and then put together the words to know the sence of what they from time to time may reade in any or all the books of God in this world set forth for their learning wherin God sets before all sorts of men new lessons of all kinds if they would not be such dullards and trewants that they will not take them out look then upon the letters of Gods great folioes in the world the Creation the upholding the disposeing and ordering of it and all things in it Look first to the motions illuminations and influences of the heavens look upon the successions of times dayes and nights winter and summer seed time and harvest but thou wilt say how shall I put these together and make sillables and sentences of them look unto the 19 Psalme and there the word of God shall be thy schoole-master herein it tells thee the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmaments sheweth his handy-work and day unto day uttereth speech and night unto night sheweth language that is they hold out matter for thy understanding knowledge or experience to work upon such works of God to his praise and glory so again Gen. 8. 22. Gods word instructs us that seed time and harvest cold and heat summer and winter day and night shall not cease which is another syllable to spell the truth of God by in such things how that he hath ever since the destruction of the old world fulfilled that his promise in times of plenty the Psalmist shewes how he crowns the earth with his goodness Ps 65. 11 when all sorts of Creatures are full of rejoycing and comfort the Scriptures informs us to spell out thereby Ps 145. 16. That God openeth his hand and satisfieth the desire of every living thing and so to come to thy own particular case and condition in outward things thou mayest spell out words and sentences by the help of many instructers which God allows thee as thy Reason if rightly regulated thy own and others experience observations examples of others Gods judgements providences mercies and all sorts of outward Dispensations of God whereby thy capacity may be raised up toward the attainment of higher learning by degrees upon thy well using thy first rudiments of Divine knowledge for they should all discover God unto thee and so thou mayest by degrees come to attain a good measure of skill in the truly liberal sciences in the schoole of spiritual and heavenly grace or glory if the use of the former bring thee not neerer to God they will make thee go further from him as it was with the Gentiles Ro. 1. 21. Because when they knew God by his outward works they glorified him not as God neither were thankful therefore he gave them up if such works of God discover him not more unto thee they will cause him the more to hide his face from thee as is observed of some skilful experienced Physitians they know and see so much of the secret operations of Nature that by that means they become more Atheistical forgetting and neglecting the God of Nature they pore so much upon the excellencies of the Creatures which they think they know and make use of by their own skill industry for their temporall advantage that they therefore forget and neglect the Creator and the glory therefore due unto him and doth not this Atheisme grow upon men for the want of spelling the words and sentences of Gods ordinary Books in the world by the teaching of his Word whilest men would chuse rather to be thought great Naturalists and Politicians in the world by others when without that teaching they become meere naturalls fooles and Ideots rather than soundly judicious persons in that which mainly ought to be knowne observed and acknowledged by them to the glory of the all-working God Secondly Let this direct such men as have learned to spell out Gods names in his outward works by the help of his Word then to set themselves better to reade him in his word of grace let them know the principles of his Religion and know the maine foundations of his divine truth especially let them take notice of these two maine principles of such excellent knowledge First That all glory is to be rendred unto God as the only true Originall of all good And Secondly That all emptinesse is ever to be ascribed to the creature in it selfe further than God makes it any way capable of goodnesse and puts such goodnesse into it or makes it communicative of that goodnesse unto others or of further enlargement or longer injoyment of goodnesse from himselfe even as he pleaseth unto whom the praise thereof is ever therefore to be ascribed and if thou wilt but then take up that teaching word and use those meanes which God thereby directs thee to improve them and continue therein he will then more and more discover himselfe unto thee yea when once thou art set in such a serious seeking of him this way it is evident thou wert sought of him before and he hath begun already to make himselfe knowne unto thee and so thou dost and wilt seek him still and shalt finde him more and more in that way wherein thou shalt behold his glorious grace which is the sure way for thee to become acceptable unto him and shalt be truly blessed by him Thirdly But for others who have these glorious discoveries in any good measure already made unto them Let them hence learne with the most inlarged apprehensions that may be to behold them and with the most earnest bent of their affections to entertaine them and with the highest and fullest expressions of joy in their inward and with their outward man to mainfest and declare them to the everlasting praise of the Author of them let them improve them to his glory and the good of others let them more be transformed into the image of them that they may have the greater measure of true comfort and glory by them Againe Let men wisely hence observe the divine excellency of a truly gracious spirit when once a transfiguration is made in it what an excellent yea heavenly frame is put uponit what glorious discoveries are made unto it what celestiall Joyes are put into it what everlasting happinesle is prepared for it O that these things were setled upon mens souls and that they could with such divine meditations and spirituall Soliloquies by the assistance of the Lord the Spirit so rivet them into their own hearts and keep them there that they might still soar higher and higher in such heavenly contemplations till they attaine to the top of most glorious eternitie to receive in fullnesse what here in their measure only they can but taste of Againe Let them hence learne to be thankfull above all things in this world for such gracious discoveries in any measure or degree by their good God vouchsafed unto them Let them be humbled in the sence of their unworthinesse thereof as great as manifold
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OR A GLIMPSE OF Gospel Glory Together with a short but pithie Treatise of Mr. E. D. shewing thaâ— Peter was never at Rome to which 〈◊〉 subjoyned as an Appendix some pregnâ—â—â— Collections by that Grave and Reverend â—â—vine Mr. H. Nelson B. D. to a like purpoâ—â— The First Part. Hanc scilicet fallaciam scripturarum negleâ—â— in Christianismum bodie de Antichristo intruâ—â— Viricus Velenus Minhoniensis LONDON Printed by M. S. for Tho. Parkhurst at the Thâ—â—â— Crownes against the great Conduit at the lower end of Cheap-side 1661. Vere Honorabili ac ter Reverendo Domino Roberto Saundersono S. S. Theologiae Doctori pridem in Celeberrima Accademia Oxoniensi Regio Professori ornatissimo jam vero Dioecesis Lincolniensis Episcopo Eximio minutae hae ab indigno authore Evangelicae Gloriae dantor humiliterque exhibentor scintillulae To the Right Honourable and very Reverend Robert Lord Bishop of Lincolne the Author of the ensuing Treatise wisheth all Peace and Glory through and according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Lord of all My Lord I Doubt not but your known worth for learning soundness of judgement piety and conscience-satisfying skill and experience hath singled you out as a fit object of eminent honour from the publick Authority of this Nation who yet do appear more honorable in the esteem of conscientious Christians in regard of that truly Christian frame of Spirit remarkeably in you by your ready propensity in promoting of unitie manifest by your willingness to the taking away the hinderances thereof in these divided times the like disposition of mind would also be justly honorable in all of your ranke that substantial good in Religion might more be advanced but shaddows and seeming appearances less and the glory of Gospel grace above all other glories for which the Apostles rule is both general and peremptory 1 Cor. 14. 26. Let all things be done to edifying How might truth and peace by that means soon be settled in the Church which ought of all men to be esteemed of far greater value then all their worldly interests yea then a mans own dearest present life And truly so much as I know my own heart in my most retired thoughts I have often offered in these distractions amongst good men even my life as an expiation unto God if he would take it in any way of his faithful service upon that account so that I dying truth and peace might live and florish in this our Israel yet I may happily amongst some be deemed an obstructer of both but as according to my measure I have been studious of the one so according to your Honours ancient testimony of me I have followed the things that make for the other to the utmost of my power neither am I changed from my former principles though now in sundry respects I may not perhaps have the same freedome I confidently beleeve the soveraign hand of divine providence in special favour not only to my self but to many much better deserving persons hath in this juncture of time given you the inspection over us the consideration whereof with other special favours which you readily chearfully aunciently vouchsafed unto me with the observatioon of such your Christian frame of spirit still abiding in you whom new and eminent honour known learning sound judgment worldly interest or engagements appear not to have made either less humble meek peaceable or charitable and that man that is well moulded up from such materialls and in his better part as it were fitly compounded of four such elements must needs be of a good constitution such living Christians adde a glory to Gospel glory I would my small Mite here offered could adde unto your store yet if it doe but occasion you better to weigh and value what you already have to the praise of him that gives us all it may prove some advantage to you then I should be well appaid and shall thankfully returne the praise to him by whose remarkeable grace I have been carried on therein who as the Apostle speaketh Colos 1. 29. striving according to his working who worketh in me mightily Yet one thing more doth move me to this address I have long since known you a strong Champyon of sound truth against Popish errours witness your ancient conditions of dispute against Mr. Ford well worthy of the worlds view and profitable for such use which happily deterred him from proceeding In the same general cause many times appeared your reverend father and my worthy friend Mr. H. Nelson to whom about thirty years now past I communicated a short but pithie discourse of Mr. E. D. a reverend person related to him from whom I received it and since also to my self which hereunto I have annexed which your good father so well approved of notwithstanding all Antichristian flourishes to the contrary that he was pleased to write some notes of his own upon it some of which I transcribed into the margin I cannot say all and whose collections to like purpose as an Appendix I have also subjoyned thereunto which after many years lying aside unthought of upon my late removal were offered to my view upon the perusal whereof I considering the known gravity and piety of both the Authors with the worth of their workes fit to antidote such weakelings as are lyable to that danger against the strong contagion of that popish pestilence by beating down the main pillar of that foundationless fabrick no wonder then the prophetical spirit Rev. 8. 18. 1. reitterates her ruine Babylon the great is fallen is fallen Vt ingens pondus mole sua ruens as an huge and mighty pile weltring downward by its own weight since her supposed foundation failes her yea is discovered to be but a lye which I here likewise tender unto your Lordship but not with further expectation from your self in respect of this or the other to be approved then as they will endure the tryall by the Touchstone of all saving truth the written word of God and consonant to sound judgment and reason and answerably thereunto a blessing from his divine Majesty thereupon to whom in that case all the praise will be due and to whom in the mean time his prayer shall be presented before the throne of grace in the behalf of your self your deare yoakefellow and all yours that he would largely display the spiritual glory of Gospel grace in and unto all your soules to a greatertransformation of them into the same Image by the Lord the Spirit as followeth to the inlargement of all your eternal glory who is My Lord Your Honours long obliged though unworthy servant in Christ W. Sherwin From my study July 1661 TO THE CHRISTIAN READER and more especially to my Honored Friends and Kinsmen Thomas Bowles of Wallington Esquire and Mr Tho Bowles his eldest Sonne with the rest of that Family a choice and chiefe part of my late Charge
for all both Ministers and people that have this discovery made unto them which I conceive more consonant to the Text for these reasons for it is of many concernments in the Text. First all those that are said to behold the glory of the Lord are said to be changed into the same image which is a benefit ad omnes fideles Christianos pertinens licet non for san aequaliter ac ad Ministros Evangelii equally belonging to all faithfull Christians as well as Ministers of the Gospel though not alwayes in the like way manner or degree equally Secondly because it is in both respects said to be the work of the Lord the Spirit Thirdly because the Apostle in the beginning of this Chapter speaks of the Corinthians as having such a work of the Spirit wrought upon them concerning which he said ver 4 he had such trust through Christ to God-ward as Divines understand those words and that being granted it is then proprium quarto modo essentially belonging to all faithfull regenerate Christians as such being both illuminated and sanctified by the efficacious grace of the Lord the Spirit and therefore the note of Universalitie in the word all was necessary to be annexed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with open face 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a face uncovered Whereas in Moses Ministery his face was covered ver 13 14. so that the Children of Israel could not look unto the end of those things which are abolished Now in Gospel times the vaile is so taken away in Christ that the wonderfull grace of God is manifest and evident unto his people c. yet in reference to the metaphor something might be observable in reference to the severall Opticall uses of severall forts of Glasses as a Prospective to see the things of God a farre off and small things great or great things small as a Multiplying Glasse shewing the manifold wisdome of God as a Burning Glasse to kindle holy fire in the soule as a Spectacle or Reading Glasse to help our weak fight in discerning spirituall things as a Cylinder Glasse gathering and uniting the scattered beames of glory in the Creatures into Christ their proper Center But yet with some restraint for though with open face yet they behold it but as in a glasse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the originall word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seemes to denote with some obscuritie with some mistinesse or as the Apostle 1 Cor 13. 12. But now we see as through a glasse darkly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a ridle not perfectly and fully now as we shall hereafter as follows in the same verse For then we shall know eve◠as we are knowne 1 Cor 13. 12. The glory of the Lord not the essentiall glory of God as Exod 33. 18. which no mortall man can see and live ver 20. Not the glorious excellency of Christs person only revealed or discovered in mans nature though that fundamentally of which the Evangelist John speaks so gloriously Chap 1. The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us and we beheld his Glory as the Glory of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth Whence he is called Heb 1. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The brightnesse of his glory and the expresse image of his person But secondly more especially in respect of the glorious grace of God manifest through Christ of which our Apostle in the following Chapter shews ver 6. that by the Gospel God gives the light of his own glory in the face of Jesus Christ shewing by him his infinite wisdome power mercy truth justice holinesse goodnesse c. But this beholding of the glory of the Lord doth not only containe Gratiam gratis datam but also thirdly gratiam gratos facientem as the Schooles distinguish not only grace freely given but which makes effectually the receivers of it acceptable unto God And not only all these but in the fourth place there must be likewise added to make up this true and right Gospel discovery of this Divine glory spoken of in the Text The certaine knowledge and sence of our particular interest and participation of that wonderfull Gospel grace which God one time or other in one good measure or other usually vouchsafes to all true believers in this life So that we are to understand this object of the discovery complexive and extensive to the largest and utmost dimensions as it containes First the free and rich grace of God in himselfe towards his Church Secondly his wonderfull most glorious grace through Christ Jesus his only begotten Son revealed in the Gospel as Chap 4. 4. But also thirdly his most efficacious grace where by the Holy Spirit the Lord as followes in the Text both First illuminateth Secondly sanctifieth and Thirdly comforteth according to his owne free and gracious dispensation to every faithfull soul it s own measure and proportion to make up the fullnesse of the body of Christ as the Apostle excellently sets forth the resemblance Col 2. 19. Eph 4. 16. Are changed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are metamorphosed or transformed as men and women of old feigned to be into beasts so contrarily by this men and women from worse to better from Wolves and Tygars to Lambs and Doves yea from a depraved polluted devilish nature into an holy gracious Divine nature after the same image of the glorious Gospel and of Christ Jesus as the next words import From glory to glory glory put for grace as we shall shew afterward being the effect or necessary consequent or fruit of true Gospel grace and so though some seeme to understand it from the glory of Moses to the glory of Christ or as others from glory inchoate to glory consummate or from grace to glory yet modern Divines more soundly of the successive growth of the knowledge and conformity of the image of God in such as are truly sanctified from one degree and measure of grace to another not as celestiall glory all at once but by degrees even as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Non similitudinem significat sed congruentiam saith Beza Identitatem saith another that is this even as here is to note the same thing namely that it is the Spirit of God that works all this in the like manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joh 1. 14. As the glory of the only begotten of the father that is being indeed the glory of the only begotten of the father Lastly By the Spirit of the Lord or as Learned Beza more emphatically 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Lord the Spirit which Tremelius excellently renders a Spiritu Dominatore denoting remarkably God the holy Ghost the third person of the blessed Trinitie in the Unitie of essence who only wholly efficaciously inwardly and spiritually changeth all his Saints truly sanctified by himselfe into that same image fore-mentioned in the Text. And thus briefly for Explication Now for Observation not to involve our selves too much with those many foldings
and Revelations as a more plausible way with some under the New Testament and among some by denying the lawful comfortable use of outward good things as meats and decent apparel and civil respect with too much insisting upon trivial matters scruples in some things where God makes none though of some things it may haply be said as our Saviour spake of the tything of Mint Annise and Cummin These things ye ought to doe and not to leave the other undone while cleare and manifest truths and duties are rejected and neglected Proceed we now to the Text it selfe the maine subject where of is that glorious Gospel grace so excellently many wayes deciphered therein and first by that excellent title the Spirit of God here ascribeth to it The glory of the Lord whence after some short explication of the words premised our First Observation was Obs 1. That Gospel grace is the greatest Glory of God manifest to his true Church upon earth Which first is to be understood of revealed glory not his essentiall glory which no man can here behold and live yet this revealed glory is to be understood complexive and extensive containing all the rich free wonderfull grace of God through Christ communicated unto his Church by the holy Ghost Et grat is data et gratos faciens as the Schools speak both given freely and making men acceptable Proceed we then to the proofe and illustration of the poynt which First may appeare that the excellent title of Glory is so often ascribed in holy Scripture to the grace of God that they are often put one for another as by comparing this Text with others may be evident in 40 Chap of Isa ver 5. The Prophet having foretold ver 3. of the coming of John Baptist whose voyce should cry in the Wildernesse prepare the way of the Lord he adds in this 5. ver concerning this Gospel grace That the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together which though it was in a great degree fulfilled in Christs coming in our flesh whose glory was the glory of the only begotten of the Father though as being full of grace and truth Joh 1. 14. yet that that was not all the meaning may be evident from the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now what this seeing this Gospel glory is our Saviour teacheth Joh 3. 3. Except a man be borne againe he cannot see the kingdome of God not have true faith or grace or be in a state of salvation Againe all flesh shall see it together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it namely that the Gentiles together as well as the Jewes should come together to see this glory at his revealing of his grace to them Thus our Apostle calls the Riches of Gods grace the riches of his glory Rom 9. 23. that is his grace freely given and in like manner he speaks of his grace viz. that makes them acceptable Eph 3. 16. That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man And so the othe◠side we finde grace put for glory as 1 Pet. 3. 7. As heires together of the grace of life that is heires of life by grace a phrase somewhat like to which he likewise hath Chap 1. 7. That the tryall of your faith might be found to glory Hence likewise it is observable that the gracious manifestations of God both in Old and New Testament are stiled his glory Whence the Arke is called the glory 1 Sam 4. 22. So Rom 9. 4. To whom belonged the adoption and the glory The like of the Tabernacle in the Kingly Prophet Davids dayes Psal 26. 8. Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house and as in the Originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the place of the Tabernacle of thy glory the manifestation of his grace being there So againe Psal 63. 2. To see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary Thus the gracious manifestation of God in the Temple in Solomons time though it was but by a cloud is called the glory of the Lord 1 Kings 8. 11. So that the Priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord yet in the very next words before it was said the cloud filled the house of the Lord so in that the cloud was a manifestation of Gods gracious presence and acceptance it was therefore the glory of the Lord and hence the pillar of the cloud by day as well as the pillar of fire by night were equally the glory of the Lord before the Camp of Israel in the wildernesse because they were both manifestations of his gracious presence with them Now further to demonstrate and illustrate this soul-satisfying truth in its wayfairing condition First We shall endeavour to shew that it hath been the great designe of God to glorifie himselfe by Gospel grace from the beginning of the world yea from all eternity unto all eternity Secondly that he hath been is and will be more glorious in the eyes of all his faithfull people by this then by any other or all other his glorious workes besides whereby he hath any wayes discovered his glory in the world Thirdly that by means of this only men are made capable of glory and true glory made truly glorious in their eyes Fourthly that Gospel grace and celestiall glory differ not in nature but in degrees and the first shall be perfected in the other when grace shall be swallowed up of glory .. Lastly that from this Gospel grace shall be infinite cause for all glorified Saints and Angels to celebrate the glory of the Lord to all eternitie all which being done I hope it may sufficiently appeare how emphatically Gospel grace in the Text is stiled the glory of the Lord. First that it hath been the great designe of God by such Gospel grace to glorifie himselfe from all eternity is not only cleare from all such Scriptures as speak any thing in reference to that grace as eternall a parte ante for what is past as that Christs blood was shed and that he offered himselfe unto God through the eternall Spirit Heb 9. 14. and that the Gospel is called the everlasting Gospel Rev 14. 6. But we have a full declaration of Gods great designe herein from all eternity plainly set down by the holy Apostle Paul Eph 3. who having minded them in the former part of the Chapter that the mystery of the Gospel was by revelation made knowne to him and that he should be the Minister thereof to the Gentiles and as ver 9. that they might see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world had been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ who is the beginning of the creation of God Rev 3. 18. But
ver 10. he more explicitly informeth them that the intent was not only that the manifold wisdome of God should be known to the Church but by the Church unto Angels unto principalities and powers in heavenly places and ver 11. he sets forth as clearly the foundation whereupon this displaying of such glory is accomplished according to the eternall purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord read the place it is full to our purpose Now that this hath been Gods designe a parte post likewise unto all eternity I shall need to say little the current of the Gospel runs directly in that channel Christ is the Author of eternall salvation Heb 5. 9. Eternall life 1 Tim 12. Eternall glory 2 Tim 2. 10. Now Gods designe in this is most evident Eph 1. 12. That we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ And again ver 14. after many excellent discoveries he adds unto the praise of his glory And now we have a little taken notice of the foundation and drift of Gods great designe in his Church let us likewise a little observe how ever since he had a Church upon earth he hath carried it on First as God had decreed to make his eternall Gospel as it were his masterpelce to manifest his greatest glory to all eternity so he hath wonderfully glorified himselfe in the Gospel of grace ever since the world and time had a being and as the contemporary mystery of God was in fulfilling as it 's called Rev 10. 7. So that so soon as the Arch-murtherer from the beginning thought he had given the dead stroake to mankinde by seducing our first parents from their obedience to God God himselfe when there was no other preacher ordained to doe it by an Hell-astonishing wonderfull declaration of most free and rich grace toward lost man even whilst he denounced against the Devill his own doom he pronounceth in those great and ingratefull transgressors own hearing the maine discovery of Gospel grace viz. The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head and though it was by a new grace whereby the efficie of that good newes must be applyed yet he had taught them such means to waite upon him wherein his servants should not faile to obtaine grace and acceptance with him and this was seen in Abels offering when though he parted from that vaine life that sin before had forfeited yet since his person and Sacrifice were accepted with God through that seed of the woman promised not long before to his immediate parents he not only received the first fruits but the first speedy possession of the benefit of that eternall Gospel so lately declared by the eternall God himselfe and therefore obtained the honour of the Protomartyr of the whole world and of a true type of the Long expected Messiah and of that blessed seed that was to come now what a cleare evidence of Gospel grace in a short time was here set forth from the beginning to be known and read of all men and did not God raise up in succession eminent persons adorned with grace to be preachers and patterns of piety unto men and with his Spirit move them untill as even wearied by their contumacy God would not have his Spirit strive any longer with them and then Satan as if he had gotten a totall and finall conquest like a wild horse with the bridle-bit between his teeth runs on in so full a carreire with the world upon his back towards Hell that by reason of his interest he had formetly gotten in mans nature and had likely so improved that the old world soone became so much his that it could be no longer Gods And therefore God will rather out of the seed and familie of Noah alone raise up to himselfe a new Church and make their saving in the Arke even at that time of Satans seeming prevailing power to be an evident type unto all the faithfull of their certain deliverance and safetie in the time of the wicked worlds worst calamities and destructions And as the time of the coming of the promised Seed drew nearer God more and more caused some beames of his glory to shine out in his Church for the comfort of his faithfull servants Christ is promised to Abraham typified in Isaac revealed in vision to Jacob shaddowed in Moses person ministery conduct miracles worship Ordinances even in the Evangelicall restoring penning giving of the Law and what not Oh who is able to set forth the Gospel grace of God when by his strong power and mighty arme he got himselfe the victory over Pharaoh Satan and all the Cursed enemies of his Church in Egypt in the red Sea in the wildernesse in their entrance and possessing of the promised Land all which in the substance was an actuall providenciall publishing of Gospel grace And after good old Jacob had prophesed of the time of Shiloh's coming Gen 49 by degrees the Tribe out of which the place where the manner how the person by whom by a Virgin conceiving a sonne borne given as the Prophet Esay foretells as already come though meane and despised in his outward aspect yet his name was called Wonderfull Counseller the mighty God the Prince of peace so prevalent in his power and prowesse that of the increase of his Dominion and power there should be no end so everlastingly prevalent in his administration that he should sit upon the throne of David to order it and stablish it from thenceforth and for ever Psal 9. And when the Scepter was departed from Judah that he that was the Shiloh was indeed come there was such darknesse upon the world yea even amongst that ancient people of God the Jeâ—s by reason of an expectation of some outward glory at his coming that when he came unto his own his own received him not And so by the worlds vanitie least Herod should loose his Kingdome Caesar his Soveraigntie the Rulers of the people their place and Nation though the place of his birth was gloriously pointed out in the Heavens by the conduct of a Starre to the Magi or Kings of the East as Psal 72. 10. Celebrated and proclamed by an heavenly Host of Angels rendering to God his glory and man his consolation though both great men and mean men heard and saw the truth of that great wonder in the world though due adoration and homage was given to that heavenly and spirituall Infant King of Kings by those Kings of the East as was foretold Psal 72. 10. The Kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seha shall offer gifts yet so was the glorious splendor of the rising of this day-starre yea of this Sunne of righteousnesse with healing in his wiâ—gs by the former or the like thick mists of darknesse obscured and clouded to the then darkened world that they did not behold his rising they did not discerne his glory yea not for long
clean thing out of an unclean saith Job not one God put at first a living soul into a body made of clay but the body did not thereby become of the same excellency with the living soul but this work of Gospel grace hath such a matter as is of a divine wonderfull and incomprehensible excellency which we must not understand Materiam ex qua as in worldly things but circa quam not corporeall but notional and intellectual not matter subjectivè but objectivè as the Schools distinguish that is to say the matter of this work is so conceived rather in respect of our understanding than the realitie of the thing which is beyond measure glorious Thirdly But to come to the third respect wherein it is more glorious than all the other fore-named works and that is in the many wayes considerably more excellent foundation of this work the more wisely advantageously and surely any great undertaking hath its foundation layd the more excellency it addeth to it and if this be not provided duly for the greater the undertaking the more hazzard the more cost and labour the greater disappointment and losse Hence because warre is a great undertaking by men therefore saith One With good advice make warre Now the gloriousnesse of Gods laying the foundation of this work will appeare greater than of all the other in these particulars following First The foundation of this is more profound and more deeply layd than of all the other Secondly That it is more secretly and hiddenly layd than of all the other Thirdly That it was a more difficult foundation to be layd in severall respects than of all the other Fourthly In that it is a foundation more surely layd than of all the other First The commendation of the profoundnesse of a foundation is as it is layd in the due proportion to the greatnesse of the work undertaken whereof it is the foundation now the greatnesse of Gods work in decreeing revealing carrying on and accomplishing his glorious work of grace is infinitely excellent in all dimensions intensive extensive yea beyond all dimensions mentall or reall eternally infinite which cannot be said of any or all his other works as may thus be evidenced First In that this most glorious work was not undertaken for them but contrarily they were all undertaken and are carryed on for this they were and are but the Substrata for this and it is their greatest excellency that their beeing is in reference unto this Secondly In that this most glorious work is not subservient unto them but they all along unto it ever since their first beginning and must be so untill they cease to be God makes use of all his inferiour actings in the world amongst all sorts of creatures in all times as subservient one way or other to this glorious Grace Thirdly In that they or any or all of them are not the end of this most glorious work but contrarily this is the very end every way chiefly considerable wherefore they were or may be done hereafter it is their finis operis operantis it is their finis intentionis durationis that is this is the end they were done for the end why God did them he purposed them for this and no longer to continue but for this viz. till this great mystery of God should be finished as in Rev Secondly The next particular considerable which we named in the excellency of Gods laying the foundation of this most glorious work is the secrecy of it it is an hidden foundation this follows in some sort from the other yet all foundations that are deep are not secret they may be searched out they may be discovered they may be revealed they may be inlightened but this was a secret hidden in Gods own counsell alone when all the other foundations were open to men and Angells yea this was not nor could be known till himselfe made it knowne nor any further then as he was pleased from time to time to cause it to be further known by men or Angells and only rightly known to those good men to whom he himselfe and his holy Spirit are pleased to reveal it and make it known unto and it is not only in generall in that respect of the great mystery of God but in respect of particular persons all men know not in this sense the great mystery of Godlinesse nor the mystery of the kingdome of Heaven though they often heare it and heare of it but they only to whom it is given Mar 4. 11. Yea to all others the mystery of God and the mystery of Godlinesse are mysteries indeed hidden from their eyes And hence things peculiar to the faithfull are said thus to be hidden they have an hidden life with Christ in God the hidden Manna the name in the white stone that none can reade but he that hath it Rev 2. 17. Hidden waters of life drawn by the secret hand of faith out of the Rock Christ they have the hidden man of the heart which is acceptable unto God 1. Pet 3. 4. And yet all these though they be hidden from the world are well known to them and herein God wonderfully glorifies himselfe in his most wise counsells that the secret issues of them cannot be discovered by any enemies though he sees all their secret and foolish counsells to the contrary and laughs them to scorne in all things for he hath determined to disappoint them all in all they mainly drive at and what ever devices are in their hearts his and only his counsell shall stand Pro Thirdly The next particular we shall consider in the laying of this most glorious foundation is that it was a more difficult work to lay it in several respects then any of the other not more hard in respect of God for to his power and wisdome all things are alike easie the greatest as well as the least but in regard first of the nature of the work secondly of the opposition that was and is and will be made against it while the world standeth all which time Michael and his Angels fight with the Dragon and his Angels First The laying the foundation of this work was hard in regard of the wonderful excellencie which was therein to be shewed and infinite wisdome power mercy justice holyness goodness faithfulness and truth and so transcendently that nothing in the whole world in any of these respects is to be found like it nothing to be compared with it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a received position that excellent things are hard here then being the greatest excelency must needs be the greatest difficulty Secondly Hard by reason of the great and strong opposition that would ever be made against any appearance of any thing of this work in the world when God laid the foundation of it he perfectly knew what would be the hatred violence subtilty of the devill to oppose it at every turne in the world he perfectly knew the interest the
shining forth of Gods most free and infinite grace unto men and Angels here and hereafter which as our Saviours expression is to all single-eyed beholders is obvious to be discerned yea there is no part of the foundation or fabrick of the whole work wherein it doth not wonderfully shine out to such soules in their better temper at least which if it do not unto any at least when they are themselves it is because they are not as in the Text transformed into the same Image if the glory shining in the work of the Creation when that was finished was the reason then wherefore the Lord blessed the seaventh Day Sabbath and hallowed it that his people might have a weekly opportunity to worship and celebrate his praise for the innumerable benefits conferred on them by Creation then how much more may the glory shining much more brightly when Christ Jesus our Lord having finished the whole work of redemption by his resurrection gloriously triumphed over all adverse powers of darkness occasion him the Lord of the Sabbath to put it over to the first day and is justly therefore by his holy spirit intitled to himself the Lords day our Christian Sabbath Rev. 1. 10. even when in the highest raptures he communicated so divinely to that beloved Disciple the great things to be accomplished in reference to the Church and her enemies to the end of the world now as the perfected glory of the Saints hereafter shall swallow up the inchoate glory here or as the glory of the Lord our redeemer seems to ecclypse the lustre of the glory of the Lord our Creator as the shining light of the sun doth the brightness of the Moon when they appear both together in our hemisphere even so is the glorious forme and beauty of this work transcendently above the other Fifthly The largeness of the time or continuance allotted for this work above all the other excellent illustrations of it First Creatio fit in instanti so the Learned Creation is done in an instant the whole work was finished and celebrated in a weeks space at first sustentation is the continuance of that for a limited time and Gubernation here is but while this course of nature or Creatures or rather supportation in their rankes from God is so variously disposed of in such wonderful manner after the good pleasure of his will but the time allotted for the contriving effecting applying confirming carrying on and perfecting this most glorious work of Gospel grace is not only a long time but all time and not only time but eternity too yea all eternity in reference to the eternal and coequal Trinity of persons in the unity of the divine nature Now this illustration of the length of time for raysing a work may more clearly appear from a threefold evidence First of nature the baser sort of creatures soon come to their height of stature as is observable in varieties of sorts of plants and beasts and fowls Secondly in Reason the more excellent the nature of a work and the more accurately it is to be wrought the longer time is required to provide for it to accomplish it Thirdly in experience both of Nature Art by all which the long continuance for the raysing of this work may be manifest above all the rest which is an other of its excellencies unto which let us now adde the Sixt Namely in regard of the way and manner of the raysing of this work by the constant shining out of the wonderful glory of the Father Son and Holy ghost all the time it is in raysing Oh the unspeakeable splendor of the wisdome and power of the grace and goodness of the mercy and truth in reference to all the holy persons in that undivided Trinity made evident therein from the beginning of the world and shall be to the end thereof in such glorious mnnifestations continually breaking forth through all successions of Ages as can never be sufficiently admired nor much less celebrated with praises both from men and Angels in all things that concern the way and manner of the revealing exhibiting as will be of the perfecting of that most precious grace from and by those sacred persons derived Whether we respect the sufficiency the sureness the efficacy the happiness in such way and manner continually held out and communicated unto the world First sufficient to make up all the Creatures wants to answer all their doubts Secondly Sure to remove all their fears settle all desirable security to them Thirdly Effectually to carry on against all obstacles and to accomplish all and more then they could hope for or desire Fourthly To administer what ever good they are capable of receiving to make them perfectly blessed let your thoughts be inlarged upon these particulars I must leave them as the dry bones in Ezekiels Prophesie till the Spirit causeth flesh to come upon them to cover them for I feare to be tedious even in a subject so precious and pleasant to such as have interest in it but therefore not pleasant unto others because they find not any to themselves yea they know it not and therefore they desire it not yea they are not willing to know it least they must loose those Idols wherein they take more pleasure But thus much at presenâ— of Gods own undertaking in the most sutable manner to all his own most blessed purposes respecting both himself and his creatures according to his own good pleasure as we shall indeavour afterwards to shew and is evident from all passages to this purpose in holy writ unspeakeably above what is to be found in any other his great and glorious works here being a way for the magnifying of the riches of his free grace only revealed in his word which is therefore magnifyed above all his name as the Psalmist saith remarkably Ps 138. in such a concurrence of all Divine excellencies as is no where else to be found since there and there only we have the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. 6. Seaventhly In regard of the subordinate meanes of raising up this work not here to speak of the chief the holy Spirit as proceeding from the Father and the Son for we shall have occasion to speak of him afterwards as the Lord the Spirit the prime efficient cause of the efficaciousness of all other meanes but only of his inferior means such as Angels men extraordinarily inspired ordinarily qualified ordinances sanctified and providences and many other means oâ— Creatures sometime at his pleasure blessed to be in some sort instrumental in this work For sometimes to use Angels in it was an honour to it but to have used them alwayes would have been terrible to weak and fraile Creatures besides otherwise incommodious to them when as to use mans ministry is natural familiar affecting as being of the same nature and lyable to the same miserie capable of the same happiness
consideration of the manifold excellent effects of Gospel glory in regard of men and Angells good and bad here and hereafter a subject well worth weighing by the best mens best abilities for as the contemplation thereof will be a spring of comfort and happinesse to the one sort so the abundant conviction and experience of the realitie of the same will be the sting of the misery of all the other sorts it will so grinde and gnaw and torment the damned spirits and persons so to finde what they have lost for a shaddow for nothing yea for that which is worse than nothing even so unconceiveable good that it is Questioned in the Schools and not without cause whether Paena damni or paena sensus that is whether the punishment of the Damned in regard of what they have lost or the punishment of sence and feeling in regard of what shall be inflicted on them in Hell shall be as I may say the greater Hell unto them hereafter But I say at present we shall passe from this head to the next namely The third demonstration of this excellent truth in which and in the rest we purpose if God will to be more brief and that is to manifest Gospel Glory to be the great Glory of the Lord which his people discerne in this world in that regard it is the only and excellent yet generall meanes for them all to bring them to the reall participation of true spirituall glory here and the fruition of eternall glory hereafter and to make indeed grace and glory to be both gracefull and glorious to them Something we have spoken of this by way of comparison of its transcendent excellency with that which was lesse But here we are to take notice that as it is the efficacious way and appointed by God unto that high and happy end so it is the only meanes no other to be expected none else to be used directly in reference unto that end for as there is no name given under heaven whereby we can be saved but by the name of Christ so no other meanes to convey that salvation to us but by this Gospel of grace If any would be changed from evill to good Gospel grace must doe it if any would be freed from the evill One and owned by him that is only good Gospel grace must doe it if any would be freed from the mischiefe of sin and obtaine the blessing of Divine favour Gospel grace must doe it If any man would ascend up to heaven or descend down to hell or take the wings of the morning and fly into the utmost parts of the earth as Psal 139. 8. Either to escape Gods wrath or obtaine his favour any other way it were but all in vaine If any would try all the Mountebank Chyrurgery that Satan hath used in all the Ages of the world all his false Religions all the multitudes of his Hell-devised wayes of false worship all his strong delusions all his heartlesse except of seduced deceived hearts fruitlesse bootlesse ceremonies constitutions beggarly rudiments bodily exercises not warranted by the word of God to cure the festered wounds of their sin-polluted defiled consciences and that most industriously all their dayes they would but miserably all that time loose their own labour defeat their own hopes forsake their own mercy obstruct their own happinesse remedilesly plunge themselves into eternall misery So that by this men must be both sanctified and saved if at all and without this and besides this there is no other means to attaine the same All Gods brood of travellers have passed along in this roade till they came to appeare before God in the heavenly Zion and none can otherwise possibly attaine to that only desireable issue of their pilgrimage here upon earth I shall not here need to speak any thing of the freenesse of this now most necessary means in regard of men for there is neither necessitie of nature or of any coaction from creatures in respect of God but only the good pleasure of his most holy Will is the prime originall of all I need not touch upon the proportionablenesse of the meanes this only salve or Balsome so prepared by him to cure the souls wounds being every way fitted and suited for its soares I shall not need to insist upon the easinesse the amiablenesse the naturallnesse the familiarnesse of the way of dispencing and bestowing this Gospel grace I shall not need to insist upon the efficaciousnesse of this most gracious dispensation by the holy Ghost all which tend to demonstrate this particular that it is the excellent and only meanes to bring Gods people to the reall participation both of grace and glory here and here-after because under the former head we have touched upon divers things bordering upon these and we likewise study brevitie though here may be large and excellent matter for Christian meditation Only in a word I shall endeavour to touch upon the other branch namely that without this discovery of Gospel glory unto the soule grace would neither be rightly gracefull nor true glory truly glorious in the eyes of men even as such men who are guided by sense mainely live more like beasts than men like the mil-horse in his tract follow the desires of their own eyes and are led on by every vaine deludeing object and neither regard to know or pursue better things but wholly in a manner proceed to prostitute their reasonable souls to sensitive bruitish pleasures as if they were capable of no greater good and as those men that upon a better improvement of the like it may be a lesse and yet againe sometimes a greater abilitie are raised up to an higher attainment as many of the ancient Philosophers and Heathens Sages who by study contemplation and industry in the use of pertinent means attained to the discovery of an excellencie of morality in their kind which they called vertue wherein they did sometime seem to behold such lovelyness that it made them not only to commend it to others but deemed that men could not know the beauty and comliness of it and not be in love with it The like and much more we may say of the excellency of Gospel grace to such as obtain any competent discovery thereof O how are they inamoured with it How do their hearts run after it How highly do they prize it How earnestly do they pursue it How unwilling are they to part with it yea what high resolution do they take up not to part with it upon any termes they will buy the truth but not sell it as Pr. 23. 23. yea and rather to part with all besides then that but as on the other hand Morallists for all their discoveries and commendadations do not cannot prevail with sensual brutish persons to forsake their swinish lusts to love or like much less to pursue their vertues and yet those Sages knew the worth thereof to be incomparably above the other even so it is
the Gentiles Petro commissa anthoritas ut predicaret Judaeis tantum c. Aquin Ibid. in Gal. Theophilact Ibid. Yea further In age gifts zeal order being as Chrys saith Os reliquorum Paul in this place sheweth himself to be equall with Peter Chrysost Vbi supra Now Paul sheweth himself to be equal in honour unto the rest not only unto others but also unto Peter the chief of all the short Schoba in Jeroms name in Gal. 2. I am in nothing inferiour to Peter Hierom Ibid Occulta hic oritur Quaestio Here ariseth a secret Question If Peter found any of the Gentiles did he not train him to the faith Or if St. Paul had happened upon any of the Jewes did he not exhort him to be baptised we must say Idem in Ps 44. Titul Apost â— Aequales principio Ecelesia that either of them had a speciall commission the one over the Jewes the other over the Gentiles that the Jewes who defended the Law might have one to follow and the Gentiles who chose rather the free gift of God and left the Law might likewise have a Teacher to go before them but generally this purpose was common to them both that out of all Nations as well Jews as Gentiles they might gather a Church unto Christ Petrus quia prevaluit in operatione miraculorum ad predicandum Judae is missus est Paulus verò ad predicandum Gentilibus quia prevaluit in profunditate ingenii et Torrente eloquii â— Hugo Card in Luc. 11. Synod Ephes Peter John was Survivour and belike subject to Linus Cletus Clemens c. or else personall succession is fallen to the dust and John were mutually of equall dignity for which cause they are manifested Apostles and holy Disciples Cyprian de simplic Plat. doubtlesse the same were the rest of the Apostles that Peter was endued with equall fellowship both of honour and power but a beginning is made of unity that the Church may appear to be one Ambrose in Ps 38. What is said to Peter is said to the other Apostle Chnysost in Acts 15. Now consider this also how that Peter doth all things by the common consent of the Disciples nothing by his own Authority nothing by Command Idem in Gal. 22. Paul had no need of Peters voyce neither of any helps from him but in honour was equall to him I will say no more Theophil in Matth. 16. Although it was said to Peter alone I will give it thee yet the Keyes were granted to all the Apostles Ambrose de incarnatiâ—ue Dom c. 4. Peter had the primacy of confession not of honour Idem 2. Cor. 12. Paulus tempore non dignitate minor Hillary lib. 6. de Trin. All the Apostles for the worthinesse of their Faith acknowledging his Divinity received the Keyes of Heaven and authority of binding and loosing in Heaven and in Earth Aug de Pasto c. 13. The Apostles were many and it was said to one Feed my Lambs and Peter himself commended unity Idem de Agone Christi c 30. When it was said to one it was said to all Lovest thou me Feed my Sheep Origen in Matth Tract 1. These things as it were spoken to Peter are common to all Hierome in Gal Paul reproved Peter which he durst not have done unlesse he had known himself not unequall Cyrill in Esay lib. 4. c. 44. But why do we call them the Foundation of the Earth for Christ is the Foundation of all and stay of all keepeth and holdeth all things to be sure and stedfast in him are all built a spiritual house compacted by his Spirit into an holy Temple and Habitation of himself for he dwelleth in our hearts by Faith The next and nearer Foundation unto it may be understood the Apostles and Evangelists being eye witnesses and made Ministers of the Word for confirmation of Faith for when we know that their Traditions are to be followed we shall keep a right faith or not strange or erring from Christ for by him it was said to Peter because he had confessed the Faith in him right soundly and had said Thou art Christ the Son of the Living God Thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church Calling a Rock as I think the immoveable Faith of the Disciple it is also said by the Psalmist Her foundations are upon the Holy Hills The Holy Apostles are rightly to be compared to Holy Hills the knowledge of whom is established as a foundation to posterity to the same effect Lib. 5. cap. 54. Greg. Lib 4. Epist 32. Peter is not called universal Apostle Hugo de Sancto Victore lib. 1. de sac c. 26. Greg. in Rus lib. 4. c. 4. Paul obtained the principality of the whole Church and was made the Head of Nations Primasus produceth Paul speaking in his own name I am not inferiour to him meaning Peter because we both are of one ordained to one Ministry Beda Hom in Evang Quem me dicunt c. Power of binding and loosing though it may seem given of the Lord only to Peter yet without any doubt it is to be advertised that it was granted also to the other Apostles Viz Aug. Tract 14. in Jo Ideo unus per omnibus quia unit as in omnibus Idem Tract 124. Glossa in Gal. 2. I learned not of others as of my betters but I conferred with them as with friends and equals Item Lyranus in Math. 16. Lastly To shut up all the testimony of Jerome adversus Jovin Lib 1. is irrefragable The firm ground and establishment of the Church is laid equally upon all the Apostles all of them received the Keyes These ancient worthy Fathers and the rest as a cloud of witnesses do verifie the parity or equality of Peter to all other the Apostles which I have in this place purposely recited for that they give strength and light unto some of mine assertions formerly set down against Dr. Kellison a mercenary Proctor for the Pope-dome Let the conclusion be in the words of that eminent Preacher and Opposer of Popery Dr. Still in his usuall prayer frequently mentioned by that Reverend Mr. Nelson God confound all hurtfull errours or heresies give victory to his Truth and Glory to his holy Name whereunto I cordially with all Gods faithfull people say AMEN FINIS Books lately Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the Sign of the three Crowns over against the great Conduit at the lower end of Cheapside A Commentary upon the three first Chapters of Genesis by Mr. John White in fol. The humbled sinner resolved what he should do to be saved or faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the only way of salvation by Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick in 4. The riches of grace displayed in the offer and tender of salvation to poor sinners by the same Author in 12. The Fountain opened and the water of life flowing forth for the refreshing of thirsty sinners by the same Author in 4. Anatomy of secret sins presumptuous sins sins in dominion and uprightnesse on Psal 19. 12 13. together with a Treatise of the sin against the Holy Ghost by Obadiah Sedgewick Hidden Manna by Mr. Fenner in 12. The hypocritical Nation described with an Epistle prefixed by Mr. Samnel Jacomb in 4. The singular Actions of sanctified Christians in several Sermons on the 5. of Matth. An Exposition on the whole book of the Canticles by R. R. An Exhortation of the Churches of Bohemiah to the Churches of England wherein is set forth the good of unity order discipline and obedience in Churches rightly constituted With an Exhortation premised of the order and discipline used in the Churches of the Brethren of Bohemiah Dedicated to His Most Excellent Majesty Charls the IId. in Holland at His departure for England if possibly it may be for an accommodation among the Church of Christ by J. Amos Comenius the only surviving Bishop of the remains of those Churches