The Tree of Good and Evil, To the reader 1 – To the reader 2
To the Reader.
COurteous Reader, the Lord forbad our firſt Parents to eate of the Tree of Knowledge of good and euill with denunciation of an euerlaſting curſe vponupon their diſobedience. Againe, the ſame Lord commandeth vsus to eate of the Tree of good, and euill, as a preparatiue to an euerlaſting and perfect remedy: For as the eating thereof was the beginning of all euill, ſo the eating thereof is the beginning of all good. For as the deſire of the knowledge of good and euill brought ignorance, and death, euen ſo the knowledge of good and euill maketh wiſe vntounto life. But heerein wee ſhew out of what root wee are growne, and out of what rocke wee are hewne, namely, to be alwaies againſt the Lord. For as our firſt parents being forbidden to eate of that one Tree, did firſt of all eate of that Tree; ſo wee being commanded to eate of this one Tree of the Garden with promiſe of bleſſing, had rather eate of any other Tree of the Forreſt, though the fruits thereof be preſent death: which obſeruation of our froward hearts cauſed the Heathen Poet to ſay, Nitimur in vetitum ſemper, cupimuſque negata. Engliſhed thus:
To things forbidden wee chiefly doe aſpire.
And things denyed wee moſt of all deſire.
Now ſeeing that the onelyonly good and wiſe God hath turned this curſe into a bleſſing that both the knowledge of our ſinne and miſery, and alſo of perfect holineſſe and righteouſneſſe ſhould come by the Law, that ſo working guilt of ſinne, feare of iudgement, and vtter deſpaire of life in the conſcience, wee might bee inforced to flie to Chriſt for ſuccour and reliefe in this diſtreſſed eſtate, and that being in Chriſt, the ſting of death which is ſin, and the ſtrength of ſinne which is the rigour of the Law îs aboliſhed, and is become the rule of Chriſtian life, and a Tree of life to them that eate thereof; ſeeing I ſay, it is thus, let vsus deſire to eate of this Tree, for the fruites thereof are not grieuous; yea, they are pleaſant, delightfull, and more ſweet then hony and the hony combe, to the ſanctified taſte, reuiuing, and quickning the ſoule to eternall life.
For theſe cauſes did the Lord ſo ſtrictly charge the Iſraelites to exerciſe themſelues in his Lawes continually: And that they might hauehave them in perfect remembrance aboue all things, hee commandeth them to rehearſe them continually to their children, to write them vponupon the poſts of their houſes, and vponupon their gates, Deut. 11. 18. 19. and to weare fringes couered with a riband of blew ſilke on the borders of their garments for the ſame end, Numb. 18. …9. that in all things, in all places, and at all times, they might, as an holy and peculiar people do the will of God, and not their owne luſts as the Gentiles do, Deut. 26. 17. 18. 19.
Now although theſe, and ſuch like ceremonies be aboliſhed, yet the Law is euerlaſting, and giueth no more liberty of ſinning to vsus, then vntounto them; yea hauing receiued greater meaſure of the Spirit of Adoption, wee ſhould more ioyfully and cheerefully performe all obedience, then they that had but the ſpirit of bondage, viz. who like children were held in awe with temporall threatnings, and ſharper outward puniſhments: Let vsus therefore which hauehave receiued the promiſes (which they ſaw a farre of) freely without conſtraint, ingenuouſly and willingly as adopted ſons reade, heare, talke, and meditate in the Law continually, and in ſteed of Iewiſh fringes, ribands, and Phylacteries, fitter for children then men of perfect age, let vsus carry the Law ingrauen in the fleſhy tables of our hearts.
And becauſe the Law maketh but ſhallow impreſſion in our ſtony hearts, and is therefore quickly defaced, and worne out with the ruſt of corruption, wee hauehave need of daily meanes to cleanſe, purge, and correct thoſe furring veſſels, and ſo much the more becauſe wee hauehave alſo corrupters and tempters without vsus and about vsus, the world and the deuill that old deceitfull cauiller withdrawing and miſ-leading vsus in eueryevery action and thought of the mind, from the will of God to their owne luſts.
Now for thy more diſtinct knowledge, and more ſpirituall and true vnderſtanding of the Law, for thy better direction in all matters, and for thy furtherance in godlineſſe and vertue in theſe latter euill daies, wherein that wicked one, 1. Ioh. 2. 14. ſo wonderfully hardneth the hearts of moſt men, 2. Tim. 3. 1. I hauehave drawne an Expoſition of the Commandements, in ſuch a forme and order, with ſuch breuity and fulneſſe, and with ſo many & manifeſt proofes, as that any man, learned or vnlearned, may reape great benefite thereby.
And ſeeing that it is eaſie for the price, waighty for the matter, and light for the carriage, either in pocket, or in thy boſome, or in thy handes: thinke it I pray thee no more trouble to thee then Fringes and Phylacteries Mat. 23. 5. were to the Iewes, then Croſſes and Crucifixes to the Papiſts, who think hereby to ſcarre away deuils, whereas indeed the deuils know where to take vp their Iunes and Lodgings by theſe whoriſh tokens & markes. Contrarily, here thou haſt God ſpeaking plainely to thee, and louingly inſtructing thee, and informing thee as a father doth his ſonne. Thou haſt heere a powerfull weapon, euen the voyce of God, to ſcarre away deuils, and to reproue the wicked in all their vniuſt dealings: Whatſoeuer men ſay, iudge, or do, and howſoeuer the world ſwaggeth and reeleth, as the ſpirit of the aire that worketh in the children of diſobedience hales it from iniquity to iniquity: Heere thou haſt a firme Foundation and vnmoueable Rocke; cleaue to this Rocke confidently, and build therevpon without wauering, ſo ſhalt thou abide for euer, 1. Ioh. 2. 17. when others with their wiſedomes ſhall come to naught, 1. Cor. 2. 6. and with their vnfruitfull workes of darkeneſſe ſhall periſh euerlaſtingly: For they that hauehave done good, as the Law of God informeth them, ſhall go into life euerlaſting, and they that hauehave done euill ſhall go into euerlaſting fire.
Thine in the Lord, T. G.
To the Chriſtian Reader Grace and Peace.
GOOD Reader, thou haſt heere a ſmall Treatiſe, penned by a learned Diuine, wherein is plainely laid downe the ſenſe and meaning of eueryevery Commandement, both in the Negatiue and Affirmatiue part, as well of Graces commanded, as of ſinnes forbidden, confirmed with many pregnant proofes of Scripture, wherein much is expreſſed in few words: Which Treatiſe I hauehave pervſed, and doe eſteeme it very profitable, eſpecially for the vnlearned which deſire knowledge, and the rather becauſe I know none that hath opened the Commandements ſo fully in this manner. I commend it to thy diligent reading, continuall remembrance, and carefull practiſe, and thee to the Grace of God, and to his fauour in Chriſt,
Thine in the Lord, Neuill Drant.