A cloud of faithful witnesses, leading to the heavenly Canaan, or, A commentary upon…A cloud of faithfull witnesses, leading to the heauenly Canaan, or, A commentarie vpon…

I answer: Not so; for first, we are recompensed by having the Scriptures perfect, and complete, which they had not: and by having the substance of their shadows, and the performance of their promises: in which respects our state is far more excellent then theirs. And secondly, for this particular, I answer, they indeed had more ordinary revelation of matters personal and private, and not directly touching salvation: but of such things as are general, and do necessarily concern salvation; we in the time of the new Testament, have more evident demonstration, and more full revelation, then they had afore Christ. For example, particular mercies to some faithful men, or particular judgements on Gods enemies, whether particular men or whole kingdoms, were after revealed to godly men, in those days (as here to Noah): but salvation by the Messiah, and the manner how the Messiah should save his Church, is more fully and plainly revealed now then in those days.

I answere: Not so; for first, we are recompenced by hauing the Scriptures perfect, and complete, which they had not: and by hauing the substance of their shadowes, and the performance of their promises: in which respects our state is farre more excellent then theirs. And secondly, for this particular, I answere, they indeede had more ordinarie reuelation of matters personall and priuate, and not directly touching saluation: but of such things as are generall, and doe necessarily concerne saluation; wee in the time of the new Testament, haue more euident demonstration, and more full reuelation, then they had afore Christ. For exsample, particular mercies to some faithfull men, or particular iudgements on Gods enemies, whether particular men or whole kingdomes, were after reuealed to godly men, in those dayes (as here to Noah): but saluation by the Messias, and the manner how the Messias should saue his Church, is more fully and plainly reuealed now then in those dayes.

Out of which consideration ariseth the third caution: which is, that revelations of Gods will, to be expected now under the Gospel, are ordinarily nothing else, but these; the true meaning of Scripture, & a discerning of true Scripture from forged, of true Sacraments from supposed, of true doctrine from false, of true Pastors from false Prophets. These & such like, as far forth as they are necessary to salvation, all true and faithful believers (which out of an humbled heart, by devout prayer do seek it at Gods hand) are sure to have revealed unto them from God. But as for other purposes of God, of personal and particular matters, or what shall be his blessings, or what his judgements to these and these men, families, Cities, or Kingdoms; or when, or how he will change States, or translate kingdoms: Or by what extraordinary means he will have his Gospel propagated, or a declining Church or State upholden; these we are not to expect, nor easily to believe any that shall say, such things are revealed unto them. And yet we tie not the Lord in such strait bonds, but that he may sometime extraordinarily reveal his purpose therein, to some his selected servants: yet provided, that that revelation be examined and allowed of the Church. But as for such things as concern immediately the salvation of our souls, Gods spirit doth most comfortably reveal them unto us, in our prayers, in his word, and in his Sacraments: of all which, it is most true, that the secrets of God are amongst them that fear him.