in Man Job 32.8 and the Inspiration of the Almighty giveth him Vnderstanding III. A Candle is but a small Light in comparison of the Light of the Sun it giveth Light but a little way and discovers things but darkly III. The Spirit of Man is but a small Light in comparison of Christ the Sun of Righteousness and the Light of the glorious Gospel that discovereth those things that the Light of natural Conscience will not 1. The Spirit of Man will discover unto him by the help of the visible Creation Rom. 1.20 that there is a God that made the World but it cannot discover that there is a Redeemer who died to save the World which the Gospel doth 2. The Spirit of Man will discover Man's Duty in Morals to do as he would be done unto but it cannot teach him in all things his Duty towards God viz. his Divine Laws and Institutions and how he ought to be worshipped 3. The Spirit of Man will convince him of some Sins but it will not convince him of Sin because he believeth not in Jesus Christ for this the Spirit of Truth and glorious Gospel only convince Men and Women of 4. The Spirit of Man discovers to him that he must die but it cannot discover to him without the Light of the written Word a Resurrection IV. A Candle is oftentimes put out IV. So is the Light or Candle of the Wicked God in a way of Judgment when Men have abused their Light and Knowledg they have had of Him giveth them up to vile Affections as he did the Gentiles so that they sin without controul Conscience is seared and asleep as it were and reproveth them no more The Candle of the Wicked shall be put out Prov. 24.20 Inferences THis reproves those that say The Light which is in every Man that cometh into the World is God Christ and the Holy Spirit whereas it is evident 't is Man's Spirit and called but the Candle of the Lord and in it self no more than the Light of Man's natural Conscience II. It reproves them also for saying It is sufficient to make known or discover unto Men all things that are necessary to Salvation and that they should have known by the Light within all things which the Holy Scriptures declare of Christ and the Mysteries of the Gospel if the Scriptures had never been written Which is easily detected 1. By considering of that great Darkness that is in those Heathen Nations and People that have not the written Word of God concerning Christ and Salvation for tho they have the Light of this Candle viz. the Light of their own natural Consciences yet know nothing of Christ who was born of the Blessed Virgin nor of his Death and Resurrection 2. By considering the absolute Necessity there is of Gospel-Revelation and Ministration to make known to Men those glorious Mysteries according as it is held forth in divers places of Scripture for if Man's chief and only Teacher were within him what need was there for Christ to ordain and send forth his Apostles and Ministers to preach the Gospel to the World and why is Faith said to come by hearing the Word preached 3. They are disproved by this viz. they cannot make known any of those other things which Christ did that were not written III. From hence we may perceive what the Substance is which the Light of Man's Spirit will do it searches all the inward Parts of the Belly i. e. makes known the very Thoughts and Intentions of the Heart unto him and reproves him for not living up to the Light God hath afforded him IV. What Fools are they these things considered who plead for a Candle-Light and chuse rather to be lighted and directed by it when the Sun is risen and shineth clearly blessed be God in our Horizon Conscience a Witness Rom. 9.1 I speak the Truth in Christ I lie not my Conscience bearing me Witness in the Holy-Ghost c. 1 John 3.20 If our Hearts condemn us God is greater and knoweth all things Rom. 2.15 16. Their Conscience in the mean while accusing or else excusing in the Day when God shall judg the Secrets of Men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel COnscience is in these Scriptures called a Witness We shall 1. Shew what Conscience is 2. Run the Parallel First Conscience is a natural Power with which God hath endued the Soul of Man by Creation for his Comfort if he walk uprightly or for his Torment if he walk in evil Ways We do not imagine that Conscience came not into the World until Adam's Fall for this were to suppose Adam in Paradise to be a Man without Conscience Conscience indeed as an Accuser and Condemner came not in until then for as long as Adam obeyed the Commandments of God there was no cause that Conscience should accuse him but as sooon as he had sinned Conscience flew in his Face Secondly Conscience we 1. say is a natural Power which the Soul of Man hath Mr. Lockier c. Now saith one whether this Power be in the Understanding only or partly in the Understanding partly in the Will I find controverted amongst the Learned some speak of it as a distinct Faculty This Power we speak of I conceive saith he to be a reflect Act of the practick Understanding only transcendently 2. By the Power of the Holy Ghost St. John confirms that it is a reflect Act of the practick Understanding only where speaking of this Power in the Soul he saith And hereby we know that we know him if we kâ—ep his Commandments 1 Joh. 2 3. That is as if you should say We do view our Ways by the Word of God which is an Act only of the Understanding and finding them to be in some measure levell with the holy Rule we have this comfortable Reflection back upon our selves That our Faith is not a Fancy but a Faith that works by Love and also sincere and saving Paul confirms the second That it is a reflect Act of the Understanding transcendently seconded by the Power of the Holy-Ghost My Conscience bearing me Witness in the Holy-Ghost That is My Conscience transcendently sâ—conded and assisted by the Holy-Ghost doth strongly testify to my Soul that I am full of Bowels towards my Kinsmen after the Flesh and could do any thing or suffer any thing for their Good The Order according to which the Holy-Ghost strikes in with Conscience is this The Understanding makes a double Proposition one grounded in the Word of God the other in the Heart of Man as thus He that keepeth the Commandments of God truly loves God but I do keep the Commandments of God This is grounded in the Heart of Man and then draws a Conclusion from both Therefore I do love God truly This Conclusion whilst holy and drawn from Divine Premises to wit the Word of God and true Grace in the Heart the Spirit of God strikes in with the Soul
Fire Exod. 3.2 And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a Flame of Fire out of the midst of a Bush and he looked and behold the Bush burned and was not consumed c. ACcording to Ainsworth and divers other Expositors by the Bush is meant the Church of God in great Affliction the severe Trials of God's People being often set forth in the holy Scriptures by Fire by a Flame of Fire and sometimes by a smoaking Furnace as in Abraham's Vision Gen. 15.17 And behold a smoaking Furnace and a burning Lamp that passed between the Pieces Gen. 15.17 By the smoaking Furnace was signified to Abraham Israel's great Affliction in Egypt and by the Lamp the Law of God that afterwards was given or as some understand it the Lamp of Deliverance or that Salvation God would work for them c. for that the Salvation of God is like to a Lamp that burneth Isa 52.1 Quest Why is the Church of God compared to a Bush to a burning Bush The Scripture usually sets out the Church by things whose Natures or Qualities are excellent things that are of great Worth c. And why should she be compared to a Bush to a Bramble-Bush for so Ainsworth and others read it Answ Some of the Reasons of it according to our weak Judgment are hinted in the following Parallels Metaphor Parallel A Bush is a thing of small worth and value few esteem or regard a Bramble-Bush stately Trees are viewed and prized and some of them valued highly but so is not a Bush SO likewise the Church of God was then and is now a thing of small value of little or no esteem in the eyes of wicked Men it was no more regarded by proud Pharaoh and many of the Egyptians than a sorry Bramble-Bush Hence the Apostle speaketh of the Church as being very contemptible in the sight of Men. We are made as the Filth of the World 1 Cor. 4.13 and are the Off-scouring of all things unto this day II. A Bramble-Bush as it is a thing of no Worth or Value so it is a thing that hath no Beauty in it in comparison of other Trees it is in no wise taking to the eye Some things that are of no great worth seem very glorious and beautiful but there is none of this in a Bramble II. So the true Church of God is not cloathed with outward Beauty not arrayed in Purple and Scarlet deck'd with Gold precious Stones and Pearls like the Mother of Harlots but seemeth low Rev. 17.4 base and contemptible to a carnal Eye her Beauty being all hidden The King's Daughter is glorious within Psal 45.13 And 't is from hence the World values her no more As Christ made himself of no Reputation Phil. 2.7 so the Church for a while remaineth among Men in a like State no carnal Eye that seeth her doth at all desire her III. A Bush is not only a thing of little worth in the esteem of Men but it is in it felf really of small value What is a Bramble worth what is it good for but to be cut down and cast into the Fire III. So the People of God considered abstractively as they are in themselves what are they what Worth or Excellency is in them All the Beauty and Glory of the Church is from Christ They are naturally vile Sinners Mich. 7.4 and are called Thorns Bryars and pricking Brambles and tho converted and changed by the Power of God's Grace yet there remaineth something still of the Old Man and evil Nature in them And God in other Places of Scripture where he compareth them to a Vine to Lillies to a Garden to Golden Candlesticks c. speaks of them with respect to what they are by his special Grace in Christ Jesus But here in comparing them to a Bush he hath respect as we conceive to what they are in themselves and by Nature to set forth their own Unworthiness that so he might thereby raise Moses his Wonder to see the mighty Condescension of the Blessed God in having regard to such a poor and undeserving People to dwell in them and in keeping and preserving them in the midst of such fierce and cruel Enemies when a small Spark might easily consume and destroy them in an instant but that he stretcheth forth his glorious Arms of Grace and Divine Power for their Succour and Relief IV. There is one thing more touching a Bush which for Illustration sake I shall here mention not that the Spirit of God had respect to it in this Vision viz. A Bush is a common Receptacle for Birds 't is the Place where they lodg make their Nests in and are secured from many Dangers that do attend them IV. The Church of God is the chief Place for the Saints of God to dwell or make their Abode in who in the Song of Songs are called Birds The time of the singing of Birds is come c. Cant. 2 12 Which saith Reverend Mr. Ainsworth signifies the Saints who feeling the Comforts of God's Word and Spirit do sing the Praises of God with Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs Isa 24.16 They shall lift up their Voice they shall sing for the Majesty of the Lord and from the uttermost Parts of the Earth we have heard Songs even Glory to the Righteous And indeed in our Judgment the Godly are compared to Birds principally upon this Consideration i. e. in respect to their Singing which is laid down in several places of Scripture as an undoubted Duty I wish that Christians who are not in the practice thereof would consider of it But to proceed How safe is the Bird when she getteth into the Bush so are the Saints when they are got into the Church God being a Wall of Fire round about her Zeâ—h 2.5 and her Defence and Glory on every side V. It is a strange and marvellous thing to see a Bramble-Bush on fire and not consumed this made Moses to turn aside I will turn aside to see this great Sight V. So it is a strange Sight a Prodigy a Mercy to a Wonder enough to astonish all true thinking Christians to see the Church of God the unworthy frail polluted weak and declining Church as set on fire yea all on a Flame as it were many Fires being kindled on her by wicked Adversaries and yet she is not consumed How many Plots and Hellish Contrivances were there on foot against poor Israel in Egypt First They made a Law that the Midwives should kill all their Men-Children when they did their Office Secondly When that would not take because the Midwives feared God and saved the Men-Children alive Eâ—od 1.17 They feared God 't is said and did not as the King of Egypt commanded c. then they thought of another way another Plot was set on foot a new Fire as it were was kindled which was to cast all the Men-Children into the River And Pharaoh charged
the Fulness thereof And Christ saith he is appointed Heir of all Things Joh. 16.15 Joh. 13.3 All Things that the Father hath are mine He knew that the Father had given all Things into his Hands 3. They set forth not only the Greatness and Riches of Christ but also his admirable Beauty He is fairer than the Children of Men. Psal 45. 4. They set forth the Greatness of his Love so far as they can conceive of it or make it known for the Breadth Length Depth and Heighth of it is wonderful Eph. 3 18 19. Mat. 28. as Paul shews and passeth Knowledg 5. They set forth his Power and Sovereignty He has all Power in Heaven and Farth He is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth nothing is too hard for him to do Men and Devils Wind and Seas are at his Command 6. They set forth his great Wisdom He is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God saith the Apostle In him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg 1 Cor. 1.24 Col. 2.3 7. They set forth his great and glorious End in coming into the World which was that we might have Life and to betroth us to himself for ever 8. They set forth the Greatness of his Sufferings his wonderful Abasement the Nature of his bloody Agony and Anguish he suffered upon the Tree What! doth not this Jesus saith the Servant of God that comes to you through a Sea of Blood deserve your Affection c. 9. They use Arguments of another nature such as are taken from the Consideration of the Sinners dead cursed and miserable State without him the Blessedness of such as do embrace him and espouse themselves to him and divers others too many here for me to reckon up IV. A faithful Spokesman is not satisfied to see the Person to whom he is in the behalf of his Master a Suiter to be only ready to hear and seem to approve of the Motion he makes unless she at last be brought to a ready and willing Compliance and say with Rebekah Gen. 24.58 I will go along with this Man that is I am resolved to become Isaac's Wife IV. So Christ's faithful Ministers are not satisfied to see Sinners hearken to the Word and seem pleased with the Doctrine of the Gospel which they daily preach unless they leave their Sins and become new Creatures and close in in good earnest with Christ giving themselves to him 'T is said of the Saints They gave themselves to the Lord. If a Man be a Suiter to a Damsel and she seem to like him and be pleased with the Motion he makes and yet never consent to become his Wife will this please him surely no Neither doth it please Christ nor his Ministers to see Sinners go from place to place to hear Sermons and write Sermons and commend this and that Preacher if they do not make a real Contract and become espoused to the Lord Jesus 'T is nothing less than a thorow Work of Grace Regeneration or a true Conversion that will satisfy one of Christ's faithful Spokesmen V. It grieves a faithful Spokesman when he finds his Master is slighted and his dear and noble Lord that sent him rejected and a base and poor Fellow entertained and delighted in instead of him who is so worthy V. So it grieves a faithful Minister when Sinners slight the Message and Tenders of Grace in the Gospel when Christ is not embraced nor closed in with when they only take him into their Lips but keep him out of their Hearts O this wounds their Souls Shall Sin saith the Servant of God that base and filthy Enemy of my Master be entertained and delighted in Shall the Devil have the Rule and Preheminence in you and the Love of the World be so sweet which is Enmity to God And shall Christ who died for you on the Cross he who is so excellent who is able to make you happy for ever be slighted and rejected by you What! will you prefer your base Lusts above all that unconceivable Good there is in God the Father in Christ his only begotten Son in the holy Spirit and in the Way of Holiness VI. A Spokesman when he sees he cannot prevail returns and gives his Master or Friend that sent him an account how Matters go VI. So Christ's faithful Ministers in the Day of Judgment shall doubtless be brought in as Witnesses against stubborn and impenitent Sinners to whom they preached the Gospel Gen. 24.49 And now said Abraham's Servant if you will deal kindly and truly with my Master tell me if not tell me that I may turn to the right hand or to the left That is that I may give my Master an account of my Errand what shall I say to him that sent me So saith Christ's Servant If you will deal kindly and truly with my Master tell me if not tell me that I may turn c. I must declare to the Lord Jesus in the great and dreadful Day how you have slighted or not regarded the Message I am sent about how you are resolved to keep to your other Lovers and remain in your Sins being carnal loose ungodly and that Christ is not precious in your Eye nor will you be persuaded to forsake all and follow him nor be made sensible of that Glory and Beauty that is in Holiness And what a sad thing will this be when a Minister must appear against this Man and that Man and say Lord I spoke to them again and again I preach'd an hundred Sermons to them to engage their Hearts to thee but none of them would take place as thou seest upon their Hearts c. Ministers compared to Clouds Deut. 32.2 My Doctrine shall drop as the Rain c. Isa 5.6 I also will command the Clouds that they rain no more Rain upon it CLouds have divers Metaphorical Notations in the holy Scriptures 1. For Calamities or great Afflictions How hath God covered the Daughters of Zion with a Cloud Lam. 2.1 2. Because of the Number and Multitude of Clouds for in tempestuous Weather a great Plenty of thick Clouds appear so an innumerous Company of Witnesses are compared to Clouds Heb. 12.1 3. They are also used in Comparison Behold he shall come as Clouds that is his Army will I make a vast Appearance the Targum says as a Cloud which comes up and covers the Earth Ezek. 38.9 4. For Vanity and Inconstancy or Emptiness hence false Teachers are compared to Clouds without Rain 5. And upon divers accounts true Ministers of the Gospel may be compared to Clouds for as false Teachers are like Clouds without Rain so true Ministers are as Clouds full or filled with Rain c. How fitly Christ's Ministers may be compared to Clouds will appear by what follows Ministers Parallel CLouds are fit Receptacles for the Water they receive their Water as it is drawn up out of the Fountain of the great Deep For God hath
as clear Demonstrations that the Head of Rome Papal is the Head of Babylon and the Grand Impostor or the Capital Manager of this Mystery of Iniquity he having most sacrilegiously assumed to himself all Heavenly Power of damning or saving and all Earthly Power both Temporal or Civil and Ecclesiastical or Sacred 11. This wicked Babylonish State comes forth with a great Pretence of Miracles which are but false Signs and lying Wonders to deceive and cheat the People and by this means they conquer Nations and carry away their Kings to their wicked Interest This Rome Heathen did not do For tho the Heathenish Power of Rome did conquer Nations and Countries with their Kings yet it was by State-Policy and Force of Arms not by pretended Miracles false Signs and lying Wonders Therefore Rome Heathen cannot be this Mystery of Iniquity or Babylonish State 12. This wicked State under consideration is declared not only to depart from the Faith by a palpable Apostacy but to forbid Marriage and command a long Lent and many other Fast-Days whereon some Sorts of Meats are prohibited to be eaten which doth so fully agree to the Papal State of Rome that nothing can be more plain unless the Spirit had expresly told us This will be fulfilled by Rome Papal For these two things we have their Canons upon Record the which if none can shew the like of the Heathen State of Rome then Rome Papal shall carry the Title of this Mystery of Iniquity and Babylonish State 7. If the Babylon under consideration be only confined to the Power of Heathen Rome then there is a more evident and apparent Mystery upon the State or Power of Rome Heathen than upon any Power or State that went before it or should come after it for so the Text imports Rev. 17.5 And upon her Forehead was a Name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT c. But there did no such Mystery appear upon the Power or State of Rome Heathen therefore this Babylon cannot terminate there What great Mystery appeared upon the Power and State of Rome Heathen more than appeared upon the Power and State of the three foregoing Monarchies 8. This Babylon cannot be confined to the Power of Rome only in its Heathen State because Babylon is to continue till the good People shall with the Horns that did support her which is the last Part of the wicked and persecuting Power answerable to the ten Toes in Daniel's great Image reward and destroy her for the Injury that she did unto them according to these three Texts of Scripture Rev. 18.4 Dan. 7.22 26 27. Rev. 17.16 And I heard another Voice from Heaven saying Come out of her my People that ye be not Partakâ—rs of her Sins c. Verse 6. Reward her even as she hath rewarded you and deal unto her double according to her Works In the Cup that she hath filled fill to her double How much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much Torment and Sorrow give her And the ten Horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her Flesh and burn her with Fire Which the Power of Rome in its Heathen State felt not but ended its Course without being destroyed by good People and the ten Horns which is the last Part of the Image-Government And in the Days of these Kings Dan. 2.44 viz. ten Toes ten Horns ten Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed And the Kingdom shall not be left to another People but it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever Which could not be fulfilled in what Constantine did in the Time of Maxentius as Dr. Hammond would have us believe for these three Reasons 1. Because the ten Horns that afterwards the Roman Power fell into were not come up and so could not destroy the Power of Rome in its Heathen State 2. Because Babylon's Persecution Misery and Confusion did not utterly cease which it must have done so as to rise no more for ever if the Power of Rome Heathen destroyed by Constantine had been this Mystery Babylon 3. Because tho there might be a Body of good People with Constantine when he overthrew Maxentius yet the Power of the Kingdom was not so established in the hand of good People as not afterward to be left to others as the Text affirms And the Kingdom shall not be left to another People For as we shall anon shew the Kingdom or Power that ceased to be in the hands of Heathens and by a mighty and divine Providence came to be in the hands of a worthy and renowned Christian Emperor came afterwards into the hands of very Devils incarnate who acted all the Violence of the Heathen Power over again and indeed out-did them 9. Those that are for confining this Babylon to the Power of Rome in its Heathen State are not well aware what they do for if they do demand it their Opposites who hold it to be Rome Papal may grant it for Argument's sake But then the Remedy is worse than the Disease for they slip into such a Precipice as neither Baronius Bellarmine Dr. Hammond or the Rhemists can save or deliver them from The true State of the Case is this Rome Heathen is Mystery Babylon this say the Papists And the more willing they are to say so because it is a good Argument to prove that Peter was at Rome he subscribing his first Epistle from Babylon 1 Pet. 5.13 The Church that is at Babylon elected together with you saluteth you c. But this being allowed the worst is to come This Babylon is destroyed when the Power of Rome Heathen is taken away so as to be no more for ever but then what Condition doth the State of Babylon fall into Doth it become the Throne of the Lamb the City of the Living God the Habitation of Holiness and Dwelling-place of Zion the true Church the Place of the holy Ones and Saints of the Most High O no! What then Hearken and an Angel from Heaven shall tell you Rev. 18.1 2. And after these Things of the Horns hating the Whore making of her naked and burning her Flesh with Fire I saw another Angel come down from Heaven having great Power and the Earth was lightned with his Glory and he cried mightily with a strong Voice saying Babylon the Great is fallen is fallen and is become the Habitation of Devils and the Hold of every foul Spirit and a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird. Now you Papists if you will needs have Babylon to be Rome Heathen take it and much Good do you with it but then make Rome Papal better than an Habitation of Devils if you can If it be not Rome Heathen then adieu to Dr. Hammond and the Rhemists we have what we desire If it be then Rome Papal is a far worse Place
delivered themselves into the hands of Justice 6. That Man can never have good Days that keeps an evil Conscience 7. On the other hand he that hath a good Conscience needs never be sad nor can he be without good Days for as Trouble and Horror of Conscience is the greatest Trouble so Peace of Conscience is the greatest Joy That Man can never want Musick saith Mr. Caryl that speaks in Consort and is harmonious with himself A good Conscience is the poor Man's Riches and the rich Man's chiefest Jewel a Jewel worth keeping It is saith one the best Pillow to sleep on and the best Dish to feed on A good Conscience is a continual Feast so the Geneva-Translation Prov. 15.15 Dan. 5.5 A good Conscience with a Dinner of Herbs is all Varieties but a bad Conscience makes all Feasts and Pleasures like the Hand-writing on Belshazzar's Wall 8. Labour to get and keep a good Conscience because an evil one spoils all the good and best Actions of thy Life it renders thy Prayers to be sinful 9. Consider Conscience is privy to all thou thinkest knoweth what Evil hath been done by thee in private seeth all the Evil thou hast committed and all the Good thou hast omitted the doing of and one day if evil Rom. 2.15 it will lay all open before the Eyes of God Angels and Men and come in as a Witness to charge and condemn thee for ever O therefore get a good Conscience 10. Take heed how thou carriest thy self towards Conscience because it hath a Regal Power in thy Soul a Commission either to accuse or excuse and if he condemns thee as an Unbeliever or as a false Hypocrite by the Light and Authority of God's Word 1 John 3.20 God will also assuredly condemn thee unless thou dost repent in the great Day 11. Consider what a glorious Mercy it will be to have such a Friend as Conscience witness for thee when thou art wrongfully accused and condemned by Men. This was that which bore up Job and holy Paul in their Troubles Job 27.6 2 Cor. 1.12 My Heart shall not reproach me c. This is our rejoycing the Testimony of our Conscience Quest Some possibly may enquire here How a good Conscience may be known or what Characters may be given of it Answ I shall give you some Rules to judg of a good Conscience both Negatively and Positively First Negatively 1. A blind ignorant and misguided Conscience is not a good Conscience Some think that God concerns not himself with their Actions takes no notice of their Hearts Words or Lives Others think that God is made up wholly of Mercy and tremble not at his Justice and so conclude it is an easy thing to get to Heaven One that I have heard of said That if it were as easy to get the Riches of this World as it was to get Heaven he would not care or to that effect not remembring that it is as hard to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven especially for rich Men as it is for a Camel to go through the Eye of a Needle Mat. 19.23 1 Pet. 4.18 and that the Righteous shall scarcely be saved Others think that those Men are Fools that make such a Stir and Ado about Religion thinking that is the best Religion that is easiest to the Flesh and is most free from outward Trouble whereas the Scripture saith 1 Tim. 2.12 that whoever will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution Some think the Laws of Men must be their Rule in all Matters of Faith and Religion and whatever Magistrates command must be done c. 2. A drouzy and sleepy Conscience is not a good Conscience A Conscience that is not throughly awakened will let a Man alone in Sin such can sleep upon the Brink of the greatest Danger tho they are just falling into the Gulph of Eternity yea can sleep under the most awakening Ministry tho Hell-Fire be thrown as it were in their very Faces yet Conscience giveth them not one Jog 3. A guilty Conscience is not a good Conscience when Conscience flies into a Man's Face for this or that Sin Tit. 1.15 some horrid Pollution or other loved and lived in 4. A seared Conscience a Conscience that hath no feeling in it is not a good Conscience 5. A despairing Conscience is not a good Conscience Such as think their Sins are greater than God can or will forgive Mat. 12.31 notwithstanding Christ hath said All Sins and Blasphemies against the Father and the Son shall be forgiven unto Men and those that believe not there is Life for them in Christ make God a Liar Secondly Positively 1. That Man hath a good Conscience that walks uprightly and faithfully to his Light according to what he knoweth If he hath only a natural Light and walks up faithfully to that then he hath only a natural good Conscience there is Moral Sincerity spoken of in the holy Scriptures Joh. 20.4 as well as Godly Sincerity Abimelech in this respect had a good Conscience In the Sincerity of my Heart and Innocency of my Hands Gen. 20.5 have I done this Here I might shew how a natural good Conscience may be known from a Conscience evangelically and spiritually good take two or three Hints 1. He whose Conscience is only naturally good is usually a proud Man Lord I thank thee Luk. 18 11. I am not as other Men c. Such seek their own Glory they sacrifice to their own Net and burn Incense to their own Drag all centers in Self the Principle of their Action is Self A Saint when his Gifts are highest his Heart is lowest when his Spirit is most raised his Heart is most humble 2. A Man that hath only a natural good Conscience his great endeavour is to still the Noise and stop the Mouth of it but never looks to have the Guilt removed and Filth washed away by Christ's Blood he seeth no need of a Saviour I was alive once without the Law Rom. 7.11 c. He is like a Child that hath got a Thorn in his Flesh who wipeth away the Blood but taketh no notice or thought how to get out the Thorn If bare Performance of Duties whether natural or divine will still or quiet the Conscience the Conscience is but naturally good 2. When Conscience compares a Man's Ways by the perfect Rule of God's Word by which he walks and finds it agreeable thereto 3. An evangelical good Conscience findeth a Man as careful of his Duty towards God as he is of his Duty towards Man and as careful of his Duty towards Man as of his Duty towards God Acts 24.16 Herein do I exercise my self to have always a Conscience void of Offence towards God and towards Man 4. An evangelical good Conscience always stirs up to Obedience and Conformity to God's Word from the sight of the Excellency of it and Purity that is in it Thy Word is very
pure Psal 119. therefore thy Servant loveth it 5. He hath a good Conscience whose Conviction and Trouble for Sin is universal when it is deep when the Spirit searcheth into the bottom Come saith the Woman of Samaria Joh. 4 29 39. see a Man that hath told me all that ever I did And they were pricked in their Hearts 6. He hath an evangelical good Conscience who is troubled for Sin not simply because of Shame or because of inward Guilt or fear of Punishment but because God is and hath been offended his Spirit grieved and his Soul defiled and made unlike God his Trouble riseth from the sence of the hainous Nature of Sin 7. When Conscience findeth that no Conviction either of Sin or Duty is slighted by the Soul Psal 119.80 but tenderly nourished 8. When a Man will suffer any Punishment or Loss before he will offer violence to his Conscience and sin against God 9. When Conscience cannot find any Sin hid spared born with or connived at in the Soul no sweet Morsel under the Tongue 10. When Conscience finds a Man the same in private that he is in publick and that he is not of a Pharisaical Spirit doth nothing to be seen of Men or for vain Glory's sake 11. When Conscience cannot find any Duty or Ordinance which the Soul is convinced of to be neglected tho he is exposed to Reproach thereby To obey God in Baptism is called the Answer of a good Conscience Conscience calls for obedience to this and to all other Ordinances of the Gospel when convinced of them 12. And lastly When Conscience beareth Testimony to a Soul that it loveth God and Jesus Christ above all things in this World c. He that hateth not Father and Mother c. cannot be my Disciple That is if he hath not a lesser Love to them for the lesser Love in Scripture is called a Hatred which our Saviour openeth in another place He that loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth Son or Daughter more than me is not worthy of me Phil. 3 9 10. c. Yea doubtless I account all things but Loss c. Quest How shall a Man get and keep a good Conscience Answ 1. He must get his Heart sprinkled with the Blood of Christ Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near with a true Heart in full assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience c. See that you experience that the Blood of Christ hath as effectually purged your Consciences from dead Works Heb. 9.14 as the Blood of Bulls and Goats sanctified to the purifying of the Flesh 2. He must take heed of all such things as offend his Conscience Conscience is a very tender thing the smallest thing will make it bleed 3. He must take heed of evil aad corrupt Principles an erring Conscience is not a good Conscience 4. Labour to fit under a Soul-searching Ministry 5. Take heed of vain Glory and all secret Evil Conscience prieth into thy most inward Thoughts beware of speculative Sin 6. Labour to keep thy Tongue Whoso keepeth his Mouth and his Tongue keepeth his Soul from Trouble 7. Labour to bring thy Heart into every Duty beware of Hypocrisy 8. Do not grieve or offend thy Conscience in any thing tho the Matter may be in it self lawful yet thou must not do it if thou hast a doubt in thy Spirit about it Rom. 14.23 He that doubteth is damned that is condemned in his own Conscience But much more take heed of doing that which is by all owned to be utterly unlawful 9. Labour in all Acts to be sincere Conscience hath power to give in Testimony concerning thy Integrity if thy Heart be unsound and not upright Conscience will soon discover it and reproach thee for it and thou wilt not be able to hold out to the end and sad will it be to have thy own Conscience witness against thee when thou comest to lie on a sick Bed an evil Conscience will be a bad Death-Bed Companion O how doth this reprove those that sin and regard not the Checks and Rebukes of their own Hearts Conscience in the great Day will be more than ten thousand Witnesses against them THE Seventh HEAD OF Metaphors Allegories and Similes WITH Other Borrowed TERMS Relating to the Church of GOD. The Church called the City of God Psal 87.3 Glorious things are spoken of thee O City of God Selah Psal 46.4 There is a River the Streams whereof shall make glad the City of God the holy Place of the Tabernacle of the Most High Isa 26.1 We have a strong City c. Isa 33.20 Look upon Zion the City of our Solemnity c. Isa 62.12 And they shall call them the holy People c. And thou shalt be called a City sought out not forsaken Mat. 5.14 Ye are a City set on a Hill that cannot be hid IN these places of the Holy Scripture Sion or the Church of God is called a City Sion was a Fort or Mount in Jerusalem and the Temple was built upon it hence the Church of the Jews was called as some conceive by this Name Zion because there they assembled but after it was a Name or Title given to the Church whether Jews or Gentiles Heb. 12.12 Ye are come to Mount Sion to the City of the Living God the heavenly Jerusalem God's People may be called by the Name of Sion or Jerusalem 1. Because we were naturally like Jerusalem the Forts of the Jebusites viz. Sinners and Enemies to God 2. Because by Grace we are overcome and conquered like as Jerusalem was by the true David 3. Because the Church is fortified by the Almighty for his own use and chief Place and Residence in this nether Creation 4. In respect of her Renown and Glory As Jerusalem was renowned above all Cities so God's Church is now above all People and Societies in the World 5. Because it is viewed and gazed upon by all Strangers she may well be compared to a Looking-glass as Zion signifies 6. In respect of her Laws for as the Law and publick Worship were at Jerusalem so Christ's Laws and publick Worship are maintained in the Church Hence God is said to love the Gates of Zion more than all the Dwelling-Places of Jacob. Psal 87.2 Observ The Saints or Church of God is the City of God or may fitly be compared to a City In opening of this Metaphor we shall shew the Nature Trade Government Privileges and Glory of the City of God Metaphor Parallel A City is a Place built by Men for a People to inhabit or dwell in THe Church is built by Christ for a Habitation for God Mat. 16.18 Vpon this Rock will I build my Church c. In whom ye are builded together for an Habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2.22 II. A City is usually compassed about with Walls that it may thereby become
Scripture as Men out of their Wits Men distracted mad Men And truly the Choice they make their Actions and Behaviour shew as if they were indeed besides themselves they are really void of right Reason or Men that have lost their spiritual Understanding Parallels A Mad Man is one that is deprived of his natural Reason a Beast as it were in the shape of a Man So all the Ungodly of the Earth have lost their spiritual Reason they are Men of no Understanding and more fitly may be said to be Beasts in the form or shape of Men than such as have lost their humane Reason II. Some mad Men are desperate and very mischievous care not what hurt they do O how desperate are wicked Men how will they swear curse and blaspheme the holy Name of God and dare God to damn them and for Mischief they delight in nothing more spoiling and utterly destroying their innocent Neighbours III. Mad Men are usually bound lest they should proceed too far in their mischievous Ways So God chains up or puts wicked Men into Bonds limits their Power lest they should go too far in their cruel and mischievous Designs against his People IV. Mad Men are usually committed to Prison So wicked Men are under the cursed Bondage and Slavery of Satan who takes them captive at his Will V. A mad Man will even spit in the Face of his dearest Friend who with much Affection seeks his Good So wicked Men do as it were spit in the very Faces of God's faithful Ministers who in Bowels of tender Love and Compassion seek their Good and is this any marvel when they in a base manner spit in the Face of Christ himself VI. Mad Men refuse Clothes and will go naked So wicked Men refuse spiritually to be cloathed with the Robe of Christ's Righteousness they will go naked in God's sight or have nothing to cover them but the Rags of their own Righteousness There are many other Properties in mad People which may aptly be applied to ungodly Men but because divers of them agree likewise with the Characters of Fools or Idiots we shall refer you to that concerning Fools c. Inferences NO marvel if God's People meet with so much Trouble in this World and are exposed to so many Dangers by the Wicked alas they are mad Let us take the less Notice of what they do to us they are out of their right Minds distracted c. What a mad World is this how few are there that are come to themselves Most Men and Women are mad Wicked Men compared to Dogs Mat. 7.6 Give not that which is holy to Dogs Mat. 15.26 It is not meet to take the Childrens Bread and give it to Dogs Phil. 3.2 Beware of Dogs Rev. 22.15 Without are Dogs A Dog is called in Hebrew Ketab and Lamas according to Munster in Caldee Kalba in Arabick Kalbe in Persian and Saracen Kep or Kolph the Grecians Kuon the Latins Canis c. In these and divers other Places of holy Scripture wicked Men are compared to Dogs Dogs Parallel THere are divers Sorts of Dogs who differ very much in their Nature and Disposition some bâ—ing gentle and others more curst and snarling yet all are but Dogs SO there are divers Sorts of wicked Men and they differ exceedingly in their Nature and Qualities some are naturally of a mild and gentle Disposition others very fierce passionate and peevish yet all ungodly and metaphorically no better than Dogs II. Dogs are base ignoble sordid and impudent Creatures very vile and beastly II. So wicked Men generally are vile ignoble and impudent Persons tho some more shameless than others God having given them up to vile Affections to commit all Uncleanness with greediness See what Account the holy Apostle gives of some of the Gentiles Who changed the Truth of God into a Lie Rom. 1.25 26 27. and worshipped and served the Creature more than the Creator c. For which cause God left them to themselves so that their Women did change the natural Vse into that which is against Nature And likewise the Men leaving the natural Vse of the Women burned in their Lusts one towards another Men with Men working that which is unseemly and receiving in themselves that Recompence of their Error which was meet III. Dogs are not only filthy and unclean Creatures but also foolish for some of them will as Naturalists observe bark at the Moon and also when a Stone or other thing is cast at them they will follow the Stone and neglect the Hand that throws it III. So wicked Men are not only vile and filthy but also foolish as is fully opened under another Head They like Dogs bark and snarl at the Light of God's Word from whence so great Benefit arises to poor Mortals Like ravenous Currs they bark at the heavenly Doctrine and its faithful Ministers whom they reproach with impudent Scandals and whose utter Extirpation they study And also when they are under Affliction they take notice of secondary Causes but never regard the Hand of God in them according to the Saying of the Poet Arripit ut lapidem catulus morsúque fatigat Nec percussori mutua damna facit Sic plerique sinunt vexos elabier hostes Et quos nulla gravant noxia dente pecunt IV. Some Dogs have a fierce angry and churlish Look enough to frighten timerous Persons and not only so but grin bark and snarl at such as come near them who design to do them no hurt IV. So some wicked Men have a very angry and furious Countenance they look frowningly upon the Lord's People like as did Nebuchadnezzar upon Shadrach Meshach and Abednego who it is said was full of Fury and the Form of his Countenance was changed against them when he saw they refused to worship his God and to fall down before the Golden Image he had set up And not only so but they grin and gnash their Teeth at them like envious Currs Psal 37.12 The Wicked plotteth against the Just and gnasheth upon him with his Teeth And thus did the ungodly Jews carry it to blessed Stephen 't is said They were cut to the Heart Acts 7.34 and they gnashed on him with their Teeth Yet what hurt did any of these Servants of God do or design to do to these Sons of Belial V. Dogs will not only grin and snarl but also bite nay not only bite but bite mortally and tear in pieces such as offend them who are not able to deliver themselves from their Rage and Cruelty There are some Dogs that are called Blood-hounds and some others may fitly be so called V. So some wicked Men do not only gnash their Teeth threaten and grin at their godly Neighbours but also will and oftentimes do fall upon them with all the revengeful Rage and Malice imaginable to the wounding cutting or tearing of them to pieces How many Thousands of precious Saints and Children of God have the wicked
House go about to hew them by the Word i. e. endeavour to convert them Ministers are Hewers and the Ax is the Word of God I have hewed them by the Prophets But they must proceed orderly i. e. not baptize Mat. 28.19 â—0 and then teach but first teach or make Disciples and then baptize them VI. A Builder can tell how many principal Pillars or Posts belong unto the House or Building and sees to fit all the Materials thereof in their proper place and will be sure to see that he wants never a principal Pillar VI. So Ministers can tell how many fundamental Principles there are of the Christian Religion I mean Principles necessary to Salvation and also the Number of the Foundations of Church-Constitution and Fellowship and will see that every thing they do be done orderly every thing fitted according to the Directions of God's Word and that they want not any one of the Foundation-Principles of the Christian Religion 'T is dangerous you know if a House be to be built upon six main Pillars if it want one Read Heb. 6.1 2. VII A Builder has his Rule by which he doth all his Work He does not work by Guess nor by the Sight of his own Eye only but by a certain and unerring Rule VII So a wise Minister hath his Rule viz. the Word of God he doth not do what he thinks is right in his own Eyes until he hath tried it by the Rule nor will he follow the Humor and Fancy of others who may say this is right and that is right but according as he finds Things to agree or disagree with the holy Scriptures and Spirit of God that unerring Rule by which he receives or rejects takes or leaves He with Moses will do all things according to the Pattern shewed in the Mount As many as walk according to this Rule Peace be on them and Mercy Gal. 6. and upon the whole Israel of God The Word of God should be our Guide in all Things VIII A wise Builder takes care that all the Building be fitly framed together and well fastened to the Foundation VIII So a wise Minister or spiritual Builder endeavours to see that all the Saints be united fitly framed or joined together in Love and well fastened by Faith and Love to Jesus Christ See what the Apostle saith Eph. 2. Eph. 2.20 21 22. And are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-Stone in whom all the Building being fitly framed together groweth to an holy Temple in the Lord in whom ye are builded together for an Habitation of God through the Spirit IX A Builder takes great care to give directions about the Door or Way into the House he is building and makes it plain that all People who have a mind or ought to enter in may readily find the way and not stumble at the Threshold IX So a wise and faithful Minister takes special care to give directions about the Door into God's House that all whom Christ would have enter in may not be at a loss about it nor stumble as it were at the Threshold 'T is absolutely necessary that they are acquainted with and able to shew to others what are those initiating Ordinances into the House or Church of God And sad it is to see so many worthy Ministers among us at so great a Loss in this respect as is demonstrated in a small Treatise written by Mr. W. R. entitled A sober Discourse of Right to Church-Communion It hath always been asserted by Christians of all Persuasions till of late that Baptism in Water that holy Sacrament Christ ordained and left in his Church is absolutely necessary to Church-Fellowship and Communion though touching the Subject and Manner of the Administration of that Ordinance there hath been much Controversy but sure I am the Word of God is very full and plain in this Case 1. The Lord Jesus hath positively enjoined Repentance Faith and Baptism to be taught as the first Principles of his sacred Doctrine and as Fundamentals of Church-Communion and Fellowship See Mat. 28.19 20. Heb. 6.1 2. 2. This also was the Door the holy Apostles those wise Master-Builders directed Persons to and opened for entrance in the Primitive Time Repent and be baptized every one of you c. Then they that gladly received the Word were baptized and the same Day there was added unto them about three thousand Souls Acts 2.40 41. Compare this with Acts 8.48 16.33 Gal. 3.27 And hence 't is said By one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body or to be of one Body Moreover as it is in the above-cited Treatise proved upon an Examination of the Records of the next Age after the Apostles 't is evident the same Order was retained and kept up as appears by Justin Martyr in his Apology to Antoninus Pius the Roman Emperor This Food said he we call the Eucharist to which no Man is admitted but only he that believeth in the Truth of the Doctrine being washed in the Laver of Regeneration so he called Baptism for the Remission of Sins and that so liveth as Christ hath taught Tertullian and Cyprian positively affirm the same and divers others of the ancient Fathers as Basil Nazianzen Optatus Athanatus Epiphanius Hilarius Ambrose Jerome Sozomen Athanasius Augustin c. as is largely shewed by the Divines of Magdeburg in their History of the Church printed at Basil 1624. Also all our modern Divines fully agree with the Ancients in this great Point viz. That Baptism is absolutely an initiating Ordinance and that no unbaptized Person ought to be admitted into the Church nor to the Lord's Supper tho 't is confess'd that some do not say that Baptism alone is the Door into the Church but Baptism and Imposition of Hands There are two Doors to be passed through as saith a learned Writer ' before we can come aditus intima Ecclesiae penetralia viz. Baptism and Laying on of Hands whereof the latter properly and immediately gives admittance Mr. Hanmors cites some ancient Christians speaking thus Confirmatio sive manuum impositio protinus dat jus communicandi in Sacramento corporis ac sanguinis Christi That is Confirmation or Imposition of Hands forthwith giveth full Authority and Right of Communion in the Body and Blood of Christ And in another place saith the same Person He that was not confirmed was not admitted to the Eucharist X. A Master-Builder goes on with his Work when the Foundation is laid the Scaffolds are not taken down till the Building be finished but rather raised higher and higher as the Fabrick goes up he resolves every Day 's Work shall add some further Beauty to it in order to the final perfecting of it X. So a true faithful Minister when he sees the Work of God's House going on every one labouring diligently every day to be more and more holy and pressing on towards Perfection Not laying again
and spoils his Divinity makes him but a poor petty God he is but the God of this World both for extension and duration he bears no rule above nor shall he bear any sway in the World to come If the God of this World 't is by Usurpation he is like an audacious Traitor who rebels and strives against his Lawful Soveraign For the Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof Christ is Heir of both Worlds tho he admits Satan to God it here for a while he is a false God an Enemy to God and no God Disparity GOD is without Beginning the Devil had a beginning God is an uncreated Spirit the Devil an Angel and a created Spirit I do not say he was created a Devil Sin made him a Devil God can do what he pleaseth he hath an unlimited Power the Devil's Power is limited he can go no further than God permits him God hath a just and rightful Power Satan hath only an usurped Power c. God is infinite immense c. But some may say in what Sense is Satan said to be God of this World What World c. The word World is a convertible Phrase and here I understand it is to be taken for the Inhabitants of the World I mean the Wicked distinct frâ—m the Godly He is the wicked Man's God three ways 1. By Devolution they have fallen off from God to Satan they have departed from the true God and his Service and have closed in with the Devil and so Satan owns them to be his Subjects The whole World is divided into two parts two Bodies and are under two Heads either Subjects of Christ's Kingdom or of the Kingdom and Power of Satan they are either of the Army of Light or Regiment of Darkness Rom. 6.16 2. The Devil is the wicked Man's God by voluntary submission His Servants ye are to whom you obey Wicked Men are Satan's Volunteers 3. By God's just Desertion as they have cast off God and his Service and desire not the knowledg of his ways so God hath cast them off and suffered Satan to possess them c. The Devil a Prince Joh. 14.30 The Prince of the World cometh c. Eph. 2.2 According to the Prince of the Power of the Air. Rev. 9.11 And they had a King over them which is the Angel of the bottomless Pâ—t THE Devil is in these Scriptures called a Prince Prince of Darkness Prince of the Power of the Air King of the bottomless Pit c. Parallels PRince is a Term that denotes Power and Soveraignty Satan hath great Power over wicked Men c. There is also no doubt some kind of Supremacy or Superiority amongst the evil Angels we read of the Prince of Devils He casts out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils Also some of these wicked Angels are called Principalities and Powers which signifieth Eminency of Place above others What degrees or order there is amongst Devils is hard to find out what ever Order there is amongst them yet we know he is the Master of mis-rule amongst Men c. II. A King or Prince ruling and reigning imports a Kingdom for what is a King without a Kingdom and Dominions over which he reigns The Devil hath a Kingdom There is a twofold Spiritual Kingdom spoken of viz. the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness called sometimes the Kingdom and Power of Darkness â—1 His Kingdom is in the Hearts of ungodly Men he rules and reigns there 2. His Kingdom takes in all the Confines and Territories of Anti-Christ and all other false and corrupt erroneous and tyrannical States whatsoever throughout the whole Earth where his Power is owned and his Authority subjected to 3. He is said to be King of the bottomless Pit III. The Name of some Kings puts an awful fear upon Men So the Name and Power of Satan is such that it makes many Souls to dread and quake at the Thoughts of him IV. Some Kings have been great Tyrants There is no Tyrant in the World nor ever was so vile as the Devil True some have acted like Devils they seemed more like Devils than Men as Nero who caused the Bowels of his own Mother to be ripped up to see where he lay c. See Lion and Dragon V. Some Kings are mighty in Power and their Dominions very large Satan is a mighty King he hath a Power that no meer human force can stand against hence called the strong Man armed none ever seemed a match for him but the Prince of Peace Besides he rules over all the Nations of the ungodly and by force or fraud enslaves to his hellish Scepter Millions of Souls there is no Kingdom or Nation in the whole Universe but he pretends to some Right Supremacy and Authority in it the World is full of his Creatures nay there are more Souls who are his Vassals than the Son of God hath faithful Subjects The Devil a Hunter Psal 91.3 He will deliver thee from the Snare of the Hunter Prov. 6.5 Deliver thy self as a Roe from the Hand of the Hunter By the Hunter in these places I see no ground to doubt but that the Holy Ghost principally intends the Devil who is the great Hunter and Destroyer of Mens Souls out of whose Hand i. e. Power Wisdom advises her Son to deliver himself Parallels A Hunter is one that pursues or eagerly follows after his Prey what sort of Beasts soever he hunts he seems unwearied in his Pursuit his Heart is affected with his Game and hence takes great delight in it So the Devil pursues Sinners nay and the Godly too for they are part of his Game and how eagerly doth he pursue them 't is the only thing he seems to delight in he is never weary of this work nor in the work II. A Hunter in pursuing after the poor sensitive Beast designs to kill and destroy them 't is to take their Lives away c. So the Devil in hunting after the Souls of Men his grand design is to destroy them He seekâ—th whom he may devour 't is the Soul the Life of the Soul he strives to destroy As David speaks of his Enemy Thou huntest after my Soul to take it 1 Sam. 24.12 so may every Man and Woman say of Satan III. A Hunter has many Devices and cunning Stratagems to ensnare the Game he pursues So the Devil hath many Snares and cunning Wiles to catch and destroy the Souls of Men Hence he is compared to a Serpent We are not ignorant saith Paul of his Devices 2 Cor. 9.11 and in another place he exhorts the Saints to put on the whole Armour of God that they may be able to stand against the Wiles of the Devil The Greek Word signifies such Snares as are set to catch a Man He will deliver thee saith the Psalmist from the Snare of the Hunter Psal 91.3 meaning saith Ainsworth the Devil Satan hath many Devices and Snares to draw