Gospel Public Worship, To the reader 1
Goſpel Publique Worſhip: OR, The Tranſlation, Metaphraſe, Analyſis, and Expoſition of Rom. 12. from v. 1. to 8. Deſcribing, and Preſcribing, the compleat Pattern of Gospel-Worſhip.
ALSO, An Expoſition of the 18th. Chapter of MATTHEW.
To which is added A Diſcovery of ADAM'S threefold Eſtate in Paradiſe, viz. Moral, Legal, and Evangelical.
By THOMAS BREWER.
1 Tim. 3.15. But if I tarry long, that thou mayeſt know how thou oughteſt to behave thy ſelf in the houſe of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
See Gal. 6.1. Gen. 2.7. and v. 17. with Chap. 3.3. and v. 15.
LONDON: Printed by W. Godbid, for Henry Everſden, at the Sign of the Greyhound in Pauls Church-yard, 1656.
Goſpel-Worſhip, by Mr. Tho. Brewer.
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
READER,
IN the enſuing Treatiſes, are repreſented to thy view, a few of thoſe many excellent Manuſcripts, penned by Mr. Thomas Brewer; who (beſides many former and ſome long Perſecutions endured under the Prelates) ſuffered Impriſonment by the Biſhops in the Kings-Bench Priſon, above the ſpace of fourteen years: for ſaying, That becauſe the Prelates did not derive their Offices from his Majeſty as they ought, therefore he durſt not partake with them, nor the Derivers of their Offices from them in the proper works of their Offices (which in his Petition to the Lords of the Upper-houſe of Parliament, 1640. he proveth Legal, Loyal, Reaſonable, and Seaſonable: a Copy whereof is herewith publiſhed) for which cauſe they often deprived him of many of his Writings, by which means (and through tranſporting and tranſmitting, &c.) ſome Papers pertaining to this Treatiſe are miſſing; (for the Author wrote very largly of theſe ſubjects) yet is not any thing hereby deformed, or obſcured; though abbreviated; Whereby he was prevented from publiſhing theſe, with divers others of his Works (the which he intended) who upon the preſenting of the ſaid Petition, was releaſed: but about a monethmonth after dyed, (in a good old age, and full of days.) Indeed his ſufferings (for the truth) were very great, and of long continuance; but as his ſufferings did abound, ſo his graces and vertues did much more abound, and (like odours being cruſht) gave a more fragrant ſcent; or (like ſilver paſſing the fire) were more refined: But what need I to guild a Diamond, or what needs he my commendation? his Piety, Learning, Experience, and Depth of Judgment, are eminently known both in this and other Nations, and are in part diſcovered in theſe enſuing Tracts; which are not many broken fragments of others Writings patcht up together, but profound ſtudied matter, extracted from the very nature and ſcope of the ſeveral Texts and Subjects whereof it treats: (and wherein was made good to the Author thoſe Promiſes, Prov: 2.5, 9. in a great meaſure) moſt of which (with many other of the like nature) were the Authors own Experiences and Practiſes, (and Experimental Obſervations) who in the time of his liberty, was a frequent publiſher of them himſelf at Leyden in Holland, where he walked in communion with Mr. Robinſon, and alſo with Mr. Ainſworth; alſo after the time of his reſtraint procuring liberty of his Keeper, (and ſometimes in the Priſon) he taught them frequently in ſeveral Congregations in London; which is well known to, and teſtified by many of his Hearers yet living: (But for my own part, I had onelyonly the happineſs to become acquainted with him the three laſt years of his life, within which time, (although it was part of the time of his cloſe Impriſonment) I reaped much precious benefit from him, by the opportunity of viſites, &c.) and like Apollos, Act. 18.24, 25. he was a man mighty in the Scriptures,—and being fervent in ſpirit, he ſpake and taught diligently the things of the Lord. The truth of the matter publiſhed, I am humbly confident is able to defend it ſelf againſt all Adverſaries (though ſubject to be ſcandalized, from which the beſt things are not free) Firſt here is a more ample foundation for, and a more ſtately Edifice (as it were pourtrayed out) of Goſpel-Worſhip; (which both regulates, and improves grace) than ever yet was publiſhed (this 1300. years) ſince Antichriſt reigned: for as Gen. 1. and Job 38. and 39. Chapter contains the whole, and alſo the main particulars of the Creation. Exod. 20. and Deut. 5. the ſumme of the Law. Gen. 12.2, 3. the ſumme of the Promiſes. Dan. 2. the ſumme of the Propheſies. Matth. 5, 6, 7. Chapters, the main qualifications of Chriſts Diſciples. Matth. 6.9, &c. Luke 11.2. The Pattern of all Prayer. 2 Pet. 1.5, 6, 7. The prime Signs and ſpecial Demonſtrations of our Election, Vocation, and Salvation: So theſe firſt 8. verſes of the 12. Chapter to the Romanes, (as our Author ſaith well) contain the whole body of Goſpel Church-Worſhip: And as Moſes, Exod. 25. to Chap. 40. and David, 1 Chron. 28.11. gave exact patterns of the Tabernacle and Temple; ſo here the Apoſtle Paul preſcribes the like compleat pattern for this Spiritual Fabrick of Goſpel-Worſhip; of which the former were but Types, and expreſſed ſo to be, 2 Cor. 6.16. 1 Tim. 3.15. R…v. 21. compared with Lev. 26.11. Ezek. 37.26, 27. This is the Central and Cardinal place of Scripture, ſanctifying the Divine Worſhip of the Word, about which all other of this ſubject, have their proper motion and uſe, and whereon they depend, (as ſo many branches ſpringing from this root,) and by which they are encorporated into one Order: the want therefore of the clear underſtanding hereof is the cauſe of the ſeeming disjoyntedneſs of the Order of Worſhip, and the long and much prevailing of Babyloniſme thereby: (yea and errour and darkneſs yet ſo abounds that we have juſt cauſe to pray as the Pſalmiſt doth, Pſal. 43.3.) Secondly, in expounding the 18. Chapter of Matthew, here is lively held forth that Meekneſs, Love, and Mercy, which ought to be uſed for the recovery of a ſin-ſick-Saint, Gal. 6.1. and on the contrary that pride, railing, and racking, proſecuted both by the publike and perſonal Antichriſt, in ſuch caſes (as Jam. 4.1. to 11.) Thirdly, and laſtly, here is ſet forth that three-fold, or rather four-fold Eſtate of Adam in Paradiſe, viz. Moral, Legal, Evangelical, and Celeſtial: his legal Eſtate, or firſt Covenant of Works was (ſaith the Author, and what need be ſaid more?) the firſt grand grandſire myſtery of the Word, and the Door key and Candle to all other Theologick, Religious, Perſonal, publick and polemike: the Epitomal Pattern of the Moſaical Law in folio, and the Bridge garriſon and Tutor unto the Goſpel, the Ladder and Key of Heaven: Theſe four Eſtates were founded in Paradiſe: the firſt, cultively: the ſecond, epitomally: the third, perſonally: the fourth, inchoately: ſo that this is the main hinge whereon the whole ſtate of all mankind dependeth. Now ſince this Work hath ſtuck ſo long in the Birth, and having this opportunity now (yet not till now) put into my hands, and withall conſidering the diverſities of Judgments about, and the many diligent enquirers after theſe things; (which will ſhortly appear in their glory and exaltation, according to Eſa. 2.2, 3, 4. then ſhall we ſee World-worſhip deſtroyed, and Word-worſhip alone exalted throughout the World) I judged it my duty to be inſtrumental to its bringing forth into the World. My own experience alſo of their great worth was no ſmall motive to their bringing forth; leſt peradventure theſe precious Dawnings (or rather Radiant-beams) of Light, ſhould have periſhed in the Birth, and ſo have been buried in the dark vale of Oblivion.
There is alſo of the ſame Authors a large Treatiſe of the Sabbath, or the Lords Day, ready for the Preſs, (ſince the Sabbath and Worſhip are an inſeparable pair of Twins; being both founded on the firſt Table of Gods Law: Theſe Treatiſes of them had not been divided, had opportunity ſerved: but wanting the ſame, thy acceptation of this, may promote the publication of that; Which is divided into three parts or periods, VIZ. Moral, Moſaical, and Meſſiacal: In the firſt period is ſhewn us divine duty, and rationality, with ſeven practical Obſervations thereof, to ſecond and countenance the ſame, before its precepting, Exod. 20. Secondly, that it was all the Moſaic… period commanded, practiſed, and approved, upon the ſame Moral Reaſons, Cauſes, and Motives, with the firſt; though covered with Judaical gloſſes, and Bondaging Auſterities: & in the third period that it was Goſpelized, and entred thereinto, at, and by Chriſts Reſurrection, with the ſame ſoul, right, faculties, and priviledges, that it had at the firſt Sabbath, and that in a far higher kind, and more glorious degree; and alſo that it was obſerved and approved by Chriſt, his Apoſtles, and the Primitive Churches: forty Arguments ſtated (anatomizing the whole) for the vindication thereof; (12. at the leaſt for each period) and all the main Objections of the Adverſaries anſwered: In which Treatiſe Adam's Eſtate is alſo largly handled, in relation to his ſanctification of the firſt Sabbath, Gen. 2. Alſo divers other ſmall Pieces, VIZ. A Body of Divinity epitomized; of God; of the Creation; of the ten Precepts, (paralleled with the Sabbath) of the Lords Prayer; of Supremacy; of Adams three-fold Eſtate more at large; of the original working of the Evangelical Myſtery of Iniquity, and the generation of Antichriſt in the Apoſtles days; Wherein he not onelyonly cleereth divers obſcure paſſages, but alſo the whole ſcope of the Epiſtles of John and Jude: This with ſome other of his Writings, are likewiſe an excellent Introduction to the underſtanding of the Propheſies: Alſo, he wrote A Chronology of the times of the Perſian Monarchy, and upon the Propheſies: with ſeveral others; and many fragments of precious uſe: all which are well-worthy the publication: For all his Writings ſavour much both of Knowledge and Piety. As for thoſe who would have no controverſal Divinity publiſhed, let them go and learn what that meaneth, Dan. 12.4. Many ſhall run to and fro, (i. e. in diſcourſe) and knowledge ſhall be increaſed. Beſides, our Author herein handleth the main Principles of Religion very judiciouſly, & in an excellent method. As for obſcure Words & Phraſes in this Book; (obſerve what our Author ſaith upon the like occaſion) ſaith he, you will moſt diſrelliſh the conciſe compoundneſs, and the like-ſoundneſs of ſome Words; but they being intelligible to the verſt in reading and hearing, the firſt ſort will be palliated by their ſaving tedious Circumloqutions, and the ſecond by their helping memory and delight. And in another place ſpeaking of the excellency of the like matter he ſaith; My Wits muſt be erect, and your ears arrect, in the fitting Words, Phraſes, and Form ſuitable thereto; in newneſs, becauſe the radicalneſs is farther to be now diſcovered than formerly; and the Adverſaries have by their new fraud deviſed new Weapons and Stratagems, which muſt by New Wiſdome be defeated; and by their worſe fury, more charged their Canons, and fierced their rage; wherefore we muſt new our offenſives and defenſives, and re-inforce our courage and powers; or decline Gods War with Meroz, and get its Curſe: yet vvill I frame all ſo intelligibly as I can, yea and ſo plauſibly, as the intelligiblenes of the matter wil ſuffer. In reading this Book, make that uſe thereof, which the Author intends, who ſaith, that the 1 Cor. 8. plentifully and plainly enough reproveth all ſwaying the Conſcience in purpoſe or practice, by and for any perſonal reſpect of the Teacher, or fore-practice, even under great cenſures therein expreſſed: Wherefore (ſaith he) I will fear and flee what I can from all perſwading the Conſcience, but by helping it to underſtand the Conſcience-ſwaying Word of God, by the rules thereof, and our enlighted reaſon natural in natural things and matters of fact, and especially ſpiritual, by conſequences from the Poſitions of Faith, and received therewith and thereby.
So aſſuring my ſelf, that the ſincere and ſerious Seekers and Lovers of Truth, will find a large Field of Knowledge for themſelves to walk in (with great variety) in the unfolding of Adams ſeveral Eſtates in Paradiſe: Alſo, that Chriſtian temper of love, mercy, compaſſion, pity, forbearance, and forgiveneſs, (Jam. 3.17, 18. (lively diſplayed) which ſhould be exerciſed for the reſtoring of an offending brother: with the odiouſneſs of the contrary proud perſecuting carriage:
And likewiſe an excellent Diſcovery of the unity and peculiarity of the Gospel Church-ſtate, with the diverſity of its gifts, offices, and Adminiſtrations, entirely and exactly compacted: Thoſe eight verſes being (as well ſaith the Author) A divine general Preſcript, and particular Deſcription of the Goſpel Worſhip of God, and Heirſhip of his Sons, and of their reciprocal union of Church-ſtate, and communion in the Ordinances thereof: for proof of which (and for thy further ſatisfaction in the Premiſes) I refer thee to the Book it ſelf: and reſt, remaining
Truth's devoted Servant, H. P. July 31. 1656.