Elias he is sent to Bethel 2 Kings 2.2 at Bethel it is without question he taught in that School and among the rest told the Children of the Prophets ver 3. that the Lord would take him away being Elishas Master from his head that day and the same being sent to Jericho in vers 4.5 where the Jews received that tradition of his teaching in their Schools that Elias shall first come Matth. 17.10 11. That passage of 1 Sam. 19.20 24. was an extraordinary case to preserve David in which Saul and his inessengers were changed as before in Esau when he came against Jacob and that of Sauls meeting the Prophets 1 Sam. 10.3 5. which were given him for signes to confirm him by in Gods electing of him 5. These Schools were in all Towns usually as our Grammar-Schools are having onely the reading of the Law and the Prophets used among them who were according to their several capacities taught and distinguished as in our Schools by forms and places one from the other In which nor Cato nor Virgil nor Homer nor Aristotle were not usually read but the commands of God by the knowledge whereof God was honoured and they sanctified 6. In this study and society God would manifest himself when he would not in the obscene readings of Ovid and the lying fables of the other Poets 7. In this teaching men were not devoted hereunto onely but had other callings to employ themselves in to live by and were taught also in these Schools one part of the day as Paul brought up at the feet of Gamaliel was by his profession a Tent-maker 8. Out of the Word Astrologie and other natural Philosophy may be deduced with Tropes Metaphors and Figures Geographie c. by which men may be better acquainted with the Word then now they are This is the wisdom of a people and not the knowledge of the custom of Heathens which onely tends to make men such and justifies them 9. Lawyers hereby may be made and rightly fitted to judge according to the Lord. 10. Every man is rightly taught to live in their youth according to Gods law as David Psal 11 9.9 98 99. verses 11. Now if they offend they dye more justly being taught the sence and sentence of the law Appl. Ye Universities the wrath of God will break out upon you your dayes are numbred and your time neer come in which you will see that it is not a reformation will serve your turn or save you from the decree 2. Ye princes of the people in Parliament a people are rude without learning O be intreated to convert sufficient maintenance to the maintaining of some freely to teach in all towns 1. To teach the Hebrew reading to some 2. To teach the moral or judicial law to others 3. The prophets to others and their meaning 4. To teach the Greek and in those schools only read the Histories of Jesus Christ written by Matthew Marke c. with the Epistles of the Apostles 1. As for Latine and the long time spent in obtaining thereof the time is coming that the authors and learning laid up in their writings will be of little or no use to the world God will instruct them with better of his own The time is coming knowledge shall cover the earth as water the seas and all those mighty Libraries be but lost matter 2. It is as a bage of the Roman conquest which will cease with that Empire in a maner amongst us the laws and true learning being turned into our own language 3. By this means in the meetings on the seventh day sabbath the gifts and knowledge of every particular person either in his exact reading of the law or understanding of the mystery or prophesie of the prophets comes to be made use of and exercised they being herein a nation of Priests and so would beget much wisdome and emulation for knowledge in every man and comfort in every man by seeing and knowing the gifts and profittings of his children in the law who would come to be spurs and goads to provoke the elder to a more diligent search of the law and knowledge thereof that they may not be under the teaching of children that they shall speak and themselves be dumbe they going beyond the elders in describing the history and in opening the mysteries of the law and prophets In this estate of Moses or mens being under the law was no priesthood at all yet is he preached every seventh day Acts 15.21 when and where the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 teaching did what he could to make men from Moses to Jesus Christ in a right and true way Act. 21.21 whence though many are called few are chosen The priesthood in the time of Moses belonged to the temple and was conferred on Aaron and his sons who taught not the law in the Synagogues those that taught there sate in Moses not Aarons chaire or priestly succession Moses being before Aaron Jer. 7.22 23. The which priesthood ceasing and another even that of Christs being now instituted of God and set up in the place thereof in the Church called from Moses consisting of believers which was given to the Apostles and their true successors to administer under the Lord Jesus which call no man was to take on him but according to the Lords institutions who were to attend on that place of ministry whereas Evangelists pastors or teachers as they were called to minister before the Lord under Jesus Christ who were not to be cumbred about any worldly occasions 2 Tim. 2.4 Luk. 9.33 Let us make three tabernacles one for thee one for Moses one for Elias The tabernacle was the place God first had his worship set up in under Moses and Aaron and here signifieth moveableness 1. The service of God under Moses and under the law is meant under tha◠tabernacle for Moses 2. The service of God under Christ and grace is meant by the tabernacle for thee or Christ 3. Which administrations falling in the hiding of the Church are againe to be restored in our dayes by that Elias in that tabernacle is attributed to him How men came from Moses to Christs administration is most excellently set forth Rom. 7.1 6. Moses disciples were taught the letter of the ten commands Christ taught his disciples the commands in the spiritual part of it as Mat. 5. which are called by Christ my commands in which his disciples were to walk with God in a more holy and more acceptable way which commands the world could not receive In the New Testament three Scriptures respect Magistrates supream and subordinate 1. The which are kings and their deputies 1 Tim. 2.2 Rom. 13.1 The powers that be viz. Nero's and his deputies are ordained of God Thus 1 Pet. 2.13 to kings as supreme vers 14. or to governors as to them that are sent by him 2. God ordained no powers but Kings and Judges and the Kings of the Nations from whom the Jews took
THE NEW EARTH OR The True MAGNA CHARTA OF The past AGES and of the AGES or World to come CALLED The JEWS COMMONWEAL Written by an unworthy witness of the truth of the great God JOHN BRAYNE Isa 42.21 The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness sake he will magnifie the law and make it honourable Richard in Paules Church Yard Att The London Printed for Richard Moon at the seven stars in Paul's Church-yard neer the great North-door 1653. To the Supreme Authority THE PARLIAMENT OF THE Commonwealth of ENGLAND Right Honourable THe men without law that is the Nations to whom God had not given the knowledge thereof were a law unto themselves and made laws of their own wherein one man became as a God to another but we which have the law of God and use it not as a law are indeed in a kind as those Gentiles were altogether without it or worse who by our traditions for so indeed are humane laws have made voide the laws of God Mat. 15.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thus the Pharisees had unauthorized the law of God before us Concerning the ceremonial law Mar. 7.8 and the moral law v. 10 11 12. by which then as now the word of God was made of none effect v. 13. and was committed in many things besides these particulars that are set down and expressed when man and not God reigneth nor doth God whiles his laws judge us not judge but man the law of the Nation and not of God untill men are judged by Gods law judgement is not the Lords but Justinians Gratians or other mens upon which the people imploy their time and study but if Gods laws were set up among us by his Bible or Statute book every man would easily become a lawyer where no acts are ever to be repealed but out-last those of the Medes and Persians No word must be added or diminished there is therein no more or less then should be so full hath God made it to govern by Deut. 4.1 2 6 8. the Ruler of the people was to have it alway by him and not to turn from the right hand or the left Deut. 17.18 19 20. It was the excuse of the Heathens they knew not the law to make use thereof it was the wickedness of the Papacy that it was not used therein though they knew it they well seeing that both they and their practice were under the condemnation thereof and that they had no authority thence to set up themselves and Lord it over the world putting themselves in the place of God without God But yee O yee Princes of the people into whose hearts God put it to give assurances to the nation that your desire is to make it happy which the Lord tells you consists in setting up Gods law Rom. 9.4 Deut. 4.6 7 8. God hath laid ingagements on you as on his people of old Deut. 4.24 though other alterations in the State were troublesome God will prosper you in this and in your undertakings for this remember ye have the ingagements of men upon you and of God on you and of vows made to God on your own souls O what shall or can hinder you need not fit a day to do it it is done for you to a word in the word untill when nationally we are not the people of God Iam. 4.12 tells us there is but one law-giver consider then what it is to give a law that is not according to Gods especially when we have the law by us and are not to go to heaven or beyond the Seas for it and I pray consider that the Gentiles Rom. 2. though they had laws of their own to judge by yet not having Gods law they are said to be without law and observe well thence what God may say of us our law and judgement Do O do as Iosiah did 2 Kings 23.2 3. bring forth the law do you and your people make a covenant and all the people with God to restore and obey the law in the commands the statutes and judgements thereof so shall no injustice nor oppression be used in the land this is the New Earth which the Saints even in the Apostles dayes dayes looked for in which dwelleth righteousness 2 Pet. 3.13 the Romans having destroyed that government before and hath laine hid to this day in the word untill which the foundations of judgement and justice being out of course though you are never so wise just and willing to do the nation good ye cannot for the foundations are out of course and what can the righteous do saith David And let not the cry of the Prophet take hold of you Psal 119.16 Vp Lord for men have made void thy law Examine I pray if your laws have not in some kinde made void Gods laws which is the greatest guilt of a nation that may be under which we have layn ever since we had the knowledge of it amongst us Give me leave to tell you It is not enough you have put down the power and authority but you must put down the rule of the fourth Monarchy also as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 15.24 O that ye might be honoured of God to put down that and set up the Lord and not your own when indeed ye shall be healers of the nation and restorers of the paths to walk in on which I beseech you to look as on that is Gods work and your chiefest duty to set up judges in the right place of judgement that they judge according to the law that judgement may be indeed the Lords and they called gods in which you shall do more for the nation then all the Parliaments ever were and deliver your own souls make prosperous the people establish authority and rule compose the differences in being among us and make the people one for it must be God that must make those of one house much more those of one nation to agree whereby ye may onely do it to which I leave you and pray the Lord to help you and direct you therein and remaine A faithful servant and well-wisher of you all in the Lord John Brayne THE foundation of all the gracious dealings of God with men hath alwayes been laid and began in or with Covenants in which God takes a people as a man a woman and espouseth them to himself Exod. 19.8 24.3 7. where in stead of the blood of the sacrifice we have Christ to make it in 1. There is the first covenant the Mediator or Minister thereof was Moses which was legal and made with all the people That they should keep the commandments the Statutes and Judgements set down in the books of Moses Deut. 5.1 2 3 5. vers 27. The blessings of this covenant were temporal for this life when it was broken temporal blessings were withdrawn The Kings of Israel as Josiah 2 Kin. 23.2 3. renewed it Deut. 29.10 11 12 13. 2 Kings 11.17 And another then this legal covenant
and shall be most certainly done againe in this age of ours In the other God is as Abraham to Sarah whose son Isaac being born of the free-woman signifieth the state of the Church under the Gospel under the name of Jerusalem from above which are a society of believers joyned to the Lord Jesus in the fellowship of the Gospel in whom the better promises are conferred and made over to the Saints born after the Spirit Gal. 4.30 Conclusion The covenant of works was after the covenant made with Abraham of grace but being renewed in Christ it is called new and the new old Gal. 3.17 The now first covenant though it hath not the best yet it hath many excellent promises necessary for the life annexed to it which we wanting bodily are reduced to great necessities and the breaking thereof brought ruine and desolation suddainly to the Jews And though at this time it be not in esteem among men yet the prophesie of Isaiah 42.19 21. incourageth me that after Gods servant comes who the blind world accounts blind though God saith he is his servant and perfect and which the Scripture before clearly shews was to come after the grand Apostacy of Antichrist I say after he comes the Lord will magnifie the law make it great though all the world have endeavoured to make nothing of it or of no use at all a long time when they shall againe judge by it and punish by it and rule by it c. yea and more the Lord will make it honourable also they shall never set up traditions in the place thereof again O Parliament This God will do but whether God will do this by you or not and honour you herein or not I do not know you see it is my desire if it be his will ye are witnesses and God also that the work may be yours who have done much of the work of the Lord in the Nation that the honour here and reward thereof hereafter may be yours and let me speak freely to you thus that if you will not do it God in few yeers will not want them that will do it upon whom and whose posterity the blessings of God and the Nation will fall in great abundance who did that in their generation for them was never done it being then and never untill then fulfilled that of Paul Rom. 10.19 I will provoke you to jealousie by them that are not a people that is some heathens vvhich none never yet did do should as the Jews nationally covenant with God in the covenant of Moses with which the Jews as awaked begin to thinke that people Jacob-like steal away or God gives away his birthright from him the not doing whereof delayes their call Now what Nation in all the world is like to do this as England O that it might be offered them who would not refuse it The fourth General That to the Elders Heads and Judges were other inferior subordinate officers to serve in the same rule who have their authority from the Seriptures and from God as the rest Josh 23.2 Deut. 16.18 Command the First Exod. 20.3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me Statutes DEut. 6.5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart c. Chap. 10.20 Fear the Lord thy God him shalt thou serve and to him shalt thou cleave Exod. 34.12 Take heed to thy self that thou make no covenant with the inhabitants Verse 15. Lest thou and they go a whoring after their gods and one call thee and thou eat of their sacrifice Deut. 11.6 Take heed to your selves that your hearts be not deceived to turn aside to serve other Gods and worship them Deut. 8.19 If thou forget the Lord thy God and walk after other Gods and serve and worship them c. Deut. Thou shalt not go after other gods the gods of the people round about you Exod. 23.24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods nor serve them nor do after their works thou shalt utterly overthrow them and quite break down their Images Judgement for serving strange Gods I. On the earth Deut. 11.17 I will shut up heaven and the land shall not give her fruit 1 Kings 17.1 This was fulfilled in the dayes of Ahab II. On the people or Nation Deut. 8.19 Ye shall perish as the Nations god destroyed before your face III. On particular persons Numb 25.3 Those joyned to Baal-peor vers 4. were hanged by the head against the Sun Deut. 4.3 Exod. 22.20 He that sacrificeth to any god save to the Lord alone he shall be utterly destroyed Deut. 17.2 If a man or woman have transgressed the covenant and hath served other Gods and worshipped them either the Sun or Moon or any of the hoast of beaven which I have not commanded thee vers 4. If it be told thee that is the judge and thou hast heard of it and inquired diligently and behold if it be true and the thing certaine that such abomination is wrought in Israel vers 5. thou shalt bring him or her forth to the gates and stone them with stones until they dye and so shalt thou put away evil from amongst you Note so by the executing this sentence and not any other of thy own then it abides with thee for it was not the judges condemning but the peoples executing Gods command Put away evil IV. Deut. 13.12 Contains judgement on a City for idolatry unpunished 1. The inhabitants and cattel are to be smitten with the sword 2. The spoile thou shalt gather into the middest of the City and burn both City and spoile 3. There shall nought of the wicked thing cleave to thy hand V. Deut. 18.6 If thy brother son daughter wife or friend intice thee secretly saying Let us go and serve other gods which thou hast not known nor thy fathers vers 7. Thou shalt not consent hear nor pity nor spare nor conceal him vers 9. The people shall stone him with stones that he dye VI. Deut. 13.2 If a prophet or dreamer give a signe or wonder and it comes to pass and he say Let us go after other gods thou hast not known it is to try thee thou shalt not hear him he shall be put to death Deut. 18.20 If a Prophet presumes to speak in my name that I have not spoken or speaks in the name of another god he shall dye VII Naboth 1 Kings 21.13 Levit. 24.14 was stoned for and under the pretence of blasphemy Rules to be observed on the judgement 1. That God required the execution thereof onely of those that had transgressed the covenant which Moses renewed oft as appears in that statute Deut. 17.2 who were to suffer the sentence of the law and none else and so in most other eases 2. Though those were hanged joyned to Baal-peor were hanged after strangled contrary to our custome and was the most ignominious death for joyning themselves to Baal-peor or Priapus that ignomnious idol 3. The Lord being the Lord of life
Then will I set my face against that man and his family and will cut him off and all that go a whoring after him I will set my face against that soul c. II. Deut. 27.15 Cursed is that man that puts any graven or molten image in a secret place IV. On the idols Deut. 7.5 Destroy their altars and break down their images their groves shall ye cut down and burn their graven images with fire Numb 33.52 ye shall destroy all their pictures and molten images and pluck down their high places Numb 32.52 and quite pluck down all their high places V. Judgement is on the places of idol-worship Deut. 12.2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places wherein the nations ye shall possess served their gods upon the high mountains and hills and under every green tree Vers 3. Ye shall overthrow their altars break their pillars and burn their groves with fire ye shall throw down the graven images of their gods Judg. 6.25 2 King 32. 2 Chron. 23.17 VI. Judgements is one the names of the false gods Deut. 7.25 Ye shall destroy the names of them out of that place Zech. 13.2 the same shall be done in time to come VII Judgement is on the idols of gold and silver Deut. 7.25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire Then shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them nor take it to thee lest thou be snared therein for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God Vers 26. Thou shalt not bring in an abomination into thy house lest thou be an accursed thing like it but shalt utterly detest it and abhor it for it is an accursed thing Vide Joshua 6.18 and Chapter 7.1 15 21. to the end of the Chapter Observations 1. That metals were to be melted with fire stone glass and such-like fragil things were to be broken with the hammer to powder 2. What work hath God to do yet for us were we once joyned by covenant to the Lord names of moneths dayes of the week and those places we call Churches Altars the names of idols false gods c. are daily and hourely in our mouths as in our swearing by the Mass VIII Judgement It defiles a land 1. How this nation by worshipping of idols in the time of Antichrist hath profaned that Scripture is the covenant is clear and in regard he is a jealous God he is no less jealous of our apostatizing then of our fathers especially seeing we have done hitherto the work of the Lord negligently not making our covenant in a right way taking him to be our God but not in his laws to judge and rule over us 2. He visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children you may see without a speedy covenanting with God according to his will what provocation there remaines for God whose hand is yet stretched out to destroy us we having been as idolatrous superstitious and profane a people as any in the world O England remember the bloodshed for the idol of the Mass and its worship and that by Statutes and Acts of Parliament together with the other six bloody Articles made by King and Parliament in the time of Henry the eighth 3. It may be said as those in Jonah 3.9 Who can tell whether the Lord will turn and repent so if the King had made this covenant and set up this law this had been the way for to have restored him but it was hid from his eyes I beseech you O ye Parliament of England be admonished do this great thing that the Lord lay not you aside also and if ye hinder herein see what a command God hath given against all hinderances Esa 57.14 Cast ye up cast ye up prepare the way take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people God hath of late taken up many that were stumbling-b ocks among your selves since ye sate and will spare none that indeed is so this day to his peoples freedom and deliverance And that the judicial law ought to be set up among us as well as the Jews clearly was signified in this that the law was to be one as well to the stranger as to those home-born which should not have been if God had intended it only to have been a law to Jews and nor the Gentiles also there being the same ground for equity justice and for fellowship with God with one as with the other with God there being no respect of persons Levit. 24.10.22 Numb 15.29 33 31. Deut. 1.16 5.14 Objections made by Sir H. V. Object 1. To restore the rule of the law is to Judaize Resp 1. To rule by our own law is to heathenize 2. Having Gods law and yet to rule by that is much worse 3. We now Judaize by making void the law of God by our Traditions 4. To Judaize is properly to continue in Gods worship some ceremony Christ by his death hath put an end unto 1. The law judicial hath nothing ceremonial in it 2. Christ put not an end to it but established it 3. The Law was not made for the Jew only but All and said indefinitely to be made for transgressors thereof of all Nations 1 Tim 1 9 10. 2. Object We look for a better kinde of rule from Christ 1. Resp As there shall never be another Gospel so shall there never be another law God having shut up all 2. As there cannot be a Gospel more full of grace so nor can there be a law more full of justice and righteousness 3. How can we expect that from God which neither by himself his Son nor Prophets in all the book of God was never promised no not by one word 4. If it were supposed a better law for goverment of the republike might be given as can never be Quere 1. Whether we might receive it without warrant expresly given by God whiles we have that of Gods which he gave himself 2. If be that gave it be not accursed as he that should give another Gospel 1 Gal. 4.1 9. 5. Whether it be not exceedingly to derogate from God to esteem of any rule like or above his It s objected by some That the Jews had several Synedries viz. the sevnty and twenty three Resp From Isa 1.26 God will restore councellors as at the beginning not councels that is but one and the Synedrie is but one Mat. 5.22 and not Synedries so that the Jews in setting up more then one Synedrie did a postatize from the rule Command the Third Exod. 20.7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord the God in vaine c. Statute DEut. 6.13 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him and shalt swear by his name Levit. 19.12 Ye shall not swear by my name falsly nor profane the name of thy God Jer. 5.7 thy children swear by them are no gods Judgements I. Hosea 4. vers 2.3 on a land For oaths the land mourneth II. On a family Dan. 3.29 He
that blasphemed God his house shall be destroyed and himself cut in pieces Zech. 5.4 The flying roul entred into the house of him that sweareth falsly by my name and it shall remaine in the midst of his house and it shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof Jezabel swore by her gods and is eaten by dogs and her familly cut off 1 Kin. 19. 2 Kin. 9. III. On a person Levit. 24.15 Whoever curseth his God and he blasphemeth the name of God shall surely dye as well the stranger as he that is born in the land all the Congregation shall stone him Levit. 24.11 The son of an Israelitish woman blasphemed the name of God and cursed and they brought him to Moses and put him in ward until the minde of the Lord were known Verse 14. He is brought out of the Camp and stoned Illustr Davids child dyed because he made the enemy blaspheme 2 Sam. 12. Statute Levit. 19.31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits neither seek after wizards to be defiled by them I am the Lord. Vers 26. Ye shall not use inchantments nor observe times Deut. 18.10 There shall not be found amongst you any that useth divination or any observer of times or an enchanter or a witch or a charmer or a consulter with familiar spirits a wizard or a Necromancer all these are an abomination before the Lord. Judgements Exod. 22.18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live Levit. 20.27 A man or woman that hath a familiar spirit or is a wizard shall surely be put to death they shall stone them with stones their blood shall be upon them Vers 6. The soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits and after wizards to go a whoring after them I will even set my face against that soul and will cut him off from among his people Note God will cut him off by some judgement this was not to be done by the Magistrate but left to God himself 1 Sam. 28.31 in Saul Statute Levit. 20.22 Ye shall keep all my Statutes and my judgements to do them Verse 23. Ye shall not walk in the manners of the Nations Levit. 18.3 After the doings of the land of Egypt shall ye not do after the doings of the land of Canaan where I bring you shall ye not do neither shall ye walk in their ordinances Verse 4. Ye shall do my judgements and keep mine ordinances Levit. 19.27 Thou shalt not round the corners of thy head nor war the corners of thy beard nor make cuttings in thy flesh for the dead nor print any markes on you Deut. 18.9 Ye shall not do after the abominations of the heathen Observation The Lord bindes the people that have his Statutes to make use of his and not any other ordinances laws or manners Statute Numb 15.30 31. The soul that doth ought presumptuously whether he be born in the land or a stranger the same reproacheth the Lord and that soul shall be cut off from among his people because he hath despised the word of the Lord and hath broken his commandment that soul shall utterly be cut off his iniquity shall be upon him O ye Princes and Judges of the people if men judge by other judgements then Gods and have Gods judgements by them to judge by judge ye if they do not presumptuously what they do in so doing that they were to dye for it Note The Jews mixed first heathenish customes in sacrifices in the law the Jews believers in the time of the Gospel mixed Jewish rites and the Gospel-adminstrations together the heathens their rites and the Gospel we now Antichristian superstitions and the way of Gods worship in the Gospel whose manners and customs we ought to abstaine from as the Jews from the heathens Rev. 14.9.10 11. 18.4.8 They being a like abomination before the Lord. 1. The excellency of setting up of the commands and statutes and the government of God by making a covenant with God doth appear most eminently in the national preservation of the Jews from the witchcraft of Balaam who cryeth out to Balack and saith There is no divination against Israel nor enchantment against Jacob Numb 23.23 and the reason is the Lord is his God by covenant and he is with him and vers 8. How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed Chap. 24.9 Blessed is he that blesseth thee and cursed is he that curseth thee which shews had not God been his God witchcrafts inchantments and curses had consumed them 2. Balaam farther saith Numb 23.9 The people shall dwell alone and not be reckoned among the Nations When a people make a covenant with God they are then a people which before were not O that in England might be fulfilled that of Rom. 10.19 2. They shall dwell alone being a peculiar people to God 3. Not reckoned among the Nations but separated from them in their laws goverment worship of God c. God blessing them when other nations are accursed 3. Then when we covenant rightly into the Lord he sets his name upon us and we called the people of God and not before And to these and not others is the name of God a strong tower the righteous fly unto it and are safe they coming unto the Lord as to their God and refuge God being their refuge and hiding place which he is not to any other nation but these Treason called crimen laesae majestatis against God is contained in these three commands and many traitors there are amongst us 1 Sam. 2.25 Concerning the Treatise of the Sabbath 1. From Adam to Moses the authority was by tradition and the first-born was priest 2. By tradition Christ was discovered in the promise to Adam to many nations 2. The authority was from Scripture in the ten commands and other judicial precepts 1. Under it the traditional authority ceased 2. The priesthood of the first-born ceased and was given Aaron 3. Now sacrifices of other were offered to devils 4. This was only for the seventh-day-Sabbath 5. This Sabbath was a part of and sign to the first covenant 3. Christ comming was the Angel of and Mediator to a better covenant 1. The sign whereof is the first-day-Sabbath 2. As this is of the second covenant so it cannot be mixt with the first but are to be reserved distinct and not confounded for as the two covenants cannot be one so nor can the Sabbaths Appl. Hence then to force obedience of one on all is to destroy the other 2. To force the world to observe the first-day-Sabbath is to destroy the use of the day and make void the grace of God 3. In destroying any of the Sabbaths is to destroy the covenant and to take away the very signe thereof as at this day it is done by and amongst us Command the Fourth Exod. 20.8 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Statute EXod 23.12 Thou shalt rest the seventh day that thy Ox and Ass may rest
that the son of thy handmaid and stranger be refreshed Numb 28.25 Jer. 17.21 Carry no burden Levit. 23.3 It is the Sabbath of the Lord in all their dwellings Exod. 16.29 Let no man go out of his place on the Sabbath Vers 26. Ye shall finde no manna thereon Deut. 31.16 The children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations for a perpetual continue untill Christ came and carnal ceremonies were put to an end Rom. 4.11 3. God in Horeb makes a covenant with all the people Deut. 5.2 3. and in Exod. 31.16 The children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath to observe the Sabbath throughout all their congregations for a perpetual covenant it is a signe between me and the children of Israel for ever Exod. 34.27 Objected This seems to hold out three covenants and the Scripture holds out but two Answ That Abraham had is the same with ours and hence is Abraham called the father of the faithful onely the administrations thereof differs now from what it had then 1. This covenant of the Law continuing the signe thereof must also continue Ezek. 20.20 My Sabbath as distinct from the Lords day 2. The Scriptures call after Christs resurrection the seventh-dayes-Sabbath Sabbath as well as the first if rightly translated 3. The Apostles met with the Jews and taught them that day usually 4. No Scripture shews the abolishing thereof 5. It is necessary those under that covenant should have a day and time to serve God in as those under the new 6. The Sabbath of the new must not be to those under the old covenant nor the Sabbath of the old to those under the new Mat. 9.17 Men put not new wine into old bottles nor peece an old garment with a new peece of cloth 7. In the estate of the Church all things are become new but then it is only with such as are of the Church with others not of the Church they are so under the old covenant as if there had never been any new Mark saith the Apostle what the law saith it saith to them that are under the law Rom. 3.13 so that those under the Law are commanded to work six dayes and rest the seventh only 8. Thus not an iota or tittle of the law perisheth the morality of the seventh-day-Sabbath is continued and yet no Judaizing in the thing for this was no part of the ceremonial law the ground of the seventh day being from the creation but of the ceremonies from the redemption of Christ 9. Thus Christ destroyes not the law but establisheth it Jesus Christ not taking unbelievers from being under the law in which estate they were and subjection thereunto 10. God will judge them by the law that are under the law Now the law requires them that are under it to keep the seventh day Sabbath Rom. 2.12 and those that are risen with Christ and marryed to him are under the Gospel and Gospel-day this truth shines forth clearly Rom. 7.1 2 3 4. where untill the woman is married to Christ shee is under her first husband Moses 11. The one hath a rest with God and beast and creatures by Moses the other hath a rest with God and Christ and angels souls of just men made perfect on mount Sion Heb. 12. Note Moses and Christ are two and do not destroy each other Christ onely perfects Moses the covenants are two the Sabbaths two the states two one of the world the other of the Church one under the law the other under the Gospel which estates are not to be confounded or made one Hence Col. 2.16 Let no man judge you in respect of the Sabbath dayes 1. Keeping the seventh day Sabbath while unbelievers 2. Being received by the Church and now observe the first and work on the seventh whereas before he wrought on the first and sanctified the seventh justly brings men to be judged and questioned for so doing among men not knowing the truth and the will of God therein A strange confusion in the world for some time there was if we may believe Socrates who saith the Church of Rome observed onely the first day Sabbath and all other Churches the seventh See into what division the loss of truth had brought the then world into and ever since in this darkness arose out of the bottomless-pit Rev. 9.3 hath the world been shut up 3. He that is under the law-day Sabbath is to be punished according to its law if he observe it not and he that is under the Gospel-Sabbath is to be proceeded against according to the way of the Gospel by those several powers set up of God in them Object God requires but one day of seven this is two Resp One day is but observed for those observe the first are not bound to observe the seventh and those bound to observe the seventh are not bound to observe the first Object Some would then be buying selling merchandizing on both dayes and no day observed which would be very gross confusion Resp This confusion in the Apostles dayes if you call it so and the Apostle never tearmed it such at all but saith Let no man judge you much more let no man condemne you in respect of Sabbath dayes Col. 2. 2. By this means the Apostles gathered the Jews and Judaizing Gentiles teaching in the Synagogues on the seventh and after in the Churches on the first 3. By this as the Jews held a preparation to their Sabbath so now is the seventh dayes Sabbath a preparation to the first 4. There is no sin where is no law Moses gave no command to those under the law to observe the first day Christ gave no command to those under grace to observe the seventh day Sabbath 5. Anrichrist could never have made the Church and the world one but by destroying those ordinances that separated them and making them one in Church-ordinances it was easie to perswade the world to be one with the Church but not the Church with the world Quest is If the law-estate can be restored and not the seventh dayes Sabbath 2. Whether men untill they are Evangelically called thence are not of and under that estate in respect of their visible estate and condition in the world Gal. 4.1 Object The Apostles gathered many from Paganisme and never were under the law at all Resp The legal external administration was in a manner abolished 2. Those were gathered were under it spiritually and inwardly before they were gathered 4. If God effectually called them to be under the second the first was waxen old to them then only and not before Object Who shall be Ministers of this administration seeing Aarons priesthood dyeth Resp Aaron was not the Minister of this this was ministred in the Synagogues Aaron ministred in the temple onely 2. The Scribes or Lawyers which were not Levites or Priests they read the law in Synagogues and are said to sit in Moses not Aarons chaire Mat. 23.2 3. In the
widdow every such man and woman convict of such offence 1. Shall be committed to common goale three moneths 2. Shall give security to be of the good bahaviour for one whole yeer Note 1. If the man be a young man or widdower then he was to marry the maid or unmarryed woman or widdow by the law of God and not to be prisoned bound c. 2. If he be a marryed man then the case is adultery as in the womans before that was marryed to another man and the judgement death 3. If you had put them to death by Gods law ye would not have said it should be death after such a day Gods law not taking beginning then nor establishment from us or at least until then we were not under Gods law nor was it declared to the nation in the name of Gods law but mans as an Act of Parliament onely Statute Levit. 19.20 Whoever lyeth carnally with a woman that is a bondmaid or apprentice betrothed to an husband and not at all redeemed nor freedom given her Judgement 1. She shall be scourged 2. They shall not be put to death because she was not free This nor many other cases are not excepted in the late Act. Statute Levit. 20.11 12. The man that lieth with his fathers wife or daughter-law Judgement They are to be put to death their blood shall be upon them In this law only adulterers dye the man because he humbled his neighbours wife whether betrothed onely or marryed the woman because she broke the covenant of her God In which is much justice In this law ravishments of such as are unmarryed and neither of them betrothed are freed from death either by marriage or corporal or penal punishments which is of exceeding mercy Who shall do more in one or less in the other and be innocent before God O where is law or justice or mercy or righteousness but in this law of the Lord how then shall we yet justifie and set up our own and condemne and suppress the law of the Lord This command is broken by intemperance or insobriety in meat drink and apparel the evil whereof especially that of drunkenness abounds in this Nation and is very great before the Lord. Command Wo to him that giveth his neighbour drink that puttest thy bottle to him and makest him drunken that thou mayest look on their nakedness Habac. 2.15 16. deprived of his place in Church and world as a master an owner c. Esth 1.8 In Ahasuerus great feast the drinking was according to the law none did compel for the king had appointed to all the officers of his house that they should do according to every mans pleasure It is emphatical God distinguisheth his law from the statutes of Kings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so Ezra 8.36 Yet this is to be observed though it serves for a law with us being sanctified and become part of the word of God in which it excells other kings laws though it come short of Gods By this word the other commands of the King are set forth Isa 5.11 Wo to them rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink that continue until night that wine inflame them and the harp and pipe and viol are in their feasts c. Vers 22. Wo to them are mighty to drink wine and men of strength to mingle strong drink Isa 56.12 Come ye say they we will fetch wine and will fill our selves with strong drink Mat. 24.49 He was the evil servant eat and drank with the drunken Judgement Quer. Whether the violence of Lebanon a holy violence Hab. 2.17 be not of Habakkuks drunkenness that his estate be taken from him and bestowed on those are to inherit to preven the evil on his family the land and City Thus in Abigail 1 Sam. 2 5.18.19 Gal. 5. Shall not inherit the kingdome of God 1 Cor. 11.21 the Church-drunkards had the plague among them Hos 4.11 Wine and drunkenness take away the heart Deut 29.19 20. Isa 28.3 The crown of pride the drunkards of Ephraim shall be troden under foot have no imployment nor honor among men but be as that vessel in whom is no delight Vers 4. Their beauty and glory which consists in riches and greatness shall be as a fading flower and hasty fruit before summer Joel 1.5 God would have one generation tell another that the plagues of palmer canker locust were for drunkenness Vers 7. The priest and prophet err through wine and strong drink they err in vision and stumble in judgement and are out of the way Vers 8. All tables are full of vomit and filthiness so that there is no place clean 1 Sam. 25.36.37 Prov. 23.20 21 29 30. Hab. 2.16 Thou art filled with shame for glory drink thou also and let thy foreskin be uncovered The word in the original signifieth the taking away of one out of his place The cup of the Lords right hand shall be turned to thee and shameful spewing shall be one thy glory Vers 17. The violence of Lebanon shall cover thee and the spoile of heasts which made them afraid because of mens blood and for the violence of the land and the City and all that dwell therein Gen. 9.23 Jer. 13.13 This drunkenness brought forth that in which King Priests Prophets inhabitants fathers and sons became drunk spiritually and dash one against another Deut. 21.18 The son on his fathers exhortation would not leave his drunkenness was stoned as in vers 20. by all the men of his City Command the Eighth Exod. 20.15 Thou shalt not steal Statute Levit. 27.28 29. PSalm 76.12 Vow and pay to the Lord all ye that are round about him Deut. 12.17 Thou shalt not eat thy vows thou vowest to God Numb 30. The case of vows is handled when lawful when not in a man vers 2. a maid vers 3. 5. a wife vers 6 7 8. a widdow vers 9. to the end Judgement Jephthah Judges 11.31 36 39. 1. Not to pay is sacriledge or theft from God 2. The punishment exemplary in Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5. vers 1. to the 10. Appl. To Parliament people c. to remember the vows of God on your souls they are not paid God requires them Statute Exod. 21.16 He that stealeth a man and selleth him or if he be found in his hand c. Deut. 24.7 If he be found making merchandise of an Israelite or stealing of him or selling of him Judgement He shall surely be put to death Prov. 28.24 Statute Levit. 19.11 Ye shall not steal nor deal falsly one with another Exod. 22.1 If he steal an oxe and kill or sell it He shall restore five oxen If he steal a sheep and kill or sell it He shall restore four sheep Vers 4. If the theef be found in his hand certainly and alive whether it be oxe ass or sheep He shall restore double Statute Vers 7. If a man shall deliver money or scuff to keep and it
knowledge of the law was yet said to be without law How much more may those Nations who have the letter and yet have not the rule and government of it be said to be without law O remember 2 Cor. 6.1 exhorted them not to receive the grace of God in vaine You have the law in the Bible which the heathens had not O receive not so great a grace in vaine so as not to rule by it chusing rather to be a law unto our selves as those heathens who had not the knowledge of the law then having the knowledge of the law to have Gods will and law a law unto us 4. Those without law are said to perish without law so that it is a sad estate to be without the law 5. Though we are without the rule and judgement of the law we are not without the knowledge of the law we are under that which will necessarly bring Judges and judged at last to be by God our Judge judged according to that and our own law for our law is no law with God Object This is to make one shooe serve for every foot Answ Is there any shooe will fit our foot as that nay but that that of Gods making will not that of mans be it made as well may be yea though it had the same in it as Gods yet it wanted by far of that Gods because God made it 2. Doth not that that fits one nation fit another are we not all of the same nature the unfitness must be either in respect of the law or our selves Note 1. The unfitness cannot be in the law it hath all fitness of goodness righteousness judgeth us with perfection and so none is fit but this 2. Nor is the unfitness in the people 1. They are sinful and need a law 2. They are rational to understand the law 3. They have desires to serve God according the law 4. They are lyable to punishment if they obey not and to whos 's more justly then to Gods Object Rom. 6.14 Ye are not under the law but grace Resol 1. Ye that is the believers at Rome gathered out of the state of the world into fellowship with Christ in the state of the Gospel being by Christ redeemed from under the law are not under the law 2. Saying ye are not the Scriptures imply all but they in that estate thus redeemed were under the law or the work thereof in their hearts yea and they also in the outward man Rom. 3.1 2. Object Rom. 3.19 What the law speaks it speaks to those that are under the law Resol Now if any shall say we are under the law of God 1. Why do we not rest in the law without setting up of laws of our own to judge by Rom. 2.17 1. What other law judgement or punishment ought to be executed but that among those are under the law 3. We never nationally covenanted with God in it nor was it ever nationally acknowledged to be our national rule and government nor its form set up among us 4. If we are under the law what heathens in the world ever were not 1. They had law which were the works of Gods law in their heart as well as we 2. They had this when they had not the written law by them as we have 3. We having the law of God by us to rule by judge by punish by and yet ruling judging and punishing by our own we are worse then the heathens and by our traditions make void the law 4. The heathens all had rule and government as we have and laws as we have and are yet said to be without law because they governed not by the law of God and so are we at this day Again if any shall say we are not under the law 1. Question is Whether of right we ought not to be or no. 2. Or whether it be not prejudicious to Gods glory and to his truth and the peoples prosperity that they are not If any say of right we ought not to be under the law 1. As well might that man say God ought not to rule 2. People may do well enough without government against that 3. And there are no sins strifes controversies contentions among us and so we need no justice judgement or punishment to be inflicted If any say Of right we ought not to be under the law of God but out own 1. By your traditions ye make voide the law of God Gods is the law that hath authority and command onely and indeed in it yours are but traditions at best which like Hagar set themselves up above Sarah 2. You having Gods law shall be judged at last by it and not your traditions God will judge by it and not yours 3. If our law be not according to Gods we shall at last be judged for our judgement 4. He that will not have Gods law to be his law shall not have God to be his God Exod. 20. before and with the giving of the laws covenant he in it saith I am the Lord thy God in the peoples taking of his law they took him and he them and so he deals with all If thou say Of right we ought not to be under the law but our traditions for we have a long time been under them and they are the best in the world 1. The neerer they come to Gods the better they are 2. But being not Gods which onely is the Royal law 1. They are not so good as his nor to be compared with them 2. They are not to stand in competition with the Lords if they do man assumes the place of God to himself and dethrones God God will rule by none but his own shall men again say they will not rule by others but their own 3. To those that say of this or that or any law that its better then Gods tell them it is blasphemy to say so and that man as James 4.11 he speaketh evil of the law and judgeth the law If thou judge the law thou art not a doer of the law but a judge Many such Judges there are and but few doers 4. If thou sayest thy law is not so good as Gods why doest thou not chuse the best O but we have been a long time under them 1. So long thou hast been without law 2. And without God in the way of the law 3. Ever since many plagues have been heaped on the Nation and multitudes of blessings detained from them 4. And other lords besides Jehovah have tured over the Nation 5. The people have been under tyranny and oppression and many unjust traditions according to the will of men contrary to the will of God as in the Acts repealed and the mariage-money in Ireland and Scotland paid c. O the nation will best bear our own laws 1. The corrupter a law is the better natural people can indeed bear it 2. Every people that will be Gods must bear his yoke 3. The people will be bettered