lesurum waxed fat grew thick was covered with fatnesse c. Then he forsooke God which made him and lightly esteemed the rocke of his Salvation Of the Roâ—â—e that begat them they were vnmindfull and did forget him that formed them Deut. 32 13. Wherby it appeares to be more easier for a Camell to goe through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Math. 19 24. Isa 26 10. Hosea 4 7 4 11 10 1.13 6. Daniel 5 4. Iob. 21 14 21 7. Iam 2 6. Prou. 23 29. Eccl. 3 11. Ob. Who then can bee saved Math. 19 25. A. With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible Math. 19 26. For by faith Moses when he was come to yeeres refused to be called the Sonne of Pharoahs daughter chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season esteeming the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Aegypt Heb. 11 24. For the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning though the heart of the foole is in the house of mirth Eccl. 7 4. Isa 32 5. Gen. 24.35.22 12. Iob. 1 1. Dan. 1 12. Q. Because of this and such like examples are we altogether to be without feare in the inioyment of earthly things A. When thou hast eaten and art full beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God in not keeping his Commandements and his iudgements Dâ—ut 8 10. For which enâ— remember Lots wife Luk. 17 32. Gen. 19.26 Deut. 6 10 11. Q. How may wee then bee preserved from the danger of earthly things A. 1. Loue not the world neither the things that are in the world 1 Ioh 2 15. For wilt thou set thine eyes vpon that which is not Prou. 23 5. 2. Vse this world as if you vsed it not 1. Cor. 7 31. For no maÌ„ that warreth intangleth himselfe with the affaires of this life that hee may please him who hath chosen him to bee a Souldier c. 2 Tim. 2 4. Iam. 1.10 11. Cant. 2 10. Gal. 6 14. Prou. 23 1 2 3. 3 Pray saying Turne away mine eyes â—â—om beholding vanity and quicken thou â—â—t in thy way Psal 119 37. Two things â—â—ue I required of thee deny me them â—ut before I dye remoue farre from me vaâ—itie and lyes giue mee neither Povertie â—â—r Riches feed me with food convenient for mee least I be full and deny thee and â—â—y Who is the Lord Or least I be poore â—nd steale and take the name of my God in â—aine Prou. 30 7. Q. What further incouragement can â—ou giue me to stand out against these â—o many Temptations of the Flesh the Deuill and the World A. He that indureth to the end shall it saved Math. 10 22. And to him that overcommeth will I giue to eate of the â—ree of Life which is in the middes of the Paradise of GOD Reuel 2 7. And to â—â—te of the hidden Manna and I will giue â—im a white stone and in the stone a new â—ame written which no man knoweth saving hee that receiueth it Reuel 2 17. He shall also bee cloathed in white rayment and I will not blot out his Name out of the booke of Life but I will confesse his name before my Father and before his Angels Reu. 3.5 And will grant him to sit with mee in my Throne even as I also overcame and am set downe with my Father in his throne Reuel 3.21 3 12.21.7 Luk. 22.28.29.30 verses Q. What should this so rich and plentifull a reward moone vs vnto A. To walke circumspectly not as fooles but as wise Ephes 5.15 And to ponder the pathes of thy feete that thy wayes may be establâ—shed and turne not to the right hand nor to the left but remooue thy foot from evill Prou. 4 26 27. 2. Pray that you fall not into temptation Math. 26 41. But that hee would grant vnto vs that wee being deliuered out of the hands of our enemies might serue him without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of â—â—r life Luk. 1.74 CHAP. XXXII Of the Word of GOD. IN the middes of so many Temptations on the right hand and on â—e left what one meanes of vpholding â—â—th GOD left vnto his Church A. When all Israel is come to appeare â—â—fore the Lord thy GOD in the place â—here hee shall chuse thou shalt reade this â—â—w before all Israel in their hearing â—oth of Men and Women and Chilâ—â—n and thy Stranger that is within â—y Gates that they may heare and that â—â—y may learne and feare the Lord your â—OD and obserue to doe all the words 〈◊〉 this Law and that their Children â—hich haue not knowne any thing may â—â—re and learne to feare the LORD â—â—r GOD as long as yee liue Deut. â— 11. Exod. 24 7. Ios 8 34 35. Q. Why what excellencie is there in this law of GOD more than in other writings of men whereby to worke such a feare of God in our hearts A. The law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soule the of testâ—mony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple the statutes of the Lord are right reioycing the heart the Commandement of the Lord is pure inlightening the eyes Psal 19 7. Not comming vnto you in Word only but also in Power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance 1 Thess 1 5. Being able to make thee wise vnto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Iesus and is profitable for Doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in Righteousnes that the Man of GOD may be perfect throughly furnished vnto all good workes 2 Tim. 3 15. For as the raine commeth downe and the snow from Heaven and returneth not thither but watereth the earth and maketh it to bring foorth and bud that it may giue seed to the Sower and Bread to the eater so shall my Word bee that goeth forth out of my â—outh it shall not returne to me voyd â—â—t it shall accomplish that which I â—ease and it shall prosper in the thing â—hereto I send it Deut. 32 2. Isa 55 10. â—9 2. Iob 6 25. Eccles 12 11. Act. 26 â—8 Heb. 4 12. Rom. 10 17. Thus the Churches were by the Word established in the Faith Acts 16 5. And I am sure also that when I come vnto you I shall come in the fulnesse of the blessing of the Gospell of CHRIST Rom. 15 29. Col. 1 6. Acts 4 4.18 8. 17 11 12 34. verses 12 24 17 4 15 32 8. 12 24 25. Ioh. 15 3. Q. Whence hath the Scripture this power and efficacie A. Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer the holy One of Israel I am the Lord thy GOD which teach thee to profit which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest goe Isa 48 â—7 I create the fruit of the lips peace peace to him that is farre off and to him that is neere Isa 57 19. It is
offerings Isa 61 8 Wherefore let no man deceiue you hee that doth righteousnesse is righteous as he is righteous but he that committeth sinne is of the Divell 1 Ioh. 3 7. Hag. 2 11 12. Isa 29 1.58.4 66 3 1 11. Amos 2 8.5 25 21. Leu. 26 31. Zâ—ch 7 5 Mal 1 7 1 13. Ier. 6.20 7 22 14.12 Psal 50 9 40 6. Hos 6 6 4 19. Mark 12 33. Luk. 11.41 Ob. Blessed be thou of the LORD for I haue kept the Commandements of GOD 1 Sam. 15 13. Haue done many things Mark 6 20. And haue been zealous for the Lord of Hosts 2 Kin. 10.16 Hos 12 8. A. What meaneth then this bleating of the sheepe in mine eares and the lowing of the Oxen which I heare 1 Sam. 15.14 For in thee haue they set light by Father and Mother in the middest of thee haue they dealt by oppression with the stranger in â—hee haue they vexed the Fatherlesse and â—he Widdow Thou hast despised my Holy things and hast prophaned my Sabbaths In thee are Men to carry tales to shedde bloud in the middest of thee they commit Lewdnesse Ezek. 22 7. Wherefore I haue a few things against thee Revel 2.20 As well as against ISRAEL who feared the LORD and made vnto themselues the lowest of them Priests of the High-places They feared GOD the LORD and served their owne Gods they feared not the Lord 2 King 17 32. For the feare of the LORD is to hate evill as pride arrogancy and every evâ—ll way Prou. 8 13. And therefore cursed art thou if thou confirme not all the words of this Law to doe them and all the people shall say Amen Deut. 27 26 4 2.6.17.12.32.18.13 Iam. 1 26 2.10.3 9 10. Ezek. 18 10. 2 Cor. 8 â—1 2 King 22.2 Ob. I deny not but doe freely confesse Murther and Adultery to be grievous sins deseruing death now then if I can acquit my selfe of such sinnes I shall doe well enough A. You haue heard that it was said to them of old time Thou shalt not kill and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the iudgment But I say vnto you that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the iudgement and whosoever shall say to his Brother Racha shall bee in danger of a Counsell and whosoever shall say thou Foole shall be in danger of Hell fire You haue heard also that it was said to them of old time Thou shalt not commit Adultery But I say vnto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart Math. 5 21 27. ver And for every idle word that men shall speake they shall giue an account thereof in the day of Iudgement Math. 12 36. Ezek. 16.49 1 Chron. 13.9.2.32.24 1 Sam. 6.19 1 King 20 35. Numb 20.12 Deut. 32.50 Ob. What a preciseâ—â—â—sse call you this For what if now and then I meeting with a good fellow or two doe make my selfe merry with them and doe follow some other trickes of youth A. Wo be vnto you that call evill good and good evill that put darknesse for light and light for darknesse that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter Isa 5.20 You are they which iustifie your selues before men but GOD knoweth the hearts for that which is highly esteemed among men is abhominable in the sight of GOD Luk. 16 15. The shew of your Countenance doth witnesse against you and you declare your sinne as Sodome and hide it not woe vnto you for you haue rewarded evill vnto your selues Isa 3.9 Ier. 6.15 2.35 Prou. 14.12.16.25 Ob. You are very rash in iudging for who but God knoweth the heart A. Doth not the Eare try words And the mouth tast his meat Iob. 12.11.34.3 Even a Child is knowne by his doings whether his worke be pure and whether it be right Prou. 20.11 For doth a Fountaine send foorth at the same place sweet water and bitter Can a Figge-tree beare Oliue berries Either a Vine Figges So can no Fountaine yeild salt water and fresh Iam. 3 11. Luk. 6 43. Math. 12 33 7.16 Ob. Notwithstanding your shew of precisenesse if your faults were written in your forehead we should haue much worse things to say of you A. Speake not evill one of another Brethren he that speaketh evill of his Brother and iudgeth his Brother speaketh evill of the law and iudgeth the law but if thou iudge the Law thou art not a doer of the law but a Iudge There is one Lawgiuer who is able to saue and to destroy who art thou that iudgest another Iam. 4 11. Iudge not that yee be not iudged For with what iudgement yee iudge yee shall be iudged and with what measure yee mete it shall be measured to you againe Math. 7 1. Ob Thou seemest to restraine wisdome to thy selfe but what knowest thou that we know not Or what vnderstandest thou that is not in vs Iob 15 8.15 2. A. If yee know these things happie â—re yee if yee doe them Ioh. 13 17. Thy Father iudged the cause of the poore and needy then it was well with him was â—ot this to know me saith the LORD Ier. 22 16. For behold the feare of the LORD that is Wisedome and to depart from evill is vnderstanding Iob 28 28. You professe you know him but in Workes you deny him being abominable and vnto every good worke reprobate Titus 1 16. And how doe yee say wee are wise and the law of the Lord is with vs Yee haue reiected the Word of the Lord nnd what wisdome is in you Ier. 8 8.5 4. Iam. 3 13. Prou. 3 17. Luk. 12 47. Iam. 4 16 3 17. Rom. 2 17. 1 Ioh. 2 4. Ioh. 15 22 9 1. Prou. 26.12.26 16. CHAP. LIII The wicked Convinced of judgement Ob. IT should seeme this man hath seene some vision or hath had some other extraordinary reuelation Therefore watch man what of the night Watchman what of the night Isa 21.11 A. The watch-man said The morning commeth and also the night Isa 21 12. And are yee come to inquire of mee As I liue saith the Lord GOD I will not bee inquired of by you Ezek. 20 3. Beware yee despisers and wonder and perish for I worke a worke in your dayes a worke which yee shall in no wise beleeue though a man declare it vnto you Acts 13 40. Habac. 1 5. Now therefore bee not mockers least your hands bee made strong for I haue heard from the LORD GOD of hostes a consumption even determined vpon the whole Earth Giue yee eare and heare my voyce hearken and heare my speech Isa 28 22. Then said I Ah LORD GOD they say of mee Doth hee not speake parables Ezek. 2â— 49. 14 7. Ob. But when went the Spirit of the LORD from our Ministers vnto thee 1. King 22 24. Who doe say to vs yee shall not see the Sword neither shall yee haue Famine but the LORD will
searching these golden Mines It is our shame and sinne that we bestow more time and paines in reading any Booke more than Gods What excellent and worthy monuments did e Ego odi meos libros saepe opto eos interire quòd metuo ne morentur lectores abducant à scripturae ipsius lectione quae sola omnis sapientiae fons est Luth. in Genes 19. LVTHER leaue to the world in his Writings and how well spent is time spent in reading his workes And yet out of a Zeale to the reading of the Scriptures hee stickes not to wish that his owne bookes might perish because he feared the reading of them would hinder men from reading the Scriptures What would he wish now to a number of vain idle corrupt and corrupting writings if he saw how miserably the Scriptures were neglected for the reading of these Now for this present Treatise I conceiue it such a Worke as needs not the Ivie bush of an Epistle commendatorie f Plaut in Poen Invadibili merce oportet emptorem vltro adducere Proba merx facile emptorem repperit tametsi in abstruso sita est I say no more of this Authors paines then SALOMON speakes of the vertuous Woman Giue him of the fruit of his hands and let his owne worke praise him in the gates And whether his worke will doe it or no let all preiudice be layd aside and doe but as PHILIP bids NATHANAEL Ioh. 1 46. Come and see And thou shalt soone see that what I say of this Treatise is much short of what it doth deserue Thus wishing that thy profit in the reading may bee answerable to his paines in the writing of this worke I leaue thee to the grace of GOD and rest Thine in CHRIST IESVS Ier Dyke THE AVTHORS EPISTLE TO THE READER CHRISTIAN READER THe Wise man saith that of making many Bookes there is no end and much study is a wearines of the flesh Eccl. 12.12 And therefore in so great variety of Bookes now extant it will bee thy wisedome for thy exercise to make choyse of some few of the best By which meanes thy toile in reading will be the lesse and thy gaine the more The Booke of all Bookes is the Bible which by way of Excellency is called the Scripture Of which I may say as DAVID of the Sword of GOLIATH there is none like that 1 Sam 21.9 Notwithstanding the Word of the LORD is to many a reproch and they haue no delight in it Ier. 6 10. And beeing full doe despise the Hony combe Prou. 27.7 Such are but naturall not having the Spirit Iud. 19. And therefore vnable to discerne their owne need or where to bee supplyed Reu. 3.17 Others there are of whom I am perswaded better things who having tasted of the good Word of God Heb. 6 9. And by it also how gracious the Lord is doe as new borne Babes desire the sincere milke of the word that they may grow thereby 1. Pet 2.3 But yet they finding many things hard to bee vnderstood 2. Pet. 3.16 And themselues to bee but as a Child weaned from the milke and drawne from the Breasts Isa 28 9. Not having the vnderstanding of a man in them Prou. 30.2 Are by this meanes much discouraged from the reading of it which yet in the very entrance thereinto doth giue light and vnderstanding to the simple Psal 119.130 Such must know that as when the Iron is blunt and the Wood knotty men put to the greater strength so naturall defects in the effecting of difficult things and of such consequence as is the reading of the Scripture must not make them to desist but rather set them on to be more serious humble orderly and constant in the reading of the same And for their further direction therein this must be remembred that the Booke of Scripture is as the Waters of the Sanctuary Ezek. 47. In which a Lambe might wade and an Elephant Swim Therein is contained strong â—staete as well as Milke Heb. 5.12 Such as doe discerne themselues to bee but Babes there is Milke provided for them And let them leaue the strong meat vnto such who by reason of vse haue their sences exercised in discerning good evill vntill themselues also come to a more full age in Christ Heb. 5.14 Now if uch also shall complaine of the shortnesse of memory by meanes whereof together with the prolixity of the Booke of GOD and the various matter promiscuously couched therein so as what they haue read is as water spilt on the ground 2 Sam. 14.14 Such with the reading of Scripture in the manner aforesaid must ioyne after meditation as DAVID who hid the word in his heart Psal 119.11 And MARY who pondered and thereby kept those things which were told her by the Shepheards Luk. 2.19 Moreouer if they will not bee forgetfull hearers of the Word they must bee doers of the same Isa 1.25 And withall let them pray the Comforter which is the HOLY GHOST who shall then both teach and bring all things to theyr remembrance whatsoever hee hath said vnto them Notwithstanding all which labour because many things as eares of Corne out of the Sheafe may sl p weake memories I haue therefore gleaned after and from the whole Bâ—oke of GOD as out of a large and fertile Feild gathered vp such Simples aâ— are most Cordiall to the weakest Christian and of spâ—ciall vse vnto all Among which because the Promises are both the breeders and nourishers of Sauing-Faith the Fountaine of Spirituall Life and therefore of price vnto drooping Spirits who are weary and heavy laeden Math. 11.28 I haue for their sakes more principally layd hold vpon them that with ioy they might draw Watâ—â—â—â—t of the Wells of Salvation â—sa 12.3 And because there are others also with whom the Consolations of GOD are small or of none effect Iob. 15.11 I hâ—â—â— vnto each promise annexed its contiâ—â—â— Iudgement And in fine haue summed vp all the particular Iudgements vnder the Generall and therewith also answered such Obiections as are by Carnall Men vsually made And out of all I haue also inferred such vses of Reproofe Instruction and Exhortation as the said Scripture hath brought to my hand meetly to bee applyed That if such will but reade what is written and lay hold on Instruction they may no longer forsake their owne Mercies but be moued to come vnto CHRIST and liue All which I haue as well as I could reduced to such Heads and in such order Composed them as by the helpe of my Table and Catalogue of Chapters immediatly ensuing euery Reader may readily find out such places as hee stands in need of and shall desire to bee furnished with But with this Caution to the intelligent Reader that for such Scriptures as may diuersly bee referred if in searching hee doe misse of them in one place hee may find them in another And for the better preventing or remouing of Scruples from the ignorant
Rom. 3.23 by the Law comes the knowledge of sinne Rom. 3.20 Whereby sâ— many as are of the workes of the Law arâ— vnder the curse Gal. 3.10 Whereupon the Gentiles which followed not righteousnes haue attained to righteousnes euen the righteousnesse which is of faith But Israel which followed after the Law of righteousnes hath not attained the Law of righteousnes wherefore because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the workes of the Law For they stumbled at the stumbling stone Rom. 9.30 And if Abraham were iustified by workes he hath whereof to glorie but not before GOD Rom. 4.2 Seeing then it is one God which shall iustifie the circumcision by faith and vncircumcision through faith Rom. 3.30 Therefore wee conclude that a man is iustified by faith without the deeds of the Law Rom. 3.28 1 Cor. 4.4 Rom. 3 21 22. Gal. 2.16 3.8.4.3.2 Ob. But there rose vp certaine of the sect of the Pharises which beleeued saying That it was needfull to circumcise them and commanded to keepe the whole Law of Moses Acts 15.5 A. Men and brethren you know how that a good while agoe God made choyce among vs that the Gentiles by my mouth should heare the Word of the Gospell and beleeue now therefore these men did but tempt God in putting a yoke vpon the necke of the Disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to beare Acts 15.7.10 Ob. Moses himselfe describeth the righteousnesse which is of the Law that the man which doth those things shall liue by them A. But the righteousnesse which is 〈◊〉 faith speaketh on this wise Say noâ— thou in thine heart Who shall ascenâ— into Heauen that is to bring downe CHRIST from aboue Or who shalâ— descend downe into the deepe that is to bring CHRIST from the dead But what saith it The Word is nigh thee euen in thy mouth and in thine heart that is the Word of faith which wee preach And which with the heart wee beleeue vnto righteousnesse Rom. 10.6 Q. Is the Law then against the promise A. GOD forbid For if there had beene a Law giuen which could haue giuen life verily righteousnesse should haue beene by the Law but the Scripture hath concluded all vnder sinne that the promise of the faith of IESVS CHRIST might bee giuen to them that beleeue Gal. 3.21 Q. If righteousnesse be not by the Law why was it exhibited The Law was added because of transgressions till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made Galathians 3.19 And it was our Schoolemaster to bring vs to Christ Gal. 3.24 Moreouer the Law entred that the offence might abound but where sinne abounded grace did much more abound that as sinne had reigned vnto death so might grace reigne through righteousnesse vnto eternall life by IESVS CHRIST our Lord Romanes 5.20 21. Ob. But if while wee seeke to bee iustified by CHRIST wee our selues are found sinners Is therefore Christ the minister of sinne Gal. 2.17 A. GOD forbid For if I builde againe the things which I destroyed I make my selfe a trespasser For I through the Law am deade to the Law that I might liue vnto GOD Gal. 2.17 You therefore are as free anâ— not vsing your liberty for a cloke of maliciousnesse but as the seruants of God 1 Pet 2.16 But if ye are lead by the spirit ye arâ— not vnder the Law Gal. 5.18 The fruitâ— whereof is loue ioy peace long-suffering gentlense goodnes faith meeknes teÌ„perance against such there is no Law Gal. 5.22 Q. You haue well satisfied me in the article of iustification tell me therefore what vse I am to make thereof A. 1 Let the wicked forsake his way and the vnrighteous man his thoughts and let him returne vnto the Lord for hee will haue mercy vpon him and to our God for hee will abundantly pardon Isai 55.7 and will blot out their sinnes when the time of refreshing shall come Acts 3.19 But if they will not obey his voyce let them beware of him for hee will not pardon their transgressions Exo. 23.21 But the soule that doth presumptuously shall be cut off from among his people Numbers 15.30 31. 2. Take vnto you words and turne vnto the Lord and say vnto him Take away all iniquity and receiue vs graciousty Hosea 14.2 Pardon I beseech thee mine iniquities according to the greatnesse of thy mercies Numb 14.19 And enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified Psal 143.2 and 41.4.51.1 c. 25.11 3 Because when you haue thus praied the Lord wil say I haue pardoned according to thy words Num. 14.20 therfore hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plentifull redemptionâ— Psal 130.7 131.3 4 Say Who is a God like vnto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgresions of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for euer because he delighteth in mercy Micah 7.18 Psal 103.1 c. Isa 44.23 5 Say Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods children It is God that iustifieth who is he that condemneth It is Christ that is dead yea rather that is risen againe who is euen at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for vs Rom. 8.33 For in the Lord shall the seed of Israel be iustified shall glory Isa 45.25 61.10 6 Account therefore all things but losse for the excellent knowledge of Christ Iesus your Lord. For whom Paul also suffered the losse of all things and did account them but dung that he might winne Christ and be found in him not hauing his owne righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of GOD through faith Phil. 3.8.9 and 3.3 c. 7 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free and be not intangled againe in the yoke of bondage Gal. 5.1 8 What shall wee say then shall wee continue still in sinne that grace may abound God forbid Rom. 6.1 2. And shall wee sinne because we are not vnder the Law but vnder grace God forbid For brethren you haue beene called vnto liberty onely vse not your liberty for an occasion to the flesh Gal. 5.13 Romanes 7.5 6 2 Cor. 5.14 15. 1 Peter 4.1 c. Rom. 7.1 c. 8.12 9 Be ye kind one to another tender hearted forgiuing one another euen as God for Christs sake hath forgiuen you Eph. 4.32 For if you forgiue men their trespasses your heauenly Father will also forgiue â—ou But if you doe not forgiue men their trespasses no more will your heauenly Father forgiue you your trespasses Math. 6.14.15 Col. 3.13 Mat. 18.22 Math. 18.33 CHAP. VI. Reconciliation Q. YOu hauing thus dispatched the promise of iustification tell me what grace is that which doth next and immediately flow from it A. Beeing iustified by faith wee haue peace towards God through our Lord Iesus Christ
reasons of Gods hearing our prayers A. 1 Because hee is your Father and knoweth what things you haue need of before you aske him Math. 6 8 and 7.9 2 The Angell of the couenant standing at the altar hauing a golden censer there was giuen vnto him much incense that hee should offer it with the prayers of all Saints vpon the golden altar which was before the throne And the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the Saints ascended vp before God out of the Angels hand Reuelat. 8.3 For yee are not come vnto the mount that might be touched and that burned with fire nor vnto blackenesse and darkenesse and tempest and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken vnto them any more But yee are come to Iesus the mediator of the new couenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel Heb. 12.18 Which Iesus hath promised that if we shall aske the Father any thing in his name that he will pray vnto the Father for vs Iohn 16.26 By whose prayers our prayers also are sanctified Mat. 23 19. Q. Seeing God hath thus promised to heare our prayers what in the sence of our wants must wee doe A. Hauing therefore boldnesse to enter into the holy place by the blood of Iesus by a new and liuing way which he hath consecrated for vs through the vaile that is to say his flesh and hauing an high Priest ouer the house of God let vs draw neere with a true heart in full assurance of faith Heb. 10.19 And be carefull for nothing but in euery thing by prayer and supplication with thankesgiuing let your rqeuests be made vnto God Phil. 4.6 Draw neere to God and hee will draw neere to you Iames 4.8 And come boldly to the throne of grace that yee may obtaine mercy to find grace to helpe in time of need Heb. 4.16 Mat. 7.7 Luke 11.9 1 Tim. 2.8 1 Pet. 2.4 Col. 4.2 Iob 8.5 Ephes 6.18 Isa 65.16 2 Saying vnto God heare the voice of my supplication when I crie vnto thee when I lift vp my hand towards thy holy oracle Psal 28.2 Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart bee acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer Psal 19.14 Numb 10.36 1 King 8.26.28.52.57 1 Chro. 4.10 Psal 5.1.28.2.30.10.84.8.86.6.88.1.130.1.143.1 Isa 37.17 Dan. 9.19 Mar. 14.36 Ob. But I wanting a gift of prayer how can I expect that GOD should heare mee A. Likewise also the spirit will helpe your infirmities For though wee know not how to pray as wee ought yet ihe spirit it selfe maketh intercession for vs with gronings which cannot be vttered But he that searcheth of the hearts knoweth what is the minde of the spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Rom. 8.26 Q. When God hath heard our praiers what is then to be done A. Say I loue the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplications because hee hath inclined his eare vnto mee therefore will I call vpon him as long as I liue Psal 116.1 I said in mine hast I am cut off from before thine eyes neuerthelesse thou heardest the voyce of my supplication when I cryed vnto thee Psal 31.22 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me and strengthenedst me with strength in my soule Psal 138.3 Thou hast giuen me the desire of my heart and hast not withdrawne from mee the request of my lips Psal 21.2.10.17 Praise waiteth for thee in Sion and vnto thee shall the vow be performed O thou that hearest prayers vnto thee shall all flesh come Psal 65.1 Blessed be God which hath not turned away our prayer nor his mercy from vs Psalm 66.20 Ephes 3.20 Psal 66.16 17. Deut. 4.7 CHAP. X. God accepts his in their seruices Q. WHat other fruite can you shew of Gods fatherly disposition towards vs his children A. He shall also be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousnesse Psalm 51.19 For these are good and acceptable in the sight of God our Sauiour 1 Tim. 2.3 And as an odor of a sweet smell Phi. 4.18 For Noah built and altar and the Lord smelt a sweet sauour Gen. 8.20 Moreouer God had respect vnto Abel and his offering Gen. 4.4 And so shall the offerings of Iudah and Ierusalem bee pleasant vnto the Lord as in the daies of old and as in former yeeres Mal. 3.4 Iudges 13.23 Isa 4.2 Ob. I can performe no work worthy of Gods acceptance A. If there be first a willing minde it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that hee hath not 2 Cor. 8.12 As well as the widdow with her two mites more than the rich casting in of their abundance Luke 21.1 Marke 12.44 Ob. O my soule thou hast said vnto the Lord thou art my Lord my goodnesse extendeth not to thee but to the Saints Psalm 16.2 A. I was hungry and you gaue mee meate I was thirsty and you gaue me drinke I was a stranger and you tooke mee in naked and you clothed me I was sicke and you visited me I was in prison and you came vnto me For verily I say vnto you in as much as you haue done it vnto one of the least of these my brethren you haue done it vnto me Mat. 25.35 And whoso shall receiue but such a little child receiueth me Math. 18.5 Q. What may this teach vs A. Therefore as liuing stones being built vp a spirituall house an holy priesthood let vs offer vp spirituall sacrifice acceptable to God by Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 And to doe good and to distribute forget not because with such sacrifices God is well pleased Heb. 13.16 For hee that in these things serueth Christ is acceptable to God and approued of men Rom. 14.18 Col. 3.17 2 Cor. 9.7 Ob. If God doe accept vs in our wel-doing whence then this complaint We haue fasted and God seeth not wee haue afflicted our soules and hee taketh no knowledge Isa 58.3 A. If they did well should they not be accepted Gen. 4.7 When they fasted and mourned did they at all fast vnto me And when they did eate and drink did they not eate for themselues and drinke for themselues Zech. 7.5 Behold in the day of their fast they find pleasure and exact all their labours Behold they fast for strife and debate and to smite with the fist of wickednesse Isa 58.4 Thus they haue brought an offering and should I accept this at their hands saith the Lord Mal. 1.13 For the plowing of the wicked is sinne Prou. 21.4 And thereir sacrifice is abomination how much more when they bring it with a wicked minde Pro. 21.27 Ierem. 6.20 14.12 Isa 1.11.58.5 Amos 5.21.5.25 Isa 66.3 Psalme 50.9 Hosea 6.6 1 Cor 7.19 Psalm 40.6 Marke 12.33 Iames 1.22 Luke 11.41 Ier. 7.22 Hos 4.19 Hag. 2.11 Mal. 1.7.13 CHAP. XI
an eye at the last trumpe for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed 1 Cor. 15.51 Q. Now I know that wee shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day Ioh. 11.24 What therefore would you thence inferre A. 1 Concerning them that sleepe that ye sorrow not euen as others without hope For if we beleeue that Iesus died and rose againe euen so them also which sleepe in Iesus wâ— God bring with him 1 Thes 4.13 2 Though I walke in the valley of tâ—â— shaddow of death I will feare no euill foâ— thou art with mee thy â—od and thy staâ— comfort mee Psalm 23.4 Therefoâ—â— also my heart is glad my glory reioycetâ— my flesh also shall rest in hope for thou wiâ—â— not leaue my soule in hell Psal 16.9 3. Let vs therefore which haue the firâ— fruites of the spirit groane within our selueâ— waiting for the adoption to wit the redemâ—tion of our bodies Rom. 8.23 4 Let none of vs liue or die to our selueâ— for whether wee liue wee liue vnto thâ— Lord or whether we dye we dye vnto thâ— Lâ—â—â— For to this purpose Christ dye◠〈…〉 and reuiued that he might be the Lord both of the dead and liuing Rom 14.7 Wherefore labour we that whether present or ahsent wee may be accepted oâ— him 2 Cor. 5.9 Q. When this dust returneth to thâ— earth Eccle. 12.7 who knoweth the spiriâ— of a man that goeth vpward and the spirit oâ— the beast that goeth downeward to the earth Eccles 3.21 A. Wee know that if this earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolued wee haue a building of God an house not made with hands but eternall in the heauens 2 Cor. 5.1 For the spirit shall returne to God that gaue it Eccles 12.7 and shall bee with Christ in Paradise Luke 23.43 And with Lazarus in Abrahams bosome Luke 16.22 Q. How stand you affected with this A. I am in a straite betwixt two hauing a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Pbil. 1.23 For in this wee groane earnestly desiring to be clothed vpon with our house which is from heauen if so be that being clothed wee shall not be found naked For we that are in this tabernacle doe groane being burdened not for that we would be vnclothed but clothed vpon that mortality might be swallowed vp of life 2 Cor. 5.2 Therefore wee are alwaies confident knowing that whilest wee are at home in the body wee are absent from the Lord for wee walke by faith and not by sight wee are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord 2 Corin. 5.6 Math. 17.4 CHAP. XVI Of the last iudgement Ob. WHat we shall haue after death I cannot say but in these daies of my vanity I haue seen there is a iust man that perisheth in his righteousnesse and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickednesse Ecces 7.15 yea the tabernacles of robbers prosper and they that prouoke God are secure for into their hand God bringeth abundantly Iob 12.6 Behold these are the vngodly who prosper in the world they increase in riches verily I haue cleansed my heart in vaine and washed my hands in innocency For all the day long I haue been plagued and chastened euery morning Psal 73.12 13. Ier. 5.27.12 1. Eccl. 8.14 A. God hath appointed a day in which he will iudge the world in righteousnesse by that man whom hee hath ordained whereof he hath giuen assurance vnto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Acts 17.31 So that we shall all stand before the Iudgement seat of Christ Rom. 14.10 Who shall iudge his people Heb. 10.30 Vnto whom they also must come to giue an account 1. Pet. 4.5 Heb. 9.27 Psal 96.13.98.9 Eccles 11.9 Ob. Where is the promise of his comming For since the Fathers fell a sleepe all things continue as they were from the beginning 2 Pet. 3.4 A. This you are willingly ignorant of that by the Word of GOD the Heauens were of old and the earth standing out of the water and in the water whereby the world that then was being ouerflowed with water perished But the Heauens and the earth which are now by the same word are kept in store reserued vnto fire againsâ— the day of Iudgement and perdition of vngodly men But beloued be not ignorant of this one thing that one day is with the Lord as â— thousand yeares and a thousand yeares a one day The Lord is not slacke concerning his promise as some men couâ— slacknesse but is long suffering to vs ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2. Pet. 3.5 Q. Tell vs then when these thing shall be and what shall be the signes oâ— the end of the World Mat. 24.3 A. 1 Before the end come many shall come in CHRISTS name saying I am CHRIST and many false Prophets shall arise Mat. 24.5.11 2 The day shall not come except there come a falling away first 2. Thes 2.3 and many be deceiued Mat. 24.5.11 3 That man of sinne shall first be reuealed the sonne of perdition who opposeth and exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called GOD or that is worshipped 2. Thes 2.3.4 4 You shall heare of warres and rumors of warres for Nation shall rise against Nation Kingdome against Kingdome but the end shall not be yet Mat. 24.6.7 5 Because iniquity shall be increased the loue of many shall waxe cold Mat. 24.12 6 This Gospell of the Kingdome shall be preached in all the world for a witnesse vnto all Nations and then shall the end come Mat. 24.14 7 When the fulnesse of the Gentiles is come in all Israell shall be saued as it is written The deliuerer shall come out of Sion and shall turne away vngodlinesse from Iacob Rom. 11.25 8 As it was in the dayes of Noah so shall it be also in the dayes of the Sonne of Man they did eate they dranke they married wiues they were given in marriage vntill the day that Noah went into the Arke and the Flood came and destroyed them all Likewise also as it was in the dayes of Lot they did eate they dranke they bought they sold they planted they builded but the same day that Lot went out of Sodome it rained fire and brimstone from heauen and destroyed them all euen thus shall it bee in the day when the Sonne of man is reuealed Luke 17.26 And when they shall say peace and safety then sudden destruction commeth vpon them as trauell vpon a woman with child 1. Thes 5.3 Or as a thiefe by night 2. Pet. 3.10 Reuel 16.15 Math. 24.38 Now learne a parable of the Fig tree when his branch is yet tender and putteth foorth leaues ye know that summer is nigh Math. 24.32 And when ye see a cloud rise out of the West straite way yee say a shower commeth and
before vs whâ—ch hope we haue as anker of the soule both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that which is within the vaile whether the fore-runner is for vs entred Heb. 6.17 Q. Shew me then some marks wherby I may discerne whether or no my selfe am one of that number which shal be saued A. 1. This is life Eternall that wee know him to be the onely true God and IESVS CHRIST whom he hath sent Ioh. 17.3 2. GOD so loued the world that hee gaue his onely begotten Son that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life Ioâ— 3.16 These things I write vnto you that beleeue in the name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye haue eternall life 1. Ioh. 5.13 Ioh. 5.24.3.36 Acts 16.31 3. It shall be that whosoeuer shal call on the name of the Lord shall be saued Act. 2 21. 4. We know that we are passed from death to life because we loue the brethreÌ„ 1. Io. 3.14 5. Whosoeuer shall humble himselfe and become as a little child the same is great in the Kingdome of GOD. Mat. 18.4 Mat 5.3.19.14 6 The Kingdome of Heauen suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Mat. 11.12 and for ioy thereof depart and sell all that they haue to purchase it Mat. 13.44 5.10 7. There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth nor whosoever worketh abomination or that maketh a lie Reu. 21.27 For without are dogs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murtherers Idolaters Reu. 22.15 Neither shall any that worketh abhomination enter into the Kingdome of GOD. Reu. 21.27 The sinners in Zion are afraid fearefulnesse shall surprise the Hypocrites Who among vs shall dwell with the devouring fire who among vs shall dwell with the everlasting burnings He that walketh righteously and speaketh vprightly he that despiseth the gaine of the oppressions that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes and stoppeth his eare from hearing of blood and shutteth his eyes from seeing of euill hee shall dwell on high Isa 33.14 And to him that ordereth his conuersation aright will I shew the salvation of GOD. Psal 5â— 23.15.1.119.155 Math. 5.19 Ier. 17.13 Ob. These things in some measure I doe find to be in my selfe yet my griefe is that I can be no more sencible of this happinesse A. 1. Now wee see through a glasse darkly but then face to face Now wee know in part But then shall wee know even as also wee are knowne 1. Cor. 13.12 2. We are saved by hope but hope that is seene is not hope For what a man seeth why doth hee hope for it But if we hope for that we see not then doe we with patience waite for it Rom. 8.24 As well as IACOB who said I haue waited for thy salvation O LORD Gen. 49.18 1. Pet. 1.9 3. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seene Heb. 11.1 Whom hauing not seene you loue in whom though you see him not yet beleeuing you reioyce with ioy vnspeakable and full of glory receiuing the end of your faith the saluation of your soules 1. Pet. 1.8 4. For this end pray saying Restore vnto mee the ioy of thy salvation and vphold me with thy free spirit Psal 51.12 And then with ioy shall you draw water out of the wels of saluation Isa 12.3 Ob. I am beset with so many enemies that my feare is I shall fall short of Heauen A. We are kept by the power of GOD through faith vnto saluation ready to bereuealed in the last times 1. Pet. 1.5 When Christ shall put downe all rule and all authority and power For he must reigne till he haue put all his enemies vnder his feet the last whereof that shall be destroyed is death For hee hath put all things vnder his feet but when hee saith all things are put vnder him it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things vnder him 1. Cor. 15.24 Q. Seeing GOD haâ—h prouided for vs such an inheritance what therefore are we to doe A. 1. We are bound to giue thankes alwayes to GOD because GOD hath from the beginning chosen vs to saluation through sanctification of the spirit and the beliefe of the truth Whereunto hee called vs by the Gospell to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord IESVS CHRIST 2. Thes 2.13 1. Pet. 1.3.4 2 Because the Scriptures are callâ—d the Word of the Kingdome Mat. 13.19 Search the Scrâ—ptures for in them ye thinke to haue eternall life Ioh. 5.39 In which because some things are hard to be vnderstood 2. Pet. 3.16 Let euery man be swift to heare Iam. 1.19 For after that in the Wisedome of GOD the World by Wisedome knew not GOD it pleased GOD by the foolishnes of Preaching to saue them that beleeue 1. Cor. 1.21 3. Seeing wee here haue no continuing City but we seeke one to come Heb. 13.14 And the time here being short it remaineth that both they that haue Wiues be as though they had none and they that weepe as though they wept not and they that reioyce as though they reioyced not and they that buy as though they possessed not and they that vse this world as not abusing it for the fashion of this World passeth away 1. Cor. 7.29 And wee according to his Promise looke for new Heauens and a new earth where dwelleth Righteousnesse 2. Pet. 3.13 Ioh. 6.27 4. Make you friends of the Mammon of vnrighteousnesse that when yee faile they may receiue you into everlasting habitations Luk. 16.9 Sell that yee haue and giue Almes and prouide your selues Bags which waxe not old and treasures in Heaven that faile not Luk. 12.33 Matth. 6.19 5. Hauing therefore these promises let vs cleanse our selues from all filthines of flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the feare of GOD 2. Cor. 7.1 And let vs feare left a promise being left vs of entring into his rest any of you should seeme to come short of it Heb. 4.1 Wherein we ought to giue the more earnest heed to the things which wee haue heard least at any time wee should let them slip For if the Word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience receiued a iust recompence of reward how shall wee escape if wee neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the LORD and was confirmed to vs by them that heard him Heb. 2.1 Wherefore the rather brethren giue diligence to make your calling and election sure for if yee doe these things yee shall never fall For so an entrance shall be ministred to you abundantly into the everlast ng Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour IESVS CHRIST 2. Pet. 1.10 11. Râ—u 22.14 Heb. 12 28. 1. Cor 15 34 Râ—m 13.11 1. Cor. 6.9 Tit. 2.11 Q You tell me of Heaven and if these bee the condâ—tions of attaining it how shall I â—e animated to come there A. If any man will come after me let
shadow of death light is sprung vp Mat 4 16. And we know that the Sonne of GOD is come and hath giuen vs an vnderstanding that we may know him that is true 1. Ioh. 5.20 Which in other ages was not made knowne vnto the Sonnes of men as it is now reuealed vnto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the spirit Eph. 3 5. Ioh. 1 18 Pro. 2 6 Iob. 32 8. Pro. 18 15 14 6. Thus the Romanes were filled with all knowledge able also to admonish one another Rom. 15 14. 1 Cor. 1 5. Psal 119 98 99 100. ver Ioh. 15 15 Ioh 17 25 17 6. On the contrary a Scorner seeketh wisedome and findeth it not Pro. 14 6 he is ever learning and neuer able to come to the Knowledge of the truth 2. Tim. 3 7. His way is as darkenesse hee knowes not at what he stumbleth Prou. 4 19. Hee shall dye without instruction and in the greatnesse of his folly he shall goe astray Pro. 5.23 Prou. 18.2.14.18.3.32 Iob 17.4 Pro. 14.8 15.14 Hos 4.6 Q. What may this teaeh vs A. 1. Not to be as the Horse and Mule which haue no vnderstanding Psal 32.9 No nor yet to bee as children but in vnderstanding to be men 1. Cor. 14 20. Suffering the Word of CHRIST to dwell in you richly in all wisedome Col. 3.16 2. Pray that GODS wayes may bee knowne vpon earth and his sauing health among all Nations Psal 67.2 And for your selues that you may vnderstand the wayes of â—his Commandements Psal 119.27 and behold the wonderfull things of his Law Psal 119.18 Psal 119.7 33 34 73 125 169.171 ver 2. Tim. 2 7. Of Faith Q. Which is the second sanctifying Grace A. GOD will fulfill in you all the good pleasure of his goodnesse and the worke of Faith with power 2. Thes 1 11. Wherby euery one that hath heard and learned of the Father commeth vnto CHRIST Ioh. 6 45. For STEPHEN was a man full of Faith Acts. 6 5. And the Faith of the Romanes was spoken of throughout the whole world Rom. 1 8. Acts 24 14 27.25 Ioh. 10 42. Q. What may hence be learned A. Because all men haue not Faith 2. Thes 3 2. Therefore build vp your selves in your most holy Faith praying in the holy Ghost Iud. 20. and saying Lord increase our Faith Luk. 17 5. Lord wee beleeue helpe our vnbeliefe Mark 9 24. Of Trust Q. It beeing long betwixt the promise and the accomplishment of it how may wee in the meane while bee vpheld A. Thou shalt stay vpon the holy one of Israel in truth Isa 10 20. Vnder his Wings shalt thou trust Psal 91.4 For he is the confidence of all the ends of the earth and of them that are a farre off vpon the Sea Psal 65 5. Whereby they that know his name will put their trust in him Psal 9 10. Math. 12 21. Isa 51 5 Psal 40 4 84 12. Thus Dauid trusted in the Lord Psal 31 6. And the people rested themselues vpon the words of Hezekiah King of Iudah 2. Chro 32 8. Psal 20 7 11 1 18 2 52 8.144 1 2 56 3 4. Iob. 13 15. Q. What would you hence inferre A. Commit thy wayes vnto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to passe Psal 37 5. thy thoughts shall be established Pro. 16 3. And happy shalt thou be Pro. 16 20. For it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in Princes Psal 118 8. Surely men of low degree are vanitie and men of high degree are a lie to be laid in the ballance they are altogether lighter than vanitie Psal 62 9 115 9 146 3 4 34 22. Isa 2 22 26 4 31 1 36 6 Pro. 3 5. Of Hope Ob. GOD may not onely delay his promise but also by some euill occurrent vnsettle my confidence A. The wicked indeed is driven away in his wickednesse but the righteous hath hope in his death Pro. 14 32 For Abraham against hope beleeued in hope Rom. 4 18. so Christ is in you the hope of glory Col. 1 27. Thou hadst saith Iouâ—â— cast me into the deepe in the midst of the Sea and the Flouds compassed me about all thy billowes and thy waues passed ouer me Then I said I am cast out of thy sight yet I will looke againe towards thy holy temple Ion. 2 3.4 And now Lord what waite I for my hope is in thee Psal 39 7 46 2 33 22 119 81 Psal 119 166. Lam. 3 24. Isa 8 17. Micha 7 7. Tit. 2 13 Acts 26 6. Iob 5 16. Q. What vse is to be made hereof A. Therefore looke you also for the mercy of our LORD IESVS CHRIST vnto eternall life Iud. 21. And waite on thy GOD continually Hos 12 6. For happy is he that hath the GOD of IACOB for his helpe whose hope is in the LORD his GOD which made Heauen and Earth Psal 146 5 33 22 Lam. 3 25 26. Hos 12 6. Ob. Then is euery one happy for who will not say that his Hope is in GOD A. The hope of the Righteous shall be gladnesse but the expectation of the wicked shall perish Pro. 10 28. The eyes of the wicked shall faile and they shall not escape and their hope shall bee as the giving vp of the Ghost Iob. 11 20 8 13. c. Iob. 27 8 9 10. CHAP. XXI Of Loue Feare Sorrow Humility and Repentance Q. WHat other Sanctifying Grace will GOD bestow vpon us A. He will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to loue the LORD thy GOD with all thine heart and with all thy Soule that thou maist liue Deut. 30 6. Pro. 8 17. Cant. 1 4 3 10. Psal 26 8. Psal 116 1. 1. King 3 3. Thus MARY MAGDALEN shee loved much Luk. 7 47. I also loue the LORD Psal 18 1. Yea LORD thou knowest all things thou knowest that I loue thee Ioh. 21 17. And if any man loue not the LORD IESVS CHRIST let him be Anathema Maranatha 1. Cor. 16 22. Q. What may this teach vs A. To pray that the Lord would direct your hearts into the Loue of GOD 2 Thes 3 5. And that your loue may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all Iudgement Phil. 1 9.1 Thes 3 12. 2 Labour to keepe your selues in the loue of GOD Iud. 21. Of Feare Q. But that our loue be not exorbitant wherewith shall it be swaved A. He will giue you one heart and one way that you may feare him for euer for your good and the good of your Children after you Ier. 32 39. And you shall feare the LORD and his goodnesse in the latter dayes Hos 3 5. Psal 34 11. Deuâ— 4 10. Isa 2â— 22 23. Hos 3.5 For thus the Midwiues feared God Exod. 1 17 And OBADIAH feared the LORD from his youth 1. King 18 3 12. So did CORNELIVS with all his houshold Acts 10 â—
Deut. 9 19 Iob. 1.1 But the transgression of the wicked saith within my heart that there is no feare of GOD before his eyes Psal 36 1 2 For the feare of the Lord is to hate evill as pride and arrogancie and every evill way Prou. 8 13. Deut. 5 29. Q. What would you hence inferre A. Therfore feare the Lord ye his Saints for there is no want to them that feare him Psa 34 9. Yea let all the Earth feare the Lord let all the inhabitants of the world stand in aw of him Psa 33 8.85 9. Ier. 10.7 For 1. There is Mercy with him that hee may be feared Psa 130 4 2 With GOD is terrible maiestie Iob. 37 22. Hee is a consuming fire even a iealous God Deut. 4 24. The Pillars of the earth tremble and are astonied at his reproofe Iob. 26 11. The foundations also of the Hils mooved and were shaken because he was wroth Psal 18 7 97 5 104 32. Nahum 1 3.1 Sam. 6 20. Heb. 10 31. Hab. 3 16. Iob. 9 5.37 1. Exod. 24.17 Deut. 5 25 26. Isa 2 10. Ier. 5 2â— 22 10 10. Of godly Sorrow Ob. If the feare of the Lord bee to hate euill then wofull is my condition who haue againe crucified CHR1ST by my sinnes A. Notwithstanding you shall looke on him whom you haue pierced and you shall mourne for him as one mourneth for his onely Sonne and bee in bitternesse for him as one that is in bitternesse for his first borne Zach. 12 10. And you shall remember your owne euill wayes and your doings that were not good and you shall loath your selues in your owne fight for your iniquities and for your abhominations Ezek. 36 31 20 43. Ezek. 6 9. Ier. 31 19 51 4. Zach. 13 4 1. Sam. 7.2 Thus Gods people gathered themselues together at Mizpeh and drew water and powred it out before the Lord and fasted and said we haue sinned against the Lord. 1 Sam. 7 6. 2 Sam. 2.24 10 17 Ier. 3 25 Iob. 40 4 5. But as for the wicked were they ashamed when they had committed abhomination Nay they were not at all ashamed neyther could they blush Ier. 8 12 But were Brasse and Iron Ier. 6.28 29 8 5 6 2 â—5 Isa 22 12 3 9. Of Humilitie Ob. The pride of my hart is also so great as that I feare I shall not stoop vnto this A. There is indeed a generation O how lofty are their eyes and their eye lids are lifted vp Pro. 30 13 as if they were rich and stood in need of nothing Reu. 3 17. We haue heard also of the pride of Moab Isa 16 6 And of such which say stand by thy selfe come not neere to me for I am holier than thou Isa 65 5. Numb 12 1. But as for me my heart is not haughty nor mine eyes lofty neyther doe I exercise my selfe in great matters or in things too high for mee Surely I haue behaued and quieted my selfe as a Child that is weaned of his Mother My soule is even as a weaned child Psal 131 1. And APOLLO was willing to submit himselfe unto the teaching of AQVILA and Priscilla Acts. 18 26. And therefore whosoeuer is wise and of knowledge amongst you let him also shew out of a good conversation his works with meekenesse of wisedome Iames 3 13 Psal 75 4 138 6 147 6. 2. Cor. 10 17 18. Prou. 25 27 27 2 25.6 7 16 5.6 16 18 18 12. Galath 6 3. Luk. 14 11. Rom. 12 16 12 3. Mat. 11 29. Ezek. 21 26. Ier. 9 23. 48 29. 50 â—1 32. Isa 2 12 3 16. Acts. 12.21 Of Repentance Ob. But what is confession of sinne without conuersion from sinne A. Hee will also heale thy backslidings Hos 14 4 For vnto you Gâ—D hath raised vp his Sonne IESVS and sent him to blesse you in turning away every one of you from your iniquities Acts 3 26. And hath also to the Gentiles granted repentance vnto life Acts 11 18 Who were as sheepe going astray but are now returned vnto the Shepheard and Byshop of their soules 1 Pet. 2 25. Isa 17 7 8.19 18.19 19 21.23 18. Zach. 13 4 5. Ier. 50 5. For Zachaeus stood and said to the Lord behold Lord the halfe of my goods I giue vnto the poore if I haue taken any thing from any man by false accusation I rerestore him foure fold Luk. 119 8. But the Reprobates they returne but not to the most high Hos 7 16. They will not frame their doings to turne vnto their God Hos 5 4 For their bones are full of the sinnes of their youth which shall lye downe with them in the dust Iob. 20.11 CHAP. XXII Of Zeale Q. WHat other Grace will GOD worke in vs A. Zeale and that first of liking affections 1. To CHRIST For Paul and Barnabas hazarded their liues Acts 15.26 being ready not to be bound onely but also to dye at Ierusalem for the name of the LORD IESVS Act. 21 13 Deut 33 9. 2 To his word for saith David I haue reioyced in the wayes of thy testimonies as much as in all riches Psal 1â—9 14 Mine eyes preuent the night watches that I might meditate in thy Word 119 148 My soule breaketh for the longing that it hath to thy Iudgements at all times 119 20 Thy Statutes haue beene my Songs in the house of my Pilgrimage 119 54 O how loue I thy Law It is my Meditation continually 119 97 122.1 Not to be daunted by any But hee will speake of GODS testimonies before Kings and will not bee ashamed Psal 119 46. Who though they doe speake against him yet will he meditate in Gods word Psal 119 23 51 69 83 143 157 161 ver But is increased by opposition It is time saith he for the Lord to worke for men haue made voyde thy Law Therefore loue I thy Commandements aboue gold yea aboue fiue gold Psal 119 126 And I will yet be more vile than thus and will be base in mine owne sight 2. Sam. 6.22 Acts 21 13. 3 To his workes I haue not hid saith David thy righteousnesse within my heart I haue declared thy truth and thy salvation I haue not concealed thy louing kindnesse and thy truth from the great congregation Psal 40 9 10. Seaven times a day I will praise thee because of thy righteous iudgements Psal 119 164.119 62. 4 To the worship of God For David prepared with all his might for the house of his God 1. Chron. 29.2 ver 8 9. And the free guifts of the people for the Tabernacle were more than enough and therefore were restrained from bringing any more Exod. 36.5 2 Sam. 24 24.1 Chro. 29 21.29 13 14. 2 Chro. 29.32 33 30 24. 2 Chro. 35 7. Neh. 4.17 21 23 6 11.7 7â— Ezra 2.68 Hag. 1 14. Though the wicked say the time is not come the time that the Lords house should he built Hag. 1.2 5 By reioycing in the good they see in others Hauing no greater ioy than
not see many a man how they are vanquished by the world and brought into subiectioÌ„ of the same A. Whosoever is borne of GOD overcommeth the world and this is the victory that overcommeth the world even your faith 1 Ioh. 5 4. Ob. Wee for our part haue no more power against the world than wee haue against Sathan A. CHRIST gaue himselfe for our sins that he might redeeme vs from this present evill world according to the will of GOD and our father Gal. 1 4. And prayed not that he should take vs out of the world but that he should keepe vs from evil Ioh. 17 15. Ob. If the child of GOD haue overcome the world whence is this vanity which is done vpon the earth that there is iust men vnto whom it happeneth according to the worke of the wicked againe there be wicked men to whom it hapneth according to the worke of the righteous Eccl. 8 14. A. Can a bird fall in a snare where no fowler is Amos 3 5 Affliction commeth not forth out of the Dust neyther doth trouble spring out of the Graue Iob. 5 6. Is there any evill in the Citty which the Lord hath not done Amos 3 6. From the Lord of Hosts which dwelleth in Mount Zion Isa 8 18. Who formeth the light and creates darknesse who maketh peace and creates evill he even he doth all these things Isâ— 45 7. Gen. 45 8. â—am 3 38 Psal 17 12. Q. What may hence be learned A. Therefore leâ— no man be mooved by these afflictions for you your selues know that we are appointed therevnto For we told you before that we should suffer tribulation even as it comes to passe and you know it 1. Thes â— 3. For shall we receiue good at the hand of God and shall wee not receiue evill Iob 2 10 4 17.1 Sam. 26 9. Ioh 18.11 Q Why what is the disposition of GOD towards his Children in theyr afflâ—ctions A. As a man chasteneth his Son so doth the Lord chasten them Deut. 8 5. For whom he loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth If ye endure chastising GOD dealeth with you as with Sonnes For what Sonne is theâ—e that the Father chasteneth not If ye be without chastening whereof all are partakars then are ye bastards and not Sonnes Heb. 12 6. Revel 3 9. Q Shew me wherein this fatherly disposition of his in affl cting his children is exercised and expressed A. 1 He doth not afflict willingly nor grieue the children of men Lam. 3 33. 2 In all their afflictions he is afflicted Isa 63 9. For when Israel put away the strange Gods from among them and served the Lord his soule was greeved for the miseries of Israel Iudg. 10 16. And his bowels were troubled for them Ier 31 20. Saying Saul Saul why persecutest thou mee Acts 9 4. For we haue not an high Priest which cannot bee touched with a feeling of our infirmities e Hebr. 4 15. But hee that toucheth vs toucheth the Apple of his owne eye Zach. 2 8. Psal 103 13 2 King 13 4.13 23 2 14.26 Acts 26 14. 1. Pet. 5 7. Mat. 6 25 34 2 Chron. 36 15. Ob. In all my afflâ—ctions I haue had an eye vnto GOD but yet could never discerne any such affection in GOD towards me A. Then say vnto GOD O LORD I haue waited for thee in the way of thy Iudgements the desire of my Soule is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee With my Soule haue I desired thee in the night and with my spirit within me will I seeke thee in the morning Isa 26.8 Looke downe from Heaven and behold from the habitation of thy holinesse and of thy glory where is thy zeale and thy strength the sounding of thy bowels and of thy Mercies towards mee Are they restrained Doubtlesse thou art our Father though ABRAHAM be ignorant of vs and Israel acknowledge vs not thou O LORD art our Father our Redeemer thy Name is from Everlasting Isa 63 15. c. Psalm 77 7. Q. But why doth GOD lay Afflictions vpon vs being his children A. What hath the Lord now done Is there not cause 1 Sam. 17 29. namely 1 To prevent sinne For hee openeth the eare of man and sealeth their instruction that he may withdraw man from his purpose and hide pride from man Iob. 33 16. And lest he should be exalted aboue measure there is given him a thorne in the flesh the messenger of Sathan to buffet him 2 Cor. 12 7. His way also is hedged vp with thornes and there is a wall made that hee may not finde his pathes Hos 2 6. Therefore feare not because of affliction for GOD is come to prooue you that his feare might be before you that you sinne not Exod. 20 20 13 17. 2 To remoue sinne For if they be bound in fetters and holden in the Cordes of Affliction then hee sheweth them their workes and their transgressions that they haue exceeded He openeth their eare also to discipline and commandeth that they returne from iniquity Ioh. 36 8. By this therefore shall the iniquity of Iacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sinne Isa 27 9. and that he may be made partaker of his holinesse Heb. 12 10. For which cause we faint not for though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day 2 Cor. 4 16. Hos 5 15. Isa 26 9 4.4 2 Cor. 7 8. Zach. 13 9. Ezek. 39 22 Numb 12 11. Ezâ—k 20 37. Mal. 3 2. Thus the Israelites in their trouble visited the Lord and powred out a prayer when his chastisements was vpon them Isa 26.16 Mâ—nassen after his affliction knew that the Lord he was God 2 Chro. 33 1â— 34 27. Gen 42 21. Psal 119 67. Iob 40 4 23 16. Iona. 3.3 Luk. 15.17 But for the wicked why should they be smitten any more they fall away more and more Isa 1.5.22.12 Hos 7.10 Amos 4 6. 3 To make vs trust in God For wee had the sentence of Death in our selues that wee should not trust in our selues but in GOD which raised the Dead 2. Cor. 1.9 And GOD suffered Israell to bunger that hee might make them know that man doth not liue by Bread onely but by euery Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man liue Deut. 8 3. The remnant also of Israell and such as are escaped of the house of IACOB stay not vpon him that smote them but shall stay vpon the Lord the holy one of Israel in truth Isa 10.20 4 For our tryall God left HEZIKIAH to try him that hee might know all that was in his heart 2. Chron. 32 31. And hee left the Cananites to remaine to proue Israel whether they would keepe the wayes of the Lord and to walke therein Iudg. .3.4 IOSEPH also was sold for a Servant and his feet were hurt in the fetters hee was layd in the Iron vntill the time that his word came
the Word of the Lord tryed him Psal 105 17. And a sword shall pierce through thine owne soule also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed Luk. 2.35 And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy GOD led thee these 40. yeares in the Wildernesse to proue thee and to know what was in thine heart whether thou wouldest keepe his Commandements or no Deut 8 2. Gen. 22 1. Gal. 6 17. Reu. 2 10. 1. Pet. 1 7. Iob 23 10. 5 To make vs conformable vnto CHRIST That wee may know him and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his Death Phil. 3 10. For wee all are weake in him 2. Cor. 13.4 Filling vp that which is behind of the afflictions of CHRIST in our flesh for his bodies sake which is the Church Col. 1.24 Knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your Brethren that are in the World 1. Pet. 5.9 6 That wee may escape the Iudgements of the wicked When wee are iudged wee are chastened of the Lord that wee should not bee condemned with the World 1. Cor. 11 32. IOSEPH was sent before into Egypt to preserue life Gen. 45 5 7 IOSIA was gathered to his Fathers and to his Graue in peace that hee might not see all the evill that was to â—â—me 2. Chro. 34.28 Blessed â—herefore 〈◊〉 the Man whom GOD chasteneth and â—eacheth him out of his Law that he may giue him rest from the dayes of adversitie vntill the pit bee digged for the Wicked Psal 94 12. Exod. 23.28 c. 7 To further vs vnto Saluation For ought not CHRIST to suffer these things and to enter into his Glory Luk. 24.26 And if wee suffer wee shall also raigne with him 2. Tim. 2 12. For our light Affliction which is but for a moment worketh for vs a farre more exceeding and Eternall weight of Glorie 2. Cor. 4 17. Though now for a season if need bee wee are in heavinesse through manifold Temptations that the tryall of our Faith beeing much more precious then Gold that perisheth though it bee tryed with fire might be found vnto praise and honourâ— and glorie at the appearing of IESVS CHRIST 1. Pet. 1.6 Confirme therefore the soules of the Disciples and exhort them to continue in the Faith and that wee must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdome of GOD Acts 14.22 Phil. 2 8. Luk. 23.40 8 That we may the better esteeme of Prosperity My wrath saith GOD shalâ— not bee powred out vpon Ierusalem by the hand of SHISHAKE Neverthelesse they shall be his servants that they may know my service and the service of the Kingdomes of the Countries 2. Chro. 12.7 8. 9 That wee may comfort others For whether wee be afflicted it is for your consolation which is effectuall in the induring of the same sufferings which wee also suffer or whether we bee comforted it is for your consolation and salvation 2. Cor. 1.6 Heb. 4.15 10 For examples sake to the wicked Because saith GOD they haue prophaned my Name among the Heathen whether they went I will sanctifie my great name which was prophaned among the Heathen which they haue prophaned in the middest â—f them and the Heathen shall know that I â—im the LORD saith the Lord God when I shall bee sanctified in them before their eyes Ezek. 36.22 For I will set my Glory among the Heathen and all the heathen shall see my Iudgement that I haue executed and my hand that I haue layd vpon them c. And the Heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into Captivitie for their Iniquitie because they trespassed against me and therefore hid I my face from them and gaue them into the hand of their Enemies Ezek. 39.21.23 Q I know now that GODS Iudgements are right and that hee in faithfulnesse doth afflict vs Psal 119.75 But what moderation doth hee obserue in the same A. Hee will not lay vpon man more than is right that hee should enter into iudgement with GOD Iob 34.23 Neither hath hee dealt with vs after our sinnes nor rewarded vs according to our Iniquities Psal 103 10. But exacteth of vs lesse than our iniquities deserue Iob 11 6. Ob. Though our Afflictions bee not according to our Sinnes yet may they presse vs beyond our strength Iob 6.12 A. Through the Lords mercies wee shall not bee consumed because his compassions faile not Lam. 3 22. Wee are troubled indeed on every side but not in distresse wee are perplexed but not in dispaire persecuted but not forsaken cast downe but not destroyed 2. Cor. 4 8. As vnknowne and yet well knowne as dying and behold wee liue as chastened but not killed as sorrowing and yet alwayes reioycing as poore and yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things 2. Cor. 6.9 And though wee fall wee shall not vtterly bee cast downe for the LORD vpholdeth vs with his hand Psal 37 24. Neither will hee execute the fiercenesse of his anger hee will not returne to destroy Ephraim for hee is GOD and not Man the holy One of Israel in the middest of them Hos 11 9. Whereby vnto the vpright there ariseth light in darknesse Psal 112.4 And when I said my foot slippeth his Mercy held mee vp In the multitude of my thoughts within mee his comforts delight my Soule Psal 94 18. No man putteth a peece of new cloath vnto an old Garment for that which is put in to fill it vp taketh from the garment and the rent is made worse neither doe men put new Wine into old bottles else the bottles breake and the Wine runneth out and the bottles perish but they put new wine into new bottles and so both are preserved Math. 9 16. And will GOD plead against thee with his power No hee would put strength in thee Iob 23 6. and strengthen thee with strength in thy soule Psal 138.3 55.22 34.20 Isa 27 8 28 27 28 29 43 2 3. Exod. 3 2. Numb 11 11. c. Ionah 1 17. Amos 9 8. Ier. 10 24. Ob. Notwithstanding this moderation if God should bee alwayes wroth the Spirit should faile before â—im and the soules which hee hath made Isa 57.16 A. The Lord will not cast off for ever but though hee cause griefe yet will hee haue compassion according to the multitude of his mercies Lam. 3.31 And though the Afflictions of the righteous bee many yet the Lord will deliuer them out of them all Psal 34.19 The Lord vpholdeth all that fall and raiseth vp all those that are bowed downe Psal 145.14 Wherby they shal forget their misery and remember it as waters that passe away Iob. 11.16 And it shall come to passe that as he hath watched over them to plucke vp and to breake downe to destroy and to afflict so will hee watch over them to build and to plant saith the Lord. Ier. 31.28 who deliuereth vs from so great a death ond doth deliuer vs. In whom we trust that hee will yet
deliver vs. 2 Cor. 1.10 Psal 41.1.34.6 1 Kings 11.39 Isa 28.28 Nehe. 9 28. Ob. If we in respect of affliction should obtaine but a bare and naked deliverance the comfort thereof would not be great A. They that sow in teares shall reape in ioy He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed shall doubtlesse come againe with reioycing and bring his sheaues with him Psal 126 5. For thus saith the Lord like as I brought all this great evill vpon this people so will I bring vpon them all the good I haue promised Ier. 32 42. A little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong Nation Isa 60 22. As one whom his Mother comforteth so will I comfort you and you shall be comforted in Ierusalem And when you see this your heart shall reioyce and your bones shall flourish like an hearbe and the hand of the LORD shall be knowne towards his Servants Isa 66 13. For hee will make her wildernesse like Eden and her Desart like the Garden of the Lord. Ioy and gladnesse shall be found therein thanksgiving and the voyce of melodie Isa 51 3. The voyce of the bridegroome and the voyce of the Bride the voice of them that shall say Praise the LORD of Hosts for the LORD is good for his mercy endureth for ever Ier. 33 11. Iâ—a 61 11.61 7 60 15 57 17 18 verses 58 8. Zach. 9 13. Micha 7 8 4 6 7. Ier. 30 19. Esth 8 16. 2 Cor. 7 5 6. Psal 71 19 21. Ob. Our case seemes to be too desperate thus to be delivered A. O thou afflicted and tossed with tempest and not comforted behold I will lay thy stones with faire colours and lay thy foundations with Saphires and I will make thy Windowes of Agates and thy Gates of Carbuncles and all thy borders of pleasant stones Isa 54.11 And though you haue laine among pots yet shall ye bee as the wings of a Doue eovered with silver and her feathers with yellow Gold Psal 68 13. For hee raiseth vp the poore out of the Dust and lifteth vp the begger from the Dunghill to set them among Princes and to make them inherit the throne of Glory for the Pillars of the Earth are the Lords and he hath set the world vpon them 1 Sam. 2.8 Psal 113.7.42.7 8. Ezek. 37.12 Q. Doth the Lord dispense this goodnesse of his vnto all men alike in their afflictions A. The iust man falleth seaven times a day and riseth againe but the wicked shall fall into mischiefe Prou. 24.16 In the hand of the LORD there is a Cup the Wine is red it is full of mixture and hee powreth out of the same but the Dregges thereof all the wicked of the Earth shall wring out and drinke them Psal 75.8 Hath he smitten him as he smote those that smote him Or is hee slaine according to the slaughter of them that are slaine by him In measure when it shooteth forth he will debate with it hee stayeth his rough wind in the day of the East wind Isay 27.7 For how should I giue thee vp Ephraim How should I deliver thee Israel How should I make thee as Admah How should I set thee as Zeboim My heart is turned within mee my repentings are kindled together Hos 11 8. Therefore feare thou not O Iacob my Servant saith the LORD for I am with thee for I will make a full end of all the Nations whether I haue driven thee but I will not make a full end of thee but correct thee in measure Ier. 46.28 19 10. Numb 24 20 Psal 18 27. Prou. 11 28. Moreâ—ver thus saith the Lord God behold my Servants shall eate but yee shall be hungry behold my Servants shall drink but ye shall be thirstie behold my Servants shall reioyce but yee shall be ashamed behold my Seruants shall sing for ioy of heart but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart and shall howle for vexation of spirit And you shall leaue your name for a curse vnto my chosen for the LORD GOD shall slay thee and call his Servants by another name Isa 65 13. Ier. 10 24 25. Prou. 14.10 Q. But will it not be long ere this deliverance commeth A. I will bring neere my righteousnes it shall not be farre off and my salvation shall not tarry Isa 46 13. A little while and ye shall not seeme and againe a little while and yee shall see me because I goe to my Father Ioh. 16 16. GOD is a very present helpe in trouble Psal 46 1. His anger endureth but a moment in his favour is life weeping may endure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning Psalm 30 5. After two dayes will hee reviue vs in the third day he will raise vs vp and wee shall liue in his sight Hos 6 2. Come therefore my people enter thou into thy Chambers and shut thy doores about thee hide thy selfe as it were for a little moment vntill the indignation bee overpast Isa 26 20.65 1 17 14 2 Sam. 24 12 13 25. Ob. But Zion said the Lord hath forsaken me and my LORD hath forgotten me Isa 49 14. I am weary of my crying my throat is dryed mine eyes faile while I waite for my GOD Psalm 69.3 Behold I goe forward but hee is not there and backward but I cannot perceiue him on the left hand where he doth worke but I cannot behold him hee hideth himselfe on the right hand that I cannot see him Iob. 23.8.9.19.13.3.3.13.26.33.19 6.4.7.20 13.24.16.12.19.6 Psal 88 3.40.12.102.3.1â—6.3 Ruth 1 20. Isa 38.10 Ier. 20.15.15 10. A. But hee knoweth the way that thou takest when he hath tryed thee thou shalt come forth as Gold Iâ—b 23 10. Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him yet Iudgement is before him therefore trust thou in him Iob. 35 14. For the needy shall not alwayes bee forgotten the expectation of the poore shall not perish for ever Psal 9.18 For can a woman forget her sucking Child that she should not haue compassion on the Sonne of her wombe Yea they may forget yet will not I forget thee saith the LORD Isa 49.15 The hope indeed deferred maketh the heart sicke but when the desire is accomplished it is a tree of Life Prou. 13.12 Ye haue therefore need of patience that after ye haue done the will of GOD yee might inherit the Promise For yet a little while and hee that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10.36 Psalm 56.8 Q What man ever lived that could be patient in suffering such things with so long waiting for deliverance as I haue done A. He that beleeveth shall not make hast Isa 28.16 Therfore I wait for the Lord my Soule doth wait and in his word doe I hope my Soule waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning Psal 130.5 Notwithstanding my confusion is continually before me the shame of my face hath covered me For the voyce of him that reproacheth and blaspheameth by
hated me before it hated you If yee were of the World the World would loue his owne but because you are not of the world but I haue chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you Remember the words that I said vnto you the Servant is not greater then his Lord if they haue persecuted mee they will persecute you also Iohn 15 18. For if they doe these things to a greene Tree what shall bee done to the drye Luke 23 31. Math. 10.16.1 Corinth 4 9.10 13 2. Cor. 6.9 Psalm 22.12 Notwithstanding they can haue no power at all against you except it be given them from aboue Ioh. 19.11.8 20. For if Balaak would giue vnto Balaam his house full of Silver and Gold hee could not goe beyond the word of the LORD to doe lesse or more Numb 22 18 38 24 12 13 23 8. But vnto you it is given in the behalfe of CHRIST not onely to beleeue but also to suffer for his sake Phil. 1.29 Ob The very tonges of these wicked men doe cut like a sharpe rasor Psal 52 2. Adders poyson is vnder their lips Psalm 140.3 Their teeth are as swords and their iawes are kniues to eat vp the afflcted out of the earth and the poore from among men Prou. 30 14. Iob. 17 6. Lam. 1 7. Isa 8 18. Psal 120.4 22 13.69 11 31 12 13 verses 22.6.7.8 verses 71.10 83.3 Ier. 18.18 Deut. 32.33 A. Beloved remember ye the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our LORD IESVS CHRIST how that they told you there should be mockers in the last times Iud. 17.18 And call to remembrance the former dayes in the which after ye were illuminated yee endured a great fight in afflictons partly while yee were made a gazing stock both by reproches and afflictions and partly while yee became Companions of them that were so vsed Heb 10 32. But as the LORD turned the Curse of Baalam into a Blessing Deut 23 5. So it may bee hee will looke on your Affliction also and requite good for their cursing this day 2. Sam. 16 12. And if yee bee reproached for the name of CHRIST happie are ye for the Spirit of Glory and of GOD resteth vpon you which on their part he is evill spoken of but on your part hee is glorified 1. Pet. 4 14. Therefore hearken vnto me yee that know righteousnesse the people in whose heart is my Law feare yee not the reproaches of men neyther be afraid of theyr revilings for the Moth shall eat them like a Garment and the Worme shall eate them like Wooll but my Righteousnesse shall bee for ever and my salvation shall be from Generation to Generation Isa 51.7 And consider him which indured such contradiction of sinners least you be weary and faint in your minds Heb. 12.3 And goe forth vnto him without the Camp bearing his reproach Heb. 13.13 And say you vnto such a one why boastest â—hou in mischiefe O mighty man The goodâ—esse of God indureth continually Psa 52. â— And rherfore I will be more vile than â—hus and will be base in my owne sight â— Sam. 6.22 Math. 10.24 And turne vnto God and say haue â—ercy vpon vs O Lord haue mercy vpon â—s for we are exceedingly filled with conâ—empt our soule is exceedingly filled with â—he scornes of those that are at ease and â—ith the contempt of the proud Psal 123. â— 4 Remoue farre from vs reproch and â—â—ntempt for wee haue kept thy testimoâ—ies Psal 119.22 Ob. They do not only vse threatning â—nd reuiling words but they lay to my â—harge things I neuer did Psal 35. â—1 They reioyce at me as if I had beene â—ound among theeues Ier. 48.27 Act. 6.11 â—3 14. ver 25.7.17.6 Math. 11.18.26.65 Ioh. 10.20.7.12 Ier. 15.10 Isa 54.17 A. Also now thy witnesse is in heauen â—nd thy record on high Iob. 16.19 The Lord will not leaue thee in the hand of the wicked nor condemne thee when thou art iudged Psal 37 32. For he shall stand at thy right hand to saue thee from those that condemne thee Psal 109 31. And will put to silence those lying lippes which speake grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the Righteous Psal 31 18. wherein they thinke it strange that you runne not with them vnto the same excesse of ryot speaking evill of you who shall giue an account vnto him that is ready to iudge the quicke and the dead 1. Pet. 4 4. Isa 66 5. Blessed therefore are you when men shall reuile you and Persecute you and shall say all manner of evill against you falsly for my sake Reioyce and bee exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you Math. 5 11. Luk. 6 22. But let none of you suffer as a Murtherer or as a Theefe or as an evill doer or as a busie body in other mens matters yet if any man suffer as a Christian let him not bee ashamed but let him glorifie â—OD in this behalfe 1. Pet. 4 15. â—nd haue your conversation honest aâ—â—ng the Gentiles that whereas they â—â—ke against you as evill doers they â—y by your good Workes which they shall â—â—ld glorifie GOD in the day of Visiâ—ion For so is the will of God that by â—ll doing yee may put to silence the igâ—â—rance of foolish men 1. Pet. 2 12 15. 〈◊〉 being reviled wee blesse being perâ—uted wee suffer it being defamed wee â—reat wee are made as the filth of the â—â—rld and the of-scouring of all things â—o this day 1. Cor. 4 12. Thus doing mayest thou pray Deliâ—â— my soule O Lord from lying lips â—el from a deceitfull tongue Psal 120. â— And who is hee then that will harme 〈◊〉 if you bee followers of that which is â—nd 1. Pet. 3 13. Or if any shall so â—â—e as the Sparrow by wandring and the â—allow by flying escape so the Curse causeâ—â—e shall not come Prou. 26 2. Psalm 19 161. Ob. But I shall one day fall into their hands 1. Sam. 27 1. And be broughâ— before Governours and Kings for the Name of CHRIST Math. 10.18 And what alas shall I then doe A. Doe as TIMOTHY did who professed a good profession before many witnesses 1. Tim. 6.12 And as the Church of Pergamus did who held fast his name and denied not his Faith even in those dayes wherein ANTIPAS his faithful Martyr who was slaine where Sathan dwelt Reu. 2.13 And if they forbid you to speake any more in that Name then say vnto them whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken vnto you more than vnto God iudge yee For wee cannot but speake the things which we haue seene and heard Act. 4 19.20 Ob. Ah Lord God behold I can not speake for I am a Child Ier. 1.6 A. The hand of the Lord shall be vpon thee and shall open thy mouth and thou shalt bee no more dumbe Ezek. 33 22. The tongue of the Stammerers shall be
ready to speake plainly Isa 32.4 For out â—f the mouthes of Babes and sucklings hath 〈◊〉 ordained strength because of his Eâ—â—mies that hee might still the enemy and â—avenger Psal 8 2. Say not then I am a Child for thou shalt â—nto all that I shall send thee and whatâ—â—ever I command thee thou shalt speake Ierem. 1.7 For who hath made mans Youth Or who maketh the dumbe and be deafe haue not I the Lord Now â—herefore I will be with thy mouth and â—uch thee what thou shalt say Exod. 4 11. When they therefore deliver you vp â—ike no thought how or what you shall â—eake for it shall be given you in that â—ime houre what you shall say Math. 10 19. Luk. 21.14 And I will giue you a â—outh and wisedome which all your adversaries shall not be able to gaine-say nor resist Luk. 21.15 Act. 6 10. For the Scripture saith Whosoever beleeveth on him shall not be ashamed Rom. 10 11. For with the Heart man beleeveth vnto Righteousnesse and with the Mouth confession is made vnto salvation Rom. 10 10 You having therefore the same spiritâ— of Faith according as it is written beleeved and therefore haue I spoken you also beleeue and therefore speake 2. Cor 4 13. And be not afraid and hold not thy peace for I am with thee and no maâ— shall set on thee to hurt thee Acts 18.9 But sanctifie the Lord God in your heart and be ready alway to giue an answere to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you and that with meekenes and feare 1. Pet. 3 15. Math. 10 32. Prou. 16.1 Acts 4.9 Luk. 12.12 Ob. If for the hope of Israel I should thus stand in defence of the truth I shall for my labour be cast into some Dungeon Ier. 38.6 be bound with a chaine Acts 28.20 And my feet hurt with fetters of Iron Psal 105.18 Ezek. 19.9 Iohn 21 28. A Though you suffer trouble as an evill doer yet the word of God is not bound 2. Tim. 2.9 You may be a bondman in deed yet the Lord God will not forsake you in your bondage Ezra 9 9. No more than he forsooke PAVL and SILAS who â—ing psalmes in Prison Acts 16 25. For the Lord heareth the poore and desâ—seth not his Prisoners Psal 69.33 â—et hath broken the Gates of Brasse and â—â—t the Barres of iron in sunder Psal 107. â—6 And bringeth out those that are â—â—und with chaines Psal 68 6. For the iron gate opened vnto Peter of its owne â—ucord whereby hee escaped the hands of Herod Acts 12 10. Ier. 38.13.52.31 Psal 102.19.116 16. Ob. It may be they will not alwayes deâ—aine me a prisoner but which is worse 〈◊〉 may bee banished into the Land of Strangers abroad Reu. 19.10 Heb. 11.38 Act. 8 1. A. Although they shall cast you a far off â—mong the Heathen and although they do scatter you among the Countries yet will the to you as a little Sanctuary in the Countries where you shall come Exek 11.16 And when you are in the Land of your Enemies I will not cast you away neither will I abhorre you to destroy you vtterly and to breake my Covenant with you for I am the Lord your GOD Leuit. 26.44 But I will giue you a reviuing there Ezra 9 8. And make you to be pittied of all those that shall carry you Captiue Psal 106 46 And make the Enemy to intreat you well Ier. 15.11 And I will be with you as with IOSEPH in Egypt who was a prosperous man Gen. 39 2. forgat all his toyle and all his Fathers house and became fruitfull in the Land of his Affliction Gen. 41 51 52 46 3 47 27 23 11. Ier. 40.4 37 21. Deut. 4 29. Reuel 1.9 10. Psal 105 12. Ier. 31 10. 2 Moreouer heare the Word of the Lord and declare it in the Isles a farre off and say hee that scattered Israel will gather him Ier. 31.10 Feare not for I am with them I will bring their seed from the East and gather them from the West I will say to the North giue vp and to the South keepe not backe Bring my Sonnes from farre and my Daughters from the ends of the earth even every one that is called by my name for I haue created him for my glory Isa 43 5. For as the Shepheard seeketh out his flocke in the day that he is among his Sheepe that are scattered so will I seeke out my Sheepe and will deliver them out of all places where they haue beene scattered in the cloudie and darke day And I will bring them out from the people and gather them from the Countries and I will bring them to their owne Land Ezek. 34 12. So that the redeemed of the Lord shall returne and come with singing vnto Zion and everlasting ioy shall bee vpon their head they shall obtaine gladnes and ioy and sorrow and mourning shall flee away Isa 51 11. Say ye therefore turne againe our captivity O Lord as the streames in the South Psal 126 4. O that Salvation were come out of Zion when the Lord bringeth backe the captivity of his people Iacob shall reioyce and Israel shall be glad Psalm 14 7 53.6 81 5 68 22. Deut. 30 1. Gen. 15.15.48 21. Isa 14 12 26 2 â—9 10.30 10 27 13 49.25 60 15. Ier. 23 3 24 5. Ezek. 36 24. Amos 9 14. Zach. 10 10. Exod. 12.41 Ob. But in the meane while would it not greeue a man to part with his deare friends with what else he hath Ier. 5 2. Lam. 5 15 3 45 46. Dan. 9 15. A. No moâ—e than it would haue grieved Leui who said vnto his Father and to his mother I haue not seene him neither did he acknowledge his Brethren nor knew his owne Children Deut. 33.9 Or than others who tooke ioyfully the spoyling of theyr goods knowing in themselues that they haue in Heaven a better and an induring substance Heb. 10 34. For I say vnto you there is no man that hath left house or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my sake or the Gospell but he shall receiue an hundred fold now in this world Houses and Brethren and Sisters and Mothers and Children and lands with Persecutions and in the world to come life everlasting Mark 10 29 Luk. 14 26 14.33.17.32 Ob. But more greevous things than these are imposed for for his sake are we killed all the day long and are counted as sheepe for the slaughter Psal 44 22 74.4 Lam. 3.42 A. Yet I will not leaue you comfortlesse Ioh. 14 18. But as my sufferings abound in you so your consolation also aboundeth 2 Cor. 1 5. For I will pray the Father and hee shall gâ—ue you another comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receiue because it seeth hâ—m not neither knoweth him But ye know him for hee dwelleth with you and shall bee in you
53 5 7 15.37 13. Ioel 2 20.3.1 3.19 Amos. 1 2. Zach. 2 8. Obad. 10. Mich. 7 10. Zach. 12 6 14 12 10 5. Reu. 18.5 12.13 Deut. 32 41. Mal. 4 3. Ier. 20.11 49 12 Psal 57 6. Thus Absalon persecuting David was himselfe slaine 2 Sam. 18 15. And in the place where Dogs licked the bloud of Naboth the Dogs licked the bloud of Ahab did eate Iezabel by the wall of Iezrael 1 King 21 19 23 1 22 38 1.13 4 2 2 24 2 9 35. Acts 12 23 Dan 6 24 3 22. Gen. 12 17 19 11. Exod. 7 20 8 6.8 17 8 24. 9 6 10 9 24 25 10.13 10.22.12.29 12.33 Esth 7.10.9.10.9.25 Numb 21.3 Therefore fret not thy selfe because of evill dooers neyther bee thou enviâ—us at the workers of iniquitie for they shall soone bee cut downe like the grasse and wither as the greene hearbe Psal 37.1 Ob. But doe you not see how the limbes of Antichrist doe still prevaile against the Church A. The ten hornes vpon the beast which are ten Kings which haue received no kingdome as yet but receiue power as Kings one houre with the beast These haue one mind and shall giue their power and strength vnto the beast These shall make war with the lambe and the lambe shall overcome them for he is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings c. And then these ten hornes shall hate the whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eate her flesh and burne her with fire For God shall put in their hearts to fulfill his will and to agree and giue their Kingdome vnto the Beast vntill the words of God shall be fulfilled Reu. 17.12 c. Q What vse is to be made of these promises A. 1. Therefore O yee cruell persecutours What meane you that yee beate my people to peeces and grind the faces of the poore saith the LORD GOD of Hosts Isa 3 15. Touch not mine anointed and doe my Prophets no harme Pâ—alm 105 15. And refraine from these men and let them alone for your counsell and your workes being of men shall come to nought but this being of God you can not overcome it least happily yee be found even to fight against God Acts 5 38 And let my sonnes goe that they may serue me and if yee wâ—ll refuse to let them goe behold I will slay your Sonnes even your first borne Exod. 4 23. Prou. 22 22. 2 King 19.21 Psal 2 1. 2. Come out of Babylon my people that yee be not partakers of her sinnes and that yee receiue not of her plagues Revel 18 4. 3 Pray saying Arise O Lord let notman prevaile let our enemies be iudged in thy sight put them in feare O Lord that they may know themselues to bee but men Psal 9 19. Fill their faces with shame that they may seeke thy name O Lord. Psal 83 16. Otherwise let them be turned backe and brought to confusion that devise our hurt Let them be as Chaffe before the Wind and let the Angell of the Lord chase them Let their way be darke and slippery and let the Angell of the Lord persecute them Psal 35 4. As smoake is driven away so driue them away as waxe melteth before the fire so let the wicked perish at the presence of God Psal 68 2. Bring vpon them the day of evill and destroy them with a double destruction Ier. 17.18 For they haue eaten vp Iacob and devowred him and consumed him and haue made his habitation desolate Ier. 10 25. Therefore render vnto them a recompense O Lord according to the worke of their hands Giue them sorrow of heart thy curse vnto them Persecute and destroy them in anger from vnder the Heavens of the Lord Lam. 3 64. Doe vnto them as to the Midianites as to Scisera as to Iabin at the Brooke of Kison which perished at Endor they became as dung for the earth Make their Nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb yea all their Princes as Zeba and Zalmunna who said let vs take to our selues the houses of God in possession O our God make them like a wheele as the stubble before the Wind. As the fire burneth Wood and as the flames set the Mountaines on fire so persecute them with thy tempest and make them afraid with thy storme Let them be confounded and troubled for ever yea let them bee put to shame and perish Psalm 83 9. Psal 68 1 129 5.40 14. Psal 79 10 35 1 45 3 68 1. Iudges 5 31. Q. What are wee to doe when our Persecutors are thus destroyed and wee thereby delivered A. Breake forth into ioy and sing together because the Lord hath comforted his people because he hath redeemed Ierusalem and made bare his holy arme in the eyes of all the Nations Isa 52 9. And sing yee the Song of MOSES the Servant of GOD and the song of the Lambe saying great and maruailous are thy works Lord God Almighty iust and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints Who shall not feare thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name For thou onely art holy for all Natâ—ons shall come and worship before thee for thy Iudgements are made manifest Reu. 15 3. And as the Angels of the Waters say vnto God thou art righteous O Lord which art and wast and shalt be because thou hast iudged thus even so Lord God Almighty true and righteous are thy iudgments R u 16 5 Wherefoâ—e we giue thee thankes O Lord God Almighty because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned Reu 11.17 And in the day that I called vpon thee thou saidst feare not O Lord thou hast pleaded the cause of my Soule thou hast redeemed my life Lam. 3 57. Yea many a time haue they afflicted me from my youth yet they haue not prevailed against me The Plowers plowed vpon my backe and made long their furrowes The Lord is righteous he hath cut a sunder the Cords of the wicked I. Psal 129 2. c. 97 10 66 13.14 2 Cor. 1.3 4. Psal 31 23.18 16 9 11. Isa 26.13 Reu. 19 1 c. CHAP. XXIX Of Temptations by evill Examples Ob. WEll haue you satisfied me concerning temptations on the left hand but I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets and her hands are bands Eccl. 7.28 Prou. 23.27 A. Notwithstanding who so pleaseth God shall escape from her Eccles 7 26. For Ioseph hearkened not to his lewd Mâ—stresse Gen. 39.10 Noah also was a iust man and perfect in his generation Gen. 6 9. And Lot being righteous and dwelling among the wicked in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soule from day to day with their vnlawfull deeds 2 Pet. 2.8 And we know that we are of God when yet the whole World lyeth in wickednesse 1 Ioh. 5 19. Dan. 11.32 Oâ— the contrary the mouth of the strange woman being a deepe Pit he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein Prou. 22 14 And the sinner
of the sheepe Ioh. 10 1 2. 2 By their Doctrine For heereby know yee the Spirit of GOD every spirit â—hat confesseth that IESVS CHRIST is â—ome in the Flesh is of God And every spirit that confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that Spirit of Antichrist whereof you haue heard that it should come and eâ—en now is already in the World 1 Ioh. 4 2.1 2 22 23. 3 By their opposing of faithfull Ministers For as IANNES and IAMBRES withstood MOSES so doe these also resist the truth men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the Faith 2 Tim. 3.8 4 By their euill liues vngodly men they are turning the grace of God into wantonnesse and doe defile the flesh Iude 4 8. 5 If thou say in thine heart how shall wee know the Word which the LORD hath not spoken When a Prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord if the thing follow not nor come to passe that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken but the Prophet hath spoken it presumptuously Deut. 18.21 Ob. Some of these men haue foretold vs of things which haue come to passe A. If there arise among you a Prophet or dreamer of dreames and giueth thee a signe or wonder and the signe or the wonder come to passe wherof he spake vnto thee saying let vs goe after other Gods which thou hast not knowne and let vs serue theÌ„ thou shalt not harken vnto the words of that Prophet or that dreamer of dreames for the Lord your God prooveth you to know whether you loue the Lord your God wâ—th all your heart and with all your soule Deut. 13.1 Therefore to the Law and to the testimonie if they speake not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa 8 20. Q. What is the danger that such Heretiques doe expose themselues vnto A. As they haue sowne the wind so they shall reape the whirlewind Hos 8 7 For they being before ordained to condemnation Iud. 4. Their iudgement now a long time lingereth not and their damnation slumbereth not 2 Pet. 2 3 Gal. 5 10. Reuel 22 18. Mat. 23 â—5 Ier. 28 16.17 ver 29 31 32. Q. These Heretiques being a people so dangerous what may thence bee learned A. Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware least you also being led away with the errors of the wicked fall from your owne stedfaslnes 2 Pet. 3 17. And be taken in a snare after them Deuâ— 12 30. By beeing carried about with divers and strange Doctrines for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace but not with meats which haue not profited them that haue beene exercised in them Heb. 13 9. But hath occasionâ—d them to erre concerning the faith 1. Tim. 6 20. 1 Cor. 3 11. 1 Ioh. 5 21. Prou. 19 27 30 6. 2 Tim. 2 1 2 2.1 13 14. Col. 2 6. Math. 24 26. Q What doe you account Heresie Is every little swaruing from the truth damnable A. If any man buildeth vpon Christ the foundation gold silver precious stones wood hay stubble every mans worke shall be made manifest For the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall try every mans worke of what sort it is If any mans worke abide which he hath built therevpon he shall receiue a reward If any mans worke shall he burnt he shall suffer losse but he himselfe shall be save yet so as by fire 1 Cor. 3.12 Gal. 5.9 Q. You haue then said enough for my setling but because the time will come when other men will not endure sound doctrine but after their owne lusts shall heape to themselues Teachers hauing itching eares and shall turne away theyr eares from the truth and shall be turned to Fables When these things come to passe what am I to doe 2. Tim. 4 3. A. Say vnto such a one I marvaile that you are so soone removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ vnto another Gospell which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospell of Christ But though we or an Angell from Heaven preach any other Gospell vnto you than that which we haue preached let him be accursed 〈◊〉 1 6. Q. What if such a one shall yet not onely persist in his errour himselfe but shall seeke to pervert others also A. Then set thine eyes vpon him and say O full of all subtilty and all mischiefe thou child of the Divell thou enemy of all righteousnes wilt thou not cease to pervert the right wayes of the Lord Now therefore the hand of the Lord shall be vpon thee Act. 13.9 Q. What if hee shall yet continue to despise my admonitions and these fearefull menaces of Iudgement A. A man that is an Heretike after the first second admonition reiect knowing that hetâ—â—â— is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himselfe Tit. 3 10. And if such a one come vnto you receiue him not to house neither bid him God speed Iob. 2. Epist 10. But he shall be slaine because hee hath spoken to turne you away from the Lord your GOD to thrust thee out of the way wherein the LORD thy GOD commanded thee to walke so shalt thou take the euill away forth of the middest of thee Deutrinom 13 5 27 18 13 14 15 18 20.7 2. Hos 8 7. Iosh 23 12. Ob. Though I haue not proceeded against such Heretiques after this manner yet haue I kept my selfe found in the faith A. Notwithstanding I haue a few things against thee because thou sufferest that woman Iezabel which calleth her selfe a Prophetesse to teach and to seduce my Servants to commit fornication and to eate things sacrificed vnto Idols Reu. 2 20. Ob. Shall I in this my neglect of dutie bee as sorely punished as they in these their damnable Heresies A. Nâ— for behold I will cast her into a Bed and them that commit Adultery with her into great tribulation except they repent of their deeds c. But vnto you I say and vnto the rest of them of Thiatira as many as haue not this doctrine and which haue not knowne the depths of Sathan as they speake I will put vpon you none other burthen Reu. 2 22. CHAP. XXXI Of Temptations by Prosperity Q. I Doe now see there is much danger to bee feared from earthly men but is the like danger to be expected from earthly things A. Yea for Vzziah when he was strong his heart was lifted vp to his destruction 2. Chron. 26.16 And the Israelites assembled themselues for Corne and Wine and they rebelled against the Lord Hos 7 14. For because they did ride on the high places of the earth did eate the increase of the fields and did suck the hony out of the Rocke oyle cut of the flinty Rocke butter of Kine and milke of Sheep with fat of Lambs c. Therfore
written in the Prophets and they shall be all taught of God Every man therefore that heard and hath learned of the Father commeth vnto me Ioh. 6 45. Who then is PAVL And who is APOLLO But the Ministers by whom yee beleeved even as the Lord gaue to euery man I haue planted APOLLO watered but GOD gaue the increase So then neither is hee that planteth any thing neither hee that watereth but God that giueth the increase 1. Cor. 3 5. So that your Faith standeth not in the wisedome of men but in the power of God Howbeit wee speake wisedome among them that are perfect yet not the wisedome of this World nor of the Princes of this world that commeth to nought but we speake the wisedome of God in a mysterie even the hidden wisedome which God ordayned before the World vnto our glory â—â— Cor. 2 4. Whereunto I also labour â—â—â—iving according to his working which 〈◊〉 â—â—th in me mightily Col. 1 29. For 〈◊〉 â—use also thanke wee God without ceaâ—â—â—cause when ye received the Word of God which yee heard of vs yee received it â—ut as the word of men but as it is in truth â—â—e word of God which effectually also worâ—â—th in you that beleeue 1 Thess 2 13. â—lessed therefore art thou Simon Bar-loâ—â—â— for flesh and blood hath not revealed 〈◊〉 vnto thee but my Father which is in Heaven Mat. 16 17. Mark 17 20. 2. Tim. â— 16. 1 Cor. 1 18. Act. 15 17.10 44. Gal. 2 â— 1.11 12. Mâ—cha 3 8. Q. But is euery part of the Word for â—he working of grace of like efficacie A. This onely would I learne of you received you the Spirit by the workes of the Law or by the hearing of Faith Gal. 3 â— For which cause I am not ashamed of â—he Gospell of CHRIST for that is the â—ower of God vnto Salvation to every one that beleeueth Rom. 1 16. For if the ministration of death written and ingraâ—â—n in stones was glorious so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold thâ— face of MOSES for the glory of his countenance which glory was to bee done â—way how shall not that ministration of the Spirit bee rather glorious For if the ministration of condemnation bee glory much more doth the ministration of Righteousnesse exeeed in glory For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect by reason of the glory that excelleth For if that which was done away was glorious much more that which remaineth is glorious 2. Cor. 3.7.1.1.21 Q. What in lieu of this Word doth God require of vs A. Because he hath shewed his word vnto Iacob and his Statutes and his iudgements vnto Israel and hath not dealt so with every Nation and for his iudgments they haue not knowne them therfore praise ye the Lord Psal 147.19 Q. Why doe all such as haue the Word reape benefit thereby A. No for GOD shall smite the Earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips hee shall slay the wicked Ia. 11.4 And we are vnto God a sweet savour of CHRIST in them that are saved and in them that perish To the one we are the savour of death vnto death and to the other the savouâ— of lâ—fe vnto life 2 Cor. 2.15 Q. Hath the word one and the same entertainement among all them that perish A. No for when PAVL disputed of Righteousnesse and Temperance and of the Iudgment to come Faelix trembled Acts 24 25. 2 Herod he heard Iohn gladly and did many things Mark 6 20. Vnto others the Word of the Lord is a reproach they haue no delight in it Ier. 6.10 3 The Princes and people of Israel when they heard the Word of the Lord let their Servants goe free but afterwards repented Ier. 34 10 11. 4 When IEREMIAH preached the Word of the Lord to the Iewes that went downe into Aegypt to soiourne there they would not at all hearken to him Ier. 44 16. And from the preaching of Zachariah they pulled away the shoulder and stopped their eares that they should not heare yea they made their harts as an Adamant stone least they should heare the Law and the words which the Lord of Hosts hath sent in his spirit by the ministery of the Prophets Zach. 7 11. Ier. 6 16.44 3.4.32.23 2 Chron. 24 19 2 33 10. Hos 7 1. Ezek. 33 30. 5 Oâ—hers mocking said these men are full of new wine Act 2.13 And with their mouthes make Iests Ezek. 33.31 Ier. 20.7 8 9. Acts. 17 32 17 18.2 Chron. 36 16. 6 And the multitude of the Iewes when they heard PAVL cryed and said Away with such a fellow from the earth for it is not fit that he should liue and as they cryed out they cast off their cloathes and threw dust in the Ayre Acts 22 22. And when PAVL sent into Macedonia Timothius and Erastus there arose no small stir also about that way Acts 19 22 And when the Iewes heard Steven they were cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth Acts 7.54 7 Others make a man an offender for a word and lay a snare for him that reprooveth in the Gate and turne aside the iust for a thing of nought Isa 29 21. Mat. 10.34 Q. What are the reasons of so much prophane and vnprofitable hearing of the Word A. Some it profiteth not because it is not mixed with faith in them that heare it Heb. 4 2. Acts 28 24 19.9 2 Herod would not part with Herodias and therefore IOHN touching him vpon that sinne he cast him into prison Mark 6 17. And so every man that evill doeth hateth the light neyther commeth to the light least his deeds should bee reprooved Ioh. 3 20. Ezek. 33 31. 3 They are but naturall not having the spirit Iud. 19. And the naturall man perceiveth not the things of the spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2 14.1 Cor. 2 11.1 2 6 7.8 Hos 8.12 Ier. 6 10. Act. 17 20. Math. 11 27 13.11 11 25 26. 4 God hath given them the Spirit of slumber eyes that they should not see and eares that they should not heare vnto this day Rom. 11.8 For it is written I will destroy the wâ—sedome of the wise and will cast away the vnderstanding of the prudent saith the LORD 1 Cor. 1 19. Isa 6 10 44.18 5 If our Gospell be hid it is hid to them that are lost whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that beleeue not that the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ which is the image of God should not shine vnto them 2 Corinth 4 â— 6 Some are hindred by the pride of theyr outward greatnesse and therefore not the rich but the poore receiue the Gospell Mâ—t 11.5 For saith Amazia vnto Amos O thou Seer goe flee thee away into the Land of Iudah and there eate bread and Prophesie there But Prophesie not againe any more at Bethel for it is
the Kings Chappell and it is the Kings Court Amos 7 12. 7 Others thinke they are rich and increased with goods and haue need of nothing not knowing how they are wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked Reu. 3 17. And therefore being full they despise the hony Combe Whereas to the hungry Soule every bitter thing is sweet Prou. 27 7. Ioh. 9 39 1 Cor. 1 19. Q. What are the dangers which doe aâ—tend the contempt and abuse of the Word 1. A Famine not of Bread but of hearing the Word of the Lord Amos 8 11 12. For which cause Paul and Barnabas turned from the Iewes vnto the Gentiles Acts 13 46.18.6 16 6. Ioh. 12 35. 1 Sam. 28 6. 2 Chron. â—5 3. Ezek. 7 26. Amos 8 9. 2. Vnrecoverable destâ—â—ction Because saith God I haue called and yee haue refused I haue stretched out my hand and no man regarded but you haue set at naught all my Counsell and would none of my reproofe I also will laugh at your calamitie and I will mocke when your feare commeth Prou. 1 24. And then as I cryed and you would not heare so you shall cry and I will not heare Ier 11 11. But I will doe vnto you as I haue done to Shiloh and I will cast you out as I haue cast out all your Brethren even the whole seed of Ephraim Io. â—7 13 c. For the Earth which drinketh in the Raine that commeth oft vpon it and yet beareth thornes and briars is reiected and is nigh vnto cursing whose end is to be burned Heb. 6.7 10 28. Hos 6.5 Deut. 17 12. Revel 2 16. Math. 12 41. 2 Chron. 36 14 c. Ierom. 11 6. Nehem. 9 29. Ezek. 34 13 33 33. Prou. 13.13 Q. What vse are wee to make of all this A. Therefore suffer the words of exhortation Heb. 13 22. And heare what the spirit saith to the Churches Reu. 3 13 That so the word of God may dwell in you plenteously in all wisdome Col. 3 16 For why should their bee a price put into the hand of a Foole to get wisedome and he hath no heart Prou. 17 16. Receiue my instruction and not silver and knowledge rather than choice gold for wisedome is better than rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to bee compared to it Prou 8 10. Therefore buy the truth and sell it not also wisedome and instruction and vnderstanding Prou. 23 23. Incline your eare and come vnto me heare and your soule shall liue Isa 55 3. 1 Thess 5 20. Heb. 12 25. Prou. 8 33 16 16.1 20 22 23 8 12 9. 1 Iam. 1 21. Iob. 22 22. 2 Cor. 6 11. Luk. 10 41. Deut. 11 18 4 9 Luk. 2 18. Reu. 1 3. 2 Take heed therefore how you heare for whosoever hath to him shall be given and whosoever hath not from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to haue Luk. 8 18. And with what measure you mete it shall bee measured to you Mark 4 24. Q. Tell vs therefore how wee may heare the Word with fruit A. 1. Hâ—are it diligenâ—ly my Sonne if thou wilt receiue my words and hide my Commandements with thee so that thou wilt incline thine eare vnto wisedome and apply thine heart vnto vnderstanding yea if thou cryest after knowledge liftest vp thy voyce for vnderstanding If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures then shalt thou vnderstand the feare of the LORD and find the knowledge of GOD Prou. 2 1 1 5 6. 2 Lay aside all malice and guile and Hypocrisies and enuies evil-speakings 1. Pet. 2 1. And all filthines and superfluitie of naughtines Iam. 1 21. And breake vp your fallow ground and sow not among thornes Circumcise your selues to the Lord and take away the fore skins of your harts Ier. 4.3 4. 3 As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that you may grow thereby 1. Pet. 2.2 For wheresoever the Carcase is thither will the Eagles resort Math. 24.28 4 Receiue with meeknesse the ingrafted â—ord which is able to saue your Soules â— Iam. 21. And let no man deceiue â—â—mselfe for if any man among you would 〈◊〉 wise in this World let him become a â—oole that hee may be wise 1. Cor. 3 18. For IESVS said For Iudgement I am â—â—me into this World that they which see â—ut might see and they which see might 〈◊〉 made blind Ioh. 9 39. Math. 11.25 26.5 Pray saying 1. Open thou mine eyes that may behold the wondrous things of thy â—â—w I am a stranger on earth hide not thy â—â—mmandements from me Psal 119.18 will praise thee with vprightnesse of heart â—hen I shall haue learned thy righteous â—â—dgements Psal 119.7.27 33 34 73.125.69.171 verses 2 Pray O that my wayes were directed 〈◊〉 keepe thy statutes then shall I not be ashaâ—â—d when I haue respect vnto all thy comâ—andements Psal 1â— 9.5 with my whole â—â—art haue I sought thee O let me not wanâ—â—r from thy commandements 119.10 â—eale bountifully with thy seruant that I may liue and keepe thy word 119.17 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes that I be not ashamed 119 80. Order my steps in thy word and let not any iniquity haue dominion over me 119.133 6 Be yee dooers of the word and not hearers onely deceiuing your owne soules For if any be a hearer of the word and not â— dooer he is like vnto a man beholding hiâ— naturall face in a glasse for he beholdetâ— himselfe and goeth his way and strait waâ— forgetteth what manner of man hee waâ— But who so looketh into the perfect law oâ— liberty and continueth therein he noâ— being a forgetfull hearer but a dooer of thâ— worke this man shall be blessed in his deed Iam. 1.22 Deut. 4 5.5.1.30 11. Luk. 11 28. 1. Thess 4.1 Eph. 4.17 Phil. 4.8 Rom. 2 13. Reuel 1.3 1 Pet. 4.6 Math 7.24 Ob. I haue done my poore indeauour to obserue these rules yet when I am present at the word I cannot keepe my mind from wandring A. The eares of them that heare shall hearken Isa 32.3 And the eares of the deafe shall be opened Isa 35.5 For hee â—akeneth morning by morning he will waken thine eare to heare as the learned Isa 50.4 Or as he opened the heart of LIDDEA whereby she attended vnto the things which were spoken by PAVL Act. 16.14 Whereby thou shalt bee able to say â—eake LORD for thy seruant heareth â— Sam. 3.9 Neh. 8.3 Act. 8.6 Luk. 19. â—8 Ob. The Scripture is a booke so fast sealed and I my selfe am a man so dull of conceit that I cannot vnderstand the â—â—me Isa 28.9 c. A. The entrance in to GODS word giueth light it giueth vnderstanding to the simple Psal 119 130. Wherby they that erre in spirit shall come to vnderstanding and they that murmur â—hall learne Doctrine Isa 29.24 The people that walke in darkenesse haue â—â—ene a great light and they
that â—well in the land of the shadow of death â—pon them hath the light shined Isa 9.2 For God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in your hearts to giue the light of the knowledge of God in the face of IESVS CHRIST 2 Cor. 4 6. I haue indeed spoken vnto you in Proverbes but the time commeth when I shall no more speake to you in proverbes but I shall shâ—w you plainely of the Father Ioh. 16 25. In that day shall the deafe heare the words of this Booke and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscuritie and out of darknesse Isa 29 18 35 5 32 2 50 4. Prou. 1 1 4 8 9. 1 Cor. 2 10 12. Nehem. 8 8. Luk. 24 45. Tit. 1 3. Mal. 2.7 Deut. 17 8.9 Reu. 5.5.8 Now therefore thankes bee vnto God which alwayes maketh manifest the sauour of his Knowledge by vs in every place 2 Cor. 2.14 For there is Gold and a multitude of precious Stones but the lips of Knowledge are a precious iewell Prou. 20.15 Neh. 8.12 Math. 11.25 Ob. But I am so hard-hearted that I can not be affected with the Word A. I will put a new Spirit within you and I will take the stony heart out of thy flesh and I will giue thee an heart of Flesh Ezek. 11.19 As well as to the Iewâ—s who wept when they heard the words of the Law Neb. 8.9 For is not my Word lâ—ke a fire saith the Lord and like a hammer that breaketh the Rockes in pieces Ier. 23 29.26.18 Ioh. 5.25 Act. 2.37 16.29 2 His wordes were found and I did eate them and they were vnto me the ioy and reioycing of my heart Ier. 15 16. I will therefore delight my selfe in his Statutes Psal 119.16 How sweet is his Word vnto my taste Yea sweeter then honey to my mouth Psal 119.103 Therefore my Sonne eate thou honey because it is good and the honey combe which is sweet to thy tast So shall the knowledge of wisedome be vnto thy soule when thou hast found it Prou. 24.13 Act. 15.31.13.48 Iob 23.12 Act. 2.41 Psal 119.16.17.111.174.162 verses Luk. 24.32 Ob. I am no sooner gone from the Word but all is forgotten A. The Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoeuer I haue said vnto you Ioh. 14.26 Wherby MARY kept all those things in her heart which were told her by the Shepheards Luk. 2.19 Neither did I forget Gods word Psal 119.16 2. Pet. 1.12.13 Ob. The hardest taske is yet behind to wit to put in practise what we heare A. I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not I will leade them in the pathes that they haue not knowne I will make darknesse light before them and crocked things straight saith the LORD Isa 42.16 Who hath opened mine eares and I was not rebellious neither turned away backward Isa 50.5 Yea I haue refrained my feet from every evill way that I might keepe his word Psalm 119.101 So that when hee said seeke yee my face my heart said vnto him thy face LORD will I seeke Psal 27.8 For this is the loue of GOD that we keepe 〈◊〉 Commandements and his commandements are not grievous 1 Ioh. 5 3. Hag. 1 12. Psalm 119 15 48 57 104 â— 68. Math. 13 8.23 Col. 1 6. Luk. 1.5 â— 2. Chron. 17 6. CHAP. XXXIII Of Ministers Ob. YOu tell me of the Word and the great benefit thereof but how â—â—ould I either know or doe what the Word teacheth without a guide Act. â— 31. A. When CHRIST ascended vp on high he gaue guifts vnto men c. and he gaue some Apostles and some Prophets â—nd some Euangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministerie for â—he edifying of the Body of CHRIST till we all eome in the vnity of faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God vnto a perfect man vnto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ Eph. 4.8.11 And therefore though the LORD giue you the bread of Adversitie and the water of Affliction yet thy Teachers shall not be removed into a corner any more but thine eyes shall see thy Teachers Isa 30.20 For the Lord giveth the Word great is the company of Preachers Psal 68.11 Ier. 33.18 Leuit. 10 11. Isa 41.27 Isa 62.6 Q. But shall wee haue such Pastors as will deale faithfully with vs A. I will giue you Pastors according to mine owne heart which shall feed you with knowledge and vnderstanding Ier. 3 15. Who will very gladly spend and bee spent for you 2. Cor. 12.15 As Moses who was faithfull in all his house Heb. 3.5 And as of Leui it was said the Law of truth is in his mouth and iniquity was not found in his lips he walked with me in peace and equitie and did turne away many from iniquitie Mal. 2 6. Moreover yee know from the first day that Paul came into Asia after what manner he hath beene with you at all seasons serving the Lord with all humblenesse of mind and with many teares and temptations which befell him by the lying in wait of the Iewes and how he kept backe nothing that was profitable vnto you Act 20.18 And you know the proofe of Timothie that as a Sonne with the Father he hath served with Paul in the Gospell Phil. 2 22. And for the worke of Christ he was nigh vnto death not regarding his life Phil. 2 30. And dayly in the Temple and in every house the Disciples ceased not to teach and to preach IESVS CHRIST Acts 5 42. These are not as many which corrupt the Word of God but as of sincerity but as of God in the sight of God speake they in Christ 2 Cor. 2 17 11 23 1 9 27 1 9.19.2 Chron 17 9 8 13. Col. 4 7 10 11 1 7. Act 20 23.30 31 18 24. Ezek. 34 23. Hag. 1 13. 1 Thes 5 6 7. Ier. 23 4 4 19. 8 21 9 1 3 17. Ezra 7 6 10. 1. Sam. 3 21. Q. Wherefore are these promises recorded in Gods word concerning his Ministers A. 1. That they may be apt to teach 1 Tim. 3.2 And therefore giue attendance vnto reading 1. Tim. 4 1â— And study to shew â—heÌ„selues workmen that need not to be ashamed dividing the Word of truth aright 2 Tim. 2 â—5 For every Scribe taught vnto the Kingdome of Heaven is like vnto a man that is a housholder which bringeth forth out of his treasurie things both new an old Math. 13 52. 2 That they be diligent to know the state of their flockes and to looke well to their heards Prou. 27 23. Taking the oversight thereof 1 Pet. 5 2. For they are set for a defence and fortresse among the people that they may know and try their wayes Ier. 6 27. 3 That they feed the flocke of GOD which is among
you 1 Pet. 5 2. And preach the word and be instant in season and out of season to reprooue rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine 2 Tim. 4 2 Not shunning to declare the whole Councell of God Acts 20.27 But to cry aloud and lift vp their voice lâ—ke a Trumpet to shew my people their transgression and the house of Iacob their sinnes Isa 58 1. And in the Spirit and power of Elias to turne the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the disobedient to the wisedome of the iust to make ready a people prepared for the Lord Luk. 1 17. Exhorting them that with full purpose of heart they would cleaue vnto the Lord Act 11.23 Exorting the elder women as mothers the younger women as sisters with all purity 1 Tâ—m 5 2. Wherein if any man speake let him speake as the Oracles of GOD 1 Pet. 4 11 The Prophet that hath a Dreame let him tell a Dreame and hee that hath my Word let him speake my Word faithfully what is the Chaffe to the Wheate saith the LORD Ierem. 23 28. 1 Coâ— 9 16. 1. Pet. 5 4 Iob 21 15. Math. 28 19 20. Isa 62 1 2. 2 Timoth. 2 24. Amos 3 7. 4 Not to bee as Lords over Gods heritage but as ensamples to the flocke 1 Pet. 5 3. Giving no offence in any thing that their Ministrie be not blamed but in all things approving themselues as the Ministers of God 2 Cor. 6 3. Performing the same not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind 1 Pet. 5 2. 1 Timoth. 3 1. Math. 23 8. Q How doth GOD taxe the negligence of his Priests vnder the Law A. I haue seene saith GOD foolishnesse in the Prophets of Samaria that prophesie in Baal and caused my people Israel to erre I haue seene also in the Prophets of Ierusalem filthinesse they commit adultery and walke in lies they strengthen also the hands of the wicked that none can returne from his wickednes Ier. 23 13. They prophesie lyes in my name saying I haue dreamed I haue dreamed yea they are Prophets of the deceit of their owne heart Ier. 23 25. They haue healed also the hurt of the Daughter of my people slightly saying Peace peace when there is no peace Ier. 6 19. Others they bite with the teeth and he that putteth not into their mouthes they even prepare warre against him Mich. 3 5 1â— Some of them also are blind they are ignorant they are dumbe Dogs they cannot barke sleeping lying downe loving to slumber yea they are greedy Dogs which can never haue enough and they are Shepheards that cannot vnderstand they all looke to their owne way every one for his gaine from his quarter Isa 56 10. All these shut vp the Kingdome of Heaven against men for they neither goe in themselues neither suffer them that are entring in to goe in Math 23 13. Ierem. 10 21 8 11. 23 16 17 5 30 31. Ezek. 13 6 7. Zephan 3 4. Mal. 2 9. Q. How doth GOD threaten such Priests vnder the Law A. Tâ—aâ— their way should bee vnto them as slippery wayes in the darknesse and haâ— they should bee driven on and fall therein for I will bring evill vpon them even the yeare of their visitation saith the Lord Ier. 23 12. And I will require my Flocke at their hands Ezek. 34.10 And mine hand shall be vpon the Prophets that see vanity and divine lyes they shall not be in the Assembly of my people neyther shall they bee written in the writing of the House of Israel Ezek. 13 9. And they shall beare their punishment the punishment of the Prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that asketh Ezekiel 14 10. And because they make many to stumble at the Law and haue corrupted the Covenant of â—eui therefore will I make them contemptible and base before all the people Mal. 2 8 Night shall bee vnto them that they shall not haue a Vision and it shall be darke vnto them and they shall not dâ—vine and the Sunne shall goe downe over the Prophets and the day shall bee darke over them Then shall they bee ashamed and confounded yea they shall cover their lips for there is no answere from GOD Mich. 3 6. Ob. But are not Gods Ministers even now vnder the Gospell discouraged by theyr people and flickr for theyr deadnesse and dulnesse in their workes of piety and devotioâ— Sonne of man I haue made them Watchmen to the house of Israel therefore they should haue heard the Word at my mouth and haue given them warning from mee So that when I haue said vnto the wicked thou shalt surely dye and thou hast not given him warning nor spakest to admonish the wicked from his wiked way that hee might liue the same wicked man shall dye in his iniquitie but his bloud will I require at theyr hand Yet if they had warned the wicked and hee turne not from his wickednesse nor from his wicked way he shall dye in his iniquitie but such Ministers should haue delivered theyr owne soule Ezek. 3 17 33 2 2 8 2 4 5. Isay 49 4 5. Ob. Some of these might haue beene more faithfull in their Ministery if in the discharge thereof they did with godly Zeale and discreet courage expresse themselues and theyr Consciences A. Therefore say vnto such a one thus saith the Lord If thou take away the precious from the vile thou shalt be according to my word let them returne vnto thee but returne not thou vnto them And I will make thee vnto this people a strong brasen Wall and they shall fight against thee but they shall not prevaâ—le against thee for I am wâ—th thee to saue thee And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked and I will redeeme thee out of the hand of the tyrants Ier. 15.19 Thou therefore trusse vp thy loynes and arise and speake vnto them all that I â—â—mmand thee be not afraid of their faâ—â—s least I destroy thee before them Ier. â— 17 20.11.26 24. Ezek. 2.6 3 9 2 4 5. Q. I now see the worke of a Minister to bee of importance what therefore is the peoples dutie towards â—im A. Against an Elder receiue not an â—ccusation vnder two or three witnesâ—es 1 Tim 5 19. 2 Say to A chippus looke well to thy Minâ—sterie thou hast received in the LORD that thou fulfill it Colos 4 17. 3 Becausâ— the Harvest is great and the labourers are few therefore pray yee to the Lord of the Harvest that he would send forth more Labourers into his Harvest Math. 9 37. 2 Say let thy Priests bee clothed with righteousnesse and let thy Saints showt for ioy Psal 132.9 3 As of LEVI it was said Let thy Vrim and thy Thummim be with thy holy ones Deut. 33 8. That vtterance also may be giuen â—eÌ„ that they may open their mouthes boldly to make knowne the mysteries of the Gospell Ephes 6.19 Col. 4.3 4
That so for the gift bestowed vpon vs by the meanes of many persons thankes may bee giuen by many on our behalfe 2. Cor. 1.11 4 That they may be deliuered from vnreasonable and wicked men because all men haue not faith 2. Thess 3.2 Rom. 15.30 5 That their seruice may bee acceptable to the Saints Rom. 15.31 6 Finally pray that the word of the Lord may haue a free course and bee glorified 2. Thâ—ss 3 1. 4 Let him that is taught in the word communicate vnto him that teacheth in alâ— good things Gal. 6.6 For the scripture saith thou shalt not mousle the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the coâ—ne And the laborer is worthy of his reward 1. Tim 5.18 If ye be made partaker of their spirituall things your duty is also to minister vnto them in carnall things Rom. 15 27. For will a man robbe GOD Mal. 3.8 Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reape For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reape Life everlasting Gal. 6 7 8. 1 Cor. 9.7 Mal. 3 9 10. Gen. 47.22 Deut. 12.19 2 Chron. 31 4 5. 5 Let the Elders which rule well bee â—ounted worthy of double honour especiâ—lly they who labour in the Word and Doâ—trine 1 Tim. 5.17 And let no man despâ—se such 1 Cor. 16 11. but esteeme â—hem very highly in loue for their workes sake 1 Thess 5 12. 6. Obey them that haue the rule over you and submit your selues for they watch for your Soules as they that must giue an account that they may doe it with ioy and not with griefe for that is vnprofitable for you Heb. 13.7 1 Cor. 16.16 Therefore doe according to that thing which they shew you according to the Law which they shall teach you and according to the iudgement which they shall tell you shall you doe you shall not decline from the thing which they shall shew you neither to the right hand nor to the left Deut. 17 10. Heb. 13 7. Q. What is the danger of such as doe not honour but doe offer wrong and dishonour to their Minister A. If any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their Enemies And if any man will hurt them hee must in this manner bee killed For these haue power to shut Heaven that it raine not in the dayes of their Prophesie and haue power over Waters to turne them to Blood and to strike the Earth with all plagues as often as they will Reu. 11.5 Ob. I would bee loath to hurt our Minister but yet what if his life be not answerable to his Doctrine A. Though hee be as wicked as were the Scribes and Pharises yet hee sits in MOSES seate all therefore whatsoever hee bids you obserue that obserue and doe but after his workes doe not because hee saith and doth not Math. 23 2. Ob. But hee is also so vnlearned a man that in one Sermon of many you shall not heare one word of Latine or Greâ—ke to come out of his mouth A. Brethren if your Minister come vnto you speaking with tongues what shall he profit you except hee shall speake to you eyther by Revelation or by Knowledge or by Prophesying or by Doctrine And even things without life giving sound whether Pipe or Harpe except they giue a distinction in the sounds how shall it be knowne what is piped or harped For if the Trumpet giue an vncertaine sound who shall prepare himselfe to the battell So likewise wee except we vtter by the tongue words easie to be vnderstood how shall it be knowne what is spoken For we shall speake into the ayre There are it may bee so many kindes of voyces in the world and none of them are without signication Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voyce I shall bee to him that speaketh a Barbarian and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian vnto me 1. Cor. 14.6.1.14.2.14.21 Ob. It seemes you are an English Preacher you plead so much against tongues A. I thanke my GOD I speake languages more then they all yet in the Church I had rather speake fiue words with my vnderstanding that by my voyce I might teach others also then ten thousand words in a strange tongue 1. Cor. 14.18.19 Ob. Whatsoeuer you alledge against the vse of tongues yet as I hope you will not deny vnto such Ministers the greatest praise as are most eloquent A. The things of GOD we speake not in the words which mans wisedome teacheth but which the holy Ghost teacheth comparing spirituall things with spirituall 1 Cor. 2 1â— that your faith should not stand in the wisedome of men but in the power of God 1. Cor. 2.5 For CHRIST â—nt mee to preach the Gospell not with wisedome of words least the crosse 〈◊〉 CHRIST should bee made of none â—fect 1. Cor. 1.17 But seeing the â—orld by wisedome knew not GOD 〈◊〉 pleased GOD by the foolishnesse of â—reaching to saue them that beleeue â—1 Cor. 1.21 Wee haue therefore reâ—â—unced the hidden things of dishoneâ—ie not walking in craftinesse nor â—â—ndling the Word of GOD deceitfulâ—â— but by the manifestation of the â—ruth commending our selues to every â—ans Conscience in the sight of GOD. â— Corinth 4.2 Not Preaching our â—â—lues but CHRIST IESVS the LORD and our selues your serâ—â—ants for IESVS sake 2. Cor. 4.5 â— 2.1 Ob. Then as it seemes to you euery Minister as well for matter as manner of â—eaching must suite himselfe to the capacity of his auditorie c. A. True For we haue many things to say and hard to bee vttered Not because wee cannot speake them but because you are dull of hearing For when for the time you ought to be Teachers you haue need that one teach you againe which bee the first principles of the Oracles of God and are become such as haue need of milke and not of strong meate For every one that vseth milke is vnskilfull in the word of Righteousnesse for he is a Babe Heb. 5 11. And I brethren could not speake vnto you as vnto Spirituall men but as vnto Carnall even as vnto babes in CHRIST I haue fed you with Milke and not with Meate for hitherto yee were not able to beare it neither yet now are yee able 1. Cor. 3 1 2. Q. Are wee therefore alwayes to be deaâ—t withall like Children and to bee fed like Babes A. No longer than while yee become vnto full age and are such as haue your sences exercised to dâ—scerne both good and evill Heb. 5.14 Whereby it appearing that you are become strong men then leaving the principles of the doctrine of CHRIST let vs goe on vnto perfection not laying the foundation of Repentance from dead workes and of faith towards GOD of the Doctrine of Baptismes and of laying on of hands and of the Resurrection from the dead and of eternall Iudgment
vse of these meanes Grace it selfe may decay A. In all places where GOD doth record his Name hee will blesse thee Exod. 20 24. The Lord shall blesse thee out of Zion Psal 128.5 So that thou shalt flourish like a Palme tree and like a Cedar in Libanon Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the Courts of our GOD they shall bring foorth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing to shew that the Lord is vpright he is my rocke and that there is no vnrighteousnesse in him Psal 92 12 84 7 65 4. 1 Cor. 15 10. Math. 13 â—1 32. Isa 61 11. Q. What is required of vs to the â—nd that these meanes of Grace may be thus continued with successe A. 1 Get Davids appetite after them â—aying As the heart panteth after the waâ—â—r brookes so doth my heart pant after â—hee O GOD. My Soule thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come â—nd appeare before God Psal 42 1. My Soule longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh â—rieth out for the living God c. For a â—ay in his Courts is better than a thousand 〈◊〉 had rather be a doore keeper in the house â—f my God than to dwell in the tents of â—ickednesse Psal 84 1 10. verses 63 1 2 137 5 6. 2 A delight in them Reioyce with Ieâ—usalem and bee glad with her all you â—hat loue her reioyce for ioy with her â—ll you that mourne for her that yoâ— may sucke and bee satisfied with the breasts of her consolation that you may milke out and be delighted with the aboundance of her glory Isay 66 10. 3 Pray saying O send out thy light and thy truth let them leade mee let them bring mee vnto thy holy Hill and to thy Tabernacles Psalm 43 3. Send mee helpe from thy Sanctuary and strengthen mee out of Zion Remember all my offerings and accept my burnt Sacrifice Psalm 20 2 3. 134.3 4 Keepe thy foot when thou enterest into the house of God and be more neere to heare than to giue the Sacrifice of fooles Eccl. 5 1. For which end wash thy hands in innocencie and so compasse the Altars of God Psal 26 6. 5 When you come to worship the LORD in the beautie of holinesse Psal 96 9. Worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him GOD is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth Iob. 4.23 6 Remember the Sabbath day to keepe it holy for the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it Exod. 20.8 11. Wherefore if thou turne away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy will on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight and consecrate is as glorious to the LORD and shalt honour him not doing thine owne wayes not seeking thine owne will not speaking a vaine word then shalt thou delight in the LORD and I will feed thee with the hreitage of IACOB thy Father For the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it â—â—a 58 13. Blessed is the man that doth this and the Sonne of man which layeth hold on it Isa 56 2. And embraceth my Covenant him will I bring vnto my Holy Mountaine and make him ioyfull in mine house of Prayer Isa 56 6.7 Reu. â— 10. Q. If I should forbeare my worke on the Sabbath day I should come to beggery at the last A. See for that the LORD hath given you the Sabbath therefore hee giveth you on the sixt day the bread of two dayes therefore abide you every man in his place let no man goe out of his place on the seaventh day Exod. 16 29 16 5. CHAP XXXVII Of Temporall Blessings and in particuler of long life Q. ALl these promises you haue mentioned are of singular vse vnto the Soule but what provision shall we haue for the body A. You shall inherit the earth Math. 5 5. For as CHRIST so the world is yours 1 Cor. 3 22. Ob. What will the world profit vs if wee bee taken away by Death and be accounted among them that goe downe into the pit Shall Gods loving kindnesse bee declared in the Graue Or his faithfulnesse in destruction Psalm 88 4 11. A. If thou forget not my Law and thy heart keepe my Commandements length of dayes and long life shall they adde vnto thee Prou. 3 1. And the yeares of thy life shall be many Prou. 4.10 And there shall old men and old women dwell in the streets of Ierusalem every man with his staffe in his hand for very age Zach. 8 4. There shall bee there no more an Infant of dayes nor an old man that hath not filled his dayes for the Child shall dye an hundred yeares old For as the dayes of a Tree are the dayes of my people Isa 65 20 22. And with long life will I satisfie them Psalm 91 16. For they shall see their Childrens Children Psal 128 6. And come vnto their Graue in a full age like as a shocke of Corne commeth in due season into the Barne Iob. 5 26. As well as ABRAHAM who dyed in a good old age an old man and full of yeares Gen. 25 8. Psal 33 18 19. Ier. 45 5 39 17. Gen. 15 15 35 29 47 28 50. 23. Iudg. 8 32. 1 Chron. 29 28 2 24 15. 1 Sam. 25 29. Q. Is long Life a blessing of any worth A. The hoarie head is a Crowne of Glory if it be found in the way of Righteousnesse Prou. 16 31. For as the beauty of young men is their stregnth so the glory of the aged is their gray head Prou. 20 29. Q. Is this promise of long life a blessing common vnto all A. No for GOD shall bring the wicked downe into the pit of destruction the bloudy and deceitfull man shall not liue ouâ— halfe his dayes Psal 55.23 His confidence shall he rooted out of his Tabernacle and it shall bring him to the King of terrors Iob. 28 14. As the whirlewind passeth so is the wicked no more onely the righteous is an everlasting foundation Prou. 10.25 For as righteousnesse tendeth vnto life so he that pursueth evill pursueth it to his owne death Prou. 11 19 10 27. Psal 145 20. Ob. But doe you not see many of the wicked how theyr dayes are prolonged A. The woman that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth 1 Tim. 5 6 And men living â—ruitlessely are as trees twice dead and plucked vp by the rootes Iud. 12 And therefore though a sinner doe evill an hundred times and his dayes be prolonged yet surely I know that it shall bee well with them that feare GOD which feare before him Ecc. 8 12. Q What would you hence inferre A. Therefore bee thou not overmuch wicked neither bee thou foolish for why shouldest thou dye before thy time Eccl. 7 17. But set your hearts vnto all thâ— words which I testifie among you this day
that yee may command them vnto your Children that they may obserue and doe all the words of this Law For it is no vaine word concerning you but it is your life by this word yee shall prolong your dayes Deut. 32 46 47 4 40.6 1 2 16.20 Q. Why doth God for the sinnes of his owne Children shorten theyr dayes also A. Yea for Moses because hee trespassed against the LORD died in the Mount Nebo Deut 32 50 For this cause also many of the Corinthians were weake and sicke and falne asleepe 1 Cor. 11 30. 1 Sam. 2 30 31. But yet when they are thus iudged they are chastened of the Lord that they should not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11 32. And be taken away from the evill to come Isa 57 1. For Iosia was gathered to his Fathers in peace that his eyes might not see all the evill that was to come vpon the Nation of the Iewes 2 Chron. 34 27. CHAP. XXXVIII Of preservation from Dangers Ob. THough my dayes vpon earth should bee many yet the many dangers attending them will make my life without comfort A. Who so hearkeneth vnto me shall dwell safely and shall bee quiet from the feare of evill Pro. 1.33 Remember I pray thee who euer perished being innocent or where were the righteous cut off Iob. 4.7 The humble person shall deliuer the Iland of the innocents and it is deliuered by the purenesse of thine hands Iob. 22.30 Whereby thou shalt walke in thy way safely and thy foote shall not stumble when thou lyest downe thou shalt not be afraid yea thou shalt lye downe and thy sleepe shall bee sweet Prou. 3 23. Surely thou shalt not be moued for euer Thou shalt not be afraid of evill tidings thy heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. Thy heart is established thou shalt not be afraid Psal 112 6. But shalt bee as Mount Zion which cannot bee removed but abideth for ever As the Mountaines are round about Ierusalem so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever Psal 125.1 Therefore hearken vnto me O house of Iacob and all the remnants of the house of Israel which are borne by me from the belly which are carryed from the wombe and even to your old age I am hee and even to your hoarie haires I will carry you and so will deliver you Isa 46 3. Psal 34 4 4 8 27 5.121 3 4 8 16 8 63 8 7 10.11.3 4. Zach. 10 12. Acts 2 25. Prou. 18 10. Deut. 33 12. Isa 4 5. Ob. I know the rage of our enemies to bee such as they will leaue no meanes vnattempted for our hurt A. The wicked watcheth the righteous and seeketh to slay him but the Lord will not leaue him in his hands nor condemne him when hee is iudged Psal 37 32. Hee shall hide him in the secret of his presence from the pride of men he shall keepe them secretly in a pavilion from the strife â—f tongues Psal 31 20. As Birds â—y flying so will the Lord of Hosts defend Ierusalem defending also he will deliver it and passing over hee will preserue it Isa 31.5 Whereby no man shall set â—n thee to hurt thee Acts 18.10 Neither shall one haire of your head perish Luk. 21 18. For the Lord will deliver â—ou from every evill worke and will preâ—erue you to his heavenly Kingdome 2 Tim. 4 18. Therefore feare you not stand still and â—ee the Salvation which the Lord will shew â—â—u Exod. 14 13. And be not afraid of â—heir faces for I am with thee to deliâ—er thee saith the Lord Ier. 1 8. Behold I haue grauen thee vpon the palmes of my â—ands thy walles are continually before â—e Isa 49 16 54 17 27 2 3. Exod. 14 10 23 22. Ier. 1 18 15 20. Psal 12 8 108. â—3 Acts. 9 24 25.9 29 30 31. Numb 22 12 18 24 1. 2 King 6 10. Neh. 4 15. Deut. 20 3. Isa 31 4. Ob. My enemies doe so much ouermatch mee as that before the combate they doe promise vnto themselues the conquest saying Let her be defiled let our eye looke vpon Zion Micha 4 11. Exod. 15 9. A. Who hath despised the day of the small things Zâ—ch 4 10. Let not him that girdeth on his harnesse boast himselfe as hee that putteth it off 1 King 20 11. Wee haue heard of the pride of Moab he is exceeding proud his loftinesse and his arrogancie and his pride and the haughtinesse of his heart I know his wrath saith the LORD but it shall not be so Ierem. 48 29. But because â—hey rage against mee and theiâ— tumult is come vp into mine eares therefore will I put my hooke into their nose and my bridle into their lippes and I will turne them backe by the way by which they come Isa 37 29.29 8. For hee powreth contempt vpon Princes and causeth them to wander in the Wildernesse where there is no way yet setteth hee the poore on high from affliction and maketh him families like a flocke Psal 107.40 Hee frustrateth the tokens of lyers and maketh Diviners mad and turneth wise men backward and maketh their Knowledge foolishnesse Isa 44 25. Therefore bee strong and of good courage feare not nor be afraid of them for the Lord thy GOD he it is that doth goe with thee he will not faile thee nor forsake thee Deut. 31 6. With them is an arme of flesh but with you is the Lord your GOD to helpe and to fight your battels 2 Chron. 32 8.20 15. Ios 1 5. Isa 50 1.44 25 18 7.9 15 16. 2 Sam. 16 23. 17 14. Ierem. 1 18.15 26. Iob 41 34. 2 Kâ—ng 19 32. Zach. 12 7. Examples 1 Sam. 18 11.1.21 1.1.25 10.1.23 14.1.23 25.14 44. 2 Sam. 21 16.2.20 22. Acts. 14 5.14 19 20. 26 21. Psal 105 12. Ob. Though GOD should preserue vs once and againe from our Enemies yet if they bee suffered to stand in their strength ours is the feare and theirs is the hope of their preuailing at the last A. But they know not the thoughts of the LORD neither vnderstand they his councell for hee shall gather them as the sheaues into his floore Micha 4.12 Behold they shall gather together but not by me whosoeuer shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake Isa 54.15 Now will I arise saith the LORD now will I be exalted Now will I lift vp my selfe they shall conceiue chaffe they shall bring foorth stubble their breath as fire shall deuoure them And the people shal be as the burning of lâ—â—e as thornes cut vp shall they bee burnt in the fire Isa 33.10 And as ashes vnder the soles of your feete in the day that I shall doe this saith the Lord of hosts Mal. 4.3 Thus when SIHON gathered all his people together to fight against Israel Israel smote him with the edge of the sword Num. 21.23 Also OG the King â—f Bashan with his sonnes and all his peoâ—le vntill none was left
vs of and said Did not the LORD deliver vs from the Spanish Inuasion in the yeare LXXXVIII But now the LORD hath forsaken the Palatinate and delivered it into the hand of the SPANIARD Iudg. 6 13. 1 Sam. 4 13. Deuteronomie 28 25. Nahum 3 11. A. ISRAEL hath sinned and they haue also transgressed my Covenant which I commanded them for they haue taken even of the accursed thing c. Therefore they could not stand before their enemies Ios 7 11. And because they served not the LORD their GOD with ioyfulnesse and with gladnesse of heart for the aboundance of all things therefore doe they serue their enemies which the Lord hath sent against them in hunger and in thirst and in nakednesse and in the want of all things Deut. 28.47 Who then gaue IACOB for a spoyle and Israel to the Robbers Did not the Lord hee against whom they haue sinned For they would not walke in his wayes neyther were they obedient vnto his law Therefore he hath powred vpon them the fury of his anger and the strength of Battaile and it hath set them on fire round about yet they know not and it burdeneth them and they lay it not to heart Isa 42 24. Therefore the Emperour before and the Spaniard behind haue devoured ISREAL with open mouth and yet for all this his anger is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still For the people turneth not to him that smiteth them Neyther doe they seeke the LORD of Hosts Isa 9 12 65.12 10 â— 4 66 24. Leuit. 26 17 25 26 32. 32 26.36 Ier. 7.30 19.9.2 King 21 1. Amos 6 8.1 Sam. 28 19. Lam. 4 11. Thus when Israel did that which was evill in the sight of the Lord c. The anger of the Lord was hote against Israel and hee delivered them vp into the hands of the spoylers that spoyled them c. so that they could not any longer stand before their Enemies Iudg. 2 11. Likewise the armie of the Syrians came with a small company of men and the LORD delivered a very great Host into their hand Because they had forsaken the Lord GOD of their Fathers 2 Chron. 24 23. Iudg. 3 7.8.3.12.4.1.2.6.1.13.1.16.20 1 Chron. 10 13.2.16.7 1 Sam. 4.2.10 1 King 14.25.2.13.1 Exod. 32.25 Q. But haue the sinnes of the Palatinate beene so great as that there is â—o way left whereby they may escape the Enemies hands A. If yet they shall confesse their iniquity the iniquities of their Fathers with their trespasse which they trespassed against me and that also they haue walked contrary vnto me and that I also haue walked contrary vnto them c. If now their vncircumcised hearts be humbled and they doe accept of the punishment of their iniquity then will I remember my Covenant with them and also my Covenant with Abraham will I remember and I will remember the Land â—euit 26.40 And when they shall walke after mâ— I will roare like a Lion when I shall roare then the Spaniard and Emperour shall tremble They shall tremble as a Bâ—rd out of Aegypt and as a Doue out of the Land of Assyria and I will place them in their Houses saith the LORD Hos 11 10. Vp therefore and let them sanctifie themselues against the morrow Ios 7 13. Psal 81 13. Which that you may doe remember then the King of Aegypt came vp against Ierusalem because they had transgressed against the LORD c. Therefore hee left them in the hand of Shishak Wherevpon the Princes of Israel and the Kings humbling themselues saying the LORD is righteous And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselues the Word of the Lord came to Shemaiah saying they haue humbled themselues therefore will I not destroy them but I will grant them some deliverance and my wrath shall not bee powred out vpon IERVSALEM by the hand of SHISHAK 2 Chron. 12 2. Yea many times did hee deliver them but they provoked him by their Councell and were brought low for their iniquities neverthelesse hee regarded theyr affliction when hee heard theyr crie And he remembred for them his Covenant and repented according to the multitude of his Mercies Psal 106.43 Thus also will the LORD waite that he may bee gracious vnto you and therefore will he be exalted that hee may haue mercy vpon you for the LORD is a GOD of iudgement Isa 30.18 For he will iudge his people and he will repent himselfe concerning his Servants Psal 135.14.2 Chron. 15 3 33 9 32 25.1 King 21 27. Iona. 3 10.4.2 Hos 10 12. Deut. 4 29. Iudg. 6 11 33 1 Sam. 12.7 Q. What vse are we and they of the Palatinate to make hereof A. Therefore feare not for though yee haue done all this wickednes yet depart not from following the Lord but serue the Lord with all your heart neither turne yee backe for that should be after vaine things which cannot profit you nor deliver you for they are but vanity 1 Sam. 12 20. And if ye doe turne vnto the Lord with all your hearts then put away the strange Gods and Ashtaroth from among you and prepare your heart unto the Lord and serue him onely and he will deliver you out of the hand of your Enemies 1 Sam. 7 3. Hosea 13 1. Lament 3 40 41. Deut. 13 17. Ieremiah 3 12.2 Chronicles 30 8. 2 Sanctifie you a fast call yee a solemne assembly gather together the Elders and all the Inhab tants of the Land into the house of the Lord your GOD and cry vnto the Lord Ioâ—l 1 14. And say take away all iniquitie and receiue vs graciously so will we râ—nder the Calues of our lips Ashur shall not saue vs we will not ride vpon Horses Neither will we say any more to the worke of our hands yee are our GODS For in thee the Fatherlesse find mercy Hos 13 1. O Loâ—d our God other Lords besides thee haue ruled over vs but we will remember thee onely and thy Name Isay 26 13. Rise vp Lord and let thine enemies bee scattered and let them that hate thee flee before thee and returne O Lord vnto the many thousands of Israel Numb 10 35. Or if thou wilt nâ—eds afflâ—ct vs let vs now fall into the hand of the Lord for his Mercies are great and let vs not fall into the hands of men 2 Sam. 24.14 Whose tender mercies are cruell Prou. 12 10. Neh. 1 5 9.32 2 Kâ—ng 9 â—5 Psal 10 35 8 1 2. 1 Kings 8 â—3 Q. When GOD hath delivered vs â—om our enemies what are wee then 〈◊〉 doe A. Awake awake Deborah awake â—â—ake vtter a song arise Barak thou Son Abâ—â—oam Iâ—dg 5 12. Come and beâ—â—ld the workes of the LORD what desoâ—tions he hath made in the earth Hee â—aketh the Warres to cease vnto the ends of â—he earth he breaketh the bow and cutâ—th the speare in sunder he burneth the â—hariots in the fire Psal 46 8. Sing â—nto the LORD for hee hath triumphed â—â—â—riously the
shall bee as with the people so with the Priest as with the Servant so with the Master as with the Maid so with the Mistresse as with the buyer so with the seller as with the Lender so with the Borrower as with the taker of vsurie so with the giver of vsurie Isa 24 2. Iudg. 18 18.19.22 Q. What benefit doth the Church receiue by the government of Kings A. When the Earth and all the Inhabitants thereof are dissolved he will beare vp the Pillars of it Psal 75. 3. He is the light of ISRAEL 2 Sam. 21 17. And the beautie thereof 2 Sam. 1 19 23 4. The very breath of your nosthrils and vnder his shadow you shall be preserved Lam. 4 20. And a man shall bee as a hiâ—ing place from the Wind and a covert from the Tempest as Rivers of water in a dry place and the shadow of a great Rocke in a weary land Isa 32 2. Kings shall bee your nursing Fathers and Queenes your nursing Mothers Isa 49.23 For the Iewes and all ISRAEL dwelt safely every Man vnder his Vine and vnder his Figge-tree from DAN even to BEER-SHEBA all the dayes of SOLOMON 1 King 4 25. And GOD saved ISRAEL by the hand of IEROBOAM 2 King 14 27. 2. Sam 8 3. Q. By what meanes doth a King become so blessed an instrument of our good A. Because by GOD it is that Kings Reigne Prou. 8 15. He shall giue him another heart 1 Sam. 10.9 And hee shall be turned into another man 1 Sam. 10 6. And the wisedome of God shall be in him to do Iudgement 1 King 3 28. For it shall be when he sitteth vpon the Throne of his Kingdome that he shall write him a Copie of the Law in a booke And it shall be with him and he shall reade therein all the dayes of his life that hee may learne to feare the Lord his God to keepe all the words of this Law and the Statutes to doe them Deut. 17.18 Whereby a divine sentence shall be in the lips of the King and his mouth transgresseth not in Iudgment Prou. 16 10. But hee shall raigne in Iustice and your Princes shall rule in Iudgement Isa 32 1. For David raigned over all Israel and executed Iudgment and Iustice among all his people 1. Chron. 18 14. And iudged vprightly Psal 75 2. And that was because the Lord loved Israel 1 King 10.9 2 Chron. 2 11. For as when the Righteous are in authority the people reioyce so when the wicked beare rule the people mourne Prou. 29 2.4 Prou. 28 15 16.29 12. Eccl. 10 17. 1 Sam. 28 3 2 5.12 1 Kings 15 1â— 2 10 28 2 14 5 6 2 23 3. 2 Chron. 14 3 29 3 34 3 2 36.22 2 Because the worke will bee too heauie for one man neyther is he able to performe it alone Exod. 18 18. He afâ—er the wisedome of his GOD that is in his heart shall set vp Magistrates and Iudges which may iudge all the people Ezra 7 25. And place such over them â—s are able men such as feare GOD â—en of truth hating covetousnesse to bee â—ulers of thousands and Rulers of hundreds and rulers of fifties and rulers of â—â—nnes to iudge the people at all seasons Exod. 18 21. And the King shall charge them sayâ—â—g Thus shall yee doe in the feare of â—he LORD faithfully and with a perfect â—eart So that whatsoever cause shall come to you of your Brethren that dwell in their Cities c. You shall warne them that they trespasse not against the LORD 2 Chron. 19 9. Yee shall not wrest the Iudgement of the poore in his â—ouse Exod. 23 6. But yee shall iustifie the Righteous and condemne the wicked Deut. 25.1 Which that yee may the better doe yee shall take no gift for the guift blindeth the wise and perverteth the words of the Righteous Exod. 23.8 Neither shall you respect the person of the poore nor honour the person of the mighty Leuit. 15.19 You shall take heed what yee doe for yee iudge not for men but for the LORD who is with you in the Iudgement Wherefore now let the feare of the Lord bee vpon you Take heed and doe it for there is no iniquitie with the Lord our God nor respect of persons nor taking of guifts 2 Chron. 19.6 Thus shall you iudge the people at all seasons and it shall be that every great matter you shall bring vnto me but every small matter you shall iudge so shall it be easier for me when you shall beare the burthen with mee Exod. 18.22 1 Sam. 7 15 16. Deut. 16 19 1 17. Ier. 22 3.21 12. Amos 5 15. Micha 3.1 Psal 82 2. Prou. 18.5 2 Sam. 23 3. Q. What good shall come to vs by these substitutes in Gouernment A. As the Mountaines shall bring peace to the people so the little Hils by righteousnes Psal 72 3. For God led his people like a flocke by the hand of Moses and Aaron Psal 77.20 And Mordecay sought the wealth of his people and spake peace vnto all his seed Esth 10.3 Psal 72.4 Iob. 29.12 2 King 8 6. Q. What may the promise of good Rulers teach vs A. To pray saying Let the Lord the GOD of the spirits of all flesh set a man â—ver the Congregation which may goe out before them and which may goe in before them and which may leade them out and which may bring them in that the. Congregation of the LORD â—â—e not as Sheepe which haue no Shepheard Numb 27.16 But that wee may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godlinesse and Honestie 1 Tim. 2 2. Q. When wee haue a King and others sent of him to gouerne vs what is required of vs A. 1 Feare the LORD in truth and with all your hearts because if you shall doe wickedly you shall bee consumed both you and your King 1 Sam. 12.24.25 2 I exhort that supplications and prayers with giving of thankes bee made for Kings and for all that are in authority 1 Tim. 2 1. Wherein because the Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord as the Rivers of water he turneth it whethersoever he will Prou. 21 1. Pray giue the King thy Iudgments O Lord and thy Righteousnes vnto the Kings Sonne that so he may iudge the people with righteousnes and the poore with Iudgment Psal 72 1. And as thou hast set thy Servant over thy people giue him an vnderstanding heart to iudge thy people that heâ— may discerne betweene good and bad for who is able to iudge this so great a people 1 King 3 9 And take away the wicked from the King that his Throne may be established in righteousnes Prou. 25 4. Blesse Lord his substance and accept the worke of his hands smite thorough the loynes of them that rise against him and of them that hate him that they rise not againe Deut. 33 11. Let him abide for ever before thee O prepare mercie and truth which may preserue him so
of GOD which is the beginning of true Wisedome Psalm 111 10. And they haue reiected the Word of the LORD and what Wisedome is in them Ierem. 8 9. CHAP. XLV Of Wealth Q. WHat is the tenth Temporall blessing A. Wealth and riches also shall bee in the house of the man that feareth the LORD Psal 112 3. Hee shall lay vp gold as dust and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brookes Yea the Almighty shall bee his defence and he shall haue plenty of silver Iob 22 24. For brasse I will bring him gold and for iron I will bring silver and for wood brasse and for stones iron Isa 60 17. Prou. 8 21. Thus ABRAHAM was rich in Cattle in Silver and Gold Gen. 13 2 6. verses 26 13.30 43.32 10. Iob 1 3 42 2. Q. When GOD hath fulfilled this promise vpon any what is to bee done A. Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high minded that they doe good and be rich in good workes 1. Tim. 6.17 2 Therefore thou shalt remember the LORD thy GOD for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth Deut. 8.18 And it is his blessing that maketh rich and addeth no sorrow with it Prou. 10.22 Q. Doth not GOD in this kind blesse the wicked liuing wickedly as well as his owne children in the vse of lawfull meanes A. In all labour there is profit but the talke of the lippes tendeth onely to povertie Prou. 14 23. Hee that oppresseth the Poore to increase his riches and hee that giveth to the rich shall surely come to want Prou. 22 16. Hee that hasteth to bee rich hath an evill eye and considereth not that povertie shall come vpon him Prou. 28 22. Hee that loveth pleasure shall bee a poore man and he that loveth Wine and oyle shall not be rich Prou. 21 17.24 30.21 5 10 4 13 11 12 27. Ob. I doe obserue the wicked to thriue more than many of GODS owne children A. Better is a little with righteousnesse than great revenues without right Pro. 16 8. For treasures of wickednesse profit not Prou. 10.2 And what good is there to the owners thereof saue the beholding of them with their eyes Eccles 5 11. Prou. 12 27.19 22. 2 As in the house of the righteous is much treasure so in the revenues of the wicked is trouble Prou. 15.6 Therefore much better is a little with the feare of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith Prou. 15 16. Eccles 5 19 3 12 13. verses 8 15. Psal 39 6. 3 There is an evill which I haue seene vnder the Sunne namely riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt Eccles 5.13 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man but afterward his mouth shall bee filled with gravell Prou. 20 17. The increase of his house shall depart and his goods shall flow away in the day of Gods wrath Iob 20 28. when the rust of their Gold shall bee a witnesse against them and shall eate their flesh as it were fire Iam. 5.3 Prou. 28 20.21 6. Math. 6 24. Psal 49 11. Luk. 12 17 20. 4 They are disquieted in vaine hee heapeth vp riches and knoweth not who shall gather them Psal 39 6. And though they heape vp silver as the dust and prepare rayment as the clay they may prepare it but the iust shall put it on and the innocent shall divide the silver Iob 27 16. For to the sinner GOD giveth travaile to gather and to heape vp that hee may giue to him that is good before GOD Eccles 2 26. And the wealth of the Sinner is layd vp for the Iust Prou. 13 22. Psalm 49 10. Isa 23 18. Genes 31 1 31 8 9. Exod. 3 22.12 35 22 12. Esther 8 1 2. Psal 105 43. Ios 24 13 11 23. Deuter. 6 11.2 35 3 3 4.3.12 1 King 10 10. Eccles 5 13.2 22. Q. What vse is to bee made hereof A. 1 Goe to now yee rich men weepe and howle for your miseries that shall come vpon you Iam. 5 1. 2 Therefore let not thine heart who art righteous bee envious against sinners but let it bee in the feare of the LORD continually Prou. 23 17 Neither chuse thou any of his wayes Prou. 3 31. CHAP. XLVI Of favour with Men a good Name and Honour Q. WHich are the eleuenth and twelfth and thirteenth temporall blessings A. The tenth is the fauour of Men. Hee that loveth purenesse of heart for the grace of his lips the King shal be his friend Prou. 22 11. And when the wayes of a man please the LORD hee will â—ake his enemie to become his friend Prou. 16 7. Ier. 15.11 Prou. 28. â—3 For when ESAV saw IACOB comming towards him he ran to meete IACOB and embraced him and fell on his â—ecke and kissed him Gen. 33.4 â—0 GOD gaue the people favour also in the sight of the Aegyptians Exod. 3 21.11.3.12.36 And extended mercie vnto EZRA before the King and his Counsellors Ezra 7 28 ARTAXEREXS the King also granted vnto NEHEMIA according to the good hand of his GOD vpon him Neh. 2 8. And ESTHER obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked vpon her Esth 2 15. Gen. 26.26.11 verses 39 4 39.21 33 4. Ruth 2 13.1 16 17. 1 Sam. 2 26 1 18 1.3 1 18.16 1 19 1 1 24.16.1.26 17 1 20.17.31.1.27 6. 1 Chron. 12 38. Ezra 6 22.7 28 Esth 8 17 Ier. 39 11. Dan. 1 9. Act. 21.40 24.23 27.3 The twelfth is a good Name for thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue Iob. 5 21. And thy good name shall bee better than a precious oyntment Eccl. 7 1. And though for thy transgression I doe giue IACOB to the curse and Israel to reproches Isa 43 28. Yet vpon thy repentance I will bring foorth thy Righteousnes as the light and thy Iudgement as the noone day Psal 37 6. When the name of the wicked shall rot Prou. 10 7 12.8 Hosea 12 14. But woe be vnto the wicked when all men shall speake well of them for so did their Fathers to the false Prophets Luk. 6 26. The thirteenth outward blessing is Honour If any man will serue mee him will my Father honour Iohn 12 26. And it shall come to passe that if thou shalt hearken diligently vnto the LORD thy GOD to obserue and doe all his Commandements which I command thee this day that the LORD thy GOD shall set thee on high aboue all the Nations of the Earth Deuteron 28 1. And thou shalt ride on the â—igh places of the Earth Isa 58.14 And I will make you a name and a praise â—boue all people of the Earth saith the LORD Zeph. 3.20 The LORD â—â—all make thee the head and not the taile Deut. 28.13 And many shall make â—â—ite vnto thee Iob. 11 19. And bow â—efore thee Prou. 14 19. Numb 24.7 â—sa 45 14. Reu. 3.9 Iob. 36 7 11.9.1 Sam. 24 20. Thus IOSEPH was set over all the Land of Aegypt
a child when shee was past age because she iudged him faithfull who had promised Therefore sprang there even of one and him as good as dead so many as the Starres of the skye in multitude and as the sand which is by the Sea shore innumerable Heb. 11.11 2 King 4. 14. Luk. 1 7 13.1 57.60 Ob. I haue seene many of GODS Children both liue and dye Childlesse A. Let not therefore the Eunuch say Behold I am a dry tree For thus saith the LORD to the Eunuches that keepe my Sabbaths and choose the thing that pleaseth mee and taketh hold of my Covenant even to them will I giue in mine House and within my Walles a place â—nd a name better than of Sonnes and of Daughters I will giue them an everlaâ—ting Name that shall not be cut off Isa 56 3. Ob But this feare yet remaines that when my Child commeth to the birth my wife shall haue no strength to bee delivered A. Shall I bring to the birth and not cause to bring foorth saith the LORD Shall I cause to bring foorth and shut the wombe saith thy GOD Isa 66.9 For SARAH said GOD hath made me laugh so that all that heare will laugh with mee Gen. 21.6 Therefore feare not ZACHARIAS for thy wife ELIZABETH shall beare thee a Sonne and thou shalt haue ioy and gladnesse and many shall reioyce at his birth Luk. 1.13 14. Q. If the hauing of Children bee of the blessing of GOD to the Righteous what shall the wicked haue A. Giue them O LORD what thou wilt giue Giue them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts Hos 9 14 And write yee this man childlesse Ier. 22 30. For hee shall neither haue Sonne nor Nephew among his people nor any remainder among his dwellings They that come after him shall be astonied at his day as they that went before were affrighted Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked and this is the place of him that knoweth not God Iob. 18 19. 2 Sam. 6 23. Ob. But who more then the wicked doe abound with Children A. If their Children bee multiplyed it is for the sword Iob. 27 14. Also I will send wild beasts among them which shall robbe them of their Children Leuit. 26 22. For the face of the LORD is against them that doe evill to cut off the remembrance of them from the Earth Psal 34 16 37 28.1 King 14 10 1 15 29.1 16.3 41.16 11 12.1 21.21.25 2.9.8.2.10.7.11 Hos 14. 1. Ezek. 24.21.25 2 Sam. 12 9.2 12.18 Q. When I haue Children what is the comfort I shall receiue by them Eccl. 2 18 19. A. The Father of the Righteous shall greatly reioyce and he that begetteth a wise Sonne shall haue ioy in him His Father and Mother shall be glad and she that bare him shall reioyce Prou. 23 24 For as arrowes are in the hand of the mighty man so are Children of the youth Happy is the man that hath his Quiver full of them they shall not bee ashamed but they shall speake with the enemies in the gate Psal 127.4 For NOAHS two Sonnes covered their Fathers nakednesse Gen. 9 23. And IOSEPH nourished his old Father and Brethren in the time of dearth Gen. 45 9 50 1. And NAOMIE her Sonne was a restorer of her life and a nourisher of her old age Ruth 4 15. 2 Chron. 2 12. Gen 28 7 45 23. But SENAGHERIB as he was worshipping in the House of NISROCH his GOD that ADRAMELECH and SHAREZER his Sonnes smote him with the Sword that he dyed 2 King 19 37. Ob. When God by death taketh me away what the miseries are which shall then befall my Children I know not A. A good man walking in his integritie his Children are blessed after him Prou. 20 7. For he leaveth his inheritance to his Childrens children and the wealth of the sinner is laid vp for the iust Prou. 13 22. His seed shall be mighty on the Earth the generation of the vpright shall be blessed Psal 112 1. They shall spring vp among the Grasse as willowes by the water courses Isa 44 4. Their seed also shall be knowne among the Gentiles and their off-spring among the people all that see them shall acknowledge them that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed Isa 61 9. Know therefore that the LORD thy GOD he is God the faithfull God which keepeth Covenant and mercie with them that loue him and keepe his Commandements to a thousand Generations Deut. 7 9. Isa 65 23. Psal 102 28.103.17 1 Sam. 25 28.1 King 9 4. Exod. 20 6. Heb. 11.20 Gen. 25 11. Prou. 11 21. Psal 146.9 But it shall come to passe that every one that is left in the house of the wicked shall come and crouch to the Righteous for a piece of silver and a morsell of bread and shall say put me I pray thee into one of the Priests offices that I may eate a piece of bread 1 Sam. 2 36. For his riches perish by evill travell and he begetteth a Son and there is nothing in his hand Eccl. 5 14. Neither shall his off-spring bee satisfied with bread Iob. 27 14. Ob. What assurance can you giue me that my Children will not prooue wicked whereby to be liable to the curse as well as other Children whose Parents are out of the Covenant A. If the first fruits be holy the lumpe is also holy and if the Roote bee holy so are the brvnches Rom. 11.16 And as for mee this is my Covenant with you my spirit that is vpon thee and my word which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy Seeds seed saith the LORD from henceforth and for ever Isa 59 21. For the LORD made not this Covenant with our Fathers but with vs even vs who are all of vs aliue this day Deut. 5 3. For God being the God not of the faithfull onely but also of their seed Gen. 17 7. Thou shalt be saved and thy House Acts 16 31. Gen. 17 21.4.4 Ob. One of the Parents themselues may be out of the Covenant how then can this Couenant belong vnto their posteritie A. The vnbeleeving Husband is sanctified by the Wife and the vnbeleeving wife is sanctified by the husband else were your Children vncleane but now are they holy 1 Cor. 7 14. Ob. It were much more to my comfort if wee were both of vs within the Couenant A. If any man obey not the Word they may without the Word bee wonne by the conversation of the wiues 1 Pet. 3 1. For what knowest thou O wife whether thou shalt saue thy husband Or how knowest thou O Man whether thou shalt saue thy wife 1. Cor. 7 16. Ob. But doth not the Sonne beare the iniquitie of his Father Else whence this Proverbe The Fathers haue eaten sowre grapes and the Childrens teeth are set on edge Ezek. 18 2. A. The Fathers shall not be put
high to shew forth thy loving kindnesse in the morning and thy faithfulnesse every night Psal 92 1. For many O Lord my God are thy wonderfull workes which thou hast done and thy thoughts which are to vs ward they cannot be reckoned vp in order vnto thee if I would declare and speake of them they are moe than can be numbred Psal 40 5. Thy mercy also O Lord is in the Heavens and thy faithfulnesse reacheth vnto the Clouds Thy righteousnes is like the great Mountaines thy iudgements are a great Deepe Psal 36 5. How precious are thy thoughts vnto mee O GOD how great is the summe of them â—f I should count them they are moe in number than the sand Psalm 139.17.31.19 â—2 4.5 Blessing and glory and wisdome and thankesgiuing and honour and power and night bee vnto our GOD Râ—u 7.12 For ever and ever 1. Tim. 1.17 and from everlasting to everlasting and let â—ll the people say Amen Psalm 106.48.63.3.4.69.30.31 Isa 63.7.25.1 Psalm 104.33.34.1.35.28.116.13.40.9.45.17 Exod. 15.11 Psalm 57 7.147.1.33.1.34.3.97.1â—.68.4.30.4.47.6.7 Psalm 72.18.135.1.19.136.1.103.20.150.6.72.19 CHAP. XLIX The properties of GODS Promises Q. GReat cause indeed haue we thus to giue thanks for here are many Promises and for all purposes both great and precious if they be as true as good A. These things saith the Amen the faithfull and true witnesse Reu. 3.14 are the true sayings of GOD Reuel 19.9 I IESVS haue sent mine Angell to testifie these things in the Churches Reu. 22.16 Therefore write these words are true and faithfull Reu. 21.5.22 6. For GOD will performe his truth to IACOB and his mercie to ABRAHAM which hee hath sworne to our Fathers from the dayes of old Miâ—h 7. â—0 Hee confirmeth the word of his Serâ—â—nt and he performeth the counsell of his Messengers Isa 44 26. Hee said not vnto the seed of IACOB Seeke yee my face in vaine I the LORD speake righteousnesse I declare the things that are right Isâ— 45 19. For it is GOD that cannot lye who hath thus promised before the World began Titus 1 2. Whe efore let GOD be true and every man a lyar as it is written that thou mightest be Iustified in thy sayings and ouercome when thou art Iudged Rom. 3.4 2 Cor. 1.18 Pâ—al 58.11.33.5.12 6.30 5. Num. 23 19. Q. What good witnesses can you produce that may conuince vs of the truth of these things A. Though saith CHRIST I beare record of my selfe yet my record is true I am one that beare witnesse of my selfe and the Father that hath sent mee beareth witnesse of mee Ioâ— 8 14 18. who is true and I speake to the world the things which I haue heard from him Ioh. 8 26. The Disciple also whom IESVS loued testâ—fied these things and wee know that his testimony is true Ioh. 21.24 IOHN indeed did no miracle but all things that IOHN spake of this man were true Ioh. 10 41. And every one that hath received his testimony hath set to his seale that GOD is true Ioh. 3 33. 1. Ioh. 1 5. Q. Who haue at any time vpon their owne experience proued them so to be A. Behold this day I am going the way of all the earth and you know in all your hearts and in all your soules that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your GOD spake concerning you all things are come to passe vnto you not one thing hath failed thereof Ios 23 14.21.45 For it came to passe at the end of foure hundred and thirty yeares as was promised Gen. 15 14. even the selfe-same day it came to passe that all the hostes of the LORD went out from the land of Aegypt Exod. 12 41. vnto whom the LORD gaue all the Land which hee sware to giue to theyr Fathers and they possessed it and they dwelt therein And the â—ORD gaue them rest round about acâ—â—rding to all that hee sware vnto their â—athers and there stood not a man of all â—heir enemies before them There failed â—ot ought of any good thing which the LORD hath spoken vnto the house of ISRAHL all came to passe Iosh 21 43. So that he hath dealt well with his servants according to his Word Psal 119.63 And all his counsels of old are faithfulnesse and truth Isa 25 1. 1 King 8 20. 2 Chron. 6 15. Q. What then may this truth of GOD in promising teach vs A. 1 To beleeue for if wee receiue the witnesse of men the witnesse of GOD is greater For this is the witnesse of GOD which hee hath testified of his Sonne 1 Ioh. 5 9. Wherefore sirs bee of good cheere for I beleeue GOD thus it shall bee even as it was told mee Act. 27 25. For shall mortall man be more iust than GOD And shall a man bee more pure than his Maker Iob 4 17. Rom. 3 3 4. Luk. 11.13 2 To say Lord GOD of Israel there is no GOD like thee in Heaven aboue or on Earth beneath who keepeth Covenant and mercy with thy servants that walke before thee with all their hearts 1 King 8 23. Wherefore blessed bee the LORD which spake with his mouth vnto DAVID my Father and hath with his hand fulfilled it 1. King 8.15.20 3 To Pray saying Remember the word vnto thy seruant vpon which thou hast caused me to trust Psal 119.49 4 Thou also shalt keepe my couenant therefore thou and thy seed after thee in their generations Gen. 17 9. As well as the Iewes who did according to their promise Else as the Prophet shooke his lappe and said so GOD shall shake out every man from his house and from his labour that performeth not his promise even thus be he shaken out and emptied vnto which say Amen Nehem. 5 13. 5 For which and also say Lead me in thy truth and teach me for thou art â—e GOD of my saluation Psal 25 5. Ob. I doe now acknowledge GOD to â—ee true of his Word but was he not â—ooued to make these promises for â—ame thing of speciall worth he see to â—e in vs deseruing the same A. Were yee not as the Ethiopians vnto â—e O children of Israel saith the LORD Amos 9.7 For even TERAH the Father of ABRAHAM and the Father â—f NACHOR they serued other Gods Iosh 24.2 So hath the LORD also called thee being a Woman forsaken and afflicted in spirit and as a young wife when thou wast refused saith thy GOD. Isa 54 6 And when he passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thy owne blood he said vnto thee when thou wast in thy blood liue Yea he said vnto thee when thou wast in thy blood live Ezek. 16.6 Isa 51.1.2 Hos 14.4 Ob. Though hee did finde vs wicked yet doth he not leaue vs so and therefore for some fore-seene good that would bee in vs hee might be moued hereunto A. Can a man be profitable vnto God as hee that is wise may be profitable vnto himselfe Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art
righteous Or is it gaine to him that thou makest thy wayes perfect Iob. 22 2. Looke vnto the Heavens and see and behold the clouds which are higher than thou If thou sinnest what doest thou against him Or if thy transgressions bee multiplyed what doest thou vnto him If thou bee righteous what givest thou him Or what receiveth hee of thine hand Iob 35 5. Psal 16 2. Which of you having a Servant Plowing or feeding Cattell will say vnto him by and by when he is come from the field Goe and sit downe to meate And will not rather say vnto him make ready wherewith I may sup and gird thy selfe and serue mee till I haue eaten and drunken and afterward thou shalt eate and drinke Doth hee thanke that servant because hee did these things that were commanded him I trow not So likewise yee when yee shall haue done all these things which are commanded you say Wee are vnprofitable servants wee haue done but that which is our duty to doe Luk. 17 7. Q. What was it then which moued the LORD thus liberally to deale with vs A. Because the Lord loved you and because hee would keepe the Oath which he sware vnto your fathers Deut. 7 8 9 6. Herein is loue not that wee loved GOD but that hee loved vs 1 Ioh. 4 10. And wee loue him because he loved vs first 1 Ioh. 4 19. For was not ESAV IACOBS brother saith the LORD Yet I haue loved IACOB Mâ—l 1 2. For the Children being not yet borne neither having done good or evill that the purpose of GOD according to the Election might stand not of Workes but of him that calleth it was said vnto her The elder shall serue the younger as it is written Rom. 9.11 So then it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy Rom. 9 15. And so Mercy and Truth are met together Psal 85 10. Exod. 33 19. Ier. 31 3. Rom. 11 32. Iam. 5 15. Psâ—â— 25.11 Ob. But why doth he yet find fault For who hath resisted his will Rom. 9.19 A. Nay but O man who art thou that replyest against God Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it why hast thou made me thus Hath not the Potter power over the clay of the same lumpe to make one vessell vnto honour and another to dishonour Rom. 9 20. Woe vnto him that â—huâ— striveth with his Maker let the Potsherd striue with the Potsherds of the earth c. Woe be vnto him that saith to his Father what begettest thou Or to the woman what hast thou brought forth Isa 45 9 And is it not then lawfull for mee to doe as I will with mine owne Math. 20 15. Ob. â—he branches were broken off that I might be graffed in Rom. 11 19. A. Well because of vnbeliefe they were broken off and thou standest by faith be not high minded but feare For if God spared not the naturall branches take heed least hee also spare not thee Behold therefore the goodnesse and severity of GOD on them that fell severity but towards thee goodnesse if thou continue in his goodnesse otherwise thou also shalt be cut off And they also if they abide not still in vnbeliefe shall be graffed in for God is able to graffe them in againe Rom. 11.20 Boast not therefore against the branches but if thou boast thou bearest not the root but the roote thee Rom. 11 18. Q. Why what is the reason of this free and vndeserved mercy of GOD A. 1 That no flesh should glory in his presence but according as it is written let him that glorieth glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 1 â—9 â—1 2 That yee might learne not to thinke of men aboâ—e that which is written that none of you be puffed vp for one against another 1 Cor. 4 6. Q. What may this free mercy of God teach vs A. To say O the depth of the Riches both of the wisedome and knowledge of GOD How vnsearchable are his iudgments and his wayes past finding out For who hath knowne the mind of the LORD Or who hath beene his Counseller Or who hath first gâ—ven to him and it shall bee recompenced vnto him againe Rom 11 33. 2 To say not vnto vs O Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy Name bee given the glory Psalm 115 1. Fâ—r as for mee I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies and of all the truth which hee hath shewed vnto his Servant Gen. 32 10. For off him and through him and for him are all things to him therefore be glory for ever and ever Amen Rom. 11 36 1. Cor. 4 7. 3 I beseech you Brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living Sacrifice Holy and acceptable vnto God which is your reasonable Service Rom. 12 1. And sow to your selues in Righteousnes and reape in mercy H â— 10 12. 4 Pray saying Remember me O my GOD concerning my good deeds and spare me according to the greatnesse of thy mercy Neh. 13 14 22. Crying Grace Grace vnto it Zach. 4 7. Q. Are these blessings common vnto all degrees of men A. Will hee regard your persons saith the LORD of Hosts Mal. 1 9. Hee will blesse them that feare the LORD both small and great Psal 115 13. Neither is there respect of persons with him Eph. 6 9. For he that is called in the LORD being a Servant is the LORDS free man 1 Cor. 7 22. 1 Tim. 2 4. Q. Are not these bâ—â—ssings peculiar vnto the nation of the Iewes A. In thy seed saith GOD to ABRAHAM shall all the Nations of the earth bee blessed Gen. 26 4. Is he the GOD of the Iewes onely and not of the Gentiles also Reu. 3 29. There is no difference betwixt the Iew and the Greeke for the same Lord over all is rich vnto all that call vpon him Râ—m 10 12. Iohn 11 51. Zâ—ch 6 15 8 23. Isay 60.4.5 9.10 verses 60 22.11 10.42 6 45 23 49 6. Gen. 12 3. Acts 10 15.28.28.28.11.20.15.11.14 21.14 27. Mat. 12 21. Ioh. 10.16.12 32. Ob. But doth not PAVL say that vnto the Israelites pertaineth the promises A. True and therefore it was necessarie that the word of God should first bee spoken vnto them but they put it from them and thereby judiâ—â—â—â— themselues vnworthy thereof wee turned to the Gentiles For so hath the Lord commanded vs saying I haue made thee a light of the Gentiles that thou shouldest be foâ— Salvation vnto the ends of the earth Act â—3 46. And God which knoweth the hearts beare witnesse to the Gentiles giving them the Holy Ghost even as hee did vnto the Iewes putting no difference betweene vs and them after that by faith hee had purified their hearts Acts 15.8 That the Gentiles should be fellow Heires and of the same body and partakers of his promise in CHRIST by the Gospell Eph. 3 6. There is therefore neither Iew nor Greeke there is neither bond nor free
there is neither male nor female for yee are all one in CHRIST IESVS Gal. 3 28. 1 Tim. 2.15.1.2.7 Rom. 15.15 Math. 22.2.23.37 Acts. 14.2 Ioh. 1 11. Isa 65 2. Rom. 10.21 Ob. What aduantage then hath the Iew Or what profit is there of Circumcision A. Much every way chiefly because that vnto them were committed the Oracles of God Rom. 3 2. Ob. We see not onely the Nation of the Iewes but many others of the Gentiles also to be without the benefit of the Gospell A. This is because of their vnbeliefe Rom. 11.20 For they will not receiue CHRIST Ioh. 1.11 But are disobedient and a gain-saying people Rom. 10.21 For as I liue saith the Lord God I haue no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his way and liue Ezâ—k 33 11. And I would haue all men to bee saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2 4. Ioh. 1 5. Q. Whereunto may the generality of the promises be of vse A. Let not the Sonne of the stranger that hath ioyned himselfe to the LORD speake saying The Lord hath vtterly separated me from his people neither let the Eunuch say behold I am a drie tree For thus saith the LORD to the Euâ—â—ches that kâ—epe my Sabbaths and choose the things that please mee and take hold of my Covenant even vnto them will I giue in mine House and within my Walles a place and a Name better than of Sons and of Daughters I will g ue them an everlasting Name that shall not bee cut off Isa 62 2. Sing O barren thou that didst not beare breake forth into singing and crie aloud thou that didst not travaile wâ—th Child for moe are the Children of the Desolate than the Children of the married wife saith the LORD Enlarge the place of thy Tent and let them stretch foorth the Curtaines of thine habitations spare not lengthen thy Cords and strengthen thy Stakes for thou shalt breake foorth on the right hand and on the left and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles and make the desolate Cities to bee inhabited Isay 54 1. 1 Corinth 7 21 22. Iâ—a 45 22. Math. 22 2. Tit. 2 11. Heb. 1â— 13 Ob. Now of a truth I perceiue that GOD is no accepter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteousnesse shall be accepted with with him Acts 10 34. But will it not be very long betwixt the promise and the time of theyr accomplishment A. Hee which testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly Revel 22.20 And my reward is with me to giue every man acording as his worke shall bee Reu. 22 12. Ob. Long haue I waited and yet haue not obtained A. Beloved be not ignorant of this one thing that one day is with the LORD as a thousand yeeres and a thousand yeeres as one day The LORD is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slacknesse 2. Pet. 3.8 And he that beleeueth shall not make hast Isa 28.16 For the vision is yet for an appointed time but at the end it shall speake and not lye though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come it will not tary Hab. 2.3 For so ABRAHAM after hee had patiently endured he obtayned the promise Heb. 6.15 Amen even so come LORD IESVS Reu. 22.20 Q. But may not GOD alter his mind A. The Counsell of the LORD standeth for ever the thoughts of his heart vnto all generations Psal 33.11 With him is no variablenesse nor shadow by turning Iames 1.17 Concerning his testimonies I haue knowne them of old that he hath founded them for euer Psal 119.152 The words which hee hath commanded to a thousand generations Which couenant hee made with ABRAHAM and his oath vnto ISAAC and confirmed the same vnto IACOB for a law and vnto ISRAEL for an euerlasting Covenant Psal 105.8 For thâ—â— saith the Lord If yee can breake my Covenant of the day and my covenant of the night and that there shall not be day and nâ—ght in their seasons then may also my Covenant bee broken Ier. 33.20 I haue sworne by my selfe the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousnesse and shall not returne Isa 45.23.46 10. 2 Cor. 1 18 Ierem. 4 28. Hos 13 14. Numb 23 20. 1 Sam. 12.22 Haggai 2 6. Num. 18 19. Psal 22 6.105 8. 117 2.119 90. 93 5. Heb. 6 17. Ob. I haue seene an end of all perfection Psal 119 96. A. But his Commandement is exceeding large Psalm 119 96. The strength of ISRAEL will not lye nor repent 1 Sam. 15 29. When your Father and Mother forsake you then the LORD will take you vp Psal 27 10. For GOD is not as Man that hee should lye or the Sonne of man that hee should repent Num. 23 19. Lift vp your eyes to the Heavens and looke vpon the Earth beneath for the heavens shall vanish away like smoake and the earth shall waxe old like a garment and they that dwell therein shall dye in like manner but my Salvation shall bee for ever and my Righteousnesse shall not be abolished Isa 51 6.40 8. 2 Sam. 7 24. Math. 24.35 Ob. Why hath not GOD cast away his ancient people the Iewes A. GOD forbid For I also am an Israelite of the seed of ABRAHAM of the Tribe of BENIAMIN God hath not cast away his people which hee foreknew c. But even at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of Grace Rom. 11 1 5 1. For what if some did not beleeue Shall their vnbeliefe make the faith of GOD without effect Rom 3.3 And haue they stumbled that they should fall â—od forbid But rather through their fall â—alvation is come to the Gentiles for to â—ovoke them to iealousie Now if the â—ll of them bee the riches of the World â—nd the diminishing of them the riches of â—he Gentiles how much more their fulâ—esse Rom. 11 11. For afterwards â—hall the Children of ISRAEL returne â—nd seeke the LORD their GOD and DAVID theyr King and shall feare the Lord and his goodnesse in the latter dayes Hos 3 5. 2 Cor. 3 15. Isa 11 12 19 24 25 50 1. Zach. 2 12. Rom. 11 20 26 28. verses Ob. Though GOD should neuer alter with vs yet shall wee by our sinnes breake Couenant with him Isa 63 10. Exod. 32 33. A. If you breake my Statutes and keepe not my Commandements then will I visite your transgression with the rod and your iniquities with stripes neverthelesse my loving kindnesse I will not vtterly take from you nor suffer my faithfulnesse to faile My Couenant will I not breake nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips Once haue I sworne by my Holinesse that I will not lie vnto David His seed shall endure for ever and his Throne as the Sunne before mee It shall bee established for ever as the Moone and as a faithfull witnesse in Heaven Psalm 89 30. 2 Sam.
7 15. Numb 23 20. Q. What are the reasons of this vnchangeable dealing of God towards his people A. 1. Hee himselfe changeth not Mal. 3 6. He is the first and with the last even the same Isa 41.4 2 IESVS CHRIST also the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13 8. 3 Whom he once loveth he loveth vnto the end Ioh. 13.1 Who is the LORD GOD of your Fathers the God of Abraham the God of Iâ—aac and the God of Iacob this is his name for ever and this is his memoriall vnto all Generations Exod. 3 15. Isay 49 1. 4 The gifts and callings of GOD are â—ithout repentance Rom. 11 29. Q. What would you inferre vpon this â—nchangeablenesse in GOD A. Say not thou what is the cause that the former dayes were better than these for thou dost not enquire wâ—sely concerning this Eccl 7 10. 2 Therefore my beloved brethren bee yee stedfast vnmoueable alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord for as much as you know that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord 1 Cor. 15 58. And turne yee not aside for then shall yee goe after vaine things which cannot profit nor deliver you for they are vaine 1 Sam. 12 21. Q. Why Is God able to make his word good A Behold saith GOD I am the Lord the God of all flesh is there any thing too hard for me Ier. 32 27. The Lord of Hosts hath purposed and who shall disanull it And his hand is stretched out and who shall turne it backe Isa 14 27. The voyce of the LORD is powerfull the voyce of the Lord is full of Maiestie the voyce of the Lord breaketh the Cedars yea the Lord breaketh the Cedars of Lebanon Psal 29.4 neither by arme nor strength but by my Spirit saith the Lord of hostes Zach. 4 6. Yea whatsoever the Lord pleased that did hee in Heaven and in Earth and in all deepe places Psal 135 6. And now behold the Lords hand is not shortened that in cannot saue neither is his eare heavie that it cannot heare Isa 59 1. And though it be marveilous in the eyes of the remnant of his people in these dayes shall it also be marveilous in my eyes saith the LORD of hostes Zach. 8 6. Gen. 18 14. Isa 40 26 48 13 50 2 3 43 13. 1 Ioh. 4 4. Mark 10 27. Q. What shall wee then say to these things Rom. 8.31 A. 1 Ascribe yee strength vnto GOD his excellencie is over Israel and his strength is in the Clouds Psal 68 34. 2 Pray saying Thou O GOD who commandest our Strength strengâ—hen O God that which thou hast wrought for vs Psal 68 28. 3 Because I know whatsoever GOD doth it shall be for ever nothing can be put to it nor any thing taken from it Eccles 3 14. If GOD be for vs who can be against vs Rom. 8 13. Therefore against hope beleeue in hope not staggering at the Promise through vnbeliefe c. But bring strong in the Faith let vs giue glory to GOD being fully perswaded that what hee hath promised hee 〈◊〉 able also to performe Râ—m 4 18 20. Eccles 3 14. Psal 62 10 â—1 Gen. 17 1. CHAP. L. The objects of the Promises Q. I Know now that GOD can doe every thing Iob 42 2. What therefore is required at my hands that all things also may bee possible vnto mee A. As thou beleevest so it shall be done vnto thee Math. 8 13. And if thou canst beleeue all things are possible to him that beleeveth Mark 9 23. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning that wee through Faith and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope Rom. 15 4. And that the blessing of ABRAHAM might come on the Gentiles through IESVS CHRIST that wee might receiue the promise of the Spirit through Faith Gal. 3 14. So then they which hee of Faith are blessed with faithfull ABRAHAM Gal. 3.9 For the Scripture hath concluded all vnder sinne that the promise by the Faith of IESVS CHRIST might be given to them that beleeue Gal. 3 22 Blessed therefore is hee that beleeveth for there shall bee a performance of those things which were told him from the LORD Luk. 1 45. Habac. 2 4. 1 Tim. 4 10. Psal 34 8. Hebr. 11 29. Ierem. 17 5. Dan. 6 23. 2 Hold the mysterie of the Faith in a pure Conscience 1 Tim. 3.9 For bodily exercise profiteth little but Godlinesse is profitable vnto all things having the Promises of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 Hee therefore that hath cleane hands and a pure heart who hath not lifted vp his Soule vnto vanitie nor sworne deceitfully hee shall receiue the blessing from the LORD and righteousnesse from the GOD of his Salvation Psalm 24 4. For the Lord GOD is a Sonne and a shield the LORD will giue Grace and Glory and no good thing will hee with-hold from them that walke vprightly Psal 84.11 Know therefore that the LORD thy GOD hee is God the faithfull God which keepeth Covenant and Mercy with them that loue him and keepe his Commandements to a thousand generations Deut. 7 9. For the righteous LORD loveth Righteousnesse his Countenance doth behold the vpright Psal 11 7. And therefore blessed are they which keepe Iudgement and he that doth Righteousnesse at all times Psal 106 3. 119 1. 73 1. Prou. 12 28.16 7.14 27. Isa 58 13.56 2. Deut. 7 12. 1 King 6 12. Ioh. 13 17. Exod. 39 43. Psal 4 3. Ob. I haue long liued in want notwithstanding all my care and indeauour in the study and practise of Godlinesse Iob 35 3. A. But are there not with you even with you sinnes against the Lord your God 2 Chro. 28 10 For GOD is good and doth good Psal 119 68. And withdraweth not his eyes from the Righteous Iâ—b 36 7. Psal 125 4. O thou therefore that art named the house of IACOB is the spirit of the Lord straitned Are these his doings Doe not my words doe good to him that walketh vprightly saith the Lord Micha 2 7 All the pathes of the Lord are Mercy and Truth vnto such as keepe hâ—s Commandements and his testimonies Psal 25 10. To the pure all things are pure but vnto them that are defiled is nothing pure Titus 1 15. For the hand of our GOD is vpon all them for good that seeke him but his power and his wrath is against them that forsake him Ezra 8 22. 2 Chron. 19 11. Q. What vse then are wee to make hereof A. 1 Take heed therefore brethren least there be in any of you an evill heart of vnbeliefe in departing from the living GOD Heb. 3.12 For to whom sware hee that they should not enter into his rest but to them that beleeved not So we see then that they could not enter in because of vnbeliefe Heb. 3 18. Let vs therefore feare least a promise being left vs of entring into his rest
tempest stealeth them away as 〈◊〉 the night Iob. 27 20. And hey shall â—e no more and though they be sought for â—et shall they never be found saith the Lord God Ezek. 26 21. Isa 9 18.1 25. Deuâ— 32 22.28 16.19 20. Zeph. 1 14. Ezek. 24 10. Pro. 22 8 Hos 7 13 9 9. Ier. 6 11.15 2.22.8.23.10.48.13.15.5 1 Sam. 2 10 Iob. 4 20.18.11 Isa â—4 17. Amos 5 18.8 3. Nahum 1 9. Ezek. 21.6 Deut. 28.20 Ioel. 2.26 Amos. 5.24 Psalm 68.21 Behold therefore I set before you this day a blessing and a curse a blessing if yee obey the Commandements of the LORD your GOD which I command you this day and a curse if yee will not obey the Commandement of the Lord your GOD but turne aside out of the way which I command you this day to goe after other Gods which yee haue not knowne Deut. 11.26 30.15 Who is wise and he shall vnderstand these things Prudent and he shall know them For the wayes of the LORD are right and the iust shall walke in them but the transgressours shall fall therein Hos 14.9 1 Cor. 10 6. Prou. 10.6 19.16 12. 2 3.12 7 13.6 21 12 12 21 ver Psal 32 10. Ob. Whatsoeuer you Ministers say I am become rich I haue found mee out substance in all my labours Hos 12.8 Neither shall evill come vpon me And therefore the Prophets shall become wind and the Word is not in them Ier. 5 13. A. Because sentence against an evill worke is not speedily executed therefore the heart of the Sonnes of men is fully set in them to doe evill Eccl. 8.11 The Storke in the Heavens knoweth her appointed times and the Turtle and the Crane and the Swallow obserue the times of their comming but this people know not the iudgments of the LORD Ier. 8.7 They will not behold his high hand but they shall see it and be confounded Isa 26 11. The LORD indeed is flow to anger but he is great in power and will not surely â—leere the wicked Nah. 1 3. For will a Fowler take vp the snare from the Earth and haue taken nothing at all Amos 3 â— Your fathers where are they And the Prophets doe they liue for ever But my words and my statutes which I commanded my Servants the Prophets did they not take hold of your Fathers And they returned and said like as the Lord of Hosts thought to doe vnto vs according to our wayes and according to our doings so hath he dealt with vs Zach. 1 5. And despisest thou the riches of his goodnesse and forbearance and long suffering not knowing that the goodnesse of GOD leadeth thee to Repentance But after thy hardnesse and impenitent heart that cannot repent treasurest vp to thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath and Revelation of the righteous Iudgement of GOD Romanes 2 4. Take heed therefore least there should be among you a Roote that beareth gall and wormewood And it commeth to passe when hee heareth the words of this curse that hee blesse himselfe in his heart saying I shall haue peace though I walke in the imagination of mine heart to adde drunkennesse to thirst the Lord will not spare him but then the anger of the Lord and his iealousie shall smoake against that man and all the curses that are written in this booke shall lie vpâ—n him and the LORD shall blot out his name from vnder Heaven Deut. 29.18 Isa 47 7.57.11 Ezek. 21.9 Amos 6 3 9.10 Psal 50.18 Iosh 23 15. Zeph. 2 15.1.12 Isa 28.17 Zach. 1 15. Happy therefore is the man that feareth alway but he that hardneth his heart shall fall into mischiefe Prou. 28.14 The wise mans eyes are in his head but the foole walketh in darknesse Eccl. 2 14. The prudent man foreseeth the evill and hideth himselfe but the wicked passe on and are punished Prou. 27 12. A wise man feareth and departeth from evill but the foole rageth and is confident Prou 14.16.22 3. CHAP. LII The Wicked Convinced of sinne Ob. THese Iudgements may befall Heathens and such as are without but wee are the people of GOD with whom the Lord hath made a Covenant of Peace and therefore none of these things shall befall vs. A. The Lord is with you while yee bee with him and if yee seeke him he will bee found of you but if yee forsake him he will forsake you 2 Chron. 15.2 For at what instant I shall speake concerning a Nation and concerning a Kingdome to build and to plant it if it doe evill in my sight that it obey not my voice then I will repent of the good wherewith I said I would benefit them Ier. 18 9. And the punishment of the iniquity of the Daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sinne of Sodome that was overthrowne in a moment Lam. 4 6. Wherefore trust ye not in lying words saying The Temple of the LORD the Temple of the LORD the Temple of the LORD are these Ier. 7.4 But goe yee now vnto my place which was in Shilo where I set my name at the beginning and behold what I did to it for the wickednesse of my people Israel Ier. 7,12 For so will I make this House like Shilo and make this Citie a curse to all Nations of the Earth Ier. 26.6 1. King 9.6 Exod. 32 35. Isa 57.3.4 Deutr. 8.19 Ob. We doe not onely liue in the Church but by Baptisme are made members of the same A. Baptisme verily profiteth if thou keepe the law but if thou bee a breaker of the Law thy Baptismâ— is made no Baptisme Rom. 2 25. Circumcision is nothing and Vncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the Commandements of GOD 1 Cor. 7 19. It is 〈◊〉 that Aegypt and Iudah and Edome and the Children of Ammon and Moab even all these Nations are vncircumcised and thou art vncircumcised in heart Ier. 9.25 And therefore thou shalt die the deaths of the vncircumcised by the hand of the strangers for I haue spoken it saith the LORD GOD Ezek. 28 10. 1 Cor. 10.1 Ob. I haue not only bin entred and inrolled a member of the Church but also haue ioyned with others in the worship of GOD and in the profession of the same Iudg. 17.3 Isa 58.3 A. There is a generation that are pure in their owne eyes and yet is not washed from their filthinesse Prou. 30.12 Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and Sacrifices as in obeying his voice Behold to obey is better than Sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of Rams 1 Sam. 15.22 The Sacrifices of the wicked is abhomination to the Lord but the Prayer of the vpright is his delight Prou. 15. 8.21.27 Iam. 1.27 But vnto the wicked saith God what hast thou to doe to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldest take my Covenant within thy mouth Seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee Psal 50 16. For the LORD loveth Iudgement and hateth Robberie for burnt
giue you assured peace in this place Ierem. 14 13.23 18 18 18.23 17. 1 King 18 17. A. AMEN the LORD doe so the Lord performe the words that they haue spoken Ierem 28 6. As for me I haue not hastened from being a Pastor to follow thee neither haue I desired the wofull day thou knowest that which came out of my lippes was right before thee Ier. 17 16. And as for your Ministers if any of them thinke himselfe to bee a Prophet and Spirituall let him acknowledge that the things that I write vnto you are the Commandements of the LORD but if any man bee ignorant let him bee ignorant 1 Corinth 14 37. But let no man deceiue you with vaine words for because of these shings commeth the wrath GOD vpon the Children of disobedience Ephes 5 6. Your Prophets prophecie lyes in my Name I sent them not neyther haue I commaunded them neither spake vnto them they Prophesied vnto you a false vision and divination and a thing of nought and the deceit of their heart Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the Prophets that prophecie in my Name and I sent them not yet they say Sword and Famine shall not bee in this land by sword and famine shall those Prophets bee consumed And the people to whom they Prophesied shall bee cast out into the streets of Ierusalem because of the Famine and the Sword and they shall haue none to bury them for I will powre theyr wickednesse vpon them Ierem. 14 14. And when the words of the Prophets shall come to passe then shall you know that the LORD hath truly sent him Ierem. 28 9.50 30.31 23 19.23.25.23.30.28.15 Ezek. 14 9.13 6.13 22. Hosea 4.9.9.7.8 Isa 29.9.42.19 1. King 22 23.25 Isa 3 12. Ob. I thinke you will neuer giue ouer these threatning words giue mee such a Minister as will preach comfortable things vnto vs. A. Am I therefore become your enemie because I tell you the Truth Gal. 4 16. As for these Ministers they haue healed your hurt with sweet words saying Peace peace when there is no peace Ierem. 8.11 And if a man walking in the spirit and falshood and doe lye saying I will Prophecie vnto thee of wine and strong drinke hee shall bee even the Prophet of this people Micha 2 11. Therefore shalt thou fall in the day and the Prophet also shall fall with thee in the night and I will destroy thy Mother Hos 4 5. 1 King 18 18. Isa 30.8 Hos 4 4. Ob. Though these Iudgments you threaten be certaine yet they may not bee neere Ezek. 11 3. But the vision may bee for many dayes to come and you Prophecie of the times that are farre off Ezâ—k 12 27. A. Who is like mee And who will appoint mee the time saith the LORD Ierem. 49 19. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD There shall none of my words bee prolonged any more but the word which I haue spoken shall bee done saith the Lord GOD Ezek. 12 28 Yea eueâ— in your dayes O rebellious house will I say the thing and will performe it Ezâ—k 12 25. Hee shall come as an Eagle to the house of the LORD Hos 8 1. And hee will bee a swift witnesse against such scorners Malac. 3 5. For the dayes of visitations are come the dayes of recompence are come Hosea 9 7. It shall bee in a moment even sodainly Isa 29.5 as a breach ready to fall swelling out in a high wall whose breaking commeth sodainly at an instant Isa 30 13. For no man knoweth his time but as the Fishes that are taken in an evill net and as the birds that are caught in the snare so are the sonnes of Men snared in an evill time when it falleth sodainly vpon them Eccles 9.12 Amos 9 10 8 1 2. Zeph. 1 14. Deut. 32 35. Isa 47 11. Ierem. 1 12.48 16.50.31.51.33 Lam. 4 18.22 Ezek. 7 12 21.9 Hos 4.19 Ioel 2 1. Gen. 19 24. Dan. 5 3 30. Ob. If the worst things doe fall yet haue I many meanes to guard and to defend mee from the same A. O inhabitant of Lebanon that makest thy nest in the Cedars how gracious shalt thou be when Pangs come vpon thee as the paine of a woman in trauell Ierem 22.23 The pride of thine heart hath deceiued thee thou that dwellest in the clefts of the Rocke whose habitation is high that saith in his heart who shall bring mee downe to the ground Though thou exaltest thy selfe as the Eagle and though thou set thy nest among the Starres thence will I bring thee downe saith the LORD Obad. 3 4. Your silver and your gold shall not bee able to deliver you in the day of the wrath of the LORD Ezek. 7 19. The Lord is wise in heart and mighty in strength who hath hardened himselfe against him and prospered Iob 9 4. Prou. 10.2.11.4 Ezek. 28.4 7 19. Zeph. 1.18 Zach. 9.3 Ier. 49.4 4.30 Hab. 2.9 Ob. If our owne power be too weake wee haue multitudes of allies and many good friends will stand by and succour vs A. EPHRAIM is fed with the Wind and followeth after the East-wind Hos 12.1 For though hand ioyne in hand the wicked shall not be vnpunished Prou. 16 5. And how say yee then wee are mighty and haue strong men for the Warre Ier. 48 14. Art thou better than populous No that was scituate among the Rivers that had the waters round about it whose Rampart was the Sea and her Wall was from the Sea Nahum 3 8. Yee haue plowed wickednesse yee haue reaped iniquitie yee haue eaten the fruit of lyes for because thou didst trust in the multitude of thy mighty men therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people and all thy Fortresses shall bee spoyled Hos 10.13 When also thy lovers will despise thee and will seeke thy life Iâ—r 4.30 Your hired men shall bee turned backe and flie away together Ier. 46.21 And the multitude of thy strangers shall bee like the small dust and the multitude of thy terrible ones shall bee as the Chaffe that passeth away Isa â—9 5. And you shall bee ashamed of a people that could not profit you nor bee an helpe nor profit but a shame and also a reproch For they shall helpe in vaine and to no purposeâ— therefore haue I cryed concerning this their strength is to sit still Isa 30 5 7. Wherefore cease yee from Man whose breath is in his nosthrels for wherein is hee to bee accounted of Isa 2.22 1 Cor. 10.22 Isa 8.6.57.13 Iob. 36.19 15.31 2 Samuel 16 23.2 17.14 Ier. 18. â— Ob. If wee cannot with safety stand out against these Iudgements wee will then flye from them and they shall not overtake vs Isaiah 30.16 A. Am I a GOD at hand saith the LORD and not a GOD a farre off Ier. 23.23 Whether will yee goe from his spirit Or whether will yee flee from his presence Psal 139.7 He which fleeth of you shall not flee away and hee that escapeth of you
shall not bee delivered Amos 9 1. But it shall be with you as if a man did flye from a Lion and a Beare met him or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall and a Serpent bit him Amos 5 19. Isa 30.16 Amos 2 14. Ob. If we cannot escape by flying we will then hide our selues in some darke Corner of the earth Iob. 22 12 13. Psal 94.7 Isa 29 15. A. I know Ephraim saith GOD and Israel is not hid from me Hos 5 3. Neither is there any creature which is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and open vnto the eyes of him with whom we haue to doe Heb. 4.13 Whereby it shall come to passe that though you die into Hell thence shall my hand take you though you climbe vp to Heaven thence will I bring you downe and though you hide your selues in the top of CARMEL I will search and take you out thence and though you be hid from my sight in the bottome of the Sea thence will I command the Serpent and hee shall bite you Amos. 9.2 Hos 7 2. Zach. 4. 10. Iob. 12.22 Ob. If this be our case wee will then cease from open sinning against GOD and what wee doe wee will doe in such sort as no eye shall see vs A. Woe vnto you that seeke deepe to hide your Counsell from the LORD and your workes are in the darke and you say who seeth vs And who knoweth vs Surely your turning of things vpside downe shall bee esteemed as the Potters clay For shall the worke say of him that made it hee made mee not Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it he had no vnderstanding Isay 29.15 You take Counsell but not of me and you cover with a covering but not of my spirit that you may adde sinne to sinne Isa 30 1. But the spirit of man is the candle of the LORD searching all the inward parts of the belly Prou. 20.27 And his eyes behold his eye-lids try the Children of men Psalm 11.4 To giue every Man according to his wayes and according to the fruit of his dooings Ierem. 17 10. Psalme 139.2 c. Ob. But will not a guift in the hand pacifie Gods wrath A. The LORD your GOD is the GOD of Gods and LORD of Lords a great GOD a mighty and a terrible which regardeth not persons nor taketh rewards Deut. 10 17. For every Beast of the Forrest is his and the Cattell vpon a thousand Hils Hee knoweth all the Fowles of the Mountaines and the wild Beasts of the Feild are his If he were hungry he would not tell thee for the world is his and the fulnesse thereof Psal 50.10 Wherefore then doe you harden your hearts as the Aegyptians and PHARAOH hardened their hearts 1 Sam. 6 6. For because there is wrath beware least hee take you away with his stroke then a great ransome cannot deliver thee Will hee esteeme thy riches No not Gold nor all the Forces of strength Iob. 36 18. Ob. Whatsoeuer you can say I know that GODS mercies doe surpasse the measure of our sinnes and hee that made vs will saue vs. A. He that made you will not haue mercy on you and hee that formed you will shew you no favour Isa 27.11 But it shall come to passe when you heare the words of this curse and you blesse your selues in your heart saying Wee shall haue peace though wee walke in the imagination of our hearts to adde Drunkennesse to thirst the LORD will not spare you but then the anger of the LORD and his iealousie shall smoke against you and all the curses that are written in this booke shall lye vpon you and the Lord shall blot out your Name from vnder Heaven Deut. 29.19 Ob. I know that God is not so much without pitty but that if when trouble commeth wee doe crie vnto him hee will heare and haue Mercie vpon vs. A. You shall then cry vnto the LORD indeed but hee will not heare you hee will even hide his face from you at that time as you haue behaved your selues ill in your doings Micha 3 4. And hee will say vnto you goe and cry vnto your GODS which yee haue chosen let them deliver you in time of your Tribulation Iudges 10 14. Not that the LORDS hand is shortned that it cannot saue neither his eare heavie that it cannot heare But your iniquities haue separated betweene you and your GOD and your sinnes haue hid his face from you that he will not heare For your hands are defiled with bloud and your fingers with iniquity your lips haue spoken lyes your tongue hath muttered perversenesse Isay 59 1. Wherfore behold he will bring evill vpon you which you shall not bee able to escape and though you cry vnto him yet hee will not hearken vnto you Ier. 11.11 Hosea 5.6 Iudg. 11.7 Ier. 14.12.7.13 Ob. If Mercie cannot bee had for our owne sakes yet by the Prayers of the Righteous and for their righteousnesse sake wee shall bee deliuered A. Though these three men NOAH DANIEL and IOB were in it they should deliver but there owne soules by their righteousnesse saith the LORD GOD Ezek. 14.14 And though MOSES and SAMVEL stood before mee yet my mind could not be towards this people cast them out of my sight and let them goe foorth Ierem. 15.1 Therefore they shall not pray for this people nor lift vp crye or prayer for them neither intreat mee for I will not heare them saith the LORD Ierem. 7.16.14.11.11.14.15.5.16.5 Ob. But will GOD destroy the righteous with the wicked Genes 18.23 Or shall one man sinne and will hee bee wrath with all the Congregation Numb 16.22 A. Did not ACHAN commit a trespasse in the accursed thing and wrath fell on all the Congregation of ISRAEL And hee perished not alone in his Iniquity Iosh 22.20 2. Chron. 28.19 Notwithstanding runne yee to and fro through the streets of IERVSALEM and see now and know and seeke in the broad places thereof if yee can finde a man if there bee any that executeth Iudgement that seeketh the Truth and I will pardon it Ier. 5 1. But from the least of you to the greatest of you every one is given to Covetousnesse and from the Prophet even to the Priest every one dealeth falsely Ieremiah 6 13. The good Man is perished out of the Earth and there is none vpright among them they all lye in waite for bloud they hunt every man his Brother with a Net that they may doe evill with both hands earnestly The Prince asketh and the Iudge asketh for a Reward and the Great man hee vttereth his mischievous desires so they wrap it vp The best of them is as a Brier the most vpright is sharper than a thorne Hedge therefore the day of thy Watchmen and thy Visitation commeth now shall bee your perplexitie Micha 7 2. Numbers 16 26. Ezekiel 22.25.22.30 Ob. If I may be sure to escape so long
vntill some common Iudgement come vpon our whole Land I shall doe well enough A. If thou continue thus presumptuously to sinne the LORD shall separate thee vnto evill out of all the Tribes of ISRAEL according to all the Curses of this Covenant that are written in this booke of the Law Dâ—uteronomie 29 21. As well as he did ACHAN who for his sinne was by all ISRAEL stoned with stones and his goods with all that hee had burned with fire Ioshua 7 25. Woe therefore bee vnto thee wilt thou not bee made cleane When shall it once bee Ieremiah 13.27 CHAP. LIIII Of the Wicked Converted Q. IF our sinne guiltinesse deserue such inevitable Iudgements goe thou neere and heare all that the LORD our GOD shall say and speake thou vnto vs all that the LORD our GOD shall speake vnto thee and wee will heare it and doe it Deuteron 5 27. A. The LORD hath heard the voyce of your words and said vnto mee I haue heard the voyce of the words of this people which they haue spoken vnto thee they haue well said all that they haue spoken O that there were such an heart in them that they would feare mee and keepe my Commandements alwayes that it might bee well with them and with their Children for ever Deuter. 5.28 But yee dissembled in your hearts when yee sent me vnto the LORD your God saying Pray for vs vnto the LORD our GOD and according to all that the LORD our GOD shall say so declare vnto vs and wee will doe it And now I haue this day declared it vnto you but yee doe not obey the voyce of the LORD your GOD nor any thing for the which hee hath sent me vnto you Now therefore know certainly that yee shall dye by the Sword by the Famine and by the Pestilence in the place whether yee desire to goe and to soiourne Ier. 42 20. For yee cannot serue the LORD for hee is an holy GOD he is a iealous God he will not forgâ—â—e your transgressions and sinnes Ioshua 24.19 How long then halt yee betweene two opinions If the LORD bee GOD follow him but if BAAL then follow him 1 King 18.21 And hearken to mee yee men of ENGLAND that GOD also may hearken vnto you Iudg. 9.7 Giue glorie to the Lord your GOD before hee cause darknesse and before your feet stumble vpon the darke Mountaines while yee looke for light hee turne it into the shadow of death and make it grosse darknesse But if yee will not heare it my Soule shall weepe in secret places for your Pride and mine eyes shall weepe sore and runne downe with teares because the LORDS Flocke is carried away captiue Ierem. 13 16. Q. Wee haue indeed besides all other Sinnes dissembled with the LORD but now the Lord GOD of Gods the Lord GOD of Gods hee knoweth Iosh 22 22. that him will wee serue and his voyce will wee obey Iosh 24.24 The LORD bee a true and faithfull witnesse betweene vs if we doe not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy GOD shall send thee to vs. Whether it bee good or whether it bee evill wee will obey the voyce of the LORD our GOD to whom wee send thee that it may bee well with vs when wee obey the voyce of the Lord our GOD Ierem. 42 5. Iosh 24 21 24. A. Then gird your loynes and lament yee Priests howle yee Ministers of the Altar come lye all night in Sackcloath yee Ministers of my GOD c. Sanctifie yee a Fast call a solemne Assembly gather the Elders and all the inhabitants of the Land into the house of the LORD your GOD and cry vnto the LORD Ioel 1 13. Ier. 4.14 Zeph. 2 1. Ioel 2 12 â—5 Iona 3 8. Ioel 1 13. Psal 46 8. Lam. 2 14. Ioel 2 17. Iam. 4 8. Saying Wee acknowledge our wickednesse and the iniquities of our Fathers for wee haue sinned against thee Ierem. 14 20. Wee haue sinned and haue committed iniquitie and haue done wickedly and haue rebelled even by departing from thy precepts and from thy Iudgements Neither haue wee hearkened vnto thy servants the Prophets which spake in thy Name to our Kings our Princes and our Fathers and to all the people of the Land O LORD righteousnesse belongeth vnto thee but vnto vs confusion of faces as at this day because of our trespasse that wee haue trespassed against thee Dan. 9 5. O our GOD wee are ashamed and blush to lift vp our face to thee our GOD for our iniquities are increased over our head and our trespasse is growne vp vnto the Heavens And now O our GOD what shall wee say after this For wee haue forsaken thy Commandements Ezra 9 6 10. O LORD wee beseech thee let now thine eare bee attentiue to the Prayer of thy servants who desire to feare thy Name and doe confesse our sinnes which we haue sinned against thee both we and our fathers house haue sinned Nehe. 1.11.16 And haue gone astray like lost sheepe therefore seeke thy seruants for we will not forget thy Commandements Psalm 119.176 Turne vs againe O GOD of hosts and cause thy face to shine and we shall be saued Psal 80.7 Doe thou incline our heart vnto thee to walke in thy wayes and to keepe thy Commandements and thy statutes and thy Iudgements which thou commandedst our Fathers 1. King 8.58 That which we see not teach thou vs if wee haue done iniquitie wee will doe no more Iob. 34 32 13 23. Psalme 80.18 Psalme 143.8 2 Doe you take hold of his strength that you may make peace with him and you shall make peace with him Isa 27.5 And thereby good shall come vnto thee Iob. 22.21 And because no man commeth vnto the Father but by CHRIST Iohn 14.6 Nor vnto CHRIST except the Father draw him Iohn 6 44 Therefore pray saying Draw me we will run after thee Can. 1 4 3 Wash yee make you cleane put away the evill of your doings from before mine eyes cease to doe evill learne to doe well seeke Iudgement releeue the oppressed iudge the Fatherlesse plead for the Widdow Come now and let vs reason together saith the LORD though your sinnes bee as scarlet they shall bee as white as snow though they bee red like Crimson they shall bee as Wooll Isa 1.16 Yet the LORD will wait that he may haue mercy vpon you and therefore will he bee exalted that he may haue compassion vpon you for the LORD is the GOD of Iudgement Isa 30 18. Hosea 13.9 Ezekiel 33 11. Zach. 1.3.8.16 Ier. 18 11. Mal. 3.7 Psal 4 4. Eccl. 12.23 1 King 8 61. Isa 66 1.2 4 Beeing thus conuerted you should enter into a Covenant with the LORD your GOD and into his oath which the LORD your GOD shall make with you so shall he establish you this day for a people vnto himselfe and be vnto you a God as he hath said vnto you and as hee hath swore vnto your Fathers Deut. 29 12. Nehemiah 9.38 2 Chronicles 15.12.23.3 2 Chronicl 29.10.34.31 Ezra 10.3 Q. Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken Isa 39 8 Wee doe therefore enter into a Covenant that we will be the Lords people 2 Chron. 23.16 And wee our Wiues our Sonnes and our Daughters even every one of vs having knowledge and vnderstanding doe heere enter into a Curse and into an Oath to walke in GODS Law which was given by MOSES the Servant of GOD and to obserue and doe all the Commandements of the LORD our GOD and his Iudgements and his Statutes Neh. 10.28 The Lord our God will wee serue and his voice will wee obey Iosh 24.24 Nehem. 9.38 A. Then haue you delivered your selues out of the hand of the Lord Iosh 23 31. And as you haue avouched the LORD this day to bee your GOD and to walke in his wayes and to keepe his Statutes and Commandements and his iudgments and to hearken vnto his voyce so the LORD hath avouched you this day to bee his peculiar people as he hath promised you and that you should keepe all his Commandements and to make you high aboue all Nations which he hath made in praise and in name and in honour and that yee may be an holy people vnto the LORD your GOD as hee hath spoken Deuter. 26.17 And these very stones shall bee a witnesse vnto you for they haue heard all the words of the LORD which hee hath spoken vnto you they shall bee a witnesse vnto you least yee deny your GOD Iâ—sh 24.27 For this cause wee also will not cease to pray for you and to desire that yee may bee filled with the knowledge of his will in all Wisedome and spirituall vnderstanding that yee may walke worthy of the LORD vnto all pleasing beeing fruitfull vnto every good worke and increasing in the knowledge of God Col. 1 9. Now the GOD of peace that brought againe from the dead our LORD IESVS that great Shepheard of the Sheepe through the bloud of the everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good worke to doe his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through IESVS CHRIST Heb. 13.20 And our LORD IESVS CHRIST himselfe and GOD even our Father which hath loved vs and hath given vs everlasting consolation and good hope through Grace comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and worke 2 Thes 2 16. Now vnto him that is able to keepe you from falling and to present you faultlesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding ioy to the onely wise GOD and Saviour be Glory and Maiesty Dominion and Power now and ever Iud. 24. And now Brethren I commend you to GOD and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you vp and to giue you an inheritance among all them which are Sanctified Acts 20.32 The Grace of our Lord IESVS CHRIST bee with you all Amen Revel 22.21 FINIS