to them that trust in him when those who have either added to or taken from his words shall be reproved and be found to have been lying ones And I do hope there will be a pure every way uncorrupt Autograph or Apograph of the Scriptures of Truth Neither am I without some Words of the LORD upon which to bottom Faith Expectation and Prayer concerning this matter a great and a glorious Work highly and fully worth the most serious and diligent search after by Christian Princes by Learned Men and by Eminent Believers Spiritual Discerners should know how to take and to improve this hint which I had rather they themselves would industriously pursue than at present put me upon any further opening of my thoughts with the grounds of those my apprehensions in such an Age of quarrelsome jangling of endless contentiousness and of lips of folly In the mean time till there be this glorious appearing of Christ and of his Book according to Prophetical Revelations I bless his Name for himself and for his Word and for any gracious Work of his Word upon my heart having felt a day of his Power there whereby he has made me willing to stand in some holy awe of him and of his Word and to dispense it in some growing measures as I have received it in uprightness as of God in the presence of God so speaking it in Christ If any will so sell this Word of God as to falâ—â—e it by corrupting it any ways by dealing deceitfully with it by playing the Hucksters with it adulterating and sophisticating of it by mingling of Philosophick Errors and Humane Inventions and Unwritten Traditions with it Thus to make the market of their own private gain upon some ignorant deluded soul by their crafty handling and covetous dispensing of it by false glosses and counterfeit garnishes giving forth wrong senses and making undue applications of it raising false Doctrines and inferring ill uses from thence let such consider in the fear of Jehovah how they will answer it at that last Great Day when they shall be judged to their Eternal Estate by that Word which they have so much wrested and wronged O how great cause have they to inlarge in Jehovah's praises who having in their younger years taken in much of the Philosophick taint were afterwards by his Spirit and Grace cured of its gross mistakes and dangerous errors that a Moses escaped from out of Egyptian Astrology Sorcery and such other superstitious diabolical Arts That a Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah got so well off from Chaldaick Books so full of vain Arts and of Idolatrous Sciences that Aelohim gave them Knowledge and Understanding to discern Truth from Falshood whereby to convince and to confute Ethnick Errors and Paganish Tenets and that they were so kept from prohibitell Magick and such black Arts That the new converted Christians were preserved and antidored by the Principles and Laws of their true pure Religion from and against the poysonous disputes of Epicureans Stoicks Libertines Gnosticks and such other Philosophers That a Paul so 〈◊〉 up in several corrupt 〈◊〉 was afterwards so savingly inlightned so sound in Scripture Learning so skilful so useful so successful a Preacher O what special matter of great thankfulness was there here Vain man would be wise above and besides and against what is written although Wo be threatried against those who are wise in then own eyes The wisdom of such shall perish There is a knowledge that is vain which a wise a man should not utter The worldly wise ones of Philosophers do irride the Christian Religion and of Polititians do hate it O the blessedness the happy goings on with a straight foot of them who are made Wise to Salvation It has been in all Ages of the Church the device and the attempts of Saran and of his Disciples to abuse men by paralogisms by such false reasonings as by a shew and colour of Truth do circumvent the unskilful and unexperienced in the Word of Righteousness And their assaults have been mainly made against the Churches and People of God under specious shews of Reason and of Religion to introduce somewhat that is quite contrary to the Nature Purity and Simplicity of the Christian undefiled Doctrine Hence have they endeavoured to thrust in the worshiping of Angels and of Saints departed by invocating of them by dedicating of Temples and of Altars to them by making vows to them with many other uninstituted Observations of humanely-invented Ceremonies and divers Philosophical trifles which are no authorized warranty nor legitimate argumentation from the Word of God nor from sound Reason judiciously informed thereby Oh how daring bold is humane curiosity that will adventure to be wise beyond due bounds of sober knowledge when men will presume to be Doctors not understanding what they speak nor of what they affirm The Schoolmen with the Papists and others who have trod in the steps of those Scholastick Doctors have generally greatly erred herein by obtruding upon others many Forgeries and falshoods for Articles of Christian Faith which were taught themselves only by the dark discoursings of their own blind minds such as are their Scientia media their free-will their inherent Righteousness their meritorious Works their creature-idolizings with such like dogmatical decrees and received opinions of proud men which they fetched out of the Metaphysicks of Philosophers and out of the Ethicks of Pagans from whose corrupt Principles they would deduce the great Truths and the saving Mystesteries of the Christian Religion bottoming their unsound conclusions upon their own sandy opinions thus subjecting Theology to Philosophy and Christianity to Sophistry Those Books which are commonly called Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy or the Book of Moses and of his Writings there have the approving Testimony of those true faithful Prophets that did follow after him as also of the LORD Jesus Christ himself and of his Apostles and the History of the Creation and of the Works thereof in the Beginning of the Bible is true in the literal sense and was intended and recorded so to be understood and all those Philosophical Allegorical and Mystical Senses which any do give thereof that are contrary unto this are to be avoided and rejected THis is the first revealed and written Word the most Ancient Book by which all Humane Treatises where they err must be corrected I exclude not any other part of Holy Scriptures but do own all through as a perfect Summary of all useful Learning and do bring them in for the confirmation of Truths only the Reader is to remember and consider that one great part of my present Design is to propound some such particular inquiries concerning the Works of Creation in the several Days of the first Week of the World and to give such a Scripture Judgement upon some special Cases as may restaur and advance true profitable Knowledges and Arts. Christ in his Word hath put his
inventions and against themselves for those merely humane excogitates in the Judicatory Courts of their own Intellect and Conscience and have thereby openly renounced and quitted their former usurped Authority by which they too long and too much imposed upon the over-credulity of blinded minds But what shall such a traditionary receiving of corrupt notions never have an end put unto it shall the opinionative conceits and the conjectural ratiocinations of deceived deceiving men be still handed down from one to another Such Methods of Arts and Systems of Sciences and forms of Learning and Schemes of Knowledges as are besides and against the word of Aelobim are either not according to Truth and so they teach that falshood which would be unlearn'd or do not direct to usefulness and so they cause loss by mis-spent time which is not so soon redeemed Their Science is but falsly so called it doth not answer to its name it doth belie its own usurped title by their professourships such would give themselves out to be some of the most knowing of men and diligent seekers after the Truth yet they they miss the mark they pretend to aim at they rove and err like unskilful shooters they go aside from sound Doctrine and from a right belief of that which is the Truth though they would loudly cry boastingly clamour a profoundness of Learning by puzling wordings and painted sayings where neither is the Matter useful nor the inquiry worth while nor the Controversie weighty nor speculation improveable to any spiritual gain so that it neither well informs nor nourishingly feeds the serious Student it is an artificial desire of mens own brains having no foundation in the Word of God and tending to profaneness making a great noise but leaving an emptiness after the manner of Sophisters Let not the ingenious Reader be offended if I open the significancy of some Scripture words and phrases to take him off from giving an idolizing reverence unto such humane fallible Authors as would insinuate a crediting of their cheating Arts and draw on a belief of their deceitful Sciences by a cogging device and cunning trick in a ready dexterity of wicked wittiness handling every subject matter they do discourse or treat of with crafty conveyances and circumventing windings up and down in and out turning every way by over-reaching methods and hidden wiles to seduce unwary travellers into errour and to insnaâ—e them into some misapprehension to divert their minds from truthing it in love Whoever do pursue them will find them at the last to be erring in Theory failing in practice fruitless in experience after much expence of difficult labour and of chargeable travel The wild little fancy of vain foolish man would be setting up a new imaginary world of Artals and of Scientificks which are his own formed Ideas and speculated conceits and modelled opinionativeness and then would not only make an Idol of self to fall down before its own mis-shapen Image and to fail in love with its own empty shadow but would also set it up before others that they may worship it too which has been for so many ages of the world the grand design and the too far prevailing attempt of Enthusiastick Phantasms of Humane Magistralities of self-weaved Ratiocinations of forced Extractions of indulged Sensations and of unsetling Scepticisms which six have laid some of the most claim to the highest advance of Humane Learning though their Arts and Sciences have been hitherto so far from being really in their nature or use liberal that they have been some of the most tyrannous enslavers of mens judgements and imprisoning fetters of their understanding How many thousands have by their wandring after such misguiders left and lost their way in the dark where their Souls have been filled with troublesome doubts and with tormenting fears exposing them to violent temptations of Atheism and Unbelief and what wonder that it is thus with the Scholar when some of the learnedest of the Masters themselves have resolved upon this as the conclusion of all their knowledge that All things are matter of doubtful questionings and are intricated with knotty difficulties and do pass into amazing uncertainties and resolve into cosmical suspicions And this not only is the deliberate Judgement of particular Virtuoso's in our day but has been the publick determination of an whole University if there be truth in those Historical Records that do report them to us even with those has it thus been so who made proficiencie in Arts and progress in Sciences to be the subject of their profession the matter of their inquiry and the design of their studiousness How manifold the inconveniences how mischievous the effects of this have been if the Readers Spirit would not be exasperated thereby might be soon inlarged upon for the Writer would not provoke or inrage mens passions but would come in words of truth and of soundness to hold forth a Scripture Light before such as are of a temperate and sober understanding and of a serious considering spirit The hurt that has been done to my own soul and the scars that are visibly upon me by my ill-chosen-studies and misemployed hours heretofore though in a way of some diligence do stir up some compassions in me towards others to indeavour the preventing or curing of the like spreading distemper in their understandings the infectiousness of which disease in mens intellects has been hitherto little suspected and its dangerousness less felt And therefore if in faithful plainness I do oppose paganish or Ethnick Philosophy let it be once more remembred that where-ever this expression is found or such other words relating to the same matter in this Treatise I mean thereby that vainly affected humane wisdom which was invented by Pagans by Heathens or by Satan who taught it unto such by such as had not the sound saving knowledge of Jehovah Aelohim or of His word but did write besides it and contradictorily to it and so far as this kind of Philosophy is still retained and defended by any Christians For this is that which has so anticipated mens minds with such corrupt principles as are complying with prophane practices with such mis-shapen notions as are suited to carnal reason with such wrong opinions as do plead for depraved Customs with such flattering perswasions as are humouring to sensual affections it doth so infect and sicken their intellect so weaken and make it Consumptive that who can cure it if the LORD Christ himself be not actually the one and the only All-skilful Physician and if Scripture-Learning be not seasonably well applyed as the one and the only universal remedy of this of the mind whilst some do write and others do read so many expositions upon paganish Philosophy and do so little study the Scriptures of Truth the Press may bring forth many curiously arted Books but there will be in the intellectual World a famme of Progressive Literature The frequent Divertisements by
to constitute and establish an universal conclusion by these steps and degrees may we ascend into sound knowledge and with more speed ease and satisfaction learn the best part of profitable Arts and Sciences This doth set out the true real Nature of created Beings as they are in the things themselves whereas mere humane attemps this way have no certainty of demonstration nor infallibity of evidence no further convincingness than as they agree with this there is answeringness in this to the Nature of Existences which are printed in this Word and sealed in the Creation here the laws of words are one with the laws of things here the conducture of the word doth lead the way and the architecture of the Creation doth follow after whatsoever doth contradict the grounds of God-inspired Scripture and the reasons of created Nature must be rejected by us here Scripture revealeth Nature and Nature declareth Scripture the LORD's Mouth in his Word doth not gainsay his hand in his Works there are such inner secrets in created Beings as are separate from outward Senses and exempt from experimental discovery and withdrawn from mere humane inquisition which works of Nature are best contemplated in the word of Grace so sweetly doth this insinuate into and incorporate with those How is the Intellect of man likely to be receptive of useful Truths till it be first purified by Scripture-knowledge all the impresses of Wisdom of Truth and of Goodness that are in created things they are but the transcribed Characters of the Word and the visible representations of those shining perfections that are in the All-glorious Author of this Word who doth direct their Nature and govern their operations to bring about his own holy just ends for the good and benefit of particular Beings and of the whole Universe Scripture descriptions are most significative of created Natures and best expressive of their real Virtues let therefore these Philosophical Imperialists no longer exercise Lordship over the Faith of Christians however they have thus far usurped dominion over the Reason of Pagans let not our Understandings be commanded by their Laws of Arts nor ruled by their Decrees of Sciences who would have all Intellects to bow before them whilst they sit in the Throne and King it over mens Souls It is the Scripture Revelation that doth best preserve the due order of Christ's Supreme Soveraignty and of its own pre-eminent authority and of our regular subjection under both him and it by its winning commendations of Truths and of Realities in the demonstrativeness of their evidence and in the choiceness of their excellencies operations of Nature and efficiencies of Arts co-operating with Nature and drawing forth its working powers are as so many instances and interpretations of such Scripture as do speak of them Wisdom is justified of her Sons though the common cry of the mis-judging World be against her Knowledges in this Word have their universal conprehensiveness and if mens Studies in them were fitted to their particular inclinations and framed to their constitution-desires more able instruments better furnished for publick employments both in State and in Church both for Peace and for VVar would then be found the skilfullest Scripturians would prove the wisest Artists and the prudentest Counsellors VVere Lecturers in all Countries encouraged and appointed in fit places to read in the Mother Tongue on such Scripture-subjects it would make popular Judgements and common Auditors great proficients in Arts and progressors in Sciences which spreadingness of knowledge of Christians should not make it contemptible whereas now the Philosophers would keep Learning in a few hands amongst Scholars in the Universities and Readers of Colleges and Professors in the Schools who would be monopolizing of Original Languages and of Scientifick Skills and be driving on of their rich Trade of over-reaching sophistry I judge it to be an Affirmation according to Truth and an undertaking according to Reality that a plain Believer of discerning capacity may be righter taught many useful things about the History of the Creation in natural Beings in their proper Causations productive Workings and genuine Effects in one year than several years and yet more times seven in the common way of Philosophical Studies will or can attain unto In this Scripture path Believers may expect the teachings of the Holy Spirit and inlightnings from the Father of illuminations much of the written Word would then receive more evident and full interpretations when Christ's Works are made a paraphrase upon his Words Here particular Sciences are true fruitful and complete not as in Philosophical VVritings in false barren and empty If little Children were commonly taught the Original Language and if there were in the Mother-Tongues of the several Nations such an exact Scripture Lexicon composed as might shew the true meaning of all the Original VVords Roots and Branches and of all the Original Phrases relating to the several Arts and Sciences and if the whole of these VVords and Phrases were orderly and distinctly with their cited Scriptures put into a common place of these special knowledges in various professions and if the most accomplished the best gifted the most excellingly graced the most diligently and faithfully industrious and the most practically and skilfully experienced for every particular Art and Science did make it much of the work of their day and business of their life to studie the Scriptures for that peculiar end and special purpose putting not only general Rules but particular Directions all methodically together it would be a complete Summary and an exact Directory in that Art and Science Shall my growing waiting hopes be only of the next Generation that they may listen to this counsel who will give that I may reap some good fruit of my labours in the present age if the LORD by his secret inworking with wonderful efficacy will renew and irradiate mens minds if he will bend and bow their wills change and awe their hearts then self-conceit pride and prejudice will quickly vanish away and a teachable Frame will so imbrace and improve this advice as that the ingenuous and studious will not be so injurious to themselves or unkind towards Christ as to kick Him and His VVord out of their Schools for it will be made manifest in a little time that created Beings in their natural efficiencies have such an hidden way of secret operation as is beyond the most significant expressions of any Philosophical VVorders and therefore only the words of God can fully so accommodate them to inlightned Understandings as withal to make them properly declarative of real workings All true both definitions and descriptions of things by words must be rectified by Scripture Language VVhatever be the issue I have through Mercy and Grace obtained from the LORD done this part of my Generation work and in this I do rejoyce and give glory to Him VVhere doth the whole Scripture that speaks of this matter send us to any other way of getting
and rejected by this Generation the springing Race in after-times will rejoyce when they shall reap and gather in use and injoy the good fruit of these honest labours Wordly advancement and a flattered name is the consulted project and the fore-casted contrivement of a low debased mind unbecoming that princely spirit in a Believer which has nobler designs and higher aims If this tractate be not exact yet the subject matter is excelling the Scripture-cause of word-learning is such that he who objecteth against it doth quarrel with the Author of it who wil have a time to make such to know whose word shall stand whether this of him or that of them when it will be manifest in the hearts of such that this design is not the product of a discontented mind or of humoursome censoriosness or of a grave affection or of a splenetick windiness Vulgar Prizers are no just valuers for Scripture-Truth though all be sold for it is never bought too dear and though all the World could be had for it yet would be sold too cheap it is well worth thy dealing for whatever it cost thee Scripture-Learning has an operative influence to correct and rectifie to change and renew to reform and refine hearts and lives to affect the Soul with a due sense of its own noble excellencies and widened capacities that it may be holy and happy wise and prudent for ever to make the conscience feel the weight of present Duty and of future felicity with the kindliest tyes and strongest obligations O how excellent are the Virtues how efficacious the Powers that do flow from hence The Patrons of this Book are Christ and his Word Truth and Good Reason and Religion Scripture and Nature Spreading untruths have gotten a name of Antiquity and Reputation and popular Opinion has kept up their credit and still it doth them reverence but they are all falling before the Scriptures of Truth for rather than fail the Christian verities and the rare knowledges contained in them shall be yet further confirmed by such Miracles as are beyond the Powers of Nature and the Arts of Man The seeming impossibility of all profitable Learning in one Book will in time be removed out of the way and off from the thoughts by a sound belief of the infinite wisdom of the Author of it The true uniform voice of holy Scripture and of created Nature is with me and for me though the common votes of the mistaking world cry me down although such ill habits have been acquired through the power and energie and effascination of Philosophy as no ability or skill of man can remove yet Almightiness and All-wisdom can work Students off from it If I publish my own imperfections and proclaim my own ignorances and bewray my own follies yet let not the Reader forget that I am a pleader for the most righteous cause in the judgement of the best Law the evidence is clear for it and the sentence of approbation is already pronounced that the holy Scriptures of Truth are the best the perfect Platform of all useful Scientificks Christ is the Head-Captain of created Hosts and he will triumphingly Conquer his Truth is strong and it shall prevailingly overcome Scripture-knowledge especially in the savingness of its Science and in the Sanctifyingness of its Art doth speak enough for it self within the breast of every spiritual discerner as having an incomparable excellency in it above and beyond all other Skills and Wisdoms in the World I need not urge many arguments to convince those Readers of this great useful Truth who have felt the living power of it upon their renewed hearts for when it came there it brought in its own self evidence and left a sensible demonstration and wrote a sealed Testimonial under its own hand there I have though this also much in my aim to praise it more unto such and to press them to make some higher advance in this best Learning as being a nearer approach unto intuitive perfection in visional Glory and that which raiseth the spiritual Reason and the inlightned Faith of the Saints here below in this Intellectual World into a resemblance of Angelical Wisdom yet I say I have somewhat further in my present design which is to win upon those who are under impetuous temptations and violent assaults to be Atheists and Infidels both speculative and practical by a prevailing insinuating of this astertion if the LORD will say so too that word-Science and Scripture-Art is the Science of Sciences and the Art of Arts every way most and best corresponding to the capacities suited to the cases fitted to the necessities and promoting the felicities of rational Beings so that this discovery has its great usefulness to all even the most knowing and the most holy as for others who may be far gon in this spiritual distemper of scorning of and of scoffing at the asserted sufficiencie and fulness of the Scriptures that which they so much slight and so storm against must be the means of their cure unless they be such as will neither hear their disease nor endure a remedy but are obstinate to all healing prescriptions I take the causes of Atheism amongst many others to be as an afraidness of the convincingness and of the condemningness of the holy Precepts and righteous Judgements declared in the Scriptures and an unbelief of its glorious rewards so also this in particular ignorance of the excellency of Scripture-knowledge and although those who do fall below Religion will also sink beneath Reason too yet I am not altogether without hope but that when Jehovah Aelohim shall make his Word-light to shine forth more in its beautious glory it will allure the eyes and draw the heart inform the judgements and incline the wills of men of intellect to see and to acknowledge to adore and to admire that only wise God who has put so much into so little and has given us a pocket-Book of such absolute fulness The Antichristian party by their paper plots would blow up all belief of the sufficiency and perfection of the Scriptures as hoping that if they can once prevail with a people to be of no Religion they will then be of their Religion and the Anti-scripturarians have but too many followers in this day who if they be so bold as to assert this imperfection of the Word in the necessary matters of Salvation no marvel if they deny its conprehensiveness as to the other knowable things Arise Jehovah plead thou thine own plea and magnifie thou above All thy Name thy Word all the Kings of the Earth shall confess Thee Jehovah when they hear the words of thy mouth and they shall sing in the ways of Jehovah for great is the Glory of Jehovah In Thee Aelohim thy Saints will praise thy Word and a second and a third time they will praise thy Word this they know that thou and thy word for them Thus have I given thee Reader some accompt of
In him that is in this Christ who is opposed to vain affecters of humane wisdom and humane traditionists dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead Bodily the one dwelleth in the other which do shew them to be distinguished yet joyned by a personal Union of both Natures in one Christ there is no need of any additaments here to supply any defect or imperfection to adjoyn them unto Christ and unto his Word-Doctrine the perfect Deity with all its glorious Attributes of Wisdom Power and other Excellencies inhabits in this Teacher what need therefore is there to seek other documentals or helps can Philosophy instruct us as Wisdom it self can inform us here the Plenitude of Deity resides as in a fixed and proper seat not a portion of the Godhead as the gentile idolaters were falsly perswaded of their false Gods nor only some eximious gifts and graces of the Spirit as in Angels Prophets and their holy ones but the true and perfect God with his infinite unmatchableness He himself indwells in this Humane Nature after a peculiar way and manner and barely by his Universal Presence and assistencie as he is in and with all things and places to conserve and to sustain them neither only by a special efficacie of the Spirit as he is in the Saints Sanctifying of Believers and enriching them with distinguishing charisms with gracious endowments but by a new mode of existing though the nature of him who thus exists remain the same it is by subsistential Union personally so as that the inhabiting or assuming God becomes one with the inhabited or assumed Humane Nature this Christ as concerning the flesh came from the Father being also over all God blessed for ever Gnimmanu-ael God-with-us this branch of David is Jehovah too If it be ask'd Whether the raising up of the dead Body of a man to life and to the sameness of subsistency again be an incredible thing Pagan Philosophers have determined this contrary to the Truth by asserting that from a privation to an habit there is no returning no regress is to be granted in such a case whereas the holy Scriptures do better teach us that the resurrection of the dead is a facible thing a believeable matter and that it is unreasonable to judge it incredible cannot an Almighty God do this cannot he restore being who gave being Cannot that Head Christ who raised himself from the dead raise up his Members also Ethnick Logick is no fit judge of many Scriptural predictions its Rules of ratiocination cannot measure these Mysteries such as God is Man The word was made flesh God with his blood redeemed the Church these and such like high Truths and Things which are necessary for us to believe for our Eternal Salvation were hid from the Wise Ones of that age for those Disparates here do come and agree together affirmatively God Eternal the Creator of all things and he who existed before all time was born in time He who is impassible did suffer The immortal one did die A man sits at the right hand of God God who is All-fulness is emptied The Omnipotent needeth the help of a Nursing-mother The All-knowledge All-wise one increased in Knowlede and in Wisdom The Every-where-present one was included in his Mothers Womb He that filled Heaven and Earth had not where to lay his head He that is transcending the most general of all kinds and of genus's is made a corporal individual the lowest of all substances He who made others rich was himself poor The Righteous one did justly bear both the fault and punishment of the unjust Here the LORD is made a servant and the servant is a LORD here the Mother is the Daughter of her own Son and the Son is Father of his own Father Here is the All-sufficient supplyer is himself ready Here contrary to the Ethnick Physical Science what was finite is made capable of what is infinite and what was infinite is circumscribed within narrow limits Here a Virgin conceives without Man Here the body is born in one place and is taken to him who is in many places in all places at once Here the Common Arithmetick must seek out new Rules for two are one and one is two in Christ three are one and one is three in Father Son and holy Spirit being the Almighty Jehovah What a loss is Pagan Philosophy at in all these Mysteries and in a multitude of more that might be added Men do never come on so far as to the capital beginning of all true knowledge of all sound Understanding of all useful Wisdom of all essential Science till they get the knowledge and the fear of Jehovah Aelohim who has revealed himself in his Word and manifested himself in his Works agreeably to Scripture-discoveries this is a gift from Christ It is word-understanding that is the true good understanding and our Tongues should answer to the Scripture-saying otherwise if we resort to merely humane Sophies we shall at the last by woful experience find after all our busie Inquiries and incessant Studies and attentive heedfulness that there are many weighty particulars in the works both of Creation and of Providence that are beyond the power of mans industry and above the reach of mans wisdom Who is as this wise man he was one of the wisest men even Solomon that did ask the question It is a question expressive of the Truth there is none that compared to him doth weigh equally in the Sanctuary-balance with him wouldest thou know who is he it is he and no other but he that knows the interpretation of a word who can so give sorth the true sense of the word in its original significancy as thereby to set out the right Nature of Things in their proper beings There is in the Word of Christ full comprehensiveness as of all other useful Learning so particularly of the knowledge of Natural Things of which it doth treat and speak purposely and professedly HOw great a part of the holy Scriptures must be transcribed who would write out all that is in them which doth treat of this subject matter Here is the History of the Creation originally and fully discovered which is not so made known in any or in all the Books of Humane Authors who though speaking to this particular point yet are no further sound than as they speak and write according unto this and wherein they ar sound they have borrowed and fetched from this here they lighted their Candle and from hence they have digged their treasure It is the special design and the main purpose of some particular passages in the holy Scriptures expresly and plainly to open the true state of Natural Things as the Book of Job in a great part of it many of the Psalms most of Ecclesiastes besides much of this nature which is frequently scattered through this Book of books How filled is this with Aelohim's essential Operations in
not as they seem unto common capacaties upon mistaken grounds from erroneous principles but as the verity of their existence is Nomenclature doth shew how that Things and Beings are put into the Names of those Things and Beings and this by institution of Original significancy as the expressions do declare The Word and the Works of God are here held out to be Truth Mens errings do proceed from their not understanding of the Scriptures and of the Power of God not from the taking of Christ upon his bare word Holy Ones in the Word do disswade from Error and can we imagine then that the Word should shew men how to err would this have men still to continue in their being deceived to have them read and think that for true and certain which is false and misconceived Christ witnesseth of his words that there is nothing wreathed or perverse in them they are words of Truth and there is certainty in them being fitted to resolve questions to the satisfaction of inquiring Spirits The LORD 's wording of the History of the Creation is his first revealed Idea of all things manifest to rational Creatures The real Natures of Created Beings do directly answer to Scripture-speakings concerning them the things seen were things made and the Maker of them would have his own real perfections to be read in them How unavoidable would the many dangerous ill consequences be that will necessarily follow upon the contrary opinion how would all Foundations of credibility and of veracity be shaken and over-turned There is a clear and a constant evidence and demonstration of the senses well exercised and rightly judging amongst all reasonable Creatures all the inhabited Earth over in all the Ages of the World who have brought in one and the same Testimony concerning the reality of things as this word doth express them to be which is a full proof It is a Theological Truth of resolving the probation by senses into Scripture-expressions and of rectifying all deceits and mistakes of the Senses by the word-Rule It was and is the Scripture-way to prove things by Senses and to call upon Senses to bring in their Verdict according to Scripture Thus were all the proceedings in Jehovah's judicial Laws in all Cases wherein any matter of fact is to be witnessed and accordingly any matter of right to be determined as Justice Truth and Equity required Inward and outward senses regulated by the Word are great resolvers of weighty questions these Senses being every one of them differenced both in Nature and in Grace by their distinct proper and singular operation Scripture-words do not set out Created Beings as directly opposite to right-judging rational Senses Should we resort to humane reasonings and to carnal imaginations in these inquiries we could acquiesce here for these in several men at the same time and sometimes in one and the same man take him at several times are varying one from another and contrary to each other and often they are but shews and colours not the real things themselves whereas the Creator will have his Creatures to be a sensible Testimony to the Truth of His Word Those that do tremble at God's Word and who do stand in awe of its Authority do find sensible Demonstrations within them and evident arguments in the things themselves against such bold assertions as do call those expressions to be absurdities which are literal affirmations and down-right positions in this word and that do mis-name it to be servile superstitious fear to oppose the meaning of Scripture-phrases Remember that I write not now about Types Shadows and Figures contained in the word where the signs are sometimes put for the things signified thereby though here also there be some outward and visible thing truly represented to our senses neither about communication of properties whereby that is sometimes attributed to aâ— whole Person or Subsistence which agreeth to him but in respect of one of his Natures as when God is said to purchase this Church by his Blood which Blood properly doth appertain to Christ's Manhood and not to his Godhead but of Created Beings in their real Existences which are the same in Nature that the Scriptures do call them in name Scripture and Nature are uniformly concordant one with another and all the whole Scripture as well as all the whole Nature doth well agree with it self and therefore let it be further considered whether it were a sound and sober a solid and savoury answer in him who being urged with the plain express significant Letter of the fourth word or command for the Seventh-day-Sabbath doth lay down this for one of his premised propositions that though the Letter of the Text ought alway to be carefully heeded yet alway to stick to it and never compare Scripture with Scripture for the better understanding of the sense thereof may prove a dangerous snare which he applies in part unto a sticking to the Letter of the fourth Commandment without minding the scope sense and meaning of it bethinking that thereby a man shall cast a mist before his eyes which will exceedingly hinder him from the right understanding of the Mind of God therein If I should do so saith he of himself I shall find it so to be Thus he That Word of Christ unto one who inquired by what doing he should inherit eternal Life is here now with me What is written in the Law How readest thou that answer must we receive in and from this Law which is written in this Law and which we do read so written in it for this is still a right answer To compare Scripture with Scripture for the right understanding of that fourth Word has been already done and will be further performed when I come to treat professedly on that subject-matter when it will be made evident from the Word that the whole Scripture doth speak in its true proper literal significancy for the Seventh-day-Sabbath the scope sense and meaning of the fourth Command being altogether expresly for it If the Law of the Ten Words particularly of the Fourth be not literally expressive of their true right meaning I know not what of the Scripture is where every discerner at the first reading and hearing may presently know its meaning as will be further shewn Here as it is written so we read neither is it to be otherwise understood nor in any other sense to be taken than in that which doth first present it self to the intelligent Reader or hearer So far as we are under the Commandingness of this Law we are under all whatsoever it speaks this way and it speaks of the Seventh-day in express Letters and Words as the Sabbath exclusive of all the other six foregoing days of the same week which it nameth and calleth to be days for working in our particular Functions every Iota and Tittle thereof being ratified by Christ and therefore its Letter doth bind It appears to me to be
knowledge some witty Invention some singular Art some extraordinary thing which yet was but a fleshly understanding a carnal wit a corrupt reasoning a fly seduction taking them off from holding the Head Christ and from keeping close to his word to draw them aside to that vain false and deceitful Philosophy to such affected Creature-knowledge and Humane Wisdom as would make a prey of their Souls Reader let me take thee by the hand and lead thee through some parts of the Scripture Paths to shew thee in this walk how Philosophy has been corrupting and perverting the Word and the Works of Aelohim He that shall read the Ethnick stories about the Origine of the Universe may see how the Aristotelian pride rejected all Scriptural Revelation of Faith about this Worlds beginning affirming the Eternity of the World by his corrupt Reasoning and vain Philosophizing Thus also the Stoical conceitedness asserted an Eternal first Matter The Pagan Astronomers have fancied and argued that there are Nine Spheres in the Heavens The Pagan Poets made all created Productions to be out of a first Matter as a common stock and subject of all generated Beings out of which every thing was found This is the Ethnick Physiology of many others of them So confused were their Notions so fabulous their Narrations Some Pagan Naturalists do make a Primogenious Fire to be the first Light out of which they say the Celestial Lights were composed Others do make the Firmament or Heaven to be the fluid watery or aerial part of a formless Chaos Some would make the ancient Nature of men to be commixt of Male and Female Sex in one and the same man And others have made many feigned stories of his Golden Age. How many corrupt mixtures in Ethnick Poets about the Flood about Gods and Goddesses and their Generations which many young men are so defiled and tainted withal in the common Schools of Learning that it is long if ever before they get rid of them The Idolatries and Superstitions of Pagans which were defended by their Philosophizers what were they but corruptings of the Mosaick Platform of which they had received somewhat by Tradition Such a temptation was it even upon the Israel of God of old to learn the Modes the Forms the Ways the Philosophick-Learning of the Heathen What an Enemy to the Doctrine of Salvation by Faith in Christ was the Grecian Philosophy What a disfigured face has it put upon Religion by its mythologizing vanity How many of the Original Words and Phrases by which both persons and things are aptly named and called in the Scriptures hath it altered and abused by expressing them in a different equivocal manner What a mis-shapen Monster are its Religion and Laws whilst it would so apishly imitate the Scripture Tradition as to adulterate it if it could into a resemblance of its own ugliness and deformity The Corinthian Sophie and Sophistry received from and by the Spirit of this World would be contradicting the Wisdom of God in a Mystery The Logicks that Humane Wisdom taught were an Enemy to this that Physical Animal Man was the Physical Philosopher who did not comprehend those things which are of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually distinguished or judged Thus has the greatest part of the Sons and Daughters of Adam all the inhabited Earth over for many Generations been greatly imposed upon and still it is so even unto this day And what is yet further matter of more Lamentation those who have the name of the Scholastick Learned amongst Christians do still pertinaciously adhere unto many of the Philosophick Errors and fabulous Tenets He that heretofore would go into the Philosophy Schools here in England and hear the Lectures of the most might sit out a whole hour at a time and scarce hear one savoury sound word of Christ and of the Word of Christ And there is a design set on foot of late to make the vertues of Pagans to be fully equal to and specifically identical with the Graces of Christians as if to turn Christians into Pagans were an adapted means to turn Pagans into Christians I have long stood by and been a secret silent bewailer of this evil but the LORD hath now drawn forth my spirit to be an open declarer against it that this way I might be finishing of my Testimony There is such a Venerating Esteem in some of the Judgement of the Ancient and in others of the Learning of the Modern Philosophy that its likely I shall be thought not so prudently to have consulted either my own credit or my own quiet in undertaking to be such an Universal Controler of many Men Books Studies Arts and Sciences in such an Age wherein preconceived Opinions are heightned into such a settled confidence and grown into such a gigantick strength But I have long since committed my All to him who has taken the care of me and hath accepted of my acts of commitment and there my Soul injoyeth its sweet repose Neither am I altogether without expectation that the adored Almightiâ—s will use this Treatise to prevail with some serious Spirits to entertain a greater commerce with the Scriptures of Truth than hitherto they have And that the right apprehensions of mens minds will yet better transform into the true Nature of things Whilst Philosophick Arts are so over-prized there will be but little further inquiry and whilst Scripture knowledges are so undervalued progressions in useful Sciences will not be promoted If Rational Intellects may be better rectified and more informed according to the Laws of the written Word and the operation of Created Beings I shall rejoyce in the profit of any whilst I am exercised with contradictings from many with their perverse Brawlings or disputing Exercitations as the Scriptures do call such strifes of words It is not unknown to some what slye Artifices Satan has used in the several Ages to corrupt the Word especially in the more ignorant Ages under Antichristian darkness by Marginal addings and various readings unequal dividing altered printings and such other invented devices whereby to make Truths hidden or obscure and errors passable and plaufible a too deep digging into which and an over particular opening of which I judge at present to be no work of mine though some late reputed Criticks in Original Languages and in Scripture knowledges have been too prone upon any little occasion to set these before the eyes of such as too often have rather been shaken than settled upon them The sayings of Jehovah are pure sayings Silver refined in an Earthen-melting-Furnace Cruse or Oven purified seven times Whatever dross or impurity the Devil or any of his Instruments have immix'd with them they shall have a Fire to be throughly cleansed and perfectly cleared from it All and every saying of Aelohim shall be purified therefore it is that his servant loves his Word He is a Shield
Cherubins and of the living Creatures of the Angels in their subserviency The fourth is the later part of Ezekiel's Book from the fortieth Chapter to the end where the New City is described Though these two later places also being Visions may the more evidently as to the external part of them be plainly shewn to growing young ones who might in fewer Months be skilled in Geometry the Doctrine of Measures and some other Arts as the Truth Reality and Usefulness in those Knowledges is than others will attain unto in so many years by Philosophical Studies And what a shame is it to the Learned Artists of the Times that VVomen and Children would quickly be made more profiting Graduates than themselves If any Traders in Humane VVisdom are angry at this discovery for a while yet let them observe the workings of convictions by this Scripture Light upon their minds and they will when more considerate bring in a Testimony for Christ and for his VVord if they will be so ingenuous as freely to communicate their Experiences For my hopes do promise to my self that I shall have most mens Consciences with me in this Cause though my fears do threaten that most mens corruptions will be against me for this Cause Having led the Reader thus far along in his Way I suppose that now his Expectations are raised to meet with somewhat of weighty Inquiry about the Works of Creation on the several Days the clear distinct knowledge whereof may have a direct tendency and an apparent profitableness for the Restauration and Instauration of Arts and the Advancement and Augment of Sciences such of both these as are useful and so far as they are thus useful and all in a clean way of Pure Religion The first Great Inquiry at my Entrance shall be this Q. Whether was the LORD Jesus Christ Jehovah as his Father is Jehovah and as the Spirit of his Holiness is Jehovah they one Jehovah Whether he were appointed by his Father and Anointed by his Spirit to be One Mediator the only LORD and Lawgiver And whether he were the Creator of all things as the Father is Creator and as the Holy Spirit is Creator they the Creators And whether is not this included in the first words of the Holy Scriptures Bereashith baraa Aelohim and in that word Jehovah who presently in the very next Verse after the short History of the Creation is said to be the Creator and Maker THe renewing of the wonderful Works of Creation in the rare secrets thereof will be found in holy experience to be no derogation to the admirable Works of Redemption in the great Mysteries thereof when once it shall be made to appear that he who was the Creator is the Redeemer too and that one great Cause why the Redeemer is no more believed and adored is for that this Creator is no more credited and exalted It is mainly with a design of Honour to that Christ whom my Soul loves that I am ingaged in this Printing-war against such an Host and so many Armies of Philosophick Giants and of Hellish Forces In his Name and Authority with the Sword of his Spirit which is the Word of God shielded by Faith I am called to go forth against them all I therefore begin with this because Jehovah Christ himself is the Captain of created Hosts whose cause is the justest and whose side will be the strongest It is he who doth Banner it above ten thousand To him I resort as to an Almighty Warrier Whoever thou be that wilt give this Treatise the reading and considering do not look upon it as a low mean enterprise â—s if it were a subject-matter too beneath a Minister of Christ in his first printed Essay in such an Age of growing Light of abounding Knowledge of fruitful experience of prophetical discoveries of raised expectâ—tions of 〈◊〉 Christianity of many Scholastick Tractates published by the generous minded and learned Virtuosoâ—s of the Times For this design understood and improved according to its true worth and real usefulness will be found to be a great improvement in the Commonwealth both of Learning and of Religion by reviving the glorious Creation by restoring of Primitive Christianity by directing 〈◊〉 Studies aright into the only way of sound proficiency to Honour of Christ and the Reputation of his Word in the both Temporal and Spiritual the present and eternal good of the Sons and Daughters of Adam Christ hath magnified upon all his Name his Word The Portion of his Friends shall be to observe his Words such will he teach goodness of reason a savoury sense for they have believed in his Commandments O how sweet are his saying to their Palate more than Honey to their Mouth Their steps shall be firmly directed in his saying for his Servants love it and him will they hear Rise up O Aelohim Plead thou thy Plea That the passage here may be the more cleared I shall publish somewhat about the lawfulness of mentioning that great and glorious Name Jehovah and not only so but further also about the profitable use of it and further yet that it is a duty at fit seasons in its place actually to give it a vocal expression especially now in these later days though not only the superstitious Jews but many Philosophick Christians do declaim against the use and naming of this Word There are in the Hebrew Tongue several Names by which the great LORD over all doth call himself Some are Names of Essence Others are Names of Power Some others are Names of Preheminence and LORDship and Superiority Another of his Highness Amongst them all this proper Name Jehovah has its excellingness It doth set him out as that All glorious he who alone ever was now is and ever will be He alone who so is that he cannot Not-be all created Existences have their Being from him and were not only made by him but have also their continued conversation by him so that their subsistency is in him In him they are they live they are moved This is the confession of rational Nature All things are for him for this end has he given them their Being that they might be to his Glory It is he who puts a Being into his Words turning them into Works All the Promises in him are Yea and Amen he himself being the Interpreter It is he the same who gives a Being to the New Creature and doth uphold it in its Existence Of him and by him and unto him are all things To him be Glory for ever The Creator who in the beginning of the History of the Creation is called Aelohim or the Judging-adored-Almighties who spake particular Existences into their Essences he is named Jehovah joyned with Aelohim in the close of that History he that made the Heavens and the Earth was Jehovah Aelohim q Some parts of this Word are often put either
Body This Word would instruct Kings how to Reign and Counsellors how to Decree Justice How to Statute it out to Subjects and Inferiours In this Princes have and should exercise their Principate all the Nobles and Judges of the Earth according to Christ and his Word O how much should we love this and morning it to find it out It will carry us to walk in the path of Justice You that for some years have been early at your Philosophical Studies be now at length wise and come betimes to the Scripture Lecture that Christ by his holy Spirit from his Father in his Word would declare unto you If ever you would be wise do not mispend your time and coyn and strength in Houses of Folly there are of you who know too much where they are But repair to Wisdoms School late and early night and day be at these Study-doors Such shall draw forth from Jehovah what his Will is This right way of sound Wisdom was delivered and revealed from the foundation of the World at the first Creation as the certain the unerring Rule of the Mind and Will of God Christ in his Word and Works do make known himself to be the rare Artificer all-skilful-worker and all profitable Science and useful Arts must be learn'd from him as their great Exemplar and teaching Author The Manliest Virtuoso's are here spoken to and called upon hither should they hasten to learn as well as the ignorant Plebeians and the easily perswaded Inspients Here are noble Sciences and liberal Arts for the most free princely Spirits Christ in his Word no sooner opens his lips but some right Truth and real Thing quickly is spoken forth There is nothing distorted or perverted here It is all obvious directly before us not intricate or infolded Here a young Timothy may get Wisdom and in a little time grow up to great Understanding Here is the House of Wisdom and of Prudence This is the Doctress and Dictatress This cureth the teachable Student of Pride Elation Arrogancy of which Philosophers are still sick Here is the perfect possession of Science and of Sapience Here Knowledge is sound and saving virtuous and substantial Christ delighteth to teach the sons of Adams this and should not we be made willing to learn where word-knowledge is taught at that Door should we enter that we may elicite hidden Mysteries This Christ who is Wisdoms doth set himself out as a Master and Teacher of useful Arts and Sciences to Adam and his sons quickly after the Creation inviting them as Disciples into his School His College is completely built and he begins his Instructings of them with satisfaction and intercession in this discharge of his Mediatory Office by offering of Sacrifice and by Praying and when he has instilled his useful Precepts he then entertaineth his learning-ones with Spiritual Repast O who will give that there were more incorporated Societies here subject to and ruled by the Statutes of Christ's House That our hopeful youths may no longer be sworn to Philosophical Laws Words and Statutes Here Christ utters his Oracles from that exalted Pew or Pulpits the highest Heavens How honourable would our Cities be were there holy Convocations and Spiritual runnings and meetings to Christ's Preaching and Interpretings here He calls with significant Voice in express words Come O come away come hither and no longer waste your time by a fruitless attendance on Philosophical Lectures Come in and submit to Christ's Discipline His teaching of you will prosper the better for his chastising of you Here is a Knowledge that is a wising and nourishing to a sanctified Soul whilst vain Philosophies are but Fatuities and Emptinesses Scoffers here will not be proficients the attempt will be successless and the labour lost to instruct such no art nor industry of man can inform them till Christ change and convert and new make them For they despise that Word-wisdom which commended to them and set before them and Napkin up or imprison those few Notions of it which they have taken in Whereas give occasion to a wise man and his wisdom will be increased as soon as it is presented he takes it in The fear of Jehovah is the way to it This is the Knowledge of Holy both Angels and Men and Things which would be every way so much for our own advantage After all this discovery will young Students be still beguiled and corrupted by the foolish woman who is so contrary to Christ and his Word and to the Wisdom which is in him and in it which knows nothing aright carnalizing every thing all its opinion of things being streperous by keeping up its disputing noise and wrangling clamours â—tumultuous fallacious and drawing aside from the Truth into Error It doth not understand any thing savingly nor discern it spiritually It has not soundness of apprehension though it self-flatteringly imagineth that it has the knowledge of many things and is well skill'd in many Arts and Invents What doth it know aright Can you name it or tell what it is Yet would this foolish woman be in the Throne and Pew too imitating and emulating of Wisdoms before spoken of and strive to out do and go beyond She will come with Pompous Ostentation her Bell and Bedel and with External Apparat to insinuate her self into mens minds by deceptive Oblectaments and sensual allurements It would sit in the Doctors chair and exercise Regal Authority Thus affecting to be like unto Wisdom it becomes more ridiculous by its apishness Sometimes she will use some of the same words that Wisdom doth but in another sense wrying them in their own Dialect as if Christ's wised ones were foolish ones in her accompt and she could teach them better she delights in fallacious Artifices till she mislead her blind followers into the gulphy-empty-space and the doleful sighful place and would leave them there hopeless and helpless like the hellish Teacher of the Black-Arts unless the LORD do in time before they tumble in thither step forth to their recovery out of these snares by turning them from the Error of their way to the Truth He who has willingness skill and opportunity to carry this meditation through this Book of Proverbs may gather up and put together a great deal more of this profitable matter I must hasten now to some further Inquiries for the progressive advance of useful Learning Of the One which when another Day was Created was the First Day of the Created World and of some of its Works Q. Whether this Earth at its First Creation were without Form and void So that Thou and Bohu be truly and rightly predicated of Aeretz Or whether Tohu and Bohu be not dictinct Creatures from the Earth locally distant or two Created Places the one setting out the Gulphy-empty-space the doleful place of Hell THe clearing up of this that the Gulph and Hell are certain distinct places of
Morning of every Day were a distinct Day and were distinct parts of every Day The one Day was before the second and the third Day was after the second the fourth followed the third and the fifth was after the fourth the sixth succeeded the fifth and the seventh which is the last Day of the Week was the Holy Close of that Week There is but one Seventh-day in the Week No other Day in this or in any following Week is properly the Seventh-day of the Week in the weekly revolution These Days have a priority and a posterioty in time in their successive parts and so were the Creatures distinct Works or distinct Days They had a separate Creation on separate Days that we might with the more staidness and distinctness of spirit consider of and meditate upon them in their created Order If all had been in one and the same moment of time then how could it be affirmed of Adam that he was first formed then Eve which yet is expresly affirmed in the Words The created Number and Order and Names of Days must therefore be well observed upon which there are so many weighty Truths and great things that do depend An Evening-Morning a Night-day is a large natural Day according to the Law of the first Creation in which the Evening and the Morning were constituted one Day The Evening being the foregoing part of the Day to which the after-Morning doth belong both together making up a complete Day So is the true account through the whole Scriptures where this is spoken of The Evening of the Day in the three first Days of the created World began at the first coming of the Darkness afterwards when the Sun was created on the fourth Day it was further pointed out by the going in of the Sun The Morning of the Day in the three first Days of the created World began when the Darkness went off and the Light came on which afterwards was fully compleated when the Sun did go forth What has man to do thus daringly to change the LORD's Time and Laws and to pervert his well his wisely-established Decrees and Appointments which are some of his Statutes and Ordinances which he will have to remain unalterable and by the unchangeable constancy whereof he has confirmed the Covenant of Grace There is the time of a Day in a Day There is a word of a Day in his Day The Night-part of a Natural large day so far as concerns the present matter in hand is measured from the coming to the going of Darkness from the going in of the Sun unto the going forth of the Sun There are parts of the Night a third part of it There is a beginning of the Night There is the mid of the Night The LORD forsaw how bold rebellious man would be in prescribing times of his own inventing and distributing unto himself to impose them upon others also and therefore he doth often in the Scriptures set the just Limits and the due bounds to set Times and Seasons that man might receive a determination from the Word There were certain Watches of the Night those Watches did point out a certain space of Night-time into which the Night was distributed There was a Watch of the Night which is called the first Watch of it There is a second Watch of the Night The third Watch of the Night and the fourth Watch of the Night And all and each of these are distinguished by several Names in the Word the Evening the Midnight Cock-crowing and Morning So that three hours were the measure of every one of the Quadrants or fourth parts We sometimes read of all Night and all Nights in other places of the Halfings or Dimidiatings or Half-cuttings off of the Night of the past Night and of that self same Night of a Night of Observations There is a Morning Light before the Sun doth go forth so as visibly to be seen by our eye The Day part of a natural large Day as to the present case is measured from the coming to the going away of the Light or from the going forth of the Sun unto the going in of the Sun This Day is divided into twelve hours so also is the Night into twelve equal parts so that at midnight the sixth hour of the Night is ended and seventh hour of the Night doth immediately after begin And at Noon or at Mid-day the sixth hour of the Day is fully ended and the beginning of the next minute after this is the beginning of the seventh hour of the Day as opposed to the Night and according to this Division were Dials and other Measures of Nights and Days drawn and made that were according to the Word So that all the Winter the hours of the Night were larger than those of the Day and all the Summer the hours of the Day were longer than the hours of the Night and when it was Equinoctial then the hours of the Night and Day were equal but at all other times of the year different There is express mention made in the Scriptures of some of these hours by which we are to judge and measure the rest of the other hours As the third hour the sixth hour the seventh hour the ninth hour the tenth hour and the eleventh hour It is also perticularly there spoken of the third hour of the Night At these Seasons of Evening and of Morning were the appointed Times for daily worship which daily worship was called the Tamid or the continual Whatever other instituted worship was occasionally performed This must never be neglected This daily Worship was to be carried on Every Evening and also every Morning I have been the longer upon this discovery that serious sensible Believers who do admire the holy Scriptures of truth to be the one and the only rule of judging and of determing of cases of Conscience might as they ought bring all times and seasons to Scripture measures to Christ's Institutions which he himself as also his Apostles kept unto under the New Testament dispensation of Grace That this as well as all things else may be brought with more exactness according to this straight Rule under this latter-day-glory when there will be a more thorow reforming and refining to purge out whatsoever is corrupt and of humane invention and imposition and to bring in whatsoever is pure that is as yet defective in the Churches which is of Christ's instituting and ordaining For this daily continual Worship Evening and Morning is prophesyed of to be renewed and restored in the latter age with a renewed promise of acceptance The day is Aelohim's the Night also is his and let the things of God be given unto God Let the Day-natural no longer be mis-reckoned from midnight to midnight or from Sun-rising to Sun-rising nor from mid day or noon tomid-day or noon neither of
proper seat of Knowledge and of Understanding is in Man whether in the Head or in the Heart They generally affirm it to be in the Head and they constitute Mercury to be the Influential Governour having determining Dominion over the Head and Brain and so over Knowledge and Understanding Whereas if it can be proved to be in the Heart as by scores of Scriptures I can argue it so to be What then do become of all their mistaken apprehensions and misplaced Judgements in this particular case O that Jehovah Christ would once remove South-saying and Witch-craft out of the Land How much is it to be lamented that the God of Nature who is Soveraign LORD over all and who doth in those Heavens and in this Earth whatsoever pleaseth him is thus dishonoured When Christ was born such an Infant was born whose Geniture or Generation is unutterable on whom the Influences of the Stars have no power or force Who himself doth govern by his power the vertue and efficacy of all the Heavenly Luminaries Then such a Star appeared as was destitute of all Elementary influences out of and off from all the pretended supposed Sphenes Because this Judiciary Astrology has such a malign bewitching influence on many in the present day and its Artists and professors and practicers have taken up this plea for it that the name of Astrologers and of Astrology is not found any where in the holy Scriptures and that therefore its Science and Art is not condemned by them let me further examine whether the thing at least set out by that Name be not found condemned there although it be no such commendation for them in that they say their Name is not found in Scripture Gnonenim and Megnonenim say they do not signifie Planetaries Whereas if the root be Gnun which both in the Scriptures and with the Rabbins doth denote opportunity or stated time then Megnonen is such a one as doth profess himself by Art to foreknow and to be able to foretel to those who do consult him what those constituted seasons and definite times are of good or of evil of joyful or of sorrowfull of prosperous or of calamitous event in every affair and business that is undertaken in ordering a man's life in taking of a Journey in contracting of a Marriage in sending of an Embassy in waging of a War and in the rest of so many and such various cases both publick and private which are wont to befal miserable mortals Now seeing the Astrologer doth boast For to this purpose they openly hang up their Tables at doors in London and privately put their Printed papers into the hands of some as they walk in the streats that he can foreknow all these things by the motion and positure of all the coelestial bodies especially of the Planets from which he doth also contend that they are chiefly effected how can any ingenious Lover of truth deny with fairness and justness but that Megnonen doth aptly set out an Astrologer and a Planetary seeing he doth so observe hours days months years and times fit and opportune for the doing of business The Israelites were not to tolerate such Hence it was that the idolatrous worshipping of the Planets came in If the Root be Gnajin an eye then Megnonen is such a jugling cozener as deceiveth and deludeth inchanteth and bewitcheth the eyes of others with his eye If it spring from Gnanan a Cloud then he is such a one as is a Soothsayer as doth divine foretel and guess conjecturally from the Clouds the Astrologers eyes are intent to these the Augurer and the Astrologer are very near of kin for the conjecturer foretelleth future events by the contemplation of the Heaven and of the Clouds and by their colour and motion Nabulo he properly is and so let him pass under Scripture-condemnation Jidegnoni say these Men is a Divine a Gnostick a wife knowing Man It is properly in the Scripture-sense and meaning a Diviner a Wizard a Sooth sayer or Prognostick or Fore-teller of future things These amongst us are called Wizards Cunning men such as pretend to be wise where they have no Word for their warrant This Prognostick Art is one kind of Divination which is expresly prohibited The usual companion of this Wizard is Ob in Hebrew that is such a one as doth prophecy and foretel things to come by a devilish spirit that is in him promising Divination by colloquies with ghosts with walking spirits of the dead with the spirits and souls of Hell and from Stars and from Planets This is the Necromantick and Astromantick Magick Art one part whereof doth consult with evil spirits below the other with those in the Air. As this Prognosticator hath a devilish spirit going before him so in some Scriptures he hath Teraphim following close after him which were certain Images according to whose inspection the Gentiles did either do their work or leave it undone Some Astrologers are wont to make these kind of Figures and Images under certain constellations thinking that those Figures and Images are capable of heavenly influxes Laban had such Teraphim who was a Chaldean by Birth Kindred and Nation and the Chaldeans were some of the most given to Astrological vanities they accommodate their Images to constellations to foretel future events and to cure Diseases Daimon in Greek that Mantick-spirit or divining foretelling spirit doth agree with this Hebrew word this also is forbidden They further contend that Casedim doth not denote Astrologers The Chaldeans had a sect that did spend their time and labour in Astrological predictions of future contingencies thorow the whole of Man and to this they referred all their study and consideration of the Astronomical Science and these were they who are reported to have been the inventers of judicial Astrology or rather Satan himself For there are who give this to be the true meaning of Casedim from Caph as like as and Shed the Devil so that they are as Devils pretending to skill in starry influence in constellation influx knowing future things in their Art by the contemplation of the geniture Genethliack divinators shewing from the hour and day of a Man's Nativity what shall befal him in his after life They deny also those periphrastical Names in Isaiah to signifie Astrologers Babylon there spoken of was the most ancient Metropolis of judiciary Astrologers and who or what are they but so many kinds of Astrologers who are set out by Chobere Hashemajim and Hachozin baccocabim and Modignim echodashim observers of the Heavens gazers on the Stars Prognosticators to the Moons making Men believe that by looking on the Stars they can foretel good or evil things to come to Persons Families Cities and Kingdoms This and other Scriptures by several names declaring against the several parts of this Black-art that none might escape The seventy two Greek Interpreters do render Chober Hashshamajim an Astrologer and so Kimchi
Time before the Luminaries were created which were to stated preâ—â—ite certain seasons and those Heavenly Lights do now point out all Instituted times which have foundation in Scripture and in Nature particularly the Evening and Morning of every day and the Seventh-day Sabbath every Week For â—dâ—m for mankind generally and was so appointed in this one week at the first and is still to be kept and observed by vertue of that first command The Sun and the Planets and the Stars are not the centers and foundations of all the Vortices and motions of matter and corpuscles about them For the center is supposed to be the lowest whereas these Luminaries are above and do shine over this Earth The Heavens are high above the Earth The Sun and the Moon are the two great Luminaries so called in respect of the lesser lights which are not so great either in visible appearance and whether in real quantity or not doth deserve a more thorow disquisition or in diffused light or in Influential operation and efficacious Vertue And so are of more glorious excellency than the rest The Moon is a great light really positively so the standing still of the Sun and Moon in Joshua's time was a great wonder If the Sun had naturally as the common center stood still and the Moon and the Earth had moved how had it been proper and true to say Sun and Moon stood still Or if it had been spoken popularly and falsly as some boldly and untruly affirm must it not then have been said only Sun stand thou still What absurdities would these Philosophers conceive the Scriptures or the God of Truth in the Scriptures to speak both properly and improperly really and popularly truly and falsly at the same time and in the same words The Sun is a strong one running his Race he goes in in the Evening and he goes forth in the Morning The Sun doth not make or constitute the day but he hath dominion over the day having his being and use assigned on the fourth day and therefore also was not created on the first day when the Primeve light was made The Moon has an Innate light of her own having both the Name and the Nature of a Luminary and was so created at the first A lesser Luminary doth not deny but affirm the lesser to be createdly existingly actually really a Luminary or Lightner or Lighter as well as the greater though not altogether as great synony mously and univocally such she is a Luminar not a Specular having seasons of walking in her own glorious brightness which our eyes do see Even when Eclipsed she is visible to us in her whole disk which Astronomers do suppose not to be illustrated by the Sun Have any of these Philosophers satisfactorily proved as yet that the Eclipse of the Moon is indeed caused by the supposed shadow of the Earth cast upon some part of the Moon and stepping between the Sun and the Moon For besides that such a shadow at such a great distance according to their common placits and traditioned suppositions could not darken so great a part of the Moon yea the whole of the Moon were the Moon of so great a bigness as they also affirm Darkness and shadow they say are no real things but only absence of Light and how can that obscure a lightsome body if darkness have no positivity or existence of it's own All the darkness in the night cannot hinder a Rush-candle from shining Further if such a shadow were the cause then why is not the whole opposite Hemisphere illuminated by the direct Rays of the Sun in the Night at such times when the Moon doth not so shine the Moon hath not all her Light from the Sun according as that part of the Moon in its increases and decreases which is nearest the Sun is illustrated according to it 's more or less opposite position This they assign to be the cause but if it were so then that Diameter of the Moon which doth cut the enlightned part of the Moon into two equal parts must also in a right line pass into the Diameter of the Sun Which is not so As any discerning eye may observingly conclude by ocular demonstration If the Moon as they suppose do move about fifty miles in a minute how then can some Eclipses of the Moon last so long as they do if it were caused only by the shadow of the Earth And how small a proportion is that part of the Hemisphere which the body of the Moon doth take up when it is Eclipsed at its first arising if you compare it with the Compass that it goes from her going forth to her going in The Eclipse also of the Sun they assert may be total to some in some parts of the Earth by the Moon 's being in conjunction and stepping in between the Sun and the Earth But how can this be if as they say the Sun be one hundred sixty and six times biggeâ— than the Earth and the Moon be forty and six times less then the Earth Astronomers therefore must enquire after some other cause of Eclipses let it be searched after Whether Satan who by his Fall having lost his Luminariness and being become darkness and the Prince of darkness be not at least one cause It is further a Philosophical errour to affirm the Moon to be an Earth For the Earth was made and perfected before that the Heavenly Luminaries had any created being These had their existence three days after that Neither is there dry fruit-bearing Land in the Moon for the Earth and not the Moon doth by the Creator's Ordination bring forth Grass Herbs andâ— Trees Neither are there Seas in the Moon For the Seas were created and put into their proper places here below before the Moon had a being Neither is the Moon Opacous nor the Earth Luminous The Histories of the Creation are evident confutations of these and many other human inventions The Moon doth not make or constitute night but hath Dominion over it She is a faithful witness in Heaven The Stars are burning shining bodies having their own inherent burning flame as well as the Sun and Emanant without his Collustration If Stars were of such a magnitude as Ethnick Philosophers do assert how could that Star in Christ's time point out to the Wise men that particular House in Bethlehem when Christ was new born and how could the Stars of Heaven fall down upon the Earth like as the Figg-tree casteth her green Figgs when she is shaken of a mighty Wind It is too great boldness in Earthly man to assign the magnitude altitude distance of the Heavenly Luminaries can a dusty Worm measure the Heavens above or number the Host of Heaven art thou able to mete out the Heavens with a span No meer Man can exactly tell the number of the Stars Though Astronomers have been
Soul and of Body How full of admirable VVonders is this How rare its accomplishments How vertuous its Powers both in the inner and outer Man How mysterious are the Communications of the several parts in Man to each other How secret their Operations upon each other How fearfully how marvellously was this Man made Aelohim did attribute the special making of Man immediately and expresly to himself to set out the dignity and excellency of Man and to assert the Truth Reality and Certainty of the History of Adam against those who dreamingly fancy other Origins of the VVorld Man was not from Eternity but was made in Time Man was not compounded at his first Creation of the four pre-existent Elements of VVater Earth Air and Fire as some affirm nor of Salt Sulphur and Mercury as others assert but is a distinct Creature of a quite different kind from other of his fellow Creatures particularly from Beasts So that we may not with some credulous admirers of Bruits to the disparagement of our selves and the reproach of all Humane Nature adopt Bruits into the Family of Mankind and as one doth express it claim kindred of Apes Baboons Marmosets Drils Bestial Fauns and Satyrs as if they were but one degree removed from our selves Aelohim did not consult with other Creatures about the Make of Man neither were Angels co-workers with him in this That he created Adam a Man and not a Beast was merely the Grace and Beneficence of the Creator It was not the VVork of Nature nor the influencing Operation of the Stars Man's Industry and Art contributed nothing towards the creating of the VVorld For Man had his being one of the last of all the Creatures How exactly was this man made at the first according to the Primitive Pattern Exemplar Type and Model coming very near unto it In Adam man may acknowledge that self same Archetype unto whose Effigies or Shape or Figure or Likeness or Fashion he was made This doth more denote the quality of resemblance which did follow upon the former portraicture resemblance formed shape or expressed representation How glorious how comly how uniform was that appearance of Majesty which did shine forth in Adams inner and outer Man wherein he differs from the lower Creatures and is made like unto his Maker resembling Aelohim as he manifested himself to be seen in those Visions which are recorded in the Scriptures very much like unto the LORD Jesus Christ himself chiefly in Holiness and in Righteousnes Man is called the Image of Aelohim because he is like to Aelohim and he is like Aelohim because he was efformed in creation to Aelohim's likeness as to his Nature Rectitude and State the Image of Aelohim doth carry with it the very likeness to him There are two words which as to their grammatical distinction do spring from two distinct Roots Otherwise they well agree to set out man 's excellent resemblance of his Maker as the Etymology of both the words doth shew Image is sometimes referred to Grace no less than likeness As likeness is also to Nature To reconcile all differences about this I judge that these two words do set out the exact proportionable resemblance of created Adam unto Creating Aelohim in Christ both in the inward make and outward shape in the whole Man as Christ did often appear of old in the Old Testament as a Man to aspire and confirm his peoples Faith that in the appointed time he would take to his Godhead the Nature of Man by a wonderful Incarnation born of a Virgin and be God manifest in the Flesh It is one of the most alike Images that is coming the nearest of any to the Prototype So that here is no Pleonasm or Tautology but a comprehensive significancy and a full sense expressed in two words Man in his Spirit Soul and Body in his whole suppositum the intire Man is every way like his Maker so far as Man's created Capacities were For there is somewhat in Jehovah Aelohim which is incommunicable to mere Man as particularly infiniteness and self existency unchangeableness of holy Nature which last I desire may pass under further disquisition whether unchangeableness of holy Nature be not one part of Holiness comprehended in the perfect Law of the ten Words which Adam in his Uprightness and the blessed Angels in their Purity being but mere Creatures were not capable of If so then whether this would not discover the need and use that even the Elect Angels themselves have of Christ though they do not so need him as now fallen sinning sinful man doth need him in regard that although they have an unchangeableness of State yet not of Nature For some of their fellows do fall by transgression and the standing and the safety of those of them who remain in the Primitive Integrity and Happiness is not their perfection in Grace but their relation unto Christ their Head And the same will hold true also with respect to the glorified Saints in Heaven Elect Men and Women their continued felicity will not be solely in themselves even when they pass into an unsinning State a State of complete Purity and Bliss but as they are living Members of the Mystical Body of Christ There is somewhat peculiar in this Image wherein man is like unto his creating Mediator so as other Creatures are not Though man were created in the Image according to the likeness of Aelohim in Christ yet is not mere man to be adored or to be worshipped Aelohim himself alone hath adorability properly belonging to him The Woman as well as the Man did share in this holy happy Image and likeness The Name Creature is more especially given to Adam as one of the most excelling of Creatures because of this resemblance The notificative Particle is sometimes put before a proper name As here in this part of the History of the Creation and elsewhere contrary to the common Grammar Rule composed by men Grammar should be fitted to Scripture and not Scripture suited to Grammar The different Sexes Male and Female Man and Woman were created at the first in the Humane Nature by Aelohim That after History of the Womans being taken from the side of Man and given unto him in Marriage by Christ should also be further inquired into whether it were not distinct and different both in Nature and in Time from the first Creation of the Man and of the Woman The Woman was of distinct Creation by Aelohim as well as the Man and when the Man was created for this is not by Anticipation both of them were made not out of any pre-existent matter though in Christ Jesus there be not Male and Female but they are esteemed both one in him in the matters of Justification Sanctification Acceptation and Redemption the one sharing in these benefits as well as the other The Man and the Woman were created several distinct persons We have read that he
according to those Scriptures Let the principle be admitted and pursued and then much more would be discovered As for the conservation of health the Learned in the Medicinal Art should search the Scriptures about the use of some and about the forbearing of other creatures for Food about the kinds of bodily exercises about the choice of Aromaticks of Spices of Olys of Wines and many more about the Regiment of passions and of affections with more directions that might be given Such as the actings of suitable graces the enjoying of proper comforts the improving of Holy Fellowship with Jehovah in Father Son and Holy Spirit and more might be added if advice from so mean a one be received in the Colledge of Physitians There is a further part of the Medicinal Art which doth respect the prolongation of days and the lengthning along of Life of which there is much in the Scriptures both by way of direction and of promise He that will industriously seek out where and how often in the Word that expression of length of days or prolongation of days or long of days and such like phrases that do set out this is used and will wisely observe to whom and in what way this is covenanted may find much to this purpose and end Then how should we be under Christ beholden unto such wise and faithful Physicians as would direct their patients for a cure to word prescriptions where we might pursue and follow their counsels in obedience and saith expecting Aelohim's blessing thereunto and therefore for the augment and advancement of this kind of Learning let it be yet farther inquired by men skilful in the Original and acquainted with the Giver of his Word how that knowledge may be perfected by a Scripture-discovery which doth respect the body of Man For hereby many other useful Arts would receive a great increase as the Art of Medicine for the prolongâ—ng of the days of man and for continuing on of his life in the conserving of his health and in the preventing or curing of Diseases the Art of Chirurgery the Art of the Apothecary and Compounder the Art of Opticks and Perspectives the Art of Sounds the Art of Gust the art of Odors the art of Tangibles to mention no more which a discerning eye may look somewhat deep into at the very naming of them Let a more narrow research also be made into the Soul of man Its Essence and Nature Its Substance and Operations Its Offices and Products How great its specifick difference from the Soul of Beasts Let the Spirit of Man be more studied in the Word of Truth What its proper Existence is what its specifick Difference what its Faculties what the Objects of those Faculties wherein differenced from the Soul whether separable from the Soul for some time yet so as the Body still lives what its work is what are the peculiat seats in Man for all the Faculties of the Soul and Spirit How many those Faculties are what their Original what their connaturalness what all the inward parts of Man are what their league of amity and friendly commerce is one with another and all together with the whole compositum and a multitude of other rare parts of this great Knowledge I wait if the LORD give me to live to see this glorious design to be received promoted and improved by others If so I expect that he will give men an heart willing to contribute what this way may be judged useful by such abler undertakers who would severally labour in a distinct handling of some particular Art and Science O how rare is the skill how choice the Priviledge so to improve this part of Experimental Christianity as even here to pass more into growing beginnings of that blessed State of the heavenly Glory by a more holy and healthful transforming likeness to the Humane Nature of Christ in Spirit in Soul and in Body In every one of these to feel a suitable conformity in Holiness unto Christ as our great Exempar It is a great thing to believe aright that the Humane Nature of Christ is then and not till then actually profiting when quickened by the Spirit making Christ's Words to be Spirit and Life How great an Honour hâ—th he put upon Man and how highly hath he advanced the Nature of Man who has laid hold on the Seed of Abraham and taken that to his Godhead He is one in Nature as to his Humanity with Believers he has had experience of all the Cases of Believers sin only excepted There is that in him that is suited to all the parts of Believers in his Spirit in his Soul in his Body in his Nature in his Life for their Regeneration Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification Redemption Acceptation Strength Joy Comfort and every other Good and his Humane Nature is a fitted Instrument of conveyance of this spiritual suitable good to Believers when so quickned by the Spirit There was a proper a peculiar Testimony given by the Creator to the Work of the sixth day a special owning and commendation of that excelling Master-piece Adam Therefore there is a significant word added to Good here whereby is set out the singular Good of this Part of the Creation If this particular approbation were given to all the Works of the Creation in common to all the six days put together then the formation of Man will want its distinguishing Honour and its signal Remark This special note of singular observation here doth affirm and confirm it as spoken of that which is well known and evidently manifest As in all the Creatures both singly and apart collected and put together there was an excellency of Perfection in them according to the capacity of their Natures and for the usefulness of their ends so more particularly and especially in man There is an emphatick Note of Demonstration prefix'd to this Sixth day pointing out the Work of that Sixth day to be somewhat more remarkable and that the adored Almighties had perfected all his Works which he propounded and purposed to create in the foregoing six days of this one Week of the created World It doth shew a thing known and signally illustrious and commendable and that that day only was the sixth day in the weekly Revolution and no other day of the Week And that the weekly Sabbath must be reckoned in order of created Time the immediately next succeeding day after that sixth which weekly Sabbath day was when created the seventh the last day of the week that and no other day of the same week which note of demonstration is remarkable in other Scriptures to point out the certian weekly Sabbath-day in all the following Weeks of the World in the successive courses of Weeks even the seventh which is the last for there is but only one seventh day in one Week progressively going on in the due order and according to the established Law of the Creation All the Creatures were not made
over Q. Whether would not an exact literal version of the holy Scripture word for word as they are in their order into the several Mother-tongues without any the least adding to or substracting from it open much of many useful Truths and necessary Duties and of experimental Christianity as well as many other ways be very profitable for the promoting of peace and purity in the Churches of Christ Q. Whether is it not a Duty for the people especially such of them as have more opportunities and advantages for this to be able to read and to understand the Word in its Original-tongue And whether it would not be of singular use to have the young capable Children in all places to be taught this Q. How may such an Hebrew Lexicon be so composed for words and for phrases as to make Scripture knowledge to be much more easier and familiar to out common people in which they may find out all sorts of little Bibles well fitted to all particular cases where they may quickly see over what the whole scripture doth speak to any subject matter carrying Truth through all the Word Q. In what order of time in exact Chronology are the several Books of Scripture and the several passages in every such Book And how may such Geographical Tables of all the places of the inhabited Earth mentioned in the Scriptures be so suited as that time and place and inhabitants may be made obvious to every plain understanding Q. What is the New Testament spiritual signified part of all and every of the shadowy Figures Ceremonial signs and Typical patterns through the Old Testament Q. What is the Urim and Thummim And whether is there any Prophesie or Promise of either restoring of that or of setting up any thing else in the room of that How may we have such an Oracle revived as to have a certain visible audibles sensible answer from the LORD in weighty cases Q. Whether it be not one evidence of the fulness and perfection of the Word of Truth that even there where its speeches seem to be somewhat broken and abrupt it carries with it a secret supplement in experience directed to all practical cases concerned therein which nothing else of man's word can fill up And whether would it not be very profitable and acceptable to put together some of the more eminent remarkable Scriptures for the better evidencing of the Truth and usefulness of this discovery Q. How may a Believer get and keep life and power in the Word continued upon his heart Q. What Scripture grounds are here upon which to bottom Faith and Prayer that if there were a spirit of believing the LORD would still give miraculous access from Heaven whereby to give sensible demonstrations of the Truth and Goodness of his Word And how may the Doctrine and Practice of Miracles be revived Q. What is the method whereby to evidence the oneness and sameness the well agreeing consentingness and uniform harmoniousness of the Christian Religion throughout the whole Scripture for Truth for Laws and for Priviledges For Doctrines for Duties and for Graces Q. How may the plainest Scripture-Truths be raised to a greater height of spiritual advancement Q. Whether now that Scripture-knowledge is so abounding any one be so competently well gifted for and called to the Ministerial Office who doth not understand the Scriptures in their Original Language And how may hopeful growing young men be so bred up in the Scripture Arts and Sciences as thereby to be fitted for the Ministerial Office And what Scripture grounds are there to expect a more able faithful successful Ministery than is yet at this day Q. VVhether it be not one great Truth of this age that the holy Scriptures are the one and the only Rule to judge by in all cases And whether there be any other boundary to be set to mens pretended liberty of conscience Q. VVhat is there of the Doctrine-part as well as of the Duty-part contained in the Law of the ten VVords Q. In what Method and Order may the Holy Scriptures be best read to most spiritual profit Concerning present Providences and Works of Jehovah Aelohim Q. WHat may the Reasons and Ends be why the LORD in the present day doth seem so much to with hold his Spirit and the gifts and graces of that Spirit now that the longings and petitionings of his Churches and people are so much heightned and drawn out with expectations of his larger pourings out of his Spirit and Blessing upon his new Covenant people Q. What is more especially that Work which the LORD hath been and is still carrying on upon the Wheels of his providence in this Age Q. What is there of Prophetical Scripture fulfilled in the present day which doth make way for the further accomplishment of what Propheties are yet behind And what are those after Prophesies And in what order of Time are all these Prophesies Q. Whether though there have been some partial fulfillings of the Revelation in all Ages of the Church since John's time yet will not the whole of that Book of the Revelation be gone over in the latter days visibly and sensibly fulfilled what John had in Vision and by Voice And whether are there any beginnings of this in our Day and Time At least whether Christ's Calls and Counsels from his Father by his Spirit in that Word of the three first Chapters of that Book be not more especially and particularly to those gathered separate Churches who have someways withdrawn from the corruptions of the Romish Way more thorowly to Reform and to Refine and to be at perfecting Work As that which must lead the way to the bringing about of all the rest which doth follow after Q. What and how doth the LORD Christ in the way of his present Providential Acting reveal of the pattern and platform of his new spiritual House of the latter day-glory and of the Laws and Orders of that House And how is he now with his golden measuring reed and rod and line in his hand to try whether particular Churches and Disciples of his do square well and exactly to his Word-rule And how would he have such societies to be rightly constituted gathered admitted disciplin'd and orderly walking in all things that such Churches may be able to evidence to all the World that they are the true owned and approved Churches of Christ Q. How is Christ at work under this Providence to bring every Institution and Ordinance of his unto its Scripture purity and perfection that they may be felt and enjoyed more in the lively efficacy and saving power of them Q. How is Christ at work in this day to frame his Churches and people to be more of one heart and mind and lip and way in the Truths and things of God and to set them righter in the way of Sisterly association of such purer Churches And how may a Believer see full home to this thorow so much as is quite