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A77730 The antinomians Christ confovnded, and the Lords Christ exalted. In which is contained a briefe confutation of Dr. Crispe and Mr Lancaster. Also, a combat with the Antinomians Christ in his den, his arraignment; and the fainting soule built upon the true rocke, against which the gates of hell shall not prevaile, Mat. 6.18. Imprimatur James Cranford. Bakewell, Thomas, b. 1618 or 19. 1644 (1644) Wing B527; Thomason E17_16; ESTC R11989 75,787 71

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And he takes it for blasphemy to say any such remaining so are members of his body what a member of Christ and a member of a harlot God forbid he that is joyned to the Lord to one spirit 1 Cor. 6.15.17 That is one spirit acts all the members of Christ as one spirit acts all our members Now here you will be put to your shists for either you must be forced to say all those abhominations which are done before gonver on are the actings of Gods spirit in them or else you must deny that the spirit of God acts them by his grace But if you say the spitit of God is not in them then saith the Apostle they are none of his Rom. 8.9 And so not justified But you play the sophister to prove that all our sinfull actions are moved by the spirit of God before conversion saying the act of beleeving is the fruit of the spirit Gal. 5.22 But this will not cover your naked nesse for that is the grace of faith yet all other graces are the fruits of Gods spirit because hee wrought them in us but the actings of those graces are partly from Gods spirit and partly from ours and cannot so properly be called the fruits of his spirit Againe what a damuable stuggard is the spirit of the Antinomians Christ to lye as a drone in their soules twenty or forty yeares and doe nothing well may they pull their shoulder from the law of God and from all workes of sanctification being led by such an idle spirit But the true Christ hath no idle members nor the true Vine no barren dead branches But you say if faith be a good fruit men must be good trees else we may gather grapes of thornes and sigs on thistles I answer Faith is the fruit of Gods spirit which is a good tree and cannot beare evill fruits But what a faith have these Antinomians that will not make the tree of their body good Againe you say he that hath the spirit of Christ hath Christ so I say too but you say you have the spirit before you beleeve and therefore have Christ before you beleeve but have what spirit you will you are no childe of God by adoption till you receive Christ by faith Iohn 1.12 And have what spirit you will it is not the spirit of adoption unlesse it make you cry Abba Father Galat. 4.5 6. He is called the spirit of grace and supplication Zech. 12.10 Which none can have before conversion But here I smell an empty trunck for their Christ to move in personally and he must move them as we move a stone according to their tenets But the true Christ makes us living stones to offer a living sacrifice aceptable to God 1 Pet. 2.5 But they will not come to him that they may have life Iohn 5.4 He that hath the sonke hath life and he that hath not the sonne hath not life 1 John 5.12 Then here is the cause why they still remaine dead stones and empty trun●ks A third stands up saying the Elect are justified therefore some that do not beleeve are justified before they beleeve your argument they that cannot be charged with any thing are justified but who can lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect It is God that justifies who shall condemne It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen againe Rom. 8.33 But will it follow because some of the elect are justified called and glorified that therefore all the elect are so Saith the true Christ Other sheepe I have which are not of this fold them also I must bring in John 10.16 Neither let them bring in their common divellish evasion saying that is meant of their owne apprehension but is it the voyce of the sheepe or the voyce of the shepheard that spake this Christ saith that they are not of this sold but I hope Christ was not mistaken through misapprehension saith the holy Ghost He that beleeveth not the sonne shall not seelife but the wrath of God abideth on him John 3.36 Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Acts 9.4 Was not this chosen vessell here taxed with sinne And such were some of you saith the Apostle being mooved by the Holy Ghost and ye were carried after dumb Idols 1 Cor. 6.11 12.2 And saith Paul he that wrong●t effectually in Peter the same spirit was mighty in me Now by the same spirit he withstood Peter to his face because he was to be blamed Gal. 2.8.11 see 13 14. And saith the Angell thou shalt be dumb because thou beleevest not my words Luke 1.20.22 And sinne and death is passed upon all men Rom. 5.12 Then are the elect charged with nothing He that committeth sinns the servant of sin John 8.34 Till the Sonne of God make him free and then they are free indeed vers 36. A fourth stands up saying they that have their sinnes taken a way are justified but the elect have their sins taken away before they beleeve Ergo the elect are justified before they beleeve Your first part you say is proved that sins are taken away because David saith they are covered Psal 32.1 And the minor you say is proved because Christ is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world Iohn 1.29 And because the Lord laid on him the in quities of us all Isa 53.6 Himselfe bare our sinnes in his own body on the Tree 1 Pet. 2.24 Our old man is crucified with him that the body of sinne might be destroyed Rom 6.6 But is cove●ing a thing the taking away the being of it Sin is compared to things most loath some but when such a thing may be covered yet it hath a being under that covering Deut 23.13 Gen. 9.23 And is Christ come hath begun to take away our sins Yet we are not free from sinne till death Rom. 6.7 Againe our sinnes were not taken from us and lofused into Christ no more then we have stript him of his righteousnesse bu●by imputation they are accounted to be his although they remaine in us and his righteousnesse is accounted to bee ours although it remaine in him still and for what was laid on Christ was nothing but the guilt and punish nent He was woanded for our transgressions bruised for ur in quities and the chastisement of our peace 〈◊〉 on him and by his strepes●ve a●e b●aled Isa 53 5. But if our 〈◊〉 had beene infused into him they had been his and not ou●s and if his rig●te● suesse had beene infused into us it were ou●s and not his for sinne and punishment they goe together so that often he one is named for the other if thou dost ●ot well sinne lyeth at the doore that is punishment lyeth at the doo● for sin 〈◊〉 lay then within him ●en 4.7 see 13. Nay further although the ●●g●ing power of none b● taken away yet the being of sinne is not taken away no not in the justified Thus hee runs into one ertour 〈◊〉
ever taught in the Sinagogues and in the Temple whether the lows alwayes resort and in secret have I said nothing John 18.20 And faith Paul I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ Rom. 1.16 He went into the Sinagogue and spake boldly Acts 19.8 But the Antinomians Christ creeps into houses and leads captive silly women laden with sins and led away with divers lusts ever learning and never able to come to the knowledg of the trueth 2 Tim. 3.6 7. He is in the secret chambers or in the desars Math. 24.26 He is in their private meetings the nurseries of al heresies while there is liberty to worship the Lord openly Our Christ comes into the soule with power pulling down the strong holds of Satan binds the strong man and spoyles his goods Math. 12.28 And casts him out by the spirit of God vers 29. But the Antinomians Christ comes into their soule and lives there as an underling in that soule where the Divell raignes as Lord and King and leads them captive at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 The Prince of the power of the ayre ruleth in the children of disobedience Ephes 2.2 See Crisp page 320. When the spirit of our Christ comes into the soule he takes out the stone out of the heart and renews a right spirit in us Psal 51. In righteousnesse and true holinesse Ephes 4.23.24 It is God that worketh in you both to will and to doe of his owne good pleasure Phil. 2.13 But the spirit of the Antinomians Christ is an idle spirit living many years in the soule as an underling to the Divell doing nothing When our Christ puts his spirit into us this spirit causeth us to walke in his statures and to keep his judgments and do them Ezek 36.27 The holy Ghost wil teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance John 14.26 And brings in every thought to the obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10.5 And leads into all truth John 16 1● But the Antinomians Christ puts neither life nor motion into those where he comes but still they remaine dead stones and empty trunckes See the tree of knowledge and counsell to Laodicea Againe when our Christ comes into the soule he comes as a King and commands obedience to the morall law being the statute law of heaven Psal 119.89.103.20 Saying you have heard that it hath been said thus but I say unto you thus Math. 5. He taught as one having authority and not as the Scribes Mat. 7.29 He cleared the law from these false glosses of the Scribes and Pharisees and delivered it in his own name And when one asked what he should do to have eternall life then he sends him to the Law But the Antinomians Christ frees them from all obedience to the morall law and makes them as idle as himselfe Our Christ commands us to take heed of drunkennesse and surfeiting and cares of this life that we may be accounted worthy to escape the dangers of the dreadfull day and to stand before the son of man Luke 21.34 35. But the Antinomians Christ perswades them that a Drunkard or Whore-monger or any vile person without any change or alteration in the world if his heart do but say I would have Christ al that sinfulnesse though continued in is no bar in the world to hinder this man from claiming his portion in Christ see Dr. Crisp page 314.320 The Apostle of our Christ saith Ye lust and have not and ye aske to spend it on your lusts Ye adul erers and adulteresses know ye not that the friend-ship of this world is enmity with God James 4. But the Antinomians Christ perswades them that David did not offend the Lord in the sin of adultery nor Paul in his persecution of the Saints of God for all occasion of quarrell and controversie is absolutely taken away see Dr. Crispe page 303. Nay further they affirme that if a man refraine adultery in obedience to the law he sins more then he that commits that that fearfull sin in despight of the law which makes them forsake all their acquaintance that live in obedience to the law and chuse to themselves such prophane company that they may be sure aro of their own opinions The Apostle of our Christ saith every member is necessary being led by one spirit into all truth Ioh. 16.13 And baptized into one spirit and rejoyce in each others happinesse and grieve at any injury done to their fellow-members there is no schisme in his body 1 Cor. 12.12.13.25.26 But the Antinomians Christ leads some of his members but the Divell leads many more of them then he being whores and drunkards without any change or alteration see Crisp p. 314.320 Who defie the law of God For one of them said I am not bound to live with a dead man I will take to me a spirituall husband And shee like a strumpet forsooke her husband and took another and yet a member of their Christ witnesse Mr. Rushbrook and his wife If any shall say he is a member of our Christ bear no fruit he takes him away and casts him into the fire being a withered branch good for nothing Joh. 15.2.6 He is not an unrighteous Iudge to cal evill good he will not justifie the wicked Isa 5. He wil by no meanes clear the guilty Exo. 34.7 He went into his garden to see the fruits of the valley whether the Vine flourish and the Pomgranat budded Cant 6.11 He saith Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit marke so shall ye be my Disciples Joh. 15.8 But the Antinomians Christ pronounceth an unrighteous sentence calling evill good justifying the guilty before they have any faith to receive the righteousnesse of Christ whereby alone they may be just Our Christ saith being justified by faith we have grace with God Rom. 5.1 Therefore wee conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law Rom. 3.28 Hee that beleeveth on him that justifieth the ungodly now mark his faith is courted for righteousnesse Rom. 4.5 But the Antinomians Christ saith they are justified before and without faith while they remain ungodly see Crisp page 136.155 Our Christ saith he that beleeveth not shal be damned Mark 16.16 Neither shal he see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Joh. 3.36 But the Antinomians Christ saith a man may be saved without faith see the counsell of Christ to Laodicea Our Christ when he comes into the soule he comes by water and blood to sanctifie aswel as to justifie 1 John 5.6 But the Antinomians Christ comes to justifie them and yet not to sanctifie at the same time Nay further he saith sanctification of life is not a jo● the way of a justified person unto heaven see Crisp p. 69. The spirit of our Christ is always working in us where it is and by this working we know our selves to be justified But the Antinomians Christ perswades them that their justification cannot
and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word Eph. 5.25.26 and the church is his body chap. 1.22 23. for as the body is one and hath many members so also is christ 1 cor 12.12 But how doe you know your selfe to be a living member of christ A. As all our members are acted and moved by the soule or spirit that is in us so are alll the members of christ by his spirit for by one spirit we are all baptized into one body whether we be Iewes or Gentiles bond or free and have been all made to drink into one spirit 1 cor 12.13 and our body dyes when the soule is gone but sayth Paul ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit if so be that the spirit of God dwel in you now if any man have not the spirit of christ he is none of his rom 8.9 and so if on of our members suffer all the members suffer with it or if one member be honoured all the members rejoyce with it if we doe so then we are the body of Christ and members in particular 1 cor 12.26 27. hereby we perceive the love of God because he layd downe his life for us and we ought to lay downe our lives for the brethren 1 Joh. 3.16 VVhat are the conditions between God and his reople in the new covenant being the covenant of grace A. God will say it is my people and they shall say the Lord is my God Zech. 13.9 that is God makes many gracious promises unto us and we by faith shall receive and apply them to our selves yea that faith on our part whereby the covenant is made to us it also is within the promise made on Gods part they shall say the Lord is my God the covenant it selfe is a promise I will make an everlasting covenant with them and the conditions on our part are all within that promise I will put my feare in their hearts that they shall not depart from me besides all other promises on Gods part that are included in that covenant for sayth the Lord I will bring upon them all the good that I have promised them Ier. 31.40 41. 42. Heb. 8. But is not the righteousnesse of christ imputed to us for our justification before ●hat we have faith A. No for our persons must be united to Christ by faith as Thomas beleeving sayd my Lord and my God Iohn 20.27 28. so we come to have a true right and title to the righteousnesse of Christ for as we were all in the loynes of Adam by nature when God made that covenant of works with him and all his Posterity so none hath right to the righteousnesse of the second Adam till he be cut off from the old Adam and by faith grafted into Iesus Christ and so we come to partake of the root and fatnesse of the true Olive tree rom 11.17.17.24 How is Jesus christ tendred in the Ghspell A. The Angell sayd unto them feare not for behold I bring you good tydengs of great joy which shall be to all people for unto you is borne this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord Luk. 2.10.11 sayth the Lord I will give thee for a covenant of the people to establish the earth to cause to inherit the desolate heritages that thou mayest say to the prisoners goe forth Isa 49.8 9. What is requ●red of them to whom he is thus tendered A. Onely beleeve Mar. 5.36 beleeve in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16.31 Whosoever beleeveth on him shall not perish but have everlasting life John 3.16 What is that faith that gives us right to Christ and a true title to all his merits in the worke of our redemption A. It is a saving faith and not a historicall faith such as the Apostle James speakes of Jam. 2.19 and it is a living faith and not a dead faith Jam. 2.17 I live by faith in the Sonne of God who gave himselfe for me Gal. 2.20 and it is called a justifying faith not for the worthinesse of it as being an excellent grace of God but as an instrument applying Christs righteousnesse for our justification How came we by this faith and how is it wrought in us A. Faith is the gift of God Eph. 2.8 and it is wrought in us by his spirit thou hast wrought all our workes in us Isa 26.12 Phil. 2.13 the instrumentall meanes that the spirit of God for the most part useth is the Preaching of the Word so then Faith cometh by hearing the word preached Rom. 10.14.17 What call you the Word of God A. The two Testaments the first is from the beginning of Genesis to the end of he prophesie of Malachy this is called the old Testament and from the first of Matthew to the last of the Revelation is called the new Testament How doe you prove these two Testaments to be the Word of God A. First because of the true relating of things to come and the accomplishment of them at the time appointed which none could doe but he that knowes all things both past and to come Secondly they lay open the particular and secret thoughts and lusts of the heart which sheweth that they are the words of him in whose sight all things are naked and open Heb. 4.12.13 Thirdly they command all duties of piety equity and sobriety and forbiddeth all vice in such a sort that all the writings of men though layd together could not d●e Fourthly they discover a state of damnation to man and conclude him in it and they reveale a sure way of salvation which never could enter into mans heart but as it was revealed by the spirit of God which found and ordained that way Fiftly it is a word of power to the pulling down of strong holds and casting downe imaginations and every high thing that exalts it self and every thought to the obedience of Christ 2 cor 10.4 5. Sixtly the universall consent and agreement it hath though pend by divers and at sundry time which argueth that holy men spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost 2 Pet. 2.21 What part of this word of God is the most concerned in the covenant of grace A. In the promises of the Gospell and fulfilled in the person of Christ both in his active and passive obedience as I sayd before and working faith and all other graces in his people But are christians that ore entred into this new covenant contained in the Gospell are they I say freed from the old covenant contained in the law A. They are freed from the curse and penalty of the law and from the legall fulfilling of it to that end which Adam was bound to doe it in the time of innocency for although the ten Commandements published at Mount Sina● were the same for substance that was in Adams heart before the fall yet the manner of Adams obedience and theirs differ much thus Adam was then bound
his mercifull promise lets the poore sinner feele the assurance of his love wherewith he loveth him in christ see Mat. 7.7 Isa 65.24 Job 33.26 this assurance is a lively evidence of faith Are there divers degrees and measures of faith A. Yes the least measure of faith that any man can have is this when a man of an humbled spirit by reason of the littlenesse of his faith doth not yet feele the assurance of the forgivenesse of his sinnes and yet he is perswaded that they are pardonable and therefore he desireth they should be pardoned and with his heart prayeth to God for pardon and though he see no light yet he will stay upon his God Isa 50.19 this may be called smoaking flax or a bruised reed Isa 42.4 or the graine of mustard-seed Mat. 17.20 How doe you know that such a man hath faith A. These desires and prayers are testimonies of the spirit rom 8.23.26 gal 4.6 whose propesty it is to stirre up longings after heavenly things with sighes and groanes for Gods favour and mercy in christ now where the spirit of God is there is christ dwelling Eph. 3.17 and where christ dwelleth there is true faith how weak soever it be Eph. 3.17 What is the greatest measure of f●●i●h A. When a mans faith encreaseth daily and at length he is fully perswaded of Gods love to himself in particular and that his owne sinnes are fully pardoned and forgiven for the merits of christ I am perswaded that nothing is able to seperate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord rom 8.33 ●9 this 〈…〉 ve●y evidence of a strong faith Hath a christian this full assurance of faith at the first A. No● the righteousnesse of God is revealed from faith to faith rom 1.17 and they must pray the Lord to encrease their faith Luke 17.5 and they must with all diligence adde to their faith vertue 2 Pet. 1.5 and fight the good sight of faith 2 Tim. 4.7 but they a estro●g who are of fullage and by reason of use have their s●nses exercised to discerne both good and evill Heb. 5.14 such are not weake in faith they will not stagger at the promise of God through unbeliefe but being streng in faith they will give glory to God being fully perswaded that what God ●●oneised he was able also to performe rom 4.19.20 21. Is this justifying faith commanded in the law A. No not by the law of works but by the law of faith rom 3.27 the law doth not reveale it and th●●fore it doth not command it but the law is so far from revealing justifying saith that it never knew it and Adam had the morall law written in his heart and yet he had no justifying faith which apprehendeth Christ as a Saviour and Redeemer this saith Adaem knew not by the law of works till the law of faith came in the promised seed Gen. 3.15 What benefits come by this faith in Christ A. Hereby we are both justified and sanctified being justified by faith rom 5.1 and sanctified by faith in me Acts 26.18 purifying their hearts by faith Acts 15.9 then our persons are accepted with God Gen. 4.4 What is it to be justified before God A. It comprehendeth two things first to be cleered from the guiltinesse and punishment of sinne who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth rom 8.33 there is no condemnat on to them which are in Christ Jesus who is he that condemneth it is Christ that dyed ye rather that he is risen againe rom 8.1.34 secondly we are accepted as perfectly righteous before God by him all that beleeve are iustified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses Acts 13.39 What other benefits comes along with iustifying faith A. Then all our prayers and and services are acceptable with the Lord Gen. 4.4 Prov. 15.8 Rom. 5.2 and it makes us to escape all the dangers threatned against the wicked at the day of judgement Luke 21.36 and it makes us worthy of the Kingdome of God Luke 20.35 2 Thes 1.5 Yea Christ is yours and all is yours both things tresent and things to come 1 Cor. 3.21 22. How may a man know that he is justified before God A. He need not to search the secret counsell of Gods decrees nor seeke for revelations or an Angell from heaven to tell him but this is the way for any that would truly find it we must search to see whither we in heart and life be sanctified and if we find this we may safely conclude our selves to be justified What is sanctification A. It is a renewed holinesse which fits and prepares the creature for the Lords use goe yee out of the middest of her be ye ●eane that beare the vessels of the Lord Isa 52.11 for he will be sanctified in all that come nigh him Levit. 10.3 if any man purge himselfe he shall be a ●essell unto honour sanctified and meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every good worke 2 Tim. 2.21 But may not a man have faith and be justified without sanctification A. No for faith as an instrument both justifies and sanctifies for as it receives and applies Christ and his merits to us in particular so it justifies and as it workes by love and acts all other graces in their lively motion so it sanctifies But Infants may be justified are they also sanctified A. Yes before I formed thee in the belley I knew thee here is Gods decree but as yet not brought forth Zeth 2.2 the man is not formed therefore as yet neither justified nor sanctified but sayth the Lord before thou camest out of the wombe I sanctified thee Ier. 1.5 many shall rejoyce at the birth of John because he shall be silled with the holy Ghost enen from his mothers wombe Luke 1.14 15. Proceed What be the parts of sanctification A. Two mortification and vivification mortification is that power whereby sin is abated and crucified in the faithfull how shall we that are dead to sin l●ve any longer therein rom 6.2 they which are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Gal. 5.24 By what meanes is mortification wrought in us A. By the death and buriall of Christ we are buried with him by baptisme into his death rom 6.4 our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed ●o 6.6 What is the other part of sanctification A. It is vivisication whereby inherent holinesse is begun and increased in us we receive the first fruits of the spirits be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Eph. 4.23 24. you hath he quickned that were dead in trespasses and sinnes I am crucified with Christ neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by
the faith of the sonne of God Gal. 2.20 we which ha●e the first fruits of the spirit doe groane within our selves waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of our bodies rom 8.23 What is the efficient cause whereby these graces are wrought in us A. The holy Ghost applying the power of the death and resurrection of Christ worketh holinesse in us he will deliver his soule from going into the pit and his life shall see the light loe all these things worketh God oftentimes for man to bring back his soule from the pit to be enlightned with the light of the living Job 33.28 29.33 that the offering up of the gentiles might be acceptable being sanctified by the holy Ghost rom 15.16 How is this grace preserved in us A. It is preserved by the vertue of christs resurrection that I may know him and the vertue of his resrurection phil 3.10 first christ did in his own flesh overcome death and sin and live to God and was exalted above every name then he infuseth this power into us we receive it by faith wherby we dye unto sin daily and live to God in newnesse of life In what part of us is this grace of sanctification wrought A In every part of body and soule the very God or peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God yo●r whole spirit soule and body may be perfect and blamelesse unto the comming of our Lord Jesus christ 1 Thes 5.23 How do you know when the mind is sanctified A. When spirituall understandding is given unto it to acknowledge the known truth of Gods word and when spirituall wisdome is given to apply that truth knowne to the well ordering both of things and actions as person place and time requires then we come to discerne both good and evill heb 5.14 and to discerne of things that are excellent phil 1.10 and to try the spirits whether they be of God 1 Joh. 4.1 and to try doctrines Joh. 7.17 1 Thes 5.21 Acts 17.11 and so we come to med●tate on the word and workes of God and to delight in his law and to exercise our selves in it night and day Psal 1.119.15 and we discerne our owne want of knowledge by which meanes we shall entreat the Lord to teach us Psal 119.18.33 When is the memory sanctified A. When it is made a treasury of good things a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things Mat. 35. Mary kept all those sayings in her heart Luke 2.51 and David sayd thy word I have hid in my heart that I might not sinne against thee Psal 119.11 Secondly when we remember our sinnes to loath them then shall ye remember your owne evill wayes and your doing that were not good and shall ●●●th your selves in your owne sight for your iniquities and for your abominations Ezek. 36.31.16.63 When is the conscience sanctified A. When it doth excuse us for all sin when we are certaine that they are forgiven us in Christ having faith and a good conscience which some have put away 1 Tim. 1.19 I know nothing by my selfe yet am I not hereby justified 1 Cor. 4.4 I have in all good conscience served God untill this day Acts 23.1 herein I exercise my selfe to have alwayes a conscience void of offence both towards God and towards men Acts 24.16 try me O Lord and prove me examine my raines and my heart for thy loving kindnesse is before mine eyes and I have walked in thy truth Psal 26.1 2.3 hence ariseth in us that peace of conscience that passeth all understanding which shall keepe our hearts and minds through Christ Iesus Phil. 4.7 this makes the righteous as bold as a lyon Pro. 28.1 if our hearts condemne us not then have we conscience towards God 1. Ioh. 3.21 When is the will sanctified A. When our wils is regulated by Gods revealed will when the spirit is willing though the flesh be weake Mat. 26.41 When to wil is present but how to performe that which is good we finde not rom 7.19 for it is God that worketh in us both to will and to doe of his own good 〈◊〉 Phil. 2 1● When are the affections sanctified A. Our hope is sanctified when we wait for the accomplishment of our redemption rom 8.23 24 25. and when we shew the same diligence in full assurance of hope unto the end Heb. 6.11 Our feare is sanctified when we feare to offend the Lord because of his goodnesse Hosea 3.5 they shall feare and tremble for all the goodnesse and for all the prosperity that I will procure unto it Jer. 33.9 If ye call him father passe the time of your sojourning here in feare 1 Pet. 1.17 our love of God in Christ is sanctified when it is as a fire that cannot be quenched many waters cannot quench love nor the floods drowne it cant 8.7 when this love burnes up all other love and when we esteeme of all outward things but as losse and dung for the excellent knowledge of Christ and to win christ phil 3.7 8. our zeale is sanctified when we regard not what becomes of us so God may be glorified Exod. 32.32 rom 9.3 our sorrow and anguish of mind is sanctified when our eyes can gush out with teares because men keep not Gods law Psal 119.136 as Lots righteous soule was vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked he dwelling amongst them in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soule from day to day with their ungodly deeds 2 Pet. 2.7 8. our joy is sanctified when Gods countenance more rejoyceth our hearts then the increase of come and wine Psal 4.7 and when we rejoyce that the Gospell is preached phil 1.18 and when we rejoyce in the fruitfulnesse of is in the conversion of soules Luke 15.7 How doe you know when the body is sanctified A. Wh●n it is a fit instrument for the soule to accomplish that which is good as ye have given your members servants to uncleanoesse and to iniquity to commit iniquity so now give your members servants unto righteousnesse in holinesse rom 6.19 Cannot we be saved without holinesse A. No for heaven is promised to them that are sanctified Acts 26.18 and no uncleane thing shall enter into it rev 21.27 without holinesse no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 the pure in heart they shall see God mat 5.8 Are there degrees in holinesse or sanctification A. Yes that ye may grow up into him in all things which is the head even christ Eph. 4.15 being kn●t together we may increase with the increase of God col 2.19 I beseech you brethren and exhort you by the lord Iesus christ that as you have received of us how you ought to walke and to please God so ye would abound more and more for this is the will of God even your sanctification that every one may know how to possesse his vessell in sanctification and honour 1 Thes 4.1.3 4. May a man attain to perfection in
he came to his owne and his owne received him not Job 1.11 and some sayd he was a good man and some said nay but he deceiveth the people some sayd this is the Christ others sayd shall Christ come out of And the Priests a ked him are thou the Christ the sonne of the blessed and Iesus said I am Mar 14.61 62. And Mattha said I beleeve that thou art Chr st the son of God which should come into the world John 11.27 Yet the Jews had decreed that if any man did corsesse that he was Christ het should be put out of the Sinagogue Job 9.22 The Centurion said truly this is the sen of God But others mocking said let Christ the King of Is rael d●scend from the crosse that wee may see and believe Mar. 15.32.39 Bu● now he is declared to be the son of God with power according to the spiret of holinesse by the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1.4 Apollos mightily convinced the Iews she wing by the Scriptures that Iesus was Christ Acts 18.28 And Paul was pressed in spirit and testified that Iesus was Christ vers 5. And he encreased in st●ength confounded the Iews proving that this is very Christ Acts 9.22 Then what a miserable shame it were for such taught Christians to dispute whether this be the true Christ Yet thus it wil be according as bee himselfe prophesied long ●gone saying many shall come in my name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many Math. 24.5 The time when these false Christs shall arise is when you shall heare of wars famines and pestilences and earth-quakes in divers places and when Gods people are hated afflicted and killed for the name of Christ and betray and hate one another and iniquity shall abound and the love of many shall wax cold and the abhomination of desolation standing in the holy place These things have been all fulfilled since these troubles began and now the Devill hath beene very busie to sow the tares of heresies But saith the true Christ If any shall say unto you loe here is Christ or there beleeve at not For there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew greas signes wonders insomuch that if it were possible they would deceive the very elect vers 23 24. Now observe the earnestnesse of Christ to prevent these subtile deceivers that the Elect can hardly escape their hands saying Behold I have told you before wherefore if they shall say unto you behold he is in the d●sart goe not forth behold he is in the secret chambers beleeve it not vers 25.26 Why must we not goe into their secret chambers nor come at their private meetings Because of this sort are they which creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with their lusts who are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth 2 Tim. 3.6 7. Now the true Christ commeth openly Iesus answered him I speake openly to the world I ever taught in the Sinagogues and in the Temple whither the lewes alwayes resort and in secret have I said nothing John 18.20 As the lightning commeth out of the East and shmeth even unto the West so shall the comming of the son of man be Math 24.27 But before I proceed to make a further discovery of these false Christs give me leave to declare the tydings of that faithfull meslenger who was sent to try the Antinomians power in their last place of refuge being sent forth by the true Christ to maintaine against them that none are actually justified sanctified called and ●d●pted and in the love and favour of God from all eternity and so be having a 〈◊〉 of protection from his Master that the gates of hell should 〈…〉 him Math. 16. And when he went through fire and water 〈…〉 with him that it should mather burne nor drown him Isa 45.1 2. 〈…〉 it of victory went on boldly to his den and in this den hee was ser upon and now if you will attend you shall heare the true relation of the 〈…〉 in that den First there steps up a servant of the Antinominns Christ saying that hee was 〈…〉 before the act of beleeving his first argument was this Insants 〈…〉 but Infants are justified Therefore saith hee some are justified 〈…〉 leeve now his reason why Infants do not beleeve is because that saith commeth by hearing Romans the 10. vers 17. And how shall they h●are 〈◊〉 a Preacher vers 14. The messenger of the true Christ answers First that although preaching be the ordinary meanes to beget faith in men of veares in that place where it is truly preached yet God hath not so bound himselfe to that meanes that among those people that have not the word preached they cannot have saith wrought in them some other way extraordinary where that ordinary way is not to be had as also that they which live in a place where the word is truly preached If they be not able by some defect or other to heare it the messenger of the true Christ is not so cruel as to judge all the world to be damned which have not the word truly preached unto them and also all children that dye before they be able to heare it But the true Christ saith he that beleeveth not shall be damned Mar. 16.16 Then of necessity all must have it or else he shal not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Joh. 3.36 Then consider the cruelty of this censure and be informed that the spirit of God is able to help all our infirmities Rom. 8.26 But is this the honour you give to the spirit of Christ to thinke him unable to worke saith without the helpe of your owne abilities Agame faith may grow and act where we see it not as well as trees grow in the winter downwards in the root and we see it not Againe Infants are sanctified which flows from faith Ier. 1.5 Luke 1.15 Againe Infants are entered into the Covenant with God by vertue of their Fathers faith for God ingaged himselfe to be the God of their Father and his seed into which Covenant they are infolded And if they have but the seeds of faith in them their fathers actions may be accounted theirs For if the roote be holy so are the branches Rom. 11.16 And if the Parents be holy so are the children 1 Cor. 7.14 Then steps up a second servant of theirs saying he that is in Christ is justified but we must be in Christ before that we can beleeve therefore we must be justified before that we can beleeve But here the servant b●trays his Mr. to be such a Christ that any limbe of the Devill may be a reall member of his body and any strumpet whore remaining so may be his spouse But the mestinger of the Lords Christ saith If any man be in Christ he ●s a new ere ture Old things are dine away all things are become new 2 Cor. 5.17