or to the poore or to the Church or to the service of my country or to the conversion of soules c. have I ministred the wit or learning or wealth or power the Lord hath given me Contrariwise it cannot but be wofull to some to remember on their death beds that they have spent their meanes and gifts to promote wicked courses and to procure sinne or to maintaine the riotous or gamesters or whores or dogs or any way their own lusts oh what wil they say when they are asked whom have you clothed fed comforted counselled admonished c. But unto us But why are we honoured thus and not the Prophets The Lord sheweth mercy on whom he will shew mercy I meane it for the manner and time and measure and meanes we must not herein dispute with God yet even this tends wonderfully to the praise of Gods constant love to his Church we see he doth not grow weary of his affection he did not spend all his grace and favour upon Kings Patriarchs and Prophets but he is ready to entertaine even the prodigall sonne of the Gentiles with as hearty or rather more hearty entertainment then ever he did the Jewish children that had not departed out of their fathers houshold Secondly this also shews that extraordinary gifts are not the best for us wee want the gifts of prophesie but to have the glorious grace of Christ is better then all for we see the Prophets desired it more and great reason for one may be a Prophet and yet not be saved Math. 7. but so one cannot have the true grace of Christ but they shall be saved hee is in better case that can pray with the Spirit then he that can prophesie For God is rich to all that call upon him and whosoever calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saved Rom. 10.10 Ioel 2. Besides we may note here that God will not be bound to shew his tenderest kindnesse to his best servants no doubt the Prophets were better servants to God then we are yet you see they must not envie it to know that others shall be more made on then they Finally here is implyed that Gods promises and provisions of grace can never be in vaine If it be not for the Prophets yet it must be for us For so in the originall it is as if it were rendered but yet unto us to note that no word of God shall be in vaine Esay 55.11 They did minister This phrase imports divers things 1. Wee are here againe occasioned to think of a strange depth of respect God beares to the meanest of his children none are too good in his account to doe them service the Prophets must not think scorne to minister to them yea so doth God reckon of them that Kings and Queenes must not be too good to nurse them yea we see here the Angels are desirous to know or doe any thing that concerns them yea the holy Ghost will leave heaven to doe them good Oh the bottomlesse depth of Gods love and oh the barrennesse and shallownesse and unthankfulnesse of mans heart that cannot be more inflamed towards God to render love for love yea wee should be afraid ever to challenge God for want of love we should account it a great offence to call his affection in question the Lord takes it wonderfull ill Esay 49.15 16. 40.26 oh that God should love us so beyond all president all desert yea above all we could desire and yet we be still so slow hearted 2. From this phrase we may note that the greatest in the Church ought to account it their honour to doe service to their brethren It it charged upon all without exception to serve one another by love Gal. 5. and Christ saith of the greatest let him be your servant Mat. 20. The Use is for all of us to search our hearts to see whether we can finde such a noisome pride in our selves as that at any time we should think our selves too good to doe Gods work or to doe service to any of Gods people if we doe find it let us purge it out as vile leaven and be humbled for it before God else the Lord may perhaps finde out waies to shame us and scourge us that we dreame not of 3. This word Minister as it is in the originall excellently imports how we should serve one another For it is to serve as the Deacons did 1. out of conscience of a calling and commandement from God 2. with all diligence 3. constantly 4. cheerfully Rom. 12.5 with all humility making our selves equall with them of the lower sort All this the Deacons did 4. This word imports that spirituall things are from God onely in respect of beginning and as the primary cause For the Prophets doe but minister them They have nothing but that they have received for every good and perfect gift commeth downe from God the Father of lights which should teach us in the use of all meanes to direct our hearts to God The things which were reported unto you These words evidently shew First that the primitive Church was first taught by tradition that is by lively voice not by written Scriptures onely so was Adam so were the Patriarks for the first 2000. yeares 1 Thes. 2.15 But might some one say Doth not this wonderfully make for the Papists in their opinion about traditions No whit at all and that this point may be more fully understood I will shew out of Scripture that the word Tradition hath been taken three waies and then declare particularly that this doctrine can make nothing for the Papists 1. Sometimes by traditions are meant the inventions or precepts of men imposed with opinion of holinesse and necessity upon the consciences of men and so it is taken and taxed Mat. 15.2 3 6. Col. 2.8 2. Sometimes by traditions are meant certaine rules prescribed by the Apostles concerning things indifferent and their use Thus the Corinthians are praised because they kept the traditions as the Apostle delivered them unto them 1 Cor. 11.2 3. Sometimes by traditions are meant certaine orders appointed by the Apostles for the prevention of disorder in manners in the Churches of Christians and thus I take it to be understood 2 Thes. 3.6 when condemning such as would not work he saith they walk disorderly and not after the traditions which ye received of us It seemes the Apostle had prescribed some courses for preventing of idlenesse and such inconveniences 4 Sometimes it is taken for the very word of God delivered by lively voice so the word was delivered 2000. years before the law 5. Sometimes it is taken for the word of God as it was first delivered by the Apostles while the Scriptures was yet unfinished whether it were delivered by report or writings and so 2 Thes. 2.15 1 Cor. 11.23 15.3 According to the fourth sense or this last it is taken here Now this can make nothing for
Apostle here exhorteth and withall we should bring with us faith to beleeve that Godâ— word shall turne to our nourishment Shall we trust nature for the goodnesse of milk and shall we not trust God for the efficacy of his word when he tels us it will nourish like milk And the rather should wee make our recourse with gladnesse to the word because it is so cheap a food we may buy this milke without money that is without merits only if we will heare our soules shall live Esay 55.2.4 yea let us for ever be thankfull to God for his word in this respect Was it so great a blessing that God brought the Israelites to a land that flowed with milk and hony for their bodies for the greatnesse of which blessing God doth so often put them in minde of it How great then is the marvellous goodnesse of God that hath made us to live in these times of the Gospell when the Land flowes with this spirituall milk and hony Let us labour to be thankfull and bring forth fruits worthy the bounty of God left the Lord send the men of the East to dwell in these palaces and to eat our milk and wee be cast out as it was said in the Letter Ezech. 25.4 Oh that we could see our happinesse in these daies of salvation this is that milke of the Gentiles prophecied of which wee enjoy and sucke now from the breasts of Kings living under Christian Magistrates that command the preaching of this sincere word of God Esay 60.16 Sincere The word may besaid to be sincere in two respects First in it selfe secondly in effect in it selfe it is sincere because it is without error without sinne and there is no deceit in it at all Prov. 8.7.8 Psalm 19.8.9 And because it hath no composition in it but is the very pure word of God as it came from God himselfe at first there is not a word in it but it was written by men inspired immediately by the holy Ghost 2. Pet. 1. ult And as it is in it selfe so it is by effect It makes men sincere It makes crooked things straight It purgeth out hypocrisie and all leaven out of the minds and hearts of men it both teacheth and worketh in the godly a spirit without guile Psalm 19.8.9 The Use may be both for instruction and reproofe For instruction both to the people and to Ministers To the people and so men should here learne First to love the word and long after it for this very reason because it is so pure and sincere so void of harme or danger so did David Psalme 119.146 Secondly when we finde our natures crooked and corrupt and deceitfull and tending to hypocrisie we should bring our hearts to the word to be mended For this you see is a property of the word it will make men sincere Psal. 19. 8 9. and 119. Iohn 17. 20. and as any men have more betaken themselves to the word the more sincere they have alwayes growne Thirdly to receive the word with full assurance we may trust upon it it cannot deceive us what we finde for comfort or directions in Scripture we may build upon it Never man was disappointed of his expectation that trusted upon the word of God but in God they have ever praised his word 2. Pet. 1.20 Psal. 56.10 and 10.1 Fourthly as the Ministry of Gods servants doth more declare the sincerity of the word so we should bee more in love with it wee should like praier preaching I meane not witlesse and unlearned preaching but such preaching as maketh demonstration to the conscience out of the pure word of God in things that concerne the good of the soules of men and the glory of God the word doth ever profit men most when it is most sincere that men onely speake the words of God Fiftly to stick to the word of God without going to the right hand or the left there can be no sinne but what is condemned in the word nor can there be duty not commanded therein nor can there be matter of faith not propounded therein Oh how happy were we if we could stick to the old foundation even the sincere word of God and not adde nor diminish the hatefulnesse of departing from the word on the left hand is in most places discovered But Oh the deceitfulnesse of mens hearts and the wretched pronenesse of men to sinne by finding out many inventions Men runne out and that very fast on the right hand we have new opinions and strange fancies coyned every day Little doe the better sort of people many of them think of traditions on the right hand their faith is led into bondage when they can yeeld no better reason than it is such a mans judgement or else he thinketh so himselfe or the reasons brought are urged without any demonstration from the word of God and Scripture Happy above the most Churches under heaven were this nation if this point were understood and carefully observed if we could sticke to our first grounds in parting from the Church of Rome viz. to admit no opinions nor charge our conscience with more obligations but out of the word of God Ministers also may learne from hence what and how to preach that is the best preaching which is eminent for two things First that tends to beget sincerity clearnesse of judgement distinct evidence of assurance and strict holinesse of life in the hearers Secondly that shines in the native lustre of the word in it selfe without mixture when men know no matter no stile no wisdome comparable to that which may be had in the word This also may serve for reproofe First of such Ministers as preach not sincerely and such are they that preach for corrupt ends though they preach true doctrine Phil. 1. 17. and they that preach obscurely and carelesly and strive not to set out the glory of the truths they propound and they that are like lewd Vintners which mixe the word with the errour of their owne braines or with the traditionâ— of men or with a manifest strife to bring in mans wisedome to Gods word more desiring to shew their owne wits and learning than the glory of the scriptures 2. Cor. 4. 2. and 1. Cor. 1. 17. and 2.4.5.13 2. Of the people for that great wanâ— of appetite to Gods pure word and the plaine preaching of it Thus of the second reason the third is taken from the effect and the profit which will follow viz. they shall grow thereby That ye may grow thereby This point of the growth of a Christian is of singular use and meet to be fully and particularly opened and therefore I will observe five things concerning it more especially First that we ought to grow in grace Secondly in what things we should labour to grow and abound Thirdly what are the rules to be observed that we might grow Fourthly the signes of growth Fiftly the uses of the whole First for the first Christians
without testimony of his favour For by his word of promise and by his Spirit bearing witnesse to our spirits hath hee manifested even from heaven his acceptation and in particular when the beleever stands before the Lord with his sacrifice duly offered when the Lord doth suddenly fill his heart with the cloud of his presence or warme his soule with the joyes of the holy Ghost what is this but the signe of his acceptation Quest. VVhat if we be accepted in our service of God what great thing is that to us Answ. VVhen God accepts thine offerings thou maist be assured of three things First Thaâ— all thy sinnes be forgiven thee God hath purged away thine iniquity he hath received an atonement in Iesus Christ Psal 65.2 3. Secondly God is exceedingly delighted in them Thy sacrifice is a sweet smell unto God he rejoyceth over thee with joy Phil. 4.18 Thirdly It is a pledge unto thee that God will supply all thy necessities out of the riches of his glory in Iesus Christ our Saviour Phil. 4.19 Verse 6. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture Behold I put in Sion a chiefe corner-stone elect and precious and he that beleâ—veth therein shall not be ashamed HItherto of the proposition of the exhortation The conformation followes where the Apostle gives reasons why we should make our recourse to Christ to seek holinesse of life from him and the reasons are two The first is taken from the testimony of God verses 6 7 8. The other is taken from the consideration of the excellent priviledges of Christians unto which they are brought by Christ verses 9 10. The testimony of God is both cited verse 6. and expounded verses 7.8 In the testimony of God observe first where it is to be found viz. In Scripture secondly how it is there It is contained there thirdly what is testified Now the matter testified concernes either the giving of Christ for the good of the Church or the safety of the Christian that by faith receiveth Christ. The giving of Christ is exprest in these words Behold I lay in Sion a chiefe corner stoâ—e elect precious the safety and happinesse of the Christian that receiveth Christ in these words And bee that beleeves in him shall not be confounded First of the place where this testimony is found viz. In the Scripture By the Scripture is usually meant all the Books of the old and new Testament written after an extraordinary manner by inspiration of the holy ghost But here he meanes it of the Books of the old Testament but yet so as the word doth agree to all the Books of both Testaments Now this very word gives us occasion to consider of the nature of these Books and of their use and of their excellency and of their harmony These Books are called Scripture because they containe in writing the whole will of God necessary to be known of us they are the Treasures of all truth The doctrine which was before delivered by tradition for 2000. yeares was afterwards written downe and explained in these Books so as nothing needfull was left out or omitted Secondly this word imports the excellency of the Bible above all other bookes because it is called Scripture as if no other writings were worthy to be mentioned in comparison of these The Scripture exceeds all others in divers respects First because these vvritings vvere inspired all of the holy ghost 2 Tim. 3.17 2 Pâ—t 1.21 so vvere no other vvritings Secondly those vvritings containe a vvisdome far above all that that can be had by the Princes and men of this vvorld the platform of the wisdome that is in God himselfe 1 Cor. 6.7 Thirdly they vvere penned by more excellent men then any other vvritings the greatest vvisest holiest men Moses David Salomon the Prophets Euangelists Apostles c. Fourthly they have such properties as no other vvritings have they are more perfect pure deep and immutable then any mans vvritings These containe all things necessary unto faith and a good life 2 Tim. 3.17 18. These vvritings onely are pure vvithout fault or error or any corruption in them and for depth â—nd majestie never any vvritings came neare them and for unchangeabâ—nes Heaven and earth must passe away but a jot of Gods word shall not passe away Matth. 5.24 1 Pet. 1.23 Fiftly if we consider the effects that must be acknowledged to the praise of the Scriptures vvhich can be true of no writings besides no writings can describe God so fully to us no writings do so bring glory to God no Scripture but this can convert a soule to God Heb. 4.12 13. Other writings may shew us some faults to be avoided but give no power to subdue them Psâ—l 19.8 These writings onely can minister solid comfort to us in adversity and these onely can make us wise to salvation and perfect to every good word and work The consideration whereof should work in us a singular love to this booke above all other books in the world yea above all the treasures in the world we should account them with David more sweet then hony and more precious then gold Psal. 19.11 Psal. 119.14 15 27. Thirdly the third thing may be noted from hence is the harmony of all these books they all agree as if they were but one writing yea but one sentence yea one word though the books were written by divers men yet they agree so perfectly that they all sound one thing for they were all inspired by the same Spirit of God which should teach us when wee meete with doubts or objections or scorning contradictions to condemne our owne ignorance and to be fully resolved that there is a sweet harmouy though we doe not see it And secondly and especially it should knit our hearts to the Scriptures wee should be affected as with the most delightfull musick of the world or in the world Fourthly The fourth thing concernes the use of Scripture and so we may note two things First That wee must receive no opinions but what can be proved by Scripture To the law and to the testimony if they speake not according to these it is because there is no truth in them Isaiah 8. Secondly we may note hence that the best men must prove what they teach by Scripture If the Apostles did it who were men priviledged from error then much more must other men we must beleeve no man above what is written 1 Cor. 4.6 and hee is accursed that teacheth other things then what is written Gal. 1.7 though he were an Angell from heaven Which should teach us to get proofes into our heads for all that we beleeve and to take heed of receiving traditions even from good men For there be traditions on the right hand as well as on the left Ioh 5.30 Acts 17.1 Thes. 5.21 Secondly Thus of the place where this testimony is The manner how it is there is in the word Contained It is contained in Scripture Contained 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
called 272 Wherein it exceeds all other writings ibid. Servants Service How we are to serve God 473 Who are rejected from the number of Gods Servants 474 It is an excellent freedome to be a Servant of God 475 Their prerogatives ibid. Servants are of divers sorts 486 For what cause Servitude came in ibid. How a godly Servant may comfort himselfe in his estate 488 They must be subject three wayes 490 Helps in their subjection ibid. They are to shew their feare of God in their callings 492 Their feare towards their Masters shewed divers wayes 493 Sheep Signes of a lost Sheep 557 Hopes of returning 558 Motives to returne 559 The time when the number and meanes 560 The maner and signes of returning 561 The lets 562 Shepherd What attributes are given to Christ as a Shepherd 563 564 He is the one true great and good Shepherd 564 The happinesse of such as live under this Shepherd appeares in ten things 565 Shew Seven wayes whereby we may offend by outward Shewes 333 Motives to the Shew of vertue 334 Sicknesse Vide Healing How it comes into the soule 548 The Sicknesse of the soule grievous many wayes 549 Why many feele not the Sicknesse of the soule ibid. Silence To put to Silence is diversly accepted 455 Sin Sixe wayes by which one mans Sin is derived on another 141 How many wayes Sin hinders the growth of the word 200 A man may be said to make Sin many wayes 522 523 How Christ had no Sin 524 Inwhat respect Christ bare our Sins 531 His sufferings fitted to our Sins 532 Men are said to be alive in Sin many wayes 535 Their miserie great that so doe ibid. Sinner To be a worker of Iniquitie what and three wayes manifested 397 Sion The Church is like Mount Sion in many respects 276 How the Citizens of this City may be knowne 277 Their speciall priviledges 279 Sober Sobrietie A fixefold Sobrietie 104 Sojourners Vide Saints and Strangers 4 5 132 Soule What it is 76 Soule taken many wayes 367 Its description ibid. Seven things considerable in it ibid. c. It is a substance but not bodily 368 It is immortall 369 Its originall 371 Anima non est ex traduce 372 God creates the Soule 373 374 Objections against it answered 374 375 Of the union of the Soule with the body 376 Shewed by many similies 377 By what band the Soule is bound to the body ibid. The faculties of the Soule 378 Its five senses 379 The inward senses three 380 The Soule gives to the body a threefold motion 311 The facultie of reason in the Soule and wherein it excells 382 The end of its creation 383 Foure kinds of warre against the Soule 384 The Flesh wars against the Soule five wayes ibid. How the Soule comes to be diseased 548 The sicknesse of the Soule grievous many wayes 149 Many feele it not ibid. The Soule synechdochically signifieth the whole man 17â— Speaking Vide Evill-speaking and Report Spirit What need our Spiritâ— have to be sanctified â—5 In what its sanctification consisteth ibid. Eight things belong thereto 16 Why the Spirit is called the Holy Ghost 93 Why the Holy Spirit ibid. Sprinkling The meaning of that ceremonie of Sprinkling Christs bloud 22 A fourefold legall Sprinkling 22 23 c. The manifold passages of Sprinkling the Passeover opened 25 26 Statutes God hath foure Statute books 149 Foure praises of those Statutes ibid. Stone How Christ is said to be first a Stone secondly a living Stone 249 250 This Stone disallowed how and by whom 251 252 Wicked men compared to Stones in many respects 258 So the godly also ibid. Reasons why we ought to be lively Stones 259 That Christ is laid as a foundation Stone imports many things 276 A corner Stone 282 Elect and precious ibid. Strangers Who and why man is a Stranger even in five respects 3 4 The Elect are Strangers 4 And in foureteene things they should be like Strangers 4 5 The word Stranger literally and mystically taken 132 Prettie allusions from Israels being in Egypt 132 c. We should carry our selves as Strangers 364 Submission The Submission which belongs to Princes and Magistrates hath sixe things in it 425 Objections against this Submission answered 427 Suffer The markes of such as truely suffer with Christ 315 Divers wayes of Suffering 514 Christ Suffered for us in divers respects 517 518 His Sufferings were for our examples 519 Ten things to be followed by the examples of Christs Sufferings 521 Christs Sufferings 〈…〉 532 He suffered in his body and soule 533 Why he suffered on a tree 534 T TAbernacle Christ hath a fivefold Tabernacle 261 A godly man like a Tabernacle in many respects 262 Excellent uses hereof 263 Taste What will bring us unto a good Taste of Gods goodnesse 239 240 Our true Taste is seene both by the causes and effects 241 Wherein the Taste of the godly and wicked differ 242 How far the Taste of the wicked may goe 243 The uses of it 243 244 We can have but a Taste of Gods sweetnesse in this life 244 The uses of it ibid. The true causes of the want of Taste to the Word 245 When we have tasted of it we must not lose our Appetite 246 Temptation Foure sorts of it 57 Sathan tempts five wayes 58 Thirteene degrees of it ibid. c. How Sathans Temptations differ from our owne concupiscence 59 60 Comforts against Temptation 60 Twelve rules in Temptation 61 God tempts man sixe wayes 62 Seven wayes in affliction 62 63 Testimonie The Scripture is our sure Testimonie and thence how our Testaments are to be fetcht 124 125 Time Times Foure sorts of men have enquired about Times 1. The curious 2. The weake 3. The superstitious 4. The wise 83 Tradition The word is taken five waies 89 90 How many wayes children are infected by the Tradition of their fathers 142 Why those Traditions should be so infectious ibid. c. Trust. Five things pertaining to a perfect Trust 105 Nine wayes to shew our Trust 108 Truth What it is 175 What it is to obey the Truth how 176 V VAine-glory Wherein it is seene 512 Verily The word oft used in Scripture and that for three speciall causes 150 151 How many wayes we shew forth the Verilies of Christ 332 333 Why the Verilies that are in us are called Christs Verilies 334 Vertue How the word is taken in the Originall 327 Nine Vertues in Christ which we should shew forth 329 Vertue and Grace are a Christians best riches 618 Vessell The word Vessell diversly taken 642 Visit Visitation Men are said to visit diversly 412 So God also ibid. c. First in judgement 413 Secondly in mercy 414 Signes of such as he visits in mercy 415 What glorious things the day of Visitation brings forth 419 Uncleannesse Two waies contracted 25 Unitie Of Unitie in mind or judgement 674 675 Helpes thereto 676 Aggravations against discord in opinion 677 Many ill causes of
the Papists for 1. This word of God was afterwards written and so written as nothing must be added Rev. 21.18 2. The doctrine here reported was delivered by the holy Ghost sent downe from heaven as the coherence shews Therefore unlesse they can shew the like authority for their traditions they say nothing 3. Their traditions were of the first sort and so condemned in Scriptures Secondly we may note that Christians when their hearts are turned unto God doe see a wonderfull glory in spirituall things They see that which the Prophets desired to see and could not Mat. 13 16,17 2 Cor. 3.16 17 18. which is one difference betweene the knowledge of the godly and the knowledge of the wicked For wicked men have but a dark glimmering knowledge that tends to basenesse and bondage and this should teach us to pray for the spirit of wisdome and revelation to know the riches thaâ— is in Christ Jesus being daily carefull that the god of this world doe not hide the glorious Gospell of Christ from us But have we the will of God onely by report This word report belongs principally to the first times before the Scriptures of the New Testament were written and so the word was sure enough being delivered by Apostolicall men who confirmed it by miracles And if the word doe also belong to our times then Godâ— Ministers are said to report Gods will unto us as Embassadors doe the wills of Princes by the instructions given in their commissions or as Lawyers report the law out of their great Charter or Statute-books or as Physitians report their remedies out of the books of practice and tryed experiments It is true that the doctrine of holy things is like unto a report 1. In respect of wicked men who passe all over as a tale that is told or respect it at best but as a nine dayes wonder 2. In respect of godly men who receive it but by peeces and degrees not as one continued story but as a report 3. In respect of the matter of happinesse it is so removed from our natures and we have so little right unto it that it comes to us as a report not aâ— any thing we knew before or could expect or looke for 4. In respect of the opportunity of it if wee take not hold of it in the very season it will be gone The Lord doth not every day set before us life and death but onely at some times and then how soone is the voice gone if our hearts open not to receive it Thus of the things contained in Gods answer as they are barely propounded Now in the words that follow they are further commended to us First by the efficient causes of them By them which preached the Gospell unto you The Gospell is diversly accepted in Scripture Sometimes it signifies the history of the life and death of Christ so in the title of every Evangelist his booke and so 2 Tim. 2.8 Mat. 26.13 Sometimes it signifies the glorious tidings of Christ come in the flesh and of salvation in him so it was promised by the Prophets Rom. 1.2 Act. 13.32 but most usually it signifies in generall the joyfull newes of happinesse eternall through the favour of God in Christ Jesus notwithstanding our misery in our selves and this was called the promise in the Old Testament and the Gospell in the new The Greek word properly signifieth good newes and in the New Testament the word is used to expresse that most happy newes of God reconciled in Christ and of perfect happinesse in him Now because this newes contains the more excellent part of Gods word therefore I will consider of it more exactly This heavenly newes is the more admirable if we consider 1. What it is that the Gospell doth signifie 2. How we are assured of the newes in the Gospell 3. What are the effects of it 4. What is required in the persons that have any part in this newes Then I would resolve certaine questions and lastly make some use of all For the first the Gospell brings newes unto forlorne men 1. Of peace and reconciliation with God The Gospell of peace 2. Of remission and forgivenesse of our sins Act 10.43 3. Of freedome from death and condemnation 4. Of a divine and most sufficient righteousnesse to be revealed from heaven Rom. 1.16 17. 5. Of eternall life The Gospell of the Kingdome Mat. 9.35 and all for Christ Jesus sake the son of David Rom. 1.23 But how can we be certaine of this newes 1. By the testimony of the Spirit 2. By the vaticinies of the Prophets 3. By the miracles that first confirmed it 4. By the testimony of Christ himselfe that in our nature preached it Mat. 4.13 5. By the word of God or of the Apostles The effects of the Gospell are 1. It brings life and immortality to light 2 Tim. 1.10 2. It melts the hearts of Gods elect more then any thing with voluntary griefe for sin it makes men condemne themselves in the flesh 1 Pet. 4.6 3. It revives and refresheth with wonderfull encouragements 1 Pet. 4.6 4. It makes a man sacrifice himselfe to God Rom. 15.16 5. It is the ministery of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 6. It fenceth the affections against the love care after worldly things Hence we are said to be shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace 7. It establisheth hope Col. 1.23 8. It is the power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 Fourthly there are eight things required in every one that would have part in the Gospell 1. Reformation of life 2. Faith and trust in it Mat. 16.15 16. Eph. 1.13 Heb. 4.2 and to this end get evidence and seale to it Eph. 1.13 3. A singular estimation of it so great as 1. Our chiefest praise should be in the Gospell 2. We should be content to suffer any thing for it and not be ashamed of the afflictions or bonds of the Gospell Marke 8.35 10.29 1 Thes. 1.5 2 Tim. 1.8 Philem. 13. 4. Poverty of spirit Esay 61.1 5. A diligent strife and constant endevour to attend upon it wee should presse to it Luke 16.16 6. Professed subjection to it 2 Cor. 9.12 7. We should endevour to live so as might become the Gospell Phil. 1.27 8. We should continue in it and not be moved away from the hope of it Col. 1.23 a vile offence to be turned from it Gal. 1.6 But was the Gospell never preached till now that hee saith it is now reported Distinguish If the Gospell be taken for the newes of Christ come in the flesh then it was not preached till the times of Christ and the Apostles But if it be taken for the promise of grace and pardon in Christ it was given in Paradise to Adam and continued by the Patriarks and Prophets Act. 10. 43. Heb. 13.8 Moses wrote of Christ Ioh. 5.46 Moses wrote of Christ two waies 1. By writing the promise concerning
vaine talkers and will have all the words and by their good wills will talke of nothing else and so hinder edification in profitable doctrine and such as is out of question Tit. 1.10 11. and when men lust to be contentious and are like Salamanders that live alwaies in the fire and know no zeale without contention 1 Cor. 1â— 16 7. When men differ in judgement in the very points of foundation and erre against such truths as must be beleeved to salvation 8. If men be so â—â—ghâ— headed and variable that they are tossed to and fro and carried about with every winde of doctrine sometimes of one opinion and shortly after of another especially when men are so new fangled as in every place to receive almost any doctrine that is new divers Ephes. 4.14 9. When men quarrell so earnestly about things of lesse moment contrary to the custome of the Churches as about praying or prophecying bare or covered or about eating the Sacrament full or fasting 1 Cor. 11. or about such indifferent things as may bee used or not used with Christian liberty Rom. 14. or about Genealogies 1 Tim. 1.4 and such like And that this reproofe may enter the more deeply upon the hearts of some Christians it will be profitable to consider of the ill causes of disseâ—â—ing which are these and such like 1. Ignorance of the Scripture if they had more true knowledge they would not disagree and this ignorance yea sometimes palpable ignorance may bee found in some that thinke themselves to have more knowledge and to be more spirituall than a multitude of those from whom they disagree Mat. 22.1 Tim. 1.6 7. 1 Cor. 14.37 38. 2. Want of love to those found truths that morâ— concerne sanctification causeth God in his justice sometimes to give men up to delusionâ— and to beleeve lies 2 Thâ—s 2. 3. Vaine-glory the very desire to be some body and to excell others makes some Christians gladly to receive or bring in different opinions 1 Câ—r 4.8 Phil. 2. â— Gal. 5.26 4. Over much trust upon the judgments of some â—hâ—n they esteeme when they respect some Ministers so much as to be of their opinion though their consciences be not enformed of any â—ound reason from the word of God for it This estimation of men above that is written hath deceived â—â—â—y â— Cor. 3.21 4.6 5. Respect of earthly things Some men teach and professe to hold opinions of dissenting sometimes meerely for advantage to their estates either to get maintenance or preferment in the world by it Tit. 1.10 11. Rom. 16.19 20. 6. Prejudice is the root of dissenting many times as the Gentiles would not abide yeelding to ceremonies out of very dislike of the Jewes and the Jewes would not understand the needlesnesse of their ceremonies out of very contempt of the Gentiles and so the strength of faction on both sides kept them from agreeing 7. Heaping up of Teachers disorderly when Christians are so diseased with humour and so hard to be pleased with sound doctrine that they hunt up and downe to heare all sorts of men it many times proves hurtfull in this respect that they get infection from the different humours of the many Teachers they heare Disordered hearing in this respect breeds as a surfeâ— of the inward regard of sound doctrine so a great aptnesse to receive divers and strange doctrines 2 Tim. 4.3 4. 8. The contempt of their godly Teachers and want of sound affection to them to them I say that have a charge over their soules whom they ought to obey And this is the more vile as some Christians order the matter because of their hypocrisie in magnifying the judgement or gifts of Teachers that are absent and have not the charge of their soules and abusing the due respect of their owne Teachers which is yet more vile if this injury be done to such as were their Fathers in Christ. Thus of the Use for reproofe By the limitation given before from other expresse Scriptures we learne so to understand this doctrine of unity as it excludes all unity of opinion or practice with such Churches or particular persons as hold doctrines against the foundation of Christian religion so as we must never agree with them As for instance We may not without the damnation of our soules be of one mind with the Church of Rome for there are many things which they beleeve and practise which we must in no case joyne with them in and it is impossible to reconcile us to them unlesse they change their minds I will instance in divers things wherein we cannot without losing Christ be of one minde as 1. In opinion of merit of workes for thereby we make the Gospel or Doctrine of Gods grace of none effect and the promise of God void which is to deny the grounds of Christian religion Gal. 5.3 Rom. 4.14 11.16 2. In the opinion of worshipping Saints and Angels for the Apostle saith expressely that they that doe so hold not the head and so cannot be true members of Christ Col. 2.18 19. 3. In their Idolatry in making and worshipping of Images and almost infinite superstitions contrary to the second Commandement expressely and so as we are commanded to get out of this spirituall Babel in respect of her spirituall fornications 4. In their doctrine of Traditions for they teach that Traditions that are not agreeable to Scripture yet are to be received if they be deliveâ—â—d by the Church in equall authority with the Scriptures If we be of one mâ—â—de with them herein we cannot escape Gods eternall curse as these Scriptures shew Gal. 1.8 Rev. 22.18 5. In their doctrine of perfection for they teach a man may perfectly keepe the Law of God Now this is so dangerous an errour that the Apostle saith there is no truth in the man that holds it 1 Iohn 1.8.10 I omit the rehearsall of other differences Thus of the first vertue The second vertue charged upon Christians is compassion one towards another Have compassion one of another The word signifies such a fellow-feeling or sympathie that makes us like affected as if we were in their case The doctrine then is cleere That we ought to have a sympathy one towards another this is a singular vertue In handling of which point I will observe these things 1. The proofes of it from other Scripture 2. The Explication of the sense shewing in what things we should be like affected 3. The reasons of it 4. The Uses 1. The proofes are very pregnant and full in these other Scriptures Rom. 12.4 15. Heb. 13.3 2. For the explication This sympathie is to be exprest both in the case of the evills of others and in the case of the good of others In the case of the evills of others we ought to be tenderly affected towards them both in respect of their sufferings troubles griefes and crosses Heb. 13.3 10.34 Iob 30.25 whether they be inward or outward as
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is much adoe about the word here rendred Contained among Interpreters The word sounds actively in the Originall as if it were rendred doth containe or hee containeth But the Translators and many Interpreters think the active is put for the passive He containeth for It is contained If we read it actively then the Name of God must be supplied thus He that is God contained it â—n Scripture noting that as a singular treasure God hath placed this Testimony in Scripture concerning Christ and faith in him and sure it is a great treasure that wee may have places in the sure Word of God that so plainly testifie of Christ and our happinesse in him wee should take great notice of them and be much thankfull to God for giving us such sentences so briefly and yet so plainly and fully to informe us Some supply the name of Christ and so they say Christ containeth that Is excelleth as the word may signifie Hee is had fully and excellently in Scripture and in particular in this testimonie of Scripture The word rendred Contained signifies sometimes barely to be had sometimes to be possessed as Luke 5.9 They were possessed with feare And so wee possesse a great treasure in Scripture when wee have such Testimonies as these There is a Nowne derived of this Verbe which is thought by the exactest Divines to meane a speciall Section or portion and when it is applied to a place in Scripture it signifies such a Scripture as is divided from the rest as a principall matter either to be meditated of or expounded Such was that speciall portion of Scripture which the Ennuch had to meditate of and Philip expounded to him Acts 8.32 where the word is used And so whether the word be used actively or passively it commends unto us this place of Scripture and withall shewes us a way how to enrich our selves namely by singling out such choise places throughout the Scripture as may most fittingly furnish our thoughts for meditation in the maine matters of Religion We may here note what cause we have of thankfulnesse to God for the helps we have in teaching seeing we have the Chapter and verse quoted to us which they had not in the Primitive Church and withall wee may observe that one may have the profit of the Scriptures though he cannot quote Chapter and verse And thus of the second thing concerning this testimony Thirdly the third followes which is the matter testified which concernes either the giving of Christ or the safety of the Christian in beleeving in him In the words that describe the giving of Christ observe First The wonder of it in the word Behold Secondly The Author of it God I lay or put Thirdly The manner of it He laid him downe as the stone of a foundation in a building Fourthly The place where In Sion noting that this gift of Christ belongs onely to the Church Fifthly What Christ was unto the Church viz. a chiefe corner stone elect and precious Behold This word is used in Scripture sometimes to note a thing that is usually knowne or ought to be knowne so David saith Behold I was conceived in sinne Psalm 51. Sometimes to note that some great wonder is spoken of and must be much attended In this place it may note both For it is certaine that the testimonies of Scriptures concerning Christ ought to be familiarly knowne of us and this as an especiall one But I rather think it is used to note the wonder of the worke here mentioned and so the word may import divers things unto us First It was a mervailous worke that God should give us his owne Sonne to be our Saviour and the fountaine of life to us Hence it is that we may observe throughout the Scripture that God doth set this note of attention and respect both upon the generall and upon many particulars that concerne Christ as it were by the Word to pull us by the eares to make us attend or to give us a signe when wee should specially listen Thus God brings out Christ to the Church and tells how he loves him and hath resolved upon it by him to save both Iewes and Gentiles and wills them to behold him and wonder at him Isaiah 42.1 So when hee promiseth the comming of Christ And of the ends of his comming he makes a proclamation all the world over that hee hath appointed a Saviour unto Sion Thus he would have us wonder at the service of the Angels about the time of his birth Math. 1.20 Luke 2.9 10. and at the miracle of his conception that he should be borne of a Virgin Math. 1.21 and at the Wisemen led by a starre out of the East Math. 2.1 9. and at the opening of the heavens when the voice came downe to testifie that Christ was the beloved Sonne of God in whom hee was well pleased Math. 3.16 17. and at the service which the Angels did him and at his wonderfull abasement for our sakes Math. 21.5 and especially that hee should sacrifice his owne body for our sinnes 1 Iohn 1.29 Heb. 10.7 and that hee is alive from the dead and liveth for ever Revel 1.18 and that hee hath opened the secret booke of Gods counsell and made it knowne to the world Revel 5.5 and that after such hard times under the raign of Antichrist he should recollect such troops of Gospellers as stood with him on Mount Sion Revel 14.1 It were too long to number up more particulars Onely thus much wee should learne that the doctrine of Christ is to be received with great affection attention and admiration Secondly This word strikes us like a dart to the heart for it imports that naturally we are extreamely carelesse and stupid in this great doctrine concerning Christ and faith in us For when God calls for attention it implies that we are mervailous slowe of heart to understand or with affection to receive the doctrine Let the use of all be then to strive with our owne hearts and to awake from this heavinesse and sleepinesse and with all our soules to praise God with endlesse admiration of his goodnesse to us in giving us his Sonne Thus of the wonder of it 2. The Author of it followes I lay or put God would have us to take speciall notice of it that it is hee that was the Author of this glorious worke Hee is the vvork-master the chiefe master-builder It is Gods vvorke and the knowledge of this may serve for divers uses For first It should direct our thankfulnesse wee should give glory to God and praise his rich grace He will not lose his thanks for Christ. Hee holds himselfe much honoured when wee praise him for so great a gift as Christ. Secondly It should much strengthen our faith and make us beleeve the love of God and his willingnesse to be reconciled He is the party offended and if he were hard to be pleased hee would never have sought