name of the Fether of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Mat. 28.19 For there are Three which beare record in Heaven the Father the WORD and the holy Ghost and these three are one 1. Joh. ◠7 Yee worship yee know not what we know what we worship for salvation is of the Jewes but the houre cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shal worship the Father in Spirit and truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth Joh. 4.22.23.24 Jer. 10.1 Heare yee the word which Jehovah speaketh unto you O house of Israel 2. Thus saith Jehovah learne not the way of the Heathen and be not dismayed at the signes of the Heavens for the Heathens are dismayed at them 3. For the customes of the people are vaine for one cutteth a Tree out of the Forrest the worke of the hands of the workman with the ax 4. They deck it with Silver and Gold they fasten it with Nayles and with Hammers that it move not 5. They are upright as the Palm Tree but speak not they must needs be borne because they cannot go be not affraid of them for they cannot do evill neither is it in them to doe good 6. For as much as there is none like unto thee O Jehovah thou art great and thy name is great in power 7. Who would not feare thee O King of Nations for to thee doth it appertaine for as much as among all the wise men of the Nations and in all their Kingdomes there is none like unto thee .. 8. But they are altogether bruitish and foolish the stock is a Doctrine of vanities 9. Silver spread into Plates is brought from Tharshish and Gold from Vphaz the work of the Workman and the hands of the Founder blew and purple is their cloathing they are all the works of cunning men 10. But Jehovah is the true God he is the the living God and an everlasting King at his wrath the earth shall tremble and the Nations shall not be able to abide his indignation 11. Thus shall yee say unto them the Gods that have not made the Heavens and the Earth even they shall perish from the Earth and from under these Heavens God gives raine and he witholds raine Deut. 11.14 Amos. 4.7 Psal 147. Sing unto Jehovah who covereth the Heavens with clouds read Job 36. 37. 12. HE hath made the Earth by his power he hath established the world by his wisdome and hath stretched out the Heavens by his discretion 13. When he uttereth his voice there is a multitude of waters in the Heavens and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth he maketh lightnings with raine and bringeth the wind out of his Treasures 14. Every man is bruitish in his owne †Vaine man would be wise though man be borne a wild asse colt Job 11.12 knowledge every founder is confounded by the graven Image for his molten Image is but false-hood and there is no breath in them 15. They are Unity and the work of errours in the time of their visitation they shall perish 16. * The Lords portion is his people Jacob is the lot of his inheritance Deut. 32. how gracious is this reciprocation See the uses that the Saints should and have made of it Psal 73.16 119.57 Lam. 3. Christ is the portion of the faithfull and they are his portion The portion of Jacob is not like them he is the former of all things and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance Jehovah of Hosts is his name Jer. 23.23 Am I a God at hand saith Jehovah and not a God afarr off can any hide himselfe in secret places that I shal not see him saith Jehovah do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith Jehovah Psal 135.6 Whatsoever pleaseth Jehovah he doth in the Heavens and in the Earth in the Seas and in all deep places vid Dan. 4.34.35 Ephe. 1 11. QVestion 2. What may be learned from these Texts Answ These Scriptures teach us to know the most glorious God in his nature and properties in his works of Creation and providence Also the Unity of his essence and that there is a distinction in the unity of essence by which description wemay plainely see that he cannot be likened to any thing nor any thing made like to him Therefore all Idolls and Images of him are vanity and wicked and are to be abhorred and that he only is to be feared beleeved in worshipped c. And all this will more cleerely appeare by certain positions which may be gathered out of these Texts QVest 3. Which be they Answ 1. These Scriptures teach us that God is a Spirit most perfect and infinite and therefore impossible to be conceived of us as he is in himselfe and therefore we must content our selves with such a knowledge as he hath in his word revealed to us according to our capacity in his names and properties 1. His names are * It is good to observe how the attributes and titles are taken one for the other as Deut. 18.13 Mat. 5 48. So that Elohim Jehovah and Father are all one and so we shall finde in other Scriptures These names titles and properties do expound the proeme of the decalogue and the first commandement and the Proeme of the Lords prayer and the first petition Elohim Jehovah Adonaj Shaddaj Jah Tzur c. which signifie the Mighties the eternall being of himselfe and the giver of being to all things else the Stay of the World the All-sufficient the giver of life and breath the Rock c. these and others are abridgments of the Bible and the Bible a commentary on them 2. His properties some of them are incommunicable and some communicable the incommunicable are simplenesse or unmixednesse infinitenesse eternitie omnipotency unchangeablenesse immeasurablenesse c. no creature hath these 3. The properties communicable are being life goodnesse power wisdome justice holinesse truth mercy c. These he communicateth to his creatures yet they are but in a measure in them as qualities but in God essential in the creatures weak and imperfect but in him each of them is infinite in all perfection and by these things in the creatures which we see and perceive the invisible things of God are understood Some call these names and properties titles and attributes 4. These Scriptures affirme that there is one God and but one for there can be but one infinite and eternall being Creatour and Governour 5. The distinct persons in the God-head are from these Scriptures to be learned the Father the WORD and the holy Spirit Other Scriptures do further direct us how they are distinguished by their order properties an works 1. By their order the Father is the first person of himselfe the Son is the second person only of the Father he holy Ghost is the third person from them both 2. By
their properties Joh 1.14 Joh. 15.26 the Father from all eternity begetteth the Person of the Son the Son from all eternity is begotten of the Father the holy Spirit from all eternity proceedeth from them both These are incommunicable properties in the Persons the Fathers relative property is to beget and not to be begotten and therefore he is the first person in order so for our better conceiving we may say a Person in the God-head is a subsistence or a being considered in his relative property A 3. By their works to the Father is ascribed creation election predestination and adoption to the Son redemption to the holy Ghost sanctification Again the beginning of every action is given to the Father the dispensation to the Son the perfection and consummation to the holy Ghost these in some respects may be said to be communicable properties in the persons The reverend Mr. Richardson Mr. Yates and Mr. Antony Wotton c. Also it must be considered that every title attribute or property that in generall is spoken of the Deity is spoken of and attributed to each person as the Father is Jehovah so is the Son so is the holy Ghost Joh. 12.41 Act. 28.25 conferred with Esai 6.3 to 10. The Father the Son the holy Spirit be one co-essentiall and co-eternall infinite and unchangable c. And so in the attributes just holy good mercifull c. each person is so infinitely and unchangably c. Also in respect of the Creatures the attributes are communicable to each Person as the Son is called Father Esai 9. So it may be said of the holy Spirit who begetteth and reneweth us by the word of truth the Father is our teacher and so the Son and so the holy Spirit the Father sanctifieth the son sanctifieth the holy spirit sanctifieth Therefore it is very usefull to observe two things in the persons their co-operation and distinct manner of working the one is necessary in regard of this that they have the same essence and therefore cannot but co-worke in every thing the other is likewise as necessary because each person hath his distinct manner of subsisting All operation flowes from their essence co-operation from their unity in it and distinct manner from the distinct manner of their subsisting One essence one operation and Three being One must needes work inseparably and one being Three must needs worke in a distinct manner 6 Through faith we understand that the worlds were builded by the word of God that the things which are seen are not made of things which had appearance Ebr. 11. 6 It is the thrice holy Jehovah the Father the Son and their spirit all Three one infinite nature that hath created the heavens and the Earth and Seas and all things in them whether visible or invisible in a sweet dependency of order And He the Eternall Being gave them all their being with perfection of qualities that B was fit for each creature in its order and kinde 7 It is the same everlasting God that in his providence from the beginning to the ending doth in a most holy just wise and mercifull order preserve and govern all things with all their circumstances in the heavens earth seas C Therefore called an everlasting King But this King and D Kingdome is more specially to be understood of the son of God as Mediatour to whom the Father hath committed all authority and power Vt infra 8. The true God being thus glorious and a spirit infinite is therefore impossible to be perceived by our senses or comprehended in the short span of our understanding for hee is like to nothing in heaven earth or seas neither can all the wisest men of the world make any thing like to him but if any think so to do they dote and are follish and vain as Isui 40. and many more Chapters do speake and their images are no Gods E nor resemblances of him but works of errours and lyes They can do neither good nor evill those that make them are like unto them and so are all that put their trust in them And all that worship God by them are F haters of the eternall God and are hated and accursed of him 9 Here it is shewed that Gods worship is cheifly spiritual G and all outward worship otherwise then hee hath appointed is hatefull and abominable and uncomfortable as here and in other scriptures ceremonious and superstitious vanities and makers of images are reproved as bruitish senselesse and hopelesse 10 God being One and none other beside him the supream Governour whose is the Kingdome and power over all things he is only to be feared loved trusted in prayed unto and obeyed therefore he hath given us ten commandements with this entrance That he is Iehovah our H Elohim the Eternall the Mighty God our creator and Redeemer and he hath taught us to pray to him who is the everlasting father from whom all helpe comfort and defence cometh and is to be praysed and glorified in all his workes of goodnesse mercy wisdome justice c. 11 God being a most simple spiritual eternall and infinite Nature It followeth that he seeth at one instant and togegether past present and to come all things in heaven earth and seas There is nothing so invisible to our eyes in any place or so spirituall to our understanding but he seeth every particular Nothing is so secret as the imaginations of our thoughts yet God seeth them Many uses hence an understanding and beleeving heart will make for spirituall obedience and carefull watchfullnesse over his whole man Psal 139. all of it and 119 168. Job 31.4 1 Chron. 28.9 Men not understanding or not beleeving say in heart there is no God or like the wicked in Job chap. 22 and Psal 94. Who say Jehovah shall not see the God of Jacob will not regard But God doth both as the Psalme is notable Secondly Hence a world of outward Christians do shew themselves but Atheists Yea thirdly The godly not seriously and constantly considering this fail much in their sincerity for holy and just obedience 12. Another singular use is for afflictions When wee have any cause of fear wee may be preserved that this passion do not too much assaile us by meditating often wee may be throughly acquainted with I our God his titles properties and attributes both incommunicable and communicable Also of his works of creation redemption and Government in any evill felt or feared we may quickly turn and seek to god and so may not fear above measure as David saith K They that know thy name will trust in thee Psal 9.10 Againe When I was afraid I trusted in thee Psal 56.3 Remarkable also is this in Jehosaphat 2 Chron. 20.12 Also transcendent in those three noble confessors and Martyrs Dan 3.16.17.18 So in all temptations yea in death it selfe These things when they are well graffed and as nailes fastned in our soules will prepare us to contentednesse in all
vouch him so to be in love unto him and in love to our neighbour as it is said to love the Lord our God with all our heart minde soul and strength c. and our neighbour as our self and this is ratified by the bloud of the covenant Exod. 24. And they not obeying his Gospel-Law is as much as to say we will not have this man to reign over us therefore it is said those mine enemies and Israel were Christs own citizens Luke 19.27 that would not have me the Heir to reign over them bring them hither and slay them before me Luke 19 27. 1 Thess 2.16 4 5 6 7 8. Christ Jesus our Lord as eternal God to Moses and the Prophets and Christ Iesus our Lord as God-man in his New Testament in his own speeches and in his Apostles doctrine doth not differ and when our great Rabboni had reduced the ten commandments into two then he saith on these two commandements hang all the Law and the Prophets and so where it is often said Obey my voice Jer. 7.23 it must be understood of the obedience of faith receiving Christ and believing in him and obeying him John 3.36 which despised The wrath o the Lambe is great wrath Apoc. 1.16 brings the heaviest plagues as those eight and twentieth fold punishments Lev. 26. and thoses curses Deut. 28. Luke 23.28 29 30. and so Exod. 23.20 21. and Matth. 17.5 do explicate on the other in sense and meaning and John 6.27 must be brought to this undurstanding 5. The Law of the Lord is a converting Law it restores the soul that is it is the word of Christ by which and by which onely he doth by his Spirit work in the hearts of men to turn them from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God for it is the power of God to salvation restoring converting regenerating the soul to know believe fear and love Jehovah their God and to love their neighbour And the New Testaments doctrine and commandment is the same 1 John 3.24 4.21 Faith and Love is the Pattern of wholesome words or healing doctrine ever taught from the beginning This is the Vrim and Thummim which Christ puts in the heart of all them that the Father drawes unto him the Apostle alluding to the High Priests Garments phraseth the Brest plate of Faith and Love They that despise Christs Gospel that is his Law Esay 2.3 11.9 42.4 despise the doctrine of regeneration and such cannot mortifie their passions but will bite and devour one another Esay 11. much of it Gal. 5.15 as Cain did Abel See how and why their Story is cited 1 John 3. And by that we may see how easily reducible all that Epistle is to Genesis yea to all Moses and if this Epistle then all the New Testament QUest 3. What other Collections Answ The Scriptures of the Prophets shew 1. That Iehovah of hosts the God of Israel had made Nebucharetzar Monarch of all nations and that the Kingdome of Babel should keep them the State of Iudah in subjection Seavensy years And that Nebuchadnezzar was great by conquest and not by inheritance 2. That the Kings of the Kingdom of Babel for those seventy years should be in number three which are these the first is said to be Nebuchadnezzar the second is his son the third is his sons son Other Scriptures shew their names that Evil-Merodach was the Son and his Sons son was Bel-shazzar 3. We are to note that part of the third year of Jehojakim King of Iudah and more of the fourth is the first year of Nebuchadrezar as Dan. 1.1 and Jer. 25. compared do shew And in this first year of Nebuchadrezar King Jehojakim Daniel Hanariah Azariah Mishael and other Nobles were captived This is the first captivity But the King was sent home again 4 Here it may be convenient to remember that the heathen annalls and chronicles in many things are no true relations because they confound the Stories of Elams Arams Ashurs and Babels Monarchies For now Ashur was no Monarch but was under Babel Ashur had been a great Tree Ezekiah 31. But now Babel was the Tree Daniel 4. And Aram had been a Monarchy afore Ashur and Elam had been a Monarchy afore them all Gen. 14. But it may be Nimrod or Belus was the first hunter after tyrannical Monarchy QUest 4. Did all submit themselves to this Conqueror Nebuchadnezar that God had established and advanced over them Answ Jechonias King of Judah by the advice and counsel of Jeremiah submitted who though captived and many of the people yet they had many comforts following them to Babel 1. They were the basket of good figs whom God would greatly respect Ezekiel Mordecai and many godly went in this captivity 2. Although they were captived and wanted the glorious sanctuary and its publique ordinances yet (a) The bleâ—sed glory of Jehovah from his place in divers removings came to them Read Ezek. 9 10. 11. This might put them in minde of the utter removing of his vineyard from them to the Gentiles as the Lord told them near the ending of the seventy seavens Christ who is the truth of all the shadowes was to them a Sanctuary whom in spirit they worshipped (b) In the captivity Christ recompensed the loss of publique ordinances with most gracious providences Ezek. 11.16 and much of Danâ—el who was then a great favourite and would be as Ioseph and so his three cousins Dan. 3 Hanamah Misacl and Azâ—iab they would be great comforts to the brethren captived Many precious promises are to this company both of protection and return from captivity 3. They and their children should be chief in restoring religion at the return from captivity This company are the second captivity QUest 6. Who resisted Answ The Kings of Eâ—ypt Tyrus and others which brought upon them ruin and desolation Jehojakim returning home purposed rebellion which was to his destruction Zedekiah and his people would not hearken to the word of the Lord and to the perswasions of Jeremiah but believed false prophets and Zedekiah brake his Oath of subjection to the King of Babel and rebelled whom with his subjects God severely plagued by famine pestilence sword and captivity This company are the basket of vile and bad figs and the third captivity QUest 7. What more may be observed Answ Here we are diligently to minde What God did with those staves (c) Mark also the metaphor of cruel plough men Psal 129. rods axes sawes with which he did beat saw and hew his Church withal Each enemy did rage and smite a little while till God who is wounderful in counsel and excellent in working (d) Esay 10.7 c. Deut. 30. 2 3 4. c. Levit. 26.41 Mic 7.9 Psal 119.67.71 Esay 27.9 Hebr. 12.10 performed his not their intent work and purpose Then upon the (e) This duty in sincerity performd ever sped well God speaking peace to his
8.44 Mat. 3. Christ saith to the unbelievers and hypocrites Ye are of your father the devil Men that hate Christ and his word and his servants their genealogie is from Satan and Cain 1 Iohn 3.12 and the faithfull theirs is from Abraham yea from God and Christ Gal. 3. 7.29 and chapter 4.31 Iohn 1.13 Let all Phil 3. be considered with this note Quest 10. and Answ N. 1. And tormenting sorrows Note some special God gave over into the hands of one another and into the hands of their Kings the Herods and the Cesaâ—s Ioseph Liber 13. chap. 19. c. Then Christ brake both his staves by which they were strengthened he brake the staffe of beauty bereaving them of the duty of his Ordinances and brake also the brother-hood of Judah and Ephraim And much of this came to passe when the tribe of Levi cared not for the sacrifice-hood and would be Kings contrary to Jacobs and Moses will Gen. 49. Deut. 33. Then they and others became Sadduces and killed 50000 Pharisees This is the fruit of hereticall Doctrine and mens Traditions The poore of the flock that waited on Christ and valued him above all observed these things Zac. 11. Ibid. For as they abhorred Christ As their fore-fathers moved Christ to jealousie by revolting to idols so they did by mens traditions and false Doctrine which is as bad as idolatry yea it is idolatry and vanity Deut. 32.21 compare with Rom. 10.19.1 John 5.21 Observe how the Apostle Paul citeth that Text of Moses They despised the eternall Son and his righteousnesse the new and living way Bodily exercise was not the living way and so they despised God the Father 2 John 9 but that brought upon them the day of violent fire and wrath to the utmost as it is said despisers wonder and perish Acts 31.41 Heb. 10.27 1 Thes 2.19 False Teachers and their deceived never prized nor admired Christ and his word read Phil. 3. Quest ibid. N. 2. with utter and finall desolations Your house that is the Temple shall be dosolate while the world standeth Mat. 23. Luc 13. And this came to passe about 40 years after our Lords ascension Not such a desolation and transâ—â—gration as was at Shiloh or at Jerusalem by Babel or as that three years half by Antiochus with restauration but utter desolations as experience for 1500 years The affliction from Egypt had a fore-told limitation so had Babels so that of Antiochus and Israels proper glory was limited Dan. 9.24 But how carnal Israels affliction is not limited and earthly Canaan and Jerusalem shall never have proper and peculiar glory Quest 11. and Answer They shall never be restored Let Ezk. 16.43 to the end of the chapter be well considered both for the captivity to Babel and the utter desolations by Rome as Ezekiel compares Iudahs state with Sodoms unrecoverable so our Lord both to Sodom and to Noahs flood Mat. 24. mark well Num. 33. ult Again note where the Apostle saith Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not have c. by a cosequent he meant Neither would he Temple City and Kingdome which were all figures till the time of setling Christ should be and was the building in which God would delight and therefore these shadows shall never be restored unlesse we say Sacrifice and offering shall Why do we not as Mr. Finch and Mr. Brightman c. make the Jews expect things seen and temporall No no they will rejoice to be of the holy City from heaevn and will never care to make a corporation in the Lowâ— Jerusalem Ibid. Then any countrey or Citie in the World Then they will believe the doctrine of their apostle Peter the Apostle of the circumcision as their Godly forefathers dispersed in Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia Bythinis and Chaldea and mind the heavenly inheritance that is uncorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not and the spiritual Temple 1 Peter 1. 2. and 2 Pet. 1.19 20 21. How sweetly doth the Apostle draw them from their carnal sense of Ezekiels prophesie under the terms of Canaan Citie and Temple So the apostle to the Hebrews draws them to the heavenly Government of Christ in the Jerusalem Celestial And that the Low Jerusalem all that hold of the policy of it now ended by the Son eternal were briars and thornes and near rejection cursing and the destruction of violent fire and wrath to the utmost compare 2 Sam 23.1 to 7. with Hebrews ch 6. 10. As their fore-fathers did so the children as Stephen laies that heavy crimination on them Ibid. The Lamb is the Temple Seeing the Lamb is the Temple and that he destroyed the material Temple and all the politie of it for if the Priest-hood be changed there must be of necessity a change of the Law old things are all passed Then surely it is abominable to have Priests Altars Sacrifices Candles Incense Copes Linnen Ephods Musick Distinction as of Mosaical daies and times as Rests Jubilees new Moones distinction of meats annointings c. in our Ecclesiasticall administrations yea or an Ecclesiastical politie answerable to Levi of a subservient Clergy under one universal high Priest on earth Christ our Statute-Maker hath forbidden all Levitical ceremonial worship Iohn 4. There is no Typical ceremonie left unto us in his New Testament but the two Seals of the covenant of the New Testament and Gods Worshipeâ—s must worship him in Spirit and truth Spirit is opposed to bodily exercise of our carnal hearts Truth is opposed to the shadows rites types and ceremonies by which Christ saith The hour was coming that the Father would refuse to be worshipped And the Son by whom the Father spake taught none such to be repeated much less others by man to be invenced They are tyrannical ecclesiasticks that force ceremonies Col. 2. Before Christs coming the Wisdom of God as the old covenant needed instituted many types and ceremonies but the fulness of time being come two signs seals and memorials Baptism and the Lords Supper were ordained Seeing the Lord God of hosts even the Lamb is the Temple and we all with open face see the shining of the Sun of righteousness all Moses Ceremonies and others of mans invention should be left It is else as if we were still under pupillage and now it is bondage from which Christ hath justified us that is made us free The servants of Christ in these things must not be the servants of men but still contend and fight the good fight for the utter abolishing what he hath abolished and what in his last Will and Testament he never bequeathed nor commanded Gal. 4. Greek Fathers began the Name Priest and high Priest to be fitted to their doctors But in the end the gangrene crept to haâ—m unspeakable that Satan by Turk and Pope ruled the world For the god-Pope the high Priest of the Papacy he made a Mosaical subservient Clergy He made another peculiar holy Citieâ— He made Priests and annointed them
I have endevoured to relieve the studious and godly about that doubt and question concerning why no more Prophets after Malachy to the dayes of MESSIAS the King the holy of holies CHAP. XII Being an Answer to the five things lost in the Second Temple They might have named more then five as you will perceive BEloved Reader It may be worthy of good consideration to say somewhat of those five things that Solomons Temple had which some Modern Rabbins of the Jews complain they wanted in the Temple built by Zorobabel and thus they number them 1. The fire from heaven to consume the Sacrifices on the Altar 2. The sacred Monuments of the Vrim and Thummim that were put into the Breast-plate of the High Priest 3. The Ark of the Covenant wherein were put the two Tables of stone written with the finger of God 4. The Mercy-seat and Cherubim from between which the holy Oracles were given 5. The manifest breathing of the holy Ghost upon the Prophets These were great outward glories of the first Temple But let us consider of them 1. For the fire from Heaven to burn upon the altar It should seem to be so for it is said God testified of his gifts Heb. 11.4 I will transcribe what Mr. Broughton saith of it When Adam first sacrificed fire from heaven kindled it and Habels Sacrifice respected of God is in Octaplo was fired by God that fire was kept until the Flood Then again Noahs sacrifice was kindled from heaven and that fire was kept by Great Sem or Melchizedeck Abraham sacrificing had fire first in record from Heaven And in Moses and Salomon that is expresly told and thence gathered to the former so when the Jews came from Babylon If they had had fire Antiochus would have put it our again taking away the daily sacrifice for 3. year and a half Dan. 8.11 they sacrificed but no direct mention is made of fire yet their private story Salseleth Hakabalah saith they had fire from heaven See Mr. Bro. in Apoc. 190 Now one would think this to be true because so many promises of comfort by Jeremiah and such a godly company returned they might have that glory although there is no mention of it Gods counsels are unsearchable But the Angels message from heaven of the Messias was a great satisfaction to them Malachi saith the second Temple should have this honor that Christ in his doctrine should be refiners fire no purge the corruptions of their Rabbins touching all sacrificing 2. For the Vrim and the Thummin Daniels Prophecy of the Seavensy Seavens hath as glorious Light and Perfection of Doctrine as ever the Vrim shewed which also was brought by an angel of light and glory This prophecy sheweth when Messias that had all light and perfection in him should come and would bring light to us all The Messias when he cometh will tell us all things Job 4. Heb. 1.1 so the Saints of the Most High were exceedingly comforted in him that would reveal and tell us all things better than the oracle of Vrim for he came from the Bosom of the Father to reveal the whole mystery of the Kingdome of Heaven For He should seal vision and Prophesie And so Christ was Vrim and â—hummim in the hearts of the faithful and hath made us Kings and Priests to carry on our Breasts and Hearts 1 Thes 5.8 the Breast-plate of Faith and Love 3. The Ark of the covenant Jer. 3.15 16. mark that text of Jeremiah they should want it yet Christ saith they shal have godly Teachers the Prophet Jeremiah foretold the Ark should be no more they shall say no more the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord neither shall it come to mind neither shall they remember it neither shall they visit it neither shall that be done any more Babel shook these patterns of heavenly things in part and Rome should end all The Seavensy Seavens was a relief to the Saints concerning this Once shaking by Babel it shewed of Messias the King the Most Holy who had the Law of God in him most perfectly that from his fulness we all should receive and grace for grace The Ark was golden within and golden without it was plated with gold upon Sittim Wood so our Lord although he took flesh was golden within and golden without perfect in his inner man without sin and perfect in his conversation the Messias the Holy of Holy And although they had not the golden Pot of Manna yet all faithful of the Jewes did feed upon it for the time of the Seaventy Seavens as all Christians do now feed upon it Apoca. 2.17 Christ took away such things that they might looke to him the true Manna as he shewed them most heavenly John 6. 4. For the Mercy-Seat and Cherubim the Holy Angel Gabriel from Heaven foretold Daniel 9. in the Seavensy Seavens though they lost that outward glory who should be our Mercy-Seat of Reconciliation for all iniquity the Hilasterion of all comfort bringing in everlasting righteousnesse or freedome or justification So the faithful in the Seavensy Seavens did meditate and did hope still in the full accomplishment of it at the end of the Seavensy Seavens So they needed not these outward things And to all the faithfull the Lord God sent holy Angels to be Cherubim visibly to the returned from captivity and to all faithful after invisibly And although they lost Moses and Salomons Candlesticks yet the returned were a golden Candlestick and two Olive branches of Golden oyl which signified a replenishing of the Church with all graces of the Spirit so the Lord God taught them to meditate things spiritual rather than to glory in outward things The holy faith and doctrine of the Seavensy Seavens and walking in the light of it in peace and truth made them a glorious golden Canalestick 5. For the manifest breathing of the Holy Ghost upon the Prophets they wanted not this for one hundred and thirty years after the Return from Babel all the time of the Persian Government The Jewes say Ezra was Malachi and he lived long the Holy Ghost breathed in him and likewise in Haggai and Zachariah Daniels Prophecies with Haggaies Zacharies and Malachies and the study of Moses and the Prophets breathed the holy Ghost in the Saints of the Most High in the after-times who were men of Wisdome and did instruct many and as it said did turn many to righteousnesse all the time of the Seavensy Seavens confer diligently Dan. 8.9 10 11-24 11.28 30 31 32 33 34 35. 12.1.4.10 Zacharias John Baptists Father Simeon to whom the Holy Ghost revealed himself and likewise to Anna a Prophetesse these were under the second Temple and so in the beginning and ending of the Seavensy years the holy Ghost breathed in some special persons So that they did not so much want these outward things because the spiritual were conferred more abundantly the outward Jew looked carnally
land doth shew from Daâ—â— 12. and Psalm 8. that the Lamb slain though he once were the afflicted Son of sorrowful Enosh yet that now he is â—â—â—lred above everyname and that to him all power in heaven and in earth was and is committed and that he rules all by Sea and Land and therefore little children and faithful evermore did Apoc. 6. 7. 12. 13 14. chap. and evermore shall say Hosanna to him that now is in the highest heavens The great Cry of Hosanna destroyed the Caesars Empire so it shall the Reviver of the Empire King Abaddon 5. His voice is as the voice of a Lion when he roareth he being the Lion of the Tribe of Judah hath made all the Beasts of the Pit to tremble and this teacheth what the Pope and Turk shall find Christ with his called chosen and faithful full of courage in teaching the Gospel shall take the prey and recover the spoil and the King of the Pit his Locusts and all his marked shall not be able to help themselves from his just judgements 6. The seven thunders from him uttered their voices of secret un-unspeakable wrath to the Enemies of the Church which the Phials in chap. 16. declare abundantly and the enemies shall not perceive it but go on in hardness impenitency as Pharoah did to their utter destruction 7. Christ hath in his hand the little book of the Holy Scriptures alwaies open for great consolation to the Church from which the Holy Angels of the Churches and other Witnesses do still prophesy to nations and Kings of their great Trespass in advancing the seven Mountain City All Abaddons power and his Locusts could never shut this book nor hinder prophesying This our native Countrey shewed in the days of King Henry the eight and Queen Mary and in times before See the story of the Saints Marbeck and Tindal c. c. 8. All this is mannaged with an oath to comfort and stablish the hoirs of promise that the Lord Christ the only Potentate 1 Tim 6. will put an end to all the troubles of the Church under the voice of the seventh Trumpet and last Wo and seventh Phial 9. It is of necessary consequence to observe some circumstances about the sad times of the fifth and sixth Trumpets because some say the Beast of the Pit King Abaddon did utterly root out the church of Christ and that no visible true church did appear when Anti-christ possessed all in outward shew 10. But this is impossible for the promise is that the gates of Hades death and destruction should not so prevail Matth. 16.8 and that promise also is firm as a Rock which saith that Christ must reign till he make his enemies his footstool 1 Cor. 15.25 Abaddon could not put â—he Son of God the Rock and his cause so under his feet for as iâ—â—aid Christ the great angel of the Covenant did ever shew that he â—uled as King in his Kingdome of mount Sion Apoc. 14. and had ever one foot on the Sea and the other on the Land and the fifth had sixth Trumpet to rule all things both by Land and Sea and that he had the little book of the holy Bible ever open in his hand which he still put into the hearts of his witnesses to prophesie though in sackeloth and full of troubles Apoc. 11. this book Christ still kept open in spight of all the new Antiochus devises 11. Therefore let this teach us with strong assurance that though the Papacy did so overspread yet that Christ had here and there two witnesses some godly ones that held the fundamentall truths when the Beast of the Pit had most darkned the surface of Christendome and they are also called the two Olive branches and the two Candle-sticks which Christ made still to abide before him that in every age his Saints might see the light of holy Doctrine 2. This likewise is for great consolation to the Saints that the Gospel of the Kingdome as it hath so it shall continue notwithstanding all the opposition that hath been and shall be in the world against it 3. Hence many are sharply to be reproved and rebuked that think and utter blasphemies that Christ did not reign and that he had no witnesses under the Papacy and that the Beast of the Pit had annihilated the Church of God And hence new upstarts vain men that wait for new apostles and new Râ—velations would dischurch the Reformed Churches and dischurch members thereof that have come according to the commandement out of mysticall Babylon And in great wickdednesse they cast off Magistracy and the ordinances of the publick ministery and the care of Religion in family c. and so themselves become very antichrists yea some in new England 1. Do abhor the baptising of the infants of godly parents 2. Account our Congregations antichristian 3. Make no regard â—o sanctifie the Lords day 4. Despise Magistâ—acy 5. Scorn our godly Teachers the Lord grant that such as do openly professe this abomination may never have a toleration among us but if the Lord please to be gracious to them to enlighten their minds by the word of truth then they will soon see how they are given to Satan and lying spirits 12. Remember that apostasie from the faith was foretold and that the brethren must be put in it that they might be carefull to be nourished up in the words of faith and in good Doctrine such holy brethren ever were and ever shall be because God from the beginning hath elected such to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and the belief of the truth 13. Can such a thought enter into our hearts that the Man of sinne hath destroyed Christs kingdome utterly that it should not have a being ever since the apostles dayes Let us mark what our Lord Jesus Christ hath said to his apostles I have chosen you and ordained you Iohn 15.16 that ye should go forth among the Nationâ— and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain Let us not therefore be deceived that Antichrist hath ever been able to root out the Kingdome of Christ although they killed some witnesses yet still Christ raised others to prophesie and the most holy faith is builded on Christ the rock the polity of the heavenly Jeâ—usalem is builded more sure then that the seed of the Serpent should ever be able to prevail so far as to destroy it utterly It is builded on the twelve found ations of the faith of the holy Patriarks and apostles Doctrine and this city is compassed with a wall of holy truth unvinâ—ible And what hath shaken Abaddons Kingdome but the prohesying of the two witnesses from the opened book that is in Christ his hand Thus much by way of Parenthesis to Apoc. 10. Now I will go on with the Trumpets and Phials SECT 7. The sixth Trumpet and second wo and sixth Pbiaâ— 1. THe sixth Trumpet sheweth how Christ raised up the Turk from
state of time that the holy spirit did testifie in the Prophets for the coming of Mesas and his sufferings and glory that should follow in his Resurrection ascension and sending gifts to convert the Nations 1 Pet. 1.11 by his death to confirm the promises made to the faithfull and to be the truth of all the types which were all sponsorious of a better hope but of the time of his second coming there was not that need to know For it is said But of the times and seasons brethren ye have no need that I write unto you for your selves know perfectly that the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night 1 Thes 5. 3. Of the Chronologie of the New Testament the spirit of Christ hath not disposed an orderly processe of times neither historically nor prophetically from his death There is no time cast in the Apocalyps For God would not begin to accompt the times after the death of Christ but he must have gone through with it else it had been a fault in art but that he would not because of the end of the world he would conceal that no man nor angel knoweth it the Son in respect of his humanity is said not to know the time who yet giveth the Apocalyps to Iohn but nothing is unknown to his Godhead who is the first and the last The thousand years are spoken of for the loosing of Satan Apoc. 20. but the history is not cast by course of time the thousand years begin we may best suppose from the writing of the Apocalyps 4. But behold the wisdome of God To teach us in whom we have rest that most graciously ordered times most exactly till the death of Christ in a most pleasant Sabbatick * accompt tres-remarkable from JESUS the son of Nun to our IESUS that saveth us from our sins Thus he did that the whole Nation of the Jews should not misse but by willfull and despitefull swarving to receive him the true Messias Heb. 2. 1. 6. and 10. to leave all the ceremonies and to look to him the end and scope of all and this time was it often noted and needfull often to be noted wherein the Gentiles should begin to be brought to Sâ—ms Tents and thence to learn salvation 5. When all this was done there needed no times to teach us ceremonially of Christ to come for his government and offices are perpetuall and shall never be abolished as Levies Priesthood till he re deliver up the Mediatorian Kingdome to the Father and till that time we all should joyfully look in watching when the Bridecrome will come 6. The Gencalogie and Chronologie served to the promised Lands glory The non-continuance of genealogies after the apostles times shall be to-ched else to the people of Israels glory to the Tabernacles glory to Ierusalems glory to the Temples glory and to Salomons Kingdomes glory for the glory of all these ended when the Chronologie and Genealogie ended for all the time of the old Testament they had that heavenly and glorious use 2. Blessed be the name of the Lord God for ever and ever for wisdome and strength are his and he it is that hath altered times places and persons to the glory of the unchangeable Priesthood and never ending Kingdome of his dear Son our Lord Iesus Christ to whom be glory and praise everlasting Amen CHAP. L. Being a Caveat to beware of such Satanicall spirits that prattle about the expectation of new Apostles and new Revelations 1. AS is said for the Chronologie and Genealogie of the the old Testament that the infallible use of them did cease after the new Testament was written so we may say for the other holy Doctrine of Christ that we need not to regard the vanity of wretched men in expectation of new Apostles and new Revelations but studiously to cleave to what is left and ordained to us in the holy writings of the Prophets Evangelists and Apostles 2. As our Lord and Saviour said He that will not hear and believe Moses and the Prophets will neither hear nor believe if one should rise from the dead so truly we may say he that will not hear and believe the holy Evangelists and the holy Apostles writings who wrote of the doctrine life death and resurrection of Christ is as far from holy faith as ever any Sadducie was for Christ is risen from the dead and after his Resurrection gave commandement what his Apostles should preach unto the Nations and we see what it was they taught by the four Evangelists by the book of the Acts by their Epistles and by the Son of God in his Apocalyps 3. And that we might not be deceived by the ungodly 1 Cor. 4s to look for new Apostles mark what the apostle Paul saith plainly that himself and Earnabas and other Apostles then living were the last apostles 4. Wherefore the apostles seeing the Churches began to be troubled with false apostles and with grievous and gangrenating errours and herefies and foretold of worse and more perillous times that men would not endure sound and wholesome doctrine but having sore ears should after their own lusts get them an heap of Teachers and should turn their ears from the truth and should be given unto fables therefore they gave warning as is seen in all their writings and have thus charged us from Christ That we be mindfull of the words which were spoken before by the holy Prophets and of the commandement of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour 2 Pet. 3.2 and Iudas Thaddeus saith thus in his Epistle But beloved remember the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ And the Apostle John saith He that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God beareth nos us hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of errour 1 John 4. 5. The faithfull obeyed this charge and commandement for many years after the apostles for the apostles had said what they had taught to the faithfull then living should be communicated to other faithfull for the instruction of others for above an 100 years after their dayes we have not writings of the Ancients they kept themselves to the holy Scriptures of the Prophets and apostles 6. And when the Ancients of the Primitive Churches began to write much about the second Century and after it is manifest they adhered to the holy Scriptures and commended them much to the people and some of the Ancients did so admire and advance the holy Scriptures that they adored the sufficiency of them for Doctrine of faith and manners 7. This is most clear for it is said the faithfull martyrs for 300 years suffered for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Apoc. 6.9 and so the two witnesses suffered under the Beast of the Pit King Abaddon For the keeping of the commandemâ—nts of God and the saith of JESVS Apoc. 14.12 sofar off they were
clearly understand the New Testament that it hath no new Principles but then they will see that the Sonne of God came to be a Second Adam and an holy Witnesse and Teacher of the Truth sent down from the Father to be confirmed in his Office of Mediation and that as Eternall God he taught Moses and the Prophets and in this Seat they shall behold the face of Christ to shine like the Sun through all the Bible 4. Observe that the Apostles do prove their Doctrine from the Old Testament as in the Epistle to the Romanes chap. 1. and 2. and 3 4. in all the chapters he handles the corruption of our nature and that great point of the Justification of a sinner from Genesis 15. by the evidence of Abrahams faith and from Psalm 32. from Davids Testimony and in Rom. 10 5â—6 c. from Deuteronomie 30.11 12 13 14. where he opens to us all Moses as I have shewed in the Dialogue And he handleth the Doctrine of Election and rejection from Genesis Exodus Deuteronomie and Jobâ— c. 5. Observe that the Epistle to the Galâ—thians doth largely expound Genesis 12 1 2 3. and know that Abraham could Teach and gather Observations and Deductions out of the Promise in Genesis 12. as well as the Apostle and it is evident also that he did so for the instruction and comfort of all his Houshold and posterity as the book of Job with Genesis doth witnesse 6. Observe that the Epistle to the Hebrews doth lead us through all the old Testament from the first of Genesis to Malachy yea further even to the stories of the faithfull Martyrs in the Macchabees and from Dan. 7.8 10 11 and 12 chapters the events of which chapters for a great part are after the Prophesie of Malachy in the story of the Macchabees c. 7. Observe that the Apostle Peter being an Apostle of the Circumcision doth in his Epistles allude much to the phrases of the old Testament and so doth Judas Thaddaeus in his Epistle and both Peter and Thaddeus doe shew that as there were false Prophets of old that spake from the old Serpent so there should be such under the New Testament that would resist Christ and his Mediatorian Kingdome as Cain Balaam and Kore did 8. Observe that the Apocalyps doth exceed in this way of expressing things by selected words and sentences from the old Testament and from old events and from the low Jerusalem to open new matters concerning the Church of the new Jerusalem from heaven and of the destruction of the enemies thereof and thus all the Revelation must be expounded and whosoever doth not so will misse 9. I would yet give further direction to young men yea to young Scholars First reading of the blessed Book of God as it lies in order by 14 chapters a day by which means the Bible is read over in three moneths In the second reading confer the Genealogie and the Chronologie as in the Table prefixed which will shew you what principall men lived in such a state of time and most of the men are Fathers to our Lord Jesus Christ of whom he took humanity and it should delight us to know his Genealogie and all the other names of persons are considerable as attendants on his stories And I wish that young men would transcribe the Table of our Lords Genealogie twice or thrice over it would teach them more than they are aware of and imprint things in their mind It is but one page no great matter to do 10. Then to make use of the Genealogie of Noah's sonnes and Nephews for Geography which will much help the understanding so that one moneths Meditation at times upon these two Tables will furnish you with plentifull nâ—â—ions and with such a ground work that you cannot but make use of them all the dayes of your life and in this manner read it the third time and the fourth and by thus doing you will come to a sweet taste and relish of the phrase of the holy Scriptures which will be of more use to your mind and heart than you can at first conceive I know this counsel and exhortation is of God and to help your proceeding you have the holy Chronologie set down in many varieties of expressions to stir delight in the study of the Scriptures 11. in the Table of Genealogie you have the times though briefly set down in which are shewed what Prophets lived in the times of the Kings of Judah in your second and third and fourth reading the Bible endeavour to bring the Prophets to their proper times with the Psalms it will be much to edification And remember that because men mind not Genealogie Chronologie and the Geographie of the Scriptures they fail commonly in their Narrations 12. The Dialogue Will shew you what was the Doctrine of Chrift touching mans Redemption in every age to the vessels of mercy his severity to the seed of the serpent for despising and persecuting the Professors of this blessed Doctrine 13. Consider that the Kingdome of God in Christ the seed of the woman and the second Adam is the matter of all the Bible Adam had that theam to preach on for 930 years and Sem the sacrificer to Jehovah God most high taught this Doctrine 500 years after the Flood and confirmed Abraham in that Doctrine 75 years and consider that all the larger writings that were breathed by the holy spirit teach no other matter but this and giveth promises of grace for accepting this and punishments for contempt of this all Cains posterity perished in the Flood then the Babel-builders then Jeroboam and the ten Tribes and the people of Judah were afterwards burned by the wrath of Christ for despising this Doctrine of life and after this great salvation was preached by the Lord himself and confirmed by his hearers with all giftâ— of the spirit the Jews for contempt thereof were cast off and the world was given over to Arrius Turk and Pope Objection If a man read so much at a time as you have now prescribed he will not remember and so not prefâ—â— and a man had better read a chapter in a day and meditate on it Answer I know it is a most sweet and heavenly mercy to understand what we read but if a godly heart endued with courage will take this course for one year in his youth the phrase and course of the holy Scriptures will be the more familiar to him and his knowledge understanding and affections will far more increase through mercy then in reading a chapter or two in a day and at last he will remember ten times more than reading a little 2 And let none say that fourteen chapters a day will hinder time in our callings for an hour and a quarter in a day will read fourteen chapters and Psalms one with another and what is that we may purchase wisdome with the losse of a little sleep especially in a morning it is said
and out of whom wee neither have nor can do nothing But following the truth in Love as the truth of this healing Doctrine is to be sought and found only in JESUS we grow up in all points into him which is the head even Christ himselfe by whom all the body conveniently joyned and fastned together by every point of the furuitâ—re according to the operation of the spirit which is in measure of every severall part reneweth increase of the body unto the edifying of it selfe in Love A proud Laodicean Arminian thinkes and speaks contrary which shewes he is not only ignorant of Christ and his learning but of his own naturall Philosophy Nosce teipsum What naturall abilities did and would worke we see Jer 4.22 Job 28. Rom. 1.1 Cor. 1. But no change of heart to fear God in Christ here heathens who could say Video meliora deteriora sequor might see further with the Apostle Rom. 7.23 c. But man sold unto sin can neither hear nor see where God openeth not the eyes and here the spirit teacheth the godly to groan with sighings unspeakable See Mr. Bro. upon Lam. 1.11 When we read in the holy scriptures or elsewhere of errours in judgement and sins in practise in heathens and others then refer all hither to thinke upon the poyson of the serpent breathed into the natures of our first Parents which could never by all humane learning be healed The truth is man is most adverse to be cured till Christ by his word and spirit illuminate and quicken The Pharisees were the most excellent of all naturalists yet they could not attain to the Law of Righteousnesse or freedome from sin and guilt Rom. 7.8 9 10.11 chapters Phil. 3.3 4 5. c. The plaine reason is they despised to know this glorious hidden mystery of Christ the second Adam and missed the meaning of the Law In the 6. Quest N. 3. Doth rule all ages The second Adam and his doctrine is the light the way the truth and the life to all generations The song of all ages is Salvation is of our God and of the Lambe Apoc 5 9. and Chap. 7.10 11 12. This is the true Catholik faith faith in Christ ever one and the same although the outward Administration did differ Psal 100.5 119.89 135.13.1 Pet. 1. JESUS CHRIST yesterday and to day is the same also for ever Christ the Rock of all ages Esa 26 4. Ebr. 13.2 John 1.2 He that cometh to God must beleeve that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently by faith in Christ Jesus seek him This is a ruled case from the beginning No man cometh to the Father but by the Son The cloud of witnesses from Habell to our Lords dayes confirmeth this Ebr. 11. all of it And the clouds shall not catch up any to glory but those of the same holy faith This faith is the charge and commandement of the Lord which the Saints are to keepe inviolable from age to age without spot of heresie or vanity of mans traditions In Q. 6. N. 4. To this faith he calleth his elect The faith of Gods elect is glory and the righteous Nation that keepeth it entire and walketh in it is a most glorious people not the like in the earth if we consider the King of Saints his Lawes his government and the purity of his subjects Of this company of faithfull soules and their King their endearednesse each to other the Canticles singeth yea all the holy stories shew the same from the first to the last Prov. 8.31.2 John 9. Ibid. N. 5. Great disputations contentions c. Here is the faith and patience of the saints here are they that keep the commandements of God and the faith of JESUS Apoc. 13. and 12. and 14. When the Lord God spake that of Gen 3.15 fire was cast into the Earth and a sword was sent ever since there hath been divisions factions and contentions Three against two and two against three Hitherto pertaine all the warrs plottings devises deceits slanderings cavillations mockings â—scoâ—nes scoffings geerings thrasonicall boastings murders massacres treasons c. of them of that wicked one It is not liberties and states that the Seed of he Serpent so much shoots at but blood All that will live goldly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution and yet in all tryalls whatsoever faith is victorious Christ sometimes builds his Jerusalem Temple street and wall in troublous times Note whereas sufferings might be just punishments for sin the Lord God in his unspeakable goodnesse and in honour to the Saints maketh them to be for testimony to his truth And his Angells by Satan Many cases of conscience arise out of this if Christ bruise Satans power how is it that we suffer so many trialls hence many doubtings feares teares distractions unrulinesse of passions Psal 73.1.1 Sam. 27.1 All is answered Rom. 8.17 18. Dan. 11.35 Mat. 10.1 Pet. 1.1 John 15. and 16. and God over-ruleth all for the good of his children Apoc. 1.18 Psal 33.10 and 76.10 and 94.19 and 119.75.2 Cor 1. Phil. 4 5.6.7 Heb. 12. Be humble and live the life of faith with temperate affections and in the sober use of all good means and all wil be well 1 Cor. 7.29 30 31 32. The spirituall armour belongs hither Eph. 6 Afflictions are compared to darknesse to waves of the sea c. God can still them Psal 89. and 93. wee looke not to the decree of God concerning sufferings Gen. 3.15 that it must be so wee propound selfe ends in profession of the Gospell Verily we do not consider why we were borne and for what cause we came into the world if we did all reasonings of our hearts would be silenced then let us meditate that good confession that the Lord Jesus witnessed before Pilate Iohn 18.37 In Q. 6. N. 6. Brotherly love holding one another dear This is and was the message that was taught from the beginning 1 Iohn 3.11 Kains and Habells story is there remembred This 6 point is the summ of the second Table and handled by exposition and example continually See the later part of the Epistles to the Churches to Rome Corinth Galatia Ephesians Colessians Heb 10.24.25 Act. 4.32 Psal 133. Ioh 15. compare 1 Iohn 3.23 and 4. ult 2 Iohn 5.6.2 Tim. 1.13 In Q. 6. N. 6. And to have no fellowship This enmity and warr of Michael and his Angells against the Dragon and his Angells cannot and therefore must not be reconciled it is a cursed worke to endeavour it And indeed either side holds one another Anathema God hath put the enmity betweene the seeds and who shall joyne that which God by principles of unreconcilable distance hath perpetually divorced and separated it was never yet reconciled though Satan and his prophets and the false brethren in their owne ungracious projects have laboured Gen. 6.2.3.4 c. Numb 31.16 Apoc. 2. Iud 2. and 3.1 King 11.1 and in Nehemiahs and Ezras dayes
fulfill the measures of their forefathers impieties in persecutions massacres treacheries gunpowder-plot cruell mockings c. ungodly men cannot trample on God but they reach as high as they can against his image both in his Ordinances and his saints and his graces in them this is the highest step they can go as Achab Jerom Joash Jehoiakim fretted against God and they would be revenged by imprisoning and killing his Prophets Christ his Doctrine have been called esteemed â—nathema even from the beginning of all that wil not receive his Doctrine in the love of it so it was accounted of Kain when Christ would not accept his bodily exercise so he saith Visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me Exâ—d chapt 20. So they despised his Statutes and did abhor his judgements Levit. 26 15. In 10. Quest and Answ A great Apostasie All flesh had corrupted his way both in religion and conversation Gen. 6. Job 21. and 22. Mat. 24. Iudas Thad 14.15 So Iudah were corrupters Esai 1. Ier. 6. They were but flesh they cared not for regeneration nor the Doctrine of it to serve the Law of God in their minds for the imagination of their heart was only evill continually They mocked the religion of the Second Adam Ion 21. and 22. they desired not to know the waies of Christ In Q. 10. Ungodly marriages The Sons of God the visible Church regarded not Gods distinction of the holy seed so after times found them to be snares and traps treachery profanesse and abomination to the Gospel Common-Weale and Family In Q. 10. Glorious house Glorious for Cities Wealth Musick Pleasures Feasting Strength Arts and vaine deceitfull beauty the flourishing estate of the wicked doth commonly prevaile for apostacy with the open Church or multitude In Q. 10. A confluence When people have not a sincere care to know but set light by the faith of the Son of God the mystery of godlinesse then all ungodlinesse and unrighteousnesse will be seene in mens conversations This is evident through all ages of the holy story and in all Common-Weales Families and persons at this day which either retaine not or cast off the mystery of Faith in a pure conscience no religion teacheth nor worketh in the heart and carriage such strictness of a peaceable and holy life as the paterne of wholesome words faith and love which is in Christ Jesus Deut. 4.5 6 7 8. And verily there can be neither holinesse nor righteousnesse in truth but in them that are renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created them that is of the man Christ Jesus the second Adam the Lord from heaven 1 Cor. 15.47 Esa 11.1 to 9. In Quest 10. Remember After our first Parents were turned to dust the rest of the holy Fathers dyed not long one after the other except Henoch yet they had three witnesses of Christ to the floud that contested against their apostasie Methuselah Lamâ—ch and Noah But Henoch had before spoken of terror to the wicked and godly Lamech of comfort to the faithfull In 11. Quest and Answ Through faith Now faith is the expectation of that which is hoped and a tryer out of things which are not seene for by it the Elders are well reported of by Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with feare prepared the Arke to the saving of his house by which he condemned the world and was made heir of the justification that is by faith Ebâ— 11. A beleever will be carefull of the salvation of his houshold In Q. 11. Good report Faith in the Son of God is most glorious faith evidencing things not seen made all the Elders honourable in a good report in life and death and after death whose faith we are exhorted to follow a godly man should so walke as all hee doth should evidence to the soule things not seen All Ecclesiastes tendeth to confirm this in us as godly Lamech testified In Q 11. Sons The floud in the faithfull doth shew the benefit of adoption and covenant the faith of God is not without its effect though many did â—all away and the Ordinances were unsavoury to them 2 Cor. 2.16 Our Natures so universally depraved that whilst we are in the flesh unconverted we cannot please God without saith it is impossible we should please God or that God should please us Jus divinum 31. In Q 11. City and country They beleeving on the Son of God had everlasting life and came not into condemnation but passed from death to life Minde it a present possession and immediate passage no judgment intervenning nor torment All the faithfull till the fulness of time had perfect joy in an immortall state of life and glory with God in the Kingdome of Heaven Matt. 8.11 and therefore are termed Them in Heaven Eph. 1.10 and the family of Heaven Chap. 3.15 Away then with the dotages of Lymbo and purgatorie and all other cursed opinions of the heathens and heathnish Kingdome Abyssigena Apoc. 9. Psal 17. and 22. 4 5. Psal 36.8.9 Dan. 7.18 Psal 49.15 and 73.24 Esa 3.10 Pro. 14.32 Job 5.24 In Q. 11. Wherefore they had preservation The fleed was a sacrament to the faithfull of Salvation to which answereth Baptisme 1 Pet. 3. Though these three men Noah Daniel and Job were in it they should deliver but their own soules by their righteousnesse faith the Lord God Ezek. 14.14 confer this to Gen. 6. many observations may be collected see the effectuall saith of Noah which he shewed by his workes beleeving he seared made the Arke and was carefull to save his houshold he prayed for the wicked mocking world he stood in the gap to turne away wrath so Jâ—b prayed for his freinds and God heard him so Daniel Chap. 2.18.23 and was heard so Christ had heard Noah but would no more after the decree came forth for one hundred and twenty yeares so Jeremiah prayed but at last would not be heard hee was forbidden to pray Things come to an extremity when Gods forbids his remembrancers if the whole state will not humble themselves yet let Noah Daniel and Job do it they shall have comfort they shall be sealed to be kept safe When Unbeleevers despisers mockers feasters drinkers and all abominable shall be shut out of the Arke and the heavenly Ierusalem to be in the floud and lake of fire Ezekiel and our Lord citing Noahs story gives to consider of the like generall Apostasie of the Jewes And that the Apostasie of the old world was as generall as the Jewes both in Ezekiels dayes and our Lords In 12. Quest and Answ Corrupters of the faith This phrase is elegantly expressed in Apoc. 11.8 The Papacy was an apostate policy and did depart from and corrupt the saith and so the whole earth was corrupt Therefore God hath and will corrupt that policy as God did corrupt the corrupters Gâ—â— 6. The former be
For as it was in the dayes of Noah so shall it be at the day of the coming of the Son of man Mat. 24. c. Quest 6. And Abraham Abraham once ungodly yea after his calling he much failed rejoyced in him that justifieth the ungodly Jos 24.2 Rom. 4. so after mysticall Nimrod how many good men have been overtaken with their outward glory yea many strong men of great parts have beene wounded by that whorish Church Prov. 7. Apoc. 17. Quest 7. N 1. Those familes The families of Noahs sons despising Sem a King of Justice and Peace were cut off â—or two thousand yeares so the Jewes for despising Sem the great and reverend the true King of Justice and peace were cut off to this day Rom. 11. from Noahs days all heathens were Lo-ammi and Loruchamah no people and unpitied a foolish nation barren and a desolate widow to our Lords dayes Deut. 32. Psal 113. Esa 54.1 2 3. Ephes 2.1 2 3. Psal 119.118 Q. 7. From the life Justice But when light was revealed to the Gentiles and the glory of Jehovah was risen upon us It is said I will make thy government peace and thine exactions righteousness Marke the allusion This was under the King of Salem and Tzedek Justice and Peace kisse each other as it did of old in Sems Tents Psal 85. Then peace on earth and good will towards men Q. 7. Nor see the light Now darknesse covered the earth and gross darknesse the Nations Esa 60. So Pope Nimrod by his mysticall Babylon caused such darknesse by confusion of Language and all holy speech All languages of Europe and much of Asia if not all Asia have been confounded by the means of mysticall Nimrod and his rebellion Apor 9. Q. 7. For two thousand years All the time of this ignorance God hated them like devills till the time hee would judge the world in righteousnesse that is favour the world in mercy Act. 17. Psal 97. from this time to the Apostles the whole world did lye in wickednesse 1 Job 5.19 Q 7. N. 11. In their own wayes God left them to walke in their own waies of endlesse and lawlesse idolatries and superstitions and ill manners judgement and practise wholy corrupted as the holy scriptures and humane stories shew The Philosophers of the heathens spake much of the earth c. and to the height of heaven but unto Paradise above the Heavens no thought of theirs could ever come They had no Lampe of Grace not the best learned of them their sage as Pythagoras in tongue confessed God to be one but they knew not the holy Trinity and that the eternall son would be manifested in the flesh to come a man looking through our walls and to come a Judge of all nor that he framed the world for man because he would dwell in our Tabernacle Mr. Bro. Apoc. pag. 20. That regeneration is by faith from him the second Adam by hearing the doctrine of divine revelation that he should destroy death and him that had the power of death by his own death and resurrection and give us a Resurrection and that be should be a mediator between God and man as Prophet Preist and King Lord of Angells the head of all principality and power that a company of people were in him elected and should be called out of this present world to whom he should be wisdome justification sanctification and redemption c. in these things the outward Jew was dull of hearing Rom. 2. and 3. Phil. 2. Heb. 5.11 much lesse could the wisdome and Philosophy of the heathens once thinke of these things Col. 1.26 yea alas for pity how weakly and poorly are these things either taught or known and experimentally in mind and conscience felt and answerably in life practised in most of our congregations of our blessed England This must be proper to true christians no marvell the holy spirit doth taunt the wisdome of the worlds wise Masters and chargeth the saints to take heed of their Philosophy and vain deceit verily it is not fit for Christians to be trained up in their pedagogie 1 Cor. 1. they were haters of God Rom. 1. Col. 1.21 and haters of his people Psal 83. Hest 9.1 Then all that time they were not in the state of universall grace but in very deed of universall wrath such a wofull famine of hearing the word of the Lord holy justice gave them over unto So when the would did depart from the faith of the true Melchisedeck it was given over to Turk and Pope and all force of error and were far from Justice Peace and Truth the Reverend Doctor Ames in his Medâ—lla pag. 244 editio quarta citeth a fit testimony for this Non pium igitur minus quam prudens suit illud maximi artium magistri P.R. judicium votum Hujus Philosophiae doctrinam si mihi fuerit optandum quod assequi velim malim â—ueâ—as ex Evangelio per cruditum aliquem probatisque moribus Theologum quam ex Aristotele per Philosophum tradi Puer impietates mullas ex Aristotele discet quas verendum ne nimis sero dediscat Beatitudinis finem in homine terminari virtutes omâ—cs hominis facultate penitus contineri Eas ex hominis natura arie industria comparari Deum ad haec opera quamvis magna divina tamen vel adjutorem vel artificem nusquam adhiberi divinam providentiam ex hoc numanae vitae theatro removeri de justitia divina verbum nullum fieri Beatitudinem huminis in hac caduca vita constitui c. Quest 8. To be called their God This is a word of Covenant as God spake to Abraham Gen. 17. and as it was noted above God is called the God of Shem. Andoh most glorious priviledge of the Saints through the mediator in all ages Marke these Texts from the first to the last Gen 6.18 and 17.7.8 Exod 19.5 and 20.2 and 29.45.46 Jer. 31.33 2 Cor. 6.18 Gal. 3.29 Tit. 2.14 2. Pet. 2.9 Apoc. 21.3 Hence it is that the Saints say from Gods interest in them and theirs in him Our God my God my portion my Rock my Shepherd c. and Jesurun is Gods portion Jer. 10. In this they boast praise and sing My welbeloved is mine and I am his Cant. 2.16 Psal 44. and 48.2 Coron 25 6.7 Psal 42. and 43. Deut. 10.21 The observations of the properties and workes of God should here be minded which are in chapter first spoken of Q. 8 Heavenly City The Saints of old knew as well as them of the New Testament That if the earthly house of our Tabernacle were dissolved they should have a building of God an house not made with hands eternall in the heavens They had all the same spirit of faith compare the â— Cor. 4. with chap. 5.1 to 12. and Eccles 12.14 c. upon the dissolution of the one the holy soule possesseth the other here is no interposition of time nor of
mystical Egypt and mystical Babylon have cursed and do seek still the destruction of our nation especially of the Gospel yet while we keep our covenant they shall never prevail Balaams counsel was more dangerous than his curse for his counsel being followed brought a plague O ye Princes O ye people do ye not know that the sincere Word and the holy seed is the subsistence of your Kingdomes and common-weals towns and families Esay 6.13 Every childe of God is a publique good Minde one thing more how those thor did seem to be of the truth and were brethren touching the outward circumcision yet cursed the servants of Christ that would not walk in their waies traditions devises and abominations Esay 66.5 and in after times they so used the poor blind man John 9. So have the cruel Prelates used the dear servants of the Lord they did curse yet Christ did bless and hath and will pay his enemies home that abuse his ordinances for if any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ anathema maranatha is his heavy Censure 1 Cor. 16.22 Ibidem N. 12. Cast out the servant and her son Without shall be lyars Lyars in judgement as all Papatines be Whosoever transgresseth and abideth nor in the doctrine of Christ hath nor God he that continueth in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son 1 John 2.24 2 John 2.9 Be it that they sometimes confesse the doctrine of Christs person yet both in their doctrine and practise they deny it because they deny him in his offices and administrations for which he became such a person and such a Mediator And oh what lying blasphemies do they utter against the holy records that testifie of the eternal Son the Mediator Popery is a mystery of iniquity N. 13. The word of faith in our own languages In the Law it is written with men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people and yet for all that they will not hear me saith the Lord Wherefore tongues are for a sign not to them that believe but to them that believe not but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not but for them which believe Esay 28.11 1 Cor. 14.21 This looks back to Nimrods rebellion they despised the faith taught by Noah Sem and the rest of the godly fathers before Abraham in their knowen language therefore Christ cut them off from the faith by strange languages When Israel despised the things of the Law of Christ written for their comfort see how he in this would avenge the quarrel of his covenant Deut. 28.49 and fulfilled it Ier. 5.15 2 Chron. 36. If it be then such a deer blessing to have Moses and the Prophets our Lord and his Apostles speak to us in our own language let the saints worship God with hearty praise and thanksgiving so did David Psalm 103.7 and 147. 19. All are abominable idolatrous and false worshippers and unclean infidels that Christ speaks not to in their own language by his blessed Gospel as all the Babylonian builders and their seed to this day and the mystical Babylonian builders It is much to be considered that when the churches departed from the Apostles doctrine Christ confounded the Europian and Asian languages VVhen it was prophesied of the calling of the Gentiles to the faith of the Gospel it is said I will turn to the people a pure language which was fulfilled when Christ sanctified all tongues as it is said We do here them speak in our own languages the wonderfull works of God Acts 2.11 Zeph. 3.9 VVhereas for two thousand years the Gentiles Noahs families called on idols names We little consider the severity of the wrath of Christ in the confusion of tongues what a plague it is and will be to the end of the world most sad is that scripture Jer. 44.26 3 Quest of his covenant and promise God did not first give a seal and then made a Covenant but first made a Covenant and a promise as to our first parents Gen. 3.15 and then taught them of the seal the Sacrifices so to Noah God made a Covenant and then gave him the seal of the Floud and of the Ark so in Gen. 9. first the Covenant and then the Rainbow so to Abraham so each godly parent must seek to know God in Christ in the Covenant and to be in covenant for them and their children And it is to be marked C ham had an outward blessing in the covenant with his father for he was of Noahs houshold Heb. 11 7. and he and his children had continued in the same if he had not and his son mocked and scorned his father for which both of them were excommunicated and Chams house feared not but waxed worse and worse against Christ and his Kingdome and set up a tyranny in Nimrod to give the affront to Sems blessing Again note when the merciful God made a covenant with all flesh man and beast were not young as old comprised in the covenant a sucking chile and a lamb as the parent Gen. 9.9 10 11. Quest 4. Of justification or remission of sins The apostate and adulterous generation in our Lords daies that did adulterate the faith missed stating Circumcision as a part of the Law or Covenant of Works a school distinction of their own neither of Moses nor of the Prophets whereas it was rightly understood a law and seal of faith in Christ and the seal of justification that is by faith Their fac hoc is credere in our Lords interpretation of the Law to believe in him whom the Father had sealed and sent to be the true manna and sacrifice and their perfect justification and freedome as was told them Acts 13.38 39. And as they missed in stating circumcision a Law of works ex opere operato to justification so they did of all the politic of Moses that it did initiate them unto which yet they could not do being too heavy a yoke Acts 15. Now they despising Christ the end and scope of the law of Moses they made their own justification their idol and vanity and so provoked Christ to their rejection confer Deut. 32.21 with Rom. 10.19 That speech is very strong that the Lord Jesus spake Iohn 7. that circumcision was not so much of Moses but observed of the Fathers before Moses was born They should have considered in what sense Abraham received it and used it Rom. 4. Ibidem God did justifie the circumcision so this is clear God did justifie the infants of Israel for else he would not have commanded circumcision to infants this was to comfort all godly parents that although they knew their children were conceived in sin and born in iniquity yet God knew how for his covenant sake not for our sakes to justify that is to free infants from sins guiltiness filthiness and desert and to comfort godly parents of the Gentiles touching their infants the Apostle saith God is not the god of the Iews
faith instituted it 2 Chr. 30 22. mark and consider the Psalm 22. 40. and 110. what was taught in those three great congregations the assemblies of holy beauty Through faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of bloud lest he that destroyed the first born should touch them The 12. of Exodus will afford many meditations And although three moneths after the Passeover they had the Law in two Tables given full of terror to humble man yet by a still and soft voice a pattern of heavenly things were enjoyned as a Tabernacle made with hands the Priesthood of Levi the Breast-plate with VRIM and THVMMIM The Ark of the Covenant the bloud of peace offerings sin-offerings whole burnt-offerings holy incense washings cleansings redemptions attonements remissions the Manna the brazen Serpent and holy garments of ministration and other holy feasts beside the Passeover distinction of times in new Moones years of Rest Jubilees c. enjoyned All which do teach of Christ the truth Who is Jehovah our righteousness Christ is all and in all QUest 5. But were not the moral and ceremonial Laws given to disannul the promises that we should seek righteousness or justication by doing of outward works through our own will and power Answ In no wise For although the Law of the passeover came 430. years after the promise yet it cannot disannul the faith in Christ taught in the promises The same must be said of all the Ceremonies QUest 6. Wherefore then did God give the Law Answ I. Because in those daies both among the apostate families and in Israel when they lived in Egypt all ungodliness and unrighteousness did exceedingly abound Therefore the Law was added because of transgressions that the offence of sin might abound to our feeling and that we might be loathsome to our selves And it must be noted that the Law was not declared to Israel only though chiefly to them but to the mixt multitude that came with Israel from Egypt II. That it might be a School-master to lead unto Christ to seek the justification that is by the faith of Him For Christ was the end drift and scope of the Law for justification to every one that beleeveth Moses politie ever aimed at him for Moses wrote of Christ And the Prophets and History still expound Moses Psalm 40. Esay 53. Daniel 9.24 And our Lord and his Apostles expound Moses and the Prophets III. Although our Lord Jesus Christ abrogated the Ceremonial Law in respect of the actual performance and took away the a curse of the Law to all that believe They were cursed and plagued if they did not observe the ceremonial as well as the moral for both were contained in the book of the Law Deut. 27. ult Mal. 1.14 yet the moral Law was and is still in force to be the rule of a sober righteous and godly life and so taught in all the New Testament And with all we are to note that the Ceremonial is inscructive and the moral is to humble as well as to direct in the wayes of peace and holiness Quest 7. Produce one text more out of Moses which may further open the mystery of Gods will in Christ Answ Deut. 30.11 12 13 14. This commandement which I command thee this day is not hidden from thee neither is it far off It is not in heaven that thou shouldest say who shall go up for us to heaven and bring it to us that we may hear it and do it Neither is it beyond the Sea that thou shouldst say who shall go over the Sea for us and bring it to us that we may hear it and do it But the Word is very nigh unto thee in thy mouth and in thy heart that thou mayest do it Quest 8. What hence in brief do you observe Answ 1. The holy Apostle called this text the word of faith and doth expound it of Christ concerning his incarnation and resurrection Rom. 10.6 7 8 9 10 11. 2. Moses bringeth his whole Law to this summe and so the prophets that Christ the son of God was to come down from heaven and to be man and to suffer many and great afflictions from the Serpent and his seed and being the first from the dead is to give life and light unto the world The wicked ever despised this life and light in Christ accounting this wisdom foolishness 1 Cor. 1.23 2.8 3. This Scripture with some verses preceding and subsequent sets forth to the spiritual man the excellency the glory the brightness the facility the preciousness the stedfastness and the efficacy of the Law of God being a revelation from heaven and a most blessed instrument of God to preserve his people if they cleave unto it to live in his covenant to comfort in affliction to restore the Church decayed cumbred and overwhelmed with errours and for conservation of outward and inward consolation c. But apostasie from it brings all Curses and utter ruine And therefore it is a most rich favour to Jesurun to all the Israel of God that they are glorified with such an inheritance of lively oracles 4. When Moses had wrote of the Creation of the apostasie of our first parents of the curse of all things visible of the incarnation and redemption in the Promises Tabernacles and Sacrifices Of Melchizedeks and Levies Priesthood c. Then saith he this doctrine is not an hid doctrine Moses face did not so shine with brightness as the Law did shine in the hearts of the faithful that looked to Christ the holy seed of the woman the end and scope of the Law It was hid to none but the blinded by Satan We should labour to reduce history and prophecy with the New Testament to Moses QUest 9. Who were followers of the doctrine of Justificacation by faith taught by tradition in (a) the doctrine of the seal of circumcision was believed of the faithful 406 years to Israels coming from Egypt the Promises for two thousand five hundred and thirteen years and now written by Moses Answ All the Patriarks as is said the people of Israel that came out of Egypt and that were in the wilderness and the faithful both Rulers and people in the Books of Josuah Judges Ruth Samuel c. and especially our Lords Fathers from Abraham to David the first fourteen are to be remembred Mat. 1.17 QUest 10. Who were the seed of the Serpent hating bruising cursing and persecuting the Religion and People of Christ his Israel Answ The Egyptians Amalek Moab Ammon Midian and the Canaanites c. QUest 11. Did the Church constantly reverence the religion of the Tabernacle Answ The eternal WORD came unto his own in providences and ordinances but his own received him not for six hundred thousand in the Wilderness at once through an evil heart of unbelief murmured tempted and denyed Christ and despised the Land of Promise and would have gone into Egypt again and many followed the religion of Peor And after in
Canaan many 〈◊〉 time they revolted and rebelled against Him called also the Angel of Gods presence despising his statutes abhorring his judgements and so brake his covenant and vexed his holy Spirit Jesurun chose new gods were defiled with their own works following divers Religions Idolatrous and foolish opinons both of their forefathers as of the Canaanites and of the peoples about Canaan QUest 12. How did Christ manifest his goodnesse while his people obeyed him according to his Written word as now and after he ever called them to it Answ Through the obedience of faith they obtained good report with God and God was not ashamed of them to be called their God and vouched them before all to be his peculiar people This he shewed by his joyfull presence dwelling among them in his Tabernacle whence joy peace victorie plenty and all outward comforts attended them in the promised earthly Rest and to all that by faith in the promises saw the daies of Christ joy and hope of entrance into the eternal Rest Tabernacle and inheritance QUest 13. How did Christ in this age bruise the head power and dominion and enmity of the Seed of the Serpent Answ 1. He cast upon (a) It is through all the old Testament Mitzrajim where it is translated Egypt Esay 43.3 Mitzrajim that is the Egyptians the fierceness (b) But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice and do all that I speak then I will be an enemie to thine enemies and an adversary to thine Adversaries Exodus 23. of his anger Amalek discomfited and utter ruin denounced Midian plagued the Canaanites destroyed and other enemies subdued II. Now a (c) The first separation and rejection of the families was by the confusion of tongues 2. by Circumcision 3. By the Lawes given by Moses third time Christ shewed his anger and enmity against the families by a partition wall of ceremonies and an hand-writing of ordinances that they were further separated and made aliens from the Common-weale of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise having no hope and were without God in the world Thus in every age observe how Christ called and kept his elect from the communion of Divels and the wicked world yet God shewed much mercy to the heathens through the limitation of Circumcision Exodus 12. QUest 14. What severity was on the Church for their revoltings from the fiery Law and lively oracles which Moses received from the Angel Jehovah the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob Answ Him the Angel of Gods presence who had the name of God in him was turned to be their enemie and would not pardon their transgressions but sware they should not enter into his earthly Rest so that heavy chastisements befell Israel in the wildernesse and in the Land of Canaan plagued by enemies on every side untill the Transmigration a of the Land that is the removing of the Ark b from Syloh yea untill the daies of David Bear diligently still in minde with all fear and trembling how Christ afflicted the Church for their communion with divels and idolators Psal 78. all of it Annotations upon the Questions and Answers of the fifth CHAPTER QUest 2. Forth of Egypt The deliverance of Israel from Egypt is much celebrated in the old Testament And amongst other things of that bondage this is twice noted from a people of a strange Language Psalm 81 114 Israel could not be ignorant of the language of Egypt but I think their idolatrous Priests had a mumming language in their devotions like Rome-Egypt that taught our forefathers in their devotions in a language they understood not for which we have as great cause to sing praise to God as well as Israel of old that we are saved from that cruel bondage Quest 4. and Answ The breast-plate with Vâ—im and Thummim Consider from this time that as the twelve Tribes followed the faith in the promises to their godly ancestours so the Vâ—im and Thummim that was placed among the twelve precious Jewels upon the Breast-plate of the High Sacrificer never uttered any other faith And the same Jewels are the foundation of the Christians Jerusalem from heaven So our high Sacrificer more excellent then Aaron who is Vrim and Thummim light life and all perfections all in all all fulness dwelt in him and he came from the bosome of the Father and walketh in the midst of the VII Golden Candlesticks and never uttered any other faith but what he taught in Moses The Apostle alludeth unto this when he exhorteth to put on the breast-plate of Faith and Love Faith in Christ is our light and life and love is the perfecting and fulsilling of the Law and all our thoughts speech and action should ever intend these two In Christ we are made sacrifices and therefore with a constant spirit carry this Breast plate before God and man Ibid. The Ark of the covenant the bloud of peace-offerings c. All these things were shadows of good things to come and enjoined till the time of reformation when the new and living way was manifested The land of Canaan was also a shadow of the true rest in the Kingdome of heaven so David taught carnal Israel Psalm 95. which the Apostle handleth to the revolting Hebrews And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant for a Testimony of those things which were to be done and spoken after Heb. 3. God did draw them by these ordinances to give them to understand who should be their justification cleansing sin-offeâ—ing c. by many outward things and promise to the spiritual but when they made their belly their God and minded earthly things and thought to be justified by the outward action Then God shewed them to be poor elements as at Syloh and Salomons Temple burnt by Babel c. yea once more it is said God would shake them Dan. 9.24 25 26 27. shewes by whom and how Salomon told them of this also The labour of the foolish doth weary him for he knoweth not how to to go into the City Eccles 10.15 They knew not Christ the way the truth and the life for the heavenly City and Countrey not like children of faith of their faithful father Abraham The holy Prophets and Priests taught the meaning of the sacrifices in the great congregation Psalm 40.6 7. They preached Gods justification of a sinner and kindeness in Christ that would come to do Gods will They declared Gods faithfulness and truth that he would perform his promise concerning the sending of Jesus Christ his death resurrection and ascention Psalm 22 16. 68.18 conferred with Ephes 4.8 9 10 11. And the holy Tribes instantly serving God day and night in this hope went thrice a year to the Tabernacle and Temple which were the great Congregations to hear these things taught and to profess the same in their holy conâ—ocations Besides the Levites in their fourty eight Towns every Sabbath
7.9 10. Hebâ— 11.32 33 34. Psalm 22. 4 5. Psalm 49 It is said the godly shall enter into peace Esay 57.2 Then none of Gods family were in any Popish purgatory or in any popish Lymbecks the cursed heathenish dotages of Virgil and Ovid. The Pit-bread Locusts had Sun and aire much darkned when they knew not whether mans soul ascended or descended and whether the soul goeth to heaven or Gehenna to joy or torment marke diligently Ephes 1.12 13. for these words that we in whom ye c. Quest 3. and Answ The Kingdome of David The revolting from the house of David and the Religion of the Temple these two transgressions were the foundation of all other sins in the Church and State of the ten Tribes Hosea 10.10 They forsook the Tent Tabernacle or Temple of Jehovah and went to their own Tents and Gods and then followed murders slaughters oppressions c. c. Ibid. Jaroboam the man of sin Ephraim broken in judgement willingly walked after the commandment of Jeroboam Because Ephraim made and instituted many Altars to sin Altars shall be to him sin They had enough of their own counsells Psal 81. Ezek. 20.25 Christ will not be found neither do spiritual blessings come to us but in the spirits way the conduits of Christs own Ordinances they only work a transformation Rom. 12.1 2. Ephraim provoked Christ to anger most bitterly 1 Kings 12.28 and chap. 15. Hosea 8.11 2 Cor. 3 3. Gal. 3.5 Hosea 12. Mich. 6. uls Israel the harlot Aholah by breaking Wedlock moved Christ to jealousie and in time corrupted Judah by their counsels and made her Aholibah So Rome is called the great Harlot and the mother of Harlots that corrupted and seduced the Churches by her sorceries and made them harlots Ezek. 16.38 Apo. 17. As Jeroboam so the Pontificalitie is called the man of Sin that made all the world to sin 2 Thess 2. Apo. 17. Now the harlot and foolish woman the ten Tribes babbles loud and disputes smoothly and subtilly against Judah as if Wisdom and Truth were with them Prov. 9.13 14 15 16 17. so doth the woman-Whore of the seven Mountain City plead and write against all reformed Churches that have come out of Babel as the godly in the ten tribes forsook the Communion of the Calves of Dan and Bethel 2 Chron. 11.13 c. Ibid. and to worship his Devils They sacrificed to Devils not to God Deut. 32.17 Christ by Moses prevented the pretensed counsels of idolaters Jeroboam he pleaded he had not forsaken God but that he worshipped God that brought Israel from Egypt But the same spirit that spake by Moses calls his Calves Devils 1 Kings 22.28 2 Chron. 11.15 Quest 4. and answ Jeroboams house did and so Baasaes All that go to her return not again neither take they hold of the waies of life Pro. 2.19 For great toyl they took family after family to maintain the faction of Jeroboams iniquity But God swept them all away as dung till all was gone Prov. 5.9 10. 1 Kings 14.10 They perished in their waies and courses against the Kingdome of Christ as David foretold Psalm 2.12 Quest 5. and Answ Moved him to jealousie They fretted Christ their husband humanitus dictum and brake his heart with their whorish hearts and eyes Ezek. 6.9 and 16. all of it and so the twentieth and three and twentieth chapters Judah the harlot Aholibah she followed idols horses money wealth pride and their lovers she wearied her self with these lyes and vanities Ezek. 23. 24 Jer. 2.18 19 20. false religion and earthly confidence must go together But see sincerity needs none of those poor refuges Psalm 20. read Esay 2.6 7 8 9. 29.13 with chap. 30.1 2 3. and good Kings must not greatly multiply horses nor money nor bring their people back into Egypt Deut. 17. Princes are not wise nor learned that either lead not their people out of Rome-Egypt or that would reduce them thither Rome is called Sodom and Egypt for filthiness and cruelty Apo. 11. Ibid. With their vanities Dreams and Precepts of men a policy of Satan and the lying spirits his Angels to make men forget the Law of Jehovah and his sincere worship when the precepts of men were urged in or for Gods worship the Patrons of these things caused the holy Teachers to be prisoned in secret corners or they were forced to hide themselves in secret corners from the tyranny of such wise understanding prudent prophets and Seers such deep heads that were able to add to Gods word yea that would hide their counsels from Iehovah their breath and being They turned things up and down if one project took not they tryed another if not that then a third So Haman cast Pur not considering Iehovah saw them and that he would dash all in pieces like a potters vessel see the other pranks of these sleepers giddy blinde staggering and wonderful ignorant in the things of Christs Kingdome but expert in cogging and craft to polish and maintain mens precepts These evils came from the apostasie of Israel and from the plots and projects of Omri of him more anon Who would think such men to have been in the state of Judah Ibid. 5. Quest and answ The great High counsel c. Esa 5.19.23 8.18 28.14 29.19 20 21 30.8 9 10 11. 57.3 4. Psal 82. Amos 2.6 12. 5.10 11. Mich. 3.1 2. 7 5. Ezek. 8.11 and 11.2 Then said he unto me Son of man these are the men that devise wicked Counsel in this Citie c. So Christ and his Apostles and disciples were signs and wonders to the State of Israel so it was in after times Acts 13.40 41. and to this day The State of Judah shed much innocent blood in the daies of Manasleh which Christ would not pardon Quest 6. and Answ Testified to them They called for fruits from the husbandmen of the vineyard to the end of the Seavensy Seavens but when they had killed the heir the vineyard was let out to the Gentiles Esay 5. Neh 9.26 Jer. 7.25 Mat. 2â— 33.34 35 c. Ibid. Chariots and Horsemen of Israel The Ordinances of Christ are drawn along by holy prophets He tideth on prosperously with truth meekness and righteousness and terrour Psalm 45 3 4 5. And Christs Chariots and his horsemen were the strength of their State Psalm 20. yet David and the Godly Kings neglected not outward means 2 Sam. 8.4 They that endeavor for to deprive our Land of Godly and able Teachers are as treacherous to our Land as they that would endeavour to set on fire the Navy Royal. They that would not have a godly able teaching Ministery would have our Land to be as the State of the ten tribes 2 Chron. 15.3 Ibid. Samuels and Elias Samuels memory shall be blessed in the Church for ever for advancing holy learning by erecting schools of Prophets a worthy president for all godly Commonwealths They are possessed with
Heb. 9. and 10 or give enterance into the heavens but the blood of Christ did Col. 1.20 and in this faith all the faithfull from the beginning of the world died and went to the heavenly City and countrey and inheritance Heb. 11. and Col. 11.12 And all the faithfull evermore knew this our blessed Mediatour to be Jehovah our justifications Jer. 23.6 No. 4. Suffered not for himself but for us Zachariah saith they shall mourn and be in bitternesse when they consider this as they did in Mark 16.10 Acts 14. and 2.37 which is an history to the Prophesie of Zac. 12. And so should we consider and do This Text of Daniel is a fit Meditation for preparation when we come to the Supper of the Lord. N. 6. Therefore the appointed time As in Moses the Law had an expresse day and hour for their sacrifices even from the beginning so it was no lesse needfull to have from God an expresse warrant when sacrifice should be ended specially seeing all the world was bound to regard sacrificing at Jerusalem so long as it was to continue if they hoped for Gods favour And also to know most exactly when the Jews Prerogative did end and the partition-wall should be broken down Ibid. Is not a triviall or an uncertain thing Talk no more so exceeding proudly let not arrogancy come out of your mouth for Jehovah is a God of knowledge and by him actions are weighed and times pre-ordained and determined 1 Sam. 2.3 Acts 17.26 N. 8. Ceremonies broken down Christ shook the things made with hands and settled the polity of his Kingdome in the heavenly Jerusalem Dan. 2. 7. Hag. 2. Apoc. 21. Heb. 12.27 There is the Throne of the Son of David Apoc. 4. 5. 22. 1. Luke 1.31.32 33. Ibid. Perpetuall devastations In the Vision of Ezek. 1. although terror of fierie desolations and captivity for seventy years yet there was a Rainbow in the vision to shew that God in wrath remembreth mercy for there was a return but for the desolations by the Romane Infidels in Daniels and Zachariahs Prophesies and our Lords speaketh Mat. 24. no Rainbow mentioned and consider the phrase of spâ—ing out Levit. 18. 28. Num. 31. ult after the chana anites were spued out the â—ever returned so it hath the Jews who shall never return and to be in such a condition as we are taught now adayes Heare O ye people O all ye Ibid. As with the Flood of Noah The men of the old world resisted the holy Ghost the Flood destroyed them and so the Jews resisted and a flood of miseries hath ever followed upon them to this day Acts 7.51 The Apostle remembreth Noahs and Sodoms story to the Circumcision and so doth Judas Thaddeus v. 14 15. of the judgement of the old world when the Lord came with thousands of his holy ones to plague the old world faith was scant found on the earth so in the overturuning of the Kingdome of Iudah and so at our Lords first coming the Church was in a sad condition of ignorance and heresies by the means of the wicked Shepherds Zac. 11. And before our Lords second coming there will be another apostacy after a Reformation when faith will be scant found on the earth Luke 18. for it is said the ending of the world shall be like the ending of the old world Mat. 24. The times shall exceedingly degenerate into outward shews of bodily exercise and into atheisticall scoffing and security Mat. 25.3 1 Thes 5.1.2 3. 2 Pet. 3. and so it was afore the desolation of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar 2 Chron. 36. And upon that generall defection the Lord Iesus will appear in the clouds with his mighty angels Christ will not come in a glorious time of Reformation but in a time of generall defection No. 10 And we in the Lords Supper do protest c. The Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper is a Seal of ending Moses polity given by the Creatours wisdome and authority The end of Moses Ceremonies could hardly be taught the Jews So God by an angel of light and glory gave them words for that to reckon ever since they came from Babel how for they were year by year to the Redemption by our Lord and to the end of the shadows that must flee away and be cancelled Cant. 2. Col. 2.14 And therefore let all Gods people mark diligently that the ending of Moses Ceremonies required as certain a warrant as their beginning had even for the very last day And so stand the angels words clear in their own simplicity for ending of them And the Authority of the Lords Supper standeth upon that when Bread is given for the bodies of Sacrifices and Wine for their blood All soundly learned and of stayed judgement will refuse all colour of learning that contradicteth In the words of an honest man spoken in like sort as the angel spake to Daniel none would doubt what should be the true meaning The more to blame are we who pervert the words of the living God to make Questions thereupon to set light by the Rock of our salvation as though one thing might be spoken and another thing meant Mr. Broughton Sedeâ— Olam 18. assert 2. upon Dan. 9. Ibid. No. 10. Death once performed the Epistle to the Hebrews by Christs fore-sight was written of purpose to teach this and convince the contrary As Popery is full of Paganisme So it is of Judaisme Quest 4. and Answer The forty nine Thousand Who are thus described in Daniel Michaels people The Saints of them The high Trinity The stars of heaven Dan. 8. The holy people Daniels holy people The Army of heaven Their Religion the truth and the holy Covenant The Temple called the Sanctuary and the holy And chap. 7.25 mark that verse Glorious holy mountain These terms cannot belong to the State of the Jews of these last dayes Heb. 1.1 for these 1580 years for these are proper and peculiar phrases to them of the old Testament when as yet the partition Wall was not broken down and the Gentiles were not as yet brought within the Covenant when not as yet the vessel was let down from heaven Acts 10. therefore onely the Jews State for the time of the Seventy Sevens is the afflicted in Daniel chap. 2 and 7.8 10 and 11 12. by the image and four beasts All these terms are in the Prophesie of Daniel Ibid. Left Babel for Jerusalem the hope of the SON OF MAN who should come with the clouds of heaven and have Kingdome power and glory over all Nations and for ever perswaded them to leave Babel Dan. 7. Ezra 1. Jerusalem the beauty of holinesse ever loved and longed for and laboured for by the Saints Quest 5. and Answ And Jews before the ending of the Seventy Sevens the glorious Prophesies of Isaiah of Amos of Dan. 2 7 and 9. c. c. of the Kingdome of Christ made all the Nation of the Jews to expect it as
should we for his second coming and with more joy but alas and the godly families of the house of Levi chiefly them of Shimei and old father Rabbi Simeon greatly waited for the Messiah the consolation of Israel and so did that old Matron the Prophetesse Anna of the Tribe of Aser who spake of MESSIAH in that Synod to all that looked for Redemption in Israel and Jerusalem So she and Simeon Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth and the blessed Virgin with many others blessed and praised God for the performance of his promises all the godly now know that the Kingdome of heaven was come and that was John Baptists theam Mat. 3. 2. As Anna was godly so her father Phanuel and it seems his father was godly tnd believed the Doctrine of the Seventy-Sevens for he spake to his children of seeing God in the flesh Phanuel importeth seeing of God or we shall see God Jacobs story hath Peniel Panuel Zac. 4â— Luke 2. Gen. 32. And gracious Anna cried grace grace to the righteous branch to the Lamb the true Temple The birth of Anna was about the 54th Seven her fathers might be in the 47th seven his fathers might be in Antiochus Epiphanes time about the 40th seven To these we must consider of the house of Zarobabel he had two son Abihud and Rhesa Mat. 1. Luke 3. of Abihud these Sadoc These lived in the time of Ianan whole and Ianan parted Achim Eliud Eleazar Matthan Jacob Joseph the husband of Mary Of Rhesa these Mattathias Maath Nagge Esli Naum Amos Mattathias Joseph Janna Melchi Levi Matthat Ely Mary These might be contemporary in sucession with the former godly under the Kings of the North and South 3. I do desire somewhat to inlarge The godly returned from Babel were a foundation of glorious mercies to the Church they were a godly seed and left a godly seed which held on successively how godly were they in Ezra Nehemiah Esther Haggai Zachariah and Malachi It were too long to gather all that might be said First by the gracious Proclamation of Cyrus the returned as they had Jerusalem ever in their mind so now their faces looked thitherward Jer. 51.50 Psal 102. though it was desolated in the dust yet they preferred it before glorious Babel and other stately Cities and Palaces in Chaldea or Persia 2. Being come the incumbent neighbours of Samaria c. did envy them therefore they builded the altar and offered sacrifice calling on the name of Jehovah the everlasting God as Abraham Isaac and Jacob their godly forefathers had done 3. Set on Temple work and being hindered upon better opportunities set on the work again with great courage as Ezra 4. and 5. 4. In the second return by Ezra ch 7. and 8. what a godly company came with him Many mo returned afterward Zac. 8 what fasting prayer and thanksgiving used they 5. When Ezra being come saw their unequall yoking in marriages with infidels how did they repent of it with godly humilation and amend it by putting away their strange wives and the children by them Doubtlesse a sharp corasive to flesh and blood An holy seed in the Church of God is most precious that is Gods end and should be our intendment 6. In Nehemiah is seen how full of courage labour and diligence they were in building the wall of Jerusalem and how God did comfort them in reproaches of the enemies 7. Upon the complaint of the oppression of one another these evils were repented of and amended 8. Their reverent demeanour in the exercises of publick Ordinances in teaching prayer hearing of the word all done with much love rejoycing and thanksgiving very imitable 9. Kept solemn fasts 10. Made solemn renewings of their Covenant and for the maintenance of the worship of God 11. Consâ—der their loving association to come out of the Cities of Judah one of ten to dwell in Jâ—rusalem 12. Holy care taken for the Sabbath 13. In the book of Esther how many godly were in 127 Provinces What fasting prayer and thanksgiving was among the Jewes who by faith Escaped the Edge of the sword Hebr. 11 34. of that cruel bloudy massacre intended by wicked Haman 14. It is shewed in the Prophet Haggai they obeyed in teaching of the Lords message and were careful to promote the building of the Temple 15. Zachary declareth they humbled themselves in hearing of the word and turned from their sinful courses against Gods holy Worship and love to one another and did love peace and truth 16. The inhabitants of one Citie did exhort the inhabitants of another City to the Worship of God 17. Yea the Jews having Synagogues in all Countreys should make many Proselytes and take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew and be of Israels Common weal to learn the faith of Sems Tents 18. They had great zeal against false Prophets Zachary 13. 19. Malachi sheweth what an holy seed the returned were that although there were many Hypocrites and Atheists Wantons Sacrilegious among them yet there were many godly that feared the Lord and spake often one to another to incourage in godly waies Mal. 4.1 and the Lord God took notice of their Godly communion and they were a blessing to themselves and the State of Israel and the Lord God promised many comforts to them but a day of wrath was comming which should burn the wicked up as an Oven Iosuah was 〈◊〉 a self Seekeâ— to grapplâ— what he lisâ— for his greaâ— service by the Elders granted 〈◊〉 he request Iosuah 19.50 of their godliness meekness courage zeal wisdome c. Looking into the manners of the people to amend what was amiss they were not self-lovers nor self-seekers and would not suffer their servants and attendants to oppresse or grinde the people not like them in Amos 4.1 that is a great matter to be observed in a Common-weal 20. Zorobabel lived long but Nehemiah longer near to the end of the Persians to be a Noble Corrival against Sanballat who also lived long to see Alexander the Great These things I write to shew what a godly seed the returned were and so continued to the end of the Persian Monarchy 21. And the fruit of these comforts went on the dayes of Antiochus Epiphanes in many godly called Dan. 7.18 Saints of the most High Antiochus times reach to about two hundred and eighty years of the Seventy Sevens Dan. 12.3 Daniel prophecied that in the dayes of Antiochus there should be wise and faithfull Teachers that did instruct many and turn many to righteousness 22. That although those daies of Antiochus were the saddest times that ever Israel before had yet Christ had noble Worthies that stood to the Truth and did not shrinke for Sword Dan. 11.33 Heb 11.35 Flame and Captivity that they might enjoy the better resurrection to shine like the Stars for ever and ever And this godly seed still successively sprang up to our Lords
daies in the godly Families as hath been noted For Daniel 12.4 sheweth that those times would cause much action among the godly Daniels book a treasury of Wisdome for the time of the 77. and ever Dan 12.4 and Daniels book for the time of the Seaventy Seavens was a wonderful treasure of wisdom to teach them knowledge for many occurrents many did search throughly and knowledge did much increase These times of Javan in the Kings of the North and South were times of much agitation on all sides and occasions Thus far of the holy Seed for these times which were â—he substance and stay of the State as others formerly for their times Esay chap. 6.13 of the falling away from the faith of many in Israel II. Daniel spake as of many particular events touching the Kings of the North and South so of the Apostasie of the visible Suns of the Church of many in Israel which came to passe in those sad calamitous times of Ptolomy Philopater K. of Egypt and in the daies of Antiochus Epiphanes King of the North. Daniel sheweth how many were drawn away by Philopaters allurements and became lawless VVhereas other of their Brethren being constant in the faith had great deliverance Dan. 11.14.3 Macca and the apostates shame and disgrace Of Antiochus it is recorded Thus by orafâ— and deceit he did prevail against many of the Jews and made them forsake the holy Covenant and with these he had intelligence how to do mischief against the faithfull and the Temple and Jerusalem Daniel sheweth the vilonesse of his wicked King chap. 8.24 25 and chap. 11.28 30 31 32 33. Let the godly Reader see the Commentaries of Mr. Broughton on Daniel Zachariah foretold of the Civill Dissentions among the Jews and how they would oppresse one another Those three wicked Shepherds with the former false Prophets were thieves and robbers but the sheep did not hear them Joh. 10. Dan. 12. and forsake the Law of faith given by Christ to Moses and follow heresies There were three wicked Shepherds that hated sound doctrine and made false expositions on the holy Text and many fables and many traditions and did not cleave to the Law that Christ the Angel of Gods presence gave to Moses at Horeb with the Statutes and Judgements Malachy 4. This fulfils châ—â— which Daniel foretold That although Godly Teachers did turn many to righteousness yet the wicked would do wickedly and none of the wicked would understand Wherefore God gave them into the hands of one another and into the hands of their Kings the Levitical Kings Vid. Tremel on Zach. 11. and the Herods and the Caesars Malachi sheweth that Saddwoisâ—â—â— was beginning in his daies c. 3.14.15 which greatly increased This was a strong faction and prevailed much against the Pharisees that they made sad and woful Tragical slaughters of one another Gen. 49. Deuter. 33. and many of their High Priests were of this faction The Priests would be Kings not remembring Jacobs and Moses Testaments Jacob shewed that of right Judah should have the Government of the State Moses shewed how the Tribe of Levi should be exercised but they neglected the Prieshood and the covenant of the Priesthood therefore the imprecation of Moses fell on them Then Christs brake both his Staves Beauty and Binders The Beauty of his Ordinances they had till about these times Zach. 11.10 Dan. 11.35 12.10 which now were grieveusly corrupted therefore God deprived them greatly of that Glorious Mercy and in his anger brake the staffe of strength They despised the godly Teachers that had suffered sore afflictions many waies for the faith of the truth Therefore God gave them over into the hands of wicked Shepheards that never sought their Good Zachary 11.15 16 17. So Achab for despising Michaiah was given over to believe four hundred lyars to his destruction So under the new Testament 2 Thess 2. As for Christs other Staff Binders We must remember that Ezekiel had prophecied that when they returned from Babel Judah and Ephraim should be as one Stick in his hand and so they were after the return But we must know many of Judah and Israel continually returned as Zac. 8. 9. 10. For of the fourty nine thousand that returned Ezra 2. Ten or twelve thousand were of the ten Tribes and this unity continued all the time of the Persians and to about one hundred and fifty of Javan consider Zachary 9.13 how they conjoined But for their apostasie Christ brake this Staff also that the Brotherhood of Ephraim and Judah was almost utterly dissolved The event of which was borrible distractions emulations and contentions very sad and grievous The poor of the Flock as is noted observed all these things Zachary 11.11 Miserable and deplorable was the State of these times and which continued until our Lords daies And when He came he sealed Vision and Prophecy by teaching and sound expositions of the Law and so much restrained this apostasie by himself and his Apostles by him and cleared all holy Doctrine and opened the truth of the Scriptures how and of whom the Prophets Luke 24.2 Thes 2.1 Tim. 4.1 2 3 2 Tim. 3.1 2 the Psalms and Moses spake and the faithful believed This apostasie was as dreadful and in many things like the apostasie of the Lawlesse man of sin for the sixt seventh eighth ninth tenth eleventh twelfth thirteenth fourteenth Centuries then the fourteenth Century the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ began to consume with the breath of his mouth that Wicked Romilus and the glory of Christ continued more and more to this day blessed be his holy name of all the Saints for ever Thirdly Of the enemies of the Saints the Jewes Concerning the Enemies of the people of God in the times of the Seavensy Seavens 1. Daniel foretold what troublesome times should befall the returned from Captivity under the Persians for Seaven Seavens that is fourty nine years both to them that returned and to them which were not yet returned In those Seaventy Seavens by the returned the Temple was builded and the City Jerusalem re-edifyed with the wall and distinction of Streets Ezra and Nehemiah shew what troubles they had by the Seed of the Serpent in performing those Noble Enterprizes And for them not returned the book of Esther shewes the cruel and malitious intendment of that wicked Haman the Agagite of the posterity of Amalek The Persians reigned eighty years after the Seaven Seavens they reigned in all one hundred and thirty years Also Daniel foretelleth how Javan in Alexander should afflict The King of the North was that Gog and Magog Ezek. 38. 39 Also how the Kings of the North and South The Ten hornes collaterally should long afflict This Daniel sheweth by an Historical Prophecy in many particular events to the daies of Ptolomy Philopater and Antiochus Epiphanes The 8.10 11. 12. chap. of Daniel are all in the time
passeover of the Lord your God according to all that is in the book of the Covenant 2 Kings 23. Kings should so speak to their subjects if they have any portion in the Covenant Ibid. With holy judgement and faith We must discern by faith as Habel Heb. 11.4 The Lords body crucified and the bloud of the covenant shed opus operatum is not enough It is the Lords seal of the forgiveness of sins Alaâ—le alass for want of sound reaching in the most of our assemblies Ibid. To stay us in Christ c. Not only for increase of faith concerning our effectual calling justification adoption and redemption and for nourishment and strength to walk in the waies of holyness and righteousness being made comformable to his image renewed in us c. but for supporting us in the daies of trial and affliction which in this seal is represented by the sufferings of our Lord to whom we also must be conformable in sufferings to take up our cross daily As it is the cup of gladness of salvation so it is the cup yea of bloudy sufferings if our heavenly Father will put it into our hands N. 4. which figured his body and bloud The Pope and his corporation corrupted from the plainesse that is in Christ making an Altar Priest and Sacrifice have missed wholly of the truth in Christ By that blasphemous idol of his masse and other inventions they have abolished the remembrance of the death and sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Lord in the holy seal of the covenant Ibid. Bread and wine by Seal of things without life by Bread broken and bloud of the grape by the term Supper the whole tenor of Christianity is meant Apocal. 19.9 But the acceptation of the Seal is an open action to distinguish us more then baptism doth from others The King of Locusts and his Locusts are fatal enemies to this seal of the Covenant in their idolatrous Nothing of their Sacrament of the Altar setting forth Christ both unbroken and unbloudy which cannot represent nor seal Christ for reconciliation remission of sins or nourishment As the Ordinance of Christ is blessed and shall be â—â—lessed to the day of his comming so this abominable corruption is cursed and shall be accursed of all that love our Lord Jesus Christ to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Amen As in the Ordinance of the Passeover the Angel of the Covenant did execute judgements on the Gods of old Egypt so where this Ordinance of the Lords Supper is truly administred the idolatry of the breaden gods of Rome-Egypt are demolished Ibid. To be in Covenant speech his body and bloud a seal of most high matters is most highly to be esteemed But none without Athean madnesse will say The Seal is the King the Kings authority it should have to be as himself but none of wit orgrace would make it the King himself All wise know proper speech and civil The Gospel thrice and St. Paul 1 Cor. 11. tell that Iesus gave bread and wine and that the disciples are and drank what he gave that no miracle was here but the native manner of a Covenant Eye-sight is Gods testimony by creation Law and allowed ever even in the seal of the Covenant which may contain no matter litigious And if the Apostles or Greck Fathers had said the bread and wine were altered from their taste and nature for so much the heathen would have sworn the world never bare wickeder Magicians nor worthier of death by Mases Law which Christ gave as eternal God and came as man to be judged of man how he did perform all so that the native power of reason which he planted in all souls for sense of eye sight taste feeling smelling and hearing of words should judg of him that he performed all justice to plain capacity of all nations and required none to believe further then Logick common to every man would require assent or tell of open Rebellion against the truth Transubstantiation a monstrous term for a monstrous matter Mr. Brou in Apocal. At the figure of the Star * according to the words and commandments Though it be but a mans Testament yet if it be confirmed no man disannulleth or addeth thereto Gal. 3.15 Heb. 9.15 16 17. neither altereth the Legacies nor addeth others nor taketh away nor maketh other Executors or Overseers c. Men must not be Rectifters of Christs Testament which is confirmed by the death and bloud as in his type Exod. 24 Of him the Testatour And the seals bind us all to look to the holy evidences Men may as well pull away the seals as falsifie the plain truth in the writings They bind us to observe whatsoever Christ hath commanded as circumcision did Israel Exod 12. Gal 3 5 the angel of the pit and his pit-bred creatures corrupt the evidences and utterly pull off one of the seals they are great impostors Quest 7. and Answ Martyrs and confessours of all Nations Us heathens were from Noahs dayes Loruchamab and Loammiâ— Deut 32.21 and so the ten Tribes Hos 1 but both in Christ Ruchamah and Ammi so that now many come from the East and West Isa 49. to be blessed with faithfull Abraham and to sit down with him and Isaac and Iacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdome of heaven no sitting there unlesse of Abrahams faith without shall be liars mark the terms of the Covenant I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob This is my memoriall to all generations that is to all of their faith whether Jew or Gentile else they are protested against not to be of Abrahams Gal. 3.7 8. John 8.39.40 41. c. and have been and shall be broken off Rom. 11.17 and cast out Gal. 4.30 At the mark of the †Then to him was given Kingdome power and glory See how our Lord commenteth on Daniel chap. 2. and 7. All power saith he is given to me in heaven and in earth therefore go and disciple all Nations c Mat. 28. Quest 8. and Answ 1. But what was taught in Sems Tents The Scriptures of the Prophets the faith of the Nations Rom. 1.2 and 16.26 The same faith and Covenant although the outward administration did differ How glorious is the Scriptures consent The Saints from the beginning to the ending have one and the same God and Saviour one and the same faith the same hope the same Covenant the same premises Behold how all is administred by one Mediatour from one eternall being who is A. and Ω. confer Gen. 3.15 and 6.18 1 Iohn 1.1 2. c. Exod. 19.5 6. Apoc. 21.3 2 Cor. 6.16 Exod. 29.45 Ios 1.3 Heb. 13.5 Ibid. Who went from Jerusalem Sems tents The faith of Gods elect came to us from Ierusalem Sems tents not from Rome Babylon with babbling language as the Locusts prate see Isa 2 1 2 3 4. Micah 4. Luke 24.47 The heavenly Ierusalem began to be built in the earthly Acts 1.2 And
This is against the Divos and Divas of the New Empire of Holinesse in title They had and have Patrons and Patâ—onesses of Countries Cities Houses Cattels Trades c. as the old heathen As the covenant of God in Christ was the same in the old and New Testament onely the outward administration changed so the idolatry is the same onely the names and administration changed putting a new face on things But the Lord Jesus Christ is the head and all things are put under his feet Psal 8. and he ruleth all for the comfort of his redeemed All things were created by Him and for Him See for one trade or handicraft of great use in the world what is said Esa 54.16 17. and as the Smith may be an enemy yet he is further incouraged by Counsellors and men of State who sit and conspire against the Lord and his People the Saints by slanders and lies and false suggestions c. But Christ over rules the trade and Counsel of the Smith Vul-kain was the God of Smiths to thâ— Heathens a Clement a titulary Saint to the Papists The Jews from heathens had Citic-gods Ier. 2. so Vigilins was the tutelary Saint of the valley of Trent Hist Council Trent lib. 2. But when the Saints held the faith sincere see their holy protestation Psal 46. 48. 127. and well they might so protest upon the promise Exo. 34.23 24. And who hath been the Redeemer and Protector of England not tabulous St. George from the people of that cursed Kingdom of the Beast in all those treasons and invasions of theirs specially in eighty eight and one thousand six hundred and five The eternal God hath been our refuge his everlasting arms have been under us he hath been the Shield of our help and the Sword of our glory But we may now sear the Scripture of Deuteronomy 31.16 17. c. will be fulfilled in our nation and that we nor our children shall see such seventy six years of the Gospel with such protection peace plenty riches honour victory and all prosperity as leâ—emy 13.11 ah our glory is departing N. 4. The Spirit of some Christian Emperours but in after times Princes had not that love to the truth for Emperoâ—rs strife was with the Popes for authority little or nothing for Divinity And so alass to this day men would never search Gods word the wealthy and Principal of State but remit that over unto others as a base work for themselves to regard whereby God then and now doth cast of the world and hence it was that subjects in Parliament ever stood greatly for their own liberties but for the sincerity liberty and power of Christs ordinances they never so contended wherefore he chastised them and will still in causing their Liberties to be infringed and their Land-markes to be removed N. 5. The spirituall supremacy Heresin pestileâ—issimam vid. Mr. Cade justif lib. 1.53 The mystery of iniquity did not simply consist in Superiority But the B. B. and D. D. not holding sincerity to the Head and Foundation Christ Iesus inventing each his opinions and superstitions drawing disciples after them And they would be angry c. if they were not believed and obeyed because that they did was not without a shew of wisdome and Holinesse Col. 2.16 18 23 and this went on by degrees from age to age till all iniquitiâ— was perfected in the Pontificalitie Cade Iustif lib. 2.57 lib. 1.31 Corruptions began even from the Apostles times But the Papal authoâ—ity chiefly corrupted and darkned the glory and honour of Christs kingnome in all things It corrupteth the written word the Seals of the covenant the Ministery of Christs ordination and the Censures c. Therefore the warning of the Spirit must prevail with Gods people to remember the commandments and words of the Apostles that is their doctrine the Pattern of wholesome words All learned in things controverted concerning the Worship of God or any doctrine should have recourse to the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles for definitive sentence not to Fathers and Councils nay not to the best reformed churches Therefore of old it was said To the-Law and to the Yeslimony Esay 8. and also it is said He that knâ—wâ—th God heareth us 1 John 4. But man born a wild asse-colt would be self-wise And we naturally bear in us an onimious minde to Gods revelation ever since our first parents hearkned to Satan Gen. 3. Oh cursed corrupted nature that is now more ready to follow man or devil then the Son of God Christ Iesus the second Adam Christ is wonderfull tender of his own ordinances he is nice touchy and jealous this maketh our corruption fret vex and fling and to hate Christ Exod. 20. thinking him to be too curious as Kain Gen. 4. because his own commanded or dinances is our rule and him to be worshipped in them with-all the minde all the soul all the strength all the understanding even all our all 's And an honest heart will say as the Saints have said Thy 〈◊〉 dis very pure therefore thy Servant lâ—veth it a gain I hate vain inventions but thy law do I love Psalm 119. An holy soul is as scrupulous as jealous as nice as Gods is It is impossible but he should be so in the regenerate part and he will not speak in thought that Gods commandements are burdensome but unbelievers and superstitious hypocrites and masters of traditions in a raging and fretting mood they are so alwaies called Christs ordinances bands and cords Psalm 2. Quest 7. and Answ With worldly wisdom pomp ambition c. Mr. White way to the true Church pa. 140. Mr. Cade justif lib. 2.256 257 c. Wretched and unlearned Scholars turned all the doctrine of God to ambition and tyranny superstition and heresie Politicians to profanenesse In those daies and after the sweet influences of comforting aires and windes of wholesome doctrine was with held and did weakly breath in the church and shortly turned to hellish smoke out of the pit Apoc. 9. But the sealed of God in all ages Christ took care of Then was fulfilled that which was prophecied The time will come when they will not suffer wholesome doctrine or healing doctrine but having sore ears after their own lusts shall beap to themselves teachers and shall turn their cars from the truth and shall be given unto sables 2 Tim 4. Acts 20.30 Then they became naked of holy truths Apoc. 16.15 The second Adam and his doctrine is the garment with which our inner man is bravely clothed Romans 13.14 Ephestans 4.20 21. Apocalyps 3.18 Ezekiel 16. Quest 8 and answ Nâ—t Christ the Lamb slain cast fire on the earth the seven Trumpers sound the mischiefs that wicked apostate Rome should cause consider Psalm 110 for their robellion against the true Mâ—lchâ—zedecks kingdome and sacrifice-hood Iude 11. Ibid. as preparations to the first Trumpet The mystery of iniquity was working from the Apostles times and men successively
arose that spake and wrote perverse things wherefore the reformed are too blame in two respects 1. In yielding too much to the Papalines to prove points from the Ancients for that doth not saâ—issâ—â— them and there is no end with them 2. To urge against their Brethren that desire sincerity the opinions and practise of the Fathers in doctrine church-politie or ceremony The Apostles being Prophets and foreseeing evils gave this precept To remember their words 2 Pet. 3.2 And it is safest so to do This must be often pressed thought upon by all that love our Lord Iesus Christ with incorruption of spirit It was said plainly Beware lest any man carry you for a spoil through the traditions of men according to the rudiments of the world Augustine was of mind that Councils and Bishops ought not to be objected for trial of controversies but the holy Scriptures August Cont. Max. Wherefore give the controversie about altars no quiet no not for an hour for the truth of the Gospel else will not continne with crifice to officiate upon his altar Mordecai was sure to overthrow Haman God had sworn and said that be would have war with Amalek til he was rooted out O yee servants of the Lord contend by meek writings by fervent prayer and bold confession for the maintenance of the faith once given to the saints for Christ hath sworn and said Romes apostate politic should be perishing to the end Exod. 17. Num. 24.2 Thess 2. Apoc. 10. 17. â—lâ—ars are a main prop for Abaddons Kingdome and it is a complying with it and therefore some learned men have done amiss in pleading for that innovation Ibid. and fiâ—st wo Whereas Christ pronounceth Wo Wo Wo to the apostate churches it sheweth the ignorance and vanity of a childish belly-god spirit of many that say it was a good world in the daies of Popery of such good neighbourhood plenty and prosperity and cheapnesse of things Thus of old apostates pleaded against Christ and his Prophet Ieremiah ch 44. But his answer will stop all mouthes but the obstinate in superstition profanesse and mans inventions lyea such are ignorant of our own chronicles that so speak Quest 8. and answ N. 2. which troubled lesser Asia The seven churches of Asia and others falling from the faith Christ removed their Candlesticks by the Turk which shall be further touched in the comparison of the seven Trumpets and seven Vials Ibid. and by their resurrection The two Prophets that were killed by the beast stand upon their feet that is other godly of their spirit Christ raised for the good of the Church as the Spirit of Alias rested on Elisha N 4. Thus God hath once revealed The eleven former chapters of the Apocalyps revealeth the State of the church to the end of the world and the rest of the Apocalyps goeth over the same things with sweet variety Ibid. Eath blessing is here begâ—n and shall be perfected all the saints that are in this vale of tears do sit in the heavenly places and have chambers in the Jerusalem that is from heaven And here God wipeth all tears from our eyes And when they change this life they fully possesse that of which they had an earnest as the godly of gold were in the heavenly Tabernacle Psalm 15.1 The heavenly Father hath but one family yet two Tabernacles or two dwelling places the one in heaven the other on the earth When any of his Servants hath done so much service or factorage Polytâ—uman Phil. 3.20 as he thinks fit then he calls for him home from that part of the family on earth to the other in the heavens to possesse the joy of his Lord. Here an entrance is given us into the everlasting kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. here we pass from death to life John 5. It is said we are in the second Adam renewed after the image of God that created us and as here we bear his image so shall we bear it in the heavens and there be fully satisfyed with it Psalm 17.1 Cor. 15.49 and further the Scripture saith he that hath prepared us for immortall glory after our earthly house of tabernacle is taken down is God who hath also given unto us the earnest of the Spirit Another Scripture saith He hath made us meet to be partakers of the inhertiance of the Saints in light 2 Cor. 5.1 2. Col. 1. We are made meet in this life for that blessed possession Christians trained up in the word of Christ must hold anathema the Ovidian and Vâ—rgilian doctrine of the Popish purgatory c. Beware left there be any man catry you for a spoil through Phylosophy and vain deceit Col. 2. CHAP. XV. Questions Answers and Annotations Proving that Rome in Gods just Judgement is the place that he hath given unto the power of Satan for the setting up the mystery of iniquity QUest 1. and Answ What place by Gods unsearchable judgement was permitted to Satan for the setting up of the Mystery of Iniquity Answ Rome in Italy for after those ruins it was brought unto it began in process of time to be in credit again Then Satan used all signes and lying wonders to advance there the Throne of the Beast the man of sin or the Pontificalitie (a) As most churches so Rome in special was broken off by mis belief and for not continuing in Gods goodness as they were forewarned Rom. 11. And when the Pontificalitie was set up by the decree of God then nations from East to West obeyed and Worship the Pope and the image of the Imperial State as of old time they did the profane Emperours Whereas if it had not been for the Pontificality Rome and its Empire should never have been revived but left a most filthy lodging of Oxen and Hogs (b) Stâ—uchus against Vallo Lib. 1. in the beginning Even this do the Roman Catholicks themselves confesse And so there the wounded Head was revived by the Pontificality QUest 2. But Rome totidem literis is not named in the holy Scriptures to be the Mother of Whoredomes and abominations How do you know that all these evils were thence to arise Answ By divers notes and marks 1. It is evident that the fixt Head of the Roman State and Power the Politie of Roman Caesars crucified our Lord. 2. By the Locusts and their King the Angel of the bottomless-pit which can agree to no politick corporation in the world but to the Pope and his spiritualty QUest 3. and Answ How is the King of Locusts described Answ 1. It is shewed that the King of Locusts was a star in the heaven of the Church but did opostate and became not a Messenger of the Church of Christ but the Angel of the Pit 2. The keyes which formerly he had being an Angel and a Star were for the honour of CHRISTS Kingdome but apostating his keyes are the keys of the bottomless pit 3. When he used the
God will render the mysticall Tyrian god his strength his glory and his Gammadims and all that love his merchandise a thrice execrable terrour and make them die the death of the unbaptised and settle glory in the true Church the Land of the living Jehovah of hosts hath purposed and let us believe it to stain the pride of all glory read Ezâ—k 26. 27. 28. Isa 23.9 Apoc 18. Consider like revolutions and how the former be stamps of the latter Ungodly Princes and men of place have proud thoughts and think themselves some Deity This comes from the old Adam to whom Satan said Ye shall be as gods Gen. 3. CHAP. XVI With Questions Answers and Annotations Proving that the mystery of iniquity begun to get head from Constantines time QUest 1. and Answ How long was it before the mysterie of iniquity came to the full Answer 1. From Constantines time Ecclesiasticall Teachers were never quiet but still aspired after Supremacy and drew Princes to their factions till 600 years after Christ then about that time Boniface the third Pope of Rome obtained by the help of the murderer Phocas to be called universall Bishop And this universall Supremacy did so increase untill the tenth Century that then Satan was let loose every where and few Martyrs and Confessours were found to hold the Testimonie of Christ sincerely and constantly The Locusts and their King Abaddon had so obscured Sun and air the office of Christ * The holy Bible tho aire to see Christ and Law by which we see him and prevailed in the world by all deceiveablenesse of unrighteousnesse among them that perish because they received not the love of the truth in the holy and blessed Scriptures 2. Note that the Pontificiality continued in that heighth of Supremacy to about the 13th and 14th and 15th Century All which time it was and is still upheld by Rebellion treasonable and cruel practises unsatiable Covetousnesse and ambition and by speaking lies through hypocrisie and by strong delusions in false Doctrine concerning the holy Scriptures Latine-service the attained Supremacy images perjury covenant-breaking urging unlawfull oaths and killing of Kings giving Dispenlations for incestuous marriages dissolving one to contract another and all for Popish interests to shore up their tottering Babylon c. And also their Index Expurgatorius corrupting all good ancient authours and their own Modern yea sleighting with great contempt the worthy (a) M. cade Justiâ— â—ib 1 p 48. Mr. White way c. 323. all that 47. digression ancient fathers calling them Hereticks lyars orroneous instead of the great things of Gods Law they obtruded their lying Legends c. Mind also their detestation of the thoughts of any Reformation either of Doctrine and manners c. c. c. 3. Oh the abominations of that apostate Church Oh the intricate and investigable paths the flatteries (b) But her steps are not as her lips Prov. 5.3 4 5. Rom. 16.18 smoothnesse and fairnesse of speech pleasurable delights of eyes and ears c. clamourous and impudent subtilties lies and slanders formall pretences of palliated holinesse and outward strength and glory of that great whore enchanting and merchandising the Kings of the earth and the Nations all which that Church yet mannaged with a secret Scorpion-like stinging terrour in their Legates and Emissaries Bulls and Breves c. 4. What pen can delineate the miseries of the Christian-world when and after the polity of Apolluon became a perfect mountain of fire and that specially appeared in the deepnesse of Satan when he drew all the West for 200 years into those calamitous and superstitious Warres the 11. and 12. Centuries for the Low Jerusalem that all the force of the Kings and Princes of the West was weakened to be under the Pontificality In those dayes was the Jerusalem from heaven the holy and beloved City of Christians besieged as if old Gog and Magog were alive and still the Papacy will fight against it till Michael the mighty angel of the Covenant our Lord JESUS CHRIST utter the seven Thunders of his power under the * They shall feel unawares the power of Christ the seventh Trumpet as Jericho felt the seventh day the seven Trumpets seventh Trumpet and the seventh Phiall against Abaddons Kingdome to give the enemie a finall destruction QUest 2. What is that you call the mysterie of iniquity Answer It is the spirituall Supremacy of the Pontificalitie that the Sea and Church of Rome onely with the Head thereof is the oracle of the world and of infallible judgement and cannot erre and that therefore all States and Churches as children must be subject to him the Head and to her as Mother †As old Babylon said I shall be a Lady for ever so mysticall Babylon saith she sits as Queen Their wisdome and their knowledge perverted them Isa 47. Apoc. 13. Queen and Mistris And this is the faith of its Corporation which also hath through the transformation of Satan into an angel of light some points of truth conjoyned but exceedingly defiled and over clouded with worldly decrees and humane devices heresies and blasphemies which in conclusion contradict and overthrow the truths they hold and renders their polity execrable to the Saints and their King the holy one of Israel QUest 3. Who were followers of the King of the Pit-darknesse and Pit-bred Locusts that revived the Empire Answer Kings and peoples and multitudes and Nations and kindreds and tongues small and great rich and poore bond and free who wondered at the glorious rising and standing of this new kind of Govenour and government This Corporation of the Papacie the Locusts and other mysticall Babylonians fitly enough call the Romane Catholick Church But the First and the Last the faithfull and true Witnesse teacheth to call it the Kingdome of the Beast The annotations upon the Questions and Answers of the sixteenth Chapter QVest 1. and Answer N. 1. Vntill the tenth Century 1000 years there were Churches and many godly that did reign with and live the life of Christ Apoc. 10.6 But the tenth Centurie reckoning from the Apostle Iohns death Rome the cause of fall to all and then the State of the Church or a great part was a dead State being wonderfully estranged from the testimony of JESUS and the word of God the onely mean of the first Resurrection Ibid. N. 1. Among them that perish Those in the Book of life and the sealed of God the Locusts did not hurt but others turning their ears from the truth were given unto Fables 2 Tim. 4. This Spirituall judgement was on Israel Isa 29 9. A gainsaying people shall be hardened and given up to their own hearts lusts Rom. 10.11 Psal 81. N. 2. Vnsatiable Coveteousnesse Unsatiable covetousnesse and ambition introduced many corruptions in Doctrine as it was foretold the love of money the root of all evil and makes men erre from the faith and a godly life 1
Let the godly Christian Student diligently read the Scriptures We erre not knowing the Scriptures and then Josephus and Macchabees and other authors and with all observe the times the families or Nations and the places of their habitations and for the times of the new Testament mark allusions as hath and will be touched but so far as Propriety will reach for times and persons that must be still adhered unto CHAP. XXI Of the Jewes calling the 12 13 14. Chapters of Zachary that it cannot be applyed to the Jewes calling yet to come as many Ministers do too unadvisedly teach WEE are to consider many passages in Dan. 7 8 9 10 11 12. Chapters 1. That all the time of the Holy Angel Gabriels message of the Seventy Sevens the Jewes were called the holy people Michaels people Daniels people their Religion is called the truth Sion and the Temple is called the holy Mountaine Jerusalem the holy City and the only place of holy worship in the World Joh. 4. And the Son of God is called MICHAEL the great Prince before his blessed Incarnation and that he had over them a speciall regard during the date and lease of their prerogative of the Seventy Sevens 2. Therefore we are diligently to observe Zach. 12. that although those troubles were among them yet still Jerusalem was the holy City and that God had respect to them because the holy faith of the Gospell was among them and also among the Godly dispersed Jewes and the same holy faith was maintained by the many godly that exhorted one another but the most of them were of the meaner sort called the poor of the flock and for their sakes Jerusalem was a burdensome Stone to all the ungodly whither the Heathens or the lawlesse Apostates of Daniels people Dan. 11. And sometimes the better part that had some life of Religion were their Leaders and did governe them and they were as a Torch of fire in a sheafe to burne and devour the Enemies and Jerusalem was defended and as yet adhuc permaneat did abide in her own place and so it was to abide untill the ending of the Sâ—venty Sevens Zach. 12.6 3. And whereas Zachariah saith in Chap. 12.6 Jerusalaima adhuc permaneant Jerusalem is there and I think in all other places in the old Testament in the plurall teaching them celestial meditations as Psal 15.1 And that although the Saints of them the high Trinity should yet inhabite the Low-Jerusalem in much affliction they should notwithstanding account themselves but strangers Levit 25.23 and should rather look to the Jerusalem that is above the sight of true peace the Heavenly City as Abraham Jsaac and Iacob did to the Heavenly Countrey Eby 11. 4. This speach that Ierusalem should yet abide and be inhabited is consolatory both for the present State of the Church against the plottings of Sanballat c. and for that Daniel had shewed that Iavan in the fourth Beast should bring great affliction of trampling Daniels holy people and taking away the dayly sacrifice and altering the times of the the holy Feasts and the Law And that Antiochus should distresse the holy Mountaine Ierusalem and the Temple c. notwithstanding all these troubles Jerusalem should yet abide an holy City They were not yet to be cut off from their Olive Tree And Gods dealing for his people was a burdensome Stone and a Torch of fire to all the Hornes of the fourth Beast and all the Enemies to the ending of the Seventy Sevens 5 And Zach. 12. saith God would raise up noble worthies for them so God gave them sometimes valiant men to be for their comfort as the worthies of old in the reign of David Valiant in acting and suffering for the truthes sake that was only among them The Jewes were then the holy people and Ieâ—usalem the holy City and Sion the holy Mountaine though b So Babel going about to dash Ierusalems hope is bent to set his Throne above the highest in destroying his Temple but Gods vengeance was a burthen some stone to make the golden Head dust Esai 14. Jer. 50. Dan. 2. Antiâ—chus had greatly polluted the Temple And the godly the poor of the flock did observe these things and still did inhabite Ierusalem or still did so desire though driven into Mountaines and Dens and Caves of the Earth looking for the Kingdome of Heaven to appeare now drawing on towards the ending of the Seventy Sevens And for their sakes as is said God destroyed all Enemies that came against the holy City Ierusalem whither the Heathens or the Law-lesse Jewes that profaned the holy covenant Dan. 11. 6. And we must not slightly passe over this Epithet Ierusalem the Holy City It is so called at the beginning and ending of the Seventy Sevens likewise so called at the begining of our Lords Preaching and at his Resurrection Mat 4 27 marke it was so at that very time they had crucified MESSIAS their King the Lord of glory but after our Savidurs aâ—eension that title was never bestowed upon it For then the date of their prerogative was out and the Gentiles brought into equall Covenant But for the whole time of the Seventy Sevens as the Angel from Heaven had declared while the preferment of the circumcised Jew was in honour Christ had a speciall eye to them and the Low Jerusalem As when it was destroyed by the Chaldean the Lord bade his dispersed people to remember it in all Countries Ier. 51.50 and so Daniel did and 49000. though in the dust Psal 102. But after our Saviours ascention and sending the Spirit furnishing his holy Disciples with gifts to be Master-builders for the erecting the New Jerusalem there is not any word of intimation in all the Evanglists Acts Epistles or Apocalyps nay nor in any Prophet of the old Testament that they should remember the Low Ierusalem c. But more of this hereafter 7. Ierusalem the sight of peace the faithfull held and looked to hold in possession till our Lords dayes Esai 66. Psal 110. 95. would instruct them so to beleive as they did Observe well 1. King 11.13.32.36 2. King 21.4 Ier. 51.50 Dan. 9. Psal 102. And we must consider that although the Kings of North and South afflicted Israel and Ierusalem Dan. 11. and had a great hand in bruising the holy people yet Christ plagued those Kings and Kingdomes And although the Jewes in the times of the Macchabees were mutinous and became wicked and Law-lesse and brought much trouble to their own Brethren as also did the Remainders of the Selâ—ucidae the Herods and the Romans yet among all these Enemies of the faith Christ caused from his firy Throne Dan. 7. that Rivers of fire ran among them God had ever a speciall eye of regard to them for his promise sake Zach. 2.8 1. King 11.32 He shall have one Tribe for my Servant Davids sake and for Jerusalem the City which I have chosen out of all the
but in the wildernesse when ye came out of Egypt King Then said King Salomon what my Tirzana doth all your speach tend unto Queen I humbly crave your Graces favour to finish my speach I remember I have heard my Father and Grand-father speake what plenty of peace and prosperity our God Chemosh hath given us nay what victories we have had against our mighty enemies the Giants called Emims and as it was your God that conquered the Chanaanites for you so it was our God Chemosh that conquered the tall great and terrible Giants the Emims for us Yea which I am loath to utter our God Chemosh hath given our Fathers power over Israel for twenty years together Oh should not we then have a most devout opinion of our Religion But why should I your hand-maid thus be bold to speake to your royall and sacred Majesty your great favour and respect unto me hath quickned my spirit and then with an humble deportment of body with her face to the ground she said the intent of all my speach is that it would please my Sovereign Lord the King to grant my small request I humbly beseech that I may have leave to build a Chappell on Mount Oliver to worship our famous and reverend Numen Chemosh the God of my Fathers King What is this I heare from you my Dear Did your speach drive at this Oh I may not doe this Jehovah our most holy Lord God whom we worship in his holy Temple is the true everlasting God and he can command nothing but what is good and perfectly good so that we need not add any thing and he forbids nothing but what is evil which we must not dis-annull and he is the Sovereign Lord of Heaven and Earth and it is most requisite that man should subject himselfe to the most high who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and God above all Gods and therefore all the Children of men must be subject to his Laws and whosoever harden himselfe against him by disobedience shall never prosper and whereas you talk of strictnesse c. you are to know man by nature is borne a wild asse colt and there is no câ—ming of corrupt nature but by a strict course of holy Laws which to a regenerate and godly soul is an easy Yoke and to which he is willingly subject yea man by nature is sometime so refractory that he will not be brought unto God but by affliction yea neither Law nor affliction profits till the Lord himselfe deal with the heart such perversnesse is in man It is most true that man is addicted to his own vain heart Pro. 4. vid. the Margin and accounts the Law of our God most vile and is altogether contrary to God and would run to all licentiousnesse if there were not holy and just Laws and good government Gods ordinance to keep men within bounds 2. And whereas you talke that man is of a noble and free Spirit you are deceived in your apprehensions he is of a most ignoble Spirit ready to fall into all vile opinions and to all sin and wickednesse and to follow all tentations to evill as for his freedome of spirit he is free indeed to all evil as an horse rushing into the battell and not one spark of that celestiall fire is in him to any good till God put it in him and maintain it when he hath so infused it Mans mind will and affections are all corrupt and in himselfe no healing can be found How mercifull then was our God that he from whom we fell would give us a holy Law to be a medicine and healing Doctrine to restore the soul as his mercy and goodnesse is unspeakable in giving us his word for our need which is better known to God then our selves called for such blessed Heavenly Revelation as is declared in our most holy and most righteous Law which Moses received of God for us And we and all men must obey this Law and be reformed by it if we will have any comfort or protection in this world or hope in another 3. Whereas you talke of due liberty my beloved Tirzena I would have thee to consider all the reformation we can possibly attaine unto by the carefull industry of my royall authority and of our Preists and Prophets and Scholes will not come to that purity and exactnesse that the Lord our God requires Many imperfections in omissions and commissions will appeare continually through the lusts of corrupted nature that war in our souls by reason of the darknesse of the understanding and the untractablenesse of the will and the affections And none that have a feeling of the most holy Lord God and of his truth in the heart but find this thus And therefore to give the least liberty to thy opinion is such a designe that will provoke to anger our gracious and mighty Lord God and if I give liberty to thy opinion why not to the abomination of Moloch of the Children of Ammon and to the opinion of Ashtaroth the abomination of the Zidonians And so in the end to root out the holy faith of the Son of God our great high Preist Melchizedek and then that you desire will prove an evill impetuos to the downe fall of truth and godlinesse and hardly ever be reclaimable yea let me inforce this further that there cannot be any liberty granted in any respect to false worships and ungodly opinions such liberty will bring us and our posterity to miserable bondage as our Fathers felt in the Wildernesse and in the times of the Judges And if we that now live and our posterity doe not keep close to that reformation which is now setled in Israels Common-Weal Jehovah our God who is a jealous God will destroy this glorious Temple that we have built to his name and shake this Kingdome by many greivous calamities and at last weed us out of this good Land that he hath given to us and to our Fathers therefore you speak most unworthily to call our Reformation rigid And whereas you talke of pleasures c. you must know the pleasures of sin are but for a time which wast before we can enjoy them And all such lusts and pleasures doe but war against our souls as for the fewnesse of them that follow our God the Lord of Heaven and Earth it should put you to a stand whether the most doe not goe the broad way to destruction 4. I will inform you a little more because you boast of Antiquity in your Opinion and Religion you are deceived for our holy faith is as old as the first man and woman that was created yours is but of late from a God newly come up and indeed no true God Our God created the Heaven and the Earth and from him is our Religion and He destroyed the World by waters for profaning the name of the Lord by false worshipâ— and it was our God that cursed the Nations with strange Languages
and maketh the shadows flee away and with commandement of shewing the Kingdome of heaven to all Nations c. c. Thus the SUNS labours have glorious stories through all ages till Christ shewed a new world and a new Ierusalem from heaven by the preaching of the holy disciples who went forth by the Lords Comandement and turned the familes of Noe from darknesse to light from the power of Satan to God that they might receive forgivenesse of sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by the faith which is in Christ Jesus From these various expressions of the holy Chronologic we may see the marks which the holy Spirit aims at in the ages and generations of the Bible These are the joints to which the holy Chronicle is fastened fit for Christians to know concerning the Son of God that was to come into the world to be a Second Adam That by these as a part of the holy revelation of the Spirit of God we might be made wise unto salvation through the faith which in is Christ Iesus For the Testimony of IESUS is the Spirit of Prophecy It would be wished that people were somewhat educated in that course of study of a book called the Consent of Scripture That study I suppose would more stablish us in sound principles of Christian Doctrine against light and vain errours and bad opinions then many books of saâ— greater volumes much more might be said the Lord blesse endeavours and make our hearts upright with him THE books of Chronicles reach from Adams to Babels captivity and to Cyrus first thence Daniel reacheth to our Lords death and the fall of Ierusalem thence the Apocalyps holdeth on to the fall of the world the confusion of this narration is a cursed piece of work Seven times Daniel speaketh of the Chaldeans seven times of the Medo-Persians seven times of Javan whole seven times of Iavan parted Daniel comforteth the holy Iews and no other Nation afflicted for Religion by the Kings of the East and before the incarnation shewing that as every one of his predictions shall fall out in their times and they of Antiochus in exact foretold number of dayes so the exact number of dayes should be most surely kept for our Redemption and the three years and half for our Lords preaching when he must begin even when he began to be thirty and at the first of those 30. open records of Kittim Italies power Numb 24. should shew that the image Dan. 2. was broken in pieces Now the Holy Ghost in the New Testament keepeth Daniel clear that the captivity to Babel began with his captivity that Saint Matthew sheweth that Iechonias was begotten a little before the captivity to Babel at the second captivity he was 18. years old So where the image is made chaffe and the tree cut but not at the root and the Beasts cast into the fire Iohn Baptist from matters past doth teach the Iews how they rejecting MESSIAS Christ shall be used the ax shall be put to the root of the tree and the chaffe shall be burnt in fire unquenched Upon stories past this standeth plain if Daniels stories had been yet to come the grace of the speech had been lost but Iohn speaking of punishments foretold and felt pierceth more the wise hearer that the Iews shall feel what he foretold So where after the four Beasts are consumed One like unto the SON of Man cometh into the world and again ascendeth our great God and Saviour naming himself the SON of Man and Rock Deut. 32. upon which the Iews stood in the boisterous sea whence the four beasts came forth teacheth us that those four Beasts were consumed speaking to the whole consent of the Jews So Saint Stephens pleading upon the Angel Gabriels words and having the Angels face sheweth that the whole Nation agreed in time from the return from captivity or beginning of the Seventy Sevens as they could not choose And whereas the acts of Antiochus the vile are much in Daniel chap. 7. and 8. and 12. and concluded in chap. 11. with mention of resurrection to glory for his afflicted the Macchabees company and of resurrection to shame for Gods enemies as the Iews in the third of Macchabees and in Josephus note well and as Chrysostome noted from them so Saint Paul before all noted the same speaking of tormented in Antiochus manner that they would not be delivered because they looked for the better resurrection Heb. 11. Moreover while the affliction of the Iews were in visions that described not their Nation plainly that they were the tendered of God and so they were without danger they were penned in Chaldee spread over the East out when the speeches plainly name the afflicters and the Iews the afflicted then they are written in Adams tongue lost but in Schools and not spoken in the world And this sheweth that the Iews are the onely afflicted in Daniel and that he hath not one syllable of the Romanes afflicting the Iews before the Birth of our Lord nor one word to bring them within his pictures But the Apocalyps plainly distinguisheth them from Daniels Kingdomes a Woman that is a State settled and a Beast coming out of the Sea made of all the four that are in Daniel Thus Daniel is a Bridge from the Chronicles to the Apocalyps and the breaker of this bridge cuteth off all passage from the old Testament to the new and worketh a Babylonian confusion missing in the Nations Countries or Times Daniel pictureth East Kingdomes onely he maketh stories agree to the proportion of a mans image head arms and breast belly and sides and two legs our notes would make but one leg and six times longer than the proportion of a mans body would suffer Daniel bringeth an Angel to comment upon his Visions applying them to stories which Greeks explain But none can apply our notes to fit stories CHAP. XLV An Advertisement to the Reader to take heed of embracing the evil tenents of two men especially that have lately put forth irreligious opinions about the Chronology of the Book of God namely Mr. Sarson and Mr. Parker they deny the certainty of Chronologie from the first promise to the death of Christ 1. AS for Mr. Sarson let him take heed he be not degenerated into a Sarrason by bringing upon the holy Bible a Leprosie of Chronologic that it should be of no greater authority than Machomer's Alcoran 2. Mr. Parker saith there is not truth nor certainty in the holy Angel Gabriels Seventy Sevens when they should begin or end his words in his book of the Visions and Prophesies of Daniel page 51 are these Mr. Broughton and his followers denying the truth of heathen Chronologie constitute the years without ground D.R. on the other side and that worthily allowing and maintaing the heathen Chronologie and finding no way how to accommodate those years untoiâ— affirmeth that no certain time is meant but an uncertain and undetermined duration in
allusion to the seventy years of the Babylonian captivity c. To say there is not truth nor certainty in the holy Chronologie of the Scriptures 1. Let us take such heed that they deny not the truth and certainty of other doctrines of faith 2. It may be truly said because men have not loved the truth by a diligent search of the holy Bibles Chronologie they have been given up to believe the lies of heathen Chronologies 2 Thes 2.11 3. The holy Chronologie of the Book of God is a doctrine of faith as clear and certain as any other doctrine of faith and therefore that speech of the holy Apostle beareth supremacie in our hearts That the holy Book of God doth not onely teach and instruct us of the truth of its Chronologie but it doth also correct and convince the heathens Chronologie to be most false and abominable doctrines as some produce them 2 Tim. 3. 4. It is said that the holy Scripture is given by inspiration from God and is able to make children yea the man of God wise to salvation through the faith which is in Christ Iesus and this must be understood of Scripture Chronologie as well as of any other doctrine of the holy Bible and he that will rightly consider the holy Chronologie as it is above expressed by sundry calculations will say that the holy Scripture Chronologie teacheth doctrine of faith which is in Christ IESUS and in him by it wisdome to salvation 5. It is said we have a more sure word 2 Pet. 1. and that was the old Testament but now heathen Chronologie of the devilish worships of Apollo the heathens Olympiads are by some made more sure and certain criptures than the oracles from heaven We have more cause to yield to the Locusts that defend their Apolluon that alledge Fathers and Councils than to yield to men that authorise the vain Olympiads of Apollo of Delphos Therefore let us that are Christians hearken to the words and commandements of the Apostle of our Lord and saviour Beware lest any man carry you for a spoil through Phlosophy and vain deceit after the rudiments of the world and not after CHRIST Col. 2. it is the holy scriptures that have ditted up the mouths of Apolluon and his Locusts by the RR. Jewel Fulk Cartwright Perkins Calvin Beza c c. we doubt not but the holy scripture shall do the same to them that plead for the gamestry of Stanicall Olympian reckonings Verily all the scriptures should as well take a check as the wisdome touching the time of the seventy sevens be controlled by heathen We may as well believe the heathen spake true when the Sun went back that for Hercules birth the Sun made a longer night but the word of Christ shews that he that ruleth the heavens made it and did shew to all the world but specially to Israel that the heavens order was not so stable as Gods covenant in Christ for then that miracle was to confirm the faith of the church in Christ promised so the sunne performed service to the SON of righteousnesse surely the motions of the heavens declare the works of God in the harmonious measure of times Although many men be great Scholars and godly yet some of them do not consider that the sunne did run his race for the glory of Christ and his word For it is said All things were created by him and for him the second Adam For Him for his honour and glory not for Satans sports and pastimes of the Olympiads 6. What a grossenesse and crosse is this because we cannot make the heathens accounts to agree with the holy Scripture-Chronologie therefore we fly upon the word of the living GOD the Lord of hosts our God reproaching it and exclaiming against it that there is not truth nor certainty in many parts of it but we should say and do the contrary and should say let God and his word be true and the heathens and their Chronicles lies and liars For there is more to be said ¶ If that the Angel taught not Daniel certainty of knowledge and understanding for the Chronologie he taught him nothing that he knew not Daniel knew all the rest of the Message but the time of performance And so we make the holy Angel a deceiver an evil spirit a Satan And therefore D.R. and Mr. P. and all that follow their course have sorrily dealt with the Church of Christ Jesus our Lord. 7. Mr. P. saith that Mr. Bro. and his followers c. Let Mr. P. know that Mr. Bro. and those that use his godly and learned labours do adhere to and follow the lively oracles of the living God sent from him by an Angel from heaven to teach Daniel knowledge and understanding and to teach all faithfull Christians by him And therefore we are confident in the Lord and dare not otherwise say but that the holy Angel from God stake a true plain and proper speech and a most certain chronologie for the beginning and ending of the seventy sevens and that their beginning was from Daniels prayer and their ending at the abolishing of sacrifice and offering and confirmation of the Testament for the Many by the blood and death of the MESSIAS It is true many have objected against the holy Scriptures Chronologie before Mr. P. and Mr. Sarson which is to be lamented but we know there are many gracelesse speeches and objections against the very fundamental truths of Christian Religion But this I think 1. That it is good that the Scriptures chronologie should be clear and certain Isa 5. and can we think that God hath omitted this good for his church 2. Men should deem or ought so to do that the Scripture hath truth and certainty for chronologie though they see it not and they that oppose it should think and say they erre not knowing the Scriptures and they should think that the works of God the rock are perfect and that he that began the chronologie for the glory of Christ by the genealogie of his holy ancestours Gen. 5. and 11. would perfect it 3. To affirm truth and certainty in Heathen chronologie and to deny it in the holy Scriptures is an opinion scelerate and flagitious we cannot think how great the evil is and therefore Mr. P. hath done ill in justifying D.R. saying the holy Angel in his heavenly Oration to Daniel meant no certain time whereas the Angel taught him perfect wisdome for the chronologie of it and so professeth that he came to give skill of understanding that very thing 4. Whereas Mr. P. saith that Mr. Bro. denying the truth of heathen chronologie constituted the year of the seventy Sevens without grounds Mr. P. in this saying puts a stumbling block before the blind and causeth him to go out of the way and falls into a great offence of untruth not onely against Mr. Bro. for that 's little but against the Angel from heaven who said to Daniel at the beginning of