wrought this expiation and so satisfied for our sinnes and secondly the Proprieties of that Expiation VVhat bee the causes by which Christ wrought this expiation These be of two sorts either Prime or arising from the prime causes VVhat is the prime cause Syst Theol. pag. 342. The obedience of Christ in that he humbled himselfe and was subiect to the Law to the end that he might satisfie for vs who had broken the Law According to that Rom. 5. verse 19. As by the disobedience of one man to wit of Adam many were made sinners so by the obedience of one to wit of Christ many shall be made righteous VVhat is the other cause arising and springing from this prime cause It is two-fold The Passion and the Death of Christ Of what sort is the Passion of Christ It is of two sorts Externall and Internall VVhat is the Externall Passion It is both that anguish which Christ endured in his most Sanctified body and also that ignominy and shame which hee sustained for our sakes VVhat was the Internall Passion That wonderfull sadnesse Deum pati plus est and heauinesse which Christ felt in his soule for our sinne Of which it is said quam omnes homines in omnem aternitateÌ„ pati Mat. 26. v. 38. My soule is heauy euen vnto the death where by death he vnderstandeth not only corporall death but eternall as if he had said my soule is as heauy and sorrowfull as their soules are which must for euer be damned How many were the torments of Christ in soule Two Which is the former Syst Theol. pag. 348. The former was in the Garden before he was apprehended and led to publike iudgement Audi vtraÌ„que vocem tum carnis infirmae Pater si possibile sit transeat à me calix tum prompti animi Non tamen vt ego volo sed vt tu vis fiat Ambros for there beganne hee to bee affraid of himselfe lest God should leaue and forsake him whom he then beheld as one who was grieuously offended for the sinnes of Mankinde and consequently who was extreamely angry with him that had taken and translated vpon himselfe the sinnes of the whole world Whereby doe you know the greatnesse of these torments and sufferings in the soule of Christ By two tokens First in that Christ there needed Angels to comfort him and to hold him vp lest being too much affraid by that horrible sight of the angry and wrathfull God hee should haue fainted See Luk. 22. v. 43. and hence it was that hee vttered that speach My soule is heauy vnto death euen to eternall death What is the other token of those most grieuous torments in the soule of Christ His bloody sweat for this was a manifest signe that all the naturall forces in Christ were much weakened and as it were bound from doing their Office by reason of that great torment and terrour so that nature could not keepe the blood any more in the veines but was faine being coniealed and clotted to cast it out as it were and driue it to the exterior parts of which great violence and terrour the like example can no where be read in any History VVhich is the other suffering or torment of Christ in soule The latter was that which a little before his death hee felt vpon the Crosse when he stroue against that temptatâ—oÌ„ of his perpetuall separation and obiection from the face oâ— God whereupon he sent forth that dolefull cry My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee where by a Metonymy he calleth that fearefull temptation wherewith those are wonâ— to bee troubled whom God hath cast from his sight and quite forsaken desertion or forsaking For requisite it was that Christ should endure such a temptation that hee might deliuer vs from eternall damnation I haue seene the passion of Christ now tell me his death Syst Theol. pag. 355. The death of Christ is the separation of his Soule from his Body whereby hee satisfied for and purged our sins and deliuered vs from eternall death And so much the very shedding of blood and water out of Christs side did manifest of which Iohn speaketh Iohn 19. vers 34. One of the Souldiers saith he pearced his side and presently issued out blood and water by the blood Christ signified that our sins were ransomed and satisfied for by the water that we are washed from the filth of our sinnes It followeth now in order that you instruct me as touching the proprieties and benefits of Christs Passion tell mee therefore what is the first proprietie of Christs Passion This it is that it was altogether necessary in regard that mankinde could no way else be freed from eternall death but by the death of the Sonne of God And that for this reason because the most high God is most iust and therefore neuer remitteth sinnes without satisfaction sithence that by nature hee hateth sinnes and can in no wise indure them for he that is iustice most eminently cannot away with iniustice euen as the fire cannot abide water As it is said Psal 5. vers 4. Thou art not a God that willeth wickednesse Againe plaine places of the Scripture doe testifie the same Rom. 8. vers 3. That which was impossible to the Law that hath God done by sending his Sonne i. e. that which by no other meanes could haue beene performed was done by the death of the Son of God Heb. 2. v. 14. Therefore because the children are partakers of flesh and blood hee also in like manner was made partaker of them that he might abolish by death him that had the power of death that is the Deuill and in the ver following and might set at libertie those which through the feare of death were subiect vnto bondage all their life long that is that hee might redeeme those which otherwise should haue perished eternally vnlesse Christ had wrought their Redemption And truly if there had beene any other way to haue satisfied for sinne then that might haue beene performed either by our selues or by some other creature But wee could not haue done this for our selues First because whatsoeuer good we doe wee doe already owe it vnto God and that which we owe vnto God is not the price of Redemption or satisfaction but it is due debt Secondly because we adde somwhat to the score of our dâ—bts euery day and therefore we can neuer be able to satisfie and pay them And that wee daily adde sinne vnto sinne See 1 Iohn 1. v. 8. Psal 130. v. 3. Math. 6 v. 12. Math. 18. v. 25. Thirdly because sinne is a wrong and iniurie to God and so an infinite euill and therefore also deserueth either eternall punishment or one equall thereunto out of which if it had beene laid vpon vs we could neuer haue beene able to haue freed our selues No other creature could satisfie for vs for example Not the Angels first because man and no other creature
Corelate in the Lords Supper It is called the thing signified or that thing where of wee are put in mind and assured in the Lords Supper The ancient Church called the Relatum the earthly matter as is bread and wine for both of them spring from the earth and the thing signified it called the heauenly matter whereupon it rightly and religiously taught that the Supper of the Lord did consist in two things a terrene or earthly and a celestiall or heauenly matter and therefore that it behooued those which came vnto the Lords Supper to thinke that there they should receiue two things to wit an earthly thing after an earthly fashion that is bread wine with the mouth of the body and an heauenly thing after an heauenly manner that is the Body and Blood of Christ by a true faith What be the things signified in the Lords Supper The thing signified is of two sorts substantiall or accidentall What is the substantiall Euen whole Christ our Mediatour according to both natures diuine and humane but especially according to his body and blood in asmuch as in his body as the subiect of his passion hee suffered for our sinnes and by his blood shed hee purged our sinnes And this it is which Christ saith This is my body which is giuen for you that is in the Supper of the Lord you are put in remembrance and assured of my body as it hung vpon the Crosse and also of my blood which was shedde likewise for you vpon the Crosse What is the Accidentall Euen all those benefits which doe acc ew vnto vs by the passion and death of Christ as the forgiuenesse of sinnes regeneration sanctification and in fine life euerlasting as Christ saith My blood which is shed for you for the remission of sinnes I haue heard of both thy termes in the Lords Supper to wit the Relate and the Corelate now J would be instructed about the foundation and ground of holy admonition and certification as you calld it The fundamentall or efficient cause of the Lords Supper is Syst Theol pag. 446. partly in respect of the thing it selfe or the Sacrament partly in respect of vs which doe vse the Sacrament What is the foundation in respect of the Sacrament it selfe It is two fold the institution of Christ and the agreement or correspondencie betwixt the signe and the thing signified What are to bee considered in the institution of Christ Two things First the History of the institution of the LORDS Supper set downe by the Euangelists secondly De verbis Caenae Zanch. Epist lib. 1. pag. 179. Calu. Instit l 4. cap. 17. §. 12. seqq the especiall words of the institution which are This bread is my Body which is giuen for you 1 Cor. 11.24 This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood vers 25. How are those words to bee vnderstood Syst Theol. pag. 457. Dominus non dubitauit dicere hoc est corpus meum cum signum daret corporis sui Aug. Hoc est corpus meum id est hoc est figura corporis mei Tert. Panis dicitur corpus suo modo cum sit sacramētum non autem dicitur rei veritate sed mysterio significante Aug. They are to bee construed according to the nature of signes or sacraments which are not transubstantiations of things but as we haue a little before noted significations and seales of things These words therefore are not substantially to be vnderstood as if the Bread were the substance of the Body of Christ for by that reason bread should haue beene crucified for vs bread should haue beene giuen to die for vs and so the Cup likewise should haue beene shed for vs vpon the Crosse the Cup should haue issued out of Christs side Neither are they to bee vnderstood consubstantially as if the body of Christ were included in the bread and the bloud of Christ included in the wine for Christ saith not in this bread is my body or in this wine is contained my blood Vt quid paras dentes ventrē crede māducasti Idem Antequam sāctificetur panis panē nominamus diuina autem illa sanctificāte gratia liberatus est ab appellatione panis dignus autem habitus est dominici corports appellatione et si natura panis in eo remansit Chrysost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macar Seruator noster nomina cōmutauit corpori quidem id quod erat symboli ac signi nomen imposuit symbolo autem quod erat corporis causa mutationis manifesta estiis qui c. Theodoret. neither would our Sauiour teach his Disciples where his body or his blood was for they saw that well enough in that Christ was sitting with them at the Table But those words are to be vnderstood in a commemoratiue or certificatiue signification as if Christ had said the bread doth for a certaintie signifie vnto you and giues you notice of my body which is deliuered vnto death for you and the wine doth most certainely notifie assure you of my blood which is shed for you for the remission of sinnes Christs speech then is altogether the like as if when a Prince hath granted to any one a faire Mannor and hee giue withall vnto the Graunt his letters with his Broad seale and deliuering the man these his letters with the seale hee should say Loe there 's your Manner Now hee giues not the Land substantially into his hands and by consequent it will follow that that speech of the Prince must not bee vnderstood substantially as if those letters and the seale were the very substance of the demain or because the demaine were inclosed in the seale but it is a significatiue and certificatiue kind of speaking which must bee thus vnderstood and interpreted these letters of mine and this seale doth import and assure thee of the certaine hauing and possessing of that Mannor Farme or demaine Wherefore wee conclude that the Body and Blood of Christ according to the substance thereof is neither in the bread nor in the place where the Supper of the Lord is administred but in heauen as is vsually said he ascended into the heauens from whence only hee shall come at the last Judgement but that the Bread Wine do giue vs notice and assurance that that very body which now is in heauē was giuen for vs on the Crosse and that the Blood of Christ was shed for vs. Which must bee obserued against the Papists and Vbiquitaries who seeke after the body and blood of Christ in that very place where is the bread and wine What is the other foundation in respect of the Sacrament Si sacramēta aliquam similitudinem earum rerum quarum sunt sacramenta non haberēt ne sacramenta quidem essent Aug It is the agreement or meet analogie betwixt the signe and the thing signified or it is that fitnesse whereby the Bread may signifie and ascertaine vs of Christs body
giuen for vs and the wine may notifie and assure vs of the blood of Christ shed for vs. Wherein consists the fitnesse which true Bread hath to signifie the Body of Christ It consists in three things 1. that like as the bread is broken so the body of Christ was broken and torne vpon the Crosse for vs as Paul saith This bread it is the communiâ— of the body of Christ 2. Thâ— like as bread hath the force of nourishing so the body oâ— of Christ giuen for vs vnâ— death hath power to refresâ— our consciences forlorne and almost spent and pined away by reason of sinne 3. Like as bread doth not only nourish but it doth also strengthen our body so the body of Christ in like manner deliuered vnto death for vs hath power continually to cherish and sustaine our drooping miserable consciences Wherein consists the correspondencie that Wine hath vnto the Blood of Christ In three things also first euen as the wine is poured out into the Cup and poured also out of the Cup so the blood of Christ sprung out of his body and was shed vpon the Crosse Secondly euen as wine hath the power of reuiuing and quickning or of heating and moystâ—ning of our body and of increasing vitall and animall spirits so the blood of Christ or the merit of the blood of Christ hath the power of quickning our Consciences benummed and dryed vp by reason of sin Thirdly euen as wine maketh glad the heart of man and hath great vertue in it to cheare vp the mind so the merit of Christ or the bloud of Christ worketh an vnspeakable ioy in our soules whereof Dauid speaketh Psal 51. Restore vnto me my ioy againe J haue heard what the foundation of the Lords Supper is in respect of the Sacrament it selfe or the things themselues now tell mee what is their ground and foundation which doe vse it or the foundation in respect of vs It is true Faith whereby wee doe so looke vpon these signes as they signifie remember and assure vs of the body blood of Christ Si quis maÌ„ducauerit ex ipso non morietur in aeternum Hoc pertinet ad virtutem Sacramenti non ad visibile Sacramentum Qui manducat intus non foris qui manducat corde non qui premit dente Aug Quasi non possit tangi quum iam ascenderit at vtique poterit sed affectu non manu voto non oculo fide non sensibus Bern. and so coÌ„sequently of his whole merit and so likewise of assured remissioÌ„ of our sins following vpoÌ„ that merit For in the supper of the Lord remissioÌ„ of sins is not granted vnto vs neither hath the Bread or the Wine any power to purifie from sinnes as the Papists peruersly doe imagine But our Faith is confirmed strengthned by thâ—se signes in the remission of sinnes which was granted and giuen vnto vs before that wee approached the Supper Wherein consists that Faith which we must bring to the Lords Supper thereby to be confirmed and strengthned It consists in two things First in a sure trust and confidence whereby wee beleeue for certaine that Christs body was giuâ—n and his blood shedde for vs that is for that person that commeth to bee partaker of the Lords Supper Secondly it consisteth in application whereby wee appropriate vnto our selues Christs passion steadfastly beleeuing that wee as Christs members are so made one with Christ our head that as hee suffered for our sinnes euen so the pardon for all those sinnes for his passion sake we should as certainely be perswaded of as if we our selues had beene crucified and there haue giuen our owne proper bodies and shed our owne hearts blood I haue heard as concerning the foundation and ground of the Lords Supper it remaineth that I heare somewhat of the end or the finall cause for which the Lords Supper was instituted and for which it becommeth mee to communicate at the Lords Table The end or finall cause is first in respect of Christ then in respect of our selues In respect of Christ Reliquit nobis Christê° ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Monumenta suae salutaris passionis quae proposuimus iuxta eius maÌ„data Basil the end is the commemoration of that his most bitter passion which he endured for vs both in his soule and in his body A commemoration I say that is a gratulatorie remembrance to the end that for that so great a benefit and vnutterable loue towards vs we should in the publike assembly and congregation in the very face of the Church yeeld together with that remembrance most heartie thankes As Christ saith Doe this in remembrance of me 1 Cor. 11.24 in an Eucharisticall or thankefull wise Whereupon this Sacrament is also called the Eucharist for this principal vse of the Lords Supper In respect of our selues the vse of the Lords Supper is either Primary or Secondary What is the Primarie vse of it in respect of our selues It is two fold First the confirming and establishing of our Faith as touching the forgiuenesse of our sinnes for Christs body giuen vnto death for vs and for his blood shed vpon the Crosse likewise for vs. The other vse is the nourishing strengthning reuiuing and chearing of our consciences which were by the burthen of sin oppressed withered and disconsolate Which is the secondary vse arising from the former It is three fold first the consecration of our selues that euen as Christ offered himselfe once vpon the Altar of the Crosse for vs so we should in this publike action of the Church offer vp our selues and our whole life euen all that are ours vnto God and his Sonne Secondly the publike confession of the faith to wit that by these externall symboles and tokens as by a military marke and badge wee may testifie vnto what company we belong and to what religion wee adioyne our selues Thirdly the obligation of our selues that wee should also by this publike action in the sight of the Church bind our selues to loue our neighbour and to doe the workes of charitie especially to them that are partakers with vs in the same beliefe and religion And hereupon it was that the Ancients called this Supper of the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a loue-feast and that they were alwaies wont which came vnto the Supper to giue some Almes vnto the poore that so they might testifie how that by the vse of the Lords Supper they were obliged to performe workes of loue and charity towards their Neighbours And this is the true doctrine of the Lords Supper drawne out of the onely word of God Syst Theol. pag. 459. Calu. Iustit lib. 4. ca. 18. and taken from the nature of Sacraments But contrariwise the Masse is an horrible monster an Idoll of Antichrists owne making consisting of diuers horrible blasphemies whereby the whole dignitie and excellencie of the Lords Supper is defaced and quite taken away namely while they say that
summe of all controuersies betwixt the Catholickes and the Lutherans consists in these two things that besides the holy Scripture the Traditions of the Apostles and of the Church are necessary to bee beleeued And that the holy Scriptures themselues neither can nor ought to be interpreted of any with authority saue of the Catholike Roman Church In which two doctrines if one be once perswaded and setled hee will easily yeeld aioyne himselfe to the Church of Rome in the rest of the chiefe points of faith For if I were to dispute with the Heretikes about any article of faith it must needs be that there be somewhat set downe in the Bible touching my opinion or that there bee nothing at all to be found for it If there be nothing in the Bible forme presently then I say that it was wont so to be obserued by tradition from the Apostles in the Church of Rome But if there be somewhat contained in the Bible touching mine opinion and the Heretique will interpret it another way then might serue my turne then presently I oppose to him the Church of Rome that it hath so interpreted it so that euery Dispute ought to bee reduced to these two heads Thus farre he And truly this is it that the Pope of Rome labors for that hee may wrest the Scripture as seemeth him good and then it is as if any offering to fight with another and the weapon should be a sword he would fight vpon this condition that hee may be suffered to weild his aduersaries Sword as hee will And so it is likewise as if any would haue a suite in Law tryed before the Iudge according to the lawes but vpon this condition that it may be lawfull for him to interpret the Law on his owne side iust so the Pope doth for hee saith I will dispute with you out of the Scripture but so that it may bee lawfull for mee to interpret the Scripture on mine owne behalfe I would haue this also noted that if the Papists demaund who is the Iudge in the controuersies of faith Wee answer Syst The. pag. 174. item p. 203. that the chiefe and highest Iudge of controuersies of faith is he who is the Author both of faith and of the scripture to wit the holy Ghost According to that of Ioh. 16.8 When the Comforter shall come he shall reprooue he will iudge the world of sinne And then only the Scripture to bee the Law and Sentence of this Iudge according where vnto iudgment must be giuen concerning cōtrouersies of faith as it doth manifestly appeare by Ioh. 5.45 There is one who accuseth you euen Moses i. e. the writings of Moses which giue iudgement against you and yet more manifestly Ioh. 12. vers 48. He that reiecteth and receiueth not my words hath one that iudgeth him This word c It is not true therefore which the Pope of Rome saith that hee is the chiefe Iudge and decider of controuersies for he is not fit to bee a iudge who is accused and found guilty of deprauing and falsifying the Word of God I haue heard you sufficiently about the former sort of knowledge of Christian Religion or touching the principles of Diuinitie to wit God and Gods word Now I desire to bee instructed in the second kinde of knowledge arising from the former that is touching tthe parts of this heauenly Doctrine which doth spring from the doctrine which is of God and of the holy Scripture You tell mee right and I perceiue you well vnderstand the method and progresse which ouhgt to be obserued in vnderstanding the doctrine of Religion and therefore now will I instruct you touching the parts of Diuinity or Christian Religion How many parts hath this secondarie or deriued knowledge Two whereof the forme is of the end it selfe the latter is of the meanes that leade vs to that end What is the end of Diuinitie Saluation or life euerlasting How many waies is the saluation of man considered Two manner of waies either as it is perfect and compleate or as it is but begunne and imperfect or either in respect of the life to come or of this present life What is perfect and eternall saluation It cōsisteth in three things Syst Theol. pag. 110. First In most absolute perfection of body and soule Secondly In that vnutterable ioy wherewith wee shall triumph before God the holy Angels and godly men Thirdly In that most euident Maiestie glory and honor wherein wee shall triumph ouer death Sathan sinne and sinfull men And this is that which Peter saith 2. Pet. 1. v. 4. We shall be made pertakers saith he of the diuine nature of diuine perfection ioy and glory And Phil. 3. vers 21. Christ shall transforme our base body that it may be like the glorious body of Christ Esay 64. vers 4. 1 Cor. 2. vers 9. The things which the eye hath not seene nor the eare heard nor euer entred into the heart of man to conceiue are those which God hath prepared for them that loue him What is imperfect saluation or that which is begonne onely It is a taste of eternall saluation Syst Theol. pag. 211. V pag. hic 115. seqq or that comfort and ioy of conscience which wee haue in this life arising from the forgiuenes of our sins and from that confidence we haue towards God whom we certainely know to bee reconciled vnto vs by Christ Iesus so that no calamity whatsoeuer can be able to seperate vs from his loue no not death it selfe or that anxity and horror which vsually wee feele a◠the houre of death Of this the Apostle speaketh Rom. 5. uers 1. Therefore being iustified by faith we haue peace e. i. a ioyfull and merry conscience in the very midst of callamity and death Rom. 8. vers 35. Who shall seperate vs from the loue of Christ shall oppression shall anguish c. I see now what the end is I may expect to reape from this heauenly doctrine which how much the more it is desirable so much the more J long to know the meanes by which I may be conducted to this end The meanes whereby thou maist com to this most desired end are two First Partes Theologiae duae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naziaenzen Syst Theol. pag. 212. the knowledge of thy misery Secondly of thy redemption out of that misery The former part of this heauenly science touching the diseases of the Soule How may I come by the right knowledge of my misery or of the sores of my soule If thou shalt weigh well with thy selfe these foure things First that which went before thy misery Secondly the efficient cause of thy misery Thirdly the parts of thy misery Fourthly the exemplary cause or glasse wherein thou hast represented vnto thee thy misery What is that which went before the miserie of mankinde Quanto videmus maiora fuisse bona quae amisimus tanto grauiora cognoscemus
sinne What is the third propriety of Christs Passion That it was most sufficient Per Christum hominem iustitiae Deiplenissime satisfactum pregenere humano Bellar. lib. de asccusment in De um grad 13. cap. 3. neither neede wee any more expiation which is proued by that Heb. 9. v. 26. New was he in the end of the world made manifest by that offering vp of himselfe once to take away sinne And verse 28. Christ was once offerd vp that hee might take away the sinnes of many And yet more euidently Heb. 10.12 This man after the offering of his sacrifice sitteth for euer at the right hand of the Father And vers 14 By his one oblation that is by that his oblation which only is most perfect and sufficient Now that with is said Col. 1.24 Objection I fulfill the remainders of Christs suffering or passion in the flesh Soluti It must not be so vnderstood as if the Passion of Christ were not of it selfe sufficient 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christi sunt duplicia quaedam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in carne sua quadaÌ„ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in membris quae sunt Christi quia meÌ„broruÌ„ Zaâ—ch but needed some addittament to fill it vp but there by a Synecdoche the Passions of Christ hee calleth all such as the members of Christ were to suffer as if he said I must also indure those afflictions which Christ shall feele in his members as he expressely annexeth I fulfill the remnant of Christs Passion in the flesh for the body of Christ which is his Church that hee might plainly shew that hee spake not of that passion which Christ suffered for our sinnes Omnes sanctorum afflictiones vel sunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qâ—â—bus puniuntur peccata vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quibus probatur fides vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quibus confirmatur doctrina de his loquitur Melanct. but of the crosses and afflictions which the Church must sustaine in this world which Church by a Metaphoricall kind of speaking is the body of Christ And this which we haue spoken about the sufficiency of the passion of Christ we must note againe against the Papists who reach and say that expiation and purging of sinne is partly by good workes which shall bee confuted in the doctrine of Iustification partly by the Masse which shall likewise bee confuted in the point of and concerning the Lords Supper and partly by Purgatory which say they is a fire in which the soules of men after this life are tormented with temporall paines and are purged from sinnes and from which the soules of such as are aliue by fauour and by prayers may be deliuered as the Councell of Trent saith in the fifth Session Against which obserue these reasons First Calu â—nsti l. 3. c. 5. §. â— seqq in the sacred Volume there is no one testimony of Purgatory nor not so much as one example of any one that was in that Purgatory fires Ergo it is a meere inuention of their owne braine They vrge a place Obiecti 1 Cor. 3. verse 13. where it is said that by the fire shall be made manifest and proued euery mans worke of what sort it is But they apply this to Purgatory very foolishly Solus for the Apostle speaketh as touching the edifâ—cation of the Church and saith that the time shall come when it shal be tryed and examined how much euery one hath profited in edifying the the Church by the word of God and the holy Spirit which two he calleth fire by a Metaphor Hee addeth further Verse 15. He shall be saued but euen as it were by the fire where abiding still in the Metaphor and similitude he saith that not all those who haue not edified aright shall straight way bee damned for euer but that they shall suffer a tryall in their owne conscience because they haue not so faithfully discharged their Office as they should Secondly obserue two manifest sayings of the holy Writ wherein you shall finde but two places only that must bee in the next world pointed out vnto you the one for the blessed the other for those who are eternally damned Mark the last 16. Iohn 5.24 Verily verily I say vnto you who so heareth my word and beleeueth in him that sent me shall not come into iudgment and by consequence not into Purgatory which is a part of Iudgement but shall passe from death to life Reuel 14. vers 13. Blessed are they henceforth which dye in the Lord. Henceforth that is from the very moment wherein they dye There is also a plaine place Luke 23.43 where Christ saith to the thiefe To day shalt thou bee with mee in Paradice whereas he if any needed this Purgatory fire I haue heard sufficiently as concerning the first part of Christs Priestly office namely the purging away of our sinnes tell me what is the second part of the Priestly Office of Christ Syst Theol. pag. 357. It is that effectuall application whereby Christ doth alsufficiently and powerfully apply that his purging performed by him vnto the faithfull so that by it they may obtaine remission of sinnes reconciliation and peace What is the third part of this Office of Christ It is his intercession for vs VVhat doe you meane by intercession I doe not meane any Prayer or suite whereby Christ would get vnto vs againe the the fauour of God as one man is said to interceed for another that he may procure him somewhat but I vnderstand first that perpetuall value and vertue of the Sacrifice of Christ namely in that Christ presenteth his passion which he suffered for vs vnto the eternall Father Secondly the Fathers consent resting in this Passion of Christ contented and agreeing that this Passion of Christ shall be of force for vs for euer VVhich is the third Office of Christ His Regall Office Syst Theol pag. 359. for Christ is not only a prophet a priest vnto vs but he is also a King In what points consisteth the Regall Office of Christ In foure First in that hee gouerneth the Church by his Spirit and by his Word and doth not only shew vnto vs by his Word what we ought to doe but by the worke of the Spirit in vs enableth vs to doe them Secondly in that he defendeth vs against our enemies Satan Sinne and Death that they haue no power to hinder our saluation Thirdly in that he beautifieth his Church with excellent gifts and appointeth the Ministerie of his Word making men obedient vnto his owne ordinance Fourthly in that at the end of the World he shall appeare to bee Iudge of all men Syst Theol. pag. 368. and shall condemne the wicked to eternall punishments but shal make the godly to shine with eternall glory I doe already conceiue the office of Christ what it is and of how diuers sorts it is now I would haue you tell mee what the obiect is about
your whole demeanes Say you couenant for foure or fiue hundred pounds per annum Your Farmer at the making of the bargaine is an able substantiall sober man well able to pay you your annuall rent But so it fals out that soone after he is with-drawne to lewd and riotous courses and spends both time and estate vpon luxurie and vanity So that now hee is Bankerupt not worth fiue pence in all the world and consequently altogether vnable to pay you fiue hundred pound What then may not you in equity and iust law require of him your annuall rent although it be impossible for him to pay it I know you may Iust so it is betwixt God and man At the first man was created in perfect righteousnes and so was a person fitted to the obseruance of all good duties but soone after hee turned bankrupt hee fell vpon riotous and disobedient courses being tempted by the woman and shee by the Serpent to eat the forbidden fruit Before he was the seruant of God now he is become the slaue of sin So that he hath no strength to runne in those good wayes wherein at first God set him What then Because hee is not able to do any good may not God in equity exact of him the keeping of his commandements I trow hee may yea I am sure he doth and that rightly because the thing is become impossible to man meerly through his owne default 3 The exhortations and dehortations the promises and threatnings which haue annexed conditions are not in vaine neither is there any mockery in them although we be not able of our selues to fulfill the exhortation or performe the condition For it must be obserued that there are in the visible state of the Church both elect and reprobate and these two will grow together in the field vntill the haruest when they shall bee separate by the Angels the wheat that is the elect gathered into Gods barne the tares that is the reprobate gathered into sheaues to be burnt So then the precepts of God in the Word and the exhortations of the Ministers according to the Word are directed either to the reprobate or to the elect and not one iot of the Word of God shall fall to the ground For to the one it becomes the sauour of death vnto death to the other the sauour of life vnto life I open my selfe thus The exhortations threatnings promises warnings c. set downe in the Word of God and published by the mouth of his Ministers being directed to the reprobate make them the more inexcusable that their mouths may be stopped and that they may not say another day that if they had beene exhorted to such a good duty they would haue imbraced it if they had beene admonished of such a fault they would haue forsaken it For here there consciences shall conuict them and they shal know then that there hath beene a Prophet among them If they be directed to the elect they bee eyther such as are not yet effectually called and then the holy Spirit enwrapping himselfe in his Word worketh an admirable change in their hearts and begets those good things in them whereunto they are exhorted for the Word of the Lord is mightie in operation as the Apostle saith and the Law of the Lord is perfect conuerting the soule as the Psalmist speaketh or else they bee actually called and then by those denunciations of iudgement they become more wary in their carriage by those exhortations to godlinesse they become more liuely and forward in all good courses tending and striuing after perfection So that in all this here is no mockage at all neither can God without blasphemy be said to doe any thing in vaine This because it is the most substantiall doubt and most stood vpon by your Author therefore I haue endeauoured to cleere it thus at large as you see and to afford it a full answere Ob. For the other they are either impertinent as that out of Ecclus 15.14 which speakes of man in his first estate of creation before the fall Sol. wherein we deny not man freewil besides I say not that the Booke is Apocryphall although that might serue for a sufficient answere or they be friuolous Ob. as that of Cain Gen. 4 7 wherin it is not said that he shall haue dominion ouer sin Sol. but there God vrgeth an argument to coole the heat of his anger taken from the subiection of his brother Abel Ob. Of this Bran is that testimony taken out of Iosuah 24. Sol. wherein hee giues them their choice whether they will serue the true God or not not as if it had been in their power to haue chosen but only that hee might draw from them a confession of the true worship of God by which protestation they might the more be tied to Gods seruice after Iosuahs death and held the more inexcusable if they fell to Idols after this solemne profession to feare God and to abiure all idolatrous worship And that instance of Ananias Ob. Act. 5. is like because it speaketh onely of an humane and ciuill matter Sol. the sale of a piece of land which was in his owne power Ob. The first demonstratiue reason which is argumentum cornutum carries some better shew with it but concludes nothing against the truth Haec Pelagii quoque arma erant ad impetēdum Augustinum Calv. Instit l. 2. c. 5. §. 1 Sol. It is this Sin is either necessary or voluntary if necessary thē it is not sin if voluntary then it may be auoyded The hornes of this argumentation are too short and weake to push down the truth If sinne be necessary then it is no sinne How proue you that argument You must remember which you also learned in morall Philosophy that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 voluntarium inuitum are opposed not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 voluntarium necessarium God and his Angels are good necessarily and yet they are voluntarily good The Deuill and his Angells are euill necessarily and yet they are euil most willingly too 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oportet there must be heresies sayes the Apostle Necesse est It is necessary that offences come sayes our Sauiour and of Iudas his bloudy sinne and the Iewes malicious conspiracy against Christ it is expresly said That they did nothing but what the mighty hand of God had decreed long afore to be done Briefly then sinne is both voluntary and necessary Voluntary in respect of mans will for we say that a man may bee carried freely and with a full swing to the workes of darknesse euen to commit wickednesse with greedinesse neither is it necessity but compulsion which takes away the liberty of the will And it is also Necessary in respect of Gods decree which is immutable For this is a most certaine and vndoubted truth that nothing can bee done in the