The Worlds Resurrection, Section 20 – Section 32
Eyes that they should not see.
Doctr.God as a iust iudge doth deliuer vp the reprobates being destitute of his grace vntounto Satan and their owne lusts to be blinded more and more. Ioh. 9. ver. 39. Math. 13.13. and this God doth not by iniecting new blindnesse into them, but by withdrawing his grace from them and by leauing them to their naturall blindnesse, and so it must of necessity be encreased when men are forsaken of God.
The reasons hereof are, first because they are none of his people and elect and hee is not indebted any way vntounto them therefore he sheweth his power and iustice in their blinding and hardning.
Secondly, because for the abuse of the gifts and graces of God and for the ill imployment of their talents, God depriueth them of the knowledge and preaching of the word, and so they ranne daylie into great blindnesse and obstinacie (God in his iust iudgment forsaking them) or els, if they enioy the ministery of the word; their hearts are so hardned and starkned with wicked desires and lusts, and by the custome of sinne draweth as it were such a thicke skinne vponupon it, that it can by no warnings and admonitions be bent or bowed, and they so hate the doctrine of the gospell, that they neuer heed it, much lesse meditate vponupon it.
1 Vse. Let vsus not maruaile at this iudgement as though it were some new thing, that they that doe stubbernely and stifly reiect the gospell, be thus blind, seeing that the Prophets so long before complained of it, and fore-told it; but let vsus rather beware of it and pray that we be not for our naughtinesse and negligence giuen ouer to the same iudgment.
2 Vse. Let vsus be truly thankfull vntounto God, and giuegive glorie and praise vntounto him, that leauing and forsaking many others in the blindnesse of their minde and hardnesse of their hearts, hee hath by his spirit opened our eyes and eares to vnderstand the doctrine of the gospell and to receiue it by faith vntounto saluation, for hee hath not done so with eueryevery person, neither hauehave the most, knowne his lawes.
V. 9. And Dauid saith, let their table, bee made a snare, and a net and a stumbling block euen for a recompence vntounto them.
V. 10. Let their eyes be hardned that they see not, and bowe their backe alwaies.
And Dauid as a figure of Christ saith.Paraphras. Let their table. i. their meat, drinke, law, scripture, sacraments of out-ward worship and all their prerogatiues and excellencies, bee made. i. turned into a snare. That is as vnhappy birds are ensnared in that wherein they sought releife and comfort, so, let the fore-named benefits wherein they outwardly rest, and which by their wicked opinions and errors they hauehave peruerted and abused, and their preposterous zeale against the gospell, turne to their destruction, Let it bee a stumbling blocke and recompence vntounto them.
i. Let them stumble against the Law and holy Scripture as against a stone, that they may not bee builded thereby to saluation, but may runne head-long to their owne destruction: and let it, as a recompence turne to their more grieuous punishment and iudgement, and leaue them without all excuse. Let their eyes of their vnderstanding be darkned. i. blinded that they may not admit and receiue the sauing light of the gospell, that they be without counsaile in their affaires and not perceiue the euills, which doe hang ouer their heads, and bow downe their backes alwaies. i. Let them not speede and prosper in their designes and actions, but let them shrinke and halt, be cast downe and tremble in their mindes and consciences, and let them bee brought downe and diminished by slauerie, troubles and captiuity, and so weaken their strength that they may bee vnprofitable vntounto eueryevery worke.
Q. Did not Dauid, Elias, Paul and others, sinne and offend God in praying and vsing imprecation against Gods enemies?
A. No, for first they did it by especiall and extraordinary instinct of Gods spirit, and as Prophets, or figures of Christ vntounto them, the state and reprobation of diuers persons was reuealed of God.
Secondly, when they did wish eternall destruction to the enemies of God, they did not (to speake properly) pray against their persons, but against the kingdome of sinne and satan in them, which cannot bee altogither destroied, but by the confusion of the members and instruments of Satan.
Thirdly their praiers and imprecations proceeded only from pure zeale of Gods glory and iustice, and not from any priuate distemper, or mixture of humane passion, for they considered them not as their owne enemies but as the enemies and blasphemours of God.
Q. May we after the example of holy men in scripture pray against any particuler person?
A. No, except we could by a Propheticall or Apostolicall instinct discerne of their spirits and of their reprobation, which guift is denied vsus, or except wee knew that they had committed the sinne against the holy Ghost, which is a malicious and finall blasphemy and persecution of the knowne truth and principles of Gods word, which is very hard to iudge of, for any one particuler person especially in our times,1 Cor. 12.10. wherein such a guift of discerning spirits is not graunted.
Q. May we not at al pray against the enemies of Christs gospell?
An. Yes, for first wee hauehave the practise and warrant of holy men in scripture for it. Psal. 69.22. 2. King. 1.10. Act. 4. ver. 29. and 30. 2. Tim. 4.
Secondly, when we pray that the kingdome of God may come, we, (by consequence) pray that sinne Satan and all his members may be destroied.
Thirdly, wee are to pray that Gods iustice may bee acknowledged and magnified in the plagues, punishments and ruine of the wicked.
Fourthly we must louelove God aboue al men whatsoeuer, and if we sincerely louelove God, we cannot choose but hate his enemies.
Q. With what cautions and conditions, or in what maner may we lawfully pray against Gods enemies?
A. First we must pray against Gods enemies in generall, for there are, and will alwaies be many such, whom God will neuer saue.
Secondly against their wicked counsailes, plots and purposes,2 Sam. 15.31. and thus Dauid praied that God would turne the counsaile of Ahitophell into foolishnesse and thus the Apostles praied against the counsailes of the Scribes and Pharasies,Act. 4. v. 29 & 30. that charged them with threatnings that they should not preach in the name of Iesus but we must not pray against these persons.
Thirdly we must pray conditionally, against them, that if they be reprobates and so incurable, they may be iudged and iustly condemned, but if they be elect, and by consequent curable, they may bee fatherly corrected and so conuerted and saued.
Let their table be made a snare, a net a stumbling blocke.
In that here the word table is specially and principally taken for the holy scripture, we note and obserue, that the sacred scripture is like a table fraught and replenished with most heauenly and exquisite dishes and dainties;Doctr. here is food abundantly sufficient both to satisfie and also to solace eueryevery hungry and thirsting soule: Some of them and the principallest are, remission of sinnes, peace and ioy of conscience and eternall life. Pro. 9, 22. Math. 22. v. 4. Cant. 5. ver. 5.
1. Vse. It must teach the ministers of the Gospell alwaies to set forth this table of the word of God, which is truely the hole-some and sauing food of the soule; and as for all speculations, fancies, decrees, traditions, and haie and stuble of worldly vanities let them wholy leaue them off and renounce them.
2 Vse. Let all sorts of men, that wilbe saued come vntounto this heauenly banquet continually bringing with them an appetite to the word, and by praier and meditation of their owne wants and the soueraigne vses of Gods word, put an edge to and sharpen their appetites: then shall they bee replenished with good things and drinke of the well of the water of life freely; otherwise for want of appetite the soule will soone languish and pine away.
Their table be a snare, a net.
It is proper and peculiar to reprobates and profane persons to stumble at Gods blessings,2 Doctr. and to abuse and peruert them to their owne destruction. Titu. 1. ver. 15. et 16. Rom. 2, ver. 4. et 5. 2 Pet. 3.16. Amos 6. ve. 4.5.6.
Thus many abuse the doctrine of the law, making it a cause of iustification before God, thus they peruert the gospell to giuegive leaue and allowance to licentiousnesse and liberty, thus they abuse Gods goodnesse and patience to patronize them in their sinnes, and impenitency, thus they vse their riches to the oppressing of others, their meate and drinke to gluttony, drunkenesse and excesse▪ their apparell to ostentation and pride, the Scriptures to maintaine their errours and heresies, the holy Sabbothes to iornyings, idlenesse, sportes, vanities, gaming, their wisdome and counsaile to intrappe and deceiue, their might, fauour and authority to discountenance and tread downe all Godlinesse and goodnesse and to aduance and countenance all impietie atheisme, profanes, and euill practisesse.
The reason hereof is, they want faith and purity of heart and affections, and therefore can vse and apply nothing well,Similetude. their ill hearts and defiled consciences is like to an euill stomacke that turneth sweete meates into sower, and holesome vntounto noisome.
Secondly, God is their enemy, and therefore all things (that be otherwise naturally and of themselues good) are by Gods curse, so many causes of their ruine.
Vse If wee would not drawe and pull Gods curse vponupon vsus through the mis-apply or abuse of his guiftes and blessings temporall and spirituall, let vsus see and search whether we bee true members of Christ, iustified by faith, and hauehave our hearts sanctified by GODS spirit, for vntill we be called and regenerate, all things are impure and vnholy vntounto vsus and wee can in no action please GOD. Rom. 14.23.
2 Vse. If we could with comfort & good conscience vse and partake of any of Gods creatures wee must by the direction of his word, be perswaded of the lawfull vse of them, and that they bee ours by Gods meanes, wee must also by praier sanctifie them vntounto vsus, crauing a blessing of God, and desiring him to direct vsus in the right vse of them.
Let their eyes be darkned that they see not.
Doctr.Out of these words, which are part of the cause, it euidently appeareth, what a great iudgement of God it is for men (otherwise of iudgement cunning, subtill, politicke) to bee ignorant of the waies of GOD, and to vnderstand nothing well,Psal. 95. v. 10. and to fight and rebell against God and his blessed truth, and yet to perswade themselues they hauehave vnderstanding.
Numb. 16.This was the case and condition of Corah and his complices, who bragged and boasted of their sharpe sight, and would hauehave put out other mens eye, in so much that they accused Moyses and Aaron (Gods blessed seruants) as though their sinnes were notorious and open to all men.
Thus the Scribes and Pharises with whom our Sauiour so often disputed, and by name in the 9. of Iohn were made more blinde by our Sauiour CHRIST his preaching, doctrine, conference, miracles, life, innocency and therefore hee saieth, that hee came vntounto iudgement in this world, Ioh. 9.39that they which see might bee made blinde.
i. They that see by their owne iudgment and thinke that they neede not the sight of grace, for their pride and contempt, are more blinded, `according to the threatning and complaint in Isay. Isay 42.19.Who is so blinde as my seruant and messenger? And thus the Popes, Bishoppes, Priestes, Iesuites, Seminaries of the Romish Church, who when they are told of their errours, demaund if the Church may erre, falsely perswading themselues that they are the Church, and therefore they cannot bee deceiued.
The reason of this iudgement is for that this obstinate and malicious blindnesse, is the beginning and progresse to eternall damnation.
1. Vse. When we see such things and iudgements come to passe, let vsus not bee offended nor wauer in our faith; but rather bee confirmed and strengthened in it; for as much as such iudgments are inflicted vponupon the opponents and contemners of it, It must bee an admonition against those conceited persons, who deceiuing themselues, thinke they see,Isay. 5. v. 21. and to bee of all most quick eyed, when all their consultations and proceedings are against Gods reuealed will, and nothing indeed but workes of darkenesse and the Deuill.
3. Vse. Wee must bee thankfull to the Lord for the light and knowledge imparted vntounto vsus, and supplicate vntounto his diuine Maiestie, that hee would not punish our sinnes with so great a punishment.
And euer bowe downe their backes.
Obser. Seeing the curse of God hangeth ouer the enimies heads,Psal 89. v. 17. & 19. Psal. 73. v. 17.18.19.20. wee hauehave no cause to bee afraide and affrighted at their malice, furie, and frensie; but rather to confirme and comfort our selues in our holy profession, for God will at length bring them to confusion, and will bring and procure ioy and deliuerance to his.
The reason hereof is, for that it is in the hands of God to breake their strength, and to smite them with a spirituall blindnesse, as he smote the Syrians, the Aegiptians and Elymas the Sorcerer with materiall blindnesse.
Vse. The vse hereof serueth to reprooue the faintnesse and want of faith in such, who because they see no present likelyhoods, beginnings, and possibilities of the wicked mens ruine and ouer-throwe, begin to call in question Gods iustice, and to frame and conforme themselues to their ill wayes and practises, not knowing that the candle of the wicked is soone put out, and their pompe and brauery soone commeth to naught, and that in the meane time the godly are onelyonly proued and tried, whether that they will abuse Gods patience and bounty as the wicked worldlings and Atheists doe, or not.
Bowe downe their backs.
Doctr.The weakning of the strength is a speciall iudgment of God, Psalm. 102. vers. 24. that is, if at that time for their sinnes they were diuersly afflicted, and banished out of their countrie, and cut off in the middle of their race, that they should not see the longed for time of the Messias, nor bee partakers of the promised and expected glorie; much more are they (and so remaine) to bee afflicted and captiuated since the Incarnation and Ascension of Christ: for as much as they would not hauehave Christ to raigne ouer them, nor would bee ranged vnderunder his banner, nor submit themselues to the Scepter of his Gospell.
Bowe downe their backes alwayes, or make their loynes to stagger, (as in the originall, or Hebrew.) i. cause them to tremble in their consciences…. From both these translations considered together, we may obserue, how grieuous and violent is the inward vexation and perplexities of an euill conscience,Doctr. especially in mighty calamities and sore temptations, so that often-times it weakneth and shaketh the strength of the whole body. It maketh them feare where no feare is,Gen. 4. v. 14. and with Caine to thinke, that eueryevery body that meeteth them is their enemie,Daniel. 5. v. 2.3, 4, & 5. and will kill them. They in their sports and iollities with Balthazer oftentimes obserue the hand-writing of Gods iudgement extant against them, and being aliue they are already dead, and being in earth, they are in the very suburbes of hell.
Vse. If wee would bee free from the torments and trouble of an euill conscience, wee must repent vsus vnfainedly of all our sinnes, and with faith and holy zeale embrace and constantly follow and professe the Gospell of Christ. For this is the meane and way, both to procure and to retaine ioye and peace of conscience in all trials and trouble… whatsoeuer.
The third Section or part of the Chapter.
Vers. 11.
I demand then hauehave they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but through their fall saluation (commeth) to the Gentiles, to prouoke them to follow them.
Vers. 12.
Wherefore if the fall of them bee the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles: how much more (shall) their aboundance?
Sense.
I Demand then, hauehave the Iewes stumbled? viz. at Christ the Rocke and stone of offence, that they should fall, viz. should in Gods euer-lasting counsell be wholy cut off and so perish. God forbid, i. let no man thinke or iudge so, for the couenant is not vtterly abolished, but they (many of them) remaine in possession of it: But through their fall, i. accidentally and indirectly, saluation is befallen to the Gentiles. i. A doore and way of Gods grace is opened vntounto them, so that they are hereby called and brought into Gods Church and kingdome.
If the fall of them, i. their fewnesse and small number, bee the riches of the world, i. so further the calling of the Gentiles, how much more shall their aboundance, (doe) i. when the greatest number of them shall bee called, and embrace the Gospell, then they shall much more further it.
And the further meaning hereof is, that if their fall can against nature doe it, much more their fulnesse, raysing vp, and calling, according to nature will effect it. for faith is of greater power and validity, then infidelitie, and grace then corruption, and the Iewes if they had beleeued, had both confirmed the trueth of God, and by their doctrine and example wonne many, whome now by their obstinaci… they hauehave estranged and lost.
Question. Through their fall.
Quest. Can the Church fall away from the couenant, grace, and fauour of God?
Ans. The body in generall may, (I meane) those that are onelyonly outwardly called, and the ministery of the Gospell may be (as it is often) taken from them, and so they fall away to Atheisme, heresie, or prophanesse: for God alwayes hath his elect, which come to Christ, and shall neuer bee cast out, Io… 6.17. Ier. …2.31. Luke. 22.32.God putteth his feare in their hearts and they shall neuer depart from him. Thirdly Christ prayeth for them, and is alwayes heard. Lastly, the golden chaines of saluation.Rom. 8.30. viz. predestination, calling, iustification, and glorification, is, nor can bee neuer dissolued or broken.
2. Question. Through their fall saluation is hapned to the Gentiles.
Qu. Are they excused that by their vnbeleefe and vnthankfulnesse, giuegive an occasion vntounto other mens conuersion?
Ans. No, no more then Iudas, who by his treason and hanging of himselfe, ministred an occasion (viz. accidentally) to the calling and surrogating of Matthias in his roome. For first, they insteed of giuing good example (which they are bound to doe) offend and scandalize others: Secondly the good commeth not from them as any causes or proper instruments of it, but is to be ascribed to Gods goodnesse and wisedome onelyonly, who can and often doth out of darkenesse bring light, and out of sinne draw good. Lastly, theeues, robbers, murtherers and oppressors, giuegive occasion of enacting and executing of good lawes, yet no thankes to them, for they had no such intention: secondly, in regarde of themselues, their sinnes are farre more vile and horrible, then the good that commeth accidentally by it.
HaueHave they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid.
Here we may note and obserue Gods goodnesse,Doctr. and the constancie of his eternall louelove in Christ to his children; whom hee loueth once,Iohn. 13.3. hee loueth euer, hee doth not for the vnthankfulnesse of many or most, breake off all occasion to doe good to his (though neuer so few in number, and neuer so odious and contemptible in the world,) If there bee but one Noah and his family in the world that truly serueth him, hee will remember and saue them, when all the world besides perisheth. If there be but one Lot in Sodome, hee shall bee preserued when all the rest are consumed; though Christs flocke bee a little flock, yet they shall inherite a kingdome: and they whom the Lord shall finde waking and well dooing at his comming (albeit they bee neuer so rare) they shall be blessed.Luk. 12. v. 37.
The reason is, Gods couenant is vnchangeable, and reacheth vntounto a thousand generations, and the infidelity of men cannot make his faith and truth in performance of his promises of none effect:Rom. 3. v. 3… Secondly God is iust, and doth not (as wee see amongst men) punish and condemne the iust for the vniust.
Vse. This must encourage and confirme vsus in the course of godlinesse, and in sauing our selues from the common corruption of faith or manners, wee shall not loose our reward. Bee the times neuer so corrupt, religion neuer so abolished, sinne neuer so rife, Atheisme and superstition neuer so much swarme and abound, yet God thinketh neuer the worse of his, or thereby taketh an occasion to handle them roughly: but hee maketh a distinction and difference betweene the righteous and the wicked,Mal. 3.8. betweene him that serueth God, and him that serueth him not.
2. Vse. Here is condemned the bad and vniust practise of some, that for one man of a calling or profession that falleth and offendeth, taketh occasion rashlye to censure and condemne all; as though all the Apostles should be condemned of couetousnesse and treason because Iudas was such; or all holy Deacons of Apostacie, Idolatry and fornication, because Nicholaus proued to be such; or all professors of lying and indirect dealing, because Ananias and Saphyra his wife were detected to be such, and therefore extraordinarily punished, whereas in this bad and worst world, wee may meruaile that any remaines good, rather then all or most are such. Secondly, the number of the good is euer farre lesse then the number of the wicked.
By their fall, saluation is come to the Gentiles.
Doctr.God in his wisdome doth so order and dispose of the things of men, that hee doth turne those things which in and of themselues are euill and hurtfull, vntounto occasion of good. Hee intendeth, worketh, and effecteth alwayes good, albeit the instruments intend and worke ill. The Alchymists of our time (notwithstanding all their paines, prating and practising) can neuer turne and conuert base mettalls into gold: but God can, and often doth, turne euill into good.Rom. 8.. ve. 28 Thus …hee turned the malice, enuie and ill affection of them that put Christ to death, to mans saluation: Ioseph his selling into Aegipt, and his long imprisonment, to his great and high aduancement, …d the releeuing and preferment of his old Father, and of all his enuious brethren; and thus hee directed the infirmitie of Abraham, and the Mid-wiues in lying, into their safetie; and Dauid before Achis faining himselfe madde, into Dauids preseruation.
Vse. Let none then that feare God bee terrified and daunted with the blustring threatnings, or furiousnesse of the wicked against them; but in faith, patience and silence, commend themselues and their cause to God, for hee will direct all to good, and out of euill premises, draw good conclusions. Psal. 38. & Psal. 112.
To prouoke them to follow them.
See heere and obserue the great wisedome and louing kindnesse of God towards his children,Doctr. who by his fauour shewed vntounto others; and by substituting others into their places, maketh them ashamed of their vnthankfulnesse, and laboureth to stirre vp in them a desire and purpose of reconcilement.Deut. 32. Because (saith the Lord) they hauehave mooued mee to iealousie with that which is not God: they hauehave prouoked mee to anger with their vanities: I will moo…e them to iealousie with (those that are) no people: Ver. 21.I will prouoke them to anger with a foolish nation. And herein God dealeth with them as a tender Father with his vnkinde or disobedient childe that will not come to him,Rom. 10.19▪ hee taketh another sonne in his armes, or setteth him betweene his legges, embraceth, praiseth, and maketh much of him, hereby correcting the stubbernesse of his other sonne, and prouoking him to seeke for the like fauour and acceptance.
1. Vse. Hereby are condemned those that by their Idolatrie (as the Papists doe) or else with others, by their arrogancie, pride and contempt, alienate and deteine the Iewes from Christianity.
2. Vse. Secondly, let vsus endeuour by our pure and sincere seruing of God, by our holy zeale, by our godly life and iust dealing,Math. 5. ve. 16. to… giuegive light vntounto the Iewes, and at length to prouoke them to emulation, and so to winne them, that there may be vnderunder Christ the head, …one fould, and one shepheard. Iohn. 10. v. 27.
3. Vse. Let vsus, as we be waile their hardnesse of heart, & vile contempt of Christ and his Gospell: so dayly and heartily with that Elizaeus of our age, now in glory, pray for their conuersion, and with that reuerend Father say. O Lord Iesu, Maister Beza his praier for the Iewes.thou doest iustly reuenge the contempt of thy selfe, and this vnthankefull people is worthy whom thou shouldest most sharpely punish: But O Lord, remember thy couenant…, and regarde the afflicted for thy names sake: Also grant vntounto vsus, that are of all men most vnworthy, whom notwithstanding thou hast counted worthy of thy merci…, that wee profiting in thy grace, may not bee instruments of thy wrath against them, but that wee may rather by the knowledge of thy worde, and by the examples of an holy life, through the working of thy holy spirit, reduce them to the right way, that thou maiest once bee glorified for euer of all nations and people. Amen.
The fall of them, the riches of the world.
Quest. Can good come of euill? and saluation of the Gentiles come from the fall of the Iewes? is here the corruption and dying of one, the cause and generation of another?
Ans. Although euill can neuer produce good as the proper cause of it: yet indirectly and by occasion it may worke it. Thus wee see that from euill manners and the corrupt behauiour of men, good lawes hauehave their beginning and originall.
Secondly, the omnipotencie, and infinite maiestie of him, that at the first drew light out of darkenesse, can draw good out of euill.