APHORISM I.

HEnce, Immediately upon Adams Fall God revealed a gracious Promise touching mans recovery. H•…re note, 1. That after the Fall God revealed a Promise touching mans recovery. 2. That this Promise was revealed immediately upon Adams Fall. 3. That this Promise was most gracious. 4. Corollaries ensuing hereupon.

1. That after the Fall God revealed A Promise touching mans Reco∣very; is evident, 1. By the heavy and dreadful doom which God pronounced upon the Serpent for ruining Man by his subtile Seducements. This doom was fourfold, as hath been shewed. A doom not onely in Justice and wrath against the Serpent: but also in mercy, favour and compassion to man seduced by the Serpent, as the particulars thereof evince. Now in Gods Explicit denouncing of the Serpents destruction for Seducing Man, seems to be comprized an implicit promise of mans Salvation, though seduced by Satan. 2. By the Enmity which God hath put betwixt the woman and the Serpent, and be∣twixt their respective Seeds. For, where there is Enmity against the Serpent Satan who tempteth unto evil; there must be a Nature and principle Contrary both to Satan, and to Sin, whereunto Satan tempteth. What can this principle be, but Repentance, &c? And where there is enmity expressed against Satan: there is Recon∣cilement, Amity and Union implyed with the Lord God. This imports mans Recovery. 3. By the utter victory promised to the womans Seed over the Serpent, in bruising the Serpents Head. The Serpent over∣threw the woman: but the womans Seed shall overthrow the Ser∣pent, and all the iworks of the Devil, Sin and Death. Satan is not subdued, till sin and Death be subdued. Now sin and Death being bruised in the Head, and subdued: Man is delivered from his deadly enemies and recovered. For (as kLuther said well) Sin and Death are the Head of the Serpent.

2. That the Promise of Mans Recovery was Revealed immediately upon Adam's Fall, seems clear by the Series and order of the Histo∣ry. For, Adam, in all Probability fell on the self-same day in which he was created, being the same day made and marr'd, formed and de∣formed, as hath been l formerly shewed: And was m on the same day wherein he finned, cast out of Paradise, stript of all his Pa∣radise-Priviledges, and sentenced to divers miseries: yet after his fall, and before his Sentence or ejection out of Paradise, whilest God was pronouncing Sentence upon the Serpent (who first offending, was first doomed) even then the Lord n Promiseth the enmity of the woman and her Seed against the Serpent and his Seed, and the bruising of the Serpents head by the Womans Seed. Una eademque dies vulnus opem{que} tulit; One and the snme day brought on both the Woman and the cure, the Malady and the remedy. In the Serpents malediction, is Comprised the Sinners. Benediction.Page  202 Whilest God denounceth the Serpents Damnation, he proclaimeth the Sinners Salvation. This Promise is not directed to the woman, deceived by the Serpent: nor yet to Adam, deceived by the woman; But it is expresly directed to the Serpent; for, as yet God continueth his speech to the Serpent, and this is part of his Doom, oAnd I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy Seed and her Seed, &c. How is it directed to the Serpent? Not as a Promise (for God intended no Promise nor saving mercy to him,) but only as a Threatning. Every thing therein is destructive to the Serpent: not only the Curse, and his debased Posture: but also the Enmity, and the bruising of the Serpents Head. What could vex and punish the Serpent worse, then to be ruined by the Seed of the woman whom he had ruined? So then it is a Promis∣sory threatning: and a Minatory Promise. As Minatory it was against the Serpent: as Promissory it was for Sinners seduced by the Serpent. It is as Sampsons Lyon with Honey in his bowels. The Lyon of the threatning is for the Serpents ruine; the Honey of the Promise is for the Sinners refreshment.

3. That this Promise was most gracious, may appear divers ways, viz. 1. By the extream misery into which man was plunged by his Fall; before, & when this Promise was made. For, at that time man was wholly under the deadly penalty of the broken Covenant of works admitting of no Mercy▪ The Covenant of Faith in Christ the Seed of the woman being as then wholly unknown to him as a Remedy. This was the utmost misery that ever mankind was in, or can be in, on this side hel, from the beginning to the end of the world Consequently Gods promise of the Recovery out of this extreamest misery, must needs be supereminent∣ly gracious. 2. By the compleat sufficiency of the Remedy promised for mans Recovery out of this extremest misery, viz. the Seed of the woman, that is pe∣culiarily & primarily J. C. God-man, to be born of a woman p who is able to save to the utmost. Nor man, nor Angel, nor any meer Creature in the world could have appeased infinite justice offended, & so have re∣covered man offending: had not Jesus Christ this Seed of the woman〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 undertaken and effected it. The promise then must needs be most gracious, that contrary to all desert, tenders to man most wretch∣ed, the only all-sufficient and Efficacious remedy. 3. By the Speedi∣ness of the Promise. Had God promised Recovery to Adamq nine hundred years after his Fall, it had been a glorious act of Grace: But that he promised this recovery so immediately after his fall the self∣same day, this proclaims divine Grace double glorious. Oh the riches of the Glory of Gods Grace to wretched man, That would not suffer him to lie despairing in his misery, for one day; That would not permit Satan the old Serpent, to insult over him, and his misery, for one day; That would not suppress the yerning of his bowels of mercy to miserable undone man for one day: That would not defer the pub∣lication of the soul-reviving Gospel of Christ, the Sinners Salvation, the Serpents Damnation, for one day!

Page  2034. Lorollaries hence. Did God immediately upon Adams Fall reveal a Gracious Promise touching Mans Recovery? Then,

(1) See here the Antiquity of the Gospel. The word Gospel is from the ancient Saxon Godspel, that is, Good-speech, as r some think: It is, Glad tidings from God touching lapsed Sinners Recovery and Restitu∣tion. Such glad tidings is peculiarly stiled sThe good word of God: and is published not only since Christ under the New Testament, but long before Christ under the Old Testament. And they that re∣ject or despise the Old Testament, as not Gospel, do neither under∣stand what the Old Testament, nor the Gospel mean. The Gospel, the glad tidings of Sinners Recovery, was published presently upon man's fall: probably on the self-same day whereon man was cor∣rupted, yea and created. And after that, still more and more cleared, by Scriptures in all succeeding ages. The Gospel then is almost as ancient as the Creation of the world. Hence its stiled, for the Great Antiquity of it, tThe Everlasting Gospel. And to this effect it is said, that uThe un-lying God hath promised Eternal life before the world began. Gr. before times of ages: or, before ancient times. Here (as xCalvin well noteth) we are not to carry the Promise to be∣fore all times, but to most ancient times, even from the foundation of the world. Thus the Gospel is most ancient. And good things, the more ancient, the more excellent, as most like to God himself, ywho is from Eternity.

(2) Mans Recovery was at first but Promised. It was not actually ef∣fected and performed z till the fulness of time, which was many thousands of years after the Fall: till when, Mans Recovery did hang only in the Promises, like water in the clouds, or like fruit in the blossoms. And yet this Recovery only Promised, was for those times effectual and sufficient for the Elects Salvation living in those days: Gods Promise being sure and infallible to all believers. But now in these later times Mans Recoverie, promised of old, is actually performed and accomplished. And Performed Recovery, far surpasseth promised Recovery.

(3) Gods incomparable love to mankind is singularly to be Admired and Adored, in that immediatly upon mans fall he would graciously pro∣mise mans Rise and Recovery. For, if we duly Consider, The Author Promising, The Blessing Promised, The Object to whom the Promise was made, The Season when the Promise broke forth, And the Parties to whom the promise was denyed; it will appear that Gods free love to mankind is most wonderful indeed. 1. The Author promising mans Reco∣very is God. That God, who a by a word made the whole world, and, the world becoming corrupt, could by a word have unmade the world again, and have created another world. That God who depends upon no creature, hath no need of man, not of any work of of his hands to add unto him. If man be saved, what gains he? if man perish, what loseth he? yet such his love to man, that he who hath no need of man, promiseth Recovery unto man. 2. ThePage  204blessing promised, is lapsed mans Recovery. In his Enmity against the Serpent, Amity and Reconcilement with God is promised: and in his bruising the Serpents Head, victory over Satan. O Happy Restau∣ration! Man un-recovered, would have been as wretched as the De∣vils: Man Recovered, will become as blessed as the Angels. 3. The Object of this Promised Recovery, is lapsed man, Corrupted Man, Apostate man, worthless, loveless, liveless, hopeless, helpless man, dead in sin, enmity against God, without God in the world, whol∣ly unfit for Heaven, a vassal of Satan, a child of wrath, and an heir of Hell. And will the Holy Lord cast his eye upon such a wretch, such a detestable lump of wickedness, More full of Sin then any toad of poyson; so as to restore him? 4. The Season of this Promise of Recovery, was immediately upon Adams fall. Man, presently upon his Creation, made haste to damn himself: God, presently upon Mans fall, made haste to save him. As a tender father speedily snatches up his fallen child from the ground, from fire or water, and hugs it in his Arms compassionately: So the heavenly father snatched our first parents speedily from their lapsed, hopeless state, far worse then of fire or water, by the hand of this Promise, and em∣braced them in the bosom of his love most tenderly. This was love indeed. bSpeedy kindness is double kindness. 5. Finally, The Parties to whom this Promise was denied, were lapsed Angels. They were above man by Creation: Man becomes far above them by Restau∣ration. The Angels fall, and find no mercy, no Promise, &c. but c woful Curses, sharp threatnings and severe judgements; Man fals, and yet he finds rich Mercy, and saving Promises of Restauration. Is the inferiour Creature thus respected, when the Superiour is neglect∣ed? Is man healed, when Angels are left incurable? Is lapsed Man saved, and fitted for Heaven; when lapsed Angels are damned and fixed in Hell? Here's an admirable love, a discriminating love to man∣kind, for ever to be adored.

(4) God takes more pleasure in Sinners Recovery, then in Sinners Ruine. This is evident, ^1. In that, so immediately upon their Ruine he most sweetly promiseth their Recovery. As most unwilling, that mankind should remain at all in their lapsed State. ^2. In that, Since then God so often testifieth, that he hath no delight in Sinners Destruction. To this effect God interrogates, dHave I any pleasure at all that the wicked should dye? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways and live?—yea God positively Asserts, eI have no pleasure in the Death of him that dyeth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn your selves, and live ye. And if this be not patheti∣cally enough expressed, he swears; fAs I live, saith the Lord GGD, I have no pleasure in the Death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live: Turn ye, turn ye from your evil wayes; for why will ye die, O House of Israel? How emphati∣cally!

Doubt. If God have more pleasure in Sinners recovery, then in Page  205 Sinners ruine: why did God permit the Fall? and upon mans Fall, punish him with Death?

Answ. 1. God permitted the Fall, that he might glorifie himself the more in fallen mans recovery. For, as gAugustine well: God is so good, that he would not suffer evil to be, were he not able, and did he not intend to bring greater good out of that evil. Hereby (¹) The weakness of the perfectest Creature, left to it self, is discovered. (²) The my∣steriousness of the lapsed Creatures recovery is occasionally reveal∣ed. (³) Theh Condemnation of the old Serpent the Devil and Satan is aggravated. (⁴) The just rejection and condemnation of re∣probate persons is prosecuted. And (⁵) In all the glory of Gods power, freedom, Justice, Mercy, &c. is most illustriously advanced. 2. Though God permitted Mans fall, yet in that Permission, He neither did man any wrong at all, for he was not bound to uphold man, but left him in a perfect, yet mutable state: Nor was he any cause of mans Sin directly or indirectly: for he neither necessitated him to evil by creation or Constitution of his Nature, man being i made upright, free, and able to all good: Nor did God k tempt him to evil by his Providential dispensation, but only left him to himself to stand or fall. 3. Man being fallen, God justly punisheth the impenitent with Death. Not that he hath any pleasure in the Sinners Death as it is the Destruction of his Creature, but only as it is a due act or expression of his Truth and Justice for his own glory against Sin and Sinners.

(5) How advantagiously hath God improved Adams fall, In promising his Recovery immediately upon his Fall? What greater mischief or disadvantage ever came into the world, then by Adams Apostasie? For, thereby Adam and all his posterity to the end of the world were utterly undone, and involved under Death: Hereby Satan had most notably wreak'd his malice upon mankind, and brought them under his diabolical Tyranny: And thereby the Glory of the Creator was deeply obscured and Ecclipsed, his noblest Creature on Earth being ruined, and set against him in extreamest Enmity. Yet all these dis∣advantages the Lord hath turned to great advantage by this blessed Promise. viz. 1. To the increase of Man's felicity. Man was happy before his Fall by a Natural, mutable and finite righteousness in his own person: but he becomes more happy since his fall by a superna∣tural, immutable and infinite righteousness in the person of the Pro∣mised Seed. Before, upon continuance of his obedience, he should have had a continued life in Paradise on Earth: Since, upon his faith in Christ, he shall have eternal life in Paradise which is the third hea∣vens. Thus Adams greatest loss is improved to his greatest gain. 2. To the aggravation of Satans Misery. Satan was miserable before mans fall, for not keeping his first estate, l being reserved in chains under darkness unto the judgement of the great day; But became much more miserable by effecting mans ruine: being m thereupon doomed to a fourfold judgement. Then he envied mans natural Page  206 happiness, so as to overthrow it: Now he shall twice so much envy mans supernatural happiness, which he can never overthrow, but must eternally be overthrown by it. Thus the Lord hath out-shot Satan in his own Bow: hath cut off this Goliah's head, with his own sword. 3. To the illustration of his own glory. Before mans fall God was much glorified by mans Creation: Since his fall, much more glorified by his restauration. Before, by mans integrity of Nature: Since, by mans integrity of Grace. Before, God was glorified in his wisdom, freedom, power and goodness: Since, he is glorified not only in these his per∣fections, but also in his free Grace, Mercy, bowels of Commiserati∣ons and long-suffering.

(6) Hath God thus laid a foundation of Sinners Recovery in his Pro∣mise? Then let us, as children of this our heavenly father, resemble him, in endeavouring to Recover lapsed Sinners. Are we our selves Con∣verted and Recovered from a state of Sin, to a State of Righteous∣ness? Then let us endeavour by Conviction, Admonition, Exhor∣tation, Example, and by all means possible to win and gain poor lost souls unto God: especially such as are more neer and dear unto us. Let the Convert Minister labour to Convert the people Committed to him: the Convert husband to gain his carnal wife: The Convert Parents and Masters to win their carnal children and Servants. For, 1. This is a duty required and to be endeavoured, not onely of Ministers n publikely and Especially: but also of particular Christi∣ans privately and in their place. oBrethren, (saith Paul to the Galati∣ans) if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one with the spirit of meekness. 2. This the godly have desired and endeavoured. One Convert soul, would have (if it were possible) all the world also Converted. David begging Restauration from his fall, upon his Restoring promiseth; pThen will I teach transgressors thy ways, and Sinners shall be converted unto thee. Paul once Converted, q was an happy instrument of the Conversion of many. And he saith of himself; rThough I be free from all men, yet have I made my self servant to all, that I might gain the more: And unto the Iews, I became as a Iew, that I might gain the Iews: To them that are under the Law, as under the Law, that I might gain them that are under the Law: To them that are without Law as without Law, (being not without Law to God, but under the Law to Christ) that I might gain them that are without Law. To the weak, became I as weak, that I might gain the weak. I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 3. For the gaining of Sinners the Lord hath given particular directions: How some are to be won with sweetness, love and meekness; others with fear and terrour. sOf some have Compassion, making a difference; and others save with fear•… pulling them out of the fire. 4. The Act of winning Souls is an high and excel∣lent point of skil, most-desirable. tHe that winneth souls, is wise: spiritually, savingly wise indeed: for himself and others, for this and the world to come. 5. How much good doth this bring to the Page  207 Parties converted! uTheir eyes are opened, they are turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive for∣giveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith which is in Christ. And Iames saith; xBrethren, if any of you do err from the Truth, and one convert him: Let him know, That he which converteth the Sinner from the error of his way, shal save a Soul from Death, (and one y Soul is better worth then all the treasure of this world,) and shall hide a multitude of sins. 6. Finally, How advantagious will the Conversion of Sinners prove to the instruments of their Conversion! Hereby they shall sweetly resemble the compassio∣nating God, who presently upon Adams fall held forth his golden Scepter to him, His sweet Promise of Recovery. And its no small happiness to be like unto the most Happy God. Hereby also they shall treasure up for themselves a great reward for a better world. For, zThey that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament: and they that turn many unto righteousness, as the Stars, for ever and ever.

Thus; Immediately upon Adams fall, God revealed a gracious Pro∣mise touching mans Recovery. This the First Aphorism.