God Whereby surely is not meant that the Father is subservient in either of these respects but the first Mover and efficient cause in both so is the Son also in the work of Creation though the Father is said to work by him for he saith John 5.17 My Father worketh hitherto and I work John 5.17.19 And what things soever the Father doth these do the Son likewise V. 19. As the Father therefore is the sole Creatour of all things so in like manner is the Son John 10.30 because the Father and the Son are both one the Father by the Son and the Son from the Father excluding only all Creatures in Heaven or in Earth from having any concurrency herein To conclude Peter Lombard's sense concerning this Point or rather S. Chrysostom's quoted by him will give us some clear light in this Mystery and it is indeed well worthy to be remembred by us The Father Lib. 2. Dist 13. saith he worketh by the Son Quia tum genuit omnium opificem Because he begat him in that ineffable and eternal Generation the Creatour of all things and if the Father be the cause of the Son secundum quod Pater est As he is Father much more is he the cause of those Creatures which are created by the Son Hence it appeareth John 5.26 that as the Father hath life in himself and hath given to the Son to have life in himself so the Father hath this honour soo modo ordine In his glorious Rank and Order to be the Creatour of all things and he hath given to the Son in his order likewise to be the Creatour too the like we may say also of the Holy Ghost in his Order Since then it is the priviledge of the Son by virtue of his Divine Generation to be entituled to this Honour in an equality with the Father let him be as the Apostle calleth him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Bringer forth of every Creature Col. 1.15 And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Authour the Beginner Rev. 3.14 the Prince of the whole Creation the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he and none but he He it was that stretched forth the Heavens alone Es 44.24 Psal 104.9 Ps 147.4 and did spread abroad the Earth by himself he made his Angels Spirits and his Ministers a flaming fire He telleth the number of the Stars and calleth them all by their names or as it is rendred Giveth names unto them He prepared the Light and the Sun Ps 74.16 Ps 104.19 Job 38.28 29. Job 38.22 Ps 135.7 Ps 33.7 Ps 24.1 the Moon also he appointed for seasons And what Father hath the Rain but he Or who but he hath begotten the drops of Dew Out of whose Womb came the Ice And the hoary Frost of Heaven who but he hath gendred it He created the treasures of the Snow the Hail and the Wind and he laid up the Depth in Storehouses The Earth is his and the fulness thereof whether it be in the Surface or in the Bowels of it the round World and they that dwell therein In fine the Apostle sums up altogether Col. 1.16 By him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in the Earth visible and invisible Col. 1.16 whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him And the Evangelist agrees in the same account saying All things were made by him John 1.3 and without him was not any thing made that was made Thus was Jesus Christ Yesterday that is in the beginning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the only he in the work of Creation He himself undertook it without the assistance of Angels whom Saturnius Basilides Cent 2. cap 5. and other Hereticks of old would obtrude upon him to be his Co-agents in the Work And he was likewise the same in carrying on his work there was no variableness in him whilest he continued in it exercising his Divine Artifice and Dexterity in the Magnitude Variety Multitude Distinction Order Harmony of his Creatures which he produced one day after another till all was finished At which time he look'd upon all with much complacency and delight beholding the Travel that he had gone over and was satisfied therewith not retracting the least thing that had passed through his fingers for he was not ashamed of his Work but set his Seal unto the whole giving this Testimony of it That it was all very good Gen. 1.31 With men indeed there is a marvellous mutability in their Works either they are not able to perfect what they begin and so are not the same when they have wearied themselves about their work as they were at first entrance upon it ashamed and vexed to see their expectations frustrated As it was with Solomon after he had stretched forth his uttermost Abilities which in truth surpassed all others to extract the most exquisite Spirits and purest Quintessence for his delight which the variety of the Creatures could afford how miserably alas was he deluded I locked saith he on all the works that my hands had wrought R◠2.11 and on the labour that I had laboured to do and behold all was vanity and vexation of spirit Or else they are not wise enough to carry on their Enterprizes to such a progress and maturity as may probably produce any desirable Issue being fain to sit down many times re infectâ even as wise as they began or out of envy they are not willing to impart their Experiments to others Plutarchus in vita Alex. As Alexander would not have Aristotle to publish his Acroamatical Sciences for wherein saith he shall we excel others if those things which thou hast secretly taught us be made common to all O! but the Lord Jesus Christ is the same all along in his Works shewing forth the immutability of his Wisdom Coodness and Power therein for by his Wisdom he made the Heavens and by his Wisdom he made the Worms Gen. 1.25 which though they may be generated by corruption Ps 136.5 Gen. 1.25 yet they had their Original by virtue of the Principles of the first Production caused by that Omnipotent Fiat which gave Being to all things and the smaller the Creature is the more is the Divine Workmanship to be admired both in the shaping and in the using thereof The Hebrews have an opinion as it is observed that Enchanters cannot shew their skill in little things if they be less then a Barley-corn and therefore the Sorcerers of Egypt failed in producing Lice Exod. 8.18 But the Wisdom of the great Creatour is the same in the smallest Creature of the World as in the greatest the organical body of a little Ant is no less to be wondred at then the huge body of Behemoth His goodness also is the same shining clearly throughout the whole Creation It was not out of any need that he began this Work
the same way if ever she will be Glorified with him Shee shall indeed drink of the same cup with him and be baptised with the baptism that he is baptised with but to sit together with him in his Throne of Triumph this undoubtedly shall not be till all the enemies of them both shall be subdued nor till his Testimony be given of her constancy and fidelity to him before his Father and before his Angels nor till the final sentence be pronounced which shall be her solemn admission and instalment into her Triumphant Glory And this Order must and shall be held and continued whatsoever vain Persons do deeme or dream of a preposterous inverting of it which inconstancy though it be common amongst Men Rev. 19 9. Ludolphus yet would be very uncomely for the God of order The Marriage feast that is to be kept betwixt Christ and his Spouse is by the Spirit of God sweetly called a Supper And why Eo quod est ultima refectio saith one because it is the last refreshing wherein all labour and travel being ended and care laid aside the Church shall enjoy everlasting quietness But when is it that the people of God shall rest from their labours Surely not till such time as they die in the Lord Rev. 14.13 And then when all the Guests are meet together the Lamb and his Bride taking their fills of love each with other then and not before is every evil removed all tears wiped away the righteous Souls of the Elect shall be no more vexed with the wickedness of impure Sodomites then shall they complain no more of the thorn in the flesh nor the body of death nor sing any more that jarring and lugubrious Song Why art thou cast down O my Soul and why art thou disquieted within mee For their Souls at his Supper are satisfied as with marrow and fatness then shall there be no more wily Serpent to beguile them no wrastling with temptations no strugling with flesh and bloud the onely exercise then will be to rejoyce to triumph to sing Hallelujah's to the Lamb who hath invited and brought them to this Supper which shall be a continual Feast unto them to all Eternity Let then Pift Monarchy Men and Millenaries go and learn better to construe the meaning of the Spirit of God in those scriptures wherein they have hitherto been grossely mistaken as in that concerning the Stone cut out without hands in the Prophecy of Daniel and that concerning the Thousand years in the Prophecy of the Evangelist Dan. 2.34 Rev. 20.4.6 for that Stone is already become not onely the Head of the Corner but a great Mountain also and hath filled the whole Earth and the thousand years if not already Expired and Superannuated yet of too narrow Limits to be a Boundary for that Kingdom which shall stand for ever and the restauration of all things which is to come is not within the compass of their Reckoning but shall certainly be when time shall be deplumed of all his feathers of years and moneths c. and return again into the Womb of Eternity The Second Resultancy holds out a Mirroir wherein we may see the Excellency of our Creation Though we be now brought very Low being in respect of our frailty like unto the Beasts that Perish yet fuimus Troes we had a Glorious Dominion given us of God over the works of his Hands as they were in their purest Being when none of the Works of the Divel were Mingled with them and as they shall bee again when they have passed through the Fire cleansed from all the Dross which now Hangs upon them A Dominion to which the Creature was willingly Subject which was their Glory and as it will be also hereafter when it shall delivered from the Bondage of Corruption A Glory in some respect like unto that which the Saints whom the King of Heaven delighteth to honour shall enjoy after the general Judgment unto all Eternity for so much doth that Restitution which the Apostle mentions imply A Life not much Inferiour to the Angels wherein there was a Familiar Converse with God himself the Light of God's Countenance shining clearly without the least Eclipse upon Man and Man beholding not as in a Glass but with open Face the Glory of God was not changed but stood firm in the Image of God with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory Excellent indeed was the Estate and admirable was that Honour in which our first Parents stood for a time I will not nor cannot say how long but probable it is that it was longer then it is commonly conceived to be For besides that the sixth Day is concluded by Moses with these words And God beheld all that he had made Gen. 1.31 and loe it was exceeding good so the Evening and the Morning was the sixth Day And besides the variety of things done after their Creation which required some Tract of time for their performance Besides these Considerations I say which are not to be sleighted that liberty which God gave unto Adam grounded upon a Command freely to eat of every Tree in the Garden excepting only one was made use of by him Gen. 2.16 17. as the words of Eve to the Serpent do import before their tampering about the forbidden Fruit We may saith she or we do eat as it is commonly read Vescimur of the Fruit of the Trees of the Garden but of the Fruit of the Tree which is in the midst of the Garden we eat not And what is the meaning of We eat but this we are wont to eat or we have according to God's Command and his gracious Indulgence and permission tasted of every Fruit of the Garden besides this Which being so I demand how this could be done in that short time of the latter part of that day wherein they were Created Surely the tasting of all so soon could hardly be justified from Luxury and waste of which they were not guilty in that their innocent and sinless estate and it seems to be very unlikely that they would offer to taste of the Fruit so bidden until they had tasted of the rest Then also it might be supposed they were well prepared for Satan's temptation for then and not till then the commendation of the forbidden Fruit as of a more excellent kinde then any of the rest of which they had formerly eaten might the better allure them both to touch and taste The consideration whereof may be a ground for this Conjecture wherein I have the Concurrency of a late learned Divine viz. Dr. Twiss That they continued some while after the day of their Creation in that excellent Glory Which I note the rather because God's goodness to his Creatures which he had so beautified with his own Image should have as large an extent as possibly can be upon good terms imagined by us And why we should limit it to a shorter time then is revealed I see not
He was Which Primogeniture of Christ's into the Brother-hood as it denotes his everlasting Regal Power and Superiority which we shall presently make appear so notwithstanding his Birth which happened to be afterwards in due time it was often signified in those first Ages of the World by the Precedency that was given to the Younger Brethren above the Elder happily that the People then might also discern somewhat of this Mystery which did so neerly concern them For Example those nine Patriarchs before the Floud who succeeded Adam in their several Generations we may say of them with very great Probability I had almost said with apparent Demonstration from the Scripture and so do writers both Antient and Modern Judge that They were not the Eldest Sons and First-born of their Parents Aug. de Civit. Dei Musculus but onely such Holy Eminent Persons whom God had according to the good Pleasure of his Will chosen out from among their Brethren in a successive uninterrupted Line to be the Progenitours of the Messiah The like is to be said of Sem Abraham Isaac Jacob Judah Pharez Aram David Solomon all Younger then their Brethren yet preferred before them And this I say Ab sit arrogantia verbo might possibly be so ordered by Divine Providence that the people of God might in all the preceding Ages acknowledge one that was to come after them for their Lord and Governour by virtue of his Primogeniture among them Yea John Baptist doth ingeniously acknowledge so much for himself and which may extend unto all Joh. 1.30 After me saith he cometh a man which is preferred before me for he was before me And in fine all those Types and Figures that were shadows of good things to come were the Praeludiums of his Inauguration to his Office but the effects and consequents of his Primogeniture which was at first given him of the Father The first Begotten then he was from the beginning which argues his Regal Power and Sovereignty that he had over all his Brethren for such Preheminence did belong to the first-born as appeareth in Scripture Gen. 4.7 Gen. 27.29.37 1 Sam. 20.29 And the Apostle saith that the Heir is the Lord of all Gal. 4.1 So S. Peter saith of Christ Act. 10.36 Act. 10.36 He is Lord of all which words are there enclosed with a Parenthesis but the sense and meaning thereof reacheth from the beginning of the World to the end of it Did not Abraham acknowledge Christ to be his Lord when he treated with him about Sodom Gen. 18.3.27.30 31. after he had appeared unto him in the Plains of Mamre And with how low a reverence doth he demean himself in that matter as became a Subject in his Address to his Lord and King Behold now I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord which am but dust and ashes And again O let not the Lord be angry and I will speak V. 27.30 Yea again and again with the most proper terms of Homage and acknowledgment of his Power doth he put up his Suit unto him and that it was Christ who then appeared to Abraham is not to be doubted considering the shape wherein he did appear viz. of a man which manner of Apparitions according to the concurrent judgment of Holy and Orthodox Writers was not used by either of the other persons of the Trinity but only by Jesus Christ and was the Prototype to his Incarnation And in regard that Abraham calleth him the Judge of all the World Act. 10.42 which is the Office of Christ For him saith the Apostle hath God ordained to be the Judge of Quick and Dead And because it is so plainly said The Lord that is this Lord who appeared unto and parted from Abraham Gen. 19. Rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord that is as an ancient Council interpreted it who did pronounce an Anathema against all those that affirmed the contrary that Christ the Lord did it from his Father the Lord out of Heaven Thus did Abraham Syrmiensis An. Dom. 356. Cent. 4. cap 9. Ps 110.1 and thus in like manner did David in Spirit call him his Lord as the Lord himself testifieth out of the Psalm when he said The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou on my right hand that is The Father the Lord said it unto Christ the Lord. If then David and Abraham two eminent persons whom the Evangelist by the Holy Ghost singleth out to be the Coryphaei the principal in the Line of the Progenitours of Jesus Christ did own him in their Generations for their supreme Lord and Governour and that also in a certain way of distinction from the Father though in a subordination unto him it may well be concluded that he was so by all others And let it be observed how Moses saith of himself that he was King in Jeshurun Deut. 33.5 But how could that be Deut. 33.5 1 Sam. 8.9 when the Kingly Government as it is described 1 Sam. 8.9 was not yet set up in Israel I answer this is not to be understood so much with a reference to the Political estate of that People as their Ecclesiastical in respect whereof Israel might in an especial manner be called Jeshurun from a word signifying Uprightness and Righteousness For though their Judicial Law which was the Soul of their Polity was a most righteous Law yet their Ceremonial Law which constituted them a Church was it that made them a righteous Nation before God giving them an interest in the Righteousness of God that is Jesus Christ whose Name is called the Lord our righteousness Jer. 23.6 Now because Moses did the work of a King in giving them this Law he might have the Title of a King given unto him when notwithstanding he was therein but Viceroy to Jesus Christ the supreme Lord of his people in all Ages And so a Viceroy is entituled elsewhere in Scripture as may be seen by comparing 2 Reg 3.9 2 Chr. 21.8 1 Reg. 22.47 Neither indeed was Moses any other for he saith the Apostle Heb. 3.5 was but a Servant in the house Christ was the Son and over his own house Moses had the Pattern given him in the Mount not only of the Form of the Tabernacle but every tittle and Iota of every Law by which that People were to be guided was there prescribed unto him and he was to do all things as became a Viceroy exactly according to that Pattern and Tenour neither adding unto it nor diminishing from it but Christ was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Ipse dixit the Legislator of the whole Law that Law I say which did distinguish the Israclites in their Polity from other Nations and Kingdoms viz. the Judicial Law and that Law which made them a Church above all people in the World viz. the Ceremonial Law and that Law which was a Rule of Righteousness not only unto them but to all Mankinde unto the end
compleating of his most glorious design in this day of his power he will most certainly get himself a name in casting it down and having commanded his Light to shine out of Darkness Joh. 1.5 though the darkness of mens hearts will not receive it yet his Commandment still continueth in force and his word runneth very swiftly In a word true and great and marvellous and invincible is the light of this day concerning which much might be spoken from the predictions of the Prophets who prophecyed of this day and much might be added from the triumphant exultations of the Apostles whose eyes were first opened to see the light of this day but there is no need to undertake any further the clearing of the truth of this point for the day it self doth declare it the Sun which is the light and life of this day being not onely risen but ascended and not onely risen and ascended but fixed in his Meridian never more to descend till time be no more Nescit occasum Let us therefore now come to improve it by some close Applications unto us all whose lot it is to live under this Light First Seeing that this time of the Gospel is such a Lightsome day we then that are the Children of the day are to take notice of those Duties which the day requireth of us First whereof is that we rejoyce and be glad in it Truely Light is sweet saith Solomon and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the Sun Eccles 11.7 1. Duty Ec. 11.7 How sweet then and pleasant a thing is it to behold the light of this day wherein the Glory of the Lord is risen upon the Church Es 60.1 as the Prophet foretold it should Es 60.1 That glory which since the beginning of the world was out of the reach and apprehension of any Creature which yet notwithstanding was earnestly longed for by the Holy and faithful Servants of God of old How happy would Abraham Isaac Jacob Moses David Hezekiah Josiah Esaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel c. have accounted themselves to have seen that Glory which is now revealed How full of joy would they have been in the light of this day wherein with open face we behold as in a Mirroir the Glory of the Lord saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 3. 2 Cor. 3.18 Nay wherein all flesh seeth the Salvation of God wherein the Word of God comes with power and evidence and Demonstration wherein the Spirit is shed forth abundantly in the hearts of Believers wherein knowledg covereth the earth even as the waters covers the seas so that God's people now need teach no more every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother the sense and meaning of the Shadows and Ceremonies of old saying Jer. 31.34 Know the Lord the Lord whom these things do typifie and so far as such carnal Ordinances are able make known unto you for now is fulfilled that which then the Lord promised saying they shall all know me from the least of them to the Greatest of them The whole Mystery of Godliness is now clearly revealed in so much that they who are endued with the Spirit of God know all things yea 1 Job 2.20 Act. 2.17 even Children and Handmaidens people of all sorts and Sexes understand more fully the Doctrine of Salvation then the Prophets and great Rabbies of old could be able to reach into And therefore it is worth our considering how emphatically the Spirit of God in scripture doth found out this word now in reference to the great glory of this day of the Gospel to that very end that all who are I say Children of the Day may see the Light and rejoyce in it Observe some instances Behold now is the accepted time now is the day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6.2 Now is manifested the Righteousness of God Rom. 3.22 2 Cor. 6 2. Rom. 3.22 Eph 3.10 Eph. 3.5 Col. 1.26 1 Joh. 2.8 Now is made known the manifold Wisdom of God Eph. 3.10 The Mystery which was hidden from Ages and Generations is now revealed Eph. 3.5 Col. 1.26 The Darkness is past the true Light now shineth 1 Joh. 2.8 Now Now Now implying that now and never before the dawning of this day there was a light in the world to be reckoned of the highest value O blessed and happy Day And for ever and ever blessed be that good Providence of Heaven that hath brought us to see the Light of this Day making it unto us a good Day A Day of good tidings A day of Reconciliation with the God of Heaven A Day of joy and gladness Let us therefore I say again and again rejoyce and be glad in it Let the Children of the World glory some in their carnal wisdom some in their strength some in their riches But let us glory in this that we underl and and know the Lord. Now in this serene and joyful day of his gracious visitation did Abraham with great pleasure and rapture of spirit rejoyce to see this day afar off and shall not we now rejoyce when it is at hand yea when it comes upon us and the Light of it shineth round about us Surely we are not Abrahams Children unless we do the works of Abraham and if herein we do not rejoyce we are not of the Faith of Abraham and consequently shall not be blessed with him Objection But alas you 'll say this day is a day of trouble of rebuke and blasphemy of trouble to the Churches of Christ throughout the world of rebuke for God is angry with the world for sin of Blasphemy the Provocations wherewith God is provoked every day being very great reaching up into Heaven And should we now rejoyce Answer I Answer It is indeed a day of trouble to the people of God and possibly if they had rejoyced more for the consolation which their eyes have seen they had not seen so much trouble upon them as they do this day But nevertheless albeit there be so great and sore afflictions lying upon the Churches which all the Children of the Day must be sensible of yet in the midst of all this sorrow there is cause of rejoycing for why it is not a Night of trouble wherein no succour or comfort can be found but the Light of the Lord so shineth out before his people that they may plainly see his good works which with an out-stretched arme he hath wrought and still doth for their deliverance Ps 112.4 Vnto the Righteous saith the Psalmist Ps 112.4 Ariseth Light in Darkness that is in the darkest times of trouble then hath their light of comfort been wont to arise most And therefore though in some respect the day be somewhat cloudy yet it is not a Dismal Day though the Affliction be great yet the consolations of God are not so small with us but we may glorifie God in this day and rejoyce before him True you 'll say But alas we remember
God Num. 16.10 shall suddenly bring certain ruine upon them as the like sin did on Korah and his Complices therefore Away with it Lastly Away with that evil spirit of Rebellion against Regal Authority which eminently possessed that decemvirate of Traitours who have been justly executed for their Treason A Spirit that appeared like an Angel of Light but proved as black and ugly as any that came out of the bottomless pit A Spirit that hath brought such a stench and smoke with it that the Sun and the Aire of the Gospel is even darkned thereby Yea let all Ages be examined there shall never be found in any Nation such a black vaile drawn over the face of true Religion since it was established in the World as hath been by the treachery of those Persons that were fascinated with this Spirit When a Christian Prince as well deserving of the Church as ever any that sat upon a throne the most able Protectour of the Protestant Profession hath under a pretence of Religion been barbarously murdered by them and made a prey to their ambitious lusts and impious designes Yet these are the men whose example our objectours propose as a pattern of courage and constancy for their imitation If indeed to encourage themselves in an evil matter so as not to be terrified in the prosecution of it by the approaches of death and their appearance before the great God hath made them fit to be exemplary to those that undertake to be their Advocates let them be canonized for Saints whom the World not onely Christian but Heathen hath hitherto abhorred as bloud-thirsty and deceitful men But so long as the Word and Statute law of the most high God is in force and remains unretracted it is not their constancy in their treason to the death nor their smooth language how spiritual soever it seemed to be wherewith they left the World that shall come up in remembrance before God at the last day to their comfort if they died in the justification of that guilt for which they were condemned No unclean thing saith the Holy Ghost must enter into Heaven And amongst all pollutions that of bloud upon the conscience is in the sight of God most filthy True it is they neglected the body to use the Apostles word but what advantage will that be to them if they likewise neglected the soul History will tell us it is no newes to hear of a resolved obstination and obsirmation of mind in the suffering of death There was Attilius Regulus and Cato Vticensis and Anaxarchus and many more who for their Countreys sake or some such worldly respect Tunde tunde Anaxarchi fellem non enim tundis Anaxarchum have been very prodigal of their lives Some of them with admirable patience contented to endure most exquisite torments Of them we may say in the words of our Saviour they had their reward Their highest aime was to be reckoned good Patriots or men of valour and accordingly hath same fixt upon them a marke of renown to this very day But what reward shall be given unto these who cannot be reputed by any that are rational fit to triumph in their death upon any honest account in the least degree What I say shall be done unto such false tongues and false hearts and hands full of bloud We must leave the determination thereof to the righteous judge who will render to every man according to his doings We should not I confess have thus stept aside to make this rehearsal of the flagitious wickedness of such unworthy persons whose memory will be odious to all Generations had it not been necessary to undeceive others who are prone to applaud and justifie them because of their seeming fortitude at the time of their death In which regard neither will it be amiss to minister a little eye-salve to such poor deluded people that their eyes may be opened to see their folly and to convince them by some clear demonstrations of the falsehood of those men whom they so highly magnifie I called it a Seeming Fortitude which these Traitors shewed at their death and well I might For notwithstanding all the vainglorious flourishes of holiness and constant perseverance in their Cause reall it could not be Besides the failing of virtue in it which is essential to all true Fortitude and which the very Heathen have judged to be inseparable from it Plutarchus in vita Coriolani insomuch that they conceived there could be no Virtue without Fortitude nor no Fortitude without Virtue What constancy or Christian fortitude could be in them when after they perceived that the Law did take hold upon them to bring them to their condign punishment they would then all on a sudden pretend to an undantedness of spirit in their justification whereas some few dayes before while they were upon their Trial the greatest number of them did sue for mercy pretending a claim to his Majesties pardon which must needs carry with it an Implicite acknowledgment of guilt With what face could Axtell at his death make his boast of the Cause professing that if he had a thousand lives he could lay them all down for it when at his tryal as he said he had endeavoured to obtain the mercy and favour of his Majesty And that when some witnessed against him that he did beat the souldiers because they did not at his bidding cry out against the King for justice and execution he shifted it off thus saying That it was more probable because they did cry out for justice and execution he did therefore strike them using these words I 'll Justice you I 'll Execution ye And what constancy did appear in Cook the most zealous of them all when the words he uttered at his death contradicted his pleadings at his tryal for his life as the book set forth with too partial a respect unto him doth relate At his death he exprest himself in this manner I am satisfied that the Cause that is that which was maintained against the King is the most noble and glorious Cause that hath been agitated for God and Christ since the Apostolical times Such a Cause that the Martyrs would gladly come again to suffer for if they might And though too many object against me that of the Apostle 1 Pet. 4 15. Let none of you suffer as a murtherer yet I look upon it as a most noble and high act of Justice that our Story can parallel And so far as I had a hand in it never any one action in all my life comes to my minde with less regret or trouble of conscience then that doth Now compare this with what was sworn against him at his tryal and those excuses and evasions he then used to shift off his Charge One of the witnesses that appeared having been of his intimate acquaintance affirmed upon oath Mr. Natley That when he understood that the said Cock was employed as a Solicitour against the King he desired
are now really and in truth delivered out of Babylon Admit that our Liturgy be found in the manner of some expressions and translation of it fit to be changed for the reasons of expediency and condescension wherein nevertheless we are for the churches sake to submit to the wisdom of those in whose power it is to order that change yet as it is considering the woful effects which the want of it hath produced and in regard of the reasons before specified it will well become all that fear God heartily to rejoyce at its Restauration Admit also which yet without contradicting the Holy Ghost cannot be granted that Episcopacy were as bad in its own nature as Schismaticks would make it yet it must be acknowledged to be far better then that Anarchy in the Church which was projected by the late Sect of Over-turners for their own sinister ends But it is now manifest that this despised persecuted Episcopacy is not an humane Ecclesiastical ordinance but Divine and therefore it is that Government under which we may have the greatest confidence that Religion may flourish and our souls may prosper Especially when we look upon those grave and reverend persons who are preferred to that office and charge and finde them according to his gracious MAJESTIES Declaration Concerning Ecclesiastical affairs men of learning virtue and piety such of whom the world is not worthy if it should still persist in enmity against them I name none for by their works and by their sufferings you may know them Onely let that free and faithful Speech uttered in a Sermon before his Majesty that now is whom God long preserve at the time of his Coronation shew what manner of spirit a Bishop may be of when he is employed in his Masters business in preaching the Gospel Apr. 23.1661 which was this Those persons meaning Kings and Princes that can be punished by none but God shall be sure to be most severely punished by God if because they can be punished by none but him they presume the more to sin against him What a thunder clap is this to be rattled in the ears of a King when he is in the height of his temporal glory Let any now or all of that sort of people who are apt to cry out Away with Bishops but try a little their own spirits and see whether at any time they have been or can be more faithful in speaking of Gods testimonies in such an audience and not be dismayed I say therefore again Let not the people of this Nation any more be such enemies to the Gospel of Christ and their own souls as to say Away with Liturgy and Away with Episcopacy rather we should say Away with Schisme and that virulency of spirit which hath too much prevailed upon us in these later times against those things that are so consonant to the holy Scriptures Away with pride which we have experimentally found to be the Mother of contention and the fore-runner of confusion whose swellings of late with scorn and contempt have superabounded Her Children pretending to tread down the pride of others Pro. 13.10 Pro. 16.18 have with the faces of Sodom and Gomorrah done it with a greater pride Away with hypocrisy and dissembling holiness which hath ever been accounted a double iniquity It is the best servant the Devil hath and shall have answerable wages above all the rest Mat. 24.51 This is that Crocodile that could weepe and houle when it had a design to destroy and swallow us up quick That Jezebel that could proclaim a fast when she projected cruelty and oppression That Pharisee that could make long prayers when poor Widows and Orphans houses were at the end of his devotion That Judas that would kiss and betray in the same breath cry All hail and in the very instant smite under the fift rib therefore Away with it Away with self-seeking that hath cramb'd the bags and fill'd the coffers of covetous earth-worms with the ruines of their Country Away with Heresie and Blasphemy The one cuts the throat of truth which should be dearer unto us then our lives And the other flies in the face of God Almighty and bids defiance against Heaven Both which I dare say have a deeper place in Hell then Superstition yet both of them rode circuit about this Nation while it stood un-Churched by our divisions and unkinged by our sins Away with that Image of Jealousie that Anti-Catholick and Anti-Christian Toleration which for politick ends and purposes hath cunningly yet most profanely been cryed up as the common interest of Sion that God takes care of as if an abomination of desolation were now become the Churches glory And the way to preserve truth in its purity were to blend it with Errour Had this cursed project continued as it began well might that Machiavellian principle in time have passed for sound doctrine viz. That all shall be saved in their own Religion though the Church of this Kingdom would as it was once said sooner have become the Devils dancing-schole then Gods Temple In the mean time those poor Superstitious Malignants that durst shew themselves in the behalf of Liturgy and Episcopacy must be sure above others to be exempted from this indulgence and so left to perish without any remedy doubtless this juggling did rouse up the jealousie of the Almighty and therefore it was high time to send it packing Away with Irreverence Profaness Looseness Sordidness in the Service of the Holy and Dreadful God which in the judgement of all that are truely pious is far worse then that other extreme of overmuch Curiosity and Superstition This in some kinde preserving supporting exalting Religion The other desacing suppressing trampling upon it Finally Away with Despising Dominion and speaking evil of Dignities Jud. v. 8. which Saint Jude condemneth v. 8. that is as it is probable by the purport of his Epistle such dominion and such dignities as were then settled in the Church against which Diotrephes and his crew would be still carping or as it is v. 19. Separate themselves Upon which despisers the same Apostle pronounceth Gods vengeance which hath a measure reaching even to all those who are this day guilty of the same sin Jud. v 2. Wo unto them saith he they have gone in the way of Kain persecuting Christs servants because they are preferred and accepted before them even as Cain did his brother Abel And ran greedily after the errour of Balaam for reward pouring out their curses upon the poor Church of God in hope to enrich themselves by the spoils of it And perish in the gain saying of Corah Their contempt of and insurrection against Church Governours Bishop Andrews thus argueth No man could perish in the gain-saying of Korah under the Gospel which St. Jude saith they may if there were not a superiority in the Clergy for Korahs mutiny was because he might not be equal to Aaron appointed his superiour by