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A66823 The abridgment of Christian divinitie so exactly and methodically compiled that it leads us as it were by the hand to the reading of the Holy Scriptures, ordering of common-places, understanding of controversies, clearing of some cases of conscience / by John Wollebius ; faithfully translated into English ... by Alexander Ross.; Christianae theologiae compendium. English. 1660 Wolleb, Johannes, 1586-1629. 1660 (1660) Wing W3256; ESTC R29273 215,518 472

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Reas. I. For to be justified by grace and by merit are repugnant Rom. 3.24 They are justified freely by his grace and v. 28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the works of the Law chap. 11.6 If by grace then not of works otherwise grace were not grace 2. So to be justified by Christ and his merits and by works Gal. 2.21 If righteou●ness is of the Law then Christ died in vain 3. By faith and by works Rom 3.28 We conclude then that we are justified by faith without works 4 To be justified by imputed justice and by works Rom. 4.4 5 To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is coūted for righteousnesse II. If by justification all matter of bragging is excluded that God only may be glorified then we are not justified by works Rom. 3.19 That every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God ver 23. They have all sinned and come short of the glory of God and v. 27. Where is boasting then It is excluded By what law of works nay but by the law of faith The Pontificians here say that in these places are meant only ceremonial works But he who will observe that Catologue of works rehearsed cap. 1 2.3 to the Romans shall finde that not only ceremonial but moral works also are meant III. If we be justified by works then they are either such as go before or follow after regeneration Bu● with neither of these ar● we justified For be●fore regeneration 〈◊〉 works are meerly evi● and after imperfect● good XIX The effects of justification are Peace with God an accesse to him with boldnesse a rejoycing in tribulation and freedom from sin not onely in respect of guilt as the Papists say but in respect of punishment too Otherwise Christ had suffered for us in vain Isa. 53.4 c. Neither do divine chastisements come upon the Elect that they might by them satisfie God but that they might be proved and bettered XX. Imputed righteousnesse is perfect and equal in all believers The imperfection of our faith is no hinderance for as the same Jewel is touched by the firm and infirm hand so is the same Justice of Christ obtained by the strong and weak believer XXI The same is never to be lost For the gifts of Vo●ation are without repen●a●●● Rom. 11. ●9 XXII It is also one Therefore when the Saints who are justified pray for forgiveness of sins they do not so much respect or consider the act of justification as the fruit certainty and confirmation thereof XXIII Iustification before God is by faith Iustification before men is by works Of this see Iam 2.24 you see then that man is justified by works and not by faith alone Which saying is not contrary to that of Rom. 3.28 we conclude then that man is justified by faith without works For there is meant that justification which is before men but here that which is before God there is understood historical fa●th which worketh not by charity but here that faith which is true and lively Others say that man is justified by work● not as by the cause but as by the declarers and manifesters of justification CHAP. XXXI Of Sanctification SAnctification followes Justification as the light followes the sun This is that free action of God which sets at liberty the faithful ingrafted into Christ and justified by the Spirit more and more from their native corruption and renews them to his image that they may be fitted by good works to glorifie God The RULES I To sanctifie in this place is not to separate from profane use or to dedicate to holy uses but habitually to make holy In the former signification we are bid to sanctifie the Sabbath II. It is called regeneration renovation conversion penance repentance and glorification Yet these words are ambiguous for the word regeneration renovatino and conversion is either equivalent to vocation and the gift of faith or it signifieth newnesse of life when in the very act man dieth to sin and liveth to righteousness in the first sens it goeth before justification and is the cause thereof in the latter follows it and is the effect thereof it is also named penitence and resipiscence from the effect which words do as much d●ffer as the Hebrew terms Nicham and Schubh or the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for that is of the minde this of the heart that wicked men may also have this onely the godly albeit this difference doth not still hold It is called glorification by way of inchoation or beginning as it is a forerunner of future glorification III. The efficient cause of this is in general the whole Trinity particularly and in respect of the terminus the Holy Ghost for this end sent by Christ. Hence he is called the Spirit of Sanctification Rom. 1.4 IV. The internal impulsive cause is Gods free bounty Tit. 3.4.5 But after the kindnesse and love of God our Saviour appeared toward man not by works of righteousness which we had done but according to his mercy he hath saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost V. The external impulsive cause is Christ with his merit and efficacie Ephes. 5.25 Christ loved his Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie it VI. The external instrumental cause is the doctrine of the Law and Gospel but the internal is Faith the root of good works VII To these we may adde extraordinary means whereby God casteth down the proud and raiseth the humble such are afflictions miracles terrours c. VIII In the first regeneration or vocation m●n is meerly passive but in sanctification when he is endowed with saving faith he is the chief agent of his own actions yet not without the special grace and motion of the Holy Ghost IX The matter of sanctification is the whole man with his intellect will and affections 1 Thes. 5.23 Now the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout and I pray God your whole spirit soule and body be preserved blamelesse until the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ. X. The form is expressed in two acts in the aversion from evil and conversion to good that is called the mortification of the old man this the vivification of the new man that a crucifying and burying this a resurrection XI The end of this is Gods Glory our salvation and certainty thereof for there is no signe of election more evident 2. Tim 2.21 If a man therefore purge himself from these he shall be a vessel unto honour sanctified 1. Joh. 3 3. And who hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure XII Sanctification in this life is not perfect hence the works of the Saints are imperfect for they feel a combate in
different men but also in one and the same man so that sometimes it is weaker sometimes stronger but so that it can never be utterly lost Isa. 42.3 He shall not break the b●used reed nor quench the smoaking flax Phil. 1.6 I am perswaded that he who hath begun a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Iesus Christ. Heb. 12 2. looking unto Iesus Christ the Author and finisher of our Faith CHAP. XXX of Iustification THe mediate effects of Vocation proceeding from faith are Justification Sanctification Assurance of salvation and Christian liberty Justification is Gods free action whereby the Elect through the most full satisfaction of Christ are absolved from their sins and are declared rightous and inheritors of life eternal The RULES I. Iustice in Scripture is either of the Cause or of the person Iustice of the cause is when a man otherwise sinfull is said in this or that particular to be innocent and just Iustice of the person is either begun or it is perfected This is called Legal as it is required by the Law and Evangelical as it is shewed in Christ by the Gospel Begun justice is that which the Holy Ghost begins in the faithful in this life and perfects it in the other The perfect righteousnesse of Christ then is the gift of Iustification but that which is begun is the gift of Sanctification II. To justifie in this place is not to punish nor to infuse inherent righteousnesse as the Pontificians will have it but in the sense it is taken in the Courts of justice it is to absolve from sin and to pronounce one just Prov. 17.15 To justifie the wicked and to condemn the just both are abomination to the Lord. Isa. 5.23 which justifie the wicked and take away the righteousnesse of the righteous Matth. 11.19 wisdome is justified by her children Lu. 7.29 when these things were heard all the people and the Publicans justified God Luk. 10.29 He willing to justifie himself III. The efficient cause of Iustification actively understood is the whole Trinity 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe 1. Cor. 6.11 But you are washed but you are sanctified but you are justified in name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God IV. The internal moving cause ●is meer grace or Gods free favour That this is a free favour and not an infused grace will appear by these testimonies Rom. 3.24 For they are justified freely by his grace Ephes. 2.8 you are saved by grace through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Tit. 3.4.5 But after the goodnesse and love of God our Saviour appeared towards man not by the works which we had done but by his mercy he hath saved us V. The external moving cause is Christ God and man Christ as the Son of God is the efficient cause of justification in common with the Father and Holy Ghost but as he is God-man and our Mediator he is the outward moving cause because by his merit he hath procured this gift for us VI. The instrumental cause of this is the word of the Gospel For it is the power of God to every believer Rom. 1.16 VII If we take Iustification passively in reference to man who is justified it hath no other cause but faith the instrumental VIII This phrase We are justified by faith is metonymical and equivalent to this We are justified by Christs merits apprehended by faith IX Faith only is said to justifie in respect of works which are effects following upon faith but not the causes of Iustification for they do not precede him that is to be justified but follow him that is justified Although this particle alone in so many letters and syllables is not found in Scripture yet it is express●d by like phrases Such are Without works freely by grace Rom. 3.24 27 28. But by faith Eph. 2.8 Gal. 2.16 Though then faith be not alone but is joyn'd with works yet it justifieth alone As the Sun is not in Heaven alone yet he alone makes day X. Faith doth not justifie as if it were a work or by its own dignity but as it is an instrument apprehending Christ. The Papists grant that we are justified by faith but then they take faith here as a work Now faith in Scripture hath nothing ascribed to it but as it aprehends as a Gold-ring bears a high price for the Jewel in it And hence it appears how finely those places of Scripture do agree in which we are said to be justified now by grace then by Christs merits then by faith for we are justified through Gods grace for Christs merits apprehended by faith XI The matter of justification taken actively is Christs whole satisfaction whereby he suffered the punishment due to our sins and yielded perfect obedience to the Law We have shewed above cap. 18. that Christs satisfaction is placed both in his suffering and in his actual obedience XII The matter of this taken passively is man miserable in himself but elected by God called and indowed with faith Though then vocation naturally is before faith and faith before justification yet in time there is no difference For as soon as man is effectually called he is endowed with faith and justified by faith XIII The form of it actively understood is in the imputation of Christs whole satisfaction whereby it is made all ours as if we had performed it our selves That justice which is imputed to the believer is in Christ by inhesion in us by imputation Our adversaries deny that in Scripture there is any mention of this imputation But what can be cleerer than these ensuing places Rom. 4.6 As David calleth that man blessed unto whom God imputeh righteousnesse without works Phil. 3.8.9 I account all things dung that I may gain Christ and may be found in him not having my own righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is by the faith of Christ that is the righteousnes which is of God by faith This is chiefly seen in that antithesis whereby our sins are imputed to Christ and his justice imputed to us 2 Cor. 5 21. He made that he should be sinne for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him The Papists also think it as absurd that we should be justified by the justice of another as if one would be called learned for the learning that is in another But these examples are not like for one man is not so united to another as the faithfull are to Christ their head Againe they will not have Christs justice imputed to them and yet they stick not to say that the merits of dead men and the Justice of Monks are imputed to them XIV Yet for understandings sake the form of justification is expressed by two acts by remission of sinns and imputation of justice by judging our sins to be none and our righteousnesse to be perfect XV.
And although these two benefits be the same in subject and time yet they are indeed distinct For they differ 1. In definition for it is one thing not to account us unrighteous and another thing to esteem us righteous Which that we may the better understand we must know how these terms are different Not just and just Unjust and just Not just and Unjust Not Unjust and just Not just and just are contradictories Unjust and just are partly privatives partly contraries Not just and unjust also Not unjust and just are diversa VVe must also know that Unjust and just are not immediate contraries for the medium is innocent who is neither unjust nor just Now whereas the remission of sins is a removing or putting away of our sins but the imputat●on of justice is the adjudging of it to be ours by that we are accounted for not unjust or innocent by this for just Now who knowes not that it is more to be just than to be innocent onely and not onely to have done no evill but also to have done good But although these two now in man differ not in subject but in some respect only yet heretofore they diffe●ed in subject also For Adam in Paradise was innocent but not just for he was at length to attain justice by his perfect obedience 2. They differ in their proximate and proper causes for Christs death and passion are the cause of remission of sins which are expiated by them Heb 9.22 without blood there is no remission 1 John 1.7 The blood of Iesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin But the cause of the imputation of Justice is Christs perfect obedience Rom. 5.19 For as by the disobedience of one man many are made sinners so by the obedience of one many are made righteous We have shewed above cap 18. That this obedience is that actuall by which he fulfilleth the whole Law for us 3. They differ in their proper effects for by remission of sins we are freed from damnation Rom. 5. ● Much more then no● being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him But by imputation of righteousnesse we attain over and above life ●ternal Rom. 5.17 Much more they which receive abundance ●f grace and of the gift of righteousnesse shall reign c. so Gal. 4.5 both effects are put Made under the Law that he might redeem them that are under the Law that is under the cu●se of the Law and that we might recieve adoption It is then a greater benefit to redeem a Slave and being redeemed to adopt him than barely to redeem it is a greater favour to give and forgive than onely to forgive therefore that justificat●on is lame by which only Christ passion is imputed and which onely consisteth in remissions of sins Here divers things are objected 1. The Scripture in many places makes mention of Christs passion or Remission of sins onely But this is no wonder for in many places it speaks Synecdochically it● sufficient that it explaines 〈◊〉 selfe in the above cited place● 2. The Apostle promiscuously useth these phrases as equivalent to forgive sins and to impute righteousnesse Rom. 4.5 6. But we answer that it is one thing for propositions to be equivalent and another thing for one proposition to follow upon or to conclude another as Paul out of this phrase of David Psal. 32.2 Blessed are they whose sins are forgiven them c. collects this that David doth describe him to be blessed to whom righteousnesse is imputed wi●hout wo●ks The reason of the consequence is because if the remission of sins be free then so is also the imputation of justice Although then that is not formally spoken by David which Paul affirmeth v. 5. yet it is spoken by way of consequence yea it is an argumentation as Chrysostome saith from the lesser to the greater for if he be blessed whose sins are forgiven then much more blessed is he to whom besides righteousnesse is imputee 3. To whom sins are forgiven to him also righteousnesse is imputed and whosoever is freed from damnation he is inheritor of life eternal therefore these benefits are not different Answ. Those things are not the same which are in the same subject together For so it would follow that Vocation Justification and Sanctification are not different benefits because every man that is called is also justified and sanctified 4. In the pardon of sins there are the sin of omission pardoned and therefore by that man is made perfectly just They adde the reason of the consequence because he performs all things who omits nothing Ans The consequence is fals because there is one cause why we are said to have omitted nothing another why we are said to have done al things We are said to have omitted nothing because Christ hath suffered for our sins also of omission But we are said to have performed all things because he hath for us performed all things Besides to have omitted nothing and to have done all thinges differ in respect of punishment and reward for although the fault the punishment are remited to him who omits what he shold do yet for this there is no reward due to him 5. It is absurd that the same debt should be paid twice If therefore satisfaction is made for sin by Christs suffering satisfaction also is not to be demanded by active obedience Answ. Here is ignoratio Elenchi for there is not a double payment of the same debt but two parts of one payment Neither is Christs active obedience required to make satisfaction for sin but to satisfie for our interest in the Kingdome of Heaven 6. If it be the same thing to be liberal and not to be prodigal nor covetous then it is the same thing to be just and not unjust Answ. The assumption is false be●ause these are not immediate opposites for there are men who are neither covetous nor prodigal nor liberal 7. If it be the same thing to be clothed and to have nakedness covered then it is the same thing to have our sins remitted and justice imputed be●ause by the garment of 〈◊〉 righteousnesse 〈◊〉 sins are also 〈◊〉 Ans. This is an 〈◊〉 simile for the sin●●r must not onely be clothed but he must be first unclothed to wit from the rags of sin Therefore as Ioshuah the High-Priest had his filthy garments taken from him first then new garments were put upon him and a crown on his head Zach. 3.4 5. So we also first must be divested of this dirty garment of sin then we are clothed with the glorious garment of Christs righteousnesse XVI The form of Iustification taken passively is whereby believers lay hold on ●hrist with all his merits by the hand of ●aith and apply him to themselves XVII The end of that benefit is Gods ●lory and our salvation XVIII Out of this commemoration 〈◊〉 causes we firmly gather That man is 〈◊〉 justified before God by his good works 〈◊〉 merits
hope as it is a ver●ue we have spok●n before 1 Cor. ●3 7 Love suffereth all things believeth all things hopeth all things c. Phil. 1 7. To this is opposite disordered hope when we place more trust in our selves and neighbours than is fit Je● 17.5 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man Ordered fear is whereby we walk carefully neither trusting too much our selves or others Prov. 14 8. The wisdome of the 〈◊〉 to understand his way To this is opposite disordered fear whereby man fears himself and others too much Mat 10.28 Fear not them that can kill 〈◊〉 body c. Ordered anger is whereby we are offended or displeased with our selves or others upon ●ust cause yet moderately and with hope of amending Ephes. 4.26 Be angry but sin not To this is opposite inordinate anger whereby we are incensed upon light causes or more than is fit or when we intend private revenge Jam 1.20 For the wrath of man worketh n●t the righteousnesse of God So much of the ordering of concupiscence Wrestling against tentations and the assaults of an evil conscience is whereby a Christian man denies an evil conscience crucifying his flesh with the lusts thereof and against the assaults of the flesh the devill and the world watcheth and stoutly fighteth There are many reasons that induce us to wrestle stoutly 1. Because the Scripture forbids evil desires lusts Prov. 6.25 1 Cor. 10.6 Gal. 5.16 ●6 Col. 3.5 1 Thes 4 ● 2 Because he that is given to lust● loves nor God 1 Ioh 2 15 16. 3 B●cause lusts in regenerate men a●e hatefull 2 Gal. 5.16 17. 4. Because they stir up the wrath of God Col. 3. v. 5 6. 5. Because the Apostle furn●sheth us with the whole armour of God against them Eph 6 Invisible lusts are ove●come by us saith Austin 6. Because the fi●e of lusts is most hu●tfull and breaks out into most sad events Sc●ipture is full of examples there was never yet any sin committed which did not spring ●●om evil lust To this is opposite carnal security whereby man flatters his own flesh whereby he willingly entertaineth lusts whereby he gives himself to idleness and sloth which is the devils cushion whereby he omits holy exercises whereby he burdens his soul with intemperance covetousness and such like vices There are three de●rees of our wrestling against lusts to wit against suggestion delight and assent To understand these degrees that of Iames helps c. 1.14 c. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and en●iced then when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is fin●shed b●ingeth forth d●ath We must then first resist suggestions thoughts which are either ascending from the fewel of concup●scence or descending be●ng suggested elswhere the fi●st are not without sin the latter are not sins being cast in by Satan if so ●e we let them passe and entertain them not But if we cannot avoid the first degree let u● shun the second lest we come to cherish evil thoughts with delight But we must chiefly beware of the third degree that we give not our assent For the more we obey the sinne of concupiscence the more it increaseth Which that we may more and more avoid w● beseech God the Father in his Sonne through the holy Ghost to which one God in Trinity he praise honour and glory for ever and ever Amen FINIS * A. R. Divinity is more speculative than practical because it principally handles divine things and in the second place humane actions But as it is a practical science it is the most noble of all practical sci●nces because the end of it is beatitude to which the ends of all other sciences are ordained Divinity also may be called wisdom or sapientia because it considers the chiefest of all Causes not only as He is known by his eff●cts but as He is known in himself also * A. R. He means that which is called principium cognoscendi which is the first instrument by which we come to know the end and media of Divinity and out of which all the precepts of Divinit● are concluded But there is another principle of Divinity which is called principium effendi that is God * A. R. The knowledge we have of God here is nominal not real 2. Confused not distinct 3. From his effects à posteriori 4. By way of n●gation we know what he is not rather than what he is 5. By way of eminenci● we know that what perfection is in the creature is more eminently in him 6. By the motions of things we ga●her there must be a chief mover 7. From the degrees of entity truth and goodnesse in the creatures we collect that there must be one chief entity truth goodness● c 〈◊〉 From the possibilities and contingencies that are in all things we inferre there must be one cheif necesssary entity * A. R. There is no composition in God neither Physical nor Logical nor Metaphysical because in him there is no priority nor posteriority as in composition where the compositum is posterior to the parts compounding 2. In composition there is act and possibility but God is all act 3. In composition the parts differ from the compositum but in God there is no difference 4. There is no composition in the form but God is a most simple form 5. Whatsoever is compounded hath a cause of that composition but in God there is no cause * A. R. Whereas to understand is to comprehend the thing understood God doth not properly understand that is comprehend himself for so he should be less than himself but he understands himself negatively that is he is not ignorant of himself * A. R. There is in God a twofold power the one absolute the other ordinary by that he can do all that may be done by this he can do onely those things which his justice and will commands to be done * A. R. Though this name Person be common to all the three yet it is not predicated as genus or species because the Persons of the Trinity differ not nume●ically much lesse essentially as they must of which genus and species are predicated * A. R. The number numbring may be understood essentially God or the Soul or an Angel for so Plato calls the soul a number or number numbring may be taken accidentally for those discreet quantities which we call numbers as two three four and in this sense the Trinity is not the number 〈◊〉 because this is an accident * A. R. The Son is from the Father not as an eff●ct from the cause for that were to infer a priority 2. A dependency 3. A diversity of substances in the Trinity but he is from the Father as the understanding is from the soul the River from the spring or the thing proceeding from its original a Act. 2.23 b Act. 4.28 c Eph. 1.9 N●w this is called his Eternal