ANNOTATIONS upon Chapter 1.

(A.) In Q. 3. N. 5. The same order of the persons in existence, is the same in o­peration, both in the creation, and in the new creation or regeneration. For the spirit of Elohim, first of the Father, and Secondly of the son, mo­ved, hovered, or as one may say, sate (a Metaphor from birds that fit on their eggs,) on the face of the waters, to hatch or bring forth out of that created Chaos, all the visible and sensible creatures, as it followes in the sixth dayes work.

As for the other, the Love of the Father, draws on the sons redemp­tion, and their spirit works it up by sanctification, &c. This is an irrefra­gable bond of working, which the creature cannot frustrate; and Jeho­vah changeth not, Eph. 1.2. to 16. 1 Cor. 8.6. 2 Cor. 4.4. 2 Cor. 13.13. Joh. 5.19. and 14.26. and 15.26. and 16.7.

(B) In N. 6. [That was fit for each cretaure] though the creatures do now groan under corruption, yet it is a miracle of beauty that things are placed to be so excellently subservient to each other. The baser and infe­riour serve the next above them, the livelesse serve the Vegetives, the Vegitive the sensitive, the sensitive the Rationall, the Rationall are to serve the eternall Lord God.

(C) In N. 7. [Therefore] who is he that sayth that any thing falleth out which Jehovah commanded not? From the mouth of the highest procee­deth not the evill and the good? Lam. 3, 27.38. Broughton reads it, Are not two sparrowes sold for a farthing, and one of them shall not fall on the Ground without the Father? Matth. 10. Is there evill in the City, and the Lord hath not done it, Amos? 3.6. Let us be humbled for our Atheisme, that looke so much to second causes, (God alters times and seasons, and o­ver-rules his means, as in the plague in 1636. it being most in winter­ly season.)

And as for fretting and tormenting our selves about events, every e­vent is an Oracle of God, then no disputing: Yea, be the instruments what can be, it is just, wise, or a mercifull event, and all to his glory. Why doth living man murmur? a man for the punishment of his sin, Lam. 3. Therefore David was in a sweet temper when he sayd, I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it, Psal. 39. 2 Sam. 16.10. So then what ever be the second causes, yet the most high God ruleth all in all things in Heaven, earth, sea, and in all deep places, Psal. 135. His providence reacheth as far as his creation. We say it raines, it snowes, it freezeth; ir misteth, it thundereth, it bloweth, and that the stormy windes do raise the waves &c. We may so speak impersonally, for the holy scrip­ture alloweth the Phrase: But yet wee must looke, and our children must be taught to looke to Jehovah the Eternall Being. He sayth to the [Page 11]snow be thou upon the Earth, and likewise to the small raine and the great raine of his strength; he thundereth, he raiseth the stormy winde &c. Job 17.38. and Psal. 104. and 107. These things should be in us from our infancy, that our Faith, Fear, Love, Joy, Hope, Patience, should abound towards him, who doth all things by his wise Counsells, and for the good of his chosen.

In N 7. [Kingdome] Although the Kingdome of God be much spoken (D) of in the holy scriptures, yet it hath a more retyred and speciall sence, then is commonly thought upon, this Kigdome is that mediatoriall Kingdome of Christ, and therefore all power in Heaven and Earth was not first given to him in Matth. 28.18. For God hath governed the world by his son ever since Adam lost the government by his fall, Gen. 3.15. And therefore it is sayd, Jehovah from Jehovah rained fire and brimstone up-Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen. 19.24.

In N. 8. [Nor resemblances] We ought to be very carefull in prayer, &c. That we fashion not God in our conceptions to any shape. We ought (E) not to thinke of the God-head like sottish heathens, or superstitious Papists, Acts 17. Esa. 40, Rom. 1. Therefore let us helpe our children from the breasts with true knowledge.

In N. 8. [Haters] For God saith, I will visit the iniquity of Fathers upon the third and fourth Generation of them that Hate mee, as in Exod. (F) chap. 20.

In N. 9. [And all outward worship] Selfe-will worshippers are brui­tish wights, they worship they know not what, for all their babling and (G) prating, Act. 17. Joh. 4.22. Jeroboam and his Preists thought and taught that they worshiped the true God in his calves, but God hath told us that hee worshiped Devils. A Papist thinks hee worships Christ, when hee kneeles before a golden, silvery, woodden, stony, or painted Crucifix. But the spirit saith, It is the worship of Devills, 2 Chron. 11.25. Apoc. 9 20.

In N. 10. [Our Elohim] Meditare ever more of Gods Attributes and (H) properties, as a helpe in Prayer, and as a meanes to preserve faith and obedience, and to prop us against all temptations to sin, and when through Weaknesse overtaken by sin, meditate on the same. This will be a meanes to make us that we shall not conceale or hide our sins: For by concealing we disgrace Gods Attributes and properties, but by con­fession we give Glory to Jehovah, the God of Israel, that he sees us, knows us, that he is just, if he judge and condemn us, that he is holy and cannot abide iniquity, that he is mighty, and able to plague, save, and deli­ver. And this is a gracious way to make entrance to the Attributes of Mercy, Grace, Patience, loving kindnesse, Consolation, &c. &c. When men will conceale and hide their sins, they labour to make themselves no better then Atheists, Ezeck 9.10 Psal. 86.14. and 94 7.

First, The Apostle saith thus of Gods Attributes of strength: Do we provoke the Lord to anger, are we stronger then he? 1 Cor. 10. Jeremiah [Page 12]exhorteth not to glory in the wisdome, strength and riches of this world which come to naught, but in the wisdome, strength and riches that may be found in the true knowledge of God, Je [...]. 9.23.24. Job. 22.25. 2 Apot. 3.18. and make the comfortable expression of an incom­municable Attribute, in Mal. 3.16. There is both terror and comfort in this Attribute, the living God, it is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of the living God, then it is a living wrath unto hypocrites, that shall last to all eternity, and observe how this is pressed by the Aopstle to the revolting Hebrewes despising the blood of the covenant, and cleaving to the false Doctrine of the traditions of their Fathers, Ebr. 10.1. Pet. 1.18. Moses pressed this upon the deceitefull hearts that were in Israel in his dayes: But to the godly this title of living God is as comfortable, for he is their living joy, living consolation, living peace, living glory with God after this life: and therefore while we live here let us medi­tate as. David did, Jehovah liveth, and blessed be my Rock, Psal. 18.46. This was his comfort in all the stormes, floods and windes, that assaulted him in diverse tryalls, as this Psalme and others shew, he built on the Rock. This Psalme is expounded of the Son of God, who ruleth all, Rom. 15.9. And he saith to his Disciples, Joh. 14. Because I live, yee shall live also, lively stones built on him the living Rock, this he said to them and to us, because of the tryalls he foresaw would affront them. It is well for us that Jehovah liveth; Also observe how Moses dealeth in pressing his exhortations, Deut. 7.9. Againe, he is wise in heart, and mighty in strength, who ever hardned himselfe against him and pros­pered? 3 Job, 9.4.3. When a man addresseth himselfe to prayer, it is a ground of faith, to begin with some Attribute, and with all to remem­ber some promise as is suitable to our petition, this is an high poynt of Christian wisdome and piety, the Saints have used so to doe, Dan. 9.2.3.4. Rom. 15.5. Neh. 1.8. A man that hath not some knowledge of God in his attributes, and faith concerning them cannot pray with that profit to his inner man, as else he might do. What man can pray as he ought to doe, if he beleive not Gods emnipotency, omnipresence, and omnisciency, and so of the other attributes, above noted. Oh what shall we say, we are not able to order our speech concerning the attri­butes and works of God, by reason of our darknesse, Job. 37.19.

(I) N. 12. [Our God his titles &c.] Observe the sweet influences that some glorious starrs have yeilded (which have risen in the horizon of a Church) from the consideration of Gods attributes, the (RR) Mr. Dod on Exo. & 34. D. Preston and others; oh we of little faith; God wil set al his attributes on work for us, his attributes are of unspeakable consola­tion to an holy soule; so on the contrary they are of thundering terror to the Vessells of wrath and dishonor, Psal. 147.5.6. That worthy man, (though a private man) Mr. Henry Church is worthy of joyfull memori­al for his Miscellanea philo theologica speaking of the Attributes of God.

(K) N. 12. [they that know]. The holding of God by faith is better then our holding of him by reason. God is able to do, and doth excee­ding [Page 13]abundantly above all that we can aske or thinke. Gods name is as his nature is, secret, and not to be sought: this may wonderfully strength­en faith, for if God were not above, and greater then our apprehen­sions, he could not helpe us infinitely Eph. 3.29. and faith maketh a man to set too his seal, that God is true; faith giveth God the honour of all his properties and attributes. Assur shall not save us, we wil not ride upon hor­ses, neither will we say any more to the works of our hands, ye are our gods, for in thee the fatherlesse finde mercy, Hos. 14. Again it is said, My defence is in God who saveth the upright in heart, Ps. 7. and 112.6, 7.8. Prov. 3.26.

In N. 13. [They must not] The mysticall Babylonians called the (L) year 88. the climactericall year of the world, and trusting to their vaine superstitions, took the opportunity of that fatall yeare, as they suppo­sed, utterly to overthrow the Church of God in England and the State there, which before they could not do. The Angell of the pit, the false Prophet, and all his deceived worshipers, layd up all their hopes upon this years destiny. But for Israels and Jesu [...]uns sake, (as against old Babylon) God frustrated the tokens of the lyars, and made the Divi­ners mad, and turned the wise men backward, and made their know­ledge foolish: For they, as Balaam and Ha [...]man could not prevaile with their inchantments and sorceries, & counsells, neither could their A­strologers, the star gazers, the Monthly Prognosticators, stand up & save them from the miseries that came on themselves. Foolish Idolaters mistake their Calculations, and do not consider, that the Eternall our holy one, the creator of Israel, our King, hath made the Earth, & created man up­on it, and that his hand hath stretched out the Heavens, and that he commandeth all their Hoasts for the service of his Redeemed. It is hee that commandeth deliverances for Iacob Isa. 44 45 47 Psal. 44. Ʋi. The thankfull remembrances of Gods mercies by the R.D. Carlton. pag. 130.

In N. 13. [Sisera] So again consider for the year 88. for by allu­sion, (M) the story of Sisera is Cited in Apoc. 16. to shew like events against Abaddons kingdome. And while we make Christ our Judge, our Sta­tute maker, and our King, Hee will be Lord Admirall of our Seas, that the Enemy shall not come with their ships against us, they shall not strengthen their Mast, nor spread their sailes, &c. He will save us, Esa. 33. Deut. 33.29. And see how he will make the creatures bustle for us in our distresse, Psal. 18.6.7. &c. Psal. 77.14, 1 15.16. and 114.1 Sam. 2.10. God hath no portion in the world or any inheritance but his Church, to which he will be a sun and sheild, every man will plead for and defend his inheritance, much more wil our Redeemer do it for his inheritance his Church and people.

Beloved Reader it is sayd, This is life eternall that they know thee to be the only very God, and whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ. Joh. 17.3. This first Chapter, in some measure, hath spoken concerning the knowledge of God: Now all the rest of his booke doth endeavour to declare the knowledge of the sending of Jesus Christ, and this knowledge should not be a thing indifferent with us, because the excellency of this knowledge tendeth to the enjoyment of life everlasting, 2 Tim. 3.15 16.

Some Annotations upon this second Chapter, with References to the number of the Que­stions, and Letters of A, B, C, &c.

(A) In Answer to the first question in expounding Gen. 3.15. This scrip­ture is the Basis of all the Doctrine of Gods Counsell concerning Re­demption by Christ; this scripture declares the decree of Gods eternall counsell and covenant, as it was concluded and agreed on by the holy Trinity for mans Redemption from Satans head-plot. Satans plot and purpose was to spoyl man, and so consequently to have spoyled and un­done the whole work of God in the Creation: But this that sets forth an heavy threatning against Satan, and the serpent his instrument, that one from the seed of the woman should break his headplot, and heal that misery which he brought on man, and because that should be done, a new heaven and a new earth should be made to the praise of Gods coun­sells, which over raught the plot and project of Satan. So this scripture containes in it, a threatning to the serpent and his seed, and a promise to Eve & to all her beleeving seed of Christ. Beloved Reader, concerning this Text and the threatning in it to the terror of the serpent and his seed, be pleased to read Mr. Pynchons booke of the meritorious price of mans redemption, printed 1655. there you will have plentifull satis­faction; but for this little worke I purpose cheifly to enlarge my selfe, not as it is a threatning, but as it is a promise concerning Christ.

The refore I will further observe from Gen. 3.15.

I. That in this Text, The eternall Gospell hid in God, before the foundation of the world, was now in Paradise manifested, even the hid wisdome.

II. To this first and precious promise, the Apostle hath respect, when he saith, He was made an Apostle of the faith and truth, that is for the hope of eternall life, which God that cannot lye, promised before the times of the world, but made his word of promise manifest in due time by the sen­ding of Iesus Christ, Tit. 1.1, 2, 3.2 Tim. 1.9.2. Pet. 1.4.

The times of the world are counted by the birth of the first ten Fa­thers to the flood, Thence by ten holy Fathers to the promise to Abra­ham. Thence to the coming from AEgypt. Thence to the building of the Temple. Thence to the burning of it by Babels King. Thence to the end of the captivity in Babel. Thence by seventy sevens of yeares to the death of Christ, or to the glorious redemption of man, by the death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

III. This comprehendeth the Faith of Gods elect, which was once de­livered, that is, first and once for all, delivered to the Saints, and ne­ver after to be changed. All other promises of Christ, are but commora­tions and expositions of this. The Doctrine of Faith can be but one, be­cause there is but one God, and one Mediator, Eph. 4. Note this phrase againe once delivered but still expounded. This is Genus generalissimum. And for this faith, the Saints of all ages have contended to keep and up­hold it against the serpent and his seed, as all the Epistle of Iudas Thad­daeus is upon this argument. All sins and punishments come on the world for despising this faith, and comforts for imbracing, 2 Thes. 1.8.

IV. From this first preaching of Christ till the mystery of God, which he hath spoken by his holy Prophets and Apostles be finished, wee must mind this constantly, that Gods purpose was not to bring man fallen, to life by the remains of any naturall abilities; there was a Bar that wee should not think of any hope in that, Gen. 3. ult. But by a new and living way in the second Adam. This is a Covenant of Grace, not to him that worketh, but to him that beleeveth and receiveth the Son of God as Mediator, him hath God exalted (in holy doctrine from the begining) with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give change of mind and forgivenesse of sins to all the Israel of God, Acts 3.21. & 5. 31. Now this new way is very foolishnesse to us naturally, therefore wee dream of great excellencies in our corrupt, dead, stinking graves: But we must hear the voice of the Son of God in his owne ordinances, Iohn 5. and he must say to us, live, afore we can have the first Resurrection, as we cannot have the second without his powerfull voice, Ioh. 5. Isa. 2.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

V. If the first Adam or any of him could helpe themselves, what need the Son of God to be promised from the beginning, to be a second A­dam, and to appear to destroy the works of the Devill? 1 Joh. 1. and 3. he only knew how, and was only able to mannage the whole offic [...] of me­diation, and to performe all righteousnesse, according to covenant in his own person, without pressing, and by his glorious Ordinances effe­ctually to call, and unquestionably to justifie, and to prepare for glory all them of his mysticall body which the Father gave him. Neither A­dam nor any of his posterity had such abilities, and for any thing they could do, they should have born their own iniquities, which was such a yoke, that neither Patriarch nor Apostle were able to bear; change of mind and forgivenesse of sins was ever preached to be by the second Adam, Luke 24.47. Be it knowne therefore to all men (saith this first promise) that through this blessed seed, the son of God made man is preached to us the forgivenesse of sins, and by him all that beleeve are justified (that is, made free) from the guilt of sin and punishment, from which we could not be justified or made free by the Law of Moses, Acts 13. The world was 3960 yeares from the Apostasie of the first Adam, to [Page 24]the Redemption by the second Adam, and who in all that time saved himselfe from death, Death reigned over all, old and young; it is the second Adam that conquered death, the reward of originall sin, and hee rose againe for the justification or freedome of all. Gods Children from sin and feare of death. Oh that selfe conceited and proud iniquity would once stop its mouth; for every mouth shall be stopped, and all the world shall be subject to the judgement of God, Acts 13. and 15. Rom. 4 ult. What the Law of works could not do, the election hath obtained, Rom. 11.

VI. Mark that from this first and maine free promise, God hath convey­ed all comforts, of wisdome, justification, (or Freedome) Sancti­fication and Redemption, on fallen man, and no way else can or ought to be sought after: It could never have entred into the heart of man to thinke of this way, if God of his rich Grace had not first declared this rich mystery of his will in a free promise; how could our first fallen Parents have thought of a Redeemer, much lesse of the meanes of ob­taining such a Redeemer at the hands of God. This mystery was ordai­ned in Gods eternal Council and providence, before the foundacion of the world was laid, to be revealed upon Adams fall, his ways are unsearch­able, his wisdome, mercy, power, and love is past finding out, and doubtlesse our first parents and all their faithfull posterity, could but with admiration, say the Epitaph not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entred into the heart of man the things that God [...]ath prepared for them that love him 1 Co [...]. 2. Of him and through him, and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever Amen, Esa. 43.25. Esa. 48.9, 10, 11. Rom. 11. Jer. 31.33. Jer. 32.39. Ezek. 36.25.26.

VII. Christ was promised a Redeemer, not only from the guilt and punishment of sin, but to make us in himselfe Sons of God; even new creatures.

VIII. All outward comforts come by promise in Christ; severall godly persons of late years have done well in composing Treatises of the promi­ses.

IX. It is to admiration, That Jehovah the eternall God, should seeke to enter into a covenant of Grace with fallen man, with the slaves of the Devill, with enemies, and with children of wrath, that he should en­ter into a free promise and Covenant with us to be our God, and to make us to be his people. See his kindnesse to the polluted infant in Ezek. 16.

X. All things are made subject to Christ, as the heir of all from the first day of Adams fail, but Satan doth labour with all sedulity to with­draw mans Blind heart from the understanding of this doctrine, and doth labour to suggest fond imaginations of idolatry, superstition, bodily exercises and Fables &c. to corrupt it, and by persecution to hinder it; yea to abolish it: This is a Doctrine of Faith which no naturall man can at­tain [Page 25]untill his mind and divine illumination be regenerate and made ca­pable to comprehnd this hid mystery of God in Christ.

All precepts, promises and threatnings, are ordained to bring fallen man to obey the Son of God as mediator. All the victory, administra­tions of Christs Kingdome by the word, seals, censures, &c. are for this purpose till the mediatorian Kingdome be redelivered, 1 Cor. 15. But all things are cheifly intended for the Elect, 1 Cor. 14.32.

11. The second not on Gen. 12.13. may be of use here.

12. Thus from the first preaching of the Gospell, we must observe why Christ is called Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, not only in cau­ses and effects, but also of all divine Revelation in the blessed scrip­tures, all runs on him. All the Promises, Threatnings, Commandements, Examples, Chastisements, &c. all drive us to Christ, he also is Alpha and Omega in all the praises of the Church, he is also the maine matter and marke of the holy Bible, All things were created by him and for him, and he is before all things, and by him all things consist, and hee is the head of the body, the Church, Col 1.18.

In 3. Q. [The seed of the woman] Hence Children should be first (a) taught to read Gen 3. with Luke 3. and Luke 4 together for two princi­pall ends, first, To know, how Jesus our Lord is of the blessed Virgin Ma­ry of Eli, and of Adam and Eve naturally, and in this respect the Gene­alogie of men in Luke 3. are the glory of mankind, being all Fathers to the Son of God after the flesh.

2. The better to compare the sorrowfull combate of Adam, being killed on his first day, from the life of the soule to death in sin, with the glori­ous combate and victory of our Lord the second Adam, driving Satan to flight, and the reason why the Son of God should take hold of mans na­ture, is purposely handled by the Apostle, in Ebr. 2. Ebr. 3. Ebr. 4. Ebr. 5. Great is the mystery of Godlinesse, God manifested in the flesh, It is most glo­rious to consider it, and how it hath been diligently taught in every age from Gen. 3.15. and for the better knowing of this mystery, the Law of Moses was made, the Tabernacle, and the frame of the world, and well might David and Solomon say with admiration, That God would dwell with man on earth, also in his apparitions to the Saints before the Flood, and to the Patriarchs and Prophets,, he spake with us, (marke this corporation speech in Hos. 12.4.) At Bethel, and dwelt among us, in his Tabernacle and Ordinances, then in the Temple till the captivity, then in the second Temple, and then at last he became very man, making our flesh his Tabernacle, and dwelt among us, Joh. 1.14. Cor. 6. but his speciall residence in us is in our hearts by Faith, These things made singing affections in the Saints of old, Ps. 40. Ps 100. Ps: 135. Ps. 147. Ps. 149. Ps. 149.1 Chr. 16.1 King. 8.2 Sam. 7. Joh. 17. Ex. 15. and any that duely consider this, cannot but sing praises to the God of our Salvati­on.

(d) In Q. 3. [Of Adam in the Genealogie] When the holy spirit bringeth Genealogies from the first man unto Jesus our Lord, it may teach all men that the world was made and had a beginning, so Moses Law taught Misgraim, that is the Egyptians and others in his time, and Ezra the Persians too, before Aristotle and such Athean praters, 1 Chron. 1.1. see Bro. in Manuscript.

(e) In Q 4. and Answ. [He might govern] Genesis sheweth how that by the word of Jehovah the Heavens were made, all the setled Army of them by the spirit of his mouth, and when man fell, the word telleth, That for the destroying of the workes of the Serpent, hee would be made flesh, and have a Tabernacle in our nature, and so to be a second Adam to govern all things. In which point the Patriarks faith is evidenced by the charge of Joseph to carry his bones with theirs unto the Land of Ca­naan, where our Lords Resurrection should be a testimony of a new world, see Bro. in Appo. 1.108. The government of the world to come (for so the Jewish Doctors did stile the dayes of Messiah) is that meditore­an Kingdome which the holy Prophet so magnifieth to endure through all ages and generations, Ps. 8. Ps. 45. Ps. 93. Ps. 145. &c. And this Kingdome of Christ the second Adam is handled in 1 Cor. 15. Ebr. 2. Eph. 1.22. from Ps. 8. Namely, That the Son eternall should rule as the mediator of his Church, till all things be restored, but then his Kingdome shall be delivered up when the last enemies death & Sathan are perfectly subdued and destroyed, Then all the elect which have been called, justi­fied and adopted in Christ by the word of his kingdome & by the work of his spirit, shall be presented unto the father, and all prophesying, and (f) all other new victory, sweet helps of our edification in the body of Christ, shall cease, for then shall be the fullnesse; Eph. 4.11.12.13.

In Q 4. [Heire of all] David with great admiration doth handle this in Ps. 8. He the second Adam upholds all by the word of his power and this he shewed in Noah, when all beasts and Elements obeyed him at the flood, and so at the destruction of Sodom, Jehovah from Jehovah (g) rained fire and brimstone, Gen. 16. and so in the days of Joshuah, 10.11

In like sort, those noble and excellent descriptions of Christ his per­son and Office (in the three fold Offices of Prophet, Preist, and King) are wonderfull for all sorts of heavenly and terrible Doctrine, in Psal. 2. Psal. 45. Psal. 110. Esa 9. Dan. 7. Dan 9. Dan. 10. Daq. 12. and that in Apot. 1. may well comprehend the summe of them all, but all of them should first be minded as expounding, Gen. 3.15. Eph. 1.22.23. Col. 1.14.15. & the Epistle to the Ebr. all of it, He is the blessed & only potentate to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, 1 Tim 6. Apoc 19. Joh 3.35. The Father lo­veth the Son and hath given all things into his hands, wee must reve­rence the Heir, and beleevingly obey him, for Christ is appointed a Prince and a Saviour, to give change of minde and forgivenesse of sins. This was taught from the beginning, that hee should be this horne of Salvation, and of this Doctrine, there have been prophets to declare it ever since the world began, Luke 1.70. Act. 3.21.

In Q. 4. [From the day of mans fall] All the time from the time of mans fall to the restoring of all things by the Messiah, is called, The World to come, and it is subjected to the Messiah, Ebr. 2.5. but the restitu­tion of all things is first prophesied in Act. 3.21.

In Q. and Answ. 5. [Satan brought man, n. 1.] Man was ever the (h) object of Satans harred: and as Christ was man of the seed of the decei­ved woman, and appointed to combate with Sathan for mans Redemp­tion: so Christ was the object of Sathans most deadly hatred: but such was the perfection of his obedience under his greatest enmity, that hee spoiled principalities and powers, even in his death on the crosse, Col 2.15. and this comfort also belongs to all the persecuted Saints, that this great Red Dragon is chained, Apoc. 20. and shall shortly be utter­ly troden under our feet, Rom. 16.

In Q. 5. [Christ the second Adam] Christ destroyeth Sathans workes, (i) not only in us, but from without us, and this is [...]n unchangeable truth, in all those that are called according to Gods purpose, Joh. 13.1. Christ is the restorer of all things, in him wee have all things that appertaine to life and godlinesse; he is the Corner stone that couples all the building, and there is no other name under Heaven whereby we can be saved, Act. 4 None but Christ, as blessed Lambard said, Him hath God the Father sea­led, Joh. 6.27. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to all the Israel of God, and forgive­nesse of sins, And this is a sure rule from the beginning, He that belee­veth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that beleeveth not the son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him, Joh. 3 [...]36. so then cursed was he that said, Si & illa, & illa colantur; neque esse noxium, si inter Gentilium aras & Dei Ecclesiam quis transiens, utraque v [...]nerc [...]ur; and little better are the Atheisticall moderators of our dayes, 1631.1632.1633. 1634.1635.1636.1637.

In Q. 5. [And Adoption] And now little Children abide in him (the (k) second Adam) that when he shall appear, we may have boldnesse, and not be ashamed before him at his coming, 1 Joh. 2. By him wee have a­doption, Joh. 1.12. and his spirit doth enable us to cry Abba Father, mark these scriptures, Ebr. 4.14.15, 16. Rom. 8.15. Eph. 2.18. Rom. 5.1, 2.

In Q 5. N. 11. [Christ the second Adam] Now Sathan the old Ser­pent, (l) spirituall weaknesses, and the God of this world, doth, by Gods just judgement, make war against us, about super-celestiall things, and wrastleth cunningly to hold us still in our most miserable estare of blind­nesse, imprisonment, and bondage: but, by the power of the second Adam, and by the word of his Grace, we are set free, and such as are blinde do receive their sight, and by his grace we are made able to stand, resist, and overcome: his Grace is in us and over us, and the Apostle of the Gentiles salutes them all thus, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen. Esa. 42.6.7. Esa. 49.9. Ephes. 6.1. Ioh. 2, Rom 7. Esa. 45. 24.

(m) In Q. 5. [The life of holinesse] In him was life, and the life was the light of men, Ioh 1. Ioh 8.12 The second Adam saith, I am the light of the world, he that followeth me shall not walke in darkenesse, but shall have the light of life, his Law restoreth the soule, Psal. 19 Ps. 23. Ephes. 2.1. Eph. 4.24. Col. 3.10.1. Co [...]. 15.49. Esa. 11 9.1 Ioh. 1. Ioh. 2 4. He is the true Shepherd and Bishop of our Soules.

(n) In Q 5. N. 3. [Christ the second Adam] The appearing of our Sa­viour Jesus Christ, as it was promised, hath brought life and immor­tality through the Gospel, 2 Tim. 1. Marthas and our Lords conference was heavenly, the shewes; that she expected life and immortality through him, Ioh. 11.21. and 1 Cor. 15.1 Thess. 4. And Iohs faith for this point is worthy of all consideration Ioh 19. Ps. 46.15. Ps. 17.15. Sin reigns to death through the first Adam, but grace reigns through Righteousnesse (or freedome) to eternall life through Christ the second Adam, R [...]m. 5. The comparisons of the first and second Adam, are most sweet, in Rom. 5. and 1 Cor. 15.

Secondly, Consider further, how our Lord doth sustaine us in this our pilgrimage, he is said to hold our soules in life, in him wee live, he is our life and the lenghth of our dayes he provides and gives meanes of life, meat to eat, and cloathes to put on, he is our preserver in all places, and at all times, he speaks to diseases to come and to go, and when hee plea­seth to withold his preservation wee languish and dye, the Godly have the feeling and knowledge of all this, they finde they have their life from Jesus as from a common stock, even for the body, he is a second Adam to us, that his life might be made manifest in our mortall flesh, Ioh 7.20. Ps. 30.2. Cor. 4.8. Jehovah i.e. Christ is thy life through Israel, Deut. 30.20. not Moah, nor Ammon, nor Edom.

(o) In Q 5. N. 4 [under curse] All afflictions are comprehended in this and the like sayings, First, cursed is the earth for thy sake, for in sor­row thou shalt eat of it, Gen. 3 17. Secondly, I will greatly multiply thy sor­row, Gen. 3.16. Thirdly, I will put enmity between the Serpent and the wo­man, and thou, Sathan, sh [...]lt bruise his foot-stoole, Gen. 3.15.

For the two former, see how Christ doth for his chosens sake destroy Sathans workes in Ps. 8. Ps. 107. Ps. 128. Ioh 5.23. Hos. 2.18. 1 Tim. 4. Tit. 1.15. 1 Tim 2.14.15 The creatures are joyfull to be imployed for the churches uses, Ps. 65. Ps. 67. Es. 44.23. Hos. 2.21.22. They are puri­fied from the usurpation of the curse, made usefull, serviceable, and san­ctified by the Covenant, and by the word of promise, and by holy and humble prayer, Ez [...]k. 36.37 But many cases of conscience do often a­rise for these things in our hearts, If Christ destroy Sathans workes, how is it that there be so many afflictions, restraints, crosses, &c. in our per­sons labours and estates, whereas in the meane time the wicked do com­monly prosper? All is answered in Iohs booke and in Ps. 73. Ps. 30 Ps. 37. All the affliction of the godly is either for the tryall of Graces, or for the purging of vices; by Christ the curse is removed and afflictions [Page 29]are sanctified, and by his discipline made wholesome medicines, the counsells of God are unsearchable, but what he doth is in wisdome, love, and righteousnesse, and in that respect hee makes all to worke together for good to them that love God, why then should wee dispute, mur­mur, distrust, or judge hardly of our selves or of others that fear God, or have an ill opinion of the Lord God; every event is an Oracle, Be dumbe therefore before the shearer, the more we strugle the lesse we prevaile, no wise Father doth greive his child willingly, so God doth not afflict wil­lingly, Lam 3.31. but when need is, 1 Pet. 1. Lay therefore thy face to the ground in a holy submission, that so there may be hope, Lam. 3.27. Esa. 28 23.

And as for that third saying, That Sathan shall be at enmity with the wo­man, and shall bruise, consider Psal. 129. Rom. 8.28.2 Thes. 1. &c. all these sums of afflictions must call to remembrance the sin of our first Pa­rents, in whom all have sinned, Rom 5.12.

In Q. 5. N. 4 [Vanity and corruption] All Ecclesiasts must here be considered, which sheweth from a plentifull induction, the variety of (p) Gods Providences to finde the instability and passing away of all under the Sun, that so we might be diligent all our life long, to see how the soul may stand in judgement for the hope of eternall comfort, Gods aim is to bring us to this, saying nothing but Christ, Ps. 73. and to this not to love the world, nor the things that are in the world. 1 Ioh. 2.15. 1 Cor. 7. 31.

In Q. 5. N. 4 [Service of the creatures] The very creatures do joy both in the temporall and spirituall good of the Church, (as hath been (r) touched above) Luke 15.10. Ps. 65. Ps. 67. Es. 43.23. Apoc. 5.11.12.13. Ps. 24 Ps, 91. The Angells, the Stars, the Heavens, the Rivers, the Seas, the Earth with windes, stormes, tempests, haile, &c. Ps. 18. Iud. 5. Ps. 11 All these are ordered for the good of Christ and his Church. Ps. 96. Psal 98. And Christs intercession doth mitigate the curse Gen. 8.21. Psal. 128.

I will once more breifly summe up these four heads.

The first old Adam was a figure, (but in a contrary way) of the se­cond Adam that was to come, The first Adam by his sin was the corrupter of all things, the second Adam the restorer of all things, by his obedience procuring our Regeneration & Justification; the godly are a new creation, old things are passed away, all things through Christ are become new to them, and hence that speech is glorious, All things are yours, whe [...]her the world, life, or death; whether things present or things to come, all condi [...] ­ons, all events are yours, all the Ordinances, all the Officers both of Church and Common-weale are yours, all the Angells are yours, all the promises and precepts are yours, Christ is yours, God is yours, yee are Christs, and Christ is Gods, 1 Cor. 3.

In Q. 6. N: 1 [The seed of Sathan] This is the malignant Church, But observe through all the holy story, how the Son of God the second Adam (t) [Page 30]hath whet his sword, bent his bow, and prepared his arrowes against them, he hath both promised and sworne to the Church, that hee will have war with him from generation to generation, even untill Sathans head-plot is wholy broken, Ps. 7. both by giving them over to spirituall judgements, and to outward plagues, Thou hast troden all them that erre from thy statutes, for their deceit is falshood, thou puttest a­way all the wicked of the earth like drosse, Therefore I love thy testimo­nies, Ps. 119.116. Jer. 6.30. And in the promise to Abraham, God doth curse them Gen. 12. and Lev. 26. The holy spirit doth also in detestation describe them by many infamous titles and comparisons, Seed of the Ser­pent, Gen. 3.15. Mal. 3. Angels of the Devill, Sons of Belial, &c. these are the multitude that go the broad way to destruction; as may be seene in the Apostacy of the old world, and in the Apostacy of Nimrod, and in the Apostacy of the ten Tribes, by the perswasion of Jeroboam, and of the two Tribes not long after: so liwkeise it fell out in the Kingdome of the King of Locusts.

(u) In Q. 6. [Adopted Sons of God] These are the Church militant, yet great is their glory in the Covenant and in the promises that are made to them in Christ; they have glorious Titles, They are called the Sons of God, the Angells of Christ, the truest of the living God, his spouse, his portion which God hath created for his promise, Es. 43. This is that Kingdome of Christ that endureth to the end, and that consumeth all other kingdoms that oppose the little flock that go the narrow way that leadeth unto life.

(x) In Q. 6. N. 11. [God made this promise] God was the first teacher of the glad tidings of the Doctrine of faith, to open the blind eyes, and to turne men from darknesse to light, and from the power of Sathan to God: When Adam was become poor, blind, miserable and naked, God was pleased to give his collyrion eye salve from the promise of Christ, for that declaration of Redemption by the seed of the woman was de­nounced as a threatning to the Serpent, but as it was spoken in the hearing of Adam and Eve, it implyed a promise of Redemption to them from Sathans head-plot, so the promise was also made to once ungodly Abraham before his calling, where now was free will, merits, works foreseen, &c. Read Esa. 42.7.16. Esa. 43 25. Psal. 103. All is of free Grace.

(y) In Q. 6 N 11. [Nay it could not enter] This made the Apostle to break forth into joy and praise, because God doth to us (not to the Angells that fell) above all that we can aske or thinke, Eph. 3.20.21. Christ saith, I was sound of them that sought me not, Es. 65.1. and of this wonderful mercy did David and Aethan sing; Psal 40. Psal. 89. Psal. 103. This is the great and wonderfull thing of Christs Law that David prayed that he might see with opened eyes, Psal. 119.18. and Paul for the Ephe­sians, Eph. 1.18. Great and glorious is the mystery of Godlinesse, that the Son of God should be manifested in the flesh for the effecting of all this, to [Page 31]the elect, Gen. 3-15. and Esa. 57.15. is very pertinent, yea all the blessed Scriptures are the Revelation of these glad tidings of the Gospell from Gen. 3.15.

In Q. 6. N. 11. [Till the Spirit of Christ] The word is of no effect (z) without the spirit, neither doth the spirit ordinarily worke without the blessed meane, (never contrary) to his own divine Revelation; as God commanded the light to shine out of darknesse: so he gives a command to his word to be a light and a Lamp in our dark hearts, by the operation of his spirit, and by this meanes he makes his exhortations, covenants and promises to be effectuall means for the reconciling of our enemy, cogita­tion: The learning of Christs Law, doth worke in us a new creation; Eph. 4.20, 21, 22, 23, 24. The Law of Christ the true shepherd is a Doctrine of restoring and converting the soule, Ps. 19. Ps. 23. of his own good will, begat he us with the word of truth, so sweet and precious is the Law of Christ.

In Q. 6. N. 3. [The workes of the Devill] from the First Adam we (a) have his image and likenesse, even corruption of corruption; corrupt we are in blood, in flesh, in will; this was the worke of the Serpent, and that it might be destroyed, the eternall word became flesh, the second Adam, that so from his infinite fullnesse wee might have grace for grace; being made Sons in him by faith, that speech is heavenly. As we have the image of the earthly Adam, so we shal bear the image of the heavenly Adam, not only in the second but also in the first Resurrection. The second Adam in both is a quickning spirit, the begotten is like unto him that begetteth; else no communion with God and Christ, and God is only the God of such, 1 Cor. 1.30.1 Cor 15.49.1 John 1.1. Ioh. 5.4. Parents are meanes to beget, and (with travaile) to bring forth children after the image of the first sinfull Adam, like the foale of a wilde Asse,, so they should with all holy care and diligence travell in birth again till the second A­dam be formed in them; if any man be in Christ the second Adam, he is a new creature, and partaker of the divine nature, 2 Cor 5.17.1 Ioh. 4. 17.1 Pet. 1.22. Col. 3.10. and see how the old and new Adam are com­pared, in Eph. 4.17. &c. The scripture saith, that the second Adam had not the spirit by measure, but that all fullnesse pleased to dwell in him, and that he was filled with the spirit of the Lord; with the spirit of wis­dome, counsell, strength, understanding, knowledge, and of the feare of Jehovah, and that of his fullnesse wee all have, in some measure, answe­rable grace, Es. 11 2. Es 42.6, 7. Christ is the head of the body, Rege­generation by the matter of holy doctrine, and by the spirit was taught to Nicodemus to be from Christ the second Adam, Ioh. 3. Hence many cases of conscience may arise in the mind: If Christ have destroyed Sa­thans workes in us, how is it that sin is of such force in us, All this is answered in Rom. 7. and Rom. 8. and Rom. 12.3. Gal. 5.16, 17, 18. Es. 42.3. Es. 57.15,

(b) In Q. 6. N. 3. [Of the corrupt nature] This state is in no wise to be rested in, be wee never so formall in Religion outwardly: The unregenerate cannot please God. his prayer is turned into sin, his sacri­fice is an abomination, his wisdome is enmity against God. The good workes of the Heathens, yea of the Scribes and Pharisees, though ma­terially good, were but splendida peccata, their hearing of the word, and showes of profession comes to no fruit; as in the three former sorts of ground, Mat. [...]3. As in Kain a great heir, Achitophel a private coun­sellor, Herod a King, Iscariot an Apostle, Symon Magus a great Schol­lar, &c. &c. Their execution of Lawes for civill policy, through Christs over-ruling is turned to good for society of humane life, and sometime a wall of defence for the Church, as the Apostle Paul found Neroes au­thority long a defence against the Masters of traditions. Our Natures are so corrupt, that our spirits are most vile for hatred, enmity and fretting against God and Christs Kingdome, evermore in war as ene­mies; bea [...]ing weapons against him, Rom. 6 Be [...]t to anger God, for Sa­than the Prince of darknesse rules in the Children of disobedience, Eph. 2. Col. 1. Rom. 1.1 Cor. 1. Jam. 4. Rom. 8 7.

(c) In Q 6. N. 3. [In whom we are compleat] If a man wade into the depth of all that is in the first old Adam, he cannot be compleat, whether Philo­sophy, humane Traditions, commandements and Doctrines; but in Christ the second Adam, are all measures of heighth, depth, length, breadth yea and all treasures of Wisdome, Knowledge. Fortitude, Justice, Temperance, Freindship, Love, Patience, earning of Bowells, &c. And this we shall finde if we measure it with a golden reed, Job 28.1 Cor. 2. and 3.2 Tim. 3.15, 16, 17. Esa. 11. to 9. Eph. 4.21.22. &c. 1 Job. 3. 8, 9, 10. He enlightneth, changeth and guardeth both heart and mind, enlivens the conscience, makes the memory retentive of good things, sweetly turns & draws the will, mortifies the inordinacy of the passions, & rules the min all holy majesty, neither to be dull in want, nor wanton in fruition, casteth down vain imaginations, bringeth into captivity every thought, commands the senses, clears and settles the fantasie, teach­eth to order speech and silence, subdueth the members of the body, to be weapons and servants unto righteousnesse and holinesse. Breifly he liveth, he thinketh, he speaketh, he worketh all in us, Of him, and through him, and for him are all things, that God in him may be glorified. This is the influence that cometh from the second Adam, in his Ordi­nances publick and private, to all the building of his mysticall body, un­till we all reach unto the unity of faith, and the Knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the ful­nesse of Christ, without whom we are void and without form, darkness, dead, dry stakes, (2 Cor. 4.) and out of whom wee neither have nor can do nothing. But following the truth in Love (as the truth of this hea­ling Doctrine, is to be sought and found only in JESUS) we grow up in all points into him which is the head, even Christ himselfe, by whom all the body conveniently joyned and fastned together by every point [Page 33]of the furuit [...]re according to the operation of the spirit, which is in mea­sure of every severall part, reneweth increase of the body unto the e­difying of it selfe in Love.

A proud Laodicean Arminian, thinkes and speaks contrary, which shewes he is not only ignorant of Christ and his learning, but of his own naturall Philosophy, Nosce teipsum, What naturall abilities did and would worke, we see Jer, 4.22. Job 28. Rom. 1.1 Cor. 1. But no change of heart to fear God in Christ; here heathens who could say, Video melio­ra, deteriora sequor, might see further with the Apostle, Rom. 7.23. &c. But man sold unto sin, can neither hear nor see where God openeth not the eyes, and here the spirit teacheth the godly to groan, with sighings unspeakable, (See Mr. Bro. upon Lam. 1.11.) When we read in the ho­ly scriptures, or elsewhere, of errours in judgement, and sins in practise in heathens and others, then refer all hither, to thinke upon the poy­son of the serpent, breathed into the natures of our first Parents, which could never by all humane learning be healed. The truth is, man is most adverse to be cured till Christ by his word and spirit illuminate and quicken, The Pharisees were the most excellent of all naturalists, yet they could not attain to the Law of Righteousnesse, (or freedome from sin and guilt) Rom. 7.8, 9, 10.11. chapters, Phil. 3.3, 4, 5. &c. The plaine reason is, they despised to know this glorious hidden mystery of Christ the second Adam, and missed the meaning of the Law.

In the 6. Quest. N. 3. [Doth rule all ages] The second Adam and (d) his doctrine is the light, the way, the truth and the life to all gene­rations The song of all ages is, Salvation is of our God, and of the Lambe Apoc 5 9. and Chap. 7.10, 11, 12. This is the true Catholik faith, faith in Christ ever one and the same, although the outward Administration did differ, Psal. 100.5. & 119.89. & 135.13.1 Pet. 1. JESUS CHRIST yesterday and to day is the same, also for ever. Christ the Rock of all ages Esa. 26 4. Ebr. 13.2 John 1.2. He that cometh to God must beleeve that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently (by faith in Christ Jesus) seek him. This is a ruled case from the beginning, No man cometh to the Father but by the Son, The cloud of witnesses from Habell to our Lords dayes confirmeth this. Ebr. 11. all of it: And the clouds shall not catch up any to glory, but those of the same holy faith. This faith is the charge and commandement of the Lord, which the Saints are to keepe in­violable from age to age, without spot of heresie, or vanity of mans tra­ditions.

In Q. 6. N. 4. [To this faith he calleth his elect] The faith of Gods (e) elect is glory, and the righteous Nation that keepeth it entire, and wal­keth in it, is a most glorious people, not the like in the earth, if we con­sider the King of Saints, his Lawes, his government, and the purity of his subjects. Of this company of faithfull soules, and their King, their endearednesse each to other, the Canticles singeth, yea all the holy stories [Page 34]shew the same from the first to the last, Prov. 8.31.2 John. 9.

(f) Ibid. N. 5. [Great disputations, contentions, &c.] Here is the faith and patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandements of God and the faith of JESUS, Apoc. 13. and 12. and 14. When the Lord God spake that of Gen 3.15. fire was cast into the Earth, and a sword was sent, ever since there hath been divisions, factions, and con­tentions, Three against two, and two against three. Hitherto pertaine all the warrs, plottings, devises; deceits, slanderings, cavillations, moc­kings, [...]sco [...]nes, scoffings geerings, thrasonicall boastings, murders, massacres, treasons, &c. of them, of that wicked one. It is not liberties and states that the Seed of he Serpent so much shoots at, but blood, All that will live goldly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution, and yet in all tryalls whatsoever, faith is victorious. Christ sometimes builds his Jerusalem, Temple, street, and wall in troublous times; Note, where­as sufferings might be just punishments for sin, the Lord God in his un­speakable goodnesse, and in honour to the Saints, maketh them to be for testimony to his truth.

(g) [And his Angells by Satan] Many cases of conscience arise out of this, if Christ bruise Satans power, how is it that we suffer so many tri­alls; hence many doubtings, feares, teares, distractions, unrulinesse of passions? Psal. 73.1.1 Sam. 27.1. All is answered, Rom. 8.17, 18. Dan. 11.35. Mat. 10.1 Pet. 1.1 John 15. and 16. and God over-ruleth all for the good of his children, Apoc. 1.18. Psal. 33.10. and 76.10. and 94.19. and 119.75.2 Cor, 1. Phil. 4 5.6.7. Heb. 12. Be humble, and live the life of faith with temperate affections, and in the sober use of all good means, and all wil be well. 1 Cor. 7.29, 30, 31, 32. The spirituall armour belongs hither, Eph. 6 Afflictions are compared to darknesse, to waves of the sea, &c. God can still them, Psal. 89. and 93. wee looke not to the decree of God concerning sufferings, Gen. 3.15. that it must be so, wee propound selfe ends in profession of the Gospell. Verily we do not consider why we were borne, and for what cause we came into the world, if we did, all reasonings of our hearts would be silenced, then let us meditate that good confession that the Lord Jesus witnessed before Pilate, Iohn 18.37.

(h) In Q. 6. N. 6. [Brotherly love, holding one another dear] This is, and was the message that was taught from the beginning, 1 Iohn 3.11. Kains and Habells story is there remembred. This 6 point is the summ of. the second Table, and handled by exposition and example continually, See the later part of the Epistles to the Churches, to Rome, Corinth, Ga­latia, Ephesians, Colessians, Heb 10.24.25. Act. 4.32. Psal. 133. Ioh 15. compare 1 Iohn 3.23. and 4. ult. 2 Iohn. 5.6.2 Tim. 1.13.

(i) In Q. 6. N. 6. [And to have no fellowship] This enmity and warr of Michael and his Angells against the Dragon and his Angells, cannot, and therefore must not be reconciled, it is a cursed worke to endeavour it, And indeed either side holds one another Anathema. God hath put the enmity betweene the seeds, and who shall joyne that, which God, by [Page 35]principles of unreconcilable distance, hath perpetually divorced and se­parated, it was never yet reconciled, though Satan and his prophets and the false brethren in their owne ungracious projects have laboured, Gen. 6.2.3.4. &c. Numb. 31.16. Apoc. 2. Iud 2. and 3.1 King 11.1. and in Nehemiahs and Ezras dayes, God hath forbidden it, and plagued the transgression in the old and new Testament, 2 Cor. 6, and 7.1. Apoc 3.14. See Ezraes sadnesse, chap. 9.14. the affinity of Loegria with Gallia hath brought heavy wrath.

In Q 6. N. 7. [Praises and thanksgivings] He is thy Praise, and he (k) is thy God that hath done for thee th [...]se great and terrible things which thine eyes have seen Deut. 10,

For the duty of praise, Psal. 95. and 96. and 100. and 103 and 108, and for all kinds of blessings, spirituall and corporeall, and the assured hope of eternall, let us delight in this duty of praise and thanksgiving.

In Q. 6. N. 7. [Of each dayes creation] All the Hosts of the Heavens and (l) Earth worship him, if he give but a watch-word to any of his creatures, to any of his hosts, they rebell not against his word, his word runs very swiftly in them, Ps. 136. and 91. &c see this in all the stories of the word and especially when the saints offer up strong cryes to Jehovah of Hosts. a terrour to the seed of the serpent who engage all the armies of Heaven and Earth and seas against them, 1 Sam. 7. See much of Ps. 18.6, 7, 8, &c. (m)

In Q. 6. N. 7. [For deliverance] Psal. 136.23.24. Apoc. 15. and 19. All the plagues of Pharoah shew this, His plagues were from Iehovah E [...]him from each dayes creation in Ge [...]. 1. The thankfull remembrance of Gods mercy to our blessed England, is worthy of happy memory, Eph. 3.20.21.

In 7. Quest. and Answ. [Christ who is Alpha and Omega, the first and (n) the last, is the first and the last teacher of his own religion and worship] Man not precisely cleaving to divine revelation, is an idolatrous, super­stitious, and selfe-willed foole, although hee will make great shew of wisdome and humility.

In Q 7. [I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus (o) Christ and him crucified] This holy Doctrine is breathed constantly in all the holy scriptures from the beginning. Sacrifice was a seal of justifi­cation (or freedome from guilt of sin and punishment) that is by faith. Sacrifice was still taught with the Doctrine. God made a covenant with man fallen by sacrifice, and when they sacrificed they prayed, Gen. 12.8 1 Sam. 7.9, Yea Habel Gen. 4. Eb 11. consider Ps. 20. all of it. and Gen. 15. God promised, Abraham beleeved, and to strenghen his faith, sacrifice was added, and it is say, God made a covenant with Abraham the same day. From the time of mans fall, beasts were killed for sacrifice, and it kindled first with fire from Heaven. The tame, quiet, and mild kinde as Ox, Sheep, and Goat, and birds not devouring, as Turtle and Pigeon and other little birds, no beasts of prey nor birds of prey, but such as feed upon seed are fit for sacrifice. These shewed that the second Adam by his combating with Satan through his constant patience and ho­ly [Page 36]obedience unto death, should procure our justification or freedome from Satans power. Also such manner of sacrifices taught us mortificati­on following Christ, and profession of a quiet and harmlesse life. For no Tyrants can sacrifice to God, but just quiet and patient folke, 1 Tim. 2.8. And the keeping of the fire once kindled, taught them not to quench the spirit. That speech of Apoc. 13. must here be minded, Christ was the Lambe slaine from the foundacion of the world: slaine in the decree of the blessed Trinity, and in the Church by types of the Lords owne ap­pointment.

(p) In Q 7. [The presence of God] Holy convocations, together with Gods Ordinances, was so called in after times, called also the Courts of God, there is Gods residence, there he keeps Court, and glorious is it to consider, Exod. 20 24. and chap. 29.43.44.2 Cor. 6. For it is sayd, There will I meet with thee. There we sit at his f [...]et, as his disciples, to heare his words; at the posts of wisdome wee must attend Prov. 9. There is the beauty of holinesse, his own commanded worships: There is the provision of the heavenly housholder, there the blessed shepheard feeds the flock of his fold. Oh see the comforts that an holy soule doth there finde, Psal. 23. and 36. and 40. and 42. and 65. and 84. and 95. and 100. and 132. &c. The Saints as Habell have blessed com­munion with God their exceeding joy, there the Saints, the Israel of God rejoyce in his Makers, the children of Sion rejoyce in their King, Je­hovah their God is with them, the joyful shout of a King is among them, There the holy voluntaries, the army of Heaven, assemble and compass their commander, and blessed and holy is the communion that the Saints have there one with another, and especially it shineth when there is none unclean and profane of their company. Infinite are the uses of applicati­on, how that we in all things must remember, That holinesse becomes his house, and presence for ever, What preparations, longings, and atten­tion to meet such a King, such a Father, such a Bridegroome, &c. in­such holy Ordinances, and before men to shew forth the virtues of him that hath called them, that as their King is holy so they to be holy in all manner of conversation. Solemn assemblies without mixture of mens in ventions is a deare blessing, it is an Eden, the very Garden of God, E­zek. 28. Cant. 4 3.

In 8. Quest and Answ. [Habel] Now faith is the expectation of that which is hoped, and the tryer our of things which are not seen, for by it the Elders were well reported of. By faith Habel offered unto God, a more excellent sacrifice then Kaine, by which he obtained witnesse that he was righteous (i. e. j [...]stified, that is freed from sins, guilt and desert) God te­stifying of his offerings; and by it he being dead yet speaketh, Eb [...]. 11.4. So Habels faith did speak to the revolting Hebrewes, how and from whom they must expect justification and salvation.

(t) In 9. Quest. and Answ. [Began the war] Where, as it is sayd, the seed [Page 37]of the serpent shall bruise, it sheweth they should be of great power, out­ward glory and temporall felicity, as from Kaine through all the holy stories, Psal. 44. and 73. and 79. Job 12 and 22. Apoc. 13. &c. &c.

In Q 9. [The holy seed] Habel for love to Christ, was the first that was (q) accounted as a sheep for the slaughter, that was killed for the word of God and faith & testimony of Jesus Christ Hence the Proverb begins to take place, The just is an abomination to the wicked, Observe hence that the wicked are one corporation from Kain to the end of the world, and all the godly from Habel to the end of the of the world are another corporation in Christ. And therfore what persecution Kain did to Habel, wicked men are now guilty of, Psal. 66.6. Hos 12.4. Mat. 23.35. for they would have done the same to our Lord, to the Prophets, as Kain did to Habel, if they had then lived. And ungodly men have, do, and will fulfill the measures of their forefathers impieties, in persecutions, massacres, trea­cheries, gunpowder-plot, cruell mockings, &c. ungodly men cannot trample on God; but they reach as high as they can against his image, both in his Ordinances, and his saints, and his graces in them, this is the highest step they can go; as Achab, Jerom, Joash, & Jehoiakim, fretted against God, and they would be revenged by imprisoning and killing his Prophets. Christ & his Doctrine have been called & esteemed, [...]nathema, even from the beginning of all that wil not receive his Doctrine in the love of it: so it was accounted of Kain, when Christ would not accept his bodily exer­cise, so he saith, Visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, Ex [...]d. chapt. 20. So they despised his Statutes, and did abhor his judgements, Levit. 26 15.

In 10. Quest. and Answ. [A great Apostasie] All flesh had corrupted his way both in religion and conversation, Gen. 6. Job 21. and 22. Mat. 24. Iudas Thad 14.15. So Iudah were corrupters, Esai. 1. Ier. 6. They were but flesh, they cared not for regeneration (nor the Doctrine of it) to serve the Law of God in their minds, for the imagination of their heart was only evill continually, They mocked the religion of the Second Adam, Ion 21. and 22. they desired not to know the waies of Christ.

In Q. 10. [Ungodly marriages] The Sons of God the visible Church (s) regarded not Gods distinction of the holy seed, so after times found them to be snares and traps, treachery, profanesse, and abomination to the Gospel, Common-Weale, and Family.

In Q. 10. [Glorious house] Glorious for Cities, Wealth, Musick, (t) Pleasures, Feasting, Strength, Arts, and vaine deceitfull beauty; the flourishing estate of the wicked doth commonly prevaile for apostacy with the open Church or multitude.

In Q. 10. [A confluence] When people have not a sincere care to (u) know, but set light by the faith of the Son of God, the mystery of godli­nesse, then all ungodlinesse and unrighteousnesse will be seene in mens conversations, This is evident through all ages of the holy story, and in all Common-Weales, Families, and persons at this day, which either [Page 38]retaine not, or cast off the mystery of Faith in a pure conscience, no religion teacheth nor worketh in the heart and carriage such strictness of a peaceable and holy life, as the paterne of wholesome words, faith and love which is in Christ Jesus, Deut. 4.5, 6, 7, 8. And verily there can be neither holinesse nor righteousnesse in truth, but in them that are renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created them, that is of the man Christ Jesus, the second Adam, the Lord from heaven, 1 Cor. 15.47. Esa. 11.1. to 9.

(f) In Quest. 10. [Remember] After our first Parents were turned to dust, the rest of the holy Fathers dyed not long one after the other (except Henoch) yet they had three witnesses of Christ to the floud, that conte­sted against their apostasie, Methuselah, Lam [...]ch, and Noah; But Henoch had before spoken of, terror to the wicked, and godly Lamech of comfort to the faithfull.

(x) In 11. Quest and Answ. [Through faith] Now faith is the expectati­on of that which is hoped, and a tryer out of things which are not seene, for by it the Elders are well reported of, by Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen, as yet moved with feare, prepared the Arke to the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world, and was made heir of the justification that is by faith, Eb [...]. 11. A beleever will be care­full of the salvation of his houshold.

In Q. 11. [Good report] Faith in the Son of God is most glorious, faith evidencing things not seen, made all the Elders honourable in a good report, in life and death, and after death, whose faith we are ex­horted to follow; a godly man should so walke, as all hee doth should evidence to the soule things not seen, All Ecclesiastes tendeth to confirm this in us, as godly Lamech testified.

(*) In Q 11. [Sons] The floud in the faithfull doth shew the benefit of adoption and covenant, the faith of God is not without its effect, though many did [...]all away, and the Ordinances were unsavoury to them, 2 Cor. 2.16. Our Natures so universally depraved, that whilst we are in the flesh unconverted we cannot please God, without saith it is impossible we should please God, or that God should please us, Jus divinum 31.

(y) In Q 11. [City and country] They beleeving on the Son of God had everlasting life, and came not into condemnation, but passed from death to life: Minde it, a present possession, and immediate passage, no judg­ment intervenning, nor torment, All the faithfull till the fulness of time had perfect joy in an immortall state of life and glory with God in the Kingdome of Heaven, Matt. 8.11. and therefore are termed, Them in Heaven, Eph. 1.10. and the family of Heaven, Chap. 3.15. Away then with the dotages of Lymbo and purgatorie, and all other cursed opinions of the heathens, and heathnish Kingdome, Abyssigena, Apoc. 9. Psal. 17. and 22. 4, 5. Psal. 36.8.9. Dan. 7.18. Psal. 49.15. and 73.24. Esa. 3.10. Pro. 14.32. Job. 5.24.

In Q. 11. [Wherefore they had preservation] The fleed was a sacra­ment (t) to the faithfull of Salvation to which answereth Baptisme, 1 Pet. 3. Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they should deliver but their own soules, by their righteousnesse faith the Lord God, Ezek. 14.14. confer this to Gen. 6. many observations may be collected see the effectuall saith of Noah, which he shewed by his workes, belee­ving he seared, made the Arke, and was carefull to save his houshold, he prayed for the wicked mocking world, he stood in the gap to turne a­way wrath, so J [...]b prayed for his freinds, and God heard him, so Daniel Chap. 2.18.23. and was heard, so Christ had heard Noah, but would no more after the decree came forth for one hundred and twenty yeares, so Jeremiah prayed, but at last would not be heard; hee was forbidden to pray. Things come to an extremity, when Gods forbids his remem­brancers, if the whole state will not humble themselves, yet let Noah Daniel, and Job do it, they shall have comfort, they shall be sealed to be kept safe, When Unbeleevers, despisers, mockers, feasters, drinkers, and all abominable shall be shut out of the Arke, and the heavenly Ierusalem to be in the floud and lake of fire. Ezekiel and our Lord citing Noahs sto­ry, gives to consider of the like generall Apostasie of the Jewes. And that the Apostasie of the old world was as generall as the Jewes both in Ezeki­els dayes and our Lords.

In 12. Quest. and Answ. [Corrupters of the faith] This phrase is (z) e­legantly expressed in Apoc. 11.8. The Papacy was an apostate policy, and did depart from and corrupt the saith, and so the whole earth was cor­rupt. Therefore God hath and will corrupt that policy, as God did cor­rupt the corrupters. G [...]. 6. The former be stamps of the later. Hench prophesied of the destruction of the Apostates of the old world, saying, Behold the Lord cometh with thousands of his holy ones to give Iudgement upon all men, and to rebuke all the ungodly among them, of all their wicked deeds which they have ungodly committed; and of all their cruell speakings which wicked sinners have spoken against him, Iudas Thaddaeus v. 14.15. St. Peter shews they were mockers, 2 Pet. 3. and Job 21. and 22. sheweth, how they despised the Gospell. Thaddaeus and Peter, by allusion, shew the end of all false Teachers, and their deceived, that follow their pernici­ous wayes: So when the state of Iudah became mockers, judgement was at hand, 2 Chron. 36. read Matth. 24. Luke 17. for the sins of the old world, the fooles make a mock of sin, Prov. 14.9. Be not mockers least your bonds encrease. Scoffers shall eat the fruit of their owne wayes, Esa. 3. Prov. 3. Scoffers made a wonder of the Prophets, and perished, 2 Pet. 3.4. and so in after times. Habbak. 1.5. Act. 13.41. 1 Pet 4.4.4. Esa. 8.18.

In Q. 11. [Excommunicate] He that hath the Censures of the church, (a) deservedly executed on him, is in dreadfull condition, little better then a fugitive or a vagabond: but it was the great Anathema maranatha that was given Kain and his posterity, as Henoch told them, He commeth, Kain [Page 40]did not love the Lord Jesus Christ and his holy doctrine, Kain hated Ha­bel, because his own works were evill and his brothers good. Such Kains were in after-times, Es. 38.20. and the Pharisees were such, and so now all those are such that follow their doctrines of mens traditions and bodily exerecise, &c. Woe be to them that follow the wayes of Kain, Thad. 11. Woe be to the wicked, it shall be ill with him, &c. Esa 3.11. Job. 11.20. Pro. 14.32.

In Q. 12. [The Spirit of Christ] Whereas Moses saith, The spirit of (b) Iehovah, Gen. 6. Peter citing that story, saith, The spirit of Christ, Gen 6. 1 Pet. 3.18.19. so for Jehovah in Exod. Levit. Numb. Deut. Saint Paul saith, Christ, 1 Cor. 10. VVe must marke diligently such expositions of the scripture, even from Christ himself, Luke 24.45 This made the Apostle to say, The holy scriptures will make us wise to salvation, through the faith which is in Christ Iesus. 2 Tim. 3.

Annotations upon the Questions and An­swers of CHAPTER 3.

Quest. 3. N. 2. [The true Religion] If any should question what Re­ligion Sem was of, the Answer may be, that he was Preist to Jeho­vah (A) the most high God, the maker and possessor of Heaven and Earth; as also that it was the same to which the Sons of Japhet were perswaded by the blessing of tongues, and by the ministry of the Sons of Sem, Gen. 14. Act. 2. Apoc. 14.7. 1 Thess. 1.9, 10. And so Sems blessing did containe the same faith that the blessing did which God gave to Abraham, Gen. 12. Marke well the Doctrine to the seven Churches of Japhets house in all the Apocalyps, and so in all the Epistles of the Apostle of the Gentiles, and in the Epistles of the Apostles of the circumcision. Again, he was of the same Religion and holy faith of his Father Noah, who inherited the righteousnesse that is by faith, and who pronounced this [...]lessing on Sem. Heb. 11.

Quest 3. N. 4. [That the Gentiles] The greatest favour that God be­stoweth on men in this world, is to make them of his family true mem­bers (B) of his Church: Ezekiel remembreth this to the Apostate Prince of Ty [...]us, chap. 28.13, 14. The godly Jewes foreseeing the calling of the Gentiles, (by the promises and prophesies of Gen. 9. and 12.) rejoyced in spirit, that Christ should raigne over them, Psal 67. and 97. 1 Rom. 15.12. Zach. 8. and 14.9. And the Gentiles seeing the performance were glad, Act. 13.46. But for two thousand years, Satan the strong man kept a large and great possession by metamorphosed Fables and Idola­tries.

In Quest. 3. N. 5. [And to perswade] Universall and free will to good (in the state of unregeneracy) is vain and vain glorious Doctrin. Noah (C) was not of this faith, and the calling of the Families to the faith, by the preaching of the Apostles, argueth the falshood of such Tenents. Ob­serve the speech of Christ to the Apostle concerning his Ambassage, Act. 26.18. not only illumination, but a turning from the power of Satan in the will and affections, is all done by the mighty worke of Christ in his own Ordinances. The fashioning of the spirit is his prerogative, Esa. 11. Eph 1.19 20, 21, & 2.1 2▪3. &c. and by his strengthning and preventing, we stand to our dying day, 1 Pet. 1.5. The spirit convinceth false opinions, and teacheth the true doctrine, Eph. 6.10.11, Rom. 7.8 Ezek, 11.19 and 36.26. Phil. [...].13. That all iniquity may stop her mouth Thus it is sayd of all that have the Prerogative of Sons, which are born not of blouds, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God, Joh. 1.12, 13. The house of Japheth needed much perswasion [Page 48]and beseeching to imbrace the word of reconciliation. They had excel­lent naturall parts, as their writings shew which made them despise the gospell, The Grecians sought after wisdome, 1 Cor. 1. Therefore God gave them a son of Sem, an Apostle of exquisite parts and learning, that he demonstrated all their wisdome to be foolishnesse, and cast downe their high imaginations by the invincible weapons of the spirituall war­fare.

N. 8. Q. 3. [That scorners] Let inferiours beware of Satans deceits in causing them to slight, yea in heart, their superiours, though for their sins and infirmities. And let Superiours give no occasion, but be sober, grave, temperate, sound in the faith, in charity, in patience, &c. Tit. 2. But it is not for infirmities that the children of the wicked one hate the godly, but for the image of Christ that shines in them, for they can bear with the same sins in their own, yet the wicked are glad, and in­sult to see the holy image of Christ stained by any blot of the Saints, and this by Gods just judgment is a stumbling block to the wicked, to harden them in their sinfull courses.

N. 8. [Procure much evill] Cham is cursed to his youngest Son Chana­an, Gen. 9. Exod. 20 5. Also it is observable, how the wrath of Christ hath followed Chams posterity, that the Negroes are slaves in diverse coun­tries to this day, even servants of servants.

Quest. 5. [And Nimrod] King Abaddon may fi [...]ly be compared to Nim­rod, both infamous cut-throat hunters, both intruders into other mens possessions, both abhorred Christs Kingdome of Justice and Peace, Gen. 10.9, 11, 12. 2 Thes. 2. My Son fear the Lord and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change, for their destruction shall rise sud­denly Prov. 24. This is also notable, as in Nimrod, so in Korah, in Absolom, in Sheba, Ben-Bichrio in the unlawfull Kingdome of Ephraim, and in the whole policy of the man of Sinne: See in all the transgression and the pu­nishment and beware what, did it prove madnesse of counsell in them to change Melchisedecks Kingdome for Nimrods Kingdome? so it is to change the true Melchisedeck for King Abaddon, so they abhorred Christ the Lord of glory for the unclean infidells the Caesars, John 19.15.

N. 8 [Over them King] One ornament of Kings may here be re­membred which Sems story doth show, which is the antiquity of a king­dome, and the fatherly government thereof, that before Tyranny sprang in was, Mr. Bro, Treatise of Melchiz.

N. 8. [Justice and Peace] A worthy example for Princes so to rule by just Lawes uncontrolable, then they shall rule men willingly subject, for they have from Christ honour and authority above their Brethren so to governe, But none can well rule, that cannot well obey the sceptor of Christs Kingdom Psal 45. It is hard when he that cannot order his own life, shall be made the Judge of anothers, for the Kingdome of Christ is in righteousnesse and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost. The apostate families felt none of this, Princes and subjects that seek not so to order [Page 49]and to be ordered in their policies, shall finde the power of Christ cros­sing their purposes, and plaguing their dominions.

N 8. [Of Sems owne] The Church is not visibly glorious at all times, of sixty seven families there was but one family that held the faith and the Hebrew tongue, and that was the line of Christ of Sems house, so Israel in Egypt revolted, often in the book of Iudges, and under Jerobo­ams kingdome, after in Iudah and after the returne from captivity, and under the Papacy, and now after reformation will not Apostacy be a­gaine, when that the Son of man shall scant finde faith on the earth at his second coming? For as it was in the dayes of Noah, so shall it be at the day of the coming of the Son of man, Mat. 24. &c.

Quest. 6. [And Abraham] Abraham once ungodly (yea after his cal­ling, he much failed) rejoyced in him that justifieth the ungodly, Jos. 24.2 Rom. 4. so after mysticall Nimrod how many good men have been overtaken with their outward glory, yea many strong men of great parts have beene wounded by that whorish Church, Prov. 7. Apoc. 17.

Quest. 7. N 1. [Those familes] The families of Noahs sons despising Sem, a King of Justice and Peace, were cut off [...]or two thousand yeares, so the Jewes for despising Sem the great and reverend, the true King of Justice and peace, were cut off to this day, Rom. 11. from Noahs days, all heathens were Lo-ammi, and Loruchamah, no people and unpitied, a foolish nation, barren and a desolate widow to our Lords dayes, Deut. 32. Psal. 113. Esa 54.1, 2, 3. Ephes. 2.1, 2, 3. Psal 119.118.

Q. 7. [From the life, Justice] But when light was revealed to the Gentiles, and the glory of Jehovah was risen upon us, It is said, I will make thy government peace, and thine exactions righteousness. Marke the allusion, This was under the King of Salem, and Tzedek, Justice and Peace kisse each other, as it did of old in Sems Tents, Psal. 85. Then peace on earth, and good will towards men.

Q. 7. [Nor see the light] Now darknesse covered the earth, and gross darknesse the Nations. Esa, 60. So Pope Nimrod by his mysticall Babylon, caused such darknesse by confusion of Language, and all holy speech. All languages of Europe, and much of Asia, if not all Asia, have been con­founded by the means of mysticall Nimrod, and his rebellion, A­por. 9.

Q. 7. [For two thousand years] All the time of this ignorance, God hated them like devills, till the time hee would judge the world in righteousnesse, that is, favour the world in mercy, Act. 17. Psal. 97. from this time to the Apostles, the whole world did lye in wickednesse, 1 Job. 5.19.

Q 7. N. 11. [In their own wayes] God left them to walke in their own waies of endlesse and lawlesse idolatries, and superstitions, and ill manners, judgement, and practise wholy corrupted, as the holy scrip­tures and humane stories shew. The Philosophers of the heathens spake much of the earth, &c. and to the height of heaven, but unto Paradise [Page 50]above the Heavens, no thought of theirs could ever come. They had no Lampe of Grace, not the best learned of them, their sage, as Py­thagoras, in tongue, confessed God to be one, but they knew not the holy Trinity, and that the eternall son would be manifested in the flesh, to come a man looking through our walls, and to come a Judge of all, nor that he framed the world for man, because he would dwell in our Tabernacle, (Mr. Bro. Apoc. pag. 20.) That regeneration is by faith from him the second Adam, by hearing the doctrine of divine revelation, that he should destroy death, and him that had the power of death, by his own death and resurrection, and give us a Resurrection, and that be should be a mediator between God and man, as Prophet, Preist, and King, Lord of Angells, the head of all principality and power, that a company of people were in him elected, and should be called out of this present world, to whom he should be wisdome, justification, sanctification and redemption, &c. in these things the outward Jew was dull of hearing, Rom. 2. and 3. Phil. 2. Heb. 5.11. much lesse could the wisdome and Philo­sophy of the heathens once thinke of these things, Col. 1.26. yea alas for pity, how weakly and poorly are these things either taught or known, and experimentally in mind and conscience felt, and answerably in life practised in most of our congregations, of our blessed England. This must be proper to true christians; no marvell the holy spirit doth taunt the wisdome of the worlds wise Masters, and chargeth the saints to take heed of their Philosophy and vain deceit, verily it is not fit for Christi­ans to be trained up in their pedagogie, 1 Cor. 1. they were haters of God, Rom. 1. Col. 1.21. and haters of his people, Psal. 83. Hest 9.1. Then all that time they were not in the state of universall grace, but in very deed of universall wrath, such a wofull famine of hearing the word of the Lord, holy justice gave them over unto. So when the would did depart from the faith of the true Melchisedeck, it was given over to Turk and Pope, and all force of error, and were far from Justice, Peace, and Truth, the Reverend Doctor Ames in his Med [...]lla, pag. 244 editio quarta, citeth a fit testimony for this.

Non pium igitur minus quam prudens suit illud maximi artium magistri P.R. judicium & votum: Hujus Philosophiae doctrinam, si mihi fuerit op­tandum quod assequi velim, malim [...]ue [...]as ex Evangelio per cruditum aliquem probatisque moribus, Theologum, quam ex Aristotele per Philosophum tradi. Puer impietates mullas ex Aristotele discet, quas verendum ne nimis sero de­discat. Beatitudinis finem in homine terminari, virtutes om [...]cs hominis fa­cultate penitus contineri: Eas ex hominis & natura, & arie, & industria comparari. Deum, ad haec opera quamvis magna & divina, tamen vel adjuto­rem, vel artificem nusquam adhiberi: divinam providentiam ex hoc numa­nae vitae theatro removeri, de justitia divina verbum nullum fieri, Beatitudi­nem huminis in hac caduca vita constitui, &c.

Quest 8. [To be called their God] This is a word of Covenant as God spake to Abraham, Gen. 17. and as it was noted above, God is [Page 51]called the God of Shem. Andoh! most glorious priviledge of the Saints (through the mediator) in all ages. Marke these Texts from the first to the last, Gen 6.18. and 17.7.8. Exod, 19.5. and 20.2. and 29.45.46. Jer. 31.33. 2 Cor. 6.18. Gal. 3.29. Tit. 2.14. 2. Pet. 2.9. Apoc. 21.3. Hence it is that the Saints say, from Gods interest in them, and theirs in him, Our God, my God, my portion, my Rock, my Shepherd, &c. and Jesurun is Gods portion, Jer. 10. In this they boast, praise, and sing, My welbeloved is mine; and I am his, Cant. 2.16. Psal. 44. and 48.2 Coron. 25 6.7. Psal. 42. and 43. Deut. 10.21. The observations of the properties, and workes of God should here be minded, which are in chapter first spoken of.

Q. 8 [Heavenly City] The Saints of old knew as well as them of the New Testament, That if the earthly house of our Tabernacle were dissolved, they should have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternall in the heavens. They had all the same spirit of faith, compare the [...] Cor. 4. with chap. 5.1. to 12. and Eccles. 12.14. &c. upon the dissolution of the one, the holy soule possesseth the other; here is no interposition of time, nor of any tormented estate.

Q. 8. [The mystery of godlinesse] The mystery of Godlinesse was hid­den in types and figures from the ages and generations of the Apostate families, Eph. 3. Col. 1.26. But in Judah was God known, his name was great in Israel, in Salem was his Tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Sion, Psal. 76.1.2. He shewed his word unto Jacob, and his statutes and Judgments unto Israel, he dealt not so with any nation, and as for his judgements they had not knowne them, therefore they sayd, Praise ye J A H. Psalm. 147 So that Israel did enjoy the true knowledge of God in Christ, and were the houshold of God, having the covenants of promise, and the seals of the fame, and lived and dyed in the con­stant hope of immortality in glory; read diligently Eph. 2.11, 12, Act. 26.6.7. And this we must understand concerning the true hidden mystery, hid in types and figures among godly families, untill Moses and then to the Nations while Israels fleece only was moystened by the dewes that fell on mount Sion, but after the ending of the seventy sevens, Dan. 9. then the Gospel was openly revealed and made known to all Nations of Noahs families, and yet in those dayes, yea now in these dayes, it is an hid mystery, too too manifest experience doth witnesse in kingdoms, townes, and families, 1 Cor. 2.

Q 9. [The heathens also] All those noble prophesies in Moses Pro­phets, and Psalmes of the calling of the Gentiles, do comment on the blessing to Sem, and the Promise to Abraham. The holy Prophets rejoy­ced in spirit, foreseeing the glorious calling of the families to the Faith, we should have the like affection to the calling of the Jewes, Rom. 11.

Q. 9. [By sending his disciples] The Apostles were sent unto them to open their eyes to turne them from darknesse to light, from the power of Satan to God, that they might receive forgivenesse of sinnes and inheri­tance among all them (of the old Testament) which are sanctified by faith in Christ, Act. 26. Eph. 1.11, 12, 13, 14.

Annotations, How Redemption was taught from the Promise to ABRAHAM, till the Law of the Passeover, or the coming forth of EGYPT.

QUest. 1. What is the scripture in which the Revelation of the mystery of Christ was made known to Abraham?

Answ. Gen. 12, 2. And I will make of thee a great Nation, and I will blesse thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing.

And I will blesse them that blesse thee, and curse him that curseth thee. And in thee shall all the families of the Earth be blessed.

QUest. In what doth this scripture teach, instruct, convince, correct, and comfort.

Answ. I Of the cursed and most wretched estate of the apo­state families; and unrecoverable in respect of any ability in themselves, God hiding from them by Babells Languages, for many generations, the glorious mystery of the Gospell of his Son, that they became Loammi and Lo-ruchamah, that is, not Gods people, nor pitied: and ever enemies to God and his people, walking in all courses of unperswadeable disobedi­ence.

II. It is prophesied by this great and precious promise, that the families shall be delivered from the misery of that a­postasie, by the Son of God, who was sent of the Father into the world in fullness of time to be a blessing, to make knowne the riches of the glorious mystery of his will, to reconcile them to be Gods people, and to be under mercy through his gracious Redemption, and by the same to reconcile the en­mity of Jew and Gentile.

III. Here it is taught who Christ is, touching his person, [Page 53]that he being God, is also man of the Seed of Abraham, Gal. 4.4. Eb. 2.16. Saint Matthew chap. 1. doth shew the history, and the promise full­filled. As also how Christ Immanuel doth blesse us, saving his people from the guilt, punishment, and dominion of their sins, by his precious death and sacrisice. By which hee brake the Serpents head-Plot, Gen. 3.15. in his constant patience and obedience, at the very same time when the Serpent and his seed put him to an accursed death on the tree, as a notorious sinner. By this performance,Gal. 4 5. Rom. 3 25. this manner of the blessing of A­braham came on the Gentiles, Gal. 3.13.14.

IV. By faith in the promise we are reconciled, justified; and adopted, and so are no more servants in bondage, but heirs in Christ.

V. Whereas it is sayd, in thy seed, all families of the Earth are blessed, it sheweth there is the same and no other way or means of eternall life and salvation to Jew and Gentile, but only and alone the Lord Jesus Christ, nor any comfort in this world, but as given us by promise and covenant through faith in Christ in the use of the meanes lawfully used, Where­fore all other Religions, Additaments & inventious of men are abominable, and all communion with such is no better then the communion with devills.

VI. We have not forgiveness of sins, life, and the inheri­tance of heaven,Act. 3.26. Tit. 3.5 6. Gal. 3.16.17, Abraham had not-wherein to rejoyce as of himselfe, he did not prevent God, but God prevented him. by workes of our doing, or will in our choosing, but all is of free grace and free promise.

VII. The Lord God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, doth give,"The Lords Prayer, and all the prayers of the Saints be­long hither, Gal. 4.6. Rom. 8.15. so note here, that Gods promises are the foundation of prayer, David, 2 Sam. 7.27. & Dan. 9.2. &c. as the effects of his promise, his spirit to cry "Ab­ba Father, and to seal assurance of reconciliation, justificati­on and adoption, and to be an earnest of that inheritance of the Saints in light, and to worke mortification, and to begin the life of glory in sanctification. This the Lord God doth worke in those only that looke for salvation in Christ as sons by the promise, not as servants for workes or images.

VIII. In that the eternall God, the Gentiles shall be blessed in Christ, it is a speech manifestingOf eternity all Gods works were known to him, as the A­postle James saith, Act 15. This is hand­led, Rom 8.9, 10, 11. chapters the purpose of Gods election and predestination in Christ, as the spirituall blessings are handled by the Apostle to proceed out of those eternall fountaines, Eph. 1. under the word blessed, are comprehen­ded the unsearcheable riches of Christ the second Adam, who of God is made unto us the efficient cause of wisdome,Or freedom, or forgiveness. justi­fication, sanctification, and redemption.

IX. The precious promises in Christ understood and belee­ved, transforme or metamorphose a man, and make him par­take of the divine nature, so that they which beleeve in God, must, as from a new principle, in uprightnesse of heart walke in the spirit, be alwaies zealous to shew forth good workes, and with all due care flee the corruptions that are in the world through lusts. This is, to keepe the mystery of faith in a pure conscience, and this wee are to do by restipulation of Cove­nant.

X. As Abraham was blessed, that is justified, in beleeving the Gospel preached unto him, so shall those that walke in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham, who is the Father of us all, that is, of all such that so beleeve as he did.

XI. The Doctrine of justification by faith in Christ is very ancient, being taught Abraham afore Romes foundation was layd, or Rhomulus or Rhemus, or a Pharisee or Papist were borne.

XII. God will blesse them that blesse this Doctrine of Christ to Abraham, And he will curse them that curse and persecute thisLet the Ana­baptist consider whether all godly parents ought not to curse their te­nets, in deny­ing infants to be in the cove­nant, & in de­nying the seale to them. doctrine of Christ, and his people, for it shall be sayd to all such, Cast out the Servant and her Son, &c. Gal. 4.

XIII. This also may be observed, as the families of the sons of Noah, were cursed and out off from the Gospell and peace of God by the confusion of tongues at Babylon; Christ would turne this to a blessing in tongues understood at Salem, cre­ating the fruit of the lips to be peace, to the far off and to the the near, Jew and Gentile, so the Gospell the word of faith in our own Languages is a most deare blessing. Accursed be [Page 55]the contrary endeavours of the mysticall Babylon, against the Kingdome of Justice and Peace in the Jerusalem, that is from heaven.

XIV. Us Gentiles of the posterity of Japheth, Zacharias and the blessed Virgin remem­ber the promise with thanksgi­ving, Luc. 1. have great cause to praise and blesse God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath performed this promise, and hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly things in Christ. Mo­ses and the Prophets call upon us for this duty, and so our godly predecessors did, Psalm. 18.67. Rom. 15. Act. 13. A­Apoc. 7

XV. As God doth curse him that obeyeth not this doctrine of Faith, so they that teach a diverse or contrary way of ju­stification, then by faith in Christ, are to be abhorred and accursed of all the Saints.

Moses, the Psalmes, Esayas and all the Prophets open this scripture of the Gospel of Christ to Abraham, in many par­ticulars, (this is a gemm to them all) not only of the speciall blessings in us and for us, but of the particularThe te [...]mes, families, nati­ons, Gemiles, Heathens, and in the New Testament, Gre­cians & tribes are very often to be taken in one sence. nations that revolted from Sems blessed God, how they should be called again to Sems God: All Nations shall blesse him, and be blessed in him, Psal. 73. Esa. 11. and 66. Act. 2.

QUest. 3. Did God add any Sacraments or Seals to the word of his Covenant and promise?

Answ. Besides the sacrifices the eternall God ordained Cir­cumsion.

QUest. 4 What did circumsion teach them?

Answ. I. Jehovah made it a seal of his promise, and covenant of blessednesse in Christ, to be a God to Abraham and to his seed. Therefore it was a seal of Gods Reconciliati­on, Justification, and adoption, and God did thus keepe his covenant with them.

Of Gods reconciliation, because God all sufficient doth condescend to enter into covenant with sinfull man.

Of Justification or remission of sins because it is a seale of the justification that is by faith, God did justifie the circumci­sion by faith, and all the policy of Israel did, or should have professed the same; God gave it for that same end, Rom. 4.

Of Adoption, because God selected Abraham and his seed, and preferred them above all Nations to be a chosen ge­neration, a royall Preist-hood, an holy nation, a purchased and peculiar people. And therefore also God had sayd to Pharaoh, Israel is my first borne, Exod. 4. and 19.

II. It is signified and sealed to them, to fathers and their in­fant children, their reconciliation with God by putting off the sinfull body of the flesh, in which they were conceived; and by consequent the putting on the new man: So mortifi­cation and sanctification, or regeneration is taught. Moses and the Prophets ever drew them to the spirituall meaning, and to rest in the outward worke. and the faithfull did thus keep their covenant with God. The Saints made excellent u­ses of this seal of faith for instruction and consolation of their owne soules, as of their posterity, as Moses, Manoah, Jo­nathan, David, Esaias, &c. Exod. 6.12. Deut. 30.6. Judg. 14.3. 1 Sam. 14.6. and 17.36. Esa. 6. And observe the A­postle Paul what he saith in Rom. 2.29. Col 2.12.

III. It sealed to them both to Fathers and their infant chil­dren, the blessed Estate of the immortality of the soule, and the resurrection.

IV. It was a seale of entrance into the Church and policy of Israel, which is called the kingdome of God, to distinguish from the Apostate families. For all Israel, they and their chil­dren, were by speciall priviledge federally holy, Exod. 19.5.6. Deut. 7.8. 1 Cor. 7.13, 14 Matth 21.

V. It was a seal to the deed of gift of the Land of Chanaan, (the Land of Rest or promise) to Abraham and his naturall seed and proselytes: And of all outward necessary comforts for this life, both of provision and protection.

VI. It sealed to Abraham, that he should be a Father, not of the Jewes only, but of many nations, that when that deed of gift, the Prerogative of it was out, the Gentiles should [Page 57]be called to the faith, fathers and children to be made disci­ples, and so become Abrahams see, and the kingdome of God. This is so expounded in the Epistle to the Galatians, and in Matth. 21.43. and 28.19. Acts 2. and 3. and 11.17. and 15.

VII. Thus we may see what a Catechism out of the pro­mise, and out of the seal of Circumcision the holy Prophet Abraham might teach his houshold, as he did, and as God testifies he would. Now out of all this, let this be noted, that the promise concerning Christ to Abraham, was not onely of temporal blessings to him and his posterity, but also of spiri­tuall: and that chiefly. And Circumcision sealed the same, and no other doctrine but what the promise taught.Let Rom. 15.8. be throughly studied of us. They are vain talkers and deceivers of mindes that teach other­wise.

QUest. 5. Furthermore, To Whom did God instruct his Church in expectation of Christ?

Answ. To Judah the fourth son of Jacob in these words. Gen. 49.10. A Tribe shall not Or, fail to Iudah. Shebet a tribe is in Moses, 32 times, as the learned observe; and never a Scepter in him but a Tribe: and so Tremellius. depart from Judah, nor a Lawgiver from between his feet, till his Son shall come: and to Iehovah the hope of their Fathers: that is, Christ the hope of Israel, Jer. 50 7. Acts 28.20. observe how Iacob left the faith to his posterity, on his death bed. Let it be for example. him shall the gathering of the peoples be.

QUest. 6. What do ye observe out of this text?

Answ. 1. This prophecie and promise doth look back to the promise to Abraham concerning the great mystery of godliness, God manifested in the flesh, for it is foretold that Christ should also come of Judah.

II. When other tribes should despise for the faith of Christ & be scattered, but Judah should hold the faith throw a succession [Page 58]of holy Scribes and Teachers of the Law (and them chiefly of the holy line of Christ) and his Tribe endure till Christ his Son came.

III. Whereas it is sayd, the peoples shall be gathered to Christ, the meaning is, they shall be called to the faith, and in his Name and Law shall the Nations trust. This prophesie is expounded by Esaias Chap 11 10 and 66 19 20 John 11 51 53 &c.

QUest. 7. Who had the knowledge of the Son of God in this state of time, revealed and testified by the spirit, in these exceeding great and precious promises, and the seale of Circum­cision?

Answ. Abraham, Jsaac, Jacob, and the twelve Patriarks and many of their Godly posterity in Egypt: also Lot, Job, and others in divers places.

QUest. 8. Who were they that disregarded Heb. 11.26. reproached, and despised the doctrine of life in Christ exhibited in these pro­mises (and the seal of Circumcision) to Abraham and Judah?

Answ. Nachor the brother of Abraham, and many of his posterity: many of the posterity of Abraham by Keturah: the posterity of Lot, Ismael, As Esau was profane and despised the covenant so his posteri­ty: they profanely left the seal of circumcision, which was conferred on their Father, Zerem. 9.26. Esau, and their posterities: the Canaanites, the Egyptians, yea all the families that fell away in the revolt of Nimrod.

QUest. 9. Was there not an Apostasie in the Church from the faith of Christ taught to Abraham, Isaac, Iacob, and Iudah?

Answ. A great apostasie: for Israel in Egypt forsook the faith of their Godly ancestours, and followed the idols, and [Page 59]religion of Egypt. Read Ezekiel 20. and 23.

QUest. 10. What was the hope and comfort of the faithfull, for these times, in cleaving to the faith?

Answ. Through faith they obtained good report with God: and confessed that they were pilgrims and strangers on the earth,Heb. 11.13. Gen. 27. all of it. and strove for the blessing of the heavenly inheri­tance. Wherefore God was not ashamed of them to be called their God, and filled their hearts with joy, that by faith saw the dayes of Christ, and provided for them the eternal recom­pense of reward in the heavenly City,Luk. 20.35, 36, 37. and Countrey and Kingdom: for he accounted them his children, and worthy to enjoy that world and the better resurrection.

QUest. 11. How was the wrath of God revealed from heaven against those that did mock, curse and despise the faith of Christ and his people?

Answ. VVars and broyls amongGen. 14. four Kings against five. Kings of divers coun­treys: Ismael the son of the bondwomen cast out, Esau gi­ven up to hardness of heart. Sodom and Gomorrha burned with fire and brimston.

II. All apostate families were further separated from Christ and the Church of God from the dayes of Abraham by uncircumcision,Gen. 34 14. Ephes. 2.11. and in great reproach called uncircumci­sion of them which are called Circumcision.

QUest 12. How did Christ pour out his fury, and his anger for the apostasie of Israel in Egypt?

Answ. God gave up Israels babes to the sword of Pharaoh and to be drowned in the river Nilus, Ezek. 20.7, 8. Exod. 1.

Annotations upon the Questions and Answers of the fourth CHAPTER.

IN the first Quest and Answ, note, The Promise of Christ to Abraham, is often renewed to him, also it was given to Isaac and Jacob This is the foundation of that speech, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of I­saac, and the God of Jacob, this is my memoriall to all generations, that is, to all of their faith whether Jew or Gentile, Exod. 3.15. Gal. 3.6.

2. Also observe on Gen. 12.3. it is said And in thee shal all, But in Gen. 22. 18, it is sayd, And in thy seed shall all, so the new Testament useth the same variety of Phrases, for in Act. 3.25. it is sayd, In thy seed shall al [...]. but in Gal. 3.8. In thee shall all, yet Saint Paul in chapter 16. expounds it at large, and saith, To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. This is noted, that we might confer scriptures, that neither Jew nor Gentile, might trust in Abraham or any of the saints, but in that holy seed, the Son of God that took humanity of Abraham.

3. In Gen. 1 2.3. [And I will blesse] The Promises of God in Christ are the foundation of all comfort to the Church, whether in his good­nesse to it, or severity to the malignant company, that curse and do all ill offices to the church. Why did God do all that is spoken of in Psal. 105. in every verse both to his church, and to the children of the wicked one? The reason is rendred in verse 42 He remembred his holy promise to Abraham his servant, and the effects of that promise did not stand in force for Moses time alone, but for one thousand generations, as verse 8. and that is the intent of penning this Psalme, Mich. chap. 7: re­membreth his promise, and expoundeth it with terror to the seed of the Serpent, but with joy to the Saints, for the pardon of sin, with­holding of anger, shewing mercy and compassion, and burying of sinns as in the sea, and all this accompanied with another grace of subduing our iniquities, (all these expound the promise) a godly soul doth as much desire to have sin subdued as pardoned, so justif [...]cation, mortification, and sanctification are taught in the promise. The blessed and beloved Virgin and Z charins do both comment on Micah, Luke 1. and the Psalme 106. must be considered as Psal. 105.

4. Minde further, how this promise is pursued in Levit. 26. and Dan. 9.24. and Act 3. Gal 3 and 4. for the faith of this promise, was taught both to the Jewes; Acts 3. and to the Gentiles, Gal. 3. and indeed all the Bible dilateth on that of Gen. 3.15 & Gen. 12.3, and this of Gen. | 12.3 is but an exposition of Gen. 3.15

5. yet further observe, that as Jehovah the eternall Lord, doth remem­ber the promise to a thousand generations, Ps. 105.8. so likewise all the Israel of God that are of Abrahams faith, are reciprocally to remember it, as 1 Chron. 16.15.16. marke it well, As God saith, The promise is his memoriall, so it should be our memoriall, and especially we should re­member [Page 61]it in the dayes of affliction, for then wee most need so to do, consider Exod. 3.15. for then Israel was in great affliction, and Moses was sent to tell them that God was mindfull of his memoriall. Consider Nehemiah 9.

6. And lastly, note the promise is called a Covenant, Act 3. and Gal. 3. and so the promise, Gen. 3.15. must be considered as a covenant that God made with our first parents; as Christ is the hope of the promise made unto our Fathers, Acts 26.6, 2 [...]2, 3. Jer. 50.7. so he is the hope of the covenant, Esa. 42.6.

Quest. 2. N. 1. This first point is handled by a Son of Abraham, Rem. 1. & 2. & 3. The book of Job teacheth of the corruption of nature, (ta­ken from Parents) and of redemption, so it sheweth how Abraham taught his posterity, & how all the faithfull of old, taught their children by tradition, and all true and sound tradition before the scriptures agre­eth with the scriptures, & so must all tradition since the scriptures, Ps. 78.1, 2, 3, 4. &c. Jobs book was afore the Law of faith was written by Moses.

Ibid. N. 11. This second is handled, Rom. 3. & 4. & 5. To these two points confer the notes of N. 4. and N. 5. in page 21. All of the first Adam miserable, and no blessduesse but in Christ the second Adam, all the Acts and the Epistles &c. abundantly open this.

Ibid. N. 5. [In thy seed all families] In Christ all are gathered, Eph. 1.10. The glory of this blessednesse (to procure the salvation of the e­lect) God will not give to any other mediatour, Esay. 42.1. &c. This blessing came on Abraham in his uncircumcision, Rom. 4. and so observe these blessings are handled to the uncircumcised, the familes of Japheth, the Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians &c. Therefore Turkes, Jewes and all misbeleevers are excluded from all hope of comfort.

Ibid of Question 2. N. 5. [Only and alone the Lord Jesus Christ] all scripture speaketh exclusively concerning any other, 1 Joh, 5.11.12, 13. so the Apostle Peter is plaine, This is the stone cast aside of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other; for among men there is given none other name under heaven, whereby we must be saved, Act. 4. God would in due time shew this his justificati­on of a sinner, and that he might be just in all his promises, and a ju­stifier of him who is of the faith of JESUS. Rom. 3.

Ibid. of N. V. [Given us by promise] We cannot, we may not pray or expect any blessing temporall, spirituall, or eternall, but by covenant and promise in Christ, Levit. 26. Deut 28.7, 12, still looke to the promise. The promise is sure by faith to all the seed, it can be sure no way else; faith doth realize and evidence things promised to our hearts, God is keeper of covenant, and in that faith resteth. In God things promised have their consistency, and therefore they shall have a being on us in due time, Deut. 8.18. And we must take blessings as blessings of the co­venant, and redemption in Christ (all mercies to the Saints are the price of bloud) not as common favours with the world, that have the [Page 62]sun and rain, &c. else we shall not be of those generations that praise God through Christ, Ephes. 3.21. Hos. 2.19, 20, &c. else our mouthes will not be filled with laugher, and our tongue with singing praises to our God, Psalm 96.98. & 136. & 137. Lev. 26.

Ibid. of 2 Quest. N. VII. seal assurance] As the spirit sealeth to the heart of the believer the doctrine of the Covenant and promise, so the seals of the Covenant are made effectual by the spirit, for the further con­firmation of the justification that is by faith, to none other persons but to the children of the promise and covenant made with Abraham, Acts 3. Rom. 4. And none other persons can understand what this saying of cove­nant and seal meaneth, but those that are redeemed from the earth, Apoc. 14.3. Ephes 1.13, 14. & 2.18. Rom. 8.15, 16.

N. 9. which believe in God must] Faith is a wise and an obedient grace, saith worketh by love, Rom. 6.7, & 8. chapters, handle this; Gal 5.6. the Apostle opens this as a part of the blessing in the promise, Acts 3.25, 26. Christ destroyeth sin in his and sanctifieth. If any be in Christ he is a new creature, 2 Cor. 5.17. old things in the old Adam are passed away, and all things become new in us, from the second Adam. The ten Com­mandments belong to this point, and handled as an use from Gods mer­cy and covenant in Christ, Exod. 20.1, &c. Rom. 6. chapter and 12. chap­ter, and the later parts of the Epistles to the Galatians, Ephesians, co­lossians, and by holy Zacharias, Luke 1.74. & ubique. See the practise of this in holy Job, his effectual faith, and diligent love, and patience of hope from the godly instruction of Abraham in the promise. The co­venant of grace is reciprocal, the seals also teach the same. It is glorious to keep the mystery of faith in a pure conscience. And this is an easie yoke to an holy and humble soul: his commandments are not burdensome. Mat. 28.20. 1 Iohn 5.3. And after the Lord hath spoken peace by justi­fication we must not turn again to folly that grace may abound Psal. 85. Ro [...]. 5 & 6. And they that put away a good conscience will make ship­wrack of faith and blaspheme. Briefly, this is a sure character of the Saints of God, that all that call on the name of the Lord with a pure heart do follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, &c. and such on­ly are vessels of honour for our heavenly masters use.

Observe yet further, the Popish Company, and many others that are ignorant, when they speak of good works, their thought darteth chiefly on almes-deeds, prayer, fasting, &c. But withall teaching and believing the doctrine of opere operato, at the Pharisees: Whereas by good works is meant not only those, but all the duties of charity of the first and se­cond Table, both toward God and toward man: yea all to be done in faith as regenerate in the Second Adam, that God the Father in him may be glorified: And where the true faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ is planted it will so shew it self: And this is the true sense of James 2. of shewing our faith by our works, and our Father A­braham, [Page 63]and Rachabs story are conferred to this exposition. Again, ob­serve that commonly those that so call for those good works care not for sound teaching of the word of God, but rather carry a grudge against it, and holy assemblies, and the sincere professors and preachers. And a­lasse, what are their prayers, almsdeeds, fasting, &c. for matter, man­ner, or end It may be questioned, if they be materially good. And let such take heed that for manner, or end, they are no better than Kains, Genesis chap. 4. then theirs in Psalm 50 and Esay 1. and 58. and the Scribes and Pharisees, who did all those things and more too, and yet crucified the Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory, who would have had them come to a more exact and joyful righteousness. But they could not call JESUS, the Lord, but held him, his Kingdome, his doctrine, and his disciples anathema, as of old they did Esay 8.18. & chap. 65.5. & 66.5. all John 9.

N. 10. In the steps of the faith of our Father Abraham] There are ma­ny that do not walk in the steps of the faith of Abraham, as the Anabap­tist that saith, infants of believing parents are not in the covenant of God in Christ, and so ought not to have the seal conferred on them; therefore they do not administer the seal, but scoff at it, as Patience did in New England. Now see Abrahams faith, He did not only believe that the children that came of Israel were in the covenant of God in Christ, but he believed the same touching the infants of the Gentiles: therefore in testimony of his faith he circumcised his house, the same day the covenant and promise was renewed to him, Gen 17. And all the tribes to our Lords dayes did observe circumcision. And the promise is sure to all the seed of whom Abraham is a Father, not only to that seed that is circumcised, but also to them of the Gentiles that are uncircum­cised; for he is said to be the Father of us all, according to that which was spoken to him. That he should be the father of many nations. Therefore the Anabaptist is far from walking in the steps of the faith of Abraham: and they run into sad uncomfortable errours: First, They deny God to be the God of infants, having no right nor portion in the covenant. Secondly, If infants be not in the covenant of God in Christ, they shal not be partakers of the better resurrection: O ye parents consider it. Thirdly, They will not present them to Christ in his ordinances, that he should teach them: what is this? but a dedication of their infants to Moloch, to the divel to be devoured. Whereas the godly parent hath great comfort that if the children of Idolatrous parents were born to God, (God so accounts in respect of his covenant) Ezek. 16.20. how much more have godly parents comfort that their children are born to God. Let the Apostles reasoning Rom. 4.16, 17. to the end of the chapter be throughly minded, and let Gods people observe providences, whether many of the Anabap­tists do not turn to Sadducism, denying the resurrection, or as vile opi­nions: for it hath been observed, not without cause, that Anabaptistry [Page 64]is a cloke of all filthiness, and our times have found it to be so. Surely they that are of the faith of Abraham, shall be blessed with faithfull A­braham: For so it is said, Many shall come from the East, and from the West: from the North, and from the South, and shall sit down with Abra­ham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdome of Heaven, Mar 8. Luke 13. Rom. 4 13. and so they became the Israel of God, Gal. 6.16. The promise of blessedness in Christ is in extent as large to all converted Gentiles, and to their seed, as to Abraham and his seed.

N. 11. The doctrine of Justification by faith] Abraham believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly: who counted his believing for his justi­fication before he received circumcision that he might be the Father of the believing uncircumcised Gentiles: so it is not heresie, as the circum­cised Pharisee then, and the baptized Papist now would bear the world in hand. What, the Gospel not before Popery? mark here two sayings, Gal. 3.8. The Scripture foreseeing that God would justifie the Gentiles through faith, preached before the Gospel to Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the Gentiles be blessed. And from this promise he had the justification that it by faith, and before circumcision, Rom. 4. The other text is Heb. 4. For unto us the Gospel hath been preached as also unto them: that is to the peo­ple of Israel that came out of Egypt, Exod. 12. Minde the sayings of the new Testament illustrating for us the old covenant, that we may see Anti­quity gloriously triumphing over Popish cursed Noveltie. Holy Luther, and multitudes before him, and others after him, by preaching this everla­sting Gospel have routed the armies of King Abaddon that he shall never make up his troups again.

N. 12. God will bless them that bless this doctrine] Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love thee, Psalm 122. they shall be as the bright Sun that love Christ, Jude 5. Blesse Christ and Abraham, that is, all of his faith, and thou shalt be blessed, thou and thy posteri­ty, as Lot found that blessed Abraham: and so the very Amorites, Aner, Escol, and Mamre, Gen. 14. and it is probable the Gibeonites might be of their posteritie, being a remnant of the Amorites: Under the term A­morite all the Chanaanites sometimes are understood. How did Christ pity them in suffering Israel to make a league with them, and for Sauls cruelty. And they were the Nethinim that returned with Judah from cap­tivity, Jos. 9 22. Ezra 8.20.

Ibid. N. 12. Cu [...]se and persecute this doctrine] Dost thou curse? Wilt not bless the holy seed, and the holy doctrine? Read thy doom; as he loved cursing, so shall it come unto him, as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him, Psalm 109. Wilt not exercise bowels to the body of Christ? the curse shall enter in thy bowels. Doest not hear? Let them be confounded and turned back that hate Sion, let them be as the grass upon the house tops, which withereth afore it grows up, where­with the reaper filleth not his hand, nor he that bindeth sheaves his bo­some. Neither do they which go by, say, the blessing of Jehovah be [Page 65]you, we bless you in the Name of Jehovah, Psalm 129. Thou that hast spittle in thy mouth, and an aking tooth against Christ, and the sin­cerity of the faith, hear what one of thine own prophets have said. Num. 24.9. He couched, he lay down as a Lion, as a great Lyon, who shall stir him up? blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee. Mark how the promise to Abraham, and Jacobs blessing was carried by tradition among the children of the East, and how Balaam durst not but remember it to terrifie Balak in his Enterprize. What saith Christ to Pharaoh, Kill my childe, and I will kill thy childe; Israel is my first-born (the heir of the world) it thou afflict him, I will slay thy son, thy first born. And consider Psalm 105. how it pursueth the promise and co­venant to Abraham for Israel, and against the seed of the Serpent. And thus it must be considered for Israel all the time of the old Testament, and for the Israel of God till the end of the world. He that meddles a­gainst Israel, meddles with a burdensome stone, and putteth fire into a sheat to burn his house, Psalm 2 10, 11, 12. Zach. 12.3.6. What gat Balak and the Princes of Midian, and Balaam, that sought to curse? God cursed them, and the false Prophet felt it. So though the Balaks and Balaams of mystical Egypt, and mystical Babylon have cursed, and do seek still the destruction of our nation, especially of the Gospel: yet while we keep our covenant they shall never prevail. Balaams counsel was more dangerous than his curse; for his counsel being followed brought a plague. O ye Princes, O ye people do ye not know that the sincere Word, and the holy seed is the subsistence of your Kingdomes and common-weals, towns, and families? Esay 6.13. Every childe of God is a publique good.

Minde one thing more how those thor did seem to be of the truth and were brethren touching the outward circumcision, yet cursed the servants of Christ, that would not walk in their waies, traditions, devises and abominations, Esay 66.5. and in after times they so used the poor blind man, John 9. So have the cruel Prelates used the dear servants of the Lord: they did curse, yet Christ did bless, and hath and will pay his enemies home that abuse his ordinances: for if any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, anathema maranatha is his heavy Censure, 1 Cor. 16.22.

Ibidem N. 12. Cast out the servant and her son] Without shall be ly­ars. Lyars in judgement as all Papatines be. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth nor in the doctrine of Christ hath nor God: he that con­tinueth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son, 1 John 2.24. 2 John 2.9. Be it that they sometimes confesse the do­ctrine of Christs person, yet both in their doctrine and practise they de­ny it, because they deny him in his offices and administrations for which he became such a person and such a Mediator And oh what lying blas­phemies do they utter against the holy records that testifie of the eternal Son the Mediator. Popery is a mystery of iniquity.

N. 13. The word of faith in our own languages] In the Law it is written, with men of other tongues, and other lips will I speak unto this people, and yet for all that they will not hear me, saith the Lord; Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not, but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe, Esay 28.11, 1 Cor. 14.21. This looks back to Nimrods rebellion, they despised the faith taught by Noah, Sem, and the rest of the godly fathers (before Abraham) in their knowen lan­guage; therefore Christ cut them off from the faith by strange languages. When Israel despised the things of the Law of Christ written for their comfort; see how he, in this, would avenge the quarrel of his covenant, Deut. 28.49. and fulfilled it, Ier. 5.15. 2 Chron. 36. If it be then such a deer blessing to have Moses and the Prophets, our Lord and his Apo­stles speak to us in our own language, let the saints worship God with hearty praise and thanksgiving, so did David Psalm 103.7. and 147. 19. All are abominable, idolatrous and false worshippers and unclean infidels that Christ speaks not to in their own language by his blessed Gospel: as all the Babylonian builders, and their seed to this day, and the my­stical Babylonian builders: It is much to be considered, that when the churches departed from the Apostles doctrine, Christ confounded the Europian and Asian languages. VVhen it was prophesied of the calling of the Gentiles to the faith of the Gospel, it is said, I will turn to the peo­ple a pure language, which was fulfilled when Christ sanctified all tongues as it is said, We do here them speak in our own languages the wonderfull works of God, Acts 2.11. Zeph. 3.9. VVhereas, for two thousand years, the Gentiles, Noahs families, called on idols names. We little consider the severity of the wrath of Christ in the confusion of tongues, what a plague it is, and will be to the end of the world; most sad is that scri­pture, Jer. 44.26.

3 Quest. of his covenant and promise] God did not first give a seal and then made a Covenant, but first made a Covenant and a promise, as to our first parents, Gen. 3.15. and then taught them of the seal, the Sa­crifices: so to Noah God made a Covenant, and then gave him the seal of the Floud, and of the Ark: so in Gen. 9. first the Covenant, and then the Rainbow: so to Abraham: so each godly parent must seek to know God in Christ in the Covenant, and to be in covenant for them and their children. And it is to be marked, Cham had an outward bles­sing in the covenant with his father, for he was of Noahs houshold, Heb. 11: 7. and he and his children had continued in the same, if he had not and his son mocked and scorned his father; for which both of them were excommunicated: and Chams house feared not, but waxed worse and worse against Christ and his Kingdome, and set up a tyranny in Nim­rod, to give the affront to Sems blessing. Again note, when the merciful God made a covenant with all flesh, man and beast; were not young, as old comprised in the covenant? a sucking chile and a lamb as the parent, Gen. 9.9, 10, 11.

Quest. 4. Of justification or remission of sins] The apostate and adulte­rous generation in our Lords daies (that did adulterate the faith) missed, stating Circumcision as a part of the Law or Covenant of Works, (a school distinction of their own, neither of Moses, nor of the Prophets) whereas it was rightly understood, a law and seal of faith in Christ, and the seal of justification that is by faith. Their fac hoc, is, credere, in our Lords interpretation of the Law; to believe in him whom the Father had sealed and sent to be the true manna and sacrifice, and their perfect justification and freedome, as was told them, Acts 13.38, 39. And as they missed in stating circumcision a Law of works ex opere operato, to ju­stification: so they did of all the politic of Moses, that it did initiate them unto, which yet they could not do, being too heavy a yoke, Acts 15. Now they despising Christ the end and scope of the law of Moses, they made their own justification, their idol and vanity, and so provo­ked Christ to their rejection: confer Deut. 32.21. with Rom. 10.19. That speech is very strong that the Lord Jesus spake, Iohn 7. that circum­cision was not so much of Moses, but observed of the Fathers before Mo­ses was born. They should have considered in what sense Abraham recei­ved it, and used it, Rom. 4.

Ibidem, God did justifie the circumcision] so this is clear, God did justi­fie the infants of Israel, for else he would not have commanded circum­cision to infants: this was to comfort all godly parents, that although they knew their children were conceived in sin and born in iniquity, yet God knew how for his covenant sake, (not for our sakes) to justify, that is, to free infants from sins guiltiness, filthiness, and desert; and to com­fort godly parents of the Gentiles touching their infants: the Apostle saith, God is not the god of the Iews only, but of the Gentiles also, for he that justifies the circumcision will justifie the uncircumcision. And God is a husband to the once barren and desolate woman, but fruitful in children as the former married wife, Israel. Doth not the promise save infants as well as grown men? and doth not our heavenly father declare his counsels that his will is to save infants as well as grown men? that he enjoyns the seal to infants: and saith, that he will be their God: and the Lord saith not, he will be the Father of grown men rather than of in­fants. And a godly parent hath as great hope of his dying infants, as any Anabaptist can have of their grown men.

Ibid. of Quest. 4. Of adoption.] This adoption of Israel hath a double consideration: general and speciall, visible and invisible: visible, in covenant, in respect of the Apostate families that were cut off Gen. 10. & 11. invisible, the faithful in Israel. All did profess the faith (except in their apostasies to the false faiths and religions of Earl-Peor, and Mo­loch, and Chemosh, &c) So they were not all faithful, no not in outward profession. They were Christs own, afore he came to his own (all Exod. &c.) his own by visible priviledges, yet many a time they grieved him and his holy Spirit, Psalm 78 & 106. so many of them slighted this a­doption [Page 68]by joyning themselves to Peor, as the sons of the open Church followed Kains wayes Gen. 6. even so it is now; some in the Church born after the flesh, and some born after the Spirit, yet both make a visible Church of Christ it cannot be, it must not be denyed. It is not sound reasoning from a visible Church estate, to the doctrine of election. If any be further contentious, beware of them, Rom. 16.17, 18.

Quest. 4. N. 11. Putting of the sinful body] It shewed how distastefull man is to God in his sinful estate of the first Adam, and no communion with God but by regeneration in the second Adam, 1 Joh. 1. Therefore observe what Esaias, Ezekiel, John Baptist, and our Lord, and Stephen said to carnal Israel, boasting to be Abrahams seed. Esay 57.3. Ezek. 16.3. Ioh. 8.44. Acts 7, 51. Matth. 3.9. That they were neither Gods chil­dren, nor Abrahams seed, not treading in the steps of the faith and works of Abraham.

ibid. N. II. The putting on the new man] An Israelite being circumcised yet the old Adam was not so put off, nor the new Adam so put on, but that birth sin did remain: yea so remained, that through the Bias of lusts and sinful appetites, and by temptation, and not taking heed to themselves, and keeping their souls diligently, omissions of duty, and many actuall sins did bud forth. For although by faith in Christ the saints were justified, or freed from the guilt and punishment of sin, inheriting the justification that is by faith, yet there was corruption in them issuing from that original or birth-sin, that we still are yoked with all: we are in Christ Jesus justified from the reign of this sin, but not from the be­ing of it in us. Gods counsel is such to make us humble. This the saints of old felt and acknowledged, and bewayled, and prayer for further mortification, Psalm 51. And those Scriptures from two Apostles that were both circumcised and baptized shew the truth of this, Rom. 7.1 John 1.8. Phil. 3.12, 13. Therefore every godly soul must observe three things; 1. That we slight not any sin in thought, word, or deed, Rom. 6. & 7. And 2. to be careful that we content not our selves with bodily exerccise, Phil. 3.1, 2, 3, &c. And 3. not to be discontent that Gods counsel is such that perfection is not attaineable in this life; that was the sin of our first parents, they were Seekers to be in a better estate then they were stated in: they were discontent and hearkned to Satan. While we are in this vale of tears, this must ever be in our hearts, 1 Ioh. 1. If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves, and truth is not in us, but if we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness, and minde that of the Apostle. Phil. 3.7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, &c. Satan and his instruments will by all means corrupt our hearts in these three things.

Ibidem N. II. Drew them to the spirituall meaning] The faithful worship­ped Gop in Spirit, and rejoyced in Christ Iesus, Ier. 4.4. Phil. 3.3. but a circumcised carnal Israelite thought opus operatum enough, as a Law of works, and so in all their ceremonies. And note this, as the doctrine of [Page 69]the covenant is reciprocal, so of the Seal, as they did teach and seal all comforts from God, so they did binde them closer to God in Christ by faith and filial obedience.

N. III. of the 4 Quest. their infant-children, &] Let us consider two or three words more of that which is said touching the infants of Israel, that departed this life. It is Gods promise and covenant that are workfull, and his Spirit did blesse circumcision for the joy and comfort of parents for their infants reconciliation, justification, sanctification, and adoption and hope of immortal glory. The same covenant and pro­mise doth belong to the Parents of the Churches of the Gentiles for their infants in the seal of Baptism. Is the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the holy Trinity the God of the Jewes onely; and not of the Gentiles also? yea of the Gentiles also. Thy Makers are thy Husbands, Esay 54. faithful is he that hath promised, and he will do it. Therefore he is reconciled to our infants, and will justifie, and sanctifie, and adopt them and bring them to immortal glory. They by circumcision were circumcised into one body, as is evident in all the Church politic of Moses. And so by baptism we are all baptized into one body, whether Iews or Greeks. The promise and covenant is ours as well as theirs, (as the Epistle to the Galatians upon Gen. 12.2, 3. sheweth) and baptism sealeth the same: and the Covenant and seal is in extent (excepting the obligation of Ce­remonies, and some judicials) as large for application to all converted Gentiles to them and to their seed, as of old to Israel, and their seed. The false teachers of these dayes say the Covenant with the people of Israel was carnal and fleshly, &c. but this is not so: not so in Gods intent when he gave those promises, and made that covenant, and ordeined that seal of his covenant: not so, in the judgement of the faithful, and in their whole conversation which was heavenly, as all Heb. 11. Luke 1.55, 72, 73, 74. Again not so, for after they came to Canaan, they did not reject Canaan, nor city, nor Temple (but in apostasie) nor sacrifices, nor washings, &c. as Psalm 50. Esay 1. Ier. 7. yet God plagued them, which was for despising Christ in those ordinances: so their table was made a snare to them: and Christ was a stumbling Stone to them, as he was to Kain. That which was ordained for their welfare, they made their ruin. And so if we do no more but outward exercises in a shew of godli­ness, and deny the power thereof, and live wickedly as they did Psalm 50. Esay 1. Ieremy 7. The Angel of Gods presence, our glorious Lord Ie­sus Christ will not spare our misdeeds, 1 Thess. 4, 6. &c. These false tea­chers abuse the holy Scriptures, as in that of Heb. 8. It is said, better promises, &c. but they must be asked what better promises than Genesis 3, 15. & Genesis 12.3? Let such know there are not better promis [...]s in old or new Testament: and indeed those two promises contain all the doctrine of the Gospel, as in part before is shewed. They must excogitate the true interpretation, by seeking how our Lord, and his Apostles con­vinced the false glosses the Conc [...]sion made of Moses Politie: for we all [Page 70]must know theirs and ours is the same Covenant (as often said) onely new for Administration in fulfilling all promises and prophecies. Let us confer, Exod. 19. & 29.45. Lev. 26.15. with Apoc. 21.3.2 Cor. 6.16. Gen. 3.15. with 1 John 1.2, 3. and chap. 3. Jos. 1. with Heb. 13.5. Rom. 4. with Gen. 15. & 17, &c. This must be often spoken and medi­tated, for we are dull of hearing. Again, better promises, hath respect to Deut. 30. Psalm 40 and 95. in Deut. 30. Christ promiseth that he will circumcise their heart, and the heart of their seed, to love him, Jeho­vah their God, and to keep his commandments, &c. This Christ spake to them, that they might not be deceived to think that their salvation stood in outward observances; as in circumcision, &c. but in serving God in their spirits in the Gospel of his Son. And so this to be understood in all Moses ceremonies. The bloud of Oxen and Goats and Rams did not, could not purge their conscience from dead works, but their conscience would still be to them, for all their bodily exercise, an ill, accusing and condemning conscience. Their salvation was established upon better promises, and a better hope, That Christ by his own most perfect sa­crifice, and bloud-shedding should be a sweet smelling savour to God for us, and procure eternal redemption. And while we, as strangers, converse in this world, he would be mortification, and sanctification, by his word and spirit, Mic. 7. John 3. Yet let the godly take heed they neglect not ordinances, and outward observances of Christs institution, though they be as the bark and shell, yet they are such a bark and shell, that a Chri­stian cannot have life kept within him without them: as a tree will not live without his bark, nor the kernel prosper without his shell. Publique administrations and family ordinances, and secret duties, are of that consequence, that he that carelessly neglecteth them is in danger of gangrenating errours both in doctrine and manners.

N. VI. Not of the Jews only, but of many Nations] Gen. 17.5. It is promised by the Lord Iehovah the performer of his promises. For a Fa­ther of many nations have I made thee: This speech was spoken at that time when God renewed his promise and covenant in Christ with Abra­ham, and added the seal to that covenant teaching thereby that he would not be, the God of Israel only, but in due time the God of the Gentiles also; therefore the Covenant is to the infants of the Gentiles, as of the Iewes: and all faithful are Abrahams seed, and the Israel of God, Gal. 3 & 6.16. and if the covenant be to the infants, then the seal: none dare deny it, but those that care not for the education of their children in godliness and honesty, for the hope of the resurrection unto eternal life. Abraham durst not deny the seal, but with all joy went about it. Again, consider Mat. 19.13. & Mark 10.13. little chil­dren are comprehended in the Covenant, For of such is the Kingdome of heaven. Yea, observe further, Of such is the Kingdome of God, that is, of the Church of God, as Matth. 21.43. The Kingdome of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation that shall bring forth the fruits there­of. [Page 71]So then Israels infants were of the kingdome of God, and so are the Gentiles infants. Did the Kingdom of God consist of the parents and infants of Israel in the old Testament? surely then godly parents and their infants of the Gentiles are in equal honor. He that shall hill an infant shall be put to death as justly as if he had killed a parent. So the murderous, accursed, doctrine of Anabaptists that would murder chil­dren is as wicked as to kill a godly parent. For the Lord God doth justi­fie and wash infants from their sins in his Covenant, and bring them to glory, as well as their godly parents. And again, seriously minde, The covenant of God in Christ by circumcision was in full force to the death of our Lord and Saviour, Luke 1.59. and Circumcision was a seal of the covenant of grace to the infants of the faithful, and infants were in covenant as is evident: and now after our Lords death were they not in covenant? Did our Lords death disannul the Covenant of his grace in respect of them? absit, absit. It was about six or seven weeks from our Lords death to Peters sermon, Acts 2. And the holy Apostle in the con­clusion of his Sermon doth exhort his auditors to receive the ordinance of Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the Remission of sins: and to shew he spake by the same Spirit of God that gave the promises, doth affirm that the promise and covenant is as firm to infants as ever it was, and therefore saith, The promise is made unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shal call, Acts 2.39. In chap. 3.25, 2 [...]. It is said, the Jewes were the children of the Pro­phets, and of the Covenant which God made with our Fathers, say­ing to Abraham, Even in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be bles­sed. First unto you hath God raised up his son Jesus, &c. so the Jewes had the first prerogative of the blessing in their kinreds, and of the re­surrection of Christ; and then secondly the Gentiles have the like por­tion in the blessing, and in our Lords resurrection, Rom. 2.10. consider for these things, Rom. 4.16, 17, 18, &c. to the end of the chapter.

Quest. 5. & Answ. on Gen. 49.10. And to Him shall the gathering of the people be] O give thanks unto Jehovah, for he is good, for his mercy en­dureth for ever. And say ye, Save us O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliv [...]r us from the heathen that we may give thanks to thy holy Name, and glory in thy praise. Blessed be Jehovah the God of Israel for ever and ever, and all the people said, Amen. 1 Chron. 16. Psal. 147.2. The Apostle saith the same, Grace be to you and peace from God the fa­ther, and from our Lord Jesus Christ; who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the Will of God which is our father: to whom be glory for ever, Amen, Gal. 1.3, 4.5. Eph. 1. 10. Abraham was gathered from the world, and Christ hath and doth still gather and deliver us out of the world to be of his Israel, John 11.52. so observe Iohn 17.

Quest. 7. & Answ. Abraham, Isaac, Iacob] they to testifie their faith in the Promises of Christ built Altars in divers places, and called on [Page 72]the name of the everlasing God. And therefore observe, the Apostle saith he served God with pure conscience from his forefathers in the pro­mise of life, which is in Christ Jesus, 2 Tim. 1.1, 2, 3. and therefore the promises to the Fathers with the seal of circumcision were not carnal and fleshly, as Mateologists wickedly prattle: if they were carnal to them, so they are to us, for the promises and covenant belong to us, as hath been laid from Acts 2.39. and chap. 3, 25.26. Surely the faith of a good Christian is builded on Christ the Comer stone, and on his religion pra­ctised of the godly Patriarks, and on the blesse, holy scriptures, and hope in the resurrection: all which by the work of the spirit doth make a man watchful to keep a good conscience in Church, in Common-Weal, by Land or Sea, at home, abroad, in s [...]ops, in labours, &c. see how all is taught in promise and seal. He that is such an one shall look death in the face, and needs not to be afraid before whom he comes, nor needs be ashamed of the groundless criminations of schism, heresie, and blasphemy, &c. diligently ponder Acts 24, 14, 15, 16.

Quest. 9. & Ans. A great apostasie, for Israel in Egypt] Read Ezek. 23.8. Israel with his family came as a pure virgin into Egypt: and so con­tinued all the dayes of Iacob: and Ioseph while he lived held the whole house in life and faith: but the Egyptians afterwards infected their po­weritie with idolatry: even in her youth lay they with this virgin Isra­el, and bruised the breasts of her virginity, and powred their whore­domes upon her. False worship being a work of the flesh pleaseth and quickly insinuateth into our corrupt nature, especially being conversant with idolaters. Let all people beware of mystical Egyptians: And let Common-weales, Churches, and families note, that false worship, and heresie increaseth and somenteth all projects of ungodlynesse and un­righteousness. Ezek. 16.6. and 20. must also here be considered to the captivity, both of Israel and Judah: They were by apostasie rather of the Amo [...]ite and He [...]hite then of Abraham and Sarah. They were in the bloud of their false religion, being foully corrupted with the idols of Egypt: and so they were dead till Christ by his own law said unto them live: So were we, being under the bondage of Rome-Egypt, until Christ, by his everlasting Gospel, made us to live, Apoc. 14.6. & 20.4, 5. And note as Terah his corrupt worship continued long in Israel: so did that of Muzrajim (i. e.) Egypt, Jos. 24.14. Ezek. 23 8.

Quest. 10. & Ans. God was not ashamed] But God will be ashamed of adulterers and adulteresses, that follow superstitions, lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eyes, and pride of life; for such do and will deny Christ, and be ashamed of him and his word, and such cannot be pilgrimes and strangers, and seek things celestial, Iames 4. 1 Ichn 2. Mark 8. Col. 3.1.

Ibid. To be called their God] Christ saith, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob, this is my memorial to all ge­nerations, that is, to all of their faith and heavenly conversation, whe­ther [Page 73]Jew or Gentile, Exedus 3.6, 15, 16. Hebrews 11.

Ibid. Heavenly City and Countrey] The faithful to the fulness of time were in heaven, and part of the blessed familie of the heavenly Father, Ephe. 1.10. & 3.15. All the faithful in Israel were the adopted sons of the Eternal, their God, (and if sons, then heirs, Rom. 8.) so they were, living, and so they were, dead. Therefore the living might not sorrow as the heathens that had not certain knowledge of the joyful and glori­ous state of the immortal souls of the faithful, nor any hope of the re­surrection, Luke 13.28, 29. They might not cut themselves for the dead, nor make any print or mark in the flesh, Levit. 19.28. Dent. 14. 1, 2, 1 Thess. 4 The loving kindeness of Iehovah, is better than life, because though life departs, yet we be, and live for ever in him. There­fore it is said, God is the God, as of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, and so of every true believer, even when his body is dead and turned to dust, and therefore Abraham must be held in spirit to be and live with God, and shall have the resurrection of the body, Luke 20.37.38. Matt. 22.24. Mark 12. The faithful enjoy the same inheritance and happiness with Abraham, and this is one part of the blessedness in Christ promi­sed to Abraham. And Christ saith of Moses being dead, Moses my ser­vant is dead: he was still the Servant of Christ though he went up to Mount Nebo, and dyed: and we know he doth live, for he appeared when Christ was transfigure, and death is one of the works of the di­vel which Christ was to dissolve. Christ was promised from the begin­ning to destroy the works of Satan now called the old Serpent, Acts 26. 6. Josh. 1.2. 1 John 3.8. Heb. 2.14, 15. 2 Tim. 1.10.

Annotations upon the Questions and Answers of the fifth CHAPTER.

QUest. 2. Forth of Egypt] The deliverance of Israel from E­gypt is much celebrated in the old Testament. And amongst other things of that bondage, this is twice noted, from a peo­ple of a strange Language, Psalm 81 & 114 Israel could not be ignorant of the language of Egypt, but I think their idolatrous Priests, had a mumming language in their devotions; like Rome-Egypt that taught our forefathers in their devotions in a language they understood not: for which we have as great cause to sing praise to God, as well as Israel of old, that we are saved from that cruel bondage.

Quest. 4. and Answ. The breast-plate with Ʋ [...]im and Thummim] Con­sider from this time, that as the twelve Tribes followed the faith in the promises to their godly ancestours, so the Ʋ [...]im and Thummim that was placed among the twelve precious Jewels upon the Breast-plate of the High Sacrificer, never uttered any other faith. And the same Jewels are the foundation of the Christians Jerusalem from heaven, So our high [Page 81]Sacrificer more excellent then Aaron, who is Ʋrim and Thummim, light, life and all perfections, all in all: all fulness dwelt in him: and he came from the bosome of the Father, and walketh in the midst of the VII. Golden Candlesticks, and never uttered any other faith but what he taught in Moses. The Apostle alludeth unto this when he exhorteth to put on the breast-plate of Faith and Love, Faith in Christ is our light and life, and love is the perfecting and fulsilling of the Law: and all our thoughts, speech and action should ever intend these two. In Christ we are made sacrifices, and therefore with a constant spirit carry this Breast plate before God and man.

Ibid. The Ark of the covenant, the bloud of peace-offerings, &c.] All these things were shadows of good things to come, and enjoined till the time of reformation, when the new and living way was manifested. The land of Canaan was also a shadow of the true rest in the Kingdome of heaven: so David taught carnal Israel, Psalm 95. which the Apostle handleth to the revolting Hebrews, And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a Testimony of those things which were to be done and spoken after, Heb. 3. God did draw them by these ordinances, to give them to understand who should be their justification, cleansing, sin-offe [...]ing, &c. by many outward things and promise, to the spiritual: but when they made their belly their God, and minded earthly things, and thought to be justified by the outward action: Then God shewed them to be poor elements, as at Syloh and Salomons Temple burnt by Babel, &c. yea, once more it is said, God would shake them, & Dan. 9.24, 25, 26, 27. shewes by whom and how. Salomon told them of this also. The labour of the foolish doth weary him, for he knoweth not how to to go into the City, Eccles. 10.15. They knew not Christ the way, the truth, and the life for the heavenly City and Countrey: not like children of faith of their faithful father Abraham.

The holy Prophets and Priests taught the meaning of the sacrifices in the great congregation, Psalm 40.6, 7. They preached Gods justificati­on of a sinner, and kindeness in Christ that would come to do Gods will, They declared Gods faithfulness and truth that he would perform his promise concerning the sending of Jesus Christ, his death, resurrection, and ascention, Psalm 22 & 16. & 68.18. conferred with Ephes. 4.8, 9, 10, 11. And the holy Tribes instantly serving God day and night in this hope went thrice a year to the Tabernacle and Temple (which were the great Congregations) to hear these things taught, and to profess the same in their holy con [...]ocations. Besides the Levites in their fourty eight Towns every Sabbath, and all other Prophets and Teachers in all their Synagogues (which were very many) had Sabbatical convocations, and they preached upon Moses. And there were divers Universities, or Schooles of Prophets at Ki [...]jabje [...]arim, at Bethel, at Jericho, &c. to edu­cate young men for knowledge to teach this most noble and glorious do­ctrine of faith in the Son of God that should come into the world to make our flesh his Tabernacle.

Ibid All which do teach of Christ] The holy Prophets Psal. 50. Esay 53. & 55 1, 2. &c. giving the people true Expositions of the Law, shew that Christ is the end of all: all priviledges of the Jewes, and Gods own ordinances they not discerning or seeking Christ by faith in them were nothing: nothing bread but Christ: and in outward performances, and bodily exercise to be most bountiful, most exact, accurate and un­rebukable is a bestowing cost and pains, and not for bread, for all is but dung and doggs meat without Christ. See how the Apostle urged this to the Jewes from Esay 55.1, 2, 3. Acts 1 [...].38, 39. read Mich 6.6. The Law of Mo [...]es politie was not given that we should be justified ex opere operato, by bodily exercise, it was given for signification, humiliation and direction, that Christ might be our life, without him it is a killing letter: for so it is weak, and [...]e are weak But carnall Israel mistook the Law, and so believed, John 6. Their bodily exercise in eating Manna, did not bring them into Canaan; for they dyed in the desert. And our Lord most heavenly draws all Moses to himself, that he was the true Man­na, and was sent of the Father to be the true bread. And there opens all the sacrifices, that his flesh and bloud was the true sacrifice of which (though now ascended) by faith we must feed or dy, and never come to the happy resurrection of the heavenly R [...]st. And this was, and is the heavenly Fathers will in the old and new Testament. The spirituality of ordinances was cumbersome to them as to Kain, Gen. 4. wherefore Christ in his wrath made them a snare to them, and a stumbling block: And this was the reason they hated Christ and his Apostles to the death, Be­cause Christ, doctrine drove man out of himself, and so all their labour to be lost for salvation, seeking to enter in at the strait Gate, and yet were not able Eccles. 10.15. yea it is natural (alass) to us all to rest in outward performances (as Kain) and not to care for Christ, the second A­dam, and the justification, that is by the faith of Him. The Ceremo­nial Law was weak to justifie Rom. 8.3. for it was impossible that the bloud of Oxen, Goats, washings, &c. could cleanse the conscience from the guilt and filth. The moral could not justifie because we were weak, nothing in us was able to do any thing to satisfy the justice of God; and because the carnall heart of many, being covered with a veil could not discerne Christ (the end and intent of the Law) yet they knew that they must labour one way or other to have peace with God, and their own conscience, they would thousands of Rams; and thousands of Rivers of oyl, and would be exact in outward doings for justification. And they durst not touch about the spiritualness of the Law, for it is the very pangs of death to understand the Law rightly, R [...]m. 7. Though sometime it could not be but the conscience was affrighted, then they did busie themselves in outward acts of fasting, praying, almsdeeds, washings, &c. to quier their heart. And this was their Divinity, and they were cur­sed by their censors that taught the Law otherwise. The Pharisees are the true Fathers of the Popish company: and we may very well yield [Page 83]the Papist antiquity (because they talk much of antiquity) even Esay 1. & 58. yea higher Psalm 50. yea Gen. 4. in Kain, who was the first that practised this doctrine.

The Ph [...]risees thought Christ came to destroy the Law, when he taught his holy doctrine; he answered he came not to destroy, but to fulfil it by or­thodox expos [...]ions. But they saw how it will go with them if Christs do­ctrine were received, and they would rather kill him, so it is now: where the word of Christ is truly taught, it makes the carnal heart mad, and to persecute. I did desire to remember these things often, because of the cursed corruption of our nature, who are so ready (yea every mothers child of us) to contend our selves without Christ, and to rest in bodily ex­ercise. The Churche [...] were warned of this evil springing in the Apostles times, 1 Tim. 4 [...]8. And we have cause to fear that not only Papists, but thousands of Protestants are leavened with this leaven of the Pharisees which is but hypocri [...]ie.

Quest. 5. [...]u [...] mine not the Moral] I use the term Moral as godly Di­vines do because it is the holy Law of Christ that shall last for ever, when the ceremonial was abolished. And people must be taught, that it is that which is called the form of sound doctrine, of faith and love which is in Christ Jesus: and we are to understand, that the Son of God, the Angel of Gods presence, who hath the name of God in him, who is very often called Ienovah: he gave the Law as Mediator, between God and man to train up his people in faith and love. And all the Law, and the Prophets, are but expositions of the ten words, therefore faith in Christ is taught in the Law: as 1 Joh. 3.23. This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Iesus Christ, and love one ano­ther as he gave commandement: Again it is said, when we carry our selves proudly, and do not walk charitably one towards another we sin against Christ, Rom. 14.1 Cor. 8. All relations in their obedience serve Christ, Ephes. 5.14, 15. & 6.5, 6. Col. 3.24. 1 Tim 6 3.

Ibid. seek justification by doing] This was the false doctrine of the conci­sion, and hath cast them off to this day: see how sweetly the Lord Je­sus calls them from this error, Iohn 6.27, 28. &c. This is an idolatrous errour of all our hearts: to be spiritual, to come to God by faith in Christ, and in our whole conversation so to be spiritual: to come to God by faith in Christ, and in our whole conversation so to walk as seeing him that is invisible, as H [...]bel, as M [...]ses and all faithful: Oh how hard! how impossible! such a power of darkness and weakness is upon us. O Lord God, the way of man is not in himself, till thou turn us from dark­ness to light, from the power of Satan to thy self. The glorious wisdom of Moses Law, which standeth for the Marr [...]w still but not for the out­ward Sabbath, circumcision, Tabernacle, and other rites of Levi. That Christ from the Law plagued the concision, and made the Law held as their Table for the in [...]ood [...] succour them, to be their snare unto death. They would not enter into the rest of Christ; where Baptism and the Lords Supper are no burden, (Mr. Bro. on Lam. 1.14.) where Christ is [Page 84]not sought and found in his own ordinances, all (not the moral, but also the ceremonial) savours death, 2 Cor. 3.7. to 16. what are we then to think of mens precepts, voluntary religion, and self-willed humbleness. Take notice what our Lord taught, Mat. 15.3. John 6.27, &c. and his Apostle, Rom. 10.3. Phil. 3.3. &c. Colos. 2.23.

Quest. 6. Num. II. Moses politie ever aimed at Him] The Law Morall and Ceremonial was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ: grace is two fold, the one of Justification from the guilt and curse of the Law, the other of sanctification, the righteousness of the Law being fulfilled in them that are in Christ Iesus. who inables them by his spirit most willingly to walk therein: delighting in the Law of God concerning the inner man. And Christ was the truth and substance of the Ceremonial Law, as all the Epistle to the Hebrews sheweth: all was sponsorious of a better hope in him, Heb. 7.22. & 8.6. And this was that the saints so fervently prayed for teaching and understanding the wonderous things of the Law, how all was sponsorious of comfort in Christ, Psalm 119. And so of this did Ethan sing, Psalm 89.1, 2, &c.

Ibid. Quest. 6. N. III. The Ceremonial Law] That is, Gods ceremo­nial Law: no man hath power to institute or sanctifie as of himself any teaching sign or ceremony of person or thing, time or place to worship God thereby, or to take away that which the: Lord hath ordained, Moses durst not add or diminish any thing: no not any other colour as green, which is as pleasant as blew, purple and scarlet, all colours of blood and sus [...]ing. The pattern was his Direction▪ And therefore was Moses cal­led faithful in Gods house, the Church of God, the Pillar and ground of truth. Will worship is a corruption of all our hearts, it likes us bet­ter then Gods commandments, Amos 4. Mat. 15. Luke 16.15. And we have great confidence in it that it pleaseth God. But it brings shame at last to any State: and all the Priests of Bethel cannot quench the fire that it will kindle, Amos 5. Hos. 10.14, 15. And let all will-worshippers minde that however they have a shew of wisdom in their will worship, yet it makes the people forget their Maker, Hos. 8.11, 12, 13, 14. 1 Kin. 12.33. Amos 5.21. & 8.10. And this too evident of later years in the ungodly dealing of the Prelates in their hinderance of sound teaching of the word in most paroches of England.

Ibid, N. III. and the moral is still to humble] Doubtless the Moral Law must be taught; it is a part of Christs mediatorian kingdom, God the Father made Him Lord and Christ to all the Israel of God, and obedi­ence is better than sacrifice, It is a point of faith to believe that Christ gave the Law, Exod. 23.20, 21, 22. They of old were commanded to hear him, and so we under the New Testament, must hear the Belo­ved Son, and reverance the Heir, Mat. 17.5. Matth. 21.98. It is said, Felix called forth Paul to hear him of the faith in Christ; and as he was teaching of righteousness, temperance, and of the judgement to come, [Page 85] Felix trembled, Acts 24.25. Therefore the Law ought to be taught, it belongs to the faith of Christ. And godly teachers are to lift up their voice like a Trumpet to make mens hearts shake and tremble for rebellion against the Mediatour: and therefore the godly teachers 40.50. and 60. years ago taught the way of the Lord more perfectly then many now do. vid. infra. the note on Levit. 26.17. chap. 8.

Quest. 7. & Answ. Ʋpon the text of Deut. 30.] Moses speaks this of the Law, the Apostle of Christ taught in the Law, Rom. 10. So Esaias faith, In his Law shall the nations hope, Esay 42.4. Matthew saith, In his Name, Mat. 12.21. The Apostle calleth this text, the word of faith, and the just do live by faith: Moses sheweth the Law of Jehovab, that is Christ is a law of Love, and the Apostle calleth it, A law of Faith: So then it is a form of Wholesome words of Faith and Love, which is in Christ Jesus. And how precious, sweet, dear, rich, pure, is the Law of Christ, being a Law of Life in him, Deut. 32.47. Therefore Stephen saith, that Moses received from the Angel of the Covenant, lively Oracles, Acts 7.38. And so the Apostles received from him words purer than snow, whitter than milk, sweeter than honey, or the honey comb, words of spirit and life to preach unto the dead apostate families, John 6.63. So the Sacrifices, washings, tabernacle, the land of promise, &c. profited nothing, were a killing letter, having the veil on the heart. The words and doctrine that Christ spake to Moses, they were spirit, and they were life. And so David knew, (and all of faith) when he cryed to Christ to be his sprinkling, and his hyssop, Psalm 51. And so Esaias and Stephen taught them: and the Apostle, Rom. 10.6. Exod. 20.2. And all expo­sitions of the ten words were a killing letter not looking to that which is within the Veile, even the grace and truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, Acts 15.11. The Prophets and Apostles unveil Moses face most bright­ly, they have made it as open, even as Moses made it when he took off the veil when he went to speak with Christ, Read.

Quest. 8. & Ans. N. II. To be man and to suffer] Mark the cause of the Apostle, I am accused for the hope of the promise made of God unto our Fathers, Psalm 16.10. & 22.29. & 40.6, 7, 8. Acts 26. this was a constant doctrine from the beginning, and to be declared from age to age to the end of the world, that the Son of God should come down from heaven to be a second Adam, and to give himself a sin-offering to death and be raised from the dead, 2 Tim. 2.8. and so in this doctrine Christ is our bread and drink, Joh. 6.27, 28, 29, &c. The pattern was not yet to come down from heaven to take our nature to be his Taberna­cle, and his flesh and bloud by sacrifice to be our bread and drink, Iohn 1.14. & 6.54. And till the Son of God came to be and do thus, All that Christ revealed to Moses was sponsorius, and an introduction of a better hope, that is, Christ hoped for, by all faithfull of the old Testament, by whom they and we come unto God, Hebr. 11.1, 2, 3, 4. Iohn 14.6. Heb. 8 Ephes. 1.10, 11, Esay 15 1, 2, 3. Acts 13.

Ibid. N. II. Accounting this wisedome foolishness.] And the light shi­neth [Page 86]in the darknesse, and the darkness comprehended it not, Joh. 1. [...]. It was ever a stumbling block and foolishness to the wise and prudent of this world, to the natural man: Iohn 6.52.60.1.1 Cor. 1. & 2. And so is was to many while Moses was yet alive, Deut. 31.11, 27, 28, 29. such waited but for an opporeunity of Moses death, and Ioshuahs, and the godly Elders, then they did shew themselves: so blessed Paul spake of Wolves and apostasie, Acts 20. It is hard for us to deny all of the first Adam, and wholly submit to be taught and guided in the do­ctrine of the second Adam, the Lord from heaven.

Quest. 8. & Answ. N. IV. Of Melebisedecks and Levies sacrifice hood] See the Apostles disputation concerning Melchesedeck (Heb. 5. & 6 & 7.) who was still alive, after a sort, in discription. As the holy Prophet Da­vid taught the people of his dayes, and what use they should make of the Land of Promise, Psalm 95. and of the use and end of the sacrifi­ces and washings, &c. Psalm 40. & 51. So he taught them that Levies Priesthood should have an end; for that our glorious Lord Iesus Christ is made a sacrificer for ever ofter the order of Malchesedek, and not after Aarons order of the Levitical Priesthood; where neither the persons or things that Levi did, could justifie the doers, or commers thereunto. Now the Lord Jesus Christ he was promised and prophecied of in all the old holy volume of the book of God, that he was made a Mediator, and a Surety (a Sponsor) of such an Administration that should perfectly save and justifie them that came unto God by him. He was of God the Fa­ther (none else could) made a Sponsor, a surety. All the sacrifices that he commanded our Fathers they did them, till the fullness of times did come, and then he did send his beloved Son and Servant in whom his soul delights, he took unto him true humanity and was a Sponsor, a Sure­ty of a better Testament, (i.e.) The Mediatour of the New Testament, for their full con [...]olation: to comfort them concerning their works, and concerning the sorrows of their hands, and concerning the earth which God hath cursed. He shall do that which all Levites tribe could not ex opere operato. Levies Priesthood could not cleanse the conscience from the guilt of our sinful works, not procure a blessing on our Labours, nor make a new world: his Priesthood could not cleanse the conscience from dead works, to serve the living God, &c. And for this cause Christ was a Sponsor of a better covenant. And Christ himself faith, he will be­come this Sponsor and Mediatour to answer the will of the Father. Lo, I come to do thy will, O God, thy Law and appointment (for the re­demption of thy people that thou hast given me) is in my heart to give my self a Sacrifice of a sweet smelling favour of rest God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not counting their trespasses unto them. For be made him to be a Sin-offering for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, 2 Cor. 5. Much more might be said, but let the people of God study the Scriptures their inheritance. God hath a time and a day wherein he will burn up the hay, stubble, and [Page 87]rotten wood of impertinent applications and interpretations.

Ibid. N. I V. Is not an bidd doctrine.] It is not an hidden thing nor a wonder for thee O Israel: for this doctrine that the Son of God should come down from heaven to be man hath been taught to thy Fa­thers from the beginning, and that he should be the great High Priest and Sacrifice, and that he should raise himself from death to give hope to all faithful of their resurrection. Israel should not make doubt of this doctrine. Yet it is a Wonder as Ethan sings of it, Psalm 89. great is the mystery of Godliness. But this hath been ever taught in the Church, this doctrine is the faith of Gods elect, and the Churches possession, Ioh. 1. Levi the Tribe appointed to reach divinity should never have been graven in the bright and pleasant Smaragd, if the stories of this Art had been dark. [...]et had been a fitter stone for darkness. The minde of man may have abundant satisfaction, and strong confidence concerning the doctrine of the way of life, by holy and humble diligent study of the Scriptures: And they that will not believe Moses and the Prophets will not believe though one should rise from the dead.

Quest. 9. and Answ. Taught by tradition] Note, the doctrine of faith one, and the same whether by Tradition or Writing. For those 2513. years, the faith of the Gospel was propagated by tradition by great pro­phets of long life, and great authority and sacrifices as seals of the Co­venant added for confirmation of doctrine.

Quest. 10 and Answ. Midian] Although Abraham taught his houshold the faith of Christ, as is seen in the book of Ioh, yet many of his posterity apostated to that idolatry, religion and opinion, with which he was corrup­ted, at YR, others fell to the false faith, religion and opinion of Peor, Jos. 23. & 24. and did seek to curse the true faith of Gods elect, and the holy people of that profession, Num 23. & 24. Midian was of Abraham by Ket [...]rah. The world was then full of false opinions and heretical Do­ctrines as now: they could plead for Nachors Teraphim, for Peor, for Chemosh and Mil [...]ham, &c. but Israel must hearken to the Law and Testimony that Christ gave them: so Moses and Iosuah most pathetically, a little before their deaths, exhorted them, to regard the holy Law, and not to follow the traditions of their fathers, or of the Nations, Ios. 24. Deut.

Quest. 11. and Answ. And wou'd have gone into Egypt again] Like them are our Popish fools, that would go into Rome Egypt again, for their Fish, Flesh pots, Leeks, Garlick, Onions, Cucumbers, Melons, their doctrines of bodily exercise, of Images, Pilgrimages, the dotage of Purgatory &c. goodly Cates sure, to be compared to the heavenly Man­na of Gods word, and Gods dwelling in his tabernacle among us. We do not consider the glorious presence in Christ in his Ordinances and prote­ction, &c since he brought us from among them. By the Gospel, the way of Christ, the face of God shineth upon us. The Gospel is the object of promise, joy and gladness to every honest hearted Christian. Let our apostate hearts remember Lots wife in looking back to Rome-Sodome. Christ complained Israel would none of me: Oh that we could think of [Page 88]these things: What one nation on the earth hath been like us for mer­cies, and how ill have we requited the Lord? as Israel did so do we, Psal. 81. Deut. 32.

Ibid. Of their forefathers.] The idolatry of Terah and Abraham conti­nued above 500 years, to the death of Iosuah, yea long after, Iosuah 24. 2.14. Observe how fast idolatry and superstition, and will worship sticks in the heart of posterity. Although they had the fiery Law expounded by Moses, and miracles to confirm them of the truth of that Religion, that holy faith of the Son of God Moses, taught, and possessed Canaan, in the obedience of that holy faith, and many chastisements for Apostasie to Baal Peor, &c yet many of their hearts were false, So it is with us at this day in our nation; although God hath spoken to us by his Son, & have the blessed Scriptures, which have in them a blessed comforting, flaming light, and brightnes, and 70. years and more under Gods gracious husbandry, yet how rebellious! Oh mourn for the Corruption of our natures, and see how the tradition of a false religion from fore-fathers prevailed and prevaileth with many afore the written word. Our Tea­chers must earnestly press the reading of all the holy Scriptures: but surely they do but coldly and seldome do it. The Serpent and his seed are great enemies to the holy Scriptures, and a surer note of a wicked man need not be sought after, then the slighting and the scorning of the Scriptures.

Ibid As of the Canaanites] And an Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I have made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the Land which I sware unto your fathers, and I said, I will never break my covenant with you: And you shall make no league with the inhabitants of the Land: you shall throw down their altars, but you have not obeyed my voice. Why have you done thus? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you, but they shall be as thornes in your sides, and their Gods, (their religion) shall be a snare unto you. And it came to passe when the Angel of the Lord spake all these words unto the Children of Israel, that the people lift up their voice and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim, and they sacrificed there unto Jehovah, Judges 2. observe all that chapter.

Quest. 12. and Answ. Joyful presence dwelling among them] It is a joyful thing indeed, and a glorious priviledge to have the Tabernacle reared, that Christ may dwell among us, and for us to tread in his Courts. Look what any Father, Husband, or King is to a Kingdome and familie, such is Christ to his. After Christ had promised many blessings Levit. 26. as the basis of all he saith, And I will set my Tabernacle among you and my soul shall not abhorre you, and I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. And look these texts for meditation to see the glory of Christ in his Tabernacle as our Prophet, Priest, and King, Exodus 20.24. & 25.22. & 29.42, 43 & 30.6.36. Psalm 2. 1 Sam. 12.12. Psalm 45. & 47. & 48. & 84. & 95. & 100. & 145. & [Page 89]146, &c. So when they were to come from Babel this is mentioned as the foundation of all comfort, Ezek. 37.26, 27. also we must mind what is to be done of us: ye shall reverence my sanctuary, and keep my sab­baths, and never appear before Christ empty, Exod. 23.15. Levit. 26.2. Now observe the same glorious mercies are related and applyed to us un­der the New Testament, 2 Cor. 6.16. Apoc. 21.3. and their holy pra­ctise in their worships, 2 Cor. 7.1.1 Cor. 11. & 14. And their Alms-deeds every Lords day in their holy meetings, 1 Cor. 16.1, 2. as Deut. 16.16, 17. Now of the uses of application, how many? how great? how full of comfort and terrour?

First, to instruct, God would not have a Church or family in the world, but because he would have holy worship: Religion is the essence of a Church, family, or person. 2. The world is not continued but for this. 3. Great are the priviledges of the Church that Christ is among us by his ministery and ordinances, for our Prophet, Priest, and King. 4. What an heinous wickedness it is to interrupt or pull down holy things 5. They are cursed of God that do so.

Secondly to exhort, 1. to study, 2. to procure, 3. to maintain, 4. to be zealous for, 5. to esteem above all, and to be thankful for: 6. to take up with content, 7. to relish, this glory, Psalm 42. & 63. & 122. & 132.8. To lay to heart to mourn for the absence and desolation of holy things, Dan. 9. & 10.2, 3 Lament 1. & 2. & 3.

Thirdly, To reprove the wretchedness and deadness concerning these things, Acts 18.17. &c. Also we must ever observe, that Moses Taber­nacle was according to the Pattern of that which was in heaven. They that enjoyed the peace of God in the earthy tabernacle, had the same still in the heavenly, as Psalm 15.1, 2. And it is said our Lord, with his own bloud went through the veil of his flesh, into the most holy place, the very heavens, as the high Sacrificer went with bloud into the holy place made with hands. This touched often, and needful to be obser­ved in all the Ceremonies of Moses, else we shall have a veil over our hearts, as Jewes and Papists, who see not Christ the end of all these things that were to be abolished.

Ibid. 12. Quest. and Answ.—Victories] By faith they waxed valiant in Battel, and turned to flight the Armies of the Alians. Their faith saw the d [...]ies of Christ, that he would overcome him that had the pow­er of death, the Devil. the Prince of darkness, the old Serpent. There­fore by faith they overcame the Serpents seed. All true souldiers should be doctors in divinity, such will conquer with small loss, as Israel under Josuah, and the Elders surviving Josuah, who delighted in the study of Moses, Jos. 1. & 23.6. And Davids Captains by knowledge of Moses were mighty in Battail, Heb. 11.34.

Quest. 13. and Answ. N. I. Analek discomfited] Amalek of Esau de­spised the faith as Esau his Father, and became a fierce persecutor of the faith of Christ, and his people, which was the break-neek of that [Page 90]State. Gods curse, and the Churches War were never reversed nor ap­peased to the daies of Haman. A warning to persecuting States, espe­cially to mystical Edom. The form of the pattent and promise that God gave to Abraham. is for comfort to all the Israel of God for ever; I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee, as see in Numb. 24. and Balaam foretels the like destruction to Kittim as to Amalek: The same enmity, the same war, and the same curse shall follow the Serpents seed in perdition to the end.

N. II. a partition wall] This was the vail and covering on all nations which Christ would abolish, Esay 25. Dan. 9.24. &c. Ephes. 2.15. God hated the apostate families like Devils, that he gave by Moses an hedge of Lawes to keep Israel from amity and communion with them And this was one special Law, that certain Beasts, fowls and fish prohibited (to distinguish them in diet from heathen) are called unclean. So be all without the Gospel in their high learning, Ro. 1.21, 22. as Socrates, Plato, Tully, Varro, Plutarch, and the civilest. These things were continuall occasions of enmity between an Israelite and an Heathen, Ephes. 2.15. Hest. 3.8.

Ibid. N. II. Separated and made Aliens] But being blessed in Christ, (when the vessel was let down from heaven, Acts 10.) they and their children were equally stated in all those glorious priviledges of Israel, Eph. 2.11, 12, 13, 14. Let Anti-poedobaptists consider it: and hence forward call not your children common or unclean: and do not reason against the comforts of your selves and children, where the merciful Lord God gives you no warrant so to do; nay, is it not a daring speech against God and his covenant, to say the infants of believing Gentiles are common and unclean, whereas Christ saith they are clean and holy, 1 Cor. 7.

Ibid. N. II. without God in the world] Compare just divine severity. When the X. tribes had revolted from Davids house, and the religion of the Temple. They were almost in as bad a case for salvation as the hea­thens. Observe Ephes. 2.12 &c. It shall be further noted hereafter, that it may be deligently marked.

Quest. 14. and Answ. From the Angel Jehovah] Be carefull to observe how Christ is called Angel, and Iehovah, Exod. 3. and in many other places. Also in Exod 23. mark this speech; Behold, I send an Angell before thee to keep thee in the way, and to bring th [...]e into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not, for he will not pardon your transgressions, for my Name is in him. He is the express Image of the fathers person, Hebrewes 1.2, 3. confer Matthew 17. 5. Iohn 12.47, 48, 49, 50. All the Churches of the New Testament should hear him what he by his Spirit saith to the Churches. And the seven golden Candlesticks felt his hand as heavy, as the Golden Can­dlestick of Israel: both provoked him, and both felt: he was a con­suming fire.

Ibid. Plagued by enemies on every side] Among many particular evils [Page 91]that Israel was plagued with, note this, that false religion brought pe­nury, and was the decay of liberty of trades and commutation of civil commerce, &c. Jud. 5.6, 7, 8.1 Sam. 13.19. corruption in religion and trouble of State ever go together: Then was War in the Gate, Jud. 5. The State of the Common weal, commonly followeth the State of the Church. Princes in all their Governments should so mannage their affairs in righteousness, temperance and godliness to be a Commenta­ry on Psalm 2.10, 11, 12. and let them remember Davids last words, 2 Sam. 23.3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Mr. Fox in Acts and Monuments towards the later end of Henry the seventh hath a worthy speech concerning this.

Annotations upon the Questions and Answers of the sixth CHAPTER.

Qvest. & Answ. David the sweet Psalmist] David sung most sweetly of Christ, and his Kingdome: of his Person (both of his divine and humane nature) and offices, and the be­nefits thereby. He spake of Christs humiliation and exalta­tion. This Patriark and prophet in holy Psalmes speaking by the Spirit of God; 2 Sam. 23. Mat. 18. calleth Christ his Lord, Psalm 110. the Son in whom they that trust are happy Psalm 2. Also after God had pro­mised him Christ, he called him David beloved, Psalm 130.10. Mat. 3.17. &c.

Quest. 2. and Answ. Psalm 51 7. Purgeme with hyssop] The High Sa­crificer purged the unclean with hyssop: he was to do the outward acti­on, and could do no more: David did not believe the doctrine of bodi­ly exercise. So John Baptist saith, I baptiz [...]lyou with water, but the Mes­sias with the Holy Ghost, So Daniel goeth to God in Christ, who is the true hyssop, and he that sprinkleth the conscience for justification and sancti­fication, as St. Peter taught the circumeision, 1 Pet. 1.3. and St. Paul in the Epistle to them, Heb. 9. and 10. So David confessed he was a Le­per, and unclean spiritually, crying to God to be purg [...]d, and cleansed as Lepers, and other unclean were purified, Levit. 14.6. Num. 19.18. By this we see they had knowledge what the Ceremonies meant, and the Law was written in their hearts, and so their mindes, and on the Table of their heart, Prov. 3.3. & 7.3. and none but God could so write it, and this was from his covenant in Christ, he being their God; also this shewes they had expounded of the Law.

The Modern Jews could say (and they had it from their ancient El­ders) and an excellent saying it is, What Aaron did on earth, Michael (that is Christ) did in heaven: But yet they should go one point of faith further, That every Sacrificer must be taken from among men, to teach us to believe that the Son of God should take mans nature to end Moses, and to be a sacrificer for ever, Heb. 5.1, 2. &c. But they doubted and said, Who can go up to heaven to bring Christ down to dwell in our Taberna­cle and who can go to the deep of the earth to bring Christ fr [...]m the dead. They believed not JESUS to be Jehovah, and by the Godhead to raise the manhood, and that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself: not counting their trespasses to them, and that he made him to be a sin-offering for us, who knew no sin that we might be made [Page 99]God the Fathers righteousness or justification, pardon, forgiveness, free­dome, and atonement in Him.

Upon Psalm 143.1. Hear my prayer, O Eternall] As it was observed at the beginning that each comfort comes to us by way of free promise and covenant, (unthought of, and undesired on our part) so it is in this duty of prayer, helped us in the duty, and promised in the Mediatour to hear us, Psalm 50.15, Gen. 46.1. Ephes. 2.18. we could neither know what to pray, nor had the face to look up to God. But this through the work of the Spirit makes the saints (them of the old Testa­ment, as well as we of the New, as Ephes. 2.18, 19. weeboth) to utter their Groans, and sighes to the God of Covenant: Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name, he will give it you, John 16. In all thy waies acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy waies, Prov. 3. By faith in Christ Habel drew near, or came to God, in assurance of ac­ceptation, Heb. 10, 22. & 11.4. A promise believed most lively stir­reth up to prayer, 2 Sam. 7.27. Dan. 9.1, 2, 3, &c. Ezek. 36.37. Gen. 32.9. The unchangeableness of Gods counsels, and the stability of the promises, yea, and the fruits of our Lord Christs death, do not dispense from the duty of prayer, yea they are wrought for our good by his ordi­nance, Num. 16.46, 47.

Quest. 3. and Answ. The Spirits illumination] The Spirit enlightneth the eyes of the understanding experimentally to know the mystery of God, who is the Father, and of Christ. It convinceth of sin and un­cleanness, abaseth all our righteousness, sheweth the fountain for wa­shing of guilt and filth: sealeth reconciliation in the assurance of ju­stification and adoption: frameth the foul a new Creature, to humble filial and sincere obedience and invocation: it recovereth from-salls, and comforts in affliction, and carrieth the heart aloft in praises and thanksgivings, &c.

Quest. 4. and Answ. N. 1. From the first Adam] By one man sin entred into the world in whom all men have sinned, Rom. 5. Mark there the sweet comparisons of the first and second Adam: Again, that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit, John 3. Every man is born an ignorant Ass-colt, born an Atheist and Idolatour: born of a false worship, an hypocrite, a blasphemer, and a profaner of Gods Name and Worship, forgetfull and unmindeful, and slighting Gods sanctified time of Worship: born with a stubborn spirit against the duties of all religions, born a murderer, an adulterer, a thief, a false accuser, and slanderer, a covetous uncontonted person. In all things the thoughts of mans heart is evil from his youth. Therefore the Spirit testifieth that wear all born dead in sin and children of Wrath by nature. But alasse! How dully do we thinke of these things?

Ibid. N. 1. Became a second Adam] David looked to the Tabernacle God would rear, not such a one as was made with hands, but from the [Page 100]similitude of that which was on earth, he looked to the heavenly thinge themselves: Faith did evidence to him things not seen. David saith to God in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, wash me. So the Apostles shew this washing and cleansing, as from him, that is, from the beginning, but manifested to be a second Adam to be seen, selt, and handled, even for this great mercy, 1 John 1.7. Apoc. 1.5. Tit. 3.5. 1 Pet. 1.2.

Ibid. N. 2. repair the lapses and decayes] The just man falleth scaven times a day, but he riseth again, God will uphold that he shall not fall finally: and David prayed for upholding, Psalm 37.24. & 51.12, Pro. 24 16 and God doth uphold us in all our temptations, that there will be an issue out of them, Psalm 73.23. 1 Cor. 10.13.

N. 3. w [...]harawing or with hold [...],] How much more shall the bloud of Christ, who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works, to serve the living God, Heb 9 14 & 10.22. 1 John [...]. 20, 21.

N. 4 According to the Law] We most hence learn to undervalue our best abilities, and to be humbled for our exactest performances. There­fore Christ ordained sacrifice for the sins of their holy offerings, Deut. 16. And that the High Priest should bear the iniquity of their holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts, Exod. 28.38. And the Saints were sensible of this; confessing we are all unclean, and that all our righteousness is as filthy raggs, Esay 64.6. if the best man dare not justifie his actions, his actions cannot justifie him: the most regenerate doth not what he would and should, Rom. 7. a godly man sees cause to hate somewhat he doth in his best actions. The Law of Christ, Exod. 20. is more spiritual than the best man. If we con­demn our selves, we justifie the Law, that it is holy, just, and good.

N. 5. That it consisted in transgression, forgiveness] By the grace of for­giveness, we stand justified from sin, or we stand, being made free from sin: the Law maker may forgive sin, and so doth, but yet in the Media­tour, and so we may stand. Then being justified by faith, we have peace toward God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Rom. 5 1. This verse, yea all the chapter is but an inference from the former doctrine in chap 3. of justification, and from the Testimony that Abraham and David felt in themselves, Rom. 4. Again, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen, it is God that justifieth, that setteth free, that forgiveth Romans 8.1. all our comfort dependeth on forgivenesse of sin. When an Israelite offered sacrifice, it is said, his sin shall be forgiven him, so he stood just by the grace of forgiveness, by faith in Christs sacrifice. So the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ hath witnesse of the Law, and the Prophets. No new doctrine, Levit. 4. & 5. & 6. Romans 3.21, 21, &c. Habel offering in faith inherited the righteousness or ju­stification, that is by faith, Heb. 11. so in the Seal of the Lords Supper, Matth. 26.26. forgiveness of sins is only spoken of as the foundation of [Page 101]all blessings, the most admired priviledge of the Saints, drawing all o­ther after it, as adoption, peace, joy, &c. as non-forgiveness drawes wrath, and all other miseries after it. If sin be such an evil how unva­luable is the sacrifice of the body and bloud of the Lord Jesus Christ.

N. 7. From an inward feeling] every one should be affected with grief and godly sorrow for his birth sin, as David Psalm 51. This saying should alwaies sound in our ears, that the Eternal God said, It repenteth me that I have made man: also this, the frame of mans heart is only wicked all the day, Gen 6. which is handled, Rom. 7. I do not that which I would, but that which I would not, that do I: O spoiled man that I ant, who shall redeem me from this aye sinning body. The wicked heart selleth himself to do all iniquity as A chab, 1 King. 21.20. But the god­ly heart is sold against his will, as holy Paul, Rom. 7.14 we cry out and so we ought, upon particular sins, but are no [...] humbled as we ought for the corruption of nature. The cause is greater than the effect, as in good, so in ill: The word of exhortion belongs onely to the weary and laden. Matth. 11. The whole will not seek the Physitian. To this man will I look, to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my words, Esay 66 He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds, Psalm 14 [...].1 Chr [...]n. 34.27. Esay 61.1. Mat. 5 3, 4, &c. From all that hath been written hitherto in this book, and shall be writ­ten, let men consider, whether the People of Israel of the old Testament were not under a covenant of Grace, and whether they had not the law of God written in their hearts, as well as the Israel of God under the new Testament.

Ibid N. 7. Or alloweth, or is indulgem] A man whose sin is forgiven, covered, not imputed, his spirit will be without guile: so the 1 Pet. 2.1. is urged upon the doctrine of the former chapter, Psalm 26. &c 32. & 66. 18, & 51. Prov. 28.13.14. The holy soul prayeth as sincerely and affe­ctionately for upholding, in the path that is called holy, as for pardon.

N. 10. Afore we can have any comfort] Observe the coherence of mat­ter in these Psalms, so Jacob Gen. 46 1, 2, &c. Ezra 3.3. & 8.21, 22, 23, 31. Excellent in Samuel, who by faith and prayer in the bloud of the Covenant put to flight the Armies of the alians, 1 Sam. 7.9, 10. Heb. 11.32. There must be a dayly use and improvement of faith and pray­ [...]r, in all occasions and conditions, especially as touching sin, and day­ [...]y transgressions against holiness and righteousness in matter, manner, or end, in omission, or commission. We need to cry for cleansing of our secret faults to be pardoned and justified by him that justifyeth the un­godly. As Abraham that was a believer, and a worshipper of God in Gen. 12. & 13. & 14. yet needed daily the use of his faith to be comfor­ted in him that justifyeth the ungodly, Gen. 15. Rom. 4. do shew, and therefore he builded Altars in every place he came unto.

The Annotations upon the Questions, and answers of the seventh chapter.

THe first Quest. and Answ. Is it true indeed] so Salomon had also said of Christ, that his delight was to be with the sons of Adam, Pro. 8. Therefore by faith Salomon built the Temple looking to things not seen, 2 Chron. 6.18. Great is the mystery of godliness, God manifested in the flesh, 1 Tim. 3. ult. Cant. 2.9-17. Mark Stephens Oration, Acts 7. The lamb is in the Temple in the heavenly Jerusalem, Apoc. 21. He is [Page 107]the Holy of Holies, Dan. 9.24. And Christians are the Temple of God, 1 Cor. 3.16, 1 Pet. 2. Apoc. 15. God plagued old Babylon with horrible vengeance for the burning of the material Temple, Jeremiah 51.11. So he hath and will destroy mystical Babylon for crucifying Christ and Christians.

Ibid. Agur B [...]n Iakeh] He beleeved the greate mystery of Godliness, when he spake these words. There be three things which are too won­derfull for me, yea four which I know not. The way of an Eagle in the ayer, the way of a serpent up a rock: the way of a ship in the midst of the Sea, and the way of a Manchilde in a virgin, Prov. 30.18, 19. Esay 7.14. The same word for manchild is in Job 3.3.

2. Quest. & Ans. And all these dyed in the faith] All these with the faith­full for the times of the old Testament were reconciled by the bloud of the Mediatour, and gathered into one head, even Christ the Head. And therfore when it is said they were gathered to theirfathers or people, they departed from that part of Gods family on earth to the other part of the family that is in heaven. Note also these Scriptures. That in the dis­pensation of the fulness of the times (Dan. 9 24.) he mightbring to one Head, by Christ himself, all, both them which are in heaven, and them which are on the earth, Ephes. 1.10. Of whom hath name the whole family in heaven, and in earth, Ephes 3.15. And by himself to re­concile all unto himself (making peace by the bloud of his Cross) both them which are in the earth, and them which are in the heavens, Col. 1.20. confer to this 1 Som. 7.9, 10. Heb [...]. 11.32, 33, 34. Psalm 22. 4, 5. Psalm 49 It is said the godly shall enter into peace, Esay 57.2. Then none of Gods family were in any Popish purgatory, or in any po­pish Lymbecks, the cursed heathenish dotages of Virgil and Ovid. The Pit-bread Locusts had Sun and aire much darkned, when they knew not whether mans soul ascended or descended, and whether the soul go­eth to heaven, or Gehenna, to joy or torment, marke diligently, Ephes. 1.12, 13. for these words, that we —in whom ye, &c.

Quest. 3. and Answ. The Kingdome of David] The revolting from the house of David, and the Religion of the Temple: these two trans­gressions were the foundation of all other sins in the Church and State of the ten Tribes, Hosea 10.10 They forsook the Tent, Tabernacle, or Temple of Jehovah, and went to their own Tents and Gods: and then followed murders, slaughters, oppressions, &c. &c.

Ibid. Jaroboam the man of sin] Ephraim broken in judgement willing­ly walked after the commandment of Jeroboam. Because Ephraim made and instituted many Altars to sin. Altars shall be to him sin, They had enough of their own counsells, Psal 81. Ezek. 20.25. Christ will not be found, neither do spiritual blessings come to us, but in the spirits way, the conduits of Christs own Ordinances, they only work a transfor­mation, Rom. 12.1, 2. Ephraim provoked Christ to anger most bitter­ly, 1 Kings 12.28. and chap. 15. Hosea 8.11. 2 Cor. 3 3. Gal. 3.5. Hosea 12. Mich. 6. uls.

Israel, the harlot Aholah by breaking Wedlock, moved Christ to jealousie, and in time corrupted Judah by their counsels, and made her Aholibah. So Rome is called the great Harlot, and the mother of Har­lots that corrupted, and seduced the Churches by her sorceries, and made them harlots, Ezek. 16.38. Apo. 17.

As Jeroboam, so the Pontificalitie is called the man of Sin, that made all the world to sin, 2 Thess. 2. Apo. 17.

Now the harlot and foolish woman, the ten Tribes, babbles loud, and disputes smoothly and subtilly against Judah, as if Wisdom and Truth were with them, Prov. 9.13, 14, 15, 16, 17. so doth the woman-Whore of the seven Mountain City, plead and write against all refor­med Churches that have come out of Babel; as the godly in the ten tribes forsook the Communion of the Calves of Dan and Bethel, 2 Chron. 11.13, &c.

Ibid. and to worship his Devils] They sacrificed to Devils, not to God, Deut. 32.17. Christ by Moses prevented the pretensed counsels of idolaters, Jeroboam he pleaded he had not forsaken God, but that he worshipped God that brought Israel from Egypt. But the same spirit that spake by Moses, calls his Calves, Devils, 1 Kings 22.28, 2 Chron. 11.15.

Quest. 4. and answ. Jeroboams house did, and so Baasaes] All that go to her return not again, neither take they hold of the waies of life, Pro. 2.19. For great toyl they took, family after family, to maintain the faction of Jeroboams iniquity. But God swept them all away as dung, till all was gone, Prov. 5.9, 10. 1 Kings 14.10. They perished in their waies and courses, against the Kingdome of Christ, as David foretold, Psalm 2.12.

Quest. 5. and Answ. Moved him to jealousie] They fretted Christ their husband (humanitus dictum) and brake his heart with their who­rish hearts and eyes, Ezek. 6.9. and 16. all of it; and so the twenti­eth, and three and twentieth chapters. Judah the harlot Aholibah, she fol­lowed idols, horses, money, wealth, pride, and their lovers; she wea­ried her self with these lyes and vanities, Ezek. 23. & 24, Jer. 2.18, 19, 20. false religion and earthly confidence must go together. But see, sincerity needs none of those poor refuges, Psalm 20. read Esay 2.6, 7, 8, 9. & 29.13. with chap. 30.1, 2, 3. and good Kings must not greatly multiply horses, nor money; nor bring their people back into Egypt, Deut. 17. Princes are not wise, nor learned, that either lead not their people out of Rome-Egypt, or that would reduce them thither, Rome is called Sodom and Egypt, for filthiness and cruelty, Apo. 11.

Ibid. With their vanities] Dreams and Precepts of men, a policy of Satan, and the lying spirits his Angels, to make men forget the Law of Jehovah, and his sincere worship: when the precepts of men were urged in, or, for Gods worship, the Patrons of these things caused the holy Teachers to be prisoned in secret corners, or they were forced to [Page 109]hide themselves in secret corners from the tyranny of such wise, under­standing prudent prophets, and Seers: such deep heads that were able to add to Gods word; yea, that would hide their counsels from Iehovah, their breath and being. They turned things up and down, if one pro­ject took not, they tryed another, if not that, then a third. So Haman cast Pur, not considering Iehovah saw them, and that he would dash all in pieces like a potters vessel: see the other pranks of these sleepers, gid­dy, blinde, staggering, and wonderful ignorant in the things of Christs Kingdome: but expert in cogging and craft to polish and maintain mens precepts. These evils came from the apostasie of Israel, and from the plots and projects of Omri: (of him more anon) Who would think such men to have been in the state of Judah.

Ibid. 5. Quest. and answ. The great High counsel, &c.] Esa. 5.19.23. & 8.18. & 28.14. & 29.19, 20, 21, & 30.8, 9, 10, 11. & 57.3, 4. Psal. 82. Amos 2.6, 12. & 5.10, 11. Mich. 3.1, 2. & 7, 5. Ezek. 8.11. and 11.2. Then said he unto me Son of man, these are the men that de­vise wicked Counsel in this Citie, &c. So Christ, and his Apostles, and disciples were signs and wonders to the State of Israel: so it was in af­ter times, Acts 13.40, 41. and to this day: The State of Judah shed much innocent blood in the daies of Manasleh, which Christ would not pardon.

Quest. 6. and Answ. Testified to them] They called for fruits from the husbandmen of the vineyard to the end of the Seavensy Seavens, but when they had killed the heir, the vineyard was let out to the Gentiles, Esay 5. Neh 9.26. Jer. 7.25. Mat. 2 [...].33.34, 35, &c.

Ibid. Chariots and Horsemen of Israel] The Ordinances of Christ are drawn along by holy prophets. He tideth on prosperously with truth, meekness, and righteousness; and terrour, Psalm 45 3, 4, 5. And Christs Chariots, and his horsemen, were the strength of their State, Psalm 20. yet David and the Godly Kings, neglected not outward means, 2 Sam. 8.4. They that endeavor for to deprive our Land of Godly and able Teachers; are as treacherous to our Land, as they that would en­deavour to set on fire the Navy Royal. They that would not have a godly able teaching Ministery would have our Land to be as the State of the ten tribes, 2 Chron. 15.3.

Ibid. Samuels and Elias.] Samuels memory shall be blessed in the Church for ever for advancing holy learning by erecting schools of Pro­phets: a worthy president for all godly Commonwealths. They are po­ssessed with satanical and Julian fancies that would not have Schools of Prophets: Christ will curse such, and their posterities.

Quest. 7 and Answ. blessed protection] Upon their glorious faith was a defence: and the last speech of Moses was made good through all their State, while they hold their glory, Deut. 33, 26, &c. That Scrip­ture is full of heavenly joy to all Christian States, that hold the faith of Christ sincere, Esay 4. Where this glory is seated, there shall be a defense [Page 110]Blessed hast thou been, O England, who is like unto thee? O people, saved by Jehovah from the [...]eed of the Serpent sundry times, but especi­ally in eighty eight, and in the Gan-powder plot, and in 164 [...], &c.

Ibid. Written word,] The sweet blessed Scriptures are to make Kings and Common Weals wise and learned, that the wrath of Christ burn not up their States, and in special the books of Kings, and Chronicles with the prophets of their times, are for instruction to Christian Kings, and polities in many things of State, but chiefly to take heed how the true Church doth tamper with the false and apostate in treaties and af­finitie, Psalm 2. 2 King, 22. 2 Chron. 34. & 35. &c. The holy Scriptures will yield more fundamental conclusions, and sure rules for government, then all the Machiavels in the world.

Quest. 8. and Answ. Aholah for their apostasie] Our blessed, gracious and merciful Lord God doth never cast off his people till they have first cast off and contemned his word, for then idolatry will begin, and all ungodliness and unrighteousness like a torrent will follow. Then will God hisse for a flie, and a Bee. What Prince is able to keep a flie, or a Bee from comming near his Court, yea, or into his Chambers and Ex­cheq [...]ers, God is as able to bring an enemie, even of their lovers to enjoy and possesse them: See the stories of R [...]choboam, Ioram, Ioash, A­maziah, &c. 2 Chr. 12. & 21. and 24. & 25 And Pharoah with all his wisdome, and multitude, Ezek. 29. and 30. and 31, &c 32 could not prevent, Nebuchadnezzar from his spreading his royal Pavilion near his Court Gate, Jer. 43.9, 10. and who caused that the Babylonian Prin­ces sate in the Gate of Ierusalem, but the Lord Iehovah the God of re­compenses, Jer. 39. Esai. 42.24. Esay 5.26. & 7.18 Pro. 13.13. Jer. 6. & 7. 2 Kings 22.13.

Ibid. N. 1. and gave them over to the lying Spirits] Wo to them saith God when I depart from them: then followed a secret dedication of them to devils, transferring his right of them to idols, Ephraim is joined to idols, Let him alone Hos. 4.17 Acts 7.47. 1 King 22.23. Psal. 81. Ezek 14.9. and so 2 Thess. 2. Apoc. 16.13. 1 Tim. 4.

Ibid. N. 1. To walk in their own Counsels] Ezek. 20.25. Psal. 81. 2 Kings 17.8. Hos. 10.6. & 13.1. Observe Mich. 6. ult. Salomon fitted many Proverbs, and told them, the words of the wise, do bear grace, and that the words of the fools of the ten tribes, and of Judah also would be foolishness, and wicked madness to swallow them up, Eccles. 10. Behold still how Christ the Corners stone was rejected, and became a stone of offence, to both the houses of Israel, as Esaias and David had told them Psalm 69.22 Esay 8.14. and 28.16 and so is ever to all that will not receive him in the way of his own ordinances, and mark how these texts are pressed by our Lord and his Apostles in the Acts, Evangelists, and in the Epistle to Rome, and 1 Pet. 2. and this is written for us, Rom. 15. confer Esai. 6.9, 10. with John 12.40. & Acts 28.26.27, &c &c.

Ibid. N. 1. Could not live the life of a State, &c.] Observe how the [Page 111]Holy Spirit compares the dead State of the ten tribes being in Apostasie, with the apostasie of the families, 2 Chron. 15.3. with Ephes. 2.1. to 12. Dead from a Church life, Hos. 13.1. false worship breeds atheism and corruption in manners: heresie frets like a gangreane, and such Authours and fautours wax worse and worse. The ten tribes were with­out the true God by their apostasie, and so the heathens were atheoi, a­theists without God in the world, and note, that speech of Asa, King of Judah, was spoken of Israel, before the idol Ba [...]l was brought into Israel 2 Chron. 15.3.

Ibid. 8. Quest. and Answ. N. 2. He did pour out his fury] God was an­gry for the provocation of his sons, and of his Daughters, Deut. 32. Gods four sore judgements followed Aholah and Aholibah, for their back­slidings, Ezek. 14. and the Earthquake in Amos 1. had in Israel its e­vents; Jeroboam the second, his son, was two and twenty years in get­ting his Fathers Throne: such trouble in State, all plagues, and curses; Levit. 26. Deut. 28. came on them not for breaking a Covenant of Works, but for accounting Christ and his Kingdome, Anathema. They did (as all apostates do) loath his word, they abhorred his Statutes, they obeyed not the Son of God, the Angel of Gods presence, as Mediatour, and so had not life, John 3.35, 36. they served not God in their spirits, in the Gospel of his Son. He that hath not the Son of God, hath not the Father, 1 John 5.12. 2 John 9. and so come all plagues and curses on men. Let the wilde Olive branches fear.

Ibid. Ʋpon them famine, pestilence] Famine and Pestilence are chiefly the Plagues of the meaner sort, and the sword is the plague of the rich, Ezek. 21.14. when the heavens dealt with the subjects, Levit. 26. the Governours felt the other The spirit of Christ hath long and wonder­ful patience afore the sword cometh, Lev. 16 23, 24, 25. & then the sword doth avenge the quarrel of Gods covenant (not a covenant of works but for despising the covenant in his Son) against the godliness of high place, who were, and are the hinderers of all good, and the promoters of all evil, as it is said, A great man grieveth all, and he hireth the fool, he hireth also the transgressors, Prov. 26.10.

Ibid. By secret corroding mischiefs] Christ was as a Lion to tear in pie­ces by their domestick dissentions, as in the overthrow of the houses of Jeroboam, Baasa, Omri, Iehu, &c. and by forrein enemies; and also he was as a Moth insensibly eating and consuming their riches, honour and people by one ill project or other. And for this read Hosea 5.12.

Ibid. House of Assur) They made Israel, Iez [...]eel, Loruchamah, and Lo­ammi, till the latter daies, as Hebr. 1.1. But then they were gathered in Christ, and pittied, and again made Gods people. The Apostles of the circumcision preached to them that were dispersed in Asia, Galatia, Pontus, Bythinia, Cappadocia, and Chaldea, &c. 1 Per. 1.1. and chap. 2. all tribes then are called Iews. Ephraim mixed himself with the hea­thens Religion, therefore God mixed them among the heathen.

Ibid. Out of their own Land] There nettles and thornes grew in their pleasant palaces: then the thorne and thistle grew on their Altars (weeds of the curse, Gen. 3.) And then they cried to the mountains to fall on them, and to the hills to conver them. Let England look to their back­sliding to Altars, Hosea 10. To thrust away the Gospel by mans inventi­ons is to make our houses, as well as Gods house desolate, and so our Lord tells the Jewes, Mat. 23.38. Judah and Israel dashed themselves against the Corner stone, and were broken.

9. Quest. and Answ. For her revoltings] Idolatry is a State-ruining sin, Psalm 106.36. the prayers of the Saints could not prevail for their reigning idolatry, and false worship, Jer. 15. & 16. Ezek. 14. King Moses by his most fervent intercession, and abolishing idolatry procu­red pardon: but note in that false worship, there was no innocent bloudshed. Idolatry divides the heart from Christ, and subjects it wil­lingly to follow the commandements of men, and of the man of sin: Je [...]oboam should see such events of apostasie that they should fret and and curse their King, and their Gods, that is the false religion they so pressed, and see neither help from heaven, nor earth, but all full of anguish and darkness, Esa. 8.21, 22. Hos. 9.6. & 10.8. Deut. 28.34, 65, 66, 67. Their State-politicians could not prevent, nor their State Surgeons, heal the wounds that God made in their State. The wisdome and turning of devices of the wise, and prudent Counsellors of State was booteless, all was but the weaving of the Spiders Webb. Esay 29.15. & 59, 5. Jer. 30.12. Hoses 5. all of it. They sinned a­gainst Jehovah the hope of their Fathers, Ier. 50.7. Iob 12.17, 18, 19, 20. To backsliding and adulterous Israel, Christ her Lord gave a Bill of divorce, and put her away; yet Iudah her sister, being also treache­rous, feared not, but went and plaid the harlot also, Ier. 3.7, 8. The mindes of these two sisters were alienated from Christ, and so his minde at last was alienated from them, read Ezek. 23.

Ibid. And affinity with the Harlot Aholah] Mark State affairs in Iudah. They saw Om [...]i was a mighty Prince, overcoming Zimri and Tibni who stood in competition with him for the Kingdome of Israel, and that A­chab possessed all in peace, that his Father Omri had settled. Iehoso­phat thought it good state-policie to make affinitie with him, although he followed Ieroboam-man of sin his Religion, but it was the ruin and almost the rooting out of his house, &c. for mark, first Iehosaphat, being in his visits with Achab was solicited for association in a league for War, to which with reluctation he yielded. For he might not in Court cour­tesie shew himself so weak and discrepant to think that four hundred prophets were so to be slighted, as to follow the humour of one singular self-willed, refractorious fellow, Michaiah. So he went with his Bro­thet Achab to battel to Ramoth Gilead; but there he was in danger of his life. Jehosophat although a goodman, yet in that no good Statesman to weaken Iudah to help these with men, and all ammunition (although [Page 113]circumcised Israelites) that hated the Gospel: He was reproved, and wrath was upon him, a Chron. 19

2. He joyned with Achaziah of Achab in a Navy to go to sea for gold, but Christ was displeased with it, and plagued Jehoshaphat, in that the ships were broken, so that project took not, 2 Chron. 20. Psal. 8. ult.

3. Joram, Jehosaphats son, (who married Achabs daughter) after his fathers death, forsook the Gospel, and followed Jeroboams Religion, the two Devils of Dan and Beth [...]l, and caused Jerusalem, and compelled Iudah to commit fornication, to worship Devils, 2 Chron. 21. 2 Kings 8.18. All worship what Christ hath not commanded is the worship of De­vils Levit. 10. and 17.7. Psal. 106.39. 1 Cor. 10. All their projects of State must justifie that affinity, els all the provisions in Law against Ieroboams revolt, had been a reprof to Achabs daughter, & so her faction prevailed for the corrupting the calling on the name of Jehovah, as, of old, Satans project was Gen 4.26. conferred with chap. 6. and this seed of false worship sowed in Iudah did g [...]ow to an evil harvest, Hos. 6.11. And did stick so fast, that it could not be weeded out for 180 years, till the dayes of Hezekiah King of Iudah; for the businesses of their State were agitated according to the modells and plots of Omri, that maintained the faction of Ieroboam, man of sin, his Religion: as Micah challenged the State in Achaz his days, that the Statutes of Omri were kept, and their way and their counsells. Behold the working of that affinity. But Hezekiah that good King made reformation according to the primitive institution, 2 Chron. 28.2 2 Kin. 16.3. and 17.19. yet Manasse fell again to Achabs idolatry; so fast false worship cleaves to our nature.

4. This Joram, after his fathers death (as Turks now do) killed his six brethren, and many Princes: very like, his brethren and the Prin­ces did dislike and protest against his courses, about idolatry and tyranny and had no heart to the faction of Ieroboam, man of sin, his Religion, therefore the Queen and her Counsellors might say to the King, An't like your Majesty you can never be in safety, and rule as King, while your brethren have fenced Cities, and while the Princes do not approve your proceedings: frame mischief by a Law, and off with their heads, 2 Chron. 21. Psal. 94.20. Now Davids house are Belial and thorns, 2 Sam, 23. Mark, here false worship inttroduced, then the liberties and priviled­ges of the subjects are invaded. That Subjects might not so much mind: Apostacy in their Princes, means were excogitated to busie them by ru­mours of this and that project, and also for their particular estates, till false Religion had gotten footing, this is the very heart and counsell of apostate and idolatrous Princes.

5. Ioram lost the regency and principality of Edom 2 Chron. 21.

6. Libnah one of the prime Cities of Judah rebelled, because he for­sook the Religion of Jehovah, that is; in very deed, the Gospel of the Son of God, the God of his fathers, 2 Chron. 21. when the Magistrate thrusts out the Gospel, then Christ divides the hearts of the people; A­postacie in the Prince, breeds Apostacie in the subjects. Christ pours contempt upon Princes, Ps. 107.40.

7. The Lord Jehovah stirred up the spirit of the Philistims, Arabians, and Cu [...]him, who invaded Judah, and took much spoil even out of the Kings house, and captived his wives and all his sons, save one, 2 Chr. 21. Deut. 28.30, 31, 41. oppressions filled their Exchequers, but the enemies emptied them, he poureth contempt upon Princes, Job 12 21.

8. He died of a rotting disease in his bowels, that they fell out, be­cause he slew his own bowels, worse befell not that persecutor Antiochus, 2 Mic. 9. Riches avail not in the day of wrath, but righteousnesse de­livereth from death, the like plague came on that bloody tyrant Herod, Acts 12.23.

9. He was not esteemed worthy of honourable buriall, as his noble predecessors: the land being glad it was rid of such a Tyrant and Apo­state; He poureth contempt upon Princes

10. His son Achaziah knew all this, yet he feared not God, but walked in the way; that is, the Religion and manne [...]s of apostate Israel, 2 Kin. 8.27.

11. His idolatrous mother was his Counsellour, and because there were not States-men wise enough in Judah, the couns [...]llours of Jeroboam, man of sin, his Religion must be sent for, and so the secrets and myste­ries of State in Iudah, must be discovered Ah poore Iudah, how sick and intangled was thy State? [...] Ch [...]on 22 3 4. can such with well to, and procure the weal of Mount Sion? Psal 122. Apo [...] 14.1.

12. As the two fathers, so the two b [...]ethren joyned in league; for Achaziah joined with Iehoram King of Israel in battel against H [...]zael of Aram, who held still Ramoth-Gilead: so Achaziah being not onely a very wicked man, but as bad a States-man, wasted also the strength of Iudah.

13. Achaziah going to visit Joram, being sick, was slain by Jehu; as he was of the house of Achab by the mother, so he perished with it, 2 Chr. 22.6, 7. Complices in tyranny and idolatry, complices in punishment, Hosh. 5 5.

14. Many idolatrous Princes, and 40 young Gentlemen and Courti­ers of the kindred of Achaziah, going down from Iudah to comple-ment­it, with the children of the King and Queen of Israel, there Iehu found them and slew them. These apostate Princes of the faction of Ierob [...]am, man of sin, his Religion, (and it may be pensioners too) that put their hands to kill the good Princes, God met with them by Iebu, 2 Chron. 22. Let this teach Courtiers, the eye of Christ is in Kings Courts.

15. Athaliah the wife of Iehoram (daughter of Achab, and it may be of Iezabel) being Queen Regent six years in Iudah, seeing her son Acha­ziah was slain by Iebu, she seiseth like a cruell tyrant on the children of her son Achaziah, and slew all but a yong infant of a year old. O sick Iud­ah, sick, sick, sick, 2 Chron. 22 Isa. 1.5, 6, 7.

16. She being Regent, governed in an idolatrous and turbulent man­ner, to the hearts grief of the honest Subjects: for, she being King cut off [Page 115]idolatry was banished, the Gospel was restored, and the Land was qui­et, 2 Ch [...]on. 23.21. Christ poureth contempt upon Princes.

17. The sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, for the time of those six years had broken up the house of the Lord, and had committed abo­minable and idolatrous sacriledge. It should seem she had sons whom she tendred by some other man, 2 Chron. 24.7. These evils and others, yea and others which are not written (Deut. 28 61) followed good Je­hosaphats bad affinity, with Achabs wicked house.

18. Mark through all the holy story, what pollution of blood from that Ammonean, and Achabean breed, ran in all the Royall descents to the Captivity.

That you be not mistaken, you must observe, that there were two Kings of Iudah, and Israel, reigning at one time, of the same name, Iehoram. Also two Kings, both called Achaziah, and near of the same time, Io­ram, and Iehoram are all one name: and so in King Iehoash of Iudah, and King Iehoash of Israel. The Table of genealogie prefixed will help your observation.

Other State-affairs in the stories of other Kings reigns, beginning with King Azariah (alias Ʋzziah) and so forwards, compared with the pro­phets, will afford many meditations.

I think it not amisse to touch a little from the story of Salomon for this matter of affinity. In policy he might make affinity with Pharaoh, a great Potentate, to strengthen himself being a King of peace, by this course he thought to maintain it for him and his successours, but it proved otherwise. Although Pharaohs daughter might prove a proselite, and forget the Religion of her own people, and her fathers house, and cleave to the truth of Christ, as it is thought she did, to be a figure of the Gentiles calling to the true Salomon. It might be a great mercy to her to be of the true Church, and of the houshold of God. But very like it it was done of Pharaoh, but as a snare to work their own interests against Israel. No trust to be had in idolatrous people, for so of this affinity came no good to the Church of God. 1. There was no succession of this proselyte-daughter. 2. The State of Egypt maintain­ed a Faction, and fostered Traytors, and enemies to Salomon, and the State of all Israel, as Ie [...]oboam that lifted up his hand against the King, and Hadad the Edomite, 1 Kin. 11. So Egypt nourished two factions in Sa­lomons life-time against him. 3. And Shishak King of Egypt (might well be the brother of that daughter) who five years after Salomons death in­vaded Iudah, and warred against Rehoboam, that apostate fool, Eccl. 2.19. 2 Chron. 12.13. and 13.17. Marriages do not alwayes unite houses and kingdomes, as in the Seleuco-Pagidae, Dan. 2 43. and 11. So France and Spain knock one against the other: (16 36) Rome is called E­gypt, and it hath nourished traditours and proditours against Christian Princes of the Reformation. This should make all Christian Reformed States to be very watchfull and diligent concerning any treaty with A­baddons [Page 116]Kingdome, for he in allusion is compared with Ieroboam, called the Man of sinne, 2 Thes. 2. and Romes polity, is called Egypt in a mysterie.

Quest. 9. and Ans. and the nations] sometimes they gadded, and trea­ted with Assur, but that framed not; sometime with Egypt, that also failed, Ier. 2.16, 17, 18. False worship taketh heart from a State. This folly, madnesse, and sillinesse, other Prophets reprove in Ephraim, Esay 29. Hos. 5. and 7. The whorish State, her feet cannot abide in her house, therefore she did wander, P [...]ov. 7.11.12. Hos. 9 2 Ezek. 16.33. &c. and chap. 23.14.15 &c. God plagued them by their lovers. They pleased themselves in the children, and manners of strangers, Isa. 2.6. wise States-men of old were carefull of this, Iob 15 19. and the godly retur­ned from Babel, Ezra 4. Hezekiah was to blame, Isa. 39. Our nation changed their glory, and loved K [...]ttims Religion, therefore God pla­gued and did trouble them with Italian Monsters, Ier. 2.25. Deut. 28.43.44. Hos. 7.9. It is to admonish, 1 Cor. 10.11. and to make States wise, and learned, Psal. 2. read Ezek. 16. and 23. for their Babylonian lovers, and compare things: for Rome is called Egypt and Babylon in a mysterie. Vide Mr. Cade Instit. Lib▪ 1 pag. 128. and the Appendix. Also insinuations for corruption of manners will make the sweet yoke of Christ burden­some, and will work further change of our way, as things go on uncom­fortably at this time, anno 1636.

Ibid. —Yea, astonishing sorrows.] The Lamentations of Ieremiah, and Psa. 80, and 89, &c. &c. compared with the history, shew astonishing sor­rows with the causes, and this was one chief cause: for the sins of her Prophets, and the iniquity of her Priests, that shed the blood of the just, They, they the chief cause of all evil, and Ierusalem admonish­ [...] all States to be warned by her example, Lam. chap. 1. and 2.14. and chap. 4.

Ibid. Then Solomons house ended.] David shewed, his house would not be upright with God, but would be Belial and thorns, and should be burnt; A terrour to Princes that will not rule justly, and in the fear of God, 2 Sam. 23. Observe, Lam. 2.5, 6. The Lord is become a very enemy, he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up her palaces, he hath de­stroyed his strong holds, and he hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning, and lamentation. And he hath violently taken away his Taber­nacle, as it were of a garden, he hath destroyed the places of the Assembly. Jehovah hath caused the solemn Feasts and Sabbaths to be forgotten in Sion, and he hath despised in the indignation of his anger, King and Sacrificer. Let not the wild olive branches be high-minded, Rom. 11.

The Annotations upon the Questions and An­swers of the eighth CHAPTER.

QUest. N. 4. Moses saith from Christ] People should be taught this constantly that the Son of God, to whom the Father hath committed all authority and power, so as Mediatour, he gave the Law. And when we are careless or wilful and break the law, [Page 133]and do not obey it, then we dishonour the Son: for this is the holy re­vealed will of the Lord that all men should honour the Son, as they honour the father, Exoa. 23. Mat. 17.5. So it is said of Servants, they serve and obey Christ when they perform their duties in con­science to their masters: the same is said of wives and children. And so we must say of all relations divine and humane in all the Ten Words, Mark Jeremy chap. 34. all of it. That is a great Word which is spoken. Obdience is better than Sacrifice. This well understood will make to vani [...]h the term Legalists, and the vain do­ctrines, that have been about keeping and walking in the Law of the Lord: as though it were not made for the righteous to be a rule of life; but we may not once to think to be justified by the doing of it, for the Law is more spiritual, then the best Christian in the world. But we ought to be very careful that we walk in his holy covenant that our hearts by his spirit may comfort us, that we are honest subjects of the Kingdome of so good and gracious a King: And let such take heed that will not thus be Legalists that the Lord Jesus Christ the King, do not send forth writs against them as out-laws, that will not obey his com­mandements, but be as untamed Heifers: for he hath (as we see) many Marshals (such as is sicknesses, diseases, &c.) to attend him to serve his processes, from which there can be no escaping, if once the decree come forth. But do I say, no escaping? yea it may be upon godly humiliation not only escaping; if not that, yet abatem [...]nt of the chastisement, or else all will be sanctified to us, that all shall be for our good: for he that is our King and Law giver is also our sacrifice of propiti [...]ation and recon­ciliation to all that judge themselves, and confess their sins, and forsake their iniquities, for he is merciful and just in his promises to pardon them that by the assistance of his Spirit walk in his righteous Law. All his providences are to humble, and to bring us to the obedience of faith in him our holy Mediator, and blessed are they that do his commande­ments, Apoc 22.14.

Ibid. N. 5. The Law of the Lord is a cnoverting Law] The Law Cere­monial and Moral was a regenerating and converting Law by the spirit of Christ to them of the old Testament. Although the Lord Jesus end­ing all the Ceremonial Law in his offering up of himself as a most per­fect sin-offering, and his bloud a perfect sprinkling, is our compleat cleansing and justification, yet still teacheth us the Moral law, as his New Testament sheweth to obey God in him, whom all the Israel of God must know, that God the Father hath made him Lord and Christ; as to be our Priest and Teacher, so to be our King and Commander: yea as to be any one of them, so to be all of them to us. And all this is to present us to God an holy people, 1 Corinth. 15. ult. Colloss. 1.28. John 17.

The Law was not given by Christ with that terrour to be to us onely [Page 134]a Law of works (as many understand works) but it was a Gospel Law, teaching of Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus: and it was given in terrour to make men fear to despise the Son of God as Mediatour. All the preaching of God to the Patriarks, and by Moses, and the Prophets, was to bring man back again to God by preaching Jesus Christ the Medi­atour from God, and his mediation was ever manifested since the fall of our first parents. And our Lords Apostles taught the same holy do­ctrine among all nations for the obedience of faith, read Rom. 1.5. and 16.25.26. Nicodemus a Teacher in Israel should have known all these things. Iohn 3.

Quest. 7. and Answ. And should ye be utterly unpunished] When the Church is afflicted then let the world look for a scourge: for in the pro­sperity of the Church the world fares the better: let the world blesse the Church, it shall then have many outward comforts. The world should now be wise to consider, that to vex the Church of God, to curse Abra­ham is the ready way to bring plagues on it self. But it is said the whole world lies in wickednesse, and so it will still be, and we must expect it.

Quest. 8. and Answ. N. II. Overturned, &c.] That speech of Ier. 22.29. O earth, earth, earth, write Iechonias childeless: and that speech of Ezek. 21.27. Overturned, overturned, overturned, must be diligently observed together, the one for the ending of Salomons house, the other for the Kingdom. Although God overturned Salomons King­dome, and ended his progenie, yet he failed not David of his truth, and mercy promised, but he raised up One, even Christ, our of his loines, after he was dead, and set him upon his throne, and his throne shall stand for ever, Luke 1.32.33. which opens Psalm 89. And Gods promise to David, 2 Sam. 7. And concerning the refusal of Salomons house in Iechonias, and the choosing of the house of Nathan, mark the words of the blessed and beloved virgin, Luke 1.51. He hath shewed strength with his arm, and he hath scattered the proud in the imaginations of their heart; he hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree.

Quest. 10. and answ. in a threefold Charge] The mighty and great God saith Jer. 22. Words by his servant the prophet ending the succes­sion of Salomon with greater proclamation to all the world than Davids oath at the first had brought it into honour. The ending of Salomons house was one of the weightest matters in all the government of the world, to shew that Christ his Kingdom is not of this world, Mr. Bro. in Manus.

Quest. 11. and answ. and the Lion] When the State of Iudah, by be­ing conversant with Lions, became a Lioness, and brought forth Lions that roared on the subjects, then God brought upon them the Lion-Babel, and other hunters who spread their nets from them, Eze­kiel 19.

Ibid Kings of Gog in the North] By Gog and Magog is meant the kings [Page 135]of the North the fourth Beast, or the iron leg, Ezek. 38. & 39. Dan. 2. and 7. skilful ought we to be to discern the proper Gog and Magog from that spoken mystically, Apoc. 20.

Quest. 12. and answ. The four Beasts] To the carnal and worldly mind­ed the wicked Kingdomes of this world seem glorions powers, as in the image to Nebuchadnezzar: but to the spiritual minded they are as salvage Beasts that go to a fire unquenchable. So the state of mystical Babylon is glorious in the world. Apoc. 17.4. but their end shall be as Sodoms, Apoc. 14.10. & 19.20.

Quest. 31. and answ. The sure mercies of David] That glorious Tem­ple of Stone, and all Moses Ceremonies, and that golden Throne of Salomon, and that store of gold, and plenty of silver as stones, strong Cities, and Chariot Cities, stately buildings, fourty thousand stalls for Horses, plenty of all provision, royal furniture, and all princely ac­commodations, curious delights of eyes and ears, &c. were not the sure mercies, and holy things of David, For all was vanishing into vanity, when Rehoboam shewed himself a fool, both in matter of State and cor­rupting the Gospel, 1 Kings 10. Eccles. 2.19. The sure me cies are shew­ed to the circumcision, and to the uncircumcision, Esay 55.1, 2, &c. 1 Pet. 1.3, 4, 5. 2 Cor. 4.18. Acts 13.34, 35. &c. And all the Epistle to the Hebrews, Esay 57.15. & 66.1, 2 Mat. 5. & 6. & 7. Hosea 1.7. Z [...]ch. 4.6. And the true gold and clothing is from the true Salomon, and the firm building is on Christ the Rock, Apoc. 3.18. Mat. 7. That these things might be graffed, and as nailes fastened in our hearts, look further within the veile of these matters. Salomons wives over-wrought him to suffer, and by his charges to build idol places, whereupon he saw he had occasioned Gods threatning for the renting and overthrow of his Kingdome, and foreseeing the destruction of the Temple, Citie, and Kingdom, he writeth his Gospel, That all under the Sun is vain, and the Kingdome of Christ is not of this world, but the promise of the eternal Throne to David was spiritually to be taken, and to his Scepter all must yield subjection, that hope to stand in judgement, when he calleth all to accompt for their works, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil. And Salomons case alone, (noble in the vanity of this world, and the first, and the last that had all this world at will) might have taught Herod, Pilate, Caesars and Concision, that the pomp of this world is not fit to breed poverty of spirit, to breed mourning, to breed meeknesse, to breed hunger and thirst after righteousness, to finde the Kingdom of heaven. And that the King eternal, invisible, blesseth men only to his invisible Kingdome.

Ibid. Seeking by the outward work to be justified.] Opus operatum, bo­dily exercise, even this, now at this day is the foolish conceit and pra­ctise of all the carnal Christians in the world, Eccles. 5.1. The coming unto God by faith in Christ, as Habel, they care not for, as Kain. In the story of Kain and Abel, the carriage of all deceitfull hypocrites, and [Page 136]true Worshippers is contained. Outward religion may be the vessel of an incarnate Devil, as well as of a sanctified soul: it is as capable of hypocrisie, of murder and uncleanness, and all iniquitie, as of sincerity &c. as in Kain, Iscariot, and the Whore in the proverbs (Prov. 7.14.) whom the ten Tribes followed as an Ox to the slaughter, and the whore (in Apoc. 17.) whom ten Kingdomes followed drunken with the wine of her Fornication The opinion of self-sufficiency, and resting in out­ward performances brought many plagues to the whole house of Israel, and to captivity, as Psal. 50 &c. &c. And at last scattered them (as Kain) into the four windes of the heaven, and made their habitation desolate to this day. And this doctrine of bodily exercise, and mens [...]a­ditions brought apostasie as a plague, to the Christian Churches, 1 Tim. 4.1. to 8. The warming our hearts with such sparks will make us ly down with cold comfort in darkness and sorrow: For it is a forgetting of God, and they have base, barren, and unworthy conceits of the Holy One of Israel, that think he will comply with such idolatrous, and easy de­votions, for they could not do less to an idol. Pelagian heresies, and bodily exercise will eare out all power of godliness: the one is the do­ctrine of popery, and the other is the religion of popery: compare Col. 2 23. with c [...]ap. 3.1, 2, 3. and minde Esay 1. Psalm 50. Jer. 7.

Ibid. and once more finally] Dan. 9.27. shews by whom. And this speech yet once more, signifieth the removing of things shaking as made with hands, that the things which shake not way remain. Wherefore seeing we receive a Kingdome which cannot be shaken, let us hold Grace by which we may serve God aright with reverence and godly fear, for our God is a consuming sire, Heb. 12. Hag. 2. Mark how this speech opens, Dan 2.44 and chap. 7. Therefore Abaddons Kingdome is to be held a­nath [...]ma, of all true Christians, for building of ther which Christ hath sha­ken, and adnulled. But what care Princes for these things, they will rather embrace the enchanting whore, Apoc 17. than make the word of God their delight, but Christ hath and will burn and shake their King­domes and Common Weals.

Ibid. David foretold them this.] David shewed his house could not be upright with God, but would be thornes, and must be burnt: and that therefore they should expect a better King and Kingdom. So the revol­ting and wavering Hebrews through misbelief concerning Christs King­dome and Priesthood would prove to be but thornes and briars whose end was burning, Psalm 22 & 40. & 95. 2 Sam. 23. Observe Ethan, all Psal. 89. Heb. 6.8. & 10 29, 30, 31.

Quest. 14. and answ. and made a decree for return] as Jehov [...]h pro­mised that a remnant should return, so he performed. For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Iudah of his God, of Iehovah of hosts, though their land was filled with fin against the Holy One of Israel, Ier. 51.5.

Annotations upon the Questions and An­swers of the ninth Chapter.

QƲest. 2. and Ans. upon the 2. verse of Dan. 9.] The reading, stu­dy, and meditation of the holy Scriptures, a great furtherance to prayer. A man cannot pray with sound spirituall comfort, that is ignorant in them, as is manifest in this verse and the rest of the Chapter. Blessed is the man that delighteth in them, and in them doth meditate day and night, Psal. 1. And anathema maranatha be that man of sin, and his locusts and Kingdome, that with-holdeth and for­biddeth the reading and study of the holy Scriptures to the people. Ob­serve well, 2 Sam 7.27. Gods revelation, the ground of prayer: yea bold­nesse in it.

Upon Daniel 9 23. Conceive the word and perceive it, &c.] By this com­mandement doubled for vehementer charge he condemneth the world that regardeth not to be instructed in this doctrine, sent from heaven by an Angel unto Daniel, and penned for all Nations use. Wherefore we must give better heed unto the speech, lest we perversly swarve: for if the word spoken by angels fall out sure, and every trespasse received just re­compence of reward, how shall we ever escape neglecting so great a charge of our King, to our own salvation, where the vision is so clear, that no doubt can be moved by any plain heart, that will rest in the clearnesse of the most bright message by an angel of glory, who coming to teach all the world, was to shine in words, as Steph [...]n by him did in the face, Acts 6 when he spake the angell Gabriels words, that Jesus of Nazareth would destroy the place, City, and Temple, and change the Laws which Moses gave. To this day the blind Jews stand in this, that the Laws of Moses shall stand for ever, Maymon Tom. 1. delege perek 9. Therefore God fore-seeing their dullnesse of hearing, would have an an­gel of light to teach them by this Prophesie 490 years, when from the year of that message unto Daniel, the Laws of Moses should have their end, and none of the Scribes when Herod was affrighted, nor any of the Iews, as is seen by their answers in all the Gospel, objected disa­greement for the time, which thing had been done, if there had been any colour of disagreement in time, but they could not conceive of Christs person and office, how that he should be the most holy, and King, and yet dy for our redemption: how he should be Davids Lord, and yet his son; of these things the main objections arose. Now let us look unto the Text, s [...]il. Mr. Bro. on the text on both his english Daniels.

Upon Dan. 9.24. &c.] In this Scripture we come to behold in its flaming brightnesse of the King that is Sacrificer also, by whom and for whom death is vanquished, sun is cleansed, Iustice is brought, redemption is wrought, a vision is sealed, our soul is healed, sacrifice abolished, and the Temple destroyed for defacing of this doctrine, the Iews be reiected for embracing this doctrine, the Gentiles be elected to open calling, Mr. Bro. in S. sight, surely the angel his message concerneth, the sum of all the Bible. The Jews went weeping to Babel, seeing Salomons house and Kingdome ended, and the Temple burnt, and all Moses ceremonies shaken, but they returned rejoycing, bringing sheaves of all comfort, by Gabriels heavenly message of the seventy sevens concerning MESSIAH the King, the Holy of Holy.

Upon Dan. 9.25, Out going of the word to restore &c.] mark the word of Proclamation of Cyrus, Ezra 1. how it answereth this Prophesie. Meditate also how pleasing it is to our God to have a tender affection to his cause. Daniel mourned and prayed for the holy City, and the holy Mountain, and had a gracious answer by the holy angel, compare Dan. 9 21.22. Also observe a speech in Zephaniah, I will gather them, that are sorrow­full for the solemn Assembly, who are of thee, (such are the children of Si­on, the genuine members of Christs mysticall body) to whom the reproach of it was a burden, Zeph. 3.18 Psal. 137.5, 6. So Daniel again was affect­ed when he mourned so bitterly when the building of the temple was hindred by Cambyses, in Cyrus his absence, Ezra 4 Dan. 10.2, 3, 4. No losse to the losse of holy things, when they are gone God is gone, and the enjoying of them, no gain so great, and no time so ac­ceptable, Lam. 2.6, 7. H [...]s 9 12. Ezek. 9, 3. & 10 4.18, 19. and 11.22.23. Mic [...]hs idolatrous contestation in a contrary must be the thought of every Holy soul, for the esteeming, procuring, and upholding of Holy Assemblies, Jud 18 24.

Upon Dan. 9.26. The City and holy place shall be distroy] The holy Mar­tyr Stephen was called into question, and lost his life for this glorious Doctrine of the holy Angell, and yet his countenance before the Coun­cill was like the Angels that brought the message, Act 6.13, 14, 15. and all Chap. 7. How did Despisers wonder and perish, when Stephen and Paul taught this, Act. 6 & 7 Act. 13.41, 45. & 21.28. they wonder­ed, and in the end perished: As of old they wondered at the Prophets, Esai. 8 18. Jer. 26 6, 7, 8. Hab. 1.5. so they did at our Lord and his Apostles Doctrine. And verily so it is at this day where ever the Com­mandements of God, and the faith of Jesus is truly and zealously taught.

Upon the same verse, & verse twenty five, about the attribute Messiah, which in this message of the Angell is twice expressed as a proper name of the Son of God, who became a Son of man (the Son of Adam) Dan. 7.13 to fulfill all the Angels message. And from this time of Dan 9. this attribute Messiah was very usuall among the faithfull and profane, Joh. 1.41. & 4.23. And the Jewes at that time commonly speaking [Page 149] Syriack, spake the terme Messias, and speaking Greek, they uttered the Greek terme, Christ: so that as oft as we read the Greek terme, we must remember the other Terme of the Hebrew or Syriack: And all the Or­thodox Churches in Christendome hold Messias here to be the Son of God, our Redeemer, vi. Mr. Bro. on Daniell, and in Advertisment, pag. 33.

Upon the verse 27. and halfe that seaven] of this last seaven, the first part is passed over in silence, for a preparation, the latter halfe doth Christ bestow in confirming the covenant for the Many, beginning at his Baptisme, ending at his death.

3. Quest. and Answ. N. 1. As the motions of the Heavens] The creation was made to serve the Son of Enosh, Psal. 8. so the revolution of the year, all are his Servants, Psal. 119. (lamed-part) No Army is order­ed more comely then the times in Gods word, Dan. 10.1. And Gods people must learne to know that the times as well as the ceremonies and tipes teach of, so they lead unto Christ, for the Golden Chaine of times are fastned to famous Pillars, as is prefixed to this Book.

N. 11. This prophecie was given] Read Esai. 44. & 45. with Ezr. 1.1, 2. concerning Cyrus, his Letters Patents of building the Temple and City, and returning the people. But Cy [...]us (going to war in Scythia) was plagued for not leaving better order at home, that his Letters Patents were not throughly executed, for the good of Gods people, and Cambyses, Da [...]ius, Hystaspis and Xerxes, for questioning and damning the Patent, felt Gods wrath and their Kingdomes, Ezra 4. and 6.11, 12 Est 1. trouble in Dan. Hyst court.

Ibid Sent the Jews home] The blood of Gods Covenant in Christ sent them home, as from Egypt, so from Babel, Zach. 9.11. Col. 1, 20. the blood of the Covenant is our comfort in any disconsolate condition.

Ibid. That year with a most remarkable Proclamation over an hundred and twenty Provinces] Then the Nations did hear of their demanding and enquiring of the way to Sion, upon the hope of the Son of man, his coming to shew the Kingdome of heaven to all Nations, and to shake even the heaven of Moses policy, Jer. 10.4, 5. they presented Sion in the dust before glorious Babel, (and they then ought so to do, but not now) Psal. 102.13, 14. So Moses, and all the Nobles of all ages, Heb. 11.24, 25, 26 ye that have escaped the sword, go away stand not still, remember Jehovah a far off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind, Jer. 51.50, Psl 137.5, 6. So all ye that have escaped mysticall Babylon, go away stand not still, remember Jehovah, and let the glory of the heavenly Je­rusalem, come into your mind, be ye separate be at a distance in all ho­ly zeal, still come out from among them, touch nothing of theirs, nei­ther Laws, nor their phrase, nor apparrell, make a covenant, as Neh. 10. 2 Cor. 6.18. what if your name be put out as evil, remember Isa. 66. [...]. John 9.34. and 16.2. 2 Cor. 6.17.

No. 3. And seal, that is, confirm all the vi [...]ons and Prophesies that he [Page 150]was the end all aimed at] Among many Prophesies that might be related, I will name now that of Jer. 31.22. The Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compasse a man; that is, a woman Virgin. The holy Spirit of Christ prosecuteth the foundation of Doctrine, which he laid down in Moses, of the blessed seed of the woman, Gen. 3.15. and of Shiloh Gen. 49. that a tribe should not fail to Judah till Shiloh came. Now Judah being in Babel, and held captive, the Prophet doth from the Lord comfort them, that although they were in heavy calamities, and much disconsolate, Jer. 30, 31.32, 33. chapters) yet Judah should return, and have a policy to buy and sell, and that Jerusalem and Temple should be built, and the Cities of Iudah inhabited, and that that New thing should be accomplished, a woman Virgin shall compasse a man. All promi­ses were made in Christ, and should be yea and amen in him to the glory of God. And this is promised to be as sure as the heavens order, that God would not fail of his promise he made to David and Israel (al­though Salomons house and Kingdome were ended) yea to all the elect from the beginning, in sending Christ Iesus to be born of a Virgin, and that in him the Church should have unspeakable consolation. This made the people of God to be so refreshed, as a man is by sweet sleep, Ier. 31 26

But Ieremiah told them not, nor any Prophet as yet, How long, (Psal. 64.9.) that should be for the performance, that was reserved for a more fit season, when they were to come from Babel, then they had the time told them by an angel from heaven, which did much heighten their consolation, wherein all comfort was promised by that glorious message of the angel concerning the Messias (compassed by the woman-Virgin) to perform all the promises, visions, and Prophesies, by finishing and en­ding all sin-offerings, and trespasse offerings, and make by himself a re­conciliation for iniquity, and bring in everlasting righteousnesse by his perfect sacrifice once performed: so by this Doctrine the godly were pre­served and strengthened greatly in their faith and hope of Christs co­ming in this determined time.

And seing it is said, Christ shall seal Vision and Prophet, is taught that he shall restrain apostasie through preaching his glorious Gospel, that they fall not away as the Jews did, in that most grievous and al­most universall revolt, in and from the dayes of Antiochus Epiphanes, Dan 8 13. and 11 30, 31, 32. Our Lord Jesus Christ in his coming was the morning star, and the SUN of Righteousnesse, and his brightnesse did visit us as holy Z [...]chariah saith, Luc. 1 7.8. For those times were most de­plorable in corrupting all holy Doctrine, as it was greatly darkened by these three Shepherds, Zac. 11. concerning the holy Trinity, the sons inco [...]nation, his death and resurrection, and concerning justification, and all Moses polity, as all the Epistle to the Hebrews sheweth. But the Lord Jesus, and his Apostles from him, made all clear again.

Also this Prophesie of the angel from heaven, was wonderfull to the [Page 151]comfort of the people of God under their pressures by Persia, Javan whole, and Javan parted. This Prophesie is marvellous, if we consi­der the times. Oh who is sufficient to expresse the things of Gods bles­sed word.

Ibid. N. 3. Everlasting righteousnesse.] The mentioning of everlasting righteousness, justification, redemption doth shew the Law made no­thing perfect, but was sponsorious, and an introduction to a better hope in Christ, for Christ by his own blood entered once through the vail, that is, his flesh, into the holy place, into the very heavens, to appear now in the fight of God for us, and obtained eternall Redemption, Heb. 9. For it is not possible that the bloud of Bulls or Goats should take a­way sinne (Heb. 9. and 10) or give enterance into the heavens, but the blood of Christ did Col. 1.20. and in this faith all the faithfull from the beginning of the world died, and went to the heavenly City, and countrey and inheritance, Heb. 11. and Col. 11.12. And all the faithfull evermore knew this our blessed Mediatour, to be Jehovah our justifica­tions, Jer. 23.6.

No. 4. Suffered not for himself, but for us.] Zachariah saith, they shall mourn, and be in bitternesse when they consider this, as they did in Mark 16.10. Acts 14. and 2.37. which is an history to the Prophesie of Zac. 12. And so should we consider and do. This Text of Daniel is a fit Meditation for preparation when we come to the Supper of the Lord.

N. 6. Therefore the appointed time] As in Moses, the Law had an ex­presse day and hour for their sacrifices, even from the beginning: so it was no lesse needfull to have from God an expresse warrant, when sacri­fice should be ended: specially seeing all the world was bound to regard sacrificing at Jerusalem, so long as it was to continue if they hoped for Gods favour. And also to know most exactly when the Jews Prerogative did end, and the partition-wall should be broken down!

Ibid. Is not a triviall, or an uncertain thing] Talk no more so exceed­ing proudly, let not arrogancy come out of your mouth, for Jehovah is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed, and times pre-ordained and determined, 1 Sam. 2.3. Acts 17.26.

N. 8. Ceremonies broken down] Christ shook the things made with hands, and settled the polity of his Kingdome in the heavenly Jerusa­lem, Dan. 2. & 7. Hag. 2. Apoc. 21. Heb. 12.27. There is the Throne of the Son of David, Apoc. 4. & 5. & 22. 1. Luke 1.31.32, 33.

Ibid. Perpetuall devastations] In the Vision of Ezek. 1. although ter­ror of fierie desolations, and captivity for seventy years, yet there was a Rainbow in the vision, to shew that God in wrath remembreth mercy; for there was a return, but for the desolations by the Romane Infidels in Daniels and Zachariahs Prophesies, and our Lords. speaketh, Mat. 24. no Rainbow mentioned; and consider the phrase of sp [...]ing, out Levit. 18. 28. Num. 31. ult. after the chana anites were spued out, the [...]ever returned: so it hath the Jews who shall never return and to be in such a condition, [Page 152]as we are taught now adayes. Heare O ye people, O all ye.

Ibid. As with the Flood of Noah] The men of the old world, resist­ed the holy Ghost, the Flood destroyed them, and so the Jews resist­ed, and a flood of miseries hath ever followed upon them to this day. Acts 7.51. The Apostle remembreth Noahs and Sodoms story to the Cir­cumcision, and so doth Judas Thaddeus, v. 14, 15. of the judgement of the old world, when the Lord came with thousands of his holy ones to plague the old world, faith was scant found on the earth; so in the overturuning of the Kingdome of Iudah: and so at our Lords first coming, the Church was in a sad condition of ig­norance and heresies, by the means of the wicked Shepherds, Zac. 11. And before our Lords second coming, there will be another apo­stacy after a Reformation, when faith will be scant found on the earth, Luke 18. for it is said, the ending of the world shall be like the ending of the old world Mat. 24. The times shall exceedingly degenerate into outward shews of bodily exercise, and into atheisticall scoffing and se­curity, Mat. 25.3. 1 Thes 5.1.2, 3. 2 Pet. 3. and so it was afore the desola­tion of Jerusalem, by Nebuchadnezzar, 2 Chron. 36. And upon that gene­rall defection the Lord Iesus will appear in the clouds with his mighty angels. Christ will not come in a glorious time of Reformation, but in a time of generall defection.

No. 10 And we in the Lords Supper do protest, &c.] The Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper, is a Seal of ending Moses polity, given by the Creatours wisdome and authority. The end of Moses Ceremonies could hardly be taught the Jews. So God by an angel of light and glory gave them words for that to reckon ever since they came from Babel, how for they were year by year to the Redemption by our Lord, and to the end of the shadows, that must flee away, and be cancelled, Cant. 2. Col. 2.14. And therefore let all Gods people mark diligently, that the ending of Moses Ceremonies required as certain a warrant, as their be­ginning had, even for the very last day. And so stand the angels words clear in their own simplicity for ending of them. And the Authority of the Lords Supper standeth upon that, when Bread is given for the bo­dies of Sacrifices, and Wine for their blood. All soundly learned, and of stayed judgement, will refuse all colour of learning that contradict­eth. In the words of an honest man spoken in like sort, (as the an­gel spake to Daniel) none would doubt what should be the true mean­ing. The more to blame are we, who pervert the words of the living God, to make Questions thereupon, to set light by the Rock of our sal­vation, as though one thing might be spoken, and another thing meant. Mr. Broughton, Sede [...] Olam. 18. assert. 2. upon Dan. 9.

Ibid. No. 10. Death once performed] the Epistle to the Hebrews by Christs fore-sight, was written of purpose, to teach this, and convince the contrary. As Popery is full of Paganisme, So it is of Judaisme.

Quest. 4. and Answer. The forty nine Thousand.] Who are thus descri­bed in Daniel.

• Michaels people.
• The Saints of them, The high Trinity.
• The stars of heaven, Dan. 8.
• The holy people.
• Daniels holy people.
• The Army of heaven.
• Their Religion, the truth and the holy Covenant.
• The Temple called the Sanctuary and the holy.
• And chap. 7.25. mark that verse.
• Glorious holy moun­tain.

These terms cannot belong to the State of the Jews of these last dayes, Heb. 1.1. for these 1580 years, for these are proper and peculiar phra­ses to them of the old Testament, when as yet the partition Wall was not broken down, and the Gentiles were not as yet brought with­in the Covenant, when not as yet the vessel was let down from heaven, Acts 10. therefore onely the Jews State for the time of the Seventy Se­vens is the afflicted in Daniel, chap. 2 and 7.8. & 10, and 11 & 12. by the image and four beasts. All these terms are in the Prophesie of Daniel.

Ibid. Left Babel for Jerusalem] the hope of the SON OF MAN, who should come with the clouds of heaven, and have Kingdome, pow­er and glory over all Nations, and for ever perswaded them to leave Ba­bel, Dan. 7. Ezra 1. Jerusalem the beauty of holinesse ever loved and long­ed for, and laboured for by the Saints.

Quest. 5. and Answ. And Jews before the ending of the Seventy Sevens] the glorious Prophesies of Isaiah, of Amos, of Dan. 2 & 7, and 9. &c. &c. of the Kingdome of Christ made all the Nation of the Jews to expect it, as Luke 17.20. and 19.11. and 23.51. Acts 2. John 1. they by Daniel look­ed the Kingdome of heaven should appear, though most of them knew not in what manner, through misunderstanding of the Scriptures, Acts 13.27. Luke 24.21. Their false Teachers had greatly clouded all holy Doctrine.

Quest. 6. and Answer. That did hate and cruelly mock.] Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, (since their peregrination In E­gypt, Ier, 2 1.3. Ezek. 23.3.) may Israel now say, Ps. 129 yea the Church may say this from the first to the last. It began in blood, and hath grown up by blood, and shall end in blood, as it was redeemed by blood. Let the godly when they come to the Lords Supper think on this, and ever pre­pare for trialls, and take up the crosse.

Qu. 7. and Ans. And to speak stout and wearisome words.] Apostasie from Gabriels holy Doctrine, Dan. 8. and 9. and 11.12 chapters, consider. Judahs manners, in profaness, adultery, perjury, violence, &c. In brief for not remembring the Gospel-Law, that Christ gave in Horeh for all Israel, [Page 154] Mal. 4. These things shew, that they shall cease to be of the holy City for this, diligently read Haggai, Zachariah and Malachi.

Ibid. Great oppugners of all Gabriels heavenly Message.] They were zealous Ministers of traditions, mens precepts and bodily exercise: they were serious in trifles, and trifled in serious things. (The frame of spirit of all superstitious hypocrites, Col. 2.) They made false glosses on the holy Text, and great enemies to the Gospel, &c. They are followed step by step of the Popish faction and their friends. But those that love. the shining glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ will abhor to be like such hypocrites, that do all to be seen of men, that care for nothing but pompous out-sides, and bodily exercise, (opus ex ernum operatum) yet mannaged with great shews of humility, with great shew of wisdome, and great shews of zeal, and neglecting the body, and defended by Pharisaicall, and Locust-Scorpion cruelty, and by cogging, and dice-play Doctrine in all craftinesse, Eph. 4. Such did, and do hold Christ and his Doctrine Anathema: It was ever so with the seed of the serpent, ever since God spake, Gen. 13.15. and so it will be to the end. Mark what the Christ the angel of Gods presence said of old, And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgements, so that ye will not do all my commandements, but that ye break my covenant, Levit. 26.15. Deut. 7.10.—and repayeth them that hate him. Observe what Malachi saith, that Christ will be refiners fire, and Fullers sope, to the three Shepherds, (whose soul abhorred Christ) and their Doctrine, which he was in Mat 5, 6, and 7. chapters, and chap. 23. and so he was to the Churches of Asia, Apoc. 2, and 3. and in all other, by his apostles, and so to this day he is to all traditionists, &c.

Quest. 8. and Answer. And thought upon his name to glorifie them.] The four beasts successively afflicted the people of God; yet observe what is said for their consolation, Dan 7.18. That although the beasts shall take away the earthly Kingdome of the Saints, of the most high Ones, (the holy Trinity) yet they shall possesse the Kingdome for ever, yea for ever and ever: The losse of the one is the enjoyment of the o­ther. So all that follow their faith are said to be partakers of their in­heritance in light, Col 1.12. Psal. 36.5. with this note, consider the for­mer notes of the immortall State of the faithfull, them in heaven, and the family of heaven, Ephes. 1.10. and 3.15.

Quest. 9. and Answer. —hanged that Courtier and Favourite Haman.] Let fawning and flattering Courtiers, that have a secret sting against the godly, and wayes of holinesse, remember this man their predecessour, and likewise Doeg, that mischievous and deceitfull tongue. Achitophel, that acute oracle of counsell, Shebna the Treasurer, a fautor of athe­isme, and all debauched courses, Isa. 22. and those Princes and Presi­dents that could find no quarrell against gracious Daniel, but for the Law of his God. And those Deputies, that by plausible pretences, lies and slanders, did insinuate into the hearts of the Kings of Persia, to damn [Page 155]the glorious Letters Patents of Cyrus King of Persia, and those counsel­lours, that were pensioners to hinder the Gospel, Ezra 4. And those Courtiers, that would have the King to put Jeremiah to death for preach­ing the word truly, and at last put him into a [...]miry dungeon, &c. Now that you may see Christ rules in Princes Courts, in the midst of his enemies: he rooted out Doeg, Psal. 52. Achitophel, seeing his projects took not, hanged himself. Shebna was banished, and a godly officer substituted in his place. And for those Princes and Presidents, we see their sudden destruction, Dan. 6. consider Ps. 9, 10. The sword, famine, and pesti­lence met with Jeremiahs accusers. And as wrath came from the fierie Throne upon the Kings of Persia; so it fell, we may be sure, on their creatures, Dan. 7.

Ibid. Had no right nor portion, &c.] That speech of the truly Noble Nehemiah, that famous, godly, and honourable Courtier, is full of pier­cing terrour, and a brave contestation to affront the stoutest stomacks, that hinder the welfare of Sion. And these Texts will further explain it, Phil. 3.2.3, 4 Eph. 2.10, 11, 12. Jer. 10.16. Apo. 12.14, 15, 19. if no porttion among that part of Gods family on earth, then no portion with the o­ther part of the family in the heavens.

Ibid. Ierusalems polity.] Nehemiah genealogized the people, that none, but of the true faith, and posterity of Abraham might dwell in the holy City, or have communion with them in holy things, Neb. 9.2. so they were genealogized in the Lambs book of Life, that are Citizens with the Saints in the Ierusalem, that is above, Apoc. 3.12. and chap. 7. and 21. Heb. 12.23. Psal. 87. But the unclean in faith or life, are shut out, Neh. 6.63, 64, 65. Ezek. 13.9, Apoc. 20. and 12. Isa. 4 3, Let every man know if he will enter into life, he must shew his genealogic, Iohn 3. 1. &c. 1 Iohn 3. Ti [...]. 3. Many Gentlemen glory much if they can derive their genealogie from Ancestors, from or beyond the conquest of Eng­land, by King William; which it may be they and their Ancestours had little in them worthy of commendation. But never think of any of these things in Gods Book, especially of the Genealogle of our Lord Ie­sus Christ, who became man to adopt us the sons of God. If Nobility and Gentry could shew that they follow in regeneration the steps of faith and holinesse of the ancient Patriarks, Prophets and Apostles, then it were glorious, whereas all their lineall succession is but vanity, being inflamed with idolatrous, and superstitious lasciviousnesse and fol­lowing Cains ways. What eared Isaiah, Ezekiel, Iohn Baptist? Our Lord when the Iews boasted of Abraham, that they came of him, Isa. 57.3. Ezek. 16.3. Iohn 8.44. Mat. 3. Christ saith to the unbelievers and hypocrites, Ye are of your father the devil. Men that hate Christ, and his word, and his servants, their genealogie is from Satan and Cain, 1 Iohn 3.12. and the faithfull, theirs is from Abraham, yea from God and Christ, Gal. 3. 7.29. and chapter 4.31. Iohn 1.13. Let all Phil: 3. be considered with this note.

Quest. 10. and Answ. N. 1. And tormenting sorrows.] Note some special God gave over into the hands of one another, and into the hands of: their Kings, the Herods, and the Cesa [...]s, Ioseph Liber 13. chap. 19. &c. Then Christ brake both his staves, by which they were strengthened, he brake the staffe of beauty, bereaving them of the duty of his Ordinances, and brake also the brother-hood of Judah and Ephraim. And much of this came to passe when the tribe of Levi cared not for the sacrifice-hood, and would be Kings contrary to Jacobs, and Moses will, Gen. 49. Deut. 33. Then they and others became Sadduces, and killed 50000 Pharisees. This is the fruit of hereticall Doctrine and mens Traditions. The poore of the flock that waited on Christ, and valued him above all, observed these things, Zac. 11.

Ibid. For as they abhorred Christ.] As their fore-fathers moved Christ to jealousie by revolting to idols, so they did by mens traditions, and false Doctrine, which is as bad as idolatry: yea it is idolatry and vanity, Deut. 32.21. compare with Rom. 10.19.1 John 5.21. Observe how the A­postle Paul citeth that Text of Moses. They despised the eternall Son, and his righteousnesse, the new and living way: Bodily exercise was not the living way, and so they despised God the Father, 2 John 9 but that brought upon them the day of violent fire and wrath to the utmost, as it is said, despisers wonder and perish, Acts 31.41, Heb. 10.27. 1 Thes. 2.19. False Teachers, and their deceived never prized nor admired Christ and his word, read Phil. 3.

Quest. ibid. N. 2. with utter and finall desolations] Your house, that is, the Temple shall be dosolate while the world standeth, Mat. 23. Luc 13. And this came to passe about 40 years after our Lords ascension. Not such a desolation and trans [...]gration, as was at Shiloh, or at Jerusalem by Ba­bel, or as that three years, & half by Antiochus with restauration, but utter desolations: as experience for 1500 years. The affliction from Egypt had a fore-told limitation, so had Babels, so that of Antiochus, and Israels pro­per glory was limited, Dan. 9.24. But how carnal Israels affliction is not limited, and earthly Canaan, and Jerusalem, shall never have proper and peculiar glory.

Quest. 11. and Answer. They shall never be restored.] Let Ezk. 16.43. to the end of the chapter, be well considered, both for the captivi­ty to Babel, and the utter desolations by Rome, as Ezekiel compares Iu­dahs state with Sodoms unrecoverable, so our Lord, both to Sodom, and to Noahs flood, Mat. 24. mark well, Num. 33. ult. Again note, where the Apostle saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not have, &c. by a cosequent he meant, Neither would he Temple, City, and Kingdome, which were all figures till the time of setling. Christ should be and was the building in which God would delight, and therefore these sha­dows shall never be restored, unlesse we say Sacrifice and offering shall. Why, do we not, as Mr. Finch and Mr. Brightman, &c. make the Jews expect things seen and temporall? No no, they will rejoice to be of [Page 157]the holy City from heaevn, and will never care to make a corporation. in the Low [...] Jerusalem.

Ibid. Then any countrey or Citie in the World] Then they will believe the doctrine of their apostle Peter (the Apostle of the circumcision) as their Godly forefathers dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bythinis, and Chaldea; and mind the heavenly inheritance, that is un­corruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not, and the spiritual Tem­ple, 1 Peter 1. & 2. and 2 Pet. 1.19, 20, 21. How sweetly doth the A­postle draw them from their carnal sense of Ezekiels prophesie, under the terms of Canaan, Citie and Temple. So the apostle to the Hebrews draws them to the heavenly Government of Christ in the Jerusalem Cele­stial. And that the Low-Jerusalem, & all that hold of the policy of it, now ended by the Son eternal, were briars and thornes, and near rejecti­on, cursing, and the destruction of violent fire, and wrath to the utmost; compare 2 Sam 23.1. to 7. with Hebrews ch. 6. & 10. As their fore-fathers did, so the children: as Stephen laies that heavy crimination on them.

Ibid. The Lamb is the Temple] Seeing the Lamb is the Temple, and that he destroyed the material Temple, and all the politie of it: for if the Priest-hood be changed there must be of necessity a change of the Law: old things are all passed, Then surely it is abominable to have Priests, Altars, Sacrifices, Candles, Incense, Copes, Linnen Ephods, Musick, Distinction as of Mosaical daies and times; as Rests, Jubilees, new Moones, distinction of meats, annointings, &c. in our Ecclesiasti­call administrations: yea, or an Ecclesiastical politie answerable to Levi of a subservient Clergy, under one universal high Priest on earth. Christ our Statute-Maker hath forbidden all Levitical ceremonial wor­ship, Iohn 4. There is no Typical ceremonie left unto us in his New Te­stament but the two Seals of the covenant of the New Testament, and Gods Worshipe [...]s must worship him in Spirit and truth; Spirit is opposed to bodily exercise of our carnal hearts; Truth, is opposed to the shadows, rites, types and ceremonies by which Christ saith, The hour was coming that the Father would refuse to be worshipped. And the Son, by whom the Father spake taught none such to be repeated; much less others by man to be invenced They are tyrannical ecclesiasticks that force ceremonies Col. 2.

Before Christs coming, the Wisdom of God, as the old covenant needed, instituted many types and ceremonies, but the fulness of time being come, two signs, seals and memorials, Baptism and the Lords Supper were ordained. Seeing the Lord God of hosts even the Lamb is the Temple, and we all with open face, see the shining of the Sun of righteousness; all Moses Ceremonies, and others of mans invention should be left: It is else as if we were still under pupillage, and now it is bondage from which Christ hath justified us, that is, made us free. The servants of Christ in these things must not be the servants of men, but still contend and fight the good fight, for the utter abolishing what he hath abolished, and what in his last Will and Testament he never [Page 158]bequeathed nor commanded, Gal. 4. Greek Fathers began the Name Priest and high Priest, to be fitted to their doctors. But in the end the gangrene crept to ha [...]m unspeakable, that Satan by Turk and Pope ru­led the world. For the god-Pope, the high Priest of the Papacy he made a Mosaical subservient Clergy, He made another peculiar holy Citie [...]: He made Priests and annointed them, and Priests must serve at an al­tar, and an altar must have a sacrifice, then his Priests must have holy garments of ministration, and so copes came in, and holy Temples, &c. many as well as Papists ignorant of the Scriptures think it not amiss to retain many ceremonies of Moses, (which the Son of God commanded for a time) not knowing he came in the flesh to do Gods will and to abo­lish those his own ordinances: Innocent the third maintained that the Ceremonies of the Law were not abolished. And all popery is excee­dingly leavened with this heresie. Due Plessis in his Treatise of four Books of institution, pa. [...]1. Lib. 1. chap. 7. It is a denying of Christ in part to use any of Moses ceremonies: must it then be religion to use any humane significant ceremonies in Gods worship?

Quest 13. and Answ. N. 1. wicked marriages.] Judah hath dealt trea­cherously and an abominotion is committed in Israel and Jerusalem: For Judah hath profaned the Holiness of Jehovah, which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange God: Jehovah will cut off the the Master, and the Scholar out of the Tabernacle of Iacob, although he offereth an offering to lebovah of Hosts. Treachery, abomination, and profaneness, Mal. 2.11, 12. Ezra 9. & 10. N [...]h. 13. consider Io­suah chap. 23.6, 7, to 12. For the word of God and Marriages: wicked women of high place; and wealthy, a grievous evil to the Church of God.

N. 2. The open or visible Church.] Most men care not for Gods holy and plain religion, 2 Kings 17. Ezek. 20. The greater part in open po­licy careth but for his life. As in Salomons time, all were of great shew, but soon after his death Ephraim turned all, but Iudah, to Worship calves, not God: So great Constantine helped the Christians, but few of his men cared for God. Our own age and Countrey shewes the same. All our na­tion generally had a liking of the Gospel both the Magistrates, and the Ministery, all the daies of Queen Elizabeth, and the beginning of King Iames his Reign, England remembred the flames in Smithfield, &c and 88. and 1605. But towards the later end of K. Iames, and in K. Charles his reign how degenerare?

N. 3. Wicked sacrifices and false Prophets] All apostasic commonly be­gan at the Sanctuary: the greater part of the Prophets and Priests did most wickedly, and were become hypocrites. From them wickednesse went into all the land. They were blinde Leaders, sleeping Dogs, dumb dogs, pressing their own dreams. The preaching of the true Prophets was in horrible contempt, with them: Such were Hananiah, that taught revolt, and Shemajah the Neclemite, the Dreamer, that reputed Iere­miah [Page 159]for a mad man, and would have had him tortured. Achah and Ze­dekiah, those two lecherous villains that prophesyed lies: that man plea­ser Ʋrijah, 2 Kings 16. Amaziah that would not have the tell-troths, the true Prophets, to come to the Kings Court, nor to preach in the Kings Chappel, Amos 7. Pahshur, that put Ieremiah in the Gate-house, and in the stocks. Eliashib that profance and treacherous Prelate, Neh. 13. compared with Mal. [...].11, 12. and those Priests that nothing but the bloud of the Prophets would quench their thirst. And those Prelates that convented the Son of God, and his Apostles before them, impriso­ning, whipping and murdering them; &c. &c. But as the eye of Christ is in Princes Courts; so it is, be they assured, in the Courts of his san­ctuary; although such think Christ hath forsaken the earth. And when his jealousie began to be poured out, it began at the Sanctuary, Ezek. 9.6. Read Ier. 28.29. what came to Shemajah, Hananiah: Achah and Ze­dekiah were rosted in the fire, fellowes full of burning Lusts, burning was their end, as Sodomites. Amaziahs wife plaied the whore (and in Gods holy severity of judgement given over to filthiness) which made him to have many an heavy sigh, when he went up to his Altar at Bethel, to officiate, a plague of all terrour when God punisheth sin with sin: as Hose [...] 4.14. Amaziah his sons, and his daughters should be slain, and himself must go into captivity. Pahshur was made Magormissa [...]ib, and the bloud of Christ, and his Servants was heavy upon those Kains, &c.

Ibid. N. 3. Alwaies falsely accusing and persecuting the Godly] Elias, Ieremiah, and Amos were accused as troublers of the Church and ene­mies of the State: and the cause of famine, &c. whereas those, and such were the props of the State, and mourned and prayed for the peo­ple, Jeremy 7 & 18. And note it again, who did accuse but the R R F F and the apostate Nobility of their times, Ieremy 26. & 38. 1 Kin. 17.1. & 18 17, 18. Amos 7.10. Ier. 29.26. and so it was in our Lord and his Apostles, and so it was and hath been in our times. The wic­ked Priests and Prophets were ever the cruellest enemies of the Saints: they made many Widowes, imprisoning and killing their godly husbands for not hearkning to their dreams, and lies, and mens precepts, and for not putting into their mouths, Ezek. 21. Mich. 5. Hosea 9. Lament. 4.13.

Ibid. N. 3. flattering Princes and People.] They made their Kings glad with their wickednesse, and Princes with their lies: for they were so deluded, that although the Prophets and Priests made merchandize a­gainst the Land, they would never acknowledge nor mark it, Jeremy 14.18. Hosea 7. Jeremy 6.14. Lament. 2.14. They healed the hurt of the daughter of my people, saith Christ, sleightly, saying, peace, peace, when there was no peace. They walked in lies, and strengthned also the hands of the wicked, that none returned from his wickedness. They smooth their tongues, and cause my people to erre by their lies and light­ness [Page 160]They were the occasion of all profaneness, cruelty, and hypocri­sie in Princes and People. And at last all might see, that those dirt-dau­bers of their untempered mortar, they were they, that brought misery and shame to the State, Ezek. 22.

N. 4. The abuse of sweet peace, and health, &c.] These are promised as blessings of Obedience to the faith of the Son of God: blessings of the covenant of grace in him; as godliness hath the promise of the things of this life, and of that which is to come, Levit. 26 Deut. 28. Psalm 81. Esay 1. Those were not blessings and curses, to the Church, for do­ing, or not doing a covenant of works, but for believing, or despising the Son of God, as Mediatour, Exod. 23. and would not have him to reign over them.

N. 4. Pride, idleness, wantonness, &c.] Esay 2. & 3. & 5. & 2 S. Eccless. 10.16, 17, 18, 19. Amos 6.1. men in times of peace and plen­ty quickly fall away. Think of Salomons and Constantines times, so it is said, Jesurun waxed fat and kicked; Thou art waxed fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness, then he forsook God that made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation, Deut. 32. Ease slaies the foolish, and the prosperity of fools destroyeth them, Prov. 1.

Quest. 14 and answ. How many years hath Palmoni] Palmoni an attri­bute of Christ, Dan. 8.31. much to be meditated. He numbreth our tears, and wanderings: He numbreth the hairs of our head: He num­breth the Stars: He numbreth the times in the holy Scriptures in a most pleasant frame, by the ages of holy Fathers, by promises and types, by Sabbaths and Seavens: and he will teach us so to number our daies that we may apply our hearts to wisdome.

Ibid The Sun in his Tabernacle] The Suns chronicle draweth all along to the Sons righteousness. It is not a small matter in consideration, that the whole frame of the Celestial Orbs should be so wheeled by him that made day and night, Summer and Winter that the Suns journeys should be so guided that all Israels stories do fall out in time according to their ceremonies, to be the harmony of all the Bible, and the joy of Christian­ity; of this very thing David the sweet singer of Israel, and the other Prophets did joyfully sing and speak, and made many heavenly ditties and comparisons, Psalm 8. & 19. & 103 21, 22. & 119 89, 90. Psalm 136. 7, 8, 9. & 148.3. Jeremy 31.35 36. & 33 20. &c. A godly Mathe­matician should consider this. Profance, abominable hath been, and is the endeavour of some men to teach us of Christs coming, by the buil­ding of Rome, by the Archontes or Mayors of Athens, by the foot-races, and horse-races, &c. of the Satanical games of the Olympiads of the Heathens: as gamestry is much prejudicial to godliness, so this heathe­nish gamestry-doctrine to the holy Chronologie of the blessed book of God.

Ibid. Quest. and answ. 14, Ru [...] his race as a servant] The Suns name in Hebrew is Shemesh, a servant, to perform service. 1. Especially to [Page 161]the second Adam, as all are his Servants, Psalm 8. & 119.91. And 2. in him to the Church holding sincerity, Jos. 10. And it shall not smite thee by day, nor the Moon by night, Psalm 121 And 3. to all the world through his general good providence. Deut. 4 Mat. 5. And 4. that mankinde should not worship that which the creator hath made their daily servant.

Quest. 15. and answ. Dyed in a Jubilee year] The Jews never kept in their own land any more a Iubilee, for 40 years after our Lords death, Titus Vespasian raced to the ground, Citie and Temple, and sold the Jewes as flaves. This came to pass as our Lord foretold, Deut. 28.68. Zac. 14.1, 2, 3. Matth. [...]4. Luke 21. & 23.28, 29, 30. Read Iosephus on the wars of the Jewes.

Ibid. will be to Israel in a jubilee] They might well cast this to be so: by the Seavensy Seavens, which did 490. years foretel the death of the Lord of Glory.

Ibid. Remission.] Or freedome, or Justification: our holy Apostle (seeing the fulness of time) more fully and gloriously, addeth, Wisdome and Sonctification, 1 Cor. 1.30. if the Son shall make you free, then are ye free indeed, John 8. He that was before the beginning, and promi­sed from the beginning did appear to destroy, unloose, dissove the works of the Devil, 1 John 1. & 3. This expounds Genesis 3.15. He gives li­berty to the Captives, Esay 61. Rom. 7. then was the just captivity deli­vered to go to his heavenly possession, and to the heavenly familie of our Father which is in heaven, Lev. 25.23.

Remember ye the Law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb, for all Israel, with the statutes and judgements, Mal. 4.

Observe well this conclussion of the old Testament: the Written Word, the glory and inheritance of the Saints, and let them most highly account thereof: The spirit of Christ foreseeing the false do­ctrine of those three Shepheards, Zachary 11. and the afflictions of the Army of heaven in the daies of the fourth Beast, and the iron Legs thus forewarned the Elect Daniel 7. & 8. & 11.28. to 33 & 12.3, 4.10. This text of Malachi well minded, would stop the prattle now a daies, that Moses Politie was a covenant of works, and not a covenant of Grace in Christ.

Annotations upon the Questions and An­swers of the tenth Chapter.

N. 3. Hananiah, Azariah and Misael.] These noble Worthies that ha­ted Babylons idolatry, with burning zeal doth teach our Nobles to hate mysticall Babylons idolatry, and superstitions, that crucified Christ, that pierced his hands and feet, and would nail all feet and hands from walking in Gods wayes, and working in his truth.

Ibid. who by faith escaped.] That glorious sentence for salvation, The just shall live by faith, which Habbakuk spake to comfort the Saints in the captivity of Babel, and in all after times, yea it was the stay of their heart ever since it was said, Cursed is the earth for thy sake &c. And the seed of the Serpent shall bruise the heel of the holy seed, Ge. 3.15. Faith stayeth on the rock of Israel, God in Christ was the rock of their heart and por­tion for ever, Psal. 73. another Scripture faith, Trust ye in Jehovah, for in Jah Jehovah is the rock of all ages, Isa. 26. And again, My God is the Rock, in whom I will trust, 2 Sam. 22.3, 32, 33, 47. And the terms of the New Testament are agreeable; it is said, Ye believe in God, believe also in me; for he is the Rock. Mat. 16.1 Cor. 10. And they are pronounced happy that trust in the Son, Psal. 2. and curled that make flesh their arm, Jer. 17. And gracious Hannah saith, there is no Rock but our God, 1 Sam. 2.

Ibid. The violence of fire.] By faith they looked to things not seen, they by faith knew, that JESUS the Son of God by the blood of the Cove­nant would save them from the wrath to come, the vengeance of eternal fire, the second death, 1 Thes. 1.10.

N. 4. Would still tender the cause of his own Nation.] Daniel a Subject maketh a golden state for the Church under tyranny: so did honoured Mordecai Hest. 10 Good States-men seck the wealth of the Saints: so did Eliakim, when he was substituted in Sh [...]baaes place, Isa. 22. Obadiah was of great and good use in Achabs Court, 1 Kings 18.13. Nebemiah a no­ble pattern of courage, fidelity, and zeal to God and the King: forget not holy Joseph, none of these were temporizers, Psal 122 and 132.1, 2, 3, &c. Remember Ahikam, and those Princes, that had somelise of Religion left in them, that saved the holy Prophet from the blood thir­stie Priests, and false Prophets, Jer. [...]6.

N 6. As those noble Sages, who came from Persia.] Daniel so tende­red of Princes, and so Religious would cause the mysterie of Christ to be known in the Court and Palace at Susan, as Saint Paul in C [...]sars Court, Phil. 1. Daniel, a pattern for young and old Courtiers: and [Page 168]such shall find more favour at last, both of God and their Prince, then they that flatter with their lips, Dan. 8.2. Susan was in the Province of Persia or Elam.

N. 8. Of a generall Subsidie.] Daniel, a wealthy subject, doubtlesse, would further help in this matter, his care for the returned would answer the effects of his prayer, Dan. 9. as Mordecai did afterward further the cause of Christ, as Esther 10.

N. 9. And by faith stopping the mouths of lions.] Daniel knew by faith, that the Son of man would stop and deliver us from the mouth of Sa­tan, that roaring lion, the accuser of the brethren, who goeth about seeking whom he may devour, whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren which are in the world, 1 Pet 5.9.

N. 10. Offspring of Amalek] Amalek was of Esau, who with his posterity despised the blessing of the Gospel, and hated the Israel of God, even to Herod, To this story of Haman the Agagite, of Amalek, we must re­member, Exod. 17.15, 16. and Num. 24.20. of terrour to all apostati­call fierce persecutors of the holy seed.

Ibid.—They escaped the edge of the Sword.] They knew by faith, that the MESSIAS, the King would by his death frustrate the counsell of Satan, and all the power of darknesse, and deliver all the children of God from the bondage and fear of death, and spoil and triumph over the principalities and powers of darknesse, the spirituall wickednesses, even all the Legions of Devils that war against us concerning super-celestiall things, Eph 6.

Ibid. Letters of commission.] this story fell out about seventeen years before Zachariah prophesied, that he might well say from God, He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye, Zac. 2.

Ibid.—Atheist Haman, to plot against them, and to accuse.] See how Satans seed fol [...]owed Hamans project, Acts 16.20, 21, 22. and 17.5, 6, 7. And all times have not neither will want such shamelesse liars, and cur­sed dogs, that accuse the Saints to Princes, Hos. 7.3. The Locusts and their King, and their friends were ever most vigilant and sedulous in this thing; and no marvell, for Sathan the accuser of the brethren dealt so against the holy One of Israel, Luc. 23.2. Their throats are open sepulchres, the poison of asps is under their lips▪ But our Lord and his apostles, though few and mean were better subjects to Cesar, than their lying, numerous malitious adversaries. Acts 17.7. and 24.5, 6, 7. &c. Oh that Princes and Nobles would search into matters, that they would read Gods Chronicles with diligent study, as it is their duty, Deut. 17. They would find all to be false, that Haman speaks against Mordecai and the Jews, mind a story, 2 Sam. 16. flattering Ziba tells a most shamefull lie: too many such about Princes, that accuse honest subjects, and make Princes trespasse against their Subjects, as good David did, that gave Mephibosheths lands away upon a false accusation. But David said he would do otherwise, [Page 169]in ruling the Common-weal: He said, he would sing of mercy and judge­ment, and that a slanderer and a liar should not be in his Court, or roi­all City, Psal. 101. But alas, alas, what with sycophants, and backbi­ters, and gifts, as lying Ziba presented to David, 2 Sam. 19. Kings and Nobles trespasse against the faithfull of the Land, and remove Land­marks. It is pertinent to confer Dan. 6. that wicked men can find no­thing for the most part against the Saints, but concerning the Law of their God: as it was then, so it is now, Acts 16.20.21. 1 Pet 4. Let none of you suffer for evil-doing, but as a Christian, &c.

Ibid. And their Laws are divers from all people.] What Laws? none but the holy Scriptures of the blessed God: thou adversary and enemy, thou wicked Haman. See the contrary in good Princes and Nobles, that good and truly noble and Royall Darius, Artaxe [...]xes, and his privy coun­sellours, who honoured the Laws of the God of heaven, he knew that Gods Laws were not hurtfull, but profitable to him and his Government and that his subjects ought to walk in them. View his letters patents well, which he never questioned nor revoked, that King and his coun­sellours, let them be patterns to their Peers, Ezra 7

Ibid. Neither keep they the Kings Laws.] There your Lorship hit 'em: they will not obey the Kings Laws. The idiome now of profane and super­stitious hyocrites self-willed in humility. Help O eternall, they have said with our tongue we will prevail, our lips are our own, who is Lord over us, Psal. 12. and 120. Isa 57. Psal. 131.18. Let the lying lips be put to silence, which speak grievous things proudly, and contemptuously a­gainst the righteous, and make their own tongue to fall on them, Psal. 64. Acts 17.6, 7.

Ibid. And I will pay ten thousand.] But Lord Haman, this sum of mo­ney would not have recompensed that great dammage, that the King would have sustained, no not in the bondage, much lesse in the destru­ction of so many honest, and [...]l [...]thfull subjects, and so it was told you to your face, you know when, Hest. 7 shall voluntary gi [...]ts and contribu­tions of such drosse Statists corrupt the breasts of Princes, to make and confirm the Decrees and Canons, &c. to undo their b [...]st subjects, absit, absit, Es. 10.1. Psal. 94.20. Prov. 25.4.5. wherefore hearest thou mens words, saying, David seeketh thy hurt? Now therefore, I pray thee, Let my Lord the King hear the words of his servant—If Jehovah have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an off [...]ing but if they be the children of men, cu [...]sed be they before Jehovah, for they have driven me out this day, from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord, saying go serve other gods, 1 Sam. 7.4 and 26.

The Annotations upon the Questions and An­swers of the thirteenth CHAPTER.

THe first Quest, and Answ. This is he that was promised] Christ the hope of the promise made unto the Fathers, Acts 26.6. Heb. 11. all: Christ the hope of all the Israel of God, Acts 28.20.1 Tim. 1.1. Ob­serve the gloriousness of Christ in all the old revelation of him, yet in manner of doctrine they had not perfection to see and feel the word of life, 1 John 1. But we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us a minde to know him, which is true, and we are in him that is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This same is very God and eternal life. Babes keep your selves from Idols, that is, from all false doctrine, 1 Joh. 5.20, 21.

Quest. 2. N. 9. The Father doth love and honour the Son, (and hath committed all power into his hand, as Gen. 3.15.) for humbling him­self, and laying down his life for his sheep: so do the Angels: so do all the Saints, John 10. Phil. 2. Apoc. 5. Christ is a great King, and wit­nessed concerning it, a good confession before Pontius Pilate, John. 18.37. He is Fore-leader and Commander over the House of Jacob, even over all the Israel of God, Iew and Gentile. Luke 1.32, 3 [...]. Gal. 3.7. & 6.16. Esay 55, Christ will be received as King, Prophet, and Sacrifi­cer in Sion the heavenly, or he will fill all places with dead bodies, Psa. 2.8.9. & 110. Deu [...]. 18.18. Heb. 3.1. Ephes. 1.21, 23. Mat. 28. Hebr. [...]. 1. If Angels and Moses must be heard, and disobedience was justly recompensed, much more the Son eternal must be heard, to whom Ma­se [...] was but a servant, Heb. 2.1, 2, 3.

N. 11. This word Him is spoken exclusively] [...]y divine dispensation he alone passeth all acts from God to man, and from man to God, 1 [...] [Page 195]3.23. & 5.11, 12, 13, he is the One Mediatour between God and man Hebr. 2.17, 18. 1 Tim. 2.5. Observe ev [...]lusive speeches, although the terms onely and alone, be not alwaies expressed; for in divine revelation there is not from Gen. 3.15. to the end of the Apocalips, the least hint of any other Name under heaven: he is the Alpha and the Omega of all the holy and blessed Scriptures: so the promise to Abraham is exclusive: no blessedness but in Christ the holy seed of all holinesse: and so expoun­ded by two Apostles, Paul and Peter, to the Jewes and Galatians, Acts 3. 25. Gal. 3.

Ibid. Is no other Head of the Church] Christs Supremacy: he is Lord of our faith, and binder of conscience by his Laws. To the Church he is Prophet, Sacrificer and King: and the same to every particular per­son, for his particular comfort and calling: as his person is not divi­ded, so neither his offices: he is not a sacrificer for any, but also he is a prophet to teach, and a King to govern: he is a Prince, and a Savi­our to all the Israel of God. If Christ is not thus received, his Father is not honoured in Kingdomes, families and persons. For this eleventh observation ponder these Scriptures, Ephes. 1.22. Jam. [...]. 1 [...]. Ephes. 4. 8, 11, 12, 13. Mat. 23.8. Acts 2.36. & 5.31.

Quest. 3. What Seals hath Iehovah] commonly to call them Seals, is the best and aptest term and suiteth even to the capacity of the meanest, to be soonest conceived. Because in this (as the Jewes proverbially say well of the holy Spirits familiarizing with us) God speaks according to the language and dealings of the Sons of Adams: it is used Rom. 4. as also the true sign or token, Gen. 17.

Ibid. the Lord of the house] None may ordain a Seal, but he that hath ordained the writings of the Covenant. God only inspired the holy wri­tings, and he only can add seals to his covenant, in them. As none can make a true deed or lease and seal it, but the true Landlord in whom the Propriety is. Therefore all Popery is to be a [...]ursed, that addeth writings and Seals. The Apostle glorieth only in this, What I received of the Lord that have I delivered unto you, 1 Cor. 11. Thus, he as Moses, faithfull in the house of God, Heb. 3.

Quest. 4. and Answ. They are reciprocal] Ever since the Gospel was taught Gen. 3.15. God made a covenant with the faithfull and their seed, as with Adam and Habel understood it thus: he walked in good works, 1 Iohn 3.12. God renewed the covenant to Noah before and after the Floud, and he was godly. But the Terms of the covenant in open record is more fully declared in after ages, Genesis 17. and there it is shewed there is a restipulation on our part concerning Gods promises, commandments, threatnings, curses, admonitions, counsels, good ex­amples, &c. we ingage our selves in all, when we apply the Seals. Our Lord saith, Go teach and baptiz [...], and teach them to observe all things, Mat. 28. So the Tenant binds himself when he subscribes or puts to his seal.

Quest. 5. and answ. Baptismis for to teach and seal] Baptism is a Seal [Page 196]of ending circumcision, and all Abra [...]ams and Moses ceremonies (the same may be said of the Lords Supper, [...] supra) much more it bindeth to abhor humane religious traditions and precepts. And we should not care to be judged as culpable for the not observing of them, Col. 2. A circumcised Israelite was bound to keep the whole Law [...] and our baptism bindeth us to look only to Gods commandements what he hath comman­ded us, Mat. 28.20.

Quest. 6. and Answ. N. 2. without mixture] The Wine not to be mixed with Drakes, bloud nor water: nor Bread or Wine to be mixed with poyson, as the Papal Hostia was, when they gave it to the Emperour Henry the seventh next Albertus. A fine device of the seed of the Ser­pent, to kill Princes and Nobles that stand in their way. Any action feazible and consequent for the Throne of King Abaddon, is and must be a Declamation on that Theame of theirs, sides non observanda cum [...]ae­reticis. O ye Princes and Nobles beware of such Scorpions: trust none of them that hate the sincerity of the Gospel, lest you finde their do­ctrine of Transubstantiation too true, when they are such cursed Sorcer­ers, that can turn bread into poison: pretending to give Christ our life, they give death, and sacrifice your precious lives upon their Altars. They can and will give you a secret sting, for they are Scorpions and Sorcerers.

Also the Bread and Wine neither to be adored nor conjured with cros­sings, or any other fantastical, Popish, Devilish, humane device [...], but in all plainess the holy seal of the Covenant to be administred in both kindes, according to the primitive institution. As King Josias said, Keep the passeover of the Lord your God, according to all that is in the book of the Covenant, 2 Kings. 23. Kings should so speak to their subjects, if they have any portion in the Covenant.

Ibid. With holy judgement and faith] We must discern by faith as Habel, Heb. 11.4. The Lords body crucified, and the bloud of the covenant shed: opus operatum is not enough. It is the Lords seal of the forgive­ness of sins. Ala [...]le, alass! for want of sound reaching in the most of our assemblies.

Ibid. To stay us in Christ, &c.] Not only for increase of faith concern­ing our effectual calling, justification, adoption and redemption, and for nourishment and strength to walk in the waies of holyness and righ­teousness, being made comformable to his image renewed in us, &c. but for supporting us in the daies of trial and affliction, which in this seal is represented by the sufferings of our Lord, to whom we also must be con­formable in sufferings to take up our cross daily. As it is the cup of glad­ness of salvation, so it is the cup, yea of bloudy sufferings, if our hea­venly Father will put it into our hands.

N. 4. which figured his body and bloud] The Pope, and his corporation corrupted from the plainesse that is in Christ, making an Altar, Priest, and Sacrifice have missed wholly of the truth in Christ. By that blas­phemous [Page 197]idol of his masse, and other inventions they have abolished the remembrance of the death and sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Lord in the holy seal of the covenant.

Ibid. Bread and wine) by Seal of things without life, by Bread bro­ken, and bloud of the grape, by the term Supper, the whole tenor of Christianity is meant, Apocal. 19.9. But the acceptation of the Seal is an open action to distinguish us (more then baptism doth) from others. The King of Locusts, and his Locusts are fatal enemies to this seal of the Covenant in their idolatrous Nothing of their Sacrament of the Altar, setting forth Christ both unbroken and unbloudy, which cannot repre­sent nor seal Christ for reconciliation, remission of sins, or nourishment.

As the Ordinance of Christ is blessed, and shall be [...]lessed to the day of his comming, so this abominable corruption is cursed and shall be ac­cursed of all that love our Lord Jesus Christ, to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. As in the Ordinance of the Passeover, the Angel of the Covenant did execute judgements on the Gods of old Egypt, so where this Ordinance of the Lords Supper is truly administred, the ido­latry of the breaden gods of Rome-Egypt are demolished.

Ibid. To be in Covenant speech, his body and bloud] a seal of most high matters is most highly to be esteemed: But none without Athean mad­nesse will say, The Seal is the King: the Kings authority it should have, to be as himself: but none of wit orgrace, would make it the King himself. All wise know proper speech and civil. The Gospel thrice and St. Paul, 1 Cor. 11. tell that Iesus gave bread and wine, and that the disciples are and drank what he gave, that no miracle was here, but the native manner of a Covenant. Eye-sight is Gods testimony by creati­on, Law, and allowed ever even in the seal of the Covenant, which may contain no matter litigious. And if the Apostles or Greck Fathers had said, the bread and wine were altered from their taste and nature, for so much, the heathen would have sworn; the world never bare wic­keder Magicians, nor worthier of death by Mases Law, which Christ gave as eternal God, and came as man, to be judged of man how he did perform all; so that the native power of reason which he planted in all souls for sense of eye sight, taste, feeling, smelling, and hearing of words should judg of him, that he performed all justice to plain capacity of all nations, and required none to believe further then Logick common to every man, would require assent, or tell of open Rebellion against the truth. Transubstantiation, a monstrous term for a monstrous matter, Mr. Brou. in Apocal.

At the figure of the Star (*) according to the words and commandments] Though it be but a mans Testament, yet if it be confirmed, no man dis­annulleth, or addeth thereto, Gal. 3.15. Heb. 9.15, 16, 17. neither altereth the Legacies, nor addeth others, nor taketh away, nor maketh other Executors or Overseers, &c. Men must not be Rectifters of Christs Testament, which is confirmed by the death and bloud, (as in his type, [Page 198] Exod. 24) Of him the Testatour. And the seals bind us all to look to the holy evidences. Men may as well pull away the seals, as falsifie the plain truth in the writings: They bind us to observe whatsoever Christ hath commanded, as circumcision did Israel, Exod: 12. Gal: 3: 5, the an­gel of the pit, and his pit-bred creatures corrupt the evidences, and ut­terly pull off one of the seals, they are great impostors:

Quest. 7. and Answ: Martyrs and confessours of all Nations:] Us hea­thens were from Noahs dayes, Loruchamab, and Loammi [...] Deut: 32.21: and so the ten Tribes, Hos. 1 but both in Christ Ruchamah and Ammi: so that now many come from the East and West, Isa. 49. to be blessed with faithfull Abraham, and to sit down with him, and Isaac, and Iacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdome of heaven: no sitting there, unlesse of Abrahams faith, without shall be liars, mark the terms of the Co­venant: I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob. This is my memoriall to all generations, that is, to all of their faith, whether Jew or Gentile, else they are protested against, not to be of Abrahams, Gal. 3.7, 8. John 8.39.40, 41. &c. and have been, and shall be broken off, Rom. 11.17. and cast out Gal. 4.30.

At the mark of the †. Then to him was given Kingdome, power, and glory.] See how our Lord commenteth on Daniel, chap. 2. and 7. All power saith he is given to me in heaven, and in earth, therefore go and disci­ple all Nations, &c Mat. 28.

Quest. 8. and Answ. 1. But what was taught in Sems Tents.] The Scriptures of the Prophets, the faith of the Nations, Rom. 1.2. and 16.26. The same faith and Covenant, although the outward administrati­on did differ. How glorious is the Scriptures consent. The Saints from the beginning to the ending have one and the same God and Saviour, one and the same faith, the same hope, the same Covenant, the same premises. Behold how all is administred by one Mediatour, from one e­ternall being, who is A. and Ω. confer Gen. 3.15. and 6.18. 1 Iohn 1.1, 2. &c. Exod. 19.5, 6. Apoc. 21.3. 2 Cor. 6.16. Exod. 29.45. Ios. 1.3. Heb. 13.5.

Ibid. Who went from, Jerusalem Sems tents.] The faith of Gods elect came to us from Ierusalem, Sems tents, not from Rome Babylon, with babbling language, as the Locusts prate, see Isa. 2 1, 2, 3, 4. Micah 4. Luke 24.47. The heavenly Ierusalem began to be built in the earthly, Acts 1.2. And there were the Master-builders, and others with them that made up 120. then they converted 5000. and many moe at seve­rall times, these with many others, with the Apostles by persecuti­on, were scattered, East, West, North and South, to build the hea­venly Ierusalem. Now the lively waters in this City, and from Christ the true temple, issue and run into all the world, and then multitudes of Jews and Gentiles came to keep the feast of tabernacles, crying H [...] ­sanna, salvation to God and the Lamb, with palms in their hands, Zac. 14. Ezek. 47.1, 2. Apoc. 7.9, 10. Col 1.8. 2 Thes. 3.1. 1 Pet. 1.1.2, 3. &c. &c. &c. Christ expounds Ezekiel, that he was the Temple from whom [Page 199]the quickning waters flow, Iohn 4. and 5, 8, 9, and 7. and the Councell Acts 15. expounding Am [...]i 9. expounds Ezekiels last chapters, and the other Prophets, and the Epistle to the Hebrews, and the first of Peter doth the same, and we must note, when the word was made fruitfull o­ver the world, then, and not before, Titus Vesp. destroyed the low Je­rusalem.

Ibid. with the gift of tongues.] By the blessing of tongues, they that were once darknesse are made light in the Lord, Ehp. 5. the confusion of tonges brought darknesse, and from that time to this, the glorious my­stery of Christ was hid in types and figures among the godly of Sems house, from the ages and generations of apostate families.

Ibid. Resurrection from death.] From death, Acts 2.27.—ex [...], phrases gracae de hominis morte perturbant inassuet [...]s, [...], contra epituros, dum spiravit Graetia, personuit, idque ubt de justis sermo eraet, hebehatur felicissimum, Christianis satis erat, [...],. Apud Patres, [...], haec duo, idem Hebraeis erat, ire in paradisum, & [...],. Dolendum, Gehennum, & gehenaeos dolores ex ignoration [...] vocum consuetudinum, circa salutiferum D N. mortem tam morti­feros errores peperisse. Mr. Bro. in his second Edition of his Latine con­cent p. 151.

Ibid. Then tongues, Nations, and people of all Kingdomes.] A Jerusa­lem Catholick, Then the Kings of Tharshish and of the Isles brought pre­sents, the Kings of Sheba, and Seba brought gifts, doing homage to the eternall King; then the root of Jessai stood up for a sign of healing, (he healeth our natures, Isa. 11.) and rest to the Nations, the families of the sons of Noah, of Assur, of Mitzraim, of Pathros, of Chush, of E­lam, of Shinar, Hamath, Pul, Lud, Tubal, &c. Now Japheth is per­swaded, and all families of the earth did blesse the true Salomon, and were blessed in him, Psal. 72. Isa. 11. and 66. Acts 2. 1 Pet. 1.1, 2, 3, 4. That speech of Moses, Deut. 32. and cited Rom. 10. must here be minded, They have moved me to jealousie with that which is not God. and they have provoked me to anger with their vanities, and I will move them to jealousie with those that are Lo-ammi, no people, I will provoke them to anger with a foolish Nation. A Metaphoricall speech of divorcing terrour to the Jew, and of Matrimoniall loving kindnesse to the Gentile, see the jealous envy of the Jews, Acts 13. & 14. and 17. 1 Thes. 2.15, 16. Eph. 2, 7. Luke 20.16 Mat. 2 1.43.

Ibid. N. 1. By faith and obedience.] Untill Christ did shine unto us heathens, and turn us from darknesse to light, and from the power of Satan to God, we should never have once thought upon, much lesse have walked in the way of life, universall grace and free will to walk in holi­nesse and righteousnesse, from naturall abilities, are foolish, proud, fantasticall, erroneous conceits. The Ephesians and Golossians, &c. were dead in trespasses and sins, till Christ the second Adam by his [Page 200]Gospel did shine in their minds: yea and after conversion wrought in them, both to will and to do of his own good will, Eph. 2. Phil. 2.13.