The Joy of Faith, Treatise · Part 1
PART I. Of the Fundamental points, neceſſary to build a ſound and vigorous Faith, laid down in two Chapters. The firſt referring to the Divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures: The ſecond demonſtrating the Deity of our bleſſed Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt.
CHAPTER I. The Authority of the Sacred Scriptures.
THat the Holy Scriptures, wherein we daily read and meditate for our inſtruction in order to Eternal Life are the very words of God, there are many weighty arguments to evince it upon the hearts of all ſober and well-inclined perſons; nay, which by the good conduct of Gods Spirit may influence the minds of Heathen and Atheiſts, would they but improve the common light of reaſon, that Candle of the Lord.Prov. 20.27. James 2.19. Mat. 8.29. Mat. 4 2, 4. Mark 5.7. Nay, Devils themſelves who believe and tremble at the Judgment to come, and deſire of our Lord not to torment them before that time: do quot… them in argument againſt our bleſſed Saviour in his tentations, and acknowledge his Deity as being the Son of God.
But I ſhall not dwell upon the ſeveral Heads to clear this truth, ſo often inſiſted upon by th… Pious and Learned, in their Syſtemes and Bodies of Divinity, but I ſhall only touch ſome of them, and inlarge upon one or two, which are the chief deſign of this Chapter.
1. One Argument that ſome mention, is their venerable Antiquity, which though it be no cogent proof, yet allowing that of an ancient, (quo quid antiquius, co verius) that Truth is elder than Error, I would not lay aſide the pains of Clemens Alexandrinus and others, who prove that the writings of Moſes are ancienter than any the Heathen world can pretend to. To which I would annex their ſtupendious preſervation through the fury of all ages, eſpecially the raging flames of Antiochus and Diocleſian, thoſe cruel Perſecutors of the Church of God; neither would I be ſilent as to the invincible pains,…uxtorfji …iberias and toile which the Jewiſh Maſorites underwent to preſerve the Hebrew Original. With ſuch exactneſs did they manage that Affair, that they had in numerato, punctually ſet down every word and every letter in the whole Bible, and did alſo ſet down which was the middle word and middle letter of the whole, and I think of every individual Book: which was indeed a high providence of God towards the conſervation of thoſe happy leaves; and I could heartily wiſh the New Teſtament had been ſo guarded by induſtrious and holy perſons in the primitive times. Nay it were well, if yet at this day ſome pious Rectors of Ʋniverſities and Schools of Learning would take up the ancienteſt and pureſt Copies, and perform it at this time. The Maſorites did the work long after the firſt penning of them on purpoſe to preſerve it in their diſperſions.
But I proceed to other Arguments, As
2. The Majeſty of their Stile, that might juſtly make the Ʋniverſe tremble, and all the powers of darkneſs to hide their heads in the dark Chaos of confuſion.
3. The Heavenly Harmony of their diſtinct parts, tho written in various Ages, and diſtinct places.
4. The ſelf-denial of the Pen-men, diſcovering their own ſins and heart corruptions with the follies and weakneſs of their neareſt and deareſt relations, which is not done by other Writers, as Thucydides, Xenophon, or Plutarch, or Livy, but eſpecially by Law-givers, which might diſparage their Government; as the compilers of the twelve Tables, or Theodoſius in his Codex, or Juſtinian in his Pandects, or other his Sanctions of the Civil Law.
5. The Sublimity and Spirituality of the Myſteries therein diſcovered far beyond the invention or comprehenſion of men or Angels. They may foreign (if they pleaſe) and pry towards them▪ 1 Pet. 1.12.but none except the Lion of Judah can foreign & foreign both open the Seals, and expound the myſtical depths of this admirable Volumne. So far is it beyond the brains of the moſt fine ſpun Philoſopher, that Amelius the Platonick in Clem of Alexandria confeſſed of the firſt verſes of the Apoſtle Johns Goſpel [This Barbarian ſaith he] hath comprized more ſtupendious matters in three lines, than we in all our Volumns.
I might adjoyn to this the purity and holineſs of its ſubject matter, and the glorious ſcope and deſign for our everlaſting communion with God in heaven.
6. In the ſixth place, a principal argument may be deduced from the Imperial Power and Efficacy on the Souls and Conſciences of men; both as to conviction of ſin, ſuſtentation of wounded Spirits, and their conſolation under the darkeſt clouds and deepeſt confuſions, while we are in this valley of Dragons, which is the reaſon why truly gracious perſons wade and dive through Sickneſſes, Troubles and ſtrong anxieties; when wicked and ungodly men languiſh and periſh a thouſand times over and over, becauſe the former enjoy the ſweet influences of the Spirit of God in the promiſes of the Goſpel, to cool their conſciences and calm their ſpirits into a halcyon ſerenity, and ſometimes tread upon the Asp and Dragon without any fear. By theſe and the like meanes the Scriptures confirm and aſcertain themſelves like ſelf-evident principles: when the Spirit of God ſtrikes aſide the Curtains and Vailes of Ignorance, and purges the Corruptions out of the minds of men.
Let all the world rage in Storms of contradiction, and like him in Laertius, affirm Snow to be black, or another, that there is no ſenſe in pain, or boldly aſſert the Sun ſhines not, when I ſee it, or a cordial comforts not, when I feel it,Job. 6.4. Pſal. 38: 2. or that a troubled conſcience is but a melancholly fancy, when the Terrors of the Lord drink up the ſpirits of men. Theſe ſhould be ſent to Anticyrae, to purge with Hellebor for madneſs. Pray, what Energy or power can he in a printed paper in the reading of a Chapter, wherewith Auſtin and Junius were converted from ſin to God, or what powerful charm in hearing a mean Preacher, perhaps none of the Learnedeſt, like the bleſſed Fiſhermen of Galilee, to change the heart: if ſo many proud, haughty and rebellious ſinners, who of direful Perſecutors have ſometimes turned tender cheriſhers and protectors of the Church of God:Jer. 22.29. Pſal. 19.11. Heb. 4.12. Ezek. 2.4.3, 11, 17. were it not for the fire of the Word of the Lord of Hoſts that melts the Stone of the heart, and the hammer of that Word that breaks the rocks of the ſturdy Zanzummims all to powder; inſomuch that bitter ſcoffers have been changed into witty Tertullians, and turned their Satyrs into Panegyricks. Some moreſe Philoſophers have proved quick and acute diſputants in the primitive times to defend the Chriſtian Religion. What can that be imagined to be that works ſo ſtrange effects upon whole Nations from the Eaſt to the Weſtern-Indies, whitened the Black-Moores, civilized the hearts of Scythians more ferine, ragged, and bruitiſh, than the Rocks and Hyrcanian Tygers, that g…ve them ſuck, and beautified the barbariouſly painted Britains far beyond the Oratory of the Gaules. It could be no other power than the awful dread of the Divine Majeſly, and the melting ſweetneſs of his mercy concomitant with his heavenly Word. Wherefore ſuch are juſtly to be ſuſpected for ſtrangers to the work of grace, like Nicodemus at firſt, tho a great Doctor in Iſrael, yet a great dunce in the excellenc point of the New-Birth: Or like that Doctor at Oxford ſometime ſince, that ſearcht his Dictionary for the word [Regeneration] and could not tell what to make of it, becauſe he found it not there. I ſay, we may greatly fear that they never felt this mighty power of the Spirit of God to change their hearts,Rom. 1.16. that dare talk ſo proudly and irreverently againſt the ſelfevidencing power of the holy Scriptures on the conſciences of men: when the Majeſty of God ſhines ten thouſand times brighrer in the Meridian of that Book, than the Sun without clouds at noon-day in the Zenith of Africa.
I ſhall intreat my ingenuous and pious Readers kind leave to deſcend into the bowels of two arguments to give evidence to the truth of the Holy Scriptures, and ſo conclude this preſent chapter. Which are drawn from the Oracles and Miracles mentioned in this ſacred Book: The fulfilling of the one, and performing of the other; to the conſternation and amazement of ſuch as had the happineſs to be ſpectators of either, are in ſome part atteſted and confirmed by Heathens themſelves, and cleared off by ſeveral Writers of unqueſtionable authority, confeſſing the matters of fact, which were accompliſht in the ſucceſſions of ſeveral ages, with great exactneſs and punctuality.
SECT. I. Of Scripture Oracles.
FOr this purpoſe, it muſt be laid down for a ſtanding rule, that the certain and determinate foreknowledge and prediction of future events long before they come to paſs, is an undeniable evidence of infinite Wiſdom and Power, and compatible to no created being Hence, the Lord challenges this glory to his own name: that former things foretold by him did iſſue in the time predicted. Yea further,Iſai. 42.9. to lift up the people into the mount of obſervation, tells them, He would declare new things before they ſhould spring forth of the Womb of Providence. Nay,Iſa. 43 9, 10 calls to the Heathen to bring out their Witneſſes (if they had any) to juſtifie their Idols, as to the verity of their predictions; and then appeals to the Jews as his own Witneſſes, that they might know, believe and underſtand, that he was God, and before him there was no God formed, nor ſhall be after him. Which argument is amplified and proſecuted in the forty fixth and forty eighth chapters, aſſerting the Divinity of his Eſſence, and the verity of his declarations and prophecies. Citations might multiply, in which the ſilver Trumpets of the holy Prophets ſound harmoniouſly in the ears of all Nations,1 Pet. 1.25. proclaiming this mark and character of his eternal Deity, and that his words endure for ever, and are filled up to the brim with veracity and run over the banks of all ages in chryſtalline ſtreams of accompliſhments: while in the mean time their foreign & all the Delphian and Dod…nean Oracles have filled the Heathen World with crooked ſerpentine lies and cheats.Mat. 5, 16. Whereas the very Ordinances of heaven ſhall ſooner be involved into their ancient diſmal Chaos, then any of theſe bleſſed ſayings ſhall in the leaſt tittle be diſſolved or made void.
I ſhall now enter upon ſome of the famous Oracles of Scripture, which have bin ſo plainly verified before the eyes of many Nations, that ſeveral Philoſophers and Hiſtorians of the Gentiles have confeſſed this truth, and born witneſs to their eventual fulfillings and doubtleſs honoured and embraced thoſe Divine Parchments with great veneration; when many of them travelled into Syria, and had the great happineſs by the leave of ſome Rulers of Synagogues, (prece & pretio) uſing gifts and intreaties to behold and read thoſe heavenly prophecies; and 'tis more than likely, that many notions among the ancient Platoniſts are corruptions of and Compoſitions with the matter of thoſe profound Writings.
But before further procedure, I muſt premiſe, that for want of my Library at hand, ſince my ſad receſs from my moſt deſired ſervices, I am forced to make the beſt uſe I can of my memory, and therefore cannot make my Citations ſo perfect and exact, as I elſe would: and partly from the defect of Hiſtorians in barbarous ages; we are not able to ioynt every Oracle ſo its preciſe complement: I ſhall yet endeavour to recal as many as I can, leaving the teſt to further oppertunities by Divine leave. Beſides I do not think it very proper to over-burden this tract, or inſiſt very long on ſuch things, which elſe are uſeful to ſettle our faith upon a ſolid foundation, ſince our chief aim is the Doctrine of Faith it ſelf.
In the firſt place then, becauſe the tranſactions about our bleſſed Lord and Saviour are the very kernel and marrow of the whole bible: I ſhall ſet them down before I preſent any other Prophecies.
Firſt we read that God himſelf immediately foretold to our firſt parents the incarnation of his Son our bleſſed Lord by a Woman, and by the Prophet Iſaiah, that ſhe ſhould be a Virgin:Gen 3 15 Iſai 7 14 Poſtel. in ſpeed hiſt. c 6. p 204. & Spotſwood hiſt ſcotl p … Lond 1668 and ſo its related that the Druids which were ſo famous of old here in Britain, did of ancient times declare that he ſhould be born of a bleſſed Virgin; whence we may obſerve, that our Lord took upon him the humane nature; not the Angelical, and likewiſe that he took upon him no mans perſon but a diſtinct one of his own,Heb: 2 16: Luke 1: 35 Gen: 12: 3 & 18 18, & 22, 18, Gen: 26: 4: & 28: 14: Num. 6: 24, 17 his body being formed of the Hoiy Virgin, by the inumbration of the Holy Ghoſt,
2. It is foretold that he ſhould proceed from Abraham, and therefore of the Hebrew Nation, excluding Japhet and Cham, and all their Poſterity: Again, he was to come of Iſaack, excluding all the Midianites and Hagarens: After that from Jacob, excluding the Edomites, ſince he was to be their glittering ſtarr proclaimed by Balaam to ariſe out of the loins of Iſrael, and ſhould in the latter dayes have dominion over Gog or the Turk, according to the Samaritan Copy. The luſtre of this ſtar ſhined upon the Magi, or wiſe men the poſterity of Abraham by Keturah, and is alſo toucht by Chaleidius upon Plato's Timeus. [Eſt quoque alia ſanctior & venerabilior hiſtoria, quae perhibet ortu ſtellae cujuſdam non morbos mort eſque denunciatas; ſed deſcenſum Dei venerabilis ad humanae conſervationis, rerumque mortalium gratiam: Quam ſtell am cum nocturni itinere ſuſpexiſſent chaldcorum profecto ſapientes viri & conſideratione rerum caeleſtium ſatis exercitati, queſiſſae dicuntur recentem ortum Dei, repertaque illae majeſtate puerili, veneratos eſſe, & vota Deo tanto, convenientia noncupaſſe, quae tibi multo melius ſunt comperta quam Caeteris. Mat: 2: Chalcid: in plat: Timeum: p: 219: Edit: p: 4 to: 1617: Gen: 25: 15:] Theſe are the words of Chalcidius to Oroſtus Bp. of Corduba Edit: Lug: 4 to: 1617
Theſe wiſe men (that I may a little gloſs upon that point) I take to be of the poſterity of Abrahams ſecond wife, and mingled among Iſhmaelites, whom their fath or ſent away and planted in the Eaſt Count… that is called in the Hebrew Kedemah from K…dem, one of the ſons of Iſhmael, who dwelt among the Itureans of Jetur, and the Nabathaei of Nebaioth, and the Cedraei in Pliny of Kedar, &c: Gen 25 15on the Eaſt of the Land of Canaan before you come to the River Euphrates, and this was the Land that ſhould be compoſed into a Map by it ſelf, and called the Land of Kedemah, or the eaſt country; and here it was that Job lived, being of the Race of Keturah or of Iſhmael in Kedem, and here the reſt of his friends alſo dwelt, that were petty Kings over little Territories adjoining to ſome little Cities in thoſe elder dayes: Among theſe were the Zabii of Balaams Kindred, cultores Dei, the worſhippers of God, that ſprang out of Abrahams family, but were polluted with divers ſuperſtitions and magical corruptions fardled together out of Aſtronomy phyſick, and ſeveral blind abfurd traditions: yet retaining ſome reliques of truth, not utterly obliterated, but degenerating worſe and worſe. Of whom were the Ancient Chaldeans, and Genethliaci, obſervers of ſtars and times, and daily grew more corrupt and confuſed till it came to the Arabians, their Haly and ſuch like patrons of folly. The former were thoſe that dwelt among the Mountains of the Eaſt, and by the Rivers of Meſopotamia, whoſe ſucceſſors are prophecied to come with preſents to Chriſt: Our ſecond Solomon and the very time of their coming to our bleſſed Lord at Bethlehem, Numb 22.5 23.7 Pſal 72 10may be ſtated from the Ecclipſe of the Moon within the ſame year, that Herod dyed: But enough of this at preſent:
3 In the next place it was declared by Jacob on his death-bed, in his ſwan-like ſong, that the Meſſiah ſhould deſcend of Judah, and riſe up like a Lion out of that Tribe;Gen. 49: 10: but who dares rouze him up or encounter with him.
4 The particular family in that Tribe was predicted to David to be from himſelf and other where,Ichro: 17, 11, 4 Pſal: 89: 20: Iſai: 11: 1: that he ſhould ſpring from the root of Jeſſe the Father of David.
5. The place of his birth is alſo ſpecified to be the little city of Bethlebem, and of his education to be Nazareth as ſome interpret that place in Zechary, Micah: 5: 2: Zech: 6: 12: Mat: 2, 23: 4: 15: Iſa: 9: 2:not only becauſe he was the Branch, but as to the Town where he lived, and that he ſhould appear in the ſecond Temple, and fill it with glory, and that the crowns which were hung up in the windows of that Temple ſhould preſignifie the counſel of peace to be between his Kingly and Prieſtly Office; and beſides there are many other ſpecialties mentioned concerning him,Zech: 9: 9: which came exactly to paſs: as his riding to Jeruſalem on the foale of an Aſs, and the peoples crying Hoſanna before him, his being ſold for thirty pieces of ſilver, and pierced on the croſs:Pſal: 69: 21: his drinking vinegar, and feeding on Gall, his taſting of myrrhine wine, the wine of the condemned to ſoporate the ſenſes,Mark 15: 23: and ſtupifie pain.
6. The time of his coming into the world is alſo diſtinctly predicted: Firſt, in general when the Land of Iſrael ſhould be ſorſaken of both their kings; nor onelyonly the Syrian of Damaſcus, Iſai 7: 16:but the royal ſcepter, or at leaſt the Supream Government ſhall depart and utterly be cut off from Iſrael and Judah: Gen. 49.10. Joſephuswhich was compleatly performed, when Herod cauſed the Sanhedrin to be put to Death.
But yet more particular,Dan. 27. when the middle of the laſt week of Daniel, or the 486th year and an half ſhould be fully accompliſhed at his ſufferings in the midſt of that week; the Periocha or compaſs of which year took up their Epocha or commencement at the twentieth year of Artaxerxes Longimanus, when the Commandment or Edict went forth (not to return out of Babylon, nor to build the Temple which were done by former Kings, but) to reſtore and to build Jeruſalem, even its ſtreets and walls. In the time preſcribed from that twentieth year:ver. 25. our bleſſed Lord both appeared and ſuffered for his Elect, under Pontius Pilate according to the Scriptures. His manifeſtation to the world under Auguſtus, and ſufferings under Tiberius, ſeem to be hinted By Suetonius and other Authors. Nay, the Swan of Mantua ſings an Anthem out of the Sybill of Cuma upon his Birth.
Jam redit & virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna,
Jam nova progenies caelo demititur alto.
The Lovely Virgin and her Heaven born Son,
Commands the golden age again to run.
So then, we find in the Old Teſtament theſe admirable predictions concerning him.
1. What Nature our Lord ſhould aſſume.
2. From what Nation he ſhould ſpring.
3. From what Tribe.
4. What Family.
5. In what place.
6. At what time he ſhould appear, and all thoſe fulfilled to a tittle: which demonſtrate the Divine Original of the Holy Scriptures.
Beſides theſe Oracles concerning our bleſſed Lord ſo exactly fulfilled and atteſted partly by Heathens, partly by Jews and primitive Hiſtorians, but eſpecially by the New Teſtament, which that it muſt be admitted for a competent witneſs will be I hope evident by the Divine Authority in the conſignation of the Canon ſpoken to in the cloſe of this Chapter: There remain yet ſome Prophecies to be briefly rehearſed, which yield a further and great light in this point of the verity of Scripture-predictions, and therefore of their Divinity.
For inftance, the univerſal deluge prophecied by Noah 120 year, before it came: which antedate of years if not mentioned before by others, yet the deluge it ſeif is confirmed by many Heathens, even Youths at ſchool,…lut. de Solert. …imal. Lucian de Deaſyria the Ark p. 10.60. …it Paris 1615. Gen: 7.19. read it in Ovid and Horace; and the Dove of Drucalion or Noah is touched by Plutarch himſelf a grave Hiſtorian; that wonderful Deluge, tho' ſome have thought particular, yet when the Holy Ghoſt ſpeaks foreign ſo expreſly, that all the high Hills under the whole Heaven were covered, I am ſorry that any ſhould open the door to Atheiſts to play upon Scripture. Which having declared that All the high hills were covered, adds further, that the waters did prevail fifteen cubits above thoſe Mountains, and what vaſt high Mountains they are wherein the Ark reſted, which were anciently called Ararat, as if (Har gnall Har) Mountains upon Mountains in the ragged Country of Elwond in Media; let the ingenious Olearius declare, who I could wiſh were followed by other Travellers,Olearig in his Perſia. that they would learn Aſtronomy before they go abroad for many good purpoſ…s in Travels, but eſpecially for Calculation of Eclipſes, in order to Longitudes, and of taking the Altitude of the Pole in the rudera or ruines of ancient Cities that our ancient Geography of Scripture, and of Civil Writers might be perfected.
But there is one thing more that may demonſtrate the contrary to their weak opinion about particularity of the deluge; becauſe, if the waters were higher than thoſe exalted craggy tops in Armenia, and other places, there muſt have followed a powerful deflux of that liquid element, whereby all Champion Conntries muſt be overflowed to give an aequilibration or poiſe from all ſides of the world upon the Center. Not to argue from the earths diurnal motion, which is the principal cauſe of the flux and reflux of waters in all Seas, and particularly the Atlantick Ocean, and the Mar-del-zur under the line and Tropicks: the former being boiſterouſly repelled by that great barr of America, ſends them back with ſuch violence to make thoſe mighty tides in theſe North-weſt parts of Europe, and poſſibly on the Weſt-ſides of America the like.
But pardon me this paragraph ſpent on a matter per tranſennam.
But I proceed.
Deut. 30.3, 3. Voſs de ſectis.The Prophet Moſes foretold the Captivity of Iſrael many hundred years before it came to paſs, and the deliverance of Iſrael in the latter days, not yet fulfilled. This great perſon is thought by ſome to be vailed under the name of Moſchus in Jamblichus, Orph. p. 460. Edit. Cantabrig. 1652. 80.his receiving the Law in Mount Horeb is ſo palpably expreſt by Orpheus in his gnomae in theſe words, [foreign] as the water-born Prophet ordained in his Law of the two Tables, that I am ſcarce ſatisfied, whether this Orpheus were not feigned by a primitive Chriſtian,…uv. ſai. 14. ver. 133. rather than a Thracian Harper. But to be ſure Juvenal was not counterfeited by Thomas Aquinas his Conuntryman, in that verſe.
Tradidit arcano quodeunque volumine Moſes
Whatever Moſes delivered in his hidden volumne; he needs no teſtimonies from Heathens, his authority is unqueſtionable.
Many other predictions we find in Scripture, as the birth of Joſiah above two hundred years before the Event as I think may appear.I King. 13: 2. Iſa: 13: 21: That Nineveh upon Tigris the Head of the Aſſyrian, and Babylon on Euphrates the head of the Babilonian Empire ſhould never be built more, but continue a habitation for Satyrs, and the Jims and Ohims or wild Cats of the Deſert; and therefore they do very ill, that call Bagdat by the name of Babylon, a well inhabited, and beautiful place: which denomination gives defiance to the Holy Scriptures: whereas this Bagdat called ſo from the pleaſant gardens is forty miles below, on the ſame Riv…r: But in the old ruines, by the River ſide, is a little Ware-houſe, called Felugea, and among the vaſt piles of confuſed heaps of deſtruction, there are ſo many ſerpents and wild Beaſts lurking up and down,Sanders in Purch that it is moſt dangerous for perſons to venture among them.
Again, there's likewiſe found a Prophecy of Cyrus, which ſome take to be 170. others 200 years mentioned before his appearing:Ifa. 44 28. but I have not that golden canon of Ptolomy by me at preſent, which ſtates the Nabonaſſar Aera, and the Perſian Monarchy, &c, ſo exactly, that we need not wave up and down in thoſe Chronological Difficulties, which others have done before us, and I could heartily wiſh, his Almageſt and this Canon were printed by that mannſcript in the famous Bodly Library, out of which I copied it.
When the great deliverer of the Jews came abroad in the world, ſome aſſert, (as I remember) that they ſhewed him Iſaiahs Prophecy concerning himſelf written ſo long before: not unlike to what Jaddua the High-prieſt did in reading to Alexander out of Daniel, Joſephus l. 11. c. 8.the predictions of his great conqueſts over the Perſian Empire.
But to draw towards an end, in mentioning a few more, tho there be many, the irreparable ruine of Edom ſpoken of, long before the time when there remained neither name nor nation, but as wrapt up in Idumea a little parcel of the Province of Judea under the Romans, which contained the Philiſtim Country, and a little ſouthward. Nay, there be many other Kingdoms fell under the ſame prophetical doom, that are now lurking in their ruines and ravenous beaſts, preying upon the bones of the ancient Cities. Of all other, that of Egypt is remarkable, that it ſhould be a baſe Kingdom; nay, the baſeſt of Kingdoms, and ſhould exalt it ſelf no more,Ezek. 29.15 and ſo it has been ever ſince the Perſians conquered it, under whom it groaned, and then turned to the Grecians under one of Alexanders Captains till Cleopatra: the n…a provincial to the Ro mans, and after them to the Saracens, the Mamalukes and Turks, by whom it is dreadfully pillaged and plunged by every new Baſla to this day.
But above all we ſhould mind and diligently obſerve that moſt famous prophecy of the font great Monarchies in Daniel; Dan. 2. & 7whoſe tru…h almoſt every Hiſtory of the civil Nations demonſtrates age by age, from Nebuchadnezzar to the end of the world. Which as it is twice exemplified under two viſions, ſo the fourth or Roman is much more amplified by holy John in his Patmus Revelations. By both which as by two great torches every man in his proper age beholds the verity of ſcripture prophecies, to ſhine forth moſt illuſtriouſly: and we may be as certain of what remains yet unfulfilled, to receive its accompliſhment as of that we have read, and heard, and ſeen, performed before our eyes.
There is one Prophecy I would not let ſlip, and that is in the Prophet Zephaniah, which declares that God will famiſh all the Gods of the earth:Eph 3… 11. and men ſhall worſhip him, every one from his place, even all the Iſles of the Heathen. I the rather mention it, becauſe Plutarch that learned Gentile hath writ a tract as if on purpoſe to verifie this prophecy which he enſtiles peri ekleloipoton Chreſterion of the Eclipſe or ſilence of Oracles,Plut Suidas de Auguſto Lactantius Boeth de diſtiol ſchoaſtirs h…l… 12 c: 41: Oroſius me puer Hebraeus jubet hinc ad tartara adire Heb: 13: 20 where he mentions the death of the great God, pan o megas tethneke which ſome apply to our bleſſed Lord the great Shepherd of the ſheep. It is related alſo, that the Temple of Apollo at Delphos in Phocis of the Grecians (where afterwards true Religion was ſet up) was overthrown by Earthquakes and Thunder; and at the ſame time when Jeruſalems Temple was deſtroyed, and neither of them rebuilt to this day: to intimate that Pagan worſhip of the Heathens, and the ceremonious worſhip of the Jews ſhould be removed, and give place to the Chriſtian Worſhip in Spirit and Truth.
The laſt thing that I ſhall mention is the noble Prophecy of the converſion of the Gentiles, ſo often ſet forth in many Chapters: the fulfilling whereof is atteſted by multitudes of Authors of all Countries, how Thomas in the Eaſt converted the Indians, and that the poſterity of them that reſiſted him, are markt at this day with one leg much bigger than the other, as I received by eye-witneſſes for a truth; Capt. Proutbut the account is only a child of tradition: In the Northweſt the Scythians were converted by Andrew, and thence their Poſterity the Scots own him for their Tutelars Saint. The Britains as many aſſert were converted by Joſeph of Arimathea,…udolph hiſt. Abyſs the Egyptians and Abyſſines by Mark and his Diſciples.
But I proceed no further, it may be obſerved by every ones experience to this very day. Theſe things require juſt Treatiſes to inlarge upon, and to diſplay in their full and lovely colours.
But yet that I may ſet before all a method to convince every candid perſon of the truth of Scripture upon this ſcore, and hence their divine original; I would deſire them to do but two things:
1. To obſerve and ſtudy what Prophecies the cardo ſaeculi the preſent ſtate and ſcene of things determine us to be under the fulfilling at this preſent day.
2. I recommend to their continued ſtudious obſervation, what things remain yet to be fulfilled, that they may thereby be daily ſatisfied and fully convinced: For if the great God have thought fit in love and mercy to reveal ſuch great things to his Church: we ought to lay aſide our trifles and vanities of contradiction, and obſerve the workings of his Providence which continually rowle upon the wheels of Prophecy. And therefore I ſhall name ſome Prophecies yet to be fulfilled:
The ſecond coming of Chriſt was prophecied of by Enoch before the Flood,Jude 14. Numb: 24: 17, 19.24: Rev: 8: 2: and by ſome part of Baalams Prophecy; But the New Teſtament blows many Trumpets over Prophecies, as if challenging the whole World to obſerve this iſſue, and among others, let us touch theſe following;
1. The final period of the Metalline Image ſet forth by Viſions in the Book of Daniel.
2. The downfall of Antichriſt after the expiration of his 1260 years, now at the doors.
3. The ruine of the Turk after the end of 391 years from the eſtabliſhliſhment of his Ottoman Empire, Ezek. 38.10.and the great thoughts that ſhall come into the heart of that God in theſe latter dayes.
4. The Converſion of all Iſrael to our Lord Chriſt, and their reſtauration to their own Land, never to be removed more.
5. The glorious ſtate of the united Church both of Iſrael and Gentiles, from the River Indus to the Atlantick Ocean, wherever the four mettals have obtained: yea and the ſpreading of it wherever the ten toes have ſet the prints of their dominion, and that this bleſſed ſtate ſhall endure in all manner of ſpiritual Holineſs and temporal felicity under a perpetuum ver,…rudentius ae continual ſpring when the ſeaſ…ns ſhall be moſt happy, Heavens influences moſt benign, unity and concord and interminable peace among all Nations, and the deliverance of all the creatures (which now groan under the cruel oppreſſion of the wicked) into the Feſtival liberty of the Sons of God, Rom: 8: 21, 22:this happy foreign or reſtauration of all things ſhall continue to the cloſe of the World, when thoſe of the outſides about the Holy City attempting miſchief ſhall be deſtroyed by fire from Heaven, which enters us upon the ſixth, viz.
6. The Conflagration of the World, and all the wicked in it by fire: 2 pet: 3: 7: Mal: 4: 1:mentioned by Peter, and crept into Ovid in his Metamorphoſis, [Eſſe quoque in fatis, &c.] Its written in Fatidical Books that the Heavens and Earth ſhall periſh by fire.
7. The return of our Lord to take up his People into Heaven. 8 Then comes the great Reſurrection and 9 The tremendous day of Judgment After which 10 He proceeds to deliver up his Mediatorian Kingdom to the Father, Joh: 14: 3: Rev: 20: 12, 13 1 cor: 15: 24:and then the Glory of Heaven ſhall continue to all eternity, when God ſhall be All in All.
SECT. II. The Miracles in Scripture.
HAving Treated ſomewhat of the infallible Prophecies, I ſhall now by the Grace of God rehearſe ſome of the notable Miracles mentioned in Holy Scripture. For as much as they are works above the power of nature, therefore all Nations ſtand gazing at ſuch mighty exhibitions of Gods Majeſty; ſuch as curing blind-born Perſons, the reſtoring the dumb and lame, who were ſo afflicted from the Mothers Womb, yea, reviving of many from death to life: are they not undeniable Teſtimonies, that ſuch a one that performs theſe, is a God, or tranſacted by the immediate aſſiſtance and preſence of God? whence we may very well infer, that what ſuch a one ſpeaks is to be embraced as by divine Authority. For that glorious Perſon, that manifeſts in his works ſuch heavenly and coeleſtial power, muſt be believed to be God, and a God of ſupream Truth and higheſt verity, as well as of ſurpaſſing power. For infinite power and truth are and can be centerd no where but in a God.
trey where their Brethren of the Race of Cham of near alliance to the Canaanites then lived; which is toucht as I remember by Procopius in his Vandalick Wars & others.Procop The ſtanding ſtill of the Sun ſeems hinted at by Plautus in the double day, I think in his Amphilryo.
4. The fourth wonder may refer to the retroceſſion or going back of the Sun in the dayes of Hezekiah, which engaged the King of Babylon to ſend an Embaſſy on purpoſe to ſearch out the truth of that Prodigy. In reference to which, this is remarkable, that ſome Eclipſes mentioned to have happened before Hezekiahs dayes, are all found by our modern Aſtronomical Tables, as exact; as if thoſe Prodigies had not been extant: which may give to ſome a little more facile apprehenſion of the motion of the earth, then the Perepatetick School will as yet admit. For the Phoenomenon or apeearance may be ſolved by a miraculous ſtopping of the Earths diurnal motion, though its annual in the Zodiack might continue.
5. The fifth concerns that extraordinary Star, which aypeared at the Birth of our Lord to the Magi in Kedemah or the Eaſt by the River Euphrates, Mat: 2: 2:who came foreign from Jobs Eaſt Countrey, whereof before, and which preſaged as they thought in thoſe dayes the riſing of ſome Grand Emperor out of ſome Eaſtern Nation: whereof Suetonius ſpeads [Percrebuit in toto oriente, &c.] that there was a preſage of one that ſhould Rule the whole World;ſueton in Veſpaſ: c: 4: & Tacit: hiſt: l: 5: [pluribus perſuaſio inerat &c which they applied to Veſpaſian, but more truly concerned our bleſſed Lord, whoſe Kingdom was to be univerſal and eternal.
There is a paſſage alſo about Herod at this time, which tho no miracle, yet it was a prodigy of cruelty, which that infamous Prince perpetrated in the Land of Judah; and herein may ſomewhat concern this Treatiſe, that it ſets the time of the Epiphany or coming of the Magi or wiſe men to our Lord, a little before that Lunar Eclipſe in March, which preceded that Tyrants death; who ſlew ſo many innocent children, and his own ſon among the reſt, that gave occaſion to the Emperor Auguſtus to taunt him with that ſcoff,Macrob: ſaturn l: 2: c 4: that he had rather be Herods Hog than his ſon, counting him for a Jew (and I think he was a proſelyte) tho indeed he were an Idumaean of Aſcalon by birth, that is of that Idumaea or Edom ſo called in the days of our Lord, as may be obſerved in Ptolomies greek Geography, lying in the ſouth-part of Judah.
6. But the moſt remarkable miracle was that of the Suns Eclipſe at our bleſſed Lords paſſion, becauſe it diſappeared, and was mantled with pitchy darkneſs near the Full-Moon of the Paſsover,paul Diacon: max: in ſcholl: ad Dionyſ Orig tract: 29, & 30: in mat: Euſeb edit: ſcal…auſtin: Eph: 156: which is impoſſible in the courſe of nature. For proof whereof Euſebius gives in ample teſtimony in his Chronical Canon, citing the 14th. Book of Phlegon of Trallis, who aſſerts it to have happened in the fourth year of the 202 Olympiad. Dionyſius alſo the Areopagite is mentioned by the Magdeburgenſes for an Epiſtle of his written to the Citizens of Heliopolis or On in Egypt, wherein that common ſaying is avouched for his [Deus naturae patitur, Magd: cent: 1: l: 1: c: 11 p: 381: auguſt in Ep: Rom: de civit Deil 10: c: 27 & Euſeh. in vit Conſtantiniaut mundi machina collabitur] The God of nature ſuffereth, or elſe the frame of the world is flying in pieces] Beſides what Petrus Comeſter records, where ever he had it; that the Philoſophers of Athens diſputed about this Eclipſe, as being the occaſion of building that Altar to the unknown God: Tho Pauſanias (as I remember declares it to have been erected upon the great devaſtation made by that fearful peſtilence at Athens, pauſan in atticis Laert in Epimedid Lucian philopatri Oecumenius, &c.in the time of the Peloponneſian War, ſo notably deſcribed by Thucydides. But paſſing that, the aforeſaid admirable Eclipſe of the Sun being celebrated near the Full-Moon of the paſchal ſolemnity: It muſt needs follow, that the Moon her ſelf muſt be prodigiouſly and totally Eclipſed, being near her oppoſition at the ſame time. Nay there was moreover another Eclipſe of the Moon in her natural courſe in the Evening of the ſame day: as by calculation out of the Tables doth manifeſtly appear, the ſcheme whereof is exhibited by Buntingius in his chronology, and I think declared by others alſo. So that there were three Eclipſes in the compaſs of one natural day, that all the inhabitantsround the globe might read in the heavens ſome wonderful work about that time,Lang. de chriſt annis had they known the language of thoſe glittering lamps, whoſe places being then near the Equinoctial, the ſun in Aries, & the Moon in Libra, they might be ſeen almoſt from Pole to Pole. Such a Spectacle as never had happened from the foundation of the World, and poſſibly may never again. It being a ſuperlative atteſtation to the glorious ſufferings of our bleſſed Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. Concerning the darkneſs of that time, how dreadful and univerſal it was, others having diſcourſed; I ſhall not enlarge.
Many other wonderful Miracles tranſacted by the Prophets in the Old Teſtament, and thouſands by our Lord, and many of his Apoſtles in the new, are ſet down for the confirmation of the holy Oracles. Several things, and ſome perſons mentioned in the Sacred Books are likewiſe glanced at by the Heathen Writers. Such perſons as the Magi, are hinted by Laertius, ſome things mentioned by Celſus in Origens refutation of his Heatheniſh Opinions, by Julian, Porphyry, Apollonius, &c. who endeavouring to undermine the Authority of the Scriptures, have by the conduct of providence ſtrangely ratified it,niceph. as the Patriarch of Jeruſalem ſaid of Julians attempt to rebuild the Temple;Mat. it happened that not a ſtone was left upon a ſtone there, the anger of God, ſending Thunder and Lightning, and Ebullitions of fire out of the bowels of the Earth ſo violent, that all the foundations of the old Temple were flung out to the deſtruction of many of the old Jewiſh Builders at that time. There be ſeveral of the Learned primitive Fathers have taken great pains to good purpoſe on ſuch like points, as Clemens Alexandrinus, Origen, Juſtin Martyr, Lactantius, Arnobius, Euſebius, &c. who have diſtinctly writt…n againſt the Gentiles with the Pen of a Diamond, and abundantly refell…d their Errors and Sophiſt…ies ſ…tting forth the great and mighty acts of holy men of old, atteſting the ſacred Doctrines: Yea ſo great was the conviction of the ſtupendious works of our bleſſed Meſſiah, the Wonderful, the Counſellor upon the Spirit of the Emperour Tiberius: Iſai 9 6. …uſeb. ex Ter…eul. l 2. c. 2.that he ſtrongly urged the Senate of Rome to recognize him for God. But the counſel being horrible Idolaters, would not admit it: Becauſe (ſaid he) he would have no other God beſides himſelf: which indeed is but his juſt and magnificent right, nor will he give up his glory to dumb Idols.
But yet theſe mighty works foreſpoken of, tho they doe not, nor can of themſelves directly cauſe true Faith in the heart,Iſai. 6.10. without the Almighty power of God (elſe why did not the groſs-hearted Jews believe) yet are they a ſtrong Foundation for Faith to inſiſt upon, and to induce the belief of the Divinity of that perſon who is the original Revealer and Deliverer of theſe Scriptures of truth to the World.Dan. 10.21. However it be plain that Miracles work no Faith without a divine concurrence, but perſons, as Pharach and his Aſſociates might ſtand amazed a while, yet quickly return to their late ſtupidity.Job. 2.23 And our bleſſed Lord we ſee would not truſt the unbelieving Jews, though he had exhibited great Miracles among them, becauſe he knew what was in the corrupt and falſe heart of man.
But now let us ſtep into the third and laſt Section of this Chapter.
SECT. III. The Conſignation of the Canon.
HAving by many Arguments (I hope) demonſtrated the Sacred Authority of thoſe ineſtimable volumes of Scripture: There yet remains an enquiry about the finiſhing of the Canon, or the compaſs of all the Books that are of Divine ſtamp and original. Thoſe two great Luminaries of the Engliſh Nation, Dr. John Rainolds of Oxford, and Dr. William Whitaker of Cambridge, have largely and ſolidly handled this Point againſt the Romaniſts: which the Learned know better than I: But ſince that ſomewhat on this Subject may not be ungrateful or unuſeful to many: give leave to treat a little upon it in this Section, and ſo conclude this firſt Chapter,
It is then the Sentiment of ſeveral of the Antients in the primitive times, that the holy Apoſtles of the Lord did conſign or ſtate the Canon of Scripture, and it hath obtained among many of the Learned for an indubitable truth, of which Teſtimonies I ſhall recite ſome to that purpoſe.
The firſt whereof is Melito Biſhop of Sardis about the Year 170. ſo ſayes Euſebius, A. 170 Euſeb. l. 4. c. 25atteſting that he ſet out the Canon of the Old Teſtament, juſt as we do, omitting the Apocrypha, for which purpoſe he Travelled into the Eaſt to gain full intelligence. Athanaſius of Alexandria ſets down the ſame Catalogue,A. 340 as Rainold de Apocryphis, Vol. 1. p. 361.
Cyril of Jeruſalem, A. 360the ſame in his Catechiſ. l. 4. and expreſly aſſerts the Apoſtles to be the declarers of that Canon, and that it was received from them,Rain p. 328. & 361 in theſe words, Qui hos nobis libros tradiderunt, that delivered theſe Books over unto us.
The Council of Laodicea met (in an Apoſtolical Church) and compoſed of Aſian Biſhops,A. 394. or 8. Magd. cont 4. P. 833. A. 385 mentions no other as to the Old Teſtament.
Amphilochius of Iconium recites the ſame, Rain. p. 332. Jerom in his Catalogue of ancient Writers, expreſſes it thus of John, [Noviſſimus omnium Scripſit Evangellum rogatus ab Aſiae Epiſcopis] that he being intreated by the Biſhops of Aſia (of all the Evangeliſts) was the laſt that wrote a Goſpel: as we may gloſs upon the words: we find alſo that Juſtin Martyr affirms that John did ſee the Viſions, and compoſe the Book of the Revelations of what he ſaw in Patmos (now Patina in the Egaean Sea.) And to the ſame purpoſe it is atteſted by Irenaeus lib. 5. towards the end, and by Euſebius, l. 4. c. 18.
Furthermore, Auſtin who a little ſurvived Jerom, in his Book againſt Fauſtus [Excellentia canonicae autoritatis veteris & novi Teſtamenti, &c Apoſtolorum confirmata temperibus, &c.] and again, [Nemo dare poteſt authoritatem cuiquam libro, Auguſt. contra Fauſtum. l. 11. c. 5. L. 13. c. 4.quam per Eccleſias Chriſti ab ipſis Apoſtolis conſts utas non accipit, ut inde ad poſteros firmata commendatione tranſcurreret.] None can give authority to any Book (that is of Scripture) which he hath not received from the Churches of Chriſt, conſtituted by the Apoſtles themſelves, that ſo they might be tranſmitted with a firm recommendation to poſterity.De Doct. Chriſt l. 2. c. 8.]
Again, when treating of the Canon, he ſayes, we ſhould follow the authority of thoſe Churches [Quae Apoſtolicas ſedes habere & Epiſtolas accipere meruerunt] which were dignified by the preſence of the Apoſtles, and received Epiſtles from them. And ſuch was the Church of Laodicea, whoſe Canon is above-cited.
There is moreover a famous quotation out of Euſebius, mentioned by Dr. Couzins in his Hiſtory of the Canon, where he brings the ancients aſſerting,Page 32 edit Lond 4 to. 1657 that the Apoſtle John (rogatu) at the requeſt of the Aſian Churches did fix the genuine canon of Scripture: and adds Euſebius to it. This is in the margin, but in te…t of his diſcourſe, c. 4.647. thus. [Before Saint John dved, w…o dyed laſt of all the Apoſtles, the Canon of Scripture was made perfect, and d…livered over to the Chriſtian Church.] What a happy p…n had he uſ…d and bleſt the Church with an excellent diſcovery, had he quoted the chapter and book out of Euſebius, if the words cited were really there. But upon moſt diligent ſearch, I could never yet find it in that Author, tho I have read him over (but pardon my ſaying ſo) in ſome places, but eſpecially the recited, over and over. If there be any miſtake in my ſearch, how glad to ſee it rectified and how thankful: But I fear otherwiſe, and rather ſuppoſe either he had ſome other Copy or Manuſcript, or elſe the miſtaken citation muſt refer to the writing of his Goſpel, and not the conſigning the Canon. For indeed the Apoſtle did compile his Goſpel [Rogatus ab Aſi… Epiſcopis] at the deſire:Euſeb. l. 4. c. 18 & l. 5. c. 6 Irenaeus. l. 0. c. 1 & l. 5. juſtin. war… heronim. in catalogo ut magdeb. lent. 1. l 2. c 10. p 569. & l 2. c. 4. p. 67. of the Biſhops of …ſia, as Euſebius and Jerom and others relate, that's very true. Now tho ſome hence would deem that his Goſpel was the laſt book of Scripture written by any Apoſtle, yet I rather underſtand it, as I ſaid before, that he was the laſt that wrote any Goſpel of the life and acts of our bleſſed Lord. For ſo the words of Jerom imports [noviſſimus omnium, &c. …he was the laſt of all that wrote any Goſpel Hiſtory, not that he [noviſſimum librum novi Teſtam…nti conſcripſit] wrote the laſt book of the Teſtament, that cannot be fetcht out of theſe words of Jerom, but is a force put upon them. From whence they would ſeem to draw, that if his Goſpel were the laſt book written; then he thereby conſigned the Canon of the whole Scripture: But the former not being clear from th…ſe words, (that becauſe he was the laſt that writ a Goſpel, that therefore the Goſpel was the laſt book of Scripture that was written by any Apoſtle) that's not conſequent. But if we can clear that the Goſpel of John was the laſt book of holy Scripture, that ever was written by the appointment of God, it were to purpoſe indeed, that the Canon were ſealed up by it. But if the Revelations ſhould prove to be the laſt book written by command of the Spirit, and pen'd at the deſire of the Aſian Churches, according to his viſions in Patmus, then it muſt be Sigillum Canonis, the finiſher of the holy canon. But this as yet I cannot certainly find, and therefore at preſent muſt acquieſce. Yet as to this Revelation book, there being of old much debate, it was at laſt determined among the Hereſies to queſtion its Authority: now its being ſo late received, it ſeems to imply, that it was the lateſt penned.
Whatſoever hath been hitherto ſaid, I rather incline to think, that this great work was not concredited to Angels, or any holy men, or Primitive Churches at firſt, but performed by the Majeſtical Authority, the Lord and King of his Church, and that he himſelf in his own perſon commanded the ſealing of the Canon to his Servant John from heaven, in the cloſe of the Revelation-book; however it comes to paſs, that we have not as yet this teſtimony of John, formally ſet down by any Eccleſiaſtick Writer of the Primitive Times, that I have had the happineſs to peruſe: happy they that ſhall produce it, authentick, juſt and true. Eut it ſeems to me that our Lord himſelf performed this work, when he added thoſe direful and fearful curſes to fall upon any that dare to add or diminiſh from it: which looks like a ſanction of heavenly Majeſty,Pro. 22: 18, 19 not only pronouncing that particular Prophecy, but as extenſive to the whole Bible: ſince it was foretold by Daniel, that the Meſſiah ſhould not only ſuffer for tranſgreſſion,Dan: 9: 24: Graſſerus but alſo ſeal up viſion and Prophecy. Which I well know may be conſtrued in reference to all the ancient viſions concentring in him: but the phraſe may comprehend alſo his ſealing and determining and putting an end to all viſions and prophecies, after which there ſhould come no more; he being the great Prophet of his Church, and his holy Spirit the great dictator of Scripture.
This I humbly take to be the full final and utmoſt period of all Scriptures, according to the foretelling of Daniel, and the practical conſignation by our Lord himſelf, and therefore needs no further authority. Whether then this or the Goſpel were written laſt, it matters not ſo much as to the ſigning of the Canon, but ſince the Apoſtles in their times did atteſt it, and the primitive churches worſhipped and walked by its light, and that ever ſince by ſome notable providence it hath ſtood in the rear of the Canon in all ages: we have received it in connexion with the other holy Scriptures, as the complex or body of Divine Truths, let down from heaven, and therein as Tertullian expreſſes it, we adore the fullneſs of the Scriptures.Rom 3 2 1 Tim: 3 16 2 Pet 1.21.
To draw toward an upſhot, ſince we find the Scriptures of the Old Teſtament, cited in the New, as the Oracles of God-and thereby made authentical by the Spirit of God, aſſuring us that the Prophets of old time ſpake as moved by the Holy Ghoſt, and what they wrote was received by the Jewiſh Church, which is dignified with that honour to be the foreign or the keepers of the divine law: ſince alſo that the New Teſtament is confirmed by divine miracles and oracles, and the atteſtation of our Lord himſelf in the cloſe of the Revelations; what remains but to conclude, that they are of heavenly original, and have ſupremacy in and over the Church, and over the whole world, as the rule of life, and are as a ſtar ſhining in a dark place, directing us in the path to eternal life. Whatever the Romaniſts talk of their Church, or any other of the Patriarchal Seats, eſpecially Jeruſalem and Antioch, where we are ſure that Peter ſat: yet the Church can give no Authority to Scriptures,Eph. 2. 2…. but commendatory and all elſe is but Sophiſm. For the Church is built upon the doctrine of the holy Apoſtles and Prophets. So that altho at firſt we receive the ſcriptures in and from the miniſtry of Chriſt in his church. Yet as Auſtins ſa…ing to this point may be gloſſ…d, [The whole Aut…ority, both for Miniſters to preach, and churches to act, is deduced only from th… holy ſcriptures, ſo that the Churches of Chriſt ought to do nothing in doctrine worſhip or manners, but as the holy ſcriptures are their beſt, their unerring and moſt authentick guide▪
There reſts yet a ſmall objection before I conclude this chapter, which is, that if citations in the new (as I ſaid above) do ratifie the Old: then the Septuagint tranſlation ſhould receive a higher character than the Hebrew, becauſe in ſome places its cited when differing from the Hebrew, Then Aratus being cited in the Acts and Menander in the Corinths, acts 17.28 1 Cor 15 22. Tit 1… 12and Epimenides in Titus, are all authorized by the Apoſtles.
I anſwer, That the Septuagint Greek is cited only as a Tranſlation: which by wonderful providence was compoſed at the command of Ptolomy, to prepate the Grecian Gentiles for receiving the Goſpel. But I muſt not enlarge.
As to the heathen authors, Aratus and Epimenides are urged ad hominem, as arguments from their own Prophets to convince the… of ſome heatheniſh follies and impieties. As for Menander, he is cited as the learned judg in anſwer to Anacreon in the 32 verſe of his atheiſtical rhyme: much like Horace and other Epicurean Ballad makers: who often puſh at one another with ſcoffs and jeers. Nay far better men then they ſome of the good fathers of the primitive times in the Apologies made in defence of the chriſtian-church bring in multitudes of Teſtimonies out of Heathen writers againſt their Pagan Idolatries, Superſtitions, Atheiſms, Perſecutions, and the vain boaſts of the antiquity of their ſhamefull dunghil Deities, which matter is obvious in the writings of Origen againſt Celſus, Clemens Alexandrinus, in his ſtromata; Minutius Faelix, Arnokius againſt the Gentiles, Auſtin in his book of the city of God, and Learned Jer…m in many of his Epiſtles and commentaries.
Let us then determine this point from what proceeds in the arguments aſſ…me… from Oracles and Miracles,Gelas Cizenes hiſt Nice… council, nnd many other grounds briefly touched above, that they are the very Word of God, but particularly by their converting power upon the Soul, commanding reverence, and trembling and horror into the conſcience both of men and Devils: as they did upon the Spirit of that Petulant Philoſopher in the council of Nice. Nay, ſo terrible is the weight of theſe Truths upon the Souls of ſome fleering atheiſts, that they are forced ſometimes to Hobbianize, that is, tremble to be in the dark… as he did at the Lord of Devonſhires being afraid to walk abroad without Maſtiffs or Piſtols, and how much more was he appaled at the approach of death.
Whereas on the other ſide, how often have we ſeen with joy and delight, this bleſſed Word of God to have comforted many a ſoul in the greateſt conflicts and agonies of death, whence it follows. that theſe effects muſt be the iſſue of divine power, & that theſe writings are indeed the very Word of the holy God: ſince no other books or preachings do or can ſo rouze and ſtartle the proud conſcience of man. Inſomuch, that elſe we might juſtly wonder what the man ails that is ſo tormented, his heart raging like the troubled Sea, till the Allablaſter box of fragrant oyntment be opened out of the promiſes, and the balſome when poured into a ſcalded and wounded ſpirit, immediately aſſwages its pain, and ſinks the bliſters: which all the Divines and holy Orators in the world could never do, till the preſence of God ſtampt idea's of mercy and comfort, ſpeaking peace to the Soul. Whence we may ſweetly infer, that no other books can be received with any powerful convictive authority. but where in they agree with the tenor and canon of holy Scriptures: ſo that whoever walks according to this rule,Gal. 6.16. peace ſhall be on him, & mercy as on the Iſrael of God.
I ſhall then finiſh this firſt Chapter with that inference, for which thoſe mediums were brought. That ſince Faith in Chriſt Jeſus is the very ſcope and deſign, the very ſum and ſubſtance of the whole Scripture: it follows, that the acting of Faith upon them (as the Doctrinal Object of ſuch divine original) is grounded on the holineſs and truth of the omnipotent and eternal God. Wherein it is impoſſible for him to deceive us in not fulfilling his gracious promiſes,Heb. 6.18 to humble contrite and broken ſpirits, that …ruſt in his mercy.
In like manner,Eph. 2.20 the acting of our Faith on the Lord Jeſus as its perſonal object for our Juſtification, is built on the foundation of the holy Apoſtles and Prophets, Chriſt himſelf being the chief corner-ſtone,Pſal. 87.1 laid by the Father in the holy mountains.
Whoever then believes not God on his Word and Promiſe makes him a Lyar as far as in his power: which every one ſhould Tremble to think on,1 Ioh. 5.10. becauſe they believe not the record, that God hath given of his Son. Which pertinently leads me into the ſecond chapter, about the Deity of our bleſſed Lord, the natural and eternal Son of God. Which Doctrine being evicted and manifeſted, layes a moſt ſure ground for Faith to erect the Temple of Glory, and will ſecure our tenure of Salvation inviolable, like a Houſe built upon the Rock of Ages, that will endure to all Eternity.
CHAP. II. Of the Deity of Chriſt.
TO Prove the Doctrines of Chriſt to be true and perfect, we muſt demonſtrate his perſon to be infallible, and to prove his ſufferings to be ſatisfactory to Divine Juſtice, there muſt be an infinite value in that glorious perſon, who was graciouſly pleaſed to ſuffer for the ſins of the Elect. If this be clear, then Faith builds upon a Foundation as firm as the Being, Fidelity and Conſtancy of a holy and gracious God: This can't be better fixed, but by manifeſting the Deity of Chriſt in the glorious Meſſiah, who appeared upon Earth in the dayes of Auguſtus Caeſar. Now if Chriſt be God, even the natural Son of God, then the moſt precious Blood of his ſufferings by communication of idioms or properties between the two natures may be called the blood of God,Acts 20.28. Heb 1.3. & 9 12 Rev. 1.…, 8 Hornbeck, Mareius, Calovius, &c. as it is in the Holy Scriptures.
For the Proof of the Deity of Chriſt, I intend no great Enlargement, but refer to thoſe who write directly againſt the Socinian Hereſie: it concerns us only to argue a little upon this point, and deduce ſome intermixed conſequencies.
As to this great Subject, having already accounted for the Divinity of the Scriptures we may now take leave to uſe them as Teſtimonies ſent from heaven, and left upon Record in the Church to prove this Truth. On which very ſcore, its commonly received from the Antients, that the Apoſtle John wrote his Goſpel againſt Cerinthus, and other primitive Hereticks, by the inſtigation of the Aſian Churches. But moſt certainly by the inſpiration of the ſpirit of God. After him Athanaſius of Egypt, Hillary of France and Fulgentius of Africa, and ſeveral others have largly and nervouſly handled the ſword of the ſpirit againſt the Arians. Let us however touch a few arguments in the caſe.
1. The firſt argument may be taken from the Eternity of Chriſt, no Being can be eternal, but muſt be God. Our Lord was in Being from all Eternity, and therefore muſt needs be God: he had a glory with the Father before the world was,Ioh. 17.5… but let us joyn it with eternal ſonſhip, and infer, that if he were the eternal ſon of God then he muſt be true God in Eſſence,Heb. 1.3 for he muſt be every way the character of his Hypoſtaſis, or as we tranſlate it, the expreſs image of his Perſon. This Argument of Chriſts being God, becauſe he was the eternal ſon of God. The Jews very well underſtood its force, and therefore preſently argued againſt him of Blaſphemy in aſſuming the honour of being God.Iohn 5.18. For to be the eternal Son of God, he muſt be coeſſential with God: which confeſſion that Chriſt was the Son of God; he required of all his Diſciples, and it muſt be underſtood of his eternal Being, and not as Adam is called a Son of God: becauſe he urges the Jews with his works, and ſuch as none can produce but a God, ſuch as the Father performed; whereof more by and by.Mark 1.24.5, 7. Luk. 4.34.8, 28. …ert in Thalete The Devils themſelves do own this point, and yet how many blind nominal Chriſtians are there who have not attained the knowledg of Thales, who calls him the foreign if cited right. And yet our dayes find ſome who bear the Name of Chriſt, but blaſpheme his nature, and ſpeak boldly againſt this grand Fundamental of Chriſtianity: ſuch as the Socinians and many Quakers, poor wretches perverted by cunning ſophiſters, that plead againſt the only true means of their own ſalvation, and return again to the Old Covenant of works. Whereas the ſcripture is both evident and copious in the caſe.Pr…v. 8.23. As that of Wiſdom: (I was ſet up from Everlaſting, &c.) which muſt be expounded of a perſon from that of verſe 30. I was by him, as one brought up with him, I was daily his delight, Pſal. 110.1, Mat 22.44. Ioh. 1.18. Deut. 30.12. Rom. 10.7. Eph 4.10. Ioh. 8 58. Rev 1.8 Ioh. 1.2rejoycing alwayes before him] This Probl…me confounded th… Phariſees: How can the Lord of David be his Son? He it is that lay in the boſom of God, and came down from Heaven, being the ſame that aſcended up again. He it is, that was before Abraham, That was, and is, and is to come, the Almighty: That was in the beginning, and had his glorious Being before ever the World was,Iſai. 57.15▪ 1 Tim. 3 16 as the Ancients truly expound that phraſe. Now what can be before the World began, but Eternity, wherein God inhabits.Ioh 1.14. This perſon was God manifeſt in the fleſh, and therefore God before his manifeſtation on Earth:Heb. 1.8. when he vailed his glory within the Tabernacle of his ſacred fleſh. Moreover if God the Father call Chriſt God as he does [Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever] His Glory then muſt be coequal with the Fathers▪ before the World began,Phil. 2.6. he eſteeming it no robbery to be equal with God. Yea as God in unity of Eſſence, he is ſtiled the bleſſed and only Potentate, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Which Name and Stile is applied to him by the Apoſtle Iohn, 1 Tim. 6.15and ſeen by him as written in his veſture upon his thigh, adding, that he was the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the firſt and laſt.Rev. 19.16, 22 23
3. Hence flows the Doctrine of the unity of Chriſt the Son oi God, with the Father in the ſame Divine Eſſence, & therefore the Father calls him his Fellow in Zechary, and ſome obſerve concerning that paſſage in Iſaiah [Smitten of God and afflicted] that [OF] the note of the Genitive, Zech 13.7. Iſai 53 4.is not in the Hebrew: and therefore conſtrued from the Hebrew [A ſmitten God] equivalent to that in the New Teſtament, where the precious blood of Chriſt is called the blood of God,Act. 20.28. as aboveſaid: yet others affecting not this reading in Iſaiah, I ſhall not conteſt it at preſent: but as to his unity, there be many plain places, wherein our Lord determines it, that he and the Father are one, and had the ſame eſſential glory together from eternity. For ſpeaking of the manutenency and protection of his ſheep from periſhing,Ioh. 10.30. & 17.11, 21, 22, 23. he declares himſelf one with the Father that gave them to him: whereupon the Jews being clear in the Argument took up ſtones again to deſtroy him as a Blaſphemer, in that he made himſelf one with God.
4. Again, He that is Omniſcient and knows our thoughts by his own diſcerning eye and power, muſt needs be God. As Solomon ſpake to the Lord in Prayer: Thou only knoweſt the heart of the Children of men. 2 Chron. 6.30. Rev. 2.23. Mat. 9.4.12, 25. Luk. 5.22. & 6 8. & 9.47. & 11.17.Now our Saviour expreſly aſſumes it to himſelf; that he ſearcheth the Reins and the heart, and tis often expreſſed, that our Lord knew the thoughts both of his Diſciples and his enemies as may be obſerved in the Scripture. Nay, he perceived when thoughts did but ariſe in their hearts: much like that of David, Thou underſtandeſt my thoughts afar off, which demonſtrates an Omniſcient Deity,Luk. 24.38. Pſal. 139.2. Heb. 4.12, 13. & this our Lord did not diſcern as to one of his Diſciples only but of ſeveral at once. So that this eſſential word of God is a diſcerner of the thoughts, and intents of the heart, and all things are naked and open before him, and no creature but is manifeſt in his ſight, which muſt needs follow, becauſe he is the Creator of all: which brings in the fifth;
5. Another conviction of this glorious Truth of Chriſts Deity is drawn from his Omnipotency.Joh. 1.3. For all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made: which action of creating muſt needs be inveſted in the infinite power of his Eſſence, whom we have before proved to be the Eternal God; & had the ſame glory with God the Father before the World was, praying further that his humanity now aſſumed into unity with the ſecond perſon might be dignified with the ſame glory.John 17.5 Col. 1.16. This great truth is confirmed by the great Apoſtle [By him were all things created in Heaven and Earth, even the Angels, thoſe glorious Spirits were formed by him, and for him, that is for his glory and ſervice, and to ſing his praiſes. Rev. 4.11. Heb, 1.10.But to end, its ſpoken by God the Father to Chriſt [Thou Lord in the beginning haſt laid the foundation of the Earth, and the Heavens are the work of thy hands.
Yet further,
6. As Chriſt made the World, it muſt needs follow, that he alſo governs it: ſometimes immediately by himſelf, ſometimes by the miniſtration of Angels, and as to the Church by his own Spirit. Thence is he ſtiled King or Kings, King of Nations, and King of Saints. The Apoſtle Paul aſſerts him to be before all things in his eternal Eſſence,Col 1.17 and that by him all things do conſiſt, foreign,Heb. 1.3 have the continuation of their Beings, Lives and Motions. Yea, it is he, that beareth, ſupporteth and upholdeth all things by the word of his power. He ſpake the word and they were made, and he ſpeaks and ordains the time, method and means of their continuance.
7. Beſides, as he maintains and preſerves the world in its being,Luk. 24.19. Joh. 2.11 & 11.4. & 6.54. & 5 21. & 1: 14: ſo likewiſe, beyond the ordinary courſe of nature, in the time of his Incarnation, he wrought all thoſe mighty Miracles by his own divine power. Whereby he manifeſted his own Glory, that is, of his Deity. As in turning Water into Wine at Cana, and in raiſing of Lazarus, he was glorified to be the Son of God: Therefore▪ the Apoſtle John from that and many other caſes, of raiſing the dead,Joh 5 17 & 15: 24: & 10: 18. &c. might well affirm, that he had ſeen his glory, even in the transfiguration, as of the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth. Till the incarnation or rather the beginning of his Miniſtry the Father wrought; But now (ſayes he) I Work. He laid down the life of his Humanity,Heb: 1: Rom: 1: 4: &c. roſe from the dead, aſcended into Heaven, and ſat down at the right hand of God by his own Divine Power. Tho tis true, that ſome of theſe things being ſometimes aſcribed to God eſſential, and otherwhere predicated or affirmed of Chriſt perſonal, do therein unite in the confirmation of his Deity: who performed all theſe great ſigns, that we ſhould believe him to be the Son of God.1 Joh. 5.13.
8. Another Teſtimony of his glorious Deity is, the pardon of ſin. The Phariſees ſaw the force of this Argument,Mat. 9.3 Luk. 5.21. and blaſphemouſly catcht at it, as a great crime, for arrogating to himſelf the honour which is alone due to the Majeſty of God. But our Lord ſufficiently knew the dignity of his own perſon, tho ſomewhat vailed: yet to the comfort of many a poor ſinner, and to their ineſtimable joy, often (as a God) pronounced the forgiveneſs of their ſins. Nay to ſhew the union of his humanity with the Deity, declares that the Son of Man hath power upon Earth,Mat. 9.2, 3. Act 5: 31 Heb: 1.3 as well as in Heaven to forgive ſins. So the Apoſtle to the Hebrews confirming his Godhead over and over in the ſame Chapter, aſſerts, that having purged away our ſins by himſelf, i. e. by his blood, he ſat down at the right hand of the Majeſty on high.
9. Again, ſince contrite ſinners do humbly ſupplicate to God for the pardon of ſin: we find him recorded ſometimes as the direct and immediate object of Worſhip both from men and angels.Joh 14.13 How often do we find him prayed to, and worſhipt by his Diſciples, and himſelf accepting all as his due. Now he that receives prayer and anſwers it to the people of God, and takes into his cuſtody the ſpirits of dying Saints, as he did Stephen's, this perſon muſt needs be God. Nay all the Angels of God are commanded to Worſhip him,Act: 7: 59 Heb: 1: 6 Mat: 8: 27 Job 38: 9 at whoſe word the raging ſeas huſh into their ſwadling bands, and are quiet like a child ſleeping in its cradle: the boiſterous winds delight to be ſtill, that they may without noiſe hear his delicious and heavenly voice with all ſilence and ſubjection, and make a halcyon calm from Pole to Pole.
10 But to end: He that is declared to be Judg of the World, and to raiſe all perſons out of their Graves by h…s own Imperial command to appear at his righteous Bar, muſt not that perſon be God? If he knew not the hearts and thoughts of all and every ſecret thing from his own Omniſcience,Eccl. 12: 14 which thing is an incommunicable attribute of God, he could not be Judg of quick and dead at his appearance and Kingdom. To Judge the World was by the Phariſees acknowledged to be the character of a God.2 Tim. 4: 8: The high Prieſt therefore hearing this, rents his clothes, and calls it Blaſphemy. But why the ſecond perſon having admitted the humanity into union, and being head of the Church ſhould perform this glorious work,Mat: 26: 65 Mark 17: 64 depends only upon the Oeconomy of the ſacred Trinity: a ſecret not to be irreverently peered into but adored. Let's be wiſe to Sobriety according to what is written and not tranſcend the limits at the foot of the Mount.Rom: 12: 3 But to draw to an iſſue: He is alſo conſtituted Judg of Angels at that great day, they muſt bow their coeleſtial knees at his Name, and the evil Spirits acknowledg this while our Lord was here below,Iſa: 45: 23 Rom: 14: 10, 11 Mat: 8.29: beſeeching him not to torment them before the time. Now it is a work competent alone to a God to torment Spirits. All the powers in heaven and earth beſides cannot do it of their own vigor and force, unleſs permitted, influenced, directed and managed by God in it: and bleſſed be God for it, that hath reſerved the dominion of our ſpirits to himſelf alone, as well as of Angels. But this ſupremacy was acted by Chriſt at his pleaſure from the innate power of his Deity, when he caſt them out as evil and unclean ſpirits ſore againſt their wills, and at their ſupplication gave them leave to go hither or thither. For they are in adamantine chains, and thoſe chains in his own hand,2 Pet: 2: 4. and caſts them into hell and looſes them when he pleaſes. There fore he, who by his own power and authority in communion with the eſſential Godhead doth theſe great things,Rev: 20: 1, 2, 7: muſt be God bleſſed for ever, Amen.
I know the Socinians talk of their created God, and ſo would ſain evade the dint of Scriptures: but that's moſt perfect nonſence to aſſert two Gods, and one a created God. For Infinite can be but one: or elſe hold one to be titular, as Angels and Magiſtrates, tho in a higher Orb and Order; which yet is inconſiſtent with the precedent Scriptural Arguments, that prove our bleſſed Lord to be God in eſſence, coequal with the Father and Holy Spirit, to whom be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
Now then, ſince this moſt excellent perſon by vertue of his ſufferings in communion with his infinite Deity (tho in it ſelf impaſſible) hath given full ſatisfaction to his Father for all the ſins of Believers, and by whom we receive the attonement, Rom: 3: 21: & 5: 21 Act: 20: 2even through the merit of his precious blood, and that hereby he is become a perſonal, particular and immediate Object of our Faith, and that by him we do believe in God the juſtifier of the ungodly through his righteouſneſs and his alone: Rev: 22: 17: Heb: 9: 12: Eph: 5: 26: Tit: 2: 14: 1 Joh: 1: 7: 1 Pet: 1: 2 Rev: 8: 5: Heb: 9: 16:and that this glorious perſon ſo graciouſly invites all thirſty ſinners to take the water of life freely, and to believe in his Name for the remiſſion of Sins: let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need.
Now let this ſuffice to have written about the two great Foundations of Faith.
In the firſt Chapter concerning the Divinity of the Scriptures: And in the ſecond in reference to the Deity of our bleſſed Lord, which I hope will ſo ſatisfie, comfort and erect the Spirits of feeble and ſtaggering Believers, that they may the more ſweetly and firmly lay the ſtreſs of their fears in life and death upon this Rock in Zion: and if they will be but careful and vigilant as to holy walking, and be earneſt in Praver to enjoy the beautiful and Soul-refreſhing influences of the Holy Spirit: They may then walk ſafely and joyfully through the valley of the ſhadow of death till they arrive at the mountain of Glory.
And ſo I proceed to the ſecond part of this Treatiſe about the nature and actings of Faith it ſelf more immediate and particular.