A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

1 We say, though there were no Baptism, it were no cause to make it no church as Israel in Egypt without Circumcision.

2 We say our children have as much right to Baptism, as Isaac to circumcision, but they were circumcised the eight day, and if the Covenant belong to them, then the Seals of the Covenant, Act. 2.39. Mark 10.

2 We say our children have as much right to Baptisme, as Isaack to circumcision, but they were circumcised the eight day, and if the Covenant belong to them, then the Seals of the Covenant, Act. 2.39. Mark 10.

Use 4. Lastly it may teach us all, if it be a sign of Antichristianism to withdraw from the church, then it is a mark of true Christianity to stick close to the fellowship of the Saints; in love, in Christian duties, in admonishing one another, in counselling, in comforting, in reproving one another; therefore take heed you forsake not this fellowship, for so you loose your grace and strength, if you sit loose from them, They that follow lying vanities, forsake their own mercies, all that ointment that was poured on Christs head, descends to the lowest skirt of his garment, Psal. 133. to the meanest Christian, therefore if you sit loose from Christ and his members, how can you look for any drops of his oil, the valleys receive the showers from the Mountains, there God hath commanded a blessing, and it comes with power and authority; a man that gets a blessing any where else, gets it but precario, and as it were by stealth, but in public communion, God hath commanded a blessing.

Ʋse 4. Lastly it may teach us all, if it be a sign of Antichristianisme to withdraw from the church, then it is a mark of true Christianity to stick close to the fellowship of the Saints; in love, in Christian duties, in admonishiog one another, in counselling, in comforting, in reproving one another; therefore take heed you forsake not this fellowship, for so you loose your grace and strength, if you sit loose from them, They that follow lying vanities, forsake their own mercies, all that oyntment that was powred on Christs head, descends to the lowest skirt of his garment, Psal. 133. to the meanest Christian, therefore if you sit loose from Christ and his members, how can you look for any drops of his oyle, the vallies receive the showrs from the Mountains, there God hath commanded a blessing, and it comes with power and authority; a man that gets a blessing any where else, gets it but precario, and as it were by stealth, but in publick communion, God hath commanded a blessing.

Whose end was this? who propounded this end? it was not their intention to manifest themselves, not to be of the church, but all heretics pretended that they aimed at a better church, they never intended it to manifest themselves to be enemies to the church, neither was it the end of the church; the church did not cast them out, but it was voluntary defection, they went out of themselves, therefore the church did not look at that end, whose end was it then?

Whose end was this? who propounded this end? it was not their intention to manifest themselves, not to be of the church, but all heretiques pretended that they aimed at a better church, they never intended it to manifest themselves to be enemies to the church, neither was it the end of the church; the church did not cast them out, but it was voluntary defection, they went out of themselves, therefore the church did not look at that end, whose end was it then?

Surely it was Gods end, who over-ruled their Apostasy to the benefit of his church, when he saw them warp from the Fellowship of the church; God gives them up to Apostasy, that he might make it appear they were not of the church, 1 King. 12.24. fight not against them, for this separation is from me, so this Apostasy of these first teachers is from God, and his end is to manifest that they were not of the church.

Surely it was Gods end, who over-ruled their Apostacy to the benefit of his church, when he saw them warp from the Fellowship of the church; God gives them up to Apostacy, that he might make it appear they were not of the church, 1 King. 12.24. fight not against them, for this seperation is from me, so this Apostacy of these first teachers is from God, and his end is to manifest that they were not of the church.

Doct. 5. It is the holy end that God aims at, in giving up seducing corrupt spirits to Apostasy from the Church, that he might discover them that they were Hypocrites whilst they lived in the Church.

Doct. 5. It is the holy end that God aims at, in giving up seducing corrupt spirits to Apostacy from the Church, that he might discover them that they were Hypocrites whilst they lived in the Church.

God punisheth Hypocrites with Apostasy.

God punisheth Hypocrites with Apostacy.

What should move God to discover the Hypocrisy of men by Apostasy? a fearful sin to forsake the Ordinances of God, the Covenant of the church; and what should be the cause moving God thus to work?

What should move God to discover the Hypocrisie of men by Apostacy? a fearfull sin to forsake the Ordinances of God, the Covenant of the church; and what should be the cause moving God thus to work?

1 By this means God manifests the integrity, and sound-heartednesse of his own servants; God would have his name sanctified by his servants, and it is never more sanctified, than when their sincerity is approved, when others fall off, 1 Cor. 11.19. it is needful that heresies arise, that those which are approved, might be made manifest among you; as in winnowing time, when there comes a good wind, it carries away the chaff, but the wheat lies on a heap more clean, Mat. 3.12. so Christ hath a fan to winnow his church and cleanse out the chaff, that it may be more clean.

1 By this means God manifests the integrity, and sound-heartednesse of his own servants; God would have his name sanctified by his servants, and it is never more sanctified, than when their sincerity is approved, when others fall off, 1 Cor. 11.19. it is needful that heresies arise, that those which are approved, might be made manifest among you; as in winnowing time, when there comes a good wind, it carries away the chaff, but the wheat lyes on a heap more clean, Mat. 3.12. so Christ hath a fann to winnow his church and cleanse out the chaff, that it may be more clean.

2 That so he might prevent the corrupting and seducing of his weak servants, least any should be mislead by them, therefore God timely discovers them, 2 Tim. 3.9. they shall proceed no further though they had led away some simple women, laden with many lusts, yet they shall proceed no further, they shall glean no more then some weak judgments, or corrupt hearts, but they shall be discovered, their folly shall be manifest to all men, so careful is God, that when his church is negligent in casting out such, why God in a special care to his Vineyard, gives up such to defection voluntarily.

2 That so he might prevent the corrupting and seducing of his weak servants, least any should be mislead by them, therefore God timely discovers them, 2 Tim. 3.9. they shall proceed no further though they had led away some simple women, laden with many lusts, yet they shall proceed no further, they shall glean no more then some weake judgments, or corrupt hearts, but they shall be discovered, their folly shall be manifest to all men, so carefull is God, that when his church is negligent in casting out such, why God in a speciall care to his Vineyard, gives up such to defection voluntarily.

3 He gives them up to Apostasy, that he may preserve the purity of his ordinances and law, Mal. 3.3, 4, 5. as if he should say, as long as corrupt teachers live among men, they so pollute Gods Ordinances, that they are not so pure and sweet, therefore God takes a course to refine them from their dross, that is, not only Ministers, though when their spirits are refined, their Ministry is more savoury and fruitful, but further he will make a difference between Hypocrites, and those that are sincere that so his ordinances may be refined, and this was fulfilled in John Baptists time, who came before Christ, Mat. 3.7, 8, 9, who discovered the Pharisees to be Hypocrites that should renounce Christ; and Christ himself said, Mat. 23. Woe be to you Scribes, Pharisees, Hypocrites; so that by their defection, the Christian Congregations, and the Ordinances, were more pure and refined, Prov. 25.4, 5. so take away the dross from the Ordinances, they come forth more pure.

3 He gives them up to Apostacy, that he may preserve the purity of his ordinances and law, Mal. 3.3, 4, 5. as if he should say, as long as corrupt teachers live among men, they so pollute Gods Ordinances, that they are not so pure and sweet, therefore God takes a course to refine them from their drosse, that is, not only Ministers, though when their spirits are refined, their Ministry is more savoury and fruitfull, but further he will make a difference between Hypocrites, and those that are sincere that so his ordinances may be refined, and this was fulfilled in John Baptists time, who came before Christ, Mat. 3.7, 8, 9, who discovered the Pharisees to be Hypocrites that should renounce Christ; and Christ himselfe said, Mat. 23. Woe be to you Scribes, Pharisees, Hypocrites; so that by their defection, the Christian Congregations, and the Ordinances, were more pure and refined,

4 To exempt his people from many scandals and aspersions, that would be cast upon the Church, if these corrupt persons should live among them, Jude 12. therefore that these spots might appear to be corrupt humours, and not members of the body, it pleaseth God that they depart, and so carry away these spots and scandals with them, that so his Church may not be defamed.

5 A fifth end is this, it tends to the just punishment of Hypocrisy; it is a just judgement of God to leave such spirits to be discovered and revealed; Matth. 12 33. it is more acceptable to God, to have things seem as they are; God will have the Tree known by his fruit at length, there is no great difference between the Crab and the good Apple-Tree, by the leaf or the blossom, therefore it must be known by the fruit, Rev. 3.16. I would thou wert either hot or cold, that I might know what thou art.

5 A fifth end is this, it tends to the just punishment of Hypocrisie; it is a just judgement of God to leave such spirits to be discovered and revealed; Matth. 12 33. it is more acceptable to God, to have things seem as they are; God will have the Tree known by his fruit at length, there is no great difference between the Crab and the good Apple-Tree, by the leafe or the blossom, therefore it must be known by the fruit, Rev. 3.16. I would thou wert either hot or cold, that I might know what thou art.

Use 1. It may teach us, that even the falls of the sons and daughters of men▪ are managed and ordered by the wise and good hand of Gods providence; so you see here is a hand going quite beyond all the ends of men, they went out that they might be manifest, and God hath always challenged this, to have an hand in the sins of men, not to work, but to punish one sin by another, if God sees envy in Josephs Brethren, he stirs them up to sell him into Egypt, and God challenges it, Gen. 47. Gen. 50.20. 2 Sam. 11.12. Exodus 7.3. so Act. 4 28. 2 Chron. 32.21. Isa. 10.5. the worst evils that have been in the Church, God hath had an hand in it, 2 Sam. 24.1. not as an Author, but by accidental occasion, he gives them up to take such courses; if David be Idle, God gives him up to Adultery; if Pharaoh vex Gods people, God leaves him to hardness of heart; if David commit Murder and Adultery, he gives up his Son to fratricide and incest; If Judas be covetous, he gives him to betray his Master; if they be his own Servants, he doth it to cleanse them; if wicked, he doth it to punish them, therefore let us fear that God that is not only able to cast both body and soul into Hell, but also into sin, which is worse than Hell, by propounding •uch temptations as may leave a man to run into desperate courses; therefore give not way to any sin, thinking to recover your selves, but fear God will leave you to run into worse.

Ʋse 1. It may teach us, that even the falls of the sons and daughters of men▪ are mannaged and ordered by the wise and good hand of Gods providence; so you see here is a hand going quite beyond all the ends of men, they went out that they might be manifest, and God hath alwayes challenged this, to have an hand in the sins of men, not to work, but to punish one sin by another, if God sees envy in Josephs Brethren, he stirs them up to sell him into Egypt, and God challenges it,

2 It may teach Gods people not to admire▪ and be offended at it; first, if they see men of good esteem and profession fall off, wonder not, such were never of the Church, 2 Tim. 2.17, 18, 19. Prov. 10.25. the righteous are as an everlasting foundation, which God hath founded, and every one of them hath this seal, The Lord knows who are his, and therefore be not discouraged, when you see others whom you thought better of than of your selves fall, for the foundation of God standeth sure; 2ly, let not other men be offended, if they see some that were professors fall off into vile courses, say not they are all of one Sect, they are all of the same Spirit, none better than other, this is the course of them all; say not so, for God gives them up to these base courses to manifest it, that they were not true Members of the Church, God would have it thereby manifested, ⟨p. 160⟩that these spots of the face of the church are not spots of the Body of the church, but spots in the Visors of the church; but God keeps his church unspotted and undefiled, so that even Balaam could say, How goodly are thy Tents, O Jacob; therefore if you see any in the church grow corrupt, and defiled, it implies they were never members of the church, God hath nothing to do with such, therefore he turns them out that it may appear what they are; if God at any time leave his people to any scandalous course, that God casts shame on them (which is very rare) if he do, he gives them such unfeigned humiliation, and broken-heartednesse, and such chastisements that they recover themselves, that all the World may see, neither doth the church allow it, nor God, but as they were patterns of sin, so they shall be patterns of Repentance, 2 Sam. 12, 11, if David do fall into scandalous sins, God will follow him with such chastisements, that God will manifest he is no approver of such courses; and David himself shall proclaim, that he repents unfeignedly, so that he was not so careful before to cover it, as he is now to divulge it, and declare that it was the cause of bitter anguish to him, so that neither God, nor the church, nor themselves approve of their sin, but are against it.