light of the gospell that they be without counsaile in their affaires and not perceiue the euills which doe hang ouer their heads and bow downe their backes alwaies i. Let them not speede and prosper in their designes and actions but let them shrinke and halt be cast downe and tremble in their mindes and consciences and let them bee brought downe and diminished by slauerie troubles and captiuity and so weaken their strength that they may bee vnprofitable vnto euery worke Q. Did not Dauid Elias Paul and others sinne and offend God in praying and vsing imprecation against Gods enemies A. No for first they did it by especiall and extraordinary instinct of Gods spirit and as Prophets or figures of Christ vnto them the state and reprobation of diuers persons was reuealed of God Secondly when they did wish eternall destruction to the enemies of God they did not to speake properly pray against their persons but against the kingdome of sinne and satan in them which cannot bee altogither destroied but by the confusion of the members and instruments of Satan Thirdly their praiers and imprecations proceeded only from pure zeale of Gods glory and iustice and not from any priuate distemper or mixture of humane passion for they considered them not as their owne enemies but as the enemies and blasphemours of God Q. May we after the example of holy men in scripture pray against any particuler person A. No except we could by a Propheticall or Apostolicall instinct discerne of their spirits and of their reprobation which guift is denied vs or except wee knew that they had committed the sinne against the holy Ghost which is a malicious and finall blasphemy and persecution of the knowne truth and principles of Gods word which is very hard to iudge of for any one particuler person especially in our times wherein such a guift of discerning spirits is not graunted Q. May we not at al pray against the enemies of Christs gospell An. Yes for first wee haue the practise and warrant of holy men in scripture for it Psal. 69.22 2. King 1.10 Act. 4. ver 29. and 30. 2. Tim. 4. Secondly when we pray that the kingdome of God may come we by consequence pray that sinne Satan and all his members may be destroied Thirdly wee are to pray that Gods iustice may bee acknowledged and magnified in the plagues punishments and ruine of the wicked Fourthly we must loue God aboue al men whatsoeuer and if we sincerely loue God we cannot choose but hate his enemies Q. With what cautions and conditions or in what maner may we lawfully pray against Gods enemies A. First we must pray against Gods enemies in generall for there are and will alwaies be many such whom God will neuer saue Secondly against their wicked counsailes plots and purposes and thus Dauid praied that God would turne the counsaile of Ahitophell into foolishnesse and thus the Apostles praied against the counsailes of the Scribes and Pharasies that charged them with threatnings that they should not preach in the name of Iesus but we must not pray against these persons Thirdly we must pray conditionally against them that if they be reprobates and so incurable they may be iudged and iustly condemned but if they be elect and by consequent curable they may bee fatherly corrected and so conuerted and saued Let their table be made a snare a net a stumbling blocke In that here the word table is specially and principally taken for the holy scripture we note and obserue that the sacred scripture is like a table fraught and replenished with most heauenly and exquisite dishes and dainties here is food abundantly sufficient both to satisfie and also to solace euery hungry and thirsting soule Some of them and the principallest are remission of sinnes peace and ioy of conscience and eternall life Pro. 9 22. Math. 22. v. 4. Cant. 5. ver 5. 1. Vse It must teach the ministers of the Gospell alwaies to set forth this table of the word of God which is truely the hole-some and sauing food of the soule and as for all speculations fancies decrees traditions and haie and stuble of worldly vanities let them wholy leaue them off and renounce them 2 Vse Let all sorts of men that wil be saued come vnto this heauenly banquet continually bringing with them an appetite to the word and by praier and meditation of their owne wants and the soueraigne vses of Gods word put an edge to and sharpen their appetites then shall they bee replenished with good things and drinke of the well of the water of life freely otherwise for want of appetite the soule will soone languish and pine away Their table be a snare a net It is proper and peculiar to reprobates and profane persons to stumble at Gods blessings and to abuse and peruert them to their owne destruction Titu 1. ver 15. et 16. Rom. 2 ver 4. et 5. 2 Pet. 3.16 Amos 6. ve 4.5.6 Thus many abuse the doctrine of the law making it a cause of iustification before God thus they peruert the gospell to giue leaue and allowance to licentiousnesse and liberty thus they abuse Gods goodnesse and patience to patronize them in their sinnes and impenitency thus they vse their riches to the oppressing of others their meate and drinke to gluttony drunkenesse and excesse their apparell to ostentation and pride the Scriptures to maintaine their errours and heresies the holy Sabbothes to iornyings idlenesse sportes vanities gaming their wisdome and counsaile to intrappe and deceiue their might fauour and authority to discountenance and tread downe all Godlinesse and goodnesse and to aduance and countenance all impietie atheisme profanes and euill practisesse The reason hereof is they want faith and purity of heart and affections and therefore can vse and apply nothing well their ill hearts and defiled consciences is like to an euill stomacke that turneth sweete meates into sower and holesome vnto noisome Secondly God is their enemy and therefore all things that be otherwise naturally and of themselues good are by Gods curse so many causes of their ruine Vse If wee would not drawe and pull Gods curse vpon vs through the mis-apply or abuse of his guiftes and blessings temporall and spirituall let vs see and search whether we bee true members of Christ iustified by faith and haue our hearts sanctified by GODS spirit for vntill we be called and regenerate all things are impure and vnholy vnto vs and wee can in no action please GOD. Rom. 14.23 2 Vse If we could with comfort good conscience vse and partake of any of Gods creatures wee must by the direction of his word be perswaded of the lawfull vse of them and that they bee ours by Gods meanes wee must also by praier sanctifie them vnto vs crauing a blessing of God and desiring him to direct vs in the right vse of them Let their eyes be darkned that they see not Out of
knowledge and vnderstanding of them is for therevnto are we referred in all our doubts controuersies and difficulties for resolution Isai. 8.20 Luke 16.28 31. Ioh. 5.38 Secondly they conteine the meanes deedes euidences charter and the broad seale of our saluation Ioh. 5.34 Ioh. 20.31 Rom. 1.16 1. Tim. 3.15.16 Psal. 19â—7 Thirdly the ignorance and neglect of them is the cause of all Athiesme errour heresie sinne rebellion persecution misery yea and damnation it selfe 2. King 17.26 Psal. 95.10 Isay. 5.13 Math. 22.29 Iohn 12.35 Rom. 10.2 1. Cor. 2.8 1. Thes. 4.13 Lastly God hath both in the old Testament as also in the new laide a speciall charge and command vpon all sorts of people soueraigne and subiect publike and priuate persons mighty and meane to exercise themselues and continually to trauaile in the reading and meditation of holy scripture Deut. 6.6.7.8.9 Iosua 1.8 Psal. 1.2 Coloss. 3.19 Iohn 5.39 1. Tim. 4.13 Vse It condemneth the idlenesse and vanitie of this present age wherein many most bestow none or little time in reading and consulting the sacred Scriptures wherein they might bee made circumspect redresse their waies haue comfort and supportance in all afflictions and be made wise vnto saluation But in the practise of the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse in the excesse of sinne and vanitie and in the reading and reuising toyes and trifles that can minister nothing vnto them but matter of mourning and cause of after repentance they can willingly and wilfully spare spend whole houres daies nights weeks The Lord amend this and renue and reuiue the dying pining zeale of his people and seruants in so many places How he maketh request vnto God speaking against Israell And in the 1. of Kings 19.10 he saith that he hath beene iealous for the Lord of Hosts all tending to one purpose from which place I obserue and gather That the Pastors Preachers of Gods word especially must be enfired and inflamed with an holy zeale of Gods glory with a holy indignation against sin and idolatry then principally when with Elias others they see most grieuous transgressions of the people when they see Baals Priests viz. Iesuites and Seminaries Popish Emisaries to be had in request and high reputation and themselues and the true Prophets and ministers of the Lord reuiled and reiected yea wringed and wronged yea killed and slaughtered when they see Christ to bee vilified and Antichrist to be deified and when they see the Gospell troden vnderfoot impiety superstition aduanced Examples hereof wee haue in Moses who seeing the Golden Calfe that the Israelites had made and the dauncing about it waxed wroth cast the tables out of his hands brake them in peeces before the Mountaine burned the calfe in fire ground it to powlder strawed it vpon the water and made the Children of Israell drinke of it In Phaenehas the sonne of Eleazar who arose vp from the midst of the Congregation tooke a speare in his hand and with it thrust thorow Zimri the sonne of Salâ— and Cozbi the daughter of Zur the Midianitish woman and so the plague ceased from the children of Israell In Zacharias the sonne of Ichoiada the Priest who obseruing the people after Ichoiodah his death to fall away to idolatrie in zeale reproued them for transgressing Gods commandements hee told them that they should not prosper but that as they had forsaken the Lord so he had forsaken them and herevpon they at King Ioash his tyrrannicall command stoned him to death In Iohn the Baptists for his bold reprehension of the Pharasies and Saduces and for reprouing of Herod for his incest and many other sinnes In Peter against Ananias and Saphira his wife Act. 5.3 In Steuen in telling the Iewes they were stif-necked and that they like their fathers alwaies resisted the holy Ghost that they had not kept the law but that they were the betraiers and murderers of the iust In Paul whose spirit was stirred vp in him wheÌ„ he saw the citty of Athens subiect to idolatrie And in himselfe and Barnabas who when the people with their Priest would haue done sacrifice to them in zeale rent their owne clothes and rebuked the people In Dauid as the tipe and most eminently in Christ the truth and perfection all of whom were consumed with the zeale of Gods house Psal. 69.19 Math. 21.12 Ioh. 2 15. Reason The reason hereof is because they are Gods watchmen and forewarne the people they are Gods trumpetters to tell the people of their sinnes and the spirituall leaders guides and directers of the multitude 1 Vse This doctrine serueth for reproofe of some Ministers of our time who either are remisse and negligent and seeking their owne ease neuer oppose themselues by doctrine and example against the errors and sinnes of their flockes but rather applaude them or at least in conniuence take notice of nothing and if the shew any zeale it is rather for their own Diana and advantage then for Gods true religion and glory 2 Vse It is a great comfort for all true and sound hearted Ministers who in an aduized and discreete zeale within the compasse of their callings both by preaching example and authority shew their dislike and opposition against superstitions and enormous sinnes and abuses beeing assured that what contumelies and indignities they vndergoe for Gods honour God will accordingly consider of them and censure their aduersaries he will honour them that honor him and despise them that despise him They haue killed thy Prophets and digged downe thine Alters From these two members ioyntly considered ariseth this instruction That it is the plot and practise of Apostataes and Idolaters in their hatred rage against God to labour to blot all remembrance of God and not to suffer the Ambassadors and Messengers of God to remaine aliue Psal. 79.1 2. Psal. 8.13 Apoc. 12.2 13.16 17. Apoc. 18.24 Reas. The reason in regard of the holy monuments of Gods seruice is because they are profaine and wicked and regard them not and as for the good ministers of God they like the King of Aram against Ahab though indeed a most wicked King fight against none in comparison but against them for they seeme stumbling blockes and hubbes in their way who by their ministerie and zealous example vexe them Apoc. 11. ver 10. 1. Vse Let vs be thankefull vnto God for the long continued vse and ministery of his blessed Gospell and that neither Prelates nor Pastors nor Preachers are not giuen into the hands of our blood-thristy woluish aduersaries 2. Vse Secondly let the ministers prepare and resolue them-selues not onely to suffer rebuke and losse for Gods cause but also to die for it if they be therevnto called for God will highly reward them and they shall not bee loosers but gainers by it and not damnified but euerlastingly glorified 3. Vse Seeing the good pastors and ministers of Gods word are so much maligned
hath giuen to him first i. Who hath bestowed any benefit or blessing vppon God and so hath made him a debpter vnto him and he shal be recompensed .i. he will repay and requite him For of him and from him are al things they haue their being and beginning from god and through him al things are adiministred and gouerned by him and for him .i. they are created and ordained to set forth his glorie To him be glory for euer Amen .i. Let al humaine and worldly glorie cease vanish away and let al the glory of goodnes mercy wisdome and iustice bee ascribed onely vnto God of vs and of al creatures for euer Amen I beleeue it shall bee so and I pray that it may bee so Ques How vnsearchable are Gods iudgements Ans. If Gods waies and iudgements be vnsearchable why are wee commanded to search the Scriptures or the Israelites taxed and reproued for being ignorant of Gods waies Ioh. 5. v. 38. Psal. 95. v. 10. Math. 22. v 29. Gods waies and iudgements in this place are taken for his secret will which hee reserueth to him-selfe and which no man is to inquire into for it is bottomelesse gulfe and will drowne them and a flame that may not be come vnto but wil burne them it is the Arke that may not be looked into But for his reuealed will which he hath manifested in Scripture all sorts of people are commanded to search learne and know prouided that they keepe them within the boundes of sobrietie and do not measure misticall and supernaturall things by the scantling and shallownesse and humaine reason Who hath knowne the mind of the Lord Ob. In the knowledge of God consisteth mans saluation therefore God hath reuealed it vnto men and to Prophets and Apostles especially A. First indeed in the knowledge of Gods reuealed will consisteth mans saluation and this euery man is commanded and bound to know for here we haue whatsoeuer serueth for our instruction but for hidden thinges and these which God hath not reuealed whereof the Apostle speaketh we cannot know but by the euent neither must we desire it but conteyne our selues within the limites and lists of Gods word Secondly if it were granted as it must not that the Apostle spake here of misteries secrecies conteyned in the Scripture we answer that no mortall man can by his owne sence reason vnderstand them for it iudgeth falsly and preposterously of them 1. Cor. 2.14 therefore wee must reuerently and soberly follow the direction guidance of Gods good spirit Thirdly the godly by the illumination teaching of gods spirit vnderstand al things that are simply necessary for their saluation Lastly albeit the regenerate know the minde of the Lord and his reuealed will in holy scriptures yet but by degrees and in part some more some lesse according to their 〈…〉 mortification c. Q. How can we or why are we commanded to giue and ascribe glory to God seeing that we can by our praises adde nothing to his renowne and perfection An. Albeit we cannot adde any thing to Gods nature and perfection and glory yet we are bound by his commandment and it is our duty to acknowledge him to be as he is and as he hath reuealed himself in holy scripture viz. most holy perfect and glorious Secondly we must shew forth testifie and declare his name nature attributes and workes vnto men that they hereby may be enformed better of him and stirred vp to glorifie him and thus we hallow and sanctifie Gods name O the deepnesse of the riches both of the wisdome and knowledge of God! It is proper to the Godly and their office and 〈◊〉 to thinke speake and consider of yea to admire the wâ—rkes counsailes of God and to brast forth into holy exclamations and to stir and exite others so to do Psal. 8. v. Psal. 92. ver 5. Psal. 119. ver 18. Psal. 46. v. 7. Cant. 5. a verse 10. ad 17. The reason hereof is they alone being taught of God know aboue al other persons the incomparable excellency and order of them and therefore for skill know best how and how farre to iudge of them Secondly they must be instruments and trumpets to sound and proclaime the praises and wonders of the Lord for the satisfaction of their owne consciences and to affect and gaine others so to do Vse 1. Let ministers especially and also others labour and striue to affect possesse others with the rarenesse excelency admirablenes of Gods workes and proceedings for so did Dauid in many places Psa. 48. v. 2.3.4.5.6 Psa. 8. v. 1. Vse 2. As oft as our reason is offended with the doctrine depth of predestination albeit so euidently and expresly set forth in scripture let vs renounce reason and giue glory vnto God and with most humble reuerence admire that deepe wisdome which with the eye of our vnderstanding we cannot pierce into Thus did Christ. Math. 11.25.26 3. Vse It serueth to condemne and argue all that repine at murmure at reprehend gods proceedings and especially in the decree and matter of reprobation whereas Gods is most wise iust and of absolute power and authoritie and therefore alwaies doth and cannot but order rule and dispose of all things rightly albeit our weake apprehension cannot attaine vnto the reason of it The wisdome and knowledge of God The doctrine that we learne hence is that God being most wise and knowing all things doth not onely see and contemplate them as they are or may be but doth contriue them with singular reason and counsell and dispose them in most goodly forme waight number and measure so that nothing in his workes may seeme to be wanting or disordered nothing superfluous or ouer much but all in an excellent temper and symetry And hence God is sayd to be wise in heart Iob. 9.4 nay only wise Rom. 16.27 1. Tim. 1.17 For he alone by himselfe is infinitely wise needing no mans instruction or information Isa. 40. ver 12 13 14. Pro. 8.12 Iob. 28. cap. â—3 c. Now this wisdome of God shineth forth chiefely in the principall workes of God namely in the creation preseruation and gouernment of the world in the gouerning ordering of man-kinde Ier. 51.15 Isa. 40.28 But most euidently in the predestination of men and in the wonderfull manner of euerlasting saluation purchased by Christ. Eph. 3. v. 10. in so much that the very Angells desire throughly to behold it 1. Pet. 1.12 Vse 1. Here are iustly condemned those men that mutter and murmur against Gods proceedings find fault with and condeme any worke or iudgment of God as though it were not wisely ordained but wee must reuerence adore and admire his excellent wisdome appearing in them and especially in the mistery of eternall saluation euen then when our blind and vnperfect reason espieth and perceiueth no reason of it Touching the misteries conteined in Gods reuealed will let vs by humble and
bountifulnesse and Gods seueritie Ques Is not God changeable in his promises couenant seeing that he cast of the Iewes whom formerly hee chose and loued Ans. No for first he speaketh of the nation in generall which were his people onely by outward profession and not by secret election Secondly they were grafted in the Church but neuer predestinate to life eternall for then they could not haue falne away Eor the Election of God is a firme foundation and all the gates and powers of hell cannot shake it much lesse preuaile against it Towards thee bountifulnesse if thou continue in his bountie Ques Seeing that continuance and perseuerance in grace and faith seemeth to consist in our owne power and will which is weake and changeable cannot the elect and regenerate loose faith and so wholy fall away from God Ans. No for first constancy and perseuerance doth not consist in our owne power and will but it is an effect of Gods election an especiall marke of a man regenerate 1. Iohn 2.22 Secondly by this manner of speaking the holy Ghost intendeth to correct pride and presumption in men and to stirre them vp to a godly indeauor to maintaine and cherish their faith and to be workers and instruments of their owne saluation by vsing all the good meanes that God hath sanctified for that purpose Thirdly faith albeit the flame and outward effects of it may be quenched for a time yet the fire was neuer put out but at the least blast of Gods word and spirit it is kindled againe and breaketh forth into a bright flame Lastly that regeneration and the gift of faith is neuer wholy lost it is most cleare and manifest by many testimonies of scripture God putteth his feare into their hearts that they can neuer depart from him They haue the seed of grace and of faith remayning in them and they alwaies keepe it The grace of God in them is a Well of water springing vp into euerlasting life Christ is alwaies a mediator for them and praieth for them effectually the comforter doth abide with them for euer God doth neuer cast them off and they shall neuer perish Ioh. 6. and 10. They if they abide not still in vnbeliefe shal be grafted in Q. How can predestination bee eternall and certaine seeing that it dependeth vpon mans beleefe or vnbeleefe An. Our beliefe or vnbeliefe dependeth vpon predestination for they that are elected to eternall life beleeue Act. 13.48 and they that are eternall refused cannot beleeue nor obey the Gospell Ioh. 8. and therefore predestination dependeth not on it for the second causes hang on the first that is the decree of God and not the first on the second Secondly our engrafting into the Church dependeth not vpon our owne power and free-will but onely vpon the power of God and his mercy Thirdly wee must distinguish of the times The Iewes that liue in one time or age may bee generally reiected but not so in another especially when their fulnesse shall as wee daily expect and pray for come into the Church and they bee by faith Abahams children Fourthly the Apostle speaketh not of euery perticular but of the people and nation in generall Lastly their duetie is shewed vs that they ought not to please themselues in their ignorance and vnbeleife but to desire to come to true vnderstanding and faith V. 22. Behold the bountifulnesse and seuerity of God The whole world is but a Theater of Gods mercie and iudgements for whatsoeuer is done in it hee doth it either as the efficient cause if it bee good and so farre forth as it is good or if it be euill he effectually permiteth it and most wisely and to good ends ordereth and gouerneth it and that alwaies without any fault of his as here we haue an instance in the Iewes reiection in the election of the Gentiles Psal. 115. The reason herof is first because God is almighty and therefore nothing is or can bee done in the world but by his decree and knowledge effectual working or at least by his effectual permissiō secondly God sitteth not idle in heauen as Epicures others vainly imagin but alwaies worketh doth care for and order the things of men preparing and propounding rewards to the Godly and reseruing and prouiding punishments for the wicked Gen. 6.5.6 Gen. 22.1 Deut. 8.2 13.3 Isa. 4 1.20.21.22.23 Vse Let vs attribute and ascribe nothing to chance or fortune but ascribe all to Gods holy prouidence who decreeth and fore-seeth gouerneth ordereth and directeth all things euen the least and most vile things and that in a most excellent maner to most excellent ends and if nature nihil facit frustra then the God of nature who is wisdome it selfe doth nothing but to excellent purpose Towards them which haue fallen seuerity We by other mens sinnes and falls must bee humbled and stand in feare least by our vnbeliefe and other sinnes that flow from it wee draw Gods anger and iudgments vpon vs. We haue infinit spectacles hereof in scripture as against the old world that in the daies of Noah was drowned against the Sodomits that were destroied with fire and brimston from heauen of many thousand Israelits that perished were destroied in the wildernes for murmuring for rebellion for fornication for idollatry and for tempting of God Iud. Epist. v. 7. of the Iewes exiled their owne country and led once and againe into captiuity and many other both generall and particular iudgements recorded in scripture both in the old testament and also in the new yea all ages and our owne experience yeelde vs store and variety of examples The reason hereof is because God is mercifull vnto vs and would not haue vs perish but to come to the knowledge of the truth and to repentance and so to saluation Secondly God is iust and hateth sinnes alike in all and if we will not take warning by others God will censure and punish vs sharpely Vse 1. Let vs pitty and commiserate their wofull condition that haue prouoked Gods indignation against them let vs commend them to God in our praiers and do out vttermost endeuour to recouer them Vse 2. Let vs marke and meditate vpon Gods seuerity against the Hungarians and the Greekes and other places of Europe that haue beene captiuated and inthralled to the Godlesse and barbarous Turkes together with Asia and Affrica Let vs also consider the great and long Apostacy of Spaine Italy and other countries in the West part of the world from Christ to the Romish Antichrist and withall behold Gods incomparable mercies so long and so strangely continued vnto vs and our nation Let vs acknowledge our owne vnworthinesse and be alwaies thankefull vnto God for so great mercies and beware least we contemne the ritches of his goodnesse and patience that leadeth and prouoketh vs to repentance and take heed that that be not found in vs which we taxe and condemne
God in holy scripture Ezek. 11.37 Rom. 9. Rom. 15.4 Ioh. 20.31 Apoc. 9. and 17.18 The reason hereof is because they are very necessary for the confirmation of our faith direction of our liues and therfore God would not haue vs in any wise ignorant of them much lesse to doubt of the truth of them Secondly God would hereby shew and declare the sufficiency of the scriptures and so consequently warne and lesson vs that we giue no credit to bee ruled by any fained reuelation or humaine traditions in matter of saluation but only consult and search the scriptures which containe a plaine perfect and all sufficient doctrine both for faith manners and for sauing of our soules Vse 1. The first vse is to condemne partly the supine and merueilous negligence and extreame slouthfulnesse of them that know not such necessary and fundamentall points and principall conclusions so euidently and so oftentimes spoken of and vrged in the sacred scriptures or the vnexcusable vnbeleife and Atheisme of those that will not beleeue such plaine places and proofes of Gods word but say or at least thinke that the scriptures are vntrue the fables or the politicke inuentions of men to keepe and râ—taine men in some feare and awe These are the Marchiuillians matchlesse in euil of our times Vse 2. We must neuer stagger 〈◊〉 or doubt of them neither at any time cal the certainty and accomplishment thereof in question but rest in them and repaire strengthen and quicken our faith by them for to this end were they giuen As it is written Ministers and preachers must leâ—rne hence not to broach and vtter their owne conceits or the inuentions of men but to speake and preach the holy and wholsome word of God only Luk 4.11.20 Isa. 8.20 Act. 26.22 Reasons hereof are first God so requireth and commandeth Ioh. 4. Isa. 8.20 Ier. 2. Secondly the word of God is for all and in all points that concernes faith and good life of and in it selfe perfectly sufficient 2. Tim. 3.16 and 17. so that it neither admitteth addition nor detraction Thirdly we haue for our light and direction the continuall practise of all the Prophets and men of God in the olde Testament and of Christ the Apostles and Euangelists in the new Fourthly the often and vnsauorie and vnfruitfull blending and addition of humaine vanities doth but darken and diminish the power puritie and efficacie of Gods word Vse 1. Hereby are condemned first the Papists that will not admitte and allow the Scripture to bee the sole and all sufficient rule and touch-stone of Doctrine and faith but adde and equall to it their decretalls traditions c. Secondly the hearers must take heed how and what they heare they must try the spirits and doctrines by the touch-stone of Gods word spirit and then retaine the good and if ought be dissonant from the sacred scripture they must refuse and reiect it The Deliuerer shall come out of Sion Christ the Redeemer Seeing that the Iewes and so all we Gentiles haue need off and haue giuen vnto vs of God not onely for our temporall but especially for our eternall deliuerance and saluation a Deliuerer and a Redeemer we see what wretched and miserable sinners we are by nature children of wrath lost sheepe Math. 15.24 Vassals captiues and slaues vnder sinne and Sathan Luke 4. V. 18. Lying and liuing in the shadow and point of death Ephes. 2.2 and for feare of the second or eternall death al our life subiect to bondage Hebr. 2.15 The reason hereof is for that all men without this Deliuerer and Redeemer to omit their temporall miseries and malladies are in farre worser estate then any brute beast or vgly toad or any other vilde creature for when it dieth his life and woe endeth together with it but the death of man without a Redeemer and without faith in him is but the beginning of vncessant and euerlasting terror and torment Vse Let vs labour to feele and finde our selues to bee thus wretched and miserable and acknowledge that without Christ his suffering and obedience we euerlastingly perish we must from a touched heart acknowledge that shame and confusion belongeth vnto vs that of sinners we are the greatest and therefore wee must intreate the Lord to be merciful vnto vs to receiue vs into his grace and fauour And therefore it standeth vs in hand carefully to labour and endeauour that Sathan doe not fore-stall bewitch and possesse our hearts with his deceites and illusions and so take all sense of our miseries from vs wherein they must needes pine and perish that seeke any other by-waies or shifting euasions Vse 2. Wee must in time seeke vnto Christ onely for helpe for pardon of sinnes and for saluation he hath eternall life in himselfe and is author of eternall saluation to all that obey him and for our better direction herein we must craue and desire the instructions aduise and assistance not only of our pastors and ministers but also of our Christian and beloued friends and acquaintance And shall turne away desections and vngodlinesse from Iacob It is the proper office of Christ Iesus to reconcile the reuolting Iewes and by consequence all the elect in the world to God his Father 1 Ioh. 2.1 and 2. Râ—m 5.8.9.10 Ioh. 1.29 Act. 4.12 The forme and manner is by his death and passion to make payment and satisfaction to Gods iustice for their sinnes 1 Ioh. 1.7 1. Pet. 1.18 Secondly by not imputing sinne vnto his elect and by imputing his owne righteousnesse vnto them 2. Cor. 5. ver 21. Thirdly by abating and weakning the multitude and might of sin in them by the power of his word and efficacy of his spirit Rom. 6. ver 3 4.5.6 Lastly by quite abolishing and remouing them at the houre of death and at the day of iudgment Apoc. 14.13 Hebr. 9. ver 28. Act. 3.19 The reason hereof as he is the blessed seed in whom all nations are blessed he is the roote and foundation on which all Gods promises depend and in whom they are yea and Amen Finally God hath sanctified sent and sealed him alone to be Sauiour Mediator of the world Vse 1. Therefore we must seeke for saluation in none els but in Christ in his only merits righteousnes sufferings for he alone trod downe the wine-presse of Gods wrath and by his death and obedience made satisfaction to his diuine iustice And this is my couenant to them Gods couenant with his people is certaine sure perpetual and alwaies kept on Gods part Act. 3.15 It is the foundation of saluation The reason hereof is because it is ratified and confirmed by Christ his death as no humaine couenant can be for they only last whiles the parties liue Secondly it is in time sealed in the hearts of Gods children by faith Ephe. 1.13 as also renewed and confirmed by