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A91998 A den of theeves discovered. Or certaine errours and false doctrines, delivered in a sermon at a visitation holden at Baldocke in the county of Hertford, Decemb. 9. 1641. By Henry Denne, curate at Pyrton in Hertfordshire. And since printed by his owne appointment. Contradicted justly by many of the auditors. And confuted by Thomas-Atvvood Rotherham, now rector of St John Zacharies, London, and sometimes vicar of Iclkeford in Hertfordshire, neare Hitchin. Here you have the point of iustification by free grace fully handled, together with many difficult places of Scriptnre [sic] (much abused) plainly expounded; and some speciall cases of conscience resolved, whereby the weakest Christian, in the greatest conflict, may gather true and solid comfort. With severall tables very necessary and usefull for the reader. Published by authority. Rotherham, Thomas Atwood, d. 1657. 1643 (1643) Wing R2000; Thomason E251_3; ESTC R212516 114,466 110

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of faith viz. that there is one degree of justifying faith which in order of nature goes before (e) Fides justificans praecedit justificationem ipsam ut causa suum effectum sed fides justificationem apprehendens prehenssatio praesupponit ac sequitur justificationem ut actus objectum suum circa quod versatur Ames Medul pag. 119. Quod objicitur vim justificandi non esse fidei ex seipsa sed quatenus Christum recipit libenter admitto nam si per se vel intrinseca virtute ut loquuntur justificatet fides ut est semper debilis ac imperfecta non efficeret hoc nisi ex parte sic manca esset justitia quae frustulum salutis nobis conserret Nos quidem nihil tale imaginamur sed proprie loquendo Deum unum justificare dicimus deinde hoc idem transferimus ad Chrislum quia datus est nobis in justitiam Fidem vero quasi visi conferimus quia nisi exinaniti ad expetendam Christi gratiam aperto animae ore accedimus non sumus Christi capaces unde colligitur non detrahere nos Christi vim justificandi dum prius cum recipi fide docemus quam illius justitiam Calvin Institut lib. 3. cap. 11. Sect. 7. remission of sins by which we obtaine forgivenesse of sinnes and by which we are justifyed before God Act. 26.18 That they may receive forgivenesse of sinnes and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me Act. 13.38 39. Through this man is preached unto you the forgivenesse of sinnes and by him all that beleeve are justifyed and there is another degree of justifying Faith which followeth after justification and remission of sinnes whereby we being perswaded and in some measure assured of the remission of our sinnes we are justified in the Court of Conscience this being an effect of justifying faith And this may be proved by that Scripture he makes use of to prove his declarative justification by Faith Rom. 5.1 Therefore being justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ The Apostle (f) Ex hoc etīa leco certissimo a●gumento colligi potest justificationem ex sola fide Id autem constat ex effecto ad hunc modum Id per quod justificamur opo●ter ut nos pacatos reddat erga Dcum Pet. Mar. Com. in loc shewing that we are justifyed by Faith alone in the sight of God sets downe peace with God as an effect of justifying Faith which peace may be called the assurance of faith so that you see this declarative justification is no more but an effect of that faith without which we cannot be justifyed before God if he had proved by Scripture that faith is onely declarative in regard of justification it had beene something but it s altogether against the Word of God but to informe us the better I will set downe what justification is Justification is an action of God freely of his owne mercy and favour absolving a beleeving sinner from the whole curse due to his sins and accounting him perfectly just in his fight unto eternall life in heaven through the perfect obedience sufferings of Christ imputed to his Faith unto the everlasting praise and glory of Gods justice mercy and truth Rom. 3.24 25. chap. 4 5 chap. 5.19 2 Cor. 5.19 Rom. 4.4 Now judge by this whether a man can be justified by Gods imputation of Christs righteousnesse without Faith Faith and justification according to Scripture being inseparable Page 37. He sets downe the causes of justification First saith he it is God that justifyeth Rom. 8.33 efficienter as being the efficient cause of our justification Secondly it is the blood of Christ that justifieth Rom. 5.9 here is the materiall cause of our Justification Thirdly it is Faith that justifieth Declaratively I never read in Divinity amongst the causes (g) Est certus causarum ordo nec datur in iis processus in insinitum Kekerman Systemat Logic-lib 1. c. 14. of justification the declarative cause to be one never I thinke did any man heare a subject of so great concernment so lamely handled especially this Sermon as he confesseth in his Epistle being the quintessence of ten yeares Sermons let us see the causes of Justification The (h) Causa efficiens justificationis active intellectae est tota ●S Triniras causa ejus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est mera gratta sive gratui●●s Dei favoricausa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est Christus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 efficient cause of Justification understood actively is the whole blessed Trinity 2 Cor. 5.19 1 Cor. 6.21 that which inwardly moves God is the meeregrace and free favour of God Rom. 3.14 Eph. 2.8 Tit. 3.4 5. the outward moving cause herein is Christ as God-man our Mediator because we obtaine this gift from his merit The (i) Causa eius inst●umentalis est verbum evangelii● justifica tonis passive sumprae respeclu homini● qui justificatur nulla causa est nisi instrumental● ●des instrumentall is the word of the Gospell Rom. 1.16 Justification taken passively in respect of man who is justified there is no cause but instrumentall and that is faith alone which as Logicians speake is a Passive instrument The (k) Materia justincationis active sumprae est Christi satisfactio qua peccatis nostris paenas debitas persolvit o bedientiam legi perfectam praestitir Materit ejus paslive acceptae est homo quidem in se miser Materiall cause of Justification taken actively is the satisfaction of Christ whereby he did undergoe the punishment due to our sinnes and did performe perfect obedience to the law for our Divines generally understand by Christs satisfaction his active and passive obedience The materiall cause taken passively is man in his naturall condition The (l) Forma ejus active intelle ctae est totius satisfaction is Christi imputatio qua tota quoque nostra est non secus ac si ipsi eam praestitisemus Forma justificationis passive acceptae est qua credences fide velat animae manu Christum cum roto merito suo apprehendun● sibique applicant formall understood actively is the imputation of the whole satisfaction of Christ whereby it is wholly made ours even as if we our selves in our owne persons had made this satisfaction Phil. 3.8.9 The formall being taken passively is when men beleeving doe by faith which is as the hand of the Soule apply unto themselves and apprehend Christ with all his merits The (m) Finis istius beneficii est dei gloria et salus nostra Welleb Christ Theol Compend lib. 1. cap. 30. finall is the glory of God and our Salvation or if you will take them more briefly thus First the efficient cause of Justification is the grace of God Secondly the materiall is Christ our redeemer Thirdly the formall is Imputation of our sinnes to him and his Justice to us Fourthly the Instrumentall
est gratia Concil Trildent Sess 〈…〉 8. and they will tell you in their exposition upon this place that we are justified that is to say made partaker of Christs Righteousnesse freely because none of those things which precede or goe before justification whether faith or workes doe deserve or merit the grace of justification according as the Apostle saith If by grace then it is no more of workes otherwise grace is no more grace Rom. 11.6 Againe aske Cardinall (g) Gratiam appel at Dei donum nobis gratuitum quod nos nullis nostris meritis nulla nostra virtute justos facit Tolet. com in loc Tolet who was a wise Jesuite and he will answer that when the Apostle saith We are justified freely by his grace he calleth grace the free gift of God given to us And that God doth make us just without any of our owne merits without any excellency in us Aske (h) Quod sequitur per gratiam ipsius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 additum est ac si dica gratis id est per gratiam ipsius nam sensus est homines peccatores justificari absque ullo suorum operum merito persolam gratuitam Dei bonitatem Estius com in loc Estius the learned Jesuite and he will answer that when the Apostle saith We are justified freely by his grace his meaning is that sinfull men are justified without any merit of their owne workes by the alone free grace of God And (i) Nunc satis sit dicere hic agi de prima justificatione per quam ex injusto hamo fit justus quaeque non fit merito bonorum operum heminis Pererius in cap. 3. ad Rom. Disput 13. Pererius the Jesuite upon this place of the Apostle saith that it doth concerne the first Justification by which of unjust a man is made just which is not done by the merit of the good workes of man I go not about to justifie the Papists but to shew you how this Pamphletour doth out of ignorance in this particular falsely charge them Whereas he speakes so confidently pag. 34. at the latter end in these words And I know you are not ignorant that there is no small difference betweene the Protestants themselves How we come to be made partakers of Christs Righteousnesse He should have done well to have shewed wherein they differ and not to make a fault where he can find none to make way for his false accusation he goes on I appeale to your Judgements he meanes his owne judgement in his mis-informed hearers How they differ from Papists who say that Christs righteousnesse is made ours before God by faith and true repentance which is by them defined to be a sorrow for sinne and amendment of life as though our Protestant Divines should make faith and repentance joyned together to be the materiall and meritorious cause of our justification before God It is a wonder a man should dare to be so impudent to invent such a false slander against our Church he shewes himselfe to be a man little read in Protestant writers and lesse conversant with our Protestant Divines I dare say he cannot name one It will appeare by the Articles of Religion which we Protestants here in England are bound to reade when we come to any Church living to be possessed of it and subscribe to with an acknowledgement of our full consent and approbation to and of them that the Protestants hold the cleane contrary I will here set downe the very words of the (k) In the 39. Article Article for that purpose And they are these We are accounted righteous before God onely for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith and not for our owne workes or deservings Wherefore that we are justified by faith onely is a most wholesome Doctrine and very full of comfort Now I appeale to the Judgement of those that can but read English and are able to understand it whether he hath not deeply wronged the Protestants and shewed himselfe ignorant in a fundamentall point of our Religion He would if any will be so simple as to beleeve him make us worse then some Papists (l) Firma sana doctrina est per sidem vivā est●acem ju●●●cati peccatotem voca●●●● autem side●● 〈◊〉 motum p●●●us lan●ti quo vere paenitentes vele●● vitae criguntur a●l Ee● vere apprehendunt miseri ordiam in Christo promis●un ut jam vere sentian● quod remissionem peccator● reconciliati onem propter meritum Christi gratuita Dei bonita eacc●perunt clamant Abba Pater Cassand Consult Art 4. who hold it to be true and sound Doctrine that sinners are justified by a true and lively faith whereby they apprehend the mercy of God promised in Christ and are sensible that of Gods free bounty and goodnesse they have received remission of their sinnes and Reconciliation for the merit of Christ and doe crye Abba Father What Protestant ever joyned faith and repentance together in point of Justification before God we say faith onely doth justifie in the sight of God in opposition to workes yet this faith is not without an inward change of the heart and true repentance we must distinguish betweene the formall (m) Fidei 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scrmalis distinguenda est ab ejus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 effectiva mortihcare carnem testistere concupiscentiis catnis est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fidei non formalis sed effectiva formalia autem hdej justincanris 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est aprpehendere meritum Christi ad justitiam corma Deo subsistentem Gerhard Disp Theof part 2. disp 3. pag. mihi 319. Energy or efficacie of faith and the effective faith doth not justifie so farre forth as it doth mortifie the flesh in us and bring forth the fruits of good workes but as it doth imbrace the promise offered in the Gospell concerning the free remission of sinnes through Christ or which is all one because that by faith the Righteousnesse of Christ is imputed unto us Every childe that hath learned his Catechisme will and is able to contradict him in this divised falsehood against the Protestants Whereas he saith Repentance is by the Protestants defined to be a sorrow for sinne I passe it by till I come to speake of that Subject Pag. 35. He frames an argument thus That which makes Christs Righteousnesse ours in the fight of God may be said truely to justifie us before God or at least to concurre actively to our justification but faith and sorrow for sinne with amendment of life make Christs righteousnesse ours in the sight of God Therefore fearefull will be the conclusion faith and sorrow for sinne with amendment of life concurre actively to our justification It must needs be fearefull for him thus lewdly to accuse the Protestants Oh horrid malice Doe but view his Argument well and see whether this be a Protestant Doctrine That faith and sorrow for
words Peter went out and wept bitterly hath this passage Peter therefore wept bitterly he wept that he might with teares wash away his sinne If thou wilt obtaine pardon wash away thy offence with teares thus the Father (f) Tria sunt genera Baptismi quorum primum quo sordes peccatorum per regenerationis lavacrum abluuntur Secondum quo quis sanguine suo per Martyrium baptizatur Est autemtertium baptisina lachrymarum Isidor de offic eccle lib. cap. 22. sol mihi 411. Isidor Hispalensis who lived a thousand yeares agoe saith there are three kinds of baptisme or washing The first whereby the defilements of sinne are washed away by the laver of regeneration The second when one is baptized in his owne blood by Martyrdome with which baptisme Christ was like wise baptized The third is the baptisme or washing of teares To preach then that teares of repentance wash away sin is no new Doctrine and is not injurious to but doth magnifie the blood of Christ Teares being an effect flowing from the conscience sprinkled with the blood of Christ Musculus upon the first of Esay propounds this question How the Prophet exhorts men to wash and cleanse themselves seeing it is not in their power And 1 Joh. 1. The blood of Jesus Christ washeth us from all sinne He answers it thus That this (g) Hujusmodi resipiscentia causa est repurgationis non per quam sed sine qua non Muscul com in loc repentance here required is the cause of our washing or cleansing not the cause by which but the cause without which our sinnes cannot be washed away And they are said to wash away our sinnes not considered in (h) Non in reipsa intrinseca bonitate actus sed in divina acceptatione pactione ordinatione Cassand Ep. 19 pag. mihi 1110. themselves or in regard of intrinsecall goodnesse in the Act of shedding them but in regard of Gods acceptation who doth in and through Christ accept of them in regard of Gods covenant and promise in regard of his ordination who hath ordained that such as shall bee saved shall weepe for their sinnes There is a washing of Sanctification and Regeneration as well as to Justification By true repentance these benefits doe redound of beleevers First remission of sinnes Marke 1.4 John did preach the baptisme of repentance for the remission of sinnes Thus while hee intitles his booke Johns doctrine hee labours as much as in him lyeth to overthrow Johns Doctrine Act. 3.19 Repent therefore and bee converted that your sinnes may bee blotted out Secondly the favour of God Luke 4.18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon mee because hee hath annointed mee to preach the Gospel to the poore he hath sent mee to heale the broken hearted to preach deliverance to the Captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set at libertie those that are bruised to preach the acceptable yeare of the Lord Luke 15.7 Joy shall bee in heaven over one sinner that repenteth as you may see in the parable of the Prodigall The third benefit is righteousnesse before God Luk. 18.14 The Publican bewailing his condition in true repentance our Lord saith he went downe to his house justified rather than the other by (h) Uterque descendit domum sed impari fructu Publicanus vere justificatus Pharisaeus coram hominibus ranrum Areti in loc rather is meant the Publican was truely justifyed the Pharisee before men onely The Publican in the sight of God they had both their Righteousnesse the one hypocriticall the other reall who was justifyed of God So that rather must not be understood of one and the same Righteousnesse as though the difference consisted onely in this That the Publican was more justifyed the Pharisee lesse the Pharisee he justifyed himselfe before men hypocritically the other was justifyed of God which is much rather to be chosen Fourthly The gift and inhabitation of the Holy Ghost Act. 2.38 Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sinnes and yee shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost Fifthly The hearing of our prayers 1 Joh. 3.21 22. If our heart condemne us not then we have confidence toward God And whatsoever we aske we receive of him The Sixth is Salvation and life eternall Act. 11.18 Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life The seventh is Freedome from temporall punishments or to be sure a mitigation of them Jonah 3.10 And God saw their workes that they turned from their evill wayes and God repented of the evill that he had said 2 Chron. 12.12 And when he humbled himselfe the wrath of the Lord turned from him that he would not destroy him altogether This is contrary to what he taught on a Fast day as I was credibly informed That we did not Fast and humble our selves for the turning away of Gods Judgements Looke well upon these particulars and consider the places of Scripture and you shall finde it no blasphemy to say repentance washes away sin Now let us see how all these benefits are attributed to repentance and how they may be said to be the fruites of it Not (i) Observandum est paenitentiae haec tribui non ratione contritionis quasi illa sit meritum quoddam ac causa remissionis peccatorum sed ratione hdei quae est essentialis pars paenitentiae Quod ergo partis quidem primatiae pro prium est illud usitata Scripturae phrasi toti tribuitur Gerhard locor Tom. 3. col mihi 428. in regard of contrition as if that were a certain merit and cause of remission of sinnes I meane the meritorious cause though as I said it is Causa sine qua non the cause without which we cannot receive them but in regard of Faith which is an essentiall part of repentance which doth apprehend Christ and in Christ doth freely receive the grace of God remission of sinnes righteousnesse the gift of the Holy Ghost and life eternall That therefore which is proper to a part it being the principall part That is by the usuall phrase of Scripture attributed to the whole Especially when as true and saving Faith and true contrition and the study of new obedience are inseparably joyned together I hope then we may use Scripture phrase without blasphemy Page 49. The latter end he sayes This doctrine workes hideous effects in the Church of God The simple people being asked how they thinke to make satisfaction to God for sin have answered by lamenting and amending Are not these simple people those that have lived the ten yeares under his Ministery they are simple indeed Aske a Childe that can say the Church Catechisme which in teaching repentance tells us Wee must have a lively Faith in Gods mercy through Christ with a thankefull remembrance of his death and he will tell you he hopes to make satisfaction by the merits of Jesus Christ We
comfort your drooping spirits against such desperate disconsolate doctrine as this meerely contrary to the doctrine of the Gospel and the true way of preaching Free Grace by Christ who will not breake a bruised Reed nor quench smoaking Flax if an an Angell from heaven preach any other doctrine beleeve him not I say againe cheere up your hearts The gates of Hell shall never prevaile against you you are rich in grace and all the pretious promises of the Gospel belong to you and all the riches of Gods mercie in Christ Jesus are yours what shall I say more I conclude God is yours Christ is yours and all is yours Now we are come to the third question laid downe in Page the 74. at the latter end Whether when Faith lies hid that wee cannot see that we beleeve by the inward Testimony of our conscience that it is possible our workes of pietie or charitie can assure us of salvation his answer is I say no and my reasons are these 1. That which makes me doubt of my Faith will make me doubt of the sinceritie of my worke 2. How is it possible I should judge my worke sincere when I cannot see I beleeve Whatsoever is not of Faith is sinne I answer there are diverse grounds which make a man doubt of his Faith different from those which make him doubt of the sincerit●e of his worke as through the want of apprehension whereby hee can say from his conscience that he is justified and at peace with God And in regard of spirituall desertions There is a twofold inward testimony of conscience The first is an immediate knowledge that a man doth beleeve which is by the prime and next efficient cause namely the Spirit of God called the (k) Id est eandem fidem ex ejusdem Spiritus afflatu dono Beza in loc Spirit of Faith 2 Cor. 4.13 and this is more fully set downe downe 1 Cor. 2.12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that wee might know the things that are freely given to us of God The second inward testimony of conscience is the sinceritie of a mans worke whereby a Christian knowes he doth beleeve and concerning the sinceritie of the worke none can judge but a mans owne conscience whose proper office it is and this the Apostle sets downe 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our (l) Certebonam conscientiam habemus quod candide ca an misinceritate quam Dominus in nobis requiri● un sumus Luc. Ostand in loc conscience that in simplicitie and godly sinceritie not with fleshly wisedome but by the grace of God wee have had our conversation in the world Conscience being that privitie which the soule hath to things knowne to none but God and it selfe is able to judge of the intention of every action So that as a tree is knowne by the fruits in like manner Faith is certainely knowne by its fruits as the cause is knowne by the effect And the Apostle (m) Insallibile est signam vere r●natorum organm a postenori valer Arett com in loc 1 Joh. 3.14 makes love to the brethren an infallible signe of a regenerate man We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren So that although we cannot immediately see that wee doe beleeve yet if we find in our conscience that wee love the brethren we know by this that wee doe beleeve for as breath is a certaine signe and evidence of present life so love to the brethren of present Faith even as wee see that when the Sunne is eclipsed though the earth wants the light of it yet not the reall influence and though men see not the Sunne in the light of it they doe see it in its reall influence and vertue So although Faith may be hid in regard of the soules immediate seeing it yet it may evidently see it doth beleeve in regard of Faiths reall influences and effects love to the brethren being one and thus though Faith lies hid Charitie doth and can assure us of our salvation Pag. 75. What workes are done in Faith sayes he that the same acts may not be done in the spirit of bondage If you say indeed that the actions are the same but they differ in the end I grant it and in the efficient also but as I cannot discerne the efficient so neither can I discerne the end of my worke To this I answer I discerne the efficient by the end he that hath a discursive intellect and can make use of that reason which God bath given him can easily tell to what end hee undertakes such and such an action The end being the first thing in the (a) Finis qui ultimus est executione primus est intentione omnis intellectus operativus incipit a fine Keckerm System lib. 1. pag. 165. intention and that which first sets the minde on worke about this or that thus in temporalls so likewise in spiritualls The Christian being able to make use of his sanctified reason can easily tell the intent of his heart and the end hee aymes at especially having the word of God as a sure rule to goe by he can tell whether he loves the brethren out of any by end he hath or onely as brethren setting all other respects aside And finding this holy affection in himselfe must needs conclude it cannot bee in a man that doth not beleeve I have heard of a very godly Minister who as I take it being sicke to death was much troubled about his evidence and doubted whether he did belong to God or no at the last Well sayes he the devill shall never gull me I have one evidence will assure me without faile I am certaine I love Gods people and so gathered comfort Upon these grounds I am bold to determine the question affirmatively That although Faith lies hid for the present yet a man from workes of pietie and charitie which he findes in himselfe may have assurance that he doth beleeve and so is in the state of salvation In his conference pag. 12. he doth confesse Where unfained love to the brethren is found it may be a testimony of grace received but he objects How shall I know his answer is That unlesse we beleeve truely we cannot know we love unfainedly therefore though our love heare witnesse to our Faith before men yet our Faith beares witnesse to our love in the secrets of our heart neither can it ever appeare to bee true love that proceeds not from a heart first imbracing Christ by Faith To this I answer by my loving unfainedly I know I beleeve truely the truth of my worke being an infallible evidence of the truth of my Faith and I can trie my worke by the sure rule of the Word which will not faile and thus though I cannot see my Faith formally yet I can see it effectively I meane in