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
LOOK UNTO JESUS OR An Ascent to the HOLY MOUNT TO SEE JESUS CHRIST IN HIS GLORY WHEREBY The Active and contemplative Believer may have the Eyes of his Understanding more inlightned to behold in some measure the Eternity and Immutability of the Lord JESUS CHRIST I. In his Divine Generation II. In his Power over the World III. In his Power over his Church in her twofold estate I. MILITANT II. TRIUMPHANT As the List of CONTENTS which followeth next to the PREFACE doth more particularly declare At the end of the Book is an APPENDIX shewing the certainty of the Calling of the JEVVS Written by EDWARD LANE M. A. Vicar of Sparsholt c. in the County of South alias Hamshire London Printed by Thomas Roycroft for the Authour and are to be sold by Humphrey Tuckey at the Black spread-Eagle in Fleet-street and by William Taylor near the Checquer Gate in Winchester 1663. Imprimatur Liber ut eò magis imprimatur JESUS Decemb. 6. 1663. M. FRANCK S. T. P. Reverend in Christo Patr. Dom. Episc Lond. a Sacris Dom. OPTIMO MAXIMO 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 DEO DOMINO DOMINI DEI Patris Omnipotentis Filio Unigenito omnisque Creaturae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hoc est Primo-Parienti Primogenito Necnon Inter Deum Homines Mediatori Unissimo Fidelissimo Catholicae etiam Ecclesiae Militantis Triumphantis Capiti unice colendo Ad cujus Nomen supra omne Nomen flectendum est omne Genu Celestium Terrestium ac Subterraneorum Tractatum hunc de Aeternitate Immutabilitate Nominis sui Praestantissimi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 susceptum Protractum Peractum EDOVARDUS LANE in domo ejusdem Domini Servorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Inutilissimus Cum humili Indignationis ob multas Infirmitates Deprecatione ardenti Benedictionis Supplicatione Meritissimo Consecravit Voto Reverendo in Christo Patri ac Domino Domino GEORGIO Episcopo WINTONIENSI Vigilantissimo Aureae Periscelidis Praesuli Clarissimo Domino suo Dioecesano Summopere Observando Incrementum Gratiae apud JESUM CHRISTUM 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perinde ac Honoris apud Homines in Translatione sua ad hanc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Provinciam Bona Fide Toto Corde Precatur EDOVARDUS LANE Annos nunc plus minus 27. Ecclesiae Paroechianae in Villa SPARSHOLT in agro SOUTH Vicarius Quinetiam una cum ABRECH Congratulationis Librum hunc ad Celelebrandum JESU CHRISTI Nomen Honorandum in Saecula Praeparatum eidemque Supremo Nomini Perpetuae Gratitudinis ergo Consecratum Ad Gravem Religiosam ejusdem Reverendi Patris Inspectionem Disquisitionem lubente dicavit Studio JESVS SIT TIBI JESVS A PREFACE To the Pious and Judicious Reader GOOD READER HEre is a Treatise presented to thy view wherein through the guidance of Gods grace and the conduct of his word is attempted an assay to set forth the honour of the great Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and to make his praise glorious A Design doubtless very acceptable to all that are Christians indeed who cannot but rejoyce in any thing that may tend to the Exaltation of our dear Crucified and Glorified Redeemer who is the Rock of Ages the eternal excellency of his Church the joy of all Generations A work it is wherein all the company of Heaven is to be exercised unto all eternity And albeit whatsoever is undertaken by Men or Angels in this kinde will come infinitely short of his Merit yet it is but fit that what any one hath here seen of his glory either in his word or works he be free in the communication thereof Possibly there have been sundry attempts made already of the like nature and such that this may seem to some at first sight to be superfluous However Let not the day of small things be despised by us If some new materials which will endure the searching fire of Gods spirit be here added to the gold and silver which others have before built upon this foundation there can be no just offence taken thereat Sure I am they will not be disallowed by the Master of the house and therefore ought not to be rejected by those that are employed and salaryed by him to be Co-workers with me in the building It was not God knoweth any vain ambition or self-seeking that did first put me the meanest of the Lords Servants upon this work which is indeed Opus Dei the work of God neither is it any such sinister aim that makes me rush upon the censure of the judicious in the enlargement and compleating of it Onely if Jesus Christ may hereby be magnifyed and his Church edifyed I have my desire and it shall be the Crown of my rejoycing I confess notwithstanding there was an occasion offered that did first induce me to this Undertaking and it will not be amiss here to make a short mention of it Thus it was In the heat of the late Schisme it fell to my lot to preach a Sermon in the Cathedral Church at Winton upon the 26 day of December wherein because I said An Dom. 1654 I would not judge those people in the liberty of their Consciences who did observe the Feast of our Saviours Nativity to the Lord though withall I then * Which is here also inserted in its proper place spake severely against the prophane abuse of it I was accounted a superstitious person and a malignant such was the discriminating terme that was then used and reported far and near that I had done more hurt by that one Sermon then other Ministers that were employed in that Lecture could be able to repair again by many Which reproachful slander was so great a trouble unto me though I was then justifyed by Persons of very good quality that were both wise and godly that I was often minded being perswaded by those persons and sundry others that heard of it to publish in print the Sermon that I then preached to the end the World might see how causelesly I was traduced I did nevertheless forbear the said publication not out of fear of the persecutions of those evil dayes for I did my self observe that Anniversary Festivity in my own Parish preaching and administring the Sacrament of the Lords supper when very few durst adventure to do the like But having begun upon this occasion to prepare it for the Press and finding in the pursuance of it my Meditations enlarged to other matter then I at first delivered I slighted the Calumny wherewith I was asperst as not worthy to be so much heeded and breaking through many difficulties and hinderances have by degrees extended that very Sermon to this length which is now before you The greatest part whereof I have for some years kept by me without further additions but of late I must confess I was as the Apostle if I may so say pressed in spirit to finish what had begun and to publish the whole
Text that the ground and foundation of their faith to which they did so constantly adhere was no novelty nor yet such as did fail them or expire with them but being the rock of Ages was co-equal with the Church from the beginning and would be also the only sure foundation for all the faithful to the end of the World and that is Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever Understand it thus It is as if the Apostle should have said They well knew whom they believed and you may also know him too if you will do as they did for Jesus Christ who is the unchangeable God blessed for ever as they made him their strength and their support so he never failed them Be you therefore followers of them looking unto Jesus who as he led them into all truth and preserved them in it so will he likewise do the same unto you and to all others that shall come after you who believe in his Name for he is the same Yesterday to day and for ever We may now glean up by the way some Doctrinal conclusions which shall be but named that so we may come without any further protraction to taste of the sweetness that springeth abundantly from the Fountain of the Text. 1. We learn hereby That people ought to be followers of their Teachers as they follow Christ and no otherwise 2. The way to abide stedfast in the faith is to stick to the Foundation that is Jesus Christ who is still the same 3. Whosoever they be that make a sincere profession of the Gospel of Jesus Christ shall never be ashamed of it for Christ will constantly without any change own and maintain that faith which hath once and but once been delivered by him to his Saints being first and last like himself This was Preached Decem. 26. These things premised let us now come to the Text whereof if I should undertake to speak any thing in order to this time of Solemnity which yesterday to day and some daies following is held up and continued among us as if it had reference unto it I should then indeed declare myself to be but of yesterday and to know nothing at least to know nothing of my Text as I ought to know But the words in their genuine sense will not lead us unto any such matter It is Insignis locus as Mr. Calvin calls it a most excellent and remarkable Scripture speaking out the Lord Jesus Christ in his due Altitude making the World and every creature in all Ages subject unto him It is the Argument of both the Testaments and to use the words applied by a Religious and Reverend Bishop of our times to another Scripture like unto this Dr. John King Bishop of London It is the staff and supportation of Heaven and Earth they would both sink and all their joynts be severed were it not that Jesus Christ were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The same yesterday to day and for ever And what shall I more say as the Apostle said Hebr. 11. When he had spoken much and there was much more behind but that time failed him Rather what should I not say For our Theatre at this time is not only within the narrow bounds of the World but extends beyond it and our Meditations in handling of this Subject are to reach from Eternity to Eternity Let us then duly poize it and with the good blessing of God make use of it for our Edification A three-fold interpretation may be given First Jesus Christ may be said to be The same yesterday to day and for ever in respect of his Divine Nature Secondly This may be applied unto him with a reference to the whole Creation Thirdly It may so likewise with a more especial respect unto his Church and People And here because it may seem strange that I should give so many several interpretations of this Text Give me leave to premise an Apology for my understanding herein I would not be too vehement in forcing a Text to carry a sense which is not directly or by warrantable deduction to be found within the compass thereof And it is a great wrong that is done unto Divine Truths when Scriptures are produced for their foundation that are not Homogenial with them As for this three-fold interpretation which I have here given of this Text though the last be commonly accounted the most proper as being consonant to the scope of the Apostle yet the other two are not to be rejected as inconsistent with the sense of the Holy Ghost therein Nay is there not a greater latitude then ordinary to be allowed unto it when it is propounded as a Divine Theorem cutting asunder the thread as it were of the former Discourse that the eyes and thoughts of all men that read it may in a singular manner be fixed upon it as on a general Sentence or Proposition comprehensive of more then might alonely have reference to the preceding Verse Surely there is somewhat extraordinary to be found in it Therefore as I have already prescribed my Method so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I shall now prosecute it The first Interpretation of the Text. THe first sense then or interpretation that is given of the Text is this Jesus Christ is the same yesterday to day and for ever in respect of his Divine Nature that is as he is God equal with the Father begotten of him from eternity to eternity And herein I am not alone but I find the Text so rendred both by Modern and Ancient Expositours Francis Junius writeth of it to the same purpose Hoc quarto ut Logicis lâ—quamur medo proprium Deitatis est This is a most transcendent property of the Godhead to be the same yesterday to day and for ever And from this very Text saith the same Authour do the Primitive Fathers in the purest times prove Jesus Christ to be the true and eternal God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 consubstantial and coessential with the Father and the Holy Ghost some instances of whom shall be given in the prosecution of this point Having then the concurrency of others that are sound and Orthodox whose Works praise them in the gates Let us consider how this Text may represent this great Mystery unto us in the several parts of it It is a most certain truth that the Divine Generation is that which gives unto the Son of God his personal Being which Generation is acknowledged by all that are sound in the faith to be from all eternity This is that which in the Text if it referreth at all to the eternal personality of Jesus Christ as it undoubtedly doth and will be here made to appear must be understood by Yesterday Jesus Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The same or The only He yesterday that is begotten of the Father from all eternity As the word Hodie to Day Psal 2.7 Psal 2.7 is by Expositours truly rendred not only for the Day
yea and the greater was our sin that after we had some large experience of this great Glory wherein Divine Goodness had put us we should through our absurd folly deprive our selves of it This for the second Consideration arising from the said Doctrine The third brings a Light in her hand to guide us in the first Resurrection and to shew us the Glory of the second First we are hereby taught to fit and prepare our selves against this time of Restauration viz. By raising up our dull heavy and carnal hearts from this present evil World where they are too apt to lie groveling and by setting our Affections on things above and upon this Comfortable time of Refreshing wherein the Lord Jesus will freely and fully manifest his love and faithfulness unto his beloved people And indeed seeing that these things shall be dissolved and again restored What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness Scarce any among us I dare say but do look for new Heavens and new Earth that is expect Salvation in the Day of the Lord. But can we be so deluded as to think that the old Adam should bring us thither A Delusion notwithstanding it is wherewith multitudes are miserably deceived But beloved Brethren let it be remembred that the flaming Sword which keeps the Way to the Tree of Life will never suffer any to enter there under such a Conduct There must dwell nothing but Righteousness neither shall there in any wise enter into it any thing that defileth Rev. 21.27 nor whosoever worketh Abomination or maketh a Lye If therefore we carry our sins along with us we shall certainly stand without amongst Dogs and never be admitted Rouze up thy Soul therefore O poor Sinner and with Indignation shake off whatsoever it be that may hinder thee from having a part in that Glory that shall be revealed For be assured the Lord Jesus Christ will never suffer his new Creation to be sullied with the least spot or stain of Uncleanness He will not have his poor Creature to be ever groaning and when he hath once freed it it shall be freed for ever none but the new Creature shall be the Inhabitant of his new Creation Let all old things then be done away both in our hearts and in our lives and let all things become new I shall conclude this first Branch with that excellent Gloss of Mr. Calvin upon that of the Apostle 2 Pet. 3.10 Non subtiliter de igne procellâ c. Disputare voluit Apostolus sed tantum inde elicere exhortationem quam mox attexit nempe ut enitamur nos quoque advitoe novitatem The Apostle's design is not subtlely to argue about the sire c. that shall be at the last Day but from the consideration of the change that shall then be to draw forth an Exhortation to perswade men to newness of life So say I let us not busie our selves about too curious an inquisition after the manner of that change that shall be made of the Heavens and of the Earth rather it should be our care according to the advice and warning of the Apostle that seeing we look for such things as new Heavens and new Earth 2 Pet. 3.14 to give all diligence that we be found of him who is the faithful Authour of this Change in peace without spot and blameless And thus are we guided by this Doctrine to the first Resurrection Secondly it will shew unto us somewhat of the Glory of the second For according to the Power and Wisdom of the Workman so is the Work to be expected that cometh out of his hands if he be able and expert in his Art whatsoever it be his Work will be answerable Now it is to be presumed that Jesus Christ who is the Wisdom of God and the Power of God will like himself produce a most glorious Work in his Restauration of all things for herein also he will be the same which he was from the Beginning What therefore the Prophet spake in a certain place may very well be applied to this purpose Es 64.4 Since the beginning of the World for in the beginning there was some kinde of resemblance of that Glory which shall be Eye hath not seen as the Apostle renders it nor Ear heard 1 Cor. 2.9 neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him The Eye of man hath seen much the Ear perhaps hath heard more but the Heart conceiveth more then Eye hath seen or Ear heard but Eye Ear and Heart are all too narrow to comprehend or describe the exceeding weight and superlative Greatness of that fulness of Glory It may suffice that it is of his wise and powerful ordering who is the same yesterday to day and for ever In the 14 of S. John the Lord speaketh to his Disciples in these words which have a measure that reacheth unto all Believers I go John 14.2 saith he to prepare a place for you a place with himself that where he is there also may his people be Being then I say of his preparation who is the Lord of Glory and of his Prepossession too how can it possibly be but exceeding Glorious Kings do not use to erect Cottages but set forth their Magnificence in sumptuous Buildings How stately then shall that place be which is prepared by Jesus Christ the King of Glory It was as he himself faith elsewhere prepared from the foundation of the World Mat 25.34 Yet after some thousands of years he saith again I go to prepare a place for you Once more behold here by the way how Jesus Christ is still 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The same that excellent Work which he made and prepared at first and which was afterwards lost and forfeited by man'd Disobedience he will now prepare it again for all those that believe in him for in him there is no variableness nor ever shall be That Preparation therefore that is to be made will be it seems in part the Reparation of that which was made in the Beginning In part I say for it will not become us to mete out or to set Bounds to this great Work of Christ by any Topographical Delineations otherwise then we have the Word to guide us neither indeed can we positively determine what it shall be 1 John 3.2 It doth not yet appear saith the Evangelist what we our selves shall be though for the present we be the Children of God And what the Glory was of our first Creation we are not able in this our low estate to finde out much less do we know what that Glory is which Christ is preparing But notwithstanding this is certain because it is revealed there shall be new Heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness and where Righteousness dwelleth there must needs be great Glory For if Righteousness here where she is but a Forreiner
a time of clearer Light coming which when the shadows were removed and that old Tabernacle taken down should make the way plainer to those that should walk in that Light for the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth certainly signifie this kind of manifestation by Light as we may see in sundry places of Scripture and not such an Apertio portarum an opening of the gates of Heaven as these Popish Phantasticks vainly imagine who do hereby onely manifest their gross Ignorance in that whereas the Apostle saith the way to Heaven was not manifest in regard of knowledge They will against all sense and reason maintain that the way to Heaven was not open in regard of Entry as if the way could not be open to enter because it was not manifesty known Upon which account as one well observeth they may shut out our Christian Infants at this day who do not onely not manifestly but not at all know the way to Heaven and if the way to Heaven be open to them for entry although it be shut in regard of knowledge how much more was it open to the faithful under the Law who as to sufficiency knew the way to Heaven although not so manifesty as we do As for that which hath been Objected out of our Common Liturgy viz. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of Death thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers I answer they are much mistaken who render the sense of the said words in that manner to the derogation of Christ's merit for if they be interpreted aright they do rather advance the honour of the Lord Jesus in that way and kinde that we have here insisted upon And as Athanasius used them who was the Authour of them then in the least degree detract from it the genuine meaning of them as we use them being this Jesus Christ after his death did open the Kingdome of Heaven to all Believers viz. to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews whereas before it was open onely unto the Jews Lastly Where as it is said by some that though the Fathers were not shut up in Limbo as the Papists fondly dream but immediately after Death were carried up into Heaven yet they were not admitted to that Vbi that place of Glory wherein they have been ever since our Saviour's Ascension I Answer till such time as we can see some constat for this in Scripture we must take leave to declare our Judgment against it rather because the Holy Scripture is so clear that Jesus Christ was the same Yesterday which he is to day we may admire that the least scruple should arise in the thoughts of any that the power of his Resurrection could not put forth the same Virtue to the Saints of old so as to make them Quoad statum separationis as perfectly happy as it doth unto those that have and shall come after We are not to be regulated by the Opinions of Men in this matter whether Antient or Modern though in some other points that are not of so great concernment we may happily afford a willing compliancy In this case we will call no man Father upon Earth for one is our Father which is in Heaven To the Law therefore and to the Testimony whosoever speaks not according to this Word in Order to Christ's Glory and the Salvation of his Church it is because there is no Light in them And now when I was even about to leave this point so to proceed unto that which followeth I have met with a spoke in my way upon which I must stop a little being well assured notwithstanding that my Text will bear down all Opposition that may be raised against it There have been we know in these late times certain strange Opinions scattered about such as have been of pernicious consequence to Religion And if amongst the rest I meet with any which strike at the Honour of our Lord Jesus Christ which our present Text ascribeth unto him I hope I may take liberty to bear Witness against them of how great Name soever the Authours thereof may be that have maintained them I shall forbear to nominate any Persons but doe heartily wish they would seriously consider with themselves how they may for the Church's sake retract that which they have of this Nature so unadvisedly written It hath been maintained and published by one Authour especially of great and eminent Note That the Object of the faith of the Patriarchs and Fathers of old was not Jesus Christ the Mediatour but God alone that is God the Father And that such efficacy as the expiatory sacrifices of the Law had was not so much in reference to the sacrifice to be made of Christ as extrinsecal and affixed by the Divine ordinance and institution of Almighty God Yea that the very Heathen did in those times without Christ even by the light of Nature attain unto such a Knowledge of God as was enough for their everlasting Salvation That these Cockatrice Eggs were hatched by Hereticks of old is well known The Church was much pestred with these Pelagian vermine in former times But that after they have been crushed with the hammer of Divine truth in the hands of Holy Antients and Servants of Christ of late that they should I say be now brought to Light again perking up with such boldness as they do and that among us in this Church who have been taught by terrible things in righteousness to set up and adore the Lord Jesus Christ in his Throne It is and will be surely too great a provocation of God's jealousie against us Having therefore mett with such Assertions as these so destructive to the Piety of the times and so diametrically contrary to the Doctrine that hath been insisted upon being derogatory to the Merits of the Lord Jesus making them useless to the World before the time of his coming I conceive a necessity is laid upon me to protest against them It hath been the great design of Satan at all times to bring the world to be as little beholding to Christ as may be and to that purpose hath he bewitched men with strong delusions one while suggesting to their minds prejudicate opinions concerning the ways of Christ that they are greivous unprofitable and unreasonable ways another while infusing into them Principles of self-sufficiency that so long as they have materials enough of their own to finish their building what need they go to seek in another's Quarry sometimes perswading them that the Saints in Heaven must be his Coadjutours in office to obtain grace for his people here and to help them in time of need again making them believe that after this Life is ended their souls must lie down in Purgatory for a time before they can be carried up into Heaven And why is all this and much more attempted by this grand Adversary the Devil but because as I said he would draw men to have as little dependance upon Christ
of our Salvation which we should not frustrate his desire which we should satisfie and our own interest and benefit which we should be so wise as to promote to the uttermost of our power therefore arise and walk up and be doing Secondly 2 Motive As we must walk worthy of God who hath called us to his Kingdom and glory so should we walk worthy of our calling wherewith we are called 1 Thess 2.12 Eph. 4.1 1 Thess 5.5 and what are we called Wee are the Children of the Light and the Children of the Day we are not of the Night nor of Darkness whereupon the Apostle inferreth Let us not sleepe as do others but let us watch and be sober Brethren let me freely speake to you we vaunt our selves very frequently that live under a glorious light and whatsoever others have been before us we regard it not Wee are the Men Our lot is fallen unto us in this time to know more of the Mysteries of Heaven then hath been known in former Ages Well be it so but then our service must be answerable Rom. 12.1 it ought to be as the Apostle calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Reasonable service not reasonable as most of us make it confining it within those narrow and easy boundaries which our false deceitful hearts have devised but reasonable it must be viz. Such as is rather sutable to men grown up in a Gospel-stature then that which is fit to be done by those who were but the Children of Yesterday under the Paedagogy of the Law We are the Lords dayes-men he hath singled us out for special service his eye is continually upon us and we have much work to do it behoves us therefore to look about us for we shall be inexcusable if we be found negligent in the day of the Lord. 3 Motive Thirdly therefore consider the length of your way that you have to walk and the multitude of businesses that you have to do and then see whether you have not need to use well the Light of this day without which you can never be able to finish your course with joy You have I say a great journey to go viz. through all the wayes of God's Commandments before you can get to Heaven Ps 119.96 And these Commandments are exceeding broad yet must you traverse them in their whole breadth having respect unto every particular circumstance so far as you are concerned therein In this journey there must be no picking and chusing of our way according to our own fancies nor turning aside from any one Commandment for he that turneth away from the holy Commandment 2 Pet. 2.21 it had been better for him that he had never known nor entred into the way of Righteousness at all And now alas how is it possible for a poor weak Creature blinde and lame such are we all the best of us all of our selves to walk steddily in this way and to continue in it to the end unless he hath the light of this day to go before him which alone is ordained of God to be a conduct therein especially considering withall the variety and multitude of businesses that are to be done in the way Bishop Reinolds Let us take notice of them as they are prepared to our hands by a skilful Workman one of a thousand Christ saith he hath service much more then enough to take up all the Might strength studies abilities times callings of all his servants businesses towards God and himself worship fear Communion Love Prayer Obedience Service Subjection Businesses towards and for our selves watchfulness repentance Faith Sincerity Sobriety Growth in grace Businesses towards other men as instruments and fellow-members exhortation reproof direction instruction mourning rejoycing restoring relieving helping praying serving in all wayes of love so much evil to be avoided so many slips and errours to be lamented so many earthly members to be crucified so much knowledge and mysteries to be learned so many vain principles to be unlearned so much good to be done to my self so much service to be done to my brother so much glory to be brought to my master every Christian hath his hands full of work and can all this be done without light Or will you stand all the day idle as if you had not been hired at all into the Lord's Vine-yard but still continue in the market-place of the World amongst those that are without But be it known unto you you have been hired and the penny of eternal life hath been offered unto you again and again therefore woe unto you if you stand out any longer As yet there is day light for you to come in but you know not how soon it will expire Which indeed ought also to be thought upon by us as another special Consideration to quicken us in our way 4 Motive This day I say will have an end and we know not how soon the mystery of God will be finished and the Oath fulfilled that time shall be no more This nevertheless we know that there is an appointed time to man upon earth and that his dayes are as the dayes of an hireling Job 7.1 that is very short and uncertain so that how short this day of the Gospel may be to us we cannot tell and many times it is made shorter then the dayes of our lives being through God's just indignation taken from us leaving us in the darkness of our own foolish hearts and under the power of the Prince of darkness because we chuse darkness rather then light Very needful then it is to hearken to the advice which the Lord giveth Joh. 12.35 Walk saith he in the light while you have the light least darkness come upon you And also to follow his example I must saith he work the work of him that sent me Joh. 9.4 Ps 19.5 while it is day the night cometh wherein no man can work We see daily that the Sun in the firmament hath his rising and setting he cometh forth of his Chamber in the morning like a Bridegroom and retires again at even Thus in like manner is it with the light of this day it came forth De umbraculo suo out of its place where it lay shadowed before in the Tabernacle of Moses or if you will De thalamo for the word will bear both out of the Presence-Chamber of the God of Heaven where it was trimmed after the form of a Bridegroom in a more gorgeous manner then formerly it had been and being come forth hitherto like a strong man he hath run his race bearing down all opposition driving before it the darkness of Judaisme Hellenisme Paganisme Papisme and Atheisme and what ever it be that is contrary to sound doctrine But being in a race it will have an end and we may probably conjecture that it is well neere finished For as the coole of the day doth foretell the approaching of the night so that coldness
which is Christ Jesus And other salvation can no man expect then that which hath been from the beginning there being no other name given under Heaven nor in Heaven neither whereby believers may ever get to Heaven Via seculi Via Antiqua Ps 139. ult It is the decree of Heaven not to be disanulled till time be no more It is the way everlasting wherein the Wisdome and Power of the Almighty shall be gloriously manifested to the eternal confusion of that grand apostate the Devil and all his Angels whose inveterate malice hath from the beginning been principally bent against Jesus Christ In the handling of this Subject our business should be to consider Jesus Christ in the execution of his Mediatorial Office For that indeed hath been the work of this day And which hath made this day more glorious then yesterday Yesterday 't is true he was as it is said before the onely Mediatour between God and man being ordained of the Father to that high honour but it was by virtue of that which he hath to day actually accomplished both in his life and in his death Whatsoever therefore hath been spoken concerning him must be understood with a reference unto the work of this day whereby all the former mediation in the High Court of Heaven for the Fathers of old is made good and effectual in the Law of God and ratified for eternity And this speaks him still to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same or the onely he who was willing in this day of his power to perfect for ever them that in all the Ages of the Church have been are or shall be sanctified that is consecrated and separated out of the world and dedicated to be vessels of honour unto God We shall not enter into a large survey of that which Christ hath done and suffered nor make any strict search into his office whereby it may in all points be made manifest that he hath now in this time of the Gospel fully perfected the work of redemption and so proved himself to be the same to day which he was yesterday We have spoken somewhat of these things before and therefore shall for bear to speak much of them now and there have been Writers of late who have magnified the Office of Christs Mediatourship therein doing eminent service both unto him and his Church Yet it is but meet that we should for our methods sake take this sweet subject also along with us though it be folded up but in some general termes which being opened particularly would enlarge our discourse too much wherein already I may be judged by some to have gone beyond my bounds In the first of the Revelation we read how the Lord Jesus Christ appears unto his beloved Disciple St. John clothed in his regal and pontifical attire Rev. 1.13 intimating that he is now ready fitted for that whole Oeconomy to which he was designed from the beginning and implying that he is now solemnly inaugurated into and possessed with that honour which did alwayes belong unto his Office Never did he in all his apparitions of old shew himself in such a manner as now he doth This garment was then laid up as I may say in the Cabinet of Gods Purpose and Decree wherein the smell of it was very acceptable to the Father inclining him to give out his blessing to his children who did then by faith according to their capacity lay hold upon it But now since that this our great Lord Advocate and Mediatour the first begotten among many brethren hath been actually called of God unto his office and assumed the right of his Primogeniture he appears vested with it exercising his authority fulfilling the will of his Father and confirming all that he hath done in the preservation of his people and their reception to himself since the World began With which confirmation Divine Justice rests her self fully satisfied and the Pleas of the Law and the clamours of Satan are all husht and silenced Having then thus put on this garment for the execution of his office what doth it argue but that he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same which he was from the beginning A Prophet to day as he was yesterday teaching his people the way of God truly and fore-telling them what shall happen to them in the way A Priest to day as he was yesterday wherein he hath offered up a sacrifice for sin and maketh intercession for us A King to day as he was yesterday protecting preserving and providing for his Church ruling in the midst of his people ruling also in the midst of his enemies Precisely and punctually the same as yesterday without any variableness or shadow of turning Yea so far is he now from being defective in any thing that concerns his office that he rather is the same to day in a more transcendent manner then he was yesterday Heb. 6.20 For observe it he is said Heb. 6.20 to be made an High Priest after his entry into Heaven not that he had not been a Priest before for his Church but because it was never so clearly manifested in former times as it was after his ascension when he shed abroad his Grace and powred down his Spirit abundantly upon his Church We shall not multiply Proofes for this out of Scripture some mention having been hereof before Take onely one instance viz. Rev. 1.8 Rev. 1.8 Where the Lord saith I am Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the Ending which is and which was and which is to come In which last words the order that he useth in the description of himself as Mediatour is to our purpose very observable For mark first he saith I am which is and then followeth which was c. Whereas according to the course and method of time that which was should have had the precedence But here we see It is by Christ speaking of himself with a respect unto his Mediatourship as appears by the 11.13 and 18. verses following he doth put in the second place to note unto us that his present estate in his office is to be preferred before that which was and gives a Being unto it Objection But it may possibly be objected How can this be that Jesus Christ is the Same to day as yesterday when we see a revocation of Divine Ordinances that were of old instituted for the Publick Worship of God and the benefit of his People and others now appointed in their stead Was not the seventh day in the week commanded to be kept Holy to the Lord and is it not now changed to the first Did not God give unto Abraham the Covenant of Circumcision for an everlasting Covenant to him and to his seed adding also a terrible penalty upon the least failing thereof in these words Gen. 17.14 The Vncircumcised Man-child whose flesh of his foreskin is not Circumcised that Soul shall be cut off from his people he hath broken my Covenant Yet now
again rather then to joyn with your Brethren in things that are indifferent It was a sweet and Christian resolution of devour Saint Bernard when he saw differences arise that might cause a breach between him and others with whom he had formerly held a brotherly correspondency He wrote unto them in these Words Adharebo vobis etsi nolitis adharebo vobis et si nolim ipse Epi. 252. I will be of you though you be unwilling I will be of you though I be unwilling my self O if there were in you brethren but this meekness of wisdom to bear and forbear and such a zeal for the publick peace which you are bound in Conscience to promote it would surely more adorn your Christian Profession then all your cariering with Spear in Rest against the established Orders of the Church in Polemical argutations If it be so that you have any peculiar priviledge granted unto you from heaven above others to go in untrodden paths by your selves to disavow that order and government under which the Church hath flourished in former times and to dissolve all ancient bonds of unity and Christian society in the publick worshipping of our God as some by their violent Impulses of spirit others by their Enthusiasms have pretended to have let it be produced that we may believe you But as the Apostle puts the question so may we Is Christ divided How is he then the Same 1 Cor. 1.13 Hath he been with his Church ever from the beginning exercising his Power in the establishment of order and government in it without which I say again it could not well have been so long preserved promising also that he will be with it for that end and purpose to the end of the world And hath he given a countermand or a connivence unto some to separate themselves from the said order and government yea to do what lyeth in them utterly to disanul it Verily it must not it cannot be imagined that he who is the Same yesterdâ—y to day and for ever should at all prevaricate or swerve so diametrally from his purpose and practice wherein he hath always manifested himself to be the Same If the consideration of these things will not bring on a composure of our differences and allay the shaâ—pness of contradicting spirits I know not what will And if when men see what the Lord hath done and hear what God the Lord that is God which is the Lord Psal 85.8 viz. Jesus Christ doth speak who doth use to speak peace unto his people and to his Saints to speak it as a Comforter and to speak it as a Counsellour for it hath always been the earnest desire of his soul to see his people live peaceably one with another they will neither acquiesce in his doing nor follow his counsel What shall we judge of them but that they are willing not onely to turn but to run after folly and that they delight in vain janglings which do minister endless debates rather then godly edifying Lastly this will afford strong consolation for all that do live godly in Christ Jesus both in respect of themselves and their posterity First for themselves When we sinde much uncertainty in Creature-Comforts about us This may be our rejoycing and our refuge that Christ will be the Same unto us for ever Though friends may fail though means may fail though health may fail though heart may sail yet Christ will never fail Look what Peter spake but did not perform Christ hath spoken and will surely make good Though all forsake thee yet will not I. Let therefore that sweet and precious Promise be laid up in the heart of every true believer as a cordial to comfort it in all changes and troubles whatsoever that may arise written not onely by the Apostle Heb. 13.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 13.5 but in sundry other places of Scripture for our greater confirmation I will never never never never never leave thee or forsake thee Secondly for posterity We may rejoyce in this that the Lord Jesus Christ will have as tender a care of them as he hath had of us before them because he is the Same for ever He will be the Same to instruct and teach them the Same to defend and protect them the Same to save them from their sins and to bring them to glory Thus argueth the Prophet Psal 102.27 28. Heb. 1.10 Psal 102.27 which the Apostle applieth unto Christ Hebr. 1.10 c Thou art the Same and thy years shall have no end The children of thy servants shall continue under thy protection and provision and their seed shall be established before thee Shortly then Is not this exceeding great comfort to godly parents in all ages That Christ will be a guardian to their children after their decease They shall not be left as we say to the wide world neither shall such parents be like unto him of whom the Psalmist speaketh who should have none to favour his fatherless children But because Christ is the Same for ever he will as he hath done ever take care of his people that are in Covenant with him not onely making his Work appear unto his Servants but his Glory also unto their Children For he remembreth his Covenant for ever the Word which he commanded viz. his Angels to observe in the preservation of his people Ps 105 8. or the blessing which he hath decreed and issued out with such Authority that it shall prevail against all opposition to a thousand generations Leave therefore your fatherless children unto him he will preserve them alive for with him the fatherless shall ever finde mercy CHAP. IV. Sheweth how JESUS CHRIST is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Same unto his Church in her Triumphant estate unto all Eternity HItherto have we seen Jesus Christ the Same unto his Church yesterday to day and for ever in all the Generations that have been are or shall be in this world while she abideth in her Militant estate which hath given occasion of sundry Instructions that may through the good blessing of God be profitable and seasonable for these last times But what then may some say Will Christ forsake his Church when she is in her triumph and cease to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Same unto her when he hath finished his whole work and presented all her children before his Father in glory I answer still Jesus Christ will be the Same for ever unto his Church that is to say Not onely in this world but in that also which is to come To this purpose let us briefly consider two things First the full sense and utmost extent of the Apostles words here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Ever Secondly how Christ will be the Same unto his Church in the world to come As touching the First We must know that the Original word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is as much as to say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Always
in it Upon the whole matter then the Apostle by his variation of the Prophets termes seems to take away all scruples of the Jews Restauration First their Redeemer shall be their Deliverer who is both willing and able so to be willing by his relation unto them able because he is the Lord strong and mighty Secondly he shall come out of Sion because he is come unto Sion that is he shall from his Church by some powerful means that shall be used issue out a deliverance unto them because he came to his Church to be her Redeemer Thirdly neither shall their ungodliness that is their pertinacy in their present infidelity hinder this deliverance as some conceive by it an impossibility of their return for he shall turn it away from them and they shall no more turn unto it again Secondly it is observable Though the Apostle here varyeth from the Prophet in the formality of Israels conversion and deliverance yet he fully agreeth with him in the subject thereof that is Jacob For mark Neither of them both saith Ungodliness shall be turned away from Judah which was the remnant that God had reserved to the end that they should know that he was the Lord Neither do they say from Israel as distinguished from Judah which had been long ago driven into banishment But from Jacob as signifying all his posterity All I say not intending probably every particular person that should come out of his loyns but as ranked into several Tribes not one of them shall be lost but all shall be saved that is All of them in their several generations shall after this deliverance continue faithful with their God and never be separated from him any more Thirdly the Apostle and Prophet both engage the truth and faithfulness of God for the accomplishment of this deliverance in these words For this is my Covenant with them when I shall take away their sins With them that is without all controversie to be understood of the seed and posterity of Jacob as the whole current of the Apostles design in this Chapter makes it manifest and as hath been before sufficiently proved I demand then Hath God Covenanted with this his Israel to save and deliver them from their sinne and captivity when the fulness of the Gentiles is come in and when the Word is gone out of his mouth and past into a record in Holy Writ the Register of his revealed Counsels to his Church will he then retract it and not keep his Covenant O farre be it from any to put such an imputation of inconstancy upon the Unchangeable God Faithful is he that hath Covenanted who also will do it And now let us joyn these two together the Strength of Israels Redeemer and the Faithfulness of their God and who is he then that can doubt of their Restauration Object True indeed say some But that shall not be till the very instant of the consummation of all things when the work of Christ is finished the predeterminate number of Gods Elect filled up and a final period be ready to be put both to the sinnes and sufferings of all Gods people throughout the world Sol. I answer Should this be granted which yet is too tenaciously held by the Lutheran party it may well be demanded What advantage would accrew to the Churches of the Gentiles by the reception of the Jews How shall the world be enriched according to the word of the Apostle by their fulness more then it was by their fall and diminution if the world must be dissolved immediately upon their conversion I will not deny but this may be the glorious and blessed Catastrophe of the mighty acts of God upon the I heater of this world and that it is kept as a reserve by the providence of heaven to crown Messiah's victories and his peoples glory But that at the very first appearance thereof when the consolation of Israel and the riches of the Gentiles so largely promised in the Word and so earnestly expected and desired in sundry generations shall by the good hand of God be produced into act that the I say at the very rise and springing of these glorious manifestations of Gods Power and Faithfulness this stage should be taken down and the scene removed into another world as if the distinction between Jews and Gentiles should be continued there as it is here is not easily to be believed Undoubtedly God will so do this marvellous act that it shall for some time be had here in remembrance to the advancement of his own glory the honour of his people and to the everlasting confusion of the Prince of darkness with all his adherents Neither is this considence without sufficient warrant from the word of God for besides that which hath been already said to this purpose if we consult the Prophet Esay once again in the place before-mentioned and compare him with the Apostle in these very words that we have stood last upon we shall finde ground firm enough whereon to build this assertion viz. That this world shall continue for some generations after the Jews return from their finne and captivity Observe therefore When the Prophet had said The Redeemer shall come to Sion and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob he addeth Esa 59.21 As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My Spirit is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord henceforth and for ever Which words I confess in the spirit of them are directed to the Church and the children of it assuring them that Gods Spirit and Word shall continue with them for their instruction in all things needful for their salvation But when the Apostle who with the Prophet is guided by the same infallible Spirit shall lead us further to an application of them unto the seed of Jacob after their Restauration we may safely conclude that they do carry also with them this sense as well as the former viz. That Israel shall when they are returned unto the Lord cleave unto him for some generations three at least wherein they shall continue stedfast unto the end Now that the Apostle intendeth the same with the Prophet in this particular as well as in any other before insisted upon seemeth to me very probable He doth not indeed intersert those very words of the Prophet having mentioned that already which was equivalent with them 2 Pet. 3.15 I or as the Apostle Saint Peter will have the long-suffering of God to be accounted Salvation so the Apostle Saint Paul in that he saith All Israel shall be saved reckons the pouring out of Gods Spirit upon Israel and putting his Word into their mouth together with their constant adherency thereunto throughout their generations according to the Prophecy written of them to be Salvation also
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