up to believe those lies deceiving and being deceived The Scripture indeed sometimes Allegorizes and teaches the use of Tropes and figures by the best Rhetorick We must therefore be sure to keep close to it least we turn substantial Truth by Chymical Evaporations into Notional smoak Too many of late have followed those woful courses of enervating Scripture by Allegorical strains till they had lost Reason and Religion at once Such Paracelsian Fumes quickly Intoxicate mens Brains breeding the Giddiness and then Convulsions to extremity 13. Christs Ordinances by his Word appointed are not spared but are opposed too First By the forenamed deceits Secondly By our modern Seekers and Familists as by the old Gnosticks accounting them but childish weak things fit only for inferior Christians in their lower form Thirdly By many Luke-warm Laodiceans of this Age of a neutral indifferent spirit towards Christs Instituted Worship Fourthly By all Papists and Traditionists who set up wayes and parts of Worship of mans devising as religious use of Images prayer for the dead Invocation of Saints and Angels Veneration of Reliques sale of pardons and Indulgences Fictions of Purgatory and Limbus patrum infantium Prayer in an unknown Tongue by roat upon Beads vain Babling and Tautologies repeated over and over superstitious uses of Crosses and Crossings Altars and Tapers Vestments and Dressings Mimical Gestures and ridiculous Stage-playes in Worship corrupting of every Ordinance by many foppish additions and tricks Fifthly By Ranters and Quakers who jeer and blaspheme Christs Institutions as our sad experience testifies in all places AGainst such gross Evils the right Knowledge of Christ will arm us and prove that they are but fools who think themselves too wise for Christs School That the highest Christians have alwaies used them and pressed all others thereto with all diligence That they are the Charets and Conduits of communication between the Lord and us That they are all suited to the case of all Gods people on earth That we should live above them in the use not in the neglect of them That our bodies shal cease from needing food when our souls shall cease to need Ordinances That Christ promises his presence therewith to the worlds end That he meets his people with a choice Blessing where ever he records his name and therefore bids them seek his face evermore That therein our Homage is paid unto him in a special manner That the Lord will be sought and found in all his ways That his familiarity is to teach us manners not sauciness That to be neutral and meteor-like in the Lords worship is sad and sinfull in a high degree That Prayer and Singing are jointly prescribed and directed to for spiritual use That the abuse thereof by any should not cannot excuse us from our duty All are bound and bidden to use them yet none can use them spiritually but by a special Grace That a moral performance of Duty is better far then non-performance That men are to serve God as well as they can still learning of him how to serve him better That God is ready to give more still to such as improve what they have received That its better to serve Christ outwardly then to serve sin and Satan by omitting good or committing evil That the preaching and hearing Gods Word requires of necessity meditation and repetition reading and studying thereof That Christ will be honoured in every Relation by every one without exception as in publique and secret so likewise in our several Families That he threatens a curse to such Nations and such Families as know not and call not on his name That his morning and evening Mercies challenge good manners in duty from us That Christ himself taught how to pray and praise on the solemn use of the Lords creatures That to rest on Duties is Idolatry and to neglect the same is Rebellion That all mixtures of humane Inventions do but soil and deface the Lords pure worship that therefore all Romish Innovations are sufficiently confuted by the bare rehersal That Will-worship can never please him who will be worshipped in Spirit and Truth That the Heathens pleaded the like excuses for their superstition and Idolatry as the Papists do for theirs That a great part of the Popâ—sh trash is but borrowed from Pagans with disguises That in many things they renew those Rites which by Christs coming were to have an end that vows contrary to Scripture-Duty can shew little savour of Scripture-Verity that the ready way to obscure our Light is to besmear and and paint our Windows That Scripture-simplicity loves not the dressing of a pompous whore That a fair Complexion needs no painting and truth hath most power when most purity That Antiquity pleads not at all for their grossest Tricks That in the things wherein some of the Fathers seem to plead for them there is much mistake and much forgery That however Truth is the eldest and he wants no Antiquity that wants not Scripture-Truth Many words were innocently used by the Fathers as Merit Altar c. which are turned quite into another sense among Papists now 14. Christs holy-Day his Sabbath of rest suffers peculiarly as 1. From the foresaid Enemies of Truth So secondly From too many seeming friends some wholly rejecting some mangling of it and some indifferent to this or to that Thirdly By Quakers and all Enthusiasts who slight all or most of Christs Ordinances and this especially Against such mistakes and abuses the knowledge of Christ will teach and enable us to observe his day as becomes a Sabbath It s called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lords Day to express his special property therein and sanction thereof as the Eucharist is called the Lords Table and the Lords Supper 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Command enjoining it is placed in the heart and Center of the Decalogue with a signal Memento prefixed It s largely expressed both positively and prohibitively In the precept and close he names the Sabbath though in the amplification he mentions the seventh day or a seventh day He adds strong Reasons to enforce it from his Propriety Example and Blessing as also from the Equity thereof By this one Command he often expresses his whole Worship He couples it sometimes with one Precept of the first Table and after with one of the second Table to signifie the great Influence it hath into the observance of both It s abundantly confirmed enforced and renew'd in every part of Scripture old and new The reason that enforced the use of the seventh day Sabbath extends as fully to the first day Sabbath That was the Lords rest day from his Creation-work This is his rest day from his Redemption-work The change of the day in its quando made by God himself alters not the
oppositions total or partial will rightly mark out what our case will prove The Sun of Righteousness passing through our houses will carry Light and Life into every part His Aspects direct oblique or opposite signifie Influence benign or malign according to the station of things about it When the Lord ascendent doth rule all the rest it prognosticates all propitiousness If quaking Saturn and the ranting Mars if notional Mercury and ambitious Jupiter if unstable Luna and voluptuous Venus come to cross this Sun what can men expect but a Combustion Wandring Planets and floating Meteors are still over-ruled by his fixed motions He is regular in his Light and heat the only fountain of benign Influx He is no Retrograde but still in progress to dispell darkness and death from his friends Would men study him in his word and works they would soon banish sinful Astrology His Law and Gospel suffer so much by it that no wise Christian should plead for the same Was there ever a great Astrologer that hath not bewrayed some Satanical cheat May not London speak loud in this case if late experience be but testified We may challenge all Records divine humane to shew any good Prince or State owning it Who ever were found hearkning thereto history brands them by Tragical ends Oh That great Brittain would consider this that Satan may not fix his Throne among us Christ will not endure so ill a Neighbour nor suffer this Trade to go unpunished Compacts with the Devil though but indirect do challenge both frowns and Judgements from above Superiors must act under Christ for him to punish this great evil with sutable Wages If men be so bold and presumptuous Powers are ordained for terror to such They are errand cheats or Conjuring knaves that fortell events of humane matters by their star-gazing If men slight Gods Law and testimony to follow such peeping muttering Wizards it s because there is no Light in them Christ will right himself for all such Affronts cast upon his Word and his Providence The Lord awaken all concerned herein that we repent not when it s too late II. IMprove this Antidote against Apostacy the wofull Issue of dreadful Errors Lot him that doth stand take heed lest he fall Let none therefore stand on his own strength Be we of Pauls mind in studying Christ to account all loss and dung for him Be we found in him not in carnal self stripp'd off our Righteousness and cloathed with his Let 's know him still more fiducially more improvingly in the power of his Resurrection and in the fellowship of his sufferings conforming to his death This will hasten our pace to the Resurrection that will make an end of sin and sorrow We are not yet perfect but must press forwards with Christian bearing and forbearing still Beware we Brethren lest in any of us be found an evil heart of unbelief to make us depart from the living God See to it with all care possible that none of you come short of that Grace of God lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled But exhort one another daily whilst it s called to day lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin And follow Peace with all men in the pursuit of Holiness without which none shall see the Lord. Blessed are such Peace-makers especially in this dividing age for they shall be called the Children of God About this blessed work of Christian Peace-making we design another Piece if the Lord give strength and time to stir up all Gods people thereto in this selfish generation that we may all be effectually helped thereto and preserved from the wofull delusions and divisions now so prevailing Be we all so much the more pressed to grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whom be Glory for ever Amen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 FINIS Adag Arabic Eâ—eg Erronibus sibi solis sapient buâ— adaptatum Deut. 8. 2 3 c. Ezek. 14. 17 18 19 20 21. Micah 6. 9. Habac. 2. 2. Esay 27. 6 7 8. Psalm 30. 11. John â— 9. Psalm 126. 5. Heb. 12. 11. Esad 5. 3 4. c. Heb. 6. 7 8. Esay 5. 5. Matth. 13. 24 25. 2 Cor. 2. 16 17. Act. 4. 36. Mark 3. 17. Phil. 2. 12 13 Rom 9. 16. * An eminent Physitian the Son of the Sun among Poets Mal. 4. 2. 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. Esay 64. 5. Psalm 37. 4 5 c. Prov. 3 6. Heb. 12. 10. Eph. 6. 13 19. Col. 4. 3 4. Psalm 46. 1. 2 Cor. 12. 9. See Mr. Boltons Arraignment of Error Danaeus Epiphan August Hieronym de Heretic c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iohn 8. 44. Iude 6. Levit. 14. 44 45. Deut. 28. 27. Dato uno absurdo mille sequuntur Cadmei Proles Adag Veritas Radicis Indicis Entis apud Scholasticos Errores quidom citra alii circa alii contra fundumentum Primi divertunt Secundi pervertunt tertii subvertunt fidem Orthodoxam Rom. 5. 12. 2 Tim. 3. 8. Rom 6. 23. Levit. 13. 29 30 c. See Sleidan Cloppenburg Hornebeck Bulinger Luther Calvin c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Galen Providence affords in every Country Remedies suited to their Maladies and Counter-poisons against their Poisons witness the Rattle-snake and Snakeweed of Virginia and of New England The Italian Tora and Antitora c. So hath the Lord provided a sutable proportion of divine Truths and helps to be duly applyed for effectual Relief Gal. 2. 7 8 9. 1 Pet. 1. 1 2. 2 Pet. 1. 1. * Câ—nsult Epiphan August Athan. Concil Laodicen Carthagâ—n Damascen Bed Centur-Magdeb c. about it verse 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 11 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See about them Euseb Socrat. Epiphan Austin Ammian Marcel v. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chap. 3. ver 9. 10 11. Verse 13. Verse 14. Verse 15. Verse 16. Verse 17 18. Athenaeus l. 12. 2 Pet. 2. 7. Rom. 8. 7. Rom. 7. 11 22. Gal. 2. 19. 2c 1 cor 9. 2r 2 Tim. 3. 15. 16 17 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 c. Iud. 1. to 19. Mat. 24. 5. 11 23 24. Luke 21. Mar. 13. 1 Ioh. 4. 1 2 3 c. Psal 58. 3. Psal 14. Psal 53. Rom. 3. 11 c. Ier. 17. 9. 2 Tim. 3. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 impostors and prostigators bewitching Cheats 2 Thess 2. 8 9 10. Eph. 4. 11 19 c. Mat. 24. 12. Psal 18. 2 Thess 2. 10
Mountebanks speak you fair and big distrust them the more beware of self conceitedness be not wise in your own eyes dread the smallest Beginnings of evil in opinion affection or converse The sums of this arsnick rats-bane and mercury will distemper you before you be aware Avoid the first step to avoid all the rest Beware of the brink if you fear the Precipice if you keep ill diet and feed on venom wonder not at your wasting and decayes Remember Ephesus who sadly miscarried by neglect of this care Make sure of Christ upon his own terms and keep close to him The noble Bereans shewed their Nobleness in trying daily the Doctrine of Paul by the Scripture-rule duly examined take heed what you hear and how you hear it so Christ directs you bring all things still to the Lords Touch-stone to his Rule and standard to his Ballance and Test to move you consider That Doct. 3. All Christians even the best need still warning to keep themselves from Error and Apostacy SAith the Text keep your selves well that you may be kept be very active that you may not suffer This voice answers the Hebrew Hithpael keep your selves with all delight and diligence let every power of soul and body be kept on the watch All Christians need this yea the very best They must take warning from every part Heaven and Earth do warn and must be hearkened to Christ warns in conscience by his Spirits motions in his Word and Providence by the same Spirit His motions are regular and harmonious still they are seasonable and proportionable He warns by friends and sometimes by foes in adversity and prosperiry Satans motions are irregular unseasonable and unproportionable They are unscriptural in the scope and substance though often disguised with Scripture expressions sadly perverted All do need warning though but few take it The best find most need and benefit thereof Peter warns the Christian Hebrews here though well grounded and settled in the Truth Warning never hurts it cannot but do good if it be well taken The best retain much sin and weakness still They cannot but feel their sinfull Reliques To prevent Relapses and remove much evil warning must be given The Physitians warnings are of singular use to all sorts of Patients None stands so fast but he still stands on slippery ground The world is a great Ice very dangerous The enemy is subtile and numerous vigilant and active We cannot but find many lurking fiends in our own bosoms our hearts are deceitfull and desperately wicked We stand no longer then we keep our hold God indeed keeps his unto Salvation and therefore bids them keep themselves He appoints the means as well as the end As he keeps them by his own power so must they keep close to him by faith They shall never fall totally nor finally but they may often fall partially and dreadfully If left to themselves they would kill themselves They must therefore be faithfully warned Objection But what needs all this if the Elects salvation be sure Answer 1. All are not elect that seem to be such many are called but few are chosen 2. Though Salvation be sure to the Elect yet must it be assured to them Warnings must be taken that they may obtain such an assurance They may have the Grace without the comfort All diligence is therefore required to make their Calling and Election sure 3. Though Salvation be sure to the Elect yet must it be wrought out by them with fear and trembling because its God that works in them both to will and to do of his good Pleasure He will be sought and found in every one of his waies that he may still meet them with a Blessing 4. Though Salvation be sure to the Elect yet because they are men mixed among men he deals with them by men after the manner of men Rational creatures must act rationally and so be acted with He changes not the substance but their qualities in renewing them They are so moved that they are enabled to move themselves in following him Though the Elect cannot perish utterly yet they may fall very sinfully Warnings well taken are effectual means to prevent much shame sorrow and loss God warns his children that they may be taught good manners Conditional Threats are intended to prevent the mischief treatned and are effectually blessed to Gods Elect. 6. The assurance of the Elect lies not in themselves as it flows not from themselves The Fathers Purpose and the Sons purchase the Spirits indwelling and the Covenant-Promises made by the Father in his Son through his Spirit to them are their efficacious Grounds In subserviency thereto all due means are therefore needed and blessed warnings among the rest God neither promises nor commands in vain His word is still sure as all ages have found Psal 93. 5. 7. There is a peculiar vertue attending the word and means of Grace to all Gods Elect in due time and order That quickning power raises a Lazarus leaving others dead destitute thereof That saving Grace of Heaven betters the good plants under every shoure when the weeds grow worse That discriminating Influence from the Sun of Righteousness makes the flowers fragrant though is occasions the dung-hill to stink Thereby is Gods word made a savour of Life to some whilst it proves a savour of death to others Who makes a man to differ from another What hath he that he hath not received Must not the prime and ultimate cause resolve into Gods Will Do not you else subject Gods Will to mans There can be surely but one Independant either God or man which is to be chosen let reason it self judge by scripture-Light Consect 1. SE the usefulness of a Gospel-Ministry Christs Officers are given especially to that end the Churches watch-men are called to this great work He sets them apart by an orderly call to be his Heraulds and Ambassadors his criers and publishers The Father sets them in the Son gives them to the Holy Ghost makes them overseers in the Lords flock They are especially charged to warn the unruly to prevent Error and Revolt Therefore did Christ receive and give so many royal Coronation-gifts upon his triumphant assention for the perfecting of the Saints c. that we hence forth migh be no more Children tossed too and fro with every wind of Doctrine by the craftiness of Seducers c. The best need warning Christs sheep must attend their Shepheards who are deputed to office by that grand Shepheard of their Souls Such must be set a part thereto from age to age as Timothy was charged by Paul to chuse and charge such who should be able to instruct others all indeed are bound in their several â—alces to instruct each other charitatively according to their abilities and opportunities But
had faithfully promised it and therefore required the same There is no Precept nor Condition in Gods Word that hath not a Promise to answer it Do as Jacob did to make use of all 7. Come penitentially with a bleeding heart to a bleeding Saviour looking upon him whom thou hast pierced mourning over him and judging thy self for abusing him Come from the sensible sight of thy sinfull Revolts condemning thy self as unworthy to be his Servant Come as Abigail did unto David as the Prodigal did towards his Father His infinite kindness must needs aggravate thy horrid unkindness He forgets thy sins but thou must remember them He forgives thee freely and fully that thou maist forsake them accordingly Come then with a tender heart to such a tender Christ with lively Repentance never to be repented of Such Musick on these waters will be found most sweet 8. Come obedientially because he commands it who is thy Soveraign Come to do thy homage in loyal Allegiance to him that is thy God to worship and serve him It s a loving and faithfull Obedience he expects from thee as his proper due most dearly bought Thou art ransomed with a divine price that thou maist be his wholly and eternally If any part of thee be at any time given up to sin against thy husband what treasonable Adultery will it prove Come then to thy Lord to be ruled by him in every Ordinance in every Providence Come to thy Fathers house to shew all loving dutifulness there not to be lawless or a servant to sin His royal Law cals to perfect Liberty that thou maist be as free as the Children of the most high God 9. Come lovingly with fervent Affections to this royal feast of Christs own wedding that so nearly concerns thy self Let the Joy of the Lord be thy strength herein to tune the whole man to the highest strain of heavenly delight Is not this Solemnity so incomparable to be observed with sutatable Enlargements Stir up thy soul in coming to Christ that the vigor of all thy faculties may sweetly embrace the great King of Saints Purity and Fervency meet here admirably at the Celebration of this wonderfull match Christ comes to thee and all over with zeal thou must meet him in the like apparell Observe the Brides Attire in that glorious Type of Solomons marriage answerable to his that thou mightest learn how to come to Christ thy divine Solomon 10. Come gratefully to thy Benefactor with hearty thanks for his unspeakable Gifts Cast thy Crown at his feet and give him the Glory of all his Mercies Let him wear the Crown who hath done and suffered so wonderfully for thee Begin betime that Angelical Duty which shall be thy task and thy happiness to Eternity Triumph in thy God that makes thee to triumph Let thy soul be harmoniously set to sing forth his praises in the sweet Consort of all thy Powers and Parts In all things give thanks to the wonderfull Dispenser of all things Bless him continually who thus blesses thee 11. Come diligently in the use of all means appointed by him Seek him in all his ways attend him in his road hearken to his Spirit study his Word seek his face often think much of him inquire of others neglect no help and rest on none but on Christ himself Thus nominal Christians should be perswaded to make sure of Christ in closing with him upon his own terms to make them real Partakers of Christ and Possessors as well as Professors Secondly REal Christians should also be pressed to make use of this gracious Knowledge by keeping close to Christ in the spiritual Improvement thereof Each of us should strongly be quickned thereto by all the former Considerations This singular Jewel is given for use not meerly to gaze at The best find much need still to be quickned to their Duty herein that this choice Mercy may be well improved 1. Personally in our several places our fruitfulness should demonstrate still that we have learn'd to know Jesus Christ in a saving way This gracious knowledge must have influence into every thought every word and work In every Duty to be performed in every Mercy to be improved in every sin to be mortified in every Grace to be exercised Remember Christian who ever thou art that hast been effectually taught in the School of Christ thy constant work must be to practise the Lessons got there Action is the end of Contemplation Thy Speculations must never be idle Thy general and particular Calling will still find thee matter for the spiritual use of this gracious knowledge Mind Christ still then in every Duty towards God and Man 1. In thy generrl Calling look for him attend him in every Ordinance The Charets and Walks of Communication between him and his 1. OBserve him in his Word speaking to thee that thou maist know his divine Oracles hearken to this voice who speaketh from Heaven by men and means to us Hath not he promised that all his people shall be taught of God hear him then in hearing his servants appointed and duly called to his work that you may not teach one another still Pharisaically as the Sect-masters did hearken to his orderly appointments that you may receive his Anointing from above to teach you all things gradually so as you shall not need to be put a fresh to your first Elements to spell the principles in a childish manner Minding of him will put you further towards perfection that you may be able to teach others also Read often those precious Love-letters sent unto you from your best friend above and search the Scriptures for the Records of him who is the Treasure of those golden Mines Behold in that Gospel-glass of his his glorious Image that thou maiest be transformed into the same 2. Visit him often in spiritual prayer secret private publike This is the line of Communication between Heaven and Earth whereby Christs Souldiers keep correspondency with each other as with their General This fiery Chariot may carry thy soul Eliah like to thy dear Saviour in Abrahams bosom on any occasion It s a sure and a speedy Post for any dispatch It s a choise key that will unlock all the stories of his al-sufficiency It will avail much if it be fervent for what ever thou askest in his name thou maist be sure he will do it in the best way and season He is the God that heareth prayers that will be sought and found in every thing 3. In Meditation retire thy self into a private walk that thou maist enjoy him the more freely to renew thy acquaintance more familiarly Thus a man having sequestred himself from the croud of Creatures seeks and intermeddles with all divine Wisdom This choise Duty is the
souls withdrawing Room wherein Christian sincerity appears most in its purity nothing so subject to hypocrisie as other services Attend Christ herein as Isaac did retiring thy self in the most convenient season to exercise the noble faculties of thy rational soul in the noblest way of Intercourse between Christ and thy self 4. Look for Christ also in Christian Conference which he hath promised to honor and further with his singular Presence and Blessing He loves to see his Members helpfull to each other this way The one cannot say to the other I have no need of thee The meanest may be of great use therein Thus Iron sharpens Iron and the sticks together do burn much the better Two are better then one and a three-fold cord is not easily broken A sadder wo there is to him that is alone Christ loves to meet with his friends this way 5. In the solemn Seals of his Covenant Christ will be peculiarly observed Those sacramental Institutions are the choice Remembrancers of him Behold and attend him there with a Spirit sutable to the Nature of such Ordinances 6. In praising of him and sanctifying his holy Sabbath in spiritual fastings and feastings in every Institution of his thou wilt still find the sweetness and strength of this gracious Knowledge that Christ may still be thy All in All. 2. In thy particular Calling each Relation towards thy Neighbour whereto Providence calls thee orderly will require a spiritual use of it according to the variety of his dispensations towards thee In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy paths In Prosperity and Adversity Christ is still to be experimentally known Every smile and frown of his every check and stroak comes as a Messenger with a special Errand All his Providential Administrations will declare much of his conjugal Care towards thee Thou maist learn thence to carry a Counterpane in thy heart and life proportionable to the several motions of his hand In every Condition and occasion thou wilt find hereby cause to observe all his ways to be Mercy and Truth towards such as know him The Checker work of his Providence will hereby appear to be most beautifull in the Result when all things shall work together for good though some particular passages may seem harsh and disorderly 2. This gracious knowledge should be improved Relatively in a Christian way of Communication doing good to All especially to the houshold of faith Every one in his place should therein labor to resemble the God of all Grace who is always streaming forth goodness round about It s our honor and happiness to be faithfully active therein for him and like him By Faith and Prayer Advice and Counsel the meanest may improve Opportunities of serving his Providence for others help But Superiors in their Relations Civil and Military Oeconomical and Ecclesiastical are especially called thereto by the Lord himself whose Substitutes they are Each of them in their places will find most comfort in the promoting and improving the gracious knowledge of Christ Encouragements and Directions he affords very plentifully to all Magistrates and Officers as also to all his Ministers and Governors of Families to advance the same in its Power and Purity that the earth may be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea His Spirit and Providence will seasonably remove all Lets and Obstacles Blessed shall they be whose prudent zeal and faithfull Diligence shall be still found subservient thereto To know Jesus Christ and him crucified was the scope and sum of the great Apostles preaching and practice let it be so of ours that our conjugal Acquaintance with him may effectually be demonstrated to his honor and mans good This precious jewel is daily endangered by variety of close and open enemies Many false Lights are daily setting up by the strong factions of the Prince of darkness to counterfeit and disgrace divine Light The publique Interest as well as our private is wrapped up together and shipped in one Bottom with Christs Interest Our best Politicks do wholly depend on the right use of this gracious knowledge Doth not the Lord speak again to each of his people especially to our noble Worthies what he solemly expressed by the royal Prophet to his famous Son And thou Solomon my Son Know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind If thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will forsake thee The like charge he pressed in effect upon all Gods people in that great convention of state To further it mind that Doctrine 5. Growing in the Gracious Knowledge of Christ is a special Gospel-Duty It becomes Christians to be still growing in that gracious Knowledge The Apostle sums all up in this as the great work of every Christian from which none are exempted Improvement of that singular Mercy must needs be a singular Duty THis Spiritual Growth is variously expressed in Scripture-Dialect being compared to the growing of corn the encrease of Light the spreading of a Tree the augmentation of the Body the fermentation of Leaven the ripening of Vegetables c. All sorts of things natural civil artificial all vegetative sensitive and rational Beings contribute towards the Illustration and Resemblance thereof Growth still attends Life the Principle of it Christ himself grew in Grace and Statute before God and Man so doth the knowledge of him in every gracious heart Its thriving still The most spreading plants are used still in Scripture to set forth this spiritual Increase of divine Plants They grow as the Mustard-seed from small beginnings to a huge increase especially in that Country They sprout as the Lilly for suddenness beauty uprightness and use They spread as the Vine for abundant fruitfulness as the Oak for strength and durableness as the Cedar for taleness straightness and medicinableness as Roses for choiceness pleasure and cordial vertues Thus being planted in the house of the Lord they flourish in the courts of our God and most in their old age It s a choice Duty obliging all sorts in their several capacities which the Gospel-commands and commends frequently and singularly the neglect whereof is as largely reproved threatned and visited for The variety of Ordinances and spiritual Provisions which he affords so abundantly demonstrate the same He compares them therefore to the Tree planted by the water side whose leaves flourish and whose fruit comes still to solid savory and ripe fruit Christ the tree of Life by his own Growth teaches them thus to grow affording still the sweet streams of his gracious Influence in each Relation from his Person through his offices that the fruits of his progress and purchase may be brought forth in them Those eminent
themselves to be the Holy Ghost as Simon Magus Montanus David George c. Fifthly All Enthusiasts who father their lies on Gods Spirit c. TO quell this wofull poison your Preservative will set your Judgement right by the Grace and Knowledge of Christs Spirit Thereby you will surely understand that the holy Spirit hath in Scripture ascribed to him the same Titles and Attributes the same divine worship and works which are ascribed to the Father and to the Son and therefore must needs be God blessed from ever and for ever That the working of all Scripture Miracles the penning of all those divine writings the wonderfull quickning of dead souls and bodies and the daily experience of all spiritual Christians do fully demonstrate it That therefore the fanatick illusions and delusions of Revelationists being so opposite to Gods Truth and Holiness must needs proceed from that lying Spirit who perswaded so many of Ahabs Prophets and still possesses the false Prophets of our days to speak and act against the Dictates of Christs Spirit The malicious opposing of the Truth confirmed so undeniably by the miraculous Operations of the Lord The Spirit hath therefore the most desperate aggravations even unto death attending the same because God the Father and Son both are thereby also desperately opposed 6. Against his Office and Function of Al-sufficient and only Mediator for his peoples Salvation move First All the former Hereticks in denying his Deity or Humanity his Parts and Person Secondly All such who mangle the said Function as the Socinians who deny the need and use of his satisfaction for sin Thirdly All such who divide his Mediation work ascribing part thereof to Saints and Angles as the Papists with fond distinctions Fourthly All such as put the said Mediation into the Virgin Mary's hand calling her Queen of Heaven entitling the Psalter to her placing her name instead of the Lords name in the said Psalter giving her Authority over Christ her Son in Heaven promising and expecting more from her often then from Christ as much at least and telling doctorally that God hath divided his Mercy and Justice giving her the Throne of Mercy and reserving himself the Throne of Justice c. as the said Papists Fifthly All such who pretending to sinless perfection and selfish Righteousness do frustrate and nullifie so far his Mediation as the Quakers and such monkish Pharisees To suppress the violence of this poisonous stuff the Grace and Knowledge of Christ improved will shew us clearly still the necessity of Christs satisfaction and Al suffiency of his Mediation that without the shedding of this blood there can be no remission of sin That No Righteousness but that of God-man could satisfie divine Justice That without satisfaction there could be no Reconciliation of God to man that without Imputation thereof to many there could be no discharge of mans Debt That no purchase could be made of eternal Life and divine favour but by that infinite Price paid by Emmanuel That without such purchase orderly applycable there could be no salvation for lost man That Christs mediation alone is Al-sufficient to all those purposes and needs no partners in any share thereof either for Impetration or application That to give the least part thereof to any meer Creature whether in Heaven or Earth can be no better then Idolatry That no Palliation or shifts by distinctions of Dulia Hyperdulia and Latria can cover this Blasphemy no more then Adams figs leaves could cover his nakedness That there cannot be on earth in any meer man a sinless perfection and if it could be had yet it could not satisfie for the evil past in the least That the best are but unprofitable Servants That the payment of a farthing due cannot satisfie a thousand pound debt in Arrears To signifie emphatically the due application and Imputation of Christs Righteousness unto Believers the Scripture cals him Jehovah-Tsidkenu the Lord our Righteousness repeating that name again in the great Promise of Restauration to be afforded to his Israel by vertue of that Righteousness made theirs whence Christs name is Synecdochically and Metonymically ascribed to the new Jerusalem To that import the Lord Jesus incorporates his name with a Christians Propriety into one New name framed by his own Spirit which Paul expresses by his being made unto us of God Righteousness and Redemption and our being made the Righteousness of God in in him as he was made sin for us who knew no sin which must needs be understood by way of Imputation there being no sin inherent in Christ 7. His Priesthood is opposed first By all the formerly named Errors Secondly by the Papists in making new Priests daily and a new propitiatory Sacrifice called incruentum to be offered by them for the living and dead Secondly In joining mans merits to his and thereby patching up a mongrel Righteousness for themselves and others Thirdly In pretended Works of supererogation which are imputed to others by way of Indulgence out of their Churches imaginary Treasure Fourthly In denying the Imputation of Christs Righteousness for the pardon and Justification of his Members Fifthly In giving to mans Righteousness dip'd in Christs blood a meriting value and vertue to satisfie and pacifie Gods Justice and to procure his Mercy Sixthly In making Christs Merits to be but the remote and mediate cause but mans Merits to be the immediate Proxime cause of the pardon Thirdly By such who sever his habitual and his active Obedience from his meriting Oblation given to God for his people and imputed to Believers reckoning only his passive Obedience to be so meritorious and imputative for the reconciling of Man to God Fourthly By Quakers and others who find no need of and little regard an high Priest in Heaven Against such mortal wounds the Balm of our Christian Gilead will afford healing vertue from the due review of his Grace and Knowledge We shall find thereby that Christ Jesus by his personal Righteousness by that one Oblation hath for ever perfected those that are sanctified once for all That a new order of Priests brings a new Law and nuls the former That it was an imperfect Priest and Sacrifice typically ceremonial that needed renewing That to give to a meer Man suppose a Masse-Priest the power of making and renewing a propitiatory Oblation at his Will upon his intent of consecrating is to set him in Christs room yea above Christ and to deny Christ come in the flesh by unavoidable Consequence The Oblation of Christ had not been compleat if it had not been active as well as passive and habitual as well as actual Heart-Obedience being the root and life of all other Redemption is indeed frequently ascribed to his blood and death but it s by a Synecdoche including the rest of his whole Obedience whereof his
said in the Old This Point was so clear then without opposition that a little sufficed The Believing Jewes would not have been quiet if their children had been shut out of Gods House that made such stirs at lesser matters Christ when a child was Head of the Church children then may be members thereof He cals them his Children Disciples Saints servants in the same Relation given to their Parents When Families of old joyned to the Lord children were not excluded no more were they in Apostolical dayes They that will deny Scripture-Consequence must deny all Duties of Christianity none whereof can be performed without such Reasoning Reason and Religion they must at once gainsay that gainsay Inferences orderly drawn from thence The Condition of this Covenant is sufficiently cleared by the Knowledge of Christ both for Entrance and continuance both Internally and Externally Christ invites sinners to come by Faith to him for all needful Grace None can come to him except the Father draw them He gives to his Elect peculiarly what he requires from all indefinitely As far as that Condition is performed either Externally or Internally so far reaches the Covenant priviledge before God and men The profession and outward Priviledge may be utterly lost by carnal hypocrites but the distinguishing Grace and internal priviledge thereof cannot be totally nor finally lost by the Regenerate though they may be ecclipsed for a time 18. The Church of Christ suffers much also First By all the former Secondly By rigid Separatists of divers sorts Thirdly By the Popish Apostacy and Usurpations assuming to themselves alone the Title of Catholicks and unchurching all that jump not with them Fourthly By Quakers and Notionists who slight and abuse the communion of Saints multipliciously and nefariously AGainst such Disorders the gracious knowledge of Christ affords meet help Improve it to a right Union and Communion both with the Head Christ and with his Body His Church is his House that cherishes Concord among Brethren of different sizes There is but one God and Mediator there there also should be but one mind and heart There are divers Chambers and Stories therein yet it s one house Though different flocks under various Shepherds yet are they all under one great shepherd They that own Christ as Head should be owned of his Members They that agree in the main may bear with each other in the means Schism is a sinfull separation that breeds a Convulsion in the Body of Christ Shame and Sorrow are the genuine fruits thereof as Pride and Ignorance the Parents of it They bear most with others that know Christ and themselves best Paul would have them both marked and shun'd that make divisions as selfish Christians that know little of Christ and themselves He would have us separate from evil but not from good as himself doth Christians and Churches must purifie themselves as he is pure They should therefore labor more for verity and Unity in the way to purity They need all mutual help Orderly Union affords much Beauty strength and usefulness It makes Gods people like an Army with Banners such an Arch-Building is choice and sure All convulsions are painfull and direfull Scripture represents this harmonious composure by that which excels in all frams natural civil and artificial We should all labor then for things that tend to Peace for mutual edification Variety of helps he affords to that end The Popish pretence is as injurious as its ridiculous They make a particular Universal a Roman Cathotholick They first disown Christ in effect and then must they disown and be disowned of his friends The Quakers follow them too closely in this as in other things casting Odiums upon our reformed Churches and rejecting them It s sad to see any of Christ friends who seem more sober and serious through mis-interpretations and mis-applications of Scripture to imitate them in such dividing ways To divide and destroy is Satans Motto it s his Method We see it we feel it by woful experience We must learn of Christ Prudent moderation in our zeal for Truth Both his Body and Garment should be so tendered as not to rend the one by favouring the other Peace is to be pursued after as far as possible in consistency with Holiness Much labor and care must often be used in over-taking and preserving Peace still endangered by many enemies 19. The Grace of Christ nearly concerns his Church and meets with the contradiction of sinners His Electing Grace is much slandred by many First By most of the forenamed Errors Secondly By Pelagians Socinians and others denying it to be eternal Thirdly Papists and Arminians agreeing with the Semi-Palagians in making it conditional not absolute upon faith foreseen or on Good work not of Gods free pleasure Fourthly By many of our Notionists following of those blind Guides in following the false Lights which Paracelsus and Behmen Swenkfield and Wigelius the Rose-Crucians and Enthusiastical Recluses have racked out of old Dung-hils and dressed anew AGainst such deceits improve the knowledge of Christ that you may consider him in a double capacity 1. As God the Son jointly with the Father and the Spirit chusing his people from eternity divina opera ad intra sunt indivisa Secondly As Mediator in Gods eternal purpose in whom in all the vessels of Mercy were absolutely elected without any respect to any thing in them but according to the good pleasure of his Will having predestinated us to the adoption of Children by Jesus Christ to himself before the foundation of the world There is a double Election also mentioned in Scripture 1. Eternal which is to Glory 2. Temporal which is to office By eternal Election the Lords chosen flock alone were fore-ordained to Glory through Grace By temporal Election reprobates as Judas may be chosen to office as he was to the Apostleship Gods electing Grace is called sometimes his fore-knowledge by an Hebraism verbs of sence with them importing both affect and effect Thus Christ is said never to have known the wicked because he never owned them for his This foreknowing Grace is called his Pleasure his good Will his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Amor Bonevolentiae chiefly looking at the end Gods Glorifying himself by glorifying them in Christ Predestination or fore-ordaining Grace pre-determining those Elect Persons so freely pitched upon by God regards the means leading to that end therefore it fore-appointed them to Redemption and Adoption in Christ by Grace towards Glory Some being thus chosen others were passed by and are therefore called Reprobates and Gods purpose or councel about them is called Praeterition Non-election and non-predestination God was not bound to any and did chuse and pass by of his own Will independently eternally distinctly individually certainly Those persons so passed by considered in massa nuda he did fore-ordain
prophecy in Sackcloth the woman is fed in the wilderness Yet did not Christ forget his Interest but in the worst time maintained his Ministry Brittain Ireland Germany and France shew large Catalogues of undoubted Truth to verifie it Waldus and Wicklef John Hus and Jerom with many thousands testified the same The Reformation by Luther and Calvin was but a more solemn carrying on of the Work We have antiquities of approved credit shewing Successions of faithful Ministers from the Apostles time all along to this day as in other parts so in these Nations The Scriptures are not the worse nor the Ministry for passing through the hand of Romish Antichrist Gold loses not its worth for touching a leprous hand nor Gods Temple by the sitting of the man of sin when their pollutions are but once removed If any defilment be proved to attend our Ministry we are ready to yield and remove the same When the Wen is cut off and the body cured health being restored is to be improved If any will stil lord it over Brethren we shall disclame such usurpations Christs Ministry is to feed and teach to rule and to cure Ministerially Our weapons and work are spiritual not Political nor Monarchical As Nurses appointed for the Childrens good it s our desire to attend Christs house An orderly Call unto this office as he doth appoint so will he still bless How shall men believe if not preached to How shall men preach right if they be not sent Internal gifts are very needfull yet not sufficient to make out this Call No man self-called is owned by God no more then Corah and Jeroboams Priests A Souldier though able without Commission shall never be owned for an Officer A person of Parts without Authority cannot act the part of Justice or Judge Every Christian is to improve Gifts but within his place and fit relation Gods word doth appoint an orderly way of Calling persons into the Ministry They must be well proved and approved of then chosen and ordained to a proper charge He that hears and receives persons so called in the name of Christ hears and receives Jesus Christ himself by his own witness He that abuses and rejects such abuses and rejects the Lord Christ thereby If any be bad let them be questioned and reap their deserts We pretend to no Infallibility but would be tried still in Doctrine and Life by the word of Truth Christs work its we are sent about the devil would marr it by slandering tongues False Christs false Prophets are now very rife Sick brains are heaping Teachers to themselves to please itching ears They that thus run before they are sent shall not profit but deceive the people The chief rage of Foxes and Wolves disguised will stil be bent against the Shepherds Jeroboams Priests with his Golden Calves brought in division deceit and ruin If the Lords Mercy do not prevent it our sin and sorrow will be too like theirs The Cavils pleaded against this clear Truth have been fully dissolved again and again It was Julians attempt to starve the Ministry and Schools as the sure way to ruin Christianity The like design is revived of late to the same end The Laws of Nature and of Nations as well as Gods positive Laws are brought in by Paul to prove the just Rights of Ministers maintenance The Corinthiane are blamed for putting him to shift and work with his hands He commends them highly that had been free towards his relief 25. Christ suffers also in his Providence as by the former Errors So first By Atheists Stoicks Epicures that ascribe events to fortune fate or chance Secondly By Divers Jesuits and Arminians charging his purpose and execution with Contingency and Dependency Thirdly By Star-gazers and Astrologers who pretend to divine of humane Events by their judicial Prognostications AGainst this Malady the gracious Knowledge of Christ improved will give us still a Soveraing Remedy It shews by Scripture Light that the hand of Christ who first made the world doth uphold it still with Rule and Order by the word of his power His eternal purpose he still executes in doing of good and over-ruling evil What evil of sorrow that the Lord sends not What evil of sin that he limits not What good temporal or spiritual that comes not still from his Providence His Rule is so sweet and so soveraign that all fulfill his Will in fulfilling theirs what ever opposes his revealed Will is still over-ruled by his secret Will The Will of his purpose men do then fulfill when they disobey the Will of his precept The Instance of Joseph and Jesus suffice to demonstrate Christs Soveraign Rule Things most contingent as to men and means do yet come to pass by a necessary and sure providence The very Sparrows fall not to the earth nor the hairs of man without Gods special hand Astrologers sin is so much condemned by Scripture Reason and Experience that they should not proceed any further seeing their folly is made so manifest Some use we grant of Astronomy if modestly handled natural Astrology may hint at some things though very uncertainly But that judicial Astrology which pretends to foretel the success of affairs acted among men is an Errand cheat and dreadfull Imposture such an Art descends from old Magicians that learned of Satan among the Nations Caldeans and Diviners with all South-sayers are noted in Scripture with Aegypts Magicians Indian Gymnosophists Brachmans and Pawawes the Druids of Gaul the Bards of Brittain the Dervis's of Turkie are of the like school The rules of this Art are certainly known to be most absurd vain and uncertain Mirandula and Perkins who searched into their depths discovered fully their juggling Impostures as their Writings testifie Some profound Scholars who had curiously pryed into their secrets came off with remorse and abhorrings thereof This Profession hath been in all ages justly detested by the wise and good Such Affinity it hath had still with Satanical Oracles that its unsufferable in a Christian State There is vertue indeed in heavenly bodies But who can find out the same distinctly An Apollonius Faustus or Hildebrand may pretend somewhat from Satans teaching in this black study But shall Christians go to the devils school to learn Christs mind Starry Constellations have their Influence on sublunary bodies but they cannot reach the souls and Acts of men How far they may affect this earth none can know but that our Reason and humane Events are beyond their reach is easily known The Constellations of Christs Providence compared with his word are the proper Rules of our Prognosticks personal and publique Thence should Christians cast a divine figure to find out a true scheme of their State and Acts. Learn we to calculate our spiritual birth and observe the positure of souls under Chris thence all conjunctions and