any tormented estate Q. 8. The mystery of godlinesse The mystery of Godlinesse was hidden in types and figures from the ages and generations of the Apostate families Eph. 3. Col. 1.26 But in Judah was God known his name was great in Israel in Salem was his Tabernacle and his dwelling place in Sion Psal 76.1.2 He shewed his word unto Jacob and his statutes and Judgments unto Israel he dealt not so with any nation and as for his judgements they had not knowne them therefore they sayd Praise ye J A H. Psalm 147 So that Israel did enjoy the true knowledge of God in Christ and were the houshold of God having the covenants of promise and the seals of the fame and lived and dyed in the constant hope of immortality in glory read diligently Eph. 2.11 12 Act. 26.6.7 And this we must understand concerning the true hidden mystery hid in types and figures among godly families untill Moses and then to the Nations while Israels fleece only was moystened by the dewes that fell on mount Sion but after the ending of the seventy sevens Dan. 9. then the Gospel was openly revealed and made known to all Nations of Noahs families and yet in those dayes yea now in these dayes it is an hid mystery too too manifest experience doth witnesse in kingdoms townes and families 1 Cor. 2. Q 9. The heathens also All those noble prophesies in Moses Prophets and Psalmes of the calling of the Gentiles do comment on the blessing to Sem and the Promise to Abraham The holy Prophets rejoyced in spirit foreseeing the glorious calling of the families to the Faith we should have the like affection to the calling of the Jewes Rom. 11. Q. 9. By sending his disciples The Apostles were sent unto them to open their eyes to turne them from darknesse to light from the power of Satan to God that they might receive forgivenesse of sinnes and inheritance among all them of the old Testament which are sanctified by faith in Christ Act. 26. Eph. 1.11 12 13 14. Annotations How Redemption was taught from the Promise to ABRAHAM till the Law of the Passeover or the coming forth of EGYPT QUest 1. What is the scripture in which the Revelation of the mystery of Christ was made known to Abraham Answ Gen. 12 2. And I will make of thee a great Nation and I will blesse thee and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing And I will blesse them that blesse thee and curse him that curseth thee And in thee shall all the families of the Earth be blessed QUest In what doth this scripture teach instruct convince correct and comfort Answ I Of the cursed and most wretched estate of the apostate families and unrecoverable in respect of any ability in themselves God hiding from them by Babells Languages for many generations the glorious mystery of the Gospell of his Son that they became Loammi and Lo-ruchamah that is not Gods people nor pitied and ever enemies to God and his people walking in all courses of unperswadeable disobedience II. It is prophesied by this great and precious promise that the families shall be delivered from the misery of that apostasie by the Son of God who was sent of the Father into the world in fullness of time to be a blessing to make knowne the riches of the glorious mystery of his will to reconcile them to be Gods people and to be under mercy through his gracious Redemption and by the same to reconcile the enmity of Jew and Gentile III. Here it is taught who Christ is touching his person that he being God is also man of the Seed of Abraham Gal. 4.4 Eb. 2.16 Saint Matthew chap. 1. doth shew the history and the promise fullfilled As also how Christ Immanuel doth blesse us saving his people from the guilt punishment and dominion of their sins by his precious death and sacrisice By which hee brake the Serpents head-Plot Gen. 3.15 in his constant patience and obedience at the very same time when the Serpent and his seed put him to an accursed death on the tree as a notorious sinner By this performance Gal. 4 5. Rom. 3 25. this manner of the blessing of Abraham came on the Gentiles Gal. 3.13.14 IV. By faith in the promise we are reconciled justified and adopted and so are no more servants in bondage but heirs in Christ V. Whereas it is sayd in thy seed all families of the Earth are blessed it sheweth there is the same and no other way or means of eternall life and salvation to Jew and Gentile but only and alone the Lord Jesus Christ nor any comfort in this world but as given us by promise and covenant through faith in Christ in the use of the meanes lawfully used Wherefore all other Religions Additaments inventious of men are abominable and all communion with such is no better then the communion with devills VI. We have not forgiveness of sins life and the inheritance of heaven †Act. 3.26 Tit. 3.5 6. Gal. 3.16.17 Abraham had not-wherein to rejoyce as of himselfe he did not prevent God but God prevented him by workes of our doing or will in our choosing but all is of free grace and free promise VII The Lord God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ doth give The Lords Prayer and all the prayers of the Saints belong hither Gal. 4.6 Rom. 8.15 so note here that Gods promises are the foundation of prayer David 2 Sam. 7.27 Dan. 9.2 c. as the effects of his promise his spirit to cry Abba Father and to seal assurance of reconciliation justification and adoption and to be an earnest of that inheritance of the Saints in light and to worke mortification and to begin the life of glory in sanctification This the Lord God doth worke in those only that looke for salvation in Christ as sons by the promise not as servants for workes or images VIII In that the eternall God the Gentiles shall be blessed in Christ it is a speech manifesting * Of eternity all Gods works were known to him as the Apostle James saith Act 15. This is handled Rom 8.9 10 11. chapters the purpose of Gods election and predestination in Christ as the spirituall blessings are handled by the Apostle to proceed out of those eternall fountaines Eph. 1. under the word blessed are comprehended the unsearcheable riches of Christ the second Adam who of God is made unto us the efficient cause of wisdome †Or freedom or forgiveness justification sanctification and redemption IX The precious promises in Christ understood and beleeved transforme or metamorphose a man and make him partake of the divine nature so that they which beleeve in God must as from a new principle in uprightnesse of heart walke in the spirit be alwaies zealous to shew forth good workes and with all due care flee the corruptions that are in the world through lusts This is to keepe the mystery
the Supper of the Lord. QUest 4. Shew first what is considered jointly in these two Answ Both these are memorials signes and seals as strong as the worlds frame to repenting and believing Receivers of whatsoever Gods word hath revealed for their hope and comfort of life temporal spiritual and eternal They by the work of the Spirit represent and seal the whole doctrine of the covenant and promises made to our Fathers and also it must ever be remembred they are reciprocal and for restipulation as the covenant and being added to the covenant more firmly binding strenthning and comforting to faith obedience and thankfulness QUest 5. What do you conceive to be taught us in Baptism Answ Baptism is to teach and seal unto us 1. †1 Mat. 3. Acts 2.38 39 40 41 42.2 Acts 2.38 and 22.16.3 Gal. 3.26 27.4 Rom 6.5 Tit. 53.6 1 Cor. 15.29 Rom 6. Col. 2.12 and 3.3 To all which we must joyn the calling on the name of the Lord with good understanding Acts 22.16 1 Pet. 3.21 Concrning our entrance into the Church and politie of Christs Kingdome and the priviledges of the same to distinguish us from other polities 2. Concerning our justifiation 3. Our adoption 4. New birth or sanctification 5. Mortification 6. The resurrection QUest 6. What do you consider in the Supper of the Lord. Ans This should be written in all hearts that they onely be happy which in the Lords Supper protest the abundance of grace of free forgivenesse for justification to reign by Christ the second Adam 2. The Bread broken and without mixture the wine poured out and without mixture administred in the Primitive sincerity and plainnesse dispensed by a lawfull Pastour and taken with holy judgement and faith our souls feeding upon the eternall Son his incaâ—nation and Redemption is a Seal of mercy of faithfullnesse builded and established in the very heavens to stay us in Christ and in his holy Doctrine The authority of the Speaker promising covenanting and now sealing who made the world by his word must be looked unto 3. As our eyes judge of the frame of the world and our minds to what invisible use all was made subject to the second Adam So our eyes must judge of Bread and Wine and our minds that Christ our onely and most holy and perfect high Sacrificer offered himself a Sacrifice for us 4. When Sacrifice was to end at the Supper of the Lamb Christ Jesus our Lord the Son eternall whom we must hear to seal the end of Sacrificing gave for beasts flesh and blood which figured his Body and Blood Bread and VVine to be in Covenant-speech his body and Blood 5. As all faithfull of the old Testament kept with all Religious observance the Gospel Statutes and testimonies of circumcision the passeover and Jubilee c. to the death of our Lord Jesus Christ at his first coming so shall this precious ordinance yea and all the ordinances that it seals to continne to the judgement of the great day And the Saints must evermore celebrate and observe it with an eye to his second coming This should be a constant Meditation with the people of God (*) Read a little treatise intituled a fruitfull Sermon on Rom. 12. but man by nature of a stubborn disposition to divine revelation will not be charmed though the charmer charm never so wifely Here should be inserted concerning the offices and officers of Christ for the government of his churches and the ministration of the holy things thereof Much hath been written Pro and Con. but questionlesse that church politie that is according to the words and commandements of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ is best and will agree and stand with the polities of Christians yea of heathen common weals And nothing but Popish ambition tyranny coveteousnesse idlenesse doth resist Christs government of which if the territories of Princes were rightly possessed they would glory in it * both for safety of person and State Kings being just †Kings that set light by gody and just government shall find Christs providences to be iron and fire to their common-weals 2 Sam 23.7 and ruling in the fear of God need not fear losse by Christ for that his Kingdome is not of this world VVhat his Kingdome is and who his Subjects are he sheweth Mat. 5. John 18.37 QUest 7. Who believed the most sure word of Prophesie and the Record that God the Father witnessed of the Son Answer The apostles and disciples and many others afore our Lords death the 3000 converted at one Sermon and 2000 and many more added presently after and in succeeding times 144000 Jews and innumerable martyrs and confessours of all Nations and languages as the Acts the Epistles to the Churches and the Apocalips do shew †Now the Kingdome of Christ spokeng of in Daniel c. 2 7 is fully manifested when the image of four mettals and the four beasts became as chaffe before the wind and were consumed by rivers of fire and that the Son of Man was come and had ascended to the Ancient of dâ—â—es then to him was given Kingdome power and glory that all people Nations and tongues should serve him Thus Prophesie and history do sweetly agree QVest 8. Then by this that you have said it doth manifestly appear that all Nations which were of the families of the Sons of Noah had no other faith for salvation taught them but what was taught in Sâ—ms Tents and by the Sons of SEM Answ Most true it is for all that was taught to Eva to Sem to Abraham Isaac Jacob Judah Moses David Salomon Daniel and all the Prophets in the old Testament the same faith and none other as the new Testament sheweth Christ taught his Apostles and disciples who went from Jerusalem Sems tents to the uttermost parts of the earth by our Lords commandement with the gift of tongues to disciple all nations by preaching the word of truth the Gospel concerning the incarnation of the Son of God his sufferings death resurrection from death his ascention and shining glorious appearing at his second coming to judge the world That work they performed by the strength of God who confirmed their Doctrine with signes wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost Then tongues nations and people of all Kingdomes departed from the power of darknesse by faith and obedience to the Kingdome of Christ giving honour and glory for ever to the king eternall holy invisible God onely wise 2. As Christ our salvation came of the Jews so the scriptures of the old and new Tâ—stament which reach the salvation came from them and because the saints from the dayes of the apostles have obtained the same like precious faith as Salem Sems tents had of old the state of the Church is termeâ— a Jâ—rusalem from Heaven and the names of the twelve Tribes upon the twelve Gates of this â—iâ—â—e do shew that all must be of their faith that enter
adverse things But let a man be carefull allwaies to keep a conscience void of offence toward God and toward man then hee shall not need to fear for any sudden fear for the Eternall Being will be for his assurance But an unfaithfull heart of unbeleif cannot tell whither to turn him in affliction and distresse this is manifest in Kain Saul Ishcariot and Achitophel 13. The mighty Elohim the eternall Being hath created and disposed all things in Christ for the good of his Elect. Therefore the Prophets shew that Gods Jesurun portion and inheritance should not be as the Idolatrous heathens and such like blind ignorant sots L They must not learn their Abominations nor to be afraid of any of the signs of the heavens the constellations eclipses or strangnesse of any of the fiery ayery watery or earthly Meteors God hath ever used them as all are his servants for the good of his church and the world and for the destruction of the wicked as in the Flood Sodom Aegypt c. so it is sayd the Heavens fought and the Stars in their course fought against M Sisera Jud. 5. The stars by their influence in their Constellations raised stormes winde raine hail inundations c. Compare with this Job 38.22.23 and Jos 10.11 also Exod. 5. and the troubles of Pharaohs pursute of Israel in the Red sea Exod. 14.24.25 Psal 77.16.17.18.19 meditate on Psal 18. and 28.3 c. and Psal 104. and 148. and 1 Sam. 7.10 and 12.17 and 14.15 and much of Jobs booke ANNOTATIONS upon Chapter 1. In Q. 3. N. 5. The same order of the persons in existence is the same in operation both in the creation and in the new creation or regeneration For the spirit of Elohim first of the Father and Secondly of the son moved hovered or as one may say sate a Metaphor from birds that fit on their eggs on the face of the waters to hatch or bring forth out of that created Chaos all the visible and sensible creatures as it followes in the sixth dayes work As for the other the Love of the Father draws on the sons redemption and their spirit works it up by sanctification c. This is an irrefragable bond of working which the creature cannot frustrate and Jehovah changeth not Eph. 1.2 to 16. 1 Cor. 8.6 2 Cor. 4.4 2 Cor. 13.13 Joh. 5.19 and 14.26 and 15.26 and 16.7 In N. 6. That was fit for each cretaure though the creatures do now groan under corruption yet it is a miracle of beauty that things are placed to be so excellently subservient to each other The baser and inferiour serve the next above them the livelesse serve the Vegetives the Vegitive the sensitive the sensitive the Rationall the Rationall are to serve the eternall Lord God In N. 7. Therefore who is he that sayth that any thing falleth out which Jehovah commanded not From the mouth of the highest proceedeth not the evill and the good Lam. 3 27.38 Broughton reads it Are not two sparrowes sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the Ground without the Father Matth. 10. Is there evill in the City and the Lord hath not done it Amos 3.6 Let us be humbled for our Atheisme that looke so much to second causes God alters times and seasons and over-rules his means as in the plague in 1636. it being most in winterly season And as for fretting and tormenting our selves about events every event is an Oracle of God then no disputing Yea be the instruments what can be it is just wise or a mercifull event and all to his glory Why doth living man murmur a man for the punishment of his sin Lam. 3. Therefore David was in a sweet temper when he sayd I opened not my mouth because thou didst it Psal 39. 2 Sam. 16.10 So then what ever be the second causes yet the most high God ruleth all in all things in Heaven earth sea and in all deep places Psal 135. His providence reacheth as far as his creation We say it raines it snowes it freezeth ir misteth it thundereth it bloweth and that the stormy windes do raise the waves c. We may so speak impersonally for the holy scripture alloweth the Phrase But yet wee must looke and our children must be taught to looke to Jehovah the Eternall Being He sayth to the snow be thou upon the Earth and likewise to the small raine and the great raine of his strength he thundereth he raiseth the stormy winde c. Job 17.38 and Psal 104. and 107. These things should be in us from our infancy that our Faith Fear Love Joy Hope Patience should abound towards him who doth all things by his wise Counsells and for the good of his chosen In N 7. Kingdome Although the Kingdome of God be much spoken of in the holy scriptures yet it hath a more retyred and speciall sence then is commonly thought upon this Kigdome is that mediatoriall Kingdome of Christ and therefore all power in Heaven and Earth was not first given to him in Matth. 28.18 For God hath governed the world by his son ever since Adam lost the government by his fall Gen. 3.15 And therefore it is sayd Jehovah from Jehovah rained fire and brimstone up Sodom and Gomorrah Gen. 19.24 In N. 8. Nor resemblances We ought to be very carefull in prayer c. That we fashion not God in our conceptions to any shape We ought not to thinke of the God-head like sottish heathens or superstitious Papists Acts 17. Esa 40 Rom. 1. Therefore let us helpe our children from the breasts with true knowledge In N. 8. Haters For God saith I will visit the iniquity of Fathers upon the third and fourth Generation of them that Hate mee as in Exod. chap. 20. In N. 9. And all outward worship Selfe-will worshippers are bruitish wights they worship they know not what for all their babling and prating Act. 17. Joh. 4.22 Jeroboam and his Preists thought and taught that they worshiped the true God in his calves but God hath told us that hee worshiped Devils A Papist thinks hee worships Christ when hee kneeles before a golden silvery woodden stony or painted Crucifix But the spirit saith It is the worship of Devills 2 Chron. 11.25 Apoc. 9 20. In N. 10. Our Elohim Meditare ever more of Gods Attributes and properties as a helpe in Prayer and as a meanes to preserve faith and obedience and to prop us against all temptations to sin and when through Weaknesse overtaken by sin meditate on the same This will be a meanes to make us that we shall not conceale or hide our sins For by concealing we disgrace Gods Attributes and properties but by confession we give Glory to Jehovah the God of Israel that he sees us knows us that he is just if he judge and condemn us that he is holy and cannot abide iniquity that he is mighty and able to plague save and deliver And this is a gracious way to
145. c. And this Kingdome of Christ the second Adam is handled in 1 Cor. 15. Ebr. 2. Eph. 1.22 from Ps 8. Namely That the Son eternall should rule as the mediator of his Church till all things be restored but then his Kingdome shall be delivered up when the last enemies death Sathan are perfectly subdued and destroyed Then all the elect which have been called justified and adopted in Christ by the word of his kingdome by the work of his spirit shall be presented unto the father and all prophesying and all other new victory sweet helps of our edification in the body of Christ shall cease for then shall be the fullnesse Eph. 4.11.12.13 In Q 4. Heire of all David with great admiration doth handle this in Ps 8. He the second Adam upholds all by the word of his power and this he shewed in Noah when all beasts and Elements obeyed him at the flood and so at the destruction of Sodom Jehovah from Jehovah rained fire and brimstone Gen. 16. and so in the days of Joshuah 10.11 In like sort those noble and excellent descriptions of Christ his person and Office in the three fold Offices of Prophet Preist and King are wonderfull for all sorts of heavenly and terrible Doctrine in Psal 2. Psal 45. Psal 110. Esa 9. Dan. 7. Dan 9. Dan. 10. Daq 12. and that in Apot. 1. may well comprehend the summe of them all but all of them should first be minded as expounding Gen. 3.15 Eph. 1.22.23 Col. 1.14.15 the Epistle to the Ebr. all of it He is the blessed only potentate to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords 1 Tim 6. Apoc 19. Joh 3.35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hands wee must reverence the Heir and beleevingly obey him for Christ is appointed a Prince and a Saviour to give change of minde and forgivenesse of sins This was taught from the beginning that hee should be this horne of Salvation and of this Doctrine there have been prophets to declare it ever since the world began Luke 1.70 Act. 3.21 In Q. 4. From the day of mans fall All the time from the time of mans fall to the restoring of all things by the Messiah is called The World to come and it is subjected to the Messiah Ebr. 2.5 but the restitution of all things is first prophesied in Act. 3.21 In Q. and Answ 5. Satan brought man n. 1. Man was ever the object of Satans harred and as Christ was man of the seed of the deceived woman and appointed to combate with Sathan for mans Redemption so Christ was the object of Sathans most deadly hatred but such was the perfection of his obedience under his greatest enmity that hee spoiled principalities and powers even in his death on the crosse Col 2.15 and this comfort also belongs to all the persecuted Saints that this great Red Dragon is chained Apoc. 20. and shall shortly be utterly troden under our feet Rom. 16. In Q. 5. Christ the second Adam Christ destroyeth Sathans workes not only in us but from without us and this is â—n unchangeable truth in all those that are called according to Gods purpose Joh. 13.1 Christ is the restorer of all things in him wee have all things that appertaine to life and godlinesse he is the Corner stone that couples all the building and there is no other name under Heaven whereby we can be saved Act. 4 None but Christ as blessed Lambard said Him hath God the Father sealed Joh. 6.27 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to all the Israel of God and forgivenesse of sins And this is a sure rule from the beginning He that beleeveth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that beleeveth not the son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Joh. 3â—36 so then cursed was he that said Si illa illa colantur neque esse noxium si inter Gentilium aras Dei Ecclesiam quis transiens utraque vâ—nercâ—ur and little better are the Atheisticall moderators of our dayes 1631.1632.1633 1634.1635.1636.1637 In Q. 5. And Adoption And now little Children abide in him the second Adam that when he shall appear we may have boldnesse and not be ashamed before him at his coming 1 Joh. 2. By him wee have adoption Joh. 1.12 and his spirit doth enable us to cry Abba Father mark these scriptures Ebr. 4.14.15 16. Rom. 8.15 Eph. 2.18 Rom. 5.1 2. In Q 5. N. 11. Christ the second Adam Now Sathan the old Serpent spirituall weaknesses and the God of this world doth by Gods just judgement make war against us about super-celestiall things and wrastleth cunningly to hold us still in our most miserable estare of blindnesse imprisonment and bondage but by the power of the second Adam and by the word of his Grace we are set free and such as are blinde do receive their sight and by his grace we are made able to stand resist and overcome his Grace is in us and over us and the Apostle of the Gentiles salutes them all thus The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen Esa 42.6.7 Esa 49.9 Ephes 6.1 Ioh. 2 Rom 7. Esa 45. 24. In Q. 5. The life of holinesse In him was life and the life was the light of men Ioh 1. Ioh 8.12 The second Adam saith I am the light of the world he that followeth me shall not walke in darkenesse but shall have the light of life his Law restoreth the soule Psal 19 Ps 23. Ephes 2.1 Eph. 4.24 Col. 3.10.1 Coâ— 15.49 Esa 11 9.1 Ioh. 1. Ioh. 2 4. He is the true Shepherd and Bishop of our Soules In Q 5. N. 3. Christ the second Adam The appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ as it was promised hath brought life and immortality through the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. Marthas and our Lords conference was heavenly the shewes that she expected life and immortality through him Ioh. 11.21 and 1 Cor. 15.1 Thess 4. And Iohs faith for this point is worthy of all consideration Ioh 19. Ps 46.15 Ps 17.15 Sin reigns to death through the first Adam but grace reigns through Righteousnesse or freedome to eternall life through Christ the second Adam Râ—m 5. The comparisons of the first and second Adam are most sweet in Rom. 5. and 1 Cor. 15. Secondly Consider further how our Lord doth sustaine us in this our pilgrimage he is said to hold our soules in life in him wee live he is our life and the lenghth of our dayes he provides and gives meanes of life meat to eat and cloathes to put on he is our preserver in all places and at all times he speaks to diseases to come and to go and when hee pleaseth to withold his preservation wee languish and dye the Godly have the feeling and knowledge of all this they finde they have their life from Jesus as from
stamps of the later Hench prophesied of the destruction of the Apostates of the old world saying Behold the Lord cometh with thousands of his holy ones to give Iudgement upon all men and to rebuke all the ungodly among them of all their wicked deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their cruell speakings which wicked sinners have spoken against him Iudas Thaddaeus v. 14.15 St. Peter shews they were mockers 2 Pet. 3. and Job 21. and 22. sheweth how they despised the Gospell Thaddaeus and Peter by allusion shew the end of all false Teachers and their deceived that follow their pernicious wayes So when the state of Iudah became mockers judgement was at hand 2 Chron. 36. read Matth. 24. Luke 17. for the sins of the old world the fooles make a mock of sin Prov. 14.9 Be not mockers least your bonds encrease Scoffers shall eat the fruit of their owne wayes Esa 3. Prov. 3. Scoffers made a wonder of the Prophets and perished 2 Pet. 3.4 and so in after times Habbak 1.5 Act. 13.41 1 Pet 4.4.4 Esa 8.18 In Q. 11. Excommunicate He that hath the Censures of the church deservedly executed on him is in dreadfull condition little better then a fugitive or a vagabond but it was the great Anathema maranatha that was given Kain and his posterity as Henoch told them He commeth Kain did not love the Lord Jesus Christ and his holy doctrine Kain hated Habel because his own works were evill and his brothers good Such Kains were in after-times Es 38.20 and the Pharisees were such and so now all those are such that follow their doctrines of mens traditions and bodily exerecise c. Woe be to them that follow the wayes of Kain Thad 11. Woe be to the wicked it shall be ill with him c. Esa 3.11 Job 11.20 Pro. 14.32 In Q. 12. The Spirit of Christ Whereas Moses saith The spirit of Iehovah Gen. 6. Peter citing that story saith The spirit of Christ Gen 6. 1 Pet. 3.18.19 so for Jehovah in Exod. Levit. Numb Deut. Saint Paul saith Christ 1 Cor. 10. VVe must marke diligently such expositions of the scripture even from Christ himself Luke 24.45 This made the Apostle to say The holy scriptures will make us wise to salvation through the faith which is in Christ Iesus 2 Tim. 3. CHAP. III. Hath diverse Questions and Answers with Annotations How Redemption was taught from the Flood till the Promise to ABRAHAM And the Seed of SHEM is explained QUest 1. How and to whom was the Councill of God in Christ revealed after the Flood Answ The old Testament writes Shem the new Testament writes Sem Luke 3.36 To Shem the Son of Noah QUest 2 What is the Scripture Answ Gen. 9.26 Blessed be Jehovah the †God was not ashamed to be called the God of Shem for he had prepared him a Son after the flesh who after the spirit of holinesse is the son of God and God blessed for ever Rom. 1. 9. God of Sem and Chanaan shall be his Servant God perswade Japheth to dwell in the Tents of Sem and Chanaan shall be his servant QUest 3 What observe you out of this Text Answ I. He that was called the seed of the woman is now called the God of Sem. Christ Jesus our Lord came of Sem according to the flesh Luc. 3. II. That Jehovah Sems God was the only blessed and true God none like him nor any beside him Therefore the Religion of the God of Sem was A the true religion and for this cause in Israel Sems faithfull posterity it was graciously exclaimed that blessed are the people whose God is Jehovah Psal 33. and Psal 144. III. That unto this blessing in Sems tents Sems own families Japhets and Chams were to have regard IV. It is prophesied that when the Prerogative of Sems tents was out the other families of the sons of Noah should be perswaded to imbrace the faith and so be brought into equall covenant as it is sayd B That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body and joynt partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel Eph. 3.6 V It is the mighty work of the spirit to make a man know c to perswade the heart by beleeving to obey the mystery of Christ All the wisdome of the wise and prudent of this world is not sufficient till God draw teach and perswade us to the Kingdome of his son VI. Parents should in all fervency pray unto God for their posterity that they may be wrought upon and perswaded to obey the gospel and such faithfull prayers shall not be lost VII In Noahs story we may see the example of godly children that honour their Parents though they are old Prov. 10.12.23 14.9 11.12 13. 12.16 17.6 18.3 22.10 23.22 with all tendernesse caring for covering and pittying their infirmities and weaknesses Love covers a multitude of sins therefore Sem and Japheth had a most joyfull blessing pronounced on them the fruit of which themselves and their posterity did finde VIII That scorners of Gods truth and his servants though they have infirmities are cursed being the seed of the Serpent and hence also note wicked men procure much evill to their posterity both in their example and for Gods judgements IX As long as Sems godly house * Consider what God did for Salem and Sion while they knew him and advanced his name and religion in his Tabernacle Psal 76.1 2 3 4. held the faith of Christ sincere then Chams and Chanaans posterities were servants but when they walked contrary to Christ he in fury walked contrary to them So if wee hold Sems God to be our God and be constant in the faith of Sems Tents to which we were allured and perswaded by the Apostles and disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ the God and Son of Sem God will assuredly make that servant of servants and all that cursed policy of that mysticall Nimrod to be a †This is a point as evident as the clearest sun at noone that the subduing of ours and gods enemies is a benefit tyed to our constancy in true religion see the thankfull remembrance of D. Carlton p. 236. servant of servants * Marke this question the corruption of mans nature was so great after the apostacy of our first parents that they were under the power of satans darknesse unrecoverable in respect of man But presently the Lord God taught them the way of life to bring them back again to him their soveraigne good Gen. 3.15 and by holy prophets continued the same doctrine both before and after the Floud Gen. 26.5 18.19 the revelation of the second Adam is mans only comfort and all that receive him and beleeve in his name shall live John 1.12 Act. 26.18 QUest 4. Who kept the way and charge of Christ-Jehovah in his Commandements Statutes and Lawes the religion of Sems Tents after the
the incarnation and resurrection how it hath been followed or contemned from the beginning with plaine and civill carriage in Gods wayes and satanean in the contrary and how * the goodnesse and severity of God hath beene answerable This containeth * the summe And the story of four thousand years to Jerusalems fall by Rome hath no more And all should gladly hear of this all their life and see Christs bright face still to this summe The book of God is open and easie to be understood Prov. 8.9 Annotations upon the Questions and Answers of CHAPTER 3. Quest 3. N. 2. The true Religion If any should question what Religion Sem was of the Answer may be that he was Preist to Jehovah the most high God the maker and possessor of Heaven and Earth as also that it was the same to which the Sons of Japhet were perswaded by the blessing of tongues and by the ministry of the Sons of Sem Gen. 14. Act. 2. Apoc. 14.7 1 Thess 1.9 10. And so Sems blessing did containe the same faith that the blessing did which God gave to Abraham Gen. 12. Marke well the Doctrine to the seven Churches of Japhets house in all the Apocalyps and so in all the Epistles of the Apostle of the Gentiles and in the Epistles of the Apostles of the circumcision Again he was of the same Religion and holy faith of his Father Noah who inherited the righteousnesse that is by faith and who pronounced this â—lessing on Sem. Heb. 11. Quest 3. N. 4. That the Gentiles The greatest favour that God bestoweth on men in this world is to make them of his family true members of his Church Ezekiel remembreth this to the Apostate Prince of Tyâ—us chap. 28.13 14. The godly Jewes foreseeing the calling of the Gentiles by the promises and prophesies of Gen. 9. and 12. rejoyced in spirit that Christ should raigne over them Psal 67. and 97. 1 Rom. 15.12 Zach. 8. and 14.9 And the Gentiles seeing the performance were glad Act. 13.46 But for two thousand years Satan the strong man kept a large and great possession by metamorphosed Fables and Idolatries In Quest 3. N. 5. And to perswade Universall and free will to good in the state of unregeneracy is vain and vain glorious Doctrin Noah was not of this faith and the calling of the Families to the faith by the preaching of the Apostles argueth the falshood of such Tenents Observe the speech of Christ to the Apostle concerning his Ambassage Act. 26.18 not only illumination but a turning from the power of Satan in the will and affections is all done by the mighty worke of Christ in his own Ordinances The fashioning of the spirit is his prerogative Esa 11. Eph 1.19 20 21 2.1 2 3. c. and by his strengthning and preventing we stand to our dying day 1 Pet. 1.5 The spirit convinceth false opinions and teacheth the true doctrine Eph. 6.10.11 Rom. 7.8 Ezek 11.19 and 36.26 Phil. â— 13 That all iniquity may stop her mouth Thus it is sayd of all that have the Prerogative of Sons which are born not of blouds nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Joh. 1.12 13. The house of Japheth needed much perswasion and beseeching to imbrace the word of reconciliation They had excellent naturall parts as their writings shew which made them despise the gospell The Grecians sought after wisdome 1 Cor. 1. Therefore God gave them a son of Sem an Apostle of exquisite parts and learning that he demonstrated all their wisdome to be foolishnesse and cast downe their high imaginations by the invincible weapons of the spirituall warfare N. 8. Q. 3. That scorners Let inferiours beware of Satans deceits in causing them to slight yea in heart their superiours though for their sins and infirmities And let Superiours give no occasion but be sober grave temperate sound in the faith in charity in patience c. Tit. 2. But it is not for infirmities that the children of the wicked one hate the godly but for the image of Christ that shines in them for they can bear with the same sins in their own yet the wicked are glad and insult to see the holy image of Christ stained by any blot of the Saints and this by Gods just judgment is a stumbling block to the wicked to harden them in their sinfull courses N. 8. Procure much evill Cham is cursed to his youngest Son Chanaan Gen. 9. Exod. 20 5. Also it is observable how the wrath of Christ hath followed Chams posterity that the Negroes are slaves in diverse countries to this day even servants of servants Quest 5. And Nimrod King Abaddon may fiâ—ly be compared to Nimrod both infamous cut-throat hunters both intruders into other mens possessions both abhorred Christs Kingdome of Justice and Peace Gen. 10.9 11 12. 2 Thes 2. My Son fear the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change for their destruction shall rise suddenly Prov. 24. This is also notable as in Nimrod so in Korah in Absolom in Sheba Ben-Bichrio in the unlawfull Kingdome of Ephraim and in the whole policy of the man of Sinne See in all the transgression and the punishment and beware what did it prove madnesse of counsell in them to change Melchisedecks Kingdome for Nimrods Kingdome so it is to change the true Melchisedeck for King Abaddon so they abhorred Christ the Lord of glory for the unclean infidells the Caesars John 19.15 N. 8 Over them King One ornament of Kings may here be remembred which Sems story doth show which is the antiquity of a kingdome and the fatherly government thereof that before Tyranny sprang in was Mr. Bro Treatise of Melchiz N. 8. Justice and Peace A worthy example for Princes so to rule by just Lawes uncontrolable then they shall rule men willingly subject for they have from Christ honour and authority above their Brethren so to governe But none can well rule that cannot well obey the sceptor of Christs Kingdom Psal 45. It is hard when he that cannot order his own life shall be made the Judge of anothers for the Kingdome of Christ is in righteousnesse and peace and joy in the holy Ghost The apostate families felt none of this Princes and subjects that seek not so to order and to be ordered in their policies shall finde the power of Christ crossing their purposes and plaguing their dominions N 8. Of Sems owne The Church is not visibly glorious at all times of sixty seven families there was but one family that held the faith and the Hebrew tongue and that was the line of Christ of Sems house so Israel in Egypt revolted often in the book of Iudges and under Jeroboams kingdome after in Iudah and after the returne from captivity and under the Papacy and now after reformation will not Apostacy be againe when that the Son of man shall scant finde faith on the earth at his second coming
147.2 The Apostle saith the same Grace be to you and peace from God the father and from our Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world according to the Will of God which is our father to whom be glory for ever Amen Gal. 1.3 4.5 Eph. 1. 10. Abraham was gathered from the world and Christ hath and doth still gather and deliver us out of the world to be of his Israel John 11.52 so observe Iohn 17. Quest 7. Answ Abraham Isaac Iacob they to testifie their faith in the Promises of Christ built Altars in divers places and called on the name of the everlasing God And therefore observe the Apostle saith he served God with pure conscience from his forefathers in the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 1.1 2 3. and therefore the promises to the Fathers with the seal of circumcision were not carnal and fleshly as Mateologists wickedly prattle if they were carnal to them so they are to us for the promises and covenant belong to us as hath been laid from Acts 2.39 and chap. 3 25.26 Surely the faith of a good Christian is builded on Christ the Comer stone and on his religion practised of the godly Patriarks and on the blesse holy scriptures and hope in the resurrection all which by the work of the spirit doth make a man watchful to keep a good conscience in Church in Common-Weal by Land or Sea at home abroad in sâ—ops in labours c. see how all is taught in promise and seal He that is such an one shall look death in the face and needs not to be afraid before whom he comes nor needs be ashamed of the groundless criminations of schism heresie and blasphemy c. diligently ponder Acts 24 14 15 16. Quest 9. Ans A great apostasie for Israel in Egypt Read Ezek. 23.8 Israel with his family came as a pure virgin into Egypt and so continued all the dayes of Iacob and Ioseph while he lived held the whole house in life and faith but the Egyptians afterwards infected their poweritie with idolatry even in her youth lay they with this virgin Israel and bruised the breasts of her virginity and powred their whoredomes upon her False worship being a work of the flesh pleaseth and quickly insinuateth into our corrupt nature especially being conversant with idolaters Let all people beware of mystical Egyptians And let Common-weales Churches and families note that false worship and heresie increaseth and somenteth all projects of ungodlynesse and unrighteousness Ezek. 16.6 and 20. must also here be considered to the captivity both of Israel and Judah They were by apostasie rather of the Amoâ—ite and Heâ—hite then of Abraham and Sarah They were in the bloud of their false religion being foully corrupted with the idols of Egypt and so they were dead till Christ by his own law said unto them live So were we being under the bondage of Rome-Egypt until Christ by his everlasting Gospel made us to live Apoc. 14.6 20.4 5. And note as Terah his corrupt worship continued long in Israel so did that of Muzrajim i. e. Egypt Jos 24.14 Ezek. 23 8. Quest 10. Ans God was not ashamed But God will be ashamed of adulterers and adulteresses that follow superstitions lusts of the flesh lusts of the eyes and pride of life for such do and will deny Christ and be ashamed of him and his word and such cannot be pilgrimes and strangers and seek things celestial Iames 4. 1 Ichn 2. Mark 8. Col. 3.1 Ibid. To be called their God Christ saith I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob this is my memorial to all generations that is to all of their faith and heavenly conversation whether Jew or Gentile Exedus 3.6 15 16. Hebrews 11. Ibid. Heavenly City and Countrey The faithful to the fulness of time were in heaven and part of the blessed familie of the heavenly Father Ephe. 1.10 3.15 All the faithful in Israel were the adopted sons of the Eternal their God and if sons then heirs Rom. 8. so they were living and so they were dead Therefore the living might not sorrow as the heathens that had not certain knowledge of the joyful and glorious state of the immortal souls of the faithful nor any hope of the resurrection Luke 13.28 29. They might not cut themselves for the dead nor make any print or mark in the flesh Levit. 19.28 Dent. 14. 1 2 1 Thess 4 The loving kindeness of Iehovah is better than life because though life departs yet we be and live for ever in him Therefore it is said God is the God as of Abraham Isaac and Iacob and so of every true believer even when his body is dead and turned to dust and therefore Abraham must be held in spirit to be and live with God and shall have the resurrection of the body Luke 20.37.38 Matt. 22.24 Mark 12. The faithful enjoy the same inheritance and happiness with Abraham and this is one part of the blessedness in Christ promised to Abraham And Christ saith of Moses being dead Moses my servant is dead he was still the Servant of Christ though he went up to Mount Nebo and dyed and we know he doth live for he appeared when Christ was transfigure and death is one of the works of the divel which Christ was to dissolve Christ was promised from the beginning to destroy the works of Satan now called the old Serpent Acts 26. 6. Josh 1.2 1 John 3.8 Heb. 2.14 15. 2 Tim. 1.10 CHAP. V. With Questions Answers and Annotations on them How Redemption was taught From the Law of the Passeover to the building of the Temple QUest 1. Proceed to declare what Noble Pillar did Wisedome hew out to which the holy and golden Chaine of times is fastned by which life and salvation was taught to the Saints Answ This is the (a) Although they apostated to the idols of Egypt yet by the bloud of the Passeover God chose them again but again rejected them for their idols and vanity when Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us Passeover Exod. 12. QUest 2. How many yeares were from the Promise to Abraham to the Passeover or to the comming from Egypt or to the giving of the Law Answ Four hundred and thirty years QUest 3. How much of the Scripture is contained in those 430. years Answ From the beginning of the 12. of Genesis to the 12. of Exodus the book of Job and also part of the 1. 2. ch of 1 Chron. QUest 4. How doth the Passeover c. teach of Christ Answ Christ is called the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the World also our Passeover Mark what the Holy Ghost saith Heb. 11.28 (a) The Levites in Hezekiahs dayes taught the good knowledge of Jehovah that is Christ The Levites taught the meaning of the Passeover as Moses by
hyssop and he that sprinkleth the conscience for justification and sanctification as St. Peter taught the circumeision 1 Pet. 1.3 and St. Paul in the Epistle to them Heb. 9. and 10. So David confessed he was a Leper and unclean spiritually crying to God to be purgâ—d and cleansed as Lepers and other unclean were purified Levit. 14.6 Num. 19.18 By this we see they had knowledge what the Ceremonies meant and the Law was written in their hearts and so their mindes and on the Table of their heart Prov. 3.3 7.3 and none but God could so write it and this was from his covenant in Christ he being their God also this shewes they had expounded of the Law The Modern Jews could say and they had it from their ancient Elders and an excellent saying it is What Aaron did on earth Michael that is Christ did in heaven But yet they should go one point of faith further That every Sacrificer must be taken from among men to teach us to believe that the Son of God should take mans nature to end Moses and to be a sacrificer for ever Heb. 5.1 2. c. But they doubted and said Who can go up to heaven to bring Christ down to dwell in our Tabernacle and who can go to the deep of the earth to bring Christ frâ—m the dead They believed not JESUS to be Jehovah and by the Godhead to raise the manhood and that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself not counting their trespasses to them and that he made him to be a sin-offering for us who knew no sin that we might be made God the Fathers righteousness or justification pardon forgiveness freedome and atonement in Him Upon Psalm 143.1 Hear my prayer O Eternall As it was observed at the beginning that each comfort comes to us by way of free promise and covenant unthought of and undesired on our part so it is in this duty of prayer helped us in the duty and promised in the Mediatour to hear us Psalm 50.15 Gen. 46.1 Ephes 2.18 we could neither know what to pray nor had the face to look up to God But this through the work of the Spirit makes the saints them of the old Testament as well as we of the New as Ephes 2.18 19. weeboth to utter their Groans and sighes to the God of Covenant Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name he will give it you John 16. In all thy waies acknowledge him and he shall direct thy waies Prov. 3. By faith in Christ Habel drew near or came to God in assurance of acceptation Heb. 10 22. 11.4 A promise believed most lively stirreth up to prayer 2 Sam. 7.27 Dan. 9.1 2 3 c. Ezek. 36.37 Gen. 32.9 The unchangeableness of Gods counsels and the stability of the promises yea and the fruits of our Lord Christs death do not dispense from the duty of prayer yea they are wrought for our good by his ordinance Num. 16.46 47. Quest 3. and Answ The Spirits illumination The Spirit enlightneth the eyes of the understanding experimentally to know the mystery of God who is the Father and of Christ It convinceth of sin and uncleanness abaseth all our righteousness sheweth the fountain for washing of guilt and filth sealeth reconciliation in the assurance of justification and adoption frameth the foul a new Creature to humble filial and sincere obedience and invocation it recovereth from-salls and comforts in affliction and carrieth the heart aloft in praises and thanksgivings c. Quest 4. and Answ N. 1. From the first Adam By one man sin entred into the world in whom all men have sinned Rom. 5. Mark there the sweet comparisons of the first and second Adam Again that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit John 3. Every man is born an ignorant Ass-colt born an Atheist and Idolatour born of a false worship an hypocrite a blasphemer and a profaner of Gods Name and Worship forgetfull and unmindeful and slighting Gods sanctified time of Worship born with a stubborn spirit against the duties of all religions born a murderer an adulterer a thief a false accuser and slanderer a covetous uncontonted person In all things the thoughts of mans heart is evil from his youth Therefore the Spirit testifieth that wear all born dead in sin and children of Wrath by nature But alasse How dully do we thinke of these things Ibid. N. 1. Became a second Adam David looked to the Tabernacle God would rear not such a one as was made with hands but from the similitude of that which was on earth he looked to the heavenly thinge themselves Faith did evidence to him things not seen David saith to God in Christ reconciling the world to himself wash me So the Apostles shew this washing and cleansing as from him that is from the beginning but manifested to be a second Adam to be seen selt and handled even for this great mercy 1 John 1.7 Apoc. 1.5 Tit. 3.5 1 Pet. 1.2 Ibid. N. 2. repair the lapses and decayes The just man falleth scaven times a day but he riseth again God will uphold that he shall not fall finally and David prayed for upholding Psalm 37.24 51.12 Pro. 24 16 and God doth uphold us in all our temptations that there will be an issue out of them Psalm 73.23 1 Cor. 10.13 N. 3. wâ—harawing or with holdâ— How much more shall the bloud of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God Heb 9 14 10.22 1 John 〈◊〉 20 21. N. 4 According to the Law We most hence learn to undervalue our best abilities and to be humbled for our exactest performances Therefore Christ ordained sacrifice for the sins of their holy offerings Deut. 16. And that the High Priest should bear the iniquity of their holy things which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts Exod. 28.38 And the Saints were sensible of this confessing we are all unclean and that all our righteousness is as filthy raggs Esay 64.6 if the best man dare not justifie his actions his actions cannot justifie him the most regenerate doth not what he would and should Rom. 7. a godly man sees cause to hate somewhat he doth in his best actions The Law of Christ Exod. 20. is more spiritual than the best man If we condemn our selves we justifie the Law that it is holy just and good N. 5. That it consisted in transgression forgiveness By the grace of forgiveness we stand justified from sin or we stand being made free from sin the Law maker may forgive sin and so doth but yet in the Mediatour and so we may stand Then being justified by faith we have peace toward God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 5 1. This verse yea all the chapter is but an inference from the former doctrine in chap 3. of
satanical and Julian fancies that would not have Schools of Prophets Christ will curse such and their posterities Quest 7 and Answ blessed protection Upon their glorious faith was a defence and the last speech of Moses was made good through all their State while they hold their glory Deut. 33 26 c. That Scripture is full of heavenly joy to all Christian States that hold the faith of Christ sincere Esay 4. Where this glory is seated there shall be a defense Blessed hast thou been O England who is like unto thee O people saved by Jehovah from the â—eed of the Serpent sundry times but especially in eighty eight and in the Gan-powder plot and in 164â— c. Ibid. Written word The sweet blessed Scriptures are to make Kings and Common Weals wise and learned that the wrath of Christ burn not up their States and in special the books of Kings and Chronicles with the prophets of their times are for instruction to Christian Kings and polities in many things of State but chiefly to take heed how the true Church doth tamper with the false and apostate in treaties and affinitie Psalm 2. 2 King 22. 2 Chron. 34. 35. c. The holy Scriptures will yield more fundamental conclusions and sure rules for government then all the Machiavels in the world Quest 8. and Answ Aholah for their apostasie Our blessed gracious and merciful Lord God doth never cast off his people till they have first cast off and contemned his word for then idolatry will begin and all ungodliness and unrighteousness like a torrent will follow Then will God hisse for a flie and a Bee What Prince is able to keep a flie or a Bee from comming near his Court yea or into his Chambers and Excheqâ—ers God is as able to bring an enemie even of their lovers to enjoy and possesse them See the stories of Râ—choboam Ioram Ioash Amaziah c. 2 Chr. 12. 21. and 24. 25 And Pharoah with all his wisdome and multitude Ezek. 29. and 30. and 31 c 32 could not prevent Nebuchadnezzar from his spreading his royal Pavilion near his Court Gate Jer. 43.9 10. and who caused that the Babylonian Princes sate in the Gate of Ierusalem but the Lord Iehovah the God of recompenses Jer. 39. Esai 42.24 Esay 5.26 7.18 Pro. 13.13 Jer. 6. 7. 2 Kings 22.13 Ibid. N. 1. and gave them over to the lying Spirits Wo to them saith God when I depart from them then followed a secret dedication of them to devils transferring his right of them to idols Ephraim is joined to idols Let him alone Hos 4.17 Acts 7.47 1 King 22.23 Psal 81. Ezek 14.9 and so 2 Thess 2. Apoc. 16.13 1 Tim. 4. Ibid. N. 1. To walk in their own Counsels Ezek. 20.25 Psal 81. 2 Kings 17.8 Hos 10.6 13.1 Observe Mich. 6. ult Salomon fitted many Proverbs and told them the words of the wise do bear grace and that the words of the fools of the ten tribes and of Judah also would be foolishness and wicked madness to swallow them up Eccles 10. Behold still how Christ the Corners stone was rejected and became a stone of offence to both the houses of Israel as Esaias and David had told them Psalm 69.22 Esay 8.14 and 28.16 and so is ever to all that will not receive him in the way of his own ordinances and mark how these texts are pressed by our Lord and his Apostles in the Acts Evangelists and in the Epistle to Rome and 1 Pet. 2. and this is written for us Rom. 15. confer Esai 6.9 10. with John 12.40 Acts 28.26.27 c c. Ibid. N. 1. Could not live the life of a State c. Observe how the Holy Spirit compares the dead State of the ten tribes being in Apostasie with the apostasie of the families 2 Chron. 15.3 with Ephes 2.1 to 12. Dead from a Church life Hos 13.1 false worship breeds atheism and corruption in manners heresie frets like a gangreane and such Authours and fautours wax worse and worse The ten tribes were without the true God by their apostasie and so the heathens were atheoi atheists without God in the world and note that speech of Asa King of Judah was spoken of Israel before the idol Baâ—l was brought into Israel 2 Chron. 15.3 Ibid. 8. Quest and Answ N. 2. He did pour out his fury God was angry for the provocation of his sons and of his Daughters Deut. 32. Gods four sore judgements followed Aholah and Aholibah for their backslidings Ezek. 14. and the Earthquake in Amos 1. had in Israel its events Jeroboam the second his son was two and twenty years in getting his Fathers Throne such trouble in State all plagues and curses Levit. 26. Deut. 28. came on them not for breaking a Covenant of Works but for accounting Christ and his Kingdome Anathema They did as all apostates do loath his word they abhorred his Statutes they obeyed not the Son of God the Angel of Gods presence as Mediatour and so had not life John 3.35 36. they served not God in their spirits in the Gospel of his Son He that hath not the Son of God hath not the Father 1 John 5.12 2 John 9. and so come all plagues and curses on men Let the wilde Olive branches fear Ibid. Vpon them famine pestilence Famine and Pestilence are chiefly the Plagues of the meaner sort and the sword is the plague of the rich Ezek. 21.14 when the heavens dealt with the subjects Levit. 26. the Governours felt the other The spirit of Christ hath long and wonderful patience afore the sword cometh Lev. 16 23 24 25. then the sword doth avenge the quarrel of Gods covenant not a covenant of works but for despising the covenant in his Son against the godliness of high place who were and are the hinderers of all good and the promoters of all evil as it is said A great man grieveth all and he hireth the fool he hireth also the transgressors Prov. 26.10 Ibid. By secret corroding mischiefs Christ was as a Lion to tear in pieces by their domestick dissentions as in the overthrow of the houses of Jeroboam Baasa Omri Iehu c. and by forrein enemies and also he was as a Moth insensibly eating and consuming their riches honour and people by one ill project or other And for this read Hosea 5.12 Ibid. House of Assur They made Israel Iezâ—eel Loruchamah and Lo-ammi till the latter daies as Hebr. 1.1 But then they were gathered in Christ and pittied and again made Gods people The Apostles of the circumcision preached to them that were dispersed in Asia Galatia Pontus Bythinia Cappadocia and Chaldea c. 1 Per. 1.1 and chap. 2. all tribes then are called Iews Ephraim mixed himself with the heathens Religion therefore God mixed them among the heathen Ibid. Out of their own Land There nettles and thornes grew in their pleasant palaces then the thorne and thistle grew on their
be more studious and conversant in them than we are Our slightness will hinder much our consolation in sad houres read Ezek. 36 31 c. They must pray and did pray but the blood of the covenant brought them from Babel Zach. 9.11 Then shall ye call upon me and ye shall go and pray unto me and I will hearken unto you 13. And ye shall seek me and finde me when ye shall search for me with all your heart 14. And I will be found of you saith Jehovah and I will turn away your captivity I will gather you from all Nations and from all places whither I havedriven you saith Jehovah and I will bring you again unto the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive Pertinently it may be here remembred that the Son of God by his Spirit in the Prophet Esaias foretold above two hundred years how Cyrus King of Persia should conquer Babel send Judah home from captivity and give letters patents for re-edifying Jerusalem and the Temple Esay 44.24 Thus saith Jehovah thy Redeemer and he that formed thee from the womb I am Jehovah that maketh all things that stretcheth forth the heavens alone that spreadeth abroad the earth by my self 25. That frustrated the tokens of the lyars and maketh diviners madd that turneth wisemen backward and maketh their knowledge foolish 26. That confirmeth the word of his servant and performeth the counsel of his Messengers that saith to Jerusalem Thou shalt be inhabited and to the Cities of Judah ye shall be built and I will raise up the decayed places thereof 27. That saith to the deep be dry and I will dry up thy Rivers 28. That saith of Cyrus (b) Read more of Cyrus in Esay 45.1 2 3 4 13. whom God raised up by a strong hand to conguer Babel to return Israel home and to build the City Jerusalem He is my Shepheard and shall perform all my pleasure even saying to Jerusalem thou shalt be built and to the Temple thy foundation shall be laid This is the prophecy now follows the History 2 Chron 36.22 Now in the year of Cyrus (c) We must consider here that Cyrus Darius Dan 9.1 were fellows in goverment who joined their Forces against Babel as it is prophecied Esay 21. Go up against Babel O Elam besiege Babel O Media And marke here by conferring Dan. 9.25 Cyrus his proclamation is that going forth of the word of commandement of returning the people of building the Temple and city as when Daniel was in humble prayer then Cyrus was drawing his Letters Patents even at the same instant of time and the Angel Gabâ—iel is disparched from heaven with a joyful message to tell Daniel so Let us think of it upon humbling our selves surely some message is comming from heaven King of Persia that the word of Jehovah spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accompliâ—â—ed Jehovah stirred up the Spirit of Cyrus King of Persia that he made a proclamation throughout all his Kingdom and put it also in writing saying 23. Thus saith Cyrus King of Persia all the kingdomes of the earth hath Jehovah the God of Heaven given me and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem which is in Judah Who is there among you of all his people Jehovah his God be with him and let him go up QUest 2. What Collections do you take notice of in these Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets Answ For brevities sake I will name but few and those main principles out of the doctrine of Christ that Moses spake in Leviticus 1. Let this be observed of all that have their senses exercised in the word of righteousness to confer History with prophecy whether in promises and threatnings We shall see God to be Iehovah in all to be Being and to give being as to all his works so to his words whether they concern persons families Cities Churches or Kingdomes 2. VVhereas it is said that Iehovah spake to the Patriarks and to Moâ—es in all his five Books in most places we must conceive it spoken of the second person of the holy Trinity the Redeemer the Angel of the covenant to whom the heavenly Father hath committed all authority and power as Mediatour yea also this attribute of Jehovah throughout all the old Testament must be so understood some few places excepted wherein the first person or the third is also to be considered Examine this by Psalm 18.49 117. with Romans 15.9 10 11 Psalm 68.18 with Ephes 4.8 Psalm 97.7 with Heb. 1.6.1 Cor. 10 4.9 with Num. 21.6 Esa 6.9 10. with Iohn 12.41 Our Lords most heavenly speeches in the Apostle Johns Gospel will shew us the reason of all cha 5.17 and so forwards 3. Among all the corruptions from the first Adam that is in us note this that we hold Christ his Kingdom and Ordinances anathema this is expressed by Moses there is in us a contrariness to God (a) confer Lev. 26.15 with Zac. 11.8 These tearms abhorring loathing c. of the old Testament is in effect the same of the new the preaching of the Gospel to them savoured death unto death and so it doth in the daies of the New Testament Gods people must be diligent to mark phrases though different in words yet the same in force and value a despising his judgements abhorring loathing and hating him his word statutes and commandments mandements The New Testament speaks the same as the old when it saith the wisdom of the flesh causeth enmity against the Law of God by nature enemies in our minde by evil workers also haters of God fighters against God and such a stubborness is annexed that we are unreconcileable Much may be said of this in the sad effects thereof that men meeting with cross providences when his folly perverts his way his heart frets against Jehovah that is his breath and being and saying he is a hard master and that his waies are not equal yea alas what do the regenerate finde in themselves of murmuring fretting impatience distrust c. But the second Adam dissolves the works of the devil by his spirit in the administration of the Gospel of his Kingdom heals all in the elect Ezek. 36.25 26 27-37 Mich. 7.19 2 Cor. 5 11-15 chap. 10 4 5 6 c. 4. Whereas in Levit. 26. Moses saith from Christ sicknesses diseases sorrowes on the labours of our hands the teeth of wilde beasts pestilence famine sword captivity c. avenge the quarrel of his Covenant we must advisedly understand This is not meant of a covenant of works but the covenant of his Grace the lawes of which they have despised and abhorred and so in Deut. 5. 29 Jer. 34. all of it and many other places there is mention made of the covenant and it is but the renewing or dilating on that as is noted Exod. 24. which they violated For the whole covenant is Jehovah is our God in Christ and that we
and Leviticus for we must observe that the Son of God the holy Angle of Gods presonce repeateth diverse Laws that were formerly commanded in Exodus and Leviticus the holy Law with the exposition was first delivered in Exodus and Levitecus See Exod 10 21 22 23. and 24. chapters and that holy covenant was made in the bâ—ood of the covenant Exod. 24. as it is said Assemble my Saints together that have made a covanant with me by Sacrifice to walk in his holy Law and as the breach of it is charged on them Ps 50. So it is the same covenant that is made with the children in Deut. for as it is said Moses repeats the Law to them Deut 5 and makes large Expositions upon it and then renews the covenant even the same Covenant in Deut. 29. Note also that the same promises for obedience to the law of the Gospel and the same curses are spoken to the fathers as are repeated to the children Lev. 26. Deut. 28. Yea which must be well observed Numbers 20. Numb 20. to the end of that book and all Deut. is but the history of one year and Aharon died the fortieth year in in the fifth moneth Num. 33. and forwards may and must be called Deutera-nomie a second Law for all is spoken to the people of the second numbring all the Fathers being dead Consider Num. 28.2 also confer Exod. 19. with Deut. 76. and 14.1 and 26. And the covenant that Iosua made with Israel a little before his death is but the renewing of the former and saith Mr. Ainsworth in Deut. 29.1 Here the covenant is renewed between God and the people and it is the same in effect with the covenant made at Horeb Exod. 19. and 24. save that Christ who is the end of the legal covenant is here more clearly recalled and saith he on Exod. 20.2 here he especially intendeth the covenant of grace made with his people whereby they are blessed that have Jehovah for their God Psal 3â— 12 and Tremellius speaketh to the same effect and divers others might be cited to their sence Men man and will speak their pleasures but let us take heed we do not darken Gods counsels by our own words or by his words mis-interpreted CHAP. XXVII Short Collections out of Genesis Job and some part of Exodus shewing that the Gospell of the Son of God Mark 1.1 2 was manifested and taught among the faithfull before Moses wrote the same SECT 1. CHRIST the eternall word the light and life of men inspired holy Prophets in all ages to teach men his way and charge which consisted in Commandments Statutes and Laws from the apostasie of our first Parents to Israels coming from Egypt that is two thousand five hundred and thirteen years all which Laws were to bring men to feare and love Jehovah and to love the holy Seed their Brethren and to give no just occasion of offence to any no not to the seed of the Serpent Gen. 18.25 26.5 And that this holy faith and religion might abide and the fruit of it remaine Christ gave holy Prophets who were of long life and of great authority which were a great helpe to preserve the faith for those years and propagate the same by tradition to posterity till those commandments statutes and lawes were written And because many things before the Floud and after the Floud doe set forth the Law of faith rather by way of narration then by manifest precept though doubtlesse they were commanded even from the beginning I will breifly set down some particulars in which the Son of God reveiled himselfe even before Moses 1. The Holy faith for Doctrine was taught in that great and precious fundamentall promise coucerniâ—g the Son of God his person and office I will â—uâ— enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her sâ—â—d He shall break by head and thou shalt break his heal Gen. 3.15.2 We are to consider that this holy promise or covenant was opened by diverse providences and ordinances which the Saints most religiously observed that so they and their posterity might abide in the Doctrine of Christ and not transgreâ—se from it For they knew they that did not so had no communion with the holy Trinity but they that did abide in it had communion both with the Father and the Son SECT II. 1. TThey had Sacrifices to make profession of this holy faith of the son of God taking humanity of the Seed of the Woman to be the Mediatour and Procuratour of justification sanctification wisdome and redemption by his death and sacrifice and thus sacrifices ever taught of life coming by death Now we are to consider how this way and charge of Châ—ist was made known to Moses in commandments statutes and laws he wrote the very some that was formerly practised by the Saints Christ indeed commanded more laws to Moses because the church of God became into a great common-weal and kingdom Therefore hence observe that all ancient godly tradition is according to the written word 2. Moses is frequent in this They had Altars on which they sacrificed their offerings which made the sacrifices acceptable because it sanctified the offering signifying the in effable Divinity of the Son of God made man to uphold the humanity in that great work of our Redemption 3. So in Moses most sericusly the Sabbath is enjoyned likewise in the Prophets The holy Trinity Father Son and holy Spirit Jebovah Eloim appointed the Sabbath to be a signe between him and his people that in it they might meditate on the mighty Creation and gracious Redemption And it was to sanctify them unto himselfe and to sâ—perate them from all the prophane and so to be a means of holinesse in their persons soul body and spirit The Sabbath was made for man to meditate how the holy Trinity rested in Christs Redemption And the Subbath was kept before it was commanded in Exo. 20. for Moses speaks of it in Ex. 16. as being observed before and teacheth them there further the holy use of it as it was at the first enjoyned Exâ—d 16 23. but Israel in Egypt apostating from the faith and following the Idols of Egypt neglected the Sabbath very great ly as the word Remember in Exo. 20.8 doth argue and we see that where men care not for or do corrupt the holy Doctrine of faith that they either neglect the Christian Sabbath the Lords day or utterly cast it off Eze. 20. And 100 manifest miserable experience in our days of rejecting the fourth Commandment and its Doctrine as Papiâ—ts doe the second Commandment do witnesse Again further note all the Patrarchs entred into the Sabbaticall Rest from Gen. 1. to Moses times God did not rest but in Christ and the Sabbath taught that and the faithfull kept it but the Families most wickedly followd Nimrod Gen. 26.5 and would not be perswaded to embrace the faith of Seâ—â—s Tents which was the charge of
the concision mistook all and turned all to be their own idoll and vanity in their bodily exercise to be so justified from sins guildnesse and filthinesse 9 Questionlesse Moses polity was a Covenant of grace in Christ and not a bare covenant of works For all the ceremonies were implicite promises all sponsorious of a better hope in Christ and because they despised to beleive this God was a consuming fire to them though they were never so exact in bodily exercise Ebr. 12. examine well how the Apostle speaks the same speach to the Hebrewes as Moses did to them of his time Deut. 4.24 10. And whereas Saint Paul saith that the Law of the Passeover came four hundred thirty yeares after the promise Gen 12.2 3. He doth not speak it as his judgment that it was a new covenant or all the Laws following it to be a covenant of works but reasoneth against the false Apostles taking up their phrase a Law of Works for he knew and hath witnessed that Christ delivered to Moses the Law of faith Rom. 10. conferred with Deus 30. 11. And whereas the Apostle saith Rom. 10.5 For Moses describeth the justification that is by the Law that the man that doth these things shall live by them This speach he citeth as it may be supposed from the allegations of false teachers * There is a Law for the ransome of the Soul by half a Shekel of Silver and so this was a tradition even in the Apostles dayes The Jews dispersed sent Silver to the Temple for their Redemption but the Apostle calls it a vain tradition of their Abothenu not looking to Christ the end of all read Exod. 30. 12 13.1 Pet. 1. so did Papists in carrying the Hâ—st to sick mens houses c. that so interpreted all Moses to be of the outward letter to build their comfort on themselves by bodily exercise And in this doing they must not misle in any eternall point no or in ceremonials commanded because of the course Deut. 27.26 And suppose they could have fulfilled all externals yet they could not have eternall life as the reward thereof it is not any exteriors only that procures life eternall And in deed to all externalls was too heavy an Yoke as the councill sheweth Act. 15. 12 It is true the holy Apostle useth tho phrase as abovesaid Law of Works in diverse places I have often thought that the Apostle in reasoning and disputing with false Teachers useth their phrase not that Christ in Moses commanded a Law of works to attain eternall life ex opere opeâ—ato the * In those days Apostacy from the saith was great and Christ â—ame to revaine this deâ—ection Dan. 9. Teachers before our Lords incarnation invented this phrase to rupting all holy Doctrine a Law of wâ—rks as a Schooleterme of their own against the true intent of the Spirit of Christ They by their false interpretations and expositions made all Moses a Law of works to themselves Christ in Moses did not make it so for they are reproved for stumbling at Christ the drift aime and scope of the Law though they might be unrebukeable in exteriours 13. But one would think that speech in Leviticus 18.5 truly understood according to Christs intent was part of the Law of faith for that Text is pâ—osecuted in Nâ—h 9 29. but not as a Law of works for we may suppose that the godly did not in the day of their humiliation confesse their sins and the sins of their fathers for not doing the Law of works but for the disobedience * According to Exod. 23.20.21 22. and it is true also they despised Christ in not doing but casting off all the exteriors Christ commanded and when they did so they much lesse cared for internals Exod. 30.12 13. of faith to the Son of God our Mediatour that gave to Moses the lively Oracles of faith and Ezekiel ch 20.11 handles this Text of Leviticus to the like effect and that speech of Levit. 18. is among the Gospel Statutes and judgements 14. In one sense it might be truly called a Law of works as thus if an Israelite had touched any unclean thing he might not come to the Tabernacle in his legal uncleannesse that he died not by some sudden stroak as Nadab and Abâ—hu and so the Priests mast wash also that they died not c. c. These externals they might do though they cared not for heart-worship in the faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus and so have their bodily life continued but life eternal is only promised to them that look to Christ by faith as he was typified by Moses rites and so bodily exercise by doing the outward works of the Law did profit a little for a bodily life and for an outward justification in their persons in respect of liberty to come into the Sanctuary but not for eternal iustification in Gods fight 15. And in such exteriors the Apostle was exact but all his Justification by bodily exercise of the Law which he was mistaken in were most vile to him when he knew Christ as he saith Phil. 3 7 8 9. But the things which were vantage unto me the same I counted losse for Christs sake yea doubtlesse I think all things but losse for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have counted all things losse and do judgâ— alâ— things to be vile that I may win Christ and might be found in him not having mine own justification which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the justification which is of God the Father through saith in Christ So 2 Cor. 5.19.2 16. And therefore if Levi. 18. be understood as some would yet then God was a consuming fire to all though exact in externalls that despised Christ resting in the most exact bodily exercise then what life was that in Levit. 18â— 17. Whereas it is said Heb. 12. Ye are not come to the fiâ—rie mountain but are come to Mount-Sion c. If they of the Concision had seen the Son of God according to the Prophets Mark 1.1 as Mediatour it had been no fiâ—rie mountain to them to destroy them but if they saw him not in his Law he would be a consuming fire and persecuting Saul would have found him to be so for all his Law justifications but he was received to mercy being in his unbelief of the Son of God 18. Mount Sion and Ierusalem in Canaan was a city of bondage an Hagar and a fierie mountain after the ending of the Seventy Sevens Dan. 9. they not giving diligent heed to the holy Angel Gabâ—iels message but perversely swerved from it But Ierusalem was not a city of bondage in Davids and in Salomons times but it was an holy City and a faithfull Town yea it was so for the most part to be accounted till the ending of the Seventy Sevens but not any longer they doing cleaving to and resting in Salems
for they were bound to observe the whole Law that is all that the Priesthood of Levi taught them and so Christ is of no effect for if they thought by the Law ceremoniall or morall ex opere operato to be justified Christ would be of no comfort to them by this Tenent they denied the grace of free justification by Christ mind also Gal. 4 9 10. 5. Let it be considered from this time forward concerning this point of justification whether it be not better to use the terms and phrases setteth free freeth and freedome for seeing our godly learned do so translate in some places we may have Christian liberty so to render and interpret the Noun and the Verb of the Greek in other places if it may be done with rationall understanding according to the analogie of faith 6. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself not imputing their trespasses unto them The Apostle saith to Philemon If Onesimus oweth thee ought compute count or reckon it to mine account The word I suppose is the same a meraphor from debts in books therefore may it not better be said for clearing doctrine not counting not computing not reckoning their trespasses unto them in the words impute compute count or reckon is not much difference so the point be cleared to our understanding 7. Our sins are called debts which we cannot justifie or free our selves from nor pay or satisfie for by all the means that we can use as from our selves and we are naturally so vile that we care not to be reconciled and therefore naturally we care not for the word of reconciliation but are enemies to God and have a very ill opinion of God because of love to our sinfull appetites and because of the soulnesse of offenses which the conscience doth accuse us of 8. But our mercifull God heavenly Father determined a way from all eternity to reconcile us to himself by sending his dear son a second Adam to take humanity and in humanity to give himself to death for us a sacrifice offering of a sweet smelling savour and for this sacrifice of his beloved son he doth not count he doth not reckon our debts and trespasses to us but doth pardon them doth forgive them doth justifie us that is doth free us from the guilt and * In all these speeches it is not to be understood temporally although by the blood of the Covenant we are comforted in all conditions Zach 9.11 but chiefly stil to be under stood of eternal freedome redemption and salvation Dan. 9.24 Adoption is the fruit of redemption Gal. 4. punishment of them and this he doth to all that by the word of reconciliation are by the mighty work of the Spirit perlwaded to embrace by faith Christ Jesus the Mediatour sent down from heaven from the Father to be our Prophet Priest and King and they that so receive Christ and believe in him shall have this dignity to be called Gods adopted children in Christ and by this most glorious Grace of adoption in the Sonne of God beleevers are stated into a most joyfull capacity of being heirs to the inheritance of the Saints in light for that the spirit of God doth by the same word of reconciliation regenerate them or cause them to be borne again not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God to serve God in their spirits in the Gospel of his Son and so to be meet persons for that inheritance This was the sum of the Apostles message in his ambassage to the Gentiles 9. God the Father doth justifie for Christs sake as the first person for he is the first cause in order of the persons the father is the first efficient 2. The Lord Jesus Christ doth justifie us as the meritorious cause and so he is the second efficient this maketh the Apostle often to say Grace be with you and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ the son of the Father 2 John 3. and the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the son doth regenerate us and qualifie us with the grace of faith as the condition of applying the said justification and doth seal to our hearts God the Fathers justification from the sons redemption 10. Dicaiosune is the effect of dicaiontai Acts 13.39 justification or setteth free and freedome differ as the form and applying of the form to the subject Dicaioumenoi c. is the act of God the Father upon or to a believing soul freeing him from the guilt and punishment of sin for the merit of Christs sacrifice also dicaiosune is that freedome that God the Father bestowed upon the repenting and believing Apostle Paul Phil. 3. So dicaiosune is the effect of dicaioumenoi and diacontai the freedome that a godly soul finds in himself from God that justifieth or setteth free and the holy Ghost by the word of * The holy spirit dothregenerate by the word John 3. Ephes 5. Tit. 3. and by this new birth saith and all other graces are manifested reconciliation doth work faith which doth ovidence that soul to be the subject of that freedome as Gal. 2. and although every godly man hath not as himself apprehends that Plerosoria yet he knows his heart is reconciled to God to love the Lord and his wayes and doth rest on the Promises of God in Christ for salvation and onely by him 11. This I suppose may be thus illustrated a Kings son that is obedient to all his fathers commands hath a promise that for such and such performances he shall obtain his favour for any Traytor that he shall please to intercede for thereupon he doth by the vertue of his Fathers promise and his performance intercede the Kings dicaiosis justification of the said Traitor and the King doth justifie that is doth pardon setteth him free from the guilt of his sin and punishment provided he will repent and accept the said pardon and therefore that he may be the subject of the said pardon he doth repent believe it and accept it and so comes out of prison and when he hath this pardon and freedome under seal granted him he may truly say here is my dicaiosune Justification freedome and pardon from my guiltinesses and punishment due for them he will not say nor cannot say the personall righteousnesse honesty and obedience of the Kings sonne is reckoned to him for his righteousnesse but this is all his righteousnesse and it is enough even pardon and freedome from his offence and the desert of it and received into favour this it a compleat attonement and reconciliation through the Kings sons intercession the offender is not onely pardoned but also is restored to his former yea to a greater honour and favour with the King and what can he desire more for the comfort of a subject From all which the Delinquent if he have any ingenuity will shew much love both to the King and his son
argue to them the birth of some noble and famous light even that Star of Iacob that should * Num. 24 â—id wonderfully expounded in 2 Cor. 10 4.5 unwall all the sons of Seth that was now come into the world and whither shotld they direct their journey and steer their course but thither the star guided them and that was to Iudea It should seem by the good hand of God that Daniel * As the Apostâ—e Paul did in Caesars Court Phil. 1.13 and 4.22 celebrating the cause of Christ by the angels seventy sevens at the City Susan where was the Royall Palace of the Kings of Persia Let these godl Authors be consulted with about those things Mr. Rollock Du Plessis Beroald Mr. Bro. Mr. wolphius and many others there were some that did expect continually the compleating of the seventy Sevens of which this celebrious Comet appearing gave them an undoubted hint For we are not to doubt but the seventy Sevens was a glorious Prophesie to lighten all the East And the Evangelist Luke ch 3.1 2 3. doth shew that he bringing in the Emperours annals into the Churches stories and John Elias Ministery to settle the stories of the times do make a sweet concent of all these things But to make things yet more plain it is said Luke 19. That the Nation of the Jews did expect * This scripture was spoken but few daies before our Lords death and resurrection the Kingdome of heaven should immediately appear according to the Prophesies of Dan. 2. and 7. and 9. no Prophesy shewed the time as Daniel and all falls our fit'ly according to the worlds expectation especially the Church of God 1. Mr. P. objecteth in page 52. If the restauration of the city Dan. 9.25 is of the materiall Jerusalem after Nebuchadnezzars captivity it must begin the first of Cyrus from which time seventy weeks of years will fully expire long before the birth of Christ Answ It is most true the seventy Sevens do begin at Cyrus first year of the reign of his monarchy In this Mr. P. saith true but to say they end long before the birth of Christ is a most manifest untruth for it is said they end at his confirmation of the Testament for the Many by his sufferings and death in the last Seven He must be born the Son of man before he could suffer death to redeem the sons of men I will stir no more in this for it is too too bad and that which hath been said will I hope make this assertion to vanish I am perswaded all the godly Churches in christendome hold MES-SIAS Yea Papists vide Cornelius a Lapide he hath many excellent passages on Dan. 9. but yet none but what the learned and godly reformed have and had yea more compleatly before him in Gabriels message to be the Son of God our Redeemer Scotland Heydelberg Geneva so doth and our dear native countrey by divers learned Expositers and in our Bible notes I think above eighty years since it is said In this last week of the seventy shall Christ come and preach and suffer death And a little after speaking of Christ confirming the covenant the note saith by preaching of the Gospel he confirmed his promise first to the Jews and after to the Gentiles And that Christ by his death and resurrection caused sacrifice and oblation to cease Are not we to mourn and lament that our ministers should thus deal to take us off from holding to the Messias the Rock of salvation as it was taught to Daniel by the holy Angel from heaven The Angel spake matter of salvation plain and fortified by Scripture and it is fortified also by learned Expositions recoived in all Orthodox churches but by Mr. P. is added much impertinent and false matter I will briefly recapitulate some things and let the people of God study the holy Scriptures and judge 1. The angel continueth the holy chronicle to the death of Christ Vide Mr. Bro. Advertis pag. Mr. P. breaketh it off altogether concerning that 2. The Angel nameth the Redeemer of the world Messias Mr. P. doth utterly deny that and will have Zisca the Bohemian to be his Messias 3. The Angell saith Messias shall confirm the convenant for many that is for the elect of all Nations both Jews and Gentiles Mr. P. telleth us of a covenant that Antichrist shall make with his antichristians and their favourites page 62. and 63. 4. The Angel prescribed for our Lord his preaching three years and an half and that is the compasse of the Evangelist Marks Gospel and of the Evangelist Iohn as it hath been noted by old and later writers by four Paschata's that is by four Passeovers which he kept after his Baptisme to his last Supper which proveth that publick administration of his office to be three years and an half or the half seven See Dr. Lightfoots harmony All this Mr. P. disgraceth 5. The Angel taught how long Ierusalem should be an holy City for use of sacrifice and how long Israel onely should be Cods holy people and peculiar treasure namely from the time of Daniels prayer seventy Sevens were exactly accounted for his people and the holy City But Mr. P. taketh from the Church which God hath gathered from the Gentiles these meditations c. c 6. Some ancient principall Rabbines confesse that by Messias Christ the Redemer is meant Mr. Bro. on Dani. Christians that dare put forth books to deny this against the honour of Christian name should think that here they do not well and Christians should loath such Treatises even as the godly converted did their books at Ephesus and account them and make them anathema as the Prophesies of Achab and Zedekias Much more might be said of Mr. P. Expositions of Dan 9. and of all his book It is said by the great Rabâ—oni the Lord Christ We be to the world because of offences and Mr. P. must yea he will lay it to heart yea it is marvell that the godly Teachers of new England did not question him for it in some of their Synods they have not convented a Synod for a greater matter than the agitation which that Book called for and I hope some godly and more learned men will consider of that book especially about Dan. 9. and by the fire of sound judgement consume it as hay stubble and rotten wood and Gods day shall declare it that that work is worthy of no better an end 1 Col. 3. CHAP. XLIX A Conclusion of the point of Chronologie 1. IT hath been observed that the holy Spirit of endlesse wisdome and foresight hath perfectly made up the holy Chronologie of the old Testament and that the seventy Sevens doth that by ending the Chain of Jubilees and all the ceremonies in the death of Messias 2. The first coming of Christ was most needfull to be known for the assured comfort of Jew and Gentile Little did Mr. P. consider the
Iohn 15.26 I will send the Comforter to you from the Father for our Covenant and Contract was so from eternity that in case I did perform the conditions of the Mediators Office I should have a joynt hand with my Father in the sending of the holy Spirit 10. He is called the Spirit of his mouth namely the Spirit of Iehovah Father and Son Psaâ— 33 6. 11. He is called the Finger of God in Luke 11.20 by which the humane nature of Christ did his Miracles 12. He is called the power of God Luke 1.35 The Angel said unto Mary The holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the most High shall over-shadow thee namely as it did over-shadow the confused Chaos in the Creation as Mr. â—rap speaketh 13. Peter calls the Holy Ghost God in Act. 53 4. These and such like blessed Attributes of the third person in Trinity are sufficient to convince any Iew Turk or Arrian that the holy Spirit is true God except such as God hath given up to the Spirit of slumber and to the hardnesse of their own hearts to perish in their own impenitency CHAP. LVII Of the Attributes of the Holy Ghost in relation to its opperations and effects in the various manner of his working 1. AS the Spirit of Aelohim in the beginning did move upon the face of the waters to the producing of the visible Creation Gen 1.1 so it moved also upon the water of Gods word to Adam and so to all the elect for the producing of the spirituall Creation For except a man be born of Water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Iohn 3.5 And there are three that beare witnesse in the earth the spirit and the water and the blood and these three agree in one 1 Iohn 5.8 And so Moses Doctrine is compared to raine in Deut. 32.1 and so Tit. 3 5. 2. Saith God in Gen. 6.3 My Spirit shall not alwaies strive with man for that he is but flesh Hence take notice of the Spirits working or striving with men that are given to the flesh it doth often strive along time with such but if after some time they will not hearken then God saith it shall not alwaies strive but it shall at last give them up to their own hearts lusts to perish in their sins Noah â—a a preacher of righteousnesse to the old world for a hundred and twenty yeares and this long time the Apostle calls the long suffering of God 1 Pet. 3.19.20 2 Pet. 2.5 3. It is said in 1 Pet. 3.18 That Christ was quickned by the Spirit by which he went and preached to the Spirits that now are in prison that were disobedient in the daies of Noe hence two things are observable 1. That Christ was called Iehovah in Gen 6 3. 2. That the Spâ—rit by which Naah preached to the disobedient world is here called by Peter The Spirit of Christ 4. In Esa 6.10 They rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit which did strive with them for their conversion by the preaching of his Prophets Therefore was he turned to be their enemy and he fought against them as he threatned to do if they did not obey his voice Exod. 23.21 and he did also fulfill it in Psal 78.40 c. and 1 Thes 5.19 5. God saith thus to his Elect I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and yee shall keep my Judgments and do them Ezek. 36.27 This is the operation of Gods Spirit in the Elect at one time or other while they attend upon him in his Ordinances for the walking in his Statutes and the keeping or doing of his Judgments doth imply the obedience of faith to all his statutes in their spirituall sense and meaning as in Ezek. 11.19 20. and Ezek. 36.27 and in Rom 2.26 Yea the Spirit doth by its operations work upon baptized Infants that belong to Gods Election by vertue of the Covenant which is the word of promise for their Regeneration and knitting to Christ if they dye before they come to knowledge by the outward hearing of the word as Esa 59 21. 6. It is said in Esa 11.2 That the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon the root that shall proceed out of the stem of Jesse and the Prophet doth repeat some heads of those endowments of the Spirit whereby the humane nature of the Messias should be furnished But the said heads are expressed in such large and copious words that it implies he should be furnished with the whole Spirit and with all the gifts and graces of that Spirit and from thence it is said in Reve 1.4 that he hath the seven Spirits of God that is to say the whole Spirit and all the graces of the Spirit and this Endowment of his is often repeated as in Revel 3 1. Revel 4.5 and Revel 5 6. 7. It is said in 1 Cor. 1â— 4 That there are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit And in verse 8. to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdome and to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit And in verse 13. by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body 8. It is said because yee are sonnes God hath sent forth the Spirit of his son into your hearts which hath this operation it inables you to cry Abba father Gal. 4.6 and in this Text the holy Trinity is also expressed 9. Sundry operations are ascribed to the Spirit in Rom. 8. 1. in verse 5. They that are after the spirit do mind the things of the spirit 2. In verse 6. The wisdome of the spirit is life and peace 3. In verse 11. If the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you c. he shall also quicken your mortall bodies by his spirit 4. In verse 13. If ye mortifie the deeds of the flesh by the spirit ye shall live 5. In verse 14. As many as are led by the spirit are the sâ—ns of God 6. In verse 15. Ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby ye cry Abba Father 7. In verse 16. The same spirit beareth witnesse with our spirit that we are the children of God 8. In verse 26. The spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what to pray as we ought but the spirit it self maketh request for us with fight and groans that cannot be expressed 9. In verse 27. The spirit maketh request for the Saints according to the will of God These sundry operations of the Spirit are expressed in this eigth chapter 10. Sundry operations of the spirit are in Gal. 5. 1. In verse 16. Walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flâ—sh 2. In verse 17. For the Spirit lusteth against the flesh 3. In verse 18. If ye be led by the spirit ye are not under the law 4. In verse 12. The fruit of the spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse saith meeknesse