Ver. 17. the 17th Chapter of St. J O RN. 2 59 waa I not known unto them. And after the appropriation of the Covenant to the Fami- ly of the Patriarchs, he is called the God of Abraham, of Ifiae, and of Jacob ; Exod, 3. 15. The Lord God of your Fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Ifàac, and the God of Jacob, bath lent me unto you. This is my Name for ever, and this is my Memo- rial unto all Generations. Then upon experience of God's care of them, he is called, Exod. 20. 2. The Lord thy God, which hath brought thee out of the Land of Egypt, out of the Houfe of Bondage: Then the Lord, that brought his People out of the North Country, ,der. 23. 7, 8. Therefore behold, the days come, faith tee Lord, that 'they ,/ball no more fay, The Lord liveth, that brought up the Children of Ifrael out of the Land of Egypt; But, the Lord liveth, which brought up, and which led the ,Seed of the Houfe, of Ifrael out of the North Country, and from all Countries, whither I had driven them, and they (hall dwell in their own Land. Then when the Sun of Righteournefs was ricen, the God and Father of our Lord Jefes Chrift ; a Pet. 1.3. Bleed be the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrifi, which according to his abundant Mercy, bath begotten sos again un- to a lively Hope, &c. 2 Cor. r. 3. Blefd be God, even the Father of our Lord Jefur Çhriit, the Father of Mercies, and the God of all Comfort. Ephef e.3. Bleffd be the God and Father of our Lord Jefes Chrifi, who hath blefdssa with all Spiritual Bleffings in Heavenly Places in Chrift. So for the Myftery of Redemption ; Fill}, it was revealed to Adam to be by the Seed of the Woman,_ Gen. 3. 15. 1 will put enmity between thee and the Woman, and between thy Seed and her Seed': It full bruifè thy Head, and thou (halt bruifè his Heel. Then to Abraham; by thy Seed, Gen.12.3.1n thee Pall all Families, of the Earth be bleed ; which was repeated to Ifaac to cut off Ifbmael; then to Pooh to cut off Efau. Then it was revealed out of what Tribe he fhould come, viz. out of Judah, Gen. 49. to. The Scepter Ball not depart from Judah, nor the Law -giver from be- tween his Feet, until Shiloh come. Then that he fhould come of David's Line, Ifa. t 1. I. There (hall come forth a Rod out of the Stem of Jeffe, and a Branch 'hall grow out of his Roots. And that he fhould be born of a Virgin, Ifa. 7. 14. Behold, a Virgin lsall conceive, and !hall bear a Son, and !.rail call his Name Immanuel. There is a difference of manifeftation, yet Rill an Ha,rmony, as there is a difference between a Cmall Print and a great Print, but the Matte' is the fame. The Myftery of God manifeiled in the Flefh, is let forth in a fairer Editigpn 5. There is one Charaaer more in the Form and Manner Of thefe Writings, and that is Impartiality. Kings and Subje &s are bound by the fame Laws, liable to the fame Punifhments, encouraged by the fame Promifes. If the Scriptures were only a Politick Device to keep Subje &s in awe, there would be Come exemption for Poten- tates ; but they are alike obnoxious to God's Judgment, and the fame Tophet that is pro- vided for the Peafant, is provided for the Prince. lfa. 3o. 33. For Tophet is ordained of old, yea, for the King it is prepared, he bath made it deep and large, &c. Tophet was a Valley, where the Idolatrous Jews were wont to burn their Children ï therefore, as a fit Type of Everlafting Punifhment, it is put for Hell ; it is capacious enough to re- ceive all, King and Subje &. Now the Scriptures that threaten Potentates as well as others, mutt needs be a Law that cometli from an higher than the Higheft : Who would prefurneelfe to threaten thofe in Power ? Rev. 20. 12. And I faro the Dead, fmall and great, Rand before God and the Books were opened : and another Book was opened, which was the Book of Life : and the Dead were judged out of thofe things which were written in the Books, according to their Works. On this tide the Grave, there is a diflin &ion between Man and Man,but all are alike obnoxious to Chrift's Judgmenr,and all Rand in dread of it. There is enough in the. Scriptures to altonifh the Heart of the mightieff Potentate, and make it tremble. Il. Now from the Matter of the Scriptures. I am much prevented from what is publifhed on James 1. 18. But let me (peak fomething now. All that is fpoken in the Scripture, may be reduced to thefe five Heads, Precepts, Promifes, Do &rines, Hifto- ries, Prophecies. Now all thefe proclaim it to be of God. I (hall be brief in going over this Enumeration. 1. For the Precepts of the Word. PCal. 119.96. I have feen an end of all Perfelli- on, but thy Commandments are exceeding broad. Here all. Matters of Duty and Morality are advanced, to their higheft Perfe&ion. It is very broad, watching every Thought, and the firft Motions of the Heart. No Precepts are fo Holy, Juft, and Good. The ,Light of Nature feeth a necef lty of Holinefs;shere are fome Fragments and Remains of Light in Man's. Heart,that teach him what is good and rightbbut there are much blurred. Kkkk 2 Rom.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=