Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	true_a	worship_v	worshipper_n	3,990	5	12.1152	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89274	Mercies for man. Prepared in, and by Christ, even for such as neither know them, nor him. Discovered, that they might know, and enjoy them. Or a discourse of the interest there is for all men in, and by Christ in the end, and usefulmesse of the beleevers peculiar priviledges and service. In which is also some information about that service to which the grace of God, that bringeth salvation to all men, instructeth, and obligeth the beleever for the good of them all, according to capacity, and opportunity given him. Likewise some directions for, and concerning Christian magistrates. In the opening some instructions arising from the Apostles exhortation to Timothy, 1 Tim. 2.1, 2. Delivered in November 1653. at the Munday meetings at Black-Friers: and because what then was spoken, met with some publick opposition, this is now published for further satisfaction. Written by Thomas Moor, Junior.	Moore, Thomas, Junior.	1654 (1654)	Wing M2605; Thomason E744_1; ESTC R207022	135,708	156

truth is not plainly manifested but one thing spoken and another meant or the meaning locked or sealed up from us under other expressions contrary to 2 Cor. 4. 1 4. when the pen of the Scribe especially in those things main and fundamenttal is rendered as vain and too empty to give his sence and meaning and yet men pretend wisdom and that they have the Law of the Lord with them Jer. 8. 8 9. This Vision of all being a sealed book upon this account it 's affirmed of such Their whole fear and worship though they honour him with their lips is taught by mens precepts and therefore not right worshipping The reason of such an Assertion concerning the whole worship meerly on this account is this The summe of the Gospel being hid they are lost or out of the way and cannot have any right understanding or usefulness of the instructions of the word of the Lord as to their worship of him having rejected the summe and fundamentals of it and that in which the fellowship of the Spirit is to be met with for opening the rest They have therein rejected the word of the Lord and what wisdom is in them Jer. 8. 8 9. 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. And this is the reason of their roeling and erring in all things hard to be understood they are unlearned and unstable 2 Pet. 3. 16. that is not having learned Christ aright and so all truth as it is in Jesus that Vision of all or not attending and waiting to learn and have the usefulness of all truth according to their needs and capacities through the knowledge and usefulness of that summe of the Gospel the testimony of God concerning him as Isa 28. 10 11 12 14 16. John 6. 45 46. Eph. 4. 21. They therefore presently pervert those things in the Scriptures hard to be understood and then also to frame their apprehensions in every thing to such pervertings of the Scriptures in things hard they pervert all other Scriptures to their own destruction These are such ungodly ones as yet have a form of godliness but deny the power resist and oppose the truth as it is in Jesus The Father is not rightly honoured or worshipped by them The true Worshippers worship the Father in Spirit and truth John 4. 23. The truth of all types promises and former revelations of God to men in and according to which the Father is to be worshipped is Christ Jesus Phil. 3. 3. The testimony of Jesus as now come forth is to us the Spirit of prophesie through and according to which the Father and Son God in Christ is to be acknowledged believed in and worshipped by us Rev. 19. 10. And thus our Saviour explicates that John 4. 23. according to these two Scriptures compared in John 5. 22 23 24. The Father judgeth no man that is otherwise then as follows but hath committed all judgement to the Son to this end that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father that now in honouring the Son as come forth and glorified in our nature through sufferings they may therein truely acceptably honour or worship the Father And for further opening how and wherein the Son is rightly honoured and so the Father in him he addes He that heareth my word that revelation of the Father that he was delivered to death for our offences raised for our justification as declared in the Gospel giveth and through and according to it beliveeth on him that sent me he hath ever lasting life c. Therefore believers are exhorted to hold fast the believing remembrance of the things heard from the beginning the word of the beginning of Christ and to have recourse thereto as to that Spirit or Unction it being the immediate birth or off-spring of the Spirit it self and so Spirit according to that rule John 3. 6. His name an oynment poured forth Cant. 1. 2. for understanding all things for preserving from every evil word and work for direction and furniture to all service and suffering 1 Cor. 15. 1 4. 2 Tim. 2. 7 8. 1 John 2. 20 24 27. And therein and so they shall be found exercising themselves to godliness Honesty signifies righteousness equity or justice in our demeanour towards all men and that such as in which there is chastity or sincerity to the main design for which we are set in the world purity of heart and cleanness of hands in prosecuting the good of all men working righteousness or walking righteously in all our conversation with and amongst them as Psal 15. and 24. Isa 33. 15. According to the teachings of that grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men and so in like expressions it is joyned with living godly in that Tit. 2. 11 12. and opposed to worldly lusts The grace of God that brings salvation to all men hath appeared teaching us That denying ungodliness and wordly lusts we should live righteously soberly and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the mighty God our Saviour who gave himsef for us to redeem us from all iniquity that he might purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works So 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. it 's opposed to fleshly lusts which being heeded and listened to do hinder the Soul of so living honestly Therefore dearly beloved saith Peter I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts that warre against the Soul having your conversation honest among the Gentiles that in the day of their visitation they may glorifie God Like that Phil. 2. 15 16. Do all things without murmurings and disputings that ye may be blameless harmless the Sons of God in the midst of a crooked generation amongst whom shine ye as lights in the world holding forth the word of life and that both in word and conversation The doing that which is just and equal between man and man and so unto all or that which is so in the sight of men this is certainly here meant by or contained in living honestly as Phil. 2. 16. Rom. 12. 17. 1 Pet. 2. 15. and 3. 16. But this alone is too scant a definition of the living honestly here meant yet all that is signified by it is no more but a walking righteously and doing that which is lawful right but that which is so in the sight of God and according to the teachings of that grace of God that brings salvation to all men goes further then that which is so in the sight of men and they are both together in this living honestly as may be seen in one instance 2 Cor. 8. 20 21. That no man might blame them in the abundance administred by them they did provide things honest not onely in the sight of God but also in the sight of men signifying that they did provide things honest or walk honestly in the sight of God in administring abundantly of whatever God had given them for the good

shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven Phil. 2. Mat. 5. 13. 15. Dearly beloved saith Peter 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul having your conversation honest seasoned with gravity and sincerity single and chaste to God and your main design to glorifie him amongst others and for their good that the Gentiles in the day of their visitation may glorifie God who when the instructions and reproofs of the Gospel begin to light on their hearts will presently turn their eyes upon you supposing if there be indeed truth in this Gospel and in the instructions thereof leading them so to worship God If there be such preciousnesse in Christ such sweetnesse and satisfaction in the love of God to Man-ward therein discovered that then those that do indeed know it and have tasted the graciousnesse of the Lord as you have professed among them must needs be men in their conversation full of honesty walking in all good conscience towards God and men not loving the world nor the things thereof not easily provoked by any injuries of any sort extending onely to themselves but willingly rather suffering wrong not high-minded self-willed or conformed to this world in the customes wayes or fashions of it according to their former lusts in their ignorance And if accordingly they behold your light herein shining your lamps burning and you as strangers travellers and as men ready waiting for the appearing of your Lord this will be a great and effectuall means to lead them to glorifie God and acknowledge As we have heard so we have seen in the house of our God they wil then beleeve his word and the instructions thereof to be good and true whereas on the other hand if they behold the contrary in you it will be an occasion of stumble to them and lead them to blaspheme the holy name called upon by you Oh therefore ly down and deny your selves in this and be willing to take up your crosse daily that you may follow him in pursuance of his Design for the good of all men And to provoke and constrain you hereto Consider these Motives 1 You are debtors to all men Greeks Barbarians wise unwise bond and free And that upon this account you have been acquainted with that grace of God that brings salvation to all men Rom. 1. 15. Tit. 2. 10 11. It s that grace that you have received for to such I speak and in the receiving which you have been saved who were sometimes such as the worstamongst whom you live but that grace that is in God towards them in its appearing to you hath saved you And therein you have received that word of Reconciliation in some distinct understanding of it and fitnesse to hold it forth according to which your selves have been reconciled to God that holds forth matter of concernment to every one of them that one dyed for all and rose again And that this was not onely sufficient but effectuall with the Father in the publick Person as if all had dyed And that all this was so effectuall with the Father for them and cordially that it might be effectuall in them that they which live every man in his proper age should not henceforth after this grace is manif●sted to him live to himself but to him that dyed for them and rose again that in that Death and Resurrection of Christ God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe and now by his Ambassadors doth on that ground perswade them to be reconciled in themselves by Christ whom he hath sent to blesse them in turning every one of them from all their iniquities Tit. 3. 3 4. 2 Cor. 5. 14 15-21 Act. 3. 26. such is the word of Reconciliation he hath put in you Tidings of great joy to all people Luke 2. 10 14. you are herein according to your measure made Stewards of the manifold grace of God Moreover it is required of Stewards that a man be found faithfull 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. 1 Cor. 4. 1 2. Do not you therefore with-hold good from them to whom it is due or put your light under a bushel that was given you to shew light to all the house 2 Yea let the love of Christ and so of God in Christ to all men be herewith considered as effectually witnessed in that he hath done for them and doth to them according as declared in this Gospel committed to your trust and it will constrain you True it is it doth not constrain or lead to such love or service of love but upon principles of certainty and truth it leads not to run at an uncertain or to fight as those that beat the Air nor are there other principles of certainty and truth but these and their companions upon which it so perswades that is to say The love of Christ doth not constrain or lead any man to preach the Gospel to or perswade any other man to be reconciled to God for whom the testimony of it doth not assure him upon principles of certainty and truth That Christ dyed and rose for him and that so effectually with the Father and cordially in respect of its tendency towards him as foreshewed It s true many do preach and exhort and fight very much that do not thus judge but on what account or the love of what leads them to it we examine not doubtlesse some one thing some another But let this love which you have seen and believed to be in God towards all men in sending his Son the Saviour of the world be considered by you and from these principles of truth received in your judgement it will constrain or hemn you in to this service by filling you with the same love and zeal for their good that will not be letted or hindred by any thing seeing also your understanding from the same principles is furnished with knowledge of the greatnesse of the terror of the Lord against those which turn such grace into wantonnesse tread under foot such precious bloud denying him that bought them bring on themselves destruction which terror you could not otherwise have rightly read but in that face of Christ For who knoweth the power of his Anger surely none But here we have a rule given us according to which you may have some discerning of the nature and greatnesse of it according to thy fear or worship that name and grace of thine declared in and through thy Son according to which thou mightest have been feared or worshipped by those men to their everlasting health and comfort such is and will be thy wrath against all ungodly men that turn thy grace into wantonesse Psal 90. 11. Therefore in the beliefe of the exceeding greatnesse of his love to Man-ward you have a view of the greatnesse of his Terror against all such ungodly ones as turn it into wantonnesse and therefore while

7. The second general Instruction we shall propound is no other but that which is fully exprest and lyes whole in the first verse as considered in it self and with relation to the occasion foreshewed namely That in pursuance of this great Design for the good of all men and that to that purpose The believers ministration may be blessed and successeful among them First of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks are to be made for all men For proof of this Proposition in these termes I need adde no more it is so plain in the words considering the occasion of them yet it is again confirmed in the 7. and 8. verses Paul being appointed an Herauld or Cryer to the Gentiles in faith and verity of the testimony of God concerning Christ he wills therefore seeing he is appointed to such service amongst them and for their good that men may pray every where ever more in every place in all cases yea for All men as is signified in the following words without wrath or doubting which signifies that many of those for whom prayers are to be made that the warfare of the servants of Christ may be blessed and profitable to them are such as against whom they shall have occasion of wrath and concerning whom occasion or cause of doubting if they consider them according to outward appearance yet even for such the worst sorts and so All men unto and amongst whom they are sent Prayers and Thanksgivings are to be made to this end that they may war a good warfare amongst them And therefore the Apostles giving up themselves wholly to the service of Christ in the Gospel of his Son were said to give themselves continually in the first place to Prayer and so there withall to the Ministry of the word Act. 6. 4. But for more distinct opening and usefulnesse of this Proposition Consider 1 Who are the All men for whom Prayers and Thanksgiving are to be made 2 Who are those men by whom they are to be made 3 What are those Supplications Prayers and Intercessions that are to be made for all men 4 What those Thanksgivings that are to be joyned with Prayers and made for all men 5 What foundation we have or upon what account and ground we are exhorted to make Supplications Prayers c. for all men 1 Who are the all men here meant in the Text for whom Prayers c. are to be made let the Text speak They are all those men whom God would have saved and come to the knowledge of the truth verse 4. That good will in God towards them being rendred as the ground of praying for them plainly shews they are all to be prayed for towards whom there is such good will in God and who they are see and compare these Scriptures Tit. 2. 11. The grace of God brings salvation to all men 2 Pet. 3. 9. He would not that any should perish but that all should come to repentance Eze. 33. 11. with Ch. 18. 31. He hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked of such wicked men as do dye but that they should turn and live For God sent not his Son into the world to condemne the world but that the world through him might be saved Joh. 3. 17. even such as by rejecting when they hear do bring upon themselves everlasting condemnation verse 19. with Chap. 12. 47 48. They are all those whose nature Jesus Christ took and for whom therein he gave himself a ransome and between whom and the Father he is the Mediator that he might be testified in due time which are as the following verses say Men as opposed to God which signifies the whole species or kind of that creature man none excepted but the Mediator who is of both God and man All other of the whole kind every one of that nature as Heb. 2. 9. and 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. And so other Scriptures plentifully tell us He hath redeemed ransomed or bought all men even those that deny the Lord that bought them and bring on themselves swift destruction by so denying him 2 Pet. 3. 2. And doth make Intercession for the Transgressors even for such Transgressors and that a long time as afterward for their wilfull unprofitableness and rebellion he justly leaves to be cut off for ever Isa 53. 12. Luke 13. 6. 9. as for those that crucified him he prayed Father forgive him Luke 23. 33. 34. Do not yet lay sin to their charge so as to execute Judgement speedily on them but grant forbearance yet unto them and further means for admonishing them to repentance and his prayer was heard for them and they were spared that time that had a hand in that and had speciall means used by the Apostles to instruct and admonish them to repentance for the blessing them in turning every one of them from all his iniquities Act. 3. 19 25. even those very persons that afterwards persecuting the Apostles and rejecting the Gospel as preached by them also filled up the measure of their sin till wrath came upon them to the uttermost 1 Thess 2. 14 15 16. see particularly in the case of Judas our Saviour affirms his body was given to be broken and offered for him his bloud shed for him even then it was virtually done and accepted for him as one of the rest of mankind the works being virtually finished before the actuall accomplishment of them Luke 22. 19 20 21. giving the Bread and the Cup to his Disciples and to them all there present and speaking to them he saith This is my body which is given for you This is my blood which is shed for you But behold the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the Table But behold c. as if he should say notwithstanding this forementioned is true for you all and I have thus declared it to you and given you this as a witnesse and seal of the truth of it which still makes the sin so much the the greater yet even one of you will betray me neither did our Savior in this or by any fore-purpose necessitate Judas or willingly give him over or leave him to this sin to betray his Master but here evidently as oft before did faithfully timely admonish him while it might have been for his good even for the preventing him in the accomplishment of his wicked enterprise and that that was the first end and intention of it towards him appears by considering the next verse with Matth. 26. 24 25. and the whole current of Scripture as to this point nor did God stand in need of his help with the destruction of his soul to bring to passe his enterprise he could have brought that about some other way if Judas had received his Masters warning as God desired and indeed this warning of our Saviour to Judas in both the parts thereof is of like nature with that Psal 68. 18 19-21 Thou hast ascended on high thou hast

use of to present all our needs and matters that are according to the wil of God for our selves and others and he that is our Advocate He is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world and therefore we may thorow and by him make our prayers for any mans sin which is equivalent with and full as large as this for all men we shal adde no more for proofe of this but only this caution for a right understanding of what is said that it is possible and sometime found some men before their Natural l●fe be snatcht from them may have put themselves out of the number of this All men to be prayed for men may have so filled up the measure of their sinne as to have finished it so as it hath occasioned or brought forth Death in an utter rejection and separation from God Jam. 1. 15 with 1 Joh. 5. 16 17. Jer. 6. 30. now if any have sinned so farre as unto Death in such a sence God having wholly rejected them and we see or discerne the same that we may so judge according to the instructions of the Gospel then the Gospel saith not we should pray for that sin and yet this infringes not at all the truth of the Proposition in the termes in which it is delivered that prayers c. are to bee made for all men for these reasons 1 These were of that number All of them once and some time for God is slow to anger it is his strange and unpleasing worke wholly to give up any Isa 28. 21. and so were then to be prayed for there are none that are not to be prayed for or to be absolutely prayed against but such as have been before prayed for as comparing the fore-mentioned Scriptures it appeares we are not to cease praying for them until their sinne be unto death which it is not til finished then all the time before while it is not finished those persons were to bee prayed for upon the same ground and principles of certainty and truth that any others are The truth of this is confirmed in those Scriptures Jer. 7. 16. 11. 14. 14. 11. where the Prophet is required not to pray any more for that people nor to lift up a cry or prayer for them the reason we have in the fore-going and following Verses of those Chapters like unto that Prov. 1. 24 25. c. and Isa 65. 12 13. 66. 1-4 because God had long cryed unto them in his Spirit by the Prophets and other meanes as Zech. 7. 9-11 12. with Jer. 7. 3-12 13. to amend their wayes not to trust in lying words c. and waited long that he might be gracious to them and yet they would not hear he had called and they answered not but set at nought all his counsel and would none of his reproofe which shewes that all that time while he had done so his Servants according to his good and acceptable wil were not to cease praying for them so that even these were to be prayed for and that in an acceptable time 2 When Sinne is so wholly finished as it hath brought forth death in an utter separation from God then they being so rejected of him are left to the power of the Tempter and their owne delusions they have chosen in which condition they are become one with Satan and so of the seed of the Serpent in a full sense of the Devil and so in farre worse state than that which is meerly Natural as derived from Adam These are no longer numbred among all men as men or children of men considered but are distinguished from them and set out by names far worse than any generally applyed to Mankinde even the children of the wicked one distinct from the field of the world Mat. 13. 38 vessels of wrath fitted to destruction Rom. 9. 22. Sons of Belial 1 Sam. 2. 12. 2 Sam. 23. 6 7. the wicked and ungodly in the highest sense trees twice dead pluckt up by the roots for whom is reserved the blacknesse of darknesse for ever 2 Pet. 2. 9. Jud. 12. 15. so that though there may be some at some time living amongst men that are not to be prayed so yet the Proposition remaines generally true That all men every where and in all Ages are to be prayed for and every particular of them until in any of them we see according to the instructions of the Gospel that Sinne is finished and hath brought forth Death and then they are not to be reckoned by us amongst the residue of men as naturall men considered yea God will discriminate them by some distinguishing notes As giving them up wholly to a reprobate sense Rom. 1. 28. 2 Tim. 3. 8. to have pleasure and that without reproofe having their conscience feared 1 Tim. 4. 2. in unrighteousnesse 2 Thess 2. 12. And in his providences not vouchfasing any more to reprove or call them by enlarging his servants hearts opening their mouths and giving them opportunity to preach to and perswade them which he usually doth while it is an accepted time or day of salvation towards a man or people 2 Cor. 6. 1 2-11 Ezek. 33. 33. Amos 8. 11-14 or by adding his lesser and favourable chastisements and changes in his providences with them as with others Isa 1. 5. Psal 55. 19. Hos 4. 14. So that the spiritual man shall in some measure be able to know and note them as reprobate silver that God hath rejected Yet here let me give this as my advice Let none of us be too hasty in passing sentence or judgement on men as such or in ceasing to pray for them on such an account and that for these Reasons First because God is slow to anger And it is his strange work to reprobate or give up any to perdition neither doth he it usually at once but with a great deal of slownesse and by degrees and is exceedingly unwilling when he hath begun to do it fully Hos 11. 8. How shall I give thee up how shall I set thee as Admah and Zeboim c. It s generally true He is slow to anger of great compassions and repenteth him of the evill The truth of it may be abundantly seen in the case of Pharaoh whom though God often left to his hardnesse after he had stubbornly and voluntarily hardened himselfe and made himselfe a meet vessell for such judgements yet he did not wholly nor altogether leave him therein but in part and graciously admonished and wrought on his heart by his judgements and admonitions againe and againe and did so many a time soften him after such his beginnings of hardening before he fully left him to it after which he was not long spared so likewise in that case of Jerusalem weeping over it he said How often would I have gathered thee c. Matth. 23. 37. Luke 19. 42. The truth is it is mentioned as very rare That God

hand to that purpose listen diligently and give earnest need to the still and quiet voyce of the Gospel in which the spirit and power of God is for your direction and protection hearken to those instructions and counsels by what hand soever they be brought to you in which Jesus Christ and the things of him are shewed to you by the Scriptures as the great things of his Law to be heeded and had recourse to continually by you for your direction and helpfulness in all other things and so he glorified or lifted up according to the Apostles word or doctrine as 1 John 4. 2 3 6. John 14. 26. and 16. 13 14. which that you may know and be well acquainted with that by no means they may be let pass or slip away from you under another and false apprehension of them Seach the Scriptures diligently your selves whether those things be so as those Act. 17. 11. And that you may have more true profit and usefulness of the Scriptures in your search of them whose profit even to the making wise to salvation in every respect is best attained and met with through a mindefulness and exercise of faith in Christ Jesus the sum of them according to the light of instructions and capacity given us 2 Tim. 3. 15. that therefore you may meet with more of the utility of the Scriptures to the furnishing you with wisdom in every matter then the Scribes and Phatisees or the scornful Rulers of that people in Jerusalem did though they were very Zealous and expert in the Scriptures take notice of that rock obstruction or hinderance that deprived them of such profit in their search of Scriptures that you may avoid it see John 5. 39 40. compared with Isa 28. 12 14 16. they did scornfully and wilfully against evident light and demonstration of the Spirit in the Scriptures refuse to come to close with and own Christ the sum of the Scriptures testimony as therein testified yea they were so scornful that though God had appointed and directed them to have their recourse to that foundation laid in Sion the life in Christ from the beginning according to the declarations thereof come forth for their right understanding and usefulness of all the Law and the Prophets and so directed them to that as the center of all Scriptures and as that rest wherewith they might cause the weary to rest yet they would not but were scornful and conceited of their wisdom strength and holiness and therefore took the word of God in peices and presumed to finde out the minde of God and give the sence of every Scripture of every Law and Statute by it self or without such making use of that way or rule to which they were by God directed yea those great things of his Law to which they should have brought all other things and parts thereof to have been helped in finding out the sence and usefulness of them by comparing them with and understanding them according to the light and instruction of that key of knowledge those of all other things were flighted and put from them as things of least concernment accounted strange things Hosea 8. 12. The Vision of all a sealed Book Isa 29. 11. and so they made the word of the Lord to themselves Line upon line precept upon precept here a little and there a little that so while pretending to be zealous and strict in observing that rule yet they in such their walkings or going on fell backward were broken snared and taken and for their scornfulness God threatened to send or permit to them such kinde of teachers Isa 28. 10 11. and leave them to such blindeness as Mat. 13. 11 12 15. Take heed therefore of that great evil and seek to be well furnished with understanding in that key of knowledge the testimony of Jesus and to learn skil to use it as by it you are taught refuse not the reproofs of instruction that by this wisdom of God Jesus Christ as declared in the Gospel are brought to you better it is for you now to fall down under those bands and not to break those cords but suffer them to have their operation to the humbling you before him then to make your selves of that number that shall after be bound in everlasting chains and fetters by that Word and Gospel the reproofs of which were proudly rejected by them and by that despised people that were instruments sent now to perswade them You have much need of wisdom in the knowledge of Christ and of much skill to make use of it that you may put on the consideration of the Lord Jesus Christ as to every matter It 's true every wise and gracious man is not meet nor every way furnished to be a Governour in this present World and it 's as true that an unwise man in the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ an ungracious man will not be a just Ruler or good Magistrate He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God and so he shall be as the clear shining after rain and as the light of the morning when the Sun riseth even a morning without Clouds 2 Sam. 23. 3 4 5. Now though Davids house be not so with God this was not found perfectly in him or Solomon and if not in them then in no mortal man whose breath is in his nostrils to be expected but it shall be fully verified and found true onely in that Son of David The sure mercies of David concerning whom and of the everlasting righteous and peaceable Kingdom in and by him the everlasting Covenant was made with David as comparing with this Isa 55. 3 4. with Acts 13. 34. and in this was all his desire and salvation though in this day he received it not but shall as certainly when it comes as they that then survive Though this is true I say That the truth of this will be onely perfectly found in him at whom David also had an especial eye yet this also is true That the way for Rulers now to be directed and strengthened to rule justly and so as they may be a refreshing and mercy to the Nations over whom they are set accorto such a measure as they are capable is to set the fear of God before their eyes and rule according to the light instructions and guidance thereof 'T is a true saying of the Preacher Better is a poor and wise Child then a King that is never so old setled in his Kingdom or in yeers or in policy after the wisdom of this World or in whatever other considerations besides that yet is foolish and without understanding in the things of Christ and so knows not the God of his Fathers Ecles 4. 13. This therefore is the main thing to be desired for them and their being furnished with it will tend much to the good of all men and particularly to such benefit and enlargement to Gods people under them as may be much to the commodity and profit of all men amongst whom they live and is therefore so good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour to be desired for them Who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth FINIS