Godwin, Not Goodwin

File this one under 'Puritan historical triva': the classic historical treatise entitled Moses and Aaron. Civil and Ecclesiastical Rites used by the ancient Hebrews observed, and at large opened for the clearing of many obscure Texts throughout the whole Scripture (1625) was written not by Thomas Goodwin, the famous Westminster Divine (1600-1680), to whom is often erroneously ascribed its authorship, but rather by Thomas Godwin (also spelled Goodwin or Godwyn) (1587-1643). This authority, says Thomas Hartwell Horne (An Introduction to the Critical Study and Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 156), is a "compendium of Hebrew antiquities [which is] now rather scarce [but] was formerly in great request as a text-book and passed through many editions." In fact, among the many editions, one published in 1694 was edited by Herman Witsius, who added two essays, one on the Jewish theocracy and one on the Rechabites; the most highly regarded edition seems to be that of Johann Heinrich Hottinger, published in 1710. The work has been cited as authority by many other Puritans, including George Gillespie, in Aaron's Rod Blossoming, and Edward Taylor, in Upon the Types of the Old Testament, and Alfred Edersheim, among other more modern scholars. Moses and Aaron has been reprinted in 2003 by Kessinger Publishing and in 2010 by BiblioBazaar.

Thomas Godwin himself was a learned scholar and writer, as well as a educator of young men. He served as the headmaster of Abingdon School from 1608 to 1625, and while there he founded a scholarship for poor boys, known as 'Bennett Boys'. He also wrote a study of Roman Antiquities which was often bound with Moses and Aaron. In the preface to Romanæ Historiæ Anthologia. An English Exposition of the Roman Antiquities, wherein many Roman and English Offices are parallelled, and diverse obscure Phrases explained (1614), he makes mention of the conditions under which he wrote while at the school: "If it fail to please, put it down to the whispered chatterings of the noisy boys amongst whom the work had its origin; but if approved ascribe it to the continuous questionings of the boys." He got into a dispute with William Twisse in his old age over another book by Godwin, Three Arguments to prove Election upon Foresight of Faith, and Samuel Clarke reports that Twisse "whipt this old Schoolmaster" (The lives of sundry eminent persons in this later age, Part 1, p. 16). His widow raised a monument to him after his death, which preceded the convening of the Westminster Assembly by a few months.

Promises of God

In Richard Baxter's The Life of Faith, found The Practical Works of Richard Baxter, Vol. 3, he speaks of the value of taking to heart the promises of God. After giving this direction ('Direct. 34. Lay up in your memory, particular, pertinent, and clear promises, for every particular use of faith') he proceeds to list particular scripture promises grouped topically in a list of 27 topics (pp. 657-664). Likewise, Samuel Clark devoted a whole book to compiling particular Scripture Promises topically for the edification and comfort of the saints. How precious are God's promises, and the benefit of keeping them in mind and thereby strengthening our faith ought not to be underestimated.

Jacobus Koelman, The Duties of Parents, p. 94:

159. Because the promises of God are special grounds for use in prayer, you must also have them read and memorize according to their ability certain special promises that God has given us in his Word concerning various matters.We must make these the content of our prayers. It would take too much space to sum them up here. There is a little book by Nicholas Byfield titled The Promises; or a Treatise Showing How a Godly Christian May Support His Heart (London, 1618) in which a large number of these promises have been included.

Nicholas Byfield, The Promises; Or, a Treatise shewing how a godly Christian may support his heart with comfort, Against all the distresses which by reason of any afflictions or temptations can befall him in this life. Containing all the most comfortable places through the whole Bible, orderly digested:

It will be profitable for us to consider briefly the worth of the promises; they are called the unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph. 3:6, 8), to assure us that he is a very rich man that hath his heart stored with the promises of God well applied. The Apostle Peter saith (2 Pet. 1:3) that they are great and precious promises, which God hath given to us. Promises in our hearts are better than pearls or precious stones in our chests. They are the inheritance God gives to his people in this life, and therefore they are called the heirs of promise (Rom. 4); a greater portion than any king on earth can give to his child. The very keeping of the records of these promises was a great prerogative to the Jewish nation (Rom. 9), and it is accounted a singular happiness for the Gentiles that they may now partake of those promises (Eph. 3:6). Little do we know what wrong we do to our souls, when we keep them ignorant of the promises; and it is one of the greatest offices under the sun to dispense these promises to man (2 Tim. 1:1; Titus 1:1-3).

Scripture Promises on Meditation

Samuel Clark, Scripture Promises:

11. MEDITATION

"Mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good" (Proverbs 14:22).

"The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide" (Psalm 37:31).

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Joshua 1:8).

"Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes; that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth" (Deuteronomy 11:18, 21).

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word" (Psalm 119:9).

"Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways" (Isaiah 64:5).

"Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established [or, all thy ways shall be ordered aright]" (Proverbs 4:26).

"5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches" (Psalm 63:5, 6).

"The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them" (Psalm 103:17, 18).

"His delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" (Psalm 1:2, 3).

Samuel Clark's Scripture Promises

Samuel Clark (Clarke) (1684-1750), a Protestant Dissenter, came from a family of notable Samuel Clarkes, including Samuel Clarke (1599-1683), who helped author the London Provincial Assembly's Jus Divinum Ministerii Evangelici; Samuel Clarke (1626-1701), who wrote notable annotations on the whole Bible and edited Matthew Poole's English Annotations; as well as at least two other Samuel Clarkes. But this Samuel distinguished himself with a collection of God's promises from the Bible organized thematically, which has endured over the centuries. I commend Samuel Clark's Scripture Promises to those seeking a helpful guide to what Scriptures teach of God's promises to believers.