after a man hath been enlightned with it and felt a taste thereof manifested in outward action by some blasphemous oppugning the truth of set hatred because it is the truth What are you to consider in this sin The nature thereof and the deadlinesse of the same What note you in the nature The reason why it is so called and the quality thereof Why is it called the sin against the holy Ghost Not because it is committed against the third Person only for it is committed against all three but because it is committed against the light of knowledge with which the holy Ghost hath enlightned the heart of him that committed it and that of set malice for every one that sinneth against his knowledge may be said to sin against the holy Ghost as Ananias and Sapphira were said to doe Act. 5. 3. But that is not this great sin of malice resisting the truth because it is the truth but of infirmity What qualities and properties hath this great sin First it must be in him that hath known the truth and after falleth away Heb. 6. 5. therefore Infidels and Heathens doe not sin this sinne neither any that are ignorant though maliciously they blaspheme the truth Secondly it must be done of set malice because it is the truth as the Pharises did Mat. 12. 31. Heb. 6. 6. Therefore Peter that cursed himself and denyed that he knew Christ to save his life did not sinne this sin nor Paul that did persecute him doing it of ignorance Thirdly it must be against God himself directly his Son Christ Jesus Mat. 12. 31. Heb. 6. 6. Therefore it is not any particular breach of the second Table nor a slip against any speciall sin of the first Can these qualities at any time befall the elect or children of God No and therefore they that feel in themselves the testimony of their election need not fear their falling into this sin nor despair VVhat is the deadlinesse of this sin above other sins First God hath pronounced it shall never be pardoned not because God is not able to pardon it but because he hath said he will not forgive it Secondly this sin is commanded not to be prayed for when persons are known to be guilty of it 1 Joh. 5. 16. whereas we are bound to pray for all other persons Thirdly this is the ordinary and first sin of the Devill and therefore is he never received into mercy no more then those that are guilty of it Thus much of the sinne against the holy Ghost Shew now the differences of actuall sins in regard of the degrees attained Some are only sins but others are wickednesses and some beastlinesses or devilishnesses for though originall sin be equall in all Adams children yet actuall sins be not equall but one much greater then another Are not sins well divided into Veniall and Mortall None are Veniall of their own nature but only to the faithful they are so made by the mercy of God in Christ. Doe all naturall men alike commit all these kinds of sin No for though all are alike disposed unto all manner of evill Rom. 7. 14. having in their corrupt nature the seeds of every sin yet doth God for the good of humane society restrain many from notorious crimes by fear of shame and punishment desire of honour and reward c. Rom. 13. 3 4 5. How doth God employ men in this state of sin First he guideth them partly by the light of nature Rom. 2. 14 15. Joh. 1. 9. and partly by common graces of the Spirit Esa. 44. 28. unto many actions profitable for humane society and for the outward service of God Secondly he over-ruleth their evill and sinful actions so that thereby they bring to passe nothing but what his hand and counsell had before determined for his own glory Act. 3. 16. 4. 27 28. What are the things that generally follow sin They are two Guilt and punishment both which doe most duly wait upon sin to enter with it and cannot by any force or cunning of man or Angel be holden from entring upon the person that sin hath already entred upon both likewise doe increase as the sinne increaseth What is the guilt of sin It is the merit and desert of sin which is as it were an obligation to the punishment and wrath of God whereby we become subject to Gods debt or danger that is to condemnation Rom. 2. 15. 3. 9. 10. 19. For every man by reason of his sin is continually subject to the curse of God Gal. 3. 10. and is in as great danger of everlasting damnation as the Traitour apprehended is in danger of hanging drawing and quartering Is there any evill in the guilt before the punishment be executed Very much for it worketh unquietnesse in the mind as when a man is bound in an obligation upon a great forfeiture that very obligation it self disquieteth him especially if he be not able to pay it as we are not And yet more because where other debts have a day set for payment we know not whether the Lord will demand by punishment his debt this day before to morrow What learn you from this That sith men doe shun by all means to be in other mens debt or danger as also the Apostle exhorteth Rom. 13. 8. Owe nothing to any man and Solomon also counselleth in the matter of suretiship Prov. 6. 1 2 3 4 5. we should more warily take heed that we plunge not ourselves over head and ears in the Lords debt for if it be a terrible thing to be bound to any man in stature Staple or Merchant or recognizance much more to God who will be paid to the uttermost farthing How else may the hurt and evill of the guilt of sinne be set forth unto us It is compared to a stroake that lighteth upon the heart and soul of a man where the wound is more dangerous then when it is in the body Gen. 44. 16. 1 Sam. 24. 4 5 6. and so it is also a sting or a bite worse then of a viper as that which bringeth death Have you yet wherewith to set forth the evill of the guilt It seemeth when the Lord said to Cain if he sin against his brother his sin lyeth at the door Gen. 4. 7. that he compareth the guilt to a dog that is always snarling and barking against us which is confirmed by the Apostle who attributeth a mouth to his desert of sin to accuse us Rom. 2. 15. What is the effect of this guilt of Conscience It causeth a man to flie when none pursueth and to be afraid of the fall of a leaf Prov. 28. 1. Levit. 26. 36. VVhen a man doth not know whether he doth sin or no how can he be smitten or bitten or barked at or flie for feare therefore against all this evill ignorance seemeth to be a safe remedy No verily for whether we know it or no his guilt remaineth as
wisdome of God faile or be deceived at any time or no The knowledge of God is most certain and cannot any way be deceived for all things are known of God as they are and all things are as they are known of God and therefore his knowledge cannot any way be deceived Heb. 4. 13. Obj. But things doe often change and alter and therefore they are not always as they are known Although things be changed and altered yet God doth know thereof and although they change and alter yet his knowledge doth never alter nor change neither is it uncertain Whether may the knowledge which God hath be encreased diminished or altered No it cannot it is always the same firm and constant and can by no means be encreased diminished nor altered for he neither forgetteth any thing nor is ignorant of any thing neither is any thing new unto him for the Scripture saith all things are always manifest in his sight S. James saith 1. 17. with God is no change nor shadow of change therefore his knowledge is always one and the same Solomon saith Many devices are in a mans heart but the Lords counsell shall stand Prov. 19. 21. But if his knowledge be always one and the same why doth the Scripture say that the Lord will forget our sins and blot them out of his remembrance and remember them no more These and such like phrases of speech are not to be understood of the simple knowledge of God as though he should know them no more but of his judiciall knowledge unto punishment for although hee doth know and remember our sinnes always most perfectly yet he will not know them nor remember them to bring them into Judgement and so to punish us for them when we doe truly repent that is they shall be no more judged or punished or laid to our charge if we be in Christ then if he had quite and clean forgotten them and never did remember them and these speeches serve to arm us against the despair and doubting of our salvation being truly in Christ. Where is the wisedome of God specially of us to be considered The wisdome of God shineth unto us most cleerly in his works of Creation and preservation in the vvorld and not onely in his vvorks but also in his Gospel vvhereby he calleth and gathereth his Church out of the vvorld to be saved by his Son our Mediator Jesus Christ Eccl. 3. 11. Psal. 104. 24. 1 Cor. 1. 21. Was this saving wisdome of God known to the Philosophers and naturall wise men in the world No it vvas not but only to the elect children of God Is the wisdome of God to be perfectly conceived of us Matth. 11. 25. No neither is it communicated to any creature neither can be for it is unconceiveable as the very essence of God himself is unconceivable and unspeakable as it is and his vvisdome as vve have heard before is his very essence that is his very Godhead or God himself and that it is unconceivable the Scriptures doe testifie Psal. 147. 5. â—om 11. 33. What use may we make of this doctrine First by this doctrine of Gods unspeakable knowledge and vvisdome the true God is discerned from all false gods and from all things made for that is no God vvhich hath not this divine knowledge and wisdome which the Scripture â—oe attribute to God Secondly seeing our God is such a God as knovveth all things that are done said or thought and seeth into the most hidden corners and thoughts of our hearts we must study and learn thereby to drive all hypocrisie and dissembling from us and to open our hearts to God of our own accord and to beseech him in his own Sons name to cleanse us from our secret faults Thirdly it must make us to vvalk always before the Lord according to his vvill revealed in his Word vvith great fear and reverence as men always in his sight and knowledge Fourthly it serveth to confirm our faith and trust in the providence of God for although vve know not vvhat to doe nor hovv to doe nor what shift to make in dangers and necessities yet God doth and he hath knowledge enough for us though vve be ignorant and his vvisdome shall succour our foolishnesse if vve doe truly and faithfully serve him Psa. 103. 13 14. Fiftly this should be our consolation against the fear of hell and despair and should uphold in us the certainty of our salvation because this knowledge and vvisdome of God joyned vvith his vvill to save us is firm and constant and he knowing all his elect vvill not lose one of them that are in Christ his Son Joh. 17. 12. 2 Tim. 2. 19. Joh. 10. 27 28 29. What is the omnipotency or almighty power of God It is an essentiall property in God vvhereby he is able to effect all things being of power sufficient to doe vvhatsoever he vvilleth or can will Gen. 35. 11. Deut. 10. 17. Nehem. 1. 5. Job 8. 3. 9. 4. 11. 7. 42. 1 2. Psal. 115. 3. Deut. 4. 35. Mat. 19. 26. Luk. 1. 37. Are there any things which God cannot will or doe Yea three kind of things Such things as are contrary to his nature as to destroy himself and not to beget his Son from eternity Those things whose actions argue impotency and are a signe of weaknesse as to lie Tit. 1. 2. to deny himself 2 Tim. 2. 13. to allow wickednesse Hab. 1. 13. to be forgerfull to doe the works of a increated nature c. for the disability of such things confirmeth not weakneth Gods Omnipotency Such things as imply contradiction for God cannot make a truth false or that which is when it is not to be or a man to be a man and a stone at one and the same time or Christs body to be a true body and yet to be in all places or divers places at once and to be without circumscription and occupying of a place which is the essentiall property of a body for one of these being true the other must be false and God who is the truth it selfe cannot work that which is false and untrue So that Gods omnipotency must always teach us that he is glorious and true and perfect and not the contrary In what respects then is God said to be almighty Because he is able to perform vvhatsoever he vvill or is not contrary to his nature Psal. 135. 6. Esa. 40. 28. He can doe all things vvithout any labour and most easily Psa. 33. 9. 148. 5. 143. 5. He can doe them either with means or without means or contrary to means as pleaseth him There is no povver vvhich can resist him All power is so in God onely that no creature is able to doe any thing but as he doth continually receive power from God to doe it Acts 17. 28. Esa. 40. 29. so that there is no power but is from God What mean you when you say all power is in God
23. And first that it doe not admit any evill concupiscence Secondly that if it be admitted it be not retained And this care must be taken both when wee be awake that we keep our mindes intent unto lawfull and good things Matth. 12. 44. And when we goe to sleep that by hearty prayer we commend them to Gods keeping But what if the heart have admitted evill concupiscences We must strive and fight against them and never be at rest untill we have cast them out and extinguished them What further is required to the conserving of the heart in purity In the third place we must observe our sences that they doe not bring into our mindes such objects as being apprehended will stirre up in us evill concupiscence Gen. 3. 6. 6. 2. Josh. 7. 21. 2 Sam. 11. 2. Matth. 5. 28. Job 31. Psal. 119. 37. What are the speciall meanes to suppresse or take away the concupiscence of the eyes First we must mortifie selfe-love and not seek our owne but every man anothers wealth 1 Cor. 10. 24. Secondly we must pull out the eyes of envy Thirdly we must labour after contentation Phil. 4. 11. And to this end consider First how many want those good things which thou enjoyest who are farre more worthy of them Secondly thine owne unworthinesse of the least of Gods benefits Thirdly meditate on Gods providence and fatherly care who provideth all things necessary for thy good and salvation What doe you learne from this Commandement thus expounded That it is most impossible for any man to keep it For who can say that his heart is cleane from the first motions of sinne and concupiscence that goe before consent Prov. 20. 9. To what purpose serveth the knowledge of this impossibility To humble us in the sight and sense of our sinnes which have made us subject to the wrath of God and the curse of the Law that so despairing in our owne merits we may be driven out of our selves and with more ardent desire flye unto the mercies of God in the satisfaction and obedience of Iesus Christ. What other use are we to make of it That being by Christ freed from the curse of the Law we study and endeavour to conforme our selves our soules and lives according to the prescript rule of this holy and most perfect law Matth. 5. 48. and that mortifying the flesh with all the carnall concupiscences and lusts of it we be dayly more and more renewed unto the Image of God in all holinesse and righteousnesse and walke worthy of our high calling as it becommeth Saints Eph. 4. 1. Hitherto we have treated of the rule and square of our Sanctification viz. The ten Commandements Now wherein is the effect or exercise of Sanctification seene IN unfeigned repentance and new obedience springing from thence For the fruits of Sanctification are First inward vertues whereby all the powers of the minde are rightly ordered Secondly the exercise of the same by putting those heavenly and sanctified abilities to holy use and service If then the exercise of Sanctification be first seen in repentance what is repentance An inward and true sorrow for sinne especially that we have offended so gracious a God and so loving a father together with a setled purpose of heart and a carefull endeavour to leave all our sinnes and to live a Christian life according to all Gods Commandements Psalme 119. 57. 212. Or a turning of our selves to God whereby wee crucifie and kill the corruptions of our nature and reforme our selves in the inward man according to Gods will What is it to crucifie the corruption of our nature It is freely and with all our heart to be sorry that we have angred God with it and with our other sinnes and every day more and more to hate it and them and to flye from them How is this wrought in us It is wrought in us partly by the threatning of the Law and the feare of Gods judgements but especially increased by feeling the fruit of Christ his death whereby we have power to hate sin and to leave it For when the sinner is once humbled with the terrours of the Law he flyeth to the comforts of the Gospell and he there seeth in Christ Crucified not onely the mercy of God discharging him of all his sinnes but also how deep the wounds of sin are wherewith he hath pierced his Saviour Zach. 12. 10. and how severe the wrath of God is against sin even to the slaughtering of his owne Son and hence 1 Peter 4. 1. commeth he to hate his sins Psalme 97. 10. as God hateth them and to look backe thereon with godly sorrow 2 Cor. 7. 10. resolving for ever after to forsake them all How is the reformation of our selves newnesse of life wrought in us Onely by the promise of the Gospel whereby we feele the fruit of the rising again of Christ. What doth ensue hereof Hereby we are raised up into a new life having the Law written in our hearts and so reforme our selves Wherein then doth repentance properly consist In a thorough changing of our purpose and desires from the evill which Gods Word rebuketh in us to the good which it requireth of us Rom. 12. 1 2. Esa. 1. 16 17. What is required in respect of the evil we turne from First knowledge of the evill then a condemning of the same together with a judging of our selves for it and then with godly sorrow for that which is past a hatred of it for ever and all this because it is sin and displeaseth our God What is required in regard of the good we turne unto First a knowledge and approbation of good to be done with a purpose of heart to doe it then an earnest love of the same shewed by care desire and endevour Can men repent of themselves or when they list No for it is the gift of God given unto them that are born againe Is it sufficient once to have repented No we must continue it alwayes in disposition and renew it also in act as occasion is given by our transgressions and Gods displeasure for there is none of Gods Saints but alwayes carrying this corruption about them they sometimes fall and are farre from that perfection and goodnesse which the Lord requireth and therefore stand in need of repentance so long as they live When then is this repentance to be practised of us The practice of repentance ought to be continually an abhorring of evill and cleaving unto that which is good Rom. 12. 9. for as much time as remaineth in the flesh after our conversion 1 Pet. 4. 2 3. yet at times there ought to be a more speciall practice and renewing thereof as after grievous falls Psal. 51. in feare of eminent judgements Amos 4. 12. Gen. 33. 2 3 c. or when we would fit our selves to receive speciall mercies Gen. 35. 2 3 c. In what manner must the especiall practice of repentance in such
the Lords Prayer in particular with the Preamble thereof 38. Of the three first Petitions which concern Gods glory 39. Of the three latter which concern our necessities 40. Of the conclusion of the Lords Prayer wherewith is to be handled the point of praise and thanksgiving 41. Of fasting 42. Of mutuall edifying one another and liberality towards the poor 43. Of Ministers and ministery of the Gospel and therein of preaching and hearing the Word 44. Of the Appendants of the Word Sacraments which are the seals of the promises and Ecclesiasticall censures which are the seals of the threatnings of the Gospel 45. Of the ministery of the old Testament before the comming of Christ with the Word Types and Sacraments thereof 46. Of the ministery of the new Testament and comparing the Word and Sacraments thereof with the old 47. Of Baptisme 48. Of the Lords Supper 49 Of the divers estates of the Church in prosperity and under persecution in integrity and corruption and the rending thereof by schismes and heresies 50. Of death and the particular Judgement following 51. Of the generall Judgement and therein of the Judge Christ Jesus his comming in glory and the parties to be judged both quick and dead with the resurrection of the one and the change of the other 52. Of the last sentence and the execution thereof of the torments of the damned and joyes of the blessed A LARGE EXPLICATION OF THE BODY OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION 1 TIM 4. 15. Meditate upon these things give thy self wholly to them that thy profiting may appeare to all WHat is that which all men especially desire Eternall Life and Happinesse How doe men look to obtain Happinesse By Religion which is a thing so proper to man that it doth distinguish him more from beasts then very Reason that is made his form for very beasts have some sparkles or resemblance of Reason but none of Religion Is Religion generally to bee found in all men Yes for the very heathens condemned them to death that denyed all Religion and there is no people so barbarous but they will have some forme of Religion to acknowledge a God as all India East and West sheweth May a man bee saved by any Religion No but onely by the true as appeareth Joh. 17. 3. This is life eternall to know thee and whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ and He that knoweth not the Son knoweth not the Father Which bee the chiefe false Religions that are now in the world Heathenisme Turkisme Judaisme Papisme What doe you observe out of this diversity of Religions in the world The misery of man when God leaveth him without his Word an example whereof may bee seen in the Idolaters 1 King 18. 27. and Rom. 1. 22 23. and some making a stick or a straw othersome a red cloth for their God as the Lappians Seeing then there are so many Religions in the world and every one looketh to obtain happinesse by his own Religion of what Religion are you I am a Christian. What is Christian Religion It is the acknowledging of the onely true God and of Jesus Christ whom hee hath sent How prove you that By that saying of our Saviour Christ Joh. 17. 3. This is life everlasting which is the reward of Christian Religion that they may know thee to bee the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent where hee meaneth not a bare contemplative knowledge but a thankfull acknowledging which comprehendeth all Christian duties consisting in faith and obedience for hee that being void of the feare of God which is the beginning and chiefe point of knowledge Prov. 1. 7. abideth not in God but sinneth dwelleth in darknesse who hath neither seen God nor known him 1 Joh. 3. 6. What doe you call the Doctrine which sheweth the way unto everlasting life and happinesse It is commonly termed Theologie or Divinity and the familiar Declaration of the principles thereof for the use especially of the ignorant is called Catechising Heb. 5. 12 13 14. 1 Tim. 6. 1 2. What is Catechising A teaching by voyce and repetition of the grounds of Christian Religion Gal. 6. 6. Act. 18. 23. 26. 1 Cor. 14. 19. Where should it bee used and by whom Both at home by the Master of the House and in the Church likewise by the Minister Why at home Because houses are the Nurseries of the Church Shew some reasons and arguments to prove the necessity of Catechising and instructing in Religion First God accounteth of Abraham for his care in this duty Gen. 18. 19. Secondly Hee commandeth all parents to perform this duty to their children Deut. 6. 6 7. Ephes. 6. 4. Thirdly all children are made blinde in the knowledge of God and of Religion by Adams fall and consequently they must bee inlightened and informed by teaching if they will not dye which Solomon therefore commandeth Prov. 22. 6. and our Saviour Christ biddeth children bee respected Mark 10. 14 15 16. Fourthly the examples of the godly for this duty in bringing their children with themselves to holy exercises So Hannah brought up Samuel to the Tabernacle 1 Sam. 1. 24. and Mary Jesus to the Temple when hee was twelve yeeres old Luk. 2. 42. by which wee perform the effect of consecrating our children to God Exod. 13. 2. Fifthly common equity should move Parents to this duty for as their children receive from them originall sin by which they are made so blinde in Gods matters it is equity they should labour to remove that blindnesse by teaching them after Gods Word Sixthly God promiseth as the greatest blessing to men that their children should speak of him under the Gospel Joel 2. 28. Act. 2. 17. But is it not some disgrace and basenesse that men of yeers and place should bee Catechised If men will bee Christians which is their greatest honour they must hold it no disgrace to learn Christ Noble Theophilus held it none who was thus catechised as Luke sheweth Chap. 1. 4. likewise Apollos Act. 18. 28. To come then to the declaration of Christian Religion tell mee wherein doth the happinesse of man consist Not in himself nor in any other created thing but only in God his Creator who alone being infinite is able to fill the heart of man How may wee come to injoy God By being joyned unto him and so partaking of his goodnesse for happinesse is to bee found by acquaintance and fellowship vvith him vvho is the foundation of blessednesse man so knowing him or rather being known of him that hee may serve him and bee accepted of him honour him and bee honoured by him By what means come wee to the knowledge of God By such means as hee hath revealed in himself for God dwelleth in the light that no man can come unto vvhom no man hath seen nor can see 1 Tim. 6. 16.
beleefe is a most certain knowledge grounded upon the report of another Whether doth this kind of knowing things agree with the nature of God or no No for God knoweth all things in himselfe and of himselfe but not by the report of another What say you to skill and learning that is both a certain and evident knowledge of things doth not that agree with the nature of God Such knowledge doth not agree with his nature Why so Because it cometh by knowledge that went before and it is gotten by reasoning and debating of things by defining and dividing and by searching out the causes of things but in God is neither before nor after first nor last and God hath no knowledge after such a sort Again our knowledge which way soever it be considered whether it be a habit in us or an action in us is imperfect for we know not all things and those things which we doe know we know not all at once but one thing after another and yet still but in part Declare then in a word how God doth know all things God doth most perfectly know and understand all things at one instant without any conceipt of mind altering this way or that way All our knowledge is a thing distinguished from our mind and understanding is it so in God No for the knowledge or wisdom of God is a most simple and perfect essence yea it is his very essence and substance and God is all knowledge all wisdom and all understanding infinitely more then all men and Angels can conceive Doth God know and understand every thing particularly Yea he knoweth the natures and properties of every particular thing How prove you that By the Scripture and by reason for the Scripture saith that God saw every thing that he made that it was good this is not spoken generally of all but especially of every one creature Again reason makes it manifest by three examples in the Scriptures Gen. 1. First Adam gave to every living thing a proper name Gen. 2. 20. according to its proper nature whereby it appeareth that Adam had a distinct and particular knowledge of every thing how much more then had God this especiall knowledge of every particular thing who gave to Adam whatsoever wisdom and knowledge he had Secondly Solomons wisdom and knowledge was so great that he was able to dispute and did thereby dispute of the nature of all trees plants fishes fowl worms beasts and all naturall things as one that was most skilfull in them how much more then doth God know all things and their natures particularly who gave such wisdom to Solomon Thirdly our Saviour Christ saith of the Father that all our haires be numbred by him and that a Sparrow falleth not to the ground without the will of our heavenly Father if not without his will then not without his knowledge Whether doth God know all the motions of our wills and our thoughts Yea God doth certainly know the motions of the will and the thoughts of the heart in all men and the issue of them all which is manifest by these places of Scripture following Gen. 6. 5. Psa. 94. 11. Pro. 21. 1. Jer. 17. 9 10. Hereof it is that we cite him to be the witnesse of our hearts when we swear by him Whether hath God the knowledge of all evils or no God knoweth all evils and sins which lie lurking in all mens hearts and this is manifest by these places of Scripture following Gen. 6. 5. Psal. 69. 6. Job 11. 11. Psal. 90. 8 9. What if he did not know all these evils It is impossible but he must know them for two causes First if he did not his knowledge would be imperfect Secondly if he did not know them he could not be a just Judge neither could he reward every one according to his works and thoughts which to affirm were ungodly and blasphemous Obj. That which is nothing cannot be known but sinne and evill is nothing for it is nothing else but a taking away or failing of good and it is a meer corruption and therefore sin and evill cannot be known of God We know vvhat is evill and vve know evill things and vve doe discern them from good things but we know evill onely by his contrary that is good as vve know nothing by something darknesse by light death by life sicknesse by health vice by vertue thus by the knowledge of good evill is known unto us and therefore seeing as God vvho is the chiefe good he doth by himself know all good things he must of necessity also know and understand all the evill that is in all good things Whether may God know those things which are not God knoweth the things vvhich are not and he doth also truly know the things which shall never come to passe What reason can you yeeld for this The reason is because he knoweth all things by his essence therefore he knoweth all things which are subject to his divine essence and power and therefore also are possible but shall never come to passe But doth he know them eternally or in time He knoweth them all eternally that is for ever and ever he knew doth know them as the Scripture doth testifie Eph. 1. 4. 2 Tim. 2. 19. Can you make this manifest by any earthly comparison Yea a builder by vertue of his art doth conceive in his mind the form of a house which house he will never build how much more can God doe the same for God can make more worlds and he knoweth that he can and yet he doth it not Again although there were never an Eagle in the City yet we can conceive in our minds what an Eagle is much more doth God know all things vvhich are not in act and vvhich never shall be Obj. This is something which you say but your last similitude of the Eagle doth not hold for therefore we keep the knowledge of an Eagle in our minds though all be gone because the similitude of the Eagle which was sometimes in the City doth stil remain in our minds and understandings But what similitude can there be in the mind of God of those things which are not which never were and which never shall be Yes the very essence and similitude of God is a similitude of all those things that may be if he will which he must needs know for he doth most perfectly know himself And thus if we consider his power or almighty essence all things should be done which he can doe and doth know Then whether is his knowledge power the cause of all things which are which have been and which shall be The onely fore-knowledge of God alone which the Grecians call Theoreticascientia that is a knowledge beholding all things is not the cause of things but his fore-knowledge with his will which the Grecians call Practicascientia that is a working knowledge that is the cause of things Whether may the knowledge or
to his elect It hath three adjuncts or properties First it is free without desert Secondly it is great without comparison Thirdly it is constant without any end How is the love of God said to be free It is free two wayes first because nothing caused God to love us but his own goodnesse and grace and therefore Saint John saith that his love was before ours 1 John 4. 7. Secondly it is free because God in loving us did not regard any thing that belonged to his own commodity for as David saith he hath no need of our goods but onely to our owne salvation he loved us Psal. 162. Wherein doth the greatnesse of Gods love appear to his Elect It appeareth two wayes First by the meanes which God useth to save us by that is the death of his Son and so John setteth forth his love 1 John 3. 16. when he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is as if he should say so vehemently so ardently so earnestly so wonderfully did he love us that for our salvation he spared not his own only begotten Son but gave him to the death of the Crosse for our salvation What else doth set forth the greatnesse of Gods love towards us The consideration of our own selves for he did not only give his only Son to death for us but it was for us being his enemies and this circumstance is used by the Apostle to expresse the same Rom. 5. 7 8. Where find you it written that Gods love is constant and perpetuall That is manifestly shewed in these Scriptures following Hos. 11. 9. John 13. 1. Rom. 11. 29. for God is unchangeable in his love which is his essence and nature and therefore is God called love in the Scriptures 1 John 4. 8. What use must we make of Gods love First it filleth our hearts with gladness when we understand that our God is so loving and love it self and what is this but the beginning of eternall life if eternall life consist in the true knowledge of God as our Saviour Christ saith John 17. 3 Secondly out of the knowledge of this love as out of a fountain springeth the love of God and our neighbour for S. John saith he that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love 1 Joh. 4. 8. Thirdly when we consider that God loveth all his creatures which he made it should teach us not to abuse any of the creatures to serve our lusts and beastly affections for God will punish them which abuse his beloved as he punished the rich glutton which abused the creatures of God Luk. 16. Fourthly we are taught to love all the creatures even the basest of all seeing that God loveth them and for the love he beareth to us he made them and we must if we love them for Gods sake use them sparingly moderately and equally or justly to this end we are commanded to let our cattell rest upon the Sabbath day as well as our selves to this end we are forbidden to kill the damme upon her nest and to this end we are forbidden to musle the mouth of the Oxe which treadeth out the Corn Deut. 25. 4. 1 Cor. 9. 9. Fiftly we are taught from hence to love mankind better then all other creatures because God doth so and therefore we must not spare any thing that we have that may make for the safety of his body and the salvation of his soul. And for this cause we are commanded to love our enemies and to do them good because our good God doth so Sixtly from Gods love we learn to preferre the godly brethren and those that professe sincerely the same religion that we professe before other men because Gods love is greater to his elect then to the reprobate and this doth the Apostle teach us Gal. 6. 10. Seventhly whereas Gods love is freely bestowed upon us this teacheth us to be humble and to attribute no part of our salvation to our selves but only to the free love of God Eightly from hence ariseth the certainty of our salvation for if Gods love was so free great when we were his enemies much more will it be so and constant also to us being reconciled to God by Jesus Christ Rom. 5. 10. What is the mercy of God It is his mind and will always most ready to succour him that is in misery or an essentiall property in God whereby he is meerly ready of himself to help his creatures in their miseries Esa. 30. 18. Lam. 3. 22. Exod. 33. 19. Why adde you this word meerly To put a difference between the mercy of God and the mercy that is in men for their mercy is not without some passion compassion or fellow-feeling of the miseries of others but the mercy of God is most perfect and effectuall ready to help at all needs of himself But seeing mercy is grief and sorrow of mind conceived at anothers miseries how can it be properly attributed to God in whom are no passions nor griefs Indeed in us mercy may be such a thing but not in God mercy was first in God and from him was derived to us and so he is called the Father of mercies 2 Cor. 1. 3. and when it came to us it was matched with many infirmities and passions but it is improperly attributed to God from our selves as though it were first in us Declare then briefly what things of perfection are signified by this word mercy in God By the name of mercy two things are signified in God properly First the mind and will ready to help and succour Secondly the help it self and succour or pity that is then shewed Where in the Scripture is mercy taken the first way Those places of Scripture are so to be understood wherein God doth call himself mercifull and saith that he is of much mercy that is he is of such a nature as is most ready to free us from our evils Where is it taken in the other sense for the effects of mercy In Rom. 9. 15. where it is said God will have mercy on whom hee will have mercy that is he will call whom he will call hee will justifie whom hee will hee will pardon whom he will and will deliver and save from all their miseries and evils whom he will and these be the effects of Gods mercies Again in Exod. 20. 6. it is so taken From whence springeth this mercy of God The essence and beeing of God is most simple without any mixture or composition and therefore in him there are not divers qualities and vertues as there be in us whereof one dependeth upon another or one differs from another but for our capacity and understanding the Scripture speaketh of God as though it were so that so we may the better perceive what manner of God and how good our God is Well then seeing the Scriptures doe speak so for our understanding let us hear whereof this mercy commeth The cause is not in us but only in God himself and
of him before he was how much more now he is What note you thereof That man hath not to boast of his antiquity all the creatures being made before him even to the vilest worm What is to be observed in his creation That here for the excellency of the work God is brought in as it were deliberating with himselfe the Father with the Sonne and the Holy Ghost and they with him the whole Trinity entring into a solemn counsell to make man after their Image Gen. 1. 26. which is not said of any other creature for whereas the other creatures were made suddenly man was as we shall see not so but with some space of time hitherto also belongeth that the Holy Ghost standeth longer upon his creation then upon the rest What learn you from hence That we should mark so much the more the wisdome and power of God in the creation of him thereby to imitate God in using most diligence about those things which are most excellent What parts doth he consist of Of two parts of a body and a soule Gen. 2. 7. Job 10. 11 12. Whereof was his body made Of the very dust of the earth Gen. 2. 7. in which respect the work of God in making him is set forth by a similitude of the potter which of his clay maketh his pots Rom. 9. 21. and the name of Adam is from hence in the Hebrew given unto man to put him in mind not to bee proud nor to desire to be like God which God foresaw he would doe through Satans temptations What learn you from hence That seeing it pleased God to make mans body more principally of the basest Element that thereby he would give man to understand of what base matter his body was framed that so hee might have occasion of being lowly and humble in his owne sight according as the Scripture it self directeth us to this instruction Gen. 18. 27. Jer. 2. 2. 29. What else learn you The absolute authority that God hath over man as the Potter hath over his pots and much more Rom. 9. 21. How was the soul made His soul was made a spirituall substance which God breathed into that frame of the earth to give it a life whereby man became a living soul Gen. 2. 7. Mal. 2. 15. Why is it called the breath of God Because God made it immediately not of any earthly matter as he did the body nor of any of the elements as he did the other creatures but of a spirituall matter whereby is signified the difference of the soul of man which was made a spirituall and divine or everlasting substance from the soul or life of beasts which commeth of the same matter whereof their bodies are made and therefore dieth with them whereas the soul of man commeth by Gods creation from without in which respect God is said to be the Father of our spirits Heb. 12. 9. and doth not rise as the soul of beasts doe of the temper of the elements but is created of God free from composition that it might be immortall and free from the corruption decay and death that all other creatures are subject unto and therefore as it had life in it self when it was joyned to the body so it retaineth life when it is separated from the body and liveth for ever What other proofs have you of the immortality of the soul besides the divine nature thereof Eccl. 12. 7. It is said that at death the dust shall return to the earth as it was and the spirit unto God who gave it Our Saviour Christ Luk. 23. 46. and his servant Stephen Acts 7. 59. at their death commend their souls unto God Luk. 23. 43. The theeves soul after separation from the body is received into Paradise Mat. 10. 28. The soul cannnot be killed by them that kill the body Psal. 49. 14 15. Mat. 22. 32. Rev. 6. 9. 7. 9. The guiltinesse of the Conscience and feare of punishment for sin proveth the same Otherwise all the comfort of Gods children were utterly dashed for if in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 15. Why is it said that God breathed in his face or nostrils Gen. 2. 7. more then in any other part To put man in mind of his frailty whose breath is in his nostrils Esay 2. 22. Because the soul sheweth her faculties most plainly in the countenance both for outward senses and inward affections But is the head the seat of the soul It is thought that in regard of the essence of it all of it is over all and every part of the body as fire is in hot iron but howsoever the severall faculties thereof appear in the severall parts of the body yet the heart is to be accompted the speciall seat of the soul not only in regard of life being the first part of man that liveth and the last that dieth but for affections also and knowledge as appeareth by 1 Kings 3. 9. 12. Mat. 15. 18 19. Rom. 2. 15. 10. 10. 1 Pet. 3. 4. Is there many or one soul in man There is but one having those faculties in it of vegetation and sense that are called souls in plants and beasts What reason have you for this saying Otherwise there should be divers essentiall forms in man God breathed but one breathing though it be called the breathing of lives Gen. 2. 7. for the divers lives and faculties In all Scripture there is mention but of one soul in man Mat. 26. 38. Acts. 7. 59. When may the soul be truly said to come or be in the body of a child When in all essentiall parts it is a perfect body as Adams was when God gave him his soul. What be the faculties of the soul The Understanding under which is the Memory though it be rather one of the inward senses then one of the principall faculties of the soul and the Conscience The Will under which are the Affections So there be five speciall faculties What is meant by the image of God after which man was made Gen. 1. 26 27. Not any bodily shape as though God had a body like man but the divine state wherein his soul was created How many ways is the image of God taken in Scripture Either for Christ as Col. 1. 15. Heb. 1. 3. Joh. 12. 45. 14. 9. or for the glory of mans lively personage as Gen. 9. 6. or for his authority over the woman as 1 Cor. 11. 7. or for the perfection of his nature indued with reason and will rightly disposed in holinesse and righteousnesse wisdome and truth and accordingly framing all motions and actions both inward and outward Col. 3. 9 10. Eph. 4. 24. How is it here then to be taken It may be taken either strictly and properly or more largely and generally What is the strictest and most proper acception of it When it is taken for that integrity of nature which was
himself he can doe nothing but sin Jer. 13. 23. neither is there any thing pure unto him Tit. 1. 15. What is Originall sin It is a sin wherewith all that naturally descend from Adam are defiled even from their first conception infecting all the powers of their souls and bodies and thereby making them drudges and slaves of sin for it is the immediate effect of Adams first sin and the principall cause of all other sins How is this sin noted out unto us In that other sinnes have their speciall names whereas this is properly called sinne because it is the puddle and sinke of other sinnes and for that also the more it is pressed the more it bursteth forth as mighty streams are that cannot be stopped till God by his holy Spirit restrain it Wherein doth it specially consist Not only in the deprivation of justice and absence of good but also in a continuall presence of an evill principle and wicked property whereby we are naturally inclined to unrighteousnesse and made prone unto all evill Jam. 1. 14. Rom. 7. 21. 23. For it is the defacing of Gods Image consisting chiefly in wisdome and holiness whereof we are now deprived and the impression of the contrary image of Satan John 8. 41 c. called Concupiscence Rom. 7. 7. Jam. 1. 14. consisting first in an utter disability and enmity unto that which is good Rom. 7. 18. 8. 7. Secondly in pronenesse to all manner of evill Rom. 7. 14. which also every man hath at the first minute and moment of his conception contrary to the opinion of the Pelagians who teach that sinne commeth by imitation Is the Image of God wholly defaced in man No if we take it in a large acception For man remaineth still a reasonable creature and capable of grace having the same parts and faculties he had before and in them some reliques of Gods Image Gen. 9. 6. Jam. 3. 9. As in the understanding some light John 1. 9. in the conscience sometimes right judgement Rom. 2. 15. in the will some liberty to good and evill in naturall and civill actions Rom. 2. 14. and freedome in all things from compulsion c. Is there not a power left in man whereby he may recover his former happinesse Man hath still power to perform all outward actions but not to change himselfe untill he be changed by the grace of God Is man then able to perform the Law of God perfectly They that are not born again of God cannot keep it all nor in any one point as pleasing to God thereby in respect of themselves For except a man bee borne of God hee cannot see the Kingdome of heaven nor enter therein neither can he keep the Commandements of God Moreover all men by nature being conceived and born in sinne are not onely insufficient to every good thing but also disposed to all vice and wickednesse Can man in this estate doe no good thing to please God to deserve at least something of his favour We have lost by this sinne all the righteousnesse we had in our creation so as now if God should say to us Think but a good thought of thy selfe and thou shalt be saved we cannot but our nature is as a stinking puddle which within it selfe is loathsome and being moved is worse But doth not God wrong to man to require of him that he is not able to performe No for God made man so that he might have performed it but he by his sins spoiled himselfe and his posterity of those good gifts Is this corruption of nature in all the children of Adam Yea in all and every one that are meer men none excepted Rom. 3. 10. 5. 15. All children since Adams fall being begotten in it Ps. 51. 5. How then doth the Apostle say that holy parents beget holy children Parents beget children as they are by nature not as they are by grace How is originall sin propagated and derived from the Father to the Sonne Wee are not to bee so curious in seeking the manner how as to marke the matter to bee in us even as when a house is on fire men should not be so busie to enquire how it came as seeing it there to quench it But this we may safely say that what effect the committing of the first sinne wrought in the soule of Adam the same it doth by the imputation of it work in the soules of his posterity as therefore the committall of that sin left a staine behind it in his nature being like a drop of poyson that being once taken in presently infecteth the soundest parts or like the dead flye that marreth the most precious ointment of the Apothecary so in the creation and infusion of our soules into our bodies God justly imputed the same transgression unto us the same corruption of nature as the just punishment of that sin must ensue in the like manner Hath this inbred sin wherein every one is conceived equally polluted all men Yes though not altogether alike for disposition and motion to evill for experience teacheth us that some are by nature more milde courteous and gentle then others which difference notwithstanding is not so much in the natures of men as in the Lord who represseth these sins in some which he suffereth to rise up in others In what part of our nature doth this our corruption abide In the whole man from the top to the toe and every part both of body and soule Gen. 6. 5. 1 Thess. 5. 23. Like unto a leprosie that runneth from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foot but chiefly it is the corruption of the five faculties of the soule which are thereby deprived of that holinesse wherein God created them in Adam Is not the substance of the soule corrupted by this sinne No but the faculties onely depraved and deprived of originall holinesse For first the soule should otherwise be mortall and corruptible Secondly our Saviour took our nature upon him without this corruption To come then to the speciall corruptions of the five faculties of the soul. Then first how this sin is discerned in the Vnderstanding The mind of man is become subject to blindnesse in heavenly matters First Darknesse and ignorance of God of his will and of his creatures 1 Cor. 2. 14. Eph. 4. 17 18 19. Rom. 8. 5. Secondly uncapablenesse unablenesse and unwillingnesse to learn though a man be taught Rom. 8. 7. Luk. 24. 45. Thirdly unbeleefe and doubting of the truth of God taught and conceived by us Fourthly vanity falshood and error to the embracing whereof mans nature hath great pronenesse Esa. 44. 20. Jer. 4. 22. Prov. 14. 12. 16. 25. What use make you of this corruption of the understanding That the originall and seeds of all heresies and errors are in mans heart naturally without a teacher and therefore we should distrust our own knowledge to lead us in the matters of God and Religion and
his mouth and works of his hands are all stained with sin Be not outward sins more grievous then inward Some be and some be not for if they be against the same Commandement and the same branch thereof they are much more wicked and evill because first God is more dishonoured outwardly Secondly other men are offended if godly or inticed by their example if wicked Thirdly a man doth more ingrosse himselfe in sin outward then in a bare thought that he restraineth from outward action But how may some thoughts be more evill then actions If they be of more wicked matters as the denying of God in heart is worse then an idle word What use are we to make thereof It serveth first to condemn the common sort that say and hold that thoughts are free which are oft so sinfull Secondly to assure us that many though they lead an outward civill life in actions yet if their hearts be not cleansed by faith may be more odious in Gods sight that knoweth their thoughts then a godly person that may be left to some outward weaknesses in his life What be the degrees by which men doe proceed in the committing of actuall sin Out of James 1. 14 15. these foure degrees may be observed First temptation to sin James 1. 14. 2 Sam. 11. 12. which then only is sin to us when it either ariseth from our own corruption or from outward occasions to which we have offered our selves carelesly For if every temptation to sin offered unto us should be sin simply then our Saviour that was tempted should have sinned Therefore the outward or inward temptations that Satan may offer be not sins to us till they get some hold in us which is when we are the occasion of them our selves by inward corruption or outward carelesnesse in venturing upon temptations Secondly concupiscence bringing sinne to conception James 1. 15. which is done by these degrees First entertaining the sinne whereunto we are tempted and suffering it to have abode in the mind or thought Secondly withdrawing the heart from God whom we ought to feare with all our hearts and his Commandements Jam. 1. 14. Thirdly consulting whether that sinne which we ought to hate may be done or no. 3. Consent of the mind to commit sinne whereupon ensueth the birth of sin Jam. 1. 15. by which it is brought forth into act against God or man 4. Often repetition of sin by custom and continuance wherein the heart finally is hardened Heb. 3. 13. and sinne is come to a perfection or ripenesse Jam. 1. 15. which is the strength that sin getteth over man whom it ruleth as a Master doth a slave in which estate who so continueth must look for eternall death Jam. 1. 15. for sin then reigneth which it never doth in the godly Are these actuall transgressions all of one sort No for they are diversly considered in respect of the Commandement broken the object offended the disposition followed and the degrees attained How for the Commandement The breach of a Commandement that biddeth is a sin of omission but of one that forbiddeth is a sin of conversion the one is an omission of duty required the other a Commission of evill forbidden by the one we offend in omitting those things which we should doe by the other in committing those things which we should not doe Which be the inward sins of omission The not thinking so often or religiously of heavenly things respecting the first table or of good duties to man as we should but suffering our minds to be a through-fare for vaine or wicked thoughts to passe through more then good which sinne if it were thought of well would make men more humble before God and to make more conscience of their houres dayes and nights to mark how their mind is occupied What be inward sins of Commission All actuall sins of the mind and thoughts whether we be awake dealing with God or man or asleep dreaming Examples of the first against God are to think there is no God Psal. 10. 45. or to have vile and base conceipts of him or his government Psal. 10. 41. 1 Cor. 2. 14. And towards man every inward breach of the second table But doth man commit sin in the night when he dreameth Yes surely the soule is never idle but when it thinketh not of good it thinketh of evill and the godly may mark that after they have had any dreams of things unlawfull their heart is in a measure wounded till they obtaine peace and pardon from God What use are we to make thereof To pray earnestly that God would sanctifie our corrupt hearts that it may be a fountaine of holy and not sinfull thoughts and in the night 1. To commit our selves specially to God that because we having our Senses and Judgement bound and silent are lesse able to resist and judge our sinfull thoughts God would preserve us from them by his grace And 2. That we avoid all occasions thereof in the day What be the outward sins of Commission Such as to the committing of them beside the thought of our mind any part of our body doth concurre as our tongue to words and other parts to deeds How are sinnes distinguished in regard of the object offended Some sins are more directly against God some against men either publique or private and others against a mans self How in regard of the disposition followed Either as we partake with others sins Esa. 6. 5. or as we commit the sin in our own person What be the differences of partaking with others sins First when we conceal and winke at other mens sins which we ought to reveal and rebuke as Magistrates and Ministers oft doe 1 Sam. 3 13. Secondly when we further it by our consent presence or counsell Act. 7. 58. 8. 1. 22. 20. 23. 14 15. Rom. 1. 32. Thirdly when we provoke others to sin Mark 6. 25. VVhat difference of disposition is there in those sins which a man doth commit in his own person Some sins are committed of Ignorance 1 Tim. 1. 13. Ps. 19. 12. or of an erring conscience 1 Cor. 8. 7. which a man doth either not know or not mark others are done of knowledge Doth not Ignorance excuse Affected Ignorance doth rather increase then diminish a fault VVhat be the differences of sins of knowledge 1. Some are of infirmity and temptation for feare of evill or hope of good Rom. 7. 19. Mat. 26. 69 70. 2. Some of presumption obstinacy and stubbornesse in sinning against which David earnestly prayed Ps. 19. 13. 50. 21. Eccles. 8. 11. and this may proceed if men have not the grace of God to obstinate and wilfull malice against God and his truth and to the unpardonable sinne against the holy Ghost Heb. 6. 4 5 6. 10. 29. Mark 3 29 30. What is the sin against the holy Ghost the highest of all sins It is a wilfull and malicious falling from and resisting of the Gospell
God be stronger to move us to good then the feare of men to move us to evill VVhat disorder in joy and sorrow is here condemned 1. Immoderate carnall mirth 2. Abundance of worldly sorrowes shame and discontentments VVhat is required in the third and last branch of this Commandement True Religion because we are commanded to have the true God and none other for our God What is contrary to this The having of a false God and a false Religion How many things are required of us that we may come to true Religion Three 1. We must labour earnestly to find out the truth 2. We must examine by the Word whether it be the truth which we have found 3. When by tryall we have found the truth we must rest in it What is here forbidden 1. All errors and heresies especially concerning God and his properties and the three Persons in the Trinity where we must take heed we imagine no likenesse of God for as much as wee set up an Idoll in our hearts if we liken him to any thing whatsoever subject to the sense or imagination of man for the better avoydance whereof we must settle our mindes upon Christ in whom onely God is comprehensible 2. To believe any Doctrine concerning God without any tryall 3. Not to believe that which he hath revealed concerning himselfe in his Word We have spoken hitherto of the severall branches of the first Commandement What are the helpes of the obedience thereof The onely meanes to settle and uphold us in this spirituall worship of God is to endeavour to attaine and increase in the knowledge of him in Iesus Christ 2 Pet. 3. 18. to consider what great things he hath done for us Psalme 116. 12. 1 Jo. 3. 1. Yea in all our wayes to take knowledge of his presence promises and providence Prov. 3. 6. What are the meanes whereby we may attaine to the knowledge of God Principally twelve 1. Prayer 2. A simple heart desirous of knowledge 3. Hearing of the Word 4. Reading of the Word and holy Writings 5. Meditation in the Word 6. Conference 7. Diligence in learning 8. Remembrance of that we learne 9. Practice of that we learne 10. Delight in learning 11. Attentive marking of that which is taught 12. Meditation on the Creatures of God What are the hindrances of the obedience of this Commandement The neglect of the knowledge of God Hos. 4. 1. 8. 12. and not considering his words and workes Esa. 5. 12. 26. 10. 11. are the ground of all impiety and spirituall Idolatry here forbidden Esa. 1. 3. 4. What things are forbidden as meanes of this ignorance Five First Curiosity when a man would know more then God would have him know Secondly Vanity of minde when the minde is drawne away and occupied upon vaine and unprofitable things Thirdly Pride our owne knowledge when we think we know enough already Fourthly Forgetfulnesse of God and his Will Fiftly Wearinesse in learning and talking of God and his Will Hitherto of the first Commandement concerning the entertaining of of God in our hearts What is injoyned in the other three The meanes of his service for as in the first Commandement we are required to have so in the other wee are required to serve the Lord our God What be the branches of this service Either they are such as are to be performed at all times as occasion shall require or such as concerne a certain day wholly set apart for his worship The duties of the former kind are prescribed in the second and third of the latter in the fourth and last Commandement of the first Table How are the duties of the former kind distinguished They doe either concerne the solemne worship of Religion prescribed in the second Commandement or the respect we should carry to God in the common course of our lives laid downe in the third What doe you consider in the second Commandement Two things 1. The Injunction 2. The Reasons brought to strengthen the same What are the words of the Injunction Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image nor any likenesse of things that are in Heauen aboue nor in the Earth beneath nor in the Waters under the Earth thou shalt not bow downe to them nor worship them Exod. 20. 4 5. VVhat is the scope and meaning of this Commandement To binde all men to that solemne forme of religious Worship which God himselfe in his Word prescribeth that we serve him not according to our fancies but according to his owne will Deut. 12. 32. VVhat is generally forbidden herein Every forme of Worship though of the true God Deut. 12. 31. contrary to or diverse from the prescript of Gods Word Mat. 15. 9. called by the Apostle Will-worship Col. 2. 23. together with all corruption in the true Worship of God 2 King 16. 10. and all lust and inclination of heart unto superstitious Pomps and Rites in the service of God VVhat are the parts of that Will-worship Either the worship of any besides God or of God himselfe any other waies then he hath commanded for both vices are here forbidden either to worship the true God falsly or to worship those things that are not God at all VVho doe chiefly off end in this kinde The Papists which give religious worship unto Creatures and serve God not according to his will prescribed in the Word but according to the Popes will and the Traditions of men VVhy doth the Lord forbid all these Corruptions under one instance of Images Because therein he foresaw there would be greatest abuse What doth he expresly forbid concerning them 1. That we make no Image to worship it 2. That we worship it not when it is made What is meant by making of Images All new devices and inventions of men in the service of God whereby we are forbidden to make any new Word new Sacraments new Censures new Ministries new Prayers new Fastings or new Vowes to serve him withall also all representations of any grace of God otherwise then God hath appointed or may be allowed by his Word as Christ condemned the Pharisees washing What by worshipping of them All use in Gods Service of any new devised Inventions or practising of them and all abuse of things commanded What is generally required in this Commandement That we worship and serve God in that holy manner which he in his Word requireth How is that to be done First we must use all those holy exercises of Religion publike and private which he commandeth Secondly we must perform all the parts of Gods Worship prescribed with Reverence and Diligence using them so carefully as may bee to Gods glory and our good Eccles. 4. 17. and 5. 1. What observe you by comparing the second Commandement with the first That the inward and outward worship of God ought to goe together For as in the first Commandement the Lord requireth that we should
shall shew by these fruits First when we are glad of it and rejoice in it Rom. 1. 8. Coloss. 1. 3 4. and are grieved when as it is blacked and blemished VVhat other fruits are there of it They respect either our hearing judgment or reports Our hearing first when as we shut our eares to whisperers and slanderers for their detractions and slanders cannot hurt our neighbours good name if we will not heare and beleeve them Pro. 25. 23. And this is a note of a Citizen of heaven Psal. 15. 3. Secondly when as we willingly and cheerfully heare the praises of our neighbours which is a signe of an honest heart that is free from self-love and envie VVhat is required in the judgement A candid and ingenuous disposition to preserve our neighbours fame and in all things doubtfull to judge the best of his words and deeds VVhat are the fruits hereof Not to nourish hard conceits of him but when they arise to suppresse them if the grounds of them be not very probable Secondly not to beleeve rashly any evill of our neighbour Thirdly to take and conster all things well done and spoken by him in the best sense Fourthly to interpret and take things doubtfull in the better part VVhat are the fruits respecting reports Silence and secrecy For it is a Christian duty to keep secret our neighbours faults which proceed from infirmity and humane frailty unlesse it be to amend him by admonition or seasonable reproofe Lev. 19. 17. Matth. 18. 15 16. Gen. 37. 2. 1 Cor. 1. 11. or to give warning to the hearer that he may prevent some evill that is intended against him Jer. 40. 14. Act. 23. 16. or to preserve him that he be not infected with the contagion of his sinne with whom he converseth or finally when himselfe is necessitated to discover anothers faults and crimes lest by silence he become accessary unto them as in case of Felony Murther or Treason Eccles. 19. 8. What are the vices opposite to these vertues To the care of preserving our neighbours name is opposed First carelesnesse as if it did not concerne us which argueth defect of love Secondly a study and desire to detract from his fame and to lessen his credit and estimation which is a fruit of hatred and envie Matth. 21. 15. What are the vices opposite to those vertues which respect the meanes They are referred either to hearing the judgement or report What are those which respect hearing First to have itching eares after such rumors as tend to our Neighbors infamy and disgrace forbidden Exod. 23. 1. Prov. 17. 4. which was Sauls sin 1 Sam. 24. 10. Secondly to have our eares open to heare calumnies and reproaches and shut to our Neighbours praises which is a fruit of envy and self-love What are the vices which respect the judgement They are vices opposite to candid ingenuity as first suspiciousnesse when we suspect evill of our Neighbour without just cause and upon every slight occasion 1 Tim. 6. 4. which is a false testimony of the heart Secondly to beleeve rashly rumors reported from others tending to the disgrace of our Neighbours which have no sure ground which was Putiphars fault Gen. 39. 19. and Davids 2 Sam. 16. 3 4. Thirdly hard and uncharitable censures either in respect of their sayings and doings sinisterly interpreting things well spoken or done or taking things doubtfull in the worst sense or in respect of their persons censuring and condemning them rashly when as we have no just cause 1 Sam. 1. 13. Acts 2. 13. Luke 7. 39. and 13. 1. Acts 28. 4. What vice respecteth report First when as men raise false reports against their Neighbours Secondly when as they discover uncharitably their secret faults especially arising from infirmity and humane frailty Prov. 10. 18. What is opposite to the externall profession of truth concerning our neighbour which ought to be charitable First a malicious testimony though true which ariseth from malice and envy and tendeth to a sinister and evill end 1 Sam. 22. 9. Psal. 52. 3 4. Secondly a false testimony which is either simply false as that 1 King 21. 13. Acts 6. 13. or true in the letter of the words but false in the sense as that against thirst Mat. 26. 60 61. John 2. 19. Into what sorts are testimonies spoken of in this Commandement to be distinguished They are either publick or private and the publick either in the Courts of Iustice or out of them Of which doth this Commandement principally speake Of publick and Legall Testimonies which are to be regarded above others because it is the judgement of God rather then man Deut. 1. 17. 2 Chron. 19. 6. and therefore he that perverteth this judgement maketh God himselfe as much as in him is guilty of his sin of injustice What are the kinds of Legall Testimonies They are either of the Iudge or of the Notary or the parties suing contending and pleading or of the Witnesse What is the Testimony of the Judge It is his sentence which he giveth in the cause tryed before him What is herein required of him First that before he give sentence he throughly examine and finde out the truth and equity of the cause Deut. 13. 14. 17. 4. 19. 18. according to Gods owne example Gen. 3. 9 10. 18. 21. Secondly that in passing sentence he judge according to truth justice and equity for Iudges must be men of truth Exod. 18. 21. Secondly just and righteous Deut. 1. 16. 16. 20. Lev. 19. 15. And thirdly not just in a rigid and extreame way according to the letter of the Law but so as when there is just occasion he must moderate the rigour of the Law with equity which is the true sense and life of the Law But is not the Judge to give sentence according to things legally alleadged and proved Yes ordinarily But if he undoubtedly upon his owne certaine knowledge know that things are otherwise then they seeme to be by Testimonies pleadings and reasons alleadged he must judge according to knowne truth and defend the cause being just which is oppressed by false evidences and reasons or otherwise he shall sin against his owne knowledge and conscience Prov. 31. 8 9. What are the vices opposite hereunto They are two 1. Rash. 2. Perverse judgement What is rash Judgement It is done divers wayes First when as the Iudge pronounceth sentence before the cause be sufficiently examined and knowne Prov. 18. 13. Secondly when as they condemne any man before they have heard his cause Acts 25. 15 16. Thirdly when as they pronounce sentence having heard one part only So David 2 Sam. 16. 4. Let such remember that of Salomon Prov. 18. 17. Fourthly when as they in matters concerning life and death give sentence upon the single testimony of one witnesse Deut. 17. 6. Whas is perverse Iudgement When as truth is oppressed and justice and right is perverted whereby the wicked is acquitted and the
another 10. To preserve the publike Ministery of the Word and Prayer in Christian assemblies Who are to be partakers in this Sacrament All baptized who are of yeeres and sound judgement to discerne the Lords body ought to repaire to this Sacrament But those onely come worthily who professing the true faith have duely examined and prepared themselves Esa. 66. 23. 1 Cor. 11. 27 28. whereby all not of age and sound judgement are shut from his Sacrament which are not alwayes from the other of Baptisme May none be admitted by the Church to the Supper of the Lord but such as have these things in them which God requireth at their hands Yes those who having knowledge doe make profession of Religion and are found guilty of no great error or crime unrepented of What if any thrust themselves to the Lords Table who are ignorant or guilty of such crimes They are to be kept back by the discipline of the Church What is to be performed by every Christian that he may worthily partake of the Lords Supper There must be a carefull preparation before the action great heed in the whole action and a joyfull and thankfull cloze and shutting of it All which must be performed as well by the Minister as the people For there is great difference betwixt our Saviour Christ the first deliverer of this Sacrament and all other Ministers he having no battel of the Spirit and flesh in him but being always prepared unto every good worke had no need of these things but other Ministers have as much need thereof as the people How are we to prepare our selves to this Sacrament By due search and triall of our own soules whether we can finde in our selves the things which God doth require in worthy Communicants How may we performe that By fitting our mindes framing our hearts thereunto 1 Cor. 10. 15 16 11. 28 How may we sit our mindes By examining our wisdome and knowledge both of Gods will in generall and of the nature and use of this holy Sacrament in particular whether we can give a reason of the representation of Christ in bread and wine and bring the resemblance and difference of the proportion of the bread and wine with the body and bloud of Christ and of the eating and drinking of the elements with the partaking of the spirituall things Rom. 4. 11. 1 Cor. 10. 3. and 4. 16 17. How may our hearts be framed for the feeling of the vertue and power of this Sacrament 1. By weighing with our selves what need we have of it and what benefit we may reape by it 2. By examining of our faith 2 Cor. 13. 5. 1 Tim. 1. 15. and repentance Heb. 10. 22. Iames 4. 8. attended with true love of God Zach. 12. 10. and of our brethren 1 Cor. 16. 14. 3. By servent invocation praying for a blessing upon this Ordinance of God Matth. 26 26. How may we finde what need we have of this Sacrament Partly by our wretched estate by nature and partly by our weak estate by grace What may we finde by our estate by nature That being prone to all evill we had need of this Sacrament to nourish and preserve the life of grace new begun which otherwise by our own corruption might dye or decay in us 1 Cor. 10. 16. What need have we of this Sacrament for reliefe of our weak estate by grace That being weak in understanding and feeble in memory we may by the signes of Bread and Wine have our understanding bettered and memory confirmed in the death of Christ 1 Cor. 11. 24 26. What further need may we finde of it That being fraile in faith and cold in love we may by the same creatures as by seales and pledges have our faith further strengthned and our love more enflamed to God and Gods children What benefit then may we reape by the Lords Supper We see already that the benefit is great this Sacrament being as a glasse for the mind a monument for the memory a support of faith a provocation to love a quickning to obedience and a signe and seal of all the mercies of God in Christ Iesus How must the heart be prepared to finde the power of this Sacrament for supply of these wants and obteining of these benefits The heart must be purged by repentance and purified by faith 1 Cor. 10. 14 16. 21. Acts 15. 9. How may the heart be purified by faith If I have not only knowledge what Christ hath done for his chosen but a full assurance that whatsoever he hath done he hath done it for me as well as for any other 1 Cor. 2. 2. Iohn 17. 3. Gal. 2. 20. What gather you hence That they onely are to present themselves at the Lords Table who after their baptisme are able to make a profession of the true faith and can finde that they truly believe in Christ seeing ignorant and unbelieving persons do rather eat and drink their own judgement than reap any benefit by this Sacrament 1 Cor. 11. 29 30 31. How may thy heart be purged by repentance If from my heart I do repent of my particular sins past and judge my selfe for them bewailing and forsaking them and frame the rest of my life according to Gods will 1 Cor. 11. 30 31. Gal. 6. 16. What learne you hence That it is dangerous for such as remaine in their old sins or after the Sacrament return unto them once to offer themselves to the Lords Table forasmuch as by this means they procure the wrath of God against them and those that belong unto them although not in condemnation in the world to come which the faithfull notwithstanding their unworthy receiving cannot come unto yet to fearefull plagues and judgements in this world It is not meet that we be free from all malice in our hearts when we come to the Lords Supper Yes it is for this Sacrament is a seal both of our conjunction with Christ and of our society one with another 1 Cor. 10. 17. and we must know that true repentance purgeth out malice amongst other sins and a sound faith worketh by love towards God and out Brethren Mat. 5. 22 23. Iames 1. 19 20 21. 1 Pet. 2. 1. Gal. 5. 6. So much for examination and preparation required before the action What is to be done by the communicant in the present action 1. They are to use reverent attention the better to apply the whole action harkning to the doctrine of the Sacrament delivered by the Minister joyning with him in his prayers making use of all the sacramentall actions and so commemorating the Lords death for the comfort and refreshing of their own souls 1 Cor. 11. 17. 26. 2. According as it is commanded all must take the Bread and Wine into their hands contrary to the superstition of divers which will have it thrust either into their mouthes or else take it with their gloves as if the hand of a Christian which God
wrought were Gods building as well as Gods husbandry For who saith hee is Paul and who is Apollo but Ministers by whom you beleeved even as the Lord gave to every man I have planted Apollo watered but God gave the increase So then neither is hee that planteth any thing neither hee that watereth but God that giveth the increase Two things therefore wee finde in our great Prophet which doe farre exceed the ability of any bare Man and so doe difference him from all the Holy Prophets which have been since the World began For first wee are taught that no man knoweth the Father save the Son and hee to whomsoever the Son will reveale him and that no man hath seen God at any time but the only begotten Son which is in the bosome of the Father hee bath declared him Being in his bosome hee is become conscious of his secrets and so out of his own immediate knowledge inabled to discover the whole will of his Father unto us Whereas alother Prophets and Apostles receive their revelations at the second hand and according to the grace given unto them by the Spirit of Christ. Witnesse that place of S. Peter for the Prophets Of which salvation the Prophets have enquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you searching what or what manner of time THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST WHICH WAS IN THEM did signifie when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow And for the Apostles those heavenly words which our Saviour himself uttered unto them whilst hee was among them When the Spirit of Truth is come hee will guide you into all truth for hee shall not speak of himself but whatsoever hee shall hear that shall hee speak and hee will shew you things to come Hee shall glorifie mee for hee shall receive of mine and shew it unto you All things that the Father hath are mine therefore said I that hee shall take of mine and shall shew it unto you Secondly all other Prophets and Apostles can doe no more as hath been said but plant and water onely God can give the increase they may teach indeed and baptize but unlesse Christ were with them by the powerfull presence of his Spirit they would not bee able to save one soule by that Ministery of theirs Wee as lively stones are built up a spirituall house but except the Lord do build this house they labour in vaine that build it For who is able to breathe the Spirit of life into those dead stones but hee of whom it is writen The houre is comming and now is when the dead shall hear the voyce of the Son of God and they that heare it shall live And again Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light Who can awake us out of this dead sleep and give light unto these blinde eyes of ours but the Lord our God unto whom wee pray that hee would lighten our eyes lest wee sleep the sleep of death And as a blinde man is not able to conceive the distinction of colours although the skilfullest man alive should use all the art hee had to teach him because hee wanteth the sense whereby that object is discernible so the naturall man perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can hee know them because they are spiritually discerned Whereupon the Apostle concludeth concerning himself and all his fellow-labourers that God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ but wee have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may bee of God and not of us Our Mediatour therefore who must bee able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him may not want the excellency of the power whereby hee may make us capable of this high knowledge of the things of God propounded unto us by the ministery of his servants and consequently in this respect also must bee God as well as Man There remaineth the Kingdom of our Redeemer described thus by the Prophet Isaiah Of the increase of his government and peace there shall bee no end upon the Throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever And by Daniel Behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of Heaven and came to the Ancient of dayes and they brought him neer before him And there was given him Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not passe away and his kingdome that which shall not be destroyed And by the Angel Gabriel in his ambassage to the blessed Virgin Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a Son and shalt call his name Jesus Hee shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give him the Throne of his Father David And hee shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his kingdom there shall bee no end This is that new David our King vvhom God hath raised up unto his own Israel vvho vvas in Truth that which hee was called the Son of Man and the Son of the Highest That in the one respect wee may say unto him as the Israelites of old did unto their David Behold wee are thy bone and thy flesh and in the other sing of him as David himself did The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou at my right hand untill I make thine enemies thy footstoole So that the promise made unto our first Parents that the seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents head may well stand with that other saying of S. Paul that the God of peace shall bruise Satan under our feet Seeing for this very purpose the Son of God was manifested in the flesh that hee might destroy the works of the Devil And still that foundation of God will remain unshaken I even I am the Lord and beside mee there is no Saviour Thou shalt know no God but mee for there is no Saviour beside mee Two speciall branches there bee of this Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour the one of Grace whereby that part of the Church is governed which is Militant upon Earth the other of Glory belonging to that part which is Triumphant in Heaven Here upon earth as by his Propheticall office hee worketh upon our Minde and Understanding so by his Kingly hee ruleth our Will and Affections casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity