assaulted by Satan and his instruments let all the people of God pray for their constancy patience successe of their ministery for their deliuery and preseruation and then no doubt the ministers shall speede and prosper the better and the comfort of their perseruation shall redound to the people And I am left alone Herein Elias if we diligently heed the story and time wherein he prophecied who a little before thought that he had conuerted most of the Israelites and now he thinketh that they haue vniuersally reuolted from true religion wee are taught that the most excellent seruants of God haue their errours and infirmities one while they conceiue ouer-well of men and another while ouer-ill Act. 15. ver 37.38.39 1. Vse If so rare and singuler men these many times erre and are deceiued let no man presume too much of his owne knowledge learning and iudgement but walke humbly and alwayes suspect his owne ignorance and weakenesse and let him iudge rashly or ouer-hastily of no man but reserue all secret iudement to God If none for the present ioyne with him in the open defense of Gods worship or if none such be knowne yea if they should all forsake him as all forsooke Paul when he was conuented before Nero let them not bee discouraged but goe on boldly trusting in God and the goodnesse of their cause and God will assist strengthen deliuer yea and glorifie them God being on a mans side who can be against him nay he hath more with him then against him and other mens generall Apostacie or starting aside from their dutie and obedience cannot possibly depriue him of his crowne for hee shall liue by his faith and the more temptations and discouragements hee findeth to hinder him the greater will be his praise preferment and exaltation in the end But what saith the answer or oracle of God to him i. We must rather in this Apostacie of the Church attend what the Lord the God of trueth saieth then rest vpon the coniecture of Elias â— haue left or reserued to my selfe i. I haue preserued from death and idolatry 7000. men i. a great number of men women and children for seauen a set number is put here as in other places of Scripture for one indefinite or vncertaine number that haue not bowed their knees to the image of Baall i. that haue not polluted themselues with idolatry no not so much as in outward gesture and action Euen so at this present time i. in the time of the new Testament there is a remnant i. a small remainder of Iewes in comparison of those that perish through the election of grace i. whom God of his grace and fauour hath elected to euer-lasting life and which shall be saued by faith in Christ. Questions out of the 4. 5. verses Doth the Church of God neuer faile or cease to be vpon the earth An. No for albeit many times and in many places the church ceaseth to be visible conspicuous and glorious yet the true Catholicke and inuisible Church which consisteth onely of the number of the Predestinate and Elect euer was is and shall be and shall alwayes remaine in the world in one place or other For first it neuer failed when it was brought to the greatest extremities but at length it hath alwayes lifted and put forth her head out of the darkenesse where-with it was oppressed Secondly Christ his kingdome is eternall and shall neuer end but shall last and indure for euer when other kingdomes shall bee ouerthrowne destroyed and extinct Thirdly Gods couenant made with the Iewes and Gentiles viz. that hee will be their God and the God of their seed is euerlasting and vnchangeable therefore there must needs be some in whom the couenant must bee ratified and accomplished Lastly Gods promises cannot lye and his power can doe althings and God doth nourish and preserue the church by his word and prouidence when impietie and idolatry euery where preuaileth 2. Que. Had God any church and people in the middest of the darkenesse of Poperie when tyrants and false Teachers laboured vtterly to roote it out An. Yes as may especially appeare Apoc. 12.16 where the woman the Church flying into the wildernesse i. to places vnknowne to the aduersaries had a place prepared of God that they should feed her there a thousand two hundreeh and three score dayes i. they were nourished by ordinary meanes by hearing some true things of their owne Teachers and partly by learning true faith and doctrine of other better teachers partly by reading the holy scriptures and by meditating and musing of it by themselues and by conferring with others Secondly the Papists had some things that appertaine to the true Church as Baptisme albeit not altogether purely administred the Scriptures the Apostles Creede the Commandements the Lords prayer and a certaine ministerie Thirdly in the ruinous state darkenesse and Apostacie of a Church the very reading and repeating of the word yea the very sound and report of it is by Gods extraordinary working sufficient and effectuall to saue all those whom God will haue saued Act. 11. v. 20. 21. Iohn 4.28.29.40.41 42. Rom. 10 18. Lastly God hath his Church and seed euen in Babylon albeit in faith and affection separated and disioyned from her Apoc. 12.7 and these the Dragon maketh warre with Likewise Apoc 18.4 where Gods people are exhorted to come out of Babilon c. ergo there were some elect and some of Gods people there Quest. Therefore may not we perswade our selues that many of our Ancestors and fore-fathers were saued in the middest of Poperie An. Yes doubtlesse as well as in the corrupt and Apostaticall time of Elias for nothing hath in the Papacie befallen the Church which hath not befallen vnto it in times past Secondly besides the reasons expressed in the answer to the former question many of them kept and held the principles and foundations of faith and so rightly enformed their children seruants and families therein Apoc. 13.8 Thirdly there haue beene some that haue alwayes and openly by preaching writing and disputation opposed and set themselues against the corruption of error Apoc. 11.3.4.5.6.11 12. and this is also manifest by Illyricus his catalogue of the witnesses of the truth Fourthly many thousand children Baptised and so holy dyed in their infancie and child-hood before they could be infected and poysoned with the pestilence of error and so were saued Fiftly God pardoneth many faults and infirmities in his children whose hearts and mindes are right with him Mal. 3. v. 17. Lastly many of our Ancestoâ—â— albeit transported with the common invndation of error did before the end of this life repent of their sin and vtterly renounce and disclaime their owne merites and all confidence in them and relied vpon Christ onelie by true faith and so were saued Q. Why doth God sometimes suffer his Church to bee brought into such affliction darkenes extremities that the
might easily be brought to them from other famous and populous places or else if so bee that not so much as the fame and sound of the holy Gospell hath come vnto these barbarous people countries yet it is agreeable to Christs generall promise Math. 24.14 that they shall in succession of time heare of it and haue it especially when other parts of the world haue declared themselues vnthankfull for it and vnworthy of it as all the Easterne parts haue done and therefore haue iustly lost the Gospell which shall not successiuely and at least for a time embrace the Gospell shall enter into the Church and bee conuerted And so when the fullnesse of the Gentiles and Iewes are entred into the church â—ll Israell i. all the Elect or the whole body of the people of Israel then liuing or the fulnesse of them as verse 12. that is the greatest part of them shal be saued i. by the preaching of the Gospell be effectually called and iustified by faith in Christ. The deliuerer shall come out of Sion the Redeemer and Messias shall open the eyes of their vnderstanding and take away from them the vaile of Moses and shal turne away vngodlinesse from Iacob i. shall forgiue pardon and iustifie by faith the posterity of Iacob This is my couenant to them i. this shal be my couenant I will receiue them againe into my couenant from which before through vnbeleife they had fallen when I shall take away their sinnes i. I shall pardon them all their sinnes for Christ his sake and adopt them to be my sonnes and so they shall testifie their thankefulnesse to the Sonne of God by confession of his name and by true Godlinesse Q. When is likely to be the time of the Iewes conuersion before the sacking burning of Rome or afterward A. In all probability it is like to follow the burning and destruction of Rome for then the stumbling blocks that the Papists offer them by their imagery inuocation of Saints Latine seruice and abhominable and most senselesse transubstantiation shal be remoued taken away Secondly as it apeareth in the 18. and 20. cap. of Iohns Apocalips there shal be some reasonable distance of time betweene the burning of Rome and the end of the worlde in which it is most consonant to truth that the Iewes shal be called for their conuersion in the last generall signe fore-runner of Christs second comming so far forth as the scripture reuealeth vnto vs. 2. Q. Whether shall the Iewes recouer the holy land againe or not and be all conuerted and dwell their seeing that it is said their deliuerer shall come out of Sion or must wee thinke rather they shal be conuerted in the Countries in which they dwell and into which they are dispersed or shall then be found inhabiting Ans. They are likely neuer to recouer it for they haue no such promise neither haue they any possiblity of meanes to compasse it Secondly Christes comming vnto them shall not be visible but spirituall not from the Earthly Sion which long sithence hath bene made desolate but from his spirituall Sion of his Catholike Church Lastly it is most probable and likely that they shal bee conuerted in those countries into which they are dispersed and in which they haue their residence For first we haue some smal beginnings here there of it Secondly they shall better and sooner by by their zeale and example reuiue the faith of the Gentiles beeing mixed and conuersant with them and liuing amongst them there then if they should dwel and be contained all in one country What is meant by the fulnesse of the Gentiles What that the whole world shall at one time euer bee inlightned and conuerted or that onely thâ—se countries that formerly either had not the Gospell at all or at least in very small measure shall be called Ans. It cannot be vnderstood of an vniuersall inlightning of the whole world at the time of the Iewes conuersion For in the Apostles times the Gospell was generally preached vnto all the knowne and inhabited nations of the world Colos. 1.23 But that the Gospell should now the second time bee divulged and published ouer the whole world wee haue neither reason Scripture nor commission for it For first Apostolicall callings and gifts which are necessary for so great a worke are many hundred yeares sithence ceased Secondly at Christs comming there shall bee almost no faith that is sound Doctrine and zeale left vppon the earth and yet Christs comming will follow soone after the calling of the Iewes Thirdly it may be that the Gospell may bee reulued in many kingdomes and countries where it was planted long before and especially in and nearer the places wherein the Iewes haue and shall haue there residence and habitation at there generall calling but it shall not be generall much lesse vniuersall They therefore that looke for an vniuersall preaching many sooner behold Christ comming in the clouds then haue their expectation satisfied Queâ— Is the fulnesse of the Gentiles yet come in Ans. Albeit diuers thinke so and especially because they see no conuersion of any other countries of late times nor any certaine probability of it yet it is much to be hoped for and not without rashnesse to be presumed that the Gospell remaineth in his season to be preached to America seeing that it is the greatest part of the world and neuer in times past had nor heard of it and seeing that the very Iesuits that are sent thither make perhaps some enterance and passage for more sincere peaching and doctrine to be published and spread there by such sund protestants whether English Dutch or others that vse to trauell thither and backe againe with most prosperous nauigations Likwise it is to be thought that the Gospell shal be preached to the East Indies if they neuer heard of it before or else at least reuiued as it hath beene in diuers other countries and kingdomes sucessiuely For albeit some of the auncient haue both reported recorded that S. Thomas and S. Bartholomeâ— the Apostles preached there yet no monument signes and remembrances of it are now there extant or remayning What is ment by all Israel Whether the whole body of the Iewes as many take it or the Catholick Church to be gathered of Iewes Gentiles Ans. Specially and properly here is ment the whole body of the Iewes in generall and of whom the Apostle directly speaketh but not euery seuerall and singular person of them Secondly it is opposed to a remnant or part therefore it must needs signifie the greatest number or a very great multitude Quâ— The deliuerer shall come to Sion as in the Hebrew context or The deliuerer shall come out of Sion or from Sion as Paul applieth it how can or may these two scriptures be reconciled Ans. We must distinguish of the times vnto which the Prophet Isaiah and the Apostle Paul had respect and so
God in holy scripture Ezek. 11.37 Rom. 9. Rom. 15.4 Ioh. 20.31 Apoc. 9. and 17.18 The reason hereof is because they are very necessary for the confirmation of our faith direction of our liues and therfore God would not haue vs in any wise ignorant of them much lesse to doubt of the truth of them Secondly God would hereby shew and declare the sufficiency of the scriptures and so consequently warne and lesson vs that we giue no credit to bee ruled by any fained reuelation or humaine traditions in matter of saluation but only consult and search the scriptures which containe a plaine perfect and all sufficient doctrine both for faith manners and for sauing of our soules Vse 1. The first vse is to condemne partly the supine and merueilous negligence and extreame slouthfulnesse of them that know not such necessary and fundamentall points and principall conclusions so euidently and so oftentimes spoken of and vrged in the sacred scriptures or the vnexcusable vnbeleife and Atheisme of those that will not beleeue such plaine places and proofes of Gods word but say or at least thinke that the scriptures are vntrue the fables or the politicke inuentions of men to keepe and râ—taine men in some feare and awe These are the Marchiuillians matchlesse in euil of our times Vse 2. We must neuer stagger 〈◊〉 or doubt of them neither at any time cal the certainty and accomplishment thereof in question but rest in them and repaire strengthen and quicken our faith by them for to this end were they giuen As it is written Ministers and preachers must leâ—rne hence not to broach and vtter their owne conceits or the inuentions of men but to speake and preach the holy and wholsome word of God only Luk 4.11.20 Isa. 8.20 Act. 26.22 Reasons hereof are first God so requireth and commandeth Ioh. 4. Isa. 8.20 Ier. 2. Secondly the word of God is for all and in all points that concernes faith and good life of and in it selfe perfectly sufficient 2. Tim. 3.16 and 17. so that it neither admitteth addition nor detraction Thirdly we haue for our light and direction the continuall practise of all the Prophets and men of God in the olde Testament and of Christ the Apostles and Euangelists in the new Fourthly the often and vnsauorie and vnfruitfull blending and addition of humaine vanities doth but darken and diminish the power puritie and efficacie of Gods word Vse 1. Hereby are condemned first the Papists that will not admitte and allow the Scripture to bee the sole and all sufficient rule and touch-stone of Doctrine and faith but adde and equall to it their decretalls traditions c. Secondly the hearers must take heed how and what they heare they must try the spirits and doctrines by the touch-stone of Gods word spirit and then retaine the good and if ought be dissonant from the sacred scripture they must refuse and reiect it The Deliuerer shall come out of Sion Christ the Redeemer Seeing that the Iewes and so all we Gentiles haue need off and haue giuen vnto vs of God not onely for our temporall but especially for our eternall deliuerance and saluation a Deliuerer and a Redeemer we see what wretched and miserable sinners we are by nature children of wrath lost sheepe Math. 15.24 Vassals captiues and slaues vnder sinne and Sathan Luke 4. V. 18. Lying and liuing in the shadow and point of death Ephes. 2.2 and for feare of the second or eternall death al our life subiect to bondage Hebr. 2.15 The reason hereof is for that all men without this Deliuerer and Redeemer to omit their temporall miseries and malladies are in farre worser estate then any brute beast or vgly toad or any other vilde creature for when it dieth his life and woe endeth together with it but the death of man without a Redeemer and without faith in him is but the beginning of vncessant and euerlasting terror and torment Vse Let vs labour to feele and finde our selues to bee thus wretched and miserable and acknowledge that without Christ his suffering and obedience we euerlastingly perish we must from a touched heart acknowledge that shame and confusion belongeth vnto vs that of sinners we are the greatest and therefore wee must intreate the Lord to be merciful vnto vs to receiue vs into his grace and fauour And therefore it standeth vs in hand carefully to labour and endeauour that Sathan doe not fore-stall bewitch and possesse our hearts with his deceites and illusions and so take all sense of our miseries from vs wherein they must needes pine and perish that seeke any other by-waies or shifting euasions Vse 2. Wee must in time seeke vnto Christ onely for helpe for pardon of sinnes and for saluation he hath eternall life in himselfe and is author of eternall saluation to all that obey him and for our better direction herein we must craue and desire the instructions aduise and assistance not only of our pastors and ministers but also of our Christian and beloued friends and acquaintance And shall turne away desections and vngodlinesse from Iacob It is the proper office of Christ Iesus to reconcile the reuolting Iewes and by consequence all the elect in the world to God his Father 1 Ioh. 2.1 and 2. Râ—m 5.8.9.10 Ioh. 1.29 Act. 4.12 The forme and manner is by his death and passion to make payment and satisfaction to Gods iustice for their sinnes 1 Ioh. 1.7 1. Pet. 1.18 Secondly by not imputing sinne vnto his elect and by imputing his owne righteousnesse vnto them 2. Cor. 5. ver 21. Thirdly by abating and weakning the multitude and might of sin in them by the power of his word and efficacy of his spirit Rom. 6. ver 3 4.5.6 Lastly by quite abolishing and remouing them at the houre of death and at the day of iudgment Apoc. 14.13 Hebr. 9. ver 28. Act. 3.19 The reason hereof as he is the blessed seed in whom all nations are blessed he is the roote and foundation on which all Gods promises depend and in whom they are yea and Amen Finally God hath sanctified sent and sealed him alone to be Sauiour Mediator of the world Vse 1. Therefore we must seeke for saluation in none els but in Christ in his only merits righteousnes sufferings for he alone trod downe the wine-presse of Gods wrath and by his death and obedience made satisfaction to his diuine iustice And this is my couenant to them Gods couenant with his people is certaine sure perpetual and alwaies kept on Gods part Act. 3.15 It is the foundation of saluation The reason hereof is because it is ratified and confirmed by Christ his death as no humaine couenant can be for they only last whiles the parties liue Secondly it is in time sealed in the hearts of Gods children by faith Ephe. 1.13 as also renewed and confirmed by
hath giuen to him first i. Who hath bestowed any benefit or blessing vppon God and so hath made him a debpter vnto him and he shal be recompensed .i. he will repay and requite him For of him and from him are al things they haue their being and beginning from god and through him al things are adiministred and gouerned by him and for him .i. they are created and ordained to set forth his glorie To him be glory for euer Amen .i. Let al humaine and worldly glorie cease vanish away and let al the glory of goodnes mercy wisdome and iustice bee ascribed onely vnto God of vs and of al creatures for euer Amen I beleeue it shall bee so and I pray that it may bee so Ques How vnsearchable are Gods iudgements Ans. If Gods waies and iudgements be vnsearchable why are wee commanded to search the Scriptures or the Israelites taxed and reproued for being ignorant of Gods waies Ioh. 5. v. 38. Psal. 95. v. 10. Math. 22. v 29. Gods waies and iudgements in this place are taken for his secret will which hee reserueth to him-selfe and which no man is to inquire into for it is bottomelesse gulfe and will drowne them and a flame that may not be come vnto but wil burne them it is the Arke that may not be looked into But for his reuealed will which he hath manifested in Scripture all sorts of people are commanded to search learne and know prouided that they keepe them within the boundes of sobrietie and do not measure misticall and supernaturall things by the scantling and shallownesse and humaine reason Who hath knowne the mind of the Lord Ob. In the knowledge of God consisteth mans saluation therefore God hath reuealed it vnto men and to Prophets and Apostles especially A. First indeed in the knowledge of Gods reuealed will consisteth mans saluation and this euery man is commanded and bound to know for here we haue whatsoeuer serueth for our instruction but for hidden thinges and these which God hath not reuealed whereof the Apostle speaketh we cannot know but by the euent neither must we desire it but conteyne our selues within the limites and lists of Gods word Secondly if it were granted as it must not that the Apostle spake here of misteries secrecies conteyned in the Scripture we answer that no mortall man can by his owne sence reason vnderstand them for it iudgeth falsly and preposterously of them 1. Cor. 2.14 therefore wee must reuerently and soberly follow the direction guidance of Gods good spirit Thirdly the godly by the illumination teaching of gods spirit vnderstand al things that are simply necessary for their saluation Lastly albeit the regenerate know the minde of the Lord and his reuealed will in holy scriptures yet but by degrees and in part some more some lesse according to their 〈…〉 mortification c. Q. How can we or why are we commanded to giue and ascribe glory to God seeing that we can by our praises adde nothing to his renowne and perfection An. Albeit we cannot adde any thing to Gods nature and perfection and glory yet we are bound by his commandment and it is our duty to acknowledge him to be as he is and as he hath reuealed himself in holy scripture viz. most holy perfect and glorious Secondly we must shew forth testifie and declare his name nature attributes and workes vnto men that they hereby may be enformed better of him and stirred vp to glorifie him and thus we hallow and sanctifie Gods name O the deepnesse of the riches both of the wisdome and knowledge of God! It is proper to the Godly and their office and 〈◊〉 to thinke speake and consider of yea to admire the wâ—rkes counsailes of God and to brast forth into holy exclamations and to stir and exite others so to do Psal. 8. v. Psal. 92. ver 5. Psal. 119. ver 18. Psal. 46. v. 7. Cant. 5. a verse 10. ad 17. The reason hereof is they alone being taught of God know aboue al other persons the incomparable excellency and order of them and therefore for skill know best how and how farre to iudge of them Secondly they must be instruments and trumpets to sound and proclaime the praises and wonders of the Lord for the satisfaction of their owne consciences and to affect and gaine others so to do Vse 1. Let ministers especially and also others labour and striue to affect possesse others with the rarenesse excelency admirablenes of Gods workes and proceedings for so did Dauid in many places Psa. 48. v. 2.3.4.5.6 Psa. 8. v. 1. Vse 2. As oft as our reason is offended with the doctrine depth of predestination albeit so euidently and expresly set forth in scripture let vs renounce reason and giue glory vnto God and with most humble reuerence admire that deepe wisdome which with the eye of our vnderstanding we cannot pierce into Thus did Christ. Math. 11.25.26 3. Vse It serueth to condemne and argue all that repine at murmure at reprehend gods proceedings and especially in the decree and matter of reprobation whereas Gods is most wise iust and of absolute power and authoritie and therefore alwaies doth and cannot but order rule and dispose of all things rightly albeit our weake apprehension cannot attaine vnto the reason of it The wisdome and knowledge of God The doctrine that we learne hence is that God being most wise and knowing all things doth not onely see and contemplate them as they are or may be but doth contriue them with singular reason and counsell and dispose them in most goodly forme waight number and measure so that nothing in his workes may seeme to be wanting or disordered nothing superfluous or ouer much but all in an excellent temper and symetry And hence God is sayd to be wise in heart Iob. 9.4 nay only wise Rom. 16.27 1. Tim. 1.17 For he alone by himselfe is infinitely wise needing no mans instruction or information Isa. 40. ver 12 13 14. Pro. 8.12 Iob. 28. cap. â—3 c. Now this wisdome of God shineth forth chiefely in the principall workes of God namely in the creation preseruation and gouernment of the world in the gouerning ordering of man-kinde Ier. 51.15 Isa. 40.28 But most euidently in the predestination of men and in the wonderfull manner of euerlasting saluation purchased by Christ. Eph. 3. v. 10. in so much that the very Angells desire throughly to behold it 1. Pet. 1.12 Vse 1. Here are iustly condemned those men that mutter and murmur against Gods proceedings find fault with and condeme any worke or iudgment of God as though it were not wisely ordained but wee must reuerence adore and admire his excellent wisdome appearing in them and especially in the mistery of eternall saluation euen then when our blind and vnperfect reason espieth and perceiueth no reason of it Touching the misteries conteined in Gods reuealed will let vs by humble and