age wherein the Iewes shal be conuerted there shal be much faith and zeale vpon the earth but in the next following wherein many false Christs shall seduce many then there shal be almost none What shall their receiuing bee but life from death Q. Shall not the generall calling the conuertion of the Iewes bee in occasion of the diminishing and reiection of the Gentiles A. No but a reuiuing of their faith and a quickning of the word For the ouerflowing and streaming fountaine of Gods mercie and goodnesse is neuer drawne drie and the more that men vse it the more it runneth out and sloweth Secondly if that which is euill in it selfe viz. the fall of the Iewes was sauing to the Gentiles albeit accidentally and by occasion much more that which is good off and by it selfe shall produce and bring forth good effects V. If the first fruites bee holy then the whole Lumpe and if the roote then the branches Q. Are they that are borne of holy parents holy or can parents deriue and transfuse grace and holinesse into their children A. No for they are borne and conceiued in sinne and are by nature the children of wrath but they are holy by couenant and promise onelie whether they bee Iewes or Gentiles according to the tennor of the couenant I wil be thy God and the God of thy seed for euer Gen. 17.7 and Gall. 3.9 and they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham Secondly holy and beleeuing parents beget not children as they are holy and beleeuing for this proceedeth onely from grace and Gods free promise but as they are men and naturall parents and therefore that which is borne of the flesh is flesh as all are by nature and that which is borne viz. againe of the spirit is spirit Iohn 3.6 Q. In that the patriarckes and Ancesters of the Iewes are called the first fruites the roote the naturall oliues are not the preferments prerogatiues and excellences of the Iewes farre greater then of the Gentiles Ans. Yes much euery manner of way but not in repect of righteousnesse and merite for herein they are equall and all one Eph. 2.23 but in outward priuiledges and ornaments onely Question What then were then the speciall and singular ornaments and prerogatiues of the Iewes Ans. Nine specially as they are numbred by Saint Paul First the glorious title of Israelites which name Iacob first obtained by reason of wrestling and preuailing with the Angell Secondly the Adoption to bee Gods people in generall Thirdly the Glorie i. the honour and dignity in that the Lord of glory did as it were dwell amongst them signes of whose speciall presence were the Arke and the Temple Fourthly the couenants that is not onely the testament but also many compactes and the agreements that passed betweene GOD and the people Fiftly the giuing of the law Moral Iudicial Ceremonial vnder which is comprehended the Kingly dignity and Magistracie Sixtly the seruice of God that is the whole Leuiticall Ministerie and the Administration of Gods worship Seuenthly the promises that is of earthly and spirituall blessings and of the Gospell promised to the Fathers Rom. 1. v. 2. Eightly the honorable descent from the holy Fathers and Ancestors for whose sake God doth often times blesse the posteritie Ninthly and lastly the hauing of Christ for their kinsman for of them concerning the flesh came Christ who is God blessed for euer-more Vers. 15. If the casting away of them c what the reconciling c. Obs. The conuersion of the nation of the Iewes shall be the worlds restauration and shall wonderfully confirme the faith of the Gentiles Rom. 11.12 Ioh. 10.16 The reason hereof is for that they both shall haue perfect ioy when both Iewes and Gentiles shall alike enioy the common â—elicitie and all scruples doubts and all causes of any pretended separation shall bee taken away and remooued Secondly an increase augmentation and an honor and ornament shall be hereby added to the Church Vse Let vs therefore desire and seeke after their conuersion and heartely pray for it and by writing disputes doctrine and holy example further and promote it for this shall redound to Gods glory and the amplification and improouement of our owne both temporall and eternall happinesse Ver. 15. Be but life from death In that by the Ministerie of the Gospell the Iewes which were dead in sinne are restored to life and the Gentiles faith reuiued wee learne hence the sauing vertue and effectuall power of it The first reason hereof is because it is the power of God to saluation in all the Elect for herein God reuealeth his true and absolute righteousnesse with which life and saluation is alwaies ioyned and by the meanes and ministerie hereof it is conueied and communicated to them that receiue and obey it Secondly it is the immortall seed of regeneration and eternall life for hereby God doth call men to bee his children and doth conuert them hee raizeth and createth faith in them and doth adopte and regenerate them Vse 1. The first vse hereof is to learne vs not onely to magnifie and haue the Gospell in high account and esteeme that bringeth such comfort and commoditie with it but also to receiue it yea to temper it as men doe mixe and dulcifiâ— their tart wine with suger with faith and to apply it to our owne selues otherwise it will bee altogether vnprofitable vnto vs. Vse 2. Secondly wee must hereby bee induced and perswaded to leade and liue a new life according to the tenor of the Gospell and the intent of the word of God For the grace and Gospell of Christ hath brightly appeared teaching vs to deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and to liue iustly godlyly and soberly in this present world Titus 2.11.12 Vse 3. Thirdly hereby also wee are remembred and put in minde from whence the. Gospell hath his credit authoritie and estimation not from the approbation of mans reason nor from the applause of the worlde nor from the persons of the Ministers but from God and from the admirable and supernaturall effects and fruites of it For it is giuen by inspiration it is the voyce and letter of GOD and is autentike of and in it selfe and no other doctrines haue any credit authoritie or power but so farre forth as they receiue it from the Scripture or accord with it If the first fruites be holy so is the whole lumpe c. Obs. Heere is commended the goodnesse of GOD and the truth of his couenant of grace that doth redound and extend it selfe to posteritie and succeeding generations euen from generation to generation Exod 20. Psal. 3. Ver. 9. Psal. 89. Ver. 33.34 Psal. 103 Ver. 17. The reason hereof is his truth and couenant doth not depend vppon any creature or thing without himselfe but onely vppon him-selfe and therefore can by no outward meanes be nullified or made frustrate Vse
outward face of it cannot be seene and discerned A. For two causes first because the world the wicked is altogither vnworthy of the fellowship of Gods Saints and the ministery of the word and therefore God hath most iustly depriued them of it Secondly God for the preseruation of the Church will haue it sometimes to bee secret and vnknowne for otherwise the world seeing it would inuade and destroy it Apoc. 12.6 Q. Is it not lawfull yea and sometimes expedient for a true and sound Christian for the auoding of offence and the preseruation of his life to dissemble his religion and to goe to Masse and Idoll seruice A. No for first it is not sufficient for vs to keepe our mindes free from assent vnto and from approbation of idolatry but wee must keepe our bodies vndefiled also 2. Cor. 7.1 Secondly God created and Christ redeemed both soule and body therefore wil be serued with both Thirdly God requireth not only the beliefe of the heart but also the confession of the mouth yea and the outward gesture and action also Rom. 10.9 Luk. 9.26 otherwise wee play the Hypocrites and God will discouer and detest vs. Forthly the offence that Idolaters conceiue is by them taken and not by vs giuen and therefore we are not in this regard to respect them at all Math. 15.12.13.14 And if we should communicate with them in their Idolatrous worship we should both harden them in their error and destroy or at least weaken the faith of others touching preuention of danger we must vse no vnlawful means to diuert it but commit our selues and cause vnto the power prouidence and goodnesse of the almighty who will dispence and dispose of all things for our good and knoweth how to deliuer vs. Lastly in respect of maintenance of Gods glory our liues yea if neede should require our saluation should not be deare and pretious vnto vs. Apoc. 12.11 and it is giuen vnto the true members of the Church as a speciall priuiledge not onely to beleeue in Christ but also to suffer for him I haue reserued vnto my selfe It belongeth vnto God only to preserue his church and children from Idolatry sinne and temptation euen then when the greatest number perish Hosea 13.9.2 Pet. 2.9 Rea. The reason hereof is because it is not in the power and ability of any mortal man to saue himself but it must proceed from the power and promise of God onely Vse It condemneth all conceite of our owne excellency and presumption which wee see how God correcteth in his owne deare children as in Dauid Peter and others 2 Vse Secondly in all temptatious and dangers we must depend onely of Gods omnipotency goodnesse and mercie and by earnest praier and supplication craue assistance and strength from God who will denie vs nothing thaâ— we aske in faith and in his Sonnes name Luk. 11.13 Ioh. 15.16 Ioh. 5.14 To my selfe 7000. Hence we learne the perpetuitie and euerlasting continuance of the true Church of Christ vpon the earth vnto the worlds end Math. 28. vers 19 and 20. It is not in the power and policy might or malice of the diuil and all his instruments whether tyrants or Seduceâ—â— and false Prophets to roote it out and extinguish it It is built vpon Christ and the gates of hell cannot preuaile against it it is the mount Syon that shal neuer be remoued and the ship tossed and turmoiled in the waters billowes tempests and windes of this malignant world and yet shal neuer sinke Math. 8. vers 25. and 26. Reason For Gods couenant is an euerlasting couenant his mercie endureth for euer his truth shal neuer faile towards the Church he is alwaies with them to the end of the world is both able and ready to helpe and releeue them in all dangers and difficulties The vses hereof are manifold and most comfortable 1 Vse We must learne hence neuer no not in the most dead desperate and declining state of the Church with Elias rashly to condemne it for if the most Eagle-eyed sharpe-sighted Prophets haue beene deceiued herein much more may wee that are in so many respects so farre behind them and inferior to them 2 Vse We must not bee daunted and disheartned much lesse despaire of Gods Church and the preseruation of a seed and remnant when the Godly are diminished yea and sometimes non inuenti sunt and the wicked braue it out tyranize ouer the Church and are exceedingly multiplied for many that seeme good are but hypocrites and dissemblers and the Godly themselues albeit liuing amongst vs are not alway knowne vnto vs. It is proper to God onely to know the heart and to know his 2. Tim. 2 19. and God in the corruptest estate of a Church that can bee immagined reserueth a remnant to himselfe 3 Vse In this case wee must walke by faith and not by sight and iudge not by the outward apparence wherein the wisest and the best may be and are oft deceiued but iudge by the written word and where that determineth not to suspend our opinion and reserue secret iudgement vnto God who wil further manifest the truth in his good time Deut 15.15 Which haue not bowed their knees to Baal From the authoritie and force of this place I obserue That the Godly must not in the least things expresly forbidden consent vnto and communicate with Idolatry no not in the outward gesture of kneeling kissing gazing bodily presence Daniel 3.15.16.17.18 The first reason hereof is because wee are to make a conscience of all Gods commandements and to abstaine from all appearance or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. kinde of euill Secondly they that carelesley assent and yeeld vnto that which is apparently euill are many times and may be drawen vnto greater cuills and sinnes euen as he that walketh to neere the pit-brinke or riuers side may sometimes fall in and be drowned especially if God to punish his rashnesse and presumption leaue him to himselfe as he left Aaâ—on and Peter for the time Vse Hereby the wisdome zeale and practise of those Christians is highly commended who choose rather to hide themselues in Denâ—es Caues Mountaines yea and wander vp and downe in sheepe skinnes and in goates skinnes being destitute afflicted and tormented then in Churches and the Groues of Idolatry to shew any countenance by any out-ward gesture or behauiour 2 Vse It condemneth the fearefulnesse and hypocrisie of such who thinke it sufficient if they haue as they say faith in their hearts and keepe their consciences to themselues and so outwardly communicate with Idoll and false worship but the commandement of God the practise of Christ the Prophets Patriarkes Apostles Confessors Martirs and of all sincere Churches is directly against it 3 Vse Thirdly we must bee so farre from condemning Gods blessed seruantes and martyrs for tendernes of consience and scrupulosity herein that wee must our selues
and condemne the couetous idle worldly vitious vnteaching dumbe absent and negligent ministers who because either they do not Gods worke at all especially in preaching or els execute their functions very negligently are subiect and lie open to Gods curse and are to answere for the damnation of so many soules as perish through their default Hier. 48.10 Ezek. 33. vers 6. and 8. Acts 20 26.27 2 Vse Secondly ministers neglecting all other by-matters that nothing concerne them and the hunting and hauking after worldly goods and glory must striue with all diligence to performe their duties and to make this their onely scope and marke to spread Christ his gospell farre and neere and so to conuert and saue soules 2. Tim. 4. ver 2. and 3. Act. 26. ver 18. V. Which are my flesh and chap. 9. ver 3. my brethren my kinsmen Out of these words the instruction naturally ariseth viz. the spirit of Christ doth not make men stockes and blockes or bereaue them of naturall affection for these are of God they are in themselues good and without the helpe and ministery whereof we can neither truly serue God nor performe the duties of righteousnesse and loue to men but it rather causeth and confirmeth them This sympathy and indulgent affection appeared most notably in Christ Iesus in weeping ouer the Cittie Ierusalem and bewayling the aproching ruine of it it manifestly also discouered it selfe towards Mary his Mother whom hee so much respected and had such a prouident care of and here it as in other places appeared most eminently in Paul who with the often hazard of his owne life labored the Iewes conuersion Vse Let vs haue a due regard to procure good spiritual and corporall to our country and kinsfolkes for this both nature and religion requireth and commendeth If nature bind vs to prouide for and doe good to our parents children and kinsfolke much more must grace and religion bind and vrge vs to care for their spiritual good and comfort And might saue some of them Obs. 2. We learne here that the preaching and ministerie of the gospell is not a matter onely of ciuility credit or a bare letter but the power of God the worlds saluation the immortall seed and to the Elect the sweet sauor of life vnto life Act. 13.46.47 2. Cor. 2.16 1. Pe. 1.23 and this it was that specially exalted Capernaum to Heauen and filleth citties and townes full of spirituall ioy Acts 8.8 The reason hereof is because God hath annexed a promise therevnto and is effectuall and powerfull hereby to draw and saue all that belong vnto him Mat. 28.19.20 â— 1 Vse It condemneth the Swink-feldains and the Atheists of the world that thinke the word preached is not of force and power to conuert any for they looke vnto the outward sound and letter onely and not to the poweâ— and promise of God who worketh effectually in it and by it in all them that belong vnto him Romanes 1.16 1. Cor. 1. ver 24. 2 Vse Let not men despise contemne and reiect the holy ministery but thinke and speake alwaies honorably of it let men herein acknowledge Gods goodnesse towards them and accept of the riches and treasures of his grace hereby offered vnto them For albeit it cannot profit and auaile any thing to saluation without the assistance of the holy spirit Yet by the helpe of it which alwaies accompanieth it in the elect al that are to be saued are ordinarily won Hence no Eunuch conuerted without a Philip no Cornelius without a Peter and no Lydia without a Paul V. 15. For if the casting away of them bee the reconciling of the world what shall their receiuing bee but life from death V. 16. For if the first fruites bee holy so is the whole lumpe and if the roote bee holy so are the branches If the casting away of them viz. i. the greatest part of the Iewes bee the reconciling of the world i. serue and tend to the calling of the Gentles whereby they are reconciled vnto God what shall the receiuing be i. the calling of the fulnesse of the Iewes by which they that before were cast off shall againe be admitted and receiued into the Church but life from death i. a recouery and bringing of spirituall life againe to the Iewes that were so many hundred yeares dead in their sinnes and also their restitution fulnesse shal giue an occasion of quickning to the Gentiles and of enriching many with the knowledege of Christ and saluation so of enlarging Gods kingdome both amongst Iewes and Gentiles and hence by reason of the common felicity shal be the true and perfect â—oy of the world For if the first fruites be holy so is the whole Lump i. For as then when the Israelites had offred the first fruites of their bread and loaues vnto God all the whole Lumpe and rest of the fruites were hereby blessed and sanctified vnto them that they might with good conscience bake knead and feed vpon them Euen so if Abraham Isack and Iacob their stock fathers and founders of their Nation were especially by reason of Gods couenant holie and accepted with GOD so shall the elect of their posterity bee in some sort fauoured for their Fathers sake And if the roote bee holy i. full of the iuice and sappe of grace so shall the branches i. The holie remainers by force of GODS couenant shall receiue and drawe iuice grace and goodnesse from it Q. If the conuersion of the Iewes shal be not onely vnto them but also vnto the Gentiles a spirituall resurrection and life from the dead and this must needes bee a little before Christ his second comming how can this place then agree to and accord with that in Luke where it is sayd But when the Sonne of man commeth shal hee finde faith on the earth Luk. 18.8 and with that towards the end of the world Sathan must bee loosed Apoc. 20.17 and seduce the people of the world Ans. They may very well and aptly bee thus reconciled by distinction That the last times of the world shal be happie in respect of the benefits of Christ and the light of the Gospell and likewise in regard of the gathering togither of the Church of Iewes and Gentiles throughout the world But they shal be vnhappie and miserable by reason of the worlds vnthankefulnesse and the seducement of Antichrist who shall not be wholy abolished before Christ his commming Secondly the number of Atheists Hipocrites Apostataes and prophane persons shall incomparably farre exceed the number of those that truely feare God and sincerely serue him yet that Church shall neuer wholy cease but vnder the tirany of Antichrist there shall remaine not a few that shall rightly call vpon Gods name and all the elect shal be saued whom the Lord out of all the families nations and kindreds of the earth hath marked with a certaine marke of Election and adoption Or thus in that generation or
we shall more easily cleare the difference Isaiah pointeth at the very moment of the time that was then to come but Paul passing from Christ his comming vnto other things that follow it saith he shall come from Sion .i. out of his Church for the good and comfort of it So that Paul doth not take vpon him the office of an interpreter but applieth it to his time and who can dislike or gainsay it Ques Shall this comming be corporall or spirituall Ans. It cannot now be corporall for the heauens must containe him vntill the daies of iudgment ergo it must needs be spirituall by the Preaching of the Gospell Obi. But saluation came not to the Iewes at the first comming of Christ therefore he must needs come to conueâ—t them at his second comming visibly Ans. Saluation came by his first comming but not altogether at one time and in one age but in diuers successions of times and ages for he must saue his people to the worlds end I would not haue you ignorant of this mistery Mistery here importeth a thing vnknowne vnto men or not sufficiently vnderstood of them The Doctrine then is this that flesh and bloud cannot vnderstand Gods counsailes as appeareth in the Iewes that thought that because they were borne of Abrahams seede therefore the blessing and benefits of the Messias did belong to them alone neither can Carnall wisdome or mens naturall conceipt know and vnderstand God and heauenly things 1. Cor. 2.14 The reason hereof is because the knowledge and apprehension hereof is supernaturall and proceedeth onely from the illumination of the holy spirit which is often called by Saint Paulâ— the Reuelation of the misterie Rom 16.25 Ephes. 3 V. 3.9 Vse 1. The vse hereof is first to teach vs if we would finde out and know diuine misteries to deny our selues and our owne naturall wisdome and submit and subiect our selues and senses to bee taught and instructed by the word and spirit of God for God hideth the knowledge of his secrets from the wise and prudent of the world and reuealeth them to Babes and so it is his good pleasure Math 11.25 Vse 2. Wee must vse all holy meanes as dilligent search attention comparing place with place consulting the Originall conference with our Pastors and godly brethren hearing and reading earnest and continuall prayer For then if the matter directly concerne our saluation God will reueale it vnto vs or if it be not so necessary if God reueale it not â— wee must bee content and reuerence that wee know not and rest vntill GOD giue farther knowledge and vnderstanding That you should not be wise in your owne conceipt The cause of stubbornesse and obstinacie which breedeth and begetteth absurd and rebellious opinions in vs is that men will bee wise of them-selues and will not seeke to vnderstand and know heauenly misteries by dilligent search and examination of the Scriptures and by reuelation of Gods spirit which is the only meane to vnderstand them but they either wholy neglect them or else measure them by their sense and imagination which is shallow and will deceiue them Isai. â— 21 1 Cor. 2.14 The reason hereof is because they want GODS spirit and humilitie to guide and direct them without which all other meanes are vaine and without force Vse 1. The first vse hereof serueth to condemne the badnes and madnes of many not only Papists but others in many countries who because they wil not be thought to erre will stiffly maintaine grosse false and absurd opinions as wee haue many Lutherans Schismatikes Sectaries temporising flatterers for instances 1. Vse Let vs not measure this misterie of the Iewes conuersion by sence and reason but by faith and seeing it is a misterie yet that it is in respect of the forme and manner of their conuersion not common or ordinary let vs not bee curious to diue and discend farther into particulars then Gods word or at least very probable arguments not contrarying the same wil warrant but rest in expectation vntill the time come and in the interim helpe them by our praiers and further them by our zealous and holy example Obstinacie is partly come to Israell that is it is not vniuersall nor perpetuall and so all Israell shal be saued SEeing that the Iewes are not altogether reiected but that there is alwaies a remnant remayning as appeareth by the first member and thè experience of all ages iustifieth especially seeing that al Israel .i. the greatest part and number of that nation are to be called and conuerted we must not rashly either contemne much lesse condemne the Iewes nor expell them out of our Coastes and countries but hope well of them pray for them and labour to win them by our holy zeale and Christian example The first reason hereof is there are some of them called and conuerted in all ages which are a preludium and fore-runner of the conuersion of the rest Secondly they are the faithfull keepers and preseruers of the old Testament Rom 9.4 Rom 3. V. 2. Thirdly they in respect of the time past Viz since Christ his ascention vntill this day doe in a sort confirme the Christian faith seeing that the iudgement of God is come vpon many of them to the full that they suffer those things which the Prophets threatned to the enemies of the Messias Fourthly amongest vs Christians scarce one of a hundred answereth his holy profession and therefore we haue little reason to insult ouer the Iewes that are so faulty our selues Lastly the great plenty and exceeding number of them for in Asia and Affrica to omit diuers places of Europe there are infinite numbers of them who when they shal be conuerted shall both in respect of themselues and vs Gentiles be the reuiuing and the resurrection of the world must keepe vs from rash censuring of them Vse Christian Princes and Potentates must take order that the Iewes amongest them may by degrees bee taught true religion yea they should force them to heare the Gospell and not leaue the miserable soules in perpetuall darknesse that they euery day grow worse and more wilfull in their errour Secondly they must by seuerity of lawes and punishment curbe and moderate their vnmeasurable vsuries whereby they much damnifie and impouerish Christian men Vse 2. Let the people amongst whom these Iewes liue and dwell beware least by their pride and cruelty they doe not hinder their conuersion for were it not for this doubtlesly in many places many more Iewes then now are would be moued and drawne to embrace the Gospell As it is written All the great and memorable workes of God such as is the incarnation of Christ his life Doctrine miracles death the reiection of the Iewes the calling of the Gentiles the rising reuealing and fall of Antichrist the generall persecution and state of the last times the resurrection of the body the last iudgment are fore-told of