Lord most high is terrible he is a King over all the earth he shall subdue the people under us and the Nations under our feet He shall choose our inheritance for us Psal 47. from 1 to 10 Psa 93.2 3 Ps 99.1 2 3 the excellency of Iacob Selah God is gone up with a shout the Lord with a sound of a trumpet sing praise to God sing praise sing praise unto oâ—r King sing praise For God is the King of all the earth God reigns over the heathen God sitteth upon the Throne of his holinesse The Princes of the people are gathered together even the people of the God of Abraham for the shields of the earth belongeth unto God Rev 19. from 5 to 12 he is greatly exalted And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude and as the voice of many waters and as the voice of mighty thundrings Rev 20.6 7 saying Allelujah For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready And to her was granted that she should be arayed in fine linnen 1 Cor 6.2 1 Tim 2.11 12 and he said unto me write Blessed are they that are called to the marriage Supper of the Lamb And he said unto me these are the true sayings of God And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Jâ—sus and for the Word of God and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years John 1.51 Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the world for is is a faithfull saying if we suffer with him Heb 1.14 we shall also reign with him Verily verliy I say unto you hereafter you shall see heaven open and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man Heb 2.5 6 7 For they are all ministring spirits sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation For not unto the Angels hath he put into subjection the world to come whereof we speak Rev 21.7 but in a certain place saith What is man that thou shouldst be mindfull of him for thou hast crowned him with glory and put all things under him although we yet see not all things put under him But he that overcometh shall inherit all things Dan 1.31 Verse 44 and I will be their God and they shall be my people For the stone that is cut out of the mounatin without hands shall smite the Image and make it like the chaff of the summer threshing floor and the stone shall become a great mountain and fill the whole earth And at that time the Saints shall possesse the Kingdom for ever Hosâ— 3.4 5 The children of Israel shall abide many dayes without a King and without a prince and without a sacrifice and afterwards shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God and David their King and shall fear the Lord and his goodnesse in the latter dayes Isa 11. from 1 to 13 And in that day there shall be a root of Iâ—sse which shall stand up an ensign to the people And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tong of the Aegyptian sea and with his mighty winds shall he shake his hand over the river and shall smite it in the seven streams and make men go over dry-shod Isa 66 And there shall be an high way for the remnant of his peoâ—le which shall be left from Assyria like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt Ezek 39 28 29 And he shall bring them into their own land and feed them with judgement upon the mountains of Israel For he will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in his people Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God Isa 32.1 2 that caused them to be led into captivity amongst the heathen But I have gathered them into their own land Joel 2 32 and have left none of them any more there neither will I hide my face any more from them And a King shall reign in righteousnesse Rev. 11 15 and Prâ—nces decree judgement For in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance And there was a great voice in heaven saying the KING-DOMES of this WORLD are become the KINGDOMS of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign forever and ever From these Scriptures it doth plainly appear that the Jews shall yet return to their town of unwalled villages and repair their former desolations And also that Christ shall have his Tabernacle with them and be their KING in the midst of them according to the Scriptures and reign over the house of David where his Saints shall be as Saviours upon Mount Zion and enjoy the Kingdom according to Gods good pleasure Wherefore seeing we receive a Kingdom that cannot be moved let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear for he that shall come will come and will not tarry even so Amen come Lord Jesus come quickly the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be multiplied unto all such as wait for his appearance and Kingdome in sinâ—erity and truth FINIS ERRATA PAge 3 l 3 read benevolous p 5 l 30 r City for eighty l 37 reither p 11 l 2 r prayers p 16 r Heb. 9.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 13. r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p 21 l 27 r ask for affirm p 28 l 20 r Acts for Exod. p 29 l ul r new for communion p 35 l 8 r you draw p 36 l 10 r Poet p 38 mend the margin r there was not a state of Immortality in Paradice equivalent with that which was brought to light no more to be subject to corruption p 46 l 17 r to fear death for did fear death p 47 l 14 r Christ owned Church p 52 l ult r many made sinners p 58 mend the margin noter Mal. 1.11.12 p 55 l 1 r despised p 65 l 32 r no man to do p 76 l 13 r moulded for marred p 77 l 6 r tender p 78 l 2 r can for cannot p 80 l 15 r tender also in line ult r tender p 82 l 17 r condition for transgression p 83 men the margin note r preterperfectâ—n e for preterimperfâ—ctience p 86 l ult r be kin p 87 l 13 r visited for rejected p 88 l 3 r reach for wrath p 89 l 22 r there justice left him and there mercy found him to bring him again from the dead p 90 l 6 r threatened for here ended p 92 in the margin r Indifferently p 93 l 4 r threatened for there opened p 95 l 18 r tender l 2â— r premised p 96 l 10 r I suppâ—se for I passe p 99 l 11 r dolefull for doubtful p 100 l 12 r Abraham for Adam l 19 r gave for you In the same p r Eâ—omitâ—s for Adamics p 112 l 3 r to whom p 119 l 32 r translated for calculated p 123 l 20 r mared for made p 127 apply 26 v. of the 9th ch to the Romans to the remnant of Israel p 132 l 24 r bride for bridegrom p 133 l 2 r in a dispute l 11 r depend p 131 l 13 r not troubâ—ed p 137 l 15 r Diotrephes for Elias l 26 r Rulers for unless p 141 l 20 r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p 168 l 5 r stain for strain p 174 l 8 r Joshua for Hosea
SYONS REDEMPTION AND ORIGINAL SIN VINDICATED Wherein are these particulars largely handled and discovered I. That sprinkling of water in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost is not Baptism as by several Arguments together with objections of that nature Answered II Infants not the subjects appointed by God to be baptized as by several arguments disproved and Objections of that nature answered III That the second death was never threatned to to be inflicted upon Adam or his lines for that sin committed in Paradice IV A clear and large discourse as touching Gods Decree of Election and Reprobation V A large Exposition upon the Ninth Chapter to the Romanes with every particular Verse opened in its distinct order as concerning Isaac and Ishmael and Jacob and Esau and of Pharaohs heart being hardened and Objections of that nature answered VI A brief disproof of the unlawfulness of the paying or receving of Tythes of a Tenth in Gospel times as Ministers maintenance VII The Ordination of the National Ministery examined and disproved VIII The answer of Objections against the Jews return out of their Captivity and the Reign of Christ upon earth answered and disproved shewing that the Jews shall return and Christ Reign in Jerusalem over the house of David IX A clear discovery of the glorious effects or that which will be effected under the sound of the seventh Trumpet X A full discovery of Judah and Israels glory to be enjoyed in their own Land and of Christs being their KING in the midst of them reigning over them upon the Throne of his father David in Jerusalem witnessed by the mouths of all the holy Prophets Evangelists and Apostles that ever wrote since the world began which are known cited in in this Book whereby any that reads it may easily see the truth of this Assertion Published for the instruction and comfort of all that wait for the appearing of the Lord Jesus and Zions Redemption Being an Answer to a Book of Mr. Hezeklah Holland sometimes Preacher in Sutton-Valence in Kent By George Hammon Pastor to the Church of Christ meeting in Biddenden in Kent LONDON Printed by G. Dawson for the Author 1658. The EPISTLE DEDICATORY To Mr. HEZEKIAH HOLLAND SIR I Having obtained a Book of yours Intituled to me although as I suppose never intended me as by you I thought good to peruse it and also to give an answer to it although I might have better improved time and ink and paper than to have answered such a running kind of discourse the which hath out run both Scripture and sound reason but however truth hath overtaken it and given it its deaths wound and farther this discourse of yours hath engaged me to speak more largely of the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation and to shew how Gods Decree in Election depends upon Christ viz. to chuse none to salvation and glory but such as are of Christs family either actively or passively when I say actively I mean such as are in Christ through faith and when I say passively I mean all Infants that have not forfeited their happiness by personal transgression for the Redemption is a free gift and is as large as the transgression so that as the first Adam lost the lives and blessing of all men so the second Adam the LORD JESUS purchased it again so that none are damned viz. taste the second death but such as deny the Lord that bought them but all men must dye the first death or be changed which is as death for the first Adams transgression and the very same all men are Rom. 5.18 19 by Christ made alive again that is even so many as were made sinners by the first Adam even so many are made righteous by the second Adam and so Gods mercy is over all his works I have also answered all your Arguments and Objections that I found to have but so much as a colour of reason in it I have also shewed that the Jews shall return to their own Land and that Christ shall be their King sitting upon the Throne of David in Jerusalem according to the letter of the Scriptures the truth whereof is witnessed by the mouth of all the holy Prophets and Evangelists and Apostles I have not given any interpretation upon the Prophets Evangelists or Apostles for these two reasons First because no person might have any colour to wave what is written as to that subject seeing it is the pure minde and will of God without the least mixture of mans meaning and interpretation And secondly because my occasion also would not admit of enlarging my self upon it And as touching your Ordination to the Ministery I have examined and shewn that your Presbyter by which you were Ordained was not a lawfull one nor you fitly qualified and also that no man may be appointed a Minister over any flock without the approbation and election of the same people and he receive his Ordination and charge amongst them in their sight which is the ancient practice of Gods people by his command both in the Old and New Testament And as touching your grounds for Infant-Baptism I find also very weak and that the word Baptizo is taken for sprinkling as you say I cannot finde any where but I finde it s taken for washing as in the ninth Chapter to the Hebrews and elsewhere but never find that it will bear such a signification as to sprinkle according to that little knowledge that I have attained thorow mine own industry with Gods blessing in the Greek which is indeed very small but who may despise the day of small things if truth be found therein the which I shall leave to the examination and tryal of such as know it better than my self without over much confidence as to the infalibillity thereof although to my best understanding it is the truth and pertinent to the purpose that I have cited it for and as touching your discourse of me to your bountifull friends cited in * Your discourse is thus read In lipsius si vera dico agnoscite si falsa ignoscite to which you adde this phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because I speak against Oxford Cambridge as you say Sir is this the way to convince me that Oxford Cambridge is of God I must see more sollid matter come from thence first I shall omit citing Cyprians words Latine and Greek is little to your honour knowing that evil communication corrupts good manners for he that made me an Asse if I be one is the same that made you a wise man if you be one and also I think that he that is blinde or seeth but little may see you to be imposterous and so Cyprians words fitly applyed to you and whereas you tell them that I much speak against Oxford and Cambridge learning I might say that your eye sight was not very clear or your understanding awake when you read my book for I never spake against it considered as
a resurrection from a state of sin to a state of grace but it s to be understood a resurrection from the Grave and the soul is to be understood the body or the entire man as the eight souls were saved by water in Noahs Ark. And whereas you say Page 39. that the new Jerusalem is not to be a material City according to the letter of the Scriptures because say you what City in the letter can have twelve foundations or Angels porters or gates made of pearl To which I answer and say it is somewhat strange to me to think that you do in very deed believe that God made the things that do appear by his word Let it be so and it was so and that he laid the foundation of the earth upon nothing and spread forth the heavens like a curtain and made those two great lights together with all the hoast of heaven Carnal men know not the mystery of the Kingdom and what they know naturally as bruit beasts even in those things they corrupt themselves onely by his word Let it be done and it was so it is strange that such carnals as you are do not question where God had materials enough to make the heavens and earth because you question how one pearl can be big enough to make a gate To which I say that he that made the heavens and the earth by the word of his power could have made it all of pearl if it had pleased him for there is nothing too hard for him to do therefore what he saith he will do let us not question how he can bring it about lest we see it and yet never enjoy it Again whereas you say Page 40 That the new heaven and earth and new Jerusalem may be taken for the Church in glory after the Jews conversion To which I answer and say that the new Jerusalem is not the Church is plain because the Church or Saints are to enter in through the the gates into that City and have their habitation there and walk in the streets thereof therefore the Church may not be taken for the new Jerusalem but it is to be a material heavenly glorious City the which now is the habitation of God and Christ or his Throne or Taberbernacle the which also at the time appointed shall descend upon the new earth and so the Throne or Tabernacle of God shall be with men and he shall dwell with them and thus the Lord shewed Iohn the form of the City and the manner how it should descend down upon the new earth in the which City the glorified Saints with the Lord shall dwell but without the gates shall be doggs and whoremongers and the like punished and although the whole earth shall be restored in the years of restauration yet after the ultimate judgement when Christ hath finished his reign and resigned up the Mediatorship and all government â—o the hands of God the Father when he shall be all in all 1 Cor. 15. then shall the Land of Canaan or Iudeah or Ierusalem which is one and the same although they differ in name be that new earth in which shall dwell righteousnesse agreeing with the words of the Prophet Esa 65.17 18 19. which saith Behold I create a new heaven and a new earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into mind but be ye glad for behold I create Ierusalem a rejoycing and her people a joy and I will rejoyce in Ierusalem and joy in my people and the voyce of weeping shall be heard no more in her This will be accomplished in Ierusalem at the beginning of Christs reign although the condition with other places may be altered as Chaldea Aegypt and Edom and the like yet with Canaan it will not for Ierusalem shall abide a glorious blessed place for ever as I shall speak more to anon and at present I pass to what you say in page 41. which is an interpretation of the words of Isaiah which saith The lyon shall lye down with the lamb and the like which is meant say you the changing of our salvage nature and make us submit to his yoak Answer That this is a false interpretation any man that hath understanding may plainly discern because Christ saith iniquity shall abound and questions whether he shall find faith upon earth and also the Prophet shews that the people of God shall be very few like to the gleaning of the vintage and the whole world wandring after the Beast and such like expressions the Scriptures are full of which sheweth that there wil not be such a conversion as you vainly dream of but this trifle I shall speak no more to at present but refer the curteous Reader to take satisfaction from the Scriptures as to this and the like as you may find composed as to the proof of this matter in my former Treatise intuled Syons Redemption Read my Syons Redemption where you may finde that the lyons lying down with the lamb is literally to be understood and the objections answered discovered as you may read from page 153 to page the 163. And as to the next thing I say That those irrational creatures that are dead are already delivered from their groaning and labour and yet notwithstanding for ought that you have said every creature that hath groaned under his burthen and hath been sensible of misery may again he restored but I shall wave that discourse and come to your 42 and last page in which I take notice of your contradiction where you say That Saints are not like to meet with peace or quietnesss here below but trouble and persecution and yet you say immediately that There is a time before the end when the sea of troubles shall be no more So that he that hath not both the eyes of his understanding put out may see that you are in a gulf of darknesse groaping for the wall not knoâ—ing what you say nor whereof you do affirm I could wish that you knew even the glorious state of the Church which will be at the time that the Redeemer shall come to Zion and turn transgression from Iacob when all Israel shall be a holy people to the Lord you hâ—rp at something that will be brought to passe at that time but what you know not neither are you like to know so long as you lean upon men to go upon their legs and see with their eyes but I spare you and passe to the next thing which is Say you in opposition to the Saints enjoying the riches of the world God gave mount Seir to Esau To which I answer and say The Sts. shall not enjoy the riches of the world until Christ shall come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory to put them in possession that to suppose that the Saints shall enjoy the riches of the world till the Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdomes of Christ is but a
simply in it self as a hand-maid as I may say to a Minister but I ever spake against it so as to deny it to be the efficient or suparlative cause of a Minister and do say that Christ ascending up on high and leading captivity captive and giving gifts to men is that which makes a Minister although learning may not be denyed to be a useful hand-maid neither may such be denyed to be Ministers whom Christ hath gifted to preach the Gospel to edification exhortation and comfort although they be altogether ignorant of that humane edification of Oxford and Cambridge and let me tell you without offence that I know none more ignorant in the mysteries of the Gospel than those of your stamp for the greatest part of them but I suppose the reason is because they ascribe preheminence to that which should be subordinate Finally Sir this is my advice to you and despise it not be more frequent in reading the Scriptures and compare them together trust not too much to this or the other mans opinion for if they were zealous yet they lived but as it were in the twilight and know that near the time of the end 1. 12.14 * men are to run to and fro and knowledge to encrease Whoso is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord and that you may partake of the benefit of an understanding heart search after it as for hidden treasure and then shall ye finde it and have the closet of your heart filled with all precious and pleasant riches the which is the desire of him that desireth the welfare of your soul and all mens who am your and their servant for Christs sake George Hammon The Epistle to the Reader CHristian Brethren and friends and to whom soever feareth the Lord and especially you the Inhabitants of Sutton-valence and Boughton Munchalse and Maidstone together with the places there abouts the Authors desire is that grace and peace might be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ My dear friends the knowledge of the truth is of such great worth that it calls for our earnest endeavour after it to seek it and not silver and to search after it rather than fine gold and therefore for thy further understanding in the mysteries of God I have added this small pains of mine contained in the following Treatise in bringing to a publick view such objections as stand like a cloud to ecclipse or hinder the light of Christs doctrine from shining into the understandings of the sons of men and have answered them although I should have been more at large upon it if time would have given leave in reference to other occasions that daily called me from it when it was in hand the which also was the cause that it was brought to a publick view no sooner and therefore excuse its long absence I pray you and now my desire is that thou wouldst read it diligently and weigh what is written with an unbyassed affection and in so doing thou mayest come to see those things that happily thou hast not yet seen and know those things that yet now thou hast not known for how ready have we been to receive mens doctrine without tryall especially when they have had a name to be great learned men never considering the words of the Lord which saith Not many wise or learned men hath he chosen to reveal his hidden wisdome to but hath hid it from them and revealed it to Babes and sucklings and was it not Gods way to chuse Heardsmen to be his Prophets and Fishermen to be his Apostles and in a word such as were accounted ignorant men such as knew little of the law even such God did chuse to reveal his Son in that none might glory in men therefore take heed of being deceived upon such account but now prove thy self to be like the men of Berea the which were more noble than the men of Thessalonica because they searched the Scriptures to see whether those things that was preached to them were truth yea or nay therefore be exhorted for the time to come to give all diligence in cases of weight to try it by the Scriptures and seek to the Lord to give thee understanding therein and then doubtless thou shalt do well I have opened the ninth Chapter to the Romans and when thou readest it consider that it is a discourse touching the house of Israel that God was just in casting them off for their sins although they were the seed of Abraham shewing that Israel was also of Abrahams lines and Esau of the lines of Isaac and yet for their wickedness were rejected and also Pharaoh that hardened himself against the Lord and his people as Israel did the Lord chose his delusion by giving him up to hardness of heart to make his Name known throughout all the earth that all men might take warning by him And as to that which is spoken concerning the return of the house of Israel and the house of Judah out of their captivity and the Reign of Christ in Jerusalem I desire thee to weigh seriously because if thou understand it aright it will help thee much in the understanding of all the Scriptures in a great measure as Daniel Zachary and the Book of the Revelations when others will be found to turn the Scriptures into allegories not knowing what they say nor whereof they do affirm being never able to keep the Scriptures in a harmony it will also strengthen thee to stand fast in these times when the mystery of iniquity is geting up apace where there is no other Mount Zion taught up as Christs seat but what is in us and ere long in giving heed thereunto we shall not think our selves onely Mount Zion viz. Christs seat but will also think that we are the Christ to wit God manifest in our flesh for the mother of Harlots and her daughters viz. Rome and the rest of the Nations which have been upon her sides and suck of her breast have taught up such a kind of doctrine as a spiritual Reign of Christ to be understood in such Scriptures as speak of Christs Reign on earth the which is as a footing for the mystery of iniquity to work but thanks be given to our good God that hath given some to understand the mystery of the kingdome who will travel to bring forth the man child as I comparatively may say that shall rule all Nations with a rod of iron namely Christ upon his holy hill of Zion therefore read the Prophets diligently the which I have cited thou mayest also at thy leasure peruse Esdras which I have not cited in my discourse because some doubt whether it be Canonicall yea or nay the which I shall not trouble my self to prove it holy writ because there be Prophets enough that prove the same thing besides Esdras although he speak very fully to it as in many Chapters
then secondly shall shew also in what line the decree of God runneth both as touching Election Reprobation And thirdly shall shew that Gad doth decree to change the dispensation of Mercy or Justice according to the creatures acting And first to the first that is God respecteth not the person but the quality that you may see it clearly proved weigh the Scriptures in the ballance of your understanding And Peter opened his mouth and said Act. 10.34 of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every Nation him that feareth God and worketh righteousness 1 Pet. 1.17 is accepted with him And therefore if ye call one Father who without respect of person judgeth every man according to his works spend your sojourny here in fear For the Lord your God Deuâ— 10.17 is God of Gods and Lord of Lords which respecteth not persons but he that doth wrong shall receive for the wrong that he hath done Col. 3.25 and there is no respect of persons Jer. 22.24 As I live saith the Lord though Coniah the son of Jeoiakim King of Judah were the signet upon my right hand yet would I pluck thee thence these Scriptures you may peruse with many more that tend to this purpose But that God respecteth the quality is clear for as saith the text Him that feareth God and worketh righteousness Gods decree unchangeable is accepted a humble heart and a broken Spirit is in the sight of God a pearle of great price and The prayers of the righteous are his delight so then God is no respecter of person but quality And secondly God hath decreed unchangeably to condemn such as die in their sins and also to save them that walk uprightly to shew also what line Gods decree runneth in both as touching Election and Reprobation God hath decreed unchangeably to save all that are in his Son namely such as walk before him in Righteousness and true Holiness and he hath also unchangeably decreed to render himself in flaming fire to the Everlasting destruction of all that walk in unrighteousness and disobey the Gospel of his Son I suppose I need not multiply words to prove this because I think none will deny it and this is Gods decree That of old he did ordain godly men to Salvation and ungodly men to Damnation and so if men walke righteously in Christ viz. Christs Commands then the decree of Salvation doth reach them or comprehend them and if they turn from righteousness to live in sinful courses then the decree of Condemnation reacheth or comprehendeth them So that God changeth not but it is man that changeth for Gods decree is to save righteous men and destroy wicked men not looking at this man or the other mans person but as he findeth them righteous or unrighteous unto which his decree hath respect I pray admit of this comparison presuppose we in this Country were all rebells to his Highness the Lord Protector and he being a man of great pitty maketh a decree although he might cut us off for our rebellion to pardon us if we cast down our armes and submit to him within twenty dayes or otherwise we shall perish by the sword or the like possibly some of us upon that account cast down our armes at ten dayes end and then we are comprehended within the decree of Absolution but possibly by reason of our companions that scoff at us and call us cowards and the like we at fifteen dayes end take up our armes again and then we are comprehended within the Decree of Death not that his Highness decree changeth but it is by our changing that we are under the decree of Absolution or Condemnation and although comparisons run not upon four wheels as we say yet this comparison reacheth the manner of Gods decree or is a plain similitude of it and that it is so read the Scriptures seriously Ezekiel the 18.21 and 26. in these words But if the wicked shall turn from all his sins that he hath committed Ezek. 18.21 24. 26. chap. 33.18 19. 1 Tim. 5.12 2 Pet. 2.20 21. and keep all my Statutes and do that which is Lawful and Right he shall surely live he shall not die but When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness and committeth iniquity all his righteousness shall not be once mentioned but in his sins that he hath committed in them shall he die I might speak much of this both from the Old Testament and the New you may look in the margen and so I pass to the third last particular the which is to prove That although God change not in what he hath absolutely decreed yet God hath decreed to change his dispensation of Mercy or Misery according to the creatures obedience or disobedience And first Jer. 18.7 8 9 10. see the words of the Prophet Jeremy which saith In what instant I shall speak concerning a Nation or a Kingdom to pluck up and pull down and destroy it If that Nation against whom I promunce turn from their evil I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them And it what instant I speak concerning a Nation and concerning a Kingdom to build and to plant it If it do evil in my sight that it obey not my voice then will I repent of the good that I said I would benefit them withal The very same you may see concerning the house of Eli in 1 Sam. 2.30 these words Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy Fathers should walk before me for ever but now the Lord hath said be it far from me for them that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed And hence it came to pass Jonah 3.10 that Nineveh was not destroyed although the Lord commanded Jona to cry forty dayes and Nineveh shall be destroyed God did decree to change the dispernation of Mercy or Justice according to the creatures obedience or disobedience And God saw their works that they turned from their evil wayes and God repented viz. changed his mind of the evil that hâ— had said he would do unto them and he did it not Hence we may see that God changeth the dispensation of Mercy and Justice according to the creatures acting for he said Elies house should abide or be established before him but because Eli preferred his sons above Gods sacrifice suffering them to kick against it caused the Lord to toot him up And again whereas God did say he would destroy Nineveh they humbling themselves the Lord did not doe unto them in punishment as he said he would And thus I have proved the three particulars and fully answered what you have said namely That to love and hate Esau you dargue a change in God and so I pâ—ss to your second assertion as to this matter which is say you God
person Cant. 3.1 saying Behold THOU art fair my love behold THOU art fair c. and also the Lord speaking to the Church of Judea and Jerusalem speaks often as to a single person 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peter which is by interpretation a stone might significantly be called the Church because the Church is called the pillar or ground of Truth Read 1 Tim. 3.15 compared with Mat. 18 17 18. and also calls the Virgin daughter of Babylon as a single person in many places so in this metaphor Christ calls the Church as a single person as though he spake prâ—raâ—â—ly to Peter but consider that Christ spake not to Peter barely considered as a Minister but speaks to him as considered one in whom the truth was settled as a Pillar and considered so the power is committed to him not as a Minister but as the Church which is called The ground and pillar of truth and this will plainly appear if we consider Christs following discourse as in this Evangelist where he saith to the Church Whosoever ye binde on earth shall be bound in heaven c. so then the power lyeth in the Church as aforesaid and so having spoken somewhat as to your Office although I might be larger in it I shall passe to the next and last subject which is the qualifications of the National Ministery to which I say That there is not one in England fitly qualified to be a Minister according to the rule of Scripture not that I say that it is impossible to find a man zealous according to his light although there be very few such to be found yet I say in my understanding it is impossible to find a man in the way of the National Ministery as they now stand and have stood for ages and generations fitly qualified either in respect of their Ordination or Doctrine as for their Ordination it is already proved to be from Rome and that by your own grant and as for matter of Doctrine there is not one as aforesaid that holds the mystery of Faith in a pure conscience as I doubt not but 〈◊〉 make good what I say if any shall call me thereunto and indeed 〈◊〉 is a very rare thing to finde any crime qualifications in Ministers of that stamp but because I study brevity I shall leave as to the qualification of the falâ—e Ministery as in reference to Ordination and speak somewhat to the qualifications of the true as in reference to Ordination and that very briefly And 1. As to the persons Ordaining 2. As to the persons Ordained And 3. As to the formallity or method of their Election and Ordination together with their charge in reference to their Office and how they are to demean themselves in the Church of God And first as to the persons Ordaining the Ministery they must be sober holy temperate and faithful in all things such as have been baptized according to Christs appointment after they have learned him or been made disciples for our blessed Saviour himself was baptized about thirty years of age who was to be a leading pattern to us who also never made or appointed any Minister before that time neither did he * I speak not of Christ here but considered as he was man Luke 3.21 22 23. ch 4.15 Mat. 3.16 ch 4.17 18 19 20 21. preach that I can find although dispute before his Baptism but presently afterwards did preach and called the Twelve and made them Ministers as you may read in the Gospel of St. Matthew and also in Luke so was Paul also and in a word none are fit to Ordain Ministers but such as have been followers of Christ as he hath lead them an example who have been first made Disciples and afterwards baptâ—zed and also have been an example or pattern of good works to others for such were all the Persbyâ—res of old as lat large could prove for from being such as your Presbyters were viz the Lord Bishop although he were your Reverend Father in God And secondly as to the qualification of the persons Ordained to be Ministers 1. They must be such as are gifted from God to preach the word instant in season or out of season that is to say at all times they must not be such as want a Library tyed to their back nor a three penny Sermon book to preach from but must be such as are acquainted with the mind and will of God as it is revealed in Scripture as saith the Apostle A Bishop must be blameless as the sleward of God not self-willed not soon angry not given to wine mark that nor fibby luore but vigilent apt to teach a lover of hospitality a lover of good men sober just holy temperate holding fast the faithfull word c. Thus must a true Minister be qualified and more also the which would be too large for me at present as in reference to my occasion to mention in particular and therefore shall passe to the third and last thing which is the formality or method of Election and Ordination together with the work contained in the Office and because I have hinted at is already I shall be brief and say that a Minister that is truly made ought to be chosen by a joynt consent of the Church and to be a man of their own coast that is of the same Church and his gifts tryed and approved therefore we never read that there was ever any Minister Ordained or appointed to this or that Church unlesse he first had been a member with them and Ordained amongst them and therefore Titus was left in Crete to Ordain Elders If there were found any amongst them fitly qualified from whence we may see that the true Ministery have not so large a license as you travelling Ministers have unlesse is were the Apostles they went from place to place to plant Churches but not to look for the biggest livings but where the Lord had any work to do they did it and yet did not bargain before hand what wages they should have for so doing neither did they covet any mans gold or silver or the like but you may see more of this in my former Treatise intituled Zions Redemption and Original Sin Again as a true Minister must be a member of the same Church over whom he is appointed and his gifts approved by them so the same Church over whom he is to be a watchman or to be present to hear the charge each over other when it is solemnly given by the Eldership for that end Titus was to abide in Crete amongst the Churches and also the Lord commanded Moses to do so concerning Joshua as you may read in the Book of Numbers saying And the Lord said unto Moses Numb 27.18 19. take thee Joshua the son of Nun a man in whom is the Spirit and lay thy hands upon him and set him before Eliazer the Priest and before all the Congregation and give him a charge in their sight
your honour for them to come and live here you might have spared your pains or otherwise sent it to your own tribe for they and not I contend against it but surely your garments smell so much of that mysticall Whore that they would abhor you But to the next thing the which is an answer to what you say to my third Argument as for your intervening discourse where you tell me what your eighteen Commentators say upon the 11 of the Revelations I matter not but say that me thinks he is blind that sees you not in a muddle of confusion for sometime you say that Hierusalem is to be understood the Church and sometimes the Temple but yet it wants proof that ever Hieausalem is taken to be the Church and I also discern your ignorance as touching the 11. and 12. Chapters of the Revelations the woman that travelleth to bring forth a man child is not the Gentile-Church but no more of that its possible that we may confer about that hereafter and so I come to take notice of your answer as aforesaid where you say The Temple of God spoken by Paul to the Thessalonians Page 33. 2 Thes 2.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. is to be understood the Church of God and Antichrists tyranny by saying he sate or set up his throne there which if this were the Temple of Jerusalem it were a poor piece of honour say you To which I answer and say First that it was not the Church of God will appear plainly because God never owned such a people to be his Church 2 Cor. 6.15 16. in whom Antichrist had his seat or Throne for Christ and Antichrist cannot dwell together so then if Antichrists seat was there then Christ seats not there if Christ not there then no Church of God so then Antichrist could not sit in the Temple of God in your sense The Temple mentioned 2 Thes 2. proved not to be the Church of God take this maxim the Antiquity of a thing proves not the verity of it my meaning is this although the Pope have sate in your Temple viz. Church along time and been your Governour as in chief and you suppose your selves the Church and therefore Antichrist may sit in the Temple viz. Church this proves not the verity of it And secondly whereas you say It is no great piece of honour for Antichrist to set his Throne in the Temple of Jerusalem To which I answer and say if you were not ignorant but knew the Scriptures you would know that it would be an honour to him to sit there provided he might be owned by the Jews to be their King viz. Christ as he will desire to be owned but that it is an honour unto him to set up his Throne there is plain because it is called the glorious holy Mountain by the Prophet Daniel Dan. 11.45 in these words And he shall plant the Tabernacle of his Pallace between the sea in the glorilus holy Mountain or the mountain of delight and holinesse as it is called in the margent yet he shall come to his end and none shall help him and at that time shall Michael viz. Christ appear Dan. 12.1 2 3. or stand up according to Pauls words and destroy him and that it is at his coming to take his kingdome and to reign is plain because the Text saith That many that sleep in the dust of the earth shall arise some to glory and some to shame And that Hierusalem will be the praise or glory of the whole earth I have also proved already so that what you have said is proved to be false and that it is the very same thing that the Apostle spoke of is plain for they that know any thing know that Christ when he cometh to judge the world in righteousnesse is to come to Ierusalem and first restore the kingdome unto them and to plead with all flesh not far from the valley of Jehoshaphat and that the Antichrist may perswade the world that he is the Christ and that he may shew himself as God and so be worshipped by the Jews he shall place his throne there and therefore saith the Apostle in order to the establishing of the people 2 Thes 2.1 2 3 4 5 6. that they might not be deceived by him 〈◊〉 saith The day of the Lord comes unawares when you little think of it yet be not deceived about his coming for there shall first come the Antichrist who shall perswade men that he is the Christ and to carry on his design the more subtilely shall shew great signs and also shall place his Throne in the very place namely the glorious holy mountain Jerusalem where the true Christ shall place his Throne And this is fully implyed in 2 Thess 2. compared with Dan. 12 and other Scriptures that I formerly have cited But I passe briefly because those that compare my Syons Redemption and your answer together may see your answer to be but as a scare-crow and not worth taking notice of But you tell me I understand not what is meant by Gog and Magog Answer It s very like I cannot be more ignorant of Gog and Magog Page 33. than you be of what is meant by the little Horn Dan 7. when you call him Antiochus Epiphanes the which although he might be a type of him was no more the same than the scape-Goat Levit. 16. was Christ first because this little Hâ—â—n Dan. 7. was took alive and given to the burning flame after which time the Saints did possesse the Kingdom of the whole world it being delivered into their hands by the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven Antiochus Epiphanes proved not to be the little Horn spoken of by Daniel ch 7.7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17. with much more that might be cited as an allusion thereunto Dan. 7 13 14 15 16 17 18. but Antiochus Epiphanes died after another manner neither was the Kingdome of Israel at peace after his death for he left a son which acted in the cruelty of his father who gathered together fifty thousand footmen and almost five thousand horsemen and fourscore Elephants and vexed the Jews as you may read in the first Chapter of the wars of the Jews recorded by Iosephus in his 559. page I could speak very largely unto it but he that reads the 7. of Dan. and compares it with Joel the 3. and Revelations the 19. may plainly discern that the little Horn mentioned in the 7. of Daniel which shall be taken alive and destroyed as aforesaid cannot be understood to be Antiochus Epiphanes which dyed before Christs Incarnation near one hundred sixty and two years And again Isa 14. whereas you say the 14 Chapter of Isaiah speaks not of the Antichrist but of the King of Babylon To which I answer and say Read Syons Redemption p. 101. that I have before said that the Antichrist is to be
will bring them out from the people Ezek. 28.24 25 26. and gather them from the Countryes and will bring them to their own Land and feed them upon the mountains of Israel And they shall be no more a prey to their enemies but they shall dwell safely and none shall make them afraid And there shall be no more a pricking bryer unto the house of Israel nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them that despised them and they shall dwell in their Land that I gave my servant Jacob Isa 12 1 2 3 4. and shall know that I am the Lord. And in that day thou shalt say O Lord I will praise thee though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away and thou comfortest me Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation For thy waste and thy desolate places and the Land of thy destuction shall even now be too narrow by reason of the Inhabitants and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away the children that thou shalt have after thou hast lost the other shall say again in thine ears the place is too strait for me Give place to me that I may dwell then shalt thou say in thine heart who hath begotten me these seeing I have lost my children Isa 49 19 20 21 22. and am desolate a captive and a removing to and fro and who hath brought up these behold I was left alone where have these been Thus saith the Lord God behold I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles and lift up my Standard unto the people and they shall bring thy sons in their arms and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders Ver. 23. And Kings shall be thy nursing fathers and Queens shall be your nursing mothers they shall bow down to thee with their face to the ground and lick up the dust of thy feet and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. Isa 6.10 11. And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls and their Kings shall minister unto thee for in my wrath I smote thee but in my favour have I had mercy on thee Ver. 12. therefore thy gates shall be opened continually and they shall not be shut day nor night that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles and that their Kings may be brought for the Nation or Kingdome that will not serve thee shall perish Let Mount Zion rejoyce Psal 48 11. let the daughters of Judah be glad because of thy judgements FOR in that day will I make the Governours or Judah like a hearth of fire round about the wood like a torch of fire in a sheaf and they shall devoure all the people round about on the right hand and on the left and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place even in Jerusalem The Lord also shall save the Tents of Judah first Zach. 12.6 to 15. that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the Inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnifie themselves against Judah And thou O Tower of the flock the strong Hold of the daughter of Zion unto thee shall come the first dominions In that day shall the Lord defend the Inhabitants of Jerusalem Mich. 4.8 and he that is feeble amongst them at that day shall be as David and the house of David shall be as God as the Angels of the Lord before them And it shall come to passe in that day that I will seek to destroy all the Nations that come up against Jerusalem And I will pour upon the house of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of supplications and they shall look upon me whom they have peirced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his onely son and shall be in great bitternesse for him as one that is in bitternesse for his first born In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem as the mourning of HADADRIMMON in the valley of MEGIDDON Isa 5â— 20. And so all Israel shall be saved as it is written There shall come a Deliverer to Zion and shall turn away transgression from Jacob Rom. 11.26 O the depth of the riches both of wisdome and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgements Isa 64.4 and his wayes past finding out For since the beginning of the world men have not heard or perceived by the ear 1 Cor. 2.10 neither hath the eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for thee But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God Therefore unto God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit be ascribed glory and thanksgiving might majesty and dominâ—on by all that fear him small and great for ever and ever world without end Amen Thus having from these Scriptures and many more that might be mentioned together with these above written proved the first part of the assertion viz. That the Jews shall yet return and possesse their own Land and be a very glorious people and their scituation viz. Jerusalem a very glorious scituation Although all that hath been said may comparatively be called as the gleaning of the vintage For I know nothing which the Scriptures proves more plainly and yet this is hid from the most part of the prudent and learned men in our times but this is the fulfilling of the Scriptures which saith God hath hid it from the wise and prudent and revealed his wisdome even his hidden wisdome to babes and sucklings not that I say that God hath hid it from all that are prudent and learned men according to humane sciences for I do know some of them do understand the mystery of the kingdome although to the greatest part it is a parable but however the truth of God stands sure and is unchangeable for the Scriptures shall not fall to the ground but shall be fulfilled although heaven and earth passe a way Hence it came to passe that that all which was spoken of Christ to be fulfilled in the dates of his flesh was accomplished in the very letter of the Scriptures that the Scriptures might be fulfilled and so shall all those Scriptures that speak of his glory and reign and the Jews glory be fulfilled in their time For as the Scriptures spake of Christs being born at Bethlehem Mich. 5.2 Isa 7.14 Hos 11.1 Zach. 9.9 Isa 8.18 Mich. 5.1 Isa 5.6 Psal 69.21 Zach. 11 12 13. Psal 22 18. Num. 9 12. Exod. 12 46. Psal 34.7 Zich 12.10 it was so and as the Scriptures spake that a Virgin should conceive it also was so and as the Scriptures prophesied of calling his son out of Aegypt it was so and as he was prophesied to ride to Jerusalem upon an Asses Colt it was so and as it was prophesied that he