8. The Sovereignty of God's dealing with consciences in the Old and in the New Testament is to be observed. It is not,1 1. To be denied, but the desertions under the Law in some respect, were more fiery and legal; the typical dimness and darkness made them to see less love, and more Law, and less of Christ the seat of mercy, and more of the curse and of wrath, as the night darkness renders spirits and dreadful things more terrible. 2. It was the purpose of God to awe generally that people more with Law-fear, and bondage, then his people under the New Testament. But it is a wicked doctrine of some Anabaptists, and others, that all desertions are, under the N. Testament cried down and gone; and it is our legal mistake, say they, that works trouble of conscience, under the N. Testament, and an exercise of such as are under the Covenant of works; though it may be said law-sorrow pursued these of the Old Testament; but the Saints now are less passive and more active, in pursuing sorrow according to God, yet in another respect, because of greatness of light, and Gospel experiences, and a higher measure of illuminations, and spiritual presence in more abundance is promised and prophesied; As, that all shall be taught of God; the Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord; the light of the Moon, shall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun as the light of seven days, Jer. 31. 31, 32, 33. Isa. 54. 11, 12, 13. Isa. 11. 6, 9. Ezec. 36. 26, 27. Isa. 44. 1, 2, 3, 4. Joel. 2. 28. ⟨p. 105⟩Zech. 12. 10. under the New Testament; therefore the desertion is the sadder. Thirst near to the fountain is more intolerable; so we read not in the N. Testament of one like unto Job. chap. 3. c. 6. c. 16. c. 19, nor of such as David, Psal. 6. Psal. 38. nor of Heman, Psal. 88. nor of the Church, Psal. 77. Psal. 102. yet is there nothing harder then that of Paul, 2 Cor. 1. we cannot say, whether it was his persecution at Ephesus, or some great sickness; yet it is a most sad trial, ver, 8. 9. 1. We was pressed, out of measure. 2.2 Above strength. 3. In so much that we despaired, even of life. 4. But we had the sentence of death in our selves, and what ever be the kind; for even Christ had so much the more sorrow, at the withdrawing influences of the comforts that immediately flowed from the God-head personally united, and this was Christ's hell in part;
8. The Soveraignty of God's dealing with consciences in the Old and in the New Testament is to be observed. It is not,1 1. To be denyed, but the desertions under the Law in some respect, were more fiery and legal; the typical dimness and darkness made them to see less love, and more Law, and lesse of Christ the seat of mercy, and more of the curse and of wrath, as the night darkness renders spirits and dreadful things more terrible. 2. It was the purpose of God to awe generally that people more with Law-fear, and bondage, then his people under the New Testament. But it is a wicked doctrine of some Anabaptists, and others, that all desertions are, under the N. Testament cried down and gone; and it is our legal mistake, say they, that works trouble of conscience, under the N. Testament, and an exercise of such as are under the Covenant of works; though it may be said law-sorrow pursued these of the Old Testament; but the Saints now are less passive and more active, in pursuing sorrow according to God, yet in another respect, because of greatness of light, and Gospel experiences, and a higher measure of illuminations, and spiritual presence in more abundance is promised and prophecied; As, that all shall be taught of God; the Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord; the light of the Moon, shall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun as the light of seven days, Jer. 31. 31, 32, 33. Isa. 54. 11, 12, 13. Isa. 11. 6, 9. Ezec. 36. 26, 27. Isa. 44. 1, 2, 3, 4. Joel. 2. 28. ⟨p. 105⟩Zech. 12. 10. under the New Testament; therefore the desertion is the sadder. Thirst near to the fountain is more intollerable; so we read not in the N. Testament of one like unto Job. chap. 3. c. 6. c. 16. c. 19, nor of such as David, Psal. 6.
- 1The Old Testament dispensations and the New are compared together, and their differences.
- 2[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
