which are more extraordinary and remote Assistances thereto 2. That these are given as such a great help to his Joy and Excitement of his Affections to follow the Lord fully as may make him wonder how the greatness of these things which men are called to believe can come near their thoughts and yet no more take them up about this Confirming Work 3. That the too visible neglect hereof both with respect to the Youth and Community of Professours in the Church seems one of the sad and fundamental defects of this day The Reasons hâ—reof with some clear view of these means whicâ—â—ight most answer such an end are briefly offered in this preceding Work CHARACT VII A truly Confirmed Christian may in the last place be herein also considered as such whose Faith being oft tryed through all these Stages of Christianity he hath been taken hath some proper Record of the most choice and signal Confirmations of his Life to improve the same not only for his own support in that last warfare of death but for strengthning the Faith of others wherein he does thus judge 1. That there could be no true support or relief from Religion here in the Earth if it cannot bear out then And that Death is the great Toâ—chstone and Trial when the true value and difference betwixt things of an Eternal Truth and substance and the things of this World will be best seen 2. He reckons each real Christian by his Profession then engaged and accountable even by some explicite personal Testimony to put to his Seal that God is True and bear the same witness with his last and dying breath to the Truth of Christianity which he gave in the whole course of his Life and of that joy complacence and assurance of Mind which he hath found and now hath in the way of Truth So as to press the same on his dearest Relations as their alone true Interest 3. He sees also how honourable it is for the Lord that such whose Faith hath been oft tried and when thus with Joy and Admiration he can look back on the most pressing and conspicuous Conflicts of time should have it their last work to pay in some Tribute of Praise unto him whose Word and Promise unto them did yet never fail 4. He accounts the more weighty Tryals he hath been carried thorow in his Christian warfare do both add more to this Service and impart more to the value of such a Testimony 5. He judgeth this one special way and advantage whereby one Generation might declare the Truth and Faithfulness of God unto another in a Family Line and Relation to shew forth thus that the Lord is upright that he is their Rock and with him is no Unrighteousness Yea which should be matter of unspeakable Joy when now in his turn he can say that such hath the Lord been to him what were Davids dying Words 1 Kings 1.14 Who hath delivered my Soul out of all distress how that in no trouble or exigence of his Life he was ever left without a door of Hope and thus also with Caleb Josh 14.10 To give in some such witness for God I am now near the close of time and do testifie that the Word of his Truth and Promise he hath surely accomplished which hath brought me safe and honourably through when such as did distrust the same by misbelief and sought after another refuge found all their Confidences fail 6. And knowing likewise how great a suprizal Death may be and that such as have shined in their day may yet set under a cloud and go silent off the Stage he judgeth it the more needful to have such a piece of his dying work prepared as one of the choicest Legacies he can bequeath to his Surviving Friends in a season when it hath usually the greatest advantage of weight and acceptance it being still qualified with Christian Prudence and Humble Sobriety so as all may see its whole intent is to commend to mens Conscience the way of Truth and Godliness and not themselves and thus direct it for the proper use and improvement of their nearest Relations I know it may be strange to some what is spoke upon this Head but as it 's sure the present day hath its Duty and each time of out Life hath some proper work so I humbly judge that this seems to fall in as the last Service of a dying Christian to his Generation to deliver off his hand the Truth which he had received and hath oft proved with his Confirmatory Seal and Testimonâ— thereto And now is it in some more than ordinary way called for in this hour of great darkness when if the Security of the Absolute Promises stood not good to the Church we might fear Religion might quickly wear out and Truth perish from the Earth and as so solemn and weighty a thing should it be managed with much humble Prudence so that it may be judged that there is no serious and observing Christian but hath some peculiar ingagements under which they find themselves held even beyond others yea some such Singular Confirmations in the Journal of their Life that should not be easie to hide under the ground where the strengthning of others hereby is concerned and that such should not then leave the Cross of Jesus Christ at a loss or part therewith without their Testimony which hath left them at so grâ—at an Advantage And though this is not to offer particular Rules in such a Duty but that Christian Wisdom must direct herein as the present Case is circumstantiated yet might it be hoped were this more taken to Heart it should be a singular means to make more deep Impressions of mens dying Work on their Spirits Even whilst they are in health to excite their surviving Friends and to keep Religion thus alive in a Family state and Relation and gain a more venerable respect to the same on mens Consciences yea to fix also stronger ingagements on the succeeding offspring Thus is presented here a short Idea of the solid and judicious Work of Christian Confirmation in the Truth under these foregoing Characters to shew how rare an attainment of Religion this is yea to present herein a special Series and Scale of the greatest steps in this Confirmatory work by which it should be followed And none of these may be parted from other though some be of an higher and more absolute use for such an end And if it should be objected here What needs any such expense of time or pains in this Case when it 's sure the Essential Truths of the Gospel are not questioned and that without internal evidence of the Spirit no external means of this kind can be of use I know that it 's the alone work of the Holy Ghost to beget a Divine and supernatural Faith without which the furthest Light and Objective Evidence though backed with a continued Dispensation of External Miracles could never bear Christians out either as to
immediate revelation of God unto men is so demonstrably extant in the world page 24 VI. Of the special evidences of the Scriptures Divinity which men must needs see to be infallible page 25 VII Of the secure conveyance of the Scripture though all the changes of times past page 27 VIII Of the fall of man and entry of sin into the World as it is fully demonstrable to reason as well as by the certainty of Faith page 28 SECTION II. I. HOlding forth those great assistances to the Christian faith and of the Messias being surely promised to the Church before his coming page 29 II. Of the truth and accomplishment of this great promise of the Messias and how it is now as sure in the event as it 's clear he was promised page 30 III. Of the special advantage for confirmation of our faith herein that for 4000 years the promised coming of the Messias was deferred page 32 IV. Of the nature and internal excellency of Christianity to bear furthest evidence to the truth thereof page 33 V. That this is the same Gospel we now receive and enjoy which from the first promulgation thereof hath had so great effects on the world page 34 VI. That the sufferings of the Saints in times past was so demonstrably above the assistance of Nature page 36 SECTION III. I. FOR holding forth on what grounds the faith of a Deity must determine men to be Christians page 37 II. What confirmation the Christian Religion hath from that visible State of the Jews page 38 III. The way and manner of its prevailing on the world which no profession else could ever pretend to page 39 IV. The nature of that great evidence which Christ hath himself given to the world of his divine mission in the love and unity of his people Joh 17.21 page 40 V. How the strength of such a demonstration stands still clear and evident in these dividing times of the Church page 42 VI. What in these last times is under our hand to compensate such a confirmation by miracles which was in the first times of the Gospel page 43 SECTION IV. I. FOR holding forth with the furthest rational certainty and evidence the truth and doctrine of Christ to be a soul-quickning and experimental Religion page 44 II. The truth also of conversion of men from a state of nature to a new state of grace page 46 III. Of so great an experiment of Religion as Communion betwixt God and men here on Earth page 48 IV. Of so great a demonstration of Religion in the power and workings of the Conscience page 49 V. Of that special confirmation to our faith which doth result from such a demonstration of this power of the Conscience over men page 50 SECTION V. I. FOR holding forth the Truth of a Kingdom of Darkness in the World in opposition to the Kingdom of Christ page 51 II. What confirmation to our Faith the certainty hereof and of these Powers of Darkness doth clearly afford page 52 III. That great truth of the immortality of the Soul with the clearest evidence to reason as well as by the certainty of Faith page 54 IV. How confirming a Seal to the Scripture that great change which passeth on all men by death is and how it 's no natural accident page 55 V. Some special assistances to the Christians Faith of an eternal Glory in Heaven and to serve an unavoidable conviction on the greatest Atheists page 57 VI. Something of a visible Hell in some near approach hereof even to mens senses held forth to awake and convince the World of such a state of horrour and torment in another World page 59 VII Some assistances to our Faith of that great truth of the Resurrection of the Body page 61 CHAPTER III. The Confirming work of Religion further improved with respect to this dismal and amazing time we are now fallen in SECTION I. TO hold forth what may be both for light and confirmation upon this great distress the Churches of Christ are now under page 63 SECTION II. HOW great a talent we stand accountable for in this day of such immediate and extraordinary appearances of the Lord for confirming the same publick cause of the Reformed Church since the Reformation which we are now called to adhere to page 65 SECTION III. WHat manner of time is the present lot of the Church now fallen in and what judgment we ought to have hereof from the Scripture for our furthest confirming in such a day page 73 SECTION IV. SOme special service that we are now called to and accountable for in behalf of the truth and for sanctifying the Lord in the eyes of others who are under so great a talent of Light and confirmation in the same page 77 The True and Infallible WAY For attaining a confirmed State in Religion c. CHAP. I. The Primitive Confirmation in the truth of Christianity held forth and cleared in its continued necessity and use to this day in seven Positions Posit I. THAT nothing can be of a more sad and threatning aspect on the present state of Religion in all the Churches of Christ than that utter estrangement most are under to the true grounds of Faith and to those fundamental differences betwixt Christianity and every false way which no pretended Religion can lay claim to The reasons of the Position are these I. That it is too visibly manifest how no men in the world know so little of their own profession of any human art or science as such who bear the Name of Christians Or are so generally strangers to the Truth and firmness of the Principles thereof for maintaining either a due Valuation or powerful sence of the same on their Soul so that an implicit and Traditional Profession is the only part and propriety which most can claim in the Truth and Doctrine they profess II. That very rarely also is any Serious Personal Inquiry and Tryal if there be indeed such a thing as an Experimental and Soul-quickning Religion in the Earth That can bear the expence of the most dismal and afflicting times and hath so great a temporal Revenue as Peace with God an Immediate Communion with him the Joy and Comforts of the Holy Ghost when we are under such pressures of trouble as are above the support of Nature III. That the furthest account why most go under the name of Christians rather than of any other form can rise no higher than Custom and Education that it did bespeak them from their Birth and was the Religion of their Ancestors yea become in that manner natural to them as the Customs and Language of their Country Which are grounds that would determine to the very opposite Profession if they were stated under the same circumstances and had the same motives to be Mahumetans since it is sure these can found no other Assent than is suitable to the Nature and Strength thereof IV. That thus it is plain the most numerous part of
any sight within time but when such come more close and near upon this Trial and have once understood the Nature and greatness of that Security which these have to adventure on and what is the Glory of their Hope and the sure Spring of their Supplies for their Work and Trials within time then will this second wonder unspeakably exceed the first how it 's possible that such are not of a more raised and enlarged Spirit in the service of the Gospel in that short season they have here for it on the Earth and how their difficulty should not be more to bear the Joy of so great a Prospect and Expectation than to bear any present Griefs and Troubles Yea how a mans Life who indeed sincerely makes the Christian Profession is not in some more continued transport of ravishment and wondering to know that they are surely made for their Eternal State in another World and are among those on whom the glorious God hath chosen to have the exceeding Riches of his Grace shewed forth in the Regions of Blessedness above for ever 5. He hath another sight and prospect of the Christian Creed than most who give an easie Assent thereunto and hath his Reason so dazled with the Revelation of the Gospel and of the Wonders thereof as hath put him to such an Exercise as that 2 Chron. 6.18 How to Credit his Eyes therewith the more deep Reflection he hath upon the same But will God in very deed dwell with men on the Earth He judgeth that they who after some fluctuating suspence are admitted to see the Truth of Christianity with that Certainty of its Evidence as the greatness of such a discovery does require may have some resemblance to that transport which the Angels had at the first Creation when the Morning Stars Sung together and the Sons of God shouted for Joy to see themselves thus who were brought out of pure nothing entred into that ineffable Light of seeing God and also their own blessedness in him in so high a degree So that he accounts it one of the highest Attainments of Religion for a Christian indeed to believe the Articles of his own Faith and have his Soul as fully perswaded hereof as of his being that such a time assuredly was and is now many Ages since past when the glorious Redeemer of the Church the second Person of the God-head came down from Heaven and was revealed in our Nature that on him as Surety to Divine Justice in the room of the Elect Church was the whole Guilt and Sin thereof transferred and in this marvellous way did the Holy God take Satisfaction to Himself by Himself that thus our Nature is exalted by the Incarnation of Christ above the Nature of Angels that the time is near when the meanest afflicted Christian shall take in no other Air than the Breathings of the higher Paradise above and now hath an Eternity of Joy and Blessedness before him that within a very little time he shall know this welcome of our blest Redeemer to his Followers here on the Earth Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom c. When he shall take off the Cross and put on the Crown whâ—n it shall be then no more a matter of Faith but of Sence to be Partaker of that Inheritance with the Saints in Light and know those Proper Mansions in that State of Glory and peculiar Assignment thereunto which all the Redeemed shall then have and be put in the same rank with the Elect Angels to be as those pure flames of Love and Joy yea know what it is to walk in the Streets of the New Jerusalem which are as Gold Transparent as Christal and what that meeting-will be of his Soul Perfected and in a Triumphant State with his Glorified Body raised incorruptible and never to part any more and to have his proper share of that blessed and greatest Solemnity that shall be celebrated in Heaven the Marriage Supper of the Lamb with the whole Triumphant Church and hear that honourable account which the great Judge will then make of these Trials of his Faith and sharp conflicts which he had gone through within time with that solemn Testimony of Approbation which will be given hereof And since it 's sure these great things must be a part of the Christian Faith can it be strange that such as would in that manner converse therewith tho they be not yet seen as no less undoubted Realities than any present Objects of Sense cannot be easily satisfied with a low degree of Evidence and Confirmation of their Judgment but would have their Joy perfected so far as this State of Mortality can bear and so find it easie to Rejoice and Glory in Tribulation and to weep now for a Season who are to rejoyce for ever yea to say in the Words of Mephibosheth Let them take it all and enjoy the same since he who is their Life and Exceeding Joy Lives and Reigns who is Infinitely better to them than all these things 6. He accounts the Strengthning of his Faith to be such a concern not only as it is his Souls Adventure for all Eternity but as the highest way of Glorifying God here That whatever tends to a more full Confirmation of the same he reckons also one of the greatest Additions to his Joy and Comfort within time and that these manifold Assistances with such Reduplication thereof which the Lord hath himself given for this end are such that no Fragments of so rich a Talent should be lost and tho he knows the greatest Demonstrations of our Faith can add nothing to the Certainty of Divine Truth in it self yet are they thus given in regard of the strong Trials of a Christians Life and of what their weaknesses stand in need of for support 7. It 's in this Study he sees and takes to Heart how not only the Condition of Man in the Earth but the Profession of Christ also calls for such a reckoning that he may have Trials in that manner dispensed that no visible refuge will be found in the least to stand by him but all humane Comfort and Assistance will fail him so that he must needs lay in Ballast now in its Season and be founded thereon with that Assurance of Judgment as is needful for that Day when he must either get through in the alone way of Believing against Sence or Perish And tho no such Attainments of Light can bear out then without present and immediate Influences from above and that it is sure according to the Day so must the Christians Strength be yet does he see also the want of an established Judgment and of some proper stock laid up of Aids and Assistances this way against a sharp Storm is like to make sad work among the Professours of this Age ere the Trials of such a time have done their work 8. He sees also how the greatest Contest which in this day in the World is betwixt God
assent to the Divinity of the Scripture and were now pressâ—d to joyn in with that Profession of the Christian Faith which is most exactly conform to the same in the genuine and perspicuous sence thereof In the second place he hath sought to know how he could imbrace the Popish Creed and adventure his Eternal state thereon or how he could extinguish his Reason and Conscience so far as to believe that the Holy God would ever impose such a Faith upon men as this is 1. Where he must abandon these Principles of natural Reason in the most necessary use thereof which God hath himself planted in mans Soul so as not to trust his own Eyes but others in that great Interest of his Eternal State and with his own consent be shut out from all proper knowledge of the rule of his Religion yea account a blind and unlimited Obedience to men amongst the highest Excellencies of Faith 2. Where he must at once believe the Fulness and Perfection of the Scripture which is not only fitted for that great end of bringing Mankind to God but for such an universal use herein as to make the Simple wise and cause the Poor to receive the Gospel and yet believe also that it is a Mass of dead and unsensed Characters until the Romish Clergy put a just Sense thereon tho its Sense and meaning is the very Soul thereof Yea thus pass from the Letter of the same and all Certainty of its Truth from Intrinsick Evidences and these Marks and Characters of its Divinity whereby the Christian Cause could be maintain'd against Pagans 3. Where he must believe also that these are the Words of Christ Joh. 7.17 If any man do my will he shall know my Doctrine whether it be of God or not and that men err through not knowing the Scripture Mat. 22. And yet believe all the while that these sacred Fountains of Light should be shut up to keep men from Errors and that the sole right of understanding the same belongs to a few not to the Multitude who yet can pretend no extraordinary Assistance or Revelation herein nor will themselves come to these waters of Jealousie to be tried 4. Where he must needs believe that the Scriptures are the Oracles of God committed to the Church to give answer in every dark Case Rom. 3.2 The Type and Form of sound Doctrine Rom. 6.17 Unto whose Sentence in all matters both of Faith and Practice we are expresly referred Isa 8.20 And yet believe also that it hath no Authority or Decisive Voice but what is Precarious and dependant on the Romish Church And thus Consent to have the whole Christian Faith Visibly unhinged of the Foundation of the Scripture and subjected to a Supream Visible and pretended Infallible Judge here in the Earth with such a claim of Dominion over the Faith of the Saints as the Apostles of Christ durst never own but did fully disclaim 2 Cor. 1.24 5. Where he must believe that Jesus Christ came for this end to save lost man and by one Offering hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10.18 And yet joyn with the same a Faith of a human Satisfaction for Sin so as men may both Merit Mediate and Supertrogate go above what is needful for themselves And so be saved in the same way of Life which was by the Covenant of Works ascribing no more to Christ than the giving Salvation to mens own Merits which their own Intrinsick Value and Condignity doth require as a Debt 6. He finds not how in the same Creed he could possibly hold by one Mediator betwixt God and Man where a Plurality for this end is admitted and by the reality of Christs human Nature and his having a true and finite Body which is subjected to have a new created Being each time in the Consecrated Host or beliâ—ve the Truth of his Sufferings as now fully accomplished and to be repeated no more when it is in that daily Sacrifice of the Mass still offered as a Propitiatory Sacrifice for the Living and the Dead So on the most severe and impartial inquiry he cannot find how one holding these Principles should go a further length than Morality or claim another standing than by a Covenant of Works 7. Nor knows he how to believe at once the Truth of the Gospel to be a Doctrine of Holiness and Infinite Purity and yet joyn in the same Faith such an Indulgence for men to Sin that Money may stand for Merit and the Rich may have the most easie and large Entry into Heaven Conceit that it is a Priviledge for men to destroy themselves and by External Severities and Penance to the Flesh like to the Lancing and Gashing of Baals Priests supply the room of Christian Mortification 8. Yea he finds it not possible to believe that Sin can only be expiated by the Blood of Christ and is his alone Work who hath purged our Sin himself Heb. 1.3 Or that there are more than two ways that lead to a twofold State of men a Strait way which leads to a Life and a Broad unto Destruction Mat. 7.14 and yet believe that there is a Purgatory after this life wherein men must be tormented and suffer extream Pains to expiate such Venial Sins as their Prayers and Penances here could not do yea he is made to wonder how any who believes such a thing can ever have true Peace or Comfort in the World concluding that Papists do either take it as a Fiction or forget themselves when they are chearful For the fear of such a place the Uncertainty of Release and how long a term it may be ere this Purging Work be compleat when their own Writers Assign no less time than 10000 Years as needful to satisfie for some Sins and fear lest it prove a real Hell must still be a piercing terrour nor can he believe that such should Credit themselves herein who assume this Power to Change the Condition of the Dead Since were it really believed that the Keys of such a Prison were here in mens hands and Folk could by the largest Bribes to the Romish Church get a safe Deliverance thence it were not strange to see the Temporal State of Christendom in a short time made over to these We should Judge they were in a strange manner indeed priviledged above the whole residue of men who by such a Power over the World to come could make so easie a Purchase of this also which is present 9. He finds and is sure he could never get his Reason and Conscience brought to such a Faith even tho he made a feigned Profession herein of that pretended Supremacy of Peter as Bishop of Rome on which the whole frame and structure of the Papacy leans and the Vertue of all the Pardons and Absolutions founded thereon on which so many have adventured into an other World except he would build on the Sand only and not on the Rock 10. He finds also how
THE Confirming Work OF RELIGION OR It s Great Things made plain By their Primary Evidences and Demonstrations Whereby the meanest in the Church may soon be made able to render a Solid and Rational Account of their Faith Written by R. Fleming Author of the Fulfilling of the Scriptures Now Published by Daniel Burgess LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns the lower end of Cheapside 1693. THE Publisher to the Reader THE highest Angels are most humble Creatures the Church of God is full of their Services but knoweth next to nothing of their Names Their Works praise their Lord and ours but not Themselves And if the Evangelical Author of this Book could have had his Will the Churches of Câ—rist should not have had his Name He would have kept himself together a Benefactor and a sort of stranger unto them Against his will it came to be known that his book of the Fulfilling of the Scriptures wâ—s his And by the Divine Providence it was made necessary that his latter Works should bear his Name Obscurity was his Ambition tho' his Gifts and Graces prove too big and too bright to be covered And in short it hath pleased the Supream Ruler and Fountain of Honour to honour him whether he would or no. The Book first named is followed with the Eulogies of greatest Divines and is a Manna sweet to the Tast of all serious Christians His Epistolary Discourse dedicated to the Queen's Majesty as most graciously accepted by Her and highly valued by those that I must think of the best of her Subjects Being as is his Discourse of Earthquakes a Treasure of things Old and New Michtam's golden Jewels Arguments several not so much as touched by any Pen within her Dominions or beyond them save Mr. Flemming's Nevertheless it is of this his Treatise that I would say with submission to better Judgments There is none like it Herein it is that I think he hath singularly honoured his God and I believe his God will very singularly honour him For is any Disease more Morial or more Epidemical than Popish Implicit Faith And is there any to be named against which we are so destitute of Medicines Is there extant in English or any European Language any one Rationale of Christianity in Method suited to them who do most need it Hath any one Writer beside our Author set himself to teach Minors the primary Evidences and reasonable Demonstrations of Christian Faith I will con him my best thanks who shall name me so much as one How sound and how â—enerous a Medicine this Treatise is let the Wiâ—e judge I declare it to be the only one that on no slight â—nquiry I have heard of Being so I no sooner read it but I blessed it and its unknown Author Privately and publickly I praised it and finding it not to be had in our Shops nor but from Holland if from thence to be gotten I presently resolved to Reprint it Soon after hearing who was the Author and where he was I sent him notice of that my fixed Resolution whether he consented to it or no. For thus I argued that if he were of the heavenly spirit breathing in his Book he could not gainsay it and if he were of another spirit for the Churches service it would be innocent and praise-worthy to cross it But blessed be God and blessed be he from his Lord and mine he readily forgave me this wrong and cheerfully I proceeded No Lion found I in my way but a sorry Worm I counted the Exclamations of some nice Folk against the Phrase and Style of this confessedly excellent Work Dutifully I compassionated the weak and no less the many sick of curiosity Who have such Ulcers in their Palats that they cannot without cruel pain swallow the most desirable Dainties unless they may take them in Oil and Sugar Cannot prevail with themselves to read Periods that require an attentive mind and the least strain of their Understanding Wherefore I used my Spunge and took out as many expressions of my Author 's Native Language as I thought would disturb an English Reader Substituting â—â—â—h as appeared sufficiently intelligible Which being done the Bookseller was wise enough to set the Press going I signified my purpose to Catechise Youth publickly in the Positions and Characters of this Book one Lords day as in W. Assembly's Catechism on the other by course Which practice other Ministers soon told me that they would take up As I trust many more will do forasmuch as none can be unsensible what multitudes of men do go to Grass on this side the Alps as well as on the other and what a fantastick Faith common Protestants do rest in as well as Romanists Making show of a Faith as the Moon of a Light whereof not any is in themselves rooted Brit is painted Tain is a Nation Sadly it is seen of all how too too properly we are still named Brittains the Faith of most being such a Paint as cannot but melt and vanish in any Trial that is fiery Memorable are the words of the Learned unhappy Spalato to this effect as I remember To say that I do not my self know why I do believe a Religious Article but yet I do believe it because the Church in which I am doth believe it it is the self same as to say I do not my self open one of my Eyes but yet I do see the thing spoken of because the Company in which I am doth see it The good Lord lessen among us the number of Men so Absurd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so plainly void of Faith He hath already made the Leaves of this Book so healing unto some that in great hopes I commend them unto all And especially to the Societies of Young Men that hold weekly stated Meetings for Edifying Conference In which as I tell those of my own Charge they shall not find more Eligible Arguments than this Book stores them with Happy they if in the best sense they do make them their own Lord encrease holy Faith and quench fiery Faction so prayeth Bridges-street near Covent-Garden Feb. 28. Daniel Burgess POSTSCRIPT UNderstanding the Forreign Churches want of this Work as well as our own I purpose ere long to Translate and send it forth in the Latin Tongue Vnless some good hand of more leisure do prevent me THE JUDGMENT OF SOME London Ministers CONCERNING THIS TREATISE THings of unquestionable Excellence in themselves and of greatest Importance unto our welfare have not always the Deepest and most Constant Thoughts bestown upon them Witness the Satisfaction of our Minds about the Matter and about the Foundations of our Holy Christian Faith It seems too little observed but it can never be sufficiently Lamented what we do observe of Protestants neglect of the Matter of their Faith And yet our sad Experience certifies us that they are incomparably more heedless of acquainting themselves with the Reasons thereof We have very
Book as the Bible in the Earth than that it came from Heaven and is the alone rule of Religion and of Divine Revelation for the governing of Mankind Qu. VII How is the secure conveyance of the Scripture demonstrable amidst all the changes of times past and that there could be no possible tendency to its corruption Answ I. That it 's so undeniably the first rule which ever was given to mankind about Religion and the alone publick standard of Truth that hath endured the trial and inquiry of all times past so as no pretences in the matter of Antiquity could yet ever be to the contrary II. That there is so exact an Harmony betwixt the Old and New Testament as the one is a visible transcript of the other in its accomplishment that I can be no more sure of such a venerable record as the Old Testament and its unalterable conveyance to the Church to which the whole race of the Jews is yet a standing witness than how it is continued and perfected in the revelation of the Gospel and but one intire frame III. That its deliverance was by no private deed but by a publick trust to the whole Universal Church so as it were more easie in the way of reason to question the most fundamental statutes and laws of any Nation by which mens private right and property is secured than the truth hereof IV. That under the Gospel it hath been so fully dispersed over the World and in such various languages that an innumerable company of Christians these 1600 years past have been as common living Books of the same V. That those numerous Versions and Commentaries written thereon in diverse Languages do fully evidence they had the same Scripture and no other than what we have this day VI. That this was delivered to the Church not only in writing but in that form of sound words for keeping close thereto as could admit of no possible tendency to corrupt or alter the same besides the continued and publick reference that hath been since the first Ages of the Gospel to its decision which all these sharp controversies that have been in the Church on all sides do inevitably require Qu. VIII What doth confirm the fall of man and entry of sin into the World this way from clear and unavoidable evidences of reason Answ I. That there is such a thing as sin and evil in the World with the sence and conscience of guilt arising hereon amongst all mankind can need no proof nor evidence II. That it is simply impossible this should have been originally created with man or essentially belonging to his first frame and constitution since then there could be no conscience of guilt or remorse for what was given to be a part of himself in his first frame nor could it be any sin to act thus suitably to their own original state III. That it were not conceiveable also how one part of man should be in such opposition to another IV. Nor that such a thing as inherent shame could be in the nature of man upon the sence of guilt and by so natural a result follow the same or that such should be ashamed of any part of his own being if this were not upon an undoubted apostacy from what once he was and that inevitable conviction of Conscience that he now is what he ought not to be so as the certainty of Mans Fall though alone revealed in the Scripture as to the true cause thereof yet may be as evident to reason as the truth of his being now is SECTION II. Qu. I. ARE there such assistances to the Christian Faith upon that great and astonishing mystery of the Revelation of Christ to the World as can fully answer the greatness thereof from clear and infallible evidence to Mens Judgments Answ It is sure there could nothing possibly be desired more to satisfie the most doubtful and suspicious mind than is given for the furthest certainty hereof I. That such a glorious person as the Messiah was to come and be anointed to that great work of redeeming mankind from sin and misery and bring man back again unto God and that this promise is the alone foundation whereon the church was founded since man fell II. That all the numerous types and sacrifices under the Law did so expresly tend to confirm their Faith of that one blessed Propitiatory Sacrifice which was to be offered up III. That long ere the New Testament was written there was so clear and exact a protraicture of the Messias drawn forth in the Old with such peculiar marks whereby he should be known to the church and infallibly take place in the event as men could not upon any Scripture evidence expect his coming in another way IV. That his humiliation and sufferings were so expresly held forth and foretold with the peculiar circumstances thereof in the 53. chap. of Isaiah and 9. of Daniel as if they had been Eye witnesses of the accomplishment thereof V. That even the special season and period of time for accomplishing this great promise was so far made known as upon diligent search and inquiry its near approach might be discernable and clear to what or what manner of time this did specially relate for which both the Fall of the Monarchies and Daniels seventy weeks were set up as High-way marks to guide mens Faith herein VI. That it 's simply impossible according to the Scripture how the promised Messias could be yet to come except the Jews were put in the same state they were in at his coming when now for these 1600. Years there hath been no Scepter not Lawgiver no Temple or daily Sacrifice VII That this great mystery could never possibly have entred in our thoughts or be devised by any created understanding Qu. II. But are there as clear and infallible evidences of the truth of this great promise in the event that surely the blessed Messias of the World is now come as that it is sure he was promised Answ It 's beyond all possible debate I. That so Divine and Wonderful a Person was in the days of Tiberius Caesar manifested to Israel with no outward shew or observation who did so great and marvellous things before all the people as were above all created power yea that he was Crucified at Jerusalem under Pontius Pilate is a truth in the matter of fact that both Jews and Heathens have been enforced to confess it II. That this special season of his coming into the World is the great Epocha and period of time from which the Christian Church hath ever since to this day reckoned her state and succession is undoubted and clear also III. That the time of his appearance unto the World did so exactly suit that which was foretold by the Prophets that the Jewish Church was at that time with greatest intentness looking after the Messias so as some remarkable Impostors took occasion from hence to deceive the People herein IV. That in him who
the World might see did walk in the Light and Power of Christianity as sure as men walk under the Power and Vertue of a living Soul III. That we now see what a length the Course of the Gospel and of the Church Militant is come and how far thus the Times of the Gentiles are fulfilled which once was so contrary to all human Appearance IV. That so sure and exact a Performance of the Scripture is now undeniable in the event and of such great and marvellous things which were foretold under the New Testament that in an ordinary way none could have believed what we see with our Eyes and now have these things which were in former Ages the Object of the Churches Faith been made the Object of our Sense and it 's sure this is such a Seal and Confirmation to our Faith in these last times as doth much exceed the greatest Miracles which were in the first Planting of the Gospel V. Though we may not resolve our Faith on any Extraordinary Providences or lay the least weight hereon to support the Authority of the Doctrine we profess since this only is founded on that Sacred Revelation of Divine Truth in the Scripture which is the infallible Rule to discern true Miracles and what is Gods Seal herein under the undoubted Signature and Stamp of his own Power and working in the same yet hath there been such incontroulable evidence of extraordinary Signs and Confirmations to confirm the Truth of the Reformed Religion since the Reformation as in no Ages past was ever known but with the first planting of the Gospel among the Gentiles SECTION IV. Qu. I. IS it clear and demonstrable that the Doctrine of Christ is a Soul-Quickning and Experimental Religion and the Trial thereof in its most Supernatural Truths of such rational Certainty and Evidence that the World can no more deny or question the same than those Experiments of Nature that are of most universal Use Ans Though men looked but at a distance here or were come from Heathenism so far as to make a Serious Trial of Christianity it 's sure they could not but see and be fully perswaded in their Judgment hereof on these grounds I. That a discovery is undoubted and clear in the Scripture of so great things as that there is a Holy Ghost and there be his workings on Mens Souls of Peace with God and the Joy of his Presence which all who receive the Gospel are called to know and prove on their own Trial. II. That this witness of Christian Experience hath as discernable a Consent and Harmony therewith as Face answereth to Face in the Glass and is clear to be no Casual Thing but every step in this way of Trial is by Scripture Light and what Christians did before read there they know it now by Feelings on their own Souls III. That this in all Ages of the Church and where-ever such as served God in the Spirit were found in the most remote parts from others hath still been the same and like a great Roll is sent down from one Generation to another with their Confirmatory Seal that God is faithful and true in those Truths of his Word which seem most incredible to the World and now come to our hand to require the same Attestation and Witness IV. That they who know and testifie these things sometimes found it not easie to believe the same and did no less judge of such great Experiments of Religion as a Dream or imaginary thing than most now do until they knew them by Experience on their Soul V. That such also have been the most Burning and Shining Lights that ever were in the Church and these innumerable in all Ages declare the same and that in the Mouth of the Grave and entrance to an Eternal State when no outward Interest could sway them hereto VI. That it must be a matter of greatest Assurance which hath then pressed the most tender Parents with their last and dying Breath to commend the same Trial to their Children and to charge their being earnest herein as the greatest Interest they could leave them VII That whatever Differences be oft among these in some matters of Truth Yet in the Certainty of this great Trial of the Life Power and Comforts of Religion there is an Harmonious Oneness in the same Testimony in all Times of the Church VIII That if any question this because so remote from Mens Senses and the Judgment of Carnal Reason the reality of its Effects doth unanswerably prove both the Reality and Excellency of the Cause Qu. II. What clear and Rational Conviction can you offer of so great a thing as Conversion of men from a State of Nature to a new state by Grace which doth raise them as far above the residue of Mankind as Reason doth above the state of the Beasts Ans Though I should strive against the Conviction of such a Miracle and Demonstration of the Gospel as Conversion is yet were it not possible to deny such demonstrative Evidences as the World hath hereof I. That it is sure such a Change is made essentially requisite to the Being and Constitution of a Christian by the whole Consent of the Scripture II. That there was never yet an Argument in Nature for ones being a Christian in the Life and Power thereof what ever may be for a naked form or show III. That they are not a few but innumerable Instances in all times and of all Ranks and Conditions of Men on whom so great a Change and difference hath been made thus evident both from themselves what once they were and from the residue of the World IV. That this hath been not only upon such as have been signally Impious in their Practice but who in their Judgment were wont to deride Holiness as a Fancy so as Atheists must grant that there have been as profest Atheists sometimes as themselves who have been made such Conspicuous Monuments of the Power of the Gospel V. That none can Object here as once the Jews did Do any of the Rulers or such as the World counts most wise and knowing stand witnesses to the same when it is so known that there have not been more Wise Learned and Judicious in the Things of Reason upon the Earth than such as have been eminent Examples of the Power of Conversion VI. That its marvellous Effects in subduing men from what once was their Predominant Interest and Idol and to part from what had been as their right Eye or Hand could only be from an Immediate Divine Power VII That such as were greatest Adversaries to the Truth have been made no less eminent Instruments in the Service of Christ and choice Vessels of Honour than once they were in their Enmity and Opposition VIII That this Change hath been discernable in times of most Visible Persecutions and Hazard when no outward Advantage or Gain could have the least influence thereon Now as these are demonstrably clear so can
such an Erection of the Gospel Church in her Militant State here as the Papacy in its complex frame is united in such an Head as the Pope who as the sole Vicegerent of Christ in the Earth is at once invested with a Civil Monarchy and Universal Empire over the Church to impose and judge in the highest Transactions which relate to the Eternal State and Immortal Souls of Men is a thing that as to Matter of Right is as Forreign to the Scripture and inconsistent therewith as Mahumetanism can be And as to Matter of Fact is a Trust that no created Being could ever Exercise 11. He sees and is sure that he must either lose sight both of the Rule and Spirit of the Gospel or have a just abhorrence of that way wherein he should be inevitably Involved in a Virtual Consent and Accessoriness to all that Cruelty and Blood which for so many Ages hath been shed therein when it 's so clear that this was no Exorbitance only of Practice but a Native result of their Tenets and Principles and not only dispensed with but counted an highly Meritorious Service yea when it is sure that under no Secular Government of the most Tyrannical State that ever was in the World hath such Arbitrary Violence and Oppression been exercised Or so much Innocent Blood been shed as by this party 12. And tho his Judgement stood indetermined and in an equal Ballance upon this great Controversie he could not exercise Reason and not see upon what Hand such a Decision is as was in Solomons time of the true Mother of the Child and who do most ruefully seek to interest themselves in the imminent Hazard of the Christian Faith and who under the least influence of any Temporal Motives do this day stand for the Truth and Substance of Christianity and plead that iâ— be not destroyed in envy and hatred to them or on what side it is likely that this manner of Conquest is most followed to gain men to the Profession of the Truth by a prevailing Evidence of their own Light and Judgment herein and to require their exactest personal Tryal and enquiry about the same In the third place tho he sees there can be no pretence of Doctrinal Wavering about the Reformed Religion and finds it not easie to comprehend how in one and the same Age wherein the Truth hath so brightly shined this way of Popery should have Prevalence or gain ground any more by Seduction with Arguments to the Reason or Conscience of any yet since it is an hour of Temptation and of Fainting above all that have been hitherto known and mens eyes are Arrested with such a Prospect of the times as is like to Stagger the Faith of the most established he is pressed as counting it one of the highest Duties of this day to know and search out what may afford greatest Assistance to his Faith from the Dispensations of Providence therein and to know the Evidence and Strength of such Reflections as these are for this End 1. That it 's sure as the smallest things which the Lord does afford to strengthen and support against such a Storm should be seriously improved and taken to Heart so does it lay us in the way of that Promise for having greater things given to our Observation yea that now is the time when such as have been most comforted by the Word of Promise may be put to the sorest Tryal in their Faith of any to keep off stumbling at the Work of Providence and be thus tryed according to the measure of these Confirmations 2. Tho the Churches Declinings under greatest measures of Light may be too visible and that Religion gains not by Persecution as formerly with such an amazing change as is now in her External Condition yet he sees it to be no strange thing when most signal warnings have gone before of such a Tryal with too evident Dispositions towards the same and discovery of its approach in all the Causes thereof yea might be forseen by all that the Holy God would not still bear with an Impure and unenlivened Profession of the Pure and Glorious Truth of Christianity which hath now long been one of the most sad and mortal signs in the publick state of Religion nor can it be found that ever any Church did decline and fall from the Purity of the Truth and lose ground herein by External Persecution where a judicial departure of its Life and Power did not remarkably go before so as it is not of late this hath been clearly presaged that some dark and unusual measure of tryal from Antchrist and the last Havock of the Reformed Churches was drawing near which would be sore ere it had done its work 3. He sees also how this present hour is not more searching and dark than it may be clear herewith 1. That now after the issue of that Opposition which was betwixt the Christian Faith in the first Entry of the Gospel and that dying Apostate Church of the Jews and next with the Pagan Empire after that new Erection of the Gospel Church among the Gentiles which is now over so is the greatest Tryal of the latter days fixed on the Decision of that long depending Controversie betwixt Christ and Antichrist 2. That according to the Scripture we must believe that as after the manner of Egypt that glorious Triumph and Delivery of the Church from Antichrist will be surely carried on so the more near it comes to the last assault and when this falls in to have its proper room in the Frame and Administration of Providence the greater Extremity Terrour and Darkness may be expected also such as hath not been in any former time Yea with that united and formidable Conjunction of Strength and growing Success of this Adversary for a time that the most established Christians may be in hazard to stagger 3. That now is the day wherein the Lord will have men know what it is to have the Bible as the alone Security of the Protestant Religion on which they must entirely rest no less than as it is the sole Rule and Standard thereof which is a Tryal worthy of all that expence of the Pain Anguish and Wrestlings that can now possibly attend the same 4. Whilst the great Standard of Antichrists Kingdom is visibly set up and brought to the open field as it 's this day in the Church of France and all humane help taken out of sight yet does he see herewith 1. How this now is concluded as the most infallible Remedy to recover Popery And that Argument to which they trust more than to Peters Keys to wit these Sanguinary Laws by the Sword and Rack which they have again betaken themselves to tho such an Argument the Scripture never knew and sober Heathens would abhor and which gives up the Credit of all Religion to Atheism 2. That there can be no more evidence of a desperate and sinking Cause than is here and nothing else can
support it but these weapons which are not against the Conscience or by any terrour of the second Death but of the first 3. That this is such an Argument if they have not in a strange manner forgot which hath within these 100 Years been so fully Answered and by such an immediate Appearance of God in the Kingdom of France that according to these measures of Cruelty against the Protestants there so was it returned in a deluge of their own Blood yea so both the publick state of the Church and Faith of the Saints in the Truth was more deeply rooted and tho we yet see not the end of these wonders but the Dark-side only of the Dispensations of such a day yet do we know this sore Rod on the Church is but as the Saw and Ax in the Carpenters hand who shall never undo that glorious Work which Christ hath done and is still further perfecting on the ruins of Antichrists Kingdom 5. Tho some unusual deeps and Methods of Subtilty be now on foot also against the Truth yet he cannot but see how nothing could more effectually tend to confirm the Protestant Cause and take the Credit of Popery off the Consciences of those in their own Profession who are considerate and in the least serious herein when the World must thus see 1. How easie it is for such to take any Measure and Latitude in the Doctrinals of their Profession when this can most serve the juncture of such a time and heighten or narrow the Controversie betwixt them and the Reformed Church at their Pleasure so as to Sacrifice the Church of Rome unto the Court of Rome if no less can secure that end 2. That the most horrid Turkish Slavery over mens Bodies comes no such length as that strange claim that these now make of an absolute Empire over mens Consciences by the Sword and to put them to such a Tribute of their Obedience that they shall then be secure if they but come the length to Sin against their Light and adventure on so small a thing as to go to Hell and perish Eternally since it 's an external and feigned Profession of such away that they do thus force from those who they see cannot in Faith be perswaded hereof 3. Yea it hath been too visible how much that Master-plot and Engine hath in these times been working to take men first off from all Sense of Religion and destroy them in the Morals of Christianity to make this Conquest more easie that such may have no Inward Defence and support against the terrour of humane Violence Yea in this way when they have sought how to divide Protestants among themselves and betwixt Rulers and them this seems the last and greatest Engine of all how to divide betwixt them and their God Acting the same Plot which was laid betwixt Balak and Balaam as knowing that it 's no naked shew or Profession of the Reformed Religion they need fear so much as that Old Protestant Spirit in the Power and Life thereof before which their Interest could never stand and dread nothing so much as the reviving hereof which as the hand-writing upon the wall did ever more threaten the fatal ruine of that Kingdom than any Humane Power or Strength 6. Here also he finds just cause of Astonishment how Kings or great Men in the Earth should give their Power to support the Romish Interest which hath been so visibly destructive to theirs When it s not possible to deny how it's first advance and progress to that Supream height which it once attained and the declining of the Civil Empire did by the same steps go together until Magistracy was turned unto a dead Image and Shadow except its being enlivened by their breath and Authority as it was during the whole height of that Antichristian Power Nor will it be denyed that in these late times the French Monarchy was never more near its Dissolution in its right Line than by the Catholick League there and it would seem not easie to be forgot how Henry the third who had most sought to crush the Protestants in pursuance of that league was at last constrained to flee to such for help or by whom he was killed and that Heroick Prince Henry the Fourth who was first stabbed in the Mouth and then in the Heart yea that the publick Records of that Nation cannot possibly deny but the House of Bourbon owes its Power and Preservation more to the Protestants without whom it had been fully extinct than Ahashuerus did to Mordecai the Jew for what he found written in the Chronicles of Persia when the Decree was then past to destroy all the seed of the Jews 7. As in no times past was ever a greater Expectation than is now which way the Scale will turn and what will be the end of these wonders when the nearest events of Providence are so dark and amazing so does he find this in some extraordinary way called for to be still and see what God will do for his Church and with humble Confidence look for some such Dispensation as hath not hitherto been in this extream Exigence And tho he do not appear in that way and manner as in former times that it shall be in a way more signally glorious beyond what hath formerly been yea he does in Faith thus judge that then is the Churches day broke and hath found the sure way of her Strength and right Line of Duty when her Hope and Confidence is taken off from all visible refuges and entirely setled on her invisible Head and his Promise put to suit by Prayer without fainting herein It is sure the Truth and Faithfulness of God stands ingaged for Antichrists fall as well as for Salvation by Christ and since he hath said this Adversary shall be broke and brought down it must surely be tho the dust of the ground should rise for this end and now is the Faith of the Saints called for becoming the greatness of such an Assurance on which are the Eyes of men of their own Consciences of the Elect Angels yea of the glorious God to see who does indeed Credit him in this day when there is no sensible support herein and tho it now threatens sorely the departure of many from the Faith who had some visible Profession thereof yet may it be hoped for that the turn of the next Tide shall bring in more with a Solid and true Increase to the Church than these sad days do now take off CHARACT VI. It is thus a Confirmed Christian should be specially considered as one who is not only at rest on the known certainty of his Faith but is ready to render some account of the solid rational grounds and demonstrations hereof unto all who ask after the same and doth thus judge 1. That these are the proper and appointed means which the Lord hath afforded for the greatest Confirmation of mens Faith within time yea preferable to any external Miracles