secret till that day In Infants reprobated Adams worke is imputed and the vile corruption of their natures makes them children of wrath In elect children both the worke of their Parents faith is imputed vnto them and besides the Spirit of Christ supplies outward works by inward sanctification after a way we cannot expresse Thus of the first point The second is by what Law men shall be iudged at that day And to that I answer out of Scripture that all such to whom the Gospell hath come they shall be iudged by the Gospell Rom. 2. 16. which is thus to be vnderstood that godly men shall be tried by the Gospell so as their faith and repentance and new obedience being auouched they shall receiue the benefit of triall not by the rigor of the Law but by the promises of the Gospell and wicked men shall be tried by the Gospell only as their vnbeleefe shall be an aggrauation against them that hauing so many waies broken the Law would not flie to Christ nor seeke atonement in him so as properly the godly are tried by the Gospell Now all the wicked men in the world are chiefly tryed by the Law and so either by the Law of Nature euen by the principles infused into euery mans minde by Nature as the Pagans and all that know not the Scripture or else by the Law of Scripture that is by the Law or Couenant of works recorded in Scripture see Rom. 2. 12. The third thing is by what Euidence mens causes shall be tryed and how the sinnes of the wicked shall be proued against them And for answer hereunto we reade Reu. 20. 12. that when the dead both great and small shall stand before the Lord there shall be certaine Books opened out of which shall be taken manifest euidence in all the Trials Now what books these shall be other Scriptures tell vs and so we reade of fiue books that are likely then to be opened The first is the booke of Nature and so the creatures abused by men shall be for euidence against men as vnto the Idolatrous Iewes the very hornes of their Altars shall testifie against them Ier. 17. 1. their sinne is grauen and as it were written vpon the creatures they haue abused The second booke is the booke of Scripture for all those places of Scripture haue beene in this world rightly propounded and vrged against them shall then serue for vndeniable euidence The word which they haue heard shall iudge them at the last day saith our Sauiour Ioh. 12. 48. The third booke is the booke of Conscience Euery mans conscience shall then be wonderfully dilated and made able to remember all their sinnes afresh and so shall be as a thousand witnesses Though the consciences of most men are now asleepe yet Christ will make them awake at that day and giue in full and perfect euidence That worke of accusing which the conscience doth in some men vnperfectly in this life it shall doe perfectly at that day and so for excusing in the godly The fourth booke is the booke of Gods remembrance mentioned in the case of the godly Mal. 3. 16. and intimated in the case of the wicked Ier. 17. 1. in which booke are written all the things that men haue done in their bodies whether good or euill Now besides these books we reade in that place of the Reuelations of a booke of Life that is of such a booke as containes the names of all that God hath appointed vnto saluation by Iesus Christ and by that booke the Iudge will see vpon whom to passe the sentence of Absolution and so by consequent on whom to passe the sentence of condemnation Reuel 20. 12. with Phil. 4. 3. Now besides these books we reade of a booke of prouidence that containes a Record of all the persons to whom God gaue naturall life and forme of which Dauid makes mention Psal 136. 16. and this booke may be of vse to shew who must be called to Iudgement And yet further we may gather out of other Scriptures that if there be need God can produce other Euidence As first the Heauens and the Earth will declare Gods righteousnesse at least by way of aggrauation either in respect of the benefits they haue brought forth vnto man to allure him to goodnesse and the iudgments haue beene vpon them to terrifie him Psal 50. 6. The very vanitie which the creatures haue beene subiect to will testifie against man in that day The heauen saith Zophar shall reueale his iniquitie and the earth shall rise vp against him Iob 20. 27. And hence it was that God called the heauen and the earth to witnesse betweene him and the people at sundry times in the Old Testament Secondly the examples of the faith and piety patience and mercy in godly men that haue liued amongst the wicked will be euidence against them as the example of Noah will condemne the old world Heb. 11. 7. so the example of the Queene of the South and the Niniuites will rise vp in Iudgement against the Iewes Matth. 12. 41 42. Lastly the Spirit of God which hath rebuked the world of sin will be able to conuince all the vngodly openly of all their wickednesse at that day Thus of the manner of the Triall The manner of the Sentence followes The manner of the Sentence we cannot in this world know saue that our Sauiour himselfe hath giuen a little taste of it by making a briefe description of it in Matth. 25. the latter part of the chapter and this glimpse of that glory of his proceedings there he giues that both the godly might be established in consolation and the wicked left without excuse hauing so faire warning The sentence stands of two parts the one concernes the godly and that is a sentence of absolution as Diuines call it or rather a sentence of glorification and the other concernes the wicked and that is a sentence of condemnation Our Sauiour will begin with the sentence of absolution to shew thereby his readinesse to mercy and long-suffering and that he is not caried with vniust furie against those on his left hand and that thereby also he may make the elect capable of the dignitie of being Assessours with him in the Iudgement vpon the wicked The sentence that concernes the godly may be considered of according to the foure parts of it The first is the calling of the elect to glory vers 34. The second is the reason giuen for this calling vers 35 36. The third is the answer Christ shall receiue from the elect v. 37 38 39. The fourth is the replication of our Sauiour to their answer v. 40. For the first in generall we may note That if Christ call vs to grace and good works in this life he will call vs to glory in another world All that are effectually called and set about Gods worke in this world shall haue a most ioyfull call to the possession of an eternall kingdome at the last
with eternal punishments why page 500 Sins remitted and retained how page 463 Sitting what it signifieth page 489 Christs Sessio at the right hand of God is comfortable in seuen respects page 492 Christs Soule how produced page 263 Excellency of mans Soule aboue other creatures appeares in seauen things page 197 Soule of man made in the Image of God page 197 Soule immortall page 198 What the Soule workes in the body Ibid. Soule resembles God in the Creation Ibid. Condition of our Soules in death page 449 Soule of Christ in his death indured a priuation of what it had before Ibid Soules of the righteous cry vnder the Alter Ibid. Our greatest care must be for our soules page 422 Christ the Sonne of God page 335 God hath many Sonnes page 336 Where the Spirit is there is liberty page 541 Spirit quenched by two sorts of men page 546 Happinesse of Christs subiects page 233 Christs subiects must doe seuen things page 234 Sufferings of Christ Suffering attributed to the diuine nature in respect of personall vnion page 305 Christs Sufferings full of wonder and amazement Ibid. They teach vs six things Ibid. He suffered not for all proued against the Arminians page 307 He Suffered from all sorts of enemies Ibid. To teach vs three things Ibid. Who haue part in Christs Sufferings page 308 Christs Sufferings a matchlesse patterne of his loue page 309 Iust Suffers for the vniust Ibid. Seuen reasons why he suffered page 310 Scriptures fulfilled in his Sufferings Ibid. His sufferings teach vs patience page 311 Two obiections against his Sufferings answered page 312 Difference betweene Christs Sufferings and Martyrs page 313 End of Christs Sufferings teach vs diuers things Ibid. Benefit of his Sufferings appeares in seuen things page 314 Hee suffered by waie of Imputation page 316 Hee Suffered from his conception to his resurrection page 317 What he Suffered from his Baptisme to his last Supper page 320 Where he Suffered page 325 When he Suffered Ibid. Hee Suffered Voluntarily page 326 348 421 Hee Suffered meane vsage why page 356 Christ suffers two things from Herod page 370 Christs Sufferings should make vs afraid of sinne page 397 We should Suffer any thing for Christs sake page 417 Superscription ouer Christs Head page 399 Pilates meaning in it Ibid. God by this giues testimonie to his Son Ibid. Superscription written in three Languages page 402 Deriuation of Symbolum with signification thereof T. ALL men need be Taught page 471 Teares haue power ouer Christ page 385 Christ Teacheth diuers waies page 221 Excellency of Christs manner of Teaching page 222 Christ Tempted for diuers reasons page 320 Christs Temptation teacheth vs fiue things page 321 Christ dwels not in Temples made with hands page 243 Thiefe conuerted page 404 Abuse not his example to procrastination page 405 Three fruits of his conuersion page 406 Thiefes confession page 408 Thiefes prayer hath in it three things obseruable page 409 Christs answer to the Thiefe page 411 How the Thiefe vnderstood what was meant by Paradise Ibid. Profitable to teach the people the whole body of Theology page 2 Thomas his vnbeleefe page 464 Thomas his confession page 465 Christ crowned with Thornes page 381 Thankefulnesse to God for the blessings of Heauen page 176 Thunder and lightning page 170 Times and seasons left to God page 427 Worldfull of Treachery page 334 Christs apparition to his Disciples the doores being shut no proofe for Transubstantiation page 462 Truth of God See God Christ beares witnesse to the Truth page 365 Truth will preuaile Ibid. Constancy for the Truth page 366 Christs subiects are of the Truth Ibid. Christ fastened to a Tree for three reasons page 390 Doctrine of the Trinity page 115 Proofes of the Trinity page 116 In handling the Trinity wee must bee wise to sobriety page 117 Trinity Essence Persons all brought in in the Primitiue Church page 123 Eleuen obiections against the Trinity answered page 124 Doctrine of the Trinity vsefull page 126 We must speake of the Trinity in vnity page 127 Vnsound speeches of the Trinity Ibid. What Heretikes haue assaulted it Ib. V. ORiginall of vegetable creatures page 185 Their variety and vse page 186 Vaile of the Temple rent page 413 What it was Ibid. What it signified page 414 Vbiquitaries confuted page 502 They gaue Christ Vinegar to drinke for three reasons page 398 Virgin Mary not conceiued without sinne page 265 Virgin ouer-shadowed page 265 Christ tooke his Body of a Virgin page 267 Wofull estate of vnbeleeuers page 35 240. Christ vpbraided his Disciples for vnbeliefe why page 470 Vnity of God See God W. GOds dearest seruants exposed to outward Wants page 466 Great Wants fore-runne extraordinary supplies Ibid. Christ speakes to Women page 285 Comfort for Women in Child-bearing page 269 Women chiefe witnesses of Christs death page 419 What wholsome words are page 3 Wicked men incorrigible page 348 Wicked desire Christs miracles not his Word page 369 Wicked men of more account then godly page 371 Wicked men within the Church may be as vile as they are without page 376 Wicked men are impatient vnder Gods hand page 386 Wicked men are like a dry Tree Ibid. Wicked men in a wofull case page 397 Wicked men how condemned already page 509 Wicked men are Goats page 418 Wicked men are cursed creatures page 527 Wicked men forget their sins page 528 Wicked men taste the Word of God without digestion page 540 Difference betweene godly and wicked men in their desire after Christ page 369 Great World a little Garden page 161 It is like a Booke Ibid. Like a faire House Ibid. Fiue things wonderfull in the making of the world page 162 Workes of God of two sorts page 144 Externall Workes of foure sorts page 145 When the world was made page 148 Giue God the Glory of his Workes page 149 Meditate on Gods Workes not delight in idle shewes Ibid. World fiered at the last day how page 531 Word doth not euer presently worke page 354 God Workes sometimes by vnlikely meanes Ibid. How the Word was made flesh page 251 Vnion of the Word and flesh differ from other vnions Ibid. Gods Wisdome moderates betweene his Iustice and mercy â—8 Three beare Witnesse of Christ in Heauen three on earth page 430 LONDON Printed by G. M. for R. R. P. Stephens and C. Meredith and are to be sold at their shop at the golden Lyon in Pauls Church-yard 1626. Pro. 335. * So much as now is published comes vnto thy hands as it was left fully perfected by the Author in his life time 2. Waies of Preaching 1. By Text. 2. Without Text. And both expedient The Apostles Patterne The method intended What the Creed is What wholesome words are Vnwholesome doctrines of two sorts 1. Corrupt doctrine Diuers sorts of corrupt doctrine How many waies true doctrine may be vnwholsome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How the Creed is a Patterne Note What great respect we should haue of the doctrines
in stonie places where there is a little earth mingled withall whereas he that beleeues aright and so will hold out hath the naturall stoninesse of his heart dissolued by the word and is so affected with it for the present that he receiues it so as it tarrieth in him and growes in him and he brings forth the sound fruit of Reformation of life and his seede abideth in him it cannot vtterly be destroyed but Faith in him is like the tree of life that will euery yeere bring new fruit Whereas in Nature the corne that is sowne after one haruest is destroyed in respect of that particular graine that was sowen Nor may any say that he cannot know whether he shall hereafter keepe his Faith he can iudge of his Faith what it is now for if he get a sound Faith it will keepe and besides he beleeues with perseuerance that doth resolue for euer to rest in that Faith simply for the euidence worth and vse of the doctrine beleeued for he that hath but a temporary faith as he doth receiue doctrine but for certaine aduantages or carnall ends so can he not get his heart at that very time to a resolution to cleaue eternally to that doctrine of Gods grace 9. It is not yet innough to resolue to keepe the faith and to preserue the doctrine but we must looke to it that we lay it vp in a cleane place which is a pure Conscience 1 Tim. 3. 9. and that we keepe it there cleane from the mixtures of mens deuises being curious in the businesses of our faith to let in no priuate interpretations but to resolue to beleeue onely as Gods word doth bid vs beleeue we must take heede and not admit carelesly any interpretations of the Articles of our faith that any sort of men will bring to vs but we must still haue an eye to Gods word to see all expounded by the word 2 Pet. 1. 20. 19. 16. we must receiue nothing here no not in the least part of the apparrelling of these truths which is not agreeable to some patterne in the booke of God Lastly we must beleeue these Articles but not all with one kinde of faith for some of these things we beleeue in that is place our trust and confidence and all hope of happinesse in them so we beleeue in God and in Iesus Christ and in the holy Ghost but other things wee doe not beleeue in but beleeue as the properties and priuiledges of the Church as wee may discerne by the difference of speaking in the Creed Wee say I beleeue in God but doe not say I beleeue in the holy Church c. The vse may be first for information we may hence gather that there are but few sound Christians in any place there are but few that beleeue their Creed obseruing all the duties and conditions required in beliefe and consequently but few that receiue the benefit of the Gospell or that shall be saued This will appeare if a Tryall could bee made euen in the places that are most populous and abound most with Christians in name For if all the sorts of men bee cast out that haue not a faith agreeable to this doctrine there will bee but a few left as for instance 1. Cast out all such worldly minded people as haue not at all regarded their Creed or the Doctrine contained in it vndoubtedly some such there are who scarce learned their Creed at all and liue so without God in the world as they neuer regarded Religion at all with their hearts 2. Cast out all such as vnderstand not their Creed many can say the words who yet neuer were instructed concerning the meaning and haue not any competent measure of knowledge concerning the sense of the Articles Now it is impossible these should be true beleeuers 3. Cast out such as know perhaps the meaning but assent not to the doctrine They cannot tell whether these things bee true or no nor how to approue them and is there not in all places diuers men that are of this humour are there not men that will be of any Religion That are temporizers 4. Cast out such as beleeue that all the doctrines be true but it is by such a saith as the diuells haue for the diuells beleeue the doctrines to be true but so as they hate it and the teaching of it and all such as thriue in knowledge and profession of it Are there not multitudes of people with vs that discouer this kinde of diuellish quality doe they not from their hearts loath preaching doe they not from their hearts hate such as are the best beleeuers doe they not readily and spitefully speake euill of such as feare God in euery place these cannot be right that beleeue loathing 5. Cast out such as beleeue with a dead faith that is such as finde no manner of feare nor vertue nor operation in these doctrines but can take in a great deale of the literall knowledge of these truthes and yet it hath no power to worke vpon their hearts These haue not so much faith as the diuells haue for they beleeue and tremble that is they are afrighted and extreamely amazed at the thought of the fulfilling and accomplishment of these truthes considering their owne misery Whereas multitudes of Christians heare of beliefe and talke of these things and are not a whit moued either with feare or sorrowe 6. Cast out such as haue but a temporarie faith And in them consider first what they haue in their faith and then by what things it may be manifest that their faith is insufficient for the first these men are not altogether without faith they haue knowledge of the meaning of the doctrine of the Gospell they assent to it and are assured it is the truth and can proue it and they hate not the doctrine but rather like it and loue it And besides their beliefe of these things worketh much vpon them for they heare the Word with Ioy Mat. 13. yea and are moued and perswaded to reforme their liues and by it escape much filthinesse which is in others and was in themselues 2. Pet. 2. 20. and they do ioyne themselues to and keepe company openly with such as feare God as Iudas and Demas did with the Apostles and doe spend much time in reading the Scriptures and good books and may be forward to reproue or punish vice and wickednesse in other men as Iehu was and yet all this notwithstanding their faith is vaine which will appeare to their consciences if they consider these things in them 1. That they beleeue not with application to themselues They lay not hold on these things by a particular faith They place not their happinesse in the perswasion of their interest in these truthes 2. That they are not reformed in theâ— beloued or gainefull sinnes there bee some sinnes they know by themselues which they desire not to leaue and therefore neuer repented of them Iudas would not leaue his couetousnesse
consideration of this doctrine of Gods Truth should first teach vs diuers duties for 1. We should striue to acknowledge and praise God for the glory of his Truth especially when we obserue the experience of it and can say this is the Word or Truth of the Lord and thus he hath fulfilled it Psal 89. 6. 92. 2. Isay 38. 19. 2. It should make vs with all confidence to beleeue what God saith to vs though it be in things vnlikely or aboue carnall Reason This is to seale to it that God is true Iohn 3. 33. thus did Abraham and Sarah Heb. 11. 23. 3. If any man want the Light of the Truth let him come hither euen to the God of Truth and hee will bee the true Light to enlighten him hee is the Father of Lights and therefore let him pray with Dauid that God would direct him in his Truth Iames 1. 17. Psal 25. 5. 43. 3. 4. It should make vs loue the Truth and sticke to it without fainting or discouragement though all the world doe oppose vs for the Lord wil be iustified in his Truth and it shall preuaile Wee should choose out that way of life which God hath directed vs and not doubt of the issue for there is no error or deceit in his waies they will be found all true Ierusalem should be called a Cittie of Truth Gods people should trade more heartily for the Truth then any other people would doe for any Merchandize They should loue the Truth but neuer sell it for any respect Zach. 8. 3. 19. Pro. 23. 23. Psal 119. 30. Phil. 4. 8. 5. It should fashion vs to the imitation of Gods Truth wee should be a people that hate lying and falshood and all deceitfull waies wee should speake truth euery man to his neighbour Ephes 4. 24. 25. Zeph. 3. 13. 6. It should teach vs in all straites to flie vnto God and beleeuing his promises to pleade his Truth for our succour trusting vpon him and committing our waies to him Psal 31. 5. as knowing that Gods Word hath bin tryed and purified in the fire seuen times and neuer failed and therefore we should rest our selues vnder the shadow of his winges whatsoeuer danger or aduersaries we haue Psal 12. 7. 36 7 8. 86. 14 15. Reuel 6. 10. 11. Yea if God doe himselfe afflict vs yet we should be sure and fully perswaded that his Mercy and Truth will neuer be taken from vs Psal 89. 34. 35. 7. It should teach vs to serue God in all sincerity without dissembling and hypocrisie and come neere to him with a true heart for God is Truth and cannot abide lying and hypocrisie He cannot be deceiued nor will he accept deceitfull workers as hee is our God in Truth so must we be his people in Truth and Righteousnesse Hebrewes 10. 22. Zach. 8. 8. 2. This Doctrine of Gods Truth may also serue for singular consolation to all the godly of whom such glorious things are spoken How many sweet comforts and promises are made in the whole Booke of God And how should it fill vs with refreshing to know that all these are true and that heauen and earth may sooner passe away then any iot of these good words shall faile of their Truth Psalme 146. 5 6. 3. It may also informe vs in diuers things as 1. That the Testimonie of God is Authenticall His Word is onely fit to iudge in all controuersies God is true and all men are lyars It is a most blasphemous impiety to deny vnto the God of Truth the fulnesse of sufficiencie to testifie or conclude in the things of his owne glory what men say may bee false but what God saith must bee true 2. Concerning the wofull estate of all men that liue in their sinnes without Repentance Oh how fearefull is their estate when all the curses written in Gods Booke must vnauoidablie bee executed vpon them God will not repent him of the least word in his Threatnings Hee is God and not man that he should repent 1. Sam 15. 29. 3. That true Religion will preuaile It may bee resisted and ouerwhelmed for a time but they shal not prosper that hate the Truth The Truth will get vp againe and ouercome because God is Truth and the power of his Truth is as great as the force of any other his Attributes Hitherto of the Truth of God His Righteousnesse followes His Righteousnesse is to bee considered more generally or more specially in generall the Righteousnesse of God is magnified in Scripture six waies 1. Because in himselfe hee is most pure and holy without any vice sinne defect or blemish aboue all that Holinesse can be found in all or any of the creatures Esay 6. 2. 1. Samuel 2. 2. 2. Because in all his dealings he is most iust he doth no wrong there is no iniquity in him his waies are neuer vnequall Psal 84. 11. Deut. 32. 4. 3. Because he is Author of all the Holinesse is in the creatures they haue nothing but what they haue receiued they haue all their Holinesse by participation 4. Because his Righteousnes for eminency is like great mountaines and for vnsearchablenesse is like a great deepe Psal 36. 7. Iob 37. 23. 5. Because hee executes Iustice in all places and at all times there are yeerely springs of iustice from God Esay 45. 8. 6. Because his Righteousnesse cannot be abolished In particular his Iustice is to bee considered either towards godly men or towards wicked men first then of his iustice towards godly men The iustice of God towards godly men is described in Scripture either as it is his iustice of Anger or his iustice of Grace The iustice of his anger towards the godly he hath shewed two waies 1. Towards their suretie Christ Iesus and how fearefully he was displeased with sinne euen in them may appeare in that he spared not his owne Sonne but abased him to the very condition of a seruant exposed him to the temptations of the diuels and the disgraces and oppositions of vnreasonable men and laid vpon him all the curses of the Law humbled him to death euen the death of the Crosse powred out vpon him his fierce wrath when he made his soule a very sacrifice for sinne so as for very paine hee sweat bloud c. 2. Towards themselues by scourging and chastening them with all sorts of afflictions when they sinne against him Psal 89. 34. and that in so grieuous a manner sometimes that the whole world is searched for similitudes to expresse their sorrowes and miseries as we may fee in the booke of Lamentations The iustice of his Grace is that wonderfull qualification of his wrath by an agreement as it were betweene his grace and his iustice which hee shewes vnto them by many admirable consolations And so it is his Iustice and hee confesseth himselfe to bee bound to them in Iustice 1. To moderate all his Chastizements and that in foure respects 1. That they be not
appellation of God 2. By liuing without care and therein being like little Children and this we do when we commit our soules and bodies and liues and children and states and all our waies vnto God 2. Tim. 1. 12. Psal 37. 3. When in Aduersitie wee runne to him for refuge and so make our moane to him that wee rest with patience and good perswasion that God will cause all to worke for the best to vs. It should much trouble vs if in soundnesse of practice we haue not learned this first lesson of belieuing in God Wee should be much displeased with our selues if our hearts be vnquiet and any way vnapt to rest and waite vpon God Psal 42. 12. and we should often beseech the Lord to helpe our vnbeliefe Hitherto of the Nature of God and of beleeuing in God The next thing Faith takes notice of is the Relations in the God-head and so God is the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost for this terme God is to bee applied not onely to the Father which is the next word but to the Sonne and holy Ghost as followeth after in the Creed and therefore wee must reade with a Comma after this word God thus I beleeue in God the Father to reade without a Comma that is Hereticall for if we reade thus I beleeue in God the Father it would sound as if the Creed should say that the Father were God only not leauing the terme God to be carried to the Son and holy Ghost Before then I come to speake of the Father I must entreate of God as he is three Persons both Father Sonne and holy Ghost And this is one of the deepest and dreadfullest Mysteries in all Religion where I must proceed in this order first to proue the Trinity by Scriptures secondly to explicate the doctrine And thirdly to answer certaine obiections might arise in mens mindes about it Because these things about the Trinity are most wonderfull and aboue the reach of the creatures we must seeke testimonies to ground our consciences in the beliefe of them such as may be firme and euident It is a difficult thing to bring the heart of men solidly to assent to such secrets as these as are not onely beyond the sight but aboue the reason of men and the minde may easily vanish into wilde speculations if we be not well grounded with sure Euidence nor can wee haue light from the booke of Nature to informe vs for what any Heathen man hath spoken of an Eternall mind word and spirit they spake by tradition from the Hebrewes and vttered it perhaps in a false and corrupt sense T is the booke of Scripture must only informe our faith herein The proofes for the Trinity are gathered both out of the Old and New Testament and so they either prooue there were more Persons then One or else expresly that there were Three Persons That there are more Persons then One is prooued by the terme ELOHIM which is vttered in the plurall number as if it should sound Gods as Gen. 1. 1. In the beginning Gods or ELOHIM created Heauen and Earth Created is in the singular number to shew the vnitie of the Essence and ELOHIM in the plurall to shewe the Trinitie of the Persons so Gen. 1. 26. Let vs make man in our Likenesse Let vs shewes more Persons and likenes being in the singular number shewes vnitie of Essence And verse 2. besides the Lord there is mentioned the Spirit of the Lord sitting vpon the waters Iosh vlt. 19. Ye cannot serue the Lord because he is ELOHIM sancti holy Gods And Ieremy 10. 10. The Lord is the liuing Gods or ELOHIM and King euerlasting Hos 1. 7. I will saue them in the Lord their God Gen. 19. 24. The Lord reigned from the Lord fire and brimstone Exod. 23. 20. 21. The The Lord sends his Angell whose name is IEHOVAH Dan. 9. 19. Heare oh Lord our God for the Lords sake Psa 110. 1. The Lord said to my Lord sit thou at my right hand Ier. 32. 5. 9. 33. 15 16. The Lord shall raise vp a Branch whose name is THE LORD Now that there are three Persons and no more nor fewer is proued by places more obscure or more expresse The Trinitie hath beene obserued in such places as these Esay 6. 3. where the Angells say thrice Holy and so where IEHOVAH is three times repeated Numbers 6. 23. Esay 33. 22. But the most expresse places are in the New Testament A manifest reuelation of the Trinitie was in the Baptisme of Christ The Father speaking from heauen the Sonne standing in the Riuer the Holy Ghost descending like a Doue Matth. 3. 16. 17. and so in the Institution of Baptisme we are to be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost And Ioh. 14. 16. 17. I will aske the Father and he shall giue you another Comforter the Spirit of truth and the 1. Ioh. 5. 9. There are three in Heauen the Father the Word and the Spirit And the like euidence is in these places 2. Cor. 13. 13. Tit. 3. 5. 6. Eph. 2. 18. In the Explication of the doctrine of the Trinitie we must be wise to sobriety because it is wholly secret rather to be belieued then to be demonstrated or described It is a doctrine may be apprehended but neuer comprehended no not by the light of grace nor fully and wholly by the light of glorie as being aboue the reach not onely of men but of Angells A mystery to be adored by humble faith and piety not to be searched without curious yea furious temerity For it is so admirable as Reason cannot expresse it and so singular that example cannot declare it to vs for the Images or Similitudes borrowed out of the booke of Nature may rather shew that the doctrine of the Trinitie doth not destroy Nature then giue vs any pattern which can sample out the thing it selfe and besides to erre here is the most dangerous of all errors For as nothing is sought with more difficulty or found with more profit so nothing can bee mistaken with more perill And therefore as a Father sayd well seeing wee cannot finde out what God is wee must take heed that wee thinke not that of him which he is not yet must wee not wholly neglect the doctrine because a necessitie lyes vpon vs to belieue and therefore though men and Angels haue cause to stand and wonder at this secret that God should beget a Sonne and that from that Father and Sonne should proceed that Spirit the Sanctifier yet because God will bee so acknowledged of vs wee must make vse of our faith to belieue what our reason cannot describe to vs. Three things then for our capacities are to be thought vppon The first concernes the Matter of this Mysterie The second the termes by which it is exprest and the third the answere of certaine Obiections might arise in our mindes For the first
cannot imagine any true praise of friendship that can be there wanting to any of that society The fourth is the actuall donation of power ouer all things euen the kingdome of the whole world God will then suffer them to enioy what their hearts can wish in heauen or earth they receiue then as their own all that euer God made Now from the possession of all these ariseth ioy vnspeakable and delight aboue imagination not only the heart of man but all his senses being taken vp with perpetuall admiration and refreshing being as it were continually inâ—â—riated with those riuers of pleasures that are at the right hand of God The second part of the Execution containes the thrusting of all the wicked with the Diuell and his Angels into Hell where all the damned must suffer first abiection from the face of God and depriuation of the very sight of all that might comfort in heauen or earth Secondly the gnawing of conscience vpon the eternall remembrance of all their sinnes Thirdly vnutterable torments in fire vnquenchable Fourthly the horrid presence of the Deuill and his Angels all which are made more grieuous by the impossibilitie to find either ease or end The life they loath they must liue and the death they desire they shall neuer finde Oh that men could be warned in time to prouide that they neuer come into that place That message Diues would haue sent to his brethren is brought vnto men now by the Gospell and therefore let them awake to liue righteously that they perish not in this great damnation where shall be the Chaos of darknesse the horror of tribulation the feare of confusion the griefe of fearfull visions the voice of men lamenting the biting of wormes gnawing cold intollerable fire vnquenchable stinch intollerable darknesse palpable and an absolute despaire of all that is good The third thing is the creation of new heauens and new earth according to these Scriptures Esay 65. 17. and 66. 22. Reu. 21. 1. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Now about this Creation we are to consider of two things 1. The firing of the world 2. The libertie of the creatures For the first of these it is manifest that the world that it may be made new shall be cast into the fire as into a furnace The heauens and the earth are reserued vnto fire the heauens shall perish and shall all wax old as a garment and as a vesture God shall fold them vp and they shall be changed the heauens being on fire shall passe away and be dissolued with a noise and the elements shall melt with heat and the earth with the workes thereof shall be burnt vp Psal 102. 27 28. 2. Pet. 3. 5 7 10 11 12. The substance of the heauens and the earth shall not be annihilated but the qualities only shall be altered that is bettered The figure of this world shall passe away not the nature 1 Cor. 7. 31. For the second of these all things shall be so made new as all creatures that were brought into bondage shall then be set at libertie and receiue restitution as is manifest Acts 3. 21. Rom. 8. 23. That this point may be the more clearely vnderstood I must consider of two things First how the creatures are in bondage now and then how they shall be at liberty then The creatures be now in bondage many wayes First as any of them are corruptible so in bondage to corruption Secondly as they are subiect to mutations and confusions as in the case of the Aire and Seas Thirdly as they are forced to serue the turnes of wicked men and their vses Fourthly as they are teachers of the world and men will not learne the creatures are Gods great booke and it is a bondage to teach and lose their labour Fifthly as any of them are either the instrument or the subiect of mans punishment Sixthly as since the fall they haue lost their vigorous instincts as they are dulled and distempered in them Now for the second point they shall then be freed from all that vanitie or paine or misery or mutabilitie fell vpon them since the fall of man and withall they shall be restored into a glorious estate when the Elect are glorified and so they partake of the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God But this restitution shal not be made to each particular creature that hath beene but to each sort of creatures shall be then found aliue at the last day But what shall be their glorie or how long they shall continue cannot be determined without curiositie and rashnesse The fourth effect or consequent of the Iudgement is the deliuering of the kingdome of Christ into the hands of God the Father 1 Cor. 15. 24. which is to be vnderstood not of the glorious estate of Christ but of his temporall gouernment ouer the world and the Church as he ruled by means in this world for this kingdome ends when hee hath fully subdued the deuils and death and wicked men and hath fully deliuered the Elect from all sinne and misery Then there shall be no need to gouerne men by Magistrates or Preachers or Sacraments or discipline or of any of the helps of naturall or spirituall life Thus of the explication of this Article The vse that may be made of this Article in generall followes and so first it may extremely affright all men that lies in their sins without repentance for there are many things in this doctrine terrible as 1. That God hath set them a day wherein he will certainly bring them to account 2. That this day is most certaine and God will not alter his minde Act. 17. 31. Heb. 9. 27. 3. That this day will be a day of wrath to them and not of mercy The date of mercy vnto impenitent sinners will then be out Rom. 2. 5. 4. That all his sins shall then be discouered euen all his secret sins and none can be forgotten in as much as the euidence shall bee giuen out of so many bookes where all things are written as it were with a pen of iron and the point of a Diamond 1 Cor. 4. 5. Reuel 20. Ier. 17. 1. 5. That euen the longer hee liues the more hee heapes vp wrath against that day Rom. 2. 5. 6. That no meanes will then be auaileable to deliuer them Riches will not helpe them Iob 36. 18 19. nor multitude cannot shelter them Iude 15. 7. That though thou hast excelled in many gifts and done much good in the world yet if thou die in sinne without repentance thou shalt not escape Gods vengeance 1 Cor. 13. 3. 8. That it is but a little while thither 1 Pet. 4. 7. Iam. 5. 8. The signes of Christs comming are the most of them run out and we see that diuers of the last signes run together as if the Lord made haste to make an end of all things and if generall iudgement were yet further off yet death is at hand which giues a particular iudgement vpon thee