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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	hear_v	speak_v	word_n	7,138	5	4.4441	4	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

vers No man can come unless the Father draw or it be given him of my Father vers 6 5. is a ground of the admonition v. 43. Murmur not among your selves signifying that his Father was now in his ministration drawing them with special and powerful cords leading them to repentance and therefore he admonisheth not still to break his bonds by murmuring because without them they could not come and it might be much feared God would restrain his Spirit from striving any longer if such special influences of him in such special means were rejected Therefore even now more earnestly and heartily to receive while the Father was giving to them as he affirms the Father was then giving to them or did then give them the true bread though they did not accept or feed on it vers 32. And thus it fully agrees with that John 12. 35 36. Yet a little while is the Light with you walk while ye have the light lest darkness come and then ye cannot walk and that Jam. 1. 18 19 20 c. Of his own good will or willingly begat he us through the word of truth which is preached to every man Col. 1. 27 28 29. wherefore let every man be swift to hear slow to speak slow to wrath or murmuring against that Word of truth seeing it's Gods Arm sent to save him and like to this that Phil. 2. 12 13. It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do c. Do all things without murmuring and disputings that ye may not fail of the efficacies of his grace in you as Heb. 12. 15 16. And indeed the grace of God bringeth salvation to all men in all the several appearances and streamings forth thereof in his mercies chastisements providences though more fully and plainly in the records and plain Declaration of the Gospel and especially as now come forth yet even in his works of creation and providence which by vertue of the redemption wrought in Christ men do behold and have a comfortable enjoyment of even where they do not enjoy the other more plain Declarations of Jesus Christ the choice means yet therein and to them in and with those means they have Jesus Christ by his Spirit is witnessing the goodness of God to their spirits so that God is not without a witness in those mercies they enjoy Acts 14. 17. yea the word or testimony of Gods goodness as preached in them is not afar off but nigh them in their heart in their mouth that it might be seen and acknowledged and it is leading perswading and drawing their hearts to repeatance in the acknowledgement of the truth that which may be known of God in those discoveries of him vouchsafed is manifest in them and that is Gospel or good news of goodness and propitiousness in God yea so as through a Saviour this is preached in every creature though that Saviour is not distinctly revealed as in the Scriptures Acts 17. 24 27. Rom. 1. 19 21. Colos 1. 23. Neither doth God require of them any Repentance Faith or Acknowledgement of him but according to the capacities and manifestations given them and is very favourable and full of forbrearance though all men generally fail and come short of that and is yet waiting to be gracious to them in continuing the mediums of calling and while he is doing so stretching out his hand all the day long and if God see it good for them or any of them to give them some more distinct revelation and discovery of the person and work of Christ as he hath also promised that in turning in his reproofs he will still further pour out his Spirit and make known his words and however I say what discovery or revelation of Christ soever he sees good and needful for any of them though they have not the Scriptures the outward means thereto he can teach the same things without them yea where by his providence they are not vouchsafed his Spirit is so conversant and in such maner with the books of creation and providence as to teach and lead to that use of them which by the Scriptures he teaches us to make of them as it hath been seen in the cases of such as have been deaf and dumb God hath taught them the same things concerning Christ and his goodness through him by those things which they saw and had to do with which others have learned through discourse and in use of those Organs they wanted and if they had wanted the other also he could have taught the same things without that too for he speaks to the heart and gives wisdom to the inward parts none teacheth like him and though he ever make use of outward mediums where and according to what he vouchsafes yet he is bound to none of them and is also especially tender towards such as enjoy least of them being by his providence deprived in requiring less of them and no more then according to what he gives and by his providence in keeping strong temptations and stumbling-blocks from before them and out of their way and in dealing with them according to their need and wants whence exhorting us to be like him he directs particularly in this Thou shalt not curse the deaf nor put a stumbling-block before the blinde Levit. 19. 1 14. but especially open thy mouth for them c. Prov. 31. 8 9 yea expresly they have all heard and that so as by sent Preachers and that so as that they might believe and to that end see Rom. 10. 15 18. After he hath told us that they cannot believe without sent Preachers among them making this conclusion Faith cometh by hearing and hearing even capacity to hear by or with the word according to the preaching thereof vouchsafed then he propound the question I say then Have they not all heard and answers generally Yes they have and particularly to those that have not obeyed yet they have heard and that by means of sent Preachers too which by the next verse alluding to Psal 19. the works of creation and providence are whose line is gone out into all the world and their words to the ends of the earth and by them he saith All have heard and then distinctly speaks of Israels having more special means of knowledge Jesus Christ then is the true light that enlightneth every man that cometh into the world he is to all by vertue of his ransome a Testimony in due time the Light of the world c. See for further understanding and usefulness of this the first instruction propounded by way of usefulness of the first proposition and particularly the explication of those two Scriptures compared Isa 49. 8. 2 Cor. 6. 2. I shall not here otherwise in large to usefulness having been already more large then I intended in this demonstration or opening of the ground of praying with thanksgiving for all in these three heads That Christ by the gracious will and appointment of God gave himself

truth thereof they were to baptize them with water also in his name even the Nations whosoever of them would them and theirs every one of them even as the Jaylor was baptized he and all his streight-way on his first owning and listening to the report of the Gospel and being willing to be instructed therein and therein also as well as by their word they preached the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house Act. 16. 32 33. which also is according to Peters Doctrine opening the Commission Act. 2. 38 39. comparing the 39. verse with a place speaking of a like businesse in our Types to which the Apostle there seems to have apt and evident Allusion Deut. 29. 10. 14. And then also to teach these Nations as they had outwardly baptized them in the name and unto the acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as come in the flesh to observe whatever Jesus Christ did command his Disciples And all this they were to do for the discipling the Nations the gathering or drawing them to Christ from their former state of darknesse and shadow of Death in which they were without any true acknowledgement and worship of God to acknowledge him and come to him as their Lord and Gods salvation for and to them and in professed subjection to him and thankful acknowledgement of his grace to bring all that by Gods providence are theirs given them to bring up for him even their little ones with them So the Jaylor beleevingly rejoycing he did it with all his house Act. 16. 34. as Joshua would engage himselfe and his house with him that were under his tuition to the acknowledgement and service of the Lord Josh 24. 15. And as in considering Israel after the flesh to which for Instruction in such cases we have our warrantize 1 Cor. 10. 18. we are directed in those evident Types of this discipling Nations Exod. 10. 9 10 11. Deut. 31. 11 12 13. And as our Saviour also instructs That such should be permitted to come to him being brought in their armes to whom by Gods providence they are given to bring up for him for of such is the Kingdome And having so done That they may all of them not onely be instructed themselves but taught to learn their children as they are capable and bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Jesus To the end that all the ends of the earth might look to him and be saved who is Gods salvation to the ends of the earth That they might come in to the acknowledgement of him and so into his house where they might be trained up and educated for him being therein especially made partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel for sending forth his Spirit to reprove the world of Sinne Righteousnesse and of Judgement according to the distinct Revelation of Christ in the Gospel as now come forth and as men are turning at his reproofes To teach and lead them into all truth by the same Spirit still opening and making knowne the same word Eph. 3. 6. Act. 2. 39. Joh. 16. 8 9 10 13 14. Prov. 1. 20 23. In pursuance of this great Designe of God for the good of All Paul was furnished and appointed the great Apostle of the Gentiles Act. 26. 16 17 18. For this purpose the Lord Jesus appeared unto him to make him a witnesse c. delivering him from the people and from the Gentiles to whom then he sent him To turn them even his persecuters from whom yet he should be delivered and amongst whom preserved for this end To turne them from darkness to light c. That so they may receive forgivenesse and inheritance among them that are sanctified And that to this end he should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable Riches of Christ and to make All men see What is the fellowship of the mystery c. as aforesaid Eph 3. 8 9. And therefore also hath God preserved a succeeding Generation of such as through the tastes of his graciousness in the appearance of his love in Christ to man-ward having been drawn to him built upon him and so reconciled to God by Jesus Christ and received the word of Reconciliation God hath preserved them in the world and from the evil of it to this end and therefore also furnished them with gifts from his right hand though more mediately in their beleeving and exercising faith through and according the Apostles word yet still to this as the first and great part of the work of their Ministry in the world to carry on that great work amongst and for the good of all men as secondary Instruments and Ministers building upon and according to the foundation laid by the Apostles to the intent that now by the Church by the whole body of them joyntly and by each according to their capacity and opportunity in the place where God hath set them might be made knowne to Principalities and Powers and so to all Nations and people under them The manifold wisdome of God Eph. 3. 10. That by them the world may know That God hath sent Christ the Saviour of the world And that he hath loved them that have received this Testimony with the heart even with the same love wherewith he hath loved his Son Joh. 17. 15 20 21 23. And that in being Instruments of saving them that hear or listen to the word as held forth by them Their profiting may appear to All 1 Tim. 4. 15 16. Gods Saints generally even those that have made a Covenant with him by sacrifice Psal 50. 5. namely that are reconciled to God by Jesus Christ and have received that word of Reconciliation in their hearts 2 Cor. 5. each to exercise according to fitnesse and furniture of Gifts Rom. 12. 3 4 c. all the Gifts for continuance being given among these Eph. 4. 7 11 12. They are appointed and called to this great service even now To call the earth from the rising of the Sunne to the going downe of the same as well as also afterward to reign Judge and execute Judgement with him Psal 50. 1. 5. As his Ambassadors whose first personal coming and his present coming by his Spirit in the Gospel and other means is not to judge or condemne the world but that through him they might be saved even such as doe heare his words and reject them his gracious end and desire is that they should heare and beleeve and therefore he continues his mediation for them and mercies to them Joh. 12. 47 48. and 3. 17. though he shall appear personally the second time then to judge and execute judgement according to the Gospel so these his servants and Ambassadors in this world are now to make it their great work to perswade all men and every man as they have capacity and opportunity to be reconciled to God telling them All things are ready 2 Cor. 15. 17 18 19 20. Luke 14. 17 21 23. with

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

attending to those means in which the supernatural light and force of the Spirit of God is put forth and exercised for bringing the voyce of the Son of God nigh to them and opening their ears and giving capacity to hear it and quickening by it answerable to which the other have no such capacity And therefore the voyce of the Son of God shall come forth to that immediately however then it is requisite that in or through those outward mediums there be such a maner of coming forth and operation of the Spirit of God as is answerable to that by which Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and the dead shall be raised 't is the same Spirit by which he moved and acted and walked up and down in his life in the flesh or in the dayes of his weakness and mortality and so the same Spirit by which men are taught and strengthened to their natural motions actions or imployments in things tending to the good or comfortable being of the natural life but not in the same maner put forth or exercised but as we may say In a natural or ordinary way by blessing natural faculties and abilities in and according to a natural improvement in such maner as the nature of man by that which God hath already furnished it withall is capable of receiving and complying with But for this though that light and power of the Spirit is to ●e put forth into and exercised in the dark heart and dead faculties of the soul that they may be renewed and strengthened by it yet it must be such as brings with it its light strength and capacity for the receiving it such as hath in it a supernatural force or maner of operation for opening the deaf ears and the blinde eyes c. Isai 42. 18. 7. and 49. 9. that they may see and receive what it discovereth There being no such capacity before or naturally in the subject to which it comes Therefore the A postle desiring for the believing Ephesians That they might through the knowledge of him more abundantly experiment the exceeding greatness of his mighty power or arm that is in the Gospel that it might more have its prevalency with them as it is put forth through that knowledge of him for the special saving of them that believe Rom. 1. 16 17. he compares it to the maner of the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ Jesus when he raised him from the dead Eph. 1. 17 19 20. Now this is that which we have here further to say on Gods behalf ascribing righteousness to our maker That according to mans need by reason of his natural weakness and depravedness God is certainly liberally giving to all men without upbraiding any such gifts as may conduce to their getting wisdom in the knowledge of him and so being reconciled to him for he gives nothing but good and perfect givings not onely out of a cordial heart and affection but such as would produce what they come for and insinuate themselves by their own light and force and make the subject capable of receiving and complying with them and this is given us as a general ground for any man to ask wisdom of God Jam. 1. 5 17. and that without wrath or doubting and not to murmur or rebel against him in his Gospel or the instruction thereof in which his arm is thus stretched out so Psal 68. 18 19. Thou hast ascended on high and led captivity captive and received gifts in the Man for men even for the rebellious that they might dwell with the Lord. And from thence it follows Blessed be the Lord that dayly loadeth us c. Yea to shew this truth in expressions suitable to those in which we have demonstrated the nature of mans weakness and necessity see 1 Pet. 3. 18 19 20. By that Spirit by which Jesus Christ was raised from the dead or by such maner of the putting forth of the light and power of that Spirit he went and preached not to their ears onely but to their Spirits which are now in prison for their disobedience to his Spirit then when the long-sufferings of God waited on them in the ministration of Noah and so his Spirit was then and before striving with them in all the means vouchsafed them and that all the day long and in due time whence that my Spirit shall not alwaies strive with man yea after he spake in his Spirit in the light evidence power of it by the hands of his servants the Prophets and that so to their hearts as that in rejecting or refusing to hear them they were said to harden their hearts against his softning and melting operations Zech. 7. 9 11 12. yea all the day long while in those means he used he was calling them to behold him he also therein in and with his words stretched out his hands his power or Spirit unto a rebellious people that yet were not overcome thereby Isa 65. 1 2. He did lift up the yoke of thraldom while he set meat before them though they would take no notice of his healing them he was in all ages in the world though the world would not know him the light shineth in darkness though the darkness comprehend it not he came unto his own though they received him not so when the voice of the Son of God came forth in the Gospel it was his promise The dead should hear it and that so as hearing in hearing or according to the capacity given they should live Joh. 1. 3. 10. and 5. 25. And therefore God gives up men in his just Judgement to blindness That hearing they should hear and not understand c. because they made it first their voluntary sin in hearing not to hear but closing their eyes stopping their ears shunning the light when it came because their deeds were reproved by it and lest they should be converted from them Mat. 13. 11 13 15. John 3. 19. They received not the love of the truth that they might be saved 2 Thess 2. 10 11. Hosea 11. 27. Ezek. 24. 11 13 'T is true no man can come to Jesus Christ except the Father which hath sent him draw them John 6. 44. which signifies the necessity of using or putting forth some such power in and with those Arguments he useth to perswade as is to the man supernatural and 't is as true that the Father was then drawing and had before drawn those very persons vers 35 36. He that cometh to me shall never hunger he that believeth on me shall never thirst but I said unto you That ye also have seen and believe not which comparing it with the former verse where believing is the explication of coming is as much as if he had said You have been drawn and come not as those Hosea 11. 2 7. but did break his bands by murmuring among themselves as Psal 2. 3 5. so here compare vers 43. and 44. The doctrine in 44.

of others which was so far beyond what men would have required as their reasonable service or judged to have been but their honesty that they would rather watch for advantages against them to blame them as if their zeal and forwardness in freely and abundantly administring such as they had for the good of others did hinder them from looking well to themselves or their own house or relations or made them uncapable of walking justly in all their dealings They could not they thought do so much and be so free in spending themselves in such services if they did not defraud or wrong some body But this blame or all just cause of it is avoided by us says the Apostle in providing things honest also in the sight of all men even in such cases as aforementioned the mercies of God as Rom. 12. 1. even that grace that brings salvation to all men teacheth and requireth of us as our reasonable service as that which on the account of that grace is due from us to all men as hath been shewed before even as we would not be unjust or injurious in withholding good from them to whom its due so to hold forth the faithful word in the midst of a crooked generation according to all that capacity and opportunity for the same he is pleased to furnish us with and whatever we may lose or suffer therein and to do this cordially and fervently for the good of others that they may be saved and therefore in simplicity and godly sincerity renouncing the hidden things of dishonesty in such our service nor cloaking covetousness over with it or desire of glory from men or the like such is the Apostles demonstration of their honesty or living honestly 2 Cor. 1. 12 13. Our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our conversation c. which is thus shewed for we write none other things unto you then what you read c. we intend not to signifie in our writing any other thing then what we plainly express in our words So 2 Cor. 4. 1 2. Seeing we have this ministery as we have received mercy so in the former by the grace of God minded by us the instructions and operations thereof we have thus had our conversation according to that Rom. 12. 1. By these mercies give up your bodies c. As we have received mercy sayes he we faint not but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the truth commending declaring and committing our selves our minde or meaning and principles to every man in our words so as in the sight of God who otherwise would charge us with dishonesty though men could not if we did either for fear or shame hide any thing that he hath made known to us that may tend to the good of others and was made known to us to be made known to them or if in administring it we used fleshly wisdom or policy reserving much of that which might most expose us to sufferings though most material needful to be most plainly uttered or for other causes reserving the inside of our thoughts and meaning to our selves so handling the word of God deceitfully happily to such ends following cunningly-devised fables as 2 Pet. 1. 16. But this saies he we have renounced and thus they lived honestly among their neighbours and thus have they by the mercies of God charged and exhorted every one of us so to live amongst men according to what capacity and opportunity God gives us See 1 Thess 2. 3 11 12. When he hath told them their Exhortation was not of deceit nor of uncle anness nor in guile but as they were allowed of God so they spake not as pleasing men but God which tryeth the hearts and further addes and appeals to their consciences for testimony They had not used flattering words nor a cloke of covetousness nor had sought glory of men or been burthensome when and as they might as the Apostles of Christ and herein walked holily justly unblameably he then addes this As also you know how we exhorted every one of you even as a father his child c. like that Phil. 2. 13 15 16. and Rom. 12. 1 2. Yea this grace teaches that as our reasonable service to hold forth this faithful word in conversation that they that will not be won by the word and it may be not to hear it as holden forth by believers under reproach yet may be allured and overcome by the chaste and honest conversation coupled with fear When they see our good works they may glorifie our Father which is in Heaven Therefore to shew forth his vertues in all chastity or honesty as opposed to fornication and all uncleanness filthiness or foolish talking or jesting Eph. 5. 2 3. 1 Thess 4. 3. 4 5. 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. and so as opposed to covetousness which is idolatry and the fruits thereof fraudulency or endeavouring to go beyond or circumvent any in buying selling or the like as in the forecited Scriptures and so in all sobriety and moderation in the use and enjoyment of any thing of this world as strangers and pilgrims or in lusting and pursuing after them fleeing from such things yea in all goodness righteonsness and truth which is and as it is the fruit of the Spirit bringing and opening the instructions and grace of the Gospel leading and moving thereto And this cordially also in simplicity and godly sincerity and for the profit of others that they may be saved All this is but out reasonable service by the mercies of God even towards all men though they will neither challenge the greatest part of this debt of us nor any of it upon such an account nor will they respect or look upon our service as such yet as that man that is betrusted with much treasure or the tidings discoveries and patterns of it that belongs and is to be shewed to others of purpose to let them know of it and where and how they may come to enjoy it though they to whom such treasures and the tidings or patterns of it belong and ought to be shewed by him being ignorant though happily wilfully so do not desire or expect any such thing from him nor happily will easily be perswaded to accept or regard the same though matter of greatest concernment to them yet seeing he knows of what concernment it is and to what end he is furnished with the knowledge experience and patterns of it as a Steward for them he is not an honest man or faithful Steward if he conceal the same but very injurious 'T is required of Stewards that a man be found faithful 1 Cor. 4. 2. Even so those that are called out of darkness into his marvellous light that they should shew forth the praises of him that hath called them and that amongst and for the

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