The Fountain of Life Opened

The Chariots of God (saith the Psalmist) are twenty thousand, even thousands of Angels; the Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led Captivity Captive, thou hast received gifts for men; Yea▪ for the rebellious also, that God might dwell among them. Which words in their literal sense are a Celebration of that famous victory and triumph of David, ever the enemies of God▪ recorded, 2 Sam. 8. These conquered enemies bring him several sorts of presents, all which he dedicated to the Lord. The spiritual sense is, that just so our Lord Jesus Christ when he had overcome by his death on the Cr•ss,¹ and now triumphed in his ascension, he takes the parts and gifts of his enemies, and gives them by their conversion to the Church▪ for its use and service. Thus he received gifts even for the rebellious, (i. e.) sanctifies the natural gifts, and faculties of such as hated his people before, dedicating them to the Lord in his peoples service. Thus (as one observes) Tertullian, Origen, Austin, and Jerome, came into Canaan laden with Egyptian Gold. Meaning they came into the Church richly furnished wi•h natural learning and abilities. Austin was a Manichee, Cyprian a Magician, learned Bradwardine a scornful proud naturalist, who once said when he read Pauls Epistles, dedignabar esse parvulus. He scorned such childish things, but afterwards became a very useful man in the Church of God. And even Paul himself, was as fierce an enemy to the Church, as breathed on earth; till Christ gave him into its bosom by conversion; and then no mere man ever did the Lord and his people greater service than he. Men of all sorts. Greater and smaller lights, have been given to the Church. Officers of all sorts were given it by Christ. Extraordinary and temporary, as Prophets, Apostles, Evangelists, ordinary and standing, as Pastors, and Teachers which remain to this day, Eph. 4.8, 9. And those stars are fixed in the Church heaven, by a most firm establishment,