A Glimpse of Gospel Glory, Table of contents – Publishers note
THE CONTENTS.
FIrſt, The Coherence of the words. Secondly, The Expoſition of the Text.
Foure Doctrines from them.
Another from the Introduction, which is firſt handled, which is firſt proved.
Secondly, Illuſtrated by eight particulars from the former Chapter, and ſix more added.
Thirdly, Applyed to three or foure uſes.
The firſt poynt obſerved from the Text,
Goſpel Glory the greateſt Glory in the World,
Illuſtrated and proved:
Firſt, By Texts of Scripture many wayes.
Secondly, Demonſtrated under five Heads.
Firſt, That it was Gods great deſigne to glorifie himſelfe in this worke above all others.
Secondly, Accordingly his glory doth ſhine out, and ever will doe, more in this, then any, or all others.
Thirdly, In that it is the only way for Gods people to obtaine true and perfect glory, and whereby grace and glory are both gracious and glorious in their eyes.
Fourthly, In that grace and glory differ not in nature, but only in degrees.
Fifthly, That hence will be the chiefe ground of the Saints and Angels glorifying God for ever.
The firſt of theſe conſidered, firſt, Hiſtorically; ſecondly, Spiritually, in many particulars.
The ſecond compared with the great workes of Creation, Suſtentation, and Gubernation of all things in the world.
Secondly, Briefly hinted at in many particulars, in the nature, uſe, and effects thereof.
Thirdly, By eleven reſpective conſiderations, wherein it excells all the former workes of God.
Firſt, In reſpect of the many wayes conſiderable foundation of this worke, in foure particulars.
Firſt, More profound; Secondly, More Secret; Thirdly, More difficult; Fourthly, More Sure.
Secondly, In reſpect of the nature of this glorious worke.
Thirdly, The matter of it.
Fourthly, The forme of it.
Fifthly, The way and manner of effecting it.
Sixthly, The time for the rayſing and perfecting of it in a three-fold diſparitie.
Seventhly, The ſubordinate meanes for the publiſhing, promoting, carrying on, to the perfecting of this great worke, viz. Angels; Men ordinarily qualified with eminent gifts, extraordinarily called, imployed, followed with ſucceſſe.
Eighthly, The immediate object of it, Man in his ſtate of defection: How freely, wonderfully, gloriouſly delivered.
Ninthly, The ſeverall ends in reſpect of God and Man, Angels good and bad, here and hereafter.
Tenthly, Vſes, for them both good and bad, here and hereafter.
Eleventhly, The Effects manifold hinted at, exceeding excellent above all other; but to be applyed profitably by Chriſtians.
AN APPENDIX TO The Former; By Mr. H. Nelſon, B. D.
Pregnant Teſtimonies out of the ancient Fathers, to prove that Peter was the Apoſtle of the Jewes, and Paul of the Gentiles, as alſo that Peter was not Primate *Niſi Petrus alios Apoſtolos, vel per ſo, vel per alios Epiſcopos ordinaſſet, nulla ratio eſt cur Romam Eccleſiarum Matrem eſſe dicamus. Bell: lib. 1. de Rom. Pontif: c. 23.in Authority, or Head over his fellow Apoſtles, or did conſecrate any of them to be Biſhop, or ſettle and ſtabliſh any ſtate Hierarchicall at Rome.
ORigen in Math. Tract. 4. Peter and Paul gave right hand of fellowſhip the one to the other, that Peter ſhould go to the circumciſion, to preach unto the Jewes living under the Law, as unto an Aſſe under the yoke, but Paul ſhould go to the Gentiles as unto a Colt that had never been broken; Idem in Matth: 16. Tract: 1.Noveram ergo non matrem eſſe ex his teſtibus clariſime conſtat.
Aug: in Epiſt: ad Gal: lib: they agreed that Paul and Barnabas ſhould go to the Gentiles, and themſelves, James Peter and John unto the Circumciſion, who ſeemed contrary unto the Gentiles, Idem in Pſ: 108. Tract. 50 in Jo: 12. et 124. De agone Chriſtiano, c. 30.
Jerome Epiſt. ad Gal: c. 2.The Primacy of Peter cannot ſtand, unleſſe the Ordinance of the Holy Ghoſt, and the apponent between him and St. Paul be violated. One God hath committed unto me the Preaching of the Goſpel among the Gentiles, and to Peter among the Jewes, he ſent me unto the Gentiles, and placed Peter in Jewry; by Gods providence, one Apoſtle is given to the Jewes, another to the Gentiles, Idem, lib. 1. contra Jovinianum.
Chryſ: Ibid. one thing pleaſed them both; Peter and his ſide ſhould preach to the Jewes, and Paul and Barnabas to the Heathens: And after, ſpeaking in the name of Paul in the office of preaching, we have divided the world between our ſelves.
Ambroſe Ibid. Paul ſaith the grace which he had received of God was allowed of them, that he might be thought worthy to have primacy in preaching among the Gentiles, as Peter had in preaching among the Jews.
Anſelm: Ibid. Theſe two principal Apoſtles were choſen to the ſalvation of two peoples; Peter to the ſalvation of the Jews, and Paul of the Gentiles; Petro commiſſa anthoritas ut predicaret Judaeis tantum, &c. Aquin: Ibid. in Gal.
Theophilact: Ibid. Yea further;In age, gifts, zeal, order, being as Chryſ. ſaith, Os reliquorum. Paul in this place ſheweth himſelf to be equall with Peter.
Chryſoſt. Ʋbi ſupra; Now Paul ſheweth himſelf to be equal in honour unto the reſt, not only unto others but alſo unto (Peter) the chief of all the ſhort Schoba in Jeroms name in Gal. 2. I am in nothing inferiour to Peter.
Hierom Ibid: Occulta hic oritur Quaeſtio: Here ariſeth a ſecret Queſtion; If Peter found any of the Gentiles, did he not train him to the faith? Or if St. Paul had happened upon any of the Jewes, did he not exhort him to be baptiſed? we muſt ſayIdem in Pſ. 44. Titul. Apoſt. … Aequales principio Eceleſia. that either of them had a ſpeciall commiſſion, the one over the Jewes, the other over the Gentiles, that the Jewes who defended the Law might have one to follow, and the Gentiles who choſe rather the free gift of God, and left the Law, might likewiſe have a Teacher to go before them; but generally this purpoſe was common to them both, that out of all Nations as well Jews as Gentiles, they might gather a Church unto Chriſt.
Petrus quia prevaluit in operatione miraculorum ad predicandum Judae is miſſus eſt, Paulus verò ad predicandum Gentilibus, quia prevaluit in profunditate ingenii, et Torrente eloquii. … Hugo. Card: in Luc. 11.
Synod: Epheſ. Peter *John was Survivour and belike ſubject to Linus, Cletus, Clemens, &c. or elſe perſonall ſucceſſion is fallen to the duſt.and John were mutually of equall dignity, for which cauſe they are manifeſted Apoſtles and holy Diſciples.
Cyprian de ſimplic: Plat. doubtleſſe the ſame were the reſt of the Apoſtles that Peter was, endued with equall fellowſhip both of honour and power, but a beginning is made of unity that the Church may appear to be one.
Ambroſe in Pſ. 38. What is ſaid to Peter is ſaid to the other Apoſtle.
Chnyſoſt: in Acts 15. Now conſider this alſo, how that Peter doth all things by the common conſent of the Diſciples, nothing by his own Authority, nothing by Command.
Idem in Gal. 22. Paul had no need of Peters voyce, neither of any helps from him, but in honour was equall to him. (I will ſay no more)
Theophil: in Matth. 16. Although it was ſaid to Peter alone, I will give it thee, yet the Keyes were granted to all the▪ Apoſtles.
Ambroſe de incarnati…ue Dom: c. 4. Peter had the primacy of confeſſion, not of honour; Idem. 2. Cor. 12. Paulus tempore non dignitate minor.
Hillary lib. 6. de Trin. All the Apoſtles for the worthineſſe of their Faith, acknowledging his Divinity, received the Keyes of Heaven, and authority of binding and looſing in Heaven and in Earth.
Aug: de Paſto: c. 13. The Apoſtles were many, and it was ſaid to one, Feed my Lambs; and Peter himſelf commended unity.
Idem de Agone Chriſti: c: 30. When it was ſaid to one, it was ſaid to all, Loveſt thou me? Feed my Sheep.
Origen in Matth: Tract: 1. Theſe things as it were ſpoken to Peter are common to all.
Hierome in Gal: Paul reproved Peter which he durſt not have done, unleſſe he had known himſelf not unequall.
Cyrill in Eſay lib. 4. c. 44. But why do we call them the Foundation of the Earth? for Chriſt is the Foundation of all, and ſtay of all, keepeth and holdeth all things to be ſure and ſtedfaſt; in him are all built a ſpiritual houſe, compacted by his Spirit into an holy Temple and Habitation of himſelf, for he dwelleth in our hearts by Faith; The next and nearer Foundation unto it, may be underſtood the Apoſtles and Evangeliſts, being eye witneſſes, and made Miniſters of the Word, for confirmation of Faith; for when we know that their Traditions are to be followed, we ſhall keep a right faith, or not ſtrange or erring from Chriſt, for by him it was ſaid to Peter becauſe he had confeſſed the Faith in him right ſoundly, and had ſaid, Thou art Chriſt the Son of the Living God; Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock will I build my Church; Calling a Rock (as I think) the immoveable Faith of the Diſciple, it is alſo ſaid by the Pſalmiſt, Her foundations are upon the Holy Hills; The Holy Apoſtles are rightly to be compared to Holy Hills, the knowledge of whom is eſtabliſhed as a foundation to poſterity, to the ſame effect, Lib. 5. cap. 54.
Greg. Lib: 4. Epiſt. 32. Peter is not called univerſal Apoſtle.
Hugo de Sancto Victore, lib. 1. de ſac. c. 26.
Greg. in Ruſ. lib. 4. c. 4. Paul obtained the principality of the whole Church, and was made the Head of Nations.
Primaſus produceth Paul ſpeaking in his own name, I am not inferiour to him (meaning Peter) becauſe we both are of one ordained to one Miniſtry.
Beda Hom: in Evang: Quem me dicunt, &c. Power of binding and looſing, though it may ſeem given of the Lord only to Peter, yet without any doubt, it is to be advertiſed, that it was granted alſo to the other Apoſtles.
Viz: Aug. Tract. 14. in Jo: Ideo unus per omnibus quia unit as in omnibus, Idem Tract. 124.
Gloſſa in Gal. 2. I learned not of others as of my betters, but I conferred with them as with friends and equals: Item Lyranus in Math. 16.
Laſtly, To ſhut up all, the teſtimony of Jerome adverſus Jovin: Lib: 1. is irrefragable: The firm ground and eſtabliſhment of the Church is laid equally upon all the Apoſtles, all of them received the Keyes.
Theſe ancient worthy Fathers, and the reſt, as a cloud of witneſſes do verifie the parity or equality of Peter to all other the Apoſtles, which I have in this place purpoſely recited, for that they give ſtrength and light unto ſome of mine aſſertions formerly ſet down againſt Dr. Kelliſon a mercenary Proctor for the Pope-dome.
Let the concluſion be in the words of that eminent Preacher, and Oppoſer of Popery Dr. Still, in his uſuall prayer, frequently mentioned by that Reverend Mr. Nelſon; God confound all hurtfull errours or hereſies; give victory to his Truth, and Glory to his holy Name; whereunto I cordially with all Gods faithfull people ſay,
AMEN.
FINIS.
Books lately Printed for Thomas Parkhurſt, at the Sign of the three Crowns over againſt the great Conduit at the lower end of Cheapſide.
A Commentary upon the three firſt Chapters of Geneſis, by Mr. John White, in fol.
The humbled ſinner reſolved what he ſhould do to be ſaved; or faith in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt the only way of ſalvation, by Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick, in 4.
The riches of grace diſplayed, in the offer and tender of ſalvation to poor ſinners, by the ſame Author, in 12.
The Fountain opened, and the water of life flowing forth, for the refreſhing of thirſty ſinners, by the ſame Author, in 4.
Anatomy of ſecret ſins, preſumptuous ſins, ſins in dominion and uprightneſſe, on Pſal. 19. 12, 13. together with a Treatiſe of the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, by Obadiah Sedgewick.
Hidden Manna by Mr. Fenner, in 12.
The hypocritical Nation deſcribed, with an Epiſtle prefixed, by Mr. Samnel Jacomb, in 4.
The ſingular Actions of ſanctified Chriſtians, in ſeveral Sermons, on the 5. of Matth.
An Expoſition on the whole book of the Canticles, by R. R.
An Exhortation of the Churches of Bohemiah, to the Churches of England, wherein is ſet forth the good of unity, order, diſcipline, and obedience, in Churches rightly conſtituted; With an Exhortation premiſed of the order and diſcipline uſed in the Churches of the Brethren of Bohemiah, Dedicated to His Moſt Excellent Majeſty, Charls the IId. in Holland, at His departure for England, if poſſibly it may be for an accommodation among the Church of Chriſt; by J. Amos Comenius, the only ſurviving Biſhop of the remains of thoſe Churches.
End of the text · William Sherwin, A Glimpse of Gospel Glory (1661)