in his Second Appearing according to that of our Saviour Come to me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give 〈◊〉 rest And there remaineth yet a Rest for the People of God and so Christ is called too the Rest wherewith the weary should be made to Rest And by the Apostle Christ is said to be the substance or body of the Sabbaths Col. 2.16 But more particularly The seventh-Seventh-days Sabbath was appointed to be a Sign between the Lord and the Children of Israel for ever That it is the Lord that doth Sanctifie them as Exod. 31 13 14 17. And so it might signifie and be a Sign that in and by ceasing from all our Workings and Labours to get Life and Righteousness Rom. 4.5 Act. 26.18 1 Cor. 1.30 to and by our selves and in attending to Christ and God in Christ so God would sanctify us according to that To him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the Ungodly 〈◊〉 Faith is imputed to him for Righteousness And Sanctified says Christ by faith that is in me And Christ is made 〈◊〉 us of God Sanctification as if he should say The Sabbath I injoyn you as a perpernal Covenant to signifie to you and instruct you That you are not you own Sanctifyers or Sanctified by your own Works and Labours but by me in Christ your resting place in a quiet ceasing from your own Thoughts and Words and Works and resting in and upon Christ I shall ye be holy to me Isa 58.13 2. The Anoual or Yearly Sabbath I â—all that day of Expiation 1 Levit. 16.31 23.27 28 31 32. the tenth Day of the seventh Month in which besides their resting from their labours they were all of them to afflict their Souls and Fast and the High Priest was by Sacrifice and by entning into the Holy of Holios with the bloud of the Sacrifice to make an atonement for himself and for all the People and to lay their Sins upon a Scape-Goat to be carried by him into a desert place The most lively and clear â—ype of Christ the great High Priest and the Atonement made by him for all men by his own bloud and sufferings first endured by him and then in the vertues of them presented before the Father in Heaven for the taking away our Sins there that so mercy might be extended by him to us Both the Bullock for a Sin-offering for Aaron and the Goats for the People signified Christ bearing and suffering for the sins of those that are Priests to God the Israel of God our Sins and for the Sins of the People even of the whole World 1 Joh. 2.2 the Goat that was slain a Type of him dying for all mâ— and bearing their Sins in his own Bâ— on the Tree and the Scape Goat 〈◊〉 was sent away having the Sins of 〈◊〉 Congregation confessed upon him another Type of Christ removing and carrying away our Sins by the vertues of his Sacrifice and remitting them to the World so as not to impute to them or charge them upon them Yet so as if any man rested not on that day 2 Cor. 5.19 21. and afflicted 〈◊〉 his Soul he was cut off from his People deprived of the benefit of that geners Atonement or Expiation Lev. 23.29 30. as signifying that the way for men to enjoy the beneâ—t of the general Atonement or Purgation of Sins made by Christ Act. 10.43 13.38 39 40. 1. Joh. 1.8 9 10. is to own and confess their Sins and be afflicted for them in the sense and acknowledgment 〈◊〉 them and to rest upon and believe in him otherwise they must perish Indeed there was in this as in all other Types many differences between the Type and the Truth by reason of the imperfection of the Types and perfectionâ— the Truth not to be reached fully by them here the day the Priest the Sacrifice weâ— different things but all pointed out Chriâ— here the High Priest first offered for 〈◊〉 own sins and then for the Sins of 〈◊〉 People But Christ had no Sins properâ— his own none as a Priest for he knâ— or did no sin Heb. 7.26 27. neither was guile foundâ— his mouth He was holy harmless undedefiled separated from sinners made 〈◊〉 â—han the Heavens Who needed not to do 〈◊〉 those Priests did daily to offer first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people But this the hithermost the offering for the Sins of the People he did at once or what sins might in any sence be called his as imputed to him and owned by him and so undertaken to be satisfied for and removed as the sin of Adam and all as in him and what naturally and necessarily springs up therefrom for which he in the first place and most properly undertook to ransom men from the judgment due to them or also the sins of his Members as such that are owned by him as parts of himself the sins of Believers for these and for sins of the People sins of another nature committed willingly by Men in their own persons against the Grace and goodness of God extended to them through him Rom. 5.14 sins after the similitude of Adam's transgression that he might obtain power to forgive them also Rom. 5.18 for all these he did offer up himself once so as that by that one Offering he hath both obtained a â—ease of that first Judgment in which all stood condemned so as no man shall perish therein and he hath obtained power to forgive those other offences after the similitude of Adam's transgression upon their confession of and turning from them Yea Heb. 10.14 he hath for ever perâ—ed the sanctified ones provided them 〈◊〉 a perfect purgation so as there needs no more Sacrifice for sin to their perfeâ— saving Yea so perfect was that his one Offering that there-through he haâ— obtained eternal redemption power of forgiving sins and setting free from Sâ— and Death for ever and therefore stand not to offer any more but is gone into Heaven it self there to appear in the presence of God for us and having as it were sprinkled his Bloud upon the Mercy-seat appearing in Heaven as a Lamb that was slain he is set down on the Right hand of God Rev. 5.6 expecting till all his Foes be made his footstool Heb. 9.10 11 12 25 26. and 10.10 11 12 13 14. Indeed if any man refuse now in the day of Grace and Atonement to own himself the Sinner and fall down before God to seek and accept his pardon in Christ he goes without its benefit and is cut off from the Congregation for which yet the Atonement was made This indeed belongs to the Ordinance of Sacrificing yet as appropriated to such a peculiar day and joyned with this appointment of rest I think it falls fitly to be spoken to amongst the Sabbaths enjoyned them 3. Their Seventh year Sabbath was appointed for rest to the Land
men even before and though they attain not a distinct knowledge of him yea and for his sake passes by such infirmities and mixtures as through ignorance and weakness and the prevailing customs of places not seen by them to be evil may cleave to them they that by nature do the things contained in the Law or written Doctrine their uncircumcision shall be counted to them for circumcision and glory honour and peace shall be to every one that doth good not only to the Jew that had Instruction and the Law but to the Gentile also that was without Law and had not that Instruction the Jew had Rom. 2.7 9 10 11 14 26 27 28 29. and therefore are said to do it by nature not as corrupted but as prevented only with that goodness and truth of God manifested in men by and through his works without the written and vocal Instruction to the Jews superadded And of such as these probably our Saviour meant inclusively when he said Many shall come from the East Matth. 8.12 and from the West c. and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God when the Children of the Kingdom born and brought up in Gods Church and under the nature of his Instructions and Ordinances should be thrust out for though there can be no salvation but by Christ yet there may be salvation through him to them that distinctly hear not of him 〈◊〉 in the case of Infants dying in their â—fancy may be seen This then is oâ— Medium of Gods making known the Object of Divine Faith or his truth to meâ— in part with reference to their salvation 2. The other way is by his Word aâ— distinguished from that silent language of his Works an express speaking forth by intelligible and vocal sayings or visionary representations to mens Spirits the truths to be believed by men And this also he did and thus dispensed the knowledge of himself to men divers and sundry ways and at divers and several times Heb. 1.1 2. which dispensations as to the acts of dispensing both by Works and Words are to be distinquished from the thing or object dispensed that being but one in it self these very different and divers as in this latter way 1. To some he dispensed the knowledge of himself and truth in some measure by more immediate revelations of himself as to Adam in Paradise Gen. 2.16 Eâ—od 20. 17. 3.8 9. and to Moses and the People at Mount Sinai in the Wilderness but fully and most immediately to Jesus Christ 2. To some by Angels ministring the knowledge of God to them and that either waking as to Abraham Gen. 18.1 2 3. 22.11 15 16. Jacob Gen. 32.1 2. Moses Exod. 3. Zachary the Father of the Baptist Luke 1.9 10 11. Maâ—y the Mother of our Lord vers 28 30 and divers others or in dreams and visions as to Nathan Psal 89.19 Dan. 7. 8. 10. Joseph Matth. 1.20 2.12 and divers others 3. To some by his Spirit more secretly insinuating it self into their hearts with the knowledge of God as to the Prophets and Apostles more ganerally 2 Sam. 23.2 Ephes 3.5 4. In these last days by the personal appearance and vocal ministration of Jesus Christ himself both to his Disciples and to the World Heb. 1.1 2 3. 2 3. 5. To some he more mediately dispensed the knowledge of his Truth by the ministration of those to whom he had more immediately first declared it and that either 1. By their vocal preaching of it as by the preaching of the Prophets and Apostles to the People amongst whom they were sent 2 Pet. 3.2 3. Rom. 16.25 26. Epes 4.11 12. and so by the vocal Preaching of the Evangelists Pastors Teachers though but secondary Ministers of it amongst all which the Preaching of Jesus Christ our Lord in his personal ministration may be reckoned as prime and chief he being both a more or most immediate and also a mediate Revealer of it in divers respects Joh. 1.18 most immediate as the Eternal Word the Son of God in the Bosom of the Father mediate as he was also Man Matth. 4.17 and as the Manhood 〈◊〉 imployed in the making out the Wiâ— the Father brought down by the Woâ— 2. By their Writings the Scriptures 〈◊〉 Truth 2 Pet. 1.19 20 21. 3.2 3. 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. Joh. 5.39 indited by the instinct and direcâ— on of the Holy Ghost and left upon record for the instruction and helpfulneâ— of after ages also and of all people 〈◊〉 whom they are by providence ordered even such as to and amongst whom 〈◊〉 Prophets Apostles and the rest of thâ— heavenly Pen-men never vocally Preached Now this Preaching by Word â—ther as spoken or written added to 〈◊〉 former the works of God gives a moâ— distinct sound and signification to pâ—dull creatures and brings the knowledgâ— of God as to the declaration of it nearâ— to us yet speaks the same things that 〈◊〉 Works speak The Book of Ecclesiastes both agree to praise anâ— commend God to men Joh. 1.4 5 6 7 1 Cor. 1.21 22 23. Psal 145.9 10. anâ— to cry all flesh is grass and so in debasiâ— of man and all other things as to maâ— happiness that he may be made to enquiâ— after God look to and acquaint himseâ— with him and imbrace his grace and favation through Christ brought to them But the Revelation by word is and muâ— more as added to the former more foâ— and significant and speaks out more aâ— more distinctly what the other did bâ— darkly hint and signifie and thereforâ— also more is required and expected froâ— those which have this latter also thaâ— from those that had or have the former only SECT 2. That the Dispensation of the Word or Oracles of God was neither so Vniversal as that of his Works nor to all Ages the same as to clearness and fulness but different to divers Ages and to divers Persons in the same Ages QUestionless there hath been no Age of the World in which God did not reveal his Mind by his Words unto men Tit. 1.2 from the very Creation and Fall to this day we live in yea we may say there hath scarce been any person if any capable of understanding to whom the Word even Christ as the Light of the World hath not by some means and in some measure of his Light and Truth addrest himself as is signified Joh. 1.4 5 9. yet we may say that in many Ages the words of Truth Psal 147.19 20. Act. 14.16 17. or more express significations of his Mind by Law and Doctrine have not been generally afforded to all men nor in all Ages alike to any men It pleased God in that matter as we have seen in what we said of his purposes to discriminate some people from other Rom. 3.1 2. 9.3 4 9 〈…〉 Cant. 〈…〉 16. 〈…〉 7. 〈…〉 and Elect and Chuse some out from amongst the rest
whom he herein preferred in Honour and Dignity above the rest Some he was pleased to inclose and dress as his Garden from the rest Isa 5.1 2 6. 32.15 16. 35.1 2 6. Act. 14.16 17. Deut. 32. who comparatively were left as the open Fâ—ild and to make them as his Vineyard when the rest were comparatively but like the Wilderness when he left other People to walk after their own ways though not without continual witnesses of himself vouchsafed them generally in his Works in which was his goodness leading them to Repentance He took Israel as a more choise People and Portion for himself he made known his ways to Moses his Acts to the Children of Israel Psal 103.7 He shewed his Word unto Jacob his Statutes and his Judgements to Israel He dealt not so with any Nation and as for his Judgements Ordinances and Government in his Church they did not know them as is said Psal 147.19 20. though yet wisdom in the mean time even the Wisdom of God ceased not to cry to them without even to them without the House she had builded the Church or City of God and to utter her Voice in the Streets to call men to Repentance as Prov. 1 20 21. 8.1 2 3 4. though in respect of such outward verbal and written Instructions as the Jews Had the Gentiles were a People distinguished from them the Jews a People under Law or that had the Law and the Gentiles a People without the Law Eph. 2.11 12 71. Act. 2.38 39. as Rom. 2.12 14. yet they were not wholy without Law they were a Law to themselves The Jews were a People nearer to God in that respect the Gentiles a People far off that had not God and his Covenant and Promises Lodged and Tabernacled amongst them if we may so say as the Jews had Eph. 2.19 20. The Jews were as Gods Houshould and houshold Servants to whom he opened his mind more expresly and plainly Psal 145.9 148.11 12 13. when the Gentiles were as Tenants dwelling at a distance from him though he a good gracious Lord to them all and his tender mercies upon or over all his Works but they stood not so hear him nor had such advantages of hearing his more glorious Discoveries of his mind as the other had Only as we shewed above they the Jews were not so priviledged meerly for themselves but to be means of making known Gods mind to others Exod. 19.5 6. Ezek. 5.5 6 7 8. as a Royal Priesthood before him which because they did not in their Prosperity as they ought but rather turned aside to the ways of the Heathen than endeavoured to turn in the Heathen to him therefore he dispersed and scattered them and their Books and Doctrine amongst the Heathen Matth. 10.1 2. 21.43 44. 28.19 20 Psal 72.16 And at length chose out a handful of them whom he made and found faithful before him and ordered them to do that great Work of making known his Mind among the Nations taking in his remoter Tenants into his House and Houshold Rom. 11.20 21 22. Mat. 8.12 to be a People near to him and turning his former Houshold Servants and Children born in his House out of doors becaâ— or their pride and stubborness agaâ— him Nor did he only take and use this â—berty in revealing his Words and Judgements to one People and not to other though to that one that they might spread the knowledge of God amongâ— others Rom. 16.25 26. Col. 1.25 26 27 Eph. 3.4 5 6. Psal 17 67. but also to reveal 〈◊〉 Words more fully to some persons and more immediately than to others yea in some Ages more fully than in others He more immediate Discoveries of his mind were not given to all men no nor to all Israel nor to all that feared God in Israel as to the immediateness of their Discovery Psal 25.8 9 12 13 14. Mat. 13.11 12. Prov. 22.23 2.1 2.6 though they that fear him have and had in all Ages an understanding given them into the mysteries of God and secrets of his Kingdom above any that fear him not as to the manner efficatiousness and usefulness of their perception but to some certain select persons from amongst those that feared him whom he was pleased at his pleasure to make use of for the meadiate revealing and making him known to the rest both fearers and not fearers of God as was meet for them As to Enoch and Noah before the Flood in the separation of the family of Seth from the rest afterward to Abraham Isaac Jacob Moses and the following Prophets and Apostles and above all to his only Son our Lord Jesus Christ who immediately in the Manhood received the knowledge of God from the Word or God himself and diffused it abroad into his Apostles and Disciples to divulge it to others Now as we may not from that election of them with respect to whom and the committing of the faith to them it is called the faith of Gods Elect Tit. 1.1 conclude that all others of Israel were rejected of God or left without sufficient means of Salvation because not so Elected of God to that honour of so immediate Revelation as they no more may we conclude from Gods Electing Jacob and his Posterity to have the more full means of Grace and clearer knowledge of God manifested and committed to them and not so chusing the other Nations but passing them by as to that Rom. 2.7 8 9 10 11 25 26 27. that therefore the other Nations were rejected of God from any possibility to and left without sufficient means of their Salvation This liberty and exercise of the Soverainty of God in honouring some above others and that with reference too to the good of others nothing prejudiceth the good of all but rather proclaims God the prosecutor and promoter of it though such vouchsafements of choise priviledges were choise favours to those they were vouchsafed to and put the greater ingagements of thankfulness and service to God upon them The like may be said about his different Dispensations in and unto former Ages hiding comparatively from them what he was pleased to reserve for and reveal to and in these last Ages as is said Rom. 16.25 26. Col. 1.26 Ephes 3.5 viz. that his hiding the mistery from those formeâ— Ages doth not imply his rejection of them to destruction it being but a comparative hiding thereof it was not so made known then as now says Ephes 3.5 For as we said in the beginning of this Section it was made known more or less in every Age of the World as to the substance of it as holding forth the way of mans salvation as may be made evident by Induction 1. In the Ages before the Flood 2. And from the Flood to Moses And 3. From Moses to David 4. From David to the Captivity of Israel 5. From Israel's Captivity to the coming of
God as afterwards we read he did and that God smelled a sweet savour of rest therein and why a sweet savour of rest Gen. 7.2 3. 8.20 21. Seeing God himself after testifies that he had no pleasure in Burnt Offerings 〈◊〉 Sacrifices the blood of Goats or the 〈◊〉 of Rams Pâ—l 40.7 8 10 50.8 9 10 11 12 13 14. Act. 17.25 26 27. Heb. 10.2 3 4. c. It could not be because God wanted or had any refreshing 〈◊〉 them for he â—eeds them not nor is he worshipped with mens hands as if he needed any thing seeing he giveth to all life and breath and all things nor was it because they could take away or make satisfaction for their sins for it's noâ— posâ— sible the blood of such Creatures should do any such things but surely it was because he had appointed them as a meâ—rial of his Son and as types and figures of him and because of the faith of the Sacrificer in him Sen. 9. with Levit. 17. As with reference to the blood of Christ to be shed for us he gave them the blood of those Creatures to make attonement on the Alter for their Souls and therefore also when he allowed men the eating of flesh he forbad the eating of blood to them Yea that they were appointed of God and to such ends too may yet further appear both by the practice of all the Patriarchs and in that when God had bid Abraham offer up his Son Isado for a Burnt Offering Abâ—â—bam said to Isaac inquiring where the Sacrifice was Psal 105.15 Gen. 22.8 God will provide himself a Lamb for a Burnt Offering which he being a Prophet might speak of the seed promised him as believing that he should be the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world and bring in blessings to all Nations and yet more clearly in that God afterward by Law more fully appointed them by Moses Heb. 11.10 1 5. and as the Apoâ—â—le tells us to be shadows of good things to come 'T is true there might be divers ends and reasons of Gods appointing them as 1. That men might thereby acknowledge him the Lord the Author and Giver of all good things to them which they testified by giving some of them to him by Sacrifice as also by giving him in his Preists the Tenths or Tithes of them 2. That men might therein joyn together in their worship and acknowledgement of God and so that a publick worship of him might be kept up in the world by which men might be instructed to own and acknowledge him successively and not attribute things to other causes and take and use them as their own at their pleasures and so fall to Atheism and Irreligion but seeing though God was the maker of all things before the fall yet his continuing and giving those good things to man kind since the fall for which he is continually to be acknowledged and blessed by fallen mankind is through Christ and his death foâ—en 3. The great reason therefore of such alway of acknowledging him and his bounty was the promise and interposure of Christ and that he and his love might therein be signified to and acknowledged and remembred by men which wâ— fitly represented in the shedding the blooâ— of the living Sacrifices and in the offering them generally by fire unto God 〈◊〉 therein was both a remembrance of 〈◊〉 and of death deserved by sin and also 〈◊〉 fore-signifying of the Death and Sacrificâ— of the Messiah instead of men to take away mans sin and by destoying Death to be his Resurrection and Life therefrom and that through him and his Death and Sacrifice men might have and had their access to God to worship him and might receive favour and blessing from him Surely this was the main ground of all their Sacrificing in its first institution and so there was therein aâ— more full teaching by way of representation of the meaning of the foregoing Oracle about the promised Seed and how he should bruise the Serpents Head And to such ends was it delivered over traditionally from Father to Son to be practised by all Nations who retained this way of worship till the Messias came and till the Preaching of him as come put an end thereto as well the Gentiles aâ— the Jews had their Sacrifices Atonements Expiations for sin c. though they being degenerated and gone from the faith of the true God and the right way of worshipping him lost also the right end and manner of Sacrificing and as they multiplied gods to themselves so they invented and brought in new Rites and Ceremonies to those devised or supposed gods according as their own fancies and Satan â—ed them which thing also in great measure befel the Jews notwithstanding that God took more peculiar care of them and to keep them from such degeneration gave them Laws and Statues in writing prescribing to them both to Sacrifice to himself only and when and where and what to Sacrifice for he appointed them many kinds of Offerings all pointing to Christ and to continue till the time of Reformation by his appearing himself to put away sin by the Sacrifice of Himself for us Yet they also casting his Law behind their backs and desiring to be and do like other Nations fell into abominable Superstitions and Idolatries and even in their Sacrificing to God and according to his Rules prescribed as to external form lost the right end and use of it putting it in the place of Christ and seeking to establish a righteousness to themselves in so doing or conceiting that thereby they should obtain and have Gods favour and be justified and saved in and notwithstanding their prophane and wicked living so as that God often pronounced against them that he obhorred and loathed them and esteemed their Sacrificing an Ox no better than the killing a Man or cutting off a Dogs neck c. even then things unlawful and forbidden by him This also we might further note by the way that at two several times the Gospel was given forth by Word 〈◊〉 Sealed by outward Ordinance to 〈◊〉 whole world universally before the 〈◊〉 ving of the Law and so there was a 〈◊〉 â—ouchsafed for preserving and witneâ— it to and with all men Namely 〈◊〉 1. To Adam and his Family who 〈◊〉 by Word and Ordinance namely 〈◊〉 curfice was to deliver it to his Posteâ— and they thereby to keep the publicâ— knowledgement of it from Father to 〈◊〉 successively from which Cain and his Family swerving and making a Reâ— Schism and by degrees the sounder 〈◊〉 of the Church too even the Sons of God by mixing themselves with Cains Family and receiving their corruptionâ— proving Nephisms and Apostates from God the whole World became corrupt from the true Faith and right Worship so as that only Noah was fouâ— perfect in his Generations and God swept them all away with the Flood preserving only that Preacher of Righteousness with
soul that seeks mercy of him and submits to him Thus â—ot only Pharaoh and Sihon mighty Kings notwithstanding their greatness were hardned and destroyed by him but also the Jews the seed of Abraham Isaac and Israel despising his Law and rebelling against his counsels and commands and refusing to walk in his ways c. were not only punisht with many sore and heavy Judgements but also notwithstanding all their priviledges Gods choise of them love to them and honour conferred upon them yea and notwithstanding all their Temple-building Sacrifices and Services done to him and works of righteousness of their own wrought by them were at length for their refusals of Christ and his Doctrine and despite done to him and his Servants broken off except a remnant by grace or meer mercy reserved and unpeopled by him being hardned blindned and given up to their own imaginations and delusions to stumble and fall in them And on the other side not only Rahah Ruth and some other poor Sinners amongst the Gentiles obtained mercy but even the Gentiles more generally after and notwithstanding their long going astray and walking in their own ways Ephes 2.11 12 13 14 17 18 19 20. and their many and great abominations Idolatries Adulteries and all manner of open and heinous wickednesses had the Gospel and Kingdom of God sent unto them and therein pardon of their sins and peace from God was tendred and preached to them through and in the name of Christ and whosoever accepted the tenders and terms thereof were admitted into the kingdom and Church of God and Christ and received into nighness to them Matth. 11.25 26. So also the mysteries of the Kingdom of God were hid from the richer learned and prudent persons of the Jews that were there through lifted up against God their riches prudence yea or self-righteousness notwithstanding and revealed to the poor and simple Disciples though despicable in the eyes of the other and but as Babes and Sucklings in respect of their parts and capacities and this because it so pleased God It seemed good and meet to him to deal so with them Yea the Angels that sinned though high and glorious Spirits yet God did not because of their height power or greatness spare them but plunged them down into destruction when as poor fallen contemptible man of a far meaner constitution and condition being made of the dust was pitied by him and found mercy with him And therefore in the belief and apprehension of this Soveraignty of God over his Creatures and liberty to dispose of them in shewing them mercy or withdrawing it from them and hardning and blinding them as he pleases as also of his infinite purity and perfect hatred of sin where ever he finds it the Apostle Paul beat down his body 1 Cor. 9.27 with Act. 9.15 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3 4 5 6 c. â—d brought it into subjection least having preached to others he should himself yet notwithstanding a chosen Vessel and an Apostle be a cast away as Judas â—ough a chosen Apostle was before him and as he tells and would not have us ignorant of it many of the Fathers that were highly honoured and priviledged God was that notwithstanding so far displeased with for their sins against him that he destroyed them As the Apostle Jude also minds us that the Lord having â—ed his people out of Egypt yet afterward destroyed those that believed not that is did not abide believing as Psal 106.12 13. though they were his people and sometime believed yet that exempt 〈◊〉 them not from destruction yea Moses himself though a Prophet and greater than the rest of the Prophets yet not believing to sanctifie the Lord before the people at one time was cut off from entring into the good Land of Promiseâ— his being such a Prophet yea and in all other things faithful would not priviledge him from such a judgement upon him having but that one time so failed before him And Jeremy Jer. 1.5 with 15.19 20 21. though a Prophet and sanctified in the womb thereunto yet turning out some way it seems stood 〈◊〉 upon his returning again otherwise 〈◊〉 had been rejected his first ordination 〈◊〉 notwithstanding Psal 51.1 2. Thence David also â—ing sinned in the matter of Vriah could not nor durst plead any engagements upon God to continue his favour to hiâ— or restore him to it as if God was by any thing fore-done to him or by him ingâ—ged to save him but only pleads and 〈◊〉 for mercy according to the multitude of his mercies as intimately acknowledging therein that he had so broken Covenanâ— that nothing of his former priviledges of services could plead an exemption from Gods judgement but that God might justly cast him out of his sight and depsive him of his presence and spirit He lay at Gods mercy and good pleasure therein whether to cast him away or reâ— him and could challenge nothing of favour as due debt upon any account to him And this Prerogative God hath and exerciseth over his Creature that so no flesh might presume to sin against him and abuse his grace or turn it into wantonness thinking to plead an exemption from those forest judgements as the Jews were very often apt through mistake to do because they are his people and he had chose and called and saved them of because they have formerly believed obeyed and served him built him Temples offered Sacrifices preached or prayed in his Name c. But that all might learn to tremble before him and standâ— awe of him and work out their own salvation with fear and trembling with all lowliness of mind depending on hiâ— mercy and grace for their salvation not â—ing high minded or pust up with pride or there priviledges or services or any excellencies found in them or received 〈◊〉 God by them And that the poor â—nd humble sinners yea the vilest and most wretched might be perswaded and â—couraged to flee to him for mercy and â—eg it of him who notwithstanding their unworthiness can extend it to them and â—oth and will to all that in due time â—ble themselves under him and seek mercy and grace of him in Christ Jesus To these purposes he both admonished Israel when first taken into favour and â—ghly honoured of him to be his choise people after being redeemed miraculously â—om Egypt they had heard his voice from Heaven out of the midst of the 〈◊〉 as no people under Heaven had 〈◊〉 though he had so loved and chosen them and would keep mercy and covenant with them if they loved and obeyed him yet if they after all this should forget him and serve other Gods they should perish even as the other Nations driven out from before them Rom. 2.8 9 10 11. He would â—ut no difference between them therein except it might be in destroying them with a more grievous destruction as they had been more honoured of him whence â—sâ— those serious cautions