A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament
The third Inference is, This reproves the folly and partiality of those who so much adore rich Worldlings, and abase, yea despise poor Christians, Jam. 2.2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Greek, a Gold-finger'd man ought not to be admired beyond a gracious-hearted believer, (who is the Glory of Christ, 2. Cor. 8.23.) nor the Wicked Rich be prefer'd before the Godly Poor. Grace in Rags is as lovely a Grace in Robes, as to God so to Men.
The fourth Inference is, though Birth-right be (indeed) a Blessing, a great outward blessing, having many privileges, yet this is but nature, still Grace hath a prerogative before it: God stands not upon how we are Born, but that we be born again, or from above, as the word [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ] signifies, John 3.3, 5. 'It is not the First-Birth, but the New-Birth that makes Men the best sort of Gentlemen as the word [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ] Act. 17.11. signifies, 'It is not the Birth-right in nature, but 'tis that Birth-right in Grace that hath the greatest honor put upon it in Scripture-Record, as Rom, 16.7. Andronicus and Junia (saith that great Apostle) were in Christ before me, and 'tis Recorded as an honorable encomium upon Mnason, that he was an old Disciple, Acts 21.16. and it was in this sense, that the good old man (in Ecclesiastical History) answered one that asked him (how old he was?) said he was but four years old, when indeed he was fourscore, speaking of his age in Grace, not in Nature: reputing all his many other years before his conversion to be lost or nothing: non quamdiu fuimus, sed quamdiu viximus, &c. saith Seneca; 'It is not so much matter how long we have been in the World, but how long we have lived unto God, for without the life of Grace, we are dead while we live, 1 Tim. 5.6. and while alienated from the life of God, we are dead in trespasses and sins, Eph. 2.1. and 4.18. until Christ quicken us by Grace.
The fifth Inference is, This shows us whom we ought to please in all our Works or Worship. It must not be Man, but God, who knoweth the Heart, John 2.25. Acts 1.24. 'It is well supposed Cain strove to please Adam his Earthly Father, only in this his Worship, but Albel strove to please God his Heavenly Father also: 'It is not enough for the Hireling in his day-tale work to strive the pleasing of By-standers only, and not at all the pleasing of his Master who hires him to do his work, and must pay him his wages also: such an one is every careless comer to God's Worship, who never mind, or matter their pleasing of God therein, provided they can but merit a good opinion amongst Men thereby; Alas men are but standers-by, it is God who is the only allower and approver of our Holy actings, He is not approved, that commendeth himself (or is commended by men) but whom the Lord commendeth, 2 Cor. 10.18. He is not a Jew that is one outwardly, &c. Rom. 2.28, 29. God seeth not as man seeth, 1 Sam. 16.7. Oh then, how careful and conscientious should we all be, not so much to please Man (why he is a looker-on only and judges the outward actions; ) But especially God who judges inward Affections, cuts out work, and pays us wages, Mat. 20.1, 2.
The second particular is the ground of that Inversion, or the reasons of this Disparity; the Causes why the one was accepted, and the other rejected: There is a twofold difference here very remarkable.
- 1. Of their Persons.
- 2. Of their Actions.
1. In regard of their Persons; and that is also twofold.
- (1.) God put or set the Difference; And
- (2.) He saw the Difference 'twixt those two Person [ unto Abel God had respect, but unto Cain he had not] Gen. 4.4, 5. From the former of these, take this first Observation: 'It is the most wise God that puts or sets the Difference twixt one man and another, twixt a good and a bad Man, as here twixt Cain and Abel. 'It is the Free-grace of God, that is the main Fundamental cause of Difference, preferring Abel before Cain. This was the Head and Fountain of that discriminating and distinguishing Difference between them, as afterwards betwixt Jacob and Esau, of whom 'tis said, (before they were Born, neither had done good or evil) Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated, Rom. 9.11, 12. Hath not the Potter power over the Clay? v. 21. Where God compares himself (in respect of his Sovereignty over all Men) not to a Goldsmith, whose Materials (he works upon) are precious (as Gold, Silver, and precious Pearls) but to a Potter, who always works upon base and sordid Matter, as Clay. No better is Mankind in that [ Massâ corruptâ, or] corrupt Mass of the fallen Estate, yet God out of that filthy Lump of Earth or Clay, maketh one Vessel for honor, and another for dishonor, as here Cain and Abel, even before they were Born. God put a difference betwixt them in his Eternal Purpose and Decree. God Elects not from foreseen Faith or Works, but from Free-grace, and being a free Agent, cannot be unjust to any; because he is bound to none, and (as the word [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ] signifies) there is no chatting or wording it with God about those profound points, v. 20. God may pass by whom he will, and do with his own what he will, Mat. 20.15. and who can say to him, What dost thou? Eccles. 8.4. He rejects some (as Cain here) that his Mercy might the more appear in the Electing of others, as of Abel; that he might be a Vessel of Honor, as Cain was of Dishonor, for God hath his use of both in his great house, the World, 2 Tim. 2.21. He hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth, Rom. 9.18.
Inference, hence is, Oh how ought we to magnify the glory of God's Free-grace! Eph. 1.6. for we were all alike Cast aways in the fallen and lost Estate, Abel as well as Cain; we were all Children of wrath by Nature, even at others, Eph. 2.3. and who maketh thee to differ from another? that proud Arminian (Gervinchovius) undertakes to answer with a stinking Breath that question of the Apostle, 1. Cor. 4.7. with [egomet meipsum discerno] I do make myself to differ from another, but we have not so learnt Christ, Eph. 4.20. We are taught (in Christ's word) to say, that God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sin, hath quickened us (together with Christ) by Grace we are saved. Eph. 2.4, 5. and to cry with that Blessed Disciple, How is it, Lord, that thou manifests thyself to us, and not to the World? John 14.22. Christ is our all, and in all, we are nothing in ourselves, Col. 3.11. and of all the good that is found in us, we may say, as the young Prophet said of his Hatchet, Alas Master, it was borrowed, 2 Kings 6.5. for in us, that is, in our flesh (or corrupt Estate) dwelleth no manner of thing that is good, Rom. 7.18. until we borrow both the good will and good deed from a good God, Phil. 2.13. Therefore when we see others wallowing in wickedness, and committing sin greedily, and with both hands earnestly, Eph. 4.19. Hos. 7.3. then should we reflect upon ourselves, and say, such were some of us, This was our natural condition, but now we are washed, &c. 1 Cor. 6.11. Now (through Grace) we find a Law in our Hearts to be more careful to please God, and more fearful to offend God. Can we say this, ( our Consciences bearing witness hereof in the Holy Ghost, Rom. 9.1.) Oh how should we bethink ourselves, that it is God who putteth the difference, snatching us as brands out of the fire, Zech. 3.3. Ascribe to him all the Glory.
2. As God putteth the difference, so he beholdeth the difference 'twixt good and bad, as here between Cain and Abel. And this latter flows from the former as doth the stream from the Fountain, for after God hath made a difference, he must needs have a prospect of what himself hath made: Hence was the cause and ground why Abel was righteous, Mat. 23.35. and so accepted in his Person, but Cain was wicked, 1. John 3.12. and so rejected of God. Whence observe,
2. That the Holiness and Righteousness of Man it not the Cause, but the Effect of the Electing love of God: The former is the Branch, but this latter is the Root from whence it springeth. Paul (that great Assertor and Preacher of Free-grace, not of Free-will ) doth Divinely both affirm and confirm this Truth, saying, According as God hath chosen us in Christ before the Foundation of the World, that we should be holy (not because he foresaw we would be Holy) and without blame before him in love, &c. Eph. 1.4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. where the Apostle Teacheth,
- 1. That Christ was assigned and designed the Mediator from Eternity, to wit, by virtue of that Human Nature which he should assume, wherein to be slain, Revel. 13.8.
- 2 That God ordains to the means (holiness) as well as to the end (happiness.)
- 3. That Holiness is the Effect of Eternal Election, not the Cause thereof.
-
4. That all the
Causes
of our Election (or Predestination to Life) are merely without us. As,
- 1. The Efficient, God.
- 2. The Material, Christ.
- 3. The Formal, the good pleasure of hit Will.
- 4. The final Cause, to the praise of the glory of his Grace. So that the difference 'twixt Cain and Abel did wholly flow (first) from the Counsel of God's own Will (that put a difference between them) v. 11. God doth all by Counsel, and ever hath a Reason for his Will, which though we cannot comprehend it here on Earth, we shall be sure to apprehend it hereafter in Heaven▪ mean while we must adore what we cannot compass or fathom, crying, [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ] Oh the depth, &c. Rom. 11.33. Hence observe,
3. That Difference which God putteth, the same he beholdeth betwixt one Man and another, 'twixt good and evil, and accordingly he respects, or disrespects their Persons first, and then their Actions. As here, God had respect first to Abel 's Person, and then to his Offering or Action, Gen. 4.4. But unto Cain 's Person first, and then to his Action or Offering God had not respect, v. 5. though God put a difference in his Eternal purpose, yet Men also put a difference by their personal performances, the godly through Grace, and the wicked through want of Grace, &c. From whence observe,
4, 'It is the piety or impiety of Men's Persons that do commend or discommend their Actions and Services to God. 'It is not the work that so much commends or discommends the Man, but the Man the work: As is the Man, so is his work, good or evil (at least) habitually, [quo magis aliquid tale est illud est magis tale] or [qualis causa, tale causatum] As is the Cause so is the Effect, and the better that the Cause is, the better must the Effect be. These are Maxims in Philosophy, which hold true in Divinity also: A good Man worketh good Actions, and the better the Man is, the better are his Actions: As the Temple is said to sanctify the Gold, and not the Gold the Temple, Mat. 23.17. So the Person gives acceptance to, and sanctifies the Action, not the Action the Person: Solomon saith, that a Gift will make room for the Giver, among Men, Prov. 17.8. with 18.16. but it cannot do so with God, because Man looks first on the Gift, and then on the Giver, measuring the Giver by his Gift; but God doth just contrary, for he first looks upon the Giver, and then on the Gift, first upon the Person, and then on the Action, (as here) and as he finds the Man, he doth accordingly accept or reject, approve or disapprove of the Gift, Action or Offering: This Truth is further demonstrated by Prov. 12.2. and by Prov. 15.8. in both which Solomon setteth out two famous Antitheses or Oppositions betwixt the godly and the wicked as two contrary opposites; the former place saith thus, A good Man obtaineth favor of the Lord, but a Man of wicked devices will he condemn. Here's the (first) Opposition, A good Man findeth favor with the Lord; that is, his Offering is acceptable, and hat what he will, because God's Will is his Will (as Luther said in his rapture) and would have nothing, but what God would give to him, and what he should have from God: But a man of wicked devices (such as no good Man is; who may be in, but never of wicked devices, if evil haunt his Heart (as oft it may and doth) yet 'tis the device of the Man, he is not the Man of such devices, he cannot Plot and Plow mischief) such as are wholly made up of wicked devices, and in whom ways of wickedness are found, driving daily the Trade of sin, such God will condemn, as Cain here, and call them to a severe reckoning, Jerem. 6.19. and Revel. 2.23. Why? his best Services Solomon calls here the devices of his own Heart, therefore worthily condemned, Prov. 12.2.
The second Opposition is, Prov. 15.8. The Sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the Prayer of the upright is his Delight: Mark the wise Mans Antithesis.
1 He makes Prayer opposite to Sacrifice. [ The Sacrifice of the wicked, and the Prayer of the upright. ] Prayer indeed in a great Sacrifice, if rightly performed (as before) but a wicked Mans Prayer God accounteth no Prayer, yet is is called a Sacrifice, to wit, a poor lean one, such as (some suppose) Cain here Offered, and such as many carnal Jews Offered under Moses 's Law, Mal. 1.13, 14. with v. 8. Thus unsanctified Men bring but lean, sick, corrupt Sacrifices and Services to God. There wants the Fat, Health and Soundness of Devotion in them, they ate but the outward Rind and Shell, there is no Kernel or Substance, 'tis an empty Sacrifice: Therefore it deserves not the name of a Prayer.
2. Solomon shows here, That God is not only, barely displeased with a wicked Mans Prayer, but he loathes and abominates it, his very Incense stinks of the very hand that offers it, Isa. 1.13. A Man cannot listen even to good words which are spoken with a stinking Breath, and good Meat my be disowned for being dressed up by some nasty Sloven: Thus God's Stomach (as it were) riseth at the Prayers of the wicked, which, though good materially, are not so formally and eventually, neither proceeding from a right principle, nor tending to a right end; they are not wrought in God, John 3.21. so are nauseous to God: On the other hand, the Prayer of the Righteous is his delight, that is his most Melodious Music, Cant. 2.14. and 4.3. and his most fragrant Perfume, Psal. 141.2, 3. not only coming up into God's Nostrils as an Odor of a sweet Smell, Gen. 8.21. but also even into his Ears, Psal. 18.6. and so strangely to charm him (as it were) Isa. 26.16. where [Tsakun Lashash] the Hebrew signifies, they poured out such a Prayer (with more Spirit than Speech, more Fervor than Language) as was an holy Spell or Charm unto God (see the margin) insomuch that God (to speak with reverence, as if holily Charmed ) breaks out into these words, [ Ask me concerning my Sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me, Isa. 45.11.] Oh that we could both understand and believe the latitude of this Royal Charter, and make also an understanding and a believing use and improvement of it. This leads me to the second ground of the difference 'twixt Cain and Abel: Both do Offer, the one a Sheaf, the other a Sheep; yet the one is accepted, the other rejected from a threefold Difference in the Action.
- (1.) In the matter of it.
- (2.) In the Affection or Devotion wherewith they offered.
- (3.) In their Faith whereby they did this service to the Lord.
(1.) In regard of the Matter of their Sacrifice, Abel made choice of the best he had to present unto God, so the Text tells us [Mibbkoroth Tsonoh] the firstlings (which was the strength) of the flock, [Umechel behen] of Cheleb which signifies the Cream or Fat of Milk, the fattest of his Fat Sheep, he chose the best of the Best for God; and Chrysostom gives this reason, the great God was in Abel's Heart, and therefore he brought the Greatest and the Fattest to the Greatest and best deserving God, he thought that he could never do enough for God, who had done so much for him: The best of all things the Hebrews express by the Fattest of all, as Gen. 45.18. Numb. 18.12. Psal. 147.14. and thus the Apostle calls Abel's Sacrifice [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ] a greater, and fuller offering than Cain's, because it was Fatter: he brought more plentifully: but Cain brought more sparingly, neither was he so careful in his choice, but the first that came to his hand would serve his turn [miperi haadamah] of the fruits of the Earth, to wit, not the first fruits, but those of a second growth, and of less worth, such as were the over-rise, or After-growth [mikkets Jomim] at the end of the year (as before.) So Cain did but [defungi Officio] do the External duty, yea and [more perfunctorio] after a slight and superficial way. Hence observe,
(1.) It cannot consist with a gracious Heart to shuffle off the Great God with slight services. Alas, Men do but trifle with God, when they think anything will be sufficient to satisfy him: Oh how many imagine, that if they do but draw near to God's Worship, and bow before him, Attention, or not Attention, Sleeping, or not Sleeping, all's one with them, God (they think) is well enough pleased with their presence in the place of his service, but the great God will not be put off thus with the refuse of things, Mal. 1.13, 14. he takes it as an affront to have Maimed and Corrupt things offered to him, and so curseth all such deceivers; God requires more than a bare sitting before him as his People, Eze. 32.31. he will also have the very Fat of our Services, the strength of our performances even the best of our Oil, the best of our Wine, and the best of our Wheat, &c. Numb. 18.12.
Inferences hence (1.) If men were denounced Cursed, that brought God Corrupt things under the Law, Mal. 1.14. no doubt but the like Curse is denounced against those that do so under the Gospel. God abhors that Man who is able, yet not willing to work any other than weak Worship and Service to him: God (in Malachi ) takes state upon him, telling them, He is a great King, and therefore requires the strength of their Services, which reason is as much in force now, as it was then: if any man should dare to pay the King his Rent in base Coin, would he accept of it as current and with courtesies? Oh Soul neither will the King of Heaven accept of thy slight and slubberd Services: How careful was Israel to send the very best of the Fruits in the Land, of Balm, Honey, Spices, Myrrh, Nuts and Almonds, as a present to his Joseph the Lord of the Land of Egypt? Gen. 43.11. How much more ought we to prepare the best of our performances as a Spiritual present to our Joseph, our Jesus, who is the Lord of all, Acts 10.36. Lord of all Lands, of all persons, of all things, Lord of the Church, and Lord of the World, yea Lord of Heaven as well as of the Earth, Mat. 11.27. and 28.18. Can we et anything too good for so good a Lord.
(2.) We should tremble to be Cainites in our Worship of God, lest Cain 's Curse come upon us: Josephus gives this Character of Cain, that he was Covetous and Narrow-Souled, grudging God his best, yea turning over many a Sheaf, to pick out the worst and lighted for his offering to the Lord. Just such doings are found among too many men: There be three sorts of Cainites in the World.
- (1.) Such as spend many hours in Vanity, yet cannot spare one hour for God and the good of their Souls.
- (2.) Such as are profuse in Villany upon their Lusts, yet can find nothing to bestow in Pious and Charitable uses upon the Lord.
- (3.) Such as swatter away all their Youth-time (while the Bones are full of Marrow, and Veins full of Blood, both as ponderous Sheafs) in ways of both Vanity and Villany, and think to put off God with the poor pined Sheaf of their Old-age, as if the great God would be put off with the Devils leavings, whereas all our four Ages are due to God (3dly.) Cain offered of Dead things, as was his Sheaf, but Abel of Living things, as was his Sheep: as sensitive things are of a more noble nature than Vegetative, so living services are better than Dead ones, and such are all duties done in a formal, perfunctory, and superficial manner as Cain did: 'It is true, Abel 's Burnt-Offering was more Honorable than Cain 's Minchah, or Meat-Offering, in themselves, for shedding of Blood was the staple Service in slaying their Sacrifices (which pointed the Lamb slain from the Worlds foundation) and there was no shedding of Blood in Cain's Sheaf, as there was in Abel 's Sheep; yet had Cain 's Minchah been the best of the kind, it had been acceptable; but Cain 's carelessness in the choice was the aggravation, and the Dead Fly in the Apothecaries Pot of precious Ointment, Eccles. 10.1. he did not offer in Faith (as Abel did) but doubtingly and grudgingly, looking upon it as lost labor what he laid out upon the Lord, and never minding the recompense of reward, Heb. 11.26. 'It is the Fathers saying opimum Deo debetur, optimum pro Religion, & pro gratitudine optimum: God may challenge all from us, who receive our all from him; why should we grudge our Fat and our strength for God, and lay out as liberally for the Lord, as the Lord layeth out liberally for us? why should his Heart and Hand be enlarged towards us, and our Hearts and Hands be straitened towards him?
The second Difference in their action was in respect of their Devotion and Affections; Abel offered in sincerity, but Cain in Hypocrisy: Abel did it out of Conscience, to please God his Heavenly Father, but Cain did it out of conformity, only to please Adam his Earthly Father, who had brought him up in that way of Worship, and not out of any love to God: Hence the second observation: The bare outward action of Divine Worship will not commend us to God, without inward affection. God is not taken with glozing shows and formalities, but requires Truth in the inward parts, Psal. 51.6. and would be served sincerely, out of love to his Name, and zeal to his Glory. He loves not a seeming (without a Being and Real) Religion, he seeketh true Worshippers. Joh. 4.23, 24.
Inference, Then God is greatly to be feared in the assemblies of the Saints, Psal. 89.7. he is to be feared everywhere, but especially in the place of his Worship: The Heathen Poet could say, Jovis omnia plenae, all places are filled with Jehovah, especially Bethel the House of God (though out of doors and in the open Air) Gen. 28.17. Where Christ's Disciples are gathered together in his Name, Mat. 18.20. Oh then, how should we demean ourselves as in God's presence! Act. 10.33. Are Women enjoined modesty because of the Angels? 1 Cor. 11.10. how much more we sound piety because of the God of Angels? We should all be, what we seem to be, be to God, what we seem to be to men, and we should be to God, at all times, what we s •• m to be to men at any time, therefore should we have Grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, for our God is a consuming fire, Heb. 12.28, 29. Alluding to that fire which consumed Nadah and Abihu for offering strange fire, Lev. 10.1, 2. False Affections are no better than strange Fire. Oh that all may beware of of strange fire, lest consuming Fire come down upon us, and so write our sin upon our punishment, (or at least) that Cain's Doom come not upon us, to be rejected of God.
But the (3.) And principal difference that distinguished Cain and Abel's action was Faith, which is indeed the prime cause of all the other differences; Abel offered in Faith, but Cain did not so, Heb. 11.4. 'Twas Faith that denominated Abel a Righteous man, and Cain was a wicked man, because he wanted Faith. It was Faith that made Abel offer uberiorem agnum, as Erasmus reads it, a fatter and fuller Lamb, or Plurimam Hostiam according to the Vulgar Latin, a more plentiful Sacrifice, by Faith Abel offered up 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , according to Montague. Such as was first in nature, in order and in excellency. But Cain's Infidelity (or want of Faith) undid him, he did not only bring [Macrum Sacrificium] a lean Sacrifice, but he did not divide aright for God; Cain recte obtulit, non recte divisit, he offered rightly, but he divided not rightly, he gave God opus personae, not ipsam personam, not himself, but of his; Abel offered as well [Se ut de suis] himself as his Sacrifice which Cain did not. From hence the third observation: Every devout and Divine action receives from this grace of Faith its due and dignifying denomination: 'It is Faith here that distinguisheth the Matter, Nature and Property of this Religious action. It is Faith that made Abel come to God with an honest and good heart, Luk. 8.15. And out of a sense of duty and Love to God; but Cain came in his Infidelity with a false and unsound heart, so offers up his poor Starvling Sacrifice to God: This may thus be exemplified. Isaac commanded his Son to make him savoury meat, such as he loved, Gen. 27.4. And hereupon both Jacob and Esau (his two Sons) prepare savoury Morsels for him, and bring it to their Father, but it was Faith that did distinguish both their persons and actions; Jacob (by his having Faith ) got the blessing, and Esau (by his wanting Faith ) lost it, 'twas presumption, not Faith that Esau came with to his Father, for he said presumptuously [ Let my Father arise, and eat of his Sons Venison, that thy Soul may bless me, v. 31.] Presuming he had merited his Fathers blessing, and therefore was he answered by Isaac with a [Who art thou?] v. 32. Thus it is with us, our heavenly Father Commands us (his Children) to provide him savoury meat, such as he loveth, Isa. 43.22, 23, 24. In Rendring and Tendring to him the Gospel Sacrifices of holy duties, and we do accordingly all of us, yet 'tis the Grace of Faith, that puts the difference 'twixt the Services of some, and the Services of others. 'It is our having Faith, that renders both our Persons and Actions accepted, Eph. 1.6. But 'tis our wanting Faith that makes both to become rejected of God:
Enquiry. How comes Faith to put this difference?
Answer. There is a twofold Faith. l. Fides Mandati. 2. Fides promissi. A Faith upon God's precept, and a Faith upon God's promise. 1. The Faith upon God's precept. Abel offered Sacrifice, not so much because Adam, but because God Commanded, as David's seeking God's Face was in Obedience to God's Commanding, Psal. 27.8. This shows the truth of our obedience, when it comes forth in conscience to God's Command. Many do many good things (as Herod did, Mark 6.20.) But they do them not in obedience to God's Command, 'tis more with respect to man, either for preventing penalties, or for procuring praises. But herein is the sincerity of our services demonstrated, when we can do Duty out of Love to Duty itself, and out of conscience to God's Command, though there were neither Law to Punish, nor Hell to Damn, no nor (yet higher) Heaven to make happy the doers of duty, because in (as well as for) keeping God's Law there is great reward, Psal. 19.11. And because God hath Commanded them, and hath forbid the neglect of them. This is called the Obedience of Faith, Rom. 16.26. 'It is well argued, If the Prophet of God had bid thee do some great thing, wouldst thou not have done it? how much more, when he only biddeth thee, go wash in Jordan (an easy duty) and be cleansed from thy Leprosy? 2 Kin. 5.13.
Secondly, There is the Faith upon God's promise: Thus Abel did not only lay a slain Sacrifice upon the Altar, but he put Faith under it. He considered Christ to be the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World, Rev. 13.8. For all the sins of the Elect in the World. So he offered by Faith, Heb. 11.4. Looking unto Jesus the founder and finisher of Faith, Heb. 12.2. As the Grand trespass-offering and expiatory Sacrifice for sin: Whereas Cain came with no such Faith (either the former, or this latter ) he regarded not either God's precept (but his Fathers prescription) or God's promise of Christ in the seed of the Woman, Gen. 3.15. He regarded the [Opus Operatum] the doing of the duty only, he regarded not Christ in it to render it acceptable, so the duty were done he matter'd not either the matter or the manner of it, he looked for no more than the formality, his care was for no farther.
The Inference hence flowing is, 'It is Christ and Christ alone, that gives to all our Services acceptance with God: 'It is Faith its Christ that pleaseth God, Heb. 11.6. And without Faith 'tis not possible to please him, Christ (indeed) hath (by his purchase) made our Persons Priests, and our Prayers Sacrifices in a Gospel sense, but 'tis not enough that there is a Priest and a Sacrifice, there must be an Altar too upon which to offer it, because it is the Altar that Sanctifies the Offering, so Christ saith, Mat. 23.19. And Christ (himself) is this Altar, that sanctifies all our Services, Heb. 13.10, 15. 'It is God's promise to sanctify his Church, and to sanctify all the Sacrifices of his Church, that in his holy Mountain and House of Prayer, all her Services shall be accepted upon this his Altar, Isa. 56.7. All our Evangelical Sacrifices [of Prayer, Praise, Alms, Obedience, &c.] Shall be accepted through Christ who is the true Altar that sanctifieth all that is offered upon it, Rev. 8.3, 4. All the Services of the Saints must be perfumed with Christ's Odours, and then they ascend up from this Golden Altar, and are highly accepted in Heaven, Acts 10.4. and Exod. 3.9. Then are they the Pillars of the smoke of Incense, Cant, 3.6. Psal. 141.2. When many sweet spices (as Humility, Hope, Love, Zeal, &c.) are burned together by the Fire of Faith, whereas should not Christ thus Compound and Qualify them, thus Perfume and Present them, they would (all) stink worse than the Garlic and Onions of Egypt in the Nostrils of God, that is another gracious promise (further Illustrating this Inference) The Flocks of Kedar and the Rams of Nebajoth shall come with acceptance upon my Altar, Isa. 60.7. Still Christ is the Altar that gives acceptance (as before is shown that he is the Priest too into whose hands we must put our Sacrifices, it being Death for an Israelite to offer up his own offering, &c. ) Thus Christ was the Altar also that put the difference betwixt the Sacrifices of Cain and Abel at that time, then how much more now doth this Altar (Christ) put a difference betwixt the duties of believers and unbelievers? As it was under the Law, 'twas not the bare killing of the Beast, that made the Sacrifice, but it was the laying it upon the Altar that made it so, until the Beast was brought thither and laid thereupon, it did not differ from a common Beast, it was no sacrifice until then: So it is under the Gospel. 'It is not the bare performance of duty that makes a true Gospel-Sacrifice acceptable to God until it be laid on this Gospel-Altar to sanctify it for acceptance. It must first (as the Father Phraseth it) be tinged with, or have a Tincture of the Blood of Christ. Alas there is so much pollution spo •• s the best of our performances, that they cannot pass for Sacrifices until they be perfumed by Christ, and have the Odours of his Righteousness put upon them: Hence 'tis, that all the Services of unbelievers are but Spledida peccata [shining sins, as Austin calls them, because they want this Altar. They are not right Sacrifices, Prov. 15.8. and 21.27. Isa. 1.11. and 66.3. Jer. 6.20. and 7.22. Amos 5.22.
Now the third and last particular is the Success (which is the second General, as Service was the first) or Acceptance which as to Abel is evident in three things.
- (1.) God Allowed or Approved of Abel's offering.
- (2.) He Delighted in it.
- (3.) He testified a signal respect to it.
(1.) The Divine allowance or approbation of Abel. He being a Righteous man, Mat. 23.35. Both his person and oblation (through Divine Grace) was, 1. Approveable, hence the first observation is, 'It is a special vouchsafement and condescension in God to look on, and allow of the poor Services of man. Considering the best performances, even of the chiefest and choicest favorites of Heaven, are but Halting, Blind, Blemished and Maimed (all forbidden to be brought as Sacrifice, Deut. 15.21.) It must therefore be a transcendent favor in God to give his Euge to any of his Servants, saying, [Well done thou good Servant, &c. Mat. 25.21.23.]
Three Reasons for God's approving. As,
- 1. It has Christ's Image. Silver, though it be not thoroughly purified from all Dross, though it be not altogether pure, but have some mixed Metal in it, yet having the Kings Stamp upon it, this maketh it Current Coin in Court, City and Country: So the Religious Actions of Believers, though they have many frailties accompanying them (there being always some Blood (of pollution) to cleanse away which God hath not yet cleansed, Joel 3.21.) yet having Christ's Image upon them, this maketh them Current Coin in the Court of Heaven: As a little that the righteous hath, is better than the riches of many wicked, Psal. 37.16. so a little that the Righteous doth is better than the Services of many wicked, for their Services are not acceptable to God (though they may be materially good) as Cain 's here, because a due respect is not observed in them, but the Services of the godly are accepted of God.
- 2. 'It is the best they can, because (though they cannot do what they would, Rom. 7.15. yet) they do what they can, even in Christ's own Judgment. She hath done what she could, Mark 14.8. therefore are their worlds said to be wrought in God, John 3.21. both [quoad Fontem & quoad Finem] from a good principle, and for a good end, as they do proceed from a right living Principle, so they are directed to a right holy End: Hence a Cup of cold Water (though not at the cost of fire to warm it) given in the Name of a Disciple, is prefer'd before the most Magnificent Alms of the Pharisees given in Oftentation with sound of Trumpet, Mat. 10.42. with Mat. 6.2. Mark 12.43, 44. Luke 21.3.
- 3. 'It is the Service of a Child. Nothing is more common and better known than that small Service performed by a Child of our own is more acceptable to us (that are Fathers) than greater and better Services done by our Servants, because desire of wages, or fear of wrath is the motive in the latter, but there is Candour and Filial Kindness that draws out the best endeavors in the former. The Child will do his best (from that noblest Obligation of Love) for its Father, and thus it is 'twixt the Children of God, and their Heavenly Father, Psal. 103.13. Mal. 3.17. A Serving-Son that serves his Father with the best of his Services (who would do more if he could do more, whose desires and endeavors reacheth nearer God than their performances) is a pitied Son, a spared Son, and a best beloved Son; such are his Jewels.
2. As God gave allowance and approbation of Abel 's Sacrifice; so he had delight and complacency in it. This also is signified by the word [respect] The Services of all righteous men are as this Sacrifice of Righteous Abel, well pleasing and delightful to God; thus was the Sacrifice of Noah, Gen. 8.21. of whom God testifieth [ Thee have I seen righteous before me in this Generation,] Gen. 7.1. and therefore the Lord did smell a sweet Savour from this righteous Mans Sacrifice. Thus all the Sacrifices of God's Righteous Ones are called the savor of their sweet Odours, Levite. 26.31. which Expression God oft repeateth in his Law, to intimate his delight in his own Institutions when performed by honest and good Hearts. Thus the Prayers of God's Righteous Servants come up before him as sweet Incense, Psal. 141.2. and as a precious Memorial to God, Acts 10.4. He Books them all in his Day-book, Mal. 3.17. yea, and their Tears the Lord Bottles up as most Sovereign and Sacred Liquors, Psal. 56.8. As Isaac said of his Sons Raiment, (that Garment of the Elder Brother wherein he got the Blessing) The smell of my Son is as the smell of a Field which God hath Blessed, Gen. 27.15, 27. So doth the Lord say of all the Services of Righteous Men, if performed in sincerity, then are they Odoriferous, and give a Fragrant Smell to God's Nostrils.
3. God RESPECTED Abel 's Offering, that is, he kindled it with Fire from Heaven, whereby he (as it were) sent for it, and fetched it up to Heaven: God did not so with Cain 's Offering, 'twas a cold Oblation, no warmth, heat or fire in it; Cain came coldly off with God, as well as carelessly (as before) and hereby God testify'd the acceptance of the one, and the non-acceptance of the other, to wit, by a sign from Heaven; so saith Theodotion a Greek Interpreter, reading it [Deus inflammavit] This was God's ancient way of giving his approbation to acceptable Sacrifices, Levite. 9.24. The people shouted, as their Token of rejoicing at God's Token of acceptance when he answered their Prayers by Fire from Heaven. There is the like Token and Testimony from Heaven to David, 1 Chron. 21.26. and to Solomon, 2 Chron. 7.1. and to Elijah, 1 Kings 18.38. Yea, (beside all this) 'tis the phrase of the Holy Ghost in the Hebrew reading, for [ accept, Oh Lord ] 'tis in Hebrew, [turn it into Ashes] Psal. 20.3. to wit, by Fire from Heaven, which was the sign of acceptance, thus it was to Abel.
But, 2. Unto Cain and to his Offering God had not respect. Cain had a bad success, as Abel had a good: In the words of that Text, there is [minus dictum, plus intellectum] a little spoken, but much understood, for God did not only disregard Cain 's Sacrifice, but he positively rejected it. Whence observe, The Services of the wicked are not only refused, but plainly rejected, as loathsome and abominable to God, Prov. 12.2. and 15.8. as before. 'It is here intimated, that Cain did verily incense God against him, and that upon a double account.
1. To demonstrate the Equity of God in his dealing with wicked men; his ways are always equal with us, Ezek. 18.25. and 33.17. As Cain respected not God in his Sacrifice, so God respected not him nor his Sacrifice. 'It is but an equal and a just requital, when God is careless of us, who at that time have been careless of him; this is the true cause why God doth so oft turn his Back upon our Persons and Prayers, for they that honor him (he hath said) he will honor, 1 Sam. 2.30. 'It is but the rule of equity, such as aim at their own ends only, and regard neither God nor his command, 'tis but a fair Retaliation that God do reject them.
The second Account or Reason is, to declare the dreadful Judgment of God upon wicked Men, that their Persons and Prayers are not respected by God: This is a most direful Doom; hence David prays against non-acceptance, Lord, let my Words and Meditations be acceptable, Psal. 19.14. And he complains, If thou be silent, O Lord, and disregard my Prayers, then am I lost, and sink into the Pit of perdition, Psal. 28.1. and then was the utmost date of Divine Mercy expired as to Israel, when God told the Prophet, that God would not hear their Prayers, Jer. 11.14.
Inferences hence are,
1. If the sweet success of our Services be God's acceptance, then, Oh what an holy carefulness should we all have about our Services and Duties, lest as Cain, we perform not aright (for matter and manner) so lose our labor, and indeed take much pains only for Eternal pains, and for no better reward: We should all be wise to Salvation, 2 Tim. 3.15. and do those things that accompany Salvation, Heb. 6.9. having Salvation certainly annexed to them; we must not look only at our outward Actions, but also at our inward Affection and Cordial Devotion.
2. Oh what holy cheerfulness should we have to work all our works in God, John 3.21. that they may be accepted of him, and respected by him: God longeth (as it were) for the first Ripe Fruits of our Service, Mic. 7.1. The Fat of our Devotion, as David did for the waters of Bethlehem, 2 Sam. 13.15, 16. We should do (as his three Worthies did) our utmost endeavors to satisfy God's longings, as they did David's: What we do, we should do with all our might, Eccles. 8.10. David Danced before the Lord with all his might, 2 Sam. 6.14. And Sampson at the Pillars of Dagon 's Temple, bowed himself with all his might, Judge. 16.30. In all our Duties we should come forth in the strength of the Lord, Psal. 71.16. and be as the Sun in his strength, Judge. 5.31. Then are our Services shining indeed, and delightsome, yea, ravishing unto God, Cant. 4.9. The same Lord Jesus was ravished more with one of his Spouses Eyes, with one Chain of her Neck (to wit her Grace ) than he was with all the glittering Glories of the World which Satan shown him, Mat. 4.8, 9, 10.
3. Oh what an holy Inquisitiveness should we all have, whether God accept or reject our Duties! Our acceptance may he known by these Characters.
1. Hath God Inflamed our Sacrifice as he did Abel 's some warm Impressions of God's Spirit upon our Hearts, some Divine touch of a live Coal from God's Altar? Isa. 6.6. All the whole College of Baal 's-Priests could not procure what one Elijah did: They could put the Wood in order, cut the Bullock in sunder, and lay it on the Wood as well as God's Prophet, but they all (nor the Devil their Master to help them) could not fetch one Flash or Flame of Fire. Though Satan (by God's leave) could, as Prince of the Air, do it to consume Job 's Sheep, so made them an Hecatomb, Holocaust or Burnt-offering to the Lord, therefore is it called rather the Fire of God, than of the Devil, Job 1.16. We should all have an holy heat (even in the coldest Season) Some Celestial Fire in us to Burn up our Corruptions. This is therefore called the Spirit of Burning, Isa. 4.4. A carnal Man (as Cain ) may do the External Action of Duty, but he wants the Internal Heat of Devotion: He cannot say as Isaac said, [ behold the Fire and the Wood, but where is the Lamb, &c. Gen. 22.7.] but rather thus, Behold the Wood and the Lamb (for he may have both these) but where is the Fire? 'It is the Holy Fire he wants.
The second Sign or Character of Acceptance is, the Joy of Duty, Injections of Joy, as well as Inspirations of heat, are sweet demonstrations of Acceptance; Blessed are they that hear the joyful sound of God, they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy Countenance, Psal. 89.15. A benign Aspect from the Face of God in Duty makes a Believer (that hath joy in believing, Rom. 15.13.) to keep Hilary (or the merry) Term. Those Godly Souls saw God, and did eat and drink, Exod. 24.11. That Beatifical sight was as a refreshing Feast to them, and it was that which gave Moses full Sustentation during all his long forty days Fast, Exod. 34.28. How likewise was David ravished after Prayer, Psal. 116.1, 2, 3. Yea, he triumphed, Psal. 6.8, 9. And Hannah after this is said to be no more sad, 1 Sam. 1.18. And after the Psalmist had lift up his hands, then came his Marrow of Joy in his Acceptance, Psal. 63.3, 4, 5. All this is Gibberish to a Carnal Heart [sed Sancti intelligent quid dico] the Saints know what 1 say, saith the Father.
A third Sign is, When God gives in any Supply of that Grace which is sued for, either strengthening it, or weakening sin that Wars against it; Relief against Tentation without, or Corruption within; then saith the Soul [By this I know my God accepts, &c Psal. 41.11, 12.] When sin is subdued, Mic. 7.18. and the Heart transformed into the Image of Christ, Luke 9.29. 2 Cor. 3.18. Mountains melt, Psal. 97.5. Dagon 's Fall and Jericho 's Tumbling down be sweet Evidences; as Judge. 5.21. Oh my Soul, thou hast trod down strength; then there is growth as well as warmth and joy; on the contrary, there be Characters also of Nonacceptance. As,
1. If dead in sin, then the Person pollutes the Action, as Hagg. 2.13, 14. The Person (polluted by a dead Body) defiled all that was about him, in regard of legal pollution, their Persons under the Law (unclean) made all their works unclean; so 'tis under the Gospel, every wicked man is an unsanctified, unclean man, he is polluted with the Touch of the Dead; he himself is dead, Eph. 2.1, 3. so every holy duty he toucheth is defiled. All his works are dead like himself. Suppose a dead carcass were never so well Embalmed with all the Spices and Art of Egypt, yet all this will not make it a fit Present for a Prince: No more can All the Odours of good Duties sweeten the works of him that is dead in sin to God,
2. As there is no life in a wicked man's Duty, so there is no warmth in it; he puts off God with cold Dishes, such as God loves not. As there is no Heart, so there is no heat in any of his Services, 'tis not a Sacrifice made by Fire unto the Lord, so no sweet savor to him, Levite. 1.13, 17. and 2.2, 9, 10, &c.
3. A wicked Man (as Cain here) regardeth iniquity in his Heart, therefore God regardeth not his Prayer, Psal. 66.18. This is the dead Fly that spoils never so sweet Ointment, Eccles. 9.1. He comes to God in Duty, smoking with the Guilt of some known sin: Prayer is called the lifting up of pure hands (as well as Heart) to God, 1 Tim. 2.8. Now hands (lifted up to God) are said to be pure, not when there is a perfect purity, but when there is an abhorrency of every known sin, this a wicked Man cannot come with, for though he may give to God his Knee and his Lip, yet he reserves to himself a love to his sin, especially to his Darling sin. Union with sin and Enmity with God are the two strong holds of Satan in him, whereby he holdeth a very strong hold of him.
4. To Sum up all, As a Cain fails,
- 1. Quoad Fontem. Doing Duty for some by Respects.
- 2. Quoad Finem. Not with Filial Affection, as before. So,
- 3. Quoad Modum. He may prostrate his Body, but never pours out his Heart, as Prayer is called, Psal. 62.8. He may pour out much Speech, but little Spirit; he hath more Expressions on the Tongue, than Impressions on the Heart, 'tis all but Lip-labor.
4. Quoad Acceptandi Efficaciam. Christ is the Altar that sanctifies the Sacrifice (as before) now a wicked Man wanting this Altar to sanctify his Sacrifice, therefore it (having all these four defects) is loathsome to God. God can have no respect for it, as he could have none for Cain 's here. Suppose he do what he can, yet is he no Child of God, nor has Christ, or his Image; concerning which some of the Ancients are of Opinion, that Cain 's Sacrifice had a Flame of Fire as well as Abel 's, only with this difference: Whereas the Flame of the Fire of God did lick up Abel 's Sacrifice as it did Elijah 's after, 1 King. 18.38. in Token of Acceptance, but the Flame of Cain 's Sacrifice rebounded upon himself, and stigmatiz'd him (as those that are Burn'd in the Hand for some Villany) not unlike to those Flames of the Fiery Furnace into which the three Nobles of Babylon were cast. They Burned those wicked Men that cast them in, Dan. 3.22. Even such as had been over-forward both in their persuasion and in the Execution: God over-rules the Water to be a Wall to his People, Exod. 14.29. as he did the Fire there to slay his Enemies. See the Consequences hereof in my Church History, second Plot.
CHAP. VIII. Of Enoch 's walking with God.
AS the first acceptable Worshiper of God was Abel, so the first acceptable walker with God was Enoch in Scripture Record. Here be two remarks upon Enoch recorded in Scripture. The (1.) is, his Appearance in the World. The (2.) is, his Disappearance to the World. (1.) His Appearance is attended with sundry considerable circumstance. As (1.) his Name, (2.) His Time. (3.) His Age and. (4.) His Office or Employ. (1.) Concerning his Name, Enoch, which hath a double signification.
(1.) Enoch signifies dedicated, his Father Jared (which signifies meek ) being a lowly and an Holy Man, did dedicate this Son to God, as soon as he had received him from God, well knowing that he had given his Son Sin, but he could not give him Grace, and therefore he devotes him to God: who must both take Sin from him, and give Grace to him, neither of which could the father do for the Son: therefore did he dedicate him (as Solomon did his Temple) to the Lord to be sanctified by him and set apart for his proper and peculiar use.
Secondly Enoch signifies Cathechized or Instructed well knowing also, that the care of the means was committed to the Father, though he had committed the care of the end, to the Lord. The paternal instruction must promote the dedication; as Jared had mar'd him by propagation (begetting a Son in his own (the fallen) Image) so he must mend him by Instruction, that the Image of God might be repaired and recovered in him thereby; we find that cursed Cain had his Enoch also a Son whose Name was of the same signification, Gen. 4.17. From whence may be inferred,
(1.) That God gives his common blessings even to ungodly men, to wicked Cain as well as to godly Jared; God causeth the Sun to shine on the Just and Unjust.
A (2.) Inference is, Satan can imitate God in giving significant Names to Sons, &c.
And (3dly.) There is a Dedication to the Lord, as that of Godly Enoch was, and there is a Dedication to the World, and to the possessions thereof, as this of Cain was, for the City which he built he called after the Name of his Son Enoch, that his Son might be styled, [The Lord Enoch of Enoch ] as being his best portion in both Worlds, Psal. 49.12. NB. Righteous Abel wanted Wife, Children, Cities, &c. for his Riches lay in reversion in the City of God.
The (2d.) Circumstance is the time he lived in; 'twas in the first thousand years of the World, be is called the seventh from Adam, to wit, inclusively, reckoning Him and Adam to be two of the number, Jude v. 14. So he is Timed either,
(1.) to distinguish him from the other Enoch, who was the third from Adam, Cain once coming between;
Or (2.) To hold out a mystery in the number of seven, the 7th person (some say) was a Prophet, as the 7th day was a Sabbath, this number of 7 is much insisted on in the genealogy of Christ, Mat: 1.17. Abraham was the 7th from Heber, and from Abraham to David twice seven, and from David to the Captivity twice seven again, and from the Captivity to Christ again twice seven; this very number of seven was to mind them of the Creation-Sabbath and us also of our Gospel or Redemption-Sabbath, yea and of our Spiritual Sabbath or Rest in Christ here, and of our Eternal Sabbath or Rest with Christ hereafter. Moreover the very Heathens must have the seven Stars to look upon, that this number of seven in their Mouths should mind them of the mystery. Or
(3.) God is so exact in Scripture Record stating him the 7th Patriarch, not only to declare the genealogy of Christ in a more distinct Chronology of succession than can be found of any in the best human Histories, but also to show both his great care of his Church and his great delight in his Church.
(1.) His great care of it, in upholding it by seven descents of Holy Patriarchs, 1. Adam. 2. Seth (though Cain and Abel were both lost as to him and it) placed in their stead. 3. Enoch, that is, sorrowful at the growth of profaneness: therefore was he so called. 4. Cainan, that is, a Mourner for the corruption of his Times. 5. Mabaleel, that is, a praiser of the Lord, for the preservation of his Church, notwithstanding all the enmity of the Serpent and of his Seed against it. 6. Jared, which signifieth descending, not only because there was a Descending from evil to worse in the black line, but also because this lowly Holy Patriarch did oft descend upon his knees before the Lord in prayer to preserve his Church: then the 7th. Our Enoch, who was dedicated to God and well instructed in the good ways of God, as before: Thus the Church of God was propagated from one age to another even in the worst ages of the World, a filthy scum arising at the top of it soon after the Fall of Man, as most filthy dregs will be found at the bottom of the World in the last of times, 1 Tim. 4.1.
(2.) His great delight in his Church above all other his concerns in the World, being only (all of them) in order to his Church; hence it is that the Sacred Record of the Scripture mentions only the posterity of Cain (which was to be totally destroyed by the Deluge) upon occasion and by the way only, as the Relation thereof had an unavoidable connection with the History of the Church and rendering it more complete and conspicuous without any constant and contiguous course of its succession, yea and the famous foundations of great Kingdoms (such as of Assyria, Egypt, Greece, &c.) (together with the admirable achievements of their puissant potentates) are all passed over in silence, though they be subjects which seem more meriting to be mentioned, while other concerns of the Church (which in appearance are of far less moment) are so distinctly described, as Jacob's pilling of the Rods, &c. that by the force of fancy with cogitations at the Sheeps conceptions, but chiefly by the Blessing of God the Holy Patriarch might be enriched, and churlish Laban impoverished, Gen. 30.38. and Ruths Gleaning in Boaz field, &c. Ruth. 2.3. where that virtuous Woman stooped to a mean (yet honest) employment, which God made a remarkable step to her very high preferment, so as (though a Moabitess Damsel) to become the great Grand-Mother of the Grand-Messiah, yea and many such seemingly small matters of other Children of the Church are exactly set down in the sacred Register, as matters of great importance, as if God were like the Master of a family, who doth not with so much delight regard his common fields abroad, as he doth his dear family at home, the speeches, gestures and actions of his little ones he diligently and delightfully observeth: so doth the great householder (God) in his household of Faith he regardeth, rewardeth and recordeth all the Motions, Desires and Endeavors (as well as Performances) of his own Children within the Church, even all the Hairs of their Head are numbered, by him, Mat. 10.30. &c. while the famous exploits and conquests of Great Men (who are not also Good Men ) that are without in the World are wholly neglected in Scripture Story.
The (3.) Circumstance is the Age of life that Enoch lived, the years that he lived in this lower World were exactly answerable to the days of a year to wit, 365. As the number of so many days, make up one complete solar year, so the like number of so many years made up this one Patriarchs life. He was of the shortest life among all the Patriarchs, living only so many years, as there be days in the year, each day for a year, according to the prophetic computations: and though Enoch was the shortest liver of all the six Patriarchs, that were before him (who all but one lived above nine hundred years) yet this was recompenc'd to him in his Son Methuselah (the next Patriarch) who was the longest liver of them all, and not only so, but 'twas more recompenc'd to himself, for their time on Earth was his time in Heaven, what he wanted in the Silver of a life natural, he had it well paid him in the Gold of a life eternal, so that not only the shortness of the Fathers life was made up in the long life of his Son, but also God took him from a worse place to plant him into a better, his translation was but Transplantation (as it were) out of God's Kitchen-Garden, into his heavenly Paradise. Thus we see here on Earth, those Northern Plants which are transplanted out of their cold Climate into a warmer Southern Soil, find no Detriment, but Advantage thereby, and thrive the better: How much more was it no loss, but gain to Enoch to be translated out of the Veil of Tears (this Wilderness of the World) into God's Garden of Celestial Pleasures? Yea further, it was not only more for his own Benefit (to be one of God's Lilies gathered up by him, Cant. 6.2. to be transplanted into Paradise) but it was also more for the other Patriarchs comfort, both against the Fears of Death and the frailties of life, while they did survive him, seeing in Enoch (however the Death of Abel might discourage them) they had a most evident demonstration, that there was a reward for the Righteous, Psal. 58.11. and that it was not any lost labor to walk with God. It appeareth (in the best computations of Chronology) that Adam died in the 308 year of Enoch 's Life, and in the 243 year of (his Son) Methuselah, yea and in the 56 year of (his Grand Child) Lamech 's Life, so that Adam lived to see Lamech (the ninth Generation) who was the Father of Noah, the tenth Patriarch before the Flood; then the next after Adam 's Death, God ordered Enoch 's Translation that those two great Truths might be taught thereby,
- (1.) Mortality by the former, And
- (2.) Immortality by the latter, and 'tis very remarkable, that as no fewer than eight Patriarchs were alive as living Witnesses of Adams Death, so no fewer than seven Patriarchs surviv'd to be living Witnesses of Enoch 's Translation.
If it be asked how came men to be so long lived then, that 365 years of Enoch was accounted but a short life? I answer, The Antediluvian Patriarchs or Fathers before the Flood had very long lives,
(1.) From the good pleasure of God that mankind might be the sooner propagated, that Arts and Sciences might be the better learnt, and that the knowledge and worship of God might be the further transmitted even to their remotest Posterity.
(2.) From a stronger constitution of Body.
(3.) From their great temperance, for some say, they abstained both from Wine and Flesh Now plures pereunt gulá quam gladio: Gluttony or Intemperance kills more than the Sword.
(4.) From the vigorous Virtue of the Earth which then brought forth more wholesome fruit, for after the Salt waters of the Sea (in Noah's flood) had overflown the Earth, the saltness thereof had made it more barren, and the growth out of it less nourishing.
(5.) From the benign Aspect of the Stars, which have a great Influence upon Men's Bodies.
(6.) From that excellent Skill that Adam had from his Creation; whereby he knew the nature of all things, and communicated this to his Posterity for preserving their health for (as Solomon ) he knew all things. Notwithstanding this their Universal knowledge of natural things, and their vast experience in an healthful improvement of those things yet none of those Patriarchs (no not Methuselah himself) lived out a thousand years, which is a number of perfection, that all of them might know the perfect state is not attainable here below, there is another over curious reason mentioned by Irenaeus, lib. 5. Adver. Haeres. That a thousand years are said to be but one day with God, 2 Pet. 3.8. And but as Yesterday to him, Psal. 90.4. And because God would make his word good [In the day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt die, ] therefore not only Adam but all the other Patriarchs died within the thousand years, so they all died in the first day, as none of them lived out to begin a second thousand which would have been the beginning of a second day, there seems more wit in this reason than weight and worth, but a more solid reason of their dying within that term, is rather to show that the life of man, though it be never so long, yet in respect of Eternity, is very short, and not a day, but a magnum nihil; Mine age (saith David ) my World, Heb. That is, my abode in the World is as nothing, Psal. 39.5. Punctum est quod vivimus & puncto minus, 'tis but a point and less than a point, so (though never so long, yet) far off from perfection. 'It is but a small space of time that the longest liver hath on Earth compared with Eternity in Heaven. The Phrase [and he died] is added at the end of all those ancient Patriarchs to show how unalterable was that grand Stature of Heaven, [Thou shalt die the Death,] Gen. 2.17. And [ 'tis appointed unto all men once to die, Heb. 9.27.] So that the youngest and strongest should be mindful of their mortality, learning to die daily; as Paul did, 1 Cor. 15.31. And to make death familiar to us at Bed and Board, for as young as we, and as strong as we do daily drop down into the dust. The Proverb saith, as soon goes the Lambs Skin to the Market as that of the old Sheep. 'It is a witty and yet a worthy saying, That while Death was but a young Archer, newly come into the World, and inexperienced, he could not hit the mark for many hundred years. Hence it was that those Primitive Patriarchs (most of the Ten) lived nine hundred years; why? Death then could not hit them with his Killing Dart any sooner; but now he is become a better Marks-man, and can strike down right Dead within the term of one hundred, nay at seventy years, Psal. 90.10. (which number is there stated as the term of Man's Life;) few exceed it, and fewer attain to it. As men's wickedness increased, so the length of their lives decreased, even in Mose 's time, who was the Penman of that 90th Psalm, as the title telleth: Yea Death learns to hit the mark sooner now; for men's lives are daily shortened, and Generations are fast justled out of their Beings (to give place for others, Eccles. 1.4. The Stage of the Earth still standing in its place, while the Actors upon it are often changed) that so the World may come the sooner to its End; and though there be some singular Examples of a longer life, yet in the general, 'tis observed, that more Die before they be Ten years old (since Death became such a cunning Archer) than there be that live above Sixty. Yea some of Mankind there be whom Death sends out of the World, as soon as Life hath led them into the World, whose short passage is [ab Utero ad Urnam] from the Grave of the Womb, to the Womb of the Grave. There is but a little inter-space 'twixt their lying in the Womb, and being laid in their Tomb, Living in the former, but Dead in the latter. Besides, how many die in their youth while their bones are full of marrow, and their veins full of blood? They perish in the midst of their way, Psal. 2.12. like the Jay pruning herself on the Tree. Death shoots his Arrow, and down they tumble, while they hope (in themselves) to see many fair Summers.
The 4th Circumstance concerning Enoch's Appearance, is the Function, Capacity and Condition wherein he Appeared: This is twofold, 1. Public as a Prophet of God, and a Preacher of God's Word or Will. 2. Private, as a Professor and a Practiser of Godliness, both in the Form, and in the Power of it, in his walking with God.
(1.) Of the first, he appeared in the Quality both of a Prophet and of a Preacher both were public Functions.
(1.) Of a Prophet. The Apostle Jude expressly mentioneth Enochs Prophecy Jude's Ep. v. 14, 15. How Jude came to this is uncertain. There be two opinions concerning it; the (1.) is, that the Apostle (Jude) had these two verses out of a book called the Prophecy of Enoch, whereof Origen, Tertullian, Jerome, Augustine, Bede, &c. make mention. That there was such a Book (called by that name) in those primitive times of the Fathers is not denied; but all the doubt lieth.
(1.) Whether Enoch was its Author.
Or (2.) Whether Jude quoted those his two verses out of that Book; considering,
(1.) Because none of the Prophets (either Moses Samuel or those after them in the Old Testament) quotes any such book, as those of Moses are by after-prophets:
(2.) Because no such book is mentioned to be kept, either in Moses Tabernacle or in Solomon's Temple, as the Tables of the Testimony were in the Ark of the Covenant.
(3.) Because the Old Testament Church had no such book among all their Canonical Scriptures before their Babylonish Captivity.
(4.) Because had there been such a book, Moses could not have concealed it, seeing the Creation of the World, the History of all the primitive Patriarchs (from Adam to himself) were so distinctly revealed to him, and had there been any such book in a true being, he could not be ignorant of it, but would have mentioned it as he doth all other things from the beginning, Especially in his History of Enoch.
(5.) Because if Enoch had indeed writ such a book then Moses had not been the first writer which all learned Authors (both Protestant and Popish ) do acknowledge and which the words of our Lord [ Beginning at Moses, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself, Luk. 24.27.] do import, for had Enoch writ a book before Moses, Christ would have begun at Enoch and not at Moses.
(6.) Because neither Philo, nor Josephus (two learned writers of the Jewish antiquities) do make mention of such a book of Enoch, now they both being curious observers and careful preservers of all memorable Monuments, would undoubtedly have discovered such a precious treasure as could not but be (in all generations of the Jews) most highly valued both for the Reverend Antiquity and Eminent Piety of the Author, as likewise for the sublime excellency of the matter. There be (indeed) other various sentiments about this Enochs Prophecy; some say, he wrote it upon Pillars of Stone or brick, that neither of those two grand destructions of the World (which he foresaw) by Water and by Fire, might destroy it, others say, that he wrote it in a book, which is lost as many other Books mentioned in Scripture, as the book of the Wars of the Lord, Numb. 21.14. the Book of Jashar, Josh. 10.13. With many others, of Nathan, Semeiah, Gad, Ahiah, Haddo, Hanani, &c. Named in the Chronicles, &c. Others say, that this book was preserved in Noah's Ark from the Flood, or if it were lost, yet was it restored by Noah, thereunto inspired. This was the opinion of Tertullian: But all those are uncertain Conjectures, having no confirmation from Scripture, yea rather are a contradiction to it, as it maketh Moses the first writer in the World.
Herewithal these following considerations (introducing the 2d Opinion ) are worth due observation. As,
(1.) Though many books (as all those forenamed) be lost, yet no Canonical Scripture, the preservation whereof entire hath been a standing divine miracle of mercy to the Church in all ages.
(2.) The Apostle Jude doth (indeed) say that Enoch Prophesied, but he doth not say that he wrote what he prophesied, he saith not. [It is written] as if he were quoting some passage out of the sacred Scriptures.
(3.) Though there might be in this Apostle ( Jude 's) time a book of some Apocryphal author containing in it the true Prophecy of Enoch, but mixing with it many forged Fables, yet Jude had a peculiar particular Revelation, that this special Prophecy (cited by that Author) did verily come from the Prophet Enoch, as he speaks of the Contention betwixt Michael and the Devil about the body of Moses, nowhere mentioned (but in his verse 9.) in sacred Scripture. This he might have by Divine Revelation.
(4.) That Enoch was a Prophet strictly taken, as the word in its proper notion doth signify to foretell things to come. This he certainly did in naming his Son Methuselah, which signifies [ he dieth and the Dart cometh] which is a clear indication of his Prophetick Spirit, whereby he foresaw (and accordingly did foreshow thereby) that the lease of that wicked old World was only the Term or Time of his Sons life, for no sooner was his Sons head laid but in the flood came like a dart cast by a divine hano.
(5.) That Jude had Enochs Prophecy (concerning the destruction of the World) most probably by Tradition from his Fore-fathers ( which is the 2d of the two aforesaid opinions how the Apostle came by it, and not out of any book;) It being delivered from hand to hand from Father to Son down to that time, and so applies he that Prophecy to the Gnostics (or loose-coats of his day) intimating that the like sins would certainly bring the like Judgments. Thus he argued with the Jews (then Sensualists, having not the Spirit, v. 19.) from things taken for granted, and from their own Testimonies.
(6.) Suppose Jude did cite this Prophecy out of some Apocryphal Author, or (which is more likely) took it up upon the (generally received) Tradition of that time, yet doth not this render this Catholic Epistle of Jude (as some would hence have it) no better than Apocryphal, for then the Apostle Paul's Epistles and several other 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , or Sacred Scriptures must be Apocryphal also, seeing many such Quotations are made in them: 'It is frequent with the holy Penmen of sacred writ to interlace some such circumstances, as are not mentioned in their proper places or Histories. As,
- (1.) In Exodus we read of the opposition which the Magicians made against Moses, but no mention is there of their names, yet Paul undertakes to name them James and Jambres, 2 Tim. 3.8. Which he took up from Tradition of the Jewish Talmud, yea Apuleius and other Histories describe the contest, speaking of those two famous Magicians; and the same Apostle quoteth three sentences out of profane Poets, yet this is so far from making his Epistles Apocryphal, that (indeed) it maketh those sayings of Heathen men to become Canonical Scripture.
- (2.) David in his Psal. 105.18. telleth us how Josephs feet were hurt in the Fetters, and he was laid in Iron. Whereof Moses in his History of Josephs imprisonment, Gen. 39.20. mentioneth not a word, yet this makes not the book of Psalms Apocryphal. The same,
- (3.) May be said touching Moses quaking, Heb. 12.21.
- (4.) Touching the Water of the Rock following Israel through the Wilderness, 1 Cor. 10.4.
- (5.) And touching Jacob's worshiping upon the Top of his Staff, Heb. 11.21. Yet are all Canonical.
7. Although Jude received this Prophecy of Enoch by Antient Tradition, yet not by Tradition only, for he was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Inspired of God, 2 Pet. 1.21. therefore it makes nothing for the Foolish Traditions of the Romanists, who argue from hence, that seeing the Apostle did deliver this Prophecy to the Church, which he received by Tradition, therefore (say they) the written Word of God containeth not all things in it that are to be known by the Church necessarily concerning Faith and Manners, there must be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as well as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Traditions as well as Scriptures, without which they are not sufficient. To this Popish Objection, 'tis Answered.
1. (Besides what hath been said before) though some Books be lost, yet no Sacred Scripture, the most Holy and most Wise God hath so ordered the matter by his good Providence that no Book, no Scripture, no Saying or Sentence is lost that was necessary to Salvation.
2. The same Spirit whereby Enoch Prophesied (as all the other Prophets did, Luke 1.70.) did inspire Jude also with an extraordinary Spirit of discerning, whereby he certainly knew it to be no other than Enoch 's Prophecy. This the Romanists may nor pretend to.
The third Answer is, Though this Prophecy of Enoch was (to that time) but a Tradition, yet then it seemed good to the Holy Ghost by the Apostle Jude to make it a part of Canonical Scripture; 'tis there made Authentic, and put into the Canon.
The fourth Answer is, Though hitherto it had been delivered only by Tradition, yet was it always Consonant to the Truth of other Sacred Scriptures; so this cannot palliate those Romish Traditions which are directly repugnant to the Word of God. All the Prophets, Evangelists and Apostles set forth that great Truth of Christ's coming to Judgment (whereof Enoch Prophesied;) so it was agreeable, not contrary to the Word of God. Oh the bold presumption of the Church of Rome, to equal Friars Dreams with Holy Scripture, though quite contrary to Scripture!
But, 2. If Enoch were not a Prophet in the strict sense, as Moses, Samuel, &c. yet was he a Prophet in the large sense, as he was a public Preacher, as he had his Word of Exhortation to that wicked World, in which sense the word [Prophecy] is taken, 1 Cor. 14.3. and 1 Thes. 5.20. Thus Enoch was undoubtedly a Preacher of Righteousness, as well as Noah, 2 Pet. 2.5. Thundering out direful Threatenings to the old Impenitent, Wicked World; the sum whereof was those two verses, v. 14 and 15. in Jude's Epistle, for that Apostle (considering the Circumstances and corrupt Manners of that profane people to whom Enoch Preached) gathered thence the substance of his Sermons, as [ Behold the Lord cometh, &c.] as at the Deluge of Noah, and as at the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, &c. both which were dreadful Comings of the Lord. This Doctrine of the General Day of Judgment unquestionably Enoch Preached. Though he did not write it, and Jude (one of God's Penmen) sanctifies his Sermon, and puts the stamp of Divine Authority upon it, applying it to his own Licentious Times for deterring them from sin. Hence note,
1. That the Doctrine of the Resurrection, and of Coming to Judgment, was known to the Fathers before the Flood.
2. The like Threatenings are to be denounced against Sinners in our Times, that were denounced against the like Sinners in former Times. As the Promises made to former Ages are (in the Substance of them, or Spiritual part) applicable to all future Ages. Thus what God promised to Joshua in his day, Josh. 1.5. was applicable some thousands of years after in the Apostles days, Heb. 13.5. Accordingly those very Threatenings which Enoch denounced against the wicked of his time before the Flood: The Apostle Jude (some Thousands of years after) boldly asserteth that Enoch Prophesied and Pronounced these very Threatenings (of his day) against the Gnostics and wicked Seducers of those Primitive Gospel-times; and this he did from that constant proportion of Justice God observes in all Ages, Luke 13.3. Rom. 11.21. The like sins always bring the like Judgments, God is the same evermore, and will not go out of his ways; changing (as one well saith) is not God's Property, but the sinners Duty: If the Sinner change or turn not, God will whet his Sword, Psal. 7.12.
The third Note hence is, That this public Preacher was a Married Man, and begat many Sons and Daughters; yet was he an Holy Patriarch, and walked with God (after he had Begot Methuselah at Sixty five years old) for Three Hundred years. How contrary is this to the Damnable Decree of Pope Siricius; saying, 'All Men (Laity as well as Clergy) that 'are Married, do live in the Flesh, and cannot please God; and to that Lying Doctrine of Devils in the Church of Rome, which forbiddeth to Marry? 1 Tim. 4.1, 4. Let the best of those Popish Votaries in the Romish Church come forth, and compare themselves with this Holy Preacher and Patriarch in his most Eminent and Unparallell'd Holiness, possibly some of those Hypocrites may match Enoch in begetting many Children, but 'tis of their filthy Whores, and they have neither Credit of them, nor Comfort in them (as Lamech said of his Son Noah, Gen. 5.29.) because they are Illegitimate and Base-born Bastards, this instance of Enoch (as also of Noah, who was likewise a Preacher of Righteousness, 2 Pet. 2.5. yet Married and had many Sons, &c. ) doth most manifestly Evidence that Marriage is an Holy Ordinance of God, and no Impediment to an holy walking with God, for the Holy Ghost gives this high Honor to both those Married Preachers ( Enoch and Noah ) that they both did walk with God, Gen. 5.24. and 6.9. and had this our Enoch been unmarried, undoubtedly the Church of Rome would have Canoniz'd him for some Capuchin or Carthusian Friar, or for some Priest or Jesuit in their Unholy Holy Orders, as they do Unmarried Paul, whom yet they unhappily find to withstand their Famous (yet Married, Mat. 8.14.) Peter. They cry up Unmarried Paul for having that great Honor to be taken up into the third Heaven, 2 Cor. 12.1. Yet they overlook how Married Moses had a greater Honor put upon him, in having the third Heaven, and the God of Heaven to come down to him on Earth. In as much as it is greater Honor to a Subject, when the King comes down from the Throne to salute him, than when he only calls him up to his Presence-Chamber: Notwithstanding, in other respects the Romanists prefer Married Peter before Unmarried Paul (who yet looked not upon it as unlawful for himself to Marry, 1 Cor. 9.5.) speaking dishonourably of him, as being an Hot-headed Fellow in making so much matter in his many Epistles point-blank against so many of their Popish points of Doctrine, and saying that Paul was not well assured of the Truth of his own Writings, until by a Conference with Peter he got a Confirmation of them, as Speculum Europae saith, not minding herein what an Honorable mention their Peter maketh of his Beloved Brother Paul, 2 Pet. 3.16. Thus it plainly appeareth from Enoch 's public capacity as a Prophet or Preacher, that Ministers Marriage holdeth no inconsistency with true sanctity, for Enoch lived (in that State) a most Holy Life for Three Hundred years together, yea, he was so Eminent in Holiness all along therein, 〈◊〉 none of the Popish Votaries (to a single Life) with all their works of Supererogation and Perfections of Merits (as they call them) shall never be able to run in a parallel Line with this most Holy Patriarch, thus Honor'd in the Word.
2. Come we now secondly to his private capacity, as he was a Professor and Practiser of true Piety in his walking with God. There be many Professors, and but few Practisers; many that profess with their Mouths, who do not also practice (what they profess) with their Lives. There be many Talkers, and but few Walkers; many Talkers of God, few Walkers with God. Their Lives give the [Lie] to their Lips or Tongues, as not running Relatives in parallel Lines together with the Heart. A Mans Conversation is the most conspicuous Comment upon all that the Heart believeth and the Mouth expresseth, Rom. 10.9, 10. with Mat. 5.16. Phil. 2.15. and 1 Pet. 2.12. Our Enoch here was not a [say-well] only, but he was a [do well] also. This is Recorded of him in the Sacred Register to his Eternal Honor.
Hence Observe, 'It is both the Duty and Dignity of Man to walk with God. For the better Improvement hereof, some Enquiries are to be Answered.
The first is, What is this Walking with God?
Answer 1. Negatively; 'tis not, as if a Man should desert the Society of Mankind, and run into a Desert or Cloister; or as if a Man should depart out of the World, and fly up into Heaven: Neither doth this Phrase import only Enoch 's public capacity, as if it were proper solely to such as serve God in some high Office, or near [God-approaching] Ministration, this Phrase being peculiarly (as some say) applied unto public Persons, as Patriarchs, Prophets, High Priest and Preachers, Gen. 5.22, 24. and 6.9. and 17.1. 1 Sam. 2.30, 35. Psal. 56.13. and 116.9. with 2 Pet. 2.5. For in that [totum hominis] or whole Duty of Man, that Compendium of both Testaments or little Bible, Mic. 6.8. To walk with God humbly is the Duty of Man in general, whether he be a public or a private Person, it being a Phrase Synonymical with walking in the ways of God's Commandments and Laws, Exod. 16.4. 2 Kings 10.31. Psal. 119.1. 2 Chron. 17.4. Luke 1.6. Levite. 18.4. Psal. 89.30, Ezek. 37.24. In the Statutes, Judgments and Ordinances of God, Levite. 26.3. 1 Kings 6.12. Ezek. 11.20. So the Phrase imports no more but Enoch 's leading an Holy Life, walking in the good old way, Jer. 6.16. in the fear of God, Neh. 5.9. in the name of the Lord, Mic. 4.5. in the Spirit, Gal. 5.16. and after the Spirit, Rom. 8.1. or a walking by Faith, 2. Cor. 5.7. All which are common Duties unto all the Faithful, and not proper only to some few public Persons of a peculiar Office and Administration; and in this sense the Seventy two Interpreters understood this Phrase, translating the Hebrew word into [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ] he pleased God well with his Holy Life; and thus the Author to the Hebrews Interprets it also, Heb. 11.5, 6. by the same word out of the Septuagint [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ] he had this Testimony that he pleased God, by his walking after his Will, composing himself as always in God's presence, being ever careful to obey him, and fearful to offend him: There be three Scripture Phrases,
- 1. Walking with God, as here.
- 2. Walking before God, Gen. 17.1.
- 3. Walking after God, Deut. 13.4. All importing one thing; all which I have spoken to in the Epistle to the Reader in my Christian Walk; so pass it by here. This brings in the
Second Answer, Showing what it is to walk with God positively; that is, he did serve God in his Generation according to his Will, as is said of David, Acts 13. 3 • 6 not only a step or two, or now and then (this makes not Saints or Devils) but all his days for full Three Hundred years. He led an Holy and Unblameable Life, not according to the pleasure, applause or example of Men, but according to the Will and good Pleasure of God, composing himself wholly to his Word and Worship then delivered by Tradition; the Phrase is a Graphical Character or Description of a truly Religious Man, who is not idle, stands not still, but maketh progress, and presseth forward to the Mark, as is done in walking, which is a most Elegant Metaphor for the work of a Christian walking in ways of Godliness all his Life, until at his Death he cometh up to God; and this his walking is not Inordinate and Irregular, but 'tis done all by a Rule, Gal. 6.16, by a Line, and (as it were) in a Frame, footing it tightly and uprightly (as the word [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ] Gal. 2.14.) Yea exactly and accurately (as the word [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ] Eph. 5.15.) do signify, not taking up one foot, until he find firm footing where to set down the other, and striving to get to the very top of Godliness. And undoubtedly Enochs walking with God was in such sincerity (in as much as he ordered his life not so much for the Applause of men, as for the Approbation and Acceptation of God;) this was that which made him so highly well-pleasing to God, as the Septuagint and Author to the Hebrews translate this phrase, as is aforesaid.
The second Enquiry is, How this walking with God is man's Duty? Answ. Upon a threefold respect.
1. 'It is the principal End why God Created Man, that Man should walk with God his Creator. As Man when he was made, and had all Creatures of all kinds to pass before him to receive their several Names from him, could not find (among them all) a fit Companion for himself, Gen. 2.18, 19, 20. So when God had made the whole Creation, and all that he had made, he saw was very good, Gen. 1.31. yet among all his Creatures of every kind he could not find any to be a fit Companion for himself [to walk with him] save Man only; his Delight is to be conversant among the Sons of Men, Prov. 8.30, 31. Man is his Habitable part of the Earth: The Tabernacle of God is with Man, Revel. 21.3. God hath Fellowship with no Creature so as with Man. Oh that we could say, Truly our Fellowship is with the Father, and with the Son Jesus Christ, 1 John 1.3. This is our Duty.
The second Respect or Reason is, 'It is the Creatures (Mans) Homage and Fealty to his Creator God, to walk with him, not with Satan, or with Sin and Sinners. Alas, Man owes all he hath and to God (who is the God of his Being, and the Giver of his Well-being, Acts 17. 28. Jam. 1.5, 17.) and he owes nothing to Sin and Satan, unless it be hatred and abhorrency for the evil they have done him: And 'tis very hard if Man will not pay to so good a God such a poor Pepper-Corn as this is, to acknowledge his God in all his ways, Prov. 3.6. by his walking with him. If we do not own and acknowledge, yea, and avouch the Lord for our God, how can we expect that God should own, acknowledge and avouch us for his Children, Deut. 26.16, 17, 18, 19.
The third Respect or Reason is, This walking with God is the very Badge and Character whereby Saints are distinguished from Sinners, Believers from Unbelievers, and the Children of God from the Children of the World, who instead of walking with God, do walk contrary to God, Levite. 26.21, &c. and not only lie down, but even wallow in wickedness, 1 John 5.19. This is the Devils Badge and Livery, as the other is God's, by which both are known whose Servants they are, and who is their Lord.
The third Enquiry is, How is this walking with God Mans Dignity as well as Duty?
Answer, 'It is not only Mans Homage, but 'tis also his Honor to walk with God; 'tis accounted Honorable to be but a Follower of a Mortal King, but much more Honorable to walk hand in hand (as a Favorite and Familiar Friend) with him; how much more Honorable must it needs be, not only to follow and walk after, but also to walk with the King of Kings and Lord of Lord's, Arm in Arm, and Heart in Heart duly and daily? As it is the lowest condescension in God to abase himself so much as to walk with Man; so 'tis the highest advancement in Man to be thus exalted as to walk Frequently, Freely, Familiarly and Friendly with the great God: As Society with Sin debaseth Man as low as Worms, (hence David saith I am a Worm, not a Man, Psal. 22.6. I am Dust and Ashes saith Abraham, Gen. 18.27. and I am less than the least of thy loving kindnesses, saith Jacob, Gen. 32.10.) So accompanying of God (in a Friendly walking with him) dignifieth Man as high as Angels, Man is made 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , or equal to Angels thereby, Mat. 22.30. to sit in Heavenly places, Eph. 2.6. This walking with God in his ways dignified Joshua the High Priest so, that Christ promiseth him, he will give him a place to walk among those that stand by, Zech. 3.7. that is, among the Angels that stood by, v. 4. and Zech. 1.8, 9, 10. or among the Seraphims (as the Chaldee Paraphrase phraseth it) thou shalt walk Arm in Arm with those Celestial Courtiers, and be as one of that Honorable Innumerable Company, Heb. 12.22. walking in better Gardens and Galleries than this is, and of Chabul, 1 King. 9.13. or dirty World can afford. Now Union with Christ is the ground of this Communion with Angels, he that hath the Son, hath Life, 1 John 5.12. He hath taken possession of those Heavenly walks (by his walking with God in Christ here on Earth) as is done of Earthly walks and Inheritances by Turf and Twig.
Inferences hence are,
1. 'It is our Duty to walk with God, though the whole World walk contrary to God • : The worse that Times are, the better should we be, that the Times may not be worse but better by us, we should all strive to be the most holy Persons even in the most unholy Times. Thus our Enoch in very bad Times was still a good Man, and walked with God, when that corrupt Age did walk from God, yea, contrary to him or against him, as if they would justle God out of his Throne, he kept close to him when they most forsook him, and so forsook their own Mercies to follow Lying Vanities, Jon. 2.8. 'tis probable Enoch 's Prophesying or Preaching to them did them little good, and 'tis as certain that their profaneness did Enoch as little hurt. He was not (as appeareth by this Phrase of his walking with God) of the World, while he lived in the World, 1 John 2.19: because he conformed not to the World, Rom. 12.2. He did not run with them into the same excess of Riot, 1 Pet. 4.4. nor did he walk in the way of these wicked men, Prov. 14.4. nor would he have any Fellowship with their unfruitful works of darkless, Eph. 5.11. Thus also Noah did walk with God in the midst of a most crooked and most perverse Generation, Gen. 6.9. Phil. 2.15. That Character of Commendation given to Noah, seemeth higher than this of Enoch, in as much as Enoch 's Age was more tolerable: But that of Noah 's was so intolerable, God could tolerate them no longer, but took them all away with a Deluge, which was not done in Enoch 's (it seems) more tolerable Times, wherein iniquity indeed abounded, but was not come to the full, Gen. 15.16. But Noah remaining Righteous and Incorrupted (in the corruptest of Times) walked with God when the World was overflown with an Inundation of wickedness, and therefore he was saved by God when the World was likewise overflown with an Inundation of Water. And as Enoch was the best in bad Times (as well as Noah ) so Elijah was likewise, who continued Zealous for God when (in his own apprehensions) he was left all alone, and his degenerate Age was all against God, and for Baal, 1 King. 19.10, 14. therefore Enoch and Elijah are called the Two Candidates of Immortality, because neither of them tasted of Death in the common way of Mortality.
The second Inference is, Therefore we should all strive to walk with God, upon these three following Motives; besides the Reasons of the Duty, as also of the Dignity.
1. Safety. 2. Solace. 3. Satiety, all which shows 'tis not only our Task, but our Privilege, not only our Duty but our Dignity (as before) and not only our Work, but our Wages too to walk with God; 'tis a Work that is Wages to itself, having all these three Motives or Encouragements in them.
1. Society with God is safety to Man: Fear not Abraham (saith God) I am thy Shield, Gen. 15.1. to keep off all blows, and is impenetrable; the wicked must strike through God before they can come at those who walk with God, for he is not only their Shield, but also a Wall of Fire round about them, Zech. 2.5. And they are Mad-men, who will Fight with the Fire, especially such consuming and devouring Fire as God is, Heb. 12.28. Isa. 33.14. Quid timet hominem homo in sinu Dei positus? A Man that lies in the Bosom of a King, or walks by his Side with him as his Friend and Favorite, who dare touch him? 'tis Crimen laesae Majestatis, a Treasonable Affront to Royal Majesty; how much worse is any Injury in the Society with the King of Kings, in whose presence no Evil or Devil dare be so insolent as to Arrest any that walk with God. If God be for us and with us, who can be against us? Rom. 8.31. At what time I am afraid, I will trust in thee, saith David, Psal. 56.3. That is, I will shrink under the shadow of my Shield wherewith I walk safe, through the Valley of Death, Psal. 23.4.
The second Privilege attending our walking with God is Solace and Delight. Oh the Complacency good Men find in God's Company; how pleasant it is to walk in the warm Sun-shine at a cold Season, God promiseth to be a Sun as well as a Shield to those that walk with him, Psal. 84.11. and how sweet it is to walk in the warm Sunshine of the Sun of Righteousness, Mal. 4.2. That Soul dwells at ease, Psal. 25.12, 13. The ways of wisdom [to walk with God] are ways (or walks) of pleasantness, and her paths are peace, Prov. 3.17. Not only strawed with Roses, but also paved with Love; the Walk is a Golden Pavement, Cant. 3.10. Revel. 21.21. and therefore unfit to be defiled by dirty Dogs, Revel. 22.15. In this walk it was that the Spouse sat down under Christ's shadow (that beautiful and beloved Harbor) with great delight where his Fruits (the Promises) tasted sweet, Cant. 2.3. Psal. 19.11. In as well as for keeping, &c. there's great Reward.) No Company is so comfortable as God's Company, and he that walks without God and not with him, is indeed alone. This makes Sinners Solitary and sad Souls, though they have never so many Beastly Creature-comforts with them, as a Man is said to be alone, though he hath many Myriads of Beasts round about him in the Forest, so those 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or Atheists that walk without God in the World, Eph. 2.12. They are all alone in the midst of their Sensuality or Sense-comforts, whereas Saints (though bereaved of them) have Soul comforts as Christ had, John 16.37.
This ushers in the third Privilege, to wit, Satiety; This made Jacob say, I have enough my Brother, or Hebr. Kal-li in opposition to Esau 's Rab-li; Esau had much, but Jacob had All (as the words signify) Gen. 33.9, 11. As having God in his Company who had All, and was an Universal and Satisfactory good congruously Accommodated to all his wants, and no good thing will he withhold, therefore David desires to be a Door-keeper (first in, and last out) anything so as to have God's Company, Psal. 84.10, 11. and this made Abraham run like a Lackey at God's Stirrop (as it were) when he heard his El-shaddi, or All-sufficient God bid him walk before him, Gen. 17. 1. He can follow God blindfold, and went out, not knowing whither, Heb. 11.8.
Having done with Enochs first grand concern to wit concerning his appearance in the World, all which he managed in a constant walking with God: I come now to discourse upon his second Grand concern, concerning his disappearance to the World, to wit his translation from Earth to Heaven: This Moses (having his veil upon him, as is usual with him) mentioneth in dark and intricate expressions, but the Apostle removes the veil, and unvails Moses, Gen. 5.24. delivering his translation in a more plain and perspicuous language, Heb. 11.5.
(1.) As to Moses Dark and Intricate expressions, they are two.
- (1.) He was not.
- (2.) For God took him.
(1.) He was not, the Hebrew reads it, [Veenenu] which in Latin is rendered, [& non ipse] and in English, [and not he.] Which abrupt Sentence must: be supplied with something to make it sense, as many concise Hebrew phrases do oft require, so this must have subjoined to it, either [was] or [died] or [found] either he [was] not, as in our reading, or he [died] not, as 'tis said of the end of all the other Patriarchs, in Gen. 5. Or Lastly; he was not [found] as the Apostle (according to the Greek Version) explaineth it, Heb. 11.5. (In those very words) and Moses signifying, that he appeared no more, was seen no more [in Vivis] among the living, in the sight and Society of men: the Chaldee addeth, he appeared not, and yet the Lord killed him not, for it was not with him as with the other Patriarchs in the common course of mortality, he being the candidate of Immortality, as the ancients called him. Though some Jewish Rabbins make a strange Inference from this Phrase. [He was not] that Enoch still liveth; suppose it true, in sano sensu, yet it cannot from hence be inferred, for the same Phrase imports to be dead, as Rachel, wept for her Children, because they were not, Jer. 31.15. Mat. 2.18. And when Joseph was supposed to be dead, Jacob said of him, Joseph is not, Gen. 42.36.
The second dark expression of Moses is, [For God took him] which (though it be intricate) yet it plainly answers that Rabbinical Incongruous and improper inference, that Enoch liveth not now in the Land of the living. For God did assume him from hence to himself, and 'tis the import of these common sayings, when Godly persons do die, that God taketh them, but when wicked ones die, that the Devil taketh them. Thus Moses Phrase [Kilakak otho Elohim.] Implies that Enoch died to this lower World (at least by way of Equivalency as will more appear afterwards) he disappeared on Earth, and Moses renders this reason, for God took him to the upper World, and up into Heaven; the word [Lakak] signifies tulit, transtulit, assumpsit, vel ad se Recepit; God took him, or translated him, or assumed him and received him to himself in bliss; from hence other Hebrew Doctors do (us strangely as those before) infer, that God took away Enoch by a sudden and untimely death, yet without any pains or pangs thereof, grounding their groundless notion upon Jon. 4.3. Where the Prophet desires God to take away his Soul, but those Rabbins do only deprave that Text, and make no better than a mock of this Divine Miracle in Enochs Translation, for this Phrase [God took him] Imports not his death, but his miraculous assumption into Heaven, as appeareth.
(1.) Because otherwise Moses would have said of Enoch [Vaiamuth] and he died, as he saith of all the other Patriarchs.
(2.) Neither doth Moses say, that God took away his Soul, as the Prophet Jonah prayed that God would take away his Soul, Jon. 4.3, Kach-nah eth naphshi mimeni.] I pray thee take away my Soul from me; accordingly is that saying of Christ, No man taketh away my Soul from me, but I lay it down of myself, Joh. 10.18. Where [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ] the Soul is added to the word [take] as [Nephesh,] the Soul is added to [take] in Jon. 4.3. but here the word [took] is used alone to imply that not only Enoch 's Soul, but his Body too were taken up into Heaven, and in Ezek. 24.16. though the Word [Soul] be not added to [take] yet [Machimad Gnencka] the desire of thy Eyes is adjoined there also.
(3.) The wisest of the Hebrews did understand this Phrase [God took him] not for his Death, but for his Translation, as that best of all the Apocryphal Books] Ecclesiasticus] witnesseth, Chap. 44.16. Where Jesus the Son of Sirach (reputed among the Jews next in wisdom to Solomon, who therefore imitated Solomon in his proverbial sayings) saith, that Enoch pleased the Lord God, therefore was he translated for an Example of Repentance to all Generations.
(4.) That famous Rabbi Onkelos, who lived about the 9th year after Christ, and who writ that excellent Chaldee-Paraphrase, saith, Deus non passus Enochum mori. God suffered him not to die, &c. He expressly denies that he was dead, or that he took him away by death, therefore the Jewish fable is to be exploded; and there be other both Jewish and Popish opinions (of the same bran) which deserve no better entertainment than explosion or hissing at, and hurling out of our belief: As,
(1.) The opinion of Ibn-Ezra, that Enoch died, because 'tis said, Gen. 5.23. All the days of Enoch were 365. Now (saith he.) If Enoch were still alive, and not dead, these should not be all his days. But this Objection is thus answered.
(1.) The Scripture maketh mention only of the years of his life upon Earth: His years with God, are not to be reckoned amongst men: As the Apostle saith of Christ, who in the days of his Flesh, &c. Heb. 5.7. 'It is well known, that Christ is now in his Flesh (or human nature) in Heaven, yet these only are accounted the days of his Flesh, while he conversed in his Flesh with men on Earth.
And the second Answer is, The Apostle plainly expresseth, that Enoch was translated, that he should not see Death, Heb. 11.5. It follows hence, therefore he died not.
The (2d.) Fabulous Figment of Jewish Doctors who triffle further concerning Enoch, saying, he had the shortest life of all the ten Patriarchs before the flood, because though he was a good man, yet he was given to pleasures, and therefore, lest he should wholly degenerate, God took him the sooner away to prevent his Apostasy. Thus that Apocryphal Author in wisdom, Ch. 4.11. Saith, He was taken away, lest wickedness should Alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his mind. Which words (if meant of Enoch by them) have not so much of the Divine [Wisdom of Solomon ] as that book is called, as of the Human Spirit of Philo, the Jew (the supposed Author of that book) who living after Christ, yet persisted in his Jewish Incredulity, and gave out this private interpretation upon Moses 's History of Enoch (Divinely inspired) whereunto Philos gloss holds no fit congruity; Considering,
(1.) To be a good man and yet to be a Voluptuous man are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , inconsistent.
(2.) Neither doth the Author of that book of Wisdom, name Enoch either in his 10th or 11th v. or anywhere else in that 4th Chapter, but speaks in the General of Godly persons that are oft taken away betimes from evil to come.
(3.) God could have preserved Enoch in ways of Godliness from all Apostasy, had he lived three times longer, as God did his Son Methuselah in a Godly life to the end of 969 years, and as he did Lamech (his Grand-child) for 777 years, and as he did Noah (his great Grand-child) for 950 years, although those times (all along after Enoch ) grew worse and worse, and accordingly Temptations to Apostasy grew Stronger and Stronger. The same divine power that kept all the other Patriarchs to the End, and Enoch to the time of 365 years in God's fear and favor, could have kept this Patriarch longer, for the Apostle saith, He shall be established, for God is able to make him stand, Rom. 14.4. Speaking there of God's faithful Servants, Faithful unto Death, as that longest lived Patriarch (Methuselah) was, it followeth therefore, that Enoch was not taken away, lest wickedness should alter him (as that Apocryphal Author saith) but because holiness did most eminently shine forth in him, so that the ancients call him [Phosphorus inter Stellas] the morning Star of his Age for his out-shining all other Stars in his walking with God, and therefore had he this singular favor for his singular Conversation to be translated out of the lower Orb of this World, into the highest Orb of the other World, there to shine as a bright Star for evermore. Hence two absurdities are sufficiently confuted.
1. That of Procopius and Gazeus, who (both) say, that Enoch was a wicked liver before he begat Methuselah, because 'tis said, after he had begot him he walked with God, Gen. 5.22. And not before, (say they) yet after this he repented: Yet there is no ground in Scripture for this groundless surmise, for the word [after] is not at all exclusive, but may as well be Inclusive, intimating that he walked with God, both before and after the begetting of that Son, and that he was most Eminent and Extraordinary in Piety, appeareth plainly, inasmuch as God did vouchsafe him this most Eminent and Extraordinary privilege (above all the other Patriarchs ) to be translated from Earth to Heaven, without any death or disease.
And the second absurdity is as gross in the Jewish Doctors calling Enoch 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , or the shortest lived Patriarch because he was voluptuous, and lest he should degenerate, for in truth he was the only 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or longest liver of them, as his life on Earth was changed into a better life in Heaven.
Having done with the dark expression of Moses, Gen. 5.24. Concerning Enochs translation, made more dark (if not disannulled) by the Jewish Ficticious Fables; I come now to that more plain place of the Apostle, Heb. 11.5. Which yet is also darkened by sundry Popish Dreams and Dotages: In which plain place of the New Testament (which is an unvailing of Moses, or a clear Explanation of that Darker place aforenamed) 4. Generals are very remarkable; to wit,
1. The extraordinary Privilege vouchsafed to Enoch above all the other Patriarchs before the flood, to be Translated.
2. The admirable advantage attending this Privilege of his Translation: That he should not see death.
3. The excellent Effect or Consequence thereof he was not found, that is, anymore in this vale of tears, where his Righteous Soul had been, daily vexed with the unrighteous Lives of that degenerating age, as 2 Pet. 2.8. For God had translated him, to wit, hence into Paradise (as the Arabic Version addeth) where he had a plentiful amends for his want of the days of the other Patriarchs in the days of their several Pilgrimages (so called, Gen. 47.9.) He was not found (after this) a poor Pilgrim on Earth, but he was found a Bird of Paradise flown up into Heaven.
4. The great ground and famous Foundation and Fountain from whence all the beforenamed did flow, was, that he was a pleaser of God. Of all these four parts in their due order, handling the second observation that doth arise from hence, to wit, Those and those only that are walkers with God, and pleasers of God upon Earth, shall undoubtedly be assumed up to God, and be happy, and inhabit with God in Heaven.
The first enquiry (in the improvement of this point) is, concerning Enoch's Metathesis, ceu metabasis or translation, how it was for manner, and whither it was for place, and what of Enoch was translated, Body as well as Soul.
Answer. Moses 's word [lakak] Gen. 5.24. is more dark (as before) which signifies [rapuit] importing his rapture, which some Interpret accepit eum Angelus ejus, his Angel took him away; thus Immanuel sa saith, but Elohim is better Translated [God who translated or took Enoch (as in our Bibles) than his Angel: Josephus renders it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , reversus est ad deum, he returned to God, and the Tigurine Version reads it, subductus est, & ascendit in Coelum ex mandato coram domino, he was taken up, and ascended into Heaven by command before the Lord. Accordingly Piscator and Ainsworth explain the Arabic Version [he was translated into Paradise,] that is (say they) into the Heavenly Paradise, mentioned, Luk. 23.43. and 2 Cor. 12.2, 4. Agreeable to this is that more plain word of the Apostle 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Heb. 11.5. the same word used by the same Author, Heb. 7.12. for the change of the Priest-hood from the Law to the Gospel, imports also the change of Enoch 's Life from Earth to Heaven.
Thus the word [Metathesis] is frequently used in Authors for a man's changing his habitation, from one place to another, as from the Country to the City. Thus Enoch changed his Habitation from the Church militant to the Church triumphant; Calvin elegantly expresseth it, that the World began to burn as an Oven with unlawful Lusts, and God snatched Enoch as a brand out of that fire (or Oven, so called Hos. 7.4.) for a signal reward of his singular piety. This in the general, but more particularly;
(1.) The manner how he was Translated.
Answer. Some Hebrew Doctors do assert that he was taken up in a Whirlwind as Elias was, 2 Kings 2.11. and that he was disarayed of the Foundation corporal (as their phrase is) and clothed with the Foundation Spiritual, and further they say, that God shown him all the high Treasures and the Tree of Life in the midst of the Garden of God, &c. Thus glosseth Rabbi Menachem upon Gen. 5.24. The manner of Elias or Elijah 's Translation is more largely described by the Holy Ghost in Scripture, 2 Kin. 2. where mention is made.
(1.) God foretold him of his Rapture, v. 4.19. and therefore was he so careful to visit the Schools of the Prophets before his departure, and to leave them a blessing behind him both at Bethel and Jericho, v. 2. and 4. This is not said of Enoch, that he was foretold of his Translation.
(2.) Elijah's removal was also foretold to the Sons of the Prophets, v. 3. and 5. 'It is not said by Moses that any other fore knew Enoch 's removal.
(3.) The very means of Elijah's Transportation are distinctly mentioned, v. 11. which was a Chariot and Horses of Fire, to wit, Angels in this form, Psal. 104.4. a fiery Apparition like Horses drawing a Chariot as 2 Kin. 6.17. Hence the Poets feign, the Sun is carried in a Chariot and Horses of Fire, What means could be more commodious than a Chariot to carry a man from one place to another, therefore God's Angels, that carried up Elijah, are so set forth here, they appeared in Fire but it was such as consumed him not, like that in Exod. 3.2. which consumed not the Bush; and this apparition of Fire was well accommodated to that sire of zeal which had oft transported this fiery Prophet while he walked with God, and wrought for God upon Earth, it was the Seraphims or (as the word signifies) the Angels (that are a flaming Fire, Psal. 104.4.) that fetched up to Heaven this Seraphical Doctor, so there was a sweet suitableness: those were God Chariots or cheerful ones [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ] as the Psal. 68.17. Septuagint reads it, the Angels were cheerful to carry up Elijah, and Elijah was as cheerful to be carried up by them.
(4.) There is mention made also of a Whirl-wind, which is a strong circular wind, that with violence gathereth things into it, and carrieth them up in the middle of it, thus Elijah was taken up into Heaven by a Whirl-wind, 2 Kin. 2.1. and 11. This vehement Whirl-Wind hurried up the Chariot and Horses as soon as Elijah was ascended into it.
(5.) 'It is said also that Elijah 's mantle dropped from him in his Ascension, v. 13. (no such is said of Enoch ) this Mantle Elijah let fall (all his other clothes being consumed before his entrance into Heaven, where there is no need of clothing) and Elisha gladly took it up, not only to make him amends for his own he had rent, v. 12. but also to mind him of his Master while he wore it as a memorial of him, and as a Token he should be clothed with his Masters Spirit as well as Mantle, as appeared by his first Miracle, v. 14.
(6) There is the nearest Harmony betwixt those two Candidates of Immortality ( Enoch and Elijah ) in Scripture Record herein, that Enoch was taken up in his Holy walking with God, and Elijah in his Holy Talking of God, both busy at that time in their Masters work, Blessed is that man whom the Lord when he cometh shall find so doing, Mat. 24.46. In a word 'tis not improbable that Enoch was translated by a Whirl wind in such an Angelical Chariot as Elijah was, though Moses be short in that Relation, as in all the others before the flood, he being exceeding concise in all the concerns of the nine first Patriarchs for near to 1656 year of the World. Therefore 'tis likely Enoch was translated in the same manner as Elijah was (though it be not Recorded in Moses 's Abridgment) as he had the substance of the privilege (to wit, Translation ) so he might the better have the circumstances, to wit, the Chariot, &c. for his Translation. They both had fought the good Fight of Faith, and both being Faithful unto Death went off the Stage as more than Conquerors, to wit, Triumpher's, 2 Tim. 4.7. Rev. 2.10. Rom. 8.37. God caused them both to Triumph, 2 Cor. 2.14. that is, to ride up to Heaven in a Triumphant Chariot, according to the manner of the great Roman Conquerors who after their famous conquests, they used with grand pomp and splendor to ride up to the Capitol in a stately Triumphant Chariot through the Streets of Rome the Capital City (then) of the World. Thus Enoch and Elijah Rode Triumphing over all their Adversaries Heads through the Air (the Devils Territories and Country, as he is Prince of the Air ) and as they passed along, they looked Downward to the Earth with contempt, and upward to Heaven with joy: Thus far (first) of the manner how:
(2.) Of the place whither? The Popish as well as Jewish Drs. Dream of Enoch 's going I know not whither nor they themselves: something shall be spoke to this with brevity, besides what I have said a little above in the Answer General, as likewise, what I have said to it in my discovery of the Person and Period of Antichrist, page 72, 73. &c. Some of those Dreamers say, those two Candidates ( Enoch and Elijah so called) were only Translated into the Earthly Paradise out of which Adam was expelled upon his Fall, and that there they both live without food as Moses did in his forty days Fast, and there they shall both continue towards the end of the World, and then return into the World again to make War against Antichrist, who shall after a while slay them both, being (as they dotingly conceit) the two Witnesses in Rev. 11.3. &c. after which shall follow their true Translation into Heaven.
Answer. (1.) This fabulous fiction of the Popish Doctors is coined out of that Jewish Fable of Ecclesiasticus chap. 44. (before quoted) that Enoch is kept alive to Preach Repentance at the end of the World, v. 16. (as they Interpret it) which is not Canonical Scripture, and therefore a Dissent may be entered against the Authority of it, as likewise, this Romish Lye is borrowed from a misinterpretation of that Canonical Scripture in Mal. 4.5. that Elias must come before the great Day. All this is alleged by the Romanists to wipe the Mouth of the Pope from being called the Antichrist, because those two [ Enoch and Elijah ] are not yet come to oppose him in their persons: but we have better Interpreters (than those Popish ones) of this Text and Oracle, to wit,
(1.) An Angel who applies it to John the Baptist, Luke 1.17. And
(2.) That Angel of the Covenant (Christ) Mat. 11.14. and 17.10, 11. and him all must Hear, v. 5. above all Antichrists agitatours. And the Evangelist Mark begins his Gospel with this Prophecy of Malachi, to inform us that this Elias is the Baptist, who came in the like Spirit and Power, the like Gifts, Calling and Ministry &c. as that Prophet did; not by a 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or transmigration of Elias 's Soul into John the Baptist (according to Pythagoras 's notion) but by Inspiration of the Almighty who hath the residue of the Spirit, Mal. 2.15. yea the seven Spirits of God, Rev. 3.1. and can give to one the like Spiritual endowments as he doth to another.
(2.) Answer. As therefore it is Apparent, that Elias is come already (according to Christ's words) and not to come before the day of Judgment to Convert the Jews, and to Confirm the Elect in the Faith of the Gospel, according to the sondly fabling Romanists; So that Terrstrial Paradise (out of which Adam was excluded) was certainly destroyed by Noah's deluge: For,
1. The Scripture saith expressly that everything was destroyed upon the face of the Earth, every man, only eight persons saved in the Ark, Gen. 7.21. 1 Pet. 3.20. therefore had Enoch been upon Earth, he must have perished. The
2. Reason is, The Waters are also said to prevail fifteen Cubits over the highest Mountain Gen. 7.20. therefore Paradise must be overflown, and the deluge destroyed it; though the place remained after, yet not the pleasantness of the place, according to the Ancient saying [Cecidit Rosa mansit spina] the beautiful Rose (which was the Blessing ) Failed, but the grieving Thorn (which was the Curse ) continued.
3. Whereas some Romish Doctors say, that Paradise (or Enoch in some high part of it) might be preserved from perishing by the Waters standing as a Wall round about them, as the Waters in the Red Sea did on each side Israel, Exod. 14.22. but this is no better than proud presumption to imagine a Miracle without warrant from Scripture, seeing that concerning Israel is recorded, but this concerning Enoch Paradise (to be thus secured) is not so much as darkly intimated. Besides, if it had been so, then Noah needed not to build an Ark, the eight persons (with all the Cattle) might have been secured there with Enoch who would have made them nine persons saved, contrary to a Pet. 3.20.
4. Others of them say, That Paradise might be preserved in the Waters as was the Olive-Tree whereof the Dove plucked a Branch; suppose this true, yet Enoch must have been Drowned, for Trees have not Breath as Man hath. 'It is said, everything that had Breath Died, Gen. 7.22. there is not par ratio; 'tis no right arguing from the preservation of a Tree which is breathless, to the preservation of a man who. Breatheth.
5. 'It is said of Elijah's Translation twice (as before) that he went up into Heaven, 2 Kin. 2.1, 11. this cannot be Paradise below, the same may be said also of Enoch.
The third Branch is what of Enoch was Translated, whether his Soul only, or his Body also.
Answer, No doubt but God took up his Body as well as his Soul from Earth to Heaven, and from this Life to a better, without any separation of his Soul from his Body. This brings me to the second Remarkable, and the second Enquiry about if, to wit, his Advantage attending this high Privilege, He did not see death, Heb. 11.5. He tasted not of that bitter Cup. Indeed his Translation was, (as Calvin calls it) a kind of extraordinary death, yet came he not under,
1. The expectation of Death by either Disease or Decay; much less,
2. Under the power and dominion of Death, by parting his Soul from his Body; but it was with him as it shall be with those that are alive at Christ's coming; Behold (saith the Apostle) I show you a Mystery. (This was likely one of those [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ] the wordless words that he heard in his Rapture, 2 Cor. 12.4. and therefore unknown till then to any Morial.) We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed, 1 Cor. 15.51. We shall have Spiritual Bodies, v. 44. And a Building of God, not made with hands, with which House we desire to be clothed upon, &c. 2 Cor. 5.1, 2. And the same Apostle to the Thessalonians saith more plainly, Then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the Clouds, to meet the Lord in the Air, 1 Thes. 4.17. Paul thus speaketh of himself as of one alive at Christ's coming, because we should daily expect it, and even hasten unto it, as 2 Pet. 3.12. And he intimateth there, that the Clouds are the Chariots and Waggons which our Joseph, our Jesus will send for us at that time to carry us up to Heaven, as the Patriarch Joseph (the Lord of the Land) did for his Fathers Family down to Egypt, Gen. 45.27. And such a Chariot carried up Christ (himself) into Heaven, Act. 1.9. Thus Enoch was taken up in a Whirlwind (as in a Waggon) as the best Hebrew Doctors do affirm, however 'tis plain Elijah was so. And in the very Act of their Translation, both their Mortality was so swallowed up of Life and Immortality, and their Corruption did put on Incorruption, in such an inconceivable way, (as those that shall be changed and caught up at Christ's coming.) That neither of them felt the Sting of Death no more than the Victory of the Grave [he saw not Death.] This is taken Literally or Mystically.
1. Literally as here, and Luke 2.26. Simeon saw not Death, until he had seen the Son of God.
2. Mystically, John 8.51. If a Man keep my sayings, he shall not see death. Death is Threefold.
- 1. Temporal.
- 2. Spiritual.
- 3. Eternal.
In the former of these Death is taken Literally, in the two latter Mystically. The Holy Scripture uses three words [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ] adjoining to Death [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ] is used, Heb. 11.5. [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ] John 8.51. and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in v. 52. Mat. 16.28. and Mark 9.1, &c. to be dead in sin (a frequent Phrase in Scripture) or to die in sin, as John 8.21. relates to Death Spiritual. This is an heavy Doom, and the very next door to damnation; 'tis a sad thing to die in a Ditch or Dungeon, but 'tis far sadder to die this death Spiritual, to Die in Sin. but the word [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ] Taste, Imports that Saints only Taste of Death, they do but sip of that bitter Cup, which (for tasting of that forbidden fruit in Paradise) they should have been swilling and swallowing down forever. This sinners (who die in their sins) do, they do not only swallow it, but are swallowed up of it [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ] forever, which (when that is added, as Joh. 8.51, 52.) relates to Death Eternal; Saints do die, but sinners are killed with Death, Rev. 2.23. A good man, is said agrotare Vitaliter, & mori Vitaliter, his sickness and death is in order to life, he hath hope in his death, Prov. 14.32. Death to him is as the Valley of Achor, a Door of Hope, Hos. 2.15. as an entrance into the Heavenly Canaan: But to evil Men Death is a Trap-door to let them down into Hell, that Region of Darkness and Torment: When Death comes with a Writ of Habeas Corpus, and the Devil with a Writ of Habeas Animam, &c. 'tis therefore a wonder that they go not raving and roaring out of the World. Our Enoch had exemption from all those three Deaths: Hereupon Chrysostom wonders that Enoch should pass safely through the Prince of the Air's Territories unmolested, the Devil not daring to cast so much as one Stone at his Mud-wall as he rode along in his Chariot (as Elijah did) into Heaven. Assuredly, God did gather him up in a moment (being his Conduct and Convoy all along) clothing him with the qualities of a glorified Body, without either sickness, pain or perishing of his fleshly Body; he had neither Disease nor Death.
1. He saw not Death Temporal; nor,
2. Death Spiritual, which is Threefold.
- 1. Of Sin, Rom. 6.2.
- 2. Of the Law, Gal. 2.19.
-
3.
Of the World,
which is Twofold.
- 1. Active, wherein the World is dead to us, Phil. 3.8.
- 2. Passive, wherein we are dead to the World, Mat. 10.22. Both these are held out in Paul 's words, The World is Crucified unto me, and I am Crucified to the World, Gal. 6.14. Christ kills two at once there, Paul to the World, and the World to Paul: It was but a dead thing to him, and he was as dead a thing to it. Enoch saw not this Spiritual Death in sin, for he received Testtmony concerning himself, and we concerning him, that he pleased God, Heb. 11.5.
3. He saw not Death Eternal, the place of the Execution whereof is Hell, not Heaven, where Eternal Life is happily enjoyed. Thus 'tis said, God took him (not the Devil) to himself, up into Heaven; he did not cast him away with a [Depart, thou Cursed] that the Devil might take him to himself, and down to Hell, but with a [Come, thou Blessed] enter thou into thy Masters joy, Mat. 25.21, 23, 30:
Objection 1. How then did Enoch pay that Debt which is due to Nature? How are those Scriptures fulfilled, which say [What Man is there that sees not death? Psal. 89.48.] and [Death passeth upon all Men,] Rom. 5.12. and [in Adam all die ] 1 Cor. 15.22. And 'tis the Grand Statute of the Parliament of Heaven, that hath appointed all Men once to die, Heb. 9.27. and all dust must be turned to dust, Gen. 3.19. Eccles. 12.7, 9.
Answer 1. There is no General Rule but it admits of some particular Exception, as every Grammarian knoweth: The Supreme Maker of that Law may dispense (where and when he pleaseth) with his own Law, being above (not under) it: Death was then but newly imposed as the Wage of Sin, Gen. 3.17, 19.
The first Removeals of the three first Godly Men out of the World are very Remarkable, as soon as Death was inflicted, the punishment of sin after the Fall. The First that died was Abel, who died a violent death by the hands of his bloody Brother; so he (as it were) swam to Heaven in his own Blood. The Second that died was Adam, who died a natural death. He was like a Shock of Corn fully ripe, to be reaped with the Sithe of Death, shock'd up and carried into the Barn for the Masters use, Job 5.26. He died in a full Age, or in a good old Age, Gen. 25.8. He was as willing to die, as ever he had been to Dine, or to rise up from Table after a full Meal. But the third that was removed out of the World, 'twas not by a Temporal Death (either Natural or Violent ) but by a glorious Translation. Abel was hurried in -in the Jaws of Death violently, and Enoch was hurried from the Jaws of Death as violently; to despite of the Serpents Seed, ( Cain 's Posterity) who bare, as much Enmity to Enoch, as Cain did to Abel. Herein God shown, that as the Imposition of that Law or Curse (of Death) was from God, so a Dispensation concerning that Law might come from him also. 'It is the Supreme Sovereignty of God to revoke and repeal his own Statutes, when his unsearchable Wisdom judgeth it expedient for his own Glory, and his Creatures Good. All those fore quoted Scriptures in this Objection, speak (indeed) of the general course of Nature; now a particular Exception doth not infringe, much less nullify an Universal Order, for to the Lord God belong Issues from death, Psal. 68.20. Christ hath the Keys of Death, Revel. 1.18. that is, Dominion over it, and the Disposal of it; he can redeem from Death whom he pleaseth, Hosea 13.14. for he hath destroyed death, Heb. 2.14.
Answer 2. The Scripture (itself) maketh some clear Exception from the general Rule: The Apostle Paul saith in two places, All shall not die, but some shall be changed, 1 Cor. 15.51, 52. and 1 Thes. 4.15. Now there is much difference betwixt Death and Translation, for Death is an Act of weakness ( Paul calls it a sowing in weakness, 1 Cor. 15.43.) but Translation is an Act of power. In the former there is a change (as relating to the Body) from better to worse; A living Dog is better than a dead Lion, saith Solomon, Ecoles. 9.4. But in the latter there is a change from worse to better in respect of the Body; yet in this latter change, there is that which is Equivalent to Death, which is a putting off of all the frailties of this Life. Thus God (in the very Act of Translation) took down Enoch 's old House, and whereas some God suffers to lie long in the Grave (as the Primitive Patriarchs do sleep there from the beginning (almost) of the World, to the end of it, the general Resurrection) yet God at that instant of time Built Enoch 's House new again, without any Root of bitterness, or Seed of evil, 2 Cor. 5.1, 2, 4. There was a sudden change of Enoch 's Corporeal Qualities, without either sorrow of Heart or sense of Pain. As in his Translation there was a Cessation, to wit, from his Natural Life (and so it was a kind of Natural Death ) before a Spiritual Body was given to him: So in a moment, in the twinkling of an Eye, 1 Cor. 15.52. He passed through all those Stations that countervail the State of Death, Resurrection and Ascension.
The third Enquiry is concerning the Effect and Consequence of his Translation, to wit, he was not found, that is, not on Earth, for God took him to the same place whither he took Elijah, which is expressly said, into Heaven, 2 Kings 2.1, 11. for fifty Men did seek Elijah after his Rapture, but found him not on Earth, v. 17. And the same Phrase the Apostle useth concerning this our Enoch, [he was not found] Heb. 11.5. Those whom the Lord takes up into Heaven, may not be found either on Mountains or in Valleys on Earth. God never lets fall his prey, as Birds of prey may sometime do, none can pluck them out of his hand, John 10.29. Our Enoch was not found, that is, in his old Estate, and thus it is with every Saint, who is translated from darkness to light, &c. He ceases to be what he hath been, he is not found in the old Man, or in sinful self; 'tis not he that now lives, but Christ that liveth in him, Gal. 2.20. for in him, that is, in his Flesh dwelleth no manner of thing that is good, Rom. 7.18. Thus there is the Spiritual Translation of a Christian, Col. 1.13. Acts 26.18. as well as the Corporal Translation of Enoch, and both are accomplished by that Translating Grace of Faith. By Faith Enoch was (and so the Christian is) Translated, Heb. 11.5. yea, and after both there is a [non inventus] a not finding: The Mystery of the one (putting off Earthly qualities, and putting on Heavenly, so centring in God) is taught in the History of the other, Enoch 's local Translation.
The fourth Enquiry is, The Ground of All, to wit, because he was a pleaser of God, that is, he gave God good content as a Walker with God, of which I have spoke before. Enoch was a Walker with God, though he saw Abel slain for so doing: This he did not only by Faith, but by a strong Faith; yea, he Walked with God in despite of the World, without distraction from the World, and without digression into Vice, for he set God always before him, and walked rancounter to all the World, which then wallow'd in wickedness. It was then filled with Violence, and Enoch defended the true Religion from their Violence, so he (as well as Abel ) did highly provoke them, yet God suffered him not to fall into the hands of those Sons of Violence (as he did Abel ) for he delivers from Death whom he pleaseth, Psal. 68.20. And he was a Pleaser of God (though a Displeaser of the World in his contrary motion) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , gave God good Content, and continued in God's Favor, John 15.11. Jer. 32.40, 41. Deut. 10.15. Prov. 11.20. and 12.22. and 15.8. when he could not please God in Efficacy, he would always do it in Indeavour. As when the Centurion, could not come himself, he sent a, faithful Servant; so when Enoch could not reach God with his performances, he breathed out to him faithful Desires and Indeavours, and God accepts of the Will for the Deed. Thus Abraham walked with God [ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Sept. or perfect, unblameable] yet rejoiced to see Christ's day, John 8.56. as needing a Savior apprehended by Faith; and without Faith it is impossible to please God, Heb. 11.6. Neither of those two Patriarchs pleased God by presenting to him their own Righteousness, but by believing in the Righteousness of their Redeemer, who filled up the measure of their imperfect Obedience; hence God is pleased with their Endeavors.
Objettion 2. But Christ was the first that Ascended into Heaven, as the First-fruirs; so Enoch was not carried thither.
Answer 1. Christ (indeed) is the First-fruits of them that Slept and Rose again, but so did neither Enoch nor Elijah; neither of them Died or Rose from the Dead, as Christ did.
Answer 2. That is not spoke in John 3.13. 1 Cor. 15.20. Col. 1.18. in respect of Time, but in respect of Power, the two, Enoch and Elijah, Ascended not by their own power as Christ did, who Ascended as a Son, but they only as Servants sent before the Son; therefore the Doctrine of Purgatory, &c. is but an idle Dream and Dotage, but the Doctrine of the Ascension (both of Body and Soul into Heaven) is confirmed by Enoch 's and Elijah 's Translation; this is assured to us by three Bodily Inhabitants in Heaven (that this Truth may be established by three Witnesses) and all their Ascensions had sundry Witnesses thereof As,
1. The Seven of the Ten Patriarchs (though Abel was killed, and Adam newly dead) of Enoch 's Ascension.
2. Fifty Men that sought Elijah and found him not, 2 Kings 2.17.
3. The Men of Galilee were Witnesses of Christ's, Acts 1.9. May we but experience our Spiritual Translation here on Earth, Col. 1.13. and 1 John 3.14. this Experience will breed Hope, Rom. 5.4. of a Corporal Translation hereafter into Heaven, with those three Blessed Ones, &c.
CHAP. IX. The History and Mystery of Noah 's Deluge.
The History of Noah succeedeth that of Enoch