A27107:85
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please…
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God / amplified by the author
A27107:85
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God / amplified by the author
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
This holy Name of God teacheth us:
First, What God is in himself, namely, †an eternal being of himself.
Secondly, How he is unto others, because that from him all other Creatures have received their being.
Thirdly, That we may confidently believe his promises: for he is named Jehovah, not only in respect of being, and causing all things to be; but especially in respect of his gracious promises, 1which without fail he will fulfil in his appointed time, and so cause that to be, which was not before. And so this Name is a golden pledge unto us, that because he hath promised, he will surely upona our repentance forgive us all our sins; at the time o• death,b receive our Souls; and in the resurrection craise up our Bodies in glory to life everlasting.
The second Name denoting God's Essence, is Ehejeh; but once read, Exod. 3. 14 of the same root that JEHOVAH is: and signifieth. I AM, or I WILL BE▪ for when Moses asked God by what Name he should call him, God then named himself, Ehejeh Asher Ehejeh; I am tha• ⟨p. 17⟩I am: or I will be that I will be: signifying, that he is an eternal, unchangeable Being: for seeing every Creature is temporary and mutable; no Creature can say, Ero qui ero, I will be that I will be. This name in the New Testament is given to our Lord Christ, when he is called Alpha and Omega; The beginning and the ending, †which is, which was, and which is to come; The Almighty, Apoc. 1. 8. For all time past and to come, is aye present before God. And to this name, Christ himself alludeth, Joh 8. 58. Before Abraham was, I AM.
This Name should teach us likewise to have always present in our minds our first Creation, present Corruption, and future Glorification; and not content our selves with I was good, or I will be good, but to be good presently; that when ever God sends for us, he may find us prepared for him.
The third name is Jah, which as it comes of the same root, so is it the contract of Jehovah, and signifieth Lord, because he is the* beginning and Being of Beings. It is aa name for the most part, ascribed unto God, when some notable deliverance or benefit comes to pass according to his former promise: and therefore all Creatures in Heaven and Earth, are commanded to celebrate and praise God in this Name Jah.
The fourth is [Greek or Hebrew], Lord, used often in the New Testament: for [Greek or Hebrew], or [Greek or Hebrew], ⟨p. 18⟩signifieth I am. Hence [Greek or Hebrew], signifieth the first Essence of a thing, or authority, when it is absolutely given to God, it answereth to the Hebrew name Jehovah, and is so translated by the seventy Interpreters: for God is so a Lord, that he is of ahimself Lord of all. This Name should always put us in remembrance tob obey his Commandments, and to fear his Judgments, and submit our selves to his blessed Will and Pleasure, saying with Eli, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good, 1 Sam. 3. 18.
The fourth is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Lord, used often in the New Testament: for 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, or 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, ⟨p. 18⟩signifieth I am. Hence 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, signifieth the first Essence of a thing, or authority, when it is absolutely given to God, it answereth to the Hebrew name Jehovah, and is so translated by the seventy Interpreters: for God is so a Lord, that he is of ahimself Lord of all. This Name should always put us in remembrance tob obey his Commandments, and to fear his Judgments, and submit our selves to his blessed Will and Pleasure, saying with Eli, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good, 1 Sam. 3. 18.
The fifth is [Greek or Hebrew], God, 600 times used in the New Testament: and of profane Writers commonly. It is derivedc [Greek or Hebrew], because he runs through and compasseth all things: or [Greek or Hebrew], which signifieth to burn and kindle: for God is Light and the Author both of Heat, dLight, and Life, in all Creatures, either immediately of himself; or mediately by secondary causes. This name i• used either improperly, or properly. Improperly, when it is given either figuratively, to Magistrates, or falsely to Idols. But when it is properly and absolutely taken, it signifieth the Eternal Essence of God, being above all things, and through all things: giving life and light to all creatures, and preserving and governing them, in their wonderful frame and order. God seeth all in all places: Let us therefore every where take heed what we do in his sight.
The fifth is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, God, 600 times used in the New Testament: and of prophane Wri•ers commonly. It is derivedc 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, because he runs thorow and compasseth all things: or 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, which signifieth to burn and kindle: for God is Light and the Author both of Heat, dLight, and Life, in all Creatures, either immediately of himself; or mediately by secondary causes. This name i• used either improperly, or properly. Improperly, when it is given either figuratively, to Magistrates, or falsely to Idols. But when it is properly and absolutely taken, it signifieth the Eternal Essence of God, being above all things, and through all things: giving life and light to all creatures, and preserving and governing them, in their wonderful frame and order. God seeth all in all places: Let us therefore every where take heed what we do in his sight.
Thus far of the names which signify God's Essence.
Thus far of the names which signifie God's Essence.
The name which signifieth the Persons in the Essence, is chiefly one,* Elohim.
Elohim signifieth the mighty Judges: it is a name of the plural number, to express the Trinity of Persons in† Unity of Essence. And to this purpose the holy Ghost beginneth the holy Bible with this plural Name of God, joined with a Verb of the singular number; as Elohim Bara, Dii creavit. fThe mighty Gods, or all the three Persons in the God-head, created. The Jews also note in the Verb [Greek or Hebrew] Bara consisting of three Letters, the mystery of the Trinity, by [Greek or Hebrew] Beth, Ben, the Son: by [Greek or Hebrew] Resh, Ruach, the Spirit, by [Greek or Hebrew] Aleph, Ab, the Father. But this holy mystery is more clearly taught by Moses, Gen. 3. 23 And Jehovah Elohim said, Behold, the Man is become as one of us. And Gen. 19. 24. Jehovah rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah, brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of Heaven: gthat is God the Son, from God the Father, who hath committed all judgment unto the Son, John 5. 22. See Psal. 33. 6. Isa. 6. 8, 9, 10. The singular number of Elohim is Eloah, derived of Alah, he swore; because that in all weighty causes, when necessity requireth an Oath to decide the Truth, we are only to swear by the Name of God which is the great and righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth.
Elohim signifieth the mighty Judges: it is a name of the plural number, to express the Trinity of Persons in† Vnity of Essence. And to this purpose the holy Ghost beginneth the holy Bible with this plural Name of God, joyned with a Verb of the singular number; as Elohim Bara, Dii creavit. fThe mighty Gods, or all the three Persons in the God-head, created. The Jews also note in the Verb Bara consisting of three Letters, the mystery of the Trinity, by Beth, Ben, the Son: by Resh, Ruach, the Spirit, by Aleph, Ab, the Father. But this holy mystery is more clearly taught by Moses,
This Name Eloah is but seldom used, ⟨p. 20⟩as Hab. 3. 3. Job 4. 9. Job 12. 4. and 15. 8. 36. 2. Psal. 18. 32. Psal. 114. 7. Once it hath a Noun plural joined to it,a Job 35. 10. None saith, Where is Eloah Gosai, the Almighty my Maker? to note the mystery of the eternal Trinity. Many times also Elohim, the plural number, is joined with a Verb singular, to express more emphatically this Mystery, Gen. 35. 7. 2. Sam. 7. 23.b Josh. 24. 19. Jer. 10. 10. Elohim is also sometime Tropically given to Magistrates, because they are God's Vice-gerents, as to Moses, Exod. 7. 1. Jehovah said unto Moses, I have made thee Elohim to Pharaoh, that is, I have appointed thee an Ambassador to represent the person of the true three one God, and to deliver his message and will unto Pharaoh. As oft therefore as we read or hear this name Elohim, it should put us in mind to consider, that in one divine Essence there are three distinct Persons, and that God is Jehovah Elohim.
This Name Eloah is but seldom used, ⟨p. 20⟩
1. ELL, which is as much as the strong God, cand reacheth us, that God is not only most strong, and fortitude it self in his own Essence: but also that it is he, that giveth all strength and power to all other Creatures. Therefore Christ is called, Isai. 9. 6. Ell Gibbor, The strong most mighty God. Let not God's Children ⟨p. 21⟩fear the power of enemies, for Ell our God is more strong than they.
1. EL, which is as much as the strong God, cand reacheth us, that God is not only most strong, and fortitude it self in his own Essence: but also that it is he, that giveth all strength and power to all other Creatures. Therefore Christ is called, Isai. 9. 6. El Gibbor, The strong most mighty God. Let not God's Children ⟨p. 21⟩fear the power of enemies, for El our God is more strong than they.
2. Shaddai, *That is, Omnipotent. By this Name, God usually styled himself to the Patriarchs, I am Ell Shaddai, the strong God, Almighty. Because he is perfectly able to defend his servants from all evil: to bless them with all spiritual and temporal blessings, and to perform all his promises which he hath made unto them for this life, and that which is to come. This name belongeth only to the Godhead, and to no creature, no, not to the humanity of Christ. This may teach us with the Patriarchs, to put our whole confidence in God, and not to doubt of the true performance of his promises.
2. Shaddai, *That is, Omnipotent. By this Name, God usually stiled himself to the Patriarchs, I am El Shaddai, the strong God, Almighty. Because he is perfectly able to defend his servants from all evil: to bless them with all spiritual and temporal blessings, and to perform all his promises which he hath made unto them for this life, and that which is to come. This name belongeth only to the Godhead, and to no creature, no, not to the humanity of Christ. This may teach us with the Patriarchs, to put our whole confidence in God, and not to doubt of the true performance of his promises.