David describeth the godly man, by his pleasure, and by his pains: First, the pleasure of the godly man, in these words:1 He delighteth in the Law of the Lord. Secondly, the pains of the godly man: And in that Law he meditateth day and night; not only in the day appointed for man to labour in, but in the night also appointed for man to rest: the reason is, because it is his meat and drink, to do the will of his God. (Honoured Sir) The Word of Christ being the Rule ⟨image 44⟩of Englands Reformation; the good Lord (that writeth his Laws in his peoples hearts, according to his new Covenant of Grace: Heb. 8. 10.) put it into my mind, seriously to consider, What Schism was, that I had covenanted against. And searching the Scriptures, I found it thus written, 1. Tim. 6. 3. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to the wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ; and to the Doctrine which is according to godliness. Vers. 4. He is proud, knowing nothing; but doting about Questions, and strife of words; whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings. Vers. 5. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth; supposing that gain is godliness; from such withdraw thy self. Yea, and after a further enquiry, to understand aright the things that are controverted amongst us; by the good providence of the Almighty, I found two Texts of holy Scripture, setting forth two sorts of men, Diametrally opposing one another, as light doth darkness, truth doth falsehood; the one th•s written: 1 John 5. 1. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is borne of God. And the other, thus; 1 John 2. 22. Who is a liar, but he ⟨image 44⟩that denieth that Jesus is not the Christ, He is Antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Sonne. And when I thought to understand the difference, it was to hard for me, until I went into the Sanctuary of God; where the Father of glory, of his good pleasure, revealed to me (the most unworthyest of all his servants) the truth of that; which (I conceive) is the root of all our Controversies, and gave me to understand the meaning of the Scriptures, 1 John 5. 1. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, viz. the eternal King, Prophet, Priest of the Church of the new Testament, ratified with his blood, whom the Father of glory hath exalted to be Lord and Christ, Acts 2. 36. and head, Ephes. 2. 20, 21, 22, 23.
DAvid describeth the godly man, by his pleasure, and by his paines: First, the pleasure of the godly man, in these words:1 He delighteth in the Law of the Lord. Secondly, the paines of the godly man: And in that Law he meditateth day and night; not only in the day appointed for man to labour in, but in the night also appointed for man to rest: the reason is, because it is his meat and drinke, to doe the will of his God. (Honoured Sir) The Word of Christ being the Rule ⟨image 44⟩of Englands Reformation; the good Lord (that writeth his Lawes in his peoples hearts, according to his new Covenant of Grace: Heb. 8. 10.) put it into my minde, seriously to consider, What Schisme was, that I had covenanted against. And searching the Scriptures, I found it thus written, 1. Tim. 6. 3. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to the wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ; and to the Doctrine which is according to godlinesse. Vers. 4. He is proud, knowing nothing; but doting about Questions, and strife of words; whereof commeth envy, strife, raylings, evill surmisings. Vers. 5. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt mindes, and destitute of the truth; supposing that gaine is godlinesse; from such withdraw thy self. Yea, and after a further enquiry, to understand aright the things that are controverted amongst us; by the good providence of the Almighty, I found two Texts of holy Scripture, setting forth two sorts of men, Diametrally opposing one another, as light doth darkenesse, truth doth falsehood; the one th•s written: 1 John 5. 1. Whosoever beleeveth that Jesus is the Christ, is borne of God. And the other, thus; 1 John 2. 22. Who is a lyar, but he ⟨image 44⟩that denyeth that Jesus is not the Christ, He is Antichrist, that denyeth the Father and the Sonne. And when I thought to understand the difference, it was to hard for me, untill I went into the Sanctuary of God; where the Father of glory, of his good pleasure, revealed to me (the most unworthyest of all his servants) the truth of that; which (I conceive) is the root of all our Controversies, and gave me to understand the meaning of the Scriptures,
- 1Psal. 1. 2.