the Word reflects back upon himself as it were Physician heal thy self Paul could say in the truth of his Heart to the Saints It is not yours but you I seek This was the beastly Sin which God so loathed in the Prophets and Rulers of Israel You are greedy Dogs which can never have enough that cannot understand they all look to their own Way every one for his Gain from his Quarter Compared with that of Micah 3.11 The Heads thereof speaking of Zion judg for Reward and the Priests teach for Hire and the Prophets divine for Money yet will they lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord amongst us VI. Faithful Rulers are a great Blessing to a People and ought to be cheerfully obeyed reverenced and submitted to 'T is a great Sin to speak evil of Dignities or despise Dominions Râ—m 13 1. Let every Soul be subject to the higher Powers c. Submit your selves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord's sake 1 Pet 2.13 14. whether it be to the King 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Foundation and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the People the Foundation of a People as Supreme or unto Governors c. VI. So Ministers faithful and able Ministers are no small Blessing and Sign of God's Favour to a People yea great Benefit we receive by them in many respects as might be shewn They feed guide counsel and pray for us as well as rule and govern us and therefore they ought to be with all readiness obeyed Obey them that have the Rule over you Heb. 13.17 and submit your selves for they watch for your Souls as they that must give an Account c. And to speak evil of Ministers is to despise their high and holy Function 't is a God-provoking Evil. There were some in the Apostle's Times who were crept into the Church who like Corah spake against the Dignity and Power of the Apostles and Ministers of Christ who in a sence are said to be the Foundation of God's People whom the Apostle characterized and shews what their End is like to be Who were presumptuous self-willed and were not afraid to speak evil of Dignities Their Hearts rose against the Servants of God for exercising Authority in Christ's Name which is given to them What said Korah All the Lord's People are holy c. as if he should have said Is this Moses more than others But we see what became of him Numb 16. VII Some Rulers or chief Magistrates do not cannot pass any Act or Law such is the Nature and Constitution of the Government where they live without the People No Law can be made but with the Assent and Consent of the People in their Representatives in Parliament as it is here in the English Nation VII So Christ's Ministers or Pastors of Churches cannot by virtue of any Authority given by the Lord Jesus pass any Act either for the receiving in or casting out of Members c. without their Brethren c. They must have the Assent and Consent of the Church Many Reasons might be given for it which I shall omit If he neglect to hear the Church Mat. 18.17 let him be unto thee as an Heathen Man or Publican VIII Rulers should rule their People in Love shewing all Tenderness and Bowels to the Disobedient like tender-hearted Fathers unless it be towards those that are notorious Criminals VIII So should Ministers labour to act in their places towards the Saints in Love and to shew all Tenderness and Meekness with Compassion to such who through weakness transgress See Fathers and not to be severe to any unless obstinate and capital Offenders on such Justice ought to be executed IX Rulers that rule well are worthy of double Honour IX So faithful and laborious Ministers that rule God's House well ought to be greatly respected 1 Tim. 5.17 Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double Honour X. Rulers are very needful there is a great Necessity in all Societies and Communities of Men of Government and Rulers What is a Nation City or Family without Rule Rulers or Government but Disorder and Confusion X. The Need there is of Rulers in God's Church is very great God being a God of Order and not of Confusion in all the Churches of the Saints The Necessity of them appears by considering the Nature of divers of the Metaphors we have opened concerning them What would become of a Flock of Sheep if they had no Shepherd c. Rulers Disparity RUlers or earthly Governors are commonly Noble-men Men of great Name cloathed with outward Glory and Grandure CHrist's true Ministers are of little or no esteem in the eyes of the Men of the World they are commonly accounted base low and contemptible c. Ye see your Calling Brethren 1 Cor. 1.26 27 28 29. how that not many wise Men after the Flesh not many mighty not many noble are called But God hath chosen the foolish Things of the World to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak Things of the World to confound the Things that are mighty and base Things of the World and Things which are despised hath God chosen yea and Things that are not to bring to nought Things that are that no Flesh should glory in his Presence II. Many earthly Rulers are Lords and lord it over their Brethren II. But Christ's Ministers are contented to be Servants Even as their Lord and Master came not to be ministred unto but to minister and was on Earth as him that served So his Ministers must not assume the Title of Lords nor must they lord it over God's People Neither as being Lords over God's Heritage but being Ensamples to the Flock 1 Tit. 5 3. Inferences ANd now to conclude with this Head from the Whole we may infer these Particulars following 1. That a true Minister of Christ is one that is truly converted a gracious holy and sincere Person one that hath the experience of the real Work of God upon his own Heart 2. A Member of a true constituted Church i. e. a Community of godly Christians that have given up themselves in a solemn Covenant in the Fear of God to walk in Fellowship and Communion together according to the Rule of the Gospel amongst whom the Word of God is truly preached and the Ordinances duly and in a right manner administred 3. That he ought to be chosen by the Church according to the Direction left by the Apostle 1 Tim. 3.1 to 6. Tit. 1.5 to 9. 4. That he ought to be a discreet Person endued with considerable Gifts and Abilities by the Holy-Ghost 5. If called to be a Pastor or Elder he ought to be ordained by the laying on of hands of the Presbytery or Eldership 1 Tim. 4.14 1 Tim. 4.14 6. That he ought to be very laborious and give himself wholly to the Work of the Ministry making the Word of
Page 162 Saints the Salt of the Earth Page 166 Saints Merchants Page 168 Saints Pilgrims Page 170 Saints compared to Palm-Trees Page 175 Saints compared to Wheat Page 178 Saints compared to Light Page 180 Saints compared to Cedars Page 182 Saints compared to Myrtle-Trees Page 184 Saints compared to Willows Page 185 Saints why called Vessels Page 186 Saints why called Lions Page 188 Saints compared to Gold Page 190 Saints compared to Doves Page 192 Some Saints like Lambs in a large Place Page 193 The Heart of a Saint compared to an Heart of Flesh Page 194 Saints Stewards Page 195 Saints why called Jewels Page 196 Saints why called Kings Page 199 Saints called Priests Page 200 Concerning Wicked Men. Wicked Men Captives Page 201 Wicked Men why called Sluggards Page 209 Wicked Men Fools or Idiots Page 211 Some wicked Men like painted Sepulchres Page 215 Wicked Men compared to Swine Page 216 Wicked Men Debtors Page 219 Wicked Men why called the Red of God Page 221 Wicked Men compared to Tares Page 222 Wicked Men compared to Chaff Page 223 Wicked Men compared to Thorns Page 224 Wicked Men compared to Mountains Page 225 Wicked Men dead in Sin what meant thereby Page 227 228 Wicked Men mad or besides themselves Page 231 Wicked Men called Dogs Page 232 Wicked Men called Bulls Page 235 Wicked Men called Lions Page 237 Wicked Men compared to Foxes Page 241 Wicked Men compared to Goats Page 243 Wicked Men compared to Thieves Page 245 Wicked Men naked Page 247 Wicked Men Vipers Page 248 Wicked Men poor and miserable Page 250 The Heart of a Wicked Man like a Rock Page 251 Wicked Men why called Eagles Page 253 Wicked Men why called Devils Page 254 The Ninth HEAD c. concerning True Ministers False Ministers and False Churches TRue Ministers why called Angels Page 256 True Ministers Stars why so called Page 258 Christ's Ministers called Labourers Page 259 Christ's Ministers called Watchmen Page 265 Christ's Ministers why called Trumpeters ibid Ministers Christ's Spokesmen Page 267 Christ's Ministers why called Clouds Page 269 Christ's Ministers why called Fathers Page 271 Christ's Ministers called Planters Page 273 Christ's Ministers called Shepherds Page 281 Christ's Ministers Ambassadors Page 282 Christ's Ministers called Rulers Page 287 Concerning False Teachers False Teachers why compared to Wolves Page 291 False-Teachers called Foxes Page 293 False-Teachers called Wells without Water Page 293 False-Teachers why called Clouds without Rain Page 294 False-Teachers called Deceivers Page 294 False Churches Mystery Babylon or the Great Whore proved to be the present State and Church of Rome Page 297 to 330 The Tenth HEAD of Metaphors concerning Sin and the Devil SIn why called a Thief Page 331 Sin a Debt Page 335 Sin an heavy Burthen Page 343 Sin a Sting Page 344 Sin a Wound Page 345 Sin a Plague Page 349 Sin compared to deadly Poyson Page 350 Sin a Sickness Page 352 Sin compared to an abominable Vomit Page 354 Sin an Vncleanness or nothing so loathsom as Sin Page 355 Sin compared to Gray-Hairs Page 357 Concerning the Devil The Devil why called the God of this World Page 359 The Devil why called a Prince Page 360 The Devil a Hunter Page 361 The Devil a Fowler Page 362 The Devil why called a Lion Page 363 The Devil why called a Dragon Page 364 The Devil a Serpent Page 365 The Eleventh HEAD c. concerning the Means of Grace and Providence THe Day of Grace what Page 367 Means of Grace compared to Summer Page 369 Means of Grace compared to Harvest Page 369 Godliness called a Trade largely opened Page 371 376 Of Providence and Afflictions Afflictions compared to Clouds Page 377 Afflictions compared to Fire Page 378 Afflictions why called a Rod Page 379 Afflictions compared to a Furnace Page 381 Afflictions compared to Winter ibid Afflictions compared to Darkness Page 383 Afflictions compared to Tempests Page 385 Afflictions compared to a Flood Page 386 Afflictions compared to great Heat Page 387 Afflictions compared to Wormwood and Gall Page 388 Afflictions called God's Arrows God hath many sharp Arrows Page 389 The Twelfth and Last HEAD concerning the World the Life of Man and the four last Things THe World compared to a Wilderness Page 391 THe World a Field Page 392 The End of the World why called an Harvest ibid Of the Life of Man The Life of Man compared to a swift Post Page 393 The Life of Man compared to a swift Ship ibid The Life of Man compared to an Eagle hastening to her Prey Page 394 The Life of Man compared To a Weaver's Shuttle Page 394 395 396 To the Wind Page 394 395 396 To a Cloud Page 394 395 396 To a Flower Page 394 395 396 To a Shadow Page 394 395 396 Of Death The Body of Man in the Grave compared to Seed sown Page 398 Death compared to Sleep Page 398 399 Death a Departure Page 400 Death a Rest ibid Of the Resurrection The Resurrection compared to the Morning Page 401 The Resurrection compared to an awaking out of Sleep Page 402 The Resurrection-Day a Man's Reaping-Day Page 403 Resurrection-Day a Saint's Coronation-Day Page 405 Of the Judgment-Day The Day of Judgment called an Assize Page 406 407 Of Heaven Heaven called Paradise Page 407 Heaven the Crown of Life Page 409 Of Hell Hell a Furnace of Fire Page 410 Hell utter Darkness Page 411 Moses's Vail removed OR A Treatise of TYPES ADam wherein a Type of Christ Page 413 Noah how a Type of Christ ibid Melchis deck a Type of Christ Page 414 Abraham a Type of Christ Page 415 Isaac a Type of Christ ibid Jacob how a Type of Christ Page 416 Jacob's Ladder a Tyye of Christ ibid Joseph in what respect a Type of Christ Page 416 417 Moses in how many things a Type of Christ ibid Sampson a Type of Christ Page 418 David in ten things a Type of Christ Page 418 419 Solomon in how many things a Type of Christ Page 420 Elisha a Type of Christ ibid Jonah wherein a Type of Christ ibid Zerubbabel a Type of Christ ibid Aaron a Type of Christ Page 421 The High-Priest a Type of Christ Page 421 422 423 What the Tabernacle was a Type of Page 423 424 The Vail of the Holiest what it was a Type of Page 424 The Ark a Type of Christ Page 425 The Mercy-Seat a Type of Christ ibid The Table of Shewbread what a Type of ibid The Candlestick what a Type of Page 426 The Altar of Perfume a Type of Christ ibid The Altar of Burnt Offering a Type of Christ Page 427 The Brazen Laver what it was a Type of ibid The Sacrifice of Beasts a Type of Christ Page 428 The Burnt-Offering of Fowls a Type of Christ Page 429 The Daily Sacrifice a Type of Christ ibid The Sin-Offering a Type of Christ ibid The Meat-Offering what it was a Type of Page 430 The Peace-Offering and what it was a Type of Page 431 The solemn yearly
the Languages and Matters have tryed and searched into them and all pious Christians who by Experience have felt their Divine Operation on their own Souls have asserted the same So that whoever rejects the Bible obliges himself to believe no other Books in the World whatsoever for since none of them have any such great and universal Attestations if he shall credit them and not this it will shew apparent disingenuity and peevish Obstinacy And secondly He that does credit the Author of this Book with the same Credit wherewith he credits other Authors whom he supposes Men of common Honesty that would not knowingly write an Untruth cannot then refuse to receive this as a Book Divine and Infallible upon as good Terms of Credibility as he believes any the best Human Author in its kind to be True because they themselves tell us that it is so which were it otherwise without most apparent Falshood they would not do They affirming that God himself inspired them to write it and that it was no Product of their own but every part of it the Genuine Dictate of the Holy Ghost And this Argument is abundantly reinforc'd and strengthned from the Consideration of that Glorious Company of Martyrs those Innumerable Multitudes who in the Flames and Rage of Persecution have with the loss of their Lives maintained the Scriptures to be the Sacred Word of God and had the same in such Veneration that in the Primitive Ages the Traditors Deliverers up of their Bibles to the Heathen to be destroyed were always esteemed as bad as profess'd Apostates Since therefore they did so constantly and with such Hazards affirm this Truth what shadow of Reason is there to suspect such a Cloud of Witnesses of Folly Weakness Credulity Wickedness or Conspiracy amongst themselves which such a diffused Multitude was absolutely uncapable of Nor can we suppose that Popular Esteem on Earth and Vain-Glory could be the Ground upon which they suffered since they gave up their Lives for a Religion which both utterly condemned such Vanity and was every where in the World at that time odious and detestable and whose Profession brought nothing but outward Shame and Contempt XIII But the Doctrines and Matters of Fact in the Scripture which if true 13 The Acknowledgment of the Heathen its Divine Original will be undeniable are not only avouched by its own Votaries but many most considerable parts of it acknowledged by its Enemies As appears by this brief induction of Particulars The Creation of the World is intimated by Ovid in his Metamorphosis lib. 1. The extraordinary long Lives of the Patriarchs in the first Ages oâ— the VVorld by Manetho the Egygtian Berosus the Caldean and others who add That they were ordained to live so long that they might study Sciences and invent Arts especially that they might observe the Celestial Motions and enrich the World with the knowledg of Astronomy wherein say they they would have done little good if they had lived less than six hundred Years because the great Year as they call it is so long in going about and coming to a Period The Flood is mentioned by the same Berosus whose VVords are recited by Josephus lib. 1. Antiq. cap. 4. Of Noah under the Notion of Bifronted Janus because he lived in both VVorlds we read in Berosus and Herodotus And of the Ark Sayling over America and the letting forth of Birds that found no dry Ground in Polyhistor and others Of the Destruction of Sodom or the Asphaltick Lake we have some Account in Pliny lib. 5. cap. 16. and Justin lib. 36. That there was such a Man as Moses such a People as the Israelites that this Moses was their Captain and led them out of Egypt wrote their Story and gave them Laws is testified by the most ancient Records or the Egyptians Phoenicians Caldeans and Grecians And Manetho speaks very particularly both of their Coming into Egypt and Departure thence Of Circumcision Herodotus Strabo Diodorus Siculus and Tacitus lib. 2. Of the coming of the Israelites into Canaan Procopius lib. 4. Of Solomon we read in Dionysius Cassius of the Slaughter of Sennachcrib in Herodotus lib. 2. The great Roman Historian Tacitus in his Annals speaking of the Christians being persecuted by Nero on pretence of burning of Rome which he set on fire himself says expreâ—ly (b) Author nominis ejus Christus qui Tiberio imperante per Procuratorem Pontium Pilatum supplicio affectus erat Tacit. Annal. l. 15. The Author of that Name or Sect was CHRIST who when Tiberius was Emperor was put to death by Pontius Pilate the then Procurator of Judea The Star that appeared at our Saviour's Birth is taken notice of by Pliny lib. 2. cap. 5. But more particularly by Calcidius an Heathen Philosopher in his Comment on Plato's Timaeus whose Words as I find them cited by Cardinal Baronius that learned Annalist are these (c) Est quoque alia venerabilior sanctior Historia qua perhibet de ortu Stellae cujusdam insolita non morbos mortesque denunciante sed descensum Dei venerabilis ad humanae conversationis rerumque mortalium gratiam Quam Stellam cùm nocturno itinere suspexissent Caldâ—eorum profectò sapiences viri consideratione rerum coelestium satis exercitati quaesisse dicuntur recentem Dei ortum repertâque illa Majestate puerili venerati esse vota Deo tanto convenientia nuncupasse Bar. Tom. 1. p. 52. There is another more venerable and holy History which tells us of the Rise of a certain unwonted Star not threatning Diseases and Death but the Descent of the venerable God to converse with Men and mortal Affairs Which Star when certain wise Men of Caldea saw in their fourney by Night being sufficiently acquainted with Astronomy and consideration of Celestial things They are reported to have sought out this new Birth of God and the Majesty of this Child being found to have worshipped him and offered Gifts suitable to so great a God Herod's slaughtering of the Children is notorious by that Joque passed upon him on that occasion by the Emperor Augustus recorded by Macrobius (d) Cum audisset inter eos quos in Syria Herodes Rex Judaeorum inter Binatum jussit interfici filium quoque ejus occisum ait Melius est Herodis porcum esse quam filium Macrob. Saturnal lib. 4. When he heard that amongst those Children under two Years old whom Herod the King of the Jews had commanded to be slain in Syria his the said Herod's own Son was slain also he said 'T is better to be Herod 's Hog than his Son Alluding to the Jews Abhorrence of Swines Flesh which it seems Herod tho not of that Nation yet pretending himself a kind of Proselyte did likewise observe Touching the preternatural Defect of the Sun at our Lord's Crucifixion it was with amazement seen and recorded by Dionysius the Areopagite And Tertullian in his Apology cap. 21. appeals to the Roman
Records for the certainty of it And Origen affirms that one Phlegon Secretary to the Emperor Adrian did write thereof in his Chronicles What an illustrious Testimony is that extorted by Truth from the Mouth of an Enemy I mean Josephus a Jew in Religion as well as by Nation tho he wrote in Greek born not above five or six Years after Christ's Passion In his 18th Book and 4th Chapter speaking of the Reign of Tiberias he hath these Words In those Days there was one Jesus a wise Man if it be lawful to call him a Man for he was a Worker of great Miracles and a Teacher of such as readily receive the Truth and had many Followers as well Jews as Gentiles This is that CHRIST who tho he was accused by the chief of our Nation and by Pilate condemned to be crucified yet did not they who had first loved him forsake him for he appeared unto them the third Day alive again The holy Prophets foretelling these and many other wonderful Things of him And even to this Day the Christian Sect so named from him continues Nor is that less clear of Lentulus in his Epistle to the Emperor Tiberius recited by Eutropius in his Annals of the Roman Senators and now commonly extant in the Bibliotheca Patrum (e) Apparuit temporibus nostris adhuc est homo magnae virtutis nominatus Jesus Christus qui dicitur à Gentibus Propheta veritatis quem ejus discipuli vocant Filium Dei sâ—scitans mortros sanans omnes languores He thus begins There hath appeared in our Days and yet is living a Man of great Virtue or Power named Jesus Christ who is called of the Nations the Prophet of Truth whom his Disciples call the Son of God a Raiser of the Dead and an Healer of all manner of Diseases To all which we might add the Prophecies of the Sybils amongst the Heathens who most plainly foretold the Coming of Christ the Son of God into the World and express'd his very Name and Quality in certain Acrostick Verses recited by the great Augustin in the 23d Chapter of the Ninth Book of the City of God XIV He that disowns the Bible to be of Divine Authority must either think there is some Revelation from God to the World how he will be worshipped and how they ought to conduct themselves or he thinks there is none If he thinks there is none he not only gives the Lie to the Christian and Jewish but generally to all Religion that has been or is in the World For they all have pretended and do alledg the same as their Foundation And besides he must confess that God who has made Man the noblest of Creatures and Lord of the whole World has left him in a worse Condition in the present Posture we find him than the meanest Creatures to whom he has given sufficient Means to attain the highest End of their Beings But that infinite Wisdom should deal thus is absurd and unreasonable to conceive If he grant there is any-where a Revelation from God to the World let it be produced and judg if it be any way able to vie with the Scriptures for all those glorious Characters and Marks of Divine Authority Power and Excellency which we have enumerated XV. If the Scriptures be neither the Invention of Devils nor Men then it can be from none but God But they are not from Devils for neither could they work Miracles nor deliver true Prophecies to confirm them nor would it consist with God's Sovereignty over them or with his Goodness Wisdom or Faithfulness of governing the World nor would Satan speak so much for God nor lay such a Design for Man's Salvation and against his own Kingdom nor be so industrious to draw the World to unbelief of it Nor were the Scriptures the Invention of Men for they must be either good Men or bad Men Good Men they could not be for nothing could be more opposite to Goodness nay even common Honesty than to assume the Name of God falsly feign Miracles and cheat People with Promises of another World And then on the other side 't is as impossible ill Men could be the Devisers of so holy a Book For can any rational Man think that wicked Deceivers would so highly advance the Glory of God Would they so vilify themselves and brand and stigmatize their own Practices Could such an admirable undeniable Spirit of Holiness Righteousness and Self-denial as runs through every Vein of Scripture proceed from the Invention of the Wicked Would they ever have extolled their Enemies the Godly and framed such perfect spiritual Laws or laid such a Design against the Flesh and all their worldly Happiness as every-where the Scope of the Scripture doth carry on If we cannot gather Grapes of Thorns and Figs of Thistles then may we be assured that no ill Men had an hand in writing and promoting this good and holy Book 16. Satan's Suggestions Temptations against the Bible argue it divine XVI The Divine Composition of this blessed Book is not a little manifested by the continual Rage of the Devil against it which appears not only in stirring up his Instruments utterly to suppress it for what Book in the VVorld ever met with such Opposition as aforesaid but also in those Temptations with which he assaults the Hearts of Men when they apply themselves to the serious Study of it VVe can read any other History and readily entertain and credit it but when we once come to the Bible strange Objections Doubts and Curiosities arise and presently we are apt to question the Truth and Possibility of every Passage These are the Suggestions of Satan to render that holy Book ineffectual to us the Scope and Purport of which he knows tends directly to the Overthrow of his Kingdom of Darkness Some of the most frequent Objections against the Bible are these that follow Object 1. How Men in the respective Ages wherein the several parts of the Bible were written could know that they were written by an infallible Spirit and so distinguish them from other Writings Answ Two ways First by the Quality of the Persons and secondly from the Nature and Quality of the Matter As for Moses there could not be the least Cause of doubting his being inspired by God since he wrought such Miracles and had a visible and audible Entercourse with the Lord as we read Exod. 19.9 that the Lord said unto him Lo I come unto thee in a thick Cloud that the People may hear when I speak with thee and believe thee for ever The other Parts of the Old Testament were written by Prophets and holy Men. And tho several of them were not received and hearkned to as such by the corrupt ruling Part of the Jews whilst they lived yet they were acknowledged afterwards as well for the Sanctity of their Lives and the fulfilling of those things mentioned the Judgments which they foretold coming to pass
Instit lib. 2. BOOK IV. THE Fifth HEAD OF Metaphors Allegories and Similes With other borrowed Terms Respecting the Graces of the Holy-Spirit AND THE Blessed Ordinances of the Gospel Grace compared to Salt Mark 9.50 Have Salt in your selves c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. TOuching the several Metaphorical Notations of this Term Salt we shall refer you unto the Eleventh Chapter of Philologia Sacra By Salt in this place is meant the blessed and most precious Grace of the Spirit Metaphor Parallel SAlt is of a searching quality if it be laid or rubb'd upon Meat it will pierce and search it to the very Bone TRue Grace or the spiritual Operation of the Spirit is of a searching nature it will when received in Truth infuse it self into every Faculty of the Soul The Spirit searcheth all things yea 2 Cor. 2. the deep things of God If there be any Sin hid it will search and find it out Simile Parallel II. Salt is of a purging cleansing and purifying nature it will work out Blood Filth c. as common Experience shews II. Grace is of a purging and purifying virtue it will not only search Corruption out whether it be in the Heart or Life but also in a blessed manner purge and work it forth He that hath this Hope 1 Joh. 2.3 purifieth himself even as he is pure III. Salt hath a preserving quality it will not only purge Corruption out of Meat but also preserve Meat and other things from Corruption and Putrefaction III. Grace preserves the Soul from all manner of Sin and Defilements it will not suffer a Saint to run with others to the same excess of Riot 1 Pet. 4.4 but teacheth us to deny all Vngodliness and worldly Lusts and to live righteously soberly Tit. 2.12 and godly in this present World How shall I do this thing and sin against God IV. Salt seasons things causing that to taste savoury which otherwise would be no way pleasant wholsom or good for the Body Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without Salt Job 6.6 IV. Grace seasons a Christian it makes him savoury to God and to all good Men savoury in his Words savoury in his Dealings and Commerce savoury in all his whole Conversation not only savoury himself but seasoning others also hence called the Salt of the Earth Let your Speech be alway with Grace Col. 4 6 seasoned with Salt That ye may know how to answer every Man V. Salt is of universal use throughout the World it is the one thing needful among Men it is said to season all things we receive great Advantage by it It is known to be exceeding necessary both by Sea and Land V. Grace is also absolutely necessary 't is the one thing needful to Salvation without which there is no getting to Heaven The Advantages all Believers receive thereby are wonderful All Men of what rank or quality soever stand in need of Grace they were better be without Gold than without Grace It is good in every Place and Condition Men need it as well at Sea as at Land in Sickness and Health VI. Salt as Pliny and other Naturalists say is exceeding good against the Sting of Serpents and will destroy Worms that breed in the Body and hath many other medicinable Virtues in it VI. Grace is a most Sovereign Remedy against Sin that Sting of the old Serpent and there is nothing like it to kill the Worm of Conscience that is bred by means of the Corruption of the inward Man and there gnaws and greatly torments the Soul and many other Soul-medicinable Virtues it hath VII Salt was made use of under the Law in Sacrifices And every Oblation of thy Meat-Offering shalt thou season with Salt â—â—v 2 13. With all thy Offerings thou shalt use Salt VII Grace must be made use of in all our spiritual Sacrifices and Offerings unto God We must pray with Grace and sing with Grace and do all in God's Worship with Grace in our Hearts nothing we do will be accepted without it Mark 9.4 Every one shall be salted with Fire or seasoned with Affliction and every Sacrifice shall be salted with Salt viz. Grace Metaphor Disparity SAlt is natural or else made by Art of salt Water Ashes Fire Plin. lib. 3â— p. 41â— 41â— c. Pliny says that in India they have Salt out of Quarries of Stone GRace is supernatural No Man hath the Divine Influence and Operation of the Spirit of God naturally nor can he get it by any humane Contrivance or Art whatsoever Joh. 1.14 it is the Gift of God II. If Meat be quite corrupted putrified stink and is loathsom Salt cannot recover it nor make it savoury II. But if the Soul be wholly or in every Faculty thereof corrupted stinks and is loathsom in the Nostrils of God yet Grace can quickly recover it and make it very savoury and sweet to God and good Men. III. Salt may lose its Saltness or Savour and become good for nothing but to be trodden under the foot of Men. III. Grace cannot lose the excellent Savour thereof Christians may lose much of their Salt or decay in Grace but Grace be it little or much will never lose its own precious Virtue IV. Things may be over-salted or seasoned so that they may be spoiled and become unwholsom to human Bodies IV. But no Man can be over-much seasoned with Grace never had any Christian too much of this spiritual Salt in him The more you receive and take in of this the better you will be seasoned thereby Inferences FRom hence we infer That Grace is the principal Thing 2. How unsavoury are all graceless Persons The whole World lieth in Wickedness They are like putrified or stinking Carrion in a Common-Shore as the Greek Word there signifieth 3. This may stir up all ungodly Ones to look out and cry mightily for Grace the excellent Nature of which is set forth under the Metaphor Light Vol. 1. 4. Let all who profess themselves Christians examine themselves throughly whether they are salted with Grace or not Are you savoury Men and Women What is your Communication your Speech your Conversation c. 5. Take heed you lose none of this Divine Salt you will soon become unsavoury if you have not Salt in your selves 6. You that should season others should have much Salt in your own Hearts and Lives Ye are the Salt of the Earth The Girdle of Truth Ephes 6.14 And having your Loins girl about with Truth c. A Girdle properly is a Belt or Girdle used to be worn by Souldiers to preserve the Breast and Belly Truth hath various Acceptations in the holy Scriptures some of which according to Wilson and others you may take as follows 1. The most perfect Divine Essence which is Truth it self and the Author of all Truth in his Creatures Thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth Psal 31.5 2. Jesus Christ I am the
beholding an Army of Souldiers with Helmets on III. A well-grounded Hope of Salvation and of Victory against the Enemy tends to the compleat harnessing or fitting out of every true Christian to meet and encounter with the Adversary by which means also they are said to be as terrible as an Army with Banners which Mr. Ainsworth applies to this Armor 2 Cor. 10.4 The Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of Strong-Holds c. Israel being compleatly furnished with Armor of Proof who were a People saved by the Lord the Shield of their Hope and who was the Sword of their Excellency God hereby put the Fear and Dread of them upon all the Nations under the whole Heavens who heard of the Fame of them and trembled not Deut. 2.2 The People heard and were afraid Exod. 15.14 15 16. Psal 48 5 6. Sorrow took hold on the Inhabitants of Palestina The Dukes of Edom were amazed the mighty Men of Moab Trembling took hold upon them All the Inhabitants of Canaan melted away and Dread fell upon them And thus will it be again when God brings forth the Sons of Zion against the Sons of Greece every way compleatly armed with Shield and Helmet as an Army with Banners Zech. 9 13 IV. An Helmet as well as other Pieces of Armor must not be put off or laid aside until the Battel be over There are some Instruments and Engines used in War that are made use of but now and then but the Shield Breast-plate and Helmet c. are necessary continually when Arms are employed IV. So Hope the Helmet of Salvation must be taken by every true Christian and never laid aside until the Field is won and all the Enemies subdued Hence saith the Apostle 1 Pet. 1.13 Gird up the Loins of your Minds be sober and hope to the End for the Grace that shall be brought unto you at the Revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 13. ult Heb. 6.11 12. Now abideth Faith Hope and Charity We desire every one of you to shew the same diligence to the full assurance of Hope unto the end V. A Souldier that hath his compleat Armor on as the having on the Helmet doth import because it is usually the last Piece of Armor defensive that is put on is ready for Service when his Captain commands him forth and from hence he is animated and becomes very diligent and doth great Execution oftentimes upon the Enemy yea and more is expected from him than from one that is unarmed V. So a Souldier of Jesus Christ having the whole Christian Armor on is ready for any Service or Suffering for his Captain and waits but for the Word of Command and he adventures forth as Abraham did not knowing whither he went Hope of Salvation particularly maketh a Man very active it is called a lively Hope more is expected from him than from one that is hopeless Alas he goes on without any Heart that hath no grounded Hope of Heaven and the blessed Enjoiment of God and Christ for ever Metaphor Disparity AN Helmet which Men use in War hath been may be pierced through to the loss of the Life of the Souldier that hath it on BUt this spiritual Helmet called the Hope of Salvation which hath God and all Good both here and hereafter for its Object against this there can be no Assault made nor Force of Weapon used to the endangering of the Life of the Soul II. An Helmet used in War amongst Men tho it may preserve the Head from Danger yet it cannot preserve the Breast but that may be wounded by Sword or Dart. II. But a well-grounded Hope the Helmet of Salvation doth wonderfully preserve the Conscience as well as the Judgment from being corrupted by the Wounds of Error and rotten Principles carried on by the cunning Craftiness of Men whereby they lie in wait to deceive III. Men may have Helmets on and yet notwithstanding lose the Day be overcome and flie before their Enemies with Shame and Disgrace III. But he that engageth in this spiritual Armor of which the Helmet is a part Ephes 6. having on the whole Armor of God doth not only make a Christian to withstand the Enemy but also to stand against any Assault Rom. 5.5 Hope of Salvation maketh not ashamed Inferences FRom hence you may perceive how exceeding useful Hope is to all true Christians in their spiritual Warfare with the Enemies of the Soul 2. It shews that a Christian's Life is a Life of Hope or Expectation The Promises of God are not presently accomplished he seems to stay long ere he makes good what he hath engaged to give to them 3. And tho he stays long before he performs his Promise to us yet they shall be accomplished at last in the best time to the eternal Joy of their Hearts Hope deferred makes the Heart sick but when it comes it is a Tree of Life The Vision is for an appointed Time but at the end it shall speak and not lie c. 4. That tho God stays long before he performs his Word and Promise yet it is our Duty to wait patiently till it is fulfilled Wait for it because it shall surely come c. 5. That Hope pacifies and quiets the Soul of a Believer till the Promises are accomplished and fulfilled It may also serve to caution every Christian to take heed he does not take a counterfeit Helmet There is a Hope that will prove like a Spider's Web. Tho a true and lively Hope maketh not ashamed yet some Men will one day be ashamed of their Hope c. See Hope the Anchor of the Soul Hope compared to an Anchor Heb. 6.19 Which Hope we have as the Anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast c. HOpe is not only compared to an Helmet but also to an Anchor as the Soul is compared to a Ship which Metaphor is opened under its proper Head Quest What is this Hope that is called the Anchor of the Soul Answ 1. Negatively It is not a Hope of being rich great and mighty in the World They esteem not of things below at such a rate as to make them their Hope If I have made Gold my Hope or have said to the fine Gold Job 31.24 thou art my Confidence c. Gold is put here by a Synechdoche of the Part for the Whole for all earthly things so that whereas Job saith If I have made Gold my Hope his meaning is if I have made any good things on Earth my Hope There is great difference saith Mr. Caryl between hoping for Gold and making Gold our Hope we may hope for worldly good things but we must not make any thing of this Life our Hope And further he saith 'To make Gold either gotten or to be gotten our Hope implieth these four things 1. An high Estimation of it as that which can do great things for us or stand us in
live in newness of Life amongst the Saints in the Kingdom of God II. When one is buried he ought to be covered all over with Earth else 't is no Burial II. When one is baptized he ought to be covered all over with Water or else 't is no Baptism Which fully appears 1. From the Nature of Burial 2. From the proper and Metaphorical Significations of the Word as is largely opened 3. From Scripture-Practice which always was by Dipping as all the Learned that are impartial acknowledg 4. From the constant Practice of Antiquity who retained the right Form until Clinical Baptism viz. such who deferred their Baptism till their sick Bed came to be used about Cyprian's time in the third Century These Clinici so called because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 baptized in their Bed were such as delayed their Baptism until their Death-Beds because they believed it would take away all Sin and that there was no Pardon if they sinned after receiving it yet not daring to go out of the World without this great Badge of Christianity deferr'd it till they thought they were in danger of Death And since they could not without peril of Life be dipp'd Sprinkling was invented to serve the turn For a like Reason as was said before they changed the Mode of Administration with respect to Infants when their Baptism was introduced out of regard to their tender Constitutions especially in cold Countries Seasons This was the Original of Sprinkling and sprung purely from the abuse of Baptism and the Want of the right Subject as by Divine Aid shall be demonstrated in a particular Sheet impartially and from undoubted Authority One may with as much reason be said to be buried when Clay or Earth is thrown upon his Head only as to be baptized when Water is poured upon his Head or Face And if the one be no Burying 't is as certain the other is no Baptism And he that affirms that Sprinkling may represent or symbolically express the Death Burial and Resurrection of Christ does at the same time speak without colour of Truth Word of Sence and against all the Reason in the World As breaking of the Sacramental Bread visibly betokens that Christ's Body was broke and as the pouring forth of the Sacramental Wine represents the gushing forth of his Blood so the Sacramental Dipping in Water viz. Baptism represents his Death and Burial and the coming from under the Water his Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.2 3 4 c. III. Burial precedes the Resurrection or raising of the dead Body to a State of Immortality III. The Immersion of the Party baptized precedes his Emersion or coming out of the Water which symbolizes or answers to two things 1. The Resurâ—ection of Christ 2. Our rising again to Newness of Life Buried with him in Baptism wherein ye are also risen with him c. as in the Text. Inferences FRom the whole we may rationally conclude That the Administration of this great Ordinance by Sprinkling which comports not with the Literal nor Metaphorical Signification of the Word nor those great Mysteries represented by it viz. the Death Burial and Resurrection of Christ is disorderly and should be rectified 2. It is a Motive to excite us to admire and reverence the great Grace and Goodness of Christ who hath given us such a visible Symbol of his Death Burial and Resurrection not only to confirm our Faith but also to prevent our being deceived by any seducing Spirits 3. It is not to be wondred at that such as deny the Man Christ Jesus but preach up the Light within to be a Saviour should reject these two great Ordinances stated in the Scripture viz. Baptism and the Lord's Supper because such as deny the Substance are necessitated to deny the Sign Persons of this Judgment may be easily confuted For when ever the Term Baptism is mentioned and God or Christ represented as the Agent it must be understood of the Baptism of the Spirit in the Sence before spoken of When ever Baptism is mentioned as the Act of any Apostle or Minister of the Gospel it denotes Water-Baptism because these have neither Power nor Commission to baptize with the Spirit and with Fire And when ever the Baptism of Blood and Suffering is mentioned it must be understood of Persecutors or ungodly Men who murther destroy or afflict the Godly for neither God without Blasphemy nor good Men without a wrong application of the Term may be said to baptize that way So that when we meet with the Act of Baptism as the Act of a good Man we must of necessity understand it of Water-Baptism in the same Method and Mode of Administration as was practised by the Apostles and Primitive Christians and that being a positive Institution with respect to the Subject and Manner of Administration is not to be deviated from upon any pretence whatsoever unless we will suppose the Laws of the Almighty to be in the Power of Man so as that he may dispense at pleasure with them which is not to be done without sufficient Authority from God himself which is no where to be found 4. If the Laws of the great unerring Sovereign of all things are to be observed without variation unless it be by his express Direction then we are to conform exactly to his Order in this part of the Evangelical Law and to practise it no otherwise than he has prescribed because it was once so delivered to the Saints 5. We would caution all that would approach to this sacred Evangelical Ordinance unless they be dead to Sin that is such as truly and really hate Wickedness and the empty Vanities of the World and unless they have a prospect of and long to have an Interest in that never-fading Inheritance promised by our dear Lord Jesus to his Children not to prophane this blessed Institution Because if they want the due Qualifications of serious and converted Souls viz. Faith Repentance and good Lives they are hereby entitled not real Members of Christ but Hypocrites and incur as great a Hazard as such do who eat and drink unworthily of the Lord's Supper The Lord's Supper 1 Cor. 11.23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you That the Lord Jesus the same Night in which he was betrayed took Bread Verse 24. And when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you This do in remembrance of me THe Papists affirm That after the Words which they call the Words of Consecration spoken by the Mass-Priest the Bread is changed into the real Body of Jesus Christ and many of the blessed Martyrs in Queen Mary's Days were burned to Ashes for denying this Transubstantiation Which absurd and monstrous Conceit of theirs hath been learnedly confuted by many ancient and modern Writers so that it may be thought needless to add any thing here upon that account yet that we may make our way
pure Psal 119. therefore thy Servant loveth it 5. He hath a good Conscience whose Conviction and Trouble for Sin is universal when it is deep when the Spirit searcheth into the bottom Come saith the Woman of Samaria Joh. 4 29 39. see a Man that hath told me all that ever I did And they were pricked in their Hearts 6. He hath an evangelical good Conscience who is troubled for Sin not simply because of Shame or because of inward Guilt or fear of Punishment but because God is and hath been offended his Spirit grieved and his Soul defiled and made unlike God his Trouble riseth from the sence of the hainous Nature of Sin 7. When Conscience findeth that no Conviction either of Sin or Duty is slighted by the Soul Psal 119.80 but tenderly nourished 8. When a Man will suffer any Punishment or Loss before he will offer violence to his Conscience and sin against God 9. When Conscience cannot find any Sin hid spared born with or connived at in the Soul no sweet Morsel under the Tongue 10. When Conscience finds a Man the same in private that he is in publick and that he is not of a Pharisaical Spirit doth nothing to be seen of Men or for vain Glory's sake 11. When Conscience cannot find any Duty or Ordinance which the Soul is convinced of to be neglected tho he is exposed to Reproach thereby To obey God in Baptism is called the Answer of a good Conscience Conscience calls for obedience to this and to all other Ordinances of the Gospel when convinced of them 12. And lastly When Conscience beareth Testimony to a Soul that it loveth God and Jesus Christ above all things in this World c. He that hateth not Father and Mother c. cannot be my Disciple That is if he hath not a lesser Love to them for the lesser Love in Scripture is called a Hatred which our Saviour openeth in another place He that loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth Son or Daughter more than me is not worthy of me Phil. 3 9 10. c. Yea doubtless I account all things but Loss c. Quest How shall a Man get and keep a good Conscience Answ 1. He must get his Heart sprinkled with the Blood of Christ Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near with a true Heart in full assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience c. See that you experience that the Blood of Christ hath as effectually purged your Consciences from dead Works Heb. 9.14 as the Blood of Bulls and Goats sanctified to the purifying of the Flesh 2. He must take heed of all such things as offend his Conscience Conscience is a very tender thing the smallest thing will make it bleed 3. He must take heed of evil aad corrupt Principles an erring Conscience is not a good Conscience 4. Labour to fit under a Soul-searching Ministry 5. Take heed of vain Glory and all secret Evil Conscience prieth into thy most inward Thoughts beware of speculative Sin 6. Labour to keep thy Tongue Whoso keepeth his Mouth and his Tongue keepeth his Soul from Trouble 7. Labour to bring thy Heart into every Duty beware of Hypocrisy 8. Do not grieve or offend thy Conscience in any thing tho the Matter may be in it self lawful yet thou must not do it if thou hast a doubt in thy Spirit about it Rom. 14.23 He that doubteth is damned that is condemned in his own Conscience But much more take heed of doing that which is by all owned to be utterly unlawful 9. Labour in all Acts to be sincere Conscience hath power to give in Testimony concerning thy Integrity if thy Heart be unsound and not upright Conscience will soon discover it and reproach thee for it and thou wilt not be able to hold out to the end and sad will it be to have thy own Conscience witness against thee when thou comest to lie on a sick Bed an evil Conscience will be a bad Death-Bed Companion O how doth this reprove those that sin and regard not the Checks and Rebukes of their own Hearts Conscience in the great Day will be more than ten thousand Witnesses against them THE Seventh HEAD OF Metaphors Allegories and Similes WITH Other Borrowed TERMS Relating to the Church of GOD. The Church called the City of God Psal 87.3 Glorious things are spoken of thee O City of God Selah Psal 46.4 There is a River the Streams whereof shall make glad the City of God the holy Place of the Tabernacle of the Most High Isa 26.1 We have a strong City c. Isa 33.20 Look upon Zion the City of our Solemnity c. Isa 62.12 And they shall call them the holy People c. And thou shalt be called a City sought out not forsaken Mat. 5.14 Ye are a City set on a Hill that cannot be hid IN these places of the Holy Scripture Sion or the Church of God is called a City Sion was a Fort or Mount in Jerusalem and the Temple was built upon it hence the Church of the Jews was called as some conceive by this Name Zion because there they assembled but after it was a Name or Title given to the Church whether Jews or Gentiles Heb. 12.12 Ye are come to Mount Sion to the City of the Living God the heavenly Jerusalem God's People may be called by the Name of Sion or Jerusalem 1. Because we were naturally like Jerusalem the Forts of the Jebusites viz. Sinners and Enemies to God 2. Because by Grace we are overcome and conquered like as Jerusalem was by the true David 3. Because the Church is fortified by the Almighty for his own use and chief Place and Residence in this nether Creation 4. In respect of her Renown and Glory As Jerusalem was renowned above all Cities so God's Church is now above all People and Societies in the World 5. Because it is viewed and gazed upon by all Strangers she may well be compared to a Looking-glass as Zion signifies 6. In respect of her Laws for as the Law and publick Worship were at Jerusalem so Christ's Laws and publick Worship are maintained in the Church Hence God is said to love the Gates of Zion more than all the Dwelling-Places of Jacob. Psal 87.2 Observ The Saints or Church of God is the City of God or may fitly be compared to a City In opening of this Metaphor we shall shew the Nature Trade Government Privileges and Glory of the City of God Metaphor Parallel A City is a Place built by Men for a People to inhabit or dwell in THe Church is built by Christ for a Habitation for God Mat. 16.18 Vpon this Rock will I build my Church c. In whom ye are builded together for an Habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2.22 II. A City is usually compassed about with Walls that it may thereby become
Flock to rest at Noon c. Luke 12.32 Fear not little Flock it is your Father's good Pleasure to give you the Kingdom THe Church or Saints of God are compared unto a Flock of Sheep Metaphor Parallel SHeep are clean Beasts tame and gentle not wild as Tigers Lions Foxes or Wolves nor unclean as Dogs Swine c. SO the Saints of God are a People tamed as it were by God's Spirit from that natural Wildness and Perverseness made gentle willing to come into Christ's Fold cleansed from Impurity of Heart and Life II. Sheep are simple a harmless Sort of Creatures not crafty ravenous and devouring as those Sort of Beasts above-mentioned II. So the Saints of God are holy they are taught to be simple concerning Evil Mat. 10.16 Be ye saith Christ as innocent as Doves They seek the Hurt of no Man not like Romish Wolves who delight in nothing more than in Blood and Rapine shedding the Blood of those who do not wrong or injure them but desire to live peaceably in the Land III. Sheep are meek and patient under Sufferings Hence our Saviour is said to be led as a Lamb to the Slaughter Isa 53.7 and as a Sheep is dumb before the Shearer so opened he not his Mouth See Lamb. III. So the Saints and People of God are meek and patient under God's hand both when they suffer for their Sins or for the Trial of their Graces as appeareth in Job David Stephen c. Psal 39 9. I held my Peace I opened not my Mouth because Lord thou diddest it IV. Sheep as they are patient so they are profitable both in their Lives and by their Death There is scarcely any Creature that brings its Owner greater Incomes than Sheep they are good both for Food and Cloathing IV. The Saints are very profitable many ways the Benefit the World receives by them or for their Sakes is very great they are called the Light of the World and the Salt of the Earth now the Profit the World receives in both these respects is not little Had there been ten of those Sheep in Sodom God had not destroyed it besides the Angel told Lot he could do nothing till he was out of the City What a Blessing was Joseph to his Master whilst he abode in his House and Jacob to Laban They yield the World much Profit by the Doctrine they preach by the fervent Prayers they daily put up to Almighty God and their holy and good Examples Mat. 5.16 Let your Light so shine before Men that they may see your good Works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven V. Sheep are obedient and ready to follow their Shepherd whithersoever he goeth It is the Custom in some Countries for the Shepherd to go before the Sheep c To which our Saviour alludes John 10.27 V. So Believers and the Church of Christ are obedient to him Joh. 10.4 5. My Sheep saith he hear my Voice and they follow me and the Voice of a Stranger they will not follow Psal 73.24 Thou shalt guide me by thy Counsel saith the Psalmist Christ's Precepts are the Saints Directory and his Practice their Pattern for Imitation Hence Paul exhorteth the Corinthians to follow him as he followed Christ 1 Cor. 11.1 VI. Sheep are incident to many Diseases many of them are weak and feeble which a good Shepherd taketh pity of and endeavours to heal and strengthen them VI. So the Saints of God are subject to manifold Weaknesses Temptations and Afflictions which moved the Almighty to great Compassion and sorely to rebuke the Shepherds of Israel for their Cruelty and great Remisness towards his Flock The Diseased have ye not strengthned neither have ye healed that which was sick c. And therefore saith He would himself take the Work into his own hands I will bind up that which was broken and will strengthen that which was sick c VII A Flock of Sheep must not be over-driven lest they tire Jacob who was a skilful Shepherd knew this and therefore told Esau his Brother Gen. 33.13 that if the Flock were over-driven they would die VII So the Saints or Flock of Christ must not be over-driven they must be led gently along and God taketh care to lay no more upon them than they can bear No Temptation hath taken you 1 Cor. 10.13 but such as is common to Men but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able and will with the Temptation also make way to escape that ye may be able to bear it He will not lay upon us more than is right VIII Sheep are subject to go astray and to be lost in a Wilderness and upon that account need the Shepherd's Care to seek them and fetch them home to the Fold VIII So the Saints are subject to go astray from God and to wander from his Precepts viz. decline in their Zeal Faith and Affection to him and his Ways and to get wandering Thoughts after the World and sometimes they wander through the Neglect and Carelesness of the Under-Shepherds My Sheep Ezek. 34.6 Psal 119.176 saith the Lord wandered through all the Mountains and none did search or seek after them I have gone astray like a lost Sheep seek thy Servant c. IX Sheep must be led forth into green Pastures to be fed and a good Shepherd will take heed he puts them not into Fields or Meadows that are not proper for them for some Grounds will soon rot and spoil them IX So Christ's Flock must be fed in good Pastures viz. with sound and wholesom Truth good Doctrine Food that is fit and proper for them they must not have Chaff of Mens Traditions nor the corrupt Glosses of cloudy Doctors that lived in the dark Time of the Church It behoves Christ's Ministers to take heed they suffer not the Sheep under their Charge to suck in the Poyson of Error and Heresy for nothing rots and spoils Christians more than that The Spouse from hence enquireth of Christ Cant. 1.7 Where he feedeth his Flock that is Where his blessed Gospel was truly and constantly preached and his holy Ordinances duly administred lest she should turn aside by the Flocks of his Companions that is such as call themselves so Christ directs her to go forth by the Footsteps of the Flock and feed their Kids besides the Shepherds Tents That is to follow the Doctrine and Footsteps of the Primitive Church for that alone is our Rule in all God's holy Worship The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want Psal 23.1 2 He maketh me to lie down in green Pastures he leadeth me besides the still Waters X. Sheep have a shadowy Place to rest in when the Sun shines hot at Noon which is a great Refreshment to them where they chew their Cud and being saved from the Vehemency of the scorching Sun they with the greater Alacrity return to
Judgment make haste their Consciences being thereby awakened by the Lord to get into that Place of Security God hath provided for them viz. the Rock Christ who is called an Hiding-Place Isa 32.2 IX There are many Sorts of Worms IX So there are many Sorts of Men Worms 1. Some great and some small Ones and yet all are but Worms 1. So there are some great Men mighty Ones of the Earth as Kings c. and some small or poor Men but yet all are but Worms weak and contemptible Creatures in God's sight David called himself a Worm I am a Worm and no Man c. Psal 22 6. 2. There are some Dunghil-Worms who love to abide or live in Dung and Muck of the Earth 2. So there are some Men whom we commonly call Muck-worms who delight in nothing more than in the Dung or Filth of the Earth or Muck of this World their Hearts and Hands are always in the Earth Take them out of this Filth and they are as dead Men and let them alone and you shall presently see them craul to their old Delights Nothing but the World is in their Mouths they wallow in their filthy Lusts and Earthly-mindedness as the Swine tumbles in the Mire III. There are some Worms very loathsom such as breed in rotten putrified Flesh which are called Carrion-Worms 3. Such a Worm is a wicked Man a Vermine a Worm that breeds in Corruption as it were a loathsom Creature in God's Sight See the Head of the Metaphor 4. There are some Worms that deceive the Eye seeming to be what they are not Many have thought they had seen Fire in the Night when they have cast their Eye upon them in the place where they have lain These are called Glow-worms R. W. tells us a Story of a Parson that in the Night being drunk casting his Eye upon one of these Worms having his Pipe of Tobacco filled went bodily towards it crying out Fire I hope Fire I hope When the Light comes these appear to all to be but Worms 4. There are some Men who deceive their Neighbours They take them to be holy and good Men precious Saints of God and yet are greatly mistaken in them they being no better than painted Sepulchers meer Hypocrites and notwithstanding their outward Shew of Holinesss and Sanctity are but Earth-Worms having the World viz. external Advantage or vain Glory in their Eye as the great Thing they aim at in their Profession and in the Day of Christ they will appear to be what in truth they are 5. There are some very hurtful Worms who spoil Trees Flowers and the Fruits of the Earth See Joel 1.4 Amos 4.9 Such are the Palmer-Worm the Caterpillar and the Canker-Worm Which Sort of hurtful Vermin God hath often brought upon a People and Nation as a Punishment of their Sins 5. So there are some Men who like to these Worms are of a very hurtful Nature and endeavour to spoil Christ's spiritual Trees Flowers and precious Fruit c. They are called Locusts or Caterpillars by the Holy-Ghost Rev. 9.3 they are said to come out of the Bottomless Pit And to them was given Power as the Scorpions of the Earth have Power c. By these Locusts are meant as Franciscus Claudius a Carmelite Fryar and others expound the Place as is noted by Mr. Wilson ' those great Swarms of Popish Priests Friars Monks Cardinals even the whole Popish Hierarchy and Pontificial Clergy These are fitly likened unto Locusts which are a little vile Vermine springing as some say out of Smoke c. And truly this is made too evident of that Sort of Men this day in England and other Nations of Europe Never were a more destructive Generation of vile Vermine in the World none make or threaten to make greater Spoil of Christ's Vineyard and precious Fruit-Trees than they And in that they are let in upon us we may plainly read God's Displeasure against us thereby and nothing but unfeigned Repentance and Reformation will doubtless free this poor Nation from them for at this very time we are sadly plagued and pestered with them See God an Husbandman 6. There are also some profitable Worms who are very laborious and cloath the World with Silk and they are called Silk-Worms 6. This Sort of Worms resemble the laborious and faithful Ministers of Christ who spend themselves in Preaching and in divine Prayer and Meditation that so they may enrich Mens Souls with Grace and true Vertue These as Instruments in God's Hand may be said to cloath Men and Women with Silk or gloriously adorn their better Part tho hereby through Zeal and faithful Industry for God's Glory they waste and consume their own Carcases spending and being spent as the Apostle speaks X. The House or Place of divers Worms is the Earth they lie hid in the Ground X. So Man who is a Worm must take up his Place for a short time in the Earth The Grave is my House saith Job Job 17.13 the Place appointed for all Living This Worm must go to his Fellows to the Worms Inferences BY this we may see what a poor thing Man is The mighty Ones of the Earth who boast of great Matters are but Worms And if Man be but a Worm why doth he swell above the Clouds as if he would make his Nest among the Stars when as he must shortly fall among the Clods and be eaten of Worms 2. Take heed of having Mens Persons in Admiration it is a vain thing to give flattering Titles to others As it becomes us not to reproach or vilify any Man tho all Men are but as Worms so it is a God provoking Evil to flatter Men thereby creating high thoughts in them of themselves as some once served Herod crying out It is the Voice of a God and not of a Man But the Almighty Acts 12.22 to shew how much he abhorred such as gave not him the Glory made them know he was but a Worm and therefore the Angel of the Lord smote him and he was eaten up of Worms 3. Be not envious at others tho more rich and honourable than thee The greatest of Men are but Worms and tho some sparkle and shine in outward Glory and Splendor and seem to excell every way yet they may be but like Glow-worms 't is but for a Night they seem like Stars in the Morning they will appear like others 4. Let us learn from hence not to overvalue our selves nor our Lives What is the Life of a Worm 5. What Fools are the Wicked of the Earth to muster up their Force against God's People Whom do they come out against It is but against a Worm Could they prevail what Honour would they gain by it Is it so great a matter to destroy a Worm for so Jacob in his low Estate is called Fear not thou Worm Jacob. But let them know this Worm hath a mighty God to take its part I will help
upon Christ's Palm-Trees and what is their Intent and Purpose in so doing you may read in the Scriptures Come on saith Pharaoh let us deal wisely with them how was that To lay Weights and Burthens upon them To what end Lest they should multiply They resolved to keep them down they strove to hinder their Growth they designed to spoil their Multiplying and their Growth in Number as also in Grace and Vertue but they were like the Palm-Tree the more they were oppressed the more they grew and multiplied That way Men think to hinder the Truth to obstruct the Gospel from flourishing that way God takes to make it spread and flourish the more Those things that happened to the Apostles to hinder their Ministry God made for the furtherance of the Gospel 3. This should raise up our Hearts to magnify the Power Wisdom and Goodness of God who over-rules things thus in the World who turns that for Good which wicked Men design for the great Hurt of his poor People This also cometh from the Lord of Hosts who is wonderful in Counsel and excellent in Working He makes the Righteous to flourish like the Palm-Tree to grow upwards by those Ways and Means which one would think would bring them quite down and utterly spoil their growing Like as when we see the Corn laid at and thresh'd with a Flail Caryl one would think there were great Hurt intended to the Corn but it is only to separate it from the Straw and Chaff that it may appear in its own Beauty and Usefulness So the Lord hath his Flail to separate the Chaff from the Wheat Those Acts of Providence which seem to be for their Hurt and Undoing when they are thresh'd as it were by the World are only to make them appear what they are But thus it fareth not with the Wicked who flourish not like the Palm-Tree but as the Grass they pass away 4. This may animate the Righteous and greatly encourage them against Persecution Why should they fear that which God turns to their great Advantage O let us labour to improve Burthens Afflictions and heavy Pressures to the end God designs them and never more fear the worst that Men can do unto us The Righteous shall flourish like the Palm-Tree 5. Let us labour for Union and strengthen one another combine as one Man in the Way of Holiness and Christian Affection that so thereby we may like the tender Plants of the Palm-Tree get Strength and stand when the Wind blows hardest and the Storms of the Ungodly rise upon us 6. This may be also Matter of Trial to us we hereby may try our selves and try our Graces How is it with you Sirs under Sufferings Do you grow and flourish the more If you wither and decay in Grace in a Day of Trial or when you are under Pressures and Afflictions and cannot bear hard Things for Christ's sake it clearly shews you are none of God's Palm-Trees Saints compared to Wheat Mat. 13.27 28. Let both grow together till Harvest c. Verse 30. But gather the Wheat into my Barn THe Saints of God are in this Parable compared to Wheat or good Seed but the Wicked to Tares and the End of the World to the Harvest Why Believers are compared to Wheat will appear by what follows Metaphor Parallel VVHeat is a precious Sort of Grain the best of Grain THe Saints of God are a choice People the best of Men. Prov. 12.26 The Righteous are more excellent than their Neighbours II. Wheat is a very profitable Sort of Grain it tends to the enriching the Husband-man he accounts it his Treasure II. The Saints are a People profitable to the World many ways See Salt Nay Mat. 3.17 and God accounts them his peculiar Treasure III. Wheat will abide and live in the sharpest Winter which some other Seed will not III. So sincere Souls will endure the sharpest Trials They will live in the Winter-Time of the Church when others fall off wither die away and come to nothing IV. Wheat is a small Sâ—ed and when it is first sown it lies hid in Winter it seems as if it were quite dead but when the Spring comes it sweetly revives again and flourisheth exceedingly IV. The Godly are in comparison of the World a small People Luke 12.32 called a little Flock and they lie hid as it were scarcely seeming to be a People whilst the Winter of Persecution and Trouble under the four Monarchs of the World predominate Cant. 2.11 But when the Winter is past and the Spring-Time of the Church shall come they shall revive and cover the Earth as Wheat doth the Land where it is sown Light is sown for the Righteous Prov. 4.18 and Joy for the Vpright in Heart The Growth of Saints in Times of Temptation doth not always so visibly appear They are like Corn sown that lies under the Clods but when they have taken sweet Root they soon appear to revive and sprout forth like Wheat by means of the Dew of Grace and sweet Rays of the Sun of Righteousness They shall revive as the Corn and grow as the Vine Hos 14.7 and the Scent thereof shall be as the Wine of Lebanon V. An Ear of Wheat that is full of Corn always hangs downs its Head when that which is light and empty stands upright V. So the Saints of God or all sincere Souls that have much Grace are humble Ones they hang down their Heads as it were are cloathed with Humility when Hypocrites or empty Professors are puffed up Abraham calls himself but Dust and Ashes David a Worm and no Man Job abhors himself as a nothing Creature Paul saith he was the least of all Saints Job 42.6 Eph. 8.3 When the empty Hypocrite cries out Lord I thank thee I am not as other Men. VI. Wheat needs Weeding Weeds many times come up with it and hinder its Growth VI. So the Saints and People of God need weeding Weeds of Corruption often spring up and trouble them which did not God the good Husband-man Heb. 12.15 root out and destroy would quite spoil his choicest Wheat VII Wheat hath it is observed sometimes Tares amongst it which the Husband-man sees good to let alone till the Harvest lest in plucking them out some of the Wheat be pull'd up with them VII The Field is the World Mat. 13.38 where the Saints of God who are compared to Wheat grow i. e. live and much Tares grow up or live among them in every Nation City and Town And it is the pleasure of God that they should be let alone or suffâ—red to grow together in the World that common Field tho not in the Church And therefore were the People of God such as the wicked Persecutor calls them viz. Tares Hereticks the Off-scouring of the World yet it is directly contrary to the Mind of God that they should be rooted up and turned out of the Earth Let both grow
III. A Heart of Flesh cannot bear a great Weight a heavy Burden will crush and mar it exceedingly Lay never so great a Weight upon a Stone and that will bear it you cannot crush that nor make the least Impression in it what Weight soever you lay upon it but a Heart of Flesh or that which is of a soft Substance is of another Nature a Weight will bruise crush and mar it immediatly So a tender-hearted Christian cannot bear the Weight of Sin he feels the Burthen so heavy that he is sorely crushed down and oppressed under the Guilt thereof and grievously bruised Thus it was with David Psal 38. I am sore broken I am bowed down greatly c. IV. A Heart of Flesh I mean a living Heart for 't is such a one of which the Text speaks is a sensible Heart So a tender-hearted Christian or a Man or Woman that hath a Heart of Flesh is very sensible Such are sensible of their own Vileness and loath themselves before the Lord cannot bear the Thoughts of God's Displeasure it goes to their very Heart to think that the holy and infinite God should be displeased and offended with them they are sensible of their own Sorrows and of the Sorrows and Miseries of others A tender-hearted Person will grieve for the Afflictions of his Brethren and Sisters if his Mother or any dear Relation is distressed and in great Misery O how sensible is he of it and how sorely troubled and disquieted in his Spirit And thus it is with a tender hearted Saint O how is he grieved for the distressed Saints and for distressed Sion c. V. A Heart of Flesh i. e. a tender Heart will take any Impression you please So a tender-hearted Christian will take any Impression from God He is like Wax melted that will take the Impression of the Seal They are ready to take the Stamp of the Word the Image of God which is Righteousness and true Holiness The Spirit and Word of God can mould these Hearts into any Form or Fashion God pleaseth c. Saints compared to Stewards Luk. 16.2 Give an account of thy Stewardship c. 1 Pet. 4.10 As good Stewards c. Note Every Saint is the Steward of God Parallels I. A Steward is a Person that hath Goods or Moneys committed to his Charge So every Christian hath many Goods called Talents committed to him Mat. 25.14 15. both Spirituals and Temporals II. A Steward cannot say the Riches which are committed to him are his own no he is but the Steward of them in Trust they being the proper Right of another Man or his Lord's Goods So a Christian cannot say any thing he hath is his own all he is and hath is the Lord's III. A Steward ought to dispose of every thing committed to his Charge according to the special Command of his Master who possibly orders him to pay so much to such an one and so much to such an one and so much to such Poor that dwell in the Parish c. So every Christian ought to dispose of all his Lord's Goods according to his express Command laid down in his Word or he is no faithful Steward So much he is required to dispose of to the Ministers of the Gospel that may tend to make their Lives comfortable and free them from the perplexing Cares of this Life which greatly hinder them in their Ministry The true Minister's Maintenance is jure divino of divine Right So hath the Lord ordained 1 Cor. 9.14 that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel Also they are required to give to the Poor that they may not want c. Their Charity ought to be according to their Ability and the Poor's Necessity and not only to give but to give cheerfully with a willing Heart c. IV. Stewards are required to improve their Lord's Money c. So Christians ought to improve all those spiritual Gifts and Graces Time and Strength Wisdom and Knowledg Whatsoever God hath given to them he expects they should improve it to his Glory and to the Profit of their Neighbours V. 'T is a great and horrible Evil in a Steward to mind his own Business and Concerns more than the Concerns of his Lord and Master So 't is an utter Fault and that which may justly call in question the Truth of his Sincerity and Christianity for a Christian to mind the World and his own private Interest more than the Interests and Concerns of Jesus Christ Some care not what becomes of Christ's Labourers or of the poor Saints nor of the Interest of the Gospel so that they have all things to their Hearts Content They eat the Fat and drink the Sweet and lay up great Store of Treasure for their own Children c. they have perhaps their Hundreds and Thousands by them and in the mean while many faithful Ministers hard put to it to get Bread Is it not an abominable Evil in a Steward to live like a Lord himself upon his Master's Goods and let his Master's Children want Bread and also to keep back the Right of his faithful and painful Labourers for whose sake he intrusted him with so much Substance VI. A Steward must expect to be called to an Account Give an Account of thy Stewardship c. So must every Christian expect to be called to an Account by Jesus Christ concerning his Stewardship and what will they have to say who have embezelled much of their Lord's Goods and converted the rest to their own private Use Let all take heed and so demean themselves that they may have their Accounts to give up with Joy Saints compared to Stones 1 Pet. 2.5 Ye also as lively Stones are built up a spiritual House an holy Priesthood c. THe Saints of God are compared to Stones to the Stones of a a Building c. Parallels I. SOme Stones that Men build with are very rough and rocky as they are taken out of the Quarry and therefore need much Hewing and Squaring before they are fit for the Building So naturally the Hearts of Sinners are rocky and like rough Stones Hos 6.5 and to this the Lord alludes I have hewed them by the Prophets Ministers are God's Tools by which He does his Work upon Mens Hearts II. Stones are fit Materials to build a House withal So God sees Believers are the only fit Materials to build his spiritual House III. Stones in a Building are well knit and united together So should the Saints in Love c. IV. Stones are durable so are the Saints Disparity I. NO Builder builds his House with preeious Stones But Believers are called precious Stones This notes the Richness and Excellency of the spiritual Building 1 Cor. 3.12 Now if any build upon this Foundation Gold Silver precious Stones c. II. No earthly Stones have Life in them they are not living but dead Stones But the Saints are living Stones Eph.
Word of God because the Wind blows or it rains or he hath wearied himself the day before and so cannot rise early enough or it is a great Way and the Ways are bad c. Yet he knows in his Conscience that if there were but a good Bargain to be bought or some worldly Advantage to be had tho it were not above the Value of half Five Pound all these Obstructions would be nothing But perhaps some Sluggards may get over these things and yet if there lie other Difficulties in the Way they cannot hold the Plough of the Gospel if there is a Blast of Persecution feared he knows not how to encounter with that And thus the Sluggard discourages himself VIII The Sluggard tho he is so slothful as to hide his hand in his Bosom and is grieved to bring it again to his Mouth yet he is wise in his own Eyes Prov. 26.16 The Sluggard is wiser in his own Conceit than seven Men that can render a Reason VIII So the spiritual Sluggard tho he is monstrous idle prays as if he prayed not and reads as if it were a Burthen to him and hears the Word with no delight his Heart is asleep and perhaps his Eyes too yet he is very wise in his own Conceit Notwithstanding he is such a poor carnal worldly Wretch he hath high Thoughts of himself and cries out when reproved I know as much as you mind your own Matters every Tub shall stand upon its own Bottom why do you trouble your self with me Thus every Man is right in his own Eyes but the Lord pondereth the Heart Prov. 21.2 IX The Sluggard is a Man that seems to desire but a little time and then he will awake Yet a little Sleep yet a little Slumber yet a little folding of the hands to sleep c. As much as if he should say Let me alone yet a little I will sleep but a little longer let me have a little more Sleep c. IX So the spiritual Sluggard seems also to desire but a little time to gratify his Flesh and please his sensual Appetite to walk in ways of Vanity and sin against God I will saith an ungodly Person repent or 't is my purpose to reform my Ways but let me alone a little longer 't is time enough yet 'T is a great while to Day saith the Sluggard when one comes to awake him early in the Morning so saith the Sinner 'T is a great while before Christ will come or before old Age and Death will come in his Heart therefore he is resolved to continue in his evil and ungodly Courses a little longer Yet a little Sleep yet a little Slumber yet a little folding of the Hands to sleep Pray observe how sweet Sleep seems to be to a Sluggard so the Ways of Sin and Vanity seem sweet to an unconverted Man And as hard Labour is grievous to such a Person so is Godliness I mean strict and real Godliness Godliness in the Power of it to an unsanctified Heart X. Lastly A Sluggard cannot abide to be disturbed O let me lie let me sleep what ado you make is the Voice of a slothful Man X. A Sinner or spiritual Sluggard cannot endure to be disturbed the Thoughts of Death are to him like the Hand-writing on the Wall Dan. 5. he loves not that Conscience should call upon him to awake him nor Ministers nor any Friends he hath nay such as would or do strive to rouse a Sinner are the unwelcomest People in the World to him Repent repent what ado is here saith the graceless Soul can you not let me alone pray do not trouble me You know who sent away Paul being unwilling to hear any more at that time Inferences THis shews what a sad and dangerous Condition Sinners are in they are not only asleep but in a dead Sleep and know not how near eternal Ruine they are II. We shall endeavour therefore to awaken the Sinner out of his deep Sleep 1. Sinner God calls aloud upon thee Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the Dead How long wilt thou sleep O Sluggard 2. God hath called not only loud but long upon you Consider what Danger you expose your Souls unto you put an Opportunity into the Devil's hands to destroy you How easy is it for a weak Enemy to destroy a mighty Champion when he is asleep Jael a Woman soon destroyed Sisera when he was asleep 3. May I not say Sinner the Philistines are upon thee and thy Soul is in danger of being made a Prey for ever 4. Many ways hath God used to awaken thee He hath employed his Ministers he hath set Conscience on work he hath brought forth many dreadful Judgments and all to awaken thee and shall all Means fail and be insufficient 5. Thou losest many choice Blessings by lying thus asleep in thy Sin 6. There is Grace offered you Pardon offered you Peace offered you and will not this stir you up Nay more than all Christ is offered you Heaven offered you a Kingdom and Crown of endless Glory is offered you Soul rouse up and look about consider the Opportunity that is now in your hands will not Life and Light Pardon and Peace God and Christ Heaven and Happiness do you much Good Prov. 6 8 9 7. 'T is Harvest-Time Go to the Ant thou Sluggard consider her Ways and be wise She provideth her Meat in the Summer and gathereth her Food in the Harvest And shall such a small and contemptible Animal be wiser than you 8. The Harvest will soon be gone the Day of Grace be over and then it will be too late Jer. 8.20 The Harvest is past the Summer ended and we are not saved 9. If you will not sow now because it is cold you are like to begin Harvest and have nothing viz. at the End of the World and then you will say Lord Lord open unto us and he will say Verily verily I know you not depart from me ye Workers of Iniquity 10. Let me tell thee thou art just ready to drop into Hell thou sleepest in a dangerous Place awake Sinner or thou art damned If thy House were all on fire and thy Neighbours should not cry out to thee to save thy self thou wouldest conclude they were without all Bowels of Humanity Sinner this is thy Condition thy Soul is on a flame see what Sin that evil Spark hath done I can do no less than cry out Fire Fire wilt thou sleep and be burnt for ever The Lord awaken thee III. Let Saints bless God they are awakened out of their sleepy State IV. Let not Satan this World nor any other Enemy lull you asleep again Let us not sleep as do others Christians are subject to fall into a spiritual Drouziness see Mat. 25.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. O cry therefore with David Lord open thou mine Eyes lest I sleep the Sleep of Death Quest Some may say From whence doth it arise
have paid the utmost Farthing Inferences HOw may this humble sinful Mortals What little cause have any of the Chrildren of Men to boast of their Riches Alas they are whether they know it or no exceedingly in Debt they are worth nothing and whether they believe it or not Death will convince them of it 2. It may stir up the Hearts of the Godly to pity Sinners when you see poor Prisoners that are in Prison for Debt crying out of the Grates Bread Bread for the Lord's sake how ready are you to pity them but how more doleful is that Cry of the rich Glutton in Hell for a drop of Water to cool his Tongue and none is given to him 3. It speaks much Comfort to Believers who have through that redemption that is in Christ obtained the forgiveness of all their Debts Oh! what a Blessing these things being considered is pardon of Sin Let thy Soul with David Bless the Lord and all that is within thee praise his holy Name who forgiveth all thine Iniquities Psal 103.1 2 3. who healeth all thy Diseases who hath freed thee from thy Sins and the Punishment of them Wicked Men the Rod of God Isa 10.5 O Assyrian the Rod of mine Anger THe Ungodly and bloody Persecutors of the Lord's People are called his Hand his Rod and his Sword Deliver my Soul from the Wicked which is thy Sword from Men of the World which are thy Hand O Lord Psal 17.13 14. Parallels I. A Man smites such as have offended him with his Hand and with a Rod or Sword So God makes use of the Wicked as an Instrument to chastize his Children when they transgress his Law and grievously sin against him II. As a Hand or Rod lays on harder or softer Blows according to the Pleasure and Purpose of him that strikes So God lets the Wicked out upon his own People to oppress and afflict them as he fees good either in a milder or more severe manner III. When a Father hath chastized his Children sufficiently and throughly humbled them he sometimes casteth the Rod into the Fire So when God hath by the Wicked who are his Rod throughly humbled his People and taken away their Sin he will throw the Wicked their bloody Persecutors into the Fire of his Wrath For yet a very little while Isa 10.25 and the Indignation shall cease and mine Anger in their Destruction Wicked Men compared to Tares Mat. 13.38 The Tares are the Children of the Wicked One TAres 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Varineus quia amet triticum illud ut umbra corpus sequitur imitatus simul arescit ac si esset de tritici genere i. e. Because it loveth the Wheat and imitates it as the Shadow imitateth the Body and groweth up with it as if it were of the same kind with the Wheat It should not saith one be translated Tares but evil Seed It is that which we call the deaf Ears that grow up with the good Corn and cannot be discerned till the Harvest Liegh's Crit. Sacr. and then it proves naught for Tares and Fitches are soon discerned and pluck'd up The Enemy sowed Tares v. 15. i. e. corrupted Ungodly Men are compared to Tares Tares saith a noted Writer is a Sort of Grain that groweth in the Eastern Country therefore those that are called Tares amongst us I suppose are not the Tares our Saviour alludes to Metaphor Parallel TAres are a low and base Sort of Grain of little worth or esteem in comparison of Wheat and some other Grain SO the Children of the Wicked One are a base and contemptible Sort of People in comparison of the Children of God II. If Tares are sown amongst Wheat it is done by the Hand of an Enemy out of spite and malice to the Injury and Loss of the Owner of the Field II. So the spiritual or metaphorical Tares viz. the Children of Belial that grow in the Field of this World were first sowed by the Devil he is that Enemy who did it i. e. He infused by his Spirit through the Corruptness of Mortals that evil Seed into their Hearts from whence these Tares spring out of spite and Malice to God himself whose is the Field and also out of spite and malice to Mankind III. Tares growing among Wheat do hurt and prejudice the Wheat hindering its growth and flourishing III. So the Ungodly or Children of the Wicked One dwelling with or among the Saints hurt and greatly prejudice them hindering their Growth in Grace and Godliness Saith David Psal 120.6 Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar It is a hard Matter to keep our Garments clean and no way to defile them living in the midst of a wicked and ungodly Generation Who can touch Pitch and not be defiled therewith The Israelites dwelling among the wicked Natives of the Land of Canaan Psal 10 6.35 36. 't is said learned their Works and served their Gods IV. Tares as Wilson observes are so like Wheat whilst they are in the Blade as hardly the one can be discerned from the other IV. So Hypocrites seem so like true and sincere Christians that for a while the one can hardly be known from the other V. The Man who had Tares sown amongst the Wheat in his Field whilst Men slept would not suffer his Servants to pluck them up lest some of the Wheat should be pluck'd up with them but let them grow together until Harvest and then commands the Reapers to separate the one from the other and the Wheat to gather into his Barn but the Tares to cast into the Fire from whence it appears that those Tares were good for nothing but Fuel for the Fire c. V. So the Almighty tho there be many Hypocrites Hereticks and Reprobates in the World would not have Magistrates or others to pluck them up for their Errors or Heresy only that is destroy them or take them away by corporal Punishment and Death lest they pull up and destroy some of his precious Saints with them instead of those Children of the Evil One but would have them live or grow together in the Field of the World until the Harvest that is the End of the World The Field is the World Mat. 13.38 39 40 41. the good Seed an the Children of the Kingdom but the Tares the Children of the Wicked One. The Enemy that sowed them is the Devil the Harvest is the End of the World and the Reapers are the Angels As therefore the Tares are gathered and burnt in the Fire so shall it be in the End of the World The Son of Man shall send forth his Angels to gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that do Iniquity And shall cast them into a Furnace of Fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Inferences THis may put every Christian upon the Search and Examination of
Hearts from God and his Ways Hence as Satan is called a Deceiver and a Serpent so are some of his Children VII The Devil 's great design is to encourage Vice and all Prophaneness and by one means or another to suppress real Godliness So this is the great Design and Endeavour of some wicked Men. VIII The Devil is so vile that God seeth it necessary to lay a restraint upon him and put him into Chains or else the World would not have a Moment's time of Peace and Quiet So ungodly Men are so much like the Devil in this that God also sees the like need to restrain them for as the Devil is boundless in his Wrath Rage and Malice against Mankind so are his cursed Emissaries against their Fellow-Creatures Hence God puts a Hook into their Jaws and sets Bars to these swelling Seas IX The Devil trembles at the thoughts of God's Wrath and dreads the Day that is coming So do wicked Men fear him not because they love him but because they are his Enemies and as such they fear he will one day reckon with them X. The Devil tempts to Sin he is not contented to be vile himself but he would fain have others be vile and ungodly as well as he So wicked Men tempt entice and draw others to Sin they are not content to be ungodly themselves but strive to defile and corrupt others also XI The Devil is a Murtherer a great Murtherer and takes delight in shedding of Blood 1 Pet. 5.8 and making Desolation in the Earth hence called a Lion and a Dragon So wicked Persecutors are in this the very Picture of the Devil viz. great Murtherers their Feet run swift to shed Blood How many thousands of innocent Souls have the bloody Roman Devils destroyed within these twelve hundred Years They delight in spoiling and making desolate the Inhabitants of the Earth who oppose their Pride Psal 37.4 Psal 44.19 or stand in the way of their Exaltation and thence they are called Lions and Dragons likewise XII The Devil would fain make those who fear God miserable in this World he envies their Happiness and if he was but let loose upon them he would utterly deprive them of their Goods of their Children of their Health c. and bring them into a forlorn and miserable Condition as he dealt with holy Job So some wicked Men in this are like the Devil they envy the Peace and Prosperity of God's People and if God did not restrain them were it in their Power they would rob them of all their Goods as some have attempted of late nay and destroy their Off-spring How many innocent Babes did the Papists destroy in the Massacre in Ireland crying out Spare them not Nits will become Lice They grutch them their Liberty and therefore saith God The Devil shall cast some of you into Prison c. Rev. 2 10. Is the Devil come to be a Pursevant or an Officer or to give Warrants to cast into Prison No but it is spoken of wicked Persecutors that the Devil sets on work XIII The Devil is an Accuser one that vilifies and reproaches all sincere Christians he is called the Accuser of the Brethren Wicked Men are in this also like the Devil they love to accuse and vilify the Godly in the Land as Tertullus served Paul Acts 24.3 5. We have found this Man a pestilent Fellow a Mover of Sedition c. They continually labour to render them odious that so they might be hated and exposed to the Severity of the Law and merciless Rage of the rude Rabble XIV The Devil is utterly cast off and forsaken of God and shall have his Portion in the Lake there is no hope left him for an Escape he knows it will for ever be his Portion So some wicked Men are utterly rejected of God and given up to a reprobate Mind and there is no Hope left for them of escaping the Damnation of Hell they shall as surely be damned and tormented for ever and ever as 't is certain the Devils shall So that in these and many other things that I shall pass by it appears wicked Men bear a resemblance of the Devil they are like unto him they have the Image of the Devil upon them Sin turns a Man into a Devil Joh. 6.70 Have not I chosen you twelve and one of you is a Devil Disparity THe Devil is a Spirit a created Spirit wicked Men are Flesh as well as Spirit Now the Nature of a Spirit in very many things differs from an humane Body so that in divers respects there is a great Difference between the Devil and the Ungodly Inferences NO marvel wicked Men and the Saints agree no better II. O what a fearful thing is it to be left and forsaken of God! III. No marvel wicked Men strive so much to set up and establish the Devil's Kingdom seeing they are acted by like Principles and are alike Enemies of God IV. The Godly may wonder they are not long ago destroyed considering the cursed and devillish Disposition of wicked Men amongst whom they live 't is God only that hath restrained them THE Ninth HEAD OF Metaphors Allegories and Similes WITH Other Borrowed TERMS That respect I. The true Ministers of the Gospel II. False Ministers III. False Churches Ministers compared to Angels Rev. 1.2 The seven Stars are the Angels of the seven Churches c. Rev. 2.1 Vnto the Angel of the Church of Ephesus c. MInisters are called Angels Angels Parallel ANgels are endued with most eminent Power and Dignity they excel in Strength SO hath God endued his Ministers with great Power and Dignity they are his Substitutes on Earth they represent Christ himself and Paul saith Phil. 4.13 He could do all things through Christ that strengthned him II. Angels are God's Messengers and are often sent to bring good News to Men the Angels brought the first tidings of Christ's Nativity II. So the Ministers of the Gospel are Christ's Messengers they are called the Messengers of the Churches and the Glory of Christ 2 Cor. 8.23 they bring the glad Tidings of Peace and Salvation by Christ III. Angels are very wise David was said to be wise according to the Wisdom of an Angel of God 2 Sam. 14.22 III. Ministers of Christ are or ought to be wise Men they understand the Misteries of Christ and open them to others The Secrets of the Lord are with them Eph. 3 10. the Angels themselves understand the manifold Wisdom of God by his Saints and Ministers of the Gospel IV. Angels desire to pry into the Mysteries of Grace and Mercy by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.12 IV. Christ's true Ministers make it their great Business to study Christ to dig and dive into the hidden Mysteries 1 Cor. 2.1 2. I determined to know nothing among you but Christ and him crucified V. Angels are lively beautiful and shining When Angels appeared to divers Persons of whom
that they wear out their frail Bodies and bring themselves quickly to the Grave III. So some of Christ's faithful and laborious Servants labour so hard in their Studies in Watching Praying and Preaching that they spend themselves or bring utter Weakness upon their frail Tabernacles I am willing saith Paul to spend and be spent c. 2 Cor. 12.15 IV. Labourers are often hindred and obstructed in their Work like as the Jews were in building the Temple IV. So Christ's spiritual Labourers are often hindred in their Work Satan strives to hinder them and false Teachers strive to hinder them and wicked Persecutors endeavour to hinder them and many times forbid them to preach any more in the Name of Christ V. Labourers observe the fittest Time to do Business in they work hard by Day and whilst they have good Weather V. So Christ's Labourers observe the fittest Time to do their Work like as Christ saith John 9.4 I must do the Work of him that sent me whilst it is Day the Night comes when no Man can work VI. A Labourer is worthy of his Meat and ought not to be denied it VI. So the Ministers of Christ ought to have all things necessary provided for them and their Families 1 Cor. 9 9 Thou shalt not muzzle the Ox that treadeth out the Corn. So God hath ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel And since this Duty is much neglected among some Christian Churches I shall here transcribe a Page or two being part of a Sermon preached by Mr. N. C. at the Ordination of an Elder in the City of London 1681. These Words call not only for a Maintenance of Ministers but for such a plentiful Contribution as may make them Partakers with you in all good things If God bless the Congregation with a plentiful Portion of this World's Goods it is their Duty to make their Minister a Party with them in their flourishing Condition And considering the Place and Employment he is in and the Service he attends it would be extremely unworthy to think you have done enough if his pressing Necessities be answered while you abound in Superfluities If the Congregation be poor their Minister must be content to be poor with them yea rejoyce to approve himself a Minister of Christ by Hunger and Nakedness if the Providence of God call him thereto But whilst it is in the power of your Hand to provide better for him God expects it from you and be not deceived God is not mocked neither will he suffer his Commands to be slighted and evaded without rendring a just Rebuke to the Offender For whatsoever a Man soweth that shall he also reap Now that you may the better understand how far you are concerned in this Duty before I proceed to the further pressing of it let me put you in remembrance 1. That a Minister is bound to attend wholly and only upon his Calling in the Ministry and not to entangle himself in the Affairs of this Life that he may please him by whom he is called to this spiritual Warfare and nothing but real Necessity may dispense with the contrary His whole Time and Strength is little enough to be employed in the Work and Service he is called to He must give himself to the Ministry of the Word and Prayer and continue in Reading Meditation c. as a Man wholly devoted unto Gospel-Service and is therefore by his Call to the Ministry secluded from those ways and means of providing for his own Subsistence as the Trades and secular Employments of others furnish them with that his Mind by the Cares of worldly Business may not be diverted from that Study of God's Word and Care of Souls which the Duty of his Station engageth him to And if he may not expose himself to the careful Thoughts that accompany worldly Business tho tending to his Profit certainly it is no way meet that he should be left to conflict with the thorny Cares of a necessitous Condition whilst those he ministers to have means to prevent it 2. It is no less the Duty of a Minister than of other Men to provide for his Family 1 Tim. 5.8 and what lies in him to take care of his Wife and Children that they may not be exposed to a thousand Miseries and Temptations when he is gone I confess of all Men in the World a covetous raking Temper worst becomes a Minister But we greatly mistake if we think he must devest himself of the due Affection of an Husband towards his Wife or of a Father towards his Children or that those Fruits thereof which are justly esteemed commendable in others should be a Fault in him 3. An Elder or Bishop is under a special Charge to use Hospitality and to set in himself a Pattern of Charity and compassionate Bounty to poor Souls and if it be his Duty to be hospitable and charitable in an eminent degree then without controversy the People are concerned to endeavour that he may be capable of giving proof of this Grace in him by the Exercise of it as there is occasion These things being premised I shall shew you that you lie under the strongest Obligation imaginable to this Duty ' 1. By the Law of Nature ' 2. By the express Command and Appointment of Christ 3. On the account of the great and manifest Evil and Inconvenience that follows the Neglect thereof First The Law and Light of Nature obligeth you to it as to the matter of Equity and Justice And from hence our Apostle takes his first Plea in 1 Cor. 9.7 c. Who goeth a Warfare any time at his own Charges Who planteth a Vineyard and eateth not of the Fruit thereof Or who feedeth a Flock and eateth not of the Milk of the Flock The Ministry is a Warfare undertaken at the Command of Christ for the Service of your Souls and it is as reasonable that the Minister should receive a Supply of outward Things from you as that a faithful Souldier should receive his Pay from his Captain at the Charge of the Commonwealth for whose Good he militates Shall a Man feed a Flock as a Pastor does and be denied to eat of the Milk of that Flock which it is his Work to keep and feed Or is it consistent with common Justice to deprive a Man of the Fruit of that Vineyard which is planted and manured by his own Labour Such is the Case in respect of Maintenance between a Minister and the People It is not your Charity that I ask for him but Justice and Debt that I plead for He is employed in your Service and of Right should live upon your Charge Nay you have called him off from other Business and therefore his Maintenance is due from you as is the Wages of your Servant tho I fear some give more to the meanest Servant in their House than they are willing to do to their Minister Certainly if you chuse
are they feed who will reward them in due Time II. It may also caution them to be very careful that they feed Christ's Flock with no other Food than what is of Christ's providing III. It may inform all the Flocks and Sheep of Christ over whom the Holy-Ghost hath appointed Shepherds or Overseers 1. To prize their faithful Ministers observe their Doctrine and eye their holy and heavenly Conversation 2. To walk as Sheep 3. To keep close to their Fold Ministers compared to Ambassadors 2 Cor. 5.20 We are Ambassadors for Christ c. Eph. 6.20 For which I am an Ambassador in Bonds c. THe Words Ambassador Legate or Messenger are synonimous Terms properly such as are commissionated or deputed betwixt distant Parties to transact Affairs of Moment The Term is applied to the Ministers of the Gospel and it sets forth 1. The Dignity 2. The Duty of Ministers Note Faithful Ministers are Christ's Ambassadors c. Ambassador Parallel AMbassadors are authorized and sent abroad by Princes about the great Affairs of their Kingdoms MInisters are authorized empowered and sent by the Lord Jesus the Prince of the Kings of the Earth on the great Affairs of his Glory and Man's Good II. Ambassadors usually are Persons of Eminency 't is an Office that a Prince will not confer upon any of his Subjects but on such as are of great Esteem in his Court such as are fitly qualified for that great Trust confided in them in a word great Honour and Dignity is conferred upon them II. Faithful Ministers of Christ such as are Ministers indeed are eminent Persons such as are great Favourites to the Court of Heaven What higher Dignity doth Christ confer upon any of his Saints here below They also are Men fitly qualified for this great Employment and what their Qualifications are and must be you may see in 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. viz. Blameless as the Stewards of God 1 Tim. 3. 1 to 7. Tit. 1.7 8 9. not self-willed not soon angry not given to Wine no Striker not given to filthy Lucre a Lover of Hospitality a Lover of good Men sober just holy temperate holding forth the faithful Word able by sound Doctrine to stop the Mouths of Gainsayers c. not a Brawler not Covetous one that rules well his own House III. The Dignity of Ambassadors appears in the Greatness of their Prince from whom they come they have usually respect according to the Rank and Quality of their Master III. Now true faithful Ministers are sent as Ambassadors from the great God who is King of Heaven and Earth By whom Kings reign and Princes decree Judgment With him is terrible Majesty he rules and reigns over all and who can say unto them What doest thou IV. An Ambassador appears according to the Dignity of the Person whom he represents and whose place he supplies IV. True and faithful Ministers represent the Person of Jesus Christ O! and what Honour is this They are employed in his stead they are his Deputies He is the chief Ambassador called therefore the Messenger of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 from him they receive their Authority V. The Excellency of the Message Ambassadors are sent about shews further the Dignity of the Officers Now there are three sorts of Ambassies in the World Gurnal 1. Ambassies of Peace 2. Ambassies of Marriage 3. State-Ambassies which respect Trade and Commerce c. V. Ministers come with a threefold Ambassy 1. Of Peace 2. Of Marriage 3. Of heavenly Commerce and Trade c. 1. An Ambassador is welcom when he comes from a Prince about Peace and that especially 1. Christ's Ministers are welcom when they come with an Ambassy of Peace and needs they must be so if we consider these Things following 1. When he comes from one that is formidable mighty in Power and whose Armies are irresistible now to a poor weak and naked People how welcom is his Approach 1. These Ambassadors come from that great God that is dreadful in Power that if he speak but in his Wrath the Earth trembles whose Armies are also ready who offers not Peace because he cannot make War or stands in need of our Friendship but meerly from his great Love wherewith he hath loved us c. What can Sinners do to withstand his Power Doth he fear their Hostility Can they shoot their Arrows as high as Heaven If they strike at him he makes their Swords turn into their own Bowels O how gladly should these Ambassadors be received Who would not tremble to think of this God! 2. An Ambassador is welcom when he is sent to a People that have felt already the Impression of his Power and are pining under the bleeding Miseries of his Anger 2. So a Minister of Christ is welcom to poor Sinners who find the Arrows of divine Vengeance sticking in their very Hearts and the Curse of God cleaveth to every Faculty of their Souls who lie bleeding under his heavy Anger 3. An Ambassador is welcom when the Terms he offers are honourable and easy not like the Peace that Nahash offered to the Men of Jabesh-Gilead viz. That they should have every one his right Eye thrust out and lay it as a Reproach to Israel 3. Now the Ministers of the Gospel offer honourable and easy Terms God might require the perfect keeping of the whole Law he might demand Satisfaction for all the Wrongs and Injuries we have done to his Justice but they offer Terms of Peace and Pardon upon the Acknowledgment of Sin and laying down our Arms and to hold no League or secret Friendship with Sin or Satan any longer to take hold of Christ and plead the Atonement of his Blood Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved 4. An Ambassador is welcom when he offers Peace from a Prince that is real to his Word and gives good security for the performance of what he promises 4. Now God doth by his faithful Ministers give the greatest assurance imaginable of the performance of whatsoever he offers to poor Sinners He hath past his Word nay more 't is upon Oaâ—h Heb. 6. 2. Ambassadors sometimes offer an Alliance by Marriage between one State and another 2. And this is one great part of a Minister's Ambassy he is sent to let Sinners know what good Will the God of Heaven and Earth bears to them and that he is desirous to bestow his own dear Son the Heir of all Things in Marriage upon them what Favour and Grace is this Can Sinners be so sottish foolish and ungrateful as not readily to receive and embrace this Offer 3. Sometimes as we minded before Ambassadors come with an Ambassy for Trade that there may be an open Trade and Commerce between such and such Princes and States c. 3. The Ministers of the Gospel come with Ambassies for Commerce God is willing in Christ's Name to trade with Man again For no sooner had Adam sinned but a War was commenced and all Trade
than Rome Heathen or Babylon ever was And then what a fine Church do the People make themselves 10. If the Place Seat and City of Rome was not utterly ruined so as to be no more for ever as a Place of Commerce Trade and Human Society when the Heathen Power ceased then Rome Heathen cannot be this Babylon because at the Ending and Downfall of this Babylon the Place Seat and City is utterly ruined so as to be no more a Place of Trade Rev. 17.16 Commerce or human Society And the ten Horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and shall eat her Flesh and burn her with Fire Verse 18. And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth for her Sins which God hath remembred Rev. 18.8 which have reached unto Heaven therefore shall her Plagues come in one Day Death and Mourning and Famine and she shall be utterly burnt with Fire For strong is the Lord God who judgeth her Ver. 11 12 13. All Sorts of Merchandize Traffick Trade and Commerce with humane Society shall cease so as to be no more in her at all and the good Things which she in Fulness enjoyed before even all Things that were dainty and goodly are now departed from her and she shall find them no more at all vers 14. for in one Hour is she made desolate And a mighty Angel took up a Stone like a great Mill-stone and cast it into the Sea saying Thus with Violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all Verse 21. And the Voice of Harpers and Musicians and of Pipers and Trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee and no Craftsman of whatsoever Craft he be shall be found any more in thee and the Sound of a Mill-stone shall be heard no more at all in thee Verse 22. And the Light of the Candle shall shine no more at all in thee and the Voice of the Bridegroom and of the Bride shall be heard no more at all in thee Verse 23. But the Place Seat and City of Rome was not so utterly ruined as to be no more for ever a Place of Trade Traffick Merchandize and humane Society when the Heathen Power of Rome ended Ergo Rome Heathen cannot be the Whore of Babylon under present Consideration whose Seat or City hath since had a powerful Government reigning in Pride and Pomp for some hundreds of Years 11. If Rome Papal be Mystery Babylon the City of Pride and Confusion that is set forth by St. Jobn in the Apocalypse then neither the City of Jerusalem the Seat of the Turks and Saracens nor Rome Heathen is or can be the same But Rome Papal is the Mystery Babylon set forth by St. John in the Apocalypse Ergo neither the City of Jerusalem the Seat of the Turks and Saracens nor Rome Heathen can be the same The last Proposition is thus proved If all the Marks and Characters left us upon Divine Record to prove Mystery Babylon by do more aptly and fitly agree to Rome Papal than to the City of Jerusalem the Seat of the Turks or Rome Heathen Then Rome Papal and not any one of them is Mystery Babylon But the Marks and Characters left upon Divine Record to distinguish and know Mystery Babylon by do more aptly and fitly agree to Rome Papal Ergo Rome Papal and not the other is Mystery Babylon For the clearing up of this Argument we shall distinctly state the Character of Mystery Babylon and run the Parallel betwixt her and Rome Papal in this Method following 1. Babylon is a Woman which imports either a single Person rank'd in the Feminine Gender or a Body of People related to some Head Husband or publick Person to whom she is joined in Wedlock by Covenant or Matrimonial Contract as Eve was related to Adam and therefore called Woman or as Judah and Israel who were joined in Covenant with God and therefore called a Woman or as the true Church now is married or joined to Christ and therefore called a Woman A single Person as Eve was she cannot be because the Character given of her in respect of her State and Actions doth no way comport with it She must therefore be a Body of People related to some Head Husband or publick Person as Judah and Israel of old was who are often called by the Title of Woman and in like manner Babylon before her Degeneracy were a People joined in Matrimonial Contract by a Gospel-Covenant and Profession to the Son of God Metaphor Parallel BAbylon imports a Body of People that was once united to the Son of God and hence Metaphorically called a Woman And I saw a Woman sit c. And the Woman was arrayed c. And I saw the Woman Drunk c. Rev. 17.3 4 6. ROme Papal or the Church of Rome is a Body a great Body a famous Body of People and which were before their Apostacy a true Church by Gospel-Covenant and Profession united to the Son of God as her publiâ—k Head and Husband Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ To all that be in Rome Rom. 1.6 7. beloved of God called to be Saints Grace be to you and Peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ II. Babylon is a City a very great City so called in a threefold respect Rev. 17.18 18.10 16 18 19 21. 1. In respect of Power 2. In respect of People 3 In respect of Place and Residence where this Power and People is seated Psal 121. Isa 14.31 Acts 19.28 City being indefinitely taken for either of these or comprehending all as in these Instances II. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is a City a very great City so called in a threefold respect 1. In respect of Power which is twofold 1. Civil 2. Ecclesiastical Reâ— 13.1 signified by two Horns like a Lamb. 2. In respect of People which are great in Number 3. In respect of Place and Residence where this Power and great People is seated and indeed it is as worthily called by way of Eminency a City as any Power People or Place in the Christian World because there is nothing so much spoken of or gives sadder occasion to be so much spoken of as Rome in respect of Power People and Place which shall be further cleared by Argument c. The Fame of this People as a Church was great before the Power and chief Dominion of the Place was joined with it as appears Rom. 1.8 First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all that your Faith is spoken of throughout the whole World III. Babylon is not only a Woman and a City but a bad Woman and a City of Confusion for so the Word Babel Gen. 11.1 to 10. or Babylon signifies viz. Evil or Confusion III. Rome Papal or Church of Rome is not
having a Dispensation from Heaven which the Pope keeps the Keys of and fearing no Power on Earth for she hath the Beast the Secular Power under her she sits upon him and rides him and is not only distinct from the Secular Power but above it so as what of the Secular Power is still left at Rome is under the Conduct and Management of the Church there being no Civil Administration of Justice or Exercise of Laws but what is authorized and allowed by his Unholiness the Head and the Cardinals the Shoulders Breasts and Arms of the Church or State Ecclesiastical To make this fully evident the Pope doth not only exercise a Power of appointing Seculars in Rome and near to it but he claims the like Supremacy abroad in the Islands far off If the Secular Princes fall off from him or if they will not be reconciled to him as Head of Holy Church he will excommunicate and depose them and dispose of their Crowns Thrones and Scepters from them That the Pope is a Temporal Prince as well as an Ecclesiastical Bishop i. e. makes Laws exacts Tribute raises Souldiers and acts as a Monarch which fairly affords him the Title of Beast that his Royal Robes Chair he sits in to his very Hose and Shooes with the Vestments of Cardinals is Scarlet no Man can reasonably doubt That what the Civil Power claims and the Ecclesiastical Power exercises are not incorporated or entirely mix'd that the Princely Pope is in the Masculine and his Spouse the Church in the Feminine is owned by all Parties That the Church-State doth sit upon ride and govern the Secular at Rome Italy and all its Territories that the Church of Rome owns that she is no Widow but hath a Head called his Holiness or Supreme Ruler of the Church is so evident that we cannot find them upon any File or Record of Controversy There remains therefore no more to be done at this time but to frame our Argument upon the Premises and leave the Reader to prove the Weight thereof in the Ballance Argument If there be no visible State in the Christian World that doth so apparently sit upon command and govern the Beast or a great Secular Power cloathed with Scarlet Vestments as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Then is Rome Papal or Church of Rome the Whore of Babylon here treated of But there is no visible State in the Christian World that doth so apparently sit upon command and govern the Beast or Secular Power cloathed with Scarlet Vestments as Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome is the Whore of Babylon here treated of To reinforce this Argument we challenge any profest Papists Atheist or any else to shew where any other People or Parties are to whom these Characters agree and then we shall be content to let fall our Argument X. This Beast that Babylon sits upon commands and governs is not only cloathed with Scarlet but is full of the Names of Blasphemy c. Which may be taken in a threefold Sense 1. For reproaching the Name of God 2. For telling Lies in Divine Things 3. For ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to God And tho we will not excuse the Beast from the two former yet for brevity's sake we shall take the latter viz. the ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to Him that saith I am God and my Glory will I not give to another X. Rome Papal or Church of Rome sits upon commands and governs that Beast or Scarlet Power that is not only cloathed with Scarlet Vestments but is full of the Names of Blasphemy which appears by his receiving allowing and encouraging the ascribing that to Creatures which belongs to God and to his Son of which we give you but these Instances 1. When this human sinful and wicked Head is called our Lord God the Pope whether this is not Blasphemy against God 2. When he is called Universal Head of the Catholick Church which none is but Christ 3. When he is called the Lamb of God the Light of the World the Root of David the Lion of the Tribe of Judah whether this is not Blasphemy against the Son of God 4. Whether when the Orders of the Church Oral Tradition the Decrees of Councils are said to be of greater Authority than the Scriptures which they call a Nose of Wax the Hereticks Ink-Rule are perniciously mischievous to the People whether this be not Blasphemy against God that spake and the Word of God spoken 5. When Angels the Virgin Mary and other unknown Saints shall be invocated with Addresses only becoming the Divine Majesty as if these Creatures were infinite and could hear us at so great a distance as is Earth from Heaven which they could not do if perpendicularly over us much less from all parts of the World over which they cannot be whether this ascribing Infiniteness and Adoration to the Creature that is only due to the Creator who is over all God blessed for ever be not Blasphemy 6. To conclude Whether making a God of a piece of Bread and calling the prophane Priest the Maker of the Creature be not ascribing that to the Creature which only belongs to God Is not this the vilest Blasphemy in the World worse if possible than Atheism it self For as Philosophers observe 't is better having no Opinion of God than such an one as is unworthy of Him which we shall close with this Argument Arg. If no People in the Christian World are born up and supported by a Beast full of Names full of such Names or Inscriptions of Blasphemy as Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Then Rome Papal or Church of Rome must be this Babylon treated of But there is no People in the Christian World born up and supported by such a blasphemous Beast as Rome Papal or Church of Rome is Ergo c. To reinforce this Argument let it be considered that none can pretend to fix this Character or Mark upon any Protestant Dissenters from the Church of Rome called Hereticks who have no such Beast to support them nor ascribe such blasphemous Titles or Adoration to any Creature in Heaven or Earth For they acknowledg the one God the Object of Divine Worship one Mediator between God and Man the Lord Jesus and God's sacred Truth to be the only Rule disowning all Principles and Practices contradictory thereunto Ergo 'T is not the Protestant Dissenters from the Church of Rome that are here meant XI Babylon that sits upon a Scarlet-coloured and blasphemous Beast is adorned with great Pomp and outward Glory very well fitting that Spirit that delights in Grandure Rev. 17.4 And the Woman was arrayed in Purple and Scarlet and deck'd with Gold and precious Stones and Pearl having a Golden Cup in her hand full of Abomination and Filthiness of her Fornication Which must be such as none of her Neighbours can match her in else no Note of Distinction XI
Rome Papal or Church of Rome doth not only sit upon a Scarlet-coloured and blasphemous Beast but she is beautified and adorned with great Pomp and outward Glory by which she commends her self to that part of the World that delights in her Gaudery being a Woman whose Worship is filled with detestable Doctrine which she holds forth to them with Pictures and Gallantry of all sorts 1. Look into the holy Patrimony of consecrated Saints there you find Riches and Honour tho not durable Riches and Righteousness 2. Look unto their Garbs and Vestments there you shall find Cardinals like splendid Princes Heads of Parties and Provinces in such Habiliments that for Riches might have become the highest Order of the Jewish Priesthood 3. Look into the Instruments and Mode of their Worship and there you shall find the Altar and Candlesticks the Vessels for Oil and Pots of Purification as if their Predecessors had been at Solomon's Temple and had brought a Pattern from thence and yet in this Gâ—lden Cup or framed Piece of Gallantry there is nothing to be found but foul and adulterated Wine most fitly to be called by the Angel Abomination and Filthiness and the Wine of Fornication Which we conclude with this Argument Arg. If no People in the Christian World hath such Riches and Splendor such Pomp and Gallantry in the Maintenance and Management of their Worship as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath Then Rome Papal must be this gawdy Harlot or Whore of Babylon But there is no People in the Christian World that hath such Riches and Splendor such Pomp and Gallantry in the Maintenance and Management of Religious Worship as Rome Papal or Church of Rome hath Ergo Rome Papal or Church of Rome must be this Whore or well-favoured Harlot treated of The Argument is full and clear and so well fortified that we think it needs no Rere-guard to enforce it and therefore tho it be short and low of Stature we shall leave it amongst our Infantry and draw up our right and left Wings yet further to assault Babylon XII This Woman or City that is thus adorned with outward Pomp and Glory hath upon her Forehead a Name written MYSTERY Rev. 17.5 BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH Which may be true both in a Literal and Mystical Sense the Breeder of Misses Concubines and Whores to gratify the Sensual Appetites of her Letcherous Sons but chiefly in a Mystical Sense she Breeds and brings forth Spiritual Harlots viz. Unclean Communities XII Rome Papal or Church of Rome if she be not concerned here we will acquit her of being Mystery Babylon 1. Here is a Name written in Capital Letters and written so as to be read publickly too 'T is not written upon any part of the Woman that may be hid or covered with a Garment but on that part which is kept bare and is easiest to be seen her Forehead her publick visible and known Parts 2. Here is Babylon or Confusion a mixt Body that is far from that good and pure Order which in Words she pretends 3. Here is Mystery in the case and a great Mystery to a Wonderment even to the surprizing of every wise and thinking Man ver 6. 4. Here is a Mother a Mother of a very spurious Illegitimate and unclean Off-spring Harlots and Abominations many Abominations and great and reigning too Abominations of the Earth i. e. that large Part of the Earth where she is situate and doth reside A little unto each or these as the Time and Space we are limited to will allow A Name upon the Forehead if this were noâ— to be read and seen by most Christians and Professors it would not much concern the Christian World for whom it must be calculated for others that own not the Christian Religion are not in a Capacity to make a Judgment upon the Case for if this Book of the Revelations were not written for the Christian World it leaves us not any Certainty where the case is to be considered and the Matter to be judged Now if it be calculated for the Christian World then it must be upon such a People that is most publick and visible and apparent which agrees to none so fitly as to the Church of Rome which by their own Confession is the most potent and visible in the Christian World for where have the inconsiderable Hereticks so called whose Beings are in Corners such a Name as may be read or known by all or the principal part of the Christian World Now to clear these poor innocent so called Hereticks from being concerned in this Character we imagine at least it cannot refer to them 1. Because they have no Forehead so broad to bear the Inscription which we will engage to make good against any Romanist in the World 2. Because they are so plain and honest a People and their Principles so easily and well known that it is wild and ridiculous to call them Mystery Babylon there neither being any hellish depth nor confusion in what they profess as might be fully evinced by unquestionable Instances for what confusion or hidden thing can be in this that there is one God the Object of Worship one Holy Book called the Bible the Rule of Worship one blessed Kingdom Heaven or World to come the Reward of Worship and all that act Faith Hope and Charity upon these three great Fundamental Principles shall inherit that blessed Kingdom or World to come 3. Because they are so retired and private that had they a Forehead broad enough for the Inscription aforesaid yet they sit so low that Nations cannot easily read it and if we acquit the poor innocent Protestants who must we fix these Characters upon If all Dissenters from the Church of Rome be clear then it must unavoidably be fixed upon Rome her self if any demand for what Reason the Answer is First Because when the Protestants are exempted then there is none left to bear the Inscription but the Church of Rome 2. She hath a Forehead broad enough to bear Mystery and Confusion for there is not a greater hellish depth and Confusion to be found upon any People than upon the Church of Rome as will appear in its place 3. Because the Dissenters with respect to Appearance and the exercise of Power are very small and inconsiderable in comparison of that overgrown monstrous Body of the Church of Rome for to call the Dissenters great and the Church of Rome small is as congruous as to call the Ocean a little Spring and the smallest Brook the Ocean Secondly Babylon Confusion or a mixt Body is far from that pure Order which in Words Rome pretends unto and can by no means agree to the Protestants for they are so strict in their Discipline that they admit of no such mixture that deserves the Name of Confusion they will receive none into their Communion without much Caution and Satisfaction and when received keep them no
to fight against and slaughter his deceived Nations of whom it is said The Lord shall go forth and fight against those Nations Zech. 14. as when he fought in the Day of Battel Which will be so dreadful a Fight or Battel as never yet was fought for Slaughter and Blood and so destroy this vile Person with the Brightness of his Appearance to fulfill 2 Thess 2. and cast him as the Son of Perdition into the burning Flames to fulfill Rev. 19.20 And the Fowls of Heaven shall be filled with their Flesh And here is the Mind that hath Wisdom The Beast that was and is not and yet is is of the seventh Head and is the eighth and goeth into Perdition V. The first Beast or Head of the Caldean Kingdom or Literal Babylon did invade Judea besiege Jerusalem take the City and trample it under foot till raised again by an Edict from the next great King of Persia V. The last Beast or Head of the Roman Kingdom call'd Mystery Babylon doth invade Sion the Gospel-Church hath closely besieged her and block'd up her Privileges and trampled under fâ—ot the holy City for a long space of Time Rev. 11.2 VI. The first Beast or Power of the Caldean Kingdom call'd Literal Babylon did take away the two Olive-Trees that stood before the God of the whole Earth VI. The last Beast or Power of the Roman Kingdom hath taken away or endeavoured to slay the two Witnesses that bore up the Light and Testimony of God to the World VII Caldea or Literal Babylon did set up Image-Worship commanding upon pain of Burning the Worshippers of the true God to fall down Jer. 5.38 Dan. 3.6 It is the Place of graven Images and they are mad upon their Idols And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same Hour be cast into the midst of the burning fiery Furnace VII Rome or Mystery Babylon requires Worship to be given to the Crucifix the Image of the Virgin Mary and other Saints but especially to the Idol of the Mass so that whosoever will not own that most ridiculous Idolatry of a piece of consecrated Bread coming out of the Priest's unhallowed Hands to be their God and Saviour shall be burned at a Stake as many blessed Men and Women young and old were in the Marian Days See Fox 's Acts and Monuments VIII Caldea or Literal Babylon was the Place of Captivity and Spoil for she carried the Servants of God away captive and made a Spoil of their Treasures and rejoiced in so doing Jer. 52.28 29 30. Ezek. 1. Dan. 1. Here we shall find Ezekiel and Daniel and Thousands more in Captivity here we shall find the Spoils of Jerusalem and the Enemy rejoicing in the Spoil Because ye were glad because ye rejoyced at the Destruction ye are grown fat as the Heifers at Grass and bellow as Bulls c. VIII Rome or Mystery Babylon is become the place of Captivity and Spoil for 't is by her Orders Dictates and Influence that the Servants of God have been carried away captive and their Goods and Possessions made a Spoil of in all parts of the Christian World In her Dominions it was where we find John Hus Jerome of Prague the Noble Lord Cobham and thousands more captivated and destroyed 'T is in their Jails we find good Men imprisoned in Popish Countries we find the Inquisition and other cruel Usages For who is it in all the Christian World besides that imprisons spoils and destroys Men for their Religion that persecutes the People of God but the Vassals of this sinful City of Rome Her wicked Sons did not only kill and spoil in Bohemia Piedmont and other Countries but they rejoyced in their horrid Wickedness as appears in the Histories of the Saints Sufferings written by Mr. Fox Mr. Clark Sir Sam. Moreland and others c. IX Caldea or literal Babylon notwithstanding her great Wickedness yet was the most lofty and proud of all Countries besides called the Lady of Kingdoms and the Glory and Beauty of Excellency for which God doth severely threaten her Isa 13.19 Behold I am against thee O thou most Proud saith the Lord God of Hosts Jer. 50.31 For thy Day is come the time that I will visit thee IX Rome or Mystery Babylon notwithstanding her great Crimes and most horrid Wickedness yet hath been the most Proud of any City or People in the Christian World who saith in her Heart I sit a Queen am no Widow shall see no Sorrow for which Haughtiness and Pride of hers the Lord will remember her with Judgment and Severity when he comes to make Inquisition for Blood and avenge upon her the Injury done to Sion Rev. 18.7 How much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much Torment and Sorrow give her c. X. Chaldea or literal Babylon was not only a People of great Pomp Pride and Covetousness but of great Riches and Treasures Thou that dwellest upon many Waters Jer. 50.37 51.13 abundant in Treasures thine end is come the end of thy Covetousness X. Rome or Mystery Babylon is not only a People of great Pomp and Pride arrayed with Purple Scarlet Gold Pearl and precious Stones but she sits upon many Waters is Covetous as well as Proud and full of Treasures and indeed it must needs be so for besides the Gifts that were first given in the time of Constantine as is pretended she hath made a Prey upon Nations a Spoil upon Saints had the Gifts of Kings had vast Revenues setled upon her Orders and Clergy she has peeled the People by selling Pardons and Indulgences raising Peter-Pence and the like so horribly covetous is she that she is not willing any should go to Heaven without the Gift of Money to holy Church by which slight she is grown so exceeding Rich and full of Treasure that she can afford a golden Cup to present her intoxicating Wine in to be clothed with Scarlet deck'd with Gold Pearl and precious Stones she makes the Merchants of the Earth rich that do trade with her she hath indeed as a full answer to her Type Lam. 1.10 stretch'd forth her hand upon all the pleasant things of those Countries and Kingdoms where she hath sate as a Queen XI Caldea or literal Babylon did spoil the meetings of God's People made the Ways of Sion to mourn because Men could not come to the solemn Assemblies Lam. 1.4 The Ways of Sion do mourn because none can come to her solemn Feasts or Assemblies All her Gates are desolate her Priests or Ministers do sigh her Virgins are afflicted and she is in Bitterness c. XI Rome or Mystery Babylon hath spoiled the Meetings of God's People the true Professors of the Religion of the Holy Jesus by driving the Gospel Sion or Church into the Wilderness and oftentimes burning and plucking down their Meeting-Places and persecuting her Ministers driving them into Corners frighting and dispersing their Auditors by Fines Imprisonments
were upon Ephraim Answ 1. One was Strangers had devoured his Strength Their Support and chief Stay that which should uphold comfort and succour them was gone Wicked Men were let in upon them and such who sought to spoil them of their Rights Liberties and Estates or spiritually Sin prevailâ—d strange Lusts had devoured their Strength Hos 2.5 Ephraim was fallen in love with other Lovers his Affection was set upon Strangers Saints should keep their Hearts close to Christ or else the Love of the World will soon steal away their Strength and make them decay in Godliness The Whoredom of Ephraim was doubtless one of those gray Hairs he had upon him 2. The Pride of Ephraim was another gray Hair The Pride of Israel doth testify to his Face and therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their Iniquity Hos 5.5 3. Their Goodness was as the Mâ—rning-Cloud and as the early Dew it passed away Hos 6.4 Which might be another of his gray Hairs By their Goodness doubtless is meant their Goodness and Kindness to God and one towards another They were false-hearted unconstant and fickle like a Morning-Cloud their Words were empty Sounds like Clouds withouâ— Water they dealt treacherously with God and deceitfully with their Brethren 4. They were like a silly Dove without a Heart they let their dearest Enjoiments go like as a silly Dove parts with her Young and did not like the Hen strive to preserve them This might be another of his gray Hairs A Dove is easily caught with a Net so was Ephraim easily ensnared by his Enemies A Dove will keep her Nest tho you take it away and thereby take her captive O how unwilling are some Men to part with their Lusts They will not leave their Sins or Company tho it prove their Ruine They are like the silly Dove 5. The great Things of God's Law were accounted strange Things to Ephraim tho God himself wrote them yet he liked them not but rather derided at them that owned and subjected to them This was another gray Hair Hos 7.8 6. Ephraim was as a Cake not turned he was not through for God he stood halting between two Opinions did not know what Religion to be of Or he was so perverse that tho he lay under heavy Judgments and was ready to be burned on the Coals yet he sought not to prevent the Danger Hâ—s 7.14 and escape the Fire he cried not to God in his Affliction And this was another of his gray Hairs 7. Ephraim was as an empty Vine he brought forth Fruit to himself God received but little from Ephraim all his Labor and Doing was for himself to enrich himself and lay up for himself he cared not for the Interest of God An empty Vine He had Juyce and Sap enough to bring forth Fruit to himself but was barren towards God They cannot spare Time nor have they leisure to wait upon his Service They can't spare Money to further the Interest of Godliness tho they can give two three four or five hundred nay a thousand Pounds to such a Son or such a Daughter and maintain them bravely when some of Christ's Ministers want Bread They love alas their Sons and Daughters more than Christ They are empty Vines they bring forth Fruit to themselves O what a base Spirit and Principle are some Professors of They are like Ephraim And this was another of his gray Hairs Hos 12.1 8. He was broken in Judgment he fed on the Wind and followed after the East Wind He pursued after Vanity and the empty Things of this World And that was another of his gray Hairs Many more I might mention they were indeed thick upon him he was become very gray in Wickedness Inference LEt us take heed we have not gray Hairs upon us and know it not Is not England and the Church of God in England grown here of late gray-headed O what Signs and Symptoms of Ruine are there upon us I will leave you to find them out Where is that Love and Zeal that was once Is not the World got into the very Hearts of Professors Do they not follow after the Wind and pursue the East Wind Are they not like an empty Vine Doth not every one mind his own carnal Interest Have not Strangers devoured our Strength Are we not become like a silly Dove without an Heart Is not Whoredom and Superstition amongst us Doth not our Pride testify against us And is not our Goodness like the Morning-Cloud Where is that Love and Bowels which should be in us towards one another Are not some of the Things yea the great Things of God's Law accounted by us as strange Things Search further and more gray Hairs will appear Are we not divided and broken in Judgment Can a Nation divided against it self long stand Are there not many faithful Ministers snatch'd away in a short time Is not this the Fore-runner of some dismal Calamity Have not we had many fearful Signs in the Heavens And are not the Evening-Wolves come out of their Holes Besides all this let every Soul search and see what gray Hairs he hath upon himself Metaphors Similes AND Other Borrowed TERMS CONCERNING The Devil or Evil Angels The Devil called the God of this World 2 Cor. 4.4 In whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not THE Devil here is called a God not that he is a God either by Nature or hath this name conferred upon him by the Almighty in respect of his Office but rather he is called so in respect of wicked Men who serve and obey him as their God and in whom he rules and works effectually as in his own People and Subjects Properly there is but one God tho there are many who are called Gods yet they are not Gods by Nature I am God and none else Vnto us there is but one God one eternal immense Isa 45.22 infinite and incomprehensible Majesty And this God is either considered Essentially God is a Spirit Joh. 4.24 or else Personally viz. the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit There are three that bear Witness in Heaven c. and these three are one Improperly 1. Idols are called Gods 2. The Ark 1 Sam. 4.7 3. Magistrates I have made the a God to Pharaoh Thou shalt not revile the Gods Exod. 7.1 Exod. 22.28 the Chaldee saith Rab that is a Master the Hebrew Elohim God as Mr. Ainsworth observeth upon the place is attributed to Judges and Magistrates I said ye are Gods these are Gods by Office 4. Satan Psal 82.6 as in this Text who would be look'd upon and worshipped as a God he is properly an Angel once an Angel of Light God created him and before he fell he was a good Angel as other Angels are who kept their first Estate he is called a God but there is one Word that confines his Power and Soveraignty and greatly degrades him limits him
very mysterious so vast a Depth so great a Light so strange a Mystery is this Mystery that God reveals it now a little and then a little Adam had the first Discovery of it The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpent's Head Abraham had more of it made known to him Moses had a greater Revelation of it than the Prophets And then John Baptist who saw more than all that went before him and upon that account was called the greatest Prophet that ever arose amongst them that were born of Women and yet he saw but a little of this great Mystery Luke 7.28 comparatively to what those saw who were in the Kingdom of Heaven viz. the Gospel-Church after the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ 6. That which all the wise Men of the World meerly by all their natural Wisdom Arts and Sciences could never find out nor arrive at the true knowledg of is a great Mystery But all the wise Men of the World meerly by all their Arts and Sciences and human Learning could never arrive to the true knowledg of Christ and real Godliness Ergo the Principles of true Godliness and the Mysteries thereof are out of the reach of meer humane Reason tho not against or contrary to Reason yet they lie above Reason Reason must stoop to Faith in these things The Gospel is called Wisdom as opposite to the Wisdom of Men and the Apostle saith positively That it was Wisdom in such a Mystery that none of the Princes of this World knew Nay the Spirit says one Sydenham jeers all the Learned of the World in this very thing because of their gross Ignorance Where is the Scribe where is the Wise where is the Disputer of this World 1 Cor. 1.20 Hath not God made foolish the Wisdom of this World Verse 18. Hence the Preaching of the Gospel was accounted by the learned Greeks but Foolishness Natural Men may understand natural Religion but true Godliness consists in the Light of Divine Truth and in the Life of Grace God manifesting himself in the Light of Truth and working the Life of supernatural Grace by his Spirit in the Heart True Godliness doth not consist in the Knowledg of the Letter of the Gospel A natural Man may have the historical or notional Knowledg of the Gospel and Christianity he may arrive to the most exact understanding of things as far as Letters and Words can express them that is he may know the true sence and meaning of things in the Gospel according to what either the History or Tenor of such Words will import and know the Grammatical Sence of Words better than many true Christians But this is not the spiritual and true Knowledg of Religion and Godliness for that consists in the saving and experimental Knowledg of God and Jesus Christ The Mystery of the Gospel and Power of Godliness is the Discovery of God's Glory in it self and the working of it gloriously in the Soul it lies not in the bare Expression or Knowledg of Words nor in the external Form of Profession of these Words but it lies in the Divine Glory of God which is wrapt up in these Words and the gracious Conformity Disposition and Affections of the Soul to these things 'T is an easy matter to confess Jesus Christ to be the Son of God and to read the Scriptures to pray c. but to see the Mystery of that Glory which is in this that Christ is God's Son and to have the powerful Influences of it upon the Heart whereby the Soul is brought into the Image or Likeness of Christ's Death and Resurrection this is a Mystery 7. That which the most wise and knowing in the same Art or Mystery can reach or understand but part of must needs be a great Mystery As suppose a School-master nay the ablest in the World who professes to know and teach such or such an Art or Mystery is forced to confess he sees and knows but little of it or sees but in part 't is so hard and difficult to find out all would conclude that Art or Science was a Mystery indeed But so it is here for the holy Apostles who had as great a knowledg of these Mysteries as any ever had in the World nay we may modestly conclude a greater yet they declare they knew but in part and saw but in part they saw comparatively but a little way into these Mysteries For we know but in part Now we see through a Glass darkly 1 Cor. 13.9 12. Now I know in part Ergo These are great Mysteries 8. That which the holy Angels desire to pry into nay look into with the greatest Earnestness and Desire imaginable and are contented the better to understand to learn of the Church and yet when all is done do admire and stand as it were astonished at is a great Mystery But the Angels do pry into these Mysteries with the greatest earnestness and are contented to learn of the Church that they may the better or more fully understand them and after all stand and wonder to behold the Depth of this Grace of this Love and the Strangeness of this Mystery Ergo the Gospel or Doctrine of Godliness is a great Mystery Now to make this Argument good pray consider these Texts of Scripture 1 Pet. 1.12 Which things the Angels desire to look into The word desire signifies the utmost coveting or longing after a thing which a Man cannot be without Desire to look into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Word signifies bowing down to pry heedfully and narrowly into a Thing 1. The Angels are greatly taken with this Mystery with this Grace and Love in Jesus Christ manifested to fallen Man they look and pry into it Exod. 25.20 according as it was typified of them by the placing of the Cherubims looking down towards the Mercy-Seat 2. That they are content to learn of the Church see Eph. 3.10 To the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in heavenly Places might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God 3. That they after all stand as it were amazed and wonder at these Depths see 1 Tim. 3.16 Seen of Angels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is not meant of a bare Sight but a Sight which astonishes the Understanding and takes up the Heart He was seen with admiration and wonderment Thus Dr. Sibbs 9 That which the glorified Saints shall admire when they arrive to a perfect Knowledg must needs be a great Mystery But the glorified Saints shall admire at the Mystery of this Grace and Love in the Day of Christ nay it will be the matter of their wonder to all Eternity See 2 Cor. 1.10 Therefore the Doctrine of Godliness is a great Mystery 10. This will be further manifest by considering wherein the greatness of this Mystery doth consist First Now the Mystery of Godliness principally consists in the Person of Christ God manifest in the Flesh 1 Cor. 2.2
to Honour and Exaltation is to be abased and suffer our selves to be trod upon this is opened also in the Person and Life of Christ To enjoy God's Favour is first to bear his seeming Frowns And many such like Mysteries there are in Godliness Fifthly There is a Mystery in Ordinances which those who follow this Trade should understand a Mystery in Baptism a Mystery in the Lord's Supper But these things I cannot enlarge upon for want of Room Vse 1. Let all take heed they do not slight or reproach these Mysteries 2. Let them not think to understand them in their own fleshly Wisdom 3. Let them labour to get the Power and Operation of them upon their Hearts and then they will esteem them and say there is a Truth in what we affirm and teach VI. He that would drive a Trade to gain by it or thrive upon it must follow it closely he must make it his chief Business nothing will be done in it to purpose without diligence So every Christian who would gain by the Trade of Godliness must keep close to it he must follow it day and night and manage it wisely throughout all his other Affairs Godliness must be followed without intermission it must be every day's Work the Head Heart Hands Feet Time Strength Discourse Contrivance must be taken up about it No Man can thrive in Godliness if his Heart be not in it When thy Hand is in the World thy Heart should be in Heaven VII He that drives a Trade with discretion must take heed he runs not too far in debt and that â—e keeps his Books carefully or else he may soon run out of all So must a Christian take heed he run not far in debt Debts will be contracted In many things we offend all But be sure to see these Debts paid left the Creditor come on a sudden upon thee If any Man sin we have an Advocate c. Renew Repentance every day 1 John 2.3 and labour after fresh Acts of Faith keep thy Accounts even with God observe the Mercies thou receivest from him and be sensible of thy Faults and Miscarriages VIII There is no Man that follows a great Trade but ought to see he hath a Stock sufficient to trust he that cannot trust in some Callings shall have but a poor Trade So every Christian must be careful to get a good Stock of Faith and Experience for if a Saint cannot trust God he will never make any Earnings of Godliness It is true it behoves a Trader to take heed whom he trusteth so it behoveth a Christian he must not trust his own Heart nor in his own Righteousness nor put too much confidence in Princes We can never trust Men too little nor God too much IX A Man that would follow a Trade to Advantage must be much at home and keep his Shop and as the Proverb is his Shop will keep him but he that is more abroad than at home will soon come to Beggery So a Saint must be much at home and keep his own Heart well Some Professors are more abroad spying Faults in other Men than they are in taking notice of their own X. A Man that drives a Trade ought to take heed he go not behind-hand and instead of getting lose by his Trading So ought a Saint to take heed he go not backwards instead of going forwards and lose instead of gaining Thou hast lost thy first Love Remember from whence thou art fallen Rev. 2. and repent XI Some Men trade upon other Mens Stocks as Factors Stewards c. And such Traders are Christians they trade upon Christ's Stock they regulate their Affairs by Christ's Advice they drive on Christ's Interest All that Saints have is their Master's Money and it behoveth them so to lay it out that it may bring in the most Increase Remember all your Graces Gifts and Temporal Goods too are the Lord 's XII Some Trades require great Layings out and if a Man is sparing in his Layings out he must expect his Comings in will be accordingly Sâ— the Trade of Godliness requires great Layings out A Christian who will not lay out his Strength Time and Parts and what he hath for God will never grow rich in Faith and Godliness XIII Quick Returns are the Life of a Trade and animate a Man in his Calling and Business exceedingly So quick Returns do enliven and greatly encourage a Christian when he finds God answers his Prayers Isa 65.24 as the Promise runs Whilst they speak I will answer â— XIV Some Men grow very rich by a Trade So some Christians grow very rich in Faith and Experience by Godliness See City of God pag. 82 83. Inferences THis may inform the Saints what they undertake when they enter upon the Work and Business of Godliness they must look upon it as their chief and principal Calling II. How are many Men deceived They pursue the World as their chief Business and mind Religion and Godliness when they have nothing else to do III. Be exhorted O Christian to follow thy Calling dost thou want Motives 1. Consider 't is an honourable and ancient Trade Christ Jesus himself was of this Profession Godliness was his chiefest Business all the Saints and Worthies of old followed this Calling Prov. 3.14 2. 'T is the best Trade and Calling in the World For the Merchandise thereof is better than the Merchandise of Silver and the Gain thereof than fine Gold Heavenly Things are rare Things Things of great worth 1. They cost deaâ— viz. the Price of Christ's most precious Blood 2. They are durable Riches 3. O what precious Things are Pardon of Sin Peace with God Union and Communion with God! What a rare Thing is Heaven Is not a Crown worth Trading for 3. Consider who you trade with and that is the great God through Jesus Christ 4. You have a faithful Correspondent one that ever lives to make Intercession for you 5. You have your Goods upon easy Terms Ask and you shall receive Come buy Wine and Milk without Money Isa 55.1 and without Price 1 Tim. 6.6 4.8 6. 'T is the most profitable Trade Godliness with Contentment is great Gain 'T is profitable to all things having the Promise of the Life that now is and of that which is to come Metaphors Similes c. CONERNING Providence and Affliction Afflictions compared to Clouds Psal 97.2 Clouds and Darkness are round about him c. Joel 2.2 A Day of Clouds c. Lam. 2.1 How hath the Lord covered the Daughter of Sion with a Cloud in his Anger CLouds are a moist Vapour exhaled from the Earth and Sea by the Sun and condensated by the Cold in the middle Region and carried by the Winds up and down called the Bottles of Heaven which God saith one doth fill with Wine and Vineger with Mercy or Wrath. By Clouds and Darkness are meant Afflictions and dark Providences under which God often times
present State Ways Worships and Pollutions of the World c. Parallels A Wilderness is commonly a waste wild and barren Place some of which are of a vast Bigness This World is of a vast bigness and very barren of Grace and Holiness II. A Wilderness abounds with Briars and Thorns So doth the World with wicked and ungodly Men who are compared to Thorns and Briars III. In a Wilderness are many wild and devouring Beasts so that 't is dangerous to dwell in it or pass through it So this World abounds with cruel and unmerciful Men who are called Wolves Lions Bears Dogs Dragons c. by which means God's People are always exposed to great Trouble and Danger whilst they remain therein IV. In a Wilderness a Man may soon lose his Way and wander up and down So whilst Men abide in this World they are subject to go astray and wander from the Path of of Peace and Righteousness and therefore have great need of a Guide V. In a Wilderness commonly grow Trees of divers sorts some good and some evil So in the World are Men both good and bad righteous and wicked VI. In a howling Wilderness a Wall of Fire is exceeding necessary to preserve from wild and ravenous Beasts God upon this account is said to be a Wall of Fire to his People whilst they remain in this World amongst the Sons of Belial See Wall of Fire Vol. 1. p. 76 77. Zech. 2.5 VII In a Wilderness there is no tilling sowing nor planting So in the common Field of this World there grows little or nothing but what the carnal and natural Hearts of Sinners bring forth VIII A Wilderness is a solitary and dolesom Place so is this World to a godly Man The World compared to a Field Mat. 13.38 The Field is the World Parallels THe Field is a broad Place So is the World II. In a Field grows Wheat and Tares good and evil Seed So in this World there are good and evil Men Saints and Sinners which God would have grow together like the Wheat and Tares until the Harvest III. What is set or sowed or comes up naturally in a Field ripens for Harvest So the Godly and the Ungodly whilst they remain in the common Field of this World ripen for the spiritual Harvest IV. In a Field Flowers and other precious Things oft-times receive much detriment from Enemies evil Beasts and many other ways So the Godly whilst they remain in this World receive great Hurt from Satan wicked Men and from the Corruptions and Evils of their own Hearts V. Part of a Field an Husband-man separates sometimes from the rest to make a Garden Orchard or Vineyard of So God the good Husband-man hath taken a little Part or Parcel of the Sons of Men from the rest to be a peculiar People to himself The End of the World compared to Harvest Mat. 13.39 The Harvest is the End of the World WHen the Harvest is ripe 't is cut down the Husband-man sends Reapers into the Field So when all the Elect are ripe for Heaven and Wickedness is grown to full Maturity so that ungodiy Ones are all ripe for Hell the End of the World will come and then God will send Reapers into the Field which are the holy Angels and they will cut down and gather out of the Field all Things that offend and them that do Iniquity II. At the Harvest the Reapers divide between the good and evil Grain they bind up the Wheat by it self and the Tares by themselves c. So shall these spiritual Reapers do they shall gather all the Elect like Wheat into God's Garner and bind up the Tares into Bundles to be burned III. The Husband-man waits with much patience for the Harvest So God Almighty patiently waits bearing and forbearing with wicked Men until the End of the World Disparity When Harvest is all housed the Husband-man presently tills and prepares his Ground again designing to sow more Seed But when this Harvest is all come home and housed God the good Husband-man will not till plow or sow the Field of the World any more no more Gospel to be preached nor Graces or Gifts to be distributed when this Harvest is ended Of the Life of Man The Life of a Man compared to a swift Post Job 9.25 Now my Days are swifter than a Post c. Parallels A Post rides swiftly he makes haste So the Life of Man or Time of a Man's Life swiftly passeth away II. A Post ought to make no stay So the Days of Man's Life stay not the Hour-Glass of Time runs continually and never stands still A Post saith my Author is an excellent Emblem of Time Caryl There are many Considerations in Post-riding which shews how exceeding speedy Time must be to which it is here compared 1. A Post rides upon fleet or speedy Horses 2. He rides his Horses upon their speed A Man may have speedy Horses and go softly but a Post spurs on 3. A Post hath Change of Horses at every Stage that so he may keep upon the speed 4. He hath Horses standing ready for change they are not to fetch out of the Field or to be made ready when he comes to his Stage it is but leaping into the Saddle and away 5. He that rides Post makes no long Meals much less Feasts he takes a Bit and is gone 6. He lies not long in Bed he scarce goes to Bed till he comes to his Way 's end 7. A Post hath extraordinary Pay for his Service and that to cause him to make the more speed 8. Sometimes he rides upon pain of Death with a Halter about his Neck no Man will loiter when his Life lies on 't 9. All give way to him that rides Post he must not be hindred 10. He stays not to salute much less like other Travellers to gaze and view the Country Towns Buildings Gardens by or through which he passeth All these Things laid together evince that a Post makes great speed yet saith Job My Days are swifter than a Post A Post may by one means or another be stayed but the Days of Man's Life stay not The Post may stay whilst he changes Horses c. But the Chariot of Time viz. the Sun stayeth not to change Horses The Sun is the Measure of Time and that makes no Stop hath no Stage or Baiting-place The Life of Man compared to a swift Ship Job 9.26 They are passed away as the swift Ships or as the Ships of Ebeth SOme understand by Ebeth the Name of a River in the Eastern Part of the World about Arabia near the Place where Job lived that runs very swiftly which adds to the swift Motion of a Ship that sails in it A Ship in a dead Water having the Wind blowing rightly and briskly runs apace but if it hath a swift Stream besides it runs the faster 2. Others take the Word not as a proper Name but as signifying Desire from Abab
in the Body but he could not tell whether the Soul acted with his bodily Organs or without them He had mighty Operations in his Soul his Spirit wrought strangely and then took in such Revelations of God and from God as his bodily Organs could never fashion into Words or represent by Speech He heard quae fando explicari à quoquam homine non possunt unspeakable Words Beza which it is not lawful or possible for a Man to utter The Soul hath an Ear to hear such Words that the Body cannot find a Tongue to express So John in his divine Ravishment saith I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day as for his Body that was as to that Business laid aside and suspended as useless in that Day and his Spirit called up to that angelical Work viz. the receiving of Visions and Revelations from on high c. Now as the Souls of good Men whilest they are in this World in Sleep and in Trances or Ecstasies are capable of such glorious Ravishments c. So when their Bodies dy or fall asleep their Souls are with Christ in Heaven and the Souls of the Wicked they go into Chains of Darkness Torment Luk. 16.22 2◠and Misery The rich Man died and was buried and in Hell he lift up his Eyes being in Torment III. Sleep is not perpetual we sleep and wake again So tho the Body lie in the Grave yet Death is but a Sleep as it were the Man will awake and rise again IV. The going to sleep and sleeping of some Men greatly differs from others So the Death of the Saints greatly differs from the Death of the Wicked 1. In the Preparation the one makes to go to rest over what the other doth Some go to sleep before their Work is done So some die before their Work is done As no Saint dies before his Work is done So there is no wicked Person that dies but he dies or goes to sleep before his Work is done This is our Working-day when the Sun of our Life is set no more Work can be done The Time comes saith Christ when no Man can work All a Godly Man's Care is to be ready when Night comes to go to rest But the Wicked take little Thought about it 2. Some Men fall asleep in an hurry of Business and in great Distraction when others in a sweet Manner lay their Heads down upon their Pillows So some wicked Men die in great Distraction and under sad Horrour of Conscience when many a Godly Man dies in a sweet and heavenly Manner declaring to all he hath nothing to do but to die 3. Some Men dread the Thoughts of going to sleep for that it is dangerous in some Cases for some Persons to sleep So some wicked Men dread the Thoughts of Death like him who cryed out I am so sick I cannot live and so sinful that I am afraid to die But most Godly Men are delivered from the Fear of Death they go willingly to Bed Luk. 2.29 Now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace c. Saints are many times willing to go to rest because they are quite wearied out 1. Sin wearies them and even wares them out and makes them groan 2. The World wearies them and makes them willing to go to Bed Eccl. 5.12 3. The Devil the God of this World wearies them with his Temptations 4. Their bodily Weaknesses and disquieting Pains wearie them 5. The Absence of Christ also makes them willing to go home 4. Some Men fall asleep in a dangerous Place nay and sometimes in the midst of their Enemies So wicked Men die in a dangerous Place being far from God and out of the Covenant of Grace and besides are surrounded about with evil Angels who stand ready to devour their Souls But a godly Man falls asleep in Jesus O that 's a sweet Place to sleep in 1. He sleeps in the view of Jesus Christ knows his Grave and will preserve his Dust 2. He falls asleep in the Love of Jesus 3. He falls asleep in the Covenant of Jesus I am the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. 5. Some Mens Sleep is much more sweet and comfortable than others as we shewed before some Mens Sleep is very troublesom their Spirits are troubled So the Death of the Godly is sweet they have Peace and heavenly Joy being with Christ but the Death of the Wicked is troublesom their Spirits being in Torment whilst the Body lies in the Grave I might also shew you the great Difference there shall be in the awaking of the one and the other but that I will leave to its proper place V. A Man that is asleep taking his natural Rest may be easily awakened and called up by the Power of Man So the Body when it is dead can with infinitely more ease be raised up by the Power of God 't is but a Call from Heaven and we are awakened out of the Dust The Day is coming when all that are in the Grave shall hear his Voice and come forth c. John 5.28 Inferences WHat a blessed Condition are Believers in They are not only happy whilst they live but shall be blessed when they die their Bodies have not only quiet Rest but their Souls also rest in Peace and Quiet 2. It may stir up all Christless Souls to labour after an Interest in the Lord Jesus for if they are not in Christ whilst they live they are not like to fall asleep in Christ when they die 3. We may learn also from hence what little ground there is for a godly Man to be unwilling to die when his Work is done Are any unwilling to go to sleep at Night that have laboured hard all Day 4. Let us labour hard whilst the Day lasts whilst we have Health and Life that we may have done our Work and be ready to go to sleep Death a Departure Phil. 1.23 Having a desire to depart c. WE at Death leave one Place to go to another If godly we depart from our Place here on Earth and go to Heaven we depart from our Friends on Earth and go to our Friends in Heaven we depart from the Valley of Tears and go to the Mount of Joy we depart from an howling Wilderness to go to an heavenly Paradise Who would be unwilling to exchange a Sodom for a Sion an Egypt for a Canaan Misery for Glory Death a Rest Rev. 14.13 And I heard a Voice from Heaven saying unto me Write Blessed are the Dead which die in the Lord from henceforth Yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their Labours and their Works do follow them Parallels REst is a desirable Thing to a labouring Man Paul desired to die Death or to depart was greatly desirable in his Sight II. Rest is sweet and therefore desirable to a weary Man So will Death be to a poor weary Saint one that is weary of Sin weary of the World weary of the Temptations
Frâ—edom for a Life attended with manifold Temptations Disparity OTher Crowns I mean earthly Crowns are corruptible This Crown is incorruptible II. Other Crowns are attended with many Sorrows Troubles and Perplexities c. But this Crown is attended with no such thing for the condiâ—ion of the Heirs of this never-fading Crown will be so joyful that look outwardly there is Joy in the Society Heb. 12.22 if inwardly there is Joy in their own Felicity 1 Cor 2.9 Look forward there is Joy in the Eternity of it 1 Pet. 5.10 So that on every side they shall be even swallowed up of Joy Isa 35.10 Oh! the transcendency of that Paradise of Pleasure where is Joy without Heaviness or Interruption Peace without Perturbation Blessedness without Misery Light without Darkness Health without Sickness Beauty without Blemish Abundance without Want Ease without Labour Satiety without Loathing Liberty without Restraint Security without Fear Glory without Ignominy Knowledg withâ—ut Ignorance Eyes without Tears Hearts without Sorrow Souls without Sin Where shall be no Evil heard of to affright them nor Good wanting to chear and comfort them they shall have what Good they desire and desire nothing but what is good their Promises shall end in Performances Faith in Sight and clear Vision Hope in Fruition and Possession Yea Time it self shall be swallowed up in Eternity To sum up all in a few Words there is no Joy here comparable to that in Heaven all our Mirth here to that is but Pensiveness all our Pleasures here to that is but Heaviness all our Sweetness here to that is but Bitterness Even Solomon in all his Glory and Royalty to that was but as a Spark in the Chimny to the Sun in the Firmament yea how little how nothing are the poor and temporary enjoyments of this Life to those that the Heirs of Promise shall enjoy in the Life that is to come III. Other Crowns fade away the Prince is in a moment gone from that or that is gone from him But this Crown abideth It is incorruptible and undefiled and fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for you c. 1 Pet. 1.4 IV. Other Crowns are gotten many times by Usurpation But the Saints shall have the Crown in a just and righteous way 't is a Crown of Righteousness of which Saints are true and lawful Heirs this Crown is purchased for them by Christ and given to them by the free Donation of the Father besides they are born Heirs to it by the Spirit If Children then Heirs Heirs of God and Joint-Heirs with Christ c. Rom. 8.17 Inferences WE may infer from hence that God's Children are not such Fools as they are accounted by the Ungodly World they have made a good Choice in preferring Heaven above Earth What 's the Glory of this World to the World to come Yea Paradise or the Garden of Eden was but a Wilderness compared with this Paradise And indeed if the Gates of the City be of Pearl and the Streets of Gold what then are the Inner Rooms and Lodging Chambers of the Great Monarch of Heaven and Earth at whose right Hand are Pleasures for evermore II. Let not the Saints grow weary nor faint in their Minds when Heirs of a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away methinks they may be contented to undergo some Troubles in this Life since by suffering these things for Christ's sake they shall be crowned with Glory Honour and Everlasting Life They shall receive the Crown of Life c. Jam. 1.12 Of Hell Hell a Furnace of Fire the Place of the Damned Mat. 13.42 And shall cast them into a Furnace of Fire there shall be wailing and gnashing of Teeth WE are now drawing towards a Conclusion it remains only that we speak something concerning Hell which is the Place prepared for the Damned the Torment of whom is set forth by Fire by a Furnace of Fire and by utter Darkness It hath been a long and ancient Controversy whether Fire here is to be taken Properly or Figuratively I shall not undertake to determine whether it be real Fire or not Doubtless the Torment of the Wicked will be worse than 't is to be cast into any Furnace of Elementary Fire The Schoolmen affirm that the least Torture in Hell exceeds the greatest that can be devised by all the Men on Earth even as the least Joy of Heaven surpasseth the greatest Comforts of this World c. There is scarce any Pain here on Earth but there is some hope of Ease Mitigation or Intermission but in Hell their Torments are easeless endless remediless and they themselves left hopeless helpless and pittyless However we will run a Parallel between a Furnace of Fire and the Place of the Damned for in some things there is a fit Resemblance Parallels A Furnace of Fire hath been prepared as a place of Torment the King of Babylon caused a Furnace to be heat exceeding hot and that whosoever would not bow down to his Golden Image should be cast unto it Hell is a place of Torment prepared for all Wicked and Ungodly Men Rev 21.8 who live and dye in their Sins II. A Furnace of Fire that is heated exceeding hot is very terrible and amazing to him who for his wicked Deeds is told he must be cast therein So Hell is a very terrible and an amazing thing to think upon how lamentable is the Thoughts of it to a guilty Sinner that is awakened that sees no Remedy but thither he must go III. What Torment can be greater than to be cast into a burning fiery Furnace So what Torments can be greater than the Torments of Hell Disparity A Fiery Furnace tho terrible and painful yet it puts an end to the Lives of those that that are thrown into it and the hotter it is the sooner it dispatcheth them out of their pain But the Torments of Hell put no end to the tortured neither can the Damned die but have an ever-dying Life and an everlasting Death it is a Death which hath no Death The Worm dyeth not II. The Torment of a Fiery Furnace can reach but the outward Man it cannot destroy the Soul But the Torments of Hell reach to the very Soul called the Perdition or Destruction of Ungodly Men both of Soul and Body III. The hottest Furnace in the World may abate its heat for want of Fuel and at length be wholly extinguished however its Terrors and Pains are but short and momentary But the tormenting Fire of Hell never abates its heat nor ever goeth out therefore called everlasting Fire now to add Eternity to Extremity and then you will perceive Hell to be Hell indeed IV. Other Fire may be quenched But the Fire of God's Wrath or Hell Fire shall nevâ—r be quenched Vt supra Inference THat as there is no greater cause of magnifying Christ than for Redemption-Mercy and so of Joy unspeakable and full of Glory So there is no greater cause of Sorrow and intolerable Misery than
to live and dye in Sin and so to be cast both Body and Soul into Hell Fire O! what an alarm may those two Scriptures among many sound in the Ears of Wicked and Ungodly Men Be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolaters nor Adulterers not Effeminate nor Abusers of themselves with Mankind nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Raylers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 10. But whither then must they go See Rev. 21.8 But the Fearful and Vnbelieving and the Abominable and Murderers and Whoremongers and Sorcerers and Idolaters and all Lyers shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone which is the second Death Hell utter Darkness Mat. 8.12 Shall be cast into utter Darkness Jude v. 13. To whom is reserved the blackness of Darkness for ever AS the Torment and Misery of the Ungodly is set forth by a Furnace of Fire so 't is also by Darkness utter Darkness and blackness of Darkness as the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth Parallels GOD sometimes hath brought Darkness upon a People as a great Judgment for Sin and Rebellion against him So God in just Judgment will cast the Wicked into Darkness into a burning Furnace of Fire but such Fire as shall give no Light therefore called utter Darkness II. Where there is Darkness either by want of Light or want of Sight to see the Light there cannot be any comfortable Enjoyment of any visible Object that might afford them Satisfaction and Content as it doth those that enjoy the Light So to be cast into Darkness nay utter Darkness not only such Darkness that is a deprivation of Light or occasioned by want of Sight but a Darkness of Terror and Torment reserved for Wicked and Ungâ—dly Men called the blackness of Darkness For as the Glory of Heaven shall abound beyond all comparison with glorious Light called the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Col. 1. So the Horrors and Terrors of Hell will consist in that abounding Darkness beyond all comparison III. As to be shut up in Spiritual Darkness is a separation from God as to his Presence in a way of Grace So to be shut up in the thickness and blackness of the darkness of Hell is an eternal separation from God and the enjoyment of him for ever when once he shall say Depart from me there is a separation from all Joy and Happiness Ye cursed there is a black and direful Excommunication into Fire there is the Extremity of pain everlasting there is the Perpetuity of the Punishment prepared for the Devil and his Angels there are the Infernal tormenting and tormented Company And to encrease the horror and amazement of the Damned this Fire shall only torment them not give them any Light but they shall be cast out into utter Darkness where shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Disparity WHen God brings Darkness upon a Land as he did upon Egypt as an Judgment it hath been but for a while a certain time and after there hath been Light again but those that shall be cast out in the Darkness of the Pit of Hell shall never see Light more neither Spiritual Natural nor Artificial As there will be no need of the Sun nor Stars in Heaven So the Damned shall not have any Benefit thereby whatever their Needs and Necessities are II. Men may be in Darkness spiritually and they may be enlightned and saved through Grace but to be cast out into the dark and dismal Gulf of Hell it totally and everlastingly deprives of any use of Means for enlightning any more for ever Gospel-Light shines not at all in that dark and dismal Region because they hated the Light thereof in this World they must now be cast out into utter Darkness in the World to come III. Men may be in Darkness and yet enjoy many other Comforts tho they be deprived of Light But the Damned in Hell are not only in black and thick Darkness but are also deprived of any other Comfort As they see nothing but Darkness so they hear nothing but dismal Screeches and amazing dreadful Crys and gnashing of Teeth IV. Men may be naturally Blind or shut up in a dark Dungeon and yet may have much of the Presence of God with them But the Damned that are in the blackness of Darkness that is the Darkness of Hell shall utterly be deprived of the comfortable Presence of God As they said to God depart from us So are they separated with a Depart ye from me ye cursed into everlasting Fire or into the blackness of Darkness for ever Inferences HOw might this awaken Sinners and be a means to turn them from Spiritual Darkness to Light and from Satan the Prince of Darkness to God Oh! that these closing direful and amazing Lines might turn many to Righteousness to believe repent and obey the Gospel before the Lord Jesus come in flaming Fire rendring Vengeance upon all that know not God nor obey the Gospel II. How just will the Condemnation of such rebellious Sinners be who will neither be drawn by the tenders of Mercy and Salvation to Jesus Christ and of an enjoyment of Heaven through him nor be deterred from their sinful Course by all the threatned Judgments nay tho it extend to Hell it self to the Fire of Hell to the blackness of Darkness for ever Oh! were there not Eternity written upon the Gate of the broad way that leads to Destruction the Damned might have some hope tho it were not till hundreds of thousands of Millions of Years were expired But O Sinners when once this dark dismal Dungeon hath shut its Mouth upon you and you come with the Devil and his Angels to lie therein you can never come out more never see Light more never have ease from intollerable Torment more no Father Husband Wife c. can come to light so much as a Candle or dip the tip of a Finger in Water to cool your Tongue III. Let the Redeemed of the Lord rejoyce and magnify the God of their Salvation who hath given them good hope through Grace that they are delivered from Wrath to come by being called out of Spiritual Darkness into Christ's marvellous Light and by him have escaped that dreadful Doom of being cast out into utter Darkness Moses's Vail removed OR A TREATISE OF TYPES Adam a Type of Christ Rom. 5.14 Death reigned from Adam to Moses even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's Transgression who is the Figure of him that was to come Parallels ADam had no Father but God So Christ likewise had no Father but God They were both in an especial manner called the Sons of God the one by Creation the other by eternal Generation II. Adam was made Heir of the World Chriâ—â— is Heir of all Things not only of this World but of that which is to come III. Adam was a common or publick Person representing all his Seed or natural Off
spring hence his Sin is charged upon his whole Posterity By Adam 's Sin were many made Sinners c. Christ the secâ—nd Adam Rom. 5.12 14. is a common or publick Person representing all his true Seed or spiritual Off-spring So that as Adam's in was imputed to all his Children Verse 19. so is Christ's Righteousness imputed to all his Children through Faith The first Adam merited Death for his Seed the second Adam merited Life for his Seed Noah a Type of Christ Parallels NOah was a Saviour nay in a good sence the Saviour of the World for it was through him and by his Means and Righteousness there was a Seed preserved from the Floâ—d c. Christ is a Saviour the great Saviour the only Saviour of the World hence called Jesus II. Noah was a Preacher of Righteousness and invited Sinners to Repentance Christ was a Preacher of Righteousness and came on purpose to call Sinners to Repentance Noah's Ministry was despised by the Ungodly so was the Preaching and Ministry of Jesus Christ by the unbelieving Jews and others Those that refused and rebelled against Noah and his Ministry were destroyed by Water and those that refuse and rebell against Christ shall be destroyed by Fire III. Noah built an Ark So Christ builds his Church 2. Noah built the Ark according to the Commandment of God So Christ in building his Church did every thing according to the Commandment received from his Father 3. Noah took many Trees to build the Ark So Christ takes many Believers called Trees of Righteousness to build his Church IV. Some clean and some unclean Beasts were received into Noah's Ark So some holy and sanctified Persons and some unsanctified Ones are received into Christ's Church tho not by Christ's Appointment V. All that were not received into the Ark perished So all who get not spiritually by Faith into Jesus Christ or are not true Members of the visible or invisible Church shall be damned and perish eternally VI. Noah's Ark was toss'd upen the rough Waves and yet was preserved So the Church of Christ is toss'd upon the rough Waves of a tempestuous World and yet preserved VII Noah was the great Repairer of the World from him descended all the Inhabitants of the Earth Christ is the great and glorious Repairer of the World and from him proceed all the Inhabitants of Heaven VIII Noah sent a Dove out of the Ark to see whether or no the Waters were abated who returned with an Olive-Branch in her Mouth So Christ sends forth the Spirit called a Dove or in the likeness of a Dove who brings Tidings to believing Souls that the Wrath of God is appeased c. Melchisedeck a Type of Christ Heb. 7.3 Made like unto the Son of God c. Parallels THe Notation of his Name Melchisedeck signifieth King of Righteousness Christ Jesus is the only King of Righteousness II. In his Office he was a Type of Christ 1. He was King of Salem King of Peace Isa 9.6 So Christ was called the Prince of Peace not only a peaceable Prince but Prince of Peace one that commands Peace at his Pleasure in the World in the Church and in the Souls of Men. 2. Christ is not only Prince of the World but peculiarly Prince of Salem Prince of Jerusalem viz. the true Church of God 3. Melchisedeck was not only a King but also a Priest yea a Priest of the Most High God So Christ is both King and Priest III. Melchisedeck was a Type of Christ in his Original Without Father without Mother without Descent Heb 7.3 having neither Beginning of Days nor End of Life That is there is no mention of these things concerning him in the holy Scripture we have not his Genealogy or Story of his Life tho none doubt but he had both Father and Mother and Descent c. But God on purpose would have all these concealed that he might be a more express Type of Christ who was truly without Father in respect of his Manhood or human Nature and without Mother Isa 53. in respect of his Godhead And who can declare his Generation c. IV. Melchisedeck blessed Abraham and doubtless the lesser is blessed of the greater he was a most eminent and renowned Person Some do conclude he was the Patriarch Shem who was without beginning of days in respâ—ct of the World after the Flood and without end of days in respect of the World before the Flood but since God hath concealed who he was let us be satisfied But in this doubtless he was a Type of Christ who is greater than all that went before him great in Power Office and Sovereignty and is sent to bless his People 't is he alone that blesseth all the true Seed and Heirs of Promise V. Melchisedeck was a Priest not after the Order of Aaron he was not anointed with material Oil nor received his Priesthood from any other but only so declared by the Mouth of God His Priesthood passed not to other Men for as he received it from none so he passed it not to any other nor did any as we read of succeed him So Christ received his Priesthood from none but God himself and was not anointed with material Oil but with the Oil of Gladness only And as he received his Priesthood from none so he passeth it not to any other He hath none that can succeed him but abideth a Priest for ever in his own Person in Heaven Abraham a Type of Christ Parallels ABram and Abraham signify an high Father and a Father of a Multitude So is Christ an high and heavenly Father called the everlasting Father Father of all the Faithful c. II. To Abraham and to his Seed was the Promise made So to Christ and to his true Seed is the Promise made Guild Heb. 9.13 III. Abraham was King Priest and Prophet in his own Family So is Jesus Christ in his Church IV. Abraham put Hagar and Ishmael out of his House Gal. 4. So Jesus Christ cast out the Legal Covenant and fleshly Seed out of his Church Hagar being a Figure of the one and Ishmael of the other V. Abraham is called the Heir of the World Jesus Christ is so most properly and truly Rom. 4.13 Isaac a Type of Christ Parallels ISaac was the Son of Abraham the Father of the Faithful a promised Seed long before he was born and so strange was his Birth that tho he was born by the Stâ—ength of Nature yâ—t of Sarah's dead Womb Gen. 18.12 when it ceased to be with her as with other Child-bearing Women insomuch that when the Angel foretold it to her she thought it impossible So Jesus Christ is often called the Son of Abraham yet the only begotten Son of God by Nature who is the Father of all that are taught and can say in truth Our Father c. the only true promised Seed who was long prophesied of and expected by all Believers
Figure of him IT was a Rock which in appearance is dry and barren and a very unlikely thing to afford Water So Christ in his outward State in the Days of his Flesh seemed very unlikely to carnal Eyes to afford such spiritual Waters of Grace and Salvation II. It seemed wonderful that it should send forth Water in such abundance So Jesus Christ to the Wonder of Men and Angels sends forth the Water of Life in abundance to all those that believe on him III. That Rock sent forth its Water to the People of Israel when they were ready to perish for Thirst there being no way to relieve them So Christ refreshes the Souls of poor Sinners that come unto him when they can find no Help Comfort or Refreshment any where else John 8.24 but without him must perish eternally If ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your Sins IV. The Rock was smitten before it yielded Water So Jesus Christ was smitten of God and crucified that his precious Blood might be poured forth to consummate the Redemption of our Souls V. The Rock was smitten for a rebellious People who murmured against God and who deserved no such Grace and Favour from him So Christ was slain for us who were Rebels and Enemies to him by evil Works who deserved nothing but his eternal Wrath and Displeasure Dr. Thâ— Taylor VI. The Water out of that Rock followed the Children of Israel through the Wilderness over all Hills and Vallies unto Canaan all the Dryness of that dry and barren Desert could not dry it up So the Waters of Life streaming from Christ that sacred Rock follow the true Israel of God quite through the Wilderness of this World until they come to the heavenly Canaan yea all the Persecutions and Temptations in the World whatsoever cannot dry it up The Pillar of Cloud and Fire Exod. 14. a Type of Christ Numb 9.15 16 17. THe Pillar of Fire was a certain Guide to the Israelites whilst they pass from Egypt to Canaan So Jesus Christ is our true Guide by his Word and Spirit till we come to the heavenly Canaan or Land of Immortality II. It was a Guide to them by Night that they might not lose their Way So Christ is our Guide in the dark Night of Trouble Temptation and Desertion III. The Pillar of Fire was not only a Guide to them but it also afforded them much Light which made their Journey comfortable to them Persons may have a sure Guide in a Night and yet be in Darkness or have but little or no Light So Jesus Christ is not only a Guide to his People in their passing through the Night of Mortality but also a Light a Light to them that sit in Darkness as well as a Guide for their Feet into the Way of Peace Exod. 14.20 he is upon this account the Comfort and Joy of God's Israel IV. The Pillar of Fire was Darkness to the Egyptians tho it gave Light to Israel So is Christ's Salvation Joy and Comfort to the Godly but a Stumbling-block and Stone of Offence unto the Wicked J. K. V. The Pillar of Fire did not afford the Israelites Light only but Heat also as a worthy Writer observes by which means they were kept from the piercing Cold of the Night So Jesus Christ the Anti-type of this Fiery Pillar affords us much spiritual Heat by his Word and Spirit which are compared to Fire by which means we are kept from the cold and lukewarm Temper or Frame of Heart which God's Soul hateth and thereby preserved fervent in Spirit burning in Love and Divine Zeal to God his Saints and to Holiness Exod. 14.20 VI. This Pillar in going behind between the Camp of Israel and the Egyptians was a blessed Defence and Protection unto them So Jesus Christ is the Defence and Safeguard of his People VII The Pillar of Fire if the Enemy had strove with it or made resistance against it would have burned and consumed them together So all that rebell against Christ or resist him shall be devoured Who would set Briars and Thorns against me in Battel Isa 27.4 I would go through them I would burn them together The Pillar of Cloud THe Pillar of Cloud was a great Refreshment to the Children of Israel by Day during their long Journey in the Wilderness the Sun in those Countries shining sometimes very hot which might had it not been for this Cloudy Pillar have been very destructive or grievous to them during so many Years Travels So Jesus Christ as Mediator is as a Cloud or Screen between the hot Beams of God's Wrath and poor Believers 'T is he who keeps us from being consumed by the Wrath of him Heb. 12. ult who is to the Wicked a Consuming Fire II. It was a Fire and a Cloud yet both but one Pillar So Christ is God and Man and yet but one Person and the same Christ who is a Saviour to the truly Penitent will destroy all ungodly and impenitent Ones The Passeover a Type of Christ 1 Cor. 5.7 Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us THe Passeover or Paschal Lamb was a most lively Figure or Type of Christ nay as a worthy Divine observes this one Legal Sacrament preached not obscurely to the ancient Jews the whole Doctrine of the Gospel This will appear in five Things 1. In the Choice of the Sacrifice 2. In the preparing of it 3. In the Effusion of the Blood and Actions about it 4. In the Eating and the Conditions therein 5. In the Fruits and Use Eph. 3.21 Parallels I. In the Choice of the Sacrifice the Lord appointed it to be a Lamb notably signifying Jesus Christ whom the Baptist called the Lamb of God taking away the Sins of the World II. It was to be a Lamb without blemish signifying the most absolute Perfection of Jesus Christ III. The Paschal Lamb was to be taken out of the Fold signifying that Christ should be taken from amongst Men or from among his Brethren Deut. 17.15 one of the Seed of Abraham according to the Flesh IV. The Lamb was to be a Year old and also it must be slain signifying that Christ in his full vigour and strength should be put to death V. The Lamb was to be roasted with Fire which might signify the Manner of Christ's Death He was crucified and pierced he endured the Fire of Afflictions and the Fire of God's Wrath that was due to us for our Sins VI. The Lamb was roasted whole to signify saith Dr. Taylor that Christ bore the whole Wrath of God both in Soul and Body Not a Bone of the Lamb was to be broken to shew that not one Bone of Christ should be broken John 19.36 VII The Blood of the Lamb was to be saved in a Bason it must not be shed upon the Ground nor trodden under foot signifying the Preciousness of Christ's Blood and that great Esteem God the Father and all
Answer or the Proposition only leaving the Answer to be found out of which sort there are many Examples in the Parables of our Saviour of which see Gram. Sacr. p. 483 c. and Illyricus Part 2. Clavis Script 4. Tract in the Titles of Similitudes as also our Treatise of Parables VI. Schemes taken from Division 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Merismos Distribution is when the Whole is largely expounded by a Deduction from the Parts properly or analogically so called as Isa 24.1 2 3. Ezek. 36.4 Rom. 2.6 7 8. Joh. 5.28 29. Synathroismos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Congeries a Heap or Pile is when things of several Species are piled or huddled together Isa 1.11 13 14. 3.16 Rom. 1.29 30. Gal. 5.19 20 21 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Anabasis Increase is when the Speech ascends by degrees from the lowest to the highest or when the latter Words increase in Vehemence beyond the former still adding the Vehemence to the Oration See Psal 2.1 2 3. Acts 4.25 26 27. Isa 1.4 Psal 7.5 Psal 18.37 38. Ezek. 2.6 Dan. 9.5 Hab. 1.5 Zech. 7.11 12. 1 Cor. 4.8 1 Joh. 1.1 Sometimes there is a progress from the highest to the lowest Ezek. 22.18 in the names of Metals see Phil. 2.6 7 8. VII Schemes taken from Definition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epexegesis Interpretation is when Words of the same Signification are joyned to illustrate a Sentence as Psal 17.1 Psal 35.1 2 3. Psal 18.1 2. Jon. 2.3 4 6. Zech. 6.12 13. to this they refer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epimone Commoration viz. When one persists in his Speech changing only the Words or Sentences Mat. 7.21 22 23. 12.31 32. Col. 2.13 14 15. 1 Cor. 7.36 37 c. When that which was before obscurely delivered is in the same Sentence more clearly expounded they call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hermeneia which signifies Interpretation Isa 1.22 23 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Periphrasis Circumlocution is when a thing is pronounced or described with many Words Some say that the Reason of this is because Truth may be proposed more splendidly or that which is unseemly may be avoided Some Interpreters say That the Phrase Gen. 20.16 Gen. 20.16 To be a covering of the Wives Eyes is a Periphrasis of a Husband because she was really his Wife and because it was his Duty to protect her hence it is said Ruth 3.9 Spread thy Skirt over thine Handmaid that is receive me into thy Protection in a way of Marriage then from the Duty of the Wife who is to reverence and obey her Husband for the Women were to be vailed to betoken Subjection Gen. 24.65 1 Cor. 11.5 c. The intire words of Abimeleck to Sarah Gen. 20.16 runs thus Behold I have given thy Brother a thousand pieces of Silver Behold he is to thee a covering of the Eyes unto all that are with thee and with all other and be thou advised so the Hebrew as if he had said Thou didst tell me Abraham was thy Brother to whom so falsly represented I have given a present of a thousand pieces Silver for a Recompence of what he suffered But he is thy Husband not thy Brother and is so acknowledged by all thy Family Therefore let him be so known to all Strangers and let this Passage forewarn you by which you have wilfully put your self in hazard and dissemble no more that way c. So a parting or double way is called the Door of Eyes in the Hebrew Gen. 38.14 It is said by a Periphrasis they are the words of Vossius lib. 4. Instit orat cap. 13. that when mention is made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Mens retiring to a place of Ease they covered their Feet Judg. 3.24 1 Sam. 24.4 For the Hebrews Greeks and Romans wore not Breaches as we do but long Gowns or Coats which covered their Feet at that time This may be an Instance of the Modesty of the sacred Stile See more Examples Judg. 5.10 2 Sam. 3.29 2 Kings 18.37 Esa 36.12 2 Chron. 26.5 Job 10.21 22. where there is a Periphrasis of Death See Job 16.22 So Job 18.14 Death is called The King of Terrors that is which terrifies the wicked ver 13. it is called The first born of Death that is most cruel and funest the Metaphor being taken from the Right of Primo-geniture to which belong'd a double Portion and other Prerogatives and therefore from these whatever was excellent and chief in its own kind was by the Hebrews called the first-born other Phrases respecting Death See Gen. 15.15 25.8 42.38 2 Kings 22.20 Psal 94.17 Psal 115.17 Esa 14.15 38.10 2 Cor. 5.1 Phil. 1.23 2 Pet. 1.13 14 c. Job 26.13 the Whale is called a Serpent like a Bar or oblong because of his immense Length See other Examples Eccles 12.1 2 c. Prov. 30.31 2 Sam. 5.9 with Josh 15.8 2 Sam. 5.6 Ezek. 1.22 where there is a Periphrasis of Christal Ezek. 24.16 21.15 a Wife is called the desire of the Eyes as ver 18. Ezek. 26.9 there is a Periphrasis of a battering Ram a Periphrasis of Gems of a bright Lustre Ezek. 18.14 as a Carbuncle Ruby Chrysolite c. See more Examples Ezek. 31.14 Micah 7.5 Zeph. 1.9 In the New Testament Men are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 born of Women Mat. 11.11 See also Luke 21.35 Job 1.9 Luke 2.23 1 Thess 5.3 Mat. 1.18 23. 24.19 Mark 13.17 Luke 1.31 21.23 Rev. 12.2 There is a Periphrasis of Rest Psal 132.3 4 5 c. the meaning of which that he would not rest till it be done c. VIII Schemes taken from Testimony 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Sentence is a certain general brief and seasonable Saying Gnome Chriae Noema of the Manners or Affairs of this Life without the allegation or citing of an Author Prov. 1.2 they are called words of Prudence or Vnderstanding But if an Author be quoted it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chria that is a profitable Saying as Seneca says ita vivendum esse cum Hominibus tanquam Deus videat sic loquendum cum Deo tanquam Homines audiant that is We must so live with Men as if God had seen us and we must so speak with God as if Men heard us And as Craesus in Xenophon says 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arts are the Fountains of good Things Demosthenes says 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Laws are the Soul of a City c. But if an Allusion only be made to a Sentence or famous Saying or if it be accommodated to a certain Person it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Noema that is Cogitation or thinking which is frequent in prophane Rhetoricians But Concerning the sacred Scripture It abounds with the most sweet and useful Sentences in the World John 6.68 Lord to whom shall we go thou hast the Words of Eternal Life A fair description of which we have Eccles 12.11 The words of the Wise
like this or that Thing we are not to understand that it is so in all its Parts or in every Respect but only in such Things as are declared in the Similitude So Christ is compared to a Thief only in this respect because he comes in a Time when unlook'd for or when unexpected Luk. 12.39 9. All Parables do not conclude in the same but in a different Manner Some from Likeness a simili as the seven Parables Mat. 13. Some from Things unlike as that of the unjust Judge Him that desired three Loaves and the unjust Steward c. FINIS AN Alphabetical Table OF THE FOURTH BOOK A. Afflictions AFflictions compared to Fire in five respects Page 378 When Afflictions may be said to be very grievous Page 388 389 The Nature Kind and Cause of Afflictions largely opened Page 377 to 390 Ambassadors Ministers of Christ are his Ambassadors Page 282 Angels Angels why so called Page 49 They are compared to Watchers the Reason why shewed in five Things Page 50 Their Work and Office Page 50 51 52 Why they are called God's Host opened Page 53 54 Why they are compared to the Face of a Man c. opened Page 57 Why to a Flame of Fire opened Page 62 Why compared to Horses white red c. Page 63 64 Anchor Hope a sure Anchor shewed at large in eleven Particulars Page 26 27 28 Arrows Afflictions God's Arrows Page 389 What more particularly are God's Arrows Page 390 B. Babylon THe Church of Rome proved to be Mystery Babylon Page 297 First Negatively 1. By Whore of Babylon is not meant Jerusalem 2. Not the Turkish Empire 3. Not Rome Heathen 4. Not Protestants of any Denomination Page 300 to 303 Secondly In the Affirmative That by the Whore or Mystery Babylon is meant the present State and Church of Rome clearly evinced Page 322 to 326 Baptism Baptism how taken Page 36 37 Called a Burial Page 35 Babes Saints called Babes wherefore shewed in eighteen Particulars Page 140 141 Blind Wicked Men blind shewed in five Partic. Page 230 Bitter How a Saint may be sustained under bitter Afflictions Page 389 Breast-plate Why Righteousness is so called Page 10 11 Builders Why Ministers of the Gospel are called Builders opened in ten Particulars Page 277 278 Bulls Wicked Men why called Bulls Page 235 236 Burthen Sin a Burthen shewed in three things What a Burthen Sin is opened Page 344 The least Sin a Burthen to a tender Heart Page 344 Bush The Church compared to a Bush on Fire shewed in six things Page 106 107 108 C. Captives Wicked Men Captives with the Nature of their Captive-State opened Page 201 to 204 Clouds Christ 's Ministers why compared to Clouds Page 269 False Teachers compared to Clouds without Rain Page 294 Captain What kind of Captain Christ is shewed Page 158 Cedars Saints compared to Cedars opened in five Particulars Page 181 182 Children Saints called Children of God opened Page 142 143 Conscience What Conscience is opened Page 69 Conscience a Witness shewed in ten Particulars Page 70 71 72 The Excellency of a good Conscience Page 73 How a good Conscience may be known Page 74 City of God The Church called the City of God shewed in twenty Particulars Page 76 to 83 What a City Sion is Page 84 Church Church the Anti-type of Solomon's Temple Page 87 Church the Anti-type of the second Temple Page 89 Courage Saints like a Lion for Courage wherein their Courage ought to be shewed opened in eight Particulars Page 188 D. Day of Grace WHy so called Page 367 How to know when the Day of Grace draws towards an end shewed in five things Page 368 Darkness Divers Metaphorical Notations of Darkness Page 383 Hell a Place of utter Darkness Page 411 Affliction called Darkness Page 383 Death Death a Sleep why so called opened in three things Page 399 Dead Wicked Men dead in Sin what meant thereby opened in seven Particulars Page 227 228 Debt Debtors Sin a Debt why so called opened Page 332 334 How our Debts are satisfied for and yet freely forgiven largely opened Page 236 to 238 Wicked Men why called Debtors Page 200 Devil Wicked Men compared to the Devil Page 254 Devil why called a Lion and a Serpent Page 363 Dignity The great Dignity of Ministers Page 286 Dogs Wicked Men compared to Dogs in sixteen Particulars Page 232 c. Doves The Property of Doves and why the Saints are compared to them opened in 13 things Page 192 Deceivers Their many Ways to deceive laid open Page 295 Door What the Door is into the true Church Page 278 279 E. Eagles SAints compared to Eagles in ten things Page 141 Why wicked Men are compared to Eagles Page 253 F. Faith FAith why called a Shield Page 16 How you may know true Faith Page 15 16 17 The Necessity of Faith Page 19 20 The Difference between a weak and strong Faith Page 20 21 The Excellency of Faith Page 15 16 Family The Church called a Family Page 128 129 The Nature and Excellency of the Government thereof Page 128 129 Foxes Wicked Men why compared to Foxes Page 241 242 Forgiveness of Sin What it is we ask of God in that Petition Forgive us our Debts Page 340 341 No Forgiveness without Christ's Blood or Reconciliation made by him Page 342 Fowler Satan why called a Fowler and what a subtil Fowler he is opened in 5 Things Page 362 363 Floods Afflictions compared to Floods in 9 Things Page 386 In what respect God may be said to sit upon the Floods ibid Field This World why called a Field Page 392 Furnace Afflictions why compared to a Furnace Page 381 Fools Wicked Men Fools or Idiots opened Page 111 112 G. Garden THe Church why called a Garden opened in many Particulars Page 112 113 Girdle Truth why called a Girdle opened in 10 Partic. Page 4 to 8 Government The Nature of Church Order and Government opened in 12 Partic. Page 129 The Excellency of a Family or Church consists in its good and orderly Government Page 130 Gold The Nature of Gold and why Faith is compared to it opened in seven Partie Page 15 16 17 The Excellency of tryed Faith above Gold Page 18 The Godly why compared to Gold Page 190 191 Goats Why wicked Men as Hypocrites c. are compared to Goats Page 243 244 Why the Devil is call'd the God of this World Page 359 Godliness Godliness a great Mystery proved by nine Arguments Page 371 372 Gray-Hairs Sin and Judgments upon a People why called Gray-Hairs in six Things Page 357 England at this time gray-headed Page 359 H. Hardness CHrist's Souldiers must endure Hardness opened in seven Particulars Page 154 155 Harvest Day of Grace why called Harvest in 8 Things Page 370 Heirs Saints why called Heirs Heirs of God in six Things Page 145 Heart Heart of Flesh why so called and how such a Heart may be known in four things Page 194 Heaven Heaven why called Paradise Page 407 Heaven called
a Crown of Life Page 409 Hell Hell why called a Furnace of Fire Page 410 Heat Affliction compared to great Heat in 8 Things Page 387 Horn. The little Horn Dan. 7. proved to be the Pope Page 361 Hunter Satan why called a Hunter and what kind of Hunter he is opened in eight Partic. Page 361 Hope Hope a Helmet why so called Page 22 23 A Definition of Hope Page 22 I. Jewels SAints why called God's Jewels together with the Nature of Jewels opened in seven Things Page 198 Imitate Saints imitate God in five Things Page 144 Judgment-Day Judgment-Day compared to an Assize in eight Particulars Page 406 L. Lambs WHat meant by Lambs in a large Place Page 192 193 Labourers Ministers why called Labourers in 6 things Page 259 Christ's Labourers ought to be sufficiently provided for largely proved Page 260 261 Lilly The excellent Nature of the Lilly and why the Church is compared to it in 8 things Page 115 116 Light Light sown for the Righteous in five respects Page 384 Life Life of Man compared to a swift Post Page 393 To a swift Ship ibid To a Weavers Shuttle and to the Wind Page 394 To a Cloud and to a Flower Page 395 How we may know a Man who hath a Principle of spiritual Life in him Page 229 Lions Why Saints are compared to Lions shewed in five Things Page 188 189 Why wicked Men are compared to Lions Page 237 Locusts What meant by the Locusts out of the Bottomless Pit Page 137 Love Why Love is compared to Death and the Grave Page 30 Why to Coals and Flames of Fire Page 31 Christ's Love why compared to Wine opened in eight Things Page 34 M. Man WHy Man is compared to Earth opened in seven Things Page 133 134 Man why called a Worm and how fitly he may be compared thereto opened in ten Par. Page 136 Man like a Flower of the Field Page 138 139 Wicked Men mad or besides themselves opened in six Things Page 234 Marriage-Day The Resurrection-Day the Saints Marriage-Day and Coronation-Day Page 404 405 Merchants Saints spiritual Merchants in ten things Page 168 169 Ministers Ministers why called Angels Page 258 Work of a Minister hard in five Things Page 289 Who is a true Minister and how to be chosen and ordained Page 289 The Necessity of a Gospel Ministry Page 290 Mother Why the Church of God is called a Mother Page 110 The Church compared to the Moon Page 86 Morning The Resurrection compared to the Morning in nine Particulars Page 402 Mountains Why wicked Men are called Mountains Page 225 226 Myrtle-Trees The Nature of the Myrtle-Tree and what Fruit it bears and why the Godly are compared to it in seven Things Page 184 N. WIcked Men naked Page 247 O. Olive-Tree THe Nature of the Olive-Tree and why the Church is compared thereto Page 91 P. Palm-Tree WHat the Nature of it is and why the Godly are compared to it opened in nine Particulars Page 175 176 The Godly like the Palm-Tree flourish under heavy Pressures Page 177 Papists Papists confuted about Transubstantiation Page 38 39 Papists spiritual Thieves Page 246 Pilgrims Saints compared to Pilgrims opened Page 175 Priests Why the Saints are called Priests Page 200 Prince The Devil why called Prince of Darkness Page 360 Planters Ministers Planters why so called opened in fourteen Particulars Page 275 276 Plague Sin a Plague Page 349 The Plague of the Leprosy a Figure of Sin shewed in seven Things Page 344 Poyson Sin compared to Poyson in seven things Page 350 351 Poor Wicked Men poor and miserable shewed in seven Things Page 250 Providence Providence of God wonderful in preserving of his People in these Days Page 108 Providence of God compared to Clouds and Darkness Page 377 383 Prayer Saints must pray always what meant thereby Page 160 Special Seasons for extraordinary Prayer Page 160 Prayer a great Ordinance in six Things Page 160 161 What hinders the Saints Prayer Page 161 R. Race WHat a Man must do who would run the spiritual Race opened Page 162 to 165 Rod. Wicked Men the Rod of God in five Things Page 201 Afflictions called a Rod Page 379 What Voice is in the Rod Page 380 Rock The Heart of a Sinner compared to a Rock in seven Things Page 251 How to know a hard and rockie Heart shewed in five Things Page 252 Rulers Good Rulers their Qualifications and how chosen and govern Page 287 Ministers of the Gospel why called Rulers Page 287 S. Salt GRace compared to Salt in seven things Page 1 2 Saints compared to Salt Page 166 Satan Satan's Subtilty in warring against the Soul Page 153 Saints Saints Joynt-heirs and yet every one shall have Possession of the whole Inheritance Page 145 Sepulchre Hypocrites why compared to a Sepulchre in four Things Page 115 116 Sickness Sin a Sickness Page 352 What a Sickness Sin is opened Page 352 353 Sin The evil and abominable Nature of Sin largely opened by divers Metaphors Page 331 to 350 Singing Singing of Psalms an Ordinance of God Page 107 Spirit The Spirit of a Man why called the Candle of the Lord shewed in four Things Page 68 Ship Why the Church is compared to a Ship Page 118 Shepherds Ministers compared to Shepherds in 8 things Page 280 Sluggards Wicked Men called Sluggards Page 207 to 210 Stewards Every Saint a Steward why so called Page 195 Why Ministers are called Stewards Page 272 273 Souldiers Saints Souldiers of Jesus Christ largely opened in twenty two Particulars Page 149 to 157 Spokesmen Ministers Christ's Spokesmen opened in six Things Page 268 269 Swine The Nature of Swine and why wicked Men are compared to them in many Partic. Page 216 217 Sleep Death why called a Sleep Page 394 The Difference between the Sleep of the Godly and the Vngodly Page 394 Summer Day of Grace called Summer in 5 things Page 369 T. Tares WIcked Men compared to Tares Page 222 223 Thieves Thief Wicked Men called Thieves Page 245 Sin why called a Thief Page 331 Thorns Wicked Men why compared to Thorns Page 124 Trade Godliness a Trade opened in thirteen Particulars Page 371 to 376 The excellent Trade of the City of God Page 84 85 Truth The Excellency of Truth Page 7 8 Truth taken variously Page 3 Trumpeters Ministers why called Trumpeters Page 263 to 267 Types A Treatise of Types Page 413 to the End V. Vessels SAints compared to Vessels Page 186 187 Vipers The Nature of Vipers and why wicked Men are so called Page 248 Vineyard The Church compared to a Vineyard Page 99 100 Virgin The Church compared to a Virgin Page 103 104 Vomit What meant by turning to the old Vomit Page 354 Uncleanness Sin an unclean Thing nothing so unclean as Sin opened in five Things Page 355 The woful Uncleanness of Man by Nature Page 356 W. Watchmen MInisters why called Watchmen Page 263 264 Wells Why False-Teachers are called Wells with-Water Page 293 Willow-Trees Why Saints are compared to Willow-Trees Page 183 Winter Afflictions compared to Winter in 8 things Page 382 Wilderness This World a Wilderness in eight respects Page 341 Wheat Saints compared to Wheat Page 178 179 A Trial of Wheat from Tares Page 177 Wormwood Afflictions compared to Worm in 3 things Page 388 Wounds What a kind of Wound Sin is opened in ten Particulars Page 346 When a Wound may be said to be deadly or incurable Page 345 346 World The End of the World why called Harvest Page 392 FINIS
and spoils his Divinity makes him but a poor petty God he is but the God of this World both for extension and duration he bears no rule above nor shall he bear any sway in the World to come If the God of this World 't is by Usurpation he is like an audacious Traitor who rebels and strives against his Lawful Soveraign For the Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof Christ is Heir of both Worlds tho he admits Satan to God it here for a while he is a false God an Enemy to God and no God Disparity GOD is without Beginning the Devil had a beginning God is an uncreated Spirit the Devil an Angel and a created Spirit I do not say he was created a Devil Sin made him a Devil God can do what he pleaseth he hath an unlimited Power the Devil's Power is limited he can go no further than God permits him God hath a just and rightful Power Satan hath only an usurped Power c. God is infinite immense c. But some may say in what Sense is Satan said to be God of this World What World c. The word World is a convertible Phrase and here I understand it is to be taken for the Inhabitants of the World I mean the Wicked distinct frâ—m the Godly He is the wicked Man's God three ways 1. By Devolution they have fallen off from God to Satan they have departed from the true God and his Service and have closed in with the Devil and so Satan owns them to be his Subjects The whole World is divided into two parts two Bodies and are under two Heads either Subjects of Christ's Kingdom or of the Kingdom and Power of Satan they are either of the Army of Light or Regiment of Darkness Rom. 6.16 2. The Devil is the wicked Man's God by voluntary submission His Servants ye are to whom you obey Wicked Men are Satan's Volunteers 3. By God's just Desertion as they have cast off God and his Service and desire not the knowledg of his ways so God hath cast them off and suffered Satan to possess them c. The Devil a Prince Joh. 14.30 The Prince of the World cometh c. Eph. 2.2 According to the Prince of the Power of the Air. Rev. 9.11 And they had a King over them which is the Angel of the bottomless Pâ—t THE Devil is in these Scriptures called a Prince Prince of Darkness Prince of the Power of the Air King of the bottomless Pit c. Parallels PRince is a Term that denotes Power and Soveraignty Satan hath great Power over wicked Men c. There is also no doubt some kind of Supremacy or Superiority amongst the evil Angels we read of the Prince of Devils He casts out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils Also some of these wicked Angels are called Principalities and Powers which signifieth Eminency of Place above others What degrees or order there is amongst Devils is hard to find out what ever Order there is amongst them yet we know he is the Master of mis-rule amongst Men c. II. A King or Prince ruling and reigning imports a Kingdom for what is a King without a Kingdom and Dominions over which he reigns The Devil hath a Kingdom There is a twofold Spiritual Kingdom spoken of viz. the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness called sometimes the Kingdom and Power of Darkness â—1 His Kingdom is in the Hearts of ungodly Men he rules and reigns there 2. His Kingdom takes in all the Confines and Territories of Anti-Christ and all other false and corrupt erroneous and tyrannical States whatsoever throughout the whole Earth where his Power is owned and his Authority subjected to 3. He is said to be King of the bottomless Pit III. The Name of some Kings puts an awful fear upon Men So the Name and Power of Satan is such that it makes many Souls to dread and quake at the Thoughts of him IV. Some Kings have been great Tyrants There is no Tyrant in the World nor ever was so vile as the Devil True some have acted like Devils they seemed more like Devils than Men as Nero who caused the Bowels of his own Mother to be ripped up to see where he lay c. See Lion and Dragon V. Some Kings are mighty in Power and their Dominions very large Satan is a mighty King he hath a Power that no meer human force can stand against hence called the strong Man armed none ever seemed a match for him but the Prince of Peace Besides he rules over all the Nations of the ungodly and by force or fraud enslaves to his hellish Scepter Millions of Souls there is no Kingdom or Nation in the whole Universe but he pretends to some Right Supremacy and Authority in it the World is full of his Creatures nay there are more Souls who are his Vassals than the Son of God hath faithful Subjects The Devil a Hunter Psal 91.3 He will deliver thee from the Snare of the Hunter Prov. 6.5 Deliver thy self as a Roe from the Hand of the Hunter By the Hunter in these places I see no ground to doubt but that the Holy Ghost principally intends the Devil who is the great Hunter and Destroyer of Mens Souls out of whose Hand i. e. Power Wisdom advises her Son to deliver himself Parallels A Hunter is one that pursues or eagerly follows after his Prey what sort of Beasts soever he hunts he seems unwearied in his Pursuit his Heart is affected with his Game and hence takes great delight in it So the Devil pursues Sinners nay and the Godly too for they are part of his Game and how eagerly doth he pursue them 't is the only thing he seems to delight in he is never weary of this work nor in the work II. A Hunter in pursuing after the poor sensitive Beast designs to kill and destroy them 't is to take their Lives away c. So the Devil in hunting after the Souls of Men his grand design is to destroy them He seekâ—th whom he may devour 't is the Soul the Life of the Soul he strives to destroy As David speaks of his Enemy Thou huntest after my Soul to take it 1 Sam. 24.12 so may every Man and Woman say of Satan III. A Hunter has many Devices and cunning Stratagems to ensnare the Game he pursues So the Devil hath many Snares and cunning Wiles to catch and destroy the Souls of Men Hence he is compared to a Serpent We are not ignorant saith Paul of his Devices 2 Cor. 9.11 and in another place he exhorts the Saints to put on the whole Armour of God that they may be able to stand against the Wiles of the Devil The Greek Word signifies such Snares as are set to catch a Man He will deliver thee saith the Psalmist from the Snare of the Hunter Psal 91.3 meaning saith Ainsworth the Devil Satan hath many Devices and Snares to draw