hand to that purpose listen diligently and give earnest need to the still and quiet voyce of the Gospel in which the spirit and power of God is for your direction and protection hearken to those instructions and counsels by what hand soever they be brought to you in which Jesus Christ and the things of him are shewed to you by the Scriptures as the great things of his Law to be heeded and had recourse to continually by you for your direction and helpfulness in all other things and so he glorified or lifted up according to the Apostles word or doctrine as 1 John 4. 2 3 6. John 14. 26. and 16. 13 14. which that you may know and be well acquainted with that by no means they may be let pass or slip away from you under another and false apprehension of them Seach the Scriptures diligently your selves whether those things be so as those Act. 17. 11. And that you may have more true profit and usefulness of the Scriptures in your search of them whose profit even to the making wise to salvation in every respect is best attained and met with through a mindefulness and exercise of faith in Christ Jesus the sum of them according to the light of instructions and capacity given us 2 Tim. 3. 15. that therefore you may meet with more of the utility of the Scriptures to the furnishing you with wisdom in every matter then the Scribes and Phatisees or the scornful Rulers of that people in Jerusalem did though they were very Zealous and expert in the Scriptures take notice of that rock obstruction or hinderance that deprived them of such profit in their search of Scriptures that you may avoid it see John 5. 39 40. compared with Isa 28. 12 14 16. they did scornfully and wilfully against evident light and demonstration of the Spirit in the Scriptures refuse to come to close with and own Christ the sum of the Scriptures testimony as therein testified yea they were so scornful that though God had appointed and directed them to have their recourse to that foundation laid in Sion the life in Christ from the beginning according to the declarations thereof come forth for their right understanding and usefulness of all the Law and the Prophets and so directed them to that as the center of all Scriptures and as that rest wherewith they might cause the weary to rest yet they would not but were scornful and conceited of their wisdom strength and holiness and therefore took the word of God in peices and presumed to finde out the minde of God and give the sence of every Scripture of every Law and Statute by it self or without such making use of that way or rule to which they were by God directed yea those great things of his Law to which they should have brought all other things and parts thereof to have been helped in finding out the sence and usefulness of them by comparing them with and understanding them according to the light and instruction of that key of knowledge those of all other things were flighted and put from them as things of least concernment accounted strange things Hosea 8. 12. The Vision of all a sealed Book Isa 29. 11. and so they made the word of the Lord to themselves Line upon line precept upon precept here a little and there a little that so while pretending to be zealous and strict in observing that rule yet they in such their walkings or going on fell backward were broken snared and taken and for their scornfulness God threatened to send or permit to them such kinde of teachers Isa 28. 10 11. and leave them to such blindeness as Mat. 13. 11 12 15. Take heed therefore of that great evil and seek to be well furnished with understanding in that key of knowledge the testimony of Jesus and to learn skil to use it as by it you are taught refuse not the reproofs of instruction that by this wisdom of God Jesus Christ as declared in the Gospel are brought to you better it is for you now to fall down under those bands and not to break those cords but suffer them to have their operation to the humbling you before him then to make your selves of that number that shall after be bound in everlasting chains and fetters by that Word and Gospel the reproofs of which were proudly rejected by them and by that despised people that were instruments sent now to perswade them You have much need of wisdom in the knowledge of Christ and of much skill to make use of it that you may put on the consideration of the Lord Jesus Christ as to every matter It 's true every wise and gracious man is not meet nor every way furnished to be a Governour in this present World and it 's as true that an unwise man in the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ an ungracious man will not be a just Ruler or good Magistrate He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God and so he shall be as the clear shining after rain and as the light of the morning when the Sun riseth even a morning without Clouds 2 Sam. 23. 3 4 5. Now though Davids house be not so with God this was not found perfectly in him or Solomon and if not in them then in no mortal man whose breath is in his nostrils to be expected but it shall be fully verified and found true onely in that Son of David The sure mercies of David concerning whom and of the everlasting righteous and peaceable Kingdom in and by him the everlasting Covenant was made with David as comparing with this Isa 55. 3 4. with Acts 13. 34. and in this was all his desire and salvation though in this day he received it not but shall as certainly when it comes as they that then survive Though this is true I say That the truth of this will be onely perfectly found in him at whom David also had an especial eye yet this also is true That the way for Rulers now to be directed and strengthened to rule justly and so as they may be a refreshing and mercy to the Nations over whom they are set accorto such a measure as they are capable is to set the fear of God before their eyes and rule according to the light instructions and guidance thereof 'T is a true saying of the Preacher Better is a poor and wise Child then a King that is never so old setled in his Kingdom or in yeers or in policy after the wisdom of this World or in whatever other considerations besides that yet is foolish and without understanding in the things of Christ and so knows not the God of his Fathers Ecles 4. 13. This therefore is the main thing to be desired for them and their being furnished with it will tend much to the good of all men and particularly to such benefit and enlargement to Gods people under them as may be much to the commodity and profit of all men amongst whom they live and is therefore so good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour to be desired for them Who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth FINIS
glory become a Prince and a Saviour All is committed into his hands to preserve to us a posterity in the earth and to save our lives together to the comfortable enjoyment of his mercies by a great deliverance yea this will be to them a testimony of Gods goodness through the Redemption when they come to be capable of considering it and such as may be so discerned by them and useful to them if they put not from them the instructions of the grace of God as it was to David Psal 71. 6. Thou art he that hast preserved or holden me up from the womb as well as taken me of my Mothers Bowels my praise shall be continually of thee Whence we are exhorted in youth and its the first and main thing we should mind our children of as they are capable To remember our Creator to call to minde his goodness in creating and so in preserving us hitherto that through his goodness in his Son may be so comfortably and profitably remembred by us but as they come to capacity to know any thing and act accordingly though the grace of God that brings solvation to all men instruct and require of them to close with it according to the means and capacities afforded yet they are all generally going astray naturally and not regarding to understand or know the way of peace but closing their eyes against the light and corrupting themselves more and more notwithstanding which such is the love of God to manward He would not that any should perish but come to repentance and be saved he heartily desires they should according to the instructions and reproofs of his goodness turn from their dumb Idols and evil wayes unto the living God and as a testimony of it having opened in and by his Son such a large and effectual door to this purpose and that at so costly a rate he also gives his Son in the issues and streamings forth of the vertue of his sacrifice a continual witness or testimony to them while it is in due time And so concerning such we say Jesus Christ is by vertue of his sacrifice and mediation still preserving this natural life while he pleases to continue it unto the comfortable enjoyment of his mercies and renewing gracious means and opportunities to them That they might repent and seek after God who is not far off from every one of them but neer them in the gracious operations of his hands and in his good affection and desire of their good by them for therefore in by or through him we live and move and have our being Acts 17. 24 27. And so by him they are preseved from so much of the destruction and confusion of minde and of the pains and torments on the body that is the proper wages of our sin that they are unless in some rare examples in whom God also requires not more or otherwise then according to what he hath sown or furnished with capable subjects of beholding and considering the mercies of God and understanding and making such use of them as may tend to the comfortable being of the natural life and so of conversing with and attending to those outward mediums in which Gods Spirit is conversant and working to lead them to repentance of which more anon And indeed all those mercies and accommodations of the natural life are made such mediums and to that purpose is he also by vertue of the same sacrifice and mediation continuing and renewing in his providences as he sees good his mercies in Creatures Scriptures or both and ordering also favourable chastisements in which he debates with them in measure and changing his providences about them that they may not settle on their lâ—es All these things worketh God oft times with man to bring back his soul from the pit to be enlightened with the light of the living Job 33. 29 30. to give them space and opportunity to repent And herein is Jesus Christ a great and continual Witness of Gods goodness and propitiousness towards them and of the truth of the Redemption in him declared in the Gospel as is foreshewed in the second Reason propounded for demonstration of the truth of his having redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us 2. Jesus Christ is also a Testimony and so he and the Father in him testified to men in due time in sending forth the supernatural light and power of his good Spirit in and with all these outward means to bring the light of the knowledge of his goodness to their hearts and therein open their ears and give capacity by his words and in his calling that men might hear and answer for though the former be done the natural life preserved the outward mediums afforded and man a capable subject of beholding injoying and attending to those mediums without distraction yet is he not simply hereby or by any power in him as naturally of him capable of finding out the knowledge of the things of God in Christ or closing with them as declared and witnessed in those mediums the world by wisdom found not out God in the wisdom of God the carnal minde is enmity to God it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can it be so that they that are in the flesh all have flesh in them but they that are in it wholly given up to it swayed and guided by the teaching or operation of the wisdom affections or lusts of the flesh they cannot please God we have no sufficiency in our selves as of our selves not so much as to think any thing as we ought But our sufficiency is of God and so of God as not of our selves not by a meer natural blessing or stirring up and strengthening any thing that is naturally of us though those natural faculties and powers may be well imployed as far as renewed by grace but then they must be renewed and acted by such light and power of the grace of God given and heeded as though certainly administred in and through outward mediums yet is supernatural to us 1 Cor. 1. 21. 2. tâ—t Rom. 8. 6 7 8. 2 Co 3. 5. so that the natural man as a natural man by any thing natural in him receiveth not the things of God There is therefore requisite such a maner of putting forth of light and exercise of the power of Gods Spirit in the natural faculties of the Soul or Spirit of man to make it capable of comprehending perceiving or closing with the things of God in Christ as is to man supernatural he being naturally in and of himself as uncapable of hearing the voyce of the Son of God in the Gospel as those that are in the graves are in and of themselves uncapable of hearing and complying with that voyce of the Son of God by which they shall be raised and therefore those deaths are compared the one to the other John 5. 25 28. though these are capable as before shewed of
truth is not plainly manifested but one thing spoken and another meant or the meaning locked or sealed up from us under other expressions contrary to 2 Cor. 4. 1 4. when the pen of the Scribe especially in those things main and fundamenttal is rendered as vain and too empty to give his sence and meaning and yet men pretend wisdom and that they have the Law of the Lord with them Jer. 8. 8 9. This Vision of all being a sealed book upon this account it 's affirmed of such Their whole fear and worship though they honour him with their lips is taught by mens precepts and therefore not right worshipping The reason of such an Assertion concerning the whole worship meerly on this account is this The summe of the Gospel being hid they are lost or out of the way and cannot have any right understanding or usefulness of the instructions of the word of the Lord as to their worship of him having rejected the summe and fundamentals of it and that in which the fellowship of the Spirit is to be met with for opening the rest They have therein rejected the word of the Lord and what wisdom is in them Jer. 8. 8 9. 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. And this is the reason of their roeling and erring in all things hard to be understood they are unlearned and unstable 2 Pet. 3. 16. that is not having learned Christ aright and so all truth as it is in Jesus that Vision of all or not attending and waiting to learn and have the usefulness of all truth according to their needs and capacities through the knowledge and usefulness of that summe of the Gospel the testimony of God concerning him as Isa 28. 10 11 12 14 16. John 6. 45 46. Eph. 4. 21. They therefore presently pervert those things in the Scriptures hard to be understood and then also to frame their apprehensions in every thing to such pervertings of the Scriptures in things hard they pervert all other Scriptures to their own destruction These are such ungodly ones as yet have a form of godliness but deny the power resist and oppose the truth as it is in Jesus The Father is not rightly honoured or worshipped by them The true Worshippers worship the Father in Spirit and truth John 4. 23. The truth of all types promises and former revelations of God to men in and according to which the Father is to be worshipped is Christ Jesus Phil. 3. 3. The testimony of Jesus as now come forth is to us the Spirit of prophesie through and according to which the Father and Son God in Christ is to be acknowledged believed in and worshipped by us Rev. 19. 10. And thus our Saviour explicates that John 4. 23. according to these two Scriptures compared in John 5. 22 23 24. The Father judgeth no man that is otherwise then as follows but hath committed all judgement to the Son to this end that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father that now in honouring the Son as come forth and glorified in our nature through sufferings they may therein truely acceptably honour or worship the Father And for further opening how and wherein the Son is rightly honoured and so the Father in him he addes He that heareth my word that revelation of the Father that he was delivered to death for our offences raised for our justification as declared in the Gospel giveth and through and according to it beliveeth on him that sent me he hath ever lasting life c. Therefore believers are exhorted to hold fast the believing remembrance of the things heard from the beginning the word of the beginning of Christ and to have recourse thereto as to that Spirit or Unction it being the immediate birth or off-spring of the Spirit it self and so Spirit according to that rule John 3. 6. His name an oynment poured forth Cant. 1. 2. for understanding all things for preserving from every evil word and work for direction and furniture to all service and suffering 1 Cor. 15. 1 4. 2 Tim. 2. 7 8. 1 John 2. 20 24 27. And therein and so they shall be found exercising themselves to godliness Honesty signifies righteousness equity or justice in our demeanour towards all men and that such as in which there is chastity or sincerity to the main design for which we are set in the world purity of heart and cleanness of hands in prosecuting the good of all men working righteousness or walking righteously in all our conversation with and amongst them as Psal 15. and 24. Isa 33. 15. According to the teachings of that grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men and so in like expressions it is joyned with living godly in that Tit. 2. 11 12. and opposed to worldly lusts The grace of God that brings salvation to all men hath appeared teaching us That denying ungodliness and wordly lusts we should live righteously soberly and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the mighty God our Saviour who gave himsef for us to redeem us from all iniquity that he might purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works So 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. it 's opposed to fleshly lusts which being heeded and listened to do hinder the Soul of so living honestly Therefore dearly beloved saith Peter I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts that warre against the Soul having your conversation honest among the Gentiles that in the day of their visitation they may glorifie God Like that Phil. 2. 15 16. Do all things without murmurings and disputings that ye may be blameless harmless the Sons of God in the midst of a crooked generation amongst whom shine ye as lights in the world holding forth the word of life and that both in word and conversation The doing that which is just and equal between man and man and so unto all or that which is so in the sight of men this is certainly here meant by or contained in living honestly as Phil. 2. 16. Rom. 12. 17. 1 Pet. 2. 15. and 3. 16. But this alone is too scant a definition of the living honestly here meant yet all that is signified by it is no more but a walking righteously and doing that which is lawful right but that which is so in the sight of God and according to the teachings of that grace of God that brings salvation to all men goes further then that which is so in the sight of men and they are both together in this living honestly as may be seen in one instance 2 Cor. 8. 20 21. That no man might blame them in the abundance administred by them they did provide things honest not onely in the sight of God but also in the sight of men signifying that they did provide things honest or walk honestly in the sight of God in administring abundantly of whatever God had given them for the good
truth thereof they were to baptize them with water also in his name even the Nations whosoever of them would them and theirs every one of them even as the Jaylor was baptized he and all his streight-way on his first owning and listening to the report of the Gospel and being willing to be instructed therein and therein also as well as by their word they preached the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house Act. 16. 32 33. which also is according to Peters Doctrine opening the Commission Act. 2. 38 39. comparing the 39. verse with a place speaking of a like businesse in our Types to which the Apostle there seems to have apt and evident Allusion Deut. 29. 10. 14. And then also to teach these Nations as they had outwardly baptized them in the name and unto the acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as come in the flesh to observe whatever Jesus Christ did command his Disciples And all this they were to do for the discipling the Nations the gathering or drawing them to Christ from their former state of darknesse and shadow of Death in which they were without any true acknowledgement and worship of God to acknowledge him and come to him as their Lord and Gods salvation for and to them and in professed subjection to him and thankful acknowledgement of his grace to bring all that by Gods providence are theirs given them to bring up for him even their little ones with them So the Jaylor beleevingly rejoycing he did it with all his house Act. 16. 34. as Joshua would engage himselfe and his house with him that were under his tuition to the acknowledgement and service of the Lord Josh 24. 15. And as in considering Israel after the flesh to which for Instruction in such cases we have our warrantize 1 Cor. 10. 18. we are directed in those evident Types of this discipling Nations Exod. 10. 9 10 11. Deut. 31. 11 12 13. And as our Saviour also instructs That such should be permitted to come to him being brought in their armes to whom by Gods providence they are given to bring up for him for of such is the Kingdome And having so done That they may all of them not onely be instructed themselves but taught to learn their children as they are capable and bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Jesus To the end that all the ends of the earth might look to him and be saved who is Gods salvation to the ends of the earth That they might come in to the acknowledgement of him and so into his house where they might be trained up and educated for him being therein especially made partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel for sending forth his Spirit to reprove the world of Sinne Righteousnesse and of Judgement according to the distinct Revelation of Christ in the Gospel as now come forth and as men are turning at his reproofes To teach and lead them into all truth by the same Spirit still opening and making knowne the same word Eph. 3. 6. Act. 2. 39. Joh. 16. 8 9 10 13 14. Prov. 1. 20 23. In pursuance of this great Designe of God for the good of All Paul was furnished and appointed the great Apostle of the Gentiles Act. 26. 16 17 18. For this purpose the Lord Jesus appeared unto him to make him a witnesse c. delivering him from the people and from the Gentiles to whom then he sent him To turn them even his persecuters from whom yet he should be delivered and amongst whom preserved for this end To turne them from darkness to light c. That so they may receive forgivenesse and inheritance among them that are sanctified And that to this end he should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable Riches of Christ and to make All men see What is the fellowship of the mystery c. as aforesaid Eph 3. 8 9. And therefore also hath God preserved a succeeding Generation of such as through the tastes of his graciousness in the appearance of his love in Christ to man-ward having been drawn to him built upon him and so reconciled to God by Jesus Christ and received the word of Reconciliation God hath preserved them in the world and from the evil of it to this end and therefore also furnished them with gifts from his right hand though more mediately in their beleeving and exercising faith through and according the Apostles word yet still to this as the first and great part of the work of their Ministry in the world to carry on that great work amongst and for the good of all men as secondary Instruments and Ministers building upon and according to the foundation laid by the Apostles to the intent that now by the Church by the whole body of them joyntly and by each according to their capacity and opportunity in the place where God hath set them might be made knowne to Principalities and Powers and so to all Nations and people under them The manifold wisdome of God Eph. 3. 10. That by them the world may know That God hath sent Christ the Saviour of the world And that he hath loved them that have received this Testimony with the heart even with the same love wherewith he hath loved his Son Joh. 17. 15 20 21 23. And that in being Instruments of saving them that hear or listen to the word as held forth by them Their profiting may appear to All 1 Tim. 4. 15 16. Gods Saints generally even those that have made a Covenant with him by sacrifice Psal 50. 5. namely that are reconciled to God by Jesus Christ and have received that word of Reconciliation in their hearts 2 Cor. 5. each to exercise according to fitnesse and furniture of Gifts Rom. 12. 3 4 c. all the Gifts for continuance being given among these Eph. 4. 7 11 12. They are appointed and called to this great service even now To call the earth from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe of the same as well as also afterward to reign Judge and execute Judgement with him Psal 50. 1. 5. As his Ambassadors whose first personal coming and his present coming by his Spirit in the Gospel and other means is not to judge or condemne the world but that through him they might be saved even such as doe heare his words and reject them his gracious end and desire is that they should heare and beleeve and therefore he continues his mediation for them and mercies to them Joh. 12. 47 48. and 3. 17. though he shall appear personally the second time then to judge and execute judgement according to the Gospel so these his servants and Ambassadors in this world are now to make it their great work to perswade all men and every man as they have capacity and opportunity to be reconciled to God telling them All things are ready 2 Cor. 15. 17 18 19 20. Luke 14. 17 21 23. with
36. Act. 14. 17. Rom. 2. 4. These considerations of what the prayers are and in what manner all prayers are to be made for all men may afford us some direction in our prayers to pray as we ought which the holy Spirit teacheth as he doth all other things by opening the Testimony of Jesus and shewing the things of him Rom. 8. 26. with Joh. 16. 13 14. As therein he presents us with good ground and foundation of Prayer as we shall after shew so thereby he instructeth us what to pray for and in what manner for all men and how to pray as we ought for every man in teaching us to pray according to his will as declared in that declaration of his name in his Son for such things as the Father hath appointed him to give unto men by vertue of his Sacrifice and Mediation to each according to his need and capacity and so as according to the wisdome of God may be for his good and so we are here directed not to pray for those peculiar blessings which men become capable and meet subjects to partake of onely in beleeving and comming to Christ as Col. 1. 9-13 1 Pet. 2. 3 4. such as sanctifying and furniture to and blessing in the ministration of the Gospel and the like for any that is yet in the state fellowship and way of the world and so of it yet to pray for these things for all Saints that the world may be the better for them as to the best good Job 17. 9-21 23. neither may we pray for Gods prospering any man in his evill way or for special National protections ownings and salvations to be afforded to any people or Nation openly set in opposition to him or to any people that are called by his name and especially if for his names sake called upon them But we are to suffer the grace of God to teach and lead us as it certainly will to pray against their evill works and inventions and so against them as abiding in the said wayes and for special protections ownings and salvations to be afforded to that people or Nation upon whom his name is called or that do more rightly worship and acknowledge him and that for his names sake and both these intentionally for the good not only of those people for whom the prayers are directly made but of their enemies also and so of all men Our Saviours Admonition and Instruction to his Disciples when upon some peoples unthankfulnesse and not receiving him they would have prayed for fire to come down from heaven and consume them as Elias did may here seasonably be considered by us Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of for the Son of man came not to destroy mens lives but to save them Luke 9. 55 56. And therefore also Though we are not nor is it according to his will to pray for forgivenesse peace and joy in a full and proper sense to be given to any man abiding in his evill way or in his natural state and condition yet we may and are taught by his grace to pray for such pardon forbearance and renewing of goodnesse to be conferred on them and in due time as may give them opportunity and have tendency and efficacy in it to lead them to repentance That so they may receive forgivenesse of sins and inheritance with those that are sanctified by saith that is in Christ And so the end of all prayers for all men is that they might be saved We come next to consider Fourthly What are those thanksgivings joyned with prayers to be made for all men This the Scripture plentifully sets before us That al manner of right prayer is joyned with Thanksgiving Phil. 4. 6. In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God So Psal 50. 14 15. and 95. 2. Come into his presence with Thanksgiving offer sacrifice of Thanksgiving and call upon him Yea all men are invited so to do Now what this Thanksgiving is that is so inseparably joyned with all right praying we shall also finde in those Scriptures that speak to this matter that it is such a commemoration and thankful acknowledgement of and blessing God for his great love and mercy testified in what he hath already done for us as in which Gods goodnesse is only commended and glorified and not ours with it as in that of the Pharisee God I thank thee that I am not c. Luk. 18. 11. and that so as in the minding and consideration thereof we have incouragement presented to expect and pray in faith for those further streamings forth of mercy and good things according to our needs and capacity which through the knowledge of his name we are lead to desire and ask accordingly to his wil. So our Savior teacheth us in that doctrine of Prayer Mat. 6. 9. to acknowledge and commemorate the honor and praise due to his name for what he hath done in and by his Son in the forefront of all the Petitions we ask of him that therein we may glorifie him and yeeld him the praise of his grace who also for his names sake meeteth with him that rejoyceth in acknowledging it Though to us belong nothing but shame that therein also we may be minded of that which may inlarge and draw out our hearts with encouragement in God though abasement in our selves further to pray according to his will And so the holy Spirit for the helping of our infirmities teaching us how to pray as we ought as he takes of the things of Jesus and sheweth as is shewed before so therein he glorifies him in and according to the Gospel minding us what cause of Thanksgiving we have to God continually by and in the name of Jesus Christ and how that serves for our instruction and encouragement further to pray see examples and instructions to this And first in those Thanksgivings that are joyned with Prayers made for all Saints and for such peculiar blessings to be conferred on them as of which they only are capable subjects though in respect of their end and tendencie these are also for all men as afore is shewed In all these Thanksgivings there is not only an acknowledgement of that true in Christ for men as the bottom cause of all thanksgivings and of the great love goodnesse of God to manward as manifested therein but with this there is alwayes an acknowledgement and commemoration of Gods great goodnesse in those special streamings forth of the issues and verâ—ues of that Redemption and grace of God in Christ to manward which they have met with and through his grace have had efficacie in them to the saving them and making them meet to partake of the inheritance of the Saints in those peculiar blessings desired and prayed for for them See our Saviours Prayer Joh. 17. 7 8. Now they have known saith he that all things what soever thou hast given me are of
that is of both seeing and healing when by the light comming to them they see both him and his Father 2. The truth of that ransoming or redemption from the curse of the Law perfect in Christ for men appears further from the grace of God extended unto men in the mercies and accommodations of the natural life yea in the severest of his chastisements there appears a great abatement or taking off the greatest part of the stroke and that it is not sustained as the full and proper wages of sin but is far less then our iniquities deserve the truth and holiness of God was ingaged that the soul that sins must dye and the death was such as was wholly destructive and no intermission or mixture of any mercy but the soul to have been continually filled with madness and confusion the body with pains and all diseases in the extremity till it had been wholly turned to dust the rain of the land powder and dust we to eat our bread in sorrow and anguish of our hearts all our dayes all curses to follow and overtake us till we perish this was our portion Gen. 3. 17 c. with Deut. 28. 15 c. neither may the truth and holiness of God suffer the least impeachment he cannot in clearing clear the guilty Exod. 34. 7. Therefore in that man is preserved from so much of the destruction and confusion in his minde and of the pains and anguish in his body in this natural life as that he is a capable subject of beholding conversing with and comfortable injoyment of the works of Gods creation and providence that instead of the rain of our land being powder and dust the Lord gives rain from heaven and instead of eating our bread in the sorrow of our heart all our dayes the Lord gives food and gladness instead of thornes thistles that the Lord in any measure gives that which is good and our land yields her increase herein Gods goodness is witnessed so as through a Saviour and leading to repentance all these having in them a testimony of a door opened again to God mercy and truth met redemption wrought in another for us Psal 85. 9 12 13. Acts 14. 17. Rom. 2. 4. upon that account it is that God demeans himself towards men in his government â—ow by Christ as if he did not see their iniquities because he is well pleased for his righteousness sake Isai 42. 19 21. in whom truth is sprung out of the earth c. 3. The truth of this further appears in that all shall be raised from the first death and then be judged according to the Gospel which they could not have been if one had not by the grace of God died for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 10 14 15. Acts 17. 30 31. Rom. 2. 16. yea if Christ be not raised for them then can there be no resurrection of them For since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead For as in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive 1 Cor. 15. 21 22. Neither could there be any reason or rule for judging men according to the Gospel for whom there was no truth in the Gospels Declarations propounded to them to be believed if no grace extended by which they might have been saved They must have perished if Christ had not died for them in the first death but there could have been no ransoming out of it and so no second death But to proceed 2. As Jesus Christ by giving himself a ransome hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law and therein saved us from perishing in that first death and misery having in and by himself taken away our sins from before the Father the sin of the world after the first consideration as passing and being found on them simply and necessarily through the first disobedience so he hath therein and by vertue thereof obtained eternal redemption even redemption of the transgressions under the first Testament Heb. 9. 12 15. A perfect restoration of all that was lost by that sin and according to that judgement a restoration of it not into their persons but into himself for them that it might be enjoyed by faith and in the first fruits of the Spirit and the hope of the harvest by any of them in believing in him through his name there it is perfect in him as in a publique person or treasury for us who will never lose it That in coming in to him it might be enjoyned by us In him God hath given us eternal life He of us to whom life is given in Christ that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life And yet it 's given him in Christ as before 1 John 5. 11 12. The sum of our loss and that in which eternal life consisteth is capacity and liberty to the enjoyment of the delightful favour of and fellowship with God in which is life All have sinned and come short of the glory of God unto which they were created in the first publique man Sin makes separation between God and men forasmuch as by it we lost that Image of God in which we were created which was such as in Soul and Body together we were capable subjects of immediate fellowship with our Creator and in also our liberty to such enjoyment we are in our selves and as in relation to the first man justly banished as well as enemies in our mindes and so at a distance strangers to the life of God but Jesus Christ in our nature as the second publique man and for us hath perfectly recovered that Image of God which we lost and in a better maner and that both in Soul and Body so as he is in our nature and as the publique person a capable subject of immediate fellowship with God and hath also liberty he is entertained to such enjoyment that now for us through sufferings he is entered into the actual possession of glory that he may appear effectually in the presence of God for us and that whosoever comes in to him by faith may in him appear perfect and righteous before the Father yea the fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily according to that John 17. 4 5. I have finished the work thou gavest me to do on earth and now I come to thee holy Father glorifie me with thine own self with the glory I had with thee before the world was Compared with Col. 1. 14. 15. In him we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sinnes Who is the Image of the invisible God c. 'T is true the 15. verse is a description of the excellency of his person In whom we have redemption but it is also clearly a demonstration of the redemption we have in him the Image of God recovered into our nature that through faith in him it may be enjoyed by any of us whose nature he took as aforesaid Seeing whatever Jesus
attending to those means in which the supernatural light and force of the Spirit of God is put forth and exercised for bringing the voyce of the Son of God nigh to them and opening their ears and giving capacity to hear it and quickening by it answerable to which the other have no such capacity And therefore the voyce of the Son of God shall come forth to that immediately however then it is requisite that in or through those outward mediums there be such a maner of coming forth and operation of the Spirit of God as is answerable to that by which Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and the dead shall be raised 't is the same Spirit by which he moved and acted and walked up and down in his life in the flesh or in the dayes of his weakness and mortality and so the same Spirit by which men are taught and strengthened to their natural motions actions or imployments in things tending to the good or comfortable being of the natural life but not in the same maner put forth or exercised but as we may say In a natural or ordinary way by blessing natural faculties and abilities in and according to a natural improvement in such maner as the nature of man by that which God hath already furnished it withall is capable of receiving and complying with But for this though that light and power of the Spirit is to â—e put forth into and exercised in the dark heart and dead faculties of the soul that they may be renewed and strengthened by it yet it must be such as brings with it its light strength and capacity for the receiving it such as hath in it a supernatural force or maner of operation for opening the deaf ears and the blinde eyes c. Isai 42. 18. 7. and 49. 9. that they may see and receive what it discovereth There being no such capacity before or naturally in the subject to which it comes Therefore the A postle desiring for the believing Ephesians That they might through the knowledge of him more abundantly experiment the exceeding greatness of his mighty power or arm that is in the Gospel that it might more have its prevalency with them as it is put forth through that knowledge of him for the special saving of them that believe Rom. 1. 16 17. he compares it to the maner of the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ Jesus when he raised him from the dead Eph. 1. 17 19 20. Now this is that which we have here further to say on Gods behalf ascribing righteousness to our maker That according to mans need by reason of his natural weakness and depravedness God is certainly liberally giving to all men without upbraiding any such gifts as may conduce to their getting wisdom in the knowledge of him and so being reconciled to him for he gives nothing but good and perfect givings not onely out of a cordial heart and affection but such as would produce what they come for and insinuate themselves by their own light and force and make the subject capable of receiving and complying with them and this is given us as a general ground for any man to ask wisdom of God Jam. 1. 5 17. and that without wrath or doubting and not to murmur or rebel against him in his Gospel or the instruction thereof in which his arm is thus stretched out so Psal 68. 18 19. Thou hast ascended on high and led captivity captive and received gifts in the Man for men even for the rebellious that they might dwell with the Lord. And from thence it follows Blessed be the Lord that dayly loadeth us c. Yea to shew this truth in expressions suitable to those in which we have demonstrated the nature of mans weakness and necessity see 1 Pet. 3. 18 19 20. By that Spirit by which Jesus Christ was raised from the dead or by such maner of the putting forth of the light and power of that Spirit he went and preached not to their ears onely but to their Spirits which are now in prison for their disobedience to his Spirit then when the long-sufferings of God waited on them in the ministration of Noah and so his Spirit was then and before striving with them in all the means vouchsafed them and that all the day long and in due time whence that my Spirit shall not alwaies strive with man yea after he spake in his Spirit in the light evidence power of it by the hands of his servants the Prophets and that so to their hearts as that in rejecting or refusing to hear them they were said to harden their hearts against his softning and melting operations Zech. 7. 9 11 12. yea all the day long while in those means he used he was calling them to behold him he also therein in and with his words stretched out his hands his power or Spirit unto a rebellious people that yet were not overcome thereby Isa 65. 1 2. He did lift up the yoke of thraldom while he set meat before them though they would take no notice of his healing them he was in all ages in the world though the world would not know him the light shineth in darkness though the darkness comprehend it not he came unto his own though they received him not so when the voice of the Son of God came forth in the Gospel it was his promise The dead should hear it and that so as hearing in hearing or according to the capacity given they should live Joh. 1. 3. 10. and 5. 25. And therefore God gives up men in his just Judgement to blindness That hearing they should hear and not understand c. because they made it first their voluntary sin in hearing not to hear but closing their eyes stopping their ears shunning the light when it came because their deeds were reproved by it and lest they should be converted from them Mat. 13. 11 13 15. John 3. 19. They received not the love of the truth that they might be saved 2 Thess 2. 10 11. Hosea 11. 27. Ezek. 24. 11 13 'T is true no man can come to Jesus Christ except the Father which hath sent him draw them John 6. 44. which signifies the necessity of using or putting forth some such power in and with those Arguments he useth to perswade as is to the man supernatural and 't is as true that the Father was then drawing and had before drawn those very persons vers 35 36. He that cometh to me shall never hunger he that believeth on me shall never thirst but I said unto you That ye also have seen and believe not which comparing it with the former verse where believing is the explication of coming is as much as if he had said You have been drawn and come not as those Hosea 11. 2 7. but did break his bands by murmuring among themselves as Psal 2. 3 5. so here compare vers 43. and 44. The doctrine in 44.
passing by even unto blood as well as also neither despising nor fainting under his chastisements but suffering patience to have its perfect work in all tribulation which bringeth forth the quiet and peaceable fruit of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby Heb. 12. 1 3 4 9. Recompence to no man evil for evil nor railing for railing but contrarywise blessing knowing that ye are thereunto called that ye should inherit a blessing 1 Pet. 3. 9. Provide things honest in the sight of all men as much as is possible live peaceably with all men Dearly beloved avenge not your selves but rather give place unto wrath yea if thine Enemy hunger feed him c. Rom. 12. 17 18 19. Ye have heard saith our Saviour An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth but I say unto you that ye resist not evil that is with evil as Rom. 12. 17. Nay rather suffer wrong and suffer your selves to be defrauded then strive to avenge or right your selves yea love your Enemies bless them that curse you bless and curse not Mat. 5. 38 39 44 45. Luke 6. 27 28 29. 1 Cor. 6. 7 8. And to all this also That grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men instructeth and teacheth the believing receiver of it and therefore not onely in Rom. 12. it 's one of those things to which we are exhorted by the mercies of God vers 1. both as the motive and motion to the doing of it but in Tit. 3. compared with chap. 2. it 's added to that before mentioned as one of those things which that grace teacheth To speak evil of no man to be no brawlers but gentle to shew all meekness to all men for we our selves were sometimes foolish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts living in envy and malice hateful and hating one another but after the kindeness and pity of God our Saviour towards man appeared not by works of righteousness which we have wrought but according to his mercy he saved us c. 3. They are also in all godliness and honesty To follow peace espectally with all that call on the Lord out of a pure heart 2 Tim. 2. 22. To endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Eph. 4. 3. That unity or oneness into which the Spirit of God bringing and opening the testimony of Jesus bringeth the believing receiver thereof in which There is one Body one Spirit even as they are called in one hope of their calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all c. But unto every one of them is given grace in the manifestation of the Spirit or gifts of grace to profit withall diversly according to the gift and good pleasure of Christ in the exercising of which by each and so in their several administrations as well as in their acknowledgement Faith and Fellowship in those things forementioned in which there is such absolute oneness The unity of the Spirit is to be endeavoured to be kept in the bond of peace Eph. 4. 3 7. with 1 Cor. 12. Therefore the Apostle exhorting to be of one minde addes Live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you to preserve you in that one minde heart and way and so through faith unto the salvation ready to be revealed 2 Cor. 13. 11. See this exhortation explicated Phil. 2. 2 3 c. If any consolation in Christ any comfort of Love any fellowship of the Spirit c. Then fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one minde it follows as a direction to the shewing forth and walking in this as well as to the way in which they might be preserved and grow therein let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory but in lowliness of minde let each esteem other better then themselves alwaies fitter to be born with tendered and served So Rom. 12. 2. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love in honour preferring one another look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others Phil. 2. 3 5. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and there by many be defiled Heb. 12. 15 16. which roots of bitterness envies evil surmises and such-like may be occasioned divers wayes as sometimes by partiality or respect of persons among brethren generally or with reference to such instruments as by whom the word of the Lord hath been brought or opened to us as when one saith I am of Paul another I am of Apollo another I am of Cephas which occasions some to run out in another extream and they will not onely be of neither of these but they will be of Christ immediately and as not needing or loose from any of their brethren or such instruments Therefore the Apostle admonishing the Thessalonians To know them which are over them in the Lord and admonish them and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sakes he addes And be at peace among your selves 1 Thess 5. 12 13. And how they may be so in observing the forementioned counsel he explicates 1 Tim. 5. 17 21. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the word and doctrine It follows I charge thee before God and the elect Angels that thou observe these things without preferring one before another doing nothing by partiality namely in the things forementioned as well as also in those things mentioned vers 19. 20. Against an Elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses them that sin especially of the Elders or such as should go before others in the word of the Lord and in things common and publick tending to publick scandal or harm and being so convict as aforesaid or it evidently appearing rebuke before all that others also may fear Likewise such roots of bitterness and breach of the peace among Christians may be occasioned through too harsh censuring or judging one another in the doing or not doing things that are in themselves so circumstantial and may be either done or let alone as that eating or not eating Rom. 14. or in the manner of the observance of some of Gods Ordinances Therefore the Apostle counsels us vers 17 18 19 20. whatever things they are in which the Kingdom consisteth not as righteousness peace and joy in the holy Ghost are the things in which it doth consist and in which he saith He that constantly and stedfastly serveth Christ is acceptable to God and profitable to men for any other thing he would not have us be stiff or earnest to bring men to our practice until grace set free thereto nor in judging them if they joyne not with us lest so we destroy the work of God but on the other hand to follow after those things that make for peace
his Enemies as one earnestly desirous to obtain it if it might be without war or blood and that for their good whence he complains of it as a great grief and trouble to him My Soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace I am for peace or a man of peace but they are for war even when I speak of and offer terms of peace Psal 120. 6 7. Yea the Psalmist makes this general Prayer which indeed is also a certain prophesie and shall have its accomplishment on the subjects of it sooner or latter Scatter thou the people that delight in war Psal 68. 30. It is a great national blessing and to be desired yea as the conclusion of the blessing wherewith the house of Israel was to be blessed adding to the comfort and sweetness of all the rest To enjoy peace in the Land or Nation where they lived Levit. 26. 6. Numb 6. 26. Yea therefore they were to pray also for the peace of the Nation and City whither they were carried away Captives that in the peace thereof they might have peace Jer. 29. 7. Christian Rulers then should take heed their feet be not swift to shed blood lest their hands be defiled with blood and their fingers with iniquity Not to be forward to make war unless necessitated thereto for defending and preserving the peace of the Nation And therefore with good advise make war Prov. 20. 18. and 24. 6. Yea fiâ—st sitting down and counting whether they be able by the peoples hands and purse for they should consider no King goes to war at his own charges to manage and bear the charge of such a war else while the Enemy is yet a great way off our Saviour saith Wise Governours will send an embassage and desire conditions of peace To have peace in our borders as Psal 147. 14. is to be prized as one of the greatest outward mercies if God see it good to give us opportunity to enjoy it though with some disadvantages By means of it them that are in Authority shall have opportunity put in their hands to take off the heavy yokes that make the oppressed to groan and to see to the protection of such as do well and to have their eyes about them with which they may scatter the wicked at home and from about the Throne Whether they will wisely improve these opportunities to these purposes or no that may be a question which if they do not God will in his time take them from them again For to him that hath shall more be given but from him that hath not or that retaineth or improveth not shall be taken even that which he had seeing he did not rightly use or improve it Likewise By means of such outward peace especially the forementioned directions being heeded by them in Authority the believer shall have more freedom and liberty to worship God without disturbance and endeavour the good of men according as God hath given him a heart and capacity by being Messengers of the peace of God to them praying for them and shewing forth the vertues of Christ among them which is more suitable to their Spirit then to be fighting with them Against all this some may happily say We speak as not understanding the Visions or Prophesies proper to these times or which are now to have their fulfilling which say they speak of the Saints destroying conquering and bringing under all their Enemies by the material Sword and so taking and possessing the kingdoms of this World and so Christ taking to him his great power and raigning in his people and that by such means and in the time of this mortality which considered might encourage and put forward all Christians the Rulers and Ruled together to go on furiously and confidently without deliberate advisement yea without president or rule conquering and to conquer all that is before them by their power and Sword now while it is in their hand and not to seek peace but rather count it their honour as Christians or Saints to be further imployed in war In answer to this we say We cannot indeed boast as others do of our understanding the Visions of the times but freely acknowledge our great weakness and ignorance in them as a fruit of our more fundamental ignorance in or want of skill to make use of the Vision of all Visions which is the Key of knowledge for the opening them and whatever else is hard to be understood nor desire we at this time much to lengthen our discourse having been large in it already yet briefly this we say first We read somthing of the Visions of these latter dayes opened by our Saviour in his answer to the Disciples question Mat. 24. 3. which question had two things distinct in it viz. When shall these things be namely the things he had foretold about the destruction of Jerusalem and their Temple and what the signe of his coming and of the end of the world It may seem the Disciples thought that the destruction of Jerusalem and his second appearing and the end of the world should have happened together and happily were not yet able to understand or bear the hearing of another and longer time for his coming and the end of the world then for the destruction of Jerusalem however our Saviour answers to both the parts of the question together and though some of his particular applicatory sayings by way of direction to them as vers 16 20. are with more peculiar reference to the first which was to fall out in their day yet all the predictions or things foretold to fall out as fore-runners of both are generally to be applyed to each signifying That the same things and much in a like manner that did fore-run the destruction of Jerusalem shall also fore-run the second appearing of Christ and the end of the world but still more fully according to the predictions as the last fulfillings of prophesies are alwayes the clearest and fullest Now there we read that the Believers the Saints of God the Disciples of Christ shall hear of wars and rumours of wars in that he mentions wars as distinct from rumours of wars in Matthew and Mark it 's clear that by wars he means such as are neer them in those Nations and places where they live but then in that of them as well as of the rumours of wars in other places he saith They shall hear of them he clearly signifies That the Saints or Disciples of Christ as such shall not be actors or exercised in them It 's none of their proper quarrel or fight for their kingdom though there may be in them much of Gods quarrel against and executing wrath or vengeance on many of their oppressors by stirring them up one against another or stirring up some against them that may after prove such themselves under another form but the Saints or Disciples of Christ whose work is not to avenge themselves in this day see Rom. 12. 18 19 20.