Luke 5.20 Matth. 9.6 And this he did to manifest his power Marke 2.10 That they might know the Son of man had power on earth to forgive sinnes Where the Lord Jesus manifested his divine power in healing corporally the sicknesse of the body and curing spiritually the infirmities of the soule He caused the filthy Garments to be taken away from the holy Priest and he said Behold I have caused thine iniquities to passe from thee and I will clothe thee with change of raiment Zach. 3.4 he tooke away his sin and clothed him with his righteousnesse And surely this is an unquestionable truth in the Apostles judgement and therefore he saith Col. 3.13 As Christ forgave you so also do ye This healing of the soul is a worke of Christ Joh 12.40 Luke 4.18 He as God healeth by the power of his Deity but as man by the merit of his passion Esa 53.5 his blood being a Soveraigne balme to cure our sin-wounded soule yea Esa 43.25 I even I am he that blot out thy transgressions for mine owne sake He it is that forgiveth who was made to serve with our sinnes which was Christ who took on him the formâ— of a servant Philippians 2.6 Secondly he who forgiveth forgiveth sins for his owne sake but our sinnes are forgiven in â—hrist it is his blood wâ—sheth them away 1 John 1.7 Rev. 1.5 Heb. 9.14 Acts 20.28 Eph. 5.2 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost forgâ—veth sins Heb. 10.15.17 The Holy Ghost that made a Covenant with Israel as I have shewed promiseth them to forgive their sins The Holy-Ghost also commanded legall sacrifices Heb. 9.8 whereby attonement was made for sinne yea because the Holy-Ghost doth apply and distribute remission of sins whiâ—h is obtained by the blood of Christ Therefore when as our Saviour entrusteth his Disciples with the keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven ministerially to binde or loose he first saith Receive the Holy-Ghost John 20.22 manifesting thereby that it was the Holy-Ghost who did remit sins by them It is the Spirit who promiseth to give to them that overcome a white stone Rev. 2.17 The Holy-Ghost alludeth to the custome of the Gentiles to whom he wrote which used these stones in judicature If the Judge gave a white stone it was a token of absolution but if it were a black stone it was a signe of condemnation The Spirit promiseth to give absolution or pardon of sin or freedome from condemnation to them that overcome Moreover healing of the soule is a worke of the Holy-Ghost so Paul manifesteth Acts 28.25 27. And I should heale them saith the Holy-Ghost there The Father the Son and Holy Ghost are equall in Power Majesty and Glory and do co-worke in forgiving of sins and healing of the soule of the believer CHAP. VII 2. The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost do co-worke in imputing of Christs Righteousnesse ANd as not imputing our sinnes is a worke of God 2 Cor. 5.19 so the imputation of Christs righteousnesse to the believer is his worke likewise Though we have not a righteousnesse of our owne yet the Lord giveth us a righteousnesse of his own Rom. 10.3 which is answerable to his justice and what man or Angell is able to resist it He justifieth who shall condemn Rom. 8.33 It is one God that justifieth the circumcised Jew by faith and the uncircumcised Gentile through faith Rom. 3.30 Yet this one God is distinguished into three persons who do co-operate in this great work of justifying man through faith by the imputative righteousnesse of Christ which word imputed though divided by Papists yet is eight times used by the Apostle in one chapter Rom. 4.6 8 10 11 22 23 24. First The Father justifieth us not onely by pardoning of sin but by imputing of Christs righteousnesse which the Apostle calleth the righteousnesse of God Rom. 10 3. And that first because it is it which God imputeth for righteousnesse to us secondly because it is that which God accounteth for righteousnesse in us thirdly because it is that righteousnesse which Jâ—sus Christ who is God over all blâ—ssed for ever Rom. 9.5 hath wrought for us Thus the Father who raised Christ from the dead Gal. 1.1 1 Thes 1.10 imputeth this righteousnesse to us Rom. 4.24 Secondly the Sonne justifieth us By his knowledge saith Esay shall he justifie many Esa 53.11 He it is that maketh a reconciliation for sinne and bringeth in everlasting righteousnesse Dan. 9.24 But more cleerly doth the Apostle shew this truth 1 Cor. 6.11 Ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus This righteousnesse of ours by faith Peter calleth the righteousnesse of God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1.1 Not as if the Apostle spake of two distinct persons there being but one Article in the Originall and therefore there cannot be two distinct persons described thereby Yea our Lord Jesus promiseth to them that overcome to clothe them in white raiment Rev. 3.5 Thirdly The Holy Ghost justifieth us Ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.11 Thus the Father the Son and the Holy-Ghost who are one God are also one and the same efficient cause of our justification both in forgiving of sinnes and in imputing the righteousnesse of Christ through faith which is the instrument of our justification and is also the worke of God John 6.29 CHAP. VIII Faith is the worke of the Father the Son and the Holy-Ghost FAith is the instrument by which we are justified that is the hand by which we lay hold on the Lord Jesus and his righteousnesse and apply it also to our soules Yet faith is a Gift of God Eph. 2.8 It is his worke to purifie our hearts by faith Acts 15.9 Yea it is a worke of God wherein he exercised the same exceeding greatnesse of â—is power in effecting it that he used in raising Christ from the dead Eph. 1.19 20. It being as great a worke to worke faith in the heart of an unbeleever who is spiritually dead as it was to raise Christ from the grave when as he was corporally dead This being also an essentiall worke of God common to the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost undividably to effect First the Father worketh faith in us the Apostle prayeth to him for it Eph. 6.23 Secondly the Sonne worketh faith in us the Apostle prayeth to him for it Eph. 6.23 and the Disciples of him the increase thereof Luke 17.5 And so likewise doth the father of the Lunatick Mark 9.24 By him do we believe in God 1 Pet. 1.21 Thirdly The Holy-Ghost worketh faith in us Cor. 12.9 It is a fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 And we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousnesse by faith Gal. 5.5 Thus the mighty worke of faith is wrought in us by God who is distinguished into Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost which do unseparably undividably and unconfusedly worke this grace in our hearts in their personall order making us to believe and
the Nations shall call him blessed Psal 72.17 so Paul Tit. 2.13 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is blessed Blessed be the glorie of the Lord from his place or as the Originall will beare it the blessed glorie of the Lord c. Ezek. 3.12 I know that some referre this place to Christ as spoken more peculiar of him others to Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost but I rather think that acclamation to be given especially to the Holy-Ghost the Spirit of glorie 1 Pet. 4.14 whose Divine work on the Prophet is twice mentioned almost in the same words both immediately before and immediately after this acclamation Ezek. 3.12 13 14. Then the Spirit tooke me up and I heard behind me a voyce of a great rushing saying Blessed be the glorie of the Lord from his place I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another and the noise of the wheeles over-against them and a noise of a great rushing so the Spirit lifted me up Thus Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost are one and the same blessed Lord God though the Sonne hath his personalitie from the Father that begetteth him Heb. 1.5 and the Holy-Ghost hath his from the Father and the Sonne from whom he proceedeth Joh. 14.26 Joh. 15.26 yet the Sonne and Holy-Ghost are God of themselves and have their blessednesse as being of one essence substance and nature with the Father of themselves even as the Father hath who are mutually in each other Prov. 8.30 the Father in the Sonne and the Sonne in the Father Joh. 14.11 Joh. 10.38 and the Father and the Sonne are in the Spirit Zach. 7.12 and the Spirit in them 1 Cor. 2.11 even as the Spirit of of man is in man being most absolutely happy in action and contemplation To whom let us give praise and say with the Psalmist Blessed be the Lord God the God of Israel who onely doth wondrous things and blessed be his glorious Name for ever and let the whole earth be filled with his glory Amen and Amen Psal 72.18 19. The third Booke The Workes of GOD are equally wrought by FATHER SONNE and HOLY-GHOST The first Section CHAP. I. The Scriptures manifest the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing to them equally with the Father such Workes as are proper to God HE that worketh such Workes as God alone worketh is God equall with the Father in Power and Glory The Sonne and Holy-Ghost worke such Workes as God alone worketh Therefore the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are God equall with the Father in Power and Glory The Workes of God are of two kinds First there is Opus ad intra vel personale the Personall Workes of God which are begun by and terminated in some Person of the Deitie as the generation of the Sonne by the Father and the procession of the Holy-Ghost from the Father and the Sonne these are simply personall Workes whereby the Persons are distinguished from each other These some call Workes of Relation Secondly there is Opus ad extra vel essentiale Essentiall Workes of God and they are such as are common Workes of the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost and are terminated in the Creature where it is the Scriptures use to attribute these common Workes sometimes to one Person and sometimes to another whereby they hold forth unto us the Unitie both of Nature and of Working which is in the Trinitie of Persons These Essentiall Workes are undivided according to that knowne Axiome Opera Trinitatis ad extra sunt indivisa None of them doth ought for us without all My Father worketh hitherto saith Christ and I worke Joh. 5.17 where as Châ—ysostome observeth He saith not My Father worketh and I subminister to him but he using the same word of the Father and of himselfe saith My Father worketh and I worke whatsoever things the Father doth the Sonne doth likewise Joh. 5.19 and so the Holy-Ghost who speaketh not of himselfe but whatsoever he shall heare that shall he speake Joh. 16.13 14. Hence every Person Worketh of himselfe according to that causall power which he exerciseth where there is not any preheminence nor difference in dignitie but an unitie and identitie of one and the same cause they having one Essence there is therefore one operation That therefore which the Father doth the Sonne doth and what the Father and the Sonne doe the Holy-Ghost likewise doth as I shall shew in these Outward Common and Essentiall actions Yet as there is a distinct order of subsisting so they have a distinct manner of working and they being three Persons they work in three distinct manners The Holy-Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne usually worketh from them both He shall receive of mine saith Christ and shew it unto you all things that the Father hath are mine Joh. 16.14 15. The Sonne having his personalitie from the Father usually worketh from the Father The Sonne doth nothing of himselfe but what he seeth the Father doe Joh. 5.17 Thus each Person Worketh according to the manner of his subsisting which manifesteth a diversitie of Persons but no difference or inequalitie of power For they Worke not as Instruments one to another but as Co-workers tanquam principium a principio as one Principle from another in regard of their Persons but as one and the same Principle in regard of their Essence where the Sonne in regard of his Essence he is God of himselfe and worketh of himselfe and so doth the Holy Ghost likewise But as the Sonne is begotten of the Father so he worketh from the Father These words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by and in which are oft-times found in Scripture to expresse the Personall working of the Sonne and Holy-Ghost yet are not so used as if the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost were subordinate Instruments to the Father but as one and the same efficient cause For these Prepositions you shall finde indifferently prefixed to the Works of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost First 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or by is used in respect of First the Father Gal. 1.1 Paul an Apostle not of men nor by men but by Jesus Christ and God the Father Eph. 1.1 Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God Col. 1.1 2 Tim. 1.1 yea the Father no Instrument of choosing Paul to be an Apostle but an efficient cause Jude saith Jude 1. we are sanctified by God the Father yet he is not the Instrument but the cause of our Sanctification And Christ is said to be raised up by God the Father Rom. 6.4 and God is faithfull by whom ye are called to the fellowship of his Sonne 1 Cor. 1.9 yet the Father is no Instrument but a cause of Christs Resurrection and of our Vocation Secondly the Sonne Joh. 1.3 Heb. 1.2 Col. 1.16 Eph. 3.9 Gal. 1.1 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost Act. 11.28 1 Cor. 12.3 yet in none of these places is it
used to note any instrument but an efficient cause Secondly the Preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or in is placed likewise before the working of First the Father as Act. 17.28 Eph. 3.9 1 Cor. 8.6 1 Thes 1.1 2 Thes 1.1 Rom. 11.36 1 Pet. 1.5 Secondly the Sonne Joh. 1.4 1 Thes 1.1 2 Thes 1.1 Eph 1.1 Phil. 1.1 Col. 1.14 Col. 2.11 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost Jude 20. Eph. 4.30 Eph. 1.18 1 Cor. 12.3 1 Cor. 12.3 1 Cor. 6.11 By these and the like places you may see the weake and sandy foundation on which they build their faith who make the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost not onely to be unequall but unlike in Nature because the Apostle saith one God of whom 1 Cor. 8.6 one Lord by whom 1 Cor. 8.6 and one Spirit in whom 1 Cor. 12.3 4 13. For this different manner of speech doth not argue a different Nature in them of whom he speaketh as they blindly collect and fondly imagine For the same reason would prove the Father to be infeirour to the Sonne and it would make him his instrument as in some places above specified The Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are not instruments to but co-workers with the Father they worke together First in these common works which extend generally to all of all sorts and kinds Secondly in these speciall works which reach especially to the Church of God First the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost work together in these Common works which extend generally to all of all sorts and kinds both of good and bad as namely First Creation Secondly Preservation or providence First Universally in regard of all creatures in all places of the World Secondly particularly in regard of the Sea Thirdly illumination or working of common gifts and graces in all men Fourthly judging the earth The Scriptures doe manifest the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing these works to them equally with the Father CHAP. II. First Creation is a work of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost CReation is a work of God alone He stretcheth out the heavens alone and spreadeth abroad the earth by himselfe Isa 44.24 He alone spreadeth out the heavens and treadeth upon the waves of the Sea Job 9.8 He is the builder and maker of heaven Heb. 11.10 and He laid the foundations of the earth Job 38.4 yea Isaiah representeth the Lord speaking in his owne person I am the Lord and there is none elfe I forme the light and I create darknesse I make peace I create evill I the Lord doe all these things Isa 45..6 7 8. This our Creator is one in Essence Have we not all one Father hath not one God created us saith Malachi Mal. 2.10 and yet there are three Persons that did create us First the Father createth thus we acknowledge in the Creed the Father to be Creator of heaven and earth and the Apostle affirmeth Of him are all things 1 Cor. 8.6 and by him are all things Heb. 2.10 Secondly the Sonne createth and thus the Apostle saith by him are all things 1 Cor. 8.6 all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made Joh. 1.3 the heavens were made by him Psal 33.6 they are the work of his hands and he laid the foundations of the earth Heb. 1.10 by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth wither they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him Col. 1.16 the World was made by him Joh. 1.10 Thirdly the Holy Ghost createth He made man Joh. 33.4 he made the body of Christ out of the seed of the Woman Mat. 1.18 Luk. 1.35 he garnisheth the heavens Job 26.13 he moued upon the waters Gen. 1.2 cherishing them and making them fruitfull and fit for the creatures to live in By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made and all the Hoast of them by the Spirit of his mouth so it is according to the Originall Psal 33.6 Thus the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost did create and build the World and therefore God for so the Apostle affirmeth he that built all things is God Heb. 3.4 Yea it is observeable that Moses treating of the creation useth the word Elohim and no other word above thirtie times together Gen. 1. to shew that all the three Persons did work this great work besides in creating man how plainely is the pluralitie of Persons in the unitie of the essence set forth Gen. 1.26 and God said there the Noune is plurall ard the Verb is singular although after the Verb is plurall Let us make man after our Image and after our likenesse is and our surely note a pluralitie of Persons Besides how absurd a thing would it be to imagine God if but one Person to speake to himselfe and yet in the 27. vers it is he made man in his owne image to point forth to us the unitie of his Essence I know the Jewes object divers wayes against this Object 1. That in the Scripture one man speaketh plurally of himselfe as First Bildad Job 18.2.3 Sol. But he speaketh not onely of himselfe but his other two friends Secondly Absalom 2 Sam. 16.20 but he speaketh not onely of himselfe but of his people and Armie Thirdly Daniel Dan. 2.36 but Daniel doth speake of the three Children that were his companions together with himselfe Fourthly Cant. 1.3 But the Church although one yet the members are many 1 Cor. 12.12 and as she is one body she speaketh singularly but as she is many members she speaketh plurally Object 2. That God spake after the manner of Kings Sol. First That kinde of speech was not then in use as Abon-Ezra noteth on Gen. 29.27 Moreover in the examples of Kings speeches in the Scripture there is not the like as Gen. 14.21 Gen. 20.9 Dan. 2. Dan. 3. Dan. 4. Dan. 5. Dan. 6. 2 Chr. 36.23 Ezr. 1.2 Ezr. 7. or in any King of Israel or of Juda after ages brought in this custome among Kings Secondly if the Lord would at any time have spoken plurally it would have been especially when he gave his Law where although then he manifesteth the pluralitie of Persons Exod. 20.2 5 7 10 12. and useth the word Elohim plurally yet he speaketh in the singular number Exod. 20.2 3 5 6 7. Thirdly Kings doe speake plurally because they are publique Persons and represent the whole Kingdome and act by the advice of their Councels Fourthly Kings doe not use the singular and plurall promiscuously as the Scripture doth of God Object 3. That God did speake to the Angels Sol. 1. God spake to them in whose Image man was to be made but man is not said to be made in the Image of Angels but in the Image of God Secondly the Angels did not make man but God Thirdly the Angels were not called in for advice the Lord neither had nor did need any Counsell
Holy-Ghost doe it by gain-saying his Word not by frustrating his Worke for he convinceth the World either to conversion or confusion He punished Ananias by Peter Act. 5.5 and Elymas by Paul who is then expressely said to be full of the Holy-Ghost Act. 13.9 10. He casteth these Sinners that doe despite unto him Heb. 10.29 into eternall punishment He that blaspemeth the Holy-Ghost shall never be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come Mat. 12.32 33. Mar. 3.29 Surely there is not the like said of the Father or of the Sonne yea our Saviour saith the contrary of sinnes committed against himselfe not as if the Holy-Ghost were greater then the Father or the Sonne but onely equall with them in Majestie and in glorie This Sinne is not onely against his Person but against his operation and working It being a sinne against the light of illumination which he terminatively worketh in them A sinne against the Father is remitted by the blood of the Sonne which washeth away all sinne 1 Joh. 1.7 and a sinne against the Sonne is done away by the worke of the Spirit who applyeth the Merrits of Christ to every penetent Soule by faith purifying their hearts Act. 15.9 but if the sinne be against the Holy-Ghost and against his Workes by falling away from his graces Heb. 6.4 5. by grieving this holy Spirit Eph. 4.30 and by maliciously opposing and blasphemously doing despite to the Spirit of grace Heb. 10.29 All hope of obtaining pardon is quite cut off for there is no fourth Person to cure this Apostatizing relapse and the Worke cannot be wrought backward for the Spirit proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne in regard of his Personalitie worketh also from them both who also begin that Worke which he terminateth which he perfecteth in us Now the Spirit worketh neither by the Father nor by the Sonne as the Sonne is God though he worketh by him as I shall have occasion to shew as he is the Sonne of man wherefore where the Spirit applyeth not the blood of Christ there is no remission of sinnes for there is neither faith nor repentance wrought in that mans heart by the Spirit of God who terminateth and perfecteth those graces which also the Father and the Sonne worketh with him in the hearts of every true beleever This sinne therefore is also against the Father and the Sonne and not onely against the Holy-Ghost but because it is more immediately against his worke therefore it is said to be against the Holy-Ghost who together with the Father and the Sonne punisheth this Apostasie by giving up such a wretch to his owne hearts lust and by delivering him up to a reprobaâ—e sense Thus Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost are coworkers in this Worke namely in judging the earth and in punishing the World which the Lord doth manifest when he was about to cast Adam and Eve out of Paradice for God saith the man is become like one of us Gen. 3.22 which cannot be spoken where there is but one Person againe in the destruction of Babel and confusion of Languages the Lord saith Gen. 11.7 Câ—me ye and let us goe downe and let us confound their Laâ—guages where the Father speaketh to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost Besides confusion of Languages is no worke of the Creature but a Worke proper to God alone which is spoken in the plurall Number Let us goe downe and let us confound them and yet to shew the unitie it is Jehovah who is one did scatter and confound them Gen. 11.8 9. Moses relating that action in the singular Number which God himselfe speaketh of plurally it being the worke of one God in three Persons to effect this Worke Moreover the Psalmists phrase is remarkeable Psal 58.11 Jesh Elohim Shophedim est dii judicantes word for word one word singular and another plurall is joyned with Elohim a word of the plurall number intimating the unitie of that one God in Essence and Trinitie of Persons that judge the earth Oh that men would sing Halelujah and give praise to â—od for his worke And surely the first time that Halâ—lujah is used in the Old Testament is Psal 104. last whâ—re consuming of sinners is mentioned as in the New Testament it is first used in Rev. 19. where the destruction of Antichrist that man of sinne is foretold Thus you may see the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost is that one God that effecteth these Workes which extend Generally to all The second Section CHAP. I. The Workes of God which doe concerne the Lord Jesus the Head of the Church were wrought by the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost AS the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost did effect these common Workes which extend generally to all so also they effect these speciall Works which reach onely to the Church of God which are of two sorts for First they are such Workes which God alone worketh in regard either of Christ the Head of the Church Or Secondly of the Church which is the Bodie of Christ First these Workes which are wrought in regard of Christ the Head of the Church as namely First Christs Incarnation Secondly his Attestation Thirdly his Vocation Fourthly his miraculous Opperations Fifthly his Death and Passion for the sinnes of the World Sixtly his Resurrection Seventhly his Assention were wrought by the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost The Scriptures doe manifest the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing to them these Workes equall with the Father CHAP. II. Incarnation of the Word was a Worke of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost THe Incarnation of the Word is a Worke of God it is inchoative an Essentiall Worke of God common to the whole Trinitie though terminative it is terminated perfected and consummated in the Sonne of God whose Personall Worke it was to be made flesh Joh. 1.14 and to have two Natures Divine and Humane united in one Person who as he was the Sonne of God was eternally begotten of his Father but as he was the Sonne of man he was borne of a Woman in the fulnesse of time Gal. 4.4 To us a Childe is borne Isai 9.6 and therefore man to us a Sonne is given of God and so he is God The efficient cause of Christs Incarnation is the whole Trinitie God sent him Joh. 3.34 He raised up this great Prophet Deut. 18.15.18 the Lord pitched this Tabernacle and not man Heb. 8.2 First the Father prepareth a Body for him Heb. 10.5 He sent his Sonne made of a Woman Gal. 4.4 Mat. 10.40 After all his Servants he sent unto them his Sonne saying they will reverence my Sonne Mat. 21.37 Mar. 12.6 Luk. 20.13 and our Saviour telleth us he that honoureth not the Sonne honoureth not the Father that sent him Joh. 7.23 Secondly the Sone which as God made all things Joh. 1.3 made also his owne Body for he emptyed himselfe and tooke on him the forme of a servant
Phil. 2.7 He tooke not on him the Nature of Angels but tooke on him the forme of Abraham Heb. 2.15 Here are two Natures in Christ First the Nature emptying himselfe and assuming Secondly the Nature taken and assumed He tooke not on him the Nature of Angels he was no created Spirit as they are but he tooke on him the Seed of Abraham and therefore surely he was before he tooke this Nature of man on him and so he testifieth of himselfe Joh. 8.58 He tooke part of our flesh and blood Heb. 2.14 He made himselfe partaker of that which was ours that we might more easily take part of that which was his Thirdly the Holy-â—host formed his body This the Evangelist affirmeth Mat. 1.18 so the Angel foretold to Mary Luk. 1.35 and likewise telleth Joseph Mat. 1.20 and we acknowledge in the Creed that he was conceived by the Holy-Ghost Thus the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost equall in Power and glory are one and the same efficient Cause of Christs Incarnation which was terminated in the second Person they wrought the Mantle of his Humanitie which he put on who continuing that he was is made that he was not And indeed fit it was that he by whom man was creaâ—ed should restore as it were recreate man Joh. 1.3.4 Col. 1.16 Thus was the Maker of the earth made man on the earth He that was the brightnesse of Glory tooke upon him the vilenesse of our Nature The Lord Jesus who was in the fo me of God and equall with God tooke on him the forme of a servant Phil. 2.6 7. and made little lower then some of his owne Creatures Heb. 2.7 He that was infinitely more excellent from all Eternitie then Angels made himselfe a little while inferiour to Angels that he might make us like unto Angels Mat. 22. Oh that we had the tongue of Men and Angels to sing forh his praise who thus humbled himselfe that he might exalt us that he to whom the Angels minister Mat. 4. and doe worship Heb. 1.6 for our sakes should as it were leave the Mansions of heaven and take up his first Lodging in a Stall and be crouded in a Manger and swadled in a few ragges such was the riches of his grace towards us that though he were rich yet for our sakes he became poore that we through his povertie might be rich 2 Cor. 8.9 CHAP. III. The Attestation or the Witnesse hearing of the Messiah was the Worke of the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost THe attestation of the Word that he was the Messiah of the World was a Worke of God Fit it was the Sonne of God should receive testimony from God he received not testimony from men Joh. 5.31 God bare witnesse that he was the Saviour of the World Angels and holy men bare witnesse of him secondarily as Gods Messengers to us but God is that witnesse on which our faith must depend Gal 1.8 If we receive the witnesse of men the witnesse of God is greater this is the witnesse of God which he hath testified of his Sonne Joh. 5.9 And surely the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost bare witnesse to us of the Messiah First the Father bare witnesse of him So the Lord Christ assureth us Joh. 5.37 The Father which hath sent me hath borne witnesse of me Joh. 8.18 He testified of him at his Baptisme Mat. 3.17 and at his transfiguratioâ— Mat. 17.5 Secondly the Sonne indeed as man had no power to beare witnesse of himselfe Joh. 5.13 yet as God he testified of himselfe Joh. 8.18 and did justifie his own testification Joh. 8.16 17 18. who together with his Father witnessed that he was the Messiah Joh. 4.26 Joh. 5.17 Joh. 10.25 and that God was his Father and he his Sonne Joh. 5. Joh. 6. Joh. 10. yea the Lord Jesus telleth the Jewes Except ye beleeve that I am ye shall dye in your sinnes where the Lord stileth himselfe I am a Name peculiar to God Exod. 3.14 and telleth the Jewes they must beleeve it unlesse they will dye eternally Let these that fight against the Divinitie of the Lord that bought them seriously weigh this and other places where he stileth himselfe thus who say that Christ never professed himselfe to be God or tooke any Name of God on him Thirdly the Holy-Ghost bare witnesse of Christ so he telleth his Disciples He shall testifie of me Joh. 15.26 He shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you Joh. 16.14 and the Apostles shew the Jewes that the Holy-Ghost did beare witnesse of Christ Act. 5.32 who bare witnesse of him at his Baptisme by descending on Christ Mat. 3.16 Luk 3.22 Joh. 1.33 and after Christs ascention by dessending on the Apostles and Disciples of Christ Act. 2. Act. 8. Act. 10. Act. 19. There are three that beare record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost and these three are one 1 Joh. 5.7 not onely one Witnesse but one God which Text of Scripture because it is a notable Pilate to steere the Ship of the Church in sayling between the Rocks of Arrianisme denâ—ing Unitie and of Sabellianisme opposing the Trinitie the â—nemies of the truth have therefore endeavoured to destroy it rasing this Text and others out of the Scriptures Thus the Arrians did corrupt this too and other Texts even as Jerome complaineth who notwithstanding citeth this place against thâ—m so doth Fulgentius and Epiphonius yea Cipryan in Lib. de unitate Eccles who lived before Arrius rehearseth it and Athanasius cited it against Arrius in the Nicene Councell as Junius observeth and it is to be found in the most Ancient Copies both Greek and Latine and is so sutable to the matter the Apostle treateth of and so fitly answering the eight and ninth Verses of the same Chapter and so consonant to the word that there is no reason to thinke this an addition to the Canon of the Scriptures CHAP. IV. The Vocation of Christ to the Office of a Mediator was a Worke of the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost THe Vocation of Christ to his Mediator-ship and the sending of him to preach was a Worke of God alone The Lord Jesus being to offer himselfe a Sacrifice for the sinnes of the World wherein he was both Priest and Sacrifice glorified not himselfe to be made an High Priest Heb. 5.3 as man he tooke not this Office on him for no man taketh this Honour on him but he that was called of God as was Aaron Heb. 5.4 as he was the Sonne of Man he was called of God an High Priest Heb. 5.10 but as God being one with the Father and the Holy-Ghost so he voluntarily undertooke this Office the efficient Cause of this Act was the whole Trinitie First the Father sent him to preach our Saviour speaking to the Jewes saith My Doctrine is not mine but his that sent me Joh. 7.16 He made him an high Priest who said Thou art my Sonne to day have I begotten thee
as they are not divided in nature but are one God in nature and in working as will appeare in the particular effects and fruits of sanctification some whereof I have already treated of It now remaineth that I further manifest how the Father the Son and the Holy-Ghost do co-operate both in the beginning progresse and full perfecting this worke in us shewing how that they do draw us and quicken us and increase grace already wrought in us CHAP. XIIII The Father the Word and the Spirit doe draw us THe Scripture setteth forth our unwillingnesse in the first act of our conversion two wayes by two severall sorts of Metaphors First by comparing us to an unwilling creature that will not follow but it must be drawne Secondly by comparing us to a dead creature that cannot follow unlesse it be made alive Fiâ—st God draweth leadeth us to himself he drew the Israelites with the cords of love with the bands of a man Hos 11.4 God of us men that are unwilling by nature doth make us willing through grace powerfully inclining our wills and affections to follow himselfe we having without him no sufficiency of our selves 2 Cor. 3.5 1 Cor. 4.7 This worke is equally wrought both by First God the Father who draweth us to Christ for so the Lord Jesus witnesseth John 65 44. No man can come to me except the Father that sent me draw him And surely when the Father hath drawn us into Christs hands it is not all the powers of the Prince of darkenesse shall draw us back Mat. 16.18 Joh. 10.29 It is a gift given to us of the Father that we have any power to do good Joh. 6.65 Jam. 1.17 Secondly God the Sonne who draweth us to himselfe so he promiseth John 12.30 When he is lifted up from the earth he will draw all men to him and thus the Church desireth of Christ Cant. 1.3 Draw me and we will run after thee And no wonder for without him we can do nothing Joh. 15.4 5. it is from him wee have power to do good Phil. 413. he it is that strengthneth us with his grace that all the principalities and powers of the Prince of darkenesse shall never pluck us away or draw us back from him Joh. 10.28 Thirdly God the Holy-Ghost who draweth us Jer. 31.3 who in the same chapter as I have shewed out of the 31. verse with Heb. 10.15 16. maketh a Covenant with us He it is that the children of God are led by Rom. 8.14 even as blinde and impotent persons by a guide We cannot confesse Jesus to be the Lord without him 1 Cor. 12.3 Through Christ we have an accesse by one spirit unto the Father Eph. 2.18 Loe all the three Persons described by the Apostle in working this worke The Father to whom we have accesse the Sonne as the way Joh. 14.6 through whom we have accesse and the Holy-Ghost in whom we have accesse as our guide and Conductor There is there distinct and Personall order of working in which they worke as they are three distinct Persons whose Power and Essence is one as their work is one In respect therefore of the Essence there may be said to be one common operation but in respect of the distinction of Persons there is a distinct manner of working CHAP. XV. The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost doe quicken us THe Lord quickneth us with his grace who were dead in tresâ—asses and sinnes Eph. 5.1 5. 1 Tim. 5.6 Mat. 8.22 It is a Work of one God in three Persons to give not onely corporall life 2 Kin. 5.7 but also spirituall life Hos 6.1 2. First the Father quickneth whom he will Joh. 5.21 Secondly the Sonne quickneth whom he will Joh. 5.21 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost quickneth Joh. 6.63 Rom. 8.11 and it is whom he will he quickneth For he diâ—â—â—eth his Gra es severally as he will 1 Cor. 12.8 11. This mighty Work of quickning those that were dead in trespasses and sinnes is wrought by the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost who doe co-operate and yet are one and the same efficient cause as they are one God of that spirituall life which the children of God live by CHAP. XVI The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost doe give Grace to us and multiply Grace on us THe Lord doth not onely give Grace to us but he also increaseth his gifts and multiplyeth his graces on us He is the God of peace that sanctifieth us throughout 1 Thes 5.23 he doth begin good in us he doâ—h perfect it he doth finish it Phil. 1.6 Phil. 2.13 This is an essentiall worke of God and is common to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost First the Father giveth us Grace and Peace For this cause the Apostles pray to him for it Eph. 1.2 Col. 1.2 Phil. 1.2 Rom. 1.7 Rev. 1.4 and he multiplieth his Graces he gives us Jude ver 2. Secondly the Sonne giveth us Grace and Peace For this cause the Apostles pray to him for it Col. 1.2 Eph. 1.2 1 Thes 1.1 Rev. 1.4 5. and he multiplyeth those Graces he giveth us 2 Pet. 1 2. Jude ver 2. Thirdly the Holy-Ghost giveth us Grace and peace The Apostle for this cause prayeth to him for it Rev. 1.4 who though one Eph. 2.18 2 Cor. 11.4 1 Cor. 12.4 yet is he called the seven Spirits First in regard of his manifold Gifts and operations to all Churches Secondly in regard of particular relation that he had to these seven Churches to whom John wrote Thirdly he describeth him as he saw him in the Vision who is after described of John as seen of him in the forme of seven lights Rev. 4.5 Secondly he multiplyeth the graces he giveth us strengthening us with might in the Inner man Eph. 3.16 It is the undivided Work of one God in three Persons to give grace and to multiply on the Church those graces he hath given it causing it to increase with the increase of God as Paul speaketh Col. 2.19 CHAP. XVII The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost doe give Testimony to us assuring us we are the Lords THe Lord doth not onely give Grace to us and increase the Graces he hath wrought in us 1 Thes 5.24 Phil. 1.6 but also witnesseth to our soules the sincerity of these graces he worketh in us and testifieth in our hearts his salvation he hath wrought in Christ for us for surely he that alone made the heart he that alone searcheth the heart he that alone worketh grace in the heart can alone testifie unto the heart with comfort Act. 15.8 the truth of those soule-satisfying graces that he hath wrought in us whenas by faith he purifyeth the heart Act. 15.9 The comfortable attestation of these graces therefore in our hearts is a worke of the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost who as I have already shewed made the heart know the heart and worke grace in the heart and doe worke in witnesse-bearing to our hearts of the truth of those