a As Christs own Disciples were ignorant in many things so c. ignorant man and yet hee beleeves without knowledge the mind is not good Prov. 19.2 374. Though he hath but from hand to mouth yet no man living fares so well as he doth 375. He beleeves that there 's but one Kingdom of Glory Tit. 3.7 which all the Saints shall hereafter enjoy 1 Pet. 5.4 and yet he beleeves that every Saint shall hereafter be made an heir of no lesse then a Kingdom Rev. 2.20 and shall enjoy a Glorious Crown a Crown of Glory 376. He beleeves that he hath the whole heart of Jesus Christ and yet he beleeves that Jesus Christ gives his whole heart to every beleever 377. He beleeves that God will not accept of purposes without performances 2 Cor. 8.12 and yet he beleeves that God accepts of his purposes for performances 378. He knows self-love to be a sinne and yet none loves himself more then he Prov. 19.8 379. He knows that God is not ignorant of his wants and yet is often putting God in mind of them 380. He beleeves that the thoughts of that which is good Good thoughts are sinfull when they come not in their season are not sinfull and yet he beleeves he may sin in thinking upon that which is good 381. He beleeves that a finite creature shall be made partaker of an infinite happinesse 382 He is every day grieving to see how the saints are loathâ—d and abhorr'd by others Job 40.4 42.16 and yet he is every day loathing and abhorring himself and grieves not at it 383. He beleeves that weake grace will bring his soul to heaven but it 's the strength of grace that will bring heaven into his soul 384. He is often complaining to God and yet the contented'st man living 385. He beleeves that Timothy was Pauls sonne 1 Tim. 1.2 and yet he beleeves that Paul was not Timothies father Acts 16.1 386. He thinks he may die sooner then he thought and yet he thinks he shall not die sooner then he would 387. He beleeves that death may kill him and yet he beleeves that death cannot hurt him 388. There 's none so slighted disgraced and vilified as he 1 Cor. 4.13 and yet none so lov'd honour'd and esteem'd Esay 43.4 389. When he gives to the poor he gives a Luk. 6.35 freely hoping for nothing again and yet he beleeves it 's but b Pro. 19.17 lent and he shall be payd again 390. He is one that hath meat the world knows not of and feeds upon dainties that no eye ever saw 391. He beleeves that all that are born are not still-born and yet he beleeves that all that are born are born dead Ephes 2.1 392. He beleeves that when one is dead his life is ended and yet he beleeves that this life is not ended when he is dead 393. He expects that which he never saw and sees that which once he never expected 394. He is one whose heart is upright with God and yet a This was the subscription of one of Mr. Bradfords Letters A very painted hypocrite John Bradford Fox Act. Mon. Vol. 3. pag. 356. judgeth himself to be a very painted hypocrite 395. He beleeves that the damn'd in hell are kept under a dying life and a living death 396. His eyes are often busied in the things here below and yet his eyes are ever in heaven towards the Lord Psalm 25.15 397. He beleeves that one may hear the Word of God who yet he beleeves hears not God in the Word 398. He truely confesseth Joh. 15.5 Lord without thee I can do nothing and yet as truly professeth I am able to do all things Phil. 4.13 399. He beleeves that some men live as if they never thought to die and then die as if they never thought to live 400. He hath an end in all his desires yet of his desiring there 's no end FINIS
THE MYSTERY of GODLINES OR Godlinesse in a Mystery OR The Character of a Saint in seeming Contradictions By I. C. The meanest Labourer in Christs Vineyard 1 Tim. 3.16 And without controversie great is the MYSTERY OF GODLINESSE 1 Cor. 2.8 But we speak the wisdome of God in a MYSTERY Joh. 3.9 Nieodemus answered and said unto him How can these things be April 11th 1654. Imprimatur Joseph Caryl LONDON Printed for Philemen Stephens at the Gilded Lion in St. Pauls Church-yard THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Courteous Reader THese Mysteries having lain by me for some time I little thought once should ever appear'd to publike view especially in such a Scribling age as this is wherein there 's no end of making many Books But having incouragement and approbation from some I thought it not good to conceal any thing that might make for Gods glory and Publike profit It 's farre from my intentions and I hope my heart deceives me not in it to seek hereby self-praise or self-applause or that I might be known in the World good God! thou know'st how vile I am how unworthy to be numbred amongst thine Ambassadours but that the Mystery of godlinesse might bee more manifest and perspicuous Wee live in an age that affords us a world of which might indeed have been a strong argument for me not to have written these PARADOXES which are not all ORTHODOX but and I think I am not mistaken thou hast nothing here but ORTHODOX PARADOXES I must acknowledge they were very profitable to mee both in making them and in often reading them yea the more I read them the more I gained by them nay let mee tell thee freely I understood more in some things by them then ever I did before many places of Scripture I could reconcile which before seemed to me really opposite I wish thee with all my heart the same profit and more abundantly so prayeth he December 1653. I. C. Who is very importunate at the Throne of Grace for thine the Churches good I. C. THE Mystery of Godlinesse OR Godlinesse in a Mystery Or A Beleever clearing truth by seeming Contradictions The first Century 1. HE admires at the a 1 Tim. â— 16 Mysteriousnesse of godlinesse and yet wonders at the clearnesse of it 2. He beleeves that God was manifest in the flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 and yet he beleeves that the GOD-HEAD was not made flesh 3. He beleeves that Christ was without b Heb. 7.3 beginning of dayes or end of life and yet he beleeves that he had both beginning of dayes and end of life 4. He beleeves that Christ was no sinner and yet he beleeves that he was the c It s the known speech of Luther greatest sinner that ever was by imputation 5. He beleeves that Christ had no Father for his mother was a Virgin and yet he beleeves he had a Father for his mother was a married woman Luk. 2.48 6. He beleeves that the d The Holy Ghost Spirit of God and the e Num. 16.22 God of spirits are but one God 7. He finds the Spirit of the Lord in him and yet findes himself many times in the Spirit of the Lord especially on the Lords day Rev. 1.10 8. He beleeves that God is included in no place and yet he beleeves he is every where 9. He beleeves that there is not a word spoken but God heareth it and yet he beleeves God heareth not sinners Joh. 9.31 10. 1 Cor. 3.22 He beleeves he hath a right to all the World and yet he beleeves that what ever is not his own he hath no right to 11. He beleeves that a wicked man hath no right to what he hath and yet he beleeves that what he hath he hath a right to 12. He beleeves that every Saint is perfect Job 1.1 and yet he beleeves that if he should say he is perfect it shall also prove him perverse Job 9.20 13. He beleeves that these are two different things the sin of nature and the nature of sin 14. He beleeves that good works cannot save him and yet he beleeves hee can never be saved without good works 15. He beleeves that Jesus Christ was never forsaken of his Father and yet hee beleeves that Christ said true Mat. 27.26 when he cried to his Father My God my God why hast thou forsaken me 16 He beleeves that the Ministers of Jesus Christ are called Angels Rev. 1.20 and yet he beleeves they are not ministring spirits Heb. 1.14 17. He beleeves that Jesus Christ is the onely Son Joh. 1.14 Com with 12. the onely begotten Son of the Father and yet he beleeves that God the Father hath many other sons 18. He beleeves that he must pray to the whole Trinity to the Father who is God to the Son who is God to the Holy Ghost who is God and yet hee beleeves that hee commits horrible Idolatry if he prayes to any more Gods then one God 2 King 19.15 Exo. 20.17 19. He beleeves that it is a sin to be covetous and yet he beleeves that one may be covetous and not sin 1 Cor. 12.31 20. He beleeves that some may enjoy abundance and yet want and that others may want and yet enjoy abundance 21. He beleeves that whoever hath God is the richest person in the World and yet he beleeves that one may have God and yet many richer then he 22. He beleeves that to a Viz. to die give up the ghost can no way without blasphemy be attributed to God or to any person in the God-Head and yet he beleeves that Jesus Christ who was truely God once gave up the ghost Mar. 15.37 23. He beleeves that his life here is not eternall and yet he beleeves that he hath in him eternall life Joh. 8.54 24 He beleeves that Christ assumed not man but the humanity b Not the person but the nature for otherwayes hee had not been God-man and one person but two persons so there had been two Christs Heb. 9.27 and yet he beleeves that he was made Man the MAN Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 25 He beleeves that there are many needfull things and yet saith Christ to Martha but one thing is needfull Luk. 10.42 26 He beleeves that it is appointed unto men but once to die and yet hee beleeves that every Saint dies daily 27. He beleeves that God will shew wonders to the dead in raising all that are dead to life again and yet he beleeves that Scripture true wilt thou shew wonders to the dead shall the dead arise and praise thee Psal 88.10 28 He beleeves that he shall overcome death in Christ and yet he beleeves that death will overcome him 29. He beleeves that all must taste of death and yet he beleeves there is a death many shall not taste of 30. He knows that all men die but once and yet hee beleeves there is a a Rev. 20.14 second death 31. He beleeves that death
confesse our faults one to another Jam. 5.16 286. He thinks it folly for a man to commend himself and yet he thinks that a man may a As Paul did for the vindication of himself 2 Cor. 11.12 commend himself without folly 287. He knows he is not to contemn the person of any man and yet is one in whose eyes a vile person is contemned Psal 15.4 288. He beleeves that the dead cannot hear and yet he beleeves that the dead shall hear the voyce of the Sonne of God Joh. 5.25 289 He beleeves that he was once dead for some years Luk. 15 32 and yet he beleeves that his soul was never separated from his body 290. He beleeves that bread though it be the staffe of life yet cannot continue mans life for ever and yet he beleeves that there is such bread of which whosoever eateth shall live for ever Joh. 6.58 291. He beleeves that Christ was crucified and put to an open shame but once Heb. 9.28 and yet he beleeves that Christ by some hath been crucified afresh Heb. 6.6 and put to an open shame 292. He is one who though he live in the World yet hath an other world to live in Or thus 293. He is one who though he be in the World yet is not of the World Joh. 17.16 294. He is one that is dead to sin but not dead in sin 295. He beleeves that God hardens some mens hearts Rom 9.18 and yet he beleeves that they harden themselves Exod. 8.15 296. He beleeves that Christ cannot be seen now by any till he comes to judgement and yet he beleeves that there are many that feed him refresh him entertain him Mat. 25.35 36 clothe him and visit him every day 297. He beleeves that whosoever shall a Mat. 10.32 confesse Christ before men him will Christ confesse before his Father and yet he beleeves that before his Father Christ may not confesse some who yet may possibly b 1 Cor. 13.3 confesse him before men 298. He beleeves that from death can no man be delivered though never so righteous and yet he beleeves that righteousness delivereth from death Pro. 10.2 299. He thinks faith if true cannot be dead and yet he thinks there 's a c Jam. 2. â—â— dead faith 300. He beleeves that many may know God Tit. 1.16 who yet have not the knowledge of him 1 Cor. 15.34 The fourth Century 301. HE thinks hee was never caught up with Paul into the third Heaven 2 Cor. 12. â— and yet he finds his heart to be ever there 302. He beleeves that he was never caught up into Paradise and yet while his heart is with God in heaven he many times hears Words unspeakable and enjoyes that from God which for his life he cannot utter 303. He knows that dead men are able to do nothing Mat. 8.22 and yet he beleeves the text Let the dead bury their dead 304. He beleeves that a dead man is no living man and yet he beleeves that a living man may be a dead man 305. He thinks he sins if he make not God all his delight and yet he thinks he sins not though a Psal 16.3 all his delight be in the Saints 306. He beleeves that the death of the righteous Eccles 9.2 and their latter end is much like to the wickeds for death comes alike to all and yet he beleeves that no wicked man shall die the death of the righteous Num. 23.10 neither shall his latter end be like unto his 307. He doth not know to the full his own heart Jer. 17.9 and yet makes known or layes open his whole heart to God 308. He is no desperate sinner Jer. 17.9 and yet cries out that his heart is desperately wicked 309. He is no deceitfull man and yet beleeves that his heart is full of deceit 310. He beleeves that the Lord will be as good as his word that the desire of the righteous shall be granted Prov. 10.24 he findes the Lord many times not granting his desire and yet he beleeves he is as good as his word 311. He sees to his grief that Gods Ministers are despised and yet he beleeves that they which despise 1 Thes 4.8 despise not Gods Ministers but God 312. He beleeves that Christ came not to destroy the Law Mat. 5.17 and yet hee beleeves that the Law of Ceremonies is destroyed or abolished by Christ 313. He beleeves that the wicked are not in trouble like other men Psal 73.5 and yet he beleeves that there is no peace to the wicked Esay 48.22 314. He beleeves that a man shall live again though he die and yet he beleeves that when a man is once dead he shall never live again Job 17.17 315. He beleeves that Christ died for the a Rom. 5.6 ungodly and yet he beleeves there are ungodly ones Christ never died for 316. He beleeves that God will reward him for his well doing Mat. 5.12 Col. 3.24 Heb. 10.35 and yet he beleeves that he deserves or merits no reward though he doth never so well 317. He beleeves that sin may tyrannize in him but shall never King it over him 318. He never heard of any that had two tongues and yet verily beleeves there are many that are double tongued 1 Tim. 3.8 319. He beleeves that where ever true faith is there be doubtings but not where ever there be doubtings there is true faith 320. He knows there 's no comparison between a drop of a bucket and all the nations of the World and yet hee beleeves that all the nations of the World are but as a drop of a bucket b Compar'd to God Esay 40.15 Esay 29.13 321. He beleeves that one may draw neer to God when as yet he removes himself far from him 322. He cannot avoid it but that sometimes the things of the earth must be in his mind Phil. 3.19 and yet he is one who minds not earthly things 323 He thinks many may die peaceably who yet die not in peace 324 He beleeves that his end when it shall be cannot be known and yet he prayes with David Lord Psal 39.4 make me to know mine end 325. He beleeves that no man labours but for an end and yet hee beleeves that there 's no a Eccles 4.8 Eccles 7 8 end of some mens labour 326. He beleeves that better is the end of a thing then the beginning thereof Mat. 12.45 and yet he beleeves wo and alas that the beginning of some is better then their end 327. He beleeves that he may rejoyce at the fall of the enemies of the Church of God and yet saith Solomon Prov. 24 17 rejoyce not when thine enemy falleth 328. He cries out with David Lord who can understand his errours Psal 19.12 and yet he makes known his errours to God 329. He beleeves that to the just there happens b Psa 34.19 many
is not visible because it never had a being and yet he beleeves b Psa 89.48 what man is he that liveth and shall not see death 32. He beleeves that God is Omniscient knowing all things and yet he beleeves that the wicked are unknown to God Depart from me saith Christ I know you not Matth. 25.12 I never knew you Matth. 7.23 33. He beleeves that Scripture true no man hath seen God at any time 1 Joh. 4.12 and yet he beleeves at c In his works Ro. 1.20 any time God may be seen 34. He beleeves that none can see God and live and yet he beleeves that none can live without seeing God In what a strait in what a strait am I Twixt two extrems how my rackt fortunes lie See I thy face or see it not I die 35. He beleeves that every man is mortall and yet he beleeves that an a Viz. his soul immortall being is in every man 36. He beleeves that God is Infinite and yet he beleeves that hee dwells in the broken and contrite heart of a finite creature Esa 66.1 2 37. He beleeves that having Christ hee hath all things with him and yet he beleeves he may want though he hath Christ 38. He beleeves that it 's impossible for God to lie and yet he beleeves that God may utter that which he never intends to bring to passe 39. He beleeves that God is unchangeable and immutable and yet he beleeves that God may be said sometimes to b Joel 2.13 repent 40 When he is weak then he is strong yea his strength is made perfect in weaknesse 2 Cor. 12.9 10. and yet when he is strong in his own eyes then is he weak 41. He beleeves that it is impossible for any to escape death and yet he beleeves the words of Christ to be true Verily verily I say unto you if any man keep my saying he shall never taste of death Joh. 8.52 42. He beleeves that God cannot be seen a Quid sit what he is in himself and yet he beleeves that when he shall appear the Saints shall be like him for they shall see him b 1 Joh. 3.2 as he is 43 He beleeves that he that committeth sinne is of the Devil 1 Joh. 3.8 and yet he beleeves that he is not of the Devil though he committeth sin 44 He beleeves that the eyes of the Lord are in every place Prov. 15.3 and yet he beleeves that the Lord hath no eyes 45 He beleeves that the ears of the Lord are open to the cries of the righteous Psal 34.15 and yet he beleeves that the Lord hath no eares 46. He beleeves that prayer 1 Tim. 2.1 and supplication are to be made for all men and yet he beleeves that there be some men that prayer 1 Joh. 5.6 and supplication are not to be made for 47 He beleeves that God is said to have eyes ears arms legs a mouth breath bowels c. and yet he beleeves that it's blasphemie to say or think that God hath a bodily or corporeall substance 48 He beleeves that who ever hath faith beleeves and yet he thinks one may beleeve and yet not have faith 49. He beleeves that Christ was crucified or the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world Revel 13.8 and yet he beleeves that Christ was not crucified till after the world began some thousands of years 50. He beleeves that when Christ was upon the Crosse a God suffered in the flesh 〈◊〉 with flesh God might be rightly said to suffer and yet he beleeves that the God-Head suffered not 51. He beleeves that Christ suffered innocently Heb. 7.26 and yet he beleeves that he suffered for sin Isa 53.10 52. He beleeves that there 's no b That 's sinfull evil but he must resist and yet saith our Saviour resist not evil Mat. 9.39 53. He looks upon himself as the greatest sinner 1 Tim. 1.15 and yet there hath been and are many sinners which may be lookt upon as great if not greater then he 54. He beleeves that it 's no sinne to confesse sin When it s confessed with no loa thing of it and confesseth sin but doth not leave sinne and yet he beleeves that a man may c sin in confessing sin 55 He beleeves that one may be humble for his pride and yet may be proud of his humility 56. He d Ezra 9.6 blusheth for shame when he confesseth his sins to God and yet he is not e Psal 51.14 ashamed to confess the greatest sinnes he knows himself to be guilty of 57. He trembles for fear when ever he approacheth the Throne of Grace Esay 66.2 and yet comes boldly Heb. 4.16 58. He sometimes comes to duty with his heart full of doubts whether he shall speed in the duty and yet is very confident he shall speed without doubt 59. He beleeves that his Election is made sure enough 2 Tim. 2.19 and yet he beleeves that he is to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 60. He beleeves that cursed is every one that continueth not in all things Gal. 3.10 which are written in the book of the Law to do them he confesseth that himself hath not continued in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them Gal. 3.13 and yet he beleeves that he is not cursed 61. He beleeves that wicked men sinne if they pray not and yet he beleeves if they a Non faciendo sed modo faciendi not in doing it but in the manner of doing it pray they sin Prov. 15 8. 62. He beleeves himself to be a king and yet a begger 63. He beleeves that saints may be and are very profitable to others and yet he beleeves that when they have done all that they can do they must say they are but unprofitable servants Luke 17.10 64. He beleeves that works justifie Coram heminibus non coram Deo and yet he beleeves that we are not justified by works Or thus 65. He beleeves that a man is justified by faith onely and not by works Rom. 3.28 and yet he beleeves that a man is justified by works and not by faith only Jam. 2.24 66. He is a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief yet alwayes singing and making melody in his heart to the Lord Ephes 5.19 67. He cries out that his sins have undone him and yet he beleeves that he is not undone 68. He beleeves that one may have nothings 2 Cor. 6.10 and yet possessing all things 69. He beleeves that one may have a As the stony ground Luke 8.13 comfort by the Word and yet not profit by it 70. He beleeves that he is dead and alive at one and the same time 71. He beleeves that he is bound to pray b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without ceasing 1 Thes 5.17 and yet he beleeves that he is