A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle general of St.…A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle generall of St.…

Verse 12. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they should minister the things which are now showed unto you by them, which have preached unto you the Gospel by the holy Ghost sent down from heaven, the which things the Angels desire to behold.

Verse 12. Vnto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they should minister the things which are now shewed unto you by them, which have preached unto you the Gospell by the holy Ghost sent down from heaven, the which things the Angels desire to behold.

THE fifth and last thing concerning the testimony of the Prophets, is the success of their enquiry, and diligent search: and that in general is, that they were answered and resolved of God. Now in the Lords answer there are two things to be observed. 1. The manner how God gave his answer, that is to say, by Revelation: To whom it was revealed. 2. The matter of the answer, which stands here of two parts. The first concerns the persons: the second concerns the things promised of God. The persons are considered both negatively and affirmatively. Negatively: the Prophets were resolved that they themselves were not the men whom those Oracles concerned. Affirmatively: they were told, that those things, which they prophesied of, they did minister unto us Christians. Thus of the persons. Now the things promised or prophesied of, are not only propounded, but commended, and further described and that two ways. 1. By the glory of their efficient causes, and those are ⟨p. 85⟩either less principal, namely, the Apostles and other Ministers of the Gospel, or more principal, namely, the holy Ghost sent down from heaven. 2. By the adjunct respect of the Angels in heaven, who are said to desire to look unto those things that are thus treasured up in the Ark of the Church.

THE fift and last thing concerning the testimony of the Prophets, is the successe of their enquiry, and diligent search: and that in generall is, that they were answered and resolved of God. Now in the Lords answer there are two things to be observed. 1. The manner how God gave his answer, that is to say, by Revelation: To whom it was revealed. 2. The matter of the answer, which stands here of two parts. The first concernes the persons: the second concernes the things promised of God. The persons are considered both negatively and affirmatively. Negatively: the Prophets were resolved that they themselves were not the men whom those Oracles concerned. Affirmatively: they were told, that those things, which they prophesied of, they did minister unto us Christians. Thus of the persons. Now the things promised or prophesied of, are not onely propounded, but commended, and further described and that two wayes. 1. By the glory of their efficient causes, and those are ⟨p. 85⟩either lesse principall, namely, the Apostles and other Ministers of the Gospel, or more principall, namely, the holy Ghost sent downe from heaven. 2. By the adjunct respect of the Angels in heaven, who are said to desire to look unto those things that are thus treasured up in the Arke of the Church.

The use is first for confutation of their wretched Atheism,¹ that scorn Gods ordinances, as bare and empty actions: but if there were no more to commend them then what this doctrine assures, it might sufficiently censure them for their just contempt. For in these and every of these the Lord meeteth his servants, and doth as it were by a heavenly intercourse confer with his people▪ and familiarly make himself known unto them, as one man is known unto another by conversation, or his name: therefore are they called his name in the third commandment. 2. Secondly, we should be encouraged in all distresses, and doubts, and ignorances to have recourse unto God, and in all humility, and constancy, and faith to seek unto him in the name of Christ, who was ever known to be a Counsellor unto his people;² but then let me add this, that we look to our selves when we come unto God, for there are divers men whom God will not answer, or if he do, it is in justice, as Mich. 3.7. Zach. 7.11. Ezech 20.3.31.

The use is first for confutation of their wretched Atheisme,¹ that scorne Gods ordinances, as bare and empty actions: but if there were no more to commend them then what this doctrine assures, it might sufficiently censure them for their just contempt. For in these and every of these the Lord meeteth his servants, and doth as it were by a heavenly entercourse conferre with his people▪ and familiarly make himselfe knowne unto them, as one man is knowne unto another by conversation, or his name: therefore are they called his name in the third commandement. 2. Secondly, we should be incouraged in all distresses, and doubts, and ignorances to have recourse unto God, and in all humility, and constancy, and faith to seeke unto him in the name of Christ, who was ever knowne to be a Councellour unto his people;²

But what must we do, that God might answer us?¹

But what must we doe, that God might answer us?¹

1. 1Quest. Answ.

1. First, we must be such as will answer when God calls, else it is just, we should call when God will not answer,¹ Zach. 7.11.

1. First, we must be such as will answer when God calls, else it is just, we should call when God will not a•swer,¹ Zach. 7.11.

1. 1[…]〈…〉

2. Secondly, when ever we receive answers from God, we must be sober and humble, and take heed of swelling and pride, else the Lord in freed of feeding u• with revelation, may buffet us by the messengers of Satan, 2 Cor. 12.17.

2. Secondly, when ever we receive a•swers from God, wee must be sober and humble, and take heed of swelling and pride, else the Lord in freed of feeding u• with revelation, may buffet us by the messengers of Sathan, 2 Cor. 12.17.

•. Thirdly, we must take heed of security, and spiritual sleepiness, for that will silence God, and not answering may be justly the scourge of it, or else the Lord may permit the watchmen in stead of comfort to smite us with their words of reproof and discouragement, Cant. 5.6, 7.

•. Thirdly, we must take heed of security, and spirituall sleepinesse, for that will silence God, and not answering may be iustly the scourge of it, or else the Lord may permit the watchmen in stead of comfort to smite us with their words of reproofe and discouragement, Cant. 5.6, 7.

4. Fourthly, we must take heed of Idols in our hearts, beloved sins. For then either the Lord will not answer at all. Ezech. 20.31.3. or he will give u• bitter answers, Ezech. 14.3,7. or he will make our sins answer against us,¹ Isaiah 59.12. or his creatures as instruments of judgements shall answer us, Heb. 2.11. or if when our sins do answer against us, the Lord yet do hear, it is merely for his names sake, Jer. 14.17. yet mere infirmities are no hinderances, Rom. 11.4.3.

4. Fourth•y, we must take heed of Idols in our hearts, beloved sinnes. For then either the Lord will not answer at all. Ezech. 20.31.3. or he will give u• bitter a•swers, Ezech. 14.3,7. or he will make our sins answer against us,¹ Esay 59.12. or his creatures as instruments of iudgements shall answer us, Heb. 2.11. or if when our sins doe answer against us, the Lord yet do heare, it is meerely for his names sake, Ier. 14.17. yet meere infirmities are no hinderances, Rom. 11.4.3.

5. Fifthly, we must bring a mind that will give glory to God without limiting God, or daring to neglect or contemn Gods answers: an instance of Gods indignation at such, as will inquire at God what to do, and yet take their own course i• evident, Jer. 23.35,36.

5. Fiftly, wee must bring a mind that will give glory to God without limiting God, or daring to neglect or contemne Gods answers: an instance of Gods indignation at such, as will inquire at God what to doe, and yet take their owne course i• evident, Ier. 23.35,36.

6. We must carefully distinguish between answers of trial, and direct answers: Paul received an answer of death, 2 Cor. 1.9. but yet he died not at that time. The Lord will reserve the glory of absolute infallibility to his word. As for private and secret revelations,¹ they are not alway to be infallibly trusted unto, but such inward answers as have warrant from some promise ⟨p. 86⟩of the word, such are infallible: but such could not Pauls sentence of present death be.

6. We must carefully distinguish betweene answers of tryall, and direct answers: Paul received an answer of death, 2 Cor. 1.9. but yet he died not at that time. The Lord will reserve the glory of absolute infallibility to his word. As for private and secret revelations,¹ they are not alway to be infallibly trusted unto, but such inward answers as have warrant from some promise ⟨p. 86⟩of the word, such are infallible: but such could not Pauls sentence of present death be.

1. 1Note.

Thus of the general, viz. that God will answer: Now the first thing in particular is, how they were answered, viz. by revelation.

Thus of the generall, viz. that God will answer: Now the first thing in particular is, how they were answered, viz. by revelation.

Unto whom it was revealed.

Vnto whom it was revealed.

God answers divers ways. For at some times extraordinarily he hath given men their answers in dreams, Mal. 2.12. sometimes by his Angels to men awake, Act. 10.22. sometimes by the extraordinary revelation of the holy Ghost, as Luke 2.26. Ordinarily also, God answers more ways then one, as sometimes by his works, by giving what we desire of him: sometimes by his word, directing or comforting us: sometimes by his Spirit, especially in time of private prayer: The first is by operation, the second by information, the third by consolation, but here it is by revelation.

God answers divers waies. For at some times extraordinarily hee hath given men their answers in dreames, Mal. 2.12. sometimes by his Angels to men awake, Act. 10.22. sometimes by the extraordinary revelation of the holy Ghost, as Luke 2.26. Ordinarily also, God answers more waies then one, as sometimes by his works, by giving what we desire of him: sometimes by his word, directing or comforting us: sometimes by his Spirit, especially in time of private prayer: The first is by operation, the second by information, the third by consolation, but here it is by revelation.

¹Again, Revelation is either uncreated, or created.

¹Againe, Revelation is either uncreated, or created.

1. 1Distinctions ab […].Distinctions ab 〈…〉.