unto him in heaven and in Earth The exercise of which power he would first have to be manifested in discipling whole Nations of the Gentiles Matt. 28.18 19. receiving them into Covenant by the Sacrament of Baptisme as the Jews were by the Sacrament of Circumcision Where the word Nation in order to the Gentiles must without controversie be taken in the same sense as it was with a reference unto the Jews for as the Nation of the Jews was made up of all sorts and sexes old and young so in like manner are the Nations of the Gentiles And because his commission which he then gave unto his Apostles was not formed according to the erroneous fancy of these deluded people who in effect render it thus Go and Disciple all men But thus Go and Disciple all Nations baptising them in the name c. And Children being a part of the Nations we may conclude without any hesitancy that the intent and purpose of the Lord in this commission to his Apostles was that they should wheresoever they came baptise the Children as well as the Parents And seeing he came to break down the wall of partition that was between Jews and Gentiles which was actually done in the execution of this Commission It is not to be imagined that he would by it set up a partition-wall between Parents and their Children so as that they should be at as great a distance the one from the other in point of eternal Salvation as Heaven is from Hell A thing he never did in all the Ages before and undoubtedly whatsoever these Dreamers may blasphemously prate against him He hath not done it now because he is still the Same I will not dwell any longer upon the Conviction of these obstinate people least the more reason be shewed unto them out of the Scripture to lead them into the way of truth they be thereby according to their usual wont the more hardened in their errour The Lord open their eyes that they may see betimes what dishonour they bring unto Jesus Christ in the diminution of his power by their frantick Opinions What disturbance they create unto his Church and consequently what hazard they run notwithstanding their conceited assurance of their own everlasting Salvation We have now done with this second particular viz. Jesus Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Same to day which he was yesterday that is The Same to his Church in the time of the gospel which he was in the time both before and under the Law CHAP. III. Sheweth how JESUS CHRIST shall continue to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Same for ever Vnto his Church WE should now according to our prescribed method come to speak of the third course or computation of time here mentioned in the Text and of that which is predicated of it viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ the Same or the onely He for ever But to avoid Prolixity which hath already spun out the former parts into a greater length then was intended we shall not distinguish this into several propositions as hath been done with those before Neither indeed can we be able to speak of what shall come upon the Church in the continuation of this day of the Gospel to the end of the world Onely this we can say because the Holy Ghost witnesseth it That persecutions and Afflictions do abide it but withall that Jesus Christ will be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unto it which he ever hath been Hereupon therefore shall we fix the short remainder of our discourse deriving some inferences from it for the further edification of those that take pleasure in beholding the immutability of the Lord Jesus Observe then In the midst of all the various changes and chances that may come upon the Church to the end of the world Jesus Christ will be unto it still The Same No variableness nor shadow of turning shall ever be found in him either in his Mediation with the Father or in the dispensation of his power among his people But he will be Semper idem Alwayes the Same Now herein we can but speak of the exercise of Christs Mediatory office as we have already done and therefore it will be needless to spend many words about it As he began so he will continue to be the Prophet Priest and King of his Church The same word of truth which he hath revealed he will still continue no addition unto it or diminution from it will he ever suffer his Gospel is an everlasting Gospel Rev. 14.6 1 Pet. 1.25 His word abideth for ever And if an Angel from Heaven should come and preach any other we must therefore much more will he ho'd him accursed Gal. 1.8 He is a Priest for ever according to the oath of God not to be retracted saith the Prophet Hath an unchangeable Priest-hood saith the Apostle Ps 110.4 Heb. 7.24 A Priest established in his Dignity as master and Lord by virtue of his Son-ship not like unto the servants the Priests of Aaron's order Who when they entred into the most Holy place were not there to sit but otherwise to execute their office according to the order prescribed unto them by Moses Heb. 10 11 They stood as became servants saith the Apostle ministring before the Lord. But Jesus Christ when he had offered one Sacrifice for sins for ever and according to the Law entred into the holy place to finish the Atonement Sat down on the right hand of God noting the perpetuity of his office according to the dignity of his person and that he ever liveth which was not possible for any other to do to make intercession Dan. 7.14 Mach. 4.7 His Throne in like manner is for ever and ever His Kingdom an everlasting Kingdom and his Dominion endureth throughout all Generations No Salvation then to be expected for ever Act 4.12 but onely by him No other Name under Heaven given among men from the beginning of the world to the end of it whereby we must be saved For before him as he saith of himself there was no God formed Es 43 10 or rather as it may be rendred nothing formed of God for any such purpose as to be a Saviour Ec. 2.12 Ps 145.11 12. neither shall there be after him What alas can the man do that cometh after the King What He may speak of the glory of his Kingdom and talk of his power to make known to the Sons of men his mighty acts and the glorious Majesty of his Kingdom But to imitate him in his power and his mighty Acts or to compare with him in the Majesty of his Kingdom would not onely be a contempt cast upon his Crown and Dignity but an utter impossibility and a meere vanity for men or angels to attempt it They poor Creatures being infinitely unfit and unworthy must let that alone for ever and they that will expect it of them will finde it to be folly
to the people of that Nation as Saint James also did yet withall he is very cautious herein to put them in minde of their duty to their own peculiar Guides that had the rule over them which we see he doth once and again in this 13 Chapter vers 7.17.24 But the truth is as it is said these reasons are but conjectural that which is to satisfie us in this point is this even so it seemed good to the Holy Ghost And thus I have given a large and clear resolution of this doubtful matter which indeed was but fit to be done because I do here oftentimes speak of the said Apostle as the sure and certain Authour of that Epistle Secondly Whereas there are sundry branches of this Treatise which do seem to have no affinity with the sense of the Apostle in the Text and consequently not to be connatural with the main Doctrine that is here insisted upon I answer First As Jesus Christ himself is according to the Apostles word All and in All Col. 3.11 That sea of living waters by whom all springs and rivulets of divine truth have their rise and original and unto which they must return again so is this Text as it is here interpreted not onely comprehensive of the whole mystery of Christ but also of the whole duty of man towards him And therefore that which is here written in order thereunto should not be accounted as an impertinent digression Secondly it is no new thing to finde corollaries and collateral intersertions superadded in a way of subserviency to the principal subject handled in Tractates either of a Theological or meer Humane Alloy For it is with Books as one very well makes the resemblance as it is with Trees these have some Masters and chief Branches in which the main Sap of the Root is carried but they have also some under-spriggs and water-boughs which by the vegetation of the principal Shootes do prosper the better and are made to serve both for ornament and fecundity to the whole Body Those have commonly some eminent subject into which their whole strength and stream runs but they have likewise sundry Parerga of less consequence annexed thereto which though abstractedly considered may seem to be at a wide distance yet being Methodically linked together have a coalescency imparting each to other both illustration and confirmation So is it here sundry resultancies and inferences do occasionally spring up in this Book as there do in all our Sermons that we undertake when the bloud and juyce of it runs chiefly into the Apostles sense of the Text viz. the Doctrine of the Eternity and Immutability of the Lord Jesus Christ which giveth life unto all the rest So that what the Evangelist Saint John spake of his Gospel which he wrote the same may I say of all that is contained in this Book These things are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ and that believing you might have life through his name But I hear what is further objected as that I multiply Quotations borrow the help of sundry Authours and do but actum agere bring the same crambe of words repeating what hath sufficiently been imparted to the World by others who have at large and with much perspicuity and serenity of spiritual Wisdome wriâ—ten of this subject Now though I have hinted at this before yet I conceive a necessity is laid upon me to rejoyn unto this Charge a full and clear Vindication First then this I say I know not of any that hath written of this subject so largely before me But this I know that both for the matter and manner of handling it as it is grounded upon that foundation which is precedaneous unto it I am alone without any competitours or pretenders whatsoever Secondly I do yield that I have in the carrying on of this Work consulted with Writers both Ancient and Modern and have thereupon not without good cause been the bolder to offer my conceptions to publick view though possibly in some places they may not be well resented finding them confirmed by those that have been worthily reputed burning and shining Lights of the Church in their several Generations who have born the burden and heat of the day in the Lords Vineyard and upon whose Labours we are now happily entred Yea more I have not onely consulted them but frequently made use of their Testimony rendring it in their own words sometimes to put by Imputations of Collusion otherwhiles for the Conviction of Adversaries alwayes to give full satisfaction to those who shall diligently apply themselves to a religious perusal hereof Nor am I at all ashamed to acknowledge what I have done in this kinde nor need I fear to be taxed with any Plagiary superinducements of other mens Labours though indeed as I have gone thorough my Neighbours Fields the Owners whereof I do for the most part signifie by name I have here and there plucked some Eares of Corn and fitted them for my purpose which by a natural propriety is challenged of all as a common right yet I have no where put in my Sickle and so can plead a justification in that particular Howbeit this I may without arrogancy make my Plea viz. My borrowing whatsoever it hath been is fully counter-ballanced with my lending again which though it be to be reckoned but as a poor Mite cast into the Lords Treasury yet it is secundum mensuram donationis Christi ac moderationem Spiritus dividentis singulis prout vult and may through Gods blessing be to the furtherance of the Gospel especially in regard of those interpretations of Scripture which I have here given to which no Expositors of Holy Writ nor any Authours whatsoever could lay any claim nor any of their Assertours can at this day for them All which I do humbly commend to the Churches Examination a List whereof I conceive fit here to present unto you though the Table at the latter end of the Book will give directions by Asterisks to the places where they are to be found Exodus 33.18 I beseech thee shew me thy Glory Exodus 33.19 And he said I will make all my goodness c. Exod 34.6 And the Lord passed by before him and proclaimed the Lord the Lord God c. Deut. 32.7 Remember the dayes of old consider the years c. Deut. 32.8 When the most high divided to the Nations c. Deut. 32.12 The Lord alone did lead him c. Deut. 33.5 And he was King in Jeshurun c. Psalm 2.7 I will declare the Decree c. Psalm 8.3 When I consider thy Heavens c. Psal 74.12 For God is my King of old c. Daniel 9.24 Seventy Weekes are determined c. Amos 5.18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord c. Amos 5.19 As if a man did flee from a Lyon c. John 1.10 He was in the World and the World was made c. John 1.11 He came unto
it be Superstition in them to joyn with him in the Observation thereof especially when they are few in number no merit placed in them nor are they required to be observed as things necessary to salvation or as parts of Gods worship which under pain of Damnation ought to be used nor as signs operative working Grace in those that make conscience of them but are expresly declared to be indifferent in their own nature and that upon just causes they may be altered and changed In so much that if the Supreme Magistrate shall again forbid the use of the said Service and Ceremonies the people may without sin lay them aside yea are bound in Conscience so to do and observe others provided that they have the same premised Boundaries which he shall command All which considered Who seeth not how unjustly we are accused of Superstition in the Service of our God because of our religious using of some few harmless Ceremonies without which our late Experience may sufficiently teach us that Religion it self would not long stand in safety but by degrees be totally laid waste Ego certe illas veneror tantae pietati semper assurgo for my part I shall notwithstanding the Oggannition of gain-sayers highly esteem them and commend the observation of them to all who are willing to advance the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus It was said of one Luke 7.47 She loved much because much was forgiven Were it not here a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Excursion from the matter in hand I who have too much complyed with the late Schisme and through mercy not onely been convinced of my folly therein but blessed be God do partake of the Indulgence of Holy Church my Mother in the forgiveness thereof could open my heart at large in her vindication against her Adversaries who are very apt to cast aspersions upon her But the design of this Treatise tendeth another way and Wisdom in this matter hath been clearly justified of her children Nevertheless I shall presume without offence I hope to offer a small Libamen of my love and duty unto this dear Mother in the justification of two of her Ceremonies which by her unnatural children are as much quarrelled at as any Those are First Bowing at the Name of Jesus Secondly Bowing at our Entrance into and Departing from the Congregation For the first besides what hath been abundantly written by others we are in the duties of Divine Worship and Service to give unto Christ this Honour upon these two Considerations First Because that for our sake he made himself of no Reputation Secondly Because a sort of wretched men in the world about us set on by the Devil conspire together to make him of no Reputation also First I say for our sake he made himself of no Reputation great reason therefore that we should account him worthy of all Honour not onely that which is Spiritual in captivating every thought to the obedience of his Gospel but that also which is of the body in the outward deportment of it for he hath bought it with a Price a great Price even his dearest Bloud as well as the Soul it was no robbery for him to be equal with God for he was the Brightness of his Fathers Glory the Character of his Person yet Saint Paul tells us he emptied himself and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross Now Quanto pro me vilior tanto mihi charior said Holy Bernard sweetly The more humility appeared in him it is but meet that the more honour be ascribed unto him Admit that it be not a duty of the Text to use Genu-flexions at the mentioning of his blessed Name whiles we are employed in the publick exercises of Divine Worship yet since the Father hath even upon the account of his Humility highly exalted him and given him a Name above every name it well becommeth the Church upon the same account in a conformity to that Divine Pattern according to her poor strength and ability by all ways and means to exalt him likewise This then I conceive may somewhat stop the mouth of Contradition against the holy and religious custom of our Church in requiring all persons to Bow at the Name of Jesus for she hath learned it of the Father whose example is withuot controversie in this case worthy of all imitation to exalt him because for our sake he made himself of no reputation Again Is not our Lord now as it hath been prophecied of him Esa 53.3 despised and rejected of men Do not Jews Turks and Infidels blaspheme that worthy name by which we are called Are not Socinians those cursed Hereticks as unwearied now in their malice against him to lay his honour in the dust as the Arians were of old Is not the precious Bloud of this Immaculate Lamb of God shed to take away the sin of the World every where almost beslaver'd with the impious mouthes of execrable swearers And are there not some wretched people risen up amongst us in these days who out of a Luciferian Pride pretend that they are as well and as truly God as Jesus Christ because they have their Being in God and are partakers of the Divine Nature What then should the Church do but out of a detestation of these horrid impieties and out of a tender regard to the honour of her Lord give a signal testimony of her duty in commanding all her faithful children to bow their bodies in token of reverence unto him at the mentioning of his Name That Name I say which sounds the sweetest in the ears and hearts of poor penitent sinners which speaks him not onely to be Inmanuel God with us but Immanu as the rapture of our admired Bishop Andrews distinguisheth it With us or One of us bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh which hath been the occasion that his enemies have laid hold upon to make light account of him But enough of this It is said also that our bowing the body at our Entrance into the Congregation and Departure from it is Superstition In answer hereunto to add somewhat likewise to that which hath been written by others If this be Superstition we may justly retort it upon the common practice of Non-conformists themselves in their private meetings where they use at their rising up from their Devotions to bow their bodies to one another pretending as it hath been said by some of their principal leaders that it is a laudable custom among them for that they do thereby testifie their unanimity in the service of God and mutually witness their gratitude for their mutual praying for one another Thus plausibly can they please themselves with Apologies for what they act of this nature among themselves in private without any scruple at all of conscience and yet
of sundry famous and mighty Nations that were of old contemporary with the Jews whose height was like the height of the Cedars and their strength like unto that of Oakes yet hath God destroyed their fruit from above Dan. 2. and their root from beneath We read of a goodly Image that represented the world in its various and successive gallantry by the advancement of its choicest favourites whose head was of gold his breast and his arms of silver his belly and his thighs of brass and his leggs of iron the gold was precious the silver pure the brass glittering the iron strong yet all of them are broken to pieces and become like the chaffe of the summer-threshing floor carried away with the winde that no place can be found for them What is now become of all their policy magnificence prowess which for the time did so ruffle in the world far and near Where are all their Laws that have been so much extolled and their Law-makers to whom wisdome it self was esteemed but as a dutiful hand-maid Why do not the Romans now appear in the vindication of their Numa Pompilius that mirroir of Princes as Plutarch describes him in his dayes Or the Athenians for their Solon Or the Lacedemonians for their Licurgus Or the Cretians for their Minos Or the Carthaginians for their Charondas Or the Egyptians for their Osiris Or the Sâ—ythians for their Zamolxis All famous Law-givers in the several confines of their times and places If the sword of their Law hath lost its edge is not the Law of their sword able to set it again Are all the stout-hearted among them utterly spoiled and can none of their men of might sinde their hands Tenent omnino reliquias Legis suaâ— circomciduntur sabbata observant pascha immolant Azyma comedunt Aug. in Ps 59. No verily for at the rebuke of the God of Jacob have the Chariots and Horse-men of these Nations been cast into a dead sleep Onely the Jews that were the dearly beloved of his Soul who are scattered about in the World notwithstanding all their troubles captivities dispersions Massacres do every where grow rich and populous keep themselves their Laws and Customes unmixed from all others can still deduce their Original and History by infallible testimony from the beginning of the World which no Nation that now is can do the like A very pregnant proof that they are kept by a special providence according to what the Lord hath said of them by the Prophets as namely by Jeremy Jer. 30.10 11.46.28 Fear thou not O my servant Jacob neither be dismayed O Israel for I will save thee from afar Jer. 30.10.11 Jer. 46.28 Amos 9.8 and thy seed from the Land of their captivity though I make a full end of all Nations whither I have scattered thee yet will I not make a full end of thee And by the Prophet Amos Behold the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinfull Kingdome meanning whatsoever Kingdome it be continuing in its sin and I will destroy it from the face of the Earth saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob saith the Lord that is their sins though they be never so great shall not provoke me to root out their name from under Heaven Amos. 9.8 Answerable hereto is that of the Prophet Jeremy whose testimony once more let us hear Jer 31.36.37 Where the Lord useth as vehement asseverations as any we shall likely sinde throughout the whole Scripture If these Ordinances that is of Heaven and the Sea depart from before me saith the Lord Jer. 31.36.37 then the seed of Israel shall cease from being a Nation before me for ever Thus saith the Lord if Heaven above can be measured and the foundation searched out beneath I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done saith the Lord. Observe though their doings which in an ordinary course of divine justice would certainly bring on their utter undoing and would be enough inevitably to ruine all the Nations else in the World besides if they should at any time be guilty of the like yet shall not the anger of the Lord be so enkindled because of them as to cut off the seed of Israel for ever A high expression of an extraordinary favour which nevertheless will exactly be made good to a tittle even to the end of the World because the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it And here before I come to infer my intended conclusion from the premises Mr. Thâ— Wilton on the Romans give me leave to super-adde the testimony of a faithful interpreter of the minde of God in Scripture concerning this matter who hath written of it within this present Century whose words are these The counsel of the most wise and mighty God in the wonderful preservation of the Jews ought diligently to be considered whereas sundry very ancient people and famous as Persians Chaldeans Trojans Vandals Lombards Gothes Saxons Picts Hunns c. are either quite extinct and destroyed or else being severed and scattered have not so held their own as to keep still their own ordinances and to be able to shew their Original and History in sure record or to preserve themselves for their civil life and religion unmixed with other people whither they came yet behold a strange thing and remarkable the Jews onely notwithstanding their great and long dispersions and manifold calamities desolations and death in sundry Countries where they have been butchered like sheep as in England here at London and Yorke by hundreds and thousands Judaei sunt Librarii nostri Ne forte Pagani dicant nobis vos Christiani literas istas composuistis proserimus codices a Judaeis inimicis ut confundamus alios immicos Codicem portat Judaeus ut idem credat Christianus Aug. Loco Sup. In Graeco quodam codice Basiliensis editionis Object and elsewhere in other Countries knocked down upon heapes and others cruelly spoiled do for all this not onely remain in very numerous multitudes chiefly in Asia and Africa as Master Beza and Grynaus upon certain knowledge do report but do keep their Tribes distinct and unconfounded and their Religion all without commixtion as much as they may reading and searching the Scriptures but with very corrupt construction yet with this fruit and commodity that both their pedegree and descent from Abraham and the Patriarchs may appear and eke by the witness of our books out of which we derive our holy Christian Faith may be justified and cleared from suspicion of imposture and fraud which the Heathenish Philosophers and other prophane atheistical persons cannot now charge us with seeing the people still remain as preservers of those Oracles of God which be the Fountains of our Religion of all which what other thing are we to deem and judge but that they are reserved thus miraculously of God against the time of their conversion and salvation to come hereafter in Gods determinate