come Rev. 1.8 With whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning Jam. 1.17 Whatever Man is or is in Man he and it might never have been and considered in its own Nature and Essence it is still capable of Annihilation If it be Actually perpetuated and made Eternal à parte post it is indebted to the Being of Beings for this 1 Cor. 15.10 By the Grace of God I am what I am The Heterodoxy of some expressions of our Author put me upon making this a distinct Preliminary the Essence of God is incommunicable to Creatures p. 27. Though this measure to wit in every Man be not the fulness or the whole entire Essence yet it is of God in a measure of his own Spirit which is not distinct therefrom but it is one with it 1 John 5.7 and therein communicable to Men. The words of 1 Joh. 5.7 are There are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one that is God Father Son and Spirit are essentially one Therefore the Eternal Spirit the third Person of the Trinity and that which is in every Man are not distinct but essentially one There 's Divinity for you 5. Preliminary It is a received Principle both in Divinity and Philosophy omne quod recipitur recipitur ad modum recipientis when one thing is said to be in another every such inexistence is to be understood that it 's according to the receptivity of the Receiver When God Christ and the Spirit are said to be in Man it is in a suitableness to the Essential Constitution of Man as a Rational Being having Understanding Will and Affections Christ and his Spirit are in Believers to exert and put forth gracious Acts and Operations upon them as their respective exigencies do require to humble them when they want humbling to give a check to their corruptions and mortifie them when there is occasion to recover them out of the snare of the evil one when entangled therein to enlighten and enliven quicken and comfort them to corroborate and strengthen them in and under all their Weaknesses Infirmities Troubles Trials and Temptations I know there are some magni nominis and whom I do really Reverence who have said much for a personal Inhabitation of the Spirit in Believers but I humbly take leave to dissent from them in this Those Texts of Scripture that speak of the Spirits being or dwelling in Believers are not to be understood of an Hypostatical or Personal Union between the Spirit and them it is purely Mystical and Spiritual What Learned Norton Orth. Evang p. 289. 290. says of the Union between Christ and Believers both negatively and positively the same I may say of the Union between the Spirit and them Negatively it is not Essential such as is the Union of the three Persons in one Essence in God nor Personal such as is the Union of the Divine and Humane Nature in one and that an Increated Person in Christ Not natural whether Essential as is the Union of the Form with the matter or by local contract that is natural touching one of another as Water is united to the Vessel or by mixture as Water is united to Honey or by the coupling together of common and special nature as the Genus is united to the Species or by cohesion as when one part of the Body cohereth with another or by Adhesion as when pitch cleaveth to our hands or by Inhesion as when an Accident inhereth in the Subject it 's not Civil as is the Union of many Persons into one Body politick Positively it 's a Spiritual Union in respect of the verity thereof it 's real not imaginary in respect of the things united it 's substantial in respect of its way and manner it 's supernatural and secret in respect of the nearness of it it 's close and intimate Some of the reasons of my dissent from those that Assert a personal Inhabitation are these If there be a personal Inhabitation of the Spirit in Believers there is also a personal Inhabitation of the Father and of the Son in them 1 Joh. 4.15 16. Gal. 2.20 John 17.23 The latter is absurd therefore also the former If the Person of the Spirit be in the Person of every Individual Believer then every Individual Believer is two Persons The latter is absurd therefore the former If the Union between the Spirit and Believers be personal then there are more Hypostatical Unions than that of the Divine and Humane Nature in Christ The Scripture knows no more 1 Tim. 3.16 Joh. 1.14 therefore there are no more Where the Person of the Spirit is there is the Father Son and Spirit for the Essence of God is inseparable from either of the Persons The Essence of Father Son and Spirit is not in Believers therefore not the Person of the Spirit If the Personal property of the Spirit which is Procession from the Father and the Son be inseparable from the Person of the Spirit then the Person of the Spirit is not in Believers The former is true therefore the latter The reason of the connexion of the Major is this The personality of the Spirit was from Eternity is at this day what it always was and will be to all Eternity what it hath ever been The Spirit did does and will invariably proceed from the Father and the Son Where the Person of the Spirit is there must be the Person of the Father and of the Son Believers were not from Eternity and now they have an actual Existence the Person of the Father nor the Person of the Son not being in them from whom the Spirit does proceed the consequence to me is clear that the Person of the Spirit is not in them The Spirit is no otherwise in Believers now than before the Incarnation of Christ I have not heard of any that plead for a Personal Inhabitation of the Spirit in Old Testament-Believers and there is no reason appears to me why this Privilege should be peculiarly appropriated to us more than to the other 'T is true that which is called The Promise of the Father Act. 1.4 and the Promise of the Spirit Joh. 16.7 8. was not to have its Accomplishment till after the Ascension of Christ but that is to be understood of the pouring out of the Spirit in a larger measure and on a far greater number than before Joel 2.28 Act. 2.17 If the Person of the Spirit is in Believers now in the Days of the Messiah either he is so in all or only in some If in all hath he been so in all Ages from the Incarnation or Ascension of Christ till now or only in some Ages Does he enter into them when first the Work of Regeneration is begun in them or afterwards Where he once comes does he never after recede If in all and at all times how comes it that he hath manifested his personal Presence to so few all this while
but in God if we may so phrase it Quicquid est in Deo est Deus It is God himself freely communicating the choicest of his Blessings to those that are less than the least of Mercies Gen. 32.10 There is Gratia gratis data or Donum quodvis quod ex gratuito Dei amore liberalitate in nos confertur Any Gift that is bestowed on us of the Love Favour and Bounty of God Heb. 12.15 28. Let us have Grace whereby we may serve God acceptably Act. 11.23 and 13.43 Eph. 4.7 2 Cor. 8.7 and 9.8 The Question is of Grace in this latter Sence not of Grace in the former Sence That which is in all Men is the Saving Grace of God says J. E. and an increated Being That which is in all Men is not Grace say I nor an Increated Being yea that which is true Saving Grace in Believers is not an Increated Being Thus I have done with the Preliminaries It is needful in the next place that some Definition be given of Grace inherent in Believers for there is nothing else in others that deserves the Denomination of Grace or is so to be called That Grace which hath Man for its Subject of Inhesion may be thus described It is a Supernatural and Special Gift of God bestowed upon some in and through Christ as Mediator of the New Covenant I call it a Supernatural Gift because it proceeds not neither can it proceed from Nature as now in its lapsed State A special Gift because not given to all Faith is one of these Graces and 2 Thess 3.2 All Men have not Faith A Free Gift to shew that God in dispensing inherent Grace to Sinners is not acted by necessity of Nature but is a voluntary Agent he might have chused whether he would have bestowed it on one or another herein he acts according to the good Pleasure of his Will Eph. 1.5 and according to the Riches of his Grace Eph. 1.7 1 Cor. 4.7 Who maketh thee to differ from another or What hast thou that thou hast not received When I say bestowed upon some this implies that Grace in this and the other Man was a little while ago a n â—â—ens that which had no Existence Hence the Argument runs thus That which a liâ—â—â—e while ago was a non-entity cannot be an Increated Being such was Grace inherent in this and the other Man Therefore When I say bestowed in and through Christ it is to distinguish it from the Blessings of a General and Common Providence Psal 33.5 and 119.64 and 145.14 15 16. The Whole Earth is full of the Goodness of the Lord and his tender Mercies are over all his Works But this is a Speciality of Divine Favour given only to the Elect in and through Christ Eph. 1.3 4 5. and there are none actually possess'd thereof but they that are Members of that Mystical Body whereof Christ is Head Eph. 4.16 Another Description of Inherent Grace is this It is an eminent Work of the Spirit of God upon the Souls of Sinners or the preaching of the Gospel whereby nature is so far renewed in them in respect of Qualities that all old things are done away and all things are made new in order to their being in a Capacity to glorifie God here and their being glorified with him to all Eternity hereafter It is a Work of the Holy Ghost Joh. 3.3 5. Tit. 3.5 Hence I argue thus That which hath the Holy Ghost for its Efficient is no Increated but a Created Being Such is Grace in Believers Therefore I call it an Eminent Work of the Holy Ghost to distinguish from other more inferior Works of his All the Works of Creation and Providence are the Works of Father Son and Spirit according to that Saying Opera Trinitatis ad extra sunt indivisa What is done by one is done by all Three But when Grace is wrought in the Soul of a Sinner that is an eminent Work The Works of Creation have the Father for their Efficient 1 Cor. 8.6 Of him are all things The Son 1 Cor. 8.6 By him are all things Joh. 1.10 The Holy Ghost Gen. 1.2 Psal 33.6 By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made and all the Host of them by the Spirit of his Mouth The Works of Providence have the Father for their Efficient He that feeds the Ravens and cloaths the Lâ—â—â—es Matth. 6.26 Luke 12.24 Psal 145.13 14 15 16. The Son Heb. 1.3 He upholds all things by the Word of his Power Col. 1.17 By him all things consist The Holy Ghost the qualifying and accomplishing of Zerubbabel for building and finishing the Second Temple was a Work of Providence and the Holy Ghost had a Hand therein Zech. 4.6 7. Not by Might nor by Power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts Who art thou great Mountain before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a Plain and he shall bring forth the Head-stone thereof with Shoutings crying Grace Grace unto it Vpon the Souls of Sinners This denotes the Objects on which the Grace-working Acts and Operations of the Holy Ghost are terminated considered antecedently to his Working this Work in and upon them they are Sinneâ—s not Saints whatever their Gifts and Endowments may be natural or acquired they are void and destitute of Saving Grace 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Know ye not that the Vnrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Tim. 1.13 14. Who was before a Blasphemer and a Persecuor and Injurious but I obtained Mercy and the Grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus If they that have Grace in them to Day had it not Yesterday then the Grace which is in them to Day is no Increated but a Created Being But so it is with them that are Saints to Day and were Sinners Yesterday Therefore By the preaching of the Gospel Though Children are capable both of Grace Luke 1.15 and of Glory Matth. 19.14 and God hath ways to work Grace in them beyond what we can think of Joh. 3.8 his Gracious Acts and Operations are many times imperceptible and not to be discerned by us what I now assert is to be understood of them that are Adult ordinarily the Spirit works Grace in them by the preaching of the Gospel 1 Pet. 1.23 24 25. Being born again not of corruptible Seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever And this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you Rom. 10.14 15 16 17. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Act. 11.21 22. and 13 44. -- 48. and 10.33 42 43 44. 1 Thess 2.13 Psal 110.2 3 1 Cor. 4.15 In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel That which is a Spiritual Procreation by the instrumentality of
blindness of their Heart then that which is in them is meer Darkness and no Gospel Light they can know nothing of Evangelical Verities and whatever is of supernatural Revelation from any thing within themselves The former is true Luke 1.79 Ephes 4.18 Therefore also the latter If that which is in Heathens is the Devil and the Spirit of the Devil then that which is in them is not the Spirit of God for what Communion hath Light with Darkness What Concord hath Christ with Belial 2 Cor. 6.14 15. The former is true Ephes 2.2 Act. 26.18 Col. 1.13 Joh. 8.44 1 Joh. 3.8 I call this but one Argument for it is diversified only with respect to the several denominations which J. E. gives unto that which is in every Man without Restriction or Limitation I humbly leave it to those that are impartial whether this alone is not of sufficient force cogency and validity utterly to overthrow the very Foundation of John's Book and consequently whether the whole of the Superstructure is not also therewith overthrown and whether I deserved such hard words for calling not that which is in True Believers and a special Work of the sanctifying Spirit of God a great nothing but that which is nominally only and equivocally called the saving Grace of God in All Turks and Mahometans Heathens and Pagans Papists and Atheists Where Foundation and Superstructure are both naught these will not be able to bear the trial by fire 1 Cor. 3.11 12 13 14 15. But I pass from this to the disquisition of what I have seen cause chiefly to insist on which you may take in this categorical Proposition Thesis or Position The saving Grace of God in True Believers is no Increated Being That which is Grace in those that are Christians indeed is a Creature a mere Creature and an imperfect Creature For methods sake and a regular procedure herein 1. I shall set down some Preliminaries tending to a right stating of the Question or the Thing in controversie between us and to the clearing of some things ignorantly and confusedly delivered by the Author of the saving Grace of God 2. It 's needful there should be some Definition or Description given of Grace otherwise we are like Men beating the Air disputing of we do not know what 3. Having given one or two descriptive Defintions of Grace we shall by express Scripture Testimonies and Arguments from thence deduced prove the Thesis Grace in Believers is no Increated but a Created Being 4. What is said of this Theme and Subject is to be improved by us and in order thereunto I shall give you some practical Inferences from all the premisses 1. Preliminary There is no Person or positive Entitie in Heaven or Earth but what 's Created of the Lord Jehova Father Son and Spirit Sin being no positive Entitie but privative properly hath no efficient but rather a deficient Cause This is a Principle and the Foundation of all Religion therefore it 's the first Lecture read from Heaven to us by him that was the first authorized Amanuensis of the Holy Ghost in Penning some Part of the Sacred Oracles Gen. 1.1 See also Acts 17.24 God made the World and all things therein If Grace be one of those things that 's in Heaven or Earth then it is to be reckoned among the number of Created Beings but Grace is one of those things that 's in Heaven or Earth Therefore 2. Preliminary follows upon the former The word Increate signifieth that which is not created or made at all Hence the Argument runs thus If Grace be that which is not created or made at all it must be Self-existent Independent the first Being and Creator of the Universe But it 's not Self-existent Independent the first Being nor the Creator of the Universe therefore it 's no Increated Being It 's a true saying in School Divinity omne ens est vel Primum vel à primo ortum whence if Grace be Increate it must be the first Being from which every other Being derive theirs 3. Preliminary There is a passage in my Opponents Pamphlet pag. 26. which savours so much of unsoundness Heterodoxy and scandalous Ignorance in this our Goshen or Land of Light that I cannot let it pass without some Animadversion His Words are speaking of Grace in his fence It is of his divine saving nature but yet not the only entire God Eternal Jehova Doth not this imply that Grace is God though not Jehova and doth not this imply that Jehova is a divisible and compounded Being Jehova is the entire God and the English of our Authors Phrase is Grace is a piece or part of Jehova This occasions my third Preliminary as an Antithesis hereunto Deus est ens simplicissimum God is an uncompounded and indivisible Being and this is one thing that doth distinguish him from all created Beings Simplicity says Nort. Orthod Evang. is God one mere and perfect Act without all composition his name is I AM Exod. 3.14 that is mere essence wherein is nothing past nor to come from what is there more largely treated of I contract this Argument If God does admit of composition it is either a composition of Parts which are bounded by quantity or of Matter and Form or of General and Special Nature or of a Subject and Accident or of an Act and Possibility or of a Person and Nature or of Being and Individuation But God doth not admit of any of these Compositions therefore of none at all the enumeration is full and complete else the defect must be shewed 4. Preliminary The Divine Essence is incommunicable to Creatures When some of the Attributes and Perfections of God are said to be communicable unto Men all such Predications are Analogical and Equivocal Deus creaturae nihil habent commune praeter nomen Any resemblance that Man hath unto God is very low mean dark and shadowy notwithstanding of any likeness between God and Man The disproportion and distance between them is still as great as between Infinite and Finite Perfect and Imperfect Perfection and Imperfection that which is Eternal and that which is of Yesterday as between that which is the Supreme Being and that which is only subordinate as between that which is Independent and Dependent as between him that is Essentially All and that which is Originally nothing Whatever it is that Man is or whatever it is that is in Man compared with God it is imperfection it self and as nothing Isai 40.17 All Nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him less than nothing and vanity The Essence of God says Nort. Orthod Evang. p. is that one pure Act of God by which he is God Deus est necesse esse God could never have been any other than what he is God cannot hereafter cease to be any other than what he now is and ever was This is the Signification of Jehova He that was He that is He that is to
entitle them to the Fruition of the Messiah Christ corrects this Mistake of theirs and instructs them of the necessity of Regeneration A Soul-sanctifying Work of the Holy Ghost must pass upon you here if ever you hope for the Glory of Heaven hereafter The same Truth is reiterated ver 5. that Nicodemus and all others concerned might take the more special notice thereof till it be impressed upon their Hearts and till they know it in their own Experience Verily verily I say unto thee except a Man be born of Water and the Spirit i. e. ex Spiritu exerente vim Aquae he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God There is nothing short of the Divine Power and Efficacy of the Spirit of the Lord can cleanse Souls polluted with Sin Ezek. 36.25 They that are Spiritually dead and in an unregenerate Estate can no more change their Natures than they that are in the Grave can give themselves a Resurrection from the dead Eph. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6. There are such Acts of Omnipotence exerted and put forth in the Work of Regeneration as was put forth in raising Christ from the dead Eph. 1.15 16 17 18 19 20. Tit. 3.3 4 5. XI Even after the Spirit of God hath been effectually at work upon the Soul and hath infused Supernatural Habits of Saving Grace there is that which may still keep him humble and low in his own Eyes Many particulars might be mentioned under this Head but I shall content my self with mentioning only a few 1. Notwithstanding the Spirit of God hath been effectually at work upon the Soul there is not presently an utter extirpation of Sin Grace is not without some mixture of Nature there is Flesh as well as Spirit Gal. 5.17 1 Joh. 1.8 10. Eccles 7.20 Prov. 20.9 Jam. 3.2 2. Though where true Grace is it will make resistance against in-dwelling Sin yet sometimes the latter may have the better of the former Grace may be over-poured by Corruption and that does often create no small disturbance to a gracious Person Rom. 7.21 22 23 24. I see another Law in my Members warring against the Law of my Mind and bringing me into captivity to the Law of Sin O wretched Man that I am 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cerumnosus i.e. perpetuis in ista lucta angoribus divexatus The Combats and Conflicts which I have with the Corruptions of mine own Heart do create me a continual Vexation and Anguish of Soul Persistet in Metaphora Athletae qui post gravem luctam tandem nolens volens captivus ducitur He persists in the Metaphor of a Wrestler who after a great Contest is at last carried away captive by force and sore against his Will 3. Even they that have true Grace may in an hour of Temptation and when left to themselves fall into some hainous and scandalous Sin whereby the Spirit of God is grieved peace of Conscience interrupted Communion with God lost Religion wounded and all sorts good and bad scandalized Noah Lot David and Peter are sad Instances for the Exemplification of this Assertion Gen. 6.9 with Gen. 9.21 2 Pet. 2.7 8. with Gen. 19.30 31 32 33. 2 Sam. 11. and 12. Chap. Matt. 26.69 to the end of the Chapter 1 Cor. 10.12 Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall Rom. 11.20 Because of unbelief they were broken off and thou standest by Faith be not high-minded but fear 4. When a Man hath fallen into a scandalous Sin it is not all the Grace he hath that will recover him to Repentance or restore to him the Holy Joys and Spiritual Comforts which he once had There must be some fresh Manifestations of Sin-pardoning Grace together with some fresh Influences of the Spirit accompanying the same It will be like to cost him many a Tear and Prayer before he re-enjoy that sweet Communion which once he had there must be a renewed exercise of Repentance Read Psal 51. throughout Have mercy upon me O Lord according unto the multitude of thy tender Mercies blot out my Transgressions Wash me throughly from my Iniquity and cleanse me from my Sin For I acknowledge my Transgression and my Sin is ever before me Make me to hear joy and gladness that the Bones which thou hast broken may rejoice Restore unto me the joy of thy Salvation and uphold me with thy free Spirit 5. Though some may have a great deal of Grace yet they may be exercised with divine Desertion to that degree that the most comfortable Considerations that can be suggested to them from the Scriptures by the most Holy and Learned Ministers and most experienced Christians can administer no Consolation to their Spirits till the Lord himself come and do it Psal 77.2 3 My Soul refused to be comforted ver 7 8 9. Psal 88 throughout ver 3 4 5 6 7 13 14 15 16. Job 6.4 The Arrows of the Almighty are within me the Poison whereof drinketh up my Spirit The Terrors of God do set themselves in array against me Job 34.29 Psal 90.11 Isa 50.10 and 61.1 2 3. Luke 4.17 18. Isa 50.4 and 42.1 2 3. Matt. 12.18 19 20. Isa 40.11 Ezek 34.15 16. John 21.15 6. Though Grace is a great Excellence it does not exempt persons that have it from Afflictions during their Pilgrimage here the great Sovereign afflicts the Good as well as the Bad Job 9.22 He destroys the Perfect and the Wicked Jer. 18.6 Dan. 4.35 Job 9.12 Eccles 9.1 2. Nay many times they that are God's peculiar ones his special Favourites are afflicted more than others Amos 3 2. Hos 4.17 Dan. 12.10 Hos 14.9 Rev. 22.11 They have that in them which may procure the Rod now and then and it is needful they should have it 1 Pet. 1.6 7. It is to humble them under a Sense of some Sin or other not throughly repented of Job 36.7 8. Jer. 31.18 Luke 15.14 15 16 17 18 19. It is to purge out some peccant Humours that have been predominant in their Souls Isai 27.9 and 4.4 It is to make them walk more close with God for time to come Psal 119.67 71. and to make them partakers of his Holiness in some further measure and degree Heb. 12.10 11. It is to make them pray oftner and better than they were wont to do Hos 5.15 Isai 26.16 and 38.1 2. Psal 107.5 6 and 116.1 2 3 It is to endear the Word of the Lord to them to make them study the Covenant of Grace and the Promises thereof to make sure their Interest therein and that they may live the Life of Faith more than ever Psal 1 9 49 50 72 92. Job 13.15 Hab. 1.17 18 19. 1 Pet. 1.6 7. Afflictions of the Godly are Evidences of Divine Love Prov. 3.11 12. Heb. 12.6 7 8. Rev. 3.19 It is to wean them more from this World to fit them for Death and prepare them for Eternity 2 Cor. 4 17 18. Rom. 8.18 Jam. 1.2 3 4. Rom. 5.3 4 5. Rom. 8.35 36