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A44247 The doctrine of life, or, Of mans redemption, by the seed of Eve, the seed of Abraham, the seed of David, &c. as it was taught in severall periods of time, from Gen. 3. 15. till Christ came in the flesh, to fulfill all typicall prefigurations of him by his death : wherein also sundry other fundamentall points are discussed and cleared from some common mistakes : as Daniels chronologie of seventy sevens, which is cleared from the uncertainty which too many expositors have unadvisedly cast upon it : and about the Jewes calling, that it must not be understand of any return to Canaan, or of their restauration to a perspicuous common wealth any more, but of the calling of a remnant of them to the faith, in the countries where they live dispersed : and with the true nature of our Lords sufferings, with sundry other such like points, as may be seen in the table : propounded by way of question and answer, with annotations thereunto annexed : divided into three parts / by Edward Holyoke of New-England. Holyoke, Edward, d. 1660. 1658 (1658) Wing H2534; ESTC R22353 401,616 468

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calling c. Ephes 1. 3. this is a mercy past evpression that God should make a covenant with such as we are this is the radix of all and therefore it is said 1. That they were his peculiar treasure 2. A Kingdome of Priests 3. And holy Nation 4. God placed his Tabernacle among them and 5. called them the Kingdome of God and the joyfull shout of so just good and mercifull a King was among them Who can but shout with all exultation if we did but understand our own comfort These things and other Scriptures shew they were under a covenant of grace if we be they were for their spirituall priviledges and promises are now conferred on us 2 Cor. 6.16 Apot. 21.3 Ephes 2. and 3.1 Pet. 2. conferred with Exod. 29.45 Levi● 25 23. and 26.12 D●ut 7.6 7 8. now as Israel was Gods peculiar treasure so the Gentiles called to the faith are T it 2.14 this well considered will make the Doctrine of Anabaptistrie to be abhorred of us touching our infants 6. If reformed churches can make it good that they are under a corenant of grace and we may truly say it blessed be the name of the Lord then they were and we could not be so but because their priviledges are transacted to the wild olives and we are graffed into their olive tree we received from them all our glory all our spirituall things for Christ our salvation and all his holy Doctrine is of and from them I will collect some brief heads of Doctrine which were taught believed and professed in the common Weal of Israel 1. They had the Doctrine of the Trinity and Unity Deut. 6.4 2. They had the Doctrine of election and rejection Psalm 65. Exod. 9.16 and 33.19 3. They had the Doctrine of the great mysterie of godlinesse God manifested in the flesh to be a second Adam and to be a sin-offering and to rise from death the third day Gen. 3.15 and 12 3. Gen. 49. and they went three times a year according to the Testimony to Israel to testifie their faith in this this was the main 4. They were taught that the Father the Word and the Spirit one infinite nature created the world Psalm 33.6 Prov●● 5. They were taught that the Father had committed all power to the Son for governing the church and the world Psal 2. and 8. and 110. Gen. 19.24 Exod 23.20 21 22. all expound Gen 3.15 6. They were taught justification by faith in Christ Gen 4 and 15 Heb. 11. 7. They were taught Sanctification Be ye holy for I am holy Levit. 19 2. 8. Under Moses Polity they had hope and rest in Christ Psal 130. Ephes 2. Jer. 6.16 and 50.7 Mat. 11.29 Christ complained they had forgotten him their resting place he was the rest of the Saints evermore Jer. 50 6 7. the Apostle saith the Gentiles were without hope but Israel had hope in Christ both for remission of sinnes and eternall glory Eph. 2.12 Ezra 10.2 9. The spirituall graces of Circumcision and the Passeover were required and so practised Deut. 10.16 and 30.6 Exod. 12. Heb. 11.28 1 Sam. 1.7.36 10. The heavenly inheritance was taught them Levit 25.23 11. They were taught to account themselves strangers and sojourners in this cursed world Levit. 25 23. and so David taught his generation 1 Chron. 29 and so believed himself Psal 39. 12. They had hope in the Resurrection Job 19. Psal 49. Exod. 3.6 Mat. 22 32. 13. They had the holy Spirit to lead them in all holy wayes 2 Cor 4. to write the Law in their hearts to seal to them all holy Doctrine of the word whether promises threatnings commandements all good examples c. One may make a large volume of this Subject I think this question may be asked what one new doctrine is taught in the new Testament that the Saints of the old Testament knew not when grievous crimination of heresie by the Councel were laid to the Apostles charge he protesteth he taught no new principles Acts 14.15 16 17. and 26.7 now if the common-Wealth of Israel had all this holy doctrine they must needs be under a covenant of grace CHAP. XXXI A Prosopopeia on Solomomons fall by the Temptations of his idolatrous wives to the ruine of his Kingdome and posterity in granting them the liberty of conscience for the practice of their idolatrous Rites framed by way of Dialogue between King Solomon and Tirzana the Queen TI●zana being a Princesse of the house of Moab and being called for did enter into the presence of King Solomon and after some dalliance with her and after she had fitted his humour by giving him all the best content she could she took the opportunity and said my Lord King Solomon I have an humble Request to make unto your gracious Majesty I pray you say me not nay K. What is that my sweet Ti●zana Q. My most gracious Lord and Soveraign I have been some years with you though you have often spoken to me to be a Proselite to the Religion of Israels common-weal yet I cannot bring my heart unto it you well know that my education was not in the way manner of Israel and my affection is not toward it it is not so pleasing to me for I cannot forget my fathers house nor forsake his Religion In this case I shall blemish my father and my mother brethren and sisters and people in case I should apostatise from our ancient Religion and in my opinion far the better we have more zeal in ours and many moe pleasures to give man and woman content than is in your profession your Religion is very crosse to mans nature and is urged with great terrour and strictnesse your Religion reproves thoughts words and most mens actions no Religion under heaven doth so as yours and that makes so few to embrace it Yea many of Israel have formerly been more addicted unto ours and the worships of neighbours Nations than to this of Israel and they will not follow it but by compulsion of Governors whereas religious worships should be freely exercised according to every mans conscience when if your subjects should be left unto you well know which way the ride will run it is a pitifull thing that man of a noble and free spirit should be so tyred with hard injunctions and heavy burdens as with bands cords and fetters and it may be that reformation that your noble Father indeavoured and your selfe have prosecuted would not and will not be so convenient as due liberty which would be a more noble design than rigid reformation And if Antiquity make things reverend then our Religion is more ancient or if not more yet as equall for Antiquity for ought I can learne I am but a poor Historian being a woman but I am able to prove the Religion of our God Chemosh to be above four hundred and fifty years old This I can attest and prove by your own Records and you had yours
28 saith Andrew to his brother Simon We have found that Messias which is by intepretation the Christ and Phili●i finds Nathanael and said unto him we have found him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write All the Prophets did write of Christ but none named him Messias the attribute of a proper name but Daniel from the Angels message and the same Angel was sent to Mary to name him Jesus so both those names were given to the SON of GOD not by man but from heaven so in their blessed and heavenly society these speeches were uttered and confessed Christ to be the Son of God to be the Son of man to be the King of Israel and the Messias the Holy of Holinesse and the Ladder of all comfort 4. And Martha's conference with our Lord is most comfortable and full of faith shewing what they all expected and believed I believe thou art the Christ the Son of God that should come into the world to be our life and Resurrection John 5. 5. Pilates speech to the Jews is of great force What shall I do then with JESVS which is called MESSIAS Christ They all said Let him be c●ucified This looks to Dan. 9. Psal 22. where it is said Messias shal● suffer Mat. 27. 6. The questions that were in agitation among the Jews at this time will brighten this matter the signes of the times as our Lord speaketh gave them occasion of moving many questions when John Elies came teaching and baptizing the Jews sent Priests and Levites to ask him Who art thou and he conf●ssed and denied not and plainly confessed I am not the Messias the Christ Yea the Jews did so expect the Messias that all men mused that John was the Messias they were hardly driven off from the conceit they were to taken with him Luke 3.15 Iohn 1. Therefore this is a strong argument that Dan. 9.24 c. must of absolute necessity be believed to be a proper speech and definitive for the time MESSIAS coming to satisfie the consciences of the faithfull And for that also our Lord foretold of false Christs that would arise as immediately they did and deceived many as our Lord said unto them I am come in my Fathers name and ye receive me not if another shall come in his own name him ye will receive John 5. Therefore he said Search the Scriptures c. and very likely Mr. P. if he had then lived would have been a deceiver and deceived and a false Prophet or a false Christ if he had not believed Daniels Prophesie to be a most clear exact and definitive time from Daniels prayer to the death of MESSIAS So Iohn-Elias sent his disciples to Christ to stablish them in that which he their Master had acknowledged When Iohn being in prison heard of the works of Messias i. e. Christ he sent two of his disciples and said unto him Art thou he that should come or shall we look for another The times did call for all these questions being but a little before the ending of the seventy sevens 7. The adjuration of the Priest to the Lord is very considerable Mr. P. If he had been of the Councel he xitld have objected to him that the seventy sevens were ended long before he was b●●n The high Priest and the whole Synedrion could not nor did challenge the Lord for the time of 70. sevens so where no doubt or question was ●●va answer needed but the high Priest and most of the Jews thought him too base for such a Messias as they expected and so adjured him to answer to this I adjure thee by the living God to tell us if thou be the Messias the son of the blessed God and Christ answered affirmatively 8. Many weighty arguments depend on these things of Dan. 9.24 as 1 Iohn 4. Every spirit which confesseth Iesus to be the Messias the Holy of Holy is come in the flesh to be a son of man Dan. 7. is of God and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus to be the Messias the Christ is come in the flesh to be a son of man is not of God 1 Iohn 5.1 whosoever believeth that Iesus is the Messias is born of God not simply or barely a confession of the attribute Messias i. e. Christ but a right apprehension of his person and offices Rom 10. his person that he is the son of man Dan. 7. and the holy of holy as touching the spirit of holinesse that raised him from the dead God dwelt in the Messias who is God blessed for ever nor onely to confesse this of his person a Locust from the bottomlesse pit as Satan will chirp out this but to confesse Iesus to be Messias experimentally in our minds and hearts in his offices as he is Prophet Priest and King All the three Offices of Christ as he is Prophet Priest and King are in Dan. 9.24 c. to be Messias Nagid Christ the King that all power is his by donation from the Father to command and rule the Church to restrain apostasie and all adverse power and that he suffered not for himself but for us who by his precious death hath abolished our sinnes and wrought reconciliation for iniquity and hath brought everlasting justification by his once offering up of himself and that he hath sealed vision and Prophesie that we need not expect new revelations that he made himself manifest to be the holy One of God by his Resurrection Ascension and sitting at the right hand of the Power in the higstest heavens and from thence sent gifts to furnish his Church with Offices and officers to teach and gather the elect out of the world to open their eyes to turn them from darknesse to light from the power of Satan to God that they might receive forgivenesse of sinnes and inheritancce among them which are sanctified by the faith which is in him Christ hath confirmed in his Testament all this holy doctrine for the many Jew and Gentile and the Jews for despising the blood of the Covenant have felt to this day the heavy burthen of their own imprecation Matth. 27 25. as their Fathers Num. 14.2 c. All this the holy Apostle Iohn meant and much more unutterable that the Lord Jesus Messias became such a person to be such a mediatour and that testimonie in due time according to the prophesie 1 Tim. 2.6 And the spirit is peremptory and saith whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in this doctrine of Messias which is called Christ hath not God he that continueth in this doctrine of Christ he hath the Father and the Son 2 Iohn 9. 9 It will not be uselesse altogether to observe what Taci●us Suctonius Iosephus speak that in all the Romane Empire it was divulged in Augustus caesars dayes that a King should arise in Iudea that should rule all the world This is evident by the Persique Magi. They having discerned an unusall Comet in the air which did
and out of whom wee neither have nor can do nothing But following the truth in Love as the truth of this healing Doctrine is to be sought and found only in JESUS we grow up in all points into him which is the head even Christ himselfe by whom all the body conveniently joyned and fastned together by every point of the furuit●re according to the operation of the spirit which is in measure of every severall part reneweth increase of the body unto the edifying of it selfe in Love A proud Laodicean Arminian thinkes and speaks contrary which shewes he is not only ignorant of Christ and his learning but of his own naturall Philosophy Nosce teipsum What naturall abilities did and would worke we see Jer 4.22 Job 28. Rom. 1.1 Cor. 1. But no change of heart to fear God in Christ here heathens who could say Video meliora deteriora sequor might see further with the Apostle Rom. 7.23 c. But man sold unto sin can neither hear nor see where God openeth not the eyes and here the spirit teacheth the godly to groan with sighings unspeakable See Mr. Bro. upon Lam. 1.11 When we read in the holy scriptures or elsewhere of errours in judgement and sins in practise in heathens and others then refer all hither to thinke upon the poyson of the serpent breathed into the natures of our first Parents which could never by all humane learning be healed The truth is man is most adverse to be cured till Christ by his word and spirit illuminate and quicken The Pharisees were the most excellent of all naturalists yet they could not attain to the Law of Righteousnesse or freedome from sin and guilt Rom. 7.8 9 10.11 chapters Phil. 3.3 4 5. c. The plaine reason is they despised to know this glorious hidden mystery of Christ the second Adam and missed the meaning of the Law In the 6. Quest N. 3. Doth rule all ages The second Adam and his doctrine is the light the way the truth and the life to all generations The song of all ages is Salvation is of our God and of the Lambe Apoc 5 9. and Chap. 7.10 11 12. This is the true Catholik faith faith in Christ ever one and the same although the outward Administration did differ Psal 100.5 119.89 135.13.1 Pet. 1. JESUS CHRIST yesterday and to day is the same also for ever Christ the Rock of all ages Esa 26 4. Ebr. 13.2 John 1.2 He that cometh to God must beleeve that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently by faith in Christ Jesus seek him This is a ruled case from the beginning No man cometh to the Father but by the Son The cloud of witnesses from Habell to our Lords dayes confirmeth this Ebr. 11. all of it And the clouds shall not catch up any to glory but those of the same holy faith This faith is the charge and commandement of the Lord which the Saints are to keepe inviolable from age to age without spot of heresie or vanity of mans traditions In Q. 6. N. 4. To this faith he calleth his elect The faith of Gods elect is glory and the righteous Nation that keepeth it entire and walketh in it is a most glorious people not the like in the earth if we consider the King of Saints his Lawes his government and the purity of his subjects Of this company of faithfull soules and their King their endearednesse each to other the Canticles singeth yea all the holy stories shew the same from the first to the last Prov. 8.31.2 John 9. Ibid. N. 5. Great disputations contentions c. Here is the faith and patience of the saints here are they that keep the commandements of God and the faith of JESUS Apoc. 13. and 12. and 14. When the Lord God spake that of Gen 3.15 fire was cast into the Earth and a sword was sent ever since there hath been divisions factions and contentions Three against two and two against three Hitherto pertaine all the warrs plottings devises deceits slanderings cavillations mockings ●sco●nes scoffings geerings thrasonicall boastings murders massacres treasons c. of them of that wicked one It is not liberties and states that the Seed of he Serpent so much shoots at but blood All that will live goldly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution and yet in all tryalls whatsoever faith is victorious Christ sometimes builds his Jerusalem Temple street and wall in troublous times Note whereas sufferings might be just punishments for sin the Lord God in his unspeakable goodnesse and in honour to the Saints maketh them to be for testimony to his truth And his Angells by Satan Many cases of conscience arise out of this if Christ bruise Satans power how is it that we suffer so many trialls hence many doubtings feares teares distractions unrulinesse of passions Psal 73.1.1 Sam. 27.1 All is answered Rom. 8.17 18. Dan. 11.35 Mat. 10.1 Pet. 1.1 John 15. and 16. and God over-ruleth all for the good of his children Apoc. 1.18 Psal 33.10 and 76.10 and 94.19 and 119.75.2 Cor 1. Phil. 4 5.6.7 Heb. 12. Be humble and live the life of faith with temperate affections and in the sober use of all good means and all wil be well 1 Cor. 7.29 30 31 32. The spirituall armour belongs hither Eph. 6 Afflictions are compared to darknesse to waves of the sea c. God can still them Psal 89. and 93. wee looke not to the decree of God concerning sufferings Gen. 3.15 that it must be so wee propound selfe ends in profession of the Gospell Verily we do not consider why we were borne and for what cause we came into the world if we did all reasonings of our hearts would be silenced then let us meditate that good confession that the Lord Jesus witnessed before Pilate Iohn 18.37 In Q. 6. N. 6. Brotherly love holding one another dear This is and was the message that was taught from the beginning 1 Iohn 3.11 Kains and Habells story is there remembred This 6 point is the summ of the second Table and handled by exposition and example continually See the later part of the Epistles to the Churches to Rome Corinth Galatia Ephesians Colessians Heb 10.24.25 Act. 4.32 Psal 133. Ioh 15. compare 1 Iohn 3.23 and 4. ult 2 Iohn 5.6.2 Tim. 1.13 In Q. 6. N. 6. And to have no fellowship This enmity and warr of Michael and his Angells against the Dragon and his Angells cannot and therefore must not be reconciled it is a cursed worke to endeavour it And indeed either side holds one another Anathema God hath put the enmity betweene the seeds and who shall joyne that which God by principles of unreconcilable distance hath perpetually divorced and separated it was never yet reconciled though Satan and his prophets and the false brethren in their owne ungracious projects have laboured Gen. 6.2.3.4 c. Numb 31.16 Apoc. 2. Iud 2. and 3.1 King 11.1 and in Nehemiahs and Ezras dayes
two Witnesses and the mark of the Beast And the decay of the mystery of iniquity QUest 1. Who kept the Testimony of Jesus and the word of God that came from Sems Tents in the times of the rising and height of the Pontificality Answ Many in the times of the rising of it and there were here and there two Witnesses some that followed the true Lamb and that in the height of it prophecyed misliked and cryed out against the proceedings of the mystery of iniquity But this company were not so conspicuous and visibly glorious being for divers Hundreds of years driven as into a Wilderness through a red sea of fire and fagot by the Beast of the Bottomless pit the counterfeit Lamb and the prevailing faction of his six hundred sixty six apostatical number yet at the last the Brethren overcame by the bloud of the Lamb and by the word of their Testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death QUest 2. Then the papacy would not bear with such as contested against it Answ Christs faithful witnesses were caused to mourn in Sackcloath No man might buy or sell that would not Worship the Image of the Beasts imperial State re-erected in the Pontificality Like their forefathers the servants of servants the cursed Canaanice Deut. 2.28 29. and receive the Mark of the Beast in his hand or forehead or the name of the Beast or at least be of the number of his name yea else were most cruelly used as is said throughout their large Common-weal That Whorish Church was and is drunk with the bloud and martyrs of Jesus QUest 3. What do you understand to be the mark of the Beast Answ The Popes Canon-Law telleth that none may live under the Empire but by yielding to the Popes Lawes in his subscribing to his Imperial and Ecclesiasticall Supremacy and oath of fidelity as a mark on the hand and some open token of communion with him and profession of his decrees as a mark in the forehead The saying of the Ave Maria went over all to the poor beggars and reverence to the cross and comming to their most wicked Mass Forbidding and refraining from reading and teaching the holy Scriptures but for licensed and auricular Confession Briefly all differing from their Dracons Lawes were heretiques and mightnot use policy having not the marks of his Politie QUest 4. Did then the Pontificalitie and Papacy as the old Empire porsecute the faith of the Prophets and Apostles doctrine Answ Yea for it is said that the latter Beast like a Lamb with two horns did all that the former Beast did He had the voice and speach of the Dracon Caesars and did maintain the same War against the * For the wars of the dragon Caesars and dragon-Pope● see former notes Saints and for the same cause and that was the keeping of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus And this is the very mark of those that have Gods Name in their Foreheads Note as the old Beast-like enemies fought against the faith of Jerusalem Sems Tents and the People of God so Rome-Egypt Rome-Babylon with like cruelty and intestine hatred both in the Caesars and Popes against the same glorious faith of Jerusalem the holy City that came down from heaven Kain began the War the Pontificality and Papacy follow Kains waies The former be stamps of the latter As there is a like revolution of time so there is of other matters of Christs administration QUest 5. But the mystery of Iniquity the spiritual Supremacy did not still continue in that strength and repute in the Christian world as it had in former times Answ The Apostle foretold that the Lord Jesus would consume that wicked that man of sin and his corporation with the Spirit of his mouth and abolish it with the brightnesse of his coming so the fifteenth century the Lamb the King of mount Sion appeared with one hundred and forty four thousand attending on him who caused the Gospel to break out again and the light of it in the holy city increased to our daies that Christ the Sun of Iustice shineth and reigneth in England Scotland France Germany c. Blessed be his glorious name And let the four and twenty Elders and the sour lively Wights and all that fear God both small and great give thanks and sing Hallelujahs with all hearty courage as Apocal. 15. 19. QUest and Ans 6. Shall the Papacy be still decreasing Ans Yea for the preaching of the eternal Gospel falleth Rome-babylon and buildeth Jerusalem This the Sword of Christs mouth hath consumed the Kingdome of the Beast and chiefly through this Abaddon the son of perdition the angel of the bottomless pit and his cursed earthly politie and corporation shall be perishing to the end and is every day going to utter perdition QVest 7. But the Polity of Rome Egypt is strong by power and subtill counsells through the Kings and Princes that give their power to the Beast and through the swarms of innumerable Locusts and all his Worshippers all which are confederate with him and say b So said the Atheists of old Egypt and old Babylon Dan. 3.15 Exod. 5.2 Jer. 50.34 who can warr with the Beast as Apocal. 13.4 Answ Strong is Lord God of Hosts the King of Kings and Lord of Lords that will judge the great Whore and overthrow that habitation of Divels that hold of every foul Spirit that Cage of every uncleane and hatefull Bird. For he fitteth as on a White Cloud with a sicle in his hand and as on a White Horse of truth and might and in righteousnesse doth judge and make Warr. And the godly * The called the chosen the faithful are on the Lambs part Apoc. 17 14. Warriours † All those cry mightily to him that sits on the Cloud to thrust in his sicle and their prayers are heard Apoc. 14.15 Princes † Teachers and † people as on White Horses in his truth and might will follow him † And that we might be assured of Mysticall Babylons destruction Gen 6.11 12 13. 11.8 Jos 10.11 Jud. 4. 5.19 Jer. 25.10 Nah. 3.4.17 Ezek. 17. 28. Deut. 2.27 28. with Apoc. 13.17 Esai 63.3 the holy Spirit alludeth to the stories of the old enemies the old world Sodome Egypt Chanaan Edom Tyrus Niniveh Babel and apostate Jerusalem to the four cursed Kingdomes in Daniel chap. 7. to Gog and Magog Ezek. 38 39. As Gods wrath and vengeance came on them so most surely shall the cursed bloody heathenish apostaticall polity of King Abaddon be trodden in the wine-presse of the wrath of the Lord God omnipotent and perish The seven * The seven Phialls shew how Rome shal as it dealt in the Trumpets as shall be more largely shewed hereafter Phials set forth this how the just God doth pour out plagues on the Throne and Kingdome of the Beast QUest 8. Shall the Gospel of Christ increase in glory
and will ever render himself a faithfull and trustie servitour 12. So then Gods reconciliation hath these two parts justification Acts 26.18 Rom. 8.7 Col 1. that is the freedome from the guilt and punishment of sin and receiving into favour or adoption to the heavenly inheritance 13. And thus I think I have made it evident from 2 Cor. 5. that the not counting our sins to us but freeing us from them and pardoning them is the justification or freedome of God the Father that he freely vouchsafeth to poor sinners so verese 19. conferred with v. 21. do open one the other plain and easie for Gods people to understand Surely the holy sweet blessed Scriptures rightly conferred are like a benevolent constellation 14. Let Gods people consider what in this translation and explication of 2 Cor. 5. is derogatory to the mediation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ or derogatory to the comfort of the Saints all their life or on their death beds for the hope of immortall glory Much more might be said but often we darken Gods counsel by our words When things are plain some Ministers make them harder and far more knotty than the Text. 15. We may suppose if from this time forwards Gods people be exercised to read the Text of 2 Cor. 5.19 21. it will not be amisse thus to read it God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not counting their trespasses to them for he made him to be a sinne-offering for us who knew no sinne that we might be made the righteousnesse or freedome of God in him 16. By that time godly Christians have been accustomed to read 2 Cor. 5.21 a sinne-offering and rightly understand the terms justification righteousnesse setteth free vnd freedome And not counting or not reckoning or not imputing our trespasses to us I say by the time of 80 years moe the people of God will come to a more clear and perfect judgement in the wonderfull mysterious Doctrine of a sinners justification 17. The tearmes and Phrases of Justice righteousnesse and justification are exceeding variously understood and have been largely handled by diverse learned Authors to whom I refer the Reader I will instance one Text wherein the word Righteousnesse or Justification is different from the justification of vindicative Courts and more like to the justification of voluntary Courts sometimes are ordained for the tryalls of combaters in Apoc. 19.8 To her was granted that shee should be arrayed in fine Linnen cleane and white for the fine Linnen is the Righteousnesse of the Saints this Text is often alleadged for the imputation of Christs legall Righteousnesse to sinners acording to vindictive Courts of Justice but if the coherence be well looked into it will appeare to have another sence which is this The Beast and his marked made the Church mourne in Sack cloath Apoc. 11. But when the Beasts polity shall be conquered by the constancy of godly Martyrs and Professors then the Church shall rejoyce and white Garments are here given as a sign of that so then the Garments of fine Linnen and white was given to signify the Churches joy because of her freedome from the power of those darke and black afflictions that were under the Beasts polity and for the better understanding of this read Hest 4 3. and 8.15 16. 2. In this sense also must Apoc. 7.9.13 14. be expounded for there the Church had been in great afflictions by the Casars for 300 years but by Constantines speciall grace and favour and by the victorious constancy of the godly the Church had deliverance and therefore white robes are given to shew their great joy for that deliverance and victory 3. The Robe of Tz●dek Righteousnesse in Isa 61.10 is translated by the 70. the robe of joyfulnesse according to the true sense and meaning of the context for in v. 1. Christ is anointed with the spirit of the Lord for this end namely to preach good tidings to the meek to bind up the broken hearted to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound and in v. 2. to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and to comfort all that mourn and in v. 3. to give them beauty for ashes the oil of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heavinesse and in verse 7. he doth promise that everlast●ng joy shall be upon them and then in v. 10. the said poore broken hearted Converts do with exultation say thus I will greatly rejoice in the Lord my soul shall be joyfull in my God for he hath cloathed me with the garments of salvation he hath covered me with the robe of righteousnesse but the 70 according to the context both before and after translate it he hath covered me with the robe of joyfulnesse it is called a robe of righteousnesse in respect of the perrformance of the promise which was to give the sweet comforts of God spirit to poore and humbled souls by the preaching of the gospel and in respect of the sense the said comforts to the converted soul it may be called the robe of joyfullnesse as the Seventy render it and we may see an example of this robe of righteousnesse how it was also a robe of gladnesse and joyfulnesse at the conversion of the prodigal son in Luk. 15.22 23 24 32. 18. This Translation and explication of 2 Cor. 5.21 and of the other Scriptures cited will rid us of no small trouble and I hope it will rid others also of doubtings of the truth of the Doctrine of justificatiif they wil but with patient study mind and mark the true scope and meaning of the Scriptures I do freely acknowledge that severall Institutions Common places Catechismes c. have been is and are a great mercy to the Church of God and shall be while the world standeth But yet the Lord would have us to try all things and wisely to hold that which is good I say also that there are many godly and learned men some that are departed this life and some that are yet living that have expounded 2 Cor 5.21 to the same effect as I have done and I make no question but the generality of our godly Ministers will in due time be so proselited also for there is no standing out long against divine reason where true godlinesse and true learning doth bare sway I meane such as will take the paines of the minde to dive into the true sence and scope of the text and will see it with their owne and not with other mens eyes CHAP. XXXVIII Our Lords genealogic conferred with the times of the Judges and with the King The first Adam Seth Enosh Kenan Mahalaleel Jared Henoch Methuselah Lamech Gen. 8. chapters Noah in his 600 years was the flood and the world 1656 years old Whose are the Fathers c of whom concerning the Flesh Christ came who is God over all blessed for ever Rom. 9. Sem. Arphaxad S●lah Heber
Iohn 15.26 I will send the Comforter to you from the Father for our Covenant and Contract was so from eternity that in case I did perform the conditions of the Mediators Office I should have a joynt hand with my Father in the sending of the holy Spirit 10. He is called the Spirit of his mouth namely the Spirit of Iehovah Father and Son Psa● 33 6. 11. He is called the Finger of God in Luke 11.20 by which the humane nature of Christ did his Miracles 12. He is called the power of God Luke 1.35 The Angel said unto Mary The holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the most High shall over-shadow thee namely as it did over-shadow the confused Chaos in the Creation as Mr. ●rap speaketh 13. Peter calls the Holy Ghost God in Act. 53 4. These and such like blessed Attributes of the third person in Trinity are sufficient to convince any Iew Turk or Arrian that the holy Spirit is true God except such as God hath given up to the Spirit of slumber and to the hardnesse of their own hearts to perish in their own impenitency CHAP. LVII Of the Attributes of the Holy Ghost in relation to its opperations and effects in the various manner of his working 1. AS the Spirit of Aelohim in the beginning did move upon the face of the waters to the producing of the visible Creation Gen 1.1 so it moved also upon the water of Gods word to Adam and so to all the elect for the producing of the spirituall Creation For except a man be born of Water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Iohn 3.5 And there are three that beare witnesse in the earth the spirit and the water and the blood and these three agree in one 1 Iohn 5.8 And so Moses Doctrine is compared to raine in Deut. 32.1 and so Tit. 3 5. 2. Saith God in Gen. 6.3 My Spirit shall not alwaies strive with man for that he is but flesh Hence take notice of the Spirits working or striving with men that are given to the flesh it doth often strive along time with such but if after some time they will not hearken then God saith it shall not alwaies strive but it shall at last give them up to their own hearts lusts to perish in their sins Noah ●a a preacher of righteousnesse to the old world for a hundred and twenty yeares and this long time the Apostle calls the long suffering of God 1 Pet. 3.19.20 2 Pet. 2.5 3. It is said in 1 Pet. 3.18 That Christ was quickned by the Spirit by which he went and preached to the Spirits that now are in prison that were disobedient in the daies of Noe hence two things are observable 1. That Christ was called Iehovah in Gen 6 3. 2. That the Sp●rit by which Naah preached to the disobedient world is here called by Peter The Spirit of Christ 4. In Esa 6.10 They rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit which did strive with them for their conversion by the preaching of his Prophets Therefore was he turned to be their enemy and he fought against them as he threatned to do if they did not obey his voice Exod. 23.21 and he did also fulfill it in Psal 78.40 c. and 1 Thes 5.19 5. God saith thus to his Elect I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and yee shall keep my Judgments and do them Ezek. 36.27 This is the operation of Gods Spirit in the Elect at one time or other while they attend upon him in his Ordinances for the walking in his Statutes and the keeping or doing of his Judgments doth imply the obedience of faith to all his statutes in their spirituall sense and meaning as in Ezek. 11.19 20. and Ezek. 36.27 and in Rom 2.26 Yea the Spirit doth by its operations work upon baptized Infants that belong to Gods Election by vertue of the Covenant which is the word of promise for their Regeneration and knitting to Christ if they dye before they come to knowledge by the outward hearing of the word as Esa 59 21. 6. It is said in Esa 11.2 That the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon the root that shall proceed out of the stem of Jesse and the Prophet doth repeat some heads of those endowments of the Spirit whereby the humane nature of the Messias should be furnished But the said heads are expressed in such large and copious words that it implies he should be furnished with the whole Spirit and with all the gifts and graces of that Spirit and from thence it is said in Reve 1.4 that he hath the seven Spirits of God that is to say the whole Spirit and all the graces of the Spirit and this Endowment of his is often repeated as in Revel 3 1. Revel 4.5 and Revel 5 6. 7. It is said in 1 Cor. 1● 4 That there are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit And in verse 8. to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdome and to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit And in verse 13. by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body 8. It is said because yee are sonnes God hath sent forth the Spirit of his son into your hearts which hath this operation it inables you to cry Abba father Gal. 4.6 and in this Text the holy Trinity is also expressed 9. Sundry operations are ascribed to the Spirit in Rom. 8. 1. in verse 5. They that are after the spirit do mind the things of the spirit 2. In verse 6. The wisdome of the spirit is life and peace 3. In verse 11. If the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you c. he shall also quicken your mortall bodies by his spirit 4. In verse 13. If ye mortifie the deeds of the flesh by the spirit ye shall live 5. In verse 14. As many as are led by the spirit are the s●ns of God 6. In verse 15. Ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby ye cry Abba Father 7. In verse 16. The same spirit beareth witnesse with our spirit that we are the children of God 8. In verse 26. The spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what to pray as we ought but the spirit it self maketh request for us with fight and groans that cannot be expressed 9. In verse 27. The spirit maketh request for the Saints according to the will of God These sundry operations of the Spirit are expressed in this eigth chapter 10. Sundry operations of the spirit are in Gal. 5. 1. In verse 16. Walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the fl●sh 2. In verse 17. For the Spirit lusteth against the flesh 3. In verse 18. If ye be led by the spirit ye are not under the law 4. In verse 12. The fruit of the spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse saith meeknesse