the Nations of the earth be blessed though no exclusion be expressed the Apostle is Gal. 3. 16. bold to interpret it as if it had been said In thy seed alone Whom he foreknew them he predestinated this proposition is not Rom. 8. 29 30. expressely exclusive is it not then exclusive in sense When David saith The Lord is my God he excludes not the faithfull from the same preeminence but when the Lord saith to his people I am the Lord thy God he excludes them that be not in Covenant Abraham beleeved God and it was accounted to him for righteousnesse Gen. 15. 6. here is not restriction added but the proposition is exclusive Whosoever beleeveth in Christ shall not perish but have everlasting Joh. 3. 16. life doth not this proposition exclude works from being a cause of Salvation because only is not added Some answer that these passages be exclusive because the Apostle expressely shuts forth works from the act of Justification Rom. 3. 28. whereas they rather teach that faith doth comprehend repentance conversion and new obedience and that works are not excluded from the act of Justification but only works done by the power of nature But leaving that the proposition is for the matter exclusive and that the Apostle shewes from the thing it self proving hereby that Abraham after he had followed the Lord a long time and yeelded obedience to his commandements was justified by faith without the works of the Law The words therefore may be exclusive though only be not added and that they be restrictive is plain by the thing signified for what is it for Christ to lay down his life for his sheep or to purchase his Church by his bloud but to bruise the serpents head to redeeme them from all iniquity and purifie them to be a peculiar people to himselfe â—o save his people from their sins to deliver them from the feare of hell and death and to blesse all Nations of the earth according to the promise made to Abraham This needs no further confirmation then the next answer which they make that the words be exclusive not in respect of the thing it selfe but of the modus which others expresse thus that Christ died for his sheep in respect of the application and event For if it be exclusive in the modus exclusive it is as well though only be not added as if it was And the question is not of the sufficiency of Christs death for all men in respect of the magnitude and excellency of the price nor of the efficiency of his death in some degrees for such as shall not inherit the crown of glory but of the modus whether he died sufficientèr efficientèr quantum in se for all and every man That this Modus is excluded will appeare in that we shall never reade that Christ died for any but for his sheep his Church his brethren his people or them that be considered as such in respect of present profession externall administration and application of his benefits Vnto you is borne this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Luke 2. 11. Luke 1. 68 69 70. Lord. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel because he hath visited and redeemed his people and hath raised up an borne of Salvation in the house of his servant David as he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which have been since the world began That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us Mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of Luke 2. 30 31 32. all people A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his Heb. 2. 17. brethren that he might be a mercifull and faithfull high Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sâ—nnes of the people Thou art worthy to take the booke and to open the seales thereof for Rev. 5. 9. thou wast slaine and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kinred and tongue and people and nation And generally in every place they for whom Christ is said to die are called his elect his sheep his people his brethren not barely called into Covenant but received upon their acceptance thereof The severall passages alleadged to prove the universality of Christs death have been examined already and found to speake directly to this purpose But amongst them that be called into and accept of the Covenant some be elected simply others in comparison some be the sheep and brethren of Christ in truth and sincerity others in profession and externall administration or in some respect only And as we must distinguish of the elect and sheepe of Christ so of his dying for them For he died for all his elect as they apply and be partakers of the benefits of his death he died saving-effectually scil to bring them to grace and glory according to the election of grace for his simply elect and people in truth that is for them upon whom Salvation should be conferred and to whom it should be soundly applied So the Prophet telleth us Christ died that indeed and most certainely Isa 53. 10. he might see his seed and bring many brethren unto God And if Christ died not for his sheepe for this particular end that by his speciall grace and that which is given to none others they Rom. 9. 18. Job 10. 15. might injoy the fruit of his death we must confesse that Christ in this saying doth give no particular comfort to his sheepe and in that whole Chapter which is absurd And though sheepe and beleevers materially be the same formally in this place they be not for when Christ saith to the Pharisees Yee beleeve not for yee are not of my sheepe Joh. 10. 16. If to be a beleever and the sheep of Christ doe signifie the same thing he should say ye beleeve not and that which followeth My sheepe heare my voice and follow me Joh. 10. 27. should be the same as if it had been said the beleevers beleeve So that sheepe and beleevers are reciprocall but formally they are not made sheepe by faith but by election Moreover the acquisition of righteousnesse by the death of Christ and the application thereof are things to be distinguished but so inseperably conjoyned that for whomsoever it is acquired to them it is applied By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many for he shall beare their iniquities Isa 5â— 11. He bare the sinne of many and made intercession for the transgressours Isa 33. 12. By his stripes are we healed Isa 53. 5. Who was delivered for our offences and was raised againe for our justification Rom. 4 25. As by the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousnesse of one the free gift came upon
Covenant how they differ viz. eight wayes p. 32. Christ more darkly revealed in the Covenant of promise and why ib. Covenant of promise when it began and how long it continued 36. The degrees of it ib. the parts of it 43. who contained under it 45. the Covenant of promise whether made in Adam with every infant that should be born into the world p 46. Covenant of grace as manifested to Abraham p. 47. what peculiarly to be observed therein ib. the grand promises of it 53. the temporall promises 54. Covenants personall family-Covenants and nationall p. 52. Covenant with Abraham how confirmed p. 90. All are not in Covenant in one manner p. 91. Covenant of grace under Moses till the return out of the Captivity p. 92. Covenant of works whether made with man fallen 93. Obscurity among Divines in differencing the old Covenant and new 95. Covenant made with Israel particularly explicated and what Moses brought to the further expressure of the Covenant of grace 122. Gods Covenant with David 143. c. In this Covenant Christ more cleerly manifested then before 144. The things promised in this Covenant 146 147. The condition of it 149. The execution of this Covenant 150 151. c. In this Covenant some things promised absolutely some conditionally 152 153. Two things to be considered in this Covenant 154. Covenant made with Israel after the Babylonish Captivity 156. c. The promises of this Covenant 158 159. c. In what sense this Covenant may be called new 161. Wherein this Covenant exceeded the former which God made when he brought them out of Egypt 161 162 163. Of the new Covenant or Testament and how God hath revealed himself therein 194. See New Testament D DOubting what the right course to take with him that doubts whether he should beleeve because of his former transgressions 226 Dead to what purpose invitations made to them that are dead in sins 244 Death inflicted on none but sinners or him that beareth the person of a sinner 276 Debt a two-fold paying of a debt 290 Decree of God to punish sin the reason of it 276 E ELect are in grace with God in respect of Ordination and appointment though after brought into grace by Christ by actuall collation and communication 292 Examination of our selves necessary p. 87. a meanes to attain and preserve uprightnesse 188 Exhortations to all import not a generall purchase of salvation for all 208 209. they are usefull both to them that have received the truth and to them that have not 209. to what purpose exhortations and invitations are to perswade men to believe that have no power 247 Externall blessings more esteemed of under the Covenant of promise and why p. 34 F FAith why not expressely required in the Covenant of nature p. 12. Faith which the righteousnesse of nature presupposeth how it differs from the faith required in the Covenant of grace p. 12. Faith the alone cause on our part required of justification and salvation 18. In what sense it is imputed for righteousnesse 63. Three divers opinions of orthodox Divines about the imputation of Faith 64. 65 66 Faith hath not the place of our righteousnesse but doth answer in our participation of Christ to that which is the ground of our being partakers of Adams sinne 67 68. Though faith be commanded in the law it followeth not that being justified by faith we are justified by the works of the law 114. Faith whether that Christ as be died to impetrate remission of sin for me in particular be the object of justifying faith 227. Faith justifying is not without an apprehension of mercy in Christ to be obtained but implyeth not an apprehension of mercy in the pardon of sin already obtained 227 Faithfull all of the same faith with Abraham 91 Father though the same work be done by Father and Son yet a difference in the manner of working 268 Fathers before Christ and Christians in the time of the Gospell under the same Covenant for substance 26 Fellowes how the faithfull are called Christs fellowes 311 Fellowship with the Saints a signe means of uprightnesse 188 Fulnesse of grace of two sorts 311 G GIving doth not alwayes import an act of grace p. 61 Gospell why meet that the promise should goe before it 32. Grace bestowed more plentifully under the Gospell how to be understood 35. Gospell in what sense called everlasting 37. How faith is said to come by the Gospell seeing it was commanded in the law 113. The law as given to the Jewes not opposite to the Gospell ib. Gospell strictly taken or the new Testament when it took its beginning 197 198. Good that the intellectuall nature is capable of is double 313 Graces how given by the hand of the Apostles how by Christ 320 Guile of our spirits how to finde it out 187. c. how to take up our selves for it 192 H HAnd right hand what it signifieth in Scripture 303 Head how Christ is the head to his body 318 Heart a double heart what 185. signes of a good heart ibid. Heathens some remainders of Gods Image in them and many temporall blessings vouchsafed them whence it coÌ„meth to passe 13 Heaven The fathers that died before Christ had not that perfect state in heaven that now they have we are presently possessed of and in heaven they did expect their redeemer 35 36. The Kingdome of Heaven not expressely mentioned in the old Testament 132 Heavenly things wrapt up under earthly in the old Testament 33 Humane nature of Christ most highly exalted 305. Christ as man hath a prerogative above every creature 214. He is set above all principality and power and dominion and what signified hereby 214. He hath a power above every creature 215. The man Christ is King of heaven and earth 216. yet this power is not infinite simply ibid. Humanity of Christ whether to be adored 321 I IEhovah what it denoteth 123 Jewes why made a nationall Church 92. they had a double vail â—ver their eyes 120. An illustrious type of election in them 33 Incarnation of Christ whether necessary to goe before its effects and benefits 28. Incarnation of Christ the day of his coronation and espousals 294 Impute what it signifieth in Scripture 60 61. Imputation of a good thing three wayes 62. Imputation and reputation how differ ib. Certain corollaries about imputation See Faith 62 Infants holy by Covenant 52 Integrity see Vprightnesse the necessity of it 80 81 82 83. It sets a faire glosse upon the meanest actions 83. The effects and fruits of it 85. Meanes to attain it 86 87 88. How a Christian is to stir up himself to attain Integrity 88 89 c. Impotency of man such that he can neither move to any thing of himselfe that is good nor manage grace when vouchsafed 199. Impossible how that which is impossible may be an object of Gods desire and approbation 245. Innocent whether an Innocent person ought to suffer
to love them saith Moses and he chose their seed after them Deut. 10. 15. When I passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thine owne blood I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood live Ezek. 16. 6. See Ezek. 36. 32. Luk. 1. 54 55 72 78. This Covenant was made in Christ in and through whom we are reconciled unto God for since God and man were separated by sinne no Covenant can passe betwixt them no reconciliation can be expected no pardon obtained but in and through a mediatour Sinnes were never remitted unto any man no man was ever adopted into the place and condition of a sonne by grace and adoption but in him alone who is the same yesterday to day and for ever Jesus Christ true God and true man Act. 4 12. Heb. 13. 8. The fall of our first parents was occasion of this Covenant for Actus nostrae liberationis divinam bonitatem causam habet Sed aliter actus exactio nimirum paenae per modum satisfactionis caâ—sam eam habet quae ad paenam exegendam irritat id autemest peccatum God suffered him to slip that he might manifest the riches of his mercy in mans recovery Mercy freeing man from misery possible might have taken place before transgression and have discovered it selfe in the preventing of sinne and so of misery but it seemed good unto Almighty God to suffer misery to enter upon man through sinne that he might make knowne the infinite riches of his mercy in succouring and lifting him up being fallen and plunged into a state remedilesse and desperate for ought he knew Besides we may conceive that Almighty God upon just grounds disdaining that such a base creature falne by pride should thus upon advantage of the mutability of his reasonable creature ruinate the whole frame of the Creation and trample the glory of his name under foot and withall looking upon the Chaos which sinne had brought and would further make if some speedy remedy was not provided did out of his infinite and boundlesse love to man though in the transgression and just and dreadfull indignation against Sathan give forth this gratious and free Covenant The forme of this Covenant stands in gratious and free promises of all good to be repaired restored augmented and a restipulation of such duties as will stand with free grace and mercy For the Covenant of Grace doth not exclude all conditions but such as will not stand with grace The Covenant which was made of free love when we lay wallowing in our blood and which calls for nothing at our hands but what comes from and shall be rewarded of meere grace is a Covenant of grace though it be conditionall So the pardon of sinne is given of grace and not for workes though pardon be granted only to the penitent and faith on our part a lively unfained and working faith be required to receive the promise The parties covenanting are two and so are the parts of the Covenant the one in respect of God the other in respect of man A Covenant there is betwixt God and man but no mutuall obligation of debt for such mutuall obligation is founded in some equality but there is no equality between the Creator and the creature much lesse betwixt the Lord most high and man a sinner If man had never offended God almighty who gave him his being and perfection could not have been indepted unto him but as he was pleased to recompence the good of obedience in the creature that never deserved punishment much lesse can God be indepted to the creature that hath offended who can neither endure his presence nor beare the weight of his wrath nor satisfie Justice nor deliver his soule from the thraldome of sinne The obligation of man to God is of double right and debt but it is of rich grace and abundant love that God doth bind himselfe unto man God doth promise in this Covenant to be God and Father by right of redemption and Christ to be Saviour of them that beleeve in God by him and in faith do yeild sincere uniforme willing upright and constant obedience unto his Commandements Jer. 31. 31 32 33 Deut. 31. 6. Ezek. 36. 25 26. Gen. 15. 1 4 5. Jer. 32. 40. 33. 9. Heb. 8. 10 11 12. Isa 54. 7. Hos 2. 19. The stipulation required is that we take God to be our God that is that we repent of our iniquities believe the promises of mercy and embrace them with the whole heart and yeeld love feare reverence worship and obedience unto him according to the prescript rule of his word Repentance is called for in this Covenant as it setteth forth the subject capable of Salvation by faith but is it selfe only an acknowledgement of sinne no healing of our wound or cause of our acquittance The feeling of Luke 13. 5. Act. 11. 18. 2 Cor. 7. 10. Ezek. 18. 27â— paine and sicknesse causeth a man to desire and seeke remedy but it is no remedy it selfe Hunger and thirst make a man to desire and seeke for food but a man is not fed by being hungry By repentance we know our selves we feele our sicknesse we hunger and thirst after grace but the hand which we stretch forth to receive it is faith alone without which repentance is nothing but darknesse and despaire Repentance is the condition of faith and the qualification of a person capable of Salvation but faith alone is the cause of Justification and Salvation on our part required It is a penitent and petitioning faith wherby we receive the promises of mercy but we are not justified partly by prayer partly by repentance and partly by faith but by that faith which stirreth up godly sorrow for sinne and enforceth us to pray for pardon and Salvation Faith is a necessary and lively instrument of Justification which is amongst the number of true causes not being a cause without which the thing is not done but a cause wherby it is done The cause without which a thing is not done is only present in the action and doth nothing therein But as the eye is an active instrument for seeing and the care for hearing so is faith also for justifying If it be demanded whose instrument it is It is the instrument of the Soule wrought therin by the Holy Ghost and is the free gift of God In the Covenant of workes workes were required as the cause of life and happinesse but in the Covenant of grace though repentance be necessary and must accompanie faith yet not repentance but faith only is the cause of life The cause not efficient as workes should have been if man had stood in the former Covenant but instrumentall only for it is impossible that Christ the death and blood of Christ and our faith should be together the efficient or procuring causes of Justification or Salvation When the Apostle Rom. 3. â—â— 22 28 30. Gal. 2. 16. 17. Rom. 4. 2 3. writeth that man
is not justified by workes or through workes by the Law or through the Law opposing faith and workes in the matter of Iustification but not in respect of their presence faith I say and works not faith and merits which could never be without doubt he excludes the efficiency and force of the Law and workes in justifying But the particles By and of doe not in the same sense take Iustification from the Law and workes in which they give it to faith For faith only doth behould and receive the promises of life and mercy but the Law and works respect the Commandements not the promises of meere grace When therfore Iustification and life is said to be by faith it is manifestly signified that faith receiving the promise doth receive righteousnesse and life freely promised Obedience to all Deut. 7. 1â— 10. 12. Ier. 7. 23. Lev. 19. 17 18. Luk. 10. 27 Mar. 12 30. Gods Commandements is covenanted not as the cause of life but as the qualification and effect of faith and as the way to life Faith that embraceth life is obedientiall and fruitfull in all good workes but in one sort faith is the cause of obedience and good workes and in another of Iustification and life eternall These it seeketh in the promises of the Covenant those it worketh and produceth as the cause doth the effect Faith was the efficient cause of that pretious oblation in Abell of reverence and preparing Heb. 11 4 7 c. the Arke in Noah of obedience in Abraham but it was the instrument only of their justification For it doth not justifie as it produceth good workes but as it receiveth Christ though it cannot receive Christ unlesse it brings forth good workes A disposition to good workes is necessary to justification being the qualification of an active and lively faith Good works of all sorts are necessary to our continuance in the state of justification and so to our finall absolution if God give opportunity but they are not the cause of but only a precedent qualification or condition to finall forgivenesse and eternall blisse If then when we speake of the conditions of the Covenant of grace by Condition we understand whatsoever is required on our part as precedent concomitant or subsequent to justification repentance faith and obedience are all conditions but if by Condition we understand what is required on our part as the cause of the good promised though only instrumentall faith or beliefe in the promises of free mercy is the only Condition Faith and workes are opposed in the matter of Justification and Salvation in the Covenant not that they cannot stand together in the same subject for they be inseperably united but because they cannot concurre or meete together in one the same Court to the Iustification or Absolution of Man For in the Court of Iustice according to the first Covenant either being just he is acquitted or unjust he is condemned But in the Court of Mercy if thou receive the promise of pardon which is done by a lively faith thou art acquitted and set free and accepted as just and righteous but if thou believe not thou art sent over to the Court of Justice Obedience is two-fold perfect in measure and degree this is so farre required that if it be not performed we must acknowledge our sinne in comming short And this God is pleased to exact at our hands that we might walke in humility before him strive after perfection and freely acknowledge his rich grace and mercy in accepting and rewarding the best service we can tender unto his Highnesse when in the Court of Iustice it deserveth to be rejected 2. Sincere uniforme and constant though imperfect in measure and degree and this is so necessary that without it there is no Salvation to be expected The Covenant of Grace calleth for perfection accepteth sincerity God in mercy pardoning the imperfections of our best performances If perfection was rigidly exacted no flesh could be saved if not at all commanded imperfection should not be sin nor perfection to be laboured after The faith that is lively to imbrace mercy is ever conjoyned with an unfained purpose to walke in all well pleasing and the sincere performance of all holy obedience as opportunity is offered doth ever attend that faith whereby we continually lay hold upon the promises once embraced Actuall good workes of all sorts though not perfect in degree are necessary to the continuance of actuall justification because faith can no longer lay faithfull claime to the promises of life then it doth vertually or actually leade us forward in the way to Heaven For if we say we have fellowship with God and walke in darknesse we lie and doe not the truth But if we walke in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another 1 Joh. 1. 6 7. This walking in the light as he is in the light is that qualification wherby we become immediatly capable of Christs righteousnes or actuall participants of his propitiation which is the sole immediate cause of our justification taken for remission of sinnes or actuall approbation with God The truth of which Doctrine St John likewise ratifies in tearmes equivalent in the words presently following And the blood of 1 Ioh. 1. 7. Christ cleanseth us walking in the light as God is in the light from all sinne But of these things more largely in the severall degrees how this Covenant hath been revealed In this Covenant man doth promise to repent of his sinnes and repenting to cleave unto the promise of mercy made in Iesus Christ and in saith to yeeld willing cheerefull and continuall obedience In contracts amongst men one may aske more and the other bid lesse and yet they may strike agreement But it is altogether bootlesse for men to thinke of entring into Covenant with God if they be noâ— resolved to obey in all things The practise of all Gods people who ever made Covenant with his Highnesse doth expressely speake thus much when they solemnly entred into or renewed their Covenant for thus they promise Whatsoever the Lord saith that will we doe Exod 24. 3 7. The people said unto Joshua The Lord our God will we serve and his voice will we obey Josh 24. 23. And they entred into Covenant to seeke the Lord God of their Fathers with all their he art and with all thâ—eâ—r souâ—e That whosoever would not seâ—ke the Lord God of Israel should be put to death whether small or great whether man or woman 2 Chron. 15. 12 13. And the King stood by the pillar and made a Covenant before the Lord to walke after the Lord and to keepe his Commandements and his Testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soule to performe the words of this Covenant that were written in this booke and all the people stood to the Covenant 2 Chron. 34. 31. 2 Kings 23. 3. They entred into a Curse and into
a restipulation 6. The end viz. the blessednesse of man and the glory of God manifested in his wisdome bounty and goodnesse 7. As Adam in the state of Innocency was made able to fulfill the Covenant made with him so is the Covenant of Grace written in the hearts of them that be heires of the Promise in Christ They differ 1. In the speciall consideration of the Authour cause and foundation of the Covenants God gave his Law to Adam as bountifull and gratious to his creature intire and perfect but in strict justice requiring obedience promising a reward and denouncing punishment But the Covenant of Grace he made as a loving Father in Jesus Christ of his meere Grace promising to receive them into favour that sincerely and unfainedly turne unto him The Creation of man and integrity of humane nature is the Foundation of the former Covenant but the Redemption of man by Christ is the Foundation of the Covenant of Grace 2. In the forme of Sanction In the Covenant of Nature there is no Mediatour but the Covenant of Grace is made in Christ in whom God hath made us accepted The Covenant of Nature was not promised before it was promulgated but the Covenant of Grace was first promised and long after promulgated and established or ratified in the bloud of his Sonne 3. In the speciall matter of the Covenants and that both in respect of the Promise and stipulation For the Covenant of Nature promised life but not righteousnesse but in the Covenant of Grace God promiseth to tread Satan under the feet and to write his Law in the hearts of them that be heires of Salvation That Covenant promiseth life to them that perfectly obey but not remission or forgivenesse of any even the least iniquity But this promiseth forgivenesse of sinnes and life eternall to the penitent sinner believing in Christ and embracing the free promise of mercy In that life eternall is promised as the reward of justice in this life and glory as the reward of free and rich grace and mercy To him that worketh the wages is of debt but to him that beleeves the reward is of Grace In that God as a Creatour doth exact his right of man pure but in this as a loving Father he doth offer himselfe to the sinner smitten with the conscience of his sinne In that life eternall and most blessed is promised but only animal to be enjoyed in Paradise or continuance in that good estate wherein he was set at first of the rich bounty of God but in the other translation out of ignominy and death into eternall happinesse and glory in Heaven In the Covenant of Nature perfect obedience is exacted so that if there be but the least failing in any jot or title and that but once a man can never be justified thereby nor can the breach be made up by any repentance But in the Covenant of Grace obedience is required repentance admitted and sincerity accepted If a man sinne and goe astray if he returne unfainedly he shall be received into favour In the Covenant of Nature obedience and workes were commanded as the cause of life and justification in the Covenant of Grace Faith is required as the instrumentall cause of Remission and Salvation obedience as the qualification of the party justified and the way leading to everlasting blessednesse The object of obedience in the Covenant of Nature was God in the Covenant of Grace God in Christ 4. They differ in the speciall consideration of the Subject The first Covenant was given to man pure perfect intire and sound able to do what God required But the Covenant following was made with man a sinner miserable and by nature the child of wrath And so that was a Covenant of friendship this of firme Reconciliation 5. In the speciall and peculiar respect of the end For the former Covenant was made for the praise of Gods wisdome goodnesse bounty and justice But the Covenant of Grace was made to declare and set forth the riches of Gods grace and mercy In it the wisdome goodnesse power and justice of God is more illustrious then in the former and the mercy long-suffering and rich grace of God is greatly magnified which did not appeare or shine forth at all in the former 6. And in their Effects and Properties For not the Covenant of Nature but of Grace doth exclude boasting By the Covenant of Nature Adam was not advanced above the condition of an honourable Servant In the Covenant of Grace man by nature the child of wrath is made the child of God by grace and adoption The Covenant of nature was neither the last nor everlasting but being first made way for a better and being broken was antiquated or disanulled to our singular comfort but the Covenant of Grace shall continue firme and immoveable for evermore The second thing to be gathered is That the Fathers before Christ ever since the fall of Adam and Christians in the times of the Gospell did live under the same Covenant for substance but not for manner of administration which is most cleare by evident Heb. 13. 8. Rev. 13. 8. Act. 4. 12. and 15. 11. Gal. 3. 29. Rom. 3. 30. Eph. 2. 12. Gen. 15. 1 and 17. 1 7. Lev. 26. 12. Exod. 3. 6. Matth. 22. 32. 2 Cor. 4. 13. Heb. 11. 6 7 8. Rom. 4. 12. Heb. 11. â— 19 23. testimonies of holy Scripture and by the very forme of the Covenant which was one before and after the comming of Christ The same God that calleth us called them to the hope of eternall life they were endued with the same spirit and lived by the same faith Their Sacraments for substance in signification agree with ours and they expected an Inheritance everlasting and undefiled Religion for substance was ever one and unchangeable and such as were truly religious walked in the same way and waited for the same heavenly Inheritance and everlasting crowne of glory The Church before Christ may be considered as an heire or as an Infant according to the substance of the Covenant or according to the manner of administration In the first respect the Church is under the Covenant or Promise and her people are called a free and willing people an heire of heavenly and spirituall blessings In the latter respect she is under the Covenant in respect of the different administration and her people are called a servile people in comparison an heire under Tutors and Governors not differing from a servant CHAP. IIII. Of the Covenant of Promise THe Covenant of Grace is either promised or promulgated Gen. 3. 15. Gen. 12. 1. and 15. 1. and established Promised to the Fathers first to Adam and afterwards to the Patriarchs and lastly to the people of Israel and that before their comming into the Land of Canaan and after Gal. 4. 4 1 Pet. 1. 20. Act. 3. 25. Gal. 3. 16. 1â— Eph. 2. 12. their returne from the Babylonish captivity Promulgated after the
thing whereunto it is imputed In the last phrase imputation commeth in betwixt righteousnesse it selfe as the thing imputed and life as the end whereunto it is imputed This passage whereof we now speake is diversly interpreted by Orthodox Divines but all aiming at the same truth and meeting in the maine being rather severall expressions of the same truth then different interpretations The first is That faith is imputed unto righteousnesse that the obedience of Christ apprehended by faith may be righteousnesse unto the apprehender For faith and beleeving ever implieth the possession of Christ and his obedience in our hearts and the imputation of faith unto righteousnesse is the thing that makes Christ possessed by faith to be our righteousnesse Christs obedience is righteousnesse in it selfe so that it is neither our faith nor Gods imputation of our faith that makes his obedience to be righteousnesse but imputation of faith to us as ours maketh the obedience of Christ possessed by faith being righteousnesse in it selfe to be our righteousnesse For as the making of that whereby we obtaine possession to be ours maketh the thing possessed also to be ours so that imputation of faith which is a gift supernaturall and not within our power maketh Christs obedience to be that unto us which it is in itselfe though it were never imputed unto us And to confirme this exposition that of the Apostle is alleadged With the heart man beleeveth Rom. 10 10. unto righteousnesse and with the mouth he confesseth unto salvation In which sentence the Greeke word which is rendred unto cannot be rendred for without darkning if not perverting the true sence and meaning of that place For we are said to believe with the heart unto righteousnesse in the same sence and meaning wherein we are said to confesse with the mouth unto salvation Neither is there any reason why faith should be said to be imputed unto righteousnesse in any other sence as concerning the word unto then we are said to believe unto righteousnesse but in all reason the Greeke word which we render unto must in both these phrases be taken in one and the same sence that is as we believe with the heart to this end that we might by faith as the only apt and meete instrument and only covenient and effectuall meane to apprehend and possesse attaine to the possession of the righteousnesse of God in Christ even so the Lord our God imputeth faith to us as our own to this end that the righteousnesse which we possesse by it may make us righteous before him or be righteousnesse unto us in his sight The second exposition is that faith is graciously imputed reckoned or esteemed for righteousnesse or in the place or steed of righteousnesse because the righteousnesse of Christ is imputed to none but beleevers For those sinners onely are justified before God who we speake of them that live till they come to yeares of discretion by a sound and saving faith doe lay hold of and rely Quae semper tacentur nunquam affirmantur Quae affirmantur dum reliqua tacentur sola affirmantur upon Jesus Christ as he is set forth of God to be a propitiation Hence it is that the Covenant of Grace in steed of the righteousnesse of the Law required to legall Justification which is wanting in us by reason of our sins exacteth no other thing inherent in us as a cause of Justification or condition in respect whereof we are justified but faith alone And thus in a fit sence it may be said that faith is of grace accounted in steed of legall righteousnesse not that it is the meritorious or materiall cause of our Justification as legall righteousnesse should have been if Justification had been by the Law nor that it is accepted for the perfect righteousnesse of the Law but because it is the sole instrumentall or conditionall cause required on our part to Justification in respect whereof we are acquitted from our sins For in the Covenant of workes perfect obedience is required at our hands to Justification but in the Reputare sive imputare adjustitiam idem est quod in justitiae loco numerare Covenant of Grace nothing but faith on our parts is called for and that not as the forme or matter of Justification but the instrument only whereby we receive remission of sins and are partakers of the merits of Christ The third Exposition is that when faith is imputed for righteousnesse it is not to be understood materially as though the dignity worth and perfection of faith made us just but relatively and in respect of the object that is to us beleeving righteousnesse sc of Christ is freely imputed and by faith we receive righteousnesse and remission of sins freely given of God And therefore to say faith justifieth and faith is imputed for righteousnesse are phrases equivalent For faith justifieth not by it's merit or dignity but as an instrument and correlatively that is the merit of Christ apprehended and received by faith justifieth not faith whereby it is apprehended and received unlesse it be by an improper speech wherein the act of the object by reason of the neare and strict connexion betwixt them is given to the instrument And with this exposition for substance of matter agreeth theirs that make an Hypallage in these words faith is imputed unto or for righteousnesse as if the sence was this righteousnesse is imputed unto faith or the faithfull are partakers of the righteousnesse of Christ The thing questioned in these expositions is whether the words must be taken tropically or properly but the matter and substance of doctrine contained in them is one and the same For herein they all agree that Abraham did beleeve the whole truth of God revealed but his beleefe which was accepted for or unto righteousnesse did respect the promised seed Abraham beleeved the power of God to performe whatsoever he promised he beleeved whatsoever God plainly promised and he beleeved what God promised though farre off as the giving of the Land of Canaan but the principall thing promised was that in his seed all Nations of the earth should be blessed and belief in this promise was accepted for righteousnes All earthly promises made to Abraham proceeded from the meer love and favor of God towards him and many of them were types and figures of spirituall so that in beleeving them he must needs beleeve the promise of blessing in his seed which is Christ Abraham could beleeve no promise but he must beleeve that God is the rewarder of them that diligently seeke him but he cannot beleeve in God as the rewarder of them that seek him unlesse he have an eye to the promised seed The righteousnesse here mentioned is not the singular righteousnesse of this or that act whereby a man is said to doe justly or righteously which is called the righteousnesse of fact but universall righteousnesse or the righteousnesse of Justification whereby a man is freely acquitted
from all his sins and accepted of God as righteous unto life which is called righteousnesse of the person Faith is not imputed for righteousnesse in respect of the worth or dignity of faith either in habit or act but in respect of it's office whereunto it is ordained in the Covenant of Grace as it doth imbrace Christ and thereby we are made partakers of the merits of his free and willing and perfect obedience to the command of Grace Faith is accounted for righteousnesse in regard of the object and is a cause of that Justification which is of grace A cause I say not a bare condition without which the thing cannot be buâ— a cause not meritorious or materiall but instrumentall only receiving Christ promised and offered in the word of grace For Rom. 3 22. Phil. 3. 9. howsoever our righteousnesse be called the righteousnesse of the faith of Jesus or by the faith of Jesus faith it selfe is never called our righteousnesse We reade that Christ is made unto us of God 1 Cor. 1. 30. Rom. 5. 19. Rom. 10. 4. righteousnesse that by one mans obedience many are made righteous that Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth that the believer is justified by him and by faith in him obtaineth remission of sins We find also by conference Aâ— God did predestinate Christ of grace to this honour of being God in fellowship of person and of being the Prince of out salvation So God in the Covenant he did make with him and the commandment he gave him of laying downe his life did strike it and fulfill it of grace not requiring any thing of his Son more then duties of freeobedience which should of grace have acceptance c. Bain Col. 1. 19. of Scriptures that to be justified by faith and to be justified by Christ is in substance all one And what can be the sence of those places but this that Christ is the meritorious and materiall cause so to speake of our Justification faith the condition and instrument whereby we receive Christ made of God our righteousnesse The Apostle making comparison betwixt the first and second Adam sheweth that as sin commeth from Adam alone unto us all as he in whom we have all sinned So from Jesus Christ alone commeth righteousnesse to all that are in him as from him that hath satisfied the justice of God and performed gratefull obedience at the commandment of grace for them all In which comparison faith never hath the place of our righteousnesse but answers in our participation of righteousnesse in Christ to that which is the ground of our being partakers in the sin of Adam For as we were one with Adam and in respect of orignall and nature were in him and one with him and so by being in him and one with him did all in him and with him transgresse the commandment of God even so in respect of faith whereby onely we are united unto Christ and spiritually made one with him and ingrafted into him we all in him did satisfie the justice of God or are made partakers of the fruit and benefit of his satisfaction Thus our union with Christ and meanes thereof is alwaies to be distinguished from our communion with him in the participation of his righteousnesse as the fruit thereof Like as our being in Adam and one with him is to be distinguished from the fruit thereof which is communion with him in the participation of his transgression If faith be only the hand whereby we put on Christ both as a justifier and sanctifier then it is not the garment of righteousnesse wherewith we are cloathed But it is only the hand whereby we put on Christ as a garment Gal. 3. 27. Rom. 13. 13 14. Faith justifieth as it imbraceth the righteousnesse of God But Christ only is the righteousnesse of God allowed and ordained of God to be our righteousnesse In the third to the Romans and elsewhere oft we meet with this phrase We are justified by faith Now in the fifth Chapter of that Epistle vers 17. it is said that we shall raigne in life through Jesus Christ and verse 19. that by his obedience we shall be made righteous What in the first place is called Justification and Salvation by faith that in the other is called making righteous and raigning in life through Christ and him believed on And so we reade that of faith and by faith and through faith we are justified but we never reade for faith we Rom. 3. 30. 5. 1. are justified Act. 3. 16. First Peter saith His name hath made this man sound through faith in his name And then the faith which is by him hath given to him this disposition of body Is it not plain here that â—aith hath healed him is as much as his name or Christ believed on hath healed him the one phrase expounding the other Christ brought in everlasting righteousnesse into the world Dan. 9. 24. But faith was in the world before the comming of Christ in the flesh Heb. 11. 2. And the Spirit of God in Scripture evidently distinguisheth betwixt faith and Christ apprehended by faith saying The Fathers who believed received not the promise that is Christ the matter of the promise and consequently of righteousnesse Faith they had received but the promise they had not received because Christ in whom their blessednesse was promised was not exhibited in their daies For all bâ— it by faith they apprehended Christ â—â—â—cified to come and the righteousnesse which he was to bring unto the world at his comming yet that righteousnesse in the substance and matter of it was never brought into the world So that the very designing of a precise time for the bringing in of our righteousnesse into the world declareth that that righteousnesse materiall is to be distinguished from faith which was in the world in all ages before it was brought in For faith was in the world and did apprehend righteousnesse which was to be brought into the world long before it came as well as now long after that righteousnesse performed it can lay hold upon it to justification For the faith of Gods children before the day of Christ and the faith of Gods children now after the day of Christ did never nor yet doth apprehend any other righteousnesse but that which in that day was brought into the world For it is as easie to faith to apprehend righteousnesse to come as it is to lay hold on righteousnesse past or by-gone like as our faith apprehendeth many things yet to come as our glorification Vorstius and his followers expound this Text in this sence Rom. 3. 28. Gal. 2. 16. Rom. 4. 5. Faith that is repentance conversion and new obedience is accounted for righteousnesse that is in the place or stead of legall righteousnesse or exact obedience though it be not so indeed And so they freely confesse Justification by works which the Apostle saith is
by faith without the works of the Law But that they might not seeme directly to crosse the Apostle they say we are not justified by the works of the Law that is exact and every way perfect whereunto wages is due by debt but by works of grace graciously esteemed for righteousnesse when in the rigour of the Law it is not exact and perfect righteousnesse But first we reade that God hath set forth Christ to be a propitiation Rom. 3. 24 25. by faith in his bloud that by the faith of Jesus we might receive remission of sinnes but we find not that he hath ordained Christ to be a propitation through works that by works we should be saved And if God have not taught any such manner of Justification it is not for us to receive it We reade of two waies of Justification by faith and works but of a third manner by faith and works both as joynt causes or con-causes we find nothing in Scripture Secondly By the doctrine of faith we are bound to acknowledge and confesse that Christ Jesus by his eternall Priest-hood is not only the sole meritorious cause of all grace or righteousnesse inherent requisite to finall absolution but these presupposed in the party to be absolved he is likewise the sole immediate cause of finall absolution or justification Without observation in some measure to all the Commandments of God we cannot enter into the kingdome of heaven but we enter not for the obedience we have performed To what use then doth our inherent righteousnesse or observance of Gods commandements serve us If it hath been sincere and â—â—fained though imperfect yet the faith that brought it forth will make a sincere and faithfull plea for mercy in the day of tryall in which he that hath been an hearer only and no doer of the Law or hath done in part what God would have done but not sincerely nor faithfully shall not be heard Our imperfect obedience then is not the immediate cause of our absolution but the obedience and righteousnesse of Christ By the immediate and next cause we understand such a cause as is necessarily accompanied by the effect and without whose participation the effect never doth nor can be-fall any such a cause as whosoever is partaker of is by participation of it forth-with absolved such a cause as who so can probably hope to be partaker of he may upon the same degrees of probability hope for finall absolution such a cause as who so doubts or feares least he shall never be partaker of in this life must upon the same termes doubt or despaire of his absolution or salvation But if workes be accounted for the exact righteousnesse of the Law unto us not the obedience of Christ received by faith but the works of holinesse in us are the absolute cause of remission of sins and acceptance unto life And what else doe the words sound as they be interpreted but that as exact obedience to the Law should have been the matter or cause of Justification from justice so sincere obedience by the estimation of grace is the matter of Justification by grace They will say I know faith and workes are onely the condition without which remission cannot be obtained but faith is not a bare condition without which the thing cannot be for that is no cause at all but an instrumentall cause and workes if they be any cause of Justification instrumentall they cannot be but the matter whereupon and for which we are justified or accounted righteous Workes doe not embrace Christ but if causes of Justification they must challenge to themselves and therefore how faith and workes should be conjoyned as con-causes in Justification it is impossible to conceive seeing the one that is faith attributes all In eo qâ—od solvimus est aliquâ—â—atio meriti to the free-grace of God the other that is workes challenge to themselves the one will aspire no higher but to be the instrumentall cause of free remission the other can sit no lower but to be the matter of Justification if any cause at all For if works be accounted to us in the roome or place of exact obedience in free Justification doe they not supply the place are they not advanced to the dignity of works compleate and perfect in Justification from justice 3. If faith with workes be accepted for righteousnesse to Justification then faith justifieth not as it imbraceth the promises of mercy and by it we partake in the merits of Christs death and obedience but as it doth give assent to the truth of the Gospell and adhere and sticke to the Commandements for in that sense it is an act or exercise commanded in the Gospell and not only as it doth receive Christ and the promise of forgivenesse But in Scripture every where faith in Christ in the Lord Jesus or the Gal. 3. 13. 1 Pet. 2. 24. bloud of Christ is said to justifie not faith in other promises threatnings or Commandements 4. How can it be proved that in the matter of Justification the Apostle doth oppose faith to workes exactly perfect and compleat only and not to the workes of grace done according to the prescription of the Law as it was given to the Jewes to be a rule how people in Covenant ought to walke To him that worketh Rom. 4. 4 saith he the wages is of debt but he that worketh is not only perfectly just but he that is mercenarie that is to him that worketh for his reward as if the reward should be given him for his worke For thus the Apostle argues When wages is given to an hireling or mercenary it is of debt But Justification or life is not given of debt but of grace Therefore it is not given to him that worketh or to the mercenary Properly God oweth nothing to him that fulfilleth the Law either exactly or sincerely when they doe nothing but their duty and there is no proportion betwixt God and them but because they seeke righteousnesse and life by workes if God should retribute to them a reward he should be thought to doe it as it were of debt The Law was given to be a rule of direction to them that be in Covenant and workes of the Law are workes done according to that prescription which the Apostle here excludes from being any cause of Justification though he that walkes according to this Law being not an hearer but a doer of the Law is blessed in his deed But of this more at large in the next Chapter 5. Consider the opposition which the Apostle makes betwixt his owne righteousnesse which is of the Law and the righteousnesse Phil. 3. 9. which is of God by faith I count all things saith he but as dâ—ng that I might winne Christ and be found in him not having mine owne righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith If then the righteousnesse of
that cleaveth unto their best works being graciously pardoned I have sworne and I will performe it that I will keepe thy righteous Psal 119. 106. judgements Did the Prophet think himself able punctually to fulfill the Law How will that stand with his Prayer Enter not into judgement with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living Psal 143. 2. be justified No but he knew sincere and willing obedience which he promised and would performe should be taken in good part And this is further apparent by the prayers of the faithfull Judge me O Lord for I have walked in mine integrity Remember Psal 26. 1 11. Isai 38. 3. Neh. 1. 5 9. Psal 25. 10. Dan. 9. 4. Jer. 31. 32. how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight It never came into the heart of these Worthies to conceit they had been able to justifie themselves before the barre of Gods justice in any particular action great or small as if it had been without all defect or staine being tried in the rigour of justice nor could their integrity ought availe them if no obedience did find acceptance with God but that which is every way compleat It is said of Josiah that he turned 2 Kin. 23. 25. to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might according to all the Law of Moses that he declined not to the right hand or to the left Of David that he kept the Commandements 2 King 21. 3. of God and his Statutes that he kept the Commandements of 1 Kin. 11. 34. 1 King 14. 8. 1 King 15. 5. God and followed him with all his heart to doe that only which was right in his eyes that he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the dayes of his life save only in the matter of Vriah the Hittite and 1 King 22. 43. of Jehoshaphat that he turned not aside from doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord Of Asa that his heart was perfect before the 2 Chro. 15. 12. Lord all his dayes Of Asa and the people that they sought the Lord with all their heart and all their soule From these passages we cannot prove either that these servants of God did or that it is possible for men in this life to fulfill the Law exactly or that the Law is given with such moderation as that the imperfections which did cleave unto these and the best servants of God were no sinnes because in phrase of Scripture the words will not beare that weight it may be confuted by Text it selfe setting down severall imperfections even in them who are said not to have turned aside from the Commandements and it is directly contrary to divers other passages of holy writ But thence we may soundly gather that the Law as it was given to Israel doth admit and allow of sincere and unpartiall obedience though it be imperfect and answer not to that exactnesse which is required These words Doe this and live must not be interpreted as if they did promise life upon a condition of perfect obedience and for works done in such exactnesse as is required but they must be expounded Evangelically describing the subject capable of life eternall not the cause why life and salvation is conferred and by doing sincere uniforme unpartiall obedience not exact fulfilling of the Law in every title is to be understood Doe this and live what is it more then this If ye will obey my voice and doe my Commandements Psal 112. 1. ye shall be to me a peculiar treasure Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord and delighteth greatly in his Commandements Psal 106. 3. Blessed are they that keep judgement and he that doth righteousnesse at all times Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the Law of Psal 119. 1 2. the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies and that seek him with the whole heart Who so looketh into the perfect law of liberty Jam. 1. 25. and continueth therein he being not a forgetfull hearer but a doer of the worke this man shall be blessed in his deed To them who by patient Rom. 2. 7. continuance in well-doing seeke for glory and honour eternall life which passages are to be understood of sincere and upright walking and shew who are justified and to whom the promises of life pertaine but not why they are justified And in like manner that of the Apostle The doers of the Law are justified may be expounded Rom. 2. 13. Evangelically not of them that fulfill the Law which should be justified by their works but of them that soundly obey who are justified of grace by faith not for their works And hence it appeares what works the Apostle opposeth to faith in the matter of justification not only perfect works done by the strength of nature of which sort there be none at all but works commanded in the Law as it was given to Israel such as Abraham and David walked in after they were effectually called such as without whose presence faith it self could not be existent such as are necessary in the person justified these works are opposed to faith in the matter of justification not that faith can be without them but because they cannot be causes together with faith in Justification And of necessity if faith be opposite to works exactly perfect it must be opposite to them that are imperfect and stained in part that be impurely pure because the Covenant of Grace calleth for perfection though it accept sincerity and in all reason perfect righteousnesse should rather be accepted for righteousnesse unto life than that which is imperfect and falleth short of that which is required For the better administration of this state and nationall Covenant it pleased God to ordaine sutable Ordinances for the teaching and applying of this Covenant scil of Ministery and Priesthood The first of these the Apostle openeth setting down the state of the Gentile and Jew before Christ came compared both together and how both stood in comparison to the Church after Christ in regard of this Ordinance of teaching As the Gentile Gal. 3. 23 24 25. before Christ was a man constrained to live without a shelter the Jew at the same time is better provided for for he had the Law taught to cover his head in a storme that it be not too violent But we after Châ—ist dwell in well-grounded yea seiled roomes that we need not to feare the blowing beating or flowing in of the Sea raine or wind for we have the Ordinances of the Gospell The Gentiles before Christ ran wild like beggarly bruits without all schooling the Jew a great deale better for the time being he had a Schoole-master to teach and nourture him even
Temporaries Math. 13. 21. And then concludes to take away the shew of repugnancy which seemes to be betwixt this and the former places We must hold that Christ in act and very deed is the redeemer of the faithfull as long as they be such although in power yea and in will he be the Saviour of the whole world To let passe other things which pertaine not to this question it is plaine the Apostle speakes of them for whom Christ died in act event or application in which sence they confesse he died not for all men but the faithfull only as such And as these false teachers were called into the Covenant accepted the condition beleeved in Christ for a time rejoyced in him and brought forth some fruite so we confesse they were bought by the blood of Christ because all these were fruits of Christs death whereof they were made partakers As in the Parable the Lord is said to remit to his servant a thousand Talents when he desired him sc inchoately or upon condition which Math. 18. 25. was not confirmed because he did not forgive his fellow servant so the false Prophets are bought by the blood of Christ sc in a sort as they beleeved in Christ but not sincerely and unfainedly We Heb. 6. 5 6 7. reade of some Apostates that they had been enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift and been partakers of the holy Spirit who afterwards did revolt from the faith To these men their sinnes were remitted in a sort in this world and in a sort they were bought by the blood of Christ but inchoately only and as they tasted the word of life Had they eaten the word of life that is had they soundly and truly beleeved in Christ they had received perfect and consummate remission of sinnes both in this world 2 Pet. 2. 22. Vt generalis vox acquirere pro emere Act. 7. 16. cum Gen. 25. 10. sic specialis emere pro acquirere vicissim usurpatur Apo. 3. 18. 2 Sam. 7. 23. Psal 26. 11. and in the world to come they had been perfectly redeemed and reconciled unto God but because they did not eate tasted only they received not perfect remission they were not perfectly redeemed To this taste answereth the Sowe that is washed and returneth againe to the wallowing in the mire washed and so redeemed washed with remission of sinnes and so redeemed from sinne inchoately but because she returneth to the filth of sinne that remission is confirmed neither in the houre of death nor at the day of Judgement The false Prophets were bought as they beleeved Had they beleeved effectually with a soveraigne well-rooted Luk. 21. 28. Rom. 8. 23. Heb. 11. 35. Empti dincuntar hâ—e ut alibi lâ—quitur scriptura Exod. 15. 16. Deut. 32. 6. acqui siti uenepe quod illos Deuâ— in familiam suam adsciâ—erit See Kimedont de Redemp huÌ„ gen cap. 9. pag. 206. affiance they had been bought saving-effectually as they beleeved superficially so they were bought in act and event but not unto Salvation The purchase of redemption goeth before faith is not made by faith but applied only but it is most assured if men beleeve unfainedly they are redeemed effectually if they beleeve not they are not redeemed for them that be cast off as aliens we doe not reade that redemption was purchased This interpretation will not seeme new nor strained to them that shall weigh the circumstances of the Text not to them that urge it when they shall consider it is their owne It agreeth well with the scope of the Apostle which is to shew the fearefull condition of such false teachers because they in life denied the Lord that had called them into Covenant which they had accepted whom they had embraced by faith by whom they were delivered from the pollutions of the world in whom if they had beleeved unfainedly without question they should have been saved and whom wilfully not of frailty they had denied And is not this a good argumeÌ„t to prove that by their wilfull departure they had brought upon themselves swift damnation If they were never the neerer heaven by ought Christ had done the fault was their owne for life was truly promised unto them whereof they deprived themselves not because they could not doe otherwise but because they would not receive it or having received it in part they voluntarily fell off What though God never purposed to make them actuall partakers of the saving benefits of Christs death By his commandement he bound them to beleeve by promise he assured them of Salvation if they did beleeve he bestowed upon them many spirituall gifts the fruits of Christs death and if they fell away God was no cause efficient or deficient of their revolt And doth not all this conclude their sinne to be out of measure sinfull in denying the Lord that bought them The other places Rom. 14. and 1 Cor. 8. receive the same answer for they speake of weake bretheren for whom Christ died who were beleevers or as beleevers for whom Christ died in respect of application And then this argument doth not hang handsomly together Christ died for beleevers in respect of application therefore he died for all men to impetrate righteousnesse If they reason thus he died for some in respect of application that may perish therefore he died for all men in respect of impetration it hangs but loosely for they themselves will say Christ died for the faithfull only in respect of application and not for all men whatsoever we are to thinke of the condition of the faithfull whether they shall stand or may perish Amongst themselves some that maintaine generall redemption by the death of Christ doe yet hold that no lively member of Jesus Christ can perish or fall away And I can hardly see how their positions will hang together if they doe not grant that though some believers may fall and perish yet others cannot But as concerning the weake bretheren such as be true believers it is possible they should be grievously shaken by offences and temptations yea destroyed as farre as lies in the authours of scandall and temptation and their own frailty but in respect of the decree and unchangeable love of God and the intercession of Jesus Christ they shall not utterly perish but if they be tempted they shall be supported or if they fall God will raise them up againe The Apostles exhortation then is forcible that they should not offend their weake brother for this was as much as lies in them to destroy him for whom Christ died Perditio est â—orbi ac vulâ—u neris non mortis Vorst in Rom. 14. 15. Thus Vorstius paraphraseth the text offend not him with thy meat I pray thee and as much as in thee is destroy him for whom Christ died And in his loc com upon that Chapter although the elect cannot perish the unchangeable decree of God withstanding yet it is not said in vaine
them the people of God sonnes or children of God the sonnes of the living God a peculiar people reconciled unto God justified unto life the daughters of Zion and of Jerusalem who have the Jerusalem that is above for their spirituall mother the seed of Abraham who is the Father of us all And as Jerusalem which is above is the mother of us all so is Christ said to die for us all and God to have mercy upon all Rom. 8. 32. He that spared not his own Sonne but delivered him up for us all Rom. 11. 32. God hath concluded them all in unbeliefe that he might have mercy upon all Rom. 5. 18. By the righteousnesse of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life that is of all them which pertaine to the posterity of Christ by spirituall regeneration It may well be that all to whom Paul wrote that Epistle did not unfainedly believe but as they professed the Doctrine of Salvation and in some measure walked according to the policie of the new Jerusalem and as they enjoyed the Ordinances of grace whereby Christ was applied so the Apostle speakes of them as Saints and beloved and faithfull And in the same sense in other places they are reckoned amongst the faithfull beloved and elect who believe for a time and professe the doctrine of Salvation and partaÌ„ke the seales of the Covenant though afterwards they fall away and as they are called beleevers converts disciples members of Christ temples and sonnes of God as they are said to be justified sanctified and redeemed so is Christ to have died for them as he is applyed in the Ordinances of grace and they partake of the benefits of his death But as for them that be not in Covenant we shall never reade that their sinnes are pardoned Act. 10. 43. Joh. 5. 24. Joh. 15. 2. Act. 15. 9. Rom. 5. 1. Rom. 9. 25 26. Col. 1. 21. Joh. 3. 36. 2 Cor. 6. 15 16 17. that they are delivered from death purged from their sinnes reconciled unto God received into favour nay the contrary is plainly affirmed of them that they are not the people of God that they have no communion with Christ that they are enemies in their minds by wicked works alienated from God that the wrath of God abideth on them that they are without God in the world which is never said of them for whom Christ died The Scripture speaketh expressely that Christ died for his Church his sheep his children his people the people or children of God those that are given unto him of the Father his brethren As the Father knoweth me even so know I the Father and I lay downe my life for my sheep Joh. 10. 15. Take heed unto your selves and to all the flocke to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own bloud Act. 20. 28. Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body Eph. 5. 23. Christ loved the Church and gave himselfe for it ver 25. He shall save his people from their sinnes Matth. 1. 21. Who gave himselfe for us that he might redeeme us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people Tit. 2. 14. As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternall life to as many as thou hast given him Joh. 17. 2. He prophesied that Jesus should die for that Nation and not for that Nation only but also that he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad Joh. 11. 51 52. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren saying I will declare thy Name to my brethren Heb. 2. 11 12. The Church and people of God in themselves considered were sinners ungodly enemies alienated from God and Christ died for them not that he found them friends or brethren or children but that Rom. 5. 6 10. he might make them such as by the participation of the benefits of his death they are made such indeed The faithfull are the seed or children of Christ which he hath brought forth with pain and travell Isai 53. 10 11. The inheritance of Christ which he hath purchased by his death given unto him of the Father that they might be redeemed from death and possessed of him for their Salvation Psal 2. 8. as the Psalmist elsewhere expounds it All the ends of the world shall remember and turne unto the Lord and all Psal 22. 27. Psal 72. 11. and 86. 9. the kinreds of the Nations shall worship before thee And if Christ died thus for his people seed inheritance sheep and Church he died not equally for all and every man for then in his death he considered none to be made his sheep or brethren before others nor did he purchase grace that one should be made the child of God rather then another For though grace be distributed in different degrees yet that being so common to them that beleeve and them that beleeve not that sometimes the greater measure is given to them that reject and cast it off it cannot be the cause why one man differs from another Many things are answered to this argument As first that it is Synodal circ Art 2. paâ— 3 17. Vorst amica collat cum Piscat sâ—ct 26. Gal. 2. 20. not said Christ died for his sheep or brethren only and that his dying for them doth not exclude others as Paul saith Christ died for him applying the death of Christ to himself but not excluding others But the instance is not like for these words for me are not disjunctive to distinguish Paul from the rest of the faithfull but from unbeleevers or them that were not in the same state or kind This is a priviledge common to Paul with all beleevers that Christ died for him in respect of them then it is not disjunctive but in respect of them who be not partners in that prerogative it is disjunctive Therefore the example doth rather prove the speech to be restrictive then otherwise for as these words of Paul Who loved me and gave himself for me distinguish Paul from the company of unbeleevers and so are exclusive in like manner are these words of our Saviour I lay down my life for my sheep restrictive and exclusive In those Texts there is no exclusive particle expressed but the proposition for sense is restrictive For when difference or distinction is contained in some terme the Proposition is for sense exclusive no lesse then if it was expressely noted Thou shalt feare the Lord thy God him shalt thou Deut. 10. 20. serve and to him shalt thou cleave here is no restriction or exclusion expressed but in sense it is exclusive Call upon me in the time of Psal 50. 15. trouble and I will heare thee only is not added and yet for the sense the words are exclusive In thy seed shall all
profitable and pleasant answerable in some sort to the nature excellency and use of the thing known And in this case the heart is not over-ruled contrary to the full spirituall and infallible evidence of divine truth seriously thought upon unto a practicall judgement This is the learning of Christ the teaching of the Father the knowing of things which passe knowledge Christ is not known if he be not acknowledged as he is propounded what perfect Si ignorare accipitur pro non attendere dici potest voluntatem humanam vix unquam peccare sine aliqua ignoratione quia quando voâ—untas peccat intellectus ut plurimum aliud agit nec attendit ad regimen voluntatis knowledge doth perfectly that imperfect knowledge doth imperfectly As the end acknowledged cannot be refused by like right neither can the meanes acknowledged the meanes I say necessary only necessary and without which there is no possibility or likelihood to obtaine the end For will is a reasonable appetite and therefore doth not stirre from such a good as is fully and spiritually represented unto it with evidence certainty profit and delight as the most universall adequate and unquestionable object of the desires and capacities of an humane soule and that both simply and in comparison for the freedome and willing consent of the heart is not lawlesse or without rules to moderate it but it is therefore said to be free because whether out of a true judgement it move one way or out of a false another yet in both it moveth naturally in a manner sutable to its owne condition If it be objected the heart being unregenerate is utterly averse unto any good The answer is that it is true the will must not only be moved but renewed and changed before it can yeeld to Christ But withall God doth never so fully and spiritually convince the judgement in that manner without a speciall work of grace upon the soule whereby the will is framed and fashioned to accept embrace and love those good things of which the minde is thus prepossessed The third help is a formall cause a free gracious disposition or Scimus non impetrari remissionem ante prece â—ed dicâ— decretam esse ante preces eam peti precibus quamvis sit decreta P. Malin de eâ—ect ex fide pag. 316. habite of faith by which the will is inclined agreeable to the disposition of it to come unto God This habite is necessary because without it the will being in bondage stained and defiled it is altogether unable to will or desire that which is spiritually good If there could be a will without such habite man might performe the act of a man spiritually alive before he was made alive So that the full answer to this question viz. what is that effectuall help whereby I come to God is this It is a mixt thing standing partly of that almighty power of his put forth for my good partly of that inward Word and inspiration by and with which his power is put forth partly in that spirit of faith and supernaturall life which his almighty power through his Word bringeth forth in my soule What was that help whereby Christ made Lazarus able to come to him out of the grave of naturall death The principall was Christs power the instrumentall his voyce the formall cause immediately helping to it or working it was the spirit of naturall life which the power of Christ by his Word restored to this dead corps which now was fallen And thus we have the effectuall help or grace by which we come actually to convert which are all given from Gods free grace and favour towards us And when God doth infuse the habite of faith into the minde of one of ripe age he doth cause him actually to beleeve as the nature of the thing it selfe and condition doth manifest For if the Spirit by inlightening the minde and renewing the heart doe perswade and move the soule effectually to embrace adhere unto and love the Lord Jesus Christ then the condition of the thing will not beare that grace should be given effectually but the act and motion of the soule must necessarily follow But though the connection of these two be indivisible yet the flexion or turning it selfe is not indivisible or in a point or moment but it may be sooner or slower more speedy in one more remisse in another The will is necessarily bowed or bended but more vehemently in one more slackly in another freely or willingly in all that are turned and yet necessarily And this first thing is well to be noted for from hence we may gather in what standeth the efficacy of grace effectuall to Conversion viz. In Gods effectuall power put forth to execute his intention which he hath of converting some actually before other some It Quaestio non est de irresistibilitate sed de insuperabilitate finali Nam quomodo traberemur gratia irresistibili cum id ipsum quod nolumus Deo resistere â—it ipsa Deigratia Illud ipsum velle resistere nihil aliâ—d est quam resistere doth not stand in any congruity or temperature of grace correspondent to our nature For this doth argue there is inward an incorrupted connaturall disposition to receive grace This maketh the effect of Conversion as much if not more to depend on the active capacity of the will as on the grace of God For it maketh the grace of God worke it morally and externally by perswasion only and the will of man from a power within it selfe which doth more inwardly enter the effect of Conversion then the other It may be questioned in what order doth the Spirit make us come unto God whether immediately or by some preparation going before wherein it is further to be considered what that preparation is or wherein it consisteth To the first branch of the Question it is truly answered that God doth use so to worke our comming to him by beliefe that he doth first for the most part prepare us thereunto As before we engraffe a Sciens we cut it and set it for incision and if a Timberlogg lie sunke in mudd men set to their tacklings first to draw it out of the mire before they lay it on a Cart to carry it away Thus God doth by his power often worke some preparative change in a sinner before he doth by his power and word worke the spirit of faith in them and make them come unto him So God by afflictions is said to boare the eare and prepare to conversion 2 Chron. 33. 11 12. Act 2. 37. When Manasseh was humbled in great misery he sought the Lord. Thus by conviction of sin others were pricked in heart and said What shall we doe to be saved and then speedily they received the Gospel beleeving Sometimes by extraordinary terrours rising from externall accidents yea hidden naturall causes God is pleased to bring men nearer unto him Thus the Jaylor Act. 16.
common cause doth not distinguish but if grace be common to them that believe and them that believe not it is only the common cause of conversion and doth not separate the believer from the unbeliever Men are said to sanctifie purge and free themselves as the instruments of God and free agents subordinate to grace predetermining but the Scripture never saith that man is the cause separating himselfe from the number of reprobates externally called in like manner with himselfe Conversion as it is an act supernaturall in us should be the effect of divine vocation but the cause of comparative vocation should be the meere will or pleasure of the creature Grace and liberty cannot be mixed together in the partiality of the cause because liberty as the Patrons of that opinion hold is a free indifferent elective cause but grace a cause determinate to produce one effect The use of grace is the application of actuall grace to act But if the efficacie of grace depend upon the liberty of mans will neither grace preventing nor co-operating doth apply grace to it worke not preventing grace because no meere power as such doth actuate it self nor co-operating because in order of causality it goeth not before the efficiency of the will If God give to believe and not only power Phil. 1. 19. to believe to believe and not only to believe when we will to believe then by grace he determineth the will to believe suffer will and the efficacie of grace is reduced unto God willing and determining And if he worke in us both to will and to doe Phil. 2. 13. Mat. 11. 27. not according to the liberty of our will but his own good pleasure if to will and doe inclinably rightly and well and not so as we may resist then he determineth the will to will and doe by his grace To what end doe the promises and threatnings tend may some man say if God doe worke all things by his effectuall power in them that believe To what end but that men might be saved But God doth that which pertaineth to a King and Law-giver towards many when that which pertaineth to the secret and unutterable dispensation of his grace he doth not doe that is he invites many in the Ministery of his Word and externall administration of the Covenant whom he doth not inwardly instruct and draw taking away the blindnesse and hardnesse of the heart But then the invitation is a giftlesse gift Not so neither but rather he is a most unthankfull servant of a perverse minde that he Deus sic movet hominem ad bona opera ut homo cognoscat vetit Deo monenti moventi ultrò morem gerat Nec tantum Deus agit cum voluntatibus nostris sed etiam per voluntates Isa 53. 10. Isa 45. â— 12. Psal 8. 8. Ps 72. 8 â— 10 Ps 100. 1 2 3. Jer. 23. 5 6. cannot obey For this inability is no cause of disobedience proceedeth from no fault of the faculties subject to the minde and will from no naturall quality of the matter necessitating but the meer wilfulnesse and perversenesse of the soul The invitation of God is not so hard that man cannot fulfill it if he would nor wicked that we cannot will to doe it without sinne but lawfull just honest and such as if man would he could not but execute so farre as he truly judgeth it ought to be willed and executed If the efficacie of grace depend upon the liberty of mans will to things opposite then the promises of God the Father made to his Sonne might all be frustrate That he should see his seed that the people should come unto him from the North and the West and from the Isles that he should possesse the Gentiles as his inheritance that his dominion should be from Sea to Sea that a willing people should come unto him c. But the Covenant of God with his Sonne cannot be made void and of none effect If some may object conversion be so the Determinatio Dei est externa aequivâ—ca noâ— vitalis principalis Humana verò interna univoca vitalis subordiâ—ata Deus ita utitur voluntate ut ipsa voluntas sese electivè vitaliter ex practico rationis judicio agat Deus prâ—mò principaliter ab aeterno actum liberum ut futurum liberè ponendum determinat sed non ad alium sed ad â—undem numero actum ad quem voluntas in tempore determinavit â—ese Causa actus liberi est potentia determinata non simpliciter potentia Deus sic movet res necessarias ut non fiant contingentes sic movet res coâ—tingentes ut voluntarias ut non adimit eis contingentiam voluntatem Quando superior causa est physica a legesoluta inferier moraâ—is legi subdita esto quod superior physica influit in inseriorem tamen si inâ—erior est libera rea esse potest inâ—erior non superior Virg. Aeneid 8. fatiâ— egere volentem worke of God then man doth not repent and believe but God But this followeth not for repentance is the gift of God but the act of man God is the cause of willing efficient but not formall the cause externall and effective but not vitally efficient The determination of God externall and vitall volition differ as cause and effect for he worketh in us to will but volition doth not worke to will the determination of God as efficient is externall and respecteth the will in the first act of its influx but vitall determination is internall and respecteth good to be chosen or to be desired In man not converted two things are to be considered native contumacy and the not curing of that native contumacy The native contumacy is of themselves as darknes from the earth the not curing of this coÌ„tumacy is of God as a cause physicall because he can cure it but doth not but not as a Morall cause because he is not bound to heale or cure it The effect of God not curing this native contumacy is only a negative non-conversion physicall or not culpable as a morall effect The absence of the sunne is the cause why the darknesse of the night is not removed but the darkenesse it selfe is not from the sunne Fault is a morall defect and cannot arise but from a morall cause and deficient Culpable non-conversion is a consequent of Gods not curing our native contumacy but no effect thereof as of a morall cause because God is not bound to remove it either by Law debt justice promise or Covenant and betwixt the resistance of the Spirit and Gods not-conversion the free willing of the corrupt will and voluntary love of native contumacy doth intercede Not only ability to believe but beliefe it selfe is merited by the death of Christ and for Christ vouchsafed to them who are called according to his purpose In this vocation of a sinner God doth so administer both
for a nocent the question largely handled 284 285 c. It is not universally against equity for one to suffer the punishment of anothers sinne ib. That an innocent person may justly suffer for a nocent what is required 286. Intercession of Christ whether well distinguished into general and speciall 258. Intercession of Christ what it is 296. It is generall and particular heavenly and glorious 297. It is founded upon his satisfactory merits ibid. It implyeth three things 298. It is not reciprocall ibid. The benefits of it to the Church ibid. and 299. How the faithfull come to be subject to evil and misery Christ interceding for them ibid. Whether Christ prayeth for the absolute perseverance of beleevers or only upon condition 301. Invitations of God mans perversenesse only the cause why he answereth them not 343. Israel why called Iesurun 180. Judgement whether the will follow it 333 334. 335. the act of Judgement two-fold ibid. Justice of God cleered in requiring that of man fallen which he hath no power to doe 44. Justification cannot be by faith and workes as concauses â—o Justification is by faith alone not by that faith which is alone 73. K KIngs why specially to be prayed for 231. Kingdome of Christ he entreth alwayes on it by conquest 323. yet useth no compulsion 324. men are gathered into this Kingdome by vocation ibid. Knowledge of God begets in us a similitude of God 86. Christ saveth not as cleerely known but as sincerely acknowledged 33. L LAW called fiery why 101. and 124 The Law as given upon mount Sinai was a Covenant of grace proved at large 102 103 110. The Law never given without the Gospell nor the Gospell without the Law 102. The Law requireth faith as well as love and obedience 105. 106. c. The Law to be expounded according to the sense the prophets give of it 110. In the Law frequent mention of the Messiah 111. Faith in Christ commanded in the Law though more obscurely 113. Law and Gospell in what respects opposed 115 116 117 118 119 120 c. Law a double use of it 120. How it is said that the Law entred that sinne might abound 139. Whether the Law be abolished to them that are under the Covenant of grace p. 15. Learning of Christ what 334. Limbus patrum no such thing p. 30. yet the fathers before Christ had not that perfect state which now they have and we are presently possessed of p 35. Love of God toward the creature a double distinction of it 4. M MAny sometimes put for all 250. Mediatour the necessity of one 264. What an one the Mediatour must be ib. Why the second person was Mediatour rather then the first or third 266. According to which nature Christ was Mediatour ib. A Mediatour what 270. Whether Christ a Mediatour to himselfe ib. whether if Christ be a Mediatour according to his divine nature all the three persons be not Mediatours 271. Mediation of Christ three things to be considered in the acts of it p 28. How Christ hath performed the office of mediatioÌ„ 271. Meanes not vouchsafed to all and therefore neither the rest of the effects of Christs death 233. Measure what to doe a thing in Measure 310. Ministery of the Jewes and the end of it 138. Misery in man the occasion but no cause of Gods mercy towards him Messiah the times of the Messiah times of greater light 331. Moon a fit resemblance of the Church 147. Moses whether the Covenant of grace were manifested by him 93. The shining of his face what it signifyed 94. How and in what sense he was a mediatour 127 128 165. N NAtural gifts whether they may be so used that God will bestow supernaturall 237. Negations in Scripture imply not alwayes an absolute denyall p. 5 New what it signifieth in Scripture 194. A new song what ib. A new commandment what 195. New man what ib. New Testament abolisheth not the former but the former was fulfilled by the latter 29. Covenant of grace in what respect called a new Covenant or TestameÌ„t 195. Why it is called a Covenant and why a Testament 196. New Covenant when properly it began 196. New Testament published on a solemn day in the Assembly almost of all nations 197. New Testament the nature of it stands in three things 198. A description of it ib. The authority of it reason why God made it 199. New Covenant preferred much before the old though both of the same nature and from the same fountain 200. The promises in it assured by Father Son and holy Ghost 201. was stricken with all nations in opposition to the Jewes ib. made with some externally others internally 202 203. The prerogative of the new Covenant above the old 293 294 c. O OAth when the Saints bound themselves by oath to walk in all the statutes of the law what they meant 135. why God confirmed his promise to Abraham by oath 58 Obedience under what notion required in the Covenant 19. It is two-fold perfect and sincere 20. Obedience perfect is commanded though not rigidly exacted and why 21. It is in vain to think of entring into Covenant if not resolved to obey in all things ib. Obscurity in the knowledge of Christ under the Covenant of promise and the degrees of it and reasons p. 32 Old Testament what 92. difference betwixt the old Testament and new Old Testament abolished by the death of Christ in right not in act 196 P PAsseover when and to what purpose instituted 142 Peculiar people who 103 The Pedagogy of the Jewes illustrated largely by comparison of a Schoolmasters dealing with his Scholars 138 139 140. Perfection what it imports in Scripture phrase 75. A thing is said to be perfect three wayes 76 77 78 79. Prayers not to be made for all men 231. Christs praying for those that crucified him was of private duty not out of his office of Mediatour 259. some prayers suppose a condition in him for whom we pray some none 301 Personall union the end of it 269 To prepare the heart to seek God what 179 Preparations whether the spirit makes us come to God immediately or by some preparations going before 336. Nine conclusions concerning such preparations 337. c. This preparation is neither saving grace nor a thing betwixt nature and grace 339 Priesthood the end and use of it 138 141 R REading God may work by it when that preaching is not slighted 327 Reconciliation imports no change in God 293 Redemption universall redemption the controversie concerning it largely discussed 204. thorow the chapter and objections answered The deliverance we obtain by Christ is called Redemption and was made by the paying of a price 279 Religion for substance ever one and unchangeable 27 Remission of sin though certain yet lesse felt in the old Testament 35. Remission what 290. It is not repugnant to antecedent satisfaction ibid. Repentance how called for in the Covenant of grace 18. Necessary and