shall please to enable to believe so that the efficacy of the one is necessary and the efficacy of the other to wit the death of the second Adam voluntarily and wholy at Gods pleasure and so argueth nothing against the sense and meaning which I give of my Text every one onely to meane some By this other Texts which in the letter sound as this that I have mentioned and as the Text which I am upon doth are to be expounded God is in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe that is some of all sorts Jews and Gentiles who are given to Christ from eternity Christ is to manifest the purpose of God from eternity to these to die for them to call them to justifie them sanctifie them and glorifie them and to none else but put for their stumbling and their fall and of this no reason to be given but Gods wil having such an absolute power over the creature as the potter over the clay nor wil he beare the striving of man in dispute to any further medium then his wil. Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth c. Finally all may be resumed and rendered for the opening of this clause in other words to the same effect To turn every one of you i. who are by the purpose of God to be turned and so the expression not stricty noting the universality of persons to be turned but the strict propriety of Christ in this worke of turning soules to God Christ is to turne every one that is to be turned this Christ which you so despise and so little esteeme not a soule amongst you can be turned and saved from your sinne but by him Thus doe many of the learned read and render these words and thus doth Christ himselfe open that place Isa 54.13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord c. i. all which are taught are taught by him and can by none else come to learne unto life Thus doth Christ explaine this place of the Prophet as appeares by his words Iohn 6.44 45. No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day as it is written in the Prophets and they shall be all taught of God i. all that are taught are taught of God and none else can learn this mystery of comming to Christ and believing on him but such as are taught of God So that this clause of my Text being thus opened the poynt you see to be stood upon naturally ariseth to be this Doct. That it is Christs proper work to turn sinners from their sinnes a businesse devolved by joynt consent upon him the Father and the holy Spirit working in and by him and no otherwaies to this great end the conversion and salvation of man The Scriptures which concurre to this truth are many Isa 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meeke he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted to proclaime liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound c. This place confirmes the point and also what I have before said that Christ is not sent to turne all but a generation of sinners which are turning the meeke and broken in heart i. such as are self condemned and lie under the bleeding sence of their own wretched condition prickt at heart with the sting of sinne which may be and yet in no actuall state of grace to be Physician to these sick wounded bleeding and dying ones is Christs proper place and employment To this may be added Acts 5.31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance to Israel and forgivenesse of sinner The like Scripture is 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chiefe 'T is Christs proper worke you see and his alone to turn and save sinners from their sinnes The type of this read Rom. 9.10 When Rehecca also concerved by one even by our father Isaac But one in the bed to wit Jesus Christ by whom the holy seed is begotten Christ casts that immortall seed into her wombe by which the generation of the new creature is made and none but he he begets brings forth and breeds up hence called the authour and finisher of our faith and faith is called conversion because indeed it is the formality of it Jesus said unto them except you be converted and become as a little child yee shall not enter into the Kingdome of Heaven And then in the following words saith Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me Matth. 18.6 What he cals conversion before Here he cals faith because faith indeed is conversion the soule crediting Christ in what the word saith of him and so resigning it selfe wholly to him to be ruled by him and by his will and not any longer by his own lusts and sinnes and this is the turning of the soule from sinne which my Text here speaks of There are severall things in faith to understand to credit to submit and simply to submit to submit as a childe who doth not contend or dispute but saith in his heart my father bids be doe thus and this is enough and all these Christ workes in the soule and none else Christ enlightens the soule shines into the heart and makes it see what had never been told ef Isa 52.15 Christ meekens and humbles the soule pricks the heart le ts out all those corrupt things which swel and pusse up the spirit against God Christ takes off headinesse rashnesse and bows the heart to hearken consider and then workes to wil perswades Iaphet O that I had a dwelling in the tents of Shem that I could believe on Jesus Christ Who is he Lord that I might believe on him and then workes to doe to trust in him to deny all and follow him and now is the soule turned from its sinnes But this is but in part This state of soule is called a heart after Gods own one in this world as Christ which is not strictly to be taken as if any whilst in this world were so pure and unmixed in affection and action as Christ so separated from sinne in his nature and life in this world as he was but it meaneth what a converted man is in his intention in his endeavour and in Gods acceptation The heart truely turned to God aimes and intends a course and motion in this world exactly like Christ hath respect to all Christs commandements without distinction of Great and little as the Pharisees and hypocrites were wont to make loves all and would with all his heart all his waies were so direct as to keepe all Gods statutes to this height is his aime his desire
Christ in a manger be beautifull to thee and offer the myrrhe of thy soule unto him in what mean dresse soever thou finde him gather up the fragments and crums of his Table let nothing be lost then his grace in this weake worke will not be in vaine I am truly of his opinion who was rather willing to beautifie Italy then his own house if Christ may encrease in his honour though I decrease in mine I have my end All things should be done in conscience of duty Neque si â—ecâ—â—â— agas apud neque si cum altero coniâ—abas vacare officio potest The Badger is called in Hebrew Shesh because he hath six spots whether to the Common-Wealth or to ones Family or to ones selfe alone yea and when alone So indeed is this little worke done in much duty and conscience to Christs glory and the good of poor soules Thou wilt finde the Printer the Author a Badger with more then six spots yet Badgers spotted skins were accepted to the use of the Tabernacle so let these spotted labours of us thy friends be accepted to the use and benefit of thy precious soule Thine in the Kingdome and patience of Christ NICHOLAS LOCKYER To all the Lords people grace and peace by our Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied YE are called a flocke of holinesses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sanctitatum pecus Ezek. 36.38 Blessed is that people whose popularity is rather in graces then in persons in flocks and troopes of holinesses rather then in flockes and troopes of men Holinesse puts every person in the ninth place and makes him an hundred millions in number by which account a few flocks of holinesses would be an innumerable company of men Gods Host Mahanaim bina castra two Hosts ten Hosts ten thousand Hosts Flocks of holinesses are not onely numerous but glorious Flocks of Flowers in the spring flocks of Pearles like Pibles upon the Sea-shore all facing the Sun yea or flocks of Suns looking forth like the morning from severall serene parts and points of our Horison and all facing one another not so glorious as flocks of holinesses facing Christ and Christ them The shepherd is not smitten but smild on now and yet these flocks of holinesses are scattered Our Princes as the Prophet speaks not altogether Kings Isa 10.8 but altogether servants and slaves to divers lusts instead of so many Vines Isa 7.23 so many Brambles as the same Prophet speaks through the wiles of that wicked one and the just judgement of God The root of this bitternesse hath laine hid long and been that Achan which hath troubled us to wit a heart not perfect with God denying the power of what we profess The Gospel is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 1 Cor. 13.12 a riddle and so is the heart and yet if either be hid we perish I feare both though these times of much light lie hid such sad perishing of leafe and tree could not else be Spirituall inspection is the subject of this piece presented to you if it may lay open to you what hath laid open you to others will be matter of blessing God and his poore servant who hath his worke to unravell riddles and tread out labyrinths with the thred of the Scriptures and findes only this light to discover darknesse If a man will be safe he must obey necessity * Vt omnes intelligans fi salvi esse velint necessitati pâ—tendum sull The Scripture and thine own heart are two necessary things to be searched cast off the study of these and you cannot be safe Obey necessity read two Volumes over and over all the daies of thy life the written word and thine unwritten heart the one riddle unriddles the other the Volume without opens the Volume within and is a Glasse to bring Christ and the soule face to face The triall of our faith is precious whether by the rod or by the word by both grace is refined much which is very precious to a sincere heart Comparing our selves oft with Christ shames us humbles us conformes us and so derives his beauty whom we so intensely look upon which is a pleasant translation from deformity unto beauty and glory Imbecillitate alierum non nostra virtute valeamus saith Tully of taking those who tyrannixed who made many Lawes proximae quaeque dutiores and the last stil worst By the weaknesses of others and not by our valour do we prevaile saith a great Statesman So truly may I say by our weaknesses sloath carelesnesse the divel more prevailes then by his own strength simply considered though a creature very strong We so cut off our own locks and cast off our own mercies our own armour and walke naked laying aside Ordinances Scriptures and all close conversation with God and our selves that satan slayes us heaps upon heaps with the jaw-bone of an Asse with any rotten foolish thing carries us captive at his will Much confusion is now amongst us of which God is not the author but satan and our selves Vnsoundnesse swels the heart lifted up falls under the power of darknesse the divell and all confusion Take heed Christians of hypocrisie its property is pride pride puffes up and then God puls all down to worse then nothing a little of this leaven leavens the whole lumpe be purging out therefore daily every little of this leaven that when satan and temptations come they may finde nothing if possible of hypocrisie in you Lie at those breasts which give sincere milk Let your soules conceive by pure streams Persons who venture in preaching doe not you venture in hearing T is a ventrous age such as no eye ever saw more and lesse laid to heart Among all wonders amidst us this is surely the greatest that there is not yet shipwrack of all considering how venterous all are and of and to what parts In that ministery in which you cannot see your selves surely you cannot see Christ how much and how oft so ever he may be named as t is true è contrà Grievous wolves are entred in among us tearing and rending all that is hopefull the sense of this makes me to complaine not any bodies doing well Such who take not honor to them selves but are called the meanest in the body under the conscience and assistance of this may be a blessing to his brethren below and above him Grievous Wolves are entred in the more grievous because of our own selves Acts 10.30 as the Spirit of God hath foretold and of these would I could warne you night and day with tears Wild beasts are abroad never more nor more grievous and yet we are loth to believe that it is evening or any thing enclining unto Sun-set if in spirituals we were as promising as otherwise I â—hould thinke so to I looke for much good but not in such waies as many of us take If wounds in the body be no vent for the rottennesse pride and
filth of our souls if misery be unsanctified it becomes like theirs below everlasting If we yet doe wickedly and deale hypocritically with our God who hath brought us out with a strong hand from the Iron yoake and the burning brickill surely seven times more will misery multiply upon us untill we die because we have despised him which speaks from Heaven and as much from Heaven and from that excellent glory I thinke as to any of the Gentile world A perverse spirit God hath mingled amongst us that we can neither smite nor smile with God we can neither mourne nor daunce to him which doth thus to us which spirit is no small judgement but is as the nerves of the whole body loosened and then how all should hold together long is unlikely God magnifies his grace T is true but not alwaies to be abused We may leane upon grace but not trample it under foot God will distinguish between these two if we cannot Le ts all lean upon our beloved but what 's more and inconsistent with this proceedeth from the guile of our spirits and that wily one and will be a Spiders Web and make the shame of our nakednesse to appeare in the day of his appearing who is the searcher of all hearts which apparition he loves and waits for who is till then Yours in the labours travels and bonds of the Gospel Nicholas Lockyer A Table of the principall things contained in this TRACT THat priority in Spirituall things is a dignity page 3. T is the fruition of a Virgin-love ib. Tath more evidence of love with it and more certainty p. 4 5 It should much work upon our hearts to be of the first which enjoy favour in the greatest things p. 6 The resurrection of Christ is the foundation of mans salvation p. 7 Upon the resurrection of Christ beares the confirmation of Gods oath to the elect for the accomplishment of their eternall good p. 8 Upon the resurrection of Christ bearea the infallible determination of Christs state as the naturall Son of God p. 9 Upon Christs resurrection bears his installment to Mediatorship p. 10 Upon the resurrection of Christ bears the converting vigour of all visible Ordinances p. 12 Christs resurrection is a seale of the resurrection of all good and bad and that all shall come to judgement p. 14 15 The day of judgement will be dreadfull to the wicked for severall reasons p. 16 The danger of such doctrines as overthrow the resurrection p. 19 Christs resurrection much for the consolation of the godly We are delivered from the guilt of sinne p. 20 From the power of sin p. 24 From the rigor of duty p. 26 Christ being risen he is improving his raised state to our good in the world to come p. 29 What we should infer to our selves who are the people of God from Christs resurrection respecting the world to come see p. 29 30 Christ precisely called to be the messenger of the covenant p. 33 Christs unction and how his unction upheld to be present and equall alwaies alike to all things p. 33 34 What Christs blessing of man properly is p. 37 The conversion of the Jewes will not be universall strictly taken p. 38 Christ not sent to turn every one of the Jews p. 42 Universall grace ungrounded p. 43 44 The Scriptures which would contradict themselves by the doctrine of universall redemption p. 44 Objections about universall redemption answered p. 45 It is Christs proper work to turn sinners from their sinnes p. 48. A type of this p. 49 Faith is conversion p. 49 50 Conversion but in part in this world p. 51 The hardest worke of a Christian is turning from his sins and this beares upon the shoulders of Christ therefore 't wil be done p. 52 If this be the worke of Christ to turn sinners from their sinnes then sinners should not hinder him when about his work p. 54 This being the worke of Christ let him not want work present your sinfull states unto him 55 We are to be instrumentall every one in our places to turn sinners from their sins p. 57 How persons in authority may be very usefull this way p. 58 That men of power should endeavour the conversion of the Jewes Scriptures of much weight inciting thereunto p. 60 61 The Contents of the second Part. PRovidence of God to his people various p. 72 Prosperity of his providence p. 74 The proceeding of God towards men seems sometimes to be without justice ib. Gods people and the wicked are cautionated hence lest they make ill use from this kind of providence p. 78 Take heed of tempting God p. 83 Labour to be quick-sighted to discern the providence of God p. 85 The works of God against the workers of iniquity shall be just p. 88 Object Wicked men bring forth evil devices Aus p. 92 When the works of God clear their righteousnesse against the unrighteous p. 93 Admire not evil men in their advantages p. 96 Take heed of smiting a godly man for his conscience 101 Uprightnesse defined p. 10◠Its symptomes p. 111 Morning fittest time for duty p. 120 Tender mercies are Christs siniles p. 129 Truth with its effects p. 135 Continuance in grace is the being of grace 150 Diligence in divine things make spiritually rich p. 172 Use of Examination to finde out hypocrisie p. 186 The perfection of our state consists in this to receive much and to doe much p. 226 Integrity conquers and crowns the soule wherein it is p. 234 The workes of God the more immediate the more strong and operative p. 243 The works of God the last medium to his end p. 245 ERRATA FOr principle p. 10. l. 19. read principally for too read two p. 74. l. 25. for handle read dandle p. 78. l. 24. for weary read wary p. 111. l. 15. AN OLIVE-LEAFE OR A Bud of the Spring ACTS 3.26 Vnto you first God having raised 〈…〉 sonne Jesus sent him to blesse you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities THe Apostle Peters preaching is set out in this Chapter to whom directed and with what winning wisdome man aged To the Jews directed and in a downright stile and phrase Ye denied the holy one and the just and desired a-murtherer and killed the Prince of life v. 14 15. And yet wisely and winingly this Apostle makes their apology And now brethen I wot that through ignorance ye did it as did also your Rulers and also this more may be said for you ye have but accomplished a fore-ordained thing yea a foretold thing and that by the mouth of all his Prophets v. 17 18. repent therefore that your sinnes may be blotted out and he shall send Christ to you whom you have crucified to serve you in these saving works doe not stumble at him it is he which God spake of by Moses A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise unto you v. 22 c. And the same which Samuel and all
all debts and demands whatsoever he can make in order to us according to that of the Apostle Who shall his any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth who is he that condemnes it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God Rom. 8 33 34. Christ being risen and come before his father spotlesse as having done all things intrusted well his father is forced to justifie him and so all the elect in him hence when any layeth charge and challenge to us whether Satan sinne or conscience this obligation is upon God by Christs resurrection to stand up acquit and justifie us who is greater then all that can condemn us yea greater then our own conscience in his justification of us as he is greater then our owne concience in his condemnation of us and this is that which over beareth and over-ruleth all which would overbeare our spirit and our peace This is the life of that Scripture also 1 Cor. 15.7 If Christ be not risen your faith is vain ye are yet in your sinnes Which Scripture sheweth where sinners should take hold to justification in Christ as risen and justified in our person faith should particularly make application of this that I am justified in him and so all my sinnes done away in his acquittance and justification Christ being risen and justified I am justified in him this is the proper motion and exercise of faith in this point I know that my Redeemer lives Jeb takes particular hold of the resurrection of Christ i hold in his own behalfe that he should live also by him And this opens that difficult place of Scripture Rom. 10.9 If thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved i. that Christ is risen and acquitted as personating thee The words doe not mean a historicall faith the believing of such a history but an applicatory faith as I mentioned and he that doth thus believe is indeed saved and delivered from the bond and condemnation of his sinnes This will be better strengthened and evidenced by referring it to proper examples Abraham believed in God that quickned the dead saith the Apostle which points first at Isaac and in him to Christ Now what was Abrahams faith in God concerning Isaac meerly that God would raise him and put life againe into him c No his faith was that God would quicken him from the dead and give him again into his bosome to be his heire and his Isaac his laughter joy glory and crown of his family and this sheweth how he believed in Christ whom Isaac typisied that God would quicken him from the dead for him that he would raise Christ and give him into his bosome to be his heire his Isaac his laughter and joy that God would take Christ from the grave and acquit him and Abraham in him or else Abrahams faith in that mystery of Isaac would have been imputed to him for righteousnesse He against hope believed in hope so should we against all that sence Satan can say about our sinnes still believe in God that quickneth the dead that God hath raised and acquitted Christ and therefore me being personated in him And this was Iohs faith concerning Christs resurrection he was not meerly historicall in this point but evangelicall and applicatory as plainly appeareth by his words I know that my Redeemer lives that God quickneth my Isaac from the dead whom I shall see for my self As we are delivered from the guilt of sinne by this that Christ is risen so from the power of sinne Rom. 8.11 therefore is this point I am upon Canaan milke and honey to all the people of God He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken our mortall bodies by his Spirit which dwels in us therefore are we debtors not to the flesh to fulsill the lusts thereof but to this quickning spirit by which the deeds of the body are mortified The rising of the Sunne of righteousnesse is in the little world as the rising of the naturall Sunne in the great world that which makes all rise open and revive with it infuseth vigor warmth spirit which makes all the creation renew and give forth fresh glory and verue still And this is the meaning and opening of the Prophet Malachy who useth this very metaphor To you which feare my name shall the Sunne of righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings and ye shall goe forth and grow up as calves of the stall That Christ is risen shall be to all you that feare Gods name to your diseased infirme ungrowing spirituall condition as the rising of the Sunne upon a debile body that which shall send forth a power spirit and vigor into your soules which shall heale all your diseases and make you full of spirit and springing abundantly Nature is excited by the rising of the Sunne and strengthened to bud blossome and beare Paul was well aware of the great benefit of this point I am now upon as appeareth by his high expression of this matter And what is the excellent greatnesse of his power to us ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him on his right hand Ephes 1.19 20. You which believe have advantage by the resurrection of Christ to pray for and expect such a power as is exceeding great to work in your soules for the subduing of your sinnes and quickning of you to all good as wrought in Christ when raised and then surely the power of God wrought in height in Christ if ever so farre forth as finite States are capable of the operation of such an infinite power and vertue which is a foundation of singular consolation in order to all our present weaknesse deadnesse and unheavenlinesse and all this vertue promised to be given to such as feare him Such a Sun-shine upon thee O poore Christian Christ being risen as thou art not aware of what glory and vertue healing and growth it will raise thee to Such a Sunne is risen upon thee which will make thee rise and shine every day more and more unto the perfect day which will make thee perfect to every good work to doe his will Now the God of peace which brought again from the dead our Lord Iesus make you perfect in every good work to doe his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight I may adde yet one thing more as consolatory Christ being risen the people of God are delivered not onely from sinne but also from the rigor of duty and obedience Christ being risen that body which he had here is changed and in that sense put away and Christ married to another to a glorisied body and the laying down of this tabernacle and betaking by his resurrection
and endeavour for this he prayes sighes groans and in this heavenly industry continueth runnes and is not weary that if by any meanes he might attaine the resurrection from the dead and this in Gods acceptation is a heart as Gods own and holy as he is holy and turned and separated from sinne as he If this be properly Christs work to turne you from your sinne Vse know upon whose shoulders God hath placed your hardest work ye that are the people of God and expect that he will goe thorough with it The hardest worke of a Christian is to turn from his sinne and beares more upon him then any thing 't is true that many things goe ill but this goeth most to my heart that sinne cleaves so fast unto me saith a good soule Why Christ will doe that wherein thy difficulty lies he will subdue thine iniquities and east thy sinne into the depth of the Sea Mica 7.19 he will break every bond and remove every weight which presseth down greater is he that is in you then the greatest corruption that is in you the grace of Christ is sufficient to withstand what intices and to destroy what intices for this cause is Christ manifested to withstand yea to destroy the works of the Divell Christ doth turn us from corruption to destroy it The covenant is that Christ shall set in our heart as a resiner and purifier of Silver and shall purifie thee as they doe those mettles that thou mayst offer an offering in righteousnesse a pleasant offering and this being the covenant every thing shall conduce to this fruit the turning thy heart from thy sinne i. the purging and refining of it instructions corrections I will turn mine hand upon thee and purely purge away thy drosse saith the Lord therefore surely this hard worke will be down Goliah will be slaine and a little thing shall doe it If Christ be long ere he doe a necessary work it is probable that he will doe it very remarkably with some pibble of the brook with some Jaw-bone thrown by will he smite to death at once heaps upon heaps all that hath smote to death the peace and comfort of thy soule so long not by might or by strength doth Christ doe this that thine eye may be much sixed upon but by a still blow within by his Spirit shall be the death of that which hath been the death of thy life hitherto If Christ worke all our workes in us surely this work which is all the turning of the heart from sinne he will not leave undone he will purely purge thy soule renew a right spirit within thee and thy very fall shall conduce unto such a resurrection If this be the work of Christ to turn sinner from their sinnes then when Christ is about this work doe not hinder him he stands at the doore and knocks yea more calls To you O men I call whoso is simple let him turn in hither yea points this is the way walk in it nay and blocks up all other waies sometimes crosses and punishes the man in other courses hedges him up that he cannot finde his way convinces salts the soule with fire makes the mans own heart condemne him all this speakes Christ about his worke to turn thee from thy sinne and indeed if thou sinde these things Christ is at his worke hard O take heed of opposing and contradicting his glorious worke T is ordinary with men when conscience begins to awake and to smite when the Spirit begins to stirre to quench and stisle those things with more excesse of sinning to stop their eares when the call of Christ begins to sound loud in their conscience and so pâ—â—cke and pierce and bring sinne to remembrance why thou that thus doest art in league with sinne and death thou wilt not be turned from thy sinne therefore thou shalt die â—…rein and thou shalt know in death that 〈◊〉 was nigh thee and this will aggravate thy doom that the kingdom of God came so nigh thee I was travelling with thee Christ will say and thou couldst not beare the pangs of the birth I was lancing thy wound and thou couldst not endure it I would have healed thee and then thine iniquity broke out then thou ragedst when I set thy sinnes in order before thee and hadst rather be kild thy self then that I should kill thy sin If this be the work of Christ to turn sinners from their sinnes let not Christ want worke present your conditions unto him and desire him to undertake them Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that which endures to eve lasting life which the sonne of man shall give unto you for him hath the Father sealed Joh. 6.22 That this is Christs work should be made a ground of faith to us in going to him for he is under the Law of his place faithfull in all things to him that appointed him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Non non ejiciam saith the original and sealed him therefore he saith He that comes to him be will in no wise cast out Joh. 6.37 And hence that of the Apostle This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ came to save sinners the chiefe of sinners Let this point be of all acceptation unto you you that have slaine Christ and your own soules yet think what Christ is made unto you he is made to make you to new make you who have marred your selves and waites thus to be gracious his meat and drinke is to be pulling such brands out of the fire and to quench them before they be quite burnt Christ is able to subdue all things to himself as willing You have done thus thus saith God yet be not desperate I Sam. 12 20. so say I to you great sinners Finally when I say this is the proper worke of Christ to turn people from their sinnes it is not to be understood as if we should not be instrumentall in his hand the effecting of this worke is indeed upon one but the means in and by which he doth this beares upon many shoulders Magistrates Ministers yea every one that is turned is by the law of that very condition as converted to labour to convert others and as advantages are more so to be more instrumentall this way generall calling and particular calling both sometimes engage this way Offices in government have this scope to beare up God and to beat down that and be a terror to that which would deface him God hath a double power by which he doth his great workes in this world one secret and invisible in which he alone is of which see Gen. 1.4 And God saw the Light that it was good and God divided between the light and between the darknesse Since this act of separation light will not have communion with darknesse being parted they constantly keepe apart oppose and continually conflict and expell each other and this is by a secret power