The Marrow of the Oracles of God, Chapter 1 – Chapter 2
CHAP. I.
Containing the Preface.
THe drift of this Treatise is, to shew a godly Christian (who is already assured of Gods fauour, and know…s he shal hauehave abundant happines when h… dyes, in Heauen) how hee may support his heart with sufficient contentment against all the miseries can assault him from the time of his conuersion, till his death. For this purpose I shall breake open a Mine of Treasure. For I intend from all parts of the book of God to select and set befo…e thee those rich Promises, which God hath there recorded, to be as wells of comfort vponupon all occasions.
Two things of necessitie must bee granted. The one is, That though wee hauehave gotten the assurance of Gods fauour, and freedome from the power and guilt of our sins; yet many things will still aile vsus, and oppose our consolation. We shal meet with temptations and afflictions of al sorts, reproches, aduersaries, trouble of spirit, and such like. The other is, that there can be no such discouragement, difficultie or affliction but in the Word of God we may hauehave a sure consolation or direction for it, able eueryevery way abundantly to sustaine vsus.
But before I enter vponupon the vnfolding of this great Role of Promises, I must preface about fiue things, which tend to make vsus more fit to receiue them.
First, it will be profitable for vsus to cōsider briefly the worth of 1 The worth of the promises Eph … 6 9the promises; they are called, the vnsearchable riches of Christ, to assure vsus that he is a very rich man that hath his hart stored with the promises of God well applyed. The Apostle Peter saith, that they are great, and precious promises, P… 4which God hath giuen to vsus. Promises in our hearts, are better then pearles or precious st…nes in our Chests. They are the inheritance God giues to his people in this life, & therefore they are called the heires of promise; a greater Rom. 4.portion then any King on earth can giuegive to his Child. The very keeping of the Records of these promises, was a great prerogatiue to the Iewish nation: and it is accounted Rom. 9.a singular happinesse for the Gentiles, that they may now partake of those promises. Little do Eph. 3. 6.we know what wrong we do to our soules, when we keepe them ignorant of the promises: & it is one of the greatest offices vnderunder the Sun, to dispence these promises to mā, … Tim. 1. 1. Tit. 1. 1, 2, 3
Secondly, Before I enter vponupon 2. To whom the promis… belong.the explication of the promises, I must likewise tell you, to whom they belong, and who they are that hauehave interest in them. For al vnregenerate men, that liue in their sins without repentance, are strangers from the … of Eph. 2. 12. Gal. 4.promise. The children of the bondwo…an hauehave no part in the Testament of Grace; onelyonly they that are Christs, hauehave the benefit of the promises in Christ. The children of God are the heires of promise. Gal. 3. 22. Heb. 6. 17.Men must hauehave godlines, that hauehave the promises …ither of this life, or that to come. In short, all those 1 Tim. 4. 8that hauehave repented them of their sins, and beleeue in Iesus Christ, may come to these promises with large h…arts, as knowing that th…y reade and heare that which they hauehave cleare & full interest in.
Thirdly, Concerning the vse 3. The vse of the promises.these promises may bee put vntounto all our life long. They will driue …way griefe, discouragement, or feares that at any time may seize …pon vsus. They will sweeten all …ur afflictions. They will exceedingly nurse vp and confirme our faith: and further, they will hauehave … singular vse in preseruing vsus against the enticements of the profits, pleasures, and lusts of the world, and against the cares of this life. Our affections are the feet of our soules, and with the promises we may be daily shod; so as neither thorny cares pricke vsus, nor foule pleasures defil… vsus, Eph. 6. The Gospel shews vsus still a better proiect, when the Diuell or the world entice vsus. And a true reason why many times we are not able to resist enticements, is, because our hearts are not filled with the promises, which else would shew vsus so much sweetnesse, as all other things would seeme but base in comparison of them. When we are tēpted with the pleasures of sinne, if we hauehave not a more delightfull proiect to offer to our hearts, it is easie for vsus to bee seduced. And further, these promises soundly studied and layd vp in our hearts, will breed cheerfulnesse of spirit, and that contentation which makes godlinesse to bee so great gaine. And besides, they will daily excite … Tim. 6. 7. 8.in vsus all encouragements to well-doing; and they doe also set out maruellously the glory and splendour of Gods louelove, power, presence, prouidence, and grace toward vsus. What shall I say? The promises giuegive vsus euen Heauen vponupon earth, and set ou… the incomparable gaine of true godlinesse; yeaby them we approach so neere vntounto God, that as Peter saith, By them wee p…ke of … Pc…. …4the Di…ne nature.
A fourth thing which I would preface about, is, concerning the infallibilitie of the promises: for that may much inflame in vsus the des…e to store our heart… with 4 The infa… libilitie of the promises proued by …waiestheir (ha…ing heard of their worth) if wee likewise bee fully assured concerning the certaine accomplishment of all the good which is cōtained in them I suppose … …n doubts, but that if it could be made good, that a poore Christian might hauehave al those excellent things were contained in all the promises of the Bible, hee were in a matchlesse estate. Now there are many things which may put vsus out of all doubt in that point; marke them heedfully, for they may doe thee singular good.
1 For, obserue that the promises are in some Scriptures ca…d in … They are all but a… o…e promise.the singular number, the promise: and why so? as for other reasons, so to assure thee, it is as sure and as easie for God to fulfill all that goodnesse contained in all those promises, as if they were but one onelyonly promise.
2 Consider the na…ure of God: … From the nature of God.He cannot lye, it is impossible for him to deny his Word, hee may as easily deny himselfe. If God hauehave said it, it must needs come to passe. This argument is vsed in this point, Titus 1. 1, 2.
3 The antiq… of these promises … From the antiquity of them.adde much to our assurāce. The Apostle in T…r. …. …. faith, that these promises were made before the world was: and hitherto in all this time God neuer failed of one word of his goodnesse.
4. We hauehave the writing of God to shew for them; they are vponupon 4 From Gods writing.record in the Scripture: and shall we mistrust when we hauehave Gods owne hand to shew for it? His Word is true, and righteous altogether, Psal. 16. 9.
5. Yea we hauehave the oath of God 5 Fromm Gods oathtoo, that by two things, in which it is impossible for God to chang…, the heires of promise might hauehave abundant consolation, whensoeuer they make recourse vntounto the promises, Heb. 6. 17, 18.
6 Wee hauehave these promises 9 From the messengers sent about them.preached vntounto vsus by Ambassadours sent of purpose, at the com…andement of God, who hath enioyned them to make it manifest, that God will bee as good as his word in all those, Tit. 1. 3.7 From the ministerie of Christ him selfe.
7. Yea, Christ Iesus himselfe did employ his ministery, to assure and confirme the promises made before to the Fathers, as the Apostle shewes, Rem. 15. 8.8 From the death of the Testator.
Yet more, wee hauehave the blood of Christ, and the death of the Testator to confirme this New Testament, and all the promises contained therin, Hebr. 9. 16. so as in Christ they are now all, Yea and Amen: there can bee no nay nor deniall of them: they well may bee now pleaded in any Court of the Iustice of God.
6 The Ano…uting that is vponupon 9 From our Ano…uting.vsus, may assure vsus, and establish vsus. Was there euer any king anointed of God to bee a King, that made doubt of the kingdome? why the anointing of God is vpō our harts: the graces of the Spirit poured out vponupon vsus, are our assurāce that God wil not with hold from vsus our regall pri…edges, if we seeke them, 2 Cor. 1. 20, 21.
10 It is some settling to vsus, to 10 From the exte… of the promiser.consider the exte… of the right to those promises: For God hath excepted no sort of men, but in Christ they may get to hauehave their part in those promises, as the Apostle shewes, Galatians 3. 27, 28, 29.
11 The Law was the onelyonly 11 From the time of giuing the promise.thing that might hinder vsus of the enioying of the promises. And the Apostle hath proued, that the Law cannot disanull the Promises, in which the Nations of the earth should be blessed, made foure hundred yeeres before the Law was giuen on Mount Sinai, Gal. 3. 17, 21.
12 We hauehave the Seale of God to this Writing: Now God hath The promise sealed 4 wayes.sealed foure wayes.
First, in his Councell. The Book … In his Councell.of his eternall councell was written within and without, & it had seuen Seales, to signifie that it was perfectly ratified, and though none in Heauen and Earth could reade it, yet for our comforts wee know…, that the Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda, the Lord Iesus Christ our Sauiour, hath opened it now, and made it manifest, Reu. 1, 2, &c.
2. In his Sonne: For him hath God the Father sealed, Iohn 6. 27. 2. In his Sonne.God made all sure, when he sent out Christ; He sealed his Commission in all things, that concerned the happinesse both of Iewes and Gentiles.
3. In his Spirit: And thus all 3. In his Spirit.the beleeuers are said to be sealed by the Spirit of Promise: And this is Gods Priuy Seale.
4. God hath sealed to all his promises in the Sacraments, 4. In the Sacramentswhich are giuen vsus as Gods Broad Seales, and outward tokens and pledges to confirme our faith.
13. We hauehave the experience also of al the Saints, who in all ages 13. For experience.found God as good as his Word, and had euer reason to say as Dauid did, In the Lord will wee prayse his Word, Psalme 56. 10. The Patriarches embraced the Promises, as the chiefe stay of their liues in their pilgrimage on earth, Heb. 11. 24.
Thus of the fourth point.
5. A fifth thing I would preface about, is concerning certain rules 6. Rules to be obserued if wee will profit by the promises.to be obserued, if we would euer receiue the sound profit of these promises, and so we must looke to sixe directions.
1. When wee come to these promises, we must renounce our owne merits, and all opinion of our owne worthinesse, and acknowledge from our hearts, that all the grace we find in the promises, is in and through Iesus Christ, All the promises are yea and Amen through him, and onelyonly 2 Cor. 1. 20. Rom. 4. 14in him.
2. When we hauehave the promises laid open before vsus, wee must beleeue Gal. 3. 22. Rom. 4. 16them, and apply them to our selues, or else they will do vsus no good.
3. We must be further carefull to hide them in our hearts, and to duplicate page duplicate page commit them to memorie, that wee may bee often thinking of them, and musing vponupon them. It will not serue the turne that wee hauehave them written in the Bible, or in our Note-bookes, but wee must get them written in our hearts too: Wee must be at the Ps. 119. …1paines to acquaint our selues distinctly with them, and to fill our heads with store of them.
4 When any thing ayleth vsus, we must fly to them for-refuge, and cast the anchor of hope vpō them, Hebr 6. 18.that God himselfe may see, that our hearts are bent to trust vponupon his Word.
5 We must neuer cast away our confidence in them, but waite with patience, and not limit God to the time, or manner, or meanes of accomplishment, but hold fast to his promises, and leaue the rest to God, as in many places of Scripture may appeare, especially, Hebr. 10. 36. Rom. 4. 21, 22.
6 In short, Wee must looke to it, that we be not slothfull and idle, and such as will not bee at the paines to study and commit to memorie, and rest vponupon these glorious comforts; but wee must follow them which through faith Heb. 6. 12.and patience doe inherite the promises.
Thus of the Preface.
CHAP. II.
The diuision of the Promises.
THe promises may be diuided 3. Sorts of promises.into three parts.
The first may containe such 1. Priuiledges.places of Scripture, as shew the Priuiledges of the godly aboue other men; and that is one chiefe way by which the Lord doth refresh the hearts of his people, by assuring them in generall of such & such prerogatiues, which he will confirme vponupon them, and vponupon none but them.
The second may containe 2. Comforts in afflictiō.comforts; that is, places of Scripture which doe foretell what goodnesse the Lord will shew to his people in affliction. For hither-vntounto belong all those promises which are giuen of purpose for the comforting and supporting of the godly in all their tryals.
The third part may containe such Promises, as are made to certaine 3. Rewards of certaine graces.particular graces in the godly, as promises, made to prayer, faith, trusting in God, or such like It is the second part of promises, which I intend here more at large to intreate of. I should shew what variety of comforts they are, with which a godly man may inflame his hart according to the seuerall distresses may fall vponupon him, and these may bee thus subdiuided.
All afflictions are either outward, or inward. For outward Sorts of afflictions.afflictions, it were too tedious, and to little purpose, to gather comforts against eueryevery particular crosse, and therefore one head may suffice for the generall, viz. the promises or consolations against all outward afflictions. Now, because godly people are oftentimes more troubled with the stormes and reproaches of the world, which are cast vponupon them for well-doing, then with the ordinary afflictions of life; therefore I would in the second place gather the comforts against reproaches, and withall I would adde in the third place, consolations against aduersaries.
Now for inward afflictions; they are the afflictions of the spirit of man, and arise either from the temptations of Satan, or from the trouble of the conscience vnsatisfied in diuers scruples. I would therefore in the fourth place shew how we might bee comforted against the temptations of Satan; and because the trouble of conscience ariseth vsually either from the burthen of our daily infirmity, or from the feare of our falling away: I would in the fifth place shew how we may be comforted against our daily infirmities; and then in the last place I would vnfold those promises, that may assure vsus of perseuerance.
Now suppose a Christian soule clearly informed with the knowledge Note.of those priuiledges wherin he excels all the people of the world; and withall that he knew how to comfort himselfe against any outward afflictions, and had store of consolations in his heart against the temptations of Satan, and did know how to support himselfe against the sense of his daily weaknesses, & withall were settled and out of feare for falling away; Would you not thinke such a one wonderfull happy? And this may bee here attained vntounto, if wee be not slothfull: and what can in this life be grieuous vntounto vsus, if wee be soundly fenced in those things? There can bee nothing that can seeme a misery vntounto vsus, but wee may find comforts vnderunder some one of these Titles.