Paul a more capable receiver of Mercy than he should have been if he had maliciously sinned against Knowledge 14. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 14. And this Mercy which called me hath poured out on me by the Holy Ghost an abundant measure of Faith in Christ and love to him and his which carrieth me on in his Work with Zeal and unwearied diligence 15. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief 15. This is the Great Article of our Christian Faith which we may trust to and of great comfort to us all and worthy of our thankful acceptation That Christ came into the World to save Sinners which I that am one of the chief must therefore predicate with chiefest Thanks 16. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting 16. But it pleased God to shew mercy to me so great a Sinner to magnifie his Grace and encourage all Sinners against Despair that in me Christ might exemplarily shew his gracious Patience and Forbearance and confirm all Sinners in the hope of Everlasting Life who after shall believe and be converted 17. Now unto the King eternal immortal invisible the onely wise God be honour and glory for ever and ever Amen 17. The sense of this unspeakable Mercy calleth up my Soul and should do all to speak with joy the Praises of our God who is Eternal Immortal Invisible the onely God absolutely Wise over Angels and all Creatures To him be honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen 18. This charge I commit unto thee son Timothy according to the prophecies which went before on thee that thou by them mightest war a good warfare 19. Holding faith and a good conscience 18. Note 1. By Charge is meant holding Faith and a good Conscience and keeping the Doctrine committed to him by Paul as a faithful Minister and Soldier of Christ against all Opposition 2. It seems some particular Prophecy such as Agaâ—us had of Paul and many then had had foretold that Timothy should be a faithful Minister 19. Which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwrack 20. Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander whom I have delivered unto Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme 19 20. Which some have cast away and lost the Christian Faith Such are Hymeneus and Alexander whom I have delivered to Satan as Gods Executioner of some Bodily Punishment to see whether Correction will convince them of their Blasphemy Note 1. What their Blasphemy was is after shewn 2 Tim. 2.17 4.14 2. That Satan is oft Gods Executioner in Correction and Destruction is certain and that such is the Delivery here meant for want of Christian Magistrates But it was none of Satans desire but Gods hereby to teach them not to blaspheme CHAP. II. 1. I Exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men 1. As I have oft said That Charity is the End and Sum of Religion I exhort that this may be sincerely manifested in your Religious Worship and that you heartily pray for all sorts of Men that God would save them from Sin and Misery and give them Grace and Mercy and be thankful for their Welfare as if it were your own 2. For kings and for all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty 2. For Kings and for all that are in Preeminence or Superiority that they may so govern that we may be protected in the quiet serving of God in Godliness and decent Conversation with Men without Reproach and Persecution Note 1. That the Character of the Rulers that we are to pray for is not onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 jus râ—gendi Right but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Preeminence Pray for him that hath the right of Governing as far as you can know it But submit to him that hath setled Possession so far as it wrongeth not anothers Right and so far pray for such that we may live a quiet and peaceable Life in all Godliness and Honesty 3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour 4. Who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth 3 4. For this is agreeable to the great Mercy manifested in Mans Redemption by Jesus Christ who by his Death and Covenant of Grace and Preaching hath shewed us how willing he is that all Men should be saved and come to the knowledge of his Gospel Note 1. That while we obediently pray as God commandeth us we may confidently expect Gods acceptance 2. An extensive Charity rendreth us like Christ 3. It is not onely all sorts of men that Christ would have to be saved but he willeth the Salvation of all Men in general so far as to make a Sacrifice sufficient for all if all will believe and to make an Act of Oblivion or general Pardon and Gift of Life to all on Condition of Acceptance and to send his Messengers promiscuously to all with the Word of Reconciliation to beseech them to be reconciled to God What Christ giveth to all he willeth and purchased for all But he giveth to all a Pardon and Right to Life on Condition of Acceptance Therefore he is so far willing of their Salvation 5. For there is one God and one mediatour between God and men the man Christ Jesus 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time 5 6. For it must move us to pray for all in compliance with this Will of God that would have all Men saved because there is One God who is good to all and One Mediatour between God and Mankind who took on him the Common Nature of all Men and gave himself a Ransom for all revealed in the Season appointed of God or to be preached to all in due time as God pleaseth Note The Controversie about Universal Redemption too hotly agitated by Beza Piscater and others on one side and by many on the other I have fully handled in my Catholick Theologie and Methodus Theologiae and it needs no more than as aforesaid 1. Whoever is damned it is not because no Ransom was made for him or because it was not sufficient for him 2. By Gods Will to save all is meant the Effects of his Will that have a tendency to their Salvation 3. It is notorious that God hath made an Universal Act of Grace or Oblivion giving Pardon of all Sin and Right to Life in Christ to all Men without exception on Condition of Believing-acceptance and hath commissioned his Ministers to offer this Gift to all Men to the utmost of their power and entreat them to
Educate your Children and to keep them from tempting Company and snares To cry out of dumb or unfaithful Ministers while you are worse at home your selves is but self-condemnation Are Mâ—nâ—stâ—rs more obliged to care for your Childrens Souls by Nature or by Vow and Covenant than you are Can they do that for whole Parishes which you will not do for for one Houshold or your own Children The first Charge and part is yours If Families treacherously neglect their part and then look that all should be done at the Church you may as wisely send Boys to the Universities before they are taught to Read or Write in lower Schools If there be any hope of the amendment of a Wicked Miserable distracted World it must be mostly done by Family-Religion and the Christian Education of youth Godliness is profitable to all things but the Curse of God is in the house of the wicked And the ungodly betrayers of Souls of themselves Children and Servants will very quickly be Summoned to a terrible account Especially those that should as Rulers be Exemplary to the vulgar and are ashamed to own serious Family-Religion as if all beyond some formal Hypocrisie and lip labour were a dishonour to their houses or a needless thing These helps which I offer them that need it is that when they Read the New Testament daily in their Houses they may not read all the Paraphrase to their Families but such particulars of Exposition and Doctrinal Notes as they find most suitable to their case And I think it will not be unuseful to the Younger and Weaker sort of Ministers and the Poor ones that cannot buy larger Commentaries And if Rich Men will give their Tenants and Neighbours such Books as are suitable to the instruction of Families and the People will diligently use them it may do much to keep up saving Knowledge and Practice where the publick Ministry faileth most The God of Mercy Teach Foolish Men to have Mercy on their Families and themselves The Farewel Ne vacua sit pagina TIme and Work end Blest Souls are gone before Consumed Lights may serve to kindle more The dead can speak God can his Lamps restore The Winds that blow them out will quickly cease Hâ—gh Pride rough Passion God can soon appease TRUTH LOVE and CONCORD raise with great increase The WISE PURE PEACEABLE for this hee 'l chuse PROUD-WOLDLINGS RAGING-FOOLS he will refuse And Snuffers not Extinguishers will use Yet Satan will not cease Tares will be sown RULERS and GUIDES hee 'l strive to make his own By STORMS and SCANDALS some will be o'rethrown Diotrephes must Rule Judas be Rich The Ignorant will err young Ears will itch The blind will lead the blind into the Ditch Lord convert Saul Check Jewish rage And Sects which sad Church-Wars do wage Let LIGHT and LOVE PROUD WRATH asswage But those blest Souls who dwell with thee Better things see And better be Than Adam or the Golden Age. ERRATA Reader I cannot gather all the Errata These few I note for thy correction INtrod p. 1. l. 23. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. c. 19. v. 19. Par. for ninth r. tenth and for If r. self Luk. for c. 7. r. 4. Joh. c. 5. v. 5. Par. foâ—â—8 r. 50. c. 6. v. 38. Par. l. 11. r. that the l. 12. for or r. of v. 40. Par. l. 1. r. one wâ—â—â— by c. 17. v. 5. Par. l. 12. add The Divine nature uniting c. v. 9. Par. l. 12. put out of c. 18. v. 1. r. the bâ—ook c. 1â— v. 34. Par. put out since Act. 8. v. 22. Par. r. Prayer of a c. 17. contents r. contemn Rom. 13. Annot. l. 3â— for â—haâ— shall r. 10 c. 47. r. noâ—isie 1. Tim. c. 6. Annot. l. 5. r. bad bin better l. 7. for answering r. 〈◊〉 Rev. c. 19. v. 10. Par. l. 6. put out we v. 17. Par. l. 6. r. is the ib. for fable is r. fables l. 10. for â—r of Advertisem p. 1. l. 27. r. purposed p. 3. l. ult for in r. is p. 5. l. 35. for her's r. her p. 6. l. 24. r. say p. 9. l. 41. r. Terret l. 42. â— let him p. 13. l. 35. r. Infelicity The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ THO it be not known when or by whom all the Books of the New Testament were gathered and made up into one nor when or by whom this Title was set before them and tho for a time some Churches received not the Epistle to the Hebrews nor that of James the 2 of Peter the 2. and 3. of John that of Jude or the Revelation Yet it hath never the less satisfactory evidence of its Truth for this uncertainty and delay I. For As long as we know it is all the word of the Spirit of God it satisfieth our Faith whether all be bound up in one Book or in many And John the Apostle living long after all the rest it is more than probable that none were received in his time but by his approbation and consent and even in the daies of the Apostles they gave Testimony to the Writings of one another so Peter doth of Pauls and Jude transcribeth much of 2 Peter 2. telling us that even inspired Apostles disdained not to use and repeat each others Writings without any guilt of vain repetition or being plagiaries II. And that the few books doubted of by some were commonly afterwards received tends more to the confirming than the shaking of our belief of their Authority certainty after doubt is the most confirmed certainty It must needs be some time before all the Churches to whom the several Epistles were written could produce and Communicate them by convincing proof to all the rest And yet we must know that the Epistles to particular Churches were sent to them as to members of the Church Universal and they were obliged to communicate them to others so that we must not take them as private Letters III. Whoever first gave this title to the whole Book The New Testament or Covenant c. it 's of no great moment to know It was The New Testament before it was so entitled as one Volume But the Church hath by continual owning this Title shewed that they have received all these Books as Gods word and the whole New Testament and that no more are to be received as such The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of which Grotius in his preface hath spoken at large signifieth indeed Gods statute Law concerning Mans Duty and Salvation or Gods constituted and proposed terms of Life And tho 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more strictly signifie usually a Mutual Covenant this doth but imply the consent of Man to the Law or terms of God It is the same thing that is called a Law and a Covenant in several respects As God enacts it and promulgated it before mans Consent it is a Law and a conditional deed of Gift and Testament and an offered Covenant in several respects
into a strong mans house and spoil his goods except he first bind the strong man and then he will spoil his house 29. How could I cast out Satan from his possession and destroy his works if I did not overcome him 30. He that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad 30. So far am I from working by the Devil that I take him for mine enemy that doth not serve me in my opposition to his Kingdom and will judge him as one that is for Satan N. In War men use to say of their own Soldiers He that is not for us is against us and to be counted an enemy But of the Countreymen and the enemies quarters He that is not against us is for us that is If he do us no harm he doth us good and let us use him kindly So Christ saith of profest Christians If they be not effectually for me I will judge them as treacherous and against me and shall not save them But of those without the Church he saith He that is not against us is for us that is tho he be not himself in a state of Salvation as true Christians are yet its commendable to do us no harm and the Church is assisted by such fair and moderate unbelievers 31. Wherefore I say to you All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven to men 32. And whoever speaketh a word against the Son of man it shall be forgiven him but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world nor in the world to come 31 32. All other sin and blasphemy against me as I appear in my humane nature hath some excuse and may be cured and so be pardoned But seeing the Great works of the Holy Ghost done by me and to be done by my Disciples in Miracles and Sanctification are the greatest evidences that God will give the world to convince them of the truth of my Gospel he that is convinced of the fact that all these Miracles and this holiness is wrought and will yet deny it to be Gods attestation and blasphemously stand to it that its the work of the Devil this man rejecteth the greatest evidence and shall have no greater and so his infidelity is incurable and aggravated with blasphemy and obstinacy and will never be repented of nor forgiven Note This blaspheming the Holy Ghost 1. Is the sin of none but resolved Infidels 2. And such of them only as are convinced of the great works of the Holy Ghost miraculous and others 3. And yet rather than they will believe in Christ by this Divine testimony will believe and say that it is by the Devil and Conjuration that all this is done See my Treat of the Blasphemy of the Holy Ghost in my Book called The unreasonableness of Infidelity 33. Either make the tree good and his fruit good or else make the tree corrupt and his fruit corrupt for the tree is known by his fruits 33. Judge of the tree by the fruit Of the power which I work by by the works If it be no good work to heal the Sick and Blind and Lame and cast out Devils and preach repentance and forgiveness of sin to convert and save Souls then God is not the Author of them If they be bad works they have a bad cause If they be good works they have a good Author either say plainly you that ascribe them to the Devil that the works are good and the Devil is good or else that the Devil is bad and the works are bad Or if you confess the works to be good confess that they are done by the Spirit of God 34. O generation of vipers how can ye being evil speak good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh 34. I need go no farther for an instance than your selves were you not a generation of Vipers the Serpents seed ye would not blaspheme the Holy Ghost and his works for your mouths speak out of the evil of which your heart is full As you are so you speak you are so bad that you cannot speak well And if I work'd by the Devil my works would be bad as the Devil is 35. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things 35. Good men are such first at the heart where goodness is a setled habit and nature and out of this treasure they bring forth good words and deeds And a bad man being such at the heart doth speak and do accordingly Note Tho hypocrites may have words and deeds much better than their hearts that is but in some by instances and not in the tenor of their lives Fictions are narrow and soon overcome 36. But I say to you That every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment 36. And think not lightly of you belying and blaspheming the Holy Ghost for I tell you that for every Lye you shall give account in the day of judgment and be condemned if you be not proved penitent believers N. In the Hebrews use Idle and Vain were taken for deceitful false or lying 37. For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned 37. For tho thou must be made and accounted by God a just man by thy inward change and thy forgiveness in order before thy words or works yet supposing that thou survive God who hath made a Law for thy words and works will judge thee by that Law as justified and rewardable or as unjust and punishable in the day of Judgment Christ hath not made us lawless nor made us a Law of Grace in vain No man shall be saved that is not justifiable against the accusation that he lived and died an impenitent ungodly man any more than if he had died an infidel 38. Then certain of the Scribes and of the Pharisees answered saying Master we would see a sign from thee 38. We would see some certain sign from Heaven that indeed God doth own thee thy word 39. But he answered and said to them An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of the prophet Jonas 40. For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whales belly so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth 39 40. A false hearted people that will not be convinced by miracles but ascribe them to the Devil yet would have a sign from Heaven of their own chusing But God will not gratifie their insolent demand They shall have no sign but that of Jonas who was a Type of me lying in the Whales belly three days and nights as I shall
lawful for thee to have her 5. And when he would have put him to death he feared the multitude because they counted him as a prophet 3 4 5. N. 1. Faithful Prophets did tell Kings of their sin 2. But such as Herod cannot bear reproof 3. The persecution of faithful Teachers is usually for telling great men of their sins 4. The multitude then did so much reverence prophets that they were a terrour and restraint to persecuting Rulers 6. But when Herods birth day was kept the daughter of Herodias danc'd before them and pleased Herod 7. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she would ask 8. And she being before instructed of her mother said Give me here John Baptists head in a charger 6 7 8. N. Great mens feasts and frolicks are a usual season of great sin and carnal pleasures are their snares 2. Rash Oaths are the fruit of vice and the seed of more 3. Voluptuous wantons are oft the most cruel and bloudy persecutors 4. The Devil seldom wanteth suggestors of cruelty 9. And the king was sorry nevertheless for the oaths sake and them which sate with him he commanded it to be given her 9. N. Wicked men oft sin with troubled conscience but yet will do it for their base ends 2. Hypocrites that dare murder the just yet may make the Conscience of a wicked Oath their pretence How conscionably then should bad Oaths be avoided and good ones kept 3. The reputation of mâ—n in bad company is a usual snare of iniquity 10 11 12. And he sent and beheaded John in prison And his head was brought in a charger and given to the damsel and she brought it to her mother And his disciples came and took up the body and buryed it and went and told Jesus 10 11 12. Note The Bloud of Saints is vile and cheap to Tyrants that can sell them to a Whore or wanton But they shall pay dear for it at the last 2. So great a Prophet as John must be a Martyr that he may be like to Christ 3. It s as true Martyrdom to suffer for Duty as for Faith 4. The bloud of Saints is part of the sport and pleasure of lascivious wicked women 13. When Jesus heard of it he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart and when the people had heard thereof they followed him on foot out of the cities 13. Note 1. The Lord of Life that came in flesh to save the world was fain to fly for his life into a wilderness from the face of men yea of the eminent members of the Jewish Church 2. It is not cowardize or unlawfull to fly from persecutors till we have some special call to suffer 14. And Jesus went forth and saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion towards them and he healed their sick 14. Note Those that follow Christ and seek to him are liker to find his compassion than those that drive him away 15. And when it was evening his disciples came to him saying This is a desert place and the time is now past send the multitude away that they may go into the villages and buy themselves victuals 16. But Jesus said to them They need not depart give ye them to eat 17. And they say to him We have here but five loaves and two fishes 18. He said Bring them hither to me 19. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass and took the five loaves and two fishes and looking up to heaven he blessed and brake and gave the loaves to his disciples and the disciples to the multitude 15 c. Note 1. Christ fed the Body to win the Soul and so must we 2. Nothing is too little which God will bless 3. Tho God be every where yet Christ directeth us in Prayer to him to look up to Heaven for there is the Glory in which he will appear to glorifie his people 4. If the Son of God must look up to heaven and bless his food surely we must not take it like brutes without craving Gods blessing on it 20. And they did all eat and were filled and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full 21. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men besides women and children 20 21. Note 1. This Miracle was done before five thousand Witnesses and more that there might be no suspicion of deceit or misreport 2. He that was Lord of all and could feed by Miracle yet would not have the fragments lost 22. And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship and to go before him unto the other side while he sent the multitudes away 23. And when he had sent the multitude away he went up into a mountain apart to pray 22 23. Note Christ used to pray alone because his case so differed from all mens in the world having no sin c. that the same prayers would not suit the case of others which were fit for him 24. And when the evening was come he was there alone But the ship was now in the midst of the sea tossed with waves for the wind was contrary 25. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out unto them walking on the sea 24 25. Note 1. Christ permits dangers to us that he may the more notably deliver us 2. The waters can bear him when he will walk on them All elements are at his service 26. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were troubled saying it is a spirit and they cried out for fear 26. Note Nature maketh man afraid of apparitions of Spirits because unknown and unusual 27. But straightway Jesus spake to them saying Be of good cheer it is I be not afraid 27. Note Christs true Disciples should be so far from being afraid of him as hurtfull to them that they should make him their comfort and courage against the fears of men and devils 28. And Peter answered him and said Lord if it be thou bid me come unto thee upon the water 28. N. This shewed much faith in Peter yet none must tempt God nor go unbidden into danger 29. And he said Come And when Peter was come down out of the ship he walked on the water to go to Jesus 30. And when he saw the wind boisterous he was afraid and beginning to sink he cried saying Lord save me 31. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him and said to him O thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt 29 c. Note 1. Even strong faith hath its weakness and is liable to fears 2. Our weak faith causing great fear would expose us to sinking did not Christ lay hold on us 32. And when they were come into the ship the wind ceased 33. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him saying Of a truth thou art the Son of God 32 33. N. Renewed great convictionâ— renew and increase
Suffering in which we must be prepared to follow him 48. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign saying Whomsoever I shall kiss that same is he hold him fast 49. And forth with he came to Jesus and said Hail master and kissed him 50. And Jesus said to him Friend wherefore art thou come Then came they and laid hands on Jesus and took him 48 c. Note 1. Hypocrites cruelty is exercised under the name of Friendship How many Thousand Persecute Christ in his cause and Servants on pretences of Faith Religion Order and Enmity to Sin 2. It s a pitiful sight to see poor ignorant People in obedience to Rulers Persecuting Christ to their own Destruction as if it were he and his servants that were their dangerous Enemies 51. And behold one of them which were with Jeâ—us stretched out his hand and drew his sword and stroke a servant of the high priests and smote off his ear 51. Natural inclination to defence and Love to Christ overcame Peters consideration and patience 52. Then said Jesus to him Put up again thy sword into his place for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword 52. Put up thy Sword and let us patiently submit to Violence For as none must use the Sword without just Warrant and Authority so usually they that fight for themselves are destroyed and suffer more than they that patiently endure Violence and Injustice Note Christ doth not in these words make all self-defence or War unlawful but he doth more than forbid unwarrantable Fighting meaning that not onely unlawful resistance of Power and Revenge but even wars and fighting against injuries and Enemies usuaâ—â—â— hasten Death and increase Mens Sufferings And therefore they should forethink whether War or Patience be like to do more hurt 53. Thinkest thou that I cannot nâ—â— pray to my father and he shall presenâ—â—y give me more than twelve legions of angels 53. Note 1. Angels are ready to serve Christ at his desire 2. It should stop our impatient thoughts of rash and unlawful self-defence to think that God can otherwise deliver us 54. But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be 54. N. We must not strive against Events which we foreknow will come to pass 55. In the same hour said Jesus to the multitude Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves to take me I sate daily with you teaching in the temple and ye laid no hold on me 55. Why did you not take me in the Temple but thus in the Night like a Thief 56. But all this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled Then all the disciples forsook him and fled 56. All this was foretold in Scripture They let his Disciples go and they fled away in fear 57. And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest where the scribes and the elders were assembled 58. But Peter followed him afar oft unto the high priests palace and went in and sate with the servants to see the end 57. They brought him to their Arch-priest as glorying in their success And Peter went in where the Servants sate 59. Now the chief priests and elders and all the councel sought false witness against Jesus to put him to death 60. But found none yea though many false witnesses came yet found they none At the last came two false witnesses 61. And said This fellow said I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days 59. c. N. 1. As Hypocrites in Religion are worse than Pagans in that they father their wickedness on God and Religion so Hypocrite-Judges and Lawyers are herein worse than lawless Murderers that they abuse and disgrace Law and Government by using them to inâ—ustice and bloodshed 2. No man is so good or innocent that false Witness may not Condemn 62. And the high priest arose and said â—â—â—o him Answerest thou nothing What 〈◊〉 which these witness against thee â—3 〈…〉 hâ—ld his peace 6â— 6â— N. Christ was silent to shew 1. That he was not over solicitous for his Life 2. When Malignant false Judges are resolved what to do against Innocence and Right it is oft in vain to talk it out with them And they watcht for words of his own to Accuse him of 63. And the high priest answered and said unto him I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ the Son of God 63. N. 1. Once for all take notice that answering was then among the Jews a common Phrase for speaking in course though no question was askt 2. It was the Malignant Policie of that Arch-priest to make Christ his own Accuser and Witness when they could get no other For they knew that he that bound his Disciples to confess him would not refuse to confess himself when adjured by God though he was silent as to his Defence against Personal Accusations And so it is with Christs Enemies to this day who put Christians that dare neither lie nor conceale necessary truth upon self-Accusation As they could find nothing against Daniel except about the Law of his God which he durst not break to save his Life so do the Devils Officers take advantage of good Mens Consciences to destroy them 64. Jesus saith to him Thou hast said nevertheless I say unto you Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven 64. I am he and though I stand here to be judged by you your Eyes shall see me coming in Glory and in Power to Judge you and all the World or as some say To Destroy you by the Romans 65.66 Then the high priest rent his cloathes saying He hath spoken blasphemy what further need have we of witnesses behold now ye have heard his blasphemy What think ye They answered and said He is guilty of death 65.66 Then the High Priest had that which he desired and by rending his Cloathes shewed his Abhorrence of the supposed Sin of Christ and demanded the Sentence of the Court against him as a Blasphemer And they Voted him for it guilty of Death Note 1. How foolish a thing is it to think that any Law or any mans Innocency or Goodness will preserve Justice or Piety while bad men are Judges Can any Law be better than Gods Or any Person better than Christ The Devils Judges possessing the place that God instituted to defend Truth and Equity will condemn God himself manifest in Flesh by his own Law and as sinning against himself And they are since the same 2. The very Murderers of Christ would seem greater enemies to Blasphemy and more zealous for Gods Honour than God himself So little are False Men to be believed 67. Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him and others smote him with the palmes of their hands 68. Saying prophecy to
here in thy countrey 23. As a Physician must first heal himself so do thou do thy Miracles here among thy Kindred and Neighbours 24. And he said Verily I say unto you No prophet is accepted in his own countrey 24. God can cause him to be accepted but as he worketh ordinarily by means familiarity breeds contempt 25. But I tell you of a truth many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias when the heaven was shut up three years and six months when great famine was thoroughout all the land 26. But unto none of them was Elias sent save unto Sarepta a city of Sidon unto a woman that was a widow 27. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elizeus the prophet and none of them was cleansed saving Naaman the Syrian 25 26 27. Prophets cure not all that are diseased You shall not see Miracles nor be saved for being my Neighbours if you be not Believers And familiarity and prejudice maketh fewer of you believe than of others 28. And all they in the synagogue when they heard these things were filled with wrath 29. And rose up and thrust him out of the city and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built that they might cast him down headlong 28 29. Note They that applauded his Preaching when the Application grated on them would have killed him even the Nazarite Neighbours that hated him not heretofore 30. But he passing thorow the mids of them went his way 31. And came down to Capernaum a city of Galilee and taught them on the sabbath-days 32. And they were astonished at his doctrine for his word was with power 30 31 32. By Miracle unhurt 33. And in the synagogue there was a man which had a spirit of an unclean devil and cried out with a loud voice 34. Saying Let us alone what have we to do with thee thou Jesus of Nazareth art thou come to destroy us I know thee who thou art the holy One of God 33 34. Christ's Power over Devils forced this confession 35. And Jesus rebuked him saying Hold thy peace and come out of him And when the devil had thrown him in the mids he came out of him and hurt him not 36. And they were all amazed and spake among themselves saying What a word is this for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits and they come out 37. And the same of him went out into every place of the countrey round about 35 36 37 Christ specially cured the diseases that the Devils caused to shew that he came to conquer Satan and save men from his power 38. And he arose out of the synagogue and entred into Simons house and Simons wives mother was taken with a great fever and they besought him for her 39. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever and it left her And immediately she arose and ministred unto them 38 39. Note We have still the same Physician 40. Now when the sun was setting all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him and he laid his hands on every one of them healed them 41. And devils also came out of many crying out and saying Thou art Christ the Son of God And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak for they knew that he was Christ 40 41. Experience made them believe that he could heal them 42. And when it was day he departed and went into a desert place and the people sought him and came unto him and stayed him that he should not depart from them 43. And he said unto them I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also for therefore am I sent 42 43. Note Preaching the Gospel was his great business to the belief of which his Miracles were but means subservient CHAP. V. 1. ANd it came to pass that as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God he stood by the lake of Genesareth 2. And saw two ships standing by the lake but the fishermen were gone out of them and were washing their nets 3. And he entred into one of the ships which was Simons and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land and he sat down and taught the people out of the ship 1 2 3. That he might not be crowded 4. Now when he had left speaking he said unto Simon Lanch out into the deep and let down your netts for a draught 5. And Simon answering said unto him Master we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net 6. And when they had this done they enclosed a great multitude of fishes and their net brake 7. And they beckoned unto their partners which were in the other ship that they should come and help them And they came and filled both the ships so that they began to sink 4 5 6 7. Note The Sea and Earth and all therein are at Christ's command 8. When Simon Peter saw it he fell down at Jesus knees saying Depart from mo for I am a sinful man O Lord. 9. For he was astonished and all that were with him at the draught of fishes which they had taken 10. And so was also James and John the sons of Zebedee which were partners with Simon And Jesus said unto Simon Fear not from henceforth thou shalt catch men 8 9 10. Note The miracle and danger made him afraid 11. And when they had brought their ships to land they forsook all and followed him 11. Note It was not only by his bare Command Follow me but by this Miracle that they were moved 12. And it came to pass when he was in a certain city behold a man full of leprosie who seeing Jesus fell on his face and besought him saying Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean 13. And he put forth his hand and touched him saying I will be thou clean And immediately the leprosie departed from him 14. And he charged him to tell no man but go and shew thy self to the priest and offer for thy clensing according as Moses commanded for a testimony unto them 12 13.14 Note A Miracle that the Priests themselves were to have notice of See Matth. 8. 15. But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him and great multitudes came together to hear and to be healed by him of their infirmities 16. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness and prayed 17. And it came to pass on a certain day as he was teaching that there were pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by which were come out of every town of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and the power of the Lord was present to heal them 18. And behold men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsie and they sought means to bring him in and to lay him before him 19. And when they could not find by what way they might
never heard his voice nor saw his appearance nor understand or belive his Word Else you would believe on me that am sent by him 39. Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they that testify of me 39. You own the authority of Moses and the Prophets and look to have eternal Life by keeping their word search their Writings and you will find that they testifie of me 40. And ye will not come to me that ye might have life 40. And though they tell you that it is in and by me that this Life must be attained ye will not believe in me and come to me that you may attain it 41 42. I receive not honour from Men But I know you that ye have not the love of God in you 41 42. It is not the applause of men that I seek for but your own Salvation But I know for all your boasting of being the peculiar people of God you are indeed no true lovers and obeyers of God 43. I am come in my Fathers Name and ye receive me not If another shall come in his own name him will ye receive 43. I come with testimony from Heaven of the mission and approbation of my Father and this prevaileth not against your prejudice to believe me But when a deceiver shall come with ostentation without any evidence from God and shall promise you a temporal Kingdom you will take him for the Messiah 44. How can ye believe who receive honour one of another and seek not the honour which cometh from God only 44. How can you receive the Messiah sent from God who do not seek and trust to Gods approbation and his way of saving you but must have a worldly Kingdom and be saved and advanced after the manner of worldly men and look for a Saviour suited to such ends 45. Do not think that I accuse you to my Father There is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom ye trust 46. For had ye believed Moses ye would have believed me for he wrote of me 47. But if ye believe not his writings how shall ye believe my words 45 46 47. I say not all this as if I come to be your accuser to my Father Even Moses in whom you trust will accuse you had you understood and believed the Prophesies and Types of Moses ye would have believed me For it is me that they all speak of and point you to But if you will not be convinced by his Writings whom you glory in no wonder if you reject my words CHAP. VI. 1. AFter these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee which is the Sea of Tiberias 2. And a great multitude followed him because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased 1 2. N. The first motives that draw men toward Christ are usually such as nature it self is somewhat capable to esteem and judge of such as Miracles are 3. And Jesus went up into a Mountain and there he sat with his Disciples 4. And the Passover a Feast of the Jews was nigh 5. When Jesus then lift up his eyes and saw a great company come unto him he saith to Philip whence shall we buy bread that these may eat 6. And this he said to prove him for he himself knew what he would do 3. c. N. Christs relief of Bodies was in love to Boâ—ies and Souls 2. Christs questions were to instruct the hearers and not himself 7. Philip answered him two hundred penny worth of bread is not sufficient for them that every one may take a little 7. N. Philips sense of the difficulty was a preparation to the value of the Miracle 8. One of the Disciples Andrew Simon Peters Brother saith to him 9. There is a Lad here which hath five Barley Loaves and two small Fishes but what are they among so many 8 9. N. It was not delicious fare but Barley Bread and two Fishes that Christ used a Miracle about 10. And Jesus said make the Men sit down Now there was much Grass in the place so the Men sat down in number about five thousand 11. And Jesus took the Loaves and when he had given thanks he distributed to the Disciples and the Disciples to them that were set down and likewise of the Fishes as much as they would 10 11. N. If Christ would not distribute Barley Bread and that Miraculously till he had given thanks not deterred by the suspicioâ—s of a Riot or Conventicle sure we should imitate him in our ordinary repast and eat and drink to the glory of God in a holy thankfulness for his liberallity When they were filled he said to his Disciples gather up the fragments that remain that nothing be lost 13. Therefore they gathered them together and filled twelve Baskets with the fragments of the five barly loaves which remained over and above to them that had eaten 12 13. N. To loose any of our useful food is a sin against God Where there is the greatest plenty no fragments should be lost while the poor do need it How much less should we lose Gods word or helps or our time or any such greater mercies 14. Then those men when they had seen the Miracle which Jesus did said This is of a Truth that Prophet which should come into the World 14 N. A Miracle done upon five thousand at once made a common Conviction of them that Christ was the Messiah or a great Prophet 15. When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force and make him a King he departed again into a Mountain himself alone 15. N. When they would have made a Captain and visible Monarch of him he shunned it and avoided them 16. And when Even was now come his Disciples went down unto the Sea 17. And entred into a Ship and went over the Sea towards Capernaum And it was now dark and Jesus was not come to them 18. And the Sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew 19. So when they had rowed about twenty five or thirty furlongs they see Jesus walking on the Sea and drawing nigh to the Ship and they were afraid 20. And he saith to them It is I be not afraid 16 c. N. This Miracle shewed Christ to be above nature 21. Then they willingly received him into the Ship and immediately the Ship was at the land whither they went 21. N. They might well be glad to receive him that could rule Sea and Land 22. The day following when the People which stood on the other side of the Sea saw that there was none other boat there save that one whereinto his Disciples were entred and that Jesus went not with his Disciples into the boat but that his Disciples were gone away alone 23. Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the Place where they did eat bread after that the Lord had given thanks 24. When the people therefore saw that Jesus
had not come with sufficient evidence it had not been their sin not to believe me to be the Christ But now their unbelief and Persecution hath no pretence 23. He that hateth me hateth my Father also 23. The hatred that is against me is consequently against God my Father it being his Word Works and Witness which they reject 24. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did they had not had sin but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father 24. They had not been bound to believe me to be the Christ if I had not shewed Gods Attestation such works as no man else can do or if any one had done the like Note Yet it is a false inference of the Infidels that therefore none are bound to take him for the Christ where he never came and did such works For History may as infallibly transmit the notice of his Works as Sight and Hearing could receive them 25. But this cometh to pass that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their Law They hated me without a cause 25. But the Word written in Psal 3.19 which in a large sense is part of their Law is thus fulfilled 26. But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of truth which procedeth from the Father he shall testifie of me 26. But when the Holy Ghost my Advocate and your Comforter is sent down upon you whom after my Resurrection I will send to you for his Eminent signal Gifts from the Father even that Holy Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall be my great Prevailing Witness both to you and by you to the World and shall cause belief 27. And ye also shall bear witness because ye have been with me from the beginning 27. And you on whom this Spirit shall come down shall by his operation be made my effectual Witnesses of what I have said and done and suffered because you have been with me as Eye and Ear Witnesses from the beginning of my publick Ministration CHAP. XVI THese things have I spoken unto you that ye should not be offended 2. They shall put you out of the Synagogues yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service 1 2. I foretell you what you must expect that when it cometh you may not be scandalized and turned back They shall cast you out by Excommunication of their Sacred and Civil Assemblys as a reproach yea they that kill you shall do it as an acceptable offering or service to God Note How little do the Religious pretenses of Persecutors deserve regard 3. And these things wilâ— they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me 3. Did they know the Father and me they would do otherwise wilful Ignorance is the cause 4. But these things have I told you that when the time shall come ye may remember that I told you of them And these things I said not unto you at the beginning because I was with you 4. Remember I foretold you all this which I said not from the beginning because I was with you to incourage you and your time of trial was not come and at first you could not so well bear it 5. But now I go my way to him that sent me and none of you asketh me whither goest thou 6. But because I have said these things unto you sorrow hath filled your heart 5 6. But now I am going to him that sent me and though it be on your business and for your interest you ask me not whither and for what I go But sorrow oppresseth you to hear of my departure 7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth It is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you 7. Believe it my departure is for your benefit For the Holy Ghost whom I will then send will be better to you than my bodily presence on Earth 8. And when he is come he will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment 9. Of sin because they believe not on me 10. Of righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more 11. Of judgement because the prince of this world is judged 8 9 10 11. And it will be his work effectually to plead my cause And first to convince the World of their sin in accusing rejecting and murdering me in whom they should have believed which he will do by his Gifts Miracles and inward Operations And Secondly to convince them of the Truth and Righteousness of my Person and Doctrine and my Right to be the Head of the Church and the Righteousness of my Government of it Because I go into Heaven to take fuller Possession of my Plenipotency and Administration and by my Spirit in you and on the Hearers shall more effectually convince Men and gather my Church than I did while I was with you And Thirdly He shall convince them that God hath Exalted me to the Power of Conquering Satan and his Kingdom and punishing Rebellious Adversaries when they shall see that by my Spirit the Kingdom of Satan falleth and the Powers that served him are partly Converted and partly confounded and destroyed 12. I have yet many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now 12. I have many things more to make known to you which you are not yet prepared to receive 13. Howbeit when he the Spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth for he shall not speake of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speake and he will shew you things to come 13. But when the Holy Spirit of Truth is come upon you he will make you capable and will guide you into all Truth which you must Preach and Record for the Propagating and ordering my Church Preaching to the Gentiles laying by the Mosaick Law c. For he shall speak but that which is of God and things to come and which you are not yet fit to receive 14. He shall glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you 14. It is this Extraordinary gift of the Holy Ghost which shall be my great convincing Witness in the World that shall prove me to be the Saviour For it is from me that he is sent and my Word that he shall Teach you whether it be Remembring or Expounding what I have already spoken or Teaching you more by Inspiration What he saith and doth in and by you my chosen Apostles that I do by him and you 15. All things that the Father hath are mine therefore said I that he shall take of mine and shall shew it unto you 15. I say he shall take of mine For the wisdom Grace and Gifts that come from the Father come from me that which
you free 30.31 I cannot take you for my disciples unless your Faith be rooted so as to persevere and proceed to learn what yet you have not learned And if ye do this you shall know more of that truth that will save you and deliver you from the greatest of your bondage 33. They answered him We be Abrahams seed and were never in bondage to any man how sayest thou Ye shall be made free 33. Some present answered him we be Abrahams seed and though the Romans master us we are no mens slaves What then is the freedom which thou dost promise us 34. Jesus answered them Verily verily I say unto you whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin 35. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever but the Son abideth ever 36. If the Son therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeed 34 35.36 Can you boast of your freedom who by your sinful practice shew that you are the servants of sin and by it are liable to the judgment of God as slaves are to stripes And if you have thus enslaved your selves to sin and to Gods judgments he may turn you out of his house you know not how soon But the Son and Heir is not turned away Therefore if you will be free indeed from the guilt of sin and the wrath of God and the malice of Satan come in by the Son and so you may be free 37. I know you are Abrahams seed but ye seek to kill me because my word hath no place in you 38. I speak that which I have seen with my Father and ye do that which ye have seen with your father 37.38 I know that ye are the seed of Abraham by the flesh But were you seed as he is the Father of the faithful you would not seek to kill me and reject my word Even that word of truth which I have received of my Father which you reject and obey the will of your father 39. They answered and said unto him Abraham is our father Jesus saith unto them If you were Abrahams Children ye would do the works of Abraham 40. But now ye seek to kill me a man that hath told you the truth which I have heard of God this did not Abraham 39.40 If ye were Abrahams Children you would be like him and do as he did But to seek to murder me for telling you the truth which I have heard from God is not like Abrahams works of Faith 41. Ye do the deeds of your father Then said they to him We be not born of fornication we have one Father even God 42. Jesus said unto them If God were your father ye would love me for I proceeded forth and came from God neither came I of my self but he sent me 4â— Ye shew by your deeds whose nature you have and so who is your father 42. If God were your Father you would be like him and then you would love me who came from him as sent by him 43. Why do ye not understand my speech even because ye cannot hear my word 44. Ye are of your father the devil and the lusts of your father ye will do he was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him When he speaketh a lye he speaketh of his own for he is a lyar and the father of it 43.44 Why is my doctrine rejected by you but because your corrupt natures and sin are contrary to it To speak plainly to you as the Childs nature is like the Fathers from whom it is received so yours is so like the Devils nature that I may say you received it from him and he is the father of it and so far of you For you love to do that which he loveth and desireth These are his great Characters 1. He was from the beginning A MALICIOUS MURDERER 2. He is A LIAR a deserter of the Truth and an enemy to it His business in the World is to Deceive by Lying and when he thus lieth and deceiveth he doth according to his corrupt nature for he is a Liar and the Father of Lies N 1. By these three Characters of LYING MALIGNITY and MURDER or hurtfulness the devilish nature and seed is known And no boasting of Abraham or Christianity is any disproof of it 2. Devilisms is the universal pravity of the malignant World And it is no wrong or railing so to say that the Devil is their Father 45. And because I tell you the truth ye believe me not 45. Though nature love the Truth as Truth yet because the Truth that I tell you is cross to your prejudice and carnal minds and lusts ye reject it as if it were error 46. Which of you convinceth me of sin And if I say the truth why do ye not believe me 46. If you know any falshood or sin by me prove it if you can but if it be Truth that I say why doth prejudice and malice hinder you from believing it 47. He that is of God heareth Gods words ye therefore hear them nor because ye are not of God 47. The Children of God have a mind and nature like him And therefore they savour and love his word Therefore your rejecting Gods word doth prove that ye are not the Children of God 48. Then answered the Jews and said unto him Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan and hast a devil 48. They said do we not call thee as thou art in saying thou art a distracteâ— Samaritan heretick 49. Jesus answered I have not a devil but I honour my Father and you do dishonour me 50. And I seek not my own glory there is one that seeketh and judgeth 49. I am not a distracted Demoniak but you calumniators My Doctrine and Works honour my Father and as for your dishonouring of me though I can bear it who seek not my own Glory my Father will secure my honour and judg you for your reproach 51. Verily verily I say unto you if a man keep my saying he shall never see death 51. I tell you that reject my word that to believe and keep it is the way to everlasting life and to be saved from death spiritual temporal by resurrection and eternal 52. Then said the Jews unto him Now we know that thou hast a devil Abraham is dead and the Prophets and thou sayest If a man keep my saying he shall never taste of death 53. Art thou greater than our father Abraham which is dead And the Prophets are dead whom makest thou thy self 52 53. Now we know that thou art a distracted demoniack When thou talkest of mens not dying when Abraham and the Prophets are dead Art thou so much greater than all they 54. Jesus answered If I honour my self my honour is nothing It is my Father that honoureth me of whom ye say that he is your God 55. Yet ye have not known him but I know him and if I should say I know
but examine which cause God is for 40. And to him they agreed and when they had called the apostles and beaten them they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus and let them go 41. And they departed from the presence of the Counsel rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name 40. Note Causeless stripes were the Mercy of these Men. The Holy Ghost did not work Miracles to revenge these injuries to the Apostles But taught them to rejoyce in this reproach for Preaching Christ as their great honour 42. And daily in the Temple and in every House they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ 42. And no commands threats or cruelties made them cease Preaching Christ publickly and from house to house CHAP. VI. ANd in those days when the number of the Disciples was multiplied there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration 1. Note Those Jews that understood the Greek Tongue and used the Greek Translation of the Scripture were called Greeks who were some at Jerusalem most at Alexandria and some scattered abroad the World 2. Even in the greatest Exemplification of Christian Love Concord and self denial the interest of the body and its provisions began a murmuring among this chosen Flock that had all things common And can we now expect to live without murmurring at each other upon cross interests and bodily wants The suffering Party will think themselves injured and will complain 2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the Disciples unto them and said It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables 2. We must prefer the greater before the less the Preaching of Gods word before the charge of distributing to Love feasts and to the Poor and we are not sufficient for both 3. Wherefore brethren look ye out among you seven men of honest report full of the holy Ghost and wisdom whom ye may appoint over this business 3. Note 1. This is the first call of Officers mediately by Men yet the Holy Ghost in the Apostles instituteth the office but yet they give a reason for it A Divine Institution and reason from necessity and convenience well agree 2. The Apostles fix the number 3. The Congregation must choose the Persons 4. God by his Spirit in the Apostles limiteth them to certain qualifications 1. Good Report 2. Full of the Holy Ghost 3. And of Wisdom The Chosen Persons must be appointed or authorized and directed by the Apostles Incapable Matter maâ—â—th both Election and Mens Ordination void But yet the Electors still are Trusted whom to Elect and the Ordainers whom to Ordain And every Error is not a nullity where there are the essential qualifications 4. But we will give our selves continually to prayer and to the ministery of the word 4. Where ever God will bless his Church with Bishops indeed this will be their life and their description 5. And the saying pleased the whole multitude and they chose Stephen a man full of faith and of the holy Ghost and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch 5. The Reason of the motion the Authority of the Apostles and the Spirit of God made them all unanimously consent 6. Whom they set before the apostles and when they had prayed they laid their hands on them 6. Prayer to God to accept and bless them and the Authorizing them by the sign of Imposition of hands was the Apostles way of Ordination supposing them instructed for their Office 7. And the word of God increased and the number of the Disciples multiplyed in Jerusalem greatly and a great company of the Priests were obedient to the faith 7. And the success of the Word increased and the number of the Disciples in Jerusalem grow very great and a great Company of the Priests or a great Company and of the Priests some were obedient to the Doctrine of Christ by believing 8. And Stephen full of faith and power did great wonders and miracles among the People 8. Stephen having a great measure of the Spirit was full of Faith and Power and wrought great Miracles 9. Then there arose certain of the synagogue which is called the synagogue of the Libertines and Cyrenians and Alexandrians and of them of Cilicia and of Asia disputing with Stephen 9. Jerusalem being the place where the scattered Jews of all Nations used at certain times to worship no wonder if several Countrys had there several Synagogues Libertines are by most supposed to be Jews made free Though some derive the Name from a Country thinking one Letter is changed 10. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake 11. Then they suborned men which said We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God 10. Note On such terms we dispute with Malignant men When they cannot resist the Truth they turn Diabolists and suborn Men to swear to false Accusations Malignity Bood-thirsty Cruelty and Lying are the three Essentials of a Diabolist 2. It is next to a Miracle of Providence that no greater numbers of Religious persons have been murdered in the World by the way of Perjury and pretence of Law when so many thousands hate them who make no Conscience of false Oaths 12. And they stirred up the People and the Elders and the Scribes and came upon him and caught him and brought him to the Council 12. Note When Informers and Perjured Witnesses and Council or Judges were all of a Mind false Malignants blood thirsty men it was easie to foreknow the sentence 13. And set up false witnesses which said This man ceaseth not to speake blasphemous words against this holy place and the Law 14. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us 13 14. Note It is very likely that they heard Stephen say some words of Christs Abrogation of the Law from which the Perjured gathered their Testimony and puting their own sence on his words made Blasphemy of them and did not think they were Perjured And what man is there that Judges Jury and Witnesses may not Condemn if they will but put their ownsence on their words Christ so suffered before Stephen And it is no wonder or dishonour to be condemned as the greatest Malefactors by such men Therefore judge of History accordingly where wicked Men are the Accusers and Judges 15. And all that sate in the Council looking stedfastly on him saw his face as it had been the face of an Angel 15. With a a splendor which might amaze them but did not change them so much was Dives in Hell deceived that one from the Dead would convert his sensual Brethren when it is like that if Lazarus had come to them as he prayed they would have put him to death
prepare for his delivery 11. When he therefore was come up again and had broken bread and eaten and talked a long vvhile even till break of day so he departed 11. Note Grace with Persecution made Christians willing of long Exercises of Religion 12. And they brought the young man alive and were not a little comforted 12. Note Had he dyed some would have said This is the effect of Christianity Others this is the fruit of Conventicles and night Meetings Others this is the fruit of long and and unseasonable Preaching and they would have been hardened by the scandal 13. And vve vvent before to ship and sailed unto Assos there intending to take in Paul for so had he appointed minding himself to go a foot 13. Note It was these poor labouring foot Preachers that Planted the Catholick Church and not Mitred Pompous Princes and Lords or the worldly crew 14. And vvhen he met vvith us at Assos vve took him in and came to Mitylene 15. And vve sailed thence and came the next day over against Chios and the next day vve arrived at Samos and taried at Trogyllium and the next day vve came to Miletus 16. For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus because he would not spend the time in Asia for he hasted if it were possible for him to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost 17. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the Elders of the Church 17. Note They that tell us that by the Elders of the Church is meant all the Diocesane Bishops of Asia should tell us 1. Why Luke would not tell us so 2. Why all Asia is called a Church in the singular number when we never find the Churches of Judea Gallatia or any other Country so called one Church 3. Why the Churches of all Asia are summoned as the Church of Ephesus 4. What proof there is of Metropolitane Churches singlularly named in those days 5. How it would stand with Pauls great hast to Congregate all the Bishops of Asia And whether it was done in a day or two 6. Whether Paul that stayed two or three years at Ephesus did Preach through all Asia from house to house warning every one night and day with tears 7. VVhether this be not good evidence of many Elders then at Ephesus alone 8. Why there is no word of making some one the Ruler of all the rest as their Bishop 18. And when they were come to him he said unto them ye know from the first day that I came into Asia after what manner I have been with you at all seasons 19. Serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears and temptations which befel me by the lying in wait of the Jews 18. Ye know at what rates of danger and suffering I have served God for your salvation humbly bearing all c. 20. And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you but have shewed you and have taught you publickly and from house to house 20. Not fraudulently concealing any thing profitable to you nor teaching unprofitable things but instructing you both in the publick Assemblys and from house to house as I had opportunity 21. Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ 21. The sum of my Preaching hath been to draw all men to Repent and turn from sin and vanity to God as their God by a lively Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ as the way to the Father 22. And now behold I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall befal me there 23. Save that the holy Ghost witnesseth in every city saying that bonds and afflictions abide me 22. And now I am going to Jerusalem by the mission of Gods spirit who directeth my way in expectation of bonds not knowing just what and how I shall suffer but that where ever I come the Holy Ghost in others that are Prophets tells me that bonds and afflictions must befall me 24. But none of these things move me neither count I my life deare unto my self so that I might finish my course with joy and the ministery which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God 24. But the expectation of suffering shaketh not my Faith or Resolution For it can but amount to their taking away my life And I account not my life dear if I may lay it down in so good a cause and for so great a benefit as is the finishing of the race or course of Life which God hath assigned me to with joy as one that is past danger and ready to receive the Crown and the full performance of the Commission which I have received of the Lord to proclaim and testifie the Gospel of Grace for the gathering of the Church and saving of souls Note 1. Suffering must not shake the trust or resolution of a Christian especially a Minister of Christ 2. We should not only endeavour to finish our course of Christianity and Ministry with Fidelity but also with joy 3. Good beginnings are not enough without well finishing our Course 4. Life must not be thought too dear to lay down for so desirable an end 5. Martyrs may end their course with joy Quest How should we finish our course with joy Answ 1. Take God and Heavenly Glory for your all or only happiness and believe it firmly 2. Give up your selves wholly to his Love and Service without reserves 3. Live on the Mediation of Christ by Faith 25. And now behold I know that ye all among whom I have gone Preaching the Kingdom of God shall see my face no more 25. Note O hear your Teachers as those that shortly shall see their Faces on Earth no more 26. Wherefore I take you to record this day that I am pure from the bloud of all men 27. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God 26. You are my Witnesses that if any perish it is not long of me for want of Teaching for I have not concealed from you any Truth necessary to your Salvation committed to my trust 28. Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own bloud 28. Use your greatest care and watchfulness and labour first about your selves that your judgments may be sound your hearts holy and your lives exemplary and then for all the Flock that one Flock at Ephesus over which the Holy Ghost by his inward qualifying and exciting you and by his outward call by the Flock and the Ordainers hath made you so many Bishops or Overseers spare for no diligence to feed and guide this Church of God which Christ the Son of God hath so much loved as to purchase it with his own Blood Note 1. The work of the Ministry is not
that it was neither Peter nor Paul Circumstances have perswaded me that Christianity came first into England by Christian Soldiers that were in the Roman Army such as built the Church called St. Martins near Canturbury which Beda mentioneth And it is more probable that such as Cornelius being Converted in Judea and having their dependance on Rome and business there were like to be the first introducers of of Christianity there As such were in Helvetia 16. And vvhen vve came to Rome the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a souldier that kept him 16. One Soldier was his Guard 17. And it came to pass that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jevvs togeâ—her And vvhen they vvere come together he said unto them Men and brethren though I have committed nothing against the people or customs of our fathers yet vvas I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans 18. Who vvhen they had examined me vvould have let me go because there was no cause of death In me 19. But vvhen the Jevvs spake against it I was constrained to appeal unto Cesat not that I have ought to accuse my nation of 17. Note Though Paul Preached against the Gentiles subjection to Moses Law yet to the Jews he only spake against the imposing it as necessary on others and against its justifying Power without Christ 19. I appealed in my own necessary Defence and not as an Accuser of the Jews 20. For this cause therefore have I called for you to see you and to speak vvith you because that for the hope of Israel I am bound vvith this chain 20. It is for Preaching that Messiah who hath long been expected and prayed for as the Hope of Israel that I am come hither a Prisoner in this Chain 21. And they said unto him We neither received letters out of Judea concerning thee neither any of the brethren that came shevved or spake any harm of thee 22. But vve desire to hear of thee vvhat thou thinkest for as concerning this sect vve knovv that every vvhere it is spoken against 21. We have had no Accusation of thee but that we may be able to judge of thee we would hear thee our selves what it is that thou holdest and teachest For Christians are every where spoken aganist as an evil Sect. Note He that would know how far to regard common fame against any man or party must know what sort of people they be that report it whether Men of truth sobriety and conscience or debaucht ungodly malignant sâ—oundrils And by what motives they are set on work whether by Gods word and will or by Carnal interests and flattery of Great and ungodly Worldlings or enmity to Holy Doctrine and Practice And what Eviedence they give to prove their Accusations 23. And vvhen they had appointed him a day there came many to him into his lodging to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God perswading them concerning Jesus both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets from morning till evening 23. He proved to them out of the Law and Prophets that Christ was the Messiah whose Kingdom is spiritual and is now begun as foretold upon his Resurrection and Ascension and gathering an Universal Church by the Miracles Gifts and Grace of the Holy Ghost 24. And some believed the things vvhich vvere spoken and some believed not 25. And vvhen they agreed not among themselves they departed after that Paul had spoken one word Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers 26. Saying Go unto this people and say Hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand and seeing ye shall see and not perceive 27. For the heart of this people is vvaxed gross and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes have they closed lest they should see vvith their eyes and hear with their ears and understand vvith their heart and should be converted and I should heal them 26. You verifie the words of the Prophets being like your fore fathers of whom Isaiah saith that though they have their Natural faculties of seeing hearing and understanding yet they have willfully so indisposed and corrupted them that as to the knowledge and obedience of God they are as if they had neither Eyes Ears or Understanding from whence it is that my resisted and rejected Grace doth not Convert and heal them 28. Be it knovvn therefore unto you that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles and that they vvill hear it 28. Be it known to you that the Christ whom you reject shall be Preached to the Gentiles and they will believe in him and receive him for their Saviour And Christ will set up among them the Catholick Church and Kingdom of God which you reject and shall therefore be none of yours that boasted in your expectations of it 29. And vvhen he had said these vvords the Jevvs departed and had great reasonings among themselves 29. Note But so many of them believed both at Rome Jerusalem and many Countrys as were a considerable part of the Christian Church at that time And within four hundred years Christianity was the professed National Religion in Judea 30. And Paul dvvelt tvvo vvhole years in his own hired house and received all that came in unto him 31. Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence no man forbidding him 30. And Paul was so free a Prisoner that he was allowed to live in his own hired house and there for two years received all how many soever great or small who came to him Preaching even in Imperious Rome the Kingdom of God as Ruling Souls to Salvation by the Redeemer Teaching all the Doctrines and Practices of Christianity the History of Christ his Person Office Acts Grace and Glory and this with all boldness and freedom NO MAN FORBIDDING HIM silencing him or condemning them for Conventicles or any way hindring him even in Proud Powerful Heathen Rome When the Religious Jewish Priests and Rulers hunted Christs Ministers as Blood-hounds forbidding them to Preach to the Gentiles that they might be saved and so wrath is come upon them to the uttermost as it will in due time on all that imitate them Note 1. What Paul Preached not vain jangling or envious railing but the Kingdom of God and the things concerning Jesus Christ and Salvation 2. Where In Rome and in his own hired house 3. To whom To all that come to him 4. How long Two years at that time 5. How with all confidence openness and boldness 6. How tolerated No man Emperour or Senate or inferior Officer Soldiers or Magistrates Priests or People hindering or forbidding him in the Capital Heathen City of the World which yet was devoted to Idolatry and capvated the Church of God both Jews and Gentiles But had Paul Preached immorality Rebellion
we could be content to know no more than God doth teach us and to be no wiser than St. Paul was 1. He teacheth us That there are some called according to God's purpose and foreknown by him that is to be such as he will use as is after mentioned He knoweth them to be those whom he purposeth to call and save But Paul was not so presumptuous and profane as to dispute How God foreknoweth them or why he purposeth to call them rather than others 2. And whereas profane Men do foolishly say If God decree and foreknow my Salvation I shall be saved whatever I do and if he do not I shall not St. Paul tells us That those whom God purposeth or decreeth to save he predestinateth to be conformed to the Image of his Son even to the Means as well as to the End So that to say That God doth predestinate Men to Salvation and not to Holiness of Heart and Life is to contradict God's Doctrine of Predestination As God doth decree how long we shall live and withal that we shall live by Meat and Drink so he decreeth that we shall be saved and that by Faith and sincere Obedience And sure they know not what they say who call this Doctrine of Election Licentious Doth it encourage Men to Impenitency or Disobedience to tell them that God doth predestinate Men to repent and obey and be saved Will it tempt Men to live after the Flesh in Worldliness or Sensuality to believe that God hath decreed to make them to live after the Spirit and to mortifie the Deeds of the Flesh and to avoid such Sins 3. And Paul tells us That this Chain of Causes is all decreed of God from the first to the last and therefore that it is God's Purpose which secureth the Event of our Glorification And it 's strange that any should think that God should undertake so great a Work as Mans Redemption and not effectually secure the Success by his own Will and Wisdom but leave all to the lubricous Will of Man 4. But the Apostle tells us of no such Decrees of the Causes of Mens Damnation God causeth and giveth Grace and foreknoweth that which he will give But he doth not cause or give Men Sin nor necessitate any to commit it and therefore decreeth not to cause it nor foreknoweth it as his own Work but as Mans. So that Election and Non-election or Reprobation are not of the same kind degree and order VII The sense of the Terms of the 30 Verse Expositors much differ about but there is no great Doctrinal Controversie depending on it 1. It is doubted whether by Calling here be meant only Effectual Calling and Conversion or only General Calling antecedent to its Efficacy But it 's confessed that both these are asserted in the Scripture 2. It is doubted why Sanctification is omitted or where it is included But it 's agreed that it is one Link of the Chain of the Causes of Salvation 3. And so it 's doubted what the Word Justifie doth mean But the thing is agreed on 4. And the greatest doubt is whether every one of these Causes will infer the rest or only the connexion of all the foregoing will infer that which followeth 1. There is small reason to doubt but that by Calling is meant Effectual Calling Else it would neither prove Predestination nor infer Justification 2. Sanctification is a Word which signifieth many Acts. As it signifieth the Gift of our first Faith and Repentance and our Covenant-devotedness to God in Baptism it is the same with Effectual Vocation Regeneration and Conversion But as it signifieth the after-gift of the In-dwelling Spirit to habituate the Soul with fixed Holiness and Love and the Practice of these it followeth Vocation at least in order of Nature 3 Justification sometime signifieth Making us righteous sometime accounting us righteous sometime by Apology maintaining us to be righteous sometime by Judicial Sentence pronounâ—ing us righteous sometime executively using us as righteous usually many of these together all the rest being implied It is certain that God maketh Men righteous before he account or judge them righteous Now to make a Man righteous and justifiable in Judgment all these concur 1. The Merit of Christ's Righteousness as the deserving Matter and Cause 2. The Act of the New Covenant giving him a part in Christ and with him Pardon of Sin and Right to the Spirit of Grace and unto Glory 3. The Gift of Faith and Repentance that Christ and his further Grace may be ours and for continuance the holy Habits and Acts of Sanctiâ—â—cation And seeing all sound Expositors confess with Beza that at least three Texts by Justification mean or include Sanctification we have reason to judge that part of Sanctification is here included in Vocation and part in Justification and some think the Triumphant part in Glorification And certainly this inferreth no unsound Doctrine 4. Augustine thought that the Links of this are separable unless you include the first as the Qualification of all the rest by way of distinction and that the meaning is That God will call all the Predestinate or Elect and will justifie all the Predestinate that are called and will glorifie all the Justified that are predestinate and called but that there are some justified and sanctified that were not predestinate nor shall be glorified but fall away What the sâ—nse of the Ancient Fathers was about Perseverance Ger. Vossius hath so truly opened in his Theses that I may thither refer the Inquisitive My own sense of it I have opened in my Catholick Theologie and it 's too long a Case to be handled here But I think no confirmed Christian doth totally and finally fall away and that the rest of the Doubt should not be thought enough to break the Love and Peace of Christians VIII As to the Doubt Whether the 38 and 39 Verses speak of God's Love to us or ours to him as they are in themselves inseparable so I think that the Context giveth us Reason to think that it is both even the Bond of mutual Love which is here spoken of All the doubt is Whether it be spoken of every true Christian or only of the Elect and Confirmed of which before CHAP. IX 1. I Say the truth in Christ I lie not my conscience also bearing me witness in the holy Ghost 2. That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart 3. For I could wish that my self were accursed from Christ for my brethren my kinsmen according to the flesh 1 2 3. I am so far from saying all that I have said in contempt of the Jews or triumph over them in their misery that I protest as a Christian I lie not my Conscience bearing me witness which is illuminated and actuated by the Holy Ghost that in the midst of all my rejoycing in Christ I have great heaviness and continual sorrow of Heart for the sin and misery of the Jews who are
the Judgment of others 1. It is certain that God never meant to restore the Jewish Politie under Moses's Law for that Law is abrogated by Christ and so that Politie It 's Jewish Contradiction of Christianity to expect such a Restoration 2. Much less will God ever confine the Church and Covenant of Peculiarity to the Jewish Nation and take it from the Gentiles and cease Catholicism 3. Nor will God restore and confine the Jews to their ancient Country in Palestine which being such a Country of Wales now barren and about half as big as England would be far from making them a People of eminent Glory in the World but rather contemptible in that respect 4. Nor hath God promised to make the Jews Lords and Rulers over the rest of the Nations of the Earth as the Carnal sort of them did expect 5. Therefore no other calling of the Jews can be expected but that they become Parts of the Catholick-Church 6. It seems to me by History that this is performed long ago the main Body of their Nation being turned to Christianity To which purpose consider these things 1. Myriads were converted in Judea by the Apostles 2. In all other Countries of the Roman Empire the scattered Jews had Synagogues to which the Apostles first Preached and where they first gathered the Rudiments of the Christian Churches 3. A vast Number of the unbelieving Jews were destroyed by Vespasian and Titus when Jerusalem was besieged and destroyed 4. Many more Jews were then converted when they saw God's Judgements executed on them and the Christians spared 5. Vast Numbers of the remainder of the Unbelievers were destroyed by Adrian and the Christians spared and many turned Christians then 6. Since then many have been converted by Solemn Disputes and many Jews become eminent Doctors in the Church 7. They were ever fond of their own Country and therefore we may suppose that as many as could lived there And it 's known that all Conquerours use to transplant only the Rich and Ruling Men and leave the Multitude of the poor Labourers to manure the Ground that it may yield them Tribute So did Nebuchadnezzar And so in England did the Romans Saxons Danes and Normans They left the Vulgar to possess the Land under them or else the Land would have been unprofitable to them It was the Rich and the Soldiers that they drove into Wales so that we are mostly of a British Off-spring Now it is known that in the Days of Constantine and the following Christian Emperours though no Country wholly turned Christian of a long time Judea turned as other Provinces did and had their Bishops and their Patriarch in Councils and proportionably rather more than in other Countries were Christians there So that Judea was Christian as other Provinces were CHAP. XII 1. I Beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service 1. Now to make Application of all this Doctrine fore-written I beseech you as you have a due sense of Christ's offering himself a Sacrifice for our Sins and of the great Mercy of the Gentiles Salvation by Grace and of our deliverance from the Burdens of the Jewish Law those costly Sacrifices of Beasts being abrogated by Christ that you will resign and dedicate your selves to God and as a living holy Sacrifice give up your own Bodies wholly to him even to the Obedience of his Commands and to suffer what he calls you to even to death which will be better than a Sacrifice of Beasts even a reasonable holy acceptable Service of God 2. And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God 2. And now you are called out of the World and made a Peculiar People to God conform not your selves to the sinful Practices of the World but be transform'd from your former Errours and Sins by the renewing of your Minds by Truth and Holiness that you may know by experience the Goodness of God's Ways to which you are called and the Greatness of his Love 3. For I say through the grace given unto me to every Man that is among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith 3. And specially because that the proud over-valuing of Mens own Understandings and thinking that they know more than they do is the common Cause of Errours and Sins of Censures Divisions and Heresies in the Churches I do as an Apostle sent and taught of God admonish and charge you all every one to think humbly of himself and not to think your selves wiser or better than you are but with wise self-suspicion and consciousness of your Ignorance and great Imperfection to think soberly of your selves according to truth and to the degree of Faith and Wisdom given you of God 4 5. For as we have many members in one body and all members have not the same Office so we being many are one body in Christ and every one members one of another 4 5. For as the Members of the same Body have great diversity in Number and Office so we though many individual Persons make up one Body or Church in Christ the Head in whom we are united and are related to each other as Members of the same Body 6. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether prophecie let us prophecie according to the proportion of faith 7. Or ministry let us wait on our ministring or he that teacheth on teaching 6 7. Seeing it pleaseth God to give various degrees of Gifts according to the dispensation of his Free Grace and not to make all equal in Gifts or Office let all confine themselves to their Measure and Office and that let them faithfully execute Let those that are inspired to speak as from God by Prediction or Instruction speak what God hath revealed to them according to the proportion of their Revelation and Knowledge and no more and not pretend Special Revelation against the sealed Word of Faith Let those that are called to any Special Service for the Church perform their own Office faithfully therein And let those that are called to teach be faithful Teachers Neglect not your own part and invade not others 8. Or he that exhorteth on exhortation He that giveth let him do it with simplicity He that ruleth with diligence He that sheweth mercy with chearfulness 8. He that is to exhort Men to practise what is taught let him do it diligently for Mens corrupt Wills and Affections have need of excitation and Persuasion as well as their Understandings of Information He that giveth his own or the Churches let him do it sincerely and impartially He that is intrusted to govern Chruch or Family let him
David's indeed but all such are written in Scripture to teach us also Patience and imitation of such examples of Charity and so to confirm our hope 5. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one towards another according to Christ Jesus 5. I know the danger of this selfish uncharitable humour of imposing Mens own Opinions on all others as terms of their Communion with them and therefore as I have used this long and plain exhortation against it I shall also pray for you that the God who is patient with the weak and is their Comforter and yours will grant you so much Grace and Charity as to make you imitators of him and of the Love and Condescension of Christ and to bear with others and do by them as you would be born with and used your selves 6. That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorifie God even the father of our Lord Jesus Christ 6. That you may with Unity and Concord hold your holy Communion for worshipping God without uncharitable Excommunications or Separations vilifying or censuring each other which can never be expected by driving each one to agree in small unnecessary things or without bearing with the mistakes and differences of one another when all are guilty of many mistakes and such differences must still be expected 7. Wherefore receive ye one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God 7. I conclude therefore by beseeching you to receive one another with Love to your Communion and Kindness as you would be Christian imitators of Christ and as you are sensible of his needful Mercy to your selves in receiving us that once were Enemies and still have manifold sins and errours to the glorifying of God's Love and Mercy And pretend not your Knowledge or Authority or Piety against so commanding a Motive and Example ANNOTATIONS on the former Chapter and this THe Subject of the former Chapter is handled on thus far and here that Chapter should have ended He that understandeth the former and present State of the Christian Churches and the Pride and Ignorance to which Man is liable will easily perceive that it was not in vain that the Spirit of God did by the Apostle handle and decide this Case of receiving Dissenters in tollerable Cases into Love and Communion The Jews were so tied up from Legislation in God's Matters by the knowledge of God's Prerogative in their Theocracy that they had less room for the Canons and Engines of Mans making to exercise their Pride and Uncharitableness by than the Romanists have since done And yet the Pharisees plaid their part and by their Traditions made void the Law of God and preferr'd their Ceremonies before the weighty Matters of the Law and would not understand what that meaneth I will have mercy and not sacrifice and thereby did condemn the guiltless And Christ found the Samaritans and Jews at the Debate Whether in this Mountain or at Jerusalem men ought to worship overlooking that Worship which is in Spirit and in Truth And alas what work have Domination unnecessary Canons and Censures made in the Christian Churches these 1300 years And it is an Instance what power Blindness and Prejudice and Worldly Interest have to frustrate the plainest Decisions of God's Word that so full and express a Decision as these two Chapters make with 1 Cor. 12. and Eph. 4. and James 3. hath signified as little with the Dividers and Proud almost as if there had been no such written And yet such Men call for a Judge of Controversies because of the pretended Obscurity of the Scriptures when nothing can be plainer than this which they despise They mean that such as they must be Judges and God shall make the Words if they may make the Sense How great is the number that go on the two sides of Uncharitableness here reproved especially on that which is largeliest insisted on One side saith All God's Truths are precious and none must be sold for Peace and we must not partake of other Mens Sins As if our great Duty of Love Forbearance and Communion were our Sin or a partaking of the Faults of all that we joyn with The other Side pretend 1. That Paul only requireth Forbearance in things Indifferent undetermined by Governours and not after such a Command or Determination 2. Or that he giveth only a Temporary Rule for the present Concord of Jews and Gentiles till the setled Church should take a contrary Course I will not here answer these at large having done it in my Book called The only Way of the Churches Concord But I say That I despair of reducing that Man to the Truth herein who shall continue of either of these Opinions after he hath seriously perused the Text and hath considered 1. That St. Paul here useth I think above twenty Arguments from Morality and common Christian Duty which he would not do for a mutable Case which Bishops may change when they will 2 That Rome was then a famous Church and therefore had Pastors or one at least and that he writeth to the whole Church and therefore to the Pastors And sure he never meant The Clergy shall receive such Dissenters to Communion and neither by Canon or Practice cast them out till they think meet to do otherwise and till have made such Canons Paul doth not so play with Contradictions in so long and grave a Reprehension 3. That St. Paul oft puts himself in as under the same Obligation with the rest And if an Apostle called from Heaven may not do what 's here forbidden what Bishops can preteâ—d a Right to do it by greater Authority or Wisdom But they that have not known the Way of Peace may say something against the fullest and plainest Description of it and the sharpest Reproofs of God himself But he will expound these Chapters to their Consciences if ever he make them Healers of his Church As to those that say It is not Church-Communion that Paul here speaks of I refer them to the plain Text and Dr. Hammond's Annotations which they value The God of Love and Peace hath given Laws for Love and Peace so strict and full and clear that all World may see that it is not he that alloweth the Canons or Censures which have so long torn the Churches 8. Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the Circumcision for the truth of God to confirm the promises made unto the fathers 9. And that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his mercy 8 9. And that you may understand my Argument from the Example of Christ I say that it was his Office to reconcile both Jews and Gentiles to God who will receive them both And therefore they should live as reconciled to each other Christ was a Mininister of God circumcised being a Jew and personally exercised his Ministry among them to perform Gods true Promises to the Fathers And yet his Gospel extendeth to the Gentiles also that
them to us his Apostles and to others that have his Spirit in the measure that they have it For the Spirit of God is given us in our several measures to teach us all things fit for us to know even the Depths of God 11. For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him even so the things of God knoweth no man but the spirit of God 11. As a Mans Spirit is conscious of its own secret Actings and Thoughts which no Man else can know so the Spirit of God knoweth the Secret things of God and maketh us know them in our measures which they that have not the Spirit cannot by all their Learning know 12. Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God 12. And this Spirit God hath given to us not the Spirit of the World to make us carnally and worldly wise but the Spirit of God to make us savour and know God's great mysterious Gifts of Grace 13. Which things also we speak not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual 13. And these are the things which we preach to you not in the Words and Manner now counted by the Heathens to be Learned and Wise nor after their vain Arts but in the very Words and Manner which God's Spirit teacheth us who teacheth us the Matter fitting Spiritual Words to Spiritual Things that all may be of God 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 14. But they that have not the Spirit themselves but meer Nature cannot with all their Learning receive these spiritual Mysteries revealed to us by God for they will seem but Fanatick Dreams and Foolishness to them not to be believed Nor can they understand them for only a Mind illuminated by God's Spirit doth discern them 15. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things yet he himself is judged of no man 15. But he that is Spiritual discerneth these revealed things of the Spirit in his Measure when yet he himself and his own Spiritual Apprehensions and Affections are unknown to Carnal Men that hear him 16. For who hath known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him But we have the mind of Christ 16. For who hath pried into God's secret Counsels or known his Mind further than he hath opened it to him But Christ our Teacher hath told us his own and his Fathers Mind which we are to preach to the World for Mens Salvation ANNOTATIONS 1. IT is none of Paul's meaning here to vilifie true Philosophy Logick or Oratory or any useful Knowledge or Art And all Knowledge is useful to one that referreth it to right Ends which is Knowledge indeed For God hath made nothing knowable in vain True Physicks is the Knowledge of the knowable Works of God and God in them that we may admire love serve and trust him True Logick is but the Skill of using our Reason truly and orderly True Grammar and Oratory are but fitting Words to Things and to the Hearers Minds as most tendeth to their Edification God is against none of these which are his precious Gifts But carnal Men have carnal Ends and fit all these abusively to their Ends to wrangle against Truth and divert their Minds from Things to Words and from great and everlasting Things to Trifles and to feed their Pride and Ambition and Covetousness and to make their Malignity more keen and hurtful And such was the Learning of these Heathens which then past for Wisdom in the World 2. Nor doth Paul here favour false Pretenses of the Spirit or true Fanaticism when Men take the Delusions of Satan or every strong Imagination or the boiling of their Pride and erroneous Passions fed by Prejudice for the Work of God's Spirit These sin more dangerously than many others by charging their Sin and Errour upon God and tempting Men to deride the Spirit Even as false Prophets are sharpliest reproved and the counterfeit use of Christ's Name by the Sons of Sceva did but strengthen the Devil against them Therefore we are bid to try the Spirits CHAP. III. 1. ANd I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual but as unto carnal even as unto babes in Christ 1. But this Spiritual Wisdom of which I have said such great things is not in all Christians alike Though the Apostles had the Spirit to lead them to all needful Truth and record it for the Church yet some weak Christians are still so much carnal that their Spiritual Wisdom is but such as Babes in Christ have who have still need to be fed and taught by others And as to such I am constrained to speak to you 2. I have fed you with milk and not with meat for hitherto ye were not able to bear it neither yet now are ye able 2. I fed you with the Food of Babes and not of strong understanding Men or else I had lost my labour by your incapacity For harder things you could not nor yet can bear 3. For ye are yet carnal for whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions are ye not carnal and walk as men 3. For ye are yet in a great measure Carnal Do not your Envy and Strife and Divisions prove that you are so far Carnal and live according to the corrupt Nature of Man and not by the Spirit of God 4. For while one saith I am of Paul and another I am of Apollos are ye not carnal 4. For while you divide into Factions for your several Teachers are ye not so far Carnal 5. Who then is Paul and who is Apollos but ministers by whom ye believed even as the Lord gave to every man 5. What are any of us but Christs Ministers by whose Ministry you were brought to believe in Christ even as God gave us various Dâ—grees and of Success 6. I have planted Apollos watered but God gave the increase 6. I first preached to your Conversion and Apollos to your further Edification but the Success and Fruit of all was not from our Power but from the free Grace of God 7. So then neither is he that planteth any thing neither he that watereth but God that giveth the increase 7. If then you would know to whom to ascribe your Conversion and Salvation we poor Ministers that plant and water are but as Gods Tools and to be accounted as nothing in comparison of him who as he sent us and enabled us so caused freely all the Success which is our Joy and your Welfare 8. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour 8. Now it is by the same Ministerial
yet of my self I will not glory but in mine infirmities 5. I think this Fore-taste of the Heavenly Glory worthy to be gloried in But though I be the Man I will not glory in it as my own who was but passive and advanced to it by God to whom all the Glory is due It is my Infirmities or debasing Sufferings in the World which I will call my own and boast of 6. For though I would desire to glory I shall not be a fool for I will say the truth but now I forbear lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be or that he heareth of me 6. Should I boast of this so great a Gâ—ft to the Glory of the Giver it would be no Folly But I lay it by expecting that no Man judge highlier of me than by what himself shall see or hear 7. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations there was given to me a thorn in in the flesh the messenger of Satan to busfet me lest I should be exalted above measure 7. And lest this Revelation should too much lift me up there was given me a Thorn in the Flesh a Messenger of Satan to put me to pain and keep me from too much Exaltation Note 1. It is most unlikely which some feign to be the sense of these Words viz. That it was a Temptation to Lust It 's most like it was such a Pain as the Stone or at least some bitter Persecution 2. Even the holiest Christians after their most heavenly Acquaintance are not out of danger of Pride or being too much exalted 3. This Spiritual Pride is so dangerous a Sin that it 's a Mercy to be saved from it even by Bodily Pain 4. God will hurt the Bodies to save the Souls even of his dearest Children 5. Satan that intendeth hurt is oft Gods Instrument to do us good 6. Bodily Pains are oft the Messengers of Satan and yet of God 8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me 8. Note 1. That it is lawful to pray for the removal of Pain 2. Yea to be oft in prayer for it 9. And he said unto me My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness 9. And the Answer which I had was not a present removal of the Thorn but a Word for Patience and Trust in God viz. That his Favour and Grace was sufficient for me to support and comfort me till deliverance came and that it is his way in our Weakness to manifest most his helping Power 9 10. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake for when I am weak then am I strong 9 10. It is therefore in Sufferings that I will glory as being the occasion of my greater Experience of the Loâ—e and Power of Christ Yea I even take pleasure in abasing Sufferings for him though not as painful yet as an advantage to his Grace that strengthneth me so far am I from being ashamed or impatient of them 11. I am become a fool in glorying ye have compelled me for I ought to have been commended of you for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles though I be nothing 11. I have said all this as in the Habit of a Fool but it 's you that put it on me by necessity who should have vindicated me and my Ministry against seducing Accusers 12. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience in signs and wonders and mighty deeds 12. Are not you my Witnesses I appeal to your selves Among you my Apostleship was fully proved by patient Suffering and by miraculous Gifts and Signs and Wonders and Works done by the Power of God 13. For what is it wherein ye were inferiour to other churches except it be that I my self was not burdensom to you forgive me this wrong 13. For what Gifts of the Spirit poured out among you what Signs and Miracles have other Churches excelled you in The difference between you and others was that I spared your Purses and put you to no charge If that be a wrong I hope you can easily forgive it 14. Behold the third time I am ready to come to you and I will not be burdensom to you for I seek not yours but you for the children ought not to lay up for the parents but the parents for the children 14. A third time I purpose to come to you and not to burden you but as to my children to give rather than to receive 15. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you though the more abundantly I love you the less I be loved 15. And I will gladly spend my Time and Labour and be spent my self even as to my Strength and Life for your Salvation though my Love should be requited with Neglect 16. But be it so I did not burden you nevertheless being crafty I caught you with guile 17. Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you 16 17. But be it as some object that though I took no Money of you I craftily caught you with guile that getting your Affections I might hereafter make advantage of you for my self But my Craft was but to win you to Christ Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you Will you judge of my Design contrary to my Practice 18. I desired Titus and with him I sent a brother did Titus make a gain of you walked we not in the same spirit walked we not in the same steps 18. Did Titus or the Brother whom I sent to you make a Gain of you Did we not all agree in Mind and Practice 19. Again think you that we excuse our selves unto you we speak before God in Christ but we do all things dearly beloved for your edifying 19. Think not that I say all this to insinuate my self into your esteem for any by Ends of my own I speak it as before God in Christ It is your Edification that is my End in this and all things that I do concerning you 20. For I fear lest when I come I shall not find you such as I would and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not lest there be debates envyings wraths strifes back-bitings whisperings swellings tumults 21. And lest when I come again my God will humble me among you and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed 20 21. For I fear lest when I come I shall find among you these Sins which are the Characters of Factious Minds Debates c. and lest God will humble me among you with grief for you
Christ to be our Leader and Teacher to sin for it it is he that taught us this And dare you charge Christ with Sin 18. For if I build again the things which I destroyed I make my self a transgressour 18. For if we that have preached Deliverance from the Law and that it doth not justifie us do now intimate the contrary by our Practice we confess our selves Sinners in teaching such Doctrine heretofore 19. For I through the law am dead to the law that I might live unto God 19. The Law it self hath taught me not to trust it for Justification nor to live in the Bondage of it but to look for Life towards God by Christ 20. I am crucified with Christ Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me 20. As Christ was crucified and took away this Wall of Separation and Yoke of Bondage so I am now a Member of his Body the Catholick Church and am dead to the Law and it to me But I have a better Life by which Christ liveth in me both objectively as trusted and loved and efficiently by his Spirit And now it is by Faith in him who loved me and gave himself for me that I live 21. I do not frustrate the grace of God for if righteousness come by the law then Christ is dead in vain 21. I do not by returning to the Law make void all the Design of Grace in our Redemption Christ is dead in vain if Righteousness must be by our performance of the Law of Moses for what need we then any other Sacrifice for sin or to be Redeemed from its Curse CHAP. III. 1. O Foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you 1. So great is your folly in inclining to Judaism that you seem in it as men bewitched and deprived of Reason to turn from Grace to the Law so soon when Christ crucified for your deliverance hath been so plainly preached and set forth before you 2. This onely would I learn of you Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith 2. Do but answer me from your own Experience Have you not received the Spirit your selves some for Miracles or Tongues and the sincere for Sanctification If not you are none of Christs If yea then by what means did you receive it Was it by the Works of the Law you will not say it or was it by hearing the Gospel of Faith 3. Are ye so foolish having begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect by the flesh 3. Are you so foolish as having received a Spiritual Doctrine and having received and seen the Gifts of the Spirit by it which are its Seal that you should think it your growth or perfection to turn to the Carnal Ceremonies of the Law which gave you not the Spirit 4. Have ye suffered so many things in vain if it be yet in vain 4. Will you lose all the sufferings which you have undergone If you turn to the Law you lose them all 5. He therefore that ministreth to you the Spirit and worketh miracles among you doth he it by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith 5. Are the Miracles that are wrought among you and the Spirit communicated to your selves given from God by the Ministry of the Law or its Works or by the Preaching of the Gospel Note That here is a strong Evidence for the Matter of Fact That the Gift of the Spirit and the Working of Miracles were then things certainly existent Else when Paul appealed to these seduced Galatians themselves as to Men that had the Spirit and these Miracles among them and that with the provoking Words of foolish and bewitched how easily would they have confuted him and said They knew of no such thing This had been the likeliest way to turn them from Christianity with scorn to make that his Proof which if false must be so known to them all 6. Even as Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness 7. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith the same are the children of Abraham 6 7. As it was by believing and trusting Gods Promise that Abraham was accounted righteous so it followeth that it is Believers that are his Seed as Heirs of the Promise 8. And the scripture foreseeing that God would justifie the heathen through faith preached before the gospel unto Abraham saying In thee shall all nations be blessed 8. And the Scripture foretelling that God would justifie the Heathen as he did Abraham by Faith did in effect preach this Gospel to him then when it 's said In thee shall all Nations be blessed and therefore not the Jewish Nation onely 9. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham 9 So that if the Promise be made to them in Abraham they that have the same Qualification of Faith must needs be they that are blessed in him though they keep not the Law of Moses which Abraham did not nor the Gentile Believers 10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them 10. For all that trust for Justification and Life to their own doing the Works of that Law and not to the free Grace of God in Christ must needs be cursed and not justified by it For it saith Cursed is every one that continueth not c. which no man doth 11. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God it is evident for The just shall live by faith 12. And the law is not of faith but The man that doth them shall live in them 11 12. It 's evident that before God none is justified by the Law For it 's said that The just by faith shall live But the Law considered in it self as distinct from the Promise doth not give Life on condition of Faith receiving it as a free Gift but on condition of doing all that it commandeth Though the Law as subordinate to the Promise be of Faith 13. Christ hath reedeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree 13. That Law which curseth us doth not justifie us but so doth Moses's Law and therefore came Christ to redeem us from that Curse suffering as a Sacrifice for us a cursed Death 14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith 14. That the Blessing which was pronounced to Abraham as a Believer might come
hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ 3. Thanks and Praise be given to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual Blessings in Celestials or Heavenly things which tend to Glory which Christ doth purchase promise prepare and possess for us 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love 4. As he chose us as Members of Christ whom he chose to be our Head before the World was made that we should be holy and blameless both which summarily consist in holy Love 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved 5 6. Having predestinated us to become his adopted Children to him in and by Jesus Christ of his own free and good Will that so his Grace wherein he hath made us accepted in his beloved Son might have the Praise and Glory Note 1. That the Election is from before the Foundation of the World 2. That it is one Decree or Election of God by which he chuseth Christ to be our Head and us to be his Members 3. It is one and the same Election by which God hath chosen us to the praise and glory of his Grace to be saved and to be holy and blameless in Love On Gods part it is by one Act and on our part it is to one state of Blessedness as Generation maketh one Man though as objectively that one have many Parts it may accordingly be named Many and distinguished And the Essentials are given at once though the Integrals and Augmentation be after given by degrees 4. That Love is the sum of that Holiness and Blamelesness to which we are predestinated 5. That we are not onely Predestinated to Life on condition of Holiness but are Predestinated to Holiness it self and consequently to Faith and Repentance and not onely on condition that we believe and repent And so Election is of Individual Persons to Faith Holiness and Salvation and not onely of Believers to Salvation or of Persons to be saved if they believe A Conditional puts nothing into being or act Were the Scripture dark in the Point of Gods free Electing of some to Faith and Repentance more than others of equal Guilt and Pravity Experience might fully satisfie us of it 7 8. In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence 7 8. In whom we have deliverance by Redemption through the Sacrifice of his Blood for our Sins even the forgiveness of all our Sin which manifesteth the Riches of his Grace and Bounty from which this Gift proceedeth in which he abounded toward us in the exercise of that wonderful Divine Wisdom and Prudence in the way of our Salvation by Christ which to search and know is the greatest Wisdom and Prudence of Man 9. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself 9. Having now opened to us the Mystery of his own Will and good Pleasure which he purposed in himself but was little known by Jews or Gentiles 10. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in him 10. That when he saw the fit time fully come he might gather into one Universal Church united to Christ the Head as his Kingdom and Body both Jews and Gentiles yea Angels and Men the departed Souls and those on Earth to be One I say in him their Head and King Note Those that confine this to Jews and Gentiles yea and those that exclude Angels force the Text without proof For though Angels sinned not Christ may gather us into one Heavenly Society with them and make us like them himself being the Head 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will 11. In whom also we have our Lot of Inheritance being thereto predestinated by God who calleth whom he pleaseth and worketh all things according to his own Counsel Wisdom and Will 12. That we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ 12. That we who were first called and made Believers in Christ might be the First-fruits of his Church and bring him much Praise and Glory by our Service 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise 13. In whom you trusted when you had heard the true Gospel of your Salvation and in and by Christ after you believed you received the great Gift of the promised Spirit which is Gods Seal upon you and the Seal of the Truth of his Promise to you 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory 14. Which Spirit is given us by God as the ascertaining Earnest of our Inheritance to fit us for and assure us of our attaining the Possession of that which Christ hath purchased for those whom he had redeemed to be his peculiar People 15. Wherefore I also after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love unto all the saints 16. Cease not to give thanks for you making mention of you in my prayers 15 16. Hearing of the continuance and increase of your Faith and your Love to all the Saints and not onely to those that conform to your Minds in small or indifferent things do constantly give thanks to God for your Stability and daily pray for you 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him 17. That he that is the God of our Lord Jesus as Man who sent him and raised him from the dead and glorified him would give you yet more of the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation that you may know yet more of the Mystery of his Love in our Redemption by Christ 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints 18. That your Minds being yet more illuminated you may fullier and clearlier know to what glorioâ—s Hopes he hath called us and what Treasures of Glory he hath promised to his Saints in whom he will be glorified for ever 19. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who
yet speaking and keeping the necessary truth or essentials of our Religion in Love and Concord in this Faith and Love may in all things grow up to greater measures by degrees even into a fuller Communion with Christ our Head and likeness to him 16. From whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of it self in love 16. From whom the whole Church receiveth both that vital Influence and that Conduct and Government to its own intensive and extensive increase in Love which is its spiritual Life which the natural Body doth from the Head and Heart by communication of vital and animal Spirits and Heat And this Life and Increase is received and communicated to each part from Christ by that coagmentation and due connexion of all the Members of the Church together while each keepeth his place and performeth his own Office by the exercise of Faith and Love effectually for the good of all Even as the Body is kept in Life and Health while every inferiour Part and Joynt is receptive and active according to its proper Place and Office Note There is no Text which is so plausibly wrested to maintain Popery that is One Universal Humane Government of the whole Church on Earth Monarchical or Aristocratical by Pope Council or combined Metropolitans as one Soveraignty as this It seeming to forestalled Men to speak of the Church as compacted in one Universal Policy so governed And it is a Text which must be greatly studied against Dividers and yet vindicated from Roman Perverters I. Doubtless the Text speaketh strongly for Universal Concord and not onely for an uniting of Members in several Congregations which shall each be Independent which would be but like so many Limbs cut off from the Body but for an uniting of Congregations yea of all through the World in one compacted Body And therefore all Christians must abhor Dissection and Separation or Schism II. Yet it is evident that Paul speaketh of no one Head but Christ and of no sort of Universal Soveraign on Earth as under him And indeed it is an Office that Humane Nature here is not capable of either in Monarchy or Aristocracy It 's impossible for any Church-Soveraign-Power save Divine or Angelical at least to rule the Church by Legislation Judgment and Execution all over the Earth much of it being out of our reach as the Moon is And the Church is under contrary enemy militant Civil Governours which maketh it the more impossible And the onely Pretenders have been the great Dividers and Destroyers What then is here meant and to be done for Unity Not to feign impossible Terms such as are An Vniversal Soveraignty and Multitudes of Hamane Doubtful Vnnecessary Canons which are the most effectual causes of Discord But 1. to take up with Christs own prescribed terms of Union here laid down v. 3 4 5. If Christ have not made the Laws of Church Union he is not the maker of the Church for Unity is essential to it as to a House or Body 2. To be one in Love and to repress all Tyranny that would destroy Love and Peace 3. As in the several Assemblies they must exercise the same Faith and Hope and love and worship the same God and Saviour by the same Spirit so that these Churches must live in love to each other and avoid all Discord And if any breach be made between them in Faith or Love they must use all reasonable means to heal it which is by Writing or Messengers giving to each other an account of their Faith and Practice and when need is consulting in Synods of one or of divers Nations Not that such Synods are Governours of many Churches by a Major Vote or by Metropolitan Power save as they may exercise the Magistrates Power of the Sword by his Commission which were such fit can be given only in his own Dominions out of which Synods and Metropolitans can have no Political Governing Power But the Major Vote must be regarded for Concord which is the use of Synods yet so that it prevail not against Divine Authority and Law nor against Reason or the Churches good And therefore 1. Synods are but for Counsel and Agreement 2. And General Councils impossible and neeedless it being impossible and needless that all the World have notice of the Cases of every particular Church much less that they meet for the redress 3. And when Corruption and Tyranny as under the Arrians and Papists have got the Major Vote the minor are not bound to agree with them but to dissent As the Earth is Gods Kingdom and all Kings are his Officers in their several Kingdoms but neither any one Man or many Conjunct in one Aristocracie or Council are One Soveraign Governing Power over all the Earth but only should by Consultations seek to keep the Common Love and Peace even so all Churches and Christians on Earth are Christs Kingdom or Church Universal and all True Pastors are his Officers in their several Churches but neither one Man or many Conjunct as one Political Person or Aristocracie are one Summa Potestas over all Christians on Earth but those that are within the reach and notice of each other should when it 's needful by Synods and Consultations keep up Unity of Faith and Love and all needful Concord Had not Princes been made too capable of abuse they would not take well the Doctrine of a late Learned and Triumphant Writer who tells us that tho de facto Princes do not yet they ought to unite their Power in one Council which should be the brightest Governour of them all And so 1. all Kings must be Subjects 2. Aristocracy must rule Monarchy 3. How shall all Kings from the Antipodes or over all the Earth meet 4. Who shall call them 5. Where must they meet 6. Shall they trust their Crowns to Deligate Subjects 7. What if the most be Heathens and Mahometans and most Christians Hereticks in each others account 8. If he condescend to limit this Soveraign Diet who shall limit it and how And then the Universal Soveraign is still wanting They that dare plead for no more than Vniversal Communion should have understood that Communion as such belongs but to a Community and a meer Community is no Body Politick or Governed Society but a Confederacie of Equals as to Rule With respect to God only the World is one Governed Kingdom and with respect to Christ the Church in one Ruled Body Politick But neither of them is One as united in any Vicarious Soveraign but in their several Provinces must keep Communion in Faith Love and Peace 17. This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind 17. Therefore I charge you as from Christ that you that are Christians live not
these are the Sins for which Gods Wrath cometh on the Unbelievers and therefore will do so on all the Disobedient that live in them Therefore be not you Partakers in the Sin if you would not partake also of the Punishment 8. For ye were sometimes darkness but now are ye light in the Lord walk as children of light 8. For you were in darkness formerly your selves but Christ hath brought you into the light of saving Knowledge Live then as in the Light according to the Gospel and Spirit of Christ and do that of which you need not be ashamed 9 10. For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 9 10. For Christ ruleth all true Christians by his Spirit of Illumination and Sanctification and the Fruits of that Spirit and Light are Goodness Love and Kindness Righteousness Truth and Faithfulness trying and chusing what is pleasing to the Lord. 11. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them 11. Communicate not with these Heathens and Hereticks Works of Darkness and fleshly Lusts but rather do your best to save Men from them by reproof 12. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret 12. For their secret Filthiness which cannot bear the Light is such as Modesty is loth to name 13. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light for whatsoever doth make manifest is light 13. But all things when the Light discovereth them are manifest and if approvable need not fear it for the Doctrine and Spirit of Christ are a manifesting Light 14. Wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light 14. Which is the sense of Isa 60.1 which calleth the People that slept in Darkness to awake that the Lord may shine upon them which Christ now doth to true Believers 15. See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise 16. Redeeming the time because the days are evil 15 16. See then that you live not carelesly but with watchfulness and accurate circumspection not as Fools that see not or mind not their danger but as Wise Men that look on every side and are careful to avoid all sorts of Evil And therefore take hold of the present Opportunity and use well the Light of the Gospel while you have it for the World is round about you full of Snares and Dangers which without wise Circumspection cannot be avoided 17. Wherefore be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is 17. Wherefore let not Ignorance and Folly prepare you for Deceit but labour to be well acquainted with the Will of God concerning your Duty 18. And be not drunk with wine wherein is excess but be filled with the Spirit 19. Speaking to your selves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord 18 19. And do not like Heathens and sensual Libertines think that the exhileration of excess of Wine which causeth Sottishness and Lust is either lawful or suitable to Devotion but be you exhilerated by the Spirit of God whose Grace you must excite and exercise by Psalms and Hymns of Praise to God and Spiritual Songs which you must use in holy manner to the Lord with the inward Melody of the Heart Note 1. That Paul here leaveth it to Christian Wisdom whether we shall use David's Psalms for others more fitted to Gospel Times and Worship 2. That hence it is evident that it is lawful to use some Forms of Worship invented and imposed by Man For Hymns and Songs cannot be used without Invention And the Church or many cannot join in them unless some one lead and impose them on the rest It would be mad Work for a Congregation to sing extemporate Songs and every one a several one of his own And if Prayer and Praise in Metre may be invented and imposed the same Reasons will hold as to Prose when Uniformity is needful as in Baptism c. 20. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ 20. Chearfully thanking God continually on all occasions for all his Mercies which are found in all things that he doth offering this to the Father in the Name of Christ Note That Psalms and Thanksgiving to God through Christ must be the most constant Part of Christian Worship 21. Submitting your selves one to another in the fear of God 21. And let Gods Command move you to be yielding and submissive and not stout and staff towards one another but especially to your Superiours but so as to fear and obey God before Men. 22 23. Wives submit your selves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church and he is the Saviour of the body 22 23. Let Wives shew their Subjection to Christ by submitting to their Husbands as by his Command For the Husband is under Christ the Head or Ruler of the Wife to govern her in Love and protect her as Christ is the Supreme Head and Ruler of the Church and the Saviour of it as his Body 24. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing 24. Therefore as the Church is in all things to be subject to Christ so must the Wives be to their Husbands in all things belonging to that Relation under Christ 25. Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it 26. That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word 25 26. Husbands imitate Christ in loving your Wives as Christ did his Church for which in a special sense he gave himself by death that he might sanctifie it to God and cleanse it from Sin by washing away their Guilt and Filth signified and sealed in Baptism and by the Promises and Preaching of his Word 27. That he might present it to himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish 27. That he may prepare it for the great Marriage-day and then present it to himself cleansed and beautified without Sin Guilt or Blemish but perfect in Holiness and glorious 28. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies he that loveth his wife loveth himself 28. As Eve was taken out of Adam so the Union between Husband and Wâ—fe is so near that Men should love their Wives in a sort as their own Bodies and to love a Wife should be as the loving of our selves 29. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the church 29. And as Nature causeth all Men to love nourish and cherish their own
come till the Jews Rebellion and Revolt from the Romans provoke them to destroy them and then will the wicked Destroyer appear even the Roman Imperial Pride and Rage who exalt themselves above all Humane Power and will arrogate the Name and worship of Gods and put down Gods own instituted Worship and will have Altars and Images erected to themselves 6. What delayeth them yet you know They are killing one another for Empire at Rome and the sin of the poor Jews against Christ and his Apostles is not yet ripe for utter ruine and then next the destroyer will appear For their Self-idolizing is already at work as Caligula's attempt assureth us with Nero's Pride and Cruelty Onely the foresaid impediments at Rome c. do stop the Desolation and Abomination till it be removed and then it will invade the Holy City and Temple and Judea shall feel the Roman Pride and Idolatry Who come as from Satan with all the help that he can give them by Powerful Armies and with the Countenance of the Roman Idolaters Learning and Magicks and Lying Oracles and wonders such as Vespasian pretended to work and the Virtues that his Son Titus made ostentation of And with all the deceitful Learning and Arts which may countenance Idolatry and Wickedness and beguile Men fitted to destruction Because these poor Jews received not the Gospel in Love that they might be saved by Christ and many Christians proved Hypocrites and Formalists and Hereticks therefore God penally will let loose upon them the Learned Roman Idolaters with their Arts and Subtlety and advantages of Power to delude them to worship Idols which are Lying Vanities And so they that would not believe the Truth but had pleasure in Unrighteousness might be left to be their own destroyers by believing and practising the Idolatry and Wickedness which will damn them The Matter of all these three Expositions in it self hath a great deal of Truth that is Mahomet is an Antichrist most notorious The Pope as pretended Universal Head of the Church corrupting Christianity in Doctrine Worship and Discipline and bloodily destroying Sounder Christ is one sort of Antichrist The Roman Pagan Idolaters that set up the Desolating Abomination were no less But which this Text meaneth I know not But I detest that Opinion that maketh all the Visible Church Idolatrous and Antichristian since Constantine delivered it from Pagan Persecution Sure such should not now complain of Persecution but fear Deliverance and Prosperity 13. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth 13. But when I speak of this pernicious Apostasie of the followers of this Man of sin and perdition it mindeth me to be thankful to God for you that from the beginning he hath chosen and marked you out for Salvation by Sanctifying you by his Spirit and giving you a found belief of that truth which these Apostates do deny Note That Gods election Connecteth the End and Means whom he chooseth to Salvation he at once chooseth to Sanctification and Confirmed Faith 14. Whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 14. And I am thankful that my preaching the Gospel was the means by which he called you hereto and to obtain your part with Christ in Glory 15. Therefore brethren stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught whether by word or our epistle 15. Therefore stand fast and hold the same Doctrine which I have delivered to you whether by Preaching Discourse or Writing against all Innovating Seducers 16. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father which hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace 17. Comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work 16 17. And I have great incouragement to pray for you in hope that you may be comforted and established in all that is good because it is to that Christ that is our Saviour and God who is our Father and hath already shewed that he loveth us and hath by his Grace given us solid hope and the foretaste of the everlasting consolation CHAP. III. 1. FInally brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified even as it is with you 1. And as I pray for you pray ye for us that the word of God may run abroad with speed and prosperous success and not be stopt or hindred by persecutors contradictions or Scandalous Seducers but may be honoured by free and full reception and obedience as it is with you which praise I give you to encourage you 2. And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men for all men have not faith 2. And that our Persons may be preserved and our Preaching prosper against all the endeavours of absurd and wicked Men who are our adversaries For faithless Men are every where against us 3. But the Lord is faithful who shall stablish you and keep you from evil 3. But tho Men be faithless who resist me we have a faithful God who will confirm you and keep you from Satan and from evil 4. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you that ye both do and will do the things which we command you 4. And we have good hope that you will still follow the Precepts which we give you from the Lord. 5. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ 5. To which end I pray that God would direct your Hearts to love himself and patiently to wait for Christ and these two Graces will keep you in obedience from backsliding 6. Now we command you brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye withdraw your selves from every brother that walketh disorderly and not after the tradition which he received of us 6. And this is one of the Commands which in the name of Christ I have to deliver you to preserve you from revolting viz to keep your Society clean from Scandal by avoiding the familiar company of every one professing Christianity who liveth disorderly and not according to the Law of Christ which we delivered to him Note 1. That there is a degree of avoiding Familiarity with a disorderly Christian to shame him into Repentance and to preserve our selves and the Honour of Christianity which is short of a publick Declarative Excommunication and casting out of the Church It is justly called Suspension because a Man is not to be Excommunicate till he be proved obstinately Impenitent But a Man that is guilty of a notorious scandalous sin may be suspended while he is under tryal whether he will repent or not 2. Note That this Command of withdrawing from the disorderly doth not require that we withdraw from the Church when
For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer 4 5. For all that God hath made for Food is good and clean and not to be refused as in kind unlawful if it be received thankfully as from Gods Gift to fit us for his Service For to such as do thus it is more than lawful even a sanctified Means to sit them to serve God Gods Word allowing and giving it them and Prayer craving his Blessing to that end 6. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine whereunto thou hast attained 6. These things thou must suggest to the Brethren as their Teacher that thou maist approve thy self a good Minister of Christ bred up in sound Faith and Doctrine c. 7. But refuse profane and old wives fables and exercise thy self rather unto godliness 7. But as for the Jewish and Heretical Fancies of Abstinence from Marriage and Meats and the idle Reasons from Tradition or Pythagorean Dotage which they give for them avoid them and let it be thy Business to preach promote and practise plain Doctrine and Duties of Godliness and guide the Flock therein 8. For bodily exercise profiteth little but godliness is profitable unto all things having the promise of the life the now is and of that which is to come 8. For no Corporal Austerities or Exercises in Religion must be overvalued The best of them are of small Profit in comparison of that Godliness which consisteth in Spiritual Exercises of Faith Hope Love and their Expressions But this true Spiritual substantial Godliness is profitable to all that we can justly desire having from God the Promise of all the Good of this Life which is meet for us and we meet for it and of that which is to come after this Life is ended 9. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation 10. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all men specially of those that believe 9 10. And what I say of the Promise to Godliness for this Life and that to come is a Truth most sure and of greatest moment and worthy of our greatest acceptation For it is on the belief of this that we labour strive and suffer trusting on the Goodness and Promises of God who is Life and the Lord of Life and as their Saviour giveth the Mercies of this Life and that to come as Men are fitted for each to all Men all Good being from him to all the World But eternal Good being by his Promise secured to all true Believers which others reject when it is offered them for temporal Good 11 12. These things command and teach Let no man despise thy youth but be thou an example of the Believers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity 11 12. These things teach commandingly as necessary with Authority And so behave thy self that thy Youth expose thee not to Contempt Be thou an Example in whom all the Believers may see how they should live in thy Speech and thy Conversation in Love and Spirituality in sound Faith and spotless Purity 13. Till I come give attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine 13. Till I come be diligent in Reading the Scripture privately for thy self and publickly to Expound it to the Church to apply it by Exhortation and sound Doctrine 14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery 14. Neglect not diligently to use and improve those Eminent Gifts which were given thee even with Prophecy of thee as one that would be faithful by the laying on of the Hands of the Presbytery or Elders of of the Church when thou wast called and ordained to the Ministry For neglect quencheth the Spirit 15. Meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all 15. Note That even those that are extraordinarily Inspired and Qualified must study hard and wholly give themselves to that and all their Ministerial Work if they would appear good Proficients Therefore those thaâ— have no such Inspiration have need of hard study And they that wholly addict themselves to the Ministry have no leisure for Magistracy or Worldly Avocations Nor can do that for many hundred Churches which required the whole of a Timothy for one 16. Take heed unto thy self and unto thy doctrine continue in them for in doing this thou shalt both save thy self and them that hear thee 16. In sum Take greatest heed First that thy own Soul and Life be Sound and Holy and Undefiled and next that thy Doctrine be so and thou diligently labour in it Continue in this twofold Care and Diligence and thou shalt secure thy own Salvation and in all likelyhood thy Hearers for God will will not deny his Blessing to such Labours CHAP. V. 1. REbuke not an elder but intreat him as a father and the younger men as brethren 2. The elder women as mothers the younger as sisters with all purity 1 2. When Elders in Age or Office transgress use not Magisterial roughness of Reproof but Humble Exhortation as to Fathers And speak to the Younger with Love and Gentleness as to Brethren And speak to the Elder Women as to Mothers with due respect and to the Younger as Sisters carefully shunning all that savoureth of Immodesty or Unchastity in thought or speech or looks or behaviour 3 4. Honour widows that are widows indeed But if any widow have children or nephews let them learn first to shew piety at home and to requite their parents for that is good and acceptable before God 3 4. Let those that are Widdows indeed at once deprived of Husbands and Maintenance being Aged and unable to work be maintained by the Church with due respect But if any of them have Children and Nephews that can maintain them Let these their Off-spring be taught that Piety and Gratitude for all their Parents care of them oblige them to maintain their Widdows and not to cast them on the Church and that this is a Duty that God requireth of them and will accept Note That it is doubted whether these Widdows were Deaconesses or meerly kept for poverty I think that it was the Custom of the Ancient Churches to maintain all that are Poor and Aged and unable to get their own livings but not to maintain them in Idleness but to appoint them to employ much of their time in visiting the sick and poor Women and counselling the younger sort and giving notice of their Wants and Cases to the Elders so that the same Women were also as Deaconesses tho some that were wiser and fitter than the rest might be more specially thus employ'd 5. Now she that is a widow indeed and desolate trusteth in God and continueth in supplications and
words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness 4. He is proud knowing nothing but doting about questions and strifes of word whereof cometh envy strife railings evil surmisings 5. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth supposing that gain is godliness 3 4 5. There be some risen up that teach otherwise on pretense of Christian Liberty and Excellency above Heathens But they go contrary to the Words of Christ our Lord which are the Words of Truth and Life and to the Doctrine which is formed to true Godliness and they are a sort of proud self-conceited Men puffed up with a false Opinion that they know more than others and are but Brain-sick doting about unprofitable Questions and striving about Words and in stead of edifying Men to Salvation the Fruit of all their proud Contention is but the increase of Envy and Strifes and Railings at one another and evil Surmisings and ill Thoughts of one another or ill Opinions paltry and frivolous Disputings against each other coming from Minds corrupted by Pride and Errour that are void of true Knowledge and fly further from the Truth striving for Victory and for their own Conceits taking the Side that is most for their worldly and fleshly Advantage preferring Gain before true Godliness and fitting their Cloak of pretended Godliness and Wisdom to their worldly Gain 5 6. From such withdrawthy self But godliness with contentment is great gain 5 6. Such Men as these being not onely Hereticks but also proud Defenders of their Heresie are neither fit for thy Communion nor to be disputed with but to be avoided if they repent not But resolve thou to adhere to sincere Godliness which with Contentedness with Gods Allowance of daily Bread is the true and great Gain and better than the Wealth of the World which those Hypocrites prefer 7. For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out 7. As for Bodily Provision and Wealth as we brought none of it with us into the World so it 's certain that we can take none of it away with us and therefore truly have no more than we profitably and well use while we are alive 8. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content 8. If we have Food and Raiment and what is needful to the well-doing of our Work we have enough and must be contented with it For desire of more except to do good with it to others is but the sinful Disease of the Mind 9. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition 9. But they that love and set their Hearts on Riches and seek after them do thereby cast themselves into dangerous Temptations and Snares and kindle and pursue such Desires as shew their gross Folly and in stead of Gain do but hurt themselves and cast themselves into the Gulf of Destruction and Damnation Note 1. Oh how little then do the most of the World that study and scramble for Riches think what they are doing all their Lives against themselves 2. And is it not doleful Blindness in those Roman Prelates that for Wealth and Worldly Greatness have corrupted Christian Doctrine Worship Discipline and Conversation and overthrown the Churches Peace that yet they can say That Paul here condemneth the Gnosticks and Hereticks for that in which they incomparably exceed them 10. For the love of money is the root of all evil which while some coveted after they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows 10. For very much Evil springeth from the Love of Money From hence is sinful Care and Desire and Grief and Anger and Malice and Envy and Oppression and Deceit and Lying and Theft and Murders and Wars and Persecutions and Church-corruptions and Divisions needless Law-suits Bribery False-Witness Perjury Slander Railings and much more such And by coveting Money many have been their own Tormentors piercing themselves through in Body and Mind with many Sorrows vexatious Labours Cares Fears Trouble for Disappointments and torment of Conscience for their Guilt and oft come to an untimely reproachful Death Yea it hath drawn them to forsake or corrupt the Faith for worldly Ends. 11. But thou O man of God flee these things and follow after righteousness godliness faith love patience meekness 11. But thou that art devoted to God and his special Service abhor and avoid this Love of Money and all these its odious Fruits and follow after the Spiritual Riches Righteousness Godliness c. Note That is best which is most Divine likest to God and most pleasing to God and which is the well-fare of our best Part the Soul which will never die and fail us as worldly Riches will 12. Fight the good fight of faith lay hold on eternal life whereunto thou art also called and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses 12. Go on by Faith to overcome all Temptations Difficulties Sins and Adversaries and to propagate and defend the Faith Press towards the Mark till thou lay hold on Eternal Life which is the Prize This is the Life that thou art called out to hope for to seek and to obtain and the Work thou art to do and hast well begun and before many Witnesses openly and manfully stood to the Truth 13. I give thee charge in the sight of God who quickneth all things and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession 14. That thou keep this commandment without spot unrebukable untill the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 13 14. I must urgently charge thee before God in whose Power are all our Lives and before Christ who went before us by the Example of a good Confession not denying the Truth to save his Life that thou keep this necessary Law of thy Ministry as spotless and unrebukable that thou maist be found such at the coming of Jesus Christ 15. Which in his times he shall shew who is the blessed and onely Potentate the King of kings and Lord of lords 16. Who onely hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen nor can see to whom be honour and power everlasting Amen 15 16. Which in his due appointed Season God will shew who is the blessed and onely Potentate c. who onely is essentially and necessarily of himself Immortal whose glorious Abode is in the Light inaccessible to us Men and who is to us Invisible to him be Honour and Power for ever Amen 17. Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-minded nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy 17. And knowing to what Sins Riches most tempt Men charge the Rich that they be not high-minded nor think highly of themselves for their
hath Decreed their Salvation and will not lose them and he hath marked them out by his Spirit and written on them Holiness to the Lord And therefore on the other side is written Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity For Gods Decree conjoyneth the End and Means and he Decreeth none to Salvation that are not at once Decreed to Sanctification As his Covenant on his part promiseth us Life so our Covenant to him obligeth us to Holiness 20. But in a great house there are not onely vessels of gold and of silver but also of wood and earth and some to honour and some to dishonour 20. But it is not to be wondered at if in Gods House which is his Church-visible or the Professors of Christianity there be Errours and Scandals and some Backslide For it 's usual in great Mens Houses to have some Wooden and Earthen Vessels for low and base usage as well as Silver and Gold for the Table c. 21. If a man therefore purge himself from these he shall be a vessel unto honour sanctified and meet for the masters use and prepared unto every good work 21. All that by Gods Grace do purge themselves from Heresie and Iniquity are Vessels of Honour sanctified and meet to serve and honour God and disposed to all good Works 22. Flee also youthful lusts but follow righteousness faith charity peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart 22. Note 1. That the Flesh and its Lusts especially in Youth are such dangerous Enemies to our Holiness and Salvation that we have greet need to be warned to avoid those Lusts and consequently all that cherisheth them Fulness Idleness loose Company c. 2. Righteousness Faith Charity and Peace are the Sum of a Holy Life 3. Charity and Peace must extend to all that call on the Lord out of a pure Heart though not in our Forms or Ceremonies 23. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid knowing that they do gender strifes 23. But whereas the more ignorant and unsound Professors are apt to turn Practical Godliness into Self-conceited Ignorant Controversie and Disputes avoid this ill Practice as knowing that such wranglings do but but breed strifes 24. And the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach patient 25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth 26. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will 24 25 26. But God's Servants especially Bishops and Teachers must not provoke Dâ—ssenters by striving Debates but be gentle to all Men even the Erroneous apt to teach them and patient with them in Errour Instructing them in Meeekness and in a gentle sort even when they oppose the Truth and thus to wait in the right use of Gods means to see whether God will convince them and turn them by Repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth and that by consideration of what you teach them they may recover themselves out of the Snare of the Devil who captivateth them alive to do his Will Note 1. If Men will not hear gentle teaching much less will they yield to provoking Disputes 2. Yet Disputes like defensive Wars are oft necessary to the defense of the Truth and Church tho it be not the way to win the Opponent 3. Till sinners by consideration can be brought to be Agents in recovering themselves no Teaching or Disputing is like to recover them 4 Fire and Water are not more contrary than this word of God and the way of Romish Prelates who Hereticate Imprison Silence Ruine and Murder True Christians for conforming to all their Superstitious Canons and Ceremonies and not swearing obedience to their usurped Domination CHAP. III. 1. THis know also that in the last days perillous times shall come 1. Before the End the times will grow yet harder more difficult and dangerous 2 3. For men shall be lovers of their own selves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankful unholy without natural affection truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good 4. Traitours heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God 5. Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away 2 3 4 5. The sins which will abound are these 1. They will be enslaved by selfishness and little care for any but themselves 2. Lovers of Money and Covetous 3. Open boasters and Vain glorious 4. Proud 5. Blasphemers and râ—â—â—oachful 6. Disobedient to their own Parents 7. Unthankful 8. Without Holiness Profane 9. Having no true friendly love no not Natural 10. Men that will not live in Peace but are unreconcilable 11. Devils or false accusers of others especially of the best 12. Distempered Ilconditioned Incontinent 13. Fierce and Cruel 14. Having no love to Goodness or Good Men. 15. Betrayers of others or Treacherous 16. Rash Precipitate Heady Men 17. High-minded puft up with selfconceit instead of Solid Knowledge 18. Lovers of Pleasure Sensual and Fantastical as Carnal Men more than lovers of God 19. Having an Image or form of Godliness a shew and outside in Words Gestures Liturgies Ceremonies and Professions 20. But the Power of it for Sanctification mortifying the Flesh and overcoming the World and living above they Savour not but deny and do oppose From this sort of Men turn away and have no communion with them Note If the Apostle had written thus in these latter ages of the Church Guilt would have made many accuse him as Describing and Defaming them and their Church Rulers 6. For of this sort are they which creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins led away with divers lusts 7. Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth 6.7 This Evil Spirit is already gone forth and these Mischiefs are begun and will increase for such are they that thrust themselves into Houses and there by deceit lead captive silly women who being under a heep of their own sins and acted and led by divers lusts or ill desires come to the Christian Assemblies and are still learning but grow not in sound Religion nor come to any sound knowledge of the truth and so are very capable Receptive Objects for any such deceivers to draw away Note That all the said twenty foresaid Vices which cleave to creeping Hereticks while they are low do work with greater power and confidence in them when they get into Domination 8. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith 8. And as the Egyptian Magicians withstoud Moses to keep Pharoah from believing him and that by Magick so do these resist the True Preachers of the Gospel by their Magick and Arts now and by the Sword and
Cruelty when they can get into Power Men of Corrupt Minds reprobate concerning the Faith Unbelievers under the Name of Christians Note That the Names of Jannes and Jambres are taken by Paul from the Tradition of the Jews 9. But they shall proceed no further for their folly shall be manifest unto all men as theirs also waâ— 9. But as Moses's Miracles overcame the Magicians and shamed them so these shall be stopt in the pursuit of their Deceit and Heresie and Opposition to the Truth and shall not proceed much further but God will confound them and manifest all their folly 10. But thou hast fully known my doctrine manner of life purpose faith long-suffering charity patience 11. Persecutions afflictions which came unto me at Antioch at Iconium at Lystra what persecutions I endured 10 11. But for thy establishment I set before thee the example of my ministry Thou hast been fully acquainted with the Doctrine which I have taught with the course and ordering of my Life my purpose and design my faithfulness in my Work my long-suffering and freedom from wrath my love to others my patient suffering my persecutions and sufferings at Antioch and other places where I have Preached and what the Ministry hath cost me 11 12. But out of them all the Lord delivered me Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution 11 12. But out of them all God delivered me so that I went on to do his Work Yea such is the malignity of the Carnal World against that which crosseth their Lusts and Errour and Carnal Interest that all that resolve in a throughly Godly Life and not by flattery or sin to comply with the wiles of Proud Ungodly Men but to be true to Christ shall suffer some sort of Persecution 13. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived 13. But the sin which hardeneth these Wicked Men to be Persecutors of Godly Christians will harden them so far as to justifie it and stand to it impenitently and think they do God service by Persecuting his Servants pretending that it 's they that are erroneous and bad men and do deserve it and being deceived themselves will by deceit draw others to do the like 14. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them 14. But do thou continue in that Doctrine which I have taught and thou hast received as assured truth as knowing that thou hadst it from Christ by an Authoriz'd Apostle 15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus 15. And from thy Childhood thou hast been trained up in the knowledge of the Old Testament whose Prophesies of Christ and sacred Precepts now Illustrated by the Gospel of Christian Faith are sufficient to make thee wise by the Spirit of Grace in all that 's neeedful to Salvation 16 17. All scripture is given by inspiration of of God and is profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works 16 17. All those Writings which are of Divine Inspiration are also profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Amendment and Correction and for Education and Discipline in Righteousness that so all Gods Servants and especially Teachers may be compleat and fully instructed and furnished for every good work required of God for the Ministerial Service and for Mens Salvation Note Tho this exclude not the use of any Subservient Arts or Knowledge yet certainly this is little understood or believed by the Roman Clergy who have made it necessary to a tolerated Minister to know and observe their numerous Canons and Oaths Subscriptions and Ceremonies besides many Books of theirs while they admit Priests that are ignorant of the Scripture and forbid the reading of them to the People CHAP. IV. 1. I Charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom 2. Preach the word be instant in season out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine 1 2. So dreadful is the sin Sacrilegiously to deny Christ the Service which thou hast vowed him and art ordained to and to betray the Gospel and Mens Souls by so doing that I do adjure thee with all possible earnestness as before God and as thou wilt answer it to Christ in Judgment when he cometh in the Kingdom of his Glory that thou forbear not by any Persecution as far as possibly thou canst to Preach the Word be instant and urgent in season or fair opportunities yea Out of season necessity must take place of Convenience and Circumstantial Decencies Reprove the faulty Rebuke gross sinners Exhort all Men with unwearied long-suffering and sound Doctrine Note How dreadful a thing it is to cease Preaching the Gospel while we can whatever we suffer for it and whoever forbiddeth it Let them that think that the Apostles onely were exempted from yielding to Mens Prohibition remember that Timothy had his call and Commission from Men Qu. But may not Church Rulers silence Ministers Ans Yes when they so deserve it by doing more hurt than good that Christs Law doth silence them else not Tho they may determine of Place and Circumstances and Magistrates may also dispose of their own free encouragements and may restrain Men from evil doing 3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears 3. Note 1. That the foresight of Evil times by tempting Teachers should make Faithful Ministers labour the harder in their time 2. It is no new thing for Professed Christians not to endure Sound Doctrine but to follow false Teachers 3. It is by their own Lusts or Erroneous Wills and Choice that Professors are seduced by false Teachers 4. Itching Ears is a dangerous Disease 5. False Teachers may be heaped up and to have the Major Vote when Sound Teachers cannot be endured 4. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables 4. Note That Chuches Pastors and People may turn away from the Truth to Fables 5. But watch thou in all things endure afflictions do the work of an Evangelist make full proof of thy ministry 5. Note That great watchfulness patient labouring and suffering and fulfilling their Ministry approvedly in all Tryals is the Description of a True Minister of Christ 6. For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand 7. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that
1. That Titus is not said to be settled in Crete as their fixed Bishop but left there in his Travels to settle fixed Bishops there The Scriptures tell us that Timothy Titus were Itinerant Evangelists that went about where Paul sent them to plant and settle Churches But the plain truth is that Apostles and such Evangelists as these where-ever they came had as great Authority as any meer Bishops and more and that they stayed in some Countrys longer than in others to settle the Churches and that the Churches after their Age thought it an honour to be their Charge and so called them their Bishops In which sense one Apostle might have twenty or forty Bishopricks as he planted and settled so many Churches But none of them were Bishops fixed and confined to one Church as those usually called Bishops then were so that to controvert whether Peter Paul Timothy Titus Luke c. were Bishops is a meer ignorant strife de nomine about the name while we are or easily may be agreed of the thing what work for those Churches they performed They were Bishops eminenter transient from Church to Church but he degradeth them that feigneth them affixed to any one as their sole and proper Flock 2. Note further That Titus ordaining Elders that is Bishops as Dr. Hammond noteth implieth the peoples consent for Titus had no forcing power 3. That Crete is said to have an hundred Cities in it being but a small Island and so must have an hundred Bishops if every City had one But doubtless Paul meaneth every City that had Christians in it enough to be a Church 4. That by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is meant any big Town such as our Corporations are and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oppidatim is meant from Town to Town where there is matter for a Church And Paul never meant by this to confine Bishops to Cities and forbid them to Villages but he nameth Cities or Towns because then no other places had Christians enow for a Church 5. Dr. Hammond thinks that these Bishops then were only the single Pastors of single Congregations having no Sub-Presbyters but Deacons 6. The ordering of things wanting was not adding to their Faith and Religion or making them a Book of Canons but seeing them reduced to the obedient and orderly practice of that which the Apostles every where taught and settled 6. If any be blameless the husband of one wife having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly 6. Note If God bless not the Education of his own Children 1. The Church would doubt of his Fidelity or whether God will bless his greater undertaking 2. And his Family would be a scandal to Religion 7. For a Bishop must be blameless as the steward of God not self-willed not soon angry not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre 7. Note That the same man is called a Bishop here who was called an Elder v. 5. If then they were distinct Offices Paul neglected to describe one of them which is not credible when he describeth Deacons Deaconesses Dr. Hammond confesseth that there were in Scripture-times no Subject-Presbyters save Bishops that were under the Apostolick Order but he thinks that Bishops had power from the Apostles to institute another Order of Presbyters under them afterwards But 1. Where is there any proof of that Must Church-Government cast out all Ministers who believe not such an unproved Assertion 2. It 's thus disproved Paul giveth Timothy and Titus sufficient Instructions what Officers to Ordain in the Church which Canons were to be a Guide to all after-Ages But Paul gave them no Instruction or Canon for the Instituting of any New Order between Bishops or Elders and Deacons Therefore it is not credible that any such power was then given to other Bishops which he gave not to Timothy and Titus But as to others who say that the Apostles and Evangelists were then the only Bishops I answer de re we confess that these had power to go about to gather and settle Churches and de nomine whether such may be called Bishops let them quarrel that have nothing else to do But besides them every Town or Church had then their own fixed Bishop one or more and Deacons If Diocesans or Metropolitans will be Successors of the Itinerant Apostles and Evangelists or General Bishops let them restore to every Church their particular proper Bishops and not make Pastors that have not the power of the Keys As for them that say Paul includeth both Orders under the same names Bishops and Presbyters I answer Paul useth not only the same name but the same description and so the Order or Office also must be the same and both Name and Thing the same 2. Bishops are God's Stewards entrusted to govern by his Law and not Lords of his Church or of their Faith 3. By self-willed is meant self-conceited proud men that must be pleased and have their own will and cannot become all things lawful to all men for their good but will silence and excommunicate and reproach those that are most careful to do God's will if they do but cross their Wills and Canons 4. Not soon angry rather an angry wrathful man The rest see on 1 Tim. 3. 8. But a lover of hospitality a lover of good men sober just holy temperate 8. But one that loveth to entertain men in his house a lover of goodness and good men of a sound and sober mind righteous holy as devoted to God continent and abstemious 9. Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers 9. Faithfully holding fast the word of Faith even that which we have preacht and taught from Christ that so he may be able to use sound doctrine both in Exhortation and in Confutation of Opposers 10. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers specially they of the circumcision 11. Whose mouths must be stopped who subvert whole houses teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucres sake 10 11. For there are many disorderly and unruly foolish vain talkers deceivers of mens Judgments specially those Jewish corrupt Christians before oft described Note That here it appeareth whom Paul meaneth in his Invectives in many Epistles even those mentioned Acts 15. that would have made Christianity but a Supplement to Moses Law and not Gnosticks only or chiefly Ebion and Cerinthus were of the worser degenerate sort of them and the Nicolaitans next 2 Note That Paul meaneth not stopping the Seducers mouths by force but by confutation by the word For Titus had no power of the Sword 3 Note That so great is the weakness and unstedfastness of many Christians that whole housholds may be subverted by the most gross deceivers If the Apostles Converts were such no wonder if ours be so 12 13. One of themselves even a prophet of their own said The Cretians are
hearts to the bottom and to discover and separate evil from good in the secretest thoughts and intents of the heart 13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do 13. It is as the Light from the Sun the word of that God before whose Eyes all hearts and things are in open view as a diffected body and such a searching Light is his Word with whom we have to do or which we are speaking of 14. Seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our profession 14. Having then so great a High Priest ascended into Heaven the Eternal Word who sendeth forth his searching Word who is able to save and help us or destroy us if we revolt Let us hold fast our professed Faith and Hope through all our Tryals 15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin 15. For we have not a High Priest that is so far from our natures and case as to be unconcerned and void of compassion towards us as much as we are toward the brutes but one that was man and tempted and persecuted as much as we but without sin Note That Temptation may be without sin It is not our sin meerly to be tempted 16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need 16. Let us therefore so fully trust to the sufficiency and mercy of our High Priest in the Heavens as to come though with filial Reverence yet with boldness in the belief of our acceptance that we may obtain mercy and find suitable and seasonable help in all our dangers and needs For God will yet be sought unto for all CHAP. V. 1. FOR every high priest taken from among men is ordrained for men in things pertaining to God that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins 1. For among men the High Priest that is one of them is a person consecrated to officiate for them God-wards or in things of their concernment towards God specially in offering Gifts and Sacrifices for sin 2. Who can have compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity 2. Who can the more compassionately offer for those sins of ignorance errour and weakness which the Law alloweth Sacrifice for as being liable to infirmity himself 3. And by reason hereof he ought as for the people so also for himself to offer for sins 3. And being liable to sin himself he must offer for his own sin as well as theirs 4. And no man taketh this honour unto himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron 4. And so Sacred an Office was not to be invaded by Usurpers without God's call for by it Aaron was made Priest 5. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest but he that said unto him Thou art my Son to day have I begotten thee 5. And Christ usurped not this honour but God gave it him who said Thou art my Son c. 6. As he saith also in another place Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec 6. And Psal 110. he saith Thou art c. Thou art a King and Priest as Melchisedec was and that for ever 7. Who in the days of his flesh when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared 7. Who in the Garden and on the Cross when he had offered Prayers with Agony sweating like Water and Blood and cryed out on the Cross Why hast thou forsaken me to him that could have prevented his death and all the pains which he feared not with any sinful distrust in God nor any opposition to his Fathers Will but from that strong aversation to suffering and death as such which is a property of Humane Nature and did consist with a full submission to his Fathers Will and consent to be a Sacrifice for us and he was heard in that he feared though he must first suffer before he was raised 8. Though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered 8. Though he was a Son and sinless yet did he by his suffering experimentally know and shew what it is to obey at the dearest raâ—e as absolutely subject to the Will of God 9. And being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him 9. And being consummate or made by the perfection of his performed part on Earth a perfect Redeemer he is in the fulness of Power in Heaven become the Author of Eternal Salvation by Intercession Pardon Communication of his Spirit and by actual Glorification to all that hearken to him and obey him Note 1. That these Texts do not intimate any privative imperfection in Christ's Knowledge or Obedience or any qualification before but a negative imperfection cannot be denyed to his Humane Nature As Adam new made knew not all sensible Objects remote as he did when they came before his senses so Christ in his Infancy and in the Stable at Bethlehem must not be supposed to know as man all that after he knew Yea himself saith that after he knew not the day and hour c. so he had no sensible experimental knowledge of passive Obedience before 2. He is said to be made perfect in two respects 1. In the perfect performance of his Work on Earth as any undertaker is called perfect when he hath perfected his undertaking 2. In his own perfection in Heaven 3. Obeying Christ is part of the condition of final Justification and Salvation 10 11. Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec Of whom we have many things to say and hard to be uttered seeing ye are dull of hearing 10 11. Of which Priesthood of Christ as compared to Melchisedec we have much to say which it is not easie to make intelligible by words to those that are so unprepared as you are by ignorance and a dull and slow understanding Note 1. All great Scripture Truths be not equally easie to be understood 2. It is the incapacity of hearers through dulness and want of preparatory knowledge which maketh Scripture and Teaching not understood 3. It is no uncharitable dishonouring of professed Christians but an undeniable thing to say that great numbers of them are dull hearers and by ignorance uncapable at the present of hard things 12. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God and are
become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat Note 1. Men ought to grow in knowledge according to the time they have to learn 2. Many after long Teaching are ignorant and must be taught again the same things which they have long ago heard 3. God's Oracles have Principles which must be first learnt 13. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness for he is a babe 14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil 13 14. Milk is the dyet for Babes and plain things for young and dull Christians harder things will but hurt them These are for them that by long study and practice have got preparatory knowledge and a habit of quick clear and sound discerning Truth and Errour Good and Evil. Note 1. People must be taught but according to their capacity 2. Harder things in Divinity must be taught them that have learned the easier and are fit for them But by hard things is not meant unnecessary curiosities of humane Arts nor unprofitable words or triffling controversies But 1. A more clear distinct and satisfying knowledge of the Evidence of the truth and sense of the Essentials 2. A more orderly knowledge of their method and mutual dependance as one Systeme that as in a Table or Scheme we may set each member in its proper place 3. A more extensive knowledge of the useful consequences of the Essentials and Principles CHAP. VI. 1. THerefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ let us go on unto perfection not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith towards God 2. Of the doctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands and of resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment 1 2. Therefore supposing the Principles of Christian Doctrine I now pass over such discourse and will go to lead you to some additional knowledge belonging to the more perfect not now discoursing of these Principles as to men that have not received them I mean 1. Repentance and Conversion from a state of Death and from Infidelity and a wicked ungodly life 2. A lively belief and trust in God the Father Son and Holy Ghost 3. The preparatory Baptism of John and the Baptism of Christ which constituteth us professed Christian what profession is prerequisite in the Adult and what Covenant it solemnizeth what Duties it binds us to and what Benefits it delivereth and sealeth 4. The great Gift to Christ's Apostles and Ministers of Authoritative Imposition of hands by which the same Holy Ghost was given to others and Miracles wrought for the confirmation and propagation of the Christian Faith 5. The certainty of a Resurrection and future Life including the Immortality of Souls 6. The final Judgment which will sentence men to their everlasting state and use them accordingly 3. And this will we do if God permit 3. And so I will now pass to some additional further Truths by God's assistance 4. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightned and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost 5. And have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come 6. If they shall fall away to renew them again unto repentance seeing they crucifie to themselves the Son of God afresh put him to an open shame 4 5 6. I will not now go back to Preach Regeneration to you that profess to be already regenerate though you are tempted to Apostacy For it is impossible for those that were illuminated to believe in Christ and were baptized and have not only heard of the signal Gifts of the Holy Ghost from Heaven but have themselves had an experimental tast thereof and been themselves partakers of the Holy Ghost as well as seen his miraculous Gifts in the Church and have had an inward experimental tast of the truth and goodness of the Gospel and the powerful preparations and hopes of the World to come If they shall really lose all this and fall from the belief of Christianity to regenerate or renew these men again to saving Repentance seeing after believing Christ to be the Messiah they are turned to take him for a Deceiver and Blasphemer and consent to the pretended Justness of his Crucifixion and so expose him by slander to the same reproach as his Crucifiers did Note 1. That the Apostle speaketh of no other falling away but to Infidelity denying Jesus to be the Christ 2. That it is not Temptation to Unbelief nor a degree of Unbelief mixt with Faith or doubting that he speaketh of but a forsaking and renouncing Christ 3. He speaketh not of the meer denyal of the Tongue in a passion or fear but of the renouncing Christ by heart and tongue 4. He speaketh not of the act of a man in madness or melancholy who is not himself but of a man's deliberate act that hath free use of reason 5. He speaketh of no Infidels or total Apostates but those that had themselves been partakers of the signal Gifts of the Holy Ghost and were convinced by experimental gust of the Truth 6. Therefore it must be noted that not only truly holy persons but abundance if not the greatest part that did but so believe as to imbody with the Church had then one sort or other of these miraculous or rare Gifts for Confirmation of the Gospel which made Christ Matth. 7. bring in the workers of iniquity as wonder-workers in his name and Paul Gal. 3.3 4 5. appealeth to the quarrelsom Galatians which way they had the Spirit and Miracles 7. That this must needs be the same Blasphemy of the Holy Ghost which Christ pronounceth unpardonable For they who had not only seen the Miracles but had the Holy Ghost themselves for some such wonders could not doubt of the matter of fact whether such Miracles were extant or not So that there was no possible way for such to turn Infidels but by believing that this Witness of the Spirit of Miracles was a false deceiving Testimony of Satan and not God's Testimony And this was the Blasphemy against the Spirit Mat. 12. 8. That it is not all that is here meant that such are not to be absolved by the Church which ought but to fore-judge as God will judge as far as they can But that also such can never truly be regenerate and saved 9. The reason is because God giveth Faith by means and the Witness of the Spirits signal Gifts is the last means for proof that God will give them and they that after receiving this reject it by such Blasphemy are forsaken by the Grace of the Spirit whom they blasphemously renounce 10. Crucifying Christ afresh importeth charging him to deserve Crucifixion as guilty of the deceit and blasphemy for which he was crucified So that none that believe not the Spirit 's Miracles in fact
these Performances being the Condition of your actual Salvation your Covenant Title will be compleat and you shall have sure entrance and full possession of the Kingdom of Glory 12. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things though ye know them and be established in the present truth 12. And holy Diligence and Improvement being so necessary to you I must not be negligent to put you in remembrance and stir you up to it though you know it already and believe it Note We have great need to be diligently stirred up to the remembrance and practice of that which we know already as well as to know more 13. Yea I think it meet as long as I am in this tabernacle to stir you up by putting you in remembrance 14. Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me 13 14. Note 1. The Body is but the Soul's Tabernacle 2. Ministers must never give over pressing known Truths while they live 3. The knowledge of approaching death must quicken us to diligence 15. Moreover I will endeavour that you may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance 15. Note That we must not be careful only for our own life time but for a Succession and Continuance of Truth and Godliness when we are dead lest it dye with us Therefore we write 16. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eye-witnesses of his majesty 16. For our Doctrine of the Glorious Coming and Kingdom of Christ is not a cunningly devised fable For we were eye witnesses of a glimpse of that Glory in his Transfiguration which he foretold us of as a resemblance of his last coming and his Kingdom 17. For he received from God the Father honour and glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased 17. For he then received in his humane nature a communicated splendour and celestial honour and glory when God from the Heavenly magnificent glory said This is my c. Note 1. It is the highest honour and perfection of a Creature to be Loved and Pleasing to God 2. Gods Testimony of his Son from heaven is our Great obligation to faith and obedience to him 18. And this voice which came from heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy mount 18. This voice three of us heard when we were with him in that mount which was sanctified by this glorious appearance and may well be called The holy mount 19. We have also a more sure word of prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts 19. And we have also in the Old Testament a firm prophetick word many prophets foretelling the Kingdom of Christ And ye do well to search and take notice of these as to a Light that was set up by God for the use of those darker ages to lead them to the Knowledge of Christ and so is very useful still till the clearer Preaching of that Gospel come and the Spirit of Christ as his agent and witness possess your hearts Note The word more sure signifieth not more sure than the Gospel but very sure Or more sure to the Jews than Peters bare word of the Transfiguration and voice on the mount 20. Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost 20 21. But this you must first know that no prophecy of Scripture is to be expounded as speaking only of those persons whom the speaker first meant whether himself or others nor according to the speakers proper private thought For the prophecy came not in old time by the Speakers own Wisdom Knowledge Invention or will but holy men of God were moved by Gods Spirit to speak those words which signified more than they designed or alwaies meant and understood themselves Note It seemeth strange to me that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proper or private interpretation should be commonly by excellent Expositors misinterpreted as if it spake of prâ—per or private expositors and so set men on disputing who must be the publick Expositor when the words plainly speak of proper or private sense or objective exposition As when David oft speaketh words which are immediately true of himself or of Solomom you must not expound them as meant properly of them who were private persons and but types For it was the Holy-Ghost speaking in them whose sense must be known who meant Christ the publick person as typified by the private of whom they were first verified And whether David as in Psal 2. 22. and such other meant more than himself and his Kingdom or not the Holy-Ghost meant more If Grotius were in the right that Isaâ— meant but Jeremy or Iosiah in Isa 53. it s certain that they were but typicall and the Holy-Ghost meant Christ So that the plain sense is that Scripture prophecy receiving its full sense from the Spirit and not from the Speaker must not in our exposition be appropriated narrowly to those private men by whom or of whom they were proximately meant by the Speaker CHAP. II. 1. BUT there were false prophets also among the people even as there shall be false teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction 1. But one of your great Tryals will be as theirs of old by false Prophets so by false Teachers who will rise up among your selves who will by secret seducing persons wiâ—h whom by familiarity they have advantage bring in Sects holding damnable Errours even by plain consequence denying Christ that bought them while they deny what is essential to his Person and Offices or teaching that he many be denyed with the Tongue in dangers for self-preservation because God will have mercy and not sacrifice as long as the heart doth not deny him Note 1. That all Christians have need to be fortified against false Teachers as well as against persecuting enemies 2. Christ is called The Lord that bought them not because they falsly profest that he bought them as some say but because he purchased and made to them a Deed of gift of Christ pardon and life to be theirs on Condition of believing acceptance And because they should not perish for want of a sufficient sacrifice for sin 2. And many shall follow their pernicious wayes by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of 2. And many that profest Christianity shall be seduced by them and follow their pernicious waies
Schismaticks Fanaticks Puritans Rebels against the Pope or Church that they may justifie their hating murdering imprisoning silencing and ruining them As the Scribes were loth to know who was their Neighbour so are these loth to know who is a Brother But God will know his Children though men call them by reproachful names Alas for the murderous Generation that preach write and strive to destroy the Upright and say they killed them or ruined them in Love that is they hated them in Love Woe to them when God shall judge them 3. Every degree of unjust Hurt or Hatred is a Breach of the Sixth Commandment But the meaning is not every degree or mistaking wrong is as bad as actual Murder or as sure a sign of Death Alas how few else would live 16. Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren 16. As God hath manifested his Love to us by laying down for us the Life of our Redeemer so if we be God's Children we must learn of him as to love our Enemies so if God should call us to it as needful to better ends than our lives to lay down our lives for Christian Brethren 17. But whoso hath this worlds good and seeth his brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him 17. And if Love must make us die for others surely those have no true Love to God and to the Brethren as God requireth who cannot lay down part of their abundance perhaps superfluity for them but while they are well able yet cannot find in their hearts to relieve them but shut up the bowels of their compassion from them Note O the dreadful account that many of the Rich must give that feast all the year while their poor Neighbours hunger and spend forty times more in needless house-keeping as they call their Luxury than on the Poor 18. My little children let us not love in word neither in tongue but in deed and in truth 18. Let not your Love be hypocritical which will bring forth no better fruit than good wishes and fair words but shew the truth of it by your cost and real helps 19. And hereby we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him 19. It is by such efficacy and real fruit that we must know that we are true Christians and not Hypocrites and must have assurance that our hearts are true to God 20. For if our heart condemn us God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things 21. Beloved if our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God 20 21. For if our Consciences tell us that our Love is barren and fruitless and so condemn us of Hypocrisie God is greater and more acquainted with our Hypocrisie than our Consciences But if our Conscience truly witness the sincerity of our Love by the fruits of it then this assurance of our Sincerity giveth us boldness towards God 22. And whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight 22. And if we do God's Will sincerely in obeying his Commands and the things that please him he will hear our Prayers and grant our just desires and give us that which is good for us whereas if we love iniquity and live therein God will not hear our Prayers Note They that deny that holy sincere Obedience is any condition of God's hearing our Prayers because Faith hath the promise contradict the scope of Scripture 23. And this is his commandment that we should believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another as he gave us commandment 23. And the sum of all this acceptable duty is but this To believe truly in Jesus Christ our Redeemer our Teacher King and Intercessor and to obey his great Command of Loving one another with all such God is pleased and heareth them 24. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him and he in him and hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us 24. And if we keep Christ's Commands of fruitful Love in Faith there is a near Communion between Christ and us we dwell in Christ as his Members and he dwelleth in us and his dwelling in us is by the Spirit of Love and Holiness the Seal of his Promise which he hath given us He that keepeth Christ's Commandments specially of Love hath his Spirit And Christ dwells where his Spirit dwells CHAP. IV. 1. BEloved believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world 1. There be many false Teachers who pretend to Revelation as Prophets who teach you the Doctrines of Sensuality Worldliness and Malice contrary to the Doctrine of Holiness and Love which I have taught you Therefore believe not that every man speaketh by God's Spirit who pretendeth to it nor that every strong suggestion in your selves is from God's Spirit which seemeth such before you try it But try all pretences of the Spirit whether they come indeed from the Spirit of God or rather from Satan or mens own imagination corrupted by pride Qu. How shall we justly try Spirits or spiritual pretences Ans By somewhat that is more easily known and no otherwise And that is two things 1. The common certain notices of the Light and Law of Nature 2. By the Infallible words of the Spirit in Christ and his Apostles and Prophets For both these are the sure Word of God who doth not contradict himself Our gifts of the Spirit are lower than the Apostles and must be tryed by theirs which were given them to record a Rule for us 2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God 3. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that spirit of Antichrist whereof you have heard that it should come and even now already is it in the world 2 3. By this you shall know whether these Pretenders speak from the Spirit of God For the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Christ sent by him to be his Advocate and plead his Cause and do his Work in the World and therefore beareth witness of him If therefore these Teachers truly and openly in the face of danger do own profess and preach Christ Jesus as the Incarnate Word and Son of God sent from Heaven to redeem teach rule and save us this Doctrine is of the Spirit of God But if they deny the Godhead or Manhood of Christ or that he is indeed the true Incarnate Saviour Prophet Priest and King or will not own him in hazards or sufferings but deny him to save the flesh and teach men so to do
into some sins that are to be punished with Bodily Death or â—hame Magistrates must put to death Murderers and other capital Offenders and when Magistrates do it not God will oft times do it without them himself as he did on Ananias and Sapphira and others In this case if one be to be executed by Justice or be under God's Justice that will put him to death you may pray for his Soul but you must not pray for his Life though he repent because it is against God's Law and the common Good And if you should pray for the Recovery of such a man in Sickness God hath not promised you to recover him No nor any of his own Children when their dying time is come 18. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself and that wicked one toucheth him not 18. We know that all that are born of God hate sin and overcome it in the course of their lives and live in no reigning sin which is predominant but only hated infirmities which consist with sincere predominant Faith Obedience and Repentance nor have any sin at all so far as they have the Divine Nature but they watchfully keep themselves from the prevalence of Satan's snares 19. And we know that we are of God and the whole world lieth in wickedness 19. And though Christ's Flocks here be less than the World we see by experience that we are of God guided by his Spirit obeying his Laws pleasing his Will living to him and hoping for his Glory and that the unconverted World is wholly set on wickedness and mischief so notorious is the difference between the faithful and the ungodly World which foretells the future difference 20. And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ This is the true God and eternal life 20. In a word by all aforesaid we are certain of the truth of our Religion We are sure that the Son of God is come and Christ is he and by his Doctrine and Spirit hath enlightned us to know the true and only God and his Will and we are by faith and the Spirit planted into him who is the Truth even into Jesus Christ So that we are sure it is the true God that we believe and serve and the Gift and Title to Eternal Life that by Christ we do receive 21. Little children keep your selves from idols Amen 21. I speak to you in love as if you were my own Children but with care of you as to your weakness and what temptations the Idolatrous World assaults you with As Christ hath called you out of the World from Idolatry which you have renounced as you love God and your Saviour and your Souls hold close to Christ and return not to Idols nor partake of their Sacrifices nor seem to own them by Idolatrous Communion Amen The Second Epistle of JOHN the Apostle 't is most commonly thought but not certain 1. THe elder unto the elect lady and her children whom I love in the truth and not I only but also all they that have known the truth 2. For the truth's sake which dwelleth in us and shall be with us for ever 1 2. Note It seems this was some choice Woman that was a great support and helper to the Christians and eminent in Piety and stedfastness in the Faith Though some few groundlesly think that it was some Church that he calleth Lady 3. Grace be with you mercy and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Father in truth and love 3. Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father and Christ the Son are the true unvaluable Blessings I wish you to confirm you in the two great parts of Religion Truth and Love 4. I rejoyced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth as we have received a commandment from the Father 4. I greatly rejoyced that I found thy Children both holding fast the Christian Truth and living in the practice of it as the Father commanded us to preach and do 5. And now I beseech thee lady not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee but that which we had from the beginning that we love one another 5. The sum of my writing to thee is not any Novelty but the old great Law of Christ Be sure that we keep up true Christian Love which Satan is an Enemy to 6. And this is love that we walk after his commandments This is the commandment that as ye have heard from the beginning ye should walk in it 6. And the Love in which we all must live is our Union and Concord in keeping his Commandments even the same Gospel which from the beginning was committed to us For both new and false Doctrines and a sinful life do break the Union and Peace of Christians 7. For many deceivers are entred into the world who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh This is deceiver and an antichrist 7 For there are many Hereticks now come to that deceiving pass that they deny Christ himself either his Godhead or Manhood or Office or Work yea his Incarnation as if his Body were but a Fantasm These are Deceivers and Antichrists 8. Look to your selves that we lose not those things which we have wrought but that we receive a full reward 8. Look to your selves with watchful care that no temptation draw you to back-slâ—de and you lose all your former belief and labour nor we our ministerial labour on you but hold on that you and we may attain that full Reward that we seek 9. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son 9. As it was by the Doctrine of Christ that you were brought into your blessed Knowledge and Relation to the Father and the Son so if you fall from that Doctrine you will fall from God himself to whom by Christ you are reconciled But if you abide in Christ's Doctrine you will continue your Relation to the Father and the Son 10. If there come any unto you and bring not this Doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed 11. For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds 10 11. As for those Hereticks and Apostates that deny the Gospel or any Essential Part of Christianity shew them no encouraging Countenance Familiarity or Communion otherwise you will be guilty as Partners in their sin 12. Having many things to write unto you I would not write with paper and ink but I trust to come unto you and speak face to face that our joy may be full 13. The children of thy elect sister greet thee Amen 12 13. Note 1. Presence maketh
friendly Converse the more comfortable 2. By Elect Sister here again some think he meaneth another Church but it cannot be proved The Third Epistle of JOHN 't is most likely the Apostle 1 THe elder unto the well beloved Gaius whom I love in the truth 2. Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth 1 2. My love to thee for the Truths sake which thou adherest to maketh me wish earnestly that as thy Soul prospereth so may thy Bodily Health for the service of God and thy Soul 3. For I rejoyced greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee even as thou walkest in the truth 3. Note 1. Soul-Mercies are the greatest Mercies and matters of greatest joy for one another 2. Good Reports of our Brethren is a duty tending to the comfort of Ministers and Friends 4. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth 4. Note True Ministers rejoyce more for the welfare of men's Souls than in Preserments Wealth or Worldly Honour 5. Beloved thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren and to strangers 6. Which have born witness of thy charity before the church 5. It is well done of thee as a sincere Christian that thou shewest so much love and help both to the Brethren of the Church with thee and to Strangers in their Banishment and Travels Which divers have here testified before the Church to thy praise 6. Whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort thou shalt do well 7. Because that for his name's sake they went forth taking nothing of the Gentiles 6 7. And if thou further furnish and help them in their Travel it will be a laudable Christian Duty doing as to God's Servants who for Christ's Name sake went out of their Country to preach abroad or were persecuted out and took nothing of the Gentile Christians towards their Maintenance in their Travels 8. We therefore ought to receive such that we might be fellow-helpers to the truth 8. To entertain and further such is part of our duty for the propagating of the Gospel He that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall have a Prophet's reward 9. I wrote unto the church but Diotrephes who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them receiveth us not 9. I wrote for them to the Church my Testimonial and desire of their Reception but their Bishop Diotrephes who loveth to rule as pre-eminent among them receiveth nor us Jews or my Letters and Request to the Church for them 10. Wherefore if I come I will remember his deeds which he doth prating against us with malicious words and not content therewith neither doth he himself receive the brethren and forbiddeth them that would and casteth them out of the Church 10. Note 1. By remembring his deeds and words is meant sharp rebuking him before all at least 2. It 's like that this Diotrephes was Pastor or Bishop else he could not have cast such out of the Church At least he was some great man that usurpt that Power But sure no Lay-man did so early usurp the Keys 3. By this we see that the Pride of domineering Bishops began early to be Schismatical and divide the Church by Tyranny Yea it grew arrogant to oppose and reject the Beloved Apostle and maliciously to prate against him There is no Man or Cause so good but a malicious Bishop or other man may prate against it As there are few Mutinies dangerous in Armies unless headed by some Commanders so there are few Schisms much dangerous in the Church but those that are headed by Bishops or Clergy-men 4. It is uncertain whether it was to receive them to Communion or only to Hospitality that Diotrephes opposed But it 's like it was both because he cast out their receivers from Communion 5. It is not certain whether he did it on any difference of Opinion or occasional quarrel but it is most like it was that he was a Gentile Christian and too much despised the Jews as they censured and separated too much from the Gentiles Rom. 14. Gal. 2. Thus Separation on both sides soon began and even Peace-making Apostles could not be heard by the dividers 11. Beloved follow not that which is evil but that which is good He that doth good is of God but he that doth evil hath not seen God 11. Imitate not such proud hurtful uncharitable dividing Examples whatever it pretend to a hurtful uncharitable course is not of God such are not true Believers and know not God aright But it is doing good that must shew that we are of God By their fruit ye shall know them Note Clergy Roman Cruelty by Inquisitions Prisons Ejecting true Ministers c. shews that they are not of God though they pretend Power Order Unity Faith as if it were for God and Truth 12. Demetrius hath good report of all men and of the truth it self yea and we also bear record and ye know that our record is true 12. Both common report and his own good works and our true Witness commend Demetrius 13 14. I had many things to write but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee But I trust I shall shortly see thee and we shall speak face to face Peace be to thee Our friends salute thee Greet the friends by name 13 14. Note Kind Remembrances and Greetings are suitable to Christian Friendship The General Epistle of JUDE most probably the Apostle 1. JUDE the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James to them that are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ and called 2. Mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied 1 2. Note Men being judged of according to their professioâ—â— all Christians are called sanctified persons 3. Beloved when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints 3. Note 1. The common Salvation signifieth but tâ—aâ— way to Salvation which all must go in that will be savâ—d God's high-way to Heaven Christ and his Gospel 2. The Apostles writing more against Hereticks and Jews than Heathens tells us that the Church hath more cause usually to defend the Truth against pretended Religious Zealots and Sects that are erroneous than against open Pagans who are not animated by so much blind Zeal against them therefore they know not the Churches case who fear none but pâ—ophane Enemies 3. Though Love and Meekness may be predominant in Christians earnest contending for the Faith against corrâ—pting Hereticks is oft a duty But if this be pretended for odious Censures Excommunications Persecutions or dividing Contentions against Christians of the same Faith for their differences about lesser things and for tolerable imperfections or for doubting of unnecessary Opinions Ceremonies
For in one hour so great riches is come to nought 14 15 16 17. Rome's Pride and Sensuality found all the Countries money for all sorts of commodities whose Market ceaseth by her destruction 17. And every ship master and all the company in ships and sailers and as many as trade by sea stood afar off 18. And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning saying What city is like unto this great city 19. And they cast dust on their heads and cried weeping and wailing saying Alas alas that great city wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness for in one hour is she desolate 17 18 19. The Fall of the Pagan Power and Religion being the Political Life of the City is thus represented in Vision to John under the shew of the burning of the City-buildings as our Eyes saw London burning three days 1666. Septemb. 2 3 and 4th Or say others The Fall of Rome Papal was thus represented But others say that Rome Papal shall be thus really burnt and destroyed 20. Rejoice over her thou heaven and ye holy apostles and prophets for God hath avenged you on her 20. It was this same Roman Idolatrous Power which murdered the Holy Apostles and many Prophets that are now in Heaven And they shall rejoice in the vindictive justice of God And so shall the Church on earth Not as it is revenge on private enemies but as it is Gods publick deliverance of his Church and vindication of his truth and Cause and Glory 21. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great milstone and cast it into the sea saying Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all 21. The Pagan Empire was never again restored for Julian did but begin to attempt it and was kill'd before he could so much as lay any foundations for it Yea Rome was never more the seat of the Empire much less of the Pagan Empire For Constantine did but as it were take up his quarters there for a short time and remove the seat to Constantinople And his Successours in the West had but the lesser part of the Empire and were sometimes at Rome and somtime at Millan and sometimes at Ravenna and after in France and Germany 22. And the voice of harpers and musicians and of pipers and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee and no craftsman of whatsoever craft he be shall be found any more in thee and the sound of a milstone shall be heard no more at all in thee 23. And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee for thy merchants were the great men of the earth for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived 22 23. Thus as by the Emblem of a City totally ruined and deserted was the Fall of Pagan Rome represented to John And that you may know that it was not the burning and desertion of the material buildings that is meant he now tells you that by the merchants he meant the Nations that consented to and upheld her Idolatry and power 24. And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all that were slain upon the earth 24. God dealt thus severely with her because she had not only been the murderer of Apostles Prophets and the primitive Christians at Rome and abroad in all her Dominions in upholding her Idols but as Jerusalem had by imitating former persecutors justified them and so suffereth for all The considering of Dan. 7.11 Jer. 51.63 25.10 Ezek. 17.13 Ezek. 27.12 13. Will help to expound all this Others say It is Papal Rome and how the blood of Apostles and Prophets was found in her they tell us from Matth. 23.35 And how the blood of Saints will be found in her is easily proved CHAP. XIX 1. ANd after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven saying Halleluiah salvation and glory and honour and power unto the Lord our God 1. The Saints in Heaven and the Christians on earth gave Praise to God and glorified him for this great work 2. For true and righteous are his judgments for he hath judged the great whore which did corrupt the earth with her fornication and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand 3. And again they said Allelujah and her smoke rose up for ever and ever 2 3. They glorified God for holy and amiable justiceâ— and destroying the Mother of Idolatry and nest of Luxury and cruelty God will have great Glory by destroying the persecutors and wicked and in delivering his Saints and in the Freedom of the Gospel 4. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne saying Amen Allelujah 4. And the consenting Praises of the Church especially of Christian Jews was represented to me under the ost-mentioned similitude of the Temple-Worship where the Twelve Tribes were doubly represented by twelve Oxen and twelve Lions and four Cherubims were about the Mercy-Seat Jews and Gentile Christians praise God for the Fall of Babylon 5. And a voice came out of the throne saying Praise our God all ye his servants and ye that fear him both small and great 5. And God himself and his Ministers called to all his Church to joyn in these his Praises 6. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude and as the voice of many waters and as the voice of mighty thunderings saying Allelujah for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth 7. Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready 8. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white for the fine linnen is the righteousness of Saints 6 7 8. And the raising of the Catholick Church in numbers and extent and power to the visible Glory of Christ was represented to me by the Voice as of a great multitude c. saying Praise the Lord for his Kingdom is coming in Power and his Church shall be promoted by the Rulers of the Earth and the Kingdoms of the World shall be visibly the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ And Christ and his Church will appear to the World in Honour and Joy as Marriages use to be celebrated And the Catholick Church shall be clothed with the notes of Honour and Purity or Righteousness or shall publickly worship him in his instituted Ordinances 9. And he saith unto me Write Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage-supper of the Lamb And he saith unto me These are the true sayings of God 9. Happy are they that shall see the fall of Babylon and the Deliverance and Advancement of the Christian Church and shall
Judgment and so of our final Salvation 4. In that sincere Holiness and Obedience is the very matter that must justifie men against the virtual or actual accusation of Satan that they were not holy and obedient but ungodly or hypocrites As Faith it self is the matter of our Justification against the accusation that we were not Believers Now James speaketh of no other Faith than Paul doth But 1. He speaketh of another thing under the name of Works 2. And he speaketh of a working Nature in Faith for our Justification begun and of the Deeds themselves as needful to its continuance And in a word he speaketh of such Justification by no sort or works 1. In opposition to Christ or free Grace or 2. In coordination with him 3. But in meer instituted subordination to him And no Christian must ascribe to any Faith Works or act of Man the least part of the Office of Christ CHAP. III. 1. MY brethren be not many masters knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation 1. And as I thus admonish you against the Errour of Hypocrites who take their dead Opinions and Professions for a Justifying Faith so must I do against another Vice which that sort of Hypocrites are guilty of Their Pride and Self-conceit maketh them think that their knowledge is much higher than other Christians and that they are the fittest men to be Teaching Masters and Reprovers and so they are all forwarder to Teach and Magisterially Censure others and use their Tongue to contemn others as short of them in knowledge and to boast of themselves and all their Talk runs in a Teaching and not a Learning way But I warn you to avoid this proud and masterly spirit for it will make your sin the greater and without excuse and increase your condemnation 2. For in many things we offend all If any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body 2. Your zeal goeth out by censuring others as great sinners in comparison of you perhaps for not observing your Ceremonies and Traditions or not taking you for their Teaching Masters But fear sin in your selves yea lest your censorious reproachful unbridled Tongues should prove worse than that which you censure others for He that hath most power to rule his Tongue and sinneth not in words is like to be the most perfect Christian and can rule his actions by the same Obedience and Wisdom which doth rule his Tongue 3. Behold we put bitts in the horses mouths that they may obey us and we turn about their whole body 3. As we rule the whole bodies of Horses by a Bridle in the mouth so could you bridle your mouths it would both signifie a power to rule your lives and much promote this 4. Behold also the ships which though they be so great and are driven of fierce winds yet are they turned about with a very small helm whithersoever the governour listeth 4. So the Pilot by so small a thing as the Helm ruleth great Ships that are under the force of Winds 5. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasteth great things 5. And man's Tongue is but a small part of the body though it boast great things and the Government of that little member is a great part of the Government of the man 5 6. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth And the tongue is a fire a world of iniquity so is the tongue amongst our members that it defileth the whole body and setteth on fire the course of nature and it is set on fire of hell 5 6. The Tongue in the body and the World is like fire among much combustible matter As a little fire kindleth much so this little member doth both kindle defiling passions and guilt in our own bodies and also kindle hatred rage and strife in the World and set on fire the Societies and Affairs of Mankind in the World being it self set on fire by the Devil and used by hellish temptations to hellish designs in diabolical employment 7. For every kind of beasts and of birds and of serpents and things in the sea is tamed and hath been tamed of mankind 8. But the tongue can no man tame 7 8. For all sorts of Animals have been mastered by Man But the Tongue of another who can master when we have so much ado to subdue our own 8 9. It is an unruly evil full of deadly poison Therewith bless we God even the Father and therewith curse we men which are made after the similitude of God 10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing 8 9. It is to us and in the World an unruly evil till Grace shall tame it and infecteth our selves and the societies where we live with the mortal Poison of many great sins The same Hypocrites who praise God and worship him with it do reproach their Brethren with it not only Men that have some of Gods Image in their natural faculties but those that are Gods true Servants better than themselves who are renewed to Gods Image in Holiness by Grace 10. 11. My brethren these things ought not so to be Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter 12. Can a fig-tree my brethren bear olive-berries either a vine figs so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh 10 11 12. Do you not perceive that your ill reproachful Tongues which vilifie speak evil of and condemn good Christians for not being of your minds do confute themselves when the same Tongues profess to honour God and boast of Wisdom and Religion in your selves If you were as Wise and Godly as you profess your Tongues would not by speaking ill of your Brethren shew the contrary No Fountain sends forth sweet water and bitter fresh and salt no Fig tree brings sorth Olives The tree is known by its fruits 13. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge amongst you let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom 13. Are any among you indeed as much wiser and knowing and excelling others as you would be thought when you censure or despise them Shew it if you would have any wise man believe you not by proud boasting or talking against others but by the true fruits of the Spirit even a better conversation than theirs in all your dealings and by more good works with that humble meekness which signifieth true Wisdom 14. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts glory not and lie not against the truth 15. This wisdom descendeth not from above but is earthly sensual devilish 14 15. But if you have a bitter Zeal and envy and uncharitable heart-rising and strife against your Brethren pretending truth Orthodoxness or Religion for your swelling envy and emulation and talking and preaching down Love and Peace to make those that differ from your side to seem hateful or contemptuous in comparison of
you your profession of greater knowledge and religiousness is but proud boasting and lying against the truth This Wisdom and this Preaching and Course is not of God not such as he will own It is from an earthly and sensual Principle your own praise or profit or Magisterial will or some carnal interest is at the root if you could know your selves you might see this Yea it is so far from excelling others that it is a devilish Wisdom a Devilish Zeal and Devilish Preaching and disputing which you glory in 16. For where envying and strife is there is confusion and every evil work 16. For where envious Zeal and Strife prevail there is still Faction and unquietness or Sedition Tumults and unsetledness still for change and this cherisheth all sorts of evil works which men will think to be all good or lawful to serve their contentious Zeal and to further their changes and carnal ends 17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated full of mercy good fruits without partiality and without hyprocrisie 18. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace 17 18. But if you would know among the several pretenders whose knowledge and religiousness and zeal is from above the fruit of the Spirit which God will own These are the sure marks of it 1. It is first for true purity of heart and life It will not chuse sin on any pretence so far as men can know it If any be for wilful deliberate conformity to sin or for a loose and sensual life or against serious godliness and a holy heavenly sober and just life this is not from the Spirit of God 2. It is next to this addicted to peace and will seek it by all lawful means 3. It is addicted to put the best sense of another man's case and to a gentle and not a rigid censorious Judgment 4. Easily yielding to good persuasions and not stiff in ill Opinions or ways 5. Full of mercy to others and of all good works or fruits to his power as being devoted to do good 6. Without censorious partiality as Sectaries that can see nothing but what seemeth to make for their own Party and Opinions or without a wavering unresolvedness in the Christian Religion 7. Without Hypocrisie or false pretendings And though the erroneous and contentious in both extreams do use to vilifie or abhor Peace-makers who serve God according to this supernal Wisdom yet these men who labour to make peace are sowing in this work of peace the fruit of true Righteousness as guiltless of the crimes of the extream contenders and of the tumults caused by them And when the Harvest of God's Judgment cometh they shall reap this fruit to themselves And if the Countreys where they live are worthy of such fruit they must reap it from this seed of peace-making labours CHAP. IV. 1. FRom whence come wars and fightings among you come they not hence even of your lusts that war in your members 1. The Jews are in frequent Seditions and fightings among themselves in which many erroneous Christians joyn with the unbelievers in a blind Zeal for their Law and Nation And do you think it is from true Zeal that their Wars arise No it is from their own sensual worldly lusts that first war in themselves and then disturb the common peace 2. Ye lust and have not ye kill and desire to have and cannot obtain ye fight and war yet ye have not because ye ask not 2. You Covet and fight and kill in your mistaken desires of your Law and Liberties and you do but lose your blood and labour by going your own sinful way and not seeking to God for Counsel conduct and success who must give all good and that in his own way 3. Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss that you may consume it upon your lusts 3. Yea you will be Religious in your sin and make your Prayers to God for deliverance from the Roman Power and for your Countrys Liberty But they are carnal Prayers and God rejecteth them for it is but that you may live in great Plenty Power and Pleasure enjoying sensual prosperity that you pray to God for your deliverance 4. Ye adulterers and adulteresses know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God 4 You that by your perfidiousness to God are like perfidious adulterers loving the World best whilst God is in your mouths know ye not that this love of the World as his Competitor is enmity to God and that he is God's Enemy that so loveth it predominantly 5. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envie 5. Is it not true which the Scripture saith of the evil inclination of Mans Heart as lusting after worldly Pomp and Pleasure and to envy and strife that they may obtain it 6. But he giveth more grace wherefore he saith God resisteth the proud but giveth grace unto the humble 6. But Gods Grace is of a contrary tendency and would teach you better things but he giveth it to the humble and not to the proud for he is against such as it s said c. 7. Submit your selves therefore to God resist the devil and he will flee from you 7. If ye would be delivered and live in safety submit your selves to Gods Government and Will and go the way which he prescribeth Conquer Satan and you need not fear his forces and do but resolutely resist him and you conquer him 8. Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you cleanse your hands ye sinners and purifie your hearts ye double-minded 9. Be afflicted and mourn and weep let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness 10. Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up 8 9 10. Draw nigh to that God against whom you have rebelled and he will draw nigh to you for your deliverance and will not forsake you Cleanse your hands by Reformation from your sins and your hearts from your halting between God and the World Bewail your former sin by self-afflicting mourning and weeping Turn your sensual pleasures into godly sorrow and your carnal mirth into penitent tears Humble your selves before that God whom you have offended and then he will lift you up and save you better than your Seditions 11. Speak not evil one of another brethren he that speaketh evil of his brother and judgeth his brother speaketh evil of the law and judgeth the law but if thou judge the law thou art not a doer of the law but a judge 11. And give over your reproach and censoriousness against the Gentile Christians that do not observe your Ceremonial Law by which you encourage their Persecutors for both the Law of Christ and the Law of