So hee but by his Word commandeth and all standeth fast And this his Word is nothing else but his powerful Will ordaining things to bee and continue and powerfully making them so to bee and continue so long as hee will 4. Christ by himself purged our sins To wit by bearing our sins upon his body on the Tree 1 Pet. 2.4 Then 1. Our sins are filthiness that must bee purged 2. The satisfactory cleansing of our sins is not a thing to bee done by mens meritorious doings or sufferings but already done and ended by Christ before hee ascended and that by himself alone all creatures being secluded 3. Hee that upholdeth all things by the Word of his own Power and hee that purged our sins by his own Blood is but one self-same Person God and Man is He in one Person 5. Christ sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high That is when Christ had cleansed our sins by his death hee ascended to Heaven and possessed himself as Man in the fellowship of the same Glory which as God hee had before the World was Joh. 17.4 5. Then 1. The Son is joyned in the fellowship of the same Glory with the Father as well in his Manhead after his Resurrection as in his Godhead before his Incarnation For though the glory of Christs Godhead was hid for a while by the sufferings of his Manhead yet was it not abolished nor in it self abated thereby but the Manhead first assumed unto the unity of Person with the Godhead that our Ransome might bee rich and then to the union of the same Glory that the Redeemer after the Ransomes paying might bee altogether glorious 2. Seeing hee that hath cleansed our sins is so glorious a Person all the means of his cleansing us how base soever such as were his Hunger and Thirst his Poverty and Weakness his shameful and painful Death should bee glorious in our eyes also 3. Majesty and Magnificence and Grandeur properly so called is the Lords The highest excellencies of the creature are but sparks of his Majesty and weak resemblances onely albeit their earthly glory often hold mens eyes so as they forget the Lords Greatness Vers. 4. Being made so much bâ—tter than the Angels as hee hath by Inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they 1. Hee proveth Christ to bee greater than the Angels because his Name is more excellent than theirs For they are called Angels and hee Gods Son which hee is said to have by inheritance as due to him both as God by eternal Generation and as Man by assumption of our Nature in unity of one person according to which hee is not the adopted but natural Son of God Filius natus non filius factus Then God giveth not idle titles as God calleth things so they are or are made to be Christ as God is called Gods Son because by eternal Generation hee is so as Man hee is called Gods Son because by assumption of the humane nature unto the personal union of his Godhead hee is made so to be 2. As far as Sonship is above servile imployment so far is Christ more excellent than the Angels Vers. 5. For unto which of the Angels said hee at any time Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee And again I will be to him a Father and hee shall be to mee a Son 1. Hee proveth this point by Scripture Psal. 2.7 2 Sam. 7.19 and putteth them to improbation of his Doctrine by Scripture if they could Then 1. In the Primitive Church in matters of Religion all Authority was silent and Divine Scripture spake and determined questioned points of Truth 2. The Apostle counted it sufficient to bring Scripture for his Doctrine and permitteth no impugning of it but by Scripture 2. Onely of Christ saith God I have begotten thee Then 1. Howsoever God hath many Sons by Creation by Office by Grace and Adoption yet a Son by Generation a native Son hath hee none but Christ. 2. Christ is of the same Nature and Essence with the Father consubstantial with him because begotten of him in himself without beginning the Son being eternally in the Father and the Father eternally in the Son of the self-same Nature and God-head 3. This day have I begotten thee Being understood of Christ according to his God-head signifieth the Fathers timeless eternal perpetual constant and present Generation of his Son in himself being understood according to his state in his Man-head it signifieth the Fathers bringing forth of the Son to the knowledge of the World and declaring him to bee the Son of God with power by his Resurrection from the dead Rom. 1.4 These places it is true were spoken of David and Solomon as Types of Christ typically in a slender resemblance Psal. 2.7 and 2 Sam 7.19 But the body of the Truth aimed at and signified was Christ resembled by them as here wee see Whence wee learn that typical speeches in Scripture have not their perfect meaning neither can be fully expounded nor truly understood till they be drawn to Christ in whom they have their accomplishment and of whom they mean to speak under the name of the Types And therefore neither could the old Church of the Jews nor can wee get comfort in any of them till Christ in whom all the Promises are Yea and Amen be found included in them Vers. 6. And again when hee bringeth in the first begotten into the world Hee saith And let all the Angels of God worship him 1. Hee saith that is the Father saith Psal. 97.7 Then The Scripture which elsewhere is called the Speech of the Holy Ghost is also the speech of the Father 2. Hee bringeth in his first begotten into the World Then 1. The Father is the Author of Christs Incarnation and of his Kingdome amongst Men and of Divine Glory given to him in his Kingdome 2. Christ is the Fathers first begotten both for the eternity of his Person begotten without beginning before the world was and for the excellency of his Person being more glorious than all Angels or Men which get the name of Children either by Creation or Adoption 3. The Father commandeth Let all the Angels of God adore Him Then 1. The Father communicateth to Christ as his own Nature and God-head by Generation so also his own Glory by commanding the creatures to adore him 2. What the creatures adore they acknowledge by adoration to be God so God esteemeth 3. And Christ is the Angels God because they must adore Him Vers. 7. And of the Angels Hee saith Who maketh His Angels Spirits and His Ministers a flame of fire Hee maketh his Angels Spirits c. Psal. 104.5 Then 1. God made not the Angels to get any part of Christs room in the Churches worship but to serve Christ as lowly as any of the meanest creatures 2. And the Angels indeed are as ready to do so and as swift and active in their service as the Winds and fire-slaughts
manner is justified asserted and defended by all her Children This is that Wisdome from above which every where is diffused through the Holy Scriptures in the thrice seven Apostolick Epistles more than twenty times drawn into a Compendium and is fitted to the present use of the Children of Light I have sent abroad an Explication of these Epistles Noble Hero that I with my fellow-Ministers who have dedicated their labours to your honour might perform some portion of that gratitude which long since the Reformed Church of Scotland is indebted to your most Illustrious family And yet it is more obliged to your self who have not onely revived the glory of your famous Progenitors by your studious indeâ—vours in the reforming Religion but also the seven â—ast years even with the manifold hazzards of your life and fortunes you have much advanced it having undergone tâ—ose difficulties which would have altogether exhausted the strength and courage of meaner persons The University of Glasco is indebted to you this honour to which you have committed the education of your noble Sons inlarging it in the number of its professors of Divinity most chiefly with the Delegates of the National Synod by your Presence Counsel and Authority once and again you have been helpful to them And here because it concerns my self it 's fitting I should own it which you may record as a debt that may bee required of mee by whose Authority amongst the chief Delegates of the Synod I was advanced to the Chair of Divinity Professor the task injoyned was to open the scope of difficult places of Scripture to younger students Wherefore after an Autumn or two equal it is that you should receive some fruit for that your seeds-time in the University both from it and namely from my self But this our smaller Offering bears no proportion with your Merits whose admirable Prâ—wess both in peace and war constancy and fidelity in all conditions which by no temptations on the right hand or on the left to this very day could bee taken off from promoting the Civil and Ecclesiastick Republick hath in all Delegations as well Ecclesiastick as Politick rendred the name of the Marquess of Argile both to the States of the Kingdome as also to the Synods of the Nation most acceptable and renowned Neither could the envy or obloquy of open enemies or of friends less faithful to the Church and Commonwealth who with their adhaerents unskilful Judges of matters are wont to inveigh against none but those that deserve best of the Commonwealth either take away or cast a cloud before equal Arbitrators upon that honour which virtue merited the Council of the Kingdome and the National Synods have conferred I have also mentioned your name Illustrious Hero born of most Noble Parentage promising the fairest hopes because it is equal that you should participate of your Fathers honour as you are heir to his inheritance Your Name prefixed to this Apostolical Doctrine may it bee an Argument and an incitation to you more firmly to imbrace the Wisdome and the Virtue of Christ. Imitating your Father follow that way wherein this doctrine is compendiously contained to the prosecution of solid felicity that One thing necessary Finally that this conjunction of your names may make you zealous after your Fathers and Grand-Fathers virtue according to that hope which the ripeness of your ingenuity hath begotten in us all who observe that virtuous disposition in you ascending to great things which wee earnestly desire that the antient renown of your family may bee continued and greatned in your self Your Honours Servant in Christ Iesus DAVID DICKSON To the Reader ALL Sciences have their introductions and rudimentary Preparatives by which the learner may bee fitted and instructed to a farther and more researched knowledge of things All Noble families have their Porters to open unto their Visitors and courteously to conduct them from the Gate to the Parlour I doubt not Candid Reader but to find thee of my judgement that the explication of the Scriptures should have its Introduction too and the Learned and therefore Noble Family of Commentators their Ostiaries and Ianitors Now that I might become a Servant in this Family and shew my officiousness to give entrance unto the Suters of the holy Ministery whereby they may have access unto the richer Providores in Gods Family I have taken up my standing at the threshold of the house of God 'T is well known in the Schools in how little time how many and great volumes are to be read how many facilitating and perasceuastical exercises young Clients to Divinity must run thorow and in apportionating either of daies or hours to the several sorts of studies how little time is spent in reading the Holy Scriptures to get a right understanding of which ought to bee the chief labour of all men especially of those that would hear the Lord himself speaking that they may beleeve and that what they beleeve as the Oracles of God they may publickly preach Hee that shall conduce what hee can to the furtherance of such Noble Bereans Scripture-Disciples I le bee his warrant hee shall not lose his labour For their sakes that are students in Theology by the authority of the National Synods Delegates I made in my publick Lectures an Analytical Exposition of all the Apostolick Epistles and those Lectures though somewhat rude I committed to the Press that I might spare many's labour of transcribing them and I purposed candidly to give you an account of my intent therein to the end that I might render thee more equitable to mee in thy censure of mee For younger Students for whom the reading of the Scriptures is necessary but the perusing of larger Commentaries is impossible according to my duty I was to set forth an Explication of the main scope of the Text and of the obscurer words and harder sentences and of their coherence one with another and also with the principal scope now here was need of an Analysis Glosses and some Exposition or Paraphrase which might bee instead of an Exposition Brevity was so necessary for the intended Introduction that it would have been better never to have undertaken it than not to have made it short for if there had been no hope of brevity it had never been at all Now to the brevity of the Explication perspicuity was also necessary lest a trussing together of many things in few words should intangle the Reader That I might therefore obtain my designed end I have pack'd the Analysis and Commentaries and Exposition or Paraphrase altogether every one of which could not singly bee disposed of without great tediousness But whether or no or in what measure I have effected what I aimed at bee thou thy self Iudge when having compared the Explication with the Text thou shalt see how each thing hath reference to other Onely know thus much that I could with a great deal less labour have made my Explication longer than so short as it is I
The Pontificians are not ashamed to confess these and many other of the like sort concerning their Bishops and publickly in their writings so that there is no further need to enquire who hee is that sits Antichrist in the Temple or in the Visible Church as to his Title when wee know that the name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may signifie two things according to the various acceptation of the Preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viz. the Vicar of Christ and the Adversary of Christ and wee hear the Pope of Rome boasting himself Antichrist in one of these significations i. e. professing himself the Vicar of Christ but in the mean while wee apprehend the same as it were in the very act openly affirming himself to bee amongst Christians that hee is neither subject to Civil nor Ecclesiastical Laws but without blushing to profess himself above them And whereas now it is manifest to the world that the authority of the Pope of Rome is by himself and by his attendants extolled above Scripture or divine Laws as to the constitution of the Canon determination of the sense judgement and deciding of controversies dispensatian as it is called about divine commands c. shall wee doubt who hee is that sits lawless in the Temple of God or amongst the Professors of Christian Religion As to what concerns the second or the possession of his Kingdome Antichrist shall not possess his Kingdome without war Christ shall fight against him with the sword of his mouth i. e. by preaching of the Truth revealed in the Gospel and by the power of his Spirit concurring with the Word As to the third touching the end of Antichrists Kingdome or the issue of his War and Kingdome Christ will detect and confute the lyes of Antichrist the deceits wickednesses tyranny false interpretations and allegations of Scriptures and will by degrees demolish consume and waste his Kingdome and at length will destroy and abolish it by the illustrious manifestation of his comming to the last general judgement Vers. 9. Even him whose comming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders Artic. 6. Wherein hee resumes and furthermore describes the rise and progress of Antichrist his arms arts and helps wherewith hee will acquire his Kingdome and as much as hee can will uphold it The first help is Satan who will with his manifold crafts instruct Antichrist and by him hee will strongly put forth his effectual power in the whole time of Antichrists dominion Signs Help 2. His faculty of dissimulation or power of setting forth some miracles with deceitful signs and wonders used for the confirmation of their false opinions In the Popish Legends as they are called thou mayest read a thousand such Vers. 10. And with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the Truth that they might bee saved Help 3. All deceiveableness of unrighteousness or all unjust or fraudulent deceit such are false counterfeit or fawning Doctrines sophistical disputations the inticements of riches honours or dignities of this world together with threatnings and terrors the top and height of which deceit will bee in him because hee will not openly or directly fight against Christ but hee will set upon the matter secretly and in an hidden manner counterfeiting himself to act the cause of Christ when as much as hee can hee subverts it Because Artic. 7. Touching the subjects of Antichrist and their perdition and the causes thereof The retinue of Antichrist properly called his houshold and familiars are described to bee such as with obstinate minds stubbornly cleave unto him even to the end and in whom the Devil is very effectual 1 From the property of Reprobates They perish they are of the number of those that perish 2 From the meritorious cause of their perdition because they receive not the Truth offered in the Word of God with love that they might bee saved Vers. 11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeve a lye They are described 3 From the most just revenge of the Judge upon them punishing sin with sin and delivering them to bee blinded by the Devil that they which have refused to behold light and have renounced divine truth should beleeve errors and delusions the devices of men most gross fables and lyes and so should perish Vers. 12. That they all might bee damned who beleeved not the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness They are described 4 From their last condition and from the meritorious cause of their condemnation They shall bee all eternally damned at that last judgement because they have not beleeved the plain truth of God laid open in the Gospel but with a full will have most unrighteously rested in the belief of lyes and obedience to their carnal desires And this is the issue of them who obstinately cleave to the Bishop of Rome and his errours fore-told by the Spirit of God The Second Part. Vers. 13. But wee are bound to give thanks alway to God for you Brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth The other part of the Chapter follows wherein hee confirms three waies the Faith of the Thessalonians lest they should bee moved by this sad Prophecy 1 By thanksgiving in their behalf 2 By an exhortation of them to constancy and 3 By prayer for them As for the first way in their thanksgiving hee produces three Arguments for the confirmation of their Faith Brethren beloved Arg. 1. Yee are our Brethren comprehended with the same love of God with us Therefore yee need not fear perishing with the Antichristian sect Chosen Arg. 2. In his decree touching the end and saving means God hath chosen you that yee may obtain salvation through Faith and Sanctification by the Holy Ghost as by means whereby yee may attain salvation freely appointed for you Therefore c. Vers. 14. Whereunto hee called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the Glory of the Lord Iesus Christ. Arg. 3. God hath now effectually called you through the Gospel preached by mee that yee may obtain glory purchased by Christ Therefore there is no reason that yee should bee moved by this sad Prophecy Vers. 15. Therefore Brethren stand fast and hold the traditions which yee have been taught whether by word or our Epistle The second way of confirming their Faith By an exhortation to constancy in the Faith that they stand fast and strongly maintain the traditions or the Doctrines delivered to them by the Apostles against all enemies which Doctrines they had learnt either by voice whilst Paul was present or by writing as they had received in the former and this Epistle and in other Scriptures Vers. 16. Now our Lord Iesus Christ himself and God even our Father which hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good
the true Preachers of the Gospel suffer the same from these Impostors which Moses and Aaron suffered from the Magicians of Egypt under Pharaoh whose names the Apostle having learned by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost sets them down to their perpetual disgrace and a 〈◊〉 unto others The Truth Arg. 2. Because this sort of men are adversaries unto the Truth and true Pastors because of the Truth Of corrupt Arg. 3. Because seeing they are of corrupt minds such as have their judgements depraved with corrupt affections and reprobate concerning the Faith who by the obstinacy of their minds and the corruption of their judgements have debarred themselves of the sound Doctrine of Faith true Pastors ought the less to regard their judgements and opinions Vers. 9. But they shall proceed no further for their folly shall bee manifest unto all men as theirs also was Argum. 4. Specially looking to those Impostors in whom hee had instanced Because they shall not any further carry on their designs undiscovered to the Church nor shall so proceed as to deceive all by their hypocrisie as if they were Orthodox as they had done heretofore For the Apostle had determined to manifest their folly unto all by fastning upon them the mark of Excommunication Vers. 10. But thou hast fully known my Doctrine manner of life purpose faith long-suffering charity patience 11. Persecutions afflictions which came unto mee at Antioch at Iconium at Lystra what persecutions I indured but out of them all the Lord delivered mee Argum. 5. Because hee had Paul for a lively and familiar example 1 Of the vertues that are required in a Pastor in Doctrine Life and those four special vertues which hee reckons up 2 In persecutions which hee underwent in three places which hee names for the defence of the Gospel 3 In the happy issue and deliverance from all those troubles through the grace of God Vers. 12. Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution Arg. 6. Because it is the common lot not onely of Pastors but of all Christians to suffer afflictions and persecutions for the Gospels sake Vers. 13. But evil men and seducers shall waxe worse and worse deceiving and being deceived Arg. 7. Because it cannot bee avoided but obstinate Impostors and false brethren will waxe worse and worse and will bring themselves and others to destruction by their errors which it concerned Timothy to know and consider of that he trouble not himself too much about it but reverence the deep judgements of God and comfort himself Vers. 14. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them Arg. 8. Propounded by way of Exhortation Because it concerned him onely to discharge his duty faithfully and according to his utmost ability to defend the Doctrine of the Gospel which was committed to him Knowing Arg. 9. Confirming the former Because hee was sufficiently instructed in the truth of the heavenly Doctrine by the Apostle of Christ whom hee knew to bee an approved Apostle Vers. 15. And that from a childe thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Iesus Arg. 10. Confirming the former Exhortation propounded in the former verse and proving also the Proposition The Doctrine which thou hast learned of mee and which is now committed to thee to defend is agreeable to the Doctrine of the holy Scripture and the Prophets Therefore continue thou in these things bee thou stablished in the truth and comforted Which are able Hee inlarges this Argument from these five Considerations 1 I know thou hast been brought up and conversant in the Scriptures from a childe 2 The Scripture is able to furnish thee with saving wisdome which consists in the knowledge and faith of Jesus Christ. Vers. 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness 3 All Scripture is given by inspiration therefore it is of Divine Authority 4 All Scripture tends to the teaching those things that are true and reproving the things that are false in matters belonging to faith and the correction of evil manners and instruction in things that are good Vers. 17. That the man of God may bee perfect throughly furnished unto all good works 5 Lastly The Scripture can make the man of God or the Pastor of the Church perfectly meet to all the parts of his Office and to every good work which God requires from him whether to the saving himself or others and the glory of God Therefore continue thou in those things which thou hast learned of mee according to the Scripture seeing thou hast the Scripture near thee as a Treasury from whence thou mayest fetch whatever may make thee perfect and fully render thee compleat to every good work CHAP. IV. THere are two parts of the Chapter In the firsts as if hee made his will hee most gravely exhorts Timothy that hee faithfully discharge his office to vers 9. In the second part after hee hath treated about private matters which concerned himself and Timothy hee concludes the Epistle Vers. 1. I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Iesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdome Hee premises to his Exhortation about the discharge of his Office a grave obtestation wherein hee sets before the eyes of Timothy 1. The Majesty of God 2. The Lord Jesus Christ. 3. The Judgement seat of Christ before whom hee was to give an account of his Ministry with others to bee judged in that last day 4. That glory of Christ which will shew forth it self at his illustrious appearance and the full manifestation of his Kingdome Vers. 2. Preach the word bee instant in season out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine The Exhortation it self in which hee requires five duties 1 Diligence in preaching 2 Striving against all impediments 3 That hee do not onely take all occasions to preach which may consist not onely with his own convenience and the leasure of the sloathful people but that hee stir up himself sparing no pains and as it were with his hand restrain the people busied about the vain imployments of the world earnestly exhorting all to seek after that which is mainly necessary 4 That hee leave no means unattempted in exhorting the people that they make progress in the faith and obedience of Christ not onely preaching true Doctrine and reproving that which is false but also reproving and correcting their evil conversations and exhorting them to live holily justly and soberly 5 That hee mix his reproofs with zeal and fervency and season them with gentleness and that he back his confutations of errours with sound Doctrine that his labour may not bee in vain Vers. 3. For the time will come when they will not indure sound
his eternal Generation of the Father hee hath this Prerogative 3. The Church is Christs own House and hee may dispose of it and of the service thereof as pleaseth him Men who are but servants must change none of the Ordinances of Gods worship in it But Christ â—ay change the Ordinances of his own worship and therefore alter the Ordinances of Levi and appoint a more simple form of external worship in place thereof 2. Hee expoundeth this House to be the company of true Beleevers Then 1. The Church of God under the Law and under the Gospel are one Church one house of God in substance and all the faithfull then and now lively stones of this house 2. The Church have God dwelling and conversing and familiarly manifesting himself amongst them 3. Hee addeth to a condition If wee hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end That is If wee continue stedfast in the Faith inwardly griping the promised glory by hope and outwardly avowing by confession Christs truth whereby hee neither importeth the possibility of final Apostacy of the Saints nor yet mindeth hee to weaken the confidence of Beleevers more than hee doubteth of his own perseverance or mindeth to weaken his own Faith for hee joyneth himself with them saying If wee hold fast But writing to the number of the visible Church of whom some not being sound might fall away and by their example make some weak ones though sound stumble for a time to the dishonour of the Gospel hee putteth a difference betwixt true Beleevers who do indeed persevere and time-servers who do not persevere to whom hee doth not grant for the present the Priviledge of being Gods House This conditional speech then importeth 1. That some Professors in the visible Church may make defection and not persevere to the end 2. That such as shall make final defection hereafter are not a part of Gods house for the present howsoever they be esteemed 3. That true Beleevers must take warning from the possibility of some Professors Apostacy to look the better to themselves and to take a better gripe of Christ who is able to keep them 4. That true Beleevers both may and should hold fast their confidence unto the end yea and must aim to do so if they would persevere 5. That true Beleevers have ground and warrant in the promises of the Gospel both to hope for salvation and to rejoyce and glory in that hope as if it were present possession 6. That the more a man aimeth at this solid confidence and gloriation of hope the more evidence hee giveth that hee is of the true house of God Vers. 7. Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith To day if yee will hear his voice 1. In the words of the Psalm 95. vers 9. hee exhorteth them to beware of hardening their hearts in unbelief The words of the Psalm are called here The saying of the holy Ghost and of the God of Israel 2 Sam. 23. 2 3. Then 1. The authority of the Scripture is not of man but of the Holy Ghost 2. The Scriptures are no dumb letter but the voice of the holy Ghost who by them speaketh 3. The Holy Ghost is God the inspirer of the Prophets that wrote the Scripture 4. The Holy Ghost is a distinct person of the God-head from the Father and the Son exercising the proper actions of a person inspiring the Prophets inditing the Scriptures and speaking to the Church 2. In the words of the Exhortation To day if yee will hear his voice harden not your hearts Observe 1. That while men have the offer of salvation and the word preached unto them it is their day 2. That by the outward hearing God requireth the heart to be brought down and mollified 3. That hee requireth presenâ— yeelding To day while hee calleth without delay because wee cannot be sure how long God will spare or continue his offer beyond this present 4. Hee that studieth not to yeeld his heart to beleeve and obey Gods word sounding in his ears hardeneth his heart For what is it else not to harden their heart but heartily to beleeve and give obedience Vers. 8. Harden not your hearts as in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness 9. When your Fathers tempted mee proved mee and saw my works forty years Hee proveth the danger of this sin in the example of their Fathers As in the day of provocation when your Fathers tempted mee Exod. 17.7 whence wee learn 1. That the evil of sin is not seen till the consequences thereof be seen what provocation it giveth to God and what wrath it draweth down on the sinner 2. It is safest to take a view of our danger by any sin in the person of others who have fallen in the like and have been punished 3. The sins that our Predecessors have been given unto wee should most carefully watch against 4. That Gods Bounty Patience and Means of Grace the longer they be abused aggravateth sin the more Vers. 10. Wherefore I was grieved with that Generation and said They do alway erre in their hearts and they have not known My Waies God pronounceth the Offenders guilty and then giveth Sentence of Doom upon them for their guiltiness They erre in heart saith the Lord. Then 1. Mis-beleeving and disobeying of the Word preached is not reckoned with God for simple ignorance of the mind but for a wilful ignorance and erring of the heart which is worse For the ignorance of the mind simply is I know not but the errour of the heart is I will not know I care not I desire not I love not to know nor obey And such is the ignorance of those who have the Means of Knowledge and Reformation and yet remain in their sins 2. Such obstinate ignorance and wilful disobedience provoketh God to cast away the Sinner and not to deal any more with him Vers. 11. So I sware in My Wrath They shall not enter into My Rest. For their Doom God debarreth them from His Rest That is from all the Comforts of His Fellowship and giveth them Torment in stead of Rest. Then 1. Obstinate Disobedients of the Voice of the Gospel lye near hand final off-cutting 2. If God give over a man to such hardness of heart as still to work contrary to the light of Gods Word Hee hath apparently denounced and sworn to condemn and seclude from Heaven such a Soul 3. It is onely such obstinate ones as go on hardening their heart against Admonitions of the Word that God hath sworn to debar If a man bee found mourning for his former obstinacy the Decree is not gone forth against him Vers. 12. Take heed Brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbeleef in departing from the Living God 1. From the former Example hee warneth them to beware of an evil heart of unbeleef and so to eschew Apostacy Then 1. Mis-beleef is the main Root of Apostacy
Christ. The Arguments of the Exhortation are fourteen all which prove that wee ought to endeavour after these virtues joyntly Argum. 1. If you have obeyed the Exhortation endeavouring both to have these virtues and to abouâ—d in them yee will prove that your Faith or the knowledge of Christ in you is not idle or unfruitful but efficacious which makes you ready to every good work Therefore yee ought to obey Vers. 9. But hee that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see far off and hath forgotten that hee was purged from his old sins Argum. 2. If yee were destitute of these virtues you will declare that you see nothing afarre off but that you are onely intent upon the things of this world but blind in divine and spiritual things and unthankful towards God by whom yee confess your former sins are pardoned Therefore yee ought to endeavour after these virtues Vers. 10. Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if you do these things yee shall never fall Argum. 3. With the Exhortation repeated By endeavouring after these virtues yee will prove your selves to be effectually called and elected and will solidly confirm your selves in this perswasion Therefore follow after these virtues For these Argum. 4. If you follow after these virtues yee shall be preserved from Apostacy or falling back neither will yee yeeld to temptations Therefore yee ought to follow after these Vers. 11. For so an entrance shall be ministred unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ. Argum. 5. So a more abundant entrance into the eternal Kingdome of Christ shall be administred unto you i. e. happiness and that life eternal shall more largely open and unfold it self to you that yee may more freely and abundantly peirce into the inward parts of his Kingdome and enjoy the sense of that life in a more abundant measure Therefore follow after these virtues Vers. 12. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you alwaies in remembrance of these things though yee know them and be stablished in the present Truth Argum. 6. Preventing an Objection Although yee are established in the present Truth yet I being an Apostle have now thought out of a desire of your proficiency it necessary to exhort you which yee should in no wise reject Therefore c. Vers. 13. Yea I think it meet as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stir you up by putting you in remembrance Argum. 7. Justice it self by reason of my Apostolical office requires that I excite you to holiness by exhortations and admonitions of this sort so long as I live Therefore be yee obedient Vers. 14. Knowing that shortly I must put off this my Tabernacle even as our Lord Iesus Christ hath shewed mee Argum. 8. As the Lord hath foretold I expect after a short time to end my life by a glorious Martyrdome Therefore as it lyes upon mee to exhort you to these virtues so it lies upon you to hearken to my Exhortation Vers. 15. Moreover I will indeavour that you may be able after my decease to have these things alwaies in remembrance Argum. 9. This Exhortation which I have written to you will be profitable to minde you of your duties even after my death Therefore hearken you to my admonitions Vers. 16. For wee have not followed cunningly devised fables when wee made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Iesus Christ but were eye-witnesses of his Majesty Argum. 10. Those things which I have taught you as touching Christs incarnation or his first coming to execute the office of a Redeemer and as touching his divine nature power sufficiency and efficacy to save the people of God are not fables artificially feigned which may be despised or negligently without use and benefit past by but they are serious and certain things Therefore yee ought to hearken to these my admonitions But as those Argum. 11. Yee have been taught by us Apostles both eye and ear-witnesses of the Truth of Christ already demonstrated so that the certainty of this Gospel was so much as were possible to be concerning things done and past For wee Apostles have perceived by our senses the Majesty of Christ to be so great that wee cannot chuse but at the sight bee rapâ— up in an extasie as it is in the history Matthew 17. conconcerning Christs transfiguration Therefore obey my Exhortations Vers. 17. For hee received from God the Father honour and glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Argum. 12. Christ in whose Faith and Obedience wee exhort you to persevere hath by the audible voice of his Father speaking from Heaven received a glorious testimony from the excellent glory of the Father that hee is the Son of God wherein as in a Mediatour and Surety for his redeemed people God is well pleased satisfying himself abundantly in his Mediation and purchase Therefore obey yee diligently this Exhortation Vers. 18. And this voice which came from Heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy Mount Argum. 13. Those things are so holy which appertain to the Kingdome of Christ that the place it self wherein those things were declared which are preached by us was after a manner made holy viz. Because of Gods extraordinary voice and the divine glory of Christ there manifested Therefore with greater reverence yee ought to hearken to our Exhortations Vers. 19. Wee have also a more sure word of Prophecie whereunto yee do well that yee take heed us unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts Argum. 14. The Doctrine concerning Christ in whose Faith and Obedience wee exhort you to persevere is confirmed by the testimony of Scripture or a most firm prophetical word Therefore yee ought studiously to obey my Exhortations Hee staies upon this Exhortation confirming the certainty of prophetical Scripture by seven Reasons More sure Reas. 1. Because compared with other waies of revelation it is a most firm medium without and above exceptions whereto other means of revelation no less clear and true are obnoxious But this reason most especially did prevail with the Hebrews who examined visions and revelations made to the Apostles by the Scripture of the Old Testament For the divine authority of the old Scripture was confirmed in their minds some ages before Of Prophecie Reas. 2. That the testimony of foreseeing future Truth hath more evidence in it self of divine operation than the testimony of him who testifies that which hee hath seen or heard being present For no man could foresee this Truth but a Prophet every Beleever could see the Truth fulfilled Which Reas. 3. Because the word of Prophecy is worthy to be attended to by Beleevers into the sense whereof they might enquire to which truth and authority they might subject their consciences
and which they might apply to the ends and uses whereunto it serves As Reas. 4. Because yee should abide in darkness unless yee attended to the Scriptures which are in themselves and in the faithful as light that shineth in a dark place to direct in all things what and how to be done Until Reas. 5. Because the Sun of Righteousness Jesus Christ will appear at length to those that religiously attend to the Scripture viz. in the glory of the life to come hee will bring with him the perfâ—ct day which shall never have night and the light of the holy Ghost as a morning-star shall arise in their hearts now manifesting one Article of Faith and confirming it as with a seal in the inward senses at another time confirming another Article and so by degrees will illuminate the faithful attenders to the Scripture which illumination of the Spirit because it cannot be perfected in this life and because the day of Christs full presence our Sun will not be but in the life to come Therefore yee ought in all things in the whole course of your lives to attend to the Scripture Vers. 20. Knowing this first that no Prophecie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation Reas. 6. Because wee must firmly hold for a Principle of Faith and for a thing first of all to be beleeved that the Scriptures are not of humane invention but of divine revelation not derived from the mind of the Writer sense or explication but out of the mind sense and explication of God which therefore is not from the explication which men whether few or many invent but from the explication whereof the Spirit of God it self is the Author Vers. 21. For the Prophecie came not in old time by the wil of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Reas. 7. Confirming the former Because in the Scriptures there are Prophecies which cannot be set forth by the wil of man or from the humane sense or affection of the Prophet but of necessity those holy men spake by the instinct of the Holy Ghost who have left to us the divine Oracles sealed in their Writings Therefore it is meer that the Holy Ghost should be interpreter of their words by other places of his Scripture and that the faithful should attend to the Scriptures and compare them with themselves that they may understand the mind of the Holy Ghost CHAP. II. THat they may the better obey the former Exhortations hee admonishes them that they have a care of false teachers which will arise in the Church and were now risen Hee also describes and reproves their manners and vices from whence as from certain marks they may be known and taken heed of Vers. 1. But there were false Prophets also among the people even as there shall bee false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction The marks of false Teachers which also contain the reasons why they ought to bee taken heed of are nine Not that they are all to be seen in some one Heretick but that some of them may be seen in other Hereticks But there were Note 1. Such as in times past the false Prophets were amongst the people of God such shall be the false Teachers in the Church viz. Egregious hypocrites counterfeiting themselves to be true Prophets insinuating themselves into the favour of the people Bring in Note 2. They will craftily bring in damnable heresies and although not expresly yet by consequence or in very deed they will deny Christ at least-wise in some Article of Faith i. e. they will be the betrayers of Christ. The Lord Hee amplifies the crime four waies 1. From this that they will deny the Lord or Master that bought them which is spoken in the language of the Visible Church wherein they were That they would both boast that they were redeemed and also the Church esteemed them so which also in a judicial sense is true whereby whosoever confesseth with his mouth Christ to be his Redeemer and in the mean time denies him in deed being judged out of his own mouth is said to deny the Lord that bought him Because as to the merit of the crime it is as much as if hee was really bought if hee suppose and profess himself bought and yet denies him that bought him Bring 2. Hee amplifies the crime from this that by these heresies they deservedly bring upon themselves swift destruction Vers. 2. And many shall follow their pernicious waies by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of 3. Hee amplifies the crime from this that they will seduce and draw many Disciples with them into destruction By reason of whom 4. From this that they themselves and their followers will both blaspheme the way of truth or the sound Doctrine of the Gospel and give occasion to others to speak contumeliously of it Vers. 3. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make Merchandise of you whose judgement now of a long time lingreth not and their damnation slumbreth not Note 3. Is covetousness which is the root of all evil and for the most part the companion and Mother of all heresies Feigned Note 4. Is a false and feigned speech artificially composed to seduce covering and drawing into errours with a counterfeiting eloquence Shall make Merchandise Note 5. The selling of souls and filthy Merchandise whereby Hereticks will be solicitous to promote their profit nothing regarding the loss of souls Whose Hee apprehends the crime from the damnation and destruction which will swiftly follow them as it was prepared in times past Vers. 4. For if God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgement Hee proves that punishment will follow by a three-fold Example 1. Of the lapsed Angels which if God did not spare but thrust them down from the light of the highest Heaven to the darksome lower places and detains them bound with his powerful hand in misery to be kept unto the last punishment of eternal damnation certainly God will not spare those false Teachers Vers. 5. And spared not the old world but saved Noah the eighth person a Preacher of Righteousness bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly Example 2. Of the old world which if it all justly perished except those seven and Noah a Preacher of Righteousness wholly for whose sake God chiefly saved the rest by the deluge brought upon the world of wicked men certainly those false Teachers shall also perish Vers. 6. And turning the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into Ashes condemned them with an overthrow making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly 7. And delivered just Lot vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked 8. For that righteous man dwelling among them in seeing and hearing