man perfectly innocent or free from sin since the fall Now that state of perfection which our first Parents lost and we in them did consist 1. In their conformity to God or in having his image stampt upon them in knowledg righteousness and holiness 2. In their perfect capacity and fitness to enjoy God their Creator 2 dly That the sin whereby they fell was direct disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit whether an Apple or whatever else and that against a particular positive express Precept thou shalt not eat of it which sin of theirs was a big-belly'd sin and carried in it 1. Pride and Ambition to be as Gods in the Devils sense i. e. in knowledg or know as much as God himself 2. Ingratitude for their priviledg and liberty to eat of all other trees of the Garden 3. Infidelity not giving that credit and belief to God which he did to Satan 4. This forbidden tree was the Seal of the Covenant of life and therefore to eat of it was to tear off the Seal A. 16. The Covenant being made with Adam not only for himself but for his Posterity all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation sinned in him and fell with him in his first transgression Homil. xij The judgment of everlasting death fell not only on him but also on his posterity and children for ever so that the whole brood of Adams flesh should sustain the self-same fall and punishment which their fore-father by his offence most fully had deserved Exp. 16. We have here two things to be considered 1 That Adam was not only the root of all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation he being the first that God created of that species but also the representative of mankind and did as a publick person stand for all his posterity in that Covenant of life which God made personally with him hence that common phrase that we were all in his loyns i. e. naturally as descending from him and legally as represented by him Not but that we were also in the loyns of Eve but that man being first created and of the more noble Sex is principally taken notice of both in the Covenant and in the Transgression For 2 dly we are here to observe that all mankind Christ the Son of God only excepted did sin in Adam By one sin entred into the world upon all for as much as all have sinned Some explain this by the example of Levi who is said to pay tythes in Abraham though Levi was not born some hundred years after Abraham did thus pay tythes So all Adams posterity which proceed from him in the ordinary course of nature may be said as well to sin in Adam though some of them might not be born some hundreds or thousands of years after him We know that the bonds and compacts of Parents may reach the Children else they could not be liable nor capable of enjoying their estates to pay their debts and the treason of the Parent doth legally taint the Son till it please the Prince to take it off And then further as the righteousness of Christ the second Adam and his obedience is imputed to all that believe so the disobedience of the first Adam is reckoned to the score of all his posterity because they were legally in him and one with him when he sinned A. 17. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery Homil. ii p. 1. Iob having in himself great experience of the miserable and sinful estate of man doth open the same to the world Chap. 14. Expl. 17. In this A. 't is observable that the fall did not only put our first Parents actually under misery but it did instate all his posterity in misery and did entail sin upon them as Ancestors do entail their Lands upon their posterity and if the second Adam had not by an act of infinite grace and wisdom cut off this entail in the behalf of believers all mankind must for ever have continued not only heirs and children of wrath as we are all by nature but also actually under the wrath of God for ever For this was all the estate that our first Parents left to their posterity sc. sin and misery A. 18. The sinfulness of that estate whereunto man fell consists in the guilt of Adams first sin the want of original righteousness and the corruption of his whole nature which is commonly called original sin together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it Artic. IX Original or birth-sin is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is ingendred of the off-spring of Adam whereby man is very far gone from original Righteousness and is of his own nature inclin'd to evil Expl. 18. There are four Particulars in this A. which do all suppose that Adam sin'd as a common Representative of all Mankind As 1. That the guilt of that single act of disobedience which Adam was guilty of is very justly imputed to all the degenerate and sinful race of Adam for that Covenant which was made with him being made with us also in him when he transgressed by eating the forbidden fruit we his posterity are to be looked upon as Accessaries and consenting to the fact and when he thus sinned it was as much as if all his posterity had sinned in their own persons 2 The want of original righteousness or the want of power and ability to do the will of God which man had by Creation for God made man upright that is in a capacity and with ability to do the whole will of God which ability was not taken away from man till he had foolishly and wilfully thrown it away 3. The corruption of the whole nature of man and that in every mothers child of us the Child Iesus only excepted For every one of us may truly say with David one by one Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me It being impossible that a clean thing should come out of an unclean Now because this corruption of nature is the fountain of all manner of sin both in thought word and deed therefore it is called original sin And then 4. All those corrupt streams which do proceed from this corrupt fountain are called actual sins by which I understand any action of a man whether it be an internal action of the mind and soul or external of the body which is not conformable to the Law of God as also the neglect and omission of any action whether internal or external which the Law requires A. 19. All mankind by their fall lost communion with God are under his wrath and curse and so made liable to all miseries in this life to death it self and to the pains of hell for ever Homil. xij As in Adam all men universally sinned so in Adam all men universally received the reward of their sin i.
is one Lord. q Jer. 10.10 But the Lord he is the true God he is the living God and an everlasting King How many persons are there in the Godhead r Mat. 28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost s 1 Joh. 5.7 For there are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one What are the Decrees of God t Eph. 1.11 Being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will 12. That we should be to the praise of his glory How doth God execute his Decrees u Rev. 4.11 Thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created w Dan. 4.35 He doth according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth What is the work of Creation x Gen 1.1 In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth y Heb. 11.3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that things which were seen were not made of things that do appear z Gen. 1.31 And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good and the evening and the morning were the sixth day How did God create man a Gen. 1.27 So God created man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him male and female created he them b Col. 3.10 And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledg after the image of him that created him Eph. 4.24 And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness c Gen. 1.28 And God blessed them and God said unto them Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth What are Gods works of Providence d Psal. 145.17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works e Isa. 28.29 This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts which is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working f Heb. 1.3 Upholding all things by the word of his power g Psal. 103.19 His kingdom ruleth over all Mat. 10.29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father What special act of Providence did God exercise towards man in the estate wherein he was created h Gal. 3.12 And the law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall live in them i Gen. 2.17 But of the tree of knowledg of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die Did our first Parents continue in the estate wherein they were created k Eccl. 7.29 God hath made man upright but they have sought out many inventions What is sin l 1 Joh. 3.4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law for sin is the transgression of the law What was the sin whereby our first Parents sell from the estate wherein they were created m Gen. 3.6 And when the woman saw that the Tree was good for food and that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise she took of the fruit thereof and did eat and gave also to her husband and he did eat 7. And the eyes of them both were opened and they knew that they were naked 8. And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord among the trees of the garden Did all mankind fall in Adams first transgression n Gen. 1.28 And God blessed them and God said unto them Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the Earth Gen. 2.16 And the Lord God commanded the man saying Of every Tree in the Garden thou maist freely eat 17. But of the Tree of the knowledg of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die o Rom. 5.18 By the offence of one judgment came upon all to condemnation Into what estate did the fall bring mankind p Rom. 5.12 By one man sin entred into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereunto man fell q Rom. 5.19 By one mans disobedience many were made sinners r Rom. 3.10 There is none righteous no not one s Eph. 2.1 You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins Psal. 51.5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me t Mat. 15.19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries fornications thefts false-witness blaspemies 20. These are the things which defile a man What is the misery of that estate whereunto man fell u Gen. 3.8 Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the Trees of the Garden 24. So he drove out the man w Eph. 2.3 And were by nature children of wrath even as others Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every man that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them x Rom. 6.23 The wages of sin is death Mat. 25.41 Then shall he say unto them on the left hand Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery y Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world z Rom. 3.21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets 22 Even the righteousness of God which is of Faith by Iesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe Who is the Redeemer of Gods Elect a 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men the man Christ Iesus b Joh. 1.14 And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us c Rom. 9.5 Whose are the Fathers and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever d Heb. 7.24 But this man because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable priesthood How did Christ being the Son of God become man e Heb. 2.14 For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part in the same f Mat. 26.38 Then saith he unto them My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death g Luk. 1.31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a Son and shalt call his Name Iesus 35. The holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall over-shadow thee h Heb. 7.25 Such a High-Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled
its corrupt and carnal state to a state of real and true holiness though imperfect in this life the mind renewed in saving-knowledg the will renewed by being subdued and made pliable to the will of God the affections renewed by being spiritualized or fixed upon spiritual good objects and so the memory conscience phancy c. as also the life because in this change a man becomes a new man The particular parts of which sanctification are 1. Mortification or a Believers being dead unto sin i. e. in his inclinations thoughts cares affections endeavours all which were before lively and strong towards sin 2. Vivification or a living unto righteousness i. e. being holy in all manner of conversation A. 36. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from Justification Adoption and Sanctification are assurance of Gods love peace of conscience joy in the Holy Ghost increase of grace and perseverance therein unto the end To. 1. Hom. ix p. 2. All those therefore have great cause to be full of joy that be joined to Christ with true faith stedfast hope and perfect charity and not to fear death nor everlasting damnation But rather contrariwise their godly conversation in this life and belief in Christ cleaving continually to his mercies should make them so long sore after that life that remaineth for them undoubtedly after this bodily death To. 2. Hom. xij Released from the burden of sin justified through faith in his blood and finally received up into everlasting glory there to reign with him for ever Expl. 36. By this first priviledg of assurance we are to understand not meerly a believers probable guess or conjecture or his hope and expectation to be saved but an infallible certainty or that which is called in Scripture the full assurance of faith concerning the love of God and the believers eternal salvation which certainty is built 1. Upon the infallible certainty of Gods promise to save those who do believe or accept of Christ as he is tendered in the Gospel 2. Upon the unquestionable evidence of the truth and reality of those graces unto which the promise of salvation is made 3. Upon the necessary connexion which there is betwixt the means and the end betwixt true and saving-grace and salvation it self 4. And upon the sure testimony of the Spirit of Adoption witnessing with the spirit or conscience of this or that particular believer by name that he is a Child of God Concerning which assurance these three things are to be noted 1. That there may be a true saving-faith where there is not the full assurance of faith It doth belong to a believer only but not to every believer 2. That it is every believers duty to look after this assurance to use his utmost endeavours to make his Calling and Election sure 3. Though this assurance may be darkened diminished and interrupted through sin or temptation yet it is ever accompanied with so much secret support to the soul as that it does keep the soul from total and final despair And so there is room left still for the second benefit sc. peace of conscience in which there is 1. Something privative sc. a very comfortable freedom not perfect and universal from that which Divines call trouble of mind arising from the apprehension of guilt and of the wrath of God and though in one who has this assurance the peace of his mind may be disturbed yet it is but disturbed and not absolutely lost as the peace of a State is not lost by every tumult whereby it is disturbed 2. There is something positive in this peace sc. that sweet calm and satisfaction which there is in the mind upon the attaining of this assurance Third benefit sc. Ioy in the Holy Ghost sc. a joy springing up in the soul from the comfort and certainty of his testimony and for the sweetness of his presence Fourthly growth of grace If not so observably in the leaf and fruit yet in the root like a plant in winter Perseverance in grace Not depending upon the mutability of mans will but upon the immutability of Gods decree and purpose to save the believer upon the unchangeableness of the Fathers love upon the purchase merit and intercession of the Son upon the abiding presence of the Holy Ghost together with the victorious efficacy of his grace in the soul and upon the stability of the Covenant of grace which is ordered in all things and sure A. 37. The Souls of Believers are at their death made perfect in holiness and do immediately pass into glory and their bodies being still united to Christ do rest in their Graves till the Resurrection Artic. xxij The Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory Pardons is vainly feigned and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture but rather repugnant to the word of God Hom. vij Of Prayer p. 3. The soul of man passing out of the Body goeth straightways either to Heaven or else to Hell whereof the one needeth no prayer and the other is without redemption The Scripture doth acknowledg but two places after this life the one proper to the elect and blessed of God the other the reprobate and damned souls Expl. 37. At death Believers are made perfect in holiness 1. Negatively i. e. they sin no more from that very moment but are freed from sin for ever 2. Positively 1. The image of God is then perfect in the believers soul and the full bent of his will is to do the will of God as the Angels do it in heaven perfectly and without all reluctancy 2. It doth immediately enter into eternal life when it leaves the body and not into any middle state as that of Purgatory 3. Their bodies though separated from their souls for a time yet they do still remain unseparated from Christ and therefore do remain under his care whilst they sleep in the grave so that he will not lose any one member of them A. 38. At the Resurrection Believers being raised up in Glory shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment and made perfectly blessed in full enjoying of God to all Eternity To. 2. Hom. xiv The truth of this most Christian Article of the resurrection which is the ground and foundation of our whole Religion O most comfortable word evermore to be born in remembrance he dyed saith St. Paul 1 Cor. 15. to put away sin he rose again to endow us with righteousness by his resurrection hath he purchased life and victory for us opened the gates of heaven to enter into life everlasting to enjoy an inheritance immortal that never shall perish which is laid up in heaven for them that are kept by the power of God through faith set with himself among the heavenly Citizens above If thou hast received Christ in true faith with repentance of heart and full purpose of amendment thou hast received him for an everlasting
deserve grace of congruity yea rather for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done we doubt not but they have the nature of sin Hom. III. p. 2. We have neither faith charity hope patience chastity nor any thing else that good is but of God and therefore those virtues be called the fruits of the Holy Ghost and not the fruits of man Truly there be imperfections in our best works Let us therefore not be asham'd to confess plainly our state of imperfection yea let us not be ashamed to confess imperfection even in all our best works To. 2. Hom. XVII The holy company of Saints in heaven confesseth constantly that all the goods and graces wherewith they were endued in soul came of the goodness of God only It is meet therefore to think that all spiritual goodness cometh from God only Expl. 82. When 't is said no meer man since the fall c. 'T is clearly imply'd that before the fall man had power to keep the Law of God perfectly but now since the fall he has not this power in this life neither 1 in his corrupt estate before conversion nor 2 in his regenerate after conversion 1 st Not in his corrupt estate for though men unconverted either to Christianity as the Gentiles or to Christ as all prophane Christians may by the power of nature and freewill or by the help of common grace be able to do some things contained in the Law which in themselves considered are good for the matter yet not in a right manner because not from a right principle true grace and not to a right end Gods Glory nor by a right rule the Law of God in the spiritual meaning of it Nor 2 dly in his regenerate state here in this life for 1 his knowledg of his duty is but in part And how can he do it perfectly when he does not know perfectly 2 His grace imperfect Ex. gr faith love c. because mingled with more or less of the opposite corruption A. 83. Some sins in themselves and by reason of several aggravations are more hainous in the sight of God than others Hom. V. p. 3. Christ saith Wo be unto you for you devour widows houses under colour of long prayers therefore your damnation shall be greater You make them children of hell worse than your selves be Hom. VIII p. 2. Children of unbelief of two sorts who despair and presume and both these sorts of men be in a damnable state as the one should believe the promises so the other the threatnings not over-boldly presume of Gods mercy and live dissolutely Expl. 83. If we consider sin only with reference to the Infiniteness of Gods majesty who is thereby provoked in this respect all sins are equally hainous because all against an Infinite Majesty but if we consider them either in their own nature as transgressions or in their several circumstances then some sins are greater or more hainous than others for though every sin be a transgression of the Law of God yet every Law of God doth not equally and so directly and immediately concern the Glory of God and the salvation of man neither is every Law so clearly promulgated or made known Besides there are some aggravations in the sin it self as when it is not only in the heart but in word and deed so the greater the scandal the greater the means to prevent it the greater the person by whom and against whom the greater the sin as also it may receive its aggravations from many circumstances as time when a man is drunk upon the Lords day place as to cut a purse in the Church or at the Bar before the Judg Company as to be debauch'd in Civil or prophane in Religious company A. 84. Every sin deserveth Gods wrath and curse both in this life and that which is to come Hom. XX. p. 1. We do daily and hourly by our wickedness and stubborn disobedience horribly fall away from God thereby purchasing unto our selves if he should deal with us according to his justice eternal damnation Expl. 84. Every sin being a breach of the Law deserves the curse of the Law or the penalty which is due to the sinner upon every the least sin and that penalty is death not only temporal but spiritual and eternal or the wrath of God to be inflicted upon the sinner both here and hereafter Obj. But if every sin deserve hell then this would seem to take away the difference in punishments Answ. No for this doth not ly in the duration of the punishment for that will be eternal to all who come into that state where the worm never dyes and the fire never goeth out but it will be in the degrees of the punishment some belike shall lose more good and endure more evil or torment than others CHAP. III. Of things to be practis'd according to the Gospel Or the Ordinances of the Gospel particularly of the two Sacraments in 13 Articles with their Explanation From A. 85. to 98. A. 85. TO escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin God requireth of us Faith in Jesus Christ repentance unto life with the diligent use of all outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of Redemption Hom. XX. p. 1. We have here a perpetual Rule appointed unto us which ought to be kept at all times and that there is no other way whereby the wrath of God may be pacified and his anger asswaged which no man is able to abide but is mov'd by repentance to obtain mercy And with a full purpose of amendment of life fleeing to the mercy of God taking sure hold thereupon through faith in his Son Jesus Christ there is an assured and infallible hope of pardon and remission and that we shall be received into the favour of our heavenly Father To. 1. Hom. VIII p. 2. If we turn to him with an humble and a very penitent heart he will receive us to his favour and grace for his name sake for his promise sake for his truth and mercies sake promised to all faithful believers in Jesus Christ his only natural Son Expl. 85. There were never any more than these two ways prescribed by God unto man for his keeping or obtaining of that happiness which doth consist in the favour of God 1 Perfect and sinless obedience to the whole will of his Creator and this was prescribed in innocency for his keeping in favour with God 2 Faith in Iesus Christ which was prescribed immediately after the Fall for the recovery of the favour of God which he had lost for we are to look upon God not only as the party offended by transgression but also as the supreme Lawgiver and great Governour of the world and therefore God as the supreme Governour was bound by vertue of the perfection of his own Government and for the preservation of the honour of his Law
sort as he had given them in charge and commandment and also that he should declare himself thankful c. Expl. 10. God created man male and female i. e. in both Sexes man out of the dust of the earth and the woman of the Rib that he took out of the mans Side which creation is to be understood concerning the bodies of both not of the soul of either of them for the soul was not made of any materials at all but the reasonable soul was immediately infused into their bodies when God breathed into them the breath of life so that the soul is q.d. the breath of God There is a twofold image of God 1. That which is in God and so Christ the Second person in the Trinity is said to be the express image of the person of God the Father because in him the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily 2. There is the image of God which is out of God or external to him and such an image of God was man in his first Creation 1 st In respect of his soul and that more generally in the nature of it God is a Spirit and so is mans soul God's immortal so that But more particularly 1. In knowledg of what was necessary to be known by him in order to Gods glory or his own happiness 2. In righteousness or uprightness i. e. his will did freely and fully comply with the will of God the Law of God being written in his heart 3. In holiness or with a power to do Gods will perfectly 2 dly In respect of his body wherein he did resemble the majesty not the spirituality of God for there was so much of majesty especially in mans countenance that the inferior creatures did stand in awe of him 3. In respect of the whole man because in his dominion over the creatures he did resemble his Creator in his dominion over the world A. 11. Gods works of Providence are his most holy wise and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures and all their actions Homil. xvij Conservation and governance of the world of liberal goodness which he daily bestoweth on us his reasonable creatures for whose sake he made the whole universal world with all the commodities and goods therein Take him for God omnipotent invisible having rule in Heaven and Earth having all things in subjection and will have none in counsel with him nor any to ask the reason of his doing for he may do what liketh him and none can resist him Dan. 11. For he worketh all things in his secret judgment to his own pleasure yea even the wicked to damnation saith Solomon Prov. 16. God hath not so created the world that he is careless of it but he still preserveth it by his goodness he still stayeth it in his creation To make our humble suits in prayers to his fatherly Providence Expl. 11. By Gods actual Providence we are to understand his ordering of all things in time according to his eternal purpose or the counsel of his own will or in plain English 't is his doing what he will in the world whether it be in Heaven or Earth For further explanation of this matter we are to know 1 st That according to our apprehension there are these distinctions and kinds of Providence 1. We have his eternal Providence or his decreeing purposing designing Providence which is nothing else but that frame method or order of government which was in the mind of God from everlasting before there was a world or any creature in it to be govern'd and of this was spoken before 2. His actual Providence which he hath exercised ever since he made the world as 1. In the conservation of things in their beings so that of all the species or kinds of creatures which he made he has lost none Individuals indeed do dye and perish and return to their dust but the species or kinds of creatures do not men dye this and that and t'other individual person in reference to their bodies but man does not or rather mankind does not 2. In the actual government of all things by his wisdom which he doth preserve by his infinite power for God does not do by the World as the Ship-Carpenter by the Ship build and leave it and never look after it more but he doth look after the preservation of it as the Owner and the government of it as the Pilot. Other distinctions there are of Providence as 2. That it is either mediate and ordinary as where God makes use of means and second causes and therein does observe the order which he has set in nature as Hos. 2.22 and this order in nature is called the Law of nature Or else immediate and extraordinary when in the works of Providence as well as of Creation he works without means as in the preserving of Daniel in the Lyons Den. 2 dly For the matter and extent of Providence it reaches to all creatures even to the Sparrows and to the hair of the head 3 dly For the manner and this 1. Holy or most perfect or in a way suitable to the perfection of his nature 2. Wise for he does not only do all in the best way but for the highest end 3. Powerful for he brings to pass what he will have done with an almighty easiness and without any difficulty to himself A. 12. When God had created man he entred into a Covenant of life with him upon condition of perfect obedience forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledg of good and evil upon pain of death To. 2. Homil. xxi God as soon as he had created man gave unto him a certain Precept and Law which he being yet in the state of innocency and remaining in Paradise should observe as a pledg and token of his due and bounden obedience with denunciation of death if he did transgress and break the said Law and Commandment In the which obedience if man had continued still there had been no poverty no diseases no sickness no death c. Expl. 12. The wise and gracious Creator having made man a reasonable creature and having also stampt his own image upon him and thereby rendered him fit for and capable of happiness in the enjoyment of himself and there being no other way to this enjoyment but by union and communion with himself he was most graciously pleased in order thereunto to make a Covenant with man giving a Law to him as soon as he had made him and in him with all his posterity wherein he promised life to him and in him to all mankind upon condition of perfect and personal obedience And that God might try him how he would carry it being now brought within the bounds of this Covenant he was pleased to lay this particular positive Precept upon him That he should not eat of the tree of knowledg of good and evil c. upon pain of death which Precept he
e. they became mortal and subject unto death having in themselves nothing but everlasting damnation both of body and soul. O what a miserable and woful state was this that the sin of one man should destroy and condemn all men that nothing in all the world might be lookt for but only pangs of death and pains of Hell Expl. 19. Concerning this A. 't is observable in the general That mans losses by the sall do reach as far as the guilt of that first disobedience whereby he fell namely to all mankind yet more particularly 1 st Adam lost and we in him and with him communion with God and the loss of this is a treble loss 1. Of Gods sweet and gracious presence and company and that in a most immediate manner as one friend is personally present with another 2. Of converse with God for whilst God and man were together in Paradise and man continued innocent their society was not like that of the Quakers in their Silent-Meetings but there would have continued such familiarity betwixt them as is betwixt two loving friends they would have walked together and talked together for if God did use that familiarity with Moses Exod. 33.11 since the fall much more would he have continued it with Adam and his posterity if they had never fal'n 3. From this sweet company and converse would have sprung up in the heart a continual satisfaction and delight to the soul of man for man yet continuing like God he could not but love him and delight himself in this sweet intercourse 2 dly The sinful posterity of Adam till interested in Christ are actually under the wrath of God for God is angry with the wicked every day and actually under the curse because under the Law not under Grace 3 dly Man in this state is continually liable to have the curse executed upon him every moment and has no protection at all either against the miseries of this life or the pains of hell A. 20. God having out of his meer good pleasure from all eternity elected some to everlasting life did enter into a Covenant of Grace to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer Artic. xvij Predestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God whereby before the foundations of the world were laid he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind and to bring them to everlasting salvation as vessels made unto honour Homil. xij Behold the goodness and tender mercy of God he ordained a new Covenant and made a sure promise thereof namely that he would send a Messias or a Mediator into the world which should make intercession and put himself as a stay between both Parties to pacifie the wrath and indignation conceiv'd against sin and to deliver man out of the miserable curse and cursed misery whereinto he was fal'n head-long by disobeying the will and commandment of the only Lord and Maker Expl. 20. In which A. we have 1 st Gods eternal purpose and absolute decree whereby he hath singled out or chosen some of mankind upon whom he is resolved to bestow eternal life and that out of his meer free grace without any foresight of faith obedience perseverance or any other condition as a cause or motive inducing him to make this choice nay the decree it self is not founded in the merits of Christ but purely in the love of God though as for all the blessed effects of this decree as reconciliation pardon justification adoption sanctification salvation c. are actually received and enjoyed by the elect only upon the consideration of the merits righteousness and satisfaction of Christ. Yet more distinctly and for order sake we may conceive of these two things in Gods decree of Election 1. Gods most wise design to advance the glory of his free-grace in bringing many sons to glory 2. That God of his free grace had singled and culled out a certain distinct number of persons for the enjoyment of this glory Now this very act of Gods picking and culling out those particular persons whom he designed to save is that we call very properly Election Neither did this grace of God only appear in making this choice and then in leaving his chosen ones to get eternal life and heaven as they could but 2 dly He did also pitch upon an effectual means or contrive a way whereby his chosen people should effectually and infallibly obtain eternal life and this was by entring into a Covenant of Grace with Christ the second Adam and the Mediator of the new Covenant and in Christ with all believers that whosoever should believe on the Son of God he would give unto them eternal life and that they should never enter into condemnation Hence I infer 1. That it is the free grace of God and not the free will of man that maketh one man to differ from another Paul from Iudas 2. That the praise and glory of this difference is to be ascribed not unto man but unto God Not unto us O Lord c. A. 21. The only Redeemer of Gods Elect is the Lord Jesus Christ who being the eternal Son of God became man and so was and continueth to be God and man in two distinct natures and one person for ever Artic. xviij They also are to be had accursed who presume to say that every man shall be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that Law and the light of Nature For the holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the name of Jesus Christ whereby men must be saved Hom. x. p. 2. Reprobates perish through their own default Christ Jesus as he is a rising up to none other than those who are Gods Children by Adoption so is his word yea the holy Scripture the power of God to salvation to them only that do believe it Expl. 21. There are three things to be noted in this A. 1. That the Redeemer of Gods Elect is God as well as Man 2. Man as well as God 3. Both God and Man in one person 1. He is God for he is the Son of God not by Creation as Adam was nor by natural generation as we are all the Children of Adam but by eternal generation so as that God the Father who begat him was not before him in time And he was God that his Godhead might keep his humane nature from sinking under infinite wrath when he suffered for our sins that he might have power to raise himself from the grave and rescue himself out of the jaws of death that the dignity of his person might render his sufferings obedience intercession and satisfaction of infinite value and efficacy for the procuring of eternal life for his people and that
he would have men to believe and do in order to salvation and that either mediately by committing the word of Christ unto writings as in the Scripture or immediately by the Spirit of Truth as he did communicate and speak his mind to Moses the Prophets and Apostles A. 25. Christ executeth the office of a Priest in his once offering up of himself a Sacrifice to satisfie Divine Justice and to reconcile us to God and in making continual intercession for us Homil. xx p. 1. We having nothing of our selves to present us to God have need of a Mediator for to bring and reconcile us unto him who for our sins is angry with us The same is Jesus Christ to pacifie his wrath For he alone did with the Sacrifice of his Body and Blood make satisfaction unto the Justice of God for our sins To. 1. Hom. III. p. 2. We must trust only in Gods mercy and that Sacrifice which our High-Priest and Saviour Christ Jesus the Son of God once offered for us upon the Cross to obtain thereby Gods grace and remission as well of our original sin as of all a â—â—â—al sin if we truly repent and turn unfeignedly unto him To. 11. Hom. xi Reconciled to Gods favour we are taught to know what Christ by his intercession and mediation obtaineth for us of his Father when we be obedient to his will yea attributeth that unto us and to our doings that he by his Spirit worketh in us and through his grace procureth for us Expl. 25. In this A. we have both the parts of Christs Priestly Office as 1 st Satisfaction and this twofold 1. To the whole Law in fulfilling all righteousness in the perfect performance of what the Law required from him 2. To the Iustice of God in undergoing the Curse of the Law for the Elect and this he did by his sufferings but especially when his Soul was made an offering for sin or when he was sacrificed for sinners In which Offering he was 1. The Priest for he offered up himself or he laid down his life of himself and he was the Priest as God-man 2. He was the Altar principally according to his Divine nature because the Altar was to sanctifie the gift offered and therefore was to be more excellent than the Sacrifice it self 3. He was also the Sacrifice for he offered the Sacrifice of himself i. e. according to the humane nature properly and this therefore is called the Sacrifice of his Body and of his Blood and all this that there might be some kind of compensation made or satisfaction given to God for that wrong which we had done to him 2 dly We have the intercession of Christ which is the other part of Christs Priestly Office whereby Christ doth present himself continually before the Father pleading his blood and merit for the satisfaction that he has made to Divine Justice and for the reconciliation of God to the sinner And his intercession is rather by way of plea at the Bar of Justice than by way of prayer and supplication at a Throne of Grace and therefore it is that he is called our Advocate A. 26. Christ executeth the office of a King in subduing us to himself in ruling and defending us and in restraining and conquering all his and our Enemies To. 2. Homil. xiv He sitteth on the right hand of his heavenly Father having the rule of heaven and earth reigning as the Prophet saith Psal. 17. from Sea to Sea he hath overcome the Devil Death and Hell and hath victoriously gotten the better hand of them all to make us free and safe from them Homil. xvij p. 3. To this our Saviour and Mediator hath God the Father given the power of heaven and earth and the whole jurisdiction and authority to distribute his gifts committed to him and thereupon to execute his authority committed after that he had brought sin and the Devil to captivity to be no more hurtful to his members he ascended up into heaven again and from thence sent liberal gifts to his well-beloved Servants and hath still the power to the worlds end to distribute his Fathers gifts continually in his Church to the establishment and comfort thereof Expl. 26. Yet more fully Christ doth execute his Kingly Office 1 st By his authority in setting up a government in his Church which in the outward form or administration thereof is to be managed by such Officers and according to such Laws Ordinances and Censures as he hath appointed in his word 2 dly By his Power as 1. That of his Almightiness whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself and to make his very enemies his foot-stool 2. Of his Grace whereby he doth subdue the hearts of his chosen people to himself and makes them a willing people in the day of his power 3. Of his Spirit whereby he doth sanctifie his people and fit them for heaven as also support guide and comfort them under all the afflictions they meet with on earth 4. By his Iustice in punishing his and his Churches adversaries A. 27. Christs Humiliation consisted in his being born and that in a low condition made under the Law undergoing the miseries of this life the wrath of God and the cursed death of the the Cross in being buried and continuing under the power of death for a time Hom. III. p. 3. Hath given his own natural Son ' being God eternal immortal and equal unto himself in power and glory to be incarnated and take our mortal nature upon him with the infirmities of the same and in the same nature to suffer most painful and shameful death for our offences to the intent to justifie us and restore us to life everlasting Hom. xij He did hunger and thirst eat and drink sleep and wake preach his Gospel weep and sorrow for Ierusalem pay tribute for himself and Peter suffer death Expl. 27. In the general Christs Humiliation doth consist in all that which did befall him from the first moment of his conception in the Virgins womb to the very time of his resurrection from the grave 1. He was humbled in his conception that he who was God equal with the Father should according to his humane nature have a body framed for him in the womb of a Virgin and should continue â—â—ose Prisoner there for the space of about nine months whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain 2. Humbled in his birth in that he was born of a woman and that not an Empress or Princess but a woman of a mean rank and low estate though a Virgin that he who was the Son of God and the Father of eternity or himself the everlasting Father should in fulness of time be born in the form of a servant made under the Law not only in a state of subjection to the commands of it but also liable to the curse of it which was due only