bee understood of Salomon then of Christ he is the fairest among men Verse 2. Grace was in his lips he rideth on the word of truth Princes have thrones so hath CHRIST Salomons throne was but for a short time this for ever and ever What manner of kingdome administred in equity Isai. 11.3 swayed with righteousnesse there is no respect of persons with him he is just in his government he will punish the wicked comfort and defend the godly CHRISTS Scepter is a scepter of righteousnesse there is no partialitie no unjust dealing with him If his owne servants sinne he inflicts punishment on them as well as on the wicked judgement beginneth at his owne house first If a King will reforme his kingdome he must reforme his owne court first so doth CHRIST in the government of the world if they of his owne family offend he will begin with them first Moses murmured therefore hee lost the enjoying of the land of Canaan David a man after Gods owne heart committed adultery therefore his wives were deflowred before his eyes and he had like to have lost his kingdome for it Therefore let not us that be within the Walls of the Church flatter our selves in our sinnes wee may drinke c. CHRIST will be mercifull to us nay his Scepter is a Scepter of righteousnesse he must punish sinne wheresoever he findes it VERSE 9. THat the Scepter of CHRISTS kingdome is a Scepter of righteousnesse hee proves by two effects he loves righteousnesse and hates iniquitie ergo it is a Scepter of righteousnesse Hebr. It is because both are good and true The cause of good government is the grace of God and God rewardeth good government Thy God by generation Ours by creation Hath anointed thee Hereby hee is distinguished from GOD the Father as Genesis 19.24 GOD the Father anointed him in respect of his humanity With the oyle of gladnesse with the graces of the Holy Ghost which make the hearts of the faithfull glad and cheerefull to every good worke as they that were anointed in the time of the law were made the fitter to those businesses which GOD injoyned to them Further because they made CHRIST glad to powre downe those graces on his Church IESUS rejoyced in the spirit Luk. 10. We are Christs fellowes as men as members of his body and as his brethren we are anoynted touch not mine anoynted Psal. 105.15 and 2 Cor. 1.21 Wee in measure hee above measure Rom. 12.3 Io. 1.16 Io. 3.34 he is Sanctus Sanctorum Who be those that are Christs fellowes Surely the faithfull wee are his servants and fellowes too The head is above all the members of the body yet the head and members are fellowes the husband hath a superioritie over the Wife yet the man and the Wife are fellowes Christ is our Husband we by his grace and favour are his Wife therefore his fellowes the eldest Sonne and heyre to a Nobleman hath many prerogatives above the rest of his brethren yet in that they be brethren the Sonnes of one Father they are all fellowes So CHRIST our elder brother is above us yet because wee are his brethren wee may bee termed his fellowes By this oyle of gladnesse is meant nothing else save the graces of the spirit The oyntment shall teach you sayes Iohn the Holy Ghost is this oyle or oyntment Where we have many observations and instructions 1. All the oyle that we have comes from God we have no grace but it is of him the uprightnesse of Noah meekenesse of Moses zeale of Phineas sincerity of David the patience of Iob the hope of Abraham the wonderfull faith of the Centurion the knowledge of Ezra and Paul that spake with tongues more than all the courage of Peter all is of God it is he that anointed us with his holy oyle therefore let us be proud of no gift but use all in feare and trembling to the glory of the giver There is one that bestowes precious oyle on thee with that thou anointest thy face and hast a cheerefull looke thou art not to praise thy selfe but him that gave thee the oyle all our spirituall oyle comes out of Gods shop therefore let us magnifie him for all if hee anointed Christ much more us hee was anoynted with this oyle as he was man otherwise as he was God he had all fulnesse of himselfe 2. If Christ were anointed above his fellowes then his fellowes also are anointed though not in that measure hee was wee have a little Crewse full of oyle but he hath a great Pot full of it yet every Christian must have some oyle else he is a Christian in name not in deed Hence it is that we are called Christians of Christ because wee are anointed as he was but none may be called Iesuits of Iesus because there is no Saviour beside him wee may communicate with him in the name of Christ but not in the name of Iesus and if we be Christs members we must have some oyle as well as our head Saint Paul profited in the study of the law above his fellowes therefore his fellowes profited something CHRIST was annointed above us therefore wee must bee anointed too If thou hast no knowledge in the will of God no faith no zeale hope meekenesse patience thou art no Christian therefore let us intreat the LORD to anoynt us with this oyle dayly more and more 1. Oyle was a token of consecration in the time of the law Aaron and his Sonnes Saul David and all the Kings by oyle were consecrated to the Lord and set apart to an holy use Iacob powred oyle on the pillar whereof he was purposed to make an altar to the Lord. So we by this heavenly oyle of the spirit are dedicated to God as a royall Priest-hood an holy nation a peculiar people zealous of good workes 2. Oyle gives a sweet taste to the meat whereupon God commanded that on the meat offering should be powred oyle and incense oyle for the tast and incense for the smell So this spirituall oyle of Gods graces makes us a sweet and pleasant meat to the Lord the wicked he will spew out of his mouth but in us that are seasoned with the oyle of the spirit he takes singular delight 3. Oyle supples the wounds that be in a mans bodie The Samaritane powred oyle into the wounds of the man that lay halfe dead by the high way side so the oyle of the spirit supples us against the wounds of sinne a certaine perswasion being setled in our hearts of the love of God towards us in Christ. 4. Oyle makes a man nimble therefore wrastlers in all ages were wont to anoint themselves with oyle that they might bestirre their joynts the better So the graces of the spirit make us more lively in Gods service to wrastle with great alacritie with Satan and all the enemies of our salvation 5. Oyle keepes the body Soluble and is a meanes to purge it from many grosse humours
newes that such and such be gone such wise Counsellours such godly and religious common-wealths-men be gone let us in some measure grieve at it the faithfull dye and no man considers it that is not well There should not be such blockishnesse among us yet let us not be too much daunted at it let this be a castle of refuge for us to flye unto Iesus Christ our Captaine keeper and defender remaines for ever He is the same and His yeares never faile Now as the head remaines for ever so shall we that be His members our soules never dye at all but are immediately in Paradise with Christ our bodyes though they dye putrifie in the Earth and and there sleepe for a season as in beds yet they shall bee raised up at the latter day wee shall meete CHRIST in the ayre and remaine with Him for ever Let this be a singular comfort to us all VERSE 13. NOe Angell sitteth at the right hand of God CHRIST doth Ergo. That Psame 110.1 must needes bee understood of CHRIST 1 S. Peter expoundeth it of Him Acts 2.34 2 That verse 4. cannot bee applied to David he was no Priest all the Priests were according to Aaron not Melchizedec none of them were for ever 3 The Pharisees are mute when CHRIST presseth them with this testimony Matth. 22.46 Whereby it is evident that all tooke it as confessed that this Psalme was meant of Christ. 1 God the Father honours Him with the title of Lord therfore He is God equall with Him 2 Hee places Him at His right hand as His equall Ergo. Til 2 Sam. 6.23 Matth. 1.21 it denotes continuationem temporis then thou shalt sit quietly with me for ever Foot-stoole that is extrema subiectio 1 Cor. 15.24 25. As Christs enemies shall be made His foot-stoole so shall ours be for His enemies are our enemies the Captaine and the Souldiers the Head and members have common enemies Wee are here the foot-stoole of the wicked but the time will come when they shall bee our foot-stoole The Israelites were the Aegyptians foot-stoole on the earth they drowned their children they oppressed them with many burdens but they shall bee their foot-stoole in heaven The wicked now for a short time may domineere over the godly they may make long furrowes on their backes put them to much slavery they may feede them with the bread and water of affliction as Achab did Micaiah they may cast them into stockes prisons and dungeons as they did Ieremiah they may spit on their faces as they did on the blessed face of our Saviour CHRIST they may rayle on them with reprochfull termes as Shimei did on David they may gibe and jest at them mocke and deride them as base Varlets did Iob whose Fathers he disdained to set with the dogges of his flockes and as impudent wretches doe now a dayes even at the Preachers and Ministers themselves stone them saw them in pieces put them to the sword and fire But let us bee of good comfort we shall one day be Lords over them they shall be our slaves and vassals yea the Lord will tread Satan and all of them under our feet and make them our very foot-stooles the gates of hell may avayle but cannot prevaile against us we shall be Conquerours yea more than Conquerours over them all This Hamans Wife her selfe could see If Mordecai be of the Iewes seede If he be a faithfull man appertaining to CHRIST thou doest but strive against the streame to set thy selfe against him be thou never so great never so mighty never so malicious thou shalt be his foot-stoole in the end let this encourage us against all enemies whatsoever VERSE 14. YEe have heard what CHRIST is Will yee know what the Angels be for their nature they be spirits yet created and finite for their office Ministers Officers Apparitours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 publike ministers for the publike good and benefite Servants not Lord as CHRIST is sent forth at the will and commandement of an other CHRIT is sent into the world yet as a Sonne not as a servant of his owne free will not by the simple authoritie of an other as the Angels be All Angels are Ministers Some are not ministrantes some assidentes as Dionysius collecteth Dan. 7.10 They all stand about GOD expecting his pleasure to be sent by him They are principally for the elect they are occupied about the wicked as an Angell destroyed the hoast of Senacherib and slew Herod but it is for the godly their sake Psal. 34.7 Psal. 91.11.12 They minister to God as their Lord and Master to us as their fellow servants at the appointment of the Lord. Sometimes they are sent to instruct the godly in the will of God as Isaiah 6. to the Prophet in the Apocalyps to Iohn to Cornelius to the Shepheards c. Sometimes to deliver them out of danger as Lot out of Sodom Peter out of prison to carry Lazarus soule into Abrahams bosome 1. Here wee may see that the name of a Minister is an honourable name the Magistrate is a Minister the Angels are Ministers CHRIST himselfe was a Minister even the Minister of circumcision when hee lived on the earth Some prophane fellowes there be that thinke basely in their hearts and speake irreverently of the Ministers I tell you it is an Angelicall name an high and magnificent title Is it not an honourable office to serve the King or the Queene We that be the Ministers are servants to Christ the King of Kings and to his Church the Lambes Wife therefore thinke highly of us because of our office Is it a grace to the Angels to be called Ministers and shall it be a disgrace to us Nay we will glory in it and shame shall light on them that contemne the Ministers of CHRIST 2. Whose Ministers are the Angels They be our Ministers they Minister for our sakes and what be we in comparison of the Angels They are spirits we flesh and bloud they holy wee unholy they immortall we mortall they in heaven we on earth yet they be our Ministers they Minister to CHRIST as to their Lord and Master to us as to their fellow servants But what an honour is this to wretched and sinfull man that the Angels should be his Ministers As if the King should command an honourable Lord of his privy Counsel to waite on a poore man in the Country to conduct him from the Court to his owne house the Angels are of Gods Court in heaven and see his face continually Wee are sillie wormes on earth yet the Lord hath appointed them to attend on us to be our nurses to carry us in their armes that wee dash not our foot against a stone Let us praise and magnifie God that hath provided such keepers for us What is man O Lord that thou regardest him thou hast made him a little lower nay a little higher than the Angels The Angels are our Ministers but
that doe not minde the thing they looke upon their eyes are upon it but their minde is on another matter doe not you so but let your minde be wholly fixed on him look on him with the sharpe eye of your minde consider that in him All the treasures of wisdome lye hid he is a rich and plentifull Store-house in whom ye may finde all the Pearles and Iewels of wholesome doctrine in him there is salvation and in no other therefore all other teachers set aside listen to him When the Iudge of an Assises gives the charge all that be in the shire-house especially they that bee of the great Inquest consider seriously what is spoken When a Paul or Timothie standeth in the Pulpit Christ Iesus the Iudge of the whole World gives a charge by his Ministery and shall not we deeply consider it When the King makes a speech in the Parliament-house the whole House considers earnestly what he sayes CHRIST IESUS the King of Kings speakes to us in the Ministry of the Word yet few consider the excellent things that be spoken The Queene of Sheba considered Salomon well all that he spake or did Behold here is a greater than Salomon Salomon is but a foole to him Therefore let us diligently consider what he sayes If they were matters of no moment we were not to be blamed though we did not consider them but being of such weight as they bee touching the eternall salvation of our soules what mad-men be we that we consider them no better If one should talke to us of gold and silver we would consider what he sayes Christ speakes to us of that which surpasseth all the silver in the World yet we regard him not Let us consider him now that hee may consider of us hereafter when hee comes with his holy Angels VERSE 2. THEN he comes to the description of the party unto whom they must attend He describes him by two of his offices his Apostleship or Prophesie and his Priesthood As Rom. 15.8 he is called the Minister of circumcision so here an Apostle one that is sent Iohn 3.2 he was sent from God Gen. 49.10 of Shalach Shiloach Iohn 20.21 As my Father hath sent mee so c. He is an honourable Legate sent from God to us therefore let us give eare to him he is Apostolus Apostolorum the Prince of Apostles 2 The High Priest to performe all things betweene GOD and us to present our prayers to God as the High Priest did in the time of the Law and to make attonement betweene God and us by the sacrifice of himselfe on the Crosse. Pontifex pontem faciens so Christ by his passion hath made a bridge for us to goe to heaven therefore let us consider him and no other Of our profession that is of the Faith and doctrine which wee professe And if this be not a sufficient description of him in the end he names him CHRIST IESUS the annointed of God and Saviour of the world Hee is called an Apostle or a Prophet sent from GOD in opposition to Moses who was the most worthy Prophet among the Iewes and the high Priest in respect of Aaron which was the high Priest in the time of the Law The LORD IESUS is all in all therefore let us all listen to him Non quid hic aut ille dixerit sed quid Christus qui fuit ante omnes none in comparison with him none in competition against him The first argument which is first set downe simply then comparatively Hee is a faithfull Apostle or Prophet he hath delivered to us the whole counsell of God without the mixture of humane inventions therefore let us consider him To him that is to God the Father That made him that appointed him the Apostle and high Priest of us all that advanced him into this chaire of dignity 1 Sam. 12.6 Acts 2.36 He may be sayd to bee made of God in respect of his humanitie Gal. 4.4 but when the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his Sonne made of a woman made under the Law As Moses so greatly renowned among you His fidelitie is set forth by the person to whom hee was faithfull by the place where 1 Timothy 3.15 1 Peter 2.5 The whole Church was committed to CHRIST So is it to no other He is the head of the whole Church in the time of the law and of the Gospell too Then he compareth him with Moses 1. In that wherein they were alike 2. In that wherein unlike wherein a dissimilitude betweene them As he was faithfull so was Moses in that they agree Num. 12.7 As CHRIST was faithfull in all the Church throughout the world So Moses was faithfull in all that part of Gods house which was in Israel they were both faithfull I derogate nothing from Moses let him have his due to the full Moses made the tabernacle rites sacrifices as GOD prescribed him CHRIST was faithfull delivered sound doctrine not mixed with the glosses of the Pharisees hee was faithfull to the death Fidelitie is a principall qualitie in a Minister and steward of Gods house Matth. 24.45 1 Cor. 4.2 VERSE 3. NAy in some respects hee is many degrees above Moses Moses in the estimation of the Iewes was the most rare and famous Prophet Ioh. 9.28 The Scribes and Pharisees sate in Moses chaire Matth. 16.14 None durst say hee was Moses they thought none comparable to him yet here he exalteth CHRIST above Moses that is the builder of the house is more honourable than the house CHRIST is the builder of the Church the house of GOD Moses was but the house nay a little part and parcell of the house therefore our Saviour CHRIST farre surpasseth him CHRIST is more glorious than the whole house then all in the Church of God therefore more glorious than Moses a piece of the house The reddition is more significant The builder of the house in all mens judgement is to bee preferred before the house hee is of greater estimation then the house for his wisdome wealth and power in building of it The workeman is more to be accounted of then the workemanship the potter more than the Pot. The Church is the house of the living God the principall builder of this house is our SAVIOUR CHRIST Matth. 16.18 upon this rocke I will build my Church inferiour builders under him as it were his men are the Ministers and Preachers the toole wherewith he buildeth is the Word the mortar wherewith he fastneth together the spiritual living stones in this building is faith the ground whereon this house standeth is the whole world for hee hath his chosen in all nations the time of building is this present life the wood and stones concurring in this building are all the faithfull in all ages they are all built from time to time by our Saviour Christ he built Adam Sheth Enoch and Noah before the floud Abraham Isack Iacob before the law was written Moses David Samuel
the sences They say that the body and bloud of Christ are there invisible under the shape of bread and wine therefore by their owne position it is no sacrifice 2. They confesse it to bee an unbloudy sacrifice and then not propitiatory for the quicke and the dead as they will have it for Hebr. 9.22 Without shedding of bloud there is no remission of sinnes There is no bloud shed therefore no remission of sins and then a masse not worth a figge thou canst not have the remission of sins by it but it is a phantasticall dreame of their owne Let us magnifie the Lord Iesus for his owne sacrifice which he offered for us and lay hold on it by a true and a lively faith What did Christ offer for us not silver and gold not a Bull a Sheepe or a Goate not the haire of his head the paring of his nailes or his little toe not one of his Disciples but himselfe Oh blessed SAVIOUR that spared not himselfe for our sakes So let us give our selves to him he that will be my Disciple let him deny himselfe and follow mee We must not only sacrifice our sins for Christ his sake which wee will hardly doe but if occasion require offer up our selves for him we must say with Paul my life is not deere to me c. I am ready not only to be bound but to dye at Hierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus But alas wee are wanting in love and thankefulnesse to Christ hee offered himselfe for us We will not offer up our pleasures for him Hee laid downe his owne life for us we will not lay downe our sinnes for him Wee will not forgoe our lusts our covetousnesse pride drunkennesse for Christs sake how then shall we offer up our selves for him as he did for us VERSE 28. THe reason is taken from the excellencie of this our high-Priest he that is the Sonne of God voyd of all infirmity sanctified for ever is able by one sacrifice to satisfie for the sins of the Church but Christ is the Sonne of God voyd of all infirmity sanctified for ever ergo This is illustrated by a famous antithesis betweene the Priests of the Law and him whereof there be foure branches 1. The ceremoniall Law made men Priests the Gospell made God a Priest For this our High-Priest as hee was the Sonne of man so the Sonne of God too and therefore God 2. The Law made servants Priests as Heb. 3.5 The Gospell the Sonne which is more honourable than any servant 3. The Law made them that had infirmities namely of sinne and corruption otherwise CHRIST tooke on him all our naturall infirmities 4. The Law made those that were mortall and endured not long by reason of death the Gospell hath made him that is consecrated for evermore By the word of the oath may be meant the Gospell as Luk. 1.73 because it was ratified by Gods oath But rather by it is meant the promise made to Christ which God confirmed in the Psalme with an oath If we respect the substance of the oath it was from all eternity CHRIST was ordained an everlasting Priest in the eternall decree of his Father 1 Pet. 1.20 but it is said to be after the Law because it was written published and exhibited after the giving of the Law The word of this oath comming after the Law did put the Law out of place though Gal. 3.17 because the promise was of greater force and efficacy then the Law but as the last Will disannulls all the former wills so the word of the oath comming after the Law did abrogate the Law Which is sanctified for evermore or perfected and therefore is able perfectly to fulfill the office of an High-Priest There was no Priest no Prophet in the time of the Law there is no Minister no Preacher no Christian whatsoever but hath some infirmity or other Noah a Preacher of righteousnesse was overtaken with wine and lay uncovered in his Tent. Abraham a Prophet so the Lord himselfe termeth him to Abimelech had his infirmities when hee dissembled for the saving of his life David a man after Gods owne heart had his grosse faults when hee was carryed into Adultery and murder using one as a Cloake to cover the other withall Saint Peter had his infirmity when he did Iudaizare cum Iudaeis applyed himselfe to all companies Saint Paul and St. Barnabas had their infirmities when they were at an open jarre and publike defiance one with another about St. Mark and departed in a chafe one from another Shew mee the garden that hath not one weede in it and shew mee the man either Preacher or other that hath not some infirmitie Let not us cast off men because of infirmities much lesse let us be ready as some are to hurle away the word because of the infirmities that be in the Preachers of the word If we will have a man without infirmities we must goe to heaven for one for there be the Spirits of just and perfect men There is none perfect in this world we are all full of infirmities the Lord be mercifull to us only Christ Iesus our High-Priest is voyd of infirmities hee is consecrated for evermore and holds to consecrate all that belong to him Let us serve this our High-Priest in holinesse and righteousnesse in this life that wee may triumph with him and offer the sacrifice of praise to God with him his Saints and Angels in the life to come CHAP. 8. IN the Priest-hood of Christ there bee two things 1. His calling to that office cap. 7. and 8. 2. The exequution of it cap. 9. and 10. In his calling 1. The Party called which is set forth at large in the former Chapter 2. The thing whereunto he is called in this Chapter which is to Minister for the good and salvation of his Church This Ministration of his is advanced above the Leviticall ministration by foure arguments 1. From his empyre rule and authority by reason whereof hee Ministreth after a more magnificent manner then the Levites did Verse 1. 2. From the place where he Ministers 3. From the Sacrifice wherewith he Ministers ver 3.4 5. 4. From the subject whereabout he is occupied In the first argument 1. An entrance into it 2. A description of his power and authoritie Having cast up the account this is the summe that ariseth of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or upon the things spoken this is the chiefe of all it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is to stirre us up to attention The summes of things are welcome to us Who is not desirous to have the summe of the Bible The summe of the Law contained in so many volumes a summe of Physicke c. The Oratours in the end of their Orations deliver the summe of that which they have spoken so doth St. Paul here hee delivers to us the totall summe of the things which he had spoken before
our memories Of late a most divellish and never heard of treason was contrived by some Iesuited Papists to blow up the whole realme the which that it might never be forgotten in England a perpetuall holy day is inacted by act of Parliament wherein publike thankes is given to God for it One way or other such extraordinary mercies are to be imprinted in our memories A reservation of some externall relicke is not alwayes necessary there may be danger in that if some part of the Gunpowder or some of the barrels which they had layd in the vault had beene kept it would not have been so good as a solemne day every yeere for the recordation of it But alas we are all exceeding forgetfull of Gods mercies his judgments are soone forgot the terrible pestilence which at the beginning of the Kings raign swept away so many thousands is not remembred much lesse will we remember the favours and blessings of the Lord beneficia nemo ponit in calendario that is good of our own benefits but we must all put the benefits of God Almighty in the calender of our mindes for ever 2. And Aarons rod that budded The occasion was this Whereas Corah Dathan and Abiram with all that belonged to them were destroyed for their malepart dealing against Moses and Aaron the Israelites began to mutter at it came to Moses and Aaron saying ye have killed the people of the Lord Num. 16.41 whereupon a great number of them were slaine Now to the intent that this murmuring against the Priest-hood might be stayed the Lord by a lively token would make manifest to all posterity unto what an high chaire of honor he advanced it he commanded 12. rods to be taken according to the number of the 12. tribes that tribe should have the preheminence in the sanctuary whose rod budded now Aarons budded and no other therefore he and the Tribe of Levi were to bee acknowledged in spirituall matters above the rest for ever This doth signifie to us what a care the Lord hath of his sacred ministery which through the malice of Satan is ready to bee contemned in the world My people are as they that rebuke the Priest A contemptuous rebuking of Gods Ministers is a sinne of sins q. d. they cannot commit a greater offence then this they have no good successe that resist Gods Ministers Corah and his complices were swallowed up by the earth alive Ieroboams hand was dried up which hee stretched out against the Prophet Iesabel was eaten up with dogs that set her selfe against the servants of the Lord. Vzziah was smitten with a Leprosie for his contempt of the Priests Ananias and Sapphira that went about to play mocke-holy day with Saint Peter were smitten with suddaine death Therefore let us take heed how wee oppose our selves to the Ministers how wee murmure against their authority thinke or speake contemptibly of them The world may seeke to depresse Aarons rod but it shall bud and flourish in despite of them all Therefore let us have a reverent opinion of the Ministers let us esteeme them as GOD 's stewards as his Ambassadours such as are over us in the Lord. Let us submit our selves unto them and receive them with feare and trembling as the Corinthians did Titus when his Ministery is despised God is despised and hee will not put it up at our hands The third thing reserved were the Tables of the covenant The Arke is a representation of the Church which above all other things must have the Law of God in it This golden Candlesticke must hold up the Candle of the Word of God Hence it is that she is called the ground and pillar of truth not as if shee were to determine what is truth but as a pillar upholds the house so the Church the truth Then what a Church is that Church of Rome that banishes the Law that burnes up the Bible that seekes to suffocate the Truth She is no Arke but a prison of the faithfull This doth declare to us that the Law is to bee had in perpetuall remembrance Let us that be Christians not only have it in our bibles Let us not only talke of it with our tongues but let us lay it up in the Arke and closet of our hearts for ever I have hid thy Law in my heart sayes David As the two Tables of stone were laid up in the materiall Arke so let us entreat the Lord to write the tables of his Law in the fleshie tables of our heart that it may be our guide and comfort all the dayes of our life VERSE 5. WEE have heard what was in the Arke Now let us see what was over it the Cherubims of glory which are so termed because the glorious God betweene them did make answer Cirbi tanquam puer Carab they were certaine images like to little Children with faire and beautifull faces and they had wings by those were signified the Angels which are the Guardians and keepers of the Church figured by the Arke Gen. 3.24 Psalm 91.11 Capphoreth of Caphar that signifies to cover and to reconcile or pacifie the covering of the Arke where GOD by the High-Priest was pacified with the people and obtained mercie for them Therefore it is called the Mercy-seate and Christ Rom. 3.25 is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from this Mercy-seate did God speake Numb 7.89 Psalm 80.1 Of the Cherubims vid. Exod. 25.18 The Mercy-seat or covering of the Arke was a type of our Saviour Christ who covers the Church with his righteousnesse which is a propitiation for our sins The Cherubims are the Angels that minister to Christ and his Church Mat. 4.11 and an Angell comforted him in the Garden As they ministred to him when he was on the earth so they be ministring Spirits for our salvation to the worlds end As GOD spake to Moses by the mercie seate so doth he to us by Christ. 2. At the Mercy-seate God shewed himselfe to be favourable to the people so is he to us by Iesus Christ. See in what an excellent estate the true members of the Church are they have many to protect them 1. God as an Eagle doth shadow us Deut. 32.11 2. CHRIST as a Henne doth shadow us the Holy Ghost also is a father to us I will not leave you Orphanes the Angels they shadow us they are ministring spirits for our salvation they pitch their Tents about us and hold us in their hands The King of Tyrus is called the annointed Cherub Ezek. 28.14 and 16. the covering Cherub covering his people under the wing of his protection Sundry uses may be made of this 1. We that be Christians may be more couragious then any other we are better guarded then any other the wicked are guarded with the Devill and his Angels wee with the holy and mighty Angels they have the black guard we the white an armie of ten or twenty thousand men may bee with them but an army of an
Vehagnalithihu 3 His daughter did lament her Virginity alone after she heard of it whereas if she should have beene put to death she would have lamented her life above that 4. At her returne it is not said that her Father sacrificed her but did to her according to his vow Verse 39. which is there expounded hee consecrated her as a perpetuall Virgine to the Lord that she never knew man 5. It is said Verse 40. that the daughters of Israel went yeere by yeere not to lament her but as the Hebrew signifies to talke with the daughter of Iephte Therefore she was still alive It can hardly be imagined that so excellent a man so highly extolled by the Holy Ghost should for his vow sake doe such an abhominable fact yet for all that he is not wholly to be excused It was rashly done of him to vow the first thing that met him as an holy thing to the Lord. What if a dog which is a fauning creature had first met him hee might not have consecrated that to the Lord. This Iephte was an Harlots Sonne loathed and disdained of his brethren thrust out of the house and compelled to live as a banished man yet he hath faith The name of a bastard is contemptible and that justly God hath set many brands of infamy upon them they might beare no office in Israel for many generations Sometimes God bereaves them of their wits and senses they sustaine many reproches in the world yet for all that they may be in the number of Gods Elect and Heires of his Kingdome in the world to come From Iudges he proceeds to Kings where he names but one yet such a one as may be instar omnium a famous and worthy King as ever was Saul was the first King of Israel but David was the best King in Israel the first godly King a man after Gods owns heart his faith was wonderfully tryed by many strong and fearefull temptations without and within too before he came to the crowne and after Hee was hunted up and downe by Saul as a partridge on the mountaines he could never be quiet for him he went continually in danger of his life and could never get the peace of him After he came to the Crowne he was molested by the house of Saul sundry yeeres together his owne sonne had like to have justled him out of his kingdome the pestilence in his time was sore in Israel many inward conflicts had he in his soule as appeareth by his Psalmes Why art thou disquieted in me O my Soule hath God forgotten to bee mercifull He fought with hell and damnation yet by faith he was a glorious Conquerour over them all therefore no marvell though hee be in the catalogue of faithfull men The last that is named is Samuel He was both a judge and a Prophet therefore he is put betweene them both Shamang ael audivit Deus His mother cryed for him hee was dedicated to God before he was borne an upright wise and religious Iudge he challenged all the people for the execution of his office whose Asse have I taken to whom have I done wrong they all gave him their approbation and cleared him before the Lords annointed Last of all in generall he names the Prophets Luk. 13.28 Elias Elisha Isaiah Ieremiah and the rest all these were famous for their faith nec in caeteris contrarium est videre which is wont to be the conclusion of all inductions Therefore all are justified and goe to heaven by faith none flyes thither but by the wing of faith All these that bee here cited had their blemishes never a one of these Roses but had their Prickes Gideon besides many Wives had a Concubine he made an Ephod that was an occasion of Idolatry and made Israel to sin Barac was a faint hearted Souldier Samson defiled himselfe with many strumpets Iephte was very rash and inconsiderate David was tainted with two horrible sins Samuel as it seemeth was somewhat negligent in looking to his Children no Prophet but had some weakenesse being all as St. Iames speaketh of Elias subject to the same infirmities that we are yet they were faithfull men greatly honoured by God Almighty There is not the best man or woman on the face of the earth but it is an easie matter to spie an hole in their coate Shew mee a Garden without weeds and a man or woman without imperfections If ye will have perfect men yee must goe to heaven for them there be the spirits of just and perfect men there be none to be found on the earth St. Peter St. Paul Saint Thomas all the Apostles had their imperfections Yet some prophane wretches there be like Cham if they find never so small a slip in a godly man as Noah was they are ready to laugh at it scatent ipsi vulneribus obijciunt illis cicatrices They themselves are common drunkards beastly adulterers the footesteps of whose uncleane life may be traced in every corner yet if they heare of never so small a thing in a Noah and a David that is their table talke meat and drinke to them whereas in many things we slip all and there is not the best man but treadeth his shooe awry we should rather weepe than rejoyce at it VERSE 33. NOw to the efficacy of their faith 1. Of men then of women which is declared 1. By their actions some are generall in all as the three former some speciall in some 1. The good things they did by faith they subdued kingdomes wrought righteousnesse obtained the promises 2. The evils they overcame by faith 1. From unreasonable creatures as wild beasts 2. From insensible as the elements 3. From corruptions in themselves 4. From reasonable men 5. From death it selfe 1. Yet not without fighting and wrastling they met with many Antagonists to encounter withall by it Iosua subdued the thirty one kingdomes of the Canaanites Ios. 12. ver 24. by it David subdued the Syrians Moabites and Amorites by it Gideon the Madianites If wee had faith wee should subdue the Turke the Pope and all the enemies of the Gospell but undoubtedly by faith wee shall subdue the kingdome of Satan which is stronger than all earthly kingdomes 1 Ioh. 5.4 Not by their martiall skill and prowesse by weapons and engins of war though they used them too the principall meanes to subdue them was faith 2 There is a civill and morall kinde of righteousnesse doing no wrong but good to all defending the innocent punishing the nocent c. 1 Sam. 12.3 and 15.33 1 Reg. 3.27 Acts 10.35 Marke 10.20 There is also a Christian righteousnesse to glorifie GOD. Vnregenerate men may doe the former as Aristides Cato c. and Luk. 18.4 in them it may be called a morall good worke but no Christian good worke unlesse it come from faith This is a property of faith to worke righteousnesse Righteousnesse cannot bee separated from faith A faithfull man is alwayes a
offerebant antequam Aaron in Sacerdotium eligeretur Hier. trad Hebr. in Genesin So must wee in speciall manner bee consecrated to the Lord and as so many Nazarites serve him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life Israel is my first borne though all the world bee mine All the world is Gods yet wee are his first borne What an honour is this A noble man hath many sonnes the yonger may goe a begging the elder hath all the land Among us there is never a yonger brother all elder brethren and shall all have the inheritance of the Kingdome of Heaven Let us be thankefull to GOD for it Israel was his even so wee being Gods first borne are his not our owne wee are bought with a price and must glorifie God in our spirits and bodies which are his The third point is the Stabilitie of the Church which are written in Heaven Not mentioned with the tongue which soone vanishes but written Littera scripta manet hee hath written us on the palmes of his hands wee are ever in his sight GOD needs no pen paper writing tables for helpe of memorie but this is spoken for our capacitie The Senatours of Rome were called Patres Conscripti because a Register was taken of their names A Captaine sets downe the names of his souldiers in a booke So GOD Almighty to shew what account hee makes of us hath our names written Where not in water not in loose papers not in the earth where peradventure they may be blotted out but in heaven whither none of our enemies can have accesse to race out our names In what Booke are our names written not of death but of life Whose the lambes booke of life Wee are not in the hands of an Angel but of CHRIST himselfe To what end A King takes the name of one of his owne subjects to preferre him to make him a Lord c God takes our names to preferre us to a Kingdome How shall wee know whether our names be written in heaven A posteriori not à priori 2 Tim. 2.19 First the Elect know Christ Ioh. 17.3 2. They beleeve in Christ Gal. 3.26 They are plentifull in the fruits of righteousnesse by Iesus Christ they adde vertue to Faith This is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Chrys. termeth it 1 Cor. hom 3. to conclude by workes I have workes therefore I have Faith I have Faith therefore I have Christ I have Christ therefore I have heaven Tà m certus esse debes de requie de foelicitate si mandata ejus custodieris quà m certus es de perditione si ea contempseris Ob. 1. Workes may bee hypocriticall 2. uncertaine 3. imperfect But being sincere they may assure us of our salvation A ring may be imperfect not fully perfected by the skill of the Artificer it may have a crack in it yet it assures us of the love of him that gave it so imperfect workes may assure us of Gods love and of the Kingdome of Heaven too issuing from the roote of unfained Faith Therefore unfaithfull doubting is excluded Let us make our calling and election sure by good workes then an entrance shall bee ministred unto us abundantly into the everlasting Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour IESUS CHRIST Psal. 37.24 Yet wee must not dormire in utramque aurem I care not how I live I shall bee saved There may bee a Christian assurance but no unchristian securitie nusquam securitas sayes S. Bern in Psal. 15. Nec in coelo nec in paradiso nec in mundo In coelo cecidit Angelus sub praesentia Divinitatis in paradiso cecidit Adam in loco voluptatis in mundo cecidit Iudas in schola Salvatoris Let us never be high minded but feare with a reverent feare all the dayes of our lives I feare all my wayes said that holy man If you abuse this comfortable doctrine setting all at six and sevens then thou art most unsure As ye beleeve in Christ so be plentifull in the fruits of righteousnesse by Iesus Christ and as your names are in heaven and ye looke for a place in heaven so live as Cittizens of heaven live not as earth-wormes alwayes groveling on the earth but live as men of another world by having your conversation in heaven 1 Here it is as cleere as the noone-day that the Catholicke Church consists onely of the elect Notwithstanding it is an axiome with Bellarmine Non solum praedestinati sed etiam reprobi ad ecclesiam pertinent A strange position indeed as Augustine distinguishes excellently well the wicked are Paleae inter frumentum In domo Dei sed non domus Dei de bapt cont Donat. l. 7. c. 12. Cant. 4.12 CHRIST's Spouse is a Garden enclosed a Spring shut up and a Fountaine sealed up Haec intelligere non audeo nisi in sanctis justis de bapt cont Donat. lib. 6. cap. 27. It a munitur sayes Greg. ut nullus reprobus ingrediatur Ecclesia est Templum aedificatum ex diis quos facit non factus Deus Aug. Tom. 3. Enchyr. ad Laur. c. 6. p. 172. A. Our blessed Saviour affirmes of the Church Ioh. 10.3 for it is the Church of the first-borne whose names are written in Heaven 2 It is evident that the elect cannot perish Non perit filius promissionis sed filius perditionis August De corr grat l. 2. cap. 9. The third person to whom we are come is the founder and defender of the Church Who is described by his nature and office For his nature he is God for his office a Iudge The Lord chiefe Iustice of all the world God is a consuming fire Heb. 12. ult and dare we be so bold as to come to him He is ignis consumens to the wicked ignis muniens to the godly Zach. 2.5 I a wall of fire round about Ierusalem to protect her from all her enemies All are come to God secundum praesentiam Whither shall I goe from thy face Secundum potentiam his power is over all none can avoide it but we are come to him Secundum bonitatem Happy is the people that be in such a case blessed are the people whose God is the Lord. He is Dominus omnium more peculiarly he is Deus fideliū The Philistims said God is come into the Host woe be to us but we are come to God and joy with us Not onely to God as he is a Father but as he is a Iudge too yea the Iudge of all High and low rich and poore just and unjust good and bad Iren. l. 1. c. 9. writes of some called Gnostici who had their name of knowledge which affirmed they were incomprehensibilis judicii The Iudge could not catch them at the latter day But he will finde them out A Writ shall be returned reperti sunt in baliva nostra We must all appeare either ad judicium discretionis or damnationis as S. August speaketh of Absolution being severed from the Goats or