The Gospels Glory, Title page – Table of contents
THE GOSPELS GLORY, without prejudice to the LAW, Shining forth In the glory of God the Father, the Sonne, the Holy Ghoſt, For the SALVATION of SINNERS, who through grace do believe according to the draught of the Apoſtle Paul in Rom. 8. ver. 3. 4. Held out to publick view.
By the Miniſterial labours of Richard Byfield, M. A. Paſtor in Long-Ditton; and teaching on Thurſedayes weekly in Kingſton upon Thames, Surrey.
Justitia legis fides eſt Chriſtiana. Ambroſ. tom. 5. in cap. 2. Epiſt. ad Rom.
LONDON, Printed by E. M. for Adoniram Byfield at the three Bibles in Corn-hil, next door to Popes-head Alley. 1659.
QUid illam legem (naturalem) excluſerat praevar…catio (Adae,) ac propemodum aboleverat, in pectoribus humanis regnabat ſuperbia, inobedienti âque ſeſe diffuderat: Ideò ſucceſſit …ſta (per Moyſen) ut nos ſcripto conven…ret, & omne os obſtrueret; ut totum mundum faceret Deo ſubditum. Subditus autem mundus ei per legem factus eſt, quia ex praeſcripto legis omnes convincuntur, & ex op ribus legis nemo juſtificatur, id eſt, quia per legem peccatum cognoſcitur, ſed culpa non relaxatur, videbatur lex nocuiſſe, quae omnes facerat peccatores: ſed veniens Dom…nus Jeſus, peccatum omnibus, quod nemo poterat evitare, donavit, & chirographum noſtrum ſui ſanguinis effuſione delevit. Ambro. Tom. 3. Ep. lib. 9. Epiſt. 71. ad Irenaeum.
Becauſe the prevarication (of Adam) had excluded that Law (of nature) and had almoſt aboliſhed it, pride did reign in mens breaſts, and diſobedience had diffuſed it ſelf: therefore this (Law written by Moſes) hath ſucceeded, that it might ſue us with a writ, and might ſtop every mouth, that it might make the whole world ſubject to God; but the world is by the Law made ſubject to him, becauſe out of the preſcript of the Law, all men are convinced, and no man is juſtified by the works of the Law; that is, becauſe by the Law ſinne is known, but the fault is not releaſed: the Law did ſeem to have been hurtful, which had made all men ſinners: but the Lord Jeſus coming, hath freely forgiven ſin to all, which no man was able to eſcape, and hath blotted out our hand-writing with the ſhedding of his own blood.
TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS, HIS HIGHNESSE, Richard, LORD PROTECTOR Of the Common-Wealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with the Dominions thereunto belonging, Grace and peace here, and glory hereafter.
HUmane Creations in civil Societies God doth own. And unto every humane Creation, for our Lord Chriſts ſake we owe ſubmiſſion: this is our well-doing according to the Will of God. Here ſupreme, and ſent of the ſupreme is order and beauty; bands and beauty. Lawes againſt evil-doers, and for encouragement of wel-doers, with execution of thoſe Lawes, for which purpoſe they beare the ſword, are of neceſſity, that Magiſtracy in its various Creations may attain its end. But in the Church all things are of God; and whatever is of man, is alien to that Society. The grand enemies of the Church under the New Teſtament, are the Dragon, the Beaſt, the falſe Prophet: this laſt is the moſt dangerous; the Beaſts and Dragons, ſpiritual wickedneſſe and power, the animating vivacity of that luſtful Whore, Babylon the Great, the Woman that rides the beaſt. And the Beaſt is a Beaſt, whether ariſing out of the ſea, or out of the earth, or aſcending out of the bottomleſſe pit. And the Dragons poiſon and paw is in all, and all to miſchief the Church of Chriſt. This Paradiſe he affects to be in, becauſe not his place: but chiefly out of his love, his love to work ruines there. How ſlily, how inſenſibly ſlides in this old Serpent? humane here, humane of what note ſoever, and Satan preſently Acts it. Chriſt knew it well, who ſaid to Peter, Get thee behind me Satan, thou art an offence unto me; for thou ſavoureſt not the things that be of God, but thoſe that be of men. The love-feaſts ſhrowd diviſions preſently, deſtroy the Lords Supper, and harbour ſlie and ſpotty Heretiques, and deceivers. Prelacy in the miniſtery, though brought in ad tollenda ſchiſmata to take away ſchiſmes, brings forth the man of ſinne, and with him the myſtery of iniquity. An Eaſter day fill'd the Chriſtian world, Eaſt and Weſt with miſerable contentions, and turn'd the Profeſſors of Chriſts name after formalities and meer Nifles. The retired ſolitarineſſe of ſome eminently devout, filled it with Monkery, Nunnery, and the ſwarmes of the orders of ſuch. Commandments of men received to teach the feare of God, do Null the Commandments of God. Mens opinions choſen for the rationality, or the depth of them, have proved the depths of Satan. Mens Inventions entertained for their ſuitableneſſe to humane Policies, have, while ſerved the luſts of men in Magiſtracy, trampled on Magiſtracy, enthroned Tyranny, and ſuborned for ſacred, Maximes that are the hornes to puſh at and gone all the godly and the power of godlineſſe: Such as theſe; No Biſhop, no King. Chriſts Kingdome is an enemy to Caeſar. Chriſts ſimple Ordinances for worſhip, without the pompe of humane Ceremonies, are not for the State and Majeſty of Princes. That is, the world knows his own, and will know nothing but his own. It hath been long and lamentably experimented, that the evils of the Church have ever diſturbed the ſtate. That which corrupts men, and ſets up luſt, muſt needs be againſt God, and againſt Magiſtracy which is from God. The Goſpel in its purity will help all this evil, will bring with it all good; this Goſpel is one: the name of them that hold that one faith is ſacred, the name Chriſtian. The love it teacheth and worketh, is the bond that knits them together in one brother-hood; love is for Communion, not for ſingle ſtanding, ſeparating, nor dividing. Its power is as ſweet, as ſtrong; as beautiful, as powerful; as good, as commanding. Adminiſtrations there are in diverſity, but one Lord there is, from whom, as there is but one Church, one body, for whoſe edification all thoſe are given; One body in Communion diſtinguiſhed into ſeveral, but no ſevered fellowſhips or Churches for order and edification-ſake. Abſoluteneſſe in ſevered Companies is of Primacy affected. The 24. Elders are one community about the Throne and the Lamb: and are more able to adviſe than one that arrogates, becauſe he loves to have Praeeminence; The Inſtituted order in Adminiſtrations of the New Teſtament, is, Apoſtles, Prophets, (theſe the Scriptures now ſupply: lay the Bible in the midſt, and conſult therewith, and there you have them;) then Teachers, Deacons, Governments: theſe Chriſt Jeſus by his Spirit gifts, and by his Church owns. One way, and one heart go together. Diverſities of wayes, nurſes up diviſions of heart. O Princes, let Chriſt the King of glory, in his Goſpel, and Goſpel-Adminiſtrations come in. Theſe things belong unto the wiſe; theſe concern the ſupreme primarily: and Grace, Wiſdome, and Prudence diſcerns, cloſeth with, and eſtabliſheth them.
The ſtrange croſſeneſſe and contrariety of things that ſtands out in theſe Goſpel-dayes, and riſes ſo ſtoutly for one againſt another, amazes the beſt heads, and ſtaggers, yea, confounds the ſtouteſt hearts that are by place and office to manage them; here are with us in one womb the old revived ſtrugglings of the holieſt and profaneſt; the pureſt and the ſubtleſt; the moſt for power, and the moſt denying of the power of godlineſſe; the moſt zealous, and the moſt formal and richly goodly luke-warme; the weightieſt grain, and the lighteſt chaffe; the deeplieſt poor in ſpirit, and the loftieſt proud in the fleſh; the heaven-born Sons of marvelous light, and the hell-born brats of thickeſt darkneſſe: theſe cauſe difficulty to rule, ſo as to foſter the gracious, and diſcountenance the wicked, ſevering the precious and the vile. Faith, an active faith, the faith of the Lords Heroes is the one only helpe; this keeps with God in his Word for principles of Policy, for upright wayes, for ſupport and courage in both, againſt carnal counſels, courſes, confidences and fears, the worſt of Counſellors.
Theſe Conſiderations poſſeſſe, whil'ſt with joy in God through Jeſus Chriſt, glorying in his works, all honourable and glorious, and in his wayes, all righteous and holy; with fears, ſorrows, and prayers, becauſe of judgements impendent for the wickedneſſes of errors, diviſions, profaneneſſe abounding; and for the Magiſtrates ſake and their concernments, and for Common-weals and Kingdomes, the Innes of the Church; for, as for the Miniſters, ſackcloth cannot hinder the efficacy of their Propheſying and Witneſſebearing ſalutiferous and deſtructive: nor their ſlaughter do any more than iſſue forth their reſurrection, to the fall of the tenth part of the City to be viſited, and the ruine of ſeven thouſand of men of name; let the earth-dwellers, the merry world of them beware.
For the Publiſhing of this Treatiſe, beſides the Importunity of many of the Commiſſioners of Surrey, for the ejection of ignorant and ſcandalous Miniſters, who heard part of it delivered in Sermons, which wreſted from me a conceſſion to their deſires; two things ſwayed with me. Firſt, that in this ſleight age, toſſed to and fro with puffes of windy vaporings which blow high and big, and take with many the wholſome, old, everlaſting, and abſolutely neceſſary truths of ſaving doctrine, might be laid again before all mens ſight, to cure, if the Lord will, this giddineſſe of head; and ſecondly, that in this notional, high-flown, conceited age wherein nothing is eſteemed, but that which goes under the name of Myſterious, of a more ſpiritual diſpenſation, and above Scriptural, and the plain truthes of the Scripture are overlook't: called low, carnal, and fit for none but Saints under the loweſt diſpenſation; It might be manifeſt that theſe truths only are truly heavenly, ſpiritual, Goſpel-myſteries of the higheſt diſpenſation that ever ſhall be in this world: and that upon the review and Chriſtian-experience, all might ſee that the other Novel ſpeakings, are low, carnal, beggarly things, belly-breaths, the iſſues of fleſhly tumors, indigeſted wateriſh tympanies, and crackes of clouds without rain: That I prefix your Highneſſes name, is an act of boldneſſe, for which pardon is humbly craved. I adventured on it, that I might acknowledge the encouragement given to my Miniſtery two years ſince, at a needful time by your Renowned father, now with Chriſt, who openly and really owned it almoſt oppreſt, by willing, my labours at Kingſton; of which poor labours, as they are mine, theſe are ſome of the fruits preſented to your moſt ſerene aſpect, and offered to the ſervice of your faith. What remains, but prayers promiſed, that your life may be bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord your God; your perſon may abide in the ſecrets of the moſt High, hid there, even in his boſome-love in Chriſt; your heart may remain, large, wiſe, holy, humble, and believing; your eyes may ſee the great Council in Parliament aſſembled, full of grace and peace, the Lords and yours to his glory, and your abundant joy for the good of theſe Nations, and of the people of Chriſt in all the world; In you alſo through the advice of that your great Council, it may be manifeſt, that God doth and will ſtill bleſs theſe Nations, and make them inſtrumental to the ruine of Romiſh Babylon, with all that belongs thereto, and that out of illuminated zeal for the Goſpels, the Saints injuries, and blood, till the vengeance and recompence be rendred to her, double: which work ſhall be fulfilled in its time, by the Lamb, and his called, and faithful, and choſen. On which work your heart ſet, you have the Hoſanna of him that waits for the mighty thunderings of the Hallelujahs, and is
Your Highneſſes moſt obliged for the Goſpels and the Publique good, Richard Byfield.
The CONTENTS.
Chap. 1. AN Explication of the Text, in its dependance and manner of laying down, with three ſpecial obſervations, giving further light to the words, and with the foure great truths of doctrine; three of them expreſsed, and the fourth ſtrongly implied in the Coherence.
Chap. 2. The firſt great truth which is this, that there is no ſalvation by the Law, or by any other means, ſave by Jeſus Chriſt.
Chap. 3. The ſecond great truth, The fulneſſe of ſalvation of ſinners by Jeſus Chriſt, and that ſet forth by many choice truths, which the Apoſtle in this Text takes for granted.
Chap. 4. The fulneſs of ſalvation by Jeſus Chriſt expreſſed, in the perſon who is the firſt efficient cauſe; he that provides this ſalvation; God, even God the Father.
Chap. 5. The fulneſſe of this ſalvation, in the Perſon who undertakes to work it out, even Gods own Son.
Chap. 6. The fulneſſe of ſalvation manifeſted in the way God taketh to ſave ſinners by his Son.
Chap. 7. The fulneſs of a ſinners ſalvation evinced in the outward cauſe moving God to give his own Sonne, and to take ſuch away to ſave, which was, the impotency and impoſſibility of the Law to ſave, and the loſt eſtate of the ſinner.
Chap. 8. The fulneſse of this ſalvation in the end of Chriſts miſſion intended and attained, which was the expiation of ſin, and the fulfilling of the righteouſneſs of the law for and in the ſinners that ſhall be ſaved.
Chap. 9 The fulneſſe of ſalvation ſhines in the perſon who maketh ſaving application thereof, dethroning corruption of nature, and ruling the whole man; even the Spirit; the holy Ghoſt; the Spirit of the Father, and of the Son.
Chap. 10. The third great truth; the lively deſcription of the perſons that ſhall be ſaved, and do partake of this ſalvation by Jeſus Chriſt, viz. They are ſuch who walk not after the fleſh, but after the Spirit.
Chap. 11. The fourth and laſt great truth, which is, The fulneſſe of the aſſurance, and of the conſolation of thoſe who are in Chriſt, and walk not after the fleſh, but after the Spirit.
THE Goſpels GLORY.
ROM. 8. 3, 4.
Ver. 3. For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the fleſh, God ſending his own Sonne in the likeneſſe of ſinful fleſh, and for ſinne, condemned ſin in the fleſh.
Ver. 4. That the righteouſneſſe of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the fleſh, but after the Spirit.