infinitness of Gods Nature is either his Eternity or his exceeding greatness Gods Eternity is that by which he is without beginning and ending Ps. 90. 2. Rev. 1. 8. His exceeding greatness is that by which his incomprehensible Nature is every where present both within and without the World Ps 145. 3. 1 King 8. 27. Jer. 23. 24. Of the life of God By this it doth plainly appear 1. That God is one and indivisible and not many as Ephes. 4. 5. 1 Cor. 8. 4. 2. That God is the knower of the heart For nothing is hidden from that Nature which is within all things without all things which is included in nothing nor excluded from any thing as 1 King 8. 32. Psal. 139. 1. 2. The life of God is that by which the Devine in Nature is in perpetual action living and moving with it self Psal. 42. 2. 2 Heb. 3. 12. These three following Attributes do manifest the operation of the Divine Nature towards the Creatures 1. Gods wisdom 2. Gods will 3. Gods omnipotency The wisdom and knowledge of God is that by which God doth by one Eternal and immutable Act of understanding distinctly and perfectly know himself and all other things though infinite whether they have been or not Matth. 11. 27. Heb. 4. 13. Psal. 347 5. Gods wisdom is his foreknowledge and his Counsel Gods foreknowledge is that by which he most assuredly foreseeth things that are to come Act. 2. 23. Rom. 8. 29. Gods counsel is that by which he doth most rightly perceive the best reason of all things that are done Prov. 8. 14. So much of the wisdom of God The will of God is that by which he doth most freely and justly will all things with one Act Rom. 9. 18. Epb. 1. 5. Jam. 4. 15. In God there are two wills 1. A will whereby God determineth what shall be done concerning us or in us 2. A will whereby God determineth what shall be done off us The first of these wills is called Predestination And therefore it is that Predestination is commonly defined to be the preparation of the blessing of God whereby they are delivered which are delivered The second of these wills is the Gospel Predestination determines who who and how many are to be saved and hereupon Christ saith I know whom I have choosed John 13. 18. The Gospel which is the second will of God determines what kinde of ones they are that shall be saved and how they must be qualified Predestination which is the first will of God is Gods Decree it self The Gospel which is the second will of God is an outward means of the execution of this Decree of Predestination In the will of God there are three Actions * 1. An Action whereby God doth absolutely will any thing and delight in it 2. An Action whereby he doth wholely and absolutely nill a thing 3. A remiss Action which is as a mean between the two former Actions as when a thing is remissely or in part both willed and nilled God willeth good by approving it God willeth evil because it is good that there should be evil For this cause God doth voluntarily permit evil But as it is absolutely evil he wills it not But doth dissalowe and forsake it Act. 14. 16. Psal. 81. 12. The will of God in respect of divers objects is called diversly by divers names as by the Names of Love Hatred or of Grace Justice The love of God is that whereby he approveth first himself and then all his Creatures as they are good without their desert and doth take delight in them 1 Joh. 4. 16. Joh. 3. 16. Rom. 5. 8. His hatred is that whereby he disliketh and detesteth his Creature offending for his fault 1 Cor. 10. 5. Psal. 5. 5. and 45. 7. Gods Grace is that whereby he freely declareth his favour to his Creatures Rom. 11. 6. Tit. 2. 11. The Grace of God is his goodness or his mercie Gods goodness is that by which he being also absolutely good doth freely exercise his liberality upon his creatures Matt. 19. 17. 5. 45. Gods mercie is that whereby he freely assisteth all his Creatures in their miseries Esai 30. 18. Lament. 3. 22. Exod. 33. 19. Gods justice is that by which he in all things willeth that which is just as Psal. 11. 7. and 5. 4. Gods justice is either in word or deed Gods justice in word is that truth by which he constantly and indeed willeth that which he sayeth or hath said Rom. 3. 4. Matth. 24. 35. This is the justice of God in keeping his promise 2 Tim. 4. 8. 1 John 4. 9. Gods justice indeed is that by which he disposeth or rewardeth Gods disposing justice is that by which he as a free Lord ordereth all things rightly in his Actions Psal. 145. 17. His rewarding justice is that by which he rendereth to his Creature according to his work 2 Thes. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 1. 17. Jer. 51. 56. Again the justice of God is either his Gentlenes or his Anger Gods Gentlenes is that whereby he freely rewardeth the righteousness of his Creature 2 Thes. 1. 5. Matth. 10. 41. 42. Gods Anger is that by which he willeth the punishment of the Creature offending Rom. 1. 8. Joh. 3. 36. So much concerning the will of God Gods omnipotency is that whereby he is most able to perform every work Matth. 19. 26. Gods power is either absolute or Actual Gods absolute power is that by which he can do more than he either doth or will do Matth. 3. 9. Phil. 3. 21. Gods Actual power is that by which he causeth all things to be which he freely willeth Ps. 135. 6. Of the Glorie and blessedness of God Gods glorie and Majesty is the infinite excellencie of his most simple and most holy Divine Nature Heb. 1. 3. Nehem. 9. 5. In which we may see that God can onely know him self perfectly Joh 6. 46. 1 Tim. 6. 16. Exo. 33. 20. The manifestation of Gods glorie is either obscure as here on earth or apparent as in Heaven The obscure manifestation of Gods glorie is the Vision of Gods Majesty in this life by the eys of the minde through the help of things perceived by the outward senses as Isai 6. 1. Exod. 33. 22. 1 Cor. 13. 12. The apparent manifestation of God is the contemplation of him in Heaven face to face This concerning his glorie Gods blessedness is that by which God is in himself and off himself all sufficient Genes 17. 1. Collos. 2. 9. 1 Tim. 6. 15. Of the Persons of the God-head The Persons of the God-head are they which subsisting in one God-head are distinguisht by incommunicable properties 1 John 5. 7 Genes 19. 24. John 1. 1. The Persons are coequal and distinguisht not by degree but by order There is a Trinity of Persons but a Unity in Essence for the three Persons are but one infinite essence The
and that which nourisheth all kinde of sin 1 Tim. 6. 10. Unjust dealing indeed is either in bargaining or out of bargaining 1. Unjust dealing in bargaining is to sell that which is not saleable 1 Thes. 4. 6. as what ever is unprofitable or pernitious either to the Church or Common-wealth Or to think to buy the gift of the holy Ghost for money Act. 8. 18. to the 20. 2. It is unjust dealing in bargaining to use coloured forgery As forged cavillation Luke 19. 8. Or to sell that which is counterfeit for good as Copper for Gold or to mingle bad with good Amos 8. 4. to the 6. Or to falsifie measures and weights Deut. 25. 13. Levit. 19. 35 Amos 8. 4. 3. It is unjust dealing in bargaining to conceal the goodness or fault of a thing Or to blindfold the truth with counterfeit speeches Matth. 7. 12. Prov 20. 14. 4. It is unjust dealing in bargaining To oppress in buying selling as by raising the just price of things it is not lawfull in bargaining to purse a penny without giving a penny worth Matth. 7. 12. Or by sale upon a set day which is when a day is given that the price may be inhanced for this is to sell time and to take more of a mans Neighbour than is right Or by engrossing which is when a man buyeth all commodities into his own hands that he may sell it at his own price when as no man hath any of it but himself Or by breaking or becoming bankrupt that thou mayest enrich thy self by the damages and goods of others It is unlawfull also to oppress by not restoring that which was lent pledged or pawned Or that which is found if the owner can be heard of Ezek. 18. 7. Or to oppress by delaying any kinde of restitution from one day to another Prov. 3. 28. Ps. 37. 21. Deut. 24. 14 15. Levit. 19. 13. Or to oppress by practising usury Exod. 22. 25. Deut. 23. 19. Levit. 25. 36. Usury is again exacted by Covenant above the principal onely in Lieu and recompence of the lending of it Usury is quite contrary to Gods word Exod 22 14 15. Ezek. 18. 8. Psal. 15. 2 Cor. 8. 13. This usury is altogether unlawfull and disallowed Cautions in Lawfull Use 1. A man must exact nothing but that which his debter can get by good and lawfull means 2. A man must not take more than the gain nay not all the gain nor that part of the gain which drinketh up the living of him that useth the money 3. Sometimes a man that lendeth must neither take gain nor principal as when his debtour is by just and inevitable casualties brought behinde hand Deut. 5. 2. And when it is apparent that he could not make any advantage of the money borrowed Here we are also forbidden to oppress by detaining the Labourers wages Deut. 23. 14. Jam. 5. 4. Unjust dealing out of bargaining is to pronounce false sentence for a reward either proffered or promised This is a grievous sin which Lawyers and Judges must beware of Isai 1. 23. It is also unjust dealing out of bargaining to feed men that are stout and lusty and are offered employment and yet will take no pains at all 2 Thes. 3. 10. Socrates In the Tripatite History saith that the Monk which laboureth not with his hands is no better than a Thief It is also unjust dealing out of bargaining not to employ him who is knowing and able for employments and desireth to be employed yea and also not to further and assist those who do employ themselves in employments lawfull and warrantable by the word of God that so they may improve their labours and endeavours both for publick good and also for their own particular good and for the glory of God Gaming for Money is here also unlawfull For we may not enrich our selves by impoverishing our brethren in any kinde Here also is unlawfull The use of unlawfull Arts thereby to get money whither it be Magick Judicial Astrology or Juglings or Stageplays as is evident by these Scriptures Eph. 4. 28. Deut. 18. 11 Eph. 5. 3. 1 Thes. 5 22 Here is also forbidden stealing yea though great good be intended by it Mark 10. 19. Rom. 3. 8. And all removing of bounds or Land-marks Prov. 22. 28. Deut. 27. 17. And all stealing of servants or Children or to rob or commit Sacriledge 1 Tim. 1. 10. Josh. 7. 19. 1 Cor. 6. 10. And to conspire with Robbers or Thieves either in advising them or countenancing of them for this purpose Prov. 29. 24. Theft by the law of God was not to be otherwise punish'd but by enlarging the restitution Exod. 22. 1. 2 Sam. 12. 6. The ninth Commandment Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy Neighbour The Affirmative part of this Commandment is this Here we are commanded to rejoyce at the good name repute and esteem of our Neighbour Gal. 5. 22. Rom. 1. 8. And to acknowledge the goodness which we see in any Tit. 3. 2. And to desire and receive and believe the good reports concerning our Neighbours Act. 16. 1 2 3. But so as we must in no kinde approve allow or countenance them in any of their wickednesses or vices which we see or know 2 Chr. 25. 2. and 27. 2. In doubtfull cases we are here commanded to interpret them in the best part 1 Cor. 13. 5 7. Genes 37. 31. to the 33. Matth. 1. 19. We must not be too credulous for then we shall oft be over taken with the belief of lies Joh. 2. 24. For this cause we must be ware of evil reports that run abroad amongst people by whisperers and tale-bearers Ps. 15. 3. Jer. 40. 14 16. It is good for a man to shew himself angry and displeased with such flattering tongues and whisperers Prov. 25. 23. Here we are commanded to conceal and keep secret our Neighbours offences of weakness and imperfection Prov. 10. 12. Matth. 18. 15. And knowing them we must admonish him that we may mend him Gal. 6. 1. Jam. 5. 19. 21. If concealing of his sin and admonition will not move him to forsake his sin then out of love and charity to him we must declare it to those that may remove and amend the same Gen. 37. 2. 1 Cor. 1 11. Matth 18. 16. By Godliness we must seek to get a good name and when we have so gotten it we must likewise by Godliness strive to maintain it Prov. 221. Eccles. 7. 1. Phil. 4. 8. A good name is to be laboured for thus 1. By seeking the Kingdom of God before all things by repenting of sin and earnestly desiring to follow after and to embrace righteousness This is the right way to seek the Kingdom of heaven Prov 10. 7. Mark 14. 9. 2. By having a care to judge and speak well of others Matt. 7. 2. Eccles. 7. 23. 24. 3. By abstaining from all kinde of vice and wickedness for evil men
be spiritual immortal glorious and free from all infirmity 1 Cor. 15. 43 44. 4. They being all thus gathered together before the Tribunal seat of Christ he will forthwith place the elect at his right hand and the reprobate at his left hand Then will he say come ye blessed to the elect and they shall be taken into Heaven and he will say go ye cursed to the reprobate and they shall be cast into Hell Matth. 25. 33. 1 Thes. 4. 17. Rev. 20. 15. The state of the Elect after the last judgement The last judgement being finish'd the elect shall immediatly enjoy an everlasting blessedness in the Kingdom of Heaven Blessedness is that whereby God himself is all in all his elect 1 Cor. 15. 28. This is the reward of the good works of the faithfull their works being accepted of God for the merit of Christs righteousness imputed to them Rom. 6. 23. 2 Tim. 4. 8. Rev. 22. 12. Blessedness doth consist in eternal life and perfect glory Eternal life is that fellowship with God by which himself is life unto the elect through the Lamb Christ Jesus John 14. 23. 1 John 4. 15. Rev. 2â— 3 23. and 22. 2 5. For in the Kingdom of Heaven they shall neither need meat drink sleep air heat cold physick apparel or the light of the Sun Moon or Stars But in the stead of all these they shall have in them Gods holy spirit by which they shall immediatly most gloriously be quickned for ever Revel. 21. 3 23. and 22. 2 5. 1 Cor. 15. 45. Rom. 8. 11. Perfect glory Is that wonderfull excellency of the elect by which they shall be in a far better state than any tongue can utter or any heart can here wish or think This glory consisteth in these things 1. We shall see God face to face we shall ever behold his face which is his glory and his Majesty Rev. 22. 4. Psal. 17. 15. 2. We shall be most like to Christ that is we shall be just holy incorruptible glorious honourable beautifull strong mighty nimble 1 Joh. 3. 2. Phil. 3. 21. 3. We shall ever inherit the Kingdom of Heaven for the new Heavens and the new Earth shall be our inheritance 1 Pet. 1. 4. Matth. 25. 34. Revel. 5. 10. and 2â— 7. The fruits of this blessedness are 1. Eternall joy 2. The perfect service of God Ps. 16. 11 36 8 9. The parts of this service are 1. Praise 2. Thanksgiving Rev. 5. 12 and 19. 5 and 11. 17. The manner of performing this service is this We shall immediately worship God by God himself For in Heaven there is neither Temple Ceremony nor Sacrament For God and the Lamb is the Temple thereof and God himself together with the Lamb shall supply all Rev. 21. 22. And this service shall be dayly for ever and without intermission Rev. 7. 15. A Corolary or the advantage over-plus or last conclusion GOd in thus saving the elect doth clearly set forth his Justice and his mercy His Justice appeareth in that he punisheth the sins of the elect in his Sons own person His mercie appeareth in that he pardoneth their sins for the merits of his Son Ephes. 1. 18 19 20. and 3. 18. 19. These things the Lord hath thus decreed and in his good time he will accomplish them to the glorious praise of his name Pro. 16. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himself yea even the wicked for the day of evil Of the Decree of Reprobation The decree of Reprobation is that part of predestination by which God according to the most free and just purpose of his will hath determined to reject some to eternal destruction and misery and that for the praise of his Justice Rom. 9. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 8. Jude 4. 1 Thes. 5. 9. In the Scriptures Cain and Abel Ishmael and Isaac Esau and Jacob are propounded to us as Types of mankinde partly elected partly rejected The decree of damnation is not here absolutely set down as that we should think that any man is condemned by the meer and alone will of God without any causes inherent in themselves The decree of God is secret it doth arise onely from the good pleasure of God It is unsearchable and adored by the Angels It is not known but by that which followeth it namely by the effects therof Of the execution of the Decree of Reprobation The beginning and the foundation of the execution of this decree of reprobation is the fall of Adam He by his fall made himself and his posterity subject both to sin and damnation Rom. 5. 12 13. Rom. 6. 23. and 11. 32. God so hath decreed to condemn some as that notwithstanding all the fault and desert of condemnation remaineth in themselves for they fall into sin and God hateth them for their sins This hatred which God hath to man cometh by Adams fall And it is neither an antecedent nor a cause of Gods decree but it follows the decree as a consequent Reprobates are some of them called by an uneffectual calling and some of them are not called at all In those that are called by an uneffectual calling Gods decree of reprobation hath three degrees in its execution 1. An acknowledgement of Gods calling 2. A falling away again 3. Condemnation 1. The acknowledgment of Gods calling is when Reprobates do for a time subject themselves to the calling of God which calling is workt by the preaching of the word Matth. 22. 14. There are of the acknowledgement of Gods calling five degrees 1. An enlightning of their mindes whereby they are instructed of the holy Ghost that they may understand and know the word Heb 6. 4. 2 Pet 2. 20. 2. The second degree of the acknowledgement of Gods calling is a certain kinde of penitency by this penitency the reprobate do acknowledge their sins as did the Children of Israel Deut. 1. 41. And are pricked with a feeling of Gods wrath for sin as was Cain Gen. 4. 13. And they are grieved for the punishment of sin as was Ahab 1 Kings 21. 27. And do confess their sin as did Judas Matth. 27. 3. And do acknowledge God to be just in punishing of sin Num. 23 10 And do desire to be saved as Baalam Numb. 23. 10. And do in their misery and afflictions promise repentance saying we will sin no more Psal. 78. 32 33 34 35. 3. Degree of the acknowledgement of Gods calling is 1. A Temporary Faith for a reprobate is content with a general Faith he doth confusedly believe the promises made in Christ but he doth never apply the promises of God to himself Nay he hath no purpose to desire or endeavour to apply the same he hath no wrestling or striving against security carelesness or distrust he believeth that some shall be saved but not particularly that he himself shall be saved Jam. 2. 29. Matt. 13. 20 21. Joh. 2. 23 24. 4. The fourth Degree of
the acknowledgement of Gods calling is A tasting of heavenly gifts as of 1. Justification 2. Of sanctification 3. Of the powers and virtues of the world to come This tasting of heavenly gifts is a sense in their hearts by which they do feel and perceive the excellency of Gods benefits but they do not enjoy the same For they do not feed on these banckets nor are they nourish'd by them but they do onely taste of them Heb. 6. 4 5. 5. The fifth Degree of the acknowledgement of Gods calling is 1. An outward holiness of life for a time under this is comprehended a zeal in the profession of Religion 2. A reverence and fear towards God 3. An amendment of life in many things as it was in Herod Mark 6. 20. and in Simon Magus Acts 3. 13. 2. Degree of the execution of the decree of reprobation in those that are called by an uneffectual calling is A falling away again after calling this cometh to pass after this manner 1. The reprobate is deceived by some sin 2. His heart is hardened by the same sin 3. His heart being hardened becometh wicked and perverse 4. Upon this followeth unbelief so that he will not consent unto Gods word though he heareth it knoweth it 5. There doth immediatly upon this unbelief follow an Apostasie or a falling away from Faith in Christ Heb. 3. 12. 13. 1 Tim. 1. 19. Apostasie is sometimes a sin against the holy Ghost The sin against the holy Ghost is so called because it is done contrary to the illumination of the holy Ghost It is a set and a stubborn obstinate malice done knowingly against God and against Christ and that after illumination or enlightning by the holy Spirit Heb. 10. 29. It is a general or totall defection and Apostasie from God after enlightning by the holy Spirit out of meer stubborness and malice of heart Heb. 10. 29. and 6. 5 6. It is hard to know when a man committeth this sin 1. because the root of it which is malice lurketh secretly in the heart and therefore it cannot be easily discerned This sin is not found in all the reprobates because many of them die before they are enlightned by the holy Spirit of God Those that commit this sin do never repent and therefore can never receive pardon The elect cannot commit this sin therefore those who do feel in themselves a sure Testimony of their election need never dispair After Apostasie followeth pollution which is the very fulness of all iniquity and it is altogether contrary to sanctification Gen. 15 16. He doth not Apostatise nor sin against the holy Ghost that in time of persecution doth either rashly or for fear deny Christ for Peter thus for fear did deny Christ Matth. 29. 73 74 75. He that doth ignorantly persecute the Church as did Paul doth not sin this sin 1 Tim 1 13. And as did the Jews Act. 3. 17. and 2. 37. 3. The third degree of the execution of the dâ—cree of reprobation in those that are called by an uneffectual calling is Damnation by which they are delivered up to eternal punishment The execution of damnation beginneth in death and is finish'd in the last judgement Luke 16. 22 23. The execution of the decree of reprobation in those which are not called is this 1. They have by nature ignorance and vanity of minde Eph. 4. 18. 2. Hardness of heart followeth this by which they do become void of all sorrow for their sins Ephes. 4. 18. 3. There doth follow this hardness of heart a reprobate sense that is an extinguishing of the natural light of reason or of the judgment of good evil And 4. when the heart doth cease to sorrow for sin there doth follow a committing of sin with greediness Eph. 4. 19. 5. Upon this followeth pollution which is the fulness of sin And then 6. a just reward is given to all these viz. fearfull condemnation Eph. 4. 18. Rom. 1. 28. The estate and condition of reprobates when they are dead is this 1. Their bodies being dead lie in the earth 2 Their Souls are tormented in hell Luk. 16. 25 1 Pet. 3 19. 2 Pet. 2. 4. And in the last judgement their bodies and Souls being united shall be cast into the most fearfull and terrible fire of Hell Matth 25. 41. Reprobates when they die do become sensless and astonish'd like unto a stone as did Nabal 1 Sam. 25. 37 38. Or else they are overwhelmed with a terrible horrour of conscience and with a despairing of their salvation as if they were overturn'd and swallowed up as with a gulf of the Sea as Judas Matth. 27. 5. Their condemnation is this At the sound of the last Trumpet they that are alive shall be smitten with horrour and with fear and they shall be changed in a moment and those of them that are dead shall rise again and their bodies shall then be made immortal and cast into eternal torments Matth. 25. 41. Joh. 5. 29. 1 Thes. 4. 16. 17. Christ will pass this sentence of go ye cursed upon them and this being by him pronounced against them immediatly everlasting death shall follow The manner of which is this 1. They shall be separated from the glory and presence of God 2 Thes. 1 9. 2. They shall be punish'd with eternal confusion and with bitter reproaches For all their secret wickedness and sins shall be revealed 2 Thes. 1. 9. Isai. 66. 24. 3. Their fellowship shall be with the Devil and his Angels for ever Matth. 25. 41. 4. Their bodies and Souls shall be tormented with horrour and exceeding great anguish through the sense and feeling of Gods wrath which shall be poured out upon them for ever Isai 66 24. And by reason of their great tortures their punishment is called Hell fire a worm weeping and gnashing of teeth and outer darkness Rev. 21. 8. Matth 13. 42. Isai 66. 24. A Corolary or the advantage over-plus or last Conclusion IN this which hath been spoken concerning reprobation the Justice of God in punishing sin doth appear And from it ariseth Gods glory which is the end of punishment For this cause also every good Christian must in all things propound Gods glory as the end of all his actions Rom. 9. 14 15 16 17. 1 Cor. 10. 31. The Application of Predestination How to discern and judge of our own predestination Rules 1. All the elect in Gods good time are assured and sure of their election in Christ to eternal life Rom. 9. 14 16. John 15. 5 18 19. 1 Cor. 2. 12. 2 Cor. 13. 5. 2. The elect do come to the knowledge of their election by the effects of their election 1. The effects of election are the Testimony of Gods Spirit Rom. 8. 10. 2 The works of sanctification 2 Pet. 1. 5. to the 10. 3. If any doubt of this Testimony it may be known whether it doth come from the Spirit of