that penalty which is due to these debts is death Instance b Gen. 2. 17. the first sinne that was committed And to shew that the like holdeth in euery sinner the Prophet without any limitation reseruation or exception at all saith c Ezek. 18. 4. The soule that sinneth it shall dye If it be a sinne in that it is sinne deadly it must needs be bee it great or small in thought word or deed For d Rom. 6. 23. the wages of sinne euen of whatsoeuer is sinne is death Being a sinne it is a transgression of the Law For these two words sinne transgression are conuertible and reciprocall termes one importeth as much as the other e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sinne is a transgression e 1. Ioh. 3. 4. And f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All vnrighteousness or euery transgression is sinne But euery transgression is deadly For g Gal. 3. 10. Cursed is euery one that continueth not in all things that are written in the Law And all vnrighteousnesse is deadly For h Rom. 1. 18. the wrath of God is reuealed against all vnrighteousnesse And that not without iust cause For all vnrighteousnesse euery transgression euery sinne is against the good will of God who is of infinite excellency and Maiestie See my Treatise of the sinne against the holy Ghost §. 31. and in that respect it is of an infinite praultie and deserueth an infinite punishment eternall death Obiect Thus all sinnes are made equall A. Nothing lesse For neither doth the same kinde of punishment make all the crimes for which it is inflicted equall nor doth the same kinde presuppose the same measure of punishment Robbers and murtherers are put to the same kinde of death yet is murther a more hainous sinne then robberie Besides among such Malefactors as are put to death the kinde of death whereunto some are put is much more terrible then that whereunto others are put Will any thence inferre that all crimes which are capitall are equall Much more absurd is the inference of Papists that all sinnes are made equall because all are made mortall They themselues doe not hold all the sinnes which they iudge mortall Mat. 11. 22 24. to bee equall There are degrees of torment in hell Though all such in their nature and kinde if they be not forgiuen implunge men into death and damnation yet not into the same degree of torture §. 115. Of the distinction of Veniall and mortall sinnes Q. ARe then no sinnes at all Veniall A. The distinction of Veniall and mortall sinnes rightly and wisely limited may safely be admitted and that in foure respects especially 1. In regard of the order that God hath by his Word reuealed 2. In regard of the subiect or person in whom sinne is 3. In comparison of one sinne with another 4. In regard of the Churches manner of proceeding against sinners 1. Concerning the order which by Gods Word is reuealed there is an irreuocable Decree passed vpon the sinne against the Holy Ghost Math. 12. 31. that it shall neuer be forgiuen Heb. 6. 4. c. 10 26 c. Howsoeuer the secret Decree of God bee as inuiolable against all the sinnes of euery Reprobate yet because that determined doome is not reuealed against any one sinne but that of It onely it is said There is a sinne vnto death 1. Ioh. 5. 16. The sinne therefore against the Holy Ghost is mortall But in opposition to it Christ saith All sinnes shall be forgiuen Mar. 3. 28. that is they are remissible pardonable and in the respect veniall 2. Concerning the subiect or person in whom sinne is after that by faith the Elect are ingraffed into Christ though sinne remaine in them yet is it not imputed to them for condemnation There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus Rom 8. 1. All the sinnes therefore of true Beleeuers are veniall They shall be pardoned but all the sinnes of vnbeleeuers are mortall they shall be punished with euerlasting damnation Ioh. 3. 36. The wrath of God abideth on him that beleeueth not Quaedam peccata mortalia in poenitentia fiunt venialia Mag. Sentent lib. 4. dist 20. Besides the true Beleeuer though he may fall into many sinnes will impenitently lye in no sinne So as such sins as in another would incurre death and proue mortall in him by repentance become veniall and are pardoned 3. Concerning comparison of sinnes it cannot bee denied that some sinnes are very small as a by-thought in an holy duty an idle word a little tap with the hand and that other sinnes are very hainous as blasphemie periurie murther adulterie and such like Therefore comparatiuely smaller sinnes may bee stiled veniall in relation to hainous and notorious sinnes which are called mortall in that they doe more apparantly and more deepely implunge into death and damnation Thus all Ecclesiastical Writers both ancient and moderne haue vsed this distinction 4. Concerning the Churches manner of proceeding against sinners many sinnes doe dayly passe from men which though by Ministers they be reproued and Gods iudgements be denounced against them yet passe not vnder the Churches publike censure These haue been called veniall There are other sinnes which euen before men seeme so intollerable as the Church thinketh not the committers of them worthy to bee admitted to the holy ordinances of God but denounceth against them some publike censure of suspention excommunication or execration and anathema till publike repentance be manifested and satisfaction giuen to the Church Thus because one of the Church of Corinth had committed such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles 1. Cor. 5. 1 5. Saint Paul deliuered him to Satan These sinnes worthy of such censure haue been called mortall But as our Aduersaries vse the distinction of veniall and mortall sinne Sinne not veni all in its owne nature it cannot stand with the forenamed nature of sinne implyed vnder this Metaphor Debt They say that many sinnes are a Rhem. annot on Rom. 1. 32. veniall because they are pardonable of their owne nature and not worthy of damnation They giue these and such like instances of veniall sinnes Sudden motions of lust b Bâ—llar de Stat. pecl 1. cap. 3. anger and enuie Immoderate laughter an idle word deceit in a small thing as an halfe-peny c. Their great Champian doth thus expresse the meaning of their Church in this point Veniale peccalum ex natura sua distinguiturà mortali ac sinc vlla relatione vel ad Praedestinationem vel ad miscricordiom Dei vel ad statum renâ—lorum est eiusmodi vt poenam aeternam non mereatur Bellar. de Stat. pec lib. 1. cà p 9. Veniall sinne is in its owne nature distinguished from mortall and without any respect to predestination or to the mercy of God or to the state of the regenerate it is of that kinde as
indeed as good an opinion and as high an esteeme of Gods will as Dauid had we would cleaue as close to it as he did 2. A right discerning of the vanity and corruption of the creatures will especially when it is not agreeable to Gods but swerueth from it Psal 94 11. In this respect it is said The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man that they are but vanity Iob 5. 13. and He taketh the wise in their craftinesse If we could truely and thorowly discerne as much would wee be so blockish as to preferre the will of any man before Gods 3. A deniall of our owne will a point which the wise man much presseth Pro. 3. 5 7. in these and such like prohibitions Leane not to thine owne vnderstanding Be not wise in thine owne eyes Seldome or neuer are selfe-conceited men brought to yeeld simple obedience to Gods will They will bee so inquisitiue into the ground and reason thereof that if they be not satisfied therein their owne will Pro. 26. 12. and not Gods shall be done There is more hope of a foole then of such an one 4. Mortification of the flesh Gal. 5. 17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit so that wee cannot doe the things that we would When we would doe the will of God Rom. 7. 28 c. yea and delight in the Law of God after the inner man wee shall finde the flesh warring against that Law of the minde and bringing vs into captiuitie to the law of sinne This made Saint Paul with so bitter an exclamation to say O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death Q. What desire wee in regard of the extent of the fore-named Rule be done A. 1. An accomplishment of whatsoeuer God hath determined That what God willeth to be done may accordingly bee done whether the creature will it or nill it For we ought to beleeue that God wisely willeth all things to the best and thereupon to desire that his counsell and purpose may stand and euen from our hearts to say m Act. 21. 14. The will of the Lord be done n 2. Sam. 15. 26. Let him doe as seemeth good to him 2. A contented submission to euery thing which God bringeth to passe Hereof we haue worthy patternes in the examples of o Iob 1. 21. Iob p 1. Sam. 3. 18. Eli q 2. Sam. 16. 10. Dauid r 2. King 20. 19. Hezekiah and other Saints Wee can not be ignorant that euents doe declare the determined purpose of God When such and such a thing is falne out we may then conclude that God had so and so purposed it For as Gods Word declareth his approuing will what he would haue so euents declare his peremptory will what hee will haue Our submission therefore to Gods will is tried in both This is to bee applyed to all manner of crosses and losses whether of goods children or other friends to death it selfe or to any other thing that may seeme bitter to vs. Q. What desire we in regard of the place here specified for doing the will of God In earth A. 1. Grace well to vse the time of this mortall life For the time while wee abide on earth is f; Ioh. 9. 4. the day wherein wee may worke and t Gal 6. 10. the time of doing good n Ioh. 9. 4. Christ tooke the aduantage of the day and x 1 Phil. 2. 5. we ought to bee of the minde of Christ Thus shall wee shew that wee haue as great respect to Gods honour as to our owne happinesse and as great a desire to doe the worke appointed as to receiue the reward promised 2. Vniuersall subiection to Gods will throughout this world For this indefinite phrase in earth sheweth that our desire ought to bee extended to all that are on the face of the earth We pray not that Gods will be done only in our own house or in our owne countrey or in the countries neere adioyning to vs but in earth x 1 Psal 67. 2 c. All the graces therefore before mentioned to be craued for our selues must also bee craued for euery member of the militant Church §. 74. Of the things to be prayed for in the direction of the third Petition WHat are we taught to pray for in regard of this direction Quid est aliud dicere Fiat volâ—â—tas tuâ— in coelo sicut in terra quam vt sint homines similes Angelis c. Abb. Isa de Vrat c. 20. as it is in heauen A. In generall a conformitie of the Church militant to the Church triumphant That though these two parts of Gods Church be in one place distant one from another yet they may bee of like minde and disposition towards God and his will In this respect we are said to be partakers of the heauenly calling and our conuersation to be in heauen Heb. 3. 1. 2. In particular such a manner of obedience as is performed by the Saints and Angels in heauen Phil. 3. 20. §. 75. Of the distinct heads of the manner of doing Gods will in heauen Q. TO how many heads may their manner of obedience be reduced A. To sixe especially which are these that follow 1. Sinceritie 1. Sinceritie Whatsoeuer those heauenly spirits make shew of Reu. 14. 5. they doe it from the heart In their mouth is found no guile for they are without fault before the Throne of God 21. 27. None that maketh alye can enter into that pure place 22. 15. They are without whosoeuer loue lies All in heauen shine as the Sunne They are transparent Mat. 13. 43. there is no couer for hypocrisie This sincerity did Dauid desire where he prayed that God would take from him the way of lying Psal 119 29 36 80. and encline his heart to his Testimonies and let it be vpright in his Statutes 2. Integritie 2. Integritie Reu. 14. 4. which is an vniuersall subiection to euery part of Gods will The heauenly spirits follow the Lambe whether soeuer he goeth In all places they attend vpon their Lord and alwayes behold his face Mat. 18. 10. to know what his will is that they may doe it They are therefore by a kinde of excellency said to doe his commandements Psal 103. 20 hearkening to the voice of his Word Neuer was there any stop or stay in any that euer entred into heauen at any thing that God willed to be done This integritie also did Dauid desire where he said Oh that my wayes were directed to keepe thy Statutes Psal 119 5 6. then shall I not be ashamed when I haue respect to ALL thy commandements Deut. 5. 29. yea this did God himselfe earnestly desire for his people 3. Alacritie 3. Alacritie There is nothing wherein the heauenly spirits shew more cheerefulnesse then in doing Gods will It is musicke and
it deserueth not eternall punishment He inserteth these phrases without respect to Predestination or to the mercy of God or to the state of the regenerate because orthodoxall Diuines haue granted that the title veniall may be applied to sinne in regard of Gods eternall predestination and purpose to pardon sinne and in regard of the mercy of God which is greater then the desert of sinne and in regard of the regenerate whose faith gaineth an absolution for sinne To shew therefore that hee and his hereticall Church whose cause hee maintaineth goeth beyond the limits of all truth hee reiecteth the fore-named limitations wherein truth is bounded and will haue ventall sinnes to be of themselues in their owne nature not worthy of damnation In their sence these two termes Sinne Veniall are contradictorie Sinne is according to the doctrine of the Scripture worthy of damnation Vâ—niall according to their sence is not worthy fo damnation Rom. 6. 23. To say therefore that sinne is veniall is to say that worthy of damnation is not worthy of damnation But I demand are their veniall sins pleasing or displeasing to God one of them they must be A meane cannot bee giuen betwixt these two contradictorie termes which is neither of them They dare not say that veniall sinnes are pleasing to God Then doe they displease him If they displease him they offend an infinite goodnesse an infinite excellency an infinite Maiestie and in that respect are worthy of an infinite punishment As for their owne instances of veniall sinnes 1. The suddennest motions that can be though no consent should be yeelded to them are against the first and last commandements Besides the perfect Law of God is spirituall It requireth integritie in the innermost parts euen in the spirits of men The fore-mentioned thoughts are against spirituall integritie and in that respect against the Law and deserue the curse thereof Yea further the secretest suddennest thoughts are acts and motions of the soule as manifest to God as outward actions of the body If therefore they be euill they are in his sight apparant transgressions As for motions to lust though neuer so sudden at the very sight of a woman Math. 5. 22 28. Christ accounteth them a kinde of adulterie And motions to anger hee accounteth a kinde of murther But Adulterie and Murther are against the Law and deserue the curse of the Law 2. Of idle words Christ saith Math. 12. 36. Men shall giue account at the Day of Iudgement When the account is taken shall idle words at the barre of that Iudgement be approued or condemned To say they shall be approued were much to impeach the perfection of Christs purity and iustice If then they be condemned eternall death is their due There is then no other penalty to be inflicted All standing at that Barre are pronounced blessed or denounced cursed 3. For stealth of an halfe-penny doth the Law which saith Thou shalt not steale exclude halfe-pennies or no If no where is the exception The words are indefinite Thou shalt not steale He that stealeth an halfe-penny stealeth In stealing an halfepeny therefore he is a transgressor of the Law and guilty of the penalty and curse thereof To conclude God shall bring euery worke into iudgement Eccl. 12. 14. with euery secret thing whether it be good or euill The smallest things that can bee imagined are comprised vnder these phrases euery â—orke euery secret thing If they be brought to iudgement it is either to be rewarded or reuenged If they be good to be rewarded For a cup of cold water onely giuen to a Disciple in the name of a Disciple shall in no wise lose his reward Math. 10. 42. But if they bee euill to be reuenged If at the Day of Iudgement they be reuenged surely the reuenge is eternall death But veniall sins are euil not good They shall therefore be brought into iudgement condemned punished with eternall death I speake of sinnes not repented of not washed away by the bloud of Christ of sinnes as they are in their own nature in their own desert For so standeth the controuersie betwixt vs and Papists §. 1. Learne to know sinne 116. Of duties to be obserued because euerie sinne is mortall THe knowledge of the nature of euery sinne 2. Auoid sinne and of the due desert thereof 3. Be not accessarie to others sinnes ought to make vs diligent in searching into the Law of God that thereby we may know what is sinne for a Rom. 3. 20. by the Law is the knowledge of sinne And knowing sinne carefully and conscionably to auoide it For b Rom. 6. 23. the wages of sinne is death 4. Repent And no way make our selues accessarie to the sinnes of others for so c Ezek. 3. 18. we bring the bloud of others vpon our owne heads 5. Search our selues And if we haue committed sinne our selues or made our selues accessarie to the sinnes of others 6. Get a discharge not to sooth our consciences with the smalnesse thereof and thereupon remaine secure 7. Be watchfull not caring to repent thereof d Luke 13. 3. Except ye repent ye shall perish To worke the more through repentance we ought throughly to search our selues 8. CoÌ„temne the reproches of precisenesse and from time to time strictly to e 1. Cor. 11. 28. examine our thoughts words and actions And as we discerne any transgressions or alterations in any of them instantly to craue pardon for them Yea because we cannot be ignorant that many sinnes vnawares passe from vs to desire a generall discharge of all other sinnes which two points are expresly noted in this fifth Petition As wee craue pardon for all sinnes past so ought we to be g Ioh. 5. 14. watchfull ouer our selues for the time to come euen so watchfull as to h 1. Thes 5. 22. abstaine from all appearance of euill Not i 2. Sam. 6. 21 22 Peccata ignoran tiae vel negligen tiae melius accusantur vt pereant quam excusantur vt maneant Aug. in Psal 105. regarding the common scoffes against precisenesse as the world termeth Christian carefull conscionable watchfulnesse ouer a mans selfe Commonly the wickeder sort do most iustifie themselues Ipsa leuia non contemnantur De minutis guttis flumina implentur Per angustas vimulas insudat aqua naâ—is impletur sentina si contemnatur sentina nauis mergitur Aug. hom 42. in lib. 50. Hom. and the vpright most iudge themselues The vpright vse to iudge themselues for their very ignorances and negligences And surely sinnes of ignorance or negligence were better be iudged that they may be destroyed then excused that they should be nourished For k Eccl. 12. 14. euery thing must be brought to iudgement and l Mat. 12. 36. of euery idle word that men shall speake they shall giue an account in the day of iudgement Let not
instance the case of the Swine into which vncleane Spirits entred and forced them into the Sea And when they are permitted they cannot go beyond those limits which the Lord appointeth to them Iob. 1. 12 c. instance againe the case of the said Iob. Mat. 5. 12 13. This made much to the glory of Iob. Iob 1. 12. Besides this permission 2. 6. the Lord doth also make them which tempt men Poâ—estas Satanae dupliciter aduersus nos datur vel ad gloriam cum probamur vel ad 〈◊〉 cum delinquimus Cypr. loc citat Executioners of his wrath and iustice and in that respect may be said to e 1. Kin. 11. 14 23 instigate and stirre them vp For f 1. King 22. 19 c. God dealeth with obstinate sinners as Iudges doe with conuicted Malefactors They giue them ouer to the power of the Hang-man Now God hath many executioners of his wrath The chiefe of all is the Diuell Among others may bee reckoned vp mans owne lusts In this respect therefore it is said of the Gentiles that g Rom. 1. 24 26 God gaue them vp to vncleannesse thorow the lusts of their owne heart and againe that God gaue them vp vnto vile affections In regard of them that are tempted God may bee said to leade them into temptation partly by leauing them to themselues Homines sine gratia nullum prorsus siue cogitan do siue vâ—lenâ—â— out aâ—ando siue agendo faciunt bonum Aug. de Cor. Gra. c 2. and partly by withdrawing his grace from them Man in regard of spirituall strength is as weake as water which cannot vphold it selfe but runneth all about without grace he can neither thinke will affect nor doe any good If therefore hee be left to himselfe how can hee stand against a temptation h 2. Châ—o 32. 31 God leauing Hezekiah hee soone fell Yet Gods grace is able to establish vs against all temptations euen the most violent that can be i 2. Cor. 12. 9. My grace is sufficient for thee saith God to Saint Paul when a Messenger of Satan was sent to buffet him Now in that God permitteth and instigateth Tempters to tempt men and withdrawing his Grace which is sufficient for them leaueth them who are not able to stand of themselues he is said to leade them into temptation §. 176. Of freeing God from being Author of sinne Q. CAn God be an Author of sinne A. No verily It is the greatest blasphemie that can be to auouch or conceit any such thing of God There is no one thing so contrarie to another not white to blacke not darknesse to light not death to life as sinne to God That which is said of lying may more generally bee said of sinne Heb. 6. 18. It is impossible and that in the most strict and absolute kinde of impossibilitie that can be It is impossible that God should sinne Why it is impossible that God should be accessarie to sinne or be a cause or Author of sinne This we ought to beleeue and professe 1. because his supreme and absolute power is such as it ought not to bee called into question Is it fit to say to a King thou art wicked and to Princes ye are vngodly Iob 34. 18 19. how much lesse to him that accepteth not the person of Princes c 2. because the perfection of his puritie is such as it admitteth no mixture 1. Ioh. 1. 5. God is light and in him is no darknesse at all Iam. 1. 17. 3. Because he is the originall fountaine of all goodnesse Iam. 3. 11. so as if this principle doth a fountaine send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter bee infallibly true of any fountaine it is without contradiction most true of this originall fountaine On these and other like grounds wee may well know that God hath power to giue with-hold or withdraw what hee will and when hee will and to support or forsake whom hee will and that he is not bound to that law which hee hath set to his creatures nor to giue an account to any Yea we ought to acknowledge God to bee as most pure in his nature so most iust in all his counsels words and workes and if wee cannot fully and clearely vnderstand how the forenamed actions concerning leading into temptation can bee attributed vnto God and yet God freed from all accessarinesse to sinne to lay our hands vpon our mouthes and to ascribe it to the shallownesse of our owne apprehension but no way to charge God with folly or sinne Among the Principles which without all gaine-saying ought to bee beleeued this is one of the prime Psal 5. 4. that the Lord is a God that hath no pleasure in wickednesse hee can no way be accessarie thereto But besides this absolute soueraignty and perfect puritie of God other particular reasons of Gods dealing with men in this kinde may bee giuen and those so clearely iust and equall as any one but such an one as is blinded in his minde by the god of this world may discerne the iustice and equitie thereof For 1. Where God permitteth Tempters to tempt men The ends of all Gods actions most iust it is for good and iust ends as to try and proue mens faith courage wisedome patience and other like graces all which were by this meanes proued to bee sound and great in Iob Deut. 13. 3. or else to discouer their weakenesse and secret wickednesse that they may neither bee too secure nor ouerbold and selfe-conceited By this meanes and for these ends was a Mat. 26. 33 c Peters weakenesse discouered 2. Where God biddeth God sendeth tempters as a iust Iudge sendeth or instigateth Tempters to tempt men as in the cases of b 1. Kin 22 20. Ahab of the c Rom. 1 24 26. Gentiles and of d 2. Thes 2. 11 12. Antichristians it is as a iust iudge to punish former transgressions so as these Tempters are therein executioners of Gods iustice 3. Where God leaueth men to themselues and withholdeth his assistance God with-holds his assistance to make man know himselfe it is to giue euident demonstration that man without God is nothing no more able to stand of himselfe then a child that is new-borne Now there is great need that man should bee euidently conuicted hereof 2. Chro. 32 31. lest hee be too presumptuous of his owne strength and neglect God 4. Where God with-draweth his Spirit or any grace from man f Mat. 4. 25. it is as a iust punishment for abuse thereof In this respect God tooke away his Spirit from Saul Mat. 25 28. Compare 1. Sam. 10 9. 11. 6. with 1. Sam. 16. 14. To conclude this point God turnes all to good so farre is God from being any way accessarie to sinne by leading into temptation as contrarily he turneth the euill thereof vnto
wayes Bellarm. de Poenit lib. 4. cap. 4. By bearing patiently the punishments and scourges which are inflicted by God Concilium TridentinuÌ„ docet tribus modis Deo satufieri Poenâ—â— flagella à deo immissa patienter ferends opera laboriosa sponte assumendo mulctam sacerdotum arbitrio iniunctam subeundo Satisfactio nostra requiritur vt iniuria deo facta compensetur diuina iustitiae satisfiat Debemus satisfacere per ea bona quae nostra sunt Satisfactio condigna esse debet eam proportioneÌ„ cÌ„ peccato exigere vt verè per eam offensio coÌ„pensetur Per opera poenalia verè ac propriè deo satisfit pro reatu paenae qui post culpam dimissam remanet expiandus Accedente gratia dei verè possumus aliquo modo ex proprijs ad aequalitatem ac per hoc iuste ex condigno satisfacere Habemus opera propria indebita quibus pro iniuria satisfaciamus By vndertaking of our owne accord laborious workes and By vndergoing the penaltie imposed by the censure of Priests Our Satisfaction is required Ibid. cap. 9. that the wrong done to God may be recompensed and the diuine iustice satisfied We must satisfie by those good workes which are ours Ibid. cap. 6. Satisfaction must be worthy Ibid. cap. 9. and it must keepe such a proportion with sinne as the offence may be truly recompensed by it By paenall workes satisfaction is made to God Ibid. cap. 7. truly and properly for that guilt of punishment which remaineth to be expiated after the fault is forgiuen Gods grace assisting Ibid. we may after a certaine manner truly satisfie out of that which is our owne euen to equalitie and in that respect iustly and of desert We haue workes of our owne Ibid. whereunto wee are not bound by which wee may satisfie for wrong done to God Our workes as they come from the Spirit of Christ dwelling in vs haue a certaine infinitenesse Ibid. and thereby also a certaine equalitie with the wrong whereby wee had troubled God by sinning Full remission of sinne Ibid. cap. 15. so much as concerneth all guilt of punishment Opera nostra vtà Spiritu Christi in nobis habtant procedunt quandam habent infinitatem ac per hoc etiam quandam aequalitatem cum iniuria qua deum peccando affeceramus Plena peccati remissio quoad omnem poenae reatum premium est bonorum operum quae satisfactoria dici solent Opera laboriosa prosunt ad culpae remissimem mortis aeternae liberationem is the reward of those good workes which are wont to be called satisfactorie Laborious workes are profitable Ibid. cap. 12. for remission of sinne and for deliuerance from eternall death If by these and such like positions that which is due to the all sufficient satisfaction of Christ be not attributed to man let any indifferent reader iudge Can the things which in these positions are auouched of recompencing wrong done to God of satisfying the diuine iustice of a condigne or worthy satisfaction of satisfying truely and properly to an equalitie iustly condignely and that out of our owne workes whereunto we are not bound of a certaine infinitenesse of our workes and a certaine equalitie with the wrong whereby wee haue troubled God by sinning of full remission of sinne to bee the reward of fatisfactorie workes of the profit of laborious workes for remission of sinne and deliuerance from eternall death Can these things stand with Gods infinite iustice with mans disabilitie to any good thing with mans vnworthinesse and with the imperfection of mans best workes Then may light and darknesse in their most extreme degrees then may the Arke of God and Dagon then may Grace and Workes stand together and yet the Apostle saith If by grace Rom. 11. 6. then it is no more of workes otherwise grace is no more grace But if of workes then it is no more grace otherwise worke is no more worke They alleadge for grounds of the worth of mens workes that 1. They come from the Spirit of Christ 2. Christ giueth the vertue of satisfaction to mens workes 3. Mans satisfaction is not for the fault but for the punishment 4. The punishment for which man satisfyeth is not eternall but temporall To these I briefely answer that 1. Though the worke of the Spirit bee pure in it selfe yet comming from vs it receiueth a tincture As water that comming from a pure fountaine passeth thorow a foule chanell Besides the Spirit worketh according to the capacitie of the obiect 1. Cor. 13. 12. not all fulnesse and perfection at the first but in part by degrees 2. For Christ to giue the vertue of satisfaction to mens workes is to make men Priests and Sauiours which offices are his glory Isa 42. 8. But he will not giue his glory to others 3. The fault being discharged by Christ the punishment is also thereby discharged Sublata causa tollitur effectus For the fault is the cause of punishment Take away the cause the effect followeth and falleth away As God said to Adam of the forbidden fruit Gen. 2. 17 2. Sam. 12. 13. In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the dâ—ath so Nathan said to Dauid The Lord hath put away thy sinne thou shalt not die His sinne being remitted the punishment was remoued 4. That satisfaction which taketh away the greater punishment by iust consequence taketh away the lesse If temporall punishment as well as eternall were not discharged by Christs satisfaction it were not complete but an imperfect satisfaction But howsoeuer Papists being prest by our vnanswerable arguments to auoid them doe vse the forenamed distinctions of satisfying for the punishment no the fault for the temporal and not for the eternal punishment yet in their fore-named Positions they apply mans satisfaction to the recompencing of wrong dene to God to diuine iustice to remission of sin and to deliuerance from eternall death and thereupon they attribute thereunto a certaine infinitenesse and equalitie to the wrong wherewith by sinning we haue troubled God O blasphemie §. 123. Of humiliation and abnegation AS the greatnesse of the debt wherein man standeth obliged to God so also mans impotencie and impossibilitie to discharge it aggrauateth that wretched estate whereinto man by sinne is implunged and giueth him much more occasion and matter of humiliation If there were iust cause to weepe much Reu. 5. 4. because no man was found worthy to open the sealed Booke how much more cause of weeping and mourning is there that no man is able to cancell the Bils and Bonds whereby wee stand indebted to God or any way to discharge that debt Hath not man in this respect iust cause also to deny himselfe and as a selfe-condemning Debter and Malefactor to cast himselfe downe before the Mercy-Seat of God and to craue mercy and forgiuenesse Math.
wee are here taught to pray is the power of that temptation as is euident by this Particle * 173. into Yet great cause there is why we should also pray against the very act of temptation that at all we be not tempted to any sinne both because the act it selfe is euill in them that tempt to sinne and also because by nature wee are as prone to yeeld to euery euill whereunto we are tempted as dry Tinder is apt to be set on fire by euery sparke that falleth vpon it Gen. 6. 5. For Euery imagination of the thoughts of mans heart is onely euill continually Herein lyeth a maine difference betwixt the quality of Christs humane nature and ours His was so perfectly pure as no temptation could fasten vpon it It was to temptation as a sea of water to sparkes of fire which soone extinguisheth them Ours is as dry Tinder yea as dry Gunpowder §. 172. Of mans subiâ—ction to temptation Q. WHat obseruation may bee gathered from the mention of temptation in this deprecation A. Men in this world are continually subiect to temptations Rom. 7. 21. This complaint of the Apostle I finde a law that when I would doe good euill is present with mee and O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death verifieth as much so also doth wofull experience in all men If there bee a man that findes not this true in himselfe his case is desperate for either hee is depriued of all spirituall vnderstanding and sence that he is not able to discerne a temptation or his whole course of life is so full of temptations and hee such a slaue to them they so frequent on him and he so free towards them as hee cannot see the wood for trees He cannot tell when he is tempted because he is neuer but tempted Temptations are not as enemies to him to be resisted but as his best friends to haue the best entertainment that hee can afford vnto them Thus a man accounting temptations to be no temptations may in his owne imagination be free but indeed no man is free a See the whole Armour of God Treat 〈◊〉 part 5. §. 13. on Ephes 6. 15. This is thus ordered partly by b Math. 10. 29. Gods wise prouidence to c 2. Cor. 12. 9. manifest his owne diuine properties to d Iob 1. 8. make knowne the graces which are in his children to e Mat. 26. 34. discouer their weakenesses to f 2. Cor. 12. 7. preuent secret corruptions and to g Reu. 14. 13. declare a difference betwixt this present life and that which is to come and partly by the h Iob 1. 7. malice of Satan both to i Iob 1. 11. deface the image of God in men and also to k 1. Pet. 5. 8. bring them to eternall destruction For he is a professed enemy both of Gods glory and also of mans saluation A due consideration of this our condition in this world to be so subiect vnto temptations may well moue vs to l Ephes 6. 10 11 See more of this direction in the whole Armour of God be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and to put on the whole armour of God that we may be alwayes well prepared to stand against all temptations Yea also m Mat. 26. 41. according to Christs direction to watch and pray that we enter not into temptation and n 1. Pet. 5. 8. according to Saint Peters direction to be sober and vigilant for Satan taketh great aduantage both from intemperancie and also from securitie witnesse o Gen. 19. 33. Lots Incest for the one and p 2. Sam. 11. 2 c. Dauids Adultery and murther following thereupon for the other and because of the continuall danger wherein we are by reason of the manifold temptations whereunto we are subiect while we are on earth we ought to aspire after heauen and to say with the Apostle Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death This of Temptation The Action deprecated is Lead not into §. 173. Of leading into Q. WHat is meant by leading into Non hac Sonat Ne nos inducas in tentationem quasi non permittat nos aliquando tentari sed ne permittat in tentatione positos superari Ab. Isa de Orat. Dom. c. 23. A. Giuing of one ouer to the power of that whereunto he is brought In this sence the Psalmist making by diuine instinct imprecation against a reprobate enemy saith Set a wicked man ouer him to doe with him at his pleasure Our English maketh a manifest difference betwixt VNTO and INTO which is worth the noting in this place The latter implyeth a degree further then the former Psal 109. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cyril Catech. Myst 5. A man that cannoâ— swimme may be led vnto a deepe poole yet be safe enough but if hee be led into it he is in great danger of drowning except he be pulled out againe They who translate it Cast vs not into temptation doe well expresse the sence §. 174. Of being in the power of temptation Q. WHen are men in the power of a Temptation Neâ—â—s 〈◊〉 in tentationem Aug. de 〈◊〉 Dom. in mont l. 2 Qui Orat ne noâ— induc as in tentationem Orat â—t mon Peccet Aug. Epist 95. A. When thereby they are brought into sinne For sin is the downefall of the soule into the tempters pit It is therefore in the Greeke stiled b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a slip or a fall The word most properly signifieth the very act of falling The Apostle saith of couetous men that c 1. Tim. 6. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtfull lusts which drowne men in perdition and destruction The first sinne which Adam committed whereby hee apparantly sell into Satans snare is oft termed d Rom. 5. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 afall In regard of this power which temptation hath ouer a man Saint Iames saith e Iam. 1. 14. Euery man is tempted when he is drawne away of his owne lusts The Action being declared Quicunque tentatione vincitiâ— peccatum ipse committit Aug. hom 42. 〈◊〉 l. 50. Hom. The Person to whom it is directed is to be considered The Person is hee to whom all the other Petitions are made §. 175. Of Gods leading into temptation Q. HOw can God be said to lead into temptation A. Both in regard of them that tempt and of them also that are tempted In regard of them that tempt by permission and instigation Nihil contra no◠〈…〉 potest nist Deus ante permiserit Cypr. de Orat. Dom. §. 19. Nor Satan nor any other be they neuer so mighty or malicious can tempt a man except God permit them instance Iobs case yea