Knowledge and Practice, Part 1 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. Concerning GOD.
COncerning God we are to Know three things:
Firſt, His NATURE.
That there is One onelyonly true God, who is a Spirit, infinitely glorious, and being one in nature is yet three in Perſons or Subſiſtences, The Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghoſt: Theſe are three and one after a wonderful and myſterious manner. The Father God, the Son God, and the Holy Ghoſt God. And yet not three Gods, but One God.
Pſal. 14.1. The fool hath ſaid in his heart there is no God.
Pſal. 10.4. The wicked through the pride of his Countenance will not ſeek after God, God is not in all his thoughts.
1 Cor. 15.34. —Some have not the Knowledge of God, I ſpeak this to your ſhame.
Heb. 11.6. But without Faith it is impoſsible to pleaſe him. For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently ſeek him.
Iſaiah 44.6. Thus ſaith the Lord the King of Iſrael, and his Redeemer the Lord of Hoſts, I am the firſt, and I am the laſt, and beſides me there is no God.
Iſai. 45.5. I am the Lord, and there is none elſe; There is no God beſides me.
1 Cor. 8.4. As conc…rning therefore the eating of thoſe things that are offered in Sacrifice to Idols, we know, that an Idol is nothing in the World, and that there is none other God but One.
V. 5. For though there be that are called Gods, whether in Heaven, or in Earth, as there be Gods many, and Lords many.
V. 6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him, and one Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Deut. 4.35. Unto thee it was ſhewed that thou mighteſt know that the Lord he is God. And there is none elſe beſides him.
Deut. 6.4. Hear O Iſrael, the Lord our God is One Lord.
Jer. 10.10. But the Lord is the true God. He is the living God, and an everlaſting King. At his wrath the Earth ſhall tremble, and the Nations ſhall not be able to abide his Indignation.
1 Theſ. 1.9. For they themſelves ſhew of us, what manner of entring in we had unto you. And how ye turned to God, from Idols, to ſerve the living and true God.
Job 11.7. Canſt thou by ſearching find out God? canſt thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
Joh. 4.24. God is a Spirit, and they that worſhip him, muſt worſhip him in Spirit and in Truth.
Luke 24.39. — A Spirit hath not fleſh and bones —
Rom. 1.23. And they changed the Glory of the Incorruptible God, into an Image made like unto corruptible man, and to birds, and to four-footed beaſts, and Creeping things.
V. 25. —And worſhipped and ſerved the Creature more than the Creator, who is bleſsed for ever, Amen.
Concerning the Trinity.
Mat. 28.19. Go ye therefore, and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt.
1 John 5.7. There are three that bear Record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoſt, and theſe three are One.
Mat. 3.16. And Jeſus when he was baptized went ſtraightway up out of the water, and Lo the Heavens were opened unto him, and he ſaw the Spirit of God deſcending like a Dove, and lighting upon him.
V. 17. And Lo, a voice from Heaven ſaying, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleaſed.
2 Cor. 13.14. The Grace of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghoſt, be with you all Amen.
Concerning God the Father.
Luke 23.34. Then ſaid Jeſus, Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.
Eph. 1.3. Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who hath bleſsed us with all ſpirituall bleſsings in heavenly places in Chriſt.
Eph 3.14. For this cauſe I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Concerning God the Son.
John 1.14. And the word was made fleſh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his Glory, the Glory as of the OnelyOnly begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth.
V. 18. No man hath ſeen God at any time. The OnelyOnly begotten Son which is in the boſome of the Father he hath declared him.
Heb. 1.2. He hath in theſe laſt days ſpoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom alſo he made the world.
V. 3. Who being the brightneſse of his Glory, and the expreſs Image of his perſon; and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himſelf purged our ſinnes, ſate down on the right hand of the Majeſty on high.
V. 8. But unto the Sonne he ſaith, thy Throne O God is for ever and ever, a Scepter of righteouſneſs is the Scepter of thy Kingdome.
John 10.30. I and my Father are One.
1 John 2.22. Who is a Lyar, but he that denieth that Jeſus is the Chriſt? He is Anti-Chriſt that denieth the Father and the Son.
V. 23. Whoſoever denieth the Son, the ſame hath not the Father, but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father alſo.
Rom. 9.5. Whoſe are the Fathers, And of whom as concerning the fleſh Chriſt came, who is over all, God bleſſed for ever, Amen.
Phil. 2.6. Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.
Acts 7.59. And they ſtoned Stephen calling upon God, and ſaying, Lord Jeſus receive my Spirit.
V. 60. And he kneeled down; and cried with a loud voice, Lord lay not this ſin to their Charge.—
2 Theſſ. 2.16. Now our Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelfe, and God even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlaſting Conſolation, and good hope through Grace;
V. 17. Comfort your hearts, and ſtabliſh you in every good word and work.
Concerning God the Holy Ghoſt.
Acts 5.3. But Peter ſaid, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghoſt?
V. 4. Thou haſt not lied unto men but unto God.
John 14.16. I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever.
V. 26. But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghoſt, whom the Father will ſend in my name, he ſhall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatſoever I have ſaid unto you.
John 15.26. But when the Comforter is come whom I will ſend to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father, he ſhall teſtifie of me.
Gal. 4.6. And becauſe ye are ſons God hath ſent forth the Spirit of his ſon into your hearts, crying Abba, Father.
Phil. 1.19. For I know that this ſhall turn to my ſalvation, through your prayer and the ſupply of the ſpirit of Jeſus Chriſt.
Rom. 8.9. But ye are not in the fleſh but in the ſpirit, if ſo be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Chriſt, he is none of his.
Eph. 4.30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are ſealed to the day of Redemption.
1 Cor. 2.13. Which things alſo we ſpeak, not in the words which mans wiſdome teacheth, but which the Holy Ghoſt teacheth, comparing ſpiritual things with ſpiritual
Acts 7.51. Ye ſtiff-necked, and uncircumciſed in heart and ears, ye do alwaies reſiſt the Holy Ghoſt. As your Fathers did ſo do ye.
2 Pet. 1.21. For the Prophecy came not in old time by the will of Man; but holy men of God ſpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoſt.
Rom 8.26. Likewiſe the Spirit alſo helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we ſhould pray for as we ought, but the Spirit it ſelf maketh interceſsion for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
V. 27 And he that ſearcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, becauſe he maketh interceſsion for the Saints according, to the will of God.
Acts 13.2. As they miniſtred to the Lord and faſted, the Holy Ghoſt ſaid, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have Called them.
Titus 3.5. Not by works of righteouſneſſe which we have done, but according to his Mercy he ſaved us by the waſhing of Regeneration, and Renewing of the Holy Ghoſt.
1 Cor. 3.6. Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 Cor. 6.19. What, know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghoſt, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Rom. 5.5. And hope maketh not aſhamed, becauſe the Love of God is ſhed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghoſt which is given unto us.
Mat. 12.31. Wherefore I ſay unto you all manner of ſin and blaſphemy ſhall be forgiven unto men, but the blaſphemy againſt the Holy Ghoſt ſhall not be forgiven unto men.
V. 32. And whoſoever ſpeaketh a word againſt the ſon of man it ſhall be forgiven him, but whoſoever ſpeaketh a word againſt the Holy Ghoſt it ſhall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
Secondly, His PROPERTIES or ATTRIBUTES.
God is
Eternal, or without any Beginning or End.
Omnipotent, or Almighty.
Omnipreſent, or every where preſent.
Omniſcient, or All-knowing.
Infinitely
Wiſe.
Holy.
Juſt.
Mercifull.
Eternall.
Pſal. 90.2. Before the Mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadſt formed the earth or the world, even from everlaſting, to everlaſting thou art God.
Deut. 33.27. The Eternal God is my refuge, and underneath are the everlaſting armes.
Omnipotent.
Gen. 17.1. And when Abram was Ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram and ſaid unto him, I am the Almighty God, walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Iſa. 40.17. All Nations before him are as nothing, and they are counted to him leſſe than nothing, and vanity.
Rev. 1.8. I am Alpha, and Omega; the beginning and the ending, ſaith the Lord, which is and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Rev. 19.6. And I heard, as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, ſaying, Allelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Omnipreſent.
1 Kings 8.27. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold the Heaven, and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee, how much leſſe this houſe that I have builded?
Jer. 23.24. Can any hide himſelf in ſecret places that I ſhall not ſee him ſaith the Lord? do not I fill Heaven, and Earth, ſaith the Lord?
Pſal. 139.7. Whither ſhall I go from thy Spirit? or whither ſhall I flee from thy preſence?
V. 8. If I aſcend up into Heaven, thou art there, If I make my bed in Hell, behold thou art there.
V. 11. If I ſay ſurely the darkneſſe ſhall cover me, even the night ſhall be Light about me.
V. 12. Yea, the darkneſſe hideth not from thee, but the night ſhineth as the day: the darkneſs and the light are both alike to thee.
Omniſcient.
1 Chron. 28.9. And thou Solomon my Son, know thou the God of thy Father, and ſerve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind, for the Lord ſearcheth all hearts; & underſtandeth all the Imaginations of the thoughts, if thou ſeek him he will be found of thee, but if thou forſake him he will caſt thee off for ever.
1 King. 8.39. Then hear thou in Heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive; and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whoſe heart thou knoweſt, for thou, even thou knoweſt the hearts of all the children of men.
Heb. 4.13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifeſt in his ſight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Pſal. 139.2. Thou knoweſt my down-ſitting and my up-riſing, thou underſtandeſt my thoughts afar off.
V. 3. Thou compaſſeſt my path, and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my waies.
V. 4. For there is not a word in my tongue, but Lo, O Lord, thou knoweſt it altogether.
Acts 15.18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Infinitely Wiſe.
1 Tim. 1.17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, inviſible, the Only wiſe God, be Honour, and Glory, for ever and ever, Amen.
Rom. 11.33. O the depth of the riches both of the wiſdom and knowledge of God; How unſearchable are his judgements, and his waies past finding out?
Rom. 16 27. To God Only wiſe be glory through Jeſus Chriſt for ever, Amen.
Infinitely Holy.
Iſa. 6.3. And one cried unto another, and ſaid, holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hoſts; the whole earth is full of his Glory.
Rev. 4.8. And the four beaſts had each of them ſix wings about him, and they were full of eyes within, and they reſt not day and night, ſaying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Iſa. 57.15. For thus ſaith the high, and lofty One, that inhabiteth Eternity, whoſe Name is holy, I dwell in the high and holy place, with him alſo that is of a contrite and humble ſpirit, to revive the ſpirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
1 Pet. 1.16. Becauſe it is written, be ye holy, for I am holy.
Juſt.
Job 34.10. Therefore hearken unto me ye men of underſtanding, far be it from God that he ſhould do wickedneſſe, and from the Almighty that he ſhould commit iniquity.
V. 11. For the work of a man ſhall he render unto him, and cauſe every man to find according to his waies.
V. 12. Yea, ſurely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
Jer. 9.23. Thus ſaith the Lord, let not the wiſe man glory in his wiſdome, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches.
V. 24. But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he underſtandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord, which exerciſe loving kindneſſe. Judgement, and Righteouſneſſe in the earth; for in theſe things I delight ſaith the Lord.
Deut. 32.4. He is the Rock, his work is perfect, for all his waies are Judgment, a God of truth and without iniquity; juſt and right is he.
Gen. 18.25. — Shall not the judge of all the earth doe right?
Merciful.
Pſal. 119.68. Thou art good and doeſt good, teach me thy Statutes.
Pſal. 147.11. The Lord taketh pleaſure in them that fear him, in thoſe that hope in his mercy.
Nehem. 9.17. And refuſed to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders, that thou didſt among them, but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a Captain to return to their bondage; but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious, and merciful, ſlow to anger, and of great kindneſſe, and forſookeſt them not.
V. 31. Nevertheleſſe; for thy great mercies ſake thou didſt not utterly conſume them, nor forſake them, for thou art a gracious and a merciful God.
Pſal. 103.8. The Lord is merciful and gracious, ſlow to anger and plenteous in mercy.
Jer. 3.12. Go and proclaim theſe words towards the North, and ſay return thou backſliding Iſrael, ſaith the Lord, and I will not cauſe mine anger to fall upon you, for I am merciful ſaith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever.
Exod. 34.6. And the Lord paſſed by before him; and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-ſuffering, and abundant in goodneſſe and truth.
V. 7. Keeping mercy for thouſands, forgiving iniquity, and tranſgreſsion, and ſin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; viſiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children; and upon the Childrens children unto the third and fourth generation.
Pſal. 145.7. They ſhall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodneſſe and ſhall ſing of thy righteouſneſſe.
1 John 4.8. He that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love,
V. 16. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us; God is love, and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Micah 7.18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and paſſeth by the tranſgreſsions of the remnant of his heritage, he retaineth not his anger for ever becauſe he delighteth in mercy.
Iſa. 28.21. For the Lord ſhall riſe up as in Mount Perazim, he ſhall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his ſtrange work, and bring to paſſe his act, his ſtrange act.
2 Cor. 1.3. Bleſsed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Father of mercies, and the God of all Comforts.
Iſa. 30.18. And therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you, for the Lord is a God of judgement, bleſſed are all they that wait for him.
Pſa. 78.38. But he being full of compaſsion forgave their iniquity, and deſtroyed them not, yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not ſtir up all his wrath.
Luke 6.36. Be ye therefore merciful, for your heavenly Father is merciful.
Thirdly, His WORKS, which are principally two.
1. Creation.
2. Providence.
I. Creation: Concerning which we muſt know,
1. That God made the world, and all the Creatures therein, (both viſible, and inviſible,) by his Almighty power, and Created them all very good.
2. The chief of his Creatures are
Angels,
Men.
3. All the Angels were at firſt made holy and happy Spirits: Some continued in their obedience to God, and are ſtill Angels of Light; Others fell from God through Pride, or ſome other ſin, and are become Devils of Darknes.
Concerning the Creation of Man, ſee farther in the next Chapter.
Creation.
Col. 1.…6. For by him were all things Created that are in Heaven, and that are in Earth, viſible and inviſible, whether they be Thrones, or Dominions or Principalities, or Powers, all things are Created by him, and for him.
V. 17. And he is before all things, and by him all things conſiſt.
Nehem. 9.6. Thou even thou art Lord alone, thou haſt made Heaven, the Heaven of Heavens, with all their Hoſt; the earth and all things that are therein; the Seas, and all that is therein, and thou preſerveſt them all, and the Hoſt of Heaven worſhippeth thee.
Rom. 1.20. For the inviſible things from the Creation of the world, are clearly ſeen, being underſtood by the things that are made, even his Eternal power and Godhead, ſo that they are without excuſe.
Rev. 15.3. And they ſing the ſong of Moſes the ſervant of god, and the ſong of the Lamb, ſaying, great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, juſt and true are thy waies, thou King of Saints.
Heb. 3.4. For every houſe is built by ſome man, but he that built all things is God.
Pſal. 145.10. All thy works ſhall praiſe thee, O God, and thy Saints ſhall bleſse thee.
Rev. 4.11. Thou art worthy (O Lord) to receive Glory, and Honour, and Power, for thou haſt Created all things, and for thy pleaſure they are and were Created.
Heb. 11.3. Through Faith we underſtand, that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, ſo that things which are ſeen were not made of things which do appear.
Gen. 1.31. And God ſaw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good, and the evening and the morning were the ſixth day.
Pſal. 104.24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wiſdom haſt thou made them all; the earth is full of thy riches.
Pſal. 19.1. The Heavens declare the Glory of God, and the Firmament ſheweth his handy-work.
Job 26.13. By his Spirit he hath garniſhed the Heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked Serpent.
Job 33.4. The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
Jer. 10.12. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath eſtabliſhed the world by his wiſdom, and hath ſtretched out the Heavens by his diſcretion.
Acts 17.24. God that made the world, and all things therein, ſeeing that he is Lord of Heaven and Earth, dwelleth not in Temples made with hands.
Good Angels.
Job 38.7. When the morning Stars ſang together, and all the Sons of God ſhouted for joy.
Heb. 1.7. And of the Angels he ſaith, who maketh his Angels Spirits, and his Miniſters a flame of fire.
Luke 2.13. And ſuddainly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly Hoſt, praiſing God, and ſaying
V. 14. Glory be to God in the higheſt, and on earth peace, good will towards Men.
V. 15. And it came to paſſe as the Angels were gone away from them into heaven, the ſhepheards ſaid one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem; and ſee this thing which is come to paſſe, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Acts 10.22. And they ſaid, Cornelius the Centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the Nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy Angel, to ſend for thee into his houſe, and to hear words of thee.
Pſal. 103.20. Bleſſe the Lord ye his Angels, that excell in ſtrength, that do his Commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
1 Tim. 5.21. I Charge thee before God, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the Elect Angels, that thou obſerve theſe things, without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
Luke 15.7. I ſay unto you that likewiſe joy ſhall be in Heaven, over one ſinner that repenteth, more, than over ninety and nine juſt perſons, which need no repentance.
Dan. 7.10. A fiery ſtream iſſued, and came forth from before him: thouſands of thouſands miniſtred unto him, and ten thouſand times ten thouſand ſtood before him, the judgment was ſet, and the books were opened.
Pſal. 34.7 The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Heb. 1.14. Are they not all miniſtring Spirits, ſent forth to miniſter for them who ſhall be heirs of Salvation?
Pſal. 91.11. For he ſhall give his Angels Charge over thee, te keep thee in all thy waies.
V. 12. They ſhall bear thee up in their hands, leaſt thou daſh thy foot againſt a ſtone.
Mat. 18.10. Take heed that ye deſpiſe not one of theſe little ones, for I ſay unto you that in Heaven, their Angels do alwaies behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven.
Gen. 48.16. The Angel which redeemed me from all evil bleſſe the Lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my Fathers Abraham, and Iſaac, and let them grow into a multitude in the midſt of the earth.
Acts 12.15. And they ſaid unto her thou art mad, but ſhe conſtantly affirmed that it was even ſo, then ſaid they it is his Angel.
Pſal. 148.2. Praiſe ye him all his Angels, praiſe ye him all his Hoſts.
1 Cor. 11.10. For this cauſe ought the woman to have power on her head, becauſe of the Angels.
Mat. 4.11. Then the Devil leaveth him, and behold Angels came and miniſtred unto him.
Luke 22.43. And there appeared an Angel from Heaven ſtrengthning him.
Luke 16 22. And it came to paſse that the beggar died, and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams boſome: the rich man alſo died and was buried.
Mat. 28.2. And behold there was a great earthquake, for the Angel of the Lord deſcended from Heaven, and came and rolled back the ſtone from the door, and ſate upon it.
V. 3. His countenance was like Lightning, and his raiment white as ſnow.
V. 4. And for fear of him, the Keepers did ſhake, and became as dead men.
Mat. 24.31. And he ſhall ſend his Angels, with a great ſound of a trumpet, and they ſhall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other.
Luke 20.35. But they which ſhall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the reſurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
V. 36. Neither can they die any more, for they are equal unto the Angels, and are the children of God, being the children of the reſurrection.
Matth. 22.30. For in the reſurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the Angels of God in heaven.
Devils.
2 Pet. 2.4. For if God ſpared not the Angels that ſinned, but caſt them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkneſs to be reſerved unto judgement.
Jude v. 6. And the Angels which kept not their firſt eſtate, but left their own habitation, he hath reſerved in everlaſting chains under darkneſſe, unto the judgement of the great day.
Matth. 25.41. Then ſhall he ſay alſo to them on his left hand, depart from me ye curſed into everlaſting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
1 Tim. 3.6. Not a novice, leſt being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
2 Tim. 2.26. And that they may recover themſelves out of the ſnare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Epheſ 6.12. For we wreſtle not againſt fleſh and blood, but againſt principalities, againſt powers, againſt the rulers of the darkneſſe of this world, againſt ſpirituall wickedneſſe in high places.
V. 14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breſt plate of righteouſneſs.
John 8.44. Ye are of your father the devil, and the luſts of your father ye will do; He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth; becauſe there is no truth in him, when he ſpeaketh a lie, he ſpeaketh of his own, for he is a Liar, and the Father of it.
2 Cor. 4.4. In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them, which beleeve not, leſt the Light of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt, who is the Image of God ſhould ſhine unto them.
Eph. 2.2. Wherein, in time paſt ye walked, according to the courſe of this world, according to the Prince of the power of the Aire, the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of diſobedience.
Mat. 12.24. But when the Phariſees heard it, they ſaid, this fellow doth not caſt out Devils, but by Beelzebub the Prince of the devils.
1 John 3.8. He that committeth ſin is of the devil, for the devil ſinneth from the beginning, for this purpoſe the Son of God was manifeſted, that he might deſtroy the works of the devil.
V. 10. In this the Children of God are manifeſt, and the Children of the devil, whoſoever doth not righteouſneſſe is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Rev. 12.9. And the great Dragon was caſt out, that old Serpent Called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world, he was caſt out into the Earth, and his Angels were caſt out with him.
2 Cor. 11.3. But I fear, leſt by any means, as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his ſubtilty, ſo your minds ſhould be corrupted from the ſimplicity that is in Chriſt.
Job 1.7. And the Lord ſaid unto Satan, whence comeſt thou? then Satan anſwered the Lord, and ſaid, from going to and fro in the Earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Luke 22.31. And the Lord ſaid, Simon, Simon; behold Satan hath deſired to have you, that he may ſift you as wheat.
1 Pet. 5.8. Be ſober, be vigilant, becauſe your adverſary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, ſeeking whom he may devour.
Mat. 8.29. And behold they cried out, ſaying; what have we to do with thee Jeſus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time.
V. 31. So the devils beſought him, ſaying, if thou caſt us out, ſuffer us to go away into the herd of ſwine.
Mat. 4 1. Then was Jeſus led up of the Spirit into the wilderneſſe, to be tempted of the divel.
2 Cor. 6.15. And what concord hath Chriſt with Belial? or what part hath he that beleeveth with an Infidel?
Zach. 3.1. And he ſhewed me Joſuah the High Prieſt ſtanding before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan ſtanding at his right hand to reſiſt him.
V. 2. And the Lord ſaid unto Satan, the Lord rebuke thee O Satan, even the Lord that hath choſen Jeruſalem, rebuke thee, is not this a brand pluckt out of the fire?
James 2.19. Thou beleeveſt that there is One God, thou doſt well, the divels alſo beleeve and tremble.
Luke 4.33. And in the Synagogue there was a man which had a Spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
V. 34. Saying, Let us alone, what have we to do with thee, thou Jeſus of Nazareth? art thou come to deſtroy us? I know thee, who thou art, the holy One of God.
Acts 19.15. And the evil Spirit anſwered and ſaid, Jeſus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye?
Eph. 4.26. Be ye angry and ſin not, let not the Sun go down upon your wrath;
V. 27. Neither give place to the devil.
Acts 5.3. And Peter ſaid, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghoſt, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Pſal. 78.49. He caſt upon them the fierceneſse of his anger, wrath, and indignation and trouble, by ſending evil Angels among them.
Acts 26.18. To Open their eyes, and to turn them from darkneſſe unto Light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveneſſe of ſins, and inheritance among them which are ſanctified by faith that is in me.
The next of Gods works to be conſidered and underſtood by us is
II. His Providence.
As God Created the World, and all the Creatures therein by his Almighty Power, So he upholds, directs, diſpoſes, and governs them all by his Providence. Nothing ſo Caſual, but he diſpoſes of it; No Agent ſo free, as to be exempted from his Controule; No affliction or Evil of Puniſhment, but he hath a hand in it; But as for ſin, he neither is, nor poſſibly can be the Author, or Approver of it.
Heb. 1.3. Who being the brightneſse of his Glory, and the expreſſe Image of his Perſon, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himſelf purged our ſins, ſate down on the right hand of the majeſty on high.
Col. 1.17. And he is before all things, and by him all things Conſiſt.
Pſal. 36.6. Thy Righteouſneſse is like the great Mountains, thy judgments are a great deep, O Lord thou preſerveſt man and beaſt.
Mat. 10.29. Are not two Sparrows ſold for a farthing, and one of them ſhall not fall on the ground without your Father?
V. 30. But the very haires of your head are all numbred.
V. 31. Fear ye not therefore ye are of more value than many Sparrows.
Dan. 4.34. And at the end of the daies I Nebuchadnezzar lift up mine eyes unto Heaven, and mine underſtanding returned unto me, and I bleſſed the moſt High, and I praiſed, and honoured him that liveth for ever, whoſe dominion is an everlaſting dominion, and his Kingdome is from generation to generation.
V. 35. And all the Inhabitants of the Earth are reputed as nothing, and he doth according to his will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the Earth, and none can ſtay his hand, or ſay unto him what doſt thou?
Prov. 16.33. The Lot is caſt into the Lap, but the whole diſpoſing thereof is from the Lord.
Pſal. 103.19. The Lord hath prepared his Throne in the Heavens, and his Kingdome ruleth over all.
Acts 17.25. Neither is worſhipped with mens hands as though he needed any thing, ſeeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.
V. 26. And hath made of one blood, all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth; and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation.
V. 28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being, as certain alſo of your own Poets have ſaid, for we are alſo his off-ſpring.
Jer. 10.23. O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himſelf, it is not in man that walketh to direct his ſteps.
Lam. 3.37. Who is he that ſaith and it cometh to paſſe when the Lord commandeth it not?
Iſa. 45.6. That they may know from the riſing of the Sun, and from the Weſt; that there is none beſides me, I am the Lord, and there is none elſe.
V. 7. I form the Light and create darkneſse; I make peace, and create evil, I the Lord do all theſe things.
Amos 3.6. Shall a trumpet be blown in the City, and the people not be afraid? ſhall there be evil in a City, and the Lord hath not done it?
Pſal. 135.6. Whatſoever the Lord pleaſed, that did he, in Heaven and in Earth, in the Seas, and in all deep places.
Prov. 15.3. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
Jer. 31.35. Thus ſaith the Lord, which giveth the Sun for a Light by day, and the Ordinances of the Moon, and the Stars for a Light by night, which divideth the Sea, when the waves thereof roar, the Lord of Hoſts is his Name.
Rom. 11.33. O the depth of the riches of the wiſdome and knowledge of God! how unſearcheable are his judgements, and his waies paſt finding out?
Eph. 1.11. In whom alſo we have obtained an inheritance, being predeſtinated according to the purpoſe of him, who worketh all things after the Counſel of his own will.
Prov. 21.1. The Kings heart is in the hands of the Lord, as the Rivers of water, he turneth it whitherſoever he will.
Ezra 7.27. Bleſſed be the Lord God of our Fathers, which hath put ſuch a thing as this in the Kings heart, to beautifie the houſe of the Lord which is in Jeruſalem.
Dan. 5.23. But thou haſt lifted up thy ſelf againſt the Lord of Heaven, and they have brought the veſsels of his houſe before thee, and thou, and thy Lords, thy wives, and thy Concubines have drunk wine in them, and thou haſt praiſed the Gods of ſilver, and Gold, of Braſse, Iron, wood, and Stone, which ſee not, nor hear, nor know, and the God in whoſe hand thy breath is, and whoſe are all thy waies, haſt thou not glorified.
1 Sam. 3.18. And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him, and he ſaid it is the Lord, let him do what ſeemeth him good.
Pſal. 39.9. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, becauſe thou didſt it.
Job 1.21. And ſaid, naked came I out of my mothers womb, and naked ſhall I return thither, the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; Bleſſed be the name of the Lord.
Pſal. 97.1. The Lord reigneth, Let the earth rejoyce, Let the multitude of Iſles be glad …hereof.
… 1.13. Let no man ſay when he is tempted, I am tempted of God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.
V. 14. But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own luſt and enticed.