most seriously consider what saith the heavenly crying voice That the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed unto all preparers of his way and they shall see it together for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it who hath power to performe whatsoever he promiseth Isaiah saith elsewhere h Isa 54.13 All thy children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the i The said word in sense implieth Unity peace of thy children Great unitie will be among all those which are led by his holy Spirit and Word for his Spirit leadeth into all k Joh. 16.13 Acts. 5.32 Eph. 4.3 1 Cor. 12.13 truth such as unfeinedly strive to yeeld due obedience unto all the commandements of Christs holy Gospel The wisedome of the God of heaven made use of this l Ier. 8.22 Balme of Gilead the crying voice when great difference was in the Church of the Jewes and it with his Divine m 1 Cor. 3.6 blessing cured a great many It was John the n Luke 3.3 4 5 6. Baptists doctrine yea o Mat. 4.17 Mar. 1.14 15. Luke 4.18 19. Christ and his p Mar. 6.12 Acts. 20.21 Luke 13.3 5. Apostles in effect did use it in their preaching O into what an unitie it brought the true fearers of God which were in q Acts. 2.1 38 41 42 46 47. Jerusalem and the land of Jewrie And so how it wrought among the Gentiles witnesse all the r Col. 2.1 2 5. Churches of them unto whom the Apostles wrote Epistles Also the same efficacie by the assistance of Divine grace will it now take among all such as will make due use of it as it did in those daies of old For saith the Scripture Behold the Lords hand is not Å¿ Isa 59.1 2. shortened that it cannot save neither his eare heavie that it cannot heare But your t Ier. 5.25 Ps 66.18 iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sinnes have hid his face from you that he will not heare The Virgin Mary said u Luke 1.51 He scattereth the proud in the imagination of their hearts But his Sonne gathereth together into * Joh. 11.52 one the children of God that are scattered abroad as even Caiphas prophesied Yea unto Unitie worketh God the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost x Eph. 1.10 It is to bee noted That as in the beginning man and woman were created in unity with God so Holy Scriptures use is to direct us for to draw nigher and nigher unto the same Hence it is that Christ prayed so fervently for his people concerning their true Christian unity See Joh. 17.11 21 22 23.26.13 That as S. Paul saith in the dispensation of the fulnesse of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in Him Moreover that the receiving of heavenly light into the understanding doth further unto unitie it may appeare from a similitude If a company be in a dark room where is very little light and it hath a table whereon is much mony A Similitude for to shew that the true heavenly light wheresoever it appeareth doth further unto true Christian unitie gold and silver and some counterfeit coine be among the same If they be willed to take only all the currant mony and thereunto to advise each with other for the better judging of the same and also be promised increase of benefit according as every one taketh most of the said coin with none of the counterfeit Will there not arise some difference among them concerning some peeces of the mony Will there not be some conjectures amisse because they judge for the most part by supposing or imagination not by clear sight But if a window be opened unto them and they have the true day light will not then the case be otherwise and all former dissent in opinion about the said coine much cease So is it with us mankind so long as we abide fast in the fall of Adam y Isa 60.2 Ier. 4.22 23. 1 Joh 2.9 11. grosse darknesse covereth us as Isaiah signifieth Yea S. Paul told the Ephesians that they were sometime z Eph. 5.8 Prov. 4 1â— darknesse And the Prophet also speaking concerning such saith a Is 59.10 We grope for the wall like blind and we grope as if we had no eyes we stumble at noone-day as in the night we are in desolate places as dead men The b 1 Cor. 2.14 naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned The Lord Christ saith The c Joh. 14.17 1 Joh. 5.19 2 Cor. 4.4 Spirit of truth the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him Great is our spirituall darknesse manifold are our mistakes about the things of God Yea also we much differ in opinion concerning such matters But when as we heare the heavenly d In Isa 40.3 4 5. crying voice and attend thereunto when we open the e Rev. 3.20 Ps 24.7 8 9 10. door of our hearts and receive the f Eph. 3.16 17. 1 Cor. 14.25 Gal. 2.20 Col. 3.11 and 1.27 2. Cor. 13.3 Spirit of Christ thereinto He will then g Eph. 5.14 2 Cor. 4.6 2 Pet. 1.19 Prov. 28.5 Phil. 1.9 10 11. Ps 112.4 give us light he will open unto us such a spirituall window and let such a measure of true heavenly light shine into us as that we shall judge more and more rightly concerning all things pertaining unto Godlinesse Also former differences among us will more and more cease and the unitie of the Holy Spirit will inwardly and outwardly among us encrease Another Similitude for to shew how among all well-affected the true Christian unitie easily increaseth Heare also another similitude Even as in an houshold where all the servants do faithfully mind the performing of every command of their master and one to help another for the fulfilling of the same will there be any dissension among such Or if any should chance through any mistake will it not soon cease for that none seeketh himself but every one onely his masters benefit and credit So among all those whose * The mind of mankind for the farre greatest part hath as it were lost it selfe in that it considereth not the marke which the Creatour hath prescribed unto it only aime it is that our heavenly Masters will may be done here on earth h Mat. 6.10 Rom. 12.2 Eph. 5.17 1 Thess 4.3 4 5 6.7 as it is in heaven and * The said marke at which to aime continually and whereon to mind alwaies in every particular matter is in briefe signified in the afore quotations Mat. 6.10 Eph. 5 17. thereunto do endeavour what may be to help and set forward one another will there be any discord among such Or
A VVAY VNTO TRVE Christian Unitie The worship of God in Spirit and in Truth TOGETHER VVith many Spirituall benefits therein received now in this life and everlastingly All expresly delivered in the Holy Scripture And declared in an Exposition of a certain Fundamentall portion of the Sacred Text. Written for the lessening of Differences and for the increasing of Concord in the godly truth eternall Also for to make more manifest a firme Ground whereon holy Unity may be built up unto the highest degree of perfection attainable in this World Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in Vnitie Psal 133.1 But the houre commeth and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seeketh such to worship Him Joh. 4.23 Illo tempore nihil tam conveniens servo Dei videbatur quà m Unitatem sequi Hieron cont Lucif cap. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 LONDON Printed by John Legatt and are to be sold by Edward Wright at the signe of the Bible neere Pie-corner 1648. To my very loving and much honoured friend and neighbour Mr. JOHN BATHURST Doctour of Physick in London be the gracious accomplishment of the promise which Godlinesse hath of the life that now is 1 Tim. 4.8 and of that which is to come THe eternall God blessed for ever saying a Ier. 8.22 Is there no Balme in Gilead Is there no Physician there Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered signifieth thereby that as there is salve for corporall infirmitie so is there likewise for spirituall maladie And therefore He that hath b Mal. 4.2 healing in His wings having pronounced c Mat. 9.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The sick have need of a Physician hath taught therein That d Isa 55.2 3. endeavour should be for health in soule Ut sit mens e 2 Tim. 1.7 sana in corpore sano Also like as the Sentence saith concerning what is bodily f Sir 38.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth and he that is wise will not abhorre them so hath Hee out of his infinite wisdome brought forth his most holy word and whatsoever his Servants publish for to further spirituall welfare and being the g Prov. 1.8 true doctrine of the sacred Scripture it should not be h 1 Thess 5.20 21. despised but i Acts. 17.11 taken into due consideration It is a Saying among the Jewes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A man learneth not so much of his own self as he learneth of another One k Buxtorfius Lexico Chaldaico Rabbinico ad radicem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 expresseth it Non tantum valet studium privatum quam id quod cum alio quis habet commune The Almighty Creatour doth so l 1 Cor. 12.8 9 10 11 25. powre out of his Spirit upon the Mysticall body of his Sonne to Whom be honour and glory everlastingly as that one member may make use of another according to his holy ordinance Moreover whereas the wise mans Exhortation is m Sir 38.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Honour the Physician and having my selfe consulted with you my much beloved neighbour and Physician for bodily infirmities and by Gods blessing finding much helpe and comfort from you in mutuall love and thankefulnesse I offer unto you these Spirituall counsels and soule-salves praying that He who is the true Tree of life Whose leaves are for the n Rev. 22.2 healing of the Nations may universally blesse them to you yours and all the o Gal. 6.16 Israel of God And although some have as the Apostle relateth p Acts. 28.27 refused to be healed yet the Heavenly q Ezek. 2.7 command was Thou shalt speake my words unto them whether they will heare or whether they will forbeare Also howsoever unto them which r Phil. 3.19 Luke 12.20 21. 2 Tim. 3.4 minde and esteeme most the earthly things the meditating and observing of such matters as are in this Treatise following declared by the Word of the Lord to bee Christian duties may seeme ſ Job 2◠14 15 Mal. 3.14 unnecessary yet unto those that will search all the places of Scripture quoted therein to know more and more the t Eph. 5 17. Rom. 12.2 will of God for to doe u Mat. 6.10 Ps 40.8 it there will * Joh. 7.17 and 8.31 32. appeare that the very true x 2 Tim. 3 5. Power of Godlinesse is herein some manner testified And whereas the mysteries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are more and more manifested praise be given to the high and loftie y Isa 57.15 One which inhabiteth eternity whose Name is holy there is hope that the greatest measure of z Isa 30.26 Rom. 11.12 15 26. light therein foretold in the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles to be given by God in the last Time shall shortly be enjoyed * Nazianzenus oratione in laudem Cypriani habita 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Divine Wisdome knoweth long afore to lay the foundations of great matters and to procure contraries through the contraries that It be also had in the more admiration From my lodging in the Old-Baily Yours ever respectively E. R. To the unpartiall Reader IT is one of the Arabian a Prov. 8.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In libro cui titulus Proverbiorum Arabicorum centuriae duae proverbs Looke not unto him that speaketh but unto what he speakes And the Holy Ghost saith The wisdome which is from above is without b Jam. 3.17 partiality c Isa 53.6 Isaiah writeth That we all like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his owne way Now it is the will and commandement of God as d Ier. 50.6 Jeremiah signifieth That wee should not passe our time in this world going from mountaine to hill and forgetting our resting place but as it is taught in Ezechiel our e Ezech. 34.14 15. Fold should be upon the high Mountaines of Israel there to feed in a good pasture also to f Ier. 33.12 Zeph. 3.12 13. lie downe as saith the Lord. There have been some in these latter times which by their writings endeavoured to promote Unitie because they saw it testified That the multitude of them which beleeved were of g Acts. 4.32 one heart and of one soule Also that the Apostle said h 2 Cor. 12.18 walked we not in the same spirit walked we not in the same steps Yea Christ foretold That there shall be i Joh. 10.16 See Mat. 9.36 37 38. 1 Cor. 1.10 11 12 13. one fold and one shepheard And therefore so fervently prayed for his people That they all may be k Joh. 17.11 21 21 23. See 1. Cor. 12.12 13. and 3.3 4. one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one
in us That they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one Let us therefore now duly consider what Isaiah in his time delivered furthering unto godly Unitie the which doctrine also each of the l Mat. 3.2 3. Mar. 1.1 2 3. Luk. 3.3 4 5 6. Joh. 1.23 Evangelists in some manner rehearsed as necessary for that time And if wee throughly weigh the said Oracle we shall finde it m Rom. 15.4 requisite to be considered by every one at this present Moreover the Reader is to be admonished that he do not n 2 Pet. 2.12 2 Tim. 3.16 17. condemne what he understandeth not in this ensuing Treatise remembring that S. Paul saith o 1 Tim. 3.16 17. See verse 9. Eph. 3.4 Col. 1.27 and 2.2 1 Cor. 12.3 1 Pet. 2.2 Without controversie great is the mysterie of Godlinesse Also afore any one can well judge concerning the most high Mysteries of the Gospel he is first rightly to understand the p Heb. 5.12 13 14. and 6.1 2. principles of the doctrine of Christ as the Apostle signifieth unto the Hebrewes Who also gave the Corinthians for to know that such as are but babes or little Children in Christ Cannot q 1 Cor. 3.2 Joh. 16.12 beare the strong meat of the word And if such of the first age in Christ cannot r Gal. 4.1.2 Acts. 1.6 7. 1 Cor. 2.6 comprehend all things belonging to the great mysterie of Christianity then how can those which are not ſ Joh. 3.3 See Rom. 12.1 2. changed in mind and conversation according as the Gospel prescribeth or are not unfeinedly striving to attain the said change judge rightly concerning the most high spirituall matters seeing that it is written t 1 Cor. 2.14 The naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned The holy Prophet Daniel saith u Dan. 12.10 Many shall be purified and made white and tried but the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand * Ps 25.14.9.12 13. David saith The Secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and He will shew them His covenant The meek will He guide in judgement and the meek will he teach His way It is written that the Disciples came unto Christ x Mat. 13.10 11. Isa 8.16 Why speakest thou unto the Multitude in parables He answered and said unto them Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdome of heaven but unto them it is not given Who also said unto His Father y Mat. 11.25.26 27. See Joh. 8.31 32. Wisd 1.4 and 6.23 Sirach 3.19 20. and 43.33 and 51.20 Dan. 9 13. Ps 19.7 8. and 119.98 99 100. Isa 60.1 2. Joh. 14 17. Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes Now these Scriptures are mentioned that the Reader may duly consider That no person how learned soever in Humane Literature or in the history of Sacred Writ which is not entred into the true Regeneration can a Prov. 28.5 Mat. 19.28 rightly judge concerning the high things pertaining unto God The Apostle Peter saith z 1 Joh. 2.29 and 4.7 8. Joh. 3.3 5 6. Knowing this first that no prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation for the prophesie came not in * See the marginall reading any time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost And therefore the Apostle Paul saith b 2 Pet. 1.20 21. No man can say namly with true understanding that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost Wherefore let us unfeinedly endeavour to become truly d 1 Cor. 2.15 12. spirituall and then as the Apostle signifieth wee shall bee able more and more to judge or c 1 Cor. 12.3 * As it is in the margent discerne all things which e 2 Pet. 1.3 pertain unto life and godlines The holy and righteous Almighty Spirit that filleth both heaven and f Ier. 23.24 earth g Joh. 16.13 guide us into all His truth eternall that we may receive and enjoy all h 1 Tim. 4.8 Eph. 3.20 21. comfort which He vouchsafeth unto his Servants now and everlastingly through Jesus Christ Amen Edmund Reeve Bachelour in Divinity and Instructer in all the Tongues pertaining thereunto A way unto true Christian Vnity Isaiah 40.3 4 5. See concerning this reading of this Text what is delivered afterward in this Treatise and in the marginall annotations unto it A voice crying In the Wildernesse prepare ye the way of the Lord make straight in the Desart an high way for our God Let every valley be filled up let everie Mountain and hill be cast down and what is crooked let it be made straight and the roughnesses become smoothnesse and the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all Flesh shall see it together for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it IT being written in the beginning of this Chapter a Isa 40.1 2. Comfort ye comfort yee my people saith your God Speake yee comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her That her * So is the Translation in the margent appointed time is accomplished that her iniquitie is pardoned for she hath received of the Lords hand double for all her sinnes Then the said heavenlie voice is uttered to be considered most seriously viz. In the Wildernesse prepare ye the way of the Lord The former part of the crying voice is a kinde of figurative speaking c. The which crying voice from heaven unto us is in the former part thereof a kinde of Figurative speaking signifying That as if the greatest Emperour were to goe into a Wildernesse or desart for to make his abode there he would * As is expressed in Isa 40.3 4. expect such like preparation for his comming So Christ in His spirituall comming to make his b Joh. 14.23 Mal. 3.1 Psa 101.2 abode within His people doth expect the like c Amos. 4.12 Isa 64.4 5. The said crying voice is a portion of Scripture of most speciall consideration preparing to be made spiritually Now this whole portion of Scripture is as it were a summe even of all the generall doctrine of the word of God And therefore it is most diligently to be noted Yea it is a * See Luke 11.52 In Marke 1.1 2. The said duty of preparation is signified to be the doctrine of the beginning of the Gospel of Iesus Christ And therfore it is most seriously to bee minded The late learned Casaubon said Mysterium in hac historia à propheta Esaia olim praedicta et tanto studio à sanctis Evangelistis adnotata latere aliquid majus suspicor quam aut capere ipse satis aut
14. â— Jer. 32.39 2 Cor. 12.18 Unity in observing the duties of the Morall Law contained in the Ten Commandements so is there also Unity in the most holy d Jude 10. Tit. 1.1 faith of Gods elect The Apostle saith There is e Eph. 4.5 one faith And he hath these words f Eph. 4.13 Till we all come into the Unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ And as all which truly endeavour to make preparation of the way of the Lord within them according as it is prescribed by the aforesaid heavenly crying voice shall see more and more the g 1 Tim. 3.9 mysterie of the Christian faith and what the true Christian h Joh. 8.12 Mal. 4.2 See wisd 5.6 life and conversation is unto the increase of godly Unity so such as are i Eph. 4.3 studious of all holy Unity shall partake of the greatest measure of heavenly light which God now communicateth unto his servants It is said in the Booke of Chronicles k 2 Chron. 5.13 14. It came to passe as the trumpetters and singers were as one to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord and when they lift up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick and praised the Lord saying For he is good for his mercy endureth for ever that then the house was filled with a cloud even the house of the Lord. So that the Priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God So it is said in the Acts of the Apostles l Acts 2.1 3 4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord or with one mind in one place And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire and it sate upon each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost Then did God m Acts 2.16 17 18. powre out of his Spirit upon all flesh namely on all ages and states as on old persons and young persons on sonnes and daughters on servants and hand-maids and in great abundance on his Apostles who had n Acts. 1.4 waited for the promise and had kept in Jerusalem Which saith David is builded as a City that is o Psal 22.3 compact together or as some translate which is at unity in it self For where brethren dwell together in unity p Psal 133.3 Where there is such concord us saith the Geneva note The Ratification of this oracle there saith he the Lord commandeth the blessing even life for evermore There remaineth also that something be said concerning the Ratification of this Oracle which is contained in these words For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it The which words are added for to assure us That our labour in the work of the Lord shall not now be in q 1 Cor. 15.51 vain our true endeavouring for to performe the aforesaid preparation shall not be unconsidered For God saith the Apostle is not unrighteous to r Heb. 6.10 11 12 13 14 15. Mat. 10.41 42. Ps 19.11 Heb. 11.26 forget your work and labour of love which ye have shewed toward His name c. And we desire that every one of you doe shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end That ye be not sloathfull but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises For when God made promise to Abraham because he could sweare by no greater He sware by Himself saying Surely blessing I will blesse thee and multiplying I will multiply thee And after he had patiently endured he obtained the promise Whereas it is said For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it it giveth us to consider that a mouth hath uttered it which Å¿ Tit. 1.2 cannot lye and that the Almighty holy righteous eternall Spirit hath promised it which is t Eph. 3.20 able to performe it Who hath promised many spirituall blessings to be inherited in the life that u 1. Tim. 4.8 now is according as His Divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godlinesse through the knowledge of him as S. Peter * 2. Pet. 1.3 4. saith that hath called us to glory and vertue whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine Nature having escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust That as the Apostle writeth unto the x Eph. 1.12 13 14. Ephesians We should be unto the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ in whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your Salvation in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory And as the Lord Jesus Christ saith y Mar. 10.29 30. There is no man that hath left house or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake and the Gospels but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions and in the world to come eternall life Moreover it is to be observed that these words for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it being so often used in holy Scripture What the mouth of the Lord signifieth do in speciall manner note forth unto us the power and truth of God upon which we may build and ground our selves and be secure or z See of Heb. 11.1 the marginall reading confident that what duties we for our parts are to endeavour are a Ps 19.7 8. Deut. 4.6 7 8. perfect wisdome to be done and that the benefit signified to be received in the doing of them is most sure and certain It is said in Ezechiel * Ezech. 37.13 14. And ye shall know that I am the Lord when I have opened your graves O my people and brought you up out of your graves And shall have put my Spirit in you and ye shall live and I shall place you in your own land then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it and performed it saith the Lord. And to conclude this point there is observed to be understood by these words The mouth of the Lord hath spoken Such a more inward manifesting and communicating of the Divine will as whereby matters were made knowne unto Moses as it is written With him will I speak b Num. 12.8 mouth to mouth apparently For so Isaiah framed not out of his own mind this crying voice as Jeremiah saith That the false Prophets doe speak a vision of their own heart
say unto you I know ye not whence ye are Then shall ye begin to say Wee have eaten and drunken in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets But hee shall say I tell you I know you not whence you are depart from me all ye workers of iniquitie Hosea saith i Hos 5.6 They shall go with their flocks and with their heards to seeke the Lord but they shall not finde him hee hath withdrawne himselfe from them Wherefore the counsell written by Ieremiah is still to be considered to wit k Ier. 6.8 Bee thou instructed O Jerusalem lest my soule depart from thee lest I make thee desolate a land not inhabited The fift use is unto patience A fift Use is unto patience which as S. James saith l Jam. 1.4 ought to have her perfect work that we may be perfect and entire wanting nothing The Apostle saith unto the Hebrewes m Heb. 10.36 37. Ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry S. James also saith n Jam. 5. 7,8 Be patient therefore brethren unto the comming of the Lord behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it untill he receive the early and the latter raine Be ye also patient stablish your hearts for the comming of the Lord draweth nigh S. Paul saith unto Timothy o 2 Tim. 2.3 11 12 Thou therefore endure hardnesse as a good souldier of Jesus Christ It is a faithfull saying If we be dead with him we shall also live with him If we suffer we shall also reign with him There must be a time of p Ier. 4.3 4. Hos 10.12 Micah 4.3 2. Tim. 2.6 See the marginall reading there plowing sowing and weeding afore there can be a time of reaping and mowing He saith unto the Hebrewes Let vs q Heb. 12.1 2. lay aside every weight and the sinne which doth so easily beset us and let us runne with patience the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God Who also saith To him that r Rev. 3.21 overcommeth will I grant to sit with me in my throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne A sixt use is unto Comfort The sixt use is unto consolation If we lay to heart that whole crying voice and faithfully endeavour to performe the foure prescribed works of preparation though presently from wildernesses and desarts we become not such gardens and paradises as we ought to be yet let us remember the counsell of the Apostle Å¿ 2 Joh. 8 Heb. 10.35 Looke to your selves that we loose not those things which we have wrought but that we receive a full reward God Almighty will stretch forth his t Ps 118.14 15 16. and 17.7 1 Pet. 5.10 right hand over us hee will stay us up and strengthen us I will saith the Lord u Ps 32.8 instruct and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go I will guide thee with mine eye For saith Isaiah the Lord shall comfort Sion He will comfort all her waste places and he will make her * Isa 51.3 and 31.15 16 17 18. The Seventh use of the heavenly crying voice is to shew the way unto true Christian unitie among all rightly fearing God Concordia sustinemur discordia pessum imus Anonymus wildernesse like Eden and her desart like the garden of the Lord joy and gladnesse shall be found therein thankesgiving and the voice of melody The prophet hath written even a whole chapter namely the five and thirtieth for the consolation of such as do prepare the way of the Lord into them The seventh use of the said Oracle is to shew the way unto Christian Unity among all that truly feare God But among some of mankind Unity cannot be for saith the Apostle x 2 Cor. 6.14 15. What fellowship hath righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse and what communion hath light with darknesse And what concord hath Christ with Belial Or what part hath he that believeth with an unbeliever Solomon saith An unjust man is an abomination to the just and he that is y Prov. 29.27 See Sirach 13.15 16 17 18 19 20. Prov. 13.10 upright in his way is abomination to the wicked He also saith * Prov. 28.4 Who bee the true fearers of God They that forsake the Law praise the wicked but such as keep the Law contend with them Moreover all are not true fearers of God which say that they are right fearers of Him And therefore it is to be mentioned whom only the Scripture signifieth to feare God rightly and truly David saith z Psa 119.1 See the ancient Translation of the Church as also the Hebrew Text. See Sirach 2 15 16 17. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord he delighteth greatly in his commandements That is the sure and certain marke whereby every true fearer of God may be discerned from all other persons Also Solomon declareth what is the feare which God accepteth where he saith a Prov. 8.13 The feare of the Lord is to hate evill pride and arrogancie and the evill way and the froward mouth do I hate Now among all such endued with such feare of God there is possibilitie of b 1 Joh. 5.1 2 3. 2 Joh. 1.2 Ps 119.63 74. Luke 15.7 10. Christian Unitie and that they will c Isa 11.12 13. and 25.7 embrace whatsoever may further them unto agreeing in the truth of the Lords holy word and unto the living in all godly love And although among many which in a d 1 Cor. 3.1 3. What is promised by God shall bee ought not to bee accounted unpossible Zech. 14.9 good measure make conscience of their wayes there is so great difference in understanding and affection as that it is by some conceived impossible that they may by any meanes come into an holy concord yet a saying of Christ may be thought on which is e Luke 18.27 The things which are unpossible with men are possible with God It is f Ezech. 37.1 c. written that Ezechiel was set in the midst of a valley full of dry bones and it was said unto him can these bones live And hee answered O Lord God thou knowest But he prophecying as he was commanded there was a noise and behold a shaking and the bones came g verse 7. In the aforementioned ancient Translation of the church in Ps 68.6 There is read Hee is the God that maketh men to bee of one minde in an house together bone to his bone There was then a great beginning of Unitie Let us