Church call Original should be no more then a meer Privation of Original Justice Of the Inconveniencies which will follow upon the affirmative Opinion that is of that Image of God wherein the First Man was Created But the Ingenuous Reader wil perhaps demand what further Inconvenience wil follow upon the yielding or granting of the former Postulatum or Supposition unto them This in the Second place That Adams Successors whether immediate or intermediate unto the worlds End should have a greater measure of that which they call Liberum Arbitrium or Free-will then the word of God doth acknowledge or any Ingenuous Man that will subjugate his Reason to be Regulated by the written word or Ancient Rules or Canons of Faith can allow or approve This deduction following is clear by Rules of Reason viz. If the Righteousnesse of the First Man did consist in a Grace Supernatural or in any quality additional to his constitution as he was the Work of God This Grace or Quality might have been or rather was lost without any Real wound unto our Nature Or without any other Wound then such as the Free-will or right use of Reason or other Natural parts which after the losse this of supposed Supernatural Grace or Quality were left might instantly have cured or yet may cure Or in other terms more Scholastical perhaps Thus If the Integrity or Righteousnesse of the First Man were lost only demeritoriè by way of Demerit without any physical or working cause of its expulsion or without any wound made in our nature by such positive cause The same Righteousnesse which the First Man had might have been regained by the right use of Reason which was left unto him or of those natural faculties which he had pro primâ vice abused From these premisses the necessary consequence will be this That the satisfaction of our Lord Christ for sin original at least had been superfluous And according to this Tenet the Opinion of the Socinians would be more tolerable and more justifiable then the Doctrine of the Romish Church so far as it concerns the Valew or Efficacy of Christs Sufferings or Satisfaction by his Merits or Justification by works rather then by faith especially works of the Moral Law or observance of those two great Commandments To love God above all and our Neighbours as our Selves or of that other whatsoever you would that men should do unto you even so do unto them 3. Lastly if all or any of these Opinions were granted to the Church of Rome we of Reformed Churches should be concluded to yield That Adams posterity or as many of them as are or shall be justified were to be Formally justified by inherent Righteousnesse that is they have or might challenge absolution from the first sentence denounced against Adam by way of legal plea or satisfaction The deduction or remonstration of this demonstrative inference is clear to any Artist to any reasonable man unlesse his Reason be overgrown by faction or by mingling of passions with his understanding The Remonstration of this demonstrative inference is thus It is in confesso and more then so an undoubted Maxim subscribed unto by the Church of Rome That the grace which is infused by and from our Lord Jesus Christ is a supernatural quality or a qualification more soveraign then the first grace which God the Father bestowed upon the First Man Now if that Grace were a super addition to his Nature or Constitution as he was the work of God the losse of this Grace or quality could not have made any wound in the humane Nature which the least drop of that Grace which daily distilleth from the second Adam might not more then fully cure Yea such grace would sublimate our Nature so cured unto an higher pitch or fuller measure of Righteousnesse then that which was bestowed upon our Father Adam In respect of these and many other Reasons which might be alledged all such Congregations or Assemblies of Christian Men as have departed or have been extruded out of the Romish Church stand deeply engaged to deny that the Righteousnesse of the First Man was a Grace or quality supernatural CHAP. III. Whether Original Righteousness were a quality Natural or a mean betwixt Natural and supernatural 1. TO affirm that the Righteousnesse wherein the First Man was created was a gift rather Natural then supernatural would be no solaecisme no assertion any way more incongruous then many Resolutions of the Roman Doctors in like Cases are no grosser blemish or deeper impression then might easily be salved or wiped off with that distinction usual amongst them in other the like or rather the same Cases The true state of the Question proposed That the righteousness wherein Adam was created was natural quoad terminum productum non quoad modum productionis A natural Endowment in respect of the essential qualitie produced albeit the manner of producing it were somewhat more then supernatural But this is a dispute which for the present shall be waved because the Original difference betwixt us and them may be more punctually stated and the Questions dependent on it may be more clearly resolved from these Postulata or presumed Maxims First That God did make the First Man after his own image Secondly That the First man being so made was righteous and just Neither of these are denied by any The state of the Original Controversie unto such as are disposed to have it plainly propounded in constant or unfleeting Terms is thus Seeing man was made after the image of God and being so made was just and righteous Whether there were two works of God or two distinct effects of his work of creating the First Man in righteousness and in his own image And whether the one of them was terminated to his own image imprinted in man and the other to his original justice If these two expressions made by Moses of Gods image and mans righteousness expresse or include no more then one and the same work of God or effect of his work in man The losse of Original justice or defacing of Gods image enstamped upon him was more then a meer privation and necessarily presupposeth a positive Cause in our First Parents and a positive Effect wrought by that cause whereunto the privation of Original justice was Concomitant or rather Consequent Whatsoever Controversie may be moved concerning the Cause or manner how this Effect was wrought the effect it self was a deadly wound in our Nature a multitude of wounds all by Nature or any endeavour of Nature or performances of such Free will as was left to mankind after these wounds were once made altogether incurable without the help or assistance of better Grace or endowments then were bestowed upon the First Man The cure of these wounds wholly depends upon that grace whose Being and bestowing the second Adam did merit from the Father of Lights or from the Divine nature or Deity 2. To win the Assent of
For the full resolution of this Question the Sacred Scriptures are not the sole Competent Judge or Rule Nor doth the determination of it belong to the Cognizance of such as are the best Interpreters of Sacred writ for the true Grammatical or Litteral sence of every proposition contained in it This Case must be reserved to the Schools of Arts or to the certain Rules of true Logick and Philosophy which are the best guides of Reason in all discursive faculties But here I am engaged to do that which in other cases I have endeavoured to avoid that is to make repetition of two great Problems in the Science or Faculty of Theologie heretofore in their several places handled and in some ensuing meditations to be hereafter inculcated The first Problem is In what sense or with what limitations the Scripture is held by all reformed Churches to be the only Rule of Faith The Second In what sense or how far it is true that Recta ratio Reason rectified or rightly managed may be admitted a competent Judge in Controversies belonging to the Faculty of Theologie 2. To the First Problem In what sence the Scripture is held by us to be the sole and competent Rule of Faith and manners I have no more to say for the present then hath been long ago published in the second book of these Commentaries upon the Apostles Creed Sect. 1. Chap. 11. The summe of all in that place delivered is to my best remembrance This No Christian is bound to admit or receive any Doctrine or proposition as an Article of his Faith unlesse it be contained in the Old or New Testament either Totidem verbis or may be Concludently or Demonstratively deduced from some Sacred Maxim or proposition expresly contained in the Canonical Books in the Old and New Testament Such Maxims as are expresly and plainly contained in Scripture Every Christian Man is bound to believe absolutely But such propositions or Conclusions as may be demonstratively inferred from Canonical unquestionable Maxims they only are bound absolutely to believe which have so much use of Reason or skill in Arts as may enable them clearly to discern the Necessity of the Consequence or concludent Proof of the Deduction The ignorant or illiterate are only bound to believe such Deductions Conditionally See the second Book chap. 2. chap. 4 c. or to practise according to their Teachers instructions with such Reservation or under such Conditions as have been expressed in the second and third Book of these Commentaries 3. But what Propositions though expresly contained in Scriptures be Negative or Affirmative Vniversal Indefinite Particular or Singular Or how any or all of these be Convertible whether Absolutely by Accident or by Contraposition or how to Frame a perfect Syllogism out of them These or the like are points which the holy Ghost who spake by the Prophets and other Pen-men of Sacred and Canonical Writ did never undertake or professe to teach The discussion or determination of Questions of this nature must be had from the Rules of Reason sublimated or regulated by good Arts or faculties And for the bettering or Advancing of Natural Reason in this search the most learned or most sanctified Christian this day living should be very unthankful to the only Lord his Redeemer and Sanctifier if he do not acknowledge it as an especial branch of his All-seeing Providence in raising up unto the World such Lights of Nature and Guides of Reason as Aristotle Plato and others of the Ancient Philosophers were True Reason in whomsoever seated Whether in the Natural or Regenerate man unlesse it be advanced and guarded by such Rules of Arts as these Sages of the old World have by Gods Providence invented or bettered can be no fit Judge but being so advanced and guarded is the most Competent Judge of Controversies in Divinity of such Controversies I mean as arise from Consequences or Deductions made by way of use or application out of the uncontroverted Maxims of sacred Writ And if we would sequester Grammatical or Rhetorical Pride and partialitie to the several Professions wherein respectively men glory we might easily discern all or most of those unhappy Controversies which have set the Christian World for these late years in Combustion to have been hatched maintained and nourished by such pretended Favorites of the Spirit as either never had faithfully Learned any true Logick Philosophie or ingenuous Arts or else had utterly forgotten the Rules which they had learned or heard before they begun to handle controversies in Theologie or entertain disputes about them 4. Obliquity can have no other Cause beside that which is the Cause of the Act whence it necessarily results The Hypothesis for whose clearer discussion these last Theses have been premised is this Whether it being once granted or supposed that the Almighty Creator was the Cause either of our mother Eves desire or of her Actual Eating of the Forbidden Fruit or of her delivery of it to her husband or of his taking and eating it though unawares the same Almighty God must not upon like Necessity be acknowledged to be the Author of all the Obliquities which did accompany the positive Acts or did necessarily result from them This is a Case or Species Facti which we cannot determine by the Rule of Faith It must be tried by the undoubted Rules of Logick or better Arts. These be the only perspective Glasses which can help the Eye of Reason to discover the truth or necessity of the Consequence to wit Whether the Almighty Creator being granted to be the Cause of our Mother Eves first Longing after the forbidden Fruit were not the Cause or Author of her sin Now unto any Rational man that can use the help of the forementioned Rules of Arts which serve as prospective Glasses unto the Eye of Reason that usual Distinction between the Cause or Author of the Act and the Cause or Author of the Obliquity which necessarily ensues upon the Act will appear at the first sight to be False or Frivolous yea to imply a manifest Contradiction For Obliquity or whatsoever other Relation can have no Cause at all besides that which is the Cause of the Habit of the Act or Quality whence it necessarily results And in particular that conformity or similitude which the First man did bear to his Almighty Creator did necessarily result from his substance or manhood as it was the work of God undefaced Nor can we search after any other true Cause of the First mans confirmity to God or his integrity besides him who was the Cause of his manhood or of his Existence with such qualifications as by his Creation he was endowed with In like manner whosoever was the cause whether of his coveting or eating of the Tree in the middle of the Garden was the true Cause of that Obliquity or crooked deviation from Gods Law or of that deformity or dissimilitude unto God himself which did necessarily result
knows Israel knows not Jerem. 8. 7. The Stork c. Serpents sting not Serpents nor bite one another with their venemous teeth Nay the very Monsters and huge fishes of the Sea war not amongst themselves in their own kind But believe me Man at mans hand receiveth most harm and mischief Thus far Plinie 4. Heathen Naturalists hold better Consort with the Primitive church concerning the nature of Sin Original then the Socinians do We have no reason sufficient to perswade us to believe or to suspect that this great Naturalist did ever peruse any part of the Booke of Grace not so much of it as is contained in the History of Moses much less such passages in it as concern this Point as are comprehended in the Prophets in the Evangelists or in S. Pauls Epistles Or if any man have better reasons then I have to believe or suspect that he might have read them all or the most part of them It would notwithstanding be a groundlesse surmise to imagin that he had been Catechized by Christs Apostles or their Deputies or that he had received any spiritual Grace either by Baptism or Imposition of Their hands Now albeit we suppose or grant that he had read the Books of Moses or some passages in the Prophets but deny what I think no man will affirm that he was Baptized or made partaker of Grace by Christ the Cause is clear that he could have no better guide for searching after or finding out those Orthodoxal Truths or Notions which he hath most Elegantly exprest then Recta Ratio that is the right use of Reason which Nature though corrupted in him had not utterly extinguished but much weakned And here I can rather wish then pray that this man had lived in this Age or might be restored to Life again to encounter those Semi-Christians which contend for the Soveraignty of Recta Ratio as if It were the onely Guide or Rule of Christian Faith But albeit I dare not pray nor can I hope to hear Plinie speak to this or any other good purpose in this Life Yet I verily believe that the writings which this Vncatechized Heathen hath left and he himself shall rise up in Judgement against those proud Phantastick spirits which having been Baptized in the name of Christ and Catechized in the fundamental points of Christian Faith do either flatly deny or captiously question Whether our Nature were so deeply tainted with that Sin which we call Original or so far deprived of Freedom or power to restore our selves to our primaeval state of Nature as that the Death and Resurrection of a Redeemer more then meer man and his Everlasting Priesthood were necessarily required for freeing us from the bondage of Satan 5. Seeing this Modern Sect of men as Pelagius their Father whose errors concerning the state of the First man and of Sin Original have been mightily improved by them have been S. Austin not the First that did maintain Original sin and are such notorious Trewants in the Book of Nature and such Schediastick Surveyors of the Book of Grace as none have been or can be beside such as in their sceptical contrivances hold it a part of Policy or state to draw all or most such forces of Reason as Nature or Grace had implanted in their breasts to guard their Brains or fortifie the inventions of their Fancies It is not to be expected that they should much regard the Unanimous consent of the Orthodoxal and Primaeval Church Some of this Sect are well contented to oppose the consent of such Antiquity as in other points they slight against those who reverence the memory of the Ancient Martyrs or Fathers especially before S. Austins time Others of them are not ashamed to accuse this great and Learned Father for being the First Author of that Doctrine which we maintain Concerning the Nature of Sin Original Now to presse them with his Authority whom they accuse as an Author of Errour would be bootlesse Wherefore waving his Authority for the present for being any competent Judg or Advocate in this Controversie No ingenuous or sober man can except against him as an unfit Witness in this Cause concerning the Tenents of the Ancient Church or against others whom he produceth as witnesses beyond all Exception which either Pelagius himself his Followers or the Manichees could have taken against them in his time Neque enim ex quo esse coepit Manichaei pestilentiosa doctrina ex illo coeperunt in Ecclesta Dei parvuli baptizandi Exorcizari exufflari Vt ipsis mysteriis oftenderetur non eos in regnum Christi nisi erutos à tenebrarum potestate transferri Quid autem dicam de ipsis divinarum scripturarum tract atoribus qui in Catholica Ecclesia floruerunt Quomodo haec non in alios sensus câ—nati sunt vertere quoniam stabiles erant in antiquissima robustissima fide non autem novitio movebantur errore Quos si Colligere eorum testimoniis uti velim nimis longum erit de Canonicis autoritatibus à quibus non debemus averti minus fortasse videbor praesumpsisse quam debui Veruntamen ut omittam beatissimum Ambrosium cui Pelagius sicut jam commemoravi tam magnum integritatis in fide perhibuit testimonium qui tamen Ambrosius nihil aliud defendit in parvulis ut haberent necessarium Medicum Christum nisi Originale Peccatum Nunquid gloriosissimae coronae Cyprianus dicetur ab aliquo non solùm fuisse sed vel esse potuisse Manichaeus cum prius iste sit passus quà m illa in orbe Romano pestis apparuit tamen in libro de Baptismate parvulorum ita defendit Originale peccatum ut propterea dicat ante oct avum diem si necesse sit Parvulum batizari oportere ne pereat Quem tanto vult intelligi ad indulgentiam Baptismi facilius pervenire quanto magis ei dimittuntur non propria sed aliena peccata Hos iste audeat dicere Manichaeos antiquissimam Ecclesiae Traditionem isto nefario crimine aspergat qua Exorcizantur ut dixi Exufflantur parvuli ut in regnum Christi à potestate tenebrarum hoc est Diaboli Angelorum ejus eruti transferantur Aug. l. 2. de nuptiis concupiscentia c. 29. CHAP. IX Of the properties or effects of Sin Original known by the light of Nature and by Scripture 1. The Propertie of Original Sin is to Lust after things forbidden by the Law of God and of Nature ENough it is to perswade any reasonable man That Original Sin is not A meer privation or a proportioned shadow of Being without a Reality answering to it seeing that in man the Note or Character of whose distinction from or excellency above all other visible Creatures is the use of Reason there usually is such a Lethargie or sloathful deadnesse to do that which the very Law of Nature or Reason doth dictate unto him or
that in exact Philosophical or Theological Calculation the Definitions of Sin given by S. Austin Calvin Martyr c. and Illyricus come in the Issue to One and the same reckoning yet to vulgar or ruder Apprehensions Illyricus his Definitions which for the most part are Causal but especially his Illustrations of them out of Scripture are far more dilucide and more powerful to work upon our affections and to encourage our spirits to undertake our Christian Warfare against the Old Man or Body of sin 5. Illyricus his Illustrations of sin more Consonant to Scripture then Calvins or Martyrs To what purpose were it to tell unletter'd or ordinary men that the Old Man or Body of Sin which we are to crucifie or mortifie is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inordinatio or depravatio unlesse we could perswade them that these were names of Giants and paint them with far more hands then Briareus with ten times more heads and mouthes then Cerberus or Geryon had and with more snakes instead of hairs upon their heads then Medusa according to Poetical pictures is emblazoned with or make some representation of them in more ugly and horrible shape then the Devil and Infernal Fiends are pictured by old Monks and Fryers in their Books and Legends Albeit even these be but silly representations of infernal Powers with whom even Christian Children after they come to the use of Reason or to wage war as O Ecolampadius somewhere excellently observes For every man to whom God hath given Grace or power to Reflect upon his Younger Years or to survey ☜ his own Heart His Affections or Inclinations either past or present may respectively find a more exquisite Live Image of Satan within himself then any Painter can make Though few or none in this Age be bodily possessed with a Legion of Devils yet most men either by Nature ill breeding or bad Company if they would rightly examin Themselves their Actions their Passions or projects by the Rule of Scripture might easily discover more then a Legion of unruly lewd or vain Thoughts of unhallowed Desires or vitious Habits such as are Malice Pride Envy Vncharitableness c. which daily plead or fight for the Soveraignty of the Law of Sin or Lusts of the flesh over the Dictates or motions of the Law of the Mind or Spirit And these are the true and most exquisite pictures or images of the Diabolical Nature And it was a wish or Prayer worthy to be written with the point of a Diamond as I have seen it written though in no sacred place Lord deliver me from my self His meaning which wrote it I take it was that he might be delivered from vitious or unruly Thoughts or Habits or other like Souldiers of Satan which every man before Mortification of the Flesh or Renovation by the Spirit doth suffer to be Lodged or Billeted in his Breast 6. For Conclusion to give the Intelligent Reader a more full Definition ☜ of Sin or of the Old Man which we are to Crucifie It is or contains all the works of the Flesh or Inclinations contrary to the Law or Spirit of God necessarily resulting from our Nature or substance since it was corrupted in our first Parents by the subtilty or power of Satan as the Efficient Cause still Labouring to obliterate the Image of God wherein we were created and to mould us into his own Likenesse to the end that he may withdraw us from the Service of God which is perfect Freedom and make us everlasting Slaves to himself and his Infernal Associates 7. Likely it is I should have Slighted Illyricus as much as Many Other of my Profession do upon a prejudicial Noise or Cry raised against Him At least I should not have taken that care and pains in perusing and examining His Opinions which ◠have done unlesse the Book or Treatise had been long ago commended to a Learned Friend of mine upon very high Termes by that Reverend and Great Divine Doctor Field then Dean of Gloucester SECT III. Of Servitude unto Sin Who be properly Servants unto It and by It unto Satan CHAP. XIV That even those Jews which did in part Believe in Christ were true Servants unto Sin 31. Then said Jesus to those Jews which Believed on him If ye continue in my Word then are ye my Disciples indeed 32. And ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you Free 33. They answered him We be Abrahams seed and were never in bondage to any man How saiest thou ye shall be made Free 1. AS We rightly gather that part of mans body to be most corrupt Unsound or Ulcerous which is most afraid of the Chirurgions hand or Instrument which must heal or cure it So these Jews may hence be truly convicted to have been as our Saviour censures them truly Servants unto sin or in S. Peters Expression Servants of Corruption in that they are so Touchie and Jealous of the very mention of being made Free Albeit our Saviour if you marke his processe doth handle them as warily and tenderly as any skilfull Chirurgion could do the most dangerous sores or ulcers of his most impatient Patients For he did not say If you continue in my Word then are ye my Disciples indeed and I will make you Free Although if he had thus said he had said the Truth For HEE it is and HEE alone that must make all the Sons of Adam Free A paraphrase upon John 8. ver 31. 32. 33. c. But as He had an Eagles Eye to discover their hidden sore and a Lyons Heart to unrip or Launce their sore unto the quick So he had likewise the Third property of an Excellent Chirurgion to wit a Ladyes hand to touch them gently and tenderly He tells them the Truth but in a placid and most inoffensive manner by soft and gentle degrees If ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed And ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you Free And who could be offended or unwilling to be made Free by the Truth but such as were desperately sick of Falshood and Corruption Such and so affected were these Jewes which did in part believe on our Saviour For they had no sooner heard him making mention of beeing made Free though by the Truth but they instantly returne this repinning and impatient Answer We be Abrahams Seed and were never in bondage to any man How sayest thou ye shall be made Free 2. Many Good Interpreters do question the Truth of their Answer as whether they were not at this very time in Bondage to the Romans And Tullie in his Oration Pro Flacco whose crime was aggravated for that he had alienated or detained some Gold which had been gathered towards the adorning or beautifying the Temple at Jerusalem to Elevate or lessen that conceit which many Romans had of the Nation of the Jewes as of a People better beloved of the
That there could be any Goodness in the Creature before the Creature was or had actual being no man did ever avouch That any creature could possily have Actual Being or Goodness Actual or existent in it without some Precedent Act of Gods Will I had expresly denyed in the Proposition immediatly precedent to the Proposition which the Author of the Epistle hath falsified by inserting these words In the Creature He might by the like Omission of the Proposition precedent without any intersertion or falsification have proved this Proposition to be Davids There is no God For this Proposition is expresly set down by David Psal 14. 1. Non est Deus And this Proposition would well please an Epicure or Atheist if he took not the words precedent into consideration with it Dixit insipiens in corde suo non est Deus The Fool hath said in his heart there is no God And when I shall avouch the Proposition wherewith he chargeth me otherwise then with this addition An ignorant or unwise man hath said it or laid it to my charge Let me be censured for a Fool for a Blasphemer or what you will 6. The Proposition delivered by me is so clear that no Artist if he be a Christian can deny it The Proposition consists of these Two Parts First There is a Logical Possibility presupposed to the working of the Almighty Power Secondly There is an Objective Goodness precedent in order of nature to the Act or exercise of Gods Will. Against the first part I do not hear of any exception made or taken yet to make it plainer unto those who are not willing to except against it I will explicate the meaning of it in a particular Instance The First Man was made of the earth by the working of the Almightie power and the earth whereof he was made was by the same power made of nothing Both were made by the working of the Almighty Power within the compasse of these 6000. years Current But before Time had any Being even from Eternity there was a Logical Possibility That the Earth might be made of Nothing and that Man might be made of the Earth He unto whom nothing is impossible He unto whom all things are possible did know the making of both to be Logically Possible that is to imply no Contradiction before he made them much better then we know that they were made by him For this we know and must believe that the Almighty Power worketh nothing maketh nothing without Fore-knowledge not only of it as Possible but as Future Not the Creation of Man only but the Creation of Man after Gods own Image was Logically possible that is it did implie no Contradiction from Eternitie The Possible Creation of Man after this manner was the Object of Gods Power before he said Let us make Man after our own Image and similitude This was the Act or Exercise of Gods Power or Will For the power whereby he is able to do all things never worketh without some Act or exercise of his Will For as the Apostle saith Ephes 1. 11. He worketh all things after the counsel of his own will The Second part of the Proposition was There is a Goodness Objective precedent in order of nature to the Act or exercise of Gods Will. For further declaration of This Truth I added This Proposition Unto some things considered as Logically possible this Goodness Objective is so essentially annexed that if it be his Will to give them actuall Being they must of necessity be Actually Good nor can he that can do all things will their contraries For example The Creation of man after Gods own Image was Logically possible from eternity and was the Object of Gods Power of his knowledge and Will before man was thus created Now unto this possibility of mans Creation after Gods Image which was objectively in Gods knowledg from eternity there was a Goodness also Objective so essentially annexed that whensoever God should be pleased to make man after this Pattern he was of necessity to be actually Good 7. Not to conceal any part of my meaning in this 13. Chapter Unto the former Proposition The creation of man after Gods image was Logically Possible before the Act or exercise of Gods Will before the working of his Almighty power by whose concurrence man was upon the sixt day created I will adde these Propositions following 1. To create Man after Gods own Image and not to create him good was never Logically Possible it could be no Object either of Gods Almighty Power or Will This Proposition had no Objective Truth in his Foreknowledge whose Knowledge is Infinite whose Power is Omnipotent whose Will is Irresistible 2. The Act or exercise of Gods Omnipotent Will was the true Cause the only cause why man was created after his Image But that man being created after his Image should be good the Act or exercise of Gods Will or Omnipotent Power were not the cause 3. The connexion between the Image of God and that goodness which was in Man created after his image albeit we consider this connexion as possibly future from Eternity was essential and eternal and was the Object of Gods eternal Prescience or foreknowledge which in order of nature is precedent to the Acts or exercises of Gods Will. 4. Gods Will or the Act or exercise of Gods Will is the Cause why man was made why being made Good he was tyed to the observance of Gods moral Law not the Cause why mans Observance of the Moral Law was or is in its nature good 5. The end of the Moral Lavv or of Precepts Evangelical is to frame us to a conformity vvith our heavenly Fathers Nature to be holy as he is Holy Gods Will declared in the Moral Lavv and vvorking in us both the Will and the Deed to observe it is the Cause by vvhich vve are made conformable to the Divine Nature but Gods Will declared in that Lavv enacted is not the Cause vvhy our conformity to the Divine Nature is good He rather vvills us to be conformable to his Nature to his Will That is to be holy as He is Holy because such conformity vvas essentially and eternally good All Goodness in the creature vvhether actually existent or considered as possibly future is unseparable from this conformity or consonancy to infinite and eternal goodness vvhich is the infallible Rule of all created goodness the eternal Rule from vvhich the acts or exercises of Gods Will either in making in preserving or governing the creature take their validity Objective Being or Logical Possibility of Being is opposed to Actual Being or existence Goodness Objective is opposed to Goodness Subjective that is to goodnesse actually inherent or existent in any substance In the Divine and Infinite Essence nothing is or can be Subjectively all things are in him Objectively and were so in him before they had Actual Being And if all things had an Objective Being in him before they were then the Goodness
from the Forbidden Act or desire It was impossible there should be one Cause of the Act and another Cause of the Obliquity or deformity whether unto Gods Laws or unto God himself For no Relation or Entity meerly relative such are obliquity and deformity can have any other Cause beside That which is the Cause of the Fundamentum or Foundation whence They immediately result It remains then that we acknowledg the old Serpent to have been the First Author and Man whom God created male and female to have been the true positive Cause of that Obliquity or deformity which did result by inevitable Necessity from the forbidden Act or desire which could have no Necessary Cause at all For the Devil or old Serpent could lay no absolute necessity upon our First Parents Will which the Almighty Creator had left Free to eat or not to eat of the Forbidden Fruit. That they did de Facto eat of it was not by any Necessity but meerly Contingently or by abuse of that Free-will which God had given them Briefly to say or think that our First Parents were necessitated by the Divine Decree to that Act or any part of that Act or desire whence the First sin did necessarily result or to imagine that the Act or desire was necessary in respect of Gods Decree is to lay a deeper and fouler charge upon the Almighty That Holy One then we can without slander charge the Devil withall 5. Charity binds me to impute the harsh Expressions of some good Writers and wel-deserving of all reformed Churches Yea the Errors of the Dominicans or other Schoolmen which were more faulty then Zwinglius or his followers in this point rather unto Incogitancy or want of Skill in good Arts then unto Malice or such malignancy as the Lutheran long ago had furiously charged upon the Calvinist as if they had chosen the Devil not the Father of lights Much wrong done to worthy writers by unskilful Apologizers for their harsh expresons maker of heaven and earth to be their God And I could heartily wish that Pareus had not entered into that Dispute with Becanus about this Controversie But seeing I cannot obtain my wish I must be sorry that he came off no better then he did especially for Calvins Credit or for his own I did not believe the relation of the conference which I read long ago in Canisius until I read the like set forth by * Tum D. Serarius Scimus Vestros ita distinguere quod non improbamus Calvinus vero in scriptis suis omnem Dei permissionem in peccatis simpliciter rejicit Et opera malorum etiam quoad malitiam efficaciae Dei tribuit atque sic Deum Authorem Peccari manifestè facit Ego verò Utrum haec sit Calvini sententia quam Vos Eitribuitis postea videbimus Jam accipio quod datis Nostros quos Calvinistas vocatis â—o modo quo dixi distinguere Quódque distinctionem nostram non potestis improbare Hinc verò evidentèr conficitur Calvinistas quos vocatis Deum peccati Autorem nequaquam facere Ac proinde salsam esse D. Becani Minorem quòd Calvinistae faciant Deum Authorem peccati eóque Conclusionem esse calumniosam quòd Calvinistarum Deus sit Diabolus Pareus himself wherein he professeth that he likes better of Cardinal Bellarmines opinion then of Calvins Concerning the Controversies or Questions about the First Cause of sinning But were it any part of my present task I could easily make it appear even by the Testimony and Authority or which is more by the concludent Arguments of some learned Jesuits themselves That Cardinal Bellarmin and many others of Aquinas his followers do make God to be the Author of sin Ibi D. Serarius pro ingenio suo intelligens nodum Ergo inquit deleatur illud starum Erit tamen Diabolus Calvini si non Calvinistarum Deus Quo dicto D. Becanus subrubescens cum Socii ingenuitatem improbare non auderet subjecit ipse Benè deleatur starum Manebit tamen Deus Calvini Diabolus Tum Ego dextra eis praebita pro tanta liberalitate gratias agens Satis mihi nunc est inquam quòd fatemini starum delendum esse ut jam non Calvinistarum sed Calvini Deus secundum Vos sit Diabolus Pareus Act. Swalbacen Parte 1. Coll. 2. De Autore Peccati by as clear infallible Consequence as either Zwinglius or Piscator have done And he that would diligently peruse Aquinas his writings and in particular his resolution of that Question An detur Causa Praedestinationis may find him as strait-lac'd as Calvin was one and the same girdle would be an equall and competent measure for both their Errors The best Apology that can be made for Either must be taken from the Romane Satyrists charity Opere in longo fas est obrepere somnum Calvin and Aquinas were Homines 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is somewhat more then Authors of long works Authors of many various works in respect of the several subjects or arguments which is the best apologie that Jansenius could make for St. Jeromes contradicting of himself in several works as Espenseus doth the like for Saint Austin 6. But of that Pardon which learned Men that wrot much and handled many much different matters may justly challenge such as stand to be their followers though afarr off are no way Capable Men I meane who having other ordinary works or vocations to follow do busie their braines and abuse their Auditors or Readers with idle and frivolous Apologies for those slips or errors of worthy writers which stand more in need of ingenuous censure of mild interpretation or Correction then a Justifiable Defence More there have not been as I hope nor more peccant in this kinde in any of reformed Churches then In this Church of England though not Of it Some Treatises I have read and heard for justifying the Escapes or ill expressions of Calvin and Beza by improving their words into a worse and more dangerous sense then they themselves meant them in or their Followers in the Churches wherein they lived did interpret them Had these Vnscholastick Apologizers been called to a strict account or examination of their Doctrine by the Rules of Art this haply would have bred a new Question in our Schooles Whether to attribute such Acts or decrees unto God as they do and yet withall to deny that they concludently make him the Author of sin doth not argue as great a measure of Artificiall Foppery or which is more to be feared in some of Supernaturall Infatuation as it would do of impietie toresolve dogmatically in Terminis terminantibus That God is the Author of Sin CHAP. VI. The usuall distinction between the Act and obliquitie of the Act can have no place in the first oblique Act of our first Parents 1. The Illustration of the forementioned distinction retorted upon such as use it THe former Question or Probleme might
command him to do and such an eager pronenesse or appetite to do those things which the Law of Reason or of Nature forbids him to do and those things with greatest Eagernesse which the same Law of Reason or other positive Laws derived from it most peremptorily and upon severest penalties forbid him to do It hath been observed by many Authors that the Unnatural sin of Parricide wilful Murther of Father or Mother or of Superiour Kindred did not become rife or frequent amongst the Romans until they had upon particular sad accidents enacted a publick Law and ordained a special kind of torment for transgressors in this kind Lucius Ostius was the first amongst the Romans that did commit this Unnatural sin And He lived almost six hundred years after the City was founded a little after the second Punick War Some good ‖ See Plutarch in the Life of Romulus Laertius in the Life of Solon and Tully in His second Oration Pro Roscio Amerino who gives the true Character or Expression of that speech of Laertius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 untowardly rendred by the Latin Interpreter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. in Rom. pag. 32. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Solon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diog. Lacrt. l. 1. in Solone Is Solon cùm interrogaretur Cur Nullum supplicium constituisset in Eum qui Parentem necâsset respondit se id neminem facturum putasse Sapienter fecisse dicitur cùm de eo nihil sanxerit quod antea commissum non erat ne non tam Prohibere quà m admonere videretur Tull. Orat. 2. Pro Sext. Roscio Amerino Writers ascribe the long abstinence from this unnatural sin unto the wisdom of Romulus their Founder who enacted no Law against much lesse appointed any peculiar kind of death unto this Crime which He expected should never be committed by His Posterity Certain it is that Solon for the like reason did not so much as mention this Crime in His otherwise most severe Laws But this observation was taken from the Heathen Romans in times ancient and far more remote and doth not as happily will be objected hold in these times or places wherein we live Yet the Ingenuous and Learned French †Thuanus Historian who meddles with the History of his own times only tels us that the like unnatural sin towards Children or Infants did never come to so high and far-spreading a Flow in the great City of that Kingdom until the State or Parliament had erected a peculiar Court to be held for examination or trial of such Cruel Mothers as sought to salve the breach of one Commandment by the violation of another to cover the shame of their own wantonnesse by murthering the tender fruits of their folly as if the Damme which the Law had set for repressing or stopping the Course of this bloudy sin had but provoked the stream or Current to swell higher and greater to overburst all obstacles or inhibitions which the Laws of God the Laws of Nature and of the Kingdom had set against it 2. Again why Pulpit-pride why Clergie-cunning insolency or malice should grow into a Proverb throughout most Christian Kingdoms or Provinces as if these or like transgressions in our profession were of such a scantling as could hardly be matched by the Laitie I cannot give a more probable reason if the imputation be true or the occasion of the Proverbe just then this That Men of our profession who are Gods peculiar Inheritance are bound by the Lawes of God to more strict observance of our Saviours praecepts concerning Humility Meeknesse Brotherly-love and Charity or peaceable disposicion towards all then ordinary Men or men of other Callings or professions are And we know whose saying it is That if we do not continue as we are by the place wherein he hath set us the Salt of the Earth and Light of the World We shall become the most degenerate unprofitable members of the Land and Church wherein we Live And if the whole Tribe were to beare peculiar Armes as some other ingenuous Professions doe No Device could so well befit us as Jeremiah's two Baskets of Figges Then saia the Lord unto me What seest thou Jeremiah and I said Figgs the good Figgs very good and the evill very evill that cannot be eaten they are so evill Jer. 24. 3. The bad Figs were the Emblem of the disobedient refractory as the good Figs were of the obedient and beleeving Jewes in the Prophets time Both parts of the Embleme are as applyable to the Sons of Levi in our dayes Such of this Tribe as suffer sin to raigne in their Mortall bodies are generally the worst of sinners Such as mortifie the workes of the flesh by the spirit by prayer and other good services of God and seeke their Freedome or manumission by the Son of God Working out their Salvation with feare and trembling are the Best of all Gods Saints on Earth 3. The proper effects or Symptomes of Sinâ— Original described by S. Paul But the greatest part of the Induction hitherto made for finding out the properties or Symptomes of Sin original will be excepted against especially by such as are meer strangers to their own Breasts or dispositions of their hearts because the particular observations or Experiments whereof the Induction consists have been made by the Heathen or related by Authors not Canonicall But the Exception will voyd it self if we shall make it cleer to men altogether unexperienced of themselves that the like Experiments or observations have been made and more fully expressed by one whose Authority is Canonical whose Testimony of Experiments made in himself and taken by himself is most Authentick it is St. Paul That sin Originall was in the world before the Law was given is cleer from this Apostle Rom. 5. 13. For untill the Law sin was in the world but sin is not imputed when there is no Law So our English and most other Modern translations render the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 None of them altogether so well as it might be rendred Better thus There is not there cannot be any true estimate or full reckoning made of sin where there is no Law to give the * The Syriack reades it Usque enim ad Legem peccatii quum esset in mundo non reputabatur peccatum propterea quòd nâ—n erat Lex That is Sin though it were in the world untill the Law yet was it not reputed or reckoned for sin untill the law was given But if it be true which the Appostle Saith that sin raigned unto death untill the Law I hope it was imputed with a Witnesse Charge And againe Ver. 20. Moreover the Law entred that the offence might abound This abounding of the offence whereof he speakes was the issue or effect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the End or Finall Cause why the Law was given For so the Law-giver might be suspected to have been the Author of sin
Apprehensions or Boastings and that is given us by our Saviour himself in this Gospel Chap. 14. vers 15 23 24. If ye love me keep my Commandments And again Chap. 15. vers 10. If ye keep my Commandments ye shall abide in my love How many may we find who in distresse or danger whether by Sea or Land specially in grievous stormes or sicknesse will seriously purpose and Resume that Branch of their Vow in Baptism ☜ To for sake the Devil and all his works the Lusts of the Flesh the Pomps and vanities of this wicked world And yet the Same Men being restored to health and probable safety will of Late zealous Professors and solemn votaries turn Gaderenes or Gergesites ready upon new Opportunities or Provocations of untame Desires to wish Christ to depart out of their Coasts rather then His Residence in their Hearts or Brains should give a continual check to their swinish appetites or Brutish Fancies And thus to do is not to keep but to violate Christs Commandments which whosoever doth not keep as well in This Particular of mortifying the works or Lusts of the Flesh as in other Duties doth not truly Believe in him shall not without hearty Repentance or new Purification of the heart and spirit either see God or be partaker of Christs Kingdom 11. Another Precept of Christ there is more General then the Former Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you even so do unto them for this is the Law and the Prophets So far is the whole Christian world as we call it from keeping this Commandment that the Practises most Contrary to it are so Vniversal and so violent as that both the Casuists and professed Interpreters of Scriptures have almost lost the true meaning of it at least have utterly neglected the extending or branching of it into useful Rules of Good life or for bringing forth the Fruits of the Spirit And which is worse such learned and pious men as have undertaken the Cure of souls and have been solemnly sworn to the faithful Execution of Pastoral Charge dare not press the Observance of this Great Commandment upon their Flock which daily and hourly most shamefully transgresse it partly by the uncontroled Practises of stubborn people partly by Authorized Rules in Courts of Justice No Prophet of the Lord dare speak his mind or interpreter of the Gospel or spiritual Governour dare put his Commission from Christ in Execution unlesse such as are resolved to suffer a Martyrdom from their flock or from the Professors of the one or other Law established throughout this Kingdom Without Reference to any particular Cause or Person I dare boldly pronounce in the General That not the Twentieth Part of Tedious Suits or Vexations in Law or other Grievances or oppressions would either be set on foot by the People or suffered to be prosecuted by Men in Authority if the Fear of God Belief in Christ Loyalty to their Soveraign Lord or Good Affection to their Country were planted in Either of them truly or indeed 12. The General Neglect of this Great Commandment of doing as we would be done unto in former times of our security and Peace hath been alwayes Dangerous But the Violation of it in these Times of Mortality of Calamity and more then wonted danger of worse to ensue is Prodigious For preventing the Execution of Gods Judgements threatned for our Violation of This and other Commandments of Christ I must entreat all Sorts of men that hear me this day in the same words for sense and meaning which a Zealous and Learned Father sometimes used in like case Parcite Regi Parcite Regno parcite Populo Anglicano parcite Animabus Vestris If there be any true Love and Loyalty in us towards our Gratious Soveraign Lord and his Royal Issue any good Affection towards our Native Country or to our souls Let us abate our wonted Pride and Luxury our wonted Covetousnesse Let us not think it sufficient to abstain from Unjust Unchristian Vexation and Oppression of our Neighbours unlesse we seriously account that measure of Contentment of our desires of what kind soever which heretofore hath been Lawful to be in these times more then most Vnexpedient To use that Plenty of Diet or measure of Recreation but especially that Benefit or Advantage of Laws for advancing our selves or increasing our Fortune which heretofore we have done perhaps without sin Let This also in these times be esteemed Impious or a sin not to be Expiated without hearty Repentance and extraordinary Performance of works of Mercy Dan. 4. 27. The End of the Second Sermon 13. * The Authors Connexion of the 21 Chapter to the 4 Section as it was before These two Sermons were inserted But the more we labour further to unfold this Argument of our Natural Servitude unto sin the faster we shall draw another Knot or the more we presse the several Branches of this Servitude upon the Conscience of the Untegenerate or not well sanctified man the greater Perplexity we shall Create unto him in another part of Theology whose Knowledge is altogether as Necessary and as useful as our Experience of Natural Servitude unto sin is The Knot or perplexed Difficulty is What Kind or what portion of Freedom of Will is or can be Compossible with Absolute Servitude unto sin in the Vnregenerate or Vnsanctified man SECT IV. Of that Faculty of the Reasonable Soul which we commonly call Free-will Of the Root and several Branches of it in the Generality What Branches or Portion of this Free-will is in the Man altogether Vnregenerate or in debauched or heinous Sinners CHAP. XXIV Of the Difficulties of the Controversies Concerning Free-Will with the Reasons why They have troubled the Church so long 1. IF we should abstract this Problem from the Difficulties wherewith it may seem to be intangled by the former discourses Concerning our Servitude to Sin and consider it only in its own Nature and Essence this Question alone hath ministred more matter of intricate Disputes The main Point about Free-Will scarce well stated in any Age since the Apostles times then any other Controverted Point in Theologie He that hath leasure skill and opportunity to take an accurate Historical Survey of the the true State or rather of the Instability or ill stated Tenour of this Point since the death of our Saviours Apostles or other Canonical Writers of the New Testament will easily discover that the Disputes about it Pro and Con have been like to a Pair of Scales which never came to any Permanent Stay or constant Settling upon the right Center but have one while wagled this way another while that way The Orthodoxal Truth Concerning this Point as it was taught by our Saviour himself and by his Apostles and maintained by those who did immediately succeed them is That there was no other State or Fatality in Humane Affairs or Events save only This That such as sought after Glory and Immortality by
any point of Catholick Faith or Orthodoxal Doctrine CHAP. XXV Of the divers Acceptions or Significations of Freedom or Freenesse And of the several sorts or Degrees of Freedom in Creatures inanimate Vegetable Sensitive and Rational 1. FReedom or Freeness in our English tongue sometimes imports no more then spontaneum doth in Latin Of Freedom in creatures inanimate as it is opposed to Inforcement And according to this Sense or signification every thing is said to be done Sponte or Freely or Freely to come to pass which is done or comes to passe by the proper or Natural Inclination of any bodily Substance Whether it be endowed with life or sense or with motion only Thus we say the Water hath a Free-Course or runneth Freely when it runs that way which Nature inclines it without any Let or Hinderance or without any Artificial or External Help to draw move or impell it Freedom in this sense is opposed only to Coaction to Constraint or Inforcement As when water is drawn or impelled to such a course which left to it self it would not take we say it is a Forced Stream or Current not a Free Stream And so we call those Grounds Forced which bring forth little or no fruit without great labour toyl or cost unto such as Till or dress them And in this Sense the Latin word Liberum unto which our English Freedom or Liberty doth more properly and directly answer then unto the Latin Spontaneum is sometimes used to wit as it is opposed only to Coaction or Inforcement So a Poet describing the happy Estate of the world in the Golden Age saith Ipsaque tellus Omnia liberiùs nullo poscente ferebat The Earth did bring forth all things necessary or expedient for the use or comfort of man Freely that is Of its own Accord without the Labour industry or provident dressing of man Thus This and Other * Of that Age Ovid. Met. Lib. 1. Ipsa quoque immunis rastroque intacta nec ullis Saucia vomeâ—ibus per se dabat omnia Tâ—llus Mox etiam fruges Tellus inarata ferebat Nec renovatus ager gravidis canebat aristis Poets speak of the Golden Age from some Broken Notions or Traditions of mans First Estate in Paradise and of that Estate wherein the world and all things should have continued if Man had not fallen But this Temper of the Earth is much altered or rather inverted by the fall of man Most men it may be have heard or read of that Answer which an Ancient Philosopher made to this Question See Horace his Arva Beata Epod. 16. Reddit ubi Cererem tellus inarata quotannis c. Illic injussae veniunt ad mulctra capellae c. Why Nettles Thistles and other like weeds should grow so fast in such abundance of their own accord when as flowers herbs or comfortable fruits did not grow at all or seldom come to any good proof without the extraordinary pains or skill of man The best Answer which the Philosopher could make was this That the Earth was a Natural and Kind Mother unto Nettles weeds and grass but a Step-mother only to Flowers Herbs or Fruit. Now the Answer though for those times held witty was no way Satisfactory For a man might have further asked him why the Earth should be a kind mother and Loving nurse to weeds and a hard or Cruel Step-mother to herbs or Fruits Unto this Question the youngest Child amongst us that is rightly Catechized in the Grounds of Religion or hath but read the three first Chapters of the first Book of Moses may give a more full and satisfactory Answer then the wisest Philosophers without the Principles of Christian Religion could do The Cause then or Reason is from the Curse wherewith God cursed the Earth for mans Transgression Gen. 3. 17 â—8 19. Because thou hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee saying thou shalt not eat of it cursed is the ground for thy sake In sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the dayes of thy life Thorns also and Thistles shall it bring forth to thee and thou shalâ— eat the herb of the field In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground But though the Heathâ—nâ— could not know this Story by Light of Nature yet thus much being revealed or made known unto them they might easily have gathered That if the Earth was thus accursed for Mans sake the Nature of man was first accursed or corrupted As in very deed this preposterous and untoward inclination of the Earth to bring forth weeds Freely and plentifully and good Fruit hardly or by Constraint or Coaction is but an Emblem or visible Picture of the untoward and corrupt disposition of mans heart to bring forth the Fruits of the Flesh Voluntarily Freely and plentifully whereas it doth not it cannot bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit without the skill and husbandry of Him that made it We have the seeds of sin and iniquity planted in us by Nature and they fructisie and increase by our sloath and negligence As for the fruits of Righteousnesse the Seeds of them must be sown in us by the Spirit of God And being sown they do not grow up and prosper without his Extraordinary Blessing upon his own plants and his Servants Labours Though Paul may plant and Apollo water yet it is God only that gives the increase I am the Vine saith our Saviour John 15. 1. and my Father is the Husbandman And as the Apostle 1. Cor 3. 9. speaks we are his Husbandry So that in Respect of the Fruits of Righteousness and Works Spiritual mans Nature is not Free according to this First Acception or Sense of Freedom that is as it was opposed unto Coaction But in respect of the Fruits of the Flesh our corrupt Nature is most Free These it brings forth of its own accord more Freely and more plentifully then the Earth which God hath cursed for mans sake doth Nettles Thistles or any worse kind of weed And yet the more Freely our Nature brings forth the Fruits of sin the more deeply it is still tainted with the Servitude of Sin So that Freedom and Servitude in some cases at least in respect of divers Objects are not Opposite but Coincident or Compatible in One and the same subject or Person 2. This kind of Freedom which is only opposed to Coaction or Inforcement Of the Radical Difference between Creatures Inanimate and Vegetahles though it be truly and properly in Creatures Inanimate and void of life yet is it in an higher Degree in Creatures Vegetable or Sensitive Inanimate or Livelesse creatures have their Inclinations so set by †Arist Eth. Nicom Lib 2. Cap. 1. Nature that no Contrary Inclination can be implanted in them by Custome As if you move a stone every hour of the day upwards it will still move its selfas Freely and as swiftly downwards as it did at the First
Sensitives then any way supereminent to them Now there is not at least there ought not to be any scruple or Question Whether every man which hath attained to the use of Reason or of ordinary discretion have not the same Power or Faculty to correct or improve his own natural Dispositions ' or Sensitive Inclinations which Lycurgus practised with good successe upon his Two Whelps of the same kind No Question again there is or ought to be Whether Parents or other Instructers have not the like Power to correct or alter the inclinations of Children in their Minority or Nonage by good Discipline or Education Whence if we should grant that Postulatum or supposition which Galen that great Philosopher and Physitian with much diligence hath endeavoured to Demonstrate Mores animi sequuntur temper amentum Corporis that the manners or dispositions of men unto moral vertues or vices necessarily depend upon the Temperature of the body Yet can it never be evinced or made Probable that the Peculiar Temperature of any mans body may not be altered by the forementioned Reflective Power which every man hath and may exercise over his own senses humours or manner of dyet or to ruminate upon the Advertisments given him by Philosophers or Physitians either for correcting his inordinate appetites or dispositions or for improvement of such seeds of vertue as are in some degree or other by nature implanted in men or Children of the worst Temperature of Body And though Galen for ought we know did dye uncured of that Erronious or Heretical Opinion which was the scope of his Book or of that distemperature whether of body or of mind which did breed that Opinion Yet a Late Learned †Baptisâ—a Persona Commentator hath so cured his Book that sober young Students may peruse or visit it without danger of infection from it 8. But the Principal if not the only Stem of the fore-mentioned Freedom consists in mans Power to Reflect upon his own Rational Thoughts or Projects And this Power or Faculty no man no power on earth can alter or take from another how mean soever For it is truly said if it be rightly applied that Thought is Free not from Punishment if we think amisse For the Searcher of Hearts will Judge the most Secret Thoughts but Free from Coaction from constraint or inforcement We may be commanded or inforced to Do what another will have us to do but we cannot be compelled to think what another would have us think or to Will what they would have us to Will They may Propose some Particular unto us being in it self very Good and agreeable unto our desires yet the Goodness of it unlesse we please cannot constrain or enforce us to desire it for that time If we want some other Particular Good of the same kind to Counterpoyze or withdraw our Desire from it the very Goodness of the Free exercise of our own Will will suffice The very Trial or Experiment of this our Freedom and Power to abstain from many things in themselves desireable and with which most men are tempted and overswayed is oft-times more Pleasant then any Particular Sensitive Good 9. This is all I had to say Concerning such several Kinds or Degrees of Freedom or Power in Visible Creatures or of Free-Will a Faculty Peculiar to man as may be Learn'd from the Book of Nature All these several Sorts or Degrees of Freedom hitherto expressed in English are answerable to that which the Latines call Spontaneum Liberum or Libera Voluntas But whether Liberum Arbitrium an Expression used by many good Latin-Writers of the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be a Style whereof men in this Life be capable Or what Ranks of Men be Capable of It is a Point which cannot be determined without Examination of the Properties of Free Causes or Agents CHAP. XXVI Containing the Definition and Properties of Free Causes or Agents properly so called 1. CAusa Libera est quae Freedome or Liberty of choice positis omnibus ad agendum requisitis potest agere vel non agere This Definition of a Free Cause so far as it concerns Man whether Regenerate or Unregenerate is Orthodoxal and Sound but not so Orthodoxal and sound in respect of all Free Agents at least not so unquestionable in respect of them For there is all Free Agrents an Agency as well Immanent as Transient That we call as our betters before us have done An Agency Immanent Which produceth no Effect save only in the Agent Agencie Immanent Transient But every true Cause whether Free or Natural is alwayes presumed able to produce some Effect Extra Se which shall not be terminated Within its Self Concerning this Definition See victoria in His 13. RelectioÌ„ upon that of Ecclus. cap. 15. Deus ab initio constituit hominem reliquit illum in manu consilii fui but such as doth or may appear in the Visible Book of the Creatures 2. The Omnipotent Agent or Supreme Cause of Causes throughout all Eternity can work or not work Whatsoever Whensoever it pleaseth him without any Matter Praeexistent to his Work or any Condition requisite or Praerequired to his working He Freely that is without Necessity made all things of Nothing without any Counsellor or Adviser either for proposing or solliciting much lesse for Limiting or prescribing the Laws or manner of all secondary Causes workings or of the Effects possible to be wrought by them The Bounds or Limits of all Secondary Agents Operations are Necessity and Contingency Such Agents as by the Laws respectively given unto them by the Supreme Agent and Lawgiver are said to produce their Operations by Necessity or by Determination to This or That purpose and to no other cannot without Solecism be accounted or called Free Agents or Causes The premised Definition then Causa libera estquae positis omnibus ad agendum requisitis c. must be restrained to the Angelical and Humane Nature The Former Definition restrained to the Angelical Humane Nature Neither of these two Natures or Agents can produce any Real Effect Extra Se Without Themselves unlesse they have some Matter praeexistent to work upon nor any Immanent Action Within themselves without such Concomitancies or Assistancies as are requisite to the Use or Exercise of their natural Freedom So that both of them are only so farr Free in their Actions or Choices as the Omnipotent Creator shall permit or give them leave to use or exercise their natural Freedome Now their Natural Freedom as it is opposed to that which we call Spontaneum or Lubency in Vegetables only or meer Sensitive Creatures is but a Branch as hath been intimated before of Contingency Contingertia est duplex Intrinseca ex Electione Extrinseca ex casu orta See Suarez Metaphys Disp 19. Sect. 10. Num. 4. so that we cannot annoy and hurt the One but we must annoy and hurt the Other Id Contingens est quod potest esse
Salvation as God is readie to work in them and for them And because God never failes to work salvation in them and for them that are diligent in seeking it or affraid to neglect it therefore they are said to Work out their own Salvation not properly or Formally but Consecutivè that is Salvation is the Necessary Consequent of their working or doth necessarily follow upon their work Not by any force or Efficacie of their Work or by any natural Connexion but meerely by Gods Appointment or Decree The very same phrase in the Original our Saviour useth unto the people John 6. 27. Which words can beare no other Construction then that which we have made of St. Pauls words Philip. 2. 12. no other Interpretation then our English hath already made Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life And so the Vulgar Latin doth not render them verbatim Operamini Cibum but Operamini Cibo Not Work that meat but work for that meat For if That Meat which endureth to eternal Life must be given them by the Son of God if This Meat be the very Bodie and Blood of the Son of God it cannot be the proper Effect of any mans work or any Merit of man but the End or consequent of our Labours or endeavours and yet we are said to work This Meat in the same sense that we are said to work our Salvation viz. Consecutivè because God doth infallibly make us partakers of it if we diligently seek after it or labour for it 7. By the right Use of this Distinction we may reconcile many places of Holy Scripture which seem repugnant one to another as Likewise qualifie many Speeches whether of the Fathers or some Good Modern Writers which otherwise would seem harsh and offensive Who can say saith Solomon Prov. 20. 9. I have made my heart clean This Interrogation is in all mens judgement Equivalent to this Universal Negative No man can say I have made my heart clean Howbeit the Psalmist Psal 73. 13. saith Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain There is no Contradiction between this Psalmists Particular Affirmative I have cleansed my heart and Solomons Universal Negative No man can say I have cleansed my heart Solomon speakes of the Internal Purification which is the proper Effect and sole work of Gods Spirit The Psalmist speakes of his own Labours or Endeavours that his heart might be thus purified by the spirit of God He then did cleanse his heart Consecutivè non Formaliter Every one Saith St. John that hath this hope in him purifies himself as he is pure 1. Joh. 3. 3. This place perhaps Some will say is meant of men Regenerate only seeing they only have that hope whereof the Apostle here speakes Many other such places of scripture there be in which we are said and sometime Commanded to Purifie our Selves as Jam. 4. 8. Cleanse your hands ye Sinners and purifie your hearts ye double minded This place cannot be meant of men truely regenerate For even Sinners and double minded men such as men regenerate are not are commanded to cleanse their hands and to purifie their hearts Many other places likewise there be wherein this purifying of the heart is wholly ascribed unto God God saith St. Paul Act. 15. 9. put no difference betwixt us and them purifying their hearts by Faith Not this Purification only But all other Good Works are said to be wrought by God as Esay 26. 12. Lord thou wilt ordaine peace for us for thou also hast wrought all our workes in us or for us And our Saviour saith John 15. ver 5. Without me ye can do nothing Both parts of our former Distinction are included in that of St. Paul 2. Tim. 2. 21. If any man purge himself from these he shall be a Vessel unto honour Sanctified and meet for the Masters Vse and prepared unto every good work His speech is if we mark it He shall be made a Vessell unto honour if he purge himself He doth not say He shall be enabled to make himself a Vessell of Honour Nor doth he in proprietie of speech or as we say Formally or Efficiently purge himself But in that he doth those things whereupon this Purification by Gods Spirit doth immediately follow Man is said to purge himself And so are we in this place of St. Paul Rom 8. said to mortifie the deeds of the bodie by the Spirit when we do those things whereupon this Mortification doth immediately insue not by any Merit or Causalitie of our works but by Gods meere Grace by the Councel of his Holy irresistible Will by the Determination of his Eternal Decree by which it hath pleased him to apoint The One as a Necessarie Consequent of The Other to witt Spiritual Mortification or life it self as the Issue of our endeavours to Mortifie the Flesh This kind of Speech is usual not in Scripture only but in other Good Writers and in our Common Dialect So Tully tells us of a Romane Orator who for want of skill in Civill Law Petijt revera ut causa caderet made a Motion that he might Loose his Cause This Motion he did not make directly or Formally His meaning is that if his Motion had been granted he must by Necessary Consequent have lost his Cause Thus when we see a man Look Old whom we know to be much younger then our selves we usually say You make me an Old Man Not hereby meaning that he hath brought Old-Age or Gray Haires upon us by any trouble or vexation but that he who is much younger then we being apparently Old we must by Consequence be Old So that he makes us Old not Efficiently but only by Consequent truely argues us to be Old According to this Analogie of Speech by which He is said to make us Old whose Age doth truely argue us to be Old is that Prophesie litterally mean◠of Jeremiah which was punctually or formally fulfilled in God or his Christ Jer. 1. 10. See I have this day set thee over the Nations and over the Kingdomes to root out and to Pull down and to destroy and to throw down to build and to plant Jeremiah did never Levie an Armie or incite any people to take Armes for the Deposition of their present Governour or for the Alteration of any state yet in as much as He foretold the Extirpation of Some Kingdomes and the Erection or Plantation of Others And in as much as what he foretold did certainly come to passe he is said to have Done that which did Follow upon his Predictions though many yeares after his death And in the same Sense we are said to Mortifie the Flesh to cleanse our Hearts to work out our Salvation yea to make our Election sure when we do those things whereupon our Purification or Mortification shall be wrought though many yeares hence and alwaies wrought by the Omnipotent Power of that Decree by which those Kingdomes
a sin was incest in Lot such are all the sins committed by the Elect And so were all the sins of the Elect remitted before they were committed But the Question is Whether God did so absolutely decree the remission of any mans sin from eternitie as that their remission was from eternitie absolutely necessarie If God did absolutely decree that the sins of the Elect should be remitted Sin not remitted before committed then he did absolutely decree that they should be committed For even in Gods eternal Foreknowledge of all things that fall out in time the Commission of sins hath precedencie of their Remission and if their Remission were in respect of his Foreknowledge or decree absolutely necessary their Commission was as necessarie It is impossible there should be any Remission of sins without a presupposal of their Commission Yet are the former Conclusions not muttered in corners but maintained as part of that holy doctrine which hath been delivered unto us by the masters of Israel approved by the best writers in reformed Churches These and the like Doctrines are held in so precious esteem that if the lawful Pastor seek to root them out where they have been planted by others or to prevent their growth or spreading he shall be traduced for an Arminian and as they hope be so censured by the high Court of Parliament But my hope is that no Loyal Elder of Israel shall ever so far forget himself as either to attempt or seek to have those and the like Conclusions ratified by our great Josuahs Royal consent Sure I am these are no branches of that Ancient Catholick Apostolick Faith of which we acknowledg our Soveraign Lord to be the defender and God grant that he may ever defend and keep it pure and undefiled from these and the like Conclusions that it may defend him and his people from their adversaries 12 Yet to seek the Correction of these and the like Conclusions though malapertly maintained by some of the Flock against most of their Pastors or the punishment of those which so maintain them until the Principles from which they naturally issue be checkt or inhibited were but Tyrannie These here related are the least not the worst part of those noysom branches which spring from this one root That Gods irresistible decree for the absolute Election of some and the absolute Reprobation of others is immediatly terminated to the Individual Natures Substances or Entities of men without any Logical respect or reference to their qualifications This Principle being once granted what breach of Gods moral Law is there whereon men will not boldly adventure either through desperation or presumption either openly or secretly For seeing Gods Will which in their Divinitie is the only Cause why the one sort are destinated to death the other to life is most immutable and most Irresistible and seeing the Individual Entities or natures of men unto which this irresistible Decree is respectively terminated are immutable let the one sort do what they can pray for themselves and beseech others to pray for them they shall be damn'd because their Entities or Individual Substances are unalterable Let the other sort Live as they list they shall be saved because no corruption of manners no change of morality breeds any mutability or change in their Individual Natures or Entities unto which Gods immutable Decree is immediatly terminated Whatsoever become of good life and manners so the Individual Nature or Entity fail not or be not annihilated salvation is tyed unto it by a necessity more indissoluble then any chains of Adamant 13. This Assertion Whosoever is Elected from Eternity was never the child of wrath save only in the esteem of men I found delivered in certain papers at my first entrance upon my Pastoral charge in the Town of Newsastle written by one that had been a great Rabbi in some private Conventicles in and about that Town And for the refuting of this Opinion and the Principles out of which it doth most necessarily follow it was presently conceived by some of my Auditors that I went about to refute the Doctrine of all Reformed Churches concerning Election and Reprobation And Amongst the Doctrines of Reformed Churches which it was vehemently suspected I went about to refute this was expressed for one That the sins of the Elect or Regenerate were remitted before they were committed A doctrine which for my part I dare not charge any one reformed Church with though some in reformed Churches have stifly maintained the Principle out of which this Conclusion will necessarily follow and some few have in expresse Termes delivered the Conclusion but so hath not to my knowledge any reformed Church or entire Congregation besides the Familist to which this errour properly belongs The Council of Dort hath expresly delivered the contrary so have others which write against the Arminians But in this Point a Reverend and Learned Pastor in the City of London hath saved me a Labour The false Principle from which both these Conclusions 1. The sins of the Elect are remitted before they are committed 2. Whosoever is Elected being elected from eternitie never was never could be never can be the child of wrath will most necessarily follow is the forementioned Errour which tyes or terminates Gods Eternal and irresistible Decree for the absolute Election of some and the absolute Reprobation of others to the Individual Natures persons or Entities of men elected or reprobated But to omit for the present the question concerning such absolute Election not the most Tyrannical Lawgiver that to this day hath breathed on earth did ever declare himself to be so farre the son of the Divel as to make solemn decrees against mens persons without respect or reference to their Qualifications It is the propertie of the enemy of mankind to delight in mans punishment as he is a man or a reasonable creature to desire to have any man as he himself now is but sometimes was not a vessel capable only of vengeance or punitive justice alltogether uncapable of Gods free bounty mercy or favour And seeing this most Honourable Court of Parliament now happily assembled to make wholesome Lawes doth not intend to make any Punitive Lawes or decrees specially capitally punitive against any mens Persons or Nature but against mens ill Qualifications misdemeanors I am confident that every member of it doth firmly believe that our heavenly Father did never make any such Decree or Law Again seeing God hath revealed his good Will and pleasure to be this To reward every man according to all his wayes I shall find no opposition or Contradiction to this Conclusion as I hope among good Christians God did from eternity decree to reward every man not according to his Individual Nature but according to his wayes his works or qualification which he did no lesse certainly foresee then he did his Individual Nature He hath decreed from eternity to revvard the vvicked and the ungodly for their vvicked vvorks
patience to take the circumstances into consideration But the Holy Ghost to my apprehension gives the true reason why and by what means Pharaohs heart was at this time hardened verse 23. And Pharaoh turned and went into his house neither did he set his heart to this also And his not setting his heart to This Wonder with its circumstances did bring a necessitie upon him to have his heart hardened in some further degree then it had been with the First wonder But Pharaoh as we read was more terrified with the sight of the Froggs which notwithstanding the Egyptian Magicians did by sorcerie produce or at least which Pharaoh their Master was perswaded that they did produce But the Production could not be without his help nor the Perswasion but by his permission or sufferance who had enabled Moses to do this strange work In which This is most remarkable that Pharaoh should so earnestly entreat Moses and Aaron to remove this plague or to confine the Froggs unto the River onely verse 8. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said Intreat the Lord that he may take away the froggs from me and from my people and I will let the people go that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord. And Moses is as readie to grant as Pharaoh was earnest to request this Favour of him verse 9 10 11. And Moses said unto Pharaoh Glorie over me that is you shall command me When shall I intreat for thee and for thy servants and for thy people to destroy the froggs from thee and thy houses that they may remain in the river onely And he said Tomorrow And he said Be it according to thy word that thou mayst know that there is none like unto the Lord our God And the froggs shall depart from thee and from thy houses and from thy servants and from thy people they shall remain in the river onely But this relentance in Pharaoh was but like the Divels vow to turn Monk in a languishing Fit but as soon as the Fit was off him as the Fable is he turned to his wonted Byas and became and so continues an erranter knave then he was before For so it follows verse 15. But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite he hardened his heart and hearkened not unto them as the Lord had said This cannot be understood save onely of such an Indirect or Concomitant Obduration as hath before been expressed that is a Resumption of his former proud and avaritious Resolutions the Resultance of which could be no other but a measure of Induration so much greater then the former that had befallen him by how much the sight of the Froggs had mollified his heart more then the two former wonders had done Yet doth not Pharaoh upon the sight of any of these three bewray such a stubborn wilfull disposition as he did upon the exhibition of the Fourth Miracle which his Enchanters did plainly confess surpassed their skill Chapt. 8. 18 19. And the Magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice but they could not so there were lice upon man and upon beast Then the Magicians said unto Pharaoh This is THE FINGER OF GOD And Pharaohs heart was hardened and he hearkened not unto them as the Lord had said The finger of God then was remarkable in Working the Miracle which the Magicians could not but no way remarkable in hardning Pharaoh Nor is it either said or intimated that the Finger of God did harden Pharaohs heart but Pharaohs heart remained obstinate and he hearkened not unto them as the Lord had said verse 19. His not hearkening unto them was the cause of his Induration 16. But this Miracle of the lice was to Pharaoh more loathsome then terrible And for this reason haply he did not either so fairly or so earnestly intreat Moses and Aaron to pray for him as he had done upon the sight of the Froggs and as he straight way after did upon the noysome experience of the miraculous swarmes of Flies ver 21 22 23 24. And ver 25. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said Go do Sacrifice unto your God in this Land The offer is so niggardly that Moses disdains to accept of it cannot so much as hear it without such Indignation as is exprest ver 26. It is not meet to do so for then we should offer unto the Lord our God that which is an abomination unto the Egyptians Lo can we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes and they not stone us Notwithstanding all the former Documents of Gods power and wisedom in still over-reaching Pharaohs skill or Potencie Yet the Caitiffe out of covetousnesse seeks to drive his bargain as low as may be For when Moses was peremptory to go three dayes journey into the wildernesse to sacrifice Pharaoh yeilded somewhat more then he had done in the former Gâ—ant to witt that they might go into the wildernesse but as if he had known neither what to say nor what to do he instantly limits his Commission ver 28. And Pharaoh said I will let you go that you may sacrifice unto the Lord your God in the wildernesse But go not farr away And as if that had been the least part of his present intentions he adds immediately and as it were with the same breath Pray or Intreat for me And so Moses did as it follows ver 29. but with this Canonical and peremptorie Monition But let Pharaoh from henceforth deceive no more in not suffering the people to sacrifice unto the Lord. Upon his fraudulent contempt of this Peremptory monition the Lord begins to deale more severely with him and to proceed unto sentence and that a more dreadful one then had befallen him if he had not dealt so deceitfully as he did at this turn also for it follows ver 32. Yet Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also and did not let the people go Moses in his next Treatie repeates the summe of his first Embassage unto him and presseth him by thronging new plagues upon him to come to his tryal Chap. 9. ver 1 2 3. Then the Lord said unto Moses Go in unto Pharaoh and tel him Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews let my people go that they may serve me for if thou refuse to let them go and wilt hold them still Behold the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattel c. This word Ecce as in most other places is here a special Character of the speedy execution of the Plague that was threatened and of the remarkable manner how it was executed ver 4. And the Lord shall sever between the cattel of Israel and the cattel of Egypt and there shall nothing dye of all that is the Childrens of Israel And the Lord appointed a set time saying To morrow the Lord shall do this thing in the Land And the Lord did that thing on the morrow and the cattel of Egypt died but of the cattel of the
c. Betwixt affections calm and troubled a mighty difference ibid. Agar and Ishmael related unto by St. John Chap. 8. verse 36. 3070 Agencie Immanent and Transient 3087 Alexander P. the fifth his Canon for holy water 3264 Alexander Pheraeus weeping Ripe at a Tragoedie and yet a cruel man 3073 3145 Ambition 3063 3065 3076 3126 An Ambitious Error Infallibilitie 3067 St. Ambrose A Saying in him Ego non sum ego 3240 St. Ambrose his Rule for interpreting Scripture Fints Dicendorum Ratio Diâ—â—orum 3160 c. Anathema Maranatha Taken out of Enoch his Prophesie or Book 3171 Antedate pardons God never does 3283 See sins remitted Antichrist Eastern and Western 3262 Aquinas comes neere making God Author of sin 3012 Arts ought to have Artists for Judges 3014 Art See Rules Ashes the Emblem of Immortalitie 3270 3300 Eastern Antichrist The height of his Heresie some place in maintenance of the more then Fatal â—rrespective Decree by which all things Christs death not excepted be said to fall out inevitably 3266 Astipulation before Admission to the Lords Supper necessary 3272 St. Austins attempt to draw the middle Line betwixt Stoicism and Pelagianism 3081 Auricular confession abused by base Interrogatories 3026 St. Austins Saying about Gods accurate weighing the actions of men 3239 The Authors solemn Appeal 3279 God by some mens Consequences made Author of sin 2012 B. THough Baptism do not utterly kill original sin yet are Children by Baptism in such measure regenerated as is needfull to save them if they dye Infants 3100 Life Spiritual created in Baptized Infants 3114 Sinne may revive in Baptized Infants 3158 St. Basils saying about that Point 3159 By baptism we are translated from Sons of Wrath to be Children of God 3158 Baptismal Grace denyed restrained 3174 Baptismal vow the first thing Children are to consider at their arrival at the use of Reason 3100 To null the Benefit of Baptism is a great sinne 3115 Baptism See Regeneration No Infant Reprobate at the hower of Baptism 3167 Analogie betwixt Baptism and the water of Sprinkling mixt with the Ashes of the red Heifer 3300 Singularitie of Baptism typifyed in the rarity of the Rite of that Heifer 3270 c. How Sin is remitted by Baptism 3296 Christs most Efficacious presence in Baptism 3296 Baptism needles if sins be Remitted before committed 3295 The Church of Englands Doctrine of Baptism 3272 Baptism a Sacramental Consecration to fight against Flesh c. 3101 A Bear enraged with Crimson or Scarlet colour did teare a woman in pieces 3027 Becanus's dispute with Paraeus 3012 Belief a Term divisible 3073 Believers in part may fall away 3072 c. Bellarmin as harsh as Piscator or Zuinglius about the Author of sin 3012 Berith well translated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3259 Beza's inference against Origen right 3225 Beza's mistake 3226 the fallacie that caused it 3232 3237 Bloud of Christ shed not spilt immortal brought into the heavenly Sanctuary daily purifyes us 3258 3297 c. Christs Body and Bloud vertually present really operative 3258 3296 c. 3303 c. Christs Bloud See Parallels The bloud of Buls c. inefficacious because corruptible 3297 Bodin his resolution 3184 The Body of man must be sanctifyed also 3118 Bodies the nature of the fight with our own Bodies 3102 c. St. Pauls method in Fighting with his Bodie 3103 Bosom or Bay of Abraham 3256 Bruits Their rare docilities 3133 c. Mr. Burtons Accusation of the Authour with his addition 3174 c. Busbequius's Discourse with Chiaussus a Turke 3181 C. CArdan's Apothegm 3001 Calavius his craft 3074 3145 Calvin Calvinists Canisius 3012 Called a Grammatical Passive Real Passive 3278 Caleb Joshua Israelites Gods dealing with them a Type how he deales with Christians 3150 Canon for holy water Text mistaken 3264 c. 3270 In Canonem incidere how men punish themselves 3163 3170 3171 3173 Cain Corah Balaam their Sentence a Ruled Case 3169 c. Cathedrals their good use 327â— c. A Catholick confession Reall Communication of Christs Body and Bloud 3298 A caveat for Confidents 3244 Cathari followers of Novatianus and Novatus 3291 Cause See Obliquitie See Relation Charitie of the Heathens 3125 c. Chemnitius his Rule 3017 Children at their first arrival at the use of Reason must reflect upon their Baptismal vow 3100 upon what else 3130 3146 Children See Baptism See Regeneration Circumcision Loath'd whilest commanded Longed for when it was forbidden 3026 Christ dyed for all 3172 Christ See Bloud Sacrifice Priesthood Christians may serve Bacchus Venus Pluto as much as the Heathens did 3060 Church Primitive denyed two favours to Revolters 3282 Church present not bound by precedents of the antienter Church in meere matters of Fact 3282 Ceremonies See Sacrifice Certaintie of our State in Grace how to examine it 3103 c. Certaintie good grounds of it 3104 3278 Clergie their Obligation their Armes 3025 Two great conquests of Satan gotten over the Church by the device of Infallibilitie 3067 Commutatio poenae favorabilis in Sacrifices 3293 Confirmation or Benediction Episcopal Sadly neglected 3273 Conscience Synteresis what c. 2118 c. Conscience purifyed by the Spirit of God directs the Affections 3127 Consubstantiation the pretence for it 3298 Controversies betwixt Jesuites and Dominicans Lutherans and Zuinglians Arminians and Gomarists their sad effects 3129 Two seeming contradictories 3237 Contingencie as possible to be decreed by God as necessitie 3016 Contingens defined divided 3088 Conversion Man meerly Passive in most degrees of it 3106 c. Yet active in some sort that he may therein be though a meere yet a towardly passive 3108 c. 3128 Conversion what unregenerate men are to do before it 3115 3143 3216 3219 3221 In conversion how Free-wil Co-operates with Gods Spirit the manner inexplicable 3112 Whether conversion be ex operibus praevisis 3112 c. To set men right into the work of Conversion the main work of the Ministerie 3219 Covenant of the Eye Pericles guessed at it 3142 New Covenant the condition of men under it 3292 c. New Covenant See Legal Confession abused 3026 Covetousness 3063 3098 3126 A malapert Courtier 3227 Creatura rationalis an dari possit in totum impeccabilis 3007 The Question restrained to Angels and Men ibid. It begets a second Question whether creatures ever secured from all possibilitie of sinning be capable of reward ibid. All things created ex nihilo 3113 c. Creation ex termino praeviso non ex causa 3113 Creatures Inanimate Vegetant Sensitive Rational differenced 3082 c. Their several natural capacities 3132 c. Criticism of some sawcie Grammarian about Berith 3259 Maldonate's Criticism about Cohen in opposition to Calvin 3305 Crotonian Reformation wrought by Pythagoras 3137 Ill Custom the force of it 3055. 3085 The crosness of our Nature 3024 c. St. Cyprians saying 3002. 3018. D. DAvus his Discourse with his Master distinction of the Romans 3056 c. Decree irrespective and