink not let me be delivered frō them that hate me out of the deep waters let not the water flood drown me and let not the pit shut her mouth vpon me deliver my sowl fom the Sword my desolate sowl from the hand of the Dog In the end he commended his spirit into the hands of his Father confirmed the Testamēt by his death and vnto the dust of death he was brought his grave was with the wicked 11. But the sorowes of death were soon losed because it was vnpossible that the Lord of life should be holden of it for as he had power to lay down his life so had he power to take it again this commandmēt he had received of his Father who shewed him also the path of life and brought againe from the dead this great Shepheard of the sheep Wherfore the third day he rose vp alive he rose vp and his enemies wer scattred and they that hated him fled from before him now behold he is alive for evermore Amen and hath the keyes of hel and of death death hath no more dominion over him for it is swallowed vp in victorie 12. Thus Gods hand was with the man of his right hande with the son of man whom he made strong for himself the Lord heard him in the day of trouble and sent him help from his Sanctuarie remembred al his oblations and turned his burnt-offring into ashes gave him according to his hart fulfilled all his counsell that we might reioyce in his salvation and set vp banners in the name of our God when the Lord had performed al his petitions For he having thus through the eternal spirit offred himself without spott vnto God obteyned eternall redemption having drunk of the brook in the way he therfore lifted vp the head He ascended vp on high with triumph leading captivitie captive and approched vnto the Ancient of dayes who set him at his right hand in the heavenly places far above all principality power and might domination and every name that is named not in this world onely but also in that which is to come made al things subiect vnder his feet gave him dominion and honour and a kingdome that all peoples nations and languages should serve him his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shal never be taken away his kingdome shal never be corrupted and this is the name whereby we must cal him Iehovah our iustice 13. And now the gates of the heavenly Paradise wer opened to the sons of Adam and the tree of Life better then that from which the Cherubims sword had kept man was given him by Christ to eat of and live for ever Now felt men the effect of that heavenly oracle that came out of Caiaphas mouth It is expedient for vs that one man die for the people and the Whol nation perish not for loe the wrath of God kindled for mans syn was appeased by the death of this man Christ Iesus who gave himself a ransom for all men and bare our syns in his body on the tree being the suretie of the Testament It pleased the Father by him the Prince of peace to reconcile al things to himself to set at peace through the blood of his crosse both the thinges in earth and the things in heaven For it was his beloved son in whom he was wel pleased his chosen one in whom his sowl delighted that had given himself to be an offring and a sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour to God who smelled here a savour of rest sweeter then that in Noahs sacrifice which caused him to say in his hart that he would curse the ground no more for mans cause though the imaginatiō of mās hart wer evil frō his
youth for now ther shal be no more curse but the throne of God of the Lamb that was slayn shal be in the city he wil be merciful vnto his land vnto his people The Angels saw this were glad for our salvation they sung at our Saviours birth Glory to God in the highest heavens and vpon earth peace towards men goodwill And when he was glorified the thowsand thowsands of them praysed him saying worthy is the Lamb that was killed to receiv power and riches and wisdome and strength and honour and glory and prayse The heavens rejoyced for that the Lord had done the lower parts of the earth showted the mountaynes forrests and every tree burst forth into prayses for that the Lord had redeemed Iaakob would be glorified in Israel and al creatures in heaven in earth vnder the earth and in the sea al that are in them gave Praise honour and glorie power vnto him that sitteth vpon the throne and vnto the Lamb for ever more Amen 14. This grace was the Wisedom of God in a mysterie the hidden wisedom which God had fore-determined before the world vnto our glorie but it was hid from the eyes of al the living hid from the fowls of the heaveÌ„ none of the Princes of this world knew it no ye had seen it nor ear heard it neyther came it into mans hart onely God vnderstood the Way thereof and from the beginning of the world it was kept secret and hid in him and stil he hideth it from the wise men of vnderstanding neyther can the natural perceiv it vntil he revele it vnto them by his spirit which spirit sercheth al things even the deep things of God and by it we know the things that are given to vs of God 15. And now he hath opened vnto vs the mysterie of his will according to his good pleasure which he had purposed in Christ he hath proclaymed vnto the ends of the world that the Saviour of the daughter Sion is come his wages with him and his work before him that we might cleerly see the fellowship of the mystery might be able to coÌ„prehend with al Saincts what is the bredth and length and depth and height to know the lov of Christ which passeth knowledge and might be filled with al fulnes of God who hath given vs bewty for ashes the oyl of ioy for mourning the garment of gladnes for the spirit of heavines because our ‡ warfare is accomplished and our iniquitie is pardoned For while we were yet sinners Christ died for vs and when wee were enemies we were reconciled to God by his death and now shal be saved by his life for the chastisement of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes we are healed he hath washed vs from our syns in his blood and purged our conscience from dead works to serve the living God and is gone vp into very heaven to appear now in the sight of God for vs and there to prepare vs a place that where he is we may be also From whence he wil shortly shew himself with his mightie Angels to be glorified in his Saincts and made marveilous in them that beleev who after that they have drunk of his cup been baptised into his death and buriall and walked with him in newnes of life in this vale of tears and fulfilled the rest of his afflictions in their flesh shal have their vile bodies changed fashioned like to his glorious bodie the dead being raysed vp incorruptible and such as live remayn being chaÌ„ged and caught vp with them also in the clowds to meet the Lord in the ayre and so shall they ever be with the Lord their faces shyning as the Sun in the kingdome of their Father 16. Although this mysterie of Christ was not opened vnto the sons of men in other ages as it was at last reveled vnto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the spirit yet was the effect and summe therof made known to all the Patriarchs from the beginning For Iesus Christ was yesterday is to day the same for ever Abraham saw his day and was glad Abel also by faith in him obteyned testimonie that he was righteous which faith he learned of his father Adam who heard of God the riches of this grace freely preached in paradise before the sentence of exile and death was pronounced vpon him namely that the womans seed should crush the Serpents head who also was shewed the way to be by death and sacrifice a shadow wherof he saw in the Lambs then slayn and sacrificed in the service of the Lord. The great afflictions of Christ and of his people wer foretold in the Serpents crushing of his â—eel and the enmitie between the womans seed that Serpents foreshewed also in the murder of Abel the iust by Cain his wicked brother To Christ gave all the Prophets witnes that through his name all that beleeved in him should receive remission of syns and the twelve tribes instantly serving God night day hoped to come vnto this promise So in this hope and exspectation of redemption by the Son of God the Fathers rested and comforted their fainting sowles by faith the evidence of things not seene by which faith they saw the promises a farr off were perswaded saluted them confessed that they were strangers and pilgroms vpon earth and so died having through their faith obteyned testimony but received not the promise God providing a better thing for vs that they without vs should not be made perfect but in patient hope passe out their dayes on earth after death wayt al the dayes of their appoynted time til their changing shall come and then stand vp in their lot with vs and al Saincts at the end of the dayes 17. But al this grace and riches of the glorious mysterie now manifested to the Saincts which is Christ in vs the hope of glory God did not communicate with al men neyther yet doeth save with some few chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world Which little flock have their election not by works but by him that caleth according to the good pleasure of his own wil who without any vnrighteousnes hath mercy on whom he wil and whom he will he hardneth having made as the clay-potter of one lump some men vessels of mercie prepared vnto glorie some vessels of wrath prepared to destruction which yet notwithstanding have many favours and benefits from God to draw them to repentance out of the snare of Satan but all in vayn for they despise the grace proffered vnto them and run headlong into the condemnation whereto they were of old ordeyned
people ar named the people of the Holy ones 2. Iesus Christ as he is God manifested in the flesh is the Sainct of God the Holy one and the True even the holy one of Israel being himself ful of the Holie ghost and therwith baptiseth his church wherof he is the mediator And was figured out by the High priest in the law who in type of him was also caled the Sainct of the Lord and caried this writing graven in gold vpon his forehead Holines to Iehovah With this Iesus our redemer we that beleev hav a very neer communion according to that which is written He that Sanctifieth which is Christ and they that are sanctified which are his people are al of one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren And again God is faithful by whom ye are caled vnto the communion of his Son Iesus Christ our Lord. 3. The elect and blessed Angels are also Saincts having sanctitie by creation continewed and confirmed vnto them for ever These heavenly spirits have communion not onely with God in whose presence they stand but also with vs the children of God through fayth by which we are come vnto the great assemblie of the many thowsands of them have them for our guardians and acknowledging themselves to be our fellow servants 4. Al men and women caled to the faith of God ar Saincts by caling being sanctified by Christ Iesus and one with an other are holy brethren Of these some are Saincts departed this life and sleeping in the Lord othersome ar on earth whiles they here live notwithstanding their many infirmities afflictions ar Saincts of the most High a holie nation 5. This happy societie our fathers of old saw shadowed in the Tabernacle wher God dwelt among mē His own gracious presence appeared when his glorie filled the Tabernacle his voice was heard of Moses out of the same and the Ark of his strength was a continuall signe of his residence and rest therin His son Christ was represented by the Mercie-seat or Propitiatorie covering the Ark in whom and by whom God is reconciled with his people who therfore is caled the Propititiatory or Reconciliation from that was the voyce of God heard speaking even as by Christ he speaketh to the end The Angels were figured in the Cherubims vpon the mercie-seat and in the courtaines of the tent round about for so those blessed Spirits ' minister vnto Christ and to his church the heyrs of his salvation The multitude of beleevers were resembled in the twelve cakes according to the number of the twelve tribes of Israel set vpon the pure table before the Lord with pure incense vpon them to be for a remembrance offring by fyre to the Lord in steed of them So we Christians are vnlevened cakes standing before the Lord in his church and being in Christ a sweet odour vnto him who still hath his spirituall Tabernacle with men and dwelleth with them CHAP. V. HOlynes or Sanctitie vvhat it is THe Scripture caleth that thing or person holie which is separated from profanenes pollution and is addicted or applied to divine vse or service of God Thus the Sabbath day was hallowed when God had severed it from commune labour and humane employments to be spent in heavenly exercises and meditations wherevpon it is named the holy Sabbath of rest to the Lord The like is to minded for all other feast dayes appoynted of God for holy convocations The firstborn of man and beast were sanctified to the Lord by being exempted from mans vse dedicated to God and imployed in his service Hence was it that all strange or vnclean persons were forbidden to eat yea or to touch the holie things And when the Israelites were sanctified ceremonially it was by washing their garments absteyning from their wives thus preparing their bodies and minds to converse with God And in the whole course of their life this was their sanctification and signes thereof to absteyn from all syn and vncleannes as also from communion with the sinners and vnclean and to give themselves to the service of God keeping of his lawes 2. This is to be seen in many particulars As the calling and separating of Israel from other people that they might be holy vnto God The shadow herof namely abstinence from eating vnclean meats which figured their refreyning from the fellowship of wicked men for a signe and testimony of their sanctification holines with the Lord. To Moloch they might not offer their childrē for that was to defile Gods sanctuarie and pollute his holy name nor turne after sooth-sayers for the same cause All moniments of idolatrie they were to destroy because they were a holy people to the Lord their God Idolatrous rites and customes they were to refreyn for the same cause Even their bodily excrements were to be covered that their host might be holy before the Lord. And being thus clensed from evill they wer willed to remember and do al his commandements and so be holy vnto their God 3. The new testament also teacheth this same whiles it opposeth sanctitie vnto all manner syn and vncleannes and exhorteth vs to clense our selves from al filthines of the flesh and spirit and so grow vp vnto ful holines in the fear of God that being sanctified throughout we may by good works give all our members servants vnto righteousnes in holines CHAPTER VI. HOw holines is given vnto God and Christ and how vnto creatures HOlynes is ascribed vnto God in the word both by Angels men in two respects 1. Because he in himself is sanctitie and puritie it self and it is vnpossible that in him should be any evill syn or vncleannes He is light darknes in him there is not any he delighteth not wickednes neyther shal evil soiourn with him he cānot so much as be tempted with evil therefore is hee sequestred from this synfull world and heaven is the habitation of his holines 2. Againe because he is the onely author and effecter of all holines sanctimonie in whomsoever sanctifying vs his people giving his Sabbath for a signe hereof advancing vs hereby above all nations which he hath made this being one of his principall blessings He giveth holines to all things about him to the heavens and to earthly places where hee vouchethsafe to appear or remayn So that none is holy as Iehovah he is a holy God sanctified in iustice and let al flesh blesse the name of his holines for ever and ay 2. Iesus Christ hath holines in his divine nature equal with the Father and Holy Ghost and in his manhood hee was holy by byrth in
life also and conversation he shewed all manner holynes without syn or spott For such an high priest it became vs to hav as is holy harmlesse vndefiled and separated from synners And he giveth holines and purity to his church for whose sake he sanctified himself and is therfore worthily intituled the holy one of God even the Holie of holies vnto whom the Seraphim doe sing as he sitteth on the high throne of his glorie within his temple Holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts 3. The Angels are spirits holy by nature so created of God at the first and hauing kept their original are stablished by Gods election through Christ their head in their holy happy estate for ever therfore carie the title of Angels elect and holie Yet even these heavenly spirits being compared with God himself the bottomlesse fountaine of holines ar as impure in his sight hide their faces though through the grace of God by which they ar confirmed they alwayes doe behold his face 4. Holines in men by nature ther is not any for they ar sinners vnclean from the wombe children of wrath and rather to be reputed beasts then men having lost the holines wherin God at first created them as before is shewed But holines is restored againe to men by the Lord as it is written I The Lord sanctify you and againe Now the God of peace sanctify you throughout wherfore he caleth himself the Lord our Holy one 5. This our sanctification is ascribed vnto the Father according to the prayer of Christ Sanctify them with thy truth and in the epistle of â—ude to them that ar caled and sanctified of God the Father It is ascribed to the Son who loved the church and gav himself for it that he might sanctify it and of God is made vnto vs wisdome and justice sanctification redemption Also to the holy Ghost as it is written ye ar washed ye ar sanctified ye ar justified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the spirit of our God 6. Our sanctification in Christ is two wayes First by imputation of that which himself wrought for vs when by the wil of God we wer sanctified by the offring of his body once and thus are we washed from our sins in his blood and God reconciled vs to himself in the body of his flesh through death to make vs Holy and vnblameable without fault in his sight SecoÌ„dly it is by his own gracious work in vs baptising vs with the holy spirit into his death burial resurrection that our old man being crucified with him the bodie of sin might be destroyed henceforth we should not serv sin but give our members servants vnto righteousnes in holynes and so being freed from sin and made servants vnto God may have our fruit in holines and the end everlasting life Both which wayes of our sanctification vvere shadowed out vnto Israel by blood and by oile 7. For when the body of that church was purged once a year the blood of the syn offring was sprinkled in the inmost holy place of the Sanctuary and vpon the altar without to â—ense and sanctify them from the sin and vncleannes of the sons of Israel When the priests were consecrate the blood of their sacrifice was put vpon their right eares thumbs toes and sprinckled vpon their bodies and garments that so they might be sanctified even as before at the making of the covenant the people had beÌ„ sprinckled with blood The holy Ghost thereby signifiing how by the blood of Christ much more our coÌ„sciences should be purged and therefore caleth it the blood of the testament wherwith we are sanctified 8. The precious oynting oyle made of principall spices and called holie did hallow and sanctifie the Tabernacle and al therin the brazen alter and all his instruments the Laver and his foot the Priests their garments on whom it was sprinckled together with the blood of their consecraion for their sanctification and figured out the graces of the Spirit and oyntment that wee have from him that is holy that Christ and his spirit being in vs the body may be dead because of syn and the Spirit life for righteousnes sake whiles the anoynting that we have received dwelleth in vs Christ as a bundle of myrrh lodgeth betweene our brests Thus are we made an acceptable sacrifice vnto God beeing sanctified by the holy Ghost 9. The outward means which God vseth for our sanctification is his truth or word as it is written Sanctifie them with thy truth thy Word is truth By this word fayth is wrought in vs which fayth purifieth the hart sanctifieth the beleevers and causeth them to sanctify the Lord as vnbeleef maketh men that they sanctify him not and therfore is worthily caled the most holy faith The seals of the covenant do also confirm and help forward our faith and sanctification yea even the chastisements of God vpon vs have this vse end that we might be partakers of his holines And we by prayer obteyn at Gods hand as other blessings so this sanctification both of our selves and of al his creatures to our vse Finally this grace is conveyghed both into our bodies into our spirits even into the whol man throughout so great is the Holy-one of Israel in the mids of vs. CHAPT VII How the word of God was communicated with Adam his children of the Saincts interest in the same Forasmuch as the word of God is the truth wherby we our selves ar sanctified and al his creatures vnto our vse even the immortal seed by which we ar begotten and born anew of Gods own wil that we should be as the first fruits of his creatures and the syncere milk without guile wherby we ar nourished grow in faith let vs take a view of this tresure and tree of life which is better to the Saincts then thowsands of gold and silver sweeter also then honey or the honey comb even sweetnes to the sowl and health to the bones which if a man keep he shal never see death 2. Three wayes ther are wherby God maketh himself knowen vnto meÌ„ The first is by his works for the invisible things of him that is his eternall power and Godhed ar seen by the creation of the world the heavens declare his glorie the firmament sheweth the work of his hands the beasts if they be asked wil teach man the fowles of the heaven wil tel him the earth wil shew him and the fishes of the sea wil declare vnto him for how manifold ar the works of
vnderstanding in the sight and mouthes of al peoples Wherfore David provokes them againe to prayse the Lord who had shewed his word vnto Iaakob his statutes and his judgments vnto Israel and had not dealt so with any nation Paul likewise magnifieth this people greatly because to them were committed the oracles of God to them were the covenants and the giving of the law the service and the promises And this grace was so peculiar to Gods people that the Law is called by the Holie Ghost the inheritance of the congregation of Iaakob as being their proper right given them of God as any other possessiō which they injoyed the Saincts againe taking his testimonies as an heritage for ever for they were the joy of their harts 11. The drift and scope of all Gods oracles was to cal and lead men vnto Christ and by him to the kingdome of heavē where we might glorifie God in our salvation and life eternal Our Fathers from Adam to Moses were quickened comforted with this promise And though Moses gave vs a law which was the ministery of death and condemnation by reason of syn that dwelleth in vs yet even he wrote also of Christ and foreshewed his crucifying and suffrings for our syns in the serpent sacrifices and manyfold services yea the law it self was our schoolmaister to bring vs to Christ that we might be made righteous by fayth in him in respect of whō the covenant was many yeares afore confirmed of God could not by the Law that came after be disanulled 12. The hope of salvation for all mankind was in the promised seed and as God by his word taught men more particularly from whose loynes he should spring so were they to exspect him if they would have life and keep cōmunion with such as should be his Fathers after the flesh When the woman Evahs sons were multiplied and many of them proved wicked the hope of the saving Seed was restrayned vnto Seth set in place of Abel whom the Serpents seed had murdred Then were all to look for the Saviour from him and if they sought him in Cains posteritie they perished for ever Among Noahs children Sem had the prerogative and into his tents must Iapheth though his elder brother come for to dwel and partake of his blessing Chams howse was condemned to bondage After that vnto Abraham was the Gospel preached that in him all nations should be blessed and to his Seed Christ were the promises made then who so beleeved after knowledg of this promise in a Saviour to come of any other man set vp an idol in his hart in sted of Christ. Among Abrahams ofspring Iudah was chosen governour and of him should Shiloh come therfore his fathers sons wer to bow down vnto him because of him should be the Prince Of the tribe of Iuda David was named to be the father of Christ according to the flesh then wer al to beleev in Davids son for redemption from syn and life eternall In fulnes of time the Messiah Iesus came and was born of Marie the virgin according to the promises vnto him now wer al people to repayr and so they did both Iewes Gentils so many as wer ordeyned vnto life And if Adam Noah Abraham the other fathers had now been on earth they must hav embraced this man for their Saviour and not hav sought nor wayted for any other Therfore the Iewes that rejected him died in their syns because they beleeved not that he was Hee and the word of God they had not abiding in them because whom he had sent him they beleeved not but many of the gentils trusted in him after that they heard the word of truth even the gospel of their salvation and by faith became the sons of Abraham and heyres by promise 13. And alwayes before if any of them hethens hearing of Gods great name would repayr vnto his people they there might freely injoy this heavenly blessing to hear the law and promises red taught being vnited with them in faith had one law for sacrifice alother services Yea many such strangers wer in Israel in the dayes of Moses that went with them out of Aegipt and afterwards dayly their number increased that in Salomons tyme they were counted and found a hundred fiftie three thowsand and six hundred persons Sometimes also the Lord sent his word in some mesure home to their own countries as by Ionah to the Ninevites though this was more rare til the Apostles dayes and then the partition wal being broken down God imparted again the glad tidings of his salvatiō to al peoples though the Iewes could not endure it 14. For Christ though he restreyned this grace a while saying to his disciples Goe not into the way of the Gentils into the cities of the Samaritans enterye not yet when he was risen from the dead he sayd they should be his witnesses both in Iudea Samaria to the vtmost of the earth And as he had willed them wher his word should be refused to shake off the dust of their feet against them and depart thence so the Apostles did and travayled from place to place til the people to whom God had not been spoken of did see they that had not heard did vnderstand 15. When thus ther was one sheepfold made both of Iewes and Gentils and their eyes wer opened to see the wonders of Gods law the glorious mysterie of mans redemption reveled and published amongal nations by the scriptures of the prophets they whose harts God opened received the word with al readines and serched the scriptures dayly taking heed to that most sure word of the prophets as to a light shining in a dark place til the day dawned and the day star arose in their harts And though for that word they found tribulation as others before them for whō Christ complayned to his father saying I hav given them thy word the world hath hated them yet received they that word †in much affliction with joy of the holy Ghost accepting it not as the word of men but of God and holding it forth as the word of life which being graffed in them was able to save their sowles 16. For such is the grace and vertue of Gods word that it turneth the sowl reioyceth the hart giveth light to the eyes wisdō to the simple worketh faith in God quickeneth them that hear it comforteth the Saincts in their troubles strengthneth them in their tentations being the sword of the Spirit by help wherof they vanquish their enemies and Satan himself and their own corruptions are freed therby from the servitude of syn It is a soveraign preservative from al evils that might befal vs
to coÌ„tinew taking heed that they wer not vnequally yoked with infidels of the world nor commingled with open sinners in the church but to cast out the wicked from among them that they might be joyntly a sweet new lump as they were severally vnlevened loaves and so to serve the Lord as they might please him with reverence and feare keeping themselves from idols and vnspotted of the world 22. Thus hath God taught vs that all idolatrie whither of Paynims Iewes or Christians is the worship of Divils from it hath in all ages since the world began caled his elect that they shuÌ„ning the societie of the Serpent his seed might repair to the Lamb that standeth on mount Sion having his Fathers name written on their foreheads and follow him whither soever he goeth might walk in the light of the heavenly Ierusalem and there hav fellowship with the Lord and one with an other to their preservatioÌ„ from death the glory of God in their eternal life salvation CHAPTER IX How far we must avoyd coÌ„munion with Divils how farr with the wicked men FOrasmuch as Satan is an open professed adversarie of God men alwayes and al his endevours tend to the Lords dishonour and our destruction neither is there any bond of nature or otherwise between him vs that we should have entercourse with him or seek his good or peace for ever therfore are we absolutely forbidden all manner coÌ„munion with him in things spirituall or humane al which we may reduce vnto four heads 2. The first concerneth our faith that we give no credit to his word as did our first parents nor admit into our harts any of his doctrines or daÌ„nable heresies which ar called by the Apostle doctrines of Divils but that we hold fast the word of life taught vs of God in his scriptures onely avoyding al errors and lies in religion whither hethenish Iewish or antichristian for who soever be the instruments Satan is the Father of them and by them doth draw men vnto destruction 3. The second concerneth our outward cariage that we do not present our bodies or by any thing that we have give maintenance to his worship and service where or howsoever but as our bodyes and spirits ar the Lords so with them both to glorify and serv him onely and honor him with our substance fleeing al idolatrie which is Satans worship and outward communion therwith not vpon any pretense eyther of our own knowledge and inward dislike of the idol or the pleasing of others or winning them by this means to the fayth or avoyding of our trouble or presuming of the mercy of God or the like to participate in the service sacrifice of Divils God in his law gav this general precept for his people They shal no more offer their offrings to divils and in the Gospel we hav this instruction ye can not be partakers of the Lords table and of the table of Divils 4. The third concerneth al divilish arts wherby many meÌ„ hav fellowship with the damned spirits as Conjuring inchantment Witchcraft â—orcerie divniation charming necromantie and al other of the like nature Touching which Gods law forbiddeth two things 1. that no man should himself vse any such cursed craft many of which ar particularly named Deut. 18. 10. 11. but man or woman that had such spirits should die the death 2. also that none should seek vnto such for instruction or counsel in any matter for so they should forsake the living God turne to the dead Wherefore this transgression is noted for one of the two causes of King Sauls death that he sought and asked counsel of a familiar spirit by a witch at Endor and asked not of the Lord. And as Christ would not have the Divils to beare witnes of him so neyther would the Apostles suffer a mayd which had a spirit of Divination to acknowledge them to be the servaÌ„ts of the most high God and preachers of the way of salvation Finally not onely these evil arts and practisers of them but all books or writings or other meanes which may nourish the same are to be shunned abolished as the practise of the ChristiaÌ„s that burned their books of curious crafts doth teach vs. 5. The fourth head concerneth Satans tentations suggestions provocations vnto evil whereby he dayly solliciteth every maÌ„ vnto syn al which we ar taught of God carefully to resist giving no place to the Divil but by faith to quench al his fyery darts and being armed with the whole armour of God to stand fast in the evil day and in our prayers to desyre that we may be delivered from that Wicked one Herein al the Saincts while they live on earth come short of their duty and too often do admit of fellowship with the Divil by reason of the corruption of nature and infirmity of the flesh but by faith in Christ we overcome and triumph and shal in the end have full redemption from all these evils 6. Thus are we taught of God to resist Satan and avoyd al manner fellowship with him to the vtmost of our power because all his endevours are against vs for evil neyther can we work in him any good by any meanes at any time But the estate of wicked men is otherwise to be considered because they and we are all one flesh and blood are al placed of God to live together in this world and enioy mutually his coÌ„mon blessings as the light of the sun the rayn fiuits of the earth and other creatures besides our civil societie in common weales so that we cannot avoyd all medling with them except we should go out of the world as the Apostle teacheth Also of many of them there is hope that they may be coÌ„verted froÌ„ their evil wayes which by all good gentle meanes we should procure Howbeit of siÌ„ners ther is difference to be made for some are yet vncaled to the knowledg and faith of Christ others are caled and do professe one commoÌ„ faith in Christs Church with vs but walk vnworthie of the same and some have departed from the faith and obedience wherevnto they were come and are cast out of the church delivered vnto Satan Of our special dutie to such as being in the church do transgresse it resteth to be spoken hereafter here I wil treat of wicked men in general 7 Concerning whom wee are taught of God not to communicate with them in any evil action as not to run with the thief nor partake with the adulterer not to walk in the way with those that lay wayt for blood nor keep company with drunkards or gluttons nor have fellowship with any other their vnfruitful works of darknes but reprove them rather and avoyd them especially their spiritual religious actions as
ear heard neyther came into mans hart are which God hath prepared for them that love him and neyther flesh nor blood but himself doth manifest them vnto vs and as his words are spirit and life so is it his spirit that sercheth al even the deep things of God reveleth them vnto vs and quickneth vs. 5. The promises which ar made vs we must embrace not by sight but by faith which is the evidence of thinges not seen And seem they never so vnlikely or vnpossible yet ought we not to doubt of them or reason against them through vnbeleef but even above hope to believ vnder hope being fully assured that he which hath promised is able to do it For as Sara received strength to bring forth achild when she was past age because she judged him faithful which had promised so contrarywise the children of Israel when God had brought them through the wildernes even to the borders of the land of promise yet could they not enter in because of their vnbeleef 6. The commandments of God how hard or vnreasonable soever they seem we must readily and cheerfully obey laying aside al excuses delayes feares or other things that may hinder vs knowing that all his precepts are perfect righteous pure and just Therefore when God calleth vs we must follow him though we know not whither we shal come wheÌ„ he sendeth vs to any place of danger we must goe though we know not what may befal vs there when he commandeth vs a thing that is both against nature of maÌ„ and promise of God we must obey without murmuring or reasoning yea even to the death must we be obedient that we may receive the crown of life 7. In all our trials and tribulatious we must in faith patience possesse our sowles We may not murmur though we want both bread and water nor speak against God though our way be never so grievous VVhen we be in danger of our foes pursuing vs we must not complain nor be affraid when they beset vs round about If God cause men to ride over our heads if he lead vs into fyre and into water if he give vs as sheep to be eaten scatter vs among the nations if he smite vs down into the place of dragons and cover vs with the shadow of death yet may we not forget him nor deal falsly concerning his covenant but in al these triumph as more then conquerours through him that loved vs. When in our troubles we exspect his salvation we must not make hast though it tary we must wayt if he hide his face from vs and be angry against our prayer so that we cry by day but he heareth not and by night but hav no audience if he put vs back as doggs vnworthy of his grace if he turn hiÌ„self to be cruel against vs to be enemie to vs with the streÌ„gth of his hand yet must we remeÌ„ber that he is the rock of our salvation and say I wil wayt for the Lord that hath hid his face from Iaakob and I wil look for him Lo though he slay me yet wil I trust in him 8 Notwithstanding al these what soever els we can do or suffer for his names sake yet must we empty cast down our selves before him confessing that we ar but vnprofitable servants we hav done that which was our dutie to doe it is nothing to the Almightie that we are righteous our weldoing extendeth not to him Neyther for our works done or of him foreseen to be done hath he saved caled vs with a holy caling but according to his own purpose and grace which was given to vs through Christ Iesus before the world was And because we ar al too wel perswaded of our selves our good deserts the Lord vseth two means for to humble vs the one is his Law which sheweth vs our syns and infirmities the other Corrections wherby he openeth our ears to cause vs to turne away our work that he might cover our pride of both these Solomon sayth the commandment is a lantern and the law alight correcttions for instructioÌ„ are the way of life 9. The Law reveleth our syns which lay hid within vs sheweth our weaknes to be greater then we could imagine For first we are alive in our own conceyt without the law and wil not stick to say Al that the Lord commandeth we wil doe But when he speaketh we can not endure to hear the law at his mouth but run away Or if we do receiv it it is with a vail over Moses face not discerning the true nature of the Law which is spiritual or end of the same which is to bring vs to Christ but in hypocrisie with hollow and covered harts imagining the outward observation therof howsoever it be to be sufficient But when it cometh in deed to our coÌ„science we die for syn which we thought was dead reviveth and taking occasion by the coÌ„mandemeÌ„t deceiveth vs and therby slayeth vs and when the law sayth Thou shalt not lust syn worketh in vs al manner of lust And as the Israelites having heard the thundring voyce of the Lord from heaven forbidding them to have any other Gods before his face did before forty dayes were expired forget both their promise and their fear God himself their saviour and made them Gods of metall so is it with vs al when the coÌ„mandement cometh syn aboundeth and appeareth to be syn yea out of measure synfull And because the wages of syn is death the law also causeth wrath which is reveled from heaven against all vngodlines and vnrighteousnes of men Then are we cast down with sight and horror of our wretched case and the more we strive to rid our selves out of these snares of hel the faster we are intangled for we find our selves carnal sold vnder syn so as if we have wil to do good yet finde we no meanes to performe it and without Gods grace we can neyther wil nor doe VVherefore we crie out vpon our misery and should die in despâ—yr wer it not that God did cause his favor in the face of Christ to shine vpon vs in whom being graffed by faith we ar dead to the law but alive vnto God by beleef in his son who hath loved vs given himself for vs and liveth in vs. Thus is the law a light to discover a fyre to burne a hammer to break whatsoever in vs is exalted against God is a scholemayster to lead vs to Christ that we might be made righteous by him after that we ar stript naked of our own misconceived righteousnes having our filthy garments taken froÌ„ vs may be arayed with chanâ—â—
we shal be the sons and daughters of the Lord Almightie 2. This grace God signified to our fathers when he had freed them from the bondage of Aegipt saying ye have seen what I did to the Aegiptians and how I caried yow vpon eagles wings and hav brought yow vnto me now therfore if ye wil hear my voice in deed and keep my covenant then shal ye be my chief tresure above al peoples though al the earth be mine ye shal be vnto me also a kingdom of priests and a holy nation 3. The manifestation and assurance of this grace is to be seen in that eternal Covenant and Oth which he maketh with vs and wherby he stablisheth vs for a people vnto himself and wil be vnto vs a God as he also sware vnto our fathers Abraham Isaak and Iaakob Who were themselves joyned in league with the Lord that had stablished this everlasting covenant with Abraham and his posterity to be God vnto him and to his seed after him but hath now fully and finally ratified in Christ and by that new Testamental bond confirmed in his blood wherby he hath covenanted that he wil be our God and we shal be his people whervpon it followeth that he being ours and we his assured hereof by faith in his gospel we have communion with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ to the prayse of the glory of his grace our eternal happines Whiles he being our God applieth his wisdoÌ„ strength grace and al other goodnes vnto vs for good causeth vs agayn to apply our bodies our minds with all the faculties of them to the honour and service of his majestie and this with such mutuall love and neer conjunction as God is sayd to dwelin vs and we in him and with such peace as passeth al vnderstanding that not without cause doth the Psalmist sing Blessed is the people whese God Iehovah is 4. The persons whom God admitteth into this gracious coÌ„munion are al sorts of people without respect of persons Iewes Gentiles bond men and free male female kings of the earth and al peoples Princes and al judges of the world yong men maydens old men and children wise men and fooles even as many as the Lord our God shal cal The riches of which grace Moses also manifested vnto Israel when he sayd Ye stand this day every one of yow before the Lord your God your heads of your tribes your elders and your officers al the men of Israel your children your wives and thy stranger that is in thy camp from the hewer of thy wood vnto the drawer of thy water that thou shouldest passe into the covenant of the Lord thy God into his oth which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day c. This ample mercy God shewed even then but hath much inlarged since by the sending of his SoÌ„ that it might be seen how he is good to al and his mercies over al his works and that * al flesh might blesse his holy name for ever and ever 5 The original of this grace to the Saincts cometh froÌ„ the electioÌ„ of God who having set his delight in them to love theÌ„ choseth them their seed to be a precious people to himself above al peoples vpon the earth and as he sayth by the Prophet I hav loved thee with an everlasting love therfore with mercy I hav drawn thee From which furder grace proceedeth for they being thus drawen doe run after him and chose him again to be their God and to serv him they chose the way of faith they chose his precepts So is ther a willing joyful covenant made between God and them by mutual agreement vpon most holy and happy conditions which Moses briefly describeth thus Thow hast made the Lord to say this day that is thou hast taken promise of conditioned with and consequently hast chosen him to be to thee for a God and to walk in his wayes and to keep his statutes his commaundements and his iudgements and to hearken vnto his voice And the Lord hath made thee to say this day hath conditioned with chosen thee to be vnto him for a peculiar people even as he spake vnto thee and to keep al his commandments and to set thee high above al nations which he hath made in prayse and in name in glory and that â—hou shouldest be an holy people to the Lord thy God even as he hath spoken 6. The good things communicated with vs of God by that covenant of his grace the Apostle summeth vp when he sayth that his divine power hath given vs al things that perteyn to Life godlines For as he is himself the Living God giver of life vnto al things so is he not the God of the Dead but of the Living To the end therfore that we which wer dead in trespasses and syns and strangers from the Life of God through the ignorance that was in vs and in that estate were not his people might be the sons of the Living God and heyres of the grace of Life it was needful that we should receive from him this grace which els we could not have from any other because with him is the well of life and in his light shall we see light he is our Life and the length of our dayes his precepts and his promises do quickeÌ„ vs and by al that proceedeth out of his mouth doth a man live as that good king Hezekiah confessed vpon his recoverie from death O Lord by them men live and by all of them is the life of my spirit and thou hast caused me to sleep and hast given life vnto me 7. And when we are made partakers of the life of God then feel we the fellowship and coÌ„munion spoken of and as our life encreaseth so doth our joy by the perceiving of our happines we give our selves vnto God as they that are alive from the dead walking before him in the light of the living God also himself walketh with vs leading vs by the rivers of waters in a straight way wherein we shall not stumble and our sowl shal be as a watered garden we shal have no more sorow but shal be satisfied with the goodnes of the Lord our hart shal live for ever To the end therefore that we may in some sort discern this incomprehensible grace let vs consider some principal of the many good things that God doth give vs perteyning vnto Life and godlines 8. And first for that VnderstaÌ„ding is a welspring of Life vnto them that have it the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glory giveth vnto vs the Spirit of wisdome and revelation through the knowledge of him
sake and that blessednes cometh on vs which is written Blessed ar they whose iniquities ar forgiven and whose syns ar covered blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not syn Yea God â—as he imputeth not but pardoneth syn so doth he impute justice or righteousnes to vs without works of ours because Christ fulfilled al righteousnes for vs that beleev and we shal be found in him not having our owne justice which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ even the justice which is of God through Faith To teach vs this the first man whom Moses mentioneth to have beleeved the Lord he presently adorneth with this grace that God imputed that to him for iustice And he being made the Father of al beleevers that is written for vs also vnto whom Beleef shal be imputed for Iustice in like weise Thus are we justified by Faith without the works of the Law yea Faith is come in place of al good works as Christ hath sayd This is the work of God that ye beleev in him whom he hath sent this also is his commandement that we beleev in the name of his Son Iesus Christ whom he that hath hath Life he that hath not the son of God hath not Life but who so trusteth to his own righteousnes and committeth iniquity shal surely die as sayth the prophet Thus live we by faith in Christ and that heavenly oracle is fulfilled The iust shallive by his faith 12. This Life and grace is one condition of that everlasting covenant which our God hath made with vs and sayd I wil be merciful to their vnrighteousnes and wil remember their syns and their iniquities no more And being thus justified by faith we have peace towards God through our Lord Iesus Christ whom he hath given to be our covenant and our light he hideth his face from our syns and wipeth away al our iniquities and sayth deliver them that they goe not down into the pit for I have found a ransom Yea now he seeth no iniquitie in Iaakob nor transgressioÌ„ in Israel the Lord his God is with him and the joyful showt of a king is among them though the syns of Iudah be sought for they shal be no more found for the Lord is merciful to them whom he reserveth he hath washed the filthines of the daughters of Sion their transgressions are put away as aclowd and like a mist their syns ar al cast into the bottom of the sea For this the Saincts doe triumph and say who shal lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen it is God that justifieth who shal condemn we wil goe forward in the streÌ„gth of the Lord God we wil make mention of thy Iustice even of thyne onely And thus is fulfilled the saying of the prophet The whole seed of Israel shal be Iustified and glory in the Lord. 13. Yet is their also further grace perteyning to life and godlines given vs of God even our Sanctification whervnto he hath caled vs and which we attayn vnto by fayth in Christ. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation vnto al men and hath appeared doth teach vs that we should deny vngodlynes worldly lusts and that we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world and not continew still in syn that grace may abound VVe are the people of Gods holynes and he wil be halowed among vs he the Lord doth sanctify vs he powreth clean water vpon vs that we may be clean sprinkled in our harts from an evil conscience and washed in our bodies with pure water he taketh away the stony hart out of our body and giveth vs an hart of flesh he putteth his spirit within vs and causeth vs to walk in his statutes to keep his judgements and doe them that we be polluted no more with our abominations nor any of our transgressions and saith vnto vs ye shal be holy for I the Lord your God am holy And this is an other condition of his gracious covenant with vs as it is written I wil put my lawes in their minde and in their hart I wil write them I wil be their God and they shal be my peaple 14. Of this Sanctification ther be two parts which they that long after Life and to see good dayes must seek 1 to eschew evil 2 to doe good The way to attayn these is by the death burial of the old man the corruption of nature and the resurrection of the new that so being dead vnto syn we may be alive vnto God in Iesus Christ our Lord. The old man or body of syn is the whole man sowl and body as he is born by nature even al flesh al the grace and glory therof which the Spirit of the Lord must blow vpon and cause to fade as the flower of grasse that the man may be born again and made a new creature even born of God To work this wondrous change in vs the Lord giveth two special graces the 1 Fear 2 Love of his name by the one to restreyn vs from evil and by the other to allure vs vnto good 15. The Fear of the Lord as it is the beginning of wisdom so did Davids for fear of the Lord and we being afrayd of his judgements His mercies also are shewed vs to this end as it is written Mercy is with thee that thou mayst be feared This grace God giveth to his Saincts to humble them that they be not high-minded but may walk in reverence before him and their harts be in his fear continually that it may go wel with them and with their children for ever for he that feareth the commandement shal be rewarded By this grace hav his people commuinon with him and feel his goodnes for the eye of the Lord is vpon them that fear him trust in his mercy he delighteth in them he wil fulfil the desire of them and nothing shal be wanting vnto them as he hath promised by his prophet their sowles shal dwel in good their seed shal inherit the land and the secret of the Lord and his covenant shal be revealed vnto them Wherfore vnto man he sayth Behold the Fear of the Lord is wisdome and to depart from evil is vnderstanding the reward of humility and the fear of God is riches and glory Life Vnto this therfore let vs take heed for in it is an assured strength by it we shal come out of al extremities that are either too much or too litle and to fear God and keep his commandements is the whole man this leadeth him vnto Life and being filled therwith he shal continew and not be visited with
evil that he may know that the fear of the Lord is his tresure as sayth the Prophet 16. But because the end of the Commandement is Love out of a pure hart and of a good cōscience of faith vnfeighned Love is the fulfilling of the Law therfore hath God comprised his whol wil touching our Sanctification and obedience in two precepts 1 Thow shalt Love thy Lord thy God with al thy hart with al thy sowl and with al thy mind 2 Thou shalt Love thy neighbour as thy self on these two commandements hangeth the whol Law and the Prophets As evil therfore is to be hated and eschewed so that which is good ought to be loved and cleaved vnto the head and fountain of al which good is onely God himself who first is to be loved and above all but hath given vs this commandement that he which loveth God should love his brother also 17. And as we have of him this Law of love so have we from him the grace to love both him his law and shal from him receive the fruit therof which is Life This Moses shewed Israel of old saying The Lord thy God wil circumcise thyne hart and the hart of thy seed that thou mayst Love the Lord thy God with al thy hart and with al thy sowl that thou mayst Live Thus we love him because he loved vs first and hath inclined our harts drawn vs after him Again because as Christ sayth he that hath his cōmandements and keepeth them is he that Loveth him therefore have we this rule direction given vs by Moses further joyning these two togeither Thou shalt love the Lord thy God and shalt keep that which he commandeth to be kept that is his ordinances and his lawes and his commandements alway 18. From this ariseth much cōfort to the Saints which finding themselves affected with the Lov of God feeling his love shed abroad in their harts by the holy Ghost which is given vnto thē do grow in this grace keep themselves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ vnto eternal life They lov his commandements above the finest gold therfore have much peace and shal have no hurt or scandal their delight is in his cōmandements which they have loved their hands also doe they lift vp vnto them and herevpon doe expect to be quickened and conserved in life according to the loving kindnes of the Lord who preserveth al them that love him keepeth covenant and mercy towards them and causeth al things to work togither for the best vnto them For God is Love as sayth the disciple whom Iesus loved and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him and grace shal be vnto al them that love him vnto immortalitie Moses in spirit foreseing this sayd vnto Israel I cal heaven and earth to record this day agaynst you that I have set before you Life death the blessing the curse therfore chuse Life that thou and thy seed may live by loving the Lord thy God by obeying his voice and by cleaving vnto him for he is thy Life and the length of thy dayes 19. But because our Life is hid with Christ in God though now we be the sonnes of God yet it doth not appear what we shal be but when Christ which is our Life shal appear then shal we also appear with him in glory be like vnto him and see him as he is therfore hath he given vs another grace perteyning to Life and godlines called a living Hope vnto which God of his aboundāt mercy hath begotten vs by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead This vertue respecteth our good that is to come our inheritance reserved for vs in heaven yea thither hath it power to come entring as the Apostle saith into that which is within the vail whither the forerunner Iesus is for vs entred in this Hope we have as an anker of the soul both sure stedfast holding it fast in al tempests of tribulations or tentations knowing as Salomon sayth that ther is an end and our hope shal not be cut-off 20. Ther be two companions and as it were sisters of this grace 1 Faith 2 patience Faith goeth before as the guide and susteyner being the subsistance or ground of things hoped for as Abraham by faith even above hope beleeved vnder hope Patience accompanieth it and teacheth to wayt as it is written if we hope for that we see not we doe with patience abide for it And thus is fulfilled that which Isaias sayth he that beleeveth shal not make hast and consequently shal not be ashamed but being assured that he which shal come wil come and wil not delay though he tary yet we wayt as the prophet biddeth vs because the Father which hath loved vs hath given vs everlasting consolation and good hope through grace and hope maketh not ashamed yea we rejoyce in hope as being the thing wherby we ar saved he which is the God of hope filleth vs with al joy and peace in beleeving and causeth vs to abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost 21. One of the special promises which the anker of Hope layeth hold vpon and that by reason of the Covenant of God with vs is the Resurrection of the Dead For as God caling himself the God of Abraham Isaak Iaakob when they wer dead vnto the world but Living vnto him did teach his people therby that he would rayse them vp again from death as our Saviour expoundeth his Fathers oracle even so we all that are in the same covenant of grace and have him for our God do beleev that after our flesh hath ben sown in dishonour and seen corruption it shal be raysed in glory by the power of God for in our graves we shal heare the voyce of Christ at his appearing shal come forth vnto the resurrection of Life And then shall we injoy all the good promises in that Citie which hath foundations whose buylder and maker is God who is not ashamed of vs to be called our God because he hath prepared for vs a citie 22. Thus have we through the grace of our God those three heavenly vertues mentioned by the Apostle 1 an effectual Faith 2 adiligent Love 3 and the patience of Hope in our Lord Iesus Christ by Faith to beleev the mysteries of life and al his word by Love to cleav vnto him and keep his commandemēts by hope to exspect the fulfilling of al good promises which God that cannot lie hath made vnto vs and these three things doe abide with vs during this present life that walking in them we may
have fellowship with the Lord in spirit who having thus decked vs with the garments of bewtie and glorie with mercy and salvation through faith in his name doth then seal vs with that holy spirit of Promise which is the earnest of our inheritance vntil the redemption of the possession purchased the ful redemption of al Saincts vnto the prayse of his glory For as he hath chosen vs in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love so having effectually caled justified and sanctified vs of his vnspeakable grace he giveth vs also certainty and assurance of our election that we shal never fal from nor be forsaken of him For the seed wherwith we are born anew is an immortal seed which can never die this seed remayneth in vs to keep vs from syn and if we syn we have an advocate with the Father even Iesus Christ the just who maketh intercession and prayeth for vs that our faith fail not he also giveth vs repentance vnto Life and worketh in vs godly sorow for our misdeeds so we ar renewed by repentance dayly and revived by faith knowing that God hath stablished to himself his people Israel to be his people for ever he is their God his gifts and caling are without repentance he that hath begun his good work in vs wil perform it vnto the day of Iesus Christ for he hath made an everlasting covenant with vs that he wil never turn away from vs to doe vs good and hath put his fear in our harts that we shal never depart from him and hath sayd concerning vs by his prophet My people shal never be ashamed Thus the hope of salvation is for an helmet vpon our heads for that God hath not appointed vs vnto wrath but to obteyn salvation by our Lord Iesus Christ and we rejoyce with joy vnspeakable glorious being perswaded that neyther death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things presēt nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shal be able to separate vs fiō the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. 23. Our God it is which thus stablisheth vs in Christ hath anoynted vs and also sealed vs and given vs the earnest of his spirit in our hartes even the spirit of adoption whereby we crie vnto him Abba Father and of vs he sayth This people have I formed for my self they shal shew forth my prayse And being thus furnished with his graces we find feel the sweetnes of that fellowship and communion that we hav with him in Christ Iesus and by his Spirit 24. This communion the scripture setteth down by similitude of walking and dwelling together For God hath promised I will walk among you and I wil be your God ye shal be my people and for his habitation although he filleth heavens and earth the heavens of heavens ar not able to cōteyn him being cōsidered in his infinite majestye yet abaseth he himself to converse with vs that dwel in houses of clay as he sayth by the Prophet I dwel in the high holy place with him also that is of a contrite humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to give life to them that are of a contrite hart Which grace that all the Saincts might take knowledge of the voice is written which was heard out of heaven to say Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwel with them and they shal be his people and God himself will bee their God with them This Tabernacle is the bodies and sowles of the Saincts as the Apostle sayth Ye are the Temple of the Living God even as God hath sayd I will dwell in thē walk with them your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost On the other side wee are sayd to walk with God as did Enoch Noah and as the Lord requireth of every man that he humble himself to walk with his God we dwel in his tabernacle for ever our trust is vnder the covering of his wings as the Apostle Iohn sayth He that keepeth his commandements dwelleth in him and he in him 25. This grace is so heavenly and supernatural as it cannot be comprehended by the carnal man nor embraced walked in with comfort by synners hypocrites The naturall man thinketh the dwelling of God is not with flesh the vnbeleeving among the Saincts in day of their distresse do say Is the Lord among vs or no The synners and hypocrites 〈…〉 Sion are afrayd saying who among vs shal dwel with the devouring syre who amōg us shal dwel with the everlasting burnings And indeed the throne of iniquitie hath no fellowship with him but the pure of hart edure as seing him who is invisible they sing The Lord of hosts is with vs the God of Iaakob is our refuge they serve him and see his face his name is on their foreheads they say It is good for vs to draw neer vnto God Lord lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon vs. 26 This conversing of the Saints with God is spiritual and mystical we walk by faith and not by sight faith which is the evidence of things not seen He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit sayth the Apostle Again Gods walking with vs is strange and vncouth to the world for he bringeth vs into many tribulations his way is in the sea his paths in the great waters and his footsteps ar not knowen he leadeth vs through the wildernes through a desert and wast land and by the shadow of death where fyry serpents are and scorpions and drought without water to humble vs and to prove vs to know what is in our hart that he may doe vs good in the latter end he bringeth vs through the fyre and fineth vs as the silver is fined and trieth vs as gold is tried yet he sayth It is my people we do say The Lord is our God 27. And hence ariseth the comfort of our harts that alwayes we behold God with vs yea feel him within vs and answer Amen by faith to al his promises He sayth Fear not for I am with thee be not afrayd for I am thy God we say again Though I should walk through the vally of the shadow of death I will fear no evill because thou art with me He sayth of every of his Saincts I wil be with him in trouble I wil deliver him and glorify him they testify say I beheld the Lord alwayes before me for he is at my right hand that I should not be shaken gather together on heaps ô ye people and ye
their roots as the trees of Lebanon dwelling vnder his shadow they revive as the corn and flourish as the vine and stil bring forth fruit even in their hoary age and God is their guid even vnto the death Yet then forsaketh he theÌ„ not but as when they lived they lived vnto him so now when they die they die vnto him are his peace cometh and they rest in their beds every one that walketh before him til their changing shal come and they be translated from death to life to see the king in his glory even God as he is to be satisfied with his image 31. For notwithstanding al this grace and communion that we have with God by faith we ar not perfect neyther shal be til we have attayned the resurrectioÌ„ of the dead here we see through a glasse darkly not face to face we know in part onely and doe grow in grace and knowledge dayly we behold the glory of the Lord with open face but as in a mirrour and ar changed into the same image from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord. VVe have first our infancie and are as babes in Christ after we are as yong men strong in faith and doe overcome the wicked one and proceed in riper years wexing old in faith and knowledge of him which is from the beginning thus our way shineth as the morning light that shineth more and more vnto the perfect day and we walk on earth as did Abram in Canaan going and iourneying towardes the South 32. But of al the wayes means wherby we hav communion with God ther is none more lively powrful coÌ„fortable then Prayer wherby we converse with the Lord most neerly powr out our complaints as children into the bosome of their father praise his name ar heard answered of him to the glory of his grace the joy of our harts the increase of our faith with al vertues and fruits of the Spirit 33. The ground of this heavenly exercise wherby man is so bold as to come vnto the throne of grace and talk with God is his commaundment which sayth * Cal vpon me in the day of trouble I wil deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me Cal vnto me and I wil answer thee and shew thee groat mightie things which thou knowest not Moreover he willeth vs to be nothing careful but in al things to let our requests be shewed vnto him in prayer and suppplicatioÌ„ with giving of thanks yea to pray coÌ„tinually and in al things to giv thanks because this is the will of God in Christ Iesus towards vs. 34. To guide vs in this action he hath given vs outward instruction in his word that we may ask according to his will with assuraÌ„ce that whatsoever we so ask he heareth vs and we have the petitions that we desire of him He giveth vs also inward assistance by his Spirit which dwelleth in vs and is the Spirit of the adoption-of-sons wherby we cry Abba Father which spirit also helpeth our infirmities who know not what to pray as we ought and it self maketh requests for vs with sighes grones vnutterable Thus powring out vpon his people as he did promise the spirit of grace of supplications and furnishing them with gifts for this heavenly work he heareth granteth their requests as David sayth Lord thow hearest the desire of the poor thow preparest their hart thow bendest thyne ear 35. So when we cal vpon the Lord in our trouble and crie vnto our God he heareth our voice out of his temple our crie comes before him into his ears yea before we cal he answereth whiles we speak he heareth for by the blood of Iesus we may be bold to enter into the holy place ask the Father in his name we shal receive that our joy may be full the spirit also maketh request for vs according to the will of God he that searcheth the harts knoweth what is the meaning of the Spirit and the odour of our prayers cometh vp as the sweet incense before him being perfumed with those odours that are offred with the prayers of al Saincts out of the Angels hand that Angel of the Covenant who is now at the right hand of God and maketh request also for vs. 36. Thus the Saincts have accesse vnto God and neer coÌ„munion with him in prayer though the wicked cal not vpon him or if they call he heareth them not Their golden vials are full of odours they delight in the Almighty and lift vp their faces vnto God they make their prayer vnto him and he heareth them they pay their vowes saying I will thank thee for thou hast heard me and hast been my salvation Blessed be God which hath not put back my prayer nor his mercy froÌ„ me 37. The fruits that come vntovs by this holy exercise are moe then can be told there being infinite occasions from day to day of making request to the Lord and filling our mouthes with new soÌ„gs of prayse for our salvations Admirable is the force and valour of this actioÌ„ which peirceth the heavens and cometh vnto God and prevaileth with him in whatsoever we ask according to his will if we ask in faith waver not for he is neer to al that cal vpon him to al that cal vpon him in truth fulfilleth the desire of them that feare him vnto whoÌ„ he hath promised Open thy mouth wide and I wil fil it Herevpon Moses sayd What nation is so great vnto whom the Gods come so neer vnto them as the Lord our God is neer vnto vs in al that we cal vnto him for And if he be so neer vnto every one of vs let vs know also that it wil be our good to draw neer vnto him to say revive thou vs and we wil cal vpon thy name because thou hearest the prayer vnto thee shall all flesh come trust in him alwayes ye people pour out your harts before him for God is our hope our God wil hear vs. 38. By all these things many other the like we may see how God hath exalted the horn of his people which is a prayse for al his Saincts the sons of Israel a people neere vnto him vnto whom he hath given most great precious promises that by theÌ„ they should be partakers of the godly nature in that they flee the corruptioÌ„ which is in the world through lust with whom he so graciously coÌ„municateth his goodnes that they tast in this world of the powers of the world to come and oâ—e walk in the light of his face feel his holy presence with them Which presence although it be with every of his Saincts in al
places wher they become yet is it most lively seen in their Assemblie and there he is very terrible For this cause did his people love the habitation of his house desired to dwel there al their dayes that they might be hold his bewtie and being absent from it their sowles thirsted for God saving when shal we come and appear before the presence of God for they knew his promise which had sayd In every place where I shal put the remembrance of my name I wil come vnto thee blesse thee they knew God was in the mids of his sanctuary it should not be moved he would help it very early But of this holy societie more is to be spoken particularly in another place CHAP. XII Of the Communion that we have with Iesus Christ our Mediatour IEsus Christ being God manifested in the flesh is given of the Father to be the onely mediatour between him and vs and he hath given him power to execute judgmēt in that he is the son of Man He is the head of the body of the Church in him all the buylding coupled togither groweth vnto an holy Temple in the Lord and we all are built togither in him to be the habitation of God by the Spirit he is the way the truth the life no man cometh to the Father but by him And of him and his mediation this Oracle was spoken of old to the Saincts that their Noble-ruler should be of thēselves their Governour Christ should proceed from the mids of them God would cause him to drawe neer and approach vnto himself when he should ascend and sit at his right hand to make intercession for vs for who is he els that warranteth his hart to come vnto me sayth the Lord And ye shal be my people and I wil be your God 2. As we are made the people and portion of God by Christ brought by him vnto the fellowship and glorie of his Father so is there a special fellowship and cōmunion that we have with Christ being caled therevnto of the Father as it is written God is faithful by whom ye are called vnto the communion of his Son Iesus Christ our Lord. And that this hath alwayes been the chief end and scope of God in al his Oracles since the world began to draw men vnto Christ so vnto himself is before shewed 3. The summe of the grace given vs through communion with our Lord Iesus is cōprised in those words of the Apostle saying that Christ is of God made vnto vs Wisdom and Iustice and Sanctification and Redemption These things he is vnto vs by vertue of his Mediatorship which consisteth in the three functions or offices of Prophecie Priesthood Kingdome committed vnto him by the Father For frō the in most holy place and from the bosom of the Father is he come to declare God vnto vs he is a Prophet raysed vp of the Lord to speak vnto vs al that he cōmanded him and him are we willed for to hear the yles are to wayt for his Law And as he being worthy obteyned to open the book that is in the right hand of him that sitteth on the throne to loose the seven seales thereof because all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge ar hid in him so having made knowen to vs al things that he heard of his Father having declared and stil declaring his Name by his word and spirit he is the Power of God and the wisdom of God vnto vs. And the things which he hath declared are two 1 the Law to shew vs our syn and the evils due for the same 2 the Gospel to shew vs our righteousnes by grace from God with the blessings that flow therfrō He also being our great high priest or sacrificer hath taken away our syns and al the evils accompanying them hath redeemed vs from the Curse of the Law finished wickednes sealed vp sins made reconciliatiō for iniquitie brought the gift of righteousnes or Iustice so by his obedience we ar made just grace shal reigne by justice vnto eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord whose blood doth also purge our consciences from dead works to serv the Living God and by the same hath he sanctified his people and contineweth a Priest for ever and is both our Iustice Sanctification Finally this our redemtion from evil and restauration vnto happines he conserveth maynteyneth by his mighty power frō al enemies whō hee hath subdued vnder his owne feet wil also subdue vnder ours and is therfore named our King whom al kings shal worship al nations shal serv who wil redeem our sowles from deceit violence wil giv vs also the redemption of our bodie and cause our last enimy Death to be swallowed vp in victorie so wil be our ful Redemptiō for ever ever at his appearing with glorie in the day of Redemptiō 4. More particularly touching his Prophesie and our communion with him therin as God gave him for a witnes to the people for a Prince and a Commander vnto them so shewed he himself to be a faithful and true witnesse in that he spake to the world the things which he had heard of the Father This he did in his own person whiles he walked with mē teaching the true meaning and end of al his Fathers Law and vrging the syncere keeping of it in Love freeing it also from the false glosses and leaven of the Pharisees and cutting down their traditions for the Lord to this end had made his mouth like a sharp sword that by the breath of his lips he might slay the wicked He also taught the glad tidings of the Gospel vnto the poor therby healing the broken harted preaching deliverance to the captives recovering of sight to the blind and the acceptable yere of the Lord that whosoever should hear his word and beleev in him that sent him should hav everlasting life and not come into condemnation but was passed from death vnto life So he hid not his Fathers righteousnes within his hart but declared his truth and his salvation he conceled not his mercy and his truth from the great congregation but preached peace and comfort to his people For God had given him a tongue of the Learned that he might know to minister a word in time to him that is weary grace was powred in his lips and they they were like lillies dropping down pure myrrh and his mouth was sweet things 5. As in his own person so did he by others publish the will of his Father vsing hereto the ministerie both of men and Angels He gave and stil giveth the gifts of ministery vnto many men above al other he furnished his
glory of God al precious ornaments of his Spirit And so greatly doth the King delight in her bewty that the words which were spoken to the first woman Evah how her desire should be vnto her husband are now on the other hand as touching the affection of love applied by the Spowse vnto him whom her sowl loveth I am my welbeloveds and his desire is towards me 28. From all that which is before spoken of the Cōmunion that God hath caled vs vnto with his Son it followeth that whatsoever justice and holines was in Christ manifested in the flesh eyther by nature or by actiō the same is made ours by grace and imputation as on the contrary whatsoever syn vnrighteousnes is in vs by nature or action the same is made his by imputation and by him is healed and taken away that it can not be we now should perish if we hold fast our faith and confidence of rejoycing vnto the end Whatsoever troubles sorrowes or tentations syn onely excepted do befall vs in this life the like have befalle◠vnto him were by him overcome and shal from vs as already they are from him be done away Finally whatsoever freedom liberty Christ as mā in ordinarie estate had on earth cōversing amōg men◠the like hath he given dayly giveth confirmeth vnto Christiās whither we respect the spiritual law of God or the politick lawes of men and civil states For he it is that liveth in vs himself is ours and we are his graffed into his death and resurrection to eternal life he hath given his glory vnto Israel even the glory that the Father gav him hath he given vs that we may be one as the Father and he ar one he in vs and God in him wher he is ther shal we also be to behold his glory though for the present we walk by faith and not by sight and it doth not yet appear what we shal be The cōsideration of which riches of his grace may cause vs to say with the prophet how great is his goodnes how great is his bewtie And we may conclude with the last word of Moses the man of God Blessed art thou o Israel who is like vnto thee o people saved by the Lord the shield of thine help and which is the sword of thy glorie therfore thine enimies shal be in subjectiō to thee thow shalt tread vpon their high places CHAP. XIII Of our Communion with the holy Ghost ALthough the fellowship that we have with the holy Ghost who is one with the Father and the Son may much be discerned by that which is before spoken of God of Christ yet because the scripture speaketh many things of the work of Gods Spirit in vs and particularly of the Cōmunion of the Holy Ghost with vs it wil be for the good and comfort of the Saincts to consider the graces and benefits that do come vnto them by this cōmunion also in particular 2. And this the rather for that the Spirit is the Comforter that other Comforter or Advocate which the Father at Christs request doth give vnto vs for to abide with vs for ever and chear vs in the absence of our Lord Iesus from vs who is gone vnto his Father and ours that we should not be left as orphans on earth destitute of help and comfort amids our many trials and tribulations 3. Very great is the grace admirable the strength and consolation which this Comforter giveth to the Saincts as the example of the Apostles themselves doth confirm who al the while that Christ was with them in this world though he ceased not to teach inform thē to comfort and embolden them to reprove and blame them as there was occasion yet were they weak and faint in faith fearfull of their enimies forgetful of Christs promises without vnderstanding of his mysteries and overcaried many wayes with their own infirmities But when he had sent down vpon them the promise of his Father endued them with power from on high baptising them with the holy Ghost then began they to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them vtterance the wonderful works of God shewed great boldnes in preaching the word with great power witnessed the resurrection of the Lord Iesus and many signes and wonders were shewed by their hands and they ceased not to teach and preach Iesus Christ amongst many troubles rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his name 4. Neyther vnto them alone was the holy Ghost given though the abundance of his graces was powred most plentifully vpon them but al that in those dayes or before or synce do beleeve in the Lord Iesus Christ ar sealed also with the same spirit of promise furnished in some mesure with the gifts of the same Which grace the Lord himself proclaymed in that last and great day of the Feast of Tabernacles saying He that beleeveth in me as sayth the scripture out of his bel'y shal flow rivers of water of life speaking this of the Spirit which they that beleeved in him should receiv for if any man have not the Spirit of Christ the same is not his 5. As ther is but one God and Father of al and one Lord Jesus Christ so is ther but one and the same Spirit although for the diversities of gifts which that Spirit distributeth among the Saincts the scripture sometime speaketh as of seven Spirits which ar before the throne of God seven being a ful and perfect number and signifying Many and these seven Spirits be the seven hornes seven eyes that is the manifold and absolute power providence of the Lamb Christ Iesus of whom it was prophesied that the Spirit of the Lord should rest vpon him the Spirit of wisdom and Vnderstanding the Spirit of counsel of strength the Spirit of knowledge of the fear of the Lord of whō also it was witnessed God giveth him not the Spirit by mesure 6. The Spirit as he was at first creator of the world with the Father the Son garnished the heavēs so is he stil the finger of God that worketh effectually al his actions creating the creatures renewing the face of the earth And generally as God speaketh vnto men outwardly by the ministery of his word so sendeth he also inwardly motions of his Spirit against which many struggle to their just judgement In the old world Gods spirit strove in man as his word was preached by Noah but they sayd vnto God Depart from vs wherfore they were wrinckled before the time and the flood was powred out vpō their foundation Whē Israel came out of Aegypt the Lord sent before them Moses Aaron Miriam to guyd
many people should provoke one another to go vp to the mountayn and howse of God wher he would teach them his wayes and they would walk in his pathes because the law was to go forth of Sion the word of the Lord from Jerusalem Wherefore Christ often visited the Temple and synagogues as did also his disciples to shew how he regarded the assemblies of his people in which he vttered so many gracious words and wrought so many great miracles And after that he had gathered a new people to himself they also vsually met togither for the food of Gods word and other holy things in the churches or assemblies where Christ had given gifts vnto men in the persons of his officers for the gathering togither of the Saincts edification of his body Then the nations walked in the light of Ierusalem there the Lord gathered his sheep into their folds wher they might grow and encrease set vp shepheards over theÌ„ which should feed them he fed them in good pasture they lay in a good fold he brought them to their rest reduced that which was driven away bound vp that which was broken and strengthned the weak by the doctrines of his gospel There God is very terrible in the mysterie of the Saincts whiles by the fyre of his spirit he causeth on earth in his heaveÌ„ly teÌ„ple lightnings and Voices and thundrings and earthquake and much hayl For the words that his wise men there speak given by him the One pastor are like goâ—ds to excite and stir vp our dul nature that being pricked in our harts we may be drawn to repentance like a fyre to devour the adversaries like a two edged sword to execute vengeance like a â—aÌ„mer to break the stone like mighty weapons of war to cast down bulwarks and whereby the wise goeth vp into the citie of the mighty and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof Again there are vttered the words of life which quiâ—ken the hearers and bring theÌ„ oâ— of the graves of syn the words oâ— reconciliation which make peacâ— between God and the conscience are as flagons of wine and comfortable apples to refresh the siâ— sowl even the words of salvation and of eternal life These Chrisâ— putteth in the mouthes of his ministers and by the oyl of his spirit causeth the seven lamps of the golden candlestick of his law to give light continually in his tabernacle With these waters he moystneth the garden of his church and the several roots and brnches of the same wherevpon such as are planted in the Lord howse do flouâ—ish in his courts stil bring forth fruit their leaf fadeth not neyther doth their fruit fayl because their waters run out of the sanctuarie 7. A third reason of the Saincts gathering togither is that they might the better resist the coÌ„mune adversaryes For ther is warr continual between the serpents seed and the church and they band themselves togither to beseâ—t the â—ents of the Saincts and the beloved city Against that kingdome of darknes God gathereth and setteth a coÌ„trary kingdome a band of Christian soldjers or heavenly warriours the host of the Lord who standing fighting togither vnder the banner of his gospel by the conduct of his Spirit and Christ their captaine are an help strength and comfort one to another These come willingly at the time of assembling Christs armye in holy bewty among them ar guids and leaders the overseers of the Churches as the charrets horsmen of Israel they ar al furnished with the armour of God having his word for asword his faith for a shield his salvation for a helmet vpon their heads These weapons of their warfare ar mighty through God and here are more shields targets theÌ„ hung on Davids towr the trumpets of the Lord do sound an alarme against the enemies and in their conflicts the people of God do help one another as need requireth wherby they ar emboldned and comforted among themselves ar terrible to their foes as an army with banners and having fought togither the good fight of faith do get the victory over the Dragon and his Angels by the blood of the Lamb through many afflictions so at last doe triumph in glorie 8. A fourth cause and benifit of this societie is the mutual ayd strengthning and consolation one of another in al other ChristiaÌ„ duties both publick private For as the several members of a mans body ar serviceable to the whol and each to other so ar the Saincts among themselves having every one their mesure of faith their diversity of gifts and graces from God that what is wanting in one may be supplied by an other And as the eye cannot say to the hand nor the head to the feet I have no need of yow so cannot the least member in the church of Christ be refused as vnnecessarie but may be beneficial to the greatest For as yton sharpneth yron so doth man sharpen the face of his friend And hence doe arise the mutual exhorting and building vp one of another in the faith labouring together vnto the truth admonishing the vnruly comforting the feble minded bearing with the weak considering one another to provoke vnto love and good works rebuking for syn trespasse confessing of faults one to another praying one for an other bearing one anothers burden rejoycing with them that rejoyce weeping with them that are in trouble communicating to the afflictions and distributing to the necessities one of an other visiting them in sicknes mourning labouring together in prayer for theÌ„ with many other offices of like nature for the refreshing of soul bodie al which ar found and felt in this holy communion and body wherin if one member suffer al suffer with it if one be had in honour al rejoyce with it so neer a conjunctioÌ„ doth Gods spirit work in the hartes of the faithfull which maketh them to look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others 9. For these and the like reasons hath the communion aud societie of the Church bene alwayes praysed sought for loved and estemed For as God though he love his people and hath al his saincts in his hand yet loveth the gates of Sion above al the habitations of Iakob so his people likewise hav loved the habitation of his howse desired this one thing of the Lord that they might dwel in the same al dayes of their life to behold the Lords bewty and to inquire in his temple esteming a day in his courts better theÌ„ a thousand other where lamenting their lot when they were exiled therfroÌ„ powring out
and all the furniture for the service of God at the ordination and authorizing of the Priests and Levites at the first making and solemnizing of the covenant at the renewing of the same and at the repetitioÌ„ of al the Lawes ordinances of the Lord. Vnto al every of the Israelites was coÌ„mâ—nded the care and observation of all Gods statutes that neyther all nor any of them man nor woman nor familie nor tribe should forsake the Lord nor suffer among theÌ„ any root to bring forth gall and wormwood but playnly rebuke their neighbour when he synned in private or testifie against him in publick if they could and there were need to bewray execute judgment vpon open notorious malefactors even the leprous and vnclean though the trial of them apperteyned to the Priests yet al the children of Israel were to look that such were removed out of the host yea the care of the Priests purity in their administration apperteyned to all the people And long after both in counsels and in the redressing of publick evils trespasses all Israel indifferently had their hand and presence as the scripture sheweth Ezra 10. 1. 9. 12. c. 9. The churches in the Apostles dayes had also the like right libertie for the multitudes of beleevers wer both beholders actoâ— in the coÌ„mune affayres as at the choise ordinatioÌ„ of church-officers at the deciding of questioÌ„s controversies at the excommunication or casting out of impenitenâ— synners at the choise appointment of men to cary the grace or benevolence of the Saincts â— their needy brethren at the receving and reading of the Apostles Letters and generally in the publick communion and fellowship of the Apostles one of another They were also willed to exhort â— admonish ech other even the Officers of the churches to maâ— diligently and avoyd the causerâ— of division and offences to looâ— that †no root of bitternes sprung 〈◊〉 and troubled theÌ„ least therby many should be defiled 10. These the like privileges in the faith and practise of the Gospel ar permitted to al Saincts in al churches which they must vse in al sobrietie order and peace not presuming above their calling place or mesure of vnderstanding nor abusing their libertie to the trouble or annoyance of their brethren And therfore Elders or Governours ar set to rule the people and togither with the other Officers to weild the churches affaires By which means confusion is avoided order observed in the Assemblies as was in the primitive churches wher the Overseers and publick Ministers propounded discussed caried matters in seemlines and peace These guides ar to be heard reverenced and submitted vnto in the Lord they attend to the publick service of the church and are as the hand mouth eyes of the same by such God of old signified his wil to the people for the obteyning of that promised seed that should bruise the SerpeÌ„ts head and bring blessing vpon all families of the earth And vntil that seed which was Christ came our Fathers generally embraced that kind of life thought it a dishonour to die childlesse aâ—â— since that time it hath stil been kept in and sanctified vnto the church to such as saw good or had need so to live both for the avoiding of syn and for other help and coÌ„fort which that estate affordeth But they which have from God the gift to conteyn their vessels in holines and honour without mariage and which addicting themselves to the service of Christ find it best for avoyding the burdens cares of this life to keep theÌ„selves single in virginitie or widowhood are counselled by Christ and his Apostle so to rest Yet if any mary they syn not onely they must so â—ive as if they were not maried so vse al other worldly things as if they vsed them not because the fashion of this world passeth away And in their marying they must have care not to match themselves in an vnequal yoke with vnbeleevers for that hath alwaies been reproved but onely in the Lord though if they be maried to vnbeleevers before they are caled to the faith they must not then depart or put away 3. The faithful man woman thus fastned in wedlock are heyres togither of the grace of life and so ought to live in peace and love the wife being subject to her husbaÌ„d whose glory she is as vnto the Lord. Their fellowship as it is in spiritual duties so also in humane such as be living coÌ„versing togither educatioÌ„ of children governmeÌ„t offervants ordering of y familie joynt labour diligence for their livelihood and al other offices wherby their mutual love help and comfort may be mainteyned in this honorable state of life which to forbid any Christian 〈◊〉 a doctrine of Divils and whichâ— a shadow of that mystical hevenly communion between Christ his church whiles the man loveth cherisheth his wife as his own body the womaÌ„ again loveth feareth obeyeth her husband This societie endureth vntil death and can not be dissolved except for adulterie for which trespasse if the magistrate inflict not death according to Gods law the injuried person may lawfully divorce and put away the offender 4. The next in the family aâ— children which as they are the inheritance and wages of the Lord so must they be brought vp nourâ—ured in his fear for they are his holy froÌ„ the womb And because foolishnes is bound in the harts of children therfore the parents ar to governe correct but without provoking them to wrath least they be discouraged For them are parents also to store vp provide for their maintenance mariage and other necessities what in them â—ieth the children againe honouring and obeying their fathers and mothers in the Lord recompensing them if they can ther be need in their old age povertie And they that shal smite curse or blaspheme their parents o stubbornly refuse to obey them are for such vnnaturalnes to die the death 5 Servants ar the last in the familie inferior vnto children both in duraÌ„ce and fidelity yet as their fellowship may be in the faith for which their maisters should regard them above servaÌ„ts even brethren beloved so in civil societie they are notwithstanding to be in subjection to their maisters faithfull and pleasing them in all things Of these ther be two sorts 1. Free or hired servants 2. and BoÌ„dmen or Sclaves Of the first sort werâ— the poor Israelites which sold or hired out themselves for necessitie to their brethren or were chaffâ—ed by their