and the law prophesied until John And if ye will receive it this is Elias which was to come 15. He that hath ears to hear let him hear 13 14 15. The Law and Prophets till John indeed foretold the Messiah but not so determinately and nearly as John did And if you can receive it I tell you John is that Elias that Malachi foretold should go before to prepare the way to Christ The belief of this is of great moment to your faith 16. But whereto shall I liken this generation It is like to children sitting in the Market and calling to their fellows 17. We have piped to you and ye have not danced we have mourned to you and ye have not lamented 16 17. But the unbelievers of this generation do as children in their games complain of one another you will neither dance when we pipe nor lament when we mourn to you you are cross to us whatever game we play 18. For John came neither eating nor drinking and they say He hath a Devil 19. The Son of man came eating and drinking and they say Behold a man gluttonous and a wine bibber a friend of publicans and sinners But wisdom is justified of her children 18 19. John lived austerely on Locusts and wild-honey and they took him for a possessed mad-man And of me that exercise no such unusual austerity of diet but mere temperance they say I am a gluttonous man and a lover of wine No innocency will suffice to escape the false censures of Malignants But the sons of Wisdom will justifie it 20. Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done because they repented not 21. Wo to thee Chorazin Wo to thee Bethsaida for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sydon they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes 22. But I say to you It shall be more tollerable for Tyre and Sydon at the day of judgment than for you 20 21 22. Note 1. Christs own Preaching and Miracles had so little success as that he is put to upbraid the places where he had wrought them for their impenitence Therefore the best Preachers may be put to the like 2. The punishment of such as are unconverted under the most convincing Preaching will be most intollerable 3. Tho it be Gods grace which converteth Souls yet he usually so proportioneth it to the means he useth that the same means ordinarily would convert some which converts not others 23. And thou Capernaum which art exalted unto heaven shalt be brought down to hell For if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom it would have remained until this day 24. But I say to you that it shall be more tollerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for thee 23 24. Thou Capernaum where I have dwelt hast by my presence preaching and works been honoured with the heavenly gifts but for impenitence shalt be destroyed If Sodom had seen and heard what thou hast their repentance would have prevented their destruction But their doom at the day of Judgment shall be more tollerable than thine 25. At that time Jesus answered and said I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to babes 26. Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight 25 26. Then Jesus said to God his Father I thank thee O Father who being Lord of Heaven and Earth hast the absolute right to dispose of all that thou hast chosen the despised unlearned sort of men to make known effectually the Gospel of Salvation to rather than the men of reputation for learning and wisdom in the world and hast left proud self-conceited men in their ignorance whilst thou hast taught the humble and meek This pleaseth me as being the choice and good pleasure of thy wisdom 27. All things are delivered to me of my Father and no man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoeever the Son will reveal him 27. All things are delivered by the Father to me upon my right of Redemption in order to the ends of my saving office so that I am under the Diviâ—â— nature even in my humanity made the universa◠〈◊〉 Ruler and Benefactor And as none can comprehend the mystery of my Person Office and Works save the Father that sent me so none can savingly know God the Father but the Son and he to whom the â—â—n will make him known by the Gospel and the illumination of the Spirit 28. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest 29. Take my yoke on you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest to your souls 30. For my yoke is easie and my burthen is light 28 29 30. Come to me all ye that are under the slavery of Sin and Satan and under Gods displeasure by your guilt and under the burdensome ceremonious and cursing Law and the Pharisees tutorage and under the toil of a poor afflicted condition in the world and I will give you deliverance and rest Take on you the yoke of my Government and Covenant and learn of me as your Teacher by my Doctrine and Example for I am meek and lowly and my Doctrines are not suited to the Pomp and grandeur of this world nor to the interest and mind of the proud and covetous but to men of a low and humble quality and in this you shall find rest to your tired troubled fearful Souls For my Service and Law is gracious and â—asie fitted to the relief of the guilty and distressed and all that I lay on you by my word and works is sight in comparison of the heavy burdens that you undergo CHAP. XII 1. AT that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat Note Both the labour and the early eating seem here meant but specially the first 2. But when the Pharisees saw it they said to him Behold thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath day 2. Art thou a good Teacher who sufferest thy Disciples to break Gods law Note That the Pharisees controversie against Christ was that he was not religious and strict enough in keeping Gods Law so that pretended strictness is no proof that men are in the right 3. But he said to them Have ye not read what David did when he was hungred and they that were with him 4. How he entred into the house of God and did eat the shew-bread which was not lawful for him to eat nor for them that were with him but only for the priests 5. Or have ye not read in the law how that on the sabbath days
the work of Apostleship 19. And for their sakes I sanctifie my self that they also might be sanctified through the truth 19. For their sakes I become a Sacrifice offered to thee that they may by my Doctrine Example and Spirit be also totally devouâ—ed to serve thee 20. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word 20. But it is not for them only that I pray but for all that by their Ministry shall become true Christians 21. That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that thou has sent me 21. And the sum of my Prayer for them is that as I am so united to thee that what thou speakest I speak and what thou Lovest I Love and thy Works are my Works wrought by thee so they may be one in us and not in any uncapable Center of humane Invention and Usurpation and may all speak the same thing which they have heard from thee by me and may Love what we Love and do our work and not their own That by their concord in Faith Love and Practice the world may be won to Christianity and not scandalized by their Discord and Fractions or by forsaking the true Unity and combining for wordly Interest on worldly terms 22. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one 22. And as thou has glorified me in the World by the Power of working Miracles and gathering Sinners home to thee I have glorified them by giving them the same Power to work Miracles and to call and convert the World that they may be one Body of one Mind and do one work as I have done thy work alone 23. I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me 23. That while I work in them by my Word and Spirit as thou workest in me they may be perfected into one concordant harmonious Body united in Faith and Love that this Lustre of their Excellency and Concord may convince the World that thou hast sent me to restore them that are so much restored and that thou lovest them as thy Redeemed Sanctified ones as thou lovest me their Redeemer 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world 24 Father as it was thy Covenant with me as my Reward for Redemption it is now my Will and Desire that all that thou givest me by Conversion as true Christians to be saved may be after death with me where I am that they may see the Glory which thou givest me the sight of which is part of their glorification For thou lovest me before the Foundation of the World and wilt communicate Glory to them by me 25. O righteous Father the world hath not known thee but I have known thee and these have known that thou hast sent me 25. O Righteous Father that world of Men whom thou hast Created have not known thee but I that have known thee have declared thee to them and these my Disciples having known that thou hast sent me have believed my word concerning thee 26. And I have declared unto them thy name and will declare it that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them and I in them 26. And I have by my Word and Works made thee and thy will known to them and will do so yet more that the Holy Spirit of Love with which thou hast filled me may be in them and by that Spirit I may be in them CHAP. XVIII VVHen Jesus had spoken these words he went forth with his deciples over brook Cedron where was a garden into the the which he entred and his Disciples 2. And Judas also which betrayed him knew the place for Jesus oft-times resorted thither with his disciples 1. This Sermon and Prayer being spoken after the Sacrament Jesus went to the Garden where he knew he should be apprehended Judas knew the place because Christ oft went thither c. 3. Judas then having received a band of men and officers from the cheif priests and Pharises cometh thither with lanterns and torchees and weapons 3. Note Judas was the Informer that led the Officers such as Constables and the Chief Priests and the Pharisees of their party were they that like Justices furnished them with Commissions and Armed men 4. Jesus therefore knowing all things that should come upon him went forth and said unto them Whom seek ye 5. They answered him Jesus of Nazareth Jesus saith unto them I am he And Judas also which betrayed him stood with them 5 6. Note Christ fled not when his hour was come 2. What a stony heart had Judas all this while 6. As soon then as he had said unto them I am he they went backward and fell to the ground 6. Some of them went backward and fell Note This stopt not them or their Companions 7. Then asked he them again whom seek ye And they said Jesus of Nazareth 8. Jesus answered I have told you that I am he If therefore ye seek me let these go their way 9. That the saying might be fulfilled which he spake Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none 7 8 9. Note Christ was careful for the Bodily safety of his Disciples till their hour came 2. His words of Loosing none are here Expounded as reaching to the body as well as to the Soul 10. Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it and smote the high priests servant and cut off his right ear The servants name was Malchus 11. Then said Jesus unto Peter Put up thy sword unto the sheath the cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it 10 11. Note Peter that before trusted too much to his own constancy now trusteth too much to his Sword without Commission â— Christ would not be rescued from his undertaken sufferings by humane strength 12. Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound him 12. The Colonel with his Soldiers and the Officers bind Jesus as as a Malefactor being slavish Executioners 13. And led him away to Annas first for he was father in law to Caiaphas which was the high priest that same year 14. Now Caiaphas was he which gave counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people 13. The Power was in Caiaphas but his Father in Law was made the way to him no doubt being a forward Actor 15. And Simon Peter followed Jesus and so did another Disciple That Disciple was known unto the high priest and went in with Jesus into the palace
Christ to be our Leader and Teacher to sin for it it is he that taught us this And dare you charge Christ with Sin 18. For if I build again the things which I destroyed I make my self a transgressour 18. For if we that have preached Deliverance from the Law and that it doth not justifie us do now intimate the contrary by our Practice we confess our selves Sinners in teaching such Doctrine heretofore 19. For I through the law am dead to the law that I might live unto God 19. The Law it self hath taught me not to trust it for Justification nor to live in the Bondage of it but to look for Life towards God by Christ 20. I am crucified with Christ Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me 20. As Christ was crucified and took away this Wall of Separation and Yoke of Bondage so I am now a Member of his Body the Catholick Church and am dead to the Law and it to me But I have a better Life by which Christ liveth in me both objectively as trusted and loved and efficiently by his Spirit And now it is by Faith in him who loved me and gave himself for me that I live 21. I do not frustrate the grace of God for if righteousness come by the law then Christ is dead in vain 21. I do not by returning to the Law make void all the Design of Grace in our Redemption Christ is dead in vain if Righteousness must be by our performance of the Law of Moses for what need we then any other Sacrifice for sin or to be Redeemed from its Curse CHAP. III. 1. O Foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you 1. So great is your folly in inclining to Judaism that you seem in it as men bewitched and deprived of Reason to turn from Grace to the Law so soon when Christ crucified for your deliverance hath been so plainly preached and set forth before you 2. This onely would I learn of you Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith 2. Do but answer me from your own Experience Have you not received the Spirit your selves some for Miracles or Tongues and the sincere for Sanctification If not you are none of Christs If yea then by what means did you receive it Was it by the Works of the Law you will not say it or was it by hearing the Gospel of Faith 3. Are ye so foolish having begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect by the flesh 3. Are you so foolish as having received a Spiritual Doctrine and having received and seen the Gifts of the Spirit by it which are its Seal that you should think it your growth or perfection to turn to the Carnal Ceremonies of the Law which gave you not the Spirit 4. Have ye suffered so many things in vain if it be yet in vain 4. Will you lose all the sufferings which you have undergone If you turn to the Law you lose them all 5. He therefore that ministreth to you the Spirit and worketh miracles among you doth he it by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith 5. Are the Miracles that are wrought among you and the Spirit communicated to your selves given from God by the Ministry of the Law or its Works or by the Preaching of the Gospel Note That here is a strong Evidence for the Matter of Fact That the Gift of the Spirit and the Working of Miracles were then things certainly existent Else when Paul appealed to these seduced Galatians themselves as to Men that had the Spirit and these Miracles among them and that with the provoking Words of foolish and bewitched how easily would they have confuted him and said They knew of no such thing This had been the likeliest way to turn them from Christianity with scorn to make that his Proof which if false must be so known to them all 6. Even as Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness 7. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith the same are the children of Abraham 6 7. As it was by believing and trusting Gods Promise that Abraham was accounted righteous so it followeth that it is Believers that are his Seed as Heirs of the Promise 8. And the scripture foreseeing that God would justifie the heathen through faith preached before the gospel unto Abraham saying In thee shall all nations be blessed 8. And the Scripture foretelling that God would justifie the Heathen as he did Abraham by Faith did in effect preach this Gospel to him then when it 's said In thee shall all Nations be blessed and therefore not the Jewish Nation onely 9. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham 9 So that if the Promise be made to them in Abraham they that have the same Qualification of Faith must needs be they that are blessed in him though they keep not the Law of Moses which Abraham did not nor the Gentile Believers 10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them 10. For all that trust for Justification and Life to their own doing the Works of that Law and not to the free Grace of God in Christ must needs be cursed and not justified by it For it saith Cursed is every one that continueth not c. which no man doth 11. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God it is evident for The just shall live by faith 12. And the law is not of faith but The man that doth them shall live in them 11 12. It 's evident that before God none is justified by the Law For it 's said that The just by faith shall live But the Law considered in it self as distinct from the Promise doth not give Life on condition of Faith receiving it as a free Gift but on condition of doing all that it commandeth Though the Law as subordinate to the Promise be of Faith 13. Christ hath reedeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree 13. That Law which curseth us doth not justifie us but so doth Moses's Law and therefore came Christ to redeem us from that Curse suffering as a Sacrifice for us a cursed Death 14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith 14. That the Blessing which was pronounced to Abraham as a Believer might come
preach Note 1. That those Bishops which God commandeth men to obey are those that watch for the Souls of all the Flocks as men that must give account of all and not those that have many hundred or score of Churches without any other Bishop save one and never see or know or once hear the names of one of many hundred called their Flock much less ever taught them or gave them the Sacrament 2. That God having trusted the Pastors by Office with Church-Government by the Keys it is very false that the people should govern it by Vote Though it is true that being governed but as Volunteers by the Pastors their Consent is needful to their Subjection and to their Profit and Salvation 18. Pray for us for we trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly 18. Our Work and Charge being so great and of such importance to your selves while some revile and persecute us and some turn from us and disobey our Doctrine do you pray for us that God will guide strengthen support and prosper us For our Conscience is our Witness that we are faithful in our Ministry and our Lives 19. But I beseech you the rather to do this that I may be restored to you the sooner 19. And put up this one Request also for me that I may the sooner be restored to the comfort of your Service 20. Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant 21. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen 20 21. My chief Benediction and Prayer for you is that God who will be called The God of Peace as being the Giver the Lover and the Objective End of Love and Peace who raised our Lord and Saviour from Death whose Resurrection is the great Encouragement of our Hope even him who is the chief Pastor of all his holy Flock by the Purchase of the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant compact frame and fit you by Holiness and Union for every good Work to do his Will and work in you by his Spirit as he commandeth you in his Word that which is well pleasing in his sight To please him being the ultimate End of the whole Creation and as here begun the way thereto To whom be Glory in this perfect fulfilling of his Will for ever and ever Amen 22. And I beseech you brethren suffer the word of exhortation for I have written a letter unto you in few words 23. Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty with whom if he come shortly I will see you 24. Salute all them that have the rule over you and all the Saints They of Italy salute you 25. Grace be with you all Amen 22 23 24 25. Note 1. So bad is Man even Christians through the Relicts of their Corruption that when the most important comfortable Doctrine is delivered to them for their own good and that with the most convincing Evidence there is need of earnest Intreaty and Exhortation that they would bear it and not fall out with it neglect it or reject it 2. For people to know and regard their faithful Pastors or Church-Guides or Rulers is of so great importance to their Salvation and the Churches Union Strength and Safety against Ignorance Unbelief Error and Unruliness that they are three times minded of it in this one Chapter The General or Catholick Epistle of JAMES the Apostle say most Copies Whether the Writer was one of the Twelve called the Son of Alpheus or rather the Son of Cleophas Cousin-German to Jesus and called his Brother is uncertain The drift of the Epistle is 1. To establish the Christian Jews in a well ordered religious Course of Life and fortifie them against Tribulations 2. To shame a sort of Sectaries who misunderstood and abused the Doctrine of Justification by Faith and turned Religion into Opinion and yet were not only Magisterial Boasters of their great Knowledge but did it by a censorious contentious Contempt of others and making Ostentation of their supposed Wisdom as Hereticks use to do by a proud and wrangling self-exalting way 3. To reprove the Over-valuing of the Rich and their Contempt of the Poor and the Guilt of Sensuality Worldliness and Pride that had corrupted some among them 1. JAmes a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad greeting 1. Note 1. Ten of the Tribes ever since the Reign of King Hoshea were scattered by Captivity and the rest were in great numbers dispersed through much of the Roman Empire partly by the many Insurrections and Wars which had brought them to Ruine by Conquerours and partly by smalness and poverty of their Countrey so that at first the Apostles when they travelled into Heathen Countreys began their Preaching Church-gathering with the Jews Synagogues which they found there 2. My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations 3. Knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience 2 3. Note 1. He speaketh not of direct Temptations to sin as cast into us by the Devil or carnal allurements and fleshly appetite and lusts but of Tryal by suffering for Christ and Righteousness chiefly and partly next for such correcting Tryals from God as tend to our amendment 2. It is not the suffering that is matter of joy in it self but the good effects of a proved Faith and increased Patience Tryals because they tend to this should be received with joy but when they cause this much more 4. But let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing 4. Note 1. The care of a tryed suffering Christian should be to look to his Faith and Patience as the Goldsmith doth to his Gold in the fire and to see that they be duly and fully exercised and have their perfect work 2. A full or perfect exercise and use of Patience in great Tryals sheweâ—h a strong entire Christian and hath great joy when a lame use of Patience mixt with much impaâ—ience sheweth a lame Christian and giveth but little joy 3. To despair or fret or swell with bitter revengeful thoughts against our Persecutors or Enemies is contrary to sound Christianity 5. If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him 5. Wisdom is necessary both for the guidance of you in all your difficulties and duties and the management of all your religious affairs And all Parties pretend to the greatest Wisdom to draw People to be their Disciples But if you would be truly wise seek it not by running unto Hereticks but by sincere prayer to God who is the bounteous giver of it and doth not
the exalting works of grace presupposeth the humbling work of repentance as a necessary preparation 4. And the same John had his rayment of Camels hair and a leathern girdle about his loins and his meat was locusts and wild hony 4. He was cloathed with Haircloth bound to him with a leather girdle and fed on what the wilderness afforded which was Locusts which some think were an Herb so called but most a sort of flies like great Grashoppers that devour all green things and wild Hony Note Tho the Fryers and Hermits by superstitious overvaluing such austerity have tempted others to despise them yet God approved of Johns signification of his contempt of the world and fleshly pleasures by such abasing of the flesh And other mens superstition or Hypocrisie will not excuse mens superfluity or accuse mortification 5. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the Region round Jordan 6. And were baptized of him in Jordan confessing their sins 5. So glad were the People to hear that the Kingdom of the Messiah was at hand that they all flockt to him to be baptized professing repentance that they might be prepared for the Kingdom Note 1. We grant that Baptism then was by washing the whole Body And did not the differences of our cold country as to that hot one teach us to remember I will have mercy and not sacrifice it should be so here 2. Tho many say Johns baptism and Christs were all one its easie to prove that were any now baptized but with John's baptism he ought to be baptized again in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost on the profession of many Articles of the Creed which John required not 7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his Baptism he said to them O generation of vipers who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come 8. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance 7. Knowing what these Pharisees and Saducees were he said O generation of Vipers Are you aware indeed that wrath is coming upon you And do you think that the Messiah will indulge your sin and come to promote your carnal interest If you profess repentance and would have part in the Kingdom of the Messiah resolve against your sins and live in that righteousness and holiness which is the fruit of true repentance 9. And think not to say in your selves we have Abraham to our Father For I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham 9. Think not that the Messiah will advance you for being the Carnal seed of Abraham If you have not the Faith and Holiness of Abraham If you be wicked unbelievers God will cast you off tho Abraham was your Father and can of the Gentiles or the very stones raise up such as shall be blest as Abraham's believing seed 10. And now also the Ax is laid to the root of the tree therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire 10. The Messiah cometh with salvation to some and judgment to others He layeth the Ax to the root to cut down all of you that bring not forth the fruit of true faith and repentance and will cast such into the fire of temporal and eternal punishment 11. I indeed baptize you with water to repentance But he that cometh after me is mighter then I whose shoes I am not worthy to bear he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire 11. I do but baptize you preparatorily with water to repentance But he that is coming after me is mightier than I whose shoes I am not worthy to bear he shall baptize not only with Water but with the pouring out of his Spirit on believers and with that fiery tryal which shall refine the gold the faithful but separate the dross and destroy the rebellious unbelievers 12. Whose fan is in his hand and he will thoroughly purge his floor and gather his wheat into the garner but will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire 12. He will winnow and throughly separate the wheat from the Chaff the Faithful from the Rebellious and will gather the faithful into his heavenly Kingdom and into his Church in order hereto but he will burn the unbelievers and unperswadable as Chaff and that with destruction here and unquenchable fire hereafter 13. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him 14. But John forbad him saying I have need to be baptized of thee and comest thou to me 13 14. Note Christ was not baptized to the same ends as other men He had no sins to repent of nor saviour to receive but as the General will wear the same colours with his soldiers Christ received baptism for the ends he was capable as to profess that the Kingdom of God was at hand 15. And Jesus answering said unto him Suffer it to be so now for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness Then he suffered him 15. I must fulfill the Law of Moses and thy prophetick mission and be thus entered on my proper work 16. And Jesus when he was baptised went up straightway out of the water and lo the Heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him 16. As Jesus went up out of the water John saw the Heavens open to Christ and the Spirit of God in some resemblance of a dove or as a dove doth light on any place descending on him its like in a lucid appearance and resting on him 17. And lo a voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased 17. And with the apparition came a voice from heaven saying This is c. This is my beloved Son the Messiah sent from Heaven as the Mediator to reveal my will and to fulfill it and by his perfect righteousness and sacrifice to reconcile the world to me and be the propitiation for their sins CHAP. IV. THen was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil Note 1. That tho Christ was God his humane nature was acted by the Holy Ghost to whom in Scripture is ascribed Divine perfection of operation on creatures 2. Man was overcome by the temptation of Satan and so sin and death and all evil did invade mankind Therefore our Redeemer must deliver us from sin and Satan and Misery by conquering the tempter in his way of Temptation by which he conquered To give us also notice that the warfare preparatory to our future state is managed by overcoming temptations or being overcome by them And therefore the study of temptations and the resistance is a great part of the Christian life 3. Christ cast not himself on temptations but was led to it by the Spirit 4. To be temped is no sin 2. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights
the priests in the temple profane the sabbath and are blameless 3 4 5. Your strictness and your accusation of my Disciples are but from your ignorance of the Scripture Have ye not read that hunger justified David and his company for eating the consecrated Bread which else none but the Priests might lawfully eat And that the Priests in the temple labour on the Sabbath and break the outward rest of the day which would be profanation did not the Temple service justifie it 6. But I say to you that in this place is one greater than the temple 6. But if the Temple service can justifie labour I am greater than the Temple and my service and authority can justifie it 7. But if ye had known what this meaneth I will have mercy and not sacrifice ye would not have condemned the guiltless 7. If instead of ignorant preciseness for Ceremonies you had but learnt the true meaning of God in his preferring mercy before Sacrifice you would not have thought that Ceremonies and externals are commanded men for their hurt and must be observed against mercy to our selves or others Gods commands are all for mans good and he maketh not externals and ceremonies for a snare to hurt men You would not have censured the guiltless as sinners had you understood this Note This twice repeated most openly condemneth the Papal Church Government 8. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath-day 8. And as Moses's Law was but to lead men to Christ in whom it is fulfilled so it cannot bind any against him and his authority and saving work for which works sake all things are delivered into his hands even the Law and Sabbath of which he is Lord. 9 10. And when he was departed thence he went into their Synagogue And behold there was a man who had his hand withered and they asked him saying Is it lawful to to heal on the sabbath-day that they might accuse him 9 10. Note That the ceremonial outward strictness of hypocrites is used to ensnare and hurt those that are not of their mind 11. And he said to them What man shall there be among you that shall have one sheep and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath-day will he not lay hold on it and lift it out 11. Will you not draw a sheep out of a pit on the Sabbath-day if you have but one 12. How much then is a man better than a sheep wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath-days 12. It is lawfull to prefer and do a greater duty before a less 13. Then saith he to the man Stretch forth thy hand and he stretched it forth and it was restored whole like as the other 14. Then the Pharisees went out and held a council against him how they might destroy him 13 14. Note That it is part of the Religion of Hypocrites to destroy men for doing the greatest good against their Laws 15. But when Jesus heard it he withdrew himself from thence and great multitudes followed him and he healed them all 16. And charged them that they should not make him known 15 16. Note 1. It is a duty to avoid the hands of Murderers and Persecutors unless when our sufferings are like to do more good than our lives 2. Christ forbid them making him known partly to avoid the envy and rage of persecutors and partly because the time was not yet come till all his works set together with his Resurrection and Spirit should make up a full proof 17 18. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet saying Behold my servant whom I have chosen my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased I will put my Spirit upon him and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles 19. He shall not strive nor cry neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets 20. A bruised reed shall he not break and smoaking flax shall he not quench till he send forth judgment unto victory 21. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust 17 c. In all this he fulfilled what was prophesied by Isaiah Behold c. Him whom I have selected for this work of Salvation in whom I am well pleased as fulfilling all my will He shall have the fulness of the Spirit and he shall teach the Nations the way of Truth and Righteousness He shall not subdue men by tumults violence or wars but as the Prince of Peace and Grace he shall deal gently with the weak and cherish the least degree of goodness and pardon the faults of the penitent and not use severity of Justice till he have gathered his Church out of the world and overcome and judged his final enemies And it is he in whom all nations shall be blessed 22. Then was brought to him one possessed with a devil blind and dumb and he healed him insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw 23. And all the people were amazed and said Is not this the son of David 22 23. This people were so astonished to see his works that they said Sure this is the Messiah the son of David 24. But when the Pharisees heard it they said This fellow doth not cast out devils but by Beel-zebub the prince of the devils 25. And Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them Every kingdom divided against it self is brought to desolation and every city and house divided against it self shall not sâ—and 26. And if Satan cast out Satan he is divided against himself how then shall his kingdom stand 24 c. The Pharisees could not deny the matter of fact it being notorious and therefore they had no shift left for their unbelief but saying that All such works are not of God The Prince of Devils to deceive the people giveth him power to cast out devils and do his miracles But Christ said If the Devil have a Kingdom he hath wit to preserve it Is it the Devils work to do good to mens Souls and Bodies If holy doctrine and casting out 〈◊〉 and healing the diseased be against Satan 〈…〉 then he is against himself if he be 〈…〉 Kingdom City or House will not stand 〈…〉 â—â—vidâ—d and fight against it self 27. 〈…〉 â—â—â—zâ—bub cast out devils by 〈…〉 â—â—â—en cast them out therâ—â—ore 〈…〉 be your judges 28. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God is come unto you 27 28. And if you think me a Conjurer and confederate with Satan what say you of your own Countreymen my Disciples who cast them out by the power they receive from me Are they all conjurers too Therefore they shall be witness against your unbelief and blasphemy But if all this be certainly done by me by no less power than the Spirit of God you should see that this is Gods attestation to me and that his Kingdom is come in which the Messiah is to conquer Satan and destroy his works 29. Or else how can one enter
into a strong mans house and spoil his goods except he first bind the strong man and then he will spoil his house 29. How could I cast out Satan from his possession and destroy his works if I did not overcome him 30. He that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad 30. So far am I from working by the Devil that I take him for mine enemy that doth not serve me in my opposition to his Kingdom and will judge him as one that is for Satan N. In War men use to say of their own Soldiers He that is not for us is against us and to be counted an enemy But of the Countreymen and the enemies quarters He that is not against us is for us that is If he do us no harm he doth us good and let us use him kindly So Christ saith of profest Christians If they be not effectually for me I will judge them as treacherous and against me and shall not save them But of those without the Church he saith He that is not against us is for us that is tho he be not himself in a state of Salvation as true Christians are yet its commendable to do us no harm and the Church is assisted by such fair and moderate unbelievers 31. Wherefore I say to you All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven to men 32. And whoever speaketh a word against the Son of man it shall be forgiven him but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world nor in the world to come 31 32. All other sin and blasphemy against me as I appear in my humane nature hath some excuse and may be cured and so be pardoned But seeing the Great works of the Holy Ghost done by me and to be done by my Disciples in Miracles and Sanctification are the greatest evidences that God will give the world to convince them of the truth of my Gospel he that is convinced of the fact that all these Miracles and this holiness is wrought and will yet deny it to be Gods attestation and blasphemously stand to it that its the work of the Devil this man rejecteth the greatest evidence and shall have no greater and so his infidelity is incurable and aggravated with blasphemy and obstinacy and will never be repented of nor forgiven Note This blaspheming the Holy Ghost 1. Is the sin of none but resolved Infidels 2. And such of them only as are convinced of the great works of the Holy Ghost miraculous and others 3. And yet rather than they will believe in Christ by this Divine testimony will believe and say that it is by the Devil and Conjuration that all this is done See my Treat of the Blasphemy of the Holy Ghost in my Book called The unreasonableness of Infidelity 33. Either make the tree good and his fruit good or else make the tree corrupt and his fruit corrupt for the tree is known by his fruits 33. Judge of the tree by the fruit Of the power which I work by by the works If it be no good work to heal the Sick and Blind and Lame and cast out Devils and preach repentance and forgiveness of sin to convert and save Souls then God is not the Author of them If they be bad works they have a bad cause If they be good works they have a good Author either say plainly you that ascribe them to the Devil that the works are good and the Devil is good or else that the Devil is bad and the works are bad Or if you confess the works to be good confess that they are done by the Spirit of God 34. O generation of vipers how can ye being evil speak good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh 34. I need go no farther for an instance than your selves were you not a generation of Vipers the Serpents seed ye would not blaspheme the Holy Ghost and his works for your mouths speak out of the evil of which your heart is full As you are so you speak you are so bad that you cannot speak well And if I work'd by the Devil my works would be bad as the Devil is 35. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things 35. Good men are such first at the heart where goodness is a setled habit and nature and out of this treasure they bring forth good words and deeds And a bad man being such at the heart doth speak and do accordingly Note Tho hypocrites may have words and deeds much better than their hearts that is but in some by instances and not in the tenor of their lives Fictions are narrow and soon overcome 36. But I say to you That every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment 36. And think not lightly of you belying and blaspheming the Holy Ghost for I tell you that for every Lye you shall give account in the day of judgment and be condemned if you be not proved penitent believers N. In the Hebrews use Idle and Vain were taken for deceitful false or lying 37. For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned 37. For tho thou must be made and accounted by God a just man by thy inward change and thy forgiveness in order before thy words or works yet supposing that thou survive God who hath made a Law for thy words and works will judge thee by that Law as justified and rewardable or as unjust and punishable in the day of Judgment Christ hath not made us lawless nor made us a Law of Grace in vain No man shall be saved that is not justifiable against the accusation that he lived and died an impenitent ungodly man any more than if he had died an infidel 38. Then certain of the Scribes and of the Pharisees answered saying Master we would see a sign from thee 38. We would see some certain sign from Heaven that indeed God doth own thee thy word 39. But he answered and said to them An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of the prophet Jonas 40. For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whales belly so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth 39 40. A false hearted people that will not be convinced by miracles but ascribe them to the Devil yet would have a sign from Heaven of their own chusing But God will not gratifie their insolent demand They shall have no sign but that of Jonas who was a Type of me lying in the Whales belly three days and nights as I shall
3. Or Peter himself But no doctrinal controversie dependeth on it For all three are certain truths 1. No doubt but primarily Christ is the Rock on which the Church is built 2. And no doubt but Faith and Confession being the condition of our part in Christ the Church is so far built thereon 3. And no doubt but the Apostles are called Foundation stones on which the Church is built and therefore Peter whose name importeth it and was a chief speaker among them as the foreman of a Jury 2. Though the Powers of Hell may seem to prevail as they did over Christ while he was on the Cross they are then next an overthrow themselves 19. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven 19. And hereafter I will make thee a ruling Steward over my Church as it is Gods Kingdom on earth preparatory to the Heavenly Kingdom of Glory and the due administration of thy office by these Keys of Power shall be the ordinary way to Heaven and a forerunner of the finall Justification of the Faithful and of the final condemnation of the Impenitent and ungodly whom by my doctrine and the due application of it thou bindest over to my judgment Note As Peter was the foreman or speaker in their common confession so by Peter the promise is made to them all And to them all Christ after gave this power But he never made Peter governour of the rest of the Apostles Much less the Pope 20. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ 20. N. Because this honour was reserved chiefly 1. To the time of the accomplishment of all the evidences by his Resurrection and Ascension and giving of the Holy Ghost 2. And to the work of the Spirit then on the Apostles by which they were suddenly advanced to a fitness for this work above what they attained by Christs personal teaching them on earth 21. From that time forth began Jesus to shew to his disciples how that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised again the third day 21. Note 1. This Christ did 1. To make them know that he knew things to come 2. And to make them know that it was not to reign as an earthly King that he was sent 3. And to prepare them to bear his sufferings and not to expect fleshly prosperity by him 2. It was the Poor that followed Christ and the Rulers and Teachers that crucified him 22. Then Peter took him and began to rebuke him saying Be it far from thee Lord this shall not be unto thee 22. Peter contradicted him saying God forbid Lord favour thy self and expose not thy self to this Note 1. The flesh is ready to suggest fleshly counsel and to oppose all that tends to suffering 2. We have need to be fortified against temptations of loving friends as well as enemies 23. But he turned and said to Peter Get thee behind me Satan thou art an offence to me for thou savourest not the things that be of God but those that be of men 23. He lookt at him with displeasure and said to Peter I say to thee as I did to the Devil when he tempted me Get thee behind me for thou doest the work of Satan the adversary in tempting me for self-preservation to violate my Fathers command and my undertaking and to forsake the work of mans Redemption and Salvation As thy counsel savoureth not the things that be of God his will work and Glory but the things that be of men the love of the body and this present life so it signifieth what is in thy heart take heed lest this carnality prevail Note 1. All things must displease us that displease God and are against his interest and the good of man 2. Even the best men and nearest friends may by temptation and errour be made Satans instruments to do his work in some particulars of great moment 3. Good men do the Devils work oft times when they know it not but verily think it is all for Christ 4. No love or respect to mens nearness or goodness must draw us to flatter them in sin or to speak lightly of it we must not mince it or extennate it because good men commit it we must lay it home on them that would by justifying it make it pass for duty Lest the name of Good men should serve Satan more effectually than men of known wickedness can do 5. It is no railing on just occasions to tell tempting friends and godly men or Ministers that they are doing the Devils woâ—k and are instead of Devils to the tempted To hinder us in Gods work and mens Salvation is to be Satans to us O how many Satans then are called Reverend Fathers who silence and persecute men for Gods work as the whole course of the Papal Discipline and worship manifesâ—â—th 7. It is carnal savouring worldly and fleshly interest too much and the things of God the Soul and Heaven to little which is the common cause of the sinful counsels and course even of Sacred men 24. Then said Jesus to his disciples If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me 25. For whoever will save his life shall lose it and whoever will lose his liâ—e for my sake shall find it 24. Christ took this occasion to preach self-denial to his Disciples saying Let him that will be my Disciple and follow me and expect Salvation by me resolve to deny his carnal self and self-interest and resign himself to me as being not his own but mine Not making the cross but patiently taking and bearing it when it is laid upon him and follow me by sufferings unto glory For this is the method determined by God that whoever resolveth to save his life and not be undone in the world to avoid sin this man shall finally lose his life and life eternal And whoever will lose his life rather than by sin to forsake me and his duty shall find that life with felicity in heaven which he lost on earth N. Christs peremptory terms of Salvation are to prefer it and him before our lives 26. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul 26. Will it not be an ill bargain to gain all the world for a short time to the flesh and lose ones own Soul and its happiness for ever And what will compensate the loss of the Soul For what price would you sell its happiness N. 1. Men hath a Soul that liveth when he leaveth this world 2. It were a mad bargain to sell a mans Soul for all that this world
to make Laws for the universal Church on Earth but he and to undertake it is to undertake the prerogative of Christ and to be Vice-christ by usurpation be it Pope or Councils 4. Yet the precept of observing his commands forbids not the observing of the commands of any lawful limited local rulers under him not crossing his commands Parents Masters Pastors Princes must be obeyed in their Provinces and Places even about Gods worship If men make subordinate Laws according to Christs General Laws of Love Concord Edification Order they must be obeyed as e. g. what translations of Scripture to use what Psalms Meters Tunes Gestures Time Place and abundance such like The Gospel according to St. MARK Note 1. That this is the same Mark against whom as not fit to be taken with them St. Paul sharply contended with Barnabas even to parting a sunder But it was not as charging him with any crime but as unfit to be taken with them in so long and hard a work which he before deserted 2. It is said by some to be a tradition that Mark wrote this from the Mouth of Peter but that is uncertain 3. It is questioned seeing it is only the eleven Apostles to whom Christ promised the Eminent help of the Spirit to bring all his Doctrine to their remembrance and lead them into all Truth How can we be sure that Mark and Luke who were no Apostles and had not this promise did never mistake in their writing the Gospel Ans Tho Christ promised not Infallibility to all Preachers then he promised and gave the Eminent Miraculous gifts to the Spirit to others as well as to the Apostles as appeared in Stephen Philip and others And this spirit was to sit them for the work to which they were called which his miracles by them attested 2. And the Apostles that then lived approved these writings of Mark and Luke and so did the Churches where the gifts of the Spirit did then most abound who also delivered them down to us Whether this Mark was Bishop of Alexandria or only a transient Evangelist there a while is an Historical controversie of no great Moment When Antioch had at once so many great Apostles Prophets and Teachers and no one of them then a Bishop to rule the rest as their Pastor we may well conjecture that the case of Alexandria did not much differ from that of Antioch and Jerusalem where neither James nor any one was Governour of the Apostles The Reader must not expect that I repeat at large the Paraphrases or Notes which are written on Matthew when the same History and words are by Mark repeated CHAP. I. 1. THE beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God 2. As it is written in the prophets Behold I send my messenger before thy face who shall prepare thy way before thee 3. The voice of one crying in the Wilderness Prepare ye the way of the Lord make his paths straight 1. c. The publick entrance of Christ on his Ministry and Preaching the glad tydings of Salvation was by the preparation of Johns Ministry Preaching Repentance to fit men for the Kingdom of the Messiah at hand which the Prophets had foretold Note Whether by the Prophets be here meant Isay and Malachi or onely Isay is a Controversie of small moment 4. John did Baptize in the wilderness and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins 4. John told the Jews that the Messiah was now come and brought Pardon and Salvation to all that received him and therefore perswaded them all to Repent that they might be Pardoned and fit Members of his Kingdom and Baptized those that Professed this 5. And there went out unto him all the land of Judea and they of Jerusalem and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan confessing their sins 5. The generality of the people longing for the promised Messiah were glad of this News that he was Come and thronged to John Confessing their Sins and Professing Repentance and were Baptized by him 6. And John was clothed with camels hair and with a girdle of a skin about his loyns and he did eat locusts and wild honey 6. N. This kind of Eremetical Life and Abstinence is overvalued by them who place Merit or Perfection in it and is unjustly vilifyed by some who know not of how great use it is some persons to withdraw from worldly Vanities and Temptations 7. And preached saying There cometh one mightier than I after me the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose 7. N. Christ and his Servants are patterns of Humility But Satan and his servants are known by Pride 8. I indeed have baptized you with water but he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost 8. My Baptism doth but prepare you but his shall power out the Spirit on the Baptized 9. And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized of John in Jordan 9. N. Qu. Did Christ Profess Repentance for the Remission of Sins If not how was he capable of Johns Baptisme Answ He was not Baptized to the same uses as other men but as owning Johns Baptisme and the Coming of the Kingdom of God As a General will wear the same Colours with his Soldiers though theirs signifie subjection to him 10. And straitway coming up out of the water he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him 10. See on Matt. 3. 11. And there came a voice from heaven saying Thou art my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased 11. N. God from Heaven Preached the Gospel at Christs Baptisme 12. And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness 13. And he was there in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan and was with the wild beasts and the Angels ministred to him 12.13 N. 1. To conquer Temptations is to conquer Satan 2. Angels brought him meat at the end of the Forty days 14. Now after that John was put in prison Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God 14. That the Kingdom of God was coming 15. And saying The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent ye and believe the gospel 15. The promised time of the Messiahs appearing is Come Repent and believe this glad-tidings 16. Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea for they were fishers 17. And Jesus said to them Come ye after me and I will make you to become fishers of men 18. And straitway they forsook their nets and followed him 16. c. See on John 1.40 and Matt. 4.18 19. And when he had gone a little further thence he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother who also were in the ship mending their nets 20. And straitway he called them and they left their father Zebedee in
baskets of fraqments took ye up and they said Seven 21. And he said to them How is it that ye do not understand 18. N. It is a great sin to have a power of understanding and considering and not to use it 2. And a great sin quickly to forget Miracles or marvellous providences and to fall into new distrustful reasonings in our next wants 22. And he cometh to Bethsaida and they bring a blind man unto him and besought him to touch him 23. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town and when he had spit on his eyes and put his hands upon him he asked him if he saw ought 24. And he looked up and said I see men as trees walking 24. c. I discern not Men from Trees by their shape but suppose them men because they walk 25. After that he put his hands again on his eyes and made him look up and he was restored and saw every man clearly 26. And he sent him away to his house saying Neither go into the town nor tell it to any man in the town 25 26. To avoid ostentation and envy 27. And Jesus went out and his disciples into the towns of Cesarea Philippi and by the way he asked his disciples saying to them Whom do men say that I am 27. Not but that he knew but his question was to occasion their confession 28. And they answered John the Baptist but some say Elias and others One of the Prophets 29. And he said to them But whom say ye that I am and Peter answered and saith to him Thou art the Christ 30. And he charged them that they should tell no man of him 29. Men were to discern who he was by his works and he would not have it commonly proclaimed till his Resurection and Spirit had compleated those works and evidences by which it was to be proved 31. And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected of the elders and of the chief priests and scribes and be killed and after three days rise again 32. And he spake that saying openly and Peter took him and began to rebuke him 33. But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples he rebuked Peter saying Get thee behind me Satan for thou savourest not the things that be of God but the things that be of men N. 1. Christ made them know that he designed not a Worldly Kingdom when he tells them of his deâ—tâ— and resurrection 2. Peter in his fleshly wisdom thought Christ was not so wise as he No wonder if Novices now think themselves wiser than their wisest teachers and specially if such are censured as imprudent for not avoiding suffering 3. Even a Peter by such carnal wisdom may so far serve Satan as to deserve so sharp a rebuke as to be called a Satan 4. Savouring the things of men and flesh more than of God is the great sin that we are all in danger of and deserveth sharp rebuke 34. And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also he said to them Whosoever will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me 35. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospels the same shall save it 34. This case of Peter occasioned Christ to call off all his Disciples from worldly expectations and to tell them what they must trust to and that they are no Disciples for him if they cannot trust him with their lives and if they believe not that they shall gain more by him than their lives are worth N. To deny a mans self is to forsake his life rather than forsake Christ As to deny Christ was to forsake him to save life or any thing else He that will save his life by denying Christ shall lose it and his salvation And he that denieth his life for Christ and the hope of Salvation shall save it for ever 36. For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul 37. Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul 36. How poor a price is all the profit and pleasure of this life to hire a man by sin to lose his salvation or what can make up that mans loss N. And will pride revenge gluttony drunkenness or fornication then make him a saver that loseth his soul by them or will preferment Lordship and pomp and power recompence him 38. Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father and the holy angels 38. If men be so far ashamed of a crucified a scorned a persecuted Christ as to deny him to escape shame or suffering a glorified Christ in Judgment before Angels and Men will disown them and say I know you not It is not a Popedom or a Cardinalship nor a Lordship that nominal Christians are ashamed of but it is poor persecuted Christianity CHAP. IX 1. ANd he said Verily I say to you there be some of them that stand here who shall not taste of death till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power 1. Till they see a glimpse of that glorious or powerful appearance of the King of the Church in which he shall come at the last 2. And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves and he was transfigured before them 3. And his raiment became shining exceeding white as snow so as no fuller on earth can white them 4. And there appeared to them Elias with Moses and they were talking with Jesus 5. And Peter answered and said to Jesus Master it is good for us to be here let us make three tabernacles one for thee and one for Moses and one for Elias 6. For he wist not what to say for they were sore afraid 2. This was the performance of the fore-going Promise See on Matt. 17. Note For Glorified Saints from Heaven to wait on Christ in his own splendor was a glympse resembling his Last Coming 2. If the sight of Christ Moses and Elias in glorious Splendor made the Three Apostles through the strangeness of it sore afraid no wonder if even the thought of what we shall see after Death possess us with dread though it be our hope and joy 7. And there was a cloud that overshaddowed them and a voice came out of the cloud saying This is my beloved Son hear him 7. Hear and obey him as the chief Messenger of my will of whom I give you this Testimony from Heaven 8. And suddenly when they had looked round about they saw no man any more save Jesus onely with themselves 9. And as they came down
well stricken in years 8. And it came to pass that while he executed the priests office before God in the order of his course 9. According to the custom of the priests office his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense 7 8 9 10. Note The Priest went into the sanctuary to offer and the people that while prayed without the Sanctuary not without the Temple In imitation of which our Temples usually are built in three parts The Chancel for the Clergy the body of the Church for the Laity and all below the Font for the Catechumens and suspended who are no communicants as the outward Court was for Gentiles 11. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense 12. And when Zacharias saw him he was troubled and fear fell upon him 13. But the angel said unto him Fear not Zacharias for thy prayer is heard and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son and thou shall call his name John 14. And thou shall have joy and gladness and many shall rejoyce at his birth 11 12 13 14. He was born to an austere life and and to martyrdom yet his birth was joyful though to such a painful life and death for the Churches service 15. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mothers womb 15. Note 1. The best men and most useful are greatest in Gods sight 2. Extraordinary denying the flesh agreeth well with the extraordinary gift of the Spirit 3. Infants may have the Holy-Ghost before it appeareth 16. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn the Lord their God 6. Note To turn many by repentance to God was the effect of the Holy-Ghost and of Johns extraordinary worth and work 17. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 17. He shall be possessed with such fulness of Spirit and Power to prepare the way for Christ as Elias had as is propheci'd in Mal. 4.6 Note By turning the hearts of the Fathers to the Children some think is meant turning the tyrannical oppression of Rulers to fatherly love and lenity to inferiours But Dr. H. more probably translateth it with the Children That is he shall turn Fathers and Children old and young Others say it is but to turn mens minds to the Love of one another and those that disobey God to the true wisdom of just men who obey and trust him 18. And Zacharias said unto the angel Whereby shall I know this for I am an old man and my wife well stricken in years 19. And the angel answering said unto him I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God and am sent to speak unto thee and to shew thee these glad tidings 20. And behold thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak untill the day that these things shall be performed because thou believest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season 18 19 20. I am one of the many Angels that stand before God and am sent to tell thee this And to reprove thy unbelief And to convince thee for a sign thou shalt be dumb c. 21. And the people waited for Zacharias and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple 22. And when he came out he could not speak unto them and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple for he beckned unto them and remained speechless 21 22. Sanctuary 22. Some Revelation 23. And it came to pass that assoon as the days of his ministration were accomplished he departed to his own house 23. That Ceremonious service might be done by a dumb man but so cannot the Gospel Ministration 24. And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and hid her self five months saying 25. Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me to take away my reproach among men 24 25. She retired from Peoples observation and discourse saying the Lord hath shewed me mercy in taking away my reproach 26. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth 27. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David and the the virgins name was Mary 26 27. Not married but betrothed 28. And the angel came in unto her and said Hail thou that art highly favoured the Lord is with thee Blessed art thou among women 28. Rejoice for thou art highly favoured of the Lord who maketh thee blessed above all women 29. And when she saw him she was troubled at his saying and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be 30. And the angel said unto her Fear not Mary for thou hast found favour with God 31. And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus 32. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David 29 30 31 32. She understood it not That Glorious Kingdom meant in the promise to Davids seed of which his Kingdom was but a type 33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his kingdom there shall be no end 33. His Kingdom over the Faithful Israel of God begun in grace shall be Everlasting in Glory 34. Then said Mary unto the angel How shall this be seeing I know not a man 35. And the angel answered and said unto her The holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God 34 35. This shall be done without Man by the Holy Ghost and the overshaddowing power of God and therefore he shall be properly called the Son of God N. 1. Though this give us the most known reason why Christ is called the Son of God in Scripture it is not said to be the only reason excluding his eternal Generation 2. Yet Christ oft calleth himself the Son of Man which signifieth no more but that he was truly a Man and born of a woman 36. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth she hath also conceived a son in her old age and this is the sixth moneth with her who was called barren 37. For with God nothing shall be unpossible 36 37. Note 1. Though Elizabeth was of the Tribe of Aaron and Mary of the Tribe of Judah they were a kin by Elizabeths Mother marrying a Levite 2. Nothing should seem difficult to
the son of Joseph which was the son of Juda 27. Which was the son of Joanna which was the son of Rhesa which was the son of Zorobabel which was the son of Salathiel which was the son of Neri 28. Which was the son of Melchi which was the son of Addi which was the son of Cosam which was the son of Elmodam which was the son of Er 29. Which was the son of Jose which was the son of Eliezer which was the son of Jorim which was the son of Matthat which was the son of Levi 30. Which was the son of Simeon which was the son of Juda which was the son of Joseph which was the son of Jonan which was the son of Eliakim 31. Which was the son of Melea which was the son of Mena which was the son of Mattatha which was the son of Nathan which was the son of David 32. Which was the son of Jesse which was the son of Obed which was the son of Booz which was the son of Salmon which was the son of Naasson 33. Which was the son of Aminadab which was the son of Aram which was the son of Esrom which was the son of Phares which was the son of Juda 34. Which was the son of Jacob which was the son of Isaac which was the son of Abraham which was the son of Thara which was the son of Nachor 35. Which was the son of Saruch which was the son Ragau which was the son of Phaleg which was the son of Heber which was was the son of Sala 36. Which was the son of Cainan which was the son of Arphaxad which was the son of Sem which was the son of Noe which was the son of Lamech 37. Which was the son of Mathusala which was the son of Enoch which was the son of Jared which was the son of Maleleel which was the son of Canan 38. Which was the son of Enos which was the son of Seth which was the son of Adam which was the son of God 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38. He entered on his publick office about thirty And now young novices run into the Ministry Luke reciteth the pedegree of Joseph and Matthew of Mary Q. Whence had Luke that part of the pedegree that is not written in the Scripture before Ans By other History and Tradition with the help of Gods Spirit The Genealogical controversies I pass by CHAP. IIII. 1. ANd Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan and was led by the spirit into the wilderness 2. Being forty dayes tempted of the devil and in those dayes he did eat nothing and when they were ended he afterwards hungred 3. And the devil said unto him If thou be the Son of God command this stone that it be made bread 4. And Jesus answered him saying It is written that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God 5. And the devil taking him up into an high mountain shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time 6. And the devil said unto him All this power will I give thee and the glory of them for that is delivered unto me and to whomsoever I will I give it 7. If thou therefore wilt worship me all shall be thine 8. And Jesus answered and said unto him Get thee behind me Satan for it is written thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. See on Matth. 4. strongly inspired by the Holy-Ghost was led by him c. 6. Though Satan lyed in part yet he hath great power over the Kingdoms and Glory of the World partly as a Templer and partly as Gods executioner but all under Gods absolute will The success sheweth that too many receive them from him that they may serve him by them as enemies to the Church of Christ Note Blasphemous temptations must be answered with rejecting hatred 9. And he brought him to Jerusalem and set him on a pinacle of the temple and said unto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy self down from hence 10. For it is written He shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee 11. And in their hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone 12. And Jesus answering said unto him It is said Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God 9 10 11 12. Note Satan useth to tempt by perverted Scripture yet it is by right expounded Scripture that he must be repelled Q. How did the writers know these secret things Ans Christ told them his Disciples though that be not written 13. And when the devil had ended all the temptation he departed from him for a season 13. Luke reciteth them not in the same order with Matthew but the same things Note Christ's Victory over the Tempter was part of his saving work and to prepare for our Victory 14. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee and there went out a fame of him thorow all the region round about 14. Note Though the Constitution of Christ's Person was by the Divine Nature of the second in the Trinity yet the Scripture usually ascribeth his works to the operation of the Holy Ghost in him 15. And he taught in their synagogues being glorified of all 16. And he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custom was he went into the synagogue on the sabbath-day and stood up for to read 15 16. Note Christ separated not from the Jews corrupt Church 17. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias and when he had opened the book he found the place where it was written 18. The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty them that are bruised 19. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 17 18 19. Note He chose a Text that described his own Office and applied it 20. And he closed the book and he gave it again to the minister and sat down and the eyes of all them that were in the synagogues were fastened on him 21. And he began to say unto them This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears 20 21. Note This Instance proveth it not necessary to sit in Preaching but lawful where custom or circumstances forbid it not 22. And all bare him witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth And they said Is not this Joseph's son 22. They applauded his Preaching but undervalued him for being known to be their Neighbours Son 23. And he said unto them Ye will surely say unto me this proverb Physician heal thy self whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum do also
the root and be thou planted in the sea and it should obey you 6. If your Faith be true though but small no difficulty shall prevail against it nor any Miracle be too hard when God by his Spirit shall move you to it who will be the chuser of Miracles 7. But which of you having a servant plowing or feeding cattel will say unto him by and by when he is come from the field Go and sit down to meat 8. And will not rather say unto him Make ready wherewith I may sup and gird thy self and serve me till I have eaten and drunken and afterward thou shalt eat and drink 9. Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him I trow not 10. So likewise ye when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you say We are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to do 7 8 9 10. But see that neither your Faith nor Miracles puff you up or make you think too highly of your selves Nor must you desire it to make you conspicuous in the World but for your Masters service which is your duty and by which you must not think that you are profitable to him but obedient to him for your own and other mens good If you have Servants your selves you will not let them prefer themselves and their own interest before you and your commands So you when you have preacht and cast out Devils and done your best think not that you have profited God and thereby deserve to be dignified for the merit of your work but say we did but our duty and the priviledge and benefit is our own and others Note 1. It 's hard to Analize Luke's words because it is uncertain when he sets them together that were spoken together and when he joyneth words spoken on divers occasions 2. When Christ judgeth the unprofitable Servant to utter darkness and yet here calleth all unprofitable the sense is that no man can add any thing to God or profit him nor is he a Receiver but a Giver no Angel can merit of him in Commutative Justice But we must be Profitable to one another and our selves by improving God's Mercies And Christ so loveth his own as that he will reward this as if it profited himself 11. And it came to pass as he went to Jerusalem that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee 12. And as he entred into a certain village there met him ten men which were lepers who stood afar off 13. And they lifted up their voices and said Jesus master have mercy upon us 14. And when he saw them he said unto them Go shew your selves to the priests And it came to pass that as they went they were cleansed 11 12 13 14. Note He intimated thereby a purpose to heal them And he bid them use the ill-called corrupt Priests But whether he sent them to the Priests as those that were to judge of Leprosies before the cleansing or to shew that they were cleansed is doubtful though the first seems to me most probable 15. And one of them when he saw that he was healed turned back and with a loud voice glorified God 16. And fell down on his face at his feet giving him thanks and he was a Samaritan 15 16. He judged it no breach of Christ's command to return first to him and glorifie God and give him thanks 17. And Jesus answering said were there not ten cleansed but where are the nine 18. There are not found that returned to give glory to God save this stranger 17 18. This one man accounted a Heretick by the Jews is the only man of ten that returneth to glorifie God for his Cure Note Many receive Mercies but few glorifie God with true thanksgiving 19. And he said unto him Arise go thy way thy faith hath made thee whole 19. Note This oft-used word of Christ is against them that say that because it is Christ that healeth or justifieth it is not Faith As if the Office of Christ and of Faith might not concur hereunto 20. And when he was demanded of the Pharisees when the kingdom of God should come he answered them and said The kingdom of God cometh not with observation 21. Neither shall they say Lo here or lo there for behold the kingdom of God is within you 20 21. You know not what the Kingdom of God is It is not Christ's apperance in visible pomp as earthly Princes reign It is a Moral Spiritual Kingdom opposite not to Monarchs but to the Kingdom of Satan As Satan reigneth not visibly by himself but by corrupt Princes and Teachers to do his works and by his invisible suggestions and his baits so the Kingdom of God is to destroy Satan's Kingdom and to sanctifie and save men not by Christ's visible pompous reign but by holy Rulers and Teachers and by his Word and Spirit and promises and blessings to work on Souls 22. And he said unto the disciples The days will come when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man and ye shall not see it 22. Days of suffering are not far off when you will wish for my presence to deliver you or as some when you shall wish for days as easy and quiet as these are now or others think though he spake to his Disciples it is the Pharisees or the Jewish Nation that he spake to them of 23. And they shall say to you See here or see there go not after them nor follow them 24. For as the lightning that lightneth out of the one part under heaven shineth unto the other part under heaven so shall also the Son of man be in his day 23 24. Believe not them that tell you a Deliverer or Christ is in such or such a place For my Kingdom shall not be managed by my personal appearance but by the Light of my Word and Spirit which shall shine from one part of the World to another as Lightning from Heaven or my last coming will be like Lightning sudden and glorious to all mens sight 25. But first must he suffer many things and be rejected of this generation 26. And as it was in the days of Noe so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man 27. They did eat they drank they married wives they were given in marriage untill the day that Noe entred into the ark and the flood came destroyed them all 25 26 27. See Matth. 24. Whether the day of Christ be the day of his just Destruction of the Jews or of his Reign by the Gospel joyned with the Fall of them and other Enemies or his last coming is doubted of by Expositors 28. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot they did eat they drank they bought they sold they planted they builded 29. But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed
thee mine hour is not yet come 3 4. These words are not a breach of the fifth Commandment but as much as to say I am not to do Miracles by the direction of a Mothers Authority or by man but in the time and manner as by the Divine Wisdome shall be determined And by this and other passages Christ seems to foresee how Papists would overvalue his Mother 5 His mother saith unto the servants whatsoever he saith unto you do it 5. N. She believed his Power though he represt her Presumption 6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone after the manner of the purifying of the Jews containing two or three firkins a piece 7 Jesus saith unto them Fill the water-pots with water And they filled them up to the brim 8 And he saith unto them Draw out now and bear unto the governor of the feast And they bare it 6 c. Note It is conjectured to be about 1000 eight hundred pounds or pints oâ— Wine that Christ made which shewed that the Guests were very many or that he was at such Festivals for freer drinking of Wine than is fit among us perhaps all their Wine was small and not all of it then drunk but this and the like occasioned the Pharisees censure of him 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and knew not whence it was but the servants which drew the water knew the governor of the feast called the bridegroom 10 And saith unto him Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine and when men have well drunk then that which is worse but thou hast kept the good wine until now 9. Mariages among the Jews were celebrated with great Feasting where moderate jocundity was thought seasonable The reason Christ giveth for his Disciples not fasting was because the Bridegroom was yet with them When they had drunk to temperate hilarity small Wine was most suitable The vulgar Latin is when they are drunk and perhaps with Drunkards that might be the custom to bring smaller Wine when they could not well distinguish them 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his glory and his disciples believed on him 11. By this he shewed them his Divine Power and convinced his Disciples that he was the Messiah 12 After this he went down to Capernaum he and his Mother and his Brethen and his disciples and they continued there not many days 13 And the Jews passover was at hand and Jesus went up to Jerusalem 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves and the changers of money sitting 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords he drove them all out of the temple and the sheep and the oxen and poured out the changers mony and overthrew the tables 16 And said unto them that sold doves Take these things hence make not my Fathers house an house of merchandise 12 c. It seems probable that Christ did thus cleanse the Temple twice And that this is not the same History with that Matt. 21. though indeed its very like it 17 And his disciples remembred that it was written The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up 17. They believed that his zeal for Gods house might warrant this action in the Messiah as Ps 69.9 18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him what sign shewest thou unto us seeing that thou doest these things 18. These arbitrary actions require some extraordinary Commission to warrant them By what sign dost thou prove that thou hast such authority 19 Jesus answered and said unto them Desâ—roy this temple and in three days I will raise it up 20 Then said the Jews Forty and six years was this temple in building and wilt thou rear it up in three days 21 But he spake of the temple of his body 19 N. He told them enigmatically what should be after plainly expounded Many Prophecies written darkly are not intended to be presently understood but when they are fulfilled 22 When therefore he vvas risen from the dead his disciples remembred that he had said this unto them and they believed the scripture and the vvord vvhich Jesus had said 22. When this was performed by his Resurrection his Disciples believed the Prophesies of him and his own words 23 Novv vvhen he vvas in Jerusalem at the passover in the feast day many believed in his name vvhen they savv the miracles vvhich he did 23. His miracles made many believe that he was the Christ that yet were no through Disciples 24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them because he knevv all men 25 And needed not that any should testifie of man for he knevv vvhat vvas in man 24 25. But Christ that knew the hearts of Men and how many have but an unrooted mutable uneffectual belief would not trust himself into their hands by familiarity CHAP. III. THere vvas a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus a ruler of the Jews 2 The same came to Jesus by night and said unto him Rabbi we know that thou art a teacher come from God for no man can do these miracles that thou doest except God be with him 1 2. Being a Ruler he durst not be seen to come to Christ by day light but came by night and said Rabbi I am come to learn of thee for I know thou art a Teacher sent by God for no Man can do such miracles as thou dost but by Gods Power and God will not lend such Power to any whom he doth not approve and justifie 3 Jesus answered and said unto him Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God 3. As I could not do the works of God by miracles and doctrine unless God were with me so neither can any Man become a sound Believer and do the works of Faith and be saved as a true Member of the Kingdom of God unless by Gods spirit he be begotten again and have a new qualitative nature given him 4 Nicodemus saith unto him How can a man be born when he is old can he enter the second time into his mothers womb and be born 4. Nicodemus grosly misunderstanding Christ saith How can c. 5 Jesus ansvvered Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of of God 5. I tell thee most certainly that unless a Man have as it were a new nature and be made a new Man by being washed from his former sin and guilt and sanctifyed by the renewing work of Gods Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God N. This is all signified and celebrated by Baptism but it is the washing and sanctifying of the Soul only that hath the promise of Salvation But the Church on Earth being as the Porch Womb or Seminary to Heaven it is not another kind of Faith but that same
which in the sincere is saving which is required to be professed in Baptism for admittance into the visible Church 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit 6. Men generate Men but God maketh Saints by a spiritual generation Nature begets but nature but Gods Spirit giveth a holy and heavenly Nature or Inclination 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee Ye must be born again 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth so is every one that is born of the Spirit 7 8. Count not this an incredible thing Thou hearest the sound of the wind and knowest certainly by the effects that such a thing as wind there is and that it causeth those effects which thy sense perceiveth but thou knowest not fully the nature of this wind nor whence it cometh nor whither it goeth and so thou mayest know that Gods Spirit doth this sanctifying work on Souls though thou canst not comprehend the nature of the Spirit nor the way of its operation nor why it worketh on one Soul and not on another that seemeth equal to it 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him How can these things be 9. N. The reason of Man not yet illuminated is apt to be so confident in its ignorance as to take those spiritual things for incredible which it comprehendeth not It lifts up it self against Christ's teaching with a How can these things be 10 Jesus answered and said unto him Art thoâ— a master of Israel and knowest not these things 11 Verily verily I say unto thee we speak that we do know and testifie that we have seen and ye receive not our witness 10 11. It is a shame to thee that art a Master of Israel to be ignorant of these things without which all thy knowledge is but shells and shadows I tell thee we spake that which we certainly know by intuition and experience on holy Souls and yet you carnal Jews believe us not not knowing what your own shadows do import 12 If I have told you earthly things and and ye believe not how shall ye beleve if I tell you of heavenly things 12. When I tell you but what God doth here on Earth on all that he will save and illustrate it to you by a similitude which your senses do perceive and it is a thing that your Ceremonies signifie how shall you believe if I tell you the unseen things of Heaven if you believe not things so evident as these 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven even the Son of man which is in heaven 13. And if you will not believe me what satisfying notice can you have of the state of things in Heaven for no Man hath ascended up into Heaven and can tell you by sure notice what is there but I that came down from Heaven and so came down by assuming flesh as that yet I am now in Heaven in my Godhead 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the son of man be lifted up 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life 14 15. And the way of Salvation which God by me revealeth to you is this that as Moses in the Wilderness set up a brazen Serpent that all that were stung with Serpents might be cured if they did look up to this So I must be lift up on the Cross as a Sacrifice for sin that whoever truly believeth in me and trusteth me as the Redeemer and Saviour shall not perish but have everlasting life 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life 16. For God who is Love it self so far loved lapsed and lost mankind as that he gave his only begotten Son to be incarnate and to be their Redeemer by his meritorious life and death and Resurrection and to make them this promise covenant and offer that whoever truly believeth in him should have his sin forgiven and should not perish but have everlasting blessed life 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved 17. For if the World be condemned they shall never have cause to lay the blame on Christ For it was not to condemn them that God sent him into the World but to be the Saviour of the World which his Doctrine Life and Sufferings shew 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God 18. He that believeth on him is thereupon by him delivered from the Condemnation that he was under and shall be saved but he that believeth not is not delivered from his Guilt and Condemnation but is under the Guilt of a severer punishment the Law of Grace it self Condemning him because he hath rejected the Son of God sent from Heaven with his Doctrine his Grace and offered Mercy so that both the Law of Nature and of Grace condemn the Neglecters of so great Salvation 19 And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather then light because their deeds were evil 19. For the true cause of Mens Condemnation is not that they have no Saviour or Ransom being left as Devils to remidiless despair but that a Saviour as Light is come into the World and Men love darkness rather than light and so reject him and his truth and grace because they love and live in that sin which cannot endure the light 20 For every 〈◊〉 that doeth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light least his deeds should be reproved 20. For it is the part of â—ight to detect and shame Mens evill deeds and thereâ—ore Malefactors hate and avoid the Light lest it reprove them and condemn them 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God 21. But Light is the honour of well doing which is not afraid to be known and therefore he that doth that which is truly good loveth the Light and cometh to it that his deeds may appear to be as they are the work commanded and approved by God And therefore they will receive me that am the Light of the World 22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea and there he tarried with them and baptized 22. He by his Disciples baptized those that believed and repented 23 And John also was baptizing in Enon near to Salim because there was much water there and they came and were baptized 24 For John was not yet cast into prison 23 24. John ceased not baptizing even when Christ baptized nor till he
am in my Father and you in me and I in you 20. In that measure that this Spirit of Life is from me communicated to you ye shall Experimentally find that as I am in the Father and act by his Power so you are in me acted by my Love and Power and I in you thus acting you by my Spirit 21. He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him 21. This Holy Spirit which I promise you is the Spirit of Love And he that loveth and keepeth my Commandments is he that truly loveth me And though with a Love of benevolence and beneficence I Love many Enemies to their Conversions yet it is only they that thus Love me that shall be Loved of my Father with Complacence and Felicitation And I will delight bless and glorifie them with my Love and make my self fuller known to them 22. Judas saith unto him not Iscariot Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self unto us and not unto the world 23. Jesus answered and said unto him If a man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him 22 23. The manifestation of my self is not to be by Monarchical outward Pomp which the World expecteth but by Spiritual Gifts and Comforts and Rewards And none are prepared for these but they that love me and keep my words These my Father will Love and my Father and I will come to him by the Spirit and make our aboad with him for ever 24. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings and the word which you hear is not mine but the Fathers which sent me 24. But the World that Loveth me not keepeth not my words And it is the Fathers word and not mine only which they reject 25. These things have I spoken unto you being yet present with you 26. But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you 25 26. I tell you all these things with my own Mouth while I am present with you But they shall be better understood and take deeper rooting in your Memory and Affections by the work of the Paraclets the Holy Ghost whom my Father will send in my Name my Agent Advocate and Witness he shall more fully teach you all things and bring all things that ever I said to your remembrances that you may teach and record them to the World 27. Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid 27. And taking my farewell of you I do not only wish but give and leave with you my Grace and Benediction Not such an uneffectual or delusory peace in Sin as the World giveth But the beginning of everlasting Felicity Therefore let not your hearts be troubled or afraid at my departure as if ye were deserted 28. Ye have heard how I said unto you I go away and come again unto you If ye loved me ye would rejoyce because I said I go unto the Father for my Father is greater then I. 28. Ye have heard with trouble my words that I go away and come again to you If ye understood this aright your Love to me would make you rejoyce because as I told you it is my Father that I go to And he is greater than I whom he hath made Mediator And the presence of his Glory is better than this base wicked World 29. And now I have told you before it come to pass that when it is come to pass ye might believe 29. I have foretold you of my departure and my sending the Spirit that when it s come to pass your Faith may be helped by remembring my Predictions 30. Hereafter I will not talk much with you for the Prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me 30. I shall not speak much more to 〈…〉 my death For the Devil the Prince of the 〈◊〉 and the Romish and Jewish Powers his Agents are ready to Execute what I came to suffer but shall find in me no guilt or desert of suffering 31. But that the world may know that I love the Father and as the Father gave me commandment even so I do Arise let us go hence 31. But that I may shew to Mankind that my Love to my Father and my perfect Obedience to his Commands are more Powerful in me than the love of this Life I shall willingly suffer for Man an undeserved cursed death Arise and let us go to the place where I know Judas will come to apprehend me CHAP. XV. I Am the vine and my Father is the husbandman 1. I am to you like the Vine that giveth forth her Vital juice for Mans life and delight And my Father is as the Husbandman that planteth owneth and disposeth of the Vine and Fruit. Note Whether Christ spake this before they rose from Supper or as they went by the way is uncertain 2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away and every branch that bareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit 2. All that manifest themselves Christians and are Baptized and Grafted into my Church are to me as the Branches are to the Vine as to Coveâ—ant-insition And every 〈…〉 â—hristia◠〈◊〉 is not sincerely fruitful 〈…〉 superfluous branch And the sincere and fruitful shall be pruned by Instruction Discipline and Correction that they may be yet more fruitful 3. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you 4. Abide in me and I in you As the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the vine no more can ye except ye abide in me 3 4. You are now in some measure cleansed and sanctified by my Word and Grace But do ye think that all your work is done or all your danger over it must be still your care to abide in me by continued Faith and Love and that I may abide in you by my Spirit and Grace For as the branch can bear no Fruit of it self but by vertue communicated from the Stock and therefore must abide in it No more can you except you abide in me 5. I am the vine ye are the branches He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing 5. Your â—â—â—tion and continuance in me must make you fruitful â—or out of me and without my communicated Spirit of Grace you can do nothing that will save you 6. If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered and men gather them and cast them into the fire and
Resurrection but must Ascend to my Father where my Body shall be a Glorified spiritual body And though I will allow you as much familiarity as shall convince you of my Resurrection yet no more nor such as formerly But go to my Disciples and tell them I take them as my Brethren and am shortly to Ascend where I shall be better to them than on Earth even to him that is my Father by Nature and Merit and their Father by adopting Grace and Union with me through my Merit to my God as I am Mediator and Man and their God through my Mediation Note All true believers should labour to get this most Comfortable text deeply imprinted on their Minds and never think of God or come to him but as here described My Father and your Father My God and your God And thus only to think of Heaven and our change at Death we are Ascending to our ascended Saviour called our Brother and to his Father and our Father to his God and our God Note That there seemeth a great difference between the Evangelists in describing these passages and appearances to the Women and Apostles But it is but because one leaveth out what another mentioneth but not that they contradict each other And if you you take them altogether as one History the order seemeth to be this First Mary Magdalen Johanna Mary of James and Sallome having bought Spices and going to Embalm the Body said who will roll away the Stone for us Secondly When they come they found that the Stone was rolled away for an Angel had done it and with his appearing and Earthquake affrighted away the Soldiers Thirdly That Angel with another saith to the Women fear not I know you seek Jesus that was was Crucified why seek ye the living among the dead he is not here he is Risen Come see the place c. 4. Then the Women run and tell the Disciples They have taken away the Lord we know not where they have laid him 5. Then Peter and John run to see 6. Mary being come back stood weeping at the Enterance and looked back and saw two Angels as John reciteth it 7. Then Mary looked back and saw Christ and at first knew him not and he spake to her as here 8. Then she runs and tells the Disciples that she had seen the Lord 9. Either then or when she was gone Jesus met the rest of the Women and said to them All hail and they laid hold on his Feet and worshipped him and he said fear not Go tell my brethen c. Or perhaps we may make it shorter As 1. The Stone rolled away and the keeper affrighted away 2. Mary and the other women comes and find it so 3. They go in and miss the body 4. Many runs and tells Peter and John 5. They run to see 6. The women Staying see first one Angel on the Stone on the right side and then two one at the head and one at the feet of the place 7. These Angels say all that is mentioned to Mary and the rest 8. Mary seeth Jesus and so do the rest who holding him by the feet he restraineth further corporal contract and speaketh to Mary and the rest all that is mentioned 9. Then she and they tell the Disciples that they had seen him and what he said This seemeth the order of all togegether 18. Mary Magdalene came and told the Disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had spoken these things unto her 19. Then the same day at evening being the first day of the week when the doors were shut where the Disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews came Jesus and stood in the midst and saith unto them Peace be unto you 18 19. Note Christ rose and first appeared on the first day of the week If any should question it by cavilling at the Text as doubtful the practice of the Universal Church ever since observing that day without any Contradicting Party proveth it past doubt to all that use sober reason in the case 2. Christ owned their private meeting not reproving the Cautelous fears of Persecutors 3. The first word that he spake to them together or after his words to Mary was peace be unto you Little understood by many Churchmen 20. And when he had so said he sheweth unto them his hands and his side Then were the Disciples glad when they saw the Lord. 20. Several appearances are past by because mentioned by others 21. Then said Jesus to them again Peace be unto you as my Father hath sent me even so send I you 22. And when he had said this he breathed on them and saith unto them Receive ye the holy Ghost 23. Whose soever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whosoever sins ye retain they are retained 21 22 c. Peace is the sum of my Gift and Benediction to you and the sum of your duty to others as my Father sent me into the World to Gather Guide and save his Church as their Head and Mediator so I send you to Gather Guide and Save the Church as my Apostles And breathing on them he said As my Father sent me not with a bare Title unfurnished for his work but filled with the Spirit of Life and Power of Light and Wisdom of Love and Goodness so I will give you the same Holy Spirit and send you furnished with Power Knowledge and Love and not with meer names and Titles as Images I give you Power to Preach the Gospel so effectually as shall open mens Eyes and turn them from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive really from God and by Sacramental investiture in Baptism from your Remission of Sins and right to the inheritance among the Sanctified by Faith in me To be the Guids of my Church entrusted with Witnessing and Recording my Doctrine Laws and Promises for their Government to the end of the World And with the Keys of Church order as authorized Judges in your several charges who is capable of Church Communion to be received by Baptism restored by Repentance or as uncapable Apostates cast out Together with an extraordinary Power to inflict or to remit bodily Punishment by my rule not at your pleasure but as it shall please the Holy Ghost which he shall give you And I do breath on you to communicate now some beginnings of that Spirit which I will send down on you after my Ascension And so signifie to you that it is a real Qualification and Spirituall that I will give as God when he made Man breathed into him a living Soul that you deceive not your selves and the Church by dead Imaginary and Powerless names The witness of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophesie And of Sanctification And if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his by what name or Title soever he be dignified 24. But Thomas one of the twelve called Didymus
Policy was not utterly demolished till near fourty years after Christs Resurrection Therefore till then the Jews there were to be Preacht to and the twelve Apostles suited to the twelve Tribes though after the number was changed by Pauls Conversion when the Gospel was to be principally sent unto the Gentiles 23. And they appointed two Joseph called Barsabas who was surnamed Justus and Matthias 24. And they prayed and said Thou Lord which knowest the hearts of all men shew whether of these two thou hast chosed 25. That he may take part of this Ministery and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell that he might go to his own place 23 24 25. Note 1. The Apostleship was not only the qualification of Eye Witnesses of Christs works but a special preeminent office of some of those many who saw his works All that saw them were not Apostles Therefore Christ did set diversity and disparity of Ministerial Offices in his Church 2. Peters speech was to all the Disciples ver 15 16. It s therefore to be supposed that the two were chosen by all the Company but by the Conduct of the Apostles And God by Lot chose one of the two it being his Prerogative to make Apostles And I know no reason why the chief Pastors of the Church at least in cases of doubt should not now be so chosen 26. And they gave forth their lots and the lot fell upon Matthias and he was numbred with the eleven apostles 26. Note How casual soever it seemed God was the undoubted determiner of it But solemnly to appeal to his determination in ludricrous toys or things already determined by his word is but prophanely to take his name in vain CHAP. II. ANd when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place 1. It is by most Expositors taken to be on the Lords day though some few contradict it 2. Christ chose the time to send the Spirit when they were unanimously assembled for his worship 2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting 3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire and it sat upon each of them 2 3. Note It is likely it was only on the Apostle 4. And they were all filled with the holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance 4. They that were unlearned men were all suddenly filled with the Holy Ghost who inspiring their minds with Sacred Light of Knowledge and fervor of affection caused them to utter these in various Languages which they had never learnt in the Praises of God and his works Note As Baptism entereth Men into the state of Christianity this effusion of the Spirit solemnly invested the Apostles in the full state and power of their Offices 5. And there were dwelling at Jerusalam Jews devout men out of every Nation under heaven 5. Then were at Pentecost Jews out of many Nations where they were dispersed that came up to the Feast 6. Now when this was noised abroad the multitude came together and were confounded because that every man heard them speak in his own language 7. And they were all amazed and marvelled saying one to another Behold are not all these which speak Galileans And how hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born 9. Parthians and Medes and Elamites and the dwellers in Mesopotamia and in Judea and Cappadocia in Pontus and Asia 10. Phrygia and Pamphylia in Egypt and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene and strangers of Rome Jews and proselytes 11. Cretes and Arabians we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God 6 7 c. The word as of Christ and of his Gospel was that which they speak in the Tongues of all these Countries 12. And they were all amazed and were in doubt saying one to another What meaneth this 13. Others mocking said These men are full of new wine 12 13. Some derided them as Drunken 14. But Peter standing up with the eleven lift up his voice and said unto them Ye men of Judea and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem be this known unto you and hearken unto my words 15. For these are not drunken as ye suppose seeing it is but the third hour of the day 14 c. It is but nine a Clock at which time Men use to pray fasting and Drunkeness will not enable a Man to speak various Languages 16. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel 17. And it shall come to pass in the last days saith God I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesie and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams 18. And on my servants and on my hand-maidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit and they shall prophesie 16 c. This is the fulfilling of what Joel Prophecied of the times of the Messsiah c 19. And I will shew wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath bloud and fire and vapour of smoke 20. The Sun shall be turned into darkness and the Moon into bloud before that great and notable day of the Lord come 21. And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved 19 20 21 Many Prodigies in Heaven and Earth as if the frame of Nature did shake or were altered shall go before the destruction of the Temple and Nation of the Jews But faithful praying Christians shall be saved 22. Ye men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you as ye your selves also know 23. Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain 24. Whom God hath raised up having loosed the pains of death because it was not possible that he should be holden of it 22 23 24. You deny not the fact of those Miracles done by Jesus which are the infallible works of Gods attestation Gods determinate Counsel having appointed him to die as a Sacrifice for the Sins of the World and he foreknowing all that your wicked hearts do in it hereto accordingly with wicked hands you have murdered him not at all excusable by the said decree or fore knowledge of God But God raised him from the dead having loosed the bonds of Death it being impossible they should be held and conquered by it Note The word translated Pains of death may be also translated bonds But if it must be read Pains Death as a separation of Soul and Body is by privation a Penal state though not dolorous by positive evil yet some think that the Article of Descent into Hell signifieth some
positive penalty on Christs soul called here The Pains of Death But most think otherwise 25. For David speaketh concerning him I foresaw the Lord always before my face for he is on my right hand that I should not be moved 26. Therefore did my heart rejoyce and my tongues was glad moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope 27. Because thou wilt not leave my Soul in hell neither wilt thou suffer thine holy One to see corruption Note Though David spake this partly of himself the Holy Ghost spake it by him of Christ that God would not leave him in the state of Death nor suffer his body to be corrupted 28. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance 29. Men and brethren let me freely speak unto you of the Patriarch David that he is both dead and buried and his Sepulchre is with us unto this day 30. Therefore being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loyns according to the flesh he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne 31. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that his Soul was not left in hell neither his flesh did see corruption 30. Quest How is Christ said to sit on Davids Throne which was of a visible Earthly Kingdom Answ It is that which was principally meant in the promise to David And the eminent and highest Reign containeth the lower under its power 2. The Article of Christs descent into Hell is so largely handled by many that I will not here interpose any more of it than to say that I take it to be best expounded by A. Bishop Vsher in his Answer to the Jesuits challenge And this Text speaking first of David and ultimately of Christ seemeth to mâ—an no other Hell for Christ but what David meant of â—â—â—self which is Hades the State of separated Souls as such 32. This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we all are witnesses 33. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear 32. We being all Witnesses of his Resurrection and Ascension he being in Glory in the fulness of his Power and having promised thus to send down the Holy Ghost hath performed his promise as ye see and hear 1. To prove by this Miracle the truth of his Power to convince Unbelievers 2. And to enable us to Teach the Gospel to the People of divers Languages in the World Note The Apostles were credible Witnesses of fact 2. The Holy Ghost is the infalible evidence that Christians mission and power is of God 34. For David is not ascended into the Heavens but he saith himself The LORD said unto my Lord Sit thou on my right hand 35. Until I make thy foes thy footstool 34. David went not up to Heaven bodily as Jesus did but only his Soul but he Prophesied of Christs Ascension and Glory 36. Therefore let all the House of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have Crucified both Lord and Christ 36. All of you therefore believe these Divine attestations and know asuredly that this Jesus whom you Crucified is in Glory exalted by God to be the Lord King and Saviour 37. Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles Men and brethren what shall we do 37. These words accompanied with so great Evidence and the work of the Spirit now poured out they could not resist but their hearts convinced were prickt or wounded with grief and fear to find that they had Crucified the Messiah whom they expected And they cryed out is there yet no hope or remedy If there be what shall we do 38. Then Peter said unto them Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost 38. There is yet hope and remedy Repent of this and all your sins and give up your selves by Faith to Christ in the Baptismal Covenant and your sins shall be remitted and this Holy Ghost which you now admire shall also be given unto you 39. For the promise is unto you and to your Children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call 39. For the Messiah with his Grace of Remission and the Spirit is promised and is offered to you that are Jews and your whole Nation and Children in the first place and shall be yours yet if you accept the offer And not to you only but to as many as God shall call of the Gentiles in the remotest parts of the World For Christ is now to be the Universal King and Saviour of all Nations and Persons that accept him 40. And with many other words did he testifie and exhort saying Save your selves from this untoward generation 40. And with many more Exhortations he perswaded them to believe and repent and not to imitate the unbelieving persecuting hardned part of the Jews lest they perish with them 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls 41. Then they that believed and gladly consented to be Christians were baptized And that day about three thousand were converted to Christianity 1. These Jews were before instructed in much of the Law and Prophets and therefore their Baptism was not delayed so long as the following Churches delayed the baptizing of the Gentile Catechumens 2. Yet though all were converted that day it is not certain that all were Baptized that day 3. None were Baptized that did not profess to believe the Essentials of the Baptismal Covenant that Jesus is the Christ sent of God to reconcile us to him and give us remission of sin and his Spirit and everlasting Salvation and profest not willing consent to the Covenant 42. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers 42. And being thus Convinced Converted and Sacramentally bound and devoted to Christ they continued united in Communion with the Apostles in learning their Doctrine and in brotherly Communication and Love and in Celebration of the Lords Supper and in conjunct Prayer The Apostles conducting the Society in all this 43. And fear came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles 43. The wonder amazed all men and the Miracles wrought by the Apostles increased mens conviction 44. And all that believed were together and had all things common 45. And sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every man had need 44. The greatness of the thing raised them above the World and the Holy Ghost filled them with such Love as made
crucified unto the Jews a stumbling-block and unto the Greeks foolishness 24. But unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God 22 23 24. For besides all the Miracles and Resurrection of Christ the Jews require some Sign from Heaven to prove to them that Christ was sent from God And the Greeks look for eminent Learning to prove it some eminent Learning in Philosophy Logick or Oratory But we that convert and save the World do it by preaching Salvation by a Crucified Christ though it be to the Jews a Scandal which they cannot receive and to Gentiles seeming Folly But to them that are converted and saved by it Christ is the Power and the Wisdom of God 25. Because the foolishness of God is wiser then men and the weakness of God is stronger then men 25. For that of God which Men count Foolishness and Weakness and deride doth overcome their pretended Wisdom and Strength and do that which they cannot do and proveth them to be but Folly and Weakness 26 For ye see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called 26. As Christianity is the true Wisdom you see by experience that not many Learned Men or Great Men that rule in the World or Noble Men that abound in Wealth Pleasures and Honour become Christians 27. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty 28. And base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen yea and things which are not to bring to nought things that are 29. That no flesh should glory in his presence 27 28 29. But it pleaseth God to chuse that which the World counts Foolish and Weak and Base to confound shame and overcome that which is accounted by them Wise and Mighty and Honourable and the things which they despise God will use and honour yea by that which seemeth nothing to them or which yet is not in being to vanquish those which seem great and real to them that so the Pride of Man may be shamed and the Impotency of Man man fested and all Flesh may be humbled and driven from their Self-confidence and none may glory of any thing of his own against his Glory 30 31. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption That according as it is written He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. 30 31. But it is by his Power and Work that you are made Christians united to Christ who of God is made to us the Object and Teacher of the truest Wisdom To know him and to be taught by him the Great things of Salvation excelleth all the Heathen Philosophy He is made of God our Righteousness the Merits of his perfect Righteousness procuring our free Pardon and Adoption which our Works could not do He is made our Sanctification we being purified by vertue of his Sacrifice and by his Spirit and by him separated as a Peculiar People to God And by him it is that we have Redemption and Deliverance from Sin and Satan and the Law and Death and Hell That as it is written God and not Man may be all our Glorying and Trust ANNOTATIONS THis Chapter doth so plainly describe the same sort of Wise Men that are described Rom. 1. and several other such Places and yet is confessedly meant of the Heathen Philosophers and Learned and Great Men including the Jewish Scribes and therefore confuteth the misapplication of many such Texts to the Gnosticks only CHAP. II. 1. ANd I brethren when I came to you came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom declaring unto you the testimony of God 1. Accordingly I my self being sent by Christ to preach to the World did not come to you with the admired Philosophy and Oratory of the World in declaring the Gospel-Mystery and Gods Attestation of it 2. For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified 2. For I resolved to make no Ostentation of any other Learning and to teach you no other than the Knowledge of a Crucified Christ in an humble manner preached 3. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling 3. And accordingly I was humbled among you by Persecutions and Abuse and continual Dangers and Sufferings in conformity to the Cross of Christ which I preached 4. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and of power 4. And my manner of preaching was not by the witty Insinuations of Artificial Learning Oratory or Logick but so as did demonstrate the supernatural Gift of the Spirit of God and in the Power thereof manifested by Miracles and Success 5. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God 5. That your Faith the Effect which will be like its Cause and Motives might not be meerly Humane founded on and resolved into the Art of the Speaker but Divine grounded on and resolved into the Evidence of Divine Revelation and Authority 6. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect yet not the wisdom of this world nor of the princes of this world that come to nought 6. Yet we are not without useful Learning and sublimity and accurateness of Speech but use such with those that are knowing and capable of it But not the vain and frothy Learning which is now most applauded in the World by Men of Name and Power which perisheth as a Bubble and saveth not them that have it 7. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory 7. But we speak the Mystery of Redemption the Product and Discovery of the Wisdom of God which hath been kept in much darkness and little known but ordained before the World was to be opened in the fulness of time to our Glory 8. Which none of the princes of this world knew For had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory 8. Which none of the Rulers of this Age of the World knew else they had not crucified Christ c. 9. But as it is written Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 9. For the great Gifts of Gods Grace decreed and prepared for all that love him are such as Man seeth not and hardly believeth and cannot comprehend As it is written Eye hath not seen c. 10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit for the spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God 10. But God by his Spirit hath revealed
them to us his Apostles and to others that have his Spirit in the measure that they have it For the Spirit of God is given us in our several measures to teach us all things fit for us to know even the Depths of God 11. For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him even so the things of God knoweth no man but the spirit of God 11. As a Mans Spirit is conscious of its own secret Actings and Thoughts which no Man else can know so the Spirit of God knoweth the Secret things of God and maketh us know them in our measures which they that have not the Spirit cannot by all their Learning know 12. Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God 12. And this Spirit God hath given to us not the Spirit of the World to make us carnally and worldly wise but the Spirit of God to make us savour and know God's great mysterious Gifts of Grace 13. Which things also we speak not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual 13. And these are the things which we preach to you not in the Words and Manner now counted by the Heathens to be Learned and Wise nor after their vain Arts but in the very Words and Manner which God's Spirit teacheth us who teacheth us the Matter fitting Spiritual Words to Spiritual Things that all may be of God 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 14. But they that have not the Spirit themselves but meer Nature cannot with all their Learning receive these spiritual Mysteries revealed to us by God for they will seem but Fanatick Dreams and Foolishness to them not to be believed Nor can they understand them for only a Mind illuminated by God's Spirit doth discern them 15. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things yet he himself is judged of no man 15. But he that is Spiritual discerneth these revealed things of the Spirit in his Measure when yet he himself and his own Spiritual Apprehensions and Affections are unknown to Carnal Men that hear him 16. For who hath known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him But we have the mind of Christ 16. For who hath pried into God's secret Counsels or known his Mind further than he hath opened it to him But Christ our Teacher hath told us his own and his Fathers Mind which we are to preach to the World for Mens Salvation ANNOTATIONS 1. IT is none of Paul's meaning here to vilifie true Philosophy Logick or Oratory or any useful Knowledge or Art And all Knowledge is useful to one that referreth it to right Ends which is Knowledge indeed For God hath made nothing knowable in vain True Physicks is the Knowledge of the knowable Works of God and God in them that we may admire love serve and trust him True Logick is but the Skill of using our Reason truly and orderly True Grammar and Oratory are but fitting Words to Things and to the Hearers Minds as most tendeth to their Edification God is against none of these which are his precious Gifts But carnal Men have carnal Ends and fit all these abusively to their Ends to wrangle against Truth and divert their Minds from Things to Words and from great and everlasting Things to Trifles and to feed their Pride and Ambition and Covetousness and to make their Malignity more keen and hurtful And such was the Learning of these Heathens which then past for Wisdom in the World 2. Nor doth Paul here favour false Pretenses of the Spirit or true Fanaticism when Men take the Delusions of Satan or every strong Imagination or the boiling of their Pride and erroneous Passions fed by Prejudice for the Work of God's Spirit These sin more dangerously than many others by charging their Sin and Errour upon God and tempting Men to deride the Spirit Even as false Prophets are sharpliest reproved and the counterfeit use of Christ's Name by the Sons of Sceva did but strengthen the Devil against them Therefore we are bid to try the Spirits CHAP. III. 1. ANd I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual but as unto carnal even as unto babes in Christ 1. But this Spiritual Wisdom of which I have said such great things is not in all Christians alike Though the Apostles had the Spirit to lead them to all needful Truth and record it for the Church yet some weak Christians are still so much carnal that their Spiritual Wisdom is but such as Babes in Christ have who have still need to be fed and taught by others And as to such I am constrained to speak to you 2. I have fed you with milk and not with meat for hitherto ye were not able to bear it neither yet now are ye able 2. I fed you with the Food of Babes and not of strong understanding Men or else I had lost my labour by your incapacity For harder things you could not nor yet can bear 3. For ye are yet carnal for whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions are ye not carnal and walk as men 3. For ye are yet in a great measure Carnal Do not your Envy and Strife and Divisions prove that you are so far Carnal and live according to the corrupt Nature of Man and not by the Spirit of God 4. For while one saith I am of Paul and another I am of Apollos are ye not carnal 4. For while you divide into Factions for your several Teachers are ye not so far Carnal 5. Who then is Paul and who is Apollos but ministers by whom ye believed even as the Lord gave to every man 5. What are any of us but Christs Ministers by whose Ministry you were brought to believe in Christ even as God gave us various Dâ—grees and of Success 6. I have planted Apollos watered but God gave the increase 6. I first preached to your Conversion and Apollos to your further Edification but the Success and Fruit of all was not from our Power but from the free Grace of God 7. So then neither is he that planteth any thing neither he that watereth but God that giveth the increase 7. If then you would know to whom to ascribe your Conversion and Salvation we poor Ministers that plant and water are but as Gods Tools and to be accounted as nothing in comparison of him who as he sent us and enabled us so caused freely all the Success which is our Joy and your Welfare 8. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour 8. Now it is by the same Ministerial
matter tho I despise no mans just admonition Man's Judgment signifieth little as to my self further than it may be hurtful to others For my case will not be finally determined by any Mans Judgment nor by my own 4. For I know nothing by my self yet am I not hereby justified but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 4. For my Conscience is witness of my sincerity and I know no unfaithfulness in my Stewardship though I am yet imperfect but this is not my deciding Justification nor is my Conscience any publick or final Judge but only the discerner of my Case It is Christ only whose Judgment must publickly and finally pass my doom 5. Therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts and then shall every man have praise of God 5. Therefore usurp not God's part in uncalled bold and peremptory judging Stay till God's day come he will bring works of darkness into light and open the secrets of Mens Hearts and then those that indeed are excellent persons shall have God's approbation and praise which is better than the applause of factions and partial followers 6. And these things brethren I have in a figure transferred to my self and to Apollos for your sakes that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written that no one of you be puffed up for one against another 6. All this I have spoken as if the case had been my own and Apollos to warn you of the sin and danger of making men the heads of Factions and Divisions by thinking over highly of your selves or them and that you think of all Ministers but as God's Stewards for your good as I wrote here-before and use them for Concord and not for Sects 7. For who maketh thee to differ from another and what hast thou that thou didst not receive Now if thou didst receive it why dost though glory as if thou hadst not received it 7. And if really any of you are wiser than others who gave thee that wisdom which maketh the difference and what hast thou which was not freely given thee without desert And if it was so given thee why art thou puft up and boastest as if it had been deserved or was from thy self 8. Now ye are full now ye are rich ye have reigned as Kings without us and I would to God ye did reign that we also might reign with you 8. You take your selves to be grown much wiser and better under your exalted envious teachers than you were under us and so set light by those that converted you You are as Kings in your fulness and prosperity in your own conceits since I was with you And I would you were so indeed that we might rejoyce and partake with you and be refreshed with you under all the persecution which we yet endure 9. For I think God hath set forth us the apostles last as it were appointed to death For we are made a spectacle unto the world and to angels and to men 9. For God seemeth to have called us Apostles to be exposed on the Theatre of the world as last and appointed to greater sufferings than the Prophets were who suffered before us in our Martyrdom to be made publick spectacles to the world both Angels and Men. 10. We are fools for Christs sake but ye are wise in Christ we are weak but ye are strong ye are honourable but we are despised 10. While you are conceited of your selves as wise in the things of Christ and as strong and honourable we are despised by the boasters of the world as fools and weak 11 21. Even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffetted and have no certain dwelling place and labour working with our own hands 11 12. Your prosperous state and our suffering state much differ Formerly and to this day we are taken for contemptible vagabâ—nds and live in hunger and thirst and poor cloathing abused and buffetted without Justice or Relief having no fixed habitation of our own and put to get our Bread by our handy labour while we preach to others 12 13. Being reviled we bless being persecuted we suffer it 13. Being defamed we intreat we are made as the filth of the world and as the off-scouring of all things unto this day 12 13. Being reviled by opprobrious words we wish them well that do it being unjustly persecuted we put all up and patiently bear it Being defamed by vilifying false accusers we intreat and speak them fair we are esteemed and used as the filth of the world and the off-scouring refuse and scum of the Earth as unworthy of Humane Society or Peace to this day 14. I write not these things to shame you but as my beloved sons I warn you 14. And though we suffer all this for you and such others and some of you have added to my Afflictions which you should have eased I write it to warn you and not to reproach you with it even as to my Sons and not mine Enemies 15. For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ yet have you not many fathers for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel 15. For though you have never so many Teachers you owe some special Respect to me who am your Father or first Converter by my Ministry 16. Wherefore I beseech you be ye followers of me 16. Wherefore I beseech you let no teachers draw you from the Doctrine which I delivered to you from Christ but constantly adhere to it 17. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus who is my beloved son and faithful in the Lord who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ as I teach every where in every church 17. And till I can come my self I have sent Timothy who is my Son and faithful who knoweth my Doctrine and Practice in the things of Christ and will faithfully remember you of them 18. Now some are puffed up as though I would not come to you 18 Some envious teachers vaunt as if I durst not come to you and stand before them 19. But I will come to you shortly if the Lord will and will know not the speech of them which are puffed up but the power 19. But I will come shortly if the Lord will and will trie your boasting envious teachers not who hath the smoothest Tongue but who hath the greatest power of the Spirit 20. For the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power 20. For the Kingdom of Christ is not raised nor distinguished from the World or carried on by smooth Words but by Works of Divine Efficacy and Power 21. What will ye shall I come unto with a rod or in love and in the spirit of meekness 21. And had you not rather that I come in love and meekness
emboldned to go on in Sin supposing that now God pardoneth all Thus Satan hath turned Christs Sacred Ordinance against himself and the Peace of the Church and the Comfort of some and the Reformation of others and carrieth on these most horrid Depravations with such odious Success that without Wonders of gracious Providence there appeareth no probability of Deliverance from these heavy Effects of Sacrament-distraction CHAP. XII 1. NOw concerning spiritual gifts brethren I would not have you ignorant 2. Ye know that ye were Gentiles carried away unto these dumb idols even as ye were led 1 2. As to your case of discerning Spirits and Spiritual Gifts it is of great importance that you should not be ignorant lest you should take evil Spirits for the Spirit of God or not distinguish the various Gifts of Gods own Spirit in Believers In your Heathen state you were carried away with Idol Oracles and Worship 3. Wherefore I give you to understand that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost 3. First in general you may be sure that none of those Idol Oracles or Blasphemers that speak against Christ and Anathematize him as Infidels do do speak by the Spirit of God For God's Spirit bore uncontrolable witness to Christ by Prophesie Resurrection Miracles and Holiness And on the contrary side he that believeth and confesseth that Jesus is the Lord the true Son of God and our Mediator hath surely learnt this of the holy Ghost his outward testimony in the foresaid evidence and his inward teaching For do but truly believe the truth of Christ himself and the truth of all his Doctrine will undeniably follow 4. Now there are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit 5. And there are differences of administrations but the same Lord. 6. And there are diversities of operations but it is the same God which worketh all in all 4 5 6. And as Gifts are ascribed to the Holy Ghost and Administrations to the Son and Operations to the Father Almighty so in all these there is great diversities both of kinds and of degrees 7. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall 7. But all the gifts of the Spirit are given for the Churches edification or to do good with Though some of them are found in unholy Men who perish in their sin 8. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit 8. The same Spirit maketh one eminently wise and prudent in applying sacred Truth to the Case of the Hearers and it giveth another an eminent knowledge of sacred Mysteries 9. To another faith by the same Spirit to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit 9. Another he maketh eminently strong in Faith for extraordinary Effects and another hath the Gift of miraculous Healing of the Sick when the Spirit will have it done 10. To another the working of miracles to another prophesie to another discerning of Spirits to another divers kinds of tongues to another the interpretation of tongues 10. To another other sorts of powerful Miracles to another to speak by immediate Inspiration either Predictions or powerful Explications and Applications of Gods Word to another a quick and sure Discerning whether Men pretending to the Spirit speak from God or not to another the speaking of divers Languages to another the Interpretation of those Languages to them that understand them not 11. But all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit dividing to every man severally as he will 11. And though these are very various and greatly dâ—fference Man from Man yet it is the same Spirit that worketh them all diversifying as he freely and wisely pleaseth 12. For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ 12. For here One and Many well consist As the Natural Body is but One Body but made of Many Members differing in number excellency and office so is Christ and his Church 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit 13. Fâ—r as Sacramentally all visible Members are baptized into one Universal Church of professed Christian and drink the Cap of holy Union and Communion in the Lords Supper so all true living saved Members are baptized by one Spirit into one Universal Church of true spiritual Christians and drink the true uniting Spirit of Communion 14 15 16 17. For the body is not one member but many If the foot shall say Because I am not the hand I am not of the body is it therefore not of the body And if the ear shall say Because I am not the eye I am not of the body is it therefore not of the body If the whole body were an eye where were the hearing if the whole were hearing where were the smelling 14 15 16 17. The Body is not one Member as to Number Kind or Office but many united And so in Christs Body the Church If a mistaken Christian himself should say Because I am low in place Grace or Gifts I am none of the Church this will not prove or make him none Much less if others by false Censure or Church-tyranny say he is none or excommunicate him for dissenting from their vain Appendages or Opinions If all were of one Office Stature Complexion or degree of Grace or Knowledge who would be Rulers and who Subjects who Teachers and who Learners How many Offices of Piety and Charity would be unperformed God hath not a Church on Earth where all Members are so wise as besides the Essentials of Christianity to know all the Integrals much less to know the numerous little Accidents of Forms and Ceremonies and all that is really or pretendedly Indifferent and Lawful which Domineerers can invent to be so indeed and so to be all united in such things indifferent 18. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him 19. And if they were all one member where were the body 20. But now are they many members yet but one body 18 19 20. But as the Wise Creator in Nature so as our Redeemer Governor and Regenerator by Grace God hath chosen great diversity of Members as to Office and Gifts and he himself as it pleased him hath set them in his Church And who are they that presume against him to censure or cast out the meanest of such Were they all numerically or in Office or degree of Knowledge and Grace but one or equal the Church would not be such a thing as God hath made it But now God that freely delighteth in the variety of his Works hath made it one Body of Christ composed of
yet of my self I will not glory but in mine infirmities 5. I think this Fore-taste of the Heavenly Glory worthy to be gloried in But though I be the Man I will not glory in it as my own who was but passive and advanced to it by God to whom all the Glory is due It is my Infirmities or debasing Sufferings in the World which I will call my own and boast of 6. For though I would desire to glory I shall not be a fool for I will say the truth but now I forbear lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be or that he heareth of me 6. Should I boast of this so great a Gâ—ft to the Glory of the Giver it would be no Folly But I lay it by expecting that no Man judge highlier of me than by what himself shall see or hear 7. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations there was given to me a thorn in in the flesh the messenger of Satan to busfet me lest I should be exalted above measure 7. And lest this Revelation should too much lift me up there was given me a Thorn in the Flesh a Messenger of Satan to put me to pain and keep me from too much Exaltation Note 1. It is most unlikely which some feign to be the sense of these Words viz. That it was a Temptation to Lust It 's most like it was such a Pain as the Stone or at least some bitter Persecution 2. Even the holiest Christians after their most heavenly Acquaintance are not out of danger of Pride or being too much exalted 3. This Spiritual Pride is so dangerous a Sin that it 's a Mercy to be saved from it even by Bodily Pain 4. God will hurt the Bodies to save the Souls even of his dearest Children 5. Satan that intendeth hurt is oft Gods Instrument to do us good 6. Bodily Pains are oft the Messengers of Satan and yet of God 8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me 8. Note 1. That it is lawful to pray for the removal of Pain 2. Yea to be oft in prayer for it 9. And he said unto me My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness 9. And the Answer which I had was not a present removal of the Thorn but a Word for Patience and Trust in God viz. That his Favour and Grace was sufficient for me to support and comfort me till deliverance came and that it is his way in our Weakness to manifest most his helping Power 9 10. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake for when I am weak then am I strong 9 10. It is therefore in Sufferings that I will glory as being the occasion of my greater Experience of the Loâ—e and Power of Christ Yea I even take pleasure in abasing Sufferings for him though not as painful yet as an advantage to his Grace that strengthneth me so far am I from being ashamed or impatient of them 11. I am become a fool in glorying ye have compelled me for I ought to have been commended of you for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles though I be nothing 11. I have said all this as in the Habit of a Fool but it 's you that put it on me by necessity who should have vindicated me and my Ministry against seducing Accusers 12. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience in signs and wonders and mighty deeds 12. Are not you my Witnesses I appeal to your selves Among you my Apostleship was fully proved by patient Suffering and by miraculous Gifts and Signs and Wonders and Works done by the Power of God 13. For what is it wherein ye were inferiour to other churches except it be that I my self was not burdensom to you forgive me this wrong 13. For what Gifts of the Spirit poured out among you what Signs and Miracles have other Churches excelled you in The difference between you and others was that I spared your Purses and put you to no charge If that be a wrong I hope you can easily forgive it 14. Behold the third time I am ready to come to you and I will not be burdensom to you for I seek not yours but you for the children ought not to lay up for the parents but the parents for the children 14. A third time I purpose to come to you and not to burden you but as to my children to give rather than to receive 15. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you though the more abundantly I love you the less I be loved 15. And I will gladly spend my Time and Labour and be spent my self even as to my Strength and Life for your Salvation though my Love should be requited with Neglect 16. But be it so I did not burden you nevertheless being crafty I caught you with guile 17. Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you 16 17. But be it as some object that though I took no Money of you I craftily caught you with guile that getting your Affections I might hereafter make advantage of you for my self But my Craft was but to win you to Christ Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you Will you judge of my Design contrary to my Practice 18. I desired Titus and with him I sent a brother did Titus make a gain of you walked we not in the same spirit walked we not in the same steps 18. Did Titus or the Brother whom I sent to you make a Gain of you Did we not all agree in Mind and Practice 19. Again think you that we excuse our selves unto you we speak before God in Christ but we do all things dearly beloved for your edifying 19. Think not that I say all this to insinuate my self into your esteem for any by Ends of my own I speak it as before God in Christ It is your Edification that is my End in this and all things that I do concerning you 20. For I fear lest when I come I shall not find you such as I would and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not lest there be debates envyings wraths strifes back-bitings whisperings swellings tumults 21. And lest when I come again my God will humble me among you and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed 20 21. For I fear lest when I come I shall find among you these Sins which are the Characters of Factious Minds Debates c. and lest God will humble me among you with grief for you
restoring him by Repentance and use not rough Severity and Contempt considering how uncertain you are what Temptation may dâ— upon your selves 2. Bear ye one anothers burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ 2 Let other Mens Burdens Hurts and Dangers be to you as if they were your own help each other to deliverance and ease and not add to the Load that is upon them And by this you shall fulsul the Law of Christ which is the Law of Love 3. For if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing he deceiveth himself 3. Alas Man is a poor nothing unable of himself to stand in trial and the self-confident who roughly handle the Faulty or contemn them and so think themselves to be something do but deceive themselves as the Event will manifest 4. But let every man prove his own work and then shall he have rejoycing in himself alone and not in another 4. The way of Wisdom is not to lift up your selves as Wise and Good by sharp censuring the Faults of others but closely to try and prove your selves and your own doings that so your own Consciences may speak comfort to you and not to seek Honour by insulting over the Weak that others may exalt you 5. For every man shall bear his own burden 5. For it is not other Mens Goodness or Sins for which Men shall be rewarded or punished but their own And therefore they are most concerned to judge themselves 6. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things 6. And to your Teachers it is the Hearers Duty to maintain them and communicate according to your own Ability for their Provision and Supply 7. Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap 7. Let not Men deceive themselves by a barren Profession for God will not be deceived All Men shall reap as they sowe and be judged according to their Works 8. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting 8. They that seek first Provision for their own Flesh do live but for a Body that will rot in the Grave and where then is the Fruit of their Life besides the Ruine of their Soul But they that in obedience to the Spirit do live a spiritual Life for spiritual Felicity shall receive everlasting Life as their Reward 9. And let us not be weary in well-doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not 9. And let not us be tired with length of Labour or delay of the Reward Harvest cometh not as soon as we have sown When Gods due season is come we shall certainly reap the blessed Fruit if fainting make us not come short of it 10. As we have therefore opportunity let us do good unto all men especially unto them who are of the houshold of faith 10. Let us therefore according to our several Abilities do all the good to all Men that we can but especially to Christians who are the Houshold or Church of Christ 11 12. Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh they constrain you to be circumcised onely lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ 11 12. You see how large a Letter your own Danger hath drawn me to write They that would draw you to conformity to the Jews are a Carnal sort of Men that will keep their Wordly Reputation and Safety and because they cannot suffer Persecution from the Jews themselves they would draw you to this Conformity with them that you may seem to justifie them in their Sin and pretend that all others are ignorant of Christian Liberty 13. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law but desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh 13. For they keep not the Law themselves but would keep up their Reputation by getting you on their side to strengthen their Interest and make you their Defence 14. But God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world 14. But my Glorying shall not be in worldly Prosperity and freedom from Sufferings but in following a Crucified Christ in Cross-bearing by whom the World to me is a dead contemned thing as Christ on the Cross seemed to the Men of the World and my Esteem and Love of the World are crucified and dead in me so that I can spare its Ease and Honours 15. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a new creature 15. For in the Judgment of Christ the Christianity which is accepted to Salvation is neither Circumcision nor Uncircumcision though Judaizing Circumcision be now contrary to Grace but it is a New Creature by the Spirit regenerated to God 16. And as many as walk according to this rule peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God 16. And the Peace and Mercy of God will be on all them that walk as New Creatures by the guidance of his Spirit placing acceptable Religion in this and not in Circumcision or Uncircumcision This Benediction I pronounce on them that are the true Israel of God and will so be accepted by him however judged of by Man 17. From henceforth let no man trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus 17. Let not those that profess themselves Christians any more trouble me by their Emulations and Calumnies and by seducing the Churches For I carry with me the Marks of my Faithfulness to Christ even the Sufferings which I undergo for him which are a better Evidence of his Acceptance than avoiding Persecution is to my Accusers that would seduce you 18. Brethren the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit Amen 18. My Benediction and Prayer for you is That the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ may be with your Spirit to guide justifie and sanctifie you which will save you when Judaism and trusting to the Works of the Law will fail you Amen The Epistle of PAUL the Apostle to the EPHESIANS CHAP. I. 1. PAul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God to the saints which are at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus 2. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ 1 2. Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ called and sent by his Appearance and Voice to preach his Gospel to which God had chosen me to the Saints and faithful Christians at Ephesus my Benediction and Prayer is That they may have Grace and Peace Holiness and Consolation from God our Father and Christ our Saviour 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who
believe according to the working of his mighty power 20. Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places 19 20. And how wonderfully God hath manifested his Power in us that believe in giving us the Spirit of Miracles Tongues Prophecy c. and the Spirit of Illumination Faith Hope Love Joy Patience to go on in Labour and Suffering for Christ suitable to the Power which he shewed in raising Christ from death and advancing him to the Heavenly Glory where he is Lord of all 21. Far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come 21. Far above all the Princes States and Powers on Earth the greatest Conquerors or Monarchs whether those that persecuted him and us or any other even those above us in the World that we are going to Angels or any sort of Spirits 22. And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church 22. And hath given him power over all things and made him Head of the Church and Lord over all things for his Churches good and the Ends of Redemption 23. Which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all 23. Which Church is his Body Mystical the Celestial Political Society united to and under him in which he attaineth fully the Ends of his Redemption and in whom as glorified with him he is effectively a full and perfect Saviour in whom he will delight and be glorified and God that is all in all things fully manifesteth his Love and Glory Note 1. That the Text distinguisheth Christs Relation to his Church and to all things else He is Head to the Church by vital influx as his Body He is over all things some as Utensils for the Church and some as conquered Rebels or Enemies 2. How little reason the Church hath to fear malicious Principalities or Powers or Great Names or Devils any further than we fear our selves lest we yield to Sin by their Temptations seeing they are all in the power of Christ and under his Feet And therefore our sinful Fear doth plainly prove our Unbelief in that degree that it prevaileth 3. As the same Love so the same Power of God that was glorified in the Miracles and Resurrection of Christ is engaged for and glorified on the Church And this Glory we shall see in the fulness of time though now the Church as Christ on the Cross or in the Grave seem a forsaken shattered desolate thing 4. It is no wonder that Christ taketh what is done to his Church and Members as done to himself and will judge Men accordingly 5. The great Service that Christ requireth of us in the World is to contribute our utmost Labour and Help for the Church he himself needing nothing that we can do CHAP. II. 1. ANd you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins 1. And you who are members of this Church hath he revived and quickned by his mortifying and sanctifying Grace and by absolving you from the Guilt of Death who were in and by your Sin as dead to spiritual saving Good and liable by Guilt to everlasting Death your State of Sin was such a State of Death 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience 2. In this Sin you lived in your former Gentile State according to the Temptations and Will of Satan who is by Gods permission the Prince of the Power of the Air and by his Temptations worketh in the unpersuadable Unbelievers and Ungodly against Gods Grace and their Salvation 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the children of wrath even as others 3. And we our selves were formerly such as they and lived among them in fleshly Lusts fulfilling the Desires of our Flesh and our own Thoughts and false â—easoning and were by Natural Corruption not onely as Children of Adam but also the Progeny of Heathens the Heirs of Gods Wrath obliged to Punishment by his Justice as other Men and specially Heathens be 4. But God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us 5. Even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ by grace ye are saved 6. And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus 4 5 6. But God who is very merciful to manifest his own free Love to us when we were as others dead in Sins hath by his own Grace begun our Salvation conforming us to the Resurrection and Exaltation of Christ by delivering us from the Death of Sin and Guilt and making us alive to Holiness and giving us the Earnest and Fore-taste of Glory 7. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus 7. That in these latter days he might shew forth the Glory of his Grace in our Redemption by Christ in which his Love and Kindness to us is resplendent 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God 9. Not of works lest any man should boast 8 9. For your Salvation is of Gods meer Grace and Gift through your Faith in Christ And this is not of your own contriving meriting seeking or effecting but all of Gods own Gift who hath chosen this way rather than that of Works that none may boast and ascribe that to themselves which is due onely to God 10. For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them 10. Not that we hereby exclude Good Works by excluding Mans boasting of his own Power or Merits For we our selves are Gods Work new made by Regeneration which planted us into Christ purposely to do those Good Works which neither the Law nor meer Nature enabled and enclined us to do These God hath fore-ordained and prescribed for us to live in and by Grace inclined us to do them 11. Wherefore remember that ye being in time passed Gentiles in the flesh who are called uncircumcision by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands 12. That at that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world 11 12. And that you may duely value the Mercy of your Vocation you must never forget that you were of the Gentiles called Uncircumcised by the Jews and had no Knowledge of Christ as
preach the Gospel even that Christ would call and take in the Gentiles into the Catholick Church and Covenant as his peculiar People and make them Partakers of his Promise and Gift of Life in Christ by the Gospel preached to them 7. Whereof I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power 7. Of which Gospel I was made a Minister to dispence it according to that Measure of the Gift of the Spirit by Grace given to me which wrought effectually in me and by me by Doctrine and Miracles to convert the Gentiles 8. Unto me who am less then the least of all saints is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ 8. To me who am by my former Persecution of the Church the lowest or most unworthy of all Saints is this Favour and Honour freely vouchsafed that I should preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable Riches of Christ 9. And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ 9. And to notifie to all Men the Communication and Communion of this Mysterious Grace which from the very Creation was secretly included as a Tree in the Seed in Gods making the whole World by Jesus Christ even that he would redeem and new make us all by him 10. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God 11. According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord 10 11. That now in this Collection of the Universal Church in Christ as in a Glass or as in the clear Effects the very Spiritual Principalities and Powers above us in the Heavens might see more of Gods eternal Counsel opened and manifold Wisdom displayed than they knew before Note 1. That Superiour Spirits are Principalities and Powers either over Political Societies there or as Rulers over us here below as Guardians See Josh 5.14 Exod. 23.20 23. 32.34 Num. 20.16 Gen. 24.7 40. Psal 34.7 Dan. 10.13 c. It 's like it's both 2. That even Superiour Powers are not Omniscient but may by new Means have new increased Knowledge and therefore Saints in Heaven are not more knowing 3. That it is in Heaven that the Great Ends of God in Redeeming and Gathering his Church are attained 12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him 12. In whom we all that trust in him may come with boldness and confident hope of acceptance to God 13. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you which is your glory 13. Wherefore I beseech you be not discouraged by my Sufferings for preaching to you for it is your Honour to have the Ministry of your Salvation thus attested by me 14 15. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named 16. That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man 14 15 16. For this end I beg of God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom all the Blessed Society in Heaven and Earth is named his Family or of which Christ Jews and Gentiles are named Christians That of his abundant Grace in which he will be glorified he will by his Spirit fortifie your Souls Note 1. It is uncertain whether of whom relate to the Father or to Christ 2. Though Paul speak specially of the Catholick Church of Jews and Gentiles there 's no reason to exclude the glorified Souls no nor the Angels from being part of Gods Family united in and under Christ 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love 18. May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height 19. And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God 17 18 19. That Christ may by the constant exercise of your Faith upon him even dwell objectively in your Hearts as one Friend by Love and Trust doth in anothers and effectively possess and actuate you by his Spirit that by his Spirit and your Faith you may be so deeply possest with the sense of Gods Love that you may be filled with Love to him and one another and it may be the very Habit of your Souls and a rooted Nature in you that so being qualified by this Faith and Love you may be able and fit to measure and understand as all Saints in their several degrees do the vast and wonderful Dimensions and to know the Love of Christ and of the Father in him which exceedeth our comprehensive and adequate Knowledge or which is more excellent than all the Sciences which Heathens and Hereticks boast of that so by Faith and Love your Souls may be filled with the highest degrees of Grace and the Spirit of God 20 21. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end Amen 20 21. Now to that Almighty God who can do for his People exceeding abundantly above all that we can desire or ask believe or conceive in our narrow Thoughts as is intimated even in the Power of Sanctity and Miracles which he exerciseth in and â—mong us now To him I say be Glory in the Church by the Mediation of Jesus Christ in whom â—he Glory of Gods Love shineth â—o us and by whom â—e render Praise to God throughout all Ages World without end Amen CHAP. IV. 1. I Therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called 1. Seeing then the Riches of Gods Grace in Christ is so abundant to you converted Gentiles I that am a Prisoner for declaring this Grace of Christ to you exhort you that you live according to the great obligation of your Vocation 2. With all lowliness and meekness with long-suffering forbearing one another in love 2. Such a Christian Life must be in all lowliness or humble thoughts of your selves your Knowledge your Goodness and your Power and in all meekness or gentleness towards others Love must cause you with long-suffering to forbear one another Note 1. That Forbearance is to be exercised towards evil that is Imperfections in Knowledge Vertue and Duty and tollerable Faults and Injuries against each other Therefore it supposeth us to be all faulty needing forbearance 2. That proud high thoughts of our selves and Contempt Censoriousness and Hurtfulness to others and not forbearing tollerable Offenders are
Holiness 1. See that the firm Belief of the Truth of the Gospel against all Deceivers be to you as a Military Girdle about your Loins 2. And that universal sincere Obedience to God and Uprightness of Life towards all Men joined to your Pardon through the Merits of Christ may be to you as a Breast-plate is to Soldiers in Fight that no Adversary may have Matter of just Accusation against you 3. And that the Gospel of Christ which speaketh Peace to the World and to your selves may so dwell in your Hearts to make you Men of Peace and in your Mouths to invite others to Peace with God and one another that it may be to you as those Shoes were to Soldiers which they put on when they went to War to keep their Feet from hurt and danger 16. Above all taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked 16. Above all see that you firmly believe and trust to the Word and Promises of God which will be to you as a Shield or Target to a Soldier by which he is preserved from all the Darts or Shot that is made against him And though Satans Darts be fiery Persecution and fierce Temptations this will defend you and frustrate all 17. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God 17. And trust fully in Christ as your Saviour for Salvation and this will as an Helmet or Head-piece to a Soldier defend your chiefest Part from danger And skilfully use the Word of God indited and sealed by his Spirit which will serve you for Defence and Conquest by the help of the same Spirit as a Sword doth to a Soldier 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints 18. And because you must do all in dependence on God see that you be constant in all sorts or parts of Prayer for your selves and others even such Prayer as Gods Spirit directeth you to by his Word and exciteth you to by his Grace And for that end keep your Minds by watchfulness in a serious praying temper and be not cold or weary but hold on and forget not to pray for all holy Persons and holy things Note That 1. They that scorn praying in or by the Spirit scorn the Work of the Spirit in all acceptable Prayer to God 2. They that forbid Prayer forbid that which God commandeth and his Spirit in us as an Intercessor performeth 3. When God commandeth all Prayer and Supplication we must obey him though any Men would confine us to the Fetters of their narrow defective Words and Books 4. They that hate revile excommunicate unjustly and persecute those Saints whom God commandeth us to love and pray for fight under Satan against Christ 19. And for me that utterance may be given unto me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel 19. And let me have a special part in your Prayers that I may be freed from silencing Imprisonments and Restraints and may have Liberty and Ability boldly to make known the Mystery of Mans Salvation by Christ 20. For which I am an ambassadour in bonds that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak 20. For I am in Bonds by Men though Christs Ambassador even for preaching to Men this Gospel of Salvation But pray for me that whatever it cost me I may do my Duty and speak though forbidden as I ought to speak Note That as God worketh by Men so doth the Devil And therefore it is no wonder that Paul was in Bonds for preaching Salvation and that Men make Laws against Praying and Preaching and if the Devil call it Sedition For really Praying and Preaching do more to destroy his Kingdom and save Souls than Arms can do 21. But that ye also may know my affairs and how I do Tychicus a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord shall make known to you all things 21. And that you may know how all things go with me Tychicus will tell you whom you may trust 22. Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose that ye might know our affairs and that he might comfort your hearts 22. I have sent him that he may represent things truly to you and help to keep you from discouragement or undue trouble for my Sufferings 23. Peace be to the brethren and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ 23. I conclude with this Benediction and Prayer for you That God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will give maintain and increase in you all that confirmed Faith which may fill you with Love and keep you in Peace and Welfare 24. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Amen 24. And let the Grace Favour and Blessing of God be still with all them who love our Lord Jesus Christ with sincere incorruptible confirmed Love Amen The Epistle of PAUL the Apostle to the PHILIPPIANS CHAP. I. 1. PAul and Timotheus the servants of Jesus Christ to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi with the bishops and deacons 2. Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ 1 2. I Paul and Timothy now with me send greeting with this Epistle to all the Saints or Christians which are at Philippi with the Bishops and Deacons there wishing to them Grace and Peace which are all Blessings in sum from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. Note 1. That Dr. Hammond affirming That Paul meant here all the Bishops and Deacons in Macedonia or a whole Province doth this without any cogent Proof as he saith the like of Corinth Ephesus c. though it may be granted that consequently they to whom these Epistles were written were to communicate them to as many as they could 2. That he contradicteth himself in saying there was but one Bishop in a City when elsewhere he saith there was one of the Jews Church and another of the Gentiles 3. That Paul saith it was the Saints which are at Philippi with the Bishops and Deacons to wit which were at Philippi with them But sure all that were in a Province so great were not at Philippi And his Conclusion That every Church in Scripture-times had but One Bishop with Deacons his Servants there being then no middle Order in use and that in all the New Testament the Words Bishop and Presbyter signified onely such as we now call Bishops 1. Is contrary to the Descriptions of the Churches of Jerusalem Antioch Corinth c. where in one Assembly there were so many Prophets sit for the Publick Ministry that they needed regulating restraint in Ministring 2. But thus he must maintain That de facto no Church had then more than one Presbyter and so no B ishop more than one sixed
fellow-souldier but your messenger and he that ministred to my wants 25. But I thought good to send you back Epaphroditus who is my Brother and Fellow-labourer and Messenger who from you supplied my wants 26. For he longed after you all and was full of heaviness because that ye had heard that he had been sick 26. He longed to be with you and comfort you by the sight of his health hearing that his sickness made you sad 27. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death but God had mercy on him and not on him onely but on me also lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow 27. He was nigâ— to death but God in mercy to him and me recovered him not adding his death to my affliction 28. I sent him therefore the more carefully that when ye see him again ye may rejoyce and that I may be the less sorrowful 28. Note That Mercys restored after Danger affect us more than those continued in Prosperity 29. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness and hold such in reputation 30. Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death not regarding his life to supply your lack of service toward me 29 30. Receive him gladly as returned to you by God and account such honourable for it was for the work of Christ that he willingly hazarded his Life by his Travels and labour to be serviceable to me as your Messenger in your stead CHAP. III. 1. FInally my brethren rejoyce in the Lord. To write the same things to you to me indeed is not grievous but for you it is safe 1. Finally Brethren serve God with joyful hearts That I write to you the same things which I have formerly taught you and warned you of is not through sloth of cowardise in me but for your own safety as fittest for you 2. Beware of dogs beware of evil workers beware of the concision 2. To wit that you take heed of the worrying hurtful sort of Men who live in wickedness and calling themselves the Circumcision are indeed the Concision that cut and rend the Churches 3. For we are the circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh 3. For we are the Children of Circumcised Abraham who worship God in Spirit and Truth and have no confidence in Fleshly Priviledges or Carnal Ceremonious Jewish Worship 4. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh I more 4. Though if Judaism were matter of trust or boasting I have more such cause than any of them 5. Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin an Hebrew of the Hebrews as touching the law a Pharisee 6. Concerning zeal persecuting the church touching the righteousness which is in the law blameless 5 6. I was Circumcised as the Law required I was an Israelite a Benjamite an Hebrew a Pharisee the strictest Sect in Religion not cold in Religion but a zealous persecutor of the Church which I thought had been against it And as to the outward observance of the Law of Moses I seemed to Men so just and harmless that none accused me 7. But what things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ 7. But I willingly disclaim all confidence in these and reject all as loss that would keep me from Christ 8. Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ 8 9. Yea I reject all as loss and hurtful to me which stand against the excellency of the knowledge of Christ for whom I have readily suffered the loss of all things and count them but as Dung in order to my part in Christ and that I may be found in him 9. And be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith 9. Not having and trusting not in that Righteousness which consisteth in keeping the Law of Moses which is of my own Works and I accounted formerly to be my justifying Righteousness but that which is of Faith in Christ even the Righteousness which is of Gods free Gift by believing acceptance of his purchased and offered Grace 10. That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering being made conformable unto his death 10. By which I shall gain the knowledge of Christ and of the great Mystery of Salvation by him and the powerful work of his Grace and quickening Spirit and preserving Providence answering in his Members that power that raised him from the Dead and a Communion with him in sufferings by which I shall be made conformable to him as Crucified for our sins and thus in all be made as a Member suitable to him that is my Head 11. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead 11. In hope that by all these means and methods which I account not too dear I may at last attain that blessed perfection in which I shall be also like him as he is now risen from the Dead and glorified in the state of Immortality 12. Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus 12. Not that I have already attained this Conformity to my Glorified Lord or were already perfect by reaching all that I pursue But I run as for this Prize and earnestly strive that at last I may lay hold on and attain the state of Glory to bring me to which Jesus Christ did elect redeem and call me to himself 13. Brethren I count not my self to have apprehended but this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before 14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus 13 14. I know I have not yet attained the end that I ran for even glorious Perfection But this I do not minding the things of the World which I have forsaken but neglecting and forgetting them and with all my might and diligence striving towards the things which are before I press or hasten towards the Mark for that glorious Crown and Prize for obtaining whereof the high Calling of God by Jesus Christ hath encouraged me to seek and hope 15. Let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you 15. And let all that are sound and sincere Christians holding these things that are necessary to Salvation be thus minded and with joint endeavour confessing our Defects
are guilty of this sin though they be Infidels Some Ancients and most Papists expound Impossible by Difficult but I think ungroundedly 11. Yea the Jews that crucified him were not such as here are described for they had not before believed and received the Holy Ghost It is the worst reproach of Christ for a professed Christian to say I did believe in him and had the Spirit my self and saw and did signal Works or Miracles and I found at last that he was but a Deceiver and all these Gifts were the operations of evil Spirits 7 8. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed receiveth blessing from God 8. But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned 7 8. For as the Earth is blest or justly praised which bringeth Fruit when it is watered and manured but that is called cursed and bad whose fruit must be for the fire which bringeth forth but Thorns and Briars So God will bless and reward them who fruitfully answer the means which he useth in them but will curse and burn those who after the greatest means and experimental partaking of the signal gifts of the Spirit shall turn to reproach and blaspheme him whom they believed in 9. But beloved we are perswaded better things of you and things that accompany salvation though we thus speak 9. But though in the dangerous times and temptations to Apostacy I think meet to tell you the dreadful case of such for your safety do not interpret iâ— as though I thought this is or would be your case We have reason to hope better of you that you have the Grace which will bring you to Salvation 10. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love which ye have shewed toward his Name in that ye have ministred to the saints and do minister 10. For God who is our most righteous Governor even in this Life distributeth Rewards and Penalties in Justice And as in Justice he forsaketh the foresaid Apostates who scorn his Mercy so he will reward your faithful use of his Grace with more Grace and will not forsake you who have shewed so much fidelity to his Name and charity to his Saint Note That the additional Grace which is necessary to Perseverance is given oft by way of Reward for former fidelity and not meerly without such respects 11. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end 11. Therefore seeing this is God's ordinary way to reward well used Grace with more I desire that you will hold on in the same diligence till you reach to the Consummation or full Assurance of your hope of Perseverance and Salvation which every young Beginner doth not attain 12. That ye be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises 12. And that tired weary sluggishness make you not desist and lose your reward but that in unwearied diligence to the end you follow them who through faith and enduring patience have won the prize and possess the promised felicity 13 14. For when God made promise to Abraham because he could swear by no greater he sware by himself Saying Surely blessing I will bless thee and multiplying I will multiply thee 15. And so after he had patiently endured he obtained the promise 13 14 15. So God who sware by himself to Abraham having no greater to swear by confirmed his Promises of the Multiplication of his Seed which yet Abraham lived not to see fulfilled but he patiently waited and dyed in faith and all the Promises were fulfilled in due time 16. For men verily swear by the greater and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife 16. For men use by Oath to appeal to him that can discern and revenge Perfidiousness and when other Evidences fail they end their Strifes by the Confirmation of an Oath 17. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immâ—tability of his counsel confirmed it by an oath 17. And God knowing our weakness of faith to confirm the Faithful who are the Heirs of his promised Happiness of the truth and immutability of his Decrees confirmed his Word to us by his Oath that we might be put quite out of doubt 18. That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us 18. That so by his Word and his Oath which are both immutable and therefore infallible Security seeing it is impossible for God to lie we who are fled for refuge from guilt and sin and danger and misery to lay hold on the proposed hope of Everlasting Life might have well grounded and strong Consolation and not be shaken by any doubts of the Fidelity or Promises of God Note God would have us to have strong Consolation in our Faith and Hope 19. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast and which entereth into that within the vail 19. Though the things of this Life are much uncertain this Hope which is our Support and Comfort is founded on firm and stedfast Security and is fetch 't by faith from the most holy and invisible things which the Vail of Mortality yet hideth from our sight 20. Whither the fore-runner is for us entered even Jesus made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec 20. Into which invisible heavenly Glory Christ is entred not only for himself and his own Consummation but as a Fore-runnner for us to intercede and prepare felicity for us and from his fulness of Power to send down his Spirit and consummate all that concerneth our Salvation as a Royal Priest typified by Melchisedec CHAP VII FOr this Melchisedec king of Salem priest of the most high God who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him 2. To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all first being by interpretation king of righteousness and after that also king of Salem which is king of peace 1 2. This Melchisedec to whom Abraham gave the Tenths of the Spoils was King of Righteousness by the signification of his name and King of Peace interpreting his place which Christ is eminently whom he typified 3. Without father without mother without descent having neither beginning of days nor end of life but made like unto the Son of God abideth a priest continually 3. The History of him maketh no mention of his Father or Mother or Descent nor of his Birth or Beginning nor of his death or end but describeth him like a continuing Priest and a Type of the Son of God who abideth a Priest continually Note The Jews think he was Shem whose Beginning
for us which thence he will bestow 13. For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh 13. If these be by Divine Institution effectual against corporal Legal uncleanness by a ceremonial Sanctification the figure of the spiritual 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God 14. Most certainly then shall the Blood of Christ who by the Eternal Spirit offered himself Soul and Body a spotless Sacrifice to God the Soveraign Righteous Judge to cleanse Soul and Conscience from the power and guilt of dead works which signifie a death in sin and tend to death for sin to serve the Living God who will accept us to an Everlasting Life Note By the Eternal Spirit by which Christ offered himself some Expositors understand Christ's Immortal Soul voluntarily resigning his Life 2. Others understand the Holy Ghost the Third Person in the Trinity by whom Christ is said to be conceived and to do his Miracles 3. Others understand his own Divine Nature as the Second Person It 's hard to be sure which is meant but it is of no great moment seeing it is certain that indeed he did it by all these three There is a fourth Opinion of some that understand it of a prime superangelical Nature of Christ which they think by Eternal Emanation cometh from the Deity united to it which they make a middle Third Nature in Christ and in which they suppose it is that as a Creature he is advanced above all Angels because they take Angels and Men to to be specie distinct and that if Humane Nature must be set above Angels in it self it must thereby change its species and be no more humane But to be wise to sobriety in such Mysteries is safe and not to presume 15. And for this cause he is the mediatour of the new testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance 15. And for this cause Christ became Mediator between God and Man to procure seal and promulgate the New Covenant or Law of Grace that his death doing that which no other Sacrifice could do in expiation of the Jews sins committed under the Mosaical Covenant as well as of the rest of the World they which are by his call made sound Believers might by promise be secured of the Eternal Inheritance and possessed of it in due time 16. For where a testament is there must also of necessity be the death of the testatour 17. For a testament is of force after men are dead otherwise it is of no strength at all whilest the testatour liveth 16 17. And Christ being by his Sponsion to be a Sacrifice his Donation doth presuppose his Purchase and thence his Covenant hath also the nature of a Testament which supposeth the death of the Testator and is not of efficacy till then to give full right to what he bequeatheth Note That the eminent Evangelical Kingdom of the Mediator in its last full Edition called the Kingdom of Christ and of Heaven distinct from the obscure state of Promise before Christ's Incarnation began at Christ's Resurrection Ascension and sending of the eminent Gift of the Holy Ghost and was but as an Embrio before 18. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without bloud 18. Therefore the first as figurative of the second was consecrated and sealed in blood 19. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law he took the bloud of calves and of goats with water and scarlet wool and hyssop and sprinkled both the Book and all the people 20. Saying This is the bloud of the Testament which God hath enjoyned unto you 21. Moreover he sprinkled with bloud both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry 22. And almost all things are by the law purged with bloud and without shedding of bloud is no remission 19 20 21 22. Note 1. God purposely instituted all these bloody Purifications to prefigure Christ 2. The Custom of sacrificing from the Fall must arise from Divine Institution and not without it from natural Invention as some now affirm And no doubt but it is propagated among all Idolaters through the World 1. By Tradition from Adam 2. Corrupted by Devils who would be worshipped as God and to that end promote the imitation of God 3. The Papists sprinkling of Holy Water is such another corrupt imitation setting up their Ceremony instead of Gods which Christ abolished 23. It was therefore necessary that the patterns in things in the heavens should be purified with these but the heavenly things themselves with better Sacrifices than these 23. These Ceremonies being ordained to prefigure and notifie things that are in Heaven and belong to Heaven it was meet that such blood should be the purifying Ceremony But the heavenly things themselves must be purchased and the Souls fitted for it purified and the Covenant consecrated by a more precious Sacrifice even the blood of the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the World 24. For Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true but into heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us 24. For it was not to officiate in a Tabernacle made by man that Christ became our High Priest but though his Sacrifice was offered on Earth it was to officiate by continued Intercession for us in the Heavens in the presence of God's Glory of which the other was but a Type 25. Nor yet that he should offer himself often as the high priest entreth into the holy place every year with blood of others 26. For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself 25 26. Note 1. Christ's once offering was sufficient It may oft be commemorated but only once done 2. It is unspeakable joy to Believers that Christ is for us as our High Priest entred into Heaven For he hath promised that we shall be with him where he is And where else now should we desire to be 3. The days of Christ here were the declining latter part of the World called the end as fifty or sixty years old is the end that is the latter part of man's Life How near then is it now to an end 1684 after 27 28. And as it is appointed unto men once to die but after this the Judgment So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation 27 28. And as it is with the common state of
obeying 25. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works when she had received the messengers and had sent them out another way 25. And was it not by Doing by Faith or a Faith causing Obedience that Rahab was justified 26. For as the body without the spirit is dead so faith without works is dead also 26 For as it is a dead spiritless body that cannot stir so it is a dead notional uneffectual belief that commandeth not a man's life and action It 's dead in it self and dead as to mens Justification and Salvation Annotations NOthing but mens misunderstanding the plain drift and sense of Paul's Epistles could make so many take it for a matter of great difficulty to reconcile Paul and James where there is no considerable shew of contradiction I have shewed the scope and sense of Paul before the Epistle to the Romans 1. That his arguing is to prove that it is not the Law of Moses that can justifie any man as a meer doer of it nor any works at all in commutative Justice making the reward to be of debt for the value of the works and not of free grace but that Justification must needs be of Gods free gift and therefore by the Merits of our Redeemer and therefore that a fiducial accepting practical Belief of Gods free Gift Covenant or Promise of Grace and Glory for in and with Christ is the condition on our part to be performed by his Grace which is our Moral Qualification or receptive disposition on which God by his Covenant giveth us right to the foresaid free Gifts Christs Grace and Glory This Faith Paul never described by some one single Physical act of the Soul but as a Moral act of the man as we use the Word in humane converse As if one say if you will trust me as your Physician I will cure you if you take me for your Tutor I will teach you Here to trust or take him signifieth a consenting trust to be medicined and to be taught by such a one If one say to a condemned Beggar trust me and I will give thee a Lord-ship in a Foreign Land it signifieth a trust consenting practically to go with him and trust his Convoy and forsake his own Country And James never questioned this Doctrine But some Vain Men as James calls them misunderstand this and spin us out a Web of their own Vanity feign it to be Paul's Doctrine 1. They say that Paul by Faith meaneth not Faith by which we are said to be justified but only Christ who doubtless is a chief object of that Faith 2. That God the Father or the Holy Ghost are none of the object of Faith as it is justifying 3. That it is not Christ himself as Prophet or King but only as Priest that is this object 4. That it is not all Christs Priest-hood but only Sacrifice and Righteousness that is this object and not his Heavenly Intercession 5. that it is not Christs Sacrifice and Righteousness as meerly meritorious of our Pardon and Life but as it was paid and performed by Christ as our surety in our Legal Reputative Person and so is imputed to us as our own because done by another in our name and stead as one payeth a debt by another that was bound for him 6. That so far as Faith is here meant it is but one single Physical act of Faith in Specie and there they are utterly disagreed 1. Whether it be an act of the understanding or will or both 2. Whether one act can be the belief of many objects viz. of Christs Sacrifice Obedience Promise Pardon Heaven c. 7. Yea many say that it is but one individual act that we are justified by which no mortal man can know the individuation of the Souls acts being obscure and the objects being always many conjunct and they say that it is only our first act of Faith and that all following acts of the same species finding us justified cannot justifie us any more than works 8. They say that Faith justifieth only as an Instrumental Cause and not as a Moral qualifying receptive condition or disposition 9. They say that believing in the Father the Holy Ghost and hoping for Heaven and praying for Mercy and Repenting of Sin and Loving God and our Saviour and his Word and Saints and Thankfulness for Grace and Obedience to Christ and Patience and forsaking all for him are the works which Paul meaneth to exclude from Justification and so is Faith in Christs Righteousness as an Act but not as an Instrument 10. They are utterly disagreed whether Faith justifie by appropriating only Christs active Righteousness or also his Passive or also his Divine Righteousness and Perfection 11. They say that by Imputing Faith for Righteousness is meant that not our Faith but Christs Righteousness is Imputed in it self and not its merited effects only to be our own because we performed it by him 12. They say that it is the very Law of Innocency and Works that justifieth us as having perfectly fulfilled it in and by Christ 13. they most hold that in Christ we have both perfectly kept the Law from birth till death by imputed obedience and yet satisfied for not keeping it by his sufferings as if perfect obedience imputed could consist i th sin 14. They say that Gods corrections are no punishments because else Christs Suffering was insufficient and God should punish one sin twice 15. And that our pardon and justification is perfect as soon as we believe 16. And that no more is needful to our continued Justification than to its beginning 17. And that yet more is needful to our Salvation than to our final Justification Many such humane Inventions man's brain hath spun out and made a Doctrine of their own and called it Paul's And James having to do with carnal Gospellers that thought to be saved for being of a right Opinion and calling this Faith doth 1. Tell them that this is not that true Christian Faith which hath the promise of Justification and Salvation but that that is a powerful practical belief and trust 2. Therefore their Doing that which Faith consents and engageth them to do must justifie that Faith to be sound which must justifie them as the condition of life 3. And that therefore this Efficiency or Doing of this practical Faith is part of the condition of their Justifications and it justifieth the man himself 1. As it justifieth his Faith and so justifieth him to be a sound Believer and not an Infidel or Hypocrite 2. In that the effectual operative nature and consent to obey is essential to that Faith it self 3. In that as a Faith accepting Christ and consenting to obey him as the Author of Eternal Salvation is the condition of our first entring into a state of Life and Justification so our performance of that consent by sincere obedience and perseverance is the condition of our Justification as continued and consummate at
with holy Resolution and soberly watch and keep up your Hope until the end for that glorious effect of Redemption and Grace which you shall see and enjoy at the day of Christ's glorious appearing which will answer all your Hopes 14. As obedient children not fashioning your selves according to the former lusts in your ignorance 14. And as obedient Children of God to whom you are reconciled no more living as you did in the time of your ignorance in fleshly lusts and worldly vice 15. But as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation 16. Because it is written Be ye holy for I am holy 15 16. And as Children must be like their Father and they must please God who will be saved by him therefore as he that hath called you is a holy God and Saviour be ye a holy People for so God requireth Be holy for I am holy 17. And if ye call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work passe the time of your sojourning here in fear 17. And if you call God your Father and call on him who without respect of persons for any worldly difference judgeth all men according to their works let the thoughts of his Holiness and future Judgment cause you to pass the time that you as Sojourners wait for Christ's coming in holy cautelous obedient fear 18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers 19. But with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot 18 19. For the preciousness of the price which redeemed us tells us the great worth of our Salvation from sin and misery which was not with silver and gold or any corruptible price but it was with the precious blood of Christ the spotless Lamb of God that ye were redeemed from the vain Ceremonies and Traditions which you were bred up in and from your sinful conversation 20. Who verily was fore ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you 21. Who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God 20 21. Whom God had sore-ordained to this blessed Office before the foundation of the World but though oft prophesied of was not incarnate and manifest in the flesh till these last times even for you that live since his coming who are not by him drawn as we are falsly accused from the true and only God but by him are taught the true knowledge of God and to believe that God to be God indeed wise good and almighty who raised Christ from the dead and gave him glory and so that your Faith and Hope might be ultimately in God alone by Christ's Mediation 22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently 22. And as you have purified your Souls from former Errour and Sin by obeying the Gospel by the work of God's Spirit unto unfeigned love of Christian Brethren be sure to keep up that Love and with a pure heart and deep affection to love each other 23. Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever 23. Seeing you are not only Brethren by corruptible generation and relation but of incorruptible seed by the Word of God who liveth and abideth for ever and so must your incorruptible love to each other which is part of your incorruptible nature 24. For all flesh is as grass and all the glory of man as the flower of grass the grass withereth and the flower thereof falleth away 25. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you 24 25. For all flesh and all its glory is a fading dying thing like the grass and flower But God's Word is everlasting Truth as Christ the Author is and is our Guide to an Everlasting Life And this true Word is it which we preach to you by the Gospel and bespeaketh endless constancy in your holy love and obedience CHAP. II. 1. WHerefore laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and all evil-speakings 2. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby 1 2. Lay aside therefore and renounce all naughtiness and all deceit and hypocrisy or counterfeiting and all envy and all speaking evil of others And as new born babes desire and seek and drink in the rational Milk or intellectual without fraud and mixture that you may grow up to Salvation by it which the mixture of heresie or hypocrisie would vitiate and invectives against others would but turn it against your selves 3. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious 4. To whom coming as unto a living stone disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious 5. Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 3 4.5 And if you are Christians indeed and have had a Spiritual relish of the love of God in Christ you must suppose his Church to be like an House in which every stone is a living man and Christ is the chief Foundation stone as the Lord of Life on whom all the building is erected rejected indeed by the Jewish and Heathen Rulers but chosen of God to this blessed Office and more Precious than any Pearl and so coming to him the Foundation as so many living stones your selves you being cemented to him and to one another are made one Spiritual House of God yea as a Temple in which you are all Priests to offer Daily Sacrifice to God which he will accept through the Intercession of the great High Priest Jesus Christ For your Prayer and Praise may be thus accepted Think thus of Gods House and you may be for sweeping and repairing it but you will never be for dividing dismembring or separating from it 6. Wherefore it is contained in the scripture Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone elect precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded 6. This the Scripture foretold saying I lay in Sion c. That is I set over the Church a Saviour and a King on whom the Church shall be sounded And none shall be put to shame by the frustration of their Faith Hope and Obedience who put their trust in him 7. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious but unto them which be disobedient the stone which the builders disallowed the same is made the head of the corner 8. And a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence even to
them which stumble at the word being disobedient whereunto also they were appointed 7 8. To you who believe as he is esteemed precious so will he be in the riches of his grace to you But to them that obey not the Gospel but are unbelieving rejecters of him he whom the builders the Jewish Rulers did refuse is made the foundation of the Church and they shall feel his Kingly Power He is that Stone on which they stumble and fall and that Rock on which the Adversaries dash themselves in pieces even they that unbelievingly reject and quarrel against the Gospel and disobey it To which destruction not to their sin the righteous God appointed them 9. But ye are a chosen generation a royal priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light 9. But as the Israelites were by their proper Covenant of peculiarity separated to God from the rest of the World and called a chosen Generation a royal Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar People especially as typifying the Christian Church so are you more eminently a chosen Seed of Christ by his Spirit a dignified Kingdom of Priests who are all designed to reign with Christ and all may have access to God a Nation or sort of men sanctified by dedication to God though all the World be his you are his peculiarly and have the Covenant and Priviledges of Peculiarity having greater mercies than the rest of the World that as Priests you may stand daily before God and celebrate his praises who hath called you out of the darkness of ignorance and unbelief and wickedness into that marvellous Light by which you know him the Father of Lights 10. Which in time past were not a people but are now the people of God which had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy 10. Who were under the Roman Captivity and scattered over the Earth and alienated from God by unbelief but now are made Christ's Free-men and Fellow-Citizens with the Saints and have obtained that mercy which unbelievers do reject 11. Dearly beloved I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul 11. But you are yet Strangers and Sojourners in the Countreys where you are scattered and indeed on Earth therefore I earnestly beseech you to abstain from that fleshly pleasure and life which are usually the fruit of wealth and prosperity in the World and are warring Enemies against the holy Inclinations Motions and Works of the Holy Spirit 12. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers they may by your good works which they shall behold glorifie God in the day of visitation 12. And let your conversation among the Heathens be so just and decent and exemplary that they that now speak against you as if you were a sort of bad deluded contemptible men through prejudice and malicious same may by your excelling all others in good works rejoyce and give glory to God when he shall visit you with deliverance from your oppressors and shall exalt you 13. Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as supream 14. Or unto governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the praise of them that do well 13 14. Be subject to every Civil Humane Ruler tho Heathen whether it be to Caesar as supream or those subordinate Rulers who are sent by him for that which is truly the Office of Magistrates to which God impowereth them which is to be punishers of evil doers and praisers or encouragers of them that do well 15. For so is the will of God that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men 15. Your peace and safety is not to be look't for by resisting and conquering the Powers that are over you but by due subjection and patience while you obey God to silence those ignorant foolish men who falsly reproach you as a turbulent and unruly sort of People for differing from them in Religion and obeying God before men 16. As free and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness but as the servants of God 16. You are indeed Christ's Free-men delivered from true servitude to Sin and Satan but you are God's Servants and must obey him in using your Christian Liberty to his glory in your appointed way of duty and not as a covering for any evil 17. Honour all men Love the brotherhood Fear God Honour the King 17. In short Give all men their due respect Love all Christians especially Christian Societies or Churches with a special love Fear God above all with reverent obedience and under him give that eminent honour to Kings and Rulers which is their due 18. Servants be subject to your masters with all fear not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward 18. Christian Servants must be subject to their Masters whether Christian or Heathen with due respect and reverence even to those that are froward and wrathful and abuse them and not only to the good and gentle Note That this binds not free Servants to continue with such Masters when they may have better but only Slaves that may not change and also voluntary Servants till their time of Service be at an end 19. For this is thank-worthy if a man for conscience toward God endure grief suffering wrongfully 20. For what glory is it if when ye be buffetted for your faults ye shall take it patiently but if when you do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God 19. For this God accepteth as a rewardable act of Obedience when in conscience of God's commanding patience you indure wrongful suffering 20. Can you think it a rewardable thing as of any special worth to take it patiently when you are beaten for your faults c. Note What then shall we think of those Servants even the religious sort that can neither bear stroaks nor words when they deserve them but will repine and swell with passion if they be but reproved for their faults yea for their sins against God and will not humbly confess them 21. For even hereunto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps 21. For your very Calling of Christianity bindeth you to this obedient Patience in imitation of Christ who in his suffering for us became our Example whom we must follow 22. Who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth 23. Who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously 22 23. Who never did ill in word or deed and yet being scorned and reviled he returned not to them the like nor gave them one ill word for another nor
the Dominion of it and live in sincere and willing holy Obedience in the course of his Life may boast falsly that he is a Christian but indeed hath no true saving knowledge of Christ 7. Little children let no man deceive you he that doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous 7. Be not so childish as to be deceived by the vain words of any that pretend to be righteous before God on any account whatsoever while they live in Unrighteousness and predominant sin as if God would justifie the Wicked for their Opinions or Presumptions It is he that being called justified and sanctified by the Merits and Spirit of Christ doth live in a sincere Obedience to him and labours to be like him in Holiness and Love to God and Man whom God will call a righteous man and save him as such when he is Judge 8. He that committeth sin is of the devil for the devil sinneth from the beginning For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil 8. So far as any man sinneth so far he is of the Devil and like him and he is the Servant of the Devil in whom sin is predominant or that liveth in the love and practice of any sin not consistent with true hatred of it and Repentance and the predominant love and practice of holy Obedience And Christ will be no justifying Advocate or Judge of the Servants of the Devil though he may by making them just and holy turn them from the power of Satan to God and judge them just when he hath made them just both by Conversion and Pardon but not before For the Son of God came purposely into the World to destroy the Works of the Devil in all that he will save and not to call the Wicked Righteous 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God 9. He that is truly regenerate by the Spirit is made a hater and forsaker of sin and therefore doth not live in the ruling love or practice of it nor indeed commit any sin in that degree that he is sanctified much less live in wilful gross sin for God's Word and Spirit by which he was regenerate still abide in him And it is a Contradiction to say that at once he is a holy person born of God and yet liveth in reigning sin Note Cannot Here signifieth a Hypothetical Impossibility because 't is a Contradiction and not a natural Impossibility much less Impotency for it is sinning and not forbearing sin that signifieth Impotency And the Contradiction is only on Supposition that he continue sanctified 10. In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother 10. It is not by proud Boasting nor barren Opinions that God's Children are known from the Children of the Devil but by the Image of God which Faith in Christ doth cause in his true Disciples He that doth not live in the true love and practice of Righteousness towards God and Man abhorring and avoiding Ungodliness Injustice and fleshly Lusts is no Child of God but of the Devil nor he that doth not unfeignedly love all Christians as Christians and men as men and live in Charity to them accordingly Note That wicked men are called The Children of the Devil because they are like him and do his Will And the World swarmeth with men so like to Devils in Lying Malignity and Mischiefs as maketh it easie to believe that there are Devils and a Hell 11. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning that we should love one another 11. For this is the Message which Christ the Lord of Love did commit to us and from the first we have preached to you that Love is the very â—â—m and End of Law and Gospel 12. Not as Cain who was of that wicked one and slew his brother and wherefore slew he him because his own works were evil and his brother's righteous 12. That we be not like wicked Cain who was of the Diabolical Disposition and Practice and killed his own Brother And Why did he kill him Not for any ill desert nor for any harm that he had done him but because he was bad himself and his Works bad and his Brother 's Righteous and by difference condemned him Note Doubtless God permitted Adam's first Son to be wicked and murder his righteous Brother to shew the World what a state we are first in since the Fall by natural Pravity and that we are as such the Children of the Devil till Grace recover us and to expound the Enmity put between the Seed of the Woman and of the Serpent and to tell us what a War will be continued upon Earth from the days Cain and Abâ—l till the End and that Superiority and Cruelty will usually be against the Righteous whose Victory is mostly by patient Suffering and Death 13. Marvel not my brethren if the world hate you 13. If the ungodly Successors of Cain whose own Works are evil do hate Godliness and Conscience and hate you for them take it for no strange or unexpected thing It hath been so since Cain's days and will be so as Christ foretold 14. We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren he that loveth not his brother abideth in death 14. Love being the great Work of God's Renewing Spirit on the Soul it is by Love especially to all true Christians that we know that we are changed from the Cainish corrupt state of Death into the state of holy Life Whatever else men have if they have not true love to others especially to godly Christians they are yet dead in sin Note 1. By The Brethren here is meant Christians as such Not only those of some Party in Opinion which we like nor only those that are friendly to us nor yet all men or all called Christians alike though all men must be loved as men It is to love God in man and man for his sake so far as God's Amiableness shineth in them specially to love God's Holiness in holy persons 2. It is not all Love to godly Christians as such that will prove us translated from Death to Life but to love them and God in them better than the Pleasures and Wealth of the World The cheap Love of such as wish men well but will be at no great cost or danger for any because they love their Money better is the Hypocrites Love 15. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him 15. Note 1. How dreadful a Sentence this is against malignant or factious Haters of Brethren 2. But the Self-deceit of murderous Hypocrites is by taking Brethren for no Brethren but as the Papists first call them Hereticks
Schismaticks Fanaticks Puritans Rebels against the Pope or Church that they may justifie their hating murdering imprisoning silencing and ruining them As the Scribes were loth to know who was their Neighbour so are these loth to know who is a Brother But God will know his Children though men call them by reproachful names Alas for the murderous Generation that preach write and strive to destroy the Upright and say they killed them or ruined them in Love that is they hated them in Love Woe to them when God shall judge them 3. Every degree of unjust Hurt or Hatred is a Breach of the Sixth Commandment But the meaning is not every degree or mistaking wrong is as bad as actual Murder or as sure a sign of Death Alas how few else would live 16. Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren 16. As God hath manifested his Love to us by laying down for us the Life of our Redeemer so if we be God's Children we must learn of him as to love our Enemies so if God should call us to it as needful to better ends than our lives to lay down our lives for Christian Brethren 17. But whoso hath this worlds good and seeth his brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him 17. And if Love must make us die for others surely those have no true Love to God and to the Brethren as God requireth who cannot lay down part of their abundance perhaps superfluity for them but while they are well able yet cannot find in their hearts to relieve them but shut up the bowels of their compassion from them Note O the dreadful account that many of the Rich must give that feast all the year while their poor Neighbours hunger and spend forty times more in needless house-keeping as they call their Luxury than on the Poor 18. My little children let us not love in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth 18. Let not your Love be hypocritical which will bring forth no better fruit than good wishes and fair words but shew the truth of it by your cost and real helps 19. And hereby we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him 19. It is by such efficacy and real fruit that we must know that we are true Christians and not Hypocrites and must have assurance that our hearts are true to God 20. For if our heart condemn us God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things 21. Beloved if our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God 20 21. For if our Consciences tell us that our Love is barren and fruitless and so condemn us of Hypocrisie God is greater and more acquainted with our Hypocrisie than our Consciences But if our Conscience truly witness the sincerity of our Love by the fruits of it then this assurance of our Sincerity giveth us boldness towards God 22. And whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight 22. And if we do God's Will sincerely in obeying his Commands and the things that please him he will hear our Prayers and grant our just desires and give us that which is good for us whereas if we love iniquity and live therein God will not hear our Prayers Note They that deny that holy sincere Obedience is any condition of God's hearing our Prayers because Faith hath the promise contradict the scope of Scripture 23. And this is his commandment that we should believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another as he gave us commandment 23. And the sum of all this acceptable duty is but this To believe truly in Jesus Christ our Redeemer our Teacher King and Intercessor and to obey his great Command of Loving one another with all such God is pleased and heareth them 24. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us 24. And if we keep Christ's Commands of fruitful Love in Faith there is a near Communion between Christ and us we dwell in Christ as his Members and he dwelleth in us and his dwelling in us is by the Spirit of Love and Holiness the Seal of his Promise which he hath given us He that keepeth Christ's Commandments specially of Love hath his Spirit And Christ dwells where his Spirit dwells CHAP. IV. 1. BEloved believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world 1. There be many false Teachers who pretend to Revelation as Prophets who teach you the Doctrines of Sensuality Worldliness and Malice contrary to the Doctrine of Holiness and Love which I have taught you Therefore believe not that every man speaketh by God's Spirit who pretendeth to it nor that every strong suggestion in your selves is from God's Spirit which seemeth such before you try it But try all pretences of the Spirit whether they come indeed from the Spirit of God or rather from Satan or mens own imagination corrupted by pride Qu. How shall we justly try Spirits or spiritual pretences Ans By somewhat that is more easily known and no otherwise And that is two things 1. The common certain notices of the Light and Law of Nature 2. By the Infallible words of the Spirit in Christ and his Apostles and Prophets For both these are the sure Word of God who doth not contradict himself Our gifts of the Spirit are lower than the Apostles and must be tryed by theirs which were given them to record a Rule for us 2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God 3. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that spirit of Antichrist whereof you have heard that it should come and even now already is it in the world 2 3. By this you shall know whether these Pretenders speak from the Spirit of God For the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Christ sent by him to be his Advocate and plead his Cause and do his Work in the World and therefore beareth witness of him If therefore these Teachers truly and openly in the face of danger do own profess and preach Christ Jesus as the Incarnate Word and Son of God sent from Heaven to redeem teach rule and save us this Doctrine is of the Spirit of God But if they deny the Godhead or Manhood of Christ or that he is indeed the true Incarnate Saviour Prophet Priest and King or will not own him in hazards or sufferings but deny him to save the flesh and teach men so to do
dwelleth in Love as his ruling habit of Soul and practice of Life dwelleth by communion in God as the Eye in the Light and a Friend by Love dwells in his Friend and God by his Spirit of Love in him Note I prefâ—r this Verse before all the Humane Learning in the World 17. Herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of judgement because as he is so are we in this world 17. And our Love is for this blessed effect that we may joyfully now foresee and stand at last before him in Judgment as the Lord to whom by Love we are endeared and united For as his Interest is dearest to us in this World and we obey and follow him in suffering so it is that we may come to him in Glory with whom our Life is now hid 18. There is no fear in love but perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment he that feareth is not made perfect in love 18. For though our darkness and guilt would keep us under terror lest God should destroy us or our weakness make us fear the power of man and bodily calamities and death yet the Love that I speak of hath none of this terrour in it but were it perfect it would fully quiet the Soul and cast out all distrustful painful fear For though cautelous preventing fear of all danger is necessary in this life to our safe avoiding evil and the awe and reverence of God is the duty of every creature yet tormenting or painful troubling fear cometh from distrust and sheweth that our Love is yet imperfect Note This is spoken both of tormenting fear of God and Man of Hell and of Death Sicknesses and Crosses here For he that by Faith is fully persuaded of God's great and special Love to him such as he hath manifested by Christ and thereupon doth love God entirely above all in that measure cannot fear that such a God will damn him or leave him to the malice of Men or Devils and by death it self do him any hurt inconsistent with dearest Love If Wives and Children fear not being murdered by loving Husbands or Fathers perfect Love would make us fully quiet in our trust in God Painful fear of Hell Death Sickness Poverty or Persecutors doth shew a distrust and doubting of God's Love who could sure quickly save us by such a word as made the World and an imperfection of our Love to him as caused by this distrust Fear may stand with true Faith and Love but not with perfect Only I confess sensitive passion through bodily disease or disposition quite differing from rational Fear is a Tyrant which Faith and Reason will not overcome As a man bound with Chains to the top of a Spire Steeple is rationally sure that he cannot fall and yet is terrified with looking down O how should fearful Christians study Trust and Love as their only cure and quieting help 19. We love him because he first loved us 19. And it is the knowledge of God's antecedent Love to us giving us a Christ and Grace and making us love him which thus delivereth the Soul from fear and turneth us to him with love and boldness If his Love had been a meer dependent consequent of ours how uncertain should we be of its continuance 20. If a man say I love God and hateth his brother he is a liar For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen 20. But still I say our Love to God must be shewed in our hearty Love to our Brethren To hate and persecute them yea not effectually to love them proveth him a Lyar who saith he loveth God It is God in his Image that you must love and help He needeth you not but he will make you need one another to try your Love and Obedience to him If you love not his visible Image how can you love the invisible God This doth but detect your self-deceiving Hypocrisie 21. And this commandment have we from him that he who loveth God love his brother also 21. And he â—hat will be the Judge who love him truly hath made this his summary great Commandment that you must love God first and above all and your Brother or Neighbour for his sake as your selves And you love him not if you keep not his great Commandment CHAP. V. 1. WHosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him 1. Note That it is believing God and not Man only a Divine Faith and not a Humane a sincere Faith and not a doubting Opinion that is here called Believing Believing this on the word of our Rulers or Teachers is good but it is but preparatory to Religion and the Belief of God And it is a matter of such great importance to believe it sincerely as God's Word that God was manifest in flesh and appointed Christ to the Office and Work of Man's Sanctification and Salvation that it is not possible but such a sound Belief must fill the Soul with love to God and carry it up to a holy and heavenly state as the Regenerate are Nor is it possible but such should love that Saviour who is the Image of God's Love 2. By this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep his commandments 3. For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous 2 3. And you must know that it is not all Love to one another or to good People that will prove us regenerate for men may love them as their Friends for loving them or for being of their Opinion Sect or party or for their Interest c. But your love to men as God's Children is sincere and saving when it is God himself that you love most and them for his sake And when his Love maketh you keep his Commandments And his Commandments are not heavy nor have any thing in them which men should be unwilling to keep but should be both our work and pleasure 4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith 4. God's Spirit is stronger than the evil Spirit that ruleth the ungodly World and therefore all that are truly regenerate do overcome the Love and Temptations of the World though not perfectly yet in prevalency And how do we overcome the World but by firm believing in Jesus Christ and the Love of God that will bring us to a far better World The things believed prevail against the things seen in all that are true Believers indeed 5. Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God 5. Where do you see any truly overcome the Love of this World but they that believe that Jesus Christ hath purchased and promised and
and all men according to your works Note Judging is either Justifying or Condemning and Executing accordingly Our first Justification which maketh us Just and so Accounts us is not according to any works strictly so called unless you will call it a work believingly to Accept a free gift Nor is our Justification in Judgment according to the works of the Law of Innocency or of Moses or any that can be thought to make the Reward not of Grace but of Debt But it is according to our performing the Covenant of Christianity made by Christ the condition of Salvation 24. But unto you I say and to the rest in Thyatira as many as have not this doctrine and which have not known the depths of Satan as they speak I will put upon you none other burden 25. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come 24 25. Note Some Copies have And and some leave it out If it be you and the rest it must mean you Pastors and the faithful People And this would shew that it is not One but Many Pastors that is meant by the Angel But if And be left out then the sense is All you of the Church that are not polluted with this filthy Doctrine which the pretenders to Wisdom call Profound Knowledge but is indeed the Depths of Satan I will put on you no new Doctrine nor Burden but charge you to hold fast that Apostolick Doctrine which you have received and wait in fidelity for my coming who will reward you 26. And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the nations 27. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers even as I have received of my Father 26 27. This Promise is diveâ—sly expounded 1. Some think that it is not the same persons then living to whom it is made but those that in Constantine's time are found persevering shall then be advanced by him to honour and power Others think that it is to the same persons and meaneth buâ— that they shall be made Bishops and convert many Heathens But all the Church could not be made Bishops and Bishops then were the greatest Sufferers and converting is not ruling and dashing them in pieces with an Iron Rod. The Phrase is fetcht from Psal 2. Others think that it is meant of the Heavenly power of faithful separated Souls and that after death the Saints joyn with Angels â—s invisible Rulers of this World And others think that it is meant of a thousand years Reign on Earâ—h before the last Judgment And others think it is meant of the state after Judgment and that the Damned shall be as Slaves to the glorified Saints It is certain that it signifieth a triumphant glorious state in Heaven but the â—est is dark to us I think it meaneth that they shall partake of Christ's Royal Power subserviently in their degree by which they shall now triumph over the World in faith and in time be delivered from men's Tyrannny and at Death initially and at Judgment fully shall with Christ judge the World of wicked Men and Angels which is here called Ruling them And it is not improbable that the miserable damned ones will be in some sort trod down by Christ and his Saints but how we yet know not By the Morning-Star seemeth meant Christ and his Spirit to shine on them in Glory 29. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches 29. Let none take themselves to be unconcerned in Christ's Message to his Churches for it is recorded for our common use and nearly concerneth us all CHAP. III. 1. ANd unto the angel of the church in Sardis write These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars I know thy works that thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead 1. To the Angel that is the Pastors and People of the Church in Sardis Thus saith he who is the Lord of Angels and Ministers Note Though the Spirits before were named before Christ it was not as preferring them before him for he is here said to have them as he hath the Pastors I know what thou art and dost and that thou art reputed by men to be an excellent Church but thou art declined to a cold and decayed state even like to death Note Profession and outward Splendor make Churches and persons applauded that wanting the life and power of the Religion they profess are next to dead 2. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die for I have not found thy works perfect before God 2. Be awakned from thy Self-flattery and Coldness and revive and exercise that Good which yet thou hast that it may be strengthned for I find much Hypocrisie and Formality in thee and not that Soundness Seriousâ—ess and Zeal which God will require 3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent If therefore thou shalt not watch I will come on thee as a thief and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee 3. Remember what Doctrine my Apostles taught thee and hold fast that and receive no other Repent of thy Back-sliding for if thou do not awake and watch in holy Preparation I will come upon thee with my Judgments as a Thief cometh on men asleep when thou art most fearless and dost least expect me 4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy 4. Though the greater part of that Church be as dead in their declining some few there are yet in it who have kept their Innocency from Heresie Vice and Cowardly Shrinking and these shall have the honourable Reward of their Uprightness for they are worthy of it according to the Law of Grace which promiseth it to such alone Note Yet these few Names are not commanded to separate from the rest 5. He that overcometh the same shall be clothed in white raiment and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life but I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels 5. He that overcometh in this Life of Tryal shall be cloathed with the Glory which signifieth the Reward of Innocency and is the mark of Dignity and Honour for such then was White Raiment and I will own him openly before my Father and his Angels as one who is enrolled as a Denison of Heaven among the Elect of God Note If White Garments now be seemly for conquering Saints they are unmeet for them that are overcome by the World and the love of its Honour Wealth and Power and by fleshly Lusts 6. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches 7. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write These things saith he
which the superior World hath no real similitude but by fiction 6. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal and in the midst of the throne and round about the throne were four beasts full of eyes before and behind 6. Note Before the Tabernacle and the Temple there was a great broad Vessel of Water called a Sea for the Priests to wash in Exod. 20.18 1 Kings 7.23 signifying the Purity required in the Worshippers of God being as Crystal tells us that no spots or Hypocrisie is unseen to God Though some make this to signifie the multitude of Worshippers The four Beasts some say resemble the four Staâ—dards and Camps of Israel in the Wilderness or as others the four Evangelists But it is like to mean the Executioners by Providence and Miracles of Christ's Will and Power full of Eyes as knowing all the Affairs of the Sons of Men about which they are employed called Living creatures for their executive power 7. And the first beast was like a lion and the second beast like a calf and the third beast had a face as a man and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle 7. Note As these four agree with the Apparition in Ezekiel 1.10 in the main notwithstanding some small difference so it is observable which D. Hammond noteth from Aben Ezra that these were the Escutcheons on the four Ensigns or Standards of the Camp of Israel a Lion for the Camp of Judah a Man for the Camp of Reuben an Oxe for the Camp of Ephraim and an Eagle for the Camp of Dan And an Oxe and Calf are oft used for the same And these four are noted to be the chief in their several kinds the Lion among wild Beasts the Oxe among the tame and serviceable a Man among all Animals and an Eagle among Birds To conjecture what God would signifie by them to Israel must needs be uncertain I know nothing liker than an intimation of Duty and Prophecy that Israel should be victorious over their Enemies and valiant as a Lion wise and in Dominion as Man and should have a fertile and plenteous Land signified by the Oxe and be Seraphick and Divine in the holy Worship of God signified by the Eagle that mounteth Heaven-ward in her strength And it 's like such blessings are hereby signified to be conferred on the Church some fix the signification on Angels some on Ministers And less probable are their 's that think Peteâ— John Paul and Barnabas are meant or they that apply it to the four Evangelists or four Patriarchs 8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him and they were full of eyes within and they rest not day and night saying Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come 8. Note The Beasts resembling the Standard-bearer in the Camp are likest to signifie both the Angels in Heaven who glorifie God's Attributes and serve him in the performance of his Promises to the Church and also the Apostles and Prophets and Evangelists and Pastors who do their part herein on Earth See Isa 6.2 of their wings 2. Holy holy holy may relate to the Trinity but certainly signifieth that the Holiness of God is that for which he is loved and praised by Angels and Saints His Holiness is his Perfection and Transcendency above all creatures being the end of all to whom they are to be devoted and consequently his perfect contrariety to all evil 3. The celebrating of the Praises of the most Holy God is the uncessant work of heavenly Spirits and most of the work of Ministers and Church-Assemblies on Earth 9. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne who liveth for ever and ever 10. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne and worship him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne saying 11. Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created 9 10 11. Note With the chief Angels concur all the heavenly Hâ—st in magnifying the Holy Eternal God as shining forth in the glory of all his works by him and for him by his efficient Will and for his complacential Will fulfilled they being all created preserved and ordered And this heavenly work is to be imitated by the Churches on Earth whose Pastors leading the People must concur in the Praises of the most Holy Everliving God And those Churches that are dry and scant in these Praises of God how well soever the Word be there preached are defective and unlike their Pattern These passages are best expounded in the three first Petitions of the Lord's Prayer Let thy Name be hallowed Thy Kingdom come and Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven Neither Heaven nor Earth must be left out in the Exposition CHAP. V. 1. ANd I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside sealed with seven seals 1. I saw a Roll called a Book in his hand who sate on the Throne written on both sides but the Roll was sealed up with seven Seals Note The Roll contained God's Decrees as they were to be fulfilled according to this Prophecy And it 's like they were seven Rolls together making one Book 2. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice Who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof 2. Note Every Angel or Man is not worthy or meet to be the Expositor and Messenger of God's Mysteries to Man 3. And no man in heaven nor in earth neither under the earth was able to open the book neither to look thereon 3. It was a work and trust too high for any meer creature in all the World None of them was worthy 4. And I wept much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book neither to look thereon 4. I lamented that the creatures should be found so unworthy and God's Mysteries be kept unknown 5. And one of the elders saith unto me Weep not behold the lion of the tribe of Judah the root of David hath prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof 5. One of the Elders that were at the Throne comforted me and told me that Christ who is called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the Son of David and Root of Jesse was found worthy by the Dignity of his Person and his Merits by Man's Redemption to open to the Church all the Mysteries of God which it was meet for Man to know and to loose the Seals 6. And I beheld and lo in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts and in the midst of the elders stood a Lamb as it had been slain having seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven