Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	father_n	true_a	worship_v	5,831	5	9.4836	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89274	Mercies for man. Prepared in, and by Christ, even for such as neither know them, nor him. Discovered, that they might know, and enjoy them. Or a discourse of the interest there is for all men in, and by Christ in the end, and usefulmesse of the beleevers peculiar priviledges and service. In which is also some information about that service to which the grace of God, that bringeth salvation to all men, instructeth, and obligeth the beleever for the good of them all, according to capacity, and opportunity given him. Likewise some directions for, and concerning Christian magistrates. In the opening some instructions arising from the Apostles exhortation to Timothy, 1 Tim. 2.1, 2. Delivered in November 1653. at the Munday meetings at Black-Friers: and because what then was spoken, met with some publick opposition, this is now published for further satisfaction. Written by Thomas Moor, Junior.	Moore, Thomas, Junior.	1654 (1654)	Wing M2605; Thomason E744_1; ESTC R207022	135,708	156

truth is not plainly manifested but one thing spoken and another meant or the meaning locked or sealed up from us under other expressions contrary to 2 Cor. 4. 1 4. when the pen of the Scribe especially in those things main and fundamenttal is rendered as vain and too empty to give his sence and meaning and yet men pretend wisdom and that they have the Law of the Lord with them Jer. 8. 8 9. This Vision of all being a sealed book upon this account it 's affirmed of such Their whole fear and worship though they honour him with their lips is taught by mens precepts and therefore not right worshipping The reason of such an Assertion concerning the whole worship meerly on this account is this The summe of the Gospel being hid they are lost or out of the way and cannot have any right understanding or usefulness of the instructions of the word of the Lord as to their worship of him having rejected the summe and fundamentals of it and that in which the fellowship of the Spirit is to be met with for opening the rest They have therein rejected the word of the Lord and what wisdom is in them Jer. 8. 8 9. 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. And this is the reason of their roeling and erring in all things hard to be understood they are unlearned and unstable 2 Pet. 3. 16. that is not having learned Christ aright and so all truth as it is in Jesus that Vision of all or not attending and waiting to learn and have the usefulness of all truth according to their needs and capacities through the knowledge and usefulness of that summe of the Gospel the testimony of God concerning him as Isa 28. 10 11 12 14 16. John 6. 45 46. Eph. 4. 21. They therefore presently pervert those things in the Scriptures hard to be understood and then also to frame their apprehensions in every thing to such pervertings of the Scriptures in things hard they pervert all other Scriptures to their own destruction These are such ungodly ones as yet have a form of godliness but deny the power resist and oppose the truth as it is in Jesus The Father is not rightly honoured or worshipped by them The true Worshippers worship the Father in Spirit and truth John 4. 23. The truth of all types promises and former revelations of God to men in and according to which the Father is to be worshipped is Christ Jesus Phil. 3. 3. The testimony of Jesus as now come forth is to us the Spirit of prophesie through and according to which the Father and Son God in Christ is to be acknowledged believed in and worshipped by us Rev. 19. 10. And thus our Saviour explicates that John 4. 23. according to these two Scriptures compared in John 5. 22 23 24. The Father judgeth no man that is otherwise then as follows but hath committed all judgement to the Son to this end that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father that now in honouring the Son as come forth and glorified in our nature through sufferings they may therein truely acceptably honour or worship the Father And for further opening how and wherein the Son is rightly honoured and so the Father in him he addes He that heareth my word that revelation of the Father that he was delivered to death for our offences raised for our justification as declared in the Gospel giveth and through and according to it beliveeth on him that sent me he hath ever lasting life c. Therefore believers are exhorted to hold fast the believing remembrance of the things heard from the beginning the word of the beginning of Christ and to have recourse thereto as to that Spirit or Unction it being the immediate birth or off-spring of the Spirit it self and so Spirit according to that rule John 3. 6. His name an oynment poured forth Cant. 1. 2. for understanding all things for preserving from every evil word and work for direction and furniture to all service and suffering 1 Cor. 15. 1 4. 2 Tim. 2. 7 8. 1 John 2. 20 24 27. And therein and so they shall be found exercising themselves to godliness Honesty signifies righteousness equity or justice in our demeanour towards all men and that such as in which there is chastity or sincerity to the main design for which we are set in the world purity of heart and cleanness of hands in prosecuting the good of all men working righteousness or walking righteously in all our conversation with and amongst them as Psal 15. and 24. Isa 33. 15. According to the teachings of that grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men and so in like expressions it is joyned with living godly in that Tit. 2. 11 12. and opposed to worldly lusts The grace of God that brings salvation to all men hath appeared teaching us That denying ungodliness and wordly lusts we should live righteously soberly and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the mighty God our Saviour who gave himsef for us to redeem us from all iniquity that he might purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works So 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. it 's opposed to fleshly lusts which being heeded and listened to do hinder the Soul of so living honestly Therefore dearly beloved saith Peter I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts that warre against the Soul having your conversation honest among the Gentiles that in the day of their visitation they may glorifie God Like that Phil. 2. 15 16. Do all things without murmurings and disputings that ye may be blameless harmless the Sons of God in the midst of a crooked generation amongst whom shine ye as lights in the world holding forth the word of life and that both in word and conversation The doing that which is just and equal between man and man and so unto all or that which is so in the sight of men this is certainly here meant by or contained in living honestly as Phil. 2. 16. Rom. 12. 17. 1 Pet. 2. 15. and 3. 16. But this alone is too scant a definition of the living honestly here meant yet all that is signified by it is no more but a walking righteously and doing that which is lawful right but that which is so in the sight of God and according to the teachings of that grace of God that brings salvation to all men goes further then that which is so in the sight of men and they are both together in this living honestly as may be seen in one instance 2 Cor. 8. 20 21. That no man might blame them in the abundance administred by them they did provide things honest not onely in the sight of God but also in the sight of men signifying that they did provide things honest or walk honestly in the sight of God in administring abundantly of whatever God had given them for the good

Job 33. 29 30. Rom. 2. 2. 4. Act. 17. 27. And such is that great acknowledgement and Thanksgiving to God by Jesus Christ or in the name of Jesus Psal 68. 18 19 20. Thou hast ascended on high namely the Lord Jesus Eph. 4. 8. He who first descended into the lower parts of the earth Thou hast lead Captivity captive destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devill That he might deliver those who through fear of Death were all their life time subject to bondage Heb. 2. 14. And received gifts in the man and for men as we may take it in both readings even for the Rebellious yea for such as persisting in their Rebellions against this grace of God That brings salvation to all men denying him that bought them Do after bring upon themselves swift destruction as appears by comparing these 18. and 19. verses with verse 21. yet for them the present and first end of his working Redemption destroying Satans works and receiving gifts in himself for them is That now they might dwell with the Lord and so that misery and destruction which they after bring on themselves might in time be prevented to them And therefore it follows farther in the Thanksgiving or acknowledgement of what God hath further done to that end and of that as issuing out of the bowels of the former and being nothing else but a streaming forth of the ends and vertues thereof Blessed be the Lord God in Christ That now on the account of his having ascended and received gifts daily loadeth us The God of our salvations Selah He that is thus our God and a God of such salvations to us in and through his Son he is the God of salvation in a more generall latitude The Saviour of all men especially of them that believe And therefore we are instructed to give thanks alwayes and for all things in the name of Jesus Christ Eph. 5. 20. yea the Apostle exhorting us to follow that which is good both among our selves and towards all men directs us in pursuance hereof to Rejoyce evermore to pray without ceasing and in every thing give thanks For this saith he is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you 1 Thess 5. 15 16-18 And so here in pursuance of the great Design forementioned To pray with Thanksgiving for all men There is not a man to be prayed for for whom there is not Thanksgiving to be made to God in his behalf and that in the name of Christ nor any thing to be prayed for for any man for our encouragement to which we have not somthing suitable in and by Christ for and towards that man to give thanks for And this leads us to consider Fifthly The ground or account upon which Prayers and Thanksgivings are to be made for all men And that is no other but the truth and verity of that which we have already mentioned as the bottome cause and occasion of Thanksgiving which we have to God in and by Christ for them See for this the following verses as joyned with this first and so the word therefore verse 1. though as it refers to the end of the exhortation and thing exhorted to it points to the foregoing Chapter as we have seen yet as it hath reference to the ground of the exhortation or things exhorted to so it leads us to the following verses for finding out and understanding it as will appear by considering them I exhort therefore that Prayers and Thanksgivings be made for all men c. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth For one God or God is one as Gal. 3. 20. And there is one Mediator between God and men The Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a Ransome for All a Testimony or to be testified in due time whereunto I am ordained a Preacher and an Apostle a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity I will therefore that men pray every where c. The ground of praying for all men is here cleerly rendred by the Apostle To be The verity and certainty of the love and good will of God to Manward to all men as manifested in that great Witnesse and Testimony thereof in that done in and by Christ for them As it is a general ground and rule of all right prayer that is according to his will 1 Joh. 5. 14. For our better understanding this and how it gives good ground of Prayers and Thanksgivings to be made for all men and that without wrath or doubting Let us take a briefe view of the words See verse 4. God will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth Some understand this as a Declaration of Gods absolute will concerning Christ and what should certainly be accomplished by him First That he should save all men with such salvation as foreruns the knowledge of the truth yea in respect of the greatest work of it such as foreruns their being called to it as 2 Tim. 1. 9. He hath saved us and called us That is first Work salvation in himself for them and so save or recover the whole nature in himself as the publick Person And secondly that in the Administration of Gods Government by vertue of what he hath done and is perfect in him for them he should save them and so they should be preserved by him as they came to have beings given and continued here to the comfortable enjoyment of the naturall life the mercies and accommodations thereof and so from perishing in or under the shadows of the first Death Thirdly That he should procure and extend forbearance of sins committed against the light and grace of Redemption and fruits thereof save or keep from Judgements that being speedily executed might cut off for ever That so they may yet enjoy him a Testimony in due time to them And so he is the Saviour of All men according to the will of his Father concerning him And Secondly That he should bring them all to the knowledge of the truth either now in this day while it might be to their everlasting comfort or else hereafter if here they wilfully reject till they be rejected of him when it will be to their everlasting terror Isa 45. 23. Phil 2. 8 9. with Psal 2. 5 6 c. And so the will of God concerning what he was to do that men might be saved affording good and large ground to pray for them and the terror appearing in that which shal after be accomplished to their wo if now his grace be rejected affording motive to presse to earnestness in praying and beseeching both them and God for them while it is an accepted time Now all these instructions arising from such a reading of the words are true and suitable to those which appear fully in the following words But here this verse seems more

properly to be read as a Declaration of Gods good will love and desire towards men and concerning them as considered in their faln lost and sinfull estate which was such as in which he would have them saved out of it and brought back again to him Such his great compassions slownesse to anger and riches in mercie That he had no pleasure in their destruction but that they should turn and live And therefore desired they should come to the knowledge of the truth of his love and goodnesse towards them that so they might be drawn into love of him and conformity to him that were so full of hatred and antipathy against him And then as a real demonstration of this his love desire for them and declaration of the way and means prepared that this might be for though God loved them and desired their good yet they could have enjoyed no streamings forth or manifestations of it or benefit by it If he had not devised means that his banished might not be expelled as 2 Sam. 14. 14. He further tells us That God is one and unchangeable in all his holy Attributes and therefore in love to man as his creature and the end of his other creation and while he was not yet become wholly one with and of Satan that had tempted and prevailed over him could not yet give him up And so in holinesse and truth and therefore could by no means in clearing clear the guilty or forgive sin without a fulfilling of his truth and satisfying of his Justice And so likewise in infinit wisdome and goodnesse in all and therefore knew how to finde out a way of recovery that mercy and truth might meet together for mans recovery and helpfulnesse in this lost condition as well as to make him of nothing a creature to such excellent glory and hath done it God is light and in him is no darknesse And that appears in this that follows There is one Mediator of God and man and so between God and man Christ Jesus A Mediator is not a Mediator of one But God is one Gal. 3. 20. A Mediator is of and between two parties at a distance and so is ours But whereas the usuall work of Mediators between man and man is to lay his hand on both and prevail with one to abate something and the other to pay or satisfie something so is not ours for God is one He was not turned enemy but loved us when we were enemies so as he sent the Mediator He is one and so infinit and perfect in holinesse and can abate nothing of what his Truth and Justice requires and therefore must have full and perfect satisfaction though we are so weak we can make none The work therefore of our Mediator is to make full satisfaction pay the full price come up to Gods terms and then to bring us up to and inable us to accept of those termes in him made and accepted for us And so in the whole and in each part of his work That with God and that with men It is to reconcile man to God The first in and by himselfe without them The second in their particular persons through him 2 Cor. 5. 19 20 21. And for the accomplishing this He that is the one Mediator of God and man and that he might be a standing Mediator between them Gave himselfe a ransome for all men A Testimony or to be testified in due time That so through him they might come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved For understanding the large ground of praying for All men here set before us consider some of the particular instructions herein presented 1 That Jesus Christ by the will and appointment of the Father hath given himselfe and is accepted A Ransome for All. 2 That he is by vertue hereof become a standing and powerfull Mediator between God and men 3 That by vertue and by means of his Ransome accepted and his Mediation continually made for them he is of the Father to them A Testimony in due time That they might come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved And in all this God is light and in him is no darknesse at all For the first That Jesus Christ by the appointment of the Father hath given himself and is accepted a Ransome for All a price of Redemption so as he hath redeemed and bought them All as hath been shewed already as to the persons for whom now we shall apply our selves to the consideration of the worke herein done for them And so first he hath in and by himselfe redeemed them from the curse of the Law being made a curse for them Gal. 3. 13. Secondly He hath by that his one offering for all perfected through suffering and now presented to the Father obtained and received into himself eternal redemption a full and perfect Recovery and Restoration of all that losse contracted by sinne as charged on them by the first Testament Heb. 9. 12. 15. First Jesus Christ hath in and by himself redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us Gal. 3. 13. where that he speaks not of that redeeming the heart and conscience from under the bondage and accusation of sin by the Law which is only wrought in the spirit of the beleever through the discovery of that done in Christ for all men but of that done namely of the redemption wrought in Christ for them before they knew it This is evident in that he saith the Redemption here spoke of was done and finished by his being made a curse for us whereas the other though done by vertue thereof yet is not effected but through the discoveries thereof and in the receit by faith as before yea it is still more evident in that he mentions this as perfectly done that means might be used for the doing the other namely the redeeming men in their particular persons and that that might be wrought or received through faith He hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us that the blessing of Abraham the preaching of peace by Jesus Christ Eph. 2. 14. 17. 3. 6. might come on the Gentiles that we namely whoever beleeveth might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith according to that Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son namely the Saviour of the world 1 Joh. 4. 14. that whoever of the world so loved by him through this grace beleeveth in him whom he hath sent should not perish but have everlasting life and so that Gal 3. 13. is opened Gal 4. 4 5 where the query is fully answered who they are encluded under the word us Gal. 3. 13. that he hath redeemed from the curse of the Law God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeeme them that were under the Law that we there the person is changed namely whoever beleeveth might receive the

that is of both seeing and healing when by the light comming to them they see both him and his Father 2. The truth of that ransoming or redemption from the curse of the Law perfect in Christ for men appears further from the grace of God extended unto men in the mercies and accommodations of the natural life yea in the severest of his chastisements there appears a great abatement or taking off the greatest part of the stroke and that it is not sustained as the full and proper wages of sin but is far less then our iniquities deserve the truth and holiness of God was ingaged that the soul that sins must dye and the death was such as was wholly destructive and no intermission or mixture of any mercy but the soul to have been continually filled with madness and confusion the body with pains and all diseases in the extremity till it had been wholly turned to dust the rain of the land powder and dust we to eat our bread in sorrow and anguish of our hearts all our dayes all curses to follow and overtake us till we perish this was our portion Gen. 3. 17 c. with Deut. 28. 15 c. neither may the truth and holiness of God suffer the least impeachment he cannot in clearing clear the guilty Exod. 34. 7. Therefore in that man is preserved from so much of the destruction and confusion in his minde and of the pains and anguish in his body in this natural life as that he is a capable subject of beholding conversing with and comfortable injoyment of the works of Gods creation and providence that instead of the rain of our land being powder and dust the Lord gives rain from heaven and instead of eating our bread in the sorrow of our heart all our dayes the Lord gives food and gladness instead of thornes thistles that the Lord in any measure gives that which is good and our land yields her increase herein Gods goodness is witnessed so as through a Saviour and leading to repentance all these having in them a testimony of a door opened again to God mercy and truth met redemption wrought in another for us Psal 85. 9 12 13. Acts 14. 17. Rom. 2. 4. upon that account it is that God demeans himself towards men in his government ●ow by Christ as if he did not see their iniquities because he is well pleased for his righteousness sake Isai 42. 19 21. in whom truth is sprung out of the earth c. 3. The truth of this further appears in that all shall be raised from the first death and then be judged according to the Gospel which they could not have been if one had not by the grace of God died for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 10 14 15. Acts 17. 30 31. Rom. 2. 16. yea if Christ be not raised for them then can there be no resurrection of them For since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead For as in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive 1 Cor. 15. 21 22. Neither could there be any reason or rule for judging men according to the Gospel for whom there was no truth in the Gospels Declarations propounded to them to be believed if no grace extended by which they might have been saved They must have perished if Christ had not died for them in the first death but there could have been no ransoming out of it and so no second death But to proceed 2. As Jesus Christ by giving himself a ransome hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law and therein saved us from perishing in that first death and misery having in and by himself taken away our sins from before the Father the sin of the world after the first consideration as passing and being found on them simply and necessarily through the first disobedience so he hath therein and by vertue thereof obtained eternal redemption even redemption of the transgressions under the first Testament Heb. 9. 12 15. A perfect restoration of all that was lost by that sin and according to that judgement a restoration of it not into their persons but into himself for them that it might be enjoyed by faith and in the first fruits of the Spirit and the hope of the harvest by any of them in believing in him through his name there it is perfect in him as in a publique person or treasury for us who will never lose it That in coming in to him it might be enjoyned by us In him God hath given us eternal life He of us to whom life is given in Christ that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life And yet it 's given him in Christ as before 1 John 5. 11 12. The sum of our loss and that in which eternal life consisteth is capacity and liberty to the enjoyment of the delightful favour of and fellowship with God in which is life All have sinned and come short of the glory of God unto which they were created in the first publique man Sin makes separation between God and men forasmuch as by it we lost that Image of God in which we were created which was such as in Soul and Body together we were capable subjects of immediate fellowship with our Creator and in also our liberty to such enjoyment we are in our selves and as in relation to the first man justly banished as well as enemies in our mindes and so at a distance strangers to the life of God but Jesus Christ in our nature as the second publique man and for us hath perfectly recovered that Image of God which we lost and in a better maner and that both in Soul and Body so as he is in our nature and as the publique person a capable subject of immediate fellowship with God and hath also liberty he is entertained to such enjoyment that now for us through sufferings he is entered into the actual possession of glory that he may appear effectually in the presence of God for us and that whosoever comes in to him by faith may in him appear perfect and righteous before the Father yea the fulness of the Godhead dwells in him bodily according to that John 17. 4 5. I have finished the work thou gavest me to do on earth and now I come to thee holy Father glorifie me with thine own self with the glory I had with thee before the world was Compared with Col. 1. 14. 15. In him we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sinnes Who is the Image of the invisible God c. 'T is true the 15. verse is a description of the excellency of his person In whom we have redemption but it is also clearly a demonstration of the redemption we have in him the Image of God recovered into our nature that through faith in him it may be enjoyed by any of us whose nature he took as aforesaid Seeing whatever Jesus

occasion or fruit of ignorance or unbebelief in Christ as before that sin as found in us and others after this consideration may not be laid to our charge but forbearance and forgiveness administred according to the Gospel now for these sins or sins after this consideration it is that he is here said to be the propitiation the standing propitiatory sacrifice or mercy-seat for the dayly covering with the infinite vertues of his satisfaction and offering for sin once made and so taking away dayly from before the Father the sins of the world after this consideration and so his being the propitation for our sins which might hinder our prayers and for the pardon of which we have dayly to pray and not onely for ours but also for the sins of the whole world is equivalent and the same with his being the continual and standing Mediator between God and men by and with the vertues of that one offering of himself 'T is true his making the atonement or propitiation and peace in himself for us in that at first perfectly done in giving himself a ransome is here more strongly implyed and signified seeing without it or if that had not been done and perfect for them in Christ this could not have been done for them by him if he had not made peace he could not have been a standing propitiation for sin but that which is here directly spoken to and signified by his being affirmed to be the propitiation is according to the latter sence And so God hath set him forth to be a standing propitiation that through him his righteousness may be declared not onely in giving the forgiveness of sins through faith in his blood but in granting forbearance of the same to men that do not believe that they might have opportunity and space afforded thereto as well as also to be a propitiation to or in them and so of them in their particular persons through faith in his blood as Col. 1. 22. 2 Cor. 5. 18. And all this through by vertue and by means of the redemption that is in him Rom. 3. 24 25. Behold then that Lamb of God that having by himself perfectly purged our sin is now set down on the right hand of God and there dayly taking away the sin of the world as now charged on it the great Mediator between God and men by and with the vertues of his having given himself a ransome for all men and that he may be so viewed by us consider 3. That by vertue of his ransome given and accepted and his Mediation continually made with the Father for all men he is in the name of the Father a Testimony or to be testified to them in due time to each in their several and proper ages and to every one at such time and seasons as may be most for their advantage and good and now in these last ages the most seasonable time for that for divers considerations by the coming of Christ and his bringing light and immortality to light by the Gospel to the Gentiles 2 Tim. 1. 10. Heb. 1. 1 3. of which more directly is here spoken in which the ground of making prayers with thanks givings for all men is more opened then formerly though it was the same in Christ before But he●e for brevity sake we shall onely shew how in general he is and alwaies was unto all men every where and in every age by vertue of his sacrifice accepted and vertuous with the Father from the beginning a Testimony in due time of the truth of the redemption in him and the Fathers goodness through him And that in these two things 1. In affording to all as they come to capacity and need of it means opportunity and space to repent 2. In sending forth his good Spirit in the supernatural light and power of it in and with those mercies and means to bring the light and understanding of his goodness to the heart and thereby to reprove men of their evils and turn them to God 1. In affording to all as they come to capacity and need of it means and opportunity to repentance for children that know not any thing and so are not capable of actual doing good or evil as they are not capable of hearing and rejecting the word of Christ of voluntary chusing and setting up idols in their heart and departing from the Lord under whose special care and protection and gracious government by Christ they are so there is no condemnation or charge of sin upon them by or according to the Gospel and so no repentance needful or required of them for though born under the guilt of sin according to the Law under which Christ was made for them and so with a corrupt and polluted nature yet by reason of him that hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law they are not by God held under condemnation on that account neither nor shall perish in that death And as they have no capacity in their particulars personally to adhere to and close with the grace of God in Christ and so actually to believe in him so neither is that required of them by him that requires not but according to what he hath sown and in his givings furnished to yea he that imputes righteousness without works and doth not charge with unbelief where there is not a hearing and rejecting as John 3. 19. and 12. 47. doth graciously accept and own them by vertue of the Redemption wrought in Christ for them yea and reckons them as believers and so of the kingdom and as a testimony of that would have them brought to him and accepts that as their coming and saith Whosoever shall receive one such little child in his name therein receiveth and acknowledgeth him Mat. 18. 5 6. and 19. 13 14. yet in them Christ is a testimony of the truth of the Redemption in him and the Fathers goodness through him unto all men in preserving their natural life while he continues it to them to the comfortable injoyment of his mercies and free from the sting and poyson of the first death and easing them of so much of the pains and miseries of those shadows of that death and mortality that is upon them as he sees good for them and for us In which as there is no destructiveness in that which remaines so there is a great abatement and taking off even of the greatest part of the stroke or curse which the truth of God required should have been executed upon us in them by reason of our sin not onely to bring forth in sorrow but for trouble without case Cursed shalt thou be in the fruit of thy body Gen. 3. 16. Deut. 28. 18. we may say as sometimes concerning Joseph Gen. 45. 7. It appears by Gods present gratious dealing with us in them that God hath sent a Jesoph into our condition of misery and made him under our Law and curse before us and he is now through sufferings entered into

of godliness and honesty to get peace with any or live quietly with them that will be worthily reputed a loving the things of the world and the love and fellowships of or peace with men more then him or the praise of men more then the praise that comes of God alone and will render a man unworthy of him Mat. 10. 32 39. John 12. 42 43. Yet a man living in all godliness and honestly he may lead his life quietly and peaceably with and amongst those that are ungodly turbulent unjust and devising deceitful matters against him and that for Christs sake and the Gospels or at least he may endeavour it as much as is possible by being for peace even while they are for war Psal 35. 13 14 20. and 120. 6 7. and yet not joyne or comport with them in their ungodly principles or wayes nor allow or have fellowship with their unfruitful works of darkness but in a constant holding fast faith and a good conscience exercising himself in godliness and honesty be alwayes fleeing from and avoiding them departing from iniquity according to the teaching of that name and grace of Christ professed by him and so reproving them bearing witness and striving against their sin and that with meekness long-suffering and doctrine and yet with constancy Heb. 12. 3 4. 2 Tim. 2. 19 26. and 4. 1 5. However then this is first to be minded the Saints of God such as through grace believe they are to lead their lives and be continually exercised each according to their capacity in godliness and honesty Godliness is the true or right worshipping of God the honouring or glorifying of him and walking in a right acknowledgement of him in all things and so in service of him according to the teachings of that grace that brings salvation to all men which in that appearance of it by Christ teacheth that denying all ungodliness we should live godly See it explicated by this Apostle 1 Tim. 4. 8 10. Having exhorted Timothy to exercise himself to godliness on this account that it's profitable to all things he proves that thus verse 10. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe where comparing the verses it appears that the trusting in and so the whole worshipping of the living God in and according to that declaration of his name in his Son where he hath revealed himself to be the living God the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe This is godliness or right worshipping of God and so to be exercised herein and hereto was to exercise himself to godliness which he should finde profitable to all things even to his teaching and strengthening in this present day to all his service and suffering And so with this 1 Tim. 4. 7 8 10. agrees that description of a godly person Psal 1. He that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stands in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful he refuseth foolish and unlearned questions and positions of science falsely so called such teachings counsels and documents about the worship and acknowledgement of God or of Christ as in which God in Christ is not honoured according to his word But the great testimony of God concerning him which is the summe of all the matter of the Fathers teaching or learning Joh. 6. 45. Eph. 4. 20 22. and the key of knowledge for opening all things pertaining to the knowledg and worship of God is laid by And so the fear and worship taught by the precepts of men or after the wisdom of this world which is foolishness with God and teaches enmity to the truth and way of worshipping God as it is in Jesus he avoids refuseth and shuns such ungodliness and also flees youthful and fleshly or worldly lusts and exerciseth himself to godliness 1 Tim. 4. 7. and 6. 11. 2 Tim. 2. 22 23. that is as in the Psalm his delight and continual exercise is in the law or doctrine of the Lord the old Commandment preached from the beginning the testimony of God concerning Christ the law of liberty as explicated James 1. 25. he looketh into it and continueth therein his faith his fear his whole worship acknowledgement and service is taught by and according thereto he shall be stable successful and so blessed in his deed and accordingly we have a description of ungodly persons though having a form of godliness yet denying the power the root and life thereof And with it a declaration of the general reason they are so unstable and easily tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine as Psal 1. 4. with Eph. 4. 14. and do so much miscarry in their apprehensions of all things pertaining to the knowledge and worship of God They erre in vision they stumble in judgement Isa 28. 7. and 29. 9. the description of them I say and the general reason of such their erring and instability we have Isa 29. 11. The vision of all was become unto them as the words of a book that is sealed c. and so rendered by them to others and this fundamental blindness it may seem God had now in part given them up unto but it was because they had first wilfully closed their own eyes and made it their own proper wilful iniquity against the light and reproof of grace as Isa 28. 10 11 12 13. with Mat. 13. 13 14 15. The Vision of all is Jesus Christ as declared in the Gospel in whose face now God hath manifested the light of his glory so as he that seeth him seeth him that sent him he that believeth on him believeth on him that sent him John 12. 44 46. 2 Cor. 4. 6. yea he is that true light that in revealing the Father doth manifest all things in their proper colours The Light of the world John 8. 12. and 12. 46. with Eph. 5. 13. That vision spoken of Hab. 2. 2 3. compare Heb. 10. 37. 'T is to us Jesus Christ as now declared in that preaching of the Cross who was before witnessed in the Law and Prophets compare Isa 29. 11 14. with 1 Cor. 1. 18 19. c. This therefore called the Vision of all because it 's the Vision of all Visions the foundation and key of knowledge for the opening of all doctrines the great things of Gods Law Hosea 8. 12. Mat. 23. 13 23. Luke 11. 52. and also because it 's the Vision of for and to all men the light of the world it holds forth tidings of great joy of greatest and most excellent concernment for them all and at all times Luke 1. 10 11 14. Prov. 8. 1 6 7. 1 Tim. 1. 15. This is rendered as a sealed book when the Gospel as preached by the Prophets and Apostles in and according to the import of its own expressions is looked upon and presented as a Riddle or hidden thing in which

and propounded as equivalent with it in ver 18 19. and so the Apostle Paul to Titus mentions this as one of those things which the grace of God that brings salvation to all men teacheth the believing receiver of it To be subject to principalities and powers to obey Magistrates to be ready to every good work signifying that we are to be subject to and obey the power where we cannot with chearfulness or if not at all do the work required Tit. 3. 1. with chap. 2. 11 12. they well knew that it would be found too frequent in these latter dayes especially in such as retaining a form of godliness a great shew and pretence of worshipping God yet deny the power of it that Vision of all the truth as in Jesus not onely without fear to speak evil of dignities and despise dominion as Jude 8 9. but also to be proudly disobedient to Parents truce-breakers incontinent fierce traytors heady high-minded loving pleasures ease kingdom glory and to have their will here more then God 2 Tim. 3. 2 5. and therefore have so plentifully instructed exhorted and charged us in this particular 2. The believers life in all godliness and honesty is to be led quietly and peaceably towards and as much as is possible with all men with whom he leads his life and conversation or hath occasion to converse toward all men he is to demean himself quietly and peaceably in his holding forth the tidings and patterns of that grace of God that bringeth salvation to them though therein he shall have occasion to contend earnestly for the faith with some and to rebuke and reprove others yet he is to do this with all long suffering and doctrine Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom though not the wisdom of this world or such meekness as that teacheth to hide mince or be ashamed of his words before an adulterous generation to be negligent remiss or sparing in striving for the truth of the Gospel or against mens sin as the truth we have learned in Jesus instructeth and leadeth us that is so far from being the meekness and gentleness of Christ that it is on the other hand ungodliness dishonesty and a shunning the Cross of Christ yet in doing the work of an Evangelist or holding forth the faithful word and shewing forth the vertues of Christ and that both in season and out of season with diligence and constancy we are therein and according thereto to shew forth all meekness to all men gentleness easiness to be intreated Jam. 3. 13 17. 2 Tim. 4. 1 5. For the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God and therefore we are to avoid foolish and unlearned questions and strife of words which tend to no profit but to the subverting of the hearers from a right and plain understanding knowing that they do gender strifes and the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach patient in meekness instructing the ignorant and them that oppose themselves c. 2 Tim. 23. 25. and so therein patiently enduring and suffering not onely Gods chastisements his gracious afflictions more immediately ordered from his own hand but also their wrongs and injuries Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification for even Christ pleased not himself but as it is written The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me Rom. 15. 2 3. which in the place where it is written Psal 69. 9. is joyned with this other saying The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up which is applied to and said to be verified in his driving the buyers and sellers out of the temple in which action mentioned John 2. 14 17 18 c. he did not directly please them but as may appear by the Evangelist compared with the Psalm did therein render himself and became a stranger to his brethren c. Psal 69. 8. he displeased them and was despised in their eye and they thought it strange as John 2. 18. but though he could not please them in winking at and suffering without sharp reproof their profanation of his Fathers house the truth of which as now come forth is the temple of his Body his person as delivered to death by the Father destroyed and crucified by them and raised up again in three dayes as plainly explicated by himself in the following verses of that John 2. neither would it have been for their good therein or so to have pleased them yet in doing that and having done it and so in all his doings among them he pleased them for their good to edification in not regarding or seeking in any of these things to please himself or to glorifie and get honour and praise to himself among them doing nothing through strife and vain-glory but in lowliness of minde preferring them before himself in giving honour to them so as in tendering of them and bearing with their evil manners enduring their contradictions quietly and patiently suffering them without reviling again he in all his zeal and constancy for his Fathers name and glory yet therein pleased not himself but as it is writien The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me and he willingly without striving or retorting bore and suffered them So though we cannot at any hand please them in having fellowship with them in their unfruitful works in their notions and wayes of ungodliness nor in their fleshly lusts not run with them to the same excess of ryot wherein they will think it strange 1 Pet. 4. 3 4. Eph. 5. 4 11. neither would it be for their good to edification therein or so to please them The grace of God that brings salvation to all men teacheth us rather and for their good to reprove them and not by any means or whatever befal us from them not to desist from striving against their sin but this so as with meekness of wisdom and in doing this not to please our selves seek our own glory or praise from or amongst men but quietly bearing their injuries reproaches wrongs without retorting the like on them or seeking to vindicate our own name or walking unlovingly towards them and this will be a means to please them and that so as for their good to edification therefore Pauls exhortation to Timothy 2 Tim. 4. is To exhort rebuke repove in his preaching the word with all longsuffering and doctrine and therein to endure affliction and still go on doing the work of an Evangelist or Messenger of peace True they are to strive together for the faith of the Gospel and in nothing to be terrified by their adversaries from their holding fast faith and a good conscience or walking in godliness and honesty Phil. 1. 27. but yet they are therein to go on in a quiet enduring the contradiction of sinners they meet with still striving against their sin so resisting their contradictons with patient enduring and

forgoten that he was purged from his old sins 2 Pet. 1. 11. In abiding and walking in Jesus Christ as we have received him we shall grow more rooted in him and built upon him established in the faith as we have been taught abounding therein with thanksgiving Col. 2. 6 7. For being justified by faith of what Jesus Christ hath done and is become in himself for us by being delivered to death for our offences and raised again from the dead for our justification and so having peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ we have also by him through the same faith in him according to his name dayly more access into that grace of God to manward appearing in and through that gift of Righteousness which was that grace in which they stood so as to be made able to comprehend with all Saints what is the height length depth and breadth of that love that passeth knowledge and more to prove and taste the sweetness and vertues of it and so through it to rejoyce in hope of the glory of God and not onely so but to rejoyce in tribulations also meeting with this knowledge and proof of the truth of it in having dayly access or inlet into that grace That tribulation works patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope makes not ashamed and all from hence the love of God being shed abroad in our hearts while we have our recourse and access thereinto by a believing mindefulness thereof in all things the same is more displayed and opened to us by the holy Ghost which is given unto us still further reminding us of and opening to us this testimony of Jesus That when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly Rom 4. 24. with chap. 5. 1 6. Therefore saith our Saviour If ye abide in me and my words in you continue in my love keeping my Commands c. ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you for thereby you shall be taught to pray as you ought Rom. 8. 26. for nothing but according to his will 1 John 5. 13 15. and for that without wrath or doubting 1 Tim. 2. 1 8. Yea and ye shall bring forth much fruit and herein is my Father glorified John 15. 1 6 8 11. And this leads us to the next 2. The believers leading a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty tends very much to the adorning the name and doctrine of God our Saviour and to the manifesting the truth and goodness of his Gospel and Way before them Hence that is one great end propounded to move Servants to such demeanor towards their Masters and every Soul to the higher powers and so all Christians in their several places towards one another and towards all men as is according to godliness and honesty Even as that grace of God that brings salvation to all men teacheth That the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed 1 Tim. 6. 1. That they may adorne the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things Tit. 2. 10. That ye may be blameless harmless the Sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked generation amongst whom shine ye as lights in the world holding forth the word of life Phil. 2. 15 16. And that so as men seeing your good works may glorifie your Father the Gentiles in the day of their visitation may glorifie God Mat. 5. 13 16. 1 Pet. 2. 12. And this general councel a full direction in every case Onely let your conversation be such as becometh the Gospel Phil. 1. 27. For a little demonstration hereof see it in some particulars 1. The believer in all godliness and honesty living under Government being subject to the higher Powers as ordained of God over him yea though there be no such justice or righteousness issuing from them as he could desire as well as in other parts of such demeanor as is forementioned he declares plainly to others thereby That the grace of God in Christ instructs and leads to such high esteem of the infinite wisdom goodness and faithfulness of God that hath not spared his own Son but delivered him up to death for us all and that in due time and to such assurance that the same wisdom goodness truth and faithfulness is exercised in all his orderings and dispensations towards us according to that standing testimony of it in his Son whom he hath given to be a continual witness of his love and glory in the exercise of all his holy attributes for our good in all his dealings with and about us and in ordering to us mercies and chastisements that though by sence in most particular matters at present it be not so discernable yet by faith in him we may be helped to keep such right judgement at all times and from such right judgement taught and strengthened to all things through him and so for the Lords sake that hath done so much for us willingly submit to any Power or Ordinance of men that God by his providence orders over us and that either in doing or suffering so as in the Lord as judging that place and condition of servitude and under such a master or power to be at the present the best for us most seasonable for the accomplishing of Gods will in either mercy or chastisement for our good And seeing his will is good and acceptable towards us in both as manifested in his Son that grace instructs not to be solicitous or hastily inquisitive to know whether for one or for another it be so ordered yet quietly to wait for that also that as he is by grace enabled to understand or perceive it so he may receive and minde others of the instruction suitably in it considering that it is the great Master of us and them that is in Heaven yea it 's he that gave his Son to the death for us and now governs all things by his word and in the same exercise of wisdom grace and faithfulness in and through his Son that hath ordered to us such an inferiour Master or Government and us to such place of subjection Hence in those particular exhortations as to this matter we are so oft exhorted to do the honour and service and yeild the subjection to them as to the Lord the great Master that hath so ordered them over us to be submitted to by us and not as to men or as men-pleasers kowing that it 's he that pulls down and sets up at his pleasure And for this cause to pay tribute also for they are Gods Ministers Servants and Instruments permitted and ordered over us by him attending continually upon this very thing render therefore to all their dues c. as unto the Lord and so in submission and reverence to the great Master in Heaven Rom. 13. 5 6 7. Eph. 6. 6 7 8. Col. 3. 22 23. 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. hallowing his name 2. Herein also as likewise in those