he purposing more and more choise Dispensations and to some less and less choise To some a longer and to some a shorter time of waiting upon them for their turning to him with respect to the former of which it is That the Apostle as I understand speaks of some sometimes as Elect and chosen Persons above others namely as to God's making choise to dispense more special means and mercies to them Rom. 9.10 12 16. c. both for their own and others good and others not so neglected but passed by as to such an Election and that meerly according to the good pleasure of his Will without respect to Birth or Works yea or of good or evil found or foreseen in them as also that He hath mercy on whom he will have Mercy and whom he will he hardens as to his continuing his gracious Dispensations to them and Operations in them and with them after they have sinned against former Dispensations and deserved Wrath from him So we may say He did graciously purpose to prefer Isaac before Ishmael as to his Dispensations of choise Priviledges to him for his own and others good in chusing to have his Son take Flesh of him and betrusting his choise Oracles with him and his Seed And of his Seed he freely purposed to dispense more favour and priviledge to Jacob than to Esau without respect to Good or Evil in them but according to his free Election of Jacob to be He of whom Christ should come and so to be exalted to more Honour Exod. 19.5 Deut. 4.20 37. 7.6 7 8. 14.1 2. Rom. 3.1 9.3 4 5. Jer. 3.1 Luk. 1.13 14 15. He and his Seed with respect to Christ to come of them that they should be to him a peculiar People betrusted with his Oracles and Ordinances and so to be as a Kingdom of Priests to and amongst all the Nations about them Yea to be betrusted with the Blessing of Abraham that concerned all the Nations and Families of the Earth Thus God fore-knew and sanctifyed Jeremy in the Womb and ordained him to be a Prophet to the Nations and John the Baptist and its probable that Paul signifies the same of himself in saying That God seperated him from his Mothers Womb Gall. 1.15 God in Christ as Lord and Governour of his Creatures having that Power and Priviledge to appoint and Design them some to more honourable uses and imployments and others to less honourable or dishonourable Services as pleases him without any other reason but because so it seems good to his Wisdom Isa 45.9 10. Even as the Potter hath power over the clay as the Apostle says Rom. 9.21 of the same to make one a vessel of dishonour and another a vessel of honour though this he doth in and through Christ and in subordination to his Great Design by Christ of Glorifying himself to and amongst men and prosecuting their good and Salvation Even as a Lord or Master of a great houshold who purposes one to Office of Honour near himself and another to be in a lower Rank a Scullion or Stable-Groom and yet designs the publick welfare of them all and reserves to himself a liberty of advancing the lowest higher as he shall judge fit or of putting down the highest lower Rom. 9.15 2 Tim. 2.19 20 21. as he may find him demeaning himself unworthily in his greater honour for this is to be minded That though God's purposes of dispensing his Grace and favour to men as to his honouring some above others is altogether free and may be irrespective to good or evil in them yet neither is that Honour and Excellency to which he chuses them in his purpose and according to his choise of them to which he purposes to call them and dispense to them for themselves alone but for the Publick good and behoof of others from amongst whom he chuses them and that are not so chosen by him As Israel freely chosen from other Nations and so as no other Nation was chosen and in due time called to be honoured with the Blessings of God that pertained not to him alone but to all Nations also even those not so chosen both Christ who was to come of him and the Oracles concerning him being not sent nor speaking good concerning them onely but for and to all Men thence that Prayer God be Merciful to us Psal 67.1 2 3 4. and bless us and cause thy face to shine upon us that thy way may be known upon earth and thy saving health unto all Nations Let the people praise thee O God yea let all the people praise thee O let the Nations be glad and sing for joy c. Even as Josiah singled out from the rest to Execute Judgment on the Idolaters And Cyrus to restore Israel And John Baptist and Jeremy and Paul to Preach the Truth of God to others were not singled out for some private Personal good to themselves onely but for the Publick good and benefit of all others amongst whom and for whom they were so singled out Such purposes for Dispensation and so the Dispensations according to those purposes being not to prejudice but to promote the Publick good of Persons Isa 49.7 8. Luk. 2.30 31. not so chosen as they even as Christ was chosen out of and from all other men so as none but He was chosen yet not for the prejudice but for the good of all other Men so aâ— they might have good by him did they not willingly refuse and put it from them Nor was the good and honour purposed to them as to Israel Jeremy John the Baptist c. purposed to be so dispensed to them and estated on them as that they be Personally thereby necessitated to Eternal Life or to such use of them as that they might not possibly forfeit them by abusing them but God left himself at liberty to reject even those so purposed to honour they dishonouring him and waxing wanton against him and exalt to honour those purposed to dishonourable stations they therein submitting to him or otherwise as he pleased to assay to bring them to submission to him by shewing them more Mercy as Jeremy fore-known and Ordained to be a Prophet held that honour upon termes of Obedience and Faithfulness to God to which also God prevented him and afforded him sufficient Grace and Incouragement Jer. 1.5 17. 15.19 20. otherwise he might be confounded before the People and rejected of God as for some time it seems he was in way to have been And Paul understood the same concerning himself that though a chosen Vessel to carry the name of Christ amongst the Gentiles yet unless faithful to God and Christ therein woe to him God would reject him as he implys 1 Cor. 9.16.27 proving the righteousness of his Apprehension therein from God's dealing with the Fathers honoured by him and yet with many of them abusing God's goodness God not well pleased but they were destroyed
them that were nigh and to them that were afar off and is the Peace between God and Men and between Men and Men to them that accept him and are found in him to whom is and ought to be the gathering of the People To him Believers are now gathered by his Grace and they that are not gathered now shall hereafter be by his Power gathered to be Judged by him 3. He is the Great Prophet Deut. 18 15 18. Act. 3.21 22 23. raised up out of the Jews like to Moses yea above him both in immediateness of receipt of his Commands from his Father and in giving Laws and Doctrines binding to all people and in Meekness Faithfulness Miracles c. yea One Greater then He Numb 12.6 7 8. John 3.34 Matth. 11.27 John 1.18 Heb. 3.1 2 3 4. John 20.30 31. 21.25 Act. 2.22 in asmuch as Moses was but a Servant in God's House but Christ the Son in his own House To him therefore all ought to listen and he that refuseth him shall be destroyed by him 4. He is the Great King and Shepheard of Israel that God promised to raise up to David out of his Seed or Loyns To whom God hath given the Everlasting Kingdom both over All Men and over Israel or Believing Men in special which he also is Anointed to Govern and Order till he shall deliver it up to the Father and God become all in all Psal 2.6 7. John 10.11 1.49 with Psal 89.2 3 19 20 c. Luk. 1.33 34 35. 1 Cor. 15.24 Matth. 3.17 17.5 Acts. 3.22 23. Isa 11.1 10 11. 4.2 with Rom. 15.9 10 11 12 13. Dan. 9.24 25 26. John 1.41.45 25 26 27. 5. He is the Root of Jesse The Branch of the Lord. The Fruit of the Earth The Ensign for the Nations to flock to whose Rest is Glorious The Messias or Anointed One who was the Messias in Scripture is found in him Luk. 24.27 44. 6. Yea all things in Heaven Ephes 1.10 Rev. 3.14 Col. 3.8 9 10 16. Eph. 2.10 or Earth by which God represented Himself his Grace or Salvation to Men are gathered together and sum'd up in him and in the Spirit of them are to be met with by men in and through him as to instance He is the Beginning of the Creation of God in and by him and his Truth God Creates Men to be a People for himself as well as by him He Created all things at the First He is the True Sabbath bath or Rest Isa 28.12 Matth. 11.28 Isa 42.1 Rom. 15.12 13 14. John 1.14 16. Coll. 1.19 Prov. 3.15 16 17. Col. 2.8 9 10. Rev. 22.1 2 14 1 Pet. 3.20 Acts. 4.11 12. Isa 28.14 15 16 17. 42.6 49.6 7. Col. 2.10 11. Phil. 3.3 Gall. 5.24 Gen. 17.10 13. Matth. 16.24 25. Luke 14.25 26. Exod. 12.4 5. with Joh. 1.29 Isa 55.4 John 6.40 14.1 15 16 17 25. Mat. 21.44 John 8.12 12.48 1.14 Heb. 9.11 12. John 14.8 9 10. in whom the weary labouring Souls have Rest given them and may in coming to him find it The Garden of God's and Man's delight where man may meet with and converse with his Maker and find all variety of Grace Blessings and Satisfaction good for him The Tree of Life giving Immortality to them that Eat of Him The River of living Waters affording living Influences to them that come and Drink of Him Joh. 4.14 and 7.37 38. The Ark of safety where alone we may be preserved in the midst of the over-flowing Deluge of Miseries that over-top all the Mountains of this World and destroy those that stay thereon The Governant God hath given to the People in whom we may have him our God and become a people to him in whom also we have the true Circumcision or cutting off of the foreskin of the Flesh i. e. all confidences in the Flesh with the corrupt Affections and Lusts thereof which we must needs submit to if we will be in Covenant with God through Christ He is the true Passover slain and sacrificed for us 1 Cor. 5.9 The cloud of God's Protection over us Isa 4.4 5 6. in our marchings after him our Leader and Commander out of the Spiritual Aegypt of the Worlds state and condition in him God Protects and guides us and looks upon the Enemy to disperse and destroy them The Pillar of Fire to give us Light in all our Marchings and consume the Rebels The Tabernacle which God hath pitched Isa 63.9 John 16 33. Eph. 6.11.14 15. Heb. 9.14 15. Rom. 3.25.1 John 2.1 2. Isa 56.7 8 9. Rev. 8.3 4 5.1 Pet. 2.5 John 1.4 5 9. 12.46 6.32 33 43 51.35 1 Cor. 1.30 31. Ephes 2.10 Isa 56.8 with Heb. 10.5 6 10. 2.17 5.1 5 10. Acts 3.22 23. Isa 55.4 5. Matth. 11.28 29 30. Heb. 12 2. Rev. 1.11 22.13 Heb. 3.2 3 4 5 6. 5 4 5 10 4.6 8 9. Isa 33.22 and in which he dwells and walks amongst his People The Ark of his strength and presence in and with which he walks before us divides the waters of affliction drives out our Enemies and brings those that are faithful to him into the Possession of the Eternal Kingdom The Mercy-seat or Propitiatory through faith in his blood The Altar of Incense perfuming the services of those that come to and worship God by him The Golden Candlestick in whom the true Light is held forth to us yea the true Light it self lightning every Man that comes into the World but chiefly those that believe in him The Bread of Life the Laver of Regeneration the Sanctification and true Washing by whom believed in we are cleansed from our Sins The Altar of Burnt-offerings and the Sacrifice it self that makes the Attonement for the Sins of the People and obtains Peace and Reconciliation Yea the Priest of God the Great High Priest that offers up Gifts and Sacrifices for us especially for the Worshippers by him The Prophet and Leader of the People The Redeemer out of Bondage and the Bringer of them into Rest who faithfully follow him The Alpha and Omega The Beginning and the End the Author and Finisher of the Faith Greater than Moses or Aaron or Joshua Yea answering to all of them being both the true Law-giver Act. 4.11.12 10.42 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3. John 4.10.14 7.37 38 39. High-priest Saviour and Judge the Deliverer from Sin World and Satan the Preserver Leader and Guide in the way to Happiness and the Possessour of us to it The Heavenly Manna or Bread from Heaven John 6.48 The Water out of the Rock or rather the Rock that being smitten for us gives forth the Living Waters of Life even the knowledge grace and spirit of God to us to refresh and satisfie us John 3.14 15 16 17. 6.40 The Antitipe to the Brazen Serpent in looking to whom we may be healed of all our wounds even of those also which we
prepared and promised from the beginning of the world in him and this is executed upon men in their natural infirmities weakness and death and out of this judgement all shall be raised and brought to a second which second is that that shall be pronounced and executed Heb. 9.27 28. John 5.22 â— Câ— 5.10 after all are dead in the resurrection of the dead and that not by God immediately as the former was but by the Son of man Jesus Christ Noâ— shall it be upon all in one man but upon all in their several persons Nor shall it be upon all one and the same but differently as men have been found in the day of grace Some doing good in accepting and submitting to Christ John 5.28 29. 2 Pet. 2.1 and so are found in him who shall be adjudged to life and happiness And others doing evil in rejecting Christ and sinning against him denying him that bought them and preferring sin and Satan before him and they shall be adjudged to everlasting condemnation There are indeed several judgements in this life and world upon particular men but clearly distinct from these two before mentioned because not general they differ also from the first in this that that was in one and one upon all but these are divers upon divers persons as upon Pharoah and his Host destruction in the Red Sea after divers judgements too before that Upon Sodom and Gomorrha fire and brimstone from Heaven Upon David Isa 27.9 Heb. 12.10 11. that the sword departed not from his House and that only to testifie displeasure against him for his sin but also to humble him and cleanse him from sin as all the judgements executed upon Gods House or People be yea Job 33.28 29. and those upon the world too are to occasion their repentance and seeking after God and to prevent their ruine and destruction unless those that after the Decree brings forth and the day of grace is at an end cuts any off and seals them up to the eternal judgement These judgements also differ from the first in this that that was for the sin of one man and of us all in him but these are for mens personal sins against the goodness and grace of God and the sins of our Fathers as involving us in them or as owned and continued by us And yet from the last judgement they differ too as in time and other respects so chiefly in this that they are reversible both the judgements of his mouth that is the condemnations to death and the justifications to life as sententially pronounced upon men by God in his word as the condemned are led to repentance by their condemnations or otherwise Jer. 18.7 8 9 10 11. or the justified abuse their absolutions and presume to turn Gods grace into wantonness as is clear in Ezek. 33.12 13. as also the judgements of his hand or executions of judgement here are but for a time usually and such as men turning from their evil ways God may and is ready to turn from them But that last judgement is eternal and irreversible Heb. 6.2 Matth. 25.46 Yea and whereas these judgements are mixed with mercy through the mediation of Christ who is a propitiation for the sins of the whole world and prays for sparing and forbearance during the day of Gods grace and patience Psal 75.7 8. whence also they are said to be ordered or poured out of a Cup in Gods hand whose Wine is red but full of mixture to signifie that they are distributed in measure and with much mixture of mercy That last judgment as to the wrath then to be executed shall be without mixture of mercy or abatement of what is deserved even as the mercy and good awarded to the good shall be without mixture of sorrow and therefore is said to be poured out of the Cup of Gods indignation which is of an incomprehensible capacity without mixture Rev. 14.9 10 11. SECT 6. Of two Worlds the World that now is and the World to come 6. MMention also is made of two worlds the one made for the first Adam and his posterity to live in and was given to him and them in him and that world was and is very large great and glorious and Adam was made as it were the Lord-deputy of it and this world we find too mentioned as under a double condition 1. In its created state while not subjected to bondage and before any sin in it or curse came upon the earth and upon mankind and this was its case in mans innocensie and so should have continued hadnot man sinned a case of excellencie and freedom from curse and corruption 2. The second is its present state Rom. 8.21 Gen. 3.17 18. as subjected to vanity for mans sin and filled with occasions of vexation of spirit to him being filled with much curse and appointed as to its present state at least to be destroyed and perish as once already as to the generality of its Inhabitants both men and beasts it hath and shall again more fully with respect to which it's destructions it is as to its corrupt state also spoken of as twofold 1. The old world or the world that was 2 Pet. 2.5 3.6 namely that was before the flood and was for its wickedness destroyed by the flood except eighâ— persons left to repeople it And 2. The world that now is which is reserved unto fire against the judgement of the great day 2 Pet. 3.7 8 10 13. when the Heavens also that arâ— now shall be wrapt up as a Scrol be disolved and pass away with a great noise the elements shall melt with fervent heat and the earth with the works that arâ— therein shall be burnt up Though then also some probably conceive a Remnant shall be left to People the New Earth and that of them is meant that in Rev. 21.24 The Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of the New Jerusalem Gal. 1.4 2 Cor. 4.4 1 Cor. 11.32 Now this present world is an evil and wicked world having Satan as to the people of it and his power with them the God of it and thence it is that all that abide in its state and fellowship and in confederacy with Satan shall be destroyed But then there is 2. A world to come 2 Pet. 3.13 Act. 3.21 22. Rom. 8.19 22. Heb. 2.5 Matth. 12.32 A new Heaven and new Earth in which shall dwell righteousness when all things spoken of by the Prophets shall be restored and the Creature it self shall be freed from its bondage to corruption into the liberty of the Sons of God to share of their good according to its capacity Heb. 2.5 1 Cor. 6.2 Rev. 1.5 6. Isa 61.7 and be only subject and serviceable to them And this world shall be more immediately put into subjection to Christ and he and his people 1 Thes 4.16 17. 1 Cor. 15.23 24. Rom. 8.20 21 22.
Earth so as that Terah Abraham's Father was not free from it though both Noah and Shem and divers other good Men it 's likely were then living but that is to be attributed to Mens corrupting themselves God nevertheless was dispensing the knowledge of his word to and amongst them but more fully yea more fully than to the Holy men in former Ages was he pleased to dispense and give it forth to Abraham with Isaac and Jacob and their Children Abraham he called and chose and brought out 〈◊〉 Vr of the Chaldees and made known him self more familiarly and clearly to him by way of Covenant with him finding his heart faithfull Gen. 12.3 18.18 22.18 26.4 28.14 Gal. 3.8 9. as Neh. 9.7 8. with Gen. 12.1 Heb. 11.8 To him he revealed That of him should the promised Seed be and so to Isaac and Jacob after him and that in that Seed all the Families of the Earth should be blessed there blessing should be prepared for them and given unto them with respect to which he called his name Abraham as ordaining him a Father of the many Nations that they might be directed thither to look for blessing To him therefore Melchisedeck also the Priest of the most High God and King of Salem Gen. 14.19 20. gave a most solemn blessing after his return from the slaughter of the Kings Rom. 4.11 12. by which his name was made famous doubtless in all those Nations To him God gave the word of Faith even the promise of blessing in his Seed to all the Families of the Earth to propagate a Spiritual Seed to God by of whom Abraham Ministerially should be the Father and added to it the sign of Circumcision a Seal of the Righteousness of the Faith which he had both as it signifies a gracious believing and as it signifies the Word and Doctrine to be held forth to his Children and Servants and in the World as he had opportunity before he was Circumcised for the Sealing unto men the truth of that Faith that was given to him and held forth by him that therein they that received it might be justified and accepted of God as righteous even they that believed God's Revelation to him of blessing in his Seed to all the Nations and there sought it Which blessing what could it signifie but that in and by his Seed sin should be satisfied for and taken away Rom. 4.6 7. 2 Cor. 5.19 20. and the Curse and Death removed and that access to God and Grace and a fvour with God might through him be had even by them all which same blessing and promise was also given to Isaac and Jacob as may be seen in the Scriptures fore quoted yea to them all also was given further the promise of another Inheritance an Heavenly Countrey figured too by the promise of the Land of Canaan which they believed and hoped for and sought after and plainly declared their Faith and expectation of Heb. 11.9 10 13 14 15 16. Something sure was in this beyond what the former Fathers had revealed to them by vertue of which he obtained the honour of being called the Friend of God and the Father of all that believe 2 Chron. 20.7 Jam. 2.21 23. Rom. 4.16 Gen. 49.10 To and by Jacob also was yet further revealed that the promised Seed should be of his son Judah whom also he calls the Shiloh or Peace-maker as implying his work should be to make peace between God and Men and between Men and Men for unto him should be the gathering of the People or their obedience yea and this famous hint was further given him of the time of Christ's coming that it should be before the Scepter or Tribe should depart from Judah and a Law-giver should cease from between his feet that is they should be continued a Tribe and have the form of a Commonwealth and Government amongst them though for sometime interrupted as to the power with them yet not taken or removed wholly from them till Shiloh should come or be born to him Now this manifestation of God and of the knowledge of himself and Son vouchsafed to those Patriarchs they transmitted to their Children and it was kept by and with them in Egypt till the time of their delivery Heb. 11.25 26. thence by Joseph and his Brethren during their lives and after that by the Fathers that succeeded them though the generality of them declined from walking with God perfectly and defiled themselves with the Idols of the Egyptians even as the Children of Ishmael Abraham's Son by Hagar and his Sons by Keturah and Esau and his posterity too to whom yet their Fathers Abraham and Isaac were not wanting to transmit the knowledge of God they had received from him too generally had done And yet we may not think that because those Worthies onely had the honour and priviledge to be chosen to have such further dispensations of the Mystery of God opened to them and be trusted with them and no others so as they that therefore there were no other holy Men in those times but they or no knowledge of God and means of Salvation afforded to other Nations For beside what we have said Sect. 1. it is evident as we noted above that Shem and Arphaxad and Heber were living a good part of those times yea and there was Lot too and Melchisedech if a man in the days of Abraham and Lot is called a Righteous man 2 Pet. 2.7 8. yea evident it is that amongst the Children of the East there were Job and his Friends good men Job 1.1 5 8. 17.8 9. yea Job highly commended as not inferiour to any for the fear of God and uprightness of his heart and they spoke of Righteous and Innocent men in their discourses as supposing there were such then to be found amongst them and they are probably conceived to have lived about the time of Israel's sojourning in * Colligimus ex libro ejus tertia generatione posteriorem fuisse Jobum quam Israel Aug. de Civit. Dei lib. 18. cap. 47. Egypt And at the time of Israels deliverance out of Egypt God did marvellously make bare his Arm amongst the Naâ—ons that they might know and seek him especially to Israel by the hand of Moses and Aaron Now the Ages spoken to in this Section contain at least eight or nine hundred years according to Bishop Vsher eight hundred fifty seven beginning the 430 years which it is said the sojourning of the Children of Israel in the Land of Egypt continued from Abraham's coming out of his own Countrey into the Land and so from his and his Seeds becoming sojourners and the promise being made to him of Blessing in his Seed for all the Families of the Earth mentioned by the Apostle Gal. 3.8 16 17. which promise he says was confirmed with him four hundred and thirty years before the Law And indeed it is to be minded that the
space 700. years according to Bishop Vsher 717. SECT 8. Of the Age of Christ his Incarnation and Manifestation in the Flesh to men and thenceforth to the Destruction of Jerusalem by Titus and so on WHat should I need to speak of the times of Christs appearance and since when the day-spring looked down from on high and visited us more gloriously than ever and what was all along pointed to before as to come was it self brought forth and as to the works of his coming in the Flesh accomplished Surely then God gave forth the truth yet more abundantly And yet we may consider some diversity in his Dispensations then with reference to divers times 1. Immediately before the appearing of Christ his Birth and manifesting amongst men there was given certain notice to some that he was about to come as also by the Writings of the Prophets there was ground to expect him and he was expected about that time but more particularly notice was given to Simeon Luk. 2.26 an holy and devout man and as some write one of Sanhedrim or Great Council of the Nation that he should not 〈◊〉 before he had seen the Lords Christ 〈◊〉 Zachary the Father of the Baptist 〈◊〉 revealed that he should have a Son 〈◊〉 his Wife Elizabeth Luk. 1.13 14 17. that should be 〈◊〉 forerunner and go before his face according to what was prophesied by Malachy Luk. 1. To the Virgin also that she should conceive and bring him forth And both by the Virgin and Zachary and Elizabeth was he witnessed to before his Birth After his Birth he was made known to 2.10 11 12 13 14 17 27 28 29 30 36 37 38. and by the Shepheards by Simeon also and Anna a Prophetess as also to and by certain Wise Men or Magi that came out of the East Country to seek and worship him Matth. 2. Before his being manifested by way of ministration to the people John the Baptist was sent of God to bear witness to him who also did clearly testifie of him and point to him as a person then born and amongst them Behold John 1.5 6 7 15 16 29 30 31 32 33 34. Matt. 3.16 17. saith he to them the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the World witnessing that he had seen the heavens open upon him when he was baptized by him and that the Holy Ghost in a visible form like a Dove as it was fore-given him of God as a sign to know him by descended and sat upon him and God himself out of Heaven witnessed to him that he was his well-beloved Son in whom he was well-pleased so that God vouchsafed to John and by him to the people a clearer discovery of him than 〈◊〉 or by any of the Prophets that went before him with respect to which it is said That amongst those that were born of women there had not arisen a greater then John the Baptist Matth. 11.12 2. In the time of Christ's Personal Appearing and Manifesting Himself to and amongst Men from the time of his Baptisme to his Ascention he Ministred the Knowledge of God to Men by his Personal Preaching and Miracles and gave himself a Ransom for many accomplishing by his Death and Resurrection the Prophecies in that behalf going before concerning him Therein both by Words and Works he made manifest the way of Life both to the World and to his Disclples more especially to whom it was given to know The Mysteries of the Kingdom even such Mysteries as many wise Men and Prophets had desired to see and saw not and to hear but heard not they being blessed with a sight and knowledge of these things which were peculiar to that Age even to be Eye-witnesses of the Sufferings and Glory of Christ and to have familiar Converse with him their Eyes feeing and their Ears hearing and their Hands handling of the Word of Life that was before Promised from the Beginning but then was Manifest in the Flesh and Conversed therein with them of which the wise and prudent of the Jews and the greatest part of the People deprived themselves by not seeing what they see and 〈◊〉 hearing what they heard but closeing the Eye least they should see and stopping the Ear lest they should hear and understand with their Hearts and be Converted and Healed by him Matt. 13.11 12 13 14 15 16. For before them also his Doctrine and Miracles were such as might have convinced them that he was the Christ But to his Discipls he opened all things they see and followed him in his Temptations see his Sufferings and Eat and Drank with him after his Resurrection till he was taken up into Heaven of which also they the Apostles especially were Eye-witnesses But yet 3. In the times after his Ascension was the clearest manifestation of the Mystery that ever was vouchsafed by his pouring forth his Spirit the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation and power into and upon those his Apostles and Disciples giving them to see into and understand the Mystory of his Will even the ends and vertues of and the grace of God to Mankind in all those things of Christ done and suffered by him and the meaning of his Words and Doctrine delivered to them by him by which also they were furnished being thereto before his Ascention Commissionated to open the Mysteries and grace of God to all Men to Jews and Gentiles according to the utmost opportunities thereto given them And they also during their continuance upon Earth reased not faithfully and fully to declare the mind and Testimony of God to men and to endeavour to make them see the fellowship of the Mystery God mightily bearing Witness to them by many Signes and Wonders and Gifts of the Holy Ghost to the filling the Earth with the Knowledg of him and of his Salvation so as that by that time Jerusalem was Destroyed and their Nation dispersed and carried Captive they had sounded forth the word of Truth in and unto most if not all Nations so as that though they were but an handful of Corn in the top of the Mountains yea their Fruit shaked like Lebanon as was fore-told Psal 72.16 Yea and afterwards too the word they had sowed up and down the world took Root and sprang up and filled the world with Fruit till through many Persecutions and Cruelties endured by those that Believed and by the Blood of the Lamb and Word of their Testimony they leavened the face of the World so as that the Emperours and Rulers of it imbraced the Profession of it also and their Word and Doctrine they the Apostles also delivered in Writing to be transmitted to Posterity which even to these times yet remaineth with us Though it is true that 4. In the succeeding times the Watchmen being not so Vigelant as Satan the envious One the Tares of false Positions or Doctrines and of loose and evil Live◠too presently began to be sown in the World after
the departure of the Apostles nay they began to be sown before but by reason of their Vigilancy they took not such place in the Churches as afterward they did till they even overtopped the good Seed and its Fruit Ignorance 2 Thess 2.10 11 12. Errour Superstition and Prophaneness sprouting up apace through Mens not receiving the love of the Truth that they might be Saved till God as he threatned gave up the World again to the over-spreadings of Deceit permitting the False Prophet Mahomet to Introduce a false and wicked Religion to the drawing away Multitudes from the Belief of the Truth planted amongst them And the Roman Bishops with their Clergy to Usurp Dominion over the rest and living like Beasts or Monsters to fill the Churches that yet retained the Profession of Christ and the Scriptures amongst them with all manner of Errour Superstition and Prophaness which continued Universally over the face of the World where the most Famous Churches of Christ had been Planted though not without mixture of continual Testimonies of God and his Truth and Goodness both by Works and Word especially as to the most Essential parts of his Doctrine more or less and more or less purely held forth till 5. In these latter times God in his mercy again stirred up a Spirit of Reformation in some of his Servants who through their constancy in Preaching forth and suffering for the Testimony of God according to those measures of Understanding they had of it became successful Instruments in his hand of reviving the Light of the Truth that was almost damped so as that it shines forth again in and by the Scriptures of Truth and the faithful Preachers of them though alas now again too much clouded with the glosles and interpretations of Men that subject not their own wisdoms to God's words much more clearly than in some former Ages So that in this that hath been said in this large running over the times it appears That the Dispensations of God in giving forth unto Men the Knowledge of his Words have been both in several Ages and to several Men in the same Ages very diverse for even in all and every of those Ages when it was fulliest given forth also all had it not alike immediatly or fully opened to them some were dispensers of it to others who received it by them or from their Mouth All were not Apostles nor all Prophets nor all Teachers that were in the Church of God though as he that follows a light carried by others may see and go as well as those that carry it and other men may eat as heartily and be as thriving that buy their Bread by the Loaf as they that carry it out and sell it 〈◊〉 basket fulls so also those that were noâ— so honoured as to be the Dispensers of the Mysteries of God to others either Jews or Gentiles in an humble following 〈◊〉 and feeding upon that Truth of God dispensed by others might walk and live as well and attain to Eternal Life as certainly and happily as they that dispense it to them yea a Judas might prove a Son of Perdition though a Preacher of it and Jeremy and Paul too had they not returned to and walked with God themselves keeping down their Bodies and bringing them into subjection might have done so too while many of their weaker Hearers attained to Happiness by what they Preached It may be said of Prophets Apostles Evangelists Pastors Teachers in respect of their carrying out of the Word to others as was said of the Virgins Conceiving and bringing forth Christ Blessed the Womb that bare thee and the Paps that gave thee suck So Blessed they that were betrusted and came forth with such Mysteries to Men in the Name of the Lord yet so as the same Answer of our Saviour would also fit with respect to the hearing and obeying that Doctrine Yea rather Blessed is every one that hears the word of God and keeps it We might also shew that there is and ever was great diversity and difference in the several Gifts and Administrations of those Gifts of those betrusted with the Word and the Dispensation of it and service of God in it Some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers some workers of Miracles c. and of the Apostles and Teachers some Administred more eloquently and some with weaker Language some more plainly and powerfully than others some in one Stile and others in another yet all one and the same Truth and by one and the same Spirit as in 1 Cor. 12. But it suffices but to hint that to avoid further tediousness SECT 9. That in the former Ages and so in all the Four Monarchies there was something of the knowledge of God by his People and Words vouchsafed also to the Gentiles ONely this we may further Note That though the discovery of the Truth and Mystery of God was vouchsafed most peculiarly and properly to the Jews before the Ascension of Christ yet not so hidden with them but that something of it and so means to know more of it was in all former Ages vouchsafed in some measure over and above the Manifestations of God in his Works to the Gentiles or divers of them also as might be shewed from what we find in the Scriptures and by other Writers In Abraham's time while Shem was yâ— living to omit some things fore-mentioned Sect. 4. His over-throw of 〈◊〉 Four Kings Types perhaps of the futâ— Monarchies after to succeed Shinar â—ing Babilon Ellasar some take for Syriâ— Elam is Persia and the Nations migâ— hint to the other Nations subject to the Roman Monarchy made him famous doubtless in those times And after that the advancement of Joseph in Egypt when all Nations or Countries thereabout pinch with a Famine came thither for Bread-corn might afford probably some opportunity for spreading some knowledge of God from him his Father and Brethren then brought into and living in Egyptâ— but especially and certainly to omit the Patriarchs Psal 105.13 14. Travellers into and sojourning in divers Lands and Countries the great Judgments of God upon Egypt and Pharaoh The Miraculous Deliverance of Israel thence and the mighty Works then done for and amongst them spread the Name of God amongst the Countries as is implyed Exod. 9.16 That I might shew in thee in my power and that my Name might be declared in all the earth And it appears by Rahabs confession afterward That they had heard of the mighty work 〈◊〉 God for Israel in those Countries of Canâ— an Josh 2.10 11. And then his drying up the red Sea and Jordan and driving ouâ— the Canaunites so miraculously The standing still of the Sun and Moon c. These yet further famed him and his People among the Nations 1 King 10. with Matth. 12.43 As afterwards the Wars and Successes of David and the Wisdom of Solomon that was famous to the Ends of the Earth to Aethiopia and those
far Countries and Solomon positively Asserts in his Paper That the Nations far off should hear of his Name so as that they might come some of them at least while the Temple yet stood to inquire after God What else signifie those Expressions 1 King 8.41 Moreover concerving a stranger that is not of thy people Israel but comes out of a far country for thy Names-sake For they shall hear of by Great Name and of thy strong hand and of thy stretched out arm And so we find that in all the Four Monarchies Israel was so known of them and had such dealings with them that they had opportunity by them to hear of the Great Name of God and his Works with the Syrians and Assyrians we find they had sometimes Wars sometimes Peace and Leagues and the Miracles done by Elias and Elisha and the healing of Naâ—man might spread his Fame with them We find the Ten Tribes were at length carryed Captive by the Assyrians and plaâ—d in the Cities of the Medes and other places and that some of them had the knowledge and fear of God in them may most probably be conceived though 〈◊〉 generality of them while in heir own and were corrupted yea and the History of Tobit being one of the Captives 〈◊〉 Israel makes it evident In that Monarchy Preached Jonas to Niniveh the Grâ— City and Head then of that Empire and by his Preaching it was Converted and spared And the Storm that beâ— in his running from God and what the Marriners see and heard of him and his deliverance out of the Whales Belly and his Preaching to Nineveh and their Repentance could not but spread the â—mour of God's Name far and near 〈◊〉 those times Afterwards then the Empire was Translated to Babilon God made known his People and Himself then to them Isa 38. and 39. Hezekiah's sickness and recovery and the Sign given him and the Shaddows going back in Ahaz Dyal was there declared insomuch that thereupon they sent Embassadors to Jerusalem to Congratulate Hezekiah about it and after that Manasseth was thither carried Captive and there Repented and no doubt but by those Wars with Israel and Conquest got they had some opportunity given them of hearing of their God and his Great Name and Works yea those two Kingdoms of Aegypt and Babilon and all the Kingdoms between them had then Commerse with them and could not but hear much of them and of the Name of God amongst them as also the Captivity of Jehoiakim and Jeconiab and especially the great Piety and Wâ—dom of Daniel and the Three Worthâ— then in Babilon and therewith many good Jews for divers years living spread the knowledge and fame of God amongst them Yea the Interpretations of Nebuchadnezzars Dreams the Deliverance of the Three Worthies from the fiery Furnace the turning out of Nebuchadnezzar and restoring him again were very famous and begat very publick and notorious Proclamations of the Name of God amongst or to all Peoples Nations and Languages that dwelt in the Earth that they should reverence and acknowledge him Dan. 3. and 4. In the Persian Monarchy also Daniel was in great repute with Cyrus and Darius The Jews Ezr. 1.1 2 3 4. and their Cause was known to them Cyrus made a Decree in favour of them for re-edifying the House of the Lord whom he acknowledged to be God The Lord God of heaven Darius also exceedingly loved and favoured Daniel and his Religion was famously known to the other Governours and Rulers and both it and the God whom he worshipped was exceedingly glorifyed in his Deliverance from the Lyons when cast into their Denn upon that account so as that Darius also publickly Proclaimed or Decreed That in every Nation men should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel Dan. 6.25 26 27. as being the Living God and stedfast for ever and his Kingdome that which should never be destroyed c. And after Daniel Ezra and Nehemiah Mordecai and Esther were of great Note and well known to the Persion Court and Empire in several Kings Reigns And God got himself a Name and discovered himself gloriously by his prospering and helping them and appearing miraculously for their help and for the Confusion of their Enemies as the Books of Ezra Nehemiah and Esther testifie Where also it is evidenced That the Jews the Worshippers of God were scattered up and down and seated amongst the Nations and Professing God's Religion Est 3.8 both in the Imperial City of Susa and in all the many Provinces of that large Empire as is clear in that of Haman where he informes the King of them That they were scattered abroad and dispersed among the People in all the Provinces of his Kingdom and their Laws divers from all People c. And commandment was given to the Jews in every Province to stand upon their own Defence and to the Rulers and Lieutenants in the Provinces to Assist them and doubtless that great Deliverance did mightily fame them and their Religion yea it 's expresly Noted That thereupon many of the People of the Land became Jews Est 8.17 And those Dispersions of the Jews continued to and in the days of the Grecian or Macedonian Monarchy too to the beginning of which the Records in Nehemiah reach or to times immediately preceding it for mention is made Neh. 12.22 of the Priestâ— that were to the Reign of Darius the Persian Probably the last Darius that was subdued by Alexander for Jaddua and Jaddua was High Priests in the time of Alexander the Great is there mentioned And how God made known Himself his People and Truth in that Monarchy may be in part seen in what Josephus Records Of God's appearing in a Vision to Alezander in the form or habit of the High-Priest of the Jews and his acknowledging it and doing Homage to the High Priest upon the sight of him when he went in his Priestly Habit to meet him and his Army Marching against them with a purpose to have Destroyed them his publick owning of whom and relating his Vision and the Immunities given to the Jews thereupon could not but give advantage of inquiring into their Religion and of being instructed into the Knowledge of God worshipped by them yea we may find in the Histories of Josephus Polybius and others That the Jews were not onely dispersed here and there in the Countries but also Served in their Wars And in the Reign of Ptolomy Philadelphus their Law or Books of the Scriptures were by Seventy and two Interpreters Translated into the Greek Language and deposited in his Library which was a great advantage for the dispersing the Knowledge of God and his Word amongst the Nations What should I speak of the many and marvelous Victories and great help 〈◊〉 Streights afforded to them in the times of the Macchabees Heb. 11.34 35 36 37. their constancy in their Religion even to Sufferings and Death in the times of Antiochus Epiphanes and Ptolomy