graces then saith he our riches money and cloathes and victuals are graces also I might here shew that these are cemporall and not spirituall and againe some that are spirituall are common and some are speciall your heavenly Father will give his spirit to them that aske him Luke 11.13 this is not to be understood the third person but his gifts or good things Mat. 7 11. desire spirituall gifts 1 Cor. 14.1 abound in this grace also after he hath named other graces as faith utterance knowledge and love 2 cor 8.7 stirre up the gift of God that is in thee 2 Tim. 1.6 and to say that repentance and faith are the same thing cannot be for repentance conâ—sts much of godly sorrow beway ling the breach of the first Cevenant and our misery that came upon it but faith is fixed upon the second Adam fulfilling the second Covenant for us beleeving and applying the happinesse that came upon it but more of this anon for the present it may suffice that here you see qualifications before that Christ doe actually possesse the soule But he replies saying that it is a sordid and a grosse conceit in the hearts of some persons to thinke that there cannot be humiliation for sinne except perions be brought to diâ—paire page 3â—4 I ans a man cannot he humbled for those sins in himselfe unlesse he dupaire of all hope in himselfe thou sardest not there is no hope thou hasi found the life of thâ—ne hand therefore thou wast not grâ—eâ—ed Isa 57.10 he that doth not deny himselfe and forsake all and follow Christ is unworthy of him he cannot be his Disciple Luke 14 26.27 but saith he although a man be ntâ—erly undone before Christ come into the soule yet saith he the man is not sensible of it till Christ be actually given and come into the soule to work that sensiblenesse pag. 201. I ans the worst of men have been sensible of their undone condition altrough Christ never came graciously into their soules witnesse Cain Pharath Saul and Iudas all these by the law saw their undone condition for by the law is the knowledge of sin Rom. 3 20. but he replyes that a though the law be a light like the Sun yet it gives no eyes to see I ans that it did give those reprobates a sight of their undone condition and as an Instrument in the hand of Christ it may give a greater light so the law may convert the soul make wise the simple rejoyce the heart and enlighten the eves Psal 19. but howsoever the law may shew a wicked man his sinfull condition because some remainders of it are left still in nature The Gentiles by nature doe the things contained in the law which sheâ—es the work of the law that is written in their hearts Rom. 2.14 15. this may suffice to shew that a man may be sensible of his owne undone condition before that Christ comes graciously into the soule but further when Christ comes into the soule he comforts those that mourne he gives joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heavinesse Isa 61.2 3. then sure they doe not mourne before they are sensible wherefore all this shewes that Christ works some qualification before he come to possesse the soule saith Christ to Paul I send thee to open their eyes and to turne them from darknesse to light from the power of Satan to God marke that they may receive forgivenesse of sinnes and inheritance among all them that are sanctified by faith in me Acts 26.18 here you see that forgivenesse of sins which is a great part of justification is not the first work in the soule but much preparation of common grace which goes before but â—peciall grace is the entrance of Christ as I said before which brings me to the third head of errours which are abont justification He saith that Christ enters actually and justifies a person before any gracious qualification be wrought in them page 155. he saith they are justified while they are ungodly page 136. I ans this is horrible blasphemy for it makes God an unrighteous Judge to pronounee a sinner just before that he is just either by inherent righteousnesse or by that imputed righteousnesse of Christ whereby alone he may be just but saith Crispe faith is a work and the Apostle saith to him that worketh not but beleeveth on him that justifieth the ungodly Rom. 4.5 it seems he takes this for a carnall beleeving such as may be in the ungodly remaining such for he leaves out his faith is connted for righteousnesse but it is of faith that it may be of grace Ro. 4.16 we have accesse by faith into this grace wherin we stand being justified by faith we have peace with God Rom. 5.1 2. yet as faith is a work we renounce it in poynt of justification as a poore lame Cripple cannot get his living by working yet he can receive an almes with his lame hand that shall maintaine him as well and better then working but saith Crispe Christ is put upon a finner before they have any hand to put him on as a Physitian useth to doe with an unruly Patient who shuts his teeth against his physick then he forceth his mouth open and powres it cowne his throat so saith he the Lord forceth Christ upon us page 150 151. and he saith Christ gets upon us as we get up to break a horse so saith he was Ephraim yoaked and fettered I ans this is nothing but the plowing and breaking that is by the law before that Christ enters graciously to justifie us but if this breaking be before this confounds his former tenet that Christ enters before any qualification or any prep ration be made for him so then the Lord plowes up the soule to make it fit for the seed of saving or justifying faith for saith Christ I stand at the doore and knock he doth not enter till the will be changed and made willing to receive him I doe dot say as the Arminians doe that Christ waits till we will but till he himselfe hath changed our hearts I say till then he will not enter graciously nay if his ownâ— Spouse be something unwilling he will depart cant 5.2 but saith Crispc Christ may come to us graciously as well as we may casta garment upon a dejected body having no hand to receive it I answer the comparison is not equall for all although this dejected body have no hand yet he hath life and a heart to receive that mercy thankefully but we are dead in trespasses and sinnes Ephesians 2.1 then how can a dead stone receive any thing that hath neither heart nor hand life nor motion to doe it so then faith must be wronght in the soule to receive chrut first before that we can receive him to justifie us we have accesse by faith unto this grace wherein we stand Romans 5.2 with the heart man beleeveth unto righteousnesse Rom. 10.17 the Gentiles
Genesis so that all which was spoken before the children were borne was this that the elder should serve the younger Rom. 9.11 12. and for that other place Rom. 4.5 see his wicked inference because it is said to him that worketh not therefore faith is not required to justifie â—s when as the words are cleer to him that worketh not his faith is counted for righteousnesse but saith he because it is not of works therfore it is not of faith when as the words are expresse that it is of faith and not of works and because the ungodly are said to be justified therefore he would gather hence that they are justified and yet remaine ungodly but if he were not blind he might read his saith and he that beleeveth on him that justifieth the ungodly now although the ungodly here be named as a man may be said to marry a Widow doth she remaine so after marriage so if Christ justifie the ungodly must they needs remaine so after they are ustified no here is faith as soone as ustification but faith the Doctor if these things must be as conditions then Christ justifies the godly and not the ungodly I answ No but the act of justification makes them just and therefore godly but saith Crispe the covenant is nothing else but Gods love to man I answ it is to covenant at all till man close with God by faith yet we grant that God is the Author of all this and therefore all the glory is to be given to him and not to us at all for he both makes us capable and then of his infinite goodnesse takes us into covenant with him but saith the Doctor faith is not a condition because it is a work of ours it is true the works of the law are excluded but faith is a work of grace again faith as a work doth not justifie but as an instrument not for the worthinesse of it as a grace but in regard of the worthinesse of the object for as the hand feedeth not the body as being food it selfe but as it receiveth and ministreth food unto it hereby it is sustained so faith justifieth by receiving and applying Christ to be our righteousnesse and life but the Doctor denies that Christ should justifie by faith because saith he if Christ should doe so then he must have a partner to justifie us I answ it would be counted a folly to say when a poore man puts out his hand to take an almes that the man did not of himselfe give that almes but sayth Crispe he had a partner and because David had a sling and a stone to kill Goliah therefore he had a partner to doe it this is the Doctors free grace that will not admit of faith wrought in us by Christ to receive and apply his righteousnesse unto us this sayth he is to make himselfe a partner with Christ but if a common Whore doe but beleeve that Christ hath done this with such a faith as may stand with her whorish heart then shee is justified because shee did not repent and then beleeve that shee should be justified but still remaining a Whore with a bastardly faith beleeves that shee is justified this is that hereticks devinity and old Lancaster affirmes the same but we receive the promise of the spirit by faith even we beleeve in Jesus Christ that we may be justified by faith Gal. 2.16 being justified by faith we have peace with God through Jesus Christ by whom we have accesse by faith into this grace wherein we stand Rom. 5.1 2. it is of faith that it may be of grace Rom. 3.16 let him take hold of my strength and so make peace with me Isa 27.5 and Christ dwels in our heart by faith Ephes 3.17 by grace ye are saved through faith Eph. 2.8 we are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 Thus Christ will neither take possession of us to dwell in us nor justifie us nor adopt us nor enter into covenant with us nor save us without faith then what cursed seducers are these that would make faith but an idle spectator to see all those great things that are as they say all done before and without faith thus the devils instruments doe not onely seeke to abolish the law of God but the Gospell also by taking away the conditions of the new covenant so to make it void to their eternall ruine of body and soule for ever The sift head of errours is about a holy conversation he saith that Christ did not only put an end to the curse but also to the life of the law page 237. thus that law that should guide us in al holy obedience to the will of God this saith he Christ hath put an end to the very life of it but must we beleeve this seducer or the Prophet of God which sayth all his commandements are sure they stand fast for ever and ever Psal 111.7 8. thy word is setled for ever in heaven Ps 219.89 the Angels doe his commandements hearkning to the voyc of is word Ps 103.20 then hath Christ put an end to the life of the law which is for Saints and Angels for ever what a hellish tenet is this and saith Crispe a blamelesse walking according to Gods owne law established is a fruit of ignorance and a cause of mans not submitting to the righteousnesse of God pag. 206. what cursed blasphemy is this is not the law holy and the Commandement holy just and good Rom. 7.12 is not the Lord righteous in all his wayes Ps 1â—5 17 when Zacharias and Elizabeth walked in all the commandements and ordinances of the Lord blamelesse the text sayth then they were both righteous before God Luke 1.6 but were they both righteous before God and yet not submit to the righteousnesse of God the Gospell reveales the righteousnesse of God Rom. 1.17 and doth not the law the same Paul had not knowne sinne but by the law then did the law that shewed sin make him ignorant of righteousnesse and did his obedience to the law make him disobedient to Gods righteousnesse what blasphemy is this to affirme that Gods law should make a man despise Gods righteousnesse againe sayth this Doctor righteousnesse puts a man away from Christ and yet he saith that no sinfulnesse in the world can debarre them from him yet righteousnesse may debarre them from him page 249. upon these things I tarried so long with Mr. Lancaster that he was almost spent and his wife cryed out that her husband was almost spent and so my friend and I left him and were it not for his wife who looked very big about the middle I would have a third battell with him in which I am confident he would yeeld upon quarter for I perceived his munition was almost spent now for his argument that righteousnesse hinders a man from Christ when as no sin in the world can doe it although it be the sinne against the holy Ghost
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 1â— 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 joâ— 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
attained to this righteousnesse because they sought it by faith but Israel 〈◊〉 not attained to this righteousnesse wherefore because they saught it not by faith Rom. 9.31 32. so then we must have faith before and by which we must receive the righteousnesse of Christ for before faith was wrought in the soule there was none righteous no not one that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may be guilty before God marke I doe not say guilty before men but before God for all have sinned till the righteousnesse of God be imputed to us which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that beleeve for there is no difference Rom. 3.10 19 22 23. but the Doctor would faine be justified without faith against the cleere light of the Scripture and cannot tell how to make it appeare therefore he almost yeelds but yet he hath one starting hole more saying although faith justifies yet saith he this faith is confined in the person of Christ and not in us I ans with Paul even we have beleeved in Iesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ that the promise by faith of Iesus Christ might be given to them that beleeve Gal. 2.16.3.22 but when he comes to make his matter good at the end of the seventh Sermon he unawares confounds all that he hath said both before and after in this point for saith he we are all like Jeremiah in the dungeon when Christ comes into us and he is like Ebedmelike who let downe the ropes of his faith and puls us out so then here you see Ebedmelike did not goe downe to Jeremiah but cast downe the ropes by which he drew him up to him so our Ebedmelike Iesus Christ doth not first come into our filthy soules while the divell rules and reignes but first he casts downe the grace of faith into our soules and by that faith he drawes us out of our sinfull condition so then our Ebedmelike did not goe downe and get upon our backs as we goe to breake a horse and as a Physician powres downe the Physicke in spite of the Patient but first reacheth downe the ropes of faith and presently we are made willing to come out for by this rope of faith Christ and us are 〈◊〉 together â—either doth the rope of faith manifest to our selves nor others Soâ— it was cast into the dungeon and as hard to be knowne as justification it self for Jerenmiah had the ropes yet he saw them not till he came out neither did he see Ebedmelike till he was out yet he trusted by that rope to get on although he saw it not so Job although thou hidest thy face from me and holdest me for thine enemy yet saith he though he slay me yet I will trust in him Job 13.15.24 and saith the Prophet he that walketh in darknesse and sees no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God Isa 50.10 but both Crispe and Lancaster affirmes that faith acts no longer then it manifests it selfe for say they faith is the evidence of things not seene Heb. 11.1 but I had rather take Pauls word then both theirs who saith we walk by faith and not by sight 2 Cor. 5 7. sight is reserved till faith is ended then we shall see Christ face to face 1 cor 13.12 but doth faith evidence all things to them that they beleeve hence I gather that their faith is the evidence of hell for they beleeve it if they be not Atheists and it is not seene and there is a bastardly faith very full of confidence as the true borne faith of a Christian like the stony ground full of joy which failes them when they have most need of it but saith Crispe faith acted by beleevers is full of sinne but if this man had knowne what true faith had been he would rather have said that faith acted by beleevers is full of Christ and a weak faith may take hold on Christ and be justified as well as a weak eye could look on the brazen Serpent and be healed Iohn 3.14.15 so then God justifies by pronouncing us just and christ justifies by his merits purchasing it for us and Faith justifies by applying those merits of christ to our selves and works alone declare it Iames 2.21.25 or thus as faith acts by receiving or taking christ and his righteousnesse so it justifies and as it works by love and acts all other graces so it sanctifies and manifests it selfe to our selves and others this they deny saving that act which justifies is manifestation The fourth head of errours is about the new covenant In his sixth Sermon he saith christ hath made a covenant without any conditions on our part page 124. and he saith in way of condition of the covenant we must doe nothing page 128. he sayth it is probable that christ was the first covenant page 124. but was christ the first covenant then how came the first to be faulty will they tax christ with faults which was without sinne and againe how came the second covenant better then the first and built upon better promises Heb. 8.8 9. is any thing better then christ and any promises better then those that are made in him me thinks men should be ashamed and tremble to preach and print such hellish blasphemy so then the first covenant was made to Adam all mankind in him by nature and the second covenant was made to christ both God and man and to all the elect as they are in him by grace now as no man was bound to the conditions of the first covenant nor guilty of the breach of it till they have a being in him by nature so none of the elect are bound to the conditions of the second covenant till they have a being in him by grace but both Crispe and Lancaster affirme that this new Covenant is without conditions on our part I answ in this they shew themselves to be sonnes of Belial that say of God and Christ his Annoy â—ed let us break heir bonds asunder and cast their cords from us Ps 2.2.3 but this is to about 〈◊〉 new Covenant and quite overthrowes the Gospell of Jesus Christ I do admire hâ—y are not ashamed to call it a Covenant when as they deny the conditions of it I must confesse Lamaster was ashamed to call it a Covenant and would have it to be only a legacy or a will or testament but this we grant as wel as he that we have nothing but what was freely given us of God by will or testament but this testament and the new covenant may stand well together for the first Adam had nothing but what he received from God as a free gift yet that did not nullifie the conditions of the covenant and make it voyd to him and his posterity so the second Adam receiving grace without measure Iohn 3.34 and out of his fulnesse we receive grace for grace Iohn 1.16
the way of Gods proceeding thus First Elect then holy and then beloved Coloss 3.12 Then I conclude that we are neither beloved nor justified before faith see Pet. 3.17 Thus the faithfull messenger of the Lord Christ defended himselfe with the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God against this seven-headed Hidra in be Dan. Now I 〈◊〉 shew you those five incurable wounds that this faithfull messenger gave him that cut so deepe that a man might see the very bone perished In this wound was written that we are justified by faith therefore not before faith this was harsh to him that had none But the servant of the Antinomians Christ thought to salve it up saying that he spake of the act of beleeving as though that faith in the true Christ could be in the soule and no act of beleeving But this shewes what a faith theirs is The Apostle of the true Christ saith Faith without workes is dead James 2.17 Now if their faith be no better I grant that they may be justified aswel without it as with it But it seemes he hath gotten some old heretick of his side which said that it was a wresting of the Scripture to say that we are justified by faith but he is ashamed to name him and therefore I suppose his conscience is convinced and hath checked him for speaking of it but he said a man may be both justified with faith and without it in a different sense First to be reputed and accounted just I answer but this is Gods worke alone But then secondly It may be taken to declare or manifest us to be just as workes Justifie I answer as faith is a worke it declares yet not to others but to our selves Hast thou faith have it to thy selfe before God Rom. 4.22 But faith it selfe is many times as hard to be known as our justification I meane that act of it that justifies us which is to take and apply Christ and his benefits unto us Thus it justifies is very hard to be known but as it workes by love and acts all other graces so it sanctifies and may easily be known and by this meanes we come to know that we are justified I hose fruits of faith justifie the trueth of our faith that it is living and not a dead faith when it bringeth forth fruits But faith is the hand of the soule taking hold of Christ the Iustifier and so it is counted for righteousnesse Rom. 4.5 So then God justifies by forgiving and pronouncing a sinner to be just and our works justifie by declaring to others that God hath justified us but faith justifies by receiving and applying Christ and his merits and so makes us just If you did but know what true faith was you might soone know where to place it in point of Justification so should you not exalt it into Gods place nor abase it into the place of workes The second deadly wound that was given to Hidra in his Den was this He that beleeueth not shall be damned Mar. 16.16 And this cut so deepe that he almost despaired of help For saith he if it be finall it is a note of damnation Now this is all that we require for we do not say that every man shall be damned that is in the state of unbeleife for then all should be damned but we say that finall unbeliefe damnes the soule and this you grant and yet you said that Infants are justified before they have faith Now if they should dye being justified are they damned because they do not beleeve or are they saved and yet dye in unbeliefe How will you get out of this circle This den may be called the land of darknesse without order Iob 10.22 Being full of Theeves and without government dashing and splitting themselves one against another A third deadly wound the faithfull messenger gave him in his den was this Without faith it is impossible to please God Therefore wee cannot bee justified without it Now a man pleaseth God when he doth those things that God requires and in that manner that he requires and to that end as he requires Now these he approves to be well done because they are grounded upon his Word acted by a justified person and tend to his glory Now this you grant saying we cannot come to God without faith and therefore cannot please him but you being sensible that your faith is nought if you have any and therefore you seeke another way to cure it saying although wee cannot come to God before wee beleeve yet God can come to us and Justification is Gods act upon a sinner and not a sinners act upon God I answer For to pronounce a sinner just is Gods act but to take and apply that righten snesse of Christ that makes us just is our act of faith And to say that God will pronounce any just before that they have by faith put on Christ Rom 13. This were to make God an unrighteous Judge to pronounce them just which are not just For what justice hath a sinner till the justice of Christ is made over to him and accounted for his Therefore faith in Christ must needs goe before God pronounce them just Again they do not only blasphe are God as an unrighteous Judge pronouncing them just which are yet unjust When at hee will by no meanes cleare the guilty Exod. 34.7 But also by this we may see what a Christ our Antinomians boast so much of which comes sneaking a day after the fair and brings them faith when they are just before brings his righteousnesse when they need it not comes to help them when they have tryed their cause before the Judge and quitted before he comes Such a Christ is not worth seeking after But what is your meaning of Gods comming to you when you have no faith to come to him Is God come to you and yet you remaine at a distance from him or doth God moove personally to you and you sit still as a man may come to you while you are sitting I had thought God had filled all places and did not move from place to place as man doth These are but poore fig-leaves to hide your nakednesse then the trueth is Gods comming to us and our comming to him is the same thing only the cause of the motion is in God and the motion it selfe in us So then when God moves us to come to him this is his comming to us and then we cannot be asunder Now he moves us by his spirit infusing faith into us and so our faith taking hold on him we are drawn by his spirit into unity and communion with him The fourth deadly wound given to Hedra in his den is this Whatsoever is not of faith is sinne Rom. 14.23 This is terrible to him that hath no faith Therefore he being sensible that there is something in it that would bite cruelly if he should suffer it to fasten upon him therefore hee
be known by their sanctification but by a revelation only Our Christ saith whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin Joh. 3.34 But the Antinomians Christ tells them if they act any sin that he is the author of it For alas they cannot sin they are dead stones and empty trunks Alas they doe nothing but what the spirit of their Christ leads them into See the tree of knowledg of good and evill Our Christ saith we that are in him are new creatures Old things are passed away al things are new 2 Cor. 5.17 We are passed from death to life made living stones to offer a living sacrifice acceptable to God by Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 But the Antinomians Christ loves his members aswel when they were slaves and servants to sin and Sathan as when they are set free and become his children by adoption he loves them aswel when they are prophane as when they are holy Nay he gives a charge to all his members that if one sin the rest must not tell him of it But comfort him for to mourn for sin is a dishonour to their Christ Our Christ saith when God sends forth the spirit of his son into our hearts we will cry abba Father Gal. 4.5 6. It is the spirit of grace and supplication Zech 12.10 And he greatly delighteth in their prayers Prov. 15.8 Cant. 2.14 But the Antinomians Christ tells them they need not pray For saith one of them nothing grieves me so much as the time I have spent in prayer and other duties that hath held me so long from my comfort Our Christ saith When you have done all that you can you are unprofitable servants Luke 17.10 You have done but your duty But the Antinomians Christ tells them that all Christian duties are but dirty dungy duties of sanctification Our Christ saith If ye beleeve not that I am he ye shal dye in your sins John 8.24 But the Antinomians Christ saith that faith is not absolutely necessary to salvation for it is but a worke of ours Our Christ saw nothing to love in us which moved him to redeem us Till he adorned us and made us lovely there was no difference For all have sinned and come shore of the glory of God Rom. 3.22.23 Saith Peter he put no difference between us and them purifying our hearts by faith Acts 15.9 But our Antinomians Christ saw some cause of love before he came even from all eternity which moved him to redeeme them Our Christ makes us righteous by his righteousnesse when wee are in him by grace as the first Adam made us sinners when we have a being in him by nature but not before But the Antinomians are made righteous by their Christ before they be in him by grace And Adam never made them sinners for they were justified from all eternity and alwayes as righteous as Christ Our Christ tells us that God pronounceth us just and faith applyes the righteousnesse of Christ to make us just and workes declare it But our Antinomians Christ cannot direct them where to place their faith in point of justification that it may not be exalted in the place of God nor abased in the place of workes But if their Christ were able to give them true faith hee could direct them where to place it Our Christ will not have his Temple defiled For the Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are 1 Cor 3.16 17. He desires truth in the inward parts Psal 51.6 But the Antinomians Christ regards not where he dwells It is all one to him if he live to a habitation of devills and the hold of every foule spirit and Cage of every unclean lust Revel 18.2 Our Christ himselfe bare the guilt and punishment of our sins and carried our sorrowes he alone trod the wine-pres of Gods wrath and there was none with him Isa 53.4.63.3 He saith I am he Therefore if ye seeke me let these goe John 18.8 But the Antinomians Christ comes sneaking a day after the faire brings them faith when they are just before and righteousnesse when they need it not and comes to helpe them when they have tryed their cause before the Judge and quitted before he comes Our Christ as God fills all places and his humane nature is in the third heaven till the restitution of all things Acts 3.21 So then as he is God he doth not move and as he is man he will not come till the day of judgement Therefore when it is spoken of his comming to us oâ— our comming to him it is the same thing onely the cause of this motion is us God and the motion it selfe in us for when he works faith in us by his spirit our faith takes hold againe and so we are drawn into unity and communion with him But our Antinomians Christ can come to them before that they have faith while that they are at a distance from him But how this can be themselves know not see Den's 7. arguments Our Christ saith If thou beleevest thou shalt be saved Acts 16.31 Yea hee saith only beleeve Mar. 5.36 But the Antinomians Christ tâ—lls them that hee will save them without any such conditions which saith he is the doctrine of legall teachers See counsell to Laodicea see Dr Crisp page 128. Our Christ tells us the only way to pacifie conscience is to exercise faith for it is the hand of the soule whereby wee receive all our mercies and comforts from Christ And it brings us into unity with christ and into obedience to the spirit of christ But our Antinomians Christ tells them that those which say we cannot be saved without faith do perplex the conscience and denies our mercies and resisteth the spirit of God and doth not consist with the right end for which faith was wrought in them see counsel to Laodicea Our Christ came preaching the Gospell of the Kingdome of God and saying repent and beleeve the Gospell Mar. 1.14 15. And he saith Doe unto all men as ye would they should do unto you even so do to them And gives a reason saying this is the law and the Prophets Math. 7.12 But the Antinomians christ will neither have them to beleeve nor repent as a duty nor do to others as we would have them do to us For say they this is legall teaching see counsel to Laodicea Our Christ saith humble your selves under the mighty hand of God Iames 4.10 And blessed are they that weep now for they shall laugh Luke 6.21 And blessed are they that mourne for they shal be comforted Math. 5.4 And our Christ said unto us The time will come that the Bridegroom shall be taken from you and then ye shall fast Luke 5.35 But our Antinomians christ teacheth them that they must neither humble themselves weepe not mourn last nor pray for sin or affliction see Crisp page 109.110.230 Our Christ gave the Sacrament the night before he suffered saying Take eate drinke do this in remembrance of
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 â—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 requâ—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 dâ—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 Sinaâ— 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
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 If any man will doe his will he shall know the Doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speake of my selfe John 7.17 Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeve lies that they all may be damned who beleeve not the Truth but take pleasure in unrighteousnesse 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. Many shall come in my name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many then if any shall say unto you loe here is Christ or there beleeve it not for there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect wherefore if they say unto you behold he is in the desert goe not forth behold he is in the secret chambers beleeve it not Mat. 24.5.23 24 26. London printed for Thomas Bankes and are to be sold at his shop in Black-fryers on the top of Bridewell-staires 1644. To the READER Christian Reader IN my first Book against the Antinomians I gave thee a short view of their Errours in five generall heads with a briefe and plaine answer to them and having laid open to the world their uglinesse in their owne native colours they began to be ashamed to owne them and like common Whores who seek to escape away and to leave their bastards upon the parish so these men when shame followed their errours they sought to escape away from them by denying of them but witnesses came in so fast both from their Sermons and from their books and from conference with them that they could not so rid their bands of them yet being unable to maintaine them all away they fled to Gods decrees for a protection and for maintainance of the first of those which is this That a man is justified actually in the sight of God before and without faith and calling this being immediately begottten by them their care was more for it then for the rest which they did but rake out of Eatons dunghill and their labour there was but to raise up children to their eldest brother but as for this which was of their owne begetting was very deare unto them and they say that they will be torne in pieces with wild horses before that they will leave it hereupon they ride post to Gods decrees to fetch from thence some maintainance for it but a faithfull messenger was sent after them to try their power in that last place of refuge and in his pursuit of them he found their Christ exalted above all by Crispe and Lancaster but he being a burden too heavy for them downe fell he and fled to his den but the faithfull messenger being sent and having commission from the Lords Christ followed him to his den and there he was set upon by seaven of his chiefest souldiers and a true relation of the combat and of his victory over them and how he sore wounded them with uncurable wounds and brought away their Christ to his tryall and after a true discovery of him comparing him to the Lords Christ he was sound not worthy to be trusted in for salvation but rather to be condemned for high treason and blasphemy and the Lords Christ alone exalted alove all for ever therefore try all things and hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5.21 and be no more carried about with divers and strange doctrines for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace Heb. 13.9 as ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walke ye in him rooted and built up in him and established in the faith as ye have been taught abounding therein with thanksgiving and beware least any man spoyle you through Philosophy and vaine deceit Col. 2.6 7 8. and that thou mayest be built upon the true rocke Jesus Christ and stand like Mount Zion unmovable Psal 125.1 Mat. 16.18.7.24 1 Cor. 3.12 I have laid here before thee the grounds of true Christian Religion by way of Question and answer read it with an honest and sincere endeavour to be setled in the truth and I doubt not but thou shalt see that the spirit of God will lead thee into all truth John 16.13 and the Comforter which is the holy Ghost whomthe Father will send in the name of Christ he will teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance John 14.26 therefore I pray thee read it and if thoureceive any benefit give God the praise and me remember in thy prayers and so I commend thee to God whom I know is able to keep that which I have committed unto him 2 Tim. 1.12 and so I rest unlesse I be againe provoked by these troublers of Israel but the meane time I remaine Thine in all Christian duties THOMAS BAKEWELL THE ANTINOMIANS CHRIST Confounded and the LORDS CHRIST EXALTED I Borrowed those fourteen Sermons of Doctor Crisps in which the Antinomians say Christ alone is exalted but I found so many errouâ—s in it that it would have been endlesse to have answered them all distinctly one after another and having the Booke but two dayes in my hand therfore I thought fit to gather the substance of them to these câ—râ—aine heads first those errours about redemption secondly those about possession thirdly those about justification fourthly those about the new Covenont fiâ—â—ly those about a holy conversation with a briefe and plain answer to them to shew how Christ alone by them is exalted First their errours about redemption the Doctor saith we may collect the universality of redemption of all and every particular man in the world pag. 296. this he illustrates by this comparison saying That the Lord pardons sinners as when a King by proclamation sends forth a generall pardon for all Theeves without exception so that if a man be but a Theefe it is enough the pardon is sent him as a deed of gift universally exhibited pag. 162 163. but saith the Lord to Jerusalem how shall I pardon thee for this thy children have forsaken me and sworn by them that are no gods they commit adultery and assemble themselvesn â—â—roops to the harlots houses Jer. 5.7 obey his voice provoke him not for he will not pardon your transgressions for my name is in him Exod. 23.21 some sinners shall never be purged from their filthinesse Ezâ—k 24.13 he that blasphemes against the holy Ghost shall never be forgiven Mat. 12.31 then is his pardon for all sinners he cals none but those that are heavy laden with their sins Mat. 11.28 and excludes those that cry Lord Lord and
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 trunâ—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 wrongâ—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 coveâ—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 buâ—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 strepesâ—ve aâ—e bâ—aled Isa 53 5. But if our 〈◊〉 had beene infused into him they had been his and not ouâ—s and if his rigâ—teâ— suesse had beene infused into us it were ouâ—s and not his for sinne and punishment they goe together so that often he one is named for the other if thou dost â—ot well sinne lyeth at the doore that is punishment lyeth at the dooâ— for sin 〈◊〉 lay then within him â—en 4.7 see 13. Nay further although the â—â—gâ—ing power of none bâ— taken away yet the being of sinne is not taken away no not in the justified Thus hee runs into one ertour 〈◊〉
But the Antinomians Christ like Iudas saith what needs all this wast for he brings justification loving kindnesse and salvation and laies it at our doors and yet we will be doing and running 100. miles about in vaine see Crispe page 63. Our Christ only admits of such guests as have on their wedding garment Mat. 22.11.12 But the Antinomians Christ puts back those that have some holinesse and admits of whores and drunkards remaining such page 66 67. Our Christ approves and requires selfe-denyall fasting and prayer and all other graces But the Antinomians Christ tells them that these are but the devices of the world see Crispe page 68. Our Christ came to seeke and to save that which was lost Luke 19.10 But the Antinomians Christ comes to save those that were never lost but justified and beloved from all eternity Our Christ was offended with Peter for sin after conversion and said Get thee behind me Sathan for thou art an offence unto me for thou savourest not the things that be of God but the things that be of men Mat. 16.23 But the Antinomians Christ cannot be offended with them for sin Crispe p. 303. Our Christ at his first visible comming bare the sins of many And for them that look for him he shal appear the second time without sin unto salvation Heb. 9.28 But the Antinomians Christ is expected to come to them once more to reign as an Emperour upon earth 1000. yeares before the day of judgment Our Christ when he ascended up on high he gave gifts unto men Ephes 4.8 Of his fulnesse wee receive grace for grace John 1.16 But the Antinomians Christ gives no grace but only comes personally into the soule stil they remain dead stones and empty trunkes see three of knowledge Our Christ greatly desires out beauty being all glorious within and our garments of wrought gold Psal 45.11 13. He saith our voyce is sweete and our countenance is comely and is ravisht with one chaine of our neck and saith our love is better then wine and our garments smel as Lebanon Cant. 2.14 4.9 10 11. But the Antinomians Christ neither bestowes grace where it is wanting nor delights in it where it is Our Christ calls upon us to purge and cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the feare of God 2 Cor. 7.1 But the Antinomians Christ perswades them from it tells them that he wil do that himself Our Christ is King of righteousnesse aswel as King of peace Heb. 7.2 He gives rest to them that are heavy laden Math. 11.28 But he gives no peace to the wicked Isa 57.21 But the Antinomians Christ brings peace to none but to the wicked in their corruption unconverted before faith and calling Our Christ by his Apostle saith work out your own salvation with fear trembling Phil. 1.12 And he saith godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation 2 cor 7.10 And the end of our faith is the salvation of our soules 1 Pet. 1.9 But the Antinomians Christ tells them that workes of sanctification and holy walking is not the way to salvation see Crispe page 69.20 Our Christ saith he loved his own that were in the world and so he loved them unto the end Ioh. 13.1 He wil never leave them nor forsake them Heb. 13.5 6. But the Antinomians Christ tells them that any sad jealousie concerning their present or future estate puts them quite out of Christ Dr. Crisp p. 29. Our Christ will chide rebuke and threaten where he sees cause as wel as comfort Rev. 2 3. chap. But the Antinomians Christ is all for musicke and flaggons of wine page 80.31 Our Christ saith the gate of heaven is straight and the way narrow and few there be that find it Math. 7. Therefore he bids us strive For many shall seeke to enter shal not be able Lu. 13.24 And he said how hardly shall a â—ich man enter into the Kingdome of heeven Mar. 10.23 The righteous shall scarcely be saved 1 Pet. 4.18 We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdome of God Acts 14.22 But the Antinomians Christ tells them that the way to heaven is the most easie to bit of any in the world and without any hardnesse they may make any progresse in it Crisp p. 83.18 Our Christ saith by his Apostle that we are blessedd in the deed or in the way of doing Iam. 1.25 But the Antinomians Christ tells them that they provoke God that seek for any blessing in the duties of holy walking Crisp p. 113.4 Our Christ saith by his Apostle give all diligence to make your calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 Bu the Antinomians Christ saith if they take him upon his general tender it is as good security as any in the world yea it is as good security as God can make them see Crisp p. 163. Our Christ cals the weary and heavy laden sinners Mat. 11.28 And excludes those that say Lord Lord and will not do his will Mat. 7.21 And casts out him that came without his wedding garment Mat. 12. But the Antinomians Christ sends out his generall pardon for all theeves and whores without exception see Crisp p. 162. And if they wil but carnally take him they may be theeves still Our Christ saith by his Apostle that in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted of him Acts 10.34 But the Antinomians Christ tells them that righteousnesse is that which puts a man a way from Christ but sinfulnesse cannot see Dr. Crisp p. 149. Our Christ when he comes into the soule changeth the will to imbrace him 〈◊〉 to receive him gladly But the Antinomians Christ comes into the soule violently against the will to justifie him As a Physician when he brings physick to his Patient who shuts his teeth and will not receive it then he forceth his mouth open and poures it downe his throate see Crispe p. 151.15 Our Christ requires faith and repentance as conditions of the covenant Mar. 5.36 Acts 8.38.16.31 Although these graces are his gifts see Ephes 2.8 Acts 5.31 But the Antinomians Christ tells them of a covenant without any conditions on their side see Dr. Crispe p. 184. Our Christ loves righteousnesse and hates wickednesse Ps 45.7 Isa 7.14.14 But the Antinomians Christ is kept off by righteousnesse but not by sin see Crisp p. 249. He only hates righteousnesse but he doth not hate sin witnesse Mr. Wetton Mr. George Mr. Baines and one more affirmed against me and others on these grounds First sin is nothing then how can God hate nothing Secondly sin cannot hurt of it selfe then why should God hate it Thirdly sin had its first being in God then why should God hate iâ— Fourthly God created Adam a sinner which appears by his fall and he saith I create evill then why should he hate it Fiftly God is the author of all things motions therefore of sin why should God hate it Sixtly God
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 fâ—â—iâ—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 â—9 this 〈…〉 veâ—y evidence of a strong faith Hath a christian this full assurance of faith at the first A. Noâ— 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 estroâ—g who are of fullage and by reason of use have their sâ—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 â—â—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 thâ—â—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 â—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 â—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 lâ—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 â—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