essentiall or naturall voyce of God is one thing the assumed or angelicall another No man ever heard Gods naturall voice the voice which was now and afterward heard was only angelicall or assured 133. Exod. 20.5 I am the Lord thy God a jealous God visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation Deut. 24.16 Ezek. 18.20 The son shall not bear the Fathers iniquity God visits the fathers sinnes upon the children if they walk in the way of their fathers that is on them that hate him but it is otherwise if the children repent Also God punisheth the iniquities of the fathers upon the children with temporall punishments not with eternall unlesse they follow the footsteps of their wicked fathers * Exod. 20.5 Visiting the iniquities of the Fathers c. Exod. 18.20 The sonne shall not beare c. Moses is speaking of idolatry which is such a sinne as cuts in pieces the Covenant of the Lord which so far provokes the Lord as he not onely punisheth the father that committed it but likewise by with drawing his word from them punisheth it to the third and fourth generation Ezekiel speaks in answer to those who would justifie themselves and blame God as bringing judgments on them only for their fathers cause not deserving them * Exod. 20.5 with Ezek. 18.17 Gal. 5 6. The meaning is no sonne shall be damned for the sin of his father nor one man for the sinne of another unlesse by commission or approbation or some other way he may make it his own But for temporal punishments there is none but by occasion of others sins may have their portion in them But this is spoken chiefly of those who continue in the sinne of their parents and though divers dye in their minority God foreseeth how bad they would have been if they had lived and sometimes the Parents derive vengeance on their heads by imprecations upon them as the wicked Jews wished Christs blood might be on themselves and children and sometimes the good children of wicked parents are temporally punished because in them and by such means are their parents punished for that in them they would live and flourish when themselves are dead * Exod. 20.6 And shewing mercy unto thousands Mal. 1.3 Rom. 9.13 Iacob have I loved and Esau have I hated The latter places speak of Gods electing and chusing before time the former place speaks of Gods conditionate shewing mercy for he shews mercy for from Father to Sonne and so to Grandchild if they remain obedient and be like their Fathers but if they swerve from their Fathers steps and turn to their broken cisterns then he will turn away his loving kindness from them * Exod. 20.7 Thou shalt not take the name of c. Matth. 5.34 Sweare not at all The former place speaks of needless swearing without just and weighty occasions or rashly without heed and reverence or falsly without truth it forbids not swearing before a Magistrate the latter place forbids all vain false and prophane swearing but not a solemne calling God to attest the truth This place forbids not all swearing no more than the Commandement all killing but speaks in opposition to that doctrine and practise of the Pharisees who suffered common swearing so it was not swearing falsely or forswearing 134. Exod. 20.8 Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day Deut. 5.12 Matth. 12.5 On the Sabbath days the Priests in the Temple profane the Sabbath day and are blameless Legall Ceremonies and their externall observations give place to charity and necessity morall duties are preferred before ceremonials God forbade those works which hinder his worship but Christ defends his Disciples plucking ears of corn on the Sabbath day against the Pharisee by the example of David and of the Priests killing sacrifices on the Sabbath day pulling off their hides and washing of them * Exod. 20.8 It s one thing to break the Sabbath in contempt another thing to break it in necessity or rather to do works of necessity upon it The Priest did kill sacrifice and labour in the offering them up bodily and that in the Court of the Temple Now to labour bodily on the Sabbath day the Jews did account prophaneness and yet these Priests for all their bodily labour were not accounted prophaners of the Sabbath So as it s not the bare action but the end and intent of that action which makes the prophanenesse 135. Exod. 20.12 Honour thy father and mother Luke 14.26 If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters yea and his own life also he cannot be my disciple Christ forbids not the honour due to parents but he saith Matth. 19.37 He that loves them more than me is not worthy of me for all things must be forsaken and hated too so far as they hinder our love of God and Christ for all things must give place to the love of God and that takes not away our duty or due honour to our parents * 136. Exod. 20.12 with Luke 14.26 The first place commands honouring of parents but it must not be equally with God Honour parents as parents subordinate to God Honour parents with honour fit for creatures not for the Creator If parents will command things dishonourable to Christ we must be so farre from honouring them as to hate them but if their command be agreeing with Christ Children must obey their parents in the Lord. 137. Exod. 20.12 Honour thy Father Mat. 23.9 Call no man Father upon the earth Christs forbids not children to honour their parents 2 Kings 2. 1 Chron. 4. or the hearers to honour the Preachers for Paul calls himself the father of the Corinthians but he forbids us to depend on humane authority in divine matters but we must depend on one God and have a filial confidence in him 138. Exod. 20.13 Thou shalt not kill Matth. 5.21 18.9 If thy eye hand foot offend thee cut it off and cast it from thee Christ would not that we should dismember our selves but that we should mortifie the old Adam and bridle the wicked motions and desires of our minds and take heed of them 139. Exod. 20.18 The people saw thundrings and the lightnings and the noise of the trumpet Deut. 5.23 You heard the voice out of the midst of the darknesse The frighted people standing afarre off stricken with fear saw the thunder joyned with lightning breaking forth of the dark clouds in the promulgation of the Law 140. Exod. 20.24 Thou shalt make unto me an Altar of earth Chap. 27.1 Of Shittim wood The inward part of the Altar was earth the outside of Shittim wood 141. Exod. 21.24 Lev. 24.40 An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth Matth. 5.38 39. If any one strike thee on the right cheek turn to him the left The first place is concerning the publick judgement of the Magistrate and the judicial Law now
poureth contempt upon Princes c. The righteous shall see it and rejoyce Prov. 24.17 Rejoyce not when thine enemy falleth The righteous rejoyceth not at the fall of the person so much as at the fall of the power of a wicked man He pitties his person but he is glad that the Sword is taken out of the hand of the wicked whereby the righteous might and should have been made to weep The godly rejoyce not out of spleen to the wicked but because Gods enemies are fallen and Gods glory begins to shine and that he hath manifested his wrath against impiety and oppression 527. Psal 108.9 He curseth his enemies Mat. 5.44 Love your enemies blâ—sse them that curse you c. Christ in the person of David by a propheticall spirit wisheth horrid punishments to the enemies of God and his Church In Matthew he exhorts to sincere and ardent charity to our enemies 528. Psal 110.3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power Mat. 11.12 The Kingdome of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force We are willing to do good when the holy Ghost doth his work in us and renews us The Evangelist means a spirituall violence of men with a burning zeal entring into the Kingdome of God and taking of it as it were by force obeying the Gospell forsaking legall ceremonies and embracing salvation by Christ * 529. Psal 112 3. Wealth and riches shall be in his house Act. 3.6 Silver and gold have I none Supply is one thing superfluity is another God promiseth wealth and riches to supply the godly mans needs The Apostles had none because none was then requisite they needed not at that time a supply of money but had it when it was necessary Wealth and riches when its necessary for them and as much as is necessary 530. Psal 112.6 The righteous shall not be moved for ever Prov. 24.16 The righteous man shall fall seven times a day Job 5.19 Psalm 34.10 The righteous in Christ founded on him by a true faith shall not be overthrown though the World and the Devill rage against him but if at any time by infirmity of the flesh he do fall yet he riseth again by Gods grace nor doth he despair or cast away his trust in God but by repentance he returns into favour with God again 531. Psal 115.4 The Idols of the heathens are silver and gold Isa 41.45 46 1 Cor. 8.4 An Idoll is nothing in the world Idols for their matter are things created by God but an Idoll is nothing privatively not negatively because it is not that which it is called namely God it hath nothing of God it can do neither good nor hurt 532. Psal 116.11 Every man is a lyar Rev. 14.5 There was found no guile in their mouth The first place sheweth what we are by nature of our selves the latter of what we are by grace after we apprehend Christ by faith and are led by the Spirit of God which is the Spirit of truth * 533. Psal 116.11 All men are lyars Isaiah 63.8 Surely they are my people Children that will not lye David said this in haste that all men are liars even Samuel and all who said David should be King so pressing was his affliction What he said when the cloud of blacknesse was upon his understanding is not to be taken as his clear judgement All men its true naturally are lyars but yet grace alters them Isaiah tells us what an opinion the Lord had of his people that they would not lie that is deal disloyally with God in departing from him to Idols If they had done so they had lyed in regard of the promise made to the Lord to the contrary 534. Psal 119.13 With my lips have I shewed all the judgments of thy mouth Rom. 11.33 The judgments of God are unsearchable The Psalmist speaks of the judgements of Gods mouth revealed in his Word Paul of the secret and unscrutable judgments or the reason why God doth this or that to make one man rich another poor 535. Psal 119.13 I have hated the wicked Rom. 12.14 Blesse those that persecute you and curse them not Godly men must not hate mens persons Mat. 5.2 Acts 7. but rather their faults not those that sinne of weaknesse but those that sinne of obstinacy and rather to pray for them both by the example of Christ and Stephen c. than to curse either * 536. Psal 119.54 Thy statutes have been my Songs in the house of my Pilgrimage Psal 137.3 How long shall I sing the Lords Song in a strange Land Gods statutes were Davids joy or comfort or Songs for that may be meant by Songs or Gods Word was the subject of his Songs in the time of his trouble The latter place tells us that Saints are unwilling to sing at the desire of the wicked which will make a mock of the Songs of God Nor doth it say but that Saints may sing the Lords Songs in the time of affliction when the Lord moves their spirits to that work It is one thing for Saints to sing of their own accord another thing to sing by compulsion or invitation of the wicked 537. Psal 119.155 Health is far from the ungodly Mat. 9.13 I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance The Psalmist speaks of wicked men obstinate and such as are hardned in their sinnes rejecting the grace of God and Christ the author of salvation Christ speaks of penitent sinners who being convinced with the sense of their own sinnes flie to the mercy of God and seek health in Gods grace onely through Jesus Christ 538. Psal 125.1 They that trust in the Lord shall not be moved Rom. 11.17 Some of the boughs were broken off for their incredulity Christ makes fruitfull and barren Vines the Apostles boughs by which he represents the faithfull and Infidels those that were broken off it was for their unbelief 539. Psal 128.1 Blessed are all they who feare the Lord. 1 Joh. 4.18 There is no fear in love for love casts out fear Filial fear proceeds from faith by which we apprehended God as present all the faithfull have this and consolation accompanieth it The Apostle speaks of the servile fear of the Infidels which proceeds from a sense of the presence of God as a Judge and there is no consolation in this but confusion * Psal 128.1 with 1 John 4.18 There is a twofold fear servile filial servile is that fear which hath punishment for its object and nothing else Now in punishment are two things observable First The punishment of losse Secondly The punishment of sense 1. The punishment of losse a totall and finall separation from the face presence and favour of God which in some measure may be the object of a filiall fear 2. The punishment of sense the dolours pains and torments of Hell and of these there is a twofold fear moderate and immoderate Now when the fear of these are immoderate
worthy of them But Christ never tells a poor penitent that comes weeping to him that he must be gone for he hath been a Rebel a base man or the like he upbraids no man with his former life 836. Mat. 11.25 O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes Iam. 3.13 Who so is a wise man and endued with knowledge amongst you let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom Christ speaks of the wisdom of this world and diabolical wisdom which is contrary to divine wisdom James speaks of both divine and humane wisdom 837. Mâ—t. 11.28 Christ saith Come unto me all 1 Cor. 1.26 You see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many noble are called The general vocation extends to all there is one general call of all men to the great Supper and another special call of believers only Luk. 14. who obey Christ and his Gospel * Mat. 11.28 with 1 Cor. 1.26 Christ calls not every particular man in the world he calls every particular man that is weary in and of the world to come to him The latter place shews that not many wise are called but hereupon it follows not that those wise ones are not weary ones 838. Mat. 11.30 My yoak is easie and my burden is light Mar. 10.25 It is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God The yoake of Christ is easie and his burden light to the spirit not to the flesh to those that are mild and humble by Christs example or the Gospel-yoak is easie by the Holy Ghost and in comparison of the unsupportable yoak of the Law It is a hard matter for a rich covetous man to enter into the Kingdom of God not for that riches are evil but because he doth wickedly abuse them * 839. Mat. 12.1 At that time Iesus went on the Sabbath day Luk. 6.1 And it came to pass on the second Sabbath after the first In Matthew it is Sabbaths in the Plural by an enallage Numeri as Jephtha is said to be buried in the Cities of Gilead Jud. 12.7 That is in one of the Cities or its Sabbaths that is the second Sabbath after the first which if so it belongs to one of their Festivals in their great festivals as their Paschal Feast of Tabernacles and Dedication the first day was most holy the rest to the last not so renowned yet all were called Sabbath although it was lawful on such daies to provide victuals it was called the second Sabbath after the first because it was the second from that renowned and great Sabbath and that first great Sabbath of those which followed So as he who walked the second day from the Sabbath according to Matthew and Mark walked on the Sabbath and as Luke the second Sabbath after the first Or others are of opinion the second Sabbath after the first the next Sabbath after the Passeover Exod. 12.16 It was not lawful to do any work upon it Others by the second Sabbath after the first understand the next Festival to the Passeover which is Pentecost * 840. Mat. 12.10 And they asked him saying is it lawful to heal on the Sabath daies Luk. 6.8 But he knew their thoughts It is probable that the Jews at first observed Christ whether he would heal or no and after he had healed the man they ask him whether it were lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not and he by way of answer asks them whether it were lawful to do good on the Sabbath And though Matthew do place the words before the healing yet there may be an anticipation Or else thus that while they observed him he deferring to do any thing they broke out into this question Whether it were lawful to heal on the Sabbath day Which might be taken as a question simply moved to learn of him but it is said that he knew their thoughts and that they had a mind in them to cavil with him for his Question to them Whether it were lawful to do good or to do evil upon the Sabbath day It agreeth fitly to the occasion for the not helping a man in misery is to do evil at any time in him that hath power to help not to save life when a man can is to kill * 841. Mat. 12.5 Have you not read in the Law that the Priests prophane the Temple on the Sabbath Exod. 20. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath The Jews had an opinion that rest on the Sabbath as I conceive must be so large as no work at all must be done on it Christ he goes about to prove if this opinion were true then David and the Priests break and have broken the Law they have broken the Law because the Priests did circumcise on that day did make fires kill Oxen offer burnt offerings c. which were but Ceremonial works whereas the work of his Disciples plucking corn was a work of necessity a Moral Command it was to do good to all and at all times so that Interpretation of the Jews about the Sabbaths observation and their censuring his Disciples were in vain And whereas there may seem a difference betwixt Matthew and Mark saying they spake against Christ and Luke that they spake against the Disciples they peradventure began with the Disciples and after came to him Or they spake against Christ in speaking against the Disciples 842. Mat. 12.10 The Pharisees ask Christ if it be lawful to heal on the Sabbath daies Mar. 3.4 Christ asketh the Pharisees whether it were lawful to do good on the Sabbath daies To the question of the Pharisees Christ answereth by inversion intimating that God was more pleased to help a miserable man then to forsake him Mat. 12.8 843. Mat. 12.32 Whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man it shall be forgiven him but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him Rom. 5.20 Where sin hath abounded grace doth much more abound The unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost is not so in it self that it cannot be forgiven but for the malicious obstinacy of those that will not come to Christ by repentance and do proudly seduce others * 844. Mat. 12.48 Who is my mother with Luk. 2. Christ had a mother and was not born of a Phantasie as Marcion the Heretick and the Manichees nor denieth duty to them God sent forth his Son made of a woman Gal. 4.4 and he was the seed of Abraham and his Genealogy was derived from Adam according to the flesh He had brethren but brethren are taken several waies in Scripture 1. By nature as Jacob and Esau 2. By Nation as the Jews 3. By affection as Christians in general or else in special as friends David and Jonathan 4. By Cognation the Jews calling kindred
of the Divine word is proved to be uniforme to the honour and love whereof all that doubt of the consent of the same are modestly invited Some man perhaps will object that some things are borrowed by me from others which I deny not for in compiling this Synopsis I thought it more safe and discreet to follow the steps of the most approved Interpreters than without the authority of famous men in this most corrupt age which is full of Error and Heresie to invert any thing of my own brain and to publish it to the world And I hope that the Courteuos Reader and the equall censurer are not ignorant that in the study of Divinity nothing can be said now that was not said before And it is most profitable Eccles 1.10 Aug. tom 3. de Trin l. 1. c. 3. that many Books should be made by many men of the same things in a divers style but not in a different faith And he shall find that I have compendiously gathered together in this Concordance that which the greater works of learned Men contained more at large so that here he may as it were at a single view comprehend the matter Let those famous men have the praise who have set forth large handfulls in this harvest I would not that any one should derogate from their Orthodox labours but let them have it rather than my self Yet I doubt not but that he who was and is effectuall in their large and learned Commentaries will supply me with his grace and be present to these gleanings If any one condemn my brevity and rudenessâ—â—f my style I sought to be brief but not obscure because brevity is profitable and is accounted most acceptable alwayes by this there is nothing lost in the substance My religious mind bad me stop this little body with solid meat not with lofty and windy words if there be any thing found in it that is not as it should be I crave pardon what is not spoken religiously enough let it pass as not spoken far be it from me that I should arrogate to my self as though I had exactly written without error D. Mart. Luth. in Praef. for I am not he of whom it may be said He made it in the perfect tense but I stand in the last rank who scarce dare say I would have made it yet in great maters it is sufficient to be willing Wherefore I being much solicited by some like my self that is of the meaner sort and by the most pious desire of my intimate friends by this little Book of mine first intended for private use I would nay I am obliged to do them good but not them who suppose they better understand these things For who is sufficient for these things Christian Reader I do patiently and willingly beg of thee that according to thy Piety and Candor thou wouldst sincerely interpret of this my study and duty performed in collecting these Concordances of the Bible and wouldest look upon it with the same mind that I writ it that is with a single and good eye 1 Cor. 1.30 Our Lord Jesus Christ who of God is made unto us wisdome and righteousness and sanctification and redemption in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge Sanctifie reconcile and enlighten us by his holy Spirit that being reconciled in him we may remain for ever to the praise of his Divine grace and our own salvation Which is the desire and prayer of Your daily Orator at the Throne of Grace J. T. RECONCILIATIONS Of the Places of the Old Testament THE sacred Scripture of the Old Testament is the Word of God brought down from Heaven from the beginning of the World unto the comming of the Messias preached by the Prophets almost 4000 years written in Hebrew except some few things in Chalde Esdras 4 5 6. Dan. 2 to 8. Ezek. 10.11 called by the Jews Esirmve arba that is Luke 24.27 twenty four divided by Christ into the Books of Moses the Prophets and the Psalms The Books of Moses THe Pentateuch that is the five Books Also the Ocean of Divinity the Hebrews call the 1. Bereschit that is in the beginning 2. Velle Semoth These are the names 3. Vajer He called The 4. Vajed daber And he spake 5. Elle hadebarim These are the words both in Greek and Latine 1. Genesis 2. Exodus 3. Leviticus 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Numbers 5. Deuteronomy GENESIS THE Generation of the World is so called because of the Creation before the flood and the restoring of it after the flood and the administration of it by the Patriarchs unto the birth of Moses it contains the history of 2310 years The Places that are seemingly contradictory * 1. Gen. 1.1 Elohim Almighties Gen. 1.1 2. Bara created The noun singular the verb plural To shew that not one only person but the Trinity of Persons in the unity of essence three in one and one in three created the world the Father works and I work others say Hoc subtile potius quam solidum and that its only an Idiotism of the Hebrew tongue * 2. Gen. 1.1 with Gen. 1.8 God created the Heaven c. And God called the firmament Heaven and the evening and the morning were the second day Moses in the first Verse useth two words to comprize the whole Fabrick of the Creation but afterwards he descends to the parts of the Creation and so distinguisheth the Heaven or Firmament from other parts Or 2. By Heaven is meant in the first Verse by a Metonymy Continens pro re contenta the invisible or glorious habitation of Angels with the Angels themselves and afterward by Heaven is meant the visible Heaven 3. Gen. 1.22 And on the seaventh day God ended his worke Chap. 2.4 All things were created in the day that the Lord God made the Heavens and the Earth Reconciling God created the world and all things therein contained in six dais and not in one day altogether The first place therefore is meant of certain naturall and artificiall dayes The latter contains indefinitely the time of the creation of things Psal 95.7 Heb. 3.13 So this day is put for the time of grace 4. Gen. 1.2 And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters John 7.39 The Holy Ghost was not yet given In the first place the treaty is concerning the person and existence of the holy Ghost in the latter concerning the gifts of the holy Ghost and the miraculous powring forth thereof in the day of Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ 5. Gen. 1.5 God called the light day before the Sun was Ecclus. 43.2 The Sun when it appeareth declareth the day The light which first made the day was not an other light from the light of the Sun but that light which God had dispersed through the hemisphere which he collected afterwards into the body of the Sun * 6. Gen. 1.27 In the Image of God Psalm 89.8 Who is
Cains blood was not immediately shed because that he might propagate children to the replenishing of the world which then was unfurnished 35. Gen. 4.16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord. Psalm 139.7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence Cain being made a runnagate left his parents and their habitation and the place where they worshipped God In the Psalms Gods omnipresence is maintained * Gen. 4.15 with Psalm 139.7 The presence of God is either the presence of his essence and so he is in every place or the presence of his speciall face and manifestation and so he is present in and with his Saints especially in his Ordinances and Assemblies Some think the former words are fitted to Cains Atheisticall conceit which was that he could get out of the reach of Gods revenging hand but others more probably say is meant his going from the place where God gave evidence of his presence in his conference with him Or from his presence that is from that part or quarter of the world where God had his Church which is the place of his especial presence which he did as it were excommunicate himself from The other place shews no man can go be he where he will from the sight and presence of God which is in all places though even in these places they may go from the presence of his favour Cain was in the presence of his essence not of his favour 36. Gen. 5.24 And Enoch walked with God for God took him Rom. 8.8 They that are in the flesh cannot please God Enoch walking with God lived according to Gods will the Apostle by the flesh here understandeth men that walk after their carnall lusts * 37. Gen. 5.26 And Mathusalem The Doubt lies in this that by this account Mathusalem seemed to live to the end of the flood in the year 1656 and yet we read not of his entring into the Ark. But 't is answered from the birth of Lamech to the end of the flood is precisely reckoned 782 years and so many it was to that death of Mathusalem Seeing then he came not into the Ark we say the last year of his life was not compleat but onely inchoate the Hebrews and especially Rabbi Salomon that Mathusalem died seaven dayes before the beginning of the flood 38. Gen. 5.24 Enoch was not for God took him Heb. 9.27 It is appointed for all men once to dye Enochs translation was a work extraordinary 1 Cor. 15.53 1 Thes 4.17 it was to him in the place of death as the taking away of Elias and the translation of those who in the last day shall be saved alive But the Apostle sheweth what must ordinarily befall all men the consequence is not good from a singular priviledge to a generall rule 39. Gen. 6.3 His dayes shall be 120 years Chap. 11.13 Arphaxad and others after the flood lived above 400 years In the first place the space of time betwixt manifest impiety and the flood Aug. lib. 13. De Civ Dei 1 Sam. 15.11 and not the age of man is to be understood as if he had said unlesse the world repent they shall perish within 120 years * Gen. 6.3 with Gen. 11. Though some lived after the flood longer than 120 years yet this hinders not the agreement for the Text is not to be understood of mans life but of the time God would give them for repentance before the flood came on the world * Gen. 6.5 6 7. When the Lord saw that the wickednesse of man was great c. Gen. 8.21 I will henceforth curse the ground c. because the imaginations of his heart c. When the former place tells us because of the wickednesse of mens hearts and actions God sent the flood the latter place tells us that God decreed and resolved with himself that he will not again curse the ground not that by this he cancelled the generall curse inflicted for the sinne of man or give security against the future consuming the world by fire but that there should be no more such generall floods as this was This word Because in the second place may signifie Although as 1 Sam. 14.39 which reading reconciles the Texts in the first God threatens to destroy the world because the inhabitants were so bad In the other where he smelt the savour of his Sonnes righteousnesse in Noah's sacrifice He is resolved although the wickednesse of mens unclean hearts are so bad yet he will never take that course any more to drown the world 40. Gen. 6.6 It repented the Lord that he had made man 1 Sam. 15.29 God is not a man that he should repent Repentance as it is an argument of mans weaknesse so can it not fall upon God but the Scripture often speaks of God after the manner of men Aug. lib. 1. cap. 7. De Civ Dei Psal 131. and where it is said that it repented God there is meant the charge of things God still remaining unchangeable * Gen. 6.6 with 1 Sam. 15.29 Repentance is either properly or improperly taken properly taken for a passion of nature or change of the mind or improperly only for a change or alteration of actions God repents not the first way not so as to change his mind but he is said to repent when he doth as a man which repents change his actions in this or that particular according to the purpose of his own will 41. Gen. 6.9 Noah was a just man and perfect 2 Pet. 2.5 Psalm 13.3 There is none that doth good Rom. 3.12 Heb. 11. no not one Noah was just before God by faith and unblameable in the sight of men he is said to be perfect not as though he were without sinne but in comparison of others he had his conversation holy and without hypocrisie * 42. Gen. 6.9 with Rom. 3.10 Noah was two wayes just Imputatively Christs righteousnesse being reckoned to him by faith 2. Inherently and yet he was not simply just but in his generation or he was not absolutely just but comparatively in his generation compared with those of his time or he was inherently just that is sincerely just in his profession of Religion without hypocrisie but not perfect that is free from all sin There is a justice of parts and one of degrees No man is inherently in degrees fully compleatly and absolutely just though Gods children are just in parts and intentions to be so The second place is meant of man in his naturall estate no man is just so though by faith and Gods acception and their intention the children of God are just 43. Gen. 7.2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take Lev. 11.1 Moses divided the clean beasts from the unclean The Patriarchs before the flood had a distinction in their sacrifices between clean and unclean living creatures By the Mosaicall Law not only for sacrifices but for meat the use of the unclean wat forbidden 44 Gen. 7.6
grew greater by the dignity of those that went forth and greatest of all wheâ— others joyned themselves to them that had not set down their names 423. Ezra 3.8 The Jews built the wals of Ierusalem after their return Zach. 3.4 Ierusalem shall be inhabited without wals Zach. 2.5 Under the name of Ierusalem Zacharias prophesieth or the Church of Christ and the heavenly Ierusalem the majesty of it is larger than can be comprehended in one City of which God is the wall a fire round aboue and glory in the midst of her 424. 2 Ezra 5.9 10 12. Nehemias reprehends the richer Iews because they thought to live by usury Gen. 47.23 Ioseph bought the Land of Aegypt and the people thereof he made subject to Pharaoh for corâ—â— The Aegyptians were punished by God for their iniquities the Iewes after their returne into their Countrey were so proved the richer Iewes oppressing their poore brethren with biting usury did burden them which Ioseph did not 425. Ezra 6.3 Cyrus the King decreed that the house of God should be built at Jerusalem and let them lay the foundations the height thereof sixty cubits and the breadth thereof sixty cubits 1 Kings 6.2 The house which King Solomon built for the Lord the length thereof was sixty cubit the breadth twenty cubits the height thirty cubits The structure of Solomons Temple was more beautifull than this 2 Chron. 3.3 Agg. 2.3 Ezra 3.12 therefore the Elders that saw this wept because the beginnings of this did not seem to answer the Majesty of the former Temple * Ezra 6.3 with 1 Kings 6.2 Cubits are common or sacred the common are half the length of the sacred which were unknown to the Heathen In the former place they are taken for common cubits and so the former Temple eâ—ceeded the latter And the number of them may be reckoned from the bottom of the foundation to the top of the outside and from the ouâ—â—ides of the Temple including the thicknesse of the Walls and of the Chambers adjoyning And so this Temple will be less than Solomons besides Solomons exceed the other in proportion ornaments outward and inward 426. Ezra 7.7 And there went up some of the children of Israel of the Priests and the Levites unto Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes Chap. 1.1 Jerem. 25.12 34.10 2 Chron. 3.22 In the first yeare of Cyrus King of Persia the Jews had power given them to go up to Jerusalem After that Cyrus had given licence to them to return from Babylon to Jerusalem many with Ezâ—â—ras and Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem under the reign of Artaxerxes 427. Ezra 10.32 The houses were not builde Vers 3. Let not your doores be opend Their houses were not fully built the Cities had gates 428. Ezra 8.18 Ezra read in the book day by day Eza 3.4 They kept also the feast of Tabernacles as it is written This was a singular example of piety for they were not bound to do so by the Law yet they came willingly day by day to hear the book of the Law 429. Ezra 10.32 Also we made ordinances amongst our selves yearly to charge our selves with a third part of a shekell for the work of the Lord. Exod. 30.13 They shall give every one that passeth amongst them that he numbred half a shekell Moses once by Gods command laid on them that tribute and Ioas at the renewing of the Temple ordered that every one should give what he pleased so Nehemiah ordained the third of two shekels by the year to restore the Temple not from the Law but from necessity 430. Ezra 11.6 Of the children of Phares that dwelt at Ierusalem were four hundred sixty eight Benjamin nine hundred twenty eight 2 Chron. 9.6 Iehuel six hundred and ninety Benjamin nine hundred fifty six First the chief are set down to whom a dwelling fell by lot then other voluntary inhabitants who chose a habitation willingly NEHEMIAH * 431. NEhemiah 8.18 with Leviticus 23.36 and Ezekiel 3.4 The former place speaks of what was done extraordinarily by the people The latter what was usuall for the people to do as their duty * 432. Nehem. 11.5 My God put it into my heart c. to reckon by genealogies c. 1 Tim. 1.4 Neither give heed to endlesse genealogies The Jewes were to observe and keep their genealogies because they were to know of what Tribe Christ was Saint Paul forbids not making or reckoning up Genealogies simply But he forbids our spending our time and study in seeking out Genealogies which were endlesse By endlesse may be understood those of the Iews who were turned Christians which were so addicted to these Genealogies that they might have a pretence of claiming kindred of Christ that they made no end of drawing down their lines of descent from David or from Abraham or because the Questions moved concerning Genealogies by reason of the slender proof and ground they had for them could receive no determination or end * Nehem. 11.6 The sons of Perez were four hundred sixty eight with 2 Chron. 9.6 Six hundred and ninety In the former place mention is made of those who came by lot to inhabit at Ierusalem In the latter 2 Chronicles 9. not only of such but of voluntary inhabitants as Ephraim Benjamin and Manasseh ESTHER THe Book of Esther is so called from Esther who was Ahasuâ—rus wife here is shewed how Ahasuerus divorcing Vashti chose Esther to be Queen Haman the enemy of the Jewes and of Mordecai is hanged Mordecai is made Provost of the Kingdome It contains the History of twenty yeares Ezdras was the writer of it or else the men of the great Synagogue 433. ESther 1.12 Ahasuerus divorced Vashti because she refused to come at his commandment Matth. 19.9 Whosoever shall put away his wife except for fornication and shall marry an other committeth adultery The pride of Vashti hurt not the King alone but all the people and Princes of the Kingdom by shewing a kind of dominion over the King before other women Now adayes men do not divorce their wives but for the cause of Adultery onely and they are bound by the Laws of God and man to obey their husbands 434. Esther 9.21 Mordecai sent to the Jewes in all the Provinces that the fourteenth and fifteenth dayes of the moneth Adar should be held for festivals Deut. 4.2 Chap. 12.32 What I command you this day you shall not add to it The ordinance of Mordecai was not against the Law nor was it a feast of Gods worship but onely commemorative for the divine wonderfull deliverance of the people of the Jews JOB THis Book is so called from Job who was also called Joab King of Edom. Gen. 36. Moses is thought to have written that Book for an example of patience therein is contained the affliction of Job and contention with his friends and disputing with them God ends this controversie at last and restores Iob to his former prosperity The History appertains to
children which Job had lost should rise again and so joyned together they are doubled The PSALTER From Singing HEb Sepher Tehilin the Book of Praises 2 Sam. 23.2 It is called the Book of Psalms the small Bible The Psalms are in number an hundred and fifty The most are Davids who was an excellent Psalmist and is called the sweet finger of Israel All of them were written by the dictate of the holy Ghost The most before and some in the time and after the Babylonish captivity unto the times of the Maechabees Some are Didacticall some Propheticall some Eucharisticall containing Instructions Doctrines Exhortations Consolations 449. PSalm 1.2 In the Law of the Lord is his delight Rom. 6.14 Ye are not under the Law Godly men have a singular delight in the Law and in the holy Commandements of God Yet they are not under the yoak and curse of the Law which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear but by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ Act. 15.10 we hope to be saved as well as they * 450. Psal 1.3 4. He is like a Tree planted c. the ungodly are not so Eccles 8.14 There be just men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked and there are wicked to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous this is vanity The former place tels us what a godly mans portion and a wicked mans portion is in certainty and assurance The latter place speaks either of what happeneth from evill Princes who do oppresse the just and encourage the wicked which can but last only for the present Or else this happeneth by the providence of God that the wicked should live in pleasure and the godly in trouble as flesh and bloud judgeth yet it may easily be seen the rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous The righteous flourish either themselves as a Palm tree that hath been depressed or in their posterity after their departure which fals not out with the wicked 451. Psal 1.5 The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment 2 Cor. 5.10 We shall all appear before the judgment seat of Christ The first place is to be understood of temporall judgments which wicked men cannot endure when they are examined according to Gods judgments because they are convinced of their sinnes The latter speaks of the last judgment when all good men shall rise to life eternall and wicked men to eternall death * Psalm 1.5 with 2 Cor. 5.10 The wicked shall not be able to stand at the last Judgement though they shall appear i. e. not stand to justifie themselves in their evill actions nor shall they be absolved by the Judges sentence nor be raised from death to glory in the resurrection But they shall be beaten down with terror being void and fallen from all manner of hope * 452. Psal 2.7 Thou art my sonne this day have I begotten thee Prov. 8.22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works of old Christ as God was with God in the beginning of his way Christ as man was begotten in time This day relates to his nativity and exhibition in the flesh not to his Divinity And at his resurrection that begetting of Christ according to his humane nature was manifest and clear which probably made St Peter use it to that purpose in the Acts. 453. Psal 2.9 Thou shalt break them with an iron rod like a potters vessell Isa 42.3 He shall not break a bruised reed The Sonne of God will break the wicked with an iron rod and the blast of his mouth but he receives the weak in faith into favour and he perfects his strength in their weaknesse 454. Psal 2.10 Serve God in fear 1 Peter 2.10 Servants be subject to your Masters with all fear c. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdome and before all it is necessary to have that yet we must obey earthly Masters next under God * 455. Psal 5.4 Neither shall evill dwell with thee Esay 45.7 I make peace and create evill Evill dwels not with God as its a sinne but creates evill as its a punishment Evill is taken in the latter place not for that which is a breach of the Law God is not the author of sinne but for that which is contrary to our nature good and happinesse thus sicknesse and trouble c. are evill I create afflictions saith God Evill as its opposed to peace Evill is either that which is opposed to the increated good God himself and so its sinne or as it s opposed to created good and so its affliction God is the author of evill i. e. affliction not of sin because its contrary to himself 456. Psal 5.5 Thou hatest all workers of iniquity Rom. 9.18 Whom he will he hardneth God since he is just and mighty will and can punish all iniquity though he suffer the deceit and violence of the wicked for a time Aug. cont Faust Exod. 4.21 and 7.3 and 10.27 and 11.10 Hardning is imputed to God not as if he were the author of it as it is evill but as it is a punishment and God useth evill to good ends and governs the wicked for good * 457. Psal 5.5 with Rom. 5.8 But God commendeth his love towards us in that whiles we were yet sinners c. God hates all workers of iniquity as workers of iniquity God loves those which have wrought iniquity not as workers of iniquity but as they are considered in Christ those for whom Christ died and the creatures oâ—â—he Lord and as those which are returning to God from iniquity 458. Psal 5.6 Thou hatest all the workers of iniquity Luke 16.8 Christ praised the unjust steward because he dealt wisely God hates all iniquity and deceitfull persons are an abomination unto him God praised the unjust Steward not for his wickednesse deceit or wealth but he admired his subtilty and craft so we use in criminall things to commend the cunning of men though we detest their wickednesse 459. Psal 7.8 Judge me O Lord according to my righteousnesse and my innocency Psal 143.2 Enter not into judgement with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified A righteousness of the cause or action a righteousness of the person In the first place he speaks of the justice and the judgment of the good cause of David which he upheld against the enemies of God who oppressed him with their false calumnies and violence and therefore he appeals to God the judge of his just cause that he would defend his innocency In the latter he speaks of the justice of man and so no man is just in the sight of God if God should try him according to the rigor of his justice 460. Psal 7.12 God threatens and God is angry every day Ephes 4.31 Let all bitternesse and wrath and anger be taken from you Anger is commendable when we are angry for
A righteous man turns away from his righteousnesse and doth iniquity he shall dye in it Rom. 8.30 Whom he justified them he glorified Righteous in the first place is not truely so but only in opinion so Christ came not to call the just Matth. 9.13 but the Apostle speaks of those that are truely just who are jâ—stified in Christ and shall be surely glorified Or if the place of the Prophet be to be interpreted of him that is truely just it is conditionall and so proves nothing and the contradiction is reconciled * Ezek. 18.26 with Heb. 6.4 The first place speaks Hypothetically Qui subponit nihil ponit such suppositions say nothing positively that the supposition is true the latter place speaks positively The first place speaks in vindication of Gods justice that if it were so that a righteous man could fall that God would do and so The latter place speaks in confirmation of those that are godly that they cannot fall away The first place speaks of Hypocrites the latter of reall Saints so as they cannot be in opposition to one another The former of such a man as is righteous by his own righteousnesse The latter by such as is righteous by the righteousnesse of Christ 677. Ezek. 20.25 I gave them also Statutes that were not good and judgements whereby they should not live Psalm 19.9 The judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether Precepts that are not good are either legall threatnings by which God menaces curses to the wicked or false doctrine when God by his just judgement suffers those that would not believe the truth but go forward in iniquity to believe lies * 678. Ezek. 20.25 I gave them also Statutes which were not good Rom. 7.12 The Law is holy just and good God gave them Statutes which as they relate to the Law-giver were good and in themselves were good but in respect of them that seek justification by them they will prove such judgments whereby they shall not live 679. Ezek. 44.9 No stranger uncircumcised in heart and flesh shall enter into my Sanctuary Gal. 5.2 If you be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing The Prophet means spirituall circumcision by faith in Christ but the Apostle means nothing but corporall and legall circumcision which was that the Jews strove to be justified by Col. 2.16 * 680. Ezek. 48.35 Jehova Schamma The Socinians hence would gather that the name Jehovah is not onely attributed to God But this place proves no such thing for 't is a sentence which is as a name to the City and 't is not in the nominative but hath a transition into the genetive case and the name of that City shall be the habitation of Jehovah the place of the habitation of Jehovah DANIEL HIS PROPHESIE DAniel was carried young with Joakim to Babylon there he lived seventy years to the time of Cyrus in the yeare 3370. He interprets Nebuchadnezzars Dreame of the Image and writeth what was done under Nebuchadnezzars Reign Belshazzars and Darius And describes the four Monarchies and the eternall Kingdome of Christ he numbred also the weeks of years of the coming of Christ 681. DAn 1.5 The King appointed for Daniel and his fellowes a daily provision that at the end of three years they might stand before the King Chap. 2.1 In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar the King dreamed a dreame wherewith his spirit was troubled Vers 16. Daniel went in and desired of the King that he would give him time That was done in the second year after these things were ended which were appointed for the education of Daniel and his companions under the government of Nebuchadnezzar * Dan. 1.5 with Dan. 2.1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar That is two years after that these young Jews had been brought up in the Court the space of three years Dan. 1.5 So that this second year is not to be taken from the Kings Reign which fell out in the fift but from Daniels Coronation as it were with wisdom this dreame following was expounded 682. Dan. 1.21 and 6.28 And Daniel continued unto the first year of King Cyrus Chap. 10.1 In the third year of Cyrus King of Persia a thing was revealed to Daniel In the former place the two following years are not excluded but it is noted that God prolonged the life of Daniel untill the time of the return of the people of the Jews from Babylon Daniel was in his office at Court to the first year of Cyrus then being grown old he led a quiet private life 1 Sam. 7.3 683. Dan. 2.46 Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and worshipped Daniel Deut. 6.13 10.30 Matth. 4.10 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God Revel 19.10 Nebuchadnezzar would have worshipped Daniel after the heathen manner but being better instructed by him he changed his purpose being admonished by Daniel to worship and adore the true God of gods 684. Dan. 3.12 Chap. 2.49 Daniel Shadrach Meshach and Abednego despised the Kings commandement Rom. 13.1 Let every soul be subject to the higher powers Act. 4.19 ch 5.29 God being the highest power we must principally obey him and above all men we must obey the Magistrate in things which are not against Gods Word and his true worship 685. Dan. 4.27 O King break off thy sinnes by righteousnesse and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor Isai 53.7 The Lord hath laid upon him the iniquitie of us all 1 Joh. 1.7 The Bloud of Jesus Christ doth cleanse us Our sinnes before men are redeemed by making satisfaction for injuries and by sorrow for them to this Daniel exhorts Nebuchadnezzar but before God onely the merits of Christ Jesus can take away sinnes 686. Dan. 6.10 Daniel his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed 2 King 4.33 Elisha shutting his doores prayed Matth. 6.6 Christ commands the same Daniels work of confession was necessary lest he should seem to deny God and his truth by reason of the wicked command of the King Christ forbids not publick prayers but boasting hypocrisie 687. Dan. 9.3 to the 20. The prayer of Daniel is contained in many words Matth. 6.7 And when ye pray use not many words Isai 23.3 Daniels prayer was no vain repetitions but a testimony of his fervent desire powred out in prayer from before the most holy God So was the prayer of Moses David Solomon and our Lord Jesus Christ But in the latter place Christ reprehends the foolishnesse of them who think that by many words repeated they can perswade God 688. Dan. 9.17 Cause thy face to shine upon the Sanctuary for the Lords sake John 16.24 Ye have hitherto asked nothing in my name We do aske in the name of Christ with confidence of his merit that did the godly under the Old Testament comparatively secretly implicitely under a shadow and a propitiatory but under the New Testament simply nakedly
greater amongst all men but not that all under the New Testament should have the gift of Prophesie The latter places are of publick and ordinary Prophesie * Joel 2.28 with 1 Cor. 14.34 I suffer not a woman to speak in the Church If women were to have the spirit powred upon them in the times immediately after Christs Ascention then why must they not speak in the Church The former place speaks of extraordinary gifts given to some women the latter of a duty lying upon all The former â—s to be restrained to the times â—ext after Christs life the latter is a duty lying upon all times The former hath reference to extraordinary parts and gifts the latter hath reference only to ordinary preaching and teaching by way of office 702. Joel 2.32 Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered Heb. 6.4 Chap. 10.26 They that are once enlightned if they fall they cannot be restored The first place speaks of the faithfull who call on the Lords name in faith The latter concerning Apostates that sinne against the holy Ghost who have neither faith nor true prayer though they pray with their lips for they do it not sincerely and therefore their prayers are an abomination to God * Joel 2.32 with Heb. 6.4 The former place is a promise to those that can pray The latter to those who cannot pray but actually fall away The former is spoken of Gods Children for God heareth not sinners the latter speaks of the wicked for Gods Children never fall away finally from grace enlightning not being put here for saving knowledge but a Theory of Christ 703. Joel 3.20 But Judah shall dwell for ever and Jerusalem from generation to generation Amos 9.11 The Tabernacle of David is fallen down Matth. 24.1 Acts 15.16 The promises of the perpetuity of the Temple and Kingdome of Judah belong not to the building and walls of the City or the civill Kingdome but to the perpetuity of the Kingdome of Christ and his Church against which the gates of hell shall never be able to prevail and they â—re conditionall upon their faith obedience and purity of Divine worship * Joel 3.20 with Matth. 24.1 The former place is meant of the spirituall Jerusalem and Judah the Children of God The latter of the materiall Temple and Jerusalem The former is a promise if it be meant of the externall Judah and Jerusalem which hath a condition if not expressed yet implyed viz. that they should walk with the Lord. The latter by the threatning of such judgements shews and implies that they had broke their promise The former place useth the word for ever But that in Scripture is many times used for a long season and so it was in the latter before the judgment came on Jerusalem after Joels time AMOS HIS PROPHESIE VVHO was of the common people amongst the Heardsmen of Tekoa He prophesieth of the wrath of God to the Kings and Kingdomes of Judah and Israel and he threatens Famine Sword Pestilence devastation and ruine to the neighbours who were enemies to Gods people He prophesied in the year 3153 in the dayes of Josiah King of Judah 704. AMos 1.3 6 9 11 13. Chap. 2.1 4 6. For three transgressions and for four I will not spare And at length he reckons but one It is a periphrasis of the seventh number which three and four do make which is called a perfect number in the Scriptures and a certain number is put for anuncertain as if he would have said For many iniquities I will not spare those Nations * 705. Amos 3.6 Is there any evill in a City that I have not done Deut. 32.4 The Lord is a God of truth void of iniquity The former place speaks of God as the Author of malum poenae of affliction the latter of him not as Author malum culpa of sinne In the former sense affliction is not simply and in it self evill or as it is a punishment of God but in respect of mens understanding or apprehension and if God should punish sinne with sinne we cannot say but the punishment is good as from God though the sinne be naught as practised by man 706. Amos 5.18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord that day of the Lord is darknesse Matth. 6.10 Thy kingdom come Chap. 24.30 Let it come with glory The Prophet speaks of the day of Judgement of this world which hypocrites desire who look to be justified in their works and not of the last judgement which godly men ought to pray for and to cry without ceasing Rev. 22. Come Lord Jesus * 707. Amos 5.18 with Matth. 24.30 Rev. 6.10 The former place speaks of a profane or scoffing desire either as daring and provoking God to bring that once to passe which he hath so long threatned Or as believing that the day should never come to passe or by an impudent presumption as if God coming to Judgement should find them innocent or lesse guilty than they were adjudged to be and so they are the words of profane persons The latter place of the desire of the faithfull in humility for the coming of Gods grace God comes sometimes as a Judge with vengeance to the wicked so in the former and he comes by his Spirit to the godly as a sanctifier so in the latter 708. Amos 5.21 I hate I despise your feast dayes Exod. 20.8 Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day God hated the feasts and solemnities of the Israelites because they were defiled with humane traditions and a Pharisaicall opinion of merit But he doth not despise the Sabbaths appointed by himself and feasts which are kept at his command 709. Amos 5.26 But ye have born the Tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your Images the star of your God which you made for your selves I will cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus Act. 7.43 You took up the Tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your God Rempham figures which you made to worship them and I will carry you beyond Babylon Rom. 16.19 1 Esd 8.17 Stephen cites this Prophesie though in divers words yet in the same sense so Christ and his Apostles cite other places of the Old Testament Moloch and Rempham were the Idols of the Ammonites The Israelites of Damascus by Cyromedia were carried further into Persia and the Countrey of the Caspians beyond Babylon * 710. Amos 5.26 with Acts 7.43 The places have some seeming differences but thus reconciled The former place useth the words the latter place the matter and sense of those words which accorded to the institution and transposed some words for perspicuity and evidence Rempham in the latter place is added or put for Chiun if by Chiun as some will the Planet Saturne is meant Plautus in his Penulus calls the Ciun and the Aegyptian Anubis calls Cyon in Greek Plutarch conceives to be the same with Saturne then its the same with Rempham Besides Rephan in the Coptick language
than our Wives * 1306. 1 Cor. 7.10 with Mat. 19.9 Except for the cause of fornication When he saith the wife may not depart he intends not depart not upon any occasion but depart not upon any trifling or lesser occasion than the Word of God hath expresly laid forth which is fornication And yet it is one thing for the Wife to depart from the Husband another thing for the Husband to put away his Wife Though the former is the safer opinion for reconciliation of this place 1307. 1 Cor. 7.14 Your children are holy Eph. 2.3 We were the children of wrath The first place sheweth the honest procreation of Christian children who though they are by nature the children of wrath yet by reason of the Covenant and faith they are called holy * 1308. 1 Cor. 7.19 Circumcision is nothing Gen. 17.16 And you shall circumcise the flesh c. To say Circumcision is nothing is one thing and that it was commanded of God is another Though God commanded Circumcision yet he commanded it so as not to be an Ordinance further than to reach that Age which was till Christ came and suffered When the Apostle said it is nothing he meant now in the daies of the Gospel it is nothing or of no force to salvation * 1309. 1 Cor. 7.20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he is called 1 Tim. 3.1 If a man desire the Office of a Bishop he desireth a good work Doubt How can a man desire the Office of a Bishop which is a ruling over other Churches and yet abide in his first calling of being a Deacon or Presbyter Ans A man may abide in his Calling and yet desire an higher degree in that Calling to be a Minister and to be a Bishop are not different species for a Bishop when he doth assume that Office leaves not his Ministry 1310. 1 Cor. 7.21 Art thou called being a servant Care not for it Ver. 21. But if thou maiest be made free use it rather The first place is to comfort servants against the troubles of servitude and he will not have them for that condition to forsake the faith of Christ whereunto they were called and lose their Christian liberty for their corporal service So that the instruction added to it makes no disagreement because servants ought with a willing mind to embrace lawful freedom obtained by reason and a safe conscience 1311. 1 Cor. 7.23 Be not servants of men Chap. 9.19 The Apostle makes himself a servant to all men It is indeed a most ignominious slavery and sad service to depend on the commands of other men besides the commandments of God but to be serviceable for the sacred Ministry is not ignominious but honourable 1312. 1 Cor. 7.23 Be not servants of men Eph. 6.5 Servants obey your Masters Service is spiritual or carnal from that he disswades in the former place for we must not obey the wicked desires of men and dishonest commands Gal 5.1 Eph. 6 6. but must so serve them that we may not offend God or wrong our consciences this he chargeth us to do which though it may be thought hard yet whilst we do it in the sincerity of our hearts for that God requires it it will be accepted * 1 Cor. 7.23 with Eph. 6.5 The former place bids us if we be free we must not wilfully or willingly especially when the times are as they were in Pauls time betake our selves to the services of men but be as little entangled as may be that both in body and spirit we may be Christs Or however be not so the servants of men that you may forbear the commands of Christ or be not so mens servants as to give men any command over you depend only on Christ and his Word The second place forbids nor our being servants but when we are servants to behave our selves as servants yet if we can be lawfully made free to chuse that rather 1313. 1 Cor. 7.25 Concerning Virgins I have no commandment of the Lord yet I give my judgment Mat. 19.12 There are some Eunuchs which have made themselves Eunuchs for the Kingdom of heavens sake There is no command of Virginity in both the Covenants Christ speaks of the Essence of the time past condemning them of rashness because they sought for the Kingdom of God in perpetual continency which is a singular gift of God and given to very few Paul speaks for necessity setting down what is expedient for all by reason of time and place because it was not safe for Christians because of persecutions to stay alwaies in one place and because of the cares which ordinarily follow married people 1314. 1 Cor. 7.29 Let those that have wives be as though they had none Ver. 3 4 5. He approves conjugal custom In the first place he forbids not the use of Marriage but he would not have the husband too uxorious and he bids them to use the goods of this world moderately lest we should be overcome with evils or suppose the good of this life to be perpetual Since if we lose not all here by some accidents yet in our doubts we must leave them all 1315. 1 Cor. 7.32 I would have you to be without carefulness 2 Thes 3.10 He that will not labour let him not eat By carefulness here he means not to call men from their vocations and houshould cares but the inconveniences of Matrimony whereby we are often called from the service of God 1316. 1 Cor. 8.1 Knowledge puffeth up 1 Cor. 1.5 Enriched in Christ with all knowledge The first place condemns vain knowledge adjoyned with pride Knowledge puffeth up not of it self but by accident smatterers and boasters abusing it neglecting what is for their edification The latter praiseth knowledge joyned with charity as it was a gift of God in Christ amongst the Corinthians * 1317. 1 Cor. 8.4 We know that an Idoll is nothing Isa 41.45 46. Idols are silver and gold c. Materially they are something so Silver and Gold and the works of mens hands but effectually they are nothing that is not able to work any thing they are nothing in the value of God or of good men they are nothing worth 1318. 1 Cor. 8.11 Through thy knowledge shall thy weak brother perish for whom Christ died Joh. 10.28 Those that are Christs sheep shall never perish Infirm Christians may perish by reason of first their infirmity secondly Satans malice and thirdly the impudency of the wicked who abusing their Christian Liberty are an offence to the faithful they cannot perish 1. In respect of the counsel of God 2. And the merits of Christ 3. And the efficacy of his intercession who by a mighty hand preserves them to salvation * 1319. 1 Cor. 9.6 Or I only and Barnabas have not we power to forbear working 2 Thes 3.9 He that will not labour let him not eat The former place tells us it was as lawful for Paul and Barnabas to live upon the
both because God biddeth them do it and because she did wrongfully torture Innocents 1495. Rev. 20.4 And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years 1 Thes 4.17 So shall we alwaies be with the Lord. In the first place a certain number is put for an uncertain and he speaks of the state of the Church which during the reign of Antichrist seemed to be dead but afterwards at the preaching of the Gospel she rose again which is the first Resurrection * 1496. Rev. 21.5 Behold I make all things new Eccles 1.9 There is no new thing There is nothing new in reallity Seeing that all things in all ages have been of the same nature and kind and the novelty or diversity is only in certain outward appearances in which true happiness cannot consist I make all things new This may intend the glorious state of Gods Saints after the Resurrection or a more ample restauration of the true Doctrine and sincere Worship of God on earth before the end 1497. Rev. 22.11 He that is unjust let him be unjust still Mat. 22.39 Thou shalt love thy neighbour The Moral Law forbids private men to do hurt with an evil affection but to hurt another man at Gods command is not against the Law because God will have it so and he commands us to punish malefactors good men are proved by injustice and so are crowned with Martyrdom by it In the former place is spoken of punishment justly inflicted on the wicked which is not against charity since God doth most justly make use of all the creatures to punish ungodly men 1498. Rev. 22.11 He that is righteous let him be righteous still Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Our righteousness is more and more to be declared and proved before men and before God by effects of our faith for we do not find it perfect in us but in part only as our faith increaseth by degrees 1499. Rev. 22.19 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 of life Mat. 7.23 False teachers and hypocrites have no part in the Book of life They are said to be blotted out of the Book of life Metaphorically and not properly also negatively because they were not written in also positively as their heresie is made manifest that we may collect that they were not written in the Catalogue of the Elect. 1500. Rev. 22.20 Even so come quickly He is not yet come The coming of Christ is corporal and spiritual visible and invisible Invisibly he comes alwais to us and is present with us by his grace and power Visibly he came by his lowly Incarnation to save his people He will come quickly that is he will be suddenly here in the end of the World in glory at the last day and shall render to every one according to their Works Jude v. 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and for ever AMEN Jamque opus exegi I have contracted my sailes and now being in the Haven though I have been writing on the Canon I should end with the Apocrypha 2 Maccab. 15.38 And if I have done well and as it is fitting the Story it is that which I desired But if slenderly and meanly it is that which I could attain unto The design of the Augmentor of the former Edition being not Magisterially to dictate his Cogitations upon any mans faith but humbly to submit himself and Studies to the Judgment of the Church of England T. M. Scioli tantum ad detrahâ—ndum qui in eo se dâ—ctos estentari volunt si omnia dicta lacerent Hieron T. 2. Apol. pro. lib. Adver Jovin p. 109. Non eadem est sententia tribunalis Dei anguli susurronum idem Epist ad Virg. Hermon L. 1. p. 212. FINIS Courteous Reader These Books following are Printed for Simon Miller and Sold by him at the Starre in Saint Paul's Church-yard Small Folio THe Reconciler of the Bible Inlarged wherein above Three Thousand seeming Contradictions throughout the Old and New Testament are fully and plainly Reconciled A like Work never yet exstant and may serve for the Explanation of the most difficult places of the Bible being usefull for all such as desire to understand the Sacred Scriptures aright unto Salvation Humbly presented to the Censure of the Sonnes of the Prophets By J. T. and T. M. Ministers of Gods holy Word and Sacraments Doctor Lightfoot his Harmony on the New Testament which will shortly be re-printed with large Additions Astrology restored or an Introduction to the language of the Stars in four Books by William Ramsey Gent. The civil Wars of Spain in the Reigne of Charls the fifth Emperor of Germany and King of that Nation wherin our late unhappy Differences are paralleled in many particulars A general History of Scotland from the year 767 to the death of King James c. By David Hume of Godscroft The History of this Iron Age wherein is set down the true state of Europe as it was in the year 1500. also the causes of all the Warres and Commotions that have happened to this present time with the memorable Sieges and Battles together with the lively Effigies of the most renowned persons Master Paul Baine his Practicall Commentary on the whole Epistle of Saint Paul to the Ephesians The most pleasant and profitable History of Francion wherein all the vices that usually attend youth are plainly laid open that the misfortunes of some may teach others to abandon vice done into English by a person of honour Eighteen Books of the Secrets of Art and Nature being the summe and substance of Naturall Philosophy first designed by Doctor John Wecker and now much enlarged by Doctor R. Read The Queen of Arragon a Play in folio In Quarto large Jo. Barklay his Argenis Translated by Sir Robert le Grise Knight by his Late Majesties special Command with Figures or without Quarto Small An Experimental Treatise of Surgery by Felix Wortz Abraham's Faith or the good Old Religion c. By John Nicholson Minister of the Gospel The Anatomy of Mortality By George Stroad Three Teatises 1. The Conversion of Nineveh touching Prayer and Fasting 2. Gods Trumpet sounding to Repentance 3. Sovereign preservatives against distrustfull thoughts and cares By Will. Attersoll Minister of Gods Word at Iesield in Sussex Aynsworth on the Cantic Paul Baine his Diocesans Trial. Gralle against Appolonius A Treatise of Civil policy c. By Samuel Rutherford Professor of Divinity of St Andrews in Scotland Politick and Military Observations of Civil and Military Government containing the Birth Encrease Decay of Monarchies the carriage of Princes and Magistrates Mr Pinchin his Meritorious price of mans Redemption cleared Astrology Theologized shewing what nature and influence the Starres and Planets have over men and how the same may be diverted and
avoided Wells his Souls Progress Christ tempted the Devill Conquered Being a plain Exposition on the fourth Chapter of Saint Matthews Gospel By John Gumbleden Minister of the Gospel The Saints Society D. Stoughtons thirteen choice Sermons with his Body of Divini y The Reasons of the dâ—ssenting Brethren concerning the Presbyterian Government together with the answer of the Assembly of Divines The Doctrine of mans Redemption by Edward Holioke Of the doctrine of the Church of England sweetly harmonizing with the Confessions of Faith of all the Protestant Reformed Churches The Philosophicall Touchstone or Observations upon Sir Kenelme Digbye's Discourses of the nature of bodies and of the reasonable soule by Alexander Ross The Saints Triangles of dangers deliverances and duties by Nathaniel Whiting Minister of the Gospel The Confession of Faith of all the congregationall Churches of England agreed upon at the Savoy 1659. An History of Angels being a Treatise of our Communion and War with them By Henry Lawrance The Description of the Universal Quadrant c. By Tho. Stirrup Mathem The whole Art of Drawing Painting Limning and Etching collected out of the choisest Italian and Germane Authours by Alex. Brown Practitioner Large Octavo A Treatise of the Divine Promises By Edw. Leigh Esquire The Rights of the Crown of England as it is established by Law by Edward Bagshaw Esquire of the Inner-Temple Florus Anglicus with the Lively Effigies of all the Kings and Queens since the Conquest cut in brasse Evidences for Heaven containing infallible signs and reall demonstrations for Assurance of Salvation published by Edm. Calamy The Life and Reign of King Charls from his Birth to his Death by Lambert Wood. The Night-search the second part by H. Mill. A view of the Jewish Religion with their Rites Customs and Ceremonies Usefull instructions for these Evil times held forth in Twenty Two Sermons by Nicholas Lockyer Provost of Eaton Colledge The Nullity of Church-Censures or Excommunication not of Divine Institution but a meer humane Invention Writby the famous Tho. Erastus and never before Englished Merry Drollery in two parts being a Collection of Joviall Poems merry Songs and witty Drolleries intermixt with pleasant Catches Small Octavo Ed Waterhouse Esquire His Discourse of Piety and Charity Panacea or the Universall Medicine being a Discourse of the Admirable Nature and Virtues of Tobacco By Dr. Everard and Others A view and Defence of the Reformation of the Church of England very usefull in these times Mr. Pet. du Moulin his Antidote against Popery published on purpose to prevent the Delusions of the Priests and Jesuites who are now very busie among us Vinditiae Gratiae Sacramentalis duobus Tractatulis comprehensae 1. De efficaciâ Sacramentorum in genere 2. De efficaciâ Baptismi quantum ad parvulos quibus praefigitur Epistola Reverendissimi Patris Johannis Davenâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Episcopi Sariâ—buriensis Dr. R. Record his Urinall of Physick Herberts Devotions or a Companion for a Christian containing Meditations and prayers usefull upon all occasions Rare verities or the Cabinet of Venus unlockt and her secrets laid open Extrancus Vapulans or the Observator rescued from the violent but vain assault of Haman Lestrange Esquire and the back-blows of D. Bernard an Irish Dean by P. Heyliâ— D. D. Ovid de Ponto in English The Loves of Clerrio and Lozio a Romance Mr. Knowles his Rudiment of the Hebrew Tongue A Book of Scheams or Figures of Heaven ready set for every four Minutes of times and very usefull for all Astrologers Florus Anglicus or an exact History of England from the Reign of William the Conquerour to the death of the Late King Lingua or the Combate of the Tongue and five Senses for Superiority a serious Comedy Acted by Oliver Cromwell the late Usurper The Spirits Touchstone being a clear discovery how a man may certainly know whether he be truly taught by the Spirit of God or not The poor mans Physician and Chyrurgion Physicall Rarities containing the most choice Receipts in Physick and Chyrurgery for the cure of all Diseases Incident to mans body By R W lliams To which is added the physical Mathematicks By Hermes Tris-Megistus The Idol of Clowns or the Relation of Wat Tiler's Rebellion The Raconian Catechism in English The life of that incomparable man Faustus Socinus Senensis described by a Polonian Knight The Golden Fleece or a Discourse of the cloathing of England Dr. Sibbs his Divine Meditations Vigerius Precepts of Idiotismes Grotij Poemata Three Books of M. Matthews Minister at Swansey in South-wales 1 The Messiah Magnified by the mouthes of Babes in America or Gaiâ—â— and Gamaliel a helpfull Father and his hopeful Son discoursing of the three most considerable points 1. The great want of Christ 2. The great worth that is in Christ 3. The good way that is chalkt out by Christ 2. The New Congregationall Church prov'd to be the old Christian Church by Scripture Reason and History 3 The Rending Church-member Regularly call'd back to Christ and his Church A physical Dictionary An exact History of the several changes of Government in England from the horrid Murther of King Charles the first to the happy Restauration of King Charles the second with the Renowned Actions of General Monck by J. D. Duodecim Dr. Smith's practice of physick Proverbs English French Dutch Italian and Spanish all Englished and Alphabettically digested The London Distiller or the whole Art of Distillations laid open Fryer Bacon his discovery of the miracles of Art Nature and Magick The Grammar War Posselius Apothegmes Fasciculus Florum Crashaw's Visions The Juniper Lecture Helvicus Colloquies The torments of hell shaken or a Discourse with many proofs shewing that there is not a punishment after this life for any to endure that shall never end by Samuel Richardson The understanding Christians duty often to commemorate the death and passion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus with the necessary preparatives thereunto The Christian Souldier his Combate with the three arch-enemies of mankind the world the flesh and the devil Seasonable advice to the Apprentices of the Honourable City of London touching their duty to God and their Masters Heinsius de Crepundiis The History of Russia or the Government of the Emperour of Muscovia with the manner and fashions of the people of that Countrey Drexeliu's school of Patience Drexelius his right Intention of every ones action A School or Nurture for Children or the Duty of Children to Parents very usefull for all that intend to bring up their children in the fear of God Viginti Quarto The New Testament The third part of the Bible Sir Richard Bakers Meditations and Prayers for every day of the Week All the Works of that great and glorious Monark and Martyr King Charles the first Collected into one Volume A Play The London Chanticlers a Comedy full of various and delightfull Mirth never before published FINIS
that he is not far off and yet not so at hand as to make us cast off all labour plowing and sowing and to make us sit idely every hour expecting his coming * 1398. Phil. 4.12 Salute all the Saints Luk. 10.4 Salute no man by the way When our Saviour forbids his Disciples to salute it was only by the way and upon that extraordinary occasion he then sent them not that he did afterwards forbid salutations The Epistle of St. PAUL to the COLOSSIANS HE exhorts them to embrace the Doctrine of the Gospel and to fly from the teaching of false Apostles and he warns them to live godly putting off the old and putting on the new man that in Oeconomical Government the men old men and Masters should observe humanity and equity women children and servants should live in obedience that all should be watchful in prayer It was sent from Rome by Tychicus and Onesimus * 1399. COL 1.15 Christ is the Image of the invisible God Joh. 1.1 And the Word was God Now an Image is not of the same substance and excellency as the thing it self Christ is called the Image of God i. e. substantial Image not a vanishing or vain one as Images and forms and shapes are in our mind but God the Eternal Father knowing himself and beholding himself begot this enduring Image in his own Deity which Image is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Christ was the Image of God from Eternity a Word increate a perfect essential and invisible Image of his Father and thus in respect of his eternal birth 2. In respect of his being made man God the Father did in him and by him as a lively Image set forth before our eyes his glorious attributes of Wisdom Goodness Righteousness and Almightiness c. Now though Christ was God yet he might be in the Image of God for the word God is taken personally not essentially it designs the Father alone not the Divine Nature in genere Christ is the Image of the Father not of the Deity The Person of the Son bears the Image of the Person of the Father but the Divine Essence or Nature in the Son is the same with that in the Father Christ therefore cannot be the same in Person with him whose Image he bears yet he may be the same in Essence * 1400. Col. 1.15 The first born of every creature Hence the Arians imply that Christ is a Creature But the first born of every Creature is no more than that he was begotten before every Creature even from Eternity this is not so to be interpreted as if his ineffable generation as God had a beginning from the beginning of time so that first or first born implies when it is said of God not temporally it excludes a priority of other things 1401. Col. 1.24 I fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake which is the Church Heb. 10.14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Zac. 2.8 Mat. 25. 2 Tim. 3.12 The Passions of Christ as to merit and satisfaction are perfect for his Church the Apostles and Martyrs fill up in their flesh what is behind of the afflictions of Christ enduring miseries wherein Christ himself suffereth for they are his Members He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eye What you do to any of these little ones you do it unto me It is added for the Church not to redeem the Chuch but to edifie and strenthen the Church by our example of constancy and patience * Col. 1.24 with Heb. 10.14 The afflictions or passions of Christ are twofold those which he suffered in his own body and so nothing remaineth to be fulfilled or filled up Or secondly for such afflictions which Christ suffers in his mystical body the Church and so there remains many things to be filled up personally i. e. in every man there must be an enduring and bearing of afflictions after the manner of Christ 1402. Col. 2.3 In Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Mat. 24.36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man no not the Angels in heaven but the Father only Christ in the state of exaltation hath a perfect knowledge of all things because all power in heaven and earth is given to him and he fits at the right hand of God In the state of humiliation he knew not when the last day should be not in respect of himself saith Augustine but in respect of us Christ hath in him the perfection of all wisdom and knowledge or else secondly all saving knowledge and true wisdom consists in a right knowledge of him 1403. Col. 2.9 In Christ dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Heb. 2.17 It behoved him to be like unto to us in all things sin excepted He is like to us in all things in respect of the Essence of Humane Nature not in respect of his subsistence in the person of the Word and of his Hypostatical Union Glory and Majesty 1404. Col. 3.2 Set your affections on things above and not on things on the earth Rom. 11.33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God To set our affections on things above is to elevate our minds to heaven above all earthly things unto our Country where we wait for our happiness yet so that we be not high-minded and desire to know that which God will not have us to know for some things are to be believed and soberly to be searched into but other things which exceed the measure of our faith must not be searched into Pro. 25 2. he is overwhelmed with Glory that seeks into Gods Majesty 1405. Col. 3.2 Set not your affections on earthly things 1 Tim. 5.8 He that provideth not for his own houshold is worse than an Infidel The first place forbids us to search after earthly things neglecting spiritual and heavenly things for so far must we take care for earthly things as they may serve to Gods glory and our use for our salvation * 1406. Col. 3.22 Servants obey in all things your Masters Deut. 10.12 To serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart c. Servants may and must obey in all things their Masters so be those all things exceed not the bounds of all things in the Lord Eph. 6.1 in all things warrantable for the Masters to command and the Servants to perform Subordinate obedience of Servants to their Masters is not contrary to an absolute obedience to God but rather the obedience Servants shew to their Masters being in reference to perform Gods command fulfils that command of serving God with all our heart Two Epistles of St. PAUL to the THESSALONIANS IN the first he commends their faith and constancy and exhorts them to an honest life and a serious expectation of Christs last coming In the second he comforts them against persecutions and foretels the last day the Kingdom
of Antichrist defection from the Gospel He exhorts them to good words and works These two Epistles were written from Athens 1407. 1 THES 1.3 Remembring your work of faith and labour Rom. 3.28 Gal. 3.10 Faith is opposed to works Faith is a work but not ours or proceeding from our own strength Joh. 6.29 for then it would not justifie us but it is the work of God and a quality in us respecting the merits of Christ therefore the Apostle calls not Faith it self so much a work as he doth that which proceeds from faith * 1 Thes 1.3 with Gal. 3.10 Faith is a work and brings forth works is a work of the Spirit and brings forth works of righteousness in us yet this hinders not but that Faith may be opposed to Works in the matter of Justification Faith as it justifies is not considered as it brings forth Works but as it brings home Christ Faith yet which brings home Christ is not without Works which Works do shew themselves immediately upon Justification though I cannot say in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Justification 1408. 1 Thes 2.20 For you are our glory 1 Cor. 1.31 He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. Our glorying hath its foundation in God in the mean while if any thing be done amongst the auditory by the work of the Ministry we must say with the Apostle It is not I that laboured 1 Cor. 15.10 but the grace of God which was with me 1409. 1 Thes 4.17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord. 2 Tim. 4.6 I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand In the first place is spoken of the company of the faithful by reason of the most near communion and uniting of the body of Christ for we are all one spiritual body so many as believe in Christ so that what happens to one member may seem to happen to all the rest * 1410. 1 Thes 4.17 And so we shall be ever with the Lord. Rev. 20.6 They shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years We shall be ever after our Translation with the Lord. The latter place speaks of a thousand years but probably this may be in this world before our translation and so it nothing hinders but that after our translation we may be with the Lord for ever Whether these thousand years are to be meant litterally for so many years or else figuratively as the rest of the verse must be viz. Kings and Priests interpreted it is not to the purpose in hand 1411. 1 Thes 5.5 Ye are all children of the light and of the day not of the night Rom. 8.19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the Sons of God We are here with Paul children of light and the day in grace nor yet in glory The Apostle expected not to be made the Son of God because he was so already actually but only to be revealed to be so for it appears not so yet what we shall be for though we be heirs we do not yet actually possess the Kingdom we must therefore distinguish Sonhood acquired here by grace from that which shall be in our Country by glory 1412. 2 Thes 1.5 The persecutions and tribulations which you endure are a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God that ye may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God for which you also suffer Eph. 2.8 You are saved through faith and not of your selves it is the gift of God The faithful are worthy not by their own worthiness but Christs also the word worthy is the same here with convenient Col. 1.13 1413. 2 Thes 2.2 The day of Christ is at hand 1 Joh. 2.18 It is the last time To be at hand and to draw near do differ the Apostle denieth that the day is at hand but he denieth not that it draweth near it is called the last time in respect of former time and because in the last time the day of judgment draweth nigh it is called the last hour in respect of God because our daies compared to Eternity are but one moment and a thousand years in Gods sight as yesterday when it is past also all things are present with God 1414. 2 Thes 3.10 If any would not work neither should he eat 1 Cor. 9.6 Have we not power to forbear working In the first place Works are either of the head or of the brain flesh and idleness are condemned in the latter labour is commended which is wrought not with the hand alone but with the head also the Ministers of the Church are not to get their living by the labour of their hands being they are not Mechanicks The Apostle had a singular gift from God to preach extemporary 2 Cor. 1.11 and yet had he means from the Churches Two Epistles of St. PAUL to TIMOTHY THE first is a pattern for Pastors to shew them what they ought to be in Doctrine and Prayers and in Life with their families and laies down the way how to instruct all men of what state age or condition soever It was written from Laodicea in the Year of Christ 52. The second confirms Timothy that he should not be cast down in his mind by reason of the tempests of persecutions and warns him that in preaching the Gospel he should avoid false doctrine that he should be diligent and come unto him It was written from Rome when he was in prison in the year of Christ seventy * 1415. 1 TIM 1.19 20. Some having put away scil a good conscience concerning faith have made shipwrack Joh. 3.36 He that believeth hath life eternal Doubt He that believes in Christ is as sure of salvation as if he were already in an actual and real possession of Christ which cannot be if a man may fall from faith Answ Hymeneus and Alexander made shipwrack not so much of faith it self as of the object of faith that they believed the doctrine of faith which they once professed and afterward deserted falling into heretical blasphemies and blasphemous heresies 2 Tim. 2.17 18. which place clearly explicates the other it shews that they fell from some fundamental truth formerly professed as in the point of the Resurrection or the like The Apostle adds immediately Ver. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of the Lord abideth sure c. q.d. though some professors fall away yet such as do indeed belong unto Christ and are his are firm and stable Or secondly they gave reins to a licentious life against the dictates of their own conscience which God punished by taking away the light of the Spirit from them that so in the midst of their course they should lose their most spiritual Merchandize Yet this shews not that ever these fell from true saving faith or ever had it they that have it once cannot finally