Christ and Moses Excellency, Title page – To the reader
CHRIST and MOSES Excellency, OR Sion and Sinai's Glory.
BEING A Triplex Treatiſe, diſtinguiſhing and explaining the TWO COVENANTS or the Goſpel and Law: AND Directing to the right underſtanding applying, and finding of the Informing and Aſſuring Promiſes, that belong to both Covenants.
By VAVASOR POVVELL, Preacher of the Goſpel in Wales.
Joh. 1.17.
The Law was given by Moſes, but Grace and Truth came by Jeſus Chriſt.
Gal. 3.21.
Is the Law then againſt the Promiſes of God? God forbid.
LONDON, Printed by R. I. for Hannah Allen, at the Crown in Popes head-Alley, 1650.
To the courteous and Chriſtian READER.
Reader,
THis little Book is divided into three parts, and it treats orderly of three things; to wit, of the Covenant of grace, of the Covenant of works, and of the promiſes belonging to both. In the two firſt parts is handled moſt, or all, of the materiall Queſtions about the Goſpel, and Law; alſo the Intent, extent, and efficacie of the death of Chriſt; together with the Scriptures that declare the ſame, and the Objections that are made about the univerſality thereof. In the laſt Part are ſeveral things concerning the dividing, underſtanding, and applying of the Promiſes: with an eaſie and ſpeedy way how to finde all, or moſt, promiſes in the Bible alphabetically Though there be ſeverall books extant, ſome upon the Goſpel and Law, and others particularly upon the Promiſes; yet, I hope, I may truly, and without oſtentation affirm, that this hath the ſum of moſt of them, & ſomwhat more then any of them, eſpecially concerning the Promiſes, (about which I have taken no ſmal paines) where, beſides ſever all other things, there areaSee pag. 260. &c. forty five Rules, gathered out of the Scriptures, for to give light therein; alſo the promiſes made tobSee pag. 269. Chriſt perſonally, by themſelves in ſeverall particulars: and the promiſes made to thecAs pag. 271, &c. Jews whilſt they were formerly a Church: Likewiſe the promiſes that concern thedAs Pag. 275. &c. Jewes hereaſter, when they are called and converted; and theſe under diſtinct and ſeverall heads. The third Part of this book (to wit, that upon the Promiſes) may ſerve for a double uſe. Firſt, as a ſmall Concordance, where you may find proofes (eſpecially thoſe of the nature of promiſes) for moſt material points in Scripture. Secondly, this may ſerve for to help you to find Promiſes for any thing you deſire (and which is to be found in the Scripture) and that inſtantly, without looking in the Table to the book, (for that reaches no further then the promiſes) As for example, to find Promiſes of faith. See the word Faith in the margin of pag. 331. ſo of any other word.
Object. But it may bee you will ſay, There were ſeverall Books extant before, that did direct us to find the Promiſes.
Anſw. It is very true, that other (and far more able) men then my ſelfe, have done exceeding well herein; yet to uſe the expreſsion of one of them: That a child upon a Gyants ſhoulders, can ſee further then the Gyant: So I, having the help of their labours herein, and of other bookes, (but eſpecially by a frequent, thorow, and diligent ſearch of Gods Book) I have by the Lords light and Spirit, ſeen and ſet down (without vaine-glory be it mentioned) more Promiſes, (by ſeverall ſcores according to compariſon and computation) and in a more diſtinct and eaſie way to finde, then others have (to my underſtanding) done before me, Obſerve but theſe few Rules, and I will leave thee to tryall.
1 I doe divide the Promiſes into two ranks or ſorts, to wit, informing, and aſſuring Promiſes, and the difference I make between them, is this; that the informing Promiſes (which are upon the left ſide of the page) doe not ſpeake directly, and patly, but by way of information but the Aſſuring Promiſes ſpeak directs, (and thoſe are the chiefeſt Promiſes.) As for inſtance, in the word pardon, pag. 404. in the Informing Promiſes in Nth. 9.17. God is ſaid, to be ready to pardon. But in the Aſſuring Promiſes in Jer. 33.8. God ſaith I will pardon all their iniquities.
2 Ʋnderſtand that there are not Informing and Aſſuring promiſes under every word. As for example, in the word glory, there are no Aſſuring (or direct) Promiſes: So in the word finde there are no Informing Promiſes.
3 There are ſeverall things, or heads, under one word. As for example, under the word receive there are ſix diſtinct things, ſo under the word ſave.
4 Where you finde but few Promiſes, or ſometimes but one Promiſe under a word, know that there is no more in the Bible belonging to that word, as in the word Peace-makers.
5 Note that ſeverall words are of the ſame ſignification, and if you find not many, or ſeveral Promiſes in one word, turn and ſee in another: as in the word Aſſurance; See there is know, faith, beleeve, confident.
6 Obſerve that ſometime words that give light or teſtimony to a oint (though they doe not ſound like P…miſes, yet they) are ſet downe as Promiſs, As in the word kindneſſe.
7 Search for the Promiſes here, and then read them in Gods owne Book, and labour to get the Promiſes (eſpecially the chiefe ones, and thoſe that are of ſpirituall, and ſpeciall concernment) by heart.
Loving Reader, having held thee thus long in the Porch, I invite thee into the houſe; but I am ſorry that this book is ſo big, and I fear, deare (but not dearer by any Merchandize I have made of it,) but its not ſo dear to thee, as to me, it having coſt me many nights ſtudy, becauſe I would not neglect for the Printing of a thouſand Books, the preaching of one Sermon.
I intended this onelyonly for a private (yet worthy) Gentleman, who by many ſeverall motions and courteſies put me on. I wiſh him and thee as much good in reading, as I had in ſtuching and writing it; And this ſhall be the prayer of one of the Lords meaneſt Saints, and in him thy ſervant, for thy ſoules good.
V. Powell.