The Communion of Saints, Chapter 7
CHAPT. VII.
How the word of God was communicated with Adam & his children & of the Saincts interest in the same.
Forasmuch as the word of God is the ‡Iohn. 17. 17.truth wherby we our selves ar sanctified, and al †1. Tim. 4. 5.his creatures vntounto our vse; even the ‖1. Pet. 1. 23. 25. Iam. 1. 18immortal seed by which we ar begotten and born anew of Gods own wil, that we should be as the first fruits of his creatures; and the syncere *1. Pet. 2. 2.milk without guile, wherby we ar ‡1. Tim. 4. 6.nourished & grow in faith: let vsus take a view of this tresure and tree of life, which is better to the Saincts then †Psal 119. 72thowsands of gold and silver, ‖Psal. 19. 10.sweeter also then honey or ye honey comb, even sweetnes to the sowl *Prov. 16. 2…and health to the bones, which if a man keep, he ‡Ioh. 8. 51.shal never see death.
2. Three wayes ther are wherby God maketh himself knowen vntounto mē. The first is by his works; for the †Rom. 1. 20.invisible things of him, that is, his eternall power and Godhed, ar seen by the creation of the world; the heavens ‖Psal. 19. 1.declare his glorie, & the firmament sheweth the work of his hands; the beasts if they be asked *Iob. 12. 7. 8.wil teach man, & the fowles of the heaven wil tel him, the earth wil shew him, and the fishes of the sea wil declare vntounto him; for how manifold ar the works of God? & ‡Psal. 104. 24.in wisdomhath he made them al.
3. But because the world by wisdome †1. Cor. 1. 21.knew not God in this wisdom of God, (though it be ynough to make al men ‖Rom. 1. 20.without excuse:) it pleased God of his grace to giv vsus his word; as a second and more excellent means of knowledge, by which word he *Psal. 138. 2.hath magnified his name above al; for it is able to make man ‡2. Tim. 3. 15wise vntounto salvation; and he that is of God, †Iohn. 8. 47. and 14. 23.heareth that his word, and if any man love him he wil keep the same, & the Lord wil lov him againe & dwel with him: but they that refuse & put it away, do ‖Act. 13. 46.judge themselves vnworthy of everlasting life, and that word shal *Iohn. 12. 48judge them in the last day; & for despising of it, ‖Prov. 13. 13they shalbe destroyed.
4. Yet is not the outward ministery of the word sufficient, vnlesse we be also taught of †Iohn. 6. 45.God himself; who therfore voucheth safe to giv vsus a third help, evē his own †Nehe. 9. 20.good spirit to instruct vsus, without which no man can ‖1 Cor. 12. 3.say that Iesus is the Lord. By this his spirit God *1 Cor. 2. 10. 12.reveleth vntounto vsus the deep mysteries of his gospel, this Anoynting ‡1 Ioh. 2. 27.teacheth vsus all things; and that worthy thing which is committed to vsus, we keep ”2 Tim. 1. 14through the Holy Ghost that dwelleth in vsus. Of whom and our communion with him, more is to be spoken in due place.
5. The Word of God, (whereof here we intreat,) was given to Adam even in his †Gen. 2. 16.vpright state; to be a law for him to lead his life in paradise. It was again reveled vntounto him ‖Gen. 3. 15. 16. 17.after his fall; to restore him grace and life which he had lost. And not for himselfe alone, received he this light; but for all his children, that were fallen with him into darknes and the shadow of death: wherefore he imparted it to them, as by *Gen. 4.the sacrifices of Cain and Abel, doth appear. Yea God himself ‡vers. …. 7.spake vntounto Cain, (though he was wicked and without faith,) and gave him warning of his evil way. Likewise in the new world, the ”Gen. 9. 1. 8. 9. 11. &c.covenant of God was by his word renewed with all Noahs howshold, wherein were Cham and Canaan, the vessels of destruction. Christ also, the †Mat. 13. 3. 4. 5. &c.sower of that precious seed, let some fall on the high way, some on stony ground, & some among thornes; from which places no fruit did grow. And his disciples were sent to *Mark. 16. 15preach the gospell to every creature, to al nations vnderunder heaven. By which appeareth the bountie of God, that offreth the word of life vntounto all, even as he causeth his Sun to shine vponupon just and vnjust: and we are taught, that the word of God, may not be forbidden to be preached vntounto any people, be they never so profane or hethenish.
6. But al people to whom the ‡Act. 5. ….words of this life were spoken, receyved not life by them; for the word profiteth not ”Heb. 4. ….if it be not mixed with beleef in them that hear it. And the †2 Cor. 4. ….God of this world hath blinded the eyes of many vnbeleevers, that the light of the glorious gospell of Christ, which is the image of God, should not shine vntounto thē, therfore they ‖1 Pet. …. ….stumble at the word, being vnperswaded; to the which thing they were even ordeyned; and the ambassadours of Christ, (to whom he hath ‡2 Cor. 5. 19.committed the word of reconciliation;) are vntounto such, the savour †2 Cor. 2. 16.of death vntounto death. They *Ioh. 3. 20.hate the light because they do evil, & wil not come to it, least their deeds should be reproved; for wickednes is ‡Iob. 20. 12. 13.sweet in their mouth, they hide it vnderunder their tongue, they favour it and wil not forsake it; therefore ”Iob. 24. 13. 17.abhorr they the light and know not the wayes thereof, the morning is vntounto them even as the shadow of death: so salvation is farr from them, ”Psal. 119. 155.for that they seek not the statutes of the Lord.
7. Againe, because the word of God is contrary to humane reason, and condemneth for †1 Cor. 1. 20.foolishnes the wisdome of this world, and calleth men out of themselves, making all the *Isa. 40. 6. 7. … Pet. 1. 24.glorie and grace of the flesh, to fade as the flower of grasse; and leading vsus to Christ alone, and him crucified: therfore is the preaching of the crosse, to them that perish, *1 Cor. 1. 18.foolishnes; they ‡Prov. 1. 25. 30.despise al wisdomes counsell and correction, and seek after another †1 Cor. 1. 22. Rom. 8. 7.wisdom, & prudence of the flesh, which is enmitie against God, and cannot be subject to his law; and her they follow ‖Prov. 7. ….as an oxe that goeth to the slaughter, and as a fool to the stocks for correction, though her *vers. 27.howse is the way vntounto the grave, which goeth down to the chambers of death, and her ‡Prov. 9. 18.ghests are in the depth of hel.
8. And forasmuch as many afflictions doe accompany the word of †Rev. 3. 1….Christs patience, that on them which receiv it, the ‖Mat. 13. 6. 21.Sun of tribulation or persecution often ariseth, and for it they are hated, *2 Tim. 2. 9.imprisoned ‡Rev. 1. 9. … ▪ 6. 9.exiled or killed; so that a man must forsake himself, and †Mar. 8. 34.take vp his crosse and follow Christ: therfore also many men, ar offended & ashamed of the ‖2. Tim. 1. 8. Luk. 9. 26.testimonie of our Lord, & wil not be partakers of the tribulations of the gospel; but choos *Iob. 36. 21.iniquitie rather then affliction, & count it pleasure to liv deliciously for a season, til ease ‡Prov. 1. 32.doe slay the foolish, and the prosperity of the fools destroy them.
9. For when they thus contemne the word; God withdraweth from them this favour and food of their sowles, sending a †Amos. 8. 11. 1….samine in the land, that their fayr virgins & yong mē perish for thirst; & having caused the Sun to ‖vers. 9.goe down at noō, & darkned the earth, he letteth them walk in their own ignorance vntounto perditiō, So Cain for his crueltie & contempt, being banished from the presence of God; we find not the benefit of Gods oracles to be after vouchsafed him or his, as was vntounto †Gen. 5. 22. 29. & 6. 13. 14. &c.Seths posteritie. The like is to be minded in the children of Cham, Ismael, Esau &c. Who after they were removed from Gods church, were also deprived of his word and doctrine, which he continewed & increased vntounto the people that of his grace he called and kept to himself as his own.
10. For the light of the Gospel and day of Christ was reveled vntounto ‖Gen. 1…. & 15. & 26. &c.Abram Isaak and Iaakob; and to the Israelites their posteritie, did God give *Ex…d. 20.his law by Moses, and continewed the preaching and opening of the same by other prophets and ministers; when as the hethens had not this help but lay in darknes, héarkning ‡Deut. 18. 10 11. 12. 14.vntounto witches, soothsayers, sorcerers, necromancers and other like abominable instruments of Satan which turned to their eternall confusion: when as for Israel the Lord their God suffred them not so; but *Deut. 4. 36.out of heaven he made them hear his voyce to instruct them, and vponupon earth he shewed them his great fyre, and they heard his voyce out of the mids of the fyre; they had ordinances and lawes most righteous, to keep and to doe, which was their praise for *vers. 6. 7. 8.wisdome and vnderstanding in the sight and mouthes of al peoples. Wherfore David provokes them againe to prayse the Lord, who had ‡Psal. 147. 19. 20.shewed his word vntounto Iaakob his statutes and his judgments vntounto Israel, and had not dealt so with any nation. Paul likewise magnifieth this people greatly, because †Rom. 3. 2.to them were committed the oracles of God; to ‖Rom. 9. 4.them were the covenants and the giving of the law, the service, and the promises. And this grace was so peculiar to Gods people, that the Law is called by the Holie Ghost, *Deut. 33 4.the inheritance of the congregation of Iaakob, as being their proper right given them of God, as any other possessiō which they injoyed: the Saincts againe taking his testimonies as †Psal. 119. 111.an heritage for ever, for they were the joy of their harts.
11. The drift and scope of all Gods oracles was to cal and lead men vntounto Christ, and by him to the kingdome of heavē where we might glorifie God in our salvation and life eternal. Our Fathers from Adam to Moses, were quickened & comforted with this promise. And though Moses gave vsus a law, which was the ministery of ‖2 Cor. 3. 7. 9death and condemnation by reason of syn that dwelleth in vsus: yet even he *Ioh. 5. 46.wrote also of Christ, and foreshewed his crucifying and suffrings for our syns, in the ‡Iohn. 3. 14. Heb. 9. 7. 8. 9 11. 12. &c.serpent, sacrifices and manyfold services; yea the law it self was *Gal. 3. 24.our schoolmaister to bring vsus to Christ that we might be made righteous by fayth in him, in respect of whō the ‡ver. 17.covenant was many yeares afore confirmed of God, & could not by the Law that came after, be disanulled.
12. The hope of salvation for all mankind, was in the promised †Gen. 3. 15.seed: and as God by his word taught men more particularly from whose loynes he should spring; so were they to exspect him if they would have life, and keep cōmunion with such as should be his Fathers after the flesh. When the woman Evahs sons were multiplied, and many of them proved wicked; the hope of the saving Seed, was restrayned vntounto Seth *Gen. 4. 25.set in place of Abel whom the Serpents seed had murdred. Then were all to look for the Saviour from him; and if they sought him in Cains posteritie, they perished for ever. Among Noahs children, Sem †Gen. 9. 2…. 27.had the prerogative, and into his tents must Iapheth (though his elder brother) come for to dwel and partake of his blessing; & Chams howse was condemned to bondage. After that vntounto Abraham was the ‖Gal. 3. 8.Gospel preached that in him all nations should be blessed; and to his Seed *vers. 16.Christ were the promises made: then who so beleeved (after knowledg of this promise) in a Saviour to come of any other man; set vp an idol in his hart, in sted of Christ. Among Abrahams ofspring, Iudah was chosen governour, and of him should ‡viz. Christ. Gen. 49. 10Shiloh come, therfore his fathers sons wer to †vers. 8.bow down vntounto him, because of him ‖1 Chro. 5. ….should be the Prince. Of the tribe of Iuda, David *Psal. 132. 1… Act▪ 2. 30. Rom. 1. 3.was named to be the father of Christ according to the flesh; then wer al to beleev in Davids son, for redemption from syn, and life eternall. In fulnes of time the Messiah Iesus came, and was born ‡Luk. 2.of Marie the virgin, according to the promises: vntounto him now wer al people to repayr; and so they did both Iewes & Gentils, so many as wer ordeyned vntounto life. And if Adam, Noah, Abraham & the other fathers, had now been on earth, they must hav embraced this man for their Saviour, and not hav sought nor wayted for any other. Therfore the Iewes that rejected him, died in their syns, †Ioh. 8. 24.because they beleeved not that he was Hee, and the word of God they had not abiding in them, ‖Ioh. 5. 38.because whom he had sent, him they beleeved not: but many of the gentils trusted in him, after that *Eph. 1. 13.they heard the word of truth, even the gospel of their salvation; and by faith became the ‡Luk. 19. 9. Gal. 3. 28. 29sons of Abraham, and heyres by promise
13. And alwayes before, if any of them hethens, hearing of Gods great name, would repayr vntounto his people, they there might freely injoy this heavenly blessing, to hear the law and promises †Deut. 31. 12red & taught; & being vnited with them in faith, had ‖Exod. 12. 48 49.one law for sacrifice & alother services. Yea many such strangers wer in Israel, in the dayes of Moses, *Exod. 12. 38. Num. 11. 4.that went with them out of Aegipt; and afterwards dayly their number increased, that in Salomons tyme they were counted and found ‡2 Chron. 2. 17.a hundred fiftie three thowsand and six hundred persons. Sometimes also the Lord sent his word in some mesure, home to their own countries, as by *Ionah. 1. &cIonah to the Ninevites; though this was more rare, til the Apostles dayes, and then the partition wal being broken down, God imparted again the glad tidings of his salvatiō to al peoples, though the Iewes could †1. Thes. 2. 16not endure it.
14. For Christ though he restreyned this grace a while, saying to his disciples, Mat. …0. 5.Goe not into the way of the Gentils, & into the cities of the Samaritans enterye not: yet when he was risen from the dead, he sayd they should be his witnesses both *Act. 1. 8.in Iudea & Samaria & to ye vtmost of ye earth. And as he had willed them, wher his word should be refused, to ‡Luk. 10. 10. 11.shake off the dust of their feet against them, and depart thence: so the Apostles †Act. 13. 51. & 18. 6.did, and travayled from place to place, til the people to ‖Rom. 15. 21.whom God had not been spoken of did see; & they that had not heard, did vnderstand.
15. When thus ther was one sheepfold made both of Iewes and Gentils, and their eyes wer opened to see the †Psal. 119. 18.wonders of Gods law, & the glorious mysterie of mans redemption, reveled and published amongal nations ‖Rom. 16. 25. 26.by the scriptures of the prophets: they whose harts God opened, received the word *Act. 17. 10.with al readines, and serched the scriptures dayly, taking heed to that most ‡2. Pet. 1. 1….sure word of the prophets as to a light shining in a dark place, til the day dawned, and the day star arose in their harts. And though for that word they found tribulation as others before them, for whō Christ complayned to his father saying, †Ioh. 17. 14.I hav given them thy word, & the world hath hated them: yet received they that word † in much affliction,… 1. Thes. 1. 6. with joy of the holy Ghost; accepting it not as the word of men *1. Thes. 2. 13▪but of God, and holding it forth as the word ‡Phil. 2. 16.of life, which being graffed in them †Iam. 1. 21.was able to save their sowles.
16. For such is the grace and vertue of Gods word, that it ‖Psal. 19. 7. 8turneth the sowl, reioyceth the hart, giveth light to the eyes, wisdō to the simple; worketh *Rom. 10. 17.faith in God, ‡Ioh. 5. 25quickeneth them that hear it; †Psal. 119. 50 92.comforteth the Saincts in their troubles, & strengthneth them in their tentations, being the Eph. 6. 17.sword of the Spirit, by help wherof they vanquish their enemies and *Rev. 12. 11Satan himself, and their own corruptions, & are ‡Ioh. 8. 31. 32 34.freed therby from the servitude of syn. It is a soveraign preservative from al evils that might befal vsus; for as Solomon sayth, †Prov. 6. 22.It leadeth vsus when we walk, it watcheth for vsus when we sleep; & whē we wake, it talketh with vsus. Also it is Heb. 4. 12.lively & mighty in operation, sharper then any two edged sword, entring through even to the dividing asunder of the sowl & the spirit, of the joints & marow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the hart; and Christ hath †Ephes. 5. 26.sanctified and clensed his church by the washing of water through this word, as also himself sayd to his disciples, ‖Iohn. 15. ….Now ar ye clean through the word which I hav spoken to yow.
17. And vntounto this church hath he specially cōmended & committed those heavenly oracles, binding vp the testimonie and sealing vp the law *Isa. 8. 16.among his disciples, directing ‡Rev. 2. 1. 7. &c.his words & writings vntounto them, & promising that his spirit which is vponupon them, ”Isa. 59. 21.& his words which he hath put in their mouth, shall not depart out of their mouth, nor out of the mouth of their seed, nor their seeds seed for ever. Who againe rejoyce for this word †Psal. 119. 162.as if they had found a great spoil, and their lips ‖vers. 171.do vtter praise, when he hath taught them his statutes. And having all and every of them a commune right in this treasure, they vse it for the good of their own sowles and one of another, teaching, exhorting, admonishing, reproving and comforting *Heb. 10. 24. 1 Thes. 4. 18. & 5.one another; which that they may the better doe, they are willed the word of Christ should †Colos. 3. 16.dwell in them plenteously, that if any man speak, ‡1 Pet. 4. 11.it may be as the words of God.
Hear my law ô my people▪ incline your eare… vntounto the words of my mouth.
Psal. 78. 1.
The secret things belong to the Lord our God; but the things reveled, belong vntounto vsus, and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this Law.
Deut. 29. 29.