glorifieth them and whereby he will condemne the Deuils and Reprobates Vse 1. Is Christ our Prophet Mat. 17.5 then Here him Rest in the doctrine hée hath deliuered respect not Reuelations or Traditions or any thing that agréeth not therewith Yea Gal. 1.8 if an Angell from heauen teach otherwise let him be accursed Is Christ our Priest who hath taken vpon to satisfie for thee and to make intercession for thée in heauen Then trust neither to Saint Angell or thy selfe but trust perfectly on his Grace 1. Pet. 1.13 and bee of good comfort for he is a High-priest which is full of compassion and it is his Office and he is able perfectly to saue thee seeing he liues for euer to make intercession for thée Heb. 7.25 Is Christ the King of his Church Yes of heauen and earth then let the 〈◊〉 of the earth be confounded For Christ is King who shall stay all 〈◊〉 before 〈◊〉 face Luk. 19.27 that refuse to bee 〈…〉 his Word and Spirit 〈…〉 in her King for euermore 〈◊〉 Vse 2 Learne héere why thou art called a Christian Thou art called so of Christ because all the Elert tereme of his Annoynting that is of his Spirit Heb. 1.9 Hee was annoynted with the Oyle of Gladnesse aboue his Fellowes Ioh. 3.34 For he receiued the Spirit not by measures and to this end Ioh. 1.16 that wee of his Fulnesse might receiue Grace for Grace So that as the oyntment powred vpon the head of Aaron ran downe to the skirts of his cloathing so wee 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 of Christ and of him are called Christians by the which is meant that we are made Priests and Kings to God therefore called a Royall Priest hood Reu. 1.6 1. Pet. 2.9 If this were well vnderstood and men would examine their Christianity by this it would soone appeare that many are not true Christians which glory in the Name If thou béest a Christian then where is thy knowledge whereby thou art as a Prophet to thy selfe and to others Grosse Ignorance cannot stand with this Title If thou béest a Christian then thou art a Priest and a King If a Priest then thou must offer Sacrifice Prayers Alines yea thy Body and Soule to the seruice of God If a King then thou must rule and governe thy passions affections thy selfe according to the rule of the Word If thou dost not thus if thou neuer or seldomo prayest if thou art without compassion toward the néedy if thou béest profane in thy life not sanctifying thy body and soule by Faith and Obedience to God but by drunkennesse swearing filthinesse cruelty pride lying c. to the devill If thou mournest not for thy corruptions and resists them but yéeldest cowardly to the wicked motions of thine owne vile minde being a very slaue to sin and the deuill then thou must needs conclude against thy selfe that thou art no Priest and King to God and so no good Christian in very deed whatsoeuer thou esteemest of thy selfe Quest Is there nothing else necessary to bee knowne concerning Christ Ans Yes as namely his Resurrection Ascension Sitting at the right hand of his Father and his comming to Iudgement which things may well bee referred to the Kingly Office of Christ Expl. Christ teacheth vs as a Prophet saueth vs by his Merite as a Priest and maketh his heauenly Doctrine and Obedience Effectuall as he is a King and to this his Efficacy are those seuerals in the answere to bee referred of the which there are plentifull expositions extant and therefore I spare the particular opening of them Thus much of the first speciall worke of God toward his Church which is Redemption Now followes the second called Sanctification Quest What is Sanctification Ans It is the worke of God by his Holy Spirit Deut. 30.8 Ier. 31.18 32.39 Iob. 6.44 Act. 5.31 11.18 whereby the Image of God is renewed in the Elect called also Conuersion Regeneration Repentance c. Expl. There are two principall benefits which wee obtaine in this life by Christ Iustification by Faith and Sanctification by the Spirit Who is called the Holy Spirit both Essentially and Effectually because as he is God holy in himselfe so he maketh holy whom he pleaseth 2. Thess 2.13 1. Pet. 1.2 which worke is therefore called the sanctification of the Spirit This worke is wrought in the minde will and affections yea in the whole man not by altering the substance of body or mind or abolishing any naturall Faculty or Affection as Vnderstanding Loue Hate Ioy c. but by putting away and purging out the euill quality in these and the like and by creating a new holy quality in them acceptable to God and agréeable to his word that now the vnderstanding should be capable of good things and the streame of our affections turned to the right obiect as to hate euill to loue goodnesse and to reioyce in it Wée are to vnderstand also that this in nature is after Iustification as Paul reciteth them Whom he iustifieth Rom. 8.31 hee glorifieth that is he gloriously reneweth which is begun here perfected in the life to come yet I cōfesse the repentance is sometimes put before remission of sinnes not that in Nature but because in our sense and feeling it is first For first we feele the burden of our sinnes Marke 1.13 Actes 5.31 and then we are eased and refreshed by the mercy of God And also repētance is named in the first place because it is first to bee taught that wee may desire the mercy of God Yet in nature Faith which purifieth the heart is first though in time there bee no difference For our Vnion with Christ and our partaking of his merit to Iustification and of his Spirit to Sanctification are wrought at the same time euen as the Sunne and his beames Vse 1. As the Sunne is declared by his light the trée by his fruits so by thy sanctification demonstrate thy iustification c. Vse 2. Boast not of thy heart while thy life is profane neither content thy self with an outward shew of holines hauing an euill conscience Rom. 12.2 2. Cor. 7.1 c. for Sanctification is the renewing of the minde yea of the whole man and therefore labour to grow vp into a full holinesse of the flesh and of the spirit Quest Is Sanctification Conuersion or Repentance so the worke of God that we can not of our selues by the power of our free will 〈◊〉 or repent Ans Iverely beleeue that since the fall of Adam 1. Cor. 2.14 2. Cor. 3.5 Rom. 8.7 Iohn 15.5 there is no free will in man vnto things Spirituall and pleasing to God Expl. For the vnderstanding of this we are to consider of Man as he was before his fall or as he is now since the fall Free will you may call a facultie or power of the Soule whereby it doth fréely without compulsion force chuse or refuse
prayer to God for vnderstanding for as wee cannot see the Sunne without his owne light so we cannot see the wonders of the word vnlesse the Lord manifest them vnto vs by his Spirit The third thing that is to be done that wee may read in iudgement is Application to make vse of that wee attaine vnto by reading in the reforming of our liues Many esteeme highly of the tree of knowledge with Eue but they regard not the tree of life when as the very life of our knowledge consisteth in the practise of that which we know As it is said of Hearers so it is true of Readers Not the readers of the word Ioh. 13.17 Iam. 4.17 but the doers shall be iustified And These things if you know them happy are you of you doe them Nay he that knoweth and doth not shall bee the more beaten and is guilty of the more sin As therefore wise men labour to make profite of all things they deale with so we should propound this end to our selues in all our reading that it may be profitable to teach to improue to correct and to instruct vs in all righteousnesse that we may become absolute and perfect in all good workes Some read onely to this end that they may know more then they did and this is vanity Some that they may bee knowne to know more and this is pride Some to make a gaine of their knowledge and this is filthy lucre Some to edifie others and this is charity Some to edifie themselues and this is Christian prudence such like words hath one of the Antients Another saith thus Then is our reading to be commended when we turne the words into workes And againe the Scriptures are Gods Epistle written to men to the end they should liue well And the Holy Ghost better then all Reuel 1.3 Blessed is he that readeth and they that heare the words of this prophesie and keepe those things which are written therein Amen Now to God onely wise be honour and praise for euermore 1. Tim. 1.17 Amen Amen THE GROVNDS Of Diuinitie The prime and chiefest place of Diuinity is concerning God Heb. 11.6 Hee that commeth to God must beleeue that God is and that hee is a rewarder of them which seeke him and this is life eternall Iohn 17.3 that they know thee the onely very God and him whom thou hast sent IESVS CHRIST QVESTION HOw may we come to the sound knowledge of God Ans The best meanes to attaine such knowledge is by the holy Scriptures Esay 8.20 Iohn 5.39 Explication The knowledge of God is either Naturall or Reuealed That which is Naturall is either by the notions imprinted in euery mans minde whereby the conscience is conuinced or by the consideration of the creatures which naturall knowledge is vnsufficient to saluation Rom. 1.19 20. though sufficient to leaue vs without excuse The Reuealed Knowledge is that which is attained by the word of God who though he dwell in the Light which none can attaine vnto 1. Tim. 6.16 yet hath therein reuealed himselfe so farre as he saw fit for vs to vnderstand This knowledge beyond comparison is far more excellent then the naturall 1. Cor. 8.1 is sufficient to saluation in regard of Knowledge but not in regard of working or effecting it which onely is by the holy Spirit making this knowledge effectual to syncere faith loue feare obedience c. Quest What are the holy Scriptures Ans The holy Scriptures are all those bookes of the old and new Testament by the direction and inspiration of the Holy Ghost written or approued by the Prophets and Apostles Explic. These are the writings of the Prophets which are contained in the Hebrew Canon of the old Testament Those the writings of the Apostles which are contained in the Greeke Canon of the New But all those bookes vsually contained in our Bibles from the end of the small Prophets to the Gospell of Saint Matthew together with the prayer of Manasses are called Apocrypha that is hidden which though they containe many wholesome things and for many ages haue béene read in the Church yet are to be distinguished from the other being neither equall in authority nor of any more credit then as they agrée with them They are called the Scriptures that is the Writings in regard of their supereminent excellency being vnto all other Writings as the Sunne vnto the lesser Starres both in regard of their péerelesse worth and also because that all other bookes obtaine a degrée of worthinesse according as they more or lesse accord with them They are called Holy Rom 1.2 because of the Authour which is God 2. Tim. 3.16 because of the Pen-men 2. Pet. 1.21 which were holy Men because of the matter which is the holy Will and Counsell of God Act. 20.27 because of the vse to make vs holy and perfect in all good workes 2. Tim. 3.17 It pleased God that the heauenly doctrine shold he written both that it might be the better conueied vnto succéeding posterities and also that it might bee the safer preserued from corruption there beeing an infallible standeth for the examining and determining of all doctrines and opinions which should arise If the worship of God and the doctrine of saluation hath béene meruailously depraued now it is written what think wée would it haue béene if it neuer had béene written Vse Whosoeuer then desires the true and sound knowledge of God are to bée admonished to procure themselues Bibles and diligently to reade in them or if they cannot reade to heare others that they may fetch euen from the Fountaine it selfe the doctrine of saluation and also that they may euen discerne the bookes wherein the same is infallibly contained For though it be possible for a man to bee saued holding the summe of the heauenly doctrine without the distinct knowledge of the seuerall bookes yet it is the duety of all Christian men and women so farre as they haue meanes and are capable of it to endeuour to attaine to the Historicall knowledge of the Bible and bookes Canonicall therein contained First that they may with all thankfulnesse honour the holy Scriptures aboue all other Writings Secondly that they may make the best profite of the Preaching of the Word which they cannot doe who when Authorities are alleaged and places quoted are not able to distinguish the worth of the authority as whether it bee Diuine or Humane Thirdly for the more certainty of their faith when they can themselues find and examine by the holy Scriptures those things which are Preached In which regard the men of Berea are commended as an example vnto vs. Act 17.10.11 For all doctrines of men are to bee examined by the Scriptures and no further to be credited then they haue warrant from the same This condemnes them which are negligent this way which negligence is by too well knowne experience found to bée the
somewhat to offer God in the same person that such offring might be sufficient For the worke of our Redemption was performed by the Man-hood but the vertue and merite was from the God-head And here we haue found out the Reason why the Righteousnesse of Christ should be of merite sufficient and effectuall for thousand thousands euen all the Elect because it is the righteousnesse and obedience not of a méere Man but of God and Man in one person euen of God himselfe whose goodnesse and righteousnesse must néeds be as himselfe of infinite merite forre and vertue The righteousnesse then of Christ hath this aptitude or nature to make all beléeuing sinners righteous because it was so appointed of God It hath power and sufficienty is to doe because it is the righteousnesse of God Vse 1. To giue thankes vnto God for the Incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ and our redemption by him and to take delight to grow in the knowledge of it according to the Scriptures For indéed how can he be a Christian or Godly who knoweth not his Sauiour nor the great mystery of Godlinesse concerning him 1. Tim. 3.16 Ioh. 8.24 1. Ioh. 5.10 Ibid. 11.12 as it is called Nay wholly to be ignorant thereof or to deny it is to deny our sinnes make God a lyar and to loose eternall life Vse 2. Is Christ God Then tremble all yée prophane wretches which despise his Word and Sacraments yea let all such tremble who teare his Body Bloud and Passion by their blasphemous oathes for he is God yea a iealous and reuenging God yea a consuming fire But let all such as feare him and trust in him be comforted yea let them be merry and ioyfull for he is God most true and able to performe all his pretious promises of saluation And though shame disgrace rebukes of men and cruell persecutions follow the profession of his Name Gospell shrinke not neither be ashamed he is able and will both beare thée out assist thée and reward thee in his Kingdome Remember Paul 2. Tim. 1.12 For the Gospell saith he I suffer but I am not ashamed for I know in whom I haue beleeued and I am perswaded that hee is able to keepe that which I haue committed vnto him vnto that day Is Christ man Then be comforted thou which art afflicted in body or minde which beleeuest For wee haue a high Priest which is touched with our infirmities Heb. 2.17.18 4.15.16 and is full of compassion who was afflicted who suffered and was tempted that he might be able to succour them which are tempted Is Christ God and Man in one Person Then let thy soule by Faith rest on his obedience as sufficient yea of infinite price for thy Redemption c. Qu. I conceiue in some measure I thanke God the exceeding worthinesse of the person of Christ and that his righteousnesse is of a sufficient merite for all the Elect yea if it had so pleased God for a thousand worlds but what is this Righteousnesse of Christ for the which we are iustified Ans It is to speake properly his actuall obedience whereby he fulfilled the will of his Father both in perfect keeping of the Law and in voluntary suffering the punishment due to our finnes Rom. 5.19 Phil. 2.8 Explic. The Righteousnesse of Christ is two folde vncreated essentiall to the Godhead which is incommunicable and cannot be imputed and created being either the holinesse of his nature which improperly I would not deny to be imputed or Hebr. 7.26 of his actions which is the actuall obedience spoken of in the Answer which properly is imputed and comprehendeth his holy life and whole humiliation vnder diuers heads deliuered in the Créede Of the which I will not in particular inquire because there are diuerse Expositions of these things in euerie mans hand so plentifull and excellent that the Authors séeme to haue left nothing further to be spoken therein Vse It is the righteousnes of Christ for the which onely we are iustified in the sight of God not for our owne inherent righteousnesse either in whole or in part because it is vnperfect and wil not endure the rigor of the Law nor is proportionable to the iustice of God which is to be satisfied yea the maintaining of Iustification by workes ouer-turneth the foundation of Religion which whosoeuer obstinately and finally holdeth cannot possibly be saued Q. How shall I bee made partaker of this righteousnesse of Christ Ans Wee are made partakers of the righteousnesse of Christ by faith onely Ioh. 1.12 Ioh. 20.28 Act. 26.18 Rom. 3.22 28. and 4.6 Gal. 2.16 c. Expl. As the righteousnesse of our owne workes is not that for the which we are iustified so neither is it or the sacrifice of the Masse the Instrument of applying the obedience of Christ vnto vs but onely Faith And faith is that instrument not for any inward dignity or merit of it neither as it is a quality or good worke nor because it hath Charity ioyned with it but because it receiueth and embraceth Christ Ioh. 1.12 Rom. 1.17 And therefore we are iustified by Faith or through Faith but not for Faith When therefore we say Faith iustifieth it is meant Correlatiuely or in regard of the obiect which it apprehends the Righteousnesse of Christ being hence called the Righteousnesse of Faith Euen as it is the Treasure which maketh rich the hand onely receiues it euen so our Faith receiueth the Treasure of the Righteousnesse of Christ whereby we are iustified and enriched to eternall life And because Faith onely hath this property and power to receiue the righteousnesse of Christ therefore we say that we are iustified by Faith onely not so to be vnderstood as that we exclude Loue and good Workes from Faith but from the act of iustifying and receiuing the promise for though Faith and good Workes agrée together in the conuersion and renouation and obedience of a Christian as the life and the actions of life the Trée and the Fruit the Cause and the Effect Yet in the particular of iustification they are as contrary as fire and water Rom. 10.3 and 11.6 and destroy one another The manner of our Iustification by Faith is thus God in the promise of the Gospell offereth the Righteousnesse of Christ and withall in the hearts of his children by his Spirit worketh a power whereby they receiue it which is Faith not onely belieuing the truth of the promise in generall but in particular applying to themselues which Faith by the sentence of God is then imputed to vs for Righteousnesse to Iustification Vse We are here admonished specially to labour for this same Faith without which Christ dyed indéed and was righteous but not for vs. The excellency of Faith cannot sufficiently be expressed By this the Word and Sacraments are profitable vnto vs our Prayers auaileable by this By this our obedience is acceptable we please God we stand we