A64661:25
The judgement of the late Arch-Bishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland 1. Of…
The judgement of the late Arch-Bishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland 1. Of the extent of Christs death and satisfaction &c, 2. Of the Sabbath, and observation of the Lords day, 3. Of the ordination in other reformed churches : with a vindication of him from a pretended change of opinion in the first, some advertisements upon the latter, and in prevention of further injuries, a declaration of his judgement in several other subjects / by N. Bernard.
London: printed for John Crook, 1658
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Letter: The Judgement of the late Arch-Bishop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland, of the true In…
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.
Our blessed Saviour, by that which he hath performed on his part, hath procured a Jubilee for the Sons of Adam; and his Gospel is his Trumpet, whereby he doth proclaim Liberty to the Captives, and preacheth the acceptable year of the Lord (Luke 4. 18, 19.) If for all this some are so well pleased with their Captivity that they desire no deliverance, that derogates nothing from the generality of the freedom annexed to that year. If one say to sin his old Master, (Levites 25. 24. Exod. 21. 5. Deut, 15, 26:) I love thee, and will not go out free, he shall be bored for a slave, and serve for ever. But that slavish disposition of his, maketh the extent of the privilege of that year not a whit the straiter, because he was included within the general Grant as well as others; howsoever, he was not disposed to take the benefit of it: The Kingdom of Heaven is like to a certain King that made a marriage of his Son, and ⟨p. 9⟩sent his servants to those that were bidden to the Wedding with this message; Behold, I have prepared my Dinner; my Oxen, and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready, Come to the Marriage, (verse 4.) If we look to the event. They they that were bidden made light of their entertainment, and went their ways; one to his Farm, and another to his Merchandise. (verse 5.) but that neglect of theirs doth not falsify the word of the King (verse 4.) viz. That the Dinner was prepared, and these unworthy Guests were invited thereunto; For what, if some did not believe, shall their unbelief disannul the Faith, and truth of God? (Rom. 3. 3, 4.) God forbid; yea, let God be true, & every man a liar, as it is written, that thou mayest be justified in thy sayings, and overcome when thou judgest. Let not the house of Israel say, the way of the Lord is unequal. For when he cometh to judge them, the inequality will be found on their side, ⟨p. 10⟩and not on his. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal, and your ways unequal? saith the Lord, Ezek. 18. 29, 30.) The Lord is right in all his ways, and holy in all his works. All the ways of our God are mercy and truth; when we were in our sins it was of his infinite mercy that any way, or remedy should be prepared for our recovery.