Which in other ages was not made known c. That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ Ephes 3. 5 6 11. Work out your own salvation c. for it is God who worketh in you both to will and 〈◊〉 do of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. Giving thanks to the Father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son Col. 1. 12 13. Knowing c. your election of God For our Gospel came not unto you in word but also in power c. 1 Thes 1. 4 5. 1 Cor. 1. 18 24. God hath not appointed us unto wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord 1 Thes 5. 9. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation c. Whereunto he called you by our Gospel 2 Thes 2. 13 14. God who hath saved us and called us with a holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began 2 Tim. 1. 8 9 10. Rom. 1. 6. I endure all things for the elects sake c. Who concerning the truth have erred c. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal the Lord knoweth them that are his 2 Tim. 2. 10 18 19. If they shall enter into rest although the works were finished from the foundation of the world Hebr. 4. 3. By one sacrifice he hath for ever perfected them who are sanctified Hebr. 10. 14. To the strangers c. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father 1 Pet. 1. 1 2. Titus 1. 1. Being disobedient whereto they were appointed but ye are a chosen generation a royal Priesthood a peculiar or a purchased people that ye may shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness c. 1 Pet. 2. 8 9 10. The God of all grace who hath called us into his eternal glory c. 1 Pet. 5. 10. They went out from us c. that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us 1 John 2. 19. We love him because he first loved us 1 John 4. 19. All who dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Book or life of the Lamb Rev. 13. 8. ch 17 18. And they who dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names were not written in the Book of life from the foundation of the world when c. Rev. 17. 8. Whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire c. Rev. 20. 15. There shall in no wise enter into the new Jerusalem but those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of Life Rev. 2â— 27. CHAP. X. Pardon and Remission of Sins Reconciliation and Peace with God Justification and Sanctification before God Eternal Life and Salvation free through the Grace of God only by the Death Sacrifice and Sufferings of Christ without Works In General THE life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it to you c. For it is the blood maketh an atonement for the soul Levit. 〈◊〉 11. This is the true grace of God wherein ye stand 1 Pet. 5. 12. The law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ John 1. 17. If by grace then is it no more works otherwise grace is no more grace but if it be of works then is it no more of grace otherwise work is no more work c. That he might have mercy on all O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom c. Rom. 11. 6 32 33. 2 Thes 2. 16. Ephes 2. 8. We are chosen adopted accepted have remission of sin c. and all in and through Jesus Christ Ephes 1. 2 3 c. We are the Circumcision who worship God in spirit rejoice in Christ have no confidence in the the flesh Phil. 3. 3. We are come c. to the blood of sprinkling which speaketh better things than that of Abel Hebr. 12. 24. Who testified before-hand the sufferings of Christ and the glory which should follow 1 Pet. 1. 11. In Particular I. Pardon of Sins THE Lord proclaimed himself The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth c. forgiving iniquity transgression and sin Exod. 34. 6 7. Numb 14. 17 18 19. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Psalm 32. 1 2 5. Rom. 4. 7 8. As for our transgressions thou shall purge them away Psalm 65. 3. Thou wast a God who forgave them thou tookest vengeance on their inventions Psalm 90. 8. But there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared Psalm 130. 4. Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red as crimsâ—n they shall be as wooll Isa 1. 18. I am he who blotteth out thy transgression for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins Isa 43. 35. I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions and as a cloud thy sins Sing O Heavens for the Lord hath done it Isa 44. 22 23. He was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities c. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all c. he shall bear their iniquities Isa 53 5 6 11. Let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and unto our God for he will abundantly pardon or multiply pardons for my thoughts are not your thoughts c. Isa 55. 7 8 9. Ezek. 33. 14 15 16. I will make a new covenant c. for I will forgive their iniquity and will remember their sins no more Jer. 31. 31 34. Hebr. 10. 17 18. I will cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have sinned against me and whereby they have transgressed against me Jer. 33. 8. In those days and in that time saith the Lord the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be none and the sins of Judah and they shall not be found for I will pardon them whom I reserve Jer. 50. 20. Isa 33. 24. Seventy weeks are determined c. to finish the transgression and to make an end of sins and to make reconciliation for iniquity c. The Messiah shall be cut off but not for himself c. Dan. 9. 24 26. Who is a God like unto thee who pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage c. thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea Micah 7.
Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees which i◠hypocrisie c. He who knoweth his master's will and doth not according shall be beaten with many stripes Luke 12. 1 47. James 4. 17. They shall begin to say We have eat and drank in thy presence c. but he shall say I know you not whence you are depart from me all ye workers c. Ye shall see Abraham c. in the kingdom of God and you thrust out Luke 13. 25 26 27 28. Ye are they who justifie your selves but God knows your hearts for that which is highly esteemed amongst men is abomination in the sight of God Luke 16. 15. Every branch which beareth not fruit in me he taketh away John 15. 2. Ananias and Saphira both smote with death for their hypocrisie Acts 5. 5 10. They are not all Israel who are of Isreal c. Rom. 9. 6 7. ch 2. 28. 1 Cor. 10. 1 to 6. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against c. men who hold the truth in unrighteousness Rom. 1. 18. If a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing he deceiveth himself Gal. 6. 3. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways James 1. 8. The Jews c. forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved to fill up their sins always for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost 1 Thes 2. 16. See Sincerity Chap. 16. CHAP. XXIX Of the Conscience AND it came to pass afterwards that David's heart smote him because he had cut off Saul's skirt and he said unto his men The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master the Lord 's anointed to stretch forth my hand against him c. 1 Sam. 24. 5 6. And David's heart smote him after that he had numbred the people and David said unto the Lord I have sinned greatly in that I have done 2 Sam. 24. 10. ch 12. 13. When Josiah had heard the words of the book of the law that he rent his clothes c. and he commanded c. Go and enquire of the Lord for me and for the people c. for great is the wrath of the Lord c. Tell the man that sent you to me c. I will bring evil upon this place c. But to the king c. because thine heart was tender and thou hast humbled thy self c. thine eyes shall not see all the evil c. 2 Kings 22. 11 12 13 15 16 18 19 20. I will not remove mine integrity c. my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live Job 27. 5 6. Throw the first stone at her c. they c. being convicted by their own conscience went out c. John 8. 7 9. Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart and said c. What shall we do Acts 2. 37. Paul said c. I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day Acts 23. 1. And herein do I exercise my 〈◊〉 to have always a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man Acts 24. 16. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts their conscience also bearing them witness or the Conscience witnessing with them and their thoughts the mean while or between themselves accusing or else excusing one another Rom. 2. 15 16. I say the truth in Christ I lye not my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost Rom. 9. 1. Wherefore ye must needs be subject not only for wrath but for conscience sake Rom. 13. 5. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles eat asking no question for conscience sake for the earth is the Lord's c. If any of them who believe not bid you c. Whatsoever is before you eat asking no question for conscience sake but if any man say unto thee This is offered to idols eat not for his sake c. and for conscience-sake c. Conscience I say not thine own but of the others for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience c. Give none offence neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God 1 Cor. 10. 25 26 27 28 29 32. ch 8. 7. Our rejoicing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity nor with sleshly wisdom c. 2 Cor. 1. 12. By the manifestation of the truth commended our selves to every man's conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4. 2. We are made manifest unto God and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences 2 Cor. 5. 11. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart and of a good conscience c. holding faith and a good conscience which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck 1 Tim. 1. 5 19. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience 1 Tim. 3. 9. The Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith c. speaking lyes in hypocrine having their consciences seared with a hot iron forbidding to marry c. 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. I thank God whom I serve c. with a pure conscience 2 Tim. 1. 3. Unto them who are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their mind and conscience is defiled Titus 1. 15. In which were offered both gifts and sacrifices which could not make him who did the service 〈◊〉 as pertaining to the conscience c. If the blood of bulls and goats sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh how much more shall the blood of Christ c. purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 9. 9◠13 14. The law having a shadow of good things c. can never with those sacrifiees they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect then would they not have ceased to be offered because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins but in those sacrifices there is a remembrance c. Let us draw near c. having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience c. Heb. 10. 1 2 3 22. We trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly Heb. 13. 18. This is thank-worthy if a man for conscience towards God endure grief suffering wrongfully 1 Pet. 2. 19. Having a good conscience that whereas they speak evil of you c. Baptism doth also now save us not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus 1 Pet. 3. 16 21. Let us not love in word c. Hereby we know c. For if our heart condemn us God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things Beloved if our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God 1 John 3. 18 to 22. CHAP. XXX Of the Devil Of his Subtilty Wiles and Ways by himself and in
A Common-place Book TO THE HOLY BIBLE OR THE Scriptures Sufficiency Practically Demonstrated WHEREIN Whatsoever is contain'd in SCRIPTURE Respecting Doctrine Worship or Manners is reduced to its Proper Head Weighty Cases Resolved Truths Confirmed difficult Texts Illustrated and Explained by others more plain 2 Tim. III. 16. All Scripture is given by the Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness LONDON Printed by Edw. Jones for Awnsham and John Churchil at the Black Swan in Pater-Noster Row 1697. TO THE READER THAT the Holy Scriptures are one of the greatest Blessings which God bestows upon the Sons of Men is generally acknowledged by all who know any thing of the value and worth of them To shew their Use and Excellency is beyond the Author's present design or intendment 't is already done by one or other to good purpose every day In them the Lord hath dilucidly displayed that Counsel of his Will that is of infinite concernment to us to understand in order to our present being accepted of him here and at last brought to the fullest enjoyment of himself in Glory T is wonderful to behold how full and perfect this Word is with respect to this end What can Man desire to know which is necessary hereunto that the light thereof discovers not What direction can he expect by which he may be fortified against all Enemies of his good either within or without him that is not there given What Encouragements would he have which are not therein displayed before him And what Cavils can be brought against any part of Truth contained therein to which they themselves yield not a full resolve one place of Scripture so exactly clearing expounding and illustrating another Yet to amazement it 's observed That Man who is so highly and principally concerned in it doth too too little value it he can weary himself in any secular Affair but diligently to search the Scriptures according to our Lord's advice is to him tedious and burthensom Few covet to be mighty in the Scriptures though convinced their great concern is inveloped in them A Spirit of Self-fulness Pride spiritual Sloth Drowsiness and Deadness lies at the bottom of this sinful Neglect To encourage awaken Persons to a more diligent thorow search of the mind of God herein is a service no less profitable than seasonable at this day And what greater external Encouragement than to make that facile and easie which seemed inconquerably arduous and difficult This is the design of the ensuing Treatise Nor is the Author altogether without hopes wherein he hath the concurring Judgment of several eminently Learned and Judicious Divines who have perused it but by the Blessing of God it may have a singular tendency to the enlightning of some and establishing of others in Divine Truths when uno intuitu they see the Scriptures upon which they are built and enabling them with ease to confute Gainsayers For here the several Texts of Holy Scripture which lie scattered in the Book of God are Collected together Transcribed and placed in the Order as they lie in the Bible under several and particular Heads And where any Subject is fallen on and mentioned in the General Head and sometimes also in a particular Head there for the most part is to be found all that relate to that Matter immediately following under particular Heads or Sub-Divisions to the end that the whole thereof may be met with together Or at least there are references to some others General or Particular Head where it is placed more properly And here Note Christian Reader That thou hast not only the Places positive to the Subject there but also such which are any ways argumentative or enforcing whether by Examples the Equity of the Things the Nature of God his approbation of Promises to or threatnings against it or any way illustrating or Expounding of it by whatsoever terms they are expressed Whereof a little use of this Treatise will soon give thee a full evidence But to prevent Prejudice and Mistakes and give thee some light in the way and method the Author hath taken He proposeth to thy Observation these few things following First To prevent prejudice do the Author and thy self this right Not to make a judgment by the reading of one or two Texts at the beginning of any Head For possibly they may not at the first blush seem to thee so pertinent to the matter as others do which follow they may be only argumentative and not positive For the Author so placed them on purpose that they might run in order as they lie in the Bible that the Reader might go to any Text of either Testament without turning backward and forward and for other Advantages and thence it happens sometimes That the Scriptures less to the purpose first occur to thy View Likewise pass not Sentence upon any Text thou shalt find under any Head as impertinent to the Subject there until thou hast seriously weighed the same For possibly in so doing thou mayst discern something in that Scripture which thou never didst observe before nor mightest have taken notice of had not the Head or Subject there turned thy thoughts upon it And then the Author doubteth not but that the Composure it self when judiciously considered will prevent this Censure That it 's a needless Work as having been done already by others This being a thing of another Nature than any yet extant and will be helpful at another rate For notwithstanding any other helps the finding out of apt Scriptures for illustrating confirming and making use of any Truth which may be upon the thoughts of any have been as it is a difficult and laborious Work and thence Men oft-times use Scriptures either not apt according to the intent of the Holy Ghost there or such the genuine sense of which is doubted And for the use of Concordances herein each Man's memory must record the Scriptures for they must first occur to his thoughts then his Judgment must fix upon some word therein under which the Text is placed and 't is possible not hit the right term under which it is and oft-times look a long time ere he come to it because of the multitude of words there used and happily miss at last too and be put upon searching under another term But here thou mayst only turn to the Subject thou enquirest after and without any such steps find Scriptures full and apt thereto by whatsoever Terms or Phrases they are expressed occur to your eye at an instant and almost if not altogether all the Scripture affords to that Subject and present thee with matter of Enlargement which possibly thou thoughtest not of Secondly To give thee some light in the Method and to help thee in the use of this 1 st Take notice that in Chap. 13. Of Saints failings The first Texts are to prove each Person his Saintship then the next following their Failings and this is done
c. for thou art a gracious and merciful God Nehem. 9. 17 31. Psal 145. 8. Lam. 3 21 22 23. Joel 2. 13. Thy mercy O God is in the heavens c. Psal 36. Psal 57. 10. Thou a God full of compassion and gracious long-suffering and plenteous in mercy c. Psal 86. 15. Psal 111. 4. Psal 145. 8. Psal 78. 38 39. Mercy c. shall go before thy face Psal 89. 14. The Lord is God his mercy is everlasting Psal 100. 5. The Lord is merciful c. he will not alway chide c. As the heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercy towards them who fear him c. Like as a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them who fear him for he knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are dust Psal 103. 8 9 11 13 14 c. Hos 11. 8 9. James 5. 11. His mercy endureth for ever c. Psal 136. 1 2 c. Luke 1. 50. Where c. is the founding of thy bowels and of thy mercies Isa 63. 15. I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you for I am merciful saith the Lord I will not keep anger for ever c. Jer. 3. 12. Judges 10. 15 16. Ephraim my dear son c. my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy on him c. Jer. 31. 20. 2 Chron. 36. 15. To the Lord our God belongs mercy c. Dan. 9. 9. I knew that thou art a gracious God and merciful flow to anger and of great kindness and repentest thee of the evil c. Jonah 4. 2. Joel 2. 13. Hos 11. 8 9. Judg. 2. 18. Who is a God like unto thee who pardoneth iniquity c. He retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Micah 7. 18. I am the Lord who change not therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed Mal. 3. 6. Lam. 3. 22. Remission of their sins Through the tender mercies or bowels of mercy of our God whereby the day-spring from on high c. Luke 1. 50 77 78. Blessed be God c. Father of mercies and God of all comfort 2 Cor. 1. 3. But God who is rich in mercy for his great love c. Ephes 2. 4. See Chap. 33. XII He is Long-suffering and Patient MY Spirit shall not always strive c. yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years Gen. 6. 3. The Lord c. long-suffering c. Exod. 34. 6. Psal 86. 15. The Lord is long-suffering c. Num. 14. 18. Thou art a God c. slow to anger c. Neh. 9. 17. Psal 104. 8. Joel 2. 13. Jonah 4. 2. Despisest thou the c. forbearance and long-suffering c. Rom. 2. 4. The Lord is not slack c. but his long-suffering to usward c. 2 Pet. 3. 9 15. XIII He is Gracious Good Kind and Bountiful I Am gracious Exod. 22. 27. The Lord God merciful and gracious c. abundant in goodness c. Exod. 34. 6. Psal 33. 5. Thou a God c. gracious c. and of great kindness Nem. 9. 17. 31. For the Lord God is a sun and shield no good thing will he withhold from them who walk uprightly Psal 84. 11. For the Lord is good c. Psal 100. 5. Psal 86. 5. Psal 136. 1 2 3 c. Great is thy bounty above the heavens Psal 108. 4. They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness c. The Lord is gracious c. The Lord is good to all c. Psal 145. 7 8 9. Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious to you c. and that he may have mercy c. Isa 30. 18. Let him who glorieth glory in this That c. he knoweth me that I am the Lord who exerciseth loving-kindness c. in the earth For in these things I delight saith the Lord c. Jer. 9. 2â— Matt. 5. 45. The Lord your God for he is c. of great kindness c. Joel 2. 13. Jonah 4. 2. Not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance Rom. 2. 4. The forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace wherein he hath abounded towards us c. Ephes 1. 7. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us through Jesus Christ Ephes 2. 7. God who giveth unto all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given c. James 1. 5. The God of all grace who hath called us c. 1 Pet. 5. 10. XIV He is Faithfulness and Truth THE Lord c. abundant in goodness and truth Exod. 34. 6. God is not a man that he should lye c. Hath he said and shall not he do it or hath he spoken and shall he not make it good Numb 23. 19. Heb. 6. 18. 1 Sam. 15. 29. Tit. 1. 2. Rom. 3. 4. Know therefore that the Lord thy God he is God the faithful God who keepeth covenant c. to a thousand generations c. Deut. 7. 9 1 Cor. 1. 9. 2 Tim. 2. 13. Not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you all are c. Josh 23. 14. ch 21. 45. Thou art that God and thy words be true and thou hast promised 2 Sam. 7. 28. Heb. 10. 23. 1 Kings 8. 56. Thy faithfulness reacheth to the clouds Psal 36. 5. Psal 108. 4. The heavens shall praise thy wonders O Lord thy faithfulness also in the congregation of thy saints c. Mercy and truth shall go before thy face c. Nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail Psal 89. 5 14 33. Psal 36. 5. Deut. 32. 4. Psal 108. 4. The Lord is good c. his truth endureth to all generations Psal 100. 5. Psal 117. 2. Psal 119. 89 90. He will ever be mindful of his covenant c. The works of his hands are verity c. are done in truth and uprightness Psal 111. 5 7 8. Happy is he c. whose hope is in the Lord his God c. who keepeth truth for ever Psal 146. 5 6. Heb. 10. 23. He who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth and he who sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth Isa 65. 16. Great is thy faithfulness c. Out of the mouth of the Most High proceedeth not evil and good c. Lam. 3. 23 38. God is faithful and will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able c. 1 Cor. 10. 13. 1 Thes 5. 24. 1 Cor. 1. 9. Two immutable things wherein it is impossible for God to lye c. Heb. 6. 18. Commit the keeping of their souls c. as unto a faithful Creator 1 Pet. 4. 19. How long O Lord holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge c. Rev. 6. 10. XV.
find more favour than he who flattereth with the tongue Prov. 28. 23. If thy brother shall trespass against thee go and tell him his fault between him and thee alone c. If he will not hear thee then taken one or two more c. Matth. 18. 15 16 17. Luke 17. 3 4. Ye also are full of goodness filled with all knowledge able to admonish one another Rom. 15. 14. Paul rebuked Peter for not walking uprightly Gal. 2. 11 13 13 14. If a man be overtaken with a fault ye who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness Gal. 6. 1. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly c. teaching and admonishing one another Col. 3. 16. Comfort or exhort your selves together and edifie one another even as also ye do c. Warn them who are unruly or disorderly comfort the feeble-minded 1 Thes 5. 11 14. 1 Cor. 8. 1. If any man obey not c. have no company with him c. but admonish him as a brother 2 Thes 3. 14 15. Rebuke not an Elder but intreat him as a father and the younger men as brethren the elder women as mothers the younger as sisters c. Them that sin rebuke before all that others also may fear 1 Tim. 5. 1 2 20. Exhort one another daily c. lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3. 12 13. Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works not forsaking the assemblings of your selves c. but exhorting one anoother Heb. 10. 24 25. Brethren if any one of you do err from the truth and one convert him let him know that he c. shall save a soul from death and shall hide c. James 5. 19 20. Of some have compassion making a difference and others save with fear pulling them out of the fire hating even the garment spotted by the flesh Jude ver 20 22 23. See Discipline Chap. 27. To take Rebuke Admonition c. mell from each other WHen David had rashly resolved to cut off all Nabal's family and Abigail had met him and humbly and wisely admonished him David accepts of the advice and faith Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who sent thee this day to meet me and blessed be thy advice and blessed be thou who hast kept me this day from shedding of blood c. I have hearkned to thy voice 1 Sam. 25. 22 23 24 25 to v. 35. When Nathan had told David his sin in the matter of Uriah David said I have sinned against the Lord 2 Sam. 12. 7 13 When Joab had told the King of his errour in mourning so for Absalom as to discourage his subjects who had fought for him David hearkned and arose and sate in the gate as Joab advised 2 Sam. 19. 5 6 7 8 Let the righteous smite me it shall be a kindness and let him reprove me it shall be as excellent oyl which shall not break my head Psal 141. 5. A wise man will hear and will increase learning Prov. 1. 5. He who rebuketh a scorner getteth to himself shame and he who rebuketh a wicked man getteth a blot Reprove not a scorner lest he hate thee rebuke a wise man and he will love thee give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser c. Prov. 9. 7 8 9. chap. 19. 25. He is in the way of life who keepeth instruction but he who refuseth reproof erreth or causeth to err Prov. 10. 17. Whosoever loveth instruction loveth knowledge but he who hateth reproof is brutish c. He who hearkneth unto counsel is wife Prov. 12. 1 15. A wise son heareth his father's instruction but a scorner heareth not rebuke c. Poverty and shame to him who refuseth instruction but he who regardeth reproof shall be honoured Prov. 13. 1 18. A fool despiseth his fathers instruction but he who regardeth reproof is prudent c. He who hateth reproof shall die c. A scorner loveth not one who reproveth c. The ear which heareth reproof of life abideth among the wise He who refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul c. Prov. 15. 5 10 12 31 32. A reproof entreth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool Prov. 17. 10. As an ear-ring of gold c. so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear Prov. 25. 12. He who being often reproved hardneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy c. The rod and reproof gives wisdom Prov. 29. 1 15. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than c. the song of fools Eccles 7. 5. Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth Gal. 4. 16. Submit your selves one to another in the fear of God Ephess 5. 21. Ye younger submit your selves unto the elder yea all of you be subject one to another and be clothed with humility 1 Pet. 5. 5. VII To Confess to and Pray each for other WHen a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit to do a trespass against the Lord c. then they shall confess their sin which they have done and he shall recompence his trespass c. and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed Numb 5. 6 7. And many who believed came and confessed and shewed their deeds c. Acts 19. 18 19. Paul confesseth that beyond measure he persecuted the Church of God and wasted it c. Gal. 1. 13. 1 Tim. 1. 12 13. Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed Jam. 5. 16. If a man see his brother sin a sin not unto death he shall ask and he shall give him life for them who sinneth not unto death 1 John 5. 16. VIII To be of one mind BEhold how good and how pleasant is it for brethren to dwell together in Unity like the precious ointment upon the head c. Psal 133. 1 2. Christ prays that they may be kept that they may be one as we are c. John 17. 11 22. And the multitude of them who believed were of one heart and of one soul c. Acts 4. 32. We being many are one body in Christ and every one members one of another c. Be of the same mind one towards another Rom. 12. 5 16. Now the God c. grant you to be like-minded one towards another according to Christ Jesus that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorifie God even the father Rom. 15. 5 6. I beseech you brethren c. that ye all speak the same things and that there be no division but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgment 1 Cor. 1. 10 12. Whereas there is among you c. divisions Are ye not carnal c. One saith I am of Paul c. 1 Cor. 3. 3 4. When ye come together in the Church I hear there
of the simple Rom. 16. 17 18. There must be also herenes among you that they who are approved might be made c. 1 Cor. 11. 19. How say some among you That there is no resurrection from the dead 1 Cor. 15. 12. We are not as many who corrupt the word of God c. 2 Cor. 2. 17. Them who desire occasion c. for such are false Apostles deceitful workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ c. Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light therefore it is no great thing if his ministers be transformed into the ministers of righteousness whose ends shall be according to their works c. Ye suffer fools gladly c. ye suffer if a man bring you into bondage if a man devour if a man take if a man exalt himself c. smite you on the face 2 Cor. 11. 12 13 14 15 19 20. There be some who trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ Though we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that we have preached unto you let him be accursed As we have before so say I now again If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received let him be accursed Gal. 1. 7 8 9. False brethren who came in privily to spy out our liberty c. that they might bring us into bondage to whom we gave place by subjection no not for an hour that the truth of the Gospel may continue with you but of these who seem to be c. Gal. 2. 3 4 5 6. They zealously affect you but not well yea they would exclude you that you might affect them Gal. 4. 17. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh they constrain you to be circumcised only left they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ for neither they themselves that are circumcised keep the law but desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh Gal. 6. 12 13. Philip. 3. 2. Be no more children tossed c. with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive Ephes 4. 14. This I say lest any should beguile you with enticing words c. Beware lest any one spoil you through philosophy and vain deceits after the traditions of men after the rudiments of this world and not after Christ c. Let no man judge you in meat or for eating c. intruding into those things which he hath not seen c. and not holding the head c. Why are ye subject to ordinances c. Touch not c. Col. 2 4 8 16 to 24. Let no man deceive you by any means c. That man of sin c. who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God shewing himself that he is God c. Then shall that wicked one be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them who perish Because they received not the love of the truth c. for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned c. 2 Thes 2. 2 3 4 8 to 13. Rev. 13. 13 14. Charge some that they teach no other doctrine neither give heed to Jewish fables c. Some have swerved having turned aside to vain janglings desiring to be teachers of the law understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm 1 Tim. 1. 3 4 6 7 8. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter days some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils speaking lyes in hypocrisie having their consciences â—eared with a hot iron forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats c. 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. If any man teach otherwise c. he is proud knowing nothing but doting or sick about questions and strifes of words whereof cometh envy c. perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth supposing that gain is godliness from such withdraw thy self Some c. have erred 1 Tim. 6. 1 2 3 4 5 20 21. Strive not about words to no profit to the subverting of the hearers c. Shun prophane and vain babling for they will increase to more ungodliness and their word will eat as doth a canker or gangrene Of whom is Hymeneus c. Who concerning the truth have erred saying That the resurrection is past already and overthrow the faith of some nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure c. 2 Tim. 2. 14 16 17 18 19. Perilous times shall come for men shall be lovers of their own selves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankful unholy without natural affection truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those who are good traitors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away for of this sort are they who creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins led away with divers lusts ever learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth men of corrupt minds reprobate or of no judgment concerning the faith c. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived but continue thou in the things c. 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 13 14. The time will come when they will not endure found doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap up to themselves teachers having itching ears and they shall turn away their ears from truth and shall be turned unto fables But watch thou c. 2 Tim. 4. 3 4 5. A bishop must be blameless c. holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught or in teaching that he may be able by found doctrine both to exhort and convince the gain-sayers for there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers especially they of the circumcision whose mouths must be stopped who subvert whole houses teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucre sake Rebuke them sharply c. not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth c. They profess that they know God but in works they deny him being c. Titus 1. 7 9 10 11 13 14 16. Be not carried about with divers and strange dectrines for it is a good thing that the heart c. Heb. 13. 9. But there were false prophets also among the people even as there shall be