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A58331 A vvay unto true Christian unitie the worship of God in spirit and in truth : together vvith many spirituall benefits therein received now in this life and everlastingly ... Reeve, Edmund, d. 1660. 1648 (1648) Wing R670; ESTC R2196 46,374 55

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so farre forth as it is in Scripture expressed what the eternall God is according to His infinite Essence or being place and I knew it not But that this first point may yet become more cleare unto devout soules namely for whom preparation is now to be made according to the doctrine of this heavenly crying voice there is also to be signified in some wise what the Scripture saith That the eternall God is And so the minde of man seeking the Lord may be introducted to see though as through a glasse the e Isa 33.17 King in his beauty and to behold the Land that is very farre off as Jsaiah speaketh The Lord Jesus Christ having said to the woman of Samaria f Joh. 4.23 24 See 2. Cor. 3.17 18. and the marginall reading there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God is Spirit The houre commeth and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him declareth That God is a Spirit and that they which worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth Where he teacheth us that God is Spirit S. John saith This then is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you that God is g 1. Joh. 1.5 God is Light Light and in him is no darknesse at all He also saith Beloved let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is borne of God and knoweth God He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is h 1. John 4.7 8 16. God is Love love God is love and hee that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him So that here is plainely expressed what God is namely that he is Light and Love Now that this most blessed Spirit of light and love may have his gracious presence in us to his i Prov. 8.31 delight and our unexpressable k Deut. 10.13 good His said crying voice is unto us that we in our wildernesse and desart do prepare a way and make straight a path for Him Now the second point is to be considered to wit The second point In what place to prepare the way of the Lord. in what place the preparation is to be made The Text saith In the wildernesse in the desart And what a spirituall wildernesse or desart is it may appear out of the Apostles words unto the Ephesians describing what they were before they became l See Rom. 1.5 and 16.26 Acts. 6.7 obedient unto the Faith He saith unto them m Eph. 2.12 that at that time yee were without Christ being aliens from the common-wealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world But he describeth a worse wildernesse in that his exhortation where he saith n Eph. 4.17 18 19. This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord that yee henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanitie of their mind having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindnesse of their heart who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousnesse to worke all uncleannesse with greedinesse Now it is to be considered how man and woman are become such wildernesses and desarts whereas in the beginning they were created glorious o See Cantic 8.13 and 5.1 and 6.2 and 4.12 gardens for the Lord. Solomon saith p Eccles 7.29 Loe this only have I found that God made man upright but they have sought out many inventions It is said in Genesis When the woman saw q Gen. 3.6 that the tree of knowledge of good and evill was good for food and that it was pleasant unto the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise she took thereof and did eate and gave also to her husband with her and he did eate Then became they to be r Gen. 3.7 Rom. 3.23 naked in soul and came short of the glorie of God They from being afore Gods gardens and paradises now became to be wildernesses and desarts And that every one of mankind growing up in this world and fast abiding in the fall not truly endeavouring to enter into the change of minde and life prescribed and required by the Gospel for to proceed duly in the same is a ſ Jsa 32.15 16. Jer. 4.26 Gen. 6.5 Rom. 3.12 13 14 15 16 17 18. wildernesse and a desart it needeth no confirmation with many Texts being acknowledged and confessed even by all The Hebrew word for wildernesse is observed to signifie a place remote from speech or talk And in a setled spirituall Wildernesse there is scarfe any gracious speech heard Yea Christ saith t Mat. 12.34.35 How can ye being evill speak good things For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh The Wildernesse within man which ought to be prepared is the heart My sonne saith God u Prov. 23.26 give me thine heart It is said concerning Rehoboam That he did evill because hee prepared not his * 2. Chron. 12.14 heart to seek the Lord. But whereas the Holy Ghost doth here use two words wildernesse and desart and the Hebrew word for desart hath in it the signification of x. In Ps 68.4 in the plurall number heaven may it not intimate the superiour facultie in man the understanding or the minde And then by wildernesse may also be meant the inferiour facultie in man the will or the affections Jeremiah speaking concerning many in his time saith My people is foolish they have not known me they are sottish children and they have no understanding they are wise to do evill but to do good they have no knowledge I beheld the earth and loe it was without forme and void and the y Ier. 4.22 23. heavens and they had no light In which place also the word heaven appeareth to signifie mans mind or understanding The z Heb. 4.12 Luke 1.46 47. Isa 26.9 Scripture hath in sundry places the expression of soule and spirit to be in man But saith the Apostle to the Thessalonians a 1. Thess 5.23 The very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and soule body bee preserved blameles unto the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ Preparation is to be made thereunto in the whole man and as inwardly so outwardly also And to the Corinthians he saith b 1. Cor. 6.19.20 The Vulgar Latine Text there hath Glorificate portate Deum in corpore vestro what know ye not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you which ye have of God and ye are not your own For ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which are Gods Now the next point is to be considered The third point The manner of preparing
the way of the Lord in us the manner of preparing And it is first expressed in generall as Prepare yee the way make straight an high way And then the works of the said preparation are expressed in particular as namely to exalt or fill up every valley c. The Hebrew word rendred prepare ye is observed for to import also to c See Schindlers Lexicon remove impediments to void away out of sight uncleannesses c. The Lord by Malachi saith d Mal. 3.1 Behold I will send my Messenger and he shall prepare the way before me and the Lord whom yee seeke shall suddenly come to his Temple And the Apostle having said unto the Corinthians e 2. Cor. 6.16 Yee are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them c. addeth this counsell Having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us f 2. Cor. 7.1 cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the fear of God So that the preparation doth much consist in g 1. Joh. 3.2 3. Heb. 12.14 purification of minde and life Also whereas it is said withall make straight an high way and in S. Johns Gospel the whole work of preparation is but thus expressed h Joh. 1.23 Make straight the way of the Lord as said the Prophet Esaias the Arabicke interpretation of the said verbe there is not unworthy of some observation It saith * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Make the way of the Lord easie The said Arabian verb is interpreted also to make plain and convenient So that for Christs spirituall comming into us for to dwell in us to walk within us See the Lexicon of Raphelengius to solace himself in us and to worke all his works of grace within us we are admonished to endeavour that his entrance and passage may be all manner of wayes delightsome unto him An expressing of the preparation in particular namely in 4. sundry great workes It followeth that the particular works of the preparation be considered and they are expressed in foure great duties But first it is to be noted That in an ancient I That which was in use in the Reigne of King Edward the sixt See Tindals Translation See the note of Lucas Osiander on this Text. See Isa 57.14 Luke 3.5 with Baruck 5.7 The first worke of the preparing Translation of the Church the verbs thereof are rendred Imperatively the which interpretation appeareth most proper for that these foure matters are the duties in speciall of those two in generall namely prepare ye the way make ye straight an high way And the first work of the preparing is that every valley be exalted or filled And a spirituall valley within us is want or defect of somewhat which ought to be in us toward receiving revelation of the glory of the Lord. It is said k Heb. 11.6 He that commeth unto God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him diligently So that unbeliefe appeareth to be a valley and is to be lifted up or filled up with beliefe l Luke 24.25 We are to believe every word of God to be perfect truth according to his mind signified therein though we for the present do not understand it It is the praise of m Rom. 4.17 18 19 20 21. Abraham that against hope he believed in hope that he might become the father of many nations according to that which was spoken so shall thy seed be But it was a dispraise to many of the Jews that they believed not sundry things written in the Law of the Lord of which unbelief Christ taxed them saying Had ye believed Moses n Joh. 5.46 47. ye would have believed me for he wrote of me But if ye believe not his writings how shall ye believe my words We are also to believe the o Gal. 6.7 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Deut. 29.19 20. threatnings mentioned in Gods word aswell as the promises because the Lord is as true in the executing of them according as he hath denounced them as he is in the vouchsafing of the other Such unbeliefe ought not to be in us for that it is written p Heb. 3.18 19. The children of Israel could not enter into the Lords rest because of unbelief Another valley within man is ignorance q Mat. 22.29 Christ said unto the Sadducees Ye do erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God The Lord saith by Hosea r Hos 4.6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because thou hast rejected knowledge I will also reject thee that thou shalt be no Priest to me Seeing thou hast forgotten the Law of thy God I will also forget thy children Wherefore the Gospels commandement is to be timely considered viz. ſ 1. Pet. 2.1 2. That we laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and evill speakings as new-borne babes to desire the sincere milk of the word that we may grow thereby Also not to continue still t 1. Cor. 14.20 See the Marginall reading there children in understanding howbeit in malice to be children but in understanding to become men perfect or of a ripe age u Heb. 6.1 2. Cor. 13.9 Rev. 3.2 Deut. 18.13 Gen. 6.9 Going on unto perfection as is the exhortation unto the Hebrewes And forasmuch as Christ hath said * Joh. 12.48 The word which I have spoken the same shall judge us in the last day therefore as saith the Apostle let the x Col. 3.16 word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdome There is also the valley of fearfulnesse namely of being fearfull to begin and proceed in that which God hath commanded to be done and wherein he hath willed us to be y 1. Cor. 16.13 Eph. 6.10 13. 1. Cor. 15.58 Heb. 6.11 12 of a good courage Such defect was in the children of Israel being in the wildernesse when as they were to have gone on couragiously toward the promised land flowing with milk and honey in confidence of attaining possession thereof through the help of Almighty God they then became fearfull and faint-hearted upon reports which some had made as if the said land were not attainable Yea some said z Num. 13.31 We be not able to go up against the people for they are stronger then we The children of Israel then fell into murmuring and a Num. 14.2.11.12 disobedience and so became to be in great perill of Gods destroying of them The Lord having said in the Revelation b Rev. 21.7 8 The second worke of the preparing He that overcommeth shall inherit all things I will be his God and he shall be my sonne But the fearfull namely to enter into the spirituall warfare as it is enjoyned by the Gospel of Christ and the unbelieving c. shall have their part in the lake which
that dwellest in the Gardens the companions hearken to thy voice cause me to heare it The third cause and that a great one why there is such difference in affection among many is because that which our Creatour blessed for ever hath ordained to be the bond and tie of his people together z Rom. 8.9 is by many neglected or not duly indeavoured and that is Charity namely the Charity which the Gospel hath expresly delivered The Apostle saith unto the Colossians having exhorted them unto sundry great vertues b Col. 3.14 2 Thess 1.3 1 Thess 3.12 Above all these things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectnes And if it is the bond and tie of the highest matters in Christianity is it not likewise the bond and tie of all inferiour matters therein c Eph. 4.15 16. Col. 2.19 Heb. 10.24 25. 1 Thess 2.7 8. Joh. 13.34 35. 2 Joh. 6. That from the very Infancie in Christ there may bee a comfortable growing up unto the eldest age which is in Him and through Him If the sheaves of a field bee not tied up together how can they bee well brought home into the barne So among whomsoever the said bond or tie ordained by the eternall Wisdome is not put on how can there bee a good growing up together into the Christian unitie S. Paul declared it to bee his great d Or conflict See the marginall reading of Col. 2.1 care even for all professing Christianity That their hearts might bee comforted being e Col. 2.2 And in verse 5. hee sheweth the power or effect of the said knot saying Though I bee absent in the flesh yet am I with you in the spirit joying and beholding your order and the stedfastnesse of your faith in Christ knit together in love c. Hee giveth it also for a rule for every particular action in this world where he saith Let all your things be done with f 1 Cor. 16.14 charity And hereon saith D. Lucas Osiander that famous Writer Sixteen properties of Charity expressed in 1 Cor. 13.4 5 6.7 8. Omnium actionum nostrarum moderatrix debet esse charitas Charity ought to be the moderatresse or ruler of all our actions The Holy Ghost thus describeth charitie saying Charity suffereth long and is kind charity envieth not charity vaunteth not it self or is not g So is the marginall reading of 1 Cor. 13.4 rash is not puffed up doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evill rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in or h So is it in the marginall reading See 1 Pet. 4.8 Prov. 10.12 Song 8.6 7. with the Truth Beareth or i covereth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things Charitie never faileth There is delivered lately concerning charity that which is very considerable viz. k In page 67. of the booke intituled The nature of Truth its union and unitie with the soule Printed anno 1641. Doth not the Apostle doth hee not most truly most pathetically cry out Though I had the gift of prophecie and knew all secrets all knowledge yea if I had all faith so that I could remove mountains I were nothing I were as sounding brasse and a tinkling Cymball if I have not charitie When all these excellencies meet in a Christian as haply they may yet it is charity that maketh him l See 1 Joh. 4.7 8.12 16. and 1 Cor. 13.1 2 3. what he is and the other beeings are but as phalerae as trappings which give an handsome set off but not a being to a Christian m In page 68. of the aforesaid booke Love is lovely in Gods eye He is stiled the God of Love the God Love And in another place the Scripture affirmeth that in this we have fulfilled the will of God if wee love one another for by n Here is declared whereby union with God is according to 1 Joh. 4.16 The fourth mentioned cause of difference this we are made one with God and so dwell in true light The fourth and last cause which shall be mentioned at this present why there is so much difference among many is for that so few have any care at all to understand their own way and that the most addict themselves to judge one anothers way The Holy Ghost saith The wisdome of the prudent is to o Prov. 14.8 understand his way p Verse 12. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the waies of death q Prov. 12.15 The way of a foole is right in his own eyes but hee that hearkeneth unto counsell is wise David said r Ps 119.24 See The margent there Thy Testimonies are my delight and men of my counsell Now the counsell of the eternall Wisdome is That whoso would be a Disciple of Christ or a true Christian he do first of all betake himselfe to Å¿ Mat. 7.5 cast out the beame out of his own eye because then he shall see cleerly to cast out the mote out of his brothers eye Also to t Mat. 16.24 deny himself To become a u 1 Cor. 3.18 foole that he may be wise To * Luke 14.26 33. hate his own life and to forsake all that he hath all his Laodicean x Rev. 3.17 18. riches To follow Christ in the y Mat. 19.28 Regeneration To z 1 Cor. 4.5 judge nothing before the time untill the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darknesse and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts and in his particular a Joh. 14.23 spirituall comming will guide into b Joh. 16.13 all truth To doe nothing through strife or vain-glory but in lowlinesse of minde each to c Phil. 2.3 esteem other better than themselves and not to think every one to be in the wrong which differeth from him concerning some ceremoniall matter or the like To shun all d 2 Tim. 3.2 self-love e Ezech 36.31 and 20.43 See 2. Cor. 7.11 To remember ones owne evill wayes and his own doings that were not good and to loth himselfe in his own sight for his iniquities and for his abominations To consider that the f Ier. 17.9 heart is deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked and therefore to g Prov. 4.23 keep it with all diligence Not to h Prov. 3.5 6 7. leane unto ones own understanding but in all ones wayes to acknowledge the Lord and he will direct ones paths Not to be wise in ones own eyes but to feare the Lord and to depart from evill To i Jam. 1.26 Isa 58.9 Mat. 12.34 36 37. Eph. 5.4 5 6. bridle ones tongue because his Religion is vain and not the true Christian which doth not unfeinedly endeavour that dutie as the Holy Ghost hath pronounced Now when as one hath duly judged his k 1. Cor. 11.31