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
that put their trust in him The second Interpretation of the TEXT Jesus Christ is the same yesterday to day and for ever In a reference to the whole CREATION Adsis O JESV HEnce it is that Christ calls himself the Alpha and Omega Rev. 1.11 the first and the last Being so in this sense as well as in that before-mentioned The first because he is before all things and by him all things consist Col. 1.16 The last Col. 1.16 in that he is after all things Or He shall stand the last on the earth as that place of Job may be rendred or with the last Job 19.25 Es 41.4 Col. 3.11 as the Prophet phraseth it that is continuing with or ruling this whole World to the end of it He is All and in all saith the Apostle in point of eternal salvation all meritoriously all efficiently all sufficiently so likewise is he All and in all in respect of the World and the Creatures therein for all had been nothing without him and all would fall to nothing without him the same good hand of his Power running constantly without the least Retractation or Interstitium through the whole from first to last which clearly demonstrates him what the Text proclaims him to be viz. The same yesterday to day and for ever That is The same in the work of Creation The same in the work of Preservation The same in the work of Restauration According to this triple Distribution of Time here in the Text Yesterday to day and for ever Let us therefore now consider these distinctly by themselves that we may so far as God shall be pleased to enable us take an exact view of the unchangeable power of the Lord Jesus in order to the Creatures CHAP I. How the Text is Applicable to Christ in the work of Creation JEsus Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same mighty God or the only He as the word signifies in the work of Creation he is that great Jehovah as it hath been made to appear that Ens entium The beginning of the Creation of God Rev. 3.14 Not in a Passive sense but Active that giveth a Being to all Creatures Therefore when this Jehovah saith of himself Es 48.12 I am he Es 48.12 I am the first I am also the last He presently inferreth Mine hand hath laid the foundations of the earth and my right hand hath spanned the Heavens when I call them they stand up together Ob. But we are to believe will some say according to the Tenor of our Creed that the Father is the Creatour of Heaven and Earth Sol. I answer True but that is not to be taken exclusively of the Son and of the Holy Ghost for as there is a Divine Order between the Persons in the Trinity so this Order is the same towards the Creatures as it is amongst themselves Opera Trinitatis ad extra sunt indivisa Talis agendo qualis existendo The same in working as in their existency one with another the Father is of himself the Son is of the Father the Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son so first the Counsel and Decree of the Father precedeth then the Son produceth that Decree into Act P.R. the Jesuit in his Treatise of Mitigati on against Dr. Morton tels us that Bellarmine Valentia c. Charge Calvin with Arianism for holding that Christ as he is the second person of the Trinity cannot properly be called the Creatour of Heaven and Earth for that say they implieth that he is not God nor equal to his Father Heb. 1.2 then the Holy Ghost maketh it effectual to all those ends and purposes for which it was ordained not as if there were any priority among them either in respect of Dignity or Time but the only wise God being the God of Order and delighting therein this Order is held in all proceedings amongst those three Heavenly Estates as it were who are not either in their Actions or Existence subordinate one to another but only co-ordinate one with another Excellently therefore according to this Rule is this Order in the work of Creation described by Arnobius an Orthodox Writer of the Fourth Century Ipse dixit facta sunt hoc est per verbum Dei facta sunt Patre loquente Filio creante Spiritu Sancto animante He spake and it was done that is By the Word of God were the Heavens and the Earth finished and all the Host of them by the Breath of his Mouth the Father decreeing the Son creating the Holy Ghost quickning Or as Basil the Great at the same time sweetly interprets it In creatione cogita principalem causam corum quae fiâ—nt Patrem conditricem Filium perfectricem Spiritum Sanctum In the work of Creation ever conceive the first Mover thereof to be the Father the working cause to be the Son the perfecting to be the Holy Ghost True it is the Father is said to work by the Son for by him that is the Son saith the Apostle Heb. 1.2 God made the World yet that will not necessarily imply as the Arians impiously construe it that the Son is only ministerial or instrumental to the Father herein as a Servant is to his Lord for this Preposition Per doth sometimes also signifie the very primary efficient cause of a thing that is acted or done v.g. A man may be said per liberum arbritrium by his free-will to undertake a Design his will though cannot be counted as his Instrument in the matter he undertakes but it is the efficient Mover of his undertaking And when a work-man per rationem Idaeam Artis that is by his skill doth perfect some rare artificial Piece we do not say that his Reason or Skill was either his Tool or his Servant that he used in his Work but the very Spring or Principle from whence the Work received its full and whole composure and formality which is so far from being an Impeachment of the Work-mans credit that it rather tends to his greater glory So when the Father is said by the Son to create the World the Son is not thereby subjected to the form of a Servant unto the Father as he was when he undertook to redeem the World but is declared thereby to be in all points 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Co-worker with him as the efficient cause of the Creation to the glory of the Father 1 Cor. 1.24 he being the wisdom of God and the power of God as saith the Apostle And yet to make this clearer we shall find that the said Preposition is in Scripture sometimes used with a reference also even unto the Father v.g. 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithful 1 Cor. 1.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by whom ye were called into the fellowship of his Son 2 Cor. 1.1 And 2 Cor. 1.10 Paul calls himself an Apostle of Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the will of
wise and carnal Politician What subjection do all these yield unto this great Preserver of men Though in him they live and move and have their being though they be under his protection every day Act. 17.28 yet they will not be subject unto him the God in whose hand their breath is and whose are all their waies Dan. 9.23 they will not glorifie The covetous Earth worm grovels upon his Dunghil saying to his Wedge of Gold Thou art my confidence and as Riches encrease so is his Soul more and more prostituted to his Mammon Job 31.24 Pro. 10.22 never considering that it is the blessing of the Lord that maketh rich nor remembring that the earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof and that he giveth it to whomsoever he will Doth the ambitious man that hunts greedily after honour acknowledge Christ's absolute Sovereignty when he will not content himself with that Station wherein Divine Providence hath put him but breaks over all bounds Civil Natural Spiritual aspiring still higher and higher beyond his proportion of strength and ballast of wisdom for the management of his acquired Interest which undoubtedly will either involve him in a Snare to his eternal perdition or else precipitate him here into many woful miseries As for the proud and vain-glorious man who exalts himself like the Pharisee proclaiming his Merits to the World Luke 18.11 12. and brow-beating others with overly looks of contempt and disdain he I say not closely and sliely disclaimeth Christ's Sovereignty but above all others is most guilty of an impudent and arrogant encroachment upon his Prerogative Royal Ps 138.6 and accordingly doth the Lord look upon him afar off in his due time giving a check to his folly making him to know his distance and that wherein he deals proudly Ex. 18 11. he will be above him In fine the profane Politician also that hath been trained up in the Schole of Machiavel and is become a profest and perfect Disciple of his great Patriarch Achitophel is very busie in his contrivances carrying on his unrighteous projects with much confidence and security as if Providence it self were blinde and that he who formed the Eye could not see and he that teacheth man Knowledge were altogether ignorant And thus do poor Creatures make bold with the Lord of the whole Earth withdrawing from him their subjection though they could not one moment subsist without him But O what a sad account will such presumptuous wretches make at the great Day when they shall come to stand before the Tribunal of this great Lord of Heaven and Earth They shall then finde that their preservation here hath been but a reservation they flourish and prosper awhile but it is that they may be cut off for ever Secondly In that Jesus Christ abideth continually the Governour and Preserver of the World here is matter of Instruction to be learned which Instruction shall be branched out into Three Particulars First It may teach all the faithful people of God not to be dismaied at the appearances and apprehensions of Death or of the troubles that come upon them here in this World Secondly It is a Lesson and inducement to draw poor Creatures to a constant dependance upon Divine Providence Thirdly It may let all sorts of people see their own nothingness in respect of a Spiritual standing in Grace and Holiness First then 1 Branch seeing that the Lord Jesus Christ takes a constant care of the World is the same yesterday to day and for ever in preserving the Work of his own hands what need they who may be well assured of his everlasting love unto them be afraid of death Or be daunted at the troubles that may sometimes come upon them or the World about them Concerning the first of these we may for our comfort know that Death was none of those Creatures that received a being from this Prince of the Creation Wisd 1.13 whose design was ever to uphold and maintain his own Workmanship against whatsoever might be destructive unto it But the Apostle tells us which way Death came in It entred saith he Rom. 5.12 into the world by sin This Thief and Robber then came not in at the door but foolish man lets in sin which came creeping upon him by a Serpentine Insinuation Et sicut mors intrat per peccatum â—a peccatum exit per moriem and Sin like a false Traitour makes way for this Cut-throat the Devils Emissary who no sooner in but he shews himself a Tyrant thrusts Life and Immortality into Darkness Plaies Reakes and makes what havock he pleaseth all the whole Race of Mankinde being in danger for ever to be swallowed up by him But when the Lord Jesus Christ who is the beginning of the Creation of God the first-born of every Creature findes this pragmatical Intruder so busily trampling upon the Work which he had made Gen. 1 26. Ps 139.14 Es 9.6 especially that Work which with such infinite Wisdom and power was wonderfully formed after his own Image whose Name is Wonderful he cannot suffer this Stranger thus to spoil his Labour but as he began it in Wisdom so he will in Mercy preserve it And therefore out of pure love to his own helpless Creatures he undertook to vindicate it against the Assaults of Death sending forth his Challenge with Indignation as hot as fire in these words O Death I will be thy death Hos 13.14 O Grave I will be thy destruction And not only speaks it but acts it too enters into a Combat with him And here may poor Creatures stand amazed to behold this admirable Duel a Duel of so great Import that the Victory which attends thereupon must carry with it the perpetual Monarchy of the whole World First then Christ hath a body prepared for him Heb. 10 5. that so he might be a fit Combatant with Death In this Body he appears Armed with the Breast plate of his own Righteousness though indeed loaden also with the sins of all the Elect 1 Pet. 2.24 for he bore our sins in his own Body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both to the Tree and on the Tree which was the field where this Combat was fought and carried them with him also to the Grave yea to Hell which is that Land of separation appointed for them mentioned Lev. 16.22 and there left them with the Devil from whom they had their first Original Lev. 16.22 Death on the other side being set on by the Devil for the Apostle saith Heb. 2.14 He was under his command finding a Body in his way ready to give him the Encounter and finding sin also upon it wherein his great strength was wont to lie makes use of his old Plot and stratagem which never before failed him layeth hold upon Sin and with it mortally wounds the Lord Jesus Christ Where alas is now the hope of the Creatures being rescued from under
them their own Mercies choose Death rather then Life they shall most assuredly reap the fruit of their own Option in the latter end unless they will learn betimes to be wiser and make a better choice For what else can be expected when Christ hath prepared so Glorious an Inheritance for men in whom he professeth to have a peculiar Interest John 1.11 Mat. 25.41 and they shall lightly regard it And when there is a fire an everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels whom his Soul abhorreth and men shall wilfully plunge themselves into it O foolish people and unwise who hath deluded you A wretched Covetousness you will undoubtedly finde it to be in the end to be intruders upon the Devil a wosul ambition to be Usurpers upon Damnation and a folly not to be parallel'd unless it be by the reprobate Angels to leave your own Habitation so Gloriously repaired for you by Jesus Christ who not only Created you but Bought you at a dear Rate everlastingly to dwell in Surely it were much better for you to stand your ground and to preserve your Interest with all your strength preparing your selves against the time when an entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into that everlasting Kingdom Rom. 8.23 waiting for the Adoption a Glory above the Creatures expectation viz. The redemption of our body when Body and Soul shall be reunited again and all things shall be ours in their perfectest Beauty purged throughly from that dross and corruption which now sticks upon them This I say should be our chiefest Ambition next unto God's Glory and if we were wise would be our utmost endeavour for then shall we be with Christ which is best of all then shall we experimentally finde the blessed effects of his immutable love towards us unto all eternity then shall the Creature yield unto us not a groaning Subjection but a willing and a cheerful Subjection rejoycing that it hath somewhat in it that shall conduce to the advancement of our Glory O let the consideration hereof work in us a holy Indifferency towards the things of this present life What though some be poor and of low account in the eyes of the world yet let not the hearts of such be troubled at it for our Lord when he comes if he finde them doing his will will make them as well as others who abound in wealth Rulers over all that he hath If Riches encrease Ps 62.10 Pro. 23.5 let us not set our hearts upon them Or if they decrease and take to themselves wings and flie away let us not be guilty of such folly as to let our hearts flie after them Bishop King upon Jonas but as Fabritius the Roman a late learned and laborious Bishop made the Comparison told King Pyrrhus who one day tempted him with Gold and another day terrified him with an Elephant which he had never seen before Plutarchus in vita Pyrrhi Vtimur mundo fruimur Deo Aug. Yesterday I was not moved with thy Money nor to day with thy Beast So whether we be tempted with gain or terrified with the loss of these worldly Commodities we do not trouble our selves either way Knowing that we have in Heaven a more enduring substance Heb. 10.34 And thus have we done with the second Interpretation of our Text viz. That Jesus Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same in reference to the whole Creation The Third Interpretation of the TEXT is this Jesus Christ is the same yesterday to day and for ever With a more especial Respect unto his Peculiar People Adsis O JESV JEsus Christ is the same unto his Church from first to last that is from the first man that was created to the last that shall be born in this World or from the first Evangelical Promise given in Paradise viz The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents head unto the last Sentence that shall be pronounced at the great Day Gen. 3.15 viz. Come ye Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Mat. 25.34 The same King and the same Priest and the same Prophet of his Church throughout all Ages the same in his Power over them the same in his Satisfaction and Intercession for them the same in his Doctrine unto them Semper idem alwaies the same And now that we may understand more fully the Sense of the Holy Ghost in this excellent Scripture according to this Third Interpretation of it let us confider distinctly the several Courses or Periods of Time here specified viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Yesterday to Day and for ever And in them all observe the Immutability of the Lord Jesus Christ towards his Church from Generation to Generation By 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Yesterday must according to this sense be meant all the time of the Old Testament By 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is To day is understood the time of the New Testament By 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for ever the continuance of that time unto the end and that Eternity in order to the fruit and benefit of Christ's Immutability towards his Church when Time shall be no more CHAP I. Of Yesterday and the Benefit that the Church enjoyed by Christ's Oeconomy therein TO begin then with Yesterday which as it is said must in this sense which we are now upon be taken for all he time of the Old Testament that is from the Minority of the Church in her first springing unto her maturity in that fulness of Time when Christ came into the World In which long Tract of time notwithstanding he was the same in the Exercise of his Mediatory Office towards his selected People which he is to Day in the time of the Gospel when he was made Flesh and visibly appeared among us Two things are here to be considered by us 1. The Denomination of the Time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Yesterday 2. What is predicated of that time viz. Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The only He or the same Yesterday Both which will afford unto us their several Instructions From the first we may learn that which will be of some use for us to know and that is this The Time of the Old Testament with the Legal Ordinances attending upon it is a Day that is set and expired being Yesterday and therefore not to be brought into our account neither are we to walk in the light of it I say not that the Old Testament it self Quoad scripturam vel spiritualem veritatem as it is a part of God's Revealed Will unto his Church is now at this time quite out of date for even Jesus Christ who is the Sun that shineth gloriously in this our Day was the Doctrine of the Prophets as well as of the Apostles and he commandeth us in the New Testament to enquire of him in the Old Search the Scriptures John 5.39 Luke 16.29 that
concerning this matter The affront that is hereby put upon the Lord Jesus Christ is so notorious that it is discernable by all that are not given up to strong Delusions To conclude therefore it is very well noted by one who hath a long time been a laborious Workman in the Lord's Vine-yard that the Lord by Burying the dead Body of Moses in an unknown place did in a kinde signify that he hath so abolished the Legal Ordinances that they must be buried in eternal Oblivion and never to be looked after nor minded any more Whosoever therefore shall now go about to revive any of those Ceâ—emonies of the Law as the Papists do their Work is no other in God's eyes then the raking up of Moses's Dead Body which the Lord hath concealed Such a Censure likewise giveth Saint Augustine when he had spoken of the Jewish Ceremonies that they were to have a Solemn Funeral which would require some time upon which account were the Apostles excusable for their temporary connivence at them He addeth Quisquis nunc c. Whosoever shall now use them as it were raking them up out of their Dust he shall not be pius deductor corporis sed impius violator sepalturae A pious Helper in the Burial but an impious and sacrilegious Wretch that ransakes the quiet Tombs of the Dead In the last place such who now-a-dayes Pretend to Oracles that is Visions and Revelations and wait for Miracles may by this Doctrine be convinced of a woful Delusion wherewith they are Haunted for it will appear that even these also were the Light of Yesterday Indeed when God was letting forth Light by little and little now a part of his Word and then a part of his word he did at that time as hath been said before reveal his Minde sundry ways but now when the Day is not onely Dawned but the Sun of Righteousness is come forth out of his Chamber appearing like a strong man in his Race God doth not use to interpose Heterogeneous Flashes of Light differing from that which he hath in his Wisdom and Goodness set forth to be the Fountain of Light to all the World The Firmament of Heaven cannot endure two Suns yea horrid Confusion would seaze upon the Face of Nature if such a thing were even the Parelii that is Resemblances of the Sun in the Aire usually called Mock Suns are Praemonitours of fearful Prodigies like to ensue and these new Lights differing from the ordinary Light of our Day have not onely Portended but brought on Dismal and Lamentable Disasters upon the poor Church of God Visions and Revelations were the Light of Yesterday and though there were some such Manifestations of it now and then Ps 89.19 when it was in Occasu in the instant of Setting in the Primitive Times as there were Prophecies and Jewish Ceremonies of which we finde some though very rarely were taken up and made use of for after a Shower will come some Drops yet to expect them now or to pretend any need of them at this time when with open Face we do behold the Glory of the Lord and this Glory of the Lord likewise shines clearly unto us in the Face of Jesus Christ what were this but shameful ingratitude It is as if a man should exclaim against the Light of the Sun and call for a Candle to be set up at High-noon Day Objection It may perhaps be Objected if such Revelations were so frequent under the Old Testament and not to be expected now then was the State of the Church better at that time then it is now under the Gospel Solution But this I affirm to be no good Consequence for first we are recompensed by having the Scriptures Perfect and Compleat which they of the Oâ—d had not Secondly they indeed had more ordinary Revelations of matters Personal and Private but of such things as do necessarily concern Salvation we in the time of the New Testament have more evident Demonstration and more full Revelation according to the Prophecy that went before of us Jer. 31.34 Jer 31.34 For Example particular mercies to some of God's special Servants or particular Judgments on his Enemies whether particular Men or whole Kingdoms were often revealed to Godly Men in those Days but Salvation by the Messiah And the manner how the Messiah should save his Church is more fully and †plainly plentifully revealed now then it was in those Days Besides we have the Substance of their shadows and the performance of their Promises In which respects it must be acknowledged our State is far more excellent then theirs From whence we may Collect with a late Writer Mr. Perkins who in his Generation laboured much in the Lord That Revelations of God's Will to be expected now under the Gospel are ordinarily nothing els but these viz. The true Sense and Meaning of Holy Scripture and a discerning of True Scripture from Forged of True Sacraments from Supposed of True Doctrines from False of True Pastours from False Prophers these and such like as far forth as they are necessary to Salvation all true and faithful Believers which out of an humbled Heart do seek it by devout Prayer at God's hand are sure to have revealed unto them from God Ps 25.14 Ps 25.14 But as for other Purposes of God viz. of Personal and particular matters or what shall be his blessings or what his Judgments to these and these Men Families Cities or Kingdoms or when or how he will change States or translate Kingdoms or by what extraordinary means he will have his Gospel propagated or a declining Church or State upholden these we are not now to expect nor easily to believe any that shall say such things are revealed unto them And yet as the said Authour saith well we do not hereby limit the Almighty or tie the Lord in such strait Bonds but he may sometimes extraordinarily reveal his Purpose in some such Cases to some of his selected Servants provided that that Revelation be examined and allowed of by the Church Thus he And the truth is it is but necessary that such restrictions should be in this Case which undoubtedly God doth allow of it being a most certain rule Deus non deficit in necessariis God is not wanting in things necessary Now surely this is needful For though the Holy Scriptures are not to wait upon the allowance of the Church rather let the Church stand or fall to the infallible Judicature of the Scriptures yet this Power hath the Church given unto her of God to judg of extraordinary Revelations whether they be of God or no neither are they to be of any account with the people of God till they have passed the Scrutiny and Censure of the Church otherwise what dangerous Consequences would follow hereupon it is not any hard matter to foresee Here we shall have one cry out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have Dreamed I have Dreamed as those Impostours
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
is enquire into Moses and the Prophets They are they that testifie of me But Quoad dispensationis modum c. The Manifestations of God's Presence with his People are not now after the same manner as in the time of old and the outward form of his Worship which he hath prescribed is not the same with us as it was with the Fathers yet nevertheless this doth no more impeach the Immutability of the Mediator by whom the change is made then a Covenant written and expressed more plainly with a distinct form of words from what it had before doth put an imputation of Inconstancy upon him that granted it Of which more shall be said hereafter The Scripture is very clear for the confirmation of the proposed Doctrine Even Yesterday was the setting of that Day foretold for Daniel prophecied of the putting out of the Light thereof Dan. 9.27 viz. Dan. 9.27 Jer. 31.31 Mal. 1.11 of the cessation of the old Sacrifices and Jeremy foretelleth of a new Covenant Jer. 31.31 c. and Malachy of a new Oblation and the Jews themselves acknowledge according to these Prophecies that when Messiah shall come he shall turn their Day into Night and change their Laws Answerable hereto is that of our Saviour Luke 16. The Law and the Prophets were untill John Luke 16.16 which John was indeed the true Janus who saw both daies the Concluder of the former and the Beginner of the latter There will be no great need to insist much upon the proof hereof the Epistle to the Galatians is in a manner wholly spent upon this Argument let us single out some places wherein the Apostle giveth very pregnant testimonies concerning this matter We saith he Gal. 4.3 Gal. 4.3 when we were children that is before we had that true manly knowledge and wisdom whereto we have now in the fulness of Time attained were in bondage under the elements of the world Heb. 9.10 Carnal Ordinances which were the Abecedarian Rudiments of the Paedagogy of the Law were the Light of that Day but these Elements are now utterly destitute of their former Influence Luster and Vigour being become but weak and beggarly Gal. 4.9 Gal. 4.9 of so mean account are they now even in the judgment of him who saith of himself When he was a childe he spake as a childe making his boast of them 1 Cor. 13.11 verily thinking with himself that he ought to do many things according to those Rudiments but when he became a man he put away all those childish things True it is they had as one saith well been Elements in their time and God had used them as the first Letters of the Book to schole his People with but their Office was ended that fulness of Time which brought Christ into the World and that fulness of Knowledge and Grace which Christ brought with him was their Diminution The Light which they gave though Glorious in that Day is by reason of a more excellent Brightness that now shineth quite extinct and of no value even as the poor light of a Candle is of no use when the Sun appeareth in his full strength Again the same Apostle tells us in the same Epistle Gal. 3.23 Gal. 5.18 Rom. 6.14 Gal. 3.23.5.18 and so also Rom. 6.14 that we are not under the Law And what is the priviledge that we have hereby Surely very great for we are not only not under the Curse of the Law but not under the guidance and conduct of the Law as it was in the hand of Moses John 1.17 He indeed gave the Law that is the Letter of it and that was all the light that he could give and the Veil upon his face did then shadow out the Veil upon the peoples hearts which was not taken away in the reading of the Old Testament 2 Cor. 3.14 2 Cor. 3.6 but the Ministry of the New Testament is not the Ministry of the Letter but of the Spirit and the Veil which was of old under the Law in the reading of the Old Testament is now under the Gospel done away by Christ So that I say again we are not under the Law in the Letter of it as they of old were neither can the Veil of Moses hinder us as it did the people formerly As here so likewise in other places of Scripture doth the Apostle bear witness to this truth Col. 2.14 v.g. Col. 2.14 * Or De crees Deleto quod adversum nos erat Chirographo Doctrinis Christ hath blotted out the Hand-writing or Obligation of Ordinances whereby is principally understood the Law of Ceremonies which was an Act of Yesterday Or Christ hath by his Doctrines that is new Statutes of the Gospel blotted out the Hand-writing viz. of the Law which was against us for so the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be rendred without the least perverting of the Apostles sense Let it be construed either way it plainly demonstrates that the Obligation which was of Yesterday in the time of the Old Testament in full force and virtue is now utterly cancelled made void and of none effect And least some might cast out a scruple that though it be blotted yet still it may be legible the Apostle further saith He hath taken it out of the way yea and that it may not be suspected that it should be afterwards brought to light again it is added for the removal of all fears and jealousies whatsoever that he nailed it for our greater security to his Cross that is to die with him and so rent it in pieces Again Col. 2.17 Col. 2.17 having spoken of certain Customs and Rites proper to the Time of the Old Testament he saith of them They were but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a shadow of things to come And what things were those Such things as many Prophets and Kings have desired to see Luke 10.24 but could not A Complication of all which glorious things the Apostle there ascribeth unto Christ calling him the Body which when it is come there is no more use at all of the shadow but it must give room thereto and vanish away Types are to endure but till the time of Rectifying Heb. 9.10 that is Heb. 9 10. the Evangelical Jubilee which sets all in their due Order and Station Lastly To insist upon no more in Heb. 1.1 2. there is set down a plain difference between Then and Now observe God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last daies spoken unto us by his Son To them at sundry times 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by many parts as the word importeth now a part of his will and then a part the Lord was then in the way only of revealing his Minde to his Church letting forth Light by little and little till the Sun of Righteousness Jesus Christ arose he had not told his whole Will And so
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in divers manners and troops not revealing his Will after one manner but sometimes by a lively Voice sometimes by Visions sometimes by Dreams by inspiration by Urim and Thummim by Signs from Heaven by Types and Ceremonial shadows c. One while making known his Grace under the Promise of the Seed of the Woman breaking the Serpents head which in all likelyhood was the constant Doctrine that the Patriarchs those Preachers of Righteousness in the first Age of the World insisted upon So Luther speaking of Enoch saith Summâ fiduciâ prae aliis Patriarchis Satanae Cainitarum ecclesiae se opposuit confitendo semen mulieris praedicando de conterendo capite Serpentis Another while entituling himself The Lord God of Shem Gen. 9.26 27. who first of all Men upon Earth had God entailed unto him in a special reserved sort of peculiar Appropriation and Noah prophecies concerning him that God should dwell in his Tents that is So Musculus Meo judicio simplicius est ut intelligamus loqui Noc de Deo qui fuerit habit turus in Tabernaculis Shem i e. Omnia illius posteros quoque benedicturus in omnibus illi adfuturus c. Ita etiam Mercer Ex. 3.15 Mat. 19.28 John 15.15 2 Cor. 3.18 2 Cor. 4.6 that his presence should peculiarly be confin'd to him and his Linage Afterwards Ex. 3.15 The God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob professing that this should be his Name for ever and his Memorial to all Generations that is till the time of Regeneration should come spoken of Mat. 19.28 Thus diversly did the Light of that Day break out and shine forth which various Light is now vanished and another more firm and steddy more resplendent and glorious displaies his Beams over our Horizon for in these last daies God hath spoken unto us by his Son and that not in part but this Messenger of the Covenant hath made known the whole Counsel of God nor obscurely for with open face we may behold as in a Mirroir the Glory of the Lord and the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God shineth now clearly to us in the face of Jesus Christ Now the kindness and love of God towards man hath appeared more plentifully more clearly then ever before being now discovered unto the Church under the Title of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ in whom he hath opened all the Treasures of his bounty in whom his Name is more magnified and his Grace more exalted then Yesterday in all the Ages that were from the beginning From all which it appeareth that the time of the Old Testament with the whole Order and Institute of it is a Day that is past being Yesterday and therefore not to be recalled Which being so this serveth then for the conviction of all those who in this Day will be still groping after the obscure Light of Yesterday The first sort that come under this Censure are the Jews who are still of Yesterday and will know nothing of the Light of this present Day Poor people what wait you for Let me speak unto you in the words of truth and soberness Your Fathers of old did well to take heed unto that sure Word of Prophecy giâ—en unto them by the holy Spirit of God as unto a Light that shined in a dark place whereby they did foresee and acknowâ—edge the expiration of their Day even in the same manner as it hath already come to pass and did discern afar off this present Day which the Lord hath made Rejoycing in it Oh that you would now also in this Day when the Sun of Righteousness hath gotten up into the Meridian of his full Strength take Counsel of the same Word too possibly your eyes may then be opened so as you may plainly perceive the Change that hath been wrought how the great God who hath the Times and Seasons in his own Power hath concluded the Light of Yesterday not onely in Demolishing your Temple and Depriving you of all your Glory but in the full Accomplishment of all whatsoever was written in that Word concerning the Messiah who is the Light of this our Day If you have not Faith to believe this let the faith of the Gentiles convince you of your Unbelief Is it not a clear demonstration without all controversy seeing Light is sprung up to the Gentiles who sat in Darkness that the former Light is vanished and utterly destitute of its Brightness I speak not of a few Proselytes that might be gathered unto you from among the Nations but that whole Nations and Kingdoms should so Unanimously joyn together to believe in the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and with one voice to cry out as they did of old 1 Reg. 8.39 Jehovah is the God Jehovah is the God What can it argue but that God hath taken them into Covenant with himself even as he hath done you Time was indeed when you were his peculiar People Deut. 4.7 Ps 147.19 20. and there was no Nation how great soever that had the true God so nigh unto them as you had in all things that you called upon him for Hee made known his Word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgments unto Israel He did not deal so with any Nation and as for his judgments we did not know them But now every Nation that worketh righteousness and feareth God is accepted of him now may we make our boast of Abraham as well as you if we walk in the steps of the Faith of our Father Abraham for we finde it by experience to our Comfort that God hath made him according to his Promise the Father of many Nations Gen. 17.5 God doth not now limit his Presence to an Ark as he did before but as it was Prophecyed by Malachi from the rising of the Sun even to the going down of the same Mal. 1.11 his Name is great among the Gentiles and in every place for no place is now Unclean Incense is offered unto his Name and a pure offering for the Lord of Hostes had said it and his Word must stand that his Name should be great among the Heathen Yea and the Prophet Esaiah likewise telleth us Es 11.10 that In that day that is another Day distinct from that wherein the Prophet lived there shall be a root of Jesse that is a sprig sprouting out and springing up from Jesse as from a Root which shall stand up for an Ensign of the people To it shall the Gentiles seek that is repair and flock together as to their Sanctuary and Refuge wherein they shall trust Now what have we Gentiles to do with Jesse were it not for Jesus this Root should for ever have lain hid in the Earth and we should have joyned with those who once said Look to thine own House David were it not for the Son of David in whom we trust Alas alass your continued Contempt of us