THE CONTINVANCE
OF THE CHVRCH AND RELIGION
in the second age of the world. From Noes
floud to Abrahams going forth of his
countrie. The space of 368. yeares.
Counting Cainan this Age continued 398. yeares.NO MAN can wel doubt nor wil denie, that the same Church continued al the second Age which was in the first, considering that Noe liued aboue 50. yeares after the birth of Abraham, and Sem 150. more: Noe and Sem liued in Abrahams time.and that these three, and some others of that time are renowned in holie Scripture, for sincere professours of true Religion. Articles of Religion professed in the second Age.But for more manifestation of their faith, and that the Church was then very conspicuous, we shal repeate certaine principal points of Religion professed and practised al that time, by a continual knowne visible companie vnited in one mystical bodie: though in the meane while the wicked sprung and grew in number and worldlie force, much oppressing yet neuer suppressing the good.
Gen. 8.First, iust Noe comming forth of the arke with his familie, professed his religious mind to One God.
External Sacrifice.
Priesthood.
Altars.
Christ.
Crosse.
The Bl. Trinity
Redeemer.
Gods blessing operatiue One God Almightie, supreme Lord of al, by Offering external, voluntarie, speedie, pure, solemne, and bountiful Sacrifice of Holocaustes, as a Priest vpon an Altar. Gen. 9.After which most grateful office, God making a couenant with him and his seed neuer againe to destroy the world by water, confirmed the same by the signe of the raine-bow, which represented the second Person of the B. Trinitie, the Sonne of God, Christ our Lord, to be borne The Sonne of man, and extended vpon the Crosse: Heb. 11 in whom Noe belieuing was instituted heyre of the iustice, which is by faith in our Redeemer.
Gen. 9
We haue here againe Gods operatiue blessing, with the effect of increase & multiplication, the issue of Noe by his three sonnes, in short time making manie Nations. c. 9. v. 25 By the way also we haue an example of Fathers solemne Blessing and Cursing their children. Father’s blessing and cursing.
Abstinence from blood.
Cleane, and uncleane.The effects wherof succeeded afterwards accordingly. c. 9. v. 4
Likewise in this age was giuen a particular precept Not to eate bloud. c. 9. v. 20.And Noe obserued distinction of Cleane beastes, offering Sacrifice in them only, as before the floud he was commanded to take more of them into the arke then of the Vncleane.
