by an Oath. ..arIN Inosams=. which thou haffworne to ourfathers from the dayes of old. Micah.7.2o.7hybowwas made quitenaked, aeon ding to the (whet of the tribes, even thy Word. Hab.3.9. that is, Thoudidamake it appeare to thine enemies that thoudial fight for thy People,and remember thy Word or Covenant of mercy which thou didfl fweare unto a./Artibam the Father ofthe faithful!, and fo oftentimes new ratifie unto his feed, the Tribes which proceeded from him. And this is the ground ofall the Churches comfort and flabilitie : for alas, wee every day deferve to haveGod abrogatehis Covenant of mercy with us, but hee is mindefull of the Oath which hee hath frorne. cDeur.7.7.8.9.5 . There was vvickednefn enough in the world tohave drawne downe anotherflood after that of Noah, the fame reafon that caufed it, did rernahe after it was removed. Gener.6.x 2, T 3. 8. a r . But Gods Oath boundhim to his mercy, Elay,54.9. The meaning then , ofthisfirfi Claufe is this. The Lord toPhew the immu- tabilityofhis Counfell,the unchangeableneffeofCh rifts Priefthood, the excellencie ofit above the Priefihood of Aaron, the firong confolation hich the Saints may there hence receive, hath fealed it by an Oath : 10 that he is a Priell by a decree which cannot be revoked. It notes untous the Solemne call of Chrill unto theof- fice of Priefihood, as before ofKi4g.verfe He did not ufurpethis honour to hirnfelfe as Nadaband ribtha did, when oftheir owne heads they offered ftrange fire unto the Lord ;noi incroach upon us as rtr,i4b ; but hee was ordainedand begotten, andcalledofGod thereunto, after the order of .44'elchiredech,Heb.5.5.i o. Hee wasfavai- fiedand tent, andbad a commandement, and a work, let him to doe. lobs 1o.18.36.17. In which refpea hee was called a Servant, or a chofen officerforrned for a fpccia."1 ' imployment. Flay42..4.49. 5. 5 3. II. Phil. 2. 7 here then is the content of the whole Trettitie unto Chtifts Prieflhood. Firfl, the Fathersconfent in his Ad ofor- C c dina- 387 VERSE 4. Deive- ri veracifqae ru, atio,r4pro- miffi confirma. tin, ut infidcli- guldamfn- drepatia ? Aug. de Civi. it5.cap.p.
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