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A69521 The orthodox foundation of religion long since collected by that iudicious and elegant man, Mr. Henry Ainsworth, for the benefit of his private company, and now divulged for the publike good of all that desire to know that Cornerstone, Christ Jesus crucified / by S.W. Ainsworth, Henry, 1571-1622?; S. W. (Samuel White) 1641 (1641) Wing A811; ESTC R8781 48,874 90

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his justice must be satisfied first before any legall justice can be established in us which being satisfied by Christ and so wee absolved from our sinnes past the legall justice beginneth in us againe in this life but shall not be perfected till the next life Justification is an act undivided and all at once and so it differeth from Sanctification which is done by degrees and parts Justification of a sinner in this life is done essentially but once though it be often repaired and renued as faith once given to the elect is never quite taken away for the seede of God remaineth in him Justification and Faith are most nearly united The causes of Justification are either Principall Instrumentall Outward Inward The principall outward cause is the merit and satisfaction of Christ Rom. 3.24 25. which in respect of us is the meritorious cause in respect of God it is the cause that is outwardly moving him to pronounce us just Both these are true that we are justified for the satisfaction and merit of Christ as the outward moving cause and yet are justified freely of meere mercy as the inward moving cause Object How can it be said that God freely forgiveth us our sinnes out of his owne grace and mercy freely seeing hee hath required satisfaction to the full of Christ our head and surety and without such satisfaction forgiveth no sinne Answ. Though hee forgive it not freely in respect of his Sonne who was wounded for our iniquities yet in respect of us that were the sinners it is free Object But wee merited it in Christ our head and therefore are not freely forgiven Answ. His merit was not ours by originall possession or cleaving in us as sinne is from Adam but only by relation and application and this meere grace that wee never thinking on any such thing God found this way for our redemption Rom. 5.8 10. and that he applyeth his Sonnes redemption unto us that were by no gift or merit disposed to such a thing Eph. 1.6 9. 2.8 As Christs satisfaction is most sufficient and full so as it is sufficiently and fully to justifie us without any merit of ours or any other creatures Rom. 3.25 26. Our workes being imperfect have no proportion to the justice of God neither are they ours but Gods due unto him and proceeding from him now that which is not ours originally or by possession but is wholly owing unto another by it we can merit nothing to our selves The principall inward cause of our justification is both 1 an effectuall calling 2 the imputation of Christs merits The effectuall calling is the more remote cause of our justification when God by his Spirit effectually moveth the heart the understanding will and affections to the acknowledgement of our owne miseries to seeke deliverance and to beleeve the promise or grace This inward calling of the elect differeth from outward calling by the word whereby God offereth his grace to all in generall to this inward calling a man is meerly passive in respect of the beginning that is hee cannot any more prepare or dispose himselfe by strength of nature unto this calling or justification Herein therefore the Papists erre who ascribe to man a preparation to justification called the fundation of justification as faith that is a certaine generall knowledge and certainty of the truth of Gods Word Secondly an acknowledgement of our sinnes Thirdly feare of hell Fourthly love of God Fifthly repentance Sixthly hope of salvation which sufficiently prepare a man they say to receive justification but the Apostle saith the contrary that our sufficiencie is of God The imputation of Christs merit satisfaction is the neere and next cause of justification and constituteth the essence and definition of it which is when God for union with Christ doth so apply and make proper Christs merit to us as if wee our selves had died and satisfied for our sinnes As from Adam wee draw 1 guilt 2 native evill so from Christ we draw 1 absolution from guilt 2 reparation of Gods Image called Regeneration The instrumentall cause of justification is Faith which is taken sometime largely sometime strictly largely faith is taken for an assent to those things written in the Word called historicall faith strictly faith is justifying or miraculous justifying faith is a trustfull assurance which the Spirit of God stirreth up in the elect firmly to apply the promises of Gods grace This faith presupposeth knowledge Rom. 10.14 but formally it is assertion towards Gods promise Faith justifieth not as it is a quality passion or action in us but as it is a relation and uniteth us to Christ whose satisfaction is imputed for righteousnesse to us Gal. 2.20 Faith applyeth the promise to the particular person and not the generall onely Gal. 2.20 1 Job 4.16 Faith necessarily bringeth forth good workes yet it justifieth not in that respect Rom. 4.5 The proper object of faith is the evangelicall promise of grace in Christ Rom. 1.16 Faith hath degrees increasing and diminishing yet the essence and force of justifying remaineth in the least degree Rom. 12.3 Mark 9.24 Faith once wrought in the elect can never be utterly extinguished for faith is of the elect onely 2 Thess. 3.2 as the elect cannot perish neither can their faith Rom. 8.38 39. The immediate effect of justification knowne is Adoption by which the elect do now actually please God as his children and co-heires with Christ Another effect of justification is peace of Conscience when we perceive our selves absolved from the guilt of sinne before Gods judgement and the judgement of our owne conscience Rom. 5.1 Peace of conscience hath degrees sometimes more sometimes lesse Psal. 30.7 and 51.12 and 38.3 From peace of conscience ariseth confidence that our prayers are heard Also assurance that our good workes please God also patient suffering of the crosse ariseth from the feeling of justification Rom. 5.3 Thus much of our deliverance from sinne and the misery thereof also the punishment of sinne which was Christs worke in himselfe Now followeth our Sanctification or reformation into the image of God which is Christs worke in us it is the change of our nature into better that is into the similitude of the perfection of God called also our Glorification 2 Cor. 3.18 Justification and Sanctification differ thus Justification is the imputing of anothers justice to wit Christs Sanctification is the impression of justice that it may be in us in Justification there is the satisfaction of Christ in Sanctification there is the obedience of a Christian Justice is perfect and absolute an undivided act at once Sanctification is a work begun not equall in all Justification is first Sanctification is after Sanctification is a separation from filthinesse of sin from common prophane use and a preparation and application to holy use by the Spirit of God 2 Cor. 7.1
these 1 Ignorance whereby wee cannot know the truth nay not often with much labour 2 Obscurity and confusion in the understanding 3 Hardnesse to conceive and retaine things in the memory Punishments in respect of the body are 1 Common weaknesse and frailties of all men 2 Speciall disposition to sicknesse and diseases 3 Paine and labour especially in women paine of child-bearing 4 Deformity and want of beauty and comlinesse thorow evill proportion of the members or evill colour 5 Famine withholding or taking away the fruits of our lands chattels c. 6 Want or losse of children 7 Contentions emulations reproaches infamies warres among men 8 Many things against health good name goods and livelihood yea there is the punishment of deaths temporall the separation of soule and body and deaths eternall separation of soule and body from God from all felicity and glory called the second death The second death is to be minded first for the parts and degrees of it secondly for the circumstance of time and place The parts and degrees are these 1 the damned have no communion with God nor participation of grace 2 Thes. 1.9 2 They are united unto Satan and are partakers of his punishments 3 They are ashamed and confounded because their sinnes are manifested Rev. 20.12 4 They are ashamed and fret and envie the felicity of the Saints in Heaven Psalm 112.10 5 They are horribly pained and tormented with feeling Gods wrath and the worme of conscience The circumstances of time and place are these first of place which is hell the bottomlesse deepe the utter darknesse Gen. 16. Luk. 13.21 2 Pet. 2. Secondly of time and that will ever breake the heart of the damned which is eternity that hee is past hope of ever going out or having end of his paines Mat. 25.46 All sinne of its owne nature requireth punishment Rom. 6.23 Punishment is evill in respect of the sufferer good in respect of God that afflicteth it justly for sinne As sinne hath taken away the agreement with the nature of God so punishment hath taken away the communion with the felicity of God Mans misery is remediable through the mercy of God though God spared not the Angels that sinned yet the grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared The remedy of our misery consisteth of two things 1 A deliverance from sin Secondly our reformation to the Image of God Psal. 32.1 2 Cor. 3.18 Our deliverance from sinne containeth foure things 1 Election to life eternall by God the Father 2 Redemption by God the Sonne Psal. 130.8 3 Justification Rom. 5.1 4 Sanctification and reformation into the Image of God by the Holy Ghost In our first estate wee had two things Gods favour and Image In our fall and misery wee have two things Satans Image and Gods displeasure In our restauration are had two things reconciliation to Gods favour and restoring of his Image God from all eternity did predestinate appoint and elect some Angels and some men to be for ever heires of the riches of his grace and glory 1 Tim. 5.2 1 Pet. 2.8 God keepeth the Angels that they cannot fall conserving and increasing their happinesse Joh. 13. Jer. 22.40 Mat. 24.24 Election is of God the Father Eph. 1.2 3. and onely some few men are elected unto life and they out of all sorts Jewes and Gentiles Matt. 20.16 Rom. 9.24 Rev. 7.9 Election hath two acts and degrees concerning the end which is eternall glory the first of God then of the creature Secondly the meanes to the end Rom. 9.11 The first act touching the end is Gods purpose to take some men which were to be created to eternall grace and glory leaving other some The second act is his purpose whereby hee ordaineth these men being to fall in Adam unto eternall glory through Christ Joh. 3.16 6.47 The signes testimonies and benefits of our election in Christ are an effectuall calling the gifts of lively faith Act. 13.4 5. 2 Thess. 2.13 14. Justification Rom. 8.30 and glorification begun in this life by holinesse being predestinated thereunto Eph. 1.4 That unto which God hath elected us is first Adoption of sonnes Secondly Sanctification Thirdly Eternall life The first and onely moving cause of Election is the good-pleasure and love of God Eph. 1.5 Rom. 9.18 Eph. 1.11 Christ being the ground-worke hereof This is further confirmed thus God is the beginning of his actions Rom. 11.35 The first beginning dependeth upon no other outward beginning but God should depend upon an other outward beginning if he could not elect whom he would without having respect of their faith faith is the effect of election Act. 13.48 therefore it cannot be the cause or before election The meanes whereby wee are predestinated is Jesus Christ Eph. 1.5 Christ is not the first moving cause but the meane for hee is onely Gods Sonne and we being predestinated to the adoption of Sonnes have the Sonne-ship by communion with Christ Gods election is firme and immutable Esay 46.10 2 Tim. 2.19 The meanes whereby wee come to be assured that wee are elected are these First the Gospell teaching that all truly beleeving shall be saved Tit. 1.2 and wee knowing wee beleeve assure our selves by the effects of election found in our selves as effectuall calling faith justification sanctification and good workes Secondly by the testimony of Gods Spirit in us Rom. 8.9.16 17. 1 Cor. 2.10 11 12. 2 Cor. 1.21.23 We judge our selves elect by the judgement of faith which is infallible 1 Thes. 1.4 Adoption is the first and proper thing whereunto we are predestinated and there is no exceeding benefit whereof it should not be the effect as in the Trinity the Father is first then the Sonne and the Holy Ghost In the order of working our salvation the first is the Father predestinating the second is the Son redeeming the third is the Holy Ghost sanctifying That the Father is first in working see Joh. 5.19.30 16.13 14. Adoption being then the worke of the Father it is before Redemption and so before Justification and Sanctification The first worke of Grace in bringing us to Christ is given by the Father Joh. 6.65 44 37 39. Opposite to Election is Reprobation which is Gods decree to leave some in their sinne and misery and for sinne to damne them or reprobation is Gods decree to passe by some and not elect them and to permit those to fall into sinne and to punish them eternally for sin Herein are two acts 1 Negative 2 Positive Negative to refuse or not elect positive to punish for sinne for that from which they are reprobate is from grace and glory and that whereto they are appointed is damnation the cause of not electing Gods just pleasure and will Mat. 11. Rom. 9. without respect of good or evill in the creature the cause of the second act damnation is mans sinne God is hee that
reprobateth some sinners Rom. 9.18 1 Thes. 5.9 This is also from eternity Jud. 4. and many are passed by and reprobated Mat. 20.16 The things whereof men are reprobate are true faith 2 Tim. 3.6 true sanctification Tit. 1.16 eternall life Act. 13.38 compared with 1 Thes. 5.9 Jud. 4. The cause of punishing the wicked is their sinne for justice must needs respect the innocency or guilt of the creature The end of reprobation is properly Gods glory Prov. 16.14 The perdition of the Reprobate is also the end but by accident unchangeable also is the decree of God Thus much of Election and reprobation Wee are redeemed by Jesus Christ Gen. 3.15 Gen. 22.18 Gal. 3.16 3.13 Rom. 16.20 In Christ two things are to be considered 1 his person 2 his office In his person are to be considered two natures divine and humane Rom. 9.5 with 1 Tim. 2.5 and Mat. 1.13 Christs divine nature is the same essence with the Father and the Holy Ghost from eternity Rom. 9.5 1 Joh. 5.20 Heb. 1.10 from Psal. 102.25 Our Redeemer was to be God because the greatnesse of the evill wherewith men were possessed could not be taken away but by God himselfe for Gods wrath being infinite could not by any creature which is finite be overcome He also that must be our Mediator must know us and all our estate wants thoughts desires which no creature can doe Christs humane nature is of the same essence and substance with the sonnes of Adam 1 Tim. 2.5 Heb. 2.14 It could not stand with Gods justice to punish Christ for our sinnes if he had not our nature neither could it have beene satisfactory for us if it had not beene done by a man The union of these two natures the Godhead and the manhood to make one person and mediator Jesus Christ is the great mystery of godlinesse God manifested in the flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 The manner of union of these two natures is extraordinary and therefore hath a peculiar name of Person or hypostaticall union and it was by the Godhead assuming the manhood as is shewn He. 2.16 This humane nature was to be particularly of the seed of Abraham Gen. 22.18 of David Ps. 132 11. Act. 2.30 of the virgin Mary Esay 7. Mat. 1.23 to fulfull the promises and to have right to the kingdome of Israel and to be free from originall sinne which is in ordinary generation the nature seed or blood of the woman was sanctified and formed by the Spirit of God and thereof Christs flesh created Christ had the same time degrees and progresse for his formation as other children have Luk. 1.26 36 39 56. and 2.4 5 6. when the forming of humane nature was absolute so as there was the matter and forme of a man then was the Godhead of Christ united thereto by a mysticall and incomprehensible union Luk. 1. Col. 2.9 The union is most neere and indissoluble that Christ from thenceforth for ever continueth God and man in the unity of one person The union of natures is not a confounding of them or of their properties for the Godhead remaineth infinite invisible incomprehensible the body finite visible locall Act. 3.21 1 Cor. 15.26 27 28. By this union ariseth the dignity of Christs person above men and Angels that hee is next to God or the Godhead it selfe such is the grace of eminencie by the joyning of these two natures Act. 20.28 By this union Christs humane nature purchaseth habituall grace as knowledge wisedome holinesse such as a creature cannot have Mark 13.32 This gradation sheweth Christ as man to have greater knowledge than men or Angels From this union is given unto Christ the highest power of office as to be head of the Church In respect of this union the whole person of Christ is worshipped though the direct object of worship is the Godhead onely Heb. 1.6 Mat. 4.10 From this union ariseth a communion both of the names and titles and operations so as these two natures conjoyned and distinguished are called one Christ Lord Head Mediator King Priest Justice Wisedome In every work the operations of the Godhead are Christs operations as equall with the Father which giveth an infinite worth and most perfect force together with the operation of the manhood unto the worke of mediation Act. 20.28 Heb. 9.14 From this union also ariseth figurative and unproper speeches as when things common to the whole person are attributed to one of the natures There is one mediator betweene God and man the man Jesus Christ whereas Christ is Mediator as God and man As also when things proper to one nature is given to another as in Act. 20.28 The Church of God which hee hath purchased with his blood yet blood is proper to man and not God Luk. 24.39 Hitherto of Christs person now of his office under which name the proper accidents and effects of Christs person be contained In generall it is to be Mediator between God and man 1 Tim. 2.5 Without a Mediator man could not be reconciled unto God nor saved from his wrath because it was the good pleasure of God by him to reconcile all things to himselfe and to set at peace through the blood of his Crosse both the things in earth and the things in heaven Col. 1.19 20. And because the Majesty of God was offended by sinne and could not passe it over without punishment Rom. 3.5 6. Christs Mediatorship containeth all the office and functions and operations which hee performed for mans Redemption By prophesie first decerning the cause betweene the parties differing as an arbitrator Secondly relation of covenants and conditions on both parties as a messenger By Priesthood thirdly the request or intercession for the offending party Fourthly payment or satisfaction to the party offended Fifthly effectuall application of the satisfaction By kingdome sixthly by defence and conservation of the parties satisfied for from all their enemies and so sanctification and restauration of Gods Image The office of Mediator requireth both divine and humane nature in one person God the Father ordained Christ to be the Mediator before the foundation of the world 1 Pet. 1.20 Heb. 5.4 5. God continually conserveth Christ in the office of Mediation Esay 49.8 Christs Mediatorship is eternall and everlasting Heb. 7.21 Psal. 45.6 In respect of this office our Mediator is called Christ Jesus a Saviour that is anointed of God for the Father continually and perfectly filleth his humanity with plenty of grace sufficient every moment to performe the worke Psal. 48.8 This anointing comprehendeth collation of gifts unto the humane nature and ordination to office in respect of both natures it is the person of Christ God and man that is Mediator Heb. 9. and not one nature onely either Godhead or manhood In the administration of this office though Christs whole person do things yet must wee distinguish of the worke or the action or effecting