Davvnings of light wherein the true interest of reformation is opened in generall, and in particular, in this kingdome for the establishment of weaker judgements, and many other things impartially hinted, to a further discovery of truth and light in many of our present controversies : with some maximes of reformation / by John Saltmarsh ...

The Interest suffers no change from the creature.

NOw this interest is only and en∣tire in God, and the Designe works only below for compleating the body of Christ; and this body is made up of all nations and kindreds, and though in some nations where the Gospel is, God may not equally dispence successe or advancement to it, but may often in his own wisdom let the interest seem to dye out, as in our own Kingdom, and that of Scot∣land, he hath formerly done, and in that of Ireland of late; yet even then we must look at the designe of Refor∣mation, as it is in God, and not in the creature, and not think so far below such a glorious businesse, as if the pe∣rishing or wasting in any particular had put any stop to the work of God, as if any thing of the world had pow∣er to disorder the uniformity of such a work, and should put God about, but

we must know that God hath fully and from eternity made up the glory of this businesse: and though there may be unevennesse on the worldly side of it, yet on the heavenly side of it there is none; as in former inter∣ruptions, not only when God dwelt in curtains, and in a Temple made with hands; but after, when he took up a more spirituall habitation in his people,* 1.1 for even then their Churches were scattered abroad throughout the Regions of Judea, and Samaria, except the Apostles: & here the Spirit hints to us, how God sometimes locks up or layes up his interest in some re∣mainder, as here in the Apostles, when the rest were scattered, the word it self was hid in the root of Jesse, and the branch,* 1.2 the tree in the vision had a stump left in the earth,* 1.3 and God had seven thousand unknown to the Pro∣phet, which had not bowed to Baal, and the woman which he lodged in the wil∣dernesse, to whom he gave the wings of an Eagle.

* 1.4My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your wayes my wayes;

God hath divers ends in making o∣vertures of light, and withdrawing it, in Gods work there is nothing lost nor in vain, and when the wis∣dom of man is not able to make any thing of disadvantages, the wisdom of God can. Christ is the same yester∣day, and to day, and for ever, nor in him is any variablenesse or shadow of change.

I shall here for a further advance∣ment to this, make a discovery of such secret principles, as if clearly discus∣sed, might prove of powerfull advan∣tage, to some present and succeeding controversies.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Acts 8.1.
• * 1.2

  Dan. 4.20
• * 1.3

  1 King. 19 18.
• * 1.4

  Isa. 55.5.