and governing of them, in a manifold dispensation, to his own holy ends; yet so as the sinfulness thereof proceedeth only from the creature, and not from God; who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin. V. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God, doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption, and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy ends ". VI. As for those wicked and ungodly men, whom God as a righteous judge, for former sins, doth blind and harden*, from them he my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest. r Gen. 1. 20. But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Isa. x. 6. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Ver. 7. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. Ver. 12. Wherefore it shall come to pass, that, when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. s James i. 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: Ver. 14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Ver. 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 1 John ii. 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. Psal. 1. 21. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. V. t 2 Chr. xxxii. 25. But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. Ver. 26. Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, (both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem,) so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. Ver. 31. Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. u 2 Cor. xii. 7. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. Ver. 8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. Ver. 9. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Psal. Ixxiii. throughout. Psal. lxxvii. 1. I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. Ver. 10. And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. Ver. 12. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. [Read the intermediate Verses in the Bible.] Mark xiv. from the 66th verse to the end, with John xxi. 15. So, when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. Ver. 15. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Ver. 17. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. VI. x Rom. i. 24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves B 2 not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understandings, and wrought upon in their hearts; but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan: whereby it comes to pass, that they harden themselves, even under those means which God useth for the softening of others. VII. As the providence of God doth, in general, reach to all creatures; so, after a most special manner, it taketh care of his church, and disposeth all things to the good thereofa. Ver. 26. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. Ver. 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. Rom. xi. 7. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded Ver. 8. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear) unto this day. y Deut. xxix. 4. Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. Mat. xiii. 12. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Mat. xxv. 29. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, shall be taken away even that which he hath. a Deut. ii. 30. But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the Lord thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day. 2 Kings viii. 12. And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child. Ver. 13. And Hazael said, But what! is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lord hath showed me that thou shalt be king over Syria. b Psal. lxxxi. 11. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. Ver. 12. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. 2 Thess. il. 10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; beOause they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Ver. 11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; Ver. 12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. c Exod. vii. 3. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. With Exod. vii. 15. But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. Ver. 32. And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go. 2 Cor. ii. 15. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish. Ver. 16. To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life: and who is sufficient for these things? Isa. viii. 14. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offence, to both the houses of Israel; for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 1 Pet. ii. 7. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, Ver. 8. And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed. Isa. vi. 9. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Ver. 10. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. With Acts xxviii. 26. Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: Ver. 27. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. VII. d 1 Tim. iv. 10. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. Amos ix. 8. Behold, the eyes of CHAP. VI. Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof. O Satan, sinned in eating the forbidden fruit UR first parents being seduced by the subtilty and temptation of This their sin God was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to his own glory b. II. By this sin they fell from their original righteousness, and communion with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body. III. They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed, and the same death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the Lord. Ver. 9. For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. Rom. viii. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Isa. xliii. 3. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: 1 gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Ver. 4. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Ver. 5. Fear not; for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west. Ver. 14. Thus saith the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships. I. a Gen. iii. 13. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 2 Cor. xi. 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. b Rom. xi. 52. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. II. Gen. iii. 6. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. Ver. 7. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves aprons. Ver. 8. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. Eccl. vii. 29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Rom. iii. 23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. d Gen. ii. 17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Eph. ii. 1. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. e Tit. i. 15. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure: but even their mind and conscience is defiled. Gen. vi. 5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Jer. xvii. 9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Rom. iii. 10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Ver. 11. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. Ver. 12. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Ver. 13. Their throat is an open sepulchre: with their tongues they have used deceit : the poison of asps is under their lips: Ver. 14. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Ver. 15. Their feet are swift to shed blood: Ver. 16. Destruction and misery are in their ways: Ver. 17. And the way of peace have they not known: Ver. 18. There is no fear of God before their eyes. III. fGen. i. 27. So God created man in his own image: in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Ver. 28. And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And Gen. ii. 16. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; Ver. 17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of i: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. And Acts xvii. 26. And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth and hath determined be times before appointed, and the bounds of to all their posterity, descending from them by ordinary generations. IV. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions k. V. This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated': and although it be through Christ pardoned their habitation. With Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Ver. 15. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead; much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. Ver. 16. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. Ver. 17. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Ver. 18. Therefore, as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. Ver. 19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners; so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. And1 Cor. xv. 21. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. Ver. 22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. *Ver. 45. And so it is written, The first mån Adam was made a living soul, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. *Ver. 49. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. g Psal. li. 5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Gen. v. 3. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth. Job xiv. 4. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. Job. xv. 14. What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous! IV. h Rom. v. 6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom. viii. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Rom. vii. 18. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Col. i. 21. And you, that were sometime alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he 1oconciled. 1 Gen. vi. 5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Gen. viii. 21. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth: neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. Rom. iii. 10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Ver. 11. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. Ver. 12. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. k James i. 14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Ver. 15. Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Eph. ii. 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Ver. 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Mat. xv. 19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false with ss, blasphemies. V. 11 John i. 8. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Ver. 10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Rom. vii. 14. For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. Ver. 17. Now then, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Ver. 18. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Ver. 23. But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. James iii. 2. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Prov. xx. 9. Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? Eccl. vii. 20. For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. and mortified, yet both itself, and all the motions thereof, are truly and properly sín m. VI. Every sin, both original and actual, being a transgression of the righteous law of God, and contrary thereunto", doth, in its own nature, bring guilt upon the sinner, whereby he is bound over to the wrath of God, and curse of the law 9, and so made subject to death', with all miseries spiritual, temporal', and eternal". CHAP. VII. Of God's Covenant with Man. HE distance between God and the creature is so great, that alCreator, yet they could never have any fruition of him as their blessedness and reward, but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which he hath been pleased to express by way of covenant". Rom. vii. 5. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. Ver. 7. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Ver. 8. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. Ver. 25. thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Gal. v. 17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. VI. n 1 John iii. 4. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. o Rom. ii. 15. Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another. Rom. iii. 9. What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin. Ver. 19. Now we know, that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. P Eph. ii. 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 Gal. iii. 10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that contiuueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Rom. vi. 23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Eph. iv. 18. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is inthem, because of the blindness of their heart. t Rom. viii. 20. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. Lam. iii. 39. Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? u Mat. xxv. 41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. 2 Thess. 1. 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. 1. a Isa. xl. 13. Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or, being his counsellor, hath taught him? Ver. 14. With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding? Ver. 15. Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. Ver. 16. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt-offering. Ver. 17. All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. Job. ix. 32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. Ver. 33. Neither is there any day's-man betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both. 1 Sam. ii. 25. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him; but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him? cxiii. 5. Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, Ver. 6. Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the ea Psal. |