Keach - Houston-Packer Collection BS537 .K4 1779

AN ANT HR 0 P 0 PATH y, Book I. tination. Ambrofe confirm• this Interpretation, in thefe Words: Thofe whom God foreknew, would embrace the fairh, he elefted them to the promifed Rewards, that they that feem to believe, and either are not really fuch as they pretend to be, or for– fake the Faith may be excluded, for fuch as Go1l hath elected to himfelf do remain his. 1 Pet. i. 20. It is faid of Chrifl the Lamb of God, and the Redeemer of the World, that he was wpo<yvw<f'"""' foreknown before the Founclation of the World, that is, he was · ordained by the eternal Decree of God to be offered as a Sacrifice for the Sins of Men. Hitherto of infeparable AdjunCts, the feparab1e are various, we \hall recite fome. /fRMOR and WEd PONS are attributed to God, for he is fometimes faid to be clad in /Inns to denote the Exertion or Execution of his Wrath and Vengeance, Pfal. xxxv. 2, 3· 'Take hold of Shield and Buckler, and fland up for mine Hefp.-Draw out alfo the Spear, and flop the Way again{/ them that perjecute me, &c. Ifa.lix. 17, 18. For he put on l<.igbteoufneft as a Breafl-plate and an Helmet of SalvatiOil upon his Head, and he put on the Garments of Vengeance for Clothing, and was clad with Zeal as a Cloak, &c. Jer. I. 2 5· It is faid, .'The Lord bath opened his Annory, and bath brought forth the Wea– pons of his lndiguaticn ; for this is the Work of the Lord God of Hofls in the Land of the Chaldeans; when by the Enemy he brings Punifhment, and a gener:1l Ddlrutlion* upon a People; thus the King ofBaby/on is called God's Battle-axe and Weapons ofWar, for with him will he brenk in Pieces the Nations, and with him will be deflroy Kingdoms, ]er. Ii. 20. becaufe by him, and his Hoft the Lord did affiift and make defolate li:veral Countries. More efpecially a BOW, ARROWS, and S'TRINGS are attributed to God, PJal. xxi. 12. Lam. ii. 4· and iii. 12. He bath bent his Bow like a>t Enemy-be bath Jet me as a };[ark for the Arrow.-By which the Effects of his Divine Wrath againft the Wicked are noted. By theArrows ofGod are meant fwift and unlocked for Calamities fent for Sin, Deut. xxxii. 22, 23, 24. I will heap A1ifchiefs upon them, I willJpend mine /frrows upon them, 'job vi. 4· Pfal. xxxviii. 2, 3• and lxiv. 7, 8. Zech. ix. 14. Lam. iii. '3· And more particularly the /frrows of God are faid to be Hail-Stones, 'Tbund<r, Lightnings, Coals of Fire, &c. Pfal. xviii. 13, 14· and cxliv. 6. Hab. iii. 11. Sometimes the infpir– ed Efficacy of the Gofpel in faving rhe Godly, and judging and condemning theWicked, PJal. xlv. 5· lfa. xlix. 2. John xii. 47, 48. 2 Cor. ii. 15, 16. A SWORD is afcribed to God, by which likewife is intimated his Wrath and Ven• geance of which that is an Index and Symbol, Deut. xxxii. 41. Judg. vii. 20. Pfal. xvii. 18. Jfa..xxvii. 1. and xxxiv. 5, 6. Ezek. xxi. 8, 9~ 10.. Zecb.xiii. 7· Munflerus upon !fa. xxx1v. fays, that the Sword of the Lord 1s h1s D1vme Decree, wh1ch none can change, Pfal. Jtxxv. 2, 3· fly thefe Weapons, Divine Vengeance is metaphorically de– fcribed. See Rev. xix. 15, 21. The Term Sword is applied alfo to God with Refpect to its penetrating Force, of which more heteaftet in its proper Place. A GLI'f'TERlNG SPEAR, or lit.htning Spear, io attribmed to God, Hab. iii. z 1. Stones, Hail, 'Thunder, Lightning, &<. fent from Heaven are thereby noted, as Jojh. X, JI, Vlhen a SHIELD or 'TARGE'T is afcribed to God, it is to be undet!l:ood of his propitious Favor and Mercy to Men through Chrift, becoming their Defence, Pro– teCtion and Security-warding (as a Shield does Blows) all Affaults and Violencesofthe Enemy, and converting all into Good for his People, Gm. xv. 1. Deut. xxxiii. 29. Pfa/, iii. 3, 4· xviii. 2, 3· xxviii. 6, 7· lxxxiv. 11, 12. and v. 12. For thou, 0 Lord wilt blefs the Righteous: With Pavor wilt thou compaft them as with a Shield. 'The Word of God is called a Shield, Pfal. xci. 4· Prov. xxx. 5· Eph. vi. 16. becaufe when it is received by Faith, its Virtue is exerted in the Defence of Believers. The Holy Spirit is called an EARNEST given by God to Believers, 2Cor. ·i. 22. and Chap. v.s. Eph. i. 14. The H ebrew call j1J"1)1 (of whom the Greeks borrowed Appx(3wv, the Latins Anbabo) any Thing that is given to confirm a Promife or bind a " P:udtbria. Bargain,

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