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A80790 The doctrine of faith. Or, The prime and principall points which a Christian is to know and believe. Handled in sundry sermons upon texts of scripture selected and chosen for the purpose. Wherein the method of the creed, (commonly called the Apostles Creed) is observed; and the articles thereof are confirmed, explained and applied, for the instructing of the ignorant, and the establishing of all in the truth. / By Christopher Cartwright, Minister of the Word at York. Cartwright, Christopher, 1602-1658. 1650 (1650) Wing C687; Thomason E1231_1; ESTC R14778 283,812 488

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Christ and the Father are one Joh. 10. 30. That which the Father doth he doth also Joh. 5. 17. 14. 10 11. Therefore Cum eadem fit divina virtus operatio Patris Filii haec duo se mutuò consequuntur quòd Christus fit suscitatus divinâ virtute Patris sui ipsius Aquin part 3. quest 53. art 4. ad 1. these two are so farre from crossing one the other Christ was raised up by the power of his Father and Christ arose by his own power that they confirme one the other they follow one upon the other Vse 3. Thirdly by Christs Resurrection our faith is confirmed in him as a most perfect Redeemer For seeing that Christ died for our sins he as our Surety was arrested by death as Gods Serjeant and cast into the prison of the grave in that he was not still detained there but released and set free it clearly shewes that the debt is discharged Gods justice satisfied and we through faith in Christ reconciled unto God and at peace with him The two Disciples that knew Christ to be dead but knew not that he was risen again seemed to have but small hope of redemption by him We trusted said they that it had been he that should have redeemed ●srael Luk. 24. 21. They did trust so before but now it seems they did in a manner despair of it And indeed had Christ so died as not to rise againe we could have had but a dead hope as I shewed before But now our hope is a lively hope as S. Peter calls it Blessed be God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope how by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 1 Pet. 1. 3. So S. Paul having said that Christ was delivered for our offences and rose again for our justification he addes immediately Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 4. 25. 5. 1. And Acts 13. 38 39. having immediately before confirmed Christs Resurrection he thereupon inferres Be it known unto you therefore men and brethren that thorough this man is preached unto you forgivenesse of sins And by him all that believe are justified c. And Rom. 8. 34. he cryeth out Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again And Heb. 7. 25. Wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Vse 4. Fourthly by the Resurrection of Christ we may be assured of our owne Resurrection The Apostle 1 Cor. 15. to convince some among the Corinthians who denied the Resurrection of the dead first proves at large Christs Resurrection and from thence inferreth the resurrection of Christians Now if Christ be preached saith he that he rose from the dead how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead But if there be no resurrection of the dead then is Christ not risen 1 Cor. 15. 12 13. And v. 16. For if the dead rise not then is not Christ raised And v. 20. c. But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept For since by man came death by man also came the Resurrection from the dead For as in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive But every man in his own order Christ the first fruits afterward they that are Christs at his coming So 2 Cor. 4. 14. Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus c. And 1 Thes 4. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him The force of this inference viz. of the resurrection of Christians from Christs resurrection consists in that near relation and union that is betwixt Christ and Christians he being their head Quod praecessit in caepite impletum erit in corpore Bern. and they his members As in the naturall body though all the members be under water yet the head being above they are safe and there 's no fear of drowning so is it in the mysticall body Christ our head being risen though we his members lie in the dust yet there is a sure and certain hope of our resurrection For the members must be with the head and conformed to it Father I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am said Christ Joh. 17. 24. We know that when he shall appear we shall be like unto him 1 Joh. 3. 2. Christ shall change our vile bodies and shall make them like unto his own most glorious body Phil. 3. 21. THE TWENTIETH SERMON Vse 5. FIftly and lastly as Christ rose corporally so ought we to rise spiritually viz. from the death of sin to the life of grace There is a death of the soul by sin and a resurrection of the soul by grace Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light Ephes 5. 14. And that we must be conformed unto Christ by a spirituall resurrection the Apostle sheweth Rom. 6. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptisme into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newnesse of life And v. 11. Likewise reckon ye also your selves dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God thorough Jesus Christ our Lord. We must thus be conformed unto Christ by the resurrection of our souls here or els we shall not be conformed unto Christ by the resurrection of our bodies hereafter For though all shall corporally rise again yet not so as to be conformed unto Christ in glory and happinesse No thus shall none rise corporally but only such as now rise spiritually so as to be conformed unto Christ in grace and holinesse Only they that whiles they are upon earth have their conversation in heaven can expect that the Lord Jesus will change their vile bodies and make them like unto his own most glorious body Phil. 3. 20 21. Now if we would know whether we be partakers of this spirituall resurrection we may try and discern it by these marks 1. Heavenly mindednesse If ye be risen with Christ seek those things that are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God Set your affections on things above and not on things on the earth Col. 3. 1. 2. 2. Love of Gods children We know that we are passed from death to life because we love the brethren 1 Joh. 3. 14. This is meant of loving the godly eo nomine in that very respect as they are godly not for by ends or carnall respects which they may do who are not godly 3. A sense and feeling of spirituall wants and infirmities VVhere there is such a
would have been of none effect For how could we have believed that he by his death had redeemed us from death even eternall death and destruction if he himself had been so swallowed up of death as for ever to lie under the power and dominion of it Therefore the Apostle saith that Christ was delivered for our offences and rose again for our justification Rom. 4. 25. And if Christ be not risen your faith is in vain you are yet in your sins 1 Cor. 15. 17. And as Christs resurrection was thus necessary in respect of our redemption the forgivenesse of our sins Ephes 1. 7. Rom. 8. 23. so was it also in respect of the redemption of our body How could we have expected the resurrection of our bodies if Christs body had not been raised up If the Head had not risen again how should the members rise again The resurrection of the members depends upon the resurrection of the Head the resurrection of Christians upon Christs resurrection as the Apostle shews at large 1 Cor. 15. Vse 1. Now if Christ rose again then how wretched and miserable are the Jews who wil not believe Christs resurrection but as their fathers did so do they still impugne and oppose it S. Matthew relates that when the souldiers that were set to guard Christs sepulcher went and told the chief Priests what had happened they gave them large money that they might say that whiles they slept Christs Disciples came and stole them away And this saying saith he is commonly reported among the Iews untill this day Mat. 28. 11. 15. Now consider a little what an absurd and foolish fable this was which yet the Jews were so ready to believe 1. How improbable that a few weak timorous men who but a few daies before did forsake yea one of them forswear Christ yet now should be so valiant or rather fool-hardy as to adventure to steal Christ out of the grave knowing that a guard of souldiers was purposely set to prevent such a designe 2. Suppose they should have so far adventured as some of them to espie whether the souldiers were asleep or no yet how could they assure themselves that the souldiers should continue asleep untill they had dispatched that for which they came Yea how could this be there being a great stone for them to roll away from the mouth of the sepulcher which could not be done without making such a noise as to awaken some of the souldiers at least if they were asleep before 3. Grant the Disciples should have had such courage as to attempt the businesse and such happinesse as to effect it yet would they have been so foolish and unwise as to stay at the sepulcher to unloose the cloaths in which Christs body was wrapped Would they not rather have hasted away with the body as it was buried and have loosed the cloths then when they had more leisure to do it and might do it with more safety But the linnen cloths were found lying in the grave and the napkin that was about Christs head not lying with the linnen cloths but wrapped together in a place by it self Ioh. 20. 6. 7. And 4. if the Disples could break thorough all difficulties and get Christs body away with them yet could they put life into it when they had it But Christ after his passion by many infallible proofs shewed himself alive Act. 1. 3. otherwise it is senslesse to imagine that the Disciples having so deserted Christ when he was alive would have so constantly preached and avouched his resurrection as they did And lastly the very tale doth sufficiently confute it self and shew its own absurdity For if the souldiers as they said were asleep how then could they tell that Christ was taken away by his Disciples it might be otherwise as indeed it was for any thing thar they did know Vse 2. Secondly Christs resurrection serves to demonstrate Christs divinity The divinity of Christ and his resurrection so mutually help to demonstrate each other His resurrection is demonstrated by his divinity as the effect by the cause and his divinity by his refurrection as the cause by the effect That which God the Father speaks unto Christ Psal 2. 7. Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee the Apostle refers to Christs resurrection Act. 13. 32. 33. And we declare unto you glad tidings how that the promise which was made unto the Fathers God hath fulfilled the same unto us in that he hath raised up Iesus again as it is also written in the second Psalm Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee The Apostle by this day shews that the day of Christs resurrection is understood not that then Christ was first begotten of the Father and became the Son of God for he was so from all eternity Mic. 5. 2. but then when Christ rose again he appeared to be the Son of God his begotten Son God of God one and the same God with the Pather Thus the same Apostle saith plainly that Christ was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holinesse by the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1. 4. Christs divine nature before did lie hid under the infirmity of his humane nature but by his rising from the dead it did look forth and shew it self Ob. Some may say many others as we find recorded both in the old and in the new Testament did rise from the dead besides Christ yea many before Christ and how then doth his resurrection demonstrate his divine nature Answ I answer Christs resurrection did excell the refunction of others in a twofold respect For 1. Others did rise again but so as to die again the life to which they rose was this mortall life But Christ arose to life immortall Christ being risen from the dead dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him Rom. 6. 2. Christ arose by his own vertue and power which none ever did or shall do but he only Destroy this Temple said Christ meaning his body and in three daies I will raise it up Joh. 2. 19. I lay down my life said he that I may take it up again No man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it up again Joh. 10. 17. 18. Now except Christ were God it had not Resurrexisse per se ex mortuis in vitam nisi Dei natura non potuit Hilar. de Trin. l. 7. been possible for him to raise himself from the dead this is not competible to a meer humane nature Ob. But may some object it is said in the Text and in other places that God raised up Christ therefore it seems he did not raise himself but was raised by another Answ This doth not follow Christ both was raised of God and also did raise himself As man so God did raise him up as God so he rose of himself
Ioseph was of whence it seems as some called him the Carpenters son Mat. 13. 55. so others called him the Carpenter Mar. 6. 3. When he came abroad to execute the office for which he was sent presently he was set upon and assaulted by the divell and continually was he Mat. 4. haunted and baited as it were by the Scribes and Pharisecs and such as could not indure the splendor of his life and doctrine Besides he was poor and indigent having no home no habitation of his own though he were rich yet for our sakes he became poor 2 Cor. 8. 9. Even so poor that others did minister unto him of their substance Luk. 8. 3. And whereas the foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests he had not where to lay his head viz. otherwise then to be beholding unto others for it Luk. 9. 58. But all this was but the beginning of Christs sorrows his chief suffering was at last at and immediately before his death from the time of his agony in the garden to the time of his hanging and dying upon the Crosse That which he then suffered was such and so great that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is called his Passion or his suffering Let us therefore a little as we are able see and consider what he then suffered And he fuffered as the Scripture shews both outwardly inwardly He suffered outwardly 1. in his reputation for goods he had none to suffer in except his clothes which he was devested of Ioh. 19. 23. 24. But for his reputation he suffered much in it and that is no smal suffering For a good name is better then precious ointment Eccles 7. 1. A good name is rather to be chosen then great riches Prov. 22. 1. A good report maketh the bones fat Prov. 15. 30. Therefore on the otherside an evil report slaunder and defamation contempt and reproach maketh the bones lean it s a great griefe a great vexation False witnesses did rise up against me they laid to my charge things that I knew not Thus David complains of the hard measure that he found from some Psal 35. 11. v. 21. Yea they opened their mouth wide against me and said Aha Aha our eye hath seen it And Psal 120. 2. he cries out Deliver my soul from lying lips from a deceitfull tongue And Psal 123. 3 4. Have mercy upon us O Lord have mercy upon us cry the people of God unto him for we are exceedingly filled with contempt our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease and with the contempt of the proud Amongst other grievous sufferings which the Saints endured are reckoned mockings Heb. 11. 36. In this respect its said that Ismael persecuted Isaac Gal. 4. 29. in that he mocked him Gen. 21. 9. Now how was Christ traduced and slandered how visited and reproached how taunted and mocked We have found this fellow perverting the Nation said his malicious adversaries of him and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar saying that he himself is Christ a King Luk. 23. 2. Thus they accused him most falsly for he taught the people quite contrary both by word and deed as appears Mat. 22. 17. 17. 24 25 26 27. So they called him a deceiver yea that deceiver as if he had been the grand Impostor Mat. 27. 63. whereas he is the Amen the true and faithfull witnesse Revel 3. 14. Yea the truth it self Joh. 14. 6. They cloathed him with a scarlet robe put a crown of thorns upon his head and a reed in stead of a Scepter in his hand and bowed the knee before him and mocked him saying Hail King of the Iewes Mat. 27. 28 29. As he hung upon the Crosse they that passed by reviled him wagging their heads and saying Thou that destroyest the Temple and buildest it againe in three daies save thy self If thou be the Son of God come down from the Crosse likewise also the chiefe Priests mocking him with the Scribes and Elders said he saved others himself he cannot save If he be the King of Israel let him now come down from the Crosse and we will believe him He trusted in God let him deliver him now if he will have him for he said I am the Son of God The thieves also that were crucified with him cast the same in his teeth Mat. 27. 39 40 41 42 43 44. They not only crucified him which was a thing ignominious and shamefull enough but they crucified him betwixt two thieves so that he was numbered among the transgressors Isai 53. 12. Mar. 15. 28. Yea he was accounted the chief transgressor 2. He suffered outwardly in his body What part of his body was free from suffering his head was ●ricked with thorns his face spit upon and buffeted his back scourged all this he suffered before he was crucified And by these sufferings together with the tossing of him from place to place want of sleep and the like he was so wearied and so vveakned that he vvas not able to bear his Crosse it seems to the place vvhere he vvas crucified It s said Ioh. 19. 17. that he vvent bearing his Crosse Lipsius de Cruce and so the learned observe that they vvho vvere crucified used to do But it s said Mat. 27. 32. As they came out they found a man of Cyrene Simon by name him they compelled to bear his Crosse So Luk. 23. 26. It appears by comparing the Evangelists together that Christ at first as the manner vvas bore his Crosse himself but aftervvards in the vvay they perceiving him unable to bear it laid hold on that Simon whom they met and made him to bear it After this his hands and feet parts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 22. 16. most tender sensible of pain vvere pierced yea as the Hebrevv vvord signifies vvere digged vvith nails his vvhole body vvas stretched vvracked upon the Crosse for many hours together before Aquin. part 3. quaest 46 art 6. he gave up the Ghost All this bodily pain that Christ indured is justly conceived to have been so much the more vehement and grievous by hovv much his body vvas of a more excellent temper complexion as being miraculously formed and framed by the holy Ghost Luk. 1. 35. For things that are vvrought supernaturally by miracle excell those things that are effected by naturall causes as the vvine that Christ did miraculously make of vvater was better then other vvine Joh. 2. 10. Christ also suffered invvardly and his invvard suffering vvas his sorest suffering the suffering of his body vvas but as the body of his suffering the suffering of his soule was as the soule of his suffering The spirit of a man will bear his infirmity but a wounded spirit who can bear Prov. 18. 14. Now Christs spirit was wounded He was sore amazed and very heavy Mar. 14. 33. The words in the originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are very emphaticall and the
have fellowship with him such as he was That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us And moreover he shewes what an excellent felloship this is extending it selfe even to God and the Lord Jesus Christ And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ Fellowship Communion and fellowship are termes equivalent The Greek word which here is rendred fellowship and so Phil. 2. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is rendred communion 2 Cor. 13. 14. 1 Cor. 10. 16. The Doctrine arising from the Text which I Doct. shall insist on is this That the Saints have communion and fellowship with God and with Jesus Christ and with one another By Saints are meant holy men and women true and reall members of the Church As for Angells though they be holy as they are stiled the holy Angells Mat. 25. 31. And Jude v. 14. by Saints seem to be meant those same holy Angells yet as hath been shewed before the Angells are not properly of the Church and so not of the Saints now spoken of which consist onely of men and women And these Saints are partly in heaven where they are perfect and compleat Saints so holy as to be without spot or wrinkle Ephes 5. 27. there are the spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12. 23. Partly upon earth where there are true Saints though incompleat and imperfect such as have still sin and corruption remaining in them For there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Eccles 7. 20. If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us 1 Joh. 1. 8. Some are so simple as to think that there are no Saints but in heaven when as the Scripture speaks expresly of the Saints that are upon the earth Psal 16. 3. And usually where Saints are mentioned in the Scripture the Saints on earth are meant As Psal 34. 9. O fear the Lord all ye his Saints for there is no lack to them that fear him And Psal 79. 2. The flesh of thy Saints have they given to the beasts of the earth And Prov. 2. 8. He preserveth the way of his Saints And 2 Cor. 13. 13. All the Saints salute you And Phil. 4. 22. All the Saints salute you chiefly they that are of Caesars houshold So in many other places Now when we speak of the Communion of Saints both the Saints in heaven and the Saints on earth are to be understood both the one and the other have the communion here spoken of viz. with God and with Christ and with one another Now the ground of communion is union first therefore the Saints have union with God and with Christ and with one another and then they have communion with God and with Christ and with one another 1. With God The Saints in heaven have perfect union with God and so perfect communion with him They have a clear sight of God they see him not as here through a glasse darkly but face to face 1 Cor. 13. 12. And they have a full fruition of God In his presence they have fulnesse of joy and at his right hand they have pleasures for evermore Psal 16. 11. So they are uncessantly sounding forth Hallelujahs they are continually exercised in praising and magnifying God Blessed are they that dwell in thy house they will be still praising thee Psal 84. 4. This is especially true of those that dwell in Gods upper house in heaven The Saints on earth also have union and communion with God though not in that perfect manner as they in heaven The Saints in heaven have union with God by sight the Saints on earth have only union with God by faith For we walk by faith and not by sight 2 Cor. 5. 7. And so the Saints on earth have communion with God by exercising their faith and shewing forth the fruits of it by praising God and praying unto him and performing such acts of worship and service as he requires of them Moses speaking but of one act of communion which the Saints here have with God how doth he admire the excellency of it For what Nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for Deut. 4. 7. And in respect of that communion which they have with God in the observation of all his Ordinances and injunctions he add●s v. 8. And what Nation is there so great that hath Statutes so righteous as all this Law which I set before you this day David also speaking of communion with God in his Sanctuary and service which the Saints on earth have cries out How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts My soule longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God Psal 84. 1 2. So Psal 42. 1. 2. Most affectionately he expresseth his desire to injoy this communion with God As the Hart panteth after the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God My soule thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before God! 2. With Christ the Saints in heaven have perfect union and communion with him Father I will that they whom thou hast given me be where I am that they may behold my glory Joh. 17. 24. Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Phil. 1. 23. The Saints on earth also have though not in that perfection as they in heaven union and communion with Christ For he is the Vine and they are the branches Joh. 15. 1. c. He is the Head and they are the members Ephes 5. 23 25. By him they are reconciled unto God and at peace with him Being justified by faith we have peace with God thorough Jesus Christ our Lord. By whom also we have accesse by faith unto this grace wherein we stand c. Rom. 5. 1 2. And not only so but we also joy in God thorough our Lord Jesus Christ by whom also we have now received the attonement Rom. ● 11. Of his fulnesse they all receive and grace for grace Joh. 1. 16. By him they have boldnesse to call upon God and to make known their requests unto him see Ioh. 16. 23. By him all their services though weak and imperfect are accepted of God Ye also as lively stones are built up a spirituall house an holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall sacrifices acceptable unto God thorough Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. 3. With one another The Saints both they in heaven and they on earth are all united together in one mysticall body whereof Christ is Head For it pleased God to gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in him Ephes 1. 10. They are all knit together by one and the same