as if he could not have been perfect without his Creatures for he was from all Eternity ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sufficiently pleased with his own Perfection but willing he was that other things might have a Being to the end he might communicate his Goodness unto them And as he began this Work for that end so he continued still the same for his Goodness extended over all the World He is good unto all saith David and his tender mercies are ever all his works Ps 145.9 Psal 145. His Power in like manner was the same from first to last without Diminution or Augmentation without weariness or fainting he rested not that is He ceased not till he had finished all and then pleased himself upon the Sabbath-day rejoycing in all the Works that he had made And now to sum up this whole matter Jesus Christ we see is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same in the work of Creation First The same with the Father in that eternal Counsel and Decree from whence all things had their first Rise and Original Secondly The same with the Father in the execution of that Decree framing and fashioning every Creature in his Rank placing them all in their several Stations exactly according to the primary Pattern and Tenour of that Decree Thirdly The same without any Coadjutour in the mighty Work that he undertook his own and only Omnipotent Fiat gave a Being to the World and all the parts of it without which they had never been Finally The same from first to last without any variableness or shadow of turning exercising his Divine Wisdom Goodness and Power throughout the whole Creation Many are the Inferences that might be derived from this Consideration but we shall not extend our Discourse beyond the due boundary of the Text Only somewhat we will observe that may be for further edification First then this Doctrine may lead us to a further knowledge of our Lord and great Redeemer JESUS CHRIST for saith the Apostle Rom. 1.20 The invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal Power and Godhead Walk we therefore about this Creation go round about it tell the parts thereof mark well the beauty of the Frame the admirable Order of this great and goodly Fabrick consider the several Palaces that are set therein for Angels for Men and the various lustre which the Lights do transmit there being one glory of the Sun another of the Moon and another glory of the Stars that we may know it for our selves and tell it to the Generations following that Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised his Greatness is unsearchable Ps 145.3 It is indeed unto all the faithful people of God whose hearts are raised up to a spiritual elevation a most pleasing kind of Geography as a reverend Bishop of our Church calls it in this large Map of the created World Bishop of Chi. in the Celestial and Terrestrial Globe to contemplate the Creatour for the works of the Lord are great saith the Psalmist sought out by all them that have pleasure therein Ps 111.2 But when in their search they happen to light upon the soot-steps of the Creatour by the whisperings of his Spirit which is very frequent and common unto them O what an incomparable pleasure is it then to pursue the Tract Hos 6.3 and to follow on to know the Lord So doth the Psalmist in the fore-cited place His work saith he is honourable and glorious Ps 111.3 and then followeth His righteousness endureth for ever Which way of Divine Speculation through the Creatures whereby we may ascend in our Meditations above every name that is named Ps 83.19 to the knowledge of him whose Name alone is Jehovah hath God himself caught us As when he instructed Job and would convince him of his rashness and folly in his peremptory Argutations making him also sensible of his own Almighty Power he brings the work of his Creation into remembrance before him Job 38 39 40 41. viz. Things in Heaven things in Earth and things in the Deep When we shall now therefore consider the Heavens not only this lower Heaven which in some sense may be called our Heaven wherein we and other poor mortal Creatures do breath which we may feel with our hands and wherein the Arm of the most High is many times stretched forth in mighty Winds and roaring Thunders and blazing Comets able to make the very Pillars of the World to tremble yea and to cool the courage and daunt the Spirits of all Atheistical Caligula's But those above especially which we see with our eyes at a greater distance so great that it is a wonder saith a Contemplative Divine we can look up to so admirable a height Bishop Hall and that the very eye is not tired in the way ascribed unto God by David as his Peculiar with this distinguishing term of Appropriation Ps 8.3 Thy Heavens Psal 8.3 Those which are the curious and exquisite Master-pieces of God's fingers Amos 9.6 for there saith the Prophet hath he built his Stories that is his Spheres or Ascentions from the Moon which is the lowest to the Stars which is the highest that can be discerned by men on Earth in which regard it may be though it be commonly taken for David's Night-meditation these two are only mentioned Ps 8.3 comprizing all the rest When we consider further the wonders of God in the Deep wherein saith the Psalmist Ps 104 25 26. are things creeping innumerable both small and great Beasts There go the Ships those moving Islands which bring the several Nations of the World into acquaintance one with another which suck the abundance of the Seas Deut. 33.19 Es 23.3 and Treasures hid in the Sand which reap the Harvest of the Water far surpassing the harvest of the Ground the artificiallest Wonder that ever was framed There goeth that Leviathan the wonder of that Nature the King over all the children of Pride made to play therein Job 41. whose wonderful parts and comely proportion is admirably described by the Tongue of the Learned Bishop King upon Jonas even the learnedst Tongue that the Holy Ghost had as one skilful in Scripture-learning sweetly expresseth it Yea there are the goings of the great God himself whose Name is Wonderful for the Sea is his and he made it Ps 95.5 and his Spirit still moveth upon these waters as it did formerly For as a King he sitteth upon the Water-floods saith the Psalm his power and providence walking constantly in state upon the Surface of them Ps 29.10 And though the proud Waves do rage that the very Mountains shake at the swelling thereof because they are stinted in their Current Job 38.10 11. Ps 104.9 and cannot with a full carrere turn again to cover the Earth yet he still keeps them under
the Lord Jesus Christ in order to the preservation of his Creatures A Doctrine it is that is profitable for Conviction for Encouragement and Instruction For conviction of many sinful practises too frequently appearing in these times to the great dishonour of Christ and his Government over the World and for the encouragement and instruction of all the faithful people of God who desire to walk worthy of that preservation which they enjoy under his Government First then this plainly layeth open the gross blindness that hath come upon many who notwithstanding think they see clearly When men will freely acknowledge this great Jehovah the Lord of all to be the sole Fountain of Being unto all Creatures both in Heaven and in Earth And yet in the several changes and revolutions that come upon the World have their thoughts fixed upon second Causes or such it may be as they have framed to themselves not at all regarding the work of the Lord nor the operation of his hands as if he were now no more then a mean Spectatour and had nothing to do in the various Transactions of his Creatures about him How impiously do some after the manner of the Heathen ascribe unto Fortune that good or ill success which attends upon their undertakings It was my good fortune saith one Si fortuna volet fies de Rhetore Conful si volet haec eadem fies de Consule Rhetor that brought me to this Honour to this Estate wherein now I am It was my hard hap saith another that I met with such a cross and that I am fallen into this misery even as the Poet once said If Fortune Will thou may'st of Poor be Consul made And if that will thou must unto thy former Trade This you 'l say is not as becometh Christians but behold yet more Abominations some there are yea too many who when they go about a matter of any great Import either to free themselves from some sad disaster as they call it or to enterprize a Design which they conceive may be for their advantage will usually like unto Heathens for the Scripture notes it as a part of their Infidelity consult with Astrologers a sort of people who if they will keep themselves within their own Sphere would have the Approbation of all that are wise but being excentrick they are the very Pest of a Common-wealth and when the success appeareth their Stars forsooth must be Idoliz'd as the cause of that which doth befal them And how unworthy alas is this of that Faith which we do profess But behold yet greater Abominations It is an Abomination souc'd in the very dregs of Heathenism when people will in time of any loss danger or distress of what kind soever it be not look up to him who is and alwaies was the great Preserver of men and upholdeth all things by the Word of his Power but consult with Witches and Conjurers for a supply and preservation And this alas is too commonly found amongst those that call themselves Christians As for the Heathen they were not ordinarily wont unless it were the ruder sort in plain down-right terms Acheronta movere Ab Aves Aspiciendo that is to seek to the Devil for help They had their Auspicium which was by flying of Birds to divine of their successes And they had their Aruspicium by looking into the Entrails of Beasts appointed for Sacrifice Ab Aras Inspiciendo Ezek. 21.21 to the same purpose as it is said of the King of Babylon that he looked into the Liver Ezek. 21.21 when he took up a Divination for Jerusalem They had also their Tripudium taking a conjecture of what should befall them by the rebounding of Corn thrown upon the ground to Chickens Quasi terripudium seu terripavium from whence the Southsayer was called Pullarius And their Augurium which was a Prediction from the chirping or chattering of Birds as also by the founds and voices which they heard they knew not whence Ab Avium Garritu All which and many more though abominable enough yet were not so bad as knowingly and willingly to seek for a remedy or supply so directly from the Devil which they do that consult with those who they are assured have for such ends and purposes made a compact with him To all whom it may be said is it because there is not a Divine Providence that ordereth and governeth the World nor a power in Heaven to help and to deliver Or rather is it not because you are faithless and have no confidence in this great Preserver of men that you betake your selves to the Devil and his Angels for help A most wicked and Atheistical Generation who deny the Lord that bought them and run a whoring after Satan to worship him with a most execrable Idolatry For it may well be said such persons they revolt from God to the Devil howsoever they plaister up their impiety with untempered Mortar as that they seek Gods help though by the means of the Magician But terrible is that threatning which the Lord hath denounced against these wretched people Lev. 20.6 The Soul that turueth after such as have familiar Spirits and after Wizzards to go a whoring after them I will even set my face against that Soul and will cut him off from among my people Bishop King upon Jonas Add unto this that common foolish Opinion as a reverend Bishop of our times hath well observed and I shall render it in his own words If ever Tempest arise more then common experience hath enured us unto especially with the havock and loss either of life or limb in our Selves our Cattel or Housings forthwith the judgment is given as if the Lord of Heaven and Earth were fallen asleep and minded nothing there is doubtless some Conjuring And what then is Conjuring A pestilent commistion convention stipulation betwixt men and Devils Men and Devils what are they Look upon the Sorcerers of Egypt for the one they cryed in the smallest Plague that was sent and past their cunning to remove this is the finger of God their power is limited therefore Look upon the Martyrings of Job for the other for though the Circuit of Satan be very large even to the compassing of the whole earth to and fro yet he hath his daies assigned him to stand before the presence of God for the renewing of his Commission And besides Oviculam unam auferre non potuit He could not take one poor sheep from Job till the Lord had given him leave saying Put forth thine hand Nor enter into the Herd of Swine Matt. 8. without Christ's permission To conclude therefore with the same learned Writer Whether Men or Devils be ministerial Workers in these Actions all cometh from him who is the Judge of all as from the higher Supreme Cause whose Judgments executed thereby no man can either fully comprehend or reprehend justly He professeth no less of himself Es 45.7 Es
as they stand in their several relations to the Church wherein the wisdom of God and his good Providence hath placed them to bear up as with one shoulder the glory of Christ's Name against sin the World and the Devil Look now unto JESUS First It hath been his constant design to bring all those who believe in him into a Brotherly fellowship one with another not onely to unite them in several Societies as some would have it but to gather those Societies into one Body And the more there is of this Union among thern under Himself who is the sole head of the Body which Dignity none can challenge if it be but by way of Resemblance without Anti-Christian Usurpation and a presumptuous encroachment upon him it hath ever been most agreeable to his mind and will This I say hath been the product of his eternal wisdom for the establishment of his Kingdom in the midst of the Nations Secondly It hath always been his work to settle a Government in his Church for the well being of it that peace and love might be preserved amongst his people punishments inflicted upon the unpeaceable and unruly and that all things especially in the duties of his publick worship and service might be done according to the variety of emergencies arising in several Nations and Ages Decently and in order For that is decent and orderly in one place and time which by experience proveth to be uncomely and disorderly in another Which government being de facto to say nothing of it here de jure enough hath been said of that before continued from the beginning he hath been pleased to bless and prosper with a most happy success to the enlargement of his Kingdom and the propagation of his Gospel Which we may well presume he would not have done in so long a succession of time and so many vicissitudes of troubles and deliverances that have come upon his Church if it had not been according to his minde but since it is so and the Apostle here telling us that he is the Same for ever we may probably conclude that as he hath not left his Church without a care of her well-being in this particular so he will not digress from it but that such a Government so continued and made successful by him shall be perpetuated as own'd by him to the end of the world Let us then I say again look unto Jesus and see his goings in his Sanctuary in the midst of his people from the beginning Let us see also and acknowledge his Immutability therein for the Eternity of Israel is not as man that he should lye or the son of man that he should repent As in all other things that he hath undertaken for the advancement of his kingdome so undoubtedly in this he will be the Same for ever If therefore this hath been his work and design to establish unity and order in his Church and to settle and prosper this very government in it which is this day so much contradicted will it become those that pretend to have an interest in him to walk contrary to him Or will he cease to be the Same in the carrying on of his own work in his good old way to please those unquiet people that will never be satisfied but make the world believe they do him the greatest service when they do what they can to hinder his work What though some mens Tongues and pens run riot crying out still for liberty Liberty of Conscience not considering that to serve the Lord in a chearful submission to his sweet yoke wherewith he hath always kept his Church in good order is perfect freedom nor being willing to know nor understand that Conscientia in tantum libera in quantum ab errore liberata Conscience is so far free as it is freed from errour Yet we may be sure Jesus Christ will still keep on his course because he is the Same for ever And let Conscience it self for which all this clamour is made wheresoever it is not enthralled to lust or errour judge in this case Whether it be a liberty which Christ hath purchased for those that believe in him to cross him in his work which he hath hitherto wrought for the good of his Church I speak not here of what he hath permitted a long time for the trial of his people and the advancement of his truth as being able to bring good out of evil but what he hath alwayes acted as the King of his Church and which the very nature of his office did indeed require should be done For any to quarrel at his actings and to call in question all that he hath hitherto done in that kinde as if he had been ever since his ascension onely a spectatour of his Church to see how well she could shift for her self in her own preservation without the exercise of his power by settling a government in her what is this but to tax him with negligence in his office and to make him a Saviour but in part which in effect is to be none at all What though there be some things that are circumstantial to this Government and some Ceremonies in divine worship that have not an immediate stamp of Divine authority upon them to make them currant which will never be found in the whole institute and order of any Church should we therefore reject all that is in them good and warrantable Because people have not their desire in things indifferent should they not consent to that which is necessary for the honour of Christ and the welfare of his Church Two things that should be dearer to us then our lives much more are they to be preferred before a self-satisfaction in some scrupulous niceties the bare using 1 Cor. 8.8 or not using whereof as the Apostle speaks of meat commendeth us not to God But alas these things are not regarded as they ought to be Mens novel apprehensions of the Kingdome of Christ and their particular interests therein must counter-ballance all the publick concernments of Christ and his Church But O yee poor deluded people consider Hath not the Lord Jesus Christ been already too much dishonoured by your needless dissentions but that you will have him to dishonour himself by varying from his wonted course in the ordering of his Church Hath not the peace of his poor Church been too much disturbed and Christian Charity too much violated heretofore in the late times of Schisme Mr. Vines when as one of the prime Leaders amongst you said then too truely It was almost Popery to speak of it This was indeed the old mark for by this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples said Christ if yee love one another But the truth is it was almost worn out and instead thereof Infelix Lolium unhappy Feuds Quarrels Divisions Rents abounded What fruit had you then in those things whereof you have been ashamed that you will now return unto them
Jesus Châ—ist wâ—ll be the Same in the world to come is in part declared with a Caution premised p. 284. 1. He will continue to be the Same for ever in the Hypostatical union of his two Natures Divine and Humane p. 285. 2. He will continue to be the Same for ever in his mystical Vnion with his Church p. 286. Where is to be seen First How Christ will be over his Church then as a Head 1. As a Head alone without any subordinate power Celestial or Terrestrial ibid. 2. As a Head he will preserve and uphold the members of his mystical Body in their glorious Being p. 287. 3. As a Head he will keep the members of his said mystical Body in a perfect Vnion ibid. 4. As a Head he will shew unto them those glorious mysteries which in this life are beyond their reach and capacity ibid. Secondly Jesus Christ will then be in his people by love p. 288. The Doctrine proved by Scripture p. 290. And by the Testimony of Divines Ancient and Modern ibid. An Objection taken out of the Apostles words 1 Cor. 15.24.28 concerning Christs delivery up of the Kingdome to God even the Father c. Answered at large p. 291. An Exhortation to look unto Jesus p. 295. In the Appendix these following Scriptures proving the certainty of the Calling and Conversion of the JEWS are Quoted and Expounded DEut. 4 30 31. p. 300. Esaiah 11.11 12. p. 301. Esaiah 43.5 6. p. 302. Jeremiah 3.18.23.4 p. 303. Jer. 30.3.31.1.4 ibid. Ezekiel 37.21 22. ibid. Daniel 9.24 p. 306. Hosea 1.10 p. 316. Hosea 3.4 5. p. 318. Luke 21.23 24. p. 319. Acts 1.6 7. p. 324. Rom. 11. p. 328. An Objection answered viz. The Calling of the Jews shall not be till the very instant of the Consummation of all things p. 342. Another Objection answered viz. Their Pertinacy in despising the Gospel makes them the Object of Gods perfect hatred p. 344. Another Objection answered viz. They are enemies unto God not onely in a Passive sense but in an Active also p. 3â—â— Another Objection answered viz. The Jews are now so embodyed with other Nations that it is impossible they should ever any more become a Nation distinct from the Gentiles p. 350. Another Objection answered viz. To maintain this Doctrine of the Jews Restauration is to put the world into a carelesse security concerning the end p. ibid. A word of Exhortation to all the Churches of the Gentiles to pray earnestly unto God for the conversion of the Jews and to eschew those sins among our selves which may probably be a hinderance to the bringing on of so glorious a work p. 352. AN ASCENT TO THE HOLY MOUNT To see JESUS CHRIST in his Glory OR A PERSPECTIVE to help the Weak Sight to behold the Eternity and Immutability of the Lord Jesus Christ Taken out of the words of S. Paul Hebr. 13.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ the same Yesterday to Day and for ever Adsis O JESV JESVS CHRIST whom we still preach unto you and in whom you do believe else our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain The Lord Jesus Christ I say as he is the Object of your Expectation in this Service we are now about So is he you see by my Text the subject of my intended Business at this time When my Discourse therefore shall answer your expectation you will I hope afford your diligent attention thereunto The words at first sight seem to be the sudden efflux of the Spirit added here in the close as the result of that which had been said before and as the Total Sum of the Epistle shutting up the whole as in a Parenthesis implying that all that was written amounted unto this viz Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day and for-ever Or else they are inserted as a reviving Cordial to the poor Hebrews who might seeing the Gentiles were received into Covenant with God fear themselves to be quite cast off from Grace because their Nation had so generally with much pertinacy refused that great Salvation which was brought unto them Upon which account the Apostle inferreth this short and sweet Epiphonema to comfort them with now at parting Jesus Christ is the sams yesterday to day and for ever As much as to say Jesus Christ is the same to you as he was from the beginning who as he was at first sent to seek and to save the lost sheep of the house of Israel so now also notwithstanding former unkindnesses and though his grace is not to be confin'd as it hath been but must extend to all Nations yet he abideth still a Saviour unto you if you abide in the faith and he will be so likewise to the end of the world Thus may this Verse seem to carry this sense within its own Verge not having any intercourse with the Contexture bordering upon it But it is generally conceived by Expositours that these words are coincident with those immediately before-going where an Exhortation is given to the Hebrews to be mindful of their Guides who had taught them the way of God truly not according to the Mosaical but Evangelical Pattern and to imitate them in the holiness of their lives and in their constancy to the faith which they sealed with their death The words are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Remember them which have the rule over you or are your Guides who have spoken unto you the word of God whose faith follow considering the end of their conversation The force of example we all know is very great to induce likeness of Manners and the greater the example is the greater power it hath to draw to similitude It was wont to be said Facile transitur ad plures We are easily moved to go after a Multitude but it may well be added Facile transitur ad majores It is no hard matter to make us imitate great Authorities be the patterns good or bad for the vices of Rulers are commonly the rule of Vices and the vertues of Leaders will also lead unto Vertue Hereupon it is that the Apostle proposeth unto the Hebrews the example of their Leaders to the end that they might not as he saith V 9. be carried about with divers and strange Doctrines where they had their instruction there also they might receive establishment by their imitation in whose example Quiddam memorabile designat Apostolus saith Calvin the Apostle noteth some memorable matter worthy of their saddest thoughts implying thus much that their Teachers had in defence of that Word which they had spoken unto them gone through much affliction not loving their lives unto death for that was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the issue and Exit of their Conversation which the Hebrews should consider that when they saw how stedfast and invincible their Leaders were in the faith their example might the better move them And now to set an edge upon this Exhortation the Apostle sheweth in the words of my
darkness are set about the Pavilion of God Ps 18.11 he therefore that presseth to it will lose himself for ever We read indeed of his out-goings that have been from everlasting that is as is conceived his eternal Generation Mich. 5.2 together with his Purposes and Decrees which should in time be accomplished but for his in-goings with the Father and the Holy Ghost they are laid up with God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Revestries of Eternity the knowledge whereof is infinitely beyond the reach of any Creature It is fit for us to be contented with what Christ himself hath been pleased to declare concerning this secret As that he was his Fathers delight Diè Diè in all those daies of Eternity rejoycing alwaies before him Pro. 8.30 31. John 17.5 in that excellent Glory which he saith He had with him before the world began But if vain man who is born like a wild Asses colt will be wise above what is written enquiring what Christ did yesterday before the Creation he must be answered with that saying of old He prepared Hell for such bold Intruders who will so audaciously busie themselves in searching into the secret and eternal Counsels of the most High Yet notwithstanding albeit in this sense we are not of Yesterday and therefore neither can nor ought to know any thing this Doctrine may instruct us concerning Jesus Christ that though he took upon him our Nature yet he continued still to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same what he was from Eternity Quod erat permansit quod non erat assumpsit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He ceased not to be what he was and what he was not he assumed Thou art the same saith David speaking of Christ Ps 102.27 as appears Heb. 1.12 and thy years viz. of thy Wisdom thy Power and other thy glorious Attributes as well as of thy life have no end but indure throughout all Generations Though the Heavens shall be changed and wax old like a Garment and the faithful Witness that is therein shall witness to all that all things in this world are unfaithful yea though Christ himself who in the fulness of Eternity dwelt in that Light that is inaccessible was in the fulness of time made flesh and dwelt among us yet he was still 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same God manifested in the flesh but continuing notwithstanding to be God still This was the Weapon wherewith the Orthodox of old did strike through the loins of the Arians Verbum caro factum est sed non mutatum The Son of God was made flesh but not changed into it and they gave it an edge from this very Text which we are now upon Cent. 4. cap. 5. Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever True it is Phil. 2.7 he emptied himself as the Apostle speaks Phil. 2.7 for so the word there sâ—gnifies and that secundum Deitatem too in respect of his Godhead But what emptying was this Not a total devesting himself of his Eternal Power and Godhead for then he had not been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same but the meaning is as the word is well rendred in our Bibles He made himself of no reputation That is as it follows He took upon him the form of a servant which form of a Servant could not surely obliterate the form of God Non depositâ sed sepositâ Majestate as one saith well not by cancelling or laying away but as it were by concealing or laying aside for a time the most glorious appearance of his Divine Majesty In a word the Godhead in Christ was not laid aside at his Incarnation considered as it is in it self common to the three Persons Father Son and Holy Ghost but only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an approved distinction among the Learned by a gratious dispensation in that he was pleased to condescend so low as to assume our Nature and to joyn it unto his yet not confounding the properties of either and therefore he still abideth immutably the same even as a Prince when he marrieth a poor Beggar may in a sense be said to make himself of no reputation and to have no regard to his great Dignity though nevertheless he continue still in the same state wherein he was before Athanasius gives the reason very clearly Corpus non vim habuit absolvendae Divinae Hypostasâ—os The body which was ordained for Christ was not able to dissolve his Divine Subsistence Now therefore because he made himself of no reputation should we make light account of him God forbid when we consider his Birth here in this world how poor and homely let us withal remember his Eternal Generation how Glorious and Divine When we look upon his poor Mother a despised Woman though indeed the glory and flower of her Sex let us then also think upon his Eternal Father the God of Glory when we see him rejected by men in a worse condition for house-room in the world then the Foxes of the earth and the Fowls of the air let not our Lord thereupon be despised in our eyes but call to mind how he inhabiteth Eternity is in the bosom of the Father upholding all things by the word of his Power and all the Angels of God worshipping him And thus are we faln upon the second Result that ariseth out of this everlasting Truth considering it with a reference unto the people of God Whose duty it is upon the account of Christs Eternity and Immutability to give unto him the glory due unto his Name And how can we indeed do otherwise John 1.14 When we see his Glory as the Glory of the only begotten Son of God When we find by comfortable experience upon our Souls the blessed effects of his eternal and immutable Wisdom Power Goodness how can we choose but say Lo this is our God we have waited for him and he will save us this is the Lord Es 25.9 we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation Yea this is our faith and confidence and hope and triumph here alone we will fix and here alone we desire to be found to be found in Life to be found in Death and to be found after Death For whither else should we go With him are the Words and with him are the Works of eternal life Such a Saviour it behoved us to have and such a Saviour he hath approved himself to be who did not only begin but throughly accomplish our Deliverance The pleasure desire and purpose of the Lord hath prospered in his hand Es 53.10 And the salvation of his people hath been a salvation to the uttermost So that we may say with Moses He is the Rock and his work is perfect Deut. 32.4 Give unto him then the Glory due unto his Name And if it be demanded how it should be done as it is fit indeed we should be still inquisitive after it
that put their trust in him The second Interpretation of the TEXT Jesus Christ is the same yesterday to day and for ever In a reference to the whole CREATION Adsis O JESV HEnce it is that Christ calls himself the Alpha and Omega Rev. 1.11 the first and the last Being so in this sense as well as in that before-mentioned The first because he is before all things and by him all things consist Col. 1.16 The last Col. 1.16 in that he is after all things Or He shall stand the last on the earth as that place of Job may be rendred or with the last Job 19.25 Es 41.4 Col. 3.11 as the Prophet phraseth it that is continuing with or ruling this whole World to the end of it He is All and in all saith the Apostle in point of eternal salvation all meritoriously all efficiently all sufficiently so likewise is he All and in all in respect of the World and the Creatures therein for all had been nothing without him and all would fall to nothing without him the same good hand of his Power running constantly without the least Retractation or Interstitium through the whole from first to last which clearly demonstrates him what the Text proclaims him to be viz. The same yesterday to day and for ever That is The same in the work of Creation The same in the work of Preservation The same in the work of Restauration According to this triple Distribution of Time here in the Text Yesterday to day and for ever Let us therefore now consider these distinctly by themselves that we may so far as God shall be pleased to enable us take an exact view of the unchangeable power of the Lord Jesus in order to the Creatures CHAP I. How the Text is Applicable to Christ in the work of Creation JEsus Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same mighty God or the only He as the word signifies in the work of Creation he is that great Jehovah as it hath been made to appear that Ens entium The beginning of the Creation of God Rev. 3.14 Not in a Passive sense but Active that giveth a Being to all Creatures Therefore when this Jehovah saith of himself Es 48.12 I am he Es 48.12 I am the first I am also the last He presently inferreth Mine hand hath laid the foundations of the earth and my right hand hath spanned the Heavens when I call them they stand up together Ob. But we are to believe will some say according to the Tenor of our Creed that the Father is the Creatour of Heaven and Earth Sol. I answer True but that is not to be taken exclusively of the Son and of the Holy Ghost for as there is a Divine Order between the Persons in the Trinity so this Order is the same towards the Creatures as it is amongst themselves Opera Trinitatis ad extra sunt indivisa Talis agendo qualis existendo The same in working as in their existency one with another the Father is of himself the Son is of the Father the Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son so first the Counsel and Decree of the Father precedeth then the Son produceth that Decree into Act P.R. the Jesuit in his Treatise of Mitigati on against Dr. Morton tels us that Bellarmine Valentia c. Charge Calvin with Arianism for holding that Christ as he is the second person of the Trinity cannot properly be called the Creatour of Heaven and Earth for that say they implieth that he is not God nor equal to his Father Heb. 1.2 then the Holy Ghost maketh it effectual to all those ends and purposes for which it was ordained not as if there were any priority among them either in respect of Dignity or Time but the only wise God being the God of Order and delighting therein this Order is held in all proceedings amongst those three Heavenly Estates as it were who are not either in their Actions or Existence subordinate one to another but only co-ordinate one with another Excellently therefore according to this Rule is this Order in the work of Creation described by Arnobius an Orthodox Writer of the Fourth Century Ipse dixit facta sunt hoc est per verbum Dei facta sunt Patre loquente Filio creante Spiritu Sancto animante He spake and it was done that is By the Word of God were the Heavens and the Earth finished and all the Host of them by the Breath of his Mouth the Father decreeing the Son creating the Holy Ghost quickning Or as Basil the Great at the same time sweetly interprets it In creatione cogita principalem causam corum quae fiâ—nt Patrem conditricem Filium perfectricem Spiritum Sanctum In the work of Creation ever conceive the first Mover thereof to be the Father the working cause to be the Son the perfecting to be the Holy Ghost True it is the Father is said to work by the Son for by him that is the Son saith the Apostle Heb. 1.2 God made the World yet that will not necessarily imply as the Arians impiously construe it that the Son is only ministerial or instrumental to the Father herein as a Servant is to his Lord for this Preposition Per doth sometimes also signifie the very primary efficient cause of a thing that is acted or done v.g. A man may be said per liberum arbritrium by his free-will to undertake a Design his will though cannot be counted as his Instrument in the matter he undertakes but it is the efficient Mover of his undertaking And when a work-man per rationem Idaeam Artis that is by his skill doth perfect some rare artificial Piece we do not say that his Reason or Skill was either his Tool or his Servant that he used in his Work but the very Spring or Principle from whence the Work received its full and whole composure and formality which is so far from being an Impeachment of the Work-mans credit that it rather tends to his greater glory So when the Father is said by the Son to create the World the Son is not thereby subjected to the form of a Servant unto the Father as he was when he undertook to redeem the World but is declared thereby to be in all points 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Co-worker with him as the efficient cause of the Creation to the glory of the Father 1 Cor. 1.24 he being the wisdom of God and the power of God as saith the Apostle And yet to make this clearer we shall find that the said Preposition is in Scripture sometimes used with a reference also even unto the Father v.g. 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithful 1 Cor. 1.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by whom ye were called into the fellowship of his Son 2 Cor. 1.1 And 2 Cor. 1.10 Paul calls himself an Apostle of Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the will of
God Whereby surely is not meant that the Father is subservient in either of these respects but the first Mover and efficient cause in both so is the Son also in the work of Creation though the Father is said to work by him for he saith John 5.17 My Father worketh hitherto and I work John 5.17.19 And what things soever the Father doth these do the Son likewise V. 19. As the Father therefore is the sole Creatour of all things so in like manner is the Son John 10.30 because the Father and the Son are both one the Father by the Son and the Son from the Father excluding only all Creatures in Heaven or in Earth from having any concurrency herein To conclude Peter Lombard's sense concerning this Point or rather S. Chrysostom's quoted by him will give us some clear light in this Mystery and it is indeed well worthy to be remembred by us The Father Lib. 2. Dist 13. saith he worketh by the Son Quia tum genuit omnium opificem Because he begat him in that ineffable and eternal Generation the Creatour of all things and if the Father be the cause of the Son secundum quod Pater est As he is Father much more is he the cause of those Creatures which are created by the Son Hence it appeareth John 5.26 that as the Father hath life in himself and hath given to the Son to have life in himself so the Father hath this honour soo modo ordine In his glorious Rank and Order to be the Creatour of all things and he hath given to the Son in his order likewise to be the Creatour too the like we may say also of the Holy Ghost in his Order Since then it is the priviledge of the Son by virtue of his Divine Generation to be entituled to this Honour in an equality with the Father let him be as the Apostle calleth him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Bringer forth of every Creature Col. 1.15 And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Authour the Beginner Rev. 3.14 the Prince of the whole Creation the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he and none but he He it was that stretched forth the Heavens alone Es 44.24 Psal 104.9 Ps 147.4 and did spread abroad the Earth by himself he made his Angels Spirits and his Ministers a flaming fire He telleth the number of the Stars and calleth them all by their names or as it is rendred Giveth names unto them He prepared the Light and the Sun Ps 74.16 Ps 104.19 Job 38.28 29. Job 38.22 Ps 135.7 Ps 33.7 Ps 24.1 the Moon also he appointed for seasons And what Father hath the Rain but he Or who but he hath begotten the drops of Dew Out of whose Womb came the Ice And the hoary Frost of Heaven who but he hath gendred it He created the treasures of the Snow the Hail and the Wind and he laid up the Depth in Storehouses The Earth is his and the fulness thereof whether it be in the Surface or in the Bowels of it the round World and they that dwell therein In fine the Apostle sums up altogether Col. 1.16 By him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in the Earth visible and invisible Col. 1.16 whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him And the Evangelist agrees in the same account saying All things were made by him John 1.3 and without him was not any thing made that was made Thus was Jesus Christ Yesterday that is in the beginning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the only he in the work of Creation He himself undertook it without the assistance of Angels whom Saturnius Basilides Cent 2. cap 5. and other Hereticks of old would obtrude upon him to be his Co-agents in the Work And he was likewise the same in carrying on his work there was no variableness in him whilest he continued in it exercising his Divine Artifice and Dexterity in the Magnitude Variety Multitude Distinction Order Harmony of his Creatures which he produced one day after another till all was finished At which time he look'd upon all with much complacency and delight beholding the Travel that he had gone over and was satisfied therewith not retracting the least thing that had passed through his fingers for he was not ashamed of his Work but set his Seal unto the whole giving this Testimony of it That it was all very good Gen. 1.31 With men indeed there is a marvellous mutability in their Works either they are not able to perfect what they begin and so are not the same when they have wearied themselves about their work as they were at first entrance upon it ashamed and vexed to see their expectations frustrated As it was with Solomon after he had stretched forth his uttermost Abilities which in truth surpassed all others to extract the most exquisite Spirits and purest Quintessence for his delight which the variety of the Creatures could afford how miserably alas was he deluded I locked saith he on all the works that my hands had wrought R◠2.11 and on the labour that I had laboured to do and behold all was vanity and vexation of spirit Or else they are not wise enough to carry on their Enterprizes to such a progress and maturity as may probably produce any desirable Issue being fain to sit down many times re infectâ even as wise as they began or out of envy they are not willing to impart their Experiments to others Plutarchus in vita Alex. As Alexander would not have Aristotle to publish his Acroamatical Sciences for wherein saith he shall we excel others if those things which thou hast secretly taught us be made common to all O! but the Lord Jesus Christ is the same all along in his Works shewing forth the immutability of his Wisdom Coodness and Power therein for by his Wisdom he made the Heavens and by his Wisdom he made the Worms Gen. 1.25 which though they may be generated by corruption Ps 136.5 Gen. 1.25 yet they had their Original by virtue of the Principles of the first Production caused by that Omnipotent Fiat which gave Being to all things and the smaller the Creature is the more is the Divine Workmanship to be admired both in the shaping and in the using thereof The Hebrews have an opinion as it is observed that Enchanters cannot shew their skill in little things if they be less then a Barley-corn and therefore the Sorcerers of Egypt failed in producing Lice Exod. 8.18 But the Wisdom of the great Creatour is the same in the smallest Creature of the World as in the greatest the organical body of a little Ant is no less to be wondred at then the huge body of Behemoth His goodness also is the same shining clearly throughout the whole Creation It was not out of any need that he began this Work
his command shutting them up with Bars and Bolts within their decreed place Jer. 3.22 giving a charge to the poor inconsiderable Sand to be a boundary unto them and though they roar all like Bears and Lions yet they are not able to pass over it When we consider also the Earth the Center of the World as it may be called how stedfast and immoveable That though it be founded on the Seas and established on the Floods Job 38.6 Ps 104.5 Ps 104.24 yet the Corner-stone should be so surely laid that the Foundation shall not be removed for ever How vast and inexhaustible the Treasures thereof are it being full of the Riches of God How excellent and glorious the Attire wherewith it is every year adorned How fertile her Womb from whence such a numerous multitude of living Creatures do derive their Pedigree and Extraction Her uberous Breasts also still sending forth millions of streams to feed as with milk both her young and old Fruit In a word How that from it is ministred matter to defend or offend feed or famish cherish or starve make blind or receive sight to overturn or build up to procure health or sickness soe 's or friends peace or war pleasure or pain sorrow or mirth sleep or watchfulness sores or soundness barenness or fruitfulness life or death and what not When I say we consider these things and amongst them all in a more especial manner our selves made indeed a little lower then the Angels Ps 8.5 6. but crowned with glory and worship having dominion over the works of Gods hands How can we choose but be filled with admiration and say O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy Name in all the World How glorious is thy Majesty How infinite is thy Power How incomprehensible is thy Greatness Thou who art the great Jehovah Exod. 15.11 Ps 89.13 the first born of every Creature the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that givest a Being to this All Who is like unto thee glorious in holiness fearful in praises doing wonders Surely thou hast a mighty Arm strong is thy hand and high is thy right hand Let therefore all the Earth fear thy Name Ps 33.8 yea let all the Inhabitants of the World stand in awe of thee and yield their homage unto thee And whatsoever is excellent in them let them lay it at thy feet and say Worthy art thou Rev. 4.11 O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created Secondly Since it is so let then the Lord Jesus Christ enjoy that absolute Sovereignty which he hath as his Peculiar over all the Earth to dispose of it as seemeth good unto him for it is the greatest right that possibly can be in the world imagined to have a peculiar Title to those things that are of one's own making Poor Creatures will stand much upon their Priviledge herein Hath not the Potter power over the Clay of the same lump when he hath prepared and fitted it for his use to make one Vessel unto honour and another to dishonour And hath not the Gardener likewise liberty when he hath contrived his Plat in stretching forth his Line and treading out his Beds and Borders according to his mind to dispose of them for his delight planting and transplanting where and when and as often as he pleaseth Is it not lawful for me said the Master of the Vineyard to do what I will with mine own This liberty is justifiable even by the Law of Nature Seeing then that Jesus Christ is the Creatour of all things and that therefore the Earth is his and the fulness thereof having received from him both matter and form which no Creature in the world can contribute to the work of his hands it is but very meet and requisite that his power should be paramount at all times in giving of it to whomsoever he will and that all men of what Rank soever and to what Right soever they do pretend to be Paravale unto him In vain it is to make a flourish and according to the fashion of the world in a proud insolent manner to boast of our Pedigree and Ancestours and that such an Estate is derived unto me through the prudence and providence of my wise and careful Progenitours whereby I have a Propriety in it and therefore to be perpetuated to me and my Posterity for ever Alas alas these words are but wind empty and foolish only they carry with them an arrogant encroachment upon that supreme Right which belongs unto Jesus Christ as if their present possession notwithstanding their frequent forfeitures by their multiplied disobediences did settle upon them such an entailment as that it lay not in the power of the Lord of the whole Earth to make a re-entry whensoever he pleased and to pass a new Grant unto others that are not of their House and Linage But the wind shall blow no man to preferment out of what quarter soever it may arise for the Prophet tells us Psal 75.6 Promotion cometh neither from the East nor from the West Ps 75.6 nor from the South or Wilderness as the word is rendred containing both North and South Neque à desertis montibus saith S. Hierom. Canaan being on both side begirt with Deserts But God is the Judge in this case as well as in any else He putteth down one and setteth up another V. 7. which he can and doth justifie very well to the silencing of all contradiction even upon the account of his Creatourship I have saith he Made the Earth the Man and the Beast that are upon the ground by my great power and by my out-stretched Arm Jer. 27.5 and have given it unto whom it seemeth meet unto me And thus have we seen how Jesus Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same mighty God or the only He as the word signifies in the work of Creation CHAP II. How the Text is Applicable to Christ in the work of Preservation JEsus Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same to Day in the work of Preservation and Government of the World which he was Yesterday in the work of Creation For Non minor est virtus quam condere facta tueri There is as much need of power and wisdom to Preserve as to Create What avails it to plant a Garrison without a Captain to defend it To Rigg a Ship for the Sea without a Pilot to guide it To throw Seed into the Ground with an expectation of an encrease at Harvest unless means be used to preserve it from the Incursions of wild Beasts which would utterly destroy it So unless the Lord Jesus Christ be the Preserver of that which he hath created be is not the same to Day which he was Yesterday his years are expired that is his Wisdom Power and Goodness in order to the Creatures have
hath of late been sufficiently cleared by others Mr. Prinn c. Is not the Lord Jesus Christ called the Prince of the Kings of the Earth as being his honour to have those that are of the highest estimation to be Subjects unto him Which being so it should be the desire and ambition of all the people in the world to be ruled by those persons who are entituled to this subjective Regality And when Divine Providence shall with a strong hand and a stretched-out Arm lead them unto it as it hath done us here in this Kingdom and the Nations of our Vicinity for many Generations it will certainly be their sin if they should not submit cheerfully unto it as it was the sin of the people of Israel when they out of a diffidence of Gods care and protection of them and out of an Apish imitation of other Nations would in an unseasonable preposterous and tumultuous manner be catching at it And now all this considered how can a people with any serenity of Conscience profess Godliness and yet speak reproachfully of the Kingly Office yea account it Antichristian as some have done proclaiming open Hostility against it Were it indeed Heterogeneous to the Divine Ordinance of Civil Government or incongruous to the times of the Gospel or prejudicial to the interest of the Saints as it is said to be or an impeachment in the least degree to the Dignity and Prerogative Royal of the Lord Jesus Christ himself either in respect of his Natural or of his Donative Kingdom such persons might proceed upon warrantable grounds to proclaim their dislike in that kind But it may now appear to all the World that the clamour which is raised against Regal Power upon any of these before-named accounts is altogether causeless and of no moment It will not be expedient here to examine them severally for in so doing we should make too large a digression haply we shall meet with them obiter in our way wherein the inadvertency or to say truly the Seditious frowardness rather then the godly zeal of the Authors and Abettors of these Complaints will be made manifest unto all men In the mean time I cannot but protest against that pernicious Paradox which hath been vented by a leading Divine as he was accounted in these late times of Errour and Rebellion amongst us J. O. who in a Sermon preached at S. Margarets Westminster and afterwards Printed saith thus The Lord had of old erected a Kingly Government in the House of David not for any eminency in the Government it self or for the Civil Advantage of that people but that it might be a Type of the Spiritual Dominion of the Messiah and so was a part of their Paedagogy and Bondage as was the residue of their Types every one of them and consequently this form of Government not to be of any use in the time of the Gospel Were this true we then who are now of the Church of God as that people were before us acknowledging this Messiah to be come according to the Promise may indeed have just cause to say of that kind of Government as the Apostle doth of Circumcision If we should allow of it Christ shall profit us nothing the substance being come what should the shadow of a King do unto us But I hope that those who have through the subtlety of Satan been misled into this Opinion will hereafter find cause to retract it when they shall remember that the rule of the Gospel to which they pretend an exact Conformity requires them to pray and to give thanks for Kings which as the Apostle saith is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3. 1 Tim 2.1 2 3. However seeing that Wisdom puts forth her Voice crying at the Gates at the entry of the City at the coming in at the Doors saying By me Kings Reign and Princes decree Justice by me Princes rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the eâ—rth Seeing I say this sound is heard from Heaven every day in the Consciences of men Wisdom will herein be justified of all her children And let this serve to terminate the first part of my Proposition viz. Government is an Ordinance of Divine Authorization Secondly It is ordained to be subservient unto Christ in the dispensation of his power and providence towards the preservation of Mankind 2. Branch For though Christ be All in all Col. 3.11 as the Apostle speaks Col. 3. yet to shew himself to be the Lord of all he hath ordained means to be subservient unto him in all the works of his Providence and hath accordingly made use of them To this purpose saith the Son of Sirach very pertinently Ec. 38.2 3 4 5. Of the most High cometh healing yet the Physician must be honoured with that honour that belongeth unto him The Lord also hath created Medicines out of the Earth and he that is wise will not abhor them He hath given skill unto men that he might be honoured in his marvellous works with such doth he heal men and taketh away their pains of such doth the Apothecary make a Confection c. Hence it is as the Prophet Jeremy speaketh Jer. 23.25 That his Covenant with Day and Night and the Ordinances of Heaven and Earth concerning their disposition motion order influences virtues and operations are inviolable They continue this day saith the Psalmist according to thine ordinance Ps 119.91 for all are thy servants not as if his Paramount Authority and power were thereby any whit diminished rather it is advanced nor as if he were necessitated thereunto for want of power in himself for we may see the course of Heaven c. hath sometimes been inverted by him Indulgentiae est non indigentiae non efficaciam quaerit sed congruentiam Ex. 14.16 John 3.16 2 Reg. 10.1 Dan. 3.25 But of his own free will in the abundance of his goodness it is that he governeth and preserveth Creatures by Creatures using the ministery of second Causes for in their present poor estate wherein they are in this world his own immediate hand and power would soon prove intolerable unto them Who alas among us here can dwell with devouring fire Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings Goodness then and mercy it is that is the ground of this Dispensation from Heaven towards poor creatures of all sorts but there is no creature under the Sun unto whom the Lord hath so much respect as he hath to Mankind all other indeed have their being and their well-being whatsoever it is from him as hath been said before But Man is his Favourite the Masterpiece of his wisdom power and goodness the work of his Faciamus not barely of his Fiat as other Creatures were in him he challengeth a special propriety accounting him his own in a peculiar manner for in that sense I conceive that place of the Evangelist John 1.11 He
10.13 Heb. 10.13 and therefore is not to be engaged in it self by such a government over men as is here pretended Add unto this his Office of Mediatourship he must not relinquish with reverence be it spoken till he hath finished his whole work that is brought the righteous God and poor man together again who were set at a distance through the Interposition of the Devil In order whereunto he did assume the Humane Nature and in his own person joyn it to the Divine that so by virtue of this Union and in the execution of that Office which was annexed unto it he might Malgrè all the malice of Hell bring many Sons unto glory But now to lay down this Office by leaving the holy place where he is once entred before he hath perfected the Atonement which will not be till all the Elect be delivered out of the reach of Satan would be so great a dishonour to the Divine Majesty that it could not well be repaired by Wisdom it self Perhaps it will be said these are great words be it so but they are also most true And therefore that disservice that is done unto Christ by these Fifth Monarchy-men as they are called in ascribing unto him such a power as they have fancied for it is but the corrupt fruit of their own Imagination as will appear in the end must needs be very great likewise That they do promote the Design of Antichrist is also clear though they perceive it not For hath it not been the Masterpiece of Rome in the setting up of the Popes Vicegerency under Christ to make all the Powers of the Earth stoop unto him yea to render them in time altogether useless save in what he shall ex Cathedra dictate unto them It was said of him by one who knew well what spirit he would be of That he opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or is worshipped So that to despise Dominion 2 Thes 2.4 and to speak evil of Dignities much more to overturn Order and Civil Government which in infinite Wisdom and goodness hath been established by God in the World must needs be an acceptable Service done unto Antichrist as very much conducing to the carrying on of his pernicious Design and it will sooner be preparatory thereunto then any whit to the advancement of Christ's honour But to let this pass If the word of Truth the Will of the faithful God revealed in holy Scripture be constant and perpetual then may we safely say That this present way which is now in being of the dispensation of Divine Power and Providence in the government of Mankind shall never be changed The Apostle adviseth that every Soul be subject to the higher Powers enforcing it with a Reason that must ever prevail upon the Consciences of men for saith he the Powers that be are ordained of God Rom. 13.1 He exhorteth also that Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks Rom. 13.1 be made for Kings and for all that are in Authority 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3. adding also such a Reason that will undoubtedly over-rule the hearts of those that fear God for saith he This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour Again Put them in mind saith he to Titus to be subject to Principalities and Powers to obey Magistrates c. Implying that though they would be apt to forget mans nature being ever since it was depraved by our first Parents Ambition wondrously inclinable to an irregular exorbitancy yet they should know this was their duty as well as any other that was given them in charge by the Gospel And now I appeal unto all that are not willing to be deceived whether all this doth not clearly imply the perpetuation of these Powers for if they should not continue unto the end this word of command and exhortation would be altogether useless and impertinent which is an Imputation not to be put upon the words of the Wise yea of Wisdom it self If any shall say yea there shall be a Government to the end but not of a Humane Constitution the Apostle S. Peter will presently stop the mouth of this Objection with that express word of command which he giveth saying Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2.13 14. whether it be to the King as Supreme or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him All this then being the undoubted Verity which the Lord Jesus Christ by his Apostles and Servants hath made known unto his Church and which whosoever will peremptorily deny let him expect a Conviction with a manifestation of Gods displeasure what is it that will be objected hereunto What Rather then fail the holy Scripture shall be forced to furnish men with Evasions and Truth shall be set in opposition against in self But O man who art thou that makest this jangling between the words of Truth That turnest the Rule of the Righteous God into crookedness and deformity Is it meet to say to the Eternity of Israel Thou art not the same Fie upon such Blasphemy Let God be true and every man a Liar His words are not Yea and Nay but Yea and Amen pure words as silver tried in a Furnace of earth without any the least dross of falshood or prevarication purified seven times It must surely therefore be some strong delusion that puts men upon this Satanical Sophistry to make Truth contradict it self And what is it that is alledged but some obscure Prophetick places of Scripture the Interpretation whereof will be better known by a patient waiting for the Accomplishment if they be not already fulfilled then by a rash and hasty determination to the dishonouring of the holy Spirit in the invalidating of other places that are plain and clear without any shadow of Ambiguity whatsoever And let these Fifth Monarchy-men themselves judge whether it would not be safer and become them better to submit to the express Commands of the Holy Ghost in Scripture then tenaciously to lean to their own understandings in giving a peremptory sense of some dark and dubious Prophecies to the contradicting of those Commands But to close up this whole matter I suppose that now after all the pretended challenges that have in these times been made by parties to promote the Magistrates Interest it will begin to appear unto all men who are willing to see whose Principles are and have been notwithstanding all their flattering Pretensions Antimagistratical Having thus removed the before-named Objection that lay in our way and made manifest the truth of that Proposition which tended to the clearing and illustrating of our Solution of that Objection viz. That Government is an Ordinance of Divine Authorization made to be subservient unto Christ in his great work of Preservation and for that end to be continued so long as the World endures Let us now come to make use of this Doctrine concerning the Immutability of
Gentiles was no prevailing Inducement to us to take your God to be our God we were as willing to keep our Distance in those times of our Ignorance as you your selves could possibly desire we should but such hath been the exceeding goodness of your God and our God as to make himself known unto us in this our day as clearly and fully to say no more as he did unto your Fathers Yesterday and as he was pleased to make a Promise that the time should come Es 11.1 Jer. 23.5 when this root of Jesse should shoot forth a Branch Whose name should be called the Lord our righteousness whom he would give to be a Covenant to the people and a light to the Gentiles and that in him should the Gentiles trust Es 42.6 so hath he made good his word unto us blessed be his Name unto us I say who were a foolish people a people that did neither understand nor seek after him He hath brought us into the bond of the Covenant avouching us to be his People and we have avouched him to be our God yea and He shall be our God for ever and ever and we will have no other God besides him If then there be such a blessed Change in us must there not bee a Change in the divine dispensation of Grace if we own your God for our God Is it not clear that there hath a Light appeared which was not of Yesterday And whence comes it that we who were sometimes Darkness are now Light in the Lord surely flesh and bloud hath not revealed it unto us but we have received it by the hand of that true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World A Light that lightens the Gentiles as saith your Prophets and which alone must be the glory of Israel Now therefore O yee Jews I beseech you be as we are for in the knowledg of the true God according to the Scriptures we are as you are You have not injured us at all rather your I all hath been to our advantage neither will our Breaches be made up among one selves but by your conjunction with us O consider it is the purpose and decree of the Almighty to make you instrumental in bringing to pass his great Work which is the perfecting of his Church in these latter dayes for as your Fathers were not to be perfect without us so neither shall we be Perfect without you Behold this is that will make you as a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord Es 62 3 and as a royal Diadem in the hand of your God which when it is come to pass as it will surely come Oh how shall we flock together unto you Zech. 8.23 and hang upon you Ten of us taking hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew saying we will go with you for we have heard that God is with you Since therefore this honour is reserved for you What will you be still groping in the Dark will you be ever poring upon Yesterday shall the Day be almost spent before your Eyes be opened to see the Light that now shineth and the Glory that waiteth for you And if ever through the good Providence of God this paper may come to your perusal O let the good hand of God go along with it to rouze and quicken you This is not spoken to you with Disdain but with a hearty desire of your Restauration nor with any contempt or abhorrency at the appellation of Jew but with Pity For though the Name and Title of your Nation carrieth with it a reproach among us Gentiles because you Crucified the Lord of Glory yet we know it hath been a Title of the greatest dignity and honour upon earth and shall be so again unless as it is said by the Prophet you be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name Es 62.2 Yea so far is any shadow of scorn from this address unto you that I do here in the behalf of all the Churches that profess the Faith of Christ crucified declare unto you that upon your return unto that great Messiah whom you have hitherto rejected and besides whom it is in vain to seek for any other we will yeild unto you that Preheminence which is your due for though we were in Christ before you yet we must ever acknowledg you to be the First born the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power and as we have been first so we shall be contented according to the order and appointment that is given us to be Last and as you have been the Last so shall it be your lot and honour to be First again In the mean time we must confess that we poor Novices are grown up to be a wanton Generation quarelling and wrangling one with another oftentimes about trifles God knoweth to the blemishing of our holy Profession among those that are without and greiving of that good Spirit of the Lord that dwelleth in us and among us All which would undoubtedly be remedied if we had your Brotherly assistance to make us Wiser We know well what honourable Priviledges God hath of his abundant love graunted unto you Our great Apostle Saint Paul an Hebrew of the Hebrews who as you have heard was at first a bloudy Persecutour of the Disciples of the Lord Jesus yet afterwards even in the heat of his Fury was miraculously converted to the Faith which he before sought to destroy even he in his Epistles hath set us an Example to give you the Preheminence speaking in this manner once and again the Jew first and also the Gentile the Jew first and also the Gentile he hath also given us a Synopsis of your Prerogatives which we with gladness of heart are willing to look upon He hath told us that you are Israelites the noblest Generation in the World Rom. 9.4.5 a People that were wont to prevail like Princes with God himself even as Jacob your Father did whom therefore God was pleased to honour with the name of Israel which name was also by a special indulgence from God devolved upon you as the greatest blessing To you pertained the Adoption being the First born Exod. 4.22 upon whom the name of the Lord was called when we poor Strangers were not under his rule and governance neither were then called by his name Es 63.19 You had the Glory the Ark of the Covenant of your God the Symbol of his glorious presence in the midst of you You had the Covenants even those Tables written by the Finger of God To you was the Law given by the disposition of Angels that is the Oracles of God both Moral and Judicial The service of God was committed unto you which consisted in a Holy Typical use of Divine Rites and Sacrifices prescribed in the Ceremonial Law The Promises also were yours both Legal and Evangelical of this life and that which is to come You are
the Posterity of Abraham the friend of God and of Isaac and Jacob Heires with him of the same Promise and Grace And in fine as the Complement of all the rest From among you was the Messiah to come And in the fulness of time did come the Incarnate Son of God taking his flesh of you that he might though he be God blessed for ever be the Mediatour between God and Man yea suffer Death for you and us likewise that believe in him All this we willingly yeild unto you nay more we will be confident of your Restauration because the Lord hath said it and he will not Repent concerning which we shall God willing speak more largely hereafter in the following parts of this Treatise because our Text which is the ground of the whole Matter hath a special respect unto you above all others Come then in the name of God let us joyn together and go up to the Mountain of the Lord Es 2.3 4 5. to the House of the God of Jacob He will teach us his ways and we will walk as Brethren in his Paths for out of Sion shall go forth the Law and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem He shall judg among the Nations and shall rebuke many People They shall beat their Swords into Plow-sheares and their Spears into Pruning-hookes Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more O House of Jacob come yee and let us walk in the light of the Lord. But as for those wretched Apostata's who were once inlightned but now turn their Backs upon this Light denying the Lord that bought them and so Crucifie to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open Shame pretending to joyn themselves to you in walking in the Light of Yesterday Wo unto them it had been good for them they had never been born and I doubt not but when you shall come to look upon him whom you have Peirced and to Mourn for him according to the Prophecy of Zechariah as one mourneth for his onely Son Zech. 12.10 that you your selves will abhor them as a People most accursed and so I leave them Another sort that grope after the Light of Yesterday are those that seek to be justified by the Works of the Law who do but lose themselves in the Dark and shall never be able thereby to see the Light of Life True it is the Law was once such a Light which if it had been exactly followed would have been a sure Conduct into the Presence of God but being not observed as it ought to have been it seemed good to the Father of Lights to remove it so as that it is now totally and finally Eclipsed in respect of any Influence in that Point of Justification which was the glory of it in the Beginning And whosoever they be that will now pretend to walk in the Light of it so as to be justified thereby in the Sight of God they shall most assuredly finde it to be a dreadful Blazing Comet that portends nothing but inevitable Ruine and Destruction unto them And yet alas how inconsiderate are many People in fixing their Confidence hereupon Though they cannot but know that Do this and live was the Voice of God Yesterday But Live and do this is the Command of the Lord to Day so expressely contrary is the Light that now is in the manifestations of it to that which was formerly yet such is the Cross-grain'd perversness indeed of us all by nature whereby we are wont ruere in vetitum that we are apt still to thwart God in his Dispensations towards us And because we mist of the Tree of Life by not doing that at first which God commanded therefore being led on by that Appetite which is still in us by Nature after that first Estate wherein we were Created we do contrary to Gods express Inhibition foolishly Endeavour by our own Righteousness to recover it again wherein as hath been said we loose our selves utterly God having now propounded another way to Life But it may be Objected was not the Law given since upon Mount Sinai and if we must not be justified by the works of the Law wherefore was it revived I Answer with the Apostle Gal. 3.19 the Law was added because of Transgressions that is Gal. 3.19 not onely for the restraining of them as it is commonly conceived though that be a chief end of giving the Law but because Transgressions so much abounded in the World when the grace of God had so much appeared In which regard God seeing Men so Unworthy of his Grace he revived the Old Covenant again in giving the Law which was saith the Apostle to continue till the Seed came to whom the Promise was made that so men might thereby as by a Schole-Master be whipped out of their old Forme which being come if any will yet hanker after that old Covenant the Law shall no more be revived for that end as formerly but the Condemnation thereof shall be added for the Contempt of the Gospel Away therefore with all this Homespun Inherent Righteousness let it be accounted in the matter of Justification before God even as in truth it is but a filthy Rag and when we have done all that we can given all our Goods to the Poor and our Bodies to be burned let us say we are unprofitable Servants c. And for the Law let it be a Guide unto us as it ought to be in the way of Holiness and Righteousness all the Dayes of our Lives but we must not make it our Guard to preserve us at any time from Incensed Justice of the Almighty mighty for therein it will certainly fail a good Tutour it is to instruct and admonish us but an idle Advocate to plead for us before God's Tribunal its onely Exercise there being to Accuse and Condemn A Third sort that Unseasonably busy themselves with Yesterday are the Papists who have a long time set up the Ceremonial Law of Moses in the Worship and Service of God who are it seems and still will be Children led on by weak and beggarly Elements which notwithstanding at this time are not any Help unto them at all but rather a Hinderance in respect of any Spiritual Edification and whereas they pretend to promote the Gospel and to advance the Honour of Christ they do in effect by their Conformity to the Mosaical Paedagogy deny and forsake them both To what purpose are their Altars their Priests their Sacrifices their Washings Unctions Shaving Sprinkling Purifying c. To what End I say are these many other the like beggarly Ceremonies but to bring a Vail over the Gospel and to call back Yesterday to which the Lord Jesus Christ hath pronounced a consummatum est And if they be not finished Christ himself hath not yet finished his Work for which he was sent into the World and then where are we There need not much be said
concerning this matter The affront that is hereby put upon the Lord Jesus Christ is so notorious that it is discernable by all that are not given up to strong Delusions To conclude therefore it is very well noted by one who hath a long time been a laborious Workman in the Lord's Vine-yard that the Lord by Burying the dead Body of Moses in an unknown place did in a kinde signify that he hath so abolished the Legal Ordinances that they must be buried in eternal Oblivion and never to be looked after nor minded any more Whosoever therefore shall now go about to revive any of those Ceâ—emonies of the Law as the Papists do their Work is no other in God's eyes then the raking up of Moses's Dead Body which the Lord hath concealed Such a Censure likewise giveth Saint Augustine when he had spoken of the Jewish Ceremonies that they were to have a Solemn Funeral which would require some time upon which account were the Apostles excusable for their temporary connivence at them He addeth Quisquis nunc c. Whosoever shall now use them as it were raking them up out of their Dust he shall not be pius deductor corporis sed impius violator sepalturae A pious Helper in the Burial but an impious and sacrilegious Wretch that ransakes the quiet Tombs of the Dead In the last place such who now-a-dayes Pretend to Oracles that is Visions and Revelations and wait for Miracles may by this Doctrine be convinced of a woful Delusion wherewith they are Haunted for it will appear that even these also were the Light of Yesterday Indeed when God was letting forth Light by little and little now a part of his Word and then a part of his word he did at that time as hath been said before reveal his Minde sundry ways but now when the Day is not onely Dawned but the Sun of Righteousness is come forth out of his Chamber appearing like a strong man in his Race God doth not use to interpose Heterogeneous Flashes of Light differing from that which he hath in his Wisdom and Goodness set forth to be the Fountain of Light to all the World The Firmament of Heaven cannot endure two Suns yea horrid Confusion would seaze upon the Face of Nature if such a thing were even the Parelii that is Resemblances of the Sun in the Aire usually called Mock Suns are Praemonitours of fearful Prodigies like to ensue and these new Lights differing from the ordinary Light of our Day have not onely Portended but brought on Dismal and Lamentable Disasters upon the poor Church of God Visions and Revelations were the Light of Yesterday and though there were some such Manifestations of it now and then Ps 89.19 when it was in Occasu in the instant of Setting in the Primitive Times as there were Prophecies and Jewish Ceremonies of which we finde some though very rarely were taken up and made use of for after a Shower will come some Drops yet to expect them now or to pretend any need of them at this time when with open Face we do behold the Glory of the Lord and this Glory of the Lord likewise shines clearly unto us in the Face of Jesus Christ what were this but shameful ingratitude It is as if a man should exclaim against the Light of the Sun and call for a Candle to be set up at High-noon Day Objection It may perhaps be Objected if such Revelations were so frequent under the Old Testament and not to be expected now then was the State of the Church better at that time then it is now under the Gospel Solution But this I affirm to be no good Consequence for first we are recompensed by having the Scriptures Perfect and Compleat which they of the Oâ—d had not Secondly they indeed had more ordinary Revelations of matters Personal and Private but of such things as do necessarily concern Salvation we in the time of the New Testament have more evident Demonstration and more full Revelation according to the Prophecy that went before of us Jer. 31.34 Jer 31.34 For Example particular mercies to some of God's special Servants or particular Judgments on his Enemies whether particular Men or whole Kingdoms were often revealed to Godly Men in those Days but Salvation by the Messiah And the manner how the Messiah should save his Church is more fully and †plainly plentifully revealed now then it was in those Days Besides we have the Substance of their shadows and the performance of their Promises In which respects it must be acknowledged our State is far more excellent then theirs From whence we may Collect with a late Writer Mr. Perkins who in his Generation laboured much in the Lord That Revelations of God's Will to be expected now under the Gospel are ordinarily nothing els but these viz. The true Sense and Meaning of Holy Scripture and a discerning of True Scripture from Forged of True Sacraments from Supposed of True Doctrines from False of True Pastours from False Prophers these and such like as far forth as they are necessary to Salvation all true and faithful Believers which out of an humbled Heart do seek it by devout Prayer at God's hand are sure to have revealed unto them from God Ps 25.14 Ps 25.14 But as for other Purposes of God viz. of Personal and particular matters or what shall be his blessings or what his Judgments to these and these Men Families Cities or Kingdoms or when or how he will change States or translate Kingdoms or by what extraordinary means he will have his Gospel propagated or a declining Church or State upholden these we are not now to expect nor easily to believe any that shall say such things are revealed unto them And yet as the said Authour saith well we do not hereby limit the Almighty or tie the Lord in such strait Bonds but he may sometimes extraordinarily reveal his Purpose in some such Cases to some of his selected Servants provided that that Revelation be examined and allowed of by the Church Thus he And the truth is it is but necessary that such restrictions should be in this Case which undoubtedly God doth allow of it being a most certain rule Deus non deficit in necessariis God is not wanting in things necessary Now surely this is needful For though the Holy Scriptures are not to wait upon the allowance of the Church rather let the Church stand or fall to the infallible Judicature of the Scriptures yet this Power hath the Church given unto her of God to judg of extraordinary Revelations whether they be of God or no neither are they to be of any account with the people of God till they have passed the Scrutiny and Censure of the Church otherwise what dangerous Consequences would follow hereupon it is not any hard matter to foresee Here we shall have one cry out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have Dreamed I have Dreamed as those Impostours
He was Which Primogeniture of Christ's into the Brother-hood as it denotes his everlasting Regal Power and Superiority which we shall presently make appear so notwithstanding his Birth which happened to be afterwards in due time it was often signified in those first Ages of the World by the Precedency that was given to the Younger Brethren above the Elder happily that the People then might also discern somewhat of this Mystery which did so neerly concern them For Example those nine Patriarchs before the Floud who succeeded Adam in their several Generations we may say of them with very great Probability I had almost said with apparent Demonstration from the Scripture and so do writers both Antient and Modern Judge that They were not the Eldest Sons and First-born of their Parents Aug. de Civit. Dei Musculus but onely such Holy Eminent Persons whom God had according to the good Pleasure of his Will chosen out from among their Brethren in a successive uninterrupted Line to be the Progenitours of the Messiah The like is to be said of Sem Abraham Isaac Jacob Judah Pharez Aram David Solomon all Younger then their Brethren yet preferred before them And this I say Ab sit arrogantia verbo might possibly be so ordered by Divine Providence that the people of God might in all the preceding Ages acknowledge one that was to come after them for their Lord and Governour by virtue of his Primogeniture among them Yea John Baptist doth ingeniously acknowledge so much for himself and which may extend unto all Joh. 1.30 After me saith he cometh a man which is preferred before me for he was before me And in fine all those Types and Figures that were shadows of good things to come were the Praeludiums of his Inauguration to his Office but the effects and consequents of his Primogeniture which was at first given him of the Father The first Begotten then he was from the beginning which argues his Regal Power and Sovereignty that he had over all his Brethren for such Preheminence did belong to the first-born as appeareth in Scripture Gen. 4.7 Gen. 27.29.37 1 Sam. 20.29 And the Apostle saith that the Heir is the Lord of all Gal. 4.1 So S. Peter saith of Christ Act. 10.36 Act. 10.36 He is Lord of all which words are there enclosed with a Parenthesis but the sense and meaning thereof reacheth from the beginning of the World to the end of it Did not Abraham acknowledge Christ to be his Lord when he treated with him about Sodom Gen. 18.3.27.30 31. after he had appeared unto him in the Plains of Mamre And with how low a reverence doth he demean himself in that matter as became a Subject in his Address to his Lord and King Behold now I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord which am but dust and ashes And again O let not the Lord be angry and I will speak V. 27.30 Yea again and again with the most proper terms of Homage and acknowledgment of his Power doth he put up his Suit unto him and that it was Christ who then appeared to Abraham is not to be doubted considering the shape wherein he did appear viz. of a man which manner of Apparitions according to the concurrent judgment of Holy and Orthodox Writers was not used by either of the other persons of the Trinity but only by Jesus Christ and was the Prototype to his Incarnation And in regard that Abraham calleth him the Judge of all the World Act. 10.42 which is the Office of Christ For him saith the Apostle hath God ordained to be the Judge of Quick and Dead And because it is so plainly said The Lord that is this Lord who appeared unto and parted from Abraham Gen. 19. Rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord that is as an ancient Council interpreted it who did pronounce an Anathema against all those that affirmed the contrary that Christ the Lord did it from his Father the Lord out of Heaven Thus did Abraham Syrmiensis An. Dom. 356. Cent. 4. cap 9. Ps 110.1 and thus in like manner did David in Spirit call him his Lord as the Lord himself testifieth out of the Psalm when he said The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou on my right hand that is The Father the Lord said it unto Christ the Lord. If then David and Abraham two eminent persons whom the Evangelist by the Holy Ghost singleth out to be the Coryphaei the principal in the Line of the Progenitours of Jesus Christ did own him in their Generations for their supreme Lord and Governour and that also in a certain way of distinction from the Father though in a subordination unto him it may well be concluded that he was so by all others And let it be observed how Moses saith of himself that he was King in Jeshurun Deut. 33.5 But how could that be Deut. 33.5 1 Sam. 8.9 when the Kingly Government as it is described 1 Sam. 8.9 was not yet set up in Israel I answer this is not to be understood so much with a reference to the Political estate of that People as their Ecclesiastical in respect whereof Israel might in an especial manner be called Jeshurun from a word signifying Uprightness and Righteousness For though their Judicial Law which was the Soul of their Polity was a most righteous Law yet their Ceremonial Law which constituted them a Church was it that made them a righteous Nation before God giving them an interest in the Righteousness of God that is Jesus Christ whose Name is called the Lord our righteousness Jer. 23.6 Now because Moses did the work of a King in giving them this Law he might have the Title of a King given unto him when notwithstanding he was therein but Viceroy to Jesus Christ the supreme Lord of his people in all Ages And so a Viceroy is entituled elsewhere in Scripture as may be seen by comparing 2 Reg 3.9 2 Chr. 21.8 1 Reg. 22.47 Neither indeed was Moses any other for he saith the Apostle Heb. 3.5 was but a Servant in the house Christ was the Son and over his own house Moses had the Pattern given him in the Mount not only of the Form of the Tabernacle but every tittle and Iota of every Law by which that People were to be guided was there prescribed unto him and he was to do all things as became a Viceroy exactly according to that Pattern and Tenour neither adding unto it nor diminishing from it but Christ was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Ipse dixit the Legislator of the whole Law that Law I say which did distinguish the Israclites in their Polity from other Nations and Kingdoms viz. the Judicial Law and that Law which made them a Church above all people in the World viz. the Ceremonial Law and that Law which was a Rule of Righteousness not only unto them but to all Mankinde unto the end
dead light Joh. 8.12 as the light of yesterday was which consisted in carnal Ordinances and dead Sacrifices but a living light that is Jesus Christ himself who though he was dead to extinguish the former Light yet being quickned by the Spirit he liveth to establish this new Light that shall therefore undoubtedly continue to the end of the World For behold saith hee I am alive for evermore affixing his Seale with an Amen to note the unalterableness of his present estate Hee I say again is this light of life not like unto other lights that have no Life in them whoso followeth the Sun in the firmament 't is true hath light but it is a Light wanting life when death cometh it cannot give him life because it hath it not to give There is indeed hope of a tree Joh. 14.7.10 when it is cut down that it may live again saith Job and that the tender Branch thereof will not cease but when Man giveth up the Ghost where is Hee Not the sent of water nor the light nor heat of the Sun can be able to revive him But saith Christ Hee that followeth mee hath the light of Life that is my self Who am the Sun of Righteousness having healing in my Wings Mal. 4.2 Joh. 5.26 Joh 5.2 it being given unto me to have Life in my self Joh. 5.25 So that I quicken whom I will Joh. 5.21 And thus saith the Evangelist of him Joh. 1.4 Joh. 1.4 In him was Life and that Life was the Light of Men. So then here you see what is the light of this day that you are exhorted to receive It is Christ Jesus let him come therefore into your souls He will bring both light and life with him light into your understandings whereby you shall get more intimate Acquaintance in the great Mystery of Godliness and life into your Affections raising them above the World and from groveling in flesh and bloud to a spiritual elevation light to direct you in the way and life to quicken you in it light to comfort you in your troubles and life to deliver you out of them the light of the life of grace here and the light of the life of glory hereafter Awake therefore thou that sleepest rise up from the dead and Christ shall give thee Light Secondly The light of this day is the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ 2 Cor. 4.4 shewing to the world such glorious Mysteries which before this day could not be so clearly known such as the Incarnation of God the expiation of sin by his death the freeness of Salvation through faith in a Mediatour remedy against the Curse and mitigation of the rigour of the Law reconciliation with God spiritual Administrations of the New Covenant all which and many more had never been manifested to the Children of Men had not the day sprung from on high even from the Zenith of the Heaven of Heavens visited the Church with this glorious light and therefore is it well worthy to be entertained by us Thirdly It is called the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God then which nothing can to the Saints be more desireable and unto which when the Soul hath in the utmost extent of her Capacity fully attained she is fully satisfied setting up her rest with a Ne plus ultra as the Prophet confessed saying I shall be satisfied when thy Glory shall appear When as therefore this glory now appeareth in some glimpses to the Soule whiles she is shut up in this Corps of Clay such Apparitions being the Praeludium of that perfect happiness that is to come must needs be very welcome Now the Light of this Day sheweth unto the Soule of a Believer so far as it is capable the Glory of God viz. The Glory of his Wisdome the Glory of his Power the Glory of his Grace and Goodness with other his glorious Attributes in the Protection of his people in the fulfilling of his Promises in the propagating of his Gospel yea it filleth the Soule with Joy and Gladness raising it up to a Life Heavenly and Angelical And therefore well worthy of Acceptation Consider I beseech you shall the Glory of the Lord shine round about us and shall not we open our Hearts to let it in Have we a Price put into our Hands to get Wisdome and shall we have no heart unto it God forbid Yea let us not content our selves with that which we have already attain'd 1 Cor. 12.31 but labour to see more and more of this Glory covet earnestâ—y the best things saith the Apostle be still craving Lord shew me thy Glory Let me see thy goings how thou my God and King goest in the Sanctuary in the Dispensations of thy Grace in the manifestations of thy Presence O come into my Soule and let me be Metamorphosed into thine Image from Glory to Glory 2 Cr. 3.18 from one degree of Grace to another till I come in the Light of Glory to see the King in his Beauty beholding him as he is and knowing him even as I am known Thirdly As we must rejoyce in the Light of this Day 3. Duty and receive it into our Hearts so are we to walke in it and by it ordering our whole Conversation according unto it otherwise we are very unworthy of it And here give me leave a while to lead you into that Walke wherein Zachary and Elizabeth a holy couple whose Praise is in the Gospel were wont to walke They Walked saith the Evangelist Lak 1.6 in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord Luk. 1.6 Let us then joyn Hearts and Hands together and go and do likewise First let us walke in the Commandments of the Lord Quid enim est Lex Dei nisi Lux Diei Ps 104.23 doing the work of the Lord in this Day of the Lord. The Day we know is ordained for man to work in Man saith the Psalmist goeth forth unto his work and to his Labour untill the Evening Psal 104. So also is this Day set apart and appointed by God for his people to walk in that is to worke for so is a holy walking before God interpreted in Scripture e. g. I must saith Christ Walke to day and to morrow and the day following Luk. 13.33 Eph. 2.10 speaking of his workes which he wrought at that time And good workes saith the Apostle Eph. 2.10 God hath ordained that we should walke in them This Light therefore must not be consumed in vain not whelm'd under the Bushel of filthy lucre nor hid under the Bed of slothfull Negligence but we must make use of it to shew us our way and to guide us in our worke Let us then arise and walke up and be doing not spend the day in hearing and talking onely as the manner of some is For as the light of the Sun is no help to the Eares and Tongues of men but to their hands and feet to walke
and worke in so is the Light of this Day set up for other ends and purposes then for people to sit and chat by pardon the Word for such in truth is all the Twanging of Religion upon the Tongues end so much affected in these dayes without doing It is the working Believer that is the onely Believer and whosoever shall say the contrary he is a Deceiver saith St. John For he that doth Righteousness is Righteous 1 Joh. 3.7 Let no man therefore make a flourish of his Faith though he could remove Mountains therewith Unless he walke in Love nor say he is a Professour unless he be also a Practitioner of Piety A vain thing it is for a man to boast how far he will walke to heare a Sermon unless he will shew out of a good Conversation how far he will walke to do a Sermon Oh it is doing it is doing that is the Ornament of Religion the Crown of a Christian Profession It is the end and sum of all as we may learn from a good Arithmetician when he had cast up all his Accounts Let us heare saith he Ec. 12 13. The conclusion of the whole matter fear God and keep his Commandments for this is the whole Duty of man upon which a Reverend Divine of our times glosseth in this manner it is as if he had said I will in two words give you an Abridgement of all that can be spoken A tedious thing it is to write many Books and as tedious to read them but if a man should write a hundred nay read over a thousand This is the upshot and end of all viz. To fear God for his inward Worship and to keep his Commandments for his outward Service Loe this is the end of man the perfection of the creature all that is written tends to this all that 's commanded all that 's promised all that 's threatned all that 's done for or against man in Scripture may be resolv'd into this to stir us up to a holy and upright walking with God and to a working out our own Salvation according to that Light which this Day bringeth unto us And now the better to quicken us hereunto let us take these Perswasions along with us Consider it is the designe First Motive the great designe of the God of Heaven which he hath undertaken this Day against all the Machinations of Hell to save his people from their sins and to rescue them from the common Destruction which the old Serpent called the Devil and Satanas had with deep Subtlety and in the blackest and darkest Caverne of his inveterate malice contrived against the whole race of mankind To bring which glorious design to pass was the Light of this Day with infinite Wisdome formed And being so formed God saw that it was very good good to discover the Counter-workings of the Adversary and Good to guide his people in all their wayes till they have quite escaped the danger and entred into his rest with joy Moreover as he hath begun his design so his desire is very earnest that it might go on and prosper without any let or hinderance from those for whose sakes he undertook it therefore do we finde him very frequently in Scripture calling to this purpose Ps 81.13 Deut 5.29 Luk. 19.42 Oh that my people had hearkned unto me and that Israel had walked in my wayes Oh that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me and keep my Commandements alwayes Oh that thou heast known even thou at least in this thy day the things that belong unto thy peace c. Thus all the day long he reacheth out his hand and stretcheth out his voice unto us least by our back-slidings and treacherous tampering with temptations in our way we give advantage to the Enemy to interrupt the Lord in this day of his power in the perfecting his work his great work And now I beseech you brethren If the Lord hath of his abundant mercy been careful with all this care for a Company of poor Creatures that were ready to perish setting up such a light so exceedingly helpful unto them in their way as that without it they could never be able to keep themselves upright but must undoubtedly stumble and fall into utter ruine should they not do well then to take heed unto it that they walk in it And should they not do very ill to turn their Backs upon it thereby so much as in them lieth to frustrate the design of the Almighty for their good Consider shall the Lord the great and glorious God declare the vehement desires of his Soul unto us and shall not we regard them That be far from us For us It is but ask and have with God He bids us open our mouth wide and promiseth that he will fill it When he shall therefore wish and desire a thing of us it is but reason that we should readily grant it The wishes and desires of Kings work mightily upon loving and loyal Subjects No difficulty shall hinder the fulfilling of them as when David did but signifie a desire to drink of the water of Bethleem meaning onely if he could have had it with a wish not requiring or so much as intending that any should fetch it with the hazard of their lives yet immediately three of his mighty men brake through the Hoste of the Philistims and drew of the water and brought it unto him Scipio Africanus being in Sicile preparing for his expedition into Africk when one asked him what made him so confident being a young man to equipp a Navy for the invasion of so great a Countrey he presently shewed 300 of his Souldiers that were before him and pointed likewise to a high Tower whose top was prominent over the Sea saying unto him There is not one of these Couragious and stout fellows that you see but without delay would get up to the top of this Turret and throw himself head-long into the Sea if I commanded him And shall mortal man prevaile more to have his desires fulfilled then the Almighty God who ruleth and governeth all things can have with those people that profess subjection unto him Especially when his desire is towards them for their own good Surely if there were that loyalty in our hearts towards God as there ought to be we could not but give our consent unto whatsoever he shall desire Job 22.3 It was well argued by Eliphaz Job 22.3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art Righteous or is it gain to him that thou makest thy wayes perfect What is there can be added to infinite perfection Rather Pro. 9.12 Phil. 2.12 if a man be wise he is wise for himself And it is our own Salvation that we are called upon to work out so that a threefold Cord is here twisted together to draw us to a diligent walking in the light of this day according to God's Commands viz God's design
of our Salvation which we should not frustrate his desire which we should satisfie and our own interest and benefit which we should be so wise as to promote to the uttermost of our power therefore arise and walk up and be doing Secondly 2 Motive As we must walk worthy of God who hath called us to his Kingdom and glory so should we walk worthy of our calling wherewith we are called 1 Thess 2.12 Eph. 4.1 1 Thess 5.5 and what are we called Wee are the Children of the Light and the Children of the Day we are not of the Night nor of Darkness whereupon the Apostle inferreth Let us not sleepe as do others but let us watch and be sober Brethren let me freely speake to you we vaunt our selves very frequently that live under a glorious light and whatsoever others have been before us we regard it not Wee are the Men Our lot is fallen unto us in this time to know more of the Mysteries of Heaven then hath been known in former Ages Well be it so but then our service must be answerable Rom. 12.1 it ought to be as the Apostle calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Reasonable service not reasonable as most of us make it confining it within those narrow and easy boundaries which our false deceitful hearts have devised but reasonable it must be viz. Such as is rather sutable to men grown up in a Gospel-stature then that which is fit to be done by those who were but the Children of Yesterday under the Paedagogy of the Law We are the Lords dayes-men he hath singled us out for special service his eye is continually upon us and we have much work to do it behoves us therefore to look about us for we shall be inexcusable if we be found negligent in the day of the Lord. 3 Motive Thirdly therefore consider the length of your way that you have to walk and the multitude of businesses that you have to do and then see whether you have not need to use well the Light of this day without which you can never be able to finish your course with joy You have I say a great journey to go viz. through all the wayes of God's Commandments before you can get to Heaven Ps 119.96 And these Commandments are exceeding broad yet must you traverse them in their whole breadth having respect unto every particular circumstance so far as you are concerned therein In this journey there must be no picking and chusing of our way according to our own fancies nor turning aside from any one Commandment for he that turneth away from the holy Commandment 2 Pet. 2.21 it had been better for him that he had never known nor entred into the way of Righteousness at all And now alas how is it possible for a poor weak Creature blinde and lame such are we all the best of us all of our selves to walk steddily in this way and to continue in it to the end unless he hath the light of this day to go before him which alone is ordained of God to be a conduct therein especially considering withall the variety and multitude of businesses that are to be done in the way Bishop Reinolds Let us take notice of them as they are prepared to our hands by a skilful Workman one of a thousand Christ saith he hath service much more then enough to take up all the Might strength studies abilities times callings of all his servants businesses towards God and himself worship fear Communion Love Prayer Obedience Service Subjection Businesses towards and for our selves watchfulness repentance Faith Sincerity Sobriety Growth in grace Businesses towards other men as instruments and fellow-members exhortation reproof direction instruction mourning rejoycing restoring relieving helping praying serving in all wayes of love so much evil to be avoided so many slips and errours to be lamented so many earthly members to be crucified so much knowledge and mysteries to be learned so many vain principles to be unlearned so much good to be done to my self so much service to be done to my brother so much glory to be brought to my master every Christian hath his hands full of work and can all this be done without light Or will you stand all the day idle as if you had not been hired at all into the Lord's Vine-yard but still continue in the market-place of the World amongst those that are without But be it known unto you you have been hired and the penny of eternal life hath been offered unto you again and again therefore woe unto you if you stand out any longer As yet there is day light for you to come in but you know not how soon it will expire Which indeed ought also to be thought upon by us as another special Consideration to quicken us in our way 4 Motive This day I say will have an end and we know not how soon the mystery of God will be finished and the Oath fulfilled that time shall be no more This nevertheless we know that there is an appointed time to man upon earth and that his dayes are as the dayes of an hireling Job 7.1 that is very short and uncertain so that how short this day of the Gospel may be to us we cannot tell and many times it is made shorter then the dayes of our lives being through God's just indignation taken from us leaving us in the darkness of our own foolish hearts and under the power of the Prince of darkness because we chuse darkness rather then light Very needful then it is to hearken to the advice which the Lord giveth Joh. 12.35 Walk saith he in the light while you have the light least darkness come upon you And also to follow his example I must saith he work the work of him that sent me Joh. 9.4 Ps 19.5 while it is day the night cometh wherein no man can work We see daily that the Sun in the firmament hath his rising and setting he cometh forth of his Chamber in the morning like a Bridegroom and retires again at even Thus in like manner is it with the light of this day it came forth De umbraculo suo out of its place where it lay shadowed before in the Tabernacle of Moses or if you will De thalamo for the word will bear both out of the Presence-Chamber of the God of Heaven where it was trimmed after the form of a Bridegroom in a more gorgeous manner then formerly it had been and being come forth hitherto like a strong man he hath run his race bearing down all opposition driving before it the darkness of Judaisme Hellenisme Paganisme Papisme and Atheisme and what ever it be that is contrary to sound doctrine But being in a race it will have an end and we may probably conjecture that it is well neere finished For as the coole of the day doth foretell the approaching of the night so that coldness
of love which was foretold to be in the last times and is now too palpably to be discerned in the World doth plainly demonstrate the setting of our Sun to be very neere Yea and Satan also hath great wrath because hee hath but a short time to work for his Kingdom knowing well that the end of this day will be concluding of his whole design against the Kingdom of Christ Do not these things I say signifie to us that the day goeth away and that the shadows of the evening are stretched out That our Sun is declining and his race even almost at an end Work therefore now for your lives if ever you will do it the night cometh wherein no man can work Could we speak to the light of this day as Joshua did unto the Sun to stand still and make it slay our leisure we might then take our own time But as all our times so especially this is in the hand of God and as no worldly or infernal power can precipitate this day or cut short the hours thereof so can none protract it beyond that measure which the grave and wise antient of dayes hath appointed unto it The day is his and the night is his saith the Psalmist the day I say of the gospel and the expiration of it as well particular to some Persons and Nations as universal at the end of the World are in his power under his irreversible decree to be ordered according to the good pleasure of his Will and therefore out of our reach to be interrupted in their course by any thing that we can do Arise then and walk Up and be doing least dreadful darkness seize upon you before you be aware It is reported by Historians of Titus Vespasianus entituled by them deliciae humani generis because he delighted to do good unto all that when he had spent a day without doing somewhat whereby the Common-wealth or some private persons might be benefited by him he was wont to say Diem perdidi the day is lost O let us consider the day is well nigh spent and the night is at hand If now we stand idle and will do nothing or if we be slothful in the multitude of businesses Rom. 12.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Lord hath set us not Serving the time with that fervency of spirit as is fit for the day we also may say hereafter when it will be too late Perdidimus diem we have lost the day and are lost in the night without any remedy What therefore the Preacher saith in his sense Ec. 9.10 the same say I in this Whatsoever thine hand findeth in the word to do do it with all thy might for there is no work nor device nor Knowledge nor wisdome in the grave whither thou goest That being as one saith Seculum Mercedis not Seculum Operis not a time of work but of wages and your wages shall surely be according to your work To Conclude Let us according to the Advice of the Apostle walk honestly Rom. 13.13 that is Decently as in the Day in all the Commandments of the Lord doing that which is good in his sight for this is indeed that honest decency which adorns a believer and sets a beautiful lustre upon his holy profession In which Adviso the Apostle seems to allude to the civil Customes and Manners of people that are modest in the World who are wont both in their apparel and deportment to demean themselves decently in the day time and will while they are in the light be ashamed that any thing dishonest and unseemely should be found upon them or acted by them whereupon he would have us also that believe to learn and remember to bear such a respect unto this day of the Gospel and the light shining about us as to have our Conversation honest and to do nothing uncomely in it No Rioting or drunkenness no Chambering or Wantonness nor other the like dishonest works of Darkness should be seen amongst us which in this day will cover us with shame to the loathing of our persons in the Eyes of God and his Holy angels Away with them therefore and let us walk honestly And now for a close of this Exhortation I shall take liberty to speak a word unto you in season If you be Children of the day beware of the deeds of darkness in this time wherein you pretend to remember the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ It is not my work to argue against the solemnity which Yesterday to Day and some Dayes following is still held up and continued among us neither will I undertake as the manner is to judge any man here present in the freedom of his Conscience for his observing this Anniversary Festival yea though his observation of it be accompanied with a more then ordinary use of the good Creatures of God provided that he doth as the Apostle speakes observe it to the Lord. But I beseech you Is this to celebrate the Nativity of the Lord to run into excess of Riot and to let loose the reins into all manner of disorder and Licentiousness Is this to Commemorate the Birth of Christ to spend the time in gourmardizing and swinish Drunkeness Siccine exprimitur publicum gandium per publicum dedecus Haeccine solennes dies decent quae alios non decent Will you so testisie your publick rejoycing as to make your selves a publick shame Do such things become these festival dayes which are scandalous and unbecoming those that profess the name of Christ upon other days It was the complaint of Tertullian in his time and we have too much reason to make use of it now O my Brethren beware I fay again of the unfruitful works of darkness at this time if you be the Children of the Day And a needful Caveat it is for I think it hath been too truely said God hath been more dishonoured in many places of this land by Rioting and Drunkenness and other Abominations in the twelve dayes then in all the twelve months following Let us therefore I say again walk honestly as in the Day and as becomes Children of the day in all the Commandments of the Lord. I have I confess been somewhat large in handling this subject But the day will not fail us though we take a turn or two more then ordinary in walking this round I mean in meditating upon this holy walk and in exhorting one another while it is called to day to bestir ourselves in it Let us now pass on to the other side of this walk that is the ordinances of the Lord for they indeed are the excellency and glory of this day and methinks it should be our endeavour yea it should be our Ambition to exercise our selves in this walk also more frequently then we do What greater happiness can there be in this world then to walk with God and to hold a sweet correspondency with him To pour out our complaints before him to
make known our requests unto him and to receive instruction and benedictions from him what a priviledge is it peculiar to this day to finde the Lord Jesus Christ in his Regal and Pontifical attire walking in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks that is in the assemblies of his people breathing upon them with his spirit and insinuating himself kindly into their hearts by his word and Sacraments Are not the goings of the Lord the Lord I say our God and our King in his Sanctuary worthy to be traced by us especially when the savour of his Oyntments doth so spread it self that it is sensibly to be discerned What do not the words of God do good to those that walk uprightly Shall God all the day long from the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same stretch out his hands unto us filled with the choicest of his blessings that ever he did hold out to the Children of men And shall not we put forth our hands to receive them Is it nothing to have Satan fall down like Lightning before us in the powerful dispensations of Gospel-Ordinances O how happy were we if we knew our Happiness But since I am fallen upon a serious expostulation in this case suffer me I beseech you good brethren that belong unto this Congregation to bring it home to your Consciences by a particular application and without offense bee that speech which is intended not to offend but onely to affect with a clear Truth Yesterday it is like if there had been a Sermon in this place here would have been a full Congregation To day also it appeareth our Assembly is greater then it was wont to be upon these dayes yet yesterday and to day and all our dayes what do we that are your Ministers but work the work of him that sent us preaching peace by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all Whence is it then that our Message is despised That the holy and divine Ordinance of preaching is so much sleighted by your absenting your selves upon such dayes of the week wherein Ministers come freely to impart unto you some spiritual gift such as they have received from the Lord If indeed we did preach any other Gospel then that which the Church of God hath received from the beginning or any other Jesus then him who is the same yesterday to day and for ever ye might have just cause to despise our ministery and to hold us accursed But when we bring unto you no other doctrine of salvation then that which hath been professed and maintained by the Church of God in all Ages sealed and confirmed by the bloud of Martyres yea by the bloud of God himself accompanied also with the mighty operations of the spirit of God to the conversion and salvation of multitudes that hear it how can you without contracting unto your selves an extraordinary guilt in the sight of God refuse as you do to resort to this place at such times when this word is faithfully preached having no lawful lett to hinder you and to keep you from it Do you not hereby openly proclaim unto the world that you have no care of your souls what becomes of them whether they sink or swim whether they saved or damned Pro. 15.32 He that refuseth instruction saith Solomon despiseth his own soul Nay is it not a plain demonstration of too great an impiety as that you care not for God himself that you regard him not fear him not nourishing in your hearts a secret atheism and enmity against him Where there is not a desire of the knowledge of Gods waies there is questionless a slender account made of the majesty of God and a secret if not an open separation from him To this purpose saith Job They that desire not the knowledge of his waies say unto him in their hearts depart from us Nay more Job 21.14 To refuse to hear the word preached when we may and God offereth it unto us at such a time I say to have no minde to it no love to it but disdainfully to turn our backs upon it is a greater sin according to the judgment of Christ himself then the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah Hear what he saith Matth. 10.14.15 And what he speaketh there to his Disciples Matth 10.14.15 he speaks to all his servants lawfully called to the work of the ministery into whatsoever City you enter and they receive you not shake off the dust of your feet Verily I say unto you it shall be more tolerable for the Land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment then for that City Weâ—l be assured of it when all 's done and the time of reckoning shall come This will be found to be a very great sin It will not boot thee then poor man to say I have been careful to celebrate the commemoration of my Saviours Nativity at the usual time of the year no no thy observation of this Ecclesiastical Constitution will not by ten thousand talents counterpoize thy great sin in disobeying the commandment of thy God by so frequent refusing to hear him as thou doest at other time of the year when he speaks unto thee in the ministery of his word Whereas therefore you will do this from which I will not disswade you Do not leave the other undone which God hath so expresly commanded should be done but to day hear his voice and harden not your hearts There are sundry other Ordinances which the children of the day might here be exhorted to walk in But it will not be expedient now to insist upon them all severally onely let the Sacraments which are together with the word the prime Ordinances of this day have that regard which is due unto them The Lord we know hath commanded that we should walk in them For as he said of old under the Law Lev. 18.4 So hath he in effect spoken it again and again in the Gospel concerning his Sacraments especially Levit. 18.4 ye shall keep mine Ordinances to walk therein I am the Lord your God Observe It is not said to talk and discourse of them onely as the manner of some is now-a-daies much less to keep them closed up and confined within those narrow limits which our late upstart Anabaptistical Projectors have devised with whom there hath been too much tampering and compliancy even almost to the irrepairable ruine of that whole Evangelical Institute under which we have hitherto prospered but to walk in them that is to use them both for our incorporation into his Church and our corroboration in it Since then the Lord hath commanded us this service we had not best stand arguing still about the administration of it and in the mean time leave it quite undone But let Ministers and People look to it betimes least the anger of the Lord smoke yet more and more against them for their disobedience Thus much for that which concerns the children of the day and what
the earth Then with glory to God on high and peace upon earth but hereafter with Vae Vae Vae habitatoribus terrae Thrice wo to them that dwell upon the earth Then to gather the lost sheep of the house of Israel into the sheep-fold now to sever the Sheep from the Goats Then to embrace both Jew and Gentile now to divide between servant and Servant at the same Mill between man and wife in the same bed between Jacob and Esau in the same womb and to pronounce the one of them blessed and the other accursed Repent therefore we say unto you for this kingdome of God is at hand to deface all kingdomes to root up the nations to consume the earth with her works and the people with their sins This is the kingdome and no other that is now to be looked for and our Lord is gone to receive it for himself But whosoever they be that will not have him to reign over them whiles he swayeth the scepter of his Grace which is so despicable in the eye of the world Luk 19.12 when he returneth he will have such Rebels and Traytours dragg'd into his presence and see them executed before him Oh then let not the Serpent beguile you any longer with the expectation of a sools paradise Rather come I beseech without any further delay O ye children of Israel and children of Judah together and seek the Lord your God Jer. 5.4 5 who hath promised to be found of you Ask the way to Zion with your faces thitherward and we for our parts will give you the best directions we can Say as it is written of you you shall say Come let us joyn our selves to the Lord in an everlasting Covenant that shall never be forgotten Too long alas have you been unmindful of the Rock that begat you and forgotten your God that formed you And will you still continue to be a froward Generation children in whom is no faith Is the Lord Christ a stumbling-block unto you because of the reproach that is cast upon his kingdome by a sinful world A world that accounteth the things of the Spirit of God but foolishness which things it cannot know nor receive because they are spiritually discern'd And will you conform your selves to the guise of the world You that have heretofore with so much zeal declared your abhorrency of it Will you now joyn in a confederacy with it to your shame in that which is so contrary to the concurrent predictions of all your Prophets concerning the kingdome of the Messiah Some of whom I confess do speak of his glory and great atchievements but that must be understood in a spiritual sense as that he will bring the world under the power of his grace And those that do resist it he will by his Word and Spirit most righteously condemn Else how will you free those other Prophets from falshood and errour who speak as much of his poor base and contemptible estate under many miseries and afflictions yea of his death and passion As for that dream of two Messiasses to come the one Ben Joseph of the Tribe of Ephraim who is to suffer and undergo those indignities the other Ben David of the Tribe of Judah who must redeem deliver and restore Israel to their former inheritance and gather them together out of all the earth who must vanquish subdue and make tributary all Princes and Potentates of the world who never must dye but live and reign everlastingly in temporal Glory who shall raise again the dead Israelites unto life and amongst them Messiah Ben Joseph It is so sottish an absurdity that I believe you your selves are ashamed of it The Messiah whom you have expected is the Rock of Ages the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending Would you have him then to vary the form of his Government which he hath alwayes exercised over his Church in a spiritual way to a worldly compliancy with the Princes of the earth What a shameful inconstancy would this be unsutable to his Honour and no whit conducible to the work the great work of Messiah in destroying the kingdome of Satan Yea what fruit would thereby redound unto you in carrying you safely through your pilgrimage here that you might sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the kingdome of God For us We profess this to be our earnest desire in our own behalf and if you be indeed the children of Abraham it would be your ambition to obtain it rather then any earthly glory Did the Lord ever in all the time of yesterday exercise a temporal Power over the Kings and Princes of the earth Where was his Throne erected What mettal was his Crown made of When Pharaoh kept his people in Egypt What armies of men did he muster up for their deliverance When Amalâ—k came out against them Moses his Deputy betakes himself to prayer whilst Joshua fights the Lords battels But what need the one pray and the other fight if the Lord himself who is the Lord of Hosts not onely of his subjects but of his enemies too was to have exercised such a Power And how ill did the Lord take it of your forefathers when they thus mutinied against him saying Nay but we will have a King over us 1 Sam. 8.7 that we also may be like unto other nations They have saith he rejected me that I should not reign over them meaning in his spiritual mediatory Power as I have before observed which though he still in great mercy continued as formerly during that regal Government which they then chose and which should in time have been mercifully establisht among them had they not been so precipitant in requiring it yet was his Spirit grieved at that their rebellion against him Oh know for certain It is a far greater rebellion against the Lord your God that you are this day guilty of In that you do so causelesly out of a vain affectation of conformity to other nations unwarranted by Moses and the Prophets reject the Anoynted of the most high God that he should not be your King according to that form of Government which is devolv'd upon him by the Father But Non obstante your obstinacy against him hitherto he hath reigned and reign he will still as he hath done Malgrè all the gates of hell He is the breath of our nosthrils and the life of our souls under his shadow we do live and rejoyce yea and we will rejoyce more and more And as for you because of your unkinde refusal of him hath not this our Lord according to his oath hitherto with a mighty hand Ezek. 20.33 and stretched-out arm and fury poured out ruled over you Whence otherwise hath it come to pass that so deep a stain hath been brought upon all your excellency and that your glory is thus eclipsed That you are scattered over the world and whereas you were the head you are now become the tail of
all nations as the Lord once threatned you Which being so Whether then it be better to be under his grace or under his wrath judge ye There is no avoyding it will ye nill ye one way or other you shall ever be subdued unto him either as children or as captives as subjects or as slaves for the Lord hath sworn by himself the greatest oath that ever was heard of the word is gone out of his mouth in righteousness and shall not return That unto him every knee shall bow Esa 45.23 every tongue shall swear Esa 45.23 And if ever demonstrations were found among the creatures for the confirmation of any thing there have been such that are most convincing in this matter of subjecting the world to the irresistable power of Jesus according to this oath That these Oracles of the Heathen were struck dumb at that time the writings of the Heathen do sufficiently witness Two memorable occurrents I shall mention in order hereunto that are past all gain-saying First at his birth the Oracles of the Heathen testified of him by their silence not daring once to peep or mutter out an answer to their importunate suppliants after that this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Oracle of the Living God once appeared Secondly at his death The Sun in the firmament did also bear witness unto him by a total eclipsing of his light to the amazement of the world far and near In Egypt it was seen and admired by Dionysius Areopagita as appears in his Epistle to Polycarp wherein he desireth Polycarp to enquire of one Apolloohanes who would not it seems be reclaimed from his Gentilisme what he thought of that eclipse which he saw when he was with him at Heliopolis a city in Egypt at the time of our Saviours suffering when he could not but acknowledge that that with other remarkable wonders which they took notice of together were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vicissitudes or changes of Divine works Which Dionysius being at that time also a Heathen and much astonished at the unnaturalness of the said eclipse cryed out as it is reported of him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Either the Deity suffereth or hath sympathy with that which suffereth or the whole world is ready to be dissolved Adding withall Deus ignotus in carne patitur ideoqueVniversum hisce tenebris obscuratur concutitur that is An unknown God suffers at this time in the flesh which makes the world to shake under this obscurity But afterwards when the Apostle Saint Paul came to Athens and affirmed Jesus Christ to be the unknown God at whose death the Sun was so obscured the said Dionysius hearing him became a convert to the Christian Faith and all his life time after an eminent servant to Jesus Christ These reports possibly you will not regard howsoever the truth of the eclipse cannot be questioned by you which may let in so much light upon you to make you believe that somewhat extraordinary was then acted in the world which God would have the world to take special notice of And now to conclude What is it O ye miserably blinded people that you stick at If the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Blessed Virgin our Lord and our God hath not exactly fulfilled all that was Prophecied of the Messiah If he hath not done the works that no other man did or can do If you have not hitherto smarted enough under that heavy Curse which your fathers brought upon you when they crucified the Lord Jesus crying out His bloud be upon us and our children go on then still in your pertinacy deny him to be the Lord that bought you look for another that can do more for you then he hath done For us in the mean time we will bewail before the Lord your woful blindeness and hardness of heart and though we cannot converse with you as brethren because of your perversness in your present infidelity yet we will pity you as those who were once a people in whom the Lord delighted yea as those of whom we have good hope upon the return of your Captivity to see you made the glory of Nations a Praise in the earth Which hope as we may be confident it will not fail us in the time and season which the Father hath put in his own Power so may the consideration of those grounds and reasons hereafter specified whereon this hope is built in time prevail with you to bethink your selves of your long estrangement from your God and to quicken your return unto him Lastly Since it is so that Jesus Christ is the Same to day which he was yesterday then have the Churches of the Gentiles good reason to rejoyce in that they submitting themselves to Christs yoke may be sure that the same Divine Love which was of old manifested to the Jews is in as full measure according to their capacity extended towards them What high account was made of Israel heretofore the holy Scripture doth every where tell us How God entred into a Covenant with them was nigh unto them in all that they call'd upon him for esteemed them his Inheritance his Vineyard his peculiar Treasure when all other Nations were rejected as unclean 1 Cor. 9.11 proclaimed Out-laws and cast forth as dogs not suffered to intermeddle with the childrens Priviledge But now since the Holy Ghost hath not onely told us that Jesus Christ the messenger of this Covenant the parchaser of this Inheritance the planter of this Vineyard the great Lord-Keeper of this Treasury hath broken down the wall of Partition that was between Jews and Gentiles Eph. 2.14 making both one but that he is also the Same to day which he was yesterday as able now to save them to the uttermost whosoever they be that come unto God by him and as ready to do the will of the Father in being a Light to lighten the Gentiles according to the Prophecies of old as to be the glory of his people Israel we may therefore be confident in our approaches before the Lord looking for mercy and grace to help in time of need being as much interessed in all the happy Priviledges of the everlasting Covenant of Promise as ever were the Jews there is no difference now saith the Apostle between the Jew and the Greek for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved Now is the true heavenly sound gone into all lands the Gospel preached to every creature which the Apostles carried about when they had their Commission given them to go into all the world their Line reached to the ends of the earth Psal 19 4 5. insomuch that the Orb or Tabernacle of the Sun so the Divine Spirit of the Psalmist is interpreted by the Apostle was bounded within the limits of their Commission Rom. 10.18 Saint Paul had his circuit from Jerusalem to Spain
I answer 1. In worshipping him with Divine Adoration 2. In a zealous appearance for him against his Enemies 3. In a ready hearkning to the Voice of his Word First We must yield unto him Divine Honour putting no difference in that respect between him and the Father for as the Father hath sworn that unto him every knee shall bow Es 45.23 Es 45.23 Phil. 2.10 So must every knee bow in like manner to the Lord Jesus Christ Phil. 2.10 Neither did Christ who was ever zealous for his Fathers glory ever refuse this Divine Honour when it was given unto him He never said as the Angel See thou do it not Rev. 19.10 But approved Rev. 19.10 commended blessed those that did it as we might instance in the Leper Mat. 8.2 The Ruler Mat. 9.18 The blind man John 9.38 His Disciples Mat. 28.17 and many more If it had not been his due what a derogation had these things been unto his Fathers Honour for which he had been justly liable to his displeasure even as Herod was when he took unto himself the glory due unto God But Jesus Christ is the same with the Father yesterday to day and for ever And therefore is to have the same honour ascribed unto him Heb 1 6. Let then all the Angels of God worship him and let men of what rank soever bow the knee Abrech John 5.23 and cry before him Tender Father for this is the will of God that all men should honour the Son as they honour the Father I shall conclude this Branch of my Exhortation with a remarkable Story very well known and very pertinent to our purpose confirmed by the concurrent Testimony of many Writers of great and eminent fame in the Church of God In the Reign of Theodosius there was a Toleration granted to the Arians giving them liberty free from any molestation not prohibiting them to argue publickly against the Godhead of Christ insomuch that they grew thereupon extremely impudent venting their Blasphemy to the great dishonour of the Lord Jesus Christ neither could any man prevail with the Emperour to retract that Toleration which he had with too much indulgence granted unto them At length one Amphilochius Bishop of Iconium a holy man not being able to endure the dishonour that was so frequently done unto Jesus Christ was willing to expose himself to a great hazard for his sake Entring therefore into the Court with some other Bishops and seeing the Emperour and his son Arcadius whom he lately created Joynt-Emperour standing together he did very low obeysance to the Father but none at all to the Son Theodosius imagining the omission of Reverence towards his Son to proceed rather from simplicity and ignorance then from any wilful neglect of the Bishop adviseth him to salute his Son also as became his Imperial Dignity Amphilochius answered boldly in these words Satis est quod honorem ipsi habitisset It was enough that he had given him that honour which he did and withal coming up close to the Son in a familiar manner he stroaketh him on the head saying Salve mi Fili God save you my Child Whereupon the old Emperour being much displeased gave commandment that the Bishop should be punished severely for his insolency which being ready to be executed he having now obtained what he expected very freely speaketh forth his mind in this manner Siccine O Imperator tam graviter fers contemptum filii tui Revocat tibi in mentem quaeso odisse Deumcos qui honoris aliquid adimerent unigenito Filio suo c. Is thy rage O Emperour so great against me for not regarding thy Son Remember I beseech thee that they are odious unto God whosoever they be that take away from his only begotten Son the glory that is due unto him c. The Emperour upon these words bethinking himself better acknowledged his fault to the Bishop and asks him forgiveness immediately issuing forth an Edict against Arianism whereby all whosoever they were that were found guilty of that Heresie were brought to a condign punishment A memorable example in which we may see how Divine Providence hath in those elder times wrought in the hearts of men a reverend awe of the Lord Jesus Christ when possibly convictions from the holy Scriptures through the prevalency of carnal compliancies could not be regarded Which example let it lead the way also to our second particular of giving unto Christ his due honour viz. By a zealous appearance for him against his Enemies who in these our daies lay violent hands upon his Glory cursed Hereticks I mean professing open Hostility against the Lord Jesus seeking by all means they possibly can to snatch his Crown from off his head by undermining the very Foundation of his Honour that is his Divine Nature And surely too many there are of that pestilent Brood in these times of Errour and Vanity an evil Spirit wanders about not only in our Nation but in other parts of the world pretending to Holiness yet doubtless an Emissary sent from the Prince of Darkness that beguileth unstable Souls by infusing into them a lower esteem of Jesus Christ then hath been commonly held up amongst the people of God to the end that this diminution of his Glory might in time bring on with it an annihilation also of his Merit Numine sordidius nihil est cum siditâ—n Imum for as the powers of the Earth when they are brought low are trampled upon and made very despicable so will it certainly be with the Dignity and Honour of the Lord Jesus if it be brought down to the dust there it will be buried and come to nothing It doth therefore highly concern all the faithful people of God to appear in this Quarrel and notwithstanding all the glossing insinuations and pretensions of men willing to be deceived who as they are themselves of a lukewarm indifferency in many points of Religion so they would perswade all others to a sinful silence with them yet doth it I say behove all that truly love the Lord Jesus Christ to proclaim and maintain an irreconcilable War with all those whosoever they be that march under the Banner of that evil Spirit against him And to afford some help herein let us a little sound the depths of Satan to the end that we may lay open some of the stratagems of Hell which have been of late contrived and acted against the Lord Christ and his Glory Two waies it is clear doth this Spirit work to bring about this mischievous Design First By raising up men beyond their due 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their proper Sphere making them equals with Christ and Competitours with him in Glory Secondly By bringing down the Lord Jesus the Lord of Glory from the Throne of his Majesty making him nothing else but a poor Compeer with the sons of men As to the first of these consider what a fearful delusion that is which haunteth some
persons putting them upon this Blasphemy that they poor worms are as well and as truly God as Jesus Christ And why Because they have their Being in God Act. 17.28 are partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and are one with Christ John 17.21.22 c. Now if this were admitted what a sordid profession would Christianity be What in time would become of Satisfaction for Sin Imputation of Righteousness the Purity Dignity Royalty of the Blood of God How ridiculous and contemptible would the pretended terrour of the great Day seem unto the World For a Contest might possibly arise who should be the chief Judge at that time and according to the person and quality of the Judge so would the Judgment be But to these deluded ones we may well say as Moses did to Korah and his Complices Num. 16.9 10. Seemeth it a small thing unto you that God hath separated you Numb 16.9 10. and brought you near unto himself but you will seek the Priesthood also What is it nothing to be as you pretend your selves to be advanced to the knowledge of the true God and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord to have the Image of God consisting in Righteousness and true Holiness 2 Pet. 1.4 to be repaired and renewed in you which is the participation of the Divine Nature but that you will aspire like the Devil 1 Tim. 3.6 to be equal with God speaking after the language of him who said in his heart I will ascend into Heaven Es 14.13 14. I will exalt my Throne above the Stars of God I will sit upon the mount of the Congregation in the sides of the North. I will ascend above the heights of the Clouds I will be like the most High Is the iniquity of our first Parents too little for you from which we are not cleansed until this day but that you will rise up and rebel against the Lord even after the same manner as they did What have you been coeternal with Jesus Christ and immutable like unto him Can ye say You are the same yesterday to day and for ever Where were you then Job 38.4 when God laid the foundations of the earth Declare if you have understanding When he prepared the Heavens when he set a compass upon the face of the Depth when he established the Clouds above when he strenghned the Fountains of the Deep Were you then by him Pro. 8.27 as one brought up with him rejoycing alwaies before him Have you known the mind of the Lord Or have you been his Counsellours Were you joyn'd in Commission with Jesus Christ to be his Co-agents in the great Work of Redemption Es 63.3 Did you help to tread the Wine-press in the discomfiting of his Enemies Or to establish a Church so as the Gates of Hell should not prevail against it Look then now on every one that is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked in their place hide them in the dust together and bind their faces in secret Then will I confess to you that you are free from those Delusions that are charged upon you and unjustly tax'd with Blasphemy whereof otherwise you cannot but be deeply guilty But enough of this The other Project of Hell which is now on foot against Jesus Christ in these our daies is to level him with poor dust and ashes not allowing him a preheminence above the sons of men unless it be such as hath been devised by the Devil for the more close conveyance of his inveterate malice I do not say it is an Egg lately hatch'd by that Cockatrice for it is of an old brood and did exceedingly infest the Church in former times as hath been said before but though it was smitten through and through with the two-edged Sword of Gods word yet there are now again sprung up new Heads of that old monstrous and malicious Hydra who with the faces of Sodom and Gomorah dare publickly tell us that our great Redeemer of whom we make our boast is no other then a meer man I am prone to believe that such as love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity do find their hearts shivering within them at the very mentioning of this horrid Blasphemy but behold yet greater Abominations What an amazement must it be to all the Churches of Christ to read or hear that In A. B. his Exposition of the 17th Chap. of S. John which I have read of Socinus In the reciting whereof there may be some doubt as one said in another case whether you should be desired to open or to stop your ears the speech being so horrible as it is a wonderful patience of God that the Earth opened not her mouth to swallow him up quick yea it may seem strange that the dumb and dead paper did not stand up refusing to take that Ink wherewith such an abominable Blasphemy should be either printed or written which is expressed in these words viz. This Doctrine of Christs Deity is so absurd that the Christian World will one day be ashamed of it and that the word Trinity may be in time as much abhorred as Transubstantiation and the Mass What shall we say to this but as the Angel spake to the Devil Increpet Dominus Es 6.1.3.5.8 John 12.40 41. Psal 102.19 22 23.26 27. Heb. 1.10 11 12. Let the Lord rebuke them whosoever they be that have their Tongues thus set on fire of Hell against Christ and his Glory The Apostle tells us Phil. 2.6 That being in the form of God he counted it no robbery to be equal with God Yet these wretches do in effect say that he is a Thief and a Robber if he shall lay claim to such an equality What Is he the great Jehovah Eternal and Immutable the same yesterday to day and for ever and all this while but a meer man Could a meer man be able to wade into the vast Ocean of the wrath of the Almighty and not be swallowed up everlastingly therein Could he be able to enter into a Plea with Divine Justice and put her to a Non-suit To undertake by his own Righteousness to justifie so many Myriads of Saints and not find to his shame his covering infinitely too narrow to hide the deformities of so great a multitude To encounter with Death and Hell and overcome them in their own Den Surely we must needs say with him in the Gospel If this man were not of God Nay If this man were not God he could do nothing nothing I mean in these great noble and glorious Atchievements For admit that he was perfect in himself both in his birth and in his life the power of the most High when it came upon the Virgin in her Conception stopping up the Current of original sin that it could not pollute him and his own proper power preserving him all his life-time from the least spot of any actual sin yet alas wherein could this single