by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ No man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declar'd him Heb. 1.1 2. God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last dayes spoken unto us by his Son 4. That all Persons whatsoever are obliged bound under the severest penalties to attend to whatever was revealed by this Prophet This is also enforc'd by a voice from the excellent Glory Mat. 17.5 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him So then the Scriptures of the New-Testament are our Directory whatever Christ hath enjoyn'd therein all Saints are to have regard to For what he declared from the Father is therein contain'd and no where else But II. There 's not the least intimation given by God the Father or this great Prophet of the Church of any other way or means of instruction in his Worship or Service but only the Scriptures 'T is true the Popelings talk of Traditions as did do the Jews before them and much of their Worship many of their orders is bottom'd upon receives its Original from pretended Visions Revelations the personal Appearance of the Virgin Mary yea of Christ himself as they vainly pretend and perhaps Satan might appear to them as an Angel of Light and avouch himself to be the Lord Christ As touching the Carthusians 't is acknowledg'd that Hugo who joyn'd with Bruno in laying the Foundations of that Order had a vision of Gods Building an House with seven Stars conducting them to a place call'd La grand Chartreuse from whence the whole Order hath taken its name The Order of the Carmelites was from a Vision that Simon Stock had wherein the blessed Virgin appear'd with the Habit in her Hand which she would have them wear with a Promise that whoever dyed in that Habit should not perish by everlasting Flames Innocent the third hath a Vision of St. Francis and St. Dominic supporting the Lateran Church whence the Franciscan and Dominican Orders sprang As for the Jesuits their Grandsire Ignatius was full of Visions Sometimes Peter appear'd to him sometimes the Virgin Mary with a great deal of Glory and her Child in her lap whereby he was greatly strengthned and incouraged But above all the strangest Vision he had was a Vision of the Blessed Trinity plainly under a corporeal Representation which fill'd him so full of Joy that he could not hold weeping before all the People and was so strangly enlightned by it that he began to write a Book of the glory of the Blessed Trinity In one of his Exstasies he continued eight dayes in which it's probable saith Orlandinus he saw the frame and model of the Society of the Jesuits Christ appeared to him once and again sometimes he was lift up from the ground the room where he was being fill'd with a great Light In a Vision he saw God the Father commending himself and his Brethren to his Son Jesus bearing his Cross whom he very kindly received and with a smile said to Ignatius I will be favourable to you at Rome which greatly comforted him and his Companions And in the issue it fell out accordingly his order being confirm'd by P. Paul the third his Bull dated Octob. 3. 1540. As were their Orders so their Festivals were instituted upon the bottom of pretended Visions and Revelations The Festival of Corpus Christi was instituted by Vrban the fourth in honour of Transubstantiation by the Revelation of a famous Virgin call'd Juliana which had many raptures and so prophetick a Spirit as to discern the thoughts and intentions of her neighbours hearts she wrestled with Devils discoursed with the Apostles and wrought many Miracles Bullar Rom. Tom. 1 p. 147. Paul the Hermite was Canonized for a Saint upon the Authority of a Vision and Revelation The Feast of Michael the Arch-Angel upon a Revelation to the Bishop of Siponto and a few Drovers upon the Mountain Garganus To which many more might be added These are the wayes Satan hath used to establish his Kingdom by and to introduce his false superstitious idolatrous Orders and Worship destructive to the bodyes and souls of Men. But in Christ's Doctrine Gospel there is a deep silence touching any such matter He himself and his Apostles after him introduce nothing upon the account of such Revelations but appeal to the Scriptures and prove their Doctrine from thence Not the least intimation is there of any way or means of instruction in his Worship but only the Scriptures If there be let the place be produced and we are satisfied If there be not as most certain there is not to hearken attend to Visions Revelations is to say no more unsafe dangerous Nor can it be consistent with the Love of the Father to his Church had he intended any other way of Instruction not to give the least notice of it to them nor with his Wisdom to make that discovery of his mind and will in the Scriptures to give it forth as our Rule when upon this supposition 't is a most imperfect one But III. God sends us to the Scripture for direction in this matter Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word whatever their pretentions are of the morning or the breaking forth of a more glorious day it is because there is no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 morning in them They have not the Light of the Glorious morning they speak of Luke 16.29 They have Moses and the Prophets i. e. the writings of Moses and the Prophets let them hear them John 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye think to have eternal life and they are they which testify of me IV. Jehovah himself in and under each Ministration hath commanded his People to observe whatever he hath appointed in the Scripture without Addition or Substraction Deut. 4.2 Ye shall not add to the word which I command you neither shall you diminish ought from it that ye may keep the Commandments of the Lord your God which I command you Chap. 12.32 What thing soever I command you observe to do it thou shalt not add thereto nor diminish from it Josh 1.7 That thou mayest observe to do according to all the Law which Moses my Servant commanded thee turn not from it to the right hand or to the left Prov. 30.5 6. Every word of God is pure Add thou not unto his words lest he reprove thee and thou be found a Liar Rev. 22.18 19. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the Prophesie of this Book If any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the Plagues that are written in this Book And if any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophesie God shall take away his part out of the Book
Chap. 2. would have him put the Brethren in remembrance of these things Chap. 4.6 charges him to give attendance to the work of the Ministry to which he was call'd to take heed to the Doctrine relating to Faith and Church-order which was deliver'd to him Chap. 4.14 16. which he calls that which was committed to his trust which he commands him to keep Chap. 6.20 yea to command and teach to others Chap. 4.10 And having charged him to observe all these things without partiality Chap. 5.21 he in this place most solemnly commands him to keep that Commandment of his The sum is 1. Whatever the Apostle had charged upon Timothy relating to the Doctrine and Worship of the Gospel to the Church and the Institutions thereof he was not only to observe himself but to command others also to do so 2. That these Orders Institutions Ordinances were to continue to the next Glorious Personal coming of our Lord Jesus and the Saints in their several Generations are till then to be found in the conscientious observance and practice of them whence it necessarily follows that the Ministration introduced by Christ which for the most part consists in what we have but now instanc'd in must continue till that day IV. Our Apostle give us a farther and most ample demonstration of the Truth pleaded for Heb. 1.1 2. God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past to the Fathers hath in these last dayes spoken unto us by his Son The last dayes are the last dayes of the Judaick Church-state the whole oeconomy all the Laws Statutes Orders Institutions thereunto appertaining God hath spoken i. e. God the Father hath done so by his Son in his personal Ministry when he tabernacled amongst men The design of the Apostle in the words under consideration it 's obvious is to give the Gospel-Ministration a preferrence above all that went before it And this he doth especially two wayes 1. The discoveries God made of his Will to the Fathers in times past he made by the Prophets but the discovery of his Will in the Gospel-Ministration is by his Son Now though 't is true the Prophets were worthy excellent glorious ones yet they were but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meer men but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sons of Adam The Son of God the Mediator of the New-Covenant by whom the Father spake when he dwelt amongst us is fair fair above them all Psal 45. Transcends them all in Beauty Excellency Authority Glory as being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Son that well-beloved Son of the Father in whom he was well pleased 2. All the discoveries that were before were but partial gradual He gave a hint to Adam to Noah spake more plainly to Abraham Isaac Jacob Gen. 12.1 2 3 4. Chap. 15.11 12. and 17.1 2. and 26.24 Chap. 49. Afterward to Moses in giving the Law and erection of the Judaick-Church when there was such a discovery of the mind of God that lookt like so perfect a model that nothing further was to be expected yet he afterward spake by David the Prophets Ezra c. but now by his Son he hath made a perfect and full discovery of his Mind and Will so as nothing more nothing new nothing beyond it is to be expected That such a discovery should be made by him was before Prophesied of him Dan. 9.24 Seventy Weeks are determined upon the People to finish the transgression to seal up the Vision and Prophesie and to anoint the most Holy That 't is a Prophesie of Christ is generally acknowledged by both Christians and Jews Nachmanides tells us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Holy of Holies or the most Holy as we translate is the Messiah who is sanctified from amongst the Sons of David The work he was to do when he came in the World is amply decypher'd viz. to Finish transgression to make an end of Sins to make reconciliation for iniquities and to bring in everlasting Righteousness and to seal up the Vision and Prophesie This last is what we are at present concerned to take notice of Two things must be enquired into 1. What 's meant by Vision and Prophesie 2. In what sense the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Holy of Holyes or the Holiness of Holinesses the Messiah CHRIST sealed up the Vision and Prophesie 1. Touching the first by Vision and Prophesie we are to understand all the wayes of discovery of the mind and Will of God he was pleased to make use of for the instruction of the Judaick-Church therein 2. As to the second Christ sealed the Vision and Prophesie by finishing perfecting it so as no more was or needed to be added thereunto as to the making the discovery of the Fathers will compleat So the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chatham translated seal signifies Ezek. 28 12. Thou sealest up the Summe Vatablus and the Tigurine render it Tues omnibus numeris absolutum exemplar Thou art in all respects a perfect example And to the same purpose Castalion The Syriack renders it by a word that signifies as to Seal so to compleat make perfect and the Arabick by a word that signifies to make an end of speaking When a man hath writ the whole of his mind he intends to communicate in his letter he seals it up The meaning is God had divers wayes and manners in dayes past revealed his Will to the Church at last he sent his Son as the great and last Prophet who fully perfectly discovers his mind to her so that a further Instruction there needs not nor is there to be expected But V. There 's no ground left for any New-Ministration or any Alteration in that set on foot by Christ The reasons of the alteration of the Old-Testament-Ministration with the Institutions Ordinances thereunto appertaining may be reduced to a twofold-head 1. They all pointed at had respect to the Messiah Christ to come Rom. 10.4 Christ is the end of the Law This the Apostle asserts to be the ground of its abolition Heb. 10.1 9. 2. Christ was to come during its continuance as Lord over his own House with more ample Power and Authority than any that went before him Heb. 1.1 2 3. 3.5 6. He had then Power Authority to confirm remove abolish as he pleased and none could say unto him in this matter What dost thou But neither of these can be supposed as the ground of altering discontinuing the Ministration set on foot by Christ He was then already come tabernacled among men and come he was as the great Prophet Lord King of the Church and as such gives forth Laws for them to subject conform to VI. The Gospel-Ministration Institutions must continue except a greater than Christ come The Law was given forth by Moses it continued thousands of Years and notwithstanding the degeneracy corruption that was amongst the People none could put a period to it the Church was bound to the observation of it to the coming
the World instead of Sanctifying it Are any of these things vacated not to be heeded attended to Who that pretends in sobriety to Christianity hath the forehead to avouch affirm it II. Another end of Gospel-Institutions is Our solemn publick avowed owning of subjection to the Lord Jesus 'T was from the beginning one end of God in his erecting of Worship that his People might therein solemnly own avouch him to be their God Lord Soveraign and they his Loyal Subjects faithful Servants Deut. 26.16 17 18. This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these Statutes and Judgments Thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thy heart and all thy soul Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God and to walk in his Wayes and to keep his Statutes and his Commandments and his Judgements and to harken unto his Voice And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar People as he hath promised thee and that thou shouldest keep all his Commandments If we will have God for our God visibly own him as such we must conform to his Institutions our publick acknowledgment of him as such lyes therein The World know nothing of the Saints actings of Faith Love the secret communion they have with GOD nor do they can they take much notice of them as to their Closet Family-Service but when found in the practice of the Institutions of the Lord then are they in the view of men publickly declaring that God's their God and they his People Josh 24.18 21 22. is to the same purpose 2 Cor. 8.5 First gave their own selves to the Lord i. e. chose him for their God resign'd up themselves all that they were and had wholly to the Lord to be at his dispose And unto us by the Will of God i. e. they solemnly avouched publickly owned declared this God to be theirs by their entring into the fellowship of the Gospel walking in the wayes of his appointment owning subjecting to the Ordinances of Jesus declared to them by us Nor can there be a full owning of the Lord to speak modestly without a conscientious walking herein neither will the Lord look upon ought we do whilest in the wilful neglect of his Institutions to be such an owning of him He will be acknowledged to be our God not in the way of our own wills but in the wayes he hath appointed us so to do The sole question is and yet one would wonder it should be a question amongst any that profess the fear of the Lord Whether it be the duty of Saints publickly to own acknowledge him to be their GOD Which if granted it cannot be denied but the Gospel-Church-state with the Institutions thereunto belonging is yet in being and must be so whilest there are any Saints in this World whose duty 't is so to own him for one end aimed at by the Lord Jesus in the establishment of these Institutions was as hath been proved that Saints should solemnly own acknowledge him therein III. A third end of this Gospel-Church-state is to set forth the Lords honour publish his praises Eph. 3.21 Vnto him be glory in the Churches by Christ Jesus throughout all Ages World without end Amen Two things are here plainly asserted by the Apostle 1. That there shall be a continuation of Churches thoughout all ages World without end and of such Churches both for Matter and Form at least as were in the Apostles dayes walking with Christ in all the wayes of his appointment One would wonder at the confidence of persons who have the forehead to assert the cessation of Churches Ordinances in open opposition to what is affirmed here by the Apostle of our Lord who speaks so fully plainly to their continuation 'till the end of the World that all the wit of man cannot possibly find out any evasion Had he said only They should continue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to or throughout Generations or Ages 't would have been said true but when the Apostles fell asleep and a second Generation also was past a general apostacy came in and there was a period of the Church-state To obviate which cavil he industriously as 't were affirms their continuance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into all or throughout all Generations or Ages and as if that were not full enough to express his intendment of their continuance till time should be no more he adds that they should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 throughout all Ages of the World of Worlds or Age of Ages The Apostles seems to allude to two Hebrew Phrases 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 10.6 I shall never be in Adversity the word is unto Generation and Generation And that Isa 45.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded World without end Their continuance till the end of this World is evidently what 's his intendment 2. That one end of the Institution of these Churches is that God may be praised in them by them is also asserted Is this end terminated Is it not the duty of Saints to praise the Lord and to praise him in the wayes he hath appointed If he hath instituted Churches for this end 't is the duty of Saints to praise him in them If for this end he hath Appointed their continuance throughout all Ages they must of necessity so continue or God failes of his end which is abominable Blasphemous to assert See to the same purpose Heb. 2.12 1 Pet. 2.9 IV. Another end of the Gospel-Church-state is Saints mutual Edification Growth till they all come in the Vnity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of GOD unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ 1 Cor. 14.26 Let all things be done to edifying Eph. 4.11 12 13 29. 1 Thes 5.11 Jude 20. Have Saints no further need of edification building up Are they come to a Perfect man unto the measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ Who dare aver it Can there be a more proper medium way or means fixt upon for the effecting this noble and glorious end than what the Lord propos'd viz. their walking together in the fellowship of the Gospel in the practice of all the Institutions of Christ What ever persons may think as none can desert the way Appointed by the Lord for the production of this end without a tremendous advance against the Wisdom of God his Love to and Care of his Children so they 'l find any other fixt upon by them will prove altogether insuccessful as to the end aimed at V. The confirmation of the Saints mutual love one to another is also frequently asserted to be one great end of this Appointment Eph. 5.2 1 Thes 3.12 1 John 3.22 1 Cor. 10.16 17. 'T is certainly our duty to keep this Commandment of our Lord yea to abound in love more and more each to other The means then appointed by the Lord for that end must