Amore sure Word of Prophecy.] this may seem to ascribe some more credit to the Prophets, than to the Gospel? No, they were all written by divers men, in divers ages, at divers places, on divers occasions: yet eadem veritas, eadem authoritas; they all have the same truth, the same authority. Though the Jews acknowledge the old Testament, abhor the new: though Turks disclaim both, Atheists despise both, sinners neglect both: yet as the Disciples had but one Master, and were all brothers: so the books have but one Father, and they are all sisters. One Lord is original and Subject of them, one Spirit indited them, one blood of the Lamb sealed them, one truth is maintained in them, one Spouse of Christ hath with an unpartial respect equally received them, and miraculously preserved them: and rather than any rent or maim should be made in their sacred body, she hath sent her members dismembered, and bereft of their dearest blood, into heaven. These are the Gages of our Saviours love, Gods royal Covenants, the oracles of his Sanctuary, the key of his revealed Counsels, milk from his sacred breast, the light of our eyes, the joy of our harts, the pillars of our faith, the anchor of our hope, the evidences and deeds of our eternal blessedness. It is true that one Star differs from another in glory, and the rule of the day is given to the Sun, of the night to the Moon. The Captains of the sons of God may hear an unequal report, 1 Chro. 12.14. The least could resist an hundred; the greatest, a thousand. And no wrong was done in that Anthem, 1 Sam. 18.7. Saul hath slain his thousand, and David his ten thousand. One Plato may be more of value, than a thousand vulgar men: and our Saviour prefers the old wine to the new, Luke 5.39. The old is better. But the whole Scripture, as it came by the inspiration of one Author, so it preserves the equality of one honour. Moses is no better than Samuel, Samuel than David, David than Solomon, the father than the son: David a King, than Amos an heard-man, Peter first chosen, than Paul borne our of due time. Some portion of it sometimes, lend more useful application to our souls: but all of it is like Manna, which relisheth to every faithful conscience, as his heart desireth. Oil is best at the bottom, wine at the midst, milk at the top; but the Fountain-water is all alike. This is the Spring-water of life;
Amore sure Word of Prophecie.] this may seeme to ascribe some more credite to the Prophets, than to the Gospell? No, they were all written by divers men, in divers ages, at divers places, on divers occasions: yet eadem veritas, eadem authoritas; they all have the same truth, the same authority. Though the Iewes acknowledge the old Testament, abhor the new: though Turks disclaime both, Atheists despise both, sinners neglect both: yet as the Disciples had but one Master, and were all brothers: so the bookes have but one Father, and they are all sisters. One Lord is originall and Subject of them, one Spirit indited them, one bloud of the Lambe sealed them, one truth is maintained in them, one Spouse of Christ hath with an unpartiall respect equally received them, and miraculously preserved them: and rather than any rent or maime should be made in their sacred body, she hath sent her members dismembred, and bereft of their dearest bloud, into heaven. These are the Gages of our Saviours love, Gods royall Covenants, the oracles of his Sanctuary, the key of his revealed Councels, milk from his sacred brest, the light of our eies, the joy of our harts, the pillars of our faith, the anchor of our hope, the evidences and deeds of our eternall blessednesse. It is true that one Star differs from another in glory, and the rule of the day is given to the Sun, of the night to the Moone. The Captaines of the sons of God may heare an unequall report, 1 Chro. 12.14. The least could resist an hundred; the greatest, a thousand. And no wrong was done in that Antheme, 1 Sam. 18.7. Saul hath slaine his thousand, and David his ten thousand. One Plato may be more of value, than a thousand vulgar men: and our Saviour prefers the old wine to the new, Luke 5.39. The old is better. But the whole Scripture, as it came by the inspiration of one Author, so it preserves the equality of one honour. Moses is no better than Samuel, Samuel than David, David than Salomon, the father than the son: David a King, than Amos an heard-man, Peter first chosen, than Paul borne our of due time. Some portion of it sometimes, lend more usefull application to our soules: but all of it is like Manna, which rellisheth to every faithfull conscience, as his heart desireth. Oile is best at the bottom, wine at the midst, milke at the top; but the Fountaine-water is all alike. This is the Spring-water of life;
