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
A VVAY VNTO TRVE Christian Unitie The worship of God in Spirit and in Truth TOGETHER VVith many Spirituall benefits therein received now in this life and everlastingly All expresly delivered in the Holy Scripture And declared in an Exposition of a certain Fundamentall portion of the Sacred Text. Written for the lessening of Differences and for the increasing of Concord in the godly truth eternall Also for to make more manifest a firme Ground whereon holy Unity may be built up unto the highest degree of perfection attainable in this World Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in Vnitie Psal 133.1 But the houre commeth and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seeketh such to worship Him Joh. 4.23 Illo tempore nihil tam conveniens servo Dei videbatur quà m Unitatem sequi Hieron cont Lucif cap. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 LONDON Printed by John Legatt and are to be sold by Edward Wright at the signe of the Bible neere Pie-corner 1648. To my very loving and much honoured friend and neighbour Mr. JOHN BATHURST Doctour of Physick in London be the gracious accomplishment of the promise which Godlinesse hath of the life that now is 1 Tim. 4.8 and of that which is to come THe eternall God blessed for ever saying a Ier. 8.22 Is there no Balme in Gilead Is there no Physician there Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered signifieth thereby that as there is salve for corporall infirmitie so is there likewise for spirituall maladie And therefore He that hath b Mal. 4.2 healing in His wings having pronounced c Mat. 9.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The sick have need of a Physician hath taught therein That d Isa 55.2 3. endeavour should be for health in soule Ut sit mens e 2 Tim. 1.7 sana in corpore sano Also like as the Sentence saith concerning what is bodily f Sir 38.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth and he that is wise will not abhorre them so hath Hee out of his infinite wisdome brought forth his most holy word and whatsoever his Servants publish for to further spirituall welfare and being the g Prov. 1.8 true doctrine of the sacred Scripture it should not be h 1 Thess 5.20 21. despised but i Acts. 17.11 taken into due consideration It is a Saying among the Jewes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A man learneth not so much of his own self as he learneth of another One k Buxtorfius Lexico Chaldaico Rabbinico ad radicem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 expresseth it Non tantum valet studium privatum quam id quod cum alio quis habet commune The Almighty Creatour doth so l 1 Cor. 12.8 9 10 11 25. powre out of his Spirit upon the Mysticall body of his Sonne to Whom be honour and glory everlastingly as that one member may make use of another according to his holy ordinance Moreover whereas the wise mans Exhortation is m Sir 38.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Honour the Physician and having my selfe consulted with you my much beloved neighbour and Physician for bodily infirmities and by Gods blessing finding much helpe and comfort from you in mutuall love and thankefulnesse I offer unto you these Spirituall counsels and soule-salves praying that He who is the true Tree of life Whose leaves are for the n Rev. 22.2 healing of the Nations may universally blesse them to you yours and all the o Gal. 6.16 Israel of God And although some have as the Apostle relateth p Acts. 28.27 refused to be healed yet the Heavenly q Ezek. 2.7 command was Thou shalt speake my words unto them whether they will heare or whether they will forbeare Also howsoever unto them which r Phil. 3.19 Luke 12.20 21. 2 Tim. 3.4 minde and esteeme most the earthly things the meditating and observing of such matters as are in this Treatise following declared by the Word of the Lord to bee Christian duties may seeme ſ Job 2◠14 15 Mal. 3.14 unnecessary yet unto those that will search all the places of Scripture quoted therein to know more and more the t Eph. 5 17. Rom. 12.2 will of God for to doe u Mat. 6.10 Ps 40.8 it there will * Joh. 7.17 and 8.31 32. appeare that the very true x 2 Tim. 3 5. Power of Godlinesse is herein some manner testified And whereas the mysteries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are more and more manifested praise be given to the high and loftie y Isa 57.15 One which inhabiteth eternity whose Name is holy there is hope that the greatest measure of z Isa 30.26 Rom. 11.12 15 26. light therein foretold in the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles to be given by God in the last Time shall shortly be enjoyed * Nazianzenus oratione in laudem Cypriani habita 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Divine Wisdome knoweth long afore to lay the foundations of great matters and to procure contraries through the contraries that It be also had in the more admiration From my lodging in the Old-Baily Yours ever respectively E. R. To the unpartiall Reader IT is one of the Arabian a Prov. 8.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In libro cui titulus Proverbiorum Arabicorum centuriae duae proverbs Looke not unto him that speaketh but unto what he speakes And the Holy Ghost saith The wisdome which is from above is without b Jam. 3.17 partiality c Isa 53.6 Isaiah writeth That we all like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his owne way Now it is the will and commandement of God as d Ier. 50.6 Jeremiah signifieth That wee should not passe our time in this world going from mountaine to hill and forgetting our resting place but as it is taught in Ezechiel our e Ezech. 34.14 15. Fold should be upon the high Mountaines of Israel there to feed in a good pasture also to f Ier. 33.12 Zeph. 3.12 13. lie downe as saith the Lord. There have been some in these latter times which by their writings endeavoured to promote Unitie because they saw it testified That the multitude of them which beleeved were of g Acts. 4.32 one heart and of one soule Also that the Apostle said h 2 Cor. 12.18 walked we not in the same spirit walked we not in the same steps Yea Christ foretold That there shall be i Joh. 10.16 See Mat. 9.36 37 38. 1 Cor. 1.10 11 12 13. one fold and one shepheard And therefore so fervently prayed for his people That they all may be k Joh. 17.11 21 21 23. See 1. Cor. 12.12 13. and 3.3 4. one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one
not endeavouring to have in continuall remembrance His presence d Luke 6.27 not shewing due love to ones enemies e Pro. 10.12 discovering of others infirmities f Prov. 11.13 and 17.9 revealing of secrets which may lawfully be concealed g Mat. 7.12 Luke 6.31 not endeavouring in every particular to do unto another as he would have another to do unto him h 1. Cor. 10.7 Jam. 5.5 2 Pet. 2.13 1 Pet. 4.3 4. sitting downe to eate and drink and rising up to play not having a due fellow-feeling of others * Amos. 6.6 1 Cor. 12.25 26. sufferings i 1 Joh. 5.21 Eze. 14.3 4 7. all worshipping of idols outward or inward k Isa 58.9 Mat. 12.36 39. speaking of vanitie l Isa 33.15 beholding any evill with delight not abstaining from m 1 Thess 5.22 all appearance of evill giving n 1. Cor. 10.32 offence unto any o Jos 22.12 16 18 19 20. taking of offence upon no just ground p Eccles. 5.2 Ps 112.5 rashnesse q Phil. 2.4 looking onely to the good of ones own self r Eph. 6 4. Gen. 18.19 neglect of educating children and servants unto the learning and obeying of all the Gospels commandements ſ Tit. 3.14 See the margent there 1 Cor. 7.24 1 Pet. 2.12 Deut. 16.20 neglect of studying the duties of ones particular vocation an t 1. Cor. 8.2 and 12.3 and. 3.18 1. Tim. 6 3 4. high esteeming of ones own conceived knowledge in spirituall matters afore he be truly regenerate a u Phil. 2.3 1 Pet. 2.17 2 Cor. 8.12 Mat. 22.39 setting light of any others gifts how small soever which he endeavoureth well to use * Lev. 26.21 See the margent there Proceeding in any matter at all adventures and not endeavouring to have Gods Word for x Prov. 3.5 6 7. Isa 8.20 Ps 119.9 Gal. 6.10 rule in every action y Luke 14.41 neglect of almes giving neglect to learn and practise z Rev. 3.3 Ps 119.6 every christian vertue or to become more and more a new creature in the a 2. Cor. 5.17 Rev. 21.5 1 Thess 5.23 2 Cor. 4 16. Prov. 4.18 whole inward man and in the outward conversation The holy Scripture discovereth very many more defects excesses enormities and imperfections in the mind and life of mankind all which * Ier. 7.5 Lament 3.40 2 Esdras 16.50 Prov. 22.6 Joh. 4.23 The fourth point the benefit which now commeth to the true preparers according to the crying voices prescription Foure things to bee considered in the handling of the fourth point throughly to search out it is our bounden duty yea to begin from our very youth this worshipping of God in spirit and in truth The fourth point is the benefit which now commeth in a true endeavour to performe the aforesaid preparation The Text saith And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together Now unto the understanding hereof there are foure things to be considered First what the glory of the Lord here mentioned is Secondly where it shall be revealed Thirdly who shall behold it And fourthly in what manner it shall be seen Concerning the first what the glory of the Lord is which is here promised to be now revealed unto such as prepare a way for the God of b Ps 135.2 Eph. 2.21 22. Jacob to have an habitation within them it is manifest out of S. Luke to be meant the eternall Sonne of God For the Evangelist hath expressed the promise with these words And all flesh shall see the c Luke 3.4 Salvation of God By which name Salvation Simeon also called Christ where he saith d Luke 2.30 31 32. For mine eyes have seen thy Salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel For Jesus Christ according to His eternall Divine Nature is the supreame heavenly light e Joh. 10.30 equall with God his Father The Apostle expresseth him to be the f Heb. 1.3 Wisd 7.26 brightnesse of the Fathers glory And it is written in S. John That he is the true light g Joh. 1.9 which lighteth every man that commeth into the world Who also in every age past hath according to His Godhead appeared in some manner unto holy soules as Micah signifieth where he saith h Micah 5.2 Whose goings forth have bin from of old from the dayes of eternitie And concerning the said spirituall comming for to continue whiles the world doth endure our Saviour Himself also testifieth saying i Joh. 14.23 If any man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him The Deity or Godhead of Christ is by an ancient k Justinus Martyr in dialogo cum Tryphone Judaeo Father thus declared 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is In the beginning or first of all afore all creatures God begate out of his own self a certain rationall Vertue or reasonable power which also is called by the Holy Ghost the Glory of the Lord sometimes a Sonne sometimes Wisdome sometimes an Angel sometimes God sometimes the Lord and the Word Moreover here by the Glory of the Lord there may be understood also the Image of the glorious God consisting in godly understanding righteousnesse and true holinesse The Apostle saith All have sinned and come short of the l Rom. 3.28 glory of God or of his image And therefore he exhorteth That we put on that new man which after m Eph. 4.24 God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse and is renewed in knowledge n Col. 3.10 after the image of him that created him And whereas it is said by God o Num. 14.21 As truly as I live all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. And again p Hab. 2.14 The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea And in another place q Isa 11.9 The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea Therefore all r 1. Cor. 2.10 See all Baruch 5. knowledge of God and his will revealed in his word may here be included also that it shall be more and more revealed unto his obedient people The second thing to bee considered Secondly There is to be considered where the glory of the Lord shall be revealed according to this promise And whereas it immediatly followeth That all flesh shall see it together it appeareth that the said Revelation is within man The Apostle saith ſ Gal. 1.15 16. See concerning the Mysterie of God in man Wis 7.22 23 24 25 26 27 28. When it pleased God who separated me from my mothers wombe and called me by His grace to reveale His Sonne in me that I might
in us That they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one Let us therefore now duly consider what Isaiah in his time delivered furthering unto godly Unitie the which doctrine also each of the l Mat. 3.2 3. Mar. 1.1 2 3. Luk. 3.3 4 5 6. Joh. 1.23 Evangelists in some manner rehearsed as necessary for that time And if wee throughly weigh the said Oracle we shall finde it m Rom. 15.4 requisite to be considered by every one at this present Moreover the Reader is to be admonished that he do not n 2 Pet. 2.12 2 Tim. 3.16 17. condemne what he understandeth not in this ensuing Treatise remembring that S. Paul saith o 1 Tim. 3.16 17. See verse 9. Eph. 3.4 Col. 1.27 and 2.2 1 Cor. 12.3 1 Pet. 2.2 Without controversie great is the mysterie of Godlinesse Also afore any one can well judge concerning the most high Mysteries of the Gospel he is first rightly to understand the p Heb. 5.12 13 14. and 6.1 2. principles of the doctrine of Christ as the Apostle signifieth unto the Hebrewes Who also gave the Corinthians for to know that such as are but babes or little Children in Christ Cannot q 1 Cor. 3.2 Joh. 16.12 beare the strong meat of the word And if such of the first age in Christ cannot r Gal. 4.1.2 Acts. 1.6 7. 1 Cor. 2.6 comprehend all things belonging to the great mysterie of Christianity then how can those which are not ſ Joh. 3.3 See Rom. 12.1 2. changed in mind and conversation according as the Gospel prescribeth or are not unfeinedly striving to attain the said change judge rightly concerning the most high spirituall matters seeing that it is written t 1 Cor. 2.14 The naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned The holy Prophet Daniel saith u Dan. 12.10 Many shall be purified and made white and tried but the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand * Ps 25.14.9.12 13. David saith The Secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and He will shew them His covenant The meek will He guide in judgement and the meek will he teach His way It is written that the Disciples came unto Christ x Mat. 13.10 11. Isa 8.16 Why speakest thou unto the Multitude in parables He answered and said unto them Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdome of heaven but unto them it is not given Who also said unto His Father y Mat. 11.25.26 27. See Joh. 8.31 32. Wisd 1.4 and 6.23 Sirach 3.19 20. and 43.33 and 51.20 Dan. 9 13. Ps 19.7 8. and 119.98 99 100. Isa 60.1 2. Joh. 14 17. Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes Now these Scriptures are mentioned that the Reader may duly consider That no person how learned soever in Humane Literature or in the history of Sacred Writ which is not entred into the true Regeneration can a Prov. 28.5 Mat. 19.28 rightly judge concerning the high things pertaining unto God The Apostle Peter saith z 1 Joh. 2.29 and 4.7 8. Joh. 3.3 5 6. Knowing this first that no prophesie of the Scripture is of any private interpretation for the prophesie came not in * See the marginall reading any time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost And therefore the Apostle Paul saith b 2 Pet. 1.20 21. No man can say namly with true understanding that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost Wherefore let us unfeinedly endeavour to become truly d 1 Cor. 2.15 12. spirituall and then as the Apostle signifieth wee shall bee able more and more to judge or c 1 Cor. 12.3 * As it is in the margent discerne all things which e 2 Pet. 1.3 pertain unto life and godlines The holy and righteous Almighty Spirit that filleth both heaven and f Ier. 23.24 earth g Joh. 16.13 guide us into all His truth eternall that we may receive and enjoy all h 1 Tim. 4.8 Eph. 3.20 21. comfort which He vouchsafeth unto his Servants now and everlastingly through Jesus Christ Amen Edmund Reeve Bachelour in Divinity and Instructer in all the Tongues pertaining thereunto A way unto true Christian Vnity Isaiah 40.3 4 5. See concerning this reading of this Text what is delivered afterward in this Treatise and in the marginall annotations unto it A voice crying In the Wildernesse prepare ye the way of the Lord make straight in the Desart an high way for our God Let every valley be filled up let everie Mountain and hill be cast down and what is crooked let it be made straight and the roughnesses become smoothnesse and the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all Flesh shall see it together for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it IT being written in the beginning of this Chapter a Isa 40.1 2. Comfort ye comfort yee my people saith your God Speake yee comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her That her * So is the Translation in the margent appointed time is accomplished that her iniquitie is pardoned for she hath received of the Lords hand double for all her sinnes Then the said heavenlie voice is uttered to be considered most seriously viz. In the Wildernesse prepare ye the way of the Lord The former part of the crying voice is a kinde of figurative speaking c. The which crying voice from heaven unto us is in the former part thereof a kinde of Figurative speaking signifying That as if the greatest Emperour were to goe into a Wildernesse or desart for to make his abode there he would * As is expressed in Isa 40.3 4. expect such like preparation for his comming So Christ in His spirituall comming to make his b Joh. 14.23 Mal. 3.1 Psa 101.2 abode within His people doth expect the like c Amos. 4.12 Isa 64.4 5. The said crying voice is a portion of Scripture of most speciall consideration preparing to be made spiritually Now this whole portion of Scripture is as it were a summe even of all the generall doctrine of the word of God And therefore it is most diligently to be noted Yea it is a * See Luke 11.52 In Marke 1.1 2. The said duty of preparation is signified to be the doctrine of the beginning of the Gospel of Iesus Christ And therfore it is most seriously to bee minded The late learned Casaubon said Mysterium in hac historia à propheta Esaia olim praedicta et tanto studio à sanctis Evangelistis adnotata latere aliquid majus suspicor quam aut capere ipse satis aut
Eph. 2.2 2 Tim. 2.25 26. Luke 11.21 22 24. spirit of the World Satan reigning with his power therein The Apostle saith c Rom 6.16 Know ye not that to whom ye yeeld your selves servants to obey his servants ye are to whom ye obey Can such be in a safe condition which will passe their time as the Apostle saith d 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 Hath not Christ said But those mine enemies which would not that I should e Luke 19.27 reigne over them or have my kingdome of grace f Luke 17.21 The third use for correction within them bring hither and slay them before me A Third use is for Correction of most persons which passe their time in this world not minding this one necessary thing namely to bee now an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. O what paines do most take all their life long some in one humane g Ier. 9.23 24. learning some in another some in the h Ps 39.6 Hab. 2 6. getting or i 1. Tim. 6.10 Luke 12.19 loving of worldly wealth some in following their own k 1. Cor. 10.7 2. Tim. 3.4 Job 21.13 See the marginall reading there earthly pleasures others in l Col. 3.2 Phil. 3 19. The Summum Bonum in this world setting their hearts on other matters according to their severall affections and neglect the Summum Bonum the Soveraigne or Supreme good in this present world to wit the m 1. Joh. 1.3 4. and 4.16 17. Eph. 3.19 and 4.13 Song 3.4 Joh. 14.21 23. enjoying of Gods gracious presence within ones soule n Gen. 5.22 Micah 6.8 walking with God o 1 Cor. 6.17 Joh. 17.21 joyning to the Lord and becomming one spirit with him The Apostle saith p Rom. 8.9 If any one have not the Spirit of Christ hee is none of his Of whose Spirit the fruit is q Gal. 5.22 23 24. love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance and it is in r Eph. 5.9 all goodnes and righteousnesse and truth They which are wholly for Å¿ Col. 2.8 Acts 17.18 humane learning or for the t 2. Tim. 3.5 Mat. 23.2 3. and 5.20 Ier. 22.16 17. 1 Joh. 2.3 4. Gen. 3.6 meere historicall knowledge of what is contained in Divine writ that they may proceed so farre therein as is possible and do make such understanding their glory and endeavour to have it for the greatest contentment of the minde are not in the right they have not the u Prov. 9.10 Job 28.28 Ps 111.10 and 119.98 99 100. perfect wisdome For it is the Gospels doctrine * 1. Cor. 13.1 2. See the Geneva Translation of 1. Cor. 13.2 and the Greeke Text. Though I speake with the tongues of men and of Angels and have not charity I am become as sounding brasse or a tinkling Cymball And though I have the gift of prophecie and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not Charity I am nothing It is said also else where x 1. Joh. 4.7 8 8 16. Deut. 4.6 7 and 32.29 and 5.29 1 Cor. 8.3 Joh. 15.10 14. 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 love God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him And what the said lovers nature and properties are it is plainly expressed in the thirteenth chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians where sixteen qualities thereof are reckoned up that there may be no mistake concerning the charity or love which the holy Gospell prescribeth and requireth The fourth use for instruction A fourth use is for Instruction That seeing our Creatour willeth that we z Ps 119.166 174. 1 Pet. 1.13 14 15. 1 Thess 1.10 1. Cor. 1.7 9. zealously endeavour the aforesaid preparation and then waite for the Revelation there promised that we a Jer. 7.5 Lam. 3.40 Consider the importance of the Hebrew Text. See Junius his Translation thereof throughly search and try our waies and turne home quite unto the Lord as Jeremiah maketh exhortation Wherewithall saith David shall a young man b Ps 119.9 2 Cor. 13.5 1 Thess 5.21 22. cleanse his way By taking heed thereto according to thy word We are therefore to consider all the word of the Lord for to see what valleys mountaines and hils crookednesses and roughnesses it doth discover to be in us that so with help of his holy Spirit we may put them all away more and more We are also often to pray as David did c Ps 63.1 2 8. Wee are to pray continually for Gods helpe hereunto O God Thou art my God early will I seek thee My soule thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirstie land where no water is to see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuarie My soule followeth hard after thee d Ps 143.10 and 25.5 Teach me to doe thy will for thou art my God Thy Spirit is good leade me into the Land of uprightnesse * Ps 43.3 O send out thy light and thy truth let them lead me let them bring mee unto thy holie Hill and to thy Tabernacles The said worke of preparation is not to bee deferred Moreover the said worke of preparing a way for the Lord to come into us is not to be deferred untill old age or untill there be perill of death or of some great misery but as the Holy Ghost saith e Heb. 3.7 8 13 15. To day if yee will hear his voice harden not your hearts as in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wildernesse The Apostle there saith Exhort one another daily whiles it is called to day lest any of you be hardned through the the deceitfulnesse of sinne Continuall observation declareth a certain counsell to be wholesome which saith f Sirach 5.7 Deut. 29.10 21. Rom. 2.4 5 6. Ps 119.59 60. 1 Thess 5.2 3. Maledictus qui florem juventutis suae diabolo et faecem senectutis Deo reservat Augustinus Make no tarrying to turn unto the Lord and put not off from day to day for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth and in thy securitie shalt thou be destroyed and perish in the day of vengeance g Isa 55.6 Isaiah saith Seeke ye the Lord while he may be found call ye upon him while he is neere Christ saith h Luke 13.25 26 27. When once the master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the doore and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the door saying Lord Lord open unto us and he shall answer and
most seriously consider what saith the heavenly crying voice That the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed unto all preparers of his way and they shall see it together for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it who hath power to performe whatsoever he promiseth Isaiah saith elsewhere h Isa 54.13 All thy children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the i The said word in sense implieth Unity peace of thy children Great unitie will be among all those which are led by his holy Spirit and Word for his Spirit leadeth into all k Joh. 16.13 Acts. 5.32 Eph. 4.3 1 Cor. 12.13 truth such as unfeinedly strive to yeeld due obedience unto all the commandements of Christs holy Gospel The wisedome of the God of heaven made use of this l Ier. 8.22 Balme of Gilead the crying voice when great difference was in the Church of the Jewes and it with his Divine m 1 Cor. 3.6 blessing cured a great many It was John the n Luke 3.3 4 5 6. Baptists doctrine yea o Mat. 4.17 Mar. 1.14 15. Luke 4.18 19. Christ and his p Mar. 6.12 Acts. 20.21 Luke 13.3 5. Apostles in effect did use it in their preaching O into what an unitie it brought the true fearers of God which were in q Acts. 2.1 38 41 42 46 47. Jerusalem and the land of Jewrie And so how it wrought among the Gentiles witnesse all the r Col. 2.1 2 5. Churches of them unto whom the Apostles wrote Epistles Also the same efficacie by the assistance of Divine grace will it now take among all such as will make due use of it as it did in those daies of old For saith the Scripture Behold the Lords hand is not Å¿ Isa 59.1 2. shortened that it cannot save neither his eare heavie that it cannot heare But your t Ier. 5.25 Ps 66.18 iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sinnes have hid his face from you that he will not heare The Virgin Mary said u Luke 1.51 He scattereth the proud in the imagination of their hearts But his Sonne gathereth together into * Joh. 11.52 one the children of God that are scattered abroad as even Caiphas prophesied Yea unto Unitie worketh God the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost x Eph. 1.10 It is to bee noted That as in the beginning man and woman were created in unity with God so Holy Scriptures use is to direct us for to draw nigher and nigher unto the same Hence it is that Christ prayed so fervently for his people concerning their true Christian unity See Joh. 17.11 21 22 23.26.13 That as S. Paul saith in the dispensation of the fulnesse of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in Him Moreover that the receiving of heavenly light into the understanding doth further unto unitie it may appeare from a similitude If a company be in a dark room where is very little light and it hath a table whereon is much mony A Similitude for to shew that the true heavenly light wheresoever it appeareth doth further unto true Christian unitie gold and silver and some counterfeit coine be among the same If they be willed to take only all the currant mony and thereunto to advise each with other for the better judging of the same and also be promised increase of benefit according as every one taketh most of the said coin with none of the counterfeit Will there not arise some difference among them concerning some peeces of the mony Will there not be some conjectures amisse because they judge for the most part by supposing or imagination not by clear sight But if a window be opened unto them and they have the true day light will not then the case be otherwise and all former dissent in opinion about the said coine much cease So is it with us mankind so long as we abide fast in the fall of Adam y Isa 60.2 Ier. 4.22 23. 1 Joh 2.9 11. grosse darknesse covereth us as Isaiah signifieth Yea S. Paul told the Ephesians that they were sometime z Eph. 5.8 Prov. 4 1â— darknesse And the Prophet also speaking concerning such saith a Is 59.10 We grope for the wall like blind and we grope as if we had no eyes we stumble at noone-day as in the night we are in desolate places as dead men The b 1 Cor. 2.14 naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned The Lord Christ saith The c Joh. 14.17 1 Joh. 5.19 2 Cor. 4.4 Spirit of truth the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him Great is our spirituall darknesse manifold are our mistakes about the things of God Yea also we much differ in opinion concerning such matters But when as we heare the heavenly d In Isa 40.3 4 5. crying voice and attend thereunto when we open the e Rev. 3.20 Ps 24.7 8 9 10. door of our hearts and receive the f Eph. 3.16 17. 1 Cor. 14.25 Gal. 2.20 Col. 3.11 and 1.27 2. Cor. 13.3 Spirit of Christ thereinto He will then g Eph. 5.14 2 Cor. 4.6 2 Pet. 1.19 Prov. 28.5 Phil. 1.9 10 11. Ps 112.4 give us light he will open unto us such a spirituall window and let such a measure of true heavenly light shine into us as that we shall judge more and more rightly concerning all things pertaining unto Godlinesse Also former differences among us will more and more cease and the unitie of the Holy Spirit will inwardly and outwardly among us encrease Another Similitude for to shew how among all well-affected the true Christian unitie easily increaseth Heare also another similitude Even as in an houshold where all the servants do faithfully mind the performing of every command of their master and one to help another for the fulfilling of the same will there be any dissension among such Or if any should chance through any mistake will it not soon cease for that none seeketh himself but every one onely his masters benefit and credit So among all those whose * The mind of mankind for the farre greatest part hath as it were lost it selfe in that it considereth not the marke which the Creatour hath prescribed unto it only aime it is that our heavenly Masters will may be done here on earth h Mat. 6.10 Rom. 12.2 Eph. 5.17 1 Thess 4.3 4 5 6.7 as it is in heaven and * The said marke at which to aime continually and whereon to mind alwaies in every particular matter is in briefe signified in the afore quotations Mat. 6.10 Eph. 5 17. thereunto do endeavour what may be to help and set forward one another will there be any discord among such Or