Fourthly, In that it is said, That the Just w•ll walk in them, 1we may observe Two things. 1. That Obedience, and walking in the right ways of the Lord, is the end of the ministry, That the Saints might be perfected, that the body of Christ might be edified, that men might grow up into Christ in all things, Eph. 4.11.15, that their eyes might be opened, and they turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, Act. 26.16, 17, 18. The Prophet concludeth that he hath laboured in vain if Israel be not gathered, Isaiah 49.4, 5. Without this the Law is vain, the pen of the Scribe in vain, Jer. 8.8. better not know the way of Righteousness, then having known it, to turn from the holy Commandment ⟨p. 141⟩which was delivered unto us, 2. Pet. 2.21. We should esteem it a great misery to be without Preaching, without Ordinances, and so indeed it is; of all famine, that of the Word of the Lord is the most dreadful; better be with Gods presence in a wilderness, then in Canaan without him, Exod. 33.15. better bread of affliction, and water of affliction, then a famine of hearing the word, to have our teachers removed, Amos 8.11. Isaiah 30.20. this is mischief upon mischief, when the Law perisheth from the Priest, 2and there is no Vision, Ezek. 7.26. and yet it is much better be in this case, without a Teaching Priest, and without the Law, then to enjoy them, and not to walk answerably unto them; where the Word is not a savour of life, it is a savour of death unto death, exceedingly multiplying the damnation of those that do despise it, 2 Cor. 2.15. Matt. 11.22, 24. First, it doth ripen those sins that it finds, making them much more sinful then in other men,3 because committed against greater light and more mercy. One and the same sin in an Heathen is not so heinous and hateful as in a Christian. Those trees on which the Sun constantly ⟨p. 142⟩shines, have their fruit grow riper and greater then those which grow in a shady and cold place. The rain will hasten the growth as well of weeds as of corn, and make them ranker then in a dry and barren ground, Joh. 9.41. Joh. 15.22.24. Secondly, it doth superadd many more and greater; for the greatest sins of all are those which are committed against light and grace; Sins against the Law and Prophets, greater then those which are committed against the glimmerings of nature, Ezek. 2.5.3.6, 7.
Fourthly, In that it is said, That the Iust w•ll walk in them, 1we may observe Two things. 1. That Obedience, and walking in the right wayes of the Lord, is the end of the ministry, That the Saints might be perfected, that the body of Christ might bee edified, that men might grow up into Christ in all things, Eph. 4.11.15, that their eyes might be opened, and they turned from darknesse to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, Act. 26.16, 17, 18. The Prophet concludeth that he hath laboured in vaine if Israel be not gathered, Esay 49.4, 5. Without this the Law is vaine, the pen of the Scribe in vaine, Ier. 8.8. better not know the way of Righteousnesse, then having known it, to turne from the holy Commandement ⟨p. 141⟩which was delivered unto us, 2. Pet. 2.21. We should esteeme it a great misery to be without Preaching, without Ordinances, and so indeed it is; of all famine, that of the Word of the Lord is the most dreadfull; better be with Gods presence in a wildernesse, then in Canaan without him, Exod. 33.15. better bread of affliction, and water of affliction, then a famine of hearing the word, to have our teachers removed, Amos 8.11. Esay 30.20. this is mischiefe upon mischiefe, when the Law perisheth from the Priest, 2and there is no Vision, Ezek. 7.26. and yet it is much better bee in this case, without a Teaching Priest, and without the Law, then to enjoy them, and not to walk answerably unto them; where the Word is not a savour of life, it is a savour of death unto death, exceedingly multiplying the damnation of those that doe despise it, 2 Cor. 2.15. Matt. 11.22, 24. First, it doth ripen those sinnes that it findes, making them much more sinfull then in other men,
- 1§ 15.
- 2Nihil est aliud Scientia nostra quam culpa, qui ad hoc tantummodo Legem novimus ut majore offensione peccemus, Salvian. lib. 4.
- 3Criminosior culpa, ubi status honestior.— Qui Christiani dicimur, si simile aliquid Barbarorum impuritatibus facimus, graviùs erramus; a•rocius enim sub sancti nominis professione peccamus: ubi sublimior est praerogativa, major est culpa. Salvian. lib. 4. possunt nostra & Barbarorum vitia esse paria, sed in his tamen vitiis necesse est peccata nostra esse graviora—Nunquid dici de •unnis potest, •cce quales sunt qui Christiani esse dicuutur? nuuquid de Saxonibus & Francis, Ecce quid sa•iunt▪ qui se asserunt Christi esse cul•••es? Nunquid propter […] •ex Satr• Sancta […]?—Evangelia legunt, & Impuditi sunt; Apostolos audi••t, & incbriantur▪ Christum sequuntur, & Rapiunt, &c. Ibid.Criminosior culpa, ubi status honestior.— Qui Christiani dicimur, si simile aliquid Barbarorum impuritatibus facimus, graviùs erramus; a•rocius enim sub sancti nominis professione peccamus: ubi sublimior est praerogativa, major est culpa. Salvian. lib. 4. possunt nostra & Barbarorum vitia esse paria, sed in his tamen vitiis necesse est peccata nostra esse graviora—Nunquid dici de •unnis potest, •cce quales sunt qui Christiani esse dicuutur? nuuquid de Saxonibus & Francis, Ecce quid sa•iunt▪ qui se asserunt Christi esse cul•••es? Nunquid propter 〈…〉 •ex Satr• Sancta 〈…〉?—Evangelia legunt, & Impuditi sunt; Apostolos audi••t, & incbriantur Christum sequuntur, & Rapiunt, &c. Ibid.
