the reason there follows Verse 27. And hath given â—im that is The Father hath given the Sonne Authority to execute judgement also because he is the Sonne of man That is because he is man and so fit to execute judgement in an outward and visible manner For being man he shall be seen of men when he commeth to judgement Behold he commeth with Clouds and every eye shall see him even they that pierced him Revel 1. 7. Wherefore beloved seeing you look for such things be diligent that you may be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse 2 Pet. 3. 14. Of the Holy Ghost I beleeve in the Holy Ghost After the Articles concerning the two other Persons of the Trinitie the Father and the Sonne followes this Article concerning the third Person the Holy Ghost This Person in Scripture is called The Spirit 1 John 5. 6. Ephes 5. 18. The Spirit of God and The Spirit of Christ Rom. 8. 9. The Holy Spirit or The * The word Ghost imports as much as Spirit Ghostly Father and ghostly Counsell is as much as spirituall Father and spirituall Counsell Holy Ghost Luke 11. 13. Rom. 5. 5. and 1 John 5. 7. God as God is a Spirit John 4. 24. And so also holy Isai 6. 3. And therefore God the Father is a Holy Spirit and so God the Sonne yet the name is appropriated to the third Person that Person is peculiarly called The Spirit and The Holy Spirit or The Holy Ghost Why the third Person of the Trinitie is peculiarly called the Spirit and the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost The third Person of the Trinity is peculiarly called The Spirit either as being after an ineffable manner breathed forth as it were from the Father and the Sonne or as inspiring the Prophets and Apostles Those holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 21. And this Person also is peculiarly called Holy as working sanctification and making holy The Father doth sanctifie and so the Sonne but by the Holy Ghost I will put my Spirit within you c. Ezek 36. 27. Whence sanctification is called sanctification of the Spirit 2 Thess 2. 13 because it is wrought by the Spirit And they that are regenerated or borne againe are said to be born of the Spirit Iohn 3. 5 6 8. That the Ghost is God The Holy Ghost is God one and the same God with the Father and the Sonne and therefore as we beleeve in the Father and in the Son so also in the Holy Ghost These three are one 1 John 5. 7. They are three that is three Persons yet one that is one God And that the Holy Ghost is God is evident by that Act. 5. 3 4. Peter said to Ananias Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie unto the Holy Ghost Thou hast not lyed unto men but unto God And that we are baptized in the name of the holy Ghost as well as in the name of the Father and of the Sonne according to Christs injunction Matth. 28. 19. This unanswerably proves that as the Father is God and the Sonne God so is the Holy Ghost God also For we may not be Baptized in the name of any meere Creature Were ye baptized in the Name of Paul said Paul 1 Cor. 1. 13. That the holy Ghost is a Person Again the Holy Ghost is a Person not an Attribute as Wisdome Mercy Power and the like but as the Father is a Person hath proper and peculiar subsistence and as the Sonne is a Person so is the Holy Ghost a Person likewise This is clear as by other places of Scripture so by that Matth. 3. 16. where it is said that the Holy Ghost came downe in the likenesse of a Dove For no meere Attribute nothing but a Person can assume a bodily shape wherein to appeare and shew it self Sometimes indeed the Holy Ghost is put for the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost As Act. 19. 2. when Paul asked some if they had received the Holy Ghost they answered We have not so much as heard whether there be any holy Ghost that is any such extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost which in those Primitive times were bestowed upon Beleevers But the Holy Ghost properly taken is a Person That the holy Ghost is a Person distinct froÌ„ the Father and the Sonne and proceedeth from them both Again the Holy Ghost is a Person distinct from the Father and the Sonne They are three 1 John 5. 7. The Holy Ghost is called another to wit besides the Father and the Sonne John 14. 16 17. Lastly the Holy Ghost is a Person proceeding from the Father from the Son This is proved before pag. 14 Our care must be that we have the communion of the Holy Ghost 2 Corinth 13. 14. That the Holy Ghost be shed abroad in our hearts Rom. 5. 5. That we be filled with the Spirit Ephes 5. 18. that is with the sanctifying graces of the Spirit Grow in grace 2 Pet. 3. 18. Of the holy Catholike Church The Holy Catholike Church That is I beleeve the holy Catholike Church not in the Holy Catholike Church as in the Holy Ghost wee must beleeve onely in God that is trust onely in him as before noted But we must beleeve that there is a Holy Catholike Church And what is that What is meant by the holy Catholike Church What is meant by Church First by Church here in the Creed and so in the Scripture is not meant that which we commonly call the Church to wit the place where the people of God assemble and meet together to worship God but the people of God themselves are meant by the Church Great fear came upon all the Church Act. 5. 11. There was a great persecution against the Church Act. 8. 1. The Church is the company of such as God doth call out of the estate of sinne and misery into the estate of grace and salvation The Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved Acts 2. 47. The Church militant the Church triumphant The Church is partly upon earth and partly in heaven That part of the Church which is upon earth is called The Church militant that is in warfare warring against the world the flesh and the Devill Fight the good fight of Faith saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 6. 12. It concerns every member of the Church here upon earth That part of the Church which is in Heaven is called the Church triumphant because it consists of those who have overcome their spirituall adversaries which here they had to encounter and now triumph over them I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth is laid up for me the Crown of righteousnesse c. said the Apostle when his departure out of this world was at hand 2 Tim. 4. 6 7 8. The Church visible and the
Church invisible Again the Church as here upon earth is either visible or invisible The visible Church consists of all such as are outwardly called and make an outward profession of the Gospell Many are called with an outward calling but few are chosen Mat. 22. 14. So that in the visible Church are as well wicked as righteous as well Hypocrites as sincere Professors The visible Church is compared to a Net wherin are both good fishes and bad Matth. 13. 47 48 49. But the invisible Church consists onely of such as are that indeed which they professe themselves to be true Beleevers being chosen of God and called not onely outwardly but also inwardly and effectually called of God according to his purpose Rom. 8. 28. The Church as it consisteth of these is called invisible because it appears not unto men who can onely see the outward profession that is made but the sincerity of the heart they cannot see that is known onely unto God 1 Kings 8. 39. And therefore the Lord onely knows who are his 2 Tim. 2. 19. The Church particular and the Church universall or Catholike Again the Church is either particular or universall A particular Church is a company of such as professe the Gospell in one particular place Thus we read of the Church at Jerusalem Acts 8. 1. The Church at Antioch Act. 13. 1. the Church at Cenchreâ— Rom. 16. 1. the Church at Corinth 1 Cor. 1. 2. the Church in the house of Aquila and Pâ—isâ—illa Rom. 16. 3 5. The Church in the house of Nymphas Col. 4. 15. the Church in the house of Philemon Philem. v. 2. 1 Cor 16. 19. Gal. 1. 2 Rev. 1. 11. Thus there are many particular Churches The Vniversall Church is the whole company of Beleevers thorowout the world Vnto the Church which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Iesus called to be saints there 's a particular Church with all that in every place call upon the Name of Iesus Christ c. 1 Cor. 1. 2. there 's the universall Church So that there 's but one universall Church which comprehends all particular Churches in it And this is that which is called the Catholike Church What the word Catholike doth import For Catholike is a word derived from the Greek and signifies as much as universall or generall The Epistle of Iames is called the gerall Epistle so both the Epistles of Peter and the first Epistle of John and the Epistle of Jude In the Greek it is the word from which is derived this word Catholike Those Epistles are called Catholike or Generall Epistles because they were written to all in generall and not either to particular persons as to Timothy Titus c. or to particular Churches as to the Romanes Corinthians c. How the Church is called holy Now the Church is called Holy First because all that are outwardly and visibly of the Church are called to be holy 1 Cor. 1. 2. and 1 Thess 4. 7. And do professe holinesse 1 Tim. 2. 10. And secondly because all that are indeed of the Church are holy They that are of tâ—e Church triumphant are perfectly holy they are made perfect Hebr. 12. 23. And they that are of the Church militant are also holy in some measure though not in full measure You are washed you are sanctified c. 1 Corinth 6. 11. As for such as are altogether unsanctified they are rather in the Church then of the Church like a wooden Legge that is outwardly joyned unto the body but is indeed no part of it They went out from us but they were not of us c. saith S. Iohn of some 1 Ioh. 2. 19 who for a while were outwardly joyned to the Church but afterward fell off so shewed that they were not then indeed of it when they were in it So S. Paul saith All are not Israel that are of Israel Rom. 9. 6. that is all are not the people of God indeed who are such by outward Profession and so seem to be of them Therefore all must take heed of resting in a bare profession of faith and be sure that they have faith indeed and so be joyned unto Christ Who is the Head of the Body the Church Coloss 1. 18. And our union with Christ must appear by our conformitie unto Christ He that saith he abideth in him ought himselfe to walk even as hee walked 1 John 2. 6. Of the communion of Saints The communion of Saints By Saints are meant holy ones of such onely doth the Church indeed consist as is before shewed Some think that there are no Saints but in Heaven which is a grosse conceit for though all that are in Heaven are Saints yet all that are Saints are not in Heaven there are Saints also on earth as well as in heaven although not such compleat and perfect Saints Heaven being a place that admits of no sin whereas there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Eccles 7. 20. But holinesse may be true holinesse as it is called Ephes 4. 24. although it be imperfect David speaks expresly of the saints that are upon the earth Psal 16. 3. Paul saith that he went to Jerusalem to administer to the saints Rom. 15. 25. And he told the Philippians that all the Saints did salute them especially they of Caesars houshold Philip. 4. 22. And indeed the Saints are seldome mentioned in Scripture but the Saints on earth are meant Now that there is a communion or which is all one a * The same word that is rendred communioÌ„ 1 Cor. 10. 16. and 2 Cor. 13. 14. is rendred fellowship Phil. 2. 1. and 1 Ioh. 1. 3. fellowship of Saints we may see by that of S. Iohn That which we have seen and heard declare wee unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us and truely our fellowship is with the Father and with his Sonne Iesus Christ 1 Iohn 1. 3. Which words also shew that the Saints have communion or fellowship with God with Christ and with one another The saints have communioÌ„ with God 1. The Saints have communion with God hee being peculiarly their God and they peculiarly his people he their Father and they his Children Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you And will be a Father unto you and you shall be my sonnes and daughters saith the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6. 17 18. The wicked may have an outward formall Communion with God by partaking of his Ordinances but the Saints onely have inward and spirituall communion with him They Worship God in Spirit Phil. 3. 3. Their prayer goeth not out of fained lips Psal 17. 1. And as they draw nigh unto God so doth God draw nigh unto them Ian 4. 8. He is nigh unto them in all that they call upon him for Deut. 4. 7. For he is
nigh unto all that call upon him even to all that call upon him in truth Psa 145. 18. The Saints have communion with Christ 2. The Saints have communion with Christ he being their Head they his Members Christ is the Head of the Church Ephe. 5. 23. We are members of his bodie c. Ephes 5. 30. They have the communion of his body and of his blood 1 Corinth 10. 16. not onely a Sacramentall communion which the wicked may have by receiving the outward Sacrament but a reall although a spirituall communion by faith For Christ doth dwell in their hearts by faith Ephes 3. 17. By faith they eat the flesh of Christ and drink his blood Iohn 6. 53 54. with 57. By Christ thorow faith in him they have accesse unto God and acceptance with God Rom. 5. 1 2. By him they have confidence to make known their requests unto God and assurance to obtain of God whatsoever is requisite and needfull for them Ephes 3. 12. Iohn 16. 23. The Saints in heaven have more immediate and full communion with God and with Christ being more immediately and fully joyned unto them 2 Cor. 5. 6 7. Phil. 1. 23. The Saints have communion one with another 3. The Saints have communion one with another as having near relation one to another being Children of one and the same Father and Members of one and the same Bodie and having near conjunction one with another as being indued with one and the same Spirit Gal. 3. 26. and 1 Cor. 12. 27. Ephes 4. 4. and 1 Corinth 12. 13. The Saints have the communion of the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13. 14. the fellowship of the Spirit Phil. 2. 1. they must needs therefore have communion and fellowship one with another As for the Saints in heaven what communion they have one with another the Scripture speaking sparingly we must not be overbold to enquire onely thus much is unquestionable that they have some communion in that kinde rejoycing one in anothers happinesse and glorifying God one for another For Charity never faileth 1 Cor. 13. 8. yea in the Saints in heaven it is made perfect And it rejoyceth not in iniquity but in the truth 1 Cor. 13 6. There being such a distance betwixt the Saints in heaven and the Saints on earth there can be no such communion betwixt them as they of the Church of Rome pretend to wit that the Saints in heaven should pray particularly for the Saints on earth and procure those good things for them that they stand in need of and that the saints on earth should pray unto the Saints in heaven and make them Advocates and Mediatours whereby to prevaile with God For besides that this is most injurious as they practise it unto God and unto Christ we being onely to pray unto God in the name and mediation of Jesus Christ Psalm 50. 15. Matth. 6. 9. Iohn 16. 23. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Besides this I say the Saints in heaven are not acquainted with the particular estate of the Saints on earth Iob 14. 21. And therefore there can be no such communion betwixt them although in respect of that which was said before of charity we cannot but conceive that the Saints in heaven do in generall think on the Saints on earth and wish them the same happinesse which they have obtained And so the Saints on earth blesse God for the Saints in Heaven thinke and speak honourably of them and imitate the vertues that were in them Prov. 10. 7. Luke 1. 48. Heb. 6. 12. and 13. 7. As for the Saints on earth they have communion among themselves so as to consider one another and to provoke unto love and good works Hebr. 10. 24. to teach and admonish one another Col. 3. 16. to comfort one another 1 Thess 4. 18. to pray one for another Iames 5. 15. to succour and releeve one another as every one hath received the gift so to minister the same one to another c. 1 Pet. 4. 10. of forgivenesse of sinnes The forgivenesse of sinnes This benefit is peculiar to the Church The Prophet speaking of Sion saith The people that dwell therein shall have their sinnes forgiven Isai 32. 24. It is a part of the Covenant that God hath made with his people that he will forgive their iniquity c. Ier. 31. 33. The Saints themselves even the best upon earth have need of it If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities Lord who should stand But there is forgivenesse with thee c Psal 130. 34. See Psal 32. 1 2. What sin is and the severall kindes of it Sinne is a transgression of the Law 1 Iohn 3. 4. It is either originall or actuall Originall sin is that which every one brings with him into the world Adam by his fall losing that righteousnesse in which he was created and conveyng sinne and corruption into all that by naturall generation proceed from him Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one Iob 14. 4. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sinne did my mother conceive me Ps 51. 5. By one man to wit Adam sinne entred into the World that is into all mankinde Rom. 5. 12. Actuall sinne is that which every one makes himself guilty of in his life and conversation All like sheep have gone astray Isa 53 6. Actuall sinne is either a sinne of commission or of omission A sin of commission is when that which is forbidden is committed a sinne of omission is when that which is commanded is omitted There are many other distinctions of sin which it were too tedious and not necessary to rehearse What forgivenesse of sinne is how expressed in Scripture Forgivenesse of sinne is a not imputing of it God was in Christriconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them 2 Cor. 5. 19. It is called a covering of sin Blessed is the man whose iniquity is forgiven and whose sinne is covered Psal 32. 1. And a blotting out of sinne According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions Psal 51. 1. Other such like expressions also there are whereby forgivenesse of sinnes is set forth in the Scripture To forgive sin belongs only unto God Onely God can forgive sinne As sinne is committed against man as it is an injury done unto him so he may and ought to forgive it Luke 17. 3 4. If thy brother trespasse against thee rebuke him and if he repent forgive him And if be trespasse against thee seven times in a day and seven times in a day turne again to thee saying I repent thou shalt forgive him Ministers also may forgive sinnes declaratively so as to preach and publish forgivenesse of sinnes to such as repent and beleeve Whose soever sinnes ye remit they are remitted c. John 20. 23. Be it known unto you therefore men and brethren that through this man Christ is preached unto you forgivenesse of sinnes Act. 13. 38.