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
be a common Road for every Notion pretending to new Light Observe well the great gate of your understanding that no disguised enemy may slip in unaware Sift and search every thing by Scripture-Light that ye may know the Truth Watch narrowly the Fort of Judgement and Conscience that carnal Reasonings may not get in and thrust out spiritual Reason Let divine Reason by the Scripture of Truth fortifie the same against all surprises of the enemy Yield up your selves therefore to the Spirit of Truth for effectual renewing that through the Blood of Christ you may have it purified and pacified If Error get once into your conscience he will make sad work there Exercise your self therefore to have it alwaies void of offence towards God and man The Cittadel of your Will requires a special watch Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life Have a singular eie to the Ammunition of your Affections if wild-fire get thither it will make work indeed See them all well ordered and well guarded least any be mounted for Error against Truth and for Revolt against perseverance Your Love and hatred your desire and fear your joy and grief your anger and distaste your hope and despair are Guns of great use if well managed but if error get once the mastery they will tear you and others to pieces Stand on your watch then as Christ commands all in these sleepy daies Watch and pray watch and Believe watch and Labour against such an enemy The Baits are specious that will entice you but dreadful hooks lie close under them Deadly poisons desperate Diseases will tempt you round under fair disguises Satans Powder-plots are most desperate in these later daies His venom is refined and sublimed to its height His old stratagems are revived afresh with more plausibleness Unclean spirits struggle and rage most stil when near ejection The Lord will keep you whilst you keep close to him in his Word and Waies He is with you whilst you keep with him if you forsake him he will forsake you 2. Relatively Keep close to your work in looking to others All Superiours have a special charge to keep their Inferiours from these dreadful Evils Study and improve your Relations well to this very end whether Political or Ecclesiastical Magistratical or Ministerial whether Parental or Magisterial Take heed to your selves and to the whole flock committed to your charge Act Gods part towards them and act like God whom you Represent Use all such means in Church or state as Christ himself would use were he in your place If fair Means will do good so much the better but rather then fail use sharper Tools If Lenatives will not avail Corrosives must be used When a Limb is gangreend and mortified it cals for Iron and fire If the Patient grow phrentick he must be bound and kept very close and solitary If the disease be contagious company must be kept off If the sore will not fairly resolve by proper discussives it must be ripened lanced cleansed with stronger medicines If a member be broken disjointed or wrenced you can hardly cure it without pain and trouble Superiors are Physitians in their kind if your Patients be froward you need the more wisdom care diligence You are Shepheards and Rulers of men all your Titles of Honor will still mind you of your Duty and Burthen Dignity and Duty are still inseparable You are set over others for their good Keep off therefore these great evils from them and keep them from these evils of revolting Errors The external man is within your reach The internal man accounts to God alone They that so honour God he will surely honor but they that dispise him in slighting his work shall become vile and base Whilst you act like God in acting for God the Glory will be his and the comfort yours in the furtherance of the publique good God looks now for such to stand in the Gap and make up the breach to prevent a fatal ruin One man of note may do a world of good one Moses one Phineas one Joshua one Nehemiah may be an eminent Saviour under Christ in this Israel Who is on Gods side now against Blasphemy and damnable Heresie against divisions and strong delusions Act Gods part now in your relations with zeal and courage with prudence and care Its Gods own work you may well trust him for Council and strength support and blessing The Lord never yet failed faithfull Reformers who denied themselves for the publique Weal Carnal policy will discourage you Divine Policy will quicken you still Christ himself met with strong Contradictions from all evil men and evil Spirits Your worst enemies are conquered ones both in Spirituals and in Temporals remember and improve all your experiences renewed so often for these many years Error discountenanced will soon wear away whereas Truth opposed will gather more strength Sinfull tolerations are the devils Nurses in all relations publique private Be zealous for God mind his Interest then shall your interest besurely settled Doctrine 4. The Grace and Knowledge of Christ is a singular Jewel THE word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grace in Scripture-sense hath divers acceptions improperly and properly Improperly it signifies in a larger sense Thanks Joy Liberality Gift Office c. Properly and strictly it denotes two things 1 Gods special favour towards his Elect. 2. His sanctifying work in the Elect the former is favouring Grace this later is renewing Grace 1. It signifies Gods peculiar favour towards his Elect and that considered in the fountain and streams 1. Grace in the spring is called his pleasure purpose councill of his Will Amor Benevolentiae his love of benevolence 2. Favouring Grace in the stream signifies the various emanations of that eternal Love in all the expressions thereof towards them sutably to all their necessities thence the denominations of his predestinating and redeeming Grace his adopting and pardoning Grace his supplying and supporting Grace c. Which are in God one single intire Act that is variously denominated from its object This is Amor beneficientiae his love of beneficence whence flows his Amor Complacentiae his love of delight embracing of them Secondly Grace signifies also properly Gods sanctifying work of his Spirit in his Elect called the fruits of his Spirit the work of his Grace the gift from above 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 often the peculiar saving operations of his gracious Spirit in them and by them this Grace is considerable in the Root and Branches in the habit and acts in the principle and effects in the seed and fruits in the source and streams in the beginning and progress thereof being often called metonymically the Spirit for the gifts thereof 1. Renewing Grace in the Root and
any of his By his own example and Command he hath directed us to seek the things that make for Peace wherein we may edifie one another Convulsions in his Members are most direful and dangerous Symptoms proceeding from ill humors vapors and Spirits Whilst the Limbs fall a jarring the body must needs decay That Wisdom from beneath which cherishes contentions and envy is sensual and devilsh The Devil hath no better sport then in such troubled waters These Confusions of Tongue become Babylon better then Zion Must not the stones of Gods Temple be proportionably squared and fitted to each other that his Sanctuary may be erected Should not they that believe in one God are saved by one Christ justified by one faith acted by one Spirit sealed by one baptism supported by one hope and ruled by one Lord walk in one Love also and be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace There is too much of hell fire in unchristian Combustions Such ignes fatui and cheating Meteors lead many to destruction Do not such wandring stars and blazing Comets manifest divine wrath and portend woful Judgements If our Light and fire burn better then anothers have we not cause to be more thankful and communicative What have we that we have not received to impart to others Are not the strong bid to bear with the weak and not please themselves Our Neighbours good is co-ordinate still with our own Interest for we should love our Neighbour as our selves Is not this Jewel a very precious one which is of such Import to the benefit of all Reason 4. The Nature of this gracious Knowledge doth further demonstrate its Excellency There are three special parts that do make it up being the choice Ingredients thereof Apprehension Assent and Application 1. APprehension of the matter understood is found in every kind of knowledge specially in this A view of Christs Beauty and Excellency is taken by the mind thus spiritualized The lively picture of Christs al-sufficiency is drawn in his Gospel by the pencil of his own Spirit The Lord himself opens his very Bowels to the Prospect of his peoples eyes therein Is not this a precious sight indeed to behold such a Saviour in all his proportions Doth not the sensible sight of our vileness and sinfulness recommend such a merciful Redeemer to our apprehension Can we behold our own wretchedness Insufficiency and unworthiness and thence cast a glance on his sutable and sure Redemption without admiration Doth not the survey of divine fulness thus exposed to view exalt the Lord Christ above all other Lovers Are not all his royal perfections a magnificent sight to a gracious Soul Can there be any thing more swett and stately 2. Assent and Credit to the Truth apprehended attends this knowledge in a singular way The God of Truth bespeaks this Assent by the word of Truth Salvation by Christ alone for true Believers upon conjugal terms is the sum thereof He that believes his Testimony hath set to his seal that God is true divine Authority gaining thus credit to his Assertion sways the Judgement to reason the case and cast its resolve upon Christs side Divine reason then perswades mans Reason that such a Christ is worth the accepting upon his own Terms The soul thereby judges all capitulations and Reservations to be sinfull dreadfull irrational Mans reason is then brought over to such a subjection as Christs reason demands without delaies or exceptions It sees that in Christ which is better then All and suits its wants in every part thereof It sees no help from any creature to be looked for and judges all to be but vanity and Lyes that hinders from Christ The soul then learns feelingly to cry None but Christ none but Christ as the Martyr did with due conviction of sin and righteousness in order to Judgement through the Spirits help The soul thus weary both of self and sin readily assents to that truth of God which presents Christ for a faithful and loving Husband for Saviour and Lord And is not this of singular worth Thirdly Application and hearty consent is the main ingredient of all conjugal Knowledge especially of this The soul is hereby effectually yielded into Christs own hand upon his own terms The Will in this Act accepts of Christ and renders up it self to his disposal Conjugal Acception is thus reciprocated that the whole man may yield unto him all loyal obedience of Faith and Love This great wheel thus moved all the Affections turn accordingly Christ ward heaven-ward that before still moved self-ward and earth-ward The soul being thus surrendred to Christ depends on him and derives from him still Grace for Grace All other things then become serviceable to the honor and service of Christ This Marriage-union brings with it a free and full a singular and sure Communion Then saith the soul My Beloved is mine and I am his I have all from him and all for him all in him and all through him And is not this a very rare Jewel that makes a match between Heaven and Earth Is not this Knowledge of singular worth that marries sinfull man to God Almighty Is not this thing of a rare value whose nature appears so supereminent Reason 5. The Properties of this Knowledge do much commend its excellency also They are expressed by a pregnant word full of sense and vertue being called a gracious knowledge 1. IN regard of Gods favouring Grace whence it flows which it manifests and whither it leads The glory of divine Grace doth so admirably and so wonderfully shine forth therein that its preciousness is as remarkable as the Noon-Sun in a summer-Summer-day 2. In respect to his renewing Grace this knowledge is truly and incomparably gracious being attended with all the gracious Train and fruits of Christs Spirit So far as the Lord is duly known by his people so far is this knowledge attended with a proportionable measure of saving Grace 1. It s a fiducial knowledge that knows Christ with conjugal faith discerning of him looking up to him closing with him following after him trusting in him feeding upon him drawing all from him and returning all to him 2. It s a loving knowledge that embraces Christs love and retaliats Love for Love loving his person first and then his goodness That soul that knows Christ loves him sincerely and self-denyingly fervently and constantly That soul hears and speaks prays and acts in love to him loving his Word and ways his name and honor his service and servants out of Love to him That soul for his sake loves his Saints with a Love of delight and sinners with a Love of pitty The more she knows of him the more is her heart melted into his heart to be cast into the mold of his Love What 's recorded of famous Ignatius
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
force of the Comand but ratifies it He only could do it that is the Lord thereof There is no change made in the quamdiu and continuance nor in the quoties and frequency of the same The whole Precept being moral in part naturally in part positively is perpetual therefore and not to be altered by any Creature That some special time should be observed for Gods solemn worship is moral natural That it should be such a proportion in such a Revolution is moral positive That the duty should be moved from the seventh to the first day of the week makes no substantial change therein but only directs to the season thereof upon pregnant ground Paul clears this by a large demonstration The first day Sabbath was eminently typified in the most notable Providences of the old Testament On the first day Light was created Noahs Ark rested Circumcision was first ordained Israel was redeemed from Aegyptian Bondage on the same day Christs Law was first given by himself to Israel on mount Sinai the cloud of his special presence first rested on them the Tabernacle with his pertinances was rear'd Aaron and his Children first executed their Priesthood On that day his fire from Heaven first came down to consume the Sacrifices to make them acceptable in Christ by his Spirit The Israelites were first solemly by the Lord himself blessed their Princes first publiquely offered to the Lord. So for the new Testament Christ thereon first shewed his Miracles in Cana he first rose and appeared to his Disciples the Saints that slept then rose out of their Graves the holy Ghost came down upon the Apostles solemnly met and thereon still they met for divine worship When the Jewish Sabbath ended by reason of its Typicalness expiring with Christs death then began the first day to be the Christian Sabbath Christ sanctifying it to that end by his resurrection honouring it in a special manner which is the ground given by God himself for the keeping of a Sabbath So carefull were Christ and Christians of it that he bids them pray that their flight be not in the winter nor on the Sabbath lest it should distract their bodies and souls Prophaning of the Sabbath hath ever been threatned and punished signally as the due observance of it hath been choicely encouraged and rewarded in all Superiors and Inferiors It s the Lords court-day wherein he expects due Homage and Rents from all his Tenants It s his Muster-day for all his Christian Souldiers It s his solemn Feast-day to welcome all his friends It s his weekly Market for the getting in of all heavenly provisions It s his Chancery-day for the sealing and grant of his deeds of Favour What enemies are they to his honor and mans good who slight and abuse that Heaven upon earth It s the beginning of an eternal Sabbath All Cavils against it have been fully dispelled by many choice pieces When Paul condemns the distinction of days his meaning is cleared by the Context to speak of Jewish Ceremonials not of Christian Morals The neglect and abuse of the Christian Sabbath hath been observed formerly and lately to be still the Inlet to all other errors Englands prosperity began in Queen Elizabeths time when the Sabbath began to be duly maintained by Authority The troubles of England began afterwards when the Sabbath was publiquely by Authority profaned and by the same party * The famous Kings and Witagen Mots among the Saxons still renew'd strict Laws for due observance of the Christian Sabbath 15. The Law of Christ is variously abused 1. By the the foresaid Errors 2. By Antinomians denying the Obligation of a Christian to the moral Law 3. By Papists in mangling of it and dispencing therewith at pleasure many ways 4. By Quakers and other Innovators joining too much with Papists 5. By Socinians that rest thereon teaching people the like and so making it their satisfaction to justice and their Salvation AGainst such evils Scripture-knowledge of Christ will help us to see the need and use of that Law of Christ As he printed it on mans heart at first so doth he by his Grace renew it there gradually He published it himself from Mount Sina to his people adding the Ceremonials and Judicials afterwards as fit accommodations of that moral Law suited to the Jewish Church and State The Decalogue then is the sum of that Law which obliges all men without exception The sevetal Explications and Applications thereof we find through the Old and New Testament Christ ratified the same from Mount Zion also in taking away the Pharisaical Rubbish which their false Glosses had cast about it The Apostles further clear and confirm it in their several Epistles and Writings Where the Scripture seems to speak against the Law the sense is cleared by viewing the Context 1. They speak against the justifying Power of the Law through mans weakness since the fall none being able to keep it without fault or to make amends for his breach thereof Thus by the Law can none be justified and the regenerate are not under it to get pardon and salvation by a Law of works The Pharisees thus pressed and owned it and were confuted by Christ and his Apostles Thus also do they sin that do rest upon any Gospel-duty making it to themselves thereby a Law of Works Secondly They speak against the condemning effect of the Law which the regenerate are freed from by Christs Righteousness imputed to them They are not under the curse of it having their sins pardoned by Christs satisfaction made theirs actually through faith in his blood though their sin deserves the Curse yet that reatus and guilt doth not redound upon their persons being taken off by Christ Thirdly They speak often of the ceremonial Law as not obliging any Christian since Christ though it was used indifferently for a while to bear with tender Converts then unsatisfied about the abrogation thereof Fourthly They still own the royal Law of Liberty that moral Law which is the Transcript of Gods holy Will for the Rule of mans Duty in conformity to Gods Image It s called therefore the Law of Christ the perfect Law and the Law of Truth which men do well when they observe and ill so far as they neglect it God indeed writes his Law on his peoples heart but gradually and variously that is to them an internal Principle of Obedience which is still attended by the Law of their Members in opposition thereto This Principle moves them still to observe that Law which God hath given to be their standing Rule perfect and unchangeable Men are as far from his Grace as they are from observing his Law God never leaves his Children without Rule He
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